The New York Stock Exchange has selected the specialist firm that will make a market in NYSE Group Inc. stock when it becomes publicly traded.

A special committee of the NYSE board has tapped Bear Wagner Specialists LLC for the job. Bear Wagner will begin making markets in NYSE Group stock with the close of the NYSE/Archipelago Holdings Inc. merger, which is expected to become effective this quarter following action by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on the enabling rule filing.

“The specialist selection process for NYSE Group, Inc. was thorough and fair, and each specialist firm represented itself with a very high degree of professionalism,” said NYSE chairman Marshall Carter, who chaired the special selection committee of the board.

“We utilized the same criteria as all NYSE-listed companies in our review in order to ensure the integrity and independence of the process. Any of the exchange specialist firms considered could have done an outstanding job as specialist. We are confident that Bear Wagner Specialists will create and maintain high-quality and efficient markets in the trading of NYSE Group stock and would like to thank all the firms for their consideration and participation,” he added.

In addition to Carter, directors serving on the special committee included Ellyn Brown, president of Brown & Associates and former Maryland state securities commissioner, and Karl von der Heyden, former PepsiCo vice chairman.