NEW YORK CITY-NYSE Euronext, which operates theNew York Stock Exchange, is being acquired byAtlanta-based IntercontinentalExchange for $8.2billion, the two companies announced Thursday morning. The combinedcompany will have dual headquarters here and in Atlanta, whilemaintaining the iconic Lower Manhattan exchange from which NYSEEuronext operates.

In a release, ICE says the deal for NYSE Euronext is about 67%cash and 33% stock. “We believe the combined company will be betterpositioned to compete and serve customers across a broad range ofasset classes by uniting our global brands, expertise andinfrastructure,” says Jeffrey Sprecher, ICEchairman and and CEO, in a statement. “With a track record ofgrowth and returns, clearing and M&A integration, we are wellpositioned to transform our combined companies into a premierglobal exchange operator that remains a leader in marketevolution.” Sprecher will continue as chairman and CEO of thecombined company, while NYSE Euronext's Duncan L.Niederauer will be president of the combinedcompany and CEO of NYSE Group.

ICE had partnered with Nasdaq OMX in an $11-billion bid for NYSEEuronext last year, at about the same time NYSE Euronext andDeutsche Boerse were pursuing a merger. Nasdaq and ICE withdrew their offer in May 2011 when itbecome clear that it wouldn't stand up to antitrust concerns on thepart of federal regulators. The Nasdaq/NYSE Euronext combinationwould have been headquartered globally in New York City, ratherthan the dual head offices specified in the NYSE Euronext/DeutscheBoerse proposal. This past February, the NYSE/Deustche Boersecombination similarly ran afoul of European regulators.