EMITTENTI TITOLI S.p.A
Transcription
EMITTENTI TITOLI S.p.A
EMITTENTI TITOLI S.p.A 3/2012 Note e Studi Corporate Governance in Italy: Compliance with the CG Code and Related Party Transactions (Year 2011) March 2012 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 Corporate Governance in Italy: Compliance with the CG Code and Related Party Transactions (Year 2011) 1. Introduction and main conclusions p. 7 FIRST PART: CORPORATE GOVERNANCE IN ITALIAN LISTED FIRMS 2. General Information p.21 2.1. Compliance with the Corporate Governance Code; structure and form of CG Reports 2.2. Information about corporate governance and ownership structure p.21 p.23 a) Restrictions on the transfer of securities b) Special control rights c) Restrictions on voting rights d) Change of control clauses e) Agreements which envisage indemnities to directors 3. 2.3. Information about the possible opt-out from the passivity rule p.27 2.4. Information on succession plans p.27 Compliance with Code recommendations p.27 3.1. Role of the Board of Directors and of the Board of Statutory Auditors; two-tier and one-tier management and control systems p.27 a) Frequency of meetings b) Attendance to meetings c) Information about delegated powers d) Information about Board Evaluation e) Positions held in other companies f) Positions held in other listed companies g) Role of the Supervisory Board in two-tier companies 3.2. Composition of the Board of Directors and Independent Directors p.35 a) Board Size b) Board Composition c) Board Independence (CG Code and CLF definitions) d) Chairman-CEO and Lead Independent Director e) Gender diversity 2 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 3.3. Assessment of the Directors’ and Statutory Auditors’ independence p.47 a) Directors’ Independence b) Statutory Auditors’ Independence 3.4. Nomination Committee p.55 3.5. Slate voting p.56 a) Presentation of multiple slates b) Quorum for the presentation c) Who presented the slates d) Majority and minority slates e) The result of the vote 3.6. Number and role of minority representatives p.72 a) Number of minority directors and statutory auditors b) The role of minority directors c) Minority directors and the composition of board committees 3.7. Remuneration Committee p.77 a) Establishment of a Remuneration Committee b) Duties of the Remuneration Committee c) Composition of the Remuneration Committee d) Frequency of the meetings of the Remuneration Committee e) Attendance to meetings of the Remuneration Committee 3.8. Directors’ Remuneration p.80 a) The amount of directors’ remuneration b) Remuneration and directors’ role c) The structure of directors’ remuneration d) The remuneration of Independent Directors 3.9. Internal Control Committee p.90 a) Establishment of an Internal Control Committee b) Duties of the Internal Control Committee c) Composition of the Internal Control Committee d) Frequency of the meetings of the Internal Control Committee e) Attendance to meetings of the Internal Control Committee 3.10. Other issues concerning the Internal Control System p.95 a) Internal audit function b) Compliance with Legislative Decree no. 231/2001 i. Information about the adoption of an organizational model and establishment of a Supervisory Body ii. Composition of the Supervisory Body iii. Frequency of meetings 3 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 SECOND PART: PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS 4. Procedures for handling related party (RPT) transactions 4.1. RPT procedures p.99 p.100 a) The approval of the procedures b) The implementation scope of the procedures c) Transactions carried out by controlled companies d) The approval of “minor” transactions e) The approval of “major” transactions f) Simplified regime for “smaller” and/or “recently listed” companies g) Framework resolutions h) The exclusions i) The adoption of “equivalent measures” j) “Whitewashing” 4.2. Information documents published in the first half-year period of 2011 p.127 Appendix 1 Composition of the sample Appendix 2 Tables based on Corporate Governance Reports Table 1 General Information Table 2 Information about corporate governance and ownership structures Table 3 Presence and features of a “succession plan” Table 4 Board of Directors, Executive Committee and Board of Statutory Auditors Table 5 Attendance to Board Meetings and other positions held by Directors and Statutory Auditors Table 6 Attendance to Board Meetings (individual Directors and Statutory Auditors) Table 7 Board Evaluation Table 8 Information on the process of Board Evaluation Table 9 Other Positions held by Directors and Statutory Auditors (individual Directors and Statutory Auditors) 4 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 Table 10 Persons holding Multiple Positions in Listed Companies Table 11 Role of the Supervisory Board (two-tier boards) Table 12 Board Evaluation of the Supervisory Board Table 13 Composition of the Board of Directors Table 14 Composition of the Supervisory Board (two-tier boards) Table 15 Chairman and CEO Table 16 Gender composition of the company bodies Table 17 Independent Directors in “Particular Circumstances” Table 18 Composition of the Board of Statutory Auditors Table 19 Statutory Auditors in “Particular Circumstances” Table 20 Nomination Committee Table 21 Appointment of Directors Table 22 Appointment of Statutory Auditors Table 23 Presence of minority shareholders holding a block of shares exceeding the quorum required to submit a list Table 24 Lists of candidates to the BoD Table 25 Lists of candidates to the Board of Statutory Auditors Table 26 “Minority lists” of candidates to the BoD Table 27 “Minority lists” of candidates to the Board of Statutory Auditors Table 28 Classification of Directors (in companies where minority Directors have been elected) Table 29 Companies with Directors appointed by minority shareholders and composition of Board committees Table 30 Remuneration Committee Table 31 Composition of Board Committees Table 32 Attendance to Board Committees (individual Directors) Table 33 Directors’ Remuneration Table 34 Directors’ Remuneration, by role Table 35 Directors remuneration, by role and sector Table 36 Remuneration of independent directors Table 37 Remuneration of independent directors (by committee membership) Table 38 Remuneration of independent directors (by committee membership, index and sector) Table 39 Remuneration of independent directors who are/are not in “particular circumstances” Table 40 Internal Control Committee Table 41 Internal Control System and Supervisory Body 5 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 Appendix 3: Tables on Procedures for handling Related Party Transactions (RPTs) Table 42 Approval of the RPT Procedures Table 43 Implementation scope of the RPT Procedures Table 44 Framework resolutions and RPTs carried out by controlled companies Table 45 Approval of RPTs Table 46 “Exiguity” Thresholds Table 47 Exclusions in RPT Procedures Table 48 Definition of “significant interests” in intra-group RPTs Table 49 “Equivalent Measures” where the number of independent directors is lower than the regulatory minimum Table 50 Whitewashing Table 51 “Major” transactions carried out during the first half-year period of 2011 6 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 1. Introduction and main conclusions Assonime has analyzed the Corporate Governance Reports (hereinafter CG Reports), issued by Italian listed companies since 2001 (i.e. when the Italian Corporate Governance Code, hereinafter Code or CG Code, was implemented for the first time1). CG Reports are issued annually by the Board of Directors (hereinafter BoD) of listed companies and provide information about their corporate governance system. This analysis examines the CG Reports issued by companies (listed on the Italian Stock Exchange) at the end of July 2010, and refers to the application of the Code (2006 edition2) in 2010. The 20113 analysis covers 262 listed companies (on 31 March 2010) whose CG Report were available at the 31st July 2011: coverage of the Stock list is substantially 100%4. The results refer to the whole sample, except where specifically noted (e.g. companies belonging to a specific market index5). Further details and/or comparisons with previous years are provided, whenever significant. Comments, except where specifically noted, refer to the following classification: FTSE Mib, Mid Cap, Small Cap, Micro Cap and Other6 (a residual class, made up of companies not included in any FTSE Index). We The present report is the result of an analysis performed by Massimo Belcredi (Professor of Corporate Finance, Università Cattolica del S.Cuore, Milan) and Stefano Bozzi (Associate Professor of Corporate Finance, Università Cattolica del S.Cuore, Rome). The Authors thank Mariasofia Houben, Elisa Nossa and Cora Signorotto for their assistance in data collection. 