A company with registered shares keeps a share register in which the shareholders’ names, dates of birth, addresses as well as the number of shares held are listed. For legal entities, company name, address, registered offices and number of shares held are listed. Subject to the company's approval, proxy shareholders, especially depository banks, holding shares on behalf of a third person may be entered in the share register. Upon request by the company, these proxy shareholders are, however, obliged to disclose the person on behalf of whom they are holding the respective shares. Only persons registered as such in the share register shall be deemed as shareholders of the company (§ 67 sections 1 and 2 of the German Stock Corporation Act [Aktiengesetz-AktG]). Upon request, the company shall provide the shareholder only with his/her data as recorded in the share register. The company may use the recorded data when dealing with its shareholders. The usage of the data for advertising purposes of the company is, however, only permissible if the shareholder does not object.

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adidas AG strives to communicate with shareholders in a reliable, transparent and open manner. As, in general, the names and addresses of all shareholders are listed or need to be disclosed upon request, adidas AG is able to identify its shareholders and get in contact with them directly instead of via the depository banks. adidas AG is thus enabled to analyse the shareholder structure and activities more easily when conducting its investor relations work and may consequently increase its focus on the needs and requirements of its shareholders.

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After the conversion to registered shares, shareholders recorded in the share register will generally receive company information directly from adidas AG and no longer via their depository bank. This simplifies and accelerates communication processes between shareholders and the company.

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With respect to the depository, there is no difference between bearer and registered shares. Registered shareholders do, however, generally receive their invitations to the General Meeting directly from the company.

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No. The rights of shareholders registered in the share register of adidas AG were not affected by the conversion to registered shares. Registered shares can be acquired or sold on the stock exchange just like bearer shares. Transactions do not require approval of the company. The share register of the company will be updated following the acquisition or disposal of adidas shares. In this respect, no further action needs to be taken by the buyer or the seller.

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Henceforth, shareholders entered in the share register generally receive adidas AG information, such as the invitations to the General Meeting directly from adidas AG. As in the past, shareholders can either personally register to participate in the General Meeting, or grant powers of representation to a bank, a shareholder association or the proxies appointed by adidas AG to exercise their voting rights. Dividends continue to be paid out through the shareholder’s depository bank.

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The conversion rate from bearer to registered shares was 1:1.

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Yes. Shareholders do have the option to refuse to being recorded in the share register. In this case, the depository bank will be entered into the share register instead of the shareholder upon request by the company. The depository bank will then be recognised as the shareholder of adidas AG. The shareholder who refused to be recorded in the share register will not receive any information from adidas AG directly. In particular the invitation to the General Meeting will not be sent by adidas AG directly but by the depository bank. You can then, however, not exercise your shareholder rights yourself but only your depository bank.

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Yes. Even if you refuse to be recorded in the share register you are entitled to dividend payments, if your depository bank is entered in the share register.

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The company must be notified in case of a change of any of the details listed in the share register. This particularly applies to a change of address. Normally, the depository bank will take care of the notification. Shareholders can also directly contact the company by e-mail or can edit their address data online at the company’s website using a personal password. In any case, we recommend always informing your depository bank.

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As a result of the conversion to registered shares, adidas AG shares were assigned a new WKN (national securities identification number) as well as a new ISIN (International Securities Identification Number).

Effective October 11, 2010, adidas AG registered shares are traded under the new ISIN DE000A1EWWW0 (previously: DE0005003404) or WKN A1EWWW (previously: 500340)on the stock exchange.

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No. adidas AG’s American Depository Receipts (ADRs), which are traded on the OTCQX International Premier Market, the highest over-the-counter market tier provided by Pink OTC Markets, Inc., were not affected by this conversion. For more information on adidas AG ADRs, please click here.

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No. The conversion to registered shares does not have any tax implications as tax law does not distinguish between bearer and registered shares.

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Shareholders neither incur ongoing expenses as a result of maintaining the share register, nor increasing depository fees.

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Shareholders who are not registered cannot participate in the General Meeting, as only those shareholders recorded in the share register are regarded as shareholders of adidas AG. Non-registered shareholders can consequently not apply for participation in the General Meeting as shareholders themselves. In this case, a proxy issued to the shareholder by the person entered in the share register in lieu of the shareholder is the precondition for participation. This may also be a depository bank.

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General, fixed-term proxies (continuing proxies) for several companies remain valid even after the conversion of the adidas AG shares to registered shares.

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In accordance with the Federal Data Protection Law (Bundesdatenschutzgesetz - BDSG), data protection is monitored by the company's data protection officer and the respective regulatory authority.

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Information held in the share register is subject to applicable data protection provisions. The company may use the data recorded in the share register when dealing with its shareholders. The company may use this data for advertising purposes only to the extent that the shareholder has not objected. The shareholders are appropriately informed on their right to object.

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The shareholders may examine the listed data on the business premises of the company and the company shall provide the shareholder, if so requested by him/her, with only his/her data as listed in the share register. In addition, shareholders may use their personal password to view and also edit their address information online. No other shareholder or third person is, however, entitled to examine the share register or to otherwise receive the data of the shareholder listed in the register.

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No, your data are not disclosed to third parties. They are exclusively used by the company.

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The personal data of the shareholder are deleted from the share register as soon as the shareholder has completely disposed of his/her adidas AG shares, unless an obligation to preserve is stipulated by law.

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