For something special...

Last updated September 2011

In a nutshell

UK Sharesave is an opportunity for you to save directly from your net pay to buy Barclays shares at a potentially discounted price. It’s safe, you can get your money back at any time and if the share price rises there is a potential for you to gain.

Save to buy shares with Sharesave.

What do you want to know?

Some good reasons to join

Step by step guide to how Sharesave works

Your questions answered

What happens if I leave?

Sharesave 2011 Invitation booklet

Sharesave 2004, 2006 & 2008 Maturity Notes

Sharesave 2004, 2006 & 2008 Maturity Booklet

Sharesave 2004, 2006 & 2008 Maturity Additional Information Booklet

Historic Sharesave option prices and bonus rates

Historic Sharesave invitation booklets

Further Information

Some good reasons to join

It’s safe

Your money is safe. You can always get back at least what you put in.

It’s easy

You can apply by text, online or by phone and your savings will be taken directly from your net pay monthly.

It’s flexible

You can save a fixed amount from as little as £5 per month, right up to £250 per month. And you can choose to save for three, five or seven years. You will also receive a tax-free bonus (if applicable). If necessary, you can take a break from saving for up to six months.

There is a potential for you to gain

You have the opportunity to buy Barclays shares at a 20% discount to the share price. The discounted share price is normally set at the start of each Sharesave invitation. So if Barclays does well and the share price increases, the potential for you to gain will too. Choosing to buy shares through Sharesave means you pay no commission or stamp duty.

It’s tax effective

If you sell your shares at a higher price than the option price, any gains are income tax-free. Your gain will be free from capital gains tax if your total gains for the tax year do not exceed the annual exemption limit. Any applicable bonus payable on your savings is also tax-free.

You can always change your mind

Don’t worry if you want to come out of Sharesave. You can close your savings contract and have your savings returned at any time.

All in all, Sharesave can be a good opportunity for employees to share in Barclays success.

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Step by step guide to how Sharesave works

Can I join? 

• Invitations to join Sharesave are issued at Barclays discretion once a year. You would need to be employed at the specified eligibility date (normally 1st of June) to be able to join Sharesave in a particular year. You will need to be an employee of a Group company which participates in Sharesave and a UK taxpayer*

* i.e. you are a UK employee resident in the UK on a permanent basis or have been nominated by the Board to join Sharesave. You must still be employed on the grant date to be granted an option.

How much can I save and for how long? 

• First, decide how much you want to save, you can save between £5 and £250 every month.
• Remember you must take into account any other Sharesave plans you may have. Please check your invitation letter to see how much you can save.
• You can save for three, five or seven years.

How do I join? 

• Invitation packs are normally distributed during early August each year containing your account number. You will need this and your National Insurance number to apply online, by text message or by phone. 
• Full application instructions are included in the invitation pack.
• Please make sure you apply before the deadline stated in the invitation pack because late applications cannot be accepted.

What happens after I’ve joined? 

• You receive an option certificate to say how much you are saving each month, for how long, what the option price is, how many shares you will be able to buy and how much they will cost.
• Your savings will be taken from your net pay every month (usually starting in October).
• You will receive a statement in January each year showing the amount you have saved.

What happens at the end of the Sharesave period? 

• We will send you a maturity pack detailing what choices you have and how you can give your maturity instructions either online or via the telephone service.
• You have six months to make up your mind about what you want to do with your Sharesave option.
• Once you have made your election, the administrator will process your request and either your savings (plus bonus if applicable) will be paid to you or you will receive confirmation of your share holding.

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What do I need to do if I have a Sharesave contract maturing soon?

We will write to you prior to the maturity date of your savings contract with details of the choices available and how to give your maturity instructions where applicable. You will have six months to decide whether to exercise your option to buy Barclays shares. Watch the Barclays share price and decide what’s best for you. You have the following choices:

1. Buy 

Use your savings (and tax-free bonus if applicable) to buy shares

You can use your total savings and any bonus to exercise your option and buy Barclays shares at the option price. The shares are deposited in a Sharestore account on your behalf. You can then hold on to the shares and choose to sell them at any time (either online www.sharestore.barclays.co.uk; via the phone 0845 300 4161 or +44 141 352 3909 from overseas).

You can then benefit from any future growth in the share price and any dividends Barclays may pay. Remember, the price of shares can go down as well as up. If the price has gone down at the end of the savings contract, you can decide not to exercise your option to buy the Barclays shares and instead take out your savings and tax-free bonus. You will have six months from when your savings contract matures to make a decision.

2. Sell 

Use your savings (and tax-free bonus if applicable) to buy your shares and sell them immediately

You can use your total savings (and bonus if applicable) to exercise your option and buy Barclays shares at the discounted option price. The shares are deposited in a Sharestore account on your behalf. As soon as you have received confirmation of your holding you can sell them immediately (either online www.sharestore.barclays.co.uk or via the phone 0845 300 4161 or +44 141 352 3909 from overseas).

3. Cash 

Just have your savings back

If your option price is higher than the current market price, you don’t have to buy the shares. You can choose to take all of your savings (and bonus if applicable) as cash and either buy Barclays shares on the open market or spend the cash however you wish.

Please refer to your maturity pack for further information on the choices available to you. 

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Your questions answered

Can I cancel my Sharesave savings contract(s)?

You can cancel it and have your savings returned at any time, but you would lose your option to buy shares at the special price. If you've made more than 12 monthly payments you'll also get interest (where applicable) for the whole period you've saved for.

