Atorka obtains a moratorium while working on the company's financial restructuring.

In recent years Atorka has acquired holdings in international manufacturing and
service companies and participated as a leading strategic investor in their
development, in close collaboration with the companies' management.  Majority
of Atorka's assets are outside Iceland. It is evident that in recent quarters
the current market value of Atorka's listed and unlisted assets has fallen
substantially due to the global economic recession. In most instances, however,
the underlying operations of the companies are stable under current
circumstances. 

Negative market developments, together with the disruption and uncertainty
resulting from the collapse of leading Icelandic financial entities has
necessitated a response from the company to meet this changed environment. In
recent months Atorka has been at work on its financial restructuring together
with principal creditors. 

As part of its financial restructuring, Atorka requested that
PricewaterhouseCoopers in Denmark carry out an overall assessment of the value
of its main assets and its likely development in the coming years. The first
results of this valuation are now available and fully justify continuing
efforts to develop Atorka's assets in the next few years for the benefit of
both the company and its creditors, despite its equity evolving into negative
position. Atorka intends to present the PwC report to its creditors within the
next two weeks, together with ideas on financial restructuring arrangements. 

In order to set a formal legal framework for its financial realignment,
Atorka's Board of Directors has decided to request a moratorium while work is
underway on detailed proposals for the company's future. The process is aimed
at ensuring equal treatment of all creditors' interests. Atorka's Board of
Directors and company management aim to present final proposals and agreements
with creditors in the next few weeks. 

Further information is available from Arnar Mar Johannesson, CFO,  tel. +354
540-6200.