Deconstruction in OP-Pohjola's Vallila block to begin

8 januari 2013 3OP-Pohjola's construction project in Teollisuuskatu street, Helsinki, has reached a deconstruction stage. Three buildings in the block facing towards Teollisuuskatu street will be demolished during the first half of 2013 to make way for a new building that will form OP-Pohjola's new facade. The deconstruction work will last until summer 2013. The construction project is aimed at creating flexible premises for employees that support new ways of working in the financial sector, with a view to establishing an effective and responsible place to work. The space utilisation rate in the new block will be 30 per cent higher without affecting work premises, and the operating costs will decrease by around 25 per cent. The Vallila block will have high architectural value and it will stand out prominently in the cityscape, making a statement on OP-Pohjola Group's identity and values: People-first approach, Responsibility, and Prospering together. At its meeting on 14 November 2012, the Helsinki City Council adopted a town plan alteration related to OP-Pohjola's construction project. Over 3,000 OP-Pohjola employees on the Vallila campus Once the new buildings are finished and renovation completed, the Vallila campus will provide a workplace for about 3,400 OP-Pohjola Group employees. All in all, well over 60,000 square metres of office space will be built and renovated. OP- Pohjola apologises for any inconvenience that the deconstruction and construction work may cause in the neighbourhood. JKMM Architects has designed OP-Pohjola Group's Vallila campus while Haahtela Group has been in charge of construction consultancy. Construction and renovation in the Vallila block will be completed by 2015. The main entrance to OP-Pohjola has been located in Vääksyntie 4 since 2 January 2013. Those interested in the construction project can monitor its progress at op.fi/vallila. For more information, please contact: Auni Palo, Director of Property Development, tel. 010 2521590 Erik Palmén, Chief Risk Officer, tel. 010 2528472 OP-Pohjola Group is Finland's leading financial services group providing a unique range of banking, investment and insurance services. The Group's mission is to promote the sustainable prosperity, well-being and security of its owner- members, customers and operating regions through its local presence. Its objective is to offer the best and most versatile package of loyal customer benefits on the market. OP-Pohjola Group consists of some 200 member cooperative banks and the Group's central institution, OP-Pohjola Group Central Cooperative, with its subsidiaries and closely-related companies, the largest of which is the listed company Pohjola Bank plc. This announcement is distributed by Thomson Reuters on behalf of Thomson Reuters clients. The owner of this announcement warrants that: (i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and other applicable laws; and (ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein. Source: Pohjola Pankki Oyj via Thomson Reuters ONE [HUG#1668829]