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Generalfinance

Governance Information Aug 16, 2024

4077_egm_2024-08-16_5bff9041-ae8f-4162-96e6-79889701d489.pdf

Governance Information

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GENERALFINANCE S.P.A.

EXPLANATORY SHAREHOLDERS' MEETING 6th SEPTEMBER 2024

EXPLANATORY REPORT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON THE ONLY ITEM ON THE AGENDA (pursuant to articles 72 and 84-ter of Consob Regulation no. 11971/1999)

ONLY ITEM ON THE AGENDA OF THE EXTRAORDINARY SHAREHOLDERS' MEETING CALLED FOR 6th SEPTEMBER 2024

● Proposal to amend the Articles of Association for the purposes, inter alia, of including: a) the increased voting rights; and b) the right to hold the meeting even only with the exclusive participation of the designated representative. Inherent and consequent resolutions.

EXPLANATORY REPORT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA OF THE EXTRAORDINARY SHAREHOLDERS' MEETING OF GENERALFINANCE S.P.A. ON 6 SEPTEMBER 2024

Dear Shareholders,

this report (the "Report") was prepared by the Board of Directors of Generalfinance S.p.A. ("Generalfinance" or the "Company"), pursuant to Articles 72 and 84-ter of the regulation adopted with CONSOB decision no. 11971 of 14 May 1999 (the "Issuers' Regulation"), to illustrate the amendments to the Articles of Association (the "Articles of Association") that are proposed to the Extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting called, in first and single call, on 6 September 2024 (the "Extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting") to discuss and resolve on the following Agenda:

1. Proposal to amend the Articles of Association for the purposes, inter alia, of including: a) the increased voting rights; and b) the right to hold the meeting even only with the exclusive participation of the designated representative. Inherent and consequent resolutions.

1. First item on the Agenda, under lett. a): "Proposal to amend the Articles of Association for the purposes, inter alia, of including: a) the increased voting rights. […] ".

1.1. Introduction to and reasons behind the proposed amendment

With Italian Law no. 116 of 11 August 2014 – which amended the TUF by introducing Art. 127-quinquies – the Italian legislator introduced in Italy's legal system the institution of the "increased voting rights" (loyalty shares) for the benefit of the "loyal shareholders" of listed companies, providing that, against the uninterrupted ownership of each share for a period of 24 months, each loyal shareholder would be entitled to cast two votes per share.

The objective of the legislator was to reward, through increased voting rights, those shareholders who, by making a long-term commitment through investment, contribute to supporting the company's sustainable growth in a profitable manner and over time.

As the Company shares these principles, since the start of trading of the Company's shares on the regulated market Euronext Milan it has provided for increased voting rights (loyalty shares) in its Articles of Association; as of today, four shareholders are registered on the special list.

To date, the institution of increased voting rights has met with some success on the domestic scene. In the meantime, both internationally and nationally, there has been an ever-increasing preference for legal instruments – such as loyalty shares – aimed at incentivising investors' long-term commitment. However, the interest in these instruments has favoured European legal systems with a more flexible and less limiting regulation than the one envisaged by the Italian legal system. In particular, some Italian issuers, taking advantage of the freedom of establishment protected by European law, have settled in other Member States in order to benefit from legislative provisions that would further incentivise the long-term commitment of their investors by strengthening the voting rights.

Faced with the lower attractiveness of the Italian corporate system and the hurdle for Italian companies to open up to the market, the legislator has therefore felt the need to reflect on the regulatory provisions that allow for a strengthening of shareholders' voting rights.

In this regard, Italian Law no. 21 of 5 March 2024 (the "Capital Law") – containing a series of measures aimed at encouraging the competitiveness of companies and the capital market – intervened on the institution of the increased voting rights by envisaging that, subsequent to the first 24-month period that assigns two votes for each share, an additional voting right be assigned at the due date of each additional period of 12 months of uninterrupted holding, up to a total maximum of ten voting rights for each share.

In line with the previous choice adopted by the Company in 2022, the Board of Directors considers it advantageous to seize the opportunity offered by the legislator and, therefore, intends to amend Article 6 of the Articles of Association (which governs the voting rights), according to provisions of Art. 127 quinquies, as superseded by the Capital Law.

In particular, the Board of Directors believes that the long-term commitment of its shareholders actually represents an important "value" and, consequently, that the further "increased voting rights" for the benefit of loyal shareholders is in the best interest of the Company and of all its stakeholders. Through the amendment in question, in fact, Generalfinance intends to pursue the following objectives:

(i) adopting a flexible structure of the share capital to allow the Company, on the one hand, to maintain and further strengthen a stable equity basis and, on the other, to match this essential target with the possibility of pursuing growth opportunities through external lines, such as, for example, acquisitions and/or strategic alliances, if necessary, to be carried out through the issue of new shares in favour of, and/or share exchanges, with third parties, in line with, among other things, the Company's announcement regarding its acquisition of Workinvoice S.r.l. (see press release of 17 June 2024); and

(ii) rewarding long-term oriented Shareholders more effectively and with greater incisiveness. In fact, it is believed that a sound equity basis is more suited to support long-term growth strategies.

It is therefore proposed to amend Article 6 of the Articles of Association under the terms described below.

1.2. Extent of the benefit of the increased voting right, vesting period and legitimating right in rem

The law permits the benefit of the increased voting right to be attributed, to the extent of the double vote, to each share that has belonged to the same shareholder for an uninterrupted period of at least 24 months from the date of registration in a specific list (Art. 127-quinquies, paragraph 1 of the TUF). In addition, following the entry into force of the Capital Law, the law provides for an additional vote at the end of each 12-month period following the accrual of the previous period of 24 months, up to a maximum of ten voting rights for each share (Art. 127-quinquies, paragraph 2, TUF).

In light of the new regulatory provisions, it is proposed to implement the amendment made to the institution of increased voting rights, with the attribution of the benefit to the maximum extent permitted by law (10 voting rights provided for each share held uninterruptedly).

It should be noted that, for shareholders who have already accrued two voting rights per share, the third vote will be accrued after 12 months from the date that the resolution of the Extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting, relating to the amendment to the Articles of Association in question, is entered in the Register of Companies.

Since the law does not clarify under what title the share should be "owned" by the loyal shareholder, it is proposed to maintain the specification that the benefit of the increased voting right may be due to (i) the full owner of the share with voting rights, (ii) the bare owner of the share with voting rights, as well as (iii) the usufructuary with voting rights. It is also clarified that the pledge without attribution of the voting right to the creditor (and, therefore, maintaining the ownership of the share) does not constitute cause for forfeiture of the benefit.

1.3. Special list, entitlement to registration and waiver of the benefit

The law leaves it to the Articles of Association to define the procedures for attributing the increased voting rights and for the accrual of the related prerequisites, requiring, for this purpose, the Company to establish and keep a special list (the "List"). It also leaves the statutory autonomy to envisage that the person who has the right to vote may irrevocably waive the increased voting right, in whole or in part. The regulatory provisions (Art.143-quater of the Issuers' Regulation) also specify that, for the purposes of registration in the List and for the purpose of exercising the increased voting right, the shareholder must produce a specific certification issued by the intermediary in compliance with his/her accounting entries.

Taking into account the aforementioned provisions and without prejudice to the provisions of the Articles of Association with regard to (i) the waiver of increased voting rights and (ii) the List, it is proposed to specify that the holder of a legitimising registration right in rem in the List, who applies for entry in the List itself, must not only show the appropriate certification required by the applicable legislation, but also issue a specific certification for a more effective verification of the prerequisites of legitimacy (this certification requires, in the case of a shareholder who is not a natural person, the notice of any parent company, including any information relevant to the effects of the transfer of the legitimising registration right in rem in the List; see Article 6, paragraph 11, of the Articles of Association, as per the proposed amendment).

It is understood that the registered party may always request their cancellation (total or partial) from the List and may always waive the benefit of the increased voting right accrued.

1.4. Transfer (direct or indirect) of the legitimising right in rem: effects for the purposes of the benefit of the increased voting right

The law provides that the benefit of the increased voting right is no longer valid:

  • a) in the event of transfer of the share in return for payment or free of charge; as well as
  • b) in the event of direct or indirect sale of controlling equity investments in companies or entities that hold shares with increased voting rights in excess of the threshold set forth in Art. 120, paragraph 2, of the TUF.

It then expressly leaves the choice between loss or retention of the benefit to the statutory autonomy:

  • a) in the case of succession due to death; as well as
  • b) in the case of merger and spin-off of the shareholder.

