AGM Information • Apr 1, 2020
AGM Information
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Fully paid-up share capital € 9,650,526.24 Tax code and Milan Companies' Register No. 12870770158 - ABI code No. 03158.3 Largo Augusto 1/A, angolo Via Verziere 13, 20122 Milan
__________________ www.bancasistema.it
ORDINARY AND EXTRAORDINARY SHAREHOLDERS' MEETING, HELD ON SINGLE CALL AT THE REGISTERED OFFICE AT LARGO AUGUSTO 1/A, ANGOLO VIA VERZIERE 13, MILAN 23 APRIL 2020, 10.00 A.M.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS' REPORT ON ITEM 9 OF THE AGENDA
(prepared pursuant to Art. 125-ter of Legislative Decree No. 58 of 24 February 1998, as amended and supplemented)
AMENDMENT TO ARTICLES 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14 (13 WITH NEW NUMBERING), 18 (17 WITH NEW NUMBERING), AND 20 (19 WITH NEW NUMBERING) OF THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION; REPEAL OF ARTICLE 13 OF THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION AND CONSEQUENT NEW NUMBERING OF ARTICLES 14 TO 24 OF THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION; INTRODUCTION OF NEW ARTICLE 25 TO THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION. RELATING AND RESULTING RESOLUTIONS
Dear Shareholders,
The Board of Directors of the Bank has resolved to submit a project to the extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting with regard to the overall amendment to the By-laws.
The proposal aims, on the one hand, to identify appropriate solutions to ensure that the corporate structure is able to adapt to the future development of the Bank over the long term, acknowledging the importance of shareholders that wish to remain part of the corporate structure on a stable basis, also with a view to ensuring sound and prudent management for the future. On the other hand, a number of the clauses of the current By-laws need to be reviewed as they are no longer consistent with the current corporate structure or are not up to the standard required for listed banks or, in some cases, may be viewed as elements of rigidity.
In light of the above, the Board of Directors has deemed appropriate to conduct an overall review the Bank's current By-laws, also identifying a number of additional amendments that take into account the provisions of the Code of Conduct of Borsa Italiana, as detailed below, as well as verifying best market practice.
The checks completed, also with the support of primary external consultants, have excluded the eventuality that the proposed amendments to the By-laws, if approved by the Shareholders Meeting, give rise to a right of withdrawal.
Furthermore, pursuant to the applicable regulations and supervisory provisions (e.g. art. 56 of the Consolidated Law on Banking, Title III, Chapter 1 of Circular no. 229 of 21 April 1999, the Supervisory provisions governing amendments to By-laws of 21 March 2007, and the Bank of Italy Notice of 10 September 2010 - Decision), an application for a decision is currently pending with the Bank of Italy as of 10 January 2020. The procedure is due to be completed once the Supervisory Authority has verified that the proposed amendments to the By-laws are not in contrast with the requirement of sound and prudent management.
Once issued, the assessment will be made public in a specific press release.
In the context described above, the Bank has identified the amendments to the By-laws, as indicated and described below, grouped by subject area.
In addition, for comparison purposes, the provisions subject to amendment are shown in the first column and the proposed amendments in the second column. Brief reasons for the amendments are given in the third column.
(i) Removal of the clauses referring to the changed ownership structure following the Bank's listing (art. 10.2, paragraph eleven, letters a), b) and c) (three-list system); art. 12.2, paragraph two (larger quorum for specific resolutions of the Board of Directors); and art. 13 (deadlock procedure) of the By-laws, which is repealed in its entirety).
First of all, the Board has deemed appropriate to review art. 10 of the current By-laws in its entirety in order to ensure the overall consistency of the text.
In particular, the purpose of the review is to take into account, on the one hand, that there is no longer the need to ensure the presence of certain governance mechanisms to protect the interests of the pre-listing relative majority shareholder, in the event that, at the end of the listing process, the latter had maintained a significant stake in the Bank and, on the other hand, that there is an opportunity to make the process of appointing the members of the corporate bodies more organic, also with a view to rebalancing the weight of candidates drawn from the majority list and those drawn from the minority list.
In detail, the current provision requiring three lists and the fact that three out of the nine members of the Board of Directors are drawn from one or even two minority lists seems somewhat unjustified in view of the current shareholder structure, and is also atypical in the case of listed banks, which usually draw only one director from the minority list.
This proposal therefore concerns the update of some of the articles, in particular, the procedure for appointing the Board of Directors (including the review of the list system, currently based on three lists, one majority and two minority lists, with the right for minority shareholders to appoint one third of directors, i.e., three out of the nine appointed), the provision for a larger quorum for resolutions of the
Board of Directors regarding certain matters (art. 12.2 of the By-laws) and the so-called deadlock procedure set out in art. 13 of the By-laws.
The amendments in question will however ensure that the list voting procedure is maintained in place with regard to the appointment of members of the Bank's Board of Directors and Board of Statutory Auditors.
(ii) Amendments to the composition of the Board of Directors and to the list voting procedure governing the election of the members of the Bank's Board of Directors and Board of Statutory Auditors (art. 10.1; 10.2, paragraph six; 10.3, paragraphs one, three and four; 14.2 (renumbered as 13.2); 18.1 (renumbered as 17.1) and 18.5 (renumbered as 17.5), paragraph two of the By-laws). (iii) Alignment of the By-laws to the new provisions governing "gender balance" (art. 10.1-bis (new) and art. 18.1 (renumbered as 17.1)).
The Board of Directors therefore deems appropriate to propose the review, in terms of other aspects, of art. 10 of the current By-laws.
In particular, the proposed amendments concern the following aspects:
(iv) Removal of clauses that constitute a mere literal repetition of the supervisory provisions for banks (art. 10.2, paragraph one; art. 10.2, paragraph eight; and art. 10.9 of the By-laws).
(v) Amendments made purely for coordination purposes, to rectify errors and/or incorrect references/cross-references and to streamline the internal workings of the company (art. 5.3; 8.4; 8.6; 9.1; 10.2, paragraph three; 10.4; 11.2; 11.5, paragraph one, letter b); 11.5, paragraph one, letter e); 11.6, paragraph one; 12.2, paragraph one, letter k), with the addition of letter y); 12.3, paragraph two; 12.4, paragraph two; 18.5 (renumbered as 17.5), paragraph five; 18.13
The Board of Directors also believes that the aforesaid amendments to the By-laws should be taken as an opportunity to remove those clauses that constitute a mere literal repetition of mandatory regulatory provisions, which apply in any case.
Likewise, it is also a perfect opportunity to correct certain errors and make other changes of a formal nature so as to improve coordination between the various provisions.
In order to ensure effective alignment between the current provisions of the By-laws and those proposed, the Board of Directors deems appropriate to include transitional rules in those provisions referring to the composition of the Board of Directors.
In particular, it is proposed to provide that all of the amendments to art. 10 of the By-laws enter into force from the date of renewal of the said Board so as to ensure the more orderly application of the new provisions. Therefore, if the aforesaid amendments are approved, the provisions of art. 25 - which contains the current text of art. 10 of the By-laws - shall apply up to the next renewal of the Board of Directors.
All of the aforementioned amendments are set out in detail in the table below, which compares the current text of the By-laws with the proposed amended version of the text.
| CURRENT TEXT | AMENDED TEXT | NOTES |
|---|---|---|
| SECTION III | SECTION III | |
| CORPORATE BODIES | CORPORATE BODIES | |
| Article 8: Shareholders' Meeting | Article 8: Shareholders' Meeting | |
| 8.1 The Meeting, duly constituted, | 8.1 The Meeting, duly constituted, | |
| represents all shareholders and its | represents all shareholders and its | |
| resolutions passed in compliance | resolutions passed in compliance | |
| with the law and these By-laws are | with the law and these By-laws are | |
| binding upon all shareholders, even if | binding upon all shareholders, even if | |
| they are absent, abstaining or |
they are absent, abstaining or |
|
| dissenting. The Meeting convenes in | dissenting. The Meeting convenes in | |
| ordinary and extraordinary session in | ordinary and extraordinary session in | |
| accordance with the law and these | accordance with the law and these | |
| By-laws. | By-laws. | |
| The manner in which the Meeting | The manner in which the Meeting | |
| operates is laid down by appropriate | operates is laid down by appropriate | |
| regulations approved by resolution of | regulations approved by resolution of | |
| the ordinary Meeting. | the ordinary Meeting. | |
| 8.2 The ordinary Meeting is |
8.2 The ordinary Meeting is |
|
| called at least once every 120 (one | called at least once every 120 (one | |
| hundred and twenty) days from the | hundred and twenty) days from the | |
| closure of the business year | closure of the business year |
Moreover, the Meeting is called by the Administrative Body whenever it deems it necessary and appropriate and in the cases provided by law, or following written notification to the Chair of the Board of Directors, by the Board of Auditors or at least two of its members in accordance to what is provided under applicable legal provisions. The Meeting is also legally convened by the Board of Directors when a request is made to do so by shareholders representing at least twenty per cent of the share capital and where the request indicates the issue to be covered. Convening at the request of shareholders is not allowed for issues on which the Meeting legally resolves at the proposal of the directors or on the basis of a project or report prepared by them.
Finally, the Meeting is convened in other cases provided by law and these By-laws.
8.3 The Meeting is convened in the Town where the Company has its registered office or elsewhere provided this is in Italy, other members States of the European Union, Switzerland or in the United States of America.
8.4 The Meeting is convened according to the terms and conditions fixed by law and by the Moreover, the Meeting is called by the Administrative Body whenever it deems it necessary and appropriate and in the cases provided by law, or following written notification to the Chair of the Board of Directors, by the Board of Auditors or at least two of its members in accordance to what is provided under applicable legal provisions. The Meeting is also legally convened by the Board of Directors when a request is made to do so by shareholders representing at least twenty per cent of the share capital and where the request indicates the issue to be covered. Convening at the request of shareholders is not allowed for issues on which the Meeting legally resolves at the proposal of the directors or on the basis of a project or report prepared by them.
Finally, the Meeting is convened in other cases provided by law and these By-laws.
8.3 The Meeting is convened in the Town where the Company has its registered office or elsewhere provided this is in Italy, other members States of the European Union, Switzerland or in the United States of America.
8.4 The Meeting is convened according to the terms and conditions fixed by law and by the
| statutory regulations applicable at | statutory regulations applicable at | |
|---|---|---|
| the time. | the time. | |
| The notice of call must indicate the | The notice of call must indicate the | |
| date, time, place of the meeting and | date, time, place of the meeting and | |
| the list of matters to be discussed and | the list of matters to be discussed and | |
| other information and particulars as | other information and particulars as | |
| may be required by applicable law | may be required by applicable law | |
| and regulations currently in force. | and regulations currently in force. | |
| The Meeting is carried out in a single | The Meeting is carried out in a single | |
| sitting, pursuant to the meeting and | sitting, pursuant to the meeting and | |
| decision quorum established by law | decision quorum established by law | |
| under these circumstances, unless | and these By-laws under these |
This amendment is merely |
| the meeting notice does not foresee | circumstances, unless the meeting | formal and also serves the |
| dates for any subsequent meetings, | notice does not foresee dates for any | purpose of transposing the |
| including a third call. | subsequent meetings, including a | effects of shares with |
| Pursuant to the provisions of article | third call. | increased voting rights |
| 126-bis of Legislative Decree no. 58 | Pursuant to the provisions of article | |
| dated 24 February 1998, |
126-bis of Legislative Decree no. 58 | |
| shareholders who, including jointly, | dated 24 February 1998, |
|
| represent at least one fortieth of the | shareholders who, including jointly, | |
| share capital, of a different smaller | represent at least one fortieth of the | |
| percentage of the share capital |
share capital, of a different smaller | |
| provided by regulations in force at | percentage of the share capital |
|
| the time, may, within a period of 10 | provided by regulations in force at | |
| (ten) days from the publication of the | the time, may, within a period of 10 | |
| notice of call by the Meeting, unless a | (ten) days from the publication of the | |
| different period is provided under | notice of call by the Meeting, unless a | |
| law, request the completion of the | different period is provided under | |
| list of agenda items to be covered, | law, request the completion of the | |
| and themselves indicate further |
list of agenda items to be covered, | |
| items, or present proposals for |
and themselves indicate further |
|
| deliberation on items already on the | items, or present proposals for |
|
| agenda, within the manner and |
deliberation on items already on the | |
| means provided under legal and | agenda, within the manner and | |
| applicable laws and regulations. |
means provided under legal and | |
| Whoever holds voting rights can | applicable laws and regulations. |
individually submit proposals to be debated at the Meeting.
After the agenda had been completed or subsequent proposals have been submitted to be discussed on the agenda, following the request for the agenda to be completed for proposals to be submitted as stated in the previous paragraph, notice is given, in the prescribed manner for the publication of the notice of call, at least 15 (fifteen) days prior to the one fixed for the Meeting to be held, unless a different period is stipulated by law. Subsequent proposed resolutions for topics already on the agenda are made available to the public within the manner and means stipulated by law.
Inclusion is not allowed for issues on which the Meeting legally resolves at the request of directors or on the basis of projects or reports prepared by them, other than indicated under article 125-ter, paragraph 1 of Legislative Decree no. 58 dated 24 February 1998.
8.5 Where the formalities set out under the previous paragraphs or of any other formality required by law is not followed, the Meeting shall be deemed to be properly convened and may validly resolve on any issue, unless this is opposed by a shareholder who is not sufficiently Whoever holds voting rights can individually submit proposals to be debated at the Meeting.
After the agenda had been completed or subsequent proposals have been submitted to be discussed on the agenda, following the request for the agenda to be completed for proposals to be submitted as stated in the previous paragraph, notice is given, in the prescribed manner for the publication of the notice of call, at least 15 (fifteen) days prior to the one fixed for the Meeting to be held, unless a different period is stipulated by law. Subsequent proposed resolutions for topics already on the agenda are made available to the public within the manner and means stipulated by law.
Inclusion is not allowed for issues on which the Meeting legally resolves at the request of directors or on the basis of projects or reports prepared by them, other than indicated under article 125-ter, paragraph 1 of Legislative Decree no. 58 dated 24 February 1998.
8.5 Where the formalities set out under the previous paragraphs or of any other formality required by law is not followed, the Meeting shall be deemed to be properly convened and may validly resolve on any issue, unless this is opposed by a shareholder who is not sufficiently
informed, when the entire share capital is represented and the majority of members of the Board of Directors and Board of Auditors in represented. Under these circumstances, timely notice should be given of the resolutions made to members of the Board of Directors and Board of Auditors who are not in attendance.
8.6 The right to attend the meeting and exercise voting rights is certified by a notice to the company, sent by the intermediary authorised under the provisions of law and regulations, in accordance with its accounting records, in favour of the party who has the right to vote. This notice is made on the basis of evidence from the accounts specified in article 83 quater, paragraph 3 of Legislative Decree no. 58 dated 24 February 1998, relating to the end of the accounting day of the seventh trading day prior to the date set for the meeting. To this end, reference is made to the date of the first call of the Meeting, provided that the dates of the subsequent calls are included in the only notice of the meeting; otherwise reference is made to the date of each call.
8.7 The persons entitled to attend and vote at the Meeting may be represented by another person or informed, when the entire share capital is represented and the majority of members of the Board of Directors and Board of Auditors in represented. Under these circumstances, timely notice should be given of the resolutions made to members of the Board of Directors and Board of Auditors who are not in attendance.
8.6 The right to attend the meeting and exercise voting rights is certified by a notice to the company, sent by the intermediary authorised under the provisions of law and regulations, in accordance with its accounting records, in favour of the party who has the right to vote. This notice is made on the basis of evidence from the accounts specified in article 83 quater, paragraph 3 of Legislative Decree no. 58 dated 24 February 1998, relating to the end of the accounting day of the seventh trading day prior to the date set for the meeting. To this end, reference is made to the date of the single or of the first call of the Meeting, provided that the dates of the subsequent calls are included in the only notice of the meeting; otherwise reference is made to the date of each call.
8.7 The persons entitled to attend and vote at the Meeting may be represented by another person or This amendment ensures coordination between the deadline and the ordinary rules for calling the Shareholders' Meeting
entity, including a non-shareholder, by means of a written proxy in the manner and means stipulated by the law and applicable regulations. The proxy will be notified electronically via certified mail or using the special section of the company website and with other methods of notification as may be provided for in the notice of call, in accordance with the law and regulations.
The Company has the option to nominate a person for each Meeting to which shareholders can confer a proxy with voting instructions for all or any of the proposals on the agenda in the manner provided by the law and applicable statutory regulations. The proxy is not effective with regard to proposals for which voting instructions have not been conferred. 8.8 Postal voting can also take place. Postal voting is exercised in the manner specified in the notice of call, in accordance with the applicable statutory provisions, using any means of communication (including fax and e-mail) which is appropriate to provide proof of receipt.
8.9 The Meeting can also be held with participants located in several places, whether contiguous or remote, with audio-visual connections (only audio connection is permitted when the participants may be easily recognised by the Chair of the Meeting), entity, including a non-shareholder, by means of a written proxy in the manner and means stipulated by the law and applicable regulations. The proxy will be notified electronically via certified mail or using the special section of the company website and with other methods of notification as may be provided for in the notice of call, in accordance with the law and regulations.
The Company has the option to nominate a person for each Meeting to which shareholders can confer a proxy with voting instructions for all or any of the proposals on the agenda in the manner provided by the law and applicable statutory regulations. The proxy is not effective with regard to proposals for which voting instructions have not been conferred. 8.8 Postal voting can also take place. Postal voting is exercised in the manner specified in the notice of call, in accordance with the applicable statutory provisions, using any means of communication (including fax and e-mail) which is appropriate to provide proof of receipt.
8.9 The Meeting can also be held with participants located in several places, whether contiguous or remote, with audio-visual connections (only audio connection is permitted when the participants may be easily recognised by the Chair of the Meeting),
| providing that the collegial method | providing that the collegial method |
|---|---|
| and principles of good faith and equal | and principles of good faith and equal |
| treatment of shareholders have been | treatment of shareholders have been |
| followed. In this case, it is required | followed. In this case, it is required |
| that: | that: |
| a) the Chair of the Meeting is able to | a) the Chair of the Meeting is able to |
| unequivocally ascertain the identity | unequivocally ascertain the identity |
| and legitimacy of the participants, | and legitimacy of the participants, |
| conduct the meeting and note and | conduct the meeting and note and |
| declare the results of the voting | declare the results of the voting |
| procedure. | procedure. |
| b) at the place where the video/audio | b) at the place where the video/audio |
| conference is held, an attendance | conference is held, an attendance |
| sheet should be kept giving the | sheet should be kept giving the |
| names of those attending the |
names of those attending the |
| meeting at this place; this attendance | meeting at this place; this attendance |
| sheet shall be attached to the |
sheet shall be attached to the |
| minutes of the meeting; | minutes of the meeting; |
| c) the person taking the minutes is | c) the person taking the minutes is |
| able to adequately follow the events | able to adequately follow the events |
| of the Meeting; | of the Meeting; |
| d) the participants are able to take | d) the participants are able to take |
| simultaneously part in the |
simultaneously part in the |
| discussions and vote on the items on | discussions and vote on the items on |
| the agenda in real time; | the agenda in real time; |
| e) where the Meeting is not held in | e) where the Meeting is not held in |
| plenary session, the notice of call | plenary session, the notice of call |
| indicates the audio/video locations at | indicates the audio/video locations at |
| which the participants can attend and | which the participants can attend and |
| the meeting shall be deemed to have | the meeting shall be deemed to have |
| been held at the location where the | been held at the location where the |
| Chair and minute-taker are in |
Chair and minute-taker are in |
| attendance. | attendance. |
| The means of telecommunications | The means of telecommunications |
| shall be recorded in the minutes. | shall be recorded in the minutes. |
8.10 The Meeting is chaired by the Chair of the Board or, in the event of him being absent or incapacitated, by the Deputy Chair, if appointed, or any other person designated by the Board of Directors; otherwise the Meeting appoints as Chair one of the persons taking part by simple majority of the capital represented. The Chair of the Meeting is assisted by a secretary designated by the Meeting, by simple majority of the capital represented and possibly by one or more scrutineers, including non-shareholders; where prescribed by law or where deemed appropriate by the administrative body, the functions of secretary are attributed to a notary designated by the same administrative body.
The Chair of the Meeting is responsible for ensuring that the meeting is properly convened, ascertaining the right of shareholders to take part and vote, noting the legitimacy of the proxies, guiding and managing the discussion and proceedings of the Meeting, establishing the method of voting and also ascertaining and declaring the related results. In this he may be assisted by appropriate appointees. The Meeting sessions are run and governed by law, these By-laws and by the Meeting regulations.
8.10 The Meeting is chaired by the Chair of the Board or, in the event of him being absent or incapacitated, by the Deputy Chair, if appointed, or any other person designated by the Board of Directors; otherwise the Meeting appoints as Chair one of the persons taking part by simple majority of the capital represented. The Chair of the Meeting is assisted by a secretary designated by the Meeting, by simple majority of the capital represented and possibly by one or more scrutineers, including non-shareholders; where prescribed by law or where deemed appropriate by the administrative body, the functions of secretary are attributed to a notary designated by the same administrative body.
The Chair of the Meeting is responsible for ensuring that the meeting is properly convened, ascertaining the right of shareholders to take part and vote, noting the legitimacy of the proxies, guiding and managing the discussion and proceedings of the Meeting, establishing the method of voting and also ascertaining and declaring the related results. In this he may be assisted by appropriate appointees. The Meeting sessions are run and governed by law, these By-laws and by the Meeting regulations.
Article 9: constitution, powers and
resolutions of the Meeting
9.1 The ordinary and extraordinary Meeting is validly convened in a single call, unless the notice of call states, apart from the initial one, the date of other subsequent calls, including a possible third call pursuant to the provisions of the previous paragraph 8.4, third paragraph, of these By-laws, with the quorum required for the meeting and resolutions stipulated by law. The provisions of articles 10 and 18 of these By-laws shall apply with regard to the appointment of the Board of Directors and Board of Auditors.
9.2 The ordinary and extraordinary Meeting shall resolve on the issues attributed to it by law and these Bylaws.
In particular, the ordinary Meeting apart from setting the fees payable to the appointed bodies approves: (i) the remuneration and incentives policies in favour of the members of the Board of Directors and of the Board of Auditors and of the remaining members; (ii) any remuneration plans based on financial instruments (for example stock option); (iii) the criteria for determining the fee is to be paid in the case of early termination of the employment contract or of any early
9.1 The ordinary and extraordinary Meeting is validly convened in a single call, unless the notice of call states, apart from the initial one, the date of other subsequent calls, including a possible third call pursuant to the provisions of the previous paragraph 8.4, third paragraph, of these By-laws, with the quorum required for the meeting and resolutions stipulated by law and these By-laws. The provisions of articles 10 and 178 of these By-laws shall apply with regard to the appointment of the Board of Directors and Board of Auditors.
9.2 The ordinary and extraordinary Meeting shall resolve on the issues attributed to it by law and these Bylaws.
In particular, the ordinary Meeting apart from setting the fees payable to the appointed bodies approves: (i) the remuneration and incentives policies in favour of the members of the Board of Directors and of the Board of Auditors and of the remaining members; (ii) any remuneration plans based on financial instruments (for example stock option); (iii) the criteria for determining the fee is to be paid in the case of early termination of the employment contract or of any early This amendment is merely formal and also serves the purpose of transposing the effects of shares with increased voting rights
cessation of the task, including the limits set for this payment in terms of annuities of the fixed remuneration and the maximum amount deriving from their application.
