Swedish Match has acquired distribution company in Hong Kong

Swedish Match has acquired 100% of the shares in the distribution company M. Beraha & Co Ltd. in Hong Kong. M. Beraha & Co Ltd. is a distribution company of tobacco products in Hong Kong and Macao and also includes tax-free sales to and from China. The company has 16 employees and the sales in 1997 amounted to approximately SEK 19 million (HK$ 19 million). Swedish Match is an international group with headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden. The company manufactures tobacco products, matches and disposable lighters, which are sold in 140 countries. Annual sales amount to approximately SEK 8 billion (USD 1 billion). Swedish Match is listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange and NASDAQ. For additional information, please contact: Bo Aulin, Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs Office: +46 8 658 03 64 Mobile: +46 70 558 03 64 Residence: +46 8 768 45 22 Boel Sundvall, Vice President, Investor Relations Office: +46 8 658 01 73 Mobile: +46 70 651 39 09 Residence: +46 8 25 87 12 Sven Hindrikes, Senior Vice President & Chief Office: +46 8 658 02 82 Financial Officer Mobile: +46 70 567 41 76 Residence: +46 8 35 51 77 ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1998/11/13/19981113BIT00160/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1998/11/13/19981113BIT00160/bit0002.pdf