Stora Enso continues investments in pulp mill project in China

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Stora Enso is strengthening its partnership with International Finance Corporation (IFC) as part of developing its state-of-the-art plantation, board and pulp mill project in Guangxi, China, the company announced in a press release.

IFC has agreed to invest in an equity stake of RMB 356 million (EUR 43 million) in the project, representing a 5% shareholding in the project. Stora Enso will continue to own 83% of the project, with the remainder owned by Guangxi Forestry Group Co. Ltd and Beihai Forestry Investment & Development Company Ltd.

In addition, Stora Enso is in the final stage of concluding the long-term external financing for the first phase development of the project. The USD 460 million funding package will be provided under an IFC syndicate loan structure. It consists of a USD 88 million loan with twelve years tenor from IFC and a USD 372 million loan with eight years tenor provided by commercial banks through IFC. The funding package is expected to be obtained at an average interest rate of LIBOR +2.40%.

Stora Enso's investment project is divided into two phases. The first phase is to build a board machine to be ready in the beginning of 2016. The pulp mill will be constructed in the second phase and started up when the board machine is operational. The operations will supply customers with renewable material for products addressing the growing consumer market in China. This includes food, beverage and confectionary packaging.

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