The Ordinary General Meeting, at the time of approving remuneration and incentive policies, also resolves on any proposal to set a limit on the ratio between the variable and fixed remuneration of individual staff at more than 100% (ratio of 1 : 1), but not exceeding the maximum limit of 200% (ratio of 2: 1). In this case, the shareholders' resolution is based on a proposal of the Board of Directors, indicating at least: (i) the functions to which those persons affected by the decision belong, for each function, their number and those who are identified as "key personnel"; (ii) the reasons underlying the proposed increase; (iii) the implications, even in a forward-looking perspective, on the company's ability to continue to comply with all applicable prudential rules. The proposal of the Board of Directors is approved by the Ordinary Meeting when: (i) the Meeting is constituted with at least half of the share capital and the decision is taken by the favourable vote of at least 2/3 of the share capital represented at the meeting; or (ii) the decision is taken by the favourable vote of at least 3/4 of the share cessation of the task, including the limits set for this payment in terms of annuities of the fixed remuneration and the maximum amount deriving from their application.
The Ordinary General Meeting, at the time of approving remuneration and incentive policies, also resolves on any proposal to set a limit on the ratio between the variable and fixed remuneration of individual staff at more than 100% (ratio of 1 : 1), but not exceeding the maximum limit of 200% (ratio of 2: 1). In this case, the shareholders' resolution is based on a proposal of the Board of Directors, indicating at least: (i) the functions to which those persons affected by the decision belong, for each function, their number and those who are identified as "key personnel"; (ii) the reasons underlying the proposed increase; (iii) the implications, even in a forward-looking perspective, on the company's ability to continue to comply with all applicable prudential rules. The proposal of the Board of Directors is approved by the Ordinary Meeting when: (i) the Meeting is constituted with at least half of the share capital and the decision is taken by the favourable vote of at least 2/3 of the share capital represented at the meeting; or (ii) the decision is taken by the favourable vote of at least 3/4 of the share
| capital represented at the meeting, | capital represented at the meeting, | |
|---|---|---|
| regardless of the share capital with | regardless of the share capital with | |
| which the Meeting is constituted. | which the Meeting is constituted. | |
| 9.3 The Meeting shall be provided | 9.3 The Meeting shall be provided | |
| with adequate information on |
with adequate information on |
|
| remuneration and incentive policies | remuneration and incentive policies | |
| adopted by the company, and its | adopted by the company, and its | |
| implementation, as required by the | implementation, as required by the | |
| laws and regulations from time to | laws and regulations from time to | |
| time applicable. | time applicable. | |
| 9.4 The Directors may not vote in the | 9.4 The Directors may not vote in the | |
| resolutions regarding their |
resolutions regarding their |
|
| responsibilities. | responsibilities. | |
| 9.5 The resolutions of the Meeting | 9.5 The resolutions of the Meeting | |
| are minuted and signed by the chair, | are minuted and signed by the chair, | |
| secretary or notary. | secretary or notary. | |
| Article 10: Board of Directors | Article 10: Board of Directors | |
| 10.1 The company is managed by a | 10.1 The company is managed by a | |
| Board of Directors appointed by the | Board of Directors appointed by the | |
| Meeting and comprised of 9 |
Meeting and comprised of a |
The amendment aims to give |
| members which: | minimum of 7 and a maximum of 11 | greater flexibility to the |
| 9members who: | Shareholders' Meeting in |
|
| a) bring to the company the specific | a) bring to the company the specific | deciding the corporate |
| skills they possess; | skills they possess; | governance structure. |
| b) know the tasks and responsibilities | b) know the tasks and responsibilities | |
| of the role and are in possession of | of the role and are in possession of | |
| the requirements requested by law | the requirements requested by law | |
| and regulations in force at the time; | and regulations in force at the time; | |
| c) act and resolve with full knowledge | c) act and resolve with full knowledge | |
| of the facts and autonomously in | of the facts and autonomously in | |
| pursuit of the aim to create value for | pursuit of the aim to create value for | |
| shareholders; | shareholders; | |
| d) only accept the position when they | d) only accept the position when they | |
| believe they are able to dedicate the | believe they are able to dedicate the | |
| time needed to diligently carry out | time needed to diligently carry out | |
| their tasks, also being mindful of the | their tasks, also being mindful of the |
| number of positions of director of | number of positions of director of | |
|---|---|---|
| auditor they have in other companies | auditor they have in other companies | |
| or bodies; | or bodies; | |
| e) keep the information acquired as a | e) keep the information acquired as a | |
| result of the office held as |
result of the office held as |
|
| confidential. | confidential. | |
| 10.1-bis In accordance with the need | The amendment is a |
|
| to ensure an adequate degree of | consequence of the addition | |
| diversification in the composition of | to the By-laws of the |
|
| the Board, in terms of skills, |
provisions aimed at |
|
| experience, age, international |
safeguarding the |
|
| profile and gender, at least two | participation of the least |
|
| fifths of the members of the Board of | represented gender (further | |
| Directors must be of the least | comments referring to |
|
| represented gender, with rounding | amendments resulting from | |
| up to the nearest whole number in | the adoption of this same | |
| the case of a fractional number. | approach will be omitted in | |
| the rest of the text) | ||
| 10.2 The current laws and provisions | 10.2 The current laws and provisions | |
| of these By-laws apply to the |
of these By-laws apply to the |
|
| appointment, dismissal and |
appointment, dismissal and |
|
| replacement of members of the | replacement of members of the | |
| Board of Directors | Board of Directors | |
| In order to appoint or co-opt |
In order to appoint or co-opt |
|
| directors, the Board of Directors | directors, the Board of Directors | This clause constitutes a |
| initially identifies the qualitative and | initially identifies the qualitative and | mere literal repetition of the |
| quantitative composition deemed |
quantitative composition deemed |
supervisory provisions for |
| optimal in relation to the aims to be | optimal in relation to the aims to be | banks, which apply without |
| pursued, by identifying and justifying | pursued, by identifying and justifying | the need to add any |
| the theoretical profile of the |
the theoretical profile of the |
reference in the By-laws |
| candidates considered appropriate to | candidates considered appropriate to | |
| these ends. The results of this |
these ends. The results of this |
|
| analysis must be shown in the notice | analysis must be shown in the notice | |
| of call of the Meeting convened to | of call of the Meeting convened to | |
| appoint directors so that |
appoint directors so that |
|
| shareholders, in choosing candidates, | shareholders, in choosing candidates, |
can take into account the professional skills required. This is notwithstanding the possibility for shareholders to make their own assessments on the optimal composition of the Board of Directors and to bring forward candidates commensurate with these, explaining any differences with regard to the analysis carried out by the Board. Subsequently, the Board of Directors checks the compliance between the qualitative and quantitative composition deemed optimal and the one actually resulting from the appointments process.
The Members of the Board of Directors are elected using the list system in which a minimum of three and maximum of nine candidates must be listed in sequential order. The candidate at sequential number "1" of each list shall also be the candidate appointed as chair of the Board of Directors.
Any shareholder, as well as shareholders belonging to the same group, members of a shareholders' agreement pursuant to article 122 of legislative decree no 58 dated 24 February, the entity controlling it, the entity by which it is controlled and the entity subject to joint control pursuant to article 93 of legislative decree no 58 dated 24 February 1998, may not be present or be can take into account the professional skills required. This is notwithstanding the possibility for shareholders to make their own assessments on the optimal composition of the Board of Directors and to bring forward candidates commensurate with these, explaining any differences with regard to the analysis carried out by the Board. Subsequently, the Board of Directors checks the compliance between the qualitative and quantitative composition deemed optimal and the one actually resulting from the appointments process.
The Members of the Board of Directors are elected using the list system in which a minimum of three and maximum of eleven nine candidates must be listed in sequential order. The candidate at sequential number "1" of each list shall also be the candidate appointed as chair of the Board of Directors.
Any shareholder, as well as shareholders belonging to the same group, members of a shareholders' agreement pursuant to article 122 of legislative decree no 58 dated 24 February, the entity controlling it, the entity by which it is controlled and the entity subject to joint control pursuant to article 93 of legislative decree no 58 dated 24 February 1998, may not be present or be This amendment ensures coordination with the abovementioned proposals concerning the composition of the Board
| involved in the presentation, either | involved in the presentation, either | |
|---|---|---|
| by proxy of trust company, in more | by proxy of trust company, in more | |
| than one list and may not vote on lists | than one list and may not vote on lists | |
| other than the one presented. Where | other than the one presented. Where | |
| the competition, either directly or | the competition, either directly or | |
| indirectly, indicates applicants |
indirectly, indicates applicants |
|
| present in more than one list, these | present in more than one list, these | |
| lists shall be deemed to have not | lists shall be deemed to have not | |
| been submitted. | been submitted. | |
| For the purposes of the preceding | For the purposes of the preceding | Amendment made purely for |
| paragraph, entities, even those with | subsection paragraph, entities, even | coordination purposes |
| a corporate status, which exercise | those with a corporate status, which | |
| direct or indirect control pursuant to | exercise direct or indirect control | |
| Article 93 of Legislative Decree 24 | pursuant to Article 93 of Legislative | |
| February 1998 n. 58 over the |
Decree 24 February 1998 n. 58 over | |
| shareholder in question and all the | the shareholder in question and all | |
| companies controlled directly or |
the companies controlled directly or | |
| indirectly by this entity are deemed | indirectly by this entity are deemed | |
| to belong to the same group. | to belong to the same group. | |
| Each candidate may appear in one | Each candidate may appear in one | |
| list, under pain of ineligibility. | list, under pain of ineligibility. | |
| Only those shareholders who, |
Only those shareholders with voting | |
| together or separately, are holders of | rights who, separately or together | This generic formulation, |
| shares representing at least 2.5% | with other shareholders, are holders | without any explicit |
| (two point five percent) - or any other | of shares representing at least the | reference to the thresholds |
| lower percentage established by the | percentage of share capital |
set out in art. 144-quater of |
| legislation currently in force are | established by the applicable |
the Issuers' Regulation, |
| entitled to submit lists - of the capital | legislation in force at the time, are | neutralises the possible |
| entitled to vote on Meeting |
entitled to submit lists who, together | effects on the By-laws of any |
| resolutions that relate to the |
or separately, are holders of shares | subsequent repeal or |
| appointment of members of the | representing at least 2.5% (two point | amendment of the |
| Board. | five percent) - or any other lower | regulatory provision above. |
| percentage established by the |
In any event, the |
|
| legislation currently in force are | amendment specifies the |
|
| entitled to submit lists - of the capital | requirement that the notice | |
| entitled to vote on Meeting |
of call of the Shareholders' |
The lists must be sent to the company's head office and to the management company at least 25 (twenty- five) days prior to the one planned for the Meeting called to resolve on the appointment of the administrative body and be made available to the public at the registered office, the market management company, the Company's internet site and with the other means stipulated under applicable legal and regulatory provisions at least 21 (twenty-one) days prior to the one fixed for the Meeting in the first call. The lists indicate which directors are in possession of the requirements of independence stipulated by law and these By-laws. Each list must contain at least three candidates, of which at least two are in possession of the requirements of independence established by Law and the By-laws. Moreover, each list must include candidates of different genders,
resolutions that relate to the appointment of members of the Board. The percentage shareholding required to submit lists of candidates for the appointment of the Board of Directors is specified in the notice of call of the Shareholders' Meeting called to resolve on the appointment of the said body.
The lists must be sent to the company's head office and to the management company at least 25 (twenty- five) days prior to the one planned for the Meeting called to resolve on the appointment of the administrative body and be made available to the public at the registered office, the market management company, the Company's internet site and with the other means stipulated under applicable legal and regulatory provisions at least 21 (twenty-one) days prior to the one fixed for the Meeting on single or first call. The lists indicate which directors are in possession of the requirements of independence stipulated by law and these By-laws. Each list must contain at least three candidates, of which at least two are in possession of the requirements of independence established by Law and the By-laws. Moreover, each list must include candidates of different genders, Meeting must indicate the percentage shareholding required to submit the lists
This amendment ensures coordination between the deadline and the ordinary rules for calling the Shareholders' Meeting
including for individual independent candidates, according to what is stated in the Meeting call notice, so as to enable the Board of Directors to be comprised pursuant to current regulations regarding gender equality.
The ownership of the minimum share required to submit the lists referred to in this paragraph shall be determined with regard to the shares registered to the shareholder on the day when these lists are deposited at the company's headquarters. In order to prove ownership of the number of shares required to submit lists, members putting forward lists have to submit or send to the registered office a copy of the appropriate certificate issued by an authorised intermediary proving ownership of the number of shares required for the submission of the list at least twenty-one days before the Meeting called to approve the appointment of the members of the Board of Directors. Each list submitted must include: a) information regarding the shareholders who have presented the list and the percentage of shares held; b) the declarations in which each candidate accepts the nomination (in the case of candidates including for individual independent candidates, according to what is stated in the Meeting call notice, so as to enable the Board of Directors to be comprised pursuant to current regulations the provisions of the Bylaws regarding gender equality.
The ownership of the minimum share required to submit the lists referred to in this paragraph shall be determined with regard to the shares registered to the shareholder on the day when these lists are deposited at the company's headquarters. In order to prove ownership of the number of shares required to submit lists, members putting forward lists have to submit or send to the registered office a copy of the appropriate certificate issued by an authorised intermediary proving ownership of the number of shares required for the submission of the list at least twenty-one days before the Meeting called to approve the appointment of the members of the Board of Directors. Each list submitted must include: a) information regarding the shareholders who have presented the list and the percentage of shares held; b) the declarations in which each candidate accepts the nomination (in the case of candidates
| positioned at sequential number "1" | positioned at sequential number "1" | |
|---|---|---|
| on each list, they also accept |
on each list, they also accept |
|
| applicants for Chair of the Board) and | applicants for Chair of the Board) and | |
| declare, under their own |
declare, under their own |
|
| responsibility that there are no |
responsibility that there are no |
|
| causes of ineligibility or |
causes of ineligibility or |
|
| incompatibility, and that the |
incompatibility, and that the |
|
| requirements of professionalism and | requirements of professionalism and | |
| integrity and any other requirement | integrity and any other requirement | |
| stipulated under current laws and | stipulated under current laws and | |
| these By-laws for undertaking the | these By-laws for undertaking the | |
| position are met; c) declarations of | position are met; c) declarations of | |
| independence issued pursuant to the | independence issued pursuant to the | |
| applicable legislative, regulatory and | applicable legislative, regulatory and | |
| statutory provisions; as well as d) the | statutory provisions; as well as d) the | |
| CV of each candidate, containing | CV of each candidate, containing | |
| extensive information of the |
extensive information of the |
|
| individual's personal and |
individual's personal and |
This clause constitutes a |
| professional characteristics, |
professional characteristics, |
mere literal repetition of the |
| indicating for which theoretical |
indicating for which theoretical |
supervisory provisions for |
| profile he/she is suitable and the | profile he/she is suitable and the |
banks, which apply without |
| positions of administration and |
positions of administration and |
the need to add any |
| control covered. | control covered. | reference in the By-laws |
| The lists submitted which do not | The lists submitted which do not | |
| satisfy the provisions stated above | satisfy the provisions stated above | |
| shall be void. | shall be void. | |
| Each shareholder has the right to | Each shareholder has the right to | |
| vote for one list. Where a vote is | vote for one list. Where a vote is | |
| made for several lists, the vote shall | made for several lists, the vote shall | |
| be deemed as not having been cast | be deemed as not having been cast | |
| for any of them. | for any of them. | |
| The election of the Board of Directors | The election of the Board of Directors | |
| shall be made as follows: | shall be made as follows: | |
| a) from the list that obtains the | a) all directors to be appointed, less | As highlighted in the |
| majority of votes (majority list) a | one, are drawn from the list that | Directors' Report, the |
| number of directors equal to six are | obtains the majority of votes |
changes made to the |
elected, of which at least one is in possession of the independence requirements pursuant to art. 10.3; candidates are elected on the basis of the progressive order shown by the list; the candidate positioned at sequential number "1" is appointed Chair of the Company's Board of Directors;
b) two directors, of which at least one in possession of the independence requirements pursuant to art. 10.3 will be taken from the list, if any, that gets the most votes after the list referred to in subparagraph a), which is not connected in any way, even indirectly, to that list and / or with the shareholders who submitted or voted for the majority list; are elected in those limits candidates in a progressive order in the list;
(majority list), in the progressive order in which they are listed on that same list, and in compliance with the minimum number of directors pursuant to art. 10.3 a number of directors equal to six are elected, of which at least one is in possession of the independence requirements pursuant to art. 10.3 below; candidates are elected on the basis of the progressive order shown by the list; the candidate positioned at sequential number "1" is appointed Chair of the company's Board of Directors;
b) the last member of the Board of Directors is drawn from the minority list that gets the most votes after the list referred to in subparagraph a), which is not connected in any way, even indirectly, to that list and/or with the shareholders who submitted or voted for the majority list, on the basis of the progressive order of that list. That member must be two directors, of which at least one in possession of the independence requirements pursuant to art. 10.3 below; will be taken from the list, if any, that gets the most votes after the list referred to in subparagraph a), which is not connected in any way, even indirectly, to that list and / or with the shareholders who submitted or voted for the majority list; are elected procedure for appointing the Board of Directors are aimed at updating the By-laws following the listing and the Fund's exit from the share capital. In light of the change in the Bank's shareholder structure, this provision is no longer justified
c) a director in possession of the independence requirements pursuant to art. 10.3 will be taken from the list, if any, which receives the highest number of votes after the list in b), which is not connected in any way, even indirectly, with previous lists and / or the shareholders who presented or voted on the previous lists; is the first candidate in the sequential order of the list in the possession of the independence requirements pursuant to art. 10.3. In the event that only two lists have been submitted and allowed, the remaining independent director will be chosen from the list referred to in point b).
To this end, however, lists that do not obtain a percentage of votes equal to half of that required for the submission of lists, referred to in paragraph six of this subsection shall not be taken into account.
10.3 The Directors must meet the requirements of professionalism and integrity and any other requirement under the regulations in force and in these By-laws. In addition, at least three directors, and in any event a number of directors not less than that required by the regulations in in those limits candidates in a progressive order in the list; c) a director in possession of the independence requirements pursuant to art. 10.3 will be taken from the list, if any, which receives the highest number of votes after the list in b), which is not connected in any way, even indirectly, with previous lists and / or the shareholders who presented or voted on the previous lists; is the first candidate in the sequential order of the list in the possession of the independence requirements pursuant to art. 10.3. In the event that only two lists have been submitted and allowed, the remaining independent director will be chosen from the list referred to in point b).
To this end, however, lists that do not obtain a percentage of votes equal to half of that required for the submission of lists, referred to in paragraph six of this subsection shall not be taken into account.
10.3 The Directors must meet the requirements of professionalism and integrity and any other requirement under the regulations in force and in these By-laws. In addition, at least three directors, and in any event a number of directors not less than that required by the regulations in
The amendment is in line with the definition of a variable number of directors. Furthermore, the reference
force, must meet the independence requirements of art. 148, paragraph three, of Legislative Decree no 58 dated 24 February 1998, as well as the Code of Corporate Governance to which the Company adheres.
The loss of the requirements for the position will entail revocation, with it being specified that the loss of the independence requirements mentioned above in relation to a director, notwithstanding the obligation to immediately notify the Board of Directors, shall not lead to revocation if the requirements are met by the remaining minimum number of directors pursuant to these By-laws.
If the candidates elected in the manner described above do not ensure the appointment of a number of directors who meet the independence requirements provided for above equal to the minimum number established by law and these By-laws in relation to the total number of directors, the nonindependent candidate elected last in sequential order in the list that received the highest number of votes referred to in subparagraph a) of force, with rounding up to the nearest whole in the case of a fractional number, must meet the independence requirements established in regulations in force from time to time of art. 148, paragraph three, of Legislative Decree no 58 dated 24 February 1998, as well as the Code of Corporate Governance to which the Company adheres.
The loss of the requirements for the position will entail revocation, with it being specified that the loss of the independence requirements mentioned above in relation to a director, notwithstanding the obligation to immediately notify the Board of Directors, shall not lead to revocation if the requirements are met by the remaining minimum number of directors pursuant to these By-laws.
If the candidates elected in the manner described above do not ensure the appointment of a number of directors who meet the independence requirements provided for above equal to the minimum number established by law and these By-laws in relation to the total number of directors, the nonindependent candidate elected last in sequential order in the majority list that received the highest number of votes referred to in subparagraph a) to regulations in force from time to time neutralises the possible effects on the Bylaws of any subsequent amendment of the applicable regulatory provision.
The amendment coordinates the references to the "majority" and "minority" lists previously defined in the
text of the By-laws
paragraph 10.2, paragraph eleven paragraph, will be replaced by the first independent candidate in sequential order not elected from the same list, or, failing that, by the first independent candidate in sequential order not elected from other lists, according to the number of votes obtained by each. This substitution procedure will be followed until the number of independent directors to be appointed is met.
Without prejudice to compliance with the minimum number of directors in possession of the independent requirements as stipulated above, where the candidates elected in the manner indicated above in the composition of the Board of Directors do not ensure compliance with the regulations in force in relation to gender equality, the candidate of the gender most elected as last in sequential order in the least who has secured the highest number of votes pursuant to letter a) of subsection 10.2, paragraph eleven, shall be replaced by the first candidate of the gender least represented based on the nonelected sequential order of the same list, or, failing this, by the first candidate of the gender least represented on the basis of the nonelected sequential order of the other of paragraph 10.2, paragraph eleven paragraph, will be replaced by the first independent candidate in sequential order not elected from the same list, or, failing that, by the first independent candidate in sequential order not elected from the minority list other lists, according to the number of votes obtained by each. This substitution procedure will be followed until the number of independent directors to be appointed is met. Without prejudice to compliance with the minimum number of directors in possession of the independent requirements as stipulated above, where the candidates elected in the manner indicated above in the composition of the Board of Directors do not ensure compliance with the regulations in force with the provisions of the Bylaws in relation to gender equality, the candidate of the gender most elected as last in sequential order in the majority list least who has secured the highest number of votes pursuant to letter a) of subsection 10.2, paragraph eleven, shall be replaced by the first candidate of the
gender least represented based on the non-elected sequential order of the same list, or, failing this, by the first candidate of the gender least represented on the basis of the nonSee preceding note
lists, according to the number of votes obtained by each. This replacement procedure will be carried out unless the Board of Directors is compliant with the current regulations in respect of gender equality.
In the event of there being only one list that is presented and allowed, all the candidates on this list shall be elected, but ensuring the nomination of directors in possession of the independence requirements at least in the overall number required under current laws and these By-laws, and also in compliance with current laws on gender equality. Where no list is submitted or allowed, the Meeting shall resolve according to the legal majority without observing the procedure referred to above. This is notwithstanding, however, different and other provisions provided under mandatory and statutory laws. In any event, there shall be compliance with the minimum number of independent directors and the current laws on gender equality. For the appointment of Directors who for whatever reason are not nominated pursuant to the procedures given above, the Meeting shall resolve by legal majority voting so as to ensure that the composition of the Board of elected sequential order of the minority list other lists, according to the number of votes obtained by each. This replacement procedure will be carried out unless the Board of Directors is compliant with the current regulations with the provisions of the By-laws in respect of gender equality.
In the event of there being only one list that is presented and allowed, all the candidates on this list shall be elected, but ensuring the nomination of directors in possession of the independence requirements at least in the overall number required under current laws and these By-laws, and also in compliance with current laws with the provisions of the By-laws on gender equality. Where no list is submitted or allowed, the Meeting shall resolve according to the legal majority without observing the procedure referred to above. This is notwithstanding, however, different and other provisions provided under mandatory and statutory laws. In any event, there shall be compliance with the minimum number of independent directors and the current laws with the provisions of the By-laws on gender equality. For the appointment of Directors who for whatever reason are not nominated pursuant to the procedures given above, the Meeting shall resolve by
Directors is compliant to the law and to these By-laws, and also complies with current laws in respect of gender equality.
