Australia's Macquarie Bank Ltd and financial services firm Computershare Ltd may make a take-over bid for the London Stock Exchange (LSE), a source familiar with the situation said on October 06.
Macquarie would lead such an offer, which is unlikely to come before the middle of October if it is made, and Computershare would be a passive equity investor, the source said. The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported earlier that an offer would be launched within days. Macquarie, Australia's biggest investment bank, and Computershare, the world's top share registry firm, both declined to comment on the situation.
After similar press reports in August, the LSE said it had not received a formal bid approach from Macquarie and that it remained confident about its prospects as an independent company. Macquarie Bank said in August it may team up with other investors to make a cash bid for LSE.
"We have nothing more to add than what we said in August," said a spokesman for Macquarie Bank.
Some elements of the possible bid are still to be finalised, the source said, adding the timetable remained unclear and that, while no bid was currently anticipated before October 16, this could change.
Macquarie, which has 350 staff in London, said Europe's largest stock market operator was one of a number of potential acquisitions it was considering.
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