Acquisition

Barclays PLC
07 November 2006


                                                               7th November 2006

                                  BARCLAYS PLC

              Barclays to acquire INDEXCHANGE from HypoVereinsbank

Barclays Bank PLC ('Barclays') announces that it has entered into an agreement
with Bayerische Hypo-und Vereinsbank AG ('HVB') to acquire INDEXCHANGE
Investment AG ('INDEXCHANGE') for a consideration of approximately €240 million.

The transaction is expected to close within 3 months, after receipt of
appropriate regulatory approvals. Barclays will finance the transaction out of
existing cash resources.

INDEXCHANGE is Germany's leading provider of exchange traded funds ('ETF') with
assets under management of €15.2 billion as at 2nd November 2006. INDEXCHANGE
will be combined with iShares, Barclays Global Investors' ('BGI') ETF business
to create the leading provider of ETFs in Europe.

Bob Diamond, President of Barclays said: 'The combined business will create a
powerful force to accelerate the development of ETFs in Europe. It is our
intention to continue to expand BGI's franchise across Europe and Asia and this
is an important step in the evolution of our strategy.'

Lee Kranefuss, Chief Executive Officer of iShares, said: 'INDEXCHANGE has built
a first-class ETF business and team. We are delighted to add the INDEXCHANGE
employees, products and brand to our iShares business and look forward to
working closely with HVB to distribute our enhanced product suite through its
strong network.'

Ronald Seilheimer, member of the Board of HVB responsible for Markets &
Investment Banking, said: 'Barclays is a great partner for INDEXCHANGE.
INDEXCHANGE has developed into a strong ETF business since its formation in
2000. With its new owner Barclays, INDEXCHANGE enters a new era and will
strongly benefit from Barclays global ETF expertise. The disposal of INDEXCHANGE
represents a logical step in HVB's strategic focus on domestic corporate and
retail banking and investment banking.'

HVB will continue to provide a number of services to INDEXCHANGE including
market making and custody.

                                    - ENDS -

For further information please contact:

Barclays

Investor Relations                  Media Relations
James Johnson/Neil Temple-Gough     Alistair Smith/Robin Tozer
[phone]/2928           [phone]/6586

                                    At Barclays Global Investors:
                                    Esther Nass-Fetzmann
                                    [phone]

Bayerische Hypo-und Vereinsbank

Media Relations
Claudia Bresgen / Hartmut Pfeifer
[phone] / 44959


About Barclays

Barclays PLC is a major global financial services provider engaged in retail and
commercial banking, credit cards, investment banking, wealth management and
investment management services. We are one of the largest financial services
companies in the world by market capitalisation. Operating in over 60 countries
and employing over 118,000 people, we move, lend, invest and protect money for
over 25 million customers and clients worldwide. With over 300 years of history
and expertise in banking, Barclays has six major businesses: UK Banking,
Barclaycard, Barclays Capital, Barclays Global Investors, Barclays Wealth, and
International Retail and Commercial Banking.

www.barclays.com


About HVB

HypoVereinsbank is a member of the new UniCredit Group, which occupies the
leading position in the economic area comprising Italy, Germany, Austria, and
central and eastern Europe with more than 140,000 employees, 7,000 branches and
over 28 million customers.

In Germany, HVB is the second-largest private-sector bank with more than 26,000
employees, 680 branches and over 4 million customers. The core competences
include private and corporate customers, real-estate finance, investment banking
as well as asset management


Disclaimer

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. These forward-looking statements can be
identified by the fact that they do not relate only to historical or current
facts. Forward-looking statements sometimes use words such as 'aim',
'anticipate', 'target', 'expect', 'estimate', 'intend', 'plan', 'goal',
'believe', or other words of similar meaning. Examples of forward-looking
statements include, among others, statements regarding the Group's future
financial position, income growth, impairment charges, business strategy,
projected levels of growth in the banking and financial markets, projected
costs, estimates of capital expenditures, and plans and objectives for future
operations.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because
they relate to future events and circumstances, including, but not limited to,
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 legislation, the outcome of
pending and future litigation, and the impact of competition - a number of which
factors are beyond the Group's control. As a result, the Group's actual future
results may differ materially from the plans, goals, and expectations set forth
in the Group's forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements made
by or on behalf of Barclays speak only as of the date they are made. Barclays
does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect any changes
in Barclays 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 that Barclays has made or
may make in documents it has filed or may file with the SEC.




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