Borsa Italiana signed an agreement to purchase

Borsa Italiana signed today an agreement to purchase the 51% stake in MBE Holding owned by Euronext NV.

With this transaction, Borsa Italiana (that already owns the 49% of MBE Holding) becomes the sole shareholder of the company.

MBE Holding owns the 60.37% of MTS S.p.A.

Within this transaction, MTS will acquire from Euronext Paris SA the 33.33% of the share capital of MTSNext Ltd, currently controlled by MTS S.p.A. with a 66.67% stake.

Under the terms of the agreement, NYSE Euronext’s 51% stake in MBE Holding and 33% stake in MTSNext are valued at €100 million (dividend attached).

With this acquisition, Borsa Italiana aims to increase its presence in wholesale bond trading and to enhance the value of MTS' business, also thanks to the recent agreement for a combination with the London Stock Exchange.

The closing of the transaction is expected by mid-September 2007.

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