HELSINKI, Finland, Dec. 13, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- Metso Corporation (NYSE:MX) has been informed about the holding of the funds managed by Franklin Resources Group of the paid up share capital of Metso Corporation. The funds managed by Franklin Resources Group owned Metso's shares and ADR's December 10, 2001 as follows:
-- Templeton Global Advisers, Ltd. 6,002,361 shares -- Templeton Investment Counsel, LLC 252,330 shares -- Franklin Advisers, Inc. 162,660 shares -- Franklin Templeton Investments Corp. 258,568 shares -- Franklin Templeton Investments Aus Ltd. 87,713 shares
Total 6,763,632 shares
This holding amounts to 4.96 percent of the paid up share capital and the total votes of Metso Corporation.
In addition, Franklin Resources Inc. has voting authority representing 1.50 percent of total shares as follows:
-- Templeton Franklin Invt. Services, Inc. 172,488 shares/ADRs -- Templeton Global Advisers Ltd. 8,000 shares/ADRs -- Templeton Investment Counsel, LLC 1,700,298 shares/ARDs -- Franklin Templeton Investments Corp. 123,752 shares/ADRs -- Franklin Templeton Investments Aus Ltd. 41,178 shares/ADRs
Total 2,045,716 shares/ADRs
Franklin Resources Group's total holding of Metso's share capital amounted to 4.96 percent on December 10, 2001, after being, on the basis of their previous announcement, 7.42 percent on November 28, 2000. Total amount of voting rights managed by the funds of Franklin Resources Group represented 6.46 percent of Metso's paid up share capital on December 10, 2001 after being, on the basis of their previous announcement, 9.97 percent on November 28, 2000.
Metso Corporation is a global supplier of process industry machinery and systems. Metso's core businesses are divided between Metso Paper (fiber and paper technology), Metso Minerals (rock and mineral processing) and Metso Automation (automation and control technology). In 2000, the net sales of Metso Corporation were EUR 3.9 billion, and the personnel totaled approximately 22,000. Metso Corporation is listed on the Helsinki and New York Stock Exchanges.
Metso completed its offer for Svedala Industri AB on September 14, 2001. Svedala is a global supplier of products and services for rock and mineral processes. Metso's and Svedala's combined net sales are approximately EUR 5,400 million (in 2000) and the amount of personnel is approximately 32,000.