ISE LINKS WITH TAIWAN EXCHANGE, PLANS TO ADD ETF LISTINGS

Posted May 6, 2006

NEW YORK – The International Securities Exchange (ISE), an electronic options trading platform operator, has reached an agreement to share information and work cooperatively with the Taiwan Stock Exchange.

“US-based investors are beginning to see the value of investing into Taiwan,” says Dr. Rong-I Wu, Chairman of the Taiwan Stock Exchange. “For the benefit of the index trading community, the Taiwan Stock Exchange has made significant reforms and marked improvement in its trading environment to align with international practices. Building an alliance with the ISE will stimulate development of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for both exchanges.”

The ISE already lists three ETFs of leading Taiwan industrial, technology and financial companies for options trading. The ISE’s options exchange and ISE Stock Exchange (for equities) may add more Taiwan ETFs or indexes for trading later this year.

“We view this as an important first step in developing options on leading indexes and ETFs related to Taiwan,” says Gary Katz, President and Chief Executive Officer of ISE. “This will also enable us to expand the international ETFs that will be traded on the ISE Stock Exchange and creates a strong foundation to foster closer ties and cooperation between our two exchanges.”