Center Receives Grant from CME Trust

CME Trust awarded the UIC College of Business Administration a $250,000 grant in support of the International Center for Futures and Derivatives, which increases the Trusts total investment in the center to $500,000 since December 2006. This grant, part of the Trusts continued commitment to higher education in financial markets, will be used by the center to leverage the universitys existing relationships in China and help fund a variety of initiatives, including: an annual international conference, seminars and workshops that foster collaboration between academic and financial professionals and public officials, research and publications on futures and options and new class offerings.

One of the salient goals of CME Trust is to make Chicago the center of financial market education, said Leo Melamed, CME Trust trustee and Chairman Emeritus of CME. By making large grant commitments, we are strategically investing in some of Chicagos most effective university programs.

The International Center for Futures and Derivatives was established in 2006 through a gift from CME Trust. The academic mission of the center is to prepare undergraduate and graduate students for careers in the futures and derivatives industry. In addition, the center fosters research and learning about futures and derivative financial products, particularly the role they play in international commerce.

Chicago Mercantile Exchange Trust was established by CME in 1969, under the direction of its chairman, to provide financial protection to customers in the event a CME member firm became insolvent or unable to meet its obligations to its customers. However, no CME customer has ever suffered losses due to a members adverse financial condition. In 2005, the CME Trust received approval to distribute the net income of the Trust to public charities. The trustees of the CME Trust are Craig S. Donohue, Terrence A. Duffy, Leo Melamed, William P. Miller II, James E. Oliff, John F. Sandner and Howard J. Siegel.