Goldman Sachs Invests in CMC Markets Plc

Goldman Sachs Invests in CMC Markets Plc

November 23, 2007

    BEIJING, Nov. 23 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- CMC Markets Plc
("CMC"), the market leading global retail CFD
company, today announces that Goldman Sachs has agreed to
purchase a 10% stake in the company, subject to regulatory
approvals and other pre-completion conditions.

    Commenting on today's announcement, Peter Cruddas,
Executive Chairman of CMC, said: "I am delighted to
welcome Goldman Sachs as an investor and partner in CMC who
shares our vision and drive to grow the business over the
coming years.  We have been growing at 40% per annum and
have expanded our presence to 22 offices globally but there
are considerable opportunities still to realise.

    Having Goldman Sachs as a global strategic partner
providing operational cooperation will be a major advantage
for us going forward.  There are exciting synergies for the
business that would be difficult to match from any other
investor, and by bringing together the liquidity and
technological expertise of both parties we will be able to
deliver real benefits to our customers and create new and
exciting opportunities for CMC globally." 

    Cruddas continues: "Over the last 18 months, CMC
Markets has been fully committed to growing its active
customer base through the development of its award winning
trading platform and overseas offices.  This focus has
resulted in CMC being one of the fastest growing online
financial trading companies in the world, delivering a
68%(1) increase in active clients, a 97%(1) increase in
number of trades and a 61%(1) increase in trade
volume." 

    Jan Boomaars, a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs,
commented: "We are looking forward to working with
Peter and CMC Markets in the coming years to capture the
significant opportunities in the global retail derivatives
market."

    Notes to editors:

    About CMC Markets Plc

    CMC Markets handled over 16.2 million trades during the
period Nov 06 - Oct 07 with the trades executed having a
total value of over $1.1 trillion US across the full CFD
product range (including Foreign Exchange and Financial
Spread Betting).  Since April 2006, CMC Markets has opened
offices in Stockholm, Tokyo, Singapore and Vienna, adding
to the company's existing presence in the major global
financial centres.  Furthermore, CMC Markets is engaged in
a series of partner relationships, offering its services
through local banks, brokers and intermediaries in a
growing number of overseas markets.  The company now
operates a total of 22 offices worldwide, employs in excess
of 900 staff and represents clients in over 70 countries.

    CMC Markets was founded in 1989 by Peter Cruddas.  The
company is authorised and regulated by the Financial
Services Authority in London and the respective financial
regulatory bodies in each of the countries where it
operates.

    CMC Markets UK Plc and CMC Spreadbet Plc are authorised
and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

    For further media announcements from CMC Markets,
please visit the virtual press office at:
http://www.cmcmarketsplc.com/en/main/press_office.jsp .

    About Goldman Sachs

    Goldman Sachs is a global investment banking,
securities and investment management firm.  It provides a
wide range of services to a substantial and diversified
client base that includes corporations, institutional
investors, governments, non-profit organisations and high
net worth individuals.  Its headquarters is in New York and
it maintains significant offices in London, Frankfurt,
Tokyo, Hong Kong and other financial centres around the
world.


    For more information, please contact:

    Finsbury
     Matthew Newton or Alex Simmons
     Tel:   [phone]
    
    Goldman Sachs
     Paul Kafka
     Tel:   [phone]