2008 Stock Granting transaction

Siena – On 19 November, Mps’ shareholders will be asked to pass a resolution on a one-item agenda, namely a stock-granting transaction for the 2008 fiscal year designed to benefit all the employees of Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena S.p.A.. If approved by the shareholders’ meeting, the transaction will be closed through the free offer of approx. € 32.6 million’s worth of Banca Mps’ ordinary shares to be purchased on the market.

Considering all the steps required to complete the transaction by year end, with special emphasis on the requirements related to the purchase of own shares on the market listed in the Regulations of Borsa Italiana S.p.A., as well as the need to comply with the terms and restrictions called for by Articles 5 and 6 of CE Regulation No. 2273/2003, today the Board of Directors of Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena resolved to give the General Manager the power to buy max. 30,000,000 own shares on the market, pending the approval of BMps’ shareholders’ meeting.

Consequently, the purchase transaction is goig to begin on the day immediately following the shareholders’ meeting to be held on 19 November 2009.