YIT?S AND BOTNIA?S JOINT VENTURE TO HANDLE THE MAINTENANCE OF ALL OF BOTNIA?S MILLS IN FINLAND

YIT’S AND BOTNIA’S JOINT VENTURE TO HANDLE THE MAINTENANCE OF ALL OF BOTNIA’S MILLS IN FINLAND

Oy Metsä-Botnia Ab and Botnia Mill Service Ltd have signed a letter of intent to transfer the maintenance of Botnia’s pulp mills in Rauma and Äänekoski to Botnia Mill Service, a joint venture of YIT and Botnia. Under the agreement, about 100 people will transfer into the employ of Botnia Mill Service.

The company already attends to the end-to-end maintenance of Botnia’s mills in Kemi, Joutseno and Kaskinen.

“We made our first cooperation agreement in 2001. A decision was now made on the basis of the development that followed and our experiences of our cooperation: our partner Botnia Mill Service will be responsible for the maintenance of all our mills as from the beginning of 2007. This decision is in line with Botnia’s strategy,” says Botnia’s Ilkka Hämälä, Senior Vice President, Supply chain and Production.

YIT seeks to step up its maintenance services for industry. The company zeroes in especially on end-to-end partnerships in which YIT’s expertise and understanding of customer processes play a prominent role.

“The long-term development efforts we’ve engaged in with Botnia yield results. I believe that we have been able to meet the customer’s expectations,” says Juha Moisio, head of the Maintenance Services division, which is part of the YIT Industrial and Network Services business segment.

Botnia Mill Service Ltd is a maintenance and plant service company that was established by Botnia and YIT in 1997. It is part of YIT’s Maintenance Services division.

For additional information, contact: YIT Industrial and Network Services Ltd: Juha Moisio,  Senior Vice President, Maintenance Services, tel. +358 400 586 664 Botnia Mill Service Ltd: Erkki Huusko, Managing Director,  tel. +358 400 681 196 Oy Metsä-Botnia Ab: Ilkka Hämälä, Senior Vice President,  Supply chain and Production, tel. +358 50 598 8617

YIT CORPORATION

 Veikko Myllyperkiö Vice President, Corporate Communications

Distribution: Helsinki Stock Exchange, principal media, www.yitgroup.com