The merging of exchanges and the broader, growing numbers of mergers and acquisitions that IT companies are involved in are part of a growing phenomenon The Nasdaq Stock Market’s efforts to buy the London Stock Exchange PLC is another milestone in globalization, and touches the world of IT. As exchanges merge and increase the fluidity of funds globally, a new world of competitive options open.The Nasdaq’s latest bid, launched Nov. 20, to buy the part of the LSE it doesn’t already own for £2.7 billion ($5.1 billion) is poignant in its historic and political overtones. The Nasdaq tapped technology to match buyers and sellers — starting with simple bulletin boards — and helped revolutionize trading over the last 20 years. As world class IT companies like Microsoft and Oracle went public on the Nasdaq, the exchange rode the computerization of modern life to great success.Most exchanges have adopted some form of electronic trading, including Nasdaq archrival the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE Group Inc.) and the LSE itself. Exchanges have unique advantages and retain distinct personalities, however. Linux vendor Red Hat Inc., for example, will move from the Nasdaq to the NYSE Tuesday. “The New York Stock Exchange has much stronger global recognition, and we’re looking for a global branding image,” said Linda Brewton, Red Hat manager of investor relations. She also noted that even though the NYSE has adopted electronic trading, trading is still done under live market specialists and that this reduces share-price volatility.The LSE, which traces its history back some 300 years, has rejected Nasdaq’s bid, claiming it undervalues the exchange. The mercurial mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, is also on the case. Last week he asked the U.K.’s Office of Fair Trading to investigate, claiming that the acquisition would eliminate competition to U.S. markets for international company listings.Livingstone also echoed the concerns of many Europeans, that as U.S. exchanges merge with European markets, tighter U.S. regulations would hamper Europe’s growing market competitiveness. This last issue has also caused bumps in the NYSE’s deal to merge with the Euronext NV exchange. Nasdaq, having already bought about 29 percent of the LSE earlier this year, is appealing to shareholders. Nasdaq Chief Executive Officer Robert Greifield apparently believes the exchange needs the merger to compete.The merging of exchanges and the broader, growing numbers of mergers and acquisitions that IT companies are involved in are part of the same phenomenon, according to according to Eric Gebaide, managing director of Innovation Advisors, a New York investment firm. “It’s a manifestation of the globalization of financial markets,” Gebaide said. “That in turn is a precursor of the globalization of technology.”When companies in Europe and Asia enjoy the same sort of availability of capital U.S. companies have, it can lead to greater competition for U.S. companies. However, U.S. companies can also take advantage of the new era of capital. For example, U.S. companies looking to efficiently use capital now have access to alternative local financing for offshore ventures, Gebaide notes. In the new global market, companies can even go public with offshore ventures, he suggests. The Nasdaq bid will probably play out into 2007. The offer to shareholders can be extended to 60 days, and the Nasdaq can still buy LSE shares on the open market. But no matter how it ends, the internationalization of capital markets will continue to have a profound impact. Technology Industry