This
is an
announcement pursuant to article 9b paragraph 1 of the Dutch Securities
Markets
Supervision Decree (Besluit toezicht effectenverkeer 1995).
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. 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
Barclays; 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
The
offer
launched by the consortium of Fortis, RBS and Santander is under
consideration
by the ABN AMRO boards. ABN AMRO will, in the near future but at
the latest by
August 6, 2007, file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission
a
Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 and advise
the ABN AMRO
shareholders (i) whether it recommends acceptance or rejection
of such offer,
expresses no opinion and remains neutral toward such offer, or
is unable to take
a position with respect to such offer and (ii) the reason(s) for
its position
with respect to such offer. The ABN AMRO boards request the ABN
AMRO
shareholders to defer making a determination on whether to accept
or reject such
offer until they have been advised of ABN AMRO's position with
respect to the
offer.
Barclays
has filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission a Registration
Statement on Form F-4 which contains a prospectus. Barclays expects
to file with
the US Securities and Exchange Commission amendments to such Registration
Statement 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 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 OFFER IF
AND WHEN THEY
BECOME AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION.
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 Barclays ordinary 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.