It will also allow the Group to increase its financial flexibility. Each shareholder will receive one preferential subscription right for every share they hold as of the close of trading on 6 November 2009. The subscription price for the new shares has been set at € 21 per new share (nominal value of € 1 and issue premium of € 20) on the basis of 3 new shares for 10 existing shares. The subscription period for the new shares will run from 9 November 2009 to the close of trading on Euronext Paris on 19 November 2009. During this period, the preferential subscription rights will be listed and traded on Euronext Paris.
Settlement and delivery and start of trading of the new shares will take place on 2 December 2009. The new shares, which will carry dividend rights as of 1 January 2009 and will entitle their holders to any dividends declared by the Company from the date of issue, will be fully fungible with the Company’s existing shares and will be traded under the same ISIN code as the Company’s existing shares.