LONDON: The United States Nasdaq stock market launched on Monday a fresh public offer for the London Stock Exchange, valuing the LSE at 2.9 billion pounds ($5.5 billion).
Nasdaq, which is the biggest LSE shareholder with a 25.1-percent stake, tried in March to take over the London exchange but its 2.4 billion pound bid was rejected as too low.
Under British takeover rules, Nasdaq had to wait six months before making another attempt.
"NASDAQ has requested a meeting with LSE's chairman to seek a recommendation... in advance of posting the offer document (which will be undertaken as soon as possible)," the US exchange said.
"We are excited about the prospect of combining two strong businesses to form the leading global, cross-border equity market platform giving issuers the ability to dual-list simultaneously in London and New York," Nasdaq president and chief executive Robert Greifeld said.
"The combined entity will be well positioned to lead further consolidation and compete effectively for the benefit of all market users."
Nasdaq's US rival, the New York Stock Exchange, is exploring a $10 billion merger with the pan-European market operator Euronext that would also create an intercontinental market with a total value of listed companies of about 21 trillion euros ($26 trillion).
Euronext runs the Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and Lisbon stock markets.
