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The Year
2001

Telias mobile customers to send e-mail via SMS
Today, Telia's three million mobile customers will have a new e-mail address
linked to their mobile. With the Mobil Mejl (Mobile Mail) service it is
now possible for all Telia's mobile customers to send and receive e-mail
using their mobile phone.
Subscribing
to the Mobile Mail service is of no charge and sending an e-mail message
costs the same as sending an ordinary SMS text message.
"Up to now, only some of our customers, or those with WAP phones,
have been able to send e-mail from their mobiles. But now all of our three
million customers will get their own e-mail address on their mobile,"
said Anders Bruse, head of Telia Mobile Sweden.
All Telia mobile phone customers will get their own e-mail address
including their mobile phone number such as 0706999119@mobilmejl.com.
Receiving e-mail on the mobile is free and sending e-mail from it will
cost the same as sending an SMS text message. The service works for all
three million of Telia's mobile customers.
To send an e-mail from their Telia mobile, customers have to do the following:
1. Write a text message starting with the recipient's e-mail address
2. Put in a space and then type the text of the message you want to send
3. Send the message to 1515
More information
Nicholas Mead


Boliden rescued by Carl Bennet
Swedish mining giants Boliden have been rescued by a financial package
put together by Elanders and Getinge entrepreneur Carl Bennet.
Nothing
official has been released by Boliden but company spokesman Leif Öberg
told Scandinavia Now:
"Carl Bennet has been involved in a brief refinancing programme of
Boliden. He will become chairman of an advisory board to the board of
directors in June. The intention is for this advisory board to
eventually replace the board of directors."
In
response to recent articles in the media about the plight of the
previously financially sound company, Boliden announced that it will
later today provide information relating to the refinancing initiative
including restructuring of the Company's credit facilities, equity
offering and the decision of the board of directors regarding the sale
of Chilean Assets.
Nicholas Mead


Volvo under investigation for alleged fatal break fault
Swedish car-maker Volvo, famed for it's safety, is facing a manslaughter
investigation for allegedly covering up a fatal defect in the brakes of
thousands of cars, according to The Independent newspaper.
The
case involves a horrific road accident two years ago when two
children were crushed to death by a Volvo 850 TDI which ran out of
control in a narrow street in France.
The pledge promises to make Denmark the most developed technological nation
in Europe as its closest Scandinavian neighbours still struggle to implement
a widespread broadband infrastructure. In Stockholm alone, a capital of
some 1.5 million people, it was recently estimated that only 117,000 households
currently have broadband access despite wild promises by operators.
An
investigating magistrate has decided that the driver was an innocent victim
of Volvo's failure to correct a serious problem in the braking system
of 180,000 cars, sold worldwide.
Representatives
of Volvo France have been summoned to a meeting with the magistrate on
30 May. It is expected that the company will be placed under formal investigation
and if found guilty, will face a charge of involuntary homicide or manslaughter.
Volvo
documents seized by police at a Strasbourg dealership indicated that the
manufacturer was indeed aware of a brake defect of "very great importance"
in some Volvo 854s. A rubber pipe in the hydraulic braking system was
found to be capable of tearing or detaching itself.
However,
instead of recalling cars, it is alleged that Volvo asked its
dealers in July 1997 to correct the fault during routine service visits.
A Strasbourg garage is reported to have carried out the work without
informing the driver.
But investigators say that the instructions from Volvo were so vague
that the work was carried out incorrectly and as the driver drove at
about 25 mph down a street in Wasselonne, the pedal failed to respond.
The car subsequently collided with a Renault and half flipped over, crushing
three children against another car. Two died, the third was seriously
injured.
Volvo denies covering up a serious fault in its cars. It says the fault
reported in the July 1997 memorandum to dealers was relatively
innocuous. One of the company's lawyers, stated "A plastic water
bottle could have been rolling about in the car and got stuck under the
brake pedal."
Nicholas Mead


Ericsson announces 4,000 job cuts in Sweden
Ericsson announced on Friday that it will lay off 4,000 employees in Sweden
this year as part of the company's previously announced downsizing.
Spokeswoman
Aase Lindskog said that it will also reduce the number of consultants
in Sweden from 6,000 to 4,000, adding that no exact dates were available
since consultants are hired on an hourly basis.
Ericsson
said 2,700 employees, including 2,600 in the Stockholm region, will receive
their notices before the end of June. The remaining 1,300 employees who
are to be laid off will be informed by September at the latest, according
to a statement.
Analysts who had been waiting for details about Ericsson's cost-cutting
plans welcomed the news. The company's shares rose 4.6 percent to 68 kronor
($6.64) in midday trading on the Stockholm bourse.
Nicholas Mead


Norske Skog aquires Pan Asia newsprint manufacturer
Norske Skog and Abitibi Consolidated have signed an agreement to acquire
Hansol Paper's 1/3 ownership in Pan Asia Paper Company (Pan Asia). The
two companies will each own 50 per cent of Pan Asia after the transaction,
and Norske Skog will pay USD 175 million (NOK 1.6 billion) for the increased
equity. The agreement also provides for the possibility of a USD 5 million
earn-out. The transaction is expected to close in July 2001, subject to
regulatory approvals.
"This
transaction will give Norske Skog an even stronger presence in
important growth markets," said Jan Reinås, President and CEO
of
Norske Skog.
"Pan Asia was established in early 1999, and has since then demonstrated
high profitability and contributed strongly to a better balance in the
Asian market. We are very optimistic on the future development,"
added Reinås.
Norske
Skog will consolidate Pan Asia on a 50 per cent proportional basis from
the time of closing. In addition to payment for the increased
equity, Norske Skog will also consolidate an additional part of Pan
Asia's net interest-bearing debt. Total enterprise value is approx. USD
1,100 per tonne of capacity.
Pan
Asia is Asia's leading newsprint manufacturer, headquartered in
Singapore and with four modern newsprint mills in Korea, China and
Thailand. Pan Asia's total capacity is 1.45 million tonnes, and the
company's market share in non-Japanese Asia is about 25 %.
Nicholas Mead


Skanska to expand Czech TV manufacturing plant
Skanska's Czech subsidiary, IPS Skanska, has secured a contract to expand
Philips Picture Tube Technology Centers' plant for the manufacturing of
television tubes in the Czech Republic. The contract is valued at approximately
SEK 380 M.
The
contract demonstrates continued confidence in IPS Skanska, which recently
completed the first phase of Philips' plant at Hranice na
Morave, near Olomouc in the central Czech Republic. This assignment was
valued at approximately SEK 150 M. The two assignments have a combined
total value of SEK 530 M in buildings and systems.
The new 40,000-square-meter plant will contain a facility for the
manufacture of picture tubes and logistics distribution premises.
Work on the new phase is to commence immediately. Certain sections of
the plant will be brought into use in the spring and completion is scheduled
for June. IPS Skanska will be responsible for construction, installation
work and infrastructure in the area that has been designated for further
expansion. Philips plans to invest a total of approximately USD 180 million
in the plant - the largest foreign greenfield investments in the Czech
Republic in recent years. Philips was recently awarded with the Investor
of the Year award in the Czech Republic by the Ministry of Industry and
Trade.
Nicholas Mead


Tele Danmark pledges 95% broadband coverage in one year
TDC Tele Danmark has pledged that by this time next year, 95% of the country
will have access to broadband Internet connections.
The
company claims that by July 2005, 95 per cent of Denmark will have a minimum
internet access speed of 256kbits per second, 90 per cent will have 512kbits
per second and 70 per cent will have 2mbits per second.
The pledge promises to make Denmark the most developed technological nation
in Europe as its closest Scandinavian neighbours still struggle to implement
a widespread broadband infrastructure. In Stockholm alone, a capital of
some 1.5 million people, it was recently estimated that only 117,000 households
currently have broadband access despite wild promises by operators.
Nicholas Mead


Sweden slashes defence forces
Sweden has decided to make further cuts in its defence industry by confining
warships to port in a 50 million pound costcutting move.
In
addition, Naval officers will only work during the day and overtime
has been banned in the army and air force. Major exercises have been
scrapped and new conscripts will be allowed to leave early to save on
the food bill.
"Sweden is entering the biggest restructuring of its armed forces
in 100 years, defence expert Stefan Wineger told The Times newspaper.
"We are abandoning the model built up during the Cold War when we
were preparing for a large scale military attack from the east.
Funds will be used to modernise equipment and any surplus will be used
to try and cut unemployment.
Nicholas Mead


Finnish media group take control of Baltic News Service
The Baltic Times has reported that Finnish business daily Kauppalehti,
a member of the Alma Media group, has acquired a 58.5 percent stake in
the only Pan-Baltic news agency, The Baltic News Service. The move increases
Kauppalehti's stake in the agency to 85 percent.
In
the course of the deal, Kauppalehti purchased, at an undisclosed
price, shares from several owners with local and international interests
in the news service, which included Sweden's Dagens Industri business
daily and the Direkt business news agency. The remaining fifteen percent
of BNS remains in the hands of the U.S. based Bridge-Telerate.
"If someone wants to play a big game and make an investment, we are
a good bite," BNS Board Chairman George Shabad told The Baltic Times.
"BNS has a very good market position in the Baltic states. It's a
growing structure which is profitable and transparent - since 1996 BNS
has had Swedish co-owners," Shabad added.
Nicholas Mead


Telenor and TeleDanmark talks off
The merger talks between Norwegian telecom group Telenor and Danish rival
TeleDanmark have broken down, according to The Telecom Paper.
Quoting
The Financial Times, it reported that discussions ended after
the Danish group and its biggest shareholder, U.S. group SBC
Communications, failed to reach an agreement over the future of the
company.
Telenor, which briefly merged with Sweden's Telia in 1999 before the
deal broke down in, conceded earlier this week that contacts with SBC
might lead nowhere. It was forced to release a statement to the Oslo
stock exchange after a report by London's Financial Times revealed the
two companies had been in talks.
Nicholas Mead


Icelandic minister tries to lure film makers
Icelands minister of trade, Valgerdur Sverrisdóttir, is attending
the Cannes Film Festival this week in order to lure foreign filmmakers
to Iceland, according to The Iceland Daily News.
Sverrisdóttir
is outlining Icelands new law, which will partially
reimburse production costs for those foreign filmmakers producing movies
in the country.
The Minister told Morgunbladid that she hopes these paybacks will bring
more foreign filmmakers to Iceland, further strengthening the countrys
film industry.
"This is not unlike what other nations have been doing to attract
film
investment to their countries, Sverrisdottir said.
If we are going to compete against other nations, this is something
we
have to do.
The repayment laws are temporary and will be re-evaluated in the year
2006.
Nicholas Mead


Government break fishing strike in Iceland
The six week long fishing strike which has threatened to cripple
Iceland's economy is over, according to the Iceland Daily News. Fishing
vessels began sailing out of Reykjavík harbour at 22.00 last night,
as the strike came to an end yesterday afternoon, despite the fact that
seamen are still without contracts.
The
strike, which began on 1 April, was terminated by an act of
parliament on Wednesday night at around 19.00, when parliamentarians voted
33-20 in favour of outlawing strikes by seamen.
Saevar Gunnarsson, leader of the Icelandic Seamens Federation, told
Icelandic daily Morgunbladid that he was disappointed by the action of
Parliament, and that the resolution banning strikes by seamen only
benefits the owners of the vessels and trawlers.
"Its clear that the fishing vessel owners and ship owners were
waiting
for this. It was exactly what they wanted.
The managing director of the Federation of Icelandic Fishing Vessel
Owners, Fridrik J. Arngrímsson, told Morgunbladid that it was a
disappointment that none of the unions, except for the Association of
Icelandic Marine Engineers, could negotiate contracts.
He added that these unions the Merchant Navy and Fishing Vessels
Officers Guild and the Seamens Federation still have the possibility
to negotiate a contract.
The Association of Icelandic Marine Engineers broke ranks and signed a
contract on 10 May.
In Morgunbladid, Grétar Mar Jónsson, leader of the Officers
Guild, said
that it marked a sad day for Iceland when a law is passed forbidding
seamen to negotiate for their salary.
Nicholas Mead


Telenor confirm TDC talks
Norwegian phone giants Telenor AB confirmed on Wednesday that it is discussing
buying a large minority stake in Danish counterpart TDC, according to
thedeal.com.
Analysts
are sceptical about the success of such a deal however. In a
statement to the Oslo Stock Exchange, Telenor said it had held
discussions with SBC Communications about whether the San Antonio-based
telecom group was interested in selling its 41.7% holding in TDC, which
changed its name from Tele Danmark A/S in April, according to thedeal.com.
Rumours about the deal first surfaced after The Financial Times reported
that the companies were in merger talks to create a mega-group worth around
$15.8 billion.
Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland are served by around 17 telecom companies
in the fixed-line consumer, corporate data and wireless markets, covering
around 25 million people but analysts believe the markets can no longer
sustain so many operators.
Nicholas Mead


Telia to offer full GPRS by September 11
Telia have announced that by the 11th of September, all three million
of it's Swedish mobile customers will have access to GPRS, the next generation
of mobile telephony.
GPRS
will offer users new features such as the fact that they will not
have to pay for the time they spend online, but for the amount of data
they send and receive.
"Our tests have been a great success, and once the summer is over,
we'll be offering GPRS to all three million of our mobile customers,"
said Anders Bruse, head of Telia Mobile's Swedish operations.
February saw the launch of Telia's GPRS service, Telia Mobile OnLine.
This is not a new kind of subscriber offer, but a supplementary service
which all of Telia's GSM customers can activate as long as they have
GPRS telephones. Telia Mobile OnLine has two different tariffs to choose
from so that customers can benefit from the service regardless of whether
they use it frequently or less frequently.
For instance, Telia Mobile OnLine will allow customers to send and
receive e-mail and use a large number of Internet-based services. Telia
Mobile OnLine will also give WAP a boost as users will not have to pay
for the time they spend online, but for the amount of data they send and
receive.
More information
Nicholas Mead


Mobile car parking payment launched in Stockholm
A new way of paying for parking has been launched in Stockholm. In keeping
with the technological savy of the Swedish capital, residents can now
pay their parking fee via their mobile phone.
The
city's parking authority has teamed up with an Irish start-up application
provider called Parking Partners who are launching their new service 'park&dial'
in the Swedish capital.
Chief executive officer David Andrew believes that the new service could
become the first mass market mobile commerce application in one of the
world's most advanced wireless cities.
Ease of use has been a central concern in the design of the park&dial
service, according to Andrew. Initially, a driver has to register his
or her details by phone or online. They will then be sent a barcode which
they must place on the windscreen of their car which parking wardens check
with a barcode scanner.
Stockholm has two categories of parking zone, denoted by the colours red
and blue. To pay for one hour's parking in the red zone, for example,
a motorist can send a SMS message containing the text 'r60' to a central
number. A thirty minute extension can be obtained later simply by sending
'+30' in a follow-up text message. The same phone number - 0730- 300 000
- also supports voice and IVR calls and can be accessed from any mobile
network in Sweden.
Telia Mobile and Europolitan Vodafone, which is 71 per cent owned by Vodafone,
are promoting the initiative whilst SEB Bank is providing transaction
settlement services. Customers will initially receive a parking account
statement seperate from their mobile phone bill.
More information
Nicholas Mead


Nokia announces soccer and golf for 9210 Communicator
Nokia announced on Wednesday two new games - Mobile Soccer and Golf for
the Nokia 9210 Communicator. The games are designed specifically for the
communicator's high-resolution color screen and the Symbian platform.
Owners of the Nokia 9210 Communicator will be able to download both games
from Club Nokia.
Mobile
Soccer is the second published add-on game for the 9210 Communicator.
The 1st published add-on game was a Virtual Snowboarding game which was
launched in March 2001.
The two games will be available to the public in the 2nd half of 2001.
"This is an indication of the great games experience now available on
mobile phones," said Graham Thomas, General Manager of Games, Nokia Mobile
Phones.
In the past year, Nokia's entertainment offering has grown to include
a large portfolio of games from developers such as Rage, Eidos, iomo,
Kuju Entertainment, and Springtoys.
Rage, Kuju Entertainment, Springtoys, Eidos, iomo and Quiz Supplies are
all members of Forum Nokia, which is an on-line community for third party
developers creating mobile applications. Registered members are given
access to development tools and supporting documents as well as other
developers on-line. The Forum (www.forum.nokia.com)
was established in 1995 and currently has maround 400,000 members.
Nicholas Mead


Skanska secures largest phase of Gothenburg city tunnel link
Skanska has secured a contract to construct the largest phase of the Gtaleden
road system, the new underground traffic route in Gothenburg. The contract
amounts to more than SEK 800 M, approximately USD 80 M. The customer is
the Western Region of the Swedish National Road Administration. Skanska's
order is the Road Administration's largest single purchase order ever.
The
assignment is for a tunnel under the Rosenlund Canal close to Järntorget
square in central Gothenburg. Skanska's project comprises a total stretch
of approximately 500 meters, of which 380 meters will be a concrete tunnel
and 40 meters will be rock tunnel, as well as troughs and approaches.
The Götaleden road system, which is part of national route 45, is
one of Sweden's most densely trafficked roads. The new underground road
will create open areas and increased access between the central districts
of Gothenburg and the Gta River. The Gtaleden road system project, which
is part of the Gothenburg agreement, will have a total length of 3,000
meters.
"In order to find good technical solutions and ensure production methods
for the design-construct contract, we have organized close cooperation
that combines expertise from Skanska Road Construction, Skanska Underground
Construction and Bridges, and Skanska Teknik," says Leif Gustavsson, District
Manager at Skanska Road Construction.
Work at the site will commence in the summer and the tunnel is scheduled
to open to traffic on October 1, 2005.
Nicholas Mead


Securitas acquires Loomis Fargo to form cash handling giant
Securitas acquired the remaining 51 percent of the shares in the cash
handling company Loomis Fargo & Co. ("Loomis") in the USA on Wednesday.
The
acquisition makes Securitas the second largest cash handling services
provider in the U.S. and one of the biggest cash handling companies in
the world with annual sales of SEK 8.6 billion (USD 855) and with a market
share of 18 percent in the U.S. and 16 percent in Europe.
The US market for cash handling services is estimated to be worth MSEK
22,200 (MUSD 2,200). Transport, growing at approximately 4 percent per
year, accounts for the largest share, about 60 percent, of the total market.
ATM related services is the fastest growing area, with about 10 percent
annual growth.
Loomis, based in Houston, Texas, has operations in 220 locations in the
U.S. with 2,200 employees and 2,600 vehicles.
The transaction will double the sales of the Cash Handling Services business
area in Securitas from SEK 4.3 billion to SEK 8.6 billion on a full year
pro-forma basis. The full year operating income in the business area will
increase by MSEK 355 pro-forma, corresponding to an operating margin of
9 percent.
Nicholas Mead


Kone and Nokia to improve elevator safety
Kone, one of the world's biggest elevator and escalator companies, announced
on Tuesday taht they are to collaborate in developing a wireless voice
and data technology system for improving the reliability and safety of
elevators and escalators.
The
application, based on GSM technology, will be used globally in Kone escalators
and elevators for remote monitoring and emergency telephone communication.
According to KONE's Senior Vice President, Service Business, Michel Chartron,
"This new platform significantly upgrades our ability to monitor passenger
safety as well as the performance of equipment we maintain in service.
For our customers, this translates into the peace of mind that comes with
knowing that we are watching out for their best interests."
Hannu Huttunen, Vice President of Special Products at Nokia added: "Our
goal is to offer our customers, such as Kone, wireless solutions that
allow them to extend their business processes to control machines through
the existing cellular network. These kinds of solutions offer users new
significant business opportunities in today's Mobile Internet."
Nicholas Mead


Nokia to provide Philippine GSM network
Nokia has signed a contract worth approximately USD 310 million with Globe
Telecom's Handyphone service, the company's GSM based Cellular Mobile
Telephone System, for the expansion of its GSM network in the Philippines.
Nokia
will expand Globe's existing GSM 900 and 1800 network and services nationwide.
This expansion will enable Globe to meet the rapid growth in the market
place and bring enhanced capacity, coverage and quality to its customers.
Under the agreement, Nokia will supply and install a full range of telecommunications
services. Equipment to be supplied will include Mobile Switching Centers,
Home Location Registers, Transit Switching layer and Base Station Controllers.
Nokia will also provide its UltraSite base station solution, which provides
capacity for increased demand for high voice and data traffic volumes.
The contract is Nokia's 24th turnkey global delivery putting it ahead
of its major rivals in turnkey network implementation.
Nicholas Mead

Cell Network to develop interactive Swedish pension
Cell Network Sweden has won a contract to develop an e-learning solution
for the Premium Pension Authority (PPM) during the spring and summer of
2001. The objective is to develop an education that will teach pension
savers and information carriers about long term savings in funds in relation
to pensions.
"Together
with Cell Network we are developing an interactive premium pension school
at www.ppm.nu,' confirmed Anna Walter,
Project Manager at PPM.
"The project aims to teach pension savers the importance of acquiring
knowledge about one's own premium pension savings even though retirement
may be several years away.'
After an intensive period last autumn before the first premium pension
choices, PPM is focusing on the provision of information with the aim
of giving an insight into long-term fund saving in relation to pension
savings.
"Working with PPM presents an exciting challenge,' said Sven Holmér,
Project Manager at Cell Network Sweden.
"It is a great project which we are looking forward to."
More information
Nicholas Mead


Sweden most wired nation according to survey
Sweden is the most wired nation on Earth according to The Globe and Mail
online. The study by Ipsos-Reid was released on Tuesday and showed that
only Canada equals Sweden in terms of Internet penetration.
The
international study called The Face of the Web, surveyed 30 countries
and concluded that 73 percent of Canadians and Swedes used the Internet
in 2000 - marginally ahead of the United States, where 72 per cent were
on-line.
Overall, the study showed that European nations have gained ground on
both Canada and the United States, where Internet penetration rates have
been the highest since the birth of the Web.
When the study looked at respondents who had used the Internet in the
past 30 days, Sweden recorded the highest usage with 65 percent on-line
compared to 60 per cent in Canada and The United States with 59 per cent.
Nicholas Mead


Motorola and Sait-Stento to develop new Danish digital network
Motorola and Sait-Stento announced today that the Danish Telecom Authority
has granted them a licence to establish and operate a new digital mobile
network in Denmark. The network - based on the TETRA (Terrestrial Trunked
Radio System) standard - will provide a suitable wireless communications
solution for Danish public safety services, public authorities and private
business customers.
The
TETRA network will initially be rolled out in the Copenhagen area and
is expected to cover 75% of Denmark before the end of 2002 and with 98
% coverage before the end of 2003. So far Motorola and Sait-Stento form
the consortium that has been granted the license to establish and operate
the system. Other partners may be included at a later stage.
The TETRA standard represents a revolution within radio communications
and the introduction of the network is an important element in the digitalisation
and convergence of IT and communication systems. The new network will
replace the old analogue radio systems and makes it possible for public
safety services like the police, alarm centres, fire brigades and others
to communicate with each other in a manner which is not possible with
the current radio systems.
The new radio network is not only aimed at public safety services. It
may also be useful for supply services like electricity and water suppliers,
private constructors, the transport industry and others.
Sait-Stento are one of the biggest European system integrators and service
suppliers for the wireless market. It was formed in May 2000 with the
merger of Belgian company Sait-RadioHolland and Norwegian Stento ASA,
and employs 1925 people worldwide. Stento Denmark is the Danish affiliate
of Sait-Stento and is a research and development centre for TETRA and
GSM-R solutions.
More information
Nicholas Mead


Icelandic government to end fishing strike
The Minister of Fisheries, Arni M. Mathiesen, held a meeting with representatives
from the Icelandic Seamen's Association and Merchant Navy and Fishing
Vessels Officers Guild on Saturday, in which he announced that the government
was planning to legislate an end to the seamen's strike.
According
to The Iceland Daily News, the proposed bill to end the six-week strike
will be discussed in parliament on Wednesday. If successful, the bill
will force all sides into mediation, giving union leaders a deadline date
of 1 June, by which they will have to reach an agreement.
"It would be negligence on my part if I did not put an end to this strike
as quickly as possible," Mathiesen stated in daily Morgunbladid.
"The strike has affected the financial markets here and the biggest seasons
[red fish and herring] are about to get underway."
Union leaders from the Seamen's Association and the Officers Guild responded,
saying that they would probably end the strike just before the bill was
passed in parliament and added that they believe mediation would only
deliver an agreement equal to the contract signed by the Association of
Icelandic Marine Engineers on 10 May.
Saevar Gunnarsson, leader of the Seamen's Association, told daily Morgunbladid
that their old contracts are better than the outcome that they anticipate
from this forced mediation.
Nicholas Mead

Nokia launch open source website ostdev.net
Nokia today announced the launch of a new website, ostdev.net, dedicated
to supporting developers in the open source community as well as the promotion
of collaborative development of the OST.
The
OST (Open Standards Terminal) is a platform for home entertainment applications.
It is based on open source technologies such as, Linux, Xfree86 and Mozilla
and provides a platform for developing applications for a variety of electronic
devices including: broadcast and digital TV, digital video recording,
web browsing, gaming etc.
Ostdev.net is the coordination point for the development and testing of
OST software projects such as the SDK project. It will also feature the
source code for the platform as well as, documentation, examples and project
hosting related to the OST platform. In addition the CollabNet SourceCast
platform provides the development environment for ostdev.net that includes
tools for: revision control, issue tracking, mailing list creation and
management, Web-based administration, custom branding, and content.
Nokia's first OST-based product is the Media Terminal; an innovative infotainment
device that seamlessly combines digital video broadcast service, full
Internet access, and personal video recorder (PVR) technology.
Rickard Nelgér, Head of Product Management, Nokia Home Communications
said, "We are convinced that openness is the way forward. With the OST
platform Nokia aims at initiating the creation of an open standard for
IP-based home entertainment. By making source code and other tools available
to these developers all over the world we want to give maximum support
to developers and stimulate a widespread creation of applications."
"The home entertainment industry has traditionally been very proprietary
with its technology. By working with CollabNet to create an Open Source
Network around the OST Platform, Nokia is giving the worldwide developer
community a unique opportunity to create new and innovative applications
for this market,' said Bill Portelli, president and CEO of CollabNet.
Nokia will demonstrate both the Media Terminal and ostdev.net at the upcoming
E3 exhibition in Los Angeles 16-19 May.
Nicholas Mead


