CME increases Cbot bid by 16%

In addition, the CBOT Holdings Board of Directors and its special transaction committee have unanimously reaffirmed their recommendation that CBOT Holdings shareholders vote in favor of the merger agreement with CME. The CBOT Holdings Board also concluded that the unsolicited proposal submitted by IntercontinentalExchange, Inc. (ICE) was not superior to the revised CME transaction.

Under the terms of the revised agreement, CBOT Holdings shareholders will receive 0.3500 shares of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Holdings Class A common stock for each share of CBOT Holdings Class A common stock, an increase of 16 percent from the original terms of the merger agreement. Following completion of the transaction, current CBOT Holdings shareholders will own approximately 34.6 percent of the outstanding shares of the combined company, up from approximately 31.2 percent in the original agreement. CBOT Holdings will also receive additional representation on the combined company's Board of Directors, with 10 of the 30 seats filled by current CBOT Holdings directors.

CME also announced that it will make a cash tender offer for up to $3.5 billion in common stock of the combined company, or approximately 12 percent of the combined company's outstanding shares, at a fixed price of $560 per share, to commence shortly after the closing of the merger. The tender offer will be open to CBOT Holdings shareholders that receive CME stock in connection with the merger, as well as existing CME shareholders. The tender offer will be in lieu of the cash election feature that was part of the original merger agreement. CME has received financing commitments for $2.5 billion from Lehman Brothers which, along with available cash balances, will fund the tender offer.

The merger is expected to be accretive to earnings of the combined company on a cash basis within 12 months and on a GAAP basis within 12 to 18 months following the close. The share repurchase is expected to provide additional earnings accretion.

"The Board and Management of CME and CBOT recognize the tremendous potential for value creation in a merger of our two companies," said CME Executive Chairman Terry Duffy. "We believe there is strong support for the combination from shareholders and members of both companies, and these revised terms and the cash tender offer makes our already compelling transaction even more attractive. Since we announced the original agreement last October, both CME and CBOT have delivered strong financial performance and volume growth, underscoring the strategic rationale for bringing these two great Chicago institutions together. We look forward to completing this merger and realizing the full benefits for customers and shareholders of both companies."

"After a thorough review of ICE and careful consideration of its proposal and the revised proposal from CME, the Boards of CBOT Holdings and the CBOT concluded that the revised merger agreement with CME offered greater overall benefits for our shareholders and members," said CBOT Chairman Charlie Carey. "Our Boards and advisors carefully reviewed both the short-term and long-term value of both transactions. A combination with the CME will create the most extensive and diverse global derivatives exchange, transforming global derivatives markets and creating efficiencies for customers and members while delivering significant benefits to shareholders. In addition, given our common clearing arrangement with CME and the CME Globex electronic platform, we believe a combination with CME presents significantly less integration risk than a combination with ICE. We look forward to the July 9th vote and to completing the transaction as soon as possible after the vote."

Both parties confirmed that they are in substantial compliance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act and currently expect the Department of Justice to conclude its review of the merger prior to the time of the shareholder votes.

"Through our CME/CBOT merger, we are poised to create a premier global exchange, with the capabilities and expertise to continue to develop innovative products, compete successfully in the international marketplace and participate in the growing OTC markets," said CME Chief Executive Officer Craig Donohue. "The more we explore the opportunities this merger creates, the more we see the tremendous potential for product innovation, technology enhancements, trading opportunities and increased efficiencies unique to this merger. The significant benefits and enhanced synergies we expect to deliver as a result of this merger validate our enhanced offer. Based on revised estimates, the companies now expect pre-tax cost savings of at least $150 million to be achieved within the first two years following close, up from the $125 million originally identified. CME also has identified at least $75 million in revenue synergies on a net basis as a result of the combination."

"From a strategic and operational perspective, the CME combination provides outstanding opportunities for growth, efficiencies and innovation, creating the leading global derivatives exchange in all major asset classes and one of the world's most liquid marketplaces," said CBOT President and CEO Bernard W. Dan." We look forward to working with the CME management team to complete this transaction and to achieve the tremendous potential we believe the combined company will provide to its shareholders."

"The proposed tender offer is an effective way to return capital to CME Group shareholders. CME's balance sheet will remain strong and we expect our debt to carry a solid investment-grade credit rating," said CME Chief Financial Officer James Parisi.

Transaction Structure

Under the terms of the revised merger agreement, CBOT Holdings shareholders will receive 0.3500 shares of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Holdings Class A common stock for each share of CBOT Holdings Class A common stock. The cash election component of the consideration included in the original agreement is not included in the revised agreement. Under the terms of the revised agreement, CBOT Holdings will be allowed to pay, if and when declared by its Board of Directors, quarterly dividends of $0.29 per share in each of the third and fourth quarters of 2007 and a similar dividend in the first quarter of 2008 to the extent the transaction hasn't closed prior to the end of the applicable quarter.

CME and CBOT Holdings will file supplemental and amended proxy materials. Separate special meetings of shareholders of CME and CBOT Holdings and members of the CBOT have been rescheduled for July 9, 2007, and CME and CBOT Holdings will announce new record dates for determining shareholders entitled to vote at the meetings. Proxy cards previously executed and submitted by CME and CBOT Holdings shareholders and CBOT members who continue to hold their shares or memberships, respectively, on the new record date will remain valid. The companies still expect the transaction to close in mid-2007, pending approvals of regulators and shareholders of both companies and CBOT members, as well as completion of customary closing conditions.

CME and CBOT Holdings will hold an investor call and webcast today at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time / 7:30 a.m. Central Time to discuss this morning's announcement. Presentation materials can be accessed through the investor relations section of CME's Web site at www.cme.com. To participate in the call, dial 800-447-0521. International callers should dial 847-413-3238.

Lehman Brothers and William Blair are acting as financial advisors to CME and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is acting as CME's legal advisor. JPMorgan is acting as financial advisor to CBOT Holdings and the CBOT, and Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP and Peter B. Carey, Esq. are acting as legal advisor to CBOT Holdings and the CBOT. Lazard Freres & Co., LLC is acting as financial advisor to the special transaction committee of CBOT Holdings and Latham & Watkins LLP is acting as its legal advisor. McDermott, Will & Emery is acting as legal advisor the non-ER members committee of CBOT Holdings.

Representatives who are serving on the CME transaction committee include: Terry Duffy; Craig Donohue; Phupinder Gill, CME President and Chief Operating officer; and CME Board members Leo Melamed, Chairman Emeritus; and Jack Sandner, retired Chairman. Representatives who are serving on the CBOT Holdings transaction committee include: Directors Charlie Carey, Bernard Dan, Joseph Niciforo, Christopher Stewart, and C.C. Odom, II.