On 3 May 1999, Suomen Kulttuurirahasto increased its holding of Sanoma-WSOY Oyj's votes from 1.03 per cent to 6.25 per cent and of its share capital from 0.62 per cent to 1.7 per cent. The share transaction was carried out in accordance with the shareholders' agreement executed between Sanoma-WSOY Oyj's principal shareholders on 14 May 1998 providing that Lastannet B.V. should sell 392,239 Sanoma-WSOY Oyj's shares of class A to Suomen Kulttuurirahasto after the implementation of the merger.
The number of Sanoma-WSOY Oyj's shares and votes held by Suomen Kulttuurirahasto (foundation registration number 257) as from 3 May 1999 and the respective percentages are as follows:
At general meetings, the shares of class A carry 20 votes and the shares of class B one vote each, respectively.
In its stock exchange release of 29 April 1999, Werner Söderström Corporation announced that Tiikerijakelu Oy acquired on the same date all the shares held in Helsinki Media Company Oy by Lastannet Holding B.V. In this connection, Tiikerijakelu Oy succeeded Lastannet Holding B.V. as a party to the shareholders' agreement, undertaking to sell to Suomen Kulttuurirahasto the Sanoma-WSOY Oyj A-shares transferring to it.
The shareholders' agreement signed by Sanoma-WSOY Oyj's principal shareholders was published as an enclosure to the stock exchange release on the merger of Werner Söderström Corporation, Sanoma Corporation, Helsinki Media Company Oy and Oy Devarda Ab, issued on 15 May 1998.
Additional information: Ms. Kerstin Rinne, Vice President; tel. +358 105 19 5050 or +358 40 585 8486.
SANOMA-WSOY OYJ
Jaakko Rauramo
President and CEO
DISTRIBUTION
HEX Helsinki Stock Exchange
Principal Media