Intercontinental Exchange (Ice) confirmed it was mulling an offer for the London Stock Exchange (LSE), although it stressed it has not approached the group’s board and has yet to decide whether to make a bid.
The LSE, which owns index compiler FTSE, last week revealed a proposed “merger of equals” with Germany’s Deutsche Borse.
But the pair revealed their tie-up would see Deutsche Borse shareholders own more than 54 per cent of the combined group and lead to the departure of LSE chief executive Xavier Rolet.