CME Merger Talks Raise Fee Concern That May Stymie Deal

CME Group Inc.’s overtures toward Deutsche Boerse AG are likely to raise the same concern among customers about higher fees that helped scuttle last year’s deal with NYSE Euronext.

The world’s second-largest exchange operator by market value approached Frankfurt-based Deutsche Boerse about beginning discussions for a merger at the end of 2012, before Intercontinental Exchange Inc. announced plans to buy NYSE Euronext on Dec. 20, according to four people familiar with the situation. Deutsche Boerse, which had its deal with NYSE blocked by European antitrust regulators, is hesitant about entering talks, the people said. The German company said in a statement it’s not in merger talks.