Telecom Italia- agreements
Telefonica SA
08 May 2007
As provided in article 82 of the Spanish Stock Market Act (Ley del Mercado de
Valores), TELEFONICA, S.A. hereby reports the following
NOTICE
Further to the information filed on April 28th and May 2nd, 2007 with respect to
TELEFONICA's investment in TELECOM ITALIA, it is hereby enclosed copy of the
agreements related to this transaction that have been filed by ASSICURAZIONI
GENERALI and MEDIOBANCA with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the
US stock market regulator, on Form 13D ('Schedule 13D to report the acquisition
of beneficial ownership of 5% or more of a class of equity securities').
Madrid, May 7th, 2007
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CO-INVESTMENT AGREEMENT
This agreement (the 'Co-investment Agreement') is entered into on 28 April, 2007
BY AND BETWEEN
• TELEFONICA S.A., a Spanish company with registered office at 28013,
Madrid, Gran Via n. 28, Spain ('TE');
• ASSICURAZIONI GENERALI S.p.A., an Italian company with registered
office at Piazza Duca degli Abruzzi n. 2, Trieste, Italy ('AG');
• SINTONIA S.A., a Luxembourg company with registered office at 1, Place
d'Armes, L-1136 Luxembourg ('SI');
• INTESA SANPAOLO S.p.A., an Italian company with registered office at
Piazza San Carlo n. 156, Torino, Italy ('IS');
• MEDIOBANCA S.p.A., an Italian company with registered office at
Piazzetta Cuccia n. 1, Milano, Italy ('MB');
(collectively the 'Parties' and each, individually, a 'Party')
WHEREAS
1. With the execution of this Co-investment Agreement the Parties wish to
establish the terms and conditions for (i) their participation into Centotrenta
4/6 S.r.l., an Italian company with registered office at Galleria del Corso 2,
Milan, Italy, fiscal code n. 05277610969 to be subsequently transformed and
renamed 'Telco S.p.A.', an Italian joint stock corporation ('Telco' or 'Newco'),
and (ii) the presentation by the Parties, also on behalf of Newco, of an offer
(the 'Offer') for the acquisition by Newco from Pirelli & C. S.p.A. ('PC') and
Sintonia S.p.A. and Sintonia S.A. (together 'Sintonia') (the 'Acquisition') of
100% of the share capital of a holding company named Olimpia S.p.A. ('O' and
such shares, the 'Olimpia Shares'), which in turn holds a stake of 17.99% of the
ordinary share capital of Telecom Italia S.p.A. ('TI').
2. AG and MB are already shareholders of TI in which they respectively hold (i)
as regards AG, approximately No. 543,40 million ordinary shares equal to 4.06%
of TI's ordinary share capital; and (ii) as regards MB, approximately No. 206,46
million ordinary shares equal to 1.54% of TI's ordinary share capital.
3. On 18 October 2006, AG and MB executed together with PC, SI and O a
shareholders' agreement (the 'Current Shareholders' Agreement'), attached hereto
as Annex A, which, upon the sale by PC and SI of the Olimpia Shares shall cease
to have any effect.
4. Therefore, subject to PC and SI deciding to accept the Offer, the Parties
wish to fund and to manage Newco in accordance with the terms and conditions of
this Co-investment Agreement, the Shareholders' Agreement (as defined below) and
relevant attachments.
5. A fundamental assumption of this Co-investment Agreement is that the TI and
TE groups will be managed autonomously and independently, without prejudice
however to the Parties' rights and prerogatives resulting from this
Co-investment Agreement and the Shareholders' Agreement.
Now, therefore, in consideration of the foregoing, the Parties hereby,
AGREE AND COVENANT
as follows.
1. Telco
The Parties acknowledge and agree that (i) Newco is currently a dormant company
named Centrotrenta 4/6 S.r.l., having the by-laws attached hereto as Annex B,
(ii) the Parties will acquire the entire share capital of Newco currently equal
to Euro 10.000,00 , (iii) Newco, which is currently incorporated in the form of
a societa a responsabilita limitata, shall be transformed into a societa per
azioni, (iv) Newco shall adopt the new by-laws attached hereto as Annex C (the
'Newco's By-Laws'), which, to the maximum possible extent, contains the
principles of governance of Newco, while the remaining agreements among the
shareholders as to the governance of Newco and O (which it has not been possible
to insert in the Newco's By-Laws) are contained in the shareholders' agreement
attached as Annex D to this Co-Investment Agreement (the 'Shareholders'
Agreement').
2. Offer
The Parties agree that the Offer shall be submitted to PC and Sintonia in the
text attached hereto as Annex E.
The Parties hereby agree that (a) if the acceptance of the Offer by PC and
Sintonia (the 'Acceptance') were not received by the Parties within the relevant
acceptance period indicated in the Offer, or (b) one or more of the Parties'
competent corporate body were not to approve the Acquisition within the 20
Business Days period indicated in the Offer, unless the other Parties agree to
proceed with the Acquisition and they agree to the adjustments to be done in the
relevant documents, or (c) one or more of the necessary anti-trust or other
regulatory approvals indicated in the Offer were not obtained as indicated in
the Offer, then the Parties would carry out - and hereby undertake to do so -
all the activities necessary and required to unwind the actions and transactions
already executed or put in place on the basis of this Co-investment Agreement.
The Parties agree that as soon as practicable following receipt of the
Acceptance, they shall complete the acquisition of Newco and shall cause the
adoption of the Newco's resolutions to implement the undertaking of this
Co-investment Agreement and the connected Shareholders' Agreements.
3. Funding and capitalisation of Newco
The Parties agree that, in order to carry out the acquisition of the Olimpia
Shares, Newco shall be funded as provided for in this Article 3 (and numerically
illustrated in the chart attached hereto as Annex F), it being however hereby
agreed and understood (xx) that the following calculations are based on the
assumption that each share of Newco will have par value of Euro 1,00, (yy) that,
in the event the par value of each of the Newco's share were increased or
reduced, the split indicated herein between nominal value and share premium
shall vary accordingly and (zz) that the price to be paid for the Acquisition
corresponds to the price indicated in the Offer, with the consequence that, in
case such a price were increased or reduced in accordance with the terms and
conditions of the Offer, the following calculations shall be amended
accordingly.
The Parties agree that, prior to acquiring the Olimpia Shares, the extraordinary
shareholders' meeting of Newco shall resolve upon:
(i) a first share capital increase reserved as follows:
(x) an amount of Euro 1.375m (corresponding to Euro 2,53 per
share), of which Euro 543m of nominal value and Euro 831m of
share premium, to be subscribed for and paid in by AG which
undertakes to fully subscribe for through the contribution in
kind of its direct shares in TI free of any charges, options and
rights in favour of third parties, pledges and encumbrances; and
(y) an amount of Euro 522m (corresponding to Euro 2,53 per
share), of which Euro 206m of nominal value and Euro 316m of
share premium, to be subscribed for and paid in by MB which
undertake to fully subscribe for through the contribution in
kind of its direct shares in TI free of any charges, options and
rights in favour of third parties, pledges and encumbrances
(together, the 'First Share Capital Increase').
(ii) upon resolution to transform Newco as provided for in Article 1
(iii) above, a second share capital increase reserved to TE, which TE
undertakes to fully subscribe and pay in, for an amount of Euro 2,314m
(corresponding to Euro 2,82 per share), of which Euro 821m of nominal
value and Euro 1.493m of share premium, to be subscribed for and paid in
by TE in cash through immediately available funds or through the
conversion of the shareholder's loan granted by TE (the 'Second Share
Capital Increase');
(iii) a third share capital increase reserved to IS, which IS undertakes
to fully subscribe and pay in, for an amount of Euro 522m (corresponding
to Euro 2,53 per share), of which Euro 206m of nominal value and Euro
316m of share premium, to be subscribed for and paid in by IS in cash
through immediately available funds or through the conversion of the
shareholder's loan granted by IS (the 'Third Share Capital Increase');
(iv) a fourth share capital increase reserved to SI, which SI undertakes
to fully subscribe and pay in, for an amount of Euro 412m (corresponding
to Euro 2,53 per share), of which Euro 163m of nominal value and Euro
249m of share premium, to be subscribed for and paid in by SI in cash
through immediately available funds or through the conversion of the
shareholder's loan granted by SI (the 'Fourth Share Capital Increase').
Consequently, after completion in full of the First Share Capital Increase,
Second Share Capital Increase, Third Share Capital Increase and Fourth Share
Capital Increase (the 'Share Capital Increases') the stakes in the share capital
of Newco shall be the following: (i) AG will hold a stake of 28,0%, (ii) MB will
hold a stake of 10,6%, (iii) TE will hold a stake of 42,3%, (iv) IS will hold a
stake of 10,6% and (v) SI will hold a stake of 8,4%.
The Parties agree that the extraordinary shareholders' meeting of Newco
resolving on the Share Capital Increases shall delegate the board of directors
of Newco to carry out and execute all the actions and formalities relating to
the Share Capital Increases required by law and provided for under this
Co-investment Agreement.
The Parties acknowledge that (aa) the Share Capital Increases shall be resolved
upon during the same shareholders' meeting of Newco, provided that (x) the
transformation of Newco into a societa per azioni pursuant to article 1.(iii)
and (y) the subsequent appointment of the new board of directors as provided in
Article 1.1(a) and (b) of the Shareholders' Agreement, shall be resolved after
the resolution relating to the First Share Capital Increase, and in any case in
order to ensure that the resolutions listed under points from (i) to (iv) above
shall be completed in the shortest possible timeframe, being they linked one to
each other, (bb) such extraordinary shareholders' meeting shall be held
following the Acceptance and the satisfaction of the relevant conditions and
delivery of the appraisal made by an expert on the value of the TI shares owned
by AG and MB (which the Parties trust may be obtained prior to Closing (as
defined in the Offer) and in any case timely for the purpose of Closing, (cc)
upon the resolution having been adopted, (x) the subscription of all the Share
Capital Increases shall occur and (y) the contribution in kind relating to the
First Share Capital Increase and the contribution in cash relating to the other
Share Capital Increases shall be completed and fully paid in; (dd) in partial
derogation to points (aa) through (cc) above, in the event that completion of
the First Share Capital Increase were delayed because of the appointed expert's
appraisal is not delivered before Closing, then each of TE, IS and SI shall
provide, respectively and severally, to Newco a shareholder's loans (with no
compensation) for a term not exceeding 20 calendar days (the 'Shareholders' Loan
Terms') and for an amount equal to the sum of the Second Share Capital Increase,
Third Share Capital Increase and Fourth Share Capital Increase respectively, and
which TE, IS and SI shall convert into share capital in execution of the Share
Capital Increases respectively reserved to them at the earlier of aaa) the
delivery of the appraisal and the completion of the First Share Capital
Increase, or bbb) the elapse of the Shareholders' Loan Term, provided that, in
the event under bbb), the First Capital Increase will take place as soon as
possible thereafter.
The Parties further acknowledge and agree that:
O on or before the Closing Date (as defined in the Offer), Newco shall
borrow at market conditions from MB, IS or other primary financial
institutions appointed by MB and IS, subject to acceptance in writing by
TE, a loan for an amount of approximately Euro 1.000 m (the 'Facility').
O immediately after the Closing Date (as defined in the Offer), the
extraordinary shareholders' meeting of Newco shall resolve a fifth share
capital increase for an amount up to Euro 900m, at an issue price of
Euro 2,53 per share, which shall be open for subscription (to be fully
paid in cash upon subscription) for a maximum term of six months as
follows, and which purpose will be to finance the total or partial
reimbursement of the Facility (the 'Fifth Share Capital Increase'):
(i) a portion of the Fifth Share Capital Increase in Class B
shares, equal to the percentage corresponding to the stake held
at that time by TE in the entire share capital of Newco,
reserved to TE for a maximum period of 6 (six) months with the
issue of Class B shares it being hereby agreed and understood
that if any part of such portion of the Fifth Share Capital
Increase has not been subscribed for by TE within such period of
6 (six) months, then this portion of the Fifth Share Capital
Increase shall be deemed subscribed up to the amount of the
subscriptions actually made by TE;
(ii) a portion of the Fifth Share Capital Increase equal to the
percentage corresponding to the stake held at that time by the
existing Class A shareholders' in the entire share capital of
Newco, reserved to the Fifth Share Capital Investors (as defined
below) with the issue of Class A shares - bearing pro-quota the
same rights and duties pertaining to the already existing Class
A shareholders (and it being understood that no shareholder will
be granted additional or special rights, unless granted to the
relevant Class of Shares under the Shareholders' Agreement, the
Co-investment Agreement and the By-Laws) - to be offered for
subscription, for a maximum period of 5 (five) months, to one or
more of such Fifth Share Capital Investors (as defined below),
under the following conditions:
(S) the amount to be contributed in cash by each Fifth
Share Capital Investor in exchange for the shares
subscribed under the Fifth Share Capital Increase shall
be higher than Euro 100 million, and
(S) the shares subscribed under the Fifth Share Capital
Increase by each Fifth Share Capital Investor shall
represent less than 5% of the entire share capital of
Newco immediately after completion of the Fifth Share
Capital Increase;
it being hereby agreed and understood that if any part of such
portion of the Fifth Share Capital Increase has not been
subscribed for by such Fifth Share Capital Investors, then this
portion of the Fifth Share Capital Increase shall be deemed
subscribed up to the amount of the subscriptions actually made
by the Fifth Share Capital Investors;
(iii) a portion equal to the difference between (x) the portion
of the Fifth Share Capital Increase reserved to the Fifth Share
Capital Investors pursuant to point (ii) above and (y) the
portion of such Fifth Share Capital Increase actually subscribed
for by such Fifth Share Capital Investors, reserved to the
existing Class A shareholders (i.e. IS, AG, SI and MB), with the
issue of Class A shares to be offered for subscription, for a
maximum period of 1 (one) month following the expiration of the
5 (five) month-period under point (ii) above, it being hereby
agreed and understood that (aa) the Class A shareholders shall
have the right to subscribe any unopted part of this portion of
the Fifth Share Capital Increase not subscribed for by other
Class A shareholders, and (bb) if any part of such portion of
the Fifth Share Capital Increase has not been subscribed for by
the Class A shareholders, then this portion of the Fifth Share
Capital Increase shall be deemed subscribed up to the amount of
the subscriptions actually made by the Class A shareholders .
For the purposes of this Fifth Share Capital Increase: (i) 'Fifth Share
Capital Investor' shall mean any company or person, other than a Telecom
Operator (as defined below), which is a reputable qualified Italian
institutional or private investor, to be selected by IS in agreement
with the other Class A shareholders - such agreement not to be
unreasonably withheld - and subsequently submitted for acceptance to TE,
acceptance which can not be unreasonably denied, that after acquiring
any stake in NewCo shall adhere to this Co-investment Agreement and the
Shareholders' Agreement and be subject to obligations thereto and will
not have any special rights in the corporate governance of NewCo, other
than those attached to Class A shares in accordance with the By Laws and
the Shareholders Agreement and those resulting from the applicable law;
and (ii) 'Telecom Operator' shall mean any company or person operating
in the telecom sector and any company or person holding (x) a
controlling stake in any non-listed company operating in the telecom
sector or (y) a stake in a listed company operating in the telecom
sector which exceeds 10% of the share capital or which, even though is
below 10% of the share capital, enables the holder to appoint one or
more members of the board of directors of the listed company.
4. Class A and Class B shares
The Parties agree: (A) that, as already provided for in the Newco's By-Laws, the
share capital of Newco shall be divided into two separate categories: the Class
A and the Class B shares, (B) that all the share capital increases, following
the Fifth Share Capital Increase, shall be resolved 'in opzione' pursuant to
article 2441, first paragraph, of the Italian Civil Code splitting the overall
amount of shares so as to reflect the proportion from time to time existing
between Class A and Class B shareholders, (C) that TE shall receive and
thereafter acquire (through share capital increases or exercise of the
pre-emption right set forth in the Newco's By-Laws) only Class B shares or Class
A shares to be converted into Class B shares, while the other Parties including
the Fifth Share Capital Investors (as defined below) and the Italian Qualified
Investors (as defined in the Shareholder's Agreement), if any, shall hold Class
A shares, save for the possibility to acquire Class B shares in case of exercise
of the pre-emption right to be converted into Class A shares, (D) that the Class
B shares shall have exactly the same economic and administrative rights as the
Class A shares, save as provided for in the Shareholders' Agreement and in the
Newco's By-Laws, and (E) that the Parties - following the completion of the
Fifth Share Capital Increase - favourably envisage the potential analysis of
further contribution of TI Shares into Newco (without prejudice for the
principles under the 'stand still' clause of the Shareholders Agreement)
provided that in such an event the right to subscribe further capital increases
in cash shall be granted to the other existing shareholders in order to allow
avoidance of possible dilutions.
