NASDAQ OMX and Bond Exchange of South Africa Limited Establish BondClear

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Sep 4, 2008 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX News Network) -- The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:NDAQ) today announces that NASDAQ OMX and the Bond Exchange of South Africa Ltd, (BESA) have signed agreements regarding the provision of post trading administrative services and a central counterpart (CCP) for the derivatives market that BESA will establish. The agreements include the establishment of BondClear, a South African entity, which together with NASDAQ OMX will provide derivatives clearing services for the South African fixed income derivatives market. Subject to regulatory and other stakeholder approvals, BondClear will become operational during early 2009.

The clearing offering will be based on NASDAQ OMX's operational model for the OMX Nordic Exchange, and will bring international best practice standards to the South African financial market. With NASDAQ OMX acting as CCP, BondClear will be able to provide the South African market participants with a counterpart whose credit rating exceeds what is currently available in South Africa, hence ensuring minimum capital allocation for the market.

"We are delighted to be selected as preferred partner to BESA for this strategically important project, and we look forward to working together with BESA to realize their vision. The BondClear partnership reaffirms NASDAQ OMX's business model, where the combination of technology solutions, our home market operations and our global customer base creates a unique value offering for BondClear and the South African financial market," said Magnus Bocker, President of NASDAQ OMX.

"BondClear is a key structure for BESA to realize its vision, and execute our new strategy; additionally it will allow us to bring a new standard for post trade services to the South African market. The outlined partnership with NASDAQ OMX will bring proven, world class technology as well as best practice operational services to the South African market. Furthermore, we are excited by the partnership's ability to enable us to pierce the country's credit ceiling and tap into the huge, London-based off shore market for South African instruments," said Garth Greubel, CEO of BESA.

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, 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.

ABOUT BOND EXCHANGE OF SOUTH AFRICA

Bond Exchange of South Africa Limited (BESA) is an independent, licensed exchange, constituted as a public company, and responsible for operating and regulating the debt securities and interest-rate derivatives markets in South Africa. BESA was granted its exchange licence in 1996 and over the past ten years has been at the forefront of market developments in South Africa. In December 2007 BESA entered a new era, successfully converting from a mutual association to a public company. As the direct regulator of the bond market, BESA operates within the framework of the Securities Services Act 2004 and a set of rules and directives approved by the Financial Services Board. The South African bond market is a leader among emerging-market economies. Turnover reported on BESA in 2007 reached a record US$1,926 billion; this represents a turnover velocity of 30 times market cap. BESA expects 2008 turnover to be approximately US$ 2.429 billion (at ZAR/$ 7:1). At December 2007 BESA had listed some 967 debt securities, issued by 104 sovereign and corporate borrowers, with a total market capitalisation of R862 billion. For more information about BESA, visit www.bondexchange.co.za.

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. There can be no assurance that the FSA will give the NASDAQ OMX applicant the authorization and permissions which it seeks.

NDAQF

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SOURCE: The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc.

The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc.
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