BOC to join FTSE/ATHEX 40 index

Bank of Cyprus shares trading in Greece will join the FTSE/ATHEX 40 index as of April 2006 following a decision by FTSE International to change its rules in order to allow the listing of titles whose headquarters are not in Greece.

BOC, which is currently ranked as 14th largest market cap stock in Greece has a good chance of inclusion in the FTSE/ATHEX 20 blue chip index in the event that such an opening becomes applicable after April 2006.

According to the FTSE/ATHEX rules, new inclusions in the FTSE/ATHEX 20 is not possible for stocks that are not among the first 10 largest cap stocks. This means that with the first opportunity, BOC is ideally placed to enter the blue chip index.

The Bank’s shares however will be included in the FTSE/ATHEX International index as of January 2006, when the index will make its debut.