The London Stock Exchange has confirmed it is in talks to acquire Refinitiv for $27bn, including debt, in a seismic deal that would create a UK data and trading giant.

The LSE, which is valued at £19.7bn by market capitalisation, said on July 27 it is in discussions with the owners of Refinitiv to buy the data company. A consortium led by private equity company Blackstone owns 55% of Refinitiv, with Thomson Reuters owning the rest.