HELSINKI, Finland, June 20, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Metso Corporation has been informed about an increase in the holding of the mutual funds and separate accounts managed by Franklin Resources, Inc. of the paid up share capital of Metso Corporation. On June 14, 2005, Franklin Resources, Inc's holdings amounted to 3.51 percent of the paid up share capital and 5.36 percent of the voting rights of Metso Corporation after being, on the basis of their previous announcement, 2.82 percent of the paid up share capital and 4.95 percent of the voting rights on January 26, 2005.
Holdings by mutual funds of Franklin Resources, Inc. were as follows on June 14, 2005:
Franklin Mutual Advisers, LLC 1,845,600 shares Franklin Templeton Investments (Asia) Ltd. 576,670 shares Franklin Templeton Investment Mgmt. Ltd. 2,116,825 shares Templeton Investment Counsel, LLC 432,426 shares
Total 4,971,521 shares
This holding amounts to 3.51 percent of the paid up share capital and the total voting rights of Metso Corporation.
In addition, Franklin Resources, Inc. has voting authority representing 1.85 percent of total shares and ADRs as follows:
Franklin Templeton Investments (Asia) Ltd. 182,634 ADRs Templeton Investment Counsel, LLC 2,176,764 shares Franklin Templeton Investment Mgmt. Ltd. 216,040 shares Franklin Templeton Investments Corp. 41,080 shares Franklin Templeton Investments (Asia) Ltd. 5,535 shares Total 2,622,053 shares/ADRs
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.