SpareBank 1 Sør-Norge Forretningspartner AS Company Announcement ECIT acquires majority stake in SpareBank 1 Sør-Norge Forretningspartner AS and enters into a strategic ownership with SpareBank 1 Sør-Norge ASA ECIT acquires majority stake in SpareBank 1 Sør-Norge Forretningspartner AS and enters into a strategic ownership with SpareBank 1 Sør-Norge ASA August 5, 2026 Marcus Birk ECIT AS has signed an agreement to acquire 50.1% of the shares in SpareBank 1 Sør-Norge Forretningspartner AS (Forretningspartner) from SpareBank 1 Sør-Norge ASA, while key employees of Forretningspartner will acquire 5.058% of the shares. SpareBank 1 Sør-Norge ASA will retain 44.8% of the shares in the new ownership structure. The agreement is conditioned approval from the Norwegian Competition Authority. For ECIT, this agreement strengthens its position as a leading accounting firm in Norway. Furthermore, the agreement marks a strategic ownership with SpareBank 1 Sør-Norge ASA, a leading business bank in Norway. For ECIT, the transaction is aligned with the existing strategy of becoming a leading Nordic player – considerably strengthening its presence in the Norwegian accounting market. With a revenue of NOK 567 million, 430 employees and 34 local offices, SpareBank 1 Sør-Norge Forretningspartner AS will be the largest ECIT acquisition to date. Peter Lauring, Group CEO ECIT: – For ECIT it is an honour to cooperate with SpareBank 1 Sør-Norge ASA – a sizeable, very well-run Norwegian bank with strong local roots. – It is a priority for ECIT to build further on the foundation laid by SpareBank 1 Sør-Norge ASA – enabling SpareBank 1 Sør-Norge Forretningspartner AS to take advantage of ECIT proprietary tech, including increased use of AI. – As the accounting industry is changing, Forretningspartner and ECIT combining forces will enable the development of efficient, up-to-date services and solutions for a joint customer base, while creating better opportunities for our people to be part of the drive in the ongoing technology and process changes. – We are very pleased to welcome employees and customers of Forretningspartner to ECIT. Inge Reinertsen, Group CEO SpareBank 1 Sør-Norge: – The partial sale is about freeing up capital to invest in our core business. At the same time, it creates better conditions for further growth and development at Forretningspartner, which — together with ECIT — is now better positioned to meet the rapid changes taking place in the market. – We have every reason to be proud of the work that has been done since 2015. It is also important for me to thank all the employees of Forretningspartner for creating significant value for clients and the group, and for making Forretningspartner one of the largest and most forward-thinking companies in the accounting industry. Atle Håvarstein Nilsen, Managing Director SpareBank 1 Sør-Norge Forretningspartner: – In an industry shaped by consolidation, growth and change, finding strong partners and capitalising on market opportunities is essential. We are pleased to have joined the ECIT Group. – Having ECIT as our new majority owner will strengthen our competitiveness, our offering to clients, and help to create exciting jobs with opportunities for personal development. It makes us an attractive employer and partner for both employees and clients in the years ahead. About ECIT ECIT was founded in 2013 and provides accounting, payroll and IT services, as well as comprehensive business solutions, to a broad range of customers. The company has completed more than 150 acquisitions since its founding, based on a model that combines local presence and entrepreneurship with the scale of an international group. As of 2026, ECIT has more than 3,200 employees across 13 countries. About SpareBank 1 Sør-Norge ASA SpareBank 1 Sør-Norge ASA is one of Norway’s largest savings banks, offering a comprehensive range of financial services to private individuals, businesses, and the public sector. Headquartered in Stavanger, the bank has a strong regional presence across Southern Norway. As a member of the SpareBank 1 Alliance, SpareBank 1 Sør-Norge combines local expertise with leading digital banking services and solutions About SpareBank 1 Forretningspartner AS Forretningspartner was established in 2015. Over eleven years, the company has grown to NOK 567 million in revenue, 430 employees and 34 offices. As of today, Forretningspartner is among Norway’s largest providers of accounting and advisory services. Key Contacts ECIT: Marcus Birk (SVP Group Commercial) +45 93 60 53 20, mbirk@ecit.com SpareBank 1 Sør-Norge ASA: Øyvind Askeland (Communications Director) + 47 92 23 26 39, oevind.knoph.askeland@sb1sornorge.no Do you have any questions? Feel free to contact Marcus +45 93 60 53 20 mbirk@ecit.com
