Ahlstrom's Financial Statements Bulletin 2006: EPS was EUR 1.31, dividend of EUR 1.00 per share proposed

Ahlstrom Corporation STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 2.2.2007 at 08.30

Ahlstrom, a leader in high performance fiber-based materials, reports an operating profit of EUR 96.1 million for full year 2006 (EUR 117.2 million). Profit before taxes was EUR 81.2 million (EUR 100.7 million). Return on capital employed (ROCE) was 10.4% (12.4%). Net sales amounted to EUR 1,599.1 million (EUR 1,552.6 million) and earnings per share (EPS) to EUR 1.31 (EUR 1.71). The Board of Directors proposes a dividend of EUR 1.00 (EUR 1.79) per share to be paid for the financial year 2006.

Excluding non-recurring items, the operating profit for full year 2006 was EUR 87.3 million (EUR 99.0 million). Profit before taxes was EUR 72.5 million (EUR 82.5 million) and ROCE was 9.5% (10.5%), both excluding non-recurring items.

October-December 2006 in brief

- Net sales grew by 3.9% (adjusted for currency effect)

- High raw material and energy costs put pressure on margins

- European Commission closed its investigation related to an alleged cartel in the label papers sector

- Ahlstrom announced four growth investments on three continents, valued in total at approximately EUR 54 million.

Key figures

EUR million	2006	2005	Q4/2006	Q4/2005
Net sales	1,599.1	1,552.6	389.0	383.6
Operating profit	96.1	117.2	12.3	24.5
Operating profit excl. non-recurring items	87.3	99.0	14.1	22.0
Profit before taxes	81.2	100.7	9.4	19.1
Profit before taxes excl. non-recurring items	72.5	82.5	11.3	16.6
Profit for the period	57.6	62.6	8.8	11.9
Net cash flow from operating activities	119.2	126.6	25.0	30.4
Gearing ratio, %	20.3	57.7	20.3	57.7
Return on capital employed (ROCE),%	10.4	12.4	5.3	10.1
Return on capital employed (ROCE),% excl. non-recurring items	9.5	10.5	6.1	9.1
Cash earnings per share, EUR	2.72	3.48	0.54	0.84
Earnings per share, EUR	1.31	1.71	0.18	0.32
Average number of shares during the period, 1000s	43,802	36,418	45,602	36,418

Jukka Moisio, President & CEO, comments Ahlstrom's year 2006:

- The year 2006 marked a major change for Ahlstrom, as the company made a successful initial public offering on the Helsinki Stock Exchange. The IPO provided us with good financial resources that were further strengthened by good operative cash flow of 2006.

During the year, we implemented our strategy through announcing and starting up several growth investments. We divested non-core assets as well as streamlined the company structure. Our comparable net sales grew by 5% and return on capital employed, our most important financial target, was 10.4%. I consider this a reasonable achievement in difficult trading conditions where increased energy and raw material costs affected our profitability throughout the year.

Ahlstrom's excellent financial position supports our long term customer commitment and our growth strategy implementation and will help us to achieve our targets.

Financial information in 2007

Ahlstrom Corporation will publish its financial information in 2007 as follows:

Annual report 2006	Week 11
Interim report January - March	Friday, April 27
Interim report January - June	Wednesday, July 25
Interim report January - September	Friday, October 26

Ahlstrom's Annual General Meeting will be held on Friday, March 30, 2007 at 13.00 at the Finlandia Hall, Mannerheimintie 13 e, Helsinki.

This financial statement bulletin has been prepared in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Comparable figures refer to the same period last year unless otherwise stated.

Helsinki, February 2, 2007

Ahlstrom Corporation
Board of Directors

For additional information, please contact:

Jukka Moisio, President and CEO, tel. +358 (0)10 888 4700
Jari Mäntylä, CFO, tel. +358 (0)10 888 4768

A press conference on the 2006 results will be held on Friday, February 2, 2007 at 10.30 Finnish time in Ahlstrom's head office, address Eteläesplanadi 14, 00130 Helsinki. The press conference will be held in Finnish.

A conference call for analysts and investors will be held on Friday, February 2, 2007 at 13.00 Finnish time. To participate in the teleconference, please dial +44 (0) 20 7162 0125 a few minutes before the call. Use the password: Ahlstrom. A replay number is available until February 8, 2007. The number for the replay is + 44 (0) 20 7031 4064, access code: 735509.

The presentation material will be available at www.ahlstrom.com > Investors > IR presentations on February 2, 2007 after the financial statements bulletin has been published.

Ahlstrom's stock exchange and press releases can be ordered on www.ahlstrom.com > Media. Releases are delivered by e-mail.

This report contains certain forward-looking statements that reflect the present views of the company's management. Due to the nature of these statements, they contain uncertainties and risks and are subject to changes in the general economic situation and in the company's business.

Distribution:

Helsinki Stock Exchange
www.ahlstrom.com
Main media

The full report can be downloaded via the lind below

Ahlstrom in brief

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, e.g. in filters, wipes, flooring, labels, and tapes. The company has a strong market position in several business areas in which it operates, built upon the company's unique fiber expertise and innovative approach. Ahlstrom's 5,700 employees serve customers via sales offices and production facilities in more than 20 countries on six continents. In 2006, Ahlstrom's net sales amounted to EUR 1.6 billion. Ahlstrom's share is listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange. The company website is www.ahlstrom.com.

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