Atlas Copco Completes Acquisition of Company in Healthcare Sector.

STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- Atlas Copco North America Inc. has acquired Beacon Holdings Corporation (parent company to BeaconMedaes and Medaes), United States, from The Riverside Company. The BeaconMedaes group is a solutions provider, predominantly of medical air systems and medical utility delivery systems for hospitals.

In 2005 revenues were approx. MSEK 720 (MEUR 77) and the operating profit margin approx. 7%. The purchase price, paid in cash, was MSEK 700 (MEUR 75).

The BeaconMedaes group is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the United States and has 386 employees. The company has assembly facilities and a strong presence in both the United States and Great Britain. It is a world-leading supplier of medical air equipment, including medical air compressors, vacuum systems and pipeline components. Its products, for example, supply breathing air for hospitals and compressed air to drive surgical tools.

BeaconMedaes becomes Atlas Copco's competence center for medical air and medical utility delivery systems. The business is part of Atlas Copco Compressor Technique's Industrial Air division and the products will be sold under the brand names Atlas Copco, Medaes and BeaconMedaes.

Atlas Copco (STO:ATCOA) is a world leading provider of industrial productivity solutions. The products and services range from compressed air and gas equipment, generators, construction and mining equipment, industrial tools and assembly systems, to related aftermarket and rental. In close cooperation with customers and business partners, and with more than 130 years of experience, Atlas Copco innovates for superior productivity. Headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, the Group's global reach spans more than 150 markets. In 2005, Atlas Copco had 27 000 employees and revenues of BSEK 53 (MEUR 5 600).

Learn more at www.atlascopco.com.

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