The business is to be bought by a consortium consisting of Norwegian energy company Eidsiva Energi AS and five Norwegian forest owners’ associations. Four of the five associations already together hold 34.62% of the Moelven shareholding.
Moelven, which was acquired by Metsäliitto subsidiary Finnforest in 2001, is one of the leading suppliers of wood-based building products and services in Scandinavia.
“Moelven is a great company and it has been a pleasure working with them,” said Ole Salvén, Metsäliitto Group executive vice-president, director of wood products industry.
“We have, however, refocused our strategy, and we are concentrating on developing innovative solutions for customer segments in selected market areas, based on Nordic premium timber mainly supplied by Metsäliitto’s 131,000 Finnish forest owners.”
Moelven employs 3,200 people and has a turnover of more than €700m.
After the sale, which needs regulatory approval, Mestäliitto’s wood products business will consist of four divisions – solid wood, plywood, upgrading and distribution and building solutions. Moelven will continue to distribute Finnforest products in Scandinavia.
