Statement re Possible Offer

Barclays PLC
23 September 2004




                                                              September 23, 2004

                              A BARCLAYS STATEMENT

Barclays confirms it is in discussions with ABSA, a leading South African bank,
in connection with a possible recommended partial offer for a majority stake in
ABSA. This process is at an early stage and is subject inter alia to due
diligence and securing a satisfactory level of committed acceptances from ABSA's
significant shareholders prior to making any offer. In addition, these
discussions have not yet reached a stage which requires a formal approach to the
relevant regulators. These discussions may or may not lead to a transaction
being agreed. Barclays would not expect to issue ordinary shares to fund a
potential transaction.

The Barclays board believes that if there is a successful conclusion to this
process such a transaction would enhance the bank's existing successful African
operations and would be immediately accretive to earnings per share and economic
profit.

                               -          ENDS -

This announcement 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
Barclays plans and its current goals and expectations relating to the potential
transaction described above. 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 and the impact of competition, a number of which are
beyond the Barclays control. As a result, actual future results may differ
materially from the plans, goals and expectations set forth in the
forward-looking statements.



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