1 Corporate Governance Committee of listed companies (ed. 1999), “Report - Corporate Governance Code”. 2 Corporate Governance Committee (ed. 2006), “CG Code”; see Circolare Assonime no. 5/2007. No analysis was made on the application of the new art. 7 of the Code concerning the remuneration of directors and managers with strategic responsibilities (approved from the CG Committee in March 2009); the Committee suggested issuers should apply the new art. 7 by the end of the financial year starting in 2011 and inform the market about its application in the CG Report to be published in 2012. Our analysis refers to compliance with the 2006 version of the Code, which was in force at the end of 2009. For the same reason we did not analyze the compliance with the Italian corporate governance code, as approved in December 2011. Wherever possible, we report data which might be interesting for the application of the new version of the Code (2011). 3 Previous analyses are available at http://www.assonime.it/AssonimeWeb2/statuto.jsp?id=235032. 4 Only one CG Report was still missing on that date. We do not cover 45 foreign companies (subject to foreign law; almost all of them are double listing cases) and 11 companies listed on the AIM Italia market, which are not required to disclose information about compliance with the Code. Further information on the composition of the sample are reported in Appendix 1. 5 The index composition refers to March 31st, 2010. 6 Moreover, the last two classes (Micro Cap and Others) are only of a limited interest, due to their low and decreasing number. Moreover, “Other” companies are often ruled out from FTSE Indexes due to some specific conditions, such as low liquidity, low free-float or their being target of a takeover bid, aimed to delist the company. Therefore our comments will focus on FTSE Mib, Mid Cap and Small Cap companies. In the attached tables are also reported, separately, data for companies included in the “Star” segment of Borsa Italiana. 7 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 use the sector classification defined by the Italian Stock Exchange (distinguishing financial – banks and insurance companies – from non-financial firms). Further details are shown in Appendix 2. The CG Reports report also information on other issues, such as the compliance with recent pieces of legislation concerning listed companies7, e.g. with Law no. 262/2005 (the “Protection of Savings” Law), with the related implementing regulations issued by Consob and with the recent changes (often linked to the reception of European directives and recommendations) of the Legislative Decree no. 58/1998 (hereinafter Consolidated Law on Finance or CLF). As in previous years, our analysis includes a second part, providing further insights into CG issues requiring additional, specific data8 collection. In this edition we focus on Procedures for handling related party transactions (RPTs). We decided to focus on this theme after the approval of the Consob RPT Regulation no. 17221, on 12 March 2010 (hereinafter RPT Regulation), which required issuers to adopt specific “RPT Procedures” within 1 October 2010 (the term was then extended to 1 December 2010 by Consob Decision no. 17389 of 23 June 2010), to be applied from 1 January 2011. Since a complex RPT Regulation followed a harsh debate in the consultation period, we decided to analyze how Italian companies applied the Regulation. We focus on two main topics: a) First of all, we analyzed the RPT Procedures to find possible connections between their structure (or the adoption of particular technical solutions) and the features of the company (e.g. size, industry and ownership structure); b) At the same time, we analyzed the major related party transactions performed by the issuers in the first period after the entry into force of the Regulation; we collected and analyzed the reports published by issuers on those operations in the first semester 2011 (as required by the art. 5, para. 1 of the Regulation). Our analysis of CG Reports shows positive results, similar to those of previous years, about compliance with the CG Code: quantity and quality of disclosure are generally good; compliance with the Code is close to 100%. The effort of the issuers both to provide information about their governance system and to comply with Code 7 Legislative Decree 17th January 2003, no. 6 and the relative “corrective” decrees (Legislative Decree 6th February 2004, no. 37 and Legislative Decree 28th December 2004, no. 310) 8 The analysis report also other data (not drawn from CG Reports) on some themes studied in previous years (in particular, directors’ remuneration and slate voting). 8 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 provisions, is clearly evident. CG Reports are now more complete, easier to understand and more transparent, both in the case of compliance and in that of non-compliance with Code provisions. As normal, there are some areas where improvement is still possible, but their scope is decreasing over time. In particular, some recommendations provided by the 2006 Code have yet to be fully implemented (e.g. appointment of a Lead Independent Director, Board Evaluation procedure, sometimes also the composition of board committees). A relevant contribution has come from the publication of the 2nd edition of the “Format for the issuance of CG Reports” issued by the Italian Stock Exchange, which includes in the Appendix some tables – drawn up with the contribution of Assonime – reporting summary data about composition and functioning of corporate bodies9. The issuers are increasingly adopting the second edition of the Format: the new version of the tables is now published by 56% of the companies. Almost all issuers state formally their intention to comply with the Code: this is true for 249 companies (i.e. 95% of the aggregate). A small, but nonetheless significant number of companies disclosed their “partial” compliance or stated explicitly that they do not comply with one or more principles or criteria of the Code (explaining the reasons of their choice). Italian companies are increasingly aware of the implications of complying with Code provisions. On one hand, the choice to comply (or not to comply) with each Code provision should be based on a cost-benefit analysis referred to the single case; on the other hand, CG Code recommendations are, indeed, best practices, not minimum legal standards; for this reason, a hundred percent compliance with the Code can be hardly expected; this is particularly true for some criteria, where a “mechanical” application might even be in contrast with the spirit of the Code. Some basic information is always or almost always available (e.g. composition of corporate bodies and committees, frequency of, and attendance to meetings). The obligation to publish a “Report on corporate governance and ownership structures”, required by art. 123-bis CLF, had a positive effect on disclosure by companies that previously chose not to comply with the whole Code, and, consequentially, were not obliged to provide information (on a “comply or explain” basis) about their governance. Information about ownership structure has been available in Italy for a long time. Today CG Reports provide additional information on many topics, often in a specific section. Restrictions on the transfer of securities or on voting rights (and also securities with 9 These tables resemble closely those proposed in the Handbook on Corporate Governance Reports published in 2004 by Assonime and Emittenti Titoli. 