61KN Westpac 24 S

RNS Number:9554D
Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken
18 January 2000

Enskilda Securities and Orkla Finans (Fondsmegling) create the leading Nordic
investment bank.


Enskilda Securities has reached an agreement in principle to merge with Orkla
Finans (Fondsmegling). The transaction is structured as an acquisition by
Enskilda Securities of Orkla Finans (Fondsmegling) from Orkla, with payment in
newly issued shares. Following the merger, Orkla will hold 22.5 per cent of the
shares in Enskilda Securities AB and SEB the remaining 77.5 per cent.

Orkla Finans (Fondsmegling) is one of the largest investment banks in Norway
within equity trading, equity research and corporate finance, and has more than
100 employees. Enskilda Securities is one of the largest Nordic investment banks
with similar activities. Enskilda Securities has approximately 420 employees.

The combination will create the leading Nordic investment bank with very strong
market positions. Total pro forma income amounted to approximately 2.5 SEK
billion in 1999 and the number of employees to 525. The combination will be
represented in nine countries. The pro forma market share on the Oslo Stock
Exchange was 12.6 per cent in 1999 and 10.6 per cent on the OM Stockholm
Exchange. Some cost synergies will be generated, but above all the combination
will create a potential to reinforce the strong growth that both Enskilda
Securities and Orkla Finans (Fondsmegling) have displayed during 1999. The brand
name "Orkla Enskilda Securities" will be used for the joint Norwegian business.

The Nordic market for equity trading and corporate finance services is growing
rapidly. In 1999 the turnover at the OM Stockholm Exchange increased by 43 per
cent and at the Oslo Stock Exchange by 38 per cent. The compounded annual growth
rate between 1996 and 1999 has been 42 per cent and 24 per cent, respectively.
Within corporate finance, merger and acquisitions display strong growth, in
particular.

Per-Anders Ovin, CEO Enskilda Securities AB: 
- 1999 was an excellent year for Enskilda Securities. In Norway, we have
strengthened our position, but have not achieved the same success as in other
markets. The merger will thus give us the opportunity to further strengthen our
Nordic platform, which is crucial if we are to be successful in our European
ambitions. Enskilda Securities and Orkla Finans (Fondsmegling) display good
complementarily and we also run our businesses in a similar manner. Furthermore,
Orkla has a very strong and valuable network in Norway which we will be able to
capitalise on.

Lars H. Thunell, CEO SEB and Chairman Enskilda Securities AB: 
- We believe that the merger will increase the value of our shareholding in
Enskilda Securities and it shows that we are open-minded as regards various
types of solutions for our subsidiaries and business areas. The merger also
strengthens our connections to Orkla, one of the most important groups in
Norway.

Tom Vidar Rygh, Deputy CEO Orkla ASA: 
- Orkla Finans (Fondsmegling) has a very strong and leading position in Norway
and has also had a very good year in 1999. In order to succeed internationally
there is, however, a need to create larger units to increase profitability. The
combination solves important strategic issues for both Orkla Finans
(Fondsmegling) and Enskilda Securities, and the firms also have a large degree
of complementarily. We look forward to participating as a long-term shareholder
together with SEB and support the new entity's development in an industry that,
we believe, will be interesting and show strong growth in the future.

It is proposed that Tom Vidar Rygh, Deputy CEO Orkla ASA, will be elected as
Orkla's representative on Enskilda Securities' Board.

The agreement in principle and the transaction are, among other things,
conditional upon a confirmatory due diligence and upon receiving necessary
regulatory approvals.


Press conference

A press conference will be held at 2.00 pm local time at Orkla Finans'
office, Tordenskioldsgate 8 - 10, Oslo, with Tom Vidar Rygh, Lars H.
Thunell and Per-Anders Ovin.

For further information, please contact:

Mr Per-Anders Ovin, CEO Enskilda Securities AB, tel. +46 8 52 22 95 75
+46 70 432 95 75 
Mr John Abrahamson, Deputy CEO Enskilda Securities AB and Head of Corporate
Finance, tel. +46 3 52 22 96 51,  +46 70 669 96 51 
Mr Johan Fant, Deputy CEO Enskilda Securities AB and COO, tel.+46 8 52 22 97 77
+46 70 432 97 77 
Mr Tom Vidar Rygh, Deputy CEO Orkla ASA, tel. +47 22 54 40 00 
Ms Gunilla Wikman, CIO SEB, tel. +46 8 763 81 25

END
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