Response to press comment and

RNS Number : 8854O

Barclays PLC

16 March 2009

 



BARCLAYS PLC

16 March 2009

Response to press comment and update on trading

Barclays notes press comment regarding the potential disposal of iShares and confirms that it has held discussions with a number of potentially interested parties as part of its practice of regularly reviewing the Group's portfolio of businesses.  No decision regarding the disposal of any business has been taken by the board of Barclays.

Barclays businesses continue to perform well and have had a strong start to 2009.

Barclays also confirms that it is in dialogue with HM Treasury and FSA regarding its potential participation in the Government's Asset Protection Scheme.  Barclays decision whether and to what extent to participate in the scheme will be based on the economic merits to shareholders of any such participation.

-ENDS-

For further information please contact:

Investor Relations	Media Relations
Stephen Jones	Alistair Smith
[phone]	[phone]

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 United States, 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 47 million customers and clients worldwide. For further information about Barclays, please visit our website www.barclays.com.

Forward-looking Statements

This announcement contains (or may contain) certain forward-looking statements with respect to certain of Barclays plans and its current goals and expectations relating to its future financial condition and performance and which involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Barclays cautions readers that no forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future performance and that actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. 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 'will', 'would', 'could', 'aim', 'anticipate', 'target', 'expect', 'envisage', 'estimate', 'intend', 'intention', 'plan', 'goal', 'believe', or other words of similar meaning. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding Barclays future financial position, income growth, profit before tax, impairment charges, business strategy, projected levels of growth in the banking and financial markets, projected costs, estimates of capital expenditure, expected capital ratios, plans with respect to dividend payments, and plans and objectives for future operations of Barclays and other statements that are not historical fact.

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, the effects of continued volatility in credit markets, liquidity conditions in the market, 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 further development of standards and interpretations under International Financial Reporting Standards ('IFRS') applicable to past, current and future periods, evolving practices with regard to the interpretation and application of standards under IFRS, the outcome of pending and future litigation, the success of future acquisitions and other strategic transactions and the impact of competition, a number of which factors are beyond Barclays control. As a result, Barclays actual future results may differ materially from the plans, goals, and expectations set forth in Barclays forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements made herein by or on behalf of Barclays speak only as of the date they are made. Except as required by the FSA, the London Stock Exchange or applicable law, Barclays expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement 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.

 

END

 

 

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