NOS Clearing ASA has been the leading clearing house for the freight market since 2001 and has invested significant resources in building a cleared ship freight derivatives market. NOS Clearing ASA was the first clearing house to establish an efficient cleared seafood market in 2005. NOS Clearing ASA has 30 employees as of today.

The transaction will allow NASDAQ OMX to move forward with the global strategy of NASDAQ OMX Commodities.

Geir Reigstad, Senior Vice President, NASDAQ OMX Commodities, said: "We are very pleased to complete this acquisition and to welcome a highly competent organization into the NASDAQ OMX family. The acquisition fits perfect into our strategy to grow globally within the energy space, since freight is a key part of the energy supply chain. In addition to that, we are entering a new product range, clearing of seafood derivatives, with a large global potential."

The acquisition also allows NASDAQ OMX to further leverage on the trading platform. In March 2012, NASDAQ OMX Nordic launched commodities on the Genium INET technology based platform, thereby creating an all-asset, cross-market technology platform.

Geir Olsen, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Imarex Group, said: "Over the past years we have evaluated several options for how to develop NOS to the benefit of the shareholders as well as the employees and clients. Under the ownership of NASDAQ OMX, NOS Clearing will become part of an organization with growth ambitions and sufficient resources to support the company going forward".

NASDAQ OMX Commodities Europe (NASDAQ OMX Oslo ASA) holds a Norwegian exchange license and operates the Nordic power derivatives market and one of Europe's largest carbon exchanges on one trading platform. NASDAQ OMX Commodities Europe is fully owned by the NASDAQ OMX Group.

NOS Clearing ASA is an independent clearing organization. The parent company, Imarex ASA, is a Norwegian public limited liability company listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSE:IMAREX).

The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval and the approval by the shareholders of Imarex ASA, the owner of NOS Clearing ASA, listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange. A General Assembly in Imarex ASA will be held at 22 May, 2012.