Lupatech and EZTEC Join Assembleias Online

SAO PAULO, March 4, /PRNewswire/ -- Lupatech (BM&FBovespa: LUPA3), one of the leading manufacturers of oil and gas equipment in Latin America, and EZTEC (BM&FBovespa: EZTC3), one of the largest developers and builders of residential properties in Sao Paulo, today signed up for Assembleias Online, the electronic voting platform developed by MZ , which includes proxies with digital signature. By joining Assembleias Online, the Companies have further improved their corporate governance practices by offering their shareholders the option to vote remotely, which should increase quorum at general meetings.

According to Thiago Alonso de Oliveira, the Chief Financial and Investor Relations Officer of Lupatech, "Assembleias Online perfectly matches Lupatech's determination to constantly operate in accordance with the best corporate governance practices. We expect an increase in the participation of minority shareholders at our general meetings."

Emilio Fugazza, the Chief Financial and Investor Relations Officer of EZTEC, says, "Increasing the participation of our minority shareholders at the general meetings is one way of reaffirming EZTEC's commitment to the best corporate governance practices and transparency in its dealings with the capital markets, and Assembleias Online is essential to strengthen this determination."

Assembleias Online is a pioneering initiative of MZ together with Brazil's leading law firms, which resulted in an official request to the Board of the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM) in February 2008. In June of the same year, the request was approved, the CVM Board having found no impediments to the use of digital certification and other details provided by MZ.

By joining Assembleias Online, Lupatech and EZTEC also comply with CVM Instruction 481 of December 17, 2009, which rules on the exercise of electronic voting rights and other matters related to the shareholders' meetings of publicly-held companies. Other companies that have already used or are scheduled to use Assembleias Online for their general meetings are Bematech (BM&FBovespa: BEMA3), Natura (BM&FBovespa: NATU3) and Triunfo (BM&FBovespa: TPIS3).

CVM Instruction 481, which came into force on January 1, 2010, aims to facilitate the participation of minority shareholders through public requests for proxy and envisages reimbursement of all related expenses. Companies using this system are exempted from reimbursing these costs.

Besides facilitating the holding of company meetings and providing access to all shareholders, Assembleias Online encourages greater exchange of information. All the documents filed by the companies with the CVM are available at the same time. The sections on query of documents and voting, available in Portuguese and English, are available exclusively to shareholders. Access is free but requires prior registration for the issue of a digital certificate.

More than 550 investors have already joined Assembleias Online, of which 26% are offshore funds and 74% are Brazilian funds and individual investors. This is a unique system that combines technology, security and privacy to encourage investors' participation in the strategic management of companies. In addition to the certification from Certisign/VeriSign (the Brazilian and global leader in digital certification technology), the system also relies on Ernst & Young to review its internal controls (Webtrust certification).

About Assembleias Online (www.assembleiasonline.com.br): Assembleias Online is an electronic voting system (using proxies with digital certification), which enables greater participation of shareholders and investment funds (or entities/cooperatives) in general meetings. The system: (i) dispenses with the physical presence of shareholders at the meeting venue; (ii) enables early voting in a convenient manner, with no bureaucracy and with total security, thanks to digital certification; and (iii) entails no cost for investors and shareholders. Assembleias Online was designed and developed by MZ Consult, the leader in financial communication services in Latin America, together with Certisign, the leader in digital certification in Brazil and an associate of VeriSign, the world leader in security and certification, and Tauil & Chequer Advogados Associado a Mayer Brown, a leading law firm specializing in Brazilian and international law, besides relying on Ernst & Young to review its internal controls (Webtrust certification).

SOURCE MZ Consult