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A man is reflected on a board outside a brokerage in Tokyo in this Nov. 7, 2012, file photo. Nasdaq OMX Group recently talked with private equity firm Carlyle Group about taking the trans-Atlantic exchange operator private, sources said.Toru Hanai/Reuters

Nasdaq OMX Group recently talked with private equity firm Carlyle Group about taking the trans-Atlantic exchange operator private, but the talks broke down because of price disagreements, according to people familiar with the matter.

Carlyle initiated the discussions and was in early stages of due diligence when differences emerged, bringing the talks to an end, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Monday.

Management at Nasdaq feels that the company is undervalued compared with its peers, two separate sources said. Nasdaq's board has a fiduciary responsibility to consider all offers.

All of the sources asked not to be identified because they are not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

The talks, first reported by Fox Business Network, occurred about three weeks ago.

Nasdaq spokesman Joseph Christinat said the company does not comment on market rumours or speculation. A spokesman for Carlyle declined to comment.

The talks came just weeks after Nasdaq rival NYSE Euronext Inc. said it was being bought by IntercontinentalExchange Inc. in a cash and stock deal valued at $8.2-billion (U.S.) when it was announced in December.

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. in November also bid for the Big Board parent. The Berkshire offer fell short, but it highlighted the interest in the sector.

Of the four private equity firms that trade publicly, Carlyle is the only one listed on the Nasdaq. KKR & Co. LP, Apollo Global Management LLC and Blackstone Group LP are listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Carlyle chief financial officer Adena Friedman joined Nasdaq in early 2011. Prior to that, she had been at Nasdaq since 1993, where she held several posts, including CFO. When she did so, market players immediately speculated that Carlyle would go public on the Nasdaq, which it did in May of last year.

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