IL PRESENTE COMUNICATO NON È DESTINATO ALLA PUBBLICAZIONE, DISTRIBUZIONE O CIRCOLAZIONE, DIRETTA O INDIRETTA, NEGLI STATI UNITI D’AMERICA, CANADA, AUSTRALIA O GIAPPONE O IN QUALSIASI ALTRO PAESE NEL QUALE L’OFFERTA O LA VENDITA SIANO VIETATE IN CONFORMITÀ ALLE LEGGI APPLICABILI O AI SOGGETTI IVI RESIDENTI

NOT FOR PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, OR INTO, THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, JAPAN, AUSTRALIA, OR IN THE OTHER COUNTRIES WHERE THE OFFERS OR SALES OF SECURITIES WOULD BE FORBIDDEN UNDER APPLICABLE LAWS OR TO RESIDENTS THEREOF

PRESS RELEASE

ITALIAN SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (CONSOB) APPROVES PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT FOR BANCA CARIGE'S RIGHTS ISSUE OF UP TO 726,216,456 ORDINARY SHARES

PUBLICATION OF PROSPECTUS AND SUPPLEMENT

Genoa, 5 June 2015 – Further to the press releases issued on 3 June 2015 and 4 June 2015, Banca Carige S.p.A. announces that the Italian Securities and Exchange Commission, Consob, has today approved, by way of the Note registered under protocol no. 0045658/15 of 5 June 2015, the Supplement to the Prospectus containing the final terms (approved by the Board of Directors on 4 June 2015) for the Rights Issue for Banca Carige's ordinary and savings shareholders, and admission to trading on the Electronic Stock Market (Mercato Telematico Azionario), organised and managed by Borsa Italiana S.p.A., of Banca Carige's ordinary shares arising from the capital increase for a maximum amount of EUR 850 mln, which was approved by the Extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting of 23 April 2015 and effected following the resolution adopted by the Board of Directors on 4 June 2015.

Banca Carige S.p.A. announces that the Registration Document, Informative Note and Summary Note (which jointly constitute the Prospectus for Banca Carige's rights issue of ordinary shares) are available to the public, together with the Prospectus Supplement, at the Company's registered office in , via Cassa di Risparmio 15 and on the corporate website (www.gruppocarige.it).

Below is a preview of the Notice which will be published tomorrow, Saturday 6 June 2015, under the terms and within the deadlines set out by regulations in force.

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NOTICE OF PUBLICATION OF PROSPECTUS AND PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT IN RELATION TO THE RIGHTS ISSUE FOR ORDINARY AND SAVINGS SHAREHOLDERS AND ADMISSION TO TRADING OF UP TO 726,216,456 BANCA CARIGE ORDINARY SHARES under the combined provisions of art. 31 of Regulation (EC) no. 809/2004, art. 9, para. 5, and art. 56, para. 5, of Consob Regulation no. 11971/1999 as subsequently amended and supplemented

Banca Carige S.p.A. (“Banca Carige”, the “Company” or the “Issuer”) announces publication of the Registration Document, Informative Note and Summary Note (collectively the “Prospectus”) and Supplement to the Prospectus (the “Supplement”) relating to the rights issue for ordinary and savings shareholders and admission to trading on the Electronic Stock Market (Mercato Telematico Azionario) organised and managed by Borsa Italiana S.p.A. of up to 726,216,456 Banca Carige ordinary shares. In particular, the Prospectus includes: (i) the Registration Document filed with the Italian Securities and Exchange Commission, Consob, on 5 June 2015, following approval notified with Note registered under protocol no. 0045384/15 of 4 June 2015, (ii) the Informative Note filed with Consob on 5 June 2015, following approval notified with Note registered under protocol no. 0045366/15 of 4 June 2015, (iii) the Summary Note

filed with Consob on 5 June 2015, following approval notified with Note registered under protocol no. 0045366/15 of 4 June 2015, and (iv) the Supplement filed with Consob on 5 June 2015, following approval notified with Note registered under protocol no. 0045658/15 of 5 June 2015. The publication of the Prospectus and Supplement does not imply any opinion by Consob as to the opportunity of the proposed investment and the merits of the information and data relating thereto. In order to make a proper assessment of the investment, investors are requested to carefully consider the paragraph “Warnings” of the Registration Document, together with the specific risk factors relating to the Issuer, Group companies and business sectors in which they operate, as set out in Chapter III of the Registration Document, as well as the specific risk factors associated with the financial instruments offered, as described in Chapter II of the Informative Note. The Warnings and Risk Factors should be read in conjunction with all other information contained in the Prospectus and Supplement. Capitalised terms used herein but not expressly defined, shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Prospectus and/or Supplement.

