Statement

Houthoff rejects the contents of the news article published in NRC last Saturday. The real course of affairs is as follows. Our client, Fortenova, organised a depository receipts holders’ meeting. We, as counsel to Fortenova, of course with the support of Fortenova, refused sanctioned Russian depository receipt holders (among which Sberbank) access to, and thus to vote at the occasion of, this meeting. Fortenova believes that Sberbank attending this meeting and exercising voting rights violates EU, UK and US sanctions. As a result of this, a legal dispute has arisen with Sberbank. In this matter, we represent Fortenova. Sberbank is, as it was previously, represented by different counsel. This matter is now being dealt with by the Dutch courts.