Proposed resolutions : May 21st 2008
Twenty-fourth resolution
(Amendment of the articles of association relating to the methods of participation in Shareholders’ meetings)
Having heard the report of the Board of directors, the Extraordinary General Meeting resolves to extend voting by internet to include a simplified electronic signature process for participation in Shareholders’ meetings and consequently, the last paragraph of article 18 of section V of the articles of association is amended to read as follows:
Article 18
“If the Board of directors so decides at the time that the Shareholders’ meeting is called, the public broadcasting of the entire Shareholders’ meeting by videoconference or any other telecommunication and remote transmission means, including internet, shall be authorized. Where applicable, this decision shall be communicated in the notice of meeting published in the French legal announcements journal (Bulletin d’Annonces Légales Obligatoires – BALO).
Any shareholder may also, if the Board of directors so decides at the time of issuing the notice of meeting, take part in the Shareholders’ meeting by videoconference or any other telecommunication and remote transmission means, including internet, under the conditions provided for by the regulations applicable at the time of its use. If an electronic voting form is used, the shareholder’s signature may be in the form of a secure digital signature or a reliable identification process safeguarding the link with the document to which it is attached and may consist, in particular, of a user identifier and a password. Where applicable, this decision shall be communicated in the notice of meeting published in the French legal announcements journal (Bulletin d’Annonces Légales Obligatoires – BALO).”
Presentation of the resolution
The twenty-fourth resolution concerns an amendment to be made to the Bank’s articles of association relating to participation in Shareholders’ meetings. The main purpose of this amendment is to make it easier for shareholders to express their choices, by giving them the possibility, following a recent change in French legislation, to provide their instructions over the Internet using a simplified electronic signature process.