The Finnish group SAMPO is considering the acquisition of 72.4% of the capital of BALTA, the largest Latvian insurer. SAMPO already holds, via a subsidiary, 14.78% of BALTA shares (roughly EUR 34.8million insurance premiums collected in 1999). The Finnish insurer present in Lithuania through its subsidiary AAS SAMPO LATVIJA and its life insurance company AAS SAMPO LATVIJA DZIVIBA.