23rd Jul 2007 13:43
Barclays PLC23 July 2007 BARCLAYS PLC 23rd July 2007 Shareholders are advised that Absa Group Limited, in which we have ashareholding of over 57%, and Absa Bank Limited today issued the TradingStatement set out below. ABSA GROUP LIMITED (Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa) (Registration number: 1986/003934/06) ISIN: ZAE000067237 JSE share code: ASA Issuer code: AMAGB (Absa Group, Absa or the Group) (Absa Group together with the Absa Group ofcompanies) ABSA GROUP TRADING STATEMENT IN RESPECT OF THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2007 In terms of paragraph 3.4 (b) of the Listings Requirements of the JSE Limited(the JSE Listings Requirements), an issuer is required to publish a tradingstatement as soon as it becomes apparent that headline earnings per share and/orearnings per share for the next period to be reported on are expected, with areasonable degree of certainty, to differ by at least twenty per cent (20%) fromthose of the previous corresponding period. Shareholders are advised that the Group's headline earnings per share andearnings per share for the six months ended 30 June 2007 are expected toincrease by between twenty-two per cent (22%) and twenty-seven per cent (27%)compared with the six months ended 30 June 2006. Shareholders are advised that the forecasted financial results on which thistrading statement is based have not been reviewed or reported on by Absa'sauditors in accordance with paragraphs 3.4(b)(vi)(1)(aa) or 3.4(b)(vi)(1)(bb) ofthe JSE Listings Requirements. The Group's results for the six months ended 30 June 2007 will be released onSens on 2 August 2007. Johannesburg 23 July 2007 Enquiries Eric Wasserman Group executive: Group Finance Absa Group Limited 4th floor, Absa Towers East, 170 Main Street, Johannesburg Tel: +2711 350 5887, Fax: +2711 350 6487 e-mail: [email protected] Sponsor: Merrill Lynch South Africa (Proprietary) Limited ABSA BANK LIMITED (Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa) (Registration number: 1986/004794/06) ISIN: ZAE000079810 JSE share code: ABSP (Absa Bank) (a wholly owned subsidiary of Absa Group Limited) ABSA BANK TRADING STATEMENT IN RESPECT OF THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2007 In terms of paragraph 3.4 (b) of the Listings Requirements of the JSE Limited(the JSE Listings Requirements), an issuer is required to publish a tradingstatement as soon as it becomes apparent that headline earnings per share and/orearnings per share for the next period to be reported on are expected, with areasonable degree of certainty, to differ by at least twenty per cent (20%) fromthose of the previous corresponding period. Shareholders are advised that Absa Bank's headline earnings per share andearnings per share for the six months ended 30 June 2007 are expected toincrease by between twenty-two per cent (22%) and twenty-seven per cent (27%)compared with the six months ended 30 June 2006. Shareholders are advised that the forecasted financial results on which thistrading statement is based have not been reviewed or reported on by Absa Bank'sauditors in accordance with paragraphs 3.4(b)(vi)(1)(aa) or 3.4(b)(vi)(1)(bb) ofthe JSE Listings Requirements. Absa Bank's results for the six months ended 30 June 2007 will be released onSens on 2 August 2007. Johannesburg 23 July 2007 Enquiries Eric Wasserman Group executive: Group Finance Absa Group Limited 4th floor, Absa Towers East, 170 Main Street, Johannesburg Tel: +2711 350 5887, Fax: +2711 350 6487 e-mail: [email protected] Sponsor: Merrill Lynch South Africa (Proprietary) Limited -ENDS- For further information, please contact: Barclays PLC Investor Relations Media Relations Mark Merson/James S Johnson Alistair Smith/Robin Tozer +44 (0)20 7116 5752/ 2927 +44 (0)20 7116 6132/6586 Forward Looking Statements This document contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning ofSection 21E of the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and Section27A of the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to certain of theplans, current goals and expectations of Absa Group Limited (Absa) relating toits future financial condition and performance. These forward-looking statementscan be identified by the fact that they do not relate only to historical orcurrent facts. Forward-looking statements sometimes use words such as "aim","anticipate", "target", "expect", "estimate", "intend", "plan", "objective","believe", or other words of similar meaning. Examples of forward-lookingstatements include, among others, statements regarding Absa's future financialposition, income growth, impairment charges, business strategy, projected levelsof growth in the banking and financial markets, projected costs, estimates ofcapital expenditures, and plans and objectives for future operation. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty becausethey relate to future events and circumstances including, but not limited to,the further development of standards and interpretations under InternationalFinancial Reporting Standards (IFRS) applicable to past, current and futureperiods, evolving practices with regard to the interpretation and application ofstandards under IFRS and pending tax elections with regard to certainsubsidiaries, as well as South African domestic and global economic and businessconditions, market related risks such as changes in interest rates and exchangerates, the policies and actions of government and regulatory authorities,changes in legislation, the outcome of pending and future litigation, the impactof competition, and Absa's ability to increase earnings per share fromacquisitions, which may be affected, among other things, by the ability torealise expected synergies, integrate businesses, and costs associated with theacquisition and integration - a number of which factors are beyond Absa'scontrol. As a result, Absa's actual future results may differ materially fromthe plans, goals, and expectations set forth in Absa's forward-lookingstatements. Any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of Absa speak only as of thedate they are made. Absa does not undertake to update forward-looking statementsto reflect any changes in its expectations with regard thereto or any changes inevents, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Thereader should, however, consult any additional disclosures that Absa has made ormay make in documents it has filed or may file with South African regulatoryauthorities including its most recent annual report. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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