Ericsson and Samsung enter a license agreement on mobile technology
(11.01.02) Ericsson, has concluded a worldwide patent license agreement with Samsung.
Under the terms of a worldwide, royalty-bearing agreement, Ericsson has granted Samsung a non-exclusive license under Ericsson's patent portfolio for the GSM, TDMA, GPRS, EDGE and WCDMA mobile telephony standards, to develop, manufacture and sell 2G and 3G subscriber and infrastructure equipment. In return, Samsung provides a royalty payment, as well as a reciprocal license to Ericsson.

The agreement confirms Ericsson's solid patent portfolio in mobile technology and specifically gives Samsung access to Ericsson's portfolio of WCDMA patents - the most extensive in the industry.

"We accelerate the development of 3G and Mobile Internet and leverage further on our technology leadership and patent portfolio," says Torbjörn Nilsson, Senior Vice President at Ericsson. "The Ericsson 3G IPR portfolio is extremely strong and is required by any company developing 3G products."

Ericsson has about 40% market share in 3G/WCDMA as well as in GSM/GPRS/Edge - and also the industry's strongest R&D commitment with over 10,000 granted patents worldwide.



Swedish OM chosen as technology partner to NASD
(10.01.02) OM, Swedish supplier of trading technology, and the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), the largest securities- industry, self-regulatory organization in the United States, have signed an agreement to build the Alternative Display Facility (ADF) - an over- the-counter quotation and trade reporting facility - of which OM's SAXESStm system is a central component. The system will be delivered in June 2002. The agreement includes license, project and support of the system.
"It is an honour to be selected as technology provider to the National Association of Securities Dealer for this milestone event in the history of the US securities exchange industry", said Magnus Böcker, EVP and COO of OM. "This agreement reinforces OM's position as the leading provider of international exchange systems and significantly strengthens our presence in North America."

"We look forward to continuing to work with one of the world's leading providers of transaction technology and market systems", said Robert R. Glauber, Chairman and CEO of the NASD. "OM will help the NASD fulfill its obligation of providing a facility that will display quotes and collect trade data for our members."

The Board of Governors of the NASD in December approved new rules to establish an over-the-counter quotation and trade reporting facility. The alternative display facility (ADF) will allow registered NASD market makers and electronic communications networks (ECNs) to publish quotations for, and report trades in, listed securities but will not comprise automatic execution or order-routing functions. The facility is targeted for completion late in the second quarter of 2002.


SAS introduces first In-flight Transfer Information with "Rebooking Information Functionality"
(10.01.02) As of January 21, 2002, SAS will be able to offer its passengers improved transfer and rebooking information on board the aircraft. The information is provided on the cabin video monitors.
Passengers who upon arrival must rebook to an alternative flight can receive information prior to landing about the new flight number, departure time, terminal and gate via the cabin video monitors. Passengers can also see whether their scheduled connection is delayed.

SAS will offer transfer and rebooking information on board the Boeing 767, Airbus A321, Airbus A330 and Airbus A340. Initially, the service will be offer on flights to Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm. More destinations will be added successively.

The transfer information is transmitted to the aircraft's computer unit from the destination. The computer converts such data to graphic and text information that is displayed on the cabin monitors during the approach to the airport - about 30 minutes prior to landing. The information is also displayed after landing while taxiing to the arrival gate.

"We believe that transfer and rebooking information will be an appreciated complement to the information that is already presented on board, such as airspeed, estimated time to arrival and distance," says Hermine Wachtmeister, responsible for in-flight entertainment and communications at SAS. "Our aim is to make the journey simpler and more efficient," she continues. "With access to transfer and rebooking information already prior to arrival, we increase the passengers' control over their travel." .


Biggest contract ever for Scania France
(09.01.02) Transalliance - one of the leading haulage companies in France - has signed a contract worth SEK 300 million, with Scania's French subsidiary, Scania France, for the supply of a further 350 trucks for delivery before the end of the year. The order is additional to last year's order for 170 vehicles.
"This is the biggest contract ever received by Scania France," says MD Marc Haezenberghe. "We have had a long-standing business relationship with Transalliance and the total of 520 new trucks which they have now ordered will make Scania a highly visible part of their expanding fleet.

Commenting on the order, Philippe Michel, MD of Transalliance, noted that Scania's service network, which offers service and parts facilities covering the entire European continent, played an important role in closing the deal. The provision of financing by Scania France was also a significant factor.

"We are very pleased with Scania's package, which meets our extremely high demands for profitability and availability, while the truck itself has a high image value and is greatly appreciated by our drivers," he says.


Norsk Hydro buys Germany's VAW Aluminium
(08.01.02) Norsk Hydro ASA, is to buy all shares of VAW Aluminium AG, the German aluminium company. The acquisition will make Hydro Aluminium one of the world's top-tier light metal companies, with a leading position in Europe.
Eivind Reiten, Chief Executive of Norsk Hydro, said: "This acquisition, which we consider attractively priced and is accretive to our earnings, is an important step towards realizing one of Hydro's key strategic ambitions to become one of the top performing world class aluminium companies. We have built a solid financial platform by successfully divesting non-core activities and improving earnings from our core businesses. This financial strength has enabled us to make this major strategic move. We will now focus on the challenges of rapid integrating the new units, combined with the improvement processes already underway in our existing light metals activity. VAW is a highly competent organization that will strengthen our platform for innovation and future growth".

The combined activities will after the acquisition be named Hydro Aluminium and will be headquartered in Oslo, Norway. Jon-Harald Nilsen, executive vice president for Hydro Light Metals will be CEO of the merged Hydro Aluminium. The different business sectors will have their subheadquarters in Germany, Norway, Switzerland and USA.


Skanska awarded a USD 136 million (SEK 1.4 billion) highway and bridge assignment in Virginia, USA
(03.01.02) Skanska's American subsidiary Tidewater Skanska, has been selected by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) for a USD 136 million (SEK 1.4 billion) contract to build the Pinners Point Interchange in Portsmouth, Virginia.
The Pinners Point Interchange is VDOT's largest single construction contract ever. The 1.5 mile road and bridge project re-directs traffic out of a historic part of Portsmouth. In addition to restoring tranquility to a historic neighborhood that has seen traffic surge to over 20,000 cars and trucks per day, the new highway will save commuters valuable time and provide a direct connection from the Western Freeway to the Mid-Town Tunnel and Martin Luther King Freeway.

Using a new bidding process VDOT sought bids based not only on cost, but also on how fast the work could be done. Tidewater Skanska will start construction in January 2002 and will complete the project in late 2004. Tidewater Skanska's subsidiary Bayshore Concrete Products will supply the 100 foot long, 66 inch diameter concrete cylinder piles, with 6 inch wall thickness, each weighing over 100 tons, and the large prestressed girders that will be required for the project's 1,500 foot long bridge tying into an existing bridge over the western branch of Elizabeth River.


TietoEnator and Lietuvos Telekomas start partnership negotiations
(03.01.02) Lietuvos Telekomas, the largest telecom operator in the Baltics, and TietoEnator have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding a partnership in the form of a joint venture. According to the MoU, signed January 3, Lietuvos Telekomas and TietoEnator have an intention to join their forces in creating an IT services company to provide services in Lithuania and within the region. Together with Lietuvos Telekomas TietoEnator will further strengthen its position as a major supplier of telecom-related IT services and solutions in the region.
The new company, which will be based on Lietuvos Telekomas' information system department of close to 200 employees, will provide comprehensive services initially to Lietuvos Telekomas and also to other corporate customers. The partnership will benefit from Lietuvos Telekomas´ strong base in Lithuania and TietoEnator´s vast competence within the field of IT services.


Ericsson sells test plant equipment for USD 750 million
(29.12.01) As part of Ericsson's active asset management, Ericsson signed a sale- lease back agreement regarding test plant equipment for the value of USD 750 million. This transaction is a proof of Ericsson's capability to free tied-up capital.
The transaction includes test plant equipment used for software testing, at sites located in Sweden and the US. Ericsson will lease back the test plant equipment from the new owner. The facility is arranged by a syndicate of financial institutions.

"This set-up is another successful step in our efforts to release capital, "says Sten Fornell, CFO of Ericsson.

