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, 26 August 2021
Reference is made to the offer document dated 23 April 2021 (the "Offer
Document") and subsequent stock exchange announcements for the recommended
voluntary offer by DNB Bank ASA (the "Offeror") to acquire all outstanding
shares (the "Shares") in Sbanken ASA (the "Company") not already owned by the
Offeror (the "Offer").
Today, The Norwegian Competition Authority ("NCA") issued a reasoned Statement
of Objections against the Offeror's contemplated acquisition of the Company. The
Statement of Objections is based on the NCA's preliminary concerns related to
possible effects on competition caused by the acquisition in the market for fund
distribution.
The market for fund distribution is dynamic and rapidly growing, and the Offeror
experiences strong competition in the market from a range of incumbents and new
market players. The Offeror will now thoroughly examine the Statement of
Objections and the NCA's preliminary assessment of how the acquisition may
affect competition in the market.
The NCA emphasises that the issuing of a Statement of Objections is the NCA's
preliminary assessment, and does not prejudge the outcome of the NCA's
investigations. The parties have until 16 September 2021 to reply to the
Statement of Objections. The final deadline for the NCAs review will expire on 7
October 2021. The NCA may however at any stage close its investigation of the
acquisition provided that it finds that the criteria for intervention is not
met.
The Offeror will continue to cooperate closely with the NCA and provide all
relevant information in order for the NCA to close its investigation as quickly
as possible.
DNB Markets, a part of DNB Bank ASA is acting as financial advisor to the
Offeror. Advokatfirmaet BAHR AS is the legal advisor to the Offeror in
connection with the Offer. Arctic Securities AS is acting as financial advisor
and Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS is the legal advisor to the Company in
connection with the Offer.
For further information, please contact the following persons in the Offeror:
Rune Helland, Head of Investor Relations, telephone +47 97 71 32 50
Media contact:
Thomas Midteide, GEVP Communications & Sustainability: +47 96 23 20 17
The following persons in the Company may also be contacted in connection with
the Offer:
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
***
This information is subject to the disclosure requirements according to section
5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.
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.