Deutsche Börse, the German exchange group, has delayed a decision on whether to allow shareholders to vote on the dismissal of its chairman for the second time after the activist investors that called for the vote again submitted their request incorrectly.

The exchange's board was unable to deal with the demand by London-based The Children's Investment Fund and its New York peer Atticus for a vote to remove Kurt Viermetz as chairman, due to "legal deficiencies," according to a statement.