Xstrata Plc Will Replace Abbey National And Share Increase For Banco Santander Central Hispano SA In The S&P European Indices

Standard & Poor’s will make the following changes in the S&P Europe 350, S&P Euro Plus, S&P Euro, S&P United Kingdom and S&P Global 100 Indices effective the close of trading Friday, November 12, 2004:

• Xstrata Plc (United Kingdom, SEDOL 3141100, GICS: Materials, GICS Code: 15104020) will replace Abbey National (United Kingdom, SEDOL 0004455) in the S&P Europe 350 and S&P United Kingdom indices after the close of trading on Friday, November 12, 2004. Abbey National is being removed from the S&P Europe 350 and S&P United Kingdom Indices following the company’s acquisition by fellow index constituent Banco Santander Central Hispano SA in a cash and share deal. The acquisition is still subject to a second court hearing on 11 November 2004.

  Xstrata Plc, a mining group headquartered in Switzerland but incorporated in the UK, operates in Australia, South Africa, Germany, Argentina and the United Kingdom. The company explores for and mines a diverse range of substances, including: copper, coking coal, thermal coal, ferrochrome, zinc, gold, lead and silver. The number of shares outstanding is 631,502,416 and the Investable Weight Factor will be 0.5983. The company will be added to the S&P Europe 350 GICS (Global Industry Classification Standard) Diversified Metals & Mining sub-industry.

• Banco Santander Central Hispano (Spain, SEDOL 5705946, GICS: Financials, GICS Code: 40101010), a member of the S&P Europe 350, S&P Euro Plus, S&P Euro Indices and S&P Global 100 indices, shares will increase by 1,475,314,176 to 6,243,717,176 following the acquisition of Abbey National.

Following is a summary of the announced changes:

S&P Europe 350, S&P United Kingdom – close of trading Nov. 12 2004
	COMPANY	GICS ECONOMIC SECTOR	GICS SUB-INDUSTRY
ADDED	Xstrata Plc	Materials	Diversified Metals & Mining
DELETED	Abbey National Plc	Financials	Diversified Banks

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