The Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority (FCCA) investigated the competitive effects of the merger between Stora Enso Oyj and Junnikkala Oy, particularly on the procurement of roundwood in the parties' procurement areas. The Authority assessed that the merger would not raise competition concerns, and therefore approved the merger unconditionally on 14 April 2025.

Stora Enso announced in October 2024 that it would acquire the entire share capital of sawmill and processing company Junnikkala. Junnikkala has three sawmills located in Kalajoki, Oulu and Oulainen, Finland. Stora Enso, in turn, has a sawmill in Veitsiluoto and a board mill in Oulu.

In the further proceedings, the FCCA examined in more detail how the transaction affects the log procurement market in the procurement areas of Stora Enso's Veitsiluoto sawmill and Junnikkala's Oulu sawmill. The procurement market refers to the companies' procurement of wood from forest owners.

Based on the investigations, the parties' combined market share will remain moderate after the acquisition and there will continue to be several competing wood buyers in the area. The parties' market power is also limited by the fact that competing wood buyers may expand their procurement areas if log prices decrease. In addition, the FCCA notes that the parties' raw material needs and wood procurement strategies differ.

Junnikkala Oy is a Finnish sawmill company whose business consists of manufacturing lumber and further processed products for both export and domestic sale. Junnikkala sawmills are located in Kalajoki, Oulu and Oulainen.

Stora Enso Oyj is a global manufacturer of renewable products for the packaging, biomaterials and wood products industries.