-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, BOR5oVW3mbAnpPn3nTNoWR10JTDR7sLuClNd29+BFC36zb5YmiHWi9/jsqSflCX0 aefdB0ciEGFe3M2FewMgEQ== 0000947871-07-000628.txt : 20070507 0000947871-07-000628.hdr.sgml : 20070507 20070507160306 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000947871-07-000628 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: SC 13D/A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 6 FILED AS OF DATE: 20070507 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20070507 SUBJECT COMPANY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: TELECOM ITALIA S P A CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000948642 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: COMMUNICATION SERVICES, NEC [4899] IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: L6 FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13D/A SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 005-61827 FILM NUMBER: 07824059 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: PIAZZA DEGLI AFFARI 2 CITY: 20123 MILAN STATE: L6 ZIP: L6 BUSINESS PHONE: 011-39-02-8595-1 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: PIAZZA DEGLI AFFARI 2 CITY: 20123 MILAN STATE: L6 ZIP: L6 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: STET SOCIETA FINANZIARIA TELEFONICA PA DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19950727 FILED BY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001379235 IRS NUMBER: 007976032 STATE OF INCORPORATION: L6 FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13D/A BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: PIAZZA DUCA DEGLI ABRUZZI, 2 CITY: TRIESTE STATE: L6 ZIP: 34132 BUSINESS PHONE: 0039040671484 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: PIAZZA DUCA DEGLI ABRUZZI, 2 CITY: TRIESTE STATE: L6 ZIP: 34132 SC 13D/A 1 sc13da_050307-telecom.htm SCHEDULE 13D/A

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13D

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. 1)

Telecom Italia S.p.A.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Shares of euro 0.55 par value each

(Title of Class of Securities)

87927W10

(CUSIP Number)

Michele Amendolagine

Head of Corporate Affairs

Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A.

Piazza Duca degli Abruzzi, 2

Trieste 34132, Italy

+39 040 67 1111

 

April 28, 2007

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of § 240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the following box [_].

Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See § 240.13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.

* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

(Continued on following pages)

 

(Page 1 of 13)

 


This Amendment No. 1 amends the Statement on Schedule 13D, dated October 30, 2006, (the “Statement on Schedule 13D”), filed by the Reporting Person, a company incorporated under the laws of the Republic of Italy, with respect to the ordinary shares, euro 0.55 par value per share, of Telecom Italia S.p.A., a company incorporated under the laws of the Republic of Italy. Capitalized terms used in this Amendment without definition have the meanings ascribed to them in the Statement on Schedule 13D.

Introduction.

On April 28, 2007, a group of investors (the “Investors”) made up of Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A. (“Generali”), Sintonia S.A., Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A. (“Intesa Sanpaolo”), Mediobanca S.p.A. (“Mediobanca” and, together with Generali, Sintonia S.A. and Intesa Sanpaolo, the “Italian Investors”) and Telefonica S.A., the Spanish-based telecommunications operator (“Telefonica”), entered into a co-investment agreement (the “Co-Investment Agreement”) to establish the terms and conditions for their participation in 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”), an Italian corporation through which they intend to purchase the entire share capital of Olimpia S.p.A. (“Olimpia”), which currently holds approximately 18% of the ordinary share capital of Telecom Italia S.p.A. (“Telecom Italia”), from Pirelli & C. S.p.A. (“Pirelli”) and Sintonia S.p.A. and Sintonia S.A. (together, “Sintonia”). The Co-Investment Agreement also covers the capitalization and funding of Telco in connection with the acquisition of Olimpia and the general framework of the investment obligations of each of the Investors. In addition to Telco’s participation in Telecom Italia’s ordinary share capital through its interest in Olimpia, pursuant to the Co-Investment Agreement Generali and Mediobanca will contribute to Telco ordinary shares of Telecom Italia currently owned by them. These shares amount to 5.6% of Telecom Italia’s ordinary share capital, with the individual contributions of Generali and Mediobanca amounting to 4.06% and 1.54%, respectively, of Telecom Italia’s ordinary share capital, bringing Telco’direct and indirect participation in Telecom Italia’s ordinary share capital to approximately 23.6%. A copy of the Co-Investment Agreement is filed as Exhibit 3.

