SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 6-K

Report of Foreign Issuer Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

[June 29, 2004]

Metso Corporation

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)
Fabianinkatu 9 A,
PO Box 1220
FIN-00101
Helsinki, Finland

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F

Form 20-F _____X____                  Form 40-F __________

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Yes __________                  No _____X____

If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g-32(b):82-_________

 

   

 

 

SIGNATURES

Date June 29, 2004

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf of the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Name:

Olli Vaartimo
Executive Vice President and CFO
Metso Corporation 		Harri Luoto
Senior Vice President,
General Counsel
Metso Corporation

 

   

 

 

METSO’S, NOKIA’S AND HANSAPRINT’S JOINT VENTURE CLEARED BY EU COMMISSION

(Helsinki, Finland, June 29, 2004) - Metso Corporation (NYSE: MX; HEX: MEO) is outsourcing its development project related to intelligent packaging and printing to a new joint venture established with Hansaprint, a Finnish printing house, and Nokia Corporation. The new company, Avantone Oy, will develop and commercialize technologies and solutions for packaging and printing and marketing communications. The company has been approved by the EU Commission. Metso and Nokia own an equal share of the company, and together they own the majority of Avantone’s shares. Avantone Oy will be headed by Ilkka Kesola from Metso.

Avantone’s target is to develop solutions for consumer packaging and printed media, providing more information and visual appeal to printed products and combining digital content and additional services to packaging.

The new company will start its operations after the necessary set up procedures and other approvals have been completed.

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 2003, the net sales of Metso Corporation were EUR 4.3 billion. Metso has approximately 26,000 employees in 50 countries. Metso Corporation is listed on the Helsinki and New York Stock Exchanges.

For further information please contact:
Vesa Kainu, President, Metso Ventures, tel. + 358 204 84 3258
Helena Aatinen, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, Metso Corporation,
tel. +358 204 84 3004

or

Helena Aatinen, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, Metso Corporation, tel. +358 20 484 3004
USA: Mike Phillips, Senior Vice President, Finance and Administration, Metso USA, Inc., tel. +1 617 369 7850

It should be noted that certain statements herein which are not historical facts, including, without limitation, those regarding expectations for general economic development and the market situation, expectations for customer industry profitability and investment willingness, expectations for company growth, development and profitability and the realization of synergy benefits and cost savings, and statements preceded by “expects”, “estimates”, “forecasts” or similar expressions, are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current decisions and plans and currently known factors. They involve risks and uncertainties which may cause the actual results to materially differ from the results currently expected by the company.

Such factors include, but are not limited to:
(1) general economic conditions, including fluctuations in exchange rates and interest levels which influence the operating environment and profitability of customers and thereby the orders received by the company and their margins
(2) the competitive situation, especially significant technological solutions developed by competitors
(3) the company’s own operating conditions, such as the success of production, product development and project management and their continuous development and improvement
(4) the success of pending and future acquisitions and restructuring.