Telenor and NRK team up for 3G in Norway
Telenor Mobil and Norwegian state broadcaster NRK's telecom department
are to cooperate in developing mobile services for WAP and the third generation
mobile network, UMTS.
The
first mobile service from the partnership will be launched in the autmun
and will be a WAP/GPRS-service based on a number of brands and programs
from NRK.
"It is important both for the operator and for the service provider that
we cooperate to build the new industry which the mobile Internet represents,"
said Head of Programs in NRK Futurum's telecom department, Anne Halvorsen.
On December 1st, Telenor Mobil will launch its third generation mobile
network, UMTS. NRK will supply the multimedia contents for this based
on the most popular entertainment programs.
"We will use our strong market position as Norway's leading multimedia
producer to play a leading part as a content provider for the mobile Internet.
A strategic agreement with market leader, Telenor Mobil, is an important
step in the right direction to achieve this goal," said Halvorsen.
Telenor Mobil is will be developing its mobile Internet portal, djuice.com,
to make it as broad and manifold as possible.
"We want to offer our customers the best mobile services in the future,
and to achieve this, a tight-knit cooperation with the best content providers
in the market is of paramount importance," said Ric Brown, head of Mobile
Internet and Commerce Services in Telenor Mobil.
Nicholas Mead


Icelanders and Norwegians to build hydro-electric plant
The National Power Company of Iceland and the Norwegian Hydro Aluminium
company Reidaraál hf will be presenting their plans to create a
hydro-electric powered aluminium plant in the East Fjörds to the
Norwegian media today in.
According
to the Iceland Daily News, the project has been named Noral and according
to daily Morgunbladid, those with environmental reservations and members
of the local community have been invited to take part in this press conference.
Nicholas Mead


Ericsson to sell more European properties
Ericsson is close to signing a £200 million sale and leaseback of its
European properties with a consortium of investors led by Japenese Bank
Nomura, according to The Times newspaper.
Ericsson
wants to sell a number of buildings across Europe, many of which will
be redeveloped. The exclusive Mayfair headquarters in the UK are not expected
to be sold though.
The Times claim that Ericsson are desperately hanging on to the prestigious
St James's Square headquarters in the hope that it can achieve a better
price for the property by selling it separately.
Project manager Josper Svensson told the paper: "It is a matter of
allowing us to focus on our core business as well as creating financial
flexibility."
Last month, Ericsson announced a first-quarter loss of £337 million and
12,000 job cuts. The company has already raised nearly £400 million from
the sale of its Swedish properties, which accounted for about half the
value of its overall estate.
Nicholas Mead


Assa Abloy launches lock technology
Assa Abloy, the world's leading lock company, has developed a new "intelligent"
lock technology that offers improved security and convenience by combining
mechanical solutions with the latest advances in microelectronics.
The
technology, named CLIQ is a concept that integrates electronics and mechanics
to create a more secure lock. To open the lock, the key must not only
fit mechanically, its identity, stored on a microchip, must also be approved
by the lock. As every key is unique, individual access rights can be entered
for each key holder. Which means that access rights can be withdrawn for
keys that have gone missing.
Electromechanical products are enjoying the strongest growth and highest
invoicing per product in today's lock market. It is also the product sector
where most innovations are being made, both by ASSA ABLOY and its various
established and recent competitors.
"CLIQ is the result of extensive international development work involving
the skills of leading engineers within the Group and external specialists
round the world. Technical progress in precision engineering, electronics
and miniaturisation has made it possible to make manufacturing of the
locks commercially viable. It would not have been possible a few years
ago", says ke Sund, Group Vice President Market Development of ASSA ABLOY.
"CLIQ puts us at the forefront of technological developments. It offers
an excellent opportunity to win market share and achieve continued growth.
Products incorporating the CLIQ technology will now be launched step by
step in a number of countries", says ke Sund.
Nicholas Mead


Framfab sells Framfab Technology
Today, Framfab has sold its shares in Framfab Technology AB to Bure Equity
AB for SEK 17 million. The transfer takes effect as of today, Thursday,
10 May.
Framfab
Technology AB is a company within the Framfab Group and employs approximately
50 people. It is a company that commands spearhead competencies in the
field of technology, and its activities include embedded systems and IP-based
solutions for biotechology and communication.
"Framfab is continuing its policy of refining its core businesses with
a view to focusing exclusively on Internet consultancy operations. This
sale demonstrates that there is value within Framfab which can and will
be capitalised," explains Johan Wall, CEO of Framfab.
Framfab has previously made it clear that the Group would be selling off,
discontinuing or finding external financiers for non-core activities.
This applies, for example, to Framfab Labs, Bredbandsbolaget and investments
in UMTS licences.
In connection with the transfer, Framfab Technology will be changing its
name to Erda Technology AB.
Nicholas Mead


Icelandair to increase fares by six percent
Icelandair will increase fares by up to six per cent for the domestic
market on15 May in response to the dropping Icelandic krona, according
to The Iceland Daily News.
Quoting
Icelandic daily Morgunbladid, the site reports that fares for the international
market will remain unchanged.
A company representative explained that since the majority of products
and services that Icelandair purchases are in US dollars, the company
has been forced to increase fares to absorb the rising cost of these products
and services.
The move comes at time when Icelandic travel agencies are planning to
raise their prices by up to 11 per cent.
Nicholas Mead


Carlsberg to close down Gothenburg brewery
Carlsberg Sweden is to begin negotiations with trade unions to phase out
its production and warehouse activities at its brewery in Gothenburg.
Carlsberg
claim a thorough investigation of the production structure carried out
over the last few months has shown that concentrating production of beer
and soft drinks at its two breweries in Stockholm and Falkenberg is the
economically correct decision. The Ramlösa business near Helsingborg
will not be effected by the decision.
Carlsberg hope to have completed negotiations by August at the latest
and that brewery production at Gothenburg will be phased out by April
2002 and the warehouse by October 2002.
As a result it is expected that around 280 of Gothenburg's 440 employees
will lose their jobs. Of these, 100 will be offered new jobs in Falkenberg
and Stockholm. An outplacement programme will be put into action to help
the surplus workers find new employment.
The Danish brewing giants said that the reason for the move was becasue
of 'significant overcapacity' in the Swedish brewing industry.
Total beer sales in Sweden have fallen by 15% since 1994, primarily because
of growth of legal and illegal private imports, estimated to be around
1.2 million hectolitres a year, from neighbouring countries that have
significantly lower duty rates - double the amount of beer produced in
the Gothenburg brewery.
At the same time, Carlsberg Sweden now has two breweries on the west coast
of Sweden after the merger of Falcon and Pripps.
Nicholas Mead


Scandinavia Online to axe quarter of staff
Scandinavia Online (SOL), not to be confused with Scandinavia Now, has
announced it is to lay off a quarter of its staff after another quarter
of poor results. The company reported on Wednesday a loss of 73.3 Norwegian
Kronor and 70 people will lose their jobs, according to Aftenposten.
SOL
is based in Norway and operates one of Norway's biggest Internet portals
with a staff of 274 people, 84 within the country.
The company claim the main cause for the job cuts was declining revenues
from advertising which had fallen by 15% in the first quarter last year.
However, despite the downturn, SOL's market share has risen and it's number
of monthly users was up 11 percent in the first quarter. Daily page viewings
are reportedly up 20 percent.
Nicholas Mead


Ruined art not a drop in the ocean for Icelandic gallery
Four paintings destined for the National Gallery in Iceland have been
ruined whilst in transit from Canada to the tiny nation according to the
Iceland Daily News.
The
paintings fell into the ocean whilst in Canada and Olafur Kvaran, head
of the National Gallery confirmed the accident is a terrible loss for
the gallery.
"It's a terrible loss for the gallery. The works that were destroyed were
often shown at exhibitions, and they were important works for the artists
concerned,"said Kvaran.
Kvaran conceded that the financial loss to the Gallery would be millions
of Icelandic kronur.
The works were by the acclaimed Icelandic artists Jóhannes Kjarval,
Thorvaldur Skúlason, Asgrímur Jónsson, Jóhannes
Jóhannesson and had been on loan to Svavar Gestsson, the honorary
consulate in Winnipeg, Canada.
Nicholas Mead


Norwegian retailers to establish Scandinavian distribution centre
Reitan Narvesen ASA, the Norwegian-based retailing group, will establish
a center for distribution of magazines in Scandinavia by 2002.
Reitan
Narvesen currently distributes magazines in Norway through Narvesen Distribusjon
and in Sweden through Svenska Interpress AB. A letter of intent has also
been signed on acquiring, Dansk Centralagentur AS DCA, a Danish distributor.
This acquisition will make the group a substantial player in distributing
magazines to the Scandinavian market.
The company claim the planned centre will be modern and efficient, saving
the costs currently incurred by running the operation from three different
locations.
Existing sales and marketing organisations in Norway, Sweden and Denmark
will continue to be responsible for serving their respective markets in
the best possible way.
The deal should mean that retail chains, dealers and publishers will receive
a better service through access to a more efficient system for magazine
distribution.
Nicholas Mead


NCC to build apartment hotel in Sweden's silicon valley
NCC's Board of Directors has approved acquisition of land for the construction
of Kista Residence Tower, a 37-story apartment hotel in Kista, north of
Stockholm.
The
investment will total approximately SEK 770 million. Kista Residence Tower
will contain 30,000 square meters of floor space, of which potential tenants
have already indicated an interest in approximately 80 percent. The skyscraper
will be built close to central Kista and will contain such premises as
a 250-unit apartment hotel and 350 to 400 office workplaces.
The approximately 18,500-square-meter apartment hotel is mainly intended
as accommodation for guest employees at Kista Science Park - rated as
the second most important technological development ground after Silicon
Valley in California.
Each apartment will have its own kitchenette and a functional workstation.
One-room units with slightly more than 30 square meters of floor space
will account for half of the total number of apartments, with 40-square-meter
two-room units accounting for the remainder.
A café will be built at the entrance level and A spa facility containing
saunas, a gym and heated outdoor pools is planned at the penthouse level.
Kista Residence Tower's close proximity to an approximately 6,700-square-
meter office hotel will provide tenants with an opportunity to rent their
own fully equipped workplaces, supported by office services and access
to meeting/conference premises. The building will also include an approximately
6,000-square-meter shopping mall/leisure complex.
Nicholas Mead


Norway set up new oil regulator
Norway's Oil and Energy Ministry is setting up a new company to manage
the state's giant stake in the country's offshore oil assetts.
According
to the Scotsman newspaper, the new company will be called Petoro and will
control what is called the State Direct Financial Interest (SDFI), part
of which is being sold off to various oil companies.
6.5 percent of the SDFI will go to Norsk Hydro which is also partly state
owned.
Petoro's role will be to ensure that disposals are smooth. The SDFI was
formed in the 1960's by the Norwegian government to ensure a fair deal
for the country from multinational oil companies. It was prompted after
a company offered just one million US dollars to take control of all of
Norway's offshore oil reserves.
Today SDFI holds 5.1 billion barrels of oil, 50 trillion cubic feet of
gas but the aim of selling 20% of the oil shelf is to make Norweigan oil
more attractive to multinationals.
Nicholas Mead


Danes to legalise MP3 downloads
The Danish government is preparing to pass a law that will legalize the
downloading of music from the Internet setting off a torrent of abuse
from copyright holders.
CNN.com,
quoting IDG.net, claim that Elsebeth Nielsen, the Danish Minister for
Culture, wants to relax the country's private copying law. Danes are currently
not allowed to make any copies of digital media but the proposed changes
will give Danes more rights.
"We will make it legal to make digital copies for personal use," said
ministry spokesman Kenneth Jørgensen.
Jørgensen said Danes would be allowed to make a copy of a CD for
use in their car for example, a form of copying already allowed in many
countries. However, the proposed law would also make it perfectly legal
for Danes to copy music from the Internet to their PC.
Currently, the downloading of copyrighted material without the consent
of the rights holder is illegal in most European countries as is the sharing
of copyrighted material.
However, offering songs online to others, which is popularly done through
Napster still won't be legal in Denmark, Jørgensen said.
The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), which
represents the worldwide recording industry, said it would be "shocked"
if Denmark allows digital downloads of copyrighted files.
"I can't believe you can make a lawful copy from a completely illegal
Internet copy," said Allen Dixon, general counsel for IFPI.
He added: "In our view that would be against the European copyright directive
and violate World Trade Organization rules, as it would interfere with
normal trade."
Nicholas Mead


Norway set up new oil regulator
Norway's Oil and Energy Ministry is setting up a new company to manage
the state's giant stake in the country's offshore oil assetts.
According
to the Scotsman newspaper, the new company will be called Petoro and will
control what is called the State Direct Financial Interest (SDFI), part
of which is being sold off to various oil companies.
6.5 percent of the SDFI will go to Norsk Hydro which is also partly state
owned.
Petoro's role will be to ensure that disposals are smooth. The SDFI was
formed in the 1960's by the Norwegian government to ensure a fair deal
for the country from multinational oil companies. It was prompted after
a company offered just one million US dollars to take control of all of
Norway's offshore oil reserves.
Today SDFI holds 5.1 billion barrels of oil, 50 trillion cubic feet of
gas but the aim of selling 20% of the oil shelf is to make Norweigan oil
more attractive to multinationals.
Nicholas Mead


Metso sign AssiDomän pulping deal
Sigma College - Sigma's IT-educational training for high-school students
of the natural sciences - has now been expanded to include Vasalund High
School in Solna. The educational training program will begin in the autumn
in cooperation with the Solna-Sundbyberg Educational Association.
Metso
Paper of Finland has received an order of approx EUR 20 million from AssiDomän
Frövi mill in Sweden. Metso Paper's chemical pulping lines will supply
a digesting process for the production of pulp for bleaching. The rebuilt
process is scheduled to operate in the summer of 2002.
The current annual capacity at the mill's bleaching line is approx. 100,000
tonnes bleached pulp of birch and softwood. The new cooking process, comprising
of three 300 m3 digesters, is designed for an annual capacity of approx.
175,000 tonnes hardwood or softwood pulp in campaigns. The delivery is
a turn-key package excluding civil works and the DCS (distributed control
system) hardware.
The investment will enable the mill to improve the high quality of the
bleached pulp and also the possibility of future capacity increases. The
investment will also lead to cost reductions such as lower energy requirements,
lower chemical consumption and higher pulp yield.
AssiDomän's production is focused on packaging paper, packaging,
sawn timber and wood processing. The Group is one of Europe's largest
listed forest-owning companies with 2.4 million hectares of productive
forest land. In 2000, the net turnover were SEK 24, 643 millions and the
employee headcount was some 12,000.
Nicholas Mead


Lundbergs buy 20 percent stake in Stadium stores
Lundbergs has reached an agreement with Ulf and Bo Eklöf, the owners
of Stadium, regarding a private placement of Stadium shares, whereby Lundbergs
will acquire a 20% interest in Stadium.
The
private placement will be based on the value of all of the current shares
in Stadium, which amounts to SEK 1 billion, or on the debt-free value
of the operations, which is approximately SEK 1.2 billion. Lundbergs will
pay SEK 250 million in cash in return for 20% of the total number of new
shares after the private placement. All of the Stadium shares will carry
identical voting rights. The intention is to list Stadium on the stock
exchange within a period of 5 - 7 years.
During the past five years, Stadium has increased its sales by an average
of 20% per year. During the company's current fiscal year (September-April),
Stadium has shown total sales growth of more than 20%, or slightly more
than 10% for comparable units. Stadium currently has 60 outlets in Sweden,
of which 10 were opened during 2000 and 2001. Further expansion in Sweden
is planned.
Stadium opened its first outlet outside Sweden, namely in Copenhagen,
in October 2000, and plans to open a number of additional new outlets
in the Copenhagen region. The company's first outlet in the city of Helsinki
was opened in April this year and will be followed by the establishment
of two more stores in the region in September and October.
Stadium currently has annual sales of approximately SEK 2.6 billion, with
2000 employees.
Nicholas Mead


Sigma College established in Stockholm area
Sigma College - Sigma's IT-educational training for high-school students
of the natural sciences - has now been expanded to include Vasalund High
School in Solna. The educational training program will begin in the autumn
in cooperation with the Solna-Sundbyberg Educational Association.
Martin
Vang, Principal of Vasalund High School, emphasizes the school's aim to
provide to high-school students with access to the latest developments
in IT-technology.
"Vasalund High School is focused on technical training courses, and our
experience of Sigma College in Malmö has been good. The training
is concentrated on computer knowledge, whereby the school contracts Sigma
consultants for all instructional services. Some of the educational training
will be conducted in the form of Sigma's e-learning concept. The program
also includes plans to establish working teams comprising different teachers,"
says Martin Vang, and adds that students who wish to change course and
apply to Sigma College must do
so not later than May 10.
Sigma College is operated as a subsidiary of Sigma Education AB, which
conducted its first College training program at Pauliskolan in Malmö
in the autumn of 2000.
Henrik Thorsell, President of Sigma Education, comments: "As a knowledge
company, it is important for us to maintain a dialogue with different
educational institutions, ranging from high schools to colleges and universities.
All of our own instructors are active in private industry and are able
to contribute their experience as a supplement to the regular curriculum.
Our goal is to establish Sigma College in other cities."


Kongsberg Gruppen signs MNOK 360 contract with General Motors and General
Dynamics of the USA
Kongsberg Gruppen, through its subsidiary Kongsberg Protech, has signed
a contract worth approximately MNOK 360 with General Motors Defense and
General Dynamics Land Systems (GMD/GDLS) for the delivery of weapons control
systems for the first 298 new Light Armored Vehicle being made for the
US Army.
"Having
won against competition from major international suppliers, we are very
pleased about being chosen to subcontract for GMD/GDLS," comments CEO
Jan Erik Korssjøen. "The American contract proves that it is still
possible for relatively small cutting edge technology enterprises to win
international contracts. This contract will boost for Kongsberg Gruppen's
export share even further. In 2000, no less than 74 per cent of the Group's
output was exported', comments Korssjøen.
'The contract also shows that we have a good technological solution, and
other customers have also shown a great deal of interest in it. This could
be the start of a big new wave of activity related to such weapons control
systems', adds Egil Haugsdal, president of Kongsberg Protech.
This contract will boost for Kongsberg Gruppen's export share even further.
In 2000, no less than 74 per cent of the Group's output was exported',
comments CEO Jan Erik Korssjøen.


Saab
acquires Ericsson's share in jointly owned company
Saab AB and Ericsson Microwave Systems AB have agreed on the acquisition
by Saab of Ericsson's share (49.9%) in Ericsson Saab Avionics AB. This
will take place by Ericsson Microwave System AB exercising an option in
the Shareholders' Agreement to transfer its stake in the company to Saab
AB.
The
merger in 1997 was an initial step in an active structuring of the two
companies' operations in avionics and electronic warfare. This process
is now being concluded through Saab's acquisition and will contribute
to further concentration of the two companies' core areas.
Saab will pay SEK 225 million for the shares.
Ericsson Saab Avionics is the leading supplier of electronic systems for
the JAS 39 Gripen combat aircraft. It has a total of 750 employees. Sales
in 2000 amounted to SEK 1,028 million.


NCC builds residential houses for American embassy staff in Berlin for
SEK 100 million
NCC Deutsche Bau GmbH has been awarded the contract by the United States
Department of State for the construction of 14 two-family houses and 3
semi-detached houses comprising a total of 34 residential units. This
amounts to 6,600 m2 living area. The value of the contract amounts to
DEM 20.7 million (SEK 100 million).
The
contract comprises the complete planning work for the architecture, statics,
landscaping and media, the turnkey construction of the houses, the preparation
of the complete external facilities such as lawns, the planting of trees,
parking places, footpaths and accesses, and the demolition of 20 existing
family houses. The houses are equipped with built-in kitchens in accordance
with American standards including high- quality built-in cupboards and
parts.
Commencement of construction works is planned for the end of May.
The construction period will be 18 months. NCC Deutsche Bau took part
in the international competition together with the Berlin architects'
firm Beider and Schlör and won the contract against a number of competent
competitors.
The project will be built in a top Berlin situation, in Grunewald.


Telia
launches first Pan Nordic mobile service
NetCom ASA, Telia's subsidiary in Norway, has introduced the first Pan
Nordic mobile service to its customers. From the autumn this year Norwegian
corporate customers will be able to make calls from and to all over the
Nordic countries with a unified price plan.
"We're
very proud to present Telia's first Pan Nordic service and we aim to offer
several Pan Nordic services to all our customers in the Nordic countries',
said Kenneth Karlberg, President and Head of Business Area Telia Mobile.
The Pan Nordic service, NetCom Nordic Price is available to NetCom's customers
from the autumn this year. The service lowers the cost for calls accross
borders in the Nordic countries, the country where the customer is making
the call from as well as for calls to Norway from the other Nordic countries.
Corporate customers are the main target group for NetCom Nordic Price.
More and more companies have businesses in all Nordic countries and therefore
needs a unified communication solution and pricing to go with it across
borders.
With a Pan Nordic Roaming agreement, a subscriber can make calles to any
mobile in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland for 1,50 NOK/minute compared
to the current cost of between 2,40-5,69 NOK/minute
More information is available at www.telia.com
Nicholas Mead


IconMedialab
launch Spanish basketv.com
IconMedialab, one of the world's biggest e-business integration firms,
is cooperating with Interactive Media of Media Park to develop basketv.com
- the official portal of the Spanish basketball federation.
www.basketv.com
focuses on facts, stories and personalities of 8 major basketball leagues
and 251 teams in Spain, Europe and the United States. A virtual store
offers online shopping for a host of basket-related products; the entertainment
and community sections include games, chats, forums, and humour; the multimedia
section allows users to view photos and videos, listen to interviews and
commentary, and even watch live broadcasts of games.
"Thanks to a dynamic relationship with Media Park, Icon Medialab was able
to develop the basketv.com site according to client's time-frame. By clearly
defining and designing all the functional, graphical, and technical details
of the site before starting the development process, IconMedialab reduced
the programming phase to an absolute minimum. The end result is a well-valued
site that meets all the expectations of the client," said Enrique Jungbauer,
Managing Director of the Barcelona office of IconMedialab.
Marc Subias, Director of Interactive Media of Media Park added: "With
the experience gained in the launch and operation of futvol.com (www.futvol.com),
the official site of the Spanish football federation, and La Liga (www.liga.es),
the official site of the Spanish professional football League, we've now
in basketv successfully included the best contents and the finest technology.
Our goal is to transform basketv into the reference platform for all Hispanic
basketball fans."
More information is available at www.iconmedialab.es
Nicholas Mead


Volvo
claim 'no recovery in sight'
Volvo claimed on Wednesday that it sees no signs of recovery in the North
American market and warned of weakness in Europe due to economic slowdown
both in Germany and the UK.
The
announcement followed the release of the company's first quarter figures
which showed a dramatic decline in profit. In the three months to March
31, Volvo made a pre-tax loss of SKr1.25bn ($122m) compared with a profit
of SKr1.89bn at the same time last year.
Volvo has cut 1400 jobs in addition to the 1600 it shed last year. However,
Scania, one of Volvo's biggest rivals has also felt the heat and announced
1600 jobs are likely to go in Europe.
The company has so far been thwarted in its attempts at restructuring
to save costs. Its planned takeover of Scania was blocked by the EU and
it was also forced to pull out of a deal with Mitsubishi. The firm still
has set itself a target of saving 3.5 billion Swedish Krona.
Nicholas Mead


Icelander to receive Danish furniture award
Eyjólfur Pálsson, furniture designer and owner of the design
store 'Epal', will receive the Danish Furniture Award for his promotion
of Danish design in Iceland, according to the Iceland Daily News.
The
award will be handed over to Pálsson on Thursday by Fredrek, Crown
Prince of Denmark, at the opening ceremony for the Scandinavian Furniture
Fair 2001, in the Bella Centre, Copenhagen.
Pálsson will receive ISK 825,000 (USD 8,420) with the award.
The awards are awarded annually by Dansk Møbelindustris Fond (the
Danish Furniture Industry Association) in an effort to support and encourage
the initiative and efforts of individuals working towards the development
of the Danish Furniture industry. This is the thirtieth award ceremony.
Pálsson is the most respected furniture designer in Iceland and
has been working in the industry for over 25 years.
Nicholas Mead


Swedes and Norwegians to develop maritime satellite system
Swedish firm Adcore and Norwegian satellite provider Nera Satcom are to
develop a new satellite traffic system for sea-faring vessels.
Nera
is the world's largest provider of satellite communications systems for
freight vessels, aircraft and portable terminals which enable communication
by voice, fax and data worldwide and are a critical tool for journalists,
international aid organisations and embassies but also in more high-profile
contexts such as the Whitbread Around the World Race (now the Volvo Ocean
Race).
The deal is expected to generate total revenues of some SEK 10 m for Adcore
who will undertake system development, project management and support
functions (tools support and development methodologies) for Satcom LES
(base stations).
The project is expected to be completed between 2003 and 2006. More info
is available at www.adcore.com.
Nicholas Mead


