The Itaú Group also broadens its adhesion to the Principles through the intermediary of Itaú Europa, Itaú Buen Ayre and Itaú Holding São Paulo, July 6 2006 - In line with their values of socio-environmental responsibility and sustainability, Banco Itaú and Banco Itaú BBA have adhered to the revised version of the Equator Principles. The new terms substantiate the progress that has been made by the financial sector in adopting best practices in analyzing socio-environmental risks involved in the financing of projects. "With the adoption of the Equator Principles, we reaffirm the commitments of Banco Itaú and Banco Itaú BBA to social and environmental responsibility and the development of the communities in which we operate. Furthermore, we are very satisfied to announce that the Equator Principles have also been adopted at Banco Itaú Holding Financeira, Itaú Europa and Itaú Buen Ayre", says Roberto Setubal, Banco Itaú Holding Financeira's CEO. The revision of the Principles, adopted by Itaú since 2004, also reflect the experience built up by all 41 participating financial institutions around the world. Customers, members of civil society, and official development agencies were consulted prior to introducing the changes. The main resulting alterations are: Extension of the Principles to projects worth in excess of US$ 10 million instead of US$ 50 million; Application of the Principles to advisory projects; Application of the Principles to improvements or expansion of existing projects where there is a significant socio-environmental impact; Annual reports from all the signatory financial institutions on the results of implementing the Equator Principles; Improvement in socio-environmental standards "Itaú already exceeds Equator Principle requirements by applying social and environmental criteria for evaluating projects of less than US$ 10 million. All projects worth more than R$ 5 million are subject to analysis to ensure that they adhere to the necessary social and environmental parameters", Setubal adds. Since the implementation of the Equator Principles, through the intermediary of Banco Itaú BBA, Itaú has examined 10 projects totaling an investment volume of R$ 5 billion. Socio-environmental Responsibility at Itaú Throughout its existence, Itaú has sought to combine a consistent financial performance with a posture which prioritizes ethics, transparency in the relationship with customers, employees, shareholders and the community, and managerial competence. At the same time, Itaú also endeavors to serve society in the pursuit of reaching joint solutions to social and environmental problems. In January 2005, Itaú became a member of CEBDS (Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development), a body affiliated to the WBCSD (World Business Council for Sustainable Development), which focuses on sustainable development based on three pillars: Economic Growth, Ecological Equilibrium and Social Progress. Itaú is internationally recognized for such practices. It has been a component of the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World) for each year since the index was created six years ago. It is the only Latin American bank in a select group of companies from throughout the world which combine financial soundness with a policy of environmental and social responsibility. In Brazil, both Itaú and Itaúsa are components of Bovespa's Corporate Sustainability Stock Index.