Atlas Copco announces a new offering

Atlas Copco announces a new offering Augusti 12, 1999 - - With reference to earlier press releases concerning Atlas Copco's tender offer for all of the outstanding shares of Rental Services Corporation, U.S., (dated June 28, and July 28, 1999) as well as preparations for a new share issue (June 28, 1999), Atlas Copco's board of directors today decided on the terms and conditions of the previously announced new issuance of shares with pre-emptive rights being offered to existing shareholders of Atlas Copco. The new issuance is expected to be approved by an extraordinary meeting of shareholders scheduled to be held on September 6, 1999. The new shares will be issued at a subscription price of 160 SEK per share. Seven (7) outstanding Series A shares entitle the holder to subscribe to one new Series A share and seven (7) outstanding Series B shares entitle the holder to subscribe to one new Series B share. The proceeds from the new issue is expected to be approximately SEK 4,190 m. The time schedule has been set along the following lines September 6, 1999 Extraordinary Meeting of shareholders votes on the Board's decision to effect a new share offering September 8, 1999 Trading of shares settle without entitlement to participate in the new offering September 10, 1999 Record date for participation in the new issue, i.e., those shareholders who are registered as shareholders in Atlas Copco's share register on such date have the right to subscribe for the newly issued shares From and including Trading with subscription rights September 15 to and including October 1, 1999 From and including Application and payment period September 15 to and including October 6, 1999 Atlas Copco is an international group of industrial companies with its head office in Stockholm, Sweden. In 1998 the Group had revenues of 4.2 BUSD, with 97 percent of revenues outside Sweden, and over 23.000 employees. Atlas Copco companies develop, manufacture, and market electric and pneumatic tools, compressors, construction and mining equipment, assembly systems, motion control products and provides related service and equipment rental. Additional information about Atlas Copco is available at the Group's web site, www.atlascopco.com, which provides access to current news about the Company. For further information, please contact: Lennart Johansson, Senior Vice President, Controlling, M&A Director Phone +46 8 743 8570, mobile +46 70 588 8570, lennart.johansson@atlascopco.com Hans Ola Meyer, Senior Vice President, Group Treasurer, (analysts) Phone +46 8 743 8292, mobile +46 70 588 8292, hans.ola.meyer@atlascopco.com Annika Berglund, Vice President, Corporate Communications, (media) phone +46 8 743 8070, mobile +46 70 322 8070, annika.berglund@atlascopco.com THE SECURITIES BEING OFFERED IN CONNECTION WITH THE NEW ISSUANCE DESCRIBED ABOVE HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), OR THE LAWS OF ANY STATE, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD WITHIN THE UNITED STATES, EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE LAWS. ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/08/12/19990812BIT00360/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/08/12/19990812BIT00360/bit0002.pdf