Macquarie Bank, the Australian investment bank, has had talks with share registry and capital markets technology provider Computershare about lodging a joint bid for the London Stock Exchange within the next week, according to a report in British broadsheet the Daily Telegraph that cites anonymous sources close to the talks.
The report says the Computershare talks have been detailed - with a bid price of 530 pence a share mooted - but the Austrlian tech company has yet to decide whether to throw its hat into the ring alongside Macquarie.
Macquarie Bank issued a statement in August, acknowledging its interest in bidding for the LSE. At the time, the Australian investment bank said it would be prepared to lead a consortium of other potential investors.
Update: In a statement to the London Stock Exchange released Friday 7 October, Computershare refuted speculation surrounding a possible bid: "Computershare wishes to confirm that it has no intention of investing in or acting in concert with any consortium or any other offeror for London Stock Exchange plc."