16 January 2009 - Aker Solutions is today offering approximately 14 100 of its employees the opportunity to buy Aker Solutions ASA shares with a market value of approximately NOK 15 000 per employee including a discount of NOK 1 500. The duration of the programme will be 12 months, from March 2009 through to March 2010, and employees who participate in the programme will purchase shares once a month in this period. The programme is binding for the 12 month purchase period. The per-share purchase price will be equal to the average (volume-weighted) share price of Aker Solutions ASA shares on the Oslo Stock Exchange on the last trading day before the shares are distributed. Thus, the number of shares purchased by each employee may vary, dependant on this average price, but will be limited to a value of NOK 1 250 each month.

Employees who keep their shares until 1 September 2011 and who are continuously employed by Aker Solutions throughout the period for which they hold their shares will be entitled to a bonus share award, free of charge, of one bonus share for every two Aker Solutions ASA share held under the programme. If Aker Solutions at the time of bonus share distribution does not hold treasury shares or is prevented from acquiring shares to distribute to its employees, the company will pay a cash amount to employee shareholders corresponding to the value of the bonus shares.

The purpose of the programme is to:

Encourage employees to own shares in the company and to take part in any long-term growth in the development of Aker Solutions' share value

Reinforce employees' interest, commitment and long-term employment in Aker Solutions

The programme will be introduced in 2009 in Norway, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Canada and Chile. Akers Solutions also intends to introduce the programme in the US, but this will be contingent upon attainment of approval from local authorities.

 

The order period runs from 20 January through 18 February 2009.

A comprehensive information package has been sent to the homes of employees eligible for the programme. It is also available on request from Aker Solutions.

ENDS

 

Investor relations: Ingrid Aarsnes, VP Investor Relations, Aker Solutions. Tel: +47 22 94 63 37, Mob: +47 950 38 364

Media: Jannik Lindbæk jr., SVP Corporate Communications, Aker Solutions. Tel: +47 67 51 30 36, Mob: +47 977 55 622

Career opportunities: visit http://www.akersolutions.com/CareerCentre  

Aker Solutions ASA, through its subsidiaries and affiliates ("Aker Solutions"), is a leading global provider of engineering and construction services, technology products and integrated solutions. Aker Solutions' business serves several industries, including oil & gas, refining & chemicals, mining & metals and power generation. The Aker Solutions group is organised in a number of separate legal entities. Aker Solutions is used as the common brand/trademark for most of these entities.

Aker Solutions' parent company is Aker Solutions ASA. Aker Solutions has aggregated annual revenues of approximately NOK 58 billion and employs approximately 26 000 people in about 30 countries.

Aker Solutions is part of Aker (www.akerasa.com), a group of premier companies with a focus on energy, maritime and marine resource industries. The Aker companies share a common set of values and a long tradition of industrial innovation. Through its majority-owned holding company Aker Holding AS, Aker controls 40.27 percent of the shares in Aker Solutions, and takes an active role in the development of the company.

This press release may include forward-looking information or statements and is subject to our disclaimer, see our web-pages www.akersolutions.com.