Annual General Meeting of May 5, 2026 Written Question and Answer
Written question submitted via email on April 23, 2026, by Mr. Mehdi Berriche, a shareholder of the Company
At the previous 2025 AGM, I asked you the question dated April 18, 2025, to which you replied on April 23, 2025:
Since then, Nicolas Sarkozy's situation has changed: he has received several final convictions resulting in imprisonment (a unique and exceptional occurrence for a former President of the Fifth Republic), and his appeal to the European Court of Human Rights has in no way overturned his convictions. His honor is therefore very seriously tarnished.
Even considering his longstanding friendship with Arnaud Lagardère and his efforts to prevent his removal as head of the group several years ago, isn't his presence on the board of directors detrimental to the company and its image?
Response from the Board of Directors of Lagardère SA:
The Board notes that President Nicolas Sarkozy is presumed innocent in two proceedings. In another, an appeal has been filed with the European Court of Human Rights.
None of the convictions handed down-all of which relate to alleged acts unrelated to the Company and the Lagardère Group-has ever been accompanied by any prohibition on holding a corporate office. These convictions therefore in no way affect President Nicolas Sarkozy's ability to actively perform his duties as a member of the Company's Board of Directors and the Nominating, Compensation, and CSR Committee.
Mindful of the Company's best interests and attentive to the concerns expressed by its shareholders, the Board regularly evaluates its composition and functioning and ensures that the diversity of profiles within it enables it to fully fulfill its duties.
The Board of Directors considers that the presence of President Nicolas Sarkozy is, more than ever, an undeniable asset for the Board and, more broadly, for the Group, especially in the current geopolitical and macroeconomic context.
His exceptional career, strategic vision, rare expertise, in-depth knowledge of the Lagardère Group's business areas, and unique understanding of geopolitical, economic, and institutional issues bring significant added value to the work of the Board of Directors, in the interest of the Group and all of its stakeholders.