BKIR.L Regulatory News (BKIR)

Significant Investment in Bank of Ireland

Following the announcement by the State on 25 July 2011 of an investment of up to €1.123bn by a group of significant institutional investors and fund managers, Bank of Ireland is now able to confirm that the investors are led by Fairfax Financial Holdings  and include WL Ross, Capital Research (part of The Capital Group), Fidelity Investments and Kennedy Wilson. The Bank has been advised that each of these investors will manage their individual stockholdings independently.

Following initial contacts with Kennedy Wilson and then with Fairfax Financial Holdings, the Bank made presentations to and facilitated detailed due diligence by each of these investors in relation to the Bank's business and investment strategy and progress made in restructuring and repositioning itself, including the Bank's pivotal role in helping revitalise the Irish economy.

Following the completion today of the Rights Issue Rump Placement the combined shareholding of these investors will be 34.9 per cent, subject to the satisfaction of certain regulatory and other conditions.

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Unless otherwise defined, capitalised terms used in this announcement have the same meaning as in the Prospectus published on 18 June 2011.

This announcement is not and should not be read as an offer to acquire or sell or exchange securities in connection with the Rights Issue or otherwise. It is not a prospectus or a prospectus "equivalent" document. Any investment in respect of the Rights Issue by a Qualifying Stockholder should only be made on the basis of information contained in or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus and the Supplementary Prospectus. Qualifying Stockholders should also read, in full, the risk factors set out in the Prospectus published by the Bank relating to the Proposals.

The securities that may be offered in the Debt for Equity Offers or the Rights Issue have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "US Securities Act") or the securities laws of any State or other jurisdictions of the United States, or any other Excluded Territory and may not be offered or sold in the United States or any other Excluded Territory or to US Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the US Securities Act) absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements of the US Securities Act and in compliance with any applicable securities laws of any State or other jurisdiction of the United States or any other Excluded Territory. There will be no public offer in the United States or in any Excluded Territory.

This announcement is not for distribution, directly or indirectly, to US Persons or, in or into the United States, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Japan, Canada or Switzerland or any other state or jurisdiction in which it would be unlawful to do so.

Neither the content of Bank of Ireland's website nor any website accessible by hyperlinks on Bank of Ireland's website is incorporated in, or forms part of, this announcement.

The distribution of this announcement and/or any other documents related to any offering of securities or the transfer or offering of securities to US Persons or into jurisdictions other than Ireland and the United Kingdom may be restricted by law. Persons into whose possession this announcement comes should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

This announcement contains or incorporates by reference certain "forward looking statements" regarding the belief or current expectations of the Group, the Directors and other members of its senior management about the Bank's financial condition, results of operations and business and the transactions described in the Prospectus. Generally, but not always, words such as "may", "could", "should", "will", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "assume", "believe", "plan", "seek", "continue", "target", "goal", "would" or their negative variations or similar expressions identify forward looking statements. Such forward looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Rather, they are based on current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the control of the Bank and are difficult to predict, that may cause the actual results, performance, achievements or developments of the Group or the industries in which it operates to differ materially from any future results, performance, achievements or developments expressed or implied from the forward looking statements. A number of material factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward looking statements.

None of the Minister for Finance, the Department of Finance, the Irish Government, the National Pensions Reserve Fund Commission, the National Treasury Management Agency or any person controlled by or controlling any such person, or any entity or agency of or related to the Irish State, or any director, officer, official, employee or adviser (including without limitation legal and financial advisors) of any such person (each such person, a "Relevant Person") accepts any responsibility for the contents of, or makes any representation or warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or fairness of any information in, this announcement or any document referred to in this announcement or any supplement or amendment thereto (each a "Transaction Document"). Each Relevant Person expressly disclaims any liability whatsoever for any loss howsoever arising from, or in reliance upon, the whole or any part of the contents of any Transaction Document. No Relevant Person has authorised or will authorise the contents of any Transaction Document, or has recommended or endorsed the merits of the offering of securities or any other course of action contemplated by any Transaction Document.