News Releases

The information in this press release has been extracted from the preliminary announcement of the results of Barclays PLC for the year ended 31^st December 2006 (the “Results Announcement”), which is available at: www.investorrelations.barclays.com.  This press release should be read in conjunction with the Results Announcement as a whole.

BARCLAYS PLC

PRESS RELEASE

RESULTS FOR THE YEAR TO 31ST DECEMBER 2006

“Barclays had an excellent year in 2006. We delivered outstanding performance in Barclays Capital and Barclays Global Investors. Momentum has accelerated in UK Retail Banking and Absa has outperformed our acquisition business plan delivering very strong growth. Conditions in UK cards and consumer loans were difficult but Barclaycard UK consumer credit performance is beginning to improve. We are well positioned to deliver further growth in the years ahead.”

John Varley, Group Chief Executive

Excellent financial results reflect the successful execution of strategy:

- Income up 25% to £21,595m

- Profit before tax up 35% to £7,136m

- Earnings per share up 32% to 71.9p

- Dividend per share up 17% to 31.0p

• In UK Retail Banking accelerated income momentum drove very strong profit growth.
  
• UK Banking delivered a further three percentage points underlying improvement in the cost:income ratio; the six percentage point target for 2005-2007 has been achieved a year ahead of schedule; we still target a further two percentage point improvement in 2007.
  
• Outstanding growth in Barclays Capital was driven by continued expansion of the business, the success of past investment and the focus of our client driven model.
  
• Barclays Global Investors delivered another year of excellent growth. Assets under management increased US$301bn to US$1.8trn.
  
• Absa’s first full year contribution was well ahead of the acquisition business plan.
  
• Barclaycard profits were affected by industrywide impairment pressures in UK cards and unsecured loans; UK consumer credit performance is beginning to improve.
  
• Approximately 50% of profits came from outside the UK.
  
• Income growth of 25% was well ahead of expense growth of 20%. Expense growth reflected significant investment in organic growth across the business and performance related costs.
  
• Profit before tax excluding gains on business disposals of £323m increased 29% to £6,813m and earnings per share increased 23% to 66.8p.
  
• Strong income momentum going into 2007.