In line with the provisions of the law, the Articles of Association currently envisage that the benefit of the increased voting right:

  • (i) is lost in the event of (a) transfer of shares in return for payment or free of charge, including therein the establishment or disposal of partial rights on the shares on the basis of which the loyal shareholder is deprived of the voting right, as well as in the event of (b) direct or indirect transfer of controlling interests in companies or entities that hold shares with increased voting rights that exceed the threshold set forth in Article 120, paragraph 2, of the TUF; but
  • (ii) is retained in the case of (a) succession due to death, as well as (b) merger and spin-off of the shareholder.

This being the regulatory framework and the current statutory structure, it is proposed to regulate and detail the effects of the transfer (direct or indirect) of the legitimising right in rem under the following terms.

1.4.1. Direct transfer of the legitimising right in rem

The direct transfer of the legitimising right in rem may take place (i) by succession due to death (or equivalent circumstances), (ii) by merger or spin-off, or (iii) by assignment in return for payment or free of charge.

In the first case (succession due to the death of the shareholder or equivalent cases: i.e. family pact or establishment and/or endowment of trust, asset-based fund or family trust), the entitlement to the benefit of the increased voting right is retained. In such cases, the transfer of the legitimising right in rem does not depend on a lack of investor loyalty and therefore it seems appropriate to reward the long-term commitment also in terms of succession (see Article 6, paragraph 14, of the Articles of Association, as per the proposed amendment).

In the second case (merger or spin-off of the shareholder), it seems appropriate to make the loss or retention of the benefit dependent on whether or not a "change of control" occurs. Whenever the entity (shareholder of the Company) subject to the merger or the spin-off is under the control of a third party and the transaction in question does not result in a "change of control" over it, the transfer case (attributable to a mere transaction within the group) is not intended as a symptom of a lack of loyalty (as the "substantial" owner of the investment remains unchanged). In this case, it would be inappropriate to order the loss of the benefit (this would make any reorganisations within the group unjustifiably burdensome). Conversely, whenever the merger or spin-off results in a change of control, the loss of entitlement to the benefit is entirely consistent with the logic of the institution. Moreover, if the merger or spin-off concerns an entity not subject to control, the retention or loss of the benefit is made dependent on the occurrence or otherwise of a non-avoidance index of the transaction (i.e. the transaction is not intended to avoid the loss of the benefit, a case that can be excluded when the investment in the Company's

shares, on a like-for-like basis, has a modest accounting weight ( 1)) (see Article 6, paragraph 15, of the Articles of Association, as per the proposed amendment).

In the third case (transfer by the shareholder in return for payment or free of charge, but always excluding the cases referred to in the previous paragraph), the entitlement to the benefit of the increased voting right is lost in compliance with law provisions. It should be noted that this case includes the transactions for the establishment or disposal of partial rights on shares by virtue of which the shareholder is deprived of the voting right (even in the absence of transfer events) (see Article 6, paragraph 16, of the Articles of Association, as per the proposed amendment).

With regard to the notion of material "control", the definition in Art. 93 of the TUF is applicable.

1.4.2. Indirect transfer of the legitimising right in rem

The indirect transfer of the legitimising right in rem can take place due to each of the same cases examined above – (i) succession due to death and equivalent cases, (ii) merger and spin-off, or (iii) assignment in return for payment or free of charge (therein including the transactions for the establishment or disposal of partial rights on the shares by virtue of which the shareholder is deprived of the voting right (even in the absence of transfer events)) – unless, in this case, this takes place not (directly) with regard to the shares of the Company, but (indirectly) with regard to equity investments in the entity, which, in turn, holds shares of the Company.

The established rules correspond mutatis mutandis to those envisaged for the case of direct transfer: the "change of control" always results in the loss of entitlement to the benefit of the increased voting rights (regardless of whether the shareholding held is higher or lower than the threshold referred to in Art. 120, paragraph 2, of the TUF) unless, of course, it occurs due to an inheritance or equivalent case (family pact or establishment and/or endowment of trust, asset-based fund or family trust). In this case, to ensure consistent regulation, the entitlement to the benefit is retained.

1.5. Extraordinary transactions of the Company (share capital increase, merger or spin-off) and effects on the regulation of increased voting rights

In line with the provisions of the current Articles of Association, the proportional extension of the benefit to the newly issue shares is confirmed both in the case of a free share capital increase and in the case of a capital increase with new contributions. This seems fully consistent with the institution of the reward function for loyal shareholders. The latter, at least with regard to the non-free share capital increase, are in favour of not only retaining but even further investing in the Company.

The extension of the increased voting rights to the newly issued shares will take place in such a way as to allow the shareholder to maintain the same proportion between (x) shares with a certain increased voting right, (y) shares with a different increase and (z) shares without increase. By way of example, if, before the share capital increase, a shareholder holds ten shares, of which two shares have five voting rights, four shares have seven voting rights, three shares have one voting right and one share has ten voting rights, upon subscription of the share capital increase by this shareholder, his/her share portfolio will be composed as follows: 20% by shares expressing five votes, 40% by shares expressing seven votes, 30% by shares expressing one vote and 10% by shares expressing ten votes, so as to avoid his/her voting rights being diluted where the shareholder has fully subscribed the share capital increase offered to him/her under option.

Similarly, regulations provide for possibly extending the benefit of increased voting rights also in the event of a merger or spin-off of the Company, wherever this is envisaged by the related merger or spin-off plan. In this case, this benefit applies to the shares due in exchange of those entered in the List. Since the

( 1 ) To this end, it is necessary to verify that the weight of the book value of the Company's shares with respect to the shareholders' equity of the assignee does not exceed 5% and does not exceed the corresponding weight, on a likefor-like basis, with respect to shareholders' equity of the grantor.

conditions cannot be foreseen of a hypothetical merger or spin-off in which the Company takes part, it is proposed to reproduce the same optional rule envisaged by the legislator in the Articles of Association. If, therefore, the Company were to participate in a merger or spin-off in the future, it will be possible (although not necessary) to extend the benefit also to the new shares resulting from the extraordinary transaction in question.

1.6. Suppression or modification of the benefit of increased voting rights

In consideration of the fact that loyalty shares do not constitute a special category of shares, by express legal provision, the Board of Directors proposes to clarify that any change to the rules related to the increased voting rights or the suppression of the same requires only the approval by the Extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting, in accordance with the law. Therefore, the special approval of shareholders who are, in this scenario, holders of the benefit is not required.

1.7. Effects of the loyalty shares for the purposes of calculating shareholder quorums and for the purpose of exercising minority rights

In line with the provisions set forth in the Articles of Association, loyalty shares will also be calculated for the determination of constitutive and deliberative quorums that refer to share capital rates.

On the other hand, it is understood that, again in accordance with the provisions of the law, the increased voting rights will have no effect on the rights other than the voting rights held by virtue of the ownership of certain capital shares.

1.8. Effects that the modification of the current increased voting right mechanism would have on the ownership structures of the Company

It should be noted that, also for the purposes of recommendation no. 2 of the Corporate Governance Code, at the date of this Report, according to notices received by the Company pursuant to Art. 120, paragraphs 1 and 2, of the TUF, the shareholders GGH – Gruppo General Holding S.r.l. ("GGH"), Investment Club S.r.l. ("Investment Club"), First4Progress S.p.A. ("First4Progress") and Banca del Ceresio SA ("Banca del Ceresio") hold more than 5% of the share capital in voting rights, equal, respectively, to 53.53%, 9.41%, 6.66% and 5.15% of the share capital in voting rights of the company. It should be underlined that as of today, GGH has accrued the ordinary increased voting rights for the entire shareholding held, while Investment Club, First4Progress and Banca del Ceresio have accrued the ordinary increased voting rights on a portion of the equity investment held and, respectively, on 631,000, 620,000 and 416,666 shares.

