News Releases

[5th October 2007] Tokyo – Barclays Bank PLC (“Barclays”) today announced the successful launch of its (i) JPY50 billion five year Samurai bond issue, its second fixed rate Samurai bond, and (ii) JPY90 billion five year floating rate Samurai bond issue, its first floating rate Samurai bond and one of the largest of its kind ever issued in the Japanese domestic market. Barclays Capital Japan Limited and Mizuho Securities Co., Ltd are acting as the joint bookrunners on both transactions.

The bonds will be rated Aa1 and AA by Moody’s and S&P, respectively.   The fixed rate bonds will pay a coupon of 1.85% p.a. (equivalent to swap + 40bps), semi-annually and the floating rate bonds will pay a coupon of 6 months LIBOR + 0.40% p.a. semi-annually.  The bonds are expected to be issued on 15th October 2007 and have a maturity date of 15th October 2012, and will be issued at par.

The bonds have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, US persons except in certain transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

Notes to editors: 

About Barclays Bank PLC

Barclays Bank PLC is a major global financial services provider engaged in retail and commercial banking, credit cards, investment banking, wealth management and investment management services. Barclays PLC (the holding company of Barclays Bank PLC) is one of the largest financial services companies in the world by market capitalisation. Operating in over 50 countries and employing over 127,000 people, we move, lend, invest and protect money for over 27 million customers and clients worldwide. With over 300 years of history and expertise in banking, Barclays Bank PLC has six major businesses: Barclays Capital, Barclays Global Investors, UK Banking, Barclaycard, Barclays Wealth and International Retail & Commercial Banking.

For further information about Barclays, please visit our website http://www.barclays.com

For further information, please contact:

Yu Sakakibara, Barclays Services (Japan) Limited, Communications, Tel:+81 3 4530 5623