Filed by Barclays PLC Pursuant to
Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933 and
deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14d-2 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Subject Companies:
Barclays PLC
(Commission File No. 1-09246)
Barclays Bank PLC
(Commission File No. 1-10257)
ABN AMRO Holding N.V.
(Commission File No. 1-14624)
ABN AMRO Bank N.V.
(Commission File No. 1-14624-05)
Colleague presentation on Barclays and ABN AMRO proposed merger
Group Chief Executive John Varley and Group Finance Director Chris Lucas hosted a presentation on the proposed Barclays and ABN AMRO merger today.
John spoke of how the proposed merger, terms for which were officially announced on Monday, was a ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’. It gave Barclays the chance to engage in a different trajectory for growth. He said the proposed merger was ‘slap bang in the back yard’ of Barclays strategy and said the new combined entity would be one of the most exciting enterprises in the world.
He said: “There’ve been high and lows over the last few weeks, but I have been buoyed throughout by the knowledge that it was the right thing to be engaged in. If the merger comes off, there will be huge benefits for our customers, our shareholders and colleagues.”
He quipped that Chris Lucas had been here five minutes and it has been a ‘real baptism of fire’. Chris replied: ‘Yes, it’s not quite the job I thought I was taking!”
John thanked colleagues for making this opportunity happen: “I understand that by entering Barclays into these talks and not knowing the outcome, I have had to rely on your trust. It’s a big ask. But I have felt the support of the organisation, and I thank you for it.”
He asked for the continuing support of colleagues and urged everyone to keep their eyes on business as usual. “Our customers expect us to still keep focused and we must demonstrate the high level of performance that is driving us forward.”
Future SEC Filings and this Filing: Important Information
In connection with the proposed business combination transaction between Barclays PLC (“Barclays”) and ABN AMRO Holding N.V. (“ABN AMRO”), Barclays expects it will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a Registration Statement on Form F-4, which will constitute a prospectus, as well as a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO and other relevant materials. In addition, ABN AMRO expects that it will file with the SEC a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 and other relevant materials. Such documents, however, are not currently available. YOU ARE URGED TO READ ANY DOCUMENTS
REGARDING THE POTENTIAL TRANSACTION IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. You will be able to obtain a free copy of such filings without charge, at the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov) once such documents are filed with the SEC. Copies of such documents may also be obtained from Barclays and ABN AMRO, without charge, once they are filed with the SEC.
This filing shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale 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. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Forward-Looking Statements
This document contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended, 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. ABN AMRO and 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 by or on behalf of ABN AMRO and Barclays speak only as of the date they are made. ABN AMRO and Barclays do 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.