In a letter in the report, Chairman and CEO Wick Simmons commented: "Great ideas are inherently powerful. Each of Nasdaq's nearly 4,000 listed companies derives its power from a core idea - a better way to fill a need, solve a problem or perform a task more efficiently. The powerful idea driving Nasdaq itself is that by operating the world's largest, most efficient and transparent stock market, we can represent and amplify the collective energies of our companies, which include many of the most vibrant, creative and essential companies on earth."
The 34-page report defines Nasdaq's core business operations as the company continues to evolve in its separation from the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (NASD).
Nasdaq first announced its reorganization plans to separate from the NASD in December 1999 through a two-phase private placement, which was completed in January 2001. It began reporting its quarterly earnings in the second quarter of 2001. The 2001 annual meeting for shareholders is set for May 22, 2002.
