Business News of Wednesday, 16 May 2018
Source: www.ghanaweb.com
Wendy Lucas-Bull, Chairman of Barclays Africa Group Limited
Barclays Africa Group Ltd shareholders today approved that the group changes its name to Absa Group Limited in July, setting in motion the start of one of the largest re-brand projects in Africa at this time.
“The vote in support of our name change in July marks another milestone in our separation from Barclays PLC to become an independent African bank with global reach,” said Wendy Lucas-Bull, Chairman of Barclays Africa Group Ltd. “This is the start of a brand journey that will galvanise our operations across Africa behind a single brand and purpose.”
As part of the process, the new name must be registered by South Africa’s Companies and Intellectual Property Commission. In accordance with the timetable that we have shared with our shareholders, the name change is expected be effective on 11 July 2018. The group’s share code on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) will change from BGA to ABG on 11 July.
The group name change will not affect functionality of Absa or Barclays products and services in Africa.
The group’s Barclays-branded banks in Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia will continue to trade as ‘Barclays’ even after the group name changes to Absa in July. The Barclays-branded banks in these countries will be rebranded at a later stage, subject to regulatory approvals in those markets.
Following the sell-down by Barclays PLC of its majority shareholding in Barclays Africa Group to a minority position in 2017, the two companies are separating. As part of the separation agreement, Barclays Africa Group will cease using the Barclays brand in Africa in 2020.
“We will in the future have a brand that is reflective of our African identity – this as an enormous opportunity as we create a banking group that Africa will be proud of,” Lucas-Bull said.
About Barclays Africa Group Limited
Barclays Africa Group Limited (‘Barclays Africa Group’ or ‘the Group’) is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and is one of Africa’s largest diversified financial services groups. As of June 2017, Barclays PLC is a minority shareholder in Barclays Africa Group.
Barclays Africa Group offers an integrated set of products and services across personal and business banking, corporate and investment banking, wealth and investment management and insurance.
Barclays Africa Group operates in 10 countries, with approximately 40 000 employees.
The Group’s registered head office is in Johannesburg, South Africa and owns majority stakes in banks in Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania (Barclays Bank Tanzania and National Bank of Commerce), Uganda and Zambia. The Group also has representative offices in Namibia and Nigeria.
For further information about Barclays Africa, please visit www.barclaysafrica.com
For more information please contact:
Carli Cooke
Barclays Africa Group Media Relations
011 350 3625
083 652 7371
carli.cooke@absa.co.za
prmedia@absa.co.za
