Nobel Biocare takes over distribution rights from Metalor

Nobel Biocare takes over distribution rights from Metalor Nobel Biocare has reached an agreement with the previous Steri-Oss distributor, Metalor, to take over all distribution rights from 16 May 1999. These distribution rights relate to a number of European countries, of which Germany is without question the most dominant market. The agreement will also involve Nobel Biocare taking over some staff, as well as the distributor's customer lists. "This agreement is one stage in Nobel Biocare's acquisition of the US dental implant company Steri-Oss in September 1998 and will enable the sale of Nobel Biocare's two dental implant systems, Brånemark System® and Steri-Oss®, to be integrated on every market. The total synergies that will be generated by this acquisition are estimated at SEK 70 million a year and will be realized from the year 2000 and onwards," says Jack Forsgren, president of Nobel Biocare. Göteborg 1999-04-29 NOBEL BIOCARE AB For further information please contact: Jack Forsgren, President and CEO, or Jan H Johansson, General Counsel, Nobel Biocare AB, telephone +46 31 81 88 00. Nobel Biocare is an innovative, medical devices company, whose core business comprises dental implants and dental prosthetics. The company's product ® ® systems for dental implants, Brånemark System and Steri-Oss , are world leaders and have a global market share of around 40%. ® The company's other product line, Procera , is a unique, patented CAD/CAM- based process for the industrial production of dental prosthetics. The system has been launched very successfully in North America and parts of Europe. Nobel Biocare has around 1,000 employees and, in 1998, turnover totalled SEK 1,310 million The company's headquarters are located in Gothenburg, Sweden, while production takes place in Sweden and the USA. Nobel Biocare has its own sales companies in some 20 countries. ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/04/29/19990701BIT00380/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/04/29/19990701BIT00380/bit0002.pdf