Following the US regulatory approval, which comes after the European Commission (EU) clearance, granted in June, the proposed merger still requires approval from the Euronext College of Regulators and other national financial regulators.
In a statement, EU said, "The market investigation revealed that they do not exert a greater potential competitive threat on each other compared to other exchanges."
Both ICE and NYSE have notified the US futures-market regulator, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, about their proposed integration and okayed by them.
Originally signed in December 2012, the transaction will create a global exchange operator diversified across agricultural and energy commodities, credit derivatives, equities and equity derivatives, foreign exchange and interest rates markets.
Post-transaction, the acquirer will continue to maintain the NYSE Euronext brand and operate from dual headquarters in Atlanta and New York, as per terms of the definitive merger agreement.
Jeffrey C Sprecher will assume the post of chairman and CEO of the integrated business and Scott Hill as CFO, whereas Duncan Niederauer will be appointed as the president and CEO of NYSE Group.
Morgan Stanley served as principal financial advisor to ICE, while further financial advice is being offered by BMO Capital Markets, Broadhaven Capital Partners, JPMorgan, Lazard, Societe Generale Corporate & Investment Banking, and Wells Fargo Securities.
