STOCKHOLM, Sweden, March 22, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- The shareholders of Swedish Match AB are called to the Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, April 27, 2005, at 4:30 p.m. (CET) at the Stockholm International Trade Fairs' facility in Alvsjo ("Stockholmsmassan").
The Board of Directors proposes a dividend of SEK 1.90 per share. The Board also proposes that the current mandate to repurchase up to 10 percent of all shares in the Company be prolonged. In addition the Board proposes a withdrawal of 12,000,000 shares. The shares, which are proposed to be withdrawn, have been repurchased by the Company. The Board also proposes a reduction of the Company's share capital by a reduction of the shares nominal value from 2.40 SEK to 1.20 SEK as well as a reduction of legal reserves by 114 MSEK.
The Nomination Committee in Swedish Match AB proposes the election of Kersti Strandqvist and Sven Hindrikes to the Board of Directors. Furthermore, the Nominating Committee proposes re-election of Bernt Magnusson (Chairman), Jan Blomberg, Tuve Johannesson, Arne Jurbrant, Karsten Slotte and Meg Tiveus.
By the notice of the meeting it is also announced that proposition will be put forward to re-elect Marianne Nilsson, Chairman (Robur) and Bernt Magnusson as members of the Nomination Committee and to elect Joachim Spetz (Handelsbanken Fonder), Carl Rosen (Andra AP-Fonden) and Pernilla Klein (Tredje AP-Fonden) as new members.
The complete notice of the Annual General Meeting can be found on the corporate web site: www.swedishmatch.com, and is also enclosed.
Swedish Match is a unique company with its range of market-leading brands in the product areas of snuff and chewing tobacco, cigars and pipe tobacco -- tobacco's niche products -- as well as matches and lighters. The Group's global operations generated sales of 13,007MSEK for the twelve month period ending December 31, 2004. Swedish Match shares are listed on Stockholmsborsen (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: 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 (IR) Office +46 8 658 01 73, Mobile +46 70 938 01 73
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