On April 28, 2007, the Investors also entered into a shareholders agreement (the “Shareholders Agreement”), pursuant to which the Investors set out, among other things, the principles of corporate governance of Telco and Olimpia, respectively, the transfer of Telco’s shares and any Olimpia Shares or Telecom Shares (each as defined below) directly or indirectly owned by Telco and the principles of designation, among the Investors, of candidates to be included in a common list for the appointment of directors of Telecom Italia under the voting list mechanism provided for by Telecom Italia’s by-laws. A copy of the Shareholders Agreement is filed as Exhibit 5.

On May 4, 2007, the Investors entered into a sale and purchase agreement with Pirelli and Sintonia (the “Share Purchase Agreement”) to purchase the entire share capital of Olimpia of euro 4.6 billion divided into 4,630,233,510 ordinary shares (the “Olimpia Shares”). Olimpia in turn owns 2,407,345,359 ordinary voting shares of Telecom Italia (“Telecom Shares”), or approximately 18% of the ordinary share capital of Telecom Italia.

Items 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the Statement on Schedule 13D are hereby amended and supplemented to add the following:

(Page 2 of 13)

 


Item 2.  

Identity and Background.

On April 28, 2007, the ordinary shareholders’ meeting of Generali appointed a new board of directors, that will hold office until the date of approval of the financial statements for the year ending on December 31, 2009.

Information with respect to the directors and executive officers of Generali is set forth in Annex [B] hereto. Annex [B] sets forth the following information with respect to each such person: (i) name, (ii) business address, (iii) present principal occupation or employment and the name, principal business and address of any corporation or other organization in which such employment is conducted and (iv) citizenship.

During the past five years, neither Generali nor, to the best of Generali’s knowledge, any of the persons listed on Annex B hereto, has been (i) convicted in any criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors) or (ii) a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and

as a result of such proceeding was or is subject to judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.

Item 3.  

Source and Amount of Funds or Other Considerations.

The completion of the purchase of the Olimpia Shares is subject to the obtaining of applicable governmental approvals, including antitrust approval of the European Union (“EU”) Commission or any EU antitrust authorities pursuant to applicable legislation. Assuming the closing of the Share Purchase Agreement occurs, which is currently expected to take place by the end of 2007, Telco will pay total consideration of euro 2.82 per Telecom Share multiplied by 2,407,345,359 Telecom Shares, less Olimpia’s total net debt (as defined under the Share Purchase Agreement) as of the closing date. The provisional purchase price for 100% of Olimpia’s share capital is expected to be approximately euro 4.1 billion. Telco will pay 80% of the consideration to Pirelli and 20% of the consideration to Sintonia. Subsequent to the purchase, it is expected that the Investors will merge Olimpia into Telco.

Pursuant to the Co-Investment Agreement, Telco will initially be capitalized with euro 5,145 million, in the following manner:

Generali will contribute to Telco 543.4 million Telecom Italia Shares for total consideration of euro 1,375 million, based on a share price of euro 2.53 per Telecom Italia Share;

Mediobanca will contribute to Telco 206.5 million Telecom Italia shares for total consideration of euro 522 million, based on a share price of euro 2.53 per Telecom Share;

Intesa Sanpaolo will contribute to Telco euro 522 million in cash;

Sintonia S.A. will contribute to Telco euro 412 million in cash; and

Telefonica will contribute to Telco euro 2,314 million in cash.

In addition, prior to the closing of the Share Purchase Agreement, Telco will borrow from Mediobanca, Intesa Sanpaolo or other primary financial institutions appointed by Mediobanca and Intesa Sanpaolo, subject to written acceptance by Telefonica, a loan (the “Facility”) for the amount of approximately euro 1,000 million (such Facility will be made available on an arm’s length basis). Immediately after the closing of the Share Purchase Agreement, Telco will resolve to increase its share capital by euro 900 million (the “Fifth Capital Increase”) for purposes of financing the reimbursement of the Facility. Telco shareholders favorably envisage the potential analysis of the further contribution of Telecom Italia shares into Telco (up to an amount not exceeding 30% of the ordinary share capital of Telecom Italia), 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.

(Page 3 of 13)

 


Item 4.  

Purpose of the Transaction.

The principal objective of the transaction is the creation of value over time for all shareholders, by accompanying Telecom Italia’s business growth strategies which will be defined in full autonomy by the Board of Directors and the management of Telecom Italia.

