Project to reorganise UGF Group insurance business completed. "UGF Assicurazioni S.p.A." will be operational as from 1 February 2009

Today's execution of the merger and hive-down deeds brings to a close the project to reorganise UGF insurance business, of which the market was informed on 26 June 2008.

The following will take effect on 1 February 2009:

• the merger of Aurora Assicurazioni S.p.A. and Unipol Assicurazioni S.p.A., which will form a single large insurance company – the third largest in the Italian market – and take the name of 'UGF Assicurazioni S.p.A.';
• the hive-down to UGF Assicurazioni of the class of business of the holding company Unipol Gruppo Finanziario S.p.A. dealing with insurance services;