STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Aug. 23, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Skanska is pursuing the possibility of divesting the Facilities Management business unit Skanska Services. Exclusive negotiations are ongoing with 3i, an international private equity company.
Although Skanska Services has shown increasingly good earnings and achieved a high level of customer satisfaction, the unit still represents a very small share of Skanska's sales.
"Acting as a stand alone company will give this business and its strong management team better opportunities. Such an outcome would be better for Skanska Services customers and employees while enabling our shareholders to realize the value we have created in Skanska Services to date. We will certainly take all three of these stakeholders into account in this process," says Stuart Graham, President and CEO of Skanska.
Skanska Services is managing and developing service functions for offices, hospitals and production facilities. The company is responsible for services, equipment and premises giving efficient support to the customers core business. Operations are focused on the Nordic countries, where Skanska Services is market leader. Sales amounted to SEK 2 billion in 2003 with an EBIT of SEK 117 M. The business unit has 1,800 employees.
3i is a world leader in private equity and venture capital, with a strong Nordic presence. 3i has in recent years made several investments in the facilities management sector in Europe. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange.
For further information please contact:
Hans Biorck, CFO, Skanska AB, tel +46 8 753 88 00
Anders Lilja, SVP, Investor Relations, Skanska AB, tel +46 70 689 99 91
Peter Gimbe, SVP, Communications, Skanska AB, tel +46 8 753 88 38
Gustav Bard, Managing director 3i Nordic, advisor to 3i Group plc, tel +46 8 506 101 51
This and previous releases can also be found at www.skanska.com
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