Nov. 27, 2007 - NewPage yesterday said that the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 in connection with its previously announced acquisition of the North American operations of Stora Enso Oyj has expired.

Expiration of the waiting period satisfies a condition to completing the acquisition, NewPage said.

The companies expect to close the deal by the first quarter of 2008.

As announced on September 21, 2007, Stora Enso Oyj and the NewPage parent company, NewPage Holding Corporation, signed a definitive agreement by which NewPage will acquire Stora Enso's paper manufacturing operations in North America. Under the terms of the agreement, Stora Enso Oyj will receive approximately $1.5 billion in cash, as well as a $200 million note from and a 19.9% equity interest in a new parent holding company.

SOURCE: NewPage Corp.