ABN AMRO Holding N.V. and Barclays PLC announced agreement on terms of merger

/IRBIS, Dinara Mukasheva, April 24, 07/ - Daughter Joint-stock Bank "ABN AMRO Bank Kazakhstan" JSC (Almaty), has spread the press release, saying: Quotation start The Managing Board and Supervisory Board of ABN AMRO Holding N.V. ("ABN AMRO") and the Board of Directors of Barclays PLC ("Barclays") jointly announce that agreement has been reached on the combination of ABN AMRO and Barclays. Each of the Boards has unanimously resolved to recommend the transaction to its respective shareholders. The holding company of the combined group will be called Barclays PLC. The proposed merger of ABN AMRO and Barclays will create a strong and competitive combination for its clients with superior products and extensive distribution. The merged group is expected to generate significant and sustained future incremental earnings growth for shareholders. The combination of ABN AMRO and Barclays will benefit from a diversified customer base and geographic mix. The proposed merger will create: - A leading force in global retail and commercial banking, with world class products: - 47 million customers, approximately 90 per cent. of whom are in seven key markets - One of the world's leading transaction banking platforms offering world class payment and trade finance solutions - A top five card issuer outside the US with approximately 27m cards. - A premier global investment bank that is a leader in risk management and financing with an enhanced product offering across a broader geographical footprint - The world's largest institutional asset manager, with enhanced retail distribution capabilities and complementary products ensuring delivery of world class products and services to a wider customer base - The world's eighth largest wealth manager, with a leading European onshore franchise and highly attractive positions in growth markets Rijkman Groenink, the Chairman of the Managing Board of ABN AMRO, said: "This proposed merger fits well with our strategic objective to provide significant and sustained value for our shareholders. We believe that merging with Barclays will unite our significant complementary strengths and create long-term value for our shareholders. I am excited about the opportunities this merger brings and look forward to the next phase of ABN AMRO's future." John Varley, the CEO of Barclays, said: "This proposed merger represents a unique opportunity to create a new competitive force in financial services, which will deliver benefits for our customers and clients and generate sustained growth and additional value for our owners. The proposed merger will significantly enhance stand-alone product development capabilities and distribution. Our combined geographic reach will ensure exposure to both developed and high growth developing economies." Jurgen Rigterink, Chairman of the Managing Board "SJSB "ABN AMRO Bank Kazakhstan" JSC, said: "The combination of ABN AMRO and Barclays will also benefit our customers and clients in Kazakhstan. The proposed merger will create one of the world's leading universal banks and thus will further enhance our leading product offering in the country and strengthen our global capabilities." Enquiries: ABN AMRO ANALYSTS AND INVESTORS Richard Bruens +31 20 6287835 Alex van Leeuwen +31 20 6287835 Dies Donker +31 20 6287835 Alexander Mollerus +31 20 6287835 MEDIA Jochem van de Laarschot +31 20 6288900 Neil Moorhouse +31 20 6288900 Piers Townsend +44 207 678 8244 Sulushash Magziyeva +7 777 270 2752, +7 327 2581505 (ext. 10555) Barclays 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 This announcement is a public announcement as defined in section 9b paragraph 2 subsection a and d of the Dutch Securities Markets Supervision Decree (Besluit toezicht effectenverkeer 1995). About ABN AMRO ABN AMRO is a prominent international bank with a clear focus on consumer and commercial clients in our local markets and focus globally on select multinational corporations and financial institutions, as well as private clients. ABN AMRO ranks eighth in Europe and 13th in the world based on total assets, with more than 4,500 branches in 53 countries, a staff of more than 105,000 full-time equivalents and total assets of EUR 987 billion (as at 31 December 2006). Pro forma 2006 attributable profits excluding LaSalle were EUR 3,636m. Pro forma total assets excluding LaSalle were EUR 901bn (as at 31 December 2006). Further information about ABN AMRO can be found on our website www.abnamro.com 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. Forfurther information about Barclays, please visit our website www.barclays.com. Quotation end [2007-04-24]