Today NYSE Liffe, the Europe-based derivatives business of NYSE Euronext (NYX), launched options on the shares in UNIT4 N.V. (ticker symbol: UNT). The new listed options enable investors to hedge their share positions and to benefit from price fluctuations. The options were introduced on the Amsterdam derivatives market of NYSE Liffe.
Alan van Griethuysen, Business Head Benelux and Asia of NYSE Liffe said: “The new listed options will enhance the UNIT4 shares’ appeal to investors and they are beneficial for the liquidity of the shares as well. With the introduction of UNIT4 options we offer investors an even more complete range of Dutch equity options. After this introduction all the AEX ® funds and almost all of the AMX ® funds have an option listing."
CEO Chris Ouwinga of UNIT4 said: “We are pleased with the listing of options on UNIT4. These options offer more opportunities for our shareholders to invest in our company and also contribute to UNIT4's visibility in the financial world. "
These new American-style options will expire on the third Friday of the contract month and will have initial
lifetimes of one to nine months. Each option will represent 100 shares in UNIT4 and will be cleared via
LCH.Clearnet SA. Liquidity in the options will be supported by market maker All Options International B.V. Trading will take place on LIFFE Connect®.
On the occasion of the introduction of the UNIT4 options, CFO Edwin van Leeuwen, joined by executives of UNIT4 and NYSE Euronext sounded the opening gong at NYSE Euronext Amsterdam, which marks the opening of trading.
In the first half of 2011, 79 million equity options were traded on NYSE Liffe, half of which were traded on the Amsterdam market.