Fokker deal with Dasa to go ahead

(First Edition)

AMSTERDAM (Reuter) - Fokker, the Dutch aircraft group, is to proceed with its troubled deal for Deutsche Aerospace (Dasa) to buy a 51 per cent stake in the company at a price of 37 guilders (pounds 13.60) a share.

Agreement was reached after a marathon series of meetings between Dasa and the Dutch economics ministry, which holds a 32 per cent stake in Fokker.

The deal, agreed in principle in July, is aimed at bringing a a series of small airliners to market. But it became bogged down over the relationship between the price Dasa was willing to pay and the generous price it expected to be paid for fuselage parts.

Fokker said that the Dutch government would have a veto right for three years over changes in, or supplements to, the joint-venture agreement.

Other industrial partners would also be able to participate in a new holding company, provided they accepted conditions of the joint venture.

The holding company will acquire 51 per cent of Fokker by purchasing the government's 10.6 million shares and taking up a new issue of 13.2 million shares.