Suominen further strengthens its strategic focus on nonwovens by divesting its wet wipes business
Helsinki, Finland, 2013-06-17 15:30 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
Suominen Corporation Stock exchange release 17 June 2013 at 16.30 (EEST)
SUOMINEN FURTHER STRENGTHENS ITS STRATEGIC FOCUS ON NONWOVENS BY DIVESTING ITS WET WIPES BUSINESS
Suominen Corporation divests its wet wipes business unit, Codi Wipes, to Value Enhancement Partners investment company. The deal further strengthens Suominen’s strategic focus on nonwovens and clarifies its corporate structure. Due to the divestment, Suominen revises its outlook concerning the Group net sales development in 2013.
The sale of all Suominen’s shares in its subsidiary, Codi International BV, to Cogitandum BV, a subsidiary of Value Enhancement Partners, has been confirmed today. Codi International is a leading European wet wipes producer located in the Netherlands, with net sales of nearly EUR 50 million in 2012.
The estimated acquisition price is in total EUR 9.2 million. The final acquisition price will be contingent on the financial performance of Codi International in 2013 and on other conventional terms and conditions of the transaction. Due to the divestment, Suominen will recognize, in accordance with the IFRS 5 standard, a loss of approximately MEUR 16 in the second quarter result of 2013 of its discontinued operations. Previously, Codi International has been reported as part of Suominen’s Wiping segment. The transaction has been approved by the local works council. The closing of the transaction is still dependent on the fulfillment of the conditions precedent by both parties.
“Divesting Codi Wipes business unit is very well in line with our “In the Lead” strategy as the deal clarifies both our corporate structure and our position in wipes value chain, particularly in relation to our nonwovens customers. We can now concentrate even better on further strengthening our competitiveness in nonwovens”, Nina Kopola, President and CEO of Suominen Corporation says.
“Due to our major expansion in nonwovens, the strategic role of an own converting unit has clearly diminished from 2003, when Codi International was acquired. For Codi International, this transaction assures an owner with strategic interest to develop the company further”, Nina Kopola continues.
“Codi International holds a very strong position in the European wet wipes industry with a highly automated production that provides some of the highest quality converting possibilities in Europe. The fragmented market and growth in upcoming markets presents opportunities to increase the scale of the company and to diversify its production into more geographies and products, thereby also potentially being better able to serve its globally operating customers. We look forward to realizing the growth plans together with management”, Kenneth Tjon, Managing Partner of Value Enhancement Partners says.
After the closing of the deal, Suominen will operate two business units, Nonwovens and Flexibles, which will be reported in two separate reporting segments.
Due to the divestment, Suominen revises its outlook concerning the net sales development for 2013. Suominen expects that the full year 2013 net sales of its continuing operations will remain at the level of 2012. Previously, Suominen had stated that its net sales for the full year 2013 would remain at the level of 2012.
Suominen’s outlook regarding the operating profit remains unchanged. Operating profit excluding non-recurring items is expected to improve from year 2012.
In 2012, the net sales of Suominen’s continuing operations totaled MEUR 409.6. The operating profit of the continuing operations excluding non-recurring items was MEUR 12.9. The group operating profit excluding non-recurring items was MEUR 13.7 in 2012.
Suominen Corporation
Nina Kopola, President and CEO
For additional information, please contact
Nina Kopola, President and CEO, tel. +358 (0)10 214 300
Suominen in brief
Suominen supplies its industrial and retail customers with nonwovens, wet wipes and flexible packaging for use in consumer products worldwide. Suominen is the global market leader in nonwovens for wipes. The company employs approximately 1,200 people in Europe and in the United States. Suominen’s net sales in 2012 amounted to MEUR 454.9 and operating profit excluding non-recurring items was MEUR 13.7. The Suominen share (SUY1V) is listed in NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Stock Exchange. Read more at www.suominen.fi.
Value Enhancement Partners in brief
Value Enhancement Partners (VEP) is a privately owned investment firm founded in 1999 and based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. VEP focuses on medium sized industrial companies in the Benelux and adjacent geographies, where it actively teams up with management in realizing opportunities to accelerate performance and growth.
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NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Ltd.
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