CHICAGO, IL -- (Marketwire) -- 02/11/13 -- The MIAX Options Exchange (MIAX) has become a member of The Options Industry Council (OIC). MIAX joins OCC, its member firms and the other OIC exchanges in helping promote the responsible use of equity options through education.

OIC members including 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, OCC and now MIAX, work together to provide investors a range of educational offerings to better understand equity options.

"We are excited to be the newest member of the OIC following the successful launch of the MIAX Options Exchange," said Thomas P. Gallagher, MIAX's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "At MIAX we recognize the importance of continued investor education to provide them with a better understanding of the markets, and we will pride ourselves in helping promote the responsible use of equity options through the educational initiatives made possible by the OIC."

"We are very pleased to announce the addition of MIAX as a member of OIC," said Gina McFadden, OIC's President. "With the expansion of the options markets and OIC's increased outreach to different investor channels in the U.S. and abroad, we welcome the additional perspective MIAX brings to our programs."

About MIAX
MIAX is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Miami International Holdings, Inc. MIAX, a fully automated electronic options exchange, commenced trading operations in December of 2012. MIAX supports a pro-rata allocation marketplace, implemented with both Directed orders and a Marketing Fee program. MIAX addresses the needs of the retail customer and trading community by offering a low cost operating structure, superior customer service and outstanding technology. The MIAX trading platform has been designed from the ground up for the unique functional and performance demands of derivatives trading and delivers extreme performance and radical scalability, best in class customer interface, automated continuous testing, state-of-the-art monitoring, and convenient cross-connect availability in both MIAX's primary and secondary data centers. For additional information please visit www.MIAXOptions.com or contact MIAX Trading Operations at TradingOperations@MIAXOptions.com.

About OIC
OIC is an industry cooperative funded by BATS Options, BOX Options Exchange, Chicago Board Options Exchange, C2 Options Exchange, International Securities Exchange, MIAX Options, 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.