Sampo is a Finnish company in insurance, and, until the year 2006, banking. It is one of the largest companies in Finland. In November 2006, it was revealed that the banking business of Sampo is sold to the Danish Danske Bank, so that Sampo will concentrate on its insurance business. One of the main shareholders and CEO of Sampo is Björn Wahlroos, who is also one of the richest individuals in Finland.
Through If Skadeförsäkring Holding AB it controls the major Swedish insurance company If Skadeförsäkring AB and its Finnish sister company If Vahinkovakuutusyhtiö. The two companies also operate in Norway, Denmark and the Baltic countries.
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Sampo is the mythical machine in the Finnish folklore that creates salt, food, flour and gold out of nothing. Thus appropriate for banking.
