Sales cooperation for North American markets

Norske Skogindustrier ASA and CellMark AB have agreed to enter into an exclusive marketing agreement for sales in United States, Canada and Mexico.  As part of this agreement, CellMark will purchase all the shares of Norske Skog's sales company in the US and form a new marketing and distribution company to be named NorCell Incorporated, which will be based in Southport, CT (USA). The NorCell company will have the exclusive marketing rights for all Norske Skog products sold in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

"Norske Skog and CellMark's goal in this cooperation is to offer customers a broader range of solutions for their publishing needs while maximizing efficiency and minimizing cost in the supply chain, says the CEO of Norske Skog, Sven Ombudstvedt. 

Execution of the share sale and the start of the NorCell business are anticipated to take place towards the end of the second quarter of 2011. Mark Cassidy will be the President and CEO of the NorCell organization.

About Norske Skog
Norske Skog is the world's fourth largest producer of publication paper, with 14 wholly- and partly-owned mills in 11 countries. Norske Skog has a 6% share of the global market for newsprint and magazine paper.

About CellMark
Since its establishment in 1984, the CellMark Group has become one of the world's foremost providers of supply chain services to the pulp and paper industry. CellMark's specialists in sales, marketing, logistics and financial services feature market-leading know-how, and they embrace their challenging role as innovators and developers of truly creative solutions.

The CellMark Group comprises four product divisions: Pulp, Paper, Packaging and Recycling and the subdivisions Energy and Machinery. CellMark's global network of 46 offices in 20 countries, complemented by numerous agents in other markets, represents and supports the product divisions.

Today, CellMark's annual sales volume is in excess of 5 million tonnes. CellMark's sourcing activities extend to more than 60 countries, with sales in about 120 markets. Further, the Group currently has about 460 employees in wholly-owned subsidiaries.

Oxenøen, 16 March 2011

Norske Skog
Corporate communication

For further information:

Vice President Corporate Communication
Carsten Dybevig
Mob: (+47) 917 63 117

This information is subject of the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.