Bank of Ireland Group plc (the "Group")

Final transaction clearance for acquisition of certain assets and liabilities of KBC Ireland

The Group welcomes the approval by the Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe TD, of the Group's acquisition of certain assets and liabilities of KBC Bank Ireland plc ("KBCI") as previously outlined in the Group's 22 October 2021 announcement. The Ministerial Order is subject to the provisions contained in Part III of the Central Bank Act 1971 and this is the final required approval in respect of this acquisition.

Bank of Ireland continues to work closely with KBC to ensure a smooth and seamless transfer of customers. As previously updated in our H122 results, we expect this transaction to close by end Q1 2023.

Ends

For further information please contact:

Bank of Ireland

Mark Spain, Group Chief Financial Officer                                                                   +353 1 2508900 ext 43291

Eamonn Hughes, Chief Sustainability & Investor Relations Officer                       +353 (0)87 2026325

Darach O'Leary, Head of Group Investor Relations                                                    +353 (0)87 9480650 

Damien Garvey, Head of Group External Communications and Public Affairs     +353 (0)86 8314435

Forward Looking Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements with respect to certain of the Bank of Ireland Group plc (the 'Company' or 'BOIG plc') and its subsidiaries' (collectively the 'Group' or 'BOIG plc Group') plans and its current goals and expectations relating to its future financial condition and performance, the markets in which it operates and its future capital requirements. These forward-looking statements often can be identified by the fact that they do not relate only to historical or current facts. 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, but their absence does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.  

Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others: statements regarding the Group's near term and longer term future capital requirements and ratios, level of ownership by the Irish Government, LDRs, expected impairment charges, the level of the Group's assets, the Group's financial position, future income, business strategy, projected costs, margins, future payment of dividends, the implementation of changes in respect of certain of the Group's pension schemes, estimates of capital expenditures, discussions with Irish, UK, European and other regulators, plans and objectives for future operations, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic particularly on certain of the above issues and generally on the global and domestic economies. Such forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, and hence actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those as set out in the Risk Management Report in the Group's Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2021. Investors should also read 'Principal Risks and Uncertainties' in the Group's Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2021 beginning on p 138.

Nothing in this announcement should be considered to be a forecast of future profitability, dividend forecast or financial position of the Group and none of the information in this announcement is or is intended to be a profit forecast, dividend forecast, or profit estimate. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as at the date it is made. The Group does not undertake to release publicly any revision to these forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances or unanticipated events occurring after the date hereof.