Belgian PM meets with Dexia shareholders

Tuesday October 7, 2008, 6:35 am Belgian prime minister Yves Leterme has met Dexia shareholders on Monday to discuss a possible restructuring of the troubled French-Belgian bank, before heading to Paris for talks with President Nicolas Sarkozy. The talks came a day after the Belgian and Luxembourg governments hammered out a deal with French bank BNP Paribas to carve up Fortis bank which, like Dexia, has sustained a share price plunge recently. Dexia shares were down 21 per cent in late trading Monday as investors awaited news. "We acted for Fortis. I hope we will be able to do something for Dexia," declared Leterme after the meeting broke up and before heading to Paris. "We will examine things calmly and then decide," he said, without detailing the rescue measures being considered. After a swift but key trip to Paris the... [read full story]