NASDAQ OMX Europe Announces First Sponsored Access Partnership With Penson Worldwide

LONDON, June 30, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NASDAQ OMX Europe today announced its first Sponsored Access partnership with Penson Worldwide, Inc. (Nasdaq:PNSN), a leading provider of execution, clearing, settlement, custody and technology products and services to the global financial services industry. Access will be available via the UK-based subsidiary, Penson Financial Services, Ltd. who will be the first Sponsoring Participant for NASDAQ OMX's multilateral trading facility, NASDAQ OMX Europe.

Through the Sponsored Access service, firms are able to access high-volume, European blue chip stock trading without being direct members of NASDAQ OMX Europe.

Sponsored Access enables trading participants to give their clients the ability to connect directly to NASDAQ OMX Europe, providing access to its advanced matching and routing services, without compromising risk control. NASDAQ OMX Europe provides a rigorous Pre-Trade Risk Management (PRM) system that ensures Sponsoring Participants can confidently offer their Sponsored Clients direct connectivity to the platform. The PRM system monitors all orders submitted to the NASDAQ OMX Europe order book and limits can be agreed between NASDAQ OMX Europe and the Sponsoring Participant. Clients are able to connect either via proximity hosting or through remote access.

Charlotte Crosswell, President of NASDAQ OMX Europe, said, "We are delighted to be able to work with Penson as the first sponsoring participant for our new Sponsored Access service. We believe this is a mutual opportunity to offer an extremely competitive service in what we know is a keenly sought after space."

"We are very excited about the opportunity to partner with a global exchange leader like NASDAQ OMX Europe in an effort to bring new entrants and order flow into the European markets," said Alan Philpot, CEO of Penson Financial Services, Ltd.

"The ability of Penson to provide NASDAQ OMX Europe Sponsored Access with no added latency presents a great opportunity for Penson to assist its 300 global correspondents expand their trading and product offering," commented Dan Weingarten, co-head of Global Sales and Marketing at Penson Worldwide.

While Penson plans to target its global clearing and execution services correspondents for this product, the clearing element is independent of the service. "With the ever changing landscape in European trading venues brought about by MiFID, we believe we are uniquely positioned to provide access for all U.S. broker dealers whether they clear through Penson or not. We believe that the agnostic nature of this service offers an independent and neutral approach to connectivity to NASDAQ OMX Europe," commented Philpot.

ABOUT NASDAQ OMX EUROPE

NASDAQ OMX Europe, the most competitively priced multilateral trading facility in Europe, is the first platform to connect European liquidity pools with Pan-European routing. NASDAQ OMX Europe currently trades approximately 900 securities including constituents of the main European indices, ETFs and other highly liquid securities. For more information about NASDAQ OMX Europe, visit www.nasdaqomxeurope.com.

NASDAQ OMX Europe Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Insofar as the content of this communication is considered a financial promotion for the purposes of section 21 FSMA 2000, it is not communicated or approved by a person authorised under FSMA. This communication is directed only at persons to whom NASDAQ OMX Europe may lawfully make financial promotions (Relevant Persons) including persons who have professional experience in matters relating to investments who are "investment professionals" within the meaning of article 19 of the FSMA (Financial Promotion) Order of 2005. This communication must not be distributed to, acted on or relied upon by persons who are not Relevant Persons.

ABOUT THE 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, with over 3,800 listed companies. NASDAQ OMX Group offers multiple capital raising solutions to companies around the globe, including its U.S. listings market; NASDAQ OMX Nordic, NASDAQ OMX Baltic, including First North; and the U.S. 144A sector. The company offers trading across multiple asset classes including equities, derivatives, debt, commodities, structured products and ETFs. NASDAQ OMX Group 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 Group exchanges in Helsinki, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Iceland, Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius. For more information about NASDAQ OMX, visit http://www.nasdaqomx.com.

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.

About Penson Worldwide: www.penson.com

The Penson Worldwide group of companies provides execution, clearing, custody, settlement and technology infrastructure products and services to financial services firms and others servicing the global financial services industry. The Penson Worldwide group of companies includes Penson Financial Services, Inc., Penson Financial Services Canada Inc., Penson Financial Services Ltd., Nexa Technologies, Inc., Penson GHCO, Penson Asia Limited, and Penson Financial Services Australia Pty Ltd., among other companies. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Penson has served the clearing needs of the global financial services industry since 1995. Penson Worldwide - Building the Best Clearing and Execution Services Firm in the World.

Penson Financial Services, Inc. is a member of the New York Stock Exchange, NYSE Alternext, Chicago Stock Exchange, FINRA, the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), OneChicago, the International Securities Exchange (ISE), the NYSE Arca Exchange, the Options Clearing Corp (OCC), the MSRB, NSCC, ICMA, DTC, Euroclear, SIPC and is a participant of the Boston Options Exchange (BOX). Penson Financial Services Canada Inc. is a participating organization with the Toronto Stock Exchange, the Montreal Exchange, the CNQ Exchange and the TSX Venture Exchange, is regulated by the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada, is a member of the CIPF, CDCC and CDS and subscribes to various Canadian ATSs. Penson Financial Services Ltd. is a member of the London Stock Exchange and is authorized and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Penson GHCO is a registered Futures Commission Merchant and clearing member at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Chicago Board of Trade, London International Financial Futures Exchange, and ICE Futures.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this news release that are not based on current or historical fact are forward-looking in nature. Such forward-looking statements are based on current plans, estimates and expectations. Forward-looking statements are based on known and unknown risks, assumptions, uncertainties and other factors. Penson's actual results, performance, or achievements may differ materially from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Penson undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement.

NDAQG

CONTACT: NASDAQ OMX Europe Media Contacts: Bethany Sherman +1(212) 401-8714 bethany.sherman@nasdaqomx.com Anna Rasin +46(8)405 66 12 anna.rasin@nasdaqomx.com Penson Financial Services Ltd. Nicola Gillespie ngillespie@pensonuk.com Sharron Davey +44 207 549 1500 Penson US - Intermarket Communications Andrew Yemma ayemma@intermarket.com Erica Fidel efidel@intermarket.com +1(212) 888-6115

In This Story

NDAQ