New York, 23 May 2011

Platts’ physical market price assessments for oil, refined petroleum products, and North American natural gas have been selected as the basis for 27 new cleared over-the-counter (OTC) energy contracts by the IntercontinentalExchange ( ICE), a U.S.-based operator of derivatives and OTC markets. Platts is a leading global provider of energy, petrochemicals and metals information and a top publisher of global benchmark price references.

“We welcome the fact that Platts price assessments for natural gas, fuel oil, gasoil, jet fuel, and crude oil continue to bring greater transparency to the energy market place,” said Gerald Bueshel, Platts director of global licensing.

 “We’re particularly pleased to see that ICE recognizes the benchmark value of Platts’ ESPO price assessments, launched in December 2009 and the first-ever references available for Russia’s petroleum flow from the Eastern Siberian Pacific Ocean pipeline targeted for Asia.”

Trading and clearing of the new contracts began on May 23, 2011. With today’s launch, the total number of ICE energy contracts settled and cleared against physical market price assessments published by Platts is approximately 172.

For more information on ICE’s new Platts-based energy contracts visit this link: http://ir.theice.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=575441.   

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