Atea – Improvement in profits in 2004

2/11/2005 4:00 AM EST

Press Release – Stockholm, 11 February 2005

Atea improved its operating profit for the full-year 2004.


(SEK m) Q4 2004 Q4 2003 Ja-dec 2004 Jan-dec 2003

Sales 1,800 1,457 5,502 4,917

Operation profit before
amortisation of goodwill
(EBITA 40* 42 87* 77

Operating profit before tax 30* 30 47* 39



The improvement in results for 2004 is primarily attributable to higher
sales and an increased service content, as well as the synergy effects
in Finland from the integration of the acquired companies Atea Novosys
Oy and Atea X-Way Oy.

"The year 2004 was characterised by continued hard pressure on prices,
as well as restructuring and consolidation within our sector. Everything
points to this scenario continuing to also characterise 2005. That Atea
nonetheless improved its results for 2004 demonstrates that we hold a
very strong position within the market," says Sebastian Lindström, Group
CEO of Atea.


* The period Jan-Dec includes SEK 11 million of non-recurring costs
related to reorganisation measures in conjunction with the acquisition
of the Finnish companies Atea Novosys Oy and Atea X-Way Oy, which were
consolidated in the Group as of June 2004. The fourth quarter includes a
positive effect of SEK 2 million regarding this item.


Atea
Atea is the leading Nordic company within sales, distribution and
integration of IT products and IT infrastructure. Atea's business
concept is to simplify and rationalise customers' management of IT
products throughout the entire life cycle.

Atea employs about 850 people in the Nordic region, and the Group CEO is
Sebastian Lindström. Sales in 2004 amounted to SEK 5,502m. In June 2004,
Atea acquired Novosys Oy and X-Way Oy in Finland with combined sales in
2003 of approximately SEK 1,200m. Atea is owned by the international
investment company 3i, WM-data, as well as the management of Atea.


For further information, please contact:

Atea
Sebastian Lindström, Group CEO
Tel: +46 (0)709-08 94 51
E-mail:  

Atea
Tomas Kihlstrand, CFO
Tel: +46 (0)709-19 71 32
E-mail:  

Atea
Johan Scherlin, Marketing & Information
Tel: +46 (0)709-19 71 35
E-mail:  

www.atea.com
(Where photographs of contact persons are also available under "Press
material")