Deutsche Börse Keeps its LSE Options Open

Deutsche Börse said Monday it had asked the competition authorities in Britain and Germany to continue examining a possible merger between the Frankfurt and London stock exchanges even though the German stock market operator recently put its takeover plans on ice. The German company said it was keeping open its options with regard to a possible takeover of the London Stock Exchange (LSE) should its arch-rival Euronext or another company also launch a bid. Just over a week ago, Deutsche Börse withdrew a bid worth just under €2 billion ($2.6 billion) for the LSE. But it held the door open to a possible takeover by saying it would reserve the right to launch a new offer should Euronext, operator of the Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels and Lisbon exchanges, also put an offer on the table.