OUTLOOK ON METSO'S RATING CHANGED NEGATIVE BY STANDARD & POOR'S


Standard & Poor's Rating Services has lowered the outlook on the BBB long-term rating of Metso Corporation from stable to negative. At the same time, the short-term rating was lowered to A-3 from A-2.
 
Metso Corporation is a global supplier of process industry machinery and systems, as well as know-how and aftermarket services. The Corporation's core businesses are fiber and paper technology (Metso Paper), rock and mineral processing (Metso Minerals) and automation and control technology (Metso Automation). In 2002, the net sales of Metso Corporation were EUR 4.7 billion and the personnel totaled approximately 28, 500. Metso Corporation is listed on the Helsinki and New York Stock Exchanges