Svenska Handelsbanken sells shares in card processing company

The consideration for 100% of the equity in CEKAB amounts to 257
MSEK. The transaction is conditional on, inter alia, receipt of
relevant approvals from competition authorities. The resulting
capital gain will be reported in Q1 or Q2 2007.

Svenska Handelsbanken owns CEKAB together with Nordea (39%),
Swedbank  (21%) and Danske Bank (3%). All banks are selling their
stakes at the same time to the Norwegian company EDB Business
Partner.

EDB will secure continuity in operating the growing card business.
CEKAB was founded in 1989 to build the new and common infrastructure
needed at the time. As the card business has matured a clearer
division of responsibilities between the infrastructure vendors and
the banks is preferred.



For further information:
Anna Gabrielsson, Senior Manager Strategic Development Card Services,
Handelsbanken, phone: +46 8 701 14 957
Johan Lagerström, deputy head of Corporate Communications,
Handelsbanken
phone: +46 8 70 265 8014