5. Business of Newco
The Parties agree that (I) the business of Newco shall only be that of
investing, holding and disinvesting, directly and indirectly, in TI shares, (II)
however, the corporate scope of Newco shall permit, in principle, the carrying
out of certain services in the field of activity of TI, provided however that,
in order to carry out such services, the prior authorisation of the
shareholders' meeting of Newco shall be required pursuant to Article 2364, first
paragraph, No. 5), such authorisation to be approved with the favourable vote of
at least 95% of the share capital of Newco.
6. Shareholders' Agreement
The Parties recognize and agree (i) that the Shareholders' Agreement contains
provisions relating inter alia to (x) the governance of Newco, (y) the
governance of O, including the definition of the criteria concerning the
appointment of the directors in TI, to the extent feasible and (z) the transfer
of Newco, O and TI shares, (ii) that the Newco's By-Laws have been drafted in
order to reflect to the maximum possible extent the principles of governance of
Newco and the transfer of Newco's shares and (iii) that the remaining principles
of governance of Newco and O, which was not possible to insert in Newco's
By-Laws, are contained in the Shareholders' Agreement.
7. Confidentiality
No Party shall make any announcement, communication or disclosure in relation to
this Co-investment Agreement, or in relation to the ongoing negotiations between
the Parties, or in relation to the status of the same without the other Party's
previous written consent, unless this is required by law and/or by the competent
authorities. In this case, the Parties undertake to provide with no delay, to
the extent feasible, to the other Parties notice and/or copy of the
announcement, communication or disclosure required by law and/or by the
competent authorities.
8. Costs and expenses
Each Party shall pay its own costs and expenses (including fees and
disbursements of any external legal or financial advisers and accountants)
incurred in connection with the preparation, negotiation, and execution of this
Co-investment Agreement.
Each Party represents and warrants that this Co-investment Agreement has been
concluded without the participation, assistance or intervention, direct or
indirect, of any broker, intermediary, commission agent, business agent or
similar party, who may claim any expenses, fees, royalties, commission or other
costs due to the preparation, negotiation, and execution of this Agreement from
the other Parties.
9. Notices
Any notice, objection or other communication to be given by one Party to the
other under, or in connection with, this Co-investment Agreement shall be in
writing and signed by or on behalf of the Party giving it. It shall be served by
sending it by fax to the number set out in this Article 9, or delivering it by
hand, or sending it by pre-paid recorded delivery, special delivery or
registered post, to the address set out in this Article 9 and in each case
marked for the attention of the relevant Party set out in this Article 9 (or as
otherwise notified from time to time in accordance with the provisions of this
Article 9). Any notice so served by hand, fax, post or e-mail shall be deemed to
have been duly given:
(a) in the case of fax, at the time of the receipt of delivery;
or
(b) in the case of prepaid recorded delivery, special delivery
or registered post, at the date indicated in the receipt of
delivery,
(c) in the case of e-mail delivery at the e-mail address
indicated below, with receipt of delivery,
provided that in each case where delivery by hand or by fax occurs after 6 p.m.
on a Business Day or on a day which is not a Business Day, service shall be
deemed to occur at 9 a.m. on the following Business Day. Any references to time
in this Article are to local time in the country of the addressee.
The addresses and fax numbers of the Parties for the purpose of Article 9 are as
follows:
To TE:
Telefonica S.A.,
Gran Via n. 38, Planta 9,
28013, Madrid, Spain
To the attention of: the Group General Counsel (Ramiro Sanchez de Lerin),
Ph: + 34 91 584 0207
Fax: + 34 91 531 3206
E-mail: secretaria.general@telefonica.es
To AG:
ASSICURAZIONI GENERALI S.p.A.,
Piazza Duca degli Abruzzi n. 2,
34132 Trieste, Italy
To the attention of: Mr. Giovanni Perissinotto
Ph: + 39 040 671036
Fax: + 39 040 671260
E-mail: giovanni_perissinotto@generali.com
To SI:
SINTONIA S.A.
1, Place d'Armes,
L-1136 Luxembourg
Luxembourg
To the attention of: Mr. Gustave Stoffel
Ph: + 352 26 266255
Fax: + 352 26 266256
E-mail: gustave.stoffel@pt.lu
To IS:
INTESA SANPAOLO S.p.A.
Piazza Scala n. 6,
20121 Milano, Italy
To the attention of Mr. Gaetano Micciche and Mr. Fabio Cane
Ph: + 39 02 879 42650
Fax: + 39 02 879 43 540
E-mail: gaetano.micciche@intesasanpaolo.com, and Fabio.cane@intesasanpaolo.com
To MB:
MEDIOBANCA S.p.A.
Piazzetta Cuccia n. 1,
20121 Milano, Italy
To the attention of: Mr. Clemente Rebecchini and Ms. Cristiana Vibaldi
Ph: + 39 02 8829 202 and + 39 02 8829 455
Fax: + 39 02 8829 943
E-mail: clemente.rebecchini@mediobanca.it, cristiana.vibaldi@mediobanca.it
A Party may notify the other Party of a change to its name, relevant addressee,
address or fax number for the purposes of this Article 9, provided that, such
notice shall only be effective on:
(i) the date specified in the notice as the date on which the
change is to take place; or
(ii) if no date is specified or the date specified is less than
five (5) Business Days after the date on which notice is given,
the date following ten (10) Business Days after notice of any
change has been given.
10. Variations
No variation of this Co-investment Agreement shall be valid unless it is in
writing and signed by or on behalf of each of the Parties. The expression
'variation' shall include any variation, amendment, supplement, deletion or
replacement however effected.
11. Severability
If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable, then
such provision shall (so far as it is invalid or unenforceable) be given no
effect and shall be deemed not to be included in this Co-investment Agreement,
but without invalidating any of the remaining provisions of this Co-investment
Agreement. In any such event the Parties shall negotiate in good faith and agree
all those amendments to this Co-investment Agreement which are consequently
necessary to replace the invalid or unenforceable provision with terms having as
near as possible the same commercial effect with a view to maintain unaltered
the Parties' mutual interests as currently protected under this Co-investment
Agreement and in any case preserving a balance between their respective rights
and obligations in enabling them to fully perform their obligations as
contemplated hereunder.
12. Entirety of Agreement
This Co-investment Agreement constitutes together with its Annexes the entire
agreement and understanding of the Parties in relation to the transactions
hereby contemplated and supersedes any and all prior agreements and
arrangements, whether written or oral, that may exist between the Parties with
respect to the matters contemplated therein.
13. No waiver and further assurances
No failure or delay by any of the Parties in exercising any right or remedy
provided by law or pursuant to this Co-investment Agreement shall impair such
right or remedy or operate or be construed as a waiver or variation of it or
preclude its exercise at any subsequent time and no single or partial exercise
of any such right or remedy shall preclude any other or further exercise of it
or the exercise of any other right or remedy. Each of the Parties undertakes to
the others to perform (or procure the performance of) all further acts and
things, and execute and deliver (or procure the execution and delivery of) such
further documents (including without limitation any agreement or arrangement
which shall be entered into between the Parties) as set forth in this
Co-investment Agreement, as may be required to implement and/or give effect to
this Co-investment Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereunder.
14. Governing law/Exclusive Jurisdiction
This Co-investment Agreement shall be governed by, and interpreted in accordance
with, the laws of the Republic of Italy. Any disputes arising out of or in
connection with this Co-investment Agreement shall be submitted by the Parties
to arbitration. The venue of the arbitration shall be Milan. The arbitration
shall be conducted in the English language and in accordance with ICC Rules.
* * * * *
TELEFONICA S.A. ASSICURAZIONI GENERALI S.P.A.
__________________________________ __________________________________
INTESA SANPAOLO S.P.A. MEDIOBANCA S.P.A.
_____________________________
__________________________________
SINTONIA S.A.
__________________________________
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SHAREHOLDERS' AGREEMENT
This agreement (the 'Shareholders' Agreement') is entered into on April, 28 2007
BY AND BETWEEN
• TELEFONICA S.A., a Spanish company with registered office at 28013,
Madrid, Gran Via n. 28, Spain ('TE');
• ASSICURAZIONI GENERALI S.p.A., an Italian company with registered
office at Piazza Duca degli Abruzzi n. 2, Trieste, Italy ('AG');
• SINTONIA S.A., a Luxembourg company with registered office at 1, Place
d'Armes, L-1136 Luxembourg ('SI');
• INTESA SANPAOLO S.p.A., an Italian company with registered office at
Piazza San Carlo n. 156, Torino, Italy ( 'IS');
• MEDIOBANCA S.p.A., an Italian company with registered office at
Piazzetta Cuccia n. 1, Milano, Italy ('MB');
(collectively the 'Parties' and each, individually, a 'Party')
WHEREAS
1. With an agreement of even date (the 'Co-investment Agreement'), the Parties
have agreed to establish the terms and conditions for (i) their participation
into Centotrenta 4/6 S.r.l., an Italian company with registered office at
Galleria del Corso 2, Milan, Italy, fiscal code n. 05277610969 to be
subsequently transformed and renamed as Telco S.p.A. ('Telco' or 'Newco'), (ii)
the presentation by the Parties also on behalf of Newco of an offer (the
'Offer') for the acquisition by Newco from Pirelli&Co. S.p.A. ('PC') and
Sintonia S.p.A. and Sintonia S.A. (together 'Sintonia') (the 'Acquisition') of
100% of the share capital of an holding company named Olimpia S.p.A. ('O' and
such shares the 'Olimpia Shares'), which in turn holds a stake of 17.99% of the
ordinary share capital of Telecom Italia S.p.A. ('TI'), (iii) the capitalization
and funding of Newco in connection with the Acquisition, (iv) the division of
Newco's share capital into two classes of shares, (v) the corporate scope of
Newco, and (vi) the general framework in which the respective obligations of the
Parties under the Co-investment Agreement are inserted;
2. The Parties now wish to agree on the principles relating inter alia to (i)
the corporate governance of Newco, (ii) the governance of O, (iii) the
appointment of directors in TI and (iv) the transfer of the Newco's shares and
the O and TI's shares directly or indirectly owned by Newco.
Now, therefore, in consideration of the foregoing premises which together with
the Annexes of this Shareholders' Agreement are an essential part hereof, the
Parties hereby,
AGREE AND COVENANT
as follows:
1. Corporate governance of Newco
1.1 The Parties agree that the corporate governance of Newco is reflected, to
the maximum possible extent, in the Newco's by-laws (the 'Newco's By-Laws'). In
particular:
(a) The composition of the board of directors of Newco shall be based on
the principle of proportionality as follows. The Newco's By-Laws shall
provide that the number of directors shall be equal to ten. Should a
director of Newco, who has been designated by one of the Parties, resign
or otherwise cease for any reason whatsoever to hold his office, the
relevant Party shall have the right to designate the new director in
order to preserve the composition of the Board of directors referred to
in this clause and the Parties shall exercise their rights so as to
cause the appointment of the person indicated by the relevant Party.
Should one of the Parties decide to revoke one or more of the directors
designated by such Party, all the Parties shall vote in the relevant
shareholders' meeting for such revocation, provided that the Party
asking the others to vote for the revocation of one or more of its
designated directors shall keep Newco and the other Parties fully
harmless and indemnified for any damages connected therewith;
(b) The Newco's By-Laws shall contain a voting list system to ensure
that:
(i) the Parties holding the Class A shares will be entitled to
appoint so long as they holds a percentage of at least 50% plus
one share of the share capital of Newco six directors, including
the Chairman; for this purpose, it is hereby agreed between the
Parties holding the Class A that: (x) they will concur in the
presentation of one list; (y) the list shall be determined based
on the principle of proportionality by the Parties holding the
Class A shares unanimously, failing which unanimity within the
terms indicated in the By-Laws, the proportionality will be as
follows: two directors will be indicated by AG, one director
will be indicated by each of IS, SI and MB, the Chairman will be
indicated unanimously; the same principle shall apply for any
possible direct or indirect designation of O and TI's directors.
(ii) TE, as holder of Class B shares will be entitled to appoint
(x) so long as it holds a percentage of at least 30% of the
share capital of Newco four directors, including the
Vice-Chairman, and (y) so long as it holds a percentage of at
least 20% of the share capital of Newco, two directors;
It being understood that, should (x) the holders of Class A shares hold
less than 50% plus one share, and/or (y) TE as holder of Class B shares
holds more than 50% plus one share , the Parties shall appoint the
directors on the basis of the same proportionality principles under
points (i) and (ii) above, which would in any case grant the majority of
the directors to the class of shares representing at least 50% plus one
share of the entire share capital of Newco and seven out of ten
directors to the class of shares representing more than 70% of the
entire share capital of Newco. It is also understood that in the event
any Class of shareholders dilutes below the aforementioned percentages
it shall cause the resignation of the relevant exceeding director/s.
(c) On the following matters (the 'Reserved Matters'), the board of
directors will decide with the vote of at least seven directors, it
being however agreed and understood that if three or more directors
abstained from voting on any of the Reserved Matters or remained absent
from the relevant meeting the quorum will be reduced to the vote of the
majority of the directors in office (i.e. the vote of six directors),
provided however that, if the absent or abstaining directors from the
relevant meeting are three or more TE directors, then (x) the discussion
and resolutions about such Reserved Matter shall be postponed to a
subsequent meeting (to be held not earlier than five business days later
than the first meeting), where any resolution relating to such Reserved
Matters will require the special majorities referred to above, (y) each
of the directors shall be entitled to ask that such subsequent meeting
be held by teleconference or videoconference, and (z) in the event that
three or more directors, are absent or abstaining from the relevant
subsequent meeting, the quorum will be reduced to the vote of the
majority of the directors in office (i.e. the vote of six directors):
(aa) acquisition, disposal and encumbrance (directly or
indirectly in any form or manner) of O's or TI's shares or any
rights attached thereto including, but not limited to, voting
rights, (with the exception of the sale by O and/or by Newco (or
by the entity resulting from the merger between O and Newco) of
TI shares in order to adhere to a tender offer, it being
understood and agreed that this decision will be taken by the
board of directors with a simple majority subject however to the
prior authorization of the shareholders' meeting and to the
right of 'Riscatto' as provided for in article 28 of the Newco's
By-laws);
(bb) carrying out of investments other than in O and in TI;
(cc) capital expenditure and financial structure decisions for
amounts in excess of Euro 75 million;
(dd) decisions on the vote to be exercised in (x) the
extraordinary shareholders' meeting of TI convened pursuant to
Article 2365 of the Italian Civil Code to approve resolutions on
transactions of extraordinary nature (including but not limited
to resolutions having an impact on the share capital of TI
capital, such as increases or decreases, mergers and de-mergers,
with the exception however of resolutions provided under art.
2446-2447 of the Italian civil code or other resolutions
required to comply with applicable mandatory regulations) and
(y) the shareholders' meeting of O; or
(ee) approval and amendments of the budget of Newco;
(d) the shareholders' meeting of Newco shall resolve with the vote of
(i) at least 75% of the entire share capital on (x) share capital
increases with the exclusion of the option right pursuant to Article
2441, 4th and 5th paragraph of the Italian Civil Code, (y) mergers and
de-mergers (except the merger between O and Newco) determining a
dilution of the shareholders, and (z) amendments to the provisions of
the Newco's By-Laws regarding the appointment of the board of directors
and the quorum of board of directors and shareholders meetings; and (ii)
at least 65% of the entire share capital on the following matters:
(A) any other matter pertaining to the extraordinary
shareholders meeting of Newco, with the exclusion of mergers
with companies wholly owned by Newco or in which Newco holds a
stake of at least 90% of the entire share capital, which shall
be referred to the Board of Directors of Newco pursuant to
Articles 2505 and 2505-bis of the Italian Civil Code and will be
resolved with the special majorities set forth under Article 1
(c) above, save for the merger of O into Newco, which the
Parties believe appropriate to analyse expeditiously as to the
most efficient way to carry on after the Acquisition and shall
therefore be approved with simple majority;
(B) dividend policy of Newco;
it being however agreed and understood that- both for the matters under
this Article 1.1(d)(i) and (ii) above - in case one or more shareholders
holding more than 30% of the entire share capital abstained from voting
or remained absent from the relevant meeting the quorum will be reduced
to the vote of at least 50% plus one share of the entire share capital;
(e) the shareholders' meeting of Newco shall resolve the prior
authorisation necessary pursuant to Article 2364, first paragraph, No.
