STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN -- (Marketwire) -- 11/09/09 --

Since ASSA ABLOY was formed on November 8, 1994, the Group has expanded successfully through a combination of organic growth and acquisitions, which has transformed the company from a traditional lock manufacturer into a modern, multinational security enterprise within intelligent door openings. Today, ASSA ABLOY is a global market leader in its industry.

"One in ten lock buyers in the world today choose a lock from ASSA ABLOY and we are still growing. Demand for safety and security is constantly increasing all over the world and we have never had a broader line of products, larger market penetration, or so many new innovative products," says Johan Molin, President and CEO, ASSA ABLOY.

Since ASSA ABLOY was created the Group's sales have increased from SEK 3 billion to SEK 35 billion. The number of employees today is around 30,000 compared with 4,700 employees in 1994. EBIT has simultaneously grown from SEK 212 M to SEK 5,526 M in 2008, an increase with 2,500 percent.

In 2009 ASSA ABLOY launched more products than ever before in the Group's history, mainly in the rapidly growing product segments electromechanical and electronic locks, access control, identification technology, and automatic doors. When the company was founded in 1994 the selection of products largely consisted of mechanical security products, such as traditional locks and handles for entrance doors.

"New areas of technology and innovative products are the most important sources of organic growth, which is why we invest heavily in research and development. Investments in product development have increased by 10 to 20 percent annually in recent years and currently the Group employs almost 1,000 developmental engineers," says Johan Molin.

ASSA ABLOY was founded when Securitas in Sweden and Metra in Finland merged their lock operations. At that time the company had operations in Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, and Germany.

Today the Group has its own operations in 50 countries and sales all over the world. ASSA ABLOY is dedicating resources to increasing its presence in the growth markets in Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa and South America. The share of sales on these markets will account for close to 20 percent of the Group's total sales next year.

"We will continue to grow on all markets, though primarily in the expanding growth markets. We expect that China alone will account for close to 10 percent of our total sales next year."

Visit ASSA ABLOY Historical timeline: http://www.assaabloy.com/en/com/About-ASSA-ABLOY/ASSA-ABLOY-in-brief/Timeline/

For more information, please contact:
Johan Molin, President and CEO, tel no: +46 8 506 485 42
Tomas Eliasson, CFO and Executive Vice President, tel no: +46 8 506
485 72

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