The administration of the claims in the Fortis settlement is now complete and the settlement has come to a complete end.
This website is being maintained for a period of time for historical purposes only. The information on this webpage may therefore not be up to date.
25/08/2022
Ageas announces the closing of the Fortis settlement
Ageas announces today that the claims administrator has paid the final instalmentsto claimants and thereby closes the Fortis settlement for almost all claimants.
23/06/2022
Ageas announces the payment of final instalments in the Fortis settlement
Ageas announces today that it has decided, in agreement with the claimant organisations, to close the Fortis settlement enabling the claims administrator to proceed to the payment of final instalments.
21/12/2018
Fortis settlement final
Ageas announces it will not use its termination right in the Fortis settlement.
16/07/2018
Practical details about the Fortis settlement
Following the binding declaration of the Fortis settlement by the Amsterdam Court of Appeal announced last Friday, 13 July 2018, Ageas shares the practical details and steps to be taken by Eligible Shareholders.
13/07/2018
Fortis settlement declared binding
Today the Amsterdam Court of Appeal declared the Fortis settlement entered into between Ageas, Stichting FORsettlement and the claimant organisations (i.e. Vereniging van Effectenbezitters, Deminor, Stichting Investor Claims Against Fortis (SICAF) and Stichting FortisEffect) binding.
27/03/2018
Court decision Fortis settlement scheduled for 13 July 2018
During the public hearing of 27 March 2018 the Court of Appeal of Amsterdam announced the decision will be taken on 13 July 2018.
14/02/2018
Notice of hearing
The Amsterdam Court of Appeal has determined that the public hearing regarding the petition for a binding declaration and the defences advanced against it will be reconvened on Friday 16 March 2018 and also on Tuesday 27 March 2018.
All eligible shareholders have already been notified of the hearing on 16 March 2018, that will only cover the costs, compensations and revenue models of the interest organisations.
All eligible shareholders are hereby also notified of the hearing on Tuesday 27 March at 10:00 a.m., that will cover the other matters that are relevant for the request for a binding declaration.
The hearings will be held in the Paleis van Justitie at IJdok 20 in Amsterdam.
Directions and information on parking can be found on www.rechtspraak.nl under "organisatie en contact".
Attending the hearing
Eligible shareholders who wish to attend the hearing of 27 March 2018 as listener must notify the Amsterdam Court of Appeal of this in writing or by e-mail on or before Friday 16 March 2018. Those who also wish to speak at the hearing must state this expressly. The notice must be sent to the Amsterdam Court of Appeal, Civil law and tax law division, commercial law team, attn. Ms. S.A.W.M. Rodrigues Parreira, Postbus 1312, 1000 BH Amsterdam or [email protected], referencing case number 200.191.713/01. Speaking time at the hearing is limited to 15 minutes per person for those who have filed a statement of defence and 5 minutes per person for other interested parties. Attending the hearing is not compulsory. Eligible shareholders who do not attend the hearing retain their rights to compensation under and in accordance with the agreement or the right to submit an opt-out notice.
More information and contact details
The petition, the statements of defence, the interim decisions and the submissions subsequent to the interim decision can be read, downloaded and printed at www.rechtspraak.nl (under "uitspraken en nieuws", "bekende zaken") and www.forsettlement.com. You can also find the agreement and related documentation on the latter website. You are expressly recommended to consult the website www.forsettlement.com to monitor further notices. If you have any questions, please contact the FORsettlement call centre (the telephone numbers are on its website).
06/02/2018
Additional information about the WCAM hearing of 16 March
In the light of the public hearing on 16 March 2018, the Amsterdam Court of Appeal requested in a decision of 5 February 2018 a more detailed explanation of the costs and compensations to the claimant organisations that are a party to the amended settlement agreement of 12 December 2017. The applicants must, and interested parties and third parties can, express their views on the points raised by the Court of Appeal no later than 6 March 2018. The decision of 5 February 2018 is fully available on this website.
31/01/2018
Ageas announces next step in Fortis settlement procedure:public hearing
On 16 March 2018, the Amsterdam Court of Appeal will organise a public hearing as part of the procedure to declare the amended Fortis settlement agreement of 12 December 2017 binding.
12/12/2017
Amended Fortis settlement agreement reached
Ageas and the claimant organisations have reached an amended settlement that takes into consideration the main concerns of the Amsterdam Court of Appeal as expressed in its interim decision of 16 June 2017. The Parties will submit the amended settlement proposal to the Amsterdam Court of Appeal today, with the request to declare the settlement binding for all Eligible Shareholders in accordance with the Dutch Act on Collective Settlement of Mass Claims (Wet Collectieve Afwikkeling Massaschade, “WCAM”).