Issuer's registered and trading name Banca Carige S.p.A. – Cassa di Risparmio di Genova e Imperia or, in abbreviated form, Carige S.p.A. Registered Office in Via Cassa di Risparmio 15, 16123, Genoa. Share capital Euro 2,580,818,989.13 fully paid-in, Tax Code, V.A.T. and Genoa Companies’ Register no. 03285880104. Parent Company of the CARIGE Group - ABI code: 6175.4 - www.gruppocarige.it

Description of the Offering and Financial Instruments offered The Offering, for a total amount of up to EUR 849,673,253.52, relates to up to 726,216,456 New Shares arising from the Capital Increase. The New Shares shall be offered pre-emptively to Banca Carige's ordinary and savings shareholders, at Offer Price, in the allotment ratio of 7 New Shares for every Ordinary and/or Savings Shares held. New Shares will have the same characteristics and will carry the same rights as the Ordinary Shares of Banca Carige traded on the MTA and outstanding on the date of their issuance. New Shares shall be issued in dematerialised form, registered in the name of the holder, freely transferable, with no indication of par value, qualifying for regular dividend entitlement as at the date of their issuance and subject to the provisions for dematerialisation set out under art. 83-bis et seq. of the Italian Consolidated Law on Finance and related implementing regulations and will be admitted to the centralised securities clearing system managed by Monte Titoli. New Shares will be identified under ISIN code IT0005108763 and will have coupon no. 2 attached to them. Pre-emptive Rights for share subscription are identified under ISIN code IT0005117871.

Timetable and target subscribers for the Offering The Offering Period runs from 8 June 2015 to 25 June 2015 (inclusive). Pre-emptive Rights, entitling holders to subscribe for New Shares shall, under penalty of forfeiture, be exercised by the eligible holders during the Rights Exercise Period through the authorised intermediaries registered with the centralised securities clearing system who shall provide instructions to the Monte Titoli by no later than 15:30 on the last day of the Offering Period. Consequently, each subscriber shall submit a specific subscription application under the terms and by the deadlines notified by the authorised intermediary acting as depositary, to ensure compliance with the above term. A facsimile of the subscription form will also be available for intermediaries upon request at the registered office of the Issuer and on Banca Carige's corporate website, www.gruppocarige.it. Pre-emptive Rights shall be tradable on the Stock Exchange from 8 June 2015 to 19 June 2015 (inclusive). Pre-emptive Rights remaining unexercised by the end of the Offering Period shall be offered on the Stock Exchange by Banca Carige within the month following the end of the Offering Period for at least 5 Trading days, pursuant to art. 2441, para. 3 of the Italian Civil Code (the “Public Offering”). The opening and closing dates for the Public Offering shall be announced by way of a specific notice. The Offering is not addressed, directly or indirectly, and may not be accepted, directly or indirectly, in or from the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan or in or from any other Country, other than Italy, in which this Offering is not authorised without the approval of the relevant authorities or in the absence of any applicable statutory or regulatory exemption. The Issuer has also prepared an international offering document (the "International Offering Circular") in English, for institutional investors outside the United States of America in compliance with the provisions of Regulation S of the Securities Act.

Payment and delivery of New Shares Full payment for the New Shares shall be effected upon subscription, at the authorised intermediary which the subscription application was submitted to, by way of exercise of the relevant Pre-emptive Rights. No charges or incidental expenses are planned to be levied by the Issuer on subscribers. New Shares subscribed by the end of the Rights Issue will be credited to the accounts of the intermediaries registered with the centralised securities clearing system of Monte Titoli at close of business on the last day of the

Rights Exercise Period and will become available as of the following settlement day. New Shares subscribed by the end of the Public Offering will be credited to the accounts of the intermediaries registered with the centralised securities clearing system of Monte Titoli at close of business on the last Rights Exercise day and will become available as of the following settlement day.

Admission to trading Banca Carige's ordinary shares are admitted for trading on the MTA. Carige Shares shall be traded automatically, pursuant to art. 2.4.1 of the 'Stock Exchange regulations, on the same market where ordinary Banca Carige shares are traded at the time of issuance.

Underwriting and guarantee commitments The Offering is supported by an underwriting syndicate comprising – Banca di Credito Finanziario S.p.A., acting as Global Coordinator and Joint Bookrunner, Merrill Lynch International, Securities (Europe) Limited, Deutsche AG London Branch, J.P. Morgan Securities plc and Bank AG Milan Branch, Corporate & , acting as Co-global Coordinators and Joint Bookrunners, SA, and Nomura International plc acting as Joint Bookrunners, Banca Akros S.p.A., Banca Aletti & Co. S.p.A., Equita SIM S.p.A., Intermonte SIM S.p.A. and Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, A Stifel Company acting as Co-lead Managers.

