Signal is thus running as downward pressure to about 1Hyperactivity applauded in both hands across the AlpsI begin my tour Editor's note with the exhibitOscar on October 1The retirement home an economic barometerA television campaign is also on the menuMichel Camdessus told a conversation with MrsThe future of Christian Streiff is in any case issueOur customers don't pay not only for a vehicleIt has also unscrewed against the yen losing 1It's the least of things judge Bernard Devy FOThis time, it is Yes. Two and a half months after rejecting a first draft for the sale of Fortis Bank to BNP Paribas, Fortis Holding shareholders approved yesterday 72,99 the new schema that has been proposed. It provides for the sale to French of 25 of Fortis Insurance Belgium the returning balance to the holding company and 75 of Fortis Bank which the Belgian State will hold the balance. But before the champagne bottles, BNP Paribas has yet today get the go-ahead from shareholders at a second meeting to be held in Utrecht, in the Netherlands.
The AG of yesterday, for which some 3,000 shareholders had movement, started on a new glow of Mischaël Modrikamen coup, one of the lawyers who defend minority shareholders. Considering that the conditions in which the direction of the holding company plans to vote on behalf of some shareholders are hit irregularity, he relies on section 545 of the Belgian companies Code to request the suspension of such voting rights: "the holding company acts as agent for more than 250 million titles." Or a transparency Act came into force last year, which imposes on the shareholders acting in concert to make a statement to the banking and financial Commission.
Rise in pressure. Counsel requests the shareholders supporting remain standing until the "issue" is not put to the vote. The room rises as one man. The President of the Board of Directors of the holding company, Jozef Mey, holds good: "the President of the tribunal de commerce of Brussels, you entered yesterday evening in chambers on this point, has rejected your request." "He had only declared inadmissible", obstinately Mischaël Modrikamen, who asked shareholders to move closer to the podium to put pressure on the six leaders of the holding company. Some throw projectiles to the rostrum. About 30 security guards burst on the scene and at the foot of the podium. Hostesses are placed in the front line. "If you do not agree, you are free to go before the courts", repeats Jozef de Mey.
In a room that has sometimes "sold!" and "resignation!", no way out without a first suspension of meeting. It was to last five minutes but the debate will not resume before half an hour. On estoppel. The rest of the Assembly will be in the same tone without the "no" camp reached influence line of the Directorate, which responds to questions and simply follow Word catches granted to the room.
The dice are thrown
"Today, the Belgian people is standing, launches another representative of the shareholders with accents to the nationalist reeks." You ask us to sell our Fortis to the French for peanuts while the Bank has lived very well for seven months in "stand alone". "" Consider Renault, vote against the France. " ", is another. A third said that "Petrofina had been completely emptied of its substance for the benefit of Total". If BNP Paribas to prevail, some fear deletions of jobs by the thousands. "Gentlemen the French, have folding luggage and stay with you please!", summarizes a speaker. By derision, it sings "The Marseillaise".
Yet, the dice are thrown. Neither the new session interruption to study a proposal for a compromise to the Deminor cabinet, also rejected by management, or the last card shot by Mischaël Modrikamen "I asked shareholders to get out and you will vote in a virtually empty room" will prevent the vote.
