1.

Without prejudice to the principle of equal treatment of all shareholders who are in the same position, and to Directive 2003/6/EC, Member States may permit a company to acquire its own shares, either itself or through a person acting in his own name but on the company's behalf. To the extent that the acquisitions are permitted, Member States shall make such acquisitions subject to the following conditions: authorisation shall be given by the general meeting, which shall determine the terms and conditions of such acquisitions and, in particular, the maximum number of shares to be acquired, the duration of the period for which the authorisation is given, the maximum length of which shall be determined by national law without, however, exceeding five years, and, in the case of acquisition for value, the maximum and minimum consideration. Members of the administrative or management body shall satisfy themselves that, at the time when each authorised acquisition is effected, the conditions referred to in points (b) and (c) are respected; the acquisitions, including shares previously acquired by the company and held by it, and shares acquired by a person acting in his own name but on the company's behalf, may not have the effect of reducing the net assets below the amount mentioned in Article 17(1) and (2); and only fully paid-up shares may be included in the transaction. Furthermore, Member States may subject acquisitions within the meaning of the first subparagraph to any of the following conditions: that the nominal value or, in the absence thereof, the accountable par of the acquired shares, including shares previously acquired by the company and held by it, and shares acquired by a person acting in his own name but on the company's behalf, may not exceed a limit to be determined by Member States; that limit may not be lower than 10 % of the subscribed capital; that the power of the company to acquire its own shares within the meaning of the first subparagraph, the maximum number of shares to be acquired, the duration of the period for which the power is given and the maximum or minimum consideration are laid down in the statutes or in the instrument of incorporation of the company; that the company complies with appropriate reporting and notification requirements; that certain companies, as determined by Member States, may be required to cancel the acquired shares provided that an amount equal to the nominal value of the shares cancelled must be included in a reserve which cannot be distributed to the shareholders, except in the event of a reduction in the subscribed capital; that reserve may be used only for the purposes of increasing the subscribed capital by the capitalisation of reserves; and that the acquisition shall not prejudice the satisfaction of creditors' claims.

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Source: EUR-Lex (Cellar) · retrieved 2026-10-10 · Text as adopted (Official Journal); later amendments are not incorporated in this text.