The transaction will be effective by year-end, and will improve the cash position of the Group with approximately USD 750 million. There will be no material impact on Ericsson's future net income.

Ericsson will manage the test plant equipment and the work force at the test plants will not be affected.



Gripen Intl awarded contract for Hungarian Air Force fighters
(28.12.01) The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) has awarded Gripen International, jointly owned by Saab and BAE SYSTEMS in the UK, a contract for the adaptation and support of Swedish Air Force Gripen swing-role fighters designated for use by the Hungarian Air Force.
Gripen International will manage the contract as prime contractor and award a number of sub-contracts to ensure the Hungarian requirements are met. The main sub-contract will be to Saab AB (approx 1 billion SEK) to adapt the aircraft to Hungarian needs and support the aircraft over the 10 year service period.

The company will be responsible for adapting Swedish Gripen aircraft to the specification required by the government of Hungary for the modernization of its air force to meet national and NATO defense needs. The contractual agreement was signed in Stockholm today.

It follows completion of the 10 year lease contract for 14 Gripen fighters, signed in Budapest, by Mr Ferenc Bese, ASIB in the Hungarian Ministry of Defence and Major General Staffan Näsström, FMV.


Stolt Sea Farm acquires F&B sales Ltd in Hong Kong
(28.12.01) Stolt Sea Farm Holdings plc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Stolt-Nielsen S.A. announced it has purchased F & B Sales Limited (F&B), a Hong Kong registered company owned by the Webster Limited group of New Zealand.
F&B is a well-established specialized seafood distribution business, based in Hong Kong, with an extensive product range that includes live lobster and live turbot, and which supplies to major supermarkets, hotels, air caterers, private clubs, and restaurant chains. F&B sales revenue for year ended 30 June 2001 was HKD 106 million (approximately USD 14 million).

James Stove Lorentzen, CEO of SSF said, "I am delighted to be able to announce this addition to our activities in our important Asia Pacific market. This region is our fastest growing market, and we see this acquisition as a further strengthening of our "in-the-market" sales organization. It will also provide an excellent outlet for all SSF's own products. The acquisition of F&B not only gives us a significant presence in the Hong Kong market but also local access to the important and fast-growing mainland China market."


Ericsson sells its London Corporate HQ to BP
(28.12.01) Ericsson has announced it sells its property at 1 St. James's Square in London to BP for GBP 117 million. BP, in turn, intends to move its global corporate headquarter to 1 St. James's Square.
As earlier announced Ericsson will move its London-based operations from St. James's Square to 105 Wigmore Street, an equally central location offering the accommodation it needs.

The transaction is part of a long-term strategy to divest non-core assets and reallocate these funds to business activities.

The transaction will be effective by year-end.


Tamro sells its stake in the Swedish Mölnlycke Health Care AB
(28.12.01) Tamro Corporation has signed an agreement tosells its stake and all its ownership interests and rights in Mölnlycke Health Care AB for the price of SEK 680 million together to Nordic Capital, the present majority owner of Mölnlycke Heath Care, and to the Sixth Swedish National Pension Fund and Bure Equity AB.
Tamro´s CEO Pauli Kulvik says that this agreement completes Tamro´s strategic decisions from year 1998 to divest all of its industrial operations and concentrate on the company´s core business, pharmaceutical trade. This agreement enables future investments in the company´s core business, in which the majority of investments is moving towards retail trade in those countries where pharmacy ownership is liberalised.



Metso acquires Raisio Chemicals' minority holding of Valmet-Raisio
(27.12.01) Metso Paper has acquired Raisio Chemicals' minority holding of Valmet-Raisio and now owns the company completely. Before the acquisition Metso Paper's holding was 51 %. The acquisition price is EUR 10 million.
Valmet-Raisio's special expertise in water and chemical systems management is crucial to the development of new paper machine solutions. For environmental and other reasons, wet end and coating chemicals management in papermaking has been an essential part of the solutions jointly developed by Metso and Raisio. These solutions ensure the recovery and re-use of chemicals used in the manufacturing process. In the future Metso Paper will develop water and chemical system management in parallel with the other solutions it has developed to lower environmental impact.

Valmet-Raisio has operations at Raisio and Valkeakoski in Finland, Oberhaching in Germany, Atlanta in the USA, Sao Paolo in Brazil and Beijing in China.



Scania sells Danish bodybuilding company and concentrates production of bus bodies
(26.12.01) As part of the ongoing structuring of its busbuilding activities, Scania will selling its bodybuilding facility in Silkeborg, Denmark to the Norwegian company Vest-Buss AS. As a result, Scania's development and production of bodies for city buses will be concentrated at the company's main busbuilding plant in Katrineholm in Sweden, and at its assembly units in Poland and Russia.
The move is part of a strategy to create better competitive conditions for the bodybuilding company, which Scania plans to establish in Katrineholm. The assembly units in Slupsk, Poland and St. Petersburg, Russia will also form part of the new business.

To the new bodybuilding company, this will mean that the resources for product and production development of Scania's range of Omni buses - OmniCity and OmniLink - will be concentrated at the main plant in Katrineholm. Bodies will be fitted in all three locations.

Vest-Buss is the largest manufacturer of bus bodies in Norway.



Troubled IconMedialab merges with Dutch Lost Boys to a new media services and e-business company
(20.12.01) Swedish Icon Medialab International AB and Amsterdam based Lost Boys N.V. announce they have entered into an agreement to merge. They signed an agreement yesterday.

IconMediaLab has been seeking a solution to conteract upon the general fall in the communications IT sector, and now looks towards this chance to bring to a level the downward spiral that seemed to have no end.

Michiel Mol, majority shareholder and CEO of Lost Boys, is confident about the transaction. “We have spoken to various possible partners, and we’re convinced that IconMedialab is the best partner for us in the upcoming consolidation process in our industry. Their geographic reach, the installed client base as well as their technical and consulting capabilities strongly complement our company.” IconMedialab CEO Rens Buchwaldt says “The merger is strong both in the short and the long term. The company will have a secure financial position, and we
can offer our clients the full advantage of the multinational talents, skills and project experience to meet their needs.”

The new Company will bring together a broad range of project experience and skills, in particular in creating high usability, design, dynamic content management and personalized content, multi-media applications, (digital) corporate identity, and high level security. Specific service offerings to meet client needs include specialist areas such as CRM/Business Intelligence and Content Management Systems.




Europolitan Vodafone meets PTS deadline - 3G network opens in Karlskrona
(20.12.01) Today, the Swedish mobile operator Europolitan Vodafone opened its 3G network in Karlskrona, thereby meeting the deadline set by PTS (the Swedish Post and Telecom Agency) as regards public access to 3G networks from 1 January 2002.

"We are now able to provide functional base stations in Karlskrona and therefore consider that we have lived up to the requirements on the rollout of 3G networks from 1 January 2002 imposed by PTS," says Jon Risfelt, President and CEO of Europolitan Vodafone.

The newly opened network was supplied by Nokia and covers most of the Karlskrona area.

Work on the next generation of mobile telephony networks is proceeding as planned. Much of this work involves pioneering efforts, since Sweden has been one of the first off the mark with its 3G rollout. Technicians from Nokia and Europolitan Vodafone were able to use the 3G network to make calls as early as November.

"We still face a number of challenges to which solutions will be found as our work progresses," concludes Jon Risfelt. "It is tremendously exciting and inspiring to be part of this development work, which will allow Sweden to maintain its reputation as a leading telecoms nation."



Demand high for broadband from Norwegian Telenor
(19.12.01) Over the past few months demand for high-speed Internet based on ADSL has increased substantially. Today, 25 000 consumers have ADSL and this is an increase of 14 000 since the end of September. Telenor Plus has delivered ADSL to customers in all Norwegian counties and by the end of the year half of all Telenor's telephony customers will have access to ADSL.

ADSL stands for Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line, and is a broadband subscription using the existing phone lines, delivered with speeds up to 1 Mbit/s.

During the year since Telenor launched ADSL for the consumer market a large-scale development programme has been implemented all over the country. On average, one central per day has been readied for ADSL and Telenor now offers ADSL to more than one hundred Norwegian local authorities. By the end of the year, half of Telenor's telephony customers can get ADSL. This means Telenor is ahead of its development schedule.

