| When and where will the Annual General Meeting take place? |
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The next Annual General Meeting will take place on Wednesday, 16 May 2012 at the Olympiahalle of the Olympiapark, Coubertinplatz, 80809 Munich, Germany. The Annual General Meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m. local time; the assembly rooms will be open from 8:30 a.m. In order to avoid waiting times due to the security precautions that will be in place in the best interest of the participants, we recommend that shareholders and their representatives arrive as early as possible.
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| Which category of stock is entitled to participate and vote? |
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The requirements for attending the Annual General Meeting are the same for holders of common and preferred stock; however, only holders of common stock have the right to vote at the Annual General Meeting. The “record date” for share ownership is the beginning of the 21st day before the Annual General Meeting, i.e. 00:00 (CEST) on 25 April 2012. Details of the requirements for attendance and for the exercise of voting rights, in particular documentary evidence of shareholdings and timely notification of attendance can be found in the Notice of the Annual General Meeting. See also: “How and by which date can I apply to attend the Annual General Meeting as a shareholder?”
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| How and by which date can I apply to attend the Annual General Meeting as a shareholder? |
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The Notice of the Annual General Meeting will be sent to shareholders via their custodian banks from mid-April 2012 onwards. The shareholder can use the answer form provided by the custodian bank to request an attendance card for him/herself or for a representative. Registration formalities are normally taken care of by custodian banks on submission of a request for an attendance card by their customers. The last possible date for notification of attendance is 9 May 2012.
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| Are shares blocked if the shareholder registers to attend the Annual General Meeting? |
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No, a shareholder’s notification of attendance does not entail share blocking. Registration is based on the “record date” principle, i.e. depending on whether and to what extent the shareholder held shares at the beginning of the 21st day before the Annual General Meeting (record date), i.e. at 00:00 (CEST) on 25 April 2012. Shares can continue to be sold after the record date without affecting the right to attend or exercise voting rights at the Annual General Meeting.
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| How can I be represented at the shareholders’ meeting if I am not able or do not wish to attend in person? How do I obtain proxy forms? |
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Shareholders who do not wish to attend the Annual General Meeting and/or exercise their voting rights in person, may exercise their rights, and in particular their voting rights, via an authorised proxy, e. g. a bank or a shareholders’ association.
Banks and shareholders’ associations as well as persons and institutions which are deemed equivalent to such by the German Stock Corporation Act (AktG) can stipulate their own requirements for proxies to be granted to them, in accordance with the special regulation under § 135 AktG and which should be clarified with the representative directly.
In addition, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft offers holders of common stock the opportunity to exercise their rights via representatives, appointed by the Company, who are bound to vote in accordance with the shareholder’s instructions. If a proxy is granted to Company representatives, appropriate voting instructions must be issued. The proxy authorisation is invalid if this is not done. The Company representatives are obliged to vote in accordance with the instructions given.
Further details with respect to attendance at the Annual General Meeting and the exercising of voting rights, including postal voting, the issuance of proxies and instructions as well as proxy and postal voting forms will be sent to shareholders with their attendance card.
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| How much notice must be given when issuing proxies and instructions to Company representatives? |
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Please refer also to the details provided on the information sheet enclosed with your attendance card:
If a proxy is being submitted by post with voting instructions to Company representatives prior to the Annual General Meeting, the completed proxy paper form and instructions (original and not a copy or fax) must be sent to reach the Company no later than 14 May 2012, 24:00 (CEST) at the address BMW AG, Dept. FF-2, 80788 Munich. It is, however, also possible to grant a proxy with instructions on the actual day of the meeting, should the shareholder leave the meeting before voting has been completed.
Proxies and instructions can be granted electronically to Company representatives at www.bmwgroup.com/ir/proxyvoting up to 15 May 2012 12:00 (CEST).
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| Can a shareholder appoint a proxy during the Annual General Meeting to exercise the shareholder’s rights, if the shareholder does not stay until the end of the meeting? |
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Shareholders who wish to leave the meeting early have the opportunity to authorise a representative e.g. another participant at the meeting to exercise their rights. In this situation, the “Proxy with Instructions” form located at the back of the voting booklet can be used. Shareholders can obtain their voting booklet in the entrance area to the Olympiahalle.
