Barclays 2004 Annual Report Download - page 2

legislation, the outcome of pending and future litigation and the impact of
competition, a number of which are beyond the Group’s control. As a result,
the Group’s actual future results and developments may differ materially from
the plans, goals, and expectations expressed or implied in the Group’s forward-
looking statements. For a more detailed discussion of some of the factors that
may cause actual future results and developments to differ materially from
forward-looking statements, see Risk factors on page 42. Any forward-looking
statements made by or on behalf of the Group speak only as of the date they are
made. Barclays does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to
reflect any changes in the Group’s expectations with regard thereto or any
changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is
based. The reader should, however, consult any additional disclosures Barclays
has made or may make in documents it has filed or may file with the SEC.
This document contains information, including statistical data, about certain of
Barclays markets and its competitive position. Except as otherwise indicated, this
information is taken or derived from Datastream and other external sources.
Barclays cannot guarantee the accuracy of information taken from external
sources, or that, in respect of internal estimates, a third party using different
methods would obtain the same estimates as Barclays.
This document contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning
of section 21E of the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and
section 27A of the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to
certain of the Group’s plans and its current goals and expectations relating to its
future financial condition and performance. The Group may also make forward-
looking statements in other written materials, including other documents filed
with or furnished to the SEC. In addition, the Group’s senior management may
make forward-looking statements orally to analysts, investors, representatives of
the media and others. In particular, among other statements, certain statements
in the Financial Review and Business Description with regard to management
objectives, trends in results of operations, margins, costs, return on equity, risk
management, and competition are forward-looking in nature. Forward-looking
statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate only to historical
or current facts. Forward-looking statements often use words such as ‘anticipate’,
‘target’, ‘expect’, ‘estimate’, ‘intend’, ‘plan’, ‘goal’, ‘believe’, or other words of
similar meaning. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and
uncertainty because they relate to future events and circumstances, including,
but not limited to, UK domestic and global economic and business conditions,
market related risks such as changes in interest rates and exchange rates, the
policies and actions of governmental and regulatory authorities, changes in