VOPAK AND BROSTRÖM

VOPAK AND BROSTRÖM Vopak divests its shareholding in Broström · Establish Strategic Alliance to offer logistic solutions · Vopak's shareholding in Broström In line with earlier announcements regarding Vopak's intention to reduce its current 50% shareholding in Broström AB (Broström) Koninklijke Vopak NV (Vopak) and Broström jointly announce that Vopak has successfully divested all of its B-shareholding in Broström. The B-shares represented 49% of the capital and 29% of the votes of the company. After this sale Vopak holds 273,880 A-shares representing 1% of the capital and 6% of the votes of the company. The B-shares have been placed with some 40 Nordic and other international institutional investors through Nordea Securities, which has acted as financial advisor to Royal Vopak in this process. The total proceeds for the seller in this transaction to date are EUR 58 million, which has resulted in a small book profit for Vopak. Following the completion of this transaction Vopak will in the next few days sell its full A-shareholding to Broström's other A-shareholders. Strategic Alliance In anticipation of Vopak's divestment and in order to safeguard service levels for its current and future customers Vopak and Broström have recently entered into a Strategic Alliance to jointly initiate and develop integrated logistics solutions for the oil and chemical industry. When required the Alliance will allow Broström and Vopak to offer logistics solutions to the oil and chemical markets by combining liquid sea transportation with tank storage terminals and inland barging operations. For the implementation of the alliance Broström and Vopak have set up a joint Strategic Alliance Board enabling the two companies to fully profit from the emerging demand of their mutual customers in the chemical and oil industry for integrated logistics solutions. Commenting on the transaction Lennart Simonsson, CEO of Broström AB, says, "The sale aims at increasing the free float and liquidity of the shares which will lead to a more efficient pricing of the shares. This will be to the benefit of all Broström shareholders". Commenting on the recently signed Strategic Alliance Paul Govaart, member of Royal Vopak's Executive Board, says, "The Strategic Alliance is a natural step between our companies confirming the business direction we together have followed for some years as safe and reliable service providers to the oil and chemical industry". Göteborg and Rotterdam, 15 May 2002 For further information: Broström AB: Lennart Simonsson, CEO Broström, Tel + 46 31 61 61 00 Website: www.brostrom.se Koninklijke Vopak NV: Michiel van Ravenstein, Corporate Communication, Tel + 31 10 40 02 777 Bart van Dam, Investor Relations, Tel + 31 10 40 02 716 E-mail: corporate.communication@vopak.com Website: www.vopak.com ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2004/01/09/20040109BIT00550/wkr0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2004/01/09/20040109BIT00550/wkr0002.pdf