AGA acquires Ecuador's leading carbon dioxide company

AGA ACQUIRES ECUADOR'S LEADING CARBON DIOXIDE COMPANY AGA has acquired Agua y Gas de Sillunchi, Ecuador's foremost carbon dioxide producer. The acquisition is part of AGA's focus on building up its carbon dioxide business in South America. AGA has today production in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay and in Chile a unit is under construction. -The acquisition of Sillunchi is an important step in our strategy to establish a strong position in the expansive carbon dioxide market, says Mats Eivinson, Regional Manager, Process Industry. Demand for carbon dioxide is rising primarily in the food industry, partly due to an improved standard of living in South America. The carbon dioxide is derived from natural sources outside Quito. AGA is the leading gas company in Ecuador, a position which was further consolidated through the acquisition. In autumn 1997 an extension of the production capacity at the air gas plant in Guayaquil was initiated and is scheduled for completion in the first half of 1999. For further information please contact Maris Sedlenieks, Vice President Corporate Communications, telephone +46 8 731 1050. Lidingö April 24, 1998 AGA Aktiebolag (publ) Corporate Communications ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1998/10/28/19981028BIT00140/bit0001.doc