<B>Stora Enso Eyeing APP</B>

According to a report by Bloomberg, Stora Enso Oyj is contemplating acquiring part or all of Asia Pulp & Paper. If the two sides combine it would create the largest paper company in the world.  Stora Enso is the largest paper manufacturer in Europe. APP is the largest paper manufacturer in Asia outside of Japan. The company manufactures printing and writing paper, packaging, tissue and pulp. It has facilities in China, Indonesia and India.

The move would follow Stora Enso's acquisition of U.S. Consolidated Papers Inc. for close to $5 billion earlier this year.

Stora’s possible move into Asia would provide the European-based company with a significant presence in the Asian market. At the present time the European and U.S. paper markets are slowing.