ISE Announces Possible Business Combination

  
    
  
  
    
      In response to a press statement issued today by Deutsche Boerse AG, the 
      International Securities Exchange Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ISE) confirmed 
      that it is in advanced discussions that could lead to a possible 
      business combination with Eurex. The transaction is still subject to the 
      negotiation of final terms and documentation as well as approval by ISE’s 
      Board of Directors.
    
    
      Even if a definitive agreement is reached, consummation of a transaction 
      would be subject to a number of conditions, including ISE shareholder 
      approval, SEC regulatory approval under Section 19(b) of the Securities 
      Exchange Act of 1934 and clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust 
      Improvements Act of 1976.
    
    
      ISE will have no further comment until these discussions have concluded.
    
    
      ISE Background
    
    
      International Securities Exchange Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ISE), through 
      its subsidiaries, operates a family of innovative securities markets. 
      ISE is founded on the principle that technology and competition create 
      better, more efficient markets for investors and consists of an options 
      exchange, a stock exchange and an alternative markets platform. ISE 
      continually enhances its trading systems and develops new products to 
      provide investors with the best marketplace and investment tools to 
      trade smarter.
    
    
      ISE developed a unique market structure for advanced screen-based 
      trading systems and in May 2000 launched the first fully electronic US 
      options exchange. Currently, ISE operates the largest U.S. equity 
      options exchange and is among the leading options exchanges in the 
      world. ISE offers index options, including a portfolio of proprietary 
      index products, and enhanced market data products for sophisticated 
      investors. ISE FX Options™ launched in the 
      second quarter of 2007.
    
    
      ISE Stock Exchange, launched in September 2006 with strategic partners, 
      includes an innovative MidPoint Match™ 
      platform which offers investors continuous price improvement. MidPoint 
      Match was integrated with a fully displayed Best Bid Offer market in the 
      fourth quarter of 2006.
    
    
      ISE’s alternative markets business currently 
      consists of an events market trading platform known as Longitude. 
      Longitude’s patented and proprietary 
      technology provides a unique parimutuel structure for derivatives 
      auctions which results in greater trading and pricing flexibility for 
      market participants.
    
    
      For more information about ISE and its options exchange, visit www.iseoptions.com 
      and for more information about ISE Stock Exchange, visit www.isestock.com. 
      Additionally, to learn more about ISE alternative markets technology, 
      visit www.longitude.com.
    
    
      Forward Looking Statements
    
    
      Certain matters discussed in this press release are “forward 
      looking statements” intended to qualify for 
      the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities 
      Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to future events 
      or our future financial performance, and involve known and unknown 
      risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual 
      results, levels of activity, performance or achievements, to be 
      materially different from those contemplated by the forward looking 
      statements. We undertake no ongoing obligation, other than that imposed 
      by law, to update these statements. Factors that could affect our 
      results, levels of activity, performance or achievements and cause them 
      to materially differ from those contained in the forward looking 
      statements can be found in our filings with the Securities and Exchange 
      Commission, including our annual report on Form 10-K, current reports on 
      Form 8-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, as amended.