In light of the above, the following table provides a hypothetical graphical representation of the voting rights due to the Company shareholders as a result of the increased voting rights mechanism. For illustrative purposes and for the sake of simplicity, and without prejudice, in any case, to the possibility for any shareholder to benefit from the increased voting rights if the related prerequisites are met, the following has been assumed:

  • (i) the following shareholders are to benefit from the increased voting rights, with a progressive increase up to a maximum of ten times the number of shares held:
    • GGH, which, as far as is relevant here, was authorised by the Bank of Italy pursuant to Arts. 19 and 110 of the TUF – to exercise control over Generalfinance; and
    • Investment Club, First4Progress and Banca del Ceresio, limited to the shares for which, at the date of this Report, the ordinary increased voting rights have already accrued (i.e. 631,000 shares, 620,000 shares and 416,666 shares, respectively) without prejudice to the obligation to request the necessary authorisation from the Bank of Italy wherever, as

a result of the increased voting rights, they exceed the threshold of 10% of the voting rights in Generalfinance (2);

  • (ii) the remaining shares held by Investment Club, First4Progress and Banca del Ceresio (i.e., respectively, 576,267 shares, 61,140 shares and 173,000 shares) will not accrue any loyalty shares;
  • (iii) no other shareholder will request registration in the List for the purposes of increased voting rights.
Year Votes per
share against
the increased
voting rights
Percentage of
GGH voting
rights
Percentage of
Investment
Club voting
rights (3)
Percentage of
First4Progress
voting rights
4)
(
Percentage
of Banca del
Ceresio
voting rights
5)
(
Percentage of
voting rights
of other
shareholders
2025 3 59.34% 7.16% 7.04% 4.73% 21.72%
2026 4 62.75% 7.58% 7.44% 5.00% 17.23%
2027 5 64.99% 7.85% 7.71% 5.18% 14.27%
2028 6 66.58% 8.04% 7.90% 5.31% 12.18%
2029 7 67.76% 8.18% 8.04% 5.40% 10.63%
2030 8 68.67% 8.29% 8.14% 5.47% 9.43%
2031 9 69.39% 8.38% 8.23% 5.53% 8.47%
2032 10 69.99% 8.45% 8.30% 5.58% 7.69%

The above calculations are also based on the assumption that the shareholders concerned maintain their shareholding in the share capital unchanged. The data indicated remain subject, in any case, to the effects of any exercise of the rights of withdrawal by shareholders.

  • ( 2 ) To the extent necessary, it should be noted that the Company is not aware of the possible intention of these shareholders to request a further increase in voting rights and, if necessary, to exceed the aforementioned threshold of 10% of the voting rights.
  • ( 3 ) For the purposes of this table, the "Percentage of Investment Club voting rights" indicates the voting rights relating only to the shares for which, at the date of this Report, the Investment Club has accrued ordinary loyalty shares (i.e. 631,000 shares), while the additional shares held by Investment Club (i.e. 576,267 shares) and the related voting rights are in no way counted in the equity investment of Investment Club, it being understood that these shares are considered for the purposes of the total number of shares of the Company.
  • ( 4 ) For the purposes of this table, the "Percentage of First4Progress voting rights" indicates the voting rights relating only to the shares for which, at the date of this Report, First4Progress has accrued the ordinary loyalty shares (i.e. 620,000 shares), while the additional shares held by First4Progress (i.e. 61,140 shares) and the related voting rights are in no way counted in the equity investment of First4Progress, it being understood that these shares are considered for the purposes of the total number of shares of the Company.
  • ( 5 ) For the purposes of this table, the "Percentage of Banca del Ceresio voting rights" indicates the voting rights relating only to the shares for which, at the date of this Report, Banca del Ceresio has accrued the ordinary loyalty shares (i.e. 416,666 shares), while the additional shares held by Banca del Ceresio (i.e. 173,000 shares) and the related voting rights are in no way counted in the equity investment of Banca del Ceresio, it being understood that these shares are considered for the purposes of the total number of shares of the Company.

1.9. Deliberative process followed in the formulation of the proposed amendments to the Articles of Association

Also for the purposes of recommendation no. 2 of the Corporate Governance Code, it should be noted that this proposed amendment to the Articles of Association was unanimously approved by the Board of Directors on 6 June 2024, with the favourable vote of the independent directors who constitute the majority of the Board of Directors in office. The proposed amendment to the Articles of Association will be submitted to the Extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting called on 6 September 2024.

It should be noted that the aforementioned decision proposals were not approved by the board committees (in particular, the "Appointments and Remuneration Committee" and "Control, Risk and Sustainability Committee"), as the matter does not fall within their competence.

1.10. Assessments relating to the right of withdrawal. Shareholders entitled to exercise the right of withdrawal

The shareholders of Generalfinance who do not contribute to the adoption of the resolution (i.e. absent, abstained and dissenting) on the amendment of Article 6 of the Articles of Association will be entitled to exercise the right of withdrawal pursuant to Art. 2437, paragraph 1, of the Italian Civil Code, in compliance with provisions set out in paragraph 8 of Art. 127-quinquies of the TUF, as superseded by the Capital Law (the "Withdrawing Shareholders").

Pursuant to Art. 2437-bis of the Italian Civil Code, the Withdrawing Shareholders may exercise the right of withdrawal in relation to all or part of the shares held, by sending a notice by registered letter with return receipt to the registered office of the Company, located at Via Giorgio Stephenson, no. 43/A, Milan (MI), no later than 15 days from the date of entry, in the Milan Register of Companies, of the resolution of the Extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting to approve the amendment to the Articles of Association in question. A notice relating to registration will be published on the Generalfinance website and in an Italian national newspaper.

Shareholders who exercise the right of withdrawal must send special notice, made by an authorised broker, certifying the uninterrupted ownership, up to the date of notice, of the shares subject to withdrawal before the opening of the works of the Extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting of Generalfinance, called to resolve on the amendment to the Articles of Association concerned. Further details on the exercise of the right of withdrawal will be provided to the Shareholders of Generalfinance, in compliance with the applicable legislative provisions.

Generalfinance shares, for which the withdrawal is exercised, may not be sold or disposed of until the transfer of the shares or verification of the fulfilment of the condition precedent related to the aforementioned amendment to the Articles of Association.

Pursuant to Article 2437-ter, paragraph 3, of the Italian Civil Code, the liquidation price to be paid to the Withdrawing Shareholders will be equal to EUR 10.13 for each Generalfinance share. The liquidation price was calculated by referring to the arithmetic average of the closing prices of the Generalfinance shares in the six months preceding the publication of the notice of call of the Extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting.

Once the 15-day period has passed, the Generalfinance shares, in relation to which the right of withdrawal has been exercised, will be offered to the other shareholders and the unsold shares may be subsequently offered to third parties. Any remaining shares that have not been sold shall be purchased by Generalfinance at the liquidation price. The aforementioned offer and sale procedure, as well as the payment of any consideration due to the Withdrawing Shareholders, will be conditional on the fulfilment of the condition precedent (referred to below).

As better specified below, to avoid an excessive burden on the Company, the amendment to the Articles of Association is subject to the condition that the Withdrawal Amount (as defined below) does not exceed the amount of EUR 5,000,000.00. For the purposes of this purchase, prior authorisation of the Bank of Italy

is required for the Company to reduce its own funds by a maximum amount equal to that indicated in the Condition (as defined below), which therefore may not be waived by the Company in any case ( 6).

If the Condition (as defined below) is not fulfilled and the related amendment to the Articles of Association does not become effective, the shares in relation to which the right of withdrawal has been exercised will continue to be the property of the shareholders who have exercised the withdrawal, without any payment being made in favour of the aforementioned shareholders.

1.11. Effectiveness of the statutory amendment

The amendment to the Articles of Association will be effective only in the event of fulfilment of the Condition (as defined below).

To avoid an excessive burden on the Company, it is envisaged that the amendment to the Articles of Association be subject to the condition that the amount of money to be paid by Generalfinance to the Withdrawing Shareholders (the "Withdrawal Amount") does not exceed the amount of EUR 5,000,000.00 (the "Condition").

For clarity, it should be noted that the Withdrawal Amount will be calculated net of the amounts due by the shareholders who exercise their option and pre-emption rights pursuant to Article 2437-quater, paragraphs 1 and 3, of the Italian Civil Code, or by the third parties who purchase the shares subject to withdrawal, pursuant to Article 2437-quater, paragraph 4, of the Italian Civil Code.

1.12. Text of the proposed statutory amendment

The exposure with respect to the article subject to amendment in the current text and in the one proposed by the Board of Directors is shown hereunder.

Current text of the Articles of Association New text of the proposed Articles of Association
Article 6 Article 6
1. - The shares are indivisible, registered and freely
transferable by an act inter vivos and transmissible
due to death. The applicable legislation and
regulations in force regarding representation,
legitimate entitlement and circulation of shares set
forth for financial instruments traded on regulated
markets is applied to the shares. The shares are
issued in dematerialised form.
[Unchanged]
2. - In compliance with Articles 19 et seq. and 110
of the TUB (Consolidated Law on Banking):
a)
those who intend to directly or indirectly
acquire,
in
any
capacity,
an
equity
investment in the Company that involves
control or the possibility of exercising a
significant influence over the Company itself
or that attributes the acquirer a share of
voting rights or capital of at least equal to
2. - In compliance with Articles 19 et seq. and 110
of the TUB (Consolidated Law on Banking) and the
legislation in force:
e)
those who intend to directly or indirectly
acquire,
in
any
capacity,
an
equity
investment in the Company that involves
control or the possibility of exercising a
significant influence over the Company itself
or that attributes the acquirer a share of

( 6 ) It should be noted that the Company submitted to the Bank of Italy the prior notification of its intention to make the amendments to the Articles of Association described herein, as well as the possible buyback of its own shares as part of the liquidation process of the shares in respect of which the right of withdrawal is exercised, in accordance with the provisions of the applicable regulatory framework (i.e., Circular No. 288 of 3 April 2015 containing the "Supervisory Provisions for Financial Intermediaries", Title V, Chapter 3, Section II, Paragraph 1 and Title IV, Chapter 3, Section II, Paragraph 4, respectively). The Company will report on the decisions of the Supervisory Authority at the Shareholders' Meeting.

