Swedish Match agrees to acquire CYAN d.o.o., Slovenia


STOCKHOLM, Sweden, March 28, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Swedish Match (Nasdaq:SWMAY) (Other OTC: SWMAF) has reached an agreement to acquire all shares in CYAN d.o.o., Slovenia. CYAN and Swedish Match have had a strong and successful relationship over the past several years, with CYAN as the distributor for its tobacco products. Suppliers of CYAN include Swedish Match and many other tobacco companies. CYAN primarily distributes cigars, and also distributes other tobacco products and accessories. CYAN had turnover of 2.8 million Euro in 2002.

The price of the acquisition has not been disclosed.

Swedish Match is an international group with headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden. The company manufactures a broad range of tobacco products, matches and disposable lighters which are sold in approximately 140 countries. Sales for the twelve month period ending December 31, 2002 amounted to 13,643 MSEK. Swedish Match is listed on Stockholmsborsen (SWMA) and on NASDAQ (SWMAY).


 Bo Aulin, Senior Vice President, Secretary  office   +46 8 658 03 64
  and General Counsel                        mobile   +46 70 558 03 64

 Emmett Harrison, Vice President, Investor Relations
 office   +46 8 658 01 73/mobile   +46 70 938 01 73

 Lin McKinnie, Vice President, Investor        office   +1 804 302 1912
  Relations (US)                               mobile   +1 804 502 1912
  

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