Update on Revised Offer
Barclays PLC
30 July 2007
This document shall not constitute an offer to sell or buy or the solicitation
of an offer to buy or sell any securities, nor shall there be any sale or
purchase of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or
sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the
securities laws of any such jurisdiction. The availability of Barclays offer to
persons not resident in the United States, the Netherlands and the United
Kingdom may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions. Such persons
should inform themselves about and observe any applicable requirements.
30th July 2007
Barclays PLC
Barclays Revised Offer for ABN AMRO - Update on Offer
Barclays PLC ('Barclays') notes the announcement by the Supervisory and
Management Boards of ABN AMRO Holding NV ('ABN AMRO') that the proposed merger
with Barclays is consistent with ABN AMRO's strategic vision and could result in
the creation of additional longer term value for ABN AMRO shareholders.
The Merger Protocol signed by Barclays and ABN AMRO on 23 April 2007 has been
amended to reflect the terms of the Revised Offer, and to enable it to remain in
force in light of the withdrawal of ABN AMRO's formal recommendation. Under the
terms of the Revised Offer, ABN AMRO ordinary shareholders will be entitled to
receive:
- 2.13 New Barclays Shares and EUR 13.15 in cash for every ABN AMRO
ordinary share
- 0.5325 New Barclays ADSs and the dollar equivalent of EUR 13.15 in
cash (1) for every ABN AMRO ADS
The cash element of the consideration is already committed at a fixed price.
The conditions to the launch of the Revised Offer, announced on 23 July 2007,
include the requirement that the Boards of ABN AMRO recommend Barclays offer.
Barclays has agreed to waive this pre-condition, but this will instead become a
condition to the completion of the Revised Offer.
Barclays continues to make good progress with respect to the remaining
pre-conditions, documentation and regulatory change of control approvals so that
an announcement on the formal offer documentation being made available can be
made on or before 6 August 2007. Barclays believes that its Revised Offer
continues to provide the shareholders of ABN AMRO with superior long-term value.
John Varley, CEO of Barclays, said:
'We recognise that, at the current time, it is difficult for the Boards of ABN
AMRO to make a clear recommendation to their shareholders. However, we are
pleased to have their continuing support, and we are confident that our Revised
Offer delivers the value, stakeholder benefits and certainty that will allow the
Boards to support a recommendation in due course.
Combining Barclays and ABN AMRO would create a powerful force for customers and
clients worldwide and a financial services organisation with a highly advantaged
position in high growth markets and business sectors. The long-term growth
created through this merger will be significant and will, we believe, prove
attractive to the shareholders of the new organisation.'
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(1) The cash consideration paid for each ABN AMRO ADS will be U.S. dollars,
based on the conversion of the Euro consideration into U.S. dollars at the
average exchange rate for the five days preceding the date on which such cash
consideration is paid
Ends
This announcement is made in accordance with article 9b paragraph 1 of the Dutch
Securities Markets Supervision Decree (Besluit toezicht effectenverkeer 1995).
Enquiries:
ANALYSTS AND INVESTORS
Mark Merson +44 20 7116 5752
James S Johnson +44 20 7116 2927
MEDIA
Stephen Whitehead +44 20 7116 6060
Alistair Smith +44 20 7116 6132
About Barclays
Barclays is a major global financial services provider engaged in retail and
commercial banking, credit cards, investment banking, wealth management and
investment management services with an extensive international presence in
Europe, the USA, Africa and Asia. It is one of the largest financial services
companies in the world by market capitalisation. With over 300 years of history
and expertise in banking, Barclays operates in over 50 countries and employs
123,000 people. Barclays moves, lends, invests and protects money for over 27
million customers and clients worldwide. For further information about Barclays,
please visit our website www.barclays.com.
About ABN AMRO
Netherlands-based ABN AMRO is a leading international bank with total assets of
EUR 1,054.60 bln (as at 31 March 2007). It has more than 4,500 branches in 53
countries, and has a staff of more than 107,000 full-time equivalents worldwide.
ABN AMRO is listed on Euronext and the New York Stock Exchange. For further
information about ABN AMRO, please visit our website www.abnamro.com.
Other Information
SEC Filings and this Filing: Important Information
This document shall not constitute an offer to sell or buy or the solicitation
of an offer to buy or sell any securities, nor shall there be any sale or
purchase of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or
sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the
securities laws of any such jurisdiction. The availability of Barclays offer to
persons not resident in the United States, the Netherlands and the United
Kingdom may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions. Such persons
should inform themselves about and observe any applicable requirements.
In connection with the proposed business combination transaction between ABN
AMRO Holding N.V. ('ABN AMRO') and Barclays PLC ('Barclays'), Barclays has filed
with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ('SEC') a Registration
Statement on Form F-4 ('Form F-4'), which includes a preliminary version of the
Barclays offer document/prospectus. The Form F-4 has not yet become effective.
Barclays expects that it will also file with the SEC a Statement on Schedule TO
and other relevant materials. In addition, ABN AMRO expects that it will file
with the SEC a Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 and other relevant
materials. Following the Form F-4 being declared effective by the SEC, Barclays
intends to mail the final offer document/prospectus to holders of ABN AMRO
ordinary shares located in the United States and Canada and to holders of ABN
AMRO ADSs wherever located.
Such final documents, however, are not currently available. INVESTORS ARE URGED
TO READ THE FINAL OFFER DOCUMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ANY DOCUMENTS REGARDING THE
POTENTIAL TRANSACTION IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THEY WILL
CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION.
Investors will be able to obtain a free copy of the Form F-4, the final offer
document/prospectus and other filings without charge, at the SEC's website (
www.sec.gov) if and when such documents are filed with the SEC. Copies of such
documents may also be obtained from ABN AMRO and Barclays without charge, if and
when they are filed with the SEC.
Forward Looking Statements
This document contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to
certain of ABN AMRO's and Barclays plans and their current goals and
expectations relating to their future financial condition and performance and
which involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Barclays caution readers that
no forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future performance and that
actual results could differ materially from those contained in the
forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements can be identified
by the fact that they do not relate only to historical or current facts.
Forward-looking statements sometimes use words such as 'aim', 'anticipate',
'target', 'expect', 'estimate', 'intend', 'plan', 'goal', 'believe', or other
words of similar meaning. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among
others, statements regarding the consummation of the business combination
between ABN AMRO and Barclays within the expected timeframe and on the expected
terms (if at all), the benefits of the business combination transaction
involving ABN AMRO and Barclays, including the achievement of synergy targets,
ABN AMRO's and Barclays future financial position, income growth, impairment
charges, business strategy, projected costs and estimates of capital expenditure
and revenue benefits, projected levels of growth in the banking and financial
markets, the combined group's future financial and operating results, future
financial position, projected costs and estimates of capital expenditures, and
plans and objectives for future operations of ABN AMRO, Barclays and the
combined group and other statements that are not historical fact. Additional
risks and factors are identified in ABN AMRO and Barclays filings with the SEC
including ABN AMRO and Barclays Annual Reports on Form 20-F for the fiscal year
ending December 31, 2006, which are available on ABN AMRO's website at
www.abnamro.com and Barclays website at www.barclays.com respectively, and on
the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.
Any forward-looking statements made herein speak only as of the date they are
made. Barclays does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to
reflect any changes in expectations with regard thereto or any changes in
events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. The
reader should, however, consult any additional disclosures that ABN AMRO and
Barclays have made or may make in documents they have filed or may file with the
SEC.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange