NDAQ » Topics » Recent Acquisitions and Strategic Initiatives

These excerpts taken from the NDAQ 10-K filed Feb 27, 2009.

Recent Acquisitions and Strategic Initiatives

 

We believe that an exchange company’s scale and technology have become very important factors in maintaining a competitive advantage due to the liberalization and globalization of world markets and regulatory changes in the U.S. and Europe. As a result, we recently completed several strategic acquisitions and investments that we believe further strengthen our competitive position.

 

The combination with OMX and strategic partnership with Borse Dubai Limited. On February 27, 2008, Nasdaq and OMX AB combined their businesses pursuant to an agreement with Borse Dubai Limited, a Dubai company, or Borse Dubai. The purchase price of OMX AB was approximately $4.3 billion, consisting of an equity component and a cash component. We believe that the combination with OMX AB created a premier global exchange company, bringing together complementary businesses, diversifying our operations, enhancing our existing product offerings and solidifying our leadership in global exchange technology.

 

Concurrently with the business combination with OMX AB, we also acquired 33 1/3% of the equity of the Dubai International Financial Exchange, or DIFX, in exchange for a contribution of $50 million in cash and the entry into certain technology and trademark licensing agreements. DIFX, which has been renamed NASDAQ Dubai, is an international financial exchange serving the region between Western Europe and East Asia.

 

We believe that the strategic partnership with Borse Dubai and our investment in NASDAQ Dubai provide us with significant resources and valuable expertise in the growing Middle Eastern and North African financial markets, as well as enhance the globalization of the NASDAQ OMX brand name, further increasing strategic opportunities. In November 2008, we listed our common stock on NASDAQ Dubai.

 

The acquisition of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange. In July 2008, we completed our acquisition of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, Inc., or PHLX, expanding our presence in the derivatives market. The acquisition of PHLX provided us with the third largest options market in the U.S. and with increased exposure to a fast growing asset class and diversification into an area adjacent to our core equity trading business. PHLX, renamed NASDAQ OMX PHLX, Inc., operates as a distinct market alongside The NASDAQ Options Market, our options platform that was launched in March 2008. With the acquisition of PHLX and the launch of The NASDAQ Options Market, we have substantially increased our footprint in global derivatives. As of December 31, 2008, we had a combined market share of approximately 17.3% in the trading of U.S. equity options.

 

The acquisition of the Boston Stock Exchange. We closed the acquisition of the Boston Stock Exchange, Incorporated, or BSX, in August 2008. The BSX acquisition provided us with an additional license for trading both equities and options and a clearing license. We used the BSX license to create a second U.S. cash equities market, called NASDAQ OMX BX, which was launched in January 2009. With NASDAQ OMX BX, we offer a second quote within the U.S. equities marketplace, providing our customers enhanced trading choices and price flexibility. We have been able to leverage our INET trading system, which runs The NASDAQ Stock Market, to operate NASDAQ OMX BX, providing customers an additional fast and efficient cash equities market.

 

We have announced plans to launch a clearing service for U.S. cash equities, using the clearing license obtained in the acquisition of BSX. The new clearinghouse, to be called NASDAQ Clearing Corporation (NCC), is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to launch in 2009.

 

The acquisition of certain businesses from Nord Pool ASA. In October 2008, we acquired Nord Pool ASA’s clearing, international derivatives and consulting subsidiaries. As a result of the acquisition, we launched NASDAQ OMX Commodities, which offers energy and carbon derivatives products. NASDAQ OMX Commodities, together with third party partner Nord Pool, provides access to the world’s largest power derivatives markets and one of Europe’s largest carbon markets.

 

The acquisition of a majority interest in International Derivatives Clearing Group. In December 2008, we acquired an 81% interest in the International Derivatives Clearing Group, or IDCG, and IDCG became an

 

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independently operated subsidiary of NASDAQ OMX. IDCG has been granted approval by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, or CFTC, to clear over-the-counter, or OTC, interest rate swap futures contracts and other fixed income derivatives contracts. In December 2008, IDCG began providing central counterparty, or CCP, clearing for interest rate swap products through its clearinghouse subsidiary, International Derivatives Clearinghouse, LLC, or IDCH. NFX is serving as the designated contract market for trading of these interest rate swap products.

 

Investment in EMCF. In January 2009, we acquired a 22% stake in European Multilateral Clearing Facility N.V., or EMCF, a leading European clearing house. In addition, we signed an agreement with EMCF to use its CCP services for all Nordic transactions. The strategic investment in EMCF and the introduction of CCP services in the Nordic markets is part of our broader commitment to reducing clearing and settlement costs for customers in Europe.

 

Investment in Agora-X. In 2008, we acquired a 20% equity interest in Agora-X, LLC. Agora-X has launched an electronic communications network, or ECN, designed to enable institutional traders to efficiently negotiate OTC transactions in agricultural swaps and swaptions, as well as swaps and options on ethanol. The platform provides a more liquid and transparent marketplace for price discovery and negotiation.

