Interim report for three months ended march 31, 1999

INTERIM REPORT FOR THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1999 * Income after financial items increased to SEK 22 M (15) Group operating profit rose to SEK 24 M (17). Net financial items amounted to an expense of SEK 2 M (expense: 2), income after financial items was SEK 22 M (15). * Order bookings in installation operations rose 29% and invoiced sales by 19% The Group noted continued favorable demand for installation services. Order bookings by the Group's core activities rose 29% to SEK 1,756 M (1,364). The Group's total order bookings rose to SEK 1,774 M (1,502). Sales in core operations during the period increased 19% to SEK 1,486 M (1,246). and SEK 6,121 M (5,775), respectively. Net sales by the Group totaled SEK 1,495 M (1,377). Order backlog in the Group rose to SEK 2,023 M (1,673). * Growth in focus The Group's aim is to grow significantly faster than the market. During the first three months of the year, BPA acquired companies with annual sales of about SEK 275 M and nearly 300 employees. * The assessment that business conditions exist for volume and earnings growth in 1999 in the range of 10-15% remains valid. * Cash offer After the close of the reporting period, Procuritas Capital Partners II (PCP II) and Peab AB, through the majority owned company Investeringssällskapet 1999 AB, announced a public cash offer to the shareholders and holders of warrants in BPA AB. Investeringssällskapet has also reached an agreement with Investment AB Latour covering acquisition of their shares and warrants. A prospectus regarding the offer to the shareholders is expected to be forwarded on or about May 14, 1999. BPA AB's Board has decided to evaluate the offer with assistance of external advisors. Stockholm, May 4, 1999 For additional information, contact: Johan Karlström, President and CEO, tel. +46 8-799 8510 Kjell Granberg, CFO, tel. +46 8-799 8542 or +46 070-536 5155 Per Blixt, Vice President, Corporate Communications, tel. +46 8-799 8516 or +46 070-5492808 ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/05/04/19990504BIT00300/bit0001.doc The full report http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/05/04/19990504BIT00300/bit0002.pdf The full report