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Aker ASA : Ocean Yield AS ("Ocean Yield") acquires the offshore construction vessel Lewek Connector and enters into a 10-year bareboat charter with EMAS AMC AS.

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Ocean Yield, a 100 per cent owned subsidiary of Aker ASA, has entered into anagreement to acquire the offshore construction and cable lay vessel LewekConnector from AMC Connector AS for a total consideration of USD 315 million.After delivery, the vessel will be chartered on a hell and high water bareboatcharter contract to EMAS AMC AS, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ezra Holdings Ltd.("Ezra"). The bareboat charter will be fully guaranteed by Ezra.

The "Lewek Connector" was built in 2011 and is a large and sophisticated subseaconstruction vessel. The vessel is equipped for subsea installation in harshenvironments and can operate down to 3000 meters water depth. EMAS AMC AS willhave options to acquire the vessel during the charter period, with the firstoption being exercisable after five years.

 "We are very pleased to announce this transaction with Ezra, a company with anexcellent reputation in the subsea installation market,'' Ocean Yield's ChiefExecutive Officer Lars Solbakken said in a comment.  "This transaction willcontribute to further diversify our portfolio of vessels on long-term chartersto high quality counterparties. Combined with the Pure Car Truck Carriersnewbuildings recently announced, the two transactions will generate an annualEBITDA of more than USD 52 million for Ocean Yield, once all vessels have beendelivered."

Ezra, operating under the brand name EMAS, is a leading global contracting groupproviding offshore/subsea construction, marine, production and well interventionservices. The company is listed in Singapore.

Ocean Yield has secured long-term financing with banks for approximately 75 percent of the investment on competitive terms. The remaining amount will be fundedwith equity. Ocean Yield's charter backlog will after the transaction stand atUSD 1.7 billion. Delivery is expected in October 2012.

The seller of the vessel, AMC Connector AS, is a 50/50 joint venture betweenEzra and Aker Solutions ASA. Aker ASA indirectly owns 28 per cent in AkerSolutions ASA through Aker Kværner Holding AS. The transaction was executedaccording to Aker's principles for related party transactions.

END

For further information, please contact:Lars Solbakken, CEO of Ocean Yield ASPhone: +47 24 13 01 90E-mail: lars.solbakken@oceanyield.no

About Ocean Yield:Ocean Yield is a vessel owning company with focus on oil service and industrialshipping. The company's current asset base consists of three offshore units andtwo newbuilding Pure Car Truck Carriers (PCTC) with long term charters.  OceanYield also owns bonds in American Shipping Company, which owns 10 modern US-built product tankers (Jones Act vessels) on long-term charters to OSG. OceanYield was established in March 2012 and is currently 100 per cent owned by AkerASA.

This information is subject of the disclosure requirements pursuant to section5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

This announcement is distributed by Thomson Reuters on behalf of Thomson Reuters clients. The owner of this announcement warrants that: (i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and other applicable laws; and (ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein. Source: Aker ASA via Thomson Reuters ONE

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