PARIS, Dec 18 (Reuters) - French bank BNP Paribas said on Thursday it was sticking to an earlier statement it made last week on Fortis saying that the operation remained of interest to it despite a court decision to suspend the deal.
On Dec. 12, BNP Paribas said: 'This decision in no way calls into question the interest of this deal, bringing Fortis Bank SA and Fortis Insurance Belgium together with BNP Paribas, which is in the best interests of Fortis's clients and staff.'
'With the authorities and the various interested parties, BNP Paribas will examine all options, including legal, to close this deal efficiently and quickly,' it added in the statement.
A BNP Paribas spokesman said that last Friday's statement by the bank was still 'valid.'
(Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta; Editing by David Cowell) Keywords: BNPPARIBAS FORTIS/DEAL (sudip.kargupta@reuters.com; +33 1 49 49 52 26; Reuters Messaging:sudip.kargupta.reuters.com@reuters.net ) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2008. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
On Dec. 12, BNP Paribas said: 'This decision in no way calls into question the interest of this deal, bringing Fortis Bank SA and Fortis Insurance Belgium together with BNP Paribas, which is in the best interests of Fortis's clients and staff.'
'With the authorities and the various interested parties, BNP Paribas will examine all options, including legal, to close this deal efficiently and quickly,' it added in the statement.
A BNP Paribas spokesman said that last Friday's statement by the bank was still 'valid.'
(Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta; Editing by David Cowell) Keywords: BNPPARIBAS FORTIS/DEAL (sudip.kargupta@reuters.com; +33 1 49 49 52 26; Reuters Messaging:sudip.kargupta.reuters.com@reuters.net ) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2008. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.