The battle of mergers is relaunched in the mid-markets. The London Metal Exchange (LME), the first metal market in the world, 134 years old, is about to be redeemed. According to a source familiar with the matter, the buyers would be the Singapore Exchange (SGX) associated with the London Stock Exchange (LSE). Both players could make an offer to one billion pounds (1.15 billion euros).

The negotiations around the LME were made official last week by its owners, trading houses and banks market users. They admitted that it was highly coveted. Without the name, the CEO of the LME, Martin Abbott, said yesterday that a dozen candidates had appeared.Analysts believe that among them are the American Stock Exchange or ICE that of Hong Kong.

Operation diversification

If the LSE and SGX are able to stand, the operation will allow them to diversify into the sector buoyant metals brokerage. The London Stock Exchange represents 80% of volumes on world markets of the future of metals and recorded a record 120 million packages last year, 2 payday loans.8 billion tonnes of metal. In value terms, this represents 11,600 billion (about 8.56784 trillion euros).

This acquisition will also provide them the opportunity to recover from failures of failed attempts to merge internationally very competitive market of securities and derivatives.To recap, the LSE had to abandon its bid on the Toronto Stock Exchange on behalf of a syndicate of Canadian banks, while the takeover of SGX on the Sydney Stock Exchange (ASX) was rejected by the Australian Government five months ago.

Any bid will nevertheless be accepted by 75% of its shareholders, which include Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan and trading companies.

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