Deutsche Boerse-NYSE, Gupta, JC Flowers, Full Tilt Poker: Compliance - Bloomberg

European Union regulators vetoed a plan by Deutsche Boerse AG (DB1) and NYSE Euronext (NYX) 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 efficiencies would not be substantial enough to outweigh the harm to customers caused by the merger.” Deutsche Boerse agreed to acquire its New York rival in a deal valued at $9.5 billion when it was announced last February. Since then, the value has plummeted to about $7.3 billion as Deutsche Boerse’s shares fell. The companies appealed directly to commission President Jose Barroso last month to try to salvage their merger, arguing that a ban would harm European exchanges and drive business to other parts of the world. “The EU Commission’s decision is based on an unrealistically narrow definition of the market that does no justice to the global nature of competition in the market for derivatives. We therefore regard the decision as wrong,” Deutsche Boerse said in an e-mailed statement.

Companies May Oust Suppliers Over Environment Goals, Group Says - Bloomberg

Companies looking to save money by going green may be willing to fire suppliers who don’t act quickly to help, a nonprofit group called the Carbon Disclosure Project reported after surveying Coca-Cola Co. (KO) and others. The number of multinationals planning to dump vendors within five years for missing environmental targets more than doubled to 39 percent in 2011, according to a report today. The study, released in London by Accenture Plc and the nonprofit, involved 50 respondents, also including Kraft Foods Inc. and Wal-Mart (WMT) Stores Inc. The report didn’t name any of the companies planning to dismiss suppliers. Companies such as Wal-Mart require vendors to reduce everything from water usage to carbon emissions as a means of cutting operational expenses and the cost of goods. Investors are paying attention, ranking companies on how well they enforce reductions and lock in savings. There isn’t much effect on multinationals’ suppliers yet, according to the report’s backers.