"I see the further development of DIAB's operations as a major challenge and believe that we are well placed for continued growth," comments Anders Paulsson on his new position.

Anders Paulsson has a master's in engineering and has held leading positions within the ABB Group since 1982. Most recently he was Vice President of ABB Manufacturing & Consumer Industries AB in Västerås with annual sales of SEK 1.1 billion and responsibility for 700 people.

"DIAB is in an exciting growth phase and we have great confidence in Anders Paulsson in view of his competence and experience," says Mats Lönnqvist Senior Investment Manager at Ratos.

DIAB is a world-leading manufacturer of composite-based sandwich products. The products are based on a core of Divinycell, a fibre-reinforced polymer which is light, strong and rigid, or on balsa material which is a simpler and less costly core material. Key applications are hulls and decks for large pleasure boats which account for almost 50% of sales, blades for wind power stations which account for just over 22%, as well as components for trains, buses, aircraft and space rockets. Ratos's holding in DIAB amounts to 48%.

For additional information, please contact:

Mats Lönnqvist, Senior Investment Manager Ratos, +46 8 700 17 00

Anders Paulsson, CEO designate of DIAB, +46 702 99 12 32

Financial calendar:

Year-end report 2002: 21 February 2003

Annual General Meeting 2003: 9 April 2003

Interim Report January-March 2003: 12 May 2003

Interim Report January-June 2003: 27 August 2003

Interim Report January-September 2003: 12 November 2003

The press release can also be downloaded from the following link: