Press Releases

NYSE Euronext Accelerates Growth in Asia with Strategic Acquisition of Metabit, a Leading Provider of Market Access Products

-- Strategically complements NYSE Technologies’ product portfolio and Asian offerings
-- Addresses growing customer interest and expanding Asian financial marketplace
-- In-line with NYSE Technologies’ strategy of building a global liquidity network

New York and Tokyo – August 1, 2011 – NYSE Euronext (NYX) announced today it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Metabit, a leading Tokyo-based provider of high performance market access products throughout Japan and Asia.   Metabit will operate as a product line within the NYSE Technologies portfolio.  The transaction is expected to close in third quarter of 2011.  Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Skilled with in-depth experience and understanding of financial markets in Asia, Metabit specializes in streamlined, low-latency technology solutions that enable industry-leading access to financial markets across Asia.   Metabit’s products connect buy-side order flow with sell-side exchange participants and are designed exclusively for low latency direct market access (DMA) and exchange connectivity to markets through-out Asia. The company is headquartered in Tokyo, with offices in Australia and Hong Kong.  Metabit has built a trading community of more than 140 trading firms in Asia.

“Metabit’s products are built in Asia for Asia, and this combination fits our strategy, our connectivity business and our customer interests,” said Stanley Young, CEO of NYSE Technologies. “Metabit has a highly experienced and respected management team, and we recognize and value the success Metabit has had in Asia, especially in Japan. We will continue the further development of this local focus while also maximizing the value of the NYSE Euronext brand and relationships.”

Mr. Young continued: “Furthermore, Japan and Asia are priorities for NYSE Euronext and we believe this is absolutely the right time to further invest in the region. We fully expect this transaction to accelerate our efforts as a leading technology provider across the Asia-Pacific region. We look forward to welcoming Metabit and its customers to NYSE Euronext, and delivering the benefits of Metabit to our customer community.”

Daniel Bürgin, CEO of Metabit, said:   “Our combination with NYSE Technologies will be highly beneficial to delivering innovative solutions to our customers and to accelerate achieving our long-term business goals.   We remain committed to our local business focus and service quality in Japan and throughout Asia, whilst being strengthened by NYSE Technologies’ product suite that is highly synergetic to our local solutions.  The people and products of our combined companies will provide significant expertise and scale to NYSE Technologies’ business in the region.  Joining forces represents a truly exceptional opportunity to build on our local success in order to increase our value proposition to our Japan and Asia customer base. We now have the opportunity to leverage our assets with NYSE Technologies and move to the next level.  For the benefit of Asia-based customers, we will now expand our reach and capabilities globally.”

Metabit’s Asia franchise has seen excellent growth as a result of a persistent product and client strategy and investments into Asia.   Today, Metabit covers all DMA sectors outside Japan, ranging from China (“B” shares), India, Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Australia and New Zealand. Metabit’s products, being built in Asia for Asia, focus to connect the local broker community in each country, in combination with the traditional group of global trading firms.  Metabit will continue to resell and provide support to users of CameronFIX as they have since 2002.

Upon closing, Mr. Bürgin will head the NYSE Technologies Asia business and report to Mr. Young.   Peter Tierney, Managing Director of NYSE Technologies will become the Chief Operating Officer of the combined business in Asia, and together they will lead the business operations.  

About Metabit
With a global perspective, Metabit has its roots and heart in Asia. The company is headquartered in Tokyo, with offices in Australia and Hong Kong. Having an in depth experience and understanding of financial markets in Asia, Metabit specializes in streamlined, high performance solutions, enabling access to financial markets across Asia.  Cutting edge technology is utilized to provide flexible solutions for clients who are able to select modular components to fit current and future infrastructure.  Metabit benefits from an experienced, knowledgeable and multicultural team recruited from leading financial and technology institutions throughout the world. Its client-centric philosophy focuses on the provision of a high degree of service, expertise and value.  Built in Asia for Asia, Metabit's portfolio of products has been designed exclusively for low latency DMA trading solutions and exchange connectivity to markets in Asia, connecting buy side order flow with sell side exchange participants.  http://www.meta-bit.com/en/

NYSE Technologies
A division of NYSE Euronext (NYX), NYSE Technologies provides comprehensive transaction, data and infrastructure services and managed solutions for buy-side, sell-side and exchange communities that require next-generation performance and expertise for mission critical and value-added client services. This division operates four units: the Global Connectivity unit, offering one of the world's largest, most reliable financial transaction networks connecting firms and exchanges worldwide; the Trading Solutions unit, which creates and implements high performance, end-to-end messaging software and real-time market data distribution and integration products; the Exchange Solutions unit, which provides multi-asset exchange platform services, managed services and expert consultancy; and the Global Market Data unit, which offers a broad array of global market information products covering multiple asset classes. With offices across the U.S., Europe, and Asia, NYSE Technologies' advanced integrated solutions for a wide range of services has earned the ability to power the trading operations of global financial institutions and exchanges. For additional information visit: http://www.nyse.com/technologies

NYSE Technologies in Asia-Pacific
NYSE Technologies has a fast-growing presence in the Asia-Pacific region (APAC), with offices in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Tokyo. The group seeks to develop meaningful strategic and technology relationships with local exchanges and trading firms by actively addressing the unique opportunities and challenges of electronic trading in APAC.  NYSE Technologies has strong regional leadership with a deep understanding of local financial markets. Its regional offices work closely together on APAC initiatives, relationship management, and technology development, and they are committed to offering a full range of exchange and trading solutions for their clients.  NYSE Technologies’ experienced development team focuses on APAC-specific product functionality, and actively collaborates with its global team to provide robust and integrated solutions for the APAC market. NYSE Technologies, a leading provider of scalable exchange platforms, works with a wide range of emerging and established high-volume markets. NYSE Technologies’ innovative, high speed market data and messaging platform includes tick capture software and entitlement products, as well as comprehensive feed handler (market data) and market access gateway (orders) coverage of APAC markets. NYSE Technologies’ solutions are available as fully deployed enterprise software or as managed services, and are served by a regional support desk during APAC hours (7am – 7pm Singapore/Hong Kong time).  http://www.nyse.com/technologies/1250850190795.html

Marlin & Associates was exclusive financial and strategic advisor to NYSE Euronext.

Disclaimer and 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 2010 ("document de référence") filed with the French Autorité des Marchés Financiers (Filed on April 19, 2011 under No. D.11-0333), 2010 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.