Swedbank to discontinue operations in Ukraine and Russia

Swedbank has decided to discontinue its remaining operations in Ukraine and
Russia and has signed a share purchase agreement regarding its Ukrainian
subsidiary with Mr. Mykola Lagun, the majority owner in Delta Bank.
The transaction is expected to be completed in the first half of 2013 and is
subject to regulatory approval. Swedbank’s Ukrainian and Russian operations
will, as of the first quarter 2013, be reported as Discontinued Operations.
“This is the final step in our strategy to concentrate Swedbank’s business
activities to Sweden and the three Baltic countries. The executive management
can now turn its full attention to our home markets”, said Michael Wolf,
President and CEO of Swedbank.
As a result of the divestment, Swedbank will report impairments in Ukraine of
approximately SEK 340m under Discontinued Operations in the first quarter of
2013.
Once the sale transaction of the Ukrainian subsidiary is completed, a negative
cumulative exchange difference of SEK 1.9 billion (which is due to the Ukrainian
hryvnia’s depreciation against the Swedish krona) will be reclassified on the
income statement under Discontinued Operations. The cumulative exchange
difference has previously impacted equity directly via Other Comprehensive
Income, mainly from 2007 to 2009. The reclassified item will therefore at this
moment not affect Swedbank’s equity, capitalisation or cash flow. Hence the
reclassified item will have no bearing on the Board of Directors’ 2013 dividend
proposal.
Following the completion of the sale, the remaining exposure in Ukraine will
comprise real estate assets managed by Swedbank’s subsidiary Ektornet with a
book value of approximately SEK 600m which will be sold in due course.
Swedbank will cease all new business in Russia and wind down its existing
operations. Swedbank’s net lending in Russia (including leasing) is
approximately SEK 2.6 billion. The lending portfolio in Russia, consisting
mainly of performing corporate loans, will decrease through amortisation.
Swedbank has real estate assets worth SEK 150m in Russia, which also will be
sold.

For further information, please contact:
Thomas Backteman, Head of Corporate Affairs, Swedbank, phone: +46 708 31 11 66
Johannes Rudbeck, Head of Investor Relations, Swedbank, phone: +46 705 82 56 56
Anna Sundblad, Press Manager, Swedbank, phone: +46 703 21 39 95

Swedbank promotes a sound and sustainable financial situation for the many
people, households and companies. Our vision is to contribute to development -
“Beyond Financial Growth”. As a leading bank in the home markets of Sweden,
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, Swedbank offers a wide range of financial
services and products. Swedbank has 7.8 million retail customers and around
600,000 corporate customers and organizations with 310 branches in Sweden and
approximately 200 branches in the Baltic countries. The group is also present in
other Nordic countries, the US and China. As of 31 December 2012 the group had
total assets of SEK 1,847 billion. Read more at www.swedbank.com