For Immediate Release NAIROBI, 8TH AUGUST 2012 NAIROBI SECURITIES EXCHANGE (NSE) SIGNS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH SOMALIA EXCHANGE INVESTMENT CORPORATION (SSE) Nairobi Securities Exchange entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with The Somalia Investment Corporation (SSE) today, 8th August 2012, regarding the possibility of co-operating to establish a securities exchange business involving the trading, settlement, delivery and other stockbrokerage activities.

While signing the MOU on behalf of the NSE, the Chief Executive Mr. Peter Mwangi noted that the Memorandum of Understanding was the first step in the journey that would see the development and implementation of a self sustaining stock exchange in Somalia. He added that,“NSE shall have primary responsibility for the technical development of the Somalia Stock Exchange including identifying the most suitable partners and expertise for the operations of the Somalia Stock Exchange.”

His Excellency Mr. Ambassador Idd Mohamed, Ambassador Extraordinary and Deputy Permanent Representative of Somalia to the United Nations, who was the principal signing on behalf of SSE, stated, “SSE shall be responsible for the implementation of the Somalia Stock Exchange and its subsequent operation. We are very pleased that NSE has accepted to be our technical partners”.

He noted “We are aware that NSE is a founder member of the African Securities Exchanges Association (ASEA) and the East African Securities Exchanges Association (EASEA). The NSE has been involved in the development of other markets in the region. Though EASEA, the regulations and standards of the EAC stock exchanges have progressively been harmonized. The members of EASEA also the same technology provider.” Both NSE and SSE will explore the location of the Exchange, development of human capital, the trading mechanism and the development of shariah products and services.

Mr. Peter Mwangi, noted that the Nairobi Securities Exchange is pleased to assist the People of Somalia to develop their capital markets and particularly to assist in the integration of our markets in Eastern Africa. In this regard, the Nairobi Securities Exchange is pleased to be associated with this initiative.

-ENDS-

NOTES TO THE EDITORS About the Nairobi Securities Exchange

The Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) is the only licensed securities exchange in Kenya. Besides equity securities, the NSE offers a platform for the issuance and trading of debt securities. In terms of of domestic equities, it is Africa's fifth largest securities exchange. The NSE is a founder member of the African Securities Exchanges Association (ASEA). It sits on the Executive Committee of the Association and also runs the Secretariat for ASEA. The NSE is a founder member of the East African Securities Exchanges Association (EASEA). It is an affiliate member of the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE).

About the East African Securities Exchanges Association

The East African Securities Exchanges Association (EASEA) is a company limited by guarantee and registered in Uganda on April 3 2009. The Secretariat is located at the Uganda Securities Exchange. The members of EASEA are:-

1. Dar-es-Salaam Stock Exchange; 2. Nairobi Securities Exchange; 3. Rwanda Stock Exchange; 4. Uganda Securities Exchange. The Associate members of EASEA are:-

1. The Central Depository and Settlement Corporation (Kenya) The full members represent four (4) African states - Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.

About the African Securities Exchanges Association

The African Securities Exchanges Association (ASEA) is was registered in Nairobi as a company limited by guarantee on 13th November 1993. The Secretariat is located at the Nairobi Securities Exchange. Members of the Association are as follows:- Full Members 1. Bolsa de Valores de Cabo Verde 2. Bolsa de Valores de Moçambique 3. Botswana Stock Exchange 4. Bourse de Casablanca 5. 6. Bourse Régionale des Valeurs Mobilières de l’Afrique de l’Ouest 7. Dar-es-Salaam Stock Exchange 8. Douala Stock Exchange 9. The (formerly Cairo and Alexandria Stock Exchanges) 10. 11. JSE Ltd, the operator of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange Ltd. 12. Khartoum Stock Exchange 13. Libyan Stock Market 14. Lusaka Stock Exchange 15. 16. Nairobi Securities Exchange 17. Nigerian Stock Exchange 18. Malawi Stock Exchange 19. Uganda Securities Exchange 20. The Sierra Leone Stock Exchange 21. Stock Exchange of Mauritius 22. Rwanda Stock Exchange 23. Zimbabwe Stock Exchange

Observer Member 1. Central Securities Clearing System Ltd. (Nigeria)

Affiliate Member 1. South Asian Federation of Exchanges (SAFE)

The full members represent twenty nine (29) African states - Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Guinée Bissau, Kenya, , Mali, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sénégal, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT

Ms. Carol Karugu

Investor Relations and Communications Manager

Nairobi Securities Exchange

Tel: +254 20 2831000

Email: [email protected]

Website:www.nse.co.ke