BERLIN (AP) — German stock exchange operator Deutsche Boerse AG said yesterday that it has agreed to buy the US-based options exchange International Securities Exchange Holdings Inc. for $2.8 billion in cash.The acquisition would make Deutsche Boerse a major player in the US options trading business, since ISE is the largest options market in the US for individual stocks, including stock-index options.

The Deutsche Boerse statement said International Securities shareholders would get $67.50 per share for their stock. That represents a nearly 48 percent premium over Friday’s closing ISE price.

ISE is the second-largest options market behind the Chicago Board Options Exchange.

Deutsche Boerse said the deal would have to win a majority at an extraordinary ISE shareholders meeting, which it said would take place “as soon as possible”, and would also require approval by the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

The purchase would be made through the derivatives exchange Eurex, which is jointly owned by Deutsche Boerse and the Swiss Stock Exchange SWX.

ISE would merge with a subsidiary of US Exchange Holdings Inc., which is in turn a subsidiary of Eurex Frankfurt AG.