SanomaWSOY Group's sector Werner Söderström Corporation will incorporate its book printing operations. The new company will become operative on 1 January 2000. Printing units WSOY Book Printing, Lönnberg Painot Oy and Tummavuoren Kirjapaino Oy will be a business area for WSOY Group as from 1 December.

Mr. Pekka Pätynen, M.Sc. (Eng.) has been appointed director of the business area Printing, reporting directly to WSOY's President and CEO Mr. Antero Siljola.

"We are seeking synergies with this new structural arrangement. Co-operation, flexibility and safety of deliveries will be improved", says Mr. Pätynen.

WSOY Book Printing produced 21.3 million books for the North European market in 1998. About 40% of the production is exported. The production facilities are situated in Porvoo (multi-colour line) and Juva (single-colour line). Net sales from printing totalled FIM 186.5 million in 1998, and the average number of personnel was 307. Mr. Magnus Breitenstein, M.Sc. (Econ.) is the director of WSOY's Book Printing since the beginning of November. All employees of WSOY Book Printing Division will transfer to the new company retaining their existing employment benefits.

Lönnberg Painot Oy comprises three autonomous business units: F.G. Lönnberg, Sävypaino, and Mainos ja Etiketti. The company specialises in production of high-quality printed advertising materials, annual reports, art books, shop advertising products and special packaging products. The company?s net sales totalled FIM 114.6 million in 1998, and the average number of personnel was 163. Mr. Pekka Pätynen will for the time being also continue as President of Lönnberg Painot.

Tummavuoren Kirjapaino became a subsidiary (80%) of WSOY in May 1999. The company is the Finnish market leader in digital printing, specialised in printing of books and other products in book format. Its net sales were FIM 20 million in 1998, and the number of personnel was 30. The President of the company is Mr. Petri Veilo.

After the structural arrangements, WSOY?s business areas include Publishing, Printing and Calendar Operations.

Werner Söderström Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sanoma-WSOY Oyj.

SANOMA-WSOY OYJ


Raija Kariola
Vice President, Investor Relations and Group Communications

Distribution: Helsinki Stock Exchange, principal media