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

“We are delighted to begin this new collaboration with NASDAQ using its world-renowned market surveillance technology, SMARTS,” said Félix Edoh Kossi AMENOUNVE, Director General of the BRVM. “Over the past five (5) years, we have taken many aggressive steps to revitalize our market and increase investment opportunities in West African member states. The BRVM is seeking to implement its growth strategy for the period 2019 – 2020, including seeking opportunities to leverage new technologies to create an even stronger and healthier capital market in our sub-region.”

“Implementing a leading surveillance 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 strengthen its position as a leading financial capital in Africa, it is distinguishing itself by implementing international best practices and market compliance standards. Furthermore, this new technology agreement with NASDAQ is a clear signal 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, clearinghouses, central securities depositories and regulators, in more than 50 countries with industry-leading 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 West African member countries: 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 systems. The BRVM serves as Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee of the Association of African Stock Exchanges (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 public company services. Through its diverse portfolio of solutions, NASDAQ empowers clients to confidently plan, optimize, and execute their business vision, using proven technologies that provide transparency and insight to navigate today's global capital markets. Creator of the world's first electronic stock market, its technology powers more than 100 markets in 50 countries and one in ten transactions worldwide. NASDAQ is home to approximately 4,000 total listings with a market value of approximately $15 billion. To learn more, visit business.nasdaq.com .