Barclays Bank Plc launches $2.5 bln of perpetuals-source

NEW YORK, April 8 (Reuters) - Barclays Bank Plc launched on
Tuesday its sale of $2.5 billion in perpetuals, said a source
familiar with the transaction.

The deal was launched with a 8.125 percent coupon, and is
expected to price later on Tuesday through joint lead managers
Citigroup, Barclays, Merrill Lynch, UBS and Wachovia.
(Reporting by Pam Niimi)