LONDON (AFX) - Deutsche Boerse said it is withdrawing its proposed 1.3 bln stg offer for the London Stock Exchange.
And it said it will talk to investors about what it described as a "significant" distribution of funds to its shareholders.
The German exchange said it had scrapped its 530 pence per share indicative offer because the London Stock Exchange had not recommended the offer, and following discussions with its own shareholders.
It said that it reserves the right to make a new offer if Euronext or any other third party makes an offer for the London Stock Exchange. Euronext had also expressed interest in bidding for the LSE, but has not put a value on any offer it might make.
The LSE twice rejected Deutsche Boerse's offer as too low. In addition, some of the Frankfurt-based exchange's international institutional investors were vehemently opposed to the bid.
Deutsche Boerse chief executive Werner Seifert defended the abandoned bid.
"We continue to believe that shareholders, issuers, investors and intermediaries would all benefit from consolidation of the European exchange landscape as contemplated in our proposal, " he said in a statement announcing the withdrawal.
He insisted that the bid would have been value-enhancing for Deutsche Boerse shareholders.
But he added, "We recognise that a significant portion of our shareholder base is focussed on return of capital in the short term."
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And it said it will talk to investors about what it described as a "significant" distribution of funds to its shareholders.
The German exchange said it had scrapped its 530 pence per share indicative offer because the London Stock Exchange had not recommended the offer, and following discussions with its own shareholders.
It said that it reserves the right to make a new offer if Euronext or any other third party makes an offer for the London Stock Exchange. Euronext had also expressed interest in bidding for the LSE, but has not put a value on any offer it might make.
The LSE twice rejected Deutsche Boerse's offer as too low. In addition, some of the Frankfurt-based exchange's international institutional investors were vehemently opposed to the bid.
Deutsche Boerse chief executive Werner Seifert defended the abandoned bid.
"We continue to believe that shareholders, issuers, investors and intermediaries would all benefit from consolidation of the European exchange landscape as contemplated in our proposal, " he said in a statement announcing the withdrawal.
He insisted that the bid would have been value-enhancing for Deutsche Boerse shareholders.
But he added, "We recognise that a significant portion of our shareholder base is focussed on return of capital in the short term."
newsdesk@afxnews.com
jm/
For more information and to contact AFX: www.afxnews.com and www.afxpress.com
