SAMPO PLC STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 7 October 2008 at 1.55 pm
REPURCHASE OF SAMPO PLC'S A SHARES
Based on the authorisation granted by the Annual General Meeting on 15 April
2008, Sampo plc's Board of Directors decided today to repurchase 10 million
Sampo's A shares with distributable capital and reserves. The amount repurchased
corresponds to approximately 1.7 per cent of the total number of shares.
Repurchases decrease the distributable capital and reserves.
The shares were acquired through accerated book building offering, and thus not
in the proportion in which the shareholders' shareholdings are distributed
(private repurchase). The price paid was 11.50 euros per share.
Shares were purchased from Exista hf. and its subsidiaries, because of the low
transaction costs and the price lower than in public trading. The shares
purchased on the basis of this decision will be cancelled, and therefore the
purchase will benefit all shareholders in proportion to their holding.
At the time of this decision the situation in the financial markets is
exceptionally uncertain. In the Board's opinion the above purchase is in the
interest of all shareholders. The purchase also prevents an overliquidity
situation in the markets.
On the basis of the above weighty financial reasons for repurchases referred to
Companies Act exist.
SAMPO PLC
Jarmo Salonen
Head of Investor Relations and Group Communications
phone +358 10 516 0030
Distribution:
NASDAQ OMX Helsinki
The principal media
Financial Supervision
Insurance Supervisory Authority
www.sampo.com