Deutsche Börse AG denied a German newspaper report that it had promised the German state of Hesse a "golden share" giving it veto power over future strategic decisions in exchange for approving the German exchange operator's planned merger with London Stock Exchange Group Plc, Reuters reported Dec. 23.

A spokeswoman for Deutsche Börse told the newswire that although the company is in talks with the finance ministry of Hesse over the planned tie-up, which the state must approve, it had not and would not put the option of veto rights on the table.