BMPS has authorised a share capital increase for EUR 950 million

The Board of Directors of Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena SpA ("BMps"), in full execution of the mandate given by the Extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting on 6 March 2008, has authorised a paid share capital increase - with share premium - involving the issue of no. 295,236,070 ordinary shares, entitlement date 1st of January 2008, nominal value per-share € 0,67, for a subscription price per-share of € 3,218 and an aggregate subscription price of € 950,069,673.26.

The share capital increase, with the exclusion of pre-emptive rights, is reserved for subscription to a company of the J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. group ("JPMorgan"), which shall subscribe for the shares in connection with the exchangeable securities (FRESH), whose launch was announced by JPMorgan on 8 April 2008.

As a result of a contract of usufruct (usufrutto) between BMps and JPMorgan, the latter waives, in return for a consideration, the voting rights and the dividend rights attaching to the newly issued shares.

The usufruct shall terminate upon exchange of the exchangeable securities FRESH. As a result of today's resolution of the Board of Directors, BMps' share capital will consist of no. 2,752,500,706 ordinary shares, for a total nominal amount of € 1.844.175.473,02.

The share capital increase is part of the financing plan supporting the acquisition of Banca Antonveneta by BMps.

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