STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN AND ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST, MARCH 6, 2019

“We are delighted to begin this new collaboration with NASDAQ using its world-renowned market monitoring technology, SMARTS,” said Félix Edoh Kossi AMENOUNVE, CEO of the BRVM. “Over the past five years, we have taken numerous energetic steps to revitalize our market and increase investment opportunities in West African member states. The BRVM seeks to implement its growth strategy for the 2019-2020 period, including exploring opportunities to leverage new technologies to create an even stronger and healthier capital market in our sub-region.”

“Implementing a benchmark monitoring solution is essential to ensuring a safe and transparent trading environment in an integrated market like the BRVM,” said James Martin, Regional Director, EMEA, Market Technology, NASDAQ. “As Abidjan continues to solidify its position as a major financial hub in Africa, it distinguishes itself by implementing international best practices and market compliance standards. Furthermore, this new technology agreement with NASDAQ clearly signals to the African financial community that the BRVM is committed to advancing its market.”

NASDAQ's market technology is used by more than 250 global market management organizations and market participants, including brokers, exchanges, clearing houses, central securities depositories and regulators, in more than 50 countries with cutting-edge technology solutions.

The Regional Stock Exchange (BRVM) was established on December 18, 1996, in Cotonou, Benin. It is a fully integrated electronic market with eight member countries in West Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo. In addition to equity instruments (shares), the BRVM offers the issuance and trading of debt instruments (bonds).

The BRVM offers investors a world-class trading environment with state-of-the-art trading and settlement/delivery systems. The BRVM holds the vice-presidency of the Executive Committee of the African Securities Exchanges Association (ASEA) and is a member of the West African Capital Markets Integration Council (WACMIC). Since November 2016, it has been included in the MSCI Frontier Markets Index. For more information, visit: www.brvm.org .

NASDAQ (NASDAQ: NDAQ) is a leading global provider of trading, clearing, exchange technology, listing, information, and services to public companies. Through its diverse portfolio of solutions, NASDAQ empowers clients to confidently plan, optimize, and execute their business vision using proven technologies that deliver transparency and insight to navigate today's global financial markets. As the creator of the world's first electronic stock exchange, its technology powers more than 100 markets in 50 countries and one in ten transactions worldwide. NASDAQ hosts approximately 4,000 total listings with a market value of approximately $15 billion. To learn more, visit business.nasdaq.com .