Amsterdam,
4 May
2007
ABN
AMRO
seeks clarification from Enterprise Chamber
Further
to the
ruling of the Enterprise Chamber in Amsterdam on 3 May 2007 in relation
to the
disposal of LaSalle to the Bank of America, ABN Amro is studying the
details of
the full decision.
The
Enterprise Chamber ruled that ABN AMRO is not allowed to continue with
the sale
of LaSalle without the prior approval of shareholders. ABN AMRO is
today seeking
clarification from the Enterprise Chamber as to whether it can comply
with the
“go-shop” for LaSalle. Under the go-shop provision, which lasts until Sunday,
6
May (EST), other parties in addition to Bank of America are allowed
to bid for
LaSalle.
The
Enterprise Chamber has asked the parties involved as to their opinion
regarding
ABN AMRO’s request for clarification.
There
is no change
to public statements previously made by ABN AMRO in press releases.
This
is an
announcement pursuant to article 9b paragraph 1 of the Dutch Securities
Markets
Supervision Decree (Besluit toezicht effectenverkeer 1995).
Press
contact: +31
20 6288900
IR
contact: +31 20 6287835
This
document 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.
Cautionary
statement regarding forward-looking statements
This
announcement
contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are
statements
that are not historical facts, including statements about our beliefs
and
expectations. Any statement in this announcement that expresses or
implies our
intentions, beliefs, expectations or predictions (and the assumptions
underlying
them) is a forward-looking statement. These statements are based on
plans,
estimates and projections, as they are currently available to the management
of
ABN AMRO Holding N.V. ("ABN AMRO"). Forward-looking statements therefore
speak
only as of the date they are made, and we take no obligation to update
publicly
any of them in light of new information or future events.
Forward-looking
statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of important
factors could therefore cause actual future results to differ materially
from
those expressed or implied in any forward looking statement. Such factors
include, without limitation, the consummation of our proposed merger
with
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Press
Relations Department
Head
Office:
Gustav Mahlerlaan 10 (HQ 9140), 1082 PP Amsterdam, tel. +31
(0)20 6288900,
fax +31 (0)20 6295486
London
Office:
250 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 4AA, tel. +44 207 6788244, fax
+44 207
6788245
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Barclays
PLC
("Barclays"); the completion of our proposed disposition of LaSalle;
the
conditions in the financial markets in Europe, the United States, Brazil
and
elsewhere from which we derive a substantial portion of our trading
revenues;
potential defaults of borrowers or trading counterparties; the implementation
of
our restructuring including the envisaged reduction in headcount; the
reliability of our risk management policies, procedures and methods;
the outcome
of ongoing criminal investigations and other regulatory initiatives
related to
compliance matters in the United States and the nature and severity
of any
sanctions imposed; and other risks referenced in our filings with the
US
Securities and Exchange Commission. For more information on these and
other
factors, please refer to Part I: Item 3.D "Risk Factors" in our Annual
Report on
Form 20-F filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission and
to any
subsequent reports furnished or filed by us with the US Securities
and Exchange
Commission. The forward-looking statements contained in this announcement
are
made as of the date hereof, and the companies assume no obligation
to update any
of the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement.
Additional
Information and Where to Find it
In
connection with the proposed business combination transaction between
Barclays
and ABN AMRO, Barclays expects that it will file with the US Securities
and
Exchange Commission a Registration Statement on Form F-4 which will
contain a
prospectus, a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO and other relevant
materials. In addition, ABN AMRO expects that it will file with the
US
Securities and Exchange Commission a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement
on
Schedule 14D-9 and other relevant materials. Such documents, however,
are not
currently available.
INVESTORS
ARE URGED
TO READ 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 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.
The
publication and distribution of this document and any separate documentation
regarding the intended Offer, the making of the intended Offer and
the issuance
and offering of shares may, in some jurisdictions, be restricted by
law. This
document is not being published and the intended Offer is not being
made,
directly or indirectly, in or into any jurisdiction in which the publication
of
this announcement and the making of the intended Offer would not be
in
compliance with the laws of that jurisdiction. Persons who come into
possession
of this announcement should inform themselves of and observe any of
these
restrictions. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute
a
violation of the securities laws of that jurisdiction.