OREANDA-NEWS. Nasdaq (Nasdaq: NDAQ) announces that the best investor relations practices among Nasdaq Baltic listed companies in 2014 were recognized and the winners of the 9th annual Baltic Market Awards (BMA) were honored during the live video bridge between Nasdaq Tallinn, Nasdaq Riga and Nasdaq Vilnius.

Tallinna Vesi (water utilities) was announced the winner in the main category "The Best Investor Relations in the Baltic" for the second consecutive year.

The state-owned enterprise (SOE) Klaipėdos nafta became the winner in the category "The Most Visible Improvement over the Year" and was invited to ring the Opening Bell at Nasdaq MarketSite in Times Square, New York by Bob Greifeld, CEO of Nasdaq.

"I am excited to congratulate the winners of the Baltic Market Awards as well as the runners-up and all listed companies which invest in transparency, because the importance of investor relations, which determines public confidence in companies and financial markets, grows steadily in recent years," - said Arminta Saladžienė, Head of Nasdaq Baltic. - These days, profitability alone is not sufficient to attract investors and financing for growth; increasingly more robust and consistent financial market regulatory standards require companies to demonstrate an open and fair dialogue with investors and sound corporate governance practices."

The runners-up in the main category "The Best Investor Relations in the Baltic" were telecommunications company TEO LT and construction sector company Merko Ehitus. The SOE in the energy sector LESTO and the Estonian clothing retailer Baltika broke into the Baltic TOP 5.

SEB Pank was recognized as the most active financial intermediary and participant of the market development projects and was announced the "Member of the Year".

Ventspils nafta was announced the winner in the category "The Best in Interactive Investor Relations".

TEO LT became the winner in two categories: "The Best Investor Relations According to the Analysts" and "The Best Annual Report and Corporate Governance Report".

The Baltic average score in 2014 evaluation was 75.81, 1.26% up from 2013, and 49.5% up from 2006, the first BMA evaluation. The Baltic highest score this year was 94.84 out of 100.

A total of 49 Baltic Main List and Secondary List companies with more than EUR 10 million average market capitalization and the companies, which had volunteered, were ranked. The companies were evaluated according to more than 160 criteria as investor relations include corporate governance and regulatory compliance with an increased emphasis on accuracy in auditing and public disclosure.

"The Most Attractive Company on the Nasdaq Baltic Market" was the new category introduced by Nasdaq Baltic this year. 2076 investors voted on the Nasdaq Baltic website from 6 to 13th of January. The majority of investors' votes went to Tallinna Vesi and this company was announced the winner of this category.

Nasdaq Tallinn, Nasdaq Riga, and Nasdaq Vilnius also established special awards for outstanding contributions to the development of the Baltic Securities Market in 2014.

Nasdaq Tallinn's special award went to FinanceEstonia, an organization supporting the Estonian economy by increasing its member companies' business opportunities through enhancing financial sector internationalization, supporting innovation and increasing capital availability.

Jānis Dubrovskis, Member of the Executive Committee and Chief Financial Officer of Baltikums Bank AS, was named the winner of Nasdaq Riga special Award for the contribution to the developing of the Latvian and the Baltic corporate bond markets and the broadening of investment opportunities for retail and institutional investors in the Baltic region.

Invalda LT was awarded by Nasdaq Vilnius for the commitment to the Baltic capital market that Invalda LT had demonstrated by the decision to list three new Invalda LT group companies: INVL Technology, INVL Baltic Real Estate and INVL Baltic Farmland.

Alongside the Baltic Market Awards, the annual students' thesis contest was held in all three Baltic countries - Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania - by Nasdaq Baltic. The goal of the Thesis contest was to incite students' interest in local and/or Baltic capital markets. Two winners - Laur Samlik and Eglė Aleknevičiūtė - were announced and each received the Nasdaq Baltic diploma and a prize of EUR 1000.

The Baltic Market Awards 2014 Winners by Categories:

"The Best Investor Relations in the Baltic Market"

1. Tallinna Vesi

2. TEO LT

3. Merko Ehitus

4. LESTO

5. Baltika

"The Most Visible Improvement over the Year"

1. Klaipėdos nafta

2. Rokiškio sūris

3. City Service

"The Best Interactive Investor Relations"

1. Ventspils nafta

2. Merko Ehitus

3. Tallinna Vesi

"The Best Investor Relations According to the Analysts"

1. TEO LT

2. Tallinna Vesi

3. Olainfarm

"The Best Annual Report and Corporate Governance Report"

1. TEO LT

2-3. Baltika and Tallinna Vesi

"Member of the Year"

1. SEB Pank

2. LHV Pank

3. Bankas Finasta

Top 20 "The Best Investor Relations in the Baltic Market"

1. Tallinna Vesi

2. TEO LT

3. Merko Ehitus

4. LESTO

5. Baltika

6. Invalda.LT

7. PRFoods

8. Olainfarm

9. Lietuvos energijos gamyba

10. Ventspils nafta

11. Olympic Entertainment Group

12. SAF Tehnika

13. Klaipėdos nafta

14. Tallink Grupp

15. Ekspress Grupp

16. Apranga

17. Nordecon

18. Linas Agro Group

19. Harju Elekter

20. Latvijas Gāze

"The Most Attractive Company on the Nasdaq Baltic Market"

1.Tallinna Vesi

2.Olympic Entertainment Group

3.TEO LT