Italy’s Cattolica to vote on change of company status end July

MILAN (Reuters) – The board of Italy’s Cattolica Assicurazioni said on Monday its shareholders would vote on the group’s transformation into a joint-stock company on July 30 or 31.

The change of status is one of the terms of an agreement signed with Generali , aimed at boosting the capital position of the Verona-based insurer.

Last week Generali agreed to buy a 24.4% stake in Cattolica through an upcoming 300 million euro ($338.16 million) reserved capital increase.

Generali also has the option to subscribe pro-rata to an up to 200 million euros cash call Cattolica is set to approve by July.

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway is currently the top investor in Cattolica with a 9% stake.

(Reporting by Gianluca Semeraro and Claudia Cristoferi)