Cleary handed Fortis sale

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton has joined in the sale of struggling Benelux bank ­Fortis, securing the instruction for BNP Paribas on its €14.5bn (£11.3bn) offer.

The sale follows an €11.2bn (£8.8bn) cash injection from the Benelux governments. ­Fortis has been advised by ­Linklaters, with Brussels-based partners Jean-Marie ­Nelissen Grade and Eric Pottier leading.

The Cleary ­Gottlieb team was led by Paris corporate ­partner Pierre-Yves Chabert, Brussels counsel ­Laurent Ruzette and Paris ­associate Amélie Champsaur.

The Belgian government and financial regulators have been advised by Herbert Smith regional ally Stibbe and local firms Liedekerke Wolters Waelbroeck ­Kirkpatrick and Eubelius.