The London Stock Exchange has warned shareholders it may be forced to sell some of its businesses to win competition authority approval for its $27bn takeover of Refinitiv.

The iconic City institution confirmed on August 1 that it will buy the New York-headquartered data company from a consortium led by private equity firm Blackstone Group. It will fund the deal by issuing stock to Refinitiv shareholders including Thomson Reuters, which retains a 45% stake.