Metso’s board has decided to cancel its proposal to allocate an extra dividend of 0.50 euros per share, announced last week. The company said in a statement that withdrawing the proposal was in the best interests of ’the company, its shareholders, the personnel and thereby Metso’s overall position and future development.’
The announcement follows a firestorm of criticism from shareholders, unions and the media after the company announced plans to lay off 630 workers next year.
More than ten percent of Metso’s shares are held by the Finnish government through a holding company.
Finland’s minister for state ownership steering, Heidi Hautala, had sharply criticised the plan for extra dividends when the company was making big reductions in its workforce, calling the firm’s actions 'inappropriate.'
National Coalition parliamentary group chair Jan Vapaavuori and his Social Democratic counterpart Jouni Backman had also criticised Metso over the plans.