COMPLETES LIMITED DIVESTITURE OF AKER YARDS SHARES

- The limited share divestiture is part of an overall strategic plan to free up liquidity, strengthen Aker`s balance sheet, and increase its financial clout for further industrial moves. Aker also achieves a more balanced portfolio of industrial investments, says Aker`s Board Chairman and President and CEO Leif-Arne Langøy.

The Aker Yards and Aker Kværner share sales (see yesterday`s announcement) have freed up a total of NOK 4.7 billion. The share divestitures strengthen Aker`s ability to continue to develop future-oriented industrial businesses and create value for customers, society, and shareholders.

- The sale of shares in the two companies completes the work that was planned. No extraordinary dividend or payments to Aker shareholders will be made as a result of the share divestitures. Nevertheless, our shareholders will benefit from increased predictability regarding future payments, which will be made in accordance with Aker`s established dividend policy, says Langøy.

Aker`s ownership interest in both Aker Yards and Aker Kværner has been reduced to the same level: 40.1 percent. Aker will continue its role as an active, long-term owner of both companies.

- Both Aker Kværner and Aker Yards will continue to be part of the Aker Group, covered by Aker`s management model and participating in numerous Group initiatives, says Langøy.

The Aker Yards portfolio reduction results in a NOK 660 million accounting gain for Aker. The shares were acquired by international and Norwegian institutional and private investors. SEB Enskilda Securities ASA and Carnegie ASA were advisors and lead managers for the Aker Yards share divestiture.

For further information, please contact:Geir Arne Drangeid, EVP, Aker ASA, tel. +47 913 10 458