21 February 2017

Arbuthnot Banking Group PLC

Pre Close Trading Update

Arbuthnot Banking Group PLC ("Arbuthnot" or "the Group") today issues a pre close trading update ahead of its Preliminary results announcement for the year ended 31 December 2016, which is scheduled for 23 March 2017.

The Group continued its development as anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2016 and therefore expects to report pre-tax profits in line with market expectations.

As previously announced in December 2016, the Group completed the purchase of the Duncan Lawrie loan portfolio. This has now been successfully transferred to Arbuthnot Latham.

In December the Group also announced that it had reached an agreement to acquire Renaissance Asset Finance ("RAF"), which was subject to approval of the change of control application by the Regulatory Authorities. One of these approvals has now been received but the completion still remains conditional on the final receipt. However, it is expected that the transaction will be completed before the end of the first quarter of 2017.

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