7 December 2007
NYSE Euronext today announced it has reached an agreement with Powernext in order to acquire Powernext Carbon, the company's emission permit division. Powernext is the leading spot market in Europe in this area and will provide the basis for an organized international market in CO2 emission permits and credits to be developed in association with Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC).
This transaction, which remains subject to the approval of the Extraordinary General Meeting of Powernext shareholders on December 21, would be coupled with NYSE Euronext's complete withdrawal from Powernext through the sale of its 34% interest in the company.
As announced on 22 October 2007, from early 2008 a joint venture between NYSE Euronext and Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations will offer the full range of international market services for carbon emission permits, from trading to settlement and delivery.
This project will benefit from NYSE Euronext's international network and know-how in market operations and the recognized expertise of Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations in carbon emission finance, particularly as regards permit markets and settlement and delivery.
About NYSE Euronext
NYSE Euronext, a holding company created by the combination of NYSE Group, Inc. and Euronext N.V., commenced trading on April 4, 2007. NYSE Euronext (NYSE Euronext: NYX) operates the world's largest and most liquid exchange group and offers the most diverse array of financial products and services. NYSE Euronext, which brings together six cash equities exchanges in five countries and six derivatives exchanges in six countries, is a world leader for listings, trading in cash equities, equity and interest rate derivatives, bonds and the distribution of market data. Representing a combined $30.3 trillion/€21.3 trillion total market capitalization of listed companies and average daily trading value of approximately $139 billion/€103 billion (as of September 30, 2007), NYSE Euronext seeks to provide the highest standards of market quality and integrity, innovative products and services to investors, issuers, and all users of its markets.
Euronext N.V.
Euronext N.V., a subsidiary of NYSE Euronext, has successfully integrated local markets across Europe to provide users with a unified market that is broad, liquid and cost effective. Euronext is the largest central order book cash market in Europe and the second largest derivatives exchange in the world, by value of business traded.
Following the initial three-way merger of the local exchanges of Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris, Euronext acquired the London-based derivatives market LIFFE and merged with the Portuguese exchange in 2002. Euronext's unique business model incorporates the individual strengths and assets of each local market and has been implemented on all of Euronext's markets, covers technological integration, the harmonisation of market rules and the regulatory framework. The implementation of Euronext's horizontal model designed to generate synergies has proved that the most successful way to merge European exchanges is to apply global vision at a local level. Euronext's IT integration was completed in 2004, when a four-year migration plan resulted in harmonised IT platforms for cash trading (NSC®) and derivatives (LIFFE CONNECT®). As a result, every market participant now has a single point of access to trading. Euronext's IT structure was rationalized in 2005 with the creation of Atos Euronext Market Solutions (AEMS), an IT services-related vehicle between Euronext and Atos Origin which is now a leading global provider of technology services to Euronext and other global capital markets.
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 2006 ("document de référence") filed with the French Autorité des Marchés Financiers (Registered on June 6, 2007 under No. R.07-0089), 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, 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.
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