Helsinki, Finland 24 February 2009 -- Ahlstrom has concluded the personnel negotiations started in January at its plants in Karhula and Tampere, Finland. As a result of the negotiations, the company has decided on temporary layoffs at both plants. Additionally in Karhula, the company has decided to permanently lay off approximately 10 persons and outsource the cleaning services. The adjustments in operations are prompted by weakening demand in the market.

At the Karhula plant, Ahlstrom has decided to temporarily lay off its personnel, outsource the cleaning services, and permanently lay off approximately 10 persons on financial and production-related grounds. The temporary layoffs will be carried out between March and August 2009, and will affect approximately 150 blue collar employees and most of the white collar employees of the plant.

The temporary layoffs at Ahlstrom's Tampere plant will be carried out between March and June 2009. The temporary layoffs affect all of the blue collar employees and most of the white collar employees of the plant.

These adjustments do not affect the delivery and service level of the plants.

Ahlstrom's plant in Karhula is part of the company's Glass and Industrial Nonwovens business area and employs approximately 400 people, of which roughly 300 are blue collar and roughly 100 are white collar employees. Ahlstrom's plant in Tampere is part of the company's Filtration business area and employs approximately 60 people, of which roughly 40 are blue collar and roughly 20 are white collar employees.

Ahlstrom is a global leader in the development, manufacture, and marketing of high performance fiber-based materials. Nonwovens and specialty papers, made by Ahlstrom, are used in a large variety of everyday products, such as filters, wipes, flooring, labels, and tapes. Ahlstrom's 6400 employees serve customers via sales offices and production facilities in more than 20 countries on six continents. In 2008, Ahlstrom's net sales amounted to EUR 1.8 billion. Ahlstrom's share is quoted on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. The company Web site is www.ahlstrom.com.