OTCQX Reaches 100 Company Mark

NEW YORK, March 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pink OTC Markets Inc. (OTCQX: PINK), the financial information and technology services company that operates the leading electronic quotation and trading system in the OTC securities market, announced today that the OTCQX® marketplace, the premier tier of the U.S. OTC market, has reached 100 companies and a combined market capitalization of over $550 billion.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090708/NY43125LOGO)

Beginning with just six companies when it launched in March of 2007, OTCQX has rapidly grown to one of the largest marketplaces in the U.S., where investors can find industry-leading companies such as adidas (ADDYY), Allianz (AZSEY), BASF (BASFY), Computer Services (CSVI), Gazprom Neft (GZPFY), Marks & Spencer (MAKSY), Roche (RHHBY), and San Gold (SGRCF).  

OTCQX enables investor-focused companies to offer their U.S. investors transparent trading, superior information, and easy access through their regulated U.S. broker-dealers.  Its quality-controlled listing process offers a better platform for investors and gives the companies on OTCQX more visibility by distinguishing them from the over 9,000 other OTC-traded companies on the Pink Sheets® and the OTCBB™.  

"More and more highly regarded companies from the U.S. and around the world are beginning to discover the benefits of participating in the innovative OTCQX marketplace.  OTCQX gives OTC-traded companies an opportunity to offer their shareholders a more transparent and efficient marketplace than either the OTCBB or Pink Sheets," said R. Cromwell Coulson, President and CEO of Pink OTC Markets.  

Many U.S. companies list on OTCQX as the final step toward a NASDAQ or NYSE listing. Others enjoy the efficient disclosure-driven and cost-effective model it offers their investors outside of a traditional exchange listing.  Some examples of the diverse opportunities and benefits OTCQX provides include:

• Computer Services, Inc. (OTCQX: CSVI) upgraded from the Pink Sheets in 2007 in an effort to increase their level of transparency for investors.

"OTCQX has helped our company increase visibility among U.S. investors and expand our shareholder base. We are proud to be a founding member of the OTCQX marketplace," said David L. Simon, Treasurer & CFO, Computer Services, Inc.

• adidas AG (OTCQX: ADDYY) upgraded from Pink Sheets to OTCQX in late 2007 to further improve their outreach to U.S. investors.

"Upgrading adidas' ADR to OTCQX was a simple process which greatly improved the information flow of our ADR activity.  Liquidity has improved and continues to move in the right direction," said John-Paul O'Meara, Vice President, Investor Relations, adidas AG.    

• Imperial Tobacco Group PLC (OTCQX: ITYBY) moved to OTCQX in 2008 as a quality-based and cost-effective alternative to NYSE.

"Moving from NYSE to OTCQX was a big change for Imperial Tobacco.  At every stage, the OTCQX team provided the support, guidance and expertise that we needed.  OTCQX gives us all the advantages of a U.S. trading platform, without the compliance costs associated with a dual listing," said Gavin Bonnar, Group Records Manager, Imperial Tobacco Group PLC.  

• Craftmade International, Inc. (OTCQX: CRFT) deregistered and now provides disclosure to their investors following the OTCQX disclosure guidelines with no change in valuation or volume compared to their previous listing.

"OTCQX has allowed Craftmade to continue to be shareholder-friendly, following our move from NASDAQ, by providing a platform for our company to make our corporate information and financial disclosure easily available to our investors," said Brett Burford, CFO, Craftmade International, Inc.

Key Statistics

• Non-U.S. companies switching their ADR from a stock exchange to OTCQX retained 77% of their volume.

• NYSE companies that moved to the Pink Sheets maintained an average of only 40% of their previous trading volume.

• Companies trading on the Pink Sheets that upgraded to OTCQX increased average trading volume by 99%.

In 2009, OTCQX was the leader by average dollar volume per security among alternative or entry level markets, demonstrating strong demand for trusted companies among U.S. investors:

About OTCQX

The OTCQX Marketplace is the premier tier of the U.S. OTC market.  Investor-focused companies use the quality controlled OTCQX listing platform to offer investors transparent trading, superior information, and easy access through their regulated U.S. broker-dealers.  The innovative OTCQX platform offers companies and their shareholders a level of marketplace services formerly available only on a U.S. stock exchange.  For more information and to view a full list of OTCQX-listed companies, visit www.otcqx.com.

About Pink OTC Markets Inc.

Pink OTC Markets Inc. (OTCQX: PINK) is a financial information and technology services company that operates the leading electronic quotation and trading system in the OTC securities market.  The OTCQX and Pink Sheets marketplaces constitute, by dollar volume, the third largest U.S. liquidity pool for trading public company shares, after The NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. and The New York Stock Exchange.  Our technology platform provides a comprehensive suite of information products and trading services for OTC market participants.  Our products and services promote market transparency, improve price discovery, facilitate regulatory compliance, and increase the quality of issuer disclosure, to the benefit of all OTC market participants.  To learn more about how Pink OTC Markets' products and services make OTC markets more transparent, informed, and efficient, please visit our websites at www.otcmarkets.com, www.pinkotc.com and www.otcqx.com or contact us at [email protected]. 

SOURCE Pink OTC Markets Inc.