Statement re Possible Offer

Cenkos Securities PLC 14 January 2008 Cenkos Securities plc ('Cenkos') Landsbanki Islands HF ('Landsbanki') Possible recommended offer for Close Brothers Group PLC ('Close Brothers') Further to recent press comment, the Boards of Cenkos and Landsbanki confirm that they are in discussions with Close Brothers regarding a possible recommended offer for the entire issued share capital of Close Brothers. It is currently envisaged that an offer for Close Brothers would be made by Cenkos by way of a scheme of arrangement, with a sale of the banking division to Landsbanki conditional upon the scheme becoming effective, and that funding for the offer would be achieved through a combination of debt and a significant equity issue by Cenkos. Cenkos intends that the divisions being retained by it would continue to be run independently of its existing businesses, and the employees of those divisions will be remunerated in line with Cenkos' existing policy of direct equity ownership together with transparent pay structures. The expansion of Landsbanki's operations outside Iceland is a clearly stated strategic priority. The focus of this strategy has been to achieve sectoral and geographic diversification of assets, funding and income through the addition of value enhancing complementary businesses. The diverse model of the Close Brothers banking division together with its valuable management and employees brings a good fit to this strategy and would provide Landsbanki with an excellent opportunity to further strengthen its footprint in the specialist asset-based lending sector in the UK, Irish, Channel Islands and German markets. Furthermore, Close Brothers' banking operations are very well funded with the ratio of deposits to total loan book being 117% on July 31 2007(1). The proposal of Cenkos and Landsbanki is subject to a number of pre-conditions and conditions, including due diligence, Cenkos shareholder approval and regulatory approval and there can be no certainty that the discussions will ultimately lead to an offer for Close Brothers nor as to the terms or the price on which an offer might be made nor as to the timing of any offer. Enquiries: HSBC (adviser to Cenkos and Landsbanki) Anthony Bernbaum / Julian Gray +44 20 7991 8888 Bell Pottinger (PR adviser to Cenkos) David Rydell / Dan De Belder +44 20 78613232 HSBC Bank plc, which is regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority, is acting for Cenkos and Landsbanki and no one else in relation to matters described in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Cenkos and Landsbanki for providing the protections afforded to customers of HSBC Bank plc or for providing advice on matters described in this announcement. Under the provisions of Rule 8.3 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the 'Code'), if any person is, or becomes, 'interested' (directly or indirectly) in 1% or more of any class of 'relevant securities' of Close Brothers, all 'dealings' in any 'relevant securities' of that company (including by means of an option in respect of, or a derivative referenced to, any such 'relevant securities') must be publicly disclosed by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the London business day following the date of the relevant transaction. This requirement will continue until the date on which the offer becomes, or is declared, unconditional as to acceptances, lapses or is otherwise withdrawn or on which the 'offer period' otherwise ends. If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire an 'interest' in 'relevant securities' of Close Brothers, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3. Under the provisions of Rule 8.1 of the Code, all 'dealings' in 'relevant securities' of Close Brothers by Close Brothers, or by any of its 'associates', must be disclosed by no later than 12.00 noon (London time) on the London business day following the date of the relevant transaction. A disclosure table, giving details of the companies in whose 'relevant securities' 'dealings' should be disclosed, and the number of such securities in issue, can be found on the Takeover Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk. 'Interests in securities' arise, in summary, when a person has long economic exposure, whether conditional or absolute, to changes in the price of securities. In particular, a person will be treated as having an 'interest' by virtue of the ownership or control of securities, or by virtue of any option in respect of, or derivative referenced to, securities. Terms in quotation marks are defined in the Code, which can also be found on the Takeover Panel's website. If you are in any doubt as to whether or not you are required to disclose a 'dealing' under Rule 8, you should consult the Takeover Panel. The distribution of this announcement in jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom may be restricted by law and therefore persons into whose possession this announcement comes should inform themselves about, and observe, such restrictions. Any failure to comply with the restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. This announcement does not constitute an offer or an invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities pursuant to this announcement or otherwise in any jurisdiction. -------------------------- (1) Close Brothers Annual Report 2007 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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