TJ Group to axe 150 Finnish employees
TJ Group Plc has announced it is to sell its Finland-based Resource and
Document Management, Internet Based Learning, and Branding & Advertising
units, and to give notice to around 80 employees 'for productive and financial
reasons'.
The
measures will reduce the number of the TJ Group personnel in Finland by
150 people and the company expects expenses will go down by 2 million
euros per quarter, starting from July 2001. The company claim the main
reason for reducing the number of personnel is to focus on 'extended customer
relationship management (CRM) solutions'. The strategic customer solutions
consist of marketing and sales systems and their integration into the
existing systems used by customers.
More information is available at www.tjgroup.com.
Nicholas Mead


Eivind Reiten becomes Norsk Hydro CEO
Eivind Reiten has today taken up the position of President and CEO of
Norsk Hydro ASA.
Reiten
(48) holds a degree in economics from the University of Oslo. His relationship
with Norsk Hydro goes back to 1986, since which time he has held managerial
positions within several of the company's business areas, including periods
as head of division for Hydro Energy (1988 - 1990), Refining and Marketing
(1992 - 1996) and Hydro Aluminium Metals (1996 - 1999).
From 1999, Reiten has been part of Hydro's corporate management with particular
responsibility for the company's Light Metals operations. Reiten has also
sat on the boards of other Norwegian companies; as chairman of Norway
Post (1995 - 1999), chairman of Telenor from 1999, as a member of the
executive board of the Central Bank of Norway and as board member of Dyno
and Norske Skog.
Reiten has also held several major political appointments, most recently
as Minister for Oil and Energy (1990 - 1991).
Egil Myklebust (59), who has been succeeded by Eivind Reiten as President
and CEO, has taken up his new position as chairman of the board of Norsk
Hydro ASA.
Nicholas Mead


Cell Network to develop Norwegian Air Traffic Control
Cell Network Norway has received an order to develop a new invoicing system
for the Norwegian Air Traffic and Airport Management (NATAM). The order
will keep 6-8 consultants occupied full time for one year.
Cell
Network is to develop the Norwegian Air Traffic and Airport Management's
system for invoicing the fees for all air traffic in Norway. The system
will be integrated with Oracle Application.
"The new project will increase the efficiency of NATAM's invoicing routines.
In addition we will produce a web solution for all the airports in Norway,
to be used in calculating airport fees", said Hans-Petter Olsen, head
of the public sector department at Cell Network Norway.
The new project is based on a preliminary study Cell Network did for the
NATAM last fall, in competition with several other large consultancies
in Norway. The project starts immediately, and will involve all departments
of Cell Network, occupying 6-8 consultants full time for one year.
Nicholas Mead


Swedes to develop environmentally friendly rocket fuel
ECAPS, owned equally by the Swedish National Space Board and Volvo Aero,
has received its first order from the Swedish National Space Board. The
order, worth SEK 11 million, is for a demonstration of environmentally
friendly rocket fuel for satellite engines.
With
their extensive combined know-how in satellite systems and rocket engines,
respectively, the two companies claim they aim to develop an attractive
and competitive alternative to today's most commonly used fuel "hydrazine."
Since hydrazine is hazardous and carcinogenic, its handling is controlled
by strict safety regulations.
The foremost advantage of the new "green" fuel is that it is environmentally
friendly. Moreover, it is neither explosive nor particularly hazardous,
which means that it can be handled with rubber gloves, in contrast to
Hydrazin, which requires protective clothing that resembles a space suit.
It is expected that this will yield substantial cost savings as a result
of reduced handling expenses. The new fuel is based on a patent owned
by ECAPS.
"In addition to the definite handling advantages, the new fuel is characterized
by higher performance than hydrazine. As a result, interest from the space
industry is already considerable," says Ulf Palmnäs, President of
ECAPS.
Nicholas Mead


Europolitan Vodafone offers mobile Reuters news
Reuters and Europolitan Vodafone have signed a collaboration agreement
that will make Europolitan Vodafone the first mobile operator in Sweden
to offer its customers Reuters' financial news directly in their mobile
phones. The financial news will be delivered via SMS and will have a strong
focus on events that impact the stock market.
The
service is available to all Europolitan Vodafone's subscription customers
on Europolitan Vodafone's Hantera web site. Those interested can order
an SMS subscription to the service, and will subsequently receive the
day's five most important financial news items at different times during
the day. Reuters' editors assess which news items are most important,
evaluating news as soon as it arises. If a news item is deemed to be one
of the five most important items of the day, it is sent directly to the
subscriber's mobile phone.
"A key target group for this service is, of course, our corporate customers,
who have to keep updated about all major events affecting the stock market
during the day. However, our private customers with a great interest in
the stock market will also be able to use the service. Reuters is one
of the world's most reliable mediators of financial news, which guarantees
the high quality of the service," says Mikael Kluge, Director Mobile Internet
at Europolitan Vodafone.
Nicholas Mead


Aldata
sells barcode business to Informa
Aldata Industries Oy will sell its Barcode business to Informa Oy for
EUR 3.7 million. The transaction will take effect immediately and the
Barcode business will take place on 7 May 2001, when 29 Barcode employees
will be transferred to Informa Oy retaining their former status and benefits.
The divestment of this business forms part of Aldata Solution Oyj's action
to raise the profitability of its Data Collection business unit.
The
Barcode business does not fall within the scope of Aldata Solution's core
business. Aldata provides conventional as well as e- and m-commerce solutions
for retail sector. Furthermore, its divestment will reduce the volume
of hardware sales in the Group. On the other hand, Barcode supports Informa's
core business. Informa's current products are delivered to the same customers
as the Barcode systems and therefore Informa will derive significant benefits
from integrating these business operations.
Informa supplies industrial customers with labelling, marking and weighing
systems, along with related supplies and maintenance services. Informa's
services are based on barcode and thermal/thermal transfer technology,
as well as the company's own software design and production. The Informa
group's net sales in 2000 totalled EUR 5.9 million and it has 42 employees.
Nicholas Mead


Widerøe
Flyveselskap enters into Telenor ASP contract
Telenor Business Solutions has entered into a three-year contract with
Widerøe Flyveselskap to take over management of the company's IT
systems.
The
contract will be based on ASP (Application Service Provider) technology.
This entails that Telenor Business Solutions will take over operational
responsibility for the IT systems used by 1200 employees and 33 offices
and stations in Norway with a solution that will encompass around 750
ASP connection points.
The ASP solution will be one of the most extensive in Norway and entail
that Telenor Business Solutions will take over management of all the computer
programs in Widerøe's portfolio. A completely new network (WAN)
will be established, and the various computer programs will be installed
at Telenor's operation centers so that the various machine type, operating
system and database needs will be met. The contract's service and reliability
level will ensure Widerøe a high level of quality.
Nicholas Mead


SAS EuroBonus wins Freddie Award for fifth year running
For the fifth year in a row, SAS
EuroBonus has received the Freddie Award for best frequent flyer programme.
The award is presented by Inside Flyer, a magazine for members of airline
and hotel frequent- traveller programmes.
SAS were also awarded in further five categories;
- Best award
- Best newsletter
- Best website
- Best bonus promotion
- Best elite level.
Inside Flyer is an American magazine with a circulation of 140,000 in
one American and one international edition. The Freddie Awards were established
in 1988, but were initially limited to the American market.
Since 1995, the awards have been international, and enjoy high status
in the travel and hotel industry, since members of the bonus programmes
themselves decide who wins.


ASSA ABLOY acquires the remaining shares in Lockwood, Australia
In connection with ASSA ABLOY's acquisition of 50 percent of the shares
in Lockwood, an option was granted by EMAIL, the seller, to acquire the
remaining shares in the company after a three year period.
This
option gave ASSA ABLOY the right, in the event of a change of ownership
of EMAIL, to execute its right to acquire the remaining shares earlier.
As a result of the change of ownership at EMAIL, ASSA ABLOY has now acquired
the remaining 50 percent of Lockwood shares. The price of these outstanding
shares equals the equity in Lockwood whereby no additional goodwill has
been created.
Lockwood has developed very positively since the first tranche of shares
were taken over at the beginning of 1999. A successful job has been carried
out in order to create incremental cross-sales. New products such as cylinders,
padlocks and panic bars have together with different companies in the
Group been developed into local standards and subsequently successfully
launched.


Electrolux further expands outdoor business in Europe
Electrolux, the world's largest producer of outdoor powered products such
as chain saws, lawnmowers and garden tractors, is set to further expand
its outdoor business in Europe through the acquisition of the Italian
producer of lawnmowers and associated products, Marazzini Ernesto S.p.A
("Marazzini").
Electrolux
has signed an agreement to acquire the manufacturing assets and intellectual
property rights of Marazzini. The acquisition will be made by Electrolux's
outdoor products subsidiary in Italy. The aim is to close the acquisition
by the end of June after approvals have been received from the relevant
competition authorities.
The Marazzini operation is based in the Italian town of Parabiago and
currently produces in excess of 250,000 products per year with a turnover
of over 40 million Euros per annum and around 90 employees. The company
will continue to be managed by Bruno Marazzini, one of the current owners.
Following on from the acquisition of the European operation of McCulloch
North America Inc. in 1999, the addition of Marazzini to Electrolux will
further strengthen its position as the leading player in the powered outdoor
products business. Worldwide, Electrolux currently produces over 3 million
lawnmowers and 650,000 garden tractors per year.
Commenting on this announcement Johan Bygge, Head of Electrolux's Consumer
Outdoor Products business outside North America, said "The addition of
the Marazzini operation fits our existing business very well by giving
us the ability to further expand our European manufacturing facilities
and strengthen the product portfolio we can supply to our customers, especially
in the area of petrol lawnmowers.
"This investment also clearly demonstrates Electrolux's commitment to
remain the world's leading player in the powered outdoor products business".
Nicholas
Mead


Teaching
shortage looms over Iceland
The iceland Daily News has reported that Icelandic schools are facing
a major shortage of elementary school teachers.
In
the past three years, 350 teachers have graduated from the Icelandic teacher
Training College. However, according to the Reykjavík Department
of Education, 90 of these graduates have entered jobs outside the teaching
profession.
The department estimates that next autumn, the city will require 200 new
elementary school teachers. Of these positions, 100 will be created when
the state aims to replace people working as instructors (i.e. not academically
qualified to teach) with qualified staff. These instructors were hired
as a temporary measures due to a lack of qualified teachers.
A further 22 positions will be created on the opening of three new elementary
schools in the Reykjavík area. An increase of schooling hours is
also being introduced in the autumn which will call for an additional
20 staff and with an increase in student numbers requiring the creation
of a further ten positions. The remaining new staff will be taking over
from those that are retiring this autumn, or leaving the profession.
Nicholas
Mead


NCC to build and develop billion-krona Danish complex
NCC Danmark is to build Bruun's Galleri in Aarhus, one of the largest
building projects in Denmark. All of the rights to the project will be
sold to Steen & Ström Danmark A/S, which will generate a significant
dividend for the NCC Group.
NCC
will cooperate with Steen & Ström Danmark A/S - Scandinavia's largest
company in the development and operation of shopping malls and a subsidiary
of Steen & Ström ASA. Steen & Ström Danmark A/S will function
as both investor and building proprietor.
NCC Danmark A/S Ejendomme will account for the continued development of
the project, which has a contract value of SEK 850-950 million.
The municipality of Aarhus approved the definitive city plan on March
21 this year, and thus gave the go-ahead for the project.
The building project, located in the center of Aarhus, close to a central
junction for public transport services, comprises a total of approximately
90,000 square meters of space. There will be 29,500 square meters of retail
space, including a large 3,000-square-meter supermarket, five large retail
stores and about 70 smaller retail outlets. A cinema complex containing
ten separate movie theaters will account for 6,000 square meters, while
an in-door car park with capacity for 1,200 vehicles will also be built.
In addition to the shopping and cinema complex, the project includes an
approximately 10,000-square-meter high-rise office and residential building,
as well as the renovation and refurbishment of older buildings which,
however, are not part of Steen & Ström's Bruun's Galleri project.
The project is scheduled for completion during the second half of 2003.
Nicholas
Mead


KPN
Mobile to use Ericsson for UMTS networks
Ericsson has been selected by KPN Mobile as primary supplier for its UMTS
networks in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium. Ericsson will be the
sole supplier for the core network and is one of two suppliers for the
radio network.
Deliveries
will begin in September to the three operators - KPN Mobile in the Netherlands,
E-Plus in Germany, and KPN Orange in Belgium. Pilot portions of the networks
will be in operation by the end of the year.
With their three-country, one network system, KPN Mobile has a around
16.5 million client, making them one of the largest operators in Europe,
offering seamless 3G services throughout the three countries.
"KPN naturally prides itself on its ability to provide the highest quality,
innovative communications services," says Wim van den Berg, Vice President
of Group Operations at KPN Mobile.
"We have together with Ericsson, our long-standing supplier, been building
up 3G competence with activities including pre-studies, workshops, test
systems, application development, and much more. We are convinced Ericsson
is the right 3G partner for us."
Mats Dahlin, head of Ericsson Mobile Systems said: "Ericsson and KPN enjoy
a strong relationship, and this 3G agreement is a reaffirmation of Ericsson's
strengths both as a communications technology leader and as a business
partner with consistent and reliable solutions."
Nicholas
Mead


Modern
Times Group buys into football
Following in the footsteps of Rupert Murdoch in England and Silvio Berlusconi
in Italy, Sweden's Modern Times Group (MTG) have become the joint owners
of Djurgården Football Club, making it the first media company in
the country to be joint owner of a sports club.
"We
have recently acquired pay-per-view rights for the Swedish Premier League
in Football through a cooperation with cable TV operator Com-Hem," said
Hans-Holger Albrecht, President and CEO of MTG.
"We are now taking the next step by acquiring a substantial portion of
Djurgården Football Club. This means we can also offer content,
services, and merchandising for all the football fans who support one
of Sweden's most traditional clubs."
Bo Lundquist, chairman of the Djugårdens IF Fotbollförening
and Djurgården Fotboll AB added: "To be able to further develop
the Djurgården brand, it's important that we cooperate with a media
company. The deal with MTG will allow us to make long-term investments
in the development of the football operations and the professional entertainment
company."
MTG will acquire 17.2% of the capital in Djurgården Fotboll AB.
The other owners are Djurgårdens IF Fotbollförening, and include
Bo Lundquist and Tommy Jacobson, two entrepreneurs who have invested in
the operations, as well as 800 other individuals.
The first visible sign of MTG's acquisition of Djurgården Fotboll
is that the football team's logo will be downloadable for mobile phones
via Everymobile.com, starting from Friday. Content will also shortly be
created for the interactive digital TV portal Everyday.TV.
Nicholas
Mead


Swedish
Match announce 'smokeless' cigarette
Swedish Match today announced plans to test market a new smoker's alternative
product in the United States.
'New Exalt' Tobacco Packets offer two distinctive flavors for cigarette
smokers and was developed after extensive consumer research, the company
claims.
Essentially,
the new cigarettes provide a smokeless alternative for cigarette smokers
when they cannot, or choose not, to smoke.
"Exalt is the beginning of a new category," said Lennart Sundén,
President and CEO of Swedish Match.
"Exalt Tobacco Packets build upon our experience of over 30 years manufacturing
tobacco products with the Swedish process. This unique manufacturing standard,
branded GothiaTek, delivers a positive alternative to cigarette smokers."
The GothiaTek standard works towards eliminating or reducing the elements
in tobacco that have been identified by the scientific community as controversial
as well as yielding a product of the highest quality. Exalt Tobacco Packets
are the first product in the U.S. with this distinction.
Test marketing of the products are expected to begin during second quarter
2001.
Nicholas
Mead


SwitchCore
enters into Intel deal
SwitchCore AB, an integrated device developer for data and Internet communication,
has signed a cooperative development agreement with Intel Corporation
under which the two companies will work on developing next-generation
products with high switching capacity.
The
agreement specifies that Intel will license and manufacture products based
on SwitchCore's CXE-16 and CXE-5000 gigabit switch technology. SwitchCore
and Intel will also cross-license technologies to facilitate the development
of future products that will be sold under both the Switch-Core and Intel
brands.
"This agreement opens the door for SwitchCore to establish a strong position
for our CXE technology and will enable Intel and SwitchCore to broaden
their product portfolios and take advantage of each company's strengths
to bring products to market sooner," said Per Andersson, CEO for SwitchCore
AB.
"The amendment to our business model and the fact that the agreement contains
limited exclusivity for Intel is something we regard as positive," he
added.
Nicholas
Mead


Nokia
to supply Telefónica with ADSL modems in Spain
Nokia, a world leader in the supply of digital subscriber line (DSL) products
and technology, announced today that Telefónica has chosen Nokia
to supply ADSL (Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line) CPE (Customer Premises
Equipment) modems for service throughout Spain. Deliveries will begin
immediately.
The
system will allow multiple users to simultaneously share the ADSL connection
to download large data, audio and video files, surf the Internet and safely
connect remote branch offices. Users can also share files, servers, printers
and other peripherals located on the network.
"Nokia is very excited to provide Telefonica customers with a secure,
high performance CPE product for the best possible DSL experience," said
Juan Carlos López, Vice President of Nokia.
DSL is a technology that enables higher bandwidth over copper lines for
services such as streaming media, secure remote work and fast Internet
access at connection speeds that typically range from 1.5 Mbps to 6/8Mbps.
In combination with other technologies such as Wireless LAN, home users
can benefit from wireless high-speed Internet access.
Telefónica is one of the 10 leading telecommunication companies
with worldwide activities throughout Spain, Latin America, Europe, North
Africa and the Mediterranean Basin. Telefonica has established itself
as the first fixed, mobile, ISP (Terra) and Media Company in the Latin
World. With its strong positioning in Spanish and Portuguese-speaking
countries, Telefónica has access to over 550 million people.
Nicholas
Mead


SEB
launching corporate portal
SEB is adding to its e-banking service for companies through the introduction
of a corporate portal, www.seb.se/foretag,
that will offer several new services. The service will be open to all
companies. Through this initiative, SEB aims to make it easier for small-
and medium-sized corporate customers to make use of these financial services,
while simultaneously managing and developing their own companies.
The
corporate portal provides customers with access to financial analyses
ranging from SEB's reports on Sweden's economic climate to interest-rate
and currency information and the situation in growth markets. Customers
are also provided with financial news and daily morning reports from SEB
on expectations during the day, a summary of the day's newspaper reports
and interest- and currency-exchange rates.
Through the SEB corporate advisory function, customers can use an interactive
encyclopaedia to obtain guidance and tips about marketing, accounting,
financing and other specialised areas that small and medium- sized companies
often require assistance with.
A special link-library enables corporate customers to access the 200-300
best corporate sites that specialise in corporate information.
Customers will also be provided with a corporate advisory service via
telephone that is open seven days a week. The service is designed to advise
customers on investment, financing, corporate insurance and personnel
matters.
"SEB is now taking the first step towards offering corporate customers
advanced advisory services via the Internet. We recognise that many small-
and medium-sized companies often suffer from a lack of time and resources.
Our aim is therefore to function as their advisory partners, while also
assisting them with financial services via the Net," says Claes-Johan
Thureson, Head of MidCorporate within SEB
Nicholas
Mead


Swedish
music website announces new broadband channel
The Swedish pop invasion is not over yet. Popwire, a website for free
downloadable music and entertainment content, on Thursday announced the
launch of a new broadband channel on the Singapore ONE.
Supported
by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA), the channel
will provide users with a wide variety of music related content and access
to a comprehensive catalogue of quality music. Visitors will also be able
to enjoy Internet Radio, Web-TV and editorial content. The launch of the
site coincides with the IDA FastTrack seminar "Hooked on Broadband".
Anders Norström, CEO of Popwire commented, "Working with Singapore
ONE has allowed Popwire to gain an effective foothold on an attractive
market. In securing the support of IDA we have been able to develop a
broadband site optimized for local conditions. In turn, this means that
we are in a position to deliver quality content swiftly and efficiently.
As well as being beneficial to Popwire's artists we also believe that
the broadband channel will provide an interesting addition to the services
already offered to users of Singapore ONE."
"We are pleased that Popwire has chosen Singapore as the launch pad for
delivering their content into Asia," said Mr Khoong Hock Yun, Assistant
Chief Executive for Infocomm Development at IDA," International technological
innovators like Popwire can capitalize on Singapore's vibrant broadband
environment and global connectivity as their business accelerator in Asia.
Our Singapore ONE users will also benefit from the variety of content
offered on broadband today".
The Singapore ONE broadband channel is one of several Popwire syndication
partnerships and is in line with the company's strategy of providing music
content to major sites and portals. These partnerships provide powerful
Internet coverage and maximum exposure for Popwire's artists - increasing
their chances of success and ultimately a record contract.
Nicholas
Mead


Telecom
giants join forces to harmonise wireless world
Ericsson, Motorola, and Nokia announced on Thursday they have established
The Mobile Instant Messaging and Presence (IMPS) initiative, to define
and promote a set of universal specifications for mobile instant messaging
services.
Instant
message delivery services enable users to send various types of messages
that are delivered in real time. Instant messaging is rapidly evolving
to include rich multimedia content, such as audio and video clips and
images with traditional text messaging.
At present, user participation in the use of chat and other instant messaging
services with mobile devices (e.g. phones, pagers, PDAs) is limited by
the lack of a common and interoperable solution for the mobile world.
The initiative however, nicknamed The Wireless Village, intends to ensure
that such incompatibility issues are not a problem in the future. The
founders claim they encourage participation from other interested parties
in wireless communication.
The initiative intends to harmonise product specifications for the future,
as well as test specifications and tools for mobile IMPS. The initiative
will also define procedures and tools for testing interoperability of
mobile instant messaging and presence services.
Frank Dawson, Nokia representative and Chairman of the Wireless Village
initiative, said in a press release: "Creating the Wireless Village initiative
is an important step in building a user- friendly mobile Internet experience.
This new industry forum has an important role in Nokia's Mobile Internet
Technical Architecture, and complements the work of other industry consortia."
The Wireless World initiative is the second such example of co-operation
between the three giants. Last year they formed the Location Interoperability
Forum intended to encourage co-operation in harmonising the development
of 3G technology.
Nicholas
Mead


Sweden
and UK to join EU trademark reform campaign
Sweden and the UK announced on Thursday that they are to join other European
Union nations in a fresh drive to reform the directive that blocks the
discounting of branded goods, such as Levi's jeans, from outside Europe.
According
to The Financial Times, the action has been taken in view of figures released
by the two countries which reveal higher prices in their nations for many
branded goods than in the US and other European Union countries.
Swedish trade minister Leif Pagrotsky has led a campaign to change the
EU's trademark regime. According to the Financial Times, he has already
secured backing from Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Belgium, the Netherlands
and Luxembourg, but faces a blocking minority led by France and Italy.
UK Trade Minister Stephen Byers and Mr Pagrotsky hope to gain further
support at a meeting of EU consumer and internal market ministers in Lund,
Sweden, which begins today.
Nicholas
Mead


Norwegian
government expected to approve oil privatisation today
Norway's parliament is expected on Thursday to ratify one of the most
radical pieces of oil legislation in the country's history.
Probably
the most important change will be the opening up of Norway's crown jewels
- it's state oil assets - to foreign and domestic investors, mainly through
the privatisation of Statoil, Norway's state-owned oil company.
In addition, the state will also auction 21.5 per cent of its direct held
interests in 150 licences offshore Norway worth more than NKr250bn (USD27.4bn).
Norway produces around 4.5m barrels of oil a day and is the world's third
largest exporter of oil and also exports a high volume of natural gas.
However, according to the Financial Times, the privatisation has turned
into a farce with Statoil: "All but guaranteed the first and best picks
from the offshore sales, followed by Norsk Hydro, Norway's second largest
company, which is 44 per cent held by the state," according to the paper.
Nicholas
Mead


Danish
viewers offered interactive shopping
The largest Danish cable TV operator, TDC Kabel TV (formerly Tele Danmark),
has announced it will broadcast the interactive shopping service eTV.
TDC
signed a deal with eTV on Wednesday giving all TDC Kabel TVs' households
access to shop and use the interactive services directly from eTV by using
the remote control.
TDC Kabel TV is already one of the most highly advanced digital-TV broadcasters
in the world, offering a range of advanced interactivity through the TV.
Danish viewers have been able to send e-mail, chat and buy merchandise
for dome time now. eTV will offer viewers merchandise such as records,
VHS and DVD films plus games.
"TDC Kabel TV is exactly the kind of partner we want. They already have
an interactive solution that has been tested and is working. We share
the same visions in how important interactive TV shortly will be," said
Bo Blåeldh, MD of eTV Broadcasting AB
"TV fits our range of services. This brand new shop-concept, where the
content is combined with possibilities to buy products, is an excellent
complement to our other interactive services," said Ulla Visfeldt, Head
of Section, TDC Kabel TV
eTV is the first entirely interactive TV service in the Nordic countries.
Since the beginning of last year it has been broadcasting on the terrestrial
platform and during the course of the year the service will start to broadcast
both through cable and satellite.
Nicholas
Mead