A fundamental assumption of the Co-investment Agreement and the Shareholders Agreement is that the Telecom Italia and Telefonica groups will be managed autonomously and independently.

Item 5.  

Interest in Securities of the Issuer.

The proposed Share Purchase Agreement calls for the Investors to purchase Olimpia through Telco. Olimpia currently holds 2,407,345,359 ordinary Telecom Italia shares, or approximately 18% of the ordinary share capital of Telecom Italia. In addition to this purchase by Telco, pursuant to the Co-Investment Agreement, Generali and Mediobanca would contribute Telecom Italia ordinary shares they currently own directly to Telco in the amount of 5.6% of Telecom Italia’s ordinary share capital, bringing Telco’s total participation in Telecom Italia’s ordinary share capital to 23.6%.

As a result of the transaction, the Italian Investors will hold a total of 57.7% of Telco’s share capital, divided in the following manner:

 

Generali, 28.1%;

Mediobanca, 10.6%;

Intesa Sanpaolo, 10.6%; and

Sintonia S.A., 8.4%.

Telefonica will hold the remaining 42.3% of Telco’s share capital.

In connection with the Fifth Capital Increase, in accordance with the Co-Investment Agreement and the Shareholders Agreement, Intesa Sanpaolo may select new Italian investors, other than telecom operators, to subscribe newly issued shares in Telco for cash consideration of up to 5% of Telco’s share capital for each new investor, provided that such selection is made in agreement with the other Italian Investors and is accepted by Telefonica, such agreement and acceptance not to be unreasonably denied.

Item 6.   Contracts, Agreements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect to Securities of the Issuer.

CO-INVESTMENT AGREEMENT

The following summary of certain material provisions of the Co-investment Agreement does not purport to be a full and complete description of such document and is entirely qualified by reference to the full text of such documents attached as Exhibit 3 to this filing.

The Investors have entered into the Co-Investment Agreement to establish the terms and conditions for (i) their participation in Telco, (ii) the acquisition through Telco from Pirelli and Sintonia of 100% of the share capital of Olimpia, which in turn holds a stake of approximately 18% of the ordinary share capital of Telecom Italia, (iii) the capitalization and funding of Telco in connection with the acquisition, (iv) the division of Telco’s share capital into two classes of shares (“Class A” and “Class B” shares), (v) the corporate scope of Telco, and (vi) the general framework in which the respective obligations of the Investors under the Co-investment Agreement.

(Page 4 of 13)


The description of the Co-Investment Agreement in the Introduction and Item 3 are incorporated herein by reference.

SHAREHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT

The following summary of certain material provisions of the proposed bylaws of Telco and the Shareholders Agreement does not purport to be a full and complete description of such documents and is entirely qualified by reference to the full text of such documents attached as Exhibits 4 and 5 to this filing, respectively.

Classes of Shares

The share capital of Telco will be divided into Class A and the Class B shares. Telefonica will receive and thereafter acquire (through share capital increases or exercise of the pre-emption right set forth in the Telco’s bylaws and as described below) only Class B shares or Class A shares to be converted into Class B shares, while the Italian Investors will 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, which is described more fully below. 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 Telco bylaws.

In the event of an increase of capital of Telco, the shareholders who hold Class A shares shall have the right to receive and subscribe Class A shares and the shareholders of Telco 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 of the Class A shares that have not been

 

opted for by the other shareholders. Similarly, 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 of Class B shares that have not been opted for by the other shareholders. In the event that after the offer of such Class A shares has been made to the holders of Class A shares (whether or not such pre-emption rights have been exercised), there remain Class A shares not purchased by the other Class A shareholders, such shares will be offered to the holders of Class B shares in proportion to their shareholding of the total number of Class B shares issued by Telco, 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 purchased. In the event that after the offer of such Class B shares has been made to the holders Class B shares (whether or not such pre-emption rights have been exercised), there remain Class B shares not purchased by the other Class B shareholders, such shares will be offered to holders of Class A shares in proportion to their shareholding of the total number of Class A shares issued by Telco, 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 purchased.

Shareholders Meetings

The shareholders’ meeting of Telco will 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 for the merger between Olimpia and Telco) determining a dilution of the shareholders, and (z) amendments to the provisions of the Telco bylaws 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:

(Page 5 of 13)


any other matter pertaining to the extraordinary shareholders meeting of Telco; and

the dividend policy of Telco.

