OMHEX, the company formed from the merger of OM and Helsinki Stock Exchanges, has filed an application with the Lithuanian Securities Commission for permission to obtain 34% of the shares in the National Stock Exchange of Lithuania (NSEL).
Permission is required when acquiring more than 10% of the shares.
OMHEX intends to submit an offer for the shares available as the result of the privatisation of NSEL and the Central Securities Depository of Lithuania (CSDL) and will purchase stock from both the Government of Lithuania and from market participants in the country.
Magnus Böcker, president and CEO, OMHEX, says: "A number of important Lithuanian market participants support our efforts and strategy in Lithuania, and that they have decided to sell their shares to us ahead of the privatisation of the shares owned by the Government of Lithuania."
OMHEX says the purchase is a logical next step to further its strategy to create an integrated Nordic and Baltic marketplace.