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November 5, 2009

NASDAQ OMX Announces Third Quarter 2009 Results

- Non-GAAP Diluted EPS $0.42 (GAAP Diluted EPS $0.28) –

New York, N.Y.-The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. ("NASDAQ OMX®"; NASDAQ: NDAQ) today reported net income attributable to NASDAQ OMX of $60 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2009 compared with net income attributable to NASDAQ OMX of $58 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2008, and net income attributable to NASDAQ OMX of $69 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2009.

For comparison purposes, results for the second and third quarters of 2009 are presented on a non-GAAP basis and exclude merger expenses, losses on the sale of investments, a debt conversion expense, and certain other non-recurring items. Results for the third quarter of 2008 are presented on a pro forma non-GAAP basis that reflect the financial results of NASDAQ OMX and the Philadelphia Stock Exchange as if they were a combined company for the period presented and exclude merger expenses and certain other non-recurring items. A complete reconciliation of GAAP results to non-GAAP and to pro forma non-GAAP results is provided as an attachment.

For the third quarter of 2009, net income attributable to NASDAQ OMX on a non-GAAP basis was $89 million, or $0.42 per diluted share, a decrease of 18%, when compared to pro forma non-GAAP net income attributable to NASDAQ OMX of $108 million, or $0.51 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2008, and a decrease of 10% when compared to non-GAAP net income attributable to NASDAQ OMX of $99 million, or $0.47 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2009.

Items excluded from third quarter 2009 non-GAAP results are:

  • $25 million in debt conversion expense associated with the inducement provided to Silver Lake and another holder to convert their 3.75% convertible notes into common stock;
  • $16 million in pre-tax expenses associated with asset retirements, workforce reductions, and other non-recurring items; and,
  • $5 million in pre-tax merger expenses.

"As stated throughout this year, we've targeted organic growth initiatives designed to bring transparency and innovation to the markets and are pleased to see several of these strategic initiatives gain traction," commented Bob Greifeld, NASDAQ OMX's Chief Executive Officer. "The growth of the BX market has established it as the most successful new trading venue, as it now averages more than 3.5% of the U.S. cash equities market. The recent move to a positive fee structure at BX follows a similar move at The NASDAQ Options Market, with the combined actions expected to make significant contributions to our results. And in our Market Technology business we are excited that the Osaka Securities Exchange and the Kuwait Stock Exchange each selected NASDAQ OMX as their strategic technology partner. We will continue to be innovative and use our technology leadership to bring new, creative market solutions to our trading community and to our exchange partners around the world."

