On behalf of Statoil (OSE:STL, NYSE:STO), DnB NOR has on 16 January 2006 purchased 120,000 shares for use in the group’s share saving plan. The shares have been acquired at a price of NOK 168.23 per share. Before distribution to the employees, the share saving plan has 886,327 shares.
When Statoil was listed in 2001, 25 million shares were established for use in a bonus programme aimed at small shareholders. The number of unused shares remaining as of 17 January 2006 is 23,441,885. These shares are recorded in the share register as Statoil's own shares, but they cannot be used by the company without the approval of the annual general meeting.