Press release

Orkla sells Elkem to China National Bluestar

Orkla ASA has signed a binding agreement with China National Bluestar (Group)
Co., Ltd (Bluestar) for the purchase and sale of Elkem. The transaction
comprises Elkem Silicon Materials, Elkem Foundry Products, Elkem Carbon and
Elkem Solar. According to the agreement, the sales price is USD 2 billion for
Elkem before closing- and capital structure adjustments. The agreement includes
the 1.5 TWh/year power contract Orkla acquired last year which will ensure that
Elkem´s smelting plants in Norway will have a secure and long-term competitive
power base. Orkla will remain the owner of the shares in Elkem Energi AS,
including its 85 % stake in AS Saudefaldene.

Bluestar is a leading China-based international chemicals and new materials
company, with 2010 sales in excess of USD 6 billion and Head Office in Beijing.
The company is 80%-owned by the Chinese state-owned company ChemChina, with the
remaining 20 % owned by the US private equity firm Blackstone Group. Since 2006
Bluestar has performed a number of international acquisitions, including Adisseo
and Rhodia´s Silicones business in France, and the Australian company Qenos.

Elkem will become an important part of Bluestar´s operations going forward. With
this transaction Bluestar will strengthen its competitiveness in the silicone
industry and broaden its footprint in adjacent markets. All of Elkem´s business
areas and technologies are important for supporting the booming Chinese economy
and will help the country in reaching its global climate targets.  Elkem Solar´s
technology for the highly energy-efficient and environment-friendly production
of solar-grade silicon reduces the risk of emitting environmentally damaging
substances and enjoys a significantly lower energy consumption than traditional
technologies. Elkem is in a worldwide leading position in this new technology.

 "It is important to secure that Elkem has a new owner able to further develop
its potential and keep its competence and resources united. In Bluestar, Elkem
will have an owner that has solid financial capacity and is well positioned in
the world´s largest market for metals and renewables. Bluestar has the best
attributes to take advantage of the potential of Elkem´s technological strength
and competence", states Bjørn M. Wiggen, President and CEO of Orkla ASA."

Helge Aasen, CEO of Elkem, comments as follows: "China is or will be the biggest
and highest-growth market for silicon metal, foundry products, solar-grade
silicon and other products offered by Elkem. I believe that by joining forces