Deutsche Börse Mulling Euronext Merger?

Executives at Deutsche Börse are interested in pursuing merger talks with Paris-based rival Euronext, the Financial Times reported on Monday. Mathias Hlubeck, acting chief executive at Deutsche Börse, has said told shareholders at recent meetings that he is "receptive" to holding talks with Euronext about a merger. Deutsche Börse and Euronext had pursued discussions for much of 2003 and early 2004. But those talks fell apart, because it seemed that European competition authorities would oppose a merger combining Europe's two biggest derivatives exchanges, FT said. And it quoted insiders as saying that disputes over future management and direction of the combined companies were an even bigger issue.