Nasdaq announces purchases of 844,071 shares in Oslo Bors VPS

The developments around the bidding race for Oslo Bors continue to pile up. Nasdaq Inc (NASDAQ:NDAQ) announces today that it, through an affiliated entity, has purchased 844,071 shares in Oslo Børs VPS. 

The purchases are made in line with the terms of the offer as outlined on February 4, 2019, as amended by announcements on March 4 and March 25, 2019. As a result of the purchases, which were made at NOK 158 per share, equal to the Offer Price, more than 37% of Oslo Børs VPS shares are owned by Nasdaq or are subject to pre-commitments to accept the Offer.

Nasdaq stresses its commitment to combining with Oslo Børs VPS and is confident that the Offer represents the best solution for supporting the Norwegian capital market and uniting a strong Nordic financial ecosystem for long term, sustainable growth.

Nasdaq notes that, on April 8, 2019, the recommendation to the Ministry of Finance by the Financial Supervisory Authority of Norway to approve Nasdaq as a qualified owner of Oslo Børs VPS was announced.

The Board of Oslo Børs VPS has unanimously recommended Nasdaq’s Offer. In addition, shareholders representing more than one-third of the shares in Oslo Børs VPS, including the two largest shareholders in Oslo Børs VPS and its President and Chief Executive Officer, have recently reaffirmed their support for the Offer as the best solution for Oslo Børs VPS and the Norwegian capital market.

Nasdaq is in a bidding race with Euronext over the acquisition of Oslo Bors. On April 8, 2019, Euronext said it had secured positive recommendation from Norway’s Financial Supervisory Authority on the Oslo Bors deal. Euronext now awaits final approval from the Norwegian Ministry of Finance which is the last major condition to complete the transaction.

Nasdaq and Euronext each offer NOK 158 per share of Oslo Bors.