5th Jul 2007 17:45
Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC05 July 2007 5 July 2007 - Fortis, RBS and Santander Announcement Fortis, RBS and Santander (collectively, the "Banks") were required under theDutch offer rules to publish offer documentation during a 6 week period(referred to in article 9g(3) of the Dutch Decree on the Supervision of theSecurities Trade 1995) which commenced on the announcement of the proposed offeron 29 May 2007 and expires on 10 July 2007. As stated in the Banks'announcement of 29 May 2007, the Autoriteit Financiele Markten ("AFM") hadgranted an extension of this period and the duration of this extension would bedetermined in the week of 2 July 2007. Taking into account that, whilst goodprogress is being made, the review processes by the relevant market regulatorsrelating to the documentation of the proposed offer have not yet been completed,the AFM has now determined that the extension will expire on 23 July 2007. Asindicated in their announcement of 22 June 2007, the Banks expect to publishoffer documentation by mid-July. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Important Information This announcement is made pursuant to article 9b(1) of the Dutch Decree on theSupervision of the Securities Trade 1995. In connection with the proposed offer for ABN AMRO, RBS expects to file with theU.S. SEC a Registration Statement on Form F-4, which will constitute aprospectus, and the Banks expect to file with the SEC a Tender Offer Statementon Schedule TO and other relevant materials. INVESTORS ARE URGED TO READ ANYDOCUMENTS REGARDING THE PROPOSED OFFER IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE,BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors will be able toobtain a copy of such documents, without charge, at the SEC's website (http://www.sec.gov) once such documents are filed with the SEC. Copies of suchdocuments may also be obtained from each Bank, without charge, once they arefiled with the SEC. This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation ofan offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in anyjurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful priorto registration or qualification under the securities laws of any suchjurisdiction. This press release is not an offer of securities for sale into theUnited States. No offering of securities shall be made in the United Statesexcept pursuant to registration under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended,or an exemption therefrom. Forward-Looking Statements This announcement includes certain "forward-looking statements". Thesestatements are based on the current expectations of the Banks and are naturallysubject to uncertainty and changes in certain circumstances. Forward-lookingstatements include any statements related to the benefits or synergies resultingfrom a transaction with ABN AMRO and, without limitation, statements typicallycontaining words such as "intends", "expects", "anticipates", "targets","plans", "estimates" and words of similar import. By their nature,forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate toevents and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. There are anumber of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differmaterially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.These factors include, but are not limited to, the presence of a competitiveoffer for ABN AMRO, satisfaction of any pre-conditions or conditions to theproposed offer, including the receipt of required regulatory and anti-trustapprovals, the successful completion of the offer or any subsequent compulsoryacquisition procedure, the anticipated benefits of the proposed offer (includinganticipated synergies) not being realized, the separation and integration of ABNAMRO and its assets among the Banks and the integration of such businesses andassets by the Banks being materially delayed or more costly or difficult thanexpected, as well as additional factors, such as changes in economic conditions,changes in the regulatory environment, fluctuations in interest and exchangerates, the outcome of litigation and government actions. Other unknown orunpredictable factors could cause actual results to differ materially from thosein the forward-looking statements. None of the Banks undertake any obligation toupdate publicly or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of newinformation, future events or otherwise, except to the extent legally required. Any offer made in or into the United States will only be made by the Banks and/or RFS Holdings directly or by a dealer-manager that is registered with the SEC. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fortis N.V., Archimedeslaan 6, 3584 BA Utrecht, Netherlands; Fortis SA/NV, RueRoyale 20, 1000 Brussels, Belgium The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc, Head Office, Gogarburn, Edinburgh EH121HQ, UK. Registered Office, 36 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh EH2 2YB. Registeredin Scotland No 45551 Banco Santander Central Hispano, S.A., Ciudad Grupo Santander, Avenida deCantabria, s/n, 28660 Boadilla del Monte, Madrid, Spain This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
RBS.LBanco Santander