10.4 The members of the Administrative Body shall remain in post for three years (expiring at the same time as the Meeting convened to approve the accounts relating to the last year of their post) or for a lesser period which may be fixed by the Meeting and the time of appointment. Directors may be reelected.
Where during the course of the period one or more directors are missing, provided that the majority remain comprised of directors appointed by the Meeting, the Board of Directors can arrange for their substitution through a resolution approved by the Board of Auditors in accordance with what is indicated below:
a) the Board of Directors shall arrange substitution using the persons belonging to the same list as the one to which the outgoing director belonged and the Meeting, pursuant to the first subsection of article 2386 of the Civil Code, resolves by legal majority voting in compliance with the same criterion;
legal majority voting so as to ensure that the composition of the Board of Directors is compliant to the law and to these By-laws, and also complies with current laws with the provisions of the By-laws in respect of gender equality.
10.4 The members of the Administrative Body shall remain in post for three years (expiring at the same time as the Meeting convened to approve the accounts relating to the last year of their post) or for a lesser period which may be fixed by the Meeting and the time of appointment. Directors may be reelected.
Where during the course of the period one or more directors are missing, provided that the majority remain comprised of directors appointed by the Meeting, the Board of Directors can arrange for their substitution through a resolution approved by the Board of Auditors in accordance with what is indicated below:
a) the Board of Directors shall arrange substitution using the persons belonging to the same list as the one to which the outgoing director belonged and the Meeting, pursuant to the first subsection of article 2386 of the Civil Code, resolves by legal majority voting in compliance with the same criterion;
b) where the list does not contain previously non-elected candidates or candidates with the necessary requirements, or else when for any reason it is not possible to comply with what is stipulated above under, the Board of Directors proceeds with substitution as subsequently approved by the Meeting, pursuant to the first subsection of article 2386 of the Italian Civil Code, with legal majority voting with the list vote. In any case, the Board of Directors and the Meeting pursuant to the first subsection of article 2386 of the Civil Code shall appoint so as to ensure the presence of directors in possession of the requirements of independence stipulated in the previous subsection 10.3 at least in the overall minimum number required by current laws and these Articles and also in compliance with current laws in respect of gender equality.
Pursuant to article 2386, subsection one of the Civil Code, directors appointed in this way shall remain in post until the next Meeting and those appointed by the Meeting shall remain in post for time that the directors they replaced would have remained in post.
10.5 If the majority of the members of the administrative body appointed by Meeting resolution ceases to hold b) where the list does not contain previously non-elected candidates or candidates with the necessary requirements, or else when for any reason it is not possible to comply with what is stipulated above under, the Board of Directors proceeds with substitution as subsequently approved by the Meeting, pursuant to the first subsection of article 2386 of the Italian Civil Code, with legal majority voting with the list vote.
In any case, the Board of Directors and the Meeting pursuant to the first subsection of article 2386 of the Civil Code shall appoint so as to ensure the presence of directors in possession of the requirements of independence stipulated in the previous subsection 10.3 at least in the overall minimum number required by current laws and these Articles and also in compliance with current laws with the provisions of the By-laws in respect of gender equality.
Pursuant to article 2386, subsection one of the Civil Code, directors appointed in this way shall remain in post until the next Meeting and those appointed by the Meeting shall remain in post for time that the directors they replaced would have remained in post.
10.5 If the majority of the members of the administrative body appointed by Meeting resolution ceases to hold
office, the entire administrative body shall lapse from the time when the new body is appointed and the directors remaining in post shall urgently convene the Meeting for it to be fully re-appointed and they may in the meantime perform acts of ordinary administration.
10.6 The Chair of the Board of Directors is appointed by the Meeting in the manner pursuant to article 10.2 paragraph 11, letter a) of the Bylaws. Where no lists are presented and allowed, the Chair of the Board of Directors is appointed by the Meeting pursuant to the legal majority and manner.
10.7 The Board of Directors appoints from among its members a CEO in accordance with what is stipulated under article 12.2 letter h). The Board of Directors has the option to attribute the position of general director to this same CEO. The position of general director can be exclusively attributed to the CEO.
The Board of Directors has the option to appoint a Deputy Chair, in accordance with the provisions of art. 12.2 letter g), which shall have the power, in the case of the absence or incapacity of the Chair, to chair the Shareholders' Meeting and the Board of Directors' meetings.
office, the entire administrative body shall lapse from the time when the new body is appointed and the directors remaining in post shall urgently convene the Meeting for it to be fully re-appointed and they may in the meantime perform acts of ordinary administration.
10.6 The Chair of the Board of Directors is appointed by the Meeting in the manner pursuant to article 10.2 paragraph 11, letter a) of the Bylaws. Where no lists are presented and allowed, the Chair of the Board of Directors is appointed by the Meeting pursuant to the legal majority and manner.
10.7 The Board of Directors appoints from among its members a CEO in accordance with what is stipulated under article 12.2 letter h). The Board of Directors has the option to attribute the position of general director to this same CEO. The position of general director can be exclusively attributed to the CEO.
The Board of Directors has the option to appoint a Deputy Chair, in accordance with the provisions of art. 12.2 letter g), which shall have the power, in the case of the absence or incapacity of the Chair, to chair the Shareholders' Meeting and the Board of Directors' meetings.
10.8 The Board of Directors may also delegate its own powers to an Executive Committee. 10.9 The non-executive members of the Board of Directors bring their own specific skills to the board discussions and contribute to the taking of decisions. They are called upon to perform an important dialectical function and to monitor the choices made by the executive members. The non-executive members shall acquire, also through the use of internal committees, information on the management and organisation of the company, internal audit and other control functions. The non-executive members must in any case be actively involved in the tasks entrusted to them, also as far as time availability is concerned and take part in the processes of appointing and dismissing internal audit and risk management managers. They diligently perform any other activity incumbent upon them pursuant to legal and regulatory provisions that may be in force.
10.10 The Board of Directors also appoints a Secretary in the person of a director of senior manager or executive of the company or a substitute, or an external consultant. 10.11 The Board of Directors is subject to a process of self10.8 The Board of Directors may also delegate its own powers to an Executive Committee.
10.9 The non-executive members of the Board of Directors bring their own specific skills to the board discussions and contribute to the taking of decisions. They are called upon to perform an important dialectical function and to monitor the choices made by the executive members. The non-executive members shall acquire, also through the use of internal committees, information on the management and organisation of the company, internal audit and other control functions. The non-executive members must in any case be actively involved in the tasks entrusted to them, also as far as time availability is concerned and take part in the processes of appointing and dismissing internal audit and risk management managers. They diligently perform any other activity incumbent upon them pursuant to legal and regulatory provisions that may be in force.
10.9 The Board of Directors also appoints a Secretary in the person of a director of senior manager or executive of the company or a substitute, or an external consultant. 10.10 The Board of Directors is subject to a process of selfThis clause constitutes a mere literal repetition of the supervisory provisions for banks, which apply without the need to add any reference in the By-laws
| assessment, according to the means | assessment, according to the means | |
|---|---|---|
| and criteria stipulated under the | and criteria stipulated under the | |
| regulations in force at the time. | regulations in force at the time. | |
| Article 11: Board of Directors' |
Article 11: Board of Directors' |
|
| meetings | meetings | |
| 11.1 The Board of Directors meets, | 11.1 The Board of Directors meets, | |
| either at the company's registered | either at the company's registered | |
| office, provided this is in Italy, a | office, provided this is in Italy, a | |
| member State of the European Union | member State of the European Union | |
| or in Switzerland, whenever the Chair | or in Switzerland, whenever the Chair | |
| deems it necessary or when a request | deems it necessary or when a request | |
| to do so is made by at least a third of | to do so is made by at least a third of | |
| its members or by the Board of | its members or by the Board of |
|
| Auditors or else individually by an | Auditors or else individually by an | |
| Auditor. | Auditor. | |
| 11.2 The Board of Directors is |
11.2 The Board of Directors is |
|
| convened by the Chair by means of a | convened by the Chair by means of a | |
| notice to be sent at least five days | notice to be sent at least five days | |
| before the meeting to each of its | before the meeting to each of its | |
| members and to the statutory |
members and to the statutory |
The purpose of the |
| auditors and, in urgent cases, at least | auditors, except in urgent cases. and, | amendment is to streamline |
| two days before. The notice may be | in urgent cases, at least two days | the operations of the Board, |
| drafted on any medium (hard or soft) | before. The notice may be drafted on | which, in some cases, may be |
| and may be sent using any means of | any medium (hard or soft) and may | called ad horas (without |
| communication (including fax and e | be sent using any means of |
prejudice to the assessment |
| mail) appropriate to guarantee proof | communication (including fax and e | of the reasons of urgency by |
| of receipt thereof. | mail) appropriate to guarantee proof | the Chair of the Board) |
| of receipt thereof. | ||
| 11.3 The Board of Directors is validly | 11.3 The Board of Directors is validly | |
| constituted and able to resolve |
constituted and able to resolve |
|
| where, in the absence of these | where, in the absence of these | |
| formalities having been carried out | formalities having been carried out | |
| (notwithstanding the right of each of | (notwithstanding the right of each of | |
| the participants to object to the | the participants to object to the | |
| discussion of the issues about which | discussion of the issues about which | |
| they do not feel sufficiently |
they do not feel sufficiently |
|
informed), all the members of the Board itself and all the members of the Board of Auditors are in attendance.
11.4 The meetings of the Board of Directors, at the initiative of the Chair or CEO can be attended by managers of the company, or any other person that the Board of Directors wishes to invite to support its work on specific topics. The Secretary, or his substitute, takes the minutes of each meeting, which must be signed by the person chairing the meeting and by the secretary himself.
11.5 The meetings of the Board of Directors may also be held with participants being located in several places, contiguous or remote, with audio-visual connections (only audio connection is permitted when the participants are easy to recognise by the Chair of the Meeting), providing that the collegial method and principles of good faith and equal treatment of shareholders have been followed. In this case, it is necessary that:
a) the Chair of the Meeting is able to unequivocally ascertain the identity and legitimacy of the participants, manage the meeting and note and declare the results of the voting procedure;
b) at the place where the video/audio conference is held, an attendance informed), all the members of the Board itself and all the members of the Board of Auditors are in attendance.
11.4 The meetings of the Board of Directors, at the initiative of the Chair or CEO can be attended by managers of the company, or any other person that the Board of Directors wishes to invite to support its work on specific topics. The Secretary, or his substitute, takes the minutes of each meeting, which must be signed by the person chairing the meeting and by the secretary himself.
11.5 The meetings of the Board of Directors may also be held with participants being located in several places, contiguous or remote, with audio-visual connections (only audio connection is permitted when the participants are easy to recognise by the Chair of the Meeting), providing that the collegial method and principles of good faith and equal treatment of shareholders have been followed. In this case, it is necessary that:
a) the Chair of the Meeting is able to unequivocally ascertain the identity and legitimacy of the participants, manage the meeting and note and declare the results of the voting procedure;
b) at the place where the video/audio conference is held, an attendance The purpose of the amendment is to streamline
| sheet should be kept giving the | sheet should be kept giving the | the formalities involved in |
|---|---|---|
| names of those attending the |
names of those attending the |
managing Board meetings |
| meeting at this place; this attendance | meeting at this place; this attendance | |
| sheet shall be attached to the |
sheet shall be attached to the |
|
| minutes of the meeting; | minutes of the meeting; | |
| c) the person taking the minutes is | b)c) the person taking the minutes is | |
| able to adequately follow the events | able to adequately follow the events | |
| of the Meeting; | of the Meeting; | |
| d) the participants are able to |
c)d) the participants are able to |
|
| simultaneously take part in the |
simultaneously take part in the |
|
| discussions and vote on the items on | discussions and vote on the items on | |
| the agenda in real time; | the agenda in real time; | |
| e) where the Meeting is not in | d) e) where the Meeting is not in |
|
| plenary session, the notice of call of | plenary session, the notice of call | See preceding note. |
| the meeting stipulates the |
stipulates the audio-video |
The specific reference to the |
| audio/video location at which the | conferencing procedures. In any |
meeting being deemed held |
| participants can attend and the | event, at the discretion of the Chair, | in the place where the chair |
| meeting shall be deemed to have | the notice of call may stipulate the | and secretary are in |
| taken place at the location where the | audio/video location at which the | attendance is included in art. |
| Chair and the minute-taker are in | participants can must attend the |
11.6 and can therefore be |
| attendance. | meeting. and the meeting shall be | repealed |
| deemed to have taken place at the | ||
| location where the Chair and the | ||
| minute-taker are in attendance. | ||
| 11.6 The Board of Directors meeting | 11.6 The Board of Directors meeting | This amendment is purely |
| shall be deemed to be held in the | shall be deemed to be held in the | lexical |
| place where the Chair and the | place in which where the Chair and | |
| Secretary or the minute-taker are in | the Secretary or the minute-taker are | |
| attendance. | in attendance. | |
| The meetings of the Board of |
The meetings of the Board of |
|
| Directors are presided over by the | Directors are presided over by the | |
| Chair or, in the case of his absence or | Chair or, in the case of his absence or | |
| incapacity, by the Deputy Chair or, in | incapacity, by the Deputy Chair or, in | |
| the case of his absence or incapacity, | the case of his absence or incapacity, | |
| by the director longest in post or else | by the director longest in post or else | |
| by age. | by age. |
| 11.7 The resolutions of the Board of | 11.7 The resolutions of the Board |
|
|---|---|---|
| Directors are taken by absolute |
of Directors are taken by absolute | |
| majority voting of those present, | majority voting of those present, | |
| except for the resolutions indicated | except for the resolutions indicated | |
| in the last paragraph of article 12.2 | in the last paragraph of article 12.2 | |
| below. | below. | |
| Article 12: Board of Directors' |
Article 12: Board of Directors' |
|
| powers | powers | |
| 12.1 The administrative body |
12.1 The administrative body |
|
| performs all the operations |
performs all the operations |
|
| necessary for the attainment of the | necessary for the attainment of the | |
| corporate purpose and has full |
corporate purpose and has full |
|
| powers of company administration | powers of company administration | |
| and the power to carry out all the | and the power to carry out all the | |
| actions deemed necessary or |
actions deemed necessary or |
|
| appropriate for attaining the |
appropriate for attaining the |
|
| company purposes and business |
company purposes and business |
|
| management with the diligence |
management with the diligence |
|
| required by the nature of the task. | required by the nature of the task. | |
| 12.2 In addition to those The |
12.2 In addition to those The |
|
| resolutions listed below are reserved | resolutions listed below are reserved | |
| for the Board of Directors and cannot | for the Board of Directors and cannot | |
| be delegated, within the exception of | be delegated, within the exception of | |
| those, not included in this list, | those, not included in this list, | |
| established by law and regulatory | established by law and regulatory | |
| provisions which may be in force at | provisions which may be in force at | |
| the time, or by other statutory | the time, or by other statutory | |
| provisions are reserved for the Board | provisions are reserved for the Board | |
| of Directors and may not be |
of Directors and may not be |
|
| delegated regarding: | delegated regarding: | |
| a) the determination of the general | a) the determination of the general | |
| guidelines relating to the company's | guidelines relating to the company's | |
| development, the strategic |
development, the strategic |
|
| operations, business and financial | operations, business and financial | |
| plans of the company, as well as the | plans of the company, as well as the | |
| assessment of the general |
assessment of the general |
|
|---|---|---|
| management performance; | management performance; | |
| b) the approval of the company | b) the approval of the company | |
| structure and corporate governance, | structure and corporate governance, | |
| thereby guaranteeing a clear |
thereby guaranteeing a clear |
|
| separation of tasks and functions as | separation of tasks and functions as | |
| well as the prevention of conflicts of | well as the prevention of conflicts of | |
| interest; | interest; | |
| c) the approval of the accounting | c) the approval of the accounting | |
| reporting systems; | reporting systems; | |
| d) the supervision of the public | d) the supervision of the public | |
| information and communication |
information and communication |
|
| process; | process; | |
| e) the adoption of measures aimed at | e) the adoption of measures aimed at | |
| ensuring an efficient dialogue with | ensuring an efficient dialogue with | |
| the management function and with | the management function and with | |
| the managers of the main corporate | the managers of the main corporate | |
| functions, as well as gradual control | functions, as well as gradual control | |
| of the choices and decisions these | of the choices and decisions these | |
| make; | make; | |
| f) the risk management policies, as | f) the risk management policies, as | |
| well as, after the Board of Auditors | well as, after the Board of Auditors | |
| has expressed its opinion, the |
has expressed its opinion, the |
|
| assessment of the functionality, |
assessment of the functionality, |
|
| effectiveness, efficiency of the |
effectiveness, efficiency of the |
|
| internal control system and adequacy | internal control system and adequacy | |
| of the organisational, administrative | of the organisational, administrative | |
| and accounting structure; | and accounting structure; | |
| g) any appointment of Deputy Chair | g) any appointment of Deputy Chair | |
| and its revocation, if appointed; | and its revocation, if appointed; | |
| h) the appointment and dismissal of | h) the appointment and dismissal of | |
| the CEO. Any appointment or |
the CEO. Any appointment or |
|
| dismissal, if appointed of the general | dismissal, if appointed of the general | |
| director, which shall necessarily |
director, which shall necessarily |
|
| coincide with the CEO; | ||
| coincide with the CEO; | ||
| i) the assumption and transfer of | i) the assumption and transfer of | |
|---|---|---|
| strategic shareholdings; | strategic shareholdings; | |
| j) the approval and modification of | j) the approval and modification of | |
| the main internal regulations; | the main internal regulations; | |
| k) the establishment, modification | k) the establishment, modification | The reference to "board" |
| and removal of internal committees | and removal of board committees; of | committees clarifies the |
| for the company's bodies; | internal committees for the |
scope of application of the |
| company's bodies; | provision more clearly | |
| l) the appointment, replacement and | l) the appointment, replacement and | |
| dismissal, after listening to the view | dismissal, after listening to the view | |
| of the Board of Auditors, of the | of the Board of Auditors, of the | |
| managers of the internal review, risk | managers of the internal review, risk | |
| management and compliance |
management and compliance |
|
| functions, of the manager tasked | functions, of the manager tasked | |
| with drafting the accounting and | with drafting the accounting and | |
| corporate documents; | corporate documents; | |
| m) the determination of the criteria | m) the determination of the criteria | |
| for the coordination and direction of | for the coordination and direction of | |
| the group's companies; | the group's companies; | |
| n) the sales and acquisition of |
n) the sales and acquisition of |
|
| treasury shares, in accordance with | treasury shares, in accordance with | |
| the resolution of authorisation by the | the resolution of authorisation by the | |
| Shareholders' Meeting and following | Shareholders' Meeting and following | |
| authorisation from the Supervisory | authorisation from the Supervisory | |
| Authority; | Authority; | |
| o) the issue of convertible bonds for | o) the issue of convertible bonds for | |
| a maximum overall amount of |
a maximum overall amount of |
|
| 20,000,000 Euros within the |
20,000,000 Euros within the |
|
| maximum period permitted by law; | maximum period permitted by law; | |
| p) the establishment, closure and | p) the establishment, closure and | |
| transfer of general offices or |
transfer of general offices or |
|
| representative offices or subsidiaries; | representative offices or subsidiaries; | |
| q) the elaboration of the |
q) the elaboration of the |
|
| remuneration and incentives policies | remuneration and incentives policies | |
| of the company and group, as well as | of the company and group, as well as | |
| the definition of the systems of | the definition of the systems of |
| remuneration and incentives for at | remuneration and incentives for at |
|---|---|
| least the following persons: (i) |
least the following persons: (i) |
| executive board members; (ii) |
executive board members; (ii) |
| general director where nominated; | general director where nominated; |
| (iii) managers of the main lines of | (iii) managers of the main lines of |
| business, company functions or |
business, company functions or |
| geographic areas; (iv) those who | geographic areas; (iv) those who |
| report directly to the bodies with | report directly to the bodies with |
| corporate functions of strategic |
corporate functions of strategic |
| supervision, management and |
supervision, management and |
| control; | control; |
| r) the remuneration of the CEO (and | r) the remuneration of the CEO (and |
| of the general director, if nominated) | of the general director, if nominated) |
| and of any other director responsible | and of any other director responsible |
| for specific tasks, in compliance with | for specific tasks, in compliance with |
| the applicable regulations in terms of | the applicable regulations in terms of |
| remuneration and the company's | remuneration and the company's |
| policies of remuneration and |
policies of remuneration and |
| incentives; | incentives; |
| s) the approval of the annual budget; | s) the approval of the annual budget; |
| t) the attribution, modification and | t) the attribution, modification and |
| removal of the powers delegated to | removal of the powers delegated to |
| the Executive Committee and to the | the Executive Committee and to the |
| CEO; | CEO; |
| u) the adoption of the company's | u) the adoption of the company's |
| development policies which are |
development policies which are |
| necessary in order to determine the | necessary in order to determine the |
| long- term business plan and the | long- term business plan and the |
| budget for the period; | budget for the period; |
| w) the resolutions of the items | w) the resolutions of the items |
| delegated to the Executive |
delegated to the Executive |
| Committee and to the CEO beyond | Committee and to the CEO beyond |
| the limits laid down for them; | the limits laid down for them; |
| x) the delegation of the powers to | x) the delegation of the powers to |
| other directors and power to modify, | other directors and power to modify, |
| add and exclude these delegated | add and exclude these delegated | |
|---|---|---|
| powers; | powers; | The amendment aims to |
| y) the execution of instructions | ensure better links with the | |
| issued by the Bank of Italy. | Supervisory Provisions (see | |
| For the validity of the powers under | For the validity of the powers under | Title I, Chapter 2, Section IV |
| letters h), i), j), k), l), m), o), r), s), t), | letters h), i), j), k), l), m), o), r), s), t), | of Circular no. 285 of 17 |
| u), w), and x) of this article 12.2, it is | u), w), and x) of this article 12.2, it is | December 2013, as amended |
| necessary to receive the favourable | necessary to receive the favourable | and supplemented) |
| vote of at least 7 members of which | vote of at least 7 members of which | |
| at least five come from the majority | at least five come from the majority | As highlighted above, the |
| list, notwithstanding that this |
list, notwithstanding that this |
removal of the provisions |
| strengthened decision-making |
strengthened decision-making |
requiring larger decision |
| quorum does not apply in relation to | quorum does not apply in relation to | making quorums for |
| the sole decisions that will be |
the sole decisions that will be |
resolutions of the Board of |
| adopted by the company by virtue of | adopted by the company by virtue of | Directors on specific issues is |
| the regulatory rules on the basis of | the regulatory rules on the basis of | consequential to the |
| the request documented by the | the request documented by the | changed shareholder |
| supervisory authority. | supervisory authority. | structure of the Bank |
| 12.3 The following powers are also | 12.3 The following powers are also | |
| allocated to the Board of directors: | allocated to the Board of directors: | |
| a) merger pursuant to the cases | a) merger pursuant to the cases | |
| provided under articles 2502 and | provided under articles 2502 and | |
| 2505-bis of the Italian Civil Code and | 2505-bis of the Italian Civil Code and | |
| de- merger in the cases in which | de- merger in the cases in which | |
| these rules apply; | these rules apply; | |
| b) the reduction of the capital in the | b) the reduction of the capital in the | |
| event of the withdrawal of one or | event of the withdrawal of one or | |
| more shareholders; | more shareholders; | |
| c) the adjustments of the Articles to | c) the adjustments of the Articles to | |
| legal provisions; | legal provisions; | |
| Directors refer to the Board of | Directors refer to the Board of | |
| Auditors in a timely manner and with | Auditors in a timely manner and with | The purpose of the |
| a frequency of at least quarterly at | a frequency of at least quarterly at | amendment is to eliminate a |
| the meeting of the Board of Auditors | the meeting of the Board of Auditors | formulation that is |
| of executive committee, if appointed, | of executive committee, if appointed, | redundant in respect of the |
| or also directly through a written | or also directly through a written |
| note sent to the Chair of the Board of | note sent to the Chair of the Board of | provisions already included |
|---|---|---|
| Auditors, on the activity carried out | Auditors, on the activity carried out | in art. 17.2 |
| by the company or subsidiaries. | by the company or subsidiaries. | |
| Directors shall also refer to |
Directors shall also refer to |
|
| operations in which they have had an | operations in which they have had an | |
| interest, on their own behalf or on | interest, on their own behalf or on | |
| behalf of third parties, or which are | behalf of third parties, or which are | |
| influenced by any person exercising | influenced by any person exercising | |
| the activity of direction and |
the activity of direction and |
|
| coordination. | coordination. | |
| 12.4 For the performance of certain | 12.4 For the performance of certain | |
| categories of acts or on individual | categories of acts or on individual | |
| business, the Board of Directors may | business, the Board of Directors may | |
| confer a proxy on individual |
confer a proxy on individual |
|
| directors, determining the content, | directors, determining the content, | |
| limits and possible means of |
limits and possible means of |
|
| exercising the proxy. | exercising the proxy. | |
| In any event, the appointment of the | In any event, the appointment of the | The proposed amendment |
| person delegated to vote for the | person delegated to vote for the | aims to simplify the process |
| company at the meetings of |
company at the meetings of |
of delegating powers to |
| subsidiaries, such as the conferring of | subsidiaries, such as the conferring | attend shareholders' |
| related instructions, must always be | of related instructions, must always | meetings of subsidiaries |
| resolved by the Board of Directors. | be resolved by the Board of Directors. | |
| Article 13: deadlock procedure | Article 13: deadlock procedure | As highlighted above, the |
| 13.1 In relation to the resolutions | 13.1 In relation to the resolutions |
removal of the deadlock |
| pursuant to article 12.2 for which | pursuant to article 12.2 for which | procedure is consequential |
| these By-laws provide for a |
these By-laws provide for a |
to the changed shareholder |
| strengthened decision-making |
strengthened decision-making |
structure of the Bank |
| quorum, the rules under the |
quorum, the rules under the |
The amendment also entails |
| subsequent article 13.2 et seq., shall | subsequent article 13.2 et seq., shall | renumbering the successive |
| apply. | apply. | articles and adding further |
| 13.2 Where the Board of Directors is | 13.2 Where the Board of |
cross references to those |
| not able to decide, a second meeting | Directors is not able to decide, a | articles in the By-laws |
| of the Board of Directors will be | second meeting of the Board of | |
| convened within 30 (thirty) working | Directors will be convened within 30 |
| days (with working days meaning all | (thirty) working days (with working | |
|---|---|---|
| calendar days with the exception of | days meaning all calendar days with | |
| Saturday and Sunday and days in | the exception of Saturday and |
|
| which the financial institutions are | Sunday and days in which the |
|
| not open to the public) from the date | financial institutions are not open to | |
| of the meeting at which the deadlock | the public) from the date of the | |
| procedure has occurred. | meeting at which the deadlock |
|
| 13.3 Where in the course of this | procedure has occurred. | |
| meeting, the members of the Board | 13.3 Where in the course of this |
|
| of Directors are not able to decide, | meeting, the members of the Board | |
| the decision-making quorum |
of Directors are not able to decide, | |
| provided by law shall apply. | the decision-making quorum |
|
| 13.4 For the decisions pursuant to | provided by law shall apply. | |
| art. 12.2 letter. i), o), and x) which | 13.4 For the decisions pursuant |
|
| require the strengthened decision | to art. 12.2 letter. i), o), and x) which | |
| making quorum pursuant to the last | require the strengthened decision | |
| paragraph of article 12.2, where the | making quorum pursuant to the last | |
| Board of Directors is unable to adopt | paragraph of article 12.2, where the | |
| any resolution as a result of the | Board of Directors is unable to adopt | |
| decision-making quorum stipulated, | any resolution as a result of the | |
| no decision shall be taken. | decision-making quorum stipulated, | |
| no decision shall be taken. | ||
| Article 14: Executive Committee | Article 1314: Executive Committee | |
| 14.1 The Board of Directors can | 1314.1 The Board of Directors can | |
| appoint, from within its number, an | appoint, from within its number, an | |
| Executive Committee and determine | Executive Committee and determine | |
| its duration, powers, attributions and | its duration, powers, attributions and | |
| means of functioning. | means of functioning. | |
| The amendment is a |
||
| 14.2 The Executive Committee is | 1314.2 The Executive Committee is | consequence of the addition |
| comprised of three board members. | comprised of three board members. | to the By-laws of the |
| The CEO is part of the Executive | In any event, at least one third of the | provisions aimed at |
| Committee. The Chair may not be a | members of the Executive |
safeguarding the |
| member of the Executive Committee, | Committee must be of the least | participation of the least |
| but can take part in its meetings but | represented gender. The CEO is part | represented gender |
| with any voting rights. | of the Executive Committee. The |
14.3 The Executive Committee shall remain in post for the period determined by the Board of Directors which determines its powers and attributions and may, fully or in part, dismiss the related members. The period in which the Executive Committee remains in service may not exceed that of the directors which comprise it.
