GRIMALDI COMPAGNIA DI NAVIGAZIONE S.P.A. STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 19 February 2007 1.00 PM PRELIMINARY RESULT OF GRIMALDI COMPAGNIA DI NAVIGAZIONE S.P.A.’S MANDATORY TENDER OFFER FOR ALL SHARES IN FINNLINES PLC The offer period in Grimaldi Compagnia di Navigazione S.p.A’s (“Grimaldi”) mandatory tender offer (”Tender Offer”) for all of the issued and outstanding shares in Finnlines Plc (“Finnlines”)expired last Friday 16 February 2007. According to the preliminary result of the Tender Offer, Grimaldi was offered 264,368 shares in Finnlines in the Tender Offer. When taking into account the abovementioned shares, Grimaldi Group's holding and share of votes in Finnlines will rise to 50.7 per cent according to the preliminary result of the Tender Offer. The final result will be published separately on 22 February 2007. Subsequent to the share purchase of 29 December 2006, Grimaldi Group companies' holding exceeded one half (1/2) of the voting rights in Finnlines and consequently Grimaldi Group companies became obliged to make a mandatory tender offer for the remainder of Finnlines’ shares in accordance with the Securities Markets Act. The Tender Offer will be consummated in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Tender Offer not later than on the fourth (4th) banking day following the termination of the tender offer period i.e. on 22 February 2007. The offer consideration will be paid to those Finnlines’ shareholders who have accepted the Tender Offer in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Tender Offer on or about the third (3rd) banking day following the date of completion trade i.e. on 27 February 2007. Grimaldi Compagnia di Navigazione S.p.A. BOARD OF THE DIRECTORS Further information: Emanuele Grimaldi, Managing Director, Grimaldi Group, Phone: +39 081 496460 Minna Avellan, Account Executive, Hill and Knowlton Finland Ltd, Phone: +358 9 3486 1209 Further information on the transaction: Esa Pensala, Director, Evli Bank Plc, Corporate Finance, Phone: +358 9 4766 9786 DISTRIBUTION Helsinki Stock Exchange Main media Grimaldi Group is one of the world’s largest privately owned shipping companies. The Group, founded in 1945, by the Grimaldi family, who are still active in the company, is a specialist in the roll on/roll off method of shipment and currently owns one of the largest fleets of ro/ro multipurpose and car carrier vessels in the world. The Grimaldi Group, with a fleet of 58 owned vessels (excluding Finnlines), offers regular liner services covering North Europe, the Mediterranean, West/Central Africa and North/South America for the transport of cars, vans, trucks and other commercial vehicles, all types of containers, general cargo (paper, forestry products, etc.), project cargo and passengers. The Grimaldi Group includes the following companies: Grimaldi Compagnia di Navigazione S.p.A., Atlantica S.p.A. di Navigazione, Industria Armamento Meridionale S.p.A., Atlantic Container Line AB, Malta Motorways of the Sea Ltd. and, since the end of 2006, Finnlines Plc. The Grimaldi Group has an annual turnover of EUR 1.3 billion (excluding Finnlines) and it employs approximately 2,300 persons (excluding Finnlines). This stock exchange release must not be released or distributed in whole or in part in or into the United States, Canada, Japan or Australia. This stock exchange release is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation for an offer to sell shares, and the tender offer will not be made directly or indirectly in the United States, Canada, Japan or Australia or any other jurisdiction where such an offer would violate laws of that jurisdiction. This stock exchange release and tender offer will not and may not be distributed, forwarded or transmitted in any way, such as by post, fax, email or telephone, or in any other way to or from areas where it would violate the law.
HSE: PRELIMINARY RESULT OF GRIMALDI COMPAGNIA DI NAVIGAZIONE S.P.A.’S MANDATORY TENDER OFFER FOR ALL SHARES IN FINNLINES PLC
| Source: Nasdaq Helsinki Oy