Deutsche Boerse AG (DB1Gn.DE) and NYSE Euronext (NYX.N) unveiled a special dividend on Tuesday, flexing their financial muscle a month before shareholders decide whether to approve a merger that would create the world's largest exchange operator. Shareholders in a combined company are being offered a one-time dividend of 2 euros per share after the deal closes, the companies said in a joint statement. The total payout is about 620 million euros ($910 million). The dividend, which had been discussed with shareholders in the last few months, was offered despite the fact that rivals Nasdaq OMX Group (NDAQ.O) and IntercontinentalExchange (ICE.N) dropped a competing offer for the New York Stock Exchange parent last month. Now, the main hurdle for the two exchanges is winning antitrust approval for their $10.2 billion deal in Europe, where the combined company will have a lock on exchange-based derivatives trading.
NYSE Euronext is a global operator of financial markets and provider of trading technologies. Shares of NYX fell by 0.18% or $-0.065/share to $35.435. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $26.42 and as high as $41.60. On average, 5211800 shares of NYX exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 3873572.
The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. is a global exchange group that delivers trading, exchange technology, securities listing, and public company services across six continents. Shares of NDAQ traded higher by 2.04% or $0.48/share to $24.0. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $17.18 and as high as $29.71. On average, 2592620 shares of NDAQ exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 1452083.
IntercontinentalExchange, Inc. (ICE) is an operator of global futures exchange and over-the-counter (OTC) markets and derivatives clearing houses. Shares of ICE traded higher by 0.79% or $0.9/share to $114.65. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $92.18 and as high as $135.38. On average, 774419 shares of ICE exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 191594.
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