HOLDINGS IN COMPANY (FLAGGING NOTIFICATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 2, SECTION 10 OF THE FINNISH SECURITIES MARKET ACT)


07:00 London, 09:00 Helsinki, 31 March 2011 - Ruukki Group Plc, Stock Exchange Release

HOLDINGS IN COMPANY (FLAGGING NOTIFICATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 2, SECTION 10 OF THE FINNISH SECURITIES MARKET ACT)

Ruukki Group Plc ("Ruukki") (LSE: RKKI, OMX: RUG1V) has on 30 March 2011 received a flagging notification in accordance with Chapter 2, Section 9 of the Finnish Securities Market Act from Hanwa Co. Ltd ("Hanwa"), a company incorporated and existing under the laws of Japan with its principal office at 6-18-2 Ginza. Chuo-Ku. Tokyo 104-8249 Japan, regarding the shares of Ruukki.

According to the notification, Hanwa has signed a share transfer agreement with Finaline Business Limited concerning a sale and transfer of 27,000,000 shares in Ruukki Group Plc. After the completion, the transaction will result in Hanwa falling below 5 per cent and becoming a 1.21 per cent holder of the shares and voting rights in Ruukki. Pursuant to the share transfer agreement, the transaction shall be completed on 28 December 2011 at the latest but all or part of the transaction shares may be transferred prior to that date.

1. Name of the target company
Ruukki Group Plc.

2. Basis for the flagging obligation
Hanwa has signed a share transfer agreement with Finaline Business Limited concerning a sale and transfer of 27,000,000 shares in Ruukki Group Plc. After the completion, the transaction will result in Hanwa falling below 5 per cent.

3. Date when the holdings will change
At the latest 28 December 2011.

4. Once the transaction is completed, the holding of Hanwa Co. Ltd in Ruukki will be the following:

Shares and voting rights attached to them

Number of shares     % of shares   Number of voting rights   % of voting rights
3,000,000 1.209 3,000,000 1.209


5. Name and address of the shareholder
Hanwa Co. Limited
6-18-2 Ginza. Ghuo-Ku. Tokyo 104-8429 Japan.

RUUKKI GROUP PLC
Markus Kivimäki
Head of Corporate Affairs


For additional information, please contact:

Ruukki Group Plc
Markus Kivimäki, Head of Corporate Affairs, +358 50 3495 687, markus.kivimaki@ruukkigroup.fi
Thomas Hoyer, CFO, +358 45 6700 491, thomas.hoyer@ruukkigroup.fi

Investec Bank Plc
Stephen Cooper, +44 (0)20 7597 5104, stephen.cooper@investec.co.uk

RBC Capital Markets
Martin Eales, +44 (0)20 7653 4000, martin.eales@rbccm.com
Peter Barrett-Lennard, +44 (0)20 7653 4000, peter.barrett-lennard@rbccm.com


Ruukki Group is a natural resources company with a mining and minerals business in southern Europe and southern Africa. The Company is listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki (RUG1V) and the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange (RKKI).
www.ruukkigroup.fi