TietoEnator
and Nordea to develop net banking system
Nordea and TietoEnator have agreed on the development of a next generation
Solo net banking solution for all Nordea banks. The banks involved will
include Merita, Nordbanken, Unibank and Christiania Bank.
The
new system will expand the range of services to be offered to customers
and will bring the existing separate net banking systems operated by Nordea
within the same framework.
The companies claim the system will represent state-of-the-art in net
banking and is based on the latest technology. TietoEnator will start
marketing the new product in autumn 2001, and the product will be ready
for supply at the beginning of 2002.
Nordea is the world's biggest providers of electronic financial services
and one of the largest network banks with some 2.7 million customers.
However, the total customer potential for Nordea's digital banking services
is estimated at 10 million people.
Mr. Bo Harald, Senior Executive Vice President, Network Services for Nordea,
calls the project "a next generation Solo service, which at the same time
is Nordea's first group-wide application."
Mr. Veli Pohjolainen, Senior Executive Vice President and responsible
for the TietoEnator Finance Sector, says "This deal means a significant
reinforcement in the collaboration between Nordea and TietoEnator in the
mobile and Internet banking business. To develop the next generation Solo
will be a remarkable opening to our expansion in the global finance markets."
Nicholas
Mead


Karo
Bio receives US skin disorder patent
Swedish medical research company Karo Bio announced on Wednesday that
it has received a US patent for methods to treat certain skin disorders.
The patent provides broad coverage including method-of-treatment claims
as well as claims for skin treatment compositions with thyroid hormone.
Previously,
Karo Bio has carried out animal studies that demonstrated desirable effects
of thyroid hormone and thyroid hormone analogs upon the composition of
treated skin. These studies also demonstrated that these compounds blocked
the negative effects of anti-inflammatory steroids upon skin composition.
The Company believes that the treatment of certain skin diseases with
thyroid hormone analogs has considerable advantages over other treatments
such as those with vitamin A analogs.
"We are very happy about the US patent of our skin treatment patent,"
said Per Otteskog, Acting President at Karo Bio.
"The skin is the largest organ in the body and can be affected by a number
of different diseases where today's methods of treatment are insufficient.
As a first therapeutic indication we have chosen steroid induced skin
atrophy but we also intend to follow up with additional therapeutic indications.
We consider this to be an area with substantial potential."
Nicholas
Mead


Ericsson
to supply Dutch 3G network
Ericsson has been selected by Libertel-Vodafone as the sole supplier for
a UMTS network in the Netherlands. The contract is valued at approximately
USD 45 million according to Bitpush.
The
3G contract includes hardware, software and services for the roll out
of the UMTS network. Libertel-Vodafone will begin offering 3G services
to its customers commercially by the end of 2002.
Ericsson currently supplies GSM including GPRS to Libertel-Vodafone and
the agreement continues Ericsson's relationship as sole supplier for both
the Core and Radio Access Network (RAN).
"Ericsson is gratified to be chosen to deliver Libertel-Vodafone's complete
third-generation network," stated Jef Keustermans, President of Ericsson
Netherlands.
He added: "We will bring to bear our world-leading expertise combined
with our strong local presence in the Netherlands to together with Libertel-Vodafone
rapidly bring the best in mobile Internet services to their customers."
Ericsson has to date been named as a supplier in 27 publicly announced
WCDMA commercial agreements surpassing rivals Nokia.
Nicholas
Mead


Sigma
and Utfors to build Elanders Swedish network
Sigma and Utfors have announced they are to deliver a complete solution
for Internet access, telephony and data networks to the Elanders Group.
The
solution entails the linking of all Elanders Swedish companies into a
common network.
"The solution simplifies and rationalizes communication between our Swedish
companies. This facilitates the necessary communications flow considerably,"
said Mats Almgren, Controller at Elanders.
The project for Elanders includes WAN (Wide Area Network) links, active
components and project management. All data and telecom traffic is transmitted
via Utfors IP-ports that link all of Elanders' Swedish offices to a corporate
network. This enables equally high capacity regardless of which company
or office the user is located.
"The network solution for Elanders is wholly in line with Sigma's emphasis
on services for high-speed communications," says Sune Nilsson, Business
Area Manager for Sigma e-solutions which, following the Group's division
into three focused, exchange-listed companies, becomes the new Sigma AB.
Nicholas
Mead


Nokia
signs Greek expansion deal
Nokia has signed a EUR140million agreement with COSMOTE Mobile Communications
for the expansion of its nationwide GSM 1800 network in Greece.
Deliveries
have already begun on a full range of network infrastructure products,
including mobile switching centres and Nokia high capacity base stations.
Nokia will also provide the Nokia UltraSite base station solution, designed
for increased demand for higher voice and data traffic
This is the latest agreement in the long relationship between Nokia and
COSMOTE, a leading Greek mobile telecommunications operator with currently
over 2.285 million subscribers, since the operator's service launch in
1998.
Nicholas
Mead


Smedvig
awarded Canadian oil contract
A letter of intent has been awarded to Norwegian company Smedvig by Marathon
Oil for the assignment of a deepwater drillship West Navion.
The
contract includes drilling of one exploration well to 1,800 meters of
water east of Nova Scotia in Canada. The contract value including mobilization
fee is approximately US$ 13 million. The estimated drilling period is
60 days.
West Navion will be mobilized to Canada after completion of its drilling
assignments in Europe's northern offshore areas, by the beginning of November
this year.
The letter of intent is subject to agreement on final contractual terms
and conditions.
Smedvig asa is an offshore drilling contractor headquartered in Stavanger,
Norway. The company provides services within drilling and well services
in the North Sea and Southeast Asia.
Smedvig's main activities are divided into mobile units, platform drilling
and tender rigs. Smedvig has a fleet of four modern drilling rigs, one
deepwater drillship and eight tender rigs. In addition, the company holds
contracts for production drilling, well services and maintenance on fixed
installations.
Nicholas
Mead


Viasat
to broadcast Swedish premier league football
Viasat will begin live broadcasting of the Swedish Premier League football
matches on Viasat Ticket. The move heralds the launch of Viasat's pay-per-view
service for digital television subscribers. Satellite-dish owners will
be able to watch the games through Viasat's cooperation with cable operator
com hem, which offers the same service to its digital TV subscribers.
Lars-Åke
Lagrell, chairman of the Swedish Football Association, commented: "This
is good for football fans, and it's good for football. Viasat and com
hem compliment each other, and the cooperation allows fans to follow the
clubs on TV in a way which was previously impossible. The introduction
of pay-per-view on digital television is perfect for the Swedish Premier
League.
" This year's season has just begun, and for the first time ever all matches
will be available for live broadcast for TV viewers. Pay-per- view has
been launched for all matches except the Match of the Week, which is already
broadcasted. This means that digital television viewers can now choose
between six of seven matches weekly, normally three on Sunday and three
on Monday. Viewers pay for the match or matches they select.
In all, more than 400 Premier League matches will be aired during a three-year
period. Viasat will launch Viasat Ticket, its brand for pay-per-view within
the digital television platform, in mid-May.
"Sweden's high level of interest in football means this cooperation is
a breakthrough for pay-per-view in Sweden," says Ulf Groth, president
of Viasat. "Just consider all the people who can now follow their favorite
teams when the teams are playing away matches."
"The Swedish Premier League has been incredibly popular," says Henrik
Enfors, vice president of com hem. "We can only see advantages in Viasat
offering its satellite subscribers the same opportunity as our digital
TV customers. Together we can develop the broadcasts further so that even
more viewers will be able to see Premier League matches live."
Nicholas
Mead


Swedish Match to launch snuff in India
Swedish Match today announced that test marketing of Swedish moist snuff,
"Snus", under the trade mark "Click", will begin in India this week.
"Click"
is produced in Gothenburg using the proprietory "Gothia Tek" standard.
"Click" is a pouched moist snuff product that comes in two packaging alternatives.
Snuff is tobacco which users wedge between their lip and their gum, either
loose or in mini-teabags. The effect is comparable to smoking but obbviously
without the harmful effects of smoke inhalation. However, although a national
institution in Sweden, snuff is regarded sceptically by some countries
who refuse to allow it in the country. Opinion as to whether it causes
mouth cancer is divided but all packets in Sweden carry a government warning.
"This new initiative is our first entry into the huge Indian tobacco market,"
said Lennart Sundén, President and CEO of Swedish Match. "India
has a long tradition of smokeless tobacco use and thus offers exciting
business opportunities to Swedish Match with its strategic focus in this
category," he said.
Swedish Match is an international group with its head office in Stockholm.
The company manufactures a broad range of products within the OTP (Other
Tobacco Products) category, with smokeless tobacco as its core business
along with cigars and pipe tobacco, as well as matches and lighters. The
products are sold in approximately 140 countries. Sales for the year 2000
amounted to 11,533 MSEK.
Nicholas
Mead


Hansabank to buy Lithuanian savings bank LTB
Hansabank, 57 % owned by Swedbank (FöreningsSparbanken), and representatives
of the Lithuanian state have signed an agreement today providing for the
purchase by Hansabank of more than 90% of the Lithuanian savings bank
Lietuvos Taupomasis Bankas (LTB). LTB is Lithuania's second-largest bank.
The purchase price is LTL 150 million, equivalent to about SEK 375 million
at the present exchange rate.
At
the same time, Hansabank agrees to invest an additional LTL 150 million
over the next 18 months in strengthening LTB's capital base and modernizing
that bank's IT systems. The agreement comes into force and the acquisition
takes place after a 30-day closing period in accordance with Lithuanian
law and is subject to the approval by Lithuania's competition authority.
"It is highly gratifying, both to Hansabank and to Swedbank, that this
acquisition is now taking place. It will give the Hansabank Group a strong
position in all three of the Baltic States and benefit customers by being
the only truly pan-Baltic bank. For Swedbank, this is yet another step
in implementing its Baltic Sea strategy", says Anders Sahlén, Senior
Adviser in Swedbank and Chairman of the Hansabank Board of Supervisors.
The acquisition merges Hansabank's current subsidiary bank in Lithuania,
Hansabankas, with LTB. The resulting bank will have about 36% of the total
Lithuanian bank-deposit market and some 25% of that country's bank- loan
market.
"With LTB in Lithuania and the Hansabank Group's already very strong position
in both Estonia and Latvia, we will further strengthen our network in
the Nordic and Baltic Sea areas. Something that for instance our many
smaller and medium-sized corporate customers will be able to make use
of", says Annika Wijkström, Swedbank EVP and head of business area
Alliances.
Nicholas
Mead


Fishing strike threatens to cripple Icelandic economy
The fishing industry strike in Iceland is is threatening to bring life
to a standstill in the tiny nation with several companies grinding to
a halt and increasing numbers of people working within the fishing industry
registering as unemployed.
According
to the Iceland Daily News, around 1000 people working in Icelandic fishing
plants will join the unemployment register. On Friday alone, 300 individuals
registered from four freezing plants in the East Fjörds.
Arnar Sigurmundsson, Director of the Federation of Icelandic Fish-Processing
Industries, told Icelandic daily paper Morgunbladid that 4000 of the 6000
individuals working in fish processing in Iceland have been affected by
the strike so far. He added that fish vendors are also suffering, especially
those selling fresh fish abroad, since the fishing seasons for several
important fish species have begun. Last year, for example, Red Sea Perch
sales totalled ISK 3.5 billion on foreign markets.
Jóhannes Már Jóhannesson, the Sales Manager of the
Union of Icelandic Seafood Producers, told Morgunbladid that there is
good reason for concern should the strike continue.
"Many years of marketing progress could be wasted. The development
of our long-term contracts and business relationships will be damaged
if we have no fish to sell," said Jóhannesson.
Thórdur Fridjónsson, Manager of the National Economic Institute,
added: "As the strike progresses, people are growing increasingly
concerned and if the situation should worsen and is still on in May, it
could have a tremendous impact on export production."
Nicholas
Mead


Nobia attracted to Magnet
Swedish kitchen fitting group Nobia, have paid £134 million for
British based kitchen group, Magnet.
Ten
years ago, Magnet became Britain's largest ever management buyout at over
£600 million, but within five years the lending banks involved decided
to give the company away to industrial group Berisford.
Berisford changed their name to Enodis, but were soon to be dogged by
a worker's strike between 1996 and 1998.
Now the futures of the1150 manufacturing workers in Darlington, Keighley,
Penrith and Flint in the UK are doubt after Monday's deal.
Nobia were motivated to make the deal due to Magnet's 227 outlets. Its
brands include Poggenpohl amd Goldreif.
Nicholas
Mead


Hilton swoop for Scandic Hotels
Hilton have paid £612 million to buy Scandinavia's largest hotels
group, Scandic. The deal means Hilton have aquired Scandics 154 hotels
in northern Europe representing a two-thirds increase on Hilton's chain.
Scandic's
two biggest shareholders, Ratos and Kapiteeli-bolagen confirmed that they
sold their stakes to Hilton on Monday, representing 32.2% of the issued
share capital.
Hilton chief executive David Michels is thought to have been secretly
negotiating the deal for four months.
Michels says that 37 hotels will be singled out for immediate assimilation
into the Hilton brand at a cost of GBP500,000 per hotel with a further
11 to join in the future. He hopes to save GBP17 million by 2003.
Despite
the deal however, Hilton shares went down 4 1/2p to 216p on Monday despite
impressive first-quarter trading figures. The foot-and-mouth crisis and
subsequent cancellation of crowd pulling events such as the Cheltenham
Festival and Crufts are largely responsible for the downturn the company
claim.
Commenting
on the deal, vice-president of Scandic communications Gunnar Brandberg
told Scandinavia Now that the deal was basically too good to refuse, and
confirmed that no jobs will be lost.
"The offer made by Hilton was very attractive and makes good industrial
logic as both parties benefit. There will be no job losses as part of
this deal," he said.
No representatives from Hilton were available for comment.
Nicholas
Mead


NCC signs power-plant contract in India
NCC's Norwegian subsidiary, NCC International AS, on Monday signed an
agreement with Jammu & Kashmir Power Development Corporation regarding
the construction of a hydroelectric power plant in Sawalkot, northern
India.
The
total investment amounts to approximately SEK 7 billion, of which NCC
will account for half. The project will be undertaken by NCC in cooperation
with Hochtief AG of Germany.
The contract is subject to the condition that a financing solution is
agreed upon and that a complete environmental impact assessment is conducted.
The intention is that the project be financed through export credits from
Norway and Germany, and through loans from international and Indian banks.
The hydroelectric power plant will be owned and operated by Jammu & Kashmir
Power Development Corporation.
The contract is subject to the condition that a financing solution is
agreed upon and that a complete environmental impact assessment is conducted.
The intention is that the project be financed through export credits from
Norway and Germany, and through loans from international and Indian banks.
The hydroelectric power plant will be owned and operated by Jammu & Kashmir
Power Development Corporation.
Construction
of the plant has been approved by Indian authorities. A feasibility study
regarding the environmental impact, which was conducted by the Norwegian
consulting firm Norplan, indicates that the environmental impact of the
project will be highly limited. A complete environmental impact assessment
will now be conducted. Two other power plants in the area are already
under construction along the same river, which is regulated by a bilateral
agreement between India and Pakistan.
Nicholas
Mead


Ericsson to axe a further 10,000 jobs
Swedish telecoms group Ericsson today announced plans to cut up to 10,000
jobs worldwide. A spokesman said more than half of the job cuts would
be outside Sweden.
The
reductions announced today are in addition to the plans Ericsson disclosed
last month to cut 3,300 jobs, mostly in Sweden and Britain.
Details of the cuts came as the group issued a first-quarter trading statement,
saying it was being hit by the general economic downturn and an "abruptly
slower telecom sector". The Ericsson spokesman said:
"The market in telecoms is hardly growing at all, and there is no way
a company can ignore that fact."
Ericsson's woes are reflected across the telecoms equipment sector, with
Motorola, Siemens and Marconi also shedding jobs.
The company's vice-president, Roland Klein, said Ericsson would continue
to invest in research and development and marketing but around 10,000
jobs would have to go.
"We have to react to this because our organisation is tuned into growth
in the area of 30%, as we had last year," he told BBC Radio 4's Today
programme. "At the moment the market is really hit very hard by the recession
but also by the reluctance of operators to invest ... but we trust our
operation."
Nicholas
Mead


Icelandic government issues foot and mouth warnings
The Icelandic Head of State Veterinarian, Halldór Runólfsson,
has ordered that a guideline card to be placed in every seat pocket of
European flights to warn passengers of bringing foot and mouth disease
into the country. Runólfsson told Icelandic daily newspaper Morgunbladid,
that Icelandair and several other flight companies have so far agreed
to co-operate with the scheme.
According to the Iceland Daily News, Runólfsson is now scrutinising
measures around harbours. The minister says the biggest problem in this
area is ensuring that garbage disposal is dealt with correctly by the
harbour authorities, and he is urging them to either incinerate or bury
the waste in accordance with safety procedures.
Runólfsson added that his office will be supervising customs and
police activity to ensure that safety procedures are incorporated into
the management of the ferry, 'Norraena', which travels from Seydisfjördur,
in the East Fjörds, to Europe and Scandinavia. The ferry will make
its first voyage of the year on the 24th of May.
He told the newspaper: "Visitors to Iceland must be made aware that it
is strictly forbidden to bring raw meat and unpasteurised cheese products
into the country and passengers are also requested to travel in clean
clothes and shoes. Those importing vehicles must ensure that they are
cleansed appropriately before introducing them to the Icelandic environment."
Nicholas
Mead


Nokia announce profit but issue outlook caution
The world's largest mobile phone maker, Nokia, on Friday announced first-quarter
profits which exceeded expectations, but cut its sales and profit outlook
for 2001 due to the world economic slowdown, particularly in the USA.
Nokia said pre-tax profit rose 6.1 percent year-on-year to 1.41 billion
euros ($1.25 billion) for the quarter, thanks to increasing handset sales.
The Finnish company cut its sales and profit outlook for the full year
but it forecast little change in profit in the second quarter from the
first, while its two chief rivals are losing money.
The result helped push Nokia's share price up five percent, but it then
reduced by 1.6 percent to 33.05 Euros on Friday morning.
"Current economic uncertainties and the transition to packet-based (GPRS)
services continue to limit our visibility for the remainder of 2001,"
Nokia said in a statement.
Swedish rivals Ericsson meanwhile announced a first-quarter loss which
was not as severe as first feared although the company issued a more cautious
outlook than Nokia's. The world's third-largest mobile phone maker, announced
a slightly less than expected first-quarter loss of 4.9 billion Swedish
crowns ($487.2 million) against expectations of 5.05 billion but warned
that second-quarter results would not improve.
One reason for Nokia's improved performance is that it has suffered less
from the slowing demand for mobile network equipment in the USA, of which
Ericsson heavily depends upon.
Ericsson are not the only losers with Motorola, the world's second-largest
cellphone maker, also reporting a first-quarter loss, warning its handset
units would not make a profit until the third quarter.
Nicholas
Mead


Haldex wins orders worth SEK 50m
Swedish company Haldex Garphyttan Wire, a division in the Haldex Group,
has sealed two new deals worth around SEK 50m a year.
The
first contract involves supplying Toyota with high tenstile valve spring
wire from September 2001. It is the first deal the company has made in
Japan.
The second contract is to deliver ovate-shaped valve spring wire products
to engines within General Motors of the USA and initial delivery will
start May 2001.
Both contracts run for a 4-year period with a possibility of extension
and expansion. The yearly order value for both new businesses together
is about 50 million Swedish Krona.
Since Haldex started production of valve spring wire products in USA 1997,
sales and market shares have increased on the North American market. A
50% expansion of the production capacity has just been completed and opens
up for further growth on the US market.
Haldex Garphyttan Wire is one of the world's biggest suppliers of advanced
spring wire products for combustion engines. Its main activities are concentrated
on applications with extreme performance demands, such as valve springs
in engines - an area in which Haldex Garphyttan now has a 35% market share.
Nicholas
Mead


Icon Medialab founder Von Holstein quits
The founder of Swedish Internet consultancy Icon Medialab, Johan Stael
von Holstein, has announced he is leaving the company due to bad blood
between himself and president Ulf Dahlsten. He will resign as chairman
of the board of Icon Asia and is selling all his shares in the company.
"It
is unfortunate to have to leave Icon in this manner. After all, this is
my baby, if not my life's work, and I have invested blood, sweat and tears
in it over a five year period," he is quoted in Dagens Industri newspaper
as saying.
The feud apparently began over an attempt by Icon Medialab to aquire all
the shares of its Asian subsidiary. As a result, Von Holstein was unable
to gain enough support from major shareholders to be re-appointed as Icon
board chairman.
Nicholas
Mead


Ericsson and Sony join forces
Ericsson have reportedly signed a deal with Sony of Japan to integrate
their cell phone operations and expand the two technological giants' global
market share.
Sony
and Ericsson will merge their respective cell phone businesses in a an
established joint venture firm in Britain, according to reports. Both
companies are yet to confirm the report but claim a news release will
be released soon.
As part of the deal, Sony and Ericsson will also conduct joint research
and development of a next-generation high-speed cellular phone.
The deal is the first case in the world of two leading manufacturing companies
separating their core cell phone operations from their parent companies.
It will mean that both Sony and Ericsson can reduce cell phone development
costs whilst at the same time increasing international market share.
Ericsson sold 40 million cell phones last year, representing 10 per cent
of the global market, making it the third biggest manufucaturer of mobile
phones in the world. Sony, who unlike Ericsson are not primarily involved
in telecommunications, have an estimated market share of around one percent.
Nicholas
Mead


Skanska UK to build three schools in London
Skanska UK, Skanska's subsidiary in the United Kingdom, has secured a
contract to design and construct three schools in London. The contract
is valued at GBP 23 M - approximately SEK 334 M.
The
schools project is a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) and was secured
by the Norwich Union Public Private Partnership Fund (NUPPP), in which
Skanska is involved as a construction partner (and not as an investor).
The customer is the London Borough of Newham, which has assigned the consortium
responsibility for designing and constructing the schools, as well as
maintaining them for a period of 25 years.
Skanska will assume responsibility for the entire design and construction
assignment, which was won on the strength of Skanska's documented ability
to tailor solutions to the needs of its customers.
The project comprises a secondary school for 1,500 pupils in the London
suburb of Beckton and two primary schools in Plaistow, each with 480 places.
All three schools will conform to Newham's policy of full inclusion in
education for children with disabilities. Work will commence immediately
and is scheduled for completion by the summer of 2003. Chesterton Workplace
Management will be responsible for maintaining the schools.
This is the first time that Skanska UK has secured a privately financed
schools project within the framework for PFI in the UK. As a result of
the success of its earlier PFI projects, Skanska has achieved a strong
position in the healthcare and prison building sectors.
Following acquisition in 2000, Skanska UK is the fifth-largest construction
services company in the UK. The company is currently constructing the
Swiss Re's office building in London, an assignment valued at GBP 130
M, which is London's largest new construction project in recent times.
At the same time, Skanska UK is conducting an extensive renovation of
the Ministry of Defence's premises in Whitehall for GBP 340 M.
Nicholas
Mead


Skanska to build Stockholm's largest hotel
Skanska has secured the contract to construct the Clarion Hotel Scandinavia
for the international hotel chain, Choice Hotels. The contract is valued
at SEK 370 M and the customer is the Norwegian real estate group Aspelin-Ramm
AS, which will own the hotel property.
Skanska
is the design-construct contractor for the hotel, which is to be constructed
on top of an overpass of the Southern Link tunnel at Skanstull, in the
south of Stockholm.
The Clarion Hotel Scandinavia will be a first-class international business
and conference hotel. The building will have floor space of 25,000 square
meters and nine floors. The official opening is scheduled for spring 2003.
It is estimated that the rooms will number approximately 550, making this
the largest hotel in Stockholm. In addition, the hotel will have conference
facilities for 900 people. This extensive meeting and conference section
will constitute a significant competitive advantage, since few hotels
are able to offer this service.
"Its location on a overpass of the Southern Link obviously makes this
project more complicated, but we have long experience of similar assignments,
including the construction of the Scandic Hotel at Slussen," said Lars
Enroth, Business Manager at Skanska Building.
"It is with great satisfaction that I am able to conclude that our collaboration
with Skanska, has now reached a point where we can start construction
work. Skanska has been and will be an important partner in the development
and implementation of this project," says Peter Groth, President of Aspelin-Ramm
AS.
"I would also like to thank the City of Stockholm for positive cooperation
in the process leading up to the start of construction and I look forward
to this continuing. We intend to create a hotel that the City can be proud
of."
Skanska recently completed the Hotel Gothia in Gothenburg, which is the
largest hotel in the Nordic region and is now ready in time for the EU
summit in June.
Nicholas
Mead


AssiDomän
report environmental improvements
AssiDomän of Sweden claim they have cut energy consumption by 20
per cent, reduced emissions of acid-forming substances by 25 per cent,
and decreased carbon dioxide emissions by 25 per cent.
The
results were announced in AssiDomän's annual and environmental report
for 2000 which is published today. For the third consecutive year, these
improvements are reported in the form of environmental key ratios, something
which AssiDomän was the first forest products company to introduce.
These ratios are intended to provide good comparability over time and
to enable systematic follow-up and presentation of environmental targets,
improvements and results.
The key ratio for energy and eco-efficiency shows that total fuel consumption
decreased by 20 per cent. The company claim this is a result of reduced
use of non-renewable fuels due to improvements in equipment and combustion
technology combined with favourable operating conditions. One direct consequence
of this improved energy consumption is that acid-forming emissions have
also decreased. The key ratio shows a 25-per cent improvement.
For emissions of carbon dioxide, a 25 per cent reduction can be noted.
This is far more than Sweden has undertaken to achieve within the framework
of international agreements aimed at reducing the greenhouse effect. AssiDomän
claim their growing forest plays a key role in this context. Since about
30 per cent of annual growth in the forests is not harvested, the timber
reserves are constantly increasing.
AssiDomän manufactures and markets corrugated board, containerboard,
cartonboard and sawn timber. The Group owns and manages 2.4 million hectares
of productive forest land.
Nicholas
Mead


