GOTHENBURG, Sweden, Jan. 21, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Nobel Biocare Holding AG (Other OTC:NBCHF) (Stockholm:NOBE) (a Swiss company) acquired more than 98 per cent of the total number of shares and votes in Nobel Biocare AB (publ) (a Swedish company) in 2002.
In order to be able to purchase the remaining shares, Nobel Biocare Holding AG has transferred all of it shares in Nobel Biocare AB to a wholly-owned Swedish subsidiary, Nobel Biocare Sverige AB. (Compulsory purchase of shares in a Swedish company requires that the buyer is also a Swedish company).
The compulsory purchase procedure was initiated on January 16, 2003, through a letter from Nobel Biocare Sverige AB to the board of Nobel Biocare AB (in accordance with the Swedish Company AC, 14:32), requesting that the dispute over compulsory purchase and the price to be paid for the minority shares should be referred to arbitration. Nobel Biocare Sverige AB has nominated general counsel Eva Persson, AB Volvo, as its arbitrator.
The arbitration proceedings are expected to commence during the spring of 2003. A formal announcement will be published in Goteborgs-Posten, Svenska Dagbladet and Post-och Inrikes Tidningar on January 21, 2003. Known shareholders will also receive this information via mail.
NOBEL BIOCARE
For further information:
Michaela Ahlberg, General Councel, tel. +46 31 81 88 29
Gunilla Ekholtz, Investor Relations Officer, tel. +46 31 81 88 36
Nobel Biocare is the world leader in innovative esthetic dental solutions with the brands Branemark System(R), Replace(R) Select and Procera(R). Nobel Biocare has around 1,300 employees and, in 2001 net sales totaled SEK 2 663 million. The company's headquarters are located in Gothenburg, Sweden, while production takes place in Sweden and the USA. Nobel Biocare has its own sales organizations in 27 countries. The shares of the parent company Nobel Biocare Holding AG are listed on the SWX Swiss Exchange and the Stockholm Stock Exchange. investor.relations@nobelbiocare.com www.nobelbiocare.com
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