Intercontinental Exchange Announces Expanded Capital Return Program Including An Increase Of 18% To Its Quarterly Dividend

Intercontinental Exchange (NYSE: ICE), a leading operator of global exchanges and clearing houses and provider of data and listings services, announced board authorization of its first quarter 2017 dividend of $0.20 per share, up 18% from its $0.17 per share quarterly dividend in 2016. This reflects the third consecutive double-digit increase in the dividend since it was first instituted in December 2013.

“As a growth company, we continue to focus on investing prudently to drive long-term shareholder value, including meaningful capital return to our shareholders,” said ICE Chairman & CEO Jeffrey C. Sprecher. “As we continue to grow earnings and cash flow, we are also delivering consistent dividend growth, and had $950 million remaining on our Board authorized share repurchase program at the beginning of the year.”

The first quarter dividend is payable on March 31, 2017 to shareholders of record as of March 16, 2017. The ex-dividend date is March 14, 2017. During the year ended December 31, 2016, ICE paid total dividends of $0.68 per share of common stock (adjusted to reflect a five for one stock split in November 2016), for an aggregate payout of approximately $409 million.

ICE expects the annual total dividend for 2017 to be $0.80 per share, for an aggregate payout of $475 million, and the expected record and payable dates for the balance of the year are expected to be as noted below, subject to board authorization.