Preliminary Year-End Report Jan 1-Dec 31, 1998

Preliminary Year-End Report for 1998 The Board of Directors proposes that the dividend be raised by 20 percent to SEK 4.50. Average dividend growth during the past five-year period is thus 15 percent per year. The increase in value for the portfolio of listed stocks was 5 percent in 1998 (General Index: 10 percent). 1 Net asset value at year-end was SEK 160 per share and CPN , an increase of 7 percent for the year. Net asset value per share and CPN at February 8, 1999, was SEK 166. The shareholding in PLM was sold for SEK 1.2 billion, generating a capital gain of SEK 712 M. Industrivärden

AGA considers withdrawal from UK

AGA CONSIDERS WITHDRAWAL FROM UK AGA's ongoing restructuring program has lead to a review of the UK activities. The market share is small and the profitability has not reached a satisfactory level. AGA has therefore initiated a process to evaluate the possibilities of a sale of the UK operations. It is expected that the sale process, which is now in the bid evaluation phase, will be finalized within the near future. AGA has been present in the UK gases market since 1989 and has today 110 employees and sales of approximately GBP 12.5m. For further information please contact Jan Belfrage,

NEG Micon, negotiates the acquisition of the Vindkompaniet i Hemse AB

Preliminary result of special audit

Preliminary result of special audit at Trelleborg AB In recent weeks, details have appeared in the Swedish media questioning former Trelleborg president Kjell Nilsson's use of the Company's aircraft and the part he has played in the purchase of various building services, among other matters. Accordingly, at its meeting on January 26, the Trelleborg AB Board of Directors urged the Company's auditors to investigate the various claims as quickly as possible. The Trelleborg AB Board has today discussed a preliminary audit memorandum regarding former president Kjell Nilsson's expenses in

Year end report

Year-end report for 1998 To provide a true and fair picture of the Group's position and earnings capacity ahead in time, the formal income statement and balance sheet for 1998 have been supplemented with pro forma accounts based upon the situation that would exist if the current holding Boliden is spun off to shareholders in May 1999, as proposed. Operating profit for the year amounted to SEK 736 M, pro forma SEK 980 M. Profit after net financial income and expense for the year totaled SEK 616 M, pro forma SEK 860 M. Combined, net sales for the Group's Industrial and Distribution operations

24/7 Media Europe Launches Four Nordic Operations

24/7 MEDIA EUROPE LAUNCHES FOUR NORDIC OPERATIONS London, 9th February 1999 - 24/7 Media Europe, the new European Internet ad sales company formed by 24/7 Media Inc. (NASDAQ: TFSM) and InterAd Holdings Ltd, today announced four new subsidiaries for the Nordic region. The companies will trade as 24/7 Media Norge, 24/7 Media Sverige, 24/7 Media Danmark and 24/7 Media Suomi. Operations in Oslo and Stockholm have been established, with Copenhagen and Helsinki due to open within the next month. Working alongside 24/7 Media Europe's existing international operations, each will offer services for

Today the boards have decided to lend their support to the merger of Astra and Zeneca

Today, based upon current information available, the boards of SEB Fondförvaltning AB, S-E-Banken Allemansfonder AB, Trygg Fonder AB, as well as that of Trygg Allemansfond Förvaltning AB, have decided to lend their support to the merger of Astra and Zeneca. For further information kindly contact: William af Sandeberg, Head of SEB Fondförvaltning AB. Telephone: +46 8 788 62 80, or Patrik Tigerschiöld, Head of S-E-Banken Allemansfonder AB. Telephone: +46 8 788 62 40. ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The

Hilding Anders approved by the EU Commission

Formation of Europe's third largest bed manufacturer - Hilding Anders - approved by the EU Commission The EU Commission has approved the merger of the bed manufacturers, Hilding Anders and Apax, which as a result forms the third largest bed manufacturer in Europe. The annual sales rate in the new company amounts to just under SEK 1 billion, earnings before financial income and expenses to approximately SEK 110M, annual production to 700,000 beds and number of employees to 500. The new Group, in which Atle is the largest owner with 36 per cent, will be named Hilding Anders AB. It is expected

