NCSD becomes Euroclear Finland and Euroclear Sweden

Brussels, Helsinki and Stockholm, 9 February 2009 - Euroclear Finland Oy and Euroclear Sweden AB are today the official names of the central securities depositories (CSDs) of Finland and Sweden. Formerly known as Suomen Arvopaperikeskus Oy (APK) and VPC AB (VPC), respectively, together they formed Nordic Central Securities Depository (NCSD) which Euroclear acquired in November 2008. These name changes forge a common identity with the other group entities of Euroclear Belgium, Euroclear France, Euroclear Nederland, Euroclear UK & Ireland and the international CSD, Euroclear Bank.

The transaction-processing platforms of Euroclear Sweden and Euroclear Finland will be fully integrated within the Euroclear group immediately after the launch of the Single Platform in 2011. It will then be possible for clients of these CSDs to access the post-trade infrastructure covering all seven EU markets served by Euroclear as efficiently and cost effectively as in their respective home markets. Harmonised market rules and practices will reduce cross-border transaction complexities and deliver sizeable client back-office synergies and cost savings.

Kjell Arvidsson, Chairman of the Boards of Euroclear Finland and Euroclear Sweden, commented: “The Euroclear group is eliminating artificial boundaries and avoidable costs for clients conducting securities deals across national borders, often involving a multitude of intermediaries and different processing methods. Clients of Euroclear Sweden, Euroclear Finland and beyond can together expect to reap back-office savings of more than EUR 300 million per year.”

The seven Euroclear group CSDs represent approximately 65% of the Eurotop 300 equity markets. When including Euroclear Bank, the international CSD, the group covers over 50% of all European domestic debt outstanding.

Notes

Based on year-end 2007 data, the combined Euroclear group settled the equivalent of more than EUR 575 trillion in securities transactions, representing 198 million domestic and cross-border transactions, and held more than EUR 20 trillion in assets for clients. NCSD and the Euroclear group are interoperable with multiple CSDs and clearing houses, and serve various multi-lateral trading facilities and stock exchanges including NASDAQ OMX, NYSE Euronext, the London Stock Exchange, Chi-X, among others.

Once completed, Euroclear’s Single Platform will be an integrated post-trade processing platform settling domestic and cross-border transactions involving securities issued in Belgium, Finland, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom, as well as the wide range of international securities serviced by Euroclear Bank. A new Common Communications Interface is being developed in parallel so that all clients of the Euroclear group will access the Single Platform using the same gateway via common communication standards (ISO 15022 and ISO 20022). Euroclear has designed the Single Platform as a multi-jurisdictional and multi-currency solution that will allow clients to settle securities transactions in central bank or commercial bank money, as they choose. The Single Platform will meet client needs for all types of CSD and ICSD processing requirements including corporate-action processing, collateral management, and securities lending and borrowing transactions. Euroclear provides domestic and cross-border settlement and related services for bond, equity, derivatives and fund transactions. User owned and user governed, the Euroclear group comprises Euroclear Bank, based in Brussels, as well as Euroclear Belgium, Euroclear Finland, Euroclear France, Euroclear Nederland, Euroclear Sweden and Euroclear UK & Ireland. Euroclear also owns EMXCo, a leading provider of investment-fund order routing in the UK. Euroclear Bank is rated AA+ by Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings.