Fortis Keeps Mum on Possible Merger Talks
Dutch-Belgian financial group Fortis is not commenting on renewed rumors that it is in merger talks with Britain’s Lloyds TSB and analysts said it would not want to enter any partnership as the junior member, according to Reuters News Service.
After the British government blocked Lloyds’ $25.9-billion bid for Britain’s second mortgage bank Abbey National Plc, Lloyds Chief Executive Peter Ellwood said the bank would refocus its attention on forging a European partnership.
Reuters quoted Fortis spokesman Jan-Willem ter Avest as saying that general talks were taking place between everyone in the consolidating European banking sector but declined to say if there was anything specific being negotiated with Lloyds.
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