Metso's Board approves a demerger plan to divide Metso into two companies - Seite 3

• Metso Corporation: Total assets of EUR 4,005 million, total equity of EUR 1,362 million, gross debt of EUR 1,095 million, net debt of EUR 388 million, net sales of EUR 4,499 million, and EBITA before non-recurring items of EUR 496 million 

• Valmet Corporation: Total assets of EUR 2,637 million, total equity of EUR 865 million, gross debt of EUR 195 million, net debt of EUR -72 million, net sales of EUR 3,005 million, and EBITA before non-recurring items of EUR 192 million 

Alongside its strategy study, Metso has taken steps to arrange financing for both Metso and Valmet in preparation for the demerger. This process has included obtaining consents and waivers from the lenders under Metso's EUR 500 million revolving credit facility and also from a majority of the lenders under its bilateral loan arrangements, which consents and waivers, in the aggregate, cover financial facilities totaling approximately EUR 2,700 million. In order to facilitate the demerger process, Metso will today also launch a consent solicitation process in respect of Metso's bonds issued under the company's EMTN programme. The aggregate nominal amount of these bonds is approximately EUR 900 million and they would, in accordance with the demerger plan, remain obligations of Metso. Metso has also agreed on a new committed back-up facility of EUR 500 million to support the consent solicitation process with the bondholders.

Metso has also arranged new funding for Valmet, including a EUR 200 million term loan, with a maturity of three years, and a EUR 200 million syndicated revolving credit facility, with a maturity of five years from the demerger date.

Metso has received a favorable pre-ruling from the Finnish tax authorities confirming the tax-neutral treatment of the demerger in Finland.  

Metso plans to hold an Extraordinary General Meeting on or about October 1, 2013 to decide on the demerger and other Board proposals based on the demerger plan. A separate notice related to the Extraordinary General Meeting will be issued by the Metso Board at a later time. Certain major Metso shareholders, including Solidium, Cevian Capital, Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Company and Ilmarinen Mutual Pension Insurance Company, have signed an undertaking to vote in favor of the demerger at the Extraordinary General Meeting. The demerger and listing prospectus, which is expected to be published in September 2013, will contain more detailed information on the demerger as well as on Valmet and Metso and their financial position.