This autumn Telenor Plus launched an ADSL DIY solution that is now in great demand. A continued development on the content side also means that more and more customers want faster Internet based on this technology.



Skanska sells newly developed real-estate project in Budapest, Hungary
(19.12.01) Skanska is selling all three phases of the West End Business Center project in Budapest to a group of German insurance companies for EUR 66.5 M. The West End Business Center will be part of a Central European property fund that is in the process of formation and in which the purchasing companies are major stakeholders.

The West End Business Center has a total floor space of 28,000 square meters, of which 2,000 square meters is retail premises. The Center was developed and built by Skanska in stages from 1999 to 2001. The site was acquired in 1997. The largest tenants are Ernst & Young, Dresdner Bank and Diago/United Distillers/Guinness, and 85 percent of the Center has been rented.

The group of German insurance companies is acquiring all the shares in the three separate property companies that own each phase in the West End Business Center project.

"This level of return demonstrates the profit potential of Skanska's project development operations in Central Europe," says Fredrik Wirdenius, President of Skanska Project Development Europe.


Munters lands order for dehumidification of nuclear reactors
(19.12.01) Ontario Power Generation (OPG), one of North America's largest power producers, has purchased 12 customized dehumidification systems from Munters for removing heavy water from the reactor buildings of the Pickering Nuclear Power Station.

Heavy water is a valuable commodity for the Candu nuclear reactors designed by Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd (AECL). Munters vapor recovery systems remove heavy water vapor from the air, and condense it to liquid. The system also reduces the tritium radiation levels in the plant, and also those released to the environment, making the reactor safer for workers and the community.

Munters first supplied four such dryers for the first reactor being overhauled in the spring of 2000, and has now been awarded the contract for all of the 4 reactors being overhauled. "This order is the result of a complete team effort between the project management, service and sales groups in Munters. It fits in line with our Key Accounts' strategy of focusing on developing long term relationships with core customers. After OPG's experiences with Munters persistent attention to details on the first project, we became the only logical choice for the next phase of the project.", says Scott Haynes, National Key Accounts Group Manager.

There are currently 22 Candu reactors in Canada .


Ericsson donates mobile communications system for UN humanitarian operations
(18.12.01) Ericsson has donated and the United Nations has formally accepted an end- to-end GSM mobile communications system to complement the UN satellite network based at their telecommunications center in Brindisi, Italy. The GSM mobile communications system will further improve the quality and efficiency of UN humanitarian aid relief operations, worldwide.

The donation encompasses network equipment, both hardware and software, and handsets. In addition, Ericsson is providing, at no cost, installation, testing, training and remote support for a period of two years following system launch. The donation also includes hardware and software from Sun Microsystems and software from Logica.

Ericsson's donation is being made through its Corporate Citizenship program Ericsson Response. This is a global initiative to support and complement more effective and rapid response to human suffering caused by disasters. Working in close partnership with leading humanitarian aid relief organizations, Ericsson Response seeks to support the quality and efficiency of the international relief work by contributing skilled telecommunications staff and technology.

As part of this partnership Ericsson Response is also developing local disaster preparedness programs together with Ericsson offices around the world and in close cooperation with humanitarian aid relief programs of United Nations (UN) and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).


Metso to rebuild Mondi’s paper machine in South Africa
(17.12.01) Metso Paper has received an order to rebuild a paper machine with an approx. EUR 10 million delivery to Mondi Limited's Merebank mill in Durban, South Africa. The rebuilt machine will start up in March 2003.

The delivery will consist of a short circulation rebuild, a headbox, components for the wire, press and dryer sections, pulper and an Optisizer with OptiDosers. Metso Automation's control systems are included in the package as well.

The rebuilding will enable Mondi to produce lower basis weight papers, together with quality and efficiency improvements. Metso has recently installed a size press on the mill's PM3.

Mondi Paper is the leader in publication, converting carbonless and office papers in South Africa. The mill's current capacity is 230,000 tons of newsprint and telephone directory papers, 100,000 tons of SC magazine papers, and 210,000 tons of uncoated wood free papers.

Axfood AB to discontinue its e-commerce operation
(14.12.01) Axfood AB's board today decided to discontinue the Axfood Group's e-
commerce operation. The decision is made against the background of a weak customer flow, where the trend has not shown any significant breakthrough. Codetermination negotiations on the closure, will be initiated next week.

Axfood's e-commerce operation comprises three websites: willys.nu and billhalls.se in Gothenburg, and hemkop.nu in Stockholm. Combined sales for the period January-November 2001 were SEK 76 m, with a loss of SEK - 37 m. Sales for the full year 2000 were SEK 84 m with a loss of SEK -20 m.

"Unfortunately, the time is still not ripe for a large-scale food
retailing venture via the e-commerce channel," comments Mats Jansson, President and CEO of Axfood. "The threshold is still high when it comes to consumers' willingness to do some of their food shopping online. We have been offering e-commerce
at Axfood since 1997, which makes us one of the pioneers in the business. During this period, growth in online sales has not been sufficiently high to enable us to run the business efficiently. The decisive factor behind the decision to discontinue the operation is that we do not see any signs of stronger growth in the years immediately ahead."


Hubei Quantong Telecom's Nokia 800 MHz TETRA trial network receives approval from the Chinese Ministry of Information Industry
(13.12.01) The Nokia network is currently the only TETRA system in the world with Chinese-language features.

The Nokia 800 MHz TETRA trial network delivered to Hubei Quantong of China in May has obtained approval from the Ministry of Information Industry (MII) of China. Nokia is the first manufacturer to have been granted the MII type approval for both TETRA base stations and terminals. Nokia's solution is also the only TETRA system in the world offering features such as Chinese short messaging and a Chinese-language interface.

The approval was granted at the Acceptance Test and Appraisal Meeting for the Hubei Quantong Telecom's 800 MHz TETRA Technical Trial Network. The meeting was held in Jingzhou, Hubei province, and was supported by the MII's National Radio Supervision Center and the Hubei Radio Administrative Committee Office.

At the appraisal meeting, experts judged as a great success the 800 MHz TETRA trial network provided by Nokia. They further stated that the trial network could serve as a model for the construction of public PMR communications networks in China.


Telia connects the Baltic States to research network GÉANT
(13.12.01) Telia International Carrier provides capacity to connect the Baltic States to the pan-European research network GÉANT. Telia has a long-term agreement with the coordinating partner of the project, DANTE, and now the partnership develops. The GÉANT-network provides a powerful infrastructure with high speed IP-connection between universities throughout Europe.

GÉANT is the most advanced network of its kind. It reaches over 3,000 research- and education institutions in more than 30 countries. Through the new agreement with Telia International Carrier, universities in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania get access to use the extensive network of GÉANT. The Baltic States have primarily not been connected to any research network of this size.

- We are very pleased to get the opportunity to supply the three Baltic States with capacity through one of the most sophisticated IP-backbones in Europe. The new deal is a significant step in order to expand the GÉANT network to include the Baltic States. Now students in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are catching up on the rest of Europe when it comes to Internet access, says Erik Heilborn, CEO of Telia International Carrier.

Telia provides Song Networks with global IP-capacity
(12.12.01) New deal for Telia gives clients of Song Networks access to Telia International Carrier's global Internet backbone with coverage in Europe as well as in the US.

The agreement means that Telia International Carrier provides Song Networks with IP-capacity on TeliaNet, which is the IP-backbone built on Telias global optical fiber network, the Viking Network.

The deal comprises availability to Telia's extensive Internet backbone, managed every hour, all year around. The clients of Song Networks will have a maximum IP-bandwidth of 1 Gbps connection to the backbone with guaranteed security on all stretches.

- We are looking forward having one of Scandinavia's biggest operators as our client, says Erik Heilborn, President of Telia International Carrier. Our advantage is that we offer an non-overbooked end-to-end connectivity all over Europe as well across the Atlantic and in the US with service around the clock and high security.


Motorola and Nokia have conducted cross border group call between TETRA networks
(12.12.01) The "three-country" pilot to be conducted in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands is the first step towards the deployment of ISI interoperability.

Nokia and Motorola are making use of TETRA technology to enable Professional Mobile Radio users to communicate efficiently with each other across borders and systems in a pilot involving Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. The pilot uses a TETRA network connection based on a general four-wire interface.