However, in cases where one or more shareholders hold more than 30% of the entire share capital abstain from voting or remain 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.

Acceptance by Telco’s board of directors of any tender offers having as their subject the shares of Telecom Italia will be subject to the approval of the shareholders meeting. In case of any such approval, any dissenting shareholders shall become entitled to purchase all of the shares of Telco held by the approving shareholders.

Board of Directors

Telco’s bylaws will provide that its board of directors will comprise ten members. The Italian Investors, as holders of Class A shares will be entitled to appoint, for so long as they hold more than 50% of the share capital of Telco, six directors, including the Chairman. Of the six Telco directors appointed by holders of Class A shares, two directors will be indicated by Generali, one director will be indicated by each of Intesa Sanpaolo, Sintonia S.A. and Mediobanca and the Chairman will be indicated unanimously. Telefonica, 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 Telco four directors, including the Vice-Chairman, and (y) so long as it holds a percentage of at least 20% of the share capital of Telco, two directors. Should (x) the holders of Class A shares hold less than 50% plus one share, and/or (y) Telefonica as holder of Class B shares holds more than 50% plus one share, the Investors shall appoint the directors of Telco in a manner that grants the majority of the directors to the class of shares representing at least 50% plus one share of the entire share capital of Telco and seven out of ten directors to the class of shares representing more than 70% of the entire share capital of Telco.

The board of directors of Telco will pass resolutions by vote of a majority of its members, except that, subject to certain exceptions, it will decide by vote of at least seven directors on the following matters:

 

the acquisition, disposal and encumbrance (directly or indirectly in any form or manner) of Olimpia’s or Telecom Italia’s shares or any rights attached thereto;

the carrying out of investments other than in Olimpia and in Telecom Italia;

capital expenditure and financial structure decisions for amounts in excess of euro 75 million;

decisions on the vote to be exercised in (x) the extraordinary shareholders' meeting of Telecom Italia convened pursuant to Italian law to approve resolutions on transactions of extraordinary nature and (y) the shareholders’ meeting of Olimpia; or

approval and amendments of the budget of Telco.

Deadlock

The Shareholders Agreement contains provisions on the resolution of deadlocks at the level of the board of directors and shareholders’ meetings of Telco with regard to the following matters:

a)

at the level of Telco Board of Directors: (i) acquisition, disposal and encumbrance of Olimpia or Telecom Italia’s shares, (ii) decision on the vote to be exercised in the extraordinary shareholders’ meeting of Telecom Italia to approve resolutions on transactions of extraordinary nature and (iii) decision on the vote to be exercised in the shareholders’ meeting of Olimpia;

(Page 6 of 13)


b)

at the level of Telco shareholders’ meeting, matters pertaining to the extraordinary shareholders’ meeting of Telco;

In case of deadlock with regard to the matters referred to above under letters a) and b) the Investors shall try to find an amicable compromise failing which a new meeting shall be convened and at such meeting the decision will be passed with a simple majority, provided however that dissenting shareholder(s) shall have the right to request the demerger of its stake in Telco and the pro quota assignment of Telco assets and liabilities.

Call Option

In the event that a decision to dispose, directly or indirectly, in any form or manner (including through measures with equivalent effect, such as mergers and demergers of Telco or Olimpia) or encumber Telecom Italia Shares or Olimpia Shares or any rights attached thereto, including but not limited to voting rights, is taken by the board of directors of Telco by simple majority and Telefonica is the dissenting party, then Telefonica shall have the right to buy from Telco or Olimpia, as the case may be, the Olimpia or Telecom Italia Shares at the same price and conditions offered by the third party offering to acquire such Telecom Italia Shares or Olimpia Shares or the right to proceed with the demerger.

Restrictions on Transfers of Telco Shares

Transfer of Class A and Class B shares to potential third party acquirers, including shareholder of Telco are subject to pre-emptive rights of the other Investors, upon the terms and conditions and pursuant to the procedures set forth in the Shareholders Agreement.

The Shareholders Agreement contains co-sale rights whereby if one or more Investors intend to transfer a number of shares representing more that 30% of the aggregate share capital of Telco, the other Investors will have the right to transfer their Telco shares in the same proportion to the purchaser.

