Following a flagging notification by the financial services group Exista hf. (“Exista”) to the Finnish Financial Supervision Authority and Sampo Oyj (“Sampo”) 9 August 2007, Sampo has announced today to the Helsinki Stock Exchange that the total number of Sampo A-shares controlled by Exista has risen to 20.0% per cent of Sampo's issued share capital. As is stated in the announcement, Exista and its group companies have entered into derivative contracts raising its holdings to 20.0% of issued share capital in Sampo. With reference to announcement dated 25 July 2007, Exista controlled 19.93% of Sampo shares before this transaction. The transaction is subject to, inter alia, approval of the relevant supervisory authorities. 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. Enquiries: Exista hf. Sigurdur Nordal Managing Director Group Communications ir@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 Skipti (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.