The Athens Exchange announces that, as of 24.12.2002, and in accordance with the tax exemptions introduced by the Law 3091/2002 (GOVERNMENT GAZETTE 330 A/24.12.2002) regarding the Market Makers activating in the securities and derivatives markets of the Athens Exchange, the tax of 3% o of the article 9 paragraph 2 of the Law 2579/1998 has been repealed.

Consequently, on the basis of the said law, the tax levied on the sale of securities listed on the Athens Exchange through brokerage is not levied on the sale of such shares if they are carried out by:

a. The Market Makers of the Main Market, the Parallel Market and the New Market of the Athens Exchange, in the frame of the undertaken, case by case, market making, on the conditions that the said sales are cleared through the special account that is kept on their behalf by the Central Securities Depository and

b. Type B Market Makers of the Derivatives Market of the Athens Exchange, regarding the covering of risks that result from the execution of market making obligations, on the condition that the said sales are cleared through the special account that is kept on their behalf by the Central Securities Depository

The specific tax exemptions are expected to contribute to the strengthening of the operation of the institution of Market Making both in the securities markets and the derivatives markets of the Athens Exchange, so that the said institution further contributes to the strengthening of liquidity and the development of these markets.