PRELIMINARY RESULT OF STRAUMUR-BURDARAS INVESTMENT BANK HF'S PUBLIC TENDER OFFER IN EQ CORPORATION

STRAUMUR-BURDARAS INVESTMENT BANK HF PRESS RELEASE 4 July 2007 at 2:15 pm   1(2)


PRELIMINARY RESULT OF STRAUMUR-BURDARAS INVESTMENT BANK HF'S PUBLIC TENDER
OFFER FOR ALL SHARES AND OPTION RIGHTS IN eQ CORPORATION 


The offer period in the mandatory tender offer by Straumur-Burdaras Investment
Bank hf ("Straumur-Burdaras") for all the shares and option rights in eQ
Corporation ("eQ") has expired on 3 July 2007. 

According to the preliminary result of the tender offer, the shares tendered in
the tender offer represent approximately 11.65 per cent of the shares and votes
in eQ. In addition, holders of approximately 81.25 per cent of the option
rights issued by eQ have tendered their option rights pursuant to the tender
offer. Further, Straumur-Burdaras has acquired 80.57 per cent of all shares in
eQ before the beginning of the tender offer period, and during the tender offer
period it has acquired 3.89 per cent of all shares in eQ in public trading.
Accordingly, when the acquisitions before and during the tender offer period
and the acceptances of the tender offer are aggregated, the total holding of
Straumur-Burdaras would amount to approximately 96.11 per cent of the shares
and votes in eQ. Further, if Straumur-Burdaras would convert the option rights
tendered into new shares in eQ, Straumur-Burdaras' total holding in eQ would
amount to approximately 96.16 per cent of the shares and votes in eQ after the
relevant increase of the share capital. 

As the completion of the mandatory tender offer is not subject to any
conditions, Straumur-Burdaras will complete the tender offer in accordance with
its terms and conditions. The final result of the tender offer will be
confirmed and announced on 6 July 2007. 


Straumur-Burdaras Investment Bank hf


INFORMATION REGARDING STRAUMUR-BURDARAS

Straumur-Burdaras Investment Bank hf is Iceland's largest investment bank.
Straumur-Burdaras offers integrated corporate and investment banking services
in Northern Europe, with particular focus on the Nordic countries and the UK.
Straumur-Burdaras' services include corporate finance advisory, debt and equity
financing, and brokerage. 

INFORMATION REGARDING eQ

eQ is a Finnish full-service investment bank, the customers of which consist of
private investors, institutions and companies. eQ provides and develops
efficient and customer oriented investment banking services for demanding
customers. The shareholder's equity of eQ Group is EUR 64 million and the
capital adequacy ratio 14 %. The Group has approximately 170 employees and
approximately 48.000 customers. 


For more information:
eQ Corporation, Antti M�kinen, CEO, tel. +358 9 681 781 or +358 50 5611 501
Straumur-Burdaras Investment Bank hf, �ttar P�lsson, Chief Legal Counsel, tel.
+354 840 9148 


DISTRIBUTION
Helsinki Stock Exchange
Central media


The tender offer is not being made directly or indirectly in any jurisdiction
where prohibited by applicable law and this release may not be distributed,
forwarded or transmitted into or from any jurisdiction where prohibited by
applicable law by any means whatsoever including, without limitation, mail,
facsimile transmission, e-mail or telephone.