In relation to reports in the daily press regarding the statements of Telefonica SA’s chairman, Cesar Alierta, at the request of market regulator Consob, Telecom Italia states the following:
In recent months there have been contacts, which did not culminate in agreements, not even of a preliminary nature, aimed at verifying the possibility of developing common industrial activities in the various operational sectors of the two companies. These contacts have nothing to do with the news reports regarding the relationship between the Spanish company and Olimpia, but are part of the normal activities of business development.
Milan, 2 March 2007