MPS Group takes first step towards Antonveneta by entrusting transition to Giuseppe Menzi

Monte dei Paschi’s Senior Deputy General Manager to supervise the Banca Antonveneta acquisition process, pending a formal definition of the deal

SIENA, November 29th, 2007 – The Mps Group takes its first step towards Banca Antonveneta. Today Mr. Giuseppe Menzi, Senior Deputy General Manager of Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, was entrusted by by the Board with the task of directly supervising Antonveneta’s acquisition process and ownership takeover. Born in Turin (Italy) 57 years ago, Mr. Menzi served as the General Manager of Banca Agricola Mantovana following its acquisition by the Mps Group until mid 2006, when he became the Group’s Senior Deputy General Manager. He will be in charge of reorganizing the structure and of supervising the merger of Banca Antonveneta into the Mps Group, pending a formal definition of the deal early in 2008.