AGA and Outokumpu sign new agreement

AGA AND OUTOKUMPU SIGN NEW AGREEMENT -VALUED 250 MILLION USD AGA has signed a new long-term gas supply agreement with the Finnish Outokumpu Group. The agreement is worth 250 million USD. As a part of the agreement, AGA acquires Outokumpu's production plants for air gases and hydrogen. - The agreement strengthens our position in one of our most important key markets and will from the start have a positive effect on our result. It optimizes our supply structure, says Leif Svensson, head of Business Area Process Industry. He sees great opportunities in the increased cooperation with Outokumpu, one of the leading companies in manufacturing stainless steel, copper, nickel and zinc. - For us the cooperation with AGA is of very high value, especially as they can secure our demand for air gases for a long time. The agreement also makes it possible for us to concentrate on our core competencies in metallurgy, says Asko Parviainen, President of Outokumpu Harjavalta Metals Oy. For further information, please contact: AGA AB, Maris Sedlenieks, Vice President Corporate Communications, phone +46 8 731 1050. Outokumpu Harjavalta Metals Oy, Pentti Ahola, Vice President, Production Services, phone +358 2 5358 301, +358 40 419 0483. Outokumpu Polarit Oy, Risto Liisanantti, Administrative Director, phone +358 16 452 268. Lidingö November 17, 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/1998/11/17/19981117BIT00040/bit0001.pdf http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1998/11/17/19981117BIT00040/bit0002.doc