Sponsor Capital and company management to buy all plastiroll shares

Sponsor Capital and the company’s management have purchased all of the Plastiroll shares in a deal signed on December 29, 2011 and closed on January 24, 2012. The sellers were Rauno Asonen and Esa Mylläri, the founders of Plastiroll, and the M-real Corporation. Plastiroll is one of the foremost manufacturers of biodegradable packaging films and bags in Europe. In addition to traditional plastic-coated materials, Plastiroll manufactures compostable paper and board-based packaging materials. Plastiroll was founded in 1983, and its turnover in 2011 totalled EUR 27 million, with exports accounting for more than 40% of it. The company’s production facilities are located in Ylöjärvi, Finland.

Plastiroll is one of the foremost manufacturers of biodegradable packaging films and bags in Europe. In addition to traditional plastic-coated materials, Plastiroll manufactures compostable paper and board-based packaging materials. The starting point for the company’s operations is the products’ high level of environmental friendliness, achieved through compostability and renewable and biodegradable raw materials.

Plastiroll manufactures products both for its own brands and various private label brands, and it also supplies products directly to the packaging, food and paper industry. Plastiroll’s best-known brand is Bioska. As Finland’s leading manufacturer of biodegradable films and bags, Plastiroll can also count itself as one of Europe’s pioneers in this industry, having started their production as early as 1997. Plastiroll’s combining of modern manufacturing technology with advanced raw materials enables the creation of new product applications.

Plastiroll Oy was founded in 1983 and employs more than 70 people in two production facilities in Ylöjärvi, Finland. The company’s turnover in 2011 was EUR 27 million, with exports accounting for more than 40% of it.

-This latest arrangement creates excellent opportunities for Plastiroll to continue its strong growth both in Finland and abroad, as well as to further speed up the process of offering new environmentally friendly products and concepts in Europe. Plastiroll operates in a field that is currently in a very interesting developmental phase, with a lot of potential for the company to strengthen its position as one of the industry’s premier companies in Europe, says Juhani Kalliovaara, Partner at Sponsor Capital.

-I believe the involvement of a private equity investor such as Sponsor enhances Plastiroll’s resources and its ability to make continued progress in achieving internationalisation and reaching the next level as Europe’s clear leader in its field. I also believe that the management’s ownership of the company and thus deeper commitment to its development will become evident in Plastiroll’s ability to serve its customers in ever better and more diverse ways, says Kari Laukkanen, Managing Director at Plastiroll.

For further information, please contact

Juhani Kalliovaara, Partner, Sponsor Capital Oy, tel. +358 40 5880100,

juhani.kalliovaara@sponsor.fi

Kari Laukkanen, Managing Director, Plastiroll Oy, tel. +358 40 7340860,

kari.laukkanen@plastiroll.fi

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Plastiroll Oy had a turnover of roughly EUR 27 million in 2011, and the Group employs about 70 people. Plastiroll is one of the foremost manufacturers of biodegradable packaging films and bags in Europe.  Plastiroll also manufactures compostable paper and board-based packaging materials.

www.plastiroll.fi

Sponsor Capital is a Finnish private equity investor founded in 1997. The company primarily makes majority investments in medium-sized Finnish companies with committed management, an established market position and a predictable cash flow. Sponsor Capital operates in a responsible way with a long-term focus and a strong results-based orientation, and it believes in MBO-minded management. Major Finnish institutions invest assets through Sponsor.

www.sponsor.fi

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