Provisioning agreements between Public Safety network operators enable subscribers to use network services provided by their neighbouring partners when travelling across borders. Even more essentially, the TETRA network connection enables users to conduct demanding multi-organisation operations in spite of network boundaries.

The Motorola and Nokia solution will enable TETRA Network operators to provide voice group communication by cross-connecting "talk groups" over the boundaries of TETRA networks and vendors. Users with TETRA terminals visiting a neighbouring country will be in continuous contact with their colleagues on both sides of the border, as well as, being in communications with their Command and Control Centers.


C Technologies' subsidiary Anoto initiates collaboration with ReadSoft to develop tools to convert handwritten notes
(12.12.01) ReadSoft, the market leader in the development of software for automatic data capture and conversion of handwritten information, and Anoto starts cooperation in order to develop services based on the Anoto concept and ReadSoft technology.

With ReadSoft's software Eyes & Hands FORMS the information written on paper is processed. It is thereafter verified and interpreted before finally being transferred into electronic format. The combination of ReadSoft's technology and the Anoto concept enables joint development of mobile solutions to capture and convert handwritten information.

As part of the agreement ReadSoft will purchase the Application Development Kit (ADK) and Graphic Development Kit (GDK) for the purpose of developing forms that can be easily interpreted and read by computer.

"Anoto has created a handwriting communication system which is a fine complement to ReadSoft's technology." Says Jan Andersson, MD, ReadSoft. "By combinding the new de facto standard for pen- and paper technology with our products we are hoping to find new user areas for our products."


Nokia to provide a Wireless Digital Network to Hong Kong Fire Services
(11.12.01) Nokia and Singapore Engineering Software Pte Ltd have signed a contract for the supply of the Nokia TETRA solution for a Wireless Digital Network (WDN) for the Hong Kong Fire Services Department.

The contract covers the complete Nokia TETRA solution including digital switches, base stations, dispatcher equipment, network management system and terminals. WDN is the core system of Third Generation Mobilizing System (TGMS) of the Hong Kong Fire Services Department and a number of mission critical applications will be implemented via the WDN with the prime objective to cope with the increasing demand of fire fighting and rescue operations in Hong Kong.

"We are pleased to be working closely with Singapore Engineering Software Ptd Ltd to provide this solution to Hong Kong Fire Services Department." says Jonathan Yip, General Manager, Nokia Networks, Nokia (H.K.) Ltd, "The Nokia TETRA solution provides a reliable and proven voice and data communications solution for public safety organisation."



Continental Gislaved decides to puncture Swedish tyre giant
(11.12.01) Continental AG, the German tyre manufacturer and one of the four largest vehicle tyre producers in the world, has decided to close down it's Swedish production at Gislaved next year, and lay off a workforce of nearly 800 persons.

Gislaved Däck AB at Gislaved in Sweden, founded in 1893, and with an annual production of approx 3.6 million tyres for the car industry ceases to be next year when German Continental AG decides to halt it's production in Sweden.

The small municipality of Gislaved in Småland, is hit hard by the sudden decision to close down Gislaved Däck, a company with a special reputation for Gislaved's widely acclaimed winter tyres, and troubled local politicians have little, if anything to offer in it's place. Employees at Gislaved Däck, which exports 80% of the annual turnout, see very little hope in saving the plant from what seems to be an unrevocable decision, as global demand for tyres continues to drop following the fall car sales.



Ericsson signs multi million GSM/GPRS expansion contract in China
(11.12.01) Ericsson and Sichuan Mobile Communication Company, China have signed a contract valued at USD 143 million for expansion of the GSM/GPRS network in Sichuan Province. The expansion project will be completed in June 2002, raising the capacity of the dual band network provided by Ericsson to 4.2 million subscribers.

The contract also covers expansion of the Mobile Intelligence Network (MIN), enabling Sichuan Mobile to provide intelligent services including pre-paid services, private numbers, and private virtual networks, and will also expand GPRS functionality to the entire network.

"Our cooperation with Sichuan Mobile started in 1993, when Ericsson first built the analog mobile network for the province. We are very pleased to have their continuing confidence as main supplier of solutions for rapid expansion and smooth migration of their GSM network to 2.5G mobile systems," says Jan Malm, President Ericsson China.

Nanjing Ericsson Panda Communication Co., Ltd and Dalian Ericsson Communication Co., Ltd., will provide equipment and service for this project.



Czech Republic chooses Gripen
(10.12.01) The Government of the Czech Republic has today announced the selection of 24 SAAB-BAE SYSTEMS Gripen supersonic, multi-role fighters to replace its fleet of Mig 21 fighters and provide the country's national defense and NATO needs for the next 30 - 40 years.

Subject to the successful conclusion of contract negotiations, which begin immediately, the first Czech Air Force Gripen squadron will be operational by end 2005. Gripen for the Czech Republic will be fully NATO compatible and interoperable. It will support all NATO priorities for standardization of doctrines and procedures, including NATO standard datalink communications plus an air-to-air refueling system.

Welcoming the Czech government's decision, Julian Scopes, regional managing director Europe with Gripen partner BAE SYSTEMS said: "We have worked hard to provide the Czech Republic with a highly capable and affordable solution to meet its 21st century defense needs and I am delighted by today's announcement. We recognize a period of negotiations on complex issues lies ahead, but believe that this will lead to a successful solution for all concerned.


Jaakko Pöyry Group awarded EUR 26 million contract for hydropower services in Turkey
(10.12.01) Jaakko Pöyry Group's Energy business group, Electrowatt-Ekono, has been awarded a contract for engineering and construction supervision of the 670 MW Deriner dam and hydropower plant in Turkey. The value of the contract is EUR 26 million.

The client is the General Directorate of the State Hydraulic Works (DSI), the Government agency in charge of water resources in Turkey. The project is financed under Swiss export credit. The services include the review of contractors' design, construction and erection supervision, quality control, training and commissioning services.

The client is the General Directorate of the State Hydraulic Works (DSI), the Government agency in charge of water resources in Turkey. The project is financed under Swiss export credit. The services include the review of contractors' design, construction and erection supervision, quality control, training and commissioning services.


Biggest order to date for Scania special vehicles:
(10.12.01) Malaysia buys 60 fire engines Brazil buys 23 RIVs

Scania is to supply 60 fire engines to Bomba, the Malaysian national fire and rescue service. This is the biggest order for emergency vehicles received by Scania to date. The company has also received the go-ahead to supply 23 new RIVs (Rapid Intervention Vehicles) to the Brazilian Air Force.

The fire engines for Bomba in Malaysia will be equipped locally in Kuala Lumpur by superstructure specialists CME Technologies. The Brazilian RIVs will be built in Brazil and bodyworked in Europe by Rosenbauer International of Austria.

The new Malaysian order brings the number of Scania fire engines purchased by Bomba to 100. The first 40 of these - all equipped with Scania's CrewCab - were delivered during the latter half of the 1990s. The next 60 will be of similar design, with accommodation for a firefighting crew of six, and will be built on Scania's two-axle chassis with a 9-litre engine.


Ericsson gets first global ISO 14001 certification
(10.12.01) A major environmental milestone confirming Ericsson's commitment to combining excellent business practices with environmental leadership.

Ericsson has received the first-ever worldwide ISO 14001 certification granted by British Standards Institute, BSI, for its Environmental Management System (EMS). This certification, marks the first time ever that a company receives one ISO 14001 certificate encompassing worldwide operations, both manufacturing and non-manufacturing. ISO 14001 is the internationally recognized standard for Environmental Management Systems.

"The way we have developed our Environmental Management System (EMS) enables Ericsson to clearly identify our environmental impacts, set goals and manage performance against those targets," says Lars Göran Bernau, Ericsson's Director of Sustainability & Environment. "This provides key management information, not tied to any specific organizational structure."

In 1999, Ericsson made the decision to expand the scope of the EMS companywide - to cover all global operations - manufacturing and non- manufacturing. It was determined that real environmental contributions will come from the involvement and commitment of all employees.

"Ericsson must be congratulated on this achievement, which is BSI's first global certification to ISO 14001. It endorses a commitment from Ericsson to continually improve the way it manages environmental issues, and its commitment to systematic and sustainable improvement," says Nick Moy, managing director of BSI Global Quality Services.


