OMX

Fra: omxnews@netposten.dk[SMTP:OMXNEWS@NETPOSTEN.DK]
Sendt: 21. december 2007 08:00:06
Til: NetPosten A/S - Fondsboers
Emne: OMX AB and Nord Pool ASA creates leading international energy derivatives exchange Videresendt automatisk vha. en regel

OMX is acquiring Nord Pool ASA's clearing and consulting operations andinternationalderivatives products and establishing a business unit for international energy derivatives headquartered in Oslo. Nord Pool expects thefinalpay to amount to around MNOK 2,300.

OMX and Nord Pool enjoy a long and well-established co-operation, based on OMXdeliveringand operating Nord Pool's trading and clearing platforms. The transaction creates a foundation for a geographical expansion within NordPool'score area of power, and for enhancing the existing offering, with a clear ambition to build a leading European market for CO2 products.

“Nord Pool ASA's experience and knowledge of the financial commodity market,complementedby OMX's technology and its customer base, offer great opportunities for creating a strong partnership, one which will bewell-positionedto benefit from the development of a global market for carbon dioxide emissions allowances in the wake of the Kyoto protocol. In addition,thereare many opportunities for expanding the existing proposition to include trading and clearing in commodity derivatives such as gas, oil and freightderivatives,”says Magnus Böcker, CEO of OMX.

“We believe that this solution represents a very successful combination.
TheTSOsStatnett and Svenska Kraftnät will still have responsibility for the exchange trading of Nordic power derivatives, which I consider being animportantpart of the infrastructure in the Nordic power market. At the same time, Nord Pools's unique competence can be utilized in new markets,” says JanMagnusson,Chairman of the Board of Nord Pool ASA.

“OMX and Nord Pool will capitalize on their complementary know-how, safeguardthestrong Nordic position, as well as develop new markets. This will release the true potential of Nord Pool's business areas and provide new businessopportunitiesfor the existing customers and the international financial services sector where we are seeing a growing interest in energy derivatives,”saysTorger Lien, CEO of Nord Pool ASA.

Through this transaction, OMX will acquire 100 percent of the shares in NordPoolASA's subsidiaries Nord Pool Clearing ASA and Nord Pool Consulting AS along with a new subsidiary containing Nord Pool's international products,includingCO2 products (EUAs, CERs) and the international power contracts.

Nord Pool Spot AS, which operates the Nordic physical market, is not includedinthis transaction. The spot market, which sets the daily physical electricitypricesin the Nordic market, will therefore still be the responsibility of the Nordic transmission system operators.

OMX foresees continued integration of the financial energy and securitiesmarketsby building a platform for further expansion within the energy segment as well as other commodities in order to meet customer demand for multi-assetclasstrading and arbitrage trading. By creating economies of scale through integration of the clearing platforms, benefits will accrue to customers in theformof lower overall transaction costs.

The acquired business, except for Nord Pool Clearing ASA, will form the core ofanew Energy and Commodity Business Unit within OMX, which will be headquartered in Oslo. The organization in Oslo will be responsible for salesactivities,key account management, product development and services offered to customers and to Nord Pool ASA. The entire operation will be lead by TorgerLien.Nord Pool Clearing will be combined with the OMX clearing organization in ordertorealize the potential for economies of scale in a joint clearing capital solution.

Financial details of the acquisitionOMXwill pay MNOK 2,150 at completion of which MNOK 1,700 in cash and MNOK 450 in a vendor note due to current owners of Nord Pool within 18 months aftercompletion.Furthermore, OMX has agreed to potential further earn-out payments of maximum MNOK 800 based on volume over a five year period.

For the first 11 months of 2007 , the acquired businesses had revenues of MNOK316,EBIT of MNOK 98 and net profit of MNOK 84. The entity has a net excess cash position above required clearing capital of MNOK 166.

OMX estimates that the acquisition will lead to pre-tax synergies ofapproximatelyMNOK 60 per year of which half is revenue synergies and half is cost synergies. Furthermore, OMX expects to release approximately MNOK 500 inclearingcapital over time.

The acquisition is expected to be earnings accretive for 2008.The transaction is estimated to be completed by mid-year 2008.

The proposed transaction is subject to due diligence, signing of the formalagreement,and approval by the regulatory authorities.

OMX AB has been advised by Arctic Securities and Nord Pool ASA has been advisedbyFondsfinans.

Press conference:
In connection with OMX's acquisition of Nord Pool's clearing, consultingoperations,international derivatives products and future business opportunities, a press conference will be held today, Friday 21 December 2007,at12.00 noon at Felix Conference Centre, Bryggetorget 3, Vika, Oslo, Norway.

These persons will be present:
• Vice Chairman of the Board, Nord Pool ASA, Odd Håkon Hoelsæter•CEO of, OMX AB, Magnus Böcker • CEO of Nord Pool ASA, Torger LienOMX and Nord Pool ASA will be webcasting the press conference at 12.00 noon at:http://media01.smartcom.no/Microsite/start.aspx?eventid=2558If any online media wants to stream the event, please contact technical assistance on
phone: +47 93 49 58 07


For more information, please contact:OMX:Jonas Rodny, Media relations, phone +46 8 405 72 67 Heidi Wendt, Media relations, phone +46 8 405 72 93Nord Pool ASA:
Jan Magnusson, Chairman of Nord Pool ASA +46 70 539 78 03OddHåkon Hoelsæter, Vice Chairman of Nord Pool ASA, phone +47 22 52 70 70 Torger Lien, President and CEO, phone +47 91 88 81 12LarsGaltung, Vice President Communications, phone +47 98 21 48 12

About OMX | OMX is a leading expert in the exchange industry. The OMX NordicExchangecomprises over 800 companies including its alternative market, First North. OMX provides technology to over 60 exchanges, clearing organizations andcentralsecurities depositories in more than 50 countries. The Nordic Exchange is not a legal entity but describes the combined offering from OMX exchanges inHelsinki,Copenhagen, Stockholm, Iceland, Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius. OMX is a Nordic Large Cap company in the Financials sector on the OMX Nordic Exchange.Formore information, please visit www.omxgroup.com.

About Nord Pool ASA
Nord Pool ASA is the largest power derivatives exchange and the only exchangetoprovide trade in emissions allowances (EUAs) and carbon credits (CERs).
Thecompanyhas more than 400 members from 20 countries across a wide range of energy producers and consumers, as well as financial institutions. Nord PoolASAembraces the wholly-owned Nord Pool Clearing ASA and Nord Pool Consulting AS subsidiaries. It is jointly owned by the transmission system operators(TSOs)Svenska Kraftnät and Statnett. The company has offices in Lysaker (Oslo), Stockholm, Helsinki and Amsterdam. For more information, please visitwww.nordpool.com.http://www.netposten.dk/omxnews_attachments/20071221_np_final_eng.pdf
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