Swedish Match Announces Intention to Place a Portion of its Shares of Scandinavian Tobacco Group A/S

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Jan 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Deutsche Bank and Nordea have been retained by Swedish Match Cigars Holding AB (the "Seller"), a wholly-owned subsidiary to Swedish Match AB (publ), to explore the opportunity to sell approximately 9 percent of the total share capital of Scandinavian Tobacco Group A/S, a company listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen, ("STG") (the "Placing").

The Seller currently holds 18,069,906 shares, corresponding to 18.1 percent of the total number of shares and votes in STG.

The price per share will be determined through an accelerated bookbuilding process to institutional investors. The bookbuilding period commences today, 18 January 2017, and may close at any time on short notice.

In the context of the Placing, the Seller has agreed to a customary 60-day lock-up undertaking in relation to the remainder of its shares in STG.

Deutsche Bank and Nordea are acting as joint bookrunners in connection with the Placing. Erixon & Co is acting as financial adviser to the Seller.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

This announcement is not for publication or distribution or release, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States of America (including its territories and possessions, any state of the United States and the District of Columbia), Canada, Australia or Japan or any other jurisdiction where such an announcement would be unlawful. The distribution of this announcement may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions and persons into whose possession this document or other information referred to herein comes should inform themselves about and observe any such restriction. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No action has been taken that would permit an offering of the securities or possession or distribution of this announcement in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required.

This announcement does not constitute or form part of an offer for sale or solicitation of an offer to purchase or subscribe for securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in the United States, absent registration under or an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of, the Securities Act. No public offering of securities is being made in the United States or in any other jurisdiction.

In member states of the European Economic Area ("EEA") which have implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a "Relevant Member State"), this announcement and any offer if made subsequently is directed exclusively at persons who are "qualified investors" within the meaning of the Prospectus Directive ("Qualified Investors"). For these purposes, the expression "Prospectus Directive" means Directive 2003/71/EC (and amendments thereto, including Directive 2010/73/EU, to the extent implemented in a Relevant Member State), and includes any relevant implementing measure in the Relevant Member State. In the United Kingdom this announcement is only being distributed to, and is only directed at, and any investment or investment activity to which this announcement relates is available only to, and will be engaged in only with, Qualified Investors who are (i) investment professionals falling with Article 19(5) of the UK Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order"); or (ii) high net worth entities falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order, or (iii) other persons to whom it may otherwise be lawfully communicated (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). Persons who are not relevant persons should not take any action on the basis of this announcement and should not act or rely on it.

Any investment decision in connection with the Placing must be made on the basis of all publicly available information relating to STG and STG's shares. Such information has not been independently verified. The information contained in this announcement is for background purposes only and does not purport to be full or complete. No reliance may be placed for any purpose on the information contained in this announcement or its accuracy or completeness.

In connection with the Placing, Deutsche Bank, Nordea or any of their respective affiliates may take up a portion of the shares in the Placing as a principal position and in that capacity may retain, purchase, sell, offer to sell for its own accounts such shares and other securities of the company or related investments in connection with the Placement or otherwise. Accordingly, references to the shares being issued, offered, subscribed, acquired, placed or otherwise dealt in should be read as including any issue or offer to, or subscription, acquisition, placing or dealing by Deutsche Bank, Nordea and any of their respective affiliates acting as investors for their own accounts. Deutsche Bank and Nordea do not intend to disclose the extent of any such investment or transactions otherwise than in accordance with any legal or regulatory obligations to do so.

This announcement does not purport to identify or suggest the risks (direct or indirect) which may be associated with an investment in STG or STG's shares. Deutsche Bank which is authorised by the Prudential Regulatory Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulatory Authority, and Nordea are acting for the Seller only in connection Swith the Placing and no one else, and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Seller for providing the protections offered to clients of Deutsche Bank and Nordea, nor for providing advice in relation to the shares or the Placing.

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CONTACT:

Contacts:

Lars Dahlgren, President and Chief Executive Officer

Office +46 8 658 0441

Emmett Harrison, Senior Vice President Investor Relations and Corporate Sustainability

Office +46 8 658 0173

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