FORTIS PLANS UNIFICATION OF DUAL SHARE STRUCTURE

Dutch–Belgian insurance and banking group Fortis has announced plans to unify its existing share structure into one listed security — the Fortis share. The new share will replace the existing Fortis “B” and Fortis “NL” shares. The group said that the change would benefit shareholders by substantially increasing the weighting of Fortis’ full market capitalisation in “important” stockmarket indices. The unification proposal is subject to shareholder approval at extraordinary general meetings planned for November 30 and December 14.