• 25-year options pro to focus on building sales within institutional sector
• Institutional arm offers execution services, trading platform, and portfolio margining
• Institutional targets include hedge funds, broker dealers, proprietary trading firms
• Signs Calyon Financial to execution services and white-labeling agreement

CHICAGO, APRIL 10, 2007 - OptionsHouse, Inc. ("OptionsHouse"), the online brokerage firm, has named Peter Lawler as head of institutional development. A 25-year veteran of the options industry, Lawler will be in charge of managing client relationships and driving sales of OptionsHouse's end-to-end stock and options trading solutions within the institutional sector.

"Peter Lawler brings invaluable knowledge and impeccable expertise to the OptionsHouse team," says OptionsHouse co-CEO John Hass, an 18-year securities veteran and former partner at Goldman Sachs. "In his 25 years, Peter has managed every aspect of the trading process - from floor trading to the institutional side to clearing. His deep understanding of markets and the needs of their participants will enable OptionsHouse to deliver custom-designed solutions to trading institutions of all types."

Offering customized, end-to-end solutions

OptionsHouse developed its institutional arm to leverage its next-generation trading technology and to complement its online retail trading site, optionshouse.com. The institutional division's end-to-end trading solutions comprise four principal service offerings: 1) institutional services, which include back-end execution; 2) trading interface, which includes OptionsHouse's suite of smart trading tools; 3) portfolio margining, which provides an alternative to Reg T margin rules; and 4) an administrative portal that includes operational tools and reporting functionality.

"OptionsHouse's customizable solutions deliver speedy^✝ execution and the smartest tools available for idea generation and risk assessment - all within a clean, simple and intuitive interface and backed by highly knowledgeable client service teams," explains Lawler. "These are precisely the attributes that institutions are looking for - especially hedge funds, broker-dealers, and proprietary trading firms."

Distinguished record, deep expertise

During his 25-year career in options, Lawler has participated in every aspect of the transactional chain -- from idea to execution to clearing. He began his career as an independent trader on the floor of the Chicago Board Options Exchange. After earning an MBA from Dartmouth College, Lawler joined Spear, Leeds and Kellogg, where he managed the firm's CBOE floor operation. From there, he joined First Options, an options and futures clearing firm that was later purchased by Goldman Sachs. At First Options, he learned the intricacies and processes that sustain all trading floors - eventually rising to Co-CEO.

Agreement with Calyon Financial

OptionsHouse also announced the signing of an agreement with Calyon Financial, a global brokerage arm of Calyon S.A., to provide the firm with execution and white-labeling services. Consistently among the largest brokers globally in terms of customer volume and assets on deposit, Calyon Financial provides institutional clients with efficient access to the top equity options and futures markets in the world.

"OptionsHouse stood out for the sophistication of its interface and the power of its trading tools," explains Leslie Sutphen, Calyon Financial's Head of eBrokerage Strategy/Implementation. "Their ability to support us as we expand our equity options execution business proved decisive."

Added Lawler, "We are very excited to assist a world-class company like Calyon Financial in growing its global stock and options brokerage business. This engagement confirms both the relevance and the attractiveness of our offering in the marketplace."

Press Contact

OptionsHouse, LLC
Beth Gaston Moon
312-676-8800
bmoon@peak6.com

About OptionsHouse:
OptionsHouse, LLC, is an online stock and option broker delivering a fast, streamlined trading experience on its professional-grade trading platform, accessible at OptionsHouse.com. OptionsHouse's flat-rate commission structure offers online trading of $9.95 per option trade and $4.95 per stock trade, with no escalating fees, regardless of size.*

In Barron's 2008 survey of Online Brokers, OptionsHouse earned a four-star rating and its innovative platform was ranked number-one for "usability."¹ A licensed FINRA broker-dealer, OptionsHouse, LLC was founded in 2005 and is a subsidiary of proprietary option-trading firm, PEAK6 Investments, L.P.

About PEAK6:
Established in 1997, PEAK6 Investments, L.P. ("PEAK6") is a leading financial institution in Chicago with an established track record of success in proprietary trading. PEAK6 is also rapidly expanding its commercial focus to include innovative initiatives in asset management and online media.