Metso concludes the statutory employer-employee negotiations covering its Paper business
Metso Corporation's stock exchange release on November 13, 2012 at 9.30 a.m. local time
Metso has concluded the statutory employer-employee negotiations covering personnel in its units serving the paper industry. As a result of these discussions, 400 employees will be reduced and a further 136 positions will be outsourced in Finland. The statutory employer-employee negotiations initiated in Metso units serving the paper industry in September this year and covering personnel reductions and layoffs have ended. Following the negotiations, which involved a total of approximately 4,100 employees, Metso has decided to reduce 400 jobs and outsource a further 136 positions. A total of 152 employees will take retirement and 15 will transfer to new positions in other Metso units. At the start of the negotiations on September 18, it was estimated that a maximum of 480 employees would be affected, and around 150 positions likely to be outsourced. As a result of the negotiations temporary layoffs will only be implemented if they are required by the low production and order book in 2013. Temporary layoffs could affect jobs in units serving the paper industry in Juankoski, Jyväskylä, Järvenpää, Raisio, and Valkeakoski. Metso will assist those affected through a comprehensive program aimed at helping them to set up their own company as well as retrain and find new jobs. The redundancies and outsourcing that have been decided on are intended to achieve savings of approximately EUR 25 million in annual operational costs. Cost reductions in 2013 are expected to yield savings of approximately EUR 20 million. "It's very unfortunate that we have been forced to implement such large-scale measures affecting our personnel," says Pasi Laine, President of Metso's Pulp, Paper and Power segment. "By working closely and proactively with employee representatives, however, we will try to minimize the impact of the redundancies through a comprehensive program aimed at helping people find new employment." Metso's decision to make these reductions in personnel is the result of the need to adjust the manufacturing capacity of the Group's paper business unit to the permanent structural changes that have impacted the business and weakened its competitiveness and profitability. As a result of restructuring, Metso will book non-recurring cost of around EUR 10 million in its fourth quarter results. Metso's pulp, paper and power professionals specialize in processes, machinery, equipment, services, paper machine clothing and filter fabrics. Our offering and experience cover the entire process life cycle including new production lines, rebuilds and services. www.metso.com/pulpandpaper, www.metso.com/power, www.twitter.com/MetsoPulpPaper Metso is a global supplier of technology and services to customers in the process industries, including mining, construction, pulp and paper, power, and oil and gas. Our 30,000 professionals based in over 50 countries deliver sustainability and profitability to customers worldwide. Expect results. www.metso.com , www.twitter.com/metsogroup For further information for the press, please contact: Pasi Laine, President, Pulp, Paper and Power, Metso, tel. +358 20 484 3200 Jari Vähäpesola, President Paper Business Line, Pulp, Paper and Power, Metso, tel. +358 40 558 6555 Further information for investors, please contact: Juha Rouhiainen, VP, Investor Relations, Metso Corporation, tel +358 20 484 3253 Metso Corporation Harri Nikunen CFO Juha Rouhiainen VP, Investor Relations Distribution: NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Ltd Media www.metso.com