Repair service for sailors – HSH Nordbank blue repair service in the line-up once again in the jubilee year of the Kieler Woche

HSH Nordbank model-boat races for everyone / Track festival for Delta-track sailors

Hamburg/Kiel, June 12, 2007 - Wind and weather can prevent some boats from starting in the race at the last minute – how easily can rope-ends and sails come adrift and the hull be damaged. Again in the jubilee year of Kieler Woche, as in previous years, none of this will be a problem: as a sponsor of sport and culture to Kieler Woche, HSH Nordbank will once again provide its blue repair service, of which all sailors taking part in the competitions can take advantage free of charge before each race.

With the HSH Nordbank blue repair service, the Bank is providing a unique service that has proved its worth in recent years. Using two well-equipped and fast boats, experienced specialists such as sail-makers and boat-builders give immediate assistance while afloat. The powerful tenders (capable of speeds of up to 47 knots) can even hoist damaged dinghies on deck. And the HSH Nordbank blue repair service has been taken full advantage of: during last year’s Kieler Woche alone, the crews were called out 125 times, enabling 80 boats to start at the last minute. “We are the sailors' partner, which is why we come to their aid exactly where they need it – while afloat," said Gesine Dähn, HSH Nordbank spokesperson at the Kieler Woche launch press conference.

Moreover, on Monday, June 18, HSH Nordbank will hold a track festival in Kiel/Lake Schilksee for all sailors on the Delta track sponsored by the Bank. This provides a further contribution by the Bank to make Kieler Woche particularly attractive in its jubilee year, especially to sailors.

HSH Nordbank also has something special in store for non-sailors: in HSH Nordbank’s race basin in Kiel/Lake Schilksee with a water basing measuring 50 square meters, visitors will be able to hold their own competitions using model boats. And on monitors fixed behind the race basin, spectators will be able to use the online race viewer to follow the HSH Nordbank blue race 2007 – the Bank’s large transatlantic race from Newport in the United States to Hamburg, which will begin in Newport on June 16 to coincide with the start of Kieler Woche.

And above the city roofs, the Bank will visibly fly its flag throughout Kieler Woche: The bank building on Martensdamm will be put impressively on display with two large sails in luminous blue – a symbol of HSH Nordbank’s attachment to Kieler Woche and the sport of sailing.

The support of Kieler Woche is fully in line with HSH Nordbank's corporate philosophy: Sailing represents team spirit, performance and professionalism – values also embodied by HSH Nordbank’s “crew” worldwide. This philosophy is underpinned by HSH Nordbank’s blue sailings, a series of high-profile races for ocean-going yachts. The climax of this race series is the HSH Nordbank blue race 2007, the Atlantic crossing from Newport (U.S.) to Hamburg ( www.hsh-nordbank-blue-race.de ).

HSH Nordbank AG is a strong regional bank in Northern Europe with total assets of € 200 billion. Some 4,400 of the bank’s employees provide corporate and high net-worth clients around the globe with premium bank products and services. In its core region of Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein, it is the market leader in the corporate customer segment. HSH Nordbank is an acknowledged partner of the capital markets and international sector specialist. Its main focus is on transportation and real estate. In fact, HSH Nordbank is the world’s largest provider of ship finance and covers the entire value chain in the transportation segment. In the area of real estate, HSH Nordbank is one of the strongest banks in Germany, acting as a provider of services relating to all aspects of real estate. For more information please visit our website at www.hsh-nordbank.com.