New Organization

NEW ORGANIZATION To strengthen AGA's focus on profitability, a new organization will be introduced as of June 8. With this change it is expected that the on-going efficiency improvement program can be carried through earlier than planned. The industrial gas operations, consisting of the Business Areas Manufacturing and Process Industry, will be split into five geographical regions headed by a Regional Manager with responsibility for earnings in his region. A Global Key Account Manager has been appointed to strengthen the co-operation with AGA's global customers. Business Area Healthcare, AGA's medical gas operations, will continue as a global division. Industrial gas operations Europe North, turnover SEK 3.8 billion, Leif Svensson, 54, at present Business Area Manager Process Industry and employed by AGA since 1980. Europe Central, turnover SEK 2.5 billion, Karsten Holbek, 51, at present Regional Business Area Manager Manufacturing Industry in the same region and employed by AGA since 1974. Europe South, turnover SEK 1.8 billion, Jan Hammarlund, 53, at present Business Area Manager Manufacturing Industry and employed by AGA since 1973. North America, turnover SEK 3.0 billion, Pat Murphy, 47, at present Regional Business Area Manager Manufacturing Industry in the same region and employed by AGA since 1979. South America, turnover SEK 1.9 billion, Horacio Labandeira, 55, at present Local Business Area Manager Manufacturing Industry in Mexico and employed by AGA since 1974. Global Key Accounts, Martin Petersson, 49, at present Regional Business Area Manager Process Industry and employed by AGA since 1977. Medical gas operations Healthcare Division, turnover SEK 2.0 billion. Lars Källsäter, 53, at present Business Area Manager Healthcare and employed by AGA since 1970. The appointments at headquarters will be decided before the end of June, when the evaluation of adapting the central resources to the new organizational structure has been finalized. Regions Europe North: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Russia, Sweden and Ukraine. Europe Central: Belgium, Germany, Poland, Switzerland and The Netherlands. Europe South: Austria, Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain. North America: Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico and USA. South America: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. For further information please contact Mr Lennart Selander, President and CEO, phone +46 8 731 1943 or Mr Maris Sedlenieks, Corporate Vice President Corporate Communications, phone +46 8 731 1050. Lidingö June 8, 1999 Lennart Selander President and CEO ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/06/08/19990608BIT00350/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/06/08/19990608BIT00350/bit0002.pdf