Highlights

  • Continued expansion of the Market Technology business following its selection as the strategic technology provider to the Osaka Securities Exchange (OSE) and the Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE). OSE, the premier Japanese derivatives and securities exchange, is the second major customer in Japan to choose NASDAQ OMX as a technology partner within the past 18 months. As part of the agreement with KSE, NASDAQ OMX will deliver technology for trading, surveillance and market data. KSE marks NASDAQ OMX's eleventh technology partner in the Middle East region. Additionally, NASDAQ OMX and BM&FBOVESPA continue their discussions regarding possible technology cooperation agreements.
  • Enjoyed continued growth in volume and market share at NASDAQ OMX BX (BX), as the market now regularly trades approximately 350 million shares per day with market share of U.S. cash equity trading in excess of 3.5%. In the month of October, market share for The NASDAQ Stock Market grew to 21.1% while BX grew to 3.7%, for a combined market share of 24.8%.
  • Captured a total of 35 new listings during the third quarter of 2009, including 33 on The NASDAQ Stock Market and 2 on the exchanges that comprise NASDAQ OMX Nordic and NASDAQ OMX Baltic. Included in new listings are 12 IPOs and 7 companies that switched their listing to NASDAQ from exchanges operated by NYSE Group. Switches include Mattel, R.R. Donnelley & Sons, and TriMas Corporation. NASDAQ OMX also recognized 135 secondary offerings during the quarter, up from 110 in the first two quarters of 2009.
  • Launched central counterparty clearing in the NASDAQ OMX Nordic exchanges in Copenhagen, Helsinki, and Stockholm through a partnership with EMCF (European Multilateral Clearing Facility) in October 2009. The introduction of central counterparty clearing in the Nordic equity markets is part of NASDAQ OMX's strategy to increase market liquidity by introducing a competitive market structure that is accessible to new participants.
  • Grew Nordic derivatives volumes during the quarter. Contributing to growing volume is the transition of volumes from the London Stock Exchange's EDX system into the NASDAQ OMX derivatives markets and clearinghouse. This transition is expected to be completed by year-end 2009.
  • Witnessed renewed volume growth in our European power markets, with total cleared carbon contracts up more than 50% from the second quarter of 2009.
  • Announced plans to launch a third equity trading platform during 2010, pending SEC approval. NASDAQ OMX expects to offer this equity trading platform with a new price/size priority model using the license acquired from its 2008 acquisition of the former Philadelphia Stock Exchange, known today as NASDAQ OMX PHLX.
  • Introduced next generation trading technology through the rollout of new enhancements and upgrades to INET, NASDAQ OMX's core trading technology platform. Recognized as the most sophisticated trading technology in the world, INET is the common technology utilized across NASDAQ OMX's U.S. and European markets. It also serves as the backbone for GENIUM, NASDAQ OMX's commercial exchange technology offering.
  • Announced plans to establish a new listing market, pending SEC approval, for companies that do not presently qualify for an exchange listing. The new listing market will be a modern venue for companies that aspire to list on, or return to, The NASDAQ Stock Market.
  • Continued the development of International Derivatives Clearing Group, an independently operated NASDAQ OMX subsidiary that operates a designated clearing organization for clearing and settling interest rate swap futures contracts and other fixed income derivatives contracts. More than 20 counterparties have submitted in excess of $850 billion in notional value into the clearinghouse to test systems and internal processes.
  • Reduced total principal amount of debt obligations by $232 million in the third quarter of 2009, bringing the total year-to-date reduction to $452 million. Actions during the third quarter of 2009 include repaying $113 million in principal on $2.0 billion term loan and converting $119 million of 3.75% convertible notes held by Silver Lake and another holder into common equity.

"During the third quarter, NASDAQ OMX continued to execute on a key priority of lowering total debt obligations," noted Adena Friedman, Chief Financial Officer. "Through principal debt payments, repurchases of convertible notes, the conversion of convertible notes, as well as other actions, we have been able to reduce total debt obligations by approximately $452 million this year alone. Looking forward, we will continue to maintain the same financial discipline that has provided NASDAQ OMX with the flexibility needed to compete effectively. For the full year of 2009, we are updating our guidance for total operating expenses to be in the range of $840 million to $850 million, including approximately $50 million in non-recurring costs."

Financial Review

Revenues

Revenues less liquidity rebates, brokerage, clearance and exchange fees ("net exchange revenues") were $349 million for the third quarter of 2009, a decrease of $62 million, or 15%, from third quarter 2008 results, of which $14 million was due to changes in the exchange rates of various currencies as compared to the U.S. dollar. Net exchange revenues declined $18 million, or 5%, from second quarter 2009 results.

Market Services

Market Services net exchange revenues decreased to $230 million, down 21% from the prior year quarter, and down 7% from the second quarter of 2009.

Transaction Services

Net exchange revenues from Transaction Services were $139 million for the third quarter of 2009, a decrease of $51 million, or 27%, when compared to the third quarter of 2008, and a decrease of $16 million, or 10%, from the second quarter of 2009.

