The agreements of 10 January 2005 with Folketrygdfondet, Storebrand Livsforsikring AS and DnB Nor Bank ASA included a conditional right to an additional payment if Orkla ASA ("Orkla"), in the period up to the end of March 2006, buys or sells shares in Elkem ASA ("Elkem") at a price that exceeds the agreed price of NOK 235 per share.

 

Pursuant to the supplementary agreements, the conditional right to an additional payment does not apply for 30 % of the shares sold by each of the sellers. In compensation for this, Orkla will pay a cash price of NOK 1.00 for each of these shares. At the same time, the conditional right still applies to the remaining 70 % of the shares, with the proviso that the conditional right will not apply with retroactive effect to the date of the agreement if, in connection with the mandatory offer, it is finally determined to have a value that exceeds NOK 1.00 per share. In this case, the sellers will also receive a cash payment of NOK 1.00 for these shares. The other items in the agreements remain unchanged.

 

All shareholders who are entitled to participate in the mandatory offer will have a corresponding opportunity to choose either an additional payment of NOK 1.00 per share or the conditional right to an additional payment (including the proviso described above) or a combination of the two in the ratio 30:70. Further details concerning the conditions for the mandatory offer will be included in the offer document, which will be published in connection with the submission of the mandatory offer.

 

 

THIS PRESS RELEASE IS NEITHER AN OFFER TO PURCHASE NOR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO SELL ANY SECURITIES. THIS PRESS RELEASE MAY NOT BE RELEASED, DISTRIBUTED, FORWARDED OR TRANSMITTED INTO CANADA, AUSTRALIA OR JAPAN.