Nokia sign Chinese DSL access deal
Nokia and HeBei TA, a subdivision of China TeleCom, have signed a contract
for the supply of the Nokia DSL access network in the HeBei province.
DSL
(Digital Subscriber Line) technology enables broadband access over copper
lines. The Nokia D50e is a flexible, two-stage ATM-transmission based
DSLAM (Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer) platform, which enables
operators to provide customers with high-speed DSL services ranging up
to 8 Mbps.
With Nokia's D50e platform, operators can make full use of existing network
resources and coverage and provide selectable bandwidth to satisfy the
increasing demand for high-speed Internet access. Working with Nokia's
other IP (Internet Protocol) products, the Nokia D50e also allows operators
to establish an optimum DSL broadband access system.
Nokia will supply the Nokia D50e Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexers
(DSLAM), CPEs (Customers Premises Equipment) and Network Management Systems
of the end-to-end Nokia Broadband IP Access solution. This agreement will
include the two biggest cities of HeBei, ShiJiaZhuang and BaoDing, which
is of more than 30% of total lines of the whole project.
"Broadband Networks, providing fast Internet access solutions which promises
people a new level of Internet experience and a number of exciting new
services, is one of the most interesting telecommunication segments today.
We are proud of having the opportunity to work with HeBei TA and to extend
our presence in other provinces, such as GuangDong and JiangSu, to HeBei,"
said Antti Ware, Vice President, Nokia Networks.
He concluded: "Broadband services are a key step in the development of
the information society and this agreement underlines Nokia's strength
as a world leader in broadband solutions based on our advanced technology,
delivery capability and quality of service."
Nicholas
Mead


Scandic Hotels expand into Copenhagen's Sydhavnen
Scandic Hotels will be opening a newly built hotel in the Sydhavnen district
of Copenhagen, bordering the Örestad region, in the summer of 2002.
The hotel, which will be the first in the area, will have 280 rooms, conference
facilities, a restaurant, bar and café.
Scandic
Hotels has contracted to rent and operate a new hotel at Vasbygade 50
in the Sydhavnen district of Copenhagen. The hotel, which is currently
being built by KPC BYG and will have approximately 280 rooms, will confirm
Scandic's position as Denmark's and the Nordic region's leading hotel
company.
Scandic acquired the HK building (formerly the Hotel Europa) in central
Copenhagen earlier this year, and is currently renovating and converting
it into a hotel, scheduled to open in the spring of 2003. Scandic currently
runs 5 hotels with a combined total of 1,078 rooms in the Copenhagen area,
and 20 in Denmark as a whole, providing a total of 2,924 rooms.
"The area around Sydhavnen and the Örestad is the most dynamic growth
area in all of Denmark, and a number of companies are now moving into
the region. With the new metro system and the Öresund Bridge, Vasbygade
has a truly central location in this exciting part of the city," said
Hans G. Frank, Business Area Manager of Scandic Hotels in Denmark.
"Our new hotel is also perfectly situated for our numerous regular guests
who travel through Kastrup airport, and for customers travelling by car
there will be plenty of parking space," he added.
Nicholas
Mead


Norwegian radioactive waste used in fertiliser error
It has been revealed in Norway that radioactive waste from a nuclear reactor
has been wrongly fed into a town's sewage system for nine years, some
of it ending up as farm fertiliser.
The
BBC reported that nuclear waste from the research plant was pumped into
the sewers in Halden, south-east Norway, after what was basically a plumbing
error. The Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority (NRPA) claim the waste
water was wrongly linked to the sewage system when it should have been
pumped straight into the sea. The mistake was made in 1991 and was not
rectified until 1999.
However, officials were quick to insist that there has been no risk to
human health as the nuclear material had only very low levels of radioactivity.
Meanwhile, ecologists are demanding radiation tests for local farmers.
"It is frightening that IFE has so little control over its emissions,"
said nuclear physicist Nils Boehmer of campaign group Bellona.
NRPA scientist Sverre Hornkjoel said the contaminated water had been used
to cool the 42-year-old reactor, operated by the Institute for Energy
Technology (IFE).
He blamed the mistake on council officials, but said the nuclear industry
took final responsibility.
"The municipality made the mistake, but it is still IFE which is responsible.
In principle, this is a serious incident, but the emissions were very
small," he said.
Nicholas
Mead


Ericsson
to announce 6,000 job cuts
Ericsson are to announce at least 6,000 new job losses this week, according
to the Financial Times. The cuts will be presented with the companys first-quarter
results on Friday, meaning Ericsson staff numbers could fall by around
15,000 this year to 90,000 - 15 per cent of its workforce.
Shares
in the company are more than 70 per cent below their 52-week high of SEK
210.50 and were trading at SEK 56.50 early on Tuesday.
Chief Executive of Ericsson, Kurt Hellstrom, has already written to employees
to warn that further job cuts are likely. He wrote: "We have to focus
much harder on our core business and eliminate activities and structures
that might be appropriate in times of strong growth cycles but are simply
unacceptable in times like we have now," he says.
The cuts will affect the company around the world and will centre on marketing,
administration, research and development and IT as it strives to save
its target of SEK 20bn ($2bn) a year.
The companys biggest losses are in handset sales whilst its successful
systems business arm has also been hit by the world economic slowdown.
Nicholas
Mead


Kristjánsson sworn in as new Icelandic Health Minister
Jón Kristjánsson has been appointed as the new Icelandic
Minister of Health, according to the Iceland Daily News. The keys to the
ministry were handed to Kristjánsson by his predecessor, Ingibjörg
Pálmadóttir, at 10:30am on Tuesday morning.
In
the Icelandic daily Morgunbladid, Kristjánsson says that he is
in good shape, having only had to stay in hospital once in his life so
far and adds that he intends to get straight to work.
"I had a hernia this winter and stayed in hospital for one day and received
good care there," said Kristjánsson.
Kristjánsson told Morgunbladid that he has a clear vision of what
is involved in his new position.
"If there is just one thing that I can contribute here, it will be
to strengthen health care in this country so that each individual will
receive quicker access to care and so that the health service can exercise
preventative medicine to the greatest extent possible".
Nicholas
Mead


Ericsson rumoured to be slashing 30,000 jobs
Danish engineering and cement group FLS Indusries said on Tuesday it was
leading a contract for a complete cement production line to Anglo American
owned Buxton Lime Industries Ltd. in Britain worth around 86 million pounds
($123.6 million), according to ETrade.com.
Ericsson
is rumoured to be on the verge of announcing 30,000 additional job cuts
when it reports its first quarter results on Friday according to the Swedish
newsagency Tidningarnas Telegrambyrå (TT) and Swedish finance paper
Dagens Industri.
"The number would be somewhere in that ball park but in exactly which
areas, I'm not sure," said Tommy Jahrl, chairman of of the Sif trade union
in the Swedish town of Linköping, to Dagens Industri newspaper.
The telecommunications giants have already said it will cut a further
2,600 jobs as part of its cost savings programme but to meet the SEK 20
billion savings target the company has set itself, many more job cuts
are necessary according to Dagens Industri.
Nicholas
Mead


FLS of Denmark seals British cement deal
Danish engineering and cement group FLS Indusries said on Tuesday it was
leading a contract for a complete cement production line to Anglo American
owned Buxton Lime Industries Ltd. in Britain worth around 86 million pounds
($123.6 million), according to ETrade.com.
FLS
said its share of the contract was 500 million crowns ($59 million).
The project would be implemented in cooperation with Danish building contractor
HMT - Monberg & Thorsen, whose share of the total contract value was about
50 percent.
"With the two recently announced contract awards in Senegal and Brazil
plus this one in the UK, FLS has made an excellent start to 2001," the
company said.
"The (UK) order is included in this year's sales budget and will be taken
to income in step with the delivery of equipment which is scheduled to
take place until commissioning by July 2003," it added.
Nicholas
Mead


Sweden reduces 2001 growth forecast
Sweden has reduced it's growth forecast for 2001 in view of the world
economic slowdown, although government ministers remain optimistic for
2002.
The
Swedish Finance Minister Bosse Ringholm said the gross domestic product
for this year had been reduced by 0.8 per cent compared to last summer's
estimate of 3.5 per cent to 2.7 per cent.
The move brings the Swedish government's short-term economic forecasts
into line with with the 2.4 per cent predicted by the central bank and
the 2.8 per cent expected by the National Institute of Economic Research.
Inflation has continued to be low in Sweden with the consumer price index
increasing by an average of 1.5 per cent in 2001, rising to 1.6 per cent
the following year.
Nicholas
Mead


Tele1 Europe changes name to 'Song Networks'
Tele1 Europe today announced plans to rename the company as 'Song Networks'.
The move means that all other companies within the Tele1 Europe Group
which currently operate under a name 'Tele1 Europe' will change their
names to include 'Song Networks'.
The
proposal will receive official approval at the companys Annual General
Meeting on 16 May 2001. "We have chosen to change the name of Tele1 Europe
to Song Networks as this name better relates to the business we operate
and the core values of our operations," explained Lars Windfeldt, Chairman
of the Board of Tele1 Europe.
He added: "Our current name - Tele1 Europe - can easily be confused with
other providers of data and telecommunication services, and is pronounced
in different ways pending on language."
Ivar Strömberg, CEO of Tele1 Europe, added: "Our vision is to be
'The leading broadband operator for businesses in the Nordic region'.
As both a name and a brand, Song Networks will be a better communicator
of the range of data and telecommunication services we provide to corporate
customers in the Nordic region. One of our requirements was that the new
name be easy to pronounce, read and write. The new name helps us to stand
out from other providers of data and telecommunication services."
To ensure that the new name is protected and to minimise the risk of any
hold-ups in registering this new name, Song Networks has already been
registered for Group companies in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and
Holland.
Nicholas
Mead


EDS and Framfab join forces in Scandinavia
EDS and Framfab today announced the formation of a strategic alliance
in Europe, starting in Sweden, Norway and Denmark. EDS is the second largest
IT Company in the world and Framfab one of the world's biggest Internet
Consultancy Firms.
"EDS
and Framfab are a perfect match, which is why we chose them as a partner.
We are a rock-solid IT company with a great client list. They are a young,
very innovative company with competencies that will give us distinct competitive
advantages in Scandinavia," said Kaj Green, CEO of EDS Nordic.
The alliance will cover three lines of business - Business Consulting,
Internet Projects and Web Hosting.
EDS will also supply web hosting services to Framfab's existing and new
clients. and the company will be represented in Framfab's Board of Directors.
Johan Wall, CEO of Framfab, said of the agreement: "This alliance forms
a strong base for the future offerings to our clients. EDS is a perfect
partner for us, a company with great experience and a great client list."
Nicholas
Mead


Norwegian local authority to outsource assets
A Norwegian local authority pension fund with assets totalling Nkr800m
is set to outsource its domestic assets, according to eFinancial News.
The
fund of Larvik local authority is tendering for two active balanced managers
to run half of its assets, according to the website.
The assets will be split 40% in Norwegian bonds, with 30% each for Norwegian
shares and money market instruments. The remainder of the assets are currently
invested globally via mutual funds but Larvik plans to review this strategy
in the autumn also.
"The reason for a possible change would be ethical concerns, as it is
easier to supervise segregated briefs. For bonds it is a question of being
able to hedge foreign currencies," a consultant told eFinancial News.
The deadline for submissions for the Norwegian portfolios is May 9 with
an appointment expected by July 1. "International portfolio managers with
expertise in the Norwegian market are welcome but the fund does not wish
to become a guinea pig for a fund manager wishing to get into the market.
Any applicant must provide proof of market expertise," the consultant
added.
Nicholas
Mead


Icelandic Minister of Health resigns
The Icelandic Minister of Health, Ingibjörg Pálmadóttir,
has announced she is to retire from politics, according to The Iceland
Daily News.
Pálmadóttir
will retire both from her position as health minister and also from parliament.
In the Icelandic daily Morgunbladid she said, "I have been a minister
for six years and that is longer than anyone else in Icelandic history.
I have met many health ministers during my time and in the course of these
six years, there have been five health ministers in Denmark alone."
Pálmadóttir suffered ill health this winter and she even
fainted during a live television broadcast. However, the 52 year old minister
denies speculation that she is retiring for health reasons in Morgunbladid,
saying, "I am well now, and since I am not an old woman, I hope to find
a new job, or interesting new assignments."
According to an official statement, a new health minister has not yet
been selected.
Nicholas
Mead


Nokia complete first secure mobile transaction test
Nokia, KPN Mobile, and Interpay Nederland have today successfully made
the first financial transaction on a mobile network based on Wireless
Identity Module (WIM) technology, according to Hugin.
The
successful implementation of the technology, which is part of the WAP
1.2 (Wireless Application Protocol) specification, means that secure m-
commerce is now possible for mobile telecommunications network operators,
mobile phone and infrastructure manufacturers and payment processors.
Non-repudiation of transactions is ensured by a digital signature. In
practice, this means users can perform transactions safely using a single
PIN-code. In addition, built-in security elements in the terminal and
network ensure secure and reliable transactions.
To test user experience, a pilot will be launched in secluded surroundings
with a limited number of users. To ensure content during the pilot, DaVista,
BelBios, Kijkshop, Wannahaves and AtoBe will co-operate on offering products.
Wireless Commerce Ltd. will provide an Internet based, wireless auction
on a daily basis.
"By participating in this pilot KPN Mobile demonstrates its vision on
mobile commerce that this is going to be one of the key services and markets
of the future. The standard tested in the pilot emphasises our strategy
that mobile commerce should be available to everybody, based on open standards,
independent of their network, operator or financial services provider,"
said Luc Maas, CCO of KPN Mobile.
Nicholas
Mead


Metso receives orders for eco-friendly pulp screening
Finnish company Metso Paper has received orders in Portugal, Sweden and
India for pulp screening and washing technology which reduces the environmental
effects of pulp production.
According
to Hugin, the orders are part of Metso Paper's strengthening rebuild business
and reflect the concentration of pulp industry investments on modernizing
the production process. The orders are valued in total at approx. EUR
15 million and will be delivered in 2001.
Portucel Industrial S.A. has ordered new wash presses for the washing
lines producing eucalyptus pulp at their Cacia mill in Portugal. The new
presses will replace the old vacuum washers and improve the pulp washing
result, while at the same time reducing the consumption of bleaching chemicals
in the process and the volume of effluents.
A new screen room and brown stock washing system will be supplied for
a sack-paper-grade pulp production line at Billerud Skärblacka AB
in Sweden. The investment will enable the increase of production capacity
without increasing environmental effects. The turnkey delivery also includes
medium-consistency pumps, a control system to be delivered by Metso Automation
and a process simulator. The rebuilt line will be started up in November
2001.
West Coast Paper Dandeli in India has ordered a screening and washing
line. The design capacity of the eucalyptus and bamboo pulp line is 350
tons per day. The order will be the first totally press-based pulping
line in India. The delivery also includes erection and start-up, with
the latter due near the end of 2001.
Metso Corporation is a global supplier of process industry machinery and
systems. The corporation's fiber and paper technology business arm, Metso
Paper, is the world's leading supplier of technology, systems and equipment
for the pulp, paper, converting and panelboard industries.
Nicholas
Mead


Scania to deliver engines for Swedish Defence Force
Scania is to deliver a further 40 engines to Hägglunds of Örnsköldsvik,
according to Bitpush. The units will be used to power the new Stridsfordon
90 combat vehicle to be delivered to the Swedish Defence Forces.
The
engines will be Scania 14-litre V8s - the unit chosen by the Swedish army
to power the earlier series of Stridsfordon 90. "We find it extremely
gratifying and encouraging that Scania engines have been selected as the
powerplant in the face of tough international competition," said Lennart
Hjelte, Senior Vice President and head of Scania's Industrial and Marine
Engines business area.
"We have a long business relationship with Hägglunds
and this latest order will strengthen those ties even further."
To Hägglunds, the deal means that production of Stridsfordon 90 for
the Swedish army will be extended for yet another year, and that the lull
in output which would otherwise have occurred in 2002 prior to the commencement
of deliveries to Switzerland and Finland will now be avoided.
Nicholas
Mead


Kipling join ETSI and 3GPP
Kipling Holdings AB has announced that it has joined two of the most influential
standardization bodies for GSM and 3G communication: ETSI - the European
Telecommunications Standards Institute - and 3GPP - the Third Generation
Partnership Project.
Kipling
claim they made the move to have improved contact with the most important
players, an insight into development trends, as well as greater influence
over future standards within such areas as mobile commerce and mobile
multi-media, in addition to mobile positioning and billing systems.
Through the success of GSM, ETSI has become a dominating authority for
the development of new telecom standards throughout the world. The organisation
produces new standards in addition to assisting the EU Commission with
underlying documentation for decisions concerning technology within the
telecom sector.
ETSI recently announced that in 2001, there will be a much greater emphasis
on a more modern approach to communication, focusing on the integration
of IP networks in the networks of the future.
However, many standards and questions remain to be established and resolved
before achieving the goal of an open 3G systems architecture containing
IP telephony, normal telephony and data communication, as well as complex
3G services.
The big industry players have sought to assess this problem through the
establishment of the Location Interoperability Forum (LIF) of which Kipling
is also a member. The Forum aims to work alongside organisations such
as ETSI and 3GPP and bring all sectors of the industry together in order
to harmonise the development of mobile technology. Some have questioned
as to whether LIF's interests could conflict with standards bodies such
as ETSI but Gustaf Ekberg, CEO of Kipling Holding, denies this will be
a problem.
"At
the end of the day, ETSI will always have the say over LIF so I don't
see it as a problem. At first, we were worried it could be intended to
squeeze smaller companies like us out of the development of wireless technology
but since joining, we have seen nothing but co-operation between all involved,"
Ekberg told Scandinavia Now.
In
a press statement he added: "ETSI is an admirable organisation that is
comparable to a United Nations of the telecom industry, and that promotes
the interests of its members at the same time as it places demands on
them. We see our participation as a challenge, and we intend to be a motivated,
active and constructive member."
Kipling provides software systems and consulting services to the telecom
sector. The group has six subsidiary companies located in Sweden, the
United Kingdom and Brazil. Kipling's other joint venture partners include
SmartTrust, EHPT and Aspiro.
Nicholas
Mead


Sweden's MTG buys 75% of Darial TV in Russia
Sweden's Modern Times Group has paid $5-10 million to buy a 75% stake
in Russian station Darial TV from the gas giant Gazprom, which has moved
to take over another Russian station NTV, according to the Moscow Times.
The channel has a small following but crucially, has a license for national
broadcasting.
Coincidently,
the purchase coincided with a ruling in the Russian State Duma on Monday
to introduce legislation limiting foreign ownership in Russian media,
after reports that US CNN media mogulTurner has his sights set on acquiring
a majority stake in NTV.
Until now, most media outlets have been firmly controlled by a small circle
of tycoons like Boris Berezovsky and NTV founder Vladimir Gusinsky who
had political influence in President Boris Yeltsin's Kremlin. But with
these once-mighty multimillionaires disappearing under President Vladimir
Putin, investment into their media is also drying up and the door appears
to finally be opening to financing from abroad.
Igor Shabdurasulov, chairman of Berezovsky's second-tier TV6 channel,
welcomed foreign presence on the media market telling the Moscow Times:
"All the talkthat we can manage it on our own was simply not serious after
the 1998 economic crisis," Shabdurasulov said.
Modern
Times Group, which launched its TV3 entertainment television in 1987,
broadcasts in three Scandinavian countries, the Baltics and Hungary. Earlier
this year, the company was named among the parties to the Turner-led consortium
negotiating with Gusinsky and NTV shareholder Gazprom-Media for a stake
in NTV.
According
to the Moscow Times, MTG and Kirsch also plan to bid independently for
a 19 percent stake in NTV, which Gazprom-Media wants to sell.
However,
in the meantime, it seems that Darial TV is the first done deal, giving
MTG a foothold on the Russian market.
Darial TV made headlines in the Russian press in 1998 when it was the
last channel to acquire a national license in an inside deal, prompting
the government to enforce tenders for licenses.
Nicholas
Mead


Atlas Copco to purchase Christensen products
Atlas Copco have signed a letter of intent to purchase American company
Layne/Christensen's product division, Christensen Products, with a manufacturing
plant located in Salt Lake City. Christensen Products will be part of
the Atlas Copco Craelius Division, and the acquisition is in line with
the division's strategy to expand the business in the mineral exploration
field.
Layne/Christensen
is an international mineral exploration contractor and their product division
is based in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. They are one of the world's leading
manufacturers of diamond core drill equipment for the mineral exploration
industry. The company has well-established manufacturing operations in
Salt Lake City. Christensen will continue to operate with its existing
company name on a worldwide basis.
Christensen Products is the sole supplier to the Layne/Christensen Contracting
Group on a world-wide basis. As part of the pending purchase a supply
agreement between Atlas Copco and Layne/Christensen Contracting will be
consummated. The purchase is planned to be completed by June 1, 2001.
Atlas Copco is an international industrial Group with its head office
in Stockholm, Sweden. In 2000, the Group had revenues of SEK 46 billion,
with 98 percent of revenues outside Sweden, and over 26,000 employees.
Atlas Copco companies develop, manufacture, and market electric and pneumatic
tools, compressed air equipment and generators, construction and mining
equipment, assembly systems, and offer related service and equipment rental.
More information about the Group is available on the Atlas Copco website
Nicholas
Mead


Volvo divests Mitsubishi interests to DaimlerChrysler
Volvo and DaimlerChrysler have reached an agreement regarding Volvo's
cooperation with Mitsubishi Motor Corporation (MMC) whereby Volvo is transferring
its 3.3 percent shareholding in MMC and all rights and obligations with
relation to MMC for a total purchase consideration of approx. USD 297
M (SEK 3,000 M).
According
to Bitpush, the book value of the assets being transferred to DaimlerChrysler
amounts to SEK 2,350 M. Volvo intends to reserve the gain that arises
to cover costs for development of a future medium-heavy truck program.
"I am pleased that we succeeded in reaching an agreement with DaimlerChrysler
and MMC," said Volvo CEO Leif Johansson.
"DaimlerChrysler's major holding in MMC and the possibility to increase
this holding would have made it difficult to achieve a successful long
term cooperation between Volvo and MMC.
"The acquisition of Renault V.I. provides the same volumes in the medium-
heavy segment that MMC would have generated. By coordinating Volvo's and
Renault's development resources in the medium heavy segment, we gain a
less complex and quicker process and can cut development time significantly.
"In most of our business areas we have established a significant presence
in Asia in recent years. During the past year we more than doubled our
truck sales in Japan as well as in Asia as a whole," added Johansson.
The distribution of MMC's Canter light truck, which currently is made
through Volvo's dealers, will be taken over by DaimlerChrysler during
November.
The
transaction now only requires the approval of DaimlerChrysler's Supervisory
Board and the requisite authorities.
Nicholas
Mead


Ericsson to deliver KPNQwest European fibreoptic network
Ericsson Network Technologies have signed an agreement with the Internet
operator KPNQwest meaning Ericsson will deliver fiberoptic cable to 15
countries in Europe for the operator's data network.
Per
Thorkildsen, Business Manager at Network Technology's office in the UK,
stated in a company press release: "This is a breakthrough and offers
great possibilities of growth, not only for us, but for all of Ericsson."
KPNQwest is a joint venture formed by American Qwest and the Dutch operator
KPN. The company is an Internet operator with its own data network. It
is based in the Netherlands and their network covers large areas of Europe,
North America and Asia.
Ericsson has been chosen as supplier of fiberoptic cable to seven "rings"
that will cover Europe in a so-called Intercity network. The contract
is worth around SEK 300 million. Deliveries have started and will continue
all through the year.
The contract is the result of a strategic collaboration between Network
Technologies (formerly Ericsson Cables) and Ericsson in the Netherlands.
The growing supply of services has created a demand for broadband to people's
homes. After the rollout of the Intercity network, the cable network in
urban areas will be expanded. The chances are good that Ericsson will
also deliver these fiberoptic solutions.
"As
minor players in this area, we are flexible and open to change. This is
one of the reasons for us being chosen over our larger competitors. Furthermore,
we have leading technological solutions," says Thorkildsen.
Nicholas
Mead


Icelandic study aims to find out why so SAD
One of the biggest research projects of its kind is investigating Seasonal
Affective Disorder (SAD), commonly known as winter depression, in Iceland.
According
to The Iceland Daily News, the research project is looking into the connection
between the amount of melatonin secreted by the pineal gland and its relationship
to SAD.
Scientists are using a community of 70 residents in the West Fjörds
region of the country to conduct tests on. The project started at 8:00
am yesterday morning, and will continue for the next three days.
Scientists from the University of Iceland and a group of doctors from
the West Fjörds are working together on the project which aims to
discover the exact causes of SAD which affects 11 per cent of Icelanders
(30,000 people) every year.
Those taking part in the study have to collect five saliva samples every
24 hours and by Wednesday evening, the researchers hope to have 900 samples
to work with. Initial results show that 50 per cent of those sampled show
symptoms of the disease.
Nicholas
Mead