Eight Swedish Guldbagge Awards in seven classes to Sonet Film

EIGHT SWEDISH GULDBAGGE AWARDS IN SEVEN CLASSES TO SONET FILM Sonet Film is distributor and/or co-producer of seven of the classes that were awarded the Swedish Oscar-type award, the Guldbagge of the Swedish Film Institute, at this year´s major Swedish film gala at the Stockholm Royal Opera House. The winner of most awards was ´Fucking Åmål´ (´Show me love´), which is distributed by Sonet. "After ten years of hard and dedicated work to heighten interest in Swedish film both in Sweden and internationally, it is very gratifying that there were so many Guldbagge awards to us this year," says

Assa Abloy year-end report 1998

Sales and income, January-December, 1998The sales of the ASSA ABLOY Group amounted to 8 582 MSEK (6 968), an increase of 23%. The organic growth for comparable units and in local currency amounted to 6% (8). Exchange rate changes have affected sales by +197 MSEK compared to last year.   The Group's result before tax increased by 39% to 748 MSEK (537). Exchange rate changes have had a positive effect of 11 MSEK when recalculating the subsidiaries' result to SEK. All units continue to show improving margin. Earnings per share increased to 7.28 SEK (5.09) and has been calculated after

Application for permission to acquire forestland rejected

Application for permission to acquire forestland rejected The Swedish Board of Agriculture yesterday announced its decision to reject an application from the AssiDomän Group regarding an internal transfer to a wholly owned subsidiary, named Sveaskog, of a total of 883,000 Ha of productive forestland in accordance with the Land Transfer Act (Jordförvärvslagen). The transfer was needed to complete the spin-off of Sveaskog to AssiDomän's shareholders as well as an offer by the Swedish Government to AssiDomän's shareholders to acquire Sveaskog shares against a portion of the Swedish Goverment's

Clarification from Atlas Copco

Clarification "The positive statements on the development of the Rental Service business (approximately 12% of the Group revenues) were essentially the same that had previously been communicated at open analysts and press meetings and in the CEO comment to the third quarter interim report on October 22, 1998. The comments on the value of the Rental Service business to the Atlas Copco Group were related to the fact that this business will be reported separately as from 1999." Atlas Copco is an international group of industrial companies with its head office in Stockholm, Sweden, and 97

Ericsson and Omnipoint sign first U.S. agreement for GPRS trial and launch

Ericsson and Omnipoint sign first U.S. agreement for GPRS trial and launch Ericsson and Omnipoint Communications Services have signed the first agreement to provide GPRS (General Packet Radio Services) in the United States. The companies will conduct field trials of several GPRS applications in the Omnipoint PCS (Personal Communication Services) 1900 MHz network during 1999. Omnipoint expects commercial launch of its GPRS offerings by mid 2000. Using the existing GSM network, GPRS technology will allow Omnipoint to offer wireless access to Internet and other IP-based services at speeds up

Year-End Report 1998

Year-End Report 1998 www.scandic-hotels.com 1998 in brief * Income after net financial items rose by 60 per cent to SEK 274 million (171m). Adjusted for an item affecting comparability, earnings improved by 71 per cent to SEK 293 million (171m). * Sales rose by 35 per cent to SEK 5,004 million (3,697m). For comparable units, sales rose by 8 per cent, due to an increase in volumes and average room revenues. * The operating margin rose to 6.2 per cent (5.2%) and the return on equity was 19 per cent (24%). Adjusted for an item affecting comparability, the operating margin was 6.5 per cent. * A

Eurosport and MTG's TV-Shop Europe to join forces on TV and on the Internet

EUROSPORT AND MTGS TV-SHOP EUROPE TO JOIN FORCES ON TV AND ON THE INTERNET Eurosport, Europe's no. 1 Sports Channel, and MTG owned TV-Shop Europe, the European market leader in Electronic Retailing, are joining forces within the fields of homeshopping. The agreement is one of the biggest of its kind worldwide, and includes both TV and Internet shopping activities. The co-operation starts on March 1st, 1999. According to the first part of the agreement, TV-Shop Europe, owned by Modern Times Group MTG AB, will air it¹s "TV-Shop - the Channel" seven days a week troughout the night and early

Assa Abloy Joins Forces With Lockwood - The Number One Lock Company In Australia

Background ASSA ABLOY´s strategy is based on acquiring leading lock companies in mature markets in parallel with organic growth in emerging markets.   "Australia is an interesting market and Lockwood the clear market leader. In addition, the combination of our operations in Asia opens great opportunities. The formation of the joint venture is therefor a logical and vital step in the implementation of our strategy", says Carl-Henric Svanberg, CEO of ASSA ABLOY.   EMAIL, the joint venture partner and present owner of Lockwood is a listed Australian industrial conglomerate with

