The Board of Directors will be expanded and be reappointed for 3 years

25/06/2012
Padua, June 25, 2012 – On June 25, 2012 Mr. Melchert F. Groot and Mr. Jeffrey A. Cole resigned as members of the Board of Directors of SAFILO GROUP SPA with immediate effect.

Such resignations are motivated solely by the need to support the continuation of the path undertaken by the reference shareholder HAL HOLDING NV through the appointment, on March 29, 2010, of a Board of Directors which includes outstanding members of the international business community with specific experience and professional skills in the production, marketing, sales, luxury goods, fashion and retail areas.

In this context, it is important to recall that HAL HOLDING NV, in relation to the need to identify professional figures whose involvement could favour the best possible composition and the correct and efficient functioning of the Board, has been constantly focused on the review and selection of additional resources with specific competences and solid experience in the area of human resources and new media, e-commerce and social network, with the aim of proposing their appointment to the Board in order to bring additional value to the already important and strategic contribution provided by the existing members of the Board to the management team of the Company.

In relation to the above needs, Ms. Luisa Deplazes de Andrade Delgado, a senior executive with extensive European experience in Human Resources, and consumer goods industry background in general management and social media, has confirmed her availability to become a member of the Board of SAFILO GROUP SPA for an entire mandate.

In order to facilitate the entry process of this new professional into the Company’s Board, Mr. Melchert F. Groot and Mr. Jeffrey A. Cole decided to resign from the Board with immediate effect.

This is in order to enable the Shareholders’ Meeting, in application of the “simul stabunt, simul cadent” clause provided for in article 15 of the existing Articles of Association, to appoint a new Board of Directors, within which – should this be the decision of the Shareholders’ Meeting – Ms. Delgado may become a member together with, in a logic of continuity, the existing Board members, who have contributed, in perfect harmony and with great team spirit, to the turn-around path related to the Company’s performance initiated with the current management team.

The Company has immediately convened a Board of Directors’ Meeting for June 27, 2012 to call the Shareholders’ Meeting in order to proceed with the appointment of the new Board.



The Safilo Group is worldwide leader in the premium eyewear sector for sunglasses, optical frames and sports eyewear. With an international presence through 30 owned subsidiaries in primary markets – in America, Europe and Asia – and exclusive distributors, Safilo produces and distributes its house brands – Safilo, Carrera, Polaroid, Smith Optics, Oxydo, Blue Bay – and the licensed brands Alexander McQueen, A/X Armani Exchange, Balenciaga, Banana Republic, Bottega Veneta, BOSS Black, BOSS Orange, Céline, Dior, Emporio Armani, Fossil, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, HUGO, J.Lo by Jennifer Lopez, Jimmy Choo, Juicy Couture, Kate Spade, Liz Claiborne, Marc Jacobs, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Max Mara, Max&Co., Pierre Cardin, Saks Fifth Avenue, Tommy Hilfiger, Yves Saint Laurent. For further information www.safilo.com


Contacts:

Safilo Group Investor Relations
Barbara Ferrante
ph. +39 049 6985766
www.safilo.com/en/investors.html

Safilo Group Communication Department
Cristina Andresano
Milan – ph. +39 02 00615382
Padua – ph. +39 049 6985322


Last update: 25/06/2012, 20:02