Statement re Launch of a New Senior Secured Not...

Statement re Launch of a New Senior Secured Notes Offering

Smurfit Kappa Group PLC

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY, AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE OR FORM PART OF ANY OFFER OR INVITATION TO SELL OR ISSUE, OR ANY SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO PURCHASE OR SUBSCRIBE FOR, ANY SECURITIES OF SMURFIT KAPPA ACQUISITIONS. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION OR RELEASE IN OR INTO ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH OFFERS OR SALES WOULD BE PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW

Smurfit Kappa Group Announces the Launch of a New Senior Secured Notes Offering

SKG.I SKG.L

Dublin, London | 22 January 2013: Smurfit Kappa Group plc (“SKG”), one of the world’s largest integrated manufacturers of paper-based packaging products, with operations in Europe, Latin America and North America (“the Americas”), today announces an offering by one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Smurfit Kappa Acquisitions, of €300 million of euro denominated senior secured notes due 2020. The net proceeds of the offering will be used to prepay a portion of the term loans outstanding under SKG's senior credit facility and to pay certain fees and expenses related to the offering. The notes are being offered in a private placement, and there will be no public offering of the notes. The notes will be offered and sold only to qualified institutional buyers in accordance with Rule 144A under the U.S. Securities Act and to non-U.S. persons outside the United States in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act").

Smurfit Kappa Group Operating Results Update

For the year ended 31 December 2012, we currently expect to report revenue, pre-exceptional EBITDA and net debt in line with those items that we reported for the year ended 31 December 2011.

About Smurfit Kappa Group

SKG is a world leader in paper-based packaging with operations in Europe and the Americas. SKG operates in 21 countries in Europe and 11 in the Americas. With innovation, service and pro-activity towards customers as its primary focus, SKG is the European leader in paper-based packaging including, corrugated, containerboard, bag-in-box, solidboard, and solidboard packaging. It also has a key position in a number of other product/market segments, including graphicboard, MG paper and sack paper. SKG has a growing base in Eastern Europe, and it is the only large scale pan regional operator in Latin America.

Contacts	Â	Â	Â
Seamus Murphy				FTI Consulting
Smurfit Kappa Group
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Forward Looking Statements

Some statements in this announcement are forward-looking. They represent expectations for SKG's business, and involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and projections about future events. SKG believes that current expectations and assumptions with respect to these forward-looking statements are reasonable. However, because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which are in some cases beyond SKG's control, actual results or performance, may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Financial statements for the quarter and year ended 31 December 2012 are not yet finalised and our year end audit is not yet complete. The financial information above is subject to change as our financial statements are reviewed by us and our auditors.

This press release shall not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States or any other jurisdiction. The securities have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act or the securities laws of any state of the United States or any other jurisdiction and the securities may not be offered or sold within the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state or local securities laws.

This announcement is for information purposes only and is directed only at: (a) persons in member states of the European Economic Area who are qualified investors (as defined in EU directive 2003/71/EC (as amended) (the "Prospectus Directive"); (b) persons in the United Kingdom who are qualified investors and who are (i) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order"); or (ii) persons falling within Article 49(2) (a) to (d) ("high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc.") of the Order; or (iii) persons to whom it may otherwise be lawfully communicated (all such persons in (a) and (b) together being referred to as "relevant persons"). This announcement must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not relevant persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this announcement relates is available only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons. No money, securities or other consideration is being solicited, and, if sent in response to the information contained herein, will not be accepted.