Outotec acquired 19.9% of shares in Ausmelt Ltd and launched an off-market takeover bid to acquire all shares

OUTOTEC OYJ  STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE, December 10, 2009 AT 09.30 AM

Outotec acquired 19.9% of shares in Ausmelt Ltd and launched an off-market takeover bid to acquire all shares

Outotec acquired 19.9% of the outstanding shares in Australian public company Ausmelt Ltd from the interests associated with the company founder Dr John Floyd. In addition, Outotec has today launched an off-market takeover bid ("Offer") to acquire all shares in Ausmelt Ltd. The Ausmelt shareholders are offered cash consideration of AUD 0.85 per share. In the Offer Ausmelt is valued at AUD 34 million (approximately EUR 21 million).

One of Outotec's general strategic growth initiatives is acquisition of complementary technologies. Ausmelt's principal activities are the development, design, engineering and supply of Top Submerged Lance (TSL) smelting technology for the production of metals and processing of industrial wastes. Ausmelt's TSL technology complements Outotec's smelting technology portfolio. Outotec has currently flash smelting technology for copper and nickel concentrate smelting in large scale plants, whereas Ausmelt's TSL method is suitable also for a variety of other feed materials, such as ferrous metals, zinc, lead and tin concentrates, zinc bearing residues, and various secondary and waste materials. The significant benefit of the process is that it enables the recovery of valuable metals from by-products.

"Ausmelt has an excellent strategic fit with Outotec. Once completed, this acquisition will improve our technology portfolio in environmentally sound smelting technologies, and allows us to offer smaller scale copper and nickel smelters as well as solutions for recycling, secondary materials and process wastes. We believe that within Outotec there are significant growth opportunities for the Ausmelt technology," says Tapani Järvinen, CEO of Outotec. 

The acquisition of Ausmelt will not affect Outotec's outlook or financial result in 2009 and neither will it have a material impact on Outotec's financial position. The transaction is expected to be finalized in the first quarter of 2010.  

Information regarding the companies

Outotec is a leading international developer and provider of technologies for the mining and metallurgical industries. It offers innovative and environmentally sound plants, processes, equipment and services to its customers worldwide. Outotec's sales in 2008 amounted to approximately EUR 1.2 billion and the company has approximately 2,500 employees in 21 countries. Outotec's headquarters are located in Espoo, Finland. Outotec is listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki and its market capitalization on December 9, 2009 was approximately EUR 920 million. Additional information at www.outotec.com

Ausmelt is established in 1981, listed on the ASX and has its head office in Melbourne, Australia. Ausmelt is best known for its Top Submerged Lance (TSL) smelting technology, which was invented by its founder and current Non-Executive Deputy Chairman, Dr John Floyd. The TSL smelting technology is a high-intensity bath smelting technique with wide application in the non-ferrous, ferrous and precious metals industries. In the reporting period July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2009, Ausmelt's sales from the continuing operations amounted to AUD 18.4 million and pre-tax profit was AUD 4.3 million. The company has approximately 40 employees. Additional information at www.ausmelt.com.au  

For further information, please contact:

OUTOTEC OYJ

Harry Linnarinne, Senior Vice President - Business Development

tel. +358 20 529 2020

Eila Paatela, Vice President - Corporate Communications

tel. +358 20 529 2004, +358 400 817 198

Outotec, Australasia

John Taylor, Managing Director

tel. +61 3 9674 2301

e-mails firstname.lastname@outotec.com

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