Not for release or distribution in the United States, Australia, Canada or Japan The Board of Directors of Aktia plc has decided to apply for a listing of Aktia plc's A and R shares on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki stock exchange so that the listing could take place in September 2009. Aktia Group provides a range of products, services and solutions in banking, insurance, asset management and real estate agency. The Group operates mainly in the Finnish coastal areas, in the Helsinki region, as well as in inland growth areas. Aktia Savings Bank was created some 15 years ago when Helsinki Savings Bank merged with a number of savings banks based in the coastal areas. In recent years, Aktia's services have been extended and the Group has been restructured in order to better comply with the extended range of products and services. In the autumn of 2008, the banking operations were reorganised into Aktia Bank plc and the Group's parent company became Aktia plc. Aktia Group's operating profit for the financial year of 2008 was EUR 6.6 million. The Group's total equity amounted to EUR 316.8 million and the balance sheet total was EUR 9,540.1 million at the end of the financial year. The total equity of Aktia Non-Life Insurance (previously Veritas Non-Life Insurance) was EUR 31.9 million and the balance sheet total was EUR 153.9 million at the end of the financial year of 2008. Aktia Non-Life Insurance has been consolidated into the Group since 1.1.2009. Aktia has some 300,000 customers, ca 90 own branch offices, and comprehensive Internet services. With its partners, savings banks and local co-operative banks, Aktia operates a network of around 430 branch offices in selected financial services. Aktia is owned by Finnish savings bank foundations, institutions and private individuals. Following the merger between Aktia and Veritas Non-Life Insurance at the beginning of 2009, Aktia has now approximately 70,000 new shareholders. - The aim of the listing of our shares on the stock exchange is to improve trading opportunities with our shares and to develop pricing of the shares, as we now have tens of thousands of shareholders, says Aktia's Managing Director Jussi Laitinen, commenting on the preparations for the listing the company's shares. Aventum Ltd acts as manager for the stock exchange listing and Hannes Snellman Attorneys at Law Ltd is legal counsel to the company. AKTIA PLC For more information, please contact: Jussi Laitinen, Managing Director, tel. +358 10 247 6210 Stefan Björkman, Deputy Managing Director, CFO, tel. +358 10 247 6595 From: Malin Pettersson, Head of Communications, tel. +358 10 247 6369 Distribution: NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Ltd www.aktia.com