FöreningsSparbanken (Swedbank) increases its holding in Estonian Hansabank

FöreningsSparbanken (Swedbank) increases its holding in Estonian Hansabank The Board of Directors of Swedbank has today decided to exercise its option with the right to buy 2,093,832 shares in Hansabank, corresponding to 2.66 percent of the shares and votes in Hansabank, with due date in December 1999. The decision means that Swedbank´s ownership during December will increase from the present 49,98 percent to 52,64 percent. The acquisition requires the approval of relevant supervisory authorities. "Swedbank now for almost a year has held close to 50 percent of the shares in Hansabank. The development of Hansabank is very positive and prospects are good for the bank in Estonia and also in the other baltic states where Hansabank is operating through its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Now when the option is due it is therefore natural that we exercise it, wherby also possible doubts about our responsibilities in Hansabank are eliminated", says Göran Ahlström, President & CEO of Swedbank. For further information, please contact: Göran Ahlström, President & CEO, Swedbank, telephone +46-8-5859 2898 Anders Sahlén, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Hansabank, telephone +46-8-5859 3590 Einar Frydén, Information Manager, telephone +46-8-5859 1630 and +46-705-11 00 33 ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/10/20/19991020BIT00820/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/10/20/19991020BIT00820/bit0002.pdf