27 april 2007 - Aankondiging Fortis, RBS en Santander

27 april 2007 Fortis, RBS en Santander (hierna 'de Banken') delen mee dat zij de Raad van Commissarissen en Raad van Bestuur van ABN AMRO gisteravond op de hoogte hebben gebracht van hun intentie om een openbaar bod te doen ('het Bod') op 100% van de uitgegeven en uitstaande aandelen van ABN AMRO op een volledig verwaterde basis. De directe aanleiding voor deze mededeling wordt gevormd door de voorwaarden van de overeenkomst van ABN AMRO met Bank of America met betrekking tot de verkoop van LaSalle Bank. Ingevolge Nederlandse wetgeving is het de Banken niet toegestaan details vrij te geven van de prijsindicatie in hun mededeling aan ABN AMRO gedurende een periode van 7 dagen als bedoeld in Sectie 9d(2) van het Besluit toezicht effectenverkeer (BtE) 1995. Aandeelhouders van ABN AMRO worden echter uitgenodigd het persbericht te raadplegen dat de banken op 25 april hebben verspreid. De Banken zijn nog steeds van mening dat hun voorstellen een significant hogere waarde bieden aan de aandeelhouders van ABN AMRO en meer voordelen bieden aan klanten en medewerkers in vergelijking met het aanbevolen bod van Barclays. De Banken hebben de Raad van Commissarissen en Raad van Bestuur van ABN AMRO uitgenodigd om hun voorstellen zo snel mogelijk verder te bespreken. Dit is een aankondiging overeenkomstig artikel 9b lid 2 onder b en Sectie 9d lid 2 van het BtE. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Important Information In connection with a potential transaction involving ABN AMRO, the Banks may be required to file relevant documents with the SEC. Such documents, however, are not currently available. INVESTORS ARE URGED TO READ ANY DOCUMENTS REGARDING THE POTENTIAL TRANSACTION IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors will be able to obtain a free 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 such documents may also be obtained from each Bank, without charge, once they are filed with the SEC. This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made in the United States except 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". These statements are based on the current expectations of the Banks and are naturally subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements typically containing words such as "intends", "expects", "anticipates", "targets", "estimates" and words of similar import. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the presence of a competitive offer for ABN AMRO, whether the Banks and ABN AMRO enter into any definitive agreement with respect to the potential transaction, satisfaction of any conditions to the potential transaction, including receipt of required regulatory and anti-trust approvals, the anticipated benefits of the potential transaction not being realized, the separation and integration of ABN AMRO and its assets among the Banks being materially delayed or more costly or difficult than expected, as well as additional factors, such as changes in economic conditions, changes in the regulatory environment, fluctuations in interest and exchange rates, the outcome of litigation and government actions. Other unknown or unpredictable factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. None of the Banks undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent legally required.