Atlas Copco acquires Dutch compressor company
(07.12.01) Atlas Copco acquired Grassair B.V., a Dutch producer of screw compressors. Grassair employs 75 people and has an annual turnover of approximately MSEK 85. The purchase price was not disclosed.

Grassair, located in Oss, the Netherlands, is a well-established manufacturer of screw compressors with many decades of experience from the business. The company serves a wide customer base, with Netherlands being the main market.

The acquisition is in line with Atlas Copco's strategy to grow its compressed air business. "We want to expand the business for small and medium-sized stationary compressors, and this is where Grassair fits in," said Ronnie Leten, President of the Industrial Air Division. "Grassair is a strong brand to build on and it has an excellent reputation for its extensive service offering."

Grassair B.V. will keep its company name and continue to market the products under its solid brand name. The company will become part of Industrial Air, a division within the Compressor Technique business area.


Ericsson to deliver 3G core network to global mobile satellite operator Inmarsat
(06.12.01) Ericsson has been selected by mobile satellite operator Inmarsat Ltd for the development of its next generation core network for the company's Broadband Global Area Network (B-GAN), planned for launch in 2004. The contract is valued at USD 55 million.

Ericsson as sole supplier for the core network will deliver infrastructure including routers from its comprehensive 3G product portfolio, network management solutions and a host of professional support services.

Ericsson's equipment will provide the call routing and mobility management functionality for Inmarsat's new B-GAN ground stations enabling connectivity to the fixed and mobile terrestrial phone and data networks in conjunction with Inmarsat's service providers.

Inmarsat's B-GAN service will offer third generation (3G) compatible services including video conferencing to customers over nearly the entire globe. Inmarsat will focus on providing high-bandwidth services in areas where existing telecom infrastructure does not exist or cannot support content-rich applications. This next generation of services will offer data transmission rates of up to 432 kbit/s, significantly increasing the existing traffic capacity.


Ocean monitoring with space equipment from Saab Ericsson Space
(06.12.01) JASON-1 is an earth observation satellite that will give us more data on the world's oceans. It will be launched 7 December 2001 using a Boeing Delta II rocket from a launch pad in California. The central data handling system of the satellite has been supplied by Saab Ericsson Space.

For a period of three to five years, JASON-1 will furnish information on the topography of the world's oceans with aid of a radar altimeter. The satellite is also equipped with other instruments for gathering data on changes in sea levels, changes in seasonal ocean currents and their effects on climate. Greater knowledge of the global interaction of oceans and climate will contribute to, e.g., more reliable weather forecasting. JASON-1 is a successor to Topex/Poseidon, the satellite that predicted the El Niño phenomenon in 1997-1998.

Saab Ericsson Space has developed and manufactured the central electronics unit of the satellite platform, the largest system of its kind made by the company to date. It's an all-in-one system, i.e. its units are integrated into a single system to carry out three different main tasks. The system monitors and controls satellite and payload functions, controls satellite attitude and includes a mass memory for payload and housekeeping data. The company has also supplied the satellite's S-band antennas for communication with facilities on the ground.


SAS to sell airport properties to Nordisk Renting and GE Capital for SEK 3 billion
(06.12.01) SAS has signed a contract with Nordisk Renting AB and GE Capital Real Estate regarding the sale of 11 airport-related properties. The transaction has a value of SEK 3 billion and will generate a capital gain of approximately MSEK 700. At the same time, SAS signed a 20-year rental contract with the parties. The cost of the rental contract is neutral compared with ownership of the properties. The properties in question are located at the following airports: Arlanda, Landvetter, Kastrup, Gardermoen and Flesland (Bergen).

"This property sale is a feature of the SAS program to release capital - a program that has been under way for three years," says Gunnar Reitan, Executive Vice President and CFO of SAS.

The 11 properties consist mainly of hangars, workshops, warehouses and offices. They comprise a combined total of approximately 285,000 square meters of leasable floor space. The sales process, which was initiated by SAS in 2000, was conducted under conditions of international competition.


Telia wins Investor Relations awards
(05.12.01) Telia has won a prize for having the best Investor Relations department among major Swedish companies, as well as an award for being the Nordic company that has improved its investor relations activities the most during the year. Telia's Investor Relations Manager, Tobias Lennér, was also named best IR Manager in Sweden.

The prizes were awarded by the well-known U.S. publication Investor Relations Magazine, which has given its Investor Relations Awards in seven world regions for many years. The prizes were awarded for the first time in the Nordic region yesterday.

The winners were selected by 160 analysts and mutual funds brokers in the Nordic countries and London.


Skanska to build Radisson SAS hotel at Stansted for GBP 28.6 M, or SEK 435 M
(05.12.01) Skanska's British subsidiary Skanska UK has won a contract to build a new Radisson SAS hotel at Stansted Airport, London's third airport. The negotiated contract value is GBP 28.6 M, corresponding to about SEK 435 M. The customer is Radisson SAS.

The new four star hotel will be the first hotel to have a direct pedestrian access to the recently extended terminal building. It will have 350 rooms, two restaurants, bars, a leisure center and comprehensive conference and banqueting facilities. Skanska also has first option on a second phase, which would add another 150 rooms if given the go ahead in the future.

Skanska, which has been involved in the preparatory work from the start, appointed architect Aukett Europe to develop the design based on an agreed cost framework. Architecturally, the hotel will compliment the award winning terminal building designed by Lord Foster who also designed the landmark Swiss Re tower currently under construction in London by Skanska UK.


VIAG INTERKOM of Germany launches prepaid GPRS with Nokia's charging solution
(04.12.01) German mobile operator VIAG INTERKOM has launched its prepaid service for GPRS using a Nokia solution for processing charging data. The solution is based on the Nokia Charging Center, which is a flexible and scalable framework that allows operators to charge for a wide range of 2G and 3G services. With the help of the Nokia Charging Center, VIAG INTERKOM is able to extend its LOOP brand of prepaid services to its GPRS customers.

The contract included equipment, system customisation and integration. The system delivery and turnkey integration was successfully completed on time in VIAG's demanding multi-vendor environment.

The Nokia Charging Center allows VIAG to implement different billing plans, such as volume step discounts, WAP billing based on content or number of "clicks", sign-up credits for new subscribers and monthly bonuses consisting of a certain number of free WAP clicks. For example, VIAG plans to offer prepaid access to WAP over GPRS on a "per click" basis, and Internet over GPRS on a "per kByte" basis in addition to a small daily fee.

"We are extremely pleased to be at the forefront of launching prepaid GPRS service in Germany," says, Gerhard Mayrhofer, Senior Vice President Marketing, VIAG INTERKOM. "By allowing us to implement the right charging model for different customers, the Nokia Charging Center has played a pivotal role in bringing GPRS services to our prepaid customers."



Ericsson and Cingular Wireless team to pave the way for 3G offerings in the U.S.
(03.12.01) Cingular Wireless has selected Ericsson as a principle long-term strategic partner for upgrading and expanding its wireless network. The partnership enables Cingular to build a nationwide state-of-the-art wireless network and to deliver third-generation services.

Under the terms of the deal, Ericsson will provide the largest portion of the core network infrastructure and provide radio network equipment for overlay markets. Additionally, Ericsson maintains its top position in the expansion of existing Cingular GSM markets.

"Ericsson is proud to be a strategic partner in Cingular's 3G technology migration," said Angel Ruiz, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ericsson Inc. "The choice of Ericsson equipment reinforces our proven track record of global technology and market leadership."

Ericsson expects to provide its world-leading GSM/GPRS/EDGE infrastructure including core network, radio access infrastructure, operation and maintenance systems. The EDGE infrastructure will support increased capacity for voice and third generation, high speed data services.



Cingular Wireless selects Nokia as a main supplier to its GSM/EDGE network nationwide in deal estimated at over one billion USD
(03.12.01) Nokia solution to help Cingular optimize its radio spectrum in migration toward high-speed 3G services for the United States.

Cingular Wireless has chosen Nokia as a main infrastructure supplier for a significant portion of its nationwide GSM/EDGE network in support of its deployment of new high-speed 3G data services. The value of the contract is estimated to be in excess of one billion USD, representing the largest single system level deal ever for Nokia, further solidifying it's leadership position in the United States market.

