CME hopes CBOT board to recognize its "superior" bid

March 20 (Reuters) - Chicago Mercantile Exchange Holdings Inc. CME.N said it expects CBOT Holdings Inc.'s BOT.N board to recognize its offer to be "superior" to IntercontinentalExchange Inc.'s (ICE.N) "unsolicited" bid.

"We look forward to completing our merger by mid-year," CME said in a statement. Earlier, CBOT said it will delay special meetings of its shareholders and members on the merger with CME to complete its review of IntercontinentalExchange Inc.'s counter offer. (Reporting by Mehul Shah in Bangalore)