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Press releases 2009

TOKYO AIM receives exchange licence

Tokyo, 29 May, 2009 — TOKYO AIM Inc., (“TOKYO AIM”) today received a licence to operate a stock exchange from the Japanese Financial Services Agency (“FSA”). As a result, TOKYO AIM will start operations from 1^st June 2009 and will begin to process formal applications from market participants to become Nominated Advisers (J-Nomads).

From today, the rules for J-NOMADs and the rules for listing securities are available on the TOKYO AIM website, together with a response to the rules consultation held earlier this year. The J-NOMAD and company rules will come into effect from 1^st June 2009.

Tetsutaro Muraki, President & CEO of TOKYO AIM, said: “Having received the exchange licence we are now able to open the new market officially. We hope to be able to announce the first group of nominated advisors soon, so that they can begin to work with the first issuers to apply for listing on the new market. We anticipate TOKYO AIM will become a market for mid to long term investors, giving them access to domestic and international companies with the growth potential to contribute to Japanese and Asian economic development. We are confident that TOKYO AIM will make a significant contribution to Tokyo’s standing as a key financial hub in Asia.”

Atsushi Saito, President & CEO of the TSE, said: “In these difficult times, when capital raising can be challenging for companies, we expect that TOKYO AIM will provide a solution to meet fund raising requirements, not only for those based in Japan, but for those based throughout the region. By limiting investment to professional investors, we aim to establish this as a market that can respond efficiently to the needs of companies with immense growth potential. We will ensure that TOKYO AIM develops into a professional market, valued by investors around the world.”

Xavier Rolet, Chief Executive of London Stock Exchange Group, said: “We are pleased that TOKYO AIM has received its licence, an important milestone in the creation of what we are confident will develop into a vibrant new market. By balancing carefully the needs of companies and their investors, we hope that TOKYO AIM will replicate AIM’s success in developing a strong network of market participants, all sharing a focus on supporting growth companies from a broad range of sectors.”

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For further information, please contact:

TOKYO AIM, Inc.

Anna Dingley, Business Development: + 81 (0)3 5847 0819

a-dingley@tokyo-aim.com

Tokyo Stock Exchange Group, Inc.

Masahiro TAKADA, Media Relations: + 81 (0)3 3665 1220

m-takada@tse.or.jp

London Stock Exchange Group

Catherine Mattison: + 44 (0)20 7797 1222

newsroom@londonstockexchange.com

Further details on TOKYO AIM can be found at: www.tokyo-aim.com

Notes to editors:

TOKYO AIM is the new market for growing companies in Japan and Asia. Jointly owned by the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) and London Stock Exchange Group, the market will combine TSE’s knowledge and strong market position in the region and the London Stock Exchange’s growth market expertise, enabling it to tailor the highly successful model of AIM, the London Stock Exchange’s international market specifically designed for growing companies, to a wider range of issuers in Japan and Asia. TOKYO AIM will provide companies with access to a capital market specifically tailored for their needs, while creating new investment opportunities for Japanese and international professional investors. The market is designed to combine the benefits of a public flotation with appropriate levels of regulation: offering a balanced regulatory approach together with high standards of disclosure. The regulatory model is unique to TOKYO AIM, with J-Nomads that vouch for a company's suitability on an ongoing basis playing a central role, as well as greater flexibility around accounting standards and the option of English-language disclosure. TOKYO AIM is licensed as an exchange by the Japanese Financial Services Agency.