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22.03.2001

AGREEMENT ON INTEGRATION WITH ØKONOMIPARTNER AS



The boards of directors of Visma ASA (“Visma”) and ØkonomiPartner AS (”ØkonomiPartner”) have today entered into an agreement regarding integration of the companies. In terms of the agreement, the parties will initiate closing negotiations with the aim of adopting a joint merger plan for the merger of ØkonomiPartner and a new subsidiary of Visma Services ASA (”Visma Services”).

ØkonomiPartner's shareholders will receive up to 1,600,000 shares in Visma and NOK 24 million in cash as the merger payment. With a share price of NOK 60 for Visma ASA, the payment will total NOK 120 million. The equity payment will be proportionally reduced if Visma's share price exceeds NOK 80 when the merger takes place.

ØkonomiPartner is the undisputed market leader in outsourcing of financial services in Norway, and the company will be a driving force for Visma Services. The combined company will hold a unique position in the rapidly growing segment for outsourcing of this type of service, and Visma will actively utilize the management of ØkonomiPartner in the development of the existing business model of Visma Services. At the same time, integration with ØkonomiPartner will enable Visma Services to create a foundation for further expansion in the Nordic countries.

ØkonomiPartner currently has about 385 employees and more than 5,000 customers. Sales for the financial year of 2000 totalled NOK 179.4 million, with an operating profit of NOK 8.1 million and a profit before tax of NOK 13.6 million. The company forecasts sales of more than NOK 210 million for 2001, with an EBITDA margin of about 8%.

ØkonomiPartner and Visma Services will have combined sales totalling more than NOK 360 million in 2001, and more than 500 employees. With this merger, Visma has achieved its aim of rapidly becoming Norway’s largest supplier of outsourcing services for financial functions.

In terms of the agreement, Visma will immediately start due diligence of ØkonomiPartner. The intention is that the boards of directors of the respective companies will sign the merger plan in May 2001. It is expected that the merger plan will be presented to the general meetings of the respective companies for consideration by the end of May 2001, and that, if the plan is approved, it will be possible to undertake the merger in August 2001. Of the shareholders in ØkonomiPartner, 81.7% have made a commitment to vote for the merger at the company's general meeting.

When the parties enter into the final merger plan, they will present a more comprehensive picture of the combined company. For further information about ØkonomiPartner, please see the company's home page: www.okonomipartner.no.



Contacts:

Visma ASA:
Øystein Moan, CEO, or Tore Bjerkan, Financial Director, telephone (+47) 6752 5500

ØkonomiPartner AS:
Ada Kjeseth, Managing Director, mobile (+47) 900 60 834, or Arild Eriksen, Financial Director, telephone (+47) 5520 9500