Hartwall Capital Increases Stake in Karelia

Kuopio, Finland, Jun 30, 2008--Hartwall Capital Oy Ab has purchased Karelia Finland Oy's 33 percent stake in Karelia Upofloor Systems, giving Hartwall 99 percent ownership.

Hartwall bought its first stoick of Karelia-Upofloor flooring group in 2004. Karelia Finland Oy is owned by Heikki Väänänen. and his family.

Karelia-Upofloor is seeking investment to help it grow in the hardwood flooring business in Finland, Russia, and Romania.

"We find Karelia-Upofloor a very interesting company which has good opportunities especially in Russia. We believe that wood will increase its popularity as a flooring material', says Erik Hartwall, Hartwall Capital's board chairman.

In 2007 the Karelia-Upofloor Group's net sales totalled $203 million, an increase of 5 percent over 2006.