BKIR.L Regulatory News (BKIR)

1. Identity of the issuer or the underlying issuer of existing shares to which voting rights are attached:

The Governor and Company of the Bank of Ireland (the "Bank")

2. Reason for the notification (please tick the appropriate box or boxes):

[] an acquisition or disposal of voting rights

[] an acquisition or disposal of financial instruments which may result in the acquisition of shares already issued to which voting rights are attached

[x] an event changing the breakdown of voting rights

3. Full name of person(s) subject to the notification obligation:

National Pensions Reserve Fund Commission (the "NPRFC")

Minister for Finance of Ireland

4. Full name of shareholder(s) (if different from 3.):

National Pensions Reserve Fund Commission

5. Date of the transaction and date on which the threshold is crossed or reached:

The threshold was crossed or reached on 21 February 2011, the date the Bank re-commenced paying dividends on Euro and Sterling Preference Stock.

6. Date on which issuer notified;

3 June 2011

7. Threshold(s) that is/are crossed or reached:

Following the event changing the breakdown of voting rights, the percentage voting rights held by the NPRFC in the Bank has increased from 35.97% to 36.04%. This is an increase of 0.07% of voting rights, and in accordance with the Transparency Rules, has resulted in the crossing of the 36% threshold.

8. Notified details:

9. Chain of controlled undertakings through which the voting rights and/or the financial instruments are effectively held, if applicable:

Ordinary stock of the Bank owned indirectly by the NPRFC is held in the name of BNY Custodial Nominees (Ireland) Limited.

10. In case of proxy voting: [name of the proxy holder] will cease to hold [number] voting rights as of [date].

N/A

11. Additional information:

2009 Preference Stock

The NPRFC holds 1,837,041,304 units of non-cumulative preference stock of €0.01 of the Bank (the "2009 Preference Stock"), which carry voting rights in limited circumstances (as described in this paragraph) in the event of a resolution proposed at a general court of the Bank involving:

(a) the appointment and removal of directors (a "Board Resolution"); and

(b) a proposed change of control of the Bank (being a change in the holding of more than 50% of the voting stock of the Bank or of substantially all of the Bank's business and assets) (a "Control Resolution").

In accordance with the rights attaching to the 2009 Preference Stock, the holder of the 2009 Preference Stock (i.e. the NPRFC) is entitled to exercise the full voting rights attaching to any other stock of the Bank (including ordinary stock) held by it. In the event that the total amount of voting rights attaching to such stock falls below the aggregate number required to enable the holder of the 2009 Preference Stock to cast 25% of the total voting rights capable of being cast in respect of Board Resolutions and Control Resolutions proposed at a general court of the Bank, the 2009 Preference Stock carries the right to "top-up'' the total voting rights of the holder of the 2009 Preference Stock to this level.

The 2009 Preference Stock also entitle the NPRFC to receive a non-cumulative cash dividend at a fixed rate of 10.25 per cent. of the amount paid up on the 2009 Preference Stock (including premium), payable annually in arrears at the discretion of the Bank. If a cash dividend is not paid by the Bank, the Bank shall make a bonus issue of ordinary stock in the Bank (the "Bonus Ordinary Stock") to the NPRFC.

The number of Bonus Ordinary Stock that the Bank would be required to issue to the NPRFC in the event of non-payment of a cash dividend, is calculated by reference to the net amount of the unpaid dividend amount divided by:

(a) 100 per cent. of the average daily closing price of ordinary stock of the Bank on the Irish Stock Exchange over the 30 dealing days immediately preceding the original scheduled dividend declaration date, in the event that the Bonus Ordinary Stock is issued on the originally scheduled dividend payment date; or

(b) 95 per cent. of the average daily closing price of ordinary stock of the Bank on the Irish Stock Exchange over the 30 dealing days immediately preceding the original scheduled dividend declaration date, in the event that that the Bonus Ordinary Stock is issued later than the originally scheduled dividend payment date.

The Bonus Ordinary Stock will rank pari passu with the ordinary stock of the Bank as to voting.

The Bonus Ordinary Stock will be issued on a date determined by the Bank, provided that the date of issue is not later than the date on which the Bank subsequently redeems or repurchases or pays a dividend on the 2009 Preference Stock or any other class of capital stock. If any Bonus Ordinary Stock becomes due, but is not issued to the Bank, the NPRFC will be entitled, at a general court of the Bank, to cast up to the number of votes that would have attached to the Bonus Ordinary Stock had it been so issued on the relevant dividend payment date.

Bank of Ireland is making this notification on receipt of a notification from National Pensions Reserve Fund Commission under the Transparency (Directive 2004/109/EC) Regulations 2007.

Done at Dublin on 3 June 2011.

Contact: Helen Nolan, Group Secretary

Telephone +353 76 6234710