First North is a Nordic-Baltic alternative marketplace for trading in shares. For a company, First North combines the benefits of being public with simplicity. It is a marketplace tailored for companies that are interested in taking advantage of the financial market, but that may not have that possibility on Baltic main market. First North is the choice for young, small or growth companies that opt for an alternative to the Baltic Main List.

First North is an alternative market, but it does not have the legal status of a regulated market. Issuers on First North are subject to the rules of First North (“the Rules”) but not the legal requirements for admission to trading on an Exchange.

First North provides the infrastructure for trading and distribution of share data. Each company that is admitted to trading must have an agreement with an Adviser. The Adviser has an agreement with the Exchange as well. The Adviser ensures that the company meets the admission requirements and the continuous obligations associated with having shares admitted to trading on First North. Furthermore, the Adviser constantly monitors the company’s compliance with the rules and immediately reports to the Exchange if there should be a breach of the rules.

For investors, First North provides the opportunity to invest in a company early in its lifecycle, at a stage of growth and development. The risk and earning potential in such an investment may be higher than on the main market. Companies on First North are also subject to less stringent requirements than on the main market, which also implies a higher risk.

The NASDAQ OMX stock exchanges in Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius form the Baltic Market, the core idea of which is to minimize to the extent possible the differences between the three Baltic markets in order to facilitate cross-border trading and attract more investments to the region. This includes sharing the same trading system and harmonizing rules and market practices, all with the aim of reducing the costs of cross-border trading in the Baltic region.

The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. is the world’s largest exchange company. It delivers trading, exchange technology and public company services across six continents, and with over 3,900 companies, it is number one in worldwide listings among major markets. NASDAQ OMX Group offers multiple capital raising solutions to companies around the globe, including its U.S. listings market; the OMX Nordic Exchange, including First North; and the 144A PORTAL Market. The company offers trading across multiple asset classes including equities, derivatives, debt, commodities, structured products and ETFs. NASDAQ OMX Group technology supports the operations of over 60 exchanges, clearing organizations and central securities depositories in more than 50 countries.  OMX Nordic Exchange is not a legal entity but describes the common offering from NASDAQ OMX Group exchanges in Helsinki, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Iceland, Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius. For more information about NASDAQ OMX, visit www.nasdaqomx.com.