Furthermore, the Shareholders’ General Meeting authorised the
Board of Directors to issue shares and to grant rights to subscribe
for shares in the Company’s share capital for the purpose of
funding the Company and its Group companies, provided that
such powers shall be limited to an aggregate of 0.3% of the
Company’s authorised capital from time to time and to limit or
exclude preferential subscription rights, in both cases for a period
expiring at the Annual General Meeting to be held in 2015. The
mentioned powers include the issue of fi nancial instruments,
including but not limited to convertible bonds, which instruments
may grant the holders thereof rights to acquire shares in the capital
of the Company, exercisable at such time as may be determined
by the fi nancial instrument, and the issue of shares to be paid up
from freely distributable reserves. However, such powers shall not
extend to issuing shares or granting rights to subscribe for shares
(i) if there is no preferential subscription right (by virtue of Dutch
law, or because it has been excluded by means of a resolution
of the competent corporate body) and (ii) for an aggregate issue
price in excess of € 500 million per share issuance.