NASDAQ OMX and Verizon Business Extend Co-Operation

NEW YORK, Dec. 14, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:NDAQ) today announced that it has extended its co-operation with Verizon Business. Through the two companies' new agreements, NASDAQ OMX is reinforcing its global open connectivity strategy as well as supporting the expansion of its world-leading co-location services offering for its U.S. exchanges and markets. The agreements extend an existing relationship under which Verizon Business provides the exchange company with professional services, unified communications and corporate network services.

The contracts cover two main areas: NASDAQ OMX is expanding its use of Verizon Business' data-center co-location services in the U.S. to enhance its overall trading capabilities; in addition, the exchange company is transitioning its Nordic exchanges' existing trading and market data access network to Verizon Business.

NASDAQ OMX is entrusting the day-to-day facility management of its core data-center infrastructure and services in the U.S. to a Verizon Business team, which will operate in-house. This will support the expansion of the exchange's co-location services in the U.S.

NASDAQ OMX's Nordic exchanges will move to an open connectivity model as of January 1, 2010, when trading and market data customers of NASDAQ OMX's Nordic Exchanges across Europe will be able to select their carrier of choice. As a result of this, the group is transitioning its proprietary Nordic access network to Verizon Business, where it will be integrated in the Verizon Financial Networking solution (VFn), a dedicated solution for the financial services community. The VFn offers financial customers a highly scalable and low latency solution for both trading and market data that includes dedicated, end-to-end support.

Carl-Magnus Hallberg, Senior Vice President, Global IT Services, NASDAQ OMX, commented: "The use of Verizon data center services is an example of our continuous innovation and leadership in providing the best experience for customers who trade and do business with our markets around the world. In addition, the open connectivity model helps us better support our global customers in the new financial markets environment. Verizon is a trusted partner that understands our business and has the global capabilities and expertise to support us as we continue to grow."

Blair Crump, Senior Vice President of worldwide sales for Verizon Business, said: "Our relationship with NASDAQ OMX goes far beyond a traditional partner model. We are effectively part of the company's operational and strategic infrastructure, working alongside the core team to help them deliver current and future business plans for the company's customers. For more than 20 years, we've been delivering innovative technology-based trading solutions for NASDAQ OMX, and we look forward to continuing to put technology to work for our global financial services customers worldwide."

About Verizon Business

Verizon Business, a unit of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ), is a global leader in communications and IT solutions. We combine professional expertise with one of the world's most connected IP networks to deliver award-winning communications, IT, information security and network solutions. We securely connect today's extended enterprises of widespread and mobile customers, partners, suppliers and employees -- enabling them to increase productivity and efficiency and help preserve the environment. Many of the world's largest businesses and governments -- including 96 percent of the Fortune 1000 and thousands of government agencies and educational institutions -- rely on our professional and managed services and network technologies to accelerate their business. Find out more at www.verizonbusiness.com.

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 Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/NASDAQ-OMX/108167527653) and Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/nasdaqomx).

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.

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CONTACT: The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. Media Contact: Silvia Davi (US) + 1 646 441 5014 silvia.davi@nasdaqomx.com Carl Norell (EMEA) +46 8 405 66 39 carl.norell@nasdaqomx.com Verizon Business Media Contact: Debbie Lewis (US) +1 610 257 7974 debbie.lewis@verizon.com Clare Ward (EMEA) +44 118 905 3501 clare.ward@verizonbusiness.com

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