Reference to Barclays Plc Interim Management Statement ABSA GROUP LIMITED (Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa) (Registration number: 1986/003934/06) ISIN: ZAE000067237 JSE share code: ASA (Absa Group, Absa or the Group) REFERENCE TO BARCLAYS PLC INTERIM MANAGEMENT STATEMENT Shareholders of Absa Group are advised that Barclays PLC (Barclays) released its 2013 first quarter interim management statement today. Although it makes no substantial reference to the financial performance of Absa Group, part of the Group’s performance is included in the Africa Retail and Business Banking (RBB) segment that Barclays disclosed in the statement. Shareholders are advised not to draw inferences in respect of the Absa Group’s performance from this disclosure. Absa’s contribution to Barclays Africa RBB excludes Absa Card and Absa Corporate, Investment Banking and Wealth. These constituted 56% of Absa’s FY12 headline earnings. The Barclays Africa RBB disclosure includes the results of Barclays’ other African subsidiaries, the impact of Rand depreciation, accounting policy differences as well as consolidation and overlay adjustments. In combination, these adjustments make the numbers incomparable. Johannesburg 24 April 2013 Enquiries: Alan Hartdegen Head: Investor Relations Tel: (+2711) 350 2598 Email: Alan.Hartdegen@absa.co.za Lead Independent Sponsor J.P. Morgan Equities South Africa Proprietary Limited Joint Sponsor Absa Corporate and Investment Banking, a division of Absa Bank Limited Date: 24/04/2013 08:13:00 Produced by the JSE SENS Department. The SENS service is an information dissemination service administered by the JSE Limited ('JSE'). The JSE does not, whether expressly, tacitly or implicitly, represent, warrant or in any way guarantee the truth, accuracy or completeness of the information published on SENS. The JSE, their officers, employees and agents accept no liability for (or in respect of) any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind or nature, howsoever arising, from the use of SENS or the use of, or reliance on, information disseminated through SENS.