Yahoo Finance Timeline: LSE - A story of failed mega-mergers
(Reuters) - The London Stock Exchange emphatically rejected a $39 billion takeover offer from the Hong Kong bourse on Friday, opting to stick with its planned purchase of data and analytics group Refinitiv.
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing's (HKEX) offer was the latest attempt at an exchange mega-merger after multiple failures between LSE and Deutsche Boerse over the last 17 years.
The LSE's share price, up 1,950% since it listed in 2001, reflects its frequent position as a bid target.
SEPTEMBER 2019
HKEX made an unsolicited $39 billion takeover bid for LSE on Sept. 11, an offer contingent on the London bourse ditching its planned acquisition of data company Refinitiv. LSE rejected proposal two days later.
MARCH 2017
An attempted merger between Deutsche Boerse and the London exchange was struck down by European regulators.
MARCH 2016
U.S. company ICE said it might launch a rival bid to Deutsche Boerse's offer for LSE but shelved those plans in May.
FEBRUARY 2016
Nearly 16 years after their first attempt to merge, LSE and Deutsche Boerse confirmed they were holding detailed discussions on an all-share merger.
MAY 2014
LSE announced talks to buy Russell Investments in a deal to expand its stock index business in the United States.
MARCH 2013
LSE acquired a majority stake in LCH Clearnet and has built its holding since. Clearing houses offered investment opportunities as regulators cracked down on markets.
FEBRUARY 2011
LSE agreed a merger with TMX Group, which operates the Toronto Stock Exchange. LSE's plans collapsed in June 2011 in the face of a competing bid.
DECEMBER 2009
LSE bought a majority stake in platform rival Turquoise, granting it immediate access to pan-European share trading.
JUNE 2007
LSE agrees to buy its Italian counterpart for 1.6 billion euros ($1.77 billion), aiming to become "the world's capital market".
MARCH 2006
LSE rejects a $4.2 billion offer from Nasdaq. Bid turns hostile and Nasdaq's approach falls through in February 2007.
DECEMBER 2005
Macquarie makes a formal cash offer for LSE valuing it at 1.5 billion pounds.
DECEMBER 2004
Deutsche Boerse offers 520 pence a share for LSE, valuing it at 1.3 billion pounds ($1.62 billion). Proposed offer is withdrawn in March 2005.
SEPTEMBER 2000
LSE abandons a planned merger with its German counterpart which was announced in May.
AUGUST 2000
The Stockholm Stock Exchange launches a hostile bid for the LSE.
($1 = 0.8035 pounds; $1 = 0.9025 euros)
(Reporting by Noor Zainab Hussain in Bengaluru; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle and Pravin Char)
