Wilhelm Sonesson has Begun Repurchase of Own Shares


LUND, Sweden, Aug. 20, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- On August 12, 2002, the Board of Wilh. Sonesson AB (publ) resolved, supported by the resolution of the Annual General Meeting on April 24, to acquire at most 1,000,000 of the company's own shares. Combined with shares repurchased previously, this brings the total number of repurchased shares (treasury stock) to approximately 5.2 percent of the total shares issued.

Effective August 19, Wilh. Sonesson has begun the repurchase of shares through the acquisition of 134,100 Series B shares in Wilh. Sonesson at an average price of approximately SEK 12.00, corresponding to 0.05 percent of the total number of shares.

Following the acquisition, Wilh. Sonesson will own 502,830 Series B shares and 400 Series A shares. The total number of shares in the company amounts to 26,492,584, of which 1,564,330 are Series A shares and 24,982,254 are Series B shares.

Lund, August 20, 2002

Bo Hakansson Chairman of the Board


For further information, contact:
Bo Hakansson, +46 46-280 81 00, +46 705-98 57 22
bo.hakansson@wilhsonesson.com

"Wilh. Sonesson's vision is to become a leading Consumer Healthcare company in the Nordic region with selected and well documented products in pharmaceuticals, naturopathic preparations and personal care products."

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