Kesko's support to universities and higher education institutions exceeds one million euros

KESKO CORPORATION PRESS RELEASE 17.05.2010 AT 15.00 1(1)

Kesko's Board of Directors has decided to support Finnish institutions of higher education with substantial donations. The donations are granted to Aalto University and the Universities of Helsinki, Tampere, Turku, Eastern Finland, Jyväskylä, Oulu and Vaasa, and to polytechnics to be announced later. The total donation amount is 1,115,000 euros.

− The K-Group as a whole employs some 45,000 trading sector professionals. For us, it is important to contribute to high-quality education and research, says President and CEO Matti Halmesmäki.

The donations are in line with Kesko's objective to be the most attractive workplace in the trading sector. In addition to higher education institutions, Kesko supports polytechnics and the operation of business schools with, for example, scholarships to students who have been particularly successful in their studies.

As a whole, the Kesko Group annually supports the public good in many different ways, mainly by promoting children's and youths' wellbeing. Kesko cooperates with the Young Finland Association for the promotion of children's and youths' physically active and healthy lifestyles. Significant amounts are also given to non-governmental and environmental organisations, science, research, education and culture.

Further information:
Senior Vice President Paavo Moilanen, Corporate Communications and Responsibility, Kesko Corporation, tel. +358 1053 22764
 
Kesko (www.kesko.fi) is a retail specialist whose stores offer quality to the daily lives of consumers. Kesko has about 2,000 stores engaged in chain operations in the Nordic and Baltic countries, Russia, and Belarus.