Swedish Match has acquired distribution company in Hong Kong

11/13/1998 5:33 AM EST

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