9 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 special control rights) are infrequent; they can be found more often in large companies (in particular, in “privatized” ones). On the other hand, change of control clauses are frequently (in 47% of cases, 81% for large companies) included in financing contracts and/or in commercial agreements. Such data must, however, be handled with care: the meaning of some legal definitions is not perfectly clear; listed companies, on the one hand, seem to disclose information in a not completely homogeneous way; on the other hand, they sometimes disclose information on situations that are only vaguely related to the types mentioned by the rule. The existence of agreements that ensure indemnities for directors in case of dismissal is rather infrequent (19% of cases, 46% of large companies): indemnities are provided almost always in case of wrongful dismissal, frequently (65% of cases) in other cases of dismissal; rarely (32% of cases) in case of takeover bid or control changes. Formalized succession planning for executive directors is rare. More than one half of the companies disclosed that their BoD has performed selfevaluation. This happens more frequently in larger companies (89% of the FTSE Mib and 78% of the Mid Cap companies). The recourse to questionnaires is quite frequent (35% of cases); interviews are less frequent. The recourse to external facilitators is still infrequent (16 cases, including 6 State-owned firms) and limited to very large companies. The preliminary tasks are assigned to a committee or to independent directors in 20% of cases (40% in FTSE Mib). The structure of the process and/or the quality of disclosure on the process vary with company size. The results of the evaluation are disclosed rarely and only in a summary form. Disclosure on delegated powers is almost always good. The appointment of a Lead Independent Director is frequent in non-financial firms (96 companies, or 71% of the companies with a Chairman-Ceo); in the financial industry only one of the two companies with a Chairman-CEO appointed a LID. No two-tier company appointed a LID. The appointment of a LID is frequent where the Chairman is the shareholder controlling the firm, independently of his possible qualification as CEO. An Executive Committee is established rarely (42 cases) and almost only in financial firms (57% of the cases, versus 11% in non-financial firms). The Executive Committee meets on average 11.8 times per year; variance across firms is, however, extremely high (from 0 to 94 meetings per year). The name “Executive Committee” is assigned to bodies with quite different features: some of them are involved in day-by-day business decisions, while others play a much more limited role (sometimes, a sort of back-up device, to be used in case of need). 10 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 The number of board members is variable with company size (from 8.6 in Small Caps to 12.7 in the FTSE Mib) and sector (15.6 in financial, 9.4 in non-financial companies). The average number of Directors (10) and the attendance to meetings (about 10 per year) are stable over time; the frequency of meetings is higher in the financial sector (15.7 meetings). The identification of executive, non-executive and independent directors is almost always available10. The average Board of Directors is composed, in almost equal proportions, of executive (30%), “simple” non-executive (34%) and independent directors (36%). This structure is relatively stable over time. Most situations considered critical by the Code for independence have substantially disappeared; however, two of them are still frequent, and have even increased in 2011: a) a “high” remuneration (mostly connected to directors holding other positions in the group) and b) directors who have been in office for more than 9 years. This seems to be connected to two different phenomena: a) some cases of “high” remuneration may now be spotted because of the increased transparency in this field; b) a number of companies explicitly deciding not to apply the so-called 9-year rule; this, in turn, may be connected to a particular “quality” of the directors who are reaching the 9-year “limit” (they are independent directors specifically appointed to comply with Code provisions). The surveyed companies have 2,728 directors: 2,546 of them are men, 182 are women (6.7% of the total); gender diversity is slowly increasing (we counted 169 women in 2010, 125 in 2006). 132 companies, i.e. – for the first time – more than half of the total (46% in 2010, 34% in 2006), have at least one woman in their BoD. Only 27 companies already comply with the gender quota of 1/5 and only 6 companies with that of 1/3 (according to law no.120/2011 on “gender quotas”, the less-represented gender must obtain at least 1/3 of the board seats; the required quota for the first mandate in application of the law is 1/5). This law will have a deep impact on corporate bodies: should board size remain unchanged, the number of additional women will be 469 at the first board renewal and further 351 women at the second renewal. Due to the “small” number of board members, the legal quota (to be rounded to the upper unit) will produce an even higher female representation: 24.6% (instead of 20%) at the first renewal and 37.5% (instead of 33.3%) afterwards. A probably unwanted consequence will be a huge, forced turnover of male directors – 32% in the first three years. Since the Italian voting system grants representation to relevant shareholders (especially after slate voting was mandated for all listed firms) the introduction of gender quotas will have far-reaching consequences, going far beyond the protection of 10 This information is not available only for two out of 2728 members. 11 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 the less represented gender. Gender quotas, actually, follow mandatory minority board representation and a legal requirement to have a minimum number of independent directors. The introduction of more and more constraints on board composition (i.e. to the free choice of directors by shareholders) may give rise to new, previously unforeseen problems. The picture for statutory auditors is quite similar: listed companies have 786 statutory auditors; 736 are men, 50 are women (6.4% of the total, slightly down from the previous year). 48 companies have at least one woman in their Board of Statutory Auditors (BoSA; 19% of total); 2 companies have a majority of women in their BoSA. The effects of law no.120/2011 on the composition of BoSA will be the same as for the BoD, with the notable exception of the “transitional regime” (providing a quota of 1/5) being substantially useless. Only 48 (or respectively, 46) companies already comply with the future 1/5 (1/3) “gender quota”. Should BoSA size remain unchanged, the number of additional women will be 254 at the first board renewal and further 15 women at the second renewal; this also implies a forced turnover of male statutory auditors (37% in the first three years). Disclosure about the appointment process of directors and statutory auditors is good. We concentrated our attention on: a) application of slate voting; b) the role of minority directors. Boards of directors are almost invariably appointed for a 3-year office term: the outcome of 2011 shareholders’ meetings of 2011 should then compared with that of the previous election (which typically took place in 2008). The average quorum required to submit a list of candidates to the BoD is 2.36% (slightly up from 2008). The quorum is capped by art. 144-quater Consob Regulation on Issuers, making reference – among other things – to market capitalization. Company by-laws frequently refer to the legal cap; consequently, the average quorum tends to decrease when market prices grow (and vice versa). The submission of minority slates varies over time (between 37% and 49% of the companies) both for Directors and for Statutory Auditors. Slate voting is a relevant phenomenon in the Italian market, even though minority shareholders took the opportunity to submit a slate in less than 50% of the cases. The submission of minority slates seems to be slightly increasing for the appointment of directors (49% in 2011, 43% in 2008) and stable for the appointment of statutory auditors (47% in 2011, 49% in 2008). The submission of multiple slates is frequent in large companies (67% in FTSE Mib), especially in State-owned firms (91% of cases, as in 2008); it is less frequent (36% of cases) elsewhere. 