HEX  Group  is  entering  into  strategic  co-operation with Riga Stock

Exchange  (RSE)  and  Latvian  Central Depository (LCD). The aim of the

co-operation  is to create a well-functioning Latvian securities market

infrastructure  and  increase  the  visibility of Latvian companies and

liquidity  of  their shares. The co-operation is a logical continuation

of  HEX's  Baltic  strategy,  which  aims  to create a well-functioning

marketplace for the leading Baltic companies.



HEX  has made a conditional offer to acquire over 75 % ownership in RSE

by purchasing existing shares from current shareholders. A prerequisite

for  the  offer  is  that RSE has acquired all issued shares of Latvian

Central  Depository  (LCD).  RSE  already  holds  27  per cent of LCD's

shares.  The transaction will create a group uniting the national stock

exchange  and  central  securities  depository  in  Latvia, a structure

similar  to that in place already in Finland and Estonia. The new group

will form a part of HEX's Baltic Operations.



RSE,   LCD  and  shareholders  of  both  companies  have  welcomed  the

co-operation  between  HEX, RSE and LCD. The parties expect to complete

the  transaction  during  the  first half of 2002, after completing due

diligence   procedures   and   receiving   necessary   approvals   from

authorities.  The  operational implementation will begin as soon as the

ownership transaction is completed.



"HEX  is  happy  to  announce  this  co-operation  plan with Riga Stock

Exchange  and  Latvian  Central  Depository.  This  co-operation  is an

important  part  or  our  objective  to  create  a well-functioning and

seamlessly  integrated  Baltic capital market. The successful launch of

HEX  Tallinn  reinforces  our  commitment  to the Baltic markets", says

Jukka Ruuska, President and CEO of the HEX Group.



"Riga  Stock  Exchange  has  long  identified  the  need  for  a strong

strategic  partner,  as  we  are  convinced  that this will benefit the

development  of  the Latvian capital markets. Our co-operation with HEX

will   benefit  Latvian  issuers,  investors  and  professional  market

participants.  Additionally,  we  believe  that together the Riga Stock

Exchange  and  Latvian Central Depository will form a strong entity and

the synergies created will enable us to operate even more efficiently,"

says Guntars Kokorevičs, President of the Riga Stock Exchange



HEX GROUP                                 RIGA STOCK EXCHANGE

Jukka Ruuska                              Guntars Kokorevičs

President and CEO                      President



For further information, please contact

at  HEX:  Mr  Jukka Ruuska, President and CEO of HEX Group, tel. +358 9

6166 7200

or  Mr  Gert  Tiivas, Senior Vice President of HEX's Baltic Operations,

tel. +372 51 77579

at RSE: Mr Guntars Kokorevičs, President of Riga Stock Exchange, tel. +

371 7 212 431

at  LCD: Mr Mārtiņš Rikšis, Chairman of the Management Board, tel + 371

7 229 821 



HEX

is  a  growing  and  increasingly international group that operates the

stock  exchange  and  the  national  central  securities  depository in

Finland   providing  market  parties  with  high-quality  and  reliable

services.   HEX   also   offers  efficient  trading,  registration  and

information services in Estonia.



Group  turnover  for  the  year  2001  was 92.1 million euro and profit

before extraordinary items and taxes amounted to 32.2 million euro. The

business  operations  of the Group are divided into six units: trading,

settlement  and depository, issuer services, securities services, eHEX,

and Baltic operations.



HEX  has  currently  41  members, who operate from Helsinki, Stockholm,

London, Paris and Amsterdam. HEX is the majority shareholder of Tallinn

Stock  Exchange,  which has 14 members operating from Tallinn, Helsinki

and London. For more information, see <a href='http://www.hex.com.' target='_blank'>http://www.hex.com.</a>



Riga Stock Exchange

(RSE)  is  the  sole  stock  exchange in Latvia, open for trading since

1995.  The  RSE  runs  an  order  driven market based on dematerialised

securities.  Listings  include  shares,  Government  Treasury bills and

bonds,  corporate  bonds, mortgage bonds and investment fund units. RSE

has  62  listed  companies with a total market value of EUR 620 million

(March  15, 2002). The average daily trading volume in 2001 was EUR 3.7

million.  Riga  has  become  the  leading debt securities market in the

Baltic countries. For more information, please see <a href='http://www.rfb.lv' target='_blank'>http://www.rfb.lv</a> .



Latvian Central Depository

(LCD)  is  the  sole  central  securities  depository  in  Latvia.  Its

functions  include  custody of publicly issued securities, clearing and

settlement  for securities trading and management of corporate actions.

For more information, see <a href='http://www.lcd.lv' target='_blank'>http://www.lcd.lv</a>