Extraordinary General Meeting

EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING OF RATOS Today's Extraordinary General Meeting of Ratos decided to implement redemption of every tenth share The redemption amount was set at SEK 97 per share Notification period between 15 October and 11 November 1998 An Extraordinary General Meeting of Ratos today decided, in accordance with the proposal of the Board of Directors, on redemption of every tenth share for SEK 97. Notification regarding redemption is proposed to take place during the period 15 October - 11 November 1998. It is expected that it will be possible to pay the redemption amount at the November/December turn of month. Redemption will take place of every tenth share for SEK 97. For every share held in Ratos, shareholders will receive one redemption right. Ten redemption rights entitle the holder to redemption of optionally one series A or series B share. In addition, holders of redemption rights are able to elect to sell or acquire redemption rights. In this connection, a maximum of 1,000 redemption rights may be sold commission-free. Detailed information material will be sent to shareholders in connection with the commencement of the notification period on 15 October 1998. Record date for receiving redemption rights is 8 October 1998. On account of the offer the EGM passed the following resolutions: To reduce the share capital by the number of series A and series B shares which is notified for redemption, however not more than 9,027,760 shares as a result of which a maximum of SEK 875,692,720 may be transferred to the shareholders. To amend the Articles of Association by introducing a new class of share, series C. To amend the Articles of Association so the share capital will amount to at least SEK 900,000,000 and not more than SEK 3,325,000,000. To issue 9,027,760 series C shares, which is equivalent to the maximum number of series A and series B shares which may be redeemed, and to reduce the share capital through redemption of these series C shares. The new shares, which have been subscribed for by the National Pension Insurance Fund, Sixth Fund Board, will be issued at a price of SEK 12.50 per share and do not entitle the holder to a dividend. In addition, the Extraordinary General Meeting resolved to approve an agreement regarding a transfer of all shares in the subsidiary, Inter Forward Holding GmbH, to its President. Preliminary timetable First day for trading Ratos shares without 6 October redemption right, Record day for obtaining redemption rights, 8 October Notification period, 15 October - 11 November. Trading in redemption rights, 15 October - 6 November Commission-free sale of redemption rights, 15 October - 3 November Payment date for redemption rights sold 11 November commission free, Payment of redemption amount, November/December turn of the month Ratos redemption program The Ratos redemption program comprises redemption of shares at full net asset value. Within the framework of the Company's redemption program, redemption may take place on three occasions and comprise a total of 27 per cent of the Company's shares. The first redemption procedure was completed in August 1997. On 28 August 1998, the Ratos Board of Directors announced that the condition had been met for commencing the second redemption procedure of shares in Ratos. Reconciliation which may result in a third redemption procedure will commence in connection with the Ratos' publication of its Interim Report for the period 1 January-30 September 1998. If the three redemption procedures decided by the Board of Directors are triggered and completed, the Ratos Board of Directors intends to propose that a redemption/repurchase procedure per annum is implemented thereafter if the net asset value discount is too high. Alternative methods for maximising the shareholder value are also being evaluated. Questions regarding this news release will be answered by: Thomas Mossberg, President, tel +46 8-700 17 00 Olle Isberg, Executive Vice President, tel +46 8-700 17 00