Sardus: Financing for continuing expansion is complete

As part of AB Sardus' continuing expansion, the company, through SEB Merchant Banking, has raised a debenture loan in the amount of SEK 100 M that is directed to institutional investors. The loan, which will be listed on Stockholmsbörsen's monthly list of bond loans, has a maturity of five years. At the same time, the Group's earlier external financing amounting to approximately SEK 570 M has been replaced by a syndicated loan in a maximum amount of SEK 770 M. The loan is underwritten by SEB, Danske Bank, LB Kiel and Nykredit Bank. The increased credit creates additional opportunities for future acquisitions. Following the acquisition of Falbygdens Ost in the autumn of 2001, Sardus has annual sales of approximately SEK 1.6 billion. The objective is to increase sales by an additional one billion kronor within three years. This is to be done primarily through acquisitions of Nordic companies that produce and sell sandwich-related products. "As a result of the loan we are increasing our freedom of action to make acquisitions," says Sardus' president, Ragnar Bringert. Sardus, which is on the "A" List of Stockholmsbörsen, consists of Pastejköket, the market leader in liver paste; Charkdelikatesser, which produces and markets processed meats and is the market leader in black pudding, jellied loaf and coarse ground sausage; Sardus Foodpartner, which is among the leading suppliers of deepfrozen foods to the institutional market; 3-Stjernet. Denmark 's leading producer of salami; and Falbygdens Ost, a leader in mature quality hard cheese. The Group has slightly more than 700 employees. Helsingborg , February 28, 2002 AB SARDUS (publ) Ragnar Bringert President For additional information, please call President Ragnar Bringert. Telephone: 070-593 62 73 or 042-37 02 50.