Mondo Visione Worldwide Financial Markets Intelligence

FTSE Mondo Visione Exchanges Index:

HEX Buys Sampo Custody Services Ltd

Date 28/09/2001

HEX Group has today, 28.09.2001, acquired 95% of shares in Sampo Custody Services Ltd. Control of the company will be transferred to HEX Group as of 28.09.2001. The company will continue to operate as a separate entity within the HEX Group.

HEX Group's strategy involves promotion and further development of efficiency and infrastructure of the Finnish securities market. Various market participants are also experiencing a new set of challenges in markets that are becoming increasingly international. "As per our Group strategy, we offer market participants the opportunity to outsource their non-core activities to us. This arrangement accelerates the development of Securities Services business, and hence supports aggregate growth of the Group" - says the President & CEO of HEX Group, Mr. Jukka Ruuska. Chief Administrative Officer of the Sampo Group, Mr. Patrick LapvetelƤinen commented the transaction by: "We decided to outsource part of our administrative securities services to HEX, because of their neutrality and long term commitment to further developing these services."

The HEX Group offers comprehensive services pertaining to securities trading and clearing, as well as registration and custody of holdings to issuers, investors and broker members in Finland.

HEX Securities Services business unit impartially provides market participants and institutions in the securities and derivatives market with services included in the investment life cycle, which are not the parties' core business, and where economies of scale generate efficiency gains.