12 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 In more than half of the cases no minority slate is submitted, even though one or more minority shareholders holding a sufficient stake are present almost in every company. “Apathy” seems to be linked to investors having little interest for presenting their slate, not to the quorum being too high. Where relevant shareholders (holding a stake sufficient to submit an alternative slate) are present, they preferred not to take this opportunity in 45% of the cases in 2011. The quorum for the appointment of statutory auditors may actually be lower than that set out in the articles of association (art. 144-sexies, para. 5 Consob Regulation on Issuers halves “the time limits provided in the articles of association” if, at the usual deadline, only one slate has been submitted). Nevertheless, the frequency of the minority slates submission is almost exactly the same (47% for statutory auditors, 49% for directors). Consob specific regulation for BoSA elections apparently does not produce any additional investor activism. Italian mutual funds (under the lead of Assogestioni) submit few slates, and only in FTSE Mib, blue-chip companies; in 2011 Assogestioni submitted 8 slates for directors’ and 6 for statutory auditors’ elections. More than half of the “minority” slates have been submitted by private shareholders. Where multiple slates have been submitted, their total number is usually 2: shareholders rationally try to avoid transactions costs, if their list has a low probability of success. The submission of three or more slates is more frequent in companies adopting a “proportional” voting method and/or where the number of board seats “reserved” for minorities is higher than one. Minority slates are frequently successful: one director has been appointed in 82% of cases (92% for statutory auditors). Slates of candidates frequently receive additional votes at the AGM. This was already evident in previous years for majority slates: in 2011 majority slates for the appointment of directors were submitted by investors holding 45.1%, but were voted by 58% of equity capital (+12.9%, slightly more than in 2008: +11%). This happens now also for minority slates: the average minority slate in 2011 was submitted by investors holding 6.1%, but was voted by 12.9% of equity capital (+6,7%; it was +2.8% in 2008). This may be connected to the implementation of Directive 2007/36/EC about “Shareholders’ rights”, which introduced the record date system to legitimate the participation and the vote in the shareholders’ meeting. This phenomenon is particularly evident for the FTSE Mib companies, where minority slates, 13 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 submitted by shareholders with 3.3% of equity, were actually voted by investors holding an additional 12.8% of equity (+5.7% in 2008). It is interesting to split these results according to the ownership structure of the firm. In family firms minority slates are submitted by shareholders holding a considerable stake (7.9% of equity), the number of additional votes is low (+1.4%) and basically the same as in 2008. On the contrary, in State-owned companies minority slates are submitted by shareholders with a lower stake (4.4% of equity); however, they get a higher number of additional votes (+10.2%); additional votes are also much higher than in 2008 (+2.6%). The data for the BoSA are quite similar. These results are apparently linked to Assogestioni slates getting more support by Italian and foreign institutional investors. The number of Assogestioni slates is stable; however, they get more votes than in previous elections. This changed the outcome of the vote: the number of directors appointed by minority shareholders is increasing only slightly (from 60 in 2008 to 67 in 2011); however, the number of candidates appointed by Assogestioni increased from 14 to 24, accounting for 83% of the total number of minority directors in FTSE Mib companies. The data for statutory auditors are quite similar. The number of candidates in each slate is defined strategically. The “minority” slates have a lower number of candidates than majority ones; 43% of the candidates included in a minority slate is actually elected (versus 96% for majority ones). 98 (97) companies (37% of the total) have at least one minority director (statutory auditor). The global number of minority directors (statutory auditors) at the end of 2010 is 184 (104), i.e. 18% of the total. The number and weight of minority directors is higher in larger companies, in the financial sector and, especially, in publicly-owned companies. Minority directors may be defined as non-executive and independent only in 71% of the cases; 36 directors are “simple” non-executive, 18 directors are executive. Remuneration and Internal Control Committees are now established by a vast majority of firms (85% for the RC and 90% for the ICC); the CG Code recommends that such committees: a) should be made up only of non-executive directors; b) the majority of which should also be independent. The former recommendation (only non-executive directors) has been followed by 96% (RC) and 97% (ICC) of the companies. The latter (majority of independent directors) has been implemented by 90% (RC) and 96% (ICC) of the companies. The RC (ICC) is made up only of independent directors in 72 (110) cases. A third recommendation (presence of directors with financial expertise) has been implemented by 83% of the companies. 14 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 Amongst the 90 companies having both minority directors and an ICC, 49 (54%) of them have at least one minority director in the ICC. This happens more frequently in larger companies and in publicly-owned companies – which have a higher number of minority directors. The data are similar also for the RC. Overall, the appointment of minority directors to board committees seems – correctly – to be linked to their adequate professional qualification and sufficient time commitment. Further, it seems that issuers are not trying to avoid a priori their appointment to board committees. The average directors’ remuneration is 226,000 € (3% up yoy; in 2010 it was 7% yoy); the increase is about 20% for executive directors. The remuneration varies according to firm size and industry. The main part of directors’ remuneration is represented by remuneration for office held (approx. 