Semcon Acquires the Illustration Company Pentech International


GOTEBORG, Sweden, Feb. 24, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Semcon AB (publ) has acquired the reputable illustration company Pentech International Ltd. This opens the door to international partnership deals within Semcon's business area Informatic. The acquisition places Semcon in Oxford, England, close to the automobile industry. Pentech has over a long period of time been a preferred supplier of technical information to customers such as Jaguar Cars, Land Rover, Saab Automobile, MG Rover, Scania Trucks and Nissan Motor Manufacturing. The acquisition will add 20 technical information specialists. Semcon already has 60 consultants in the UK, specialising in vehicle design for the global automobile industry.

"The acquisition of Pentech is a natural part of our international commitment and a step towards meeting our customers' demands for fewer, larger suppliers," says Lars-Inge Sjoquist, MD Semcon Informatic. "Aftermarket information currently makes up a significant part of each product's success. Technology and technical products' value is only fully realised when the recipient understands how to use it. It is becoming more important to include illustrations and visual elements to the technical and product information we produce. The acquisition of Pentech strengthens our range of services while expanding our customer base. Pentech is strategically located near the heart of the automobile industry in the Midlands and will now function as a natural base for our continued expansion in the UK and Europe," he explains.

"Semcon complements our skills perfectly," says Tom Long, MD of Pentech. "We can now expand its business activities and provide customers on the European market with larger, long-term, partnership assignments. Our range of services is more complete and our colleagues also have better development opportunities with Semcon as owner."

Semcon AB

Semcon AB has over 20 years experience in aftermarket information and over 300 specialists in a rapidly expanding business segment. Undertakings are in the form of customer partnerships, where Semcon has total responsibility for production and development of the customer's aftermarket information. Semcon Informatic has been entrusted with the responsibility for the three largest partnerships in technical information in Sweden, namely with Volvo Cars Corporation, GME/Saab Automobile and Ericsson.

Pentech

Pentech started in 1991 and runs its business in Eynsham, Oxford. The business focuses on technical illustrations and develops interactive information products used in workshop information, marketing, product information and training. Customer relations are built on close cooperation with acknowledged top quality. Pentech's sales reached around EUR 860,000 for 2004.

Pentech will be run as a wholly-owned subsidiary.

For more information, please contact: Hans Johansson, CEO, Semcon +46 (0)705 91 43 34 Bengt Nilsson, CFO, Semcon AB, +46 (0)70 447 28 68 Lars-Inge Sjoquist, MD, Semcon Informatic, +46 (0)736 84 03 56

Semcon ar ett internationellt ledande design- och utvecklingsforetag med cirka 1500 anstallda och 1,3 miljard i omsattning ar 2004. Semcons konsulter utvecklar produkter, processer och manniskor. Kombinationen av god tillvaxt under tjugofem ar och att Semcon har langa relationer med de ledande industriforetagen utgor basen for fortsatt framgang. Semcon AB (publ.) ar noterat pa Stockholmsborsens O-lista, och finns idag i Sverige, Australien, Danmark, Kina, Malaysia, Norge och Storbritannien, samt via partners i Belgien, Filippinerna, Frankrike, Grekland, Nederlanderna, Portugal och Spanien.

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