Nokia selected as 3G supplier for Orange Switzerland
Nokia have sealed yet another 3G deal, this time with Orange in Switzerland.
The three-year agreement is worth around EUR 160 million to Nokia, according
to Hugin.
Under
the agreement, Nokia will supply its 3G mobility core network, including
packet switched and circuit switched elements and WCDMA Radio Access Network
(RAN). In addition Nokia will provide a full range of related support
services, including the entire process of planning, building and operating
the network and developing, managing and optimizing network operations
with Nokia Network Management System (NMS).
"Nokia's world-class and cost-effective 3G network solution will enable
us to offer our customers highly attractive and cutting edge wirefree
life services and applications. We are happy to further extend our existing
cooperation in 2G GSM and GPRS network with Nokia," said Andreas S. Wetter,
CEO of Orange Switzerland.
"This agreement further strengthens Nokia's excellent relationship with
Orange. We are delighted to be able to continue as the total network supplier
in Switzerland and enable Orange Switzerland to bring state-of-the-art
mobile Internet services to its customers," said Ukko Lappalainen, Vice
President, Nokia Networks.
As a part of the agreement, Nokia will also provide a 3-year bridge financing
package to Orange SA, amounting to EUR 240 Million.
Nicholas
Mead


Nokia phones incompatible with US 3G networks
Nokia may have to recall millions of mobile phones in the USA due to a
software glitch that makes them incompatible with third-generation networks.
The news will come as a blow to US carriers such as Sprint PCS Group and
Verizon Wireless plan to who plan to rollout their initial G3 services
this year.
However,
according to Computerworld, Nokia claims it can resolve the problem with
a software update in the network infrastructure, thus avoiding a recall.
The problem was discovered last week and Nokia claim it is a result of
an approach it took in developing a protocol in its second-generation
phones.
However, Ed Chao, a senior manager in the wireless networks group Lucent
Technologies, told Compyterworld that the problem is the result of a "software
shortcut" the company took with the 2G CDMA standard. According to Chao,
if Nokia had followed the 2G CDMA specifications, the older phones would
have been able to access the new 3G networks for voice calls and data
transfer at lower speeds, rather than not at all as is currently the case.
Nokia spokesperson Megan Matthews claims that Nokia are already working
with wireless network systems manufacturers to develop a software patch
that can be loaded into base stations, allowing its older Model 2100,
5100 and 6100 phones to utilise 3G networks. "We believe a software-based
solution is best for the industry - it would eliminate the recall of millions
of phones," she told Computerworld.
Nicholas
Mead


Telia launches new broadband portal
Telia has developed a new broadband portal for all private individuals
and households using the Internet, whether they have broadband access
or not. Telia's broadband portal provides facts, news, entertainment,
information and various communication services all on the same site, in
a user-friendly format.
Telia's
new broadband portal was opened to all Internet users early Tuesday morning,
April 10. The portal combines Telia's communication services, such as
calendar and webmail functions, with offerings from content providers,
such as games, music, news and sports. An announcer gives the portal a
television-like feeling and also serves as a guide for visitors, giving
them information and fun tips.
The new portal is designed to give visitors the possibility to create
their "own" portal with news, sports, address book, music and other features,
based on their personal interests and situation. During the establishment
phase, users can access the portal from their computers. Later, the portal
will also be accessible from palmtop computers, television sets and mobile
phones.
Karin Moberg, President of Telia e-bolaget said: "Telia is well positioned
to meet future developments in broadband. We have the customers, the distribution,
a strong brand and revenue-generating services. We are opening our new
broadband portal because we feel it is a natural step for Telia to take."
The portal can be found here
but currently it is only available in Swedish.
Nicholas
Mead


EU foot and mouth debate continues in Sweden
EU farm ministers are continuing to meet in Sweden today to debate agricultural
reform in the light of the foot-and-mouth crisis. The Dutch minister has
pledged he will again suggest vaccination as a long-term solution to combat
the disease, according to the BBC.
The
two-and-a-half-day conference was originally intended to focus on long-term
measures of policy reform with the aim outlined by Sweden to place food
quality ahead of quantity. But the foot-and-mouth crisis has radically
altered the course of the meetings.
The British minister Nick Brown claims he is is too engaged by the crisis
at home to attend at all so his deputy, Joyce Quinn, has been answering
a barrage of questions about how Britain is coping with the outbreak.
The Dutch Farm Minister, Laurens Jan-Brinkhorst, will propose that the
option of vaccination should remain open to prevent such a serious outbreak
ever happening again.
Although no decision will be taken at the meeting, most ministers are
agreed that the mass slaughter of infected animlas around Europe has been
the right step in the short term.
Nicholas
Mead


Taiwan chooses Nokia for 3G tests
Taiwan has become the latest South-East Asian country to select Finnish
giants Nokia to conduct 3G trials, according to International Wireless.
Chunghwa Telecom Labs (CHTL), the technology development group of the
state-owned telecommunication operator in Taiwan, has selected Nokia to
test its existing WCDMA network using Nokia's 3G technology.
Nokia
will provide CHTTL with core radio network, network management and technical
services. The tests will begin in the second quarter of this year where
Internet Protocol (IP) and multimedia based mobile services and applications
will be put through their paces.
Petri Reijonen, Manager of Nokia Networks Taiwan said of the deal: "We're
delighted that Chunghwa Telecom Labs has selected us to work closely with
them in this important 3G trial. We remain firmly committed to helping
our customers here prepare for the arrival of 3G, offering innovative
services and applications which their customers will want."
Doctor Lung-Sing Liang, president of CHTTL endorsed this saying: "We are
pleased to work with Nokia in the evaluation of 3G, with this trial being
a great step in the development of 3G technology in Taiwan. Through this
trial, CHTTL will enrich its 3G WCDMA capabilities, strengthen Chunghwa
Telecom's competence in 3G mobile communications, and speed up the provisioning
of new services to our customers in the ever-evolving wireless marketplace."
Nicholas
Mead


Swedes and Danes in Øresund fishing war
Sweden has accused Denmark of conducting illegal fishing in the Øresund
region. According to the Nordic Council, during Tuesday's debate between
parliamentarians at the Nordic Council meeting in Oslo, Swedish MP Kaj
Larsson of the Social Democrats claimed that Danish trawlers were fishing
in Swedish waters, resulting in unnecessary costs for the Swedish coast
guard which has to order them out of the waters.
"Why
do the Danes have such a short-sighted view of fishing," argued Larsson.
He continued:
"Why do the Danes have such a short-sighted view of fishing," argued Larsson.
He continued:
Denmark responded with shock to Larsson's attack. Vibeke Peschardt of
the Danish Radical Party claimed that Denmark has already banned cod fishing
in the North Sea and will introduce a new fishing policy this year that
forces the industry to use more compassionate fishing methods.
Nicholas
Mead


Ericsson win 400 million dollar China contracts
Ericsson finally have something to cheer about with announcement that
it has won a series of supply contracts in China worth more than 400 million
US dollars.
The
deal involves both GSM and multi-service networks plus Internet Protocol
and backbone network projects according to Newsbytes.
Bejing Ericsson Mobile Communications Co. Ltd and Nanjing Ericsson Panada
Communications Co Ltd, both Ericsson joint ventures, will supply the equipment
to Chinese operators.
Amongst the customers involved are Shandong Telecom and China Telecom
who have ordered boradband backbone routers from Ericsson
Other bonuses included GSM expansion contracts with Chinese regional operators
Shandong Mobile, Hebei Mobile, Hubei Mobile, Chongqing Mobile, Jiangsu
Mobile and Xinjiang Mobile.
Nicholas
Mead


TeleDenmark teams up with Poland's Szeptel
TeleDenmark Internet (TDC) has entered into a strategic alliance with
Polish telecommunication company Szeptel, according to Hugin.
The
deal means TDC Internet will gain access to a 10,000 km fiber optic network
in Poland.
Szeptel is currently building the network between Poland's most important
cities. TDC Internet's contribution to the cooperation is, among other
things, to supply resources for the development and management of both
products and the network.
In February, TDC Internet acquired 51% of 6 Internet providers in Poland.
The 6 companies are in the process of being merged into one company and
will be the third-largest Internet provider in Poland.
The cooperation with Szeptel will further strengthen TDC Internet's Polish
activities.
"Poland is an interesting market for us. The growth in the Internet market
is very high, and by cooperating with Szeptel we will be able to reach
a large number of customers in most of Poland," says Lars Torpe Christoffersen,
President of TDC Internet.
Szeptel's build-out of the fiber optic network will cover 70% of Poland.
Nicholas
Mead


NCC receives SEK 125 million order from Holmen Paper
NCC has been commissioned by Holmen Paper to undertake landscaping, demolition
and rebuilding contracts worth approximately SEK 125 million, according
to Bitpush.
The
work is part of the Hallsta Max project, which involves the replacement
of a paper machine at the Hallstavik paper mill in Sweden and the upgrade
of other parts of the mill
"This will be a demanding project, in part because the work will be performed
in premises where the client's ordinary production activities will continue
to be conducted as usual throughout the project period," said Christer
Östman, Manager of Forest Industry Contracts at NCC Contracting Sweden.
NCC's work will be carried out between April 2001 and May 2002 and will
require a maximum of about 100 employees at peak activity. During a 70-
day period in February to March 2002, when the old paper machine will
be disassembled and the new one installed, work on the project will be
conducted on a three-shift basis. A total of about 20 administrative employees
will also be involved in the project.
Nicholas
Mead


Norwegian's to harmonise ferry tax with Danes and Swedes
The Norwegian government has pledged to harmonise tax rules imposed on
Norweigan ferries to bring them in line with Sweden and Denmark according
to the Nordic Council.
The
government acknowledges that the current differences have an impact on
competiveness although ammendments will not be made until 2002 at the
earliest.
In Denmark, ferries on overseas routes are covered by the Danish International
Shipping Register and the two biggest Norwegian operators Fjord Line and
Color Line estimate that they would earn up to DKK 300 million more under
the Danish tax system.
Similar schemes the Norweigan's would like to look at is the way Swedish
staff on Danish ferries can earn a tax-free income. Norweigan companies
have also pointed out that that Finnish tax rules are also far more favourable
than Norwegian ones.
The Norwegian government concluded that the new changes would mean both
better conditions for both companies and their employees.
Nicholas
Mead


Wärtsilä win engine contract for Finnish Frontier Guard
Wärtsilä Corporation has received the contract to deliver four
Wärtsilä 12V200 diesel engines for two patrol vessels of a new
class for the Finnish Frontier Guard, according to Hugin.
The
new Telkkä-class vessels are being built as part of the fleet renewal
programme. They are multi-purpose vessels capable of carrying out search
and rescue, and oil leak anti-pollution missions in the Baltic, in addition
to the traditional maritime surveillance function.
The two Telkkä-class vessels were recently ordered from the Finnish
shipyard UKI Workboat Ltd. They are due to be commissioned in 2002 and
2004. Each will have a pair of Wärtsilä 12V200 diesel engines,
with a combined maximum continuous output of 5000 kW at 1500 rev/min.
Several particular features of the Wärtsilä 200 engines were
in favour of their selection. Amongst them were a high maximum continuous
output, a high level of automation, an interface for remote monitoring
and long times between overhauls.
Nicholas
Mead


Ericsson to test payment by mobile phone in Sweden
Ericsson's R520m mobile telephone, which incorporates Bluetooth wireless
technology, will be tested for wireless payment in Swedish stores.
According
to Wireless Networks Online, selected Eurocard customers will test the
method of paying for purchases in May using a virtual Eurocard in their
Ericsson R520m.
Bluetooth technology enables wireless data to be transmitted over short
distances, quickly and free of charge - in this case, between the purchaser's
Ericsson mobile phone, which incorporates the virtual Eurocard, and the
store's cash register.
"The attempt is based on an Ericsson-developed payment platform for financial
transactions using Bluetooth. It is an example of how the new wireless
Internet technology can be used for users' everyday tasks," said Orvar
Parling, vice president, Ericsson Sverige AB.
Eurocard in Sweden wants to assess whether customers find payment via
mobile phone as more convenient than traditional types of payment such
as cash and cards.
"For the stores, payment by mobile phone with Bluetooth enables them to
serve more customers in shorter time. Since purchases are confirmed using
PIN codes, there is no need for the stores to check customers' ID," said
Synnöve Trygg, president of Eurocard AB in Sweden.
Nicholas
Mead


Statoil to be on stock market by June
Statoil CEO Olav Fjell has told Sweden's DI newspaper that he thinks the
Norweigan oil company will be floated on the Norweigan stock marketby
June
"We
are optimistic, and we are operating under the assumption that we can
get on the stock market in June. We feel this is realistic," he said.
The Financial Times reported yesterday that a cross-party committee of
Norwegian members of parliament had recommended that up to a third of
Statoil, the Norwegian state-owned oil and gas group, be privatised and
21.5 per cent of the state's stake be sold.
The decision had been expected following a compromise deal struck between
the four main political parties last week. Under the compromise deal,
Norsk Hydro, Norway's second largest oil group, and foreign companies
are allowed to buy 6.5 per cent of the state's direct interests instead
of the 5 per cent originally proposed by the minority Labour government.
The remaining 15 per cent will be sold to Statoil.
The recommendations, made by the energy and environment committee, still
have to be voted in by parliament and are not expected to be finally approved
until April 26. Statoil's stock market listing, expected to be in New
York as well as Oslo, is then scheduled for June. The group is expected
to offer between 15-25 per cent of its shares to both retail and institutional
investors.
Statoil believes the privatisation will help it to stay competitive with
other large oil companies and to expand overseas. Norwegian politicians
pointed out that the decision did not appear to rule out the state selling
further tranches of its interests in Statoil in the future.
"Statoil is going to have full commercial freedom and the only specific
point seems to be that we must keep our headquarters in Norway," said
a Statoil spokeswoman.
Nicholas
Mead


Mitsubishi buys 50 percent stake in Netherlands Car from Volvo
Mitsubishi Motors Corp said its board of directors passed a resolution
to buy a 50 pct stake in Netherlands Car BV from AB Volvo for 330 mln
nfl at its meeting today. After the acquisition, Mitsubishi Motors will
hold a 85 pct stake in Netherlands Car, the company said.
The
company said the acquisition follows the company's agreement with DaimlerChrysler
AG to run Netherlands Car jointly as part of their alliance projects.
The deal follows rumours that Volvo may sell its stake in Mitsubishi Motors
Corp and buy a stake in Nissan Diesel Motor Company Ltd, reported Dagens
Industri.
Mitsubishi confirmed yesterday that DaimlerChrysler AG are prepared to
to buy Volvo's 3.3 percent stake in Mitsubishi, the paper noted.
Nissan's chief financial officer, Thierry Mouonguet, said his company
is ready to start negotiations with Volvo if it wants to increase its
position in Asia and Japan.
Nicholas
Mead


Stockholm stock exchange to change name and image
The OM Stockholm Exchange has changed its name to Stockholmsbörsen
(The Stockholm Stock Exchange) as of today.
In
conjunction with this name change, Stockholmsbörsen
will also be given a new graphics profile aimed at reinforcing the the
exchange's brand and position.
The name change is part of the implementation of OM's new branding strategy
whereby the companies contained within Division Transaction are allowed
greater freedom to independently profile themselves within their individual
markets.
Stockholmsbörsen will instead have a very clear uniting addition
to its logo ? "part of OM" ? in order to preserve its strong ties with
the OM group.
The name Stockholmsbörsen will also be used internationally to reinforce
its positive and national characteristics as well as to arouse interest
and make the brand name unique. This decision has been based on a number
of factors, which include comprehensive market research carried out in
the Swedish and international financial markets.
Nicholas
Mead


Icelandic veterinarians warn of Foot and Mouth dangers
A group of Icelandic veterinarians held an informative meeting on Foot
and Mouth disease with farmers in Myrdalur (south Iceland), according
to the Iceland Daily News.
The
meeting was intended to discuss the dangers of the disease, describe the
tell-tale signs and highlight the ways it can enter the country.
One of the host veterinarians, Páll Stefánsson, discussed
how foot and mouth disease spreads and how the virus behaves, as well
as showing concerned farmers pictures of infected animals.
Stefánsson said that it is important to understand the dangers
involved, since there is a possibility that the disease could be brought
to Iceland by tourists aboard the ferry 'Norraena' which sails between
Iceland and Scandinavia, through introducing infected food stuffs to the
country.
Veterinarians have distributed a booklet in English and Icelandic to large
travel agencies and tourists centres, warning about the dangers of bringing
food stuffs into the country.
Nicholas
Mead


Sait-Stento to supply Danish state railway radio
Sait-Stento today announced that it has won a EUR 3.5 million contract
to provide radio equipment for Danish State Railways.
According
to Hugin, Sait-Stento will provide a dual mode control box, enabling Danish
State Railways to implement the use of the digital GSM-R - a new generation
railway communication network based on GSM - and at the same time continue
to use the existing analogue radio infrastructure and onboard analogue
radios.
The Norwegian company will also deliver analogue and digital on-board
train radio equipment for 83 new GTA/IC4 trains in Denmark. AnsaldoBreda,
part of the Italian Finmeccanica Group, will construct the new trains.
The equipment includes a new integrated dual mode control box - enabling
analogue/digital communication. The system is equipped with the usual
emergency one touch button and the dial-up function but also with a touch
screen interface. The dual mode system allows Danish State Railways to
continue the use of the existing analogue radio infrastructure and onboard
analogue radios. It will also enable implementation of the upcoming GSM-R
(Global System for Mobile Communications for Railways) technology within
train radio.
"Recent major rail accidents in Europe have demonstrated that reliable
railway communication systems are critical. Our solution for the Danish
State Railways permits both cross-border and combined analogue-digital
communication, enabling implementation of the new European Standard for
railway communication technology, GSM-R. The project for the Danish State
Railways confirms our position as one of the leading integrators and service
suppliers for wireless railway communication solutions," said Peter Borregaard,
managing director, Stento Denmark A/S.
Nicholas
Mead


Stockholm stock exchange to change name and image
The OM Stockholm Exchange has changed its name to Stockholmsbörsen
(The Stockholm Stock Exchange) as of today.
In
conjunction with this name change, Stockholmsbörsen
will also be given a new graphics profile aimed at reinforcing the the
exchange's brand and position.
The name change is part of the implementation of OM's new branding strategy
whereby the companies contained within Division Transaction are allowed
greater freedom to independently profile themselves within their individual
markets.
Stockholmsbörsen will instead have a very clear uniting addition
to its logo ? "part of OM" ? in order to preserve its strong ties with
the OM group.
The name Stockholmsbörsen will also be used internationally to reinforce
its positive and national characteristics as well as to arouse interest
and make the brand name unique. This decision has been based on a number
of factors, which include comprehensive market research carried out in
the Swedish and international financial markets.
Nicholas
Mead


Swedish retail workers strike set to hit Easter
A retail strike is set to hit Sweden over the lucrative Easter period.
The Handels trade union plans to take 4,000 employees on strike by April
11 unless employers agree to improve a SEK 498-a-month wage increase offer.
The
worst hit will be clothing chains Hennes & Mauritz, department store Åhlens,
ICA supermarkets, Ikea and large food suppliers like Axfood.
The strike plans were announced after the union rejected a final offer
by employer representatives on Friday. The union said in a statement:
"The reason for the strike is that the offer to increase salaries by SEK
498 a month is shamefully low."


Sitel to open third contact centre in Sweden
Sitel plans to open a third contact center in Sweden to serve the Scandinavian
market for clients such as Microsoft, Ace Insurance, Hotel Express and
Swissair/Sabena.
According
to DM News, the center will be located in Eskilstuna, about an hour west
of Stockholm "in one of the most densely populated areas of Sweden," said
Sitel spokesman Bill Sims in Baltimore.
It will employ 50 people initially, bringing Sitel's Swedish work force
to 330. Sims said the new site would add more employees later on. "We
simply outgrew our locations and needed more space," Sims said.
The company's headquarters are located in Orebro, a town in northern Sweden
where the work force there has doubled over the past two years, but no
other space was available. Sitel also has a satellite office in Stockholm.
Sims said the Invest in Sweden Agency helped Sitel find the new location.
"We're using Sweden as a hub for all the Scandinavian countries because
you can find all the Scandinavian languages you need to operate a call
and contact center effectively," he said. "We actually have people who
speak Scandinavian languages in our much larger UK facilities, but the
best place to be is right in the heart of Scandinavia where we are adding
new business all the time."
Sitel's facilities, like other international call center companies, have
morphed into contact centers able to handle voice and text.
"We
deal with fax and e-mails and do proactive and reactive chats on the Internet,"
Sims said.
Sitel does not plan to expand the Scandinavian site into a center for
doing business across the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic countries, northeastern
Poland and Russia's St. Petersburg region.
A number of other contact and marketing companies have considered that
possibility as the Baltic economies expand and Russia recovers.


Atle invests in Appeal Virtual Machines
Appeal Virtual Machines AB has successfully completed it's second round
of financing with Atle Företagskapital AB and Infologix (BVI) Limited
investing SEK 22.5 million (US$ 2.3 million) into the software company.
Appeal
Virtual Machines, which develops and markets Virtual Machines for Java,
plans to use the finance for JRockit - a premium VM for Java.
"JRockit is a very exciting product addressing well-known issues for applications
written in the Java programming language. It is already in use in mission
critical applications, resulting in dramatic reductions in the number
of needed servers. The extra margin JRockit brings to Java projects makes
this is a venture with a very interesting potential," said Hans Dirtoft,
Chief Executive, Atle Företagskapital.
He added: "Atle provides us with the financial muscles and industrial
experience needed to commercialize version two of JRockit, a premium Virtual
Machine for Java.
"Java without bottlenecks is well received by potential clients and partners,
and we now have the resources to extend our sales and marketing in Europe
and USA. Our prime focus is to recruit value adding partners in targeted
geographies", said Joakim Dahlstedt, CEO Appeal Virtual Machines.
Atle Företagskapital AB is a venture capital company within the Atle
group, the large Swedish private equity company. Atle Företagskapital,
part of the group since 1998, was the first Swedish venture capital company
and has been active since its inception 27 years ago.
Infologix is a venture capital company under the Peder Sager Wallenberg
Charitable Trust. Infologix invests in early stage ventures in the IT
sector and currently holds a portfolio of investments in the US, Europe,
Latin America and Asia.
Appeal Virtual Machines is an Internet software company focused on simplifying
the use of Java on corporate servers, whether on the Internet or in intranets.
It's first product was announced in April 2000.


Nokia to supply 3G networks in UK and Germany
France Telecom owned Orange, one of the world's largest mobile operators,
has selected Nokia as the major supplier of its advanced 3G networks for
Itineris in France and Orange in the UK. At the same time, the 28% Orange-owned
MobilCom has chosen Nokia as a supplier for its 3G network in Germany.
According
to Hugin, the companies have signed Letter of Intent agreements, with
a total estimated value of EUR 1.5 billion. These groundbreaking agreements
further strengthen Nokia's position as a leading global 3G system supplier.
Under the three-year agreements, Nokia will deliver solutions for mobile
core and radio networks. Nokia becomes the radio-access network supplier
for the 3G network in the UK and a major radio access network supplier
for the 3G network in France. In Germany, Nokia will provide 3G core network
and turnkey implementation of the radio-access network, including a full
range of professional services and operations support systems.
Deliveries for the build up of trial 3G mobile networks are expected to
start soon. Volume deliveries for commercial 3G mobile networks will begin
during the second half of this year.
To support the introduction of mobile networks and multimedia services
through these agreements, Nokia will provide a bridge-financing package
for the development of the network, with an estimated value of over EUR2
billion.
"Orange is a pacesetter in the telecommunications industry and we have
already taken the lead in the development of the mobile Internet market
in Europe. By choosing Nokia as a technology partner for 3G we can smoothly
integrate 3G equipment within our networks to deliver a unique experience
for our wirefree subscribers," said Didier Quillot, CEO of Orange France.
"Celebrating our ten-year relationship with Orange in the UK, we are delighted
to be able to support Orange's drive towards 3G service creation in these
key markets within Europe. With the combined strengths of Nokia's delivery
capability and technology innovation, we will be able to provide an unmatched,
coherent, industry -leading 3G solution for Europe and the world," added
Ukko Lappalainen, Vice President, Nokia Networks.


Accommodation shortage looms over Reykjavik
The National Economic Institute has estimated that up to 2000 new apartments
are needed to meet the current housing demand in the Reykjavík
area, according to the Iceland Daily News.
The
Institute reported that over the past five years, Reykjavík has
seen an increase of nearly 18,500 people. Last year alone, 1600 new residents
moved to Reykjavík. At the same time, the agency responsible for
lending money to new home owners, the Housing and Financial Association,
only agrred granted mortgages for 290 new apartments.
Gylfi Hédinsson, owner of the prominent Icelandic construction
company Gylfi and Gunnar, claims that the shortage is due to a shortage
of land for building on and because people lack the necessary spending
power to buy property.
Reykjavik is not the only Scandinavian capital to suffer from such a problem.
Sweden's capital Stockholm is currently enduring the worst accommodation
shortage on record. Stockholm's 'Internet boom' has brought a massive
influx of people into the city and the minimum waiting time for a flat
in Stockholm is now two years, with 15,000 students queuing for a basic
dormitory room.
The situation has been exasperated by companies 'monopolising' accommodation
for their employees by offering astronomical rents to landlords, thus
squeezing the majority of the public out of the rental market.


Vitesse to buy Danish chipmaker Exbit
Vitesse Semiconductor Corp., which makes chips for fiber-optic equipment,
has agreed to buy Danish communications semiconductor maker Exbit Technology
A/S for about $104.8 million in stock, according to bloomberg.com.
Vitesse
plans to issue about 4.4 million shares to closely held Exbit, Vitesse
said in a statement released on Business Wire. As many as 2.5 million
more Vitesse shares will be reserved for Exbit shareholders if performance
goals are met, Vitesse said.
The Camarillo, California-based company expects its purchase to reduce
earnings by 1 cent a share a quarter in the second half before expenses,
the company's statement said.
Exbit, based in Herlev, Denmark, has 62 employees, including more than
40 engineers. The purchase is expected to be completed by June 30.
The move comes in an attempt to halt Vitesse's alarming stock market decline.
The company's shares fell 56 cents to $23.81 on Friday and have fallen
75 percent in the past year.


