Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ) is today inviting its shareholders to attend the annual general meeting at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, 28 March 2012 at the Grand Hôtel's Winter Garden, Royal entrance, Stallgatan 4, Stockholm. 

The agenda includes a proposal for dividends of SEK 9.75 per share. 

Regarding the election of members of the Board, the nomination committee proposes the re-election of Mr Hans Larsson (as Chairman), Mr Jon Fredrik Baksaas, Mr Pär Boman, Mr Tommy Bylund, Ms Lone Fønss Schrøder, Mr Jan Johansson, Mr Fredrik Lundberg, Mr Sverker Martin-Löf, Mr Anders Nyrén and Ms Bente Rathe. Ms Ulrika Boëthius and Mr Göran Ennerfelt have both declined re-election. The nomination committee proposes the election of Mr Ole Johansson and Ms Charlotte Skog as new Board members. 

Over many years Mr Johansson held various positions within the Wärtsilä Group; most recently he was chief executive from 2000 to 2011. Mr Johansson is also Chairman of Outokumpu Oyj and the Confederation of Finnish Industries EK. Mr Johansson is a citizen of Finland and lives in Grankulla, Finland. 

Ms Skog is an employee of Handelsbanken and a Board member of Oktogonen. She is also Vice Chair of the Financial Sector Union Club at Handelsbanken and outgoing member of the Board of Handelsbanken Regional Bank Stockholm. Ms Skog lives in Österskär, Sweden. 

Further information can be found in the attached notice to attend the AGM, the Swedish version of which will be published on 17 February 2012 in Post- och Inrikes Tidningar (the official Swedish Gazette), and which will be available on Handelsbanken's website at handelsbanken.se/ireng.

For further information, please contact:

Hans Larsson, Chairman of the Board
Tel: +46 8 22 92 20, e-mail: hala17@handelsbanken.se

Klas Tollstadius, Secretary of the Board
Tel: +46 8 701 29 01, e-mail: klto01@handelsbanken.se

For more information about Handelsbanken, see: www.handelsbanken.com.