Swedish Match Interim Report January -- June 2004


STOCKHOLM, Sweden, July 21, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Highlights of the Swedish Match (Nasdaq:SWMAY) Interim Report January -- June 2004:


 - Sales in Swedish crowns increased by 2% and amounted to 6,377 MSEK
   (6,280). In local currencies, sales were up 5%.

 - Operating income excluding item affecting comparability amounted to
   988 MSEK (1,069) after a restructuring charge of 160 MSEK.

 - A gain from the UST settlement of 1,521 MSEK is reported as an item
   affecting comparability, including 104 MSEK in the second quarter.

 - Net profit for the period amounted to 1,440 MSEK (850).

 - EPS increased to 4.39 SEK (2.52), of which settlement with UST
   accounts for 2.68 SEK.

 For further information, please contact:
 Sven Hindrikes, President and Chief Executive Officer
 Office +46 8 658 02 82, Mobile +46 70 567 41 76

 Lars Dahlgren, Chief Financial Officer
 Office +46 8 658 04 41, Mobile +46 70 958 04 41

 Bo Aulin, Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel
 Office +46 8 658 03 64, Mobile +46 70 558 03 64

 Emmett Harrison, Vice President, Investor Relations (IR)
 Office +46 8 658 01 73, Mobile +46 70 938 01 73

 Richard Flaherty, Vice President, Business Control & CFO, IR (US)
 Office +1 804 302 1774, Mobile +1 804 400 1774

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The following files are available for download:

http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2004/07/21/20040721BIT20300/wkr0001.pdf The full report