Norwegian government announce NKr4.32bn raised from DnB shares
Norway's government bank investment fund on Monday announced that it had
raised NKr4.32bn ($471m) from the secondary offering of shares in Den
norske Bank (DnB), the country's largest, and signalled plans to further
dilute its stake this year or next.
According
to The Financial Times, the fund, which owns the shares on behalf of the
state, sold 104m shares at NKr41.50 in a retail and institutional offer
which was 2.5 times oversubscribed.
This compares with the shares' NKr41.40 close on March 30, when the offer
ended, and a 12-month peak of NKr48 in December.
The sale cuts the state's stake from 60.6 per cent to 47.3 per cent, and
the fund said a third offering was planned in 2001 or 2002 to reduce its
holding to 33.3 per cent.
Merrill
Lynch was the global co-ordinator and advisor for the overall transaction.
DnB Markets led the Norwegian retail offering, while Merrill Lynch led
the institutional offering.
DnB is being promoted as a "national champion" in financial services by
the Norwegian government, which last year dropped the previous administration's
opposition to foreign takeovers by agreeing to sell its 35 per cent stake
in second-ranked Christiania Bank.
MeritaNordbanken, since renamed Nordea, acquired Christiania at the end
of last year in a deal valuing the bank at NKr27bn.


Tax deadline extended for Icelanders
The Directorate of the Internal Revenue has extended the deadline to Icelanders
filing income tax returns on the internet to midnight on 7 April, according
to the Iceland Review.
Tax
returns were due on 2 April, but according to Haraldur Hansson, a spokesperson
for the Directorate, the deadline was extended due to a disturbance with
the computer system that blocked new returns from being filed.
"Everything went well yesterday until 17:00, but then the system shut
down with 37, 917 returns still having yet to be filed."
According to Haraldur, most people found it very simple to fill out their
returns on the Internet yesterday, and the Directorate was receiving seven
returns each minute until the breakdown.


SEB biotech fund opens to Nordic investors
Customers in the Nordic markets can now begin saving in the SEB Invest
Concept Biotechnology Fund, according to Hugin.
The
fund is global, with a focus on the US. It was opened in autumn 2000 for
savers in the German market.
The investment focus of the biotech fund is biotech companies engaged
in research, development and production. It also is oriented towards companies
that distribute biotechnology and bio-medicines as well as industries
that can benefit from developments in the biotech sector.
"Biotech is a narrow industry with high growth potential. Accordingly,
it is important to think long term in your savings. We recommend an investment
horizon of five years and that the fund comprise a maximum of 5 to 10
percent of the total portfolio," says Jan Palmberg, Head of Funds, SEB
Invest.
The responsible manager is Henrietta Theorell, who also manages the SEB
Pharmaceutical and Biotech Fund.
SEB Invest Concept Biotechnology Fund is a high-risk fund and, accordingly,
is presented with a warning triangle.


Nokia to supply Australian 3G network
Nokia today announced an agreement with Cable & Wireless Optus for the
sole supply of a comprehensive 3G mobile network in Australia, according
to Hugin.
The
agreement covers the supply of 3G RAN (Radio Access Network), for both
WCDMA and EDGE, as well as the complete 3G Circuit and Packet Core Network.
Nokia will additionally be a key mobile Internet applications partner
of Optus Mobile.
The initial value of the deal is potentially in excess of $900 million
Australian dollars over seven years.
Nokia will provide its full end-to-end 3G solution covering applications,
charging, security, network management, packet and circuit switched core
infrastructure and radio access network. Deliveries of the Nokia UltraSite
base station have already begun, and the mobile packet core will evolve
from the Nokia GPRS core that Optus already has in commercial use.
The agreement also covers a continuation and extension of Nokia's existing
2G relationship where Nokia has a GSM BSS infrastructure supply agreement
with Optus.
Paul O'Sullivan, Managing Director Mobile, Cable & Wireless Optus said,
"This agreement will support our aim of being the first to launch a high
quality commercial 3G network in Australia. It places us in an ideal business
position to lead the mobile market and offer the most advanced range of
services to our customers."
Kevin Brough, Managing Director, Nokia Networks Pacific said, "We are
delighted to continue our cooperation with Optus. The deal will enable
Optus to combine the power of mobility and the internet and build on their
existing business to rapidly create new services with a cost efficient
3G network. We eagerly look forward to working with Optus to grow the
mobile information society in Australia."


Danish oil disaster averted
The oil spill which threatened the Danish coast is now reported to be
under control, according to Sky.com. Rescue teams aided by good weather
said they had managed to contan 2,000 tonnes of heavy oil leaking from
a holed tanker.
A
multi-national fleet of ships have been working since Thursday to halt
the spread of the slick - the biggest in the region's history - but the
operation has been hampered by bad weather.
"We have the oil under control and the weather is on our side, unlike
yesterday when conditions were stormy," a Danish coastguard spokesman
said.
"If there has ever been any talk of a disaster, it has now been averted."chnology
knowhow and resources needed by Kesko in Finland and abroad.
Danish police said a minimal current is keeping the slick relatively static.
Floating barriers are preventing the oil from being washed onto the mainland.
However, minimal amounts of the oil have been found on some smaller islands.
The Baltic Carrier tanker was on its way from Estonia to Gothenburg in
Sweden when it collided with the freighter, which was taking sugar from
Cuba to Latvia, ripping a 20-metre hole in its side. The tanker was fully
loaded with 30,000 tonnes of oil but only suffered damage to one tank.
In addition, the modern design of the tanker meant it had two metal barriers
between the water and the oil, rather than one which is common on most
older tankers.


Vegetable prices rocket in Iceland
Icelandic consumers have been left disgruntled following a rise in the
price of imported vegetables to an all-time high, according to the Iceland
Daily News.
Yesterday,
the daily Morgunbladid, ran a story in which it was stated that peppers
in Iceland have risen in cost from ISK 400 (USD 4.6) per kilo to ISK 800
(USD 9.4).
This price rise occurred following the end of the agreement period that
Iceland had formed with the EU regarding the duty-free importation of
fruit and vegetables. This led to an overnight additional duty on peppers
(papríka) of 30 per cent.
The Ministry of Agriculture has released a statement in which it is stated
that this matter is not within the ministry's sphere of influence. The
duty addition was decided upon in parliament and only parliament can change
the policy.
Nicholas Mead


Kesko becomes major customer of TietoEnator
TietoEnator Corporation has today signed an agreement with Kesko Oyj to
take a majority holding (80 %) in Tietokesko Oy, according to Bitpush.
TietoEnator
plans to take management responsibility for the joint venture on 1 June
2001. The objective of both owners is to develop Tietokesko into a company
better able to produce professional IT and operating services for Kesko's
business operations. The deal also includes an agreement under which Kesko
will sell its holding in Tietokesko (20 %) to TietoEnator by the year
2010.
The acquisition is expected to generate approximately FIM 1.4 billion
(235 ME) in additional revenues for TietoEnator during the next five years.
Tietokesko Oy's net sales in 2000 totalled approx. FIM 232 (approx. 39
ME) and the company currently has 170 information technology professionals.
The purpose of the new joint venture is to strengthen Tietokesko and safeguard
the information technology knowhow and resources needed by Kesko in Finland
and abroad.


Europolitan to launch mobile entertainment services
Sweden's Europolitan Vodafone has launched major initiative in the mobile
gaming and entertainment market, according to Bitpush.
In
April, the company will launch a broad range of gaming and entertainment
services directly for mobile phones. A large number of WAP and SMS based
games will be on offer right from the start.
Gaming and entertainment services will form a significant part of Europolitan
Vodafone's range of mobile Internet services. The company is already focusing
on starting to develop tomorrow's 3G adapted mobile telephony services.
"With 3G around the corner, we will be offering our customers high- quality
gaming and entertainment services this spring," says Mikael Kluge, Director
of Europolitan Vodafone's Mobile Internet business area.
"We will evaluate, improve and broaden our entertainment portfolio based
on a continual dialogue with the users, so that we may offer Sweden's
best mobile entertainment services," he says.
Entertainment services will include action and adventure games, board
games, "dating" games, sports quizzes and horoscopes such as Flirtylizer,
Black Jack, Tama Gunnar, Life Stylers, Fight Arena, On the Green, Black
Jack, Outpost Island, Hangman and Love Horoscope.
"I'm fond of sports games and quizzes, myself. My teenage children, on
the other hand, are sure to prefer the action games," says Kluge.
The cost of starting a game varies depending on the service used. Adding
to this is the user's regular subscription-based call rate. Users are
charged each time they access a URL and start a game. If users do not
quit the game, playing it again is free. Players will only be charged
again if they quit the game, return to the portal and activate the game
again. Where SMS based games are concerned, players pay for the SMS messages
they send in certain games, and those they receive in others.


Swedish Gunnebo's PasSec entrance control - important for Schengen arrivals
At very short notice, Gunnebo Entrance Control AB has delivered its PasSec
entrance control system for one-way control of passengers at Sweden's
international airports. The first systems have already been installed
at Stockholm Arlanda and Göteborg Landvetter, and further systems
will be installed at other international airports in Sweden in the coming
months.
PasSec
systems, which have been in use for some time at international airports
in France, have been developed jointly by Gunnebo Entrance Control, France
and the French equivalent to Sweden's Civil Aviation Authority. The entrance
control systems provide an effective means of preventing passengers from
returning to the arrivals lounge, in which arriving passengers covered
by the Schengen agreement are mixed with passengers of other nationalities.
The system has two active components: a motor-driven, full-height double
door, and two waist-height gates controlled by an optical detection system
provide a very secure means of preventing passengers from exiting in the
wrong direction and re-entering the arrivals lounge.
The total market in Sweden is estimated to be worth some MSEK 3-4, while
the potential market throughout the rest of Europe is believed to be worth
MSEK 150.


Sigma
in wireless cooperation with Norwegian partners
A cooperation program called StartWireless has been
initiated in Norway between leading technology players in the area of
wireless communications, aimed at helping newly started companies through
the entire production process, according to Hugin.
The
StartWireless partners are Telenor Mobil, Systek, Eurodis Electronics,
Kitron Development and Sigma ProVentus. The parties are focused on technical
systems development and project design. Due to its large network of contacts
in wireless communications - both on the user side and in the acquisition
of capital - StartWireless has access to additional expertise in business
development, market development, patenting, production and industrialization.
Small and medium-size companies in the areas of electronics, IT and telecom
will also benefit from this cooperation.
"By providing free-of-charge technical evaluation of ideas that are submitted
and offering access to laboratory facilities and test environments, we
believe that we can attract the best projects," says Björn Meek,
President of Sigma's Norwegian company, Sigma ProVentus.
"After assessing an idea, we can put the innovator in contact with persons
with the appropriate expertise to quickly take the project further," he
concluded.


Swedish Gunnebo's PasSec entrance control - important for Schengen arrivals
At very short notice, Gunnebo Entrance Control AB has delivered its PasSec
entrance control system for one-way control of passengers at Sweden's
international airports. The first systems have already been installed
at Stockholm Arlanda and Göteborg Landvetter, and further systems
will be installed at other international airports in Sweden in the coming
months.
PasSec
systems, which have been in use for some time at international airports
in France, have been developed jointly by Gunnebo Entrance Control, France
and the French equivalent to Sweden's Civil Aviation Authority. The entrance
control systems provide an effective means of preventing passengers from
returning to the arrivals lounge, in which arriving passengers covered
by the Schengen agreement are mixed with passengers of other nationalities.
The system has two active components: a motor-driven, full-height double
door, and two waist-height gates controlled by an optical detection system
provide a very secure means of preventing passengers from exiting in the
wrong direction and re-entering the arrivals lounge.
The total market in Sweden is estimated to be worth some MSEK 3-4, while
the potential market throughout the rest of Europe is believed to be worth
MSEK 150.


Oil spill threatens Danish coastline
More than 1,000 tons of oil has spilled into the Baltic Sea and is heading
for the coast of Denmark after an oil tanker and a freighter collided,
according to CNN.com.
The
collision is reported by authorities to have happened overnight about
23.5 kilometres (15 miles) northwest of the German coastal town of Darsser
Ort.
The tanker was carrying around 33,000 tons of oil and the leak has been
stemmed but German coatguards say wind is blowing the oil toward the southern
Danish islands of Falster and Moen
Commander Carsten Bryup of the Danish Navy told CNN.com the oil would
probably reach the south Danish coast later on Thursday.
"It will not evaporate because it is heavy oil," Bryup said, adding that
he considered the spill "quite severe."
He said the tanker was fully loaded, but suffered damage to only one tank.
There were no injuries in the collision.
The Danish Naval Command, SOK, estimated that the oil leak was the biggest
ever seen in Denmark.
Commander Mich Nielsen said: "I can't think of a leak of this size before.
The oil is so thick, that it won't evaporate before it reaches the coast.
When it does, the situation will be very serious."
The first of two Danish ships, Gunnar Thorsen, is expected to arrive at
the scene early this afternoon.
One other Danish ship, one German and one Swedish ship with oil containment
equipment are also heading to the scene. Gale force winds are expected
to make the anti-pollution operation difficult.
The tanker was en route to Gothenburg in Sweden carrying a cargo from
Estonia.
Nicholas Mead


Telenor become world's biggest satellite mobile provider
Norway's
largest telecommunications operator, Telenor acquired COMSAT Mobile Communications
on Wednesday from Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications in the USA
for $116.5m, according to the Financial Times.
The
deal means Telenor move from being the third-largest satellite mobile
service provider to the world's biggest, with a 30 per cent market share
based on traffic minutes.
The niche service enables Telenor's customers, such as the United Nations,
to make satellite phone calls from remote areas such as deserts.
Together
with Telenor's earth station in Eik, Norway, Telenor will now be able
to offer global coverage for satellite mobile communication services.
Ole Petter Kjerkreit, an Oslo-based telecoms analyst at First Securities,
said Telenor paid a satisfactory price for the COMSAT assets, but the
acquisition itself was not a major deal for Telenor, which will see its
share of total revenues from mobile satellites rise from 1 per cent to
only 2 per cent.
He told FT.com: "Instead of increasing its exposure in satellite mobile,
Telnor should focus on its core business," Mr Kjerkreit said. "I don't
see that big synergies with the rest of the organisation."
By purchasing COMSAT Telenor have made a new geographic connection in
the Pacific Ocean region and made inroads into the US market within shipping,
aviation and the Federal Aviation Authority.
This is not the first deal between Telenor and Lockheed. In September,
Lockheed sold its 8.2 per cent share holding in Inmarsat, a satellite
communications provider, to Telenor for $164m.


Finnish study dispels myths about foreign companies
A
study by the Research Institute of the Finnish Economy (ETLA) has revealed
that companies that are owned by Finns laid off more personnel during
the recession of the early 1990s than companies owned by foreigners.
In
addition, during economic booms, companies under foreign ownership hired
more employees than Finnish companies.
The study also revealed variations in different sectors of Finnish industry.
For example, in the retail trade and wholesale sectors, foreign companies
have employed more young, highly educated individuals than equivalent
Finnish firms.
The
study covered 1,500 companies, of which some 160 were foreign-owned and
focused on companies in the trade and commerce sector.
The study showed that companies under foreign ownership are seemingly
able to maintain a more regular recruiting policy as they are normally
larger than Finnish companies and stronger financially.
The results go against fears associated with foreign ownership. Cases
where foreign companies have laid off personnel have been widely publicised,
but such incidents do not tell the whole story.


Ericsson to slash workforce in Sweden and UK
Ericsson
confirmed yesterday that it was eliminating 3,300 jobs - 3 percent of
its workforce - in response to weakening economic conditions that already
have forced sweeping cutbacks at U.S. rival Motorola.
The
cuts include about 2,100 positions at two plants in Sweden and the halting
of mobile-phone production at two British factories with a combined total
of 1,200 employees.
Ericsson, one of the world's top manufacturers of cellular-network equipment
and mobile phones, said the moves would cut annual costs by at least $2
billion.
In
an added effort to strengthen the Swedish company's position, Ericsson
disclosed that it has sold its remaining stake in Juniper Networks Inc.
for about $540 million.
The moves follow the $1.5 billion in projected annual savings from a recent
agreement to farm out production of Ericsson wireless phones to Flextronics
International Ltd., of Singapore.
The sudden economic slowdown in the United States and other markets has
hit the wireless industry hard. Just last week, Motorola announced that
it will eliminate a combined 22,000 jobs.
Even Nokia, who have weathered the economic storm better than Ericsson
and Motorola, have announced plans to lay off up to 400 people.
Nicholas Mead


OECD suggests split Telenor into three divisions
The
Organization for Economic Cooperations and Development (OECD) has suggested
that Norway's Telenor should be split into three divisions, - ordinary
phone services, mobile services and Internet, according to the Norway
Post.
Only
in this way will OECD be able to give Telenor a positive rating, Dagens
Naeringsliv reports. The proposal is supported by many in the telecom
business, the paper writes.
For one, the Norwegian Tele and Information-consumers' Association believes
the proposal would improve conditions of competition in Norway.
Telenor
press spokesman Dag Melgaard says the company has no such plans.
Nicholas Mead


Finns collaborated with Soviets to invade Norway
In
the 70s, the Soviet Union asked for help from Finland for a possible invasion
of Norway, according to Finnish Broadcasting.
From
1971 to 1974, negotiations went on, with the aim to station Soviet troops
in Finland.
The Norwegian Intelligence Service was ignorant of these plans, says former
intelligense chief Torkel Hovland to NRK.
The negotiations on the Finnish side were only known to President Kekkonen
and three generals, Finnish National Television (YLE) reports.
In that period, the Soviet Union was in particular worried about NATO's
plans for expansion in the northern regions, Aftenposten writes.
By invading Northern Norway, the Soviet Union would gain control over
the North Atlantic, and stop US supplies to Europe.
Nicholas Mead


Norwegians flock to online news
Fewer
Norwegians read newspapers or listen to the radio, while more are turning
to the Internet, according to new figures from Norway Statistics, according
to the Norway Post.
The
use of Internet has increased by 50 per cent over the past year.
On an average day last year, 77 per cent of the population in the 9 to
79-year-group read newspapers. In 1991, 84 per cent of the populations
read newspapers on an average day.
Although reading habits are changing, those who read newspapers still
spend the same amount of time reading as they did earlier. The older age
groups are the keenest readers.
TV viewing has been stable over the past few years, with 82 per cent of
the population seated in front of the set at some time during the day.
They spent an average of 138 minutes a day, and the highest number of
TV viewers are found in the 9-12-year group.
While 18 per cent of the population used the Internet in 1999, the number
had increased to 27 per cent in the year 2000. During an average week
in 2000, 48 per cent of the population surfed on the Net, against 35 per
cent the year before.
Nicholas Mead


Norske Skog Canada and Pacifica to form paper giant
Norske
Skog Canada, half owned by Norske Skog of Norway, has entered into an
agreement to acquire Pacifica Papers. The combined company will be the
third largest producer of newsprint and other wood-containing papers in
North America, with an annual pulp and paper capacity of 2.7 million tonnes
and pro forma revenue of CAD 2.5 billion (NOK 15 billion) in 2000.
The
deal is only subject to final approval by shareholder meetings in NSCL
and Pacifica. The board of NSCL has also proposed to pay a special contribution
of CAD 12 per common share. Norske Skog's share of this contribution,
approx. NOK 4.5 billion (CAD 750 million), will be used for downpayment
of debt.
"This deal signals an important restructuring of the paper industry in
British Columbia," said Jan Reinås, CEO of Norske Skog.
Russell J. Horner, president of Norske Skog Canada added: "The combination
of NSCL's and Pacifica's activities offers significant synergies of approximately
CAD 60 million."
The combined company, which shall retain the name Norske Skog Canada,
will be the leading producer of publication paper on the west coast of
North America. Norske Skog will be the biggest shareholder in NSCL.
The bid from NSCL is worth around USD 700 per tonne for Pacifica's assets.
Pacifica Papers was formed in 1998 and comprises two paper mills formerly
owned by Mac Millan Bloedel in British Columbia, at Port Alberni and Powell
River. The two mills have a total capacity of nearly 700,000 tonnes of
newsprint/other uncoated groundwood paper, and 200,000 tonnes of LWC magazine
paper.
Pacifica is the only producer of LWC on the west coast of North America,
and has done major upgrading investments on their mills. In 2000, Pacifica
recorded sales of CAD 858 million and an operating profit of CAD 99 million.
Nicholas Mead


Nokia sign China Telecom DSL deal
Nokia
and JiangSu TA, a subdivision of China TeleCom, have signed a contract
for a DSL access network throughout nine cities across the JiangSu province,
according to Hugin.
DSL
(Digital Subscriber Line) technology enables broadband access over copper
lines, providing additional services such as streaming media, secure remote
work and fast internet access. The Nokia D50e is a flexible, two-stage
ATM-transmission based DSLAM (Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer)
platform, which enables operators to provide customers with high-speed
DSL services ranging up to 8 Mbps.
With the Nokia D50e platform, operators can make full use of existing
network resources and coverage and provide selectable bandwidth to satisfy
the increasing demand for high-speed Internet access. Working with Nokia's
other IP (Internet Protocol) products, the Nokia D50e helps operators
to establish an optimum DSL broadband access system.
Nokia will supply the Nokia D50e Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexers
(DSLAM), SMS1800 (Subscriber Management System), CPEs (Customers Premises
Equipment) and other components of the end-to-end Nokia Broadband IP Access
solution, which will be in every major city of JiangSu province.
The rollout of the DSL network, also supplied by Nokia, in NanJin, the
capital city of JiangSu province, commenced at the end of last year and
the network will be commercially ready by March of 2001.
Nicholas Mead


Ericsson CEO Hellström tries to calm employees
Kurt
Hellström, CEO of Ericsson sent a letter to his company's employees
this week in an attempt to soothe frayed nerves caused by Ericsson's plummeting
stock price, according to computeruser.com.
On
March 12, Ericsson said it expected to take a $400 million to $500 million
pre-tax loss for the first quarter of 2001. The company said it had expected
sales to rise 15 percent from 2000. Due to "general economic uncertainties"
and the slowdown in the United States, however, Ericsson reported first
quarter 2001 sales would be the same or lower than the same period last
year.
Kathy Egan, a spokesperson for Ericsson, said Hellstrom communicates on
a regular basis with the company's employees.
"This communication is very important, especially now because there is
a debate about the company in the Swedish media, and there is uncertainty
in the market and the industry," said Egan.
According to Egan, Hellstrom's letter reiterated that Ericsson is a strong
company and is prepared to be in a leadership position when the 3G (third-generation)
mobile telephone market takes off.
Egan declined to comment specifically on media reports that Hellstrom's
letter warned employees of a hiring freeze that might be announced at
the company's annual meeting March 28. "The letter said the company is
looking at different options to take during this uncertain economic situation,"
she said.
Nicholas Mead


Australian Stock Exchange chooses ReadSoft for automatic data capture
The
software company ReadSoft is set to make one of the largest deals ever
made in Australia. The Australian Stock Exchange and the Perpetual Trustees
Australia has selected Eyes & Hands FORMS to automate their registry operation.
The order is worth over USD 200,000 to ReadSoft.
ASX
Perpetual Registrars is a joint venture between the Australian Stock Exchange
and Perpetual Trustees Australia. The business provides a complete range
of registry services to leading Australian and overseas publicly listed
companies.
After a detailed evaluation process, they selected Eyes & Hands FORMS
to speed up their share registry operations. They will use the solution
to process a variety of registry related information such as transfers,
change of personal details and proxy voting forms. Their volumes vary
considerably and can peak at more than 200,000 forms per day.
"Winning this deal is very important indeed for ReadSoft and our
Australian operations. When a leading company such as ASX Perpetual selects
us as a preferred partner, it demonstrates the strength of our products
and services on the global market. We look forward to extending our partnership
with them over the coming years," said ReadSoft's MD Jan Andersson.
ASX Perpetual Registrars selected Eyes & Hands FORMS for its high performance
and open architecture. The software allows them to apply their stringent
business rules in an efficient way, providing a high degree of integrity
for their client data.
"Whilst
we have used automated data capture for over three years now, the technology
has progressed significantly. We were looking to replace our existing
solution with one that would provide high accuracy, had an open interface
and offered the scalability required. Eyes & Hands FORMS with its proven
track record was clearly ahead of the other products," added Scott
Anderson, Information Technology Manager at ASX Perpetual Registrars in
Sydney.
Nicholas Mead


Californian professor awarded Stockholm Water Prize
Professor Takashi Asano of the University of California at Davis (UCD),
USA, was announced today by the Stockholm Water Foundation as the 11th
recipient of the prestigious Stockholm Water Prize.
The
Prize nominating committee acclaimed Mr Asano for his, "outstanding contributions
to efficient use of water in the domain of wastewater reclamation, recycling
and reuse through theoretical developments, practical research and worldwide
adaptation and promotion."
During the last 20 years, Professor Asano has been the world's foremost
expert on the safe and beneficial use of recycled water. Water recycling
means reusing treated wastewater instead of drinking-quality water for
purposes such as agricultural and landscape irrigation, industrial processes,
toilet flushing, environmental enhancement, and replenishing of depleted
groundwater aquifers.
Professor Asano, a naturalized U.S. citizen, was born in Sapporo, Japan,
in 1937 and moved to the United States in 1963. He is married to Holly
Newcomb Asano and lives in Davis, California.
Researching into reuse of a limited water resource In the late 1970s and
throughout the 1980s, Professor Asano went on to spearhead basic water
reuse research at the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB).
This research contributed to a Guidance Manual - Irrigation With Reclaimed
Municipal Wastewater, and culminated in the California Water Recycling
Criteria, which now form the basis for most international projects and
decrees within the domain of wastewater reclamation, recycling and reuse.
The Stockholm Water Prize, founded in 1990, includes a USD 150,000 award
and is presented annually to an institution, organization, individual
or company that has made a substantial contribution to the preservation,
enhancement or availability of the world's water resources.
King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden is the Patron of the Stockholm Water Prize
and will present it to Professor Asano on August 16 at a Royal Ceremony
and Banquet in Stockholm City Hall the city's World Water Week.
Nicholas Mead


