Acquisitions, divestments and larger investments

Sampo’s most notable acquisitions, divestments and larger direct investments since the year 2000.

In December 2022, the Board of Directors of Sampo announced a strategic review of Mandatum’s role within the Group. In March 2023, following an assessment of options, the Board resolved to propose the Annual General Meeting a partial demerger of Sampo plc to separate Mandatum from the Group. The Annual General Meeting held on 17 May 2023 approved the demerger.

The demerger was completed on 1 October 2023 and each Sampo shareholder  received one new share in Mandatum as demerger consideration for each share owned in Sampo. The trading of Mandatum shares on Nasdaq Helsinki began on 2 October 2023. 

The life insurance company had adopted the name Mandatum in 2008. Before that, the life company was known as Sampo Life. The company was established in 1997 in connection with significant structural reorganisation between Sampo, Sampo Life, Sampo Pension, Nova, Pension-Varma and Enterprise-Fennia affecting life and employment pension companies in Finland.

Mandatum was a fully owned subsidiary of Sampo plc until September 2023 offering private and corporate customers savings and investment, compensation and rewards, pension plans and personal risk insurance with Mandatum Life brand as well as asset and wealth management services via Mandatum Asset Management (MAM).

In 2007, Sampo started to buy shares of Nordea. In 2010, Sampo's shareholding in Nordea exceeded 20 per cent and the bank became an associated company of Sampo. The average price paid per share amounted to EUR 6.46.

In August 2019, Sampo’s ownership in Nordea decreased slightly below 20 per cent due to distribution of an extra dividend.

Release, 13 Aug 2019internal link

Divestment of Nordea shares

In November 2020, Sampo reduced its ownership in Nordea from 19.9 per cent to 15.9 per cent. Sampo sold 162 million Nordea shares in an accelerated bookbuild offering to institutional investors. The transaction price was EUR 7.25 and gross proceeds EUR 1,174 million.

Release, 10 Nov 2020 (Sale)internal link
Release, 10 Nov 2020 (Result of the sale) internal link

In May 2021, Sampo’s ownership in Nordea decreased to 11.9 per cent. Sampo sold 162 million Nordea shares to institutional investors. The transaction price was EUR 8.50 and gross proceeds EUR 1,377 million.

Release, 25 May 2021 (Sale)internal link
Release, 26 May 2021 (Result of the sale)internal link

In September 2021, Sampo’s ownership in Nordea decreased to 10.1 per cent. Sampo sold 73 million Nordea shares to institutional investors. The transaction generated approximately EUR 745 million in gross proceeds.

Release, 9 September 2021 (Sale)internal link
Release, 10 September 2021 (Result of the sale)internal link

In October 2021, Sampo’s ownership in Nordea decreased to 6.1 per cent. Sampo sold 162 million Nordea shares to institutional investors. The transaction generated approximately EUR 1,725 million in gross proceeds. Effective from the fourth quarter of 2021, Sampo intends to reclassify Nordea in its IFRS accounts from an associated company to non-current assets held for sale according to IFRS 5.

Release, 25 October 2021 (Sale)internal link
Release, 26 October 2021 (Result of the sale)internal link

In April 2022, Sampo completed its Nordea-exit. Sampo sold the remaining 200 million shares to institutional investors. Sampo already sold around 46 million shares in the open market in February-April 2022. The total gross proceeds amounted to EUR 2.3 billion.

Release 28 April 2022 internal link
Release 29 April 2022internal link

In August 2020, Sampo and a South African financial services investment holding company Rand Merchant Investment Holdings (RMI) made a recommended cash offer, through a jointly owned company, to acquire UK P&C insurance company Hastings.

Following the completion of the deal in November 2020, Sampo owned 70 per cent and RMI 30 per cent of Hastings, which became Sampo’s subsidiary. The size of Sampo’s investment was approximately EUR 1.3 billion.

Release, 5 Aug 2020internal link
Release, 16 Nov 2020internal link

In December 2021, Sampo took full ownership in Hastings by acquiring RMI’s 30 per cent ownership in the company and the option held by RMI to acquire 10 per cent of Hastings’ share capital from Sampo by May 2022. The transaction price was approximately EUR 806 million, valuing the total acquisition price of Hastings to approximately EUR 2.1 billion

Release, 8 Dec 2021internal link

 

NOBA (former Nordax)

In February 2018, Sampo and Swedish Nordic Capital made a recommended mandatory cash offer through NDX Intressenter (currently Nordax Holding AB) to acquire all outstanding shares in Nordax, a Swedish online bank specialized in consumer credit.

Following the completion of the offer, Nordic Capital held 63.75 and Sampo 36.25 per cent of the shares and votes in Nordax Holding AB. The size of Sampo's investment was EUR 245 million.

