Changes of control and defense measures

5 min.

Compulsory offer

Section 5a of the Articles of Incorporation of dormakaba Holding AG includes a formal selective opting-out. The text of the formal selective opting-out is as follows (translation of the German version):

In the following cases, Familie Mankel Industriebeteiligungs GmbH + Co. KGaA and Mankel Family Office GmbH as well as their respective direct or indirect quota holders – individually or together with shareholders of the company with whom they entered into a pool agreement (Shareholder Pool) in connection with the combination of Kaba Group with Dorma Group – are exempted from the obligation to make an offer pursuant to Article 32 paragraph 1 of the Swiss Federal Act on Stock Exchanges and Securities Trading of 24 March 1995 (Article 135 paragraph 1 of the Swiss Federal Act on Financial Market Infrastructures and Market Conduct in Securities and Derivatives Trading of 19 June 2015):

(a) Combination of Kaba Group with Dorma Group pursuant to the transaction agreement dated 29 April 2015 between Familie Mankel Industriebeteiligungs GmbH + Co. KGaA and Mankel Family Office GmbH on the one hand and the company on the other hand;

(b) Transactions in shares of the company between parties of the Shareholder Pool and/or with third parties that result in changes of the majorities within the Shareholder Pool, changes in the composition of the Shareholder Pool or changes in the direct overall participation of the parties to the Shareholder Pool in the company, as long as such a direct overall participation does not exceed 33⅓% of the voting rights in the company;

(d) Consummation of the transfer agreement described in § 35 of the Articles of Incorporation.

Clauses on changes of control

The rules of the applicable long-term incentive plans state that if there is a change in the control of dormakaba Holding AG (as defined in the regulations) the share blocking period (see Compensation Report 3.2 Long-term incentive) will be lifted if this is permitted by law and the performance share units are subject to an accelerated full vesting at target performance (detailed in the regulations), provided the plan participants concerned still have an employment contract (that is not under notice) with dormakaba when the change of control occurs.

Section 35 of the Articles of Incorporation of dormakaba Holding AG states that according to the transfer agreement (called transfer agreement), which was concluded on 29 April 2015 related to the combination of Kaba Group and Dorma Group, if there is a change of control of dormakaba Holding AG, the Mankel/Brecht-Bergen Family has the right to buy back a 2.6% stake in dormakaba Holding GmbH + Co. KGaA and dormakaba Beteiligungs-GmbH in order to regain control (50.1%) of these companies. A change of control of dormakaba Holding AG happens if a third party (i) holds 33⅓% or more of the voting rights in dormakaba Holding AG in shares, (ii) holds 33⅓% or more of the voting rights in dormakaba Holding AG in purchase positions and the responsible Swiss authority has decided with legal effect that a mandatory offer has been triggered, or (iii) publishes the end result of a voluntary offer which, when completed, will give it at least 33⅓% of the voting rights of dormakaba Holding AG. The Mankel/Brecht-Bergen Family can only exercise the rights pursuant to the transfer agreement if dormakaba Holding AG receives a written statement of assurance that (i) nobody associated with the Mankel/Brecht-Bergen Family supports the change of control or has ever been involved in it, and (ii) the Mankel/Brecht-Bergen Family holds a stake of at least 47.5% of dormakaba Holding GmbH + Co. KGaA and dormakaba Beteiligungs-GmbH. The price according to the transfer agreement is based on the market price or nominal value of the shares and in the former case is calculated using a fixed formula agreed by the parties in the transfer agreement. Under certain conditions and for a specific period of time, dormakaba Holding AG has the right to buy back the said 2.6% stakes. The transfer agreement is annulled if the Mankel/Brecht-Bergen Family’s stake in dormakaba falls below 25%. Approval of the transfer agreement can be cancelled by resolution of the General Meeting. Such a decision to cancel must be taken (i) following the publication of a public takeover offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares of dormakaba Holding AG and before the end of the offer period and (ii) with a majority of at least 50% of the votes represented. The transfer agreement and its performance were declared valid under takeover law by the Swiss Takeover Board on 22 April 2015.

The transfer agreement is available for shareholders to inspect at the dormakaba Holding AG’s head office.

General trading blackout periods

According to dormakaba's Insider Trading Directive, members of the BoD and the EC and other employees who have access to material non-public information are designated as Insiders and are banned from trading in dormakaba Holding AG securities and any related financial instruments during general blackout periods. There were no exceptions to this rule in the financial year 2021/22.

dormakaba's general blackout periods last from June 15 until (and including) two SIX Swiss Exchange trading days after the publication of dormakaba's annual financial statements as well as from December 15 until (and including) two SIX Swiss Exchange trading days after the publication of dormakaba's semi-annual financial statements.