Statkraft and Norfund agree on basis for further cooperation in renewable energy

(Oslo, 20 June 2013) Statkraft and Norfund have signed an agreement expressing their intention to restructure and prolong their cooperation within renewable energy. The aim is to create a leading international hydropower cluster, based on assets from Statkraft, SN Power and Agua Imara.

The parties have agreed with binding effect that Norfund's option to sell its shares in SN Power to Statkraft in Q4 2013 is postponed to Q2 2014.

The agreement contains the framework for future ownership structure and cooperation. The aim is to reach final and binding agreements by the end of Q4 2013, prolonging the companies' strategic cooperation in renewable energy with a strong focus on hydropower in emerging markets.

The main elements of the proposed new structure and cooperation are:

• Statkraft will own 67% and Norfund 33% of SN Power's existing portfolio in South Asia & South America, which will be operationally integrated with Statkraft's portfolio in Southeast Europe.
   
• A new company called SN Power will be created, consisting of existing SN Power's portfolio in South East Asia and Agua Imara's portfolio in Africa and Central America, forming three separate regions within the company.
   
• Regional Norwegian power companies BKK and TrønderEnergi will be invited to participate with ownership interests in SN Power and consent to the proposed structure. The intention of the Parties is also to invite one or two financial investors into the company at a later stage, with the aim that Statkraft and Norfund thereafter will own around 40 per cent each of SN Power. Remaining shares will be held by BKK, TrønderEnergi and new financial investors.
   
• A separate Project and Construction unit will be established within Statkraft International Hydropower, which shall be a preferred supplier of project and construction execution services to all international hydropower projects within Statkraft and SN Power. 

The agreement includes an intention that the put option program in the current shareholders agreement for SN Power, which gives Norfund options to sell its shares in SN Power to Statkraft in 2013, 2014 and 2015, is replaced by a revised put/call option program for the period 2017 onwards.

"Statkraft's ambition is to become a leading international company within hydropower. A final agreement with Norfund will further strengthen our industrial role and take advantage of the competence within the Statkraft Group", says Christian Rynning-Tønnesen, CEO of Statkraft.

"This agreement confirms the long term strategic cooperation between Norfund and Statkraft, BKK and TrønderEnergi to harness and develop hydropower resources in developing countries. The new platform for cooperation will scale up our joint efforts benefiting the global fight against climate change as well as the fight against poverty", says Kjell Roland, Managing Director of Norfund.

About Statkraft
Statkraft is Europe's largest generator of renewable energy and is the leading power company in Norway. The company owns, produces and develops hydropower, wind power, gas power and district heating. Statkraft is a major player in European power trading and has 3600 employees in more than 20 countries.

About Norfund
Norfund (the Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries) is owned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and serves as an instrument in Norwegian development assistance policy. The fund contributes to poverty reduction and economic development through investments in profitable businesses and transfer of knowledge and technology. The current investment portfolio of Norfund totals USD 1.3 billion invested in 107 different projects.

For further information, please contact:

Lars Magnus Günther, Communications advisor, Statkraft
 +47 91 24 16 36 lars.gunther@statkraft.com

Heidi Berg, Communications advisor, Norfund
+47 99 70 10 61 heidi.berg@norfund.no

www.norfund.no
www.statkraft.com
www.snpower.com
www.aguaimara.com

This information is subject of the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.