ASX LIMITED — Earnings Release 2009

Sep 23, 2009

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ASX Limited ABN 98 008 624 691 PO Box H224 Australia Square NSW 1215

www.asx.com.au

24 September 2009

Dear ASX Shareholder,

On 20 August 2009, ASX Limited announced its full-year result for the year ending 30 June 2009 (FY09). Against the backdrop of the most serious global financial crisis of the post-war period, ASX recorded sound financial, operational and supervisory performance.

Normal net profit after tax of $313.6 million was achieved, down 14.3% on the previous financial year (FY08). This was based on a 12.4% fall in operating revenue, a 1.2% increase in operating expenses and a 4.3% increase in interest and dividend income.

Dividends to shareholders have fallen as a consequence, with a final dividend of 74.5 cents per share (cps) fully franked declared, down 20.7% on the final 2008 dividend. Total fully franked dividends declared in FY09 are 164.9 cps, down 14.3% on FY08.

Please find enclosed your dividend advice.

The ASX Board determined that the Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRP), announced on 28 July 2009, will apply for the final dividend for FY09. A discount of 2.5% was applied in calculating the allocation price of shares under the DRP, with the final DRP Allocation Price being $31.33.

Further information can be found at http://www.asx.com.au/about/shareholder/dividend_information.htm

FY09 Overview

While ASX’s profit was unsurprisingly lower than last year, the group’s overall performance compares favourably to several of its global exchange peers. ASX has maintained its payout ratio for dividends (90% of normal net profit after tax) and no call on shareholders was made to raise equity throughout FY09.

ASX continued to invest in the capacity and functionality of its technology platforms during FY09, delivering world-class levels of availability of its critical trade execution, clearing and settlement infrastructure to market users. This reliability provided certainty in an otherwise highly stressed financial environment.

ASX’s infrastructure also facilitated record levels of secondary capital raisings in FY09 – more than $88 billion of a total of $90 billion of capital formation - that proved vital to the financial wellbeing of many of Australia’s largest listed companies and underpinned the relative out-performance of the Australian economy compared to most other developed economies.

ASX also ensured that its arm’s length subsidiary, ASX Markets Supervision (ASXMS), was adequately resourced to effectively supervise the volatile market conditions, with staff numbers rising to 110 in FY09 and key technology projects, including an upgrade of the real-time surveillance system, being completed.

On 24 August 2009 the Australian Government announced reforms to the supervision of Australia’s financial markets, with some supervisory responsibilities to be transferred from ASX to ASIC by the third quarter 2010. ASX is working constructively with the Treasury and ASIC on an orderly transition, and will update the market and shareholders as more information becomes available. Importantly, ASX will continue to devote resources to ensuring that the services it provides result in markets and clearing and settlement facilities of high integrity. On this, the long-term sustainability of ASX as a market operator depends.

• Complete full-year results and ASX’s FY09 Annual Report are available via the ASX Shareholder Centre: www.asx.com.au/shareholder.

• ASX’s 2009 Annual General Meeting will be held in the auditorium at Exchange Square in Sydney on Wednesday, 30 September 2009 at 10.30am (AEST). All shareholders are welcome to attend. Please refer to the Notice of Meeting, sent to you earlier, for further details.

• If you have specific questions you wish to put to the Board or management, they can be emailed to: company.secretariat@asx.com.au.

• ASX’s half-year results for FY10 are expected to be announced on 18 February 2010.

Thank you for your support throughout FY09. I look forward to providing a further update to shareholders at the AGM.

Yours sincerely,

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Robert G Elstone Managing Director and CEO

ShareGift Australia - ASX is proud to continue to give our shareholders the chance to support ShareGift Australia. ShareGift Australia is a not-for-profit organisation that allows shareholders to sell shares (in any listed company, not just ASX shares) and donate the proceeds to charity without the need to appoint a stockbroker or pay brokerage fees.

It is an easy way to make a charitable donation of a small parcel of shares that might otherwise be difficult or expensive to trade.

ASX has been a supporter of ShareGift Australia since it began operations in 2007. ASX reimburses to brokers all exchange fees on ShareGift Australia transactions. To the end of June 2009, ShareGift Australia had donated more than $72,500 to Australian charities thanks to the generosity of shareholders.

More information on ShareGift Australia can be found at: www.sharegiftaustralia.org.au. If you are interested, a ShareGift Share Sale Donation Form is enclosed for your consideration and should be returned to ShareGift at the reply paid address shown on the form.

This is a voluntary initiative for those who wish to sell their shares and donate the proceeds to charity. It is not a recommendation to sell shares or a recommendation regarding a normal share sale facility. If you do not wish to participate, you do not need to do anything.

Please contact ShareGift Australia if you have any queries on: 1300 731 632 or info@sharegiftaustralia.org.au.

Page 2

– ShareGift Australia Share sale donation form

ABN 27 086 590 485

Please complete the following form to sell your shares and donate the proceeds to ShareGift Australia.

