Shareholders to rule on Fortis's ABN purchase plan

(Reuters) - The Fortis shareholder meeting is the latest hurdle for the
consortium, albeit one Fortis is expected to clear.




Fortis shares have fallen almost 18 percent since it
announced its involvement and a plan to finance its 24 billion
euro share of the deal with Europe's second largest ever rights
issue.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

RBS-led group launches 71 bln euro ABN takeover

(Reuters) - A consortium led by Royal Bank of Scotland said on Friday it had formally launched its 71.1 billion euro bid for Dutch bank ABN AMRO as it attempts to beat rival suitor Barclays to the biggest ever bank takeover.

The consortium, which also includes Spain's Santander and Belgian-Dutch group Fortis, said the initial offer period would run from July 23 until October 5.


Read more at Reuters Africa

UPDATE 1-Fortis to issue 2 bln euros of notes

(Reuters) - Fortis said the notes represented senior unsecured
obligations of the issuers -- various parts of Fortis -- and
that it expected them to carry a coupon of three-month EURIBOR
+15 to 20 basis points payable quarterly in arrears.




The notes must be exchanged into mandatory convertible
securities after completion of a preferential rights issue to
existing holders of Fortis shares.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

UPDATE 1-RBS-led consortium gets ABN offer extension

(Reuters) - British bank Barclays, which was also granted an extension
by Dutch market regulator AFM to file its formal offer until
July 23, is seeking to buy ABN for 62.8 billion euros .




RBS and its partners -- Spain's Santander and
Belgian-Dutch Fortis -- have offered to buy Dutch rival
ABN for 71.2 billion euros.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Coffee Production Climbs in Central America, Fortis and VM Group Say

(Bloomberg) -- Coffee production is rising in
Central American countries to meet climbing demand, boosting
projections for global output, Fortis and VM Group said in a
report.

Worldwide production will be 121.2 million bags in the
current crop year, above a May 2 forecast of 119.9 million bags,
Brussels-based Fortis and London-based VM Group said.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News