Spanish Market

 

The Spanish CNMV, in an extraordinay session held on September 22, 2008, has agreed, on a temporary basis, that any person or entity holding short positions on shares or participatory assessments of the issuers listed in the schedule set out below (which may be amended at any time by the CNMV) has to make public any short position in the securities listed in this list that exceed 0.25% of the share capital admitted to trading of such issuers. Also, the need to publish variations of these positions before 19:00pm of the day after the change of position, provided that it increases the short position or that it falls below the threshold of 0.25%.

List of financial companies that need to communicate the short positions in the terms outlined:

• Banco de Andalucía
• Banco de Castilla
• Banco de Crédito Balear
• Banco de Galicia
• Banco Guipuzcoano
• Banco Pastor
• Banco Popular Español
• Banco Sabadell
• Banco Santander
• Banco de Valencia
• Banco de Vasconia
• Banco Español de Crédito
• Bankinter
• BBVA
• Caja de Ahorros del Mediterráneo
• Grupo Catalana Occidente
• Mapfre
• Inverfiatc
• Bolsas y Mercados Españoles
• Renta 4

 

Other European markets

Portugal

 

The Portuguese CNMV, in an extraordinary session held on September 19, 2008 has agreed the obligation of any person or entity holding to make any short position in the securities listed below that exceeds 0.25% of the share capital admitted to trading of such issuers. Also the need to publish variations of such positions before the 12:00 pm of the day after the trade, provided that such trade increases the short position or that it falls below the threshold of 0.25%.

List of financial companies that need to communicate the short positions in the terms outlined:

• Banco Comercial Português
• Banco BPI
• Banco Espirito Santo
• Banco Popular
• Banco Santander Central Hispano
• Banif SGPS
• Finibanco Holding
• Espirito Santo Financial Group

 

Netherlands

 

The Dutch AFM, in a special meeting held on September 21, 2008 has agreed the obligation of any person or entity holding to make public any short position in the securities listed below that exceeds 0.25% of the share capital admitted to trading of such issuers. Also the need to publish variations of such positions before the closing of the market on the day after the trade, provided that such trade increases the short position or that if falls bellow the threshold of 0.25%

 

List of financial companies that need to communicate the short positions in the terms outlined:

• AEGON
• BINCK BANK
• FORTIS
• ING GROEP
• KAS BANK
• SNS REAAL
• VAN DER MOOLEN
• VAN LANSCHOT

 

Belgium

The Belgian CBFA, in an extraordinary session held on September 19, 2008 has agreed the obligation of any person or entity holding to make public any short position in the securities listed below that exceeds 0.25% of the share capital admitted to trading of such issuers. Also the need to publish variations of such positions before the 12:00 pm of the day after the trade, provided that such trade increases the short position or that if falls bellow the threshold of 0.25%

List of financial companies that need to communicate the short positions in the terms outlined:

• DEXIA SA
• FORTIS NV/SA
• KBC GROEP NV
• KBC ANCORA SCA
• ING GROEP NV

 

France

The French Authorite de Marches Financiers, in a special meeting held on September 21, 2008 has agreed the obligation of any person or entity holding to make public any short position in the securities listed below that exceeds 0.25% of the share capital admitted to trading of such issuers. Also the need to publish variations of such positions before the closing of the market on the day after the trade, provided that such trade increases the short position or that it falls below the threshold of 0.25%.

List of financial companies that need to communicate the short positions in the terms outlined:

 

• AEGON
• BINCK BANK
• FORTIS
• ING GROEP
• KAS BANK
• SNS REAAL
• VAN DER MOOLEN
• VAN LANSCHOT