German stock market operator Deutsche Boerse AG (DB1.XE) and
NYSE Euronext (NYX) are considering spinning off some of their
derivatives businesses to placate European antitrust authorities, a
person familiar with the matter said Wednesday.
The companies' planned merger has faced anti-trust resistance in
Europe.
The merger candidates last month submitted a range of potential
remedies to overcome competitive concerns raised by the proposal.
These included selling off overlapping options markets in Europe
and a trade-processing business, as well as granting competitors
access to the combined companies' clearinghouse.
The chief executive of U.S. peer Nasdaq OMX Group (NDAQ), Bob
Greifeld, said Wednesday the company isn't interested in buying any
European equity derivatives from NYSE and Deutsche
Boerse--businesses they have already offered to divest.
Nasdaq would however be interested if NYSE were forced to sell
its U.K. futures arm, he said.
-By Joern Rehren and Jacob Bunge, Dow Jones Newswires: +49 69
29725 511: joern.rehren@dowjones.com