Chicago Mercantile Exchange Holdings Inc. (Form: 8-K)  

 


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

     
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):   July 9, 2007

Chicago Mercantile Exchange Holdings Inc.
__________________________________________
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

     
Delaware 000-33379 36-4459170
_____________________
(State or other jurisdiction
_____________
(Commission
______________
(I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
      
20 South Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois   60606
_________________________________
(Address of principal executive offices)
  ___________
(Zip Code)
     
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:   312-930-1000

Not Applicable
______________________________________________
Former name or former address, if changed since last report

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[x]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[  ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))


Top of the Form

Item 8.01 Other Events.

On July 9, 2007, Chicago Mercantile Exchange Holdings Inc. ("CME Holdings") jointly issued a press release with CBOT Holding, Inc. ("CBOT Holdings") announcing that preliminary results indicate the shareholders of both companies have approved the proposed merger of CME Holdings and CBOT Holdings, based on a review of the proxies voted at today's special meetings by the parties’ respective proxy solicitors. In addition, preliminary results also show that CBOT members have voted to approve certain related matters in a separate member vote. A copy of the press release is attached here at Exhibit 99.1.






Top of the Form

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

         
    Chicago Mercantile Exchange Holdings Inc.
          
July 9, 2007   By:   Kathleen M. Cronin
       
        Name: Kathleen M. Cronin
        Title: Managing Director, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary


Top of the Form

Exhibit Index


     
Exhibit No.   Description

 
99.1
  Press Release, dated July 9, 2007
EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

     
20 South Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
  141 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60604

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CME and CBOT Shareholders Approve Merger

Companies Expect to Complete Historic Combination Within Days

CHICAGO, July 9, 2007 — Chicago Mercantile Exchange Holdings Inc. (NYSE/Nasdaq: CME) and CBOT Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: BOT) today announced that preliminary results indicate the shareholders of both companies have approved the proposed merger of CME and CBOT Holdings, based on a review of the proxies voted at today’s special meetings by the parties’ respective proxy solicitors. In addition, preliminary results also show that CBOT members have voted to approve certain related matters in a separate member vote.

The results of the CBOT shareholder and member votes are subject to official certification by the independent inspectors of election, IVS Associates, which is expected to occur in the next few days. The companies expect to complete the merger once IVS has certified the results.

“We are pleased that shareholders of both companies have demonstrated support for this groundbreaking merger,” said CME Executive Chairman Terry Duffy. “The combination of CME and CBOT creates a strong international company better positioned to compete with growing global exchanges and the over-the-counter market. The combined company will transform the global derivatives industry and create efficiencies for customers and members while delivering significant benefits to our shareholders.”

“Today’s votes clear the way for us to combine our two great exchanges and begin delivering the value of the merger to our customers and shareholders,” said CBOT Chairman Charles P. Carey.  “We look forward to building on our shared legacies of superior customer service, product innovation and industry leadership to capitalize on the terrific growth opportunities we see in this global marketplace.”

“Our integration teams have been working diligently to prepare for the combination of our two companies, and I’m confident that we will be able to hit the ground running once we close the transaction,” said Craig Donohue, CME Chief Executive Officer. “With this successful vote, we are one step closer to realizing our vision. As a combined company, we will be the world’s premier financial marketplace with unparalleled product breadth and global reach. This vote also ensures that Chicago remains the center for risk management worldwide.”

1 “We appreciate the support from our shareholders and members for combining these two great organizations. Starting on Day One, our combined company will be ready to compete in the global environment—well-armed for growth and innovation,” said Bernard W. Dan, CBOT President and CEO.

Upon completion of the merger, the combined company, which will be called CME Group Inc., a CME/Chicago Board of Trade Company, will be the world’s largest and most diverse exchange, providing products in all major benchmark asset classes.

About CME

CME (www.cme.com) is the world’s largest and most diverse financial exchange.  As an international marketplace, CME brings together buyers and sellers on the CME Globex(r) electronic trading platform and on its trading floors. CME offers futures and options on futures in these product areas: interest rates, stock indexes, foreign exchange, agricultural commodities, energy, and alternative investment products such as weather, real estate and economic derivatives.   CME is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Holdings Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ:CME), which is part of the Russell 1000(r) Index and the S&P 500(r) Index.

About the CBOT

As one of the leading global derivative exchanges, the Chicago Board of Trade provides a diverse mix of financial, equity and commodity futures and options-on-futures products. Building on its 159-year history, the CBOT continues to advance into the future using the strength of deep liquidity, market integrity and member-trader expertise. Using superior trading technology in both electronic and open-auction trading platforms, the CBOT provides premier customer service to risk managers and investors worldwide. For more information, visit our website at http://www.cbot.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking information regarding Chicago Mercantile Exchange Holdings Inc. and CBOT Holdings, Inc. and the combined company after the completion of the merger that is intended to be covered by the safe harbor for “forward-looking statements” provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, the benefits of the business combination transaction involving CME and CBOT, including future financial and operating results, the new company’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical facts. Such statements are based on current beliefs, expectations, forecasts and assumptions of CME’s and CBOT’s management which are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from these statements. Other risks and uncertainties relating to the proposed transaction include, but are not limited to, the satisfaction of conditions to closing, including certification of shareholder and member approvals; uncertainty of the expected financial performance of the combined company following completion of the proposed transaction; the combined company may not be able to achieve the expected cost savings, synergies and other strategic benefits as a result of the proposed transaction; the integration of CBOT’s operations with CME’s may not be successful or may be materially delayed or may be more costly or difficult than expected; general industry and market conditions; general domestic and international economic conditions; and governmental laws and regulations affecting domestic and foreign operations.

More information regarding other risks to the parties performance can be found in their filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including Item 1A of each of their Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 and their most recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

2 Copies of said filings are available online at http://www.sec.gov or on request from CME or CBOT. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Except for any obligation to disclose material information under the Federal securities laws, CME and CBOT undertake no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release.

Contacts:

         
CME Contacts –        
Media:
       
Allan Schoenberg, 312.930.8189
  CBOT Contacts –
Anita Liskey, 312.466.4613
  Media:
Chuck Burgess
  Maria C. Gemskie, 312.341.3257
The Abernathy McGregor Group
  Harlan Loeb
212.371.5999
  Financial Dynamics
Investors:
    312.861.4703  
John Peschier
  Investors:
312.930.8491
  Deborah Koopman
CME-G
    312.789.8532  

# # #

07-136

3