(Oslo, 20.10.2000) Telenor and EDB Business Partner have entered into a strategic cooperation agreement with Coop Norge. This agreement will reinforce Coop's competitiveness in Norway through the use of new Internet based services and the introduction of new technology throughout their operations.

Coop Norge has a strong focus on the development of profitability within the cooperative, and the organisation desires to increase its competitiveness through a broad technical and commercial commitment. Coop has sought a strategic partner in connection with this process to realise the cooperative's ambitions. They decided on Telenor and EDB Business Partner jointly, and a cooperation agreement has now been signed by the three parties.

- Coop's primary goal is to realise a more profitable operational structure for its 1245 stores in Norway. This will create a potential financial gain that will benefit all of Coop's members, says Managing Director Svein E. Skorstad of Coop Norge.

- Our joint ambition is to lower Coop's cost level significantly by means of new Internet based services and the use of new technology, says Bjørn Trondsen, CEO of EDB Business Partner.

Coop Norge will create an electronic marketplace for itself and its suppliers, which will provide more cost-effective interaction and new business opportunities. Coop seeks to take the market's demand for security, functionality and industry adaptation seriously with solutions from Telenor and EDB Business Partner.

- Coop has extensive knowledge of retail trade and logistics, while Telenor and EDB Business Partner have the right state-of-the-art expertise in technology. Together we will really make headway in electronic commerce in Norway, says Jon Fredrik Baksaas, Senior Executive Vice President at Telenor.

- Our 874,000 members will also be given access to a comprehensive electronic marketplace that will be both easy and secure to use. Our members will, for example, receive profitable offers for data and telephony equipment and services through our cooperation with Telenor, says Skorstad.

The cooperation agreement encompasses, for example, the development of e-commerce, intranet, VIP Network, training via the Internet, new member services, management solutions for data and telephony systems, in addition to new types of integrated membership card services.

For further information contact:
Svein Skorstad, Managing Director, Coop Norge, mobile +47 908 33 249
Bjørn V. Kløvstad, Information Director, Coop Norge, mobile +47 950 45 688
Fredrik Baksaas, Senior Executive Vice President, Telenor, mobile +47 900 21 408
Bjørn Trondsen, CEO of EDB Business Partner ASA, mobile +47 917 85 617
Jan Kristensen, Information Director, Telenor Business Solutions, mobile +47 908 38 897