The Ministry of Petroleum and Energy has chosen UBS Warburg and DnB Markets as its financial advisers in the sale of about 6,5% of the value in the states direct financial interest in the petroleum sector, SDFI.

In White Paper no. 36 (2000-2001), the government proposed to sell about 15% of the value in SDFI to Statoil and about 5% to Norsk Hydro and others. In a Parliament decision 26 ^th> April 2001, a majority consisting of the Labour Party, the Conservatives, the Christian Peoples Party, and the Liberals, decided to sell about 21,5% of the value in the SDFI portfolio.

A sale of about 15% of the SDFI portfolio to Statoil was accomplished on 3 ^rd> May 2001.