Another two major Italian lessors have joined a
government-backed moratorium to suspend the debts of Italy’s
SMEs.

UBI Leasing, part of UBI Banca, and MPS Leasing e Factoring, the
leasing arm of Tuscan-based banking group Monte dei Paschi di
Siena, have agreed to temporarily suspend the debts of their
clients.

The initiative, which allows Italian firms with a good credit
history to suspend for a 12-month period the payment of their
mortgage and leasing loans, took effect at the beginning of
August.

Banks and leasing companies have 45 days to join the moratorium,
and their customers will be able to apply until 30 June 2010.

UBI Leasing and MPS Leasing e Factoring were ranked respectively
third and sixth last year in new business volumes.

Antonio Fabrizio