14.4 The Executive Committee is chaired by the CEO; where he is absent or missing the related functions, including the power to propose the resolutions to be adopted, is incumbent upon the most senior members in terms of age.
14.5 At the invitation of the CEO, the meetings of the Executive Committee can be attended by managers of the company, or any other person that the Executive Committee wishes to invite to support its work on specific issues.
14.6 The role of the Secretary of the Executive Committee shall be fulfilled by the person nominated for this purpose at the suggestion of the person chairing the meeting. 14.7 The Executive Committee, which meets monthly, is convened by the CEO by means of a notice of call to be Chair may not be a member of the Executive Committee, but can take part in its meetings but with any voting rights.
1314.3 The Executive Committee shall remain in post for the period determined by the Board of Directors which determines its powers and attributions and may, fully or in part, dismiss the related members. The period in which the Executive Committee remains in service may not exceed that of the directors which comprise it.
1314.4 The Executive Committee is chaired by the CEO; where he is absent or missing the related functions, including the power to propose the resolutions to be adopted, is incumbent upon the most senior members in terms of age.
1314.5 At the invitation of the CEO, the meetings of the Executive Committee can be attended by managers of the company, or any other person that the Executive Committee wishes to invite to support its work on specific issues.
1314.6 The role of the Secretary of the Executive Committee shall be fulfilled by the person nominated for this purpose at the suggestion of the person chairing the meeting. 1314.7 The Executive Committee,
which meets monthly, is convened by the CEO by means of a notice of call
| sent at least two days prior to the | to be sent at least two days prior to | |
|---|---|---|
| meeting to each member and to the | the meeting to each member and to | |
| statutory auditors. The notice may be | the statutory auditors. The notice | |
| drafted on any medium (hard or soft) | may be drafted on any medium (hard | |
| and may be sent using any means of | or soft) and may be sent using any | |
| communication (including fax and e | means of communication (including | |
| mail) appropriate to guarantee proof | fax and e-mail) appropriate to |
|
| of receipt thereof. | guarantee proof of receipt thereof. | |
| 14.8 In order for the resolutions of | 1314.8 In order for the resolutions of | |
| the Executive Committee to be valid | the Executive Committee to be valid | |
| it is necessary that at least two | it is necessary that at least two | |
| directors vote in favour. | directors vote in favour. | |
| 14.9 he resolutions made by the | 1314.9 he resolutions made by the | |
| Executive Committee are minuted | Executive Committee are minuted | |
| and signed by the Chair and Secretary | and signed by the Chair and Secretary | |
| of the meeting. | of the meeting. | |
| 14.10 The meetings of the Executive | 1314.10 The meetings of the |
|
| Committee can be held using |
Executive Committee can be held | |
| appropriate audio-visual |
using appropriate audio-visual |
|
| conferencing systems, with the same | conferencing systems, with the same | |
| rules and in the same way as | rules and in the same way as | |
| stipulated for the meetings of the | stipulated for the meetings of the | |
| Board of Directors. | Board of Directors. | |
| Article 15: CEO | Article 1415: CEO | |
| 15.1 The CEO manages the |
1415.1 The CEO manages the |
|
| company's activities within the |
company's activities within the |
|
| constraints of the powers conferred | constraints of the powers conferred | |
| upon him and in compliance with the | upon him and in compliance with the | |
| general management guidelines |
general management guidelines |
|
| determined by the Board of |
determined by the Board of |
|
| Directors. | Directors. | |
| 15.2 The CEO, within the constraints | 1415.2 The CEO, within the |
|
| of the powers conferred upon him by | constraints of the powers conferred | |
| the Board of Directors, can delegate | upon him by the Board of Directors, | |
| decision-making powers in respect of | can delegate decision-making powers | |
| the giving of credit and ordinary | in respect of the giving of credit and |
| management to executives, officials, | ordinary management to executives, | |
|---|---|---|
| middle managers, branch managers | officials, middle managers, branch | |
| and other company employees, |
managers and other company |
|
| within predetermined limits graded | employees, within predetermined |
|
| on the basis of their functions and | limits graded on the basis of their | |
| level covered. | functions and level covered. | |
| Article 1516: other board |
||
| Article 16: other board committees | committees | |
| The Board of Directors shall establish | 1516.1 The Board of Directors shall | |
| its own internal committees with | establish its own internal committees | |
| consulting and advisory functions, | with consulting and advisory |
|
| determining their duties and powers, | functions, determining their duties | |
| also in compliance with applicable | and powers, also in compliance with | |
| regulations and codes of conduct for | applicable regulations and codes of | |
| the management companies of the | conduct for the management |
|
| regulated markets in which the |
companies of the regulated markets | |
| company's shares will be traded. | in which the company's shares will be | |
| traded. | ||
| Article 17: Chair of the Board of | Article 1617: Chair of the Board of | |
| Directors and executive bodies | Directors and executive bodies | |
| 17.1 The Chair of the Board of | 1617.1 The Chair of the Board of | |
| Directors: | Directors: | |
| - Ensures the smooth functioning of | - Ensures the smooth functioning of | |
| the Board, promotes internal |
the Board, promotes internal |
|
| dialogue and ensures the balance of | dialogue and ensures the balance of | |
| power, in accordance with the tasks | power, in accordance with the tasks | |
| relating to the organisation of the | relating to the organisation of the | |
| board's proceedings and the flow of | board's proceedings and the flow of | |
| information that may be assigned by | information that may be assigned by | |
| the Italian Civil Code; | the Italian Civil Code; | |
| - Promotes the effective functioning | - Promotes the effective functioning | |
| of the corporate governance system, | of the corporate governance system, | |
| ensuring a balance between the | ensuring a balance between the | |
| powers of the CEO and the other | powers of the CEO and the other | |
| executive directors and is the |
executive directors and is the |
|
| interlocutor of the body with the | interlocutor of the body with the |
| control function and internal |
control function and internal |
|
|---|---|---|
| committees; | committees; | |
| - Ensures that the process of self | - Ensures that the process of self | |
| assessment is carried out effectively | assessment is carried out effectively | |
| and that the company draws up and | and that the company draws up and | |
| implements induction programmes | implements induction programmes | |
| and training plans for the board | and training plans for the board | |
| members and, where required, |
members and, where required, |
|
| succession plans for the top |
succession plans for the top |
|
| executive positions; | executive positions; | |
| - Organises and coordinates the |
- Organises and coordinates the |
|
| activities of the Board of Directors | activities of the Board of Directors | |
| and ensures that priority is afforded | and ensures that priority is afforded | |
| to issues of strategic importance, | to issues of strategic importance, | |
| ensures that these are allowed as | ensures that these are allowed as | |
| much time as is necessary, ensures | much time as is necessary, ensures | |
| the effectiveness of the Board |
the effectiveness of the Board |
|
| discussions and ensures that the | discussions and ensures that the | |
| resolutions reached by the Board are | resolutions reached by the Board are | |
| the result of a proper debate |
the result of a proper debate |
|
| between executive and non |
between executive and non |
|
| executive directors and the conscious | executive directors and the conscious | |
| and reasoned contribution of all its | and reasoned contribution of all its | |
| members; | members; | |
| - Ensures that adequate advance |
- Ensures that adequate advance |
|
| information is provided to all |
information is provided to all |
|
| directors on the agenda of the Board | directors on the agenda of the Board | |
| of Directors; | of Directors; | |
| - Convenes meetings of the Board of | - Convenes meetings of the Board of | |
| Directors and shall decide on its | Directors and shall decide on its | |
| agenda, taking into account any | agenda, taking into account any | |
| instances or issues listed by |
instances or issues listed by |
|
| shareholders, directors or |
shareholders, directors or |
|
| committees and verifies the validity | committees and verifies the validity | |
| of its constitution and ascertains the | of its constitution and ascertains the | |
| identity and legitimacy of those | identity and legitimacy of those | |
|---|---|---|
| present and the voting results; | present and the voting results; | |
| - Supervises implementation of the | - Supervises implementation of the | |
| resolutions of the governing bodies | resolutions of the governing bodies | |
| and on the general performance of | and on the general performance of | |
| the company; | the company; | |
| - May participate, without a vote, in | - May participate, without a vote, in | |
| meetings of the Executive |
meetings of the Executive |
|
| Committee; | Committee; | |
| - Diligently and promptly encourages | - Diligently and promptly encourages | |
| any other activity whose power he / | any other activity whose power he / | |
| she is awarded under the provisions | she is awarded under the provisions | |
| of law or regulations in force. | of law or regulations in force. | |
| 17.2 The delegated bodies, such as | 1617.2 The delegated bodies, such as | |
| the CEO and / or the Executive | the CEO and / or the Executive | |
| Committee, refer, at least quarterly, | Committee, refer, at least quarterly, | |
| to the Board of Directors and Board | to the Board of Directors and Board | |
| of Auditors on the general operating | of Auditors on the general operating | |
| performance and its outlook, as well | performance and its outlook, as well | |
| as on the most important economic | as on the most important economic | |
| and financial transactions made by | and financial transactions made by | |
| the company and its subsidiaries; in | the company and its subsidiaries; in | |
| particular, they report on |
particular, they report on |
|
| transactions in which they have an | transactions in which they have an | |
| interest, either directly or on behalf | interest, either directly or on behalf | |
| of third parties. | of third parties. | |
| The Board of Directors also has the | The Board of Directors also has the | |
| power itself to control and advocate | power itself to control and advocate | |
| the operations included in the |
the operations included in the |
|
| delegation, as well as the power to | delegation, as well as the power to | |
| revoke proxies, notwithstanding that | revoke proxies, notwithstanding that | |
| these bodies are nevertheless |
these bodies are nevertheless |
|
| required to report to the Board of | required to report to the Board of | |
| Directors and Board of Auditors on at | Directors and Board of Auditors on at | |
| least a quarterly basis. | least a quarterly basis. | |
| be reimbursed for expenses incurred be reimbursed for expenses incurred as a result of their office, including as a result of their office, including travel and transfer expenses, and a travel and transfer expenses, and a fee determined by the Meeting at the fee determined by the Meeting at the time of appointment. time of appointment. The remuneration of directors The remuneration of directors serving as Chair, Deputy Chair (if serving as Chair, Deputy Chair (if nominated), CEO, members of the nominated), CEO, members of the Board who are entrusted with special Board who are entrusted with special missions and members of the missions and members of the Executive Committee is established Executive Committee is established by the Board of Directors, upon the by the Board of Directors, upon the advice of the Board of Auditors, as advice of the Board of Auditors, as well as upon the proposal of the well as upon the proposal of the internal committee possible internal committee possible established for this purpose, in established for this purpose, in compliance with the remuneration compliance with the remuneration and incentives policies determined and incentives policies determined by the Meeting. by the Meeting. The Meeting can determine an The Meeting can determine an overall amount for the remuneration overall amount for the remuneration of all directors, including those of all directors, including those vested with particular tasks and for vested with particular tasks and for the general director if appointed the general director if appointed pursuant to article 10.7 of these By pursuant to article 10.7 of these By laws. laws. 17.4 The corporate responsibility 1617.4 The corporate responsibility actions provided under article 2393- actions provided under article 2393- bis of the Italian Civil Code may be bis of the Italian Civil Code may be exercised by shareholders exercised by shareholders representing at least 1/40 (a fortieth) representing at least 1/40 (a fortieth) of the share capital. of the share capital. |
|
|---|---|
| administrative body are entitled to administrative body are entitled to |
|
| 17.3 The members of the 1617.3 The members of the |
18.1 The Meeting appoints three statutory auditors and two alternates who remain in post for three financial years, can be re-elected and whose function ceases on the date of the Meeting convened to approve the financial accounts for the third financial year of their office. Auditors cease to hold office upon the expiry of the term stipulated at the time the Board was established. Legal rules and these By-laws apply in respect of the appointment, dismissal and replacement of board members.
18.2 Board members must be in possession of the requirements of professionalism, integrity and independence prescribed under regulations in force at the time, including those indicated in the Decree of the Ministry of Justice no 162 dated 30 March 2000, as well as those envisaged by the Code of Conduct for Listed Companies to 1718.1 The Meeting appoints three statutory auditors and two alternates who remain in post for three financial years, can be re-elected and whose function ceases on the date of the Meeting convened to approve the financial accounts for the third financial year of their office.
In accordance with the need to ensure an adequate degree of diversification in the composition of the Board, in terms of skills, experience, age, international profile and gender, at least one of the standing auditors and one of the alternates (or the higher number prescribed by regulations in force from time to time) of the Board of Auditors must be of the least represented gender.
Auditors cease to hold office upon the expiry of the term stipulated at the time the Board was established. Legal rules and these By-laws apply in respect of the appointment, dismissal and replacement of board members. 1718.2 Board members must be in possession of the requirements of professionalism, integrity and independence prescribed under regulations in force at the time, including those indicated in the Decree of the Ministry of Justice no 162 dated 30 March 2000, as well as those envisaged by the Code of Conduct for Listed Companies to The amendment is a consequence of the addition to the By-laws of the provisions aimed at safeguarding the participation of the least represented gender
which the Company has adhered. Pursuant to the provisions of article 1, subsection 2, letter b) and c) of this Decree, issues inherent to the financial, credit and insurance sectors shall be considered to be strictly relating to the Company's scope of activities. Auditors can undertake tasks for members of bodies of administration and control in other companies within the constraints laid down by applicable provisions.
18.3 Other than those stipulated by law, it shall be deemed to be a cause of ineligibility or invalidity to be linked to the company through a fulltime employment contract or by any other contract to supply goods and/or services, to be a member of administrative bodies of other banks or other companies performing activities in competition with those of the company, or to be linked to these by a full-time contract of employment.
18.4 Auditors may not assume tasks other than those of control at other companies belonging to the group or to the financial conglomerate, nor to companies in which the company, including indirectly, holds a strategic stake.
18.5 In order to ensure the election of a statutory and alternate auditor for minority shareholders, the appointment of the Board of Auditors which the Company has adhered. Pursuant to the provisions of article 1, subsection 2, letter b) and c) of this Decree, issues inherent to the financial, credit and insurance sectors shall be considered to be strictly relating to the Company's scope of activities. Auditors can undertake tasks for members of bodies of administration and control in other companies within the constraints laid down by applicable provisions.
1718.3 Other than those stipulated by law, it shall be deemed to be a cause of ineligibility or invalidity to be linked to the company through a fulltime employment contract or by any other contract to supply goods and/or services, to be a member of administrative bodies of other banks or other companies performing activities in competition with those of the company, or to be linked to these by a full-time contract of employment.
1718.4 Auditors may not assume tasks other than those of control at other companies belonging to the group or to the financial conglomerate, nor to companies in which the company, including indirectly, holds a strategic stake. 1718.5 In order to ensure the election of a statutory and alternate auditor for minority shareholders, the appointment of the Board of Auditors
comes about on the basis of lists presented by shareholders in which the candidates are listed in sequential order. The list is comprised of two sections: one for candidates for the position of statutory auditor, the other for candidates to the post of alternate auditor.
Lists which have a number of candidates equal to or greater than three must also include candidates of a different gender, in accordance with what is stated in the Meeting call of notice, so as to allow the Meeting to be set up in accordance with current laws regarding gender equality. Both shareholders which present, including jointly at least 2.5% (two point five per cent) of the share capital represented by voting rights at Meeting resolutions whose purpose is to appoint the members of the administrative body, or another measure which may be established by mandatory legal or statutory provisions, can present a list of candidates.
comes about on the basis of lists presented by shareholders in which the candidates are listed in sequential order. The list is comprised of two sections: one for candidates for the position of statutory auditor, the other for candidates to the post of alternate auditor.
Lists which have a number of candidates equal to or greater than three must also include candidates of a different gender, in accordance with what is stated in the Meeting call of notice, so as to allow the Meeting to be set up in accordance with the provisions of the By-laws regarding gender equality.
Only those shareholders with voting rights who, separately or together with other shareholders, are holders of shares representing at least the percentage of share capital established by Consob (National Regulatory Body for Italian Companies and the Stock Exchange) are entitled to submit lists.
The percentage shareholding required to submit lists of candidates for the appointment of the Board of Auditors is specified in the notice of call of the Shareholders' Meeting called to resolve on the appointment of the said body.
The proposal to include a reference to the thresholds provided for in regulations in force, instead of the specific reference to the percentage shareholding required to submit lists for the appointment of the Board of Auditors, is consistent with what is being proposed for art. 10.2 with regard to the submission of lists for the appointment of the Board of Directors
The holding of this minimum share necessary to submit lists is determined having regard to the shares which are registered to the shareholder on the day in which these lists are submitted to the company's head office. In order to prove the holding of the number of shares required to present lists, shareholders who present or are involved in submitting lists, must submit to deliver to the registered office a copy of the appropriate certificate issued by an authorised intermediary pursuant to law, issued within the period laid down for the publication of the lists. Each shareholder, including shareholders belonging to the same group, member of a shareholders' agreement pursuant to article 122 of legislative decree no 58 dated 24 February 1998, parent companies, subsidiaries and those subject to joint control pursuant to article 93 of Both shareholders which present, including jointly at least 2.5% (two point five per cent) of the share capital represented by voting rights at Meeting resolutions whose purpose is to appoint the members of the administrative body, or another measure which may be established by mandatory legal or statutory provisions, can present a list of candidates.
The holding of this minimum share necessary to submit lists is determined having regard to the shares which are registered to the shareholder on the day in which these lists are submitted to the company's head office. In order to prove the holding of the number of shares required to present lists, shareholders who present or are involved in submitting lists, must submit to deliver to the registered office a copy of the appropriate certificate issued by an authorised intermediary pursuant to law, issued within the period laid down for the publication of the lists. Each shareholder, including shareholders belonging to the same group, member of a shareholders' agreement pursuant to article 122 of legislative decree no 58 dated 24 February 1998, parent companies, subsidiaries and those subject to joint control pursuant to article 93 of
legislative decree no 58 dated 24 February 1998, may not submit or be involved in the submission, either by proxy of trust company, in more than one list and may not vote on lists other than the one presented and any candidate can only appear in a single list under pain of being declared ineligible. For the purposes of the preceding paragraph, entities, even those with a corporate status, which exercise direct or indirect control pursuant to Article 93 of Legislative Decree 24 February 1998 n. 58 over the shareholder in question and all the companies controlled directly or indirectly by this entity are deemed to belong to the same group.
In the event of any breach of these provisions, regard shall not be had, pursuant to the application of what is set out in this article, of the position of the shareholder in question in relation of none of the lists.
