INTESA SANPAOLO FINALISES DISPOSAL OF 78 BRANCHES TO BANCA CARIGE

Torino, Milano, 7 March 2008 – Today, after having obtained the necessary authorisations, the branch disposal hereafter detailed has been finalised and will come into effect as of 10 March 2008. 78 branches have been sold to Banca Carige for a total consideration of €996 million in the provinces of Torino (14), Aosta (1), Como (19), Pavia (6), Venezia (18), Padova (15), Rovigo (1) and Sassari (4).

The finalisation of this transaction follows the disposals of 36 branches to Veneto Banca of 14 February last and 35 branches to the Credito Valtellinese Group, 6 branches to Banca Popolare Alto Adige and 43 branches to Banca Popolare di Bari of 21 February last and is the third and final step in the fulfilment of the sale-and-purchase framework agreements signed on 5 October 2007, subsequently amended and integrated, which relate to the disposal of 198 branches of the Intesa Sanpaolo Group. The above is in compliance with decision No. 16249 issued by the Italian Competition Authority on 20 December 2006 relative to the Banca Intesa and Sanpaolo IMI merger.