New Nordic index with top 50 companies in terms of environmental, social and
governance responsibility
Stockholm, November 18, 2008 - NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:NDAQ) today
announced the launch of a Nordic sustainability index, the OMX GES
Sustainability Index. It is a benchmark index which comprises the 50 leading
Nordic listed companies in terms of sustainability. The index criteria are
based upon international guidelines for environmental, social and governance
(ESG) issues, and supports investor considerations to the UN Principles for
Responsible Investment (PRI).
The assessment is conducted by GES Investment Services, Northern Europe's
leading research and service provider for Responsible Investment. The most
traded companies are rated by GES Investment Services on their preparedness in
ESG issues. The OMX GES Nordic Sustainability Index is designed to provide
investors with a liquid, objective and reliable benchmark for responsible
investments. It also ensures that investor portfolios are up to date to meet
the global recognized sustainability criteria as these evolve.
“We have seen growing demand for sustainability investments in the Nordic
region. Therefore we are very pleased to announce the launch of the first
Nordic sustainability index,” said Magdalena Hartman, Vice President, NASDAQ
OMX Global Index Group. “NASDAQ OMX is committed to continue providing
investors with independent and reliable benchmark indexes”.
“The interest in sustainability investments has increased tremendously in the
last few years, so we are very pleased to expand our co-operation with NASDAQ
OMX in this area”, said Magnus Furugård, President, GES Investment Services.
“ESG issues have a relatively long record in the Nordics and thus should be
attractive for investors that want to minimize environmental, social and
ethical risks within their portfolios”.
NASDAQ OMX already calculates a Sustainability Index based on the Swedish
market.
The OMX GES Sustainability Index Series now consists of:
• OMX GES Sustainability Nordic Index
• OMX GES Sustainability Sweden Index
For more information about OMX GES Sustainability Indexes visit:
http://omxnordicexchange.com/produkter/index/OMX_index/Responsible_Investment/
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About NASDAQ OMX Global Index Group
NASDAQ OMX Global Index Group (NOGIG) is engaged in the design, development,
calculation, licensing, and marketing of NASDAQ OMX indexes. NOGIG specializes
in the development of indexes focusing on NASDAQ OMX's brand themes of
innovation, technology, growth, and globalization. NOGIG also provides custom
index services and design solutions as a third-party provider to selected
financial organizations. For more information about NASDAQ OMX indexes, visit
http://www.omxnordicexchange.com/products/indexes/
The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. is the world's largest exchange company. It delivers
trading, exchange technology and public company services across six continents,
and with over 3,900 companies, it is number one in worldwide listings among
major markets. NASDAQ OMX offers multiple capital raising solutions to
companies around the globe, including its U.S. listings market; the OMX Nordic
Exchange, including First North; and the 144A PORTAL Market. The company offers
trading across multiple asset classes including equities, derivatives, debt,
commodities, structured products and ETFs. NASDAQ OMX technology supports the
operations of over 60 exchanges, clearing organizations and central securities
depositories in more than 50 countries. OMX Nordic Exchange is not a legal
entity but describes the common offering from NASDAQ OMX exchanges in Helsinki,
Copenhagen, Stockholm, Iceland, Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius. For more
information about NASDAQ OMX, visit www.nasdaqomx.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
The matters described herein contain forward-looking statements that are made
under the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about
NASDAQ OMX's products and offerings. We caution that these statements are not
guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from
those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking
statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other factors beyond
NASDAQ OMX's control. These factors include, but are not limited to factors
detailed in NASDAQ OMX's annual report on Form 10-K, and periodic reports filed
with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to
release any revisions to any forward-looking statements.
CONTACT:
NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc.
Carl Norell
+46 8 405 66 39
carl.norell@nasdaqomx.com
