Espoo, Finland, 09 February 2012 -- (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Metsäliitto Group has changed its name to Metsä Group and the names and visual identities of its business areas also have been updated. Metsä Tissue will keep its name, but adopts a new look and logo.

The new names and new corporate image represent the final stage in a profound reorganization based on Metsä Group’s strategy. The goal of the process is to create a more unified and competitive forest industry group. Metsä Group focuses on five business areas: tissue and cooking papers, board, wood products, pulp, and wood supply and forest services.

The common name ‘Metsä’ clearly integrates all business areas into a unified Metsä Group. The name of Metsä Tissue remains unchanged. The former Wood Products Industry (known as Finnforest internationally) is now Metsä Wood, and Metsä-Botnia is Metsä Fibre. The Group’s wood supply operations will be known as Metsäliitto Puunhankinta in Finland and as Metsä Forest in other countries.

On 28 March 2012, the annual general meeting of M-real Corporation will make a decision on a proposition to change the company’s business name into Metsä Board Corporation.

The new unified corporate image and logo of Metsä Group and all its business areas – consisting of the word "Metsä" and the head of a stately moose carrying a forest on its antlers – communicate that Metsä Group is a responsible, evolving forest industry company that respects its roots and is stronger than even, offering products and services that contribute to people’s everyday well-being.

“Metsä Group is proud to be a forest industry company. Our company is owned by forest owners, which lends a long-term perspective to our operations. Our primary raw material is renewable wood grown in sustainably managed Nordic forests. We have the lightest and most ecological boards, prime-quality pulps, popular product brands, successful solutions in tissue and cooking papers, and top expertise in the wood product industry. We have a great story to tell,” said Kari Jordan, president and CEO of Metsä Group.

“The new logo is fresh, proud, and modern. It is an excellent reflection of Metsä Tissue – we are continually moving forward, yet without forgetting our roots. Our international customers have known us as ‘Metsä’ for years, although they might not have realized this means ‘forest’ in Finnish. The new logo sharpens our profile. Having a harmonized identity will consolidate the brand recognition of both Metsä Group and Metsä Tissue,” said Mika Joukio, CEO of Metsä Tissue.