Esselte Applies for De-Listing


SOLNA, Sweden, July 12, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- J.W. Childs Acquisition Sweden AB announced on July 11, 2002 that the conditions for the public tender offer of all shares of Esselte AB (publ) have been met and that the offer will be executed.

Due to the public tender offer, Esselte AB (publ) has announced that the Board of Directors of Esselte AB (publ) has applied to Stockholmsborsen (the Stockholm Exchange) and will apply to the United Kingdom Listing Authority (UKLA) and the London Stock Exchange for de-listing of the Esselte shares from Stockholmsborsen, the Official List of the UKLA and from trading on the London Stock Exchange with effect as from 1 August 2002. Therefore, the final day for trading in Esselte shares on either exchange is planned to be 31 July 2002.

J.W. Childs Acquisition Sweden AB is now the owner of more than 90% of the total number of shares in Esselte AB (publ) in issue and will call for the redemption of the remaining shares from the shareholders in Esselte AB (publ).

Esselte AB (publ) The Board of Directors

For further information please contact:


Ulrik Svensson, acting CEO   +44 (0) 1895 878 770
Thomas Groth, IR             +44 (0) 1895 878 983

This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net

The following files are available for download:


www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/07/12/20020712BIT00200/wkr0001.doc
www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/07/12/20020712BIT00200/wkr0002.pdf