Oslo Børs VPS Holding ASA: The Board Of Directors Will Issue Its Recommendation By The End Of February At The Latest

Reference is made to the press releases of 24 and 28 December 2018 and of 4 January 2019 in respect of the tender offer by Euronext N.V. for all the outstanding shares in Oslo Børs VPS Holding ASA (“Oslo Børs VPS”).

On 4 January the Board of Directors of Oslo Børs VPS invited relevant parties that may be interested in the opportunity of making an offer for the shares in Oslo Børs VPS to participate in an offer process. The background to this was the information that there were relevant parties other than Euronext who were interested but who did not participate in the auction in question that was initiated by some shareholders in December.

Following the invitation, a number of parties have expressed interest. Meetings have been held with some of these and new meetings have been agreed for interested parties to meet with the management of Oslo Børs VPS. The Board is engaged in a process the aim of which is to find the optimal solution in terms of shareholder value, in addition to a high-quality plan for the further development of Norway’s stock exchange and central securities depository, including in relation to matters such as the ability of companies that make use of the Oslo Børs marketplaces to access capital. 

The Board of Directors can see that the work currently being undertaken will be extensive and will take time. There are very important factors for the Board to consider and it has drawn up a schedule according to which it will provide shareholders with its evaluation and recommendation by the end of February at the latest. The Board of Directors strongly recommends that shareholders await its final recommendation before taking a position on the tender offer.

Arctic Securities has been appointed to assist the Board with its work. Interested parties may contact Jon Gunnar Pedersen on tel. +47 484 03 220.