Today NYSE Liffe, the Europe-based derivatives business of NYSE Euronext (NYX), added options on the shares of Ackermans & van Haaren , a holding company active in dredging and construction, financial services, real estate, energy and materials and private equity, to its highly successful range of equity option classes. The options are available on the Brussels derivatives market of NYSE Liffe.
Vincent Van Dessel, CEO of NYSE Euronext Brussels commented: “We are pleased to announce the listing of options on Ackermans & van Haaren, a highly diversified holding company with a long term vision. This listing should have a further positive impact on the liquidity of the underlying market in Ackermans & van Haaren shares”.
Alan Van Griethuysen, Regional Business Head Benelux & Asia NYSE Liffe added: “The introduction of options on Ackermans & van Haaren is a further extension of the options portfolio on BEL20 constituents. In addition the new option contract will benefit from the harmonized rules, trading procedures and trading fees, enhancing trading and increasing interest in Belgian options”.
Baron Luc Bertrand, CEO of Ackermans & van Haaren, commented: “We are pleased with the listing of options on Ackermans & van Haaren, which offers our shareholders an alternative financial instrument on the NYSE Liffe market. This will enhance the liquidity of our share and the visibility of Ackermans & van Haaren in the financial world.”
These American-style options will expire on the third Friday of the expiry month and will have initial lifetimes of one to twelve months. Options on Ackermans & van Haaren are introduced under trading symbol AVH.
Each option represents 100 shares in Ackermans & van Haaren and will be centrally cleared via LCH.Clearnet SA. Liquidity in the options will be supported by 2 market makers: All Options International B.V. and Timber Hill (Europe) AG.
The introduction of the new option class is the second new listing in 2011, after the successful launch of options on Bekaert in June. Over the first three quarters of 2011, volumes in individual equity options on the Brussels derivatives market grew by 12,8% compared to 2010. NYSE Liffe lists stock options (also known as individual equity options) on over 250 leading European companies via the Amsterdam, Brussels, London and Paris central order books.
To mark today’s special occasion, Baron Luc Bertrand, CEO of Ackermans & van Haaren, rang the opening bell which denotes the opening of NYSE Euronext's European market, together with Vincent Van Dessel, CEO of NYSE Euronext Brussels.