16/10/2017
Update on negotiations amended Fortis settlement
Ageas and the claimant organisations have been working intensively on an amended settlement that would address the main concerns of the Amsterdam Court of Appeal as expressed in its interim decision of 16 June 2017. No agreement has been reached yet and therefore an extension of the filing period was requested to the Court. In order to reach such an amended settlement, Ageas has decided to make a final additional effort of EUR 100 million.
16/06/2017
Fortis settlement not declared binding in current format and Court offers opportunity for amendments
Today the Amsterdam Court of Appeal issued an interim decision in relation to the request made by Ageas, Stichting FORsettlement and the claimant organisations (i.e. the Dutch investor association VEB, Stichting Investor Claims Against Fortis (SICAF), Stichting FortisEffect and Deminor) (together, the “Petitioners”) to declare the Fortis settlement entered into on 14 March 2016 binding.
24/03/2017
Next step in the Fortis settlement: public hearing was held
Today the Amsterdam Court of Appeal held a public hearing during which it heard the request to declare the Fortis settlement binding, as well as the arguments that were submitted against it.
21/02/2017
Ageas announces additional support for the Fortis settlement
Today Ageas announces that it has reached an agreement with the Luxembourg company Archand s.à.r.l. and affiliated persons (“Archand”) to support the Fortis settlement.
27/09/2016
Ageas announces next step in Fortis settlement procedure: public hearing
On 24 March 2017, the Amsterdam Court of Appeal will organise a public hearing as part of the procedure to declare the Fortis settlement agreement of 14 March 2016 binding.
27/06/2016
Ageas announces further important support for the Fortis settlement
Today Ageas announces that it has also reached an agreement with Mr. Geert Lenssens, of the Brussels based law firm SQ Law, who launched a number of legal actions related to the Fortis events of 2007 and 2008. After consulting with his clients, Mr. Lenssens will join the global settlement that Ageas reached on 14 March 2016 in connection with the various civil proceedings related to the former Fortis group. Alongside the initial signatories Deminor, Stichting FortisEffect, SICAF and VEB, this agreement has in the meantime been supported by Mr. Arnauts and as of today also by Mr. Lenssens.
23/05/2016
Fortis Settlement Agreement submitted today to the Amsterdam Court of Appeal
Ageas, Stichting FORsettlement and the claimants’ organisations, Dutch shareholder Association VEB, Stichting Investor Claims Against Fortis (SICAF), Stichting FortisEffect and Deminor (“The Parties”) announce that today they will jointly submit a request to the Amsterdam Court of Appeal to declare the settlement agreement of 14 March 20161 with respect to all civil proceedings related to the former Fortis group for the events in 2007 and 2008 binding.
23/05/2016
Settlement Agreement
Settlement Agreement dated 14 March 2016, as amended (translations will follow soon)
19/05/2016
Ageas announces additional support for the Fortis settlement
Today Ageas announces that it has reached an agreement with Mr. Laurent Arnauts, the Brussels based attorney who launched a number of legal actions related to the Fortis events of 2007 and 2008. Mr. Arnauts has confirmed, in agreement with his clients, that he will join the global settlement that Ageas reached on 14 March 2016 with Deminor, Stichting FortisEffect, SICAF and VEB, in connection with all the civil proceedings related to the former Fortis group.
14/03/2016
Ageas, Deminor, Stichting FortisEffect, SICAF and VEB reach agreement aiming at settling all Fortis civil legacies
Today Ageas and the claimants’ organisations, Deminor, Stichting FortisEffect, Stichting Investor Claims Against Fortis (SICAF), and Dutch shareholder Association VEB (“The Parties”) announce a settlement proposal with respect to all civil proceedings related to the former Fortis group for the events in 2007 and 2008 (”the Events”1).
The Parties will request the Amsterdam Court of Appeal to declare the settlement binding for all eligible Fortis shareholders in accordance with the Dutch Act on Collective Settlement of Mass Claims (Wet Collectieve Afwikkeling Massaschade, “WCAM”). This agreement will help all parties draw a line under lengthy and complex legal proceedings marked by uncertainties in terms of timing and outcome. For Ageas specifically, the agreement will allow the company to regain its full strategic and financial flexibility and to focus entirely on its Insurance business. To inform the general public about the settlement a dedicated website FORsettlement.com has been set up.