NYSE Euronext Announces Acquisition of Strategic Shareholder Interest in Fixnetix

LONDON & NEW YORK - Thursday, February 16th 2012 [ME NewsWire] -Integrates with NYSE Technologies’ Complementary Expertise in Low-Latency Managed Trading Solutions- -Extends Services Reach, Creates Customer Value & Strengthens the Capital Markets Community- (BUSINESS WIRE)-- NYSE Euronext today announced an agreement to subscribe for shares in Fixnetix Limited, a leading service provider of ultra-low latency data provision, co-location, trading services and risk controls for more than 50 markets worldwide. NYSE Euronext has commenced a tender offer to acquire approximately 25% of the outstanding shares in Fixnetix and is pleased to announce that more than 90% of Fixnetix's shareholders have already accepted the offer. This agreement, which includes the option for NYSE Euronext to acquire the remainder of Fixnetix at any time over the next three years, complements key areas of NYSE Technologies’ diverse product portfolio to offer customers integrated multi-asset market access and managed services. The transaction positions NYSE Technologies’ extensive global reach and technology solutions alongside Fixnetix’s low latency market data and trading infrastructure services to present customers a unique combined offering of core managed services delivered to markets and market participants around the world. Building on NYSE Technologies ongoing deployment of Global Liquidity Centres that already include the U.S., Europe, Tokyo and Toronto, this strategic investment will allow both companies to offer their industry-leading trading and market information services to global customers with greater integration, scale and ease. “This strategic shareholder interest in Fixnetix aligns with our mission to build a global capital markets community supported by world-class technology, broad connectivity and diverse customer participation that yields greater liquidity and market innovation,” said Stanley Young, CEO of NYSE Technologies. “With our collective experience in delivering customer-driven technology solutions that facilitate global multi-asset trading, we will create an even more compelling value proposition for market participants trading anywhere in the world.” Michael Geltzeiler, Group Executive Vice President and CFO of NYSE Euronext added, “Today’s announcement further demonstrates NYSE Euronext’s commitment to using our strong capital position to create immediate strategic value that delivers greater opportunities for the company, our diverse global customers and the broader marketplace. Acquiring this strategic interest in Fixnetix allows us to better leverage our combined technology presence to reach more customers in more locations.” “We at Fixnetix are thrilled with the investment from NYSE Euronext as this will enable us to expand our U.S. coverage and expand into Asia,” said Hugh Hughes, Chief Executive of Fixnetix. “Fixnetix and NYSE Technologies share common philosophies of working with our customer base to increase efficiency and reduce costs.” Although the companies will continue to operate independently, where appropriate NYSE Technologies and Fixnetix will work together to offer customers integrated market access to highly attractive liquidity venues in Europe, the Americas and Asia. Clients can choose from a broader portfolio of targeted trading solutions delivered with a lower time to market as a single solution through the integration of the best-in-class technologies from these market leaders. The investment enables both parties to streamline the process for designing and installing various elements of complex global trading infrastructures while maintaining the proven performance and reliability of NYSE Technologies and Fixnetix products alongside other third-party vendors. About NYSE Technologies A division of NYSE Euronext (NYX), NYSE Technologies provides broadly accessible, comprehensive connectivity and transaction capabilities, data and infrastructure services, and managed solutions for a range of customers requiring next-generation performance and expertise for mission critical and value-added trading services. NYSE Technologies offers a diverse array of products, services and solutions to: the Buy Side, including order routing, liquidity discovery and access to a community of over 630 Broker-Dealers and execution destinations globally; the Sell Side, including high performance, end-to-end messaging software and innovative market data products delivered on the world’s largest, most reliable financial transaction network; and Market Venues and Exchanges, including multi-asset exchange platform services, managed services and expert consultancy. With offices across the U.S., Europe, and Asia, NYSE Technologies offers advanced integrated solutions for the global capital markets community, earning the ability to power trading operations for many of the world’s best financial institutions and exchanges. For additional information visit: http://www.nyse.com/technologies About Fixnetix Fixnetix, winner of the 2011 Deloitte Technology Fast50 UK, provides outsourced managed services across multiple asset classes to leading global banks, hedge funds and proprietary trading groups seeking ultra-low latency trading, market data, hosting, infrastructure connectivity and risk management solutions. The company is in 33 co-location and proximity hosting centres across Europe and the US and offers trading access to more than 50 markets. Fixnetix is one of the first companies to offer an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) trading solution when in late November 2010 it announced a real-time low latency filter, iX-eCute, an FPGA to solve the eternal industry conundrum of pre-trade risk, compliance and ultra-low latency execution. Unlike other solutions, the iX-eCute microchip has near zero impact on latency for governing the required checks directed by the recent SEC Rule 15c3-5 and anticipated declarations from other regulatory governing bodies by having nic to nic times as low as 740 nanoseconds. More information: http://www.fixnetix.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning NYSE Euronext’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements are based on NYSE Euronext’s current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause NYSE Euronext’s results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to: NYSE Euronext’s ability to implement its strategic initiatives, economic, political and market conditions and fluctuations, government and industry regulation, interest rate risk and U.S. and global competition, and other factors detailed in NYSE Euronext’s reference document for 2009 ("document de référence") filed with the French Autorité des Marchés Financiers (Filed on April 22, 2010 under No. D.10-0304), 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K and other periodic reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or the French Autorité des Marchés Financiers. In addition, these statements are based on a number of assumptions that are subject to change. Accordingly, actual results may be materially higher or lower than those projected. The inclusion of such projections herein should not be regarded as a representation by NYSE Euronext that the projections will prove to be correct. This press release speaks only as of this date. NYSE Euronext disclaims any duty to update the information herein. Contacts NYSE Euronext Eric Ryan, +1-212-656-2411 eryan@nyx.com Fixnetix Karen Bertoli, U.S. +1-305-301-0520 / U.K. +44 758 5956759 Karen.bertoli@fixnetix.com