8/1/2007 8:00 AM Ahlsell enters the electrical products market in Finland

Ahlsell has signed an agreement to acquire three electrical product distribution companies, Pohjolen Sähkötarvike, Kokkolan Sähkötarvike and Karjalan Sähkötarvike in Finland. With this acquisition Ahlsell is establishing its fifth product area, electrical products, in the Finnish market. The company has an total annual turnover of about EUR 13 million and 23 employees.

As a result of this acquisition Ahlsell is gaining a foothold within the electrical products sector of the Finnish market. Ahlsell has been active for some time in Finland within the product areas of heating and plumbing, tools and machinery, refrigeration and DIY. The customer base of the acquired companies consists mainly of installers and industrial customers. The companies are independent but have cross ownership and cooperative distribution. There are branches in Helsinki, Kokkola in western Finland and Joensuu in the eastern part of the country.

"In line with Ahlsell's strategy of leadership within our current markets we are now taking the first step in the Finnish electrical products market. We welcome these three profitable and well-managed companies into the Ahlsell Group. Together with Ålands Elcenter acquired in January 2007, we are creating new business opportunities by the acquisitions with Ahlsell's complete product range being represented in Finland" says Göran Näsholm, President and CEO of Ahlsell.

The acquisition will take effect on 15 August 2007 and will have a positive impact on the Group's result for 2007.

For further information, please contact Göran Näsholm, President and CEO, on +46 708 23 71 00, Mika Salokangas,

Head of operations Finland on +358 20 584 5000
or Camilla Weiner, CIO, on +46 734 04 70 62.
.

Ahlsell is the largest technical trading company within installation products, tools and machinery in Scandinavia, the Baltic States and Russia. Ahlsell offers professional users a wide range of goods and peripheral services within the product segments of Heating & Plumbing, Electricity, Tools & Machinery, Refrigeration and DIY (Do-it-yourself). The Group has an annual turnover of about EUR 2.5 billion and some 5,000 employees.