Siemens to Acquire Schroder Leasing

Schroders PLC 28 February 2000 Schroders plc Siemens to Acquire Schroder Leasing ----------------------------------- Schroders plc today announced that it has agreed to sell its small ticket leasing business, the Schroder Leasing Group of Companies (Schroder Leasing), to Siemens Financial Services, part of the world-wide Siemens AG Group, subject to regulatory approvals. Schroder Leasing has an outstanding reputation in small ticket leasing and asset finance in the United Kingdom with 170 employees and a portfolio of over 80,000 agreements. The business has an excellent profit record achieved through constant strategic innovation and cost control. Its profits before tax in the year ended 31st December 1999 were £8.7 million. Its shareholders' funds at that date were £36.3 million. However, for some time the Board has been conscious that further development in Europe would be required to enable it to achieve its full potential and that this might entail a partnership with a European institution. Siemens AG, with net sales of DM 134 billion and more than 400,000 employees world-wide (1999), is a global powerhouse in electrical engineering and electronics. Siemens Financial Services (SFS), a division of Siemens with its head offices in Munich, has approximately 900 employees in more than 20 countries. SFS' services range from sales and investment financing through treasury services to fund management. The company has a diversified portfolio of equipment financing instruments and therefore represents an ideal strategic partner for Schroder Leasing in the future. Schroders plc believes Schroder Leasing will be an excellent fit in the SFS organisation both in terms of complementary products and customer bases. Schroder Leasing will be granted a licence by Schroders plc to use its name in relation to the leasing business for a transitional period. Commenting on the transaction, Jeff Addison, Managing Director of Schroder Leasing, said: 'The joining of Schroder Leasing with Siemens will create a financing force of formidable competitive strength. We are very much looking forward to working with Siemens Financial Services to help create a new and dynamic operation in European small ticket leasing. Together we will be a strong combination and we are convinced that the new arrangement will be to the benefit of our customers and staff.' For further information please contact: Nicholas MacAndrew, Schroders plc, Tel: 020 7658 6000 Jeff Addison, Schroder Leasing, Tel: 020 8233 4010 James Brent, J. Henry Schroder & Co. Limited, Tel: 020 7658 6000 Laura Hotham, Corporate Communications, Siemens plc, Tel: 01344 396396 Hartmut Huebner, Siemens Financial Services, Siemens AG, Tel: 00 49 89 636 34183

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