CHICAGO, IL and SHENZHEN, CHINA -- (Marketwire) -- 10/23/12 -- The Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SZSE) and The Options Industry Council (OIC) announced today they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding joint options research and education. The ceremony was held with members of the OIC and SZSE in Shenzhen, China on Tuesday October 23, 2012.

As China focuses efforts on diversifying investment products, both OIC and SZSE recognize the need for investor education and research programs to contribute to the development and responsible use of suitable financial products. The MOU also addresses mutual cooperation and sharing of information about the U.S. and Chinese financial markets.

OIC has been the premier, independent source of equity options education in the U.S. for more than 20 years. Internationally, OIC works with partners throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia to provide options education.

"It is an honor to sign this MOU with the Shenzhen Stock Exchange," said Gina McFadden, OIC President. "This lays the foundation of a mutually beneficial relationship between our organizations, which share a common interest in educating Chinese market participants about the benefits and risks of equity options."

"China is an emerging market with a strong need for investor education. We are honored to work with OIC, a leading institution of options education and research in the industry, in a concerted effort to enhance the investor education practices in China's capital market," said a representative of Shenzhen Stock Exchange.

About OIC
OIC is an industry cooperative funded by BATS Options, BOX Options Exchange, Chicago Board Options Exchange, C2 Options Exchange, International Securities Exchange, NASDAQ OMX PHLX, NASDAQ Options Market, NYSE Amex Options, NYSE Arca Options and OCC. OIC was formed in 1992 to educate investors and their financial advisors about the benefits and risks of exchange-traded equity options. OIC's resources include: Investor Services live help at 1-888-OPTIONS, its educational website at www.OptionsEducation.org, live seminars throughout the continental United States and Canada, and educational literature.

About Shenzhen Stock Exchange
Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SZSE) was established on 1st December, 1990. Shenzhen Stock Exchange has 1539 listed companies with a market capitalization of 1.2 trillion USD. Over the past 8 years, SZSE has admitted over 1000 IPOs from the nation's SME sector. SZSE has also made significant progress in fund, bond and asset-backed securities markets.