Atle participating in Nybron acquisition, and the creation of Europe's outstanding wood flooring enterprise

Atle participating in Nybron acquisition, and the creation of Europe's outstanding wood flooring enterprise * Atle has signed an agreement to invest SEK 122 m in Nybron International Flooring (the result of the merger of wood flooring players Nybron and Bauwerk). * Nybron International Flooring will have revenues of SEK 4 bn and a European market share of 20%. * IPO within three to four years. Atle participates in an investment collaboration with Nordic Capital, and decided to increase its commitment by means of direct investment coincident with Nordic Capital's previously announced acquisitions of Nybron and Bauwerk. In total, Atle is investing SEK 122 m in Nybron International Flooring, a group that will be Europe's clear leader with a market share of some 20%. A stock market flotation is planned within three to four years. Stockholm, 16 June 2000 Atle AB (publ) For more information, please contact: Gustav Bard, Chief Executive of Atle Mergers & Acquisitions, tel: +46 (0)70 511 6427 www.atle.se ATLE AB (Publ) BOX 7308 103 90 STOCKHOLM SWEDEN VISITING ADDRESS: REGERINGSGATAN 48 TELEPHONE +46 (0)8 506 10100 TELEFAX +46 (0)8 506 10110 CORPORATE IDENTITY NO.: 556454-8799 2 (2) Atle- key facts Atle is a growth company that intends to be 2-3 times its current size in 5 years' time. Atle is a private equity player, investing in unlisted enterprises, participating actively in their development, and after a few years, finding them a suitable new home, thereby realising value growth. Since 1993, the Atle group's earnings have risen progressively, from SEK 373 m to SEK 1,025 m in 1999. Atle maintains a brisk transaction tempo, acquiring over 20 enterprises across all sectors each year. Since inception in 1992, Atle has invested in approximately 200 businesses and exited from 100. Its annual return from these exits has exceeded 50%. 43 holdings (26% of invested capital) are in IT and other technology enterprises. Atle is quoted on the Stockholm Stock Exchange's A List and has just over 16,000 shareholders. Nybron- key facts Nybron is the biggest wood flooring corporation in Europe and comprises three business areas: Asbo (for flooring professionals), Kährs (resellers) and Marty (DIY superstores). Nybron has operations in Europe, the US and Asia, and has an employee headcount of 2,800. Bauwerk- key facts Bauwerk is headquartered in S:t Margrethen, Switzerland, and is the third largest wood flooring manufacturer in Europe, with operations in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, France and China. Bauwerk has 680 employees. Nordic Capital- key facts Nordic Capital is a major Nordic venture capitalist, and has implemented a total of 35 acquisitions since 1998, with total revenues of some SEK 55 bn. These transactions have encompassed enterprises including Nycomed Pharma, Wilson Logistics, Mölnlycke Health Care, Fritidsresegruppen, BT Industries, Intentia and Ahlsell. Nordic Capital focuses particularly on structural trade deals in collaboration with corporate management teams and is backed by a number of renowned Nordic, UK and North American institutions. ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/06/16/20000616BIT00390/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/06/16/20000616BIT00390/bit0002.pdf