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ASX company code
Name of company being sold (optional)
Class of share (e.g. ordinary shares,
Number of shares to donate converting preference etc).
Optional: please suggest a charity or charities to benefit from ShareGift Australia distributions
Shareholders name(s)
Shareholder 1
First Middle
Title name name
Surname
Shareholder 2
First Middle
Title name name
Surname
Shareholder 3
First Middle
Title name name
Surname
Address shown on register
Street address
State Postcode
Address for receipt to be sent (if different from above)
Postal address
State Postcode
Work phone( ) Facsimile( )
Please tick if your holding is:
Issuer sponsored If issuer sponsored , please provide your Securityholder Reference Number (SRN):
OR I
CHESS Sponsored If CHESS Sponsored , please provide your Holder Identification Number (HIN): Please provide sponsoring broker’s name:
X
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Shareholder signatures

The instruction to sell the shares is irrevocable as at the time the donation form is signed by the donor/s. The timing of the actual sale is at the discretion of ShareGift Australia. If your shareholding is issuer sponsored or sponsored by Goldman Sachs JBWere Pty Ltd or Macquarie Equities Limited, please sign and date your agreement with the following statement:

I/We authorise any person nominated by ShareGift Australia in my/our name and/or my/our behalf to confirm my/our holding of the above shares with the relevant registry and to direct Goldman Sachs JBWere Pty Ltd or Macquarie Equities Limited to sell those shares and to pay the proceeds of sale to ShareGift Australia. I/We confirm that I am/we are entitled or authorised to transfer such shares free from liens, charges or other third party rights.

OR

If your shareholding is sponsored by a broker other than Goldman Sachs JBWere Pty Ltd or Macquarie Equities Limited, please sign and date your agreement with the following statement:

I/We authorise my/our broker, details I/we have provided above, to convert the shares indicated above to issuer sponsored, in order for me/us to sell these shares and pay the proceeds of sale to ShareGift Australia. On receipt of the issuer sponsored statement from the Share Registry, I/we will forward the statement to ShareGift Australia and I/we authorise any person nominated by ShareGift Australia in my/our name and on my/our behalf to direct Goldman Sachs JBWere Pty Ltd or Macquarie Equities Limited to sell those shares and to pay the proceeds of sale to ShareGift Australia.

Shareholder 1 signature Shareholder 2 signature Shareholder 3 signature SIGN HERE SIGN HERE SIGN HERE Date signed Date signed Date signed D D M M Y Y Y Y D D M M Y Y Y Y D D M M Y Y Y Y Please return your completed form to ShareGift Australia, c/o Goldman Sachs JBWere Pty Ltd, GPO Box 2050, Melbourne Vic 8060. Office use only – ASX fees claim form ITS trade details Date Price ITS Reference Amount claimed D D M M Y Y Y Y 164 CHESS message details Transaction ID Amount claimed Transaction ID Amount claimed CHESS transfer (015/017/001) message details (refer separate form for transaction details)

Please return your completed form to ShareGift Australia, c/o Goldman Sachs JBWere Pty Ltd, GPO Box 2050, Melbourne Vic 8060.

Office use only – ASX fees claim form

Appendix 3B

Information or documents not available now must be given to ASX as soon as available. Information and documents given to ASX become ASX’s property and may be made public.

Introduced 1/7/96. Origin: Appendix 5. Amended 1/7/98, 1/9/99, 1/7/2000, 30/9/2001, 11/3/2002, 1/1/2003, 24/10/2005.

Name of entity

ASX Limited ABN 98 008 624 691

We (the entity) give ASX the following information.

Part 1 - All issues

You must complete the relevant sections (attach sheets if there is not enough space).

1 +Class of+securities issued or to be issued 2 Number of +securities issued or to be issued (if known) or maximum number which may be issued 3 Principal terms of the+securities (eg, if options, exercise price and expiry date; if partly paid +securities, the amount outstanding and due dates for payment; if +convertible securities, the conversion price and dates for conversion)	Ordinary shares
	976,404 ordinary shares
	Fully paid

• See chapter 19 for defined terms.

Appendix 3B Page 1

24/10/2005

4 Do the[+] securities rank equally in Yes. all respects from the date of allotment with an existing[+] class of quoted[+] securities?

If the additional securities do not rank equally, please state:

• the date from which they do

• the extent to which they participate for the next dividend, (in the case of a trust, distribution) or interest payment

• • the extent to which they do not rank equally, other than in relation to the next dividend, distribution or interest payment

• 5 Issue price or consideration

5 Issue price or consideration $31.33 6 Purpose of the issue The shares are being issued under the dividend (If issued as consideration for the reinvestment plan. acquisition of assets, clearly identify those assets) 7 Dates of entering[+] securities into 24 September 2009 uncertificated holdings or despatch of certificates

Number +Class 8 Number and +class of all 172,194,928 Ordinary shares +securities quoted on ASX ( including the securities in clause 2 if applicable)

9 Number and +class of all +securities not quoted on ASX (_including_the securities in clause 2 if applicable) 10 Dividend policy (in the case of a trust, distribution policy) on the increased capital (interests) art 2 - Bonus issue or pro r 11 Is security holder approval required? 12 Is the issue renounceable or non- renounceable? 13 Ratio in which the+securities will be offered 14 +Class of+securities to which the offer relates 15 +Record date to determine entitlements 16 Will holdings on different registers (or subregisters) be aggregated for calculating entitlements? 17 Policy for deciding entitlements in relation to fractions 18 Names of countries in which the entity has+security holders who will not be sent new issue documents Note: Security holders must be told how their entitlements are to be dealt with. Cross reference: rule 7.7. 19 Closing date for receipt of acceptances or renunciations	Number	+Class
	143,040	performance rights (this is the maximum number of shares which may be issued pursuant to the performance rights assuming that all the performance hurdles are met under the Long Term Incentive Plan made to participants in 2006)
	No change
	ata issue N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
	N/A

Part 2 - Bonus issue or pro rata issue

• See chapter 19 for defined terms.

