Metso Extends Belt Services with Australian Acquisition

Metso will acquire G&F Beltline Services Pty Ltd. (Beltline), a provider of conveyor belt installations and maintenance services to the mining industry based in Jandakot, Western Australia. The seller is a private family trust. The value of the deal is approximately EUR 7 million and the company will be transferred to Metso and integrated into Metso Minerals' Mining business line on October 15, 2008.

The transaction provides Metso with a belt fabrication shop in Jandakot and four service workshops close to Western Australia's mining activity. The shop fabricates conveyor belts and auxiliary equipment and is able to handle belt reels and jobs of any size and complexity. Metso looks forward to continuing servicing the belt lines for Beltline's current mining customers and to expanding the installed base further. Furthermore, Metso intends to apply the acquired service network and resources for further strengthening its overall services and offering towards the mining industry in Western Australia.

Approximately 90 employees are expected to transfer to Metso. The new work force will allow, for instance, the expansion of Metso's consultation, training, and monitoring services in Australia. Established in 1985, Beltline’s annual net sales are approximately EUR 11 million.

The acquisition is a part of Metso's profitable growth strategy to develop its services business. Metso's target is to enhance lead times and efficiency of deliveries, enabling larger order intake of capital equipment and major projects.

Metso is a global engineering and technology corporation with 2007 net sales of over EUR 6 billion. The company has more than 27,000 employees in approximately 50 countries serving customers in the pulp and paper industry, rock and minerals processing, the energy industry, and selected other industries. For more information, visit www.metso.com.