AGA's Industrial Gas Operations in UK acquired by Air Products and Messer

AGA'S INDUSTRIAL GAS OPERATIONS IN UK ACQUIRED BY AIR PRODUCTS AND MESSER AGA has sold its industrial gas operations in the UK to Air Products Plc., a subsidiary of Air Products and Chemicals Inc. In addition to this, AGA has sold to Messer UK Ltd., a subsidiary of Messer Griesheim GmbH, its 50% holding in the production company Air Gas Production Limited. Messer UK Ltd. now owns 100% of Air Gas Production. The transactions were effective from May 6 and have given rise to a capital gain for the AGA group of around SEK 70 m. The capital gain may be subject to post-completion adjustments. AGA Gas Ltd. has been present in the UK gases market since 1989 and today has 110 employees and sales of approximately GBP 12.5 m. For further information please contact Jan Belfrage, Executive Vice President Finance, phone +46 8 731 1724 or Maris Sedlenieks, Corporate Vice President Corporate Communications, phone +46 8 731 1050. Lidingö May 7, 1999 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/1999/05/07/19990507BIT00060/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/05/07/19990507BIT00060/bit0002.pdf