The curtain falls on the Ligresti era in the Board of Premafin. The shareholders' meeting elected today the new Unipol-branded board of directors, after the Bologna-based group rose to 80,928% in the company's capital through the reserved capital increase subscribed in July.
However, the Ligresti family was awarded a councilor (Luigi Reale), taken from the minority list presented by the two financial companies Canoe Securities (headed by Giulia Maria Ligresti) and Limbo Invest (headed by her brother Paolo), both owners of 1,974% of Premafin.
At the beginning of the afternoon, Premafin's stock gained more than two points, while that of Unipol dropped by 0,30%.
Overall, there are 13 new directors, including 3 women (as imposed by the rules on women's quotas). Here are the 12 names of Unipol: in addition to the new president Pierluigi Stefanini (which is also the number one of the Unipol financial group) the list includes Piero Collina, Carlo Cimbri, Roberto Giay, Marco Pedroni, Ernesto Dalle Rive, Milo Pacchioni, Claudio Levorato, Vanes Galanti, Germana Ravaioli, Rossana Zambelli and Silvia Cipollina.
The board of directors will meet “in the next few days – said the new director Giay, who according to press rumors is destined for the CEO chair -. Today we return to the base and then the new president Stefanini will decide the date on which to fix the date of the board".
The members of the Ligresti family reacted to the turning point in different ways. During the assembly, Jonella did it know that a possible mandatory takeover bid by Unipol on the minority shares of Premafin would be "absolutely welcome".
In essence, the Ligrestis do not waive the right of withdrawal: "I feel the need to clarify that what is necessary will be done to comply with the commitments made with the minority shareholders for the liquidation of the shares in Premafin, since these are legal, valid and effective commitments ”, Jonella said again.
However, Unipol and Premafin had agreed at the end of last June the exclusion of Ligresti from the indemnity and the right of withdrawal (initially envisaged by the agreements), as requested by Consob to grant the exemption from the mandatory takeover bid.
Much fiercer than his sister, Paolo Ligresti: "We will make lawyers work"he thundered announcing his intention to challenge the resolutions. The dispute refers to the appointment by Unipol, to Premafin's board of directors, of its directors, who will therefore work in clear conflict of interest. In fact, the shareholders' meeting decided to exempt the directors from the ban on competition.
Finally, today was also the day of emotional farewell to Premafin by Giulia Maria Ligresti. “I have been president of the company for almost ten years – he said -. We have had important battles with my collaborators, many of whom are present here. Unfortunately, that's how it went."
