Handelsbanken's employee convertible bond 2011 oversubscribed

On 23 March 2011, the AGM of Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ) resolved on a convertible bond programme aimed at the employees of the Group, for a nominal amount of a maximum of SEK 2,512,500,000 by issuing convertible bonds.

Subscription for and allocation of the employee convertible bond is now complete. Demand from the Group's employees was very large. The subscription amount was SEK 8.4 billion which is SEK 5.9 billion more than the maximum amount for the convertible bond of SEK 2.5 billion. Approximately 65 per cent of the employees subscribed for convertible bonds.

For further information, please contact:

Mikael Hallåker, Head of Investor Relations, tel: + 46 8 701 29 95
mobile: +46 70 266 29 95
Johan Lagerström, Head of Corporate Communications, tel: +46 8 701 13 95
mobile: +46 70 265 80 14

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