A group of leading credit derivative market participants today announced they have joined forces to support a joint global clearing solution for Credit Default Swaps (CDS). Signatories to the letter of intent include The Clearing Corporation, Markit Group, Risk Metrics, and IntercontinentalExchange, Inc. (NYSE: ICE) through its subsidiaries, including ICE US Trust, a New York limited Trust Company (ICE Trust), Creditex and T-Zero. ICE Trust will operate as a New York limited Trust Company and function as global clearinghouse and central counterparty for CDS transactions. ICE Trust plans to become a member of the Federal Reserve System. The letter signals the intention of the signatories to use their best efforts to work together in establishing a clearinghouse that will accomplish the objectives established by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
About The Clearing Corporation
The Clearing Corporation provides clearing services for global exchange and over-the-counter (OTC) traded derivatives. As an independent derivatives clearinghouse, The Clearing Corporation is in a unique position to provide innovative and customer-focused OTC and exchange-traded derivatives clearing services. The Clearing Corporation is a stockholder-owned, Delaware corporation, now in its 83rd year of business and serves numerous clients in a variety of markets. Additional information on The Clearing Corporation is available at www.clearingcorp.com.
About IntercontinentalExchange
IntercontinentalExchange(R) (NYSE: ICE) operates regulated global futures exchanges and over-the-counter (OTC) markets for agricultural, energy, equity index and currency contracts, as well as credit derivatives. ICE(R) offers these markets to participants around the world through its technology infrastructure and trading platform, together with clearing, market data and risk management services. ICE Futures Europe(TM) is ICE’s regulated energy futures exchange. ICE’s regulated North American exchanges, ICE Futures U.S.(R) and ICE Futures Canada(TM), offer markets for agricultural and financial contracts. Creditex, a market leader in trade execution and processing for credit derivatives, is also a wholly-owned subsidiary of ICE. A member of the Russell 1000(R) and S&P 500 indices, ICE is headquartered in Atlanta, with offices in New York, London, Chicago, Winnipeg, Calgary, Houston and Singapore. www.theice.com.
