As part of strengthening the SpareBank 1 Alliance's presence and competitiveness in the central Eastern Norway region, SpareBank 1 SR-Bank, SpareBank 1 SMN and SpareBank 1 Nord-Norge have on 17 January 2013 signed identical agreements concerning sale of shares in Bank 1 Oslo Akershus AS to Sparebanken Hedmark. Each bank is selling 475,594 shares at a share price of NOK 494, equivalent to the book value of Bank 1 Oslo Akershus AS as of 30 September 2012.

Each of the selling banks owned 19.5 per cent of Bank 1 Oslo Akershus AS as of 31 December 2012. Following the sale of shares and other ownership modifications their new ownership interest will be 4.8 per cent. Sparebanken Hedmark and Samarbeidende Sparebanker AS have been granted options to purchase 2/3 and 1/3 of the remaining shares, respectively, pursuant to further conditions. The option is valid until 31 December 2015.

Sparebanken Hedmark's total acquisition of shares is contingent on Finanstilsynet's approval.

Stavanger, 18 January 2013

Contact people:

Inge Reinertsen, Chief Financial Officer, tel. +47 909 95 033
Thor-Christian Haugland, EVP Communications, tel. +47 480 31 633
Vidar Torsøe, VP Investor Relations, tel. +47 970 80 656

This information is subject of the disclosure requirements acc. to §5-12 vphl (Norwegian Securities Trading Act)



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