LONDON, OSLO EXCHANGES PARTNER ON TRADING PLATFORM USAGE

Posted March 12, 2009

LONDON -- Oslo Børs and London Stock Exchange (LSE) Group have formed a partnership to co-operate across their equities, fixed-income and derivatives markets with a view to improving market efficiency and liquidity.

“This is a natural development for Oslo Børs, increasing our distribution network throughout Europe,” says Bente A. Landsnes, Chief Executive Officer of Oslo Børs. “We believe this partnership will enhance both liquidity and the general interest in our market. By combining our complementary strengths, both exchanges will gain from the partnership, helping us better serve our customers.”

Under the partnership, the LSE Group will provide Oslo Børs with TradElect for equities and fixed-income markets, and the SOLA trading platform the LSE licenses from the TMX Group [see March 10 News Update], for Oslo’s derivatives markets.

“We look forward to co-operating with the Oslo Børs to expand the reach of our combined Nordic derivatives markets and enabling Norwegian cash equities and fixed-income to be traded on TradElect, our internationally renowned trading platform,” says Clara Furse, Chief Executive of the LSE Group. “There is considerable scope for further co-operation and we look forward to working with our colleagues in Oslo to provide innovative, efficient and liquid markets for our customers.”

The migration of the Oslo Børs and EDX London derivatives market will take place in November 2009, subject to client readiness. The migration of the Oslo Børs cash equities and fixed-income markets to TradElect will take place in the first quarter of 2010, subject to client readiness. Oslo Børs will use Infolect, an integrated part of TradElect, to distribute market data.