DnB NOR Markets forms Corporate Finance Asia

| Source: DnB NOR Bank ASA DnB NOR Bank ASA 

Closes First M&A Deal
 
DnB NOR Markets, the Investment Banking Division of DnB NOR Bank ASA, one of
the world's leading financial services groups serving the international
maritime, energy and oil service sectors, announces the formation of Corporate
Finance Asia, a Singapore based investment banking team. Joachim J. Skorge will
head the new unit, which will function as the Asian Corporate Finance office of
DnB NOR Markets, serving clients in the shipping, offshore, logistics and
energy industries, as well as assisting other DnB NOR clients with their Asian
investment banking needs. 
 
"Our strategy is to provide comprehensive investment and corporate banking
services for DnB NOR's global shipping, offshore, logistics and energy clients.
Over the last three years our group has successfully advised clients on
multiple complex cross-border M&A transactions as well as equity and debt
issues within our target industries" said Bern E. Blikstad, Head of DnB NOR
Markets' Mgroup head, aritime Industries Group and Hans Petter Aas, DnB NOR's
Head of Shipping, Offshore and Logistics, in a joint statement. "We now have
Corporate Finance teams in New York, Oslo and Singapore and can offer our
clients truly global investment banking capabilities. Our reach is even further
enhanced through 100 plus maritime and energy relationship bankers out of our
offices in London, New York, Houston, Singapore, Shanghai and Norway." 
 
DnB NOR has over the last 12 months gradually built an investment banking track
record in Asia, which includes acting as a co-manager in the Initial Public
Offerings of Pacific Shipping Trust and PT Berlian Laju Tanker Tbk in
Singapore. The Corporate Finance team closed its first M&A transaction in Asia
last week, acting as the sole financial adviser for the French company CMA CGM
S.A., the third largest container shipping group in the world, in connection
with its acquisition of Cheng Lie Navigation in Taiwan. 
 
Skorge has spent nine years in investment banking and joins Corporate Finance
Asia from DnB NOR Markets, Inc. in New York where he project managed numerous
M&A and capital markets transactions and also held a particular responsibility
for DnB NOR's clients and investment banking projects in Asia. He holds a
Master of Business and Economics from the Norwegian School of Management. 
 
DnB NOR Markets is Norway's leading investment bank and capital markets
operation, offering equities trading, corporate finance, foreign exchange and
interest-rate dealing. 
 
Contact:
Joachim J. Skorge, Head of Corporate Finance Asia
DnB NOR Markets, Singapore +65 62 12 06 70
 
Bern E. Blikstad, Head of Maritime Industries Group
DnB NOR Markets, Oslo +47 22 94 81 34