SCA Completes U.S. Packaging Acquisition


STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Feb. 12, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- SCA (Other OTC:SVCBF) has acquired the North American protective packaging company Specor Systems, Inc. for a purchase price of USD 9 M (SEK 77 M) on a debt-free basis. Specor Systems, with two production units in Wisconsin and one in Minnesota, produces customized packaging, which complements SCA's protective packaging operations in the U.S. Synergies will be achieved through the opportunities that exist for consolidation with the SCA production units in southern Wisconsin.

Based on the operating surplus reported for 2002, the EBITDA multiple of the acquisition will amount to 4.6, at the same time as the ratio between the purchase price and annual sales will amount to 0.8. It is estimated that the current value of future free cash flow will exceed the purchase price by about 50 percent, which generates a CVA index of 1.5. The acquisition will have a positive effect on SCA's earnings per share during the first 12 months.

SVENSKA CELLULOSA AKTIEBOLAGET SCA (publ)

Communications and Investor Relations

For further information, please contact:


 Jan Astrom, President and CEO
 Phone: +46 70 586 07 01

 Peter Nyquist, Senior Vice president Communications and
  Investor Relations
 Phone: +46 70 575 29 06

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