Investment firm to buy Jefferson Smurfit

Chicago-based Madison Dearborn Partners agreed to buy Jefferson Smurfit Group PLC (Dublin, Ireland) for US$3.5 billion.

May 31, 2002

In a second element to the transaction, Jefferson Smurfit Group will distribute a 29.3% stake to stockholders for the Chicago-based Smurfit-Stone Container Corp.

Smurfit-Stone Container president and CEO Patrick Moore said his company’s operating strategy won’t be affected if Jefferson Smurfit Group goes ahead with its plan to distribute its 71.6 million Smurfit-Stone shares to stockholders.

The Jefferson Smurfit deal represents Madison Dearborn’s fifth investment in the paper and packaging industry.

For more information see Jefferson Smurfit Group’s Web site at www.smurfit-group.com.

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