Shareholders of common stock may, instead of authorising a third party, instruct Company representatives to vote on the shareholder’s behalf by proxy. In this case, the “Proxy with Instructions” form taken from the voting booklet should be completed and handed in at the exit. The Company representatives are obliged to vote in accordance with the instructions given.
Please refer also to the details provided on the information sheet enclosed with your attendance card.
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| Does BMW also allow postal voting? |
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Yes, holders of common stock may cast their votes either in writing or electronically (postal voting) without attending the Annual General Meeting.
Common stock shareholders wishing to use the postal voting option should use the form sent to them with the attendance card. In this case, the completed postal voting form (paper form) must be sent to reach Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft, Dept. FF-2, 80788 Munich by 14 May 2012, 24:00 (CEST) at the latest.
It is also possible to cast votes electronically using the procedure made available by the Company at www.bmwgroup.com/ir/proxyvoting. This procedure for casting votes will remain available until 15 May 2012, 12:00 (CEST).
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| What should a shareholder do if he/she has not received notice of the Meeting? |
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Since BMW AG shares are issued to bearer, documents are sent to shareholders by the custodian banks. The dispatch of the documents will take place from mid-April 2012 onwards. Shareholders who have not received an invitation by the end of April should therefore contact their custodian banks.
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| What should a shareholder do if he/she has given sufficient notice to participate at the Annual General Meeting but has not received an attendance card? |
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A shareholder who has given notice of attendance via the custodian bank in good time and who meets the requirements for attendance and the exercise of voting rights, but has not received an attendance card, is nevertheless entitled to attend the Annual General Meeting. If an attendance card has been issued, but has gone missing (e.g. in the post), the shareholder is nevertheless registered for attendance. This will be checked in the entrance area to the Olympiahalle and, where applicable, a replacement attendance card will be issued which can be exchanged at the entrance gates for a voting booklet, thus enabling the shareholder to participate in the meeting. Shareholders who have not received an attendance card should, however, ask their custodian bank in good time prior to the close of registration (9 May 2012, 24:00 (CEST)) whether they have been properly registered.
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| Can I attend a shareholders’ meeting even if I have already sold my shares? |
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The record date for share ownership is the beginning of the 21st day before the Annual General Meeting, i.e. 00:00 (CEST) on 25 April 2012. The disposal of shares after that date does not affect the entitlement to attend and/or exercise voting rights at the meeting.
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| What is the best route to take to the Annual General Meeting and where can I park? Do I need an environmental badge (Umweltplakette) if I am coming by car? |
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Route information and directions to the Olympiahalle will be enclosed with the attendance card (middle section) which will be sent to the shareholder once the custodian bank has given notification of the shareholder’s intention to attend.
BMW has reserved free parking spaces for shareholders in the “Parkharfe” close to the Olympiahalle on the day of the meeting on 16 May 2012.
If you are using a navigation system, please enter the following destination to receive directions to the “Parkharfe”:
Olympiapark Parkharfe
Sapporobogen
80809 Munich
The City of Munich’s environmental zone covers the city centre inside the central ring (“Mittlerer Ring”). However, the “Mittlerer Ring” itself is not in the environmental zone, therefore visitors to the Olympiapark who drive directly to the “Parkharfe” from the Mittlerer Ring (Georg Brauchle Ring) via Sapporobogen do not require an environmental badge.
A free ticket for public transport in Munich (MVV) will also be included in the attendance card (middle section).
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| Are shareholders/shareholders’ representatives allowed to leave the meeting temporarily and return later? |
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Shareholders/shareholders’ representatives are allowed to leave the meeting temporarily via the official exit. The shareholder/shareholders’ representatives must check out with their voting booklet at the exit desk and check in again with their voting booklet on returning so that the attendance register can be amended accordingly.