Notwithstanding the incompatibilities provided by law, candidates acting as auditors in another 5 (five) issuers or else in violation of the limits on the cumulation of positions possible set out under applicable legal or statutory provisions may not be included in the lists. Outgoing auditors may be re-elected. The lists must be sent to the company's head legislative decree no 58 dated 24 February 1998, may not submit or be involved in the submission, either by proxy of trust company, in more than one list and may not vote on lists other than the one presented and any candidate can only appear in a single list under pain of being declared ineligible. For the purposes of the preceding paragraph, entities, even those with a corporate status, which exercise direct or indirect control pursuant to Article 93 of Legislative Decree 24 February 1998 n. 58 over the shareholder in question and all the companies controlled directly or indirectly by this entity are deemed to belong to the same group.
In the event of any breach of these provisions, regard shall not be had, pursuant to the application of what is set out in this article, of the position of the shareholder in question in relation of none of the lists.
Notwithstanding the incompatibilities provided by law, candidates acting as auditors in another 5 (five) issuers or else in violation of the limits on the cumulation of positions possible set out under applicable legal or statutory provisions may not be included in the lists. Outgoing auditors may be re-elected. The lists must be sent to the company's head
office at least 25 (twenty-five) days prior to the one planned for the Meeting called upon to resolve on the appointment of the control body and be made available to the public at the registered office, on the Company's internet site and with the other means stipulated under applicable legal and regulatory provisions at least 21 (twenty-one) days prior to the one fixed for the Meeting. This shall be mentioned in the notice of call. Where only one list has been submitted within this period of 25 (twenty-five) days, i.e. only lists have been presented by inter-related shareholders pursuant to current legislative and statutory provisions, lists may be submitted up to the third day subsequent to this date, unless a different period is stipulated under applicable legal and statutory provisions. In this case, shareholders who individually or jointly are owners of shares representing half of the capital threshold previously identified shall be entitled to submit lists.
Together with each list, within the periods indicated above, the following information must be submitted: i) the information relating to the shareholders who have submitted the list and the shareholding percentage held; ii) the declarations by which the individual office at least 25 (twenty-five) days prior to the one planned for the Meeting called upon to resolve on the appointment of the control body and be made available to the public at the registered office, on the Company's internet site and with the other means stipulated under applicable legal and regulatory provisions at least 21 (twenty-one) days prior to the one fixed for the Meeting. This shall be mentioned in the notice of call. Where only one list has been submitted within this period of 25 (twenty-five) days, i.e. only lists have been presented by inter-related shareholders pursuant to current legislative and statutory provisions, lists may be submitted up to the third day subsequent to this date, unless a different period is stipulated under applicable legal and statutory provisions. In this case, shareholders who individually or jointly are owners of shares representing half of the capital threshold previously identified shall be entitled to submit lists.
Together with each list, within the periods indicated above, the following information must be submitted: i) the information relating to the shareholders who have submitted the list and the shareholding percentage held; ii) the declarations by which the individual
| candidates accept the application | candidates accept the application | |
|---|---|---|
| and solemnly swear that there are no | and solemnly swear that there are no | |
| grounds for ineligibility or |
grounds for ineligibility or |
|
| incompatibility, including the limit of | incompatibility, also with reference | This amendment is purely |
| the cumulation of positions, or the | to theincluding the limit of the |
lexical |
| requirements legally and statutorily | cumulation of positions, or the |
|
| prescribed for the respective tasks; | requirements legally and statutorily | |
| iii) a declaration by the shareholders | prescribed for the respective tasks; | |
| other than those holding, including | iii) a declaration by the shareholders | |
| jointly, a relative controlling or |
other than those holding, including | |
| majority shareholder, attesting to the | jointly, a relative controlling or |
|
| absence of ties with the latter | majority shareholder, attesting to the | |
| stipulated under applicable laws, as | absence of ties with the latter | |
| well as (iv) the CV of each candidate, | stipulated under applicable laws, as | |
| containing extensive information on | well as (iv) the CV of each candidate, | |
| the personal and professional |
containing extensive information on | |
| characteristics of each candidate and | the personal and professional |
|
| indication any management and |
characteristics of each candidate and | |
| control tasks covered in other |
indication any management and |
|
| companies. | control tasks covered in other |
|
| The lists submitted which do not | companies. | |
| satisfy the provisions stated above | The lists submitted which do not | |
| shall be void. | satisfy the provisions stated above | |
| Auditors are elected as follows: | shall be void. | |
| a) from the list of those obtaining the | Auditors are elected as follows: | |
| highest number of votes, based on | a) from the list of those obtaining the | |
| the sequential order in which they | highest number of votes, based on | |
| are listed in the sections of the list, | the sequential order in which they | |
| two statutory and one alternate | are listed in the sections of the list, | |
| auditors are selected; | two statutory and one alternate | |
| b) the remaining member of the | auditors are selected; | |
| statutory auditor and the other |
b) the remaining member of the | |
| alternate auditor are selected, based | statutory auditor and the other |
|
| on the sequential order in which they | alternate auditor are selected, based | |
| are listed in the sections of the lists, | on the sequential order in which they | |
| from the second list obtaining the | are listed in the sections of the lists, |
highest number of votes at the Meeting and which is not in any way corrected, not even indirectly, with the list mentioned under paragraph a) and/or with the shareholders who have submitted or voted the majority list;
c) where the votes between the lists are tied, the one presented by shareholders in possession of the higher share, or else the highest number of shareholders shall prevail; d) where the Board of Auditors thus constituted does not ensure compliance with current laws in respect of gender equality, the last candidate elected from the majority list shall be replaced by the first candidate not elected from the same list belonging to the least represented gender or, failing this, by the first candidate not elected from the successive lists. Where this is not possible, the statutory member of the least represented gender is appointed by the Meeting with legal majority voting, to replace the last candidate from the majority list;
e) where a single list or no list is presented, all the candidates for the positions indicated in the list or else those voted by the Meeting shall be elected the statutory and alternate auditors, provided that these achieve from the second list obtaining the highest number of votes at the Meeting and which is not in any way corrected, not even indirectly, with the list mentioned under paragraph a) and/or with the shareholders who have submitted or voted the majority list;
c) where the votes between the lists are tied, the one presented by shareholders in possession of the higher share, or else the highest number of shareholders shall prevail; d) where the Board of Auditors thus constituted does not ensure compliance with current laws and with the provisions of the By-laws in respect of gender equality, the last candidate elected from the majority list shall be replaced by the first candidate not elected from the same list belonging to the least represented gender or, failing this, by the first candidate not elected from the successive lists. Where this is not possible, the statutory member of the least represented gender is appointed by the Meeting with legal majority voting, to replace the last candidate from the majority list;
e) where a single list or no list is presented, all the candidates for the positions indicated in the list or else those voted by the Meeting shall be elected the statutory and alternate auditors, provided that these achieve
the majority of votes expressed at the Meeting. This is notwithstanding compliance with the regulations in force in respect of gender equality.
The chairmanship of the Board of Auditors is assumed by the first candidate on the second list who has obtained the most votes, if presented and allowed.
Where the legal and statutory requirements are not met, the auditor shall lose office.
Where an auditor is replaced, the alternate auditor belonging to the one outgoing shall take over. If the substitution does not allow compliance with the rules on gender equality, the Meeting must be convened as soon as possible in order to ensure compliance with this law.
When the Meeting is to appoint statutory and/or alternate auditors needed to make up the Board of Auditors, it shall proceed as follows: when it is to replace the auditors elected in the majority list, the appointment comes about on the basis of majority voting without any constraints from lists; when, on the other hand, auditors elected from the minority list are to be replaced, the Meeting replaces them by majority voting, choosing from the candidates the majority of votes expressed at the Meeting. This is notwithstanding compliance with the regulations in force and with the provisions of the By-lawsin respect of gender equality. The chairmanship of the Board of Auditors is assumed by the first candidate on the second list who has obtained the most votes, if presented and allowed.
Where the legal and statutory requirements are not met, the auditor shall lose office.
Where an auditor is replaced, the alternate auditor belonging to the one outgoing shall take over. If the substitution does not allow compliance with the rules and with the provisions of the By-laws on gender equality, the Meeting must be convened as soon as possible in order to ensure compliance with these provisions.
When the Meeting is to appoint statutory and/or alternate auditors needed to make up the Board of Auditors, it shall proceed as follows: when it is to replace the auditors elected in the majority list, the appointment comes about on the basis of majority voting without any constraints from lists; when, on the other hand, auditors elected from the minority list are to be replaced, the Meeting replaces them by majority voting, choosing from the candidates
indicated in the list to which the auditor to be replaced belongs, or in the minority list which won the second highest number of votes. Where the application for these procedures does not, for any reason, allow the replacement of the auditors designated by the minority shareholders, the Meeting shall proceed on the basis of majority voting; however, in the ascertaining of the results of this latter vote, the votes from shareholders who, according to the communication given pursuant to current rules, hold, including indirectly or even jointly with other shareholders belonging to a relevant shareholders' agreement pursuant to article 122 of legislative decree no 58 dated 24 February 1998, the majority of votes to be exercised at the Meeting, as well as shareholders who control, are controlled or are subject to joint control, shall not be calculated. The new appointments will cease together with those in post. In any event, the obligation to comply with current regulations in terms of gender equality shall remain firm.
The ordinary Meeting sets the annual payment due to each auditor pursuant to the regulations currently in force. Auditors shall also be indicated in the list to which the auditor to be replaced belongs, or in the minority list which won the second highest number of votes. Where the application for these procedures does not, for any reason, allow the replacement of the auditors designated by the minority shareholders, the Meeting shall proceed on the basis of majority voting; however, in the ascertaining of the results of this latter vote, the votes from shareholders who, according to the communication given pursuant to current rules, hold, including indirectly or even jointly with other shareholders belonging to a relevant shareholders' agreement pursuant to article 122 of legislative decree no 58 dated 24 February 1998, the majority of votes to be exercised at the Meeting, as well as shareholders who control, are controlled or are subject to joint control, shall not be calculated. The new appointments will cease together with those in post. In any event, the obligation to comply with current regulations and with the provisions of the By-laws in terms of gender equality shall remain firm. The ordinary Meeting sets the annual payment due to each auditor pursuant to the regulations currently
in force. Auditors shall also be
| reimbursed, on a lump-sum basis for | reimbursed, on a lump-sum basis for |
|---|---|
| the expenses incurred in their work. | the expenses incurred in their work. |
| 18.6 Auditors shall not be paid |
1718.6 Auditors shall not be paid any |
| any fee based on the financial |
fee based on the financial |
| instruments and linked to the |
instruments and linked to the |
| financial management results. | financial management results. |
| 18.7 The Board of Auditors, in |
1718.7 The Board of Auditors, in |
| performing all the functions |
performing all the functions |
| demanded of it in compliance with | demanded of it in compliance with |
| the related rules provided by law and | the related rules provided by law and |
| regulations in force, monitors: | regulations in force, monitors: |
| a) compliance with the laws, |
a) compliance with the laws, |
| regulations and By-laws; | regulations and By-laws; |
| b) compliance with the principles of | b) compliance with the principles of |
| proper administration; | proper administration; |
| c) the suitability of the |
c) the suitability of the |
| organisational, administrative and |
organisational, administrative and |
| accounting structure adopted by the | accounting structure adopted by the |
| company and its concrete |
company and its concrete |
| functioning; | functioning; |
| d) the suitability and functionality of | d) the suitability and functionality of |
| the internal auditing system with | the internal auditing system with |
| particular regard to risk |
particular regard to risk |
| management; | management; |
| e) the other actions and facts |
e) the other actions and facts |
| specified by law and regulations; | specified by law and regulations; |
| The Board of Auditors checks and | The Board of Auditors checks and |
| investigates causes and remedies for | investigates causes and remedies for |
| management irregularities, |
management irregularities, |
| performance anomalies, gaps in the | performance anomalies, gaps in the |
| organisational and accounting |
organisational and accounting |
| structure, and places particular |
structure, and places particular |
| attention to compliance with the | attention to compliance with the |
| regulations concerning conflicts of | regulations concerning conflicts of |
| interest. | interest. |
| 18.8 The Board of Directors |
1718.8 The Board of Directors |
|
|---|---|---|
| particularly ascertains that there is | particularly ascertains that there is | |
| adequate coordination between all | adequate coordination between all | |
| the functions and structures involved | the functions and structures involved | |
| in the system of internal controls, | in the system of internal controls, | |
| including the audit company tasked | including the audit company tasked | |
| with the legal auditing of the |
with the legal auditing of the |
|
| accounts, by promoting, where |
accounts, by promoting, where |
|
| appropriate, adequate corrective |
appropriate, adequate corrective |
|
| measures. | measures. | |
| 18.9 Pursuant to what is stated under | 1718.9 Pursuant to what is stated | |
| article 18.8 above: a) the managers of | under article 1718.8 above: a) the | |
| the internal audit, risk management | managers of the internal audit, risk | |
| and compliance departments sent | management and compliance |
|
| their respective reports to the Board | departments sent their respective | |
| of Auditors. b) the Board of Auditors, | reports to the Board of Auditors. b) | |
| and the auditing company constantly | the Board of Auditors, and the | |
| exchange data and relevant |
auditing company constantly |
|
| information in order to complete the | exchange data and relevant |
|
| related tasks. | information in order to complete the | |
| 18.10 The Board of Auditors |
related tasks. | |
| periodically checks its own adequacy | 1718.10 The Board of Auditors |
|
| in terms of powers, functioning and | periodically checks its own adequacy | |
| composition, taking account of the | in terms of powers, functioning and | |
| size, complexity and activities carried | composition, taking account of the | |
| out by the company. | size, complexity and activities carried | |
| 18.11 Auditors can call upon, in | out by the company. | |
| carrying out the necessary checks | 1718.11 Auditors can call upon, in | |
| and investigations, the structures and | carrying out the necessary checks | |
| functions responsible for internet | and investigations, the structures and | |
| control, and also at any time carry | functions responsible for internet | |
| out, including individually, |
control, and also at any time carry | |
| inspections and audits. | out, including individually, |
|
| 18.12 The Board of Directors can ask | inspections and audits. | |
| the directors and all the internal | 1718.12 The Board of Directors can | |
| control structures for news, including | ask the directors and all the internal |
with reference to subsidiaries, on the performance of the business operations and on particular business. It may exchange information with the corresponding bodies of the subsidiaries in relation to the systems of administration and control and on the general progress of the business activity.
18.13 In order to correctly carry out its duties, and particularly the obligation to promptly report to the Bank of Italy and, where provided, to other Supervisory Authorities in relation to management irregularities or legal breaches, the Board of Auditors is vested with the broadest powers set down by legal and statutory provisions.
Moreover, the Board of Auditors reports to the Board of Directors on any gaps and irregularities found, requests the adoption of appropriate corrective measures and checks their effectiveness over time.
control structures for news, including with reference to subsidiaries, on the performance of the business operations and on particular business. It may exchange information with the corresponding bodies of the subsidiaries in relation to the systems of administration and control and on the general progress of the business activity.
1718.13 In order to correctly carry out its duties, and particularly the obligation to promptly report to the Bank of Italy any facts or acts it becomes aware of that constitute an irregularity or a breach of the provisions of law governing the banking business, and, more generally, where provided, to report to other Supervisory Authorities in relation to management irregularities or legal breaches, the Board of Auditors is vested with the broadest powers set down by legal and statutory provisions. In order to correctly carry out its duties, and particularly the obligation to promptly report to the Bank of Italy and, where provided, to other Supervisory Authorities in relation to management irregularities or legal breaches, the Board of Auditors is vested with the broadest powers set down by legal and statutory provisions.
The amendment aims to ensure better links with the Supervisory Provisions (see Title V, Chapter 2, Section II of Circular no. 288 of 3 April 2015)
18.14 The Board of Auditors, which must meet at least every ninety days, is convened by the Chair of the Board of Auditors by means of a notice to be sent at least eight days before the meeting to each Auditor and, in the event of an emergency, at least three days in advance. The notice can be drafted on any medium (hard or soft copy) and may be sent using any means of communication (including fax and e-mail).
The Board of Auditors is also validly constituted and able to take decisions when, in the absence of the above formalities being carried out, all the members of the Board are in attendance.
18.15 The meetings of the Board of Auditors can also meet with participants located in different places, provided that the collegial method and principles of good faith and equal treatment between participants is respected. In this case, it is necessary that:
a) the Chair of the Meeting is able to unequivocally ascertain the identity and legitimacy of the participants, manage the meeting and note and Moreover, the Board of Auditors reports to the Board of Directors on any gaps and irregularities found, requests the adoption of appropriate corrective measures and checks their effectiveness over time.
1718.14 The Board of Auditors, which must meet at least every ninety days, is convened by the Chair of the Board of Auditors by means of a notice to be sent at least eight days before the meeting to each Auditor and, in the event of an emergency, at least three days in advance. The notice can be drafted on any medium (hard or soft copy) and may be sent using any means of communication (including fax and e-mail).
The Board of Auditors is also validly constituted and able to take decisions when, in the absence of the above formalities being carried out, all the members of the Board are in attendance.
