WSOY to sell Digital Printer Dark to Hansaprint

WSOY to sell Digital Printer Dark to Hansaprint

WSOY, part of the SanomaWSOY Group, will sell the digital printer Dark Oy to Hansaprint Oy. The deal will be effective as of 1 September 2005. Dark employs 35 people who will continue with Hansaprint under current conditions.

Dark's net sales amounted to EUR 5.6 million in 2004. The company holds a strong position as a provider of digitally printed products. In recent years, production has focused more on product manuals and personalised products, instead of books. - Due to the changed focus, Dark's role as a book printer is no more essential for WSOY, says Pekka Pätynen, Senior Vice President, Printing operations.

The deal is in line with the SanomaWSOY's strategy to focus on its core businesses.

Additional information:
Esa Honka, President, Hansaprint Oy, tel. +358 400 780 890
Pekka Pätynen, Senior Vice President, WSOY, tel. +358 400 501 927

Hansaprint is the largest printing house in Finland, the leading magazine printer in the Nordic region, and the leading provider of comprehensive solutions for graphic communications in the Baltic region. The company's net sales amounted to EUR 173 million in 2004 and it employs 950 people. Hansaprint's product range includes magazines, catalogues and other database products, marketing brochures and direct mail marketing products as well as user guides.

Sanoma Magazines Finland Oy, which is part of the SanomaWSOY Group, holds a 40% share in Hansaprint belonging to the TS-Group.