Metso’s acquisition of Aker Kvaerner’s pulping and power businesses cleared by the European Commission

Dec 12, 2006. /Lesprom Network/. Metso Corporation’s acquisition of Aker Kvaerner’s Pulping and Power businesses has been approved on December 12 by the European Commission. The clearance is subject to a remedy package. The transaction is planned to be closed at year-end 2006. The combined rolling 12-month (Q4/2005 –Q3/2006) net sales for Metso Paper and Aker Kvaerner’s pulping and power businesses are approximately Euro 2.4 billion, of which approximately 50% will come from Metso’s and Aker Kvaerner’s combined fiber and power businesses. After the closing, Metso Paper will employ some 10 500 people (8 766 at the end of September 2006). Based on the decision of the European Commission, Metso will complete the sales and purchase agreement with Groupe Laperrière & Verreault Inc. (GL&V) regarding the divestment of a remedy package. The remedy package comprises Kvaerner Pulping’s pulp washing, oxygen delignification and bleaching businesses as well as Metso’s batch cooking business and its licensing back to Metso. The parties have agreed that the transaction value is not disclosed. The divestment will be closed immediately after the transaction between Metso and Aker Kvaerner has been finalized. The remedy package accounts for approximately 4% of the combined net sales of Metso Paper and Aker Kvaerner’s pulping and power businesses. The terms of the remedy package will affect approximately 200 employees at Kvaerner Pulping in Karlstad, Sweden and Metso Paper in Pori, Finland. Employee negotiations will be initiated without delay. After the closing of the deal, Metso will be able to deliver complete pulp mills, modernizations and related services. “Many pulp producers, especially in South America and Asia, prefer to work with one supplier, who can offer both pulp production and energy recovery technology and aftermarket services. We now have an enhanced position to serve our customers in these projects. At the same time, we see great growth opportunities in the power side, especially in the environmentally-sound, bio-fuel based power generation solutions,” says Bertel Langenskiöld, who heads the integration of Aker Kvaerner’s pulping and power businesses into Metso. Metso started the integration planning of Aker Kvaerner’s pulping and power businesses into Metso Paper last summer within the limits set by competition legislation. The goal has been to ensure the continuity of the customer service, and a smooth transition for the operations within the requirements set by the European Commission. The integration of the businesses will begin after the transaction is closed. The cash and interest-bearing debt-free acquisition price, agreed in April 2006 when the sales and purchase agreement was signed, was approximately Euro 335 million. The final transaction price will be based on the balance sheet at the time of the closing. Metso will disclose the final transaction value, including the adjustments related to the remedy package, after the parties have agreed upon the closing balance sheet. Metso will update its estimates about synergies as well as non-recurring costs, including the impact of the remedy package on them, as soon as the integration teams have finalized their plans with full access to the data now available. Aker Kvaerner’s pulping and power businesses employs a total of about 2 000 people. In 2005 the combined net sales of the businesses totaled Euro 565 million and the operating profit after Aker Kvaerner’s corporate allocations was Euro 35 million. GL&V is a Canadian supplier of industrial solutions for liquid/solid separation. It has some 2 300 employees, and serves a global customer base operating in a variety of industry sectors, including pulp and paper. Metso is a global engineering and technology corporation with 2005 net sales of approximately Euro 4.2 billion. Its 23 000 employees in more than 50 countries serve customers in the pulp and paper industry, rock and minerals processing, the energy industry and selected other industries.