Jefferson Smurfit Group holds 99.6 per cent of Munksjö at the expiry of the extended acceptance period

Jefferson Smurfit Group holds 99.6 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 99.6 per cent of the outstanding shares and 237,124 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 27.4 per cent of the total number of shares and 237,124 of the convertible loan notes have been tendered. Settlement for those who have accepted the offer up to and including 19April 2002 will be made on or about 26 April 2002. Munksjö has requested the Munksjö share to be delisted from Stockholmsbörsen. The last day of trading is preliminary set to 25 April 2002. Smurfit has initiated compulsory acquisition of the shares in Munksjö. Stockholm, Sweden, 23 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/2002/04/23/20020423BIT01020/wkr0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/04/23/20020423BIT01020/wkr0002.pdf