Rapala VMC - Company Announcement

RAPALA STARTS TO BUY BACK OWN SHARES

                                         STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE
                                         April 23, 2008
 
The Board of Directors of Rapala VMC Corporation (Rapala) has on
today decided to start buying back a maximum of  100 000 of Rapala's
own shares, equaling to some 0.25% of all shares, in accordance with
the authorization granted by the Annual General Meeting on April 3,
2008. The shares will be acquired with company's free equity only,
and therefore, the acquisition reduces the distributable funds. The
maximum amount to be used for the acquisition is 550 000 euro.
 
Shares will be acquired in public trading on the OMX Nordic Exchange
in Helsinki at the market price quoted at the time of repurchase in
accordance with the rules regarding the acquisition of company's owns
shares.
 
Shares will be repurchased to finance or carry out business
acquisitions or other investments, to settle the company's
equity-based incentive plans, to be transferred for other purposes,
or to be cancelled.
 
The repurchasing of shares starts on May 2, 2008 at the earliest and
will end on June 30, 2008 at the latest. Rapala does not have any own
shares in its possession at the moment.
 
Shares will be acquired in accordance with section 5 of the rules of
OMX Nordic Exchange in Helsinki and other rules applicable to the
acquisition of own shares.
 
RAPALA VMC CORPORATION
 
Jorma Kasslin
Chief Executive Officer
 
For further information, please contact:
Jouni Grönroos, Chief Financial Officer, +358 9 7562 540
Olli Aho, Company Counsel, +358 9 7562 540
 
Distribution: OMX Nordic Exchange in Helsinki and Main media
 
Rapala VMC Corporation is a leading fishing tackle company and the
global market leader in the fishing lures, treble hooks and fishing
related knives and tools. The Group also has a strong global position
in other fishing categories. The Group has its own distribution
companies in all the main markets and the largest distribution
network in the industry. The main manufacturing facilities are
located in Finland, France, Estonia, Russia and China. The Group
brand portfolio includes the leading brand in the industry, Rapala,
and other global brands like VMC, Storm, Blue Fox, Luhr Jensen,
Williamson and Marttiini. The Group, with net sales of EUR 242
million in 2007, employs more than 4 000 people in 30 countries.