Following a flagging notification by the financial services group Exista hf.
("Exista") to the Finnish Financial Supervision Authority and Sampo Oyj
("Sampo") today, Sampo has announced to the Helsinki Stock Exchange that the
total number of Sampo A-shares controlled by Exista has risen to 19.93% per
cent of Sampo's issued share capital.
As is stated in the announcement, Exista and its group companies have today
exercised previously announced derivatives contracts raising its holdings above
the 15% flagging threshold to 15.58% of issued share capital in Sampo. In
addition, Exista Trading ehf., a wholly owned subsidiary of Exista, has
undertaken further contracts that entitle Exista Trading to acquire an
additional 4.35% of share capital in Sampo.
Sampo Oyj owns and administers the insurance subsidiaries If, the leading
property and casualty insurance company in the Nordic region; and Sampo Life, a
life and pension insurance company with operations in Finland and the Baltic
countries. Sampo is also a significant investor on a Nordic scale. Sampo Oyj is
listed on the OMX Helsinki Stock Exchange.
Lydur Gudmundsson, Executive Chairman of Exista:
"Sampo is a long-term strategic holding and an associated company in Exista's
financial accounts. Increasing our share to this level is therefore a logical
step, further demonstrating our commitment to Sampo and our faith in the
group's potential."
Enquiries:
Exista hf.
Sigurdur Nordal
Managing Director
Group Communications
sn@exista.com +354 550 8620 / +354 550 8600
About Exista
Exista is a financial services group with operations in the areas of insurance,
asset finance and investments. The company is a leading insurance underwriter
in Iceland, as well as the country's largest provider of asset finance
products. As an international investor, Exista has strategic holdings in
several companies, including Sampo Group, Kaupthing Bank, Bakkavör Group, and
Iceland Telecom. Exista's goal is to use its financial strength for the further
development of its business in Northern Europe. Exista is listed on the OMX
Nordic Exchange in Iceland, and its shareholders number over 30 thousand.