LSE plays for time as Frankfurt and Euronext slog it out

Euronext looks like the underdog in the battle to acquire London Stock Exchange. On every financial measure, Deutsche Börse is between 80% and 100% bigger. The Frankfurt exchange also has cash of about e500 million, versus Euronext's e200 million. If Deutsche Börse offered £1.5 billion ($2.9 billion) in cash for the LSE, 600p a share, could Euronext stay in the game?

Euronext looks like the underdog in the battle to acquire London Stock Exchange. On every financial measure, Deutsche Börse is between 80% and 100% bigger. The Frankfurt exchange also has cash of about e500  million, versus Euronext’s e200 million. If Deutsche Börse offered £1.5 billion ($2.9 billion) in cash for the LSE, 600p a share, could Euronext stay in the game?

It could – but at a stretch. The French-led exchange would have to tap the bond markets for as much debt as possible.

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