5), to carry out the services referred to in Article 3 of Newco's
By-Laws with the vote of at least 95% of the Newco's share capital.
1.2 The Parties agree that (except as provided for below in Article 8.5)
deadlocks at the level of the board of directors and shareholders' meetings on
the matters referred to under items (aa) and (dd) of paragraph 1.1.(c) above and
under paragraph 1.1(d) above with the exception of item (B) shall be resolved as
follows:
(aa) the Parties shall try to find an amicable compromise within
fifteen calendar days as of the relevant meeting;
(bb) then a new meeting shall be convened and at such meeting the
decision will be passed with a simple majority, i.e. without the
special quorum referred to in letters (c) and (d) above;
(cc) in any such cases (i.e. where the decision were taken with
simple majority and with the negative vote expressed by either TE or
MB or AG or IS or SI, or by the members of the board of directors
designated by either TE, or AG or SI or ISor MB, hereinafter the
'Dissenting Shareholder'), the Parties shall be bound to cause upon
request by a Dissenting Shareholder, (who will be entitled to
deliver to the other Parties, within the following thirty days, a
notice (the 'De-merger Notice') requiring the other Parties to
cause), as soon as possible, (a) the merger between Newco and O (if
not already done at that time), and (b) the non-proportional
de-merger of the company resulting in the attribution to the
beneficiary company to be owned 100% by each Dissenting Shareholder
of a percentage of all the assets and liabilities of Newco after
merger with O corresponding to the stake held by each of such
Dissenting Shareholder in Newco after merger with O ((a) and (b)
jointly, hereinafter, the 'De-merger'). In such case (x) the Parties
shall implement, adopt and vote, and cause the directors designated
by them to implement, adopt and vote, all and any actions, documents
and resolutions necessary to complete the De-merger within a
reasonably short timeframe, but in any case no later than 6 months
following the Demerger Notice or, if the transaction is subject to
any authorizations by law or contract, within 6 months following the
obtaining of such authorizations, and (y) Newco shall proceed with
the execution of the Reserved Matter only after the effective date
of the De-merger. Except if TE exercised the Call Option under
Article 8.5(a) below, immediately upon receipt of the De-merger
Notice, the portion of O or TI Shares corresponding to the
Dissenting Shareholder's stake in Newco shall be deposited in escrow
with a fiduciary company or otherwise, in any case to secure the
effectiveness of the De-merger and the exercise of the relevant
voting rights thereon in accordance with the Dissenting
Shareholders' instructions. If TE exercises the Call Option under
Article 8.5(a) below, immediately upon receipt of the Call Option
notice, the O or TI Shares being the object of the Call Option shall
be deposited in escrow with a fiduciary company or otherwise, in any
case to secure the effectiveness of the Call Option and, subject to
deposit in escrow of the full Call Option price, the exercise of the
voting rights thereon in accordance with TE instructions. Upon
effectiveness of the De-merger under this Article 1.2 (and also in
the case under Article 8.5), the Dissenting Shareholder shall no
longer be bound by this Agreement.
Without prejudice to the provision under 1.1 (c) above in relation to the
reduction of the relevant quorum in case of absence or abstention, if the
relevant quorum in respect of any Reserved Matter, other than items (aa) and
(dd) of 1.1(c) above and of 1.1(d) above except for item (B), is not met, the
relevant proposal will be deemed to be rejected and no action will be taken.
TE will have the right to appoint one out of three effective members in the
Board of Statutory Auditors of Newco, to be indicated as Chairman, and one
alternate member (Collegio Sindacale).
The other Class A shareholders will have the right to appoint two out of three
effective members in the Board of Statutory Auditors of Newco, and one alternate
member (Collegio Sindacale).
2. Class A and Class B shares
The Parties agree: (A) that, as already provided for in the Newco's By-Laws, the
share capital of Newco shall be divided into two separate categories: the Class
A and the Class B shares, (B) that all the share capital increases following the
Fifth Share Capital Increase (as defined in the Co-investment Agreement) and,
for the duration of this Agreement, shall be resolved 'in opzione' pursuant to
article 2441, first paragraph, of the Italian Civil Code splitting the overall
amount of shares so as to reflect the proportion from time to time existing
between Class A and Class B shareholders, (C) that TE shall receive and
thereafter acquire (through share capital increases or exercise of the
pre-emption right set forth in the Newco's By-Laws) only Class B shares or Class
A shares to be converted into B shares, while the other Parties, including the
Fifth Share Capital Investors (as defined in the Co-investment Agreement) and
the Italian Qualified Investors (as defined below), if any, shall hold Class A
shares, save for the possibility to acquire Class B shares in case of exercise
of the pre-emption right to be converted into A shares, (D) that the Class B
shares shall have exactly the same economic and administrative rights as the
Class A shares, save as provided for herein and in the Newco's By-Laws, and (E)
that the Parties - following the completion of the Fifth Share Capital Increase
(as defined in the Shareholders' Agreement) - will favourably envisage the
potential analysis of further contribution of TI Shares into Newco (without
prejudice for the principles under the 'stand still' clause of this Agreement)
provided that in such an event the right to subscribe further capital increases
in cash shall be granted to the other existing shareholders in order to allow
avoidance of possible dilutions.
3. Business of Newco
The Parties agree that (I) the business of Newco shall only be that of
investing, holding and disinvesting, directly and indirectly, in TI shares, (II)
however, the corporate scope of Newco shall permit, in principle, the carrying
out of certain services in the field of activity of TI, provided however that,
in order to carry out such services, the prior authorisation of the
shareholders' meeting of Newco shall be required pursuant to Article 2364, first
paragraph, No. 5), such authorisation to be approved with the vote of at least
95% of the share capital of Newco.
4. Corporate governance of O
The Parties agree that the principles of corporate governance referred to in
Article 1 above shall also apply mutatis mutandis to O. As a consequence, TE
shall be entitled to designate a percentage of the directors, including the
Vice-Chairman, to be appointed by Newco in O reflecting its shareholding in the
Newco's share capital and to appoint one out of three members of Board of
Statutory Auditors of O to be indicated as Chairman, and one alternate member
(Collegio Sindacale).
O will be subject to the activity of direction and coordination of Newco. As a
consequence, prior to any board of directors meeting or shareholders' meeting of
O taking place, the Parties shall cause the board of directors of Newco to
convene and to resolve on the decision to be then adopted in the relevant
corporate body of O. More in particular, any decision to be taken at the level
of the board of directors and shareholders' meeting of O will be previously
agreed by the board of directors of Newco in accordance with the principle of
the Newco's governance referred to above (including special majorities where
required), with the understanding and the agreement that the Parties shall cause
the directors of O, respectively designated, to conform to the resolution
adopted at the level of Newco.
In case of merger of O and Newco, the governance of O (or the incorporating
entity as the case may be) will be that of Newco as provided for in Article 1
above, provided however that TI will not be subject to the activity of direction
and coordination of Newco or O (or the incorporating entity as the case may be).
5. Provisions relating to TI and TE
The Parties recognize and agree that the TI and TE groups will be managed
autonomously and independently, without prejudice however to the Parties' rights
and prerogatives resulting from this Shareholders' Agreement.
The Parties further recognize and acknowledge that, without prejudice of the
independence and autonomy of any of TI's management decision, the investment in
Newco implies a strategic vision and perspective. Therefore the Parties will
favorably regard any strategic initiative that the TI's and TE's respective
managements may jointly carry out, in their autonomy and independence.
As soon as possible after Closing (as defined in the Offer), and for the entire
term of the Shareholders' Agreement the board of directors of Newco or O, as the
case may be, shall approve the list to be submitted to the shareholder' meeting
of TI, for the appointment of the directors of TI pursuant to the following
criteria: (i) TE - to the extent holding at least 30% of the Newco's share
capital - shall have the right vis-a-vis the other Parties to designate two
directors of TI (x) to be included as designees for appointment in the board of
TI in the list presented by O or Newco (as the case may be) and (y) to the
extent feasible, pursuant to Article 2386, first paragraph, of the Italian Civil
Code ('cooptazione'); and (ii) the Class A shareholders which are Party to this
Agreement - to the extent holding at least 50% plus one share of the Newco's
share capital - shall designate the other members of the list as follows: (x)
three members unanimously and (y) the remaining members on the basis, mutatis
mutandis, of the same proportionality applied in Article 1.1(b)(i) above among
the Class A shareholders which are Party to this Agreement.
The directors designated by TE in Newco, O and TI shall be directed by TE to
neither participate, nor vote at the board of directors meetings (and TE, to the
extent applicable, shall neither attend nor vote, at any shareholders' meetings
of Newco or the entity resulting from the merger of O with Newco, as the case
may be) at which there will be discussed and proposed resolutions relating to
the policies, management, and operations of companies directly or indirectly
controlled by TI providing their services in countries where regulatory and
legal restrictions or limitations for the exercise of voting rights by TE (as
indirect and ultimate shareholder of such companies) are in force.
Even though as of the date hereof TE does not envisage any burden, restriction
or divestment to be imposed on TE by any regulatory or antitrust authority in
relation to the Acquisition or once the Acquisition has been implemented, the
Parties agree that if any competent antitrust or regulatory authorities in any
country shall impose on TE or on TI any burden or divestment finally confirmed
by the competent authorities (the 'Burden') resulting from TE's equity
investment in Newco and indirectly in TI, then TE, in case the Burden is imposed
on TE, or each of the Parties, in case the Burden is imposed on TI, will have
the right to request a De-merger as provided for in Article 1.2(cc) of this
Shareholders' Agreement.
The Parties agree that in the event that the Acquisition is subject to
conditions precedent by competent antitrust or regulatory authorities which
require TE to reduce its prerogatives and rights in terms of governance in Newco
and/or in O and/or in TI, then TE shall be bound to satisfy such conditions
precedent and the Parties shall agree in good faith the amendments to this
Shareholders' Agreement which, while preserving the fulfilment of such
conditions precedent, shall preserve as much as possible the overall spirit
underlying this Shareholders' Agreement.
6. Disposition of TI material assets or material changes in TI's strategy
In the event of (i) any transfer in whatever form of any of the foreign assets
hold directly or indirectly by TI having a value of more than Euro 4bn per
transaction (or series of transactions occurred within a period of 12 months for
the same assets) or (ii) TI entering into a significant strategic alliance with
any 'Telecom Operator' (to be construed as to include any person, company or
entity operating in the telecom sector and any person, company or entity holding
(a) a controlling stake in any non-listed company operating in the telecom
sector or (b) a stake in a listed company operating in the telecom sector which
exceeds 10% of the share capital or which, even though is below 10% of the share
capital, enables the holder to appoint one or more members of the board of
directors of the listed company), then TE, within the following thirty calendar
days, will have the right to deliver a De-Merger Notice to the other Parties,
who will bound to cause, the De-merger as provided for in Article 1.2(cc) of
this Shareholders' Agreement and in such case the Parties shall implement, adopt
and vote, and cause their directors designated by them to implement adopt and
vote, all and any actions, documents and resolutions necessary to complete the
De-merger within a reasonably short timeframe, but in any case no later than 6
months following the Demerger Notice or, if the transaction is subject to any
authorizations by law or contract, within 6 months following the obtaining of
such authorizations.
7. Stand still
The Parties represent to each other that (i) as of the date of this Agreement
they respectively own or hold, directly or indirectly, the interests in TI
shares indicated in Annex 7 hereto (the 'Relevant TI Interests'), calculated by
taking into account all the shares and interests also held by entities connected
to the Parties pursuant to Article 109 of Legislative Decree No. 58 of February
28, 1998 (the 'Connected Entities') and (ii) they have not executed nor taken
part, directly or indirectly, also by means of the Connected Entities, in any
agreement whatsoever, also oral, concerning interests in TI shares granting
voting rights on the matters listed in Article 105 of Legislative Decree No. 58
of February 28, 1998 or any option rights, convertible bonds, warrants,
derivatives, granting the right to subscribe or acquire TI shares granting
voting rights on the matters listed in Article 105 of Legislative Decree No. 58
of February 28, 1998 (collectively the 'TI Voting Shares') that may cause the
holding by the Parties, Newco and the Connected Entities, taken as a whole, of a
number of TI Voting Shares exceeding the 30% mandatory tender offer threshold
pursuant to article 109 of Legislative Decree No. 58 of February 28, 1998 (the
'Threshold'). The Parties also acknowledge that O is currently part of a
pre-emption agreement with Holinvest S.p.A. under which Holinvest S.p.A. is
allowed to hold up to n. 492,697,862 plus 1% of the overall number of the issued
TI Voting Shares (the 'Holinvest Shares'). For the purpose of this Article 7,
the 'Initial Balance' shall be equal to the number of TI Voting Shares resulting
from the difference between (i) the number of TI Voting Shares equal to the
Threshold and (ii) the total aggregate number of the TI Voting Shares held by O,
the Relevant TI Interests and - until waiver of the pre-emption rights set out
in pre-emption agreement with Holinvest S.p.A. as provided below - the Holinvest
Shares.
Starting from the date hereof and for the duration of this Agreement, each Party
undertakes not to execute or take part, directly or indirectly, also by means of
the Connected Entities, in any agreement whatsoever, also oral, concerning TI
Voting Shares (including option rights) that may cause the holding by the
Parties, Newco and the Connected Entities, taken as a whole, of a number of TI
Voting Shares exceeding the Threshold.
Without prejudice to the above, the acquisition of TI Voting Shares will be
permitted to each Party for a number of TI Voting Shares not exceeding their
respective Relevant TI Interests as at the date hereof plus the percentage
pro-rata of the Initial Balance corresponding to the relevant Party's percentage
in Newco's share capital following the Fifth Share Capital Increase. In such a
case, the Parties agree that any such further acquisition of TI Voting Shares
shall be immediately communicated to the other Parties and to a secretary office
under the coordination of MB and/or by an entity selected and appointed by MB.
In addition, each Party shall inform the other Parties and the secretary office
under the coordination of MB and/or by an entity selected and appointed by MB
about the number of TI Voting Shares held at the end of each calendar quarter.
In any case it is agreed that the Parties (x) shall make as soon as possible
after execution of this Shareholders' Agreement precise calculation as to the
Initial Balance and (y), upon Closing, shall cause O to waive any rights under
the pre-emption agreement with Holinvest S.p.A..
The Parties agree that, in the event a breach by a Party of the provisions
contained in this Article 7 causes the overcoming of the Threshold and the
triggering of the obligation to launch a mandatory tender offer pursuant to
Article 109 of Legislative Decree No. 58 of February 28, 1998, such a Party
undertakes to (i) hold harmless and indemnify the other Parties from any
damages, losses, costs and expenses arising out from such a breach (ii) take the
whole responsibility of the mandatory tender offer, if required, or of the sale
of the exceeding stake, to the extent possible, and (iii) bear all the costs
connected with the mandatory tender offer and all other costs (including
advisory services) borne by the other Parties.
8. Capital Increases - Transfer of shares
8.1 Capital increases of Newco
In the event of an increase of capital of Newco, without consideration
or with consideration without exclusion of the option right, the
shareholders who hold Class A shares shall have the right to receive and
subscribe Class A shares and the shareholders of Newco who hold Class B
shares shall have the right to receive and subscribe for Class B shares.
In the event that any holders of Class A shares have not fully exercised
their pre-emption right, the other holders of Class A shares shall have
the preferred right to exercise the pre-emption on the unopted Class A
shares. In the same manner, in the event that any holders of Class B
shares have not fully exercised their pre-emption right, the other
holders of Class B shares shall have the preferred right to exercise the
pre-emption on the unopted Class B shares. In the event that after the
exercise of the option and pre-emption rights by the holders of Class A
shares remain Class A shares not subscribed, such shares may be
subscribed, by means of the exercise of the option and pre-emption
right, by the holders of Class B shares in proportion to their
shareholding on the total number of Class B shares issued by Newco,
subject to the automatic conversion of the aforesaid Class A shares at
the rate of one newly issued Class B share (having the same
characteristics as the Class B shares in circulation) for each Class A
share subscribed. In the event that after the exercise of the option and
pre-emption rights by the holders of Class B shares remain Class B
shares not subscribed, such shares may be subscribed, by means of the
exercise of the option and pre-emption right, by the holders of Class A
shares in proportion to their stakeholding on the total number of Class
A shares issued by Newco, subject to the automatic conversion of the
aforesaid Class B shares at the rate of one newly issued Class A share
(having the same characteristics as the Class A shares in circulation)
for each Class B share subscribed.
