Oppdatering på myndighetsgodkjennelser relatert til det frivillige tilbudet for Sbanken ASA

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, INTO OR WITHIN CANADA, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, SOUTH AFRICA, HONG KONG, JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE DISTRIBUTION OR RELEASE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL

Oslo, 16. november 2021

Det vises til tilbudsdokument datert 23. april 2021 («Tilbudsdokumentet»), og etterfølgende børsmeldinger for det anbefalte frivillige tilbudet fra DNB Bank ASA («Tilbyder») om erverv av alle aksjene i Sbanken ASA («Selskapet») som ikke allerede eies av Tilbyder («Tilbudet»).

Videre vises det til Konkurransetilsynets varsel av 26. august 2021 om mulig inngrep mot Tilbyders planlagte oppkjøp av Selskapet i henhold til Tilbudet («Varselet»). Varselet er begrunnet i Konkurransetilsynets foreløpige vurderinger knyttet til mulige konkurransemessige virkninger av oppkjøpet i markedet for fondsdistribusjon.

Etter Tilbyders kunngjøring 7. oktober 2021 og 28. oktober 2021 har Tilbyder fremsatt flere forslag til avhjelpende tiltak som involverte flere tredjeparter for å avhjelpe Konkurransetilsynets foreløpige bekymringer uttrykt i Varselet. De foreslåtte tiltakene omfattet blant annet et salg av hoveddelen av Selskapets fondsdistribusjonsvirksomhet i tillegg til atferdsbegrensninger etter slikt salg, som etter Tilbyders vurdering fullt ut ville avhjulpet Konkurransetilsynets bekymringer.

Konkurransetilsynet har i dag likevel kunngjort at de foreslåtte avhjelpende tiltakene fremsatt av Tilbyder ikke i tilstrekkelig grad har avhjulpet Konkurransetilsynets bekymringer uttrykt i Varselet og har dermed fattet vedtak om forbud mot det planlagte oppkjøpet. Således er ikke betingelse 3 om myndighetsgodkjennelser (Regulatory Approvals, som definert i Tilbudsdokumentet) for Tilbudet oppfylt.

Tilbyder vurderer nå en mulig klage over Konkurransetilsynets vedtak til Konkurranseklagenemnda. Tilbyder vil gi ytterligere informasjon innen rimelig tid, og har 15 virkedager på å beslutte om Konkurransetilsynets vedtak skal påklages.

Oppgjør av Tilbudet skal finne sted senest 10 virkedager etter datoen hvor Tilbyder har kunngjort at betingelsene for gjennomføring av Tilbudet som beskrevet i Tilbudsdokumentet, herunder myndighetsgodkjennelser (eng.: Regulatory Approvals), har blitt oppfylt eller frafalt av Tilbyder. Innenfor rammen av gjeldende rett, er oppgjør av tilbudet fremdeles betinget av oppfyllelse av betingelser 3 (No Material Adverse Change), 4 (Conduct of business), 6 (No governmental interference) og 7 (No breach of Transaction Agreement) frem til oppgjør av Tilbudet finner sted. Se punktene 3.4 (Conditions for completion of the Offer) og 3.10 (Settlement) i Tilbudsdokumentet for ytterligere informasjon.

DNB Markets, del av DNB Bank ASA er Tilbyders finansielle rådgiver. Advokatfirmaet BAHR AS er Tilbyders juridiske rådgiver i forbindelse med Tilbudet. Arctic Securities AS er finansiell rådgiver og Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS er juridisk rådgiver for Selskapet i forbindelse med Tilbudet.

For videre informasjon, vennligst kontakt følgende personer hos Tilbyder:

Rune Helland, Head of Investor Relations: +47 97 71 32 50

Media contact:

Thomas Midteide, GEVP Communications & Sustainability: +47 96 23 20 17

Følgende personer hos Selskapet kan kontaktes i forbindelse med Tilbudet:

Jesper M. Hatletveit, Head of Investor Relations: +47 95 94 00 45

Henning Nordgulen, CFO: +47 95 26 59 90

Media contact:

Kristian K. Fredheim, Head of Communications: +47 92 44 74 07

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Disse opplysningene er informasjonspliktige etter verdipapirhandelloven § 5-12.

The Offer and the distribution of this announcement and other information in connection with the Offer may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions. When published, the Offer Document and related acceptance forms will not and may not be distributed, forwarded or transmitted into or within any jurisdiction where prohibited by applicable law, including, without limitation, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Hong Kong and Japan. The Offeror does not assume any responsibility in the event there is a violation by any person of such restrictions. Persons into whose possession this announcement or such other information should come are required to inform themselves about and to observe any such restrictions.

This announcement is not a tender offer document and, as such, does not constitute an offer or the solicitation of an offer to acquire the Shares. Investors may accept the Offer only on the basis of the information provided in the Offer Document. Offers will not be made directly or indirectly in any jurisdiction where either an offer or participation therein is prohibited by applicable law or where any tender offer document or registration or other requirements would apply in addition to those undertaken in Norway.

Notice to U.S. Holders

U.S. Holders (as defined below) are advised that the Shares are not listed on a U.S. securities exchange and that the Company is not subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "U.S. Exchange Act"), and is not required to, and does not, file any reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") thereunder. The Offer will be made to holders of Shares resident in the United States ("U.S. Holders") on the same terms and conditions as those made to all other holders of Shares of the Company to whom an offer is made. Any information documents, including the Offer Document, will be disseminated to U.S. Holders on a basis comparable to the method that such documents are provided to the Company's other shareholders to whom an offer is made. The Offer will be made by the Offeror and no one else.

The Offer will be made to U.S. Holders pursuant to Section 14(e) and Regulation 14E under the U.S. Exchange Act as a "Tier II" tender offer, and otherwise in accordance with the requirements of Norwegian law. Accordingly, the Offer will be subject to disclosure and other procedural requirements, including with respect to the offer timetable, settlement procedures and timing of payments, that are different from those that would be applicable under U.S. domestic tender offer procedures and law.

Pursuant to an exemption from Rule 14e-5 under the U.S. Exchange Act, the Offeror and its affiliates or brokers (acting as agents for the Offeror or its affiliates, as applicable) may from time to time, and other than pursuant to the Offer, directly or indirectly, purchase or arrange to purchase, Shares or any securities that are convertible into, exchangeable for or exercisable for such Shares outside the United States during the period in which the Offer remains open for acceptance, so long as those acquisitions or arrangements comply with applicable Norwegian law and practice and the provisions of such exemption. To the extent information about such purchases or arrangements to purchase is made public in Norway, such information will be disclosed by means of an English language press release via an electronically operated information distribution system in the United States or other means reasonably calculated to inform U.S. Holders of such information. In addition, the financial advisors to the Offeror may also engage in ordinary course trading activities in securities of the Company, which may include purchases or arrangements to purchase such securities.

Neither the SEC nor any securities supervisory authority of any state or other jurisdiction in the United States has approved or disapproved the Offer or reviewed it for its fairness, nor have the contents of the Offer Document or any other documentation relating to the Offer been reviewed for accuracy, completeness or fairness by the SEC or any securities supervisory authority in the United States. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States.