On January 20, 2009 Bencom S.r.l. acquired 100% of My Market S.r.l., a company based in
Viareggio
(
Lucca
) which owned 100% of Benver S.r.l., a company based in Ponzano
Veneto
(
Treviso
).
At the same time that Bencom S.r.l. acquired this interest, My Market S.r.l. and Benver S.r.l. entered an arrangement with third parties to lease the entire business comprising all the stores selling Benetton Group products directly managed by the two companies up until then (41 by My Market and four by Benver), most of which located in Tuscany and Liguria.
Subsequently, as part of the process of simplifying the Group's corporate structure, My Market S.r.l. and Benver S.r.l. were merged into Bencom S.r.l. with effect from June 27, 2009. The merger was effective from January 20, 2009 for tax and accounting purposes.
On March 20, 2009 Limei International Ltd. sold Benetton Asia Pacific Ltd. 585,000 shares in Benlim Ltd., representing 50% of this company's share capital. As a result, Benetton Asia Pacific Ltd. now owns 100% of Benlim Ltd. This transaction forms part of a wider process of redefining the relationship with the Group's Chinese partner, which continues to be a supplier to Benetton Asia Pacific Ltd.
On April 24, 2009 Benetton Real Estate International S.A. acquired all of the shares in Hotel Union L.L.C., a company based in Pristina (Kosovo) and owner of a commercial property.
Benetton Pars P.J.S.C., an Iranian registered company based in Teheran and controlled by Benetton International S.A., was set up on May 30, 2009.
The following changes also took place as part of the process of simplifying the Group's corporate structure:
-Benetton Deutschland GmbH, a German registered company, completed its winding-up process on January 23, 2009;
-Estate Odessa L.L.C., a Ukrainian registered company, completed its winding-up process on February 19, 2009;
-Benetton Real Estate Spain S.L. was officially absorbed by Benetton Realty Spain S.L. on October 1, 2009;
-Benetton Tunisia S.à r.l. was officially absorbed by Benetton Manufacturing Tunisia S.à r.l. on October 6, 2009;
-the entire interest in United Colors of Benetton do Brasil Ltda., held by Benetton International S.A. and Benetton Manufacturing Holding N.V., was sold to third parties on October 16, 2009. The sale of this company, which changed its name at the same time, did not involve the transfer of any rights relating to the Group's brands, know how and/or business;
-Benetton Argentina S.A. completed its winding-up process on December 30, 2009.