8.2 Transfer of shares of Newco
8.2.1 Within the limits provided by this article 8.2 and by article
8.3., the shares of Newco are transferable to shareholders of Newco and
to third parties.
The provisions of this article 8.2 and of article 8.3 apply not only to
the transfer of the shares of Newco, but to the transfer of any right
whatsoever relating to them, including, by way of example, (i) all
shares or potential financial instruments of Newco (including those
provided for in article 2346 of the civil code) having voting rights or
convertible into shares having voting rights, (ii) all bonds or other
financial instruments convertible into, exchangeable with, or conferring
to the relevant owner the right to subscription or to acquisition of
shares or financial instruments with voting rights of Newco, as well as
shares originating in the respective conversion or the exercise of the
abovementioned rights, (iii) any other right, title, and/or financial
instrument (including rights of option and/or warrant and/or equity
swap) that gives a right to the acquisition of and/or subscription to
shares and/or financial instruments and/or bonds convertible into/ or
exchangeable with, shares or financial instruments having voting rights
or convertible into shares having voting rights in Newco, and/or the
shares and/or financial instruments acquired on the basis of their
exercise. The provisions of this article 8.2 and article 8.3 regard - in
addition - not only the transfer of full ownership of the shares of
Newco and the rights relating thereto, but also the transfer of the bare
ownership and whatsoever real rights of enjoyment, exclusive of the real
rights of guarantee.
For the purposes of this article 8.2 and article 8.3, by act of transfer
is meant any transfer by deed between living people, in whatever manner
(such as, for purely illustrative purposes, sale, barter, contango,
fiduciary transfer, and the modification of the entitlement to the
relationship underlying a possible fiduciary commission, the conferring
or borrowing of titles, or rather title deeds, without consideration or
out of generosity, amalgamation, splitting) able to be accomplished,
directly or indirectly, in whole or part, including in a transitory
manner, the ownership or availability of the Shares and whatever rights,
interests, including of a non-property nature, deriving from or
connected to the entitlement to the shares of Newco.
For the purposes of this Article 8.2, 'Italian Qualified Investors'
shall mean any company or person, other than a Telecom Operator, which
is a reputable qualified Italian institutional or private investor
previously accepted in writing by the holders of Class B shares,
provided that simultaneously with the acquiring of any stake in Newco,
it shall adhere to any agreement executed by the other shareholders of
Newco in relation to the shares of Newco to be transferred (including
this Agreement).
The provisions of this article 8.2 and article 8.3 do not apply with
regard to transfers in favour of companies entirely owned or controlled
or controlling pursuant to Article 2359, first paragraph No. 1 of the
Civil Code, or operations of partial non-proportional de-merger of
Newco, merger by incorporation of entirely owned companies, and merger
between companies entirely owned or controlled or controlling pursuant
to Article 2359, first paragraph No. 1 of the Civil Code by the same
shareholder, provided that the transfer shall be subject to a condition
subsequent whereby in case of subsequent change of control of said
companies, the shares of Newco shall be deemed not having been
transferred and shall have to be returned back to the original
Shareholder Transferring Class A Shares (as defined below) or
Shareholder Transferring Class B Shares (as defined below), as the case
may be.
To the extent it does not prevent the other shareholders from exercising
the redemption right under Article 8.4 below or any other right under
this Shareholders' Agreement, the Co-investment and the By-Laws, the
provisions of this article 8.2 and article 8.3 do not apply also to
transfers through derivative transactions or borrowing of titles
according to which the original Shareholder Transferring Class A Shares
(being a bank, financial company or insurance company), as the case may
be (i) shall have the full title and ownership of the shares of Newco
upon termination of the relevant transaction, and, in any case, (ii)
shall maintain medio tempore all administrative and economic rights on
the shares of Newco under the derivative transaction or being object of
the borrowing of titles and (iii) shall not affect ; failure of such
conditions will entail the immediate application of this article 8.2 and
following article 8.3.
8.2.2 The shareholder who intends to transfer Class A shares
(hereinafter the 'Shareholder Transferring Class A shares') to a
potential third party acquirer, including a shareholder of Newco
(hereinafter, a 'Person Bidding for Class A shares') must offer them in
advance on equal terms to the other shareholders who hold Class A shares
and subsequently, under the circumstances set forth by the following
point (ii), to the shareholders who hold Class B shares; the holders of
Class A shares may acquire the shares offered in pre-emption in
proportion to the number of Class A shares held by each of them compared
with the total number of Class A shares issued by Newco; the holders of
Class B shares may acquire the shares offered in pre-emption, under the
circumstances set forth in the following point (ii) below and in
proportion to the number of Class B shares held by each of them compared
with the total number of Class B shares; the above mentioned procedure
shall occur in compliance with the following mechanisms: (hereinafter
the 'Right of Pre-emption'):
(i) The Shareholder Transferring Class A shares must transmit a
communication, by registered or certified mail with return
receipt requested to the chairman of the board of directors of
Newco and to the other shareholders holding Class A shares,
specifying the number of Class A shares, the price, and the
other economic and contractual conditions of the transfer and
the personal particulars of the Person Bidding for Class A
Shares (the 'Transferring Notice'). Within 30 days of the date
of receipt of the Transferring Notice (the 'Term of Exercise'),
the shareholders holding Class A shares who intend to avail
themselves of the Right of Pre-emption must give the appropriate
written communication to the chairman of the board of directors
and to the Shareholder Transferring Class A shares (the
'Acceptance Notice'). The shareholders holding Class A shares
who exercise the Right of Pre-emption, provided that they make a
contextual request in the Notice of Acceptance, will have the
right (hereinafter, the 'Right of Increase') to acquire the
Class A shares remaining on sale once all the Notices of
Acceptances have been received (the 'Remaining Class A Shares').
Any Notice of Acceptance shall specify the number of Remaining
Class A Shares in relation to which the relevant shareholder
holding Class A shares wishes to exercise the Right of Increase.
The Remaining Class A Shares shall be divided among the
shareholders who have exercised the Right of Increase in
proportion to the number of Class A shares held by each of them,
provided that after the exercise of the above mentioned rights
any shareholder holding Class A shares will not be entitled to
acquire a number of Class A shares higher than the aggregate
number indicated into the Acceptance Notice.
(ii) if after the carrying out of the procedure in the preceding
point (i) there still remain any Remaining Class A Shares, each
holder of Class A shares other than the Shareholder Transferring
Class A shares will have the right to procure within 30 days
after the expiry of the Term of Exercise (the 'Further Term')
the Acquisition of the Remaining Class A shares by one or more
Italian Qualified Investors, provided that the Shareholder
Transferring Class A shares will not have such right in the case
that (aa) the Person Bidding for Class A shares is a Telecom
Operator and (bb) as a consequence of such transfer of Class A
shares, the aggregate percentage of the share capital held by
the Class A shareholders as at the date of this Shareholders'
Agreement is reduced below 35% of the share capital; it being
understood that the loss of such right shall refer exclusively
to the portion of the transferred Shares falling below the 35%
threshold. If on the date the Further Term expires, there are
still any Remaining Class A shares or if Italian Qualified
Investors do not have the right to acquire Class A shares as
referred to above, such Remaining Class A shares shall be
offered without delay to the shareholders holding Class B shares
by means of a communication made in the form specified in the
preceding paragraph (i) of this Article 8.2.2. The Remaining
Class A shares which become pre-empted by the shareholders
holding Class B shares must be divided among the holders of
Class B shares who pre-empted them - in proportion to the number
of Class B shares held by each of them, provided that the Right
of Increase included in Article 8.2.2(i) above shall apply
mutatis mutandis - subject to the automatic conversion of the
aforesaid Class A shares subject to pre-emption at the rate of
one newly issued Class B share (having the same characteristics
as the Class B shares in circulation) for each Class A share
subject to pre-emption. The exercise of the Right of Pre-emption
by the shareholders holding Class B shares, potentially
exercised in accordance with this article 8.2.2 (ii), must be
carried out within 15 days of the receipt of the notice of
offering in pre-emption by means of an appropriate written
communication to the chairman of the board of directors and the
Shareholder Transferring Class A shares, specifying the number
of shares requested in pre-emption. The conversion of Class A
shares into Class B shares takes effect upon the recording of
the decision of the board of directors (which for this purpose
must be convened within 5 days of the expiry of the term for the
exercise of the Right of Pre-emption specified in the present
article 8.2.2 (ii)) resulting from the minutes drawn up by the
notary - subject to the condition precedent that the event
described under Article 8.2.2(iv) did not occur - who must
proceed to carry out all the necessary formalities for the
issuance of Class B shares as well as the necessary
registrations in the register of companies, also bringing about
the necessary and consequent modifications to the relevant
article of the Newco's By-laws, making the numerical expressions
and the text in the necessary parts adequate for all legal
purposes, providing, moreover, for deposit, according to article
2346 of the civil code, the text of the Newco's By-laws updated
in that sense, as well as carrying out all other formalities
provided by the current legal standards.
(iii) Should remain any Class A shares subject to the bid not
acquired by Class A shareholders or by Italian Qualified
Investors or by Class B shareholders in the sense of the
foregoing (the 'Shares A not Purchased') and the Person Bidding
for Class A shares is accepting to buy the Shares not Purchased,
the Shares not Purchased may be transferred from the Shareholder
Transferring Class A shares to the Person Bidding for Class A
shares, within but not later than 15 days, if the transfer in
favour of the Person Bidding for Class A shares has not occurred
within the aforesaid term, any later transfer of Class A shares
and of the rights related thereto shall be subject again to the
procedure specified in the present article 8.2.2; any act of
transfer carried out in violation of the provisions of the
present Article 8.2.2 shall be invalid and not opposable to
Newco.
(iv) Should remain any Share A not Purchased and the Person
Bidding for Class A shares is not accepting to buy only the
Shares A not Purchased pursuant to the previous Article 8.2.2
(iii), the Shareholder Transferring Class A shares shall be
entitled to sell all the Class A shares object of the Class A
Transferring Notice to the Person Bidding for Class A shares.
8.2.3 The shareholder who intends to transfer Class B shares
(hereinafter, the 'Shareholder Transferring Class B shares') to a
potential third-party acquirer as well as to a shareholder of Newco
('Person Bidding for Class B shares') must offer these shares in advance
to all the other shareholders holding Class A and Class B shares with
regard to the following procedure:
(i) the Shareholder Transferring Class B shares must transmit a
communication, by registered or certified mail with return
receipt requested to the chairman of the board of directors and
other shareholders, specifying the number of Class B shares, the
price, and the other economic and contractual conditions of the
transfer and the personal particulars of the Person Bidding for
Class B shares (the 'Class B Transferring Notice'). Within 30
days of the date of receipt of the notice, the shareholders who
intend to avail themselves of the Right of Pre-emption must give
the appropriate written communication to the chairman of the
board of directors and the Shareholder Transferring Class B
shares, specifying the number of shares requested in
pre-emption;
(ii) (a) Should the offer be accepted in its totality by the
shareholders, the Class B shares subject to bidding shall be
divided among the aforesaid shareholders, in proportion to the
number of shares held by each of them compared to the total
number of shares (of Class A and Class B) issued by Newco; (b)
should the offer be accepted only in part by the shareholders,
the Class B shares offered and acquired must be divided among
the aforesaid shareholders in proportion to the number of shares
held by each of them compared to the total number of shares (of
Class A and Class B); The Class B shares pre-empted by the
holders of Class A shares will be transferred to them pursuant
to the present Article 8.2.3 subject to the automatic conversion
of the aforesaid pre-empted Class B shares at the rate of one
newly issued Class A share (having the same characteristics as
the Class A shares in circulation) for each Class B share
subject to pre-emption. The conversion of the Class B shares
into Class A shares will be executed in compliance with the
procedure set forth in Article 8.2.2 (ii) above.
(iii) Should remain any Class B shares subject to the bid not
acquired by Class B shareholders or by Class A shareholders (the
'Shares B not Purchased') and the Person Bidding for Class B
shares is accepting to buy the Shares not Purchased, the Shares
B not Purchased may be transferred from the Shareholder
Transferring Class B shares to the Person Bidding for Class B
shares, within but not later than 15 days, if the transfer in
favour of the Person Bidding for Class B shares has not occurred
within the aforesaid term, any later transfer of Class B shares
and of the rights related thereto shall be subject again to the
procedure specified in the present Article 8.2.3; any act of
transfer carried out in violation of the provisions of the
present Article 8.2.3 shall be invalid and not opposable to
Newco.
(iv) Should remain any Share B not Purchased and the Person
Bidding for Class B shares is not accepting to buy only the
Share B not Purchased, the Shareholder Transferring Class B
shares shall be entitled to sell all the Class B shares object
of the Class B Transferring Notice to the Person Bidding for
Class B shares.
8.2.4 In the event that the transfer of shares does not provide a
corresponding amount, or rather if it does not provide it entirely in
cash (for example, in the event of donation, barter, or transfer through
amalgamation, splitting) the price at which the shareholders in Newco
shall be able to acquire the shares offered to them in pre-emption shall
be determined by mutual agreement of the shareholder who intends to
transfer and the shareholder or shareholders who have exercised the
pre-emption (the 'Interested Shareholders'). If the Interested
Shareholders have not reached an agreement within 30 workdays, elapsing
from the moment when the shareholder who intends to transfer has
received the communication of the shareholders who intend to exercise
the Right of Pre-emption, the price for each share shall be calculated
on the basis of the adjusted net worth of Newco to be determined taking
into account the price of the shares held in TI calculating by means of
the arithmetic average of the official stock exchange prices within 30
days preceding the date of the offer in pre-emption divided by the
number of shares issued) and, in case of disputes, the calculation, to
be carried out on the basis of the criteria indicated above, shall be
remitted to an expert appointed by the President of the Court of Milan,
upon application by the most diligent shareholder.
8.2.5 All transfers provided under this Article 8.2 shall be subject to
the applicable Antitrust and/or regulatory provisions and shall occur
not later than 10 days after obtaining any applicable Antitrust and/or
regulatory clearance, if needed, and in any case not later than six
months from the completion of the binding agreement in relation to the
transfer of the shares.
8.2.6 Transfers made in violation of the provisions of the present
article 8.2 and the following article 8.3 shall be invalid and
unenforceable with regard to Newco.
8.3 Right of Co-Sale (Tag-Along)
8.3.1 Without prejudice to the provisions of the foregoing article 8.2,
in the event that one or more shareholders of Newco (hereinafter called
jointly the 'Considerable Shareholder') (i) intend to transfer, also one
or more times, of a number of shares of Newco that represent a share
equal to at least 30% of the share capital of Newco (the 'Considerable
Share') to a potential third-party acquirer or to one or more potential
acquirers belonging to the same group, connected by a relationship of
control or linkage among them in the meaning of article 2359 of the
civil code, or who in any case act in concert pursuant to article 109,
Consolidated Financial Act, for the purchase of the Considerable Share,
and (ii) none of the other shareholders exercises the Right of
Pre-emption at the end of the respective term of exercise, or
notwithstanding the exercise of the Right of Pre-emption by one or more
of the other shareholders a bid by the third party is still pending for
a share equal to at least the Considerable Share, the shareholder (or
shareholders) who did not exercise the Right of Pre-emption to which
they were entitled (hereinafter the 'Non-Opting Shareholder') shall have
the right to transfer to the potential third-party acquirer his own
shares (the 'Right of Co-Sale' or 'Tag-Along Right') at the same terms
and conditions of the transfer of the Considerable Shareholder pursuant
to this Article 8.3. If the transfer from the Considerable Shareholder
does not comprise the entire stake held but only a part of such stake,
the Tag Along Right shall be allocated to the Non-Opting Shareholder in
the same proportion existing between the number of Shares to be sold and
all the shares held by the Considerable Shareholder.
