Electrolux acquires US landscape maintenance equipment manufacturer Bluebird International Inc.

Electrolux acquires US landscape maintenance equipment manufacturer Bluebird International Inc. (ELUX) Husqvarna, part of the Electrolux Group, has acquired the shares of Bluebird International Inc., a North American manufacturer and distributor of landscape maintenance equipment. The turf-care business of Bluebird, with sales of approximately USD 18 million, is located in Denver, Colorado, and currently employs approximately 75 people. The business will be an integral part of Husqvarna Turf Care's operations in the U.S. "Husqvarna already offers a wide range of portable landscape maintenance equipment," says CEO of Husqvarna, Bengt Andersson. "The acquisition of this business, with its line of dethatchers, aerators and seeders, will be an excellent complement to the product line currently offered as a result of the Yazoo/Kees acquisition last year. The acquisition of Bluebird will further strengthen Husqvarna's position in the growing landscape maintenance equipment market." Husqvarna has a wide range of equipment for forestry and landscaping for most applications and for all seasons designed for professional and other demanding users. Husqvarna is represented around the world by subsidiaries, partners and 17,000 servicing retailers. Electrolux is the world's largest producer of powered appliances for kitchen, cleaning and outdoor use, such as refrigerators, washing machines, cookers, vacuum cleaners, chain saws, lawn mowers, and garden tractors. In 1999, Group sales were SEK 120 billion and the Group had 93,000 employees. Every year, customers in more than 150 countries buy more than 55 million Electrolux Group products for both consumer and professional use. The Electrolux Group includes famous appliance brands such as AEG, Zanussi, Frigidaire, Eureka, and Husqvarna. Further information For further information please contact Anders Ströby, Head of Commercial Lawn and Garden at Husqvarna, at +46 31- 94 90 09 . The Electrolux Press Hotline is available at +46 8 657 65 07. For cancellation of or changes to this fax distribution service, please return this document, with your name, company, and fax number, stating what you want to change, to fax no +46 8 738 74 61. ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by BIT http://www.bit.se The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/09/01/20000901BIT00100/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/09/01/20000901BIT00100/bit0002.pdf