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                                                                    EXHIBIT 99


PRESS RELEASE                                           Contact:  Bill Foust
                                                                  770-569-4203

                                                                  Paul Roberts
                                                                  770-569-4277



      SCHWEITZER-MAUDUIT TO ACQUIRE SPECIALTY PAPER MANUFACTURER IN FRANCE



Alpharetta, GA, January 13, 1998.  Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc. (NYSE:
SWM) today announced it has reached agreement to acquire Ingefico, S.A. and its
pulp and specialty paper manufacturing subsidiaries, Groupe SAPAM and
Papeteries de la Moulasse, located in St. Girons in the southwestern part of
France.  Terms of the transaction, which is subject to approval by regulatory
authorities in France, were not disclosed.  The transaction is expected to
close in the first quarter of 1998.

The St. Girons facility has been a supplier of tobacco industry papers since
approximately 1900 and is one of the oldest specialty paper mills in Europe,
marketing its products under the "Job Cigarette Paper" brand.

The facility includes a pulp mill for producing textile pulp, three fine paper
machines and associated converting equipment.  The mill has annual production
capacities of approximately 14,000 metric tons of paper and approximately 6,000
metric tons of pulp, most of which is used internally.  It principally produces
fine paper for the tobacco industry and also manufactures textile market pulp
and other specialty papers.  The mill employs approximately 250 people.

The St. Girons mill will be Schweitzer-Mauduit's fourth production location in
France.  Jean-Pierre Le Hetet, president of Schweitzer-Mauduit's French
operations said, "This acquisition will provide capacity needed to support our
anticipated growth in sales of tobacco industry papers worldwide. It will
enhance our ability to serve the existing and new requirements of our
customers."

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 use in alkaline batteries,
vacuum cleaner bags and business forms.  Schweitzer-Mauduit and its subsidiaries
conduct business in over 80 countries and employ 2,400 people worldwide, with
operations in the United States, France and Canada.


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