1718.15 The meetings of the Board of Auditors can also meet with participants located in different places, provided that the collegial method and principles of good faith and equal treatment between participants is respected. In this case, it is necessary that:
a) the Chair of the Meeting is able to unequivocally ascertain the identity and legitimacy of the participants, manage the meeting and note and
| declare the results of the voting | declare the results of the voting | |
|---|---|---|
| procedure; | procedure; | |
| b) at the place where the video/audio | b) at the place where the video/audio | The purpose of the |
| conference is held, an attendance | conference is held, an attendance | amendment is to streamline |
| sheet should be kept giving the | sheet should be kept giving the | the formalities involved in |
| names of those attending the |
names of those attending the |
managing the meetings of |
| meeting at this place; this attendance | meeting at this place; this attendance | the Board of Auditors |
| sheet shall be attached to the |
sheet shall be attached to the |
|
| minutes of the meeting; | minutes of the meeting; | |
| c) the minute-taker is able to |
b)c) the minute-taker is able to |
|
| adequately follow the events of the | adequately follow the events of the | |
| Meeting; | Meeting; | |
| d) the participants are able to |
c)d) the participants are able to |
|
| exchange documentation and also | exchange documentation and also | |
| take part in the discussions and vote | take part in the discussions and vote | |
| on on the agenda items in real time; | on on the agenda items in real time; | |
| 18.16 The Board of Auditors is subject | 1718.16 The Board of Auditors is |
|
| to a periodic process of self |
subject to a periodic process of self | |
| assessment, based on the criteria and | assessment, based on the criteria and | |
| means set out in the regulations that | means set out in the regulations that | |
| are applicable at the time. | are applicable at the time. | |
| SECTION IV | SECTION IV | |
| LEGAL AUDITING OF THE ACCOUNTS | LEGAL AUDITING OF THE ACCOUNTS | |
| Article 19: legal auditing of the | Article 1819: legal auditing of the | |
| accounts | accounts | |
| 19.1 Legal auditing of accounts is |
1819.1 Legal auditing of accounts is | |
| exercised by a legal auditing |
exercised by a legal auditing |
|
| company, to be appointed by the | company, to be appointed by the | |
| Meeting pursuant to art, 2409-bis et | Meeting pursuant to art, 2409-bis et | |
| seq., of legislative decree no 39 dated | seq., of legislative decree no 39 dated | |
| 27 January 2010. | 27 January 2010. | |
| SECTION V | SECTION V | |
| LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND |
LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND |
|
| COMPANY SIGNATURE | COMPANY SIGNATURE |
| Article 20: legal representation and | Article 1920: legal representation | |
|---|---|---|
| company signature | and company signature | |
| 20.1 The company is represented to | 1920.1 The company is represented | |
| third parties and in law and the | to third parties and in law and the | |
| company signature, with all related | company signature, with all related | |
| powers, are incumbent upon the | powers, are incumbent upon the | |
| Chair of the Board of Directors and on | Chair of the Board of Directors and on | |
| the CEO, within the limited of the | the CEO, within the limited of the | |
| powers delegated. These have the | powers delegated. These have the | |
| power to represent the company in | power to represent the company in | |
| legal proceedings and before any | legal proceedings and before any | |
| judicial or administrative authority, | judicial or administrative authority, | |
| and also to confer powers of |
and also to confer powers of |
|
| attorney, including in general. | attorney, including in general. | |
| 20.2 Where the Chair of the Board | 1920.2 Where the Chair of the Board | |
| and the CEO are absent or |
and the CEO are absent or |
|
| incapacitated, the company is |
incapacitated, the company is |
|
| represented by the most senior | represented by the most senior | |
| board member in terms of age. | board member in terms of age. | |
| 20.3 The Board of Directors, the | 1920.3 The Board of Directors, the | |
| Executive Committee and the CEO | Executive Committee and the CEO | |
| may, within the limits to the |
may, within the limits to the |
|
| delegated powers, for individual acts | delegated powers, for individual acts | |
| or categories or acts, delegate |
or categories or acts, delegate |
|
| powers of representation, with the | powers of representation, with the | The amendment aims to |
| related power to sign on behalf of the | related power to sign on behalf of the | overcome any |
| company, to external persons only, | company, to employees but also to | interpretational doubts |
| normally jointly or, for those |
external persons only, normally |
regarding the application of |
| categories of operations thus |
jointly or, for those categories of | the provision |
| determined, also individually. | operations thus determined, also | |
| individually. | ||
| SECTION VI | SECTION VI | |
| ACCOUNTS AND DISTRIBUTION OF | ACCOUNTS AND DISTRIBUTION OF | |
| PROFITS | PROFITS | |
| Article 21: accounts | Article 2021: accounts |
| 21.1 The financial years shall close on | 2021.1 The financial years shall close | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 December of each year. At the end | on 31 December of each year. At the | |
| of each period the Board of Directors | end of each period the Board of | |
| draw up the financial statements in | Directors draw up the financial |
|
| accordance with applicable |
statements in accordance with |
|
| regulations. | applicable regulations. | |
| Article 22: distribution of profits | Article 2122: distribution of profits | |
| 22.1 The net profits shown in the |
2122.1 The net profits shown in the | |
| financial statements are shared as | financial statements are shared as | |
| follows: | follows: | |
| a) 5% of the legal reserve fund until | a) 5% of the legal reserve fund until | |
| this represents a fifth of the share | this represents a fifth of the share | |
| capital. | capital. | |
| b) the remainder shall be used as | b) the remainder shall be used as | |
| resolved by the Meeting to approve | resolved by the Meeting to approve | |
| the financial statements to which the | the financial statements to which the | |
| net profits refer. | net profits refer. | |
| The Meeting, at the proposal of the | The Meeting, at the proposal of the | |
| Board, may attribute shareholders | Board, may attribute shareholders | |
| the power to request that the |
the power to request that the |
|
| payment of the dividend is paid, in | payment of the dividend is paid, in | |
| whole or in part, in cash or shares, | whole or in part, in cash or shares, | |
| having the same characteristics as | having the same characteristics as | |
| the shares in circulation on the date | the shares in circulation on the date | |
| assigned. | assigned. | |
| Where this power is granted, the | Where this power is granted, the | |
| Meeting, at the proposal of the |
Meeting, at the proposal of the | |
| Board, determined the way to |
Board, determined the way to |
|
| calculate and assign the shares, | calculate and assign the shares, | |
| establishing the means of paying the | establishing the means of paying the | |
| dividend in the event of the failure to | dividend in the event of the failure to | |
| exercise this option by the |
exercise this option by the |
|
| shareholders. | shareholders. | |
| The Meeting, at the proposal of the | The Meeting, at the proposal of the | |
| Board of Directors, can allocate a | Board of Directors, can allocate a | |
| share of the net profit for the period | share of the net profit for the period | |
| to initiatives of a social, charity and | to initiatives of a social, charity and | |
|---|---|---|
| cultural nature, to be developed at | cultural nature, to be developed at | |
| the judgement of the Board of | the judgement of the Board of | |
| Directors itself. | Directors itself. | |
| The Company may decide to |
The Company may decide to |
|
| distribute dividend advances in the | distribute dividend advances in the | |
| cases, means and limits permitted | cases, means and limits permitted | |
| under current regulations. | under current regulations. | |
| 22.2 Dividends not collected and |
2122.2 Dividends not collected and | |
| prescribed are returned to the |
prescribed are returned to the |
|
| company and shall be posted to the | company and shall be posted to the | |
| extraordinary reserve. | extraordinary reserve. | |
| Article 23: Accounting and company | Article 2223: Accounting and |
|
| documents | company documents | |
| The Board of Directors, after hearing | 22.1 The Board of Directors, after | |
| the mandatory but not binding |
hearing the mandatory but not |
|
| opinion of the Board of Directors, and | binding opinion of the Board of | |
| with the ordinary majority provided | Directors, and with the ordinary | |
| in these Articles, appoints the |
majority provided in these Articles, | |
| manager responsible for drafting the | appoints the manager responsible for | |
| corporate accounting documents |
drafting the corporate accounting | |
| pursuant to article 154-bis of |
documents pursuant to article 154- | |
| legislative decree no 58 of 24 |
bis of legislative decree no 58 of 24 | |
| February 1998, and possibly |
February 1998, and possibly |
|
| establishes a given period for the task | establishes a given period for the task | |
| to be completed, selecting from | to be completed, selecting from | |
| among the company's managers with | among the company's managers with | |
| proven experience in accounting and | proven experience in accounting and | |
| financial matters, conferring on them | financial matters, conferring on them | |
| adequate powers and means for the | adequate powers and means for the | |
| exercising of the tasks assigned |
exercising of the tasks assigned |
|
| pursuant to law. This same board of | pursuant to law. This same board of | |
| Directors shall also have the power to | Directors shall also have the power to | |
| revoke this manager in charge. The | revoke this manager in charge. The | |
| payment made to the person |
payment made to the person |
|
| responsible for drafting the |
responsible for drafting the |
| corporate accounting documents is | corporate accounting documents is | |
|---|---|---|
| stipulated by the Board of Directors. | stipulated by the Board of Directors. | |
| The Board of Directors may always, | The Board of Directors may always, | |
| after receiving the mandatory but not | after receiving the mandatory but not | |
| binding opinion of the Board of | binding opinion of the Board of | |
| Auditors, and with the ordinary | Auditors, and with the ordinary | |
| majority provided in these Articles, | majority provided in these Articles, | |
| revoke the tasks of manager |
revoke the tasks of manager |
|
| entrusted to draft the corporate | entrusted to draft the corporate | |
| accounting documents while at the | accounting documents while at the | |
| same time giving a new conferral of | same time giving a new conferral of | |
| the same task. | the same task. | |
| Article 24: Operations with related | Article 2324: Operations with |
|
| parties | related parties | |
| 24.1 The Company's compliance |
2324.1 The Company's compliance | |
| bodies approve the operations with | bodies approve the operations with | |
| related parties in accordance with | related parties in accordance with | |
| current legal and statutory |
current legal and statutory |
|
| provisions, and also with its own | provisions, and also with its own | |
| statutory provisions and procedures | statutory provisions and procedures | |
| adopted in this regard. | adopted in this regard. | |
| 24.2 The internal procedures |
2324.2 The internal procedures |
|
| adopted by the company in relation | adopted by the company in relation | |
| to related-party transactions might | to related-party transactions might | |
| stipulate that the Board of Directors | stipulate that the Board of Directors | |
| approve the operations of greatest | approve the operations of greatest | |
| relevance, notwithstanding the |
relevance, notwithstanding the |
|
| contrary advice from the |
contrary advice from the |
|
| independent directors, provided that | independent directors, provided that | |
| the completing of these operations is | the completing of these operations is | |
| authorised pursuant to art. 2364, | authorised pursuant to art. 2364, | |
| subsection 1, number 5 of the Italian | subsection 1, number 5 of the Italian | |
| Civil Code, by the Meeting. | Civil Code, by the Meeting. | |
| Where the previous paragraph or a | Where the previous paragraph or a | |
| draft resolution to be put to the | draft resolution to be put to the | |
| Meeting in relation to a significant | Meeting in relation to a significant | |
| transaction is approved in the |
transaction is approved in the |
|
|---|---|---|
| presence of contrary advice from the | presence of contrary advice from the | |
| independent directors, the Meeting | independent directors, the Meeting | |
| resolves with the majority stipulated | resolves with the majority stipulated | |
| by law, provided that, where the | by law, provided that, where the | |
| unrelated shareholders present at | unrelated shareholders present at | |
| the Meeting represent at least 10% of | the Meeting represent at least 10% of | |
| the share capital with voting rights, | the share capital with voting rights, | |
| the stated legal majority shall be | the stated legal majority shall be | |
| attained with the vote in favour by | attained with the vote in favour by | |
| the majority of unrelated |
the majority of unrelated |
|
| shareholders voting at the Meeting. | shareholders voting at the Meeting. | |
| 24.3 The internal procedures |
2324.3 The internal procedures |
|
| adopted by the Company in relation | adopted by the Company in relation | |
| to related-party transactions might | to related-party transactions might | |
| envisage the exclusion from their | envisage the exclusion from their | |
| scope of application of urgent |
scope of application of urgent |
|
| transactions, also incumbent upon | transactions, also incumbent upon | |
| the Board, within the limits allowed | the Board, within the limits allowed | |
| by applicable legal and regulatory | by applicable legal and regulatory | |
| provisions. | provisions. | |
| SECTION VII | SECTION VII | |
| GENERAL PROVISIONS | GENERAL PROVISIONS | |
| Article 25: general provisions | Article 2425: general provisions | |
| 25.1 Where no provision is not |
2425.1 Where no provision is not | |
| made in these By-laws, the laws and | made in these By-laws, the laws and | |
| regulations currently in force shall be | regulations currently in force shall be | |
| observed. | ||
| observed. | ||
| SECTION VII | ||
| TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS | ||
| Article 25: transitional provisions | ||
| with regard to the amendments | ||
| approved by the extraordinary |
||
| Shareholders' Meeting on [•] | ||
| 25.1 The amendments to these By |
extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting on [•], shall be effective as of the date of approval subsequent to the fulfilment of the authorisation and publication requirements established by law, save as provided by art. 25.2 below. 25.2 The amendments to art. 10 of these By-laws, as approved by the extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting on [•], shall be effective as of the date of publication of the notice of call to the Shareholders' Meeting called to resolve on the first renewal of the Board of Directors after the date of that resolution. 25.3 The version of art. 10-bis transcribed below shall apply on a transitional basis up to the date of entry into force of art. 25.2 above. *** Article 10-bis: Board of Directors 10.1 The company is managed by a Board of Directors appointed by the Meeting and comprised of 9 members which: a) bring to the company the specific skills they possess; b) know the tasks and responsibilities of the role and are in possession of the requirements requested by law and regulations in force at the time; c) act and resolve with full knowledge of the facts and autonomously in
| pursuit of the aim to create value for | |
|---|---|
| shareholders; | |
| d) only accept the position when they | |
| believe they are able to dedicate the | |
| time needed to diligently carry out | |
| their tasks, also being mindful of the | |
| number of positions of director of | |
| auditor they have in other companies | |
| or bodies; | |
| e) keep the information acquired as a | |
| result of the office held as |
|
| confidential. | |
| 10.2 The current laws and provisions | |
| of these By-laws apply to the |
|
| appointment, dismissal and |
|
| replacement of members of the | |
| Board of Directors | |
| In order to appoint or co-opt |
|
| directors, the Board of Directors | |
| initially identifies the qualitative and | |
| quantitative composition deemed |
|
| optimal in relation to the aims to be | |
| pursued, by identifying and justifying | |
| the theoretical profile of the |
|
| candidates considered appropriate to | |
| these ends. The results of this |
|
| analysis must be shown in the notice | |
| of call of the Meeting convened to | |
| appoint directors so that |
|
| shareholders, in choosing candidates, | |
| can take into account the |
|
| professional skills required. This is | |
| notwithstanding the possibility for | |
| shareholders to make their own | |
| assessments on the optimal |
|
| composition of the Board of Directors | |
and to bring forward candidates commensurate with these, explaining any differences with regard to the analysis carried out by the Board. Subsequently, the Board of Directors checks the compliance between the qualitative and quantitative composition deemed optimal and the one actually resulting from the appointments process. The Members of the Board of Directors are elected using the list system in which a minimum of three and maximum of nine candidates
must be listed in sequential order. The candidate at sequential number "1" of each list shall also be the candidate appointed as chair of the Board of Directors.
Any shareholder, as well as shareholders belonging to the same group, members of a shareholders' agreement pursuant to article 122 of legislative decree no 58 dated 24 February, the entity controlling it, the entity by which it is controlled and the entity subject to joint control pursuant to article 93 of legislative decree no 58 dated 24 February 1998, may not be present or be involved in the presentation, either by proxy of trust company, in more than one list and may not vote on lists other than the one presented. Where the competition, either directly or indirectly, indicates applicants
| present in more than one list, these | |
|---|---|
| lists shall be deemed to have not | |
| been submitted. | |
| For the purposes of the preceding | |
| paragraph, entities, even those with | |
| a corporate status, which exercise | |
| direct or indirect control pursuant to | |
| Article 93 of Legislative Decree 24 | |
| February 1998 n. 58 over the |
|
| shareholder in question and all the | |
| companies controlled directly or |
|
| indirectly by this entity are deemed | |
| to belong to the same group. | |
| Each candidate may appear in one | |
| list, under pain of ineligibility. | |
| Only those shareholders who, |
|
| together or separately, are holders of | |
| shares representing at least 2.5% | |
| (two point five percent) - or any other | |
| lower percentage established by the | |
| legislation currently in force are | |
| entitled to submit lists - of the capital | |
| entitled to vote on Meeting |
|
| resolutions that relate to the |
|
| appointment of members of the | |
| Board. | |
| The lists must be sent to the |
|
| company's head office and to the | |
| management company at least 25 | |
| (twenty- five) days prior to the one | |
| planned for the Meeting called to | |
| resolve on the appointment of the | |
| administrative body and be made | |
| available to the public at the |
|
| registered office, the market |
|
| management company, the |
|
Company's internet site and with the other means stipulated under applicable legal and regulatory provisions at least 21 (twenty-one) days prior to the one fixed for the Meeting in the first call. The lists indicate which directors are in possession of the requirements of independence stipulated by law and these By-laws. Each list must contain at least three candidates, of which at least two are in possession of the requirements of independence established by Law and the By-laws. Moreover, each list must include candidates of different genders, including for individual independent candidates, according to what is stated in the Meeting call notice, so as to enable the Board of Directors to be comprised pursuant to current regulations regarding gender equality.
The ownership of the minimum share required to submit the lists referred to in this paragraph shall be determined with regard to the shares registered to the shareholder on the day when these lists are deposited at the company's headquarters. In order to prove ownership of the number of shares required to submit lists, members putting forward lists have to submit or send to the registered office a copy of the appropriate certificate issued by an
authorised intermediary proving ownership of the number of shares required for the submission of the list at least twenty-one days before the Meeting called to approve the appointment of the members of the Board of Directors. Each list submitted must include: a) information regarding the shareholders who have presented the list and the percentage of shares held; b) the declarations in which each candidate accepts the nomination (in the case of candidates positioned at sequential number "1" on each list, they also accept applicants for Chair of the Board) and declare, under their own responsibility that there are no causes of ineligibility or incompatibility, and that the requirements of professionalism and integrity and any other requirement stipulated under current laws and these By-laws for undertaking the position are met; c) declarations of independence issued pursuant to the applicable legislative, regulatory and statutory provisions; as well as d) the CV of each candidate, containing extensive information of the individual's personal and professional characteristics, indicating for which theoretical profile he/she is suitable and the
| positions of administration and |
|
|---|---|
| control covered. | |
| The lists submitted which do not | |
| satisfy the provisions stated above | |
| shall be void. | |
| Each shareholder has the right to | |
| vote for one list. Where a vote is | |
| made for several lists, the vote shall | |
| be deemed as not having been cast | |
| for any of them. | |
| The election of the Board of Directors | |
| shall be made as follows: | |
| a) from the list that obtains the |
|
| majority of votes (majority list) a | |
| number of directors equal to six are | |
| elected, of which at least one is in | |
| possession of the independence |
|
| requirements pursuant to art. 10.3; | |
| candidates are elected on the basis of | |
| the progressive order shown by the | |
| list; the candidate positioned at | |
| sequential number "1" is appointed | |
| Chair of the Company's Board of | |
| Directors; | |
| b) two directors, of which at |
|
| least one in possession of the |
|
| independence requirements |
|
| pursuant to art. 10.3 will be taken | |
| from the list, if any, that gets the | |
| most votes after the list referred to in | |
| subparagraph a), which is not |
|
| connected in any way, even |
|
| indirectly, to that list and / or with the | |
| shareholders who submitted or |
|
| voted for the majority list; are elected | |
in those limits candidates in a progressive order in the list; c) a director in possession of the independence requirements pursuant to art. 10.3 will be taken from the list, if any, which receives the highest number of votes after the list in b), which is not connected in any way, even indirectly, with previous lists and / or the shareholders who presented or voted on the previous lists; is the first candidate in the sequential order of the list in the possession of the independence requirements pursuant to art. 10.3. In the event that only two lists have been submitted and allowed, the remaining independent director will be chosen from the list referred to in point b). To this end, however, lists that do not obtain a percentage of votes equal to half of that required for the submission of lists, referred to in paragraph six of this subsection shall not be taken into account. 10.3 The Directors must meet the requirements of professionalism and integrity and any other requirement under the regulations in force and in these By-laws. In addition, at least three directors, and in any event a number of directors not less than that required by the regulations in force, must meet the independence
requirements of art. 148, paragraph three, of Legislative Decree no 58 dated 24 February 1998, as well as the Code of Corporate Governance to which the Company adheres. The loss of the requirements for the position will entail revocation, with it being specified that the loss of the independence requirements mentioned above in relation to a director, notwithstanding the obligation to immediately notify the Board of Directors, shall not lead to revocation if the requirements are met by the remaining minimum number of directors pursuant to these By-laws. If the candidates elected in the manner described above do not ensure the appointment of a number of directors who meet the independence requirements provided for above equal to the minimum number established by law and these By-laws in relation to the total number of directors, the nonindependent candidate elected last in sequential order in the list that received the highest number of votes referred to in subparagraph a) of paragraph 10.2, paragraph eleven paragraph, will be replaced by the first independent candidate in sequential order not elected from the same list, or, failing that, by the first independent candidate in sequential
order not elected from other lists, according to the number of votes obtained by each. This substitution procedure will be followed until the number of independent directors to be appointed is met. Without prejudice to compliance with the minimum number of directors in possession of the independent requirements as stipulated above, where the candidates elected in the manner indicated above in the composition of the Board of Directors do not ensure compliance with the regulations in force in relation to gender equality, the candidate of the gender most elected as last in sequential order in the least who has secured the highest number of votes pursuant to letter a) of subsection 10.2, paragraph eleven, shall be replaced by the first candidate of the gender least represented based on the nonelected sequential order of the same list, or, failing this, by the first candidate of the gender least represented on the basis of the nonelected sequential order of the other lists, according to the number of votes obtained by each. This replacement procedure will be carried out unless the Board of Directors is compliant with the current regulations in respect of gender equality.
In the event of there being only one list that is presented and allowed, all the candidates on this list shall be elected, but ensuring the nomination of directors in possession of the independence requirements at least in the overall number required under current laws and these By-laws, and also in compliance with current laws on gender equality. Where no list is submitted or allowed, the Meeting shall resolve according to the legal majority without observing the procedure referred to above. This is notwithstanding, however, different and other provisions provided under mandatory and statutory laws. In any event, there shall be compliance with the minimum number of independent directors and the current laws on gender equality. For the appointment of Directors who for whatever reason are not nominated pursuant to the procedures given above, the Meeting shall resolve by legal majority voting so as to ensure that the composition of the Board of Directors is compliant to the law and to these By-laws, and also complies with current laws in respect of gender equality.
10.4 The members of the Administrative Body shall remain in post for three years (expiring at the same time as the Meeting convened to approve the accounts relating to
the last year of their post) or for a lesser period which may be fixed by the Meeting and the time of appointment. Directors may be reelected.
Where during the course of the period one or more directors are missing, provided that the majority remain comprised of directors appointed by the Meeting, the Board of Directors can arrange for their substitution through a resolution approved by the Board of Auditors in accordance with what is indicated below:
a) the Board of Directors shall arrange substitution using the persons belonging to the same list as the one to which the outgoing director belonged and the Meeting, pursuant to the first subsection of article 2386 of the Civil Code, resolves by legal majority voting in compliance with the same criterion; b) where the list does not contain previously non-elected candidates or candidates with the necessary requirements, or else when for any reason it is not possible to comply with what is stipulated above under, the Board of Directors proceeds with substitution as subsequently approved by the Meeting, pursuant to the first subsection of article 2386 of the Italian Civil Code, with legal majority voting with the list vote.
In any case, the Board of Directors and the Meeting pursuant to the first subsection of article 2386 of the Civil Code shall appoint so as to ensure the presence of directors in possession of the requirements of independence stipulated in the previous subsection 10.3 at least in the overall minimum number required by current laws and these Articles and also in compliance with current laws in respect of gender equality.
Pursuant to article 2386, subsection one of the Civil Code, directors appointed in this way shall remain in post until the next Meeting and those appointed by the Meeting shall remain in post for time that the directors they replaced would have remained in post.
10.5 If the majority of the members of the administrative body appointed by Meeting resolution ceases to hold office, the entire administrative body shall lapse from the time when the new body is appointed and the directors remaining in post shall urgently convene the Meeting for it to be fully re-appointed and they may in the meantime perform acts of ordinary administration.
10.6 The Chair of the Board of Directors is appointed by the Meeting in the manner pursuant to article 10.2 paragraph 11, letter a) of the Bylaws. Where no lists are presented
and allowed, the Chair of the Board of Directors is appointed by the Meeting pursuant to the legal majority and manner.
10.7 The Board of Directors appoints from among its members a CEO in accordance with what is stipulated under article 12.2 letter h). The Board of Directors has the option to attribute the position of general director to this same CEO. The position of general director can be exclusively attributed to the CEO.
The Board of Directors has the option to appoint a Deputy Chair, in accordance with the provisions of art. 12.2 letter g), which shall have the power, in the case of the absence or incapacity of the Chair, to chair the Shareholders' Meeting and the Board of Directors' meetings.
10.8 The Board of Directors may also delegate its own powers to an Executive Committee.
10.9 The non-executive members of the Board of Directors bring their own specific skills to the board discussions and contribute to the taking of decisions. They are called upon to perform an important dialectical function and to monitor the choices made by the executive members. The non-executive members shall acquire, also through the use of internal committees, information on the management and
organisation of the company, internal audit and other control functions. The non-executive members must in any case be actively involved in the tasks entrusted to them, also as far as time availability is concerned and take part in the processes of appointing and dismissing internal audit and risk management managers. They diligently perform any other activity incumbent upon them pursuant to legal and regulatory provisions that may be in force. 10.10 The Board of Directors also appoints a Secretary in the person of a director of senior manager or executive of the company or a substitute, or an external consultant. 10.11 The Board of Directors is subject to a process of selfassessment, according to the means and criteria stipulated under the regulations in force at the time.
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Dear Shareholders,
In light of the foregoing, we invite you to approve the following resolutions:
"The Shareholders' Meeting of Banca Sistema S.p.A.,
• to approve the amendments to articles 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14 (13 with new numbering), 18 (17 with new numbering), and 20 (19 with new numbering) of the By-laws, in the following new versions:
8.1 The Meeting, duly constituted, represents all shareholders and its resolutions passed in compliance with the law and these By-laws are binding upon all shareholders, even if they are absent, abstaining or dissenting. The Meeting convenes in ordinary and extraordinary session in accordance with the law and these By-laws.
The manner in which the Meeting operates is laid down by appropriate regulations approved by resolution of the ordinary Meeting.
8.2 The ordinary Meeting is called at least once every 120 (one hundred and twenty) days from the closure of the business year
Moreover, the Meeting is called by the Administrative Body whenever it deems it necessary and appropriate and in the cases provided by law, or following written notification to the Chair of the Board of Directors, by the Board of Auditors or at least two of its members in accordance to what is provided under applicable legal provisions. The Meeting is also legally convened by the Board of Directors when a request is made to do so by shareholders representing at least twenty per cent of the share capital and where the request indicates the issue to be covered. Convening at the request of shareholders is not allowed for issues on which the Meeting legally resolves at the proposal of the directors or on the basis of a project or report prepared by them.
Finally, the Meeting is convened in other cases provided by law and these By-laws.
8.3 The Meeting is convened in the Town where the Company has its registered office or elsewhere provided this is in Italy, other members States of the European Union, Switzerland or in the United States of America.
8.4 The Meeting is convened according to the terms and conditions fixed by law and by the statutory regulations applicable at the time.
The notice of call must indicate the date, time, place of the meeting and the list of matters to be discussed and other information and particulars as may be required by applicable law and regulations currently in force.
The Meeting is carried out in a single sitting, pursuant to the meeting and decision quorum established by law and these By-laws under these circumstances, unless the meeting notice does not foresee dates for any subsequent meetings, including a third call.
Pursuant to the provisions of article 126-bis of Legislative Decree no. 58 dated 24 February 1998, shareholders who, including jointly, represent at least one fortieth of the share capital, of a different smaller percentage of the share capital provided by regulations in force at the time, may, within a period of 10 (ten) days from the publication of the notice of call by the Meeting, unless a different period is provided under law, request the completion of the list of agenda items to be covered, and themselves indicate further items, or present proposals for deliberation on items already on the agenda, within the manner and means provided under legal and applicable laws and regulations. Whoever holds voting rights can individually submit proposals to be debated at the Meeting.
After the agenda had been completed or subsequent proposals have been submitted to be discussed on the agenda, following the request for the agenda to be completed for proposals to be submitted as stated in the previous paragraph, notice is given, in the prescribed manner for the publication of the notice of call, at least 15 (fifteen) days prior to the one fixed for the Meeting to be held, unless a different period is stipulated by law. Subsequent proposed resolutions for topics already on the agenda are made available to the public within the manner and means stipulated by law.
Inclusion is not allowed for issues on which the Meeting legally resolves at the request of directors or on the basis of projects or reports prepared by them, other than indicated under article 125-ter, paragraph 1 of Legislative Decree no. 58 dated 24 February 1998.
8.5 Where the formalities set out under the previous paragraphs or of any other formality required by law is not followed, the Meeting shall be deemed to be properly convened and may validly resolve on any issue, unless this is opposed by a shareholder who is not sufficiently informed, when the entire share capital is represented and the majority of members of the Board of Directors and Board of Auditors in represented. Under these circumstances, timely notice should be given of the resolutions made to members of the Board of Directors and Board of Auditors who are not in attendance.
8.6 The right to attend the meeting and exercise voting rights is certified by a notice to the company, sent by the intermediary authorised under the provisions of law and regulations, in accordance with its accounting records, in favour of the party who has the right to vote. This notice is made on the basis of evidence from the accounts specified in article 83-quater, paragraph 3 of Legislative Decree no. 58 dated 24 February 1998, relating to the end of the accounting day of the seventh trading day prior to the date set for the meeting. To this end, reference is made to the date of the single or of the first call of the Meeting, provided that the dates of the subsequent calls are included in the only notice of the meeting; otherwise reference is made to the date of each call.
