The Royal Bank of Scotland consortium stalking ABN Amro has delayed its decision about whether to launch a €72 billion offer for the Dutch bank ahead of forthcoming public holidays in the UK, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Seperately the Dutch private shareholder group VEB, which has been agitating for a shareholder vote over the future of ABN, said it had been asked by Dutch market regulator AFM to hand over any information related to the ABN Amro bidding process

VEB director Peter Paul de Vries in a statement said that he suspects that the AFM thinks that the VEB has somehow been “in league” with hedge funds or the RBS consortium.

Meanwhile speculation mounted today that the consortium would ask for more time from the Dutch markets watchdog to work on its bid.

This came as City sources suggested that RBS team was by no means certain to launch a bid and could walk away.

The consortium, which includes the Belgo-Dutch bank Fortis and the Spanish bank Santander, said it would update investors about its offer plans next Tuesday, rather than on Sunday as previously indicated and as prescribed by the Dutch regulator AMF.

The trio have to decide whether to counter a €65 billion agreed bid for ABN from Barclays and, in so doing, risk an expensive lawsuit from Bank of America, the buyer of ABN's LaSalle division in the US.

Next Monday, the last in May, is also a public holiday in America.

While the delay means involved parties can avoid potential disruptions caused by an extended weekend, it is also bound to raise speculation that the consortium is not ready to make an offer.

This was dismissed by those familiar with the RBS camp, which declined to comment beyond the terms of a short statement released to the stock market.

RBS has several alternatives. It could launch its formal offer on Tuesday, declare its intention to do so but name conditions and a timetable, or it could walk away entirely.

It is thought the consortium is still wedded to bidding for ABN Amro, but is seeking ways round potential legal actions from Bank of America that could total $220 billion if it disrupts the sale of LaSalle. The sale was agreed at the same time as the wider merger with Barclays.

RBS shares lost 1p to 635p, while Barclays was up 0.5p at 712.5p. ABN Amro was flat at €35.5.

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