London Stock Exchange-Deutsche Boerse merger could lead to 1,250 job losses
The London Stock Exchange and Deutsche Boerse could cut up to 1,250 jobs if their planned merger goes ahead.
The companies are targeting annual cost savings of at least €250m (£194m) in the fifth year after completion of the deal, and €160m in the third year. This is in addition to €450m of annual cost synergies previously announced and expected by the third year.
The job cuts and extra savings figures were revealed in a prospectus document issued this afternoon.
The exchange groups also said in the document that the result of the UK’s referendum on EU membership is “not a condition of the merger”.
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However, the companies do have a referendum committee that has been “tasked with reviewing the potential impact” of a Brexit.
The companies said they “believe that the combined group is well positioned to serve global customers irrespective of the outcome of the vote by the United Kingdom electorate at the referendum”.
But the document added that “the outcome of that vote might well affect the volume, location or nature of the customer business carried out by the combined group. Accordingly, the outcome of the referendum is not a condition of the merger.”
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LSE shareholders are due to vote on the proposed merger on 4 July.
The document said the merger could lead to an "overall potential job reduction of approximately 1,250 existing roles".
But the companies said "200 new roles could be created as a result of the proposed growth initiatives… In addition, the boards believe that approximately 350 further new roles could be created across the combined group through the use of nearshore and offshore locations as a result of the operational synergies".
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Following publication of the prospectus, Carsten Kengeter, the Deutsche Boerse chief executive who will take on the same position over the whole group if the merger goes ahead, described it as a "momentous day".
In an analysts' call, he said: "The combination will form a global markets infrastructure leader anchored in Europe with significant benefits and value creations for our shareholders, customers, employees and regulators by combining our strength.
"We strongly believe this is the right transaction at the right time for our two companies, for the UK and Germany and for the broader European market place.
"Deutsche Boerse and the London Stock Exchange Group are a very good fit."