Top European paper analyst joins RISI

Sampo Timonen Brings a Decade of Expertise to New Role as Director, European Graphic Paper

BEDFORD, MA, Oct. 1, 2008 - RISI is pleased to welcome Sampo Timonen, one of Europe's leading Pulp and Paper industry analysts, as Director, European Graphic Paper. Timonen brings nearly a decade of industry-specific expertise with which to lead RISI’s European graphic paper team.

"We are extremely pleased to welcome Sampo Timonen to lead coverage of graphic paper markets in Europe," says Brendan Lowney, RISI's Vice President, Pulp & Paper Information. "His knowledge and experience of the European graphic paper markets adds substantial depth and breadth to the information and analysis we currently deliver. And we feel that adding Timonen to our stable of experts will be a real game-changer for us with respect to our European analysis."

The European graphic paper industry is currently grappling with challenges that include the Russian wood tax, increased industry consolidation and the strong euro. Lowney notes, "Now more than ever, industry stakeholders need a strong guide to help them understand today’s challenging environment. By the nature of his training and experience, Timonen is supremely qualified to be that guide."

Most recently, Timonen served as Equity Analyst at Handelsbanken AB, heading up their pulp and paper research. At Handelsbanken, Timonen's coverage of companies included UPM, Stora Enso, M-real, Norske Skog, Holmen, Ahlstrom and their international peer companies. Prior to Handelsbanken, he worked as Equity Analyst at Glitnir Bank (FIM Group) for three years. There, he analyzed Pöyry, Kemira and Ruukki Group in addition to those companies mentioned earlier. Previous to Glitnir Bank, Timonen was Research Manager at Oy Keskuslaboratorio Ab (KCL). Responsibilities included project management of Future Watch, a forest industry trend-spotting and SWOT analysis program. Prior to KCL, Timonen served as Market Analyst at Myllykoski Paper Oy, forecasting demand and prices of newsprint, SC and LWC papers. He began his career in 1999 at M-real Kirkniemi mills and M-real (Board Division).

Timonen's analysis will be featured in RISI's European Graphic Paper Forecast, Paper Trader Europe and various Viewpoints and features on RISI's main website. For further information, visit www.risiinfo.com and click “Forecasts and Analysis.”

About RISI

RISI is the leading information provider for the global forest products industry. The company works with clients in the pulp and paper, wood products, timber, tissue, nonwovens, printing and publishing industries to help them make better decisions.

Headquartered in Boston (Bedford), Massachusetts, RISI operates offices in Brussels, Belgium; Atlanta, Georgia; San Francisco, California; Portland, Oregon; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Shanghai, China; Singapore; and Charlottesville, Virginia. More information can be found at www.risiinfo.com.