8.7 The persons entitled to attend and vote at the Meeting may be represented by another person or entity, including a non-shareholder, by means of a written proxy in the manner and means stipulated by
the law and applicable regulations. The proxy will be notified electronically via certified mail or using the special section of the company website and with other methods of notification as may be provided for in the notice of call, in accordance with the law and regulations.
The Company has the option to nominate a person for each Meeting to which shareholders can confer a proxy with voting instructions for all or any of the proposals on the agenda in the manner provided by the law and applicable statutory regulations. The proxy is not effective with regard to proposals for which voting instructions have not been conferred.
8.8 Postal voting can also take place.
Postal voting is exercised in the manner specified in the notice of call, in accordance with the applicable statutory provisions, using any means of communication (including fax and e-mail) which is appropriate to provide proof of receipt.
8.9 The Meeting can also be held with participants located in several places, whether contiguous or remote, with audio-visual connections (only audio connection is permitted when the participants may be easily recognised by the Chair of the Meeting), providing that the collegial method and principles of good faith and equal treatment of shareholders have been followed. In this case, it is required that:
a) the Chair of the Meeting is able to unequivocally ascertain the identity and legitimacy of the participants, conduct the meeting and note and declare the results of the voting procedure.
b) at the place where the video/audio conference is held, an attendance sheet should be kept giving the names of those attending the meeting at this place; this attendance sheet shall be attached to the minutes of the meeting;
c) the person taking the minutes is able to adequately follow the events of the Meeting;
d) the participants are able to take simultaneously part in the discussions and vote on the items on the agenda in real time;
e) where the Meeting is not held in plenary session, the notice of call indicates the audio/video locations at which the participants can attend and the meeting shall be deemed to have been held at the location where the Chair and minute-taker are in attendance.
The means of telecommunications shall be recorded in the minutes.
8.10 The Meeting is chaired by the Chair of the Board or, in the event of him being absent or incapacitated, by the Deputy Chair, if appointed, or any other person designated by the Board of Directors; otherwise the Meeting appoints as Chair one of the persons taking part by simple majority of the capital represented.
The Chair of the Meeting is assisted by a secretary designated by the Meeting, by simple majority of the capital represented and possibly by one or more scrutineers, including non-shareholders; where prescribed by law or where deemed appropriate by the administrative body, the functions of secretary are attributed to a notary designated by the same administrative body.
The Chair of the Meeting is responsible for ensuring that the meeting is properly convened, ascertaining the right of shareholders to take part and vote, noting the legitimacy of the proxies, guiding and managing the discussion and proceedings of the Meeting, establishing the method of voting and also ascertaining and declaring the related results. In this he may be assisted by appropriate appointees.
The Meeting sessions are run and governed by law, these By-laws and by the Meeting regulations.
9.1 The ordinary and extraordinary Meeting is validly convened in a single call, unless the notice of call states, apart from the initial one, the date of other subsequent calls, including a possible third call pursuant to the provisions of the previous paragraph 8.4, third paragraph, of these By-laws, with the quorum required for the meeting and resolutions stipulated by law and these By-laws. The provisions of articles 10 and 17 of these By-laws shall apply with regard to the appointment of the Board of Directors and Board of Auditors.
9.2 The ordinary and extraordinary Meeting shall resolve on the issues attributed to it by law and these By-laws.
In particular, the ordinary Meeting apart from setting the fees payable to the appointed bodies approves: (i) the remuneration and incentives policies in favour of the members of the Board of Directors and of the Board of Auditors and of the remaining members; (ii) any remuneration plans based on financial instruments (for example stock option); (iii) the criteria for determining the fee is to be paid in the case of early termination of the employment contract or of any early cessation of the task, including the limits set for this payment in terms of annuities of the fixed remuneration and the maximum amount deriving from their application.
The Ordinary General Meeting, at the time of approving remuneration and incentive policies, also resolves on any proposal to set a limit on the ratio between the variable and fixed remuneration of individual staff at more than 100% (ratio of 1 : 1), but not exceeding the maximum limit of 200% (ratio of 2: 1). In this case, the shareholders' resolution is based on a proposal of the Board of Directors, indicating at least: (i) the functions to which those persons affected by the decision belong, for each function, their number and those who are identified as "key personnel"; (ii) the reasons underlying the proposed increase; (iii) the implications, even in a forward-looking perspective, on the company's ability to continue to comply with all applicable prudential rules. The proposal of the Board of Directors is approved by the Ordinary Meeting when: (i) the Meeting is constituted with at least half of the share capital and the decision is taken by the favourable vote of at least 2/3 of the share capital represented at the meeting; or (ii) the decision is taken by the favourable vote of at least 3/4 of the share capital represented at the meeting, regardless of the share capital with which the Meeting is constituted.
9.3 The Meeting shall be provided with adequate information on remuneration and incentive policies adopted by the company, and its implementation, as required by the laws and regulations from time to time applicable.
9.4 The Directors may not vote in the resolutions regarding their responsibilities.
9.5 The resolutions of the Meeting are minuted and signed by the chair, secretary or notary.
10.1 The company is managed by a Board of Directors appointed by the Meeting and comprised of a minimum of 7 and a maximum of 11 9members who:
a) bring to the company the specific skills they possess;
b) know the tasks and responsibilities of the role and are in possession of the requirements requested by law and regulations in force at the time;
c) act and resolve with full knowledge of the facts and autonomously in pursuit of the aim to create value for shareholders;
d) only accept the position when they believe they are able to dedicate the time needed to diligently carry out their tasks, also being mindful of the number of positions of director of auditor they have in other companies or bodies;
e) keep the information acquired as a result of the office held as confidential.
10.1-bis In accordance with the need to ensure an adequate degree of diversification in the composition of the Board, in terms of skills, experience, age, international profile and gender, at least one third at least two fifths of the members of the Board of Directors must be of the least represented gender, with rounding up to the nearest whole number in the case of a fractional number
10.2 The current laws and provisions of these By-laws apply to the appointment, dismissal and replacement of members of the Board of Directors
The Members of the Board of Directors are elected using the list system in which a minimum of three and maximum of eleven nine candidates must be listed in sequential order. The candidate at sequential number "1" of each list shall also be the candidate appointed as chair of the Board of Directors.
Any shareholder, as well as shareholders belonging to the same group, members of a shareholders' agreement pursuant to article 122 of legislative decree no 58 dated 24 February, the entity controlling it, the entity by which it is controlled and the entity subject to joint control pursuant to article 93 of legislative decree no 58 dated 24 February 1998, may not be present or be involved in the presentation, either by proxy of trust company, in more than one list and may not vote on lists other than the one presented. Where the competition, either directly or indirectly, indicates applicants present in more than one list, these lists shall be deemed to have not been submitted.
For the purposes of the preceding subsection paragraph, entities, even those with a corporate status, which exercise direct or indirect control pursuant to Article 93 of Legislative Decree 24 February 1998 n. 58 over the shareholder in question and all the companies controlled directly or indirectly by this entity are deemed to belong to the same group.
Each candidate may appear in one list, under pain of ineligibility.
Only those shareholders with voting rights who, separately or together with other shareholders, are holders of shares representing at least the percentage of share capital established by the applicable legislation in force at the time, are entitled to submit lists. The percentage shareholding required to submit lists of candidates for the appointment of the Board of Directors is specified in the notice of call of the Shareholders' Meeting called to resolve on the appointment of the said body.
The lists must be sent to the company's head office and to the management company at least 25 (twentyfive) days prior to the one planned for the Meeting called to resolve on the appointment of the administrative body and be made available to the public at the registered office, the market management company, the Company's internet site and with the other means stipulated under applicable legal and regulatory provisions at least 21 (twenty-one) days prior to the one fixed for the Meeting on single or first call. The lists indicate which directors are in possession of the requirements of independence stipulated by law and these By-laws. Each list must contain at least three candidates, of which at least two are in possession of the requirements of independence established by Law and the By-laws. Moreover, each list must include candidates of different genders, including for individual independent candidates, according to what is stated in the Meeting call notice, so as to enable the Board of Directors to be comprised pursuant to the provisions of the By-laws regarding gender equality.
The ownership of the minimum share required to submit the lists referred to in this paragraph shall be determined with regard to the shares registered to the shareholder on the day when these lists are deposited at the company's headquarters. In order to prove ownership of the number of shares required to submit lists, members putting forward lists have to submit or send to the registered office a copy of the appropriate certificate issued by an authorised intermediary proving ownership of the number of shares required for the submission of the list at least twenty-one days before the Meeting called to approve the appointment of the members of the Board of Directors. Each list submitted must include: a) information regarding the shareholders who have presented the list and the percentage of shares held; b) the declarations in which each candidate accepts the nomination (in the case of candidates positioned at sequential number "1" on each list, they also accept applicants for Chair of the Board) and declare, under their own responsibility that there are no causes of ineligibility or incompatibility, and that the requirements of professionalism and integrity and any other requirement stipulated under current laws and these By-laws for undertaking the position are met; c) declarations of independence issued pursuant to the applicable legislative, regulatory and statutory provisions; as well as d) the CV of each candidate, containing extensive information of the individual's personal and professional characteristics, indicating the positions of administration and control covered.
The lists submitted which do not satisfy the provisions stated above shall be void.
Each shareholder has the right to vote for one list. Where a vote is made for several lists, the vote shall be deemed as not having been cast for any of them.
The election of the Board of Directors shall be made as follows:
a) all directors to be appointed, less one, are drawn from the list that obtains the majority of votes (majority list), in the progressive order in which they are listed on that same list, and in compliance with the minimum number of directors pursuant to art. 10.3 in possession of the independence requirements pursuant to art. 10.3 below; the candidate positioned at sequential number "1" is appointed Chair of the company's Board of Directors;
b) the last member of the Board of Directors is drawn from the minority list that gets the most votes after the list referred to in subparagraph a), which is not connected in any way, even indirectly, to that list and/or with the shareholders who submitted or voted for the majority list, on the basis of the progressive order of that list. That member must be in possession of the independence requirements pursuant to art. 10.3 below;
To this end, however, lists that do not obtain a percentage of votes equal to half of that required for the submission of lists, referred to in paragraph six of this subsection shall not be taken into account.
10.3 The Directors must meet the requirements of professionalism and integrity and any other requirement under the regulations in force and in these By-laws. In addition, a number of directors not less than that required by the regulations in force, with rounding up to the nearest whole in the case of a fractional number, must meet the independence requirements established in regulations in force from time to time, as well as the Code of Corporate Governance to which the Company adheres.
The loss of the requirements for the position will entail revocation, with it being specified that the loss of the independence requirements mentioned above in relation to a director, notwithstanding the obligation to immediately notify the Board of Directors, shall not lead to revocation if the requirements are met by the remaining minimum number of directors pursuant to these By-laws.
If the candidates elected in the manner described above do not ensure the appointment of a number of directors who meet the independence requirements provided for above equal to the minimum number established by law and these By-laws in relation to the total number of directors, the non-independent candidate elected last in sequential order in the majority list, will be replaced by the first independent candidate in sequential order not elected from the same list, or, failing that, by the first independent
candidate in sequential order not elected from the minority list. This substitution procedure will be followed until the number of independent directors to be appointed is met.
Without prejudice to compliance with the minimum number of directors in possession of the independent requirements as stipulated above, where the candidates elected in the manner indicated above in the composition of the Board of Directors do not ensure compliance with the provisions of the By-laws in relation to gender equality, the candidate of the gender most elected as last in sequential order in the majority list, shall be replaced by the first candidate of the gender least represented based on the nonelected sequential order of the same list, or, failing this, by the first candidate of the gender least represented on the basis of the non- elected sequential order of the minority list. This replacement procedure will be carried out unless the Board of Directors is compliant with the provisions of the Bylaws in respect of gender equality.
In the event of there being only one list that is presented and allowed, all the candidates on this list shall be elected, but ensuring the nomination of directors in possession of the independence requirements at least in the overall number required under current laws and these By-laws, and also in compliance with the provisions of the By-laws on gender equality. Where no list is submitted or allowed, the Meeting shall resolve according to the legal majority without observing the procedure referred to above. This is notwithstanding, however, different and other provisions provided under mandatory and statutory laws. In any event, there shall be compliance with the minimum number of independent directors and with the provisions of the By-laws on gender equality. For the appointment of Directors who for whatever reason are not nominated pursuant to the procedures given above, the Meeting shall resolve by legal majority voting so as to ensure that the composition of the Board of Directors is compliant to the law and to these By-laws, and also complies with the provisions of the By-laws in respect of gender equality.
10.4 The members of the Administrative Body shall remain in post for three years (expiring at the same time as the Meeting convened to approve the accounts relating to the last year of their post) or for a lesser period which may be fixed by the Meeting and the time of appointment. Directors may be reelected.
Where during the course of the period one or more directors are missing, provided that the majority remain comprised of directors appointed by the Meeting, the Board of Directors can arrange for their substitution through a resolution approved by the Board of Auditors in accordance with what is indicated below:
a) the Board of Directors shall arrange substitution using the persons belonging to the same list as the one to which the outgoing director belonged and the Meeting, pursuant to the first subsection of article 2386 of the Civil Code, resolves by legal majority voting in compliance with the same criterion;
b) where the list does not contain previously non-elected candidates or candidates with the necessary requirements, or else when for any reason it is not possible to comply with what is stipulated above under, the Board of Directors proceeds with substitution as subsequently approved by the Meeting, pursuant to the first subsection of article 2386 of the Italian Civil Code, with legal majority voting with the list vote.
In any case, the Board of Directors and the Meeting pursuant to the first subsection of article 2386 of the Civil Code shall appoint so as to ensure the presence of directors in possession of the requirements of independence stipulated in the previous subsection 10.3 at least in the overall minimum number required by current laws and these Articles and also in compliance with the provisions of the By-laws in respect of gender equality.
Pursuant to article 2386, subsection one of the Civil Code, directors appointed in this way shall remain in post until the next Meeting and those appointed by the Meeting shall remain in post for time that the directors they replaced would have remained in post.
10.5 If the majority of the members of the administrative body appointed by Meeting resolution ceases to hold office, the entire administrative body shall lapse from the time when the new body is appointed and the directors remaining in post shall urgently convene the Meeting for it to be fully re-appointed and they may in the meantime perform acts of ordinary administration.
10.6 The Chair of the Board of Directors is appointed by the Meeting in the manner pursuant to article 10.2 paragraph 11, letter a) of the By-laws. Where no lists are presented and allowed, the Chair of the Board of Directors is appointed by the Meeting pursuant to the legal majority and manner.
10.7 The Board of Directors appoints from among its members a CEO in accordance with what is stipulated under article 12.2 letter h). The Board of Directors has the option to attribute the position of general director to this same CEO. The position of general director can be exclusively attributed to the CEO.
The Board of Directors has the option to appoint a Deputy Chair, in accordance with the provisions of art. 12.2 letter g), which shall have the power, in the case of the absence or incapacity of the Chair, to chair the Shareholders' Meeting and the Board of Directors' meetings.
10.8 The Board of Directors may also delegate its own powers to an Executive Committee.
10.9 The Board of Directors also appoints a Secretary in the person of a director of senior manager or executive of the company or a substitute, or an external consultant.
10.10 The Board of Directors is subject to a process of self-assessment, according to the means and criteria stipulated under the regulations in force at the time.
11.1 The Board of Directors meets, either at the company's registered office, provided this is in Italy, a member State of the European Union or in Switzerland, whenever the Chair deems it necessary or when a request to do so is made by at least a third of its members or by the Board of Auditors or else individually by an Auditor.
11.2 The Board of Directors is convened by the Chair by means of a notice to be sent at least five days before the meeting to each of its members and to the statutory auditors, except in urgent cases. The notice may be drafted on any medium (hard or soft) and may be sent using any means of communication (including fax and e-mail) appropriate to guarantee proof of receipt thereof.
11.3 The Board of Directors is validly constituted and able to resolve where, in the absence of these formalities having been carried out (notwithstanding the right of each of the participants to object to the discussion of the issues about which they do not feel sufficiently informed), all the members of the Board itself and all the members of the Board of Auditors are in attendance.
11.4 The meetings of the Board of Directors, at the initiative of the Chair or CEO can be attended by managers of the company, or any other person that the Board of Directors wishes to invite to support its work on specific topics. The Secretary, or his substitute, takes the minutes of each meeting, which must be signed by the person chairing the meeting and by the secretary himself.
11.5 The meetings of the Board of Directors may also be held with participants being located in several places, contiguous or remote, with audio-visual connections (only audio connection is permitted when the participants are easy to recognise by the Chair of the Meeting), providing that the collegial method and principles of good faith and equal treatment of shareholders have been followed. In this case, it is necessary that:
a) the Chair of the Meeting is able to unequivocally ascertain the identity and legitimacy of the participants, manage the meeting and note and declare the results of the voting procedure;
b) the person taking the minutes is able to adequately follow the events of the Meeting;
c) the participants are able to simultaneously take part in the discussions and vote on the items on the agenda in real time;
d) where the Meeting is not in plenary session, the notice of call stipulates the audio-video conferencing procedures. In any event, at the discretion of the Chair, the notice of call may stipulate the audio/video location at which the participants must attend the meeting.
11.6 The Board of Directors meeting shall be deemed to be held in the place in which the Chair and the Secretary or the minute-taker are in attendance.
The meetings of the Board of Directors are presided over by the Chair or, in the case of his absence or incapacity, by the Deputy Chair or, in the case of his absence or incapacity, by the director longest in post or else by age.
11.7 The resolutions of the Board of Directors are taken by absolute majority voting of those present, except for the resolutions indicated in the last paragraph of article 12.2 below.
12.1 The administrative body performs all the operations necessary for the attainment of the corporate purpose and has full powers of company administration and the power to carry out all the actions deemed necessary or appropriate for attaining the company purposes and business management with the diligence required by the nature of the task.
12.2 In addition to those The resolutions listed below are reserved for the Board of Directors and cannot be delegated, within the exception of those, not included in this list, established by law and regulatory provisions which may be in force at the time, or by other statutory provisions are reserved for the Board of Directors and may not be delegated regarding:
a) the determination of the general guidelines relating to the company's development, the strategic operations, business and financial plans of the company, as well as the assessment of the general management performance;
b) the approval of the company structure and corporate governance, thereby guaranteeing a clear separation of tasks and functions as well as the prevention of conflicts of interest;
c) the approval of the accounting reporting systems;
d) the supervision of the public information and communication process;
e) the adoption of measures aimed at ensuring an efficient dialogue with the management function and with the managers of the main corporate functions, as well as gradual control of the choices and decisions these make;
f) the risk management policies, as well as, after the Board of Auditors has expressed its opinion, the assessment of the functionality, effectiveness, efficiency of the internal control system and adequacy of the organisational, administrative and accounting structure;
g) any appointment of Deputy Chair and its revocation, if appointed;
h) the appointment and dismissal of the CEO. Any appointment or dismissal, if appointed of the general director, which shall necessarily coincide with the CEO;
i) the assumption and transfer of strategic shareholdings;
j) the approval and modification of the main internal regulations;
k) the establishment, modification and removal of board committees;
l) the appointment, replacement and dismissal, after listening to the view of the Board of Auditors, of the managers of the internal review, risk management and compliance functions, of the manager tasked with drafting the accounting and corporate documents;
m) the determination of the criteria for the coordination and direction of the group's companies;
n) the sales and acquisition of treasury shares, in accordance with the resolution of authorisation by the Shareholders' Meeting and following authorisation from the Supervisory Authority;
o) the issue of convertible bonds for a maximum overall amount of 20,000,000 Euros within the maximum period permitted by law;
p) the establishment, closure and transfer of general offices or representative offices or subsidiaries;
q) the elaboration of the remuneration and incentives policies of the company and group, as well as the definition of the systems of remuneration and incentives for at least the following persons: (i) executive board members; (ii) general director where nominated; (iii) managers of the main lines of business, company functions or geographic areas; (iv) those who report directly to the bodies with corporate functions of strategic supervision, management and control;
r) the remuneration of the CEO (and of the general director, if nominated) and of any other director responsible for specific tasks, in compliance with the applicable regulations in terms of remuneration and the company's policies of remuneration and incentives;
s) the approval of the annual budget;
t) the attribution, modification and removal of the powers delegated to the Executive Committee and to the CEO;
u) the adoption of the company's development policies which are necessary in order to determine the long- term business plan and the budget for the period;
w) the resolutions of the items delegated to the Executive Committee and to the CEO beyond the limits laid down for them;
x) the delegation of the powers to other directors and power to modify, add and exclude these delegated powers;
y) the execution of instructions issued by the Bank of Italy.
12.3 The following powers are also allocated to the Board of directors:
a) merger pursuant to the cases provided under articles 2502 and 2505-bis of the Italian Civil Code and de- merger in the cases in which these rules apply;
b) the reduction of the capital in the event of the withdrawal of one or more shareholders;
c) the adjustments of the Articles to legal provisions;
12.4 For the performance of certain categories of acts or on individual business, the Board of Directors may confer a proxy on individual directors, determining the content, limits and possible means of exercising the proxy.
In any event, the appointment of the person delegated to vote for the company at the meetings of subsidiaries, such as the conferring of related instructions, must always be resolved by the Board of Directors.
13.1 The Board of Directors can appoint, from within its number, an Executive Committee and determine its duration, powers, attributions and means of functioning.
13.2 The Executive Committee is comprised of three board members. In any event, at least one third of the members of the Executive Committee must be of the least represented gender. The CEO is part of the Executive Committee. The Chair may not be a member of the Executive Committee, but can take part in its meetings but with any voting rights.
13.3 The Executive Committee shall remain in post for the period determined by the Board of Directors which determines its powers and attributions and may, fully or in part, dismiss the related members. The period in which the Executive Committee remains in service may not exceed that of the directors which comprise it.
13.4 The Executive Committee is chaired by the CEO; where he is absent or missing the related functions, including the power to propose the resolutions to be adopted, is incumbent upon the most senior members in terms of age.
13.5 At the invitation of the CEO, the meetings of the Executive Committee can be attended by managers of the company, or any other person that the Executive Committee wishes to invite to support its work on specific issues.
13.6 The role of the Secretary of the Executive Committee shall be fulfilled by the person nominated for this purpose at the suggestion of the person chairing the meeting.
13.7 The Executive Committee, which meets monthly, is convened by the CEO by means of a notice of call to be sent at least two days prior to the meeting to each member and to the statutory auditors. The notice may be drafted on any medium (hard or soft) and may be sent using any means of communication (including fax and e-mail) appropriate to guarantee proof of receipt thereof.
13.8 In order for the resolutions of the Executive Committee to be valid it is necessary that at least two directors vote in favour.
13.9 he resolutions made by the Executive Committee are minuted and signed by the Chair and Secretary of the meeting.
13.10 The meetings of the Executive Committee can be held using appropriate audio-visual conferencing systems, with the same rules and in the same way as stipulated for the meetings of the Board of Directors.
17.1 The Meeting appoints three statutory auditors and two alternates who remain in post for three financial years, can be re-elected and whose function ceases on the date of the Meeting convened to approve the financial accounts for the third financial year of their office.
In accordance with the need to ensure an adequate degree of diversification in the composition of the Board, in terms of skills, experience, age, international profile and gender, at least one of the standing auditors and one of the alternates (or the higher number prescribed by regulations in force from time to time) of the Board of Auditors must be of the least represented gender.
Auditors cease to hold office upon the expiry of the term stipulated at the time the Board was established. Legal rules and these By-laws apply in respect of the appointment, dismissal and replacement of board members.
17.2 Board members must be in possession of the requirements of professionalism, integrity and independence prescribed under regulations in force at the time, including those indicated in the Decree of the Ministry of Justice no 162 dated 30 March 2000, as well as those envisaged by the Code of Conduct for Listed Companies to which the Company has adhered. Pursuant to the provisions of article 1, subsection 2, letter b) and c) of this Decree, issues inherent to the financial, credit and insurance sectors shall be considered to be strictly relating to the Company's scope of activities. Auditors can undertake tasks for members of bodies of administration and control in other companies within the constraints laid down by applicable provisions.
