Novestra: very strong sales development in most portfolio companies during the first half of 2001

NOVESTRA: VERY STRONG SALES DEVELOPMENT IN MOST PORTFOLIO COMPANIES DURING THE FIRST HALF OF 2001 Most of AB Novestra's portfolio companies have had a positive sales development during the first six months of this year, despite the weak market for IT products and IT services. Included among those portfolio companies which have shown the best development during this period are Qbranch AB, which shows a growth in sales compared to the corresponding period of last year of 123%, Netsurvey AB of 68% and Strax Inc. of 62% - all of which are expected to show positive results during the current financial year. Also, Powernet AB, Comintell Holding AB, Multilet AB and Iquity Systems Inc. have developed positively and have received several break-through orders: Powernet has signed an agreement with, for example, SPA; Comintell has received orders for their software Knowledge XChanger, including from Tetra Pak, Volvo Personvagnar and Observer; Multilet's products have been favourably received in Norway as well as in Germany and Italy; Iquity Systems has made a strategic break-through on the U.S. market where a large, multinational company will use Iquity's system in a new business segment. "Despite the incredibly tough market situation, most of our portfolio companies have a positive sales development and, in most cases, also show good profitability development. This means that we are greatly optimistic at the prospect of the future development once we have left this downward economic trend in the technology sector. Moreover, it looks as if there have been relatively positive business developments in 34 Networks, Bredbandsbolaget as well as in Recollections where we have considerable investments," Novestra's President, Thomas Åkerman, says. For further information, please contact Mr Thomas Åkerman, AB Novestra, phone No. +46 8 454 017 50. About AB Novestra AB Novestra is one of the leading independent venture capital investment companies in the Nordic region with focus on companies providing enabling services and technologies for the communications industry. Novestra's portfolio of companies includes B2 Bredband AB, Comintell Holding AB, Continuum Group Ltd, Iquity Systems, Inc, Multilet AB, Netsurvey AB, PowerNet AB, Qbranch AB and Strax, Inc. Novestra's shares are listed on the O-List of Stockholmsborsen. For information regarding AB Novestra, please see www.novestra.com ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2001/07/30/20010730BIT00150/bit0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2001/07/30/20010730BIT00150/bit0001.pdf