Provisions Relating to Telecom Italia

The board of directors of Telco or Olimpia, as the case may be, shall approve the list of candidates to be submitted to the shareholders’ meeting of Telecom Italia for the appointment of the directors of Telecom Italia pursuant to the following criteria: (i) Telefonica, to the extent holding at least 30% of Telco’s share capital, shall have the right vis-à-vis the other Investors to designate two directors of Telecom Italia (x) to be included as designees for appointment

 

in the board of Telecom Italia in the list presented by Olimpia or Telco, as the case may be, and (y) to the extent feasible, the replacement of directors pursuant to Article 2386, first paragraph, of the Italian Civil Code; and (ii) the Italian Investors which are a party to the Shareholders Agreement, to the extent holding at least 50% plus one share of Telco’s share capital, shall designate the other members of the list as follows: (x) three members unanimously and (y) the remaining members on a proportional basis as set out in the Shareholders Agreement.

The directors designated by Telefonica in Telco, Olimpia and Telecom Italia shall be directed by Telefonica to neither participate, nor vote at the board of directors meetings (and Telefonica, to the extent applicable, shall neither attend nor vote, at any shareholders’ meetings of Telco or the entity resulting from the merger of Olimpia with Telco, 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 Telecom Italia providing their services in countries where regulatory and legal restrictions or limitations for the exercise of voting rights by Telefonica (as indirect and ultimate shareholder of such companies) are in force.

(Page 7 of 13)


In the event of (i) any transfer in whatever form of any of the foreign assets held directly or indirectly by Telecom Italia having a value of more than euro 4 billion per transaction, or series of transactions occurring within a period of 12 months for the same assets, or (ii) Telecom Italia 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 Telefonica, within the following thirty calendar days, will have the right to deliver notice to the other Investors, which will cause the Investors to 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 a de-merger within a reasonably short time period, but in any case no later than 6 months following such notice or, if the transaction is subject to any authorizations by law or contract, within 6 months following the obtaining of such authorizations.

The Investors agreed not to execute or take part, directly or indirectly, in any agreement whatsoever concerning Telecom Italia shares that may cause the holding by the Investors, Telco and their respective affiliates, taken as a whole, of a number of Telecom Italia voting shares exceeding 30% of the total voting share capital of Telecom Italia.

Term of the Shareholders Agreement

The Shareholder Agreement will last three years, at the end of which, without prejudice to renewal, each shareholder, provided that has submitted such request no later than 6 months prior to the expiry date, may obtain the de-merger of its stake in Telco and the pro quota assignment of Telco assets and liabilities. The exiting shareholder(s) shall be permitted, to the extent the remaining shareholders decide to execute a new shareholders’ agreement, to take part to and execute such new shareholders’ agreement.

Item 7.  

Materials to be Filed as Exhibits.

Exhibit 3:

Co-investment Agreement, dated as of April 28, 2007, by and among Generali, Intesa Sanpaolo, Mediobanca, Sintonia S.A. and Telefonica.

Exhibit 4:

Draft by-laws of Telco S.p.A. (Annex C to the Co-investment Agreement).

Exhibit 5:

Shareholders Agreement, dated as of April 28, 2007, by and among Generali, Intesa Sanpaolo, Mediobanca, Sintonia S.A. and Telefonica.

Exhibit 6:

Joint press release, dated April 28, 2007, issued by Generali, Intesa Sanpaolo, Mediobanca, Sintonia S.A. and Telefonica.

Exhibit 7:

Joint press release requested by Consob (the Italian financial market authority), dated May 2, 2007, issued by Generali, Intesa Sanpaolo, Mediobanca, Sintonia S.A. and Telefonica.

 

(Page 8 of 13)


SIGNATURE

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of their knowledge and belief, each of the undersigned hereby certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Dated: May 7, 2007

 

 

 

 

/s/ Giovanni Perissinotto

 

 

 

Signature

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Giovanni Perissinotto

 

Managing Director and General Manager

 

 

 

Name/Title

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Michele Amendolagine

 

 

 

Signature

 

 

 

 

 

Michele Amendolagine

 

Head of Corporate Affairs

 

 

 

Name/Title

 

 

 

 

(Page 9 of 13)


ANNEX B

 

DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF GENERALI

 

The name, title, present principal occupation or employment of each of the directors and executive officers of Generali are set forth below. The business address of each director and executive officer is Generali’s address. Unless otherwise indicated, each occupation set forth opposite an individual’s name refers to Generali. Unless otherwise indicated below, all of the persons listed below are citizens of the Republic of Italy.

