The Nasdaq OMX Group (Nasdaq:NDAQ) today announced that it has received the necessary regulatory approval for the completion of its acquisition of Nord Pool ASA.
Nord Pool ASA holds a Norwegian exchange license and operates the Nordic Power market and the European Carbon market on one trading platform.
Through this acquisition, the NASDAQ OMX Commodities offering now includes the world's largest power derivatives exchange and one of Europe's largest carbon exchanges.
"We are pleased to complete this acquisition as it forms one of the cornerstones in our strategy to become the global leader in the commodity exchange business," said Hans-Ole Jochumsen, Executive Vice President NASDAQ OMX. "The combination of NASDAQ OMX's world class exchange technology and Nord Pool ASA's extensive experience in the Nordic financial power market will put us in a prime position for continued growth in the commodities space."
"This transaction will allow us to further improve our services, offer more efficient solutions and swiftly meet changes and new requirements in the commodities markets. The Nord Pool team will be an important part of NASDAQ OMX Commodities' global ambitions managed from our premises at Lysaker outside Oslo," says Geir Reigstad, Senior Vice President of NASDAQ OMX Commodities.
NASDAQ OMX acquired Nord Pool Clearing ASA and Nord Pool Consulting AS from Nord Pool ASA in October 2008. The new acquisition means that NASDAQ OMX now owns all shares in the previous Nord Pool ASA group.
The acquisition does not comprise the Nordic physical electricity market operated by Nord Pool Spot AS.