10% (ten percent), taking into account the shares or holdings already owned, must request prior authorisation from the Bank of Italy;

  • b) the changes in equity investments are also subject to prior authorisation by the Bank of Italy when the share of voting rights or capital reaches or exceeds 20% (twenty percent), 30% (thirty percent) or 50% (fifty percent) and, in any case, when the changes involve control of the Company;
  • c) purchases or sales of equity investments in the Company that involve the increase or the reduction of the amount of said equity investments above or below each of the relevant thresholds for authorisation purposes entail specific disclosure obligations vis-à-vis the Bank of Italy; and
  • d) the potential purchasers and holders of the equity investments under discussion must meet the integrity requirements and satisfy the competence and fairness criteria in order to ensure the sound and prudent management of the Company.

    • All shares belonging to the same category entitle holders to the same rights. In the event of the creation of special categories of shares pursuant to Article 5, paragraph 7, the resolutions of the Shareholders' Meeting that prejudice the rights of one of them must also be approved by the special Shareholders' Meeting of members of the category concerned. The provisions relating to the Extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting apply to the special Shareholders' Meetings.
    • Pursuant to Article 127-quinquies of Italian Legislative Decree no. 58 of 24 February 1998 ("TUF" - Consolidated Law on Finance), each share gives the right to double votes (and therefore two votes for each share) where both the following conditions are met: (a) the share belongs to the same party, based on a right in rem that legitimately entitles them to exercise the voting right (full ownership with voting right or bare ownership with voting right or usufruct with voting right) for a continuous period of at least 24 (twenty-four) months; (b) the satisfaction of the condition pursuant to point (a) is certified by the continuous registration, for a period of at least 24 voting rights or capital of at least equal to 10% (ten percent), taking into account the shares or holdings already owned, must request prior authorisation from the Bank of Italy;
  • f) the changes in equity investments are also subject to prior authorisation by the Bank of Italy when the share of voting rights or capital reaches or exceeds 20% (twenty percent), 30% (thirty percent) or 50% (fifty percent) and, in any case, when the changes involve control of the Company;

  • g) purchases or sales of equity investments in the Company that involve the increase or the reduction of the amount of said equity investments above or below each of the relevant thresholds for authorisation purposes entail specific disclosure obligations vis-à-vis the Bank of Italy; and

the potential purchasers and holders of the equity investments under discussion must meet the integrity requirements and satisfy the competence and fairness criteria in order to ensure the sound and prudent management of the Company.

[Unchanged]

    • Pursuant to Article 127-quinquies of Italian Legislative Decree no. 58 of 24 February 1998 ("Consolidated Law on Finance"), each share gives the right to one double vote (and therefore two voting rights for each share) if both of the following conditions are met, except as specified below.

[Note: The remainder of paragraph 4 has been moved to paragraph 5 below]

(twenty-four) months, in the duly established list
(the "List"), kept by the Company, in compliance
with the legislative and regulatory provisions in
force. The assessment of the conditions for the
purposes of attributing increased votes is carried
out by the administrative body, and on its behalf
by the Chairperson or directors delegated for the
purpose, by also availing itself of the duly
appointed assistants.
[Paragraph not present] 5. - (a) Two (2) voting rights are assigned to each
share, belonging to the same party, based on a
right in rem that legitimately entitles to exercise
the voting right (full ownership with voting right or
bare ownership with voting right or usufruct with
voting right) for a continuous period of at least 24
(twenty-four) months; (b) the meeting of the
condition pursuant to point (a) is certified by the
continuous registration, for a period of at least 24
(twenty-four) months, in the duly established list
(the "List"), kept by the Company, in compliance
with the legislative and regulatory provisions in
force. In addition, to the extent permitted by
the law currently in force, each share owned
by the same party, based on a right in rem
that legitimately entitles to exercise the
voting right, is assigned 1 (one) additional
vote at the due date of each period of 12
(twelve) months following the accrual of the
24 (twenty-four) month period referred to
above up to a total maximum of 10 (ten)
voting
rights
per
share
(in
total,
the
"Increased
Voting
Condition").
It
is
understood
that
the
establishment
of
a
pledge with retention of the right to vote of
the holder of the legitimising right in rem
does not determine the termination of the
Increased Voting Condition.
5. - Those who hold the voting right can irrevocably
waive, in whole or in part, the increased vote for
the shares they hold by sending a written
communication to the Company, without prejudice
to the fact that the increased voting right can be
re-acquired for the shares for which said right was
waived, with a new registration on the List and the
full
elapsing
of
the
period
of
continuous
membership of no less than 24 months.
[Paragraph removed]
Those who hold the voting right can irrevocably
waive, in whole or in part, the increased vote for
the shares they hold by sending a written
communication to the Company, without prejudice
to the fact that the increased voting right can be
re-acquired for the shares for which said right was
waived, with a new registration on the List and the
full
elapsing
of
the
period
of
continuous
membership of no less than 24 months.

    • The Company can define, within the limits of law and the Articles of Association and by providing adequate information, detailed regulations of the methods of registration, keeping and updating of the List, appoint the person responsible for managing the List, and define the criteria for keeping the List.

The Company can define, within the limits of law and the Articles of Association and by providing adequate information, detailed regulations of the methods of registration, keeping and updating of the List, appoint the person responsible for managing the List, and define the criteria for keeping the List.

6. - Where the Increased Voting Condition is met, the person entitled may exercise their right in the forms provided for by the applicable regulation:

  • a) 2 (two) votes for each share if the Increased Voting Condition is fulfilled for an uninterrupted period of 24 (twenty-four) months;
  • b) 3 (three) votes for each share if the Increased Voting Condition is fulfilled for an uninterrupted period of 36 (thirty-six) months;
  • c) 4 (four) votes for each share if the Increased Voting Condition is fulfilled for an uninterrupted period of 48 (forty-eight) months;
  • d) 5 (five) votes for each share if the Increased Voting Condition is fulfilled for an uninterrupted period of 60 (sixty) months;
  • e) 6 (six) votes for each share if the Increased Voting Condition is fulfilled for an uninterrupted period of 72 (seventy-two) months;
  • f) 7 (seven) votes for each share if the Increased Voting Condition is fulfilled for an uninterrupted period of 84 (eighty-four) months;
  • g) 8 (eight) votes for each share if the Increased Voting Condition is fulfilled for an uninterrupted period of 96 (ninety-six) months;
  • h) 9 (nine) votes for each share if the Increased Voting Condition is fulfilled for an uninterrupted period of 108 (one hundred and eight) months;
  • i) 10 (ten) votes for each share if the Increased Voting Condition is fulfilled

for an uninterrupted period of 120
(one hundred and twenty) months.
[Paragraph not present] 7. - In partial derogation from the provisions
of
paragraph
6
of
this
Article,
and
in
compliance with the provisions of art. 127-
quinquies, paragraph 2, last sentence, of
Italian
Legislative
Decree
no.
58
of
24
February
1998
("Consolidated
Law
on
Finance"), for those entitled who, on the date
of registration with the competent Register of
Companies
of
the
resolution
of
the
Extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting of the
Company of [6 September 2024], with which
this Article 6 of the Articles of Association was
amended
("Date
of
Registration
of
the
Extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting"), have
already accrued the benefit of double voting
and continue to meet the Increased Voting
Condition, the extended period for the accrual
of
additional
votes
will
start
from
the
Extraordinary
Shareholders'
Meeting
Registration Date. These entitled parties will
therefore be entitled to exercise, in the forms
provided for by the applicable regulations: 3
(three) votes for each share if the Increased
Voting
Condition
is
fulfilled
for
an
uninterrupted period of 12 (twelve) months
from
the
Registration
Date
of
the
Extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting, 4 (four)
votes for each share if the Increased Voting
Condition is fulfilled for an uninterrupted
period of 24 (twenty-four) months from the
Extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting Date; 5
(five) votes for each share if the Increased
Voting
Condition
is
fulfilled
for
an
uninterrupted
period
of
36
(thirty-six)
months from the Registration Date of the
Extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting, and so
on, up to a maximum of 10 (ten) votes for
each share if the Condition of the Increased
Voting Rights is fulfilled for an uninterrupted
period of 96 (ninety-six) months from the
Date of Registration of the Extraordinary
Shareholders' Meeting.
[Paragraph not present] 8. - A special list for entitlement to the benefit
of the increased voting right (the "List") has
been established at the Company's registered
office,
which
must
contain
at
least
the
information
required
by
the
applicable

