Vantaa, Finland, 26 March 2009 -- Metso has concluded employee negotiations regarding reduction of personnel at Metso Paper Karlstad AB, Sweden. As a result the company will reduce staffing by 45 persons.

The company's operations are part of Metso's Tissue and Paper business lines. The reduction is part of the capacity adjustments and relocating of operations initiated within Metso's Paper and Fiber Technology segment. The primary reason for the rearrangements is the weakening of the global market situation. Operations must be downsized and made more flexible to handle changes in the market.

Personnel negotiations were initiated on 19 January 2009, and concluded on 23 March 2009. The reductions will start by 19 May and will be finalized by the end of 2009. The one-time costs related to these arrangements are not expected to be material for Metso.

Metso Paper Karlstad AB currently employs close to 500 people in Karlstad. The unit supplies technology and services for the global tissue making industry and for the Scandinavian paper and board industry. Altogether Metso employs more than 3100 people in Sweden.

Metso (www.metso.com) is a global supplier of sustainable technology and services for mining, construction, power generation, automation, recycling and the pulp and paper industries. The company has more than 29,000 employees in more than 50 countries.