2007-09-12

Key dates for merger

The merger of Norsk Hydro ASA's oil and gas activities with Statoil ASA to form StatoilHydro ASA is expected to be completed October 1, 2007. In connection with the merger the following key dates have been established relating to the trading of the Hydro-share on the Oslo Stock Exchange.

September 28, 2007, is expected to be last date the Hydro-share trades inclusive the right to receive shares in StatoilHydro.

October 1, 2007, is expected to be the first date the Hydro-share trades exclusive the right to receive shares in StatoilHydro. Consequently this will also be the first date the merged company StatoilHydro trades on Oslo Stock Exchange.

October 3, 2007, is expected to be the record date which the Norwegian Central Securities Depository uses to distribute the StatoilHydro shares to Hydro's shareholders.

According the merger plan which was approved by the extraordinary general meetings of Hydro and Statoil on July 5, 2007, Hydro's shareholders will receive 0.8622 shares in StatoilHydro for each share the hold in Hydro. The number of shares Hydro's shareholders hold in Hydro will be unaffected by the merger. Only whole shares of the merged company will be issued. Fractional shares will be aggregated into whole shares and sold in the market. The net proceeds of such sales will be distributed proportionately to the entitled Hydro shareholders.

Following the merger Hydro will have a share capital of NOK 1,370,256,730 consisting of 1,247,956,949 issued and authorized shares at par value of NOK 1.098 per share. Hydro will hold 38,652,570 own shares and the number of shares outstanding will be 1,209,304,379. Hydro will continue to trade under the NHY ticker and ISIN NO0005052605 will also be unchanged.

Information about the company: Norsk Hydro ASA