Barclays Plc is considering selling its Egyptian unit after abandoning a plan to fold it into its Africa business, according to people with knowledge of the plan. The unit, whose presence in Egypt dates back to 1864, may be worth more than USD500 million, according to one source. No final decision has been made on a sale, which may attract domestic buyers from the region, sources said. Barclays Africa Group Ltd., the Johannesburg-based lender controlled by Barclays, said in December 2015 that talks to buy Egyptian and Zimbabwean operations from the parent failed because they could not agree on a price. Barclays Plc owns 62% of Barclays Africa. The group’s CEO Jes Staley, seeking to focus on the most profitable businesses in the UK and the US, is weighing whether to keep emerging-market businesses amidst concerns over slowing economic growth. The bank will separately debate the future of its Africa business at meetings in London, with options including a sale of the entire stake, according to sources. Barclays may decide to sell part of Barclays Bank Egypt, including the real estate business, according to one source. The unit, which employs 1,500 people, has 56 branches in cities including Cairo, Giza and Alexandria with a focus on retail banking. (Bloomberg)