Nyrstar NV

Major Shareholding Notification • Mar 9, 2011

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT FOR RELEASE, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.

NEWS RELEASE Regulated information

Nyrstar: Shareholder Notification

9 March 2011

Nyrstar announced today that it received on 8 March 2011 a notification by UBS AG of a significant shareholding in accordance with Belgian Act of 2 May 2007 on the disclosure of significant shareholdings in issuers whose securities are admitted to trading on a regulated market and containing various provisions.

UBS AG informed Nyrstar that as a result of the acquisition of voting securities in Nyrstar the participation of UBS(1) in Nyrstar crossed the threshold of 3% of the outstanding voting rights on 2 March 2011.

UBS(1) holds in the aggregate on 2 March 2011 3,090,387 voting rights. In addition, it holds rights and convertible bonds issued by Nyrstar that can be exercised or converted into shares with voting rights (as applicable).

(1) directly and indirectly through UBS (Luxembourg) S.A., UBS Global Asset Management (UK) Ltd., UBS Fund Management (Switzerland) AG, UBS Fund Services (Luxembourg) S.A., CCR Asset Management, UBS Global Asset Management (Deutschland) GmbH, UBS O'Connor LLC, UBS Global Asset management (Japan) Ltd and UBS Global Asset management (Americas) Inc.

Further details regarding the above notification are available on the Nyrstar website: http://www.nyrstar.com/nyrstar/en/investors/shareholderstructure/

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About Nyrstar

The partner of choice in essential resources for the development of a changing world. Nyrstar is a leading global multi-metals' business, producing significant quantities of essential resources - zinc and lead as well as other metals such as silver, gold and copper. Nyrstar is listed on NYSE Euronext Brussels under the symbol NYR. For further information visit the Nyrstar website, www.nyrstar.com.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

This announcement shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of the securities referred to herein, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration, exemption from registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

This announcement is not for release, directly or indirectly, in the United States of America, Australia, Canada, Japan or any other jurisdiction where to do so would be unlawful. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time (the "U.S. Securities Act"), and may not be offered or sold in the

NYRSTAR NV ZINKSTRAAT 1 B-2490 BALEN BELGIUM

info@nyrstar.com www.nyrstar.com

Contacts

Michael Morley Chief Corporate and Development Officer T: +41 44 745 8120 michael.morley@nyrstar.com

Investors

Anthony Simms Manager, Investor Relations T: +41 44 745 8157 M: +41 79 722 2152 anthony.simms@nyrstar.com

Media

Geert Lambrechts Manager, Corporate Communications T: +32 14 449 646 M: +32 473 637 892 geert.lambrechts@nyrstar.com

United States or to U.S. persons (as such term is defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) unless the securities are registered under the U.S. Securities Act, or an exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act is available. Nyrstar has not registered, and does not intend to register, any portion of the Offering in the United States, and does not intend to conduct a public offering of securities in the United States.

In the European Economic Area, other than Belgium, this announcement is only addressed to and is only directed at qualified investors within the meaning of Directive 2003/71/EC (together with any applicable implementing measures in any Member State, the "Prospectus Directive").

This announcement is being distributed only to, and is directed only at (a) persons outside the United Kingdom, (b) persons who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended from time to time (the "Order"), and (c) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). The securities referred to herein are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this communication or any of its contents.

No announcement or information regarding the capital increase by Nyrstar with Rights, Scrips or Shares in Nyrstar may be disseminated to the public in jurisdictions other than Belgium where a prior registration or approval is required for such purpose. No steps have been taken, or will be taken, for the offering of Rights, Scrips or Shares in any jurisdiction outside of Belgium where such steps would be required. The issue, exercise or sale of Rights, Scrips or Shares, and the subscription for or purchase of Rights, Scrips or Shares, are subject to special legal or statutory restrictions in certain jurisdictions. Nyrstar is not liable if these restrictions are not complied with by any person.

Investors may not accept an offer of securities referred to herein, nor acquire such securities, unless on the basis of information contained in the relevant prospectus or offering document that will be published or disseminated by Nyrstar. This announcement cannot be used as basis for any investment agreement or decision.