Restructuring of match production in Belgium
The wood processing and finished product assembly operations will be transferred to the Swedish Match factory in Szeged, Hungary, during 1998 and early 1999. 115 employees (104 blue collars and 11 white collars) will be affected in the Geraardsbergen factory. Swedish Match intends to negotiate appropriate social measures with representatives of the employees affected.
The printing of matchboxes, together with all logistics and administration functions, will remain in Geraardsbergen, thereby maintaining the employment of 56 people (30 blue- and 26 white collars).
Swedish Match is a company specialised in Tobacco, Matches and Lighter products with a turnover of approximately MSEK 7 500 and more than 6 500 employees in approximately 80 offices and factories around the world. Swedish Match is a listed company both at the Stockholm Stock Exchange and at the Nasdaq Stock Exchange, in New York.
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 | |
| Göran Ekdahl, Vice President, Corporate Communications | Office: +46 8 658 01 62 |
| Mobile: +46 70 858 11 62 | |
| Residence: +46 8 768 38 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 |
