The Australian finance firm said Thursday it had ceased discussions with the Toronto-based legal and financial technology company over its A$1.27-billion bid in October to buy Link’s corporate markets business as well as its banking and credit management divisions. (The Logic)

Talking point: The two firms remain at an impasse, after Link terminated a different round of takeover discussions with Dye & Durham in September. The Toronto company had previously offered to acquire Link Group, which also has fund management and retirement plan administration divisions, but faced regulatory hurdles and tensions over the price—a bid that once valued Link Group as high as $3.2 billion when it was proposed a year ago. Link said that despite extending the discussion period from 10 business days to two months, the latest talks with Dye & Durham couldn’t progress to a transaction that is “certain, has committed financing, reflects appropriate value” and had appropriate terms. Dye & Durham, which said last month it was cutting costs and possibly laying off staff, said the rejected October bid was priced to reflect the “deterioration” of Link’s corporate markets business this year.