Divestment of Metso Panelboard to Dieffenbacher finalized

Published Jan 31, 2008 12.00.00 +2 GMT

Metso has finalized the divestment of certain Metso Panelboard's operations to Dieffenbacher GmbH + Co. KG, Germany. The panelboard business in Nastola, Finland, and part of the MDF business in Sundsvall, Sweden, will be transferred to the ownership of Dieffenbacher on February 1, 2008. The transaction value will not be disclosed. The transaction does not have a significant impact on Metso's net income.

The panelboard operations in Finland with all its 60 employees and in Sweden with its 40 employees will be transferred to Dieffenbacher.

The refiner-related operations in Sundsvall, Sweden, will remain in Metso’s ownership and are not included in the transaction. After the divestment, the panelboard business will not be reported as a separate business line but the unit will continue to supply fiber preparation technology to the global MDF industry as a part of Metso Paper.

Metso is a global engineering and technology corporation with 2006 net sales of approximately EUR 5 billion. Its more than 26,000 employees in more than 50 countries serve customers in the pulp and paper industry, rock and minerals processing, the energy industry and selected other industries. www.metso.com

Further information, please contact: Pentti Välimäki, President, Metso Panelboard, +358 40 500 5009