FöreningsSparbanken participates in SpareBank 1 Gruppen's new share issue

FöreningsSparbanken participates in SpareBank 1 Gruppen's new share issue Norway's SpareBank 1 Gruppen has announced a new share issue of NOK 520 million. FöreningsSparbanken will participate in the issue in the amount of NOK 130 million and thereby retain its 25-percent interest in SpareBank 1 Gruppen. FöreningsSparbanken has terminated the current cooperation agreement with SpareBank 1 effective December 31, 2002. Against the backdrop of the positive dialogue between the two parties, they have decided, however, to extend the length of the agreement by a month to ensure enough time to complete negotiations on SpareBank 1 Gruppen's strategic direction and structure. In the fourth quarter SpareBank 1 Gruppen is expected to post a loss of NOK 300 million after tax, which includes the write-off of the commitment in Finance Credit. As a result, FöreningsSparbanken's share of the loss will be approximately SEK 91 million after tax for the fourth quarter. For further information, please contact: Annika Wijkström, Executive Vice President and Head of International Alliances, phone +46 8 585 913 97 Staffan Salén, Executive Vice President and Head of Communications, phone +46 8 585 927 79 or +46 705-31 01 11 ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/12/19/20021219BIT01540/wkr0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/12/19/20021219BIT01540/wkr0002.pdf