Ahlstrom To Purchase Fiberweb’s Consumer Wipes Business

Finland-based Ahlstrom Corp. has
signed an agreement to purchase London-based Fiberweb Plc’s consumer wipes business for
approximately 65 million euros (US$86.9 million). Fiberweb’s consumer wipes business currently
produces wiping fabrics used in baby and personal care, and household applications. Subject to
antitrust clearance, the deal is expected to close before the end of the second quarter of 2007.

The acquisition includes four plants — one in Spain, one in the United States and two in
Italy — sites that generated 110 million euros (US$147.1 million) in net sales in 2006 and employed
400 people.

The deal comes on the heels of Ahlstrom’s acquisition of Italy-based Fabriano Filter Media
S.p.A. and the Italy-based Orlandi Group’s spunlace nonwovens business earlier this year. The
company also announced last year that it will invest in a new wiping fabrics production line in
Brazil that will be operational early next year.

“This acquisition further strengthens Ahlstrom’s unique fiber expertise and its versatile
technology base,” said Claudio Ermondi, senior vice president, Nonwovens. “Fiberweb’s leading
pulp-containing wipes technology allows Ahlstrom to introduce additional properties, such as
enhanced softness and increased strength, to its wiping fabrics. This capability combined with
Ahlstrom’s and Orlandi’s pulp-containing technologies positions Ahlstrom as the leading supplier of
pulp-containing wipes products.”



April 3, 2007

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