Jefferson Smurfit Group holds 97.0 per cent of Munksjö at the expiry of the extended acceptance period

Jefferson Smurfit Group holds 97.0 per cent of Munksjö at the expiry of the extended acceptance period Smurfit Holdings AB ("Smurfit"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Jefferson Smurfit Group plc, holds 97.0 per cent of the outstanding shares and 94,400 of the outstanding convertible loan notes in Munksjö AB (publ) ("Munksjö"). At the expiry of the extended acceptance period for Smurfit's public offer to the holders of shares and convertible loan notes in Munksjö 24.9 per cent of the total number of shares and 94,400 of the convertible loan notes have been tendered. All conditions for Smurfit's offer are waived or have been satisfied and the offer is thereby declared unconditional. Settlement for those who have accepted the offer up to and including 28 March 2002 will be made on or about 8 April 2002. In order to give the remaining shareholders a further opportunity to tender their shares, Smurfit has decided to extend the acceptance period up to and including 19 April 2002. Holders of shares and convertible loan notes in Munksjö accepting the offer during the extended acceptance period will receive payment on or about 26 April 2002. Smurfit intends to announce the result of the offer on or about 22 April 2002 and to close the transaction on or about 26 April 2002. Munksjö's shares will be listed on the A-list at Stockholmsbörsen until further notice. However, Smurfit intends, as soon as possible, to initiate a compulsory acquisition of the outstanding shares in Munksjö and request that the board of Munksjö initiates a delisting of Munksjö's shares from Stockholmsbörsen. Stockholm, Sweden, 3 April 2002 Smurfit Holdings AB Advisers Alfred Berg and UBS Warburg Ltd. are financial advisers to Smurfit in connection with the offer to the holders of shares and convertible loan notes in Munksjö. For further information: Gary McGann, COO Ian Curley, CFO Mary Finan Jefferson Smurfit Jefferson Smurfit WH PR Group plc Group plc Telephone: +353 1 202 Telephone: +353 1 202 Telephone: +353 1 669 7000 7000 0030 ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/04/03/20020403BIT00780/wkr0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/04/03/20020403BIT00780/wkr0002.pdf