 

Recent Acquisitions and Strategic Initiatives

SIZE="1"> 

We believe that an exchange company’s scale and technology have become very important factors in maintaining a
competitive advantage due to the liberalization and globalization of world markets and regulatory changes in the U.S. and Europe. As a result, we recently completed several strategic acquisitions and investments that we believe further strengthen
our competitive position.

 

The combination with OMX and
strategic partnership with Borse Dubai Limited.
On February 27, 2008, Nasdaq and OMX AB combined their businesses pursuant to an agreement with Borse Dubai Limited, a Dubai company, or Borse Dubai. The purchase price of OMX AB was
approximately $4.3 billion, consisting of an equity component and a cash component. We believe that the combination with OMX AB created a premier global exchange company, bringing together complementary businesses, diversifying our operations,
enhancing our existing product offerings and solidifying our leadership in global exchange technology.

 

STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%;padding-bottom:3px;line-height:95%; vertical-align:top">Concurrently with the business combination with OMX AB, we also acquired 33SIZE="1"> 1/3% of the equity of the Dubai International Financial Exchange, or DIFX, in exchange for a contribution of $50 million in cash and
the entry into certain technology and trademark licensing agreements. DIFX, which has been renamed NASDAQ Dubai, is an international financial exchange serving the region between Western Europe and East Asia.

STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"> 

We believe that the strategic partnership with Borse Dubai and our investment
in NASDAQ Dubai provide us with significant resources and valuable expertise in the growing Middle Eastern and North African financial markets, as well as enhance the globalization of the NASDAQ OMX brand name, further increasing strategic
opportunities. In November 2008, we listed our common stock on NASDAQ Dubai.

 

FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">The acquisition of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange. In July 2008, we completed our acquisition of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, Inc., or PHLX, expanding our presence in the derivatives market. The
acquisition of PHLX provided us with the third largest options market in the U.S. and with increased exposure to a fast growing asset class and diversification into an area adjacent to our core equity trading business. PHLX, renamed NASDAQ OMX PHLX,
Inc., operates as a distinct market alongside The NASDAQ Options Market, our options platform that was launched in March 2008. With the acquisition of PHLX and the launch of The NASDAQ Options Market, we have substantially increased our footprint in
global derivatives. As of December 31, 2008, we had a combined market share of approximately 17.3% in the trading of U.S. equity options.

 

STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%">The acquisition of the Boston Stock Exchange. We closed the acquisition of the Boston Stock Exchange, Incorporated, or BSX, in August 2008.
The BSX acquisition provided us with an additional license for trading both equities and options and a clearing license. We used the BSX license to create a second U.S. cash equities market, called NASDAQ OMX BX, which was launched in January 2009.
With NASDAQ OMX BX, we offer a second quote within the U.S. equities marketplace, providing our customers enhanced trading choices and price flexibility. We have been able to leverage our INET trading system, which runs The NASDAQ Stock Market, to
operate NASDAQ OMX BX, providing customers an additional fast and efficient cash equities market.

 

STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%">We have announced plans to launch a clearing service for U.S. cash equities, using the clearing license obtained in the acquisition of BSX. The new
clearinghouse, to be called NASDAQ Clearing Corporation (NCC), is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to launch in 2009.

 

STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%">The acquisition of certain businesses from Nord Pool ASA. In October 2008, we acquired Nord Pool ASA’s clearing, international
derivatives and consulting subsidiaries. As a result of the acquisition, we launched NASDAQ OMX Commodities, which offers energy and carbon derivatives products. NASDAQ OMX Commodities, together with third party partner Nord Pool, provides access to
the world’s largest power derivatives markets and one of Europe’s largest carbon markets.

 

STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%">The acquisition of a majority interest in International Derivatives Clearing Group. In December 2008, we acquired an 81% interest in the
International Derivatives Clearing Group, or IDCG, and IDCG became an

 


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independently operated subsidiary of NASDAQ OMX. IDCG has been granted approval by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, or CFTC, to clear
over-the-counter, or OTC, interest rate swap futures contracts and other fixed income derivatives contracts. In December 2008, IDCG began providing central counterparty, or CCP, clearing for interest rate swap products through its clearinghouse
subsidiary, International Derivatives Clearinghouse, LLC, or IDCH. NFX is serving as the designated contract market for trading of these interest rate swap products.

SIZE="1"> 

Investment in EMCF. In January 2009, we acquired a 22% stake in European Multilateral Clearing Facility N.V.,
or EMCF, a leading European clearing house. In addition, we signed an agreement with EMCF to use its CCP services for all Nordic transactions. The strategic investment in EMCF and the introduction of CCP services in the Nordic markets is part of our
broader commitment to reducing clearing and settlement costs for customers in Europe.

 

FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Investment in Agora-X. In 2008, we acquired a 20% equity interest in Agora-X, LLC. Agora-X has launched an electronic communications network, or ECN, designed to enable institutional traders to
efficiently negotiate OTC transactions in agricultural swaps and swaptions, as well as swaps and options on ethanol. The platform provides a more liquid and transparent marketplace for price discovery and negotiation.

STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"> 

EXCERPTS ON THIS PAGE:

10-K (2 sections)
Feb 27, 2009
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