MIAX Options Exchange Enters into 2015 Strategic Transaction with Exchange Members: Citadel Securities LLC, KCG Americas LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Optiver US LLC, Susquehanna Securities, Timber Hill LLC, and Wolverine Trading, LLC

PRINCETON, New Jersey, Feb. 4, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- MIAX Options Exchange (MIAX or the Exchange) announced today that it has closed its 2015 equity rights transaction (the Equity Rights Program) whereby seven leading order flow providers and market making MIAX Exchange Member firms entered into strategic agreements with MIAX. The structure of the transaction provides the MIAX members with the right to invest in the Exchange's parent holding company Miami International Holdings, Inc. (MIH) in exchange for payment of an initial purchase price or the prepayment of certain transaction fees and the achievement of certain liquidity volume thresholds on the Exchange.

The MIAX Exchange Member firms involved in the Equity Rights Program are Citadel Securities LLC, KCG Americas, LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Optiver US LLC, Susquehanna Securities, Timber Hill LLC, and Wolverine Trading, LLC.

Thomas P. Gallagher, MIAX's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, "The launch of this Equity Rights Program is another major milestone for MIAX. Following the success of our first equity rights program, we wanted to again provide MIAX Exchange Member firms with the ability to acquire an equity interest in MIH through a unique transaction." Continued Gallagher, "We are proud that five of our original strategic partners from the first equity rights program have again decided to participate in this Equity Rights Program, as it shows the confidence and belief they have in MIAX to succeed. We are also privileged to welcome Citadel and Optiver as our two newest strategic partners. We are very pleased to call all of these MIAX Exchange Member firms our strategic partners."   

"The Equity Rights Program is highly beneficial for all parties involved," said Douglas M. Schafer, Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer of MIAX. "Not only does the Equity Rights Program allow our strategic partners to align themselves with an options exchange known for having the fastest response times in the industry and one of the most advanced and reliable trading platforms, it also enables MIAX to remain very competitive with other options exchanges and provide strong markets to the options industry."   

John DiBacco, the Global Head of Equities Trading of KCG Americas, LLC, commented, "We are pleased to again participate in a strategic transaction being offered by MIAX. The Equity Rights Program will enable KCG to remain a strategic partner of MIAX and allow both parties to continue our mutually beneficial business relationship."

Shelly Brown, Senior Vice President – Strategic Planning and Operations of MIAX, also stated, "We sincerely appreciate the participation from our MIAX Options Exchange Member firms today. Their strong involvement in the 2015 Equity Rights Program validates our market structure and shows strong support for the functionality we have brought to our market place over the past two years."

Concluded Mr. Gallagher, "On behalf of MIAX, I would like to thank the seven MIAX Exchange Member firms that have decided to participate in the Equity Rights Program for the confidence they have in the Exchange and our management. I would also like to thank all of our investors from the U.S. and throughout the world, employees, and Boards of Directors of both MIH and MIAX for their continued support and unwavering trust from the beginning. This is truly a momentous day in the history of MIAX and MIH and a great way to start our third year in operation."   

For further information regarding the MIAX Options Exchange, please visit www.MIAXOptions.com or contact MIAX Trading Operations at TradingOperations@MIAXOptions.com. 

About MIAX and MIH

MIAX, which commenced operations on December 7, 2012, is a fully electronic options trading exchange approved by the SEC as a national securities exchange on December 3, 2012. MIAX has assembled a team with deep rooted experience in developing, operating and trading on options exchanges. Its trading platform has been developed in-house and designed from the ground up for the unique functional and performance demands of derivatives trading. MIAX Options now lists and trades options on the majority of the top 1,400 multi-listed classes. The MIAX Options Exchange's unparalleled system throughput is in excess of 27 million quotes per second. The average latency for a single quote on MIAX is approximately 24.7 microseconds for a full round trip. At the 99th percentile, the latency on MIAX is approximately 39.7 microseconds. At the 99.9th percentile, the latency on MIAX is approximately 102.4 microseconds. The MIAX executive offices and technology development center as well as the National Operations Center for the MIAX Options Exchange are located in Princeton, New Jersey.

MIAX and Miami International Technologies, LLC (MIAX Technologies) are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Miami International Holdings, Inc. (MIH). MIAX Technologies is the Company's technology subsidiary for the sale and/or license of MIAX trading technology. MIAX intends to launch the MIAX Equities Exchange and plans to pursue Latin American equity listings. The launch of the MIAX Equities Exchange is subject to SEC approval. The MIAX Futures Exchange is also planned as a follow-on initiative. The launch of the MIAX Futures Exchange is subject to CFTC approval.

Disclaimer and Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase any securities of MIH, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer; solicitation or sale would be unlawful. 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 the plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical or current facts of MIH, together with its subsidiaries, including MIAX (the Company). Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the possible or assumed future results of operations of the Company; the competitive position of the Company; potential growth opportunities available to the Company; the expectation with respect to securities, options and future markets and general economic conditions; the effects of competition on the Company's business; and the impact of future legislation and regulatory changes on the Company's business. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company'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.

Related Links

http://www.miaxoptions.com