53% of total compensation); “other fees” account for 35% of the total; bonuses are usually lower (11.2%; 9.8% in 2010, 14% in 2009); non-pecuniary benefits are almost negligible (1%). Non-executive directors rarely receive bonuses; however, they frequently get “other fees” (usually connected to positions held in subsidiaries) of substantial amount. Independent directors rarely receive any additional compensation; when this happens, it is usually of negligible amount. Independent directors “at risk” do receive higher additional compensation (83,000 €, while those not “at risk” get only 50,000 €); in 2011 this phenomenon is, for the first time, remarkable also in non-financial firms. Remuneration varies with role: Managing Directors (Amministratori Delegati) get the highest average compensation (791,000 €). Chairmen receive 513,000 €, other executives 404,000 €. Average remuneration is much lower for the remaining roles: non-executive directors receive on average 74,000 €. Independent directors get the lowest average remuneration (55,000 €). The remuneration of independent directors varies with firm size: it is 107,000 € in FTSE Mib, 49,000 € in Mid Cap and 31,000 € in Small Cap companies (slightly up yoy). This probably reflects different business complexity and/or directors’ qualification, on one hand, and also a different degree of compliance with the Code, on the other hand. Some doubts arise about the congruity of the amount and the structure of independent directors’ remuneration in small firms, whereas remuneration seems better balanced in larger companies. The evolution of remuneration over time has been different for different classes of directors. The remuneration of Managing Directors and, in general, executive directors has grown considerably in 2010 (+18% for MD, +19% for “other executives”); this is associated with a remarkable increase of bonuses (+46% for MD, +22% for “other executives”). On the other hand, the remuneration of other directors has decreased 15 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 (chairman: -8%; vice-chairman: -15%; non-executives: -10%); the remuneration of independent directors is substantially stable (around 50,000 €). In the second part of our analysis we study RPT procedures; we were able to collect such documents for 262 companies. They often describe the procedure adopted for their approval; the approval was nearly always unanimous, after the positive opinion issued by a committee made up of independent directors, that is normally set up for this specific purpose (64% of the cases; in 28% of the cases it is the ICC). For 12 companies only (almost all being Small caps) the opinion was issued by the independent directors sitting on the BoD. The choice apparently depends on how the CG Code has been applied in practice. RPT Regulation defines a minimum application scope for those procedures: issuers are allowed to choose whether to apply them, wholly or partly, also in respect of other entities or of smaller transactions than those set forth by the Regulation; at the same time, it is possible to exclude from the application of the procedures a number of transactions with a low conflict of interests risk and whose inclusion would affect significantly the organization structure. Choices made in this context appear often well-pondered and mature. A majority of issuers chose not to extend the application of the procedures beyond the requirements set forth in the Regulation. However, it is worth mentioning that there are certain cases of application extension typically depending on a case-by-case evaluation of the costs and benefits involved by possible alternatives. Issuers extending, on a voluntary basis, the category of entities subject to the RPT procedure application are 35 (13% of the total); they are more frequent in the FTSE Mib (32% of the total), in the financial sector (36% of the total) and in publicly-owned (25%) or widely held companies (33%); the data for widely held companies is particularly interesting; as a matter of fact, they probably deem that conflicts of interests may arise also in cases that are different from the ones set forth by the Regulation. In 11% of the cases companies attach to the procedure a list of related parties (and/or equivalent entities) in order to sort out any doubt in advance. RPT Regulation requires the issuers to identify rules governing the exam or approval of transactions to be carried out by its controlled companies. Generally, the rules set forth by the procedure apply to cases contemplated by the Regulation only, namely when the RPTs carried out by controlled companies are subject to the previous evaluation by the Board of Directors or by a representative of the controlling company. This is consistent with the Regulation philosophy, according to which controlling companies 16 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 are not required to exert a larger influence than they already do. However, 45 companies (17% of the total) provided for rules that exceed Regulation requirements; this happens more frequently among large companies (29% of FTSE Mib) and in the financial sector (39% of the cases). RPT Regulation requires, inter alia, that the approval of related party transactions shall take place with the previous opinion issued by a committee, or, in the absence of such committee, that specific equivalent protection measures shall be adopted. As to “minor” RPTs, the committee shall be made up of non-executive and “nonrelated” directors, the majority of which being independent, and the opinion shall not be binding. However, certain companies provided for additional requirements on a voluntary basis: for example, as a general rule, the Board of Directors have a reserved power of resolution for either RPTs whose values exceed a certain amount or in case of a negative opinion issued by the committee; sometimes the approval requires also a qualified majority of the non-related directors. The Committee required to issue an opinion is entitled to avail of the assistance provided for by independent experts, selected by the same committee and at the expenses of the company. The Regulation allows the company to set – as far as minor transactions are concerned – a capped expense amount for each single transaction. 106 companies (40% of the total) exploited such a faculty. Setting a budget is more frequent among smaller companies; it is less frequent among publicly-owned companies (20% of the total). In 85 cases (out of 106) the budget is determined by an absolute value (on average, 53,000 €); it varies greatly depending on company size (178,000 € in FTSE Mib, 72,000 € among Mid caps, 26,000 € among Small caps). In case of “major” RPTs, it is required that the committee is made up of independent non-related directors only, and the relevant opinion is binding. The issuance of the binding opinion is assigned to a committee in 253 companies, to all independent directors in 9 companies, and to the Board of Statutory Auditors, as for the remaining case (i.e. a small company, that did not adopt the Corporate Governance Code, and having one independent director only, pursuant to the CLF). In 148 cases, equal to 56% of the total, a specially nominated committee is entrusted with such a task, in 30% of the cases the ICC, in 10% of the cases the ICC or, alternatively, the RC. As it already happened in relation to the opinion on the procedures, the choice of the entity to entrust with the opinion is affected by the way the Corporate Governance Code is applied. The presence of minority directors in the ICC is, instead, utterly irrelevant. In 16 companies, in addition to the committee’s binding opinion, there are special rules concerning the Board of Directors’ resolutions: in 7 cases a stricter solution is adopted, 17 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 since the approval of major RPTs requires, in addition to the majority of the Board of Directors, also the majority of “the independent directors” or of the “independent and non-related directors”; in the remaining 9 cases, the Board of Directors’ resolution approved “with the votes in favor of a majority of independent directors” is alternative to a positive opinion issued by the committee. Notwithstanding Appendix 3 of RPT Regulation providing a broad definition of “major” transactions (basically, these are the ones having at least one of the three parameters proposed by Consob exceeding the 5% threshold), 27 issuers decided to set a lower threshold. Such a reduction always relates to the threshold calculated on the transaction value (it is typically cut by half and set at 2.4%), in 16 cases also to the remaining two indicators. The reduction is less pronounced in FTSE Mib companies (where the adopted threshold is – in the cases under examination – 3% as for the value and 3.5% as for the other indicators). The simplified regime aimed at “smaller” and/or “recently listed” companies is open to approximately one-half of listed companies (128 firms). Access to the simplified regime is motivated less by the recent listing than by the small size of the company. Such companies more frequently than the average (38% against 23% of the other companies) entrust the ICC with