The global exchange sector has experienced a flurry of mergers and acquisitions over the past year, but one exchange operator continues to be unlucky in love: Deutsche Börse Group.

Despite several attempts to partner up during the past 14 years, the German exchange operator remains on the shelf. Its most recent bid to merge with NYSE Euronext now a distant memory, the company's long-standing chief executive Reto Francioni is betting on new post-crisis reforms and a big push into Asia to secure growth.