The Board of Directors of HELLENIC EXCHANGES HOLDING S.A. (HELEX) approved today the financial statements for the fiscal year 2005 and decided to propose to the forthcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) of its shareholders, which shall take place on May 8th 2006, an ordinary dividend payment of Euro 0.25 per share vs. Euro 0.20 per share for the previous fiscal year. Furthermore, the BoD decided to propose to the AGM a capital return of Euro 1.25 per share, with an equivalent decrease of the nominal value per share from Euro 3 to Euro 1.75. It is noted that during 2005, the company paid Euro 2.05 per share as a capital return. According to the consolidated P&L account, the net profit after taxes amounted to Euro 27.1 ml., vs. Euro 33.6 ml. in 2004, a decrease of 19%. It should be noted that during 2004 the Group realized one-off profits of 24.0 ml. from the liquidation of its stock portfolio. The consolidated turnover, during 2005 amounted to Euro 73.8 ml. vs.Euro 60.9 ml. in 2004, an increase of 21%. The operating cost of the Group, excluding depreciation, was Euro 28.1 ml. in 2005 vs. Euro 33.8 ml. in 2004, a reduction of 17%. The operating results of the Group (EBIT) were Euro 38.6 ml. vs. Euro 20.0 ml. in 2004, an increase of 93%.