Information Highway and Connecta merger complete

Information Highway and Connecta- merger complete At the conclusion of the application period, Connecta shareholders representing 95.6% of the capital and 98.6% of the votes had accepted Information Highway's offer. Thereby, the proviso of Information Highway's public offering to Connecta's shareholders and holders of subscription rights and convertibles issued by Connecta has been satisfied. The new company thereby becomes one of the Europe's biggest Internet players, and the absolute leader in the business-to-business market, the segment expected to experience the highest growth rates in the future. With its headcount of some 1,400 (including berens/partner of Germany), the new group will gain an extremely secure platform, as well as having features including Europe's biggest strategic consulting unit. The merger has progressed very smoothly, and is now largely complete. Trading in the new share is scheduled to commence on or around 22 May 2000. The application period has been extended for most shareholders that have still not accepted the offer, and those that do so during this extension period will receive new Information Highway shares on or around 20 June 2000. Information Highway intends to demand compulsory redemption of any remaining shares after the end of the extended application period. Invitations to the first joint shareholders' meeting on 6 June will be issued today in the customary manner. Stockholm, 9 May 2000 Information Highway AB (publ) For more information, please contact: Göran Wågström, President, Information Highway, tel: +46 (0)70 526 2758, goran.wagstrom@ih.com Ulf Karnell, VP Corp. comm., Information Highway, tel: +46 (0)70 514 1739, ulf.karnell@ih.com The merger between Information Highway and Connecta Information Highway and Connecta AB are merging, creating one of Europe's leading consulting practices oriented towards strategic Internet solutions and B2B. The new group will have a very secure platform for sustained robust international expansion. At present, the two companies have an aggregate headcount of just over 1,200 (1,400 including the acquisition in Germany). The objective is to have at least 2,000 employees by the end of the year. About Information Highway [www.ih.com] Information Highway assists enterprises in exploiting the business opportunities presented by the new network economy. Information Highway consolidates its clients' competitiveness, making them successful in the digital arena by providing Internet-based solutions characterised by business expertise, creativity and leading-edge technology skills, essentially offering "a safe ride to The New Economy". Information Highway was founded in 1994 and currently employs over 600 people at ten locations in Sweden, and in Norway, Denmark, Finland, Germany and the UK. The share is quoted on OM Stockholm Exchange's O-list (symbol: IHWY). Göran Wågström is Information Highway's President. Information Highway provides solutions for ABB, Ericsson, Telia, SAS, Vattenfall, Lufthansa, Codan, Telenor and Swiss Valore. About Connecta [www.connecta.se] Connecta AB is an Internet consulting enterprise active in Internet business development. The company provides services through Strategy, Internet and Human Resource Management practice areas. With its total concepts, Connecta is able to serve as a full-range provider to major corporations and non-profit organisations, offering consulting services that consolidate their business capacity in the new digital economy. Connecta was incorporated in 1993 and now has nearly 600 employees. The Connecta share is quoted on OM Stockholm Exchange's O-list (symbol: CNTA). Christer Jacobsson is Connecta's President. Connecta provides solutions for clients including SEB, Skandia, Ericsson, Folksam, Scania, Statoil, SAF, Volkswagen and Thompson Travel Group (Fritidsresor). ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/05/09/20000509BIT01210/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/05/09/20000509BIT01210/bit0002.pdf