Atle-Synthetic Options

Synthetic options The Board of Directors of Atle has resolved to issue a total of 975,000 synthetic options to persons in leading positions in the Atle Group. The intention with the option programme is to strengthen still further the commitment of the persons involved in Atles's future growth in value. Atle operates through a very large number of wholly- and partly-owned companies. Significant demands are placed on staff, both in issues relating to operations and with regard to structural issues for Atle's six Business Sectors. In order to recruit, keep and motivate persons in leading positions who meet highly-set requirements, synthetic options is a powerful means. The options have been acquired by 31 persons with between 1,000 and 90,000 options per person. In addition, a subsidiary has acquired 69,000 options with a right to sell them on to employees, whereby the premium will be on market terms. SEK 11.50 will be paid for each option. The redemption price is SEK 130 and the closing date for the options is 18 January 2004. The average market price for the share during the application period was SEK 113.58. Valuation of the options was carried out by Handelsbanken Markets. The Board of Directors considers that the valuations can be deemed to have been made on market terms. Stockholm, 19 January 1999 Atle AB (publ) Board of Directors For further information, please contact: Göran Sundström, tel +46 8-614 94 53 ATLE AB (Publ) BOX 7308 S-103 90 STOCKHOLM SWEDEN VISITING ADDRESS: REGERINGSGATAN 48 PHONE +46 8 506 101 00 10 FAX +46 8 506 101 10 CORP ID 556454-8799 APPENDIX Atle AB Atle is an industrial and trading group which invests in and develops small and medium-size companies which are generally unlisted. Atle's core expertise is business development which includes the ability to find interesting companies, create acquisition situations and through active and responsible ownership to develop and after a period of time to find new suitable habitats for owned companies. Atle, which was introduced on the stockmarket in 1993, has a sales rate of approximately SEK 9 billion and a total of 8,000 employees. Since the stockmarket introduction, the number of shareholders has increased to more than 12,000. Operations are carried out in the six business sectors: Atle Karolin Verkstadsindustri, Atle Tjänste & Handel, Atle Miljöteknik, Atle Informationsteknogi, Atle Mergers & Acquisitions and Atle Företagskapital. ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/01/19/19990119BIT00010/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/01/19/19990119BIT00010/bit0002.pdf