Banca Intesa to start construction of new administrative building in Belgrade in late 2011 - Investment worth EUR 45 million

Banca Intesa will start the construction of a new administrative building in Belgrade in order to unite all administrative units of the bank and create better conditions for further improvement of its operations. The value of the new administrative building, will be spanning over 32,000 square meters, is EUR 45 million. The bank plans to commence the preliminary construction works by the end of 2011, while the completion of all works is expected in the last quarter of 2013.

- As the leading bank in the market of Serbia, Banca Intesa has proved many times in the previous period that it is ready to meet all the expectations accompanying such position. I believe that our previous activities have already shown how important this market is to us, as well as to our mother group Intesa Sanpaolo. The decision on the construction of a new building and the investment of EUR 45 million confirm our own determination to work on the improvement of the overall business climate and the quality of life of the citizens of Serbia - said Draginja Djuric, chairman of the Executive Board of Banca Intesa.

This contemporary business building, which will be situated at the intersection of Mihajla Pupina Boulevard and Tresnjinog Cveta street, is conceived as a modern business facility where 1,000 people be working, and it is designed in accordance with the up-to-date trends in architecture. The building with 12 overground and 3 underground floors will also serve as the headquarters of Intesa Leasing, as well as all other companies that will operate in the market of Serbia. This building will also comprise a kindergarten for the children of the bank's employees, medical and training centers, a restaurant for employees, as well as "green" resting places like eco-oases for relaxation during breaks.

The new administrative building of Banca Intesa will be built in accordance with the world's highest ecological standards, the guarantee for which is LEED, the world's most prestigious and most complex certificate in the field of ecological construction, issued by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The new administrative building of the bank is the first building on the territory of Serbia to get a LEED certificate in the category of newly built facilities.

In this way, the bank will, on one hand, affect its business results on a long-term basis by cutting expenditures, while, on the other hand, it will contribute to a more rational utilization of natural resources such as the use of energy and water, emission of carbon dioxide and waste management. What is also very significant is the improvement of the working environment for the employees who will be carrying out their daily activities in the premises with quality air and adequate lighting, meaning that they will be less exposed to harmful influences, that is, so-called sick business building syndrome.