Proposed changes in Atlas Copco's Board of Directors

Proposed changes in Atlas Copco's Board of Directors Stockholm, March 17, 1999Gösta Bystedt and Tom Wachtmeister will resign from the Board. The nominations are supported by shareholders representing a total of more than 40 percent of all voting rights in the Company. The following members have been nominated for re-election to the Board of Atlas Copco: Anders Scharp, Sune Carlsson, Paul-Emmanuel Janssen, Lennart Jeansson, Giulio Mazzalupi, Hari Shankar Singhania, Michael Treschow, and Jacob Wallenberg. Kurt Hellström and Ulla Litzén have also been nominated for election to the Board. Kurt Hellström, born 1943, is Executive Vice President of Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson, with regional responsibility for Asia/Oceania. Ulla Litzén, born 1956, is a Managing Director of Investor AB and a member of the company's Management Group. Ulla Litzén is also a member of the board of SKF and a deputy member of the board of Saab Automobile AB. Gösta Bystedt and Tom Wachtmeister will resign from the Board of Directors. Gösta Bystedt is leaving after playing an active part since first being elected to the Board in 1987. Tom Wachtmeister has served Atlas Copco for 40 years. He was employed in 1959, and was president and CEO of the Company during the period 1975-1991. He was first elected to the Board in 1975 and has been Vice Chairman since 1991. The auditors Stefan Holmström and Peter Markborn and the deputy auditors Thomas Jansson and Björn Sundkvist have been nominated for re-election, each to three-year terms. The nominations for Board members and auditors are supported by shareholders representing a total of more than 40 percent of all voting rights in the Company. For further information, please contact: Annika Berglund, Vice President, Corporate Communications, Atlas Copco AB Phone +46 8 743 8070, mobile +46 70 322 8070, annika.berglund@atlascopco.com ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/03/17/19990317BIT00270/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/03/17/19990317BIT00270/bit0002.pdf