• Sweden edition
Business & Money

Trading halted by paper giant merger rumours

Published: 2 Sep 10 13:06 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/28730/20100902/

Trading in the shares in Nordic paper giants Holmen, Stora Enso and Norske Skog has been halted on Thursday amid rumours of a partial merger.

The stock exchanges in Stockholm, Helsinki and Oslo all confirmed on Thursday that they had suspended trading of the three companies pending announcements later in
the day.

Before trading stopped, Norske Skog, one of the world's biggest newsprint producers, saw its share price soar more than 20 percent on the Oslo bourse, while Stora Enso, Europe's biggest paper maker, and Holmen had been up more than 4.0 percent.

Finland's daily of reference Helsingin Sanomat meanwhile reported that the three paper companies were planning to merge at least in part their newspaper print production and move operations under the umbrella of a new, jointly-owned company.

In a statement, Stora Enso denied the paper's report, saying that "there are no discussions ongoing concerning the matter."

"It is our policy never to comment on market rumours," Stora Enso spokesperson Paeivi Kauhanen told AFP.

The other companies also refused to provide details, but said an announcement would be made later, it was confirmed.

In a statement, Norske Skog said it had "on several occasions stated the need for restructuring of the industry, and the company is willing to contribute to such an initiative."

The Norwegian company insisted however it would not "comment speculations and rumors about strategic processes."

AFP/The Local (news@thelocal.se)

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

Fark It! Digg This  Share everywhere
Send to a friend Printable version Twitter This

Your comments about this article:

The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.

ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Business & Money headlines
SAS earnings hit by Spanair bankruptcy

SAS earnings hit by Spanair bankruptcy

The bankruptcy of Spanair pulled SAS into the red for 2011, despite improved operating profits, the Scandinavian airline reported on Wednesday. READ (1 COMMENT) »

Saab to cut Swiss Gripen fighter price: report

Saab to cut Swiss Gripen fighter price: report

Swedish defence group Saab have announced that it will cut the price on its Gripen fighter jet to secure its Swiss order after a threat by French planemaker Dassault to undercut them. READ (4 COMMENTS) »

A file image of a worker at a Volvo Cars assembly plant

Few Swedes ready to work until they're 75: poll

An overwhelming majority of Swedes disagree with Swedish prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt's suggestion that workers should be ready to stay on the job until they are 75, a new poll shows. READ (33 COMMENTS) »

SAAB BANKRUPT
Several bids for Saab: administrator

Several bids for Saab: administrator

Several companies are interested in buying Saab, confirmed the bankrupt Swedish carmaker's administrators on Tuesday, while currently unwilling to disclose the identities of the bidders. READ (2 COMMENTS) »

US ISPs block hacker probes: Swedish police

US ISPs block hacker probes: Swedish police

The Swedish National Police Board has called for new international laws to catch hackers on the internet, after US internet service providers refused to divulge information on the weekend's attack on government websites. READ (5 COMMENTS) »

Fire brigade slammed for 'renting out' rooms

Emergency services in Gothenburg have come under fire recently after it came to light that a fire station had been renting out rooms to visiting colleagues. READ (2 COMMENTS) »

Kinnevik in bid to buy up publisher Metro

Kinnevik in bid to buy up publisher Metro

Swedish investment firm Kinnevik has made an offer to buy up Metro International, a global publisher of free newspapers. READ (2 COMMENTS) »

SAAB BANKRUPT
New bidder in the Saab saga shows its hand

New bidder in the Saab saga shows its hand

Less than 24 hours after Chinese firm Youngman reportedly placed a bid for Saab, another interested party has apparently joined the race to snap up the bankrupt carmaker. READ (8 COMMENTS) »

Volvo group announces record sales for 2011

Volvo group announces record sales for 2011

Volvo group, the world's second-largest truck maker, posted a 63-percent hike in its 2011 net profit on Friday, boosted by record sales, as well as a 43-percent hike in the fourth quarter. READ »

TeliaSonera reports profit drop for 2011

Nordic telecoms giant TeliaSonera reported a 14-percent drop in net profit for 2011 on Thursday but said that their analysts still forecast a modest rise in sales for 2012. READ »

More Business & Money

Highlights from Follow Sweden

20 things to know before moving to Sweden

As diverse as Sweden is, there are a few societal norms that are distinctly Swedish. Understanding a handful of them will hopefully prepare you culturally before you relocate. When you're invited home to a Swede, you better be on time and take your shoes off, writes expat Lola Akinmade-Åkerström. Read more »

How far can English take you in Sweden?

Sweden is a country where almost everyone can speak English. So why bother to learn Swedish? Edina Varnagy from Hungary managed with English for a whole year but then found that Swedish could open doors – to a job, a social life and greater understanding. Read more »


Find a new job in Sweden now
09/02 Senior Test Automation Engineer - contract based
Monster
Prague
09/02 Falck is looking for a dynamic and dedicated Country Manager
Falck TravelCare AB
Stockholm
09/02 Business Planner
Ericsson
Örebro
09/02 APPLICATION SPECIALIST - STERIDOSE
Roplan / Steridose
Tumba
09/02 Sound Designer
EA DICE
Stockholm
09/02 Chemical engineer/ Researcher
Nynas
Nynäshamn
09/02 Software QA Engineer
Monster
Prague
09/02 ITTE Engineer -- Product Test Environment Lund
Ericsson
Lund
09/02 Senior UX Engineer (.NET) - Limited Contract
Monster
Prague
09/02 Principal Software Engineer - Limited Contract
Monster
Prague

ALL JOBS »


Latest Business & Money news from Germany
Get on the Tennis Court with www.babolatshop.se
The new Online Tennis Store with the largest selection of Babolat Products in Sweden
http://www.babolatshop.se
Turning Point Counseling
Turning Point Counselling centre offers the international community of Stockholm a safe space for personal development, counselling and coaching.
http://www.turning-point.se/show.asp
Swedish Down Town
Swedish Down Town PR Consulting and Productions is an innovative business company which provides valuable assistance with Public Relations and Communications in the swedish and the international market.
www.swedishdowntown.com
The Local's new Marketplace
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS
English Speaking Therapist Stockholm
British-Australian Male Counsellor. Counselling Therapy for Depression, Mental Health, Sex, Relationship & Expat Issues
08-559 22 636 or CLICK HERE
Counseling in English
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now
Doctor of Psychology
Therapy in English in Stockholm Trained in California Individuals & Couples (08) 93 81 48 FREE phone consultation
Visit anxiousorblue.se