The top executive of Nasdaq OMX said his firm would be interested in acquiring the UK futures market run by rival NYSE Euronext if regulators forced the platform to be sold to secure antitrust clearance for the Big Board parent's merger with Deutsche Börse.

However, businesses that NYSE Euronext and Deutsche Börse have already offered to divest, including European equity derivatives markets, hold "little to no interest" for Nasdaq OMX, Bob Greifeld said.