NIB places credit line with SpareBank 1 SMN for hydropower projects in Norway

The Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) has signed a loan agreement totalling NOK 1 billion (EUR 133 million) with SpareBank 1 SMN for onledning to small and medium-sized hydropower enterprises in Norway. The 15-year-maturity loan programme is earmarked to finance Sparebank 1 SMN's hydropower projects, most of them between 1 megawatt and 5 megawatts. The loan programme will cover new hydropower projects and upgrading of existing plants during 2012-2013. For further information, please contact: Kjell Fordal, Chief Financial Officer, tel. +47 90541672, kjell.fordal@smn.no Vegard Helland, Executive Director, tel. +47 90087286, vegard.helland@smn.no Sari Cabell, Senior Manager, Origination NIB, tel. +358 10 618 0519, sari.cabell@nib.int Arild Moen, Senior Communications Specialist NIB, tel. +358 10 618 0496, arild.moen@nib.int This information is subject of the disclosure requirements acc. to §5-12 vphl (Norwegian Securities Trading Act) This announcement is distributed by Thomson Reuters on behalf of Thomson Reuters clients. The owner of this announcement warrants that: (i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and other applicable laws; and (ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein. Source: SpareBank 1 SMN via Thomson Reuters ONE [HUG#1630402]