HELEX 2009 Financial Statements

ATHENS, Greece, March 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of HELLENIC EXCHANGES S.A., at its meeting today, approved the financial statements for the period from 1.1.2009 to 31.12.2009, and has decided to propose to the next Annual General Meeting of shareholders, which will take place on May 19th 2010, the distribution of EUR0.22 per share as ordinary dividend. In addition, the HELEX BoD decided to propose the distribution of EUR0.13 per share as extraordinary dividend (share capital return). The record date and payment date for the extraordinary dividend will be decided by the General Meeting of the Company's shareholders. The Company will inform investors about the exact dates, as soon as they are determined.

The consolidated net after tax profits of HELEX in 2009 amounted to EUR29.5m. On a comparable basis, i.e. excluding the extraordinary tax of EUR12.1m (Law 3808/2009), imposed on the total net profits for fiscal year 2009 of the companies of the Group, the net after tax profit amounted to EUR41.6m vs. EUR65.0m in 2008, reduced by 36%.

The consolidated turnover of the Group dropped by 28%, to EUR78.3m vs. EUR108.4m in 2008.

This reduction is exclusively due to the drop in share prices, as the volume of transactions (number of shares traded) increased by 20% in 2009 compared to 2008 (11.5 vs. 9.6bn shares). The total value of transactions in 2009 amounted to EUR50.9bn vs. EUR78.2nn in 2008, reduced by 35%.

During 2009, the Group also posted non-recurring revenue of EUR1.8m from the claim on the tax paid on the Capital Market Commission fee in fiscal year 2000. In 2008, the Group had recorded EUR7.0m in non-recurring revenue.

Total operating expenses before depreciation were significantly reduced for the fifth straight year. In particular, operating expenses amounted to EUR23.1m vs. EUR26.3m in 2008, reduced by 12%.

The Group's EBIT in 2009 amounted to EUR50.2m vs. EUR80.6m in 2008, reduced by 38%.

The net profits per share in 2009, after the extraordinary tax, amounted to EUR0.45 vs. EUR0.92 in 2008.

HELEX's financial statements are posted on the Company's website (http://www.helex.gr).

SOURCE HELLENIC EXCHANGES S.A.