(Reuters) - The London Stock Exchange (LSE.L) emphatically rejected a $39 billion takeover offer from the Hong Kong bourse on Friday, opting to stick with its planned purchase of data and analytics group Refinitiv.
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing’s (0388.HK) (HKEX) offer was the latest attempt at an exchange mega-merger after multiple failures between LSE and Deutsche Boerse (DB1Gn.DE) over the last 17 years.
The LSE’s share price, up 1,950% since it listed in 2001, reflects its frequent position as a bid target.
HKEX made an unsolicited $39 billion takeover bid for LSE on Sept. 11, an offer contingent on the London bourse ditching its planned acquisition of data company Refinitiv. LSE rejected proposal two days later.
An attempted merger between Deutsche Boerse and the London exchange was struck down by European regulators.
U.S. company ICE (ICE.N) said here it might launch a rival bid to Deutsche Boerse's offer for LSE but shelved here those plans in May.
Nearly 16 years after their first attempt to merge, LSE and Deutsche Boerse confirmed here they were holding detailed discussions on an all-share merger.
LSE announced here talks to buy Russell Investments in a deal to expand its stock index business in the United States.
LSE acquired here a majority stake in LCH Clearnet and has built its holding since. Clearing houses offered investment opportunities as regulators cracked down on markets.
LSE agreed a merger with TMX Group (X.TO), which operates the Toronto Stock Exchange. LSE's plans collapsed here in June 2011 in the face of a competing bid.
LSE bought here a majority stake in platform rival Turquoise, granting it immediate access to pan-European share trading.
LSE agrees here to buy its Italian counterpart for 1.6 billion euros ($1.77 billion), aiming to become "the world's capital market".
LSE rejects a $4.2 billion offer from Nasdaq (NDAQ.O). Bid turns hostile and Nasdaq’s approach falls through in February 2007.
Macquarie makes a formal cash offer for LSE valuing it at 1.5 billion pounds.
Deutsche Boerse offers 520 pence a share for LSE, valuing it at 1.3 billion pounds ($1.62 billion). Proposed offer is withdrawn in March 2005.
LSE abandons a planned merger with its German counterpart which was announced in May.
The Stockholm Stock Exchange launches a hostile bid for the LSE.
(Graphic: LSE spend on acquisitions in the decade, here)
(Graphic: LSE in talks to buy Refinitiv for $27 bln png, here)
Reporting by Noor Zainab Hussain in Bengaluru; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle and Pravin Char
