Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc. Announces Closure of a French Mill and Other...

Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc. Announces Closure of a French Mill and
Other Business Developments Impacting Full-Year Earnings Guidance

- First quarter 2009 diluted earnings per share expected to be in the range of
$0.80 - $0.90

- Closure of French finished tipping facility

ALPHARETTA, Ga., April 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Schweitzer-Mauduit
International, Inc. (NYSE: SWM) announced today expected improvement in first
quarter 2009 financial results and the planned closure of its finished tipping
paper production facility in France.

The Company anticipates earnings for the first quarter of 2009 in the range of
$0.80 to $0.90 per share. The expected earnings reflect the benefits of
strategic actions undertaken during the last three years to restructure its
business as well as higher average selling prices, improved mill operations,
favorable inflation and currency impacts. Schweitzer-Mauduit plans to issue
its first quarter 2009 earnings on Thursday, May 7th and will include an
update of the full year 2009 outlook of its business. At this time, the
Company confirms that full year 2009 guidance for earnings per share excluding
restructuring expenses will be increased, however, the extent is dependent
upon the balance of several business developments. The improvement in first
quarter results will likely be partially offset by increased losses associated
with the mill closure being announced today as well as expectations of a more
challenging outlook for selling prices and volumes during the remainder of the
year.

On April 17th, employees at Schweitzer-Mauduit's French finished tipping paper
facility, Papeteries de Malaucene SAS, located in Provence, were notified of
the initiation of consultations with the unions and the Work's Council with a
goal to divest the site through closure of the facility. As a result,
employment is expected to be reduced by approximately 210 people with the
possibility of subsequently selling the mill assets, partially reducing the
social and financial impacts of shutting down the mill. Meetings with the
unions and the Work's Council must be completed before the amount of the
restructuring expenses, timing and ongoing benefits of the targeted changes
can be definitively known. However, restructuring expenses associated with
this action are expected to total approximately $22 million, including
anticipated cash severance payments of $20 million and non-cash charges of $2
million, to be recorded beginning in the second quarter of 2009 through the
planned completion of the actions in the fourth quarter of 2009. Financing of
the approximate $20 million in projected cash restructuring expenses, which
are expected to be paid by the end of 2010, can be fully secured through
internally generated funds and Schweitzer-Mauduit's existing bank credit
facilities. The Company recorded a $13.4 million fixed asset impairment
charge related to the Malaucene facility in the fourth quarter of 2008, which
represented the majority of the related fixed asset values. Operating losses
for the Malaucene facility will likely increase from current levels given the
anticipated loss of customer orders during the divestiture process.
Incremental operating losses could negatively impact Schweitzer-Mauduit's
earnings by approximately $0.30 per share during the remainder of 2009. The
absence of losses from the Malaucene facility is expected to benefit
Schweitzer-Mauduit's earnings in 2010 by over $0.30 per share.

Mr. Frederic Villoutreix, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer,
commented that, "We believe the expected improvement in first quarter results
validates our strategy to revitalize our base tobacco-related paper business
while aggressively growing the franchises for our higher value lower ignition
propensity cigarette paper and reconstituted tobacco leaf products. The
divestiture action being announced today, although regrettable in terms of the
impact on the employees and communities affected, further advances this
strategy and highlights our resolve to rationalize our global manufacturing
footprint and re-focus resources to achieve leading positions in core product
categories that provide opportunity for competitive advantage. Following the
divestiture of our finished tipping paper facility in France, all of
Schweitzer-Mauduit's focus will be on product lines that represent core
technologies and in which we hold a number one or two world-wide market
position, whether measured by share of the market or major customer's
requirements."

Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc. is a diversified producer of premium
specialty papers and the world's largest supplier of fine papers to the
tobacco industry. It also manufactures specialty papers for other
applications. Schweitzer-Mauduit and its subsidiaries conduct business in
over 90 countries and employ 3,200 people worldwide, with operations in the
United States, France, Brazil, the Philippines, Indonesia, Canada and a joint
venture in China. For further information, please visit the Company's Web
site at www.schweitzer-mauduit.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is subject to the
safe harbor created by that Act. Actual results may differ materially from
the results suggested by these statements for a number of reasons, including
the following:

-- As a result of current excess capacity in the tobacco-related papers,
competitive levels of selling prices for certain of our products are
not
sufficient to cover those costs with a margin that we consider
reasonable. Such competitive pressures have resulted in downtime of
certain paper machines and, in some cases, accelerated depreciation or
impairment charges for certain equipment and employee severance
expenses
associated with downsizing activities. Management continues to
evaluate
how to operate our production facilities more effectively given
reduced
production volumes. Therefore, additional restructuring actions and
asset impairment charges are likely in 2009. We will continue to
disclose any such actions as they are announced to affected employees
or
otherwise certain and provide updates to any previously disclosed
expenses associated with such actions.

-- In recent years, governmental entities around the world, particularly
in
the United States and western Europe, have taken or have proposed
actions that may have the effect of reducing consumption of tobacco
products. Reports with respect to the possible harmful physical
effects
of cigarette smoking and use of tobacco products have been publicized
for many years and, together with actions to restrict or prohibit
advertising and promotion of cigarettes or other tobacco products, to
limit smoking in public places and to increase taxes on such products,
are intended to discourage the consumption of cigarettes and other
such
products. It is not possible to predict what additional legislation
or
regulations relating to tobacco products will be enacted, or to what
extent, if any, such legislation or regulations might affect our
business.

For additional factors and further discussion of these factors, please see our
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.

Contacts:
Bill Foust Pete Thompson
(770) 569-4203 (770) 569-4277

SOURCE Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc.

Bill Foust, +1-770-569-4203, Pete Thompson, +1-770-569-4277, both of
Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc.