Annual general meeting of Handelsbanken's shareholders, 23 March

Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ) is today sending notices to its shareholders inviting them to attend the annual general meeting at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, 23 March 2011 at the Grand Hôtel Winter Garden, Royal entrance, Stallgatan 4, Stockholm.

The agenda includes the proposed dividend of SEK 9 per share, as well as the board's proposals for a new mandate for repurchasing shares and for an issue of convertible debt instruments to employees.

Regarding election of members of the board, the proposal comprises the re-election of Hans Larsson (as chairman), Jon Fredrik Baksaas, Ulrika Boëthius, Pär Boman, Tommy Bylund, Göran Ennerfelt, Lone Fonss Schroder, Jan Johansson, Fredrik Lundberg, Sverker Martin-Löf, Anders Nyrén and Bente Rathe.

Further information is available in the attached notice to attend the AGM, the Swedish version of which will be published on 11 February in Svenska Dagbladet, Dagens Nyheter and Post- och Inrikes Tidningar (the official Swedish Gazette).

For further information, please contact:

Hans Larsson, chairman of the board
Tel: +46 8 701 3050, e-mail: hala17@handelsbanken.se

Robert Vikström, secretary of the board
Tel: +46 8 701 1301, e-mail: rovi02@handelsbanken.se

For more information about Handelsbanken please go to www.handelsbanken.com