Announcement under Chapter 9, Section 5 of the Securities Markets Act: OP-Pohjola Group Central Cooperative's shareholding in Pohjola Bank plc


OP-Pohjola Group Central Cooperative
Stock exchange release
1 April 2014, 4.30 pm

Announcement under Chapter 9, Section 5 of the Securities Markets Act: OP-Pohjola Group Central Cooperative's shareholding in Pohjola Bank plc

In accordance with Chapter 9, Section 5 of the Securities Markets Act, OP-Pohjola Group Central Cooperative announces that it has received acceptance notifications related to the tender offer in such a way that OP-Pohjola Group Central Cooperative's holding would exceed 90% of all Pohjola Bank plc shares if the tender offer were completed. The acceptances by those who have issued their acceptance of the tender offer by 31 March 2014 would increase the total shareholding of OP-Pohjola Group Central Cooperative in Pohjola to 91.58% of all Pohjola shares and the votes conferred by the shares to 95.44% of all the votes, if the tender offer were completed.

OP-Pohjola Group Central Cooperative alone holds 51.84% of Pohjola Bank plc shares and 69.22% of the votes conferred by the shares. Together with controlled corporations' holdings, OP-Pohjola Group Central Cooperative holds 51.90% of Pohjola Bank plc shares and 69.26% of the votes conferred by the shares.

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's mission is to promote the 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. The Group has a staff of 12,000. OP-Pohjola Group posted earnings before tax of EUR 705 million in 2013 and had total assets of EUR 101 billion on 31 December 2013. The Group has 4.3 million customers.

www.op.fi