  • Cash Equity Trading net exchange revenues were $49 million for the third quarter of 2009, down $53 million, or 52%, from the prior year quarter and down $19 million, or 28%, from the second quarter of 2009.
    • Net U.S. cash equity trading revenues decreased when compared to the prior year quarter and the second quarter of 2009 due primarily to declines in matched share volume and the average net fee per share matched on NASDAQ's trading system.
    • European cash equity trading revenues declined when compared to the prior year quarter and remained equal to second quarter of 2009 revenues. The decline from the third quarter of 2008 is primarily due to a decline in value traded, which dropped from €271 billion in the prior year quarter to €141 billion in the third quarter of 2009. Also contributing to the decline in European cash equity trading revenues when compared to the third quarter of 2008 are changes in the exchange rates of various currencies as compared to the U.S. dollar.
    • Included in U.S. cash equity trading revenues in the third quarter of 2009 are $94 million in SEC Section 31 fees, compared with $42 million in the third quarter of 2008 and $92 million in the second quarter of 2009. Corresponding cost of revenues, reflecting the reimbursement of these fees to the SEC, is included in brokerage, clearance and exchange fees.

  • Derivative trading net exchange revenues were $54 million for the third quarter of 2009, down $2 million, or 4%, from the prior year quarter and down $1 million, or 2%, from the second quarter of 2009.
    • The decline in net U.S. derivative trading revenue when compared to the prior year quarter is primarily due to lower industry volumes for equity option contracts, which declined 8%, offset somewhat by increased market share on The NASDAQ Options Market. The decline from the second quarter of 2009 is primarily due to lower industry volumes.
    • The increase in European derivative trading revenues when compared to the third quarter of 2008 is primarily due to the inclusion of NASDAQ OMX Commodities revenues following the October 21, 2008 closing of NASDAQ OMX's acquisition of Nord Pool ASA's clearing, international derivatives and consulting subsidiaries. The increase in revenues when compared to the second quarter of 2009 is due primarily to changes in the exchange rates of various currencies as compared to the U.S. dollar.
  • Access Services revenues were $36 million for the third quarter of 2009, an increase of $4 million, or 13% when compared to both the prior year quarter and the second quarter of 2009. The increase in access services revenues when compared to both the prior year quarter and the second quarter of 2009 is primarily due to revised fees for access services and increased demand for co-location services.

Market Data

Market Data revenues were $79 million for the third quarter of 2009, down $8 million, or 9%, when compared to the third quarter of 2008 and equal to revenues reported in the second quarter of 2009.

  • Net U.S. tape plans revenues were $31 million in the third quarter of 2009, down $7 million, or 18%, when compared to the prior year quarter and up $1 million, or 3%, when compared to the second quarter of 2009. The decline in U.S. tape plans revenues, net of revenue sharing plans, in the third quarter of 2009 when compared to the third quarter of 2008 is primarily due to the decline in NASDAQ's trading and quoting market share of U.S. equities and a reduction in the size of tape plan revenue pools.

  • U.S. market data products revenues were $29 million in the third quarter of 2009, an increase of $2 million, or 7%, when compared to the year ago quarter, but down $1 million, or 3%, when compared to the second quarter of 2009. Revenue growth when compared to the prior year quarter is driven primarily by the growth of products such as the NASDAQ Global Index Data Service, launched in first quarter of 2009, and other proprietary data products.

  • European market data products revenues were $19 million in the third quarter of 2009, a decrease of $3 million, or 14%, when compared to the prior year quarter and equal to revenues reported in the second quarter of 2009. The decrease when compared to the third quarter of 2008 is primarily due to changes in the exchange rates of various currencies as compared to the U.S. dollar and declines in subscriber populations.

Issuer Services

During the third quarter of 2009, Issuer Services revenues declined $9 million, or 10%, to $80 million from the third quarter of 2008 and decreased $2 million, or 2%, from the prior quarter.

Global Listing Services

Global Listing Services revenues were $70 million for the third quarter of 2009, down $6 million, or 8%, when compared to the third quarter of 2008 and down $2 million, or 3%, from the second quarter of 2009. Decreases in revenues from the prior year period are due primarily to lower U.S. annual renewal fees resulting from fewer listed companies, and to lower market capitalization values for European listed equities, which in turn result in lower European listing fees. Also contributing to the decline in revenues from the third quarter of 2008 are changes in the exchange rates of various currencies as compared to the U.S. dollar. The decline when compared to the second quarter of 2009 is due to seasonally lower demand for corporate services.

