)--Aequitas Innovations Inc. ("Aequitas") is very pleased to announce that the Ontario Securities Commission ("OSC") issued a recognition order on November 17, 2014, to Aequitas and Aequitas NEO Exchange Inc., to be effective March 1, 2015.

"We are thrilled to receive approval from the OSC to move forward and launch the Aequitas NEO Exchange," stated Jos Schmitt, President & Chief Executive Officer, Aequitas NEO Exchange. "We appreciate the careful review undertaken by the OSC. We are now in a position to help promote confidence and build an exchange of the future using a bold new blueprint that puts investors, companies and their dealers first."

The recognition order follows the Aequitas NEO Exchange application filed in June 2014 and a public comment period where an unprecedented diversity of market participants made their voice heard on the future direction of the Canadian equity markets.

The Aequitas NEO Exchange will help promote confidence by putting solutions in place to address the pressing market issues of fairness, liquidity and transparency impacting investor confidence.

"Aequitas' vision is to build an exchange that facilitates the efficient allocation of capital between companies and investors," said Greg Mills, Chairman, Aequitas Innovations and Head, Global Equities, RBC Capital Markets.

"We have re-mutualized the exchange business with all core users involved to ensure we always stay true to our vision," concluded Schmitt. "Canadians deserve a stock market they can believe in."

Aequitas Innovations is owned by a variety of market participants - institutional investors, public companies and dealers, with majority control by institutional investors and public companies. This structure will ensure that the interests of all stakeholders will be represented at all times and that robust mechanisms are in place to manage conflicts of interest. Before launching operations, the ownership structure will be further expanded, with the aim of reaching an optimal representation of all types of market stakeholders - both small and large.

Aequitas is on track to launch its trading platform and its listing platform during the first half of 2015. The private markets platform will then follow, subject to regulatory approval.

The OSC Notice of Approval and Recognition Order can be found on the OSC website at: http://www.osc.gov.on.ca/en/Marketplaces_xxr-aequitas-neo_20141117_noa-aequitas-innovations-neo.htm.

About Aequitas Innovations Inc.
Aequitas Innovations Inc. was founded by a group of Canadian corporations, representing a diverse range of market participants, working together to create the new user-focused Aequitas NEO Exchange and a private securities platform. Aequitas investors include: Barclays Corporation Limited; BCE Inc.; CI Investments Inc.; IGM Financial Inc.; ITG Canada Corp.; OMERS Capital Markets; PSP Public Markets Inc.; and RBC Dominion Securities Inc. For more information, please visit: www.aequitasneoexchange.com.

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