Prospectus Landsbanki November 2005
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Prospectus Landsbanki Íslands hf. November 2005 This is an unauthorized translation of the Icelandic original prospectus. In the event of any discrepancies the original Icelandic version shall prevail. Contents 1 Declarations.............................................................................................................3 1.1 Issuer’s Statement ................................................................................................ 3 1.2 Declaration by the Issue Co-ordinator .................................................................... 3 1.3 Declaration by the Auditors.................................................................................... 4 2 Notice to Investors...................................................................................................5 3 General Information.................................................................................................6 4 Risk .......................................................................................................................10 4.1 Equity investment risk......................................................................................... 10 4.2 Managing Landsbanki’s risk.................................................................................. 10 4.3 Counterparty risk ................................................................................................ 11 4.4 Market Risk......................................................................................................... 15 4.5 Operational Risk.................................................................................................. 18 4.6 Mismatch of assets and liabilities.......................................................................... 21 4.7 The Economic Outlook and its Impact on Landsbanki’s Operations ......................... 23 5 Share Capital and Shareholders ..............................................................................26 5.1 Share capital....................................................................................................... 26 5.2 Shareholders ...................................................................................................... 27 6 Merger of Landsbanki and Burðarás hf....................................................................29 7 History, organisation, Board of Directors and employees .........................................31 7.1 An overview of Landsbanki’s history ..................................................................... 31 7.2 Organisation ....................................................................................................... 33 7.3 Board of Directors ............................................................................................... 40 7.4 Employees .......................................................................................................... 40 7.5 Auditors.............................................................................................................. 44 8 Activities and Operating Environment .....................................................................45 8.1 Strategy and objectives ....................................................................................... 45 8.2 Divisions ............................................................................................................. 46 9 Outlook and Future Vision ......................................................................................57 10 Performance and Balance Sheet..............................................................................59 10.1 Nine-month interim financial statements 2005 .................................................. 59 10.2 Annual Results 2002-2004 ............................................................................... 69 11 Annexes.................................................................................................................74 Landsbanki Íslands hf. Prospectus, November 2005 2 1 Declarations 1.1 Issuer’s Statement The Board of Directors and CEOs of Landsbanki Íslands hf., Id. No. 540291-2259, Austurstræti 11, 155 Reykjavík, Iceland, hereby declare that, to the best of their knowledge, the information in this prospectus both accords fully with the facts and no important items have been omitted which could affect evaluation of the issuer or its securities. Reykjavík, 11 November 2005, ________________________________ On behalf of the Board of Directors, Björgólfur Guðmundsson, Id. No. 020141-7199, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Landsbanki Íslands hf. ________________________________ ________________________________ Halldór J. Kristjánsson, Id. No. 130155-4569, Sigurjón Þ. Árnason, Id. No. 240766-3109, CEO, CEO, Landsbanki Íslands hf. CEO, Landsbanki Íslands hf. 1.2 Declaration by the Issue Co-ordinator Corporate Finance of Landsbanki Íslands hf., Id. No. 540291-2259, Hafnarstræti 5, 155 Reykjavík, hereby declares that in preparing this prospectus it has gathered the data which in its estimation was necessary to provide a true and fair picture of Landsbanki Íslands hf. and its securities. To the best of our knowledge no important items have been omitted which could effect the evaluation of the issuer or the securities for which listing is sought. Reykjavík, 11 November 2005, _______________________________ Bjarni Þórður Bjarnason, Id. No. 110469-5869, Head of Corporate Finance, Landsbanki Íslands hf. Landsbanki Íslands hf. Prospectus, November 2005 3 1.3 Declaration by the Auditors We the undersigned, PriceWaterhouseCoopers hf., Id. No. 690681-0579, Skógarhlíð 12, 105 Reykjavík, have audited and endorsed without reservation the annual financial statements of Landsbanki Íslands hf. for the years 2002, 2003 and 2004. We have also examined the group interim financial statements for the period 1 January to 30 September 2005. Our examination was carried out in accordance with international auditing standards. Such an examination is limited to questioning employees and analysing the various items of the accounts; it does not involve such extensive actions as an audit intended to result in an opinion on the accounts as a whole. Our responsibility is limited to providing an opinion on the interim financial statements based on our examination. Our examination did not reveal anything to indicate otherwise than that the interim financial statements give a true and fair picture of the Bank’s performance during this period, its balance sheet as of 30 September 2005 and changes to its financial structure occurring during the period, in accordance with IAS 34 (Interim Financial Reporting). We confirm that other information contained in this prospectus concerning the accounts of Landsbanki Íslands hf. accords with the financial statements referred to. Reykjavík, 11 November 2005, On behalf of PriceWaterhouseCoopers hf. ________________________________ ________________________________ Hjalti Schiöth, Id. No. 141261-4289 Vignir Rafn Gíslason, Id. No. 140467-5379 Landsbanki Íslands hf. Prospectus, November 2005 4 2 Notice to Investors This prospectus has been prepared by the Corporate Finance section of Landsbanki Íslands hf., in co- operation with the Bank’s Board of Directors, senior management and auditors. The prospectus is published in connection with two increases in Landsbanki’s share capital which took place recently. The former increase, of ISK 800,000,000 nominal value, was listed on the Iceland Stock Exchange Ltd. (ICEX) on 18 April 2005. The latter increase, of ISK 2,120,677,803 nominal value, was approved by a shareholders’ meeting of Landsbanki Íslands hf. on 15 September 2005, and listed on ICEX on 3 October 2004 Since the total increase amounts to more than 10% of Landsbanki’s total share capital in the space of 12 months, the company must issue a prospectus as provided for in subparagraph a, Point 3 of Article 1 of Annex IV to Regulation No. 434/1999. Listing of new share capital in Landsbanki Íslands hf. is carried out as provided for in Act No. 34/1998, on the Activities of Stock Exchanges and Regulated OTC Markets, and the ICEX Rules for Issuers of Securities Listed on the Iceland Stock Exchange Ltd. Purchase of equities is inherently a risk investment, based on expectancy of future profit. This prospectus may not in any way be regarded as a promise of successful operations or a return on funds by Landsbanki Íslands hf. Investors are advised to acquaint themselves thoroughly with this prospectus, together with its annexes. The information presented in this prospectus reflects its date of issue. Landsbanki Íslands hf. is listed on the ICEX Main List and complies with ICEX rules on on- going information disclosure. Investors are advised to follow the news announcements and notifications which may be published in the ICEX News System concerning the Bank once the prospectus has been issued. Each investor must base a decision on investment in shares of Landsbanki Íslands hf. on his/her own examination and analysis of the information presented in the prospectus. Investors are advised to study their legal position, including taxation issues which may be relevant to their transactions in Landsbanki’s shares. Investors are urged especially to acquaint themselves well with the discussion of risk provided in Chapter 4 of this prospectus. In this prospectus the words “Landsbanki”, “the Bank” and “the Company” all refer to the group Landsbanki Íslands hf. unless otherwise indicated by the wording or context. Upon the publication of this prospectus,