Free Guide to Shareholder Benefits Now Available Online From Barclays Stockbrokers

35 per cent off the latest Harry Potter book, £££s off a Barratt Development or Bellway home, 20 per cent off Mulberry, 30 per cent off Eurotunnel routes are just some of the additional benefits available to the shareholders in a variety of UK listed companies. A popular free guide to these ‘perks’ compiled by Barclays Stockbrokers is now available online at the Barclays Stockbrokers (http://www.stockbrokers.barclays.co.uk ) Webpage.

The guide lists both the companies that provide benefits to all shareholders (http://www.stockbrokers.barclays.co.uk ), including those that hold their shares through a nominee account (over 75 per cent of those listed), and those that restrict their perks to shareholders with share certificates. Details are also provided of the minimum shareholdings required to qualify for the various benefits – 40 per cent of the companies listed stipulate no minimum shareholding.

As at the date of research, the following were among the most generous benefits available to shareholders.
With no minimum shareholding:
Bloomsbury Publishing (publishers of Harry Potter) – 35 per cent discount on Bloomsbury books
EMAP – half-price subscriptions to all EMAP magazines including FHM, Heat and Empire
Hilton Group – 15 per cent off most room rates and food and drink
De Vere Group – 35 per cent off accommodation at De Vere Hotels, 75 per cent off Leisure Club joining fees
Signet Group – 10% discount in all Ernest Jones, H Samuel and Leslie Davis stores
Moss Bros Group – 20 per cent discount voucher on a single purchase in retails outlets (excluding reduced items).

With a minimum shareholding:
AGA Foodservice Group (500 ord shares) – 10 per cent off all purchases of £500 or more up to a maximum of £500
Austin Reed (500 ord shares) – 15 per cent discount on full price Austin Reed and Country Casuals stores
Bellway (2000 ord shares held for a minimum 12 months) – a discount of £625 per £25,000 on the cost of a new Bellway home
Eurotunnel (1000 ord shares for more than three months) – 30 per cent off three returns a year
Next (500 ord shares) – 25% off all purchases made on one occasion
Mulberry (500 ord shares) – 20 per cent discount at selected stores

Getting hold of shareholder benefits (http://www.stockbrokers.barclays.co.uk ) couldn’t be easier as Barclays Stockbrokers will arrange everything. We are committed to ensuring that our customers obtain any benefits due when their shares are held in a nominee account, and will claim benefits on behalf of all investors holding shares in Barclays Stockbrokers MarketMaster, Frequent Traders Club, Self Select ISA or PEP accounts, when asked to do so.

Rupert Dickinson, a director of Barclays Stockbrokers comments:
“Our research shows that investors are extremely confident in the stock market with 64% believing the that stock market will go up in the first half of 2006. Shareholder benefits, while not a reason to buy shares alone, are a great extra for those already thinking of buying shares. Barclays Stockbrokers Research Centre includes not only Barclays own in-house equity research, but also that of other industry experts to help investors to check that the shares are a good buy in themselves and make informed investment decisions.”

To access the Benefits Guide, visit the ‘What We Offer’ tab on Barclays Stockbrokers (http://www.stockbrokers.barclays.co.uk ) and click on the Shareholder Benefits link. Those without web access can obtain a copy of the guide by calling 0845 601 7788*.

For further information please contact:

Emma Rees
PR Manager, Barclays Wealth Management
020 7114 9813
Or
Caroline Wells
PR Manager, Barclays Wealth Management
020 7114 7435

*0845 calls are charge at local rate

Notes for Editors
About Barclays Stockbbrokers
Barclays Stockbrokers is the UK’s largest execution only retail broker. It holds the following current awards:

Investors Chronicle Broker of the Year 2005
Proshare Best Stockbroker and Best Online Broker (2005)
Shares Magazine Execution Only Broker of the Year (2005) (voted for by readers)