Redemption of shares in Custos

Redemption of shares in Custos with payment consisting of shares in Perbio Science, equivalent to a total value of about SEK 1,9 billion. Custos' Board of Directors will call an Extraordinary General Meeting to approve a resolution offering the Company's shareholders the right to redeem every fourth (4th) share in Custos, with payment consisting of three shares in Perbio Science AB ("Perbio") with a total market value of about SEK 410 on September 13, 2001. This should be compared to Custos' net asset value of SEK 278 and its market price of SEK 247 per share on the same date. Custos intends to distribute compensation in the form of Perbio shares in December 2001. After receiving payments from the divestments of Svedala and Perstorp, Custos has a very strong financial position with a net cash position of about SEK 1.5 billion. In conjunction with the publication of the preliminary report on 2001 results the Board intends to propose further actions to transfer funds from Custos to its shareholders consistent with Custos' strategy of reducing the capital tied up in the Company's balance sheet. "The scale of the redemption procedure implies a sharp reduction in the size of the Company but is consistent with Custos' ambition to minimize the need for capital from its own balance sheet. In addition, the redemption procedure creates a better balance in our share portfolio. The reason for not selling the Perbio holding is that - as with our SCA redemption - we believe that the company's current share price does not reflect its underlying potential. This is why I recommend that our shareholders keep the shares that are distributed to them, in order to enjoy the value appreciation that should come," says Christer Gardell, CEO of Custos. "Öresund looks forward to becoming a large shareholder in Perbio Science which, with a strong management, has good prospects to continue pleasing its shareholders" says Sven Hagströmer, who is Chairman of the investment company Öresund and of Custos. Stockholm, September 17, 2001 AKTIEBOLAGET CUSTOS AB (publ) The Board of Directors For further questions, please contact: Christer Gardell, +46 8 440 57 70 This Press Release is published in Swedish and English. In the event of any difference between the English version and the Swedish original, the Swedish version shall govern. ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2001/09/17/20010917BIT00320/bit0002.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2001/09/17/20010917BIT00320/bit0002.pdf