Deadline for Limited Liability Companies (Sociedades Limitadas) and Corporations (Sociedades por Aes) to hold Annual Quotaholders/Shareholders Meeting

In accordance with Article 1078 of the Brazilian Civil Code (Law No. 10406/02) and Articles 132 and 133 of the Brazilian Law of Corporation (Law No. 6404/76 and its amendments), Brazilian limited liability companies (Sociedades Limitadas) and Brazilian corporations (Sociedades Por Aes) must hold an Annual General Quotaholders Meeting (Reunio or Assemblia) and a General Ordinary Shareholders Meeting (Assemblia Geral Ordinria) respectively, every year, within four (4) months after the termination of the preceding financial year, in order to deliberate about the following matters:

(i) to examine the accounts rendered by company officers and to examine, discuss and vote the financial statements;

(ii) to decide on the allocation net profits of the preceding financial year and on the distribution of dividends; and

(iii) to elect the officers and the members of the audit committee, if any.

Limited Liability Companies (Sociedades Limitadas):

According to Article 1072 of the Civil Code, a Sociedade Limitada must establish, in its Articles of Association, whether corporate resolutions shall be taken at a General Quotaholders Meeting called Reunio or Assemblia. Moreover, the first paragraph of Article 1072 requires that Sociedades Limitadas with more than ten (10) quotaholders must necessarily hold Assemblias 1.

The procedure for calling a Reunio is established by the companys Articles of Association. As for the Assemblia, the Civil Code determines that the manager of the company is responsible for calling such meeting. However, the Civil Code provides three (3) exceptions to this rule and authorizes the Assemblia to be called:

a) by any quotaholder, whenever the managers of the company delay to send the call notice for more than sixty (60) days as determined by law or by the companys Articles of Association;

b) by the quotaholders holding at least 1/5 of the corporate capital, whenever the managers of the company delay to send the call notice for more than eight (8) days upon the quotaholders request; and

c) by the audit committee, if applicable, whenever the managers of the company delay to send the call notice for more than thirty (30) days or whenever there are urgent issues.

The company is required to publish, at least 3 (three) times, a call notice indicating the venue, date and time for the Assemblia, for addition to the meetings agenda. The first notice must be published at least 8 (eight) days prior, to the meeting with a second notice being published at least 5 (five) days prior to the meeting. If all quotaholders attend the Assemblia, the obligation to publish said notification and/or honor respective timelines may be waived.

Furthermore, management must inform, up to thirty (30) days before the scheduled Reunio or Assemblia, via written notification, that the following documents are available for the quotaholders examination: (i) management report regarding corporate transactions and major relevant administrative actions conducted in the preceding period; (ii) a copy of the financial statements; (iii) independent auditors report, if applicable; (iv) audit committee report, including dissenting votes, if applicable; and (v) other pertinent documents and topics included in the meetings agenda.

In addition, although not required by law, it is well known as a good corporate practice for a Sociedade Limitada to attach the approved companies Financial Statement to the Minutes of General Meetings.

Furthermore, the minutes of the Reunio or Assemblia must be recorded in the Book of Minutes of General Meetings, duly signed by all attending quotaholders and, also, shall be filed with the Commercial Registry.

Corporations (Sociedades por Aes)

The company is required to publish, for at least three (3) times, a call notice regarding the venue, date and time for the General Ordinary Shareholders Meeting, in addition to the meetings agenda.

The first General Ordinary Shareholders Meeting notice must be published at least eight (8) days prior to the meeting; if the meeting is not held, a second General Ordinary Shareholders Meeting with a call notice being at least five (5) days prior to the meeting 2.

Furthermore, management must inform, up to one (1) month before the scheduled General Shareholders Meeting, via written notification published as per instructions above, that the following documents are available for the shareholders examination: (i) management report regarding corporate transactions and major relevant administrative actions conducted in the preceding period; (ii) a copy of the financial statements; (iii) independent auditors report, if applicable; (iv) audit committee report, including dissenting votes, if applicable; and (v) other pertinent documents and topics included in the meetings agenda. The issued notification must state location(s) where shareholders may obtain copies of these documents.

The above mentioned documents, except those mentioned in the items (iv) and (v) above, must be published at least five (5) days prior to the scheduled General Shareholders Meeting.

Please note that if all shareholders attend the General Shareholders Meeting, the obligation to issue such notice and/or honor respective timelines may be waived. However, the publication of the financial statements prior to the General Ordinary Shareholders Meeting is mandatory.

Furthermore, if the financial statements are published up to one (1) month prior to the scheduled date for the General Ordinary Shareholders Meeting, such notice stating where the shareholders may obtain them is also waived.

A non-listed corporation with less than twenty shareholders and net worth under R$ 1,000,000.00 (one million Brazilian reais), may deliver a general shareholders meeting notice directly to each and every shareholder (provided as it holds respective delivery slips and honors the same lead time mentioned above). It may also waive the obligation to publish the documents stated in items (i) to (iii) above, provided as it files a certified copy with the Commercial Registry in addition to the minutes of the Shareholders Meeting.

Thus, the minutes of the General Shareholders Meeting shall be kept in the Register of Minutes of General Shareholders Meeting, and, also, shall be filed at the Registry of Commerce.

Please do not hesitate to contact us should you require assistance in calling and holding such meeting and drafting and filing the respective minutes.

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