BRUSSELS and NEN YORK, 20 February 2008 — Euroclear Bank has selected The Bank of New York Mellon's Treasury Services to provide multi-currency payment and foreign-exchange services for five currencies in the Middle East and Africa. Effective 25 February 2008, the following currencies will be eligible as settlement currencies in Euroclear Bank:

• United Arab Emirates Dirham (ISO currency code: AED)
• Saudi Arabian Riyal (SAR)
• Qatari Riyal (QAR)
• Bahraini Dinar (BHD)
• Egyptian Pound (EGP)

Luc Vantomme, Managing Director and Euroclear Bank's Head of Network Management and Banking, stated: "Euroclear Bank clients have a greatly expanded network of currencies in which to do business via a tried-and-trusted agent with local market expertise. The decision to select The Bank of New York Mellon as a global cash network provider for these new settlement currencies is based on its exemplary record in providing service completeness, coupled with highly competitive local market deadlines for money transfers. It also marks an important step for issuers from the increasingly important financial centres across the Arabian peninsula and in Egypt to attract global investors to settle international securities trades in these currencies. Furthermore, our clients can expect an even better and broader service offering in 2008, with more currencies currently under consideration."

Eric D. Kamback, Executive Vice President and Deputy Head of Treasury Services at The Bank of New York Mellon, said: "We are particularly pleased that we are able to provide multi-currency payment services to Euroclear Bank. This mandate strengthens and expands our Treasury Services relationship with Euroclear Bank. The Bank of New York Mellon has developed a unique position in providing these payment services in a large array of currencies worldwide."

The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation is a global financial services company focused on helping clients manage and service their financial assets, operating in 34 countries and serving more than 100 markets. The company is a leading provider of financial services for institutions, corporations and high-net-worth individuals, providing superior asset management and wealth management, asset servicing, issuer services, clearing services and treasury services through a worldwide client-focused team. It has more than $20 trillion in assets under custody and administration, more than $1.1 trillion in assets under management and services $11 trillion in outstanding debt.

Euroclear is the world's largest provider of domestic and cross-border settlement and related services for bond, equity, derivatives and fund transactions. With the addition of these five currencies, Euroclear Bank now offers clients the choice of processing transactions in 42 different currencies. More than 350,000 securities denominated in 44 different currencies are eligible for settlement at Euroclear Bank. User owned and user governed, the Euroclear group comprises the international central securities depository (CSD) Euroclear Bank, based in Brussels, as well as national CSDs Euroclear Belgium, Euroclear France, Euroclear Nederland and Euroclear UK & Ireland. Euroclear also owns EMXCo, the UK's leading provider of investment-fund order routing. The total value of securities transactions settled by the Euroclear group is in excess of EUR 450 trillion per annum, while assets held for clients are valued at more than EUR 18 trillion. Euroclear Bank is rated AA+ by Standard & Poor's and Fitch Ratings.