Norske Mejerier signs major deal with Intentia
Norske Mejerier BA has chosen Intentia as a strategic partner in the establishment
of its e-business solutions, according to Hugin online.
"The
agreement is one of the largest consulting projects ever signed in Norway
and stretches over a three-year period," says Bjørn Sto-regjerde,
Sales Manager for Intentia Norway.
During recent years, Intentia Norway has been very successful and has
carried out a number of successful deals. Large customers include Raufoss,
Ringnes and Skretting. Earlier in March, the Elkem Group selected Intentia
as its provider of both enterprise application and e-business.
"We have won all of the large deals recently and, on the whole, we see
this as a testimony to the combination of high employee competence at
Intentia and Movex's superior functionality," comments Markus Jakobsson,
Managing Director In-tentia Sweden and Norway.
Intentia believes that the reason for its success is its strategy of having
close cooperation with the customer. Intentia actively proceeds from the
customer's business processes and, in an early phase, carries out dialog
with the customer in order to determine the best solution for the customer.
In the January 15, 2001 edition of the Norwegian business newspaper Finansavisen,
one can, for example, read about Intentia customer Elkem's demands on
and expectations of its supplier.
"Elkem usually carries out projects to verify profitability. A long-term
relationship has become the litmus test. This also applies to In-tentia,
who has supplied our e-business solution. The test has made us confident
in Inten-tia's technology," says Espen Falla, IT Director for Elkem.
Nicholas Mead


Iceland issues first prescriptions on Internet
Iceland's first ever web-based prescription was sent via e-mail from the
Thingeyinga region in the northeast, to the pharmacy in Husavík
(north Iceland) yesterday, according to the Iceland Daily News.
The
prescription was made out to Ingibjörg Pálmadóttir,
the Minister for Health, and was e-mailed by Iceland's Surgeon General,
Sigurdur Gudmundsson.
The IT system used to fill and send the e-mail prescription was ePref,
developed by Icelandic company 'Doc ehf'. The system contains the patients'
information, as well as information on the medicine and how it should
be administered, all in a secure manner. ePref is compatible with the
medical record systems used by all health centres in Iceland.
Doc ehf was formed in 1999 with a staff of 12 employees, including pharmacists,
computer specialists and software engineers. Yesterday, the young company
signed a service agreement with the Ministry of Health.
Nicholas Mead


EU leaders and Putin meet in Stockholm
The leaders of the fifteen European Union governments meet today in Stockholm
for a summit to try and speed up the pace of economic reform.
But
there is certain to be division amongst the leaders as to how far reform
will go. While Britain believes that there should be speedy liberalisation
of markets in many part of of the economy, countries such as France want
to balance this with the need to maintain high levels of social protection
for EU citizens. France argue that liberalisation will only lead to further
exploitation of EU workers.
The Russian president, Vladimir Putin will be a guest at the meeting and
is likely to face questions about Chechnya and Russia's current economic
state. President Putin says he will formally announce plans to raise the
nuclear submarine Kursk, which sank in the Barents Sea last August with
the loss of all one-hundred-and-eighteen men on board.
Meanwhile, the President will also have the impending final descent of
the Mir Spacestation on his mind. Putin has been under recent pressure
from sentimental cabinet ministers who wanted to save Russias last remaining
symbol of being a superpower but practicalities regarding the age and
condition of the spacestation meant Putin had no choice but to ratify
it's demise.
The space station is expected to crash in the Pacific off the coast of
New Zealand and will be considered virtually a day of mourning in Russia.
.
Nicholas Mead


Iceland to Host NATO conference
A NATO conference has been scheduled to be held in Reykjavík this
May, according to the Iceland Daily News. 1000 delegates will attend the
conference from 46 different nations including foreign affairs ministers
from Russia and the Ukraine, as well as high ranking officials from the
European Union.
NATO
has convened on two different occasions in Iceland, but this upcoming
meeting will be the largest international conference ever held in the
country.
Meanwhile, the newspaper also reported that Daimler-Chrysler has announced
that it will be releasing hydrogen-powered buses for test driving by the
year 2002, and Iceland are on of the countries interested in purchasing
the environmentally friendly public transport.
The buses, which use hydrogen to create electricity, are expected to hit
the roads in in Iceland, Sweden, the UK, Spain, Holland, Germany and Portugal
by 2004 or 2005. The buses won't come cheap though at an estimated cost
of ISK 100 million (USD 1.2 million) per vehicle.
Nicholas Mead


SAS unveil mobile check-in desk
For years it has been the customers who came to the counter in the departure
hall and went through the check-in procedures there. Why not do the opposite?
According
to bitPush, SAS have developed a mobile check-in counter that can be rolled
out to where the customers are.
"With the Mobile Service Unit (MSU), we are able to provide personal service
in locations that are convenient for customers, supplementing the traditional
check-in counter," said Peter Söderlund, who is responsible for development
of ground-based products at SAS.
The mobile unit means SAS personnel can meet passengers at conferences,
fairs, major sporting events etc. and handle check-ins there. This has
already been done successfully this spring in connection with large European
Union meetings in Sweden, including one in Luleå in which 2,000
persons participated. Customers reported gains in time because check-in
formalities are completed well in advance of departure times - and most
pleasing of all, it avoided having to wait in line with other travelers
who are checking in at the airport.
The Mobile Service Unit is only one cubic meter in size; with has a work
table at standing height, and contains everything found in a traditional
check-in counter - a link to the reservation system, a ticket printer,
etc.
As of now, the MSU is still connected by wire to a power source. But it
will gradually become cordless, which will further increase its flexibility.
Nicholas Mead


SensoNor sign NOK 20m US medical supply dealt
Capto AS, the wholly owned subsidiary of SensoNor asa, has today entered
into an agreement with a major medical equipment company for the exclusive
supply of Pressure Transducers used to measure invasive blood pressure
and foetal pressure
According
to Hugin, the expected value of the agreement is approximately NOK 20
million over three years with deliveries commencing immediately.
Capto's physiological pressure transducer has been on the market for several
years. This agreement is however the largest single contract that has
been signed for this product.
The U.S. based company is a world-leading supplier of diagnostic medical
equipment and represents an important reference for Capto within the global
medical market.
The U.S. company, listed on the New York Stock Exchange, is a global,
diversified technology company focusing on high-growth markets in the
communications, electronics, life sciences and healthcare industries with
revenues in year 2000 in excess of 10.00 billion dollars.
Capto AS is a wholly owned subsidiary of SensoNor asa. Capto manufactures
and markets sensors for applications within the medical and aerospace
industries.
Nicholas Mead


It's Ericsson v Nokia at CeBit
On the eve of the much hyped CeBit exhibition in Germany, both Nokia and
Ericsson have gone head-to-head in the race to impress both consumers
and businesses.
Ericsson
have released a myriad of new products including:
- The T68, a GPRS phone with MMS, a colour display and Bluetooth
- T39, a GPRS phone with built-in Bluetooth wireless technology
- T29 for GSM 900/1800 markets
- T20e - an enhanced version of the T20 mobile phone
- The world's first mobile camera for GSM - the CommuniCamtm
- The world's first Cordless Internet Radio
- The world's first roaming system for PrePaid mobile subscribers
Nokia meanwhile are mounting their attack with an equally mesmerizing
range of products:
- The Nokia 6310 with Internet access, GPRS and Bluetooth
- The Nokia 8310 'fashion phone' with GPRS
- The Nokia 3330 with WAP
- The Nokia HDR-1 digital Music Player
- The Nokia HDSL line card
- The Nokia A030 Wireless LAN Access Point
- The Nokia IP530 Network Security Platform
- The Nokia IP51 and the Nokia IP55 Security Platforms
- The Nokia CA200 and CA600 Network Accelerators
- The Nokia XHTML mobile phone microbrowser
Speaking at the Nokia press conference at CeBIT, Anssi Vanjoki, Executive
Vice President of Nokia Mobile Phones, expressed confidence in the company's
ability to meet next generation targets in mobile communications.
"With the new products announced today, we are well on track with our
stated target of continuing to strengthen our global mobile phone leadership.
We believe strongly in the future, and are well positioned to take full
advantage of the opportunities offered through the ongoing evolution of
mobile technology," said Vanjoki, adding that, "Nokia's first 3G terminals
are expected to follow the GPRS terminals with similar timing in one year's
time."
Nicholas Mead


SEB suspends market launch of e-banking in UK
SEB has decided to suspend the marketing launch of a stand-alone e-banking
venture in the UK. Earlier plans included a marketing launch in spring
for the combined e-banking and e-brokerage site that just opened.
"The
market conditions have deteriorated substantially," says Fleming Carlborg,
Head of Personal Banking International within SEB.
"With the prevailing stock market situation, we have chosen to concentrate
our resources on markets in which we already have broader activities.
"Our experience from other markets shows that e-banking functions best
as a component of a multi-channel strategy based on an existing customer
base," added Mr Carlborg.
The decision affects personnel in the marketing, customer service and
sales areas. However, certain development projects will continue for b2b-
solutions where SEB will offer e-banking and e-brokerage services to other
corporations and financial institutions.
One such co-operation was announced in February, eAsiaFinance, which is
a joint venture between SEB, Ankar Capital Management, Tata Consultancy
Services and Compass ventures. The aim is to supply Asian corporate customers
with the technical platform for e-banking and e-brokerage solutions.
SEB has 630 branch offices in Sweden, Germany and the Baltic States, with
4 million customers in total, of which 850,000 are Internet customers,
according to Bitpush.
Nicholas Mead


Danish government urges pharmaceutical giants to drop court case
The Danish government has called on the country's biggest two pharmaceutical
firms, Novo and Lundbeck, to drop a court challenge against South Africa
for importing cheaper versions of branded anti-Aids drugs, according to
Dispatch Online.
Danish
foreign minister Mogens Lykketoft issued a plea to the firms saying: "Novo
and Lundbeck must pull out of the process. The best and most reasonable
solution would be to solve the dispute through negotiations and not court
action," he said.
The two firms have joined 37 other pharmaceutical giants in a landmark
court battle challenging a South African law allowing the government to
license and manufacture affordable generics of expensive brand-name drugs.
But Novo's director Lars Rebien Soerensen rejected the government's appeal:
"We cannot withdraw even if we would have liked to reach a negotiated
solution. It is the South African government who are not interested in
talks," he said.
Last week, the European Parliament called for measures to punch loopholes
in national patent laws that keep high-priced Aids drugs from sufferers
in the Third World.
Two US drug firms, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Merck, have offered to slash
the price of their Aids drugs in developing countries.
However, humanitarian organisations welcomed the move but stressed that
it did go far enough. According to the French group Medecins Sans Frontieres,
Merck's offer to sell patented drugs for about R4800 a year per patient
was still not competitive - the Indian manufacturer Hetero will provide
the drugs for about R1976 a year.
Nicholas Mead


Norway to consider lifting EU food import ban
Norway will consider lifting the import ban on meat and dairy products
from the EU, when the present ban ends on March 27th, according to the
Norway Post.
The
announcement was made after a meeting on Tuesday between a Norwegian delegation
and EU representatives in Brussels on the proviso that 'there is no further
spreading of the foot and mouth disease to new countries'.
The EU Commission have made it clear that they consider Norway's import
ban as contravening the Veterinary Agreement between Norway and the EU.
Norway meanwhile claims that an emergency clause permits the country to
impose the ban.
The EU however claim that the clause does not permit Norway to take such
drastic measures since all other EU nations have only banned the import
of food from Great Britain and France - the only two EU nations which
have suffered an outbreak of foot and mouth disease.
In a further twist, Norwegian farmers disagree with both sides. They want
the present ban on the import of meat and dairy products from the EU to
be extended.
Nicholas Mead


Striking fishermen set for reconciliation talks
The Icelandic Seamen Federation and the Association of Icelandic Marine
Engineers have refused to attend reconciliation talks today with the State
Mediation Committee although according to the Icelandic daily Morgunbladid,
the meeting has been rescheduled for tomorrow afternoon.
The
Iceland Daily News reported that the strike has hit troubles recently
with several sailors defying unions and heading out to sea. Subsequently,
The Machinery Workers of Iceland have decided to charge the offending
vessels with breaking the strike.
The seaman strike started at 23.00 on 15 March, but it was agreed that
small open motor boats would be permitted to go out to sea during the
strike.
The strike, which is taking place at the height of the capelin season,
affects over 7,000 sailors, as well as 6,000 people working in the fishing
industry.
Nicholas Mead


JM and Alleato join forces in Smart Living - set sights on the global
market
JM, the Swedish Construction company, is taking another step towards modern
living through the launch of the "Smart Living" development project in
collaboration with Alleato AB, a company
owned jointly by Ericsson and Skandia, Sweden's largest Insurance business.
The
plan is for JM and Alleato, on a joint venture basis, to offer comprehensive
smart living solutions for construction and real estate companies in the
Swedish and international market. The ambition is to be a world-leader
in this segment within a few years.
The company will be a full-service supplier that uses a technology based
on standardized and open smart living platforms to create flexible and
developable solutions for the customers: One customer, one agreement.
By integrating cutting-edge technology with attractive architecture and
advanced environmental performance, and by basing our ideas on how people
want to live, we can create more convenient, comfortable and safe homes
for our customers. The combination of JM's experience in housing and office
solutions and Alleato's know-how in security, health, safety and technology
creates a collaboration in which we can satisfy the needs and preferences
of housing customers to an even greater extent.
"The main objective of the development project is to package the services
we know the customers appreciate. We will build on JM's earlier experience
of smart homes and apartments on Värmdö and Kungsholmen in Stockholm
and new development projects in areas such as senior housing. Examples
of possible services include climate control, security functions, automated
home systems and communication. The guiding principles for the project
are ease of use and genuine customer benefit, not least for families with
children and the growing number of senior citizens in Sweden and abroad",
says JM's President and CEO Carl Eric Stålberg in a comment on the
new venture.
"With a focus on customer benefit and user-friendly technology, we can
enhance the level of comfort and security in the homes we produce. Today
many people associate smart living with complicated high-tech solutions,
which can be a bit intimidating. But it's really just about creating homes
where people can relax and enjoy themselves, and providing the features
our customers need and desire. We will find the driving force and the
real customer benefit in the borderland between the digital and analogue
worlds", says Jonas Hurtigh, Project Leader for JM's Smart Homes concept.
Nicholas Mead


Vin & Sprit join Jim Beam to form global distribution alliance
Vin & Sprit of
Sweden, Jim Beam Brands Worldwide and Maxxium announced on Wednesday they
had formed an alliance to establish a new global distribution arm for
Vin & Sprit, the Swedish-based owner and producer of Absolut Vodka.
The
distribution arm will be known as Future Brands LLC withVin & Sprit acquiring
an initial 10% holding in Jim Beam Brands.
Under the agreement, Vin & Sprit and the Jim Beam Brands Worldwide unit
of Fortune Brands Inc., the U.S.-based consumer products company, will
form a joint venture for the distribution of the companies' brands in
the United States. To further link the partners' interests, Vin &Sprit
will make an equity investment in Jim Beam Brands Worldwide.
To handle distribution in major markets outside the U.S. and the Nordic
countries, V&S will invest to become an equal partner in Maxxium, the
distribution joint venture owned by Jim Beam Brands, Rémy Cointreau
and Highland Distillers. Vin &Sprit reported that they secured financing
of the aquisitions through a credit facility.
Vin & Sprit will invest $270 million for its stake in the joint venture
Future Brands LLC. The new distribution company will sell a powerful combined
portfolio led by the biggest selling imported vodka in America (Absolut
Vodka), the world's biggest selling bourbon whsiky (JBB's Jim Beam) and
JBB's DeKuyper liqueur brand in America. Michael P. Donohoe, Jim Beam
Brands' Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing in the Americas has
been named CEO of Future Brands LLC.
JBB Worldwide President & CEO Richard Reese said of the deal: "Absolut
and Jim Beam are a perfect match. Combining the strength of these premium
brands with our powerful distribution network instantly increases both
partners' market clout while reducing costs. Vin & Sprit's equity investment
in Jim Beam Brands will even further align our common interests, enabling
both partners to benefit from our vast collective experience in brand
building, marketing and sales execution."
Nicholas Mead


The Gripen Team introduces another new industrial project with Austria
Metallic foams have enormous potential as structural and functional materials
in lightweight designs. One of the new projects of the SAAB-BAE
SYSTEMS Gripen AB´s industrial cooperation in connection with a
future Gripen fighter aircraft contract is focusing on this new material.
The
Austrian partner in the project is Alulight International GmbH. The ambition
of Alulight is to develop and manufacture customer specific and advanced
high tech aluminum products.
Research into potential uses for metal foams in the automobile industry
and other industrial areas and the optimization of the materials and manufacturing
processes are within the scope of this project. Metallic foam is at a
density level of just 15 to 20 % of the solid metal offering excellent
specific properties such as vibration and sound damping, high strength
and stiffness, and thermal and electrical properties. Metal foams also
have a low environmental impact.
The primary goal of the project is to forge alliances between Alulight
and Swedish, British, and international industry with a demand for lightweight
metal with specific characteristics of aluminum and other metallic foams.
So far great interest for metallic foam has been seen in the Swedish automotive
area but aerospace applications could prove to be the next important field.
The Gripen Team, benefiting from the knowledge and resources of companies
such as Saab, BAE SYSTEMS, Ericsson, Volvo and Investor AB, one of the
world's largest industrial holding companies, has extensive experience
in the development of cooperation programs for military hardware and many
other high technology areas.
"Our customers profit from an industrial cooperation concept that is fundamentally
different than that of traditional compensation agreements. This concept
creates new jobs and ensures long-term growth in countless key industrial
sectors through direct foreign investments, export promotion and technology
transfer, as well as through a number of other measures focusing on commercially
sound business" explains Johan L.Eliasson, Vice President, Business Value
Development at Saab. Besides its unbeatable industrial benefits the Gripen
industrial cooperation program will create thousands of jobs in Austria
in key future-oriented areas.
Nicholas Mead


Storebrand to stop socially unethical investments
Norway's largest insurer, Storebrand,
said on Monday that it will stop investing in tobacco groups and certain
chemical companies in a move towards more "socially responsible" investing.
In
an unusual move, the company says it will apply environmental and social
factors in reviewing it's current share portfolio, worth around NKr30bn
($3.3bn) of the NKr111bn life insurance and pension funds it manages.
Storebrand plans to implement the policy gradually over the second quarter
which could result in around 50 companies being wiped from the 600 in
its portfolio.
Tobacco companies such as Philip Morris will be the biggest loser with
the remainder consisting of landmine producers, companies that abuse human
rights or use child labour, and some chemical companies.
The move comes amid recent criticism in Norway over the NKr400bn state
petroleum fund concerning allegations of unethical investment choices.
The government invests excess petroleum revenue in international stocks
and bonds, and caused controversy recently when it was revealed that it
held shares in companies involved with landmines.
However, Storebrand claimed that their move was coincidental and the insurer
assured clients that it will not reduce their yields.
"These criteria will be in addition to the existing financial criteria,"
said Storebrand managing director. Espen Klitzing to FT.com, refusing
to confirm which would take priority.
Nicholas Mead


Nokia venture into Internet security
Nokia are launching a global advertising
campaign to announce their new venture into corporate Internet security.
''We are getting networks ready for the day when all phones are Internet
enabled,'' said general manager of Nokia Internet Communications, T. Kent
Elliott, to SiliconValley.com.
Nokia
spokeswoman Laurie Armstrong added that the company expects there will
be more Internet-connected handsets than PCs by next year.
Everyday.com is one of Sweden's biggest internet portals and when news
of the security breach reached the media, an online discussion erupted
concerning the business conduct of the portal.
'There is a huge opportunity in the network security/virtual private network
markets,'' she said, pointing to market studies that predict companies
will be spending $32 billion by 2003 to create secure remote connections
with employees, customers and partners - known as virtual private networks.
Sales of virtual private network software and hardware were about $1 billion
in 2000, according to Infonetics Research.
The security market is growing so fast that Elliott predicted his division
will soon be as large as Nokia's Networks division, which provides infrastructure
for wireless networks, accounting for roughly a third of the company's
$27.3 billion in sales last year.
Nicholas Mead


Ericsson cancel employee meeting to ponder future
Ericsson cancelled a meeting with employees at its mobile phone plant
in Linkoeping on Monday as it ponders ways to turn around the fortunes
its struggling handset unit.
The
meeting was intended to give employees further information about the plant's
impending transfer to Flextronics International Ltd., plant manager Tomas
Stalnert told Work.com.
Ericsson agreed in January to contract-out production of handsets to Singapore-based
Flextronics.
Stalnert said Ericsson decided to cancel the meeting after a warning last
week that it expects to lose as much as SEK5 billion in the first quarter.
He said company officials want to present the details as part of a wider
turnaround plan.
"They want to go out with a profit package for the whole Ericsson at one
time," Stalnert told the website
Ericsson spokesman Ole Selchau would only say: "We will shortly communicate
further actions. For the moment we don't have concrete information."
Ericsson's phone unit, responsible for about 20% of the company's revenues
last year, has been plagued by both design and production problems. In
January, after announcing the Flextronics deal, Ericsson promised to have
the unit back in the black later in 2001.
But after its earnings warning last week, Ericsson said phone sales for
the first quarter would be significantly lower than expected. It also
said slowing network sales would contribute to the loss.
It is now possible that Ericsson may pursue a partnership with another
phone manufacturer, or may sell the unit altogether although company officials
have claimed they feel it important that Ericsson maintain a presence
in the handset market.
Nicholas Mead


Swede fired for 'disloyalty' towards employer
A Swedish employee of the website Noname4us.com was fired from his job
on Monday after taking part in an online discussion about the conduct
of the website's holding company Everyday.com.
The
name of the person has not been disclosed but it is believed he received
a link from a mailing list he subscribed to called "Trafik"
which included a link to a confidential database of all Everyday.com's
members which listed numerous personal details.
Everyday.com is one of Sweden's biggest internet portals and when news
of the security breach reached the media, an online discussion erupted
concerning the business conduct of the portal.
Everyday.com, on learning of the security breach, tried to track down
the culprits by investigating the Trafik mailing list and subsequently
notified the Internet Service Providers of the suspects, demanding their
names and telephone numbers.
Sweden has tough labour laws which make it difficult for an employer to
dismiss employees but it is thought the company used grounds of disloyalty
to dismiss the employee.
Neither company was available for comment on the incident.
Nicholas Mead


Finnish report warns of slow take-up of wireless internet
A Finnish report has concluded that the use of media mobile phones that
allow rapid data transmission ? known as UMTS phones - will take as long
as 2006 or 2007 before they become widely used.
The
study, published on Thursday by Finnish Eqvitec Partners and Durlacher
Research of London predicts that mobile operators will have to plough
continuous investment for years to come for simply transmitting speech
from one phone to another.
This means that operators will have to go without the eagerly awaited
profits from their current investment in developing UMTS.
Eqvitec analyst Sasu Laitinen told the Helsingin Sanomat newspaper: "Wireless
data traffic will exceed speech only after 2005, and UMTS traffic will
begin to present itself in statistics at this time. Only one year ago,
we believed this would occur two or three years earlier".
The report also predicts that voice telephone calls will bring in over
half of operators' revenues in 2005. According to the research, wireless
internet will take until 2005 to function as smoothly as current fixed
line internet connections.
A recent report by Nomura International echoed similar warnings to manufacturers
about wireless technology, claiming "hyper-competition" in the wireless
age could 'destroy' big names like Nokia and Vodafone.
Nicholas Mead


Norsk Hydro award Grane contract to British company
Norsk Hydro has awarded the contract to lay the underwater pipelines for
the Grane Field to the London-based company European Marine Contractor,
according to The Norway Post.
The
NOK 400 million project will involve laying a 50 km gas pipeline between
the platforms at Haimdal and Grane, and a 204 km oil pipeline between
the Grane platform and shore terminal at Hjartoey in Oeygarden.
The Grane Field, located 185 km west of Stavanger, is estimated to have
cost NOK 15 billion to develop, and when finished will consist of a drilling
platform with necessary living quarters.
Grane is the last large known oil resrve in the North Sea that has not
been developed. It has an estimated reserve of 700 million barrels of
oil and is expected to have a maximum output of 214,000 barrels a day
by 2005.
Nicholas Mead


Maersk win 18 million-dollar oil contract in Oman
Oman has awarded an 18 million-dollar contract to Danish oil giants Maersk
in order to look for crude oil and natural gas in the west of the country,
according to zawya.com.
Maersk,
who already have a base in southern Oman, will conduct seismic research
and drilling to search a zone of 3,878 square kilometers (1,550 square
miles).
The four-year renewable contract was signed by a company official and
Omani Oil Minister Mohamed al-Romhi, who hailed the agreement as a, "Sign
of major multinationals' desire to invest in Oman's energy sector".
Nicholas Mead

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