NYSE, AMEX GET FTC ANTITRUST CLEARANCE FOR ACQUISITION

Posted March 7, 2008

NEW YORK – The US Federal Trade Commission has granted early termination of the waiting period required by the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 to NYSE Euronext for its proposed acquisition of the American Stock Exchange.

The acquisition is still pending approval from American Stock Exchange seat owners, as well as the US Securities and Exchange Commission. It is expected to close in the third quarter of 2008.

NYSE Euronext announced its plans to acquire the American Stock Exchange on January 17 [Global Investment Technology, February 4, 2008, see abstract], in a move that could bring options flow and American Stock Exchange market makers into the NYSE’s Archipelago market.