Share Issue/Capital Change • Apr 4, 2025
Share Issue/Capital Change
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Public limited liability company (société anonyme) 37 Square de Meeûs, 4th floor, 1000 Brussels, Belgium 0699.936.657 (RLE Brussels, French-speaking division): (the Company)
The special report (the Report) has been drawn up by the board of directors of the Company (the Board of Directors) in accordance with article 7:199 of the Belgian Code on Companies and Associations (the BCCA).
Article 7:199 of the BCCA stipulates that, when the general meeting of a company decides to grant its board of directors the authorisation to increase, in one or more instances, the company's capital up to a determined amount in accordance with article 7:198 of the BCCA, the specific circumstances under which such authorization may be used and the objectives pursued via the authorization must be set out in a special report.
The present Report hence addresses in particular (i) the specific circumstances under which the Board of Directors will be able to use the Authorisation (as defined below), and (ii) which objectives the Board of Directors will pursue through its use of the Authorisation (as defined below).
The Board of Directors requests the renewal of its authority to increase the share capital of the Company, in one or several instances, by a (cumulated) maximum amount of EUR 959,347,807.86 (the Authorisation). The Board of Directors proposes to the general meeting to grant such Authorisation for a period of five years from the date of publication of the amendment of the articles of association of the Company in the Belgian Official Gazette. The modalities of the Authorisation, and the circumstances in which it can be used will be set out further in this Report.
The Board of Directors proposes that it is allowed to make use of the Authorisation under the following circumstances:
Under the Authorisation, the Board of Directors will be authorised to increase the share capital of the Company, in one or several instances, by a (cumulated) maximum amount of EUR 959,347,807.86, for a period of five years from the date of publication of the amendment of the articles of association of the Company in the Belgian Official Gazette.

Under the Authorisation, the Board of Directors will be additionally authorised to issue, in one or more instances, convertible bonds and/or subscription rights.
Concerning the issuance of convertible bonds or subscription rights, the determined amount up to which the Board of Directors may make use of the Auhtorisation will be calculated on the basis of the capital increases which may result from the conversion of these bonds and/or the exercise of these subscription rights.
As set out in article 7:201, 1° of the BCCA, the Board of Directors will not be authorized to issue subscription rights which are primarily reserved to one or more determined persons, other than the staff (personnel) of the Company or its subsidiaries.
Under the Authorisation, acting in the best interest of the Company and provided that the requirements set out in articles 7:191 and 7:193 of the BCCA are met, the Board of Directors may also carry out the following operations:
Under the Authorisation, the Board of Directors may also increase the Company's capital through the incorporation of reserves, including revaluation reserves, with or without the issuance of new shares (as set out under article 7:200, 3° of the BCCA).
Under the Authorisation, the Board of Directors is allowed to increase the Company's capital both through contributions in cash as well as in kind.
However, with regard to contributions in kind, the Board of Directors shall not be able to effectuate a capital increase to be carried out primarily through contributions in kind exclusively reserved to a shareholder of the Company who holds securities in the Company to which more than 10% of the voting rights are attached (as set out under article 7:201, 3° of the BCCA).
Under the Authorisation, the Board of Directors will be allowed to request an issue premium.
Under the Authorisation, the Board of Directors will be allowed to increase the Company's share capital through the issuance of new shares below the par value of the Company's shares.

With regard to capital increases in the event of a public takeover bid offer, as referred to in article 7:202 of the BCCA, the Authorisation is only valid for a period of three years as from the date of the general meeting granting the authorisation.
The Board of Directors proposes to be allowed to use the Authorisation in pursuit of the following objectives:
In each of the above scenarios, the Board of Directors will assess whether or not the use of the Authorisation serves the Company's best interests.
The Board of Directors proposes to be authorized to amend the Company's articles of association in accordance with and in order to reflect any capital increase that was decided upon within the framework of this Authorisation.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company:
_____________________________
Name: Michael Colakides Title: Managing Director and special proxyholder
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