The NASDAQ Stock Market Leads U.S. Exchanges for IPOs in Q1 2014

74 New U.S. Listings Including 45 IPOs

Remains the Leading U.S. Exchange for Healthcare, Technology and Venture Capital-Backed IPOs

NEW YORK, March 27, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:NDAQ) announced that to date in the first quarter it welcomed 74 new listings, including 45 initial public offerings (IPOs) on The NASDAQ Stock Market, more than double the number of IPOs of any other U.S. exchange. Combined proceeds raised by NASDAQ's first quarter IPOs totaled approximately $2.6 billion, a 20 percent increase from first quarter figures in 2013. In addition, 98 percent of NASDAQ's IPOs filed as "emerging growth companies," the new class of issuer created under the JOBS Act.

"NASDAQ is off to a strong start to the year, continuing to attract a significant number of companies from a range of industries, which is a testament to our value proposition, high listing standards and continued focus on innovation," said Nelson Griggs, Senior Vice President, NASDAQ OMX.  "We will look to build upon our existing momentum to be the exchange partner of choice for companies who are seeking to optimize the capital markets."

First Quarter 2014 Highlights⁺

IPO Performance 

-- NASDAQ's first quarter IPOs have returned on average an increase of 28.2 percent from their offer price, above the market average return for all U.S. IPOs of 24.3 percent. 

-- 7 of the top 10 best performing IPOs in 2014 to-date listed on NASDAQ including:

• Retrophin (Nasdaq:RTRX)
• GlycoMimetics (Nasdaq:GLYC)
• Varonis Systems (Nasdaq:VRNS)

Healthcare

-- 32 healthcare companies listed on NASDAQ to date in the first quarter, buoyed by a pipeline of 22 biotech listings that include:

• Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical, Inc. (Nasdaq:RARE)
• Auspex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:ASPX)
• Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:DRNA)

-- 100 percent of all biotechnology IPOs in the U.S. in 2014 have listed on NASDAQ.

-- NASDAQ's healthcare IPOs are up an average of 30 percent from their offer price.

Technology and Financial

-- NASDAQ maintained its leadership position in financial and technology IPOs welcoming 8 financial companies and 3 technology companies to date in the first quarter.

-- Financial listing highlights include:

• Square 1 Financial, Inc. (Nasdaq:SQBK)
• Talmer Bancorp (Nasdaq:TLMR)
• Oxbridge Re Holdings Ltd. (Nasdaq:OXBRU)

-- Technology listing highlights include:

• Varonis Systems (Nasdaq:VRNS)
• Paylocity (Nasdaq:PCTY)
• Borderfree, Inc. (Nasdaq:BRDR)

-- NASDAQ's technology IPOs in 2014 are up an average of 53.2 percent from their offer price to date.

Venture Capital and Private Equity-backed IPOs

-- 92 percent of venture capital-backed IPOs listed with NASDAQ to date in the first quarter.    

-- Notable private-equity backed listings include:

• Lumenis Ltd. (Nasdaq:LMNS)
• Paylocity (Nasdaq:PCTY)
• Malibu Boats (Nasdaq:MBUU)

-- Venture capital and private equity-sponsored IPOs raised more than $1.9 billion in combined proceeds.

(⁺Data source: EDGAR Online, Renaissance Capital as of March 26, 2014)  

*Data source: NASDAQ, FactSet, EDGAR Online

**Includes the following capital raising events as priced between January 1, 2014 and March 26, 2014: IPO, REIT, SPAC, BDC, Foreign Exchange Dual Listing, Best Effort and Spin-offs

Additional First Quarter 2014 Highlight

NASDAQ OMX Copenhagen welcomed Denmark-based ISS Group A/S, a leading global provider of facility services with operations in more than 50 countries. ISS is the largest listing on a Nordic exchange in over 14 years, based on market capitalization.

About NASDAQ OMX Group

NASDAQ OMX (Nasdaq:NDAQ) is a leading provider of trading, exchange technology, information and public company services across six continents. Through its diverse portfolio of solutions, NASDAQ OMX enables customers to plan, optimize and execute their business vision with confidence, using proven technologies that provide transparency and insight for navigating today's global capital markets. As the creator of the world's first electronic stock market, its technology powers more than 70 marketplaces in 50 countries, and 1 in 10 of the world's securities transactions. NASDAQ OMX is home to more than 3,300 listed companies with a market value of over $8 trillion and more than 10,000 corporate clients. To learn more, visit 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 listings business and other businesses, 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.

NDAQG

CONTACT: NASDAQ OMX Media Relations Contacts:
                  
         Will Briganti
         +1.646.441.5012
         William.Briganti@NASDAQOMX.com
         
         Joseph Christinat
         +1.646.441.5121
         Joseph.Christinat@NASDAQOMX.com