Appendix 3B Page 3

24/10/2005

20 Names of any underwriters 21 Amount of any underwriting fee or commission 22 Names of any brokers to the issue 23 Fee or commission payable to the broker to the issue 24 Amount of any handling fee payable to brokers who lodge acceptances or renunciations on behalf of+security holders 25 If the issue is contingent on +security holders’ approval, the date of the meeting 26 Date entitlement and acceptance form and prospectus or Product Disclosure Statement will be sent to persons entitled 27 If the entity has issued options, and the terms entitle option holders to participate on exercise, the date on which notices will be sent to option holders 28 Date rights trading will begin (if applicable) 29 Date rights trading will end (if applicable) 30 How do+security holders sell their entitlements_in full_through a broker? 31 How do+security holders sell _part_of their entitlements through a broker and accept for the balance? 32 How do+security holders dispose of their entitlements (except by sale through a broker)? 33 +Despatch date	N/A
	N/A
	N/A
	N/A
	N/A
	N/A
	N/A
	N/A
	N/A
	N/A
	N/A
	N/A
	N/A
	N/A

Part 3 - Quotation of securities – Not applicable

You need only complete this section if you are applying for quotation of securities

34 Type of securities ( tick one )

(a) Securities described in Part 1 √

(b)[All other securities ]

Example: restricted securities at the end of the escrowed period, partly paid securities that become fully paid, employee incentive share securities when restriction ends, securities issued on expiry or conversion of convertible securities

Entities that have ticked box 34(a) – N/A

Additional securities forming a new class of securities

Tick to indicate you are providing the information or documents

• 35 If the[+] securities are[+] equity securities, the names of the 20 largest holders of the additional[+] securities, and the number and percentage of additional[+] securities held by those holders

• 36 If the[+] securities are[+] equity securities, a distribution schedule of the additional +securities setting out the number of holders in the categories 1 - 1,000

1,001 - 5,000 5,001 - 10,000 10,001 - 100,000 100,001 and over

• 37 A copy of any trust deed for the additional[+] securities

• See chapter 19 for defined terms.

Appendix 3B Page 5

24/10/2005

Entities that have ticked box 34(b) – N/A

• 38 Number of securities for which +quotation is sought

• 39 Class of +securities for which quotation is sought

• 40 Do the[+] securities rank equally in all respects from the date of allotment with an existing[+] class of quoted[+] securities? If the additional securities do not rank equally, please state: • the date from which they do • the extent to which they participate for the next dividend, (in the case of a trust, distribution) or interest payment

• • the extent to which they do not rank equally, other than in relation to the next dividend, distribution or interest payment

• 41 Reason for request for quotation now

Example: In the case of restricted securities, end of restriction period

(if issued upon conversion of another security, clearly identify that other security)

Number +Class 42 Number and +class of all +securities quoted on ASX ( including the securities in clause 38)

Quotation agreement

• 1 +Quotation of our additional +securities is in ASX’s absolute discretion. ASX may quote the[+] securities on any conditions it decides.

• 2 We warrant the following to ASX.

• The issue of the[+] securities to be quoted complies with the law and is not for an illegal purpose.

• There is no reason why those[+] securities should not be granted +quotation.

• An offer of the[+] securities for sale within 12 months after their issue will not require disclosure under section 707(3) or section 1012C(6) of the Corporations Act.

Note: An entity may need to obtain appropriate warranties from subscribers for the securities in order to be able to give this warranty

• Section 724 or section 1016E of the Corporations Act does not apply to any applications received by us in relation to any[+] securities to be quoted and that no-one has any right to return any[+] securities to be quoted under sections 737, 738 or 1016F of the Corporations Act at the time that we request that the[+] securities be quoted.

• If we are a trust, we warrant that no person has the right to return the +securities to be quoted under section 1019B of the Corporations Act at the time that we request that the[+] securities be quoted.

• 3 We will indemnify ASX to the fullest extent permitted by law in respect of any claim, action or expense arising from or connected with any breach of the warranties in this agreement.

• 4 We give ASX the information and documents required by this form. If any information or document not available now, will give it to ASX before +quotation of the +securities begins. We acknowledge that ASX is relying on the information and documents. We warrant that they are (will be) true and complete.

Date: 24 September 2009

Print name: Kristy Huxtable, Company Secretary

• See chapter 19 for defined terms.

Appendix 3B Page 7

24/10/2005