Karlshamns acquires technical oils from Raisio

12/29/2003 6:14 AM EST

Karlshamns subsidiary Binol AB has reached an agreement with Raisio
Chemicals Ltd to the effect that Binol AB acquires Raisio Chemicals'
operations related to biodegradable lubricants. The business in question
has an annual turnover of approximately SEK 25 million, and the
acquisition will give a positive contribution to Binol's earnings in the
first year already. The take-over comes into effect on 1 January 2004.

- The acquisition is entirely in line with our strategy, and further
consolidates Binol's position as number one on the market for vegetable
technical oils says Magnus Jörsmo, President of Binol.

The acquisition fortifies our strategy, which is to grow throughout the
Nordic market. It will also give synergy effects within product
development, logistics as well as production. As a result of this
development we will now focus even stronger on Finland, one of the steps
soon to be taken being the establishment of a Finnish subsidiary.

The acquired product range, till now marketed under the brand BioSafe,
largely corresponds to Binol's own product range for the
Forestry/Construction industries. The acquisition also involves a
certain amount of new technology, however.

The major part of the customers of the acquired operations is found in
Finland and the Baltic states. The acquisition is part of Karlshamns
strategic focus on vegetable, eco-friendly lubricants for the
metalworking, forestry and construction industries.

In recent years Binol signed a global distribution agreement with Shell,
while also establishing a European distribution network for vegetable
band saw oils. Karlshamns acquired Aarhus United's technical oils
operations in April 2003.

For further information, please contact either of Binol's President
Magnus Jörsmo, tel +46 (0)454-828 28, mobile +46 (0)73- 973 5828; or
Karlshamns C.I.O. Bo Svensson, tel +46 (0)454- 821 93,
mobile+46 (0)708-182 193.
E-mail:  . Internet : www.karlshamns.com

Binol is a company in the Karlshamns Group, with responsibility for the
development, manufacturing and marketing of the Group's eco-friendly
technical oils.

In 2003, Karlshamns turnover amounted to SEK 3,200 million. The company
employs some 750 persons, of whom around 600 in Karlshamn, Sweden.
Karlshamns is Scandinavia's largest producer of vegetable oils and fats,
primarily for the food industry. Other important business segments are
technical products, feed raw materials and speciality raw materials for
the chemico-technical industry. The Group's operations have an outspoken
international focus, with subsidiaries in the Netherlands, the United
Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Poland and Malaysia.