(Oslo, 19 December 2001) Handelsbanken has signed an agreement with EDB Fellesdata, a wholly owned subsidiary of EDB Business Partner, for the purchase of software and computer operating services for its banking activities. The agreement is for a five-year period, and represents a total contractual value of ca. NOK 160 million.

In addition to extending the existing contract for banking systems and related computer operating services, the new agreement provides for the purchase of new banking applications and consultancy services, as well as the conversion of Bergensbanken's systems to the standard EDB Fellesdata applications already used by Handelsbanken. Computer operating services will be provided by EDB Teamco.

Contact names:

Ole Trasti, Managing Director, EDB Fellesdata, and EVP, Bank & Finance, EDB Business Partner. Tel. +47 22 52 82 60, +47 90 08 91 00

Bjørn Trondsen, CEO, EDB Business Partner, Tel. +47 22 94 40 30, +47 91 78 56 17