If you cancel a seven year savings contract between the fifth and seventh year anniversaries, interest (where applicable) will be paid in addition to the five year bonus payment, at a compound rate. Please see your Sharesave booklet for rates.

How do I cancel my Sharesave savings contract(s)?

When you apply for Sharesave either online or via the phone, the service will give you the opportunity to cancel any savings contracts you are currently contributing into. Please bear in mind that any contract which is maturing this year is excluded from your Sharesave headroom calculation for the purposes of the current year's invitation.

You can also cancel your contract(s) at any time by contacting the Helpline on the number below or by completing the closure notice on the reverse of your Share option certificate, or if this is not to hand, by writing to Barclays Share Plans Operations Team. Please send your completed option certificate or letter to:

Barclays Share Plans

Operations Department

PO Box 4766

Worthing

BN99 6HF

Helpline : 0871 384 2224*

(from outside of the UK +44 (0) 121 415 0154)

*calls to this number are charged at 8p per minute from a BT landline. Other telephone provider costs may vary. Lines are open from 08.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday.

When writing to request closure of an account, please ensure you include your full name, address, National Insurance number and account number. You may be asked to provide additional identification when calling the Helpline to request closure.  A cheque will normally be sent to you at your home address within 10 days.

What happens if I miss any payments?

The maturity date of your Sharesave will be deferred by one month for each payment you have missed, up to six payments. If for any reason you miss more than six payments, your option to buy shares and your savings contract will lapse. The proceeds of your savings contract will be automatically returned to you by cheque to your home address.

What happens if I am not paid via UK payroll, I take maternity leave, a short-term career break or any other unpaid leave?

You will normally continue to be eligible to exercise your option. Your contributions will continue to be deducted via payroll until your pay stops or becomes insufficient to make deductions. Once your pay stops or you stop being paid via the UK payroll, in normal circumstances you may:

1. Continue saving by way of a Standing Order from your bank/building society.

2. Defer up to a maximum of six payments, during the life of your Sharesave savings contract, then continue saving by way of a Standing Order. However, if more than six payments are missed you will lose your Sharesave option. If you are already contributing by Standing Order, you may still defer payments by cancelling the Standing Order but you must set it up again to ensure that no more than six payments are missed. If you decide to defer any payments, the maturity date of your Sharesave savings contract will be deferred by one month for each payment missed. The deferred payments cannot be made up by a lump sum.

3. Cancel your Sharesave savings contract and withdraw your savings (plus any applicable interest) upon request to Barclays Share Plans. You will lose your Sharesave option.

Note: Standing Order forms are available from the Barclays Share Plans Helpline on 0871 384 2224*

(from outside of the UK +44 (0) 121 415 0154).

*calls to this number are charged at 8p per minute from a BT landline. Other telephone provider costs may vary. Lines are open from 08.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday.

If you are resident overseas you should consult your professional adviser about the local tax implications of participating in Sharesave.

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Am I subject to the Group Share Dealing Code or Personal Dealing Policy when my contract matures?

When buying or selling Barclays shares you must, where the Share Dealing Code or Personal Dealing Policy requires it, seek prior permission to deal in accordance with that code or policy and comply with any Close Period restrictions. Please contact your local Compliance team to ascertain if you are affected.

What happens when I become a shareholder once my contract has matured?

If you choose to use your savings to buy shares, either on the open market or by exercising your option, you become a shareholder in Barclays. There are various benefits in being a Barclays shareholder including, of course, any dividends Barclays may pay. For more information please go to www.barclays.com. Shares are risky investments: share prices and the income from them can fall as well as rise and you may not get back the full amount you originally invested. Investing in shares is not suitable for everyone. If you have any doubt as to whether it is suitable for you, you should obtain expert advice.

How long after my Sharesave contract matures do I have to exercise my option?

You have six months after the maturity date to make your choice.

What is Sharestore?

Sharestore is a facility provided by the Registrar to Barclays where your shares are held electronically on your behalf. Sharestore is an easier way of owning and dealing in your shares, without having to worry about looking after your share certificate or filling in lots of forms.  When you exercise your option, the shares are deposited in a Sharestore account on your behalf and you can then hold on to them and choose to sell them at any time. Please visit www.sharestore.barclays.co.uk for further information.

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What happens if I leave?

If you intend to leave, or know that you are due to leave after options are granted, you may still join Sharesave but the circumstances may affect your savings contract and option. If you leave you may continue to save by Standing Order and receive any applicable tax-free bonus at maturity – although you may lose the opportunity to buy shares at the 20% discount. Please see your Sharesave invitation booklet for more details.

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Historic Sharesave option prices and bonus rates

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Further information

The details of the various benefit plans given on this website are only a general guide. Each plan is governed by its own set of governing rules and is subject to applicable law. If there is any conflict between this website and the rules of the relevant plan, the rules of the relevant plan plus any applicable law will apply and will over-ride this website.

You can contact the Barclays Share Plans team via one of the options below:

Telephone:

0871 384 2224* or overseas call +44(0) 121 415 0154

*calls to this number are charged at 8p per minute from a BT landline. Other telephone provider costs may vary. Lines are open from 08.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday.

Email Address:

employee@shareplans.barclayswealth.com

Mailing Address:

Barclays Share Plans
Operations Department
PO Box 4766
Worthing
BN99 6HF

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Historic Sharesave invitation booklets

Sharesave 2004 Invitation booklet

Sharesave 2005 Invitation booklet

Sharesave 2006 Invitation booklet

Sharesave 2007 Invitation booklet

Sharesave 2008 Invitation booklet

Sharesave 2009 Invitation booklet

Sharesave 2010 Invitation booklet

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