PADUA, Italy—Following the company’s shareholders’ meeting today, Roberto Vedovotto, CEO of Sàfilo Group S.p.A [SFL:MI] told VMail that the company and its main shareholder, Only 3T S.p.A , are "continuing discussions with financial private equity firms and ‘other’ interested parties.”

“April 30 is not a deadline for the presentation of an offer," Vedovotto said, denying a published Italian newspaper report earlier today that indicated such. He added, “We are speaking to a number of parties, due diligence should be finished soon. I cannot elaborate on a timetable, but the hope is that a deal could be closed by June.”

Earlier this year, the company posted a statement by Only 3T S.p.A., the Tabacchi family holding company which owns about 40 percent of the Sàfilo Group, said "measures aimed at strengthening and further developing Sàfilo Group are being examined, and that contacts with some potential partners have been made." Sàfilo also, as reported earlier this year, downsized and closed some production activities, following negotiations with the trade union delegations regarding the downsizing.

At the shareholders’ meeting held here today, the company’s financial statements, board of directors’ report on the 2008 financial year were confirmed. And, Vedovotto’s appointment as a director and prior discussions of his role as CEO were confirmed. The meeting also integrated a board of statutory auditors which will remain in place until the approval of financial statements of Dec. 31, 2010; all the auditors appointed are from the majority list presented by the shareholder Only 3T S.p.A. since no list was presented by the minority shareholders, the company’s statement said. The company also noted that Vedovotto currently holds 1,200,000 ordinary shares of Sàfilo Group S.p.A.