Oliver Hemsley, the founder and former CEO of Numis Securities, has aborted plans to takeover Nex Exchange.
Hemsley had been leading a group of investors hoping to acquire 55% of the exchange.
Had the investment been completed Patrick Birley would have been replaced by Hemsley.
A CME Group spokesperson, which bought Nex Exchange last year, said: “CME Group can confirm that the previously announced transaction for a number of external investors to invest new funds in NEX Exchange will not now complete."
Patrick Birley, who is understood to have stepped aside as CEO in anticipation of the Hemsley deal going through is back in harness as CEO.