 

Office

Name and surname

Place and

date of birth

Telecom Italia Shares Beneficially Owned

 

 

 

 

Chairman

Antoine Bernheim

(French citizen)

Chairman, Member of the

Executive Committee,

Executive Director

Eur 201,487.-- Ob. Convertible 1 1/2 % Telecom Italia SPA 2001 - 1.1.2010

 

189'934

Vice-Chairman

Gabriele Galateri di Genola

Member of the

Executive Committee,

Non-Executive Director, Member of the Remuneration

Committee

No shares

Managing Director

Sergio Balbinot

Managing Director, Member of the Executive Committee, Executive Director and General Manager

719

Managing Director

Giovanni Perissinotto

Managing Director, Member of the Executive Committee, Executive Director and General Manager

53,049

Director

Luigi Arturo Bianchi

Non-Executive Director,

Independent Director,

Member of the Internal

Control Committee

 

Director

Ana Patricia Botin

(Spanish citizen)

Non-Executive Director

No shares

Director

Diego Della Valle

Non-Executive Director,

Independent Director

 

 

Director

Klaus-Peter Müller

(German citizen)

Non-Executive Director,

Independent Director

No shares

 

 

(Page 10 of 13)


 

Director

Alberto Nicola Nagel

Member of the

Executive Committee,

Non-Executive Director

 

Director

Reinfried Pohl

(German citizen)

Non-Executive Director

No shares

Director

Vittorio Ripa di Meana

Member of the

Executive Committee,

Non-Executive Director,

Independent Director

6,857

Director

Petr Kellner

(Czech citizen)

Non-Executive Director

 

Director

Francesco Gaetano Caltagirone

Non-Executive Director,

Independent Director

 

Director

Leonardo Del Vecchio

Non-Executive Director,

Independent Director, Member of the Remuneration

Committee

No shares

Director

Lorenzo Pelliccioli

Member of the

Executive Committee,

Non-Executive Director, Independent Director

No shares

Director

Paolo Scaroni

Non-Executive Director,

Independent Director, Chairman of the Remuneration

Committee

 

Director

Alessandro Pedersoli

Non-Executive Director,

Independent Director,

Chairman of the Internal

Control Committee

 

No shares

Director

Claude Tendil

Non-Executive Director

No shares

(Page 11 of 13)


Director

Loïc Hennekinne

(French citizen)

Non-Executive Director,

Independent Director,

Member of the Internal

Control Committee

No shares

Director

Kai-Uwe Ricke

(German citizen)

Non-Executive Director,

Independent Director

No shares

 

 

(Page 12 of 13)


 

Exhibit No.

Description

Exhibit 3:

Co-investment Agreement, dated as of April 28, 2007, by and among Generali, Intesa Sanpaolo, Mediobanca, Sintonia S.A. and Telefonica.

Exhibit 4:

Draft by-laws of Telco S.p.A. (Annex C to the Co-investment Agreement).

Exhibit 5:

Shareholders Agreement, dated as of April 28, 2007, by and among Generali, Intesa Sanpaolo, Mediobanca, Sintonia S.A. and Telefonica.

Exhibit 6:

Joint press release, dated April 28, 2007, issued by Generali, Intesa Sanpaolo, Mediobanca, Sintonia S.A. and Telefonica.

Exhibit 7:

Joint press release requested by Consob (the Italian financial market authority), dated May 2, 2007, issued by Generali, Intesa Sanpaolo, Mediobanca, Sintonia S.A. and Telefonica.

(Page 13 of 13)

 

 

 

EX-3 2 ex-3_050307.htm CO-INVESTMENT AGREEMENT

 

 

 

EXHIBIT 3

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”).

 

1

 


 

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 società a responsabilità limitata, shall be transformed into a società 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

 

2

 


 

 

 

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 activ ities necessary and required to unwind the actions and transactions already executed or put in place on the basis of this Co-investment Agreement.

