Helsinki, Finland, 01 January 2009 -- Metso and Wärtsilä have completed the transaction combining Metso’s Heat and Power business and Wärtsilä’s Biopower business into a joint venture, MW Power Oy. The transaction was closed on 01 January 2009.

Metso owns 60% and Wärtsilä 40% of MW Power Oy. Order backlog of approximately EUR 115 million was transferred with Wärtsilä Biopower Oy to the joint venture on the closing day. The estimated consolidated annual pro forma net sales of the company will be approximately EUR 130 million in 2008, and the number of employees will exceed 200.

MW Power Oy will be one of Europe’s leading providers of medium- and small-scale power and heating plants, with a focus on renewable fuel solutions. The technologies of the two companies are complementary. Metso’s fluidized bed combustion technology and Wärtsilä’s grate technology enable a solutions portfolio for a wide range of fuels in power and heating plants.

Metso and Wärtsilä announced in September 2008 that they had signed a contract to form the joint venture. The companies received the necessary regulatory approvals to close the joint venture from the European Commission in November 2008.

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 28,000 employees in more than 50 countries.