Cingular will begin rolling out GPRS with EDGE-ready equipment and this deal will allow the company to eventually provide nationwide GSM/EDGE services, further driving the adoption of advanced third-generation (3G) wireless services in the United States. Deliveries and nationwide rollout will commence in 2002.


RAUFOSS awarded important Volvo contract
(30.11.01) RAUFOSS awarded important Volvo contract: Supply of Air Brake Connectors, value NOK 250 million

Raufoss has been awarded a new 3-year contract with Volvo Global Trucks (VGT) for the supply of Air Brake Connectors in the period 2002-2004. The total value of the contract is 250 million Norwegian Kroner and covers the delivery of Air Brake Connectors to Volvo's production facilities in Sweden, Belgium and Brazil.

Volvo Global Trucks (VGT) are, after acquisition of Renault Vehicle Industrielle in France and MACK Trucks in the USA, Europe's largest, and the worlds second largest, manufacturer of commercial vehicles and have production plants all of the world.

Raufoss shall supply the Air Brake Connectors for the new VOLVO commercial vehicle platform, scheduled for release in the early part of 2002. VOLVO will base its global production of commercial vehicles on this platform and therefore the contract provides the opportunity of co-operation with VGT production units not currently being supplied by Raufoss.



Agreement with Danske Bank
(Oslo 30.11.01) EDB Business Partner's wholly-owned subsidiary EDB Fellesdata has signed a long-term contract with Danske Bank for the supply of systems and computer operating services. The agreement covers deliveries for a minimum period of two years, and is worth some NOK 50 million.

The agreement relates to the operation of systems for minibanks, telephone banking and corporate Internet banking for Fokus Bank, the Norwegian operation of Danske Bank. It also extends to network management and official reporting. In addition the arrangement offers considerable potential for the provision of consultancy services related to these areas as well as new Internet-based systems. EDB Fellesdata is responsible for the supply of systems and consultancy services, with EDB Teamco providing computer operating services.

It was decided when Danske Bank purchased Fokus Bank in 1998 that Fokus Bank would in due course transfer its IT systems to the systems platform used by Danske Bank. This migration to the parent bank's systems was carried out in November of this year.

"This new agreement opens up the opportunity to develop our relationship and expand our business with Danske Bank" comments Ole Trasti, Managing Director of EDB Fellesdata.



Carlsberg Breweries A/S sells half of its shareholding in OAO Vena Brewery in St. Petersburg to Baltic Beverages Holding AB
(01-11-30) Carlsberg Breweries A/S sells 49.9 per cent of OAO Vena Brewery in St. Petersburg to Baltic Beverages Holding AB (BBH). Carlsberg Breweries owns approx. 99.9 per cent following the acquisition of the 33.32 per cent the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development owned of Vena. Minority shareholders own the remaining approx. 0.1 per cent of the share capital. As of October 2003, BBH has an option to buy the remaining shareholding in Vena.

The acquisition as well as the sale are subject to approval by the Russian competition authorities.

Selling Vena to BBH is a natural step in the process of concentrating the ownership and, consequently, the overall operating responsibilities for Carlsberg Breweries' activities in Russia, the Baltic countries and Ukraine with BBH, which has more than 10 years of experience in operating breweries in the countries mentioned. Furthermore, the Vena brands will complement the BBH portfolio of brands.

The sales will have no significant effect on Carlsberg Breweries' results for 2001.



Arjo versus Liko: Successful outcome for Liko in UK patent action
(01-11-29) In 1999 hospital equipment supplier Liko was sued for patent infringement by a competing company, Arjo, who claimed that the Sabina lifts infringed Arjo´s patent.

The trial of the case was heard in the High Court in London in September 2001 and judgment was given by Rt Hon Justice Laddie on November 8th 2001.

Liko is pleased to announce that in an extensive judgment, Rt Hon Justice Laddie ruled that the Arjo patent was invalid and even if the patent had been valid it was not infringed by the Liko Sabina (or Sabina Comfort) Lifts.

As is common practice in English patent litigation, Arjo were ordered to pay a contribution to Liko´s legal costs. The judge ordered that £225.000 should be paid to Liko within 28 days pending a full assessment of the sum Arjo must pay to Liko as costs. The court also gave Arjo six weeks from November 8th in which to decide whether or not to appeal the decision to the court of appeal.



German army buys Pyrosequencing system to aid in fight against biological weapons
(01-11-29) Pyrosequencing AB today announced that it has sold a PSQtm96 System to the German Armed Forces for the rapid typing and validation of bacteria and viruses used to produce biological weapons. The German Armed Forces is using Pyrosequencing technology to identify and characterize important biological agents such as bacteria that cause anthrax and viruses that produce smallpox.

"The very possibility of biological warfare necessitates a rapid, accurate way to detect and type any suspicious agent such as Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent for anthrax," said the Head of the Molecular Genetics Detection Group, Armed Forces Scientific Institute for Protection Technologies - NBC Protection, Germany. "On the basis of work by Professor Lars Engstrand, we developed our own fast method for identifying anthrax using Pyrosequencing technology. Unlike other detection methods, Pyrosequencing enables us to verify DNA (PCR products) by providing valuable sequence information very quickly."

In July, Pyrosequencing announced a research collaboration with Professor Lars Engstrand of Clinical Bacteriology, Uppsala University, Sweden, to investigate several applications of Pyrosequencingtm within the field of bacterial identification and resistance. The initial focus of the agreement includes Helicobacter pylori, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Bacillus anthracis. Additionally, the Company has established multiple research collaborations in other infectious disease areas as well as in cardiology, genetic disorders and hematology/oncology as part of its global strategy to expand into clinical diagnostics.

"The Germany Army's purchase of our PSQ 96 System confirms the relevance of Pyrosequencing technology for the rapid identification and typing of infectious bacteria and viruses as well as other mutations in disease- causing agents which may cause resistance," said Erik Walldén, President and CEO of Pyrosequencing AB. "Other defense organizations are also expressing interest in our technology. Our goal is to establish Pyrosequencing technology as a first line of defense against infectious diseases which may ultimately lead to rapid and improved treatments."

Navision Introduces Personalized E-Commerce
(01-11-29) The latest e-commerce offering helps small and medium-sized companies streamline commercial interactions with customers and vendors through personalized Web-based trading

Norwegian Navision a/s has released it's Commerce Portal, an e-commerce solution that enables small and medium-sized companies using the integrated business solution, Navision Attain, to improve collaboration with their supply chain partners via personalized Web-based trading.

With Commerce Portal, customers, vendors and other partners of a company can serve themselves directly through personalized Web portals tailored to their particular business needs. Commerce Portal delivers real-time information such as item availability, shipping progress and purchasing history on an anytime, anywhere basis. Customers can access, maintain and search for data and documents across the full range of functionality found in Navision Attain. The level of access and customization varies depending on the user's needs and is determined by the company.

"Commerce Portal is a new window of opportunity for our customers. It enables them to serve the individual needs of their supply chain partners in a cost-effective way. Overall, the new Internet functionality makes business more straightforward, efficient and personal," says Niels Bo Theilgaard, Executive Vice President and Corporate Product Officer, Navision a/s.



Europolitan Vodafone and TietoEnator develop payment services for mobile phones
(01-11-28) Starting next year, you will be able to pay for goods on your mobile phone. Entra, part of the TietoEnator Group, is developing a virtual payment card together with Europolitan Vodafone, and it is due to be launched in the first half of 2002.

"The mobile phone is becoming an increasingly important tool in our everyday lives," says Jon Risfelt, President and CEO of Europolitan Vodafone. "Mobile payment solutions constitute a major step towards the realisation of our vision of providing our customers with services that simplify their day-to-day lives."

Europolitan Vodafone will be marketing the virtual payment card and all related services, and will be working jointly with TietoEnator to market and sell the payment solution in other market segments, as well as in markets outside Sweden.

