SCA Divests its packaging operations

(Editor's Note: Based on a press release from SCA, January 17, 2012, and supporting information on the SCA website.)

SCA's packaging operations--excluding the two kraftliner mills in Sweden--are divested to DS Smith. The purchase price amounts to EUR 1.7bn on a debt free basis. "The reason for the divestment is primarily to enable increased growth in the hygiene business", says Jan Johansson, President and CEO of SCA. (According to a presentation by Johansson, after the divestiture, SCA's hygiene business will account for 80% of SCA's net sales.)

The packaging operations, excluding the two kraftliner mills, had net sales in 2010 of approximately SEK 24.2bn (EUR 2.5bn) and an operating profit, excluding restructuring costs, of approximately SEK 1.1bn (EUR 117million). The operations have approximately 12,000 employees.

The purchase price is equivalent to an EBITDA multiple of 6.3 based on the 12 month period Q4 2010 - Q3 2011. In connection with the transaction, a write-down of goodwill of approximately SEK 4bn will be made, which will have the result that the remaining kraft liner operations will not have any goodwill. The write-down will impact the result for the fourth quarter of 2011 and will be treated as an item affecting comparability.

The debt/equity ratio will decrease to approximately 0.5 provided that the divestment of the packaging operations and the previously announced binding offer for Georgia-Pacific´s European tissue operations are completed according to plan. Earnings per share will decrease by SEK 0.75 based on net profit for the 12 month period Q4 2010 - Q3 2011.

Regarding the French part of the packaging operations--the price for which is included in the announced purchase price--DS Smith has made a formal offer to acquire this business. This process is subject to consultation with relevant works councils and will be treated separately. SCA's two kraftliner mills in Sweden are not included in the transaction as they are well integrated with SCA´s forest products operations.

"Over the years we have developed our packaging business and we are divesting a competitive operation to an industrial buyer who can continue to develop it," says Johansson.

The transaction is subject to approval from DS Smith´s shareholders and antitrust clearance from the European Commission. Closing is expected during the second quarter of 2012.

HISTORICAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Below is a summary of the financial information on SCA's packaging operations to be divested, excluding the kraftliner business.

The information has been prepared on the basis of the accounting principles adopted by SCA in its audited financial statements for each of the three years, and its unaudited interim financial statements for the nine months ended 30 September 2010 and 30 September 2011. Those financial statements are prepared in accordance with SCA´s accounting principles and International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the EU.

For additional information, please contact:
Camilla Weiner, Senior Vice President Corporate Communications, +46 8 788 5234
Pär Altan, Vice President Media Relations, +46 8 788 5237
Johan Karlsson, Vice President Investor Relations, +46 8 788 5130

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