Handelsbanken has repurchased nearly 7 million shares to date

Handelsbanken has repurchased nearly 7 million shares to date Up to 31 May 2000 inclusive, Handelsbanken has repurchased 6 919 500 shares comprising 1 619 400 Class A shares and 5 300 100 Class B shares. The total number of shares in Handelsbanken is 714 746 940. In the future, the Bank will announce the current number of repurchased shares every month on its web site (www.handelsbanken.se) and via press releases. Background On 14 April 2000, the Annual General Meeting and Board of Svenska Handelsbanken decided to repurchase 50 million of the Bank's class A and/or class B ordinary shares during the period until the next Annual General Meeting in 2001. The acquisitions are to be carried out on the OM Stockholm Exchange at the market price prevailing at the time of acquisition, and for a maximum of SEK 4 billion. For further information please contact: Sven Grevelius, Head of Accounting and Control, tel +46 8-22 92 20, e-mail: svgr01@handelsbanken.se Bengt Ragnå, Head of Investor Relations, tel +46 8-701 12 16, e-mail: bera02@handelsbanken.se ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/05/31/20000531BIT00850/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/05/31/20000531BIT00850/bit0002.pdf