INTESA SANPAOLO ACQUIRES MONTEPASCHI’S DEPOSITARY BANK SERVICES

Torino, Milano, 15 May 2008 – The acquisition on the part of Intesa Sanpaolo of the depositary bank services of Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena at the price of 196.2 million euro was finalised yesterday in accordance with the commitments made by the parties in the agreement signed on 31 March 2008. This acquisition had been agreed upon on 4 June 2007.