the task to issue the opinion. As a matter of fact, it appears that the (modest) relaxation in the composition requirements granted by Consob rendered easier the adoption of simple and unequivocal solutions. The Regulation provides the issuers with the option to exclude from the application of the procedures certain kinds of transactions that are characterized by a low conflict of interests risk. The use of the exclusion option, normally very frequent, is total or almost such among larger companies. Such choices seem to be affected materially by the application complexity that the non-exclusion would have caused. Almost all companies excluded “exiguous amount” RPTs. Consob recommendation to set “exiguous amount thresholds” was followed by 242 companies, equal to 92% of the total: 164 companies chose a unique threshold, the remaining 78 defined distinct thresholds depending on the kind of transaction or the related party so involved. The adoption of distinct thresholds is affected by company size (58% among FTSE Mib companies, 34% among Mid caps, 23% among Small caps), industry (54% in the financial sector) and ownership structure (57% among publicly-owned companies). On average, the unique threshold is 229,000 €. Where several thresholds were defined, the minimum threshold is 156,000 € while the maximum one is 2.1 million €. Issuers that excluded, wholly or partly, from the application of the procedures remuneration plans based on financial instruments approved by the shareholders’ 18 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 meeting are 234 (89% of the total). Furthermore, 228 companies (87% of the total) excluded resolutions in matter of remuneration of directors charged with special powers and officers with strategic responsibilities (according to the terms set forth by the Regulation, including the adoption of a remuneration policy). 256 companies (98% of the total) caught the faculty to exclude ordinary transactions executed at market or standard conditions. The option to exclude, wholly or partly, intra-group transactions was exploited by 246 companies (94% of the total), including all the FTSE Mib and Mid cap companies. Such an exclusion is almost total, with the only limit given by the absence of “significant interests” of other related parties. In 19 cases a partial exclusion is provided for. The procedures often contain (in 75% of the cases) details on “significant interests” whose presence prevents the exclusion. The most frequent manner (66% of the cases) is the provision of examples (positive or negative), it being more frequent in larger companies (79% in FTSE Mib). The examples mainly refer to the ownership structure of the counterparty (80% of the cases) and/or to the sharing of directors or officers with strategic responsibilities (79% of the cases). The option to exclude “urgent” transactions (not pertaining to the shareholders’ meeting competence) from the procedures application was used less frequently (in 53% of the cases). The Regulation requires that procedures provide for specific “equivalent measures” in order to approve “major” RPT, where less than three independent non-related directors sit on the board. A description of such measures is supplied by 222 companies. The lack of identification of equivalent measures is sometimes caused by the circumstance that the procedures complexity or board size and composition render extremely unlikely the event contemplated by the Regulation. The most common measure (63% of the cases) is the definition of rules governing the replacement of “related” independent directors. In the remaining 37% of the cases, other entities are entrusted with the issuance of the opinion. In 19 cases it is contemplated the possibility to avail of an independent expert. Companies often provided for “cascade” rules that set out how to proceed where also the second best solution was not practicable. The Regulation allows companies to contemplate that the Board of Directors may approve a “major” RPT, despite the opposite opinion of independent directors, provided that the performance of such transaction is approved by the general meeting of the shareholders through the whitewash system. Such option has been contemplated by, respectively, 95 companies (36% of the aggregate), for transactions that are not 19 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 subject to the shareholders’ meeting approval, and 155 companies (59% of the aggregate), for those that are subject to the shareholders’ meeting approval. A third case of calling the shareholders’ meeting (through whitewash) is possible, for RPTs that are subject to the shareholders’ meeting approval, where an urgent resolution is needed due to a company crisis. The provision of such a possibility was adopted by 76 companies (29% of the aggregate). The procedures may contemplate that the execution of the transaction is jeopardized only when the non-related shareholders that attend the shareholders’ meeting represent at least a certain stake of the voting capital, however not exceeding 10%. Such a limitation is set forth in 70 cases (74% of the aggregate). A review of 36 major RPTs carried out in the first half-year period of 2011 has been performed in order to complete the survey. First of all, no transaction has been carried out by FTSE Mib companies and only 7 transactions have been carried out by Mid caps. The average amount of RPTs varies depending on the size of the issuer (1.658 million € among Mid caps, 23,000 € among “smaller” companies). Transactions relate to different types. “Major” RPTs are often financial transactions (loans, capital increases) or investment transactions (purchase/sale of assets). RPTs are seldom commercial transactions (only 3). The lack of transactions relating to remuneration was expected. Alongside certain material transactions, there are many others in which it is hard to identify issues such as to account for the attention level in the context of the RPT Regulation. In 27 cases the opinion of the Committee or of the existing independent directors has been attached to the Document. In 6 cases (3 in the banking sector) the opinion of the independent expert is also available. The reviewed Documents have an average number of pages equal to 11.2 (without attachments) and 17.5 (with attachments, usually consisting of opinions of committees and/or experts) The opinions are often concise. There are however exceptions, notably in case of transactions contemplating the purchase, sale or contribution of assets, typically combined with fairness opinions that can be rather voluminous. Certain opinions have a rich information content. 20 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 FIRST PART: CORPORATE GOVERNANCE IN ITALIAN LISTED FIRMS 2. General Information 2.1. Compliance with the Corporate Governance Code; structure and form of CG Reports Compliance with the Code takes place on a voluntary basis; listed companies adopted the Code have to disclose annually how they have applied the principles and criteria set out in the Code. Moreover, article 123-bis CLF11 has imposed the publication of a “Report on corporate governance and ownership structures”, where companies shall provide information regarding “the adoption of a corporate governance code of conduct issued by regulated stock exchange companies or trade associations, giving reasons for any decision not to adopt one or more provisions, together with the corporate governance practices actually applied by the company over and above any legal or regulatory obligations”12. Consequently, all companies offer disclosure about some fundamental aspects of their governance system. Almost all companies stated formally their intention to comply with the Code: this happens in 249 cases (95% of the aggregate: see Tab. 1, in Appendix 2), including all FTSE Mib firms13. The 13 remaining cases (14 in 2010) are companies that explicitly disclosed their intention not to adopt the Code, while providing information on their corporate governance system according to article 123-bis CLF. An explanation for noncompliance with the Code is often available (in 7 cases): it is generally based on the structure and characteristics of the company (in particular, firm size or, sometimes, its nature of holding company); sometimes the explanation includes a statement that the governance system is adequate, given the characteristics of the company. 