TIMELINE: Porsche's approach to Volkswagen

(Reuters) - Indebted sports car maker Porsche SE (PSHG_p.DE) played down reports its family owners had agreed the outlines of a merger with Volkswagen (VOWG.DE).

Below is a timeline of Porsche's overtures to VW:

September 25, 2005 - Porsche says it plans to buy a stake of about 20 percent in VW. Three days later it emerges with a 10.3 percent voting stake, subsequently increased via forward-rate agreements.

August 2, 2006 - Porsche Chief Executive Wendelin Wiedeking first advocates the abolition of Germany's "VW Law" that caps voting rights in VW at 20 percent.

November 15 - Porsche's supervisory board authorises management to increase its VW stake to 29.9 percent, triggering speculation it plans to gain majority control.

April 30, 2007 - Porsche submits mandatory takeover offer after crossing 30 percent threshold.

October 23 - European Court of Justice rules against VW Law.

March 3, 2008 - Porsche supervisory board gives go-ahead to raise its VW voting stake to over 50 percent.

October 26 - Porsche says it holds stock and options that give it control of 74 percent of VW's votes and announces plans for a "domination" agreement. A resulting scramble for shares briefly makes VW the world's most valuable company.

January 5, 2009 - Porsche says it has raised its VW voting stake to 50.8 percent and confirms its plan to raise stake to 75 percent this year if conditions allow.

May 6 - Laden with debt as car markets plunge, Porsche drops takeover plan and says it will pursue a merger instead.

May 12 - VW Chairman Ferdinand Piech names an ally, VW Chief Executive Martin Winterkorn, as his candidate to head the merged group. Warns Porsche it must get its 9 billion euro debt under control before any deal can be agreed.

May 17 - VW halts tie-up talks with Porsche, says its smaller peer and shareholder is not ready for a merger. Two days later Porsche and VW agree to work together again.

May 25 - Porsche confirms it received a 700 million euro loan from VW.

June 9 - Porsche starts talks with investment fund Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) to sell a stake in its automobile holding via a share capital increase or by divesting its options for Volkswagen shares.

June 25 - Germany denies Porsche a state loan.