IMAREX NOS Q406 RESULTS - REVENUES DOUBLE, PROFITS UP 9 TIMES

commodity market place. Through the year four acquisitions has been finalized and at the same time IMAREX NOS has experienced strong organic growth.

As a consequence the revenues rose by 120 percent to NOK 56 million in the fourth quarter of 2006, from NOK 25 million in the corresponding period in 2005. At the same time profits were significantly up, increasing to NOK 13.3 million, from NOK 1.5 million. Earnings per share increased to NOK 0.86 for the fourth quarter, compared to NOK 0.43 in the same quarter last year, and to NOK 1.95 for the full year 2006 (NOK 1.10)

Revenues for the full year were NOK 151.2 million and profits before taxes were 22.5 million. The results improvement in 2006 showed increasing momentum in the second half of the year.

"We are pleased with our achievements and results for 2006. We have made several improvements in our freight business and have added significant new businesses that we will work to develop further in the coming year. Combining this makes us better positioned to realise our ambitious growth strategy", says CEO Tom Even Mortensen.

In the freight and fuel oil market, the number of trades increased by 58 percent to 2 679 in the fourth quarter, with tanker and dry bulk accounting for 89 percent and bunker fuel oil and options for the remainder. The base of trading and clearing members increased by 37 percent, to 153, compared to the same quarter 2006.

M-Tre Nordic, the power derivatives broker which was acquired during 2006, had a strong quarter with a trade volume of 121 TWh and an OTC market share of 33 percent. The year ended with a new record volume of 466 TWh. Volumes also increased for the emissions broker Guardian AS in a growing emissions market. In the fourth quarter IMAREX NOS also acquired the commodity research firm NENA AS, and now offers an integrated market place for commodities with exchange, clearing, brokerage and analysis.

Commenting on the operations CEO Tom Even Mortensen says:

"IMAREX has made progress within both tankers and dry bulk, and is building the bunker fuel oil and options markets. The underlying operations are also developing positively for the new areas within power, emissions, and market analysis. NOS Clearing ASA has maintained the leading position in freight clearing, continuously adding new products to the portfolio."

In February 2007 IMAREX NOS acquired 33.4 percent of the shares in Fish Pool ASA the marketplace for salmon derivatives. The aim of the aqcuisition is to build a liquid international market for seafood derivatives and further expand the portfolio of markets under the IMAREX NOS umbrella.

Further M&A opportunities are under evaluation and will add to the organic growth within all market segments.

A further expansion of the business areas remains a key priority for 2007. IMAREX NOS’ ambition is to strengthen the position of the exchange and to establish a global energy brokerage business through integration of the brokerage activities in oil, power and emissions. Power brokerage will be expanded into European markets in order to offer combined solutions for European and Nordic markets. Emissions brokerage will also be further developed and integrated with power to reach for leading position in the emissions derivatives market.

IMAREX NOS will use its clearing position to expand clearing services in new commodity markets. In the shipping segments, IMAREX NOS will continue to expand existing business and add new freight services to what is still the world’s only dedicated exchange and clearing house for maritime commodity contracts.

• IMAREX NOS Q406 Investor presentation

  imarex_nos_06Q4_presentation.pdf 171.63 kB

• IMAREX NOS Q406 Report

  imarex_nos_06Q4_report.pdf 99.04 kB

For more information, please contact:

• Tom Even Mortensen, Chief Executive Officer, tem@imarex.com, Tel: +47 2389 4222, Mob: +47 982 29 650

• Arild Jæger, Chief Financial Officer, arj@imarex.com Tel: +47 2389 4211, Mob: +47 971 79 688

About IMAREX NOS

IMAREX NOS ASA (OSE:IMAREX) operates an exchange, a clearing house, a brokerage, and a research firm for commodity derivatives markets, via its subsidiaries: International Maritime Exchange ASA (the exchange), NOS Clearing ASA (the clearing house), M-Tre Nordic AS (Nordic power derivatives brokers), Guardian AS (emissions brokers) and NENA AS (commodity research firm).