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

 

3

 


 

 

 

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”);

 

 

4

 


 

 

 

(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 società 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

 

5

 


 

 

 

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:

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”).

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

 

6

 


 

 

 

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:

 

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

 

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

 

 

7

 


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 ag reed 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 resu lting 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

 

8

 


 

 

 

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 converte d 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

 

9

 


 

 

 

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 n ot 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

 

10

 


 

 

 

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),

 

11

 


 

 

 

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 Miccichè and Mr. Fabio Canè

Ph: + 39 02 879 42650

Fax: + 39 02 879 43 540

 

12

 


 

 

 

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

 

13

 


 

 

 

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

 

14

 


 

 

 

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.

 

__________________________________

 

 

 

 

15


EX-4 3 ex-4_050307.htm BY-LAWS OF TELCO S.P.A.

EXHIBIT 4

 

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-à-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 à 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 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 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 meeting to 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 the 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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EX-5 4 ex-5_050307.htm SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT

EXHIBIT 5

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;

 

1

 


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

 

2

 


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

 

3

 


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;

 

4

 


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

 

5

 


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

 

6

 


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

 

7

 


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-à-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

 

8

 


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 TIs 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

 

9

 


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.

 

10

 


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

 

11

 


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.

 

12

 


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

 

13

 


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

 

14

 


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

 

15

 


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:

 

16

 


 

(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.

 

17

 


 

(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

 

18

 


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

 

19

 


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

 

20

 


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 Parties shall 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.

 

21

 


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.

 

22

 


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

 

23

 


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,

 

24

 


 

(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

 

 

25

 


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 Miccichè and Mr. Fabio Canè

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.

 

26

 


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.

 

27

 


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.

 

__________________________________

 

 

 

 

28

 

 

EX-99.6 5 ex99-6_050307.htm EXHIBIT 6-JOINT PRESS RELEASE

EXHIBIT 6

JOINT PRESS RELEASE

 

Milano, 28th April 2007 – A group of Italian investors made up of Assicurazioni Generali, Intesa Sanpaolo, Mediobanca and Sintonia SA, together with the international player Telefonica SA as minority partner, reached today an agreement with the Pirelli group, Sintonia S.p.A. and Sintonia SA for the purchase of the entire share capital of Olimpia at a provisional price of 4.1 billion euro.

The objectives of the transaction are:

-         creating value over time for all shareholders, by accompanying Telecom Italia’s business growth strategies which will be defined in full autonomy by the Board of Directors and the management of Telecom Italia;

-         strengthening and stabilizing the ownership structure of Telecom Italia, thanks to the commitment of important Italian institutional shareholders with a medium-term investment horizon and the financial support of one of the major international telecom players;

-  

ensuring greater financial flexibility for Telecom Italia.

The offered consideration, to be paid in cash at the closing (forecasted within the end of 2007), implies the valuation of Olimpia’s equity investment in Telecom Italia at a unit price of 2.82 euro for each Telecom Italia ordinary share, for a countervalue of approximately 6.8 billion euro, gross of the net debts of Olimpia SpA.

The purchase contract is conditional upon the authorizations and approvals of competent authorities.

The acquisition will occur via a newco, Telco S.p.A., destined to absorb Olimpia SpA, which, after the transaction will hold an approximately 23.6% stake in the voting share capital of Telecom Italia, 18% of which acquired via Olimpia and 5.6% of which contributed by Generali and Mediobanca.

Initially Telco will therefore be capitalized with:

-         1,373 million euro, through a contribution of Telecom Italia shares by Generali (542.8 million shares, equal to 4.06% of Telecom Italia’s ordinary share capital, valued 2.53 euro each);

-         522 million euro through a contribution of Telecom Italia shares by Mediobanca (206.5 million shares, equal to 1.56% of Telecom Italia’s ordinary share capital, valued 2.53 euro each);

-         522 million euro contributed in cash by Intesa Sanpaolo, in line with the contribution values of Generali and Mediobanca;

-         412 million euro contributed in cash by Sintonia SA, in line with the contribution values of Generali and Mediobanca;

-         2,314 million euro contributed in cash by Telefonica SA;

          a bridge financing up to a maximum of 900 million euro in view to a further increase in the share capital of Telco, to be carried out after the closing of the transaction, and which may be subscribed proportionally by the Italian investors and Telefonica.

