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RNS Number:1456A
Ericsson(L.M.)(Telefonaktiebolaget)
8 March 2001



Ericsson spins off its Enterprise direct sales operations into partnership with
Apax Partners

Ericsson  today  announced the sale of its Enterprise direct sales  and  service
operations in 18 countries, with approximately 2,400 employees, to Apax Partners
Funds  for USD 480 million (SEK 4725 million). Ericsson will retain a 20%  stake
in a new company and will together with Apax Partners develop the business.

The  aim  of  the  partnership  is to become the leading  global  communications
network  integrator for voice, data and mobility products and services. The  new
company,  Enterprise Solutions, will be Ericsson Enterprise's largest  and  most
sophisticated indirect sales channel, operating in the medium to high end of the
enterprise market with advanced systems and network integration.

"Apax  Partners is uniquely placed to help the new company grow and develop  due
to  its  considerable expertise in the telecom industry," said Lars E. Svensson,
President, Ericsson Enterprise AB. "Apax Partners" vision for the company, as an
independent   entity,  gives  an  unprecedented  opportunity  to  maximize   its
potential,  building on its strong customer relationships. The new company  will
provide  existing  and new customers with tailored solutions which  will  enable
them to reap the benefits of emerging technologies on the back of their existing
systems."

David   FitzGerald,  Director,  Apax  Partners  said  "Using  Ericsson's   clear
leadership position in mobility solutions, we expect the company to develop into
the  leading  independent global network integrator and solution  provider.  The
partnership  with Ericsson gives us a world class brand, a strong customer  base
and a global sales infrastructure in a rapidly growing market."

The new company will continue to seek to build mutually beneficial relationships
with  third  party suppliers as part of its growth and development strategy.  In
addition  to  Ericsson, it has established relationships with a number of  other
product manufacturers such as Rockwell and Extreme Networks.

The principal geographies for the new company are in Australia, Brazil, Germany,
Italy,  and  the  UK.  In  addition, the company has  operations  in  Argentina,
Belgium,  Columbia,  the  Czech  Republic,  Hungary,  Ireland,  Mexico,  Poland,
Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, Switzerland and Venezuela.

This  transaction  reflects  both Ericsson Enterprise's  stated  indirect  sales
strategy, and the datacom market trend towards indirect sales channels as a  way
of  increasing levels of service and value-added to customers. Ericsson  intends
to  increase its market penetration at all levels of the marketplace  through  a
variety  of  indirect channels. Ericsson Enterprise will continue to concentrate
on  developing products and solutions, marketing and sales support for its sales
partners in order to bring mobility products and solutions to the business user.

David  FitzGerald  and Nikos Stathopoulos will represent Apax  Partners  on  the
Board  of  Enterprise  Solutions. Lars E. Svensson of Ericsson  Enterprise  will
represent Ericsson. The transaction will be subject to regulatory approvals  and
is expected to close in April 2001.

Ericsson  is  the  leading  communications  supplier,  combining  innovation  in
mobility  and  Internet  in  creating the new era of mobile  Internet.  Ericsson
provides  total  solutions covering everything from systems and applications  to
mobile  phones and other communications tools.  With more than 100,000 employees
in  140 countries, Ericsson simplifies communications for customers all over the
world.

Read more at http://www.ericsson.com/press

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT

Lena Hyttsten, Communications Director, Ericsson Enterprise AB
Phone: +46 8 422 0317, or +46 70 246 9494
E-mail: Lena.Hyttsten@ebc.ericsson.se

Lars E. Svensson; President, Ericsson Enterprise AB
Phone: +46 8 422 1631, or +46 70 570 2708
E-mail: Lars.Svensson@ebc.ericsson.se

Ole Selchau, Press Manager, Ericsson Corporate Communications
Phone: +46 8 719 0626, or +46 70 519 4460
E-mail: Ole.Selchau@lmd.ericsson.se

Siobhan Loftus, Director of Marketing, Apax Partners
Phone: +44 20 7872 6495
E-mail: Siobhan.Loftus@apax.co.uk

Clare Sillars, Press Officer, Apax Partners
Phone: +44 20 7872 6476
E-mail: Clare.Sillars@apax.co.uk

About Apax Partners

Apax Partners is one of the world's leading private equity investment groups. It
pursues  a  balanced equity portfolio strategy, investing in  companies  at  all
stages  of  development  from  start-up to buy-out.  Apax  Partners  invests  in
companies across its 6 chosen global growth sectors of: information technology,
telecommunications; media; financial services; healthcare and  retail/consumer
products.

The firm has 160 investment professionals operating in ten countries across
Europe, Israel, the United States and Japan.  Some of Apax Partners Funds'
investments include Autonomy Corporation, Dialog Semiconductor, TDL Infomedia,
Bundesdruckerei, The Stationery Office, and Future Network.

Apax Partners manages and advises over Euro 12 billion on behalf of leading
institutional investors around the world. For more information please visit
http://www.apax.com.

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