TMX-LSE merger: a timeline of takeover battles

The London Stock Exchange (LSE) announced a £5bn deal today to merge with TMX , the operator of the Toronto and Montreal stock exchanges, to create a new global bourse. May 2000 The LSE and Germany's Deutsche Börse unveil plans to merge, after Euronext is set up by Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels. August 2000 A hostile £808m bid from Sweden's OM Exchange for the LSE scuppers its merger with Deutsche Börse. December 2004 Deutsche Börse tables a £1.3bn offer for the LSE but is rebuffed. February 2005 Euronext outlines the terms of a potential offer for the LSE for the first time but fails to put a price on its plans. December 2005 LSE rejects a £1.5bn takeover offer from Australia's Macquarie Bank , describing it as "derisory". March 2006 New York rival Nasdaq makes a £2.4bn bid for the LSE, which is also rejected. May 2006 NYSE bids $8bn for Euronext, eclipsing a rival bid by Deutsche Börse, which then makes a counter offer valuing the European bourses at $11bn. December 2006 Nasdaq raises its LSE stake to 28.75% and makes a £2.7bn hostile offer. An $11bn deal between NYSE and Euronext is approved after Deutsche drops out of the bidding. February 2007 Nasdaq defeated, winning just 0.41% of acceptances from LSE shareholders. June 2007 The LSE seals a £1.1bn deal to buy the Italian exchange Borsa Italiana. August 2007 Nasdaq agrees to sell most of its LSE shares to Borse Dubai. February 2010 The LSE and TMX, the Canadian stock exchange, agree to merge , with the LSE owning 55% of the combined company.