BENETTON IN FINANCIAL SERVICES JOINT VENTURE
Benetton Group Spa <BTOM.MI> said
it reached agreement with textiles concern GFT-Gruppo
Finanziario Tessile Spa for a joint venture in the financial
services sector.
   A Benetton spokeswoman said details of the accord would be
outlined at a news conference on Thursday in Milan. The Italian
clothing group has targeted financial services as a sector in
which to expand its activities.
   In January, Benetton acquired a large minority stake in the
Italian unit of the U.K. Financial services group Prudential
Corp PLC [PRUL.L].
 Reuter
