US Federal Court lets stand FTC ruling

12/15/2000 9:10 AM EST

US Federal Court Lets Stand FTC Ruling

The US Federal District Court has granted the FTC´s motion for a
preliminary injunction, thereby preventing Swedish Match from proceeding
with the closing of its proposed transaction to buy the smokeless tobacco
brands and certain other assets of National Tobacco Company, L.P.

The company is currently reviewing the Court's opinion and is considering
its options.

Swedish Match is an international group with its head office in Stockholm.
The company manufactures a broad range of products within the OTP (Other
Tobacco Products) category, with smokeless tobacco (snuff and chewing
tobacco) and brown tobacco (cigars and pipe tobacco) as its core
businesses, as well as matches and lighters. Swedish Match sells products
in approximately 140 countries. Sales for the twelve months period ending
September 30, 2000 amounted to approximately 10,900 SEK. Swedish Match is
listed on OM Stockholm Exchange (SWMA) and on Nasdaq (SWMAY).

For further information, please contact:


Lennart Sundén, President & Chief office +46 8 658 01 75
Executive Officer

Sven Hindrikes, Executive Vice President office +46 8 658 02 82
&
Chief Financial Officer mobile +46 70 567 41 76

Bo Aulin, Senior Vice President Corporate office +46 8 658 03 64
Affairs,
Secretary & General Counsel mobile +46 70 558 0364

Emmett Harrison, Vice President Investor office +46 8 658 01 73
Relations
mobile +46 709 38 01 73