Barclays Announces Reverse Split Of IPath® S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures™ Exchange Traded Notes

Barclays Bank PLC announced today that it will implement a 1 for 4 reverse split of its iPath ^® S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ^TM Exchange Traded Notes (the “Notes”) effective Tuesday, November 9, 2010. The Notes trade on the NYSE Arca under the ticker symbol VXX and on the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) under ticker symbols VXX and VXX.U. Barclays Bank PLC has the right (but not the obligation) to initiate such a reverse split if the closing indicative value of the Notes falls below $25.00 on any business day, as described in the pricing supplement relating to the Notes. On October 25, 2010, the closing indicative value of the Notes was $12.68.

The record date for the reverse split will be the close of business, New York time, on November 8, 2010. The closing indicative value of the Notes on the record date will be multiplied by four to determine the reverse-split adjusted value of the Notes. The reverse split will be effective at the open of trading on November 9, 2010 and the Notes will begin trading on the NYSE Arca and the TSX on a reverse-split adjusted basis on such date. The reverse-split adjusted Notes will have a new CUSIP, but will retain the same ticker symbols.

Investors who, as of the record date, hold a number of Notes that is not divisible by four will receive one reverse-split adjusted Note for every four Notes held on the record date and a cash payment for any odd number of Notes remaining (the “partials”). The cash amount due on any partials will be determined on November 16, 2010, based on the closing indicative value of the reverse-split adjusted Notes on such date and will be paid by Barclays Bank PLC on November 19, 2010.

For more information regarding the reverse split process, see the pricing supplement relating to the Notes under the heading “Valuation of the ETNs—Split or Reverse Split” and the Frequently Asked Questions document “iPath ^® ETNs Splits and Reverse Splits.” The pricing supplement can be found on EDGAR, the SEC website at: www.sec.gov. The pricing supplement and Frequently Asked Questions are also available on www.iPathETN.com.

About Barclays

Barclays is a major global financial services provider engaged in retail banking, credit cards, corporate and investment banking and wealth management with an extensive international presence in Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia. With over 300 years of history and expertise in banking, Barclays operates in over 50 countries and employs nearly 147,000 people. Barclays moves, lends, invests and protects money for 48 million customers and clients worldwide.