8.3.2 If the Non-Opting Shareholder intends to exercise its Tag-Along
Right, he must, under penalty of forfeiture, give a written
communication to the Considerable Shareholder - and a copy to Newco - by
the means and under the terms provided for the exercise of the Right of
Pre-emption discussed in the foregoing Article 8.2. Once the express
request has been made by the Non-Opting Shareholder to avail himself of
the Tag-Along Right (hereinafter the 'Proposal of Sale'), the aforesaid
Non-Opting Shareholder shall be obliged to sell all or the different pro
rata quantities established above of his own shares, free from every
encumbrance, lien or right in favour of third parties, to the potential
third-party acquirer, in accordance with the following procedure:
(i) The Considerable Shareholder must, as a condition for the
efficacy of the transfer of his own shares, see to it that the
potential third-party acquirer (a) accepts unconditionally the
Proposal of Sale mentioned in this Article 8.3.2, having for its
purpose the sale of all (or the different pro rata quantities
established above) the shares owned by each Non-Opting
Shareholder who has made the Proposal of Sale, without the
potential third-party acquirer being able to require with regard
thereto any declaration and/or guarantee, with the exception of
the guarantees pertaining to (ai) the entitlement to the shares
owned by the Non-Opting Shareholder, in the absence of
commitments regarding these and the capacity to freely dispose
of them, and (aii) the fact that the shares are free from every
encumbrance, lien or right in favour of third parties; and (b)
acquires all (or the different pro rata quantities established
above) the shares owned by each Non-Opting Shareholder who made
the Proposal of Sale;
(ii) The transfer of the shares by the Considerable Shareholder
and the other Non-Opting Shareholders must arrive in one single
setting, with contextual payment of the price within and not
later than 15 days of the date of receipt of the Proposal of
Sale by the Considerable Shareholder;
(iii) If no shareholder has exercised the Right of Pre-emption
in the sense of Article 8.2 nor the Tag-Along right in the sense
of the present article, the Considerable Shareholder may
transfer the shares belonging to him to a relevant third-party
acquirer on condition that (a) the transfer occurs under the
same conditions indicated in his own communication to the other
shareholders, here including the same price and (b) the transfer
shall occur within 15 days of the expiry of the different term
of exercise mentioned in the foregoing Article 8.2, it remaining
understood that the aforesaid term shall be reasonably extended,
as referred below, if the transfer of the shares is subject to
obligations of communication in advance or authorization by an
authority; it remains the intention that the aforesaid term of
15 days be considered respected if within the appropriate
deadline the Considerable Shareholder has executed with the
potential third-party acquirer a purchase and sale contract with
deferred efficacy (but not more than 6 months) or conditional
solely upon the obtaining of the authorizations required by law
or regulation (provided that such agreement shall terminate if
such authorizations have not been obtained within six months
following execution of such purchase and sale contract), at a
price per share and, in general, on the terms and conditions
indicated by the potential third party acquirer in his own bid.
If the transfer to the potential third party acquirer has not
taken place in conformity with what is indicated in this
paragraph and in the terms provided here, the Considerable
Shareholder shall not be able to transfer his own shares unless
subject to the experiencing of the procedures discussed in
articles 8.2 and 8.3 and the transfer shall not be valid and
enforceable against Newco.
8.4 Redemption Right
The Parties acknowledge that the Newco's By-Laws contains inter alia also a
redemption right (i.e. riscatto) in case of public tender offers on the TI
shares (i.e. offerta pubblica di acquisto su azioni di TI).
8.5 Call Option
In partial derogation of Article 1.2 (cc) above, in the event that a decision to
dispose, directly or indirectly in any form of manner (including through
measures with equivalent effect, such as mergers or demergers of Newco or O) or
encumber TI shares or O shares or any rights attached thereto (including but not
limited to voting rights) is taken by the Board of Directors of Newco by simple
majority as provided for in Article 1.2(bb) above and TE is a Dissenting Party
in accordance with Article 1.2(cc), then TE shall have any of the following
options, at its exclusive discretion, which shall be exercised in writing, by
means of a notice to be sent to the Chairman of the board of directors of Newco,
within thirty days following the date of the relevant board of directors of
Newco:
(a) the right to buy from Newco or O (as the case may be) the O or TI shares
at the same price and conditions offered by the third party offering to
acquire such TI or O shares (the 'Call Option'), in which case the Parties
shall be bound to cause Newco or O (as the case may be) to sell the relevant
O or TI shares to TE pursuant to the Call Option. Such acquisition by TE of
the O or TI shares shall be completed within 15 business days following the
relevant written request sent by TE to the chairman of the board of
directors of Newco or, if the transaction is subject to any authorization by
law or contract, within 15 business days following the obtaining of such
authorization. In this connection, as soon as possible following closing (as
defined in the relevant offer), the Partieshall cause Newco and O to enter
into a call option agreement with TE under terms and conditions referred to
in this article 8.5(a);
(b) the right to proceed with the De-merger, as provided for in Article 1.2
(cc) above. In such case the other Parties shall implement, adopt and vote,
and cause their directors designated by them to implement, adopt and vote,
all and any actions, documents and resolutions necessary to complete the
De-merger within a reasonably short timeframe, but in any case no later than
6 months following the De-merger Notice or, if the transaction is subject to
any authorizations by law or contract, within 6 months following the
obtaining of such authorizations.
8.6. Each Party undertakes to include as a condition precedent:
(i) to closing any transfer of Newcos' shares, to be executed by
such Party with any Italian Qualified Investor or with any third
party acquiring shares of Newco (in both cases, in accordance with
the procedures included in the bylaws), and
(ii) to subscribe any Newcos' shares by any Fifth Share Capital
Investors or Italian Qualified Investor, as the case may be (in
accordance with procedures included in the Newco's By-Laws),
the execution of a deed of adherence of such Fifth Share Capital
Investors or Italian Qualified Investor or such third party to this
Shareholders Agreement.
8.7 In any case MB, AG, IS and SI undertake, for the duration of this
Agreement, neither to solicit, nor to respond positively to, any
interest or approach from Telecom Operators, as defined above, for the
potential acquisition or subscription of Newco's shares, O shares and TI
shares and/or for the acquisition of TI's Foreign Material Assets and/or
for the entering into strategic alliances with TI (the 'Non Solicited
Offer'). MB, AG, IS and SI also undertake to inform TE to the extent
possible about any Non Solicted Offer they may receive. MB and IS shall
also refrain, for the duration of this Agreement, to provide any
advisory services or financing in favour of Telecom Operators, in
connection with the acquisition or subscription by any such Telecom
Operators of Newco's shares, O shares and TI shares and/or the
acquisition by any Telecom Operators of TI's Foreign Material Assets and
/or the entering into strategic alliances between TI and any Telecom
Operators.
8.8 It is agreed and understood among the Parties that no shareholder
will be granted additional or special rights, unless granted to the
relevant Class of Shares under the Shareholders' Agreement, the
Co-investment Agreement and the By-Laws.
9. Newco's by-laws
The Newco's By-Laws incorporates most of the principles referred to in this
Shareholders' Agreement in connection with the governance of Newco and all the
principles referred to in this Shareholders' Agreement in connection with the
transfer of the Newco's shares.
As regards the governance of Newco, this Shareholders' Agreement contains the
principles (such as the solution of the deadlocks on certain items) which has
not been possible to introduce in the Newco's By-Laws.
The Parties acknowledge and agree that Newco shall adopt the By-Laws in the text
attached hereto in both Italian and English version as Annex 9. It is understood
that the Italian version will prevail and that the Parties will implement the
amendments, if any, which will be requested by the Notary Public to comply with
mandatory provisions of Italian law, subject to the principle of fullest
implementation of the principles of this Shareholders' Agreement.
It is agreed among the Parties that, in case of conflict, the provisions of this
Shareholders' Agreement will prevail on the provisions of the By-Laws and the
Parties shall conform their acting so as to implement such provisions.
10. Accounting principles
The Parties agree that, as soon as practicable, Newco and O shall move to and
use going forward IFRS principles for their financial statements.
11. Duration and demerger
This Agreement shall commence on the date hereof, and shall expire on the third
anniversary thereof (the 'Expiry Date'), provided however that, if so required
in writing by one of or more of the Parties (the 'Exiting Parties') not later
than six months prior to the Expiry Date, the Parties shall be bound, to cause
(a) the merger between Newco and O to occur (if not already occurred prior to
such date), and (b) the non-proportional de-merger of the company resulting in
the attribution to a number of beneficiaries companies equal to the number of
the Exiting Parties (each beneficiary company owned 100% by each of such Exiting
Party) of a percentage of all the assets and liabilities of Newco after the
merger with O, corresponding to the stake held in Newco after the merger with O
by such Exiting Party, provided that (i) the Parties shall implement, adopt and
vote, and cause their directors designated by them to implement adopt and vote,
all and any actions, documents and resolutions necessary to complete such merger
and de-merger within a reasonably short timeframe, but in any case no later than
6 months following the Demerger Notice or, if the transaction is subject to any
authorizations by law or contract, within 6 months following the obtaining of
such authorizations, and (ii) the Exiting Parties, to the extent the other
Parties decide to execute a new shareholders agreement, shall be permitted to
execute a new shareholders agreement with the other Parties, to be negotiated in
good faith, provided that the De-merger has been completed and the Exiting Party
contributes the relevant shares to such new shareholders' agreement. The Parties
agree that if none of them becomes an Exiting Party, they shall negotiate in
good faith a new shareholders agreement in line, mutatis mutandis, with the
terms and conditions of this Agreement, for a further three years period prior
to the Expiry Date.
10. Confidentiality
No Party shall make any announcement, communication or disclosure in relation to
this Shareholders' Agreement, or in relation to the ongoing negotiations between
the Parties, or in relation to the status of the same without the other Party's
previous written consent, unless this is required by law and/or by the competent
authorities. In this case, the Parties undertake to provide with no delay, to
the extent feasible, to the other Parties notice and/or copy of the
announcement, communication or disclosure required by law and/or by the
competent authorities.
11. Costs and expenses
Each Party shall pay its own costs and expenses (including fees and
disbursements of any external legal or financial advisers and accountants)
incurred in connection with the preparation, negotiation, and execution of this
Shareholders' Agreement.
Each Party represents and warrants that this Shareholders' Agreement has been
concluded without the participation, assistance or intervention, direct or
indirect, of any broker, intermediary, commission agent, business agent or
similar party, who may claim any expenses, fees, royalties, commission or other
costs due to the preparation, negotiation, and execution of this Agreement from
the other Party.
12. Notices
Any notice, objection or other communication to be given by one Party to the
other under, or in connection with, this Shareholders' Agreement shall be in
writing and signed by or on behalf of the Party giving it. It shall be served by
sending it by fax to the number set out in this Article 11, or delivering it by
hand, or sending it by pre-paid recorded delivery, special delivery or
registered post, to the address set out in this Article 11 and in each case
marked for the attention of the relevant Party set out in this Article 11 (or as
otherwise notified from time to time in accordance with the provisions of this
Article 11). Any notice so served by hand, fax, post or e-mail shall be deemed
to have been duly given:
(c) in the case of fax, at the time of transmission, with
receipt of delivery; or
(d) in the case of prepaid recorded delivery, special delivery
or registered post, at the date indicated in the receipt of
delivery,
(e) in the case of e-mail delivery at the e-mail address
indicated below, with receipt of delivery,
provided that in each case where delivery by hand or by fax occurs after 6 p.m.
on a Business Day or on a day which is not a Business Day, service shall be
deemed to occur at 9 a.m. on the following Business Day. Any references to time
in this Article are to local time in the country of the addressee.
The addresses and fax numbers of the Parties for the purpose of Article 11 are
as follows:
To TE:
Telefonica S.A.,
Gran Via n. 38, Planta 9,
28013, Madrid, Spain
To the attention of: the Group General Counsel (Ramiro Sanchez de Lerin),
Ph: + 34 91 584 0207
Fax: + 34 91 531 3206
E-mail: secretaria.general@telefonica.es
To AG:
ASSICURAZIONI GENERALI S.p.A.,
Piazza Duca degli Abruzzi n. 2,
34132, Trieste, Italy
To the attention of: Mr. Giovanni Perissinotto
Ph: + 39 040 671036
Fax: + 39 040 671260
E-mail: giovanni_perissinotto@generali.com
To SI:
SINTONIA S.A.
1, Place d'Armes,
L-1136 Luxembourg
Luxembourg
To the attention of: Mr. Gustave Stoffel
Ph: + 352 26 266255
Fax: + 352 26 266256
E-mail: gustave.stoffel@pt.lu
To IS:
INTESA SANPAOLO S.p.A.
Piazza Scala n. 6,
20121 Milano, Italy
To the attention of Mr. Gaetano Micciche and Mr. Fabio Cane
Ph: + 39 02 879 42650
Fax: + 39 02 879 43 540
E-mail: gaetano.micciche@intesasanpaolo.com, and Fabio.cane@intesasanpaolo.com
To MB:
MEDIOBANCA S.p.A.
Piazzetta Cuccia n. 1,
20121 Milano, Italy
To the attention of: Mr. Clemente Rebecchini and Ms. Cristiana Vibaldi
Ph: + 39 02 8829 202 and + 39 02 8829 455
Fax: + 39 02 8829 943
E-mail: clemente.rebecchini@mediobanca.it, cristiana.vibaldi@mediobanca.it
A Party may notify the other Party of a change to its name, relevant addressee,
address or fax number for the purposes of this Article 11, provided that, such
notice shall only be effective on:
(i) the date specified in the notice as the date on which the change
is to take place; or
(ii) if no date is specified or the date specified is less than five
(5) Business Days after the date on which notice is given, the date
following ten (10) Business Days after notice of any change has been
given.
14. Variations
No variation of this Shareholders' Agreement shall be valid unless it is in
writing and signed by or on behalf of each of the Parties. The expression
'variation' shall include any variation, amendment, supplement, deletion or
replacement however effected.
15. Severability
If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable, then
such provision shall (so far as it is invalid or unenforceable) be given no
effect and shall be deemed not to be included in this Shareholders' Agreement,
but without invalidating any of the remaining provisions of this Shareholders'
Agreement. In any such event the Parties shall negotiate in good faith and agree
all those amendments to this Shareholders' Agreement which are consequently
necessary to replace the invalid or unenforceable provision with terms having as
near as possible the same commercial effect with a view to maintain unaltered
the Parties' mutual interests as currently protected under this Shareholders'
Agreement and in any case preserving a balance between their respective rights
and obligations in enabling them to fully perform their obligations as
contemplated hereunder.
16. Entirety of Agreement
This Shareholders' Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding
of the Parties in relation to the transactions hereby contemplated and
supersedes any and all prior agreements and arrangements, whether written or
oral, that may exist between the Parties with respect to the matters
contemplated therein.
17. No waiver and further assurances
No failure or delay by any of the Parties in exercising any right or remedy
provided by law or pursuant to this Shareholders' Agreement shall impair such
right or remedy or operate or be construed as a waiver or variation of it or
preclude its exercise at any subsequent time and no single or partial exercise
of any such right or remedy shall preclude any other or further exercise of it
or the exercise of any other right or remedy. Each of the Parties undertakes to
the others to perform (or procure the performance of) all further acts and
things, and execute and deliver (or procure the execution and delivery of) such
further documents (including without limitation any agreement or arrangement
which shall be entered into between the Parties) as set forth in this
Shareholders' Agreement, as may be required to implement and/or give effect to
this Shareholders' Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereunder.
18. Governing law/Exclusive Jurisdiction
This Shareholders' Agreement shall be governed by, and interpreted in accordance
with, the laws of the Republic of Italy. Any disputes arising out of or in
connection with this Shareholders' Agreement shall be submitted by the Parties
to arbitration. The venue of the arbitration shall be Milan. The arbitration
shall be conducted in the English language and in accordance with ICC Rules.
* * * * *
TELEFONICA S.A. ASSICURAZIONI GENERALI S.P.A.
__________________________________ __________________________________
INTESA SANPAOLO S.P.A. MEDIOBANCA S.P.A.
__________________________________
__________________________________
SINTONIA S.A.
__________________________________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BY-LAWS
TITLE I
NAME - REGISTERED OFFICE - PURPOSE - DURATION
Article 1
(Name)
1.1 The name of the company shall be (•) (hereinafter 'the Company').
Article 2
(Registered office)
2.1 The Company has its registered office in Milan.
2.2 Secondary offices, branches, administrative and technical offices,
representations, agencies, and dependencies of all types, can be established,
transferred, and abolished - in Italy and abroad - by way of resolution of the
Board of Directors; moreover, the transfer of the registered office of the
Company within the territory of Italy can be decided by way of resolution of the
Board of Directors.
2.3 The domicile of the shareholders, the directors, the auditors and accountant
- for their relations with the Company - is that shown in the Company books.
