CONTACTS:
Dennis Braun, Chief Financial Officer
Phone:          ++41 1 944 3345
Fax:            ++41 1 944 2470

Mary T. Finnegan, Treasurer / Investor Relations
Phone:          ++1 614 438 4748
Fax:            ++1 614 438 4646


                  METTLER-TOLEDO INTERNATIONAL INC. ADOPTS
                          STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN


GREIFENSEE, Switzerland and COLUMBUS, Ohio, USA - August 26, 2002 -
Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE: MTD) today announced that its
Board of Directors has adopted a Stockholder Rights Plan under which the
Company has declared a non-cash dividend of one right for each outstanding
share of METTLER TOLEDO common stock. The Rights Plan is designed to assure
that all stockholders receive fair and equal treatment in the event of any
proposed takeover and to guard against coercive or unfair tactics to gain
control of METTLER TOLEDO without paying all stockholders the fair value of
their shares. The Plan was not adopted in response to any specific attempt
to acquire the Company.

The Rights, which expire on September 5, 2012, entitle stockholders to buy
one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock at an exercise price of $150. The Rights will be distributed to those
stockholders of record as of close of business on September 5, 2002. The
distribution is generally non-taxable to METTLER TOLEDO stockholders.


The Rights Plan provides that should any person or group acquire, or
announce a tender or exchange offer for, 15% or more of the Company's
common stock, each Right, other than Rights held by the acquiring person or
group, would entitle its holder to purchase a number of shares of the
Company's common stock for 50% of its then-current market value. Unless a
15% acquisition has occurred, the Rights may be redeemed by the Board of
Directors of the Company at any time. The Rights Plan will not be triggered
by a tender or exchange offer for all outstanding shares of the Company at
a price and on terms that the Company's Board of Directors determines to be
adequate and in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders.

The Rights Plan exempts any stockholder that beneficially owns 15% or more
of the Company's common stock as of today's date. However, the Rights will
become exercisable if, at any time after today's date, any of these
stockholders acquire additional shares of the Company's common stock in an
amount which is greater than 2% of the Company's outstanding common stock.

Initially, the Rights will be attached to and trade with the certificates
representing shares of common stock, and no separate certificates
representing the Rights will be distributed. A Form 8-K, detailing the
Rights Plan, will be filed tomorrow with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Furthermore, all stockholders will be mailed a summary of the
Rights Plan after the record date.



METTLER TOLEDO is a leading global manufacturer of precision instruments.
The Company is the world's largest manufacturer and marketer of weighing
instruments for use in laboratory, industrial and food retailing
applications. The Company also holds top-three market positions in several
related analytical instruments and is a leading provider of automated
chemistry systems used in drug and chemical compound discovery and
development. In addition, the Company is the world's largest manufacturer
and marketer of metal detection systems used in production and packaging.
Additional information about METTLER TOLEDO can be found on the World Wide
Web at "www.mt.com."

Statements in this discussion which are not historical facts may be
considered "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and
uncertainties. For a discussion of these risks and uncertainties, which
could cause actual events or results to differ from those contained in the
forward-looking statements, see Exhibit 99.1 to the Company's Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year.