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| How do I obtain confirmation of participation? |
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The confirmation of participation can be found on the back of the voting booklet. This serves as confirmation since voting booklets are only issued to those who actually attend the BMW Annual General Meeting in the Olympiahalle and are not sent out to shareholders prior to the event.
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| Can I bring a buggy/stroller? What do parents with babies and small children need to know? |
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Buggies/ strollers may be brought into the attendance area of the Olympiahalle, but should not be left unattended or in the vicinity of emergency exits. The top floor of the Olympiahalle (Level 4) is easily accessible. We would like to point out to parents with babies and small children, however, that the building does not have a lift which could be used to bring buggies or strollers down to lower floors. Changing facilities for babies and toddlers are located on Level 3. If necessary, our staff will be available to help you carry your buggy/ stroller.
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| Which parts of the Annual General Meeting will be broadcast over the Internet? |
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Out of respect for the personal rights of participants, only the speech of the Chairman of the Board of Management will be transmitted over the internet.
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| I am mobility impaired/ I am a wheelchair user. How can I get from the underground station to the assembly rooms and back? Are places reserved for disabled persons? |
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A shuttle bus will be available preferentially for persons with impaired mobility between the “Olympiazentrum” underground station and the Olympiahalle (place of assembly). After registration at the Olympiahalle, disabled persons will, on request, be accompanied by our employees to the area on level 4 reserved for disabled persons located in a good position for following the proceedings of the Annual General Meeting. This area is also marked in the site map which will be handed to you on registration. We would like to point out, however, that the building does not have a lift which could be used to bring wheelchairs down to lower floors.
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| I have hearing difficulties / I use a hearing aid. What is the best way for me to follow the proceedings of the Annual General Meeting acoustically? |
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An inductive loop is in place at specified seats in the Olympiahalle to facilitate hearing. These seats are distinguished by a corresponding symbol and marked in the site map which will be given to shareholders on registration.
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| Will it be possible to go on a works tour again this year? |
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A limited number of tours of the BMW Munich plant will once again be available to shareholders this year. As the number of participants is limited, shareholders who are interested in such a tour should register in good time at the “Tours” desk in the Olympiahalle.
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| Will there be an opportunity to visit the BMW Museum on 16 May 2012? |
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Yes, further information about the museum's opening times can be found at www.bmw-museum.de.
A limited number of entry tickets will be handed out at the “Tours” desk in the Olympiahalle.
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| Will there be an opportunity to visit BMW Welt on 16 May 2012? |
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BMW Welt is open to the general public during its normal opening times: more details can be found at www.bmw-welt.com. A limited number of tours of BMW Welt will also be available directly after the Annual General Meeting. You may register for a tour on the day of Meeting at the “Tours” desk in the Olympiahalle.
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| Which vehicles will be on display? |
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The latest BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce cars and BMW und Husqvarna motorcycles will be on display.
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| Are refreshments available? |
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Food and beverages will be available throughout the proceedings. In the interests of security, you are kindly requested not to bring any food and beverages (in particular bottles) of your own.
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| Is smoking allowed inside the Olympiahalle? |
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We request that shareholders refrain from smoking inside the Olympiahalle except for in the designated smoking area indicated in the site map handed out to shareholders upon arrival at the Meeting.
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| What rules apply for bringing objects into the Olympiahalle? |
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The BMW AG Annual General Meeting is normally attended by more than 5,000 people. Special security measures are required for an event of this size. Security checks similar to those carried out at airports will be in place in the entrance area. We request you not to bring any potentially dangerous objects such as knives, scissors or bottles. You will not be allowed to take these items with you into the assembly rooms.
To protect the personal rights of participants, pictures and recordings are not permitted during the Annual General Meeting. Therefore, you will be requested to hand over all cameras and recorders before you enter the Meeting. These items will be returned when you leave the Meeting.
Mobile phones may be taken into the Meeting. However, it is not permitted to use mobiles phones to take pictures or to make recordings. Furthermore, you are kindly requested to mute your mobile phone during the Meeting.
Thank you for your understanding in this matter.
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