(Lysaker, 28 August 2008) Nord Pool has been granted permission from the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to allow US companies to trade and clear Nordic, international and carbon products. The licence will give Nord Pool the opportunity to set up PowerClick terminals in the US, hence enforce the future NASDAQ OMX global commodity offering and increase the market reach substantially. The CFTC has, after Nord Pool's request for US market approach, examined thoroughly all aspects of Nord Pools business as regulatory regime, market surveillance, information sharing, trading and clearing procedures, risk calculation and other critical areas. The CFTC granted Nord Pool ASA a no-action relief letter, giving Nord Pool the right to establish direct customer relations to domestic US companies. “Nord Pool has noticed an increased interest from financial investment firms and banks in the US over the last years and therefore we are very satisfied that Nord Pool can approach US companies and give them the ability to trade in Europe's largest and most liquid power market. This will also strengthen the future commodity offering from Nord Pool/NASDAQ OMX.” “We also appreciate that the CFTC has found Nord Pool's systems, market conduct rules and information regime well prepared for the US financial market with its strong quality requirements,” says Torger Lien, CEO Nord Pool ASA. The NASDAQ OMX transaction awaits a final approval from Kredittilsynet (the Norwegian Financial Supervisory Authority of Norway) within the autumn 2008. About Nord Pool 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 . ------------------------------- For further information, please contact Nord Pool ASA: Torger Lien, president and CEO, phone +47 6752 8070/+47 9188 8112 Lars Galtung, vice president communications, phone +47 6752 8080/+47 9821 4812