Skanska supports employee charged in Hallandsåsen case

Skanska supports employee charged in Hallandsåsen case The Regional Public Prosecution Office in Malmö has decided to prosecute a Skanska employee for causing environmental damage. The prosecutor has also requested that the City Court rule that Skanska must pay a corporate penalty. "It is regrettable that one of our employees is now being prosecuted for causing environmental damage in conjunction with the environmental accident at the Hallandsåsen tunnel construction project. We assume that our employee will be acquitted and intend to give the person in question our full support before, during and after the trial." These are the words of Per-Ingemar Persson, President of Skanska Sweden, commenting on the fact that a member of Skanska's project organization for the Hallandsåsen Tunnel is now among those persons being prosecuted in the legal sequel of the environmental accident that occurred in 1997. "The accident at the Hallandsåsen Ridge was caused by the Rhoca-Gil sealing substance. Skanska relied on the information received from the manufacturer, Rhône-Poulenc, which subsequently proved to be misleading, wrong and incomplete. On the other hand, we do not consider that our employees have committed any crime." "Skanska deeply regrets the environmental accident at the Hallandsåsen Ridge and the consequences this had for the environment, for residents in the area and our employees at the tunnel construction project." Since the accident, Skanska has worked intensively to turn the experiences gained from the environmental accident into practical environmental efforts. In 1999, a new environmental management system was introduced throughout the Group and all units will receive environmental certification before the end of 2000. A new control system for chemicals has also been put in place to prevent the future use of such dangerous substances as Rhoca-Gil. Malmö, June 5, 2000 SKANSKA SWEDEN Information For further information please contact: Per-Ingemar Persson, President, Skanska Sweden, Tel: + 46 40-14 42 40 Lisa Lindh, Information Manager, Skanska Sweden, Tel: +46 40-14 41 41 or + 46 70-600 60 55 This and previous press releases are also available on www.skanska.com ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/06/05/20000605BIT00660/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/06/05/20000605BIT00660/bit0002.pdf