2nd Apr 2007 12:00
Barclays PLC02 April 2007 2nd April 2007 BARCLAYS PLC Barclays completes acquisition of EquiFirst from Regions Financial Corporation Barclays Bank PLC ("Barclays") announces that further to the release of 19thJanuary 2007 it has completed the purchase of EquiFirst Corporation("EquiFirst"), the non-prime mortgage origination business of Regions FinancialCorporation ("Regions"), for a consideration of approximately US$76 million. Theprice is subject to a final adjustment of book value, which is expected to befinalised during the second quarter. Barclays does not expect a significantadjustment to book value. - ENDS - For further information please contact: Barclays Investor Relations Media Relations Mark Merson/James S Johnson Alistair Smith/Laura Vergani+44 (0) 20 7116 5752/2927 +44 (0) 20 7116 6132/8335 Contact at Barclays Capital in New York: Peter Truell +1 (212) 412-7576 Regions Financial Corporation Investor Relations Media Relations List Underwood Rick Swagler+1 (205) 801-0265 +1 (205) 801-0105 About Barclays Barclays PLC is a major global financial services provider engaged in retail andcommercial banking, credit cards, investment banking, wealth management andinvestment management services. We are one of the largest financial servicescompanies in the world by market capitalization. With over 300 years of historyand expertise in banking, Barclays operates in over 50 countries and employs123,000 people, We move, lend, invest and protect money for over 27 millioncustomers and clients worldwide. For further information about Barclays, pleasevisit our website www.barclays.com. About Barclays Capital Barclays Capital is the investment banking division of Barclays Bank PLC. With adistinctive business model, Barclays Capital provides large corporate,government and institutional clients with solutions to their financing and riskmanagement needs. Barclays Capital has offices in 26 countries, employs over13,200 people and has the global reach and distribution power to meet the needsof issuers and investors worldwide. For further information about BarclaysCapital, please visit our website www.barclayscapital.com. Barclays Capital - the investment banking division of Barclays Bank PLC.Registered in England 1026167. Registered office 1 Churchill Place, London, E145HP. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and amember of the London Stock Exchange (LSE). About Regions Financial Corporation Regions Financial Corporation is a member of the S&P 100 Index and ForbesMagazine's "Platinum 400" list of America's best big companies. With more than$140 billion in assets, Regions is one of the nation's largest full-serviceproviders of consumer and commercial banking, trust, securities brokerage,mortgage and insurance products and services. Regions serves customers in 16states across the South, Midwest and Texas, and through its subsidiary, RegionsBank, operates some 2,000 AmSouth and Regions banking offices and more than2,600 ATMs. Its investment and securities brokerage, trust and asset managementdivision, Morgan Keegan & Company Inc., provides services from over 300 offices.Additional information about Regions and its full line of products and servicescan be found at www.regions.com. 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 theGroup's plans and its current goals and expectations relating to its futurefinancial condition and performance. These forward-looking statements can beidentified by the fact that they do not relate only to historical or currentfacts. 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-lookingstatements include, among others, statements regarding the Group's futurefinancial position, income growth, impairment charges, business strategy,projected levels of growth in the banking and financial markets, projectedcosts, estimates of capital expenditures, and plans and objectives for futureoperations. 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, as well as UK domestic and global economic and businessconditions, market related risks such as changes in interest rates and exchangerates, the policies and actions of governmental and regulatory authorities,changes in legislation, progress in the integration of Absa into the Group'sbusiness and the achievement of synergy targets related to Absa, the outcome ofpending and future litigation, and the impact of competition-a number of whichfactors are beyond the Group's control. As a result, the Group's actual futureresults may differ materially from the plans, goals, and expectations set forthin the Group's forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements madeby or on behalf of Barclays speak only as of the date they are made. Barclaysdoes not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect any changesin Barclays expectations with regard thereto or any changes in events,conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. The readershould, however, consult any additional disclosures that Barclays has made ormay make in documents it has filed or may file with the SEC. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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