CME Group has rejected market rumours on Wednesday that it plans to acquire rival Cboe Global Markets for $16bn.
Citing sources close to the matter, the Financial Times reported the world’s largest futures exchange house offered 0.75 of its own shares for each Cboe share.
However, CME has issued a denial of the approach.
The firm said in a statement: “CME Group denies all rumours that it is in conversations to acquire Cboe Global Markets. The company has not had any discussions with Cboe whatsoever.
“While the company does not typically comment on rumour or speculation, today's inaccurate information required correction.”
If the acquisition went ahead, the combined business would bring together two of the largest players in global financial derivatives.
There have been a number of major deals among trading venues over the past few years including the London Stock Exchange’s $27bn acquisition of data provider Refinitiv earlier this year.
London Stock Exchange vs EU: Refinitiv battle reveals unease over power of modern stock markets
This deal was only given the green light by European Union regulators because the UK exchange offloaded Borse Italiana to Euronext.
Elsewhere, SIX Group completed its acquisition of Spanish stock exchange Bolsas y Marcados Españoles (BME) last year for €2.8bn.