The virtual card will provide customers with a simple and reliable way of using their mobile phones to pay for goods and services ordered via the Internet, both fixed and mobile. One of the keys to this solution lies in the fact that it supports micro-payments and has a so-called "taximeter functionality", which allows customers only to pay for the parts of a service that they actually use. This means that you only pay for the pages or articles that you read in an online magazine, while you pay per game when using network based gaming services. Initially, the service will mainly enable direct payments for the kind of data services that are already available via mobile phones or the Internet, such as mobile games or various information services. In the future, however, it will also be possible to use the virtual card at regular stores.



SKF secures major orders from GE for aerospace bearings
(01-11-28) SKF has through its Aerospace unit, MRC Bearings in the US, been awarded long-term contracts worth up to 55 million US dollars for the supply of main-shaft engine bearings to GE Aircraft Engines.

The contracts cover production and spare parts requirements during the period of 2002-2006.

GE Aircraft Engines is the world's leading provider of aircraft and aero- derivative propulsion systems and services.

The MRC products will be used in GE aircraft engines and aero-derivative turbines for marine and industrial applications, including power generation.

The bearings MRC manufactures for GE range from 20 mm to 640 mm outer diameter and are some of the most complex designs in the world. Advanced materials, super-precision tolerances and integrated components allow these bearings to operate at extremely high speed.



SAS delays opening of San Francisco route
(01-11-26) As a result of the decline in the number of passengers, SAS has decided to delay the launch of San Francisco as a new destination.

The events in New York on September 11 this year have had a considerable impact on air traffic to and from the US and SAS has now decided to focus primarily on restoring the airline's main market on the American East Coast and in the central US.

It was SAS' ambition to launch a flight route between Copenhagen and San Francisco on May 10, 2002. Plans involved one daily flight in each direction. Market developments will determine when SAS can again start to plan for the introduction of flights to San Francisco.



Axis video servers for Securitas' new monitoring concept in shops
(01-11-26) Axis Communications has signed a framework agreement with Securitas in Scandinavia for the supply of network-based video servers for Securitas' visual alarm solutions. Securitas' first product within the area is called Trygg Butik (Safe Shop) and is aimed at making it possible for shop staff to inform the emergency center before a crime is committed.

Shop staff can request Securitas' attention by activating a monitoring camera when a situation feels threatening before anything serious happens. From its emergency center, Securitas can monitor the situation and take suitable action without the shop activating any alarms, apart from the camera. Securitas intends to extend this concept of visual decision-making support for use with other applications.

"As the world's largest security company, we are naturally very interested in maintaining a high quality for our services. This is why we conducted a detailed evaluation before selecting a supplier. Axis was the only company that met the high quality demands for network-connected video technology," says Anders Friborn, Marketing Manager, Securitas Larmcentral, Sweden.

The solution is based entirely on digital technology and requires shops to have an Internet connection via broadband or ISDN.



Gripen International welcomes first NATO customer
(01-11-23) Gripen International welcomes the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Hungarian Government and the Swedish Government, for the lease of 14 NATO-interoperable Gripen multi-role fighters, to meet the national, NATO and European defense needs of the Hungarian Air Force.

Dr János Szabó, Hungarian Defence Minister and Björn von Sydow, Swedish Defence Minister signed the MoU at a ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden. Hungary is the first Central European nation and first NATO member to select Gripen to meet its 21st century defense needs.

Gripen International is supporting the Swedish government's lease of Gripen fighters with a program of industrial offset, which will deliver jobs and long-term industrial benefits across a number of business sectors.

"Our offset negotiations have been very successful and we will sign an agreement linked to the Gripen lease by Hungary during December. This program will enable further economic growth for Hungary and substantial employment opportunities through industrial partnerships and export promotion", comments Ian McNamee, managing director Gripen International.
Pictures of Gripen are available on www.gripen.com



Nokia to establish a research & development center in Hangzhou, China
(01-11-22) Nokia Networks and the Zhejiang Provincial Government of China today signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of a new R&D center to be located in Hangzhou, the capital city of Zhejiang province in China. This is another strong demonstration of Nokia's long-term commitment to China.

The centre, expected to employ up to 500 people in 3 - 4 years' time, will focus on software development, and will develop platform technologies related to Nokia's 3G mobile networks. The Hangzhou R&D center will have an important role in Nokia's global R&D network.

The new centre will start operations at the beginning of 2002. The research and development activities of this center will be carried out together with a local Chinese partner company. The aim is to start cooperation with a local partner in 2003, and the partner company will employ the majority of the personnel.

"With this new R&D centre, China will strengthen its position as part of Nokia's global R&D network. For Nokia, China is the second largest market. We are convinced, based on the excellent cooperation done so far, that this project will be a long-term success for all parties involved," said Mr. Sauli Salo, Senior Vice President, Mobile Core Networks, Nokia Networks .



Swedish constructor NCC receives contract for large residential area in Rostock, Germany
(01-11-22) NCC Germany has received a large new order to build Am Tonnenhof, a residential area in Rostock, located on the Baltic coast. The total volume of the project is estimated at about SEK 400 million (DEM 85 million).
Am Tonnenhof will consist of approx 700 units in multi-family homes with almost 50.000 sqm of living space. Commercial space of about 1.100 sqm and underground garages will also be part of the construction starting up in March 2002. The project is supposed to be completed by the end of 2004.

Am Tonnenhof is situated in one of RostocK´s favourite residential areas close by numerous recreational facilities, and will be characterized by a high standard, maritime architectural design.

The investor, the ODIN Group (with norwegian roots, owned by Per Harald Lökkevik), has already been a cooperation partner for NCC in a large housing project in Mahlow, close to the Berlin city limits (more than 520 units in multifamily homes plus a 4 star turn-key hotel with 170 rooms).

-We are very glad to have received this new order from the ODIN Group and Per Harald Lökkevik. In addition to this, we have signed a contract for a series of further projects in the Rostock area, says Ingvar Lundström, business area manager of NCC Germany.



Biolight signs agreement with one of Europe's leading dental companies
(01-11-22) Biolight has signed an agreement regarding its distribution in Finland with Plandent Oyj. Plandent is a member of the Planmeca group, with a turnover of approximately SEK 2.9 billion (EUR 300 million) and about 1,300 employees. The Planmeca group sells in more than 80 countries.
"Plandent Oyj has started marketing and sales activities for Biolight in Finland. We work in close co-operation with the Dental college at the University of Helsinki and with Dr. Kimmo Suomalainen, who is also responsible for in-service training within the dental association Finska Tandläkarsällskapet. Plandent, a member of the Planmeca group, which is one of the world's leading manufacturers of dental units and dental X- rays. This provides a great potential and numerous possibilities for successful international co-operation," says Tero Riikonen, vice president of Plandent Oyj.

"This is a very important agreement for Biolight, not least because of the very good reputation and large international network of the Planmeca group. Biolight will initially launch the product in Finland, but together with Plandent there are great possibilities for expanding sales to other countries," says Christer Wallin, President of Biolight International AB.

"The agreement with Plandent enables us to seriously expand our sales, and makes our continued network development easier," says Thomas Ericsson, responsible for the business area Dental Care.



Scania launches safety initiatives
(01-11-21) Scania today launched new initiatives to promote road safety. The first initiative concerns young truck drivers, emanating from a need to boost the status and attraction of this profession. The second initiative aims at establishing a pan-European road database that includes the special requirements of commercial vehicles, in addition to passenger cars.

The initiatives were presented by Scania's President and CEO Leif Östling in conjunction with a top-level safety conference in Brussels hosted by Scania. Among the attendants were more than 250 decision- makers from the European Commission, the European Parliament, as well as other EU Affairs officials, journalists and industry representatives.

The theme of the safety conference - Improving road safety with intelligent transport systems - was supported with an exhibition of the latest in commercial vehicle safety, including the safety concept vehicle from Scania and a new crash-zone concept for trucks.



Troubled portal Scandinavia Online makes for Eniro life saver.
(01-11-20) Eniro AB (publ) today makes a cash offer to the shareholders of Scandinavia Online AB (publ). Through the acquisition of SOL, Eniro hopes to become the leading directory and search company in the Nordic area, both offline and online.

The Board of SOL has unanimously recommended the shareholders to accept the Eniro offer of SEK 11.50 in cash, for each share. The main shareholders, Telia, Schibsted and Telenor, representing 75.9 percent of the shares and votes, have decided to irrevocably accept Eniro's Offer.

