Atlas Copco successfully completes purchase of Rental Service Corporation shares

7/28/1999 8:46 AM EST

Atlas Copco successfully completes tender offer for Rental Service Corporation
common stock

Stockholm, Sweden, New York, NY, and Scottsdale, Arizona, July 28, 1999 -
Atlas Copco North America Inc., a subsidiary of Sweden-based Atlas Copco AB,
and Rental Service Corporation (NYSE: RSV) today announced the successful
completion of the tender offer by Pandion Acquisition Corp., a wholly owned
subsidiary of Atlas Copco North America, for all outstanding shares of Rental
Service common stock at a purchase price of $29.00 per share in cash, without
interest, which tender offer expired at 12:00 Midnight, New York City time, on
Tuesday, July 27, 1999. A total of 22,471,405 shares (including 673,600 shares
subject to guarantees of delivery) were tendered in the offer and accepted for
payment by Pandion Acquisition, representing approximately 92.5% of the
outstanding shares of Rental Service common stock.

Atlas Copco North America and Rental Service also announced that the parties
intend to consummate the merger of Pandion Acquisition with and into Rental
Service contemplated by the merger agreement previously announced by the
parties on June 28, 1999, as promptly as practicable. In connection with the
merger, Atlas Copco North America will acquire the remaining shares of Rental
Service common stock for $29.00 per share in cash, without interest. The
parties anticipate that the merger will be consummated on or about July 29,
1999.

Atlas Copco is an international group of industrial companies with its head
office in Stockholm, Sweden. In 1998, the Group had revenues of USD 4.2
billion, with 97 percent of revenues outside Sweden, and more than 23,000
employees. Atlas Copco companies develop, manufacture, and market electric and
pneumatic tools, compressed air equipment, construction and mining equipment,
assembly systems, and motion control products and offer related service and
equipment rental. Well-known North American companies in the Atlas Copco Group
are Prime Service, Inc., Milwaukee Electric Tool Company, and Chicago
Pneumatic Tool Company. Additional information about Atlas Copco is available
at the Group's web site, www.atlascopco.com, which provides access to current
news about the Company.

Rental Service Corporation is a leader in the rapidly growing equipment rental
industry, serving the needs of a variety of industrial, manufacturing and
construction markets. Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Rental Service
operates 274 locations throughout the United States and Canada. Additional
information about Rental Service is available at its web site at
www.rentalservice.com.


For further information, please contact:
Atlas Copco:
Mark Cohen, Executive Vice President, Atlas Copco North America Inc.
Phone: +1-973-439 3410,  

Lennart Johansson, Senior Vice President, Controlling, M&A Director.
Mobile +46 70 588 8570,  

Annika Berglund, Vice President, Corporate Communications, (media)
Mobile +46 70 322 8070,  

Beacon Hill Partners:
Edward McCarthy
Phone +1-212-843 8500

Rental Service Corporation:
Robert M. Wilson, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
Phone +1-480-905 3300,  

Kekst and Company:
Thomas Davies or David Kronfeld
Phone +1-212-521 4800