Article 3
(Purpose)
3.1 The Company has for its purpose:
(a) The investment in, holding of, and disinvestment in shares, direct and
indirect, in (•), only with the purpose of stable investments and not vis-a-vis
the public;
(b) the management and coordination of the activities of the controlled
companies;
(c) the provision of services for and the management, without territorial limit,
of licensed telecommunication services for public use and use in the free
market, as well as corporate or administrative organizational services in the
publishing, advertising, data processing, telecommunications and multimedia
sectors for the benefit of the participated companies, excluding any activities
reserved to directors and those persons enrolled on the professional register;
(d) any other transaction or activity instrumental - and not prevalent - to the
foregoing activities, including the grant of loans, issue of bank guarantees,
sureties and endorsements in favour of subsidiaries, expressly excluding the
exercise of these activities and of any other financial activity vis a vis the
public and the exercise of qualified professional activities, the offering of
securities to the public and the granting of consumer credit, including with
regard to own shareholders, and in any event with the absolute exclusion of
activities reserved under Laws 12/1979, 1966/1969, 1815/1939, and Legislative
Decrees 385/1993 (Article 106) and 58/1998.
Article 4
(Duration)
4.1 The term of the Company is fixed for a period ending on thirty-one (31)
December (12) two thousand and fifty (2050).
TITLE II
CAPITAL - SHARES - WITHDRAWAL - BONDS - FINANCING
Article 5
(Capital and Shares)
5.1 The share capital is equal to Euro (•) and is divided into (•) ((•)) shares
(hereinafter, the 'Shares'), with a nominal value of Euro (•) ((•)) each, of
which (•) ((•)) Shares belong to Class A (hereinafter 'Class A Shares') and (•)
((•)) Shares belong to Class B (hereinafter 'Class B Shares'); Class A Shares
and Class B Shares confer upon their holders equal economic and administrative
rights, except as indicated in this Article 5, and in Articles 7, 8, 15 and 22
of the By-laws.
5.2 (Note: to be completed with the description of the first share capital
increase)
5.3 (Note: to be completed with the description of the second share capital
increase)
5.3-bis (Note: to be completed with the description of the third share capital
increase)
5.4 (Note: to be completed with the description of the fourth share capital
increase)
5.5 (Note: to be completed with the description of the fifth share capital
increase)
5.6 (For the purposes of Article 5.5, 'Fifth Share Capital Investors' shall mean
any company or person, other than a Telecom Operator (as defined below), which
is a reputable qualified Italian institutional or private investor to be
selected by Class A shareholders and subsequently submitted for acceptance to
the Class B shareholders, acceptance which cannot be unreasonably denied.
For the purposes of these by-laws, 'Telecom Operator' shall mean any company or
person operating in the telecom sector and any company or person holding (a) a
controlling stake in any non-listed company operating in the telecom sector or
(b) a stake in a listed company operating in the telecom sector which exceeds
10% of the share capital or which, even though is below 10% of the share
capital, enables the holder to appoint one or more members of the board of
directors of the listed company.
For the purposes of these by-laws, 'Founding Class A shareholders' indicates the
Class A shareholders who have subscribed Class A shares within the share capital
increases provided under paragraphs 5.2, 5.3-bis e 5.4 above.
5.7 The share capital may also be increased by contribution of credits and
contribution in kind, pursuant to article 2440 of the Italian Civil Code.
5.8 In the event of an increase of capital, without consideration or with
consideration without exclusion of the option right, the shareholders who hold
Class A Shares shall have the right to receive and subscribe Class A Shares and
the shareholders who hold Class B Shares shall have the right to receive and
subscribe for Class B Shares. In the event that any holders of Class A Shares
have not fully exercised their pre-emption right, the other holders of Class A
Shares shall have the preferred right to exercise the pre-emption on the unopted
Class A Shares. In the same manner, in the event that any holders of Class B
Shares have not fully exercised their pre-emption right, the other holders of
Class B Shares shall have the preferred right to exercise the pre-emption on the
unopted Class B Shares. In the event that after the exercise of the option and
pre-emption rights by the holders of Class A Shares remain Class A Shares not
subscribed, such shares may be subscribed, by means of the exercise of the
option and pre-emption right, by the holders of Class B shares in proportion to
their stakeholding on the total number of Class B shares issued by the Company,
subject to the automatic conversion of the aforesaid Class A shares at the rate
of one newly issued Class B share (having the same characteristics as the Class
B shares in circulation) for each Class A share subscribed. In the event that
after the exercise of the option and pre-emption rights by the holders of Class
B Shares remain Class B Shares not subscribed, such shares may be subscribed, by
means of the exercise of the option and pre-emption right, by the holders of
Class A shares in proportion to their stakeholding on the total number of Class
A shares issued by the Company, subject to the automatic conversion of the
aforesaid Class B shares at the rate of one newly issued Class A share (having
the same characteristics as the Class A shares in circulation) for each Class B
share subscribed.
5.9 Without prejudice to the provisions set forth in article 5.7 above, the
share capital increases not fully subscribed by Class A and by Class B
shareholders after the exercise of the option and pre-emption rights as the case
may be, will be deemed subscribed up to the amount actually subscribed.
5.10 The shares are represented by share certificates.
5.11 The shares are registered; their conversion into bearer shares is not
allowed.
Article 6
(Withdrawal)
The right of withdrawal does not belong to the shareholders who have not
participated in the decisions regarding:
- the extension of the term of the Company's duration, and
- the introduction or removal of commitments to the circulation of stock
certificates.
Article 7
(Transfer of Shares)
7.1 Within the limits provided by this article 7 and by article 8, the shares
are transferable to shareholders and to third parties, whether by a deed between
living people or by reason of death.
The provisions of this article 7 and of article 8 apply not only to the transfer
of Shares, but to the transfer of any right whatsoever relating to them,
including, by way of example, (i) all shares or potential financial instruments
of the Company (including those provided for in article 2346 of the civil code)
having voting rights or convertible into shares having voting rights, (ii) all
bonds or other financial instruments convertible into, exchangeable with, or
conferring to the relevant owner the right to subscription or to acquisition of
shares or financial instruments with voting rights of the Company, as well as
shares originating in the respective conversion or the exercise of the
abovementioned rights, (iii) any other right, title, and/or financial instrument
(including rights of option and/or warrant and/or equity swap) that gives a
right to the acquisition of and/or subscription to shares and/or financial
instruments and/or bonds convertible into/ or exchangeable with, shares or
financial instruments having voting rights or convertible into shares having
voting rights in the Company, and/or the shares and/or financial instruments
acquired on the basis of their exercise. The provisions of this article 7 and
article 8 regard - in addition - not only the transfer of full ownership of the
Shares and the rights relating thereto, but also the transfer of the bare
ownership and whatsoever real rights of enjoyment, exclusive of the real rights
of guarantee.
For the purposes of this article 7 and article 8, by act of transfer is meant
any transfer by deed between living people, in whatever manner (such as, for
purely illustrative purposes, sale, barter, contango, fiduciary transfer, and
the modification of the entitlement to the relationship underlying a possible
fiduciary commission, the conferring or borrowing of titles, or rather title
deeds, gratis or out of generosity, amalgamation, splitting) able to be
accomplished, directly or indirectly, in whole or part, including in a
transitory manner, the ownership or availability of the Shares and whatever
rights, interests, including of a non-property nature, deriving from or
connected to the entitlement to the Shares.
For the purposes of this Article 7, 'Italian Qualified Investors' shall mean any
company or person, other than a Telecom Operator, which is a reputable qualified
Italian institutional or private investor previously accepted in writing by the
holders of Class B shares, provided that simultaneously with the acquiring of
any stake in the Company shall adhere to any agreement executed by the other
shareholders of the Company in relation to the Shares of the Company to be
transferred.
The provisions of the present article 7 and article 8 do not apply with regard
to transfers in favour of companies entirely owned or controlled or controlling
pursuant to Article 2359, first paragraph No. 1 of the Civil Code, or operations
of partial non-proportional de-merger of the Company, merger by incorporation of
entirely owned companies, and merger between companies entirely owned or
controlled or controlling pursuant to Article 2359, first paragraph No. 1 of the
Civil Code by the same shareholder, provided that the transfer shall be subject
to a condition subsequent whereby in case of subsequent change of control of
said companies, the Shares shall be deemed not having been transferred and shall
have to be returned back to the original Shareholder Transferring Class A Shares
or Shareholder Transferring Class B Shares (as defined below), as the case may
be.To the extent it does not prevent any of the shareholders from exercising the
redemption rights provided for in Articole 28 below, and any right provided for
in this By-laws, the provisions of the present article 7 and article 8 do not
apply also to transfers through derivative transactions or borrowing of titles
according to which the original Shareholder Transferring Class A Shares (being a
bank, financial company or insurance company), as the case may be (i) shall have
the full title and ownership of the Shares upon termination of the relevant
transaction, and, in any case, (ii) shall maintain medio tempore all
administrative and economic rights on the Shares under the derivative
transaction or being object of the borrowing of titles; failure of such
conditions will entail the immediate application of this article 7 and following
article 8.
7.2 The shareholder who intends to transfer Class A shares (hereinafter the
'Shareholder Transferring Class A shares') to a potential third party acquirer,
including a shareholder of the Company (hereinafter, a 'Person Bidding for Class
A shares') must offer them in advance on equal terms to the other shareholders
who hold Class A shares and subsequently, under the circumstances set forth by
the following point (ii), to the shareholders who hold Class B shares; the
holders of Class A shares may acquire the shares offered in pre-emption in
proportion to the number of Class A shares held by each of them compared with
the total number of Class A shares issued by the Company; the holders of Class B
shares may acquire the shares offered in pre-emption , under the circumstances
set forth in the following point (ii) below and in proportion to the number of
Class B shares held by each of them compared with the total number of Class B
shares; the above mentioned procedure shall occur in compliance with the
following mechanisms: (hereinafter the 'Right of Pre-emption'):
(i) The Shareholder Transferring Class A shares must transmit a communication,
by registered or certified mail with return receipt requested to the Chairman of
the Board of Directors and to the other shareholders holding Class A shares,
specifying the number of Class A shares, the price, and the other economic and
contractual conditions of the transfer and the personal particulars of the
Person Bidding for Class A Shares (the 'Transferring Notice'). Within 30 days of
the date of receipt of the Transferring Notice (the 'Term of Exercise'), the
shareholders holding Class A shares who intend to avail themselves of the Right
of Pre-emption must give the appropriate written communication to the Chairman
of the Board of Directors and to the Shareholder Transferring Class A shares
(the 'Acceptance Notice'). The shareholders holding Class A shares who exercise
the Right of Pre-emption, provided that they make a contextual request in the
Notice of Acceptance, will have the right (hereinafter, the 'Right of Increase')
to acquire the Class A shares remaining on sale once all the Notices of
Acceptances have been received (the 'Remaining Class A Shares'). Any Notice of
Acceptance shall specify the number of Remaining Class A Shares in relation to
which the relevant shareholder holding Class A shares wishes to exercise the
Right of Increase. The Remaining Class A Shares shall be divided among the
shareholders who have exercised the Right of Increase in proportion to the
number of Class A shares held by each of them, provided that after the exercise
of the above mentioned rights any shareholder holding Class A shares will not be
entitled to acquire a number of Class A shares higher than the aggregate number
indicated into the Acceptance Notice.
(ii) if after the carrying out of the procedure in the preceding point (i) there
still remain any Remaining Class A Shares, each holder of Class A shares other
than the Shareholder Transferring Class A shares will have the right to procure
within 30 days after the expiry of the Term of Exercise (the 'Further Term') the
acquisition of the Remaining Class A shares by one or more Italian Qualified
Investors, provided that the Shareholder Transferring Class A shares will not
have such right in the case that (aa) the Person Bidding for Class A shares is a
Telecom Operator and (bb) as a consequence of such transfer of Class A shares
the aggregate percentage of the share capital held by the Founding Class A
shareholders is reduced below 35% of the share capital; it being understood that
the loss of such right shall refer exclusively to the portion of transfer of
Shares falling below such threshold.
If on the date the Further Term expires there are still any Remaining Class A
shares or the Italian Qualified Investors do not have the right to acquire Class
A shares as referred to above, such Remaining Class A shares shall be offered
without delay to the shareholders holding Class B shares by means of a
communication made in the form specified in the preceding paragraph (i) of this
Article 7.2. The Remaining Class A shares which become pre-empted by the
shareholders holding Class B shares must be divided among the holders of Class B
shares who pre-empted them - in proportion to the number of Class B shares held
by each of them, provided that the Right of Increase included in Article 7.2(i)
above shall apply mutatis mutandis - subject to the automatic conversion of the
aforesaid Class A shares subject to pre-emption at the rate of one newly issued
Class B share (having the same characteristics as the Class B shares in
circulation) for each Class A share subject to pre-emption. The exercise of the
Right of Pre-emption by the shareholders holding Class B shares, potentially
exercised in accordance with this article 7.2 (ii), must be carried out within
15 days of the receipt of the notice of offering in pre-emption by means of an
appropriate written communication to the Chairman of the Board of Directors and
the Shareholder Transferring Class A shares, specifying the number of shares
requested in pre-emption. The conversion of Class A shares into Class B shares
takes effect upon the recording of the decision of the Board of Directors (which
for this purpose must be convened within 5 days of the expiry of the term for
the exercise of the Right of Pre-emption specified in the present article 7.2
(ii)) resulting from the minutes drawn up by the notary - subject to the
condition precedent that the event described under article 7.2(iv) did not occur
-, who must proceed to carry out all the necessary formalities for the issuance
of Class B shares as well as the necessary registrations in the Register of
Companies, also bringing about the necessary and consequent modifications to
article 5 of the Company's By-laws, making the numerical expressions and the
text in the necessary parts adequate for all legal purposes, providing,
moreover, for deposit, according to article 2346 of the civil code, the text of
the By-laws updated in that sense, as well as carrying out all other formalities
provided by the current legal standards.
(iii) Should remain any Class A shares subject to the bid not acquired by Class
A shareholders or by Italian Qualified Investors or by Class B shareholders in
the sense of the foregoing (the 'Shares A not Purchased') and the Person Bidding
for Class A shares is accepting to buy the Shares not Purchased, the Shares not
Purchased may be transferred from the Shareholder Transferring Class A shares to
the Person Bidding for Class A shares, within but not later than 15 days, if the
transfer in favour of the Person Bidding for Class A shares has not occurred
within the aforesaid term, any later transfer of Class A shares and of the
rights related thereto shall be subject again to the procedure specified in the
present article 7.2; any act of transfer carried out in violation of the
provisions of the present article 7.2 shall be invalid and not opposable to the
Company.(iv) Should remain any Share A not Purchased and the Person Bidding for
Class A shares is not accepting to buy only the Shares A not Purchased pursuant
to the previous paragraph 7.2(iii), the Shareholder Transferring Class A shares
shall be entitled to sell all the Class A shares object of the Class A
Transferring Notice to the Person Bidding for Class A shares.
7.3 The shareholder who intends to transfer Class B shares (hereinafter, the
'Shareholder Transferring Class B shares') to a potential third-party acquirer
as well as to a shareholder of the Company ('Person Bidding for Class B shares')
must offer these shares in advance to all the other shareholders holding Class A
and Class B shares with regard to the following procedure:
(i) the Shareholder Transferring Class B shares must transmit a communication,
by registered or certified mail with return receipt requested to the Chairman of
the Board of Directors and other shareholders, specifying the number of Class B
shares, the price, and the other economic and contractual conditions of the
transfer and the personal particulars of the Person Bidding for Class B shares
(the 'Class B Transferring Notice'). Within 30 days of the date of receipt of
the notice, the shareholders who intend to avail themselves of the Right of
Pre-emption must give the appropriate written communication to the Chairman of
the Board of Directors and the Shareholder Transferring Class B shares,
specifying the number of shares requested in pre-emption;
(ii) (a) Should the offer be accepted in its totality by the shareholders, the
Class B shares subject to bidding shall be divided among the aforesaid
shareholders, in proportion to the number of shares held by each of them
compared to the total number of shares (of Class A and Class B) issued by the
Company; (b) should the offer be accepted only in part by the shareholders, the
Class B shares offered and acquired must be divided among the aforesaid
shareholders in proportion to the number of shares held by each of them compared
to the total number of shares (of Class A and Class B); The Class B shares
pre-empted by the holders of Class A shares will be transferred to them pursuant
to the present Article 7.3 subject to the automatic conversion of the aforesaid
pre-empted Class B shares at the rate of one newly issued Class A share (having
the same characteristics as the Class A shares in circulation) for each Class B
share subject to pre-emption. The conversion of the Class B shares into Class A
shares will be executed in compliance with the procedure set forth in Article
7.2 (ii) above.
