RPT-TIMELINE-Kraft posts Cadbury bid to start clock ticking

(Repeats to additional Reuters clients)

Dec 4 (Reuters) - Kraft Foods Inc (KFT.N) posted its offer document to Cadbury Plc CBRY.L shareholders, triggering a 60-day takeover battle for the British confectionery group under UK takeover rules. [ID:nGEE5B31FE]

Following are the key events in the bid:

AUG 28 - Kraft Chairman and CEO Irene Rosenfeld meets Cadbury Chairman Roger Carr to outline a takeover deal in cash and shares which valued Cadbury's shares at 755 pence each. Carr dismisses the approach.

SEPT 7 - Kraft goes public but Cadbury promptly rejects the bid saying it undervalues the group and its prospects.

SEPT 12 - Carr writes to Rosenfeld saying it was an "unappealing prospect" being absorbed into a "low growth conglomerate business".

SEPT 16 - Warren Buffett, who owns 10 percent of Kraft, warns the U.S. group not to overpay for Cadbury.

SEPT 21 - Cadbury asks the UK Takeover Panel to send a "put up or shut up" request to Kraft.

SEPT 30 - Takeover Panel rules Kraft has until 5 p.m. on Nov. 9 to make a formal bid or walk away for six months.

OCT 21 - Cadbury posts upbeat third-quarter trading and raises its 2009 target for sales and profit margin growth.

OCT 22 - Nestle (NESN.VX) and Hershey (HSY.N) report Q3 results but neither mention a speculated joint bid for Cadbury.

NOV 3 - Kraft reports weaker-than-expected Q3 revenue and cuts its 2009 sales forecast.

NOV 9 - Kraft formalises its bid on the same terms as the original approach.

NOV 18 - Italy's Ferrero and Hershey say separately they are reviewing possible bid for Cadbury.

NOV 23 - Cadbury shares hit all-time high of 819-1/2 pence amid speculation of a takeover battle.

DEC 4 - Kraft posts offer document to Cadbury shareholders starting a two-month fight for the British group. (Compiling by David Jones; Editing by David Holmes) ($1=.6030 Pound) ((david.jones@thomsonreuters.com; +44 20 7542 7972; Reuters Messaging: david.jones.com@reuters.net))