Where to find Prospectus and Supplement The Prospectus and the Supplement are available to the public at the registered office of Banca Carige S.p.A. (Genoa, via Cassa di Risparmio no. 15) and on the Issuer's website (www.gruppocarige.it).

Banca Carige S.p.A Investor Relations Communications Roberta Famà Antonello Amato Massimo Turla Alfredo Majo Via Cassa di Risparmio 15 Via Cassa di Risparmio 15 16123 Genova GE 16123 Genova GE tel. +39 010 579 4877 tel. +39 010 579 2697 +39 010 579 4875 +39 010 579 3380 e-mail: [email protected] mobile: +39 335 140 4426 e-mail: [email protected]

Ad Hoc Communication Advisors Giorgio Zambeletti Sara Balzarotti tel. + 39 02 76067432 mobile: + 39 335 5347916 e-mail: [email protected] [email protected]

This press release is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States unless they are registered or are exempt from registration. The Company does not intend to register any portion of this Offering in the United States or to conduct a public offering in the United States. Any public offering of securities to be made in the United States will be made by means of a prospectus that will contain detailed information about the Company and its management, as well as financial statements. Copies of this press release are not being, and should not be, distributed in or sent into the United States. It may be unlawful to distribute these materials in certain jurisdictions. These materials are not for distribution in Canada, Japan or Australia, or in any other country where the offers or sales of securities would be forbidden under applicable law (the “Other Countries”) or to residents thereof. The information in these materials does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in Canada, Japan, Australia, or in the Other Countries. This press release is for distribution only to persons who (i) have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended, the “Financial Promotion Order”), (ii) are persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) (“high net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc.”) of the Financial Promotion Order, (iii) are outside the United Kingdom, or (iv) are persons to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000) in connection with the issue or sale of any securities may otherwise lawfully be communicated or caused to be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). This press release is directed only at relevant persons and must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not relevant persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this press release relates is available only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons. Il presente comunicato non costituisce un’offerta di vendita di strumenti finanziari negli Stati Uniti d’America. Gli strumenti finanziari non potranno essere offerti o venduti negli Stati Uniti d’America in assenza di registrazione o di un’apposita esenzione dalla registrazione. Non è intenzione della Società registrare, né in tutto né in parte, l’Offerta di strumenti finanziari negli Stati Uniti d’America o effettuare un’offerta al pubblico di strumenti finanziari negli Stati Uniti d’America. Qualsiasi offerta di strumenti finanziari negli Stati Uniti d’America dovrà essere effettuata per mezzo di un prospetto informativo contenente informazioni dettagliate in merito alla Società, al suo management e agli strumenti finanziari. Copie del presente comunicato non sono e non possono essere distribuite o inviate negli Stati Uniti d’America. La distribuzione di questi materiali in alcuni paesi potrebbe essere contraria alla normativa applicabile in tali paesi. Questi materiali non sono destinati alla distribuzione in Canada, Giappone, o Australia o in qualsiasi altro paese nel quale l’offerta o la vendita siano vietate in conformità alle leggi applicabili (gli “Altri Paesi”) o ai soggetti ivi residenti. Le informazioni contenute in questi materiali non costituiscono un’offerta di vendita di strumenti finanziari in Canada, Giappone, o Australia o negli Altri Paesi. Il presente comunicato è distribuito esclusivamente a soggetti: (i) aventi esperienza professionale in materie relative a investimenti finanziari ai sensi dell'articolo 19(5) del Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (come modificato, il “Financial Promotion Order”), (ii) rientranti nella definizione di cui all'articolo 49, secondo comma, lettere dalla (a) alla (d) (“high net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc.”) del Financial Promotion Order, (iii) che non si trovino nel Regno Unito, (iv) ai quali può essere altrimenti comunicata, o fatto sì che sia comunicata, nel rispetto della normativa applicabile, una proposta di, o una sollecitazione a, effettuare un investimento (secondo il significato di cui alla Section 21 del Financial Services and Markets Act 2000) in relazione all’emissione o alla vendita di qualsiasi strumento finanziario (collettivamente, i “Soggetti Rilevanti”). Il presente comunicato è diretto solo a Soggetti Rilevanti e non può essere utilizzato, o sullo stesso non può essere fatto affidamento, da parte di soggetti che non siano Soggetti Rilevanti. Ogni investimento o attività di investimento cui il presente comunicato si riferisce è a disposizione solo di Soggetti Rilevanti e sarà intrapresa esclusivamente con Soggetti Rilevanti. The Guarantors are acting for the Company only in connection with the rights issue and no one else and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections offered to its clients nor for providing advice in relation to the above transaction. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is or will be made as to, or in relation to, and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by the Guarantors or by any of their affiliates or agents as to or in relation to the accuracy or completeness of this release, or any other written or oral information made available to or publicly available to any interested party or its advisers and any liability therefore is hereby expressly disclaimed.