HELSINKI, Finland, June 20, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Metso Corporation has been informed on June 16, 2005 about an increase in the holding of the accounts managed by NWQ Investment Management Company LLC of the paid up share capital of Metso Corporation.
On February 23, 2005, the accounts managed by NWQ Investment Management Company LLC had become beneficial owners of 431,430 Metso's common shares and 6,415,661 American Depository Receipts. These holdings amounted to 6,847,091 shares in total and corresponded to 5.03 percent of the paid up share capital and the voting rights of Metso Corporation. On February 23, 2005 the total amount of Metso shares outstanding was 136,250,545.
On May 31, 2005, the accounts managed by NWQ Investment Management Company LLC held 8,100,505 shares in Metso Corporation corresponding to 5.71 percent of the paid up share capital and the voting rights. On May 31, 2005 the total amount of Metso shares outstanding was141,654,614.
Metso is a global technology corporation serving customers in the pulp and paper industry, rock and minerals processing, the energy industry and selected other industries. In 2004, the net sales of Metso Corporation were approx. EUR 4 billion, and it has some 22,000 employees in more than 50 countries. Metso's shares are listed on the Helsinki and New York Stock Exchanges.