On 15 September 2016, the Norwegian State represented by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries sold 30 million shares in Entra ASA, through an accelerated book-building process after close of Oslo Stock Exchange on 14 September. The sale equals 16.3 percent of total shares and votes in the company, and after the transaction the State holds 61,368,893 shares in Entra ASA, which constitutes 33.4 percent of the shares and votes in Entra ASA. Price per share was NOK 83. The buyers include approximately 200 investors, both current and new shareholders, domestic and international.

The Entra share has performed well since the listing on Oslo Stock Exchange which attracted a number of new shareholders, and the current share price is not far below its all-time high.

"With this secondary sale of shares, we demonstrate commitment to further strengthen the private ownership in Norway. We facilitate for a larger contribution by private investors to the further development of Entra," says Monica Mæland.

Entra ASA is one of the largest real estate companies in Norway and a market leader within commercial real estate. Entra ASA owns and manages approximately 1.2 million square meters distributed between 96 properties, mainly located in the broader Oslo area, Bergen, Stavanger and Trondheim. By the end of the second quarter 2016 the real estate portfolio had an estimated market value of NOK 32 billion (€3.45 billion).

Entra ASA was listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange in October 2014. Following the initial public offering the State ownership was 49.9 percent. In October 2015 bonus shares were issued further reducing the State ownership to 49.7 percent, and now with the current sale of shares the ownership has been further reduced to 33.4 percent.

ABG Sundal Collier and DNB Markets acted as joint bookrunners in connection with the placement. Subject to certain customary exemptions, the Ministry has undertaken not to dispose of any additional shares in the Company within 90 days following completion of the placement.