11 This article was first introduced by art. 4 legislative decree (l.d.) 19 November 2007 no. 229 and then replaced by art. 5 l.d. 3rd November 2008 no. 173. This article, as modified by art. 5 para. 1 l.d. no. 173/2008, is to apply to the CG Reports related to the financial years starting at the date after the one on which the decree has come into effect (November 21st, 2008), i.e. to the 2009 CG Reports published in 2010. 12 The minimum content of the CG Report includes a number of points, beyond what reported in the text: a) specific pieces of information about the corporate governance and capital structure of the issuer; b) rules applying to the appointment and replacement of directors and members of the control body or supervisory council, if different from those applied as a supplementary measure; c) the main characteristics of existing risk management and internal audit systems used in relation to the financial reporting process, including consolidated reports, where applicable; d) the operating mechanisms of the shareholders’ meeting; e) the composition and duties of the administrative and control bodies and their committees. 13 Our analysis refers only to Italian companies (we ignored foreign firms listed in Italy). 21 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 31 companies communicate their intention not to comply with one or more principles or criteria: in 26 cases the non-compliance refers to independence criteria for directors14, in one case the independence of statutory auditors; in 3 cases the non-compliance refers to the establishment of one or more board committees, in 2 cases to the duties assigned to the ICC. Compliance with the Code is not automatic: it is now a result of a more mature choice of the issuers. The quality and quantity of disclosure are generally good. The structure of the CG Report follows, in most cases, the 2nd edition of the “Format for the issuance of CG Reports” issued by the Italian Stock Exchange15, which includes in the Appendix – drawn up with the contribution of Assonime – some tables reporting summary data about composition and functioning of the corporate bodies. Using the Format is neither mandatory nor expressly recommended by the Italian Stock Exchange: the Format has been followed by 80% of listed companies (74% in 2010, 58% in 2009), especially by small ones (86% of Small Caps); large companies have often preferred not to follow the Format, or to follow it only partially (only 59% of FTSE Mib firms have adopted the Format). The Format has been particularly useful to small companies; large companies often prefer to disclose detailed information in a tailor-made way. This point can be caught also by looking at the summary Tables on compliance with the Code, attached to the new version of the Format. They include some tables on composition and functioning of corporate bodies, closely resembling the schemes proposed by the Handbook on Corporate Governance Reports (hereinafter, the “Handbook”16) published by Assonime and Emittenti Titoli, which were widely adopted in the past. Issuers are progressively adopting the “unified and advanced” version presented in the second edition of the Format: the new version of the Tables has been used by 148 companies, i.e. 56% of the aggregate (in 2010 they were 118, i.e. 43% of the aggregate17). The publication of Tables on composition and functions of corporate bodies is more frequent among larger companies.18 14 For a detailed analysis see paragraph 3.3 We refer to the second edition of the Format, published in February 2010. A first edition was published by the Italian Stock Exchange in February 2008. The Italian Stock Exchange qualified the Format as experimental and useful as “a check on the nature and the content of information in the CG Reports on year 2007 and/or for the competence control of the BoSA”. 16 See http://www.assonime.it/AssonimeWeb2/statuto.jsp?id=235032. 17 The data reported in Tab. 1 (175 companies) must be read with caution, because they reflect a discontinuity: 2010 data are, indeed, the sum of the number of issuers that adopted the “new” model (118) and issuers that followed the “old” Format version (57). Whereas 2011 data (148 issuers) refer only to the issuers that adopted the “new” model. 18 The new Tables were published by 21 (out of 37) FTSE Mib companies, up from 16 in 2010. 15 22 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 Figure 1 2.2. Information about corporate governance and ownership structure The CG Reports include information about corporate governance and ownership structure, mandated by art. 123-bis CLF (even though not necessarily through a CG Report). We underline that such data must be handled with care: some doubt exists about the true meaning of some legal definitions and may have induced companies to disclose information in a not completely homogeneous way19. A slight increase in 2011 of situations related to art. 123-bis CLF seems to be linked to a greater awareness of listed companies and, sometimes, to the decision to disclose – in case of doubt about the real extension of the rule20 – explicit information on some governance structures. We analyzed the following aspects (see Table 2): a) Restrictions on the transfer of securities The companies disclose restrictions on the transfer of securities (art. 123 para. 1, b) CLF) in 55 cases, i.e. 21% of the aggregate. Such restrictions are more frequent in large companies (35% in FTSE Mib) and are clearly linked to industry classification: in 19 For example, companies may provide information about similar situations either in the section on ownership ceilings (according to art. 123-bis, para. 1, b)) or in the section about restrictions on voting rights (according to art. 123-bis, para. 1, f)). Furthermore, not all shareholders’ agreements “blocking” the transfer of securities to other investors seem to have been considered restrictions on voting rights (for instance, situations where one or more participants to the agreement have a mere pre-emption right, are often not considered restrictions of this kind). Only a limited number of banks decided to disclose explicitly the restrictions on the transfer of securities connected to the authoritative regime for acquiring shares in Italian banks provided by the Consolidated Law on Banking (CLB). 20 It is not rare to find information disclosed with the formula “as far as it might be needed”. 23 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 particular, they are disclosed in 46% of the cases by financial companies and in 47% by public utilities. The restrictions disclosed are the following: a) Restrictions on the transfer of securities due to shareholders' agreements or one-sided obligations of individual shareholders: 19 cases; b) Actual (or potential21) ownership ceilings associated with the (present or past) status of “privatized” company: 9 cases; c) Ownership ceilings connected to the status of cooperative company (in particular, those provided by art. 2525 Italian Civil Code): 7 cases (often with a clause of consent, which does not refer to the transfer of securities, but to the registration in the shareholders’ register and the exercise – by the acquiring shareholder – of administrative rights); d) Restrictions to acquiring shares in Italian banks defined by art. 19 of the Consolidated Law on Banking (hereinafter CLB): 2 cases. e) Lock-up clauses and other transfer restrictions for the beneficiaries of stockbased incentive plans: 6 cases; f) Transfer restrictions on particular classes of shares or restrictions related to the issuance of some types of financial instruments: 5 cases; g) Restrictions linked to the existence of a pawn on a block of shares: 3 cases. h) Restrictions on management trading of company shares as defined in internal dealing rules: 4 cases 21 E.g. the power assigned to the Minister of the Economy and Finance (who is no more a shareholder of the issuer) to oppose the acquisition of shares exceeding a certain percentage by outside investors. 