ASA/ABSP - ABSA Group/ABSA Bank - Reference to ABSA Group in Barclays Plc

ASA/ABSP - ABSA Group/ABSA Bank - Reference to ABSA Group in Barclays Plc       
trading statement                                                               
ABSA GROUP LIMITED                                                              
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)                                  
(Registration number: 1986/003934/06)                                           
ISIN: ZAE000067237                                                              
JSE share code: ASA                                                             
Issuer code: AMAGB                                                              
(Absa Group or Absa or the Group)                                               
ABSA BANK LIMITED                                                               
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)                                  
(Registration number: 1986/004794/06)                                           
ISIN: ZAE000079810                                                              
JSE share code: ABSP                                                            
(Absa Bank)                                                                     
REFERENCE TO ABSA GROUP IN BARCLAYS PLC TRADING STATEMENT                       
Shareholders of Absa Group are advised that Barclays PLC released its 2009      
Quarter Three interim management statement on 10 November 2009.                 
The following excerpt from the update makes specific reference to the           
financial performance of the Absa Group excluding Absa Card and Absa Capital    
(in sterling):                                                                  
"Profit before tax at Global Retail and Commercial Banking - Absa decreased     
for the nine months. In Rand terms, income was slightly ahead of the prior      
year. Coupled with a reduction in costs, reflecting tight cost management,      
this led to an improvement in the cost income ratio."                           
The full text of the interim management statement is available on the           
Barclays PLC website http://www.barclays.com.                                   
Johannesburg                                                                    
10 November 2009                                                                
Enquiries:                                                                      
Jacques Schindehutte                                                            
Group executive director                                                        
(+2711) 350-4850                                                                
E-mail: jacquessc@absa.co.za                                                    
Sponsor:                                                                        
J.P. Morgan Equities Limited                                                    
Date: 10/11/2009 09:15:01 Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za                     
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