Kesko was again ranked third in the company disclosure and financial reports contest

Kesko Corporation received the third prize in the category for globally operating companies in the 2004 company disclosure and financial reports contest. The contest organised by the Helsinki Stock Exchange and the Helsingin Sanomat newspaper evaluated the financial reports and stock exchange disclosures of listed companies in Finland. This year the winner was Outokumpu Oyj, with Stora Enso Oyj as the first runner-up. In 2003 Kesko was also ranked third and in 2002 first in the category.

Among the strengths of Kesko's annual report, the evaluation board mentioned, above all, the ease of use and the concrete IFRS information. The board also said that regular reporting on sales development combined with monitoring the operating environment provides investors with good facilities for evaluating the company's financial development.

The aim of the contest is to promote open and consistent disclosure of information by listed companies, and to stimulate general interest in its content and quality. The evaluated material included the stock exchange releases and regular financial reviews, that is the financial statements, interim reports and annual report published by the listed companies during the calendar year.

A total of 43 listed companies participated in the contest, 19 of them in the category for globally operating companies and 24 in the category for all listed companies.

Further information:
Erkki Heikkinen, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, Kesko Corporation, tel. +358 1053 22721
Atte Kaksonen, Communications Manager, Kesko Corporation, tel. +358 1053 22764
Jukka Pokki, Investor Relations Manager, Kesko Corporation, tel. +358 1053 22645