Acquisition strengthens Great Lakes region in the USA

Acquisition strengthens Great Lakes region in the USA Securitas has, through Pinkerton USA, acquired Smith Security Inc. in Detroit with annual sales of MSEK 150. Smith Security Inc. was founded in 1957 and is active in guard services in the states of Michigan and Indiana. The Detroit area is the ninth largest market for security services in the USA, and the acquisition will make Pinkerton a regional market leader with total sales of about MSEK 1,040. The acquisition price is MSEK 50 and gives rise to goodwill of about MSEK 51, which will be amortized over 10 years. The acquisition will make a positive contribution to the Group's income in 2000. Including this acquisition, the USA operations of Securitas will have annual sales of MSEK 13,000. Further information can be obtained from Thomas Berglund, President and CEO, Håkan Winberg, Executive Vice President and CFO, telephone +44 20 8867 0984, and Camilla Weiner, Manager Investor Relations, telephone +46 8 657 7332. ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/04/19/20000419BIT00680/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/04/19/20000419BIT00680/bit0002.pdf