A great majority of the shareholders and the holders of option rights in the Finnish bank, eQ, have accepted the tender offer by Straumur for all shares and option rights in the bank. The acceptance period of the tender offer started 11 June 2007 and ended 3 July 2007. Straumur now controls over 95% of the shares and the voting rights in eQ. Straumur intends to acquire all issued and remaining shares in eQ; hence will now launch compulsory acquisition proceedings for the shares of the minority owners in conformity with the provisions of the Finnish corporate law. Further information: eQ Corporation Antti Mäkinen, CEO, tel: +358 9 681 781 or +358 50 5611 501 Straumur Óttar Pálsson, Chief Legal Counsel, tel: 840 9148 About Straumur Straumur is the largest investment bank in Iceland, providing extensive and integrated investment banking service, including marketing, corporate consultation, financing and asset management. The number of the bank's personnel is 406. The bank operates in Reykjavík, London, Copenhagen, Prague and Amsterdam. About eQ eQ is a Finnish full-service investment bank whose customers include private investors, institutions and enterprises. eQ provides investment banking service tailored to the needs of demanding customers. Shareholders' equity of eQ Group amounts to EUR 64 million and the capital adequacy ratio is 14%. The Group's employees are 170 and its number of customers is 48,000.