regulations. The Board of Directors appoints
the person in charge of managing the List,
determining by regulation the registration
methods, the monitoring of the existence of
the
Increased
Voting
Condition
and
the
criteria for keeping the List. The person in
charge of managing the List may provide
information
(also
on
IT
support
in
a
commonly used format) about the contents of
the List and each subject registered in it will
have the right to extract a copy, without any
charge, of the corresponding entries.
7. - The List is updated by the Company by the fifth
open market day from the end of each calendar
month and, in any case, by the date of legitimate
entitlement to attend the Shareholders' Meeting
and exercise the voting right pursuant to Article
83-sexies, paragraph 2 of the TUF (Consolidated
Law on Finance).
9. - 7) The List is updated by the Company by the
fifth open market day from the end of each
calendar month and, in any case, by the date of
legitimate entitlement to attend the Shareholders'
Meeting and exercise the voting right pursuant to
Article
83-sexies,
paragraph
2
of
the
TUF
(Consolidated Law on Finance), in accordance with
the applicable regulations and the provisions of
these Articles of Association.
8. -
Although received before, the registration
requests will only take effect after the Company
has updated the List, which it does before the first
useful date according to the frequency defined with
the methods indicated above.
[Paragraph removed]
8) Although received before, the registration
requests will only take effect after the Company
has updated the List, which it does before the first
useful date according to the frequency defined with
the methods indicated above.
[Paragraph not present] 10. - The subject who, insofar as entitled as
per Article 6 herein, intends to access the
benefit of the increased voting rights, is
entitled to request at any time to be entered
in the List, attaching suitable documentation
certifying ownership of the legitimising right
in
rem
(or
by
ensuring
that
equivalent
documentation is sent to the Company). The
party enrolled in the List has the right to
request the cancellation (in whole or in part)
of the entitlement to the benefit of the
increased voting right at any time, with
consequent automatic loss (total or partial).
Those who are entitled to the increased
voting right may, at any time, irrevocably
waive it (in whole or partially) by means of a
written notice sent to the Company, without
prejudice to any communication obligations
envisaged
pursuant
to
the
applicable
legislation.

[Paragraph not present] 11. - The request for registration in the List
may be submitted to the Company at any time
and must be accompanied, under penalty of
inadmissibility, by the certification envisaged
by art. 83-quinquies, paragraph 3, of the TUF
and a certificate signed by the applicant
declaring the following:
a) in the case of a natural person: (i) to have
full formal and substantial ownership of the
voting right, by virtue of a legitimising right
in rem, (ii) to undertake to communicate any
loss
to
the
Company,
for
any
reason
whatsoever, of the legitimising right in rem
and/or the related voting right, without delay
and, in any case, within ten working days
from the date of the loss;
b) in the case of a legal person or other entity,
even without legal personality: (i) to have full
formal and substantial ownership of the
voting right, by virtue of a legitimising right
in rem, (ii) to be subject, as the case may be,
to (direct or indirect) control by another
natural person or other entity with or without
legal personality (accompanied by all the
identifying data of the parent company), (iii)
to undertake to communicate to the Company
any loss, for any reason whatsoever, of the
legitimising right in rem and/or the related
voting
right
or,
if
necessary,
of
having
undergone a change of control, without delay
and, in any case, within ten days working
from the date of the loss or, if applicable, of
the change of control.
[Paragraph not present] 12.
-
The
Company
shall
provide
for
registration in the List by the fifteenth day of
the calendar month following that in which
the request was received, accompanied by
the
necessary
documentation,
as
per
paragraph 11 of this Article.
[Paragraph not present] 13. - In the event that the legitimising right
in rem belongs to a legal person or other
entity without legal personality that is subject
to control, the change of control over that
legal person or entity shall determine the
cancellation of registration in the List (with
consequent
loss
of
the
benefit
of
the
increased voting right, if already accrued). If,
however, the change of control occurs as a

result of (i) a transfer by succession due to
death, (ii) a transfer free of charge under a
family agreement, or (iii) a transfer free of
charge
for
the
establishment
and/or
endowment of a trust, an asset-based fund or
a trust whose beneficiaries are the same
transferor
or
his/her
legitimate
heirs,
registration in the List is retained (with
consequent maintenance of the benefit of the
increased voting right, if already accrued).
[Paragraph not present] 14. - In the event that the legitimising right
in rem is transferred for one of the cases
referred to in paragraph 13, under (i), (ii) and
(iii), the successors in title have the right to
request registration with the same seniority
of registration of the natural person giving
cause (with consequent maintenance of the
benefit of the increased voting right, if
already accrued).
[Paragraph not present] 15. - In the event that the legitimising right
in rem is transferred as a result of a merger
or spin-off of an entity that is registered in the
List and that is subject to the control of a
party, the successor entity has the right to
request registration with the same seniority
of registration of the grantor entity where the
merger or spin-off did not result in a change
of control (with consequent maintenance of
the benefit of the increased voting right, if
already accrued). In the event that the
legitimate
right in rem is transferred as a
result of a merger or spin-off of an entity that
is registered in the List and is not subject to
control, the successor entity has the right to
request registration with the same seniority
of registration of the grantor entity where the
weight of the book value of the Company's
shares with respect to the shareholders'
equity of the assignee does not exceed 5%
and
does
not
exceed
the
corresponding
weight, on a like-for-like basis, with respect
to the shareholders' equity of the grantor
entity (with consequent maintenance of the
benefit of the increased voting right, if
already accrued).
9. - The transfer of shares in return for payment or
free of charge, including therein the establishment
or disposal of partial rights on the shares on the
basis of which the shareholder registered in the List
16. - Without prejudice to paragraphs 14 and
15 above, the transfer of shares in return for
payment or free of charge, including therein
the establishment or disposal of partial rights

is deprived of the voting right (also in the absence
on the shares on the basis of which the
of events of conveyance), or the direct or indirect
shareholder registered in the List is deprived
transfer of controlling interests in companies or
of the voting right (also in the absence of
entities that hold shares with increased votes that
events of conveyance), or the direct or
exceed the threshold set forth in Article 120,
indirect transfer of controlling interests in
paragraph 2, of the TUF, involves the loss of the
companies or entities that hold shares with
increased vote.
increased votes that exceed the threshold set
forth in Article 120, paragraph 2, of the TUF,
involves the loss of the increased voting right.
[Paragraph not present]
17. - If the Company ascertains, also as a
result of communications or reports received,
that a person enrolled in the List is no longer
(in whole or in part) entitled to registration
for any reason pursuant to Article 6 herein, it
will promptly proceed with the consequent
cancellation (total or partial).
10. - The increased voting right: a) is retained in
18. - The increased voting right: a) is retained in
the event of succession due to death and in the
the event of succession due to death and in the
event of merger and spin-off of the shareholder,
event of merger and spin-off of the shareholder,
provided that the merging entity, resulting from
provided that the merging entity, resulting from
the merger or beneficiary of the spin-off, is directly
the merger or beneficiary of the spin-off, is directly
or indirectly controlled by the same party that,
or indirectly controlled by the same party that,
directly or indirectly, controls the holder of the
directly or indirectly, controls the holder of the
increased voting right; b) extends proportionally to
increased voting right; a)b) extends proportionally
newly issued shares, in the event of a share capital
to newly issued shares in the event of a share
increase pursuant to Article 2442 of the Italian Civil
capital increase pursuant to Article 2442 of the
Code; c) may also be due to the shares assigned in
Italian Civil Code, issued in relation to those
exchange for those to which increased voting rights
already held and already recorded in the List,
are attributed, in the event of a merger or spin-off,
in the event of a free share capital increase or
if this is envisaged by the related plan; d) extends
with new contributions (with consequent
proportionally to the shares issued in execution of
extension of the benefit of the increased
a capital increase through new contributions,
voting right, if already accrued); b) c) may also
including the capital increase deriving from the
be due to the shares assigned in exchange for
exercise of warrants and/or convertibles bonds; e)
those to which, being registered in the List, are
is retained in the event of transfer from one
assigned increased voting rights, in the event of
portfolio to another of the UCI managed by the
merger or spin-off, if this is envisaged by the
same party.
related plan (with consequent maintenance of
the benefit of the increased voting right, if
already accrued); d) extends proportionally to
the shares issued in execution of a capital increase
through new contributions, including the capital
increase deriving from the exercise of warrants
and/or convertibles bonds; e) is retained in the
event of transfer from one portfolio to another of
the UCI managed by the same party.
[Paragraph not present]
19.
-
Any
amendment
(ameliorative
or
negative) of the regulation of the increased
voting right dictated by these Articles of
Association
or
its
suppression
does
not

