SAMPO COMMENCES FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS FOR IF TRANSACTION

SAMPO PLC STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 22 March 2004 at 9.00 a.m. SAMPO COMMENCES FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS FOR IF TRANSACTION The Board of Directors of Sampo plc has today decided to launch on the international capital markets a EUR 600 million callable subordinated notes, eligible for inclusion in the capital adequacy calculation. Sampo seeks listing of the above notes for public trading in the London Stock Exchange. With these arrangements Sampo will to fund the If transaction announced on 11 February 2004 and strengthen the company's capital structure. Marketing of the loan will commence today. The presentation material used in investor meetings is available at www.sampo.fi/ir. SAMPO PLC Hannu Vuola Head of Group Communications Tel. +358 10 516 0040 or mobile +358 50 424 0040 For more information, please contact: Jarmo Salonen, Head of Investor Relations, tel. +358 10 516 0030 Hannu Vuola, Head of Group Communications, tel. +358 10 516 0040 DISTRIBUTION: Helsinki Exchanges The principal news media www.sampo.com ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2004/03/22/20040322BIT00100/wkr0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2004/03/22/20040322BIT00100/wkr0002.pdf