News Releases

28 October 2008: Barclays Capital, the investment banking division of Barclays PLC, today announced the growth of its successful European, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Investment Banking franchise into Israel. The bank has appointed Leonard G. Rosen, formerly Chief Executive Officer of Lehman Brothers for Israel, as Chief Executive Officer – Israel at Barclays Capital, based in Tel Aviv.

All of the senior investment banking team and equity research team of the former Lehman Brothers’ Israel operation have also joined Barclays Capital. The team, under Len Rosen, will report into John Winter, Head of Investment Banking, EMEA at Barclays Capital.

Mr Winter said “Barclays Capital is delighted to further extend its strong franchise into Israel.  We are proud to play a central role in the continuing development of the country’s economy and to be an integral part of Israel’s financial markets. The addition of the former Lehman Brothers team, which has for many years been the pre-eminent investment banking operation in Israel, brings a whole new range of capabilities and opportunities to our team and clients, both in Israel and around the world, adding to our existing strength and global reach.

Today’s announcement adds another premier franchise to Barclays Capital and firmly positions the firm as the market-leader in Israeli investment banking. Mr Rosen and his colleagues have a proven track record in equities, fixed income and M&A. They have been involved in many of the landmark Israel-related transactions, taking the lead advisory role in the four largest ever M&A deals in Israel.

Mr Rosen said “We are thrilled to be part of Barclays Capital. With the backing of Barclays strong balance sheet, the enlarged Barclays Capital capabilities will make an important contribution to Israeli companies and to the growth of the country’s economy.”

The team’s existing strengths combined with our global presence and capabilities will enhance Barclays Capital’s offering to Israeli clients in a range of areas, such as commodities and foreign exchange.                                                           

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Jon Laycock, Barclays Capital Communications in London
+ 44 (0)20 7773 4324 or + 44 (0) 7769885906

Rinat Friedman, Shalom Tel Aviv
+972 50 88 79 300

Zamir Dahbash, Shalom Tel Aviv
+972 50 52 22 030

Notes to Editors:

About Barclays

Barclays is a major global financial services provider engaged in retail and commercial banking, credit cards, investment banking, wealth management and investment management services, with an extensive international presence in Europe, the USA, Africa and Asia. With over 300 years of history and expertise in banking, Barclays operates in over 50 countries and employs over 150,000 people. Barclays moves, lends, invests and protects money for over 42 million customers and clients worldwide.  For further information about Barclays, please visit our website www.barclays.com.

About Barclays Capital

Barclays Capital is the investment banking division of Barclays Bank PLC. With a distinctive business model, Barclays Capital provides large corporate, government and institutional clients with a comprehensive set of solutions to their strategic advisory, financing and risk management needs. Barclays Capital has offices around the world, employs over 20,000 people and has the global reach, advisory services and distribution power to meet the needs of issuers and investors worldwide.  For further information about Barclays Capital, please visit our website www.barclayscapital.com.

 

About Barclays Capital’s Investment Banking Division

Barclays Capital’s Investment Banking teams provide a broad range of advisory, financing and risk management products and services to corporations, governments and financial institutions across the globe. Our client coverage professionals with the support of product specialists work closely with clients to develop effective and innovative solutions to fulfill their needs. The division is organised into a number of regional, industry and product groups to best serve the unique needs of our clients and deliver the best in class solutions. Industry specific groups cover diversified industrials, energy, utilities, infrastructure, mining, real estate, retail, financial institutions, telecom, media and technology.

 

About the capabilities of the new Barclays Capital team in Israel

The dominant investment banking team in Israel

  - The team has led almost every major Israel-related transaction in 2008.

  - #1 in Israeli equity underwriting since 2005 by number of transactions and USD volume

  - #1 in Israeli M&A transactions since 2005 by number of transactions and USD volume

  - #1 in Israeli Fixed Income transactions since 2005 by number of transactions and USD volume

  - Since 2005, acted as bookrunner on 15 Israel-related equity offerings, raising $4.7 billion; as bookrunner on 8 Israel-related fixed income offerings, raising over $4.0 billion; and as advisor on 19 M&A transactions worth over $17 billion in aggregate.

The largest dedicated Israel coverage team in Israel.

  - A designated team dedicated exclusively to coverage of Israel and Israel-related entities.

The market-leader in Israeli M&A advising on the four largest ever acquisitions by Israeli companies and seven of the largest 10, including:

- Teva Pharmaceuticals’ $9.9 bln acquisition of IVAX Corp- January 2006

- PENDING - Teva Pharmaceuticals’ $9.0 bln acquisition BARR Pharmaceuticals

- Teva Pharmaceuticals’ $3.4 bln acquisition of SICOR Inc – January 2004

- Verint’s $1.1 bln acquisition of Witness Systems - May 2007

- Check Point Software Technologies’ $625 mln acquisition of Protect data - February 2007

- Comverse Technologies’ $555 mln acquisition of Exalink - October 2000

- Delek’s EU350 mln acquisition of Chevron Corp’s Benelux marketing assets – August 2007