Regulatory approval paves the way for thin plate joint venture

Press release
April 17, 2008

BE Group has been cleared by the European Commission to acquire 50% of ArcelorMittal SSC AB. The approval took BE Group and ArcelorMittal another step towards forming a joint venture in processing and sales of thin plate in the Swedish market.

BE Group currently processes thin plate in its Borlänge plant and ArcelorMittal has similar operations in Karlstad. The merger of these operations will create the third-largest supplier in the Swedish market with a 20% market share and sales of more than SEK 800 million.

BE Group believes the merged company will be able to commence operations around the first of June 2008.

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For further information, please contact:
Håkan Jeppsson, President and Chief Executive Officer, BE Group AB. +46 (0) 70-550 15 17, e-mail hakan.jeppsson@begroup.com

BE Group may be required to disclose the information provided herein pursuant to the Securities Markets Act. The information was submitted for publication at 3.00 p.m. on April 17.