ISE Intl Secs Exchange Hldgs

The International Securities Exchange (NYSE:ISE) said today that it will explore becoming a participant in the Consolidated Tape Association plan and the OTC/UTP plan. The CTA plan covers quotation and last sale information for stocks listed on the New York Stock Exchange and American Stock Exchange. The OTC/UTP plan covers quotation and last sale information for Nasdaq stocks. Other US options exchanges that compete with ISE are participants in these plans. "We have always said that we would explore opportunities in other asset classes where we felt that we could add value. CTA and OTC/UTP plan membership would give us operating flexibility as we consider how to build upon our foundation as operators of the world's largest equity options exchange," said David Krell, ISE's President and Chief Executive Officer. ISE Background The International Securities Exchange, the world's largest equity options exchange, was founded on the principle that technology fosters and infuses new efficiencies and operational innovations into securities trading. After developing an innovative market structure that integrated auction market principles into an advanced screen-based trading system, ISE launched the first fully electronic US options exchange in May 2000. ISE continually enhances its trading systems to provide investors with the best marketplace to execute their options orders. For more information about ISE, its products and its technology, visit www.iseoptions.com.