17.3 Other than those stipulated by law, it shall be deemed to be a cause of ineligibility or invalidity to be linked to the company through a full-time employment contract or by any other contract to supply goods and/or services, to be a member of administrative bodies of other banks or other companies performing activities in competition with those of the company, or to be linked to these by a full-time contract of employment.
17.4 Auditors may not assume tasks other than those of control at other companies belonging to the group or to the financial conglomerate, nor to companies in which the company, including indirectly, holds a strategic stake.
17.5 In order to ensure the election of a statutory and alternate auditor for minority shareholders, the appointment of the Board of Auditors comes about on the basis of lists presented by shareholders in which the candidates are listed in sequential order. The list is comprised of two sections: one for candidates for the position of statutory auditor, the other for candidates to the post of alternate auditor. Lists which have a number of candidates equal to or greater than three must also include candidates of a different gender, in accordance with what is stated in the Meeting call of notice, so as to allow the Meeting to be set up in accordance with the provisions of the By-laws regarding gender equality.
Only those shareholders with voting rights who, separately or together with other shareholders, are holders of shares representing at least the percentage of share capital established by Consob (National Regulatory Body for Italian Companies and the Stock Exchange) are entitled to submit lists.
The percentage shareholding required to submit lists of candidates for the appointment of the Board of Auditors is specified in the notice of call of the Shareholders' Meeting called to resolve on the appointment of the said body.
The holding of this minimum share necessary to submit lists is determined having regard to the shares which are registered to the shareholder on the day in which these lists are submitted to the company's head office. In order to prove the holding of the number of shares required to present lists, shareholders who present or are involved in submitting lists, must submit to deliver to the registered office a copy of the appropriate certificate issued by an authorised intermediary pursuant to law, issued within the period laid down for the publication of the lists. Each shareholder, including shareholders belonging to the same group, member of a shareholders' agreement pursuant to article 122 of legislative decree no 58 dated 24 February 1998, parent companies, subsidiaries and those subject to joint control pursuant to article 93 of legislative decree no 58 dated 24 February 1998, may not submit or be involved in the submission, either by proxy of trust company, in more than one list and may not vote on lists other than the one presented and any candidate can only appear in a single list under pain of being declared ineligible. For the purposes of the preceding paragraph, entities, even those with a corporate status, which exercise direct or indirect control pursuant to Article 93 of Legislative Decree 24 February 1998 n. 58 over the shareholder in question and all the companies controlled directly or indirectly by this entity are deemed to belong to the same group.
In the event of any breach of these provisions, regard shall not be had, pursuant to the application of what is set out in this article, of the position of the shareholder in question in relation of none of the lists. Notwithstanding the incompatibilities provided by law, candidates acting as auditors in another 5 (five) issuers or else in violation of the limits on the cumulation of positions possible set out under applicable legal or statutory provisions may not be included in the lists. Outgoing auditors may be re-elected. The lists must be sent to the company's head office at least 25 (twenty-five) days prior to the one planned for the Meeting called upon to resolve on the appointment of the control body and be made available to the public at the registered office, on the Company's internet site and with the other means stipulated under applicable legal and regulatory provisions at least 21 (twenty-one) days prior to the one fixed for the Meeting. This shall be mentioned in the notice of call. Where only one list has been submitted within this period of 25 (twenty-five) days, i.e. only lists have been presented by inter-related shareholders pursuant to current legislative and statutory provisions, lists may be submitted up to the third day subsequent to this date, unless a different period is stipulated under applicable legal and statutory provisions. In this case, shareholders who individually or jointly are owners of shares representing half of the capital threshold previously identified shall be entitled to submit lists.
Together with each list, within the periods indicated above, the following information must be submitted: i) the information relating to the shareholders who have submitted the list and the shareholding percentage held; ii) the declarations by which the individual candidates accept the application and solemnly swear that there are no grounds for ineligibility or incompatibility, also with reference to the limit of the cumulation of positions, or the requirements legally and statutorily prescribed for the respective tasks; iii) a declaration by the shareholders other than those holding, including jointly, a relative controlling or majority shareholder, attesting to the absence of ties with the latter stipulated under applicable laws, as well as (iv) the CV of each candidate, containing extensive information on the personal and professional characteristics of each candidate and indication any management and control tasks covered in other companies.
The lists submitted which do not satisfy the provisions stated above shall be void.
Auditors are elected as follows:
a) from the list of those obtaining the highest number of votes, based on the sequential order in which they are listed in the sections of the list, two statutory and one alternate auditors are selected;
b) the remaining member of the statutory auditor and the other alternate auditor are selected, based on the sequential order in which they are listed in the sections of the lists, from the second list obtaining the highest number of votes at the Meeting and which is not in any way corrected, not even indirectly, with the list mentioned under paragraph a) and/or with the shareholders who have submitted or voted the majority list;
c) where the votes between the lists are tied, the one presented by shareholders in possession of the higher share, or else the highest number of shareholders shall prevail;
d) where the Board of Auditors thus constituted does not ensure compliance with the provisions of the By-laws in respect of gender equality, the last candidate elected from the majority list shall be replaced by the first candidate not elected from the same list belonging to the least represented gender or, failing this, by the first candidate not elected from the successive lists. Where this is not possible, the statutory member of the least represented gender is appointed by the Meeting with legal majority voting, to replace the last candidate from the majority list;
e) where a single list or no list is presented, all the candidates for the positions indicated in the list or else those voted by the Meeting shall be elected the statutory and alternate auditors, provided that these achieve the majority of votes expressed at the Meeting. This is notwithstanding compliance with the provisions of the By-laws in respect of gender equality.
The chairmanship of the Board of Auditors is assumed by the first candidate on the second list who has obtained the most votes, if presented and allowed.
Where the legal and statutory requirements are not met, the auditor shall lose office.
Where an auditor is replaced, the alternate auditor belonging to the one outgoing shall take over. If the substitution does not allow compliance with the provisions of the By-laws on gender equality, the Meeting must be convened as soon as possible in order to ensure compliance with these provisions.
When the Meeting is to appoint statutory and/or alternate auditors needed to make up the Board of Auditors, it shall proceed as follows: when it is to replace the auditors elected in the majority list, the appointment comes about on the basis of majority voting without any constraints from lists; when, on the other hand, auditors elected from the minority list are to be replaced, the Meeting replaces them by majority voting, choosing from the candidates indicated in the list to which the auditor to be replaced belongs, or in the minority list which won the second highest number of votes. Where the application for these procedures does not, for any reason, allow the replacement of the auditors designated by the minority shareholders, the Meeting shall proceed on the basis of majority voting; however, in the ascertaining of the results of this latter vote, the votes from shareholders who, according to the communication given pursuant to current rules, hold, including indirectly or even jointly with other shareholders belonging to a relevant shareholders' agreement pursuant to article 122 of legislative decree no 58 dated 24 February 1998, the majority of votes to be exercised at the Meeting, as well as shareholders who control, are controlled or are subject to joint control, shall not be calculated. The new appointments will cease together with those in post. In any event, the obligation to comply with the provisions of the By-laws in terms of gender equality shall remain firm.
The ordinary Meeting sets the annual payment due to each auditor pursuant to the regulations currently in force. Auditors shall also be reimbursed, on a lump-sum basis for the expenses incurred in their work. 17.6 Auditors shall not be paid any fee based on the financial instruments and linked to the financial management results.
17.7 The Board of Auditors, in performing all the functions demanded of it in compliance with the related rules provided by law and regulations in force, monitors:
a) compliance with the laws, regulations and By-laws;
b) compliance with the principles of proper administration;
c) the suitability of the organisational, administrative and accounting structure adopted by the company and its concrete functioning;
d) the suitability and functionality of the internal auditing system with particular regard to risk management;
e) the other actions and facts specified by law and regulations;
The Board of Auditors checks and investigates causes and remedies for management irregularities, performance anomalies, gaps in the organisational and accounting structure, and places particular attention to compliance with the regulations concerning conflicts of interest.
17.8 The Board of Directors particularly ascertains that there is adequate coordination between all the functions and structures involved in the system of internal controls, including the audit company tasked with the legal auditing of the accounts, by promoting, where appropriate, adequate corrective measures. 17.9 Pursuant to what is stated under article 17.8 above: a) the managers of the internal audit, risk management and compliance departments sent their respective reports to the Board of Auditors. b) the Board of Auditors, and the auditing company constantly exchange data and relevant information in order to complete the related tasks.
17.10 The Board of Auditors periodically checks its own adequacy in terms of powers, functioning and composition, taking account of the size, complexity and activities carried out by the company.
17.11 Auditors can call upon, in carrying out the necessary checks and investigations, the structures and functions responsible for internet control, and also at any time carry out, including individually, inspections and audits.
17.12 The Board of Directors can ask the directors and all the internal control structures for news, including with reference to subsidiaries, on the performance of the business operations and on particular business. It may exchange information with the corresponding bodies of the subsidiaries in relation to the systems of administration and control and on the general progress of the business activity.
17.13 In order to correctly carry out its duties, and particularly the obligation to promptly report to the Bank of Italy any facts or acts it becomes aware of that constitute an irregularity or a breach of the provisions of law governing the banking business, and, more generally, where provided, to report to other Supervisory Authorities in relation to management irregularities or legal breaches, the Board of Auditors is vested with the broadest powers set down by legal and statutory provisions.
17.14 The Board of Auditors, which must meet at least every ninety days, is convened by the Chair of the Board of Auditors by means of a notice to be sent at least eight days before the meeting to each Auditor and, in the event of an emergency, at least three days in advance. The notice can be drafted on any medium (hard or soft copy) and may be sent using any means of communication (including fax and e-mail).
The Board of Auditors is also validly constituted and able to take decisions when, in the absence of the above formalities being carried out, all the members of the Board are in attendance.
17.15 The meetings of the Board of Auditors can also meet with participants located in different places, provided that the collegial method and principles of good faith and equal treatment between participants is respected. In this case, it is necessary that:
a) the Chair of the Meeting is able to unequivocally ascertain the identity and legitimacy of the participants, manage the meeting and note and declare the results of the voting procedure;
b) the minute-taker is able to adequately follow the events of the Meeting;
c) the participants are able to exchange documentation and also take part in the discussions and vote on on the agenda items in real time;
17.16 The Board of Auditors is subject to a periodic process of self-assessment, based on the criteria and means set out in the regulations that are applicable at the time.
19.1 The company is represented to third parties and in law and the company signature, with all related powers, are incumbent upon the Chair of the Board of Directors and on the CEO, within the limited of the powers delegated. These have the power to represent the company in legal proceedings and before any judicial or administrative authority, and also to confer powers of attorney, including in general.
19.2 Where the Chair of the Board and the CEO are absent or incapacitated, the company is represented by the most senior board member in terms of age.
19.3 The Board of Directors, the Executive Committee and the CEO may, within the limits to the delegated powers, for individual acts or categories or acts, delegate powers of representation, with the related power to sign on behalf of the company, to employees but also to external persons, normally jointly or, for those categories of operations thus determined, also individually.
25.1 The amendments to these By-laws, as approved by the extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting on [•], shall be effective as of the date of approval subsequent to the fulfilment of the authorisation and publication requirements established by law, save as provided by art. 25.2 below.
25.2 The amendments to art. 10 of these By-laws, as approved by the extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting on [•], shall be effective as of the date of publication of the notice of call to the Shareholders' Meeting called to resolve on the first renewal of the Board of Directors after the date of that resolution.
25.3 The version of art. 10-bis transcribed below shall apply on a transitional basis up to the date of entry into force of art. 25.2 above.
10.1 The company is managed by a Board of Directors appointed by the Meeting and comprised of 9 members which:
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a) bring to the company the specific skills they possess;
b) know the tasks and responsibilities of the role and are in possession of the requirements requested by law and regulations in force at the time;
c) act and resolve with full knowledge of the facts and autonomously in pursuit of the aim to create value for shareholders;
d) only accept the position when they believe they are able to dedicate the time needed to diligently carry out their tasks, also being mindful of the number of positions of director of auditor they have in other companies or bodies;
e) keep the information acquired as a result of the office held as confidential.
10.2 The current laws and provisions of these By-laws apply to the appointment, dismissal and replacement of members of the Board of Directors
In order to appoint or co-opt directors, the Board of Directors initially identifies the qualitative and quantitative composition deemed optimal in relation to the aims to be pursued, by identifying and justifying the theoretical profile of the candidates considered appropriate to these ends. The results of this analysis must be shown in the notice of call of the Meeting convened to appoint directors so that shareholders, in choosing candidates, can take into account the professional skills required. This is notwithstanding the possibility for shareholders to make their own assessments on the optimal composition of the Board of Directors and to bring forward candidates commensurate with these, explaining any differences with regard to the analysis carried out by the Board. Subsequently, the Board of Directors checks the compliance between the qualitative and quantitative composition deemed optimal and the one actually resulting from the appointments process.
The Members of the Board of Directors are elected using the list system in which a minimum of three and maximum of nine candidates must be listed in sequential order. The candidate at sequential number "1" of each list shall also be the candidate appointed as chair of the Board of Directors.
Any shareholder, as well as shareholders belonging to the same group, members of a shareholders' agreement pursuant to article 122 of legislative decree no 58 dated 24 February, the entity controlling it, the entity by which it is controlled and the entity subject to joint control pursuant to article 93 of legislative decree no 58 dated 24 February 1998, may not be present or be involved in the presentation, either by proxy of trust company, in more than one list and may not vote on lists other than the one presented. Where the competition, either directly or indirectly, indicates applicants present in more than one list, these lists shall be deemed to have not been submitted.
For the purposes of the preceding paragraph, entities, even those with a corporate status, which exercise direct or indirect control pursuant to Article 93 of Legislative Decree 24 February 1998 n. 58 over the shareholder in question and all the companies controlled directly or indirectly by this entity are deemed to belong to the same group.
Each candidate may appear in one list, under pain of ineligibility.
Only those shareholders who, together or separately, are holders of shares representing at least 2.5% (two point five percent) - or any other lower percentage established by the legislation currently in force are entitled to submit lists - of the capital entitled to vote on Meeting resolutions that relate to the appointment of members of the Board.
The lists must be sent to the company's head office and to the management company at least 25 (twentyfive) days prior to the one planned for the Meeting called to resolve on the appointment of the
administrative body and be made available to the public at the registered office, the market management company, the Company's internet site and with the other means stipulated under applicable legal and regulatory provisions at least 21 (twenty-one) days prior to the one fixed for the Meeting in the first call. The lists indicate which directors are in possession of the requirements of independence stipulated by law and these By-laws. Each list must contain at least three candidates, of which at least two are in possession of the requirements of independence established by Law and the By-laws. Moreover, each list must include candidates of different genders, including for individual independent candidates, according to what is stated in the Meeting call notice, so as to enable the Board of Directors to be comprised pursuant to current regulations regarding gender equality.
The ownership of the minimum share required to submit the lists referred to in this paragraph shall be determined with regard to the shares registered to the shareholder on the day when these lists are deposited at the company's headquarters. In order to prove ownership of the number of shares required to submit lists, members putting forward lists have to submit or send to the registered office a copy of the appropriate certificate issued by an authorised intermediary proving ownership of the number of shares required for the submission of the list at least twenty-one days before the Meeting called to approve the appointment of the members of the Board of Directors. Each list submitted must include: a) information regarding the shareholders who have presented the list and the percentage of shares held; b) the declarations in which each candidate accepts the nomination (in the case of candidates positioned at sequential number "1" on each list, they also accept applicants for Chair of the Board) and declare, under their own responsibility that there are no causes of ineligibility or incompatibility, and that the requirements of professionalism and integrity and any other requirement stipulated under current laws and these By-laws for undertaking the position are met; c) declarations of independence issued pursuant to the applicable legislative, regulatory and statutory provisions; as well as d) the CV of each candidate, containing extensive information of the individual's personal and professional characteristics, indicating for which theoretical profile he/she is suitable and the positions of administration and control covered. The lists submitted which do not satisfy the provisions stated above shall be void.
Each shareholder has the right to vote for one list. Where a vote is made for several lists, the vote shall be deemed as not having been cast for any of them.
The election of the Board of Directors shall be made as follows:
a) from the list that obtains the majority of votes (majority list) a number of directors equal to six are elected, of which at least one is in possession of the independence requirements pursuant to art. 10.3; candidates are elected on the basis of the progressive order shown by the list; the candidate positioned at sequential number "1" is appointed Chair of the Company's Board of Directors;
b) two directors, of which at least one in possession of the independence requirements pursuant to art. 10.3 will be taken from the list, if any, that gets the most votes after the list referred to in subparagraph a), which is not connected in any way, even indirectly, to that list and / or with the shareholders who submitted or voted for the majority list; are elected in those limits candidates in a progressive order in the list;
c) a director in possession of the independence requirements pursuant to art. 10.3 will be taken from the list, if any, which receives the highest number of votes after the list in b), which is not connected in any way, even indirectly, with previous lists and / or the shareholders who presented or voted on the previous lists; is the first candidate in the sequential order of the list in the possession of the independence requirements pursuant to art. 10.3. In the event that only two lists have been submitted and allowed, the remaining independent director will be chosen from the list referred to in point b).
To this end, however, lists that do not obtain a percentage of votes equal to half of that required for the submission of lists, referred to in paragraph six of this subsection shall not be taken into account.
10.3 The Directors must meet the requirements of professionalism and integrity and any other requirement under the regulations in force and in these By-laws. In addition, at least three directors, and in any event a number of directors not less than that required by the regulations in force, must meet the independence requirements of art. 148, paragraph three, of Legislative Decree no 58 dated 24 February 1998, as well as the Code of Corporate Governance to which the Company adheres.
The loss of the requirements for the position will entail revocation, with it being specified that the loss of the independence requirements mentioned above in relation to a director, notwithstanding the obligation to immediately notify the Board of Directors, shall not lead to revocation if the requirements are met by the remaining minimum number of directors pursuant to these By-laws.
If the candidates elected in the manner described above do not ensure the appointment of a number of directors who meet the independence requirements provided for above equal to the minimum number
established by law and these By-laws in relation to the total number of directors, the non-independent candidate elected last in sequential order in the list that received the highest number of votes referred to in subparagraph a) of paragraph 10.2, paragraph eleven paragraph, will be replaced by the first independent candidate in sequential order not elected from the same list, or, failing that, by the first independent candidate in sequential order not elected from other lists, according to the number of votes obtained by each. This substitution procedure will be followed until the number of independent directors to be appointed is met.
Without prejudice to compliance with the minimum number of directors in possession of the independent requirements as stipulated above, where the candidates elected in the manner indicated above in the composition of the Board of Directors do not ensure compliance with the regulations in force in relation to gender equality, the candidate of the gender most elected as last in sequential order in the least who has secured the highest number of votes pursuant to letter a) of subsection 10.2, paragraph eleven, shall be replaced by the first candidate of the gender least represented based on the non-elected sequential order of the same list, or, failing this, by the first candidate of the gender least represented on the basis of the non- elected sequential order of the other lists, according to the number of votes obtained by each. This replacement procedure will be carried out unless the Board of Directors is compliant with the current regulations in respect of gender equality.
In the event of there being only one list that is presented and allowed, all the candidates on this list shall be elected, but ensuring the nomination of directors in possession of the independence requirements at least in the overall number required under current laws and these By-laws, and also in compliance with current laws on gender equality. Where no list is submitted or allowed, the Meeting shall resolve according to the legal majority without observing the procedure referred to above. This is notwithstanding, however, different and other provisions provided under mandatory and statutory laws. In any event, there shall be compliance with the minimum number of independent directors and the current laws on gender equality. For the appointment of Directors who for whatever reason are not nominated pursuant to the procedures given above, the Meeting shall resolve by legal majority voting so as to ensure that the composition of the Board of Directors is compliant to the law and to these Bylaws, and also complies with current laws in respect of gender equality.
10.4 The members of the Administrative Body shall remain in post for three years (expiring at the same time as the Meeting convened to approve the accounts relating to the last year of their post) or for a lesser period which may be fixed by the Meeting and the time of appointment. Directors may be reelected.
Where during the course of the period one or more directors are missing, provided that the majority remain comprised of directors appointed by the Meeting, the Board of Directors can arrange for their substitution through a resolution approved by the Board of Auditors in accordance with what is indicated below:
a) the Board of Directors shall arrange substitution using the persons belonging to the same list as the one to which the outgoing director belonged and the Meeting, pursuant to the first subsection of article 2386 of the Civil Code, resolves by legal majority voting in compliance with the same criterion;
b) where the list does not contain previously non-elected candidates or candidates with the necessary requirements, or else when for any reason it is not possible to comply with what is stipulated above under, the Board of Directors proceeds with substitution as subsequently approved by the Meeting, pursuant to the first subsection of article 2386 of the Italian Civil Code, with legal majority voting with the list vote.
In any case, the Board of Directors and the Meeting pursuant to the first subsection of article 2386 of the Civil Code shall appoint so as to ensure the presence of directors in possession of the requirements of independence stipulated in the previous subsection 10.3 at least in the overall minimum number required by current laws and these Articles and also in compliance with current laws in respect of gender equality.
Pursuant to article 2386, subsection one of the Civil Code, directors appointed in this way shall remain in post until the next Meeting and those appointed by the Meeting shall remain in post for time that the directors they replaced would have remained in post.
10.5 If the majority of the members of the administrative body appointed by Meeting resolution ceases to hold office, the entire administrative body shall lapse from the time when the new body is appointed and the directors remaining in post shall urgently convene the Meeting for it to be fully re-appointed and they may in the meantime perform acts of ordinary administration.
10.6 The Chair of the Board of Directors is appointed by the Meeting in the manner pursuant to article 10.2 paragraph 11, letter a) of the By-laws. Where no lists are presented and allowed, the Chair of the Board of Directors is appointed by the Meeting pursuant to the legal majority and manner.
10.7 The Board of Directors appoints from among its members a CEO in accordance with what is stipulated under article 12.2 letter h). The Board of Directors has the option to attribute the position of general director to this same CEO. The position of general director can be exclusively attributed to the CEO.
The Board of Directors has the option to appoint a Deputy Chair, in accordance with the provisions of art. 12.2 letter g), which shall have the power, in the case of the absence or incapacity of the Chair, to chair the Shareholders' Meeting and the Board of Directors' meetings.
10.8 The Board of Directors may also delegate its own powers to an Executive Committee.
10.9 The non-executive members of the Board of Directors bring their own specific skills to the board discussions and contribute to the taking of decisions. They are called upon to perform an important dialectical function and to monitor the choices made by the executive members. The non-executive members shall acquire, also through the use of internal committees, information on the management and organisation of the company, internal audit and other control functions. The non-executive members must in any case be actively involved in the tasks entrusted to them, also as far as time availability is concerned and take part in the processes of appointing and dismissing internal audit and risk management managers. They diligently perform any other activity incumbent upon them pursuant to legal and regulatory provisions that may be in force.
10.10 The Board of Directors also appoints a Secretary in the person of a director of senior manager or executive of the company or a substitute, or an external consultant.
10.11 The Board of Directors is subject to a process of self-assessment, according to the means and criteria stipulated under the regulations in force at the time.
• to grant the Chair and the CEO, also separately, the powers necessary to: (i) accept or make any changes or additions (provided that such changes do not modify the essential substance of the resolutions) that may be required for the resolutions to be filed at the Companies' Register; (ii) file and register these, pursuant to laws in force, with explicit advance approval and ratification of the resolutions adopted and the text of the By-laws, as amended above.
Milan, 1 April 2020
On behalf of the Board of Directors Ms. Luitgard Spögler Chair of the Board of Directors
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