Acquisition

Barclays PLC
02 April 2007


                                                                  2nd April 2007


                                  BARCLAYS PLC

 Barclays completes acquisition of EquiFirst from Regions Financial Corporation


Barclays Bank PLC ('Barclays') announces that further to the release of 19th
January 2007 it has completed the purchase of EquiFirst Corporation
('EquiFirst'), the non-prime mortgage origination business of Regions Financial
Corporation ('Regions'), for a consideration of approximately US$76 million. The
price is subject to a final adjustment of book value, which is expected to be
finalised during the second quarter. Barclays does not expect a significant
adjustment to book value.

                                    - ENDS -

For further information please contact:

Barclays

Investor Relations                     Media Relations

Mark Merson/James S Johnson            Alistair Smith/Laura Vergani
[phone]/2927              [phone]/8335

                                       Contact at Barclays Capital in New York:

                                       Peter Truell    
                                       [phone]


Regions Financial Corporation

Investor Relations                     Media Relations

List Underwood                         Rick Swagler
[phone]                      [phone]


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 capitalization. With over 300 years of history
and expertise in banking, Barclays operates in over 50 countries and employs
123,000 people, We move, lend, invest and protect money for over 27 million
customers and clients worldwide. For further information about Barclays, please
visit our website www.barclays.com.


About Barclays Capital

Barclays Capital is the investment banking division of Barclays Bank PLC. With a
distinctive business model, Barclays Capital provides large corporate,
government and institutional clients with solutions to their financing and risk
management needs. Barclays Capital has offices in 26 countries, employs over
13,200 people and has the global reach and distribution power to meet the needs
of issuers and investors worldwide. For further information about Barclays
Capital, please visit our website www.barclayscapital.com.

Barclays Capital - the investment banking division of Barclays Bank PLC.
Registered in England 1026167. Registered office 1 Churchill Place, London, E14
5HP. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and a
member of the London Stock Exchange (LSE).


About Regions Financial Corporation

Regions Financial Corporation is a member of the S&P 100 Index and Forbes
Magazine's 'Platinum 400' list of America's best big companies. With more than
$140 billion in assets, Regions is one of the nation's largest full-service
providers of consumer and commercial banking, trust, securities brokerage,
mortgage and insurance products and services. Regions serves customers in 16
states across the South, Midwest and Texas, and through its subsidiary, Regions
Bank, operates some 2,000 AmSouth and Regions banking offices and more than
2,600 ATMs. Its investment and securities brokerage, trust and asset management
division, Morgan Keegan & Company Inc., provides services from over 300 offices.
Additional information about Regions and its full line of products and services
can be found at www.regions.com.


Forward-looking statements

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,
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, as well as 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 legislation, progress in the integration of Absa into the Group's
business and the achievement of synergy targets related to Absa, 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.


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange