Nov 20, 2012. /Lesprom Network/. Ahlstrom publishes pro forma financial information for 2011 and January-September 2012 to illustrate the financial impact of the planned combination of Ahlstrom's Label and Processing business and Munksjö AB on Ahlstrom's continuing operations. Ahlstrom is also seeking to find ways to improve its cost structure and adjust its operations to reflect the future size, scope and cost structure of the company following the planned transaction with Munksjö, as the company said in the press release received by Lesprom Network. During the past years, Ahlstrom has systematically executed its strategy in order to focus its operations in areas that offer the most attractive growth opportunities. The company has chosen to focus on advanced technologies and products that protect people, purify air and liquids, and provide surface and structure to its customers' products. In addition to reinforcing Ahlstrom's leadership in filtration, the company aims to grow in high performance fiber-based materials for building, food and beverages packaging and medical applications. The combination of the Label and Processing business area with Munksjö AB through two partial demergers is the latest and most significant step in the process of refocusing Ahlstrom. The Transaction enables the company to focus exclusively on its value-added business areas: Building and Energy, Filtration and Food and Medical. The terms and conditions of the proposed transaction were published in a separate stock exchange release on August 28, 2012. The demergers of the Label and Processing businesses are subject to approvals by the Extraordinary General Meeting to be held on November 27, 2012. Following the approvals, the business area will be reported as part of discontinued operations and consequently Ahlstrom will publish a new outlook for net sales and operating profit excluding non-recurring items immediately after the Extraordinary General Meeting. "By refocusing the company we will be better positioned and more agile in serving our customers globally. The organizational change we announced recently simplifies our structure, allowing a quicker response to customer needs. We believe that our tighter strategic focus and ability to move fast will contribute to our success also in a market environment characterized by increased demand volatility", said Jan Lang, President and CEO, Ahlstrom. Following the closing of the planned Label and Processing transaction, Ahlstrom intends to rightsize the company's cost base to reflect the new size and scope of the company, excluding the Label and Processing operations. The aim is to make the company's cost base leaner while maintaining sufficient resources globally, for example in product development and customer-facing teams. The company targets to achieve Euro 15 million in cost savings in addition to the costs that will be transferred to Munksjö within one year of the closing date of the Transaction. Ahlstrom is a global leader in high performance fiber-based materials.