  We investigate exclusive leptoproduction of $\rho^0$ meson. These reactions
were analyzed within the factorizing handbag approach. In our model good
agreement of observables for light meson production with experimental data in a
wide energy range was found.
  Using the model results we calculate the ratio of different helicity
amplitudes for a transversely polarized proton target to the leading twist
longitudinal amplitude. Our results are close to the amplitude ratios measured
by HERMES.
