Washington, D.C. - The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (Commission) has issued an order granting registration as a derivatives clearing organization (DCO) to The Options Clearing Corporation (OCC) pursuant to the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA), as amended by the Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000 (CFMA).

OCC is a securities clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that provides clearing and settlement services for securities options traded on national securities exchanges. As a registered DCO, OCC will now be able to provide clearing and settlement services for transactions in commodity futures contracts and options on commodity futures contracts.

Copies of the Commission's order granting registration may be obtained by contacting the Commission's Office of the Secretariat, Three Lafayette Center, 1155 21st Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20581, (202) 418-5100.