Release, 8 Feb 2018internal link
Release, 22 Mar 2018internal link
Release, 6 Apr 2018internal link

Norwegian Finans Holding

In August 2019, Sampo and Swedish Nordic Capital announced that they have agreed to acquire in total 17.47 per cent of Norwegian Finans Holding, which is the parent company of the online bank Bank Norwegian.

Following the transaction, Sampo’s share of the company was approximately 6.3 per cent and the value of the investment EUR 80 million.

Nordic Capital’s press release regarding the transactionexternal link

Nordax’s acquisition of Norwegian Finans Holding

In July 2021, Nordax announced a recommended voluntary cash offer for Norwegian Finans Holding (Bank Norwegian) at NOK 105 per share. In connection with the offer, Sampo entered into conditional agreement to contribute its existing shares (6.3%) in Norwegian Finans Holding to Nordax in exchange for shares in Nordax. The offer was completed in November 2021. Since Sampo did not invest any new capital into Nordax in connection with the transaction, Sampo’s ownership in Nordax decreased to 19.07 per cent.

Nordax’s press release regarding completion of the offerexternal link

 

In September 2018, Sampo’s ownership in Intrum exceeded 5 per cent. Intrum is a Swedish credit management company.

Sampo sold its 5.2 per cent stake of Intrum in February 2020.

 

In November 2019, Sampo announced that its subsidiary If has signed an agreement to acquire Norwegian roadside assistance company Viking. The acquisition price is EUR 32 million and the enterprise value of the transaction is EUR 114 million.

Release, 28 Nov 2019internal link
Release, 8 Jan 2020internal link

 

In October 2017, Sampo announced that it will buy 19.9 per cent of shares in Saxo Bank Group, a Danish fintech company specialized in online trading. At the same time, Geely Financials Denmark A/S, a subsidiary of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., Ltd announced that it will increase its stake become majority shareholder with a total of 51.5 percent in Saxo Bank.

The size of Sampo's investment was EUR 265 million.

Release, 2 Oct 2017internal link
Release, 14 Sep 2018internal link

In July 2019, Sampo invested EUR 20 million, corresponding to its ownership, in Saxo in connection with the BinckBank acquisition made by Saxo.

In September 2023, Sampo agreed to sell its stake in Saxo Bank to Mandatum at fair value in connection with the partial demerger of Sampo plc.

 

In September 2017, Sampo participated as an indirect minority co-investor in the voluntary offer by Evergood 5 AS to acquire Nets, a Danish fintech company specialized in digital payments. Evergood 5 AS is a company controlled by funds managed and advised by Hellman & Friedman LLC.

The size of Sampo's investment was EUR 230 million.

Release, 25 Sep 2017internal link

 

In 2011, Sampo's (If P&C's) shareholding in Topdanmark exceeded 23 per cent and Sampo started to consolidate Topdanmark as an associated company.

In 2016, Sampo's ownership in Topdanmark increased to 33,34 per cent and Sampo made a mandatory no-premium offer for all shares in Topdanmark. Following the completion of the offer, Sampo held 41,11 per cent of the shares and voting rights in Topdanmark.

Since Q4/2017, Sampo has treated Topdanmark as a subsidiary. At the end of 2021, Sampo held 43,493,663 Topdanmark shares, corresponding 48.3 per cent of shares and 49.4 per cent of votes.

Release, 7 Sep 2016internal link
Release, 26 Oct 2016internal link
Release, 2 Oct 2017internal link

 

In 2015, Sampo (Sampo plc and Mandatum Life) invested in Asiakastieto (Enento Group since June 2020), a Finnish provider of business and consumer information services. At the end of July 2020, Sampo held 12.2 per cent of shares and votes in Enento Group.

In September 2023, Sampo agreed to sell its stake in Enento to Mandatum at fair value in connection with the partial demerger of Sampo plc.

 

In 2014, Sampo's subsidiary Mandatum Life acquired Suomi Mutual Life Insurance Company's with-profit group pension portfolio.

Release, 19 Mar 2014internal link

 

In 2013, Sampo's subsidiary If P&C acquired Danish Tryg's businesses in Finland. The Transaction price was EUR 15 million.

Release, 2 May 2013internal link

 

In 2007, Sampo sold its banking unit Sampo Bank to Danish Danske Bank. The transaction price was EUR 4.05 billion.

In 2001, Sampo's P&C Insurance operations merged with Swedish If. Following the merger, Sampo owned 38.05 per cent of If. At the time, other shareholders of If were Storebrand (22.47%), Skandia (19.36%), Skandia Liv (10.06%) and Varma-Sampo (10.06%)

In 2004, If became a fully-owned subsidiary of Sampo in two phases. First, Sampo acquired 51.89 per cent of shares from Storebrand and Skandia and then the remaining 10.06 per cent of shares from Varma.

In 2001, Sampo-Leonia acquired Mandatum Bank by directed share issue. The Group's name was shortened to Sampo.

In 2000, Sampo insurance company and Leonia bank merged into the Sampo-Leonia financial group.

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