require the approval of any special meeting
pursuant to Art. 2376 of the Italian Civil Code,
but
rather
only
the
approval
by
the
Extraordinary
Shareholders'
Meeting
in
accordance with the law.
11. - In the assumptions pursuant to letters (b),
(c) and (d) of the previous paragraph 10, the new
shares acquire the increased vote: (i) for newly
issued shares due to the holder in relation to shares
for which the increased vote has already accrued,
from the moment of registration in the List, with no
need for further expiry of the continuous period of
ownership; (ii) for newly issued shares due to the
holder in relation to shares for which the increased
vote has not already accrued (but is in the process
of being accrued), from the moment of fulfilment
of the membership period calculated from the
original registration in the List.
[Paragraph removed]
- In the assumptions pursuant to letters (b), (c)
and (d) of the previous paragraph 10, the new
shares acquire the increased voting right: (i) for
newly issued shares due to the holder in relation to
shares for which the increased voting right has
already accrued, from the moment of registration
in the List, with no need for further expiry of the
continuous period of ownership; (ii) for newly
issued shares due to the holder in relation to shares
for which the increased voting right has not already
accrued (but is in the process of being accrued),
from the moment of fulfilment of the membership
period calculated from the original registration in
the List.
12. - The increased voting right is also calculated
in determining the quorums for constitution of the
meetings and the passing of resolutions that make
reference to the portions of share capital, but have
no effect on non-voting rights due on the basis of
ownership of given portions of capital.
20. -
12)
The increased voting right is also
calculated
in
determining
the
quorums
for
constitution of the meetings and the passing of
resolutions that make reference to the portions of
share capital, but have no effect on non-voting
rights due on the basis of ownership of given
portions capital.
13. - Pursuant to Article 127-quinquies, paragraph
7, of the TUF, for the purposes of accrual of the
period of continuous ownership needed for the
increased vote, in relation to shares existing before
the date of the start of trading on Euronext Milan,
the ownership accrued before said moment and,
therefore, before the date of registration in the List,
is also calculated. If at the date of the start of
trading on Euronext Milan, the term of 24 (twenty
four) months referred to in letter (a) of paragraph
4 above has already expired, the increased vote
will take effect from said date, without prejudice to
the need for the shareholder to request registration
on the List.
[Paragraph removed]
Pursuant to Article 127-quinquies, paragraph 7, of
the TUF, for the purposes of accrual of the period
of
uninterrupted
ownership
needed
for
the
increased voting right, in relation to shares existing
before the date of the start of trading on Euronext
Milan, the ownership accrued before said moment
and, therefore, before the date of registration in
the List, is also calculated. If, at the date of the
start of trading on Euronext Milan, the term of 24
(twenty-four) months referred to in letter (a) of
paragraph 4 above has already expired, the
increased vote will take effect from said date,
without prejudice to the need for the shareholder
to request registration on the List.
14. - Also in derogation of the frequency set out in
previous
paragraph
7,
where
a
shareholder
requests
registration
in
the
List
based
on
calculation of the possession accrued before said
registration in accordance with previous paragraph
[Paragraph removed]
Also in derogation of the frequency set out in
previous
paragraph
7,
where
a
shareholder
requests
registration
in
the
List
based
on
calculation of the possession accrued before said

13, the registration on the List by the Company
must occur on the same date of the registration
registration in accordance with previous paragraph
13, the registration on the List by the Company
request from the Shareholder and take effect must occur on the same date of the registration
immediately. request from the Shareholder and take effect
immediately.
15. - The provisions governing the increased voting 21. - 15) The provisions governing the increased
right set forth in this Article shall apply as long as voting right set forth in this Article shall apply as
the Company's shares are listed on an Italian long as the Company's shares are listed on an
regulated market or a regulated market of one of Italian regulated market or a regulated market of
the other European Union member states. one of the other European Union member states.
16. - For the purposes of this Article, the concept 22.-
16)
For the purposes of this Article, the
of control is that set forth in the regulatory concept of control is that set forth in the regulatory
provisions for listed issuers. provisions for listed issuers of art. 93 of the TUF
and that provided for by the relevant sector
legislation.

***

First item on the Agenda, under lett. b): "Proposal to amend the articles of Association of Association for the purposes, inter alia, of the inclusion: […] b) of the right to hold the Shareholders' Meeting even with the exclusive intervention of the designated representative. […] Related and consequent resolutions".

2.1. Introduction to and reasons behind the proposed amendment

With Article 11 of the Capital Law, the Italian national legislator amended the TUF by introducing the new Article 135-undecies, permitting, where provided for in the Articles of Association, that Shareholders' Meetings of listed companies may only be held through the company's appointed representative (the "Representative").

This provision therefore makes permanent the possibility of holding ordinary and extraordinary shareholders' meetings with the same methods that have been used in the last four years to allow the expression of the right to vote also in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In light of the experience gained in recent years, the Board of Directors believes that the use of the Representative enables the orderly and efficient management of shareholders' meetings, allowing all shareholders to cast their vote with ease, without this method of conducting the vote of the Shareholders' Meetings restricting the participation rights recognised by law.

In fact, normal practice has shown that attendance at the Shareholders' Meeting has lost its report, debate and discussion function, which is essential for defining the voting decision to be expressed. Attendance at the Shareholders' Meeting is now reduced to the mere exercise of the right to vote, on the basis of the knowledge that is formed also and above all through a continuous dialogue between the Company and the shareholders, which intensifies in the period immediately prior to the shareholders' meeting being held.

In light of the experience gained by the Company and the changes introduced by the Capital Law, it is therefore proposed to amend Article 12 of the Articles of Association under the terms described below.

With regard to the other proposed amendments, in addition to some fine-tuning measures, they concern the possibility of holding shareholders' meetings and meetings of the Board of Directors and the Board of Board of Statutory Auditors by means of telecommunications (see Articles 11, 13, 19 and 26 of the Articles of Association).

2.2. Description of the procedures for the meeting and the exercise of the rights of the shareholders

When envisaged by the Articles of Association, attendance at the Shareholders' Meetings and the exercise of the voting rights by those entitled may take place exclusively through the Representative to whom proxies or sub-proxies may be granted pursuant to Art. 135-novies of the TUF, also in derogation of Art. 135-undecies of the TUF.

In compliance with the provisions set out by paragraph 2 of Art. 135-undecies.1 of the TUF, and without prejudice to the provisions of Art. 126-bis, paragraph 1, first sentence, of the TUF in relation to integration to the Agenda, when the participation in the Shareholders' Meeting of the Company takes place exclusively through the Representative:

  • (i) each person entitled to vote may individually submit decision proposals on the items on the Agenda or proposals whose presentation is otherwise permitted by law, by the fifteenth day prior to the date of the first or only call of the Shareholders' Meeting of the Company;
  • (ii) the Company will make the decision proposals available to the public on its website within two days after the due date.

The entitlement to the individual submission of decision proposals is subject to the receipt by the company of the notice envisaged by Art. 83-sexies of the TUF, which certifies the entitlement to attend the Shareholders' Meeting and to exercise voting rights.

For the same reason, pursuant to paragraph 3 of Art. 135-undecies.1 of the TUF, the right to ask questions, pursuant to art. 127-ter of the TUF, may be exercised only before the Shareholders' Meeting. The Company will, in turn, provide answers to questions received at least three days before the Shareholders' Meeting.

In any case, the Board of Directors has the right to establish that participation in the Shareholders' Meeting takes place in the other forms envisaged by law.

2.3. Participation in the Shareholders' Meeting and in the meetings of the Board of Directors and the Board of Board of Statutory Auditors by means of telecommunications (amendment to Articles 11, 13, 19 and 26 of the Articles of Association)

On this occasion, further changes were also made to the Articles of Association, aimed at updating certain clauses in the Articles of Association. The Company's Articles of Association, in their current formulation, provide that:

  • (i) the Shareholders' Meetings and the meetings of the Board of Directors may also be held using telecommunication means; in this case, they are considered to be held in the place where the Secretary of the meeting, or the notary, is physically present; and
  • (ii) the meetings of the Board of Board of Statutory Auditors may also be held using telecommunication means; in this case, it shall be considered held in the place indicated in the notice of call.

Within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the emergency regulations had granted the possibility that the participants in the Shareholders ' Meetings and the members of the Board of Directors and the Board of Board of Statutory Auditors could attend, respectively, the shareholders' meetings, the board meetings and the meetings of the Board of Statutory Auditors by telecommunication means, even if not envisaged by the Articles of Association. This possibility was extended, most recently by the Capital Law, for the shareholders' meetings that will take place by 31 December 2024.

