Deutsche Boerse-NYSE Euronext Takeover Is Blocked by EU

European Union regulators vetoed Deutsche Boerse AG and NYSE Euronext’s plan to create the world’s biggest exchange after concluding that the merger would hurt competition.

The deal would have led to a “near-monopoly” in European exchange-traded derivatives, the European Commission said in an e-mailed statement today. Any savings would “not be substantial enough to outweigh the harm to customers caused by the merger.” Both exchanges said they will focus on standalone strategies and are negotiating to terminate the merger, without ruling out an appeal.