Source: OP Yrityspankki Oyj

123 Group cooperative banks accept the bid for Pohjola shares

OP-Pohjola Group Central Cooperative
Stock exchange release
20 February 2014, 5:00 pm

123 Group cooperative banks accept the bid for Pohjola shares

By 19 February 2014, a total of 123 OP-Pohjola Group cooperative banks undertook to accept the public voluntary bid launched by OP-Pohjola Group Central Cooperative on 6 February 2014 for Pohjola Bank plc's outstanding shares. The consideration being offered amounts to 16.80 euros in cash for each Series A share.

In accordance with Chapter 9, Section 5 of the Securities Markets Act, OP-Pohjola Group Central Cooperative hereby announces that its shareholding would exceed 2/3 of the total number of Pohjola Bank plc shares, if the bid were completed. Undertakings given by the cooperative banks would increase the shareholding of OP-Pohjola Group Central Cooperative in Pohjola to around 67.08% of all shares and the votes conferred by the shares to 81.32% of the votes, if the bid were completed.

OP-Pohjola Group Central Cooperative

Carina Geber-Teir
Chief Communications Officer

DISTRIBUTION
NASDAQ OMX Helsinki
London Stock Exchange
Major media
pohjola.com, op.fi

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Harri Luhtala, CFO, tel. +358 (0)10 252 2433
Carina Geber-Teir, tel. +358 (0)40 502 4607

OP-Pohjola Group is Finland's leading financial services group providing a unique range of banking, investment and insurance services. The Group has the mission of promoting the sustainable prosperity, well-being and security of its owner-members, customers and operating regions through its local presence. Its objective is to offer the best and most versatile package of loyal customer benefits on the market. OP-Pohjola Group consists of some 180 member cooperative banks and the Group's central institution, OP-Pohjola Group Central Cooperative, with its subsidiaries and closely-related companies, the largest of which is the listed company Pohjola Bank plc. With a staff of 12,000 OP-Pohjola Group posted consolidated earnings of 705 million euros before tax in 2013 and had total assets of 101 billion euros on 31 December 2013. The group has 4.3 million customers.

www.op.fi