Lysaker, Norway 18 March 2009 - The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:NDAQ)
announces that BHF-BANK has become a General Clearing Member (GCM) at Nord Pool
Clearing ASA, a part of NASDAQ OMX Commodities. BHF-BANK is the first German
institute to be listed as a GCM at Nord Pool, Europe's largest power exchange.
As a GCM, BHF-BANK will be in a position to perform clearing for customers and
Non-Clearing Members, i.e. clients that are not admitted to clearing at Nord
Pool Clearing ASA.
“In recent years BHF-BANK has become one of the leading providers of clearing
services for exchange-traded energy derivatives and energy related products on
all major European energy exchanges,” said Vincent van Lith, Head of Derivatives
Services at BHF-BANK. “By adding this new service we will continue to expand our
number one position in global energy clearing.”
The new member category is counterpart to the clearinghouse for both proprietary
trading and client trading. The Nord Pool Clearing's existing member categories
will continue unchanged in addition to the new member GCM category.
Back in December 2006, BHF-BANK was admitted as a trading and clearing member by
Nord Pool and was the first bank to offer integrated trading and third party
clearing services at the exchange. By linking up with Nord Pool, BHF-BANK
completed its concept of being a pan-European energy clearer. Today, BHF-BANK
offers one-stop clearing services at the eight major energy exchanges in Europe.
Geir Reigstad, Head of NASDAQ OMX Commodities added:
“We are very satisfied with BHF-BANK signing up as our first German GCM, as
NASDAQ OMX Commodities sees great potential for developing our business in
Germany further. BHF can now offer its existing and prospective customers, which
currently are not members at Nord Pool, the opportunity to become a NCM at Nord
Pool in addition to the existing facility of trading and clearing German, Nordic
and Dutch power derivatives and carbon products. This will hopefully lower the
barriers to trade these markets for BHF customers.”
ABOUT BHF
BHF-BANK - PRIVATE SINCE 1854 - is one of Germany's foremost private banks. It
is dedicated to tailoring comprehensive solutions to the needs of a discerning
clientele. BHF-BANK combines the classic values of a private bank with financial
strength and broadly based in-depth expertise. The bank has branches in
Germany's important economic centres and is represented at various international
locations.
ABOUT NASDAQ OMX COMMODITIES
NASDAQ OMX Commodities and Nord Pool ASA provide access to the world's largest
power derivatives exchange and one of Europe's largest carbon markets. NASDAQ
OMX Commodities is responsible for the international derivative and carbon
products offering, and also operates the clearing business and offers consulting
services to commodities markets globally. Nord Pool ASA is responsible for the
exchange operations and trading activities, including ownership of the Nordic
derivative products. NASDAQ OMX Commodities and Nord Pool ASA have more than 390
members from 22 countries across a wide range of energy producers and consumers,
as well as financial institutions.
NASDAQ OMX Commodities is an entity in the NASDAQ OMX GROUP. For more
information, please visit www.nasdaqomx.com/commodities and www.nordpool.com.
ABOUT NASDAQ OMX GROUP
The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. is the world's largest exchange company. It delivers
trading, exchange technology and public company services across six continents,
with over 3,800 listed companies. NASDAQ OMX offers multiple capital raising
solutions to companies around the globe, including its U.S. listings market,
NASDAQ OMX Nordic, NASDAQ OMX Baltic, NASDAQ OMX First North, and the U.S. 144A
sector. The company offers trading across multiple asset classes including
equities, derivatives, debt, commodities, structured products and
exchange-traded funds. NASDAQ OMX technology supports the operations of over 70
exchanges, clearing organizations and central securities depositories in more
than 50 countries. NASDAQ OMX Nordic and NASDAQ OMX Baltic are not legal
entities but describe 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 internal reorganization, 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. There can be no assurance that the FSA will give the NASDAQ OMX
applicant the authorization and permissions which it seeks.
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Media Contacts:
NASDAQ OMX Commodities
Lars Galtung
Tel: + 47 98 21 48 12
E-mail: lars.galtung@nasdaqomx.com
BHF-BANK
Bettina Schneider
Derivatives Services / Product Sales
Tel.: +49 69 718-2567
E-mail: bettina.schneider@bhf-bank.com
