Barclays agrees to sell a portfolio of approximately €520 million(1) (£460 million) of private equity fund interests to AXA Private Equity

Barclays Bank PLC has signed a definitive agreement to dispose of a €520m (£460m) portfolio of US and European private equity interests held and managed by Barclays Capital, its investment banking division, to AXA Private Equity. The portfolio includes investments in private equity funds as well as several direct private equity interests held by Barclays Capital. The portfolio does not include any investments managed by Barclays Private Equity.

The sale of this portfolio has been agreed in anticipation of new regulations impacting the cost to banks of holding private equity investments and their future returns. The purchase price for the portfolio exceeds the book value and the sale is expected to result in a small profit on disposal and a small increase in Core Tier One capital. Completion is subject to obtaining certain consents and waivers and is expected to occur in phases, with the initial completion expected to take place later this year.

“This transaction is further evidence that we are delivering on our commitment to increase our balance sheet efficiency”, said Chris Lucas, Barclays Group Finance Director. “We are pleased with this transaction and continue to look for similar opportunities going forward.”

In addition to Barclays own resources, Campbell Lutyens was retained to manage the auction process.

(1) Based on the aggregate net asset value of the portfolio plus undrawn commitments.
Notes to Editors:

About Barclays

Barclays is a major global financial services provider engaged in retail banking, credit cards, corporate and investment banking and wealth management with an extensive international presence in Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia. With over 300 years of history and expertise in banking, Barclays operates in over 50 countries and employs over 147,000 people. Barclays moves, lends, invests and protects money for over 48 million customers and clients worldwide.

For further information about Barclays, please visit our website www.barclays.com. Neither the content of the Barclays website nor any website accessible by hyperlinks on the Barclays website is incorporated in, or forms any part of, this announcement.

About AXA Private Equity

AXA Private Equity is a leading private equity firm with US$25 billion in managed assets and a global reach extending across Europe, North America and Asia. The firm offers investors the full spectrum of private equity services for every market segment: direct funds, infrastructure financing, mid cap and small cap buyouts, venture capital, coinvestments, fund of funds as well as mezzanine financing. With offices in Paris, Frankfurt, London, New York, Singapore, Milan, Zurich and Vienna, AXA Private Equity supports the development and long-term growth of its portfolio companies with sustainable growth strategies and by granting them access to the AXA international network. AXA Private Equity has earned the trust of its investors by regularly supplying them with transparent performance data on its funds and portfolio companies.