Swedish Match set to begin odd-lot commission free offer for shareholders with less than 200 shares
In accordance with a resolution made at the Annual General Meeting of Swedish Match AB on April 20, 2006, holders of fewer than 200 Swedish Match shares as of September 4, 2006 will be entitled to sell their shares free of commission pursuant to this offer (the Offer). Terms, conditions and instructions for this offer will be sent to existing shareholders, and will also be available on the Company’s website, www.swedishmatch.com.
Offer in Brief:
• Commission-free
• Applies during the offer period September 13, 2006 – October 25, 2006 inclusive
• Sale of the entire holding of 1 – 199 shares on one occasion
• The price paid will correspond to the average price of all sales within the framework of this Offer
The principal purpose of the Offer is to reduce the financial and administrative burden on Swedish Match of having a large odd-lot shareholder base, by reducing the worldwide number of its shareholders holding less than a round lot of 200 shares. Shareholders holding less than a round lot would benefit from being able to dispose of their holding of shares through the Offer without incurring transaction costs which would be significant in relation to the price of the shares sold. If, as a result of the Offer, Swedish Match will have fewer than 300 shareholders in the United States, Swedish Match intends to terminate its reporting obligations under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Swedish Match no longer trades on Nasdaq, with the last day of trading on Nasdaq being October 15, 2004.
During the offer period, Swedish Match will not be engaged in share buyback activities under its long-term ongoing share buyback program. Resumption of the share buyback program will occur no sooner than October 26, 2006.
Swedish Match is a unique company with its range of market-leading brands in the product areas of snuff, cigars, pipe tobacco and chewing tobacco – tobacco’s niche products – as well as matches and lighters. The Group’s global operations generated sales of 13,153 MSEK for the twelve month period ending June 30, 2006. Swedish Match shares are listed on Stockholmsbörsen (SWMA).
Swedish Match AB (publ), SE-118 85 Stockholm
Visiting address: Rosenlundsgatan 36, Telephone: +46 8 658 02 00
Corporate Identity Number: 556015-0756
www.swedishmatch.com
For further information, please contact:
Sven Hindrikes, President and Chief Executive Officer
Office +46 8 658 02 82, Mobile +46 70 567 41 76
Lars Dahlgren, Chief Financial Officer
Office +46 8 658 04 41, Mobile +46 70 958 04 41
Bo Aulin, Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel
Office +46 8 658 03 64, Mobile +46 70 558 03 64
Emmett Harrison, Vice President, Investor Relations
Office +46 8 658 01 73, Mobile +46 70 938 01 73
Richard Flaherty, CFO North America Division, US Investor Relations contact
Office +1 804 302 1774, Mobile +1 804 400 1774
