Acquisition

Close Brothers Group PLC 30 March 2001 Press announcement: for immediate release 30 March 2001 CLOSE BROTHERS GROUP PLC ('CLOSE BROTHERS') ANNOUNCES THE ACQUISITION OF K.C. FINANCE (JERSEY) LIMITED ('K.C. FINANCE') Close Brothers announces that it has today acquired all of the issued share capital of K.C. Finance from a subsidiary of Great Universal Stores PLC for a consideration of £50.4 million. The acquisition has been made by Close Finance (CI) Limited, a newly formed company in which the existing management of K.C. Finance have a small minority interest. Capitalised with an equity allocation of up to £7 million, Close Finance (CI) Limited is expected to achieve an attractive return on capital in a local economy where the historical credit records of customers have been particularly good. The business will form part of the asset financing division within Close Brothers' banking activities. K.C. Finance is a long established business based in Jersey with representation in Guernsey and has been trading for more than 30 years. Its principal business is the provision of hire purchase facilities to companies and individuals resident in Jersey and Guernsey, with cars and commercial vehicles being the largest category of assets financed. The current loan book is approximately £57 million. The net assets being acquired are estimated to be £51 million. The purchase consideration has been settled by the payment of £46.3 million in cash together with the issue by Close Finance (CI) Limited to the vendor of £4.1 million of loan notes, expected to be redeemed over a four year period. In addition, Close Brothers has procured the settlement at completion of K.C. Finance's group indebtedness amounting to a further £4.1 million. In the financial year ended 31 March 2000, K.C. Finance earned profits after tax of approximately £3.7 million. Press enquiries: Stephen Hodges Director Close Brothers Group plc 020 7426 4000
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