Saturday, April 08, 2006
LSE plays down reports of Euronext merger
A source close to LSE has played down reports that talks are to take place between the UK exchange and its pan-European counterpart.
He said Euronext appeared to be talking to a number of possible buyers or merger opportunities, and if it did have informal conversations with LSE, the UK exchange would be one of many discussions. Though he said the issue was currently a sensitive one.
He said he would not be surprised if Nasdaq or the Chicago Mercantile Exchange made a bid for Euronext.
A person close to Nasdaq said they did not think the US exchange was looking at Euronext.
An insider at the CME would only say that the Chicago exchange had �said all along that we intend to be participating in the consolidation of the global trades industry. That�s part of our growth strategy.� He added that as far as he knew CME was not currently using a financial adviser.
LSE is not looking at buying OMX, contrary to some reports, and sees the Swedish exchange as �too small to be relevant�, it is understood.
The UK exchange is currently focusing on carrying out its capital return and drawing up its prospectus, said the LSE source. He speculated that the New York Stock Exchange would be unlikely to be planning any acquisitions in the immediate future because it too was putting out its prospectus due to its secondary share offering.
NYSE declined to comment. "
He said Euronext appeared to be talking to a number of possible buyers or merger opportunities, and if it did have informal conversations with LSE, the UK exchange would be one of many discussions. Though he said the issue was currently a sensitive one.
He said he would not be surprised if Nasdaq or the Chicago Mercantile Exchange made a bid for Euronext.
A person close to Nasdaq said they did not think the US exchange was looking at Euronext.
An insider at the CME would only say that the Chicago exchange had �said all along that we intend to be participating in the consolidation of the global trades industry. That�s part of our growth strategy.� He added that as far as he knew CME was not currently using a financial adviser.
LSE is not looking at buying OMX, contrary to some reports, and sees the Swedish exchange as �too small to be relevant�, it is understood.
The UK exchange is currently focusing on carrying out its capital return and drawing up its prospectus, said the LSE source. He speculated that the New York Stock Exchange would be unlikely to be planning any acquisitions in the immediate future because it too was putting out its prospectus due to its secondary share offering.
NYSE declined to comment. "
