In 2012 Metsä Group’s parent company Metsäliitto Cooperative, Metsä Board Corporation and Japanese Itochu Corporation agreed on a transaction in which Itochu acquired a 24.9 per cent strategic stake in Metsä Fibre Corporation. The new arrangement was an excellent opportunity for Metsä Group to create more value and stability through co-operation with a strong commercial partner in the growing Asian market and at the same time strengthen its position as one of the leading pulp market operators globally.
The new names and the new corporate image represent the final stage in a profound reorganisation based on the Group’s strategy. The purpose of the process has been to create a unified and competitive forest industry group.