Arbuthnot Banking Group PLC Acquisition of new London Office (3242J)

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RNS Number : 3242J

Arbuthnot Banking Group PLC

03 August 2012

For Immediate Release

PRESS RELEASE 3 August 2012

ARBUTHNOT BANKING GROUP PLC

Acquisition of new London Office

The Board of Arbuthnot Banking Group PLC (the "Group" or "Arbuthnot") are pleased to announce that Arbuthnot Latham & Co., Limited has today agreed to acquire the freehold of an office building located at 7-21 Wilson Street, London EC2M 2TD for GBP15.7 million. It is intended that in due course the building will become the head office for the Arbuthnot Banking Group PLC, the principal location for Arbuthnot Latham & Co., Limited and London offices for Secure Trust Bank PLC.

7-21 Wilson Street comprises of 38,000 sq ft of offices and is currently let at a rent of GBP1.65 million per annum. The lease is due to expire in December 2013 and as the building will be 25 years old it is planned that a renovation and fit out programme will be undertaken which is expected to cost approximately GBP5.0 million. The acquisition of the building has been funded from the Group's existing resources. The lease on the Group's current premises at 20 Ropemaker Street, London, EC2Y 9AR, costs GBP1.7m per annum and has a break option in June 2015. It is anticipated that the Group will exercise the break option and will move together with Arbuthnot Latham & Co., Limited to Wilson Street in June 2015.

Commenting on the purchase of 7-21 Wilson Street, Henry Angest, Chairman and CEO of Arbuthnot Banking Group PLC, said:

"Up until December 2006 the Group operated from its own freehold premises. In line with our long term approach to developing the Group we believe it is beneficial to have full control over our property interests and that this can only be achieved through the ownership of a freehold property. I am, therefore, delighted that we have managed to acquire again freehold offices which meet our requirements."

Enquiries:

Arbuthnot Banking Group PLC Tel: [phone]

Henry Angest, Chairman and Chief Executive

Andrew Salmon, Chief Operating Officer

James Cobb, Group Finance Director

David Marshall, Director of Communications

   Canaccord Genuity Hawkpoint Limited (Nominated Adviser)        Tel:     [phone] 

Lawrence Guthrie

Sunil Duggal

Numis Securities Limited Tel: [phone]

Christopher Wilkinson

Mark Lander

Pelham Bell Pottinger Tel: [phone]

Ben Woodford

Dan de Belder

This information is provided by RNS

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