The planned takeover of NYSE Euronext by Germany's Deutsche Börse yesterday cleared a regulatory hurdle that has thwarted prior cross-border deals centered on enterprises deemed critical to the United States.

The exchange companies said that their planned $16.9bn tie-up drew no objection from the US Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, of CFIUS, the Treasury-headed panel that determines whether national security concerns are raised by foreign mergers and acquisitions.