PLUS MARKETS AND DIRECT EDGE ANNOUNCE JOINT LISTING AND TRADING PLANS

Posted November 19, 2008

LONDON and JERSEY CITY, N.J. -- PLUS Markets Group plc and Direct Edge ECN LLC have announced plans to cooperate on listing and trading of equity securities in the US, UK and European Union.

“We are delighted to be exploring transatlantic co-operation opportunities with Direct Edge, who have established themselves rapidly in the highly-competitive US equity trading marketplace,” says Simon Brickles, Chief Executive Officer of PLUS Markets Group plc. “Together, as the European markets adjust to a post-MiFID environment, we believe there are exciting opportunities which we can leverage.”

PLUS Markets is a London-based stock exchange specializing in small and mid-cap UK and European equity securities. Direct Edge is a US-based electronic communications network that is currently in the process of converting to an SEC-regulated stock exchange. Direct Edge is the fourth-largest US equities market centre, handling an average of over a billion shares a day (accounting for over 10 percent of US trading volume) through its trading platforms.

“PLUS Markets has followed much the same path in Europe as Direct Edge is following in the United States,” says William O’Brien, Chief Executive Officer of Direct Edge. “PLUS Markets innovated, established a successful core business, broadened its offerings, made the transition to exchange status, and is now expanding its business even further. We look forward to exploring future business opportunities together.”