Milan, 22 December 2005 - Banca Intesa and Crédit Agricole SA have announced that having obtained approval from the authorities concerned, the strategic agreement relating to asset management announced on 30 May has become operational as of today.

Crédit Agricole Asset Management, a subsidiary of the Crédit Agricole group, has acquired 65% of Nextra Investment Management (‘Nextra'), which was previously wholly owned by the Intesa group. Intesa will maintain a 35% stake in the company.[...]