24 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 Figure 2 b) Special control rights Special control rights (art. 123, para. 1, d) CLF) are quite rare: they are disclosed only by 10 companies (i.e. 4% of the aggregate; up from 8 in 2010). We counted 7 cases of “golden share” assigned to the Minister of the Economy and Finance or, anyway, restrictions to shareholding linked to the public nature of the companies. In one case special control rights refer to a complex mechanism of slate voting, that gives special rights to shares of a specific category. The last 2 cases are linked to securities assigned to members of the BoD in 2 investment companies (where these special rights have the purpose of stabilizing control and providing incentives to management). c) Restrictions on voting rights 25 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 Restrictions on voting rights (art.123, para.1, f) CLF) are disclosed by 34 companies (1/3 of the aggregate, up from 28 in 2010). They are more frequent in large (32% in FTSE Mib) and in financial companies (50% of the aggregate, up from 38% in 2010). They are usually connected to the possible breach of ownership ceilings, either set out in the “privatization” law (13 cases) or in the articles of association, or stemming from shareholders’ agreements. In one case, the restrictions are connected to a pawn on the control block of shares. Cooperative companies often understand the “one-head-onevote” system as a restriction on voting rights. In one case, both the shareholder qualification and the related voting rights is based on the evaluation of non-economic elements (the profession of the Catholic religion). d) Change of control clauses Change of control clauses (art. 123, para. 1, h) CLF) are quite frequent (122 companies, i.e. 47% of the aggregate), in particular among larger companies (81% of FTSE Mib) and in the non-financial sector (48% against 32% in the financial sector). Such clauses are often part of financing contracts (96 cases) and/or of commercial agreements (34 cases) and may generate various consequences (from a mere obligation to disclose the change of control to the advance reimbursement of loans, a right of withdrawal, a purchase or transfer option (so-called tag-along) of the participation to other partners in a joint venture, etc.). e) Agreements which envisage indemnities to directors The last point analyzed regards the presence of agreements which envisage indemnities to directors in the event of resignation, wrongful dismissal or in case their employment contract is terminated after a takeover bid (art. 123, para. 1, i) CLF); Consob requested more information on this point with Communication no. DEM/11012984 of 24 February 2011; such agreements are rarely disclosed (in 40 cases; i.e. 15% of the aggregate): they are more frequent among large companies (46% in FTSE Mib and 20% in Mid cap and only 10% in Small cap firms). An indemnity must be paid almost always (in 98% of cases) in case of wrongful dismissal, frequently (65% of cases) in case of resignation; an indemnity is rarely expected (32% of cases, particularly in the non-financial sector) in case of a takeover bid or changes of control. An estimate of the value of such indemnities is often disclosed, together with a short description of the parameters which will be used for its computation (monthly or annual – often total – remuneration of beneficiaries, sometimes only the fixed part). 26 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 2.3. Information about the possible opt-out from the passivity rule We analyzed in the CG Reports also information about the possible decision to opt-out, with an appropriate provision in the articles of the association, from the passivity rule in case of a hostile takeover bid22. This choice seems extremely rare: only 2 companies disclosed this decision in their CG Reports. 2.4. Information on succession plans The Consob Communication (no. DEM/11012984 of 24 February 2011) requires FTSE Mib companies to disclose information about any succession plan in place for executive directors, specifying if there are mechanisms to deal with early replacement (i.e. before the ordinary dead-line). Explicit information is given in 38 CG Reports (i.e. 15% of the aggregate), in particular among FTSE Mib companies (70%23). (Tab. 3) Formalized succession plans are rare – only 3 companies disclosed their existence: in one case the plan applied to top managers, in the second case one director holding also the position of CFO and in the third company the plan is still under construction. Other 2 companies disclosed that the definition of succession plans is still in progress. Information on procedures to define such plans are still fragmentary: one company disclosed the corporate bodies involved in the succession plan (the Human Resources committee); another disclosed the timing for updating the plan. 3. Compliance with Code recommendations 3.1. Role of the Board of Directors and of the Board of Statutory Auditors; two-tier and one-tier management and control systems 22 This possibility is now defined by art. 104, para. 1-ter CLF, introduced with art. 13 of the decree law no. 185 of 29 November 2008, converted in law no. 2 of 28 January 2009 and finally modified with art. 1 of legislative decree no. 146 of 25 September 2009. One company referred, wrongly, to previous rules, probably induced in error by continuous law changes. 23 This value doesn’t reach 100%, for 3 reasons: a) at the time of the Consob Communication (24 February 2011) – some companies may have already approved the CG Report (this is certainly true for the companies whose financial period differs from the calendar year); b) our analysis is based on the FTSE Mib index as of 31 March 2011; our classification of “FTSE Mib” companies differs slightly from the true composition needed to analyze the point; c) finally, the information analysed was disclosed according to a mere recommendation. 27 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 The analysis of the BoD is based on the full sample (262 companies), while that of the Board of Statutory Auditors is based on a smaller sample (252 firms), excluding both one-tier and two-tier companies24. The analysis of the CG Reports of companies and firms adopting the two-tier or onetier management and control systems required particular caution25 and has some implications on the composition of the sample. The survey on the role of corporate bodies covered the following points (see Tab. 4): a) Frequency of meetings Information about meeting frequency of the BoD is available almost always (see Tab. 4): the annual average number of meetings is 10.2, but variability is high across industries (15.7 in financial, 9.6 in non-financial companies) and according to firm size26 (11.4 in FTSE Mib; 9.8 in Mid Cap and 9.9 in Small Cap firms)27. The average meeting frequency is stable over time. 24 The size of our sample has decreased over the last few years: this is due to mergers, bankruptcy procedures and takeover bids by control shareholders. Sample size decreased from 291 (in 2008) to 262 (companies adopting a traditional system decreased from 280 to 252). 25 Our sample includes also 7 two-tier and 3 one-tier companies. The one-tier model provided by the Civil Code requires a BoD and a committee established within the Board (Management Control Committee MCC). The committee is made up of directors, although their duties are similar to those of Statutory Auditors in the “traditional” model, even if other duties may be added (e.g. those recommended by the CG Code to the Internal Control Committee - ICC). As in previous surveys, we chose: a) to consider the BoD of one-tier companies together with that of the companies adopting the traditional model; b) to consider the MCC equivalent to the ICC. In two-tier companies, classification problems are more complex because of the variety of roles and functions that can be entrusted to