Metso sells its composites manufacturing business in Oulu, Finland

Published Dec 18, 2008 14.00.00 +2 GMT

Metso sells its composites manufacturing business and related assets in Oulu, Finland to xperion Oy as of December 31, 2008. The divestment is not material to Metso and the company books a small profit from the sale.

The composites manufacturing business is part of Metso's Paper and Fiber Technology segment. Its annual net sales has been less than EUR 5 million. The whole personnel, 21 people, will transfer to xperion Oy.

With the divestment, Metso will concentrate in its paper and fiber technology's core business of providing technology and related services to the global pulp and paper industry. Concurrently with the divestment Metso and xperion Oy have agreed upon a long-term supply contract for composite products.

xperion Oy is 100 % owned by the German xperion GmbH, which specializes in composite manufacturing, e.g. for printing, converting and paper industries. xperion has production units also in Germany, Denmark and North America. The company has 250 employees and 2007 net sales of EUR 50 million.

Metso is a global supplier of sustainable technology and services for mining, construction, power generation, automation, recycling and the pulp and paper industries. We have over 28,000 employees in more than 50 countries. www.metso.com

For further information, please contact:

Ari Telama, Vice President, Nordic countries, Service, Paper business line, Metso Tel. +358 50 594 6836

Johannes Feldmann, Executive Vice President Marketing and Sales, xperion GmbH Tel. + 49 5221 777 410