Eniro finds SOL a tasty mouthful with it's market share of 50 percent of the Swedish Internet advertising market. As one company we can combine our successful sales- and marketing efforts with SOL's usage positions", says Lars Guldstrand, President and CEO of Eniro. "When evaluating SOL, we have also taken into account the cash holding of the company and the value of the tax losses that we can utilize as well as their the state-of-the art technical platform."




Aker Maritime buying more shares in Kværner
(01-11-20) Aker Maritime has today increased its shareholding in Kværner to 20.15 per cent. This will strengthen the company's opportunities for protecting its minority interests in Kværner.
Since the larger shareholding does not give Aker Maritime a controlling interest in Kværner, the company is not under a duty to report it to the European Commission's competition authorities. It has nevertheless notified the Commission of the share purchase.



American Skandia wins top ranking in Dalbar survey
(01-11-20) Skandia's US subsidiary American Skandia has received the number one ranking for Overall Marketing Support, according to the 15th annual Financial Professional 2001 Survey by DALBAR, the Boston-based industry rating and research company.
This achievement stems from a survey conducted last summer, in which DALBAR queried top-producing Investment Professionals, Broker/Dealer Marketing and Operations Managers.

American Skandia shared first place with another company in a ranking given by Broker/Dealer Marketing Managers.

"In difficult times for the financial markets, it is crucial to ensure that we are delivering the utmost support to the Key Account firms that drive our business," comments Bayard Tracy, Director of Sales forAmerican Skandia. "These annual surveys are a way to measure our efforts. This year's ranking is a wonderful reflection of the core values we strive for every day: to be passionate, creative, tenacious and caring."

Nokia announces 6 new products and strong support for MMS
(01-11-19) Company launches its first Multimedia Messaging terminal at Nokia Mobile Internet Conference in Barcelona.
Nokia today introduced a Multimedia Messaging phone, a new active category phone, a new model for its classic category, as well as three new Bluetooth accessories at the Nokia hosted Mobile Internet Conference in Barcelona, Spain.

Speaking at the press conference in Barcelona, Jorma Ollila, Chairman and CEO of Nokia, said: "Today's launch signifies a remarkable breakthrough in this industry. History has proven that advances in the way we communicate can give rise to entirely new communication cultures. Much like the transition from radio to TV, the evolution from text messaging to multi-media messaging marks a whole new era of mobile communications, combining images with sound and text. By the end of 2002, we expect more than half of all Nokia terminals will be MMS capable, and in 2003, MMS will be an integral feature in all new Nokia phones."

Two new phone categories and a new business look The Nokia 7650 is the company's first product in its new imaging category. Featuring an inbuilt digital camera, multimedia messaging (MMS) functionality, an enhanced user interface, and large color display, the Nokia 7650 opens up new perspectives in personal communications. With MMS, users can combine audio-, graphic-, text- and imaging content in one message and send it to another multimedia messaging capable terminal or to the recipient's email address. Deliveries of the Nokia 7650 will begin in Europe and Asia in the second quarter, 2002.



Carl Bro acquires Sycon and forms technology consulting giant in Scandinavia
(01-11-16) Denmark's Carl Bro A/S, with the Swedish Investment group Bure as majority owner, today signed an agreement with Sydkraft AB to acquire 100 per cent of the shares in Sycon AB. Following the acquisition, Carl Bro, which is the largest technology consulting company in Denmark, will report sales of approximately SEK 2,700M and have nearly 3,200 employees in Denmark, Sweden, Great Britain and Germany.
The purchase price for Sycon will be paid with newly issued shares in Carl Bro plus liquid funds. Following the acquisition, Bure's ownership in Carl Bro will amount to just under 51 percent. Through the transaction Sydkraft attains a shareholding of approximately 11 per cent in Carl Bro and a seat on the board of directors.

"Our acquisition of Sycon is very attractive, both from an industrial and financial viewpoint," says Börje Bengtsson, Senior Investment Manager and responsible at Bure for its holding in Carl Bro. "Through the acquisition, Carl Bro also achieves a strong market position in Sweden and access to supplementary competence within sectors such as energy, environment and infrastructure. Considering Sydkraft's extensive network and market presence in the Nordic countries, this is a very positive move for Carl Bro," adds Börje Bengtsson.

Sycon is the sixth largest technology consulting company in Sweden and has approximately 1,100 employees. The company operates in the energy, environment, infrastructure and construction sectors. In 2000, Sycon reported sales of SEK 712M and an operating profit before goodwill amortisation and SPP refunds of SEK 14M. Sales for the current year are estimated to amount to SEK 840M. Approximately 85 per cent of the company's sales emanate from Sweden and the remaining 15 per cent from Denmark. Sycon also has a 49 per cent holding in the Norwegian company, E-CO-Partner, which has around 80 employees.



Another promising Oseberg oil and gas discovery
(01-11-16) Norsk Hydro has in the past two months made two promising oil and gas finds in the Oseberg area of the North Sea. These, together with a previous discovery, will likely form the basis for a new subsea production development tied into the Oseberg field center.
"These finds, made on the Vestflank section of the Oseberg field, are encouraging," says Hydro's Oseberg field manager Johan K. Mikkelsen. "Hydro estimates new recoverable reserves at about 120 million barrels of oil and 3.4 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas. We'd previously calculated some 70 million barrels of oil and 2.6 bcm gas in the area. We're now estimating recoverable reserves at a total of approximately 190 million barrels of oil and 6 bcm gas, and are in the process of establishing a project to develop the resources as quickly as possible."

The latest discoveries should be profitable to recover with a subsea development west of the Oseberg field and tied into the Oseberg field center.

Oseberg Vest (part of the Gamma Main geological structure, proven in 1986) is already developed, and the Tune field is scheduled to start producing in fall 2002

Since starting operation in 1988, the Oseberg region has produced nearly two billion barrels of oil, far more than originally planned. There are still more than one billion barrels of recoverable oil to produce. The Oseberg area, which lies about 130 kilometers north-west of the Norwegian city of Bergen, comprises several oil and gas fields, including the Oseberg Unit, Oseberg Sør, Oseberg Øst, Brage



Nokia and Lycos Europe announce cooperation in Multimedia Messaging Services
(01-11-15) Nokia and Lycos Europe today announced that they will work together to develop Multimedia Messaging Services. Lycos Europe have recently launched their Mobile Channel, merging its communities with the power of mobile technology. Lycos' new channel is currently built around its mainstay SMS service which is the leading SMS web to phone and phone to web service in Europe.
"Multimedia Messaging Service enables personalized, versatile messaging content. The new mobile generation favours messaging and visual content over traditional voice calls. For them messaging is the natural way to communicate. The cooperation with Lycos Europe with its large userbase is an excellent means to bring services to the customer and demonstrate the potential of Multimedia Messaging Services", said Anssi Vanjoki, Executive Vice President, Nokia Mobile Phones.

"With our latest product developments of trendsetting mobile features we are well prepared for such technological innovations. The cooperation with Nokia is a great chance for us to act as one of the first movers in this field and to introduce this new generation of communication services to the millions of Lycos users", said Dr. Jürgen Galler, Managing Director Lycos Mobile and Vice President Lycos Europe.


21 million Italian's get Aspiro services.
(01-11-14) During this autumn, Aspiro has installed 20 entertainment services on Telecom Italia Mobile's (TIM) Internet portal for mobile services, i- TIM. Telecom Italia is now set to commercially launch i-TIM to their 21 million subscribers.
The launch means that 20 Aspiro entertainment services will be available to TIM's subscribers as of this November. Amongst these services are Personality Test, Cocktail Recipes, Hang Man and Dream Symbols. The major part of part of the services are SMS-based.

The contract, which initially runs for one year, is a pure revenue share agreement. It is estimated to generate at least 200 000 euro over the period based on the large underlying subscriber base and the existing numbers of SMS messages being derived from SMS applications in the Italian market today. TIM will be the exclusive provider of all 20 services in Italy.

"We are extremely pleased to add TIM to our list of customers. Not only are they one of the largest operators in the world, they are also at the very frontline of mobile Internet developments," says Lena Wittbjer, CEO of Aspiro.

Aspiro has also signed an agreement with Netbaby World for the upgra