As a result of the transaction and before the increase in share capital, Italian shareholders will hold a 57.7% stake, broken down as follows:

-  

Generali, 28.1%;

Intesa Sanpaolo, 10.6%;

-  

Mediobanca, 10.6%;

Sintonia SA, 8.4%.

Telefonica will hold the remaining 42.3% of Telco’s share capital.

As part of the subsequent increase in share capital Intesa Sanpaolo may, with the reasonable approval of the other Telco shareholders, indicate new primary Italian financial investors, which may join Telco’s shareholders by acquiring newly-issued shares for a cash consideration, with individual equity stakes ranging between 2% and 5%.

Shareholders may over time make further contributions of Telecom Italia shares within the overall limit of 30% of the ordinary share capital of Telecom Italia, considering also the Telecom Italia shares which may be directly held by Telco shareholders.

 


Shareholder agreements and the Articles of Association of Telco will set forth that:

-         the Chairman of Telco be indicated in agreement by Italian shareholders;

-         governance be articulated according to the criteria of proportionality between shareholders, with the usual protections and qualified majorities required for particularly significant transactions (including mergers, acquisitions, spin-offs, sales of Telecom Italia shares and vote in the latter’s Extraordinary Shareholders' Meetings);

-         pre-emptive rights between all shareholders, with the subordination of pre-emption of Telefonica with respect to pre-emption between the Italian shareholders.

Shareholder agreements ensure full independence of the management of Telecom Italia with respect to the shareholders of Telco. Any collaboration agreements between Telecom Italia and Telefonica are left to the sole and exclusive judgment of the competent deliberative bodies within the two groups.

In particular, as concerns the majority list for the designation of Telecom Italia Directors, agreements provide for the fact that they will be indicated by Telco according to criteria of professionalism and experience. 13 proposed Telecom Italia directors will be indicated jointly by Italian shareholders and two, with non-executive roles, by the partner Telefonica.

The agreements shall last three years, at the end of which, without prejudice to renewal, each shareholder may obtain the spin-off of its stake in Telco and the pro quota assignment of Telecom Italia shares and any relative debt.

 

 

EX-7 6 ex-7_050307.htm JOINT PRESS RELEASE REQ. BY CONSOB

EXHIBIT 7

JOINT PRESS RELEASE REQUESTED BY CONSOB

Milano, 2nd May 2007 – Upon request of Consob, Assicurazioni Generali, Intesa Sanpaolo, Mediobanca and Sintonia SA confirm that the pre-emptive right in favour of Telefonica on the Telco shares held by Italian shareholders will be subordinated to the pre-emptive rights in favour of the latter. Furthermore, Italian shareholders, before Telefonica may exercise its pre-emptive right, may indicate new primary Italian investors, for whom Telefonica’s approval is provided for.

Furthermore, it is hereby confirmed that the governance of Telco will be articulated according to proportionality criteria; it sets forth qualified majorities - the achievement of which implies also the assent of Telefonica - for certain specific, particularly significant transactions, among which those which may change the shareholder structure (spin-offs, mergers and reserved increases in share capital); should such qualified majorities not be reached, a "deadlock" will occur and the relative resolutions will be taken with the majority of votes, without prejudice to the right of dissenting shareholders to exit the shareholder base of Telco via the relevant spin-off. A qualified majority is also required for the determination of Telco’s dividend policy (and not of the dividend policy of the Telecom Italia group) which if not reached will not cause a “deadlock”. If Telecom Italia intended making divestments abroad exceeding 4 billion euro or closing significant strategic alliances with telecom players, Telefonica, if dissenting, will have the right to exit the shareholder base of Telco via the relevant spin-off.

As concerns the price for Olimpia’s entire share capital indicated in 4.1 billion euro, it is confirmed that such price is provisional since Olimpia’s net financial position must be considered at the date of the closing of the transaction, which, as already disclosed, will occur after the authorisations and approvals of the competent authorities.

Lastly, the stakes in the capital of Telco as a result of the transaction are confirmed: Assicurazioni Generali 28.1%, Intesa Sanpaolo 10.6%, Mediobanca 10.6%, Sintonia SA 8.4% and Telefonica 42.3%.

Shareholder agreements will be published according to the terms set forth by regulations in force.

 

 

 

-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----