Finanstilsynet to take over the inspection of EEA prospectuses with effect from 1 May 2010

ENQUIRIES TO: Andreas Belsvik Tørnquist
DIR.LINE: + 47 22 93 97 25
OUR REFERENCE: 10/3803
FILING CODE: 805
DATE: 16.04.2010

Identically worded letter to investment firms, issuers of transferable securities and issuers listed on Oslo Børs or Oslo Axess, as well as competent authorities in EU/EEA-countries responsible for approval of prospectuses.

All EEA prospectuses shall beginning on 1 May 2010 be inspected and approved by Finanstilsynet, which is now taking over the inspection from Oslo Børs (the Oslo Stock Exchange). Prospectuses that have already been submitted and are being processed by Oslo Børs as at 1 May will be transferred automatically and their processing will continue at Finanstilsynet. Finanstilsynet's goal is for the inspection to continue under the same principles, procedures, etc. that Oslo Børs has been using.

Effective 1 May 2010, EEA prospectuses must be submitted to Finanstilsynet's e-mail address prospekter@finanstilsynet.no for inspection and approval. This also applies to prospectuses which are to be passported in and out of Norway. An annual overview of information released shall, as was previously the case, only be sent to Oslo Børs and released in accordance with the rules concerning the release of prospectuses.

For a more detailed explanation of the transfer of the inspection of prospectuses, refer to Finanstilsynet's Circular 12/2010, which is currently being published at www.finanstilsynet.no.

Sincerely,

Anne Merethe Bellamy
Deputy Director General
(sign.)       

Andreas B. Tørnquist
        Head of Section
        (sign.)