In light of the positive experience gained in recent years, the Board of Directors deems it appropriate to extend the use of these methods of intervention also in the future.

On this point, the Notary Council of Milan clarified that:

  • ordinary regulations do not prevent attendance to Shareholders' Meetings by telecommunication means – where permitted by the Articles of Association – and that this method of intervention may concern all participants in the meeting, including the Chairperson (who does not necessarily have to be in the location indicated in the notice of call, where, however, the Secretary taking the minutes or the notary must be present; see Maximum Company Commission no. 187 of 11 March 2020); and that
  • if the Articles of Association provide for participation in the Shareholders' Meeting by telecommunication means, the Board of Directors may establish in the notice of call that the Shareholders' Meeting will be held exclusively by means of telecommunication, omitting the indication of the physical place of the meeting itself (see Maximum Company Commission no. 200 of 23 November 2021).

In line with the indications of the Notary Council of Milan with Maxim no. 187, the above conclusions must also be extended to the meetings of the Board of Directors and the Board of Board of Statutory Auditors.

In light of the above, and in line with what is indicated in Maxims numbers 187 and 200, it is proposed to amend the Articles of Association, providing that, where required by the notice of call, the Shareholders' Meeting, the meeting of the Board of Directors and the meeting of the Board of Board of Statutory Auditors may be held exclusively by telecommunication means, omitting the indication of a physical location in which it is to be held, all in compliance with the methods and within the limits set forth in the applicable legislation and regulations in force.

2.4. Effectiveness of the statutory amendment and recurrence of the right of withdrawal

The amendment to the Articles of Association does not in itself entail the recurrence of the right of withdrawal; however, as the proposed amendment to the Articles of Association is dealt with in a unified manner, it should be noted that the amendment to the Articles of Association will be effective only in the event of fulfilment of the Condition (referred to in paragraph 1.11 above).

2.5. Text of the proposed statutory amendment

Below is a comparison of the amended articles in the current text and in the text proposed by the Board of Directors.

Current text of the Articles of Association New text of the proposed Articles of Association
Article 11
1. - The Shareholders' Meeting is called whenever
the Board of Directors deems it appropriate or
when its calling is required by law.
Article 11
[Unchanged]
2. - The Shareholders' Meeting may be held at the
registered office or in any location, including
outside of the registered office, chosen by the
administrative body, provided it is in Italy or in
another European Union Country, in the latter case
by ensuring entitled parties have the possibility to
attend with the means set out in article 13,
paragraph 5, of these Articles of Association.
2. - The Shareholders' Meeting may be held at the
registered office or in any location, including
outside of the registered office, chosen by the
administrative body, provided it is in Italy or in
another European Union Country, in the latter case
by ensuring entitled parties have the possibility to
attend with the means set out in article 13,
paragraph 5, of these Articles of Association. In
the notice of call, it may be established that
the Shareholders' Meeting is held exclusively
by telecommunication means, omitting the
indication of the physical location of the
meeting, in line with the methods and limits
set
by
the
applicable
legislation
and
regulations in force.
3. -
Ordinary and Extraordinary Shareholders'
Meetings are held in single call. The Board of
Directors can make provision for the Shareholders'
Meeting to be held in multiple calls, in which case
the call notice will indicate the date of the second
and, if
necessary, third calls, according to the
methods set forth in subsequent paragraph 4 of
Article 11 herein. The Shareholders' Meeting is
constituted and passes resolutions, in the ordinary
and
extraordinary
sessions,
based
on
the
majorities required by law in said scenarios.
[Unchanged]
4. - The Shareholders' Meeting is called by the
Board of Directors via a notice published on the
Company's website, as well as according to the
other methods established by the applicable
legislation and regulations in force and, where
necessary, by the Italian Civil Code.
[Unchanged]

5. -
The Ordinary Shareholders' Meeting for
approval of the financial statements must be called
at least once a year within 120 days of the close of
the financial year, or in the cases set forth in Article
2364, paragraph 2, of the Italian Civil Code, and
nonetheless in observance of the terms set forth in
Article 154-ter of the TUF, within the extended
term of 180 days from the close of the financial
year, without prejudice to any additional term set
forth in the regulatory provisions in force. In said
case, this must be communicated to the Bank of
Italy.
[Unchanged]
Article 12 Article 12
1. - Holders of the voting right pursuant to the
applicable legal and regulatory provisions in force
are
legitimately
entitled
to
attend
the
Shareholders' Meeting. The legitimate entitlement
to attend and exercise the voting right is certified
according to the terms established in the applicable
legislation and regulations in force from time to
time, as well as by the provisions of the following
paragraphs of Article 12 herein.
1. - Holders of the voting right pursuant to the
applicable legal and regulatory provisions in force
are
legitimately
entitled
to
attend
the
Shareholders' Meeting. The legitimate entitlement
to attend and exercise the voting right is certified
according to the terms established in the applicable
legislation and regulations in force from time to
time, as well as by the provisions of the following
paragraphs of Article 12 herein, as provided,
from time to time, in the notice of call.
[Paragraph not present] 2.
-
Both
Ordinary
and
Extraordinary
Shareholders' Meetings may be held with the
exclusive
participation
of
the
designated
representative, pursuant to Art. 135-undecies
of the TUF, in compliance with the applicable
legislation and regulations in force at the
time, in accordance with the provisions of the
notice of call. The designated representative
may also be granted proxies and sub-proxies
pursuant to Art. 135- novies of the TUF.
2. -
Those who hold the voting right can be
represented at the Shareholders' Meeting by
issuing the appropriate proxy in accordance with
the legal terms. The proxy is sent to
the Company via certified e-mail to the address
indicated in the call notice or other transmission
methods indicated therein.
3. - 2)If it is envisaged in the notice of call that
the attendance and exercise of the voting
right at the Shareholders' Meeting does not
take place exclusively through the designated
representative, whoever has the right to vote
may be represented at the Shareholders' Meeting,
issuing a specific mandate within the terms and in
the manner indicated by law. The proxy is sent to
the Company via certified e-mail to the address
indicated in the call notice or other transmission
methods indicated therein.
3. -
The Company can designate, for each
Shareholders' Meeting, one or more persons to
whom the holders of the right to vote at the
Shareholders' Meeting can confer a proxy, with
4. -
3)
The Company can designate, for each
Shareholders' Meeting, one or more persons to
whom the holders of the right to vote at the
Shareholders' Meeting can confer a proxy, with

voting instructions on all or some of the proposals
on the Agenda. The proxy has no effect with regard
to the proposals for which no voting instructions
have been conferred. The designated persons, the
methods and terms for conferral of proxies are
shown in the call notice of the Shareholders'
Meeting.
voting instructions on all or some of the proposals
on the agenda. The proxy has no effect with regard
to the proposals for which no voting instructions
have been conferred. The designated persons, the
methods and terms for conferral of proxies are
shown in the call notice of the Shareholders'
Meeting.
4. - In compliance with the provisions of Articles 24
and 110 of the Consolidated Law on Banking
("TUB"), voting rights and other rights that make it
possible to influence the Company in relation to
equity
investments
for
which
(i)
the
prior
authorisations to be issued by the Bank of Italy
have not been obtained or have been suspended or
revoked or (ii) the required communications have
been omitted, cannot be exercised.
5. - 4) In compliance with the provisions of Articles
24 and 110 of the TUB, voting rights and other
rights that make it possible to influence the
Company in relation to equity investments for
which (i) the prior authorisations to be issued by
the Bank of Italy have not been obtained or have
been suspended or revoked or (ii) the required
communications have been omitted, cannot be
exercised.
Article 13 Article 13
1. - The Shareholders' Meeting is chaired by the
Chairperson of the Board of Directors. In the event
of the absence or impediment of the latter, the
Shareholders' Meeting shall be chaired by the
person elected by means of a majority vote of
those present, according to the shareholding held.
[Unchanged]
2. -
The Shareholders' Meeting resolves on all
matters that fall within its competence as per the
law and these Articles of Association.
[Unchanged]
3. - The Chairperson of the Shareholders' Meeting
verifies, also via the appropriate representatives,
the right to attend, that the meeting is validly
constituted,
and
the
identity
and
legitimate
entitlement to attend of the participants, as well as
governing
the
conduct
of
the
meeting
and
ascertaining the results of the votes; the outcomes
of these assessments must be documented in the
minutes.
[Unchanged]
4. - The conduct of the Shareholders' Meeting is
regulated by law, by the Articles of Association
and, if present, the appropriate Shareholders'
Meeting regulation approved by means of a
resolution of the Company's Ordinary
Shareholders' Meeting.
[Unchanged]
5. - The Shareholders' Meeting may be held with
the attendees in multiple locations connected via
means
of
telecommunication
and
shall
be
considered held in the place where the secretary or
the notary is physically present. In said scenario:
(a) the call notice indicates the locations connected
5. - The Shareholders' Meeting may be held with
the attendees in multiple locations connected via
means
of
telecommunication
and
shall
be
considered held in the place where the secretary or
the notary is physically present. In said scenario:
(a) except in the case referred to in Article 11,

