(Lysaker, 2 July 2008) The Nord Pool group launches a GCM model for its members from mid July 2008, increasing flexibility for members and liquidity in Nord Pool financial markets. The Nord Pool Group will from mid July offer existing and new participants a new member category - General Clearing Member (GCM). This new member category will be counterparty to the clearinghouse both for proprietary trading and client trading. Other member categories will remain unchanged by the GCM model. The Nord Pool Clearing's existing member categories will continue unchanged with Clearing Members, Client Representatives and Clearing Clients as the clearinghouse's counterparties. In order to increase flexibility for members and liquidity in Nord Pool's markets, the Nord Pool group has decided to add on General Clearing Members to its member structure. "Due to an increasing number of international members as financial institutions and banks, we launch a General Clearing Member model for those participants who would like to take on counterparty responsibilities. The GCM model will increase the flexibility for trading and clearing and hopefully boost market liquidity further. For those with a direct membership, this introduction will have no consequences," says CEO Nord Pool ASA and Chairman of the Board, Nord Pool Clearing ASA, Torger Lien. For further information, please contact: Torger Lien CEO Nord Pool ASA and Chairman of the Board, Nord Pool Clearing ASA, phone +47 6752 8070/+47 9188 8112 Lars Galtung, vice president corporate communications Nord Pool group, phone +47 6752 8080/+47 9821 4812 Further information For further information about the /en/asa/clearing/General-Clearing-Member-Model/ GCM model>> About Nord Pool ASA Nord Pool ASA is the world's largest power derivatives exchange and Europe's second largest carbon exchange for trade in EUAs and CERs. The company has more than 400 members from 20 countries across a wide range of energy producers and consumers, as well as financial institutions. Nord Pool ASA embraces 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 visit http://www.nordpool.com www.nordpool.com .