Italy has applied its Golden Power Decree to Pirelli & C. SpA, influencing the choice of candidates for the next Pirelli Board of Directors. Pirelli reports that its incumbent Board of Directors have received two lists of candidates ahead of the Shareholders Meeting scheduled for 31 July 2023.
Three sources “close to the matter” have shared with Reuters their expectation that Sinochem Holdings will retain its stake in Pirelli despite Italy’s Golden Power Decree restrictions. One commented that China may view an exit from Pirelli as a “reputational setback” at a time of “tenser relations” with Western countries.
On 16 February, Marco Polo International Italy S.r.l. (Marco Polo) stated that “Sinochem does not have any plan to sell its stake in Pirelli”. Marco Polo is Pirelli’s largest shareholder, holding a 37.01 per cent stake in the tyre maker. The ownership of Marco Polo belongs to China National Tyre & Rubber Co., Ltd (CNRC) under Sinochem Holdings.
Pirelli’s largest shareholders have amended their ownership agreement and – at the same time – certain parties have ended their co-investment stance in relation to each other.
A three-year extension to the Shareholders’ Agreement covering the governance of Pirelli & C. S.p.A was agreed upon yesterday. This extension will take effect from the publication date of the notice convening the Pirelli shareholders’ meeting for approving the company’s 2019 financial statements.
Pirelli shares that J.P. Morgan Securities plc has partially exercised a greenshoe option in which 18,904,836 shares, an amount equal to around 1.9 per cent of Pirelli’s share capital, were purchased out of a total of 50,000,000 option shares. Upon completion, Marco Polo International Italy S.p.A. will hold 631,095,164 Pirelli ordinary shares, and therefore a 63 per cent share in Pirelli.
Pirelli & C. S.p.A reports that it has successfully completed the refinancing of its banking lines for 4.2 billion euros with a pool of primary international banks.
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