Nasdaq to buy ISE from Deutsche Boerse

New York

NASDAQ Inc said on Wednesday it would buy US options exchange operator International Securities Exchange (ISE) for US$1.1 billion from Deutsche Boerse AG, the latest deal to emerge from a spate of exchange merger talks.

ISE operates three electronic options exchanges which together account for more than 15 per cent of US volume, while Nasdaq operates another three. Combined, Nasdaq would command more than 40 per cent of the market, extending its lead as the No 1 US options exchange operator.