B2Holding ASA, via its fully owned subsidiary Ultimo
Netherlands BV, has entered into an agreement to acquire a residential mortgage Non-Performing Loan ("NPL") portfolio in Romania in a 50/50 partnership with EOS Investment RO GmbH ("EOS"), according to a company statement. 

The portfolio consists of some 6,800 loans secured by real
estate collaterals. The portfolio has a Nominal Value of some EUR 370 mn.

The acquisition of the portfolio is an important milestone
following on from B2Holding's successful acquisition of DCA  in May 2016. The acquisition is positioning B2Holding for further growth and development in Romania, which is the  largest market for NPL transactions in South-East Europe ("SEE").

The portfolio is being sold by Banca Comerciala Româna
("BCR"), a member of the Austrian Erste Group. BCR is the most important financial group in Romania, providing
universal banking operations (retail, corporate & investment banking, treasury and capital markets), and covering specialty companies working on the leasing market, private pensions and housing banks.

BCR is Romania's No. 1 bank in terms of asset value (over EUR 14 bn.).

B2Holding's partnership with EOS on this portfolio investment offers many benefits, including risk mitigation and the opportunity to form a relationship with a key regional player in the market.

B2Holding and EOS will share responsibility for managing the portfolio on an equal basis.

"We appreciate the time and commitment that both BCR and EOS have dedicated to this complex transaction. After spending time with the management of EOS, we are comfortable that this partnership will deliver maximum value to our shareholders from the portfolio, while expediting our growth in Romania and SEE" says Olav Dalen Zahl, CEO of B2Holding.

The transaction is expected to close during December 2016.