Global Index Group

Global Index Group revenues were $10 million for the third quarter of 2009, down $3 million, or 23%, when compared to the third quarter of 2008 and equal to second quarter of 2009 revenues. Driving the decline in revenues when compared to the prior year quarter are lower license fees associated with NASDAQ OMX-licensed products, related to lower volumes in licensed derivatives and declines in assets under management in ETFs and structured products.

Market Technology

Market Technology revenues were $36 million for the third quarter of 2009, up $7 million, or 24%, when compared to the third quarter of 2008, and equal to the second quarter of 2009 revenues. Revenues increased when compared to the prior year quarter primarily due to the increased deliveries of market technology contracts.

Operating Expenses

Total operating expenses decreased $25 million, or 11%, to $197 million from $222 million in the prior year quarter and decreased $2 million, or 1%, from $199 million in the second quarter of 2009. The decrease in expenses from the third quarter of 2008 was realized through a reduction in compensation expense, lower marketing and advertising expense, reduced expenses for computer operations and data transmission, and lower general, administrative and other expense. These reductions were driven by successful integration efforts associated with NASDAQ's business combination with OMX and the acquisition of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange. Also contributing to the decline were changes in the exchange rates of various currencies as compared to the U.S. dollar. The decrease in expenses when compared to the second quarter of 2009 is driven by lower compensation expense, offset somewhat by increased expenses in various other line items due primarily to changes in the exchange rates of various currencies as compared to the U.S. dollar.

Net Interest Expense

Net interest expense was $23 million for the third quarter of 2009, compared with $23 million for the third quarter of 2008 and for the second quarter of 2009.

Earnings Per Share

On a non-GAAP basis, third quarter 2009 earnings per diluted share were $0.42 as compared to pro forma non-GAAP earnings per diluted share of $0.51 in the prior year quarter, and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share of $0.47 in the second quarter of 2009. NASDAQ OMX's weighted average shares outstanding used to calculate diluted earnings per share was 215 million for the third quarter of 2009 compared with 214 million for the third quarter of 2008 and the second quarter of 2009.

About NASDAQ OMX
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 approximately 3,700 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 http://www.nasdaqomx.com. *Please follow NASDAQ OMX on Twitter (http://twitter.com/nasdaq) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/NASDAQcom/13881287428).

Non-GAAP Information
In addition to disclosing results determined in accordance with GAAP, NASDAQ OMX also discloses certain non-GAAP and pro forma non-GAAP results of operations, including net income, diluted earnings per share, operating expenses, and operating income that make certain adjustments or exclude certain charges and gains that are described in the reconciliation table of GAAP to pro forma non-GAAP information provided at the end of this release. Management believes that this non-GAAP and pro forma non-GAAP information provides investors with additional information to assess NASDAQ OMX's operating performance by making certain adjustments or excluding costs or gains and assists investors in comparing our operating performance to prior periods. Management uses this non-GAAP and pro forma non-GAAP information, along with GAAP information, in evaluating its historical operating performance.

The non-GAAP information is not prepared in accordance with GAAP and may not be comparable to non-GAAP information used by other companies. The non-GAAP information should not be viewed as a substitute for, or superior to, other data prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this communication contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. NASDAQ OMX cautions readers that any forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and that actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to (i) projections about our future financial results, growth, trading volumes and achievement of synergy targets, (ii) statements about the implementation dates and benefits of certain strategic initiatives, (iii) statements about our integrations of our recent acquisitions and (iv) other statements that are not historical facts. 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, NASDAQ OMX's ability to implement its strategic initiatives, economic, political and market conditions and fluctuations, government and industry regulation, interest rate risk, U.S. and global competition, and other factors detailed in NASDAQ OMX's filings with the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission, including its annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q which are available on NASDAQ OMX's website at http://www.nasdaqomx.com and the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. NASDAQ OMX undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contacts Media Relations:
Bethany Sherman
+1.212.401.8714
Anna Rasin
+46(8)405.6612

Contact Investor Relations:
Vincent Palmiere
+1.212.401.8742


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