UPDATE 3-Fortis shares dive on probe, new funding fears
(Adds Fortis statement, updates shares)
AMSTERDAM, July 15 (Reuters) - Fortis NV denied needing fresh capital and said the solvency measures announced at the end of June were adequate, after its shares plunged on concerns it might have to raise more funds.
The Belgian-Dutch financial services group said on Tuesday it did not envisage any additional capital increase and added it would co-operate with the Dutch market regulator AFM, which said it would examine the company's funding plan.
"In response to exceptional market speculation, Fortis feels it necessary to issue the following statement. On Friday 11 July, the Fortis Board discussed and re-confirmed the adequacy of the measures as disclosed on 26 June and did not envisage any additional capital increase," the bank said.
Earlier on Tuesday Fortis (FOR.BR: Quote, Profile, Research)(FOR.AS: Quote, Profile, Research) denied market rumours that customers were withdrawing funds en masse which helped send its down to their lowest since the end of 1995.
Last month Fortis angered investors with a surprise funding plan. The AFM regulator said it was looking into the package worth 8.3 billion euros ($13.2 billion) -- which includes Fortis issuing new shares and scrapping its interim dividend.
The plan pushed its shares down sharply and led to the exit of the chief executive last Friday. Continued...
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