Atlas Copco's largest production site receives ISO 14001 certification

Atlas Copco's largest production site receives ISO 14001 certification Stockholm, February 8, 1999 This approval by Lloyd's Register of Quality Assurance verifies that the site's Environmental Management System, implemented in the design and manufacture of air compressors, generator sets, and accessories, fulfills the requirements of the ISO 14001 standard. "Atlas Copco Airpower is the main development and manufacturing facility in the Compressor Technique business area, so we consider this certificate an important milestone in the implementation of an Environmental Management System

Securitas AB Year-End Report January - December 1998

Sales increased by 27 percent to MSEK 13,710 (10,763), of which 9 percent is organic growthIncome before taxes increased by 25 percent to MSEK 766 (614)Free cash flow increased by 29 percent to MSEK 583 (451)Earnings per share after standard taxes increased by 21 percent to SEK 1.82 (1.50)'The Board of Directors proposes a dividend for 1998 of 0.85 SEK (0.69)STOCKHOLM, FEBRUARY 8, 1999Thomas BerglundPresident and Chief Executive OfficerThe full Year-end report including tables is available to download from the enclosed link below.

Securitas AB invites to Information Meeting

On account of Securitas AB:s Year-End Report, Securitas AB hereby invites to an information meeting.Time: Monday, February 8, 1999, at 3 p.m.Place: Securitas Building, Lindhagensplan 70, 102 28 Stockholm, SwedenParticipants from Securitas AB are:Thomas Berglund, VD and CEO, Amund Skarholt, vice VD and COOHåkan Winberg, vice VD and CFO, and Camilla Weiner, Manager Investor Relations.The press release of the Year-End Report will be sent at approximately 12 noon, Monday, February 8.Welcome!

Ericsson to build TDMA network in El Salvador

Ericsson to build TDMA network in El Salvador Ericsson has signed a contract with CTE Telecom Personal in El Salvador for the construction of a TDMA (IS-136) wireless network to operate in the 1900 MHz band. The contract is valued at USD 30 million (SEK 235 million). The initial phase of the network will go into commercial service this month with coverage in the San Salvador metropolitan and airport areas. Rapid build- out of the network will provide nationwide coverage by April 1999. CTE Telecom Personal, is a new wireless operator in El Salvador, with France Telecom owning a 51 percent

Haldex wins a first, larger ABS order in Asia

Haldex wins a first, larger ABS order in Asia Haldex has through its daughter company in Korea received a first, larger order in Asia for Antilock Braking Systems (ABS). Jindo, the largest trailer manufacturer in Korea and one of the leaders in this industry in all of Asia, has selected Haldex Brake Systems Division to supply Antilock Braking Systems and Automatic Brake Adjusters for an important order for about 4,000 trailers which will be delivered to a large overseas customer. Jindo specified Haldex products due to their excellent performance and Haldex solid quality reputation as a

NCC to establish separate BOT organization

NCC to establish separate BOT organization NCC has decided to institute a separate BOT (build, operate and transfer) unit in order to increase its ability to generate business opportunities in this segment. The new unit will actively develop BOT projects and be an active owner of projects during the development phase, with the aim of sharpening NCC's competitiveness. There is an increasing global trend within the construction sector towards the application of BOT (also known as BOO, BTO, PPP and PFI) solutions. To date, the Arlanda Link railway system, in which NCC is active as both a

AssiDomän to close sack plant in Germany

AssiDomän to close sack plant in Germany AssiDomän Herkules in Germany today announced that the company intends to close the sack plant in Nienburg during 1999. All 70 jobs at the plant are affected and discussions with the unions will start immediately. The German sack market has been declining for several years. During 1998 the market dropped 6%. There is also a strong price pressure in the market due to a substantial overcapacity. The proposed closure of the Nienburg plant is part of a restructuring programme aiming at efficiency and profitability improvements within AssiDomän Sacks,

Micro Systemation signs licensing agreement with Vivid Technology Pte Ltd.

Micro Systemation signs licensing agreement with Vivid Technology Pte Ltd. The agreement means that Vivid Technology Pte Ltd., the Singapore-based company, will be integrating SoftGSM into its PC card product VersaQuad, a multi-functional card comprising four functions in one and the same PC card. There is a great deal of interest in SoftGSM and the software technology we sell, says Henrik Tjernberg, Managing Director for Micro Systemation. Our goal of becoming the world number one in GSM modems has already been realised in practice, he adds. An initial order for 5,000 licenses has been