Exhibit 5.1
[Letterhead of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz]
July 30, 2024
Nasdaq, Inc.
151 West 42nd Street
New York, NY 10036
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special
New York counsel to Nasdaq, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), in connection with the offering of 41,604,207 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the Shares) by Argus Seller, LP, a
Delaware limited partnership and an affiliate of certain funds managed by Thoma Bravo, L.P. (the Selling Shareholder), pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement (the Underwriting Agreement) dated as of July 29, 2024, by and
among the Company, the Selling Shareholder and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (the Underwriter). The Shares were offered and sold pursuant to the Companys automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), which was effective upon filing (Registration No. 333-279011) (the Registration
Statement), and were offered pursuant to a prospectus supplement, dated July 29, 2024, and a base prospectus, dated April 30, 2024, filed by the Company with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the Securities Act).
In rendering this opinion, we have examined and relied on (i) the Registration Statement;
(ii) the prospectus of the Company, dated April 30, 2024 (the Base Prospectus), as supplemented by the prospectus supplement, dated July 29, 2024, as filed in final form with the SEC on July 29, 2024, pursuant to Rule
424(b)(7) under the Securities Act (such Base Prospectus and prospectus supplement, the Prospectus); (iii) the free writing prospectus relating to the Shares, dated July 26, 2024 and filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 433 under the
Securities Act; (iv) the free writing prospectus relating to the Shares, dated July 29, 2024 and filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 433 under the Securities Act; (v) an executed copy of the Underwriting Agreement; (vi) a copy of
certain resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company relating to the registration of the Shares; (vii) the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as in effect as of the date hereof; and (viii) the Bylaws
of the Company, as in effect as of the date hereof.
In making such examination and rendering the opinion set forth below, we have assumed
without verification: (a) the genuineness of all signatures; (b) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals; (c) the authenticity of the originals of such documents submitted to us as certified copies; (d) the
conformity to originals of all documents submitted to us as copies; (e) the authenticity of the originals of such documents; (f) that all documents submitted to us as certified copies are true and correct copies of such originals;
(g) the legal capacity of all individuals executing any of the foregoing documents; and (h) the truth, accuracy and completeness of the information, representations and warranties contained in the agreements, records, documents,
instruments and certificates we have reviewed.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing examination and in reliance thereon, and subject
to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations set forth in this opinion letter, we are of the opinion that the Shares are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
This opinion is subject to the effects of (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer, voidable transfer,
reorganization, liquidation, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights or remedies of creditors generally, (ii) the application of general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Furthermore, the manner in which any particular issue relating to this opinion would be treated in any actual court case would depend in part on facts
and circumstances particular to the case and would also depend on how the court involved choose to exercise the wide discretionary authority generally available to it.