Marine Harvest buys Aker Seafood shares

Marine Harvest has decided to fulfil its obligations under the forward contract relating to shares in Aker Seafoods, which expires 15 January 2008. As a consequence Marine Harvest will resume formal ownership of 5,800,531 shares in Aker Seafoods. The shares will be acquired in accordance with the terms of the forward contract at NOK 48.34 per share. Following the transaction Marine Harvest holds 5,800,531 shares in Aker Seafoods, equating to approximately 11.9% of the outstanding shares, reports the company. In the accounts of Marine Harvest, the forward contract has been valued in accordance with mark to market principles, and the transaction will consequently be neutral from a P&L point of view in Q1 2009. The transaction will not impact net interest bearing debt. The shares in Aker Seafoods will be reported as a financial investment going forward.