After confirming that preliminary talks were indeed going on behind the scenes about two weeks ago, cross-ocean rival electronic market operators CME Group Inc (NASDAQ:CME) and London listed NEX Group PLC (LON:NXG) have announced that CME will be buying NEX in a £3.9 billion (USD $5.4 billion) cash and shares deal. The proposed transaction has been approved unanimously by the board of directors of both companies and is expected to close, pending approvals by regulators and NEX shareholders, in the second half of 2018. NEX shareholders will received 500 pence in cash, plus 0.0444 shares of CME Group Class A common ... (full story)