via audio/video link, in which the attendees may be
located; (b) the Chairperson of the Shareholders'
Meeting must be able to guarantee that the
meeting is validly constituted, verify the identity
and the legitimate entitlement to attend of the
participants, verify the regular conduct of the
meeting, and ascertain the results of voting; (c)
the person taking the minutes must be able to
adequately hear the events of the Shareholders'
Meeting for which minutes must be taken; and (d)
the attendees must be able to participate in the
discussion and simultaneous voting on the items on
the Agenda.
paragraph 2, last sentence, the call notice
indicates the locations connected via audio/video
link, in which the attendees may be located; (b)
the Chairperson of the Shareholders' Meeting must
be able to guarantee that the meeting is validly
constituted, verify the identity and the legitimate
entitlement to attend of the participants, verify the
regular conduct of the meeting, and ascertain the
results of voting; (c) the person taking the minutes
must be able to adequately hear the events of the
Shareholders' Meeting for which minutes must be
taken; and (d) the attendees must be able to
participate in the discussion and simultaneous
voting on the items on the Agenda.
Article 19 Article 19
1. - The Board of Directors appoints a Chairperson
from its members, when the Shareholders' Meeting
does not make provision for this; it can also appoint
a Deputy Chairperson and a secretary, the latter
also chosen from outside its members and outside
the Company.
[Unchanged]
2. - The Chairperson of the Board of Directors
promotes internal dialogue and the effective
functioning of the corporate governance system.
He/She does not hold executive roles, nor carries
out, including de facto, management functions,
except
where
permitted
by
the
applicable
provisions from time to time.
[Unchanged]
3. - The Chairperson of the Board of Directors calls
and chairs meetings of the Board of Directors,
establishes its Agenda and coordinates its conduct.
In the event of the absence of the Chairperson of
the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors elects
the Chairperson based on an absolute majority of
the directors present.
[Unchanged]
4. - The meeting is called using all the suitable
means in consideration of the notice periods,
normally sent at least 5 (five) calendar days before
the meeting to each member of the Board of
Directors and of the Board of Statutory Auditors; in
urgent cases, this term may be reduced to 24
(twenty-four) hours before the meeting. Meetings
of the Board of Directors shall be considered validly
constituted, including where not formally called,
[Unchanged]

when all of the Directors and the majority of
Standing Auditors in office are present and all
entitled parties have been informed beforehand of
the meeting and there have been no objections to
the discussion of the items on the Agenda.
5. -
The call notice of the Board of Directors
indicates the location, date and time of the
meeting, and the items on the agenda.
5. -
The call notice of the Board of Directors
indicates the location, date and time of the
meeting, and the items on the Agenda. In the
notice of call, it may be established that the
Board of Directors is held exclusively by
telecommunication
means,
omitting
the
indication of the physical location of the
meeting.
6. - The Board of Directors is validly constituted
with the presence of the majority of its members in
office and validly passes resolutions with the
favourable vote of the absolute majority of the
directors present, except for resolutions regarding
(i)
the
remuneration
policy
proposal
to
be
submitted
to
the
Shareholders'
Meeting
for
examination; (ii) any adoption of a dividend policy;
(iii) the approval of the procedure adopted by the
Company for related-party transactions pursuant
to the legislation and regulations in force on each
occasion; and (iv) the approval and/or amendment
of the Company's strategic plans (including therein
the business plan), for which the Board of Directors
validly passes resolutions with the favourable vote
of the majority of its members in office. In the
event of a tie, the Chairperson of the Board of
Directors has the casting vote.
[Unchanged]
7. - The resolutions of the Board of Directors must
be documented in the minutes signed by the
Chairperson and by the Secretary. Said minutes,
even if drafted by public deed, must be transcribed
immediately in the book of Directors' decisions kept
in accordance with the law.
[Unchanged]
8. - The meetings of the Board of Directors can also
be held with the attendees in multiple neighbouring
or distant locations, via video- or tele-conference,
provided that each member can be identified by all
the others and that each member is able to
participate in real time in the discussion of the
matters examined, as well as to receive, send and
view documents. If these conditions are met, the
meeting is considered held in the place where the
8. - The meetings of the Board of Directors can also
be held, as provided, from time to time, in the
notice of call, with the attendees in multiple
neighbouring or distant locations, via video-
or
tele-conference, provided that each member can
be identified by all the others and that each
member is able to participate in real time in the
discussion of the matters examined, as well as to
receive, send and view documents.
If these
conditions are met, the meeting is considered held

meeting secretary or the notary is physically in the place where the meeting secretary or the
present. notary is physically present.
Article 26 Article 26
1. -
The Board of Statutory Auditors meets
according to the frequency established by law.
[Unchanged]
2. - The meetings are called by the Chairperson of
the Board of Statutory Auditors, with an indication
of the items on the Agenda, using any appropriate
means, and is sent at least 5 (five) calendar days
before the date set for the meeting, except in
urgent cases for which the term is reduced to up to
24 (twenty-four) hours.
2. - The meetings are called by the Chairperson of
the Board of Statutory Auditors, with an indication
of the items on the Agenda, using any appropriate
means, and is sent at least 5 (five) calendar days
before the date set for the meeting, except in
urgent cases for which the term is reduced to up to
24 (twenty-four) hours. In the notice of call, it
may be established that the meeting of the
Board
of
Statutory
Auditors
is
held
exclusively
by
telecommunication
means,
omitting
the
indication
of
the
physical
location of the meeting.
3. -
The meetings of the Board of Statutory
Auditors can also be held with the attendees in
multiple
neighbouring
or
distant
locations,
connected via audio/video link, provided that all
participants can be identified and that they can
follow the discussion and participate in real time in
the discussion of the matters examined. The
meeting is considered held in the location indicated
in the call notice.
3. -
The meetings of the Board of Statutory
Auditors can also be held, as provided, from time
to time, in the notice of call, with the attendees in
multiple
neighbouring
or
distant
locations,
connected via audio/video link, provided that all
participants can be identified and that they can
follow the discussion and participate in real time in
the discussion of the matters examined. The
meeting is considered held in the location indicated
in the call notice.

***

RESOLUTION PROPOSAL ON THE ONLY ITEM ON THE AGENDA

"The Shareholders' Meeting of Generalfinance S.p.A.", held in extraordinary session, having examined the explanatory report of the Board of Directors,

RESOLVES

  • 1. To approve, with effectiveness subject to the condition that the amount of money to be paid by the Company to the Withdrawing Shareholders does not exceed the amount of EUR 5,000,000.00, the proposal to amend the Articles of Association, in the text submitted for the Shareholders' Meeting held today, in order to introduce, in addition to minor changes: (a) the so-called enhanced increased voting rights, pursuant to Art. 127-quinquies, paragraph 2, of the TUF, as recently amended by Art. 14 of Italian Law no. 21 of 5 March 2024 (the so-called Capital Law), by amending Art. 6 of the Articles of Association; as well as (b) the possibility that participation in the Shareholders' Meeting and the exercise of voting rights take place exclusively through the representative appointed by the company, pursuant to Art. 135-undecies of the TUF, in compliance with art. 135-undecies.1 of the TUF, recently introduced by Art. 11 of the Capital Law, by amending Article 12 of the Articles of Association;
  • 2. To grant the CEO with the right to sub-mandate, as regards execution, all the widest powers and powers to fully execute the above resolutions and in particular, by way of example but not limited to, the power to negotiate, conclude, sign and execute, in the name and on behalf of the Company, any document, deed and/or contract preparatory to and/or concerning proposals to amend the Articles of Association, it being understood that the CEO will have the power, inter alia, to: (i) issue communications, deposits and/or requests for authorisation to the competent Authorities, including the Register of Companies, pursuant to the applicable laws and regulations, also for the purpose of redeeming the shares with respect to which the right of withdrawal will be exercised, pursuant to Art. 2437-quater, of the Italian Civil Code, for a maximum amount of EUR 5,000,000.00, in any case providing the clarifications and implementing any changes and/or additions that may be requested by the same Authorities, as well as those that may be necessary and/or appropriate for the enforcement of legal or regulatory provisions; (ii) fulfil all obligations necessary to amend the Company's Articles of Association;
  • 3. To authorise the Chairperson and the CEO, even severally from each other, to make all formal and non-substantial changes to the above resolution that may be necessary or even only appropriate or that are requested by the competent Supervisory Authorities."

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