Annual General Meeting of Shareholders  [ Return towards  2009 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders  ]

- The Ordinary General Shareholders’ Meeting is held once a year, within six months of the end of the preceding financial year. Its purpose is to inform shareholders of the Group’s activities and results, approve the financial statements, set the dividend, and appoint or renew the term of office of the members of the Board of Directors and the Statutory auditors, in addition to authorizing current management decisions. On the first conviening, the total number of voting shareholders must represent 20% of shares with voting rights for the Ordinary General Meeting to proceed. No quorum is required on the second conviening.

- The Extraordinary General Shareholders’ Meeting is called when shareholders must either approve or reject amendments to the Articles of Association or a share capital transaction (increase, reduction, merger, etc.). Voting shareholders must represent 25% of shares with voting rights at a first convocation, or 20% at a second convocation, for an Extraordinary General Meeting to proceed.

- The Combined General Shareholders’ Meeting brings together an Ordinary and an Extraordinary General Shareholders’ Meeting on the same date on same convocation.Depending on the resolution, the quorum and majority requirements follow those of either the Ordinary or Extraordinary General Meetings. Air Liquide usually calls Combined General Meetings.