STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Jan. 20, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Investor's net asset value amounted to SEK 83,163 m. (SEK 108 per share) on December 31, 2003, compared with SEK 62,869 m. (SEK 82 per share) on December 31, 2002.
Investor's net asset valued increased SEK 20,294 m., or 32 percent, during 2003 (-55,415). In the fourth quarter, Investor's net asset value rose SEK 7,596 m. (5,955). The change in net asset value during 2003 includes consolidated income after tax totaling SEK 929 m. (1,610), corresponding to SEK 1.21 per share (2.10).
The value of Investor's total assets amounted to SEK 103,656 m. on December 31, 2003, as against SEK 79,227 m. at year-end 2002. Net debt amounted to SEK 20,493 m. on December 31, 2003 (16,358), corresponding to 20 percent of total assets (21).
The value of Investor's Core Holdings increased SEK 22,466 m. during the year (-48,968). All holdings contributed positively to the change in value during 2003. Contributing the most were Ericsson, SEK 5,333 m., SEB, SEK 4,676 m. and AstraZeneca, SEK 3,822 m. In the fourth quarter, the value of Core Holdings appreciated by SEK 7,791 m. (7,323).
Investor participated in ABB's new rights issue in the fourth quarter by subscribing for its pro-rata share, corresponding to SEK 1,962 m. In the fourth quarter, shares were sold in AstraZeneca for SEK 667 m., in Ericsson for SEK 412 m., in SEB for SEK 145 m., in OMHEX for SEK 121 m., in Electrolux for SEK 114 m., in Gambro for SEK 10 m., and in WM-data for SEK 1 m. Investor also sold its holding in ABB's convertible loan for SEK 371 m. In 2003, investments in core holdings totaled SEK 1,962 m. (4,749) and shares were sold for a total of SEK 1,891 m. (2,995).
The value of New Investments increased SEK 293 m. during the year (- 2,071), of which SEK 379 m. in the fourth quarter (-950). Investments totaled SEK 1,914 m. (4,364) and shares were sold SEK 2,364 m. (1,926) within the New Investments business.
The total return on Investor shares was 43 percent (-52). In the fourth quarter, the total return was 8 percent (15).
The proposed ordinary dividend to shareholders is SEK 2.25 per share (2.25). An extraordinary dividend of SEK 1.15 per share was also paid for fiscal 2002.
Upcoming financial events 2004 March 23 Annual General Meeting April 19 Net Asset Value Report, January-March May 28 Interim Report, January-March July 12 Net Asset Value Report, January-June August 27 Interim Report, January-June October 12 Interim Report, January- September November 26 Interim Report, January- September
Marcus Wallenberg President and Chief Executive Officer
Investor AB (publ), 556013-8298 Visiting address: Arsenalsgatan 8C SE-103 32 Stockholm, Sweden Phone: + 46 8 614 20 00 Fax: + 46 8 614 21 50 info@investorab.com
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