Pan-European stock exchange Euronext is considering whether to make a nil-premium share-based take-over offer for the London Stock Exchange to get around opposition from some of its shareholders to a cash bid, the Financial Times newspaper said on Saturday.
The report comes after sources familiar with the situation told Reuters earlier this week that Euronext may opt to drop its plan to bid for the London Stock Exchange in the face of regulatory hurdles and investor scepticism.
A Euronext spokesman said the exchange was waiting for word from Britain's Competition Commission, which has said it expects to rule next week on such a tie-up.
"We are awaiting the report from the Competition Commission. When we have it we will look at it seriously and consider our options," he said. "However we will not comment on speculation about what the outcome of the process will be."