If to be entirely owned by Sampo

By a transaction concluded today Sampo plc has acquired Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Company's 10.06 per cent shareholding in If Skadeförsäkring Holding AB (publ). Following the transaction, Sampo will own If's entire stock. Sampo plc's objective is 100% ownership in all its main subsidiaries. The price to be paid for the shares is EUR 269.8 million. To finance the transaction, Sampo plc is taking a EUR 200 million international bank loan. The loan will be repaid by June 2006. SAMPO PLC Jarmo Salonen Head of Investor Relations tel. +358 10 516 0030 or mobile +358 50 424 0030 Additional information: Head of Investor Relations Jarmo Salonen, tel. +358 10 516 0030 Head of Group Communications Hannu Vuola, tel. +358 10 516 0040