Australian Stock Exchange Limited Response To Media Speculation On SFE

Following newspaper reports about efforts by the Sydney Futures Exchange (SFE) to be acquired by Australian Stock Exchange Limited (ASX), ASX wishes to confirm that no discussions are taking place on this issue and no such discussion is on our agenda.

ASX has stated on a number of occasions, most recently on 29 August when announcing 2000-01 earnings, that the company has "moved on" after the 1999 consideration of an acquisition of SFE. ASX is now fully occupied pursuing its existing strategy, which does not include acquisition of SFE.