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Chicago Mercantile Exchange Holdings Inc. Announces Meeting With Members and Shareholders of Chicago Board of Trade
CME Executives to Explain Views on Why ICE Proposal Inferior to CME/CBOT
Merger Agreement
CME Also to Host Analyst Call at 7:30 a.m., CDT on March 22
CHICAGO, March 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Chicago Mercantile Exchange
Holdings Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: CME) today announced that it will hold a
meeting with the shareholders of CBOT Holdings Inc. and members of the
Chicago Board of Trade in order to reiterate the advantages of the CME/CBOT
merger and provide its views on the unsolicited proposal made by
IntercontinentalExchange ("ICE") to CBOT shareholders last week.
The CBOT shareholder/member meeting will be held at 3:15 p.m. on
Thursday, March 22, 2007 in the Great Room 1 of the W Chicago City Center,
located at 172 West Adams, Chicago.
CME executives, including CME Executive Chairman Terry Duffy and CME
Chief Executive Officer Craig Donohue, will address ICE's unsolicited
proposal and explain CME's views as to why the ICE proposal is inferior to
the CME/CBOT merger provided for in the agreement between the parties
including, among other reasons:
-- ICE's estimated synergies appear significantly exaggerated
-- ICE's proposal poses significant execution and integration risks that
could adversely affect customers and shareholders
-- ICE's proposal is predicated on CBOT shareholders accepting a weaker
currency
-- ICE's proposal will limit CBOT's comparative future growth potential
and value creation opportunities
"We look forward to the opportunity to meet directly with CBOT
shareholders and members to discuss the benefits of our deal and our point
of view on the weaknesses of the ICE proposal," said CME Executive Chairman
Terry Duffy. "Our merger will create a strong company well positioned to
compete in the rapidly changing global derivatives market, offering the
greatest benefits for the shareholders and customers of both companies."
"In our view, the ICE proposal is significantly inferior to the
CME/CBOT merger -- financially, strategically and operationally," said CME
Chief Executive Officer Craig Donohue. "Our transaction provides more value
to our respective customers through reduced expenses and greater trading
opportunities and positions the combined CME/CBOT company as the leading
exchange in global financial markets. We believe this will ultimately
translate into more value for CBOT shareholders."
On October 17, 2006, CME and CBOT signed a definitive agreement to
merge the two organizations to create the most extensive and diverse global
derivatives exchange.
Thursday's shareholder/member meeting is open only to shareholders,
members of the CBOT and media. Interested parties can listen via conference
call by dialing as follows: Domestic Participants: (866) 290-0916;
International Participants: (913) 312-1226. The presentation will also be
available via Web cast. CME leaders will host a press availability
immediately following the formal meeting to respond to reporter questions.
Analyst Call Information
In addition to the meeting with CBOT shareholders and members, CME will
also host an analyst call at 7:30 a.m., CDT on March 22. Participants can
participate by calling the following numbers: Domestic Participants: (800)
811-8824; International Participants: (913) 981-4903. The analyst
presentation will also be available via Web cast.
Important Merger Information
CME and CBOT have filed a definitive prospectus/joint proxy statement
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in connection with the
proposed transaction. This material is not a substitute for the definitive
prospectus/proxy statement or any other documents CME and CBOT have filed
or will file with the SEC. Investors and security holders are urged to read
the definitive prospectus/proxy statement and any other relevant documents
filed or to be filed by CME or CBOT because they contain or will contain
important information about the proposed transaction. The definitive
prospectus/proxy statement is, and other documents filed or to be filed by
CME and CBOT with the SEC are or will be, available free of charge at the
SEC's Web site ( http://www.sec.gov ) or from Chicago Mercantile Exchange
Holdings Inc., Shareholder Relations and Membership Services, 20 South
Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, Attention: Beth Hausoul.
CME-G
SOURCE CME
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