Alfa Laval develops collaboration with Unilever

After an extended review of suppliers of thermal products, Unilever has signed an agreement with Alfa Laval as one of its key suppliers for heat exchangers and service solutions.

One decisive factor was that Alfa Laval was deemed to have one of the most complete product portfolios in combination with service and spare parts. In its initial stage, the agreement concerns all of Unilever's production plants in Europe and some countries in the Middle East, with Asia added in the second stage. The agreement takes effect on December 1, 2004 and applies for two years. Alfa Laval then has the option to extend the agreement. The production plants affected by the agreement are required to use those few key suppliers that meet the set requirements. Alfa Laval and Unilever have previously cooperated in a pan-European agreement regarding deliveries of fluid handling equipment such as pumps, valves and installation materials. Editor's notes: Alfa Laval is a leading global provider of specialized products and engineering solutions based on its key technologies of heat transfer, separation and fluid handling. The company’s equipment, systems and services are dedicated to assisting customers in optimizing the performance of their processes. The solutions help them to heat, cool, separate and transport products in industries that produce foods and beverages, chemicals and petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, starch, sugar and ethanol. Alfa Laval’s products are also used in power plants, aboard ships, in the mechanical engineering industry, in the mining industry and for wastewater treatment, as well as for comfort climate and refrigeration applications. Alfa Laval’s worldwide organization works closely with customers in nearly 100 countries to help them stay ahead in the global arena. Alfa Laval is listed on the Stockholm Exchange and, in 2003, posted annual sales of about SEK 14 billion (approx. 1.5 billion euros). The company has some 9,400 employees. For further information, please visit the Alfa Laval website at www.alfalaval.com. Unilever is an Anglo-Dutch corporation with approximately 235,000 employees in over 100 countries. The companies in the Group produce and market many leading brands within home care, personal care and food. Unilever's brand portfolio includes Knorr, Flora/Becel, Lipton, Comfort, Dove, Lux and Rexona. Worldwide turnover in 2003 was EUR 42,942 million. Further information can be found at www.unilever.com. For more information please contact: Peter Torstensson Vice President, Communications Tel: + 46 46 36 72 31 Mikael Sjöblom Investor Relations Tel: +46 46 36 74 82