AIB/BNY Voted ''Ireland Fund Administrator of the Year''.

LONDON -- AIB/BNY Securities Services (Ireland) Limited (AIB/BNY), the joint venture between Allied Irish Banks plc and The Bank of New York, a global leader in securities servicing, was named "Ireland fund administrator of the year" at the 2006 European Custody & Fund Administration Awards organized by International Custody & Fund Administration magazine.

AIB/BNY was selected by the judges from a record number of entries for the part it has played in meeting its clients' demands, and its leading role in consulting and partnering with the fund administration industry.

The award follows a particularly successful period for AIB/BNY, where it has been successful in winning a number of mandates. The joint venture has grown significantly over the last 10 years and AIB/BNY is now one of Ireland's largest fund administrators, with $187 billion worth of funds under administration in Ireland as at January 31, 2006. Last year AIB/BNY announced plans to open a second office in Cork from April 2006 with the creation of an additional 200 new jobs by the end of 2008, in addition to its Dublin office which currently employs 500 people.

Lorna Sherlock, Managing Director at AIB/BNY Securities Services, comments, "This is a very prestigious award and reflects our excellent position and leadership in servicing the offshore fund administration market. We serve a wide range and size of customers and continue to build our product to meet their unique needs."

The judging panel was chaired by International Custody & Fund Administration editor Jason Conway Roberts and included industry experts such as Stefan Bichsel, president of the European Fund and Asset Management Association; Dr. Werner Frey, CEO of the European Securities Forum; Crispin Henderson, COO of Threadneedle Investments; John Li, chairman, KPMG Luxembourg; and Terry McCaughey, independent advisor for Terry McCaughey Associates.

The AIB/BNY joint venture was established in 1997 and has grown to be one of the largest employers in the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in Dublin with a total of 500 people employed today. It offers a full package of fund administration, fund accounting, shareholder, trustee and other services for Irish and non-Irish domiciled funds.

The Bank of New York Company, Inc. (NYSE: BK) is a global leader in providing a comprehensive array of services that enable institutions and individuals to move and manage their financial assets in more than 100 markets worldwide. The Company has a long tradition of collaborating with clients to deliver innovative solutions through its core competencies: securities servicing, treasury management, investment management, and individual & regional banking services. The Company's extensive global client base includes a broad range of leading financial institutions, corporations, government entities, endowments and foundations. Its principal subsidiary, The Bank of New York, founded in 1784, is the oldest bank in the United States and has consistently played a prominent role in the evolution of financial markets worldwide. Additional information is available at www.bankofny.com.