UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549


FORM 6-K

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-16 OR 15D-16
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

August 27, 2008
 

Barclays PLC and
Barclays Bank PLC
(Names of Registrants)
 

1 Churchill Place
London E14 5HP
England
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
 
      
Form 20-F x     Form 40-F
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
 
     
Yes     No x
 
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):
 

This Report is a joint Report on Form 6-K filed by Barclays PLC and Barclays
Bank PLC. All of the issued ordinary share capital of Barclays Bank PLC is
owned by Barclays PLC.
 
This Report comprises:
 
Information given to The London Stock Exchange and furnished pursuant to
General Instruction B to the General Instructions to Form 6-K.
 
 

EXHIBIT INDEX
 

        
Statement re Investment in New China Trust Co. Ltd -  dated August 27, 2008

 

 


 


 


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each of the registrants has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 

         
                                                     BARCLAYS PLC
                                                     (Registrant)

 

Date: August 27, 2008
 

       By:   /s/ Patrick Gonsalves
                                                         ----------------------
                                                         Patrick Gonsalves
                                                         Deputy Secretary

                                                     BARCLAYS BANK PLC
                                                     (Registrant)
 

 



 

Date: August 27, 2008

                      By:   /s/ Patrick Gonsalves
                                                         ----------------------
                                                         Patrick Gonsalves
                                                         Joint Secretary

 

 

 

 
27 August 2008

B
ARCLAYS
 PLC
Barclays
 
to invest
 
in New 
China
 Trust 

Barclays Bank PLC 
(Barclays)
, 
acting
 
through its investment banking business Barclays Capital
,
 
ha
s
 
today 
received regulatory authority approval 
to 
m
ake a minority investment in New China Trust Co. Ltd (NCT)
.
 
This 
investment 
will bring together
 the strengths of
 Barclays Capital
 
in 
financing, 
risk management and product developments, and N
CT
's local trust market and 
RMB 
debt
 market
 expertise.
Barclays investment in
 NCT 
will be approximately
 RMB
240
m 
(US$
3
5
m
)
, resulting in Barclays owning 19.5% of NCT
. 
T
he investment in NCT is expected to be co
mplet
ed 
before the end 
of 
November 
2008
.
 Barclays will 
fund 
this 
investment 
from existing cash resources.
NCT is one of the leading trust companies in the People's Republic of 
China
. 
NCT
 has particular expertise in providing capital raising solutions for infrastructure 
and other capital intensive 
sectors and a 
strong 
track record 
in 
providing 
structured 
trust 
products
 
for local financial institutions and corporates. 
"
Our investment in NCT is further evidence of Barclays strong commitment to 
China
. 
The 
opportunities 
open to us through our investment in NCT 
will enable us to broaden our client base
 in 
China
 and increase the range of financing and risk management solutions we can provide Barclays Capital
 and
 NCT
 clients
," 
said Robert Morrice, Chairman
 and Chief Executive
, Barclays PLC, Asia Pacific
. 
 
"We look forward to working closely with
 
NCT to 
further 
develop our respective businesses in 
China
's
 
capital markets
. 
Barclays
 Capital will 
continue to increase 
its presence 
across 
Asia
 as part of 
our 
ongoing
 strategy
 to be a leader in the 
region's 
domestic capital markets
.
 
Our
 investment in NCT 
accelerates 
this strategy
,
" he added
.
-Ends-


For further information please contact:

Barclays

Investor Relations
 
    
    
    
             
Media Relations
    
Mark Merson
    
    
    
    
                  Alistair Smith
+44 (0) 20 7116 5752
    
    
            
+44 (0) 20 7116 6132

John McIvor
    
    
    
    
                    
Ebony Kenny
+44 (0) 20 7116 2929
    
    
            
+44 (0) 20 7116 
6217


At Barclays Capital

Clare
 Williams
+852 2903 2298

Angie Tang
+852 2903 2305


About Barclays

Barclays is a major global financial services provider engaged in retail and commercial banking, credit cards, investment banking, wealth management and investment management services with an extensive international presence in Europe, the 
United States
, Africa and 
Asia
. With over 300 years of history and expertise in banking, Barclays operates in over 50 countries and employs approximately 147,000 people. Barclays moves, lends, invests and protects money for over 38 million customers and clients worldwide.  

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

About Barclays Capital
Barclays Capital is the investment banking division of Barclays Bank PLC which has an AA long-term credit rating. With a distinctive business model, Barclays Capital provides large corporate, government and institutional clients with solutions to their financing and risk management needs. Barclays Capital has offices around the world, employs over 16,300 people and has the global reach and distribution power to meet the needs of issuers and investors worldwide. 


For further information about Barclays Capital, please visit our website 
www.barclayscapital.com
.

About N
CT
New China Trust Co. Ltd is one of the leading trust companies in the People's Republic of 
China
. NCT has particular expertise in providing capital raising solutions for the property 
and infrastructure sectors and an excellent track record providing bond underwriting for local financial institutions and corporates. NCT was founded in  
19
79
 
and has over 150 employees. 

Forward Looking Statements

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 Group's plans and its current goals and expectations relating to its future financial condition and performance. 

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events and circumstances, including, but not limited to, UK 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 factors are beyond the Group's control. As a result, the Group's actual future results may differ materially from the plans, goals, and expectations set forth in the Group's forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of Barclays speak only as of the date they are made. Barclays does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect any changes in Barclays expectations with regard thereto or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. The reader should, however, consult any additional disclosures that Barclays has made or may make in documents it has filed or may file with the SEC.