(iii) Should remain any Class B shares subject to the bid not acquired by Class
B shareholders or by Class A shareholders (the 'Shares B not Purchased') and the
Person Bidding for Class B shares is accepting to buy the Shares not Purchased,
the Shares B not Purchased may be transferred from the Shareholder Transferring
Class B shares to the Person Bidding for Class B shares, within but not later
than 15 days, if the transfer in favour of the Person Bidding for Class B shares
has not occurred within the aforesaid term, any later transfer of Class B shares
and of the rights related thereto shall be subject again to the procedure
specified in the present article 7.3; any act of transfer carried out in
violation of the provisions of the present article 7.3 shall be invalid and not
opposable to the Company.
(iv) Should remain any Share B not Purchased and the Person Bidding for Class B
shares is not accepting to buy only the Share B not Purchased, the Shareholder
Transferring Class B shares shall be entitled to sell all the Class B shares
object of the Class B Transferring Notice to the Person Bidding for Class B
shares.
7.4 In the event that the transfer of shares does not provide a corresponding
amount, or rather if it does not provide it entirely in cash (for example, in
the event of donation, barter, or transfer through amalgamation, splitting) the
price at which the shareholders in the Company shall be able to acquire the
shares offered to them in pre-emption shall be determined by mutual agreement of
the shareholder who intends to transfer and the shareholder or shareholders who
have exercised the pre-emption (the 'Interested Shareholders'). If the
Interested Shareholders have not reached an agreement within 30 workdays,
elapsing from the moment when the shareholder who intends to transfer has
received the communication of the shareholders who intend to exercise the Right
of Pre-emption, the price for each share shall be calculated on the basis of the
adjusted net worth of the Company to be determined taking into account the price
of the shares held in TI calculating by means of the arithmetic average of the
official stock exchange prices within 30 days preceding the date of the offer in
pre-emption divided by the number of shares issued and, in case of disputes, the
calculation, to be carried out on the basis of the criteria indicated above,
shall be remitted to an expert appointed by the President of the Court of Milan,
upon application by the most diligent shareholder.
7.5 All transfers provided under this Article 7 shall be subject to the
applicable Antitrust and/or regulatory provisions and shall occur not later than
10 days after obtaining any applicable Antitrust and/or regulatory clearance, if
needed, and in any case not later than six months from the completion of the
binding agreement in relation to the transfer of the Shares.
7.6 Transfers made in violation of the provisions of the present article 7 and
the following article 8 shall be invalid and unenforceable with regard to the
Company.
Article 8
(Right of Co-Sale (Tag-Along))
8.1 Without prejudice to the provisions of the foregoing article 7, in the event
that one or more shareholders (hereinafter called jointly the 'Considerable
Shareholder') (i) intend to transfer, also one or more times, a number of shares
that represent a share equal to at least 30% of the share capital of Company
(the 'Considerable Share') to a potential third-party acquirer or to one or more
potential acquirers belonging to the same group, connected by a relationship of
control or linkage among them in the meaning of article 2359 of the civil code,
or who in any case act in concert pursuant to article 109, Consolidated
Financial Act, for the purchase of the Considerable Share, and (ii) none of the
other shareholders exercises the Right of Pre-emption at the end of the
respective term of exercise, or notwithstanding the exercise of the Right of
Pre-emption by one or more of the other shareholders a bid by the third party is
still pending for a share equal to at least the Considerable Share, the
shareholder (or shareholders) who did not exercise the Right of Pre-emption to
which they were entitled (hereinafter the 'Non-Opting Shareholder') shall have
the right to transfer to the potential third-party acquirer his own shares (the
'Right of Co-Sale' or 'Tag-Along Right') at the same terms and conditions of the
transfer of the Considerable Shareholder pursuant to this article 8. If the
transfer from the Considerable Shareholder does not comprise the entire stake
held but only a part of such stake, the Tag Along Right shall be allocated to
the Non-Opting Shareholder in the same proportion existing between the number of
Shares to be sold and all the shares held by the Considerable Shareholder.
8.2 If the Non-Opting Shareholder intends to exercise its Tag-Along Right, he
must, under penalty of forfeiture, give a written communication to the
Considerable Shareholder - and a copy to the Company - by the means and under
the terms provided for the exercise of the Right of Pre-emption discussed in the
foregoing article 7. Once the express request has been made by the Non-Opting
Shareholder to avail himself of the Tag-Along Right (hereinafter the 'Proposal
of Sale'), the aforesaid Non-Opting Shareholder shall be obliged to sell all or
the different pro rata quantities established above of his own shares, free from
every encumbrance, lien or right in favour of third parties, to the potential
third-party acquirer, in accordance with the following procedure:
(i) The Considerable Shareholder must, as a condition for the efficacy of the
transfer of his own shares, see to it that the potential third-party acquirer
(a) accepts unconditionally the Proposal of Sale mentioned in this article 8.2,
having for its purpose the sale of all (or the different pro rata quantities
established above) the shares owned by each Non-Opting Shareholder who has made
the Proposal of Sale, without the potential third-party acquirer being able to
require with regard thereto any declaration and/or guarantee, with the exception
of the guarantees pertaining to (ai) the entitlement to the shares owned by the
Non-Opting Shareholder, in the absence of commitments regarding these and the
capacity to freely dispose of them, and (aii) the fact that the shares are free
from every encumbrance, lien or right in favour of third parties; and (b)
acquires all (or the different pro rata quantities established above)the shares
owned by each Non-Opting Shareholder who made the Proposal of Sale;
(ii) The transfer of the shares by the Considerable Shareholder and the other
Non-Opting Shareholders must arrive in one single setting, with contextual
payment of the price within and not later than 15days of the date of receipt of
the Proposal of Sale by the Considerable Shareholder;
(iii) If no shareholder has exercised the Right of Pre-emption in the sense of
article 7 nor the Tag-Along right in the sense of the present article, the
Considerable Shareholder may transfer the shares belonging to him to the
relevant third-party acquirer on condition that (a) the transfer occurs under
the same conditions indicated in his own communication to the other
shareholders, here including the same price. and (b) the transfer shall occur
within 15 days of the expiry of the different term of exercise mentioned in the
foregoing article 7, it remaining firm that the aforesaid term shall be
reasonably extended, as referred below, if the transfer of the shares is subject
to obligations of communication in advance or authorization by an authority; it
remains the intention that the aforesaid term of 15 days be considered respected
if within the appropriate deadline the Considerable Shareholder has executed
with the potential third-party acquirer a purchase and sale contract with
deferred efficacy (but not more than 6 months) or conditional solely upon the
obtaining of the authorizations required by law or regulation (provided that
such agreement shall terminate if such authorizations have not been obtained
within six months following execution of such purchase and sale contract), at a
price per share and, in general, on the terms and conditions indicated by the
potential third party acquirer in his own bid. If the transfer to the potential
third party acquirer has not taken place in conformity with what is indicated in
this paragraph and in the terms provided here, the Considerable Shareholder
shall not be able to transfer his own shares unless subject to the experiencing
of the procedures discussed in articles 7 and 8 and the transfer shall not be
valid and enforceable against the Company.
Article 9
(Bonds and Financing)
9.1 The Company may issue convertible and non-convertible bonds, take loans from
shareholders, with interest or interest-free, with or without reimbursement
obligation, in compliance with the applicable laws and regulations and its
by-laws.
SECTION III
SHAREHOLDERS' MEETING
Article 10
(Ordinary Shareholders' Meeting)
10.1 The Ordinary Shareholders' Meeting shall decide upon matters reserved to it
by law. Furthermore, the Ordinary Shareholders' Meeting authorises, within the
meaning of Article 2364 (1)(5) of the Civil Code, subject to the
responsibilities of the Board of Directors, (i) with the majority provided in
the following Article 12, paragraph 3, the carrying out by the Company of the
activities discussed in Article 3.1, letter (c) and (ii) the Company's
acceptance ( or company's instruction to its subsidiaries, pursuant to its
activity of direction and coordination, to accept )to any tender offers having
as their subject the shares of TI, provided that in such a case the efficacy of
the authorization resolved by the meeting is subject to the condition precedent
of the failed exercise of the Redemption discussed in the following Article 28.2
potentially carried out - with respect to the prerequisites and procedure
discussed in the following Article 28.2 - by the shareholders authorised to do
so, provided that if the said Redemption is exercised, the aforesaid resolution
of the Meeting is intended to be definitively revoked at the moment of the
transfer of the shares subject to Redemption and the TI shares directly or
indirectly held by the Company shall be rendered unavailable within the meaning
of the following Article 28.2 (iii).
Article 11
Call
11.1 The Shareholders' Meeting may also be convened in a place other the
registered office, provided that it is held in Milan.
11.2 The Meeting may be convened, subject to resolution of the Board of
Directors, by the Chairman of the Board of Directors by means of a notice at
least eight days prior to the date fixed for the meetingto be send by means of:
(i) A letter or telegram sent to all the shareholders entered in the
shareholders' register, to the directors and statutory auditors by postal
service or an equivalent; with notice of receipt; or alternatively; (ii) a fax
or e-mail message sent and received by all the persons indicated above, who
must, within the date established for the meeting, confirm in writing, also
using the same means, receipt of the notice, specifying the date of receipt
whenever the delivery means used do not provide for notification - even
electronic - of receipt by the addressee.
11.3 In the notice of call a second meeting may be set for another day, if the
preceding Meeting was not legally constituted.
11.4 In the absence of formal call, the Meeting is regularly constituted when
the entire share capital of the Company is represented and the majority of the
members of the Board of Directors and of the members of the managerial body take
part; in that case, each of the participants may object to the discussion of
issues for which he is not sufficiently informed.
11.5 Except as provided by the last paragraph of Article 2367 of the Civil Code,
the Board of Directors must convene the Meeting without delay when a request is
made by as many shareholders representing at least one tenth of the share
capital of the Company and the issues to be discussed are set out in the
request.
11.6 The Ordinary Shareholders' Meeting must be convened by the Board of
Directors at least once a year, within one hundred and twenty days of the close
of the Company's fiscal year; the Meeting may be convened within one hundred and
eighty days of the close of the Company's fiscal year should the Company be
required to prepare consolidated financial statements or when this is required
by particular resons connected to the structure and the purpose of the Company.
Article 12
(Resolutions)
12.1 Without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph 12.3 below, the Ordinary
Shareholders' Meeting - in first call - is regularly convened with the
participation of such shareholders as represent at least half of the share
capital and - in second call - is regularly convened with the participation of
such shareholders as represent at least one fifth of the share capital, except
for the approval of the financial statements and the appointment and removal of
corporate officers, for which it is regularly convened whatever the proportion
of the share capital represented by the shareholders taking part.
12.2 Without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph 12.3 below, the Ordinary
Shareholders' Meeting - in first and second call - resolves with the vote of the
absolute majority of the capital present.
12.3 The Meeting convened to resolve on the authorization of activities or
operations in pursuit of the corporate purposes indicated in Article 3,
paragraph 3.1, letter (c) of the By-laws is validly constituted and decides by a
vote of such shareholders as represent at least 95% of the share capital.
The Ordinary Meeting convened to resolve on the distribution of dividends is
validly constituted and decides by a vote of such shareholders as constitute at
least 65% of the capital stock, it remaining firm that if one or more
shareholders who, even altogether, represent a share of the Company greater than
30% of the capital stock, should abstain or be absent from the decision of the
Meeting, it may be adopted by a vote of such shareholders as represent the
absolute majority of the capital stock.
12.4 The Extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting - in first and second call - is
regularly constituted and resolves with the vote of such shareholders as
represent at least (i) 75% of the share capital with regard to the resolutions
(x) approving share capital increase with the exclusion of the option right
pursuant to article 2441, par. 4 and 5, of the Italian civil code, (y) approving
mergers or de-mergers causing a dilution of the stakeholding held by the
shareholders in the Company except the mergers provided under Article 18.2(i);
and (z) approving amendments to articles 12, 15, 18 and 22 of the present
by-laws, and (ii) with regard to the remaining other resolutions, 65% of the
share capital (with the exception of resolutions under Articles 2446 and 2447 of
the Civil Code, which are decided by the applicable majorities), provided that,
in the cases above mentioned under letters (i) e (ii), if one or more
shareholders who, even together, hold an interest in the company that exceeds
30% of the share capital should abstain from such a Shareholders' Meeting
resolution or be absent, it may be adopted by a vote of such shareholders as
represent at least the absolute majority of the share capital.
In the event the quorums to convene the Extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting and
resolve upon the issues set out in the first paragraph of this paragraph 12.4
are not met, the Extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting may be convened anew to
resolve on the same issues, provided at least 30 days have elapsed from the
preceding call. In such a case the meeting - in first call and in second call -
is regularly convened and resolves by the vote of such shareholders as represent
the absolute majority of the share capital.
Article 13
(Right of participation and vote)
13.1 Participation in the shareholders' meeting is allowed to those shareholders
having the right to vote or the financial instruments giving the right to vote
on at least one of the topics listed on the agenda as well as to those
individuals who have been granted the right of participation either by law or by
virtue of these By-laws. Each share has attached the right to issue one vote.
The Company guarantees the provision of translation services in favour of
shareholders who do not speak Italian.
13.2 For participation in the shareholders' meeting, it is not necessary to have
previously lodged (i) shares or the relative certificates thereof, and (ii)
financial instruments incorporated in securities or documented by certificates.
13.3 The shareholders' meeting can also be held in a number of places, either
contiguous or distance from each other, connected by audio and/or video, as long
as the collective assembly method is used, principles of good faith are upheld,
and all shareholders are treated equally. In particular, it is necessary that:
(i) the president of the shareholders' meeting and the person taking record of
the shareholders' meeting be in the same place; they will write up and sign the
minutes and for the purposes of record the meeting will be considered as having
taken place at that location;
(ii) the president of the shareholders' meeting be allowed, including through
the office of the president, to verify the identity and legitimacy of the
participants, control the meeting process, verify and announce the results of
voting;
(iii) the person taking down the minutes be allowed to properly observe the
shareholders' meeting events he or she is required to record;
(iv) the participants be allowed to take part in the discussion and
simultaneously vote on the items of the agenda, as well as view, receive and
transmit documents;
(v) the audio and/or video locations to which the Society is responsible for
allowing the participants to connect to be indicated in the notice to call the
shareholders' meeting.
Article 14
(President and secretary)
14.1 The shareholders' meeting shall be chaired by the Chairman of the Board of
Directors or by a person elected with the majority vote of those present.
14.2 The shareholders' meeting shall appoint a secretary,not necessarily having
to be a shareholder, and if need be also one or more observers,, not necessarily
having to be shareholders. The attendance of the secretary is not necessary when
the minutes are recorded by a notary.
SECTION IV
ADMINISTRATION
Article 15
(Appointment of the Board of Directors)
15.1 The Company is administered by a board of directors of 10 directors.
15.2 The appointment of the board of directors shall take place on the basis of
on the lists submitted by shareholders holding Class A shares and Class B shares
in accordance with the paragraphs describing this process whereby the candidates
shall be listed using a sequential numbering scheme.
Class A Shareholders who, either individually or collectively with other Class A
Shareholders represent a participation equal to at least 20% of the Company's
share capital may submit or concur in the presentation of a list. Class B
shareholders who, individually or collectively with other Class B Shareholder
hold a participation equal to at least 20% of the Company share capital may
submit or concur in the presentation of a list.
The lists submitted by the shareholder must be submitted to the Company's
registered office at least seven days before the date set for the shareholders'
meeting and each of them must contain the number of candidates equal to the
maximum number of board members to be elected.
Included with each list, and within the deadlines indicated above, there must be
narrations with which the individual candidates irrevocably accept their
candidature and attest, under their own responsibility, that there are no
pre-existing conditions of ineligibility or incompatibility, and that they do in
fact possess the requirements set out for the respective positions.
Shareholders can submit or concur with a submission, and vote on a single list.
The Class A shareholders will be entitled to vote exclusively lists submitted by
one or more Class A shareholders. The Class B shareholders will be entitled to
vote exclusively lists submitted by one or more Class B shareholders.
15.3 In the event that on the date of the general shareholders' meeting
resolving upon the appointment of the board of directors, the Class A shares
represent in the aggregate the absolute majority of the share capital of the
Company, the following procedure is to be followed in the appointment of the
members of the Board:
(a) from the list that may have been submitted by Class B shareholders, 4 board
members shall be chosen, the first of the directors elected shall be appointed
as vice chairman;
(b) the remaining board members to be elected will be taken from the list
submitted by Class A shareholders, the first of the directors elected shall be
appointed as chairman.
