FöreningsSparbanken reaches 84.3 per cent in Hansabank after purchasing shares and receiving support from major shareholders

FöreningsSparbanken AB (“FöreningsSparbanken”) has today purchased 37,581,257 shares in AS Hansapank (“Hansabank”), corresponding to 11.8 per cent of the total number of shares. This means that FöreningsSparbanken owns a total of 227,085,969 shares in Hansabank, corresponding to 71.6 per cent of the total number of shares. In addition, FöreningsSparbanken has received written assurances from a number of Estonian investors, being represented by Rain Lõhmus, with regard to FöreningsSparbanken’s offer to the shareholders in Hansabank (the “Offer). These investors undertake to accept the Offer with respect to the shares they control. Such investors represent 3.6 per cent of the total number of shares in Hansabank. Also, Fidelity Investment Services Limited and its subsidiaries and certain affiliates, together holding shares representing 4.3 per cent of the total number of shares in Hansabank, have today expressed to FöreningsSparbanken that they intend to accept the Offer at the increased Offer price. As has been previously announced in a press release published by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on 11 February 2005, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, representing 4.8 per cent of the total number of shares in Hansabank, has expressed its intention to accept the Offer. This means that shareholders representing 12.7 per cent of the total number of shares in Hansabank have either undertaken to accept the Offer or have expressed that they intend to accept the Offer at the increased Offer price. Together with the shares already owned by FöreningsSparbanken following today’s purchase, this represents 84.3 per cent of the total number of shares in Hansabank. For further information, please contact: Henrik Kolga, Head of Corporate Communications, FöreningsSparbanken, phone +46 708 11 13 15