Esselte executives buy stock options

PRESS RELEASE FROM ESSELTE AB November 10, 1998 Esselte executives buy stock options Approximately ten executives in Esselte AB, parent company of the Esselte Group, have purchased a total of 107,800 options to buy Esselte B shares. The options were issued by Ratos. The executives can exercise their options up to November 8, 1999 to purchase Esselte B shares at a price of SEK 150 each. The largest number of options purchased by a single executive was 25,000. The price of each option was SEK 4.50. It was previously announced that Esselte would introduce a bonus system for Esselte Office Products and Meto executives based on growth in share value in accordance with the Economic Value Added (EVA) model. The Esselte Group consists of two independent business areas - Esselte Office Products and Meto - which are global market leaders in office products and labeling systems, respectively. The Parent Company, Esselte AB, focuses on creating added value by being an active owner and implementing structural measures to streamline operations. Nielsen & Bainbridge is being divested, and after the business area is sold, Esselte Group sales will amount to approximately SEK 11.7 billion and the number of employees will total 7,800 (based on 1997 figures). For further information contact Bengt Wikander, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, Esselte AB. Phone +46 8 545 21 900 (switchboard), +46 8 545 21 904 (direct line) or +46 70 892 24 31 (mobile phone). ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1998/11/10/19981110BIT00310/bit0001.pdf http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1998/11/10/19981110BIT00310/bit0002.doc