On the contrary, in the event that on the date of the general shareholders'
meeting resolving upon the appointment of the board of directors, the Class B
shares represent in the aggregate the absolute majority of the share capital of
he Company, the following procedure is to be followed in the appointment of the
members of the Board:
(x) from the list that may have been submitted by Class A shareholders, 4 board
members shall be chosen, the first of the directors elected shall be appointed
as vice chairman;
(y) the remaining board members to be elected will be taken from the list
submitted by Class B shareholders, the first of the directors elected shall be
appointed as chairman.
When a single list has been submitted, the board members who appear on that list
will be elected.
15.4 If on the the date of the general shareholders' meeting resolving upon the
appointment of the board of directors the Class B shares represent in the
aggregate less than 30% and more than 20% of the Company's share capital, two
directors shall be chosen from the list submitted by the Class B shareholder
while the remaining directors shall be chosen by the list submitted by the Class
A shareholders. If on the the date of the general shareholders' meeting
resolving upon the appointment of the board of directors the Class A shares
represent in the aggregate less than 30% and more than 20% of the Company's
share capital, two directors shall be chosen from the list submitted by the
Class A shareholder while the remaining directors shall be chosen by the list
submitted by the Class B shareholders.
15.5 In the event that no list is submitted, the appointment of the board
members will not be carried out with the list vote system indicated above but
rather by a resolution of the Shareholders' meeting taken with the legal
majorities present.
15.6 If in the course of this exercise a director has ceased to add his or her
position, he or she shall be replaced by the first non-elected candidate on the
same list to which the missing director belongs, or if there is an obstacle to
the first non-elected candidate stepping up in this manner, then the non-elected
person immediately below him or her on that same list will serve as the
replacement. If it is not possible for any reason to replace the missing board
member with any of the non-elected candidates from that same list, then the
provisions of law shall be followed.
If in the course of the exercise there fails to be a majority with regard to the
members who make up the board of directors, then the remaining board members
shall resign, with such resignation taking official effect from the moment the
Board is reconstituted by nomination of the shareholder's meeting
A shareholders' meeting shall be called immediately by remaining board member,
for the purposes of appointing the new board of directors.
Should all board members resign or cease to hold their position for any reason,
the shareholders' meeting for the purposes to appoint the new board of
directors, shall be called immediately by the board of statutory auditors, which
shall perform the ordinary administrative activity in the meantime.
Article 16
(General provisions)
16.1 The administration of the Company may also be entrusted to non-members.
16.2 The directors shall hold their positions for a term established by their
deed of appointment and therefore for a period not to exceed three financial
years. This term shall expire on the date of the shareholder meetings' called to
approve the balance sheet for the last financial period of their term.
Article 17
(Chairman of the board of directors)
17.1 The board of directors elects from among its members - where a
shareholders' meeting has not already been held -a chairman and the possible one
or more vice-chairman presidents in accordance with the provision of the present
By-laws, establishing therein their powers save for the power provided by law.
17.2 The board of directors can further appoint a secretary, also in a permanent
manner, and who does not necessarily have to be a member of such board of
directors.
Article 18
(Powers of the board of directors and representation)
18.1 The board of directors is vested with the broadest powers for ordinary and
extraordinary management of the Company, without exception of any sort, and
shall carry out all functions not reserved - by law or these By-laws- to the
competence, including of an authoritative nature, of the shareholders' meeting e
.
18.2 The board of directors shall be exclusively responsible for making
decisions on the following:
(i) mergers by incorporation of companies in which the Company holds at least
ninety percent of the shares or stakes, merger by incorporation of the Company
into another company which already holds at least ninety percent of the
Company's shares, as well as a de-merger of the Company;
(ii) transactions for the of acquisition or transfer of - or encumbrance of -
the Company's direct or indirect shareholdings in any form or manner in O or in
TI or any rights attached to those shares including, but not limited to, voting
rights, with the exception of shareholdings transferred to meet public
acquisition offers provided by law or regulation which shall occur once the
authorization of ordinary shareholders' meeting has been given;
(iii) investments in companies other than investments in O and in TI;
(iv) capital expenditures and financial structure decisions for amounts in
excess or Euro 75 million;
(v) decisions on the vote to be exercised in the shareholders' meetings of O and
TI;
(vi) approval and amendments of the Company's budget;
(vii) reduction of share capital in the event of a shareholder's withdrawal;
(viii) the By-laws' compliance with legislative provisions;
(ix) the setup, transfer or dissolution of branch offices.
The resolutions regarding the matters mentioned above in (ii) to (vi) are
approved by way of the vote of at least 7 sitting board members of the board of
directors (the 'Consolidated Quorum'). As a partial exception to the above,
should there be resolutions of board members that require Consolidated Quorums,
in the event that 3 or more board members have/has abstained or is/are absent,
these resolutions shall be taken with the vote of the majority of only those
board members sitting.
Subject to the above, in the event that the Consolidated Quorum is not achieved
for the resolutions relating to the areas cited in sections (ii) and (v) above,
the board of directors can be called again to resolve on these same issues. In
this case, the board of directors shall resolve with the vote of the majority of
only those board members sitting.
18.3 The representation, including in legal proceedings (including therein the
ability to file lawsuits and initiate legal actions, including in Supreme Courts
and to appoint to that end attorneys and proxy attorney), is the responsibility
of:
(i) the chairman of the board of directors;
(ii) the vice-chairman;
(iii) anyone not a member of the board of directors, designated thereby, within
the scope of and in the exercise of the powers granted to them.
Article 19
(Meetings of the board of directors)
19.1 The board of directors can also meet in a place other than the registered
office of the Company, provided that it occurs in Milan, any time that the
chairman of the board of directors, or whoever is standing in for him, deems it
suitable and/or necessary or when he is asked to do so by at least one of his
directors or by the board of statutory auditors and at least once every quarter.
19.2 The board of directors is called to assembly by the chairman of the board
of directors or by whomsoever is standing for him, at least five business days -
or in case of urgency, two business days - before the date set for the meeting,
via registered letter, hand-delivered letter, telegram or fax, sent to all
directors and statutory auditors at the addresses indicated in the company
books; the date, place and time of the meeting, list of items on the agenda and
possible details relating to the audio and/or videoconferencing connections
should be included in the call to assembly.
19.3 In the absence of a formal call to assembly, the board of directors shall
be considered as having been validly constituted if all sitting board members
and statutory auditors are participating therein.
19.4 At the request of any Director, meetings of the board of directors can also
take place in a number of places, either together or distant from each other,
connected by audio and/or video, as long as :
(i) the president of the assembly and the person taking record of the assembly
are in the same place; they will write up and sign the minutes and for the
purposes of record, the meeting will be considered as having taken place at that
location;
(ii) the president of the assembly is allowed to verify the identity of the
participants, control the meeting process, oversee and announce the results of
voting;
(iii) the person taking down the minutes is allowed to properly observe the
events of the meeting he or she is tasked with recording;
(iv) the participants are allowed to take part in the discussion and
simultaneously vote on the items of the agenda, as well as look at, receive and
transmit documents;
The Company guarantees the provision of translation services for directors'
interventions and the translation of the relevant documents to be review by the
Board, which shall be provided with together with the corresponding call of the
meeting.
19.5 Without prejudice to the provisions of article 18.2 above, the resolutions
of the board of directors shall be considered as having been validly made with
the majorities provided by law.
19.6 Meetings of the board of directors are presided over by the president of
the board of directors or by the board member appointed by the participants.
19.7 Resolutions of the board of directors must be recorded in the minutes
signed by the president of the meeting and by the individual who recorded them
and must be transcribed into the book of assemblies and deliberations of the
board of directors.
Article 20
(General Manager and attorneys)
20.1. The board of directors may appoint, replace and remove one or more chief
executive officers, deciding on their functions, assignments and faculties.
20.2 The board of directors may also appoint, replace and remove agents,
attorneys and representatives - in general - for particular acts or categories
of acts; the same can be done by any director vested with the power of
representation, within the limits of the relative assignments.
Article 21
(Compensation of directors)
21.1 Compensation for directors shall be determined in accordance with article
2389 of the civil code.
21.2 The shareholders' meeting may determine a total amount for compensation of
all the directors, including those invested with particular offices.
21.3 In any case, the directors must be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the
performance of their duties.
SECTION V
BOARD OF STATUTORY AUDITORS AND ACCOUNTING CONTROL
Article 22
(Board of Statutory Auditors)
22.1 The Board of Statutory Auditors is composed of three effective auditors and
two alternate auditors. The Board of Statutory Auditors elects a Chairman by
majority vote from among its effective members. In the event of absence or
impediment of the Chairman, the auditor oldest in age will replace him.
Appointment of the Board of Statutory Auditors shall be done on the basis of
lists submitted by shareholders. Class A shareholders can submit or concur to
submit a single list. Class B shareholders can submit or concur to submit a
single list.
The lists submitted by the shareholders must be submitted to the Company's
registered office at least than (ten) days before the date set for the
first-call of the shareholders' meeting.
Included with each list, and within the deadlines indicated above, there must be
declarations with which the individual candidates irrevocably accept their
candidature and attest under, their own responsibility, that there are no
pre-existing conditions of ineligibility or incompatibility, and that they do in
fact possess the requirements set out for the respective positions by law and by
the By-laws.
The lists shall be divided into two sections: one for candidates for the
position of effective statutory auditor and the other for candidates for the
position of alternate auditor.
Anyone with the right to vote can vote on a single list.
The following procedure is to be followed in the election of the members of the
Board:
(a) from the list that may have been submitted by Class B shareholders shall be
chosen, per the sequential order in which they appear on this list, one
alternate and one effective statutory auditor, acting as Chairman.
(b) the remaining board members to be elected will be taken from the list
submitted by Class A shareholders.
22.2 The effective statutory auditors will be compensated on the basis of
professional tariffs, where such compensation has not been determined by the
shareholders' meeting.
22.3 Meetings of the board of statutory auditors may also be held using
telematic methods in compliance with the rules set forth under Article 19.4
above.
Article 23
(Accounting control)
23.1 Until the Company is not obliged to consolidated its financial statement,
the accounting control is exercised by the Board of Statutory Auditors, entirely
formed by accounting auditors registered under the national register kept by the
Ministry of Justice; with resolution of the ordinary shareholders' meeting,
accounting control may, however, be conferred on an accounting auditor or an
auditing company registered under the national register kept by the Ministry of
Justice.
SECTION VI
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND PROFITS
Article 24
(Company fiscal year)
24.1 The Company's fiscal years end on 31 December of every year.
Article 25
(Balance sheet)
25.1 At the end of each of the Company's fiscal year, the board of directors
shall draw up the financial statement pursuant to law.
Article 26.
(Profits)
26.1 The profits resulting form the financial statement, minus an amount not
less than 5% (five percent) intended for the legal reserve, up to the limit
allowed by law, shall be distributed among the shareholders in a proportion
corresponding to the number of shares held by each shareholders, unless the
shareholders' meeting decides on special allocations to extraordinary reserves
or some other purpose or decides to carry it over - in whole or in part - to the
next fiscal year.
26.2 If the Company's financial statement has been subjected by law to auditing
by an auditing company registered under the related professional register, the
distribution of accounts of dividends pursuant to article 2433-bis of the civil
code is allowed.
SECTION VII
DISSOLUTION
Article 27
(Dissolution)
27.1 The Company shall be dissolved for the reasons established by law.
27.2 In the event the Company is dissolved, the procedure to be followed shall
be that set out in articles 2484 and subsequent of the civil code.
SECTION VIII
RULES FOR REDEMPTION
Article 28
(Methods for exercising the right of redemption)
28.1 Any Company Share (either Class A or Class B) can be redeemed pursuant to
and for the effects of article 2437-sexies of the civil code, if the
prerequisites set out in this article have been satisfied.
28.2 If the ordinary shareholders' meeting has authorized the Company, pursuant
to article 10.1(ii), to adhere to public tender offers to acquire the
shareholdings directly or indirectly held by the Company in TI, any shareholder
(or shareholders) who have caused to set down in writing their dissent thereto
at this shareholders' meeting (hereafter, the 'Dissenting Shareholder') shall
have the option of redeeming all - and not just part - of the Company Shares
(hereafter, the 'Redemption') held by the other shareholders, in accordance with
the following procedure:
(i) The Dissenting Shareholder who wishes to exercise the Redemption must give
written notification (the 'Notice') thereof via registered letter with return
receipt to all the other shareholders and to the Chairman of the board of
directors within five (5) working days after the date of the shareholders'
meeting which decided to authorize the operation cited above, indicating, in
this notification, the Redemption price, determined pursuant to the following
point (iv);
(ii) in the event that there are more Dissenting Shareholders, they shall have
the right to buy the Shares which are the object of the Redemption in proportion
to their stake in the Company's share capital;
(iii) as of the date of the Ordinary Shareholders Meeting which decided to
authorize the operation cited above, the TI shares directly or indirectly held
by the Company will be made unavailable by depositing them in an account held by
the Company or by a company controlled by it which owns a direct stake in TI,
with a fiduciary company that has received binding and irrevocable instructions,
in accordance with the provisions of this clause, and with the necessary powers
to proceed to execute the transfer and endorsement of the shares to the
Dissenting Shareholder/s;
(iv) the Redemption price per each Company share shall be the Company's adjusted
net worth divided by the total number of issued Company Shares. The Company's
adjusted net worth is determined by taking into account the higher between (i)
the consideration offered for the TI shares in the public tender offer; and (ii)
the price of the shares held in TI calculated on the basis of the arithmetic
average of the official stock exchange prices within 30 days preceding the date
of the Notice.
(v) in case of dispute, on the part of one or more shareholders, as to the price
of Redemption within 10 days after receipt of the notification mentioned in
number (i) above, the determination thereof shall be handed over to an expert
appointed, upon request of the most diligent shareholder, by the President of
the Court of Milan. The expert must adhere to the criteria stated in the
preceding number (iv) above and must determine the Redemption price within 20
working days after the appointment;
(vi) the transfer of the shares and the payment of the Redemption Price shall
occur: (x) within 15 business days following the Notice, or (y) if the
transaction is subject to any authorization by law or contract, within 15
business days following obtaining such authorization or (z) in case of dispute,
within 15 business days following the final determination of the Redemption
price, provided that transfer of the Shares which are the object of the
Redemption shall only take effect from the time of the notification to the
Company that the Redemption price has been deposited - as indicated in the
Notice if there are no disputes, or as determined by the expert appointed
pursuant to number (v) above - with the Banks indicated by the transferring
shareholders, being understood that simultaneously the Company will proceed to
make the consequent annotations in the shareholders' register.
SECTION IX
TRANSITORY RULES
Upon the Founding Class A shareholders (as defined above) ceasing to hold in the
aggregate at least 35% of the share capital, article 7.2(ii) above shall be
replaced as follows :
'(ii) if after the carrying out of the procedure in the preceding point
(i) there still remain any Remaining Class A Shares, such Remaining
Class A shares must be offered without delay to the shareholders holding
B shares by means of a communication made in the form specified in the
preceding paragraph (i) of this Article 7.2; the Remaining Class A
shares which become pre-empted by the shareholders holding Class B
shares must be divided among the holders of Class B shares who
pre-empted them - in proportion to the number of Class B shares held by
each of them, provided that the Right of Increase included in Article
7.2(i) above shall apply mutatis mutandis - subject to the automatic
conversion of the aforesaid Class A shares subject to pre-emption at the
rate of one newly issued Class B share (having the same characteristics
as the Class B shares in circulation) for each Class A share subject to
pre-emption. The exercise of the Right of Pre-emption by the
shareholders holding Class B shares , potentially exercise in the sense
of what is provided in the present article 7.2 (ii), must be carried out
within 30 days of the receipt of the notice of offering in pre-emption
by means of an appropriate written communication to the Chairman of the
Board of Directors and the Shareholder Transferring Class A shares,
specifying the number of shares requested in pre-emption. The conversion
of Class A shares to Class B shares takes effect upon the recording of
the decision of the Board of Directors (which for this purpose must be
convened within 5 days of the expiry of the term for the exercise of the
Right of Pre-emption specified in the present article 7.2 (ii))
resulting from the minutes drawn up by the notary - subject to the
condition precedent that the event described under article 7.2(iv) did
not occur -, who must proceed to carry out all the necessary formalities
for the issuance of Class B shares as well as the necessary
registrations in the Register of Companies, also bringing about the
necessary and consequent modifications to article 5 of the Company's
By-laws, making the numerical expressions and the text in the necessary
parts adequate for all legal purposes, providing, moreover, for deposit,
according to article 2346 of the civil code, the text of the By-laws
updated in that sense, as well as carrying out all other formalities
provided by the current legal standards.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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