Isaberg Rapid has agreed to acquire the French stapling tool company Rocafix. The acquisition gives Isaberg Rapid a strong market position in southern Europe.

Isaberg Rapid is a wholly owned subsidiary of Industrivärden and one of Europe's leading companies in stapling. Sales in 2000 amounted to SEK 642 M, and earnings after financial items were SEK 65 M. The company's products are sold in more than 100 countries, and more than 90 percent of sales are outside Sweden. The product program includes desktop staplers and stapling tools, as well as staplers that are built into photocopiers. In recent years Isaberg Rapid has established subsidiaries in the UK and China, acquired companies in the Netherlands and Germany, and successfully launched photocopier staplers in the market.

Rocafix is a privately held stapler company with a market-leading position in France, Belgium and Spain. Sales in 2000 amounted to approximately SEK 185 M, with 160 employees.

The acquisition makes Isaberg Rapid Europe's leading manufacturer of manual and electric staplers and complements its product program with a line of glue guns.

Stockholm, Sweden, July 6, 2001

AB INDUSTRIVÄRDEN (publ) ISABERG RAPID AB

For further information, please contact:
Carl-Olof By, Executive Vice President, Industrivärden, phone +46-8-666 64 00
Pelle Holm, President, Isaberg Rapid AB, phone +46-370-33 95 00

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