ConNova acquires Billiant AB and launches new share issue worth SEK 25 million

ConNova acquires Billiant AB and launches new share issue worth SEK 25 million Press release Motala 6 November 2001 O-listed ConNova gears up for the future: · ConNova has reach an agreement concerning the acquisition of Billiant AB. · The deal will create revenue opportunities, while potentially cutting the company's total costs by just over 35%. · A share issue directed at ConNova's owners is planned to be launched. · The issue, worth a maximum SEK 25.4 million, will have a subscription price of SEK 2.25. A guarantee consortium plans to guarantee just over SEK 20 million of the issue. · Thanks to the Billiant acquisition, ConNova will be able to offer complete "Customer Care & Billing" systems that will be able to handle both communication and content services. This will allow ConNova to broaden its market dramatically to include both TV and a variety of telecom operators. In addition, the functionality of the product range will be extended, thus enhancing ConNova's competitiveness in all segments as a supplier of complete solutions, while also increasing the potential order value per customer. The purchase sum for Billiant comes to just over 2.2 million shares in ConNova, which corresponds to 1/3 of ConNova's shares after the completion of the acquisition. This is why ConNova's Board of Directors decided today, pending approval from the shareholders, to launch a non-cash issue for Billiant's shareholders of a maximum of 2,207,200 shares. The "new ConNova" will also be greatly strengthened by a planned new share issue worth a maximum SEK 25.4 million. For every two shares held in ConNova, investors will have the right to subscribe for three new shares at SEK 2.25 per share. A specially formed guarantee consortium plans to guarantee up to SEK 20.5 million of the issue, a condition for the Billiant acquisition. The consortium consists, among others, of ConNova's two largest owners, Björn Persson and Novestra, and Billiant's two largest owners, WireEdge and Northzone Ventures (or persons and companies closely associated with these parties). ConNova will provide further details about the issue guarantee within a week, as soon as the guarantee decisions have been formalised with all parties within the consortium. Additional information about the new share issue will be provided as soon as a timeframe has been established. ConNova will be calling an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders with a view to approving the above transactions. About ConNova ConNova specialises in developing and supplying business support systems for multimedia operators in the fields of pay-TV, the Internet, broadband and telecoms services. The company has 15 year's experience from the industry. ConNova's services extend from consulting services to the development of software adapted to meet the very latest market requirements. Within the framework of ConNova TVX AB, the company also runs customer services on an assignment basis for European pay-TV and Broadband operators. ConNova's present customers are mainly found in the fields of cable TV, DTT (Digital Terrestrial Television), multimedia and telecommunications. The ConNova Group AB (Publ) has been listed on the OM Stockholm Stock Exchange's O list since 1997. About Billiant Billiant AB designs, develops, and markets leading edge billing software and services. The target customers are packet-based communication service providers, like Broadband Operators and Mobile Service Providers, as well as portals. Billiant has a very solid ownership backing. Main investors are WireEdge (www.wireedge.com) and Northzone Ventures (www.venture.no). Today Billiant employs approximately 30 people. Billiant has headquarters in Stockholm, a design center in Göteborg, and sales through a partner in the UK. For more information, please contact, ConNova Björn Persson, Chairman of ConNova Group AB (publ.) Tel: +46 705 38 08 80, Fax: +46 141 564 24 Email: bjpe@connova.se www.connova.se Billiant Anders Ericsson, CEO Billiant Phone: +46 705 94 16 74 Email: anders.ericsson@billiant.se www.billiant.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/2001/11/07/20011106BIT01190/bit0002.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2001/11/07/20011106BIT01190/bit0002.pdf