26th Jun 2007 15:38
Aviva PLC26 June 2007 FINAL NOT FOR PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION OR RELEASE IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES,AUSTRALIA, CANADA OR JAPAN News release 26 June 2007 AVIVA BPI SHARE SALE FUNDS JV Aviva plc ("Aviva") announces that it has sold 10.4 million shares in BancaPopolare Italiana ("BPI"), raising approximately €116 million (£78 million*). The sale of BPI shares by Aviva follows the announcement on 21 June that Avivawill enter into a new bancassurance partnership in Italy with Banco Popolare,the new banking group to be created by the merger of BPI and Banco Popolare diVerona e Novara. Morgan Stanley & Co International plc acted as bookrunner for the sale. - ends - * At an exchange rate of 1.484 Euro/GBP Enquiries: MediaSue Winston, head of group media relations +44 (0)20 7662 8221James Murgatroyd/Ed Simpkins, Finsbury +44 (0)207 251 3801 AnalystsCharles Barrows, investor relations director +44 (0)20 7662 8115 Notes to editors: • On 21 June Aviva announced that it is to form a joint venture withBanco Popolare in Italy. Under the terms of the new, long-term arrangementAviva will hold 50% of the share capital of Novara Assicura, which will becomeBanco Popolare's non-life insurance subsidiary. In addition, Aviva willexclusively be able to offer protection and non-life insurance products to morethan five million Banco Popolare customers through the bank's network ofapproximately 2,200 branches across northern Italy. • Aviva is the leading provider of life and pensions to Europe withsubstantial positions in other markets around the world, making it the world'sfifth largest insurance group based on gross worldwide premiums at 31 December2005. • Aviva's principal business activities are long-term savings, fundmanagement and general insurance, with worldwide total sales of £41.5 billionand assets under management of £364 billion at 31 December 2006. • The Aviva media centre at www.aviva.com/media includes images, companyand product information and a news release archive. This announcement has been issued by Aviva plc and is the sole responsibility ofAviva plc. This press release does not in any manner constitute nor should it becharacterized, considered or regarded as an invitation to the public to investor as an invitation for collection of the public's savings nor an advertisement,notification, statement or announcement soliciting investment in the shares ofBPI. THIS PRESS RELEASE IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUYANY OF THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN. This communication is for distribution only to and is directed only at personsfalling within Article 19(5) or Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of The FinancialServices and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended, aspersons having professional experience in matters relating to investments ormeeting the asset tests set out in Article 49 and to persons to whom it mayotherwise lawfully be passed on (all such persons together being referred to as"relevant persons"). This document must not be acted on or relied on by personswho are not relevant persons. Any investment or investment activity to whichthis document relates is available only to relevant persons and will be engagedin only with relevant persons. Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc is acting for Aviva plc and no-one elsein relation to the sale and will not be responsible to any person other thanAviva plc for providing the protections afforded to clients of Morgan Stanley &Co. International plc or for providing advice in relation to the sale or inrelation to the contents of this announcement or any other transaction,arrangement or matter referred to herein. This announcement is not for publication, distribution or release in the UnitedStates, Australia, Canada or Japan. The ordinary shares in BPI referred to inthis announcement have not been, and will not be, registered under the USSecurities Act of 1933 and may not be offered or sold in the United Statesabsent registration or an exemption from registration. There will be no publicoffering of the securities referred to in this announcement in the United States." This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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