2012-02-24 21:59:49 CET

2012-02-24 22:00:53 CET


REGULATED INFORMATION

Islandic English
Hagar hf. - Company Announcement

Eignabjarg plans to sell a minimum 10% shareholding in Hagar


Press release from Eignabjarg ehf. 24 February 2012

Eignabjarg ehf., a subsidiary of Arion Bank hf., has decided to offer for sale
a minimum of 10% shareholding in Hagar hf. The shareholding will be sold in a
private placement in accordance with Article 50.1b of the Securities
Transactions Act no. 108/2007 and will be managed by Arion Bank's Investment
Banking division. The private placement is expected to be completed before 1
March. 



The eventual size of the shareholding to be sold depends on the bids submitted
by investors. Eignabjarg currently owns 19.3% in Hagar. The Financial
Supervisory Authority has confirmed that it has no objection to the Bank's
retaining up to a 10% interest in Hagar after the sale. 



The settlement between Arion Bank and the Competition Authority concerning the
Bank's acquisition of 95.7% of share capital in Hagar is still applicable.
However, under an agreement with the Competition Authority the Bank is obliged
to complete the sale of the acquired shares by 30 June 2012. 







For further information please contact:

Haraldur Guðni Eiðsson, Communications, Arion Bank on +354 856 7108

Halldór Bjarkar Lúðvígsson, Managing Director of Investment Banking, Arion Bank
on +354 856 6541