KBC Group: Publication of a transparency notification received by KBC Group NV

Brussels, 11 September 2017, 18 h

Publication of a transparency notification received by KBC Group NV

(art. 14, 1^st section of the Act of 2 May 2007 concerning the disclosure of significant participations)   

Summary of the notification

KBC Group NV has received two transparency notifications dated 4 September 2017 and 7 September 2017, respectively, which state that FMR LLC (Fidelity), as a result of a net disposal and purchase of shares, first crossed the reporting threshold of 3% downwards (notification of 4 September) and then upwards (notification of 7 September). 

Content of the notification

The notifications contain following information:

• Reason for the notification: acquisition or disposal of voting securities or voting rights
• Notification by: FMR LLC (Fidelity)
• Persons subject to the notification requirement: see annex 1
• Date on which the threshold is crossed: 1 September 2017 and 5 September 2017, respectively
• Threshold that is crossed: 3% downwards and 3% upwards, respectively

(KBC Group's Articles of Association set a notification threshold of 3% of the total number of voting rights. In addition, the legal thresholds of 5% or any multiple thereof also apply)

• Denominator (number of shares KBC Group NV): 418 372 082
• Notified details: see annex 1
• Chain of controlled undertakings through which the holding is effectively held:
  "The holdings attributed to FMR LLC arise from holdings of various undertakings for collective investment that are managed by FMR Co, Inc,  Fidelity Institutional Asset Management Trust Company, FMR INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT (UK) LIMITED, STRATEGIC ADVISORS  INC and FIAM LLC, each of which are entities that are subsidiaries of and controlled by FMR LLC. These undertakings for collective investment have granted FMR LLC discretionary power to vote the securities in accordance with the FMR LLC board proxy voting policy. FMR LLC is not a controlled undertaking."
• The relevant notification is available at www.kbc.com > Investor relations > Shareholder information > Shareholder structure.

For more information, please contact:

Wim Allegaert, General Manager, Investor Relations, KBC Group
Tel + 32 2 429 50 51 - E-mail: wim.allegaert@kbc.be

Viviane Huybrecht, General Manager, Corporate Communication/Spokesperson, KBC Group
Tel + 32 2 429 85 45 - E-mail: pressofficekbc@kbc.be

Annex 1

1. Notification dated 4 September 2017

1. Notification dated 7 September 2017