The Helsinki District Court has found against SanomaWSOY's newspaper sector, Sanoma Corporation, and issued a fine totalling FIM 15 million payable to Nostokonepalvelu Oy covering the company's financial damages, together with two fines of FIM 230,000 each to be paid to Reino and Toivo Nieminen covering mental stress and anxiety related to the case.

The fines are linked to articles on Nostokonepalvelu Oy that appeared in Helsingin Sanomat in 1996 and 1997.

In the view of Helsingin Sanomat's Editor-in-Chief, Janne Virkkunen, the Helsinki District Court decision does not represent the final view of the Finnish judicial system. He believes that the judgement and the size of the associated fines contrast with recent judicial practice, and an appeal will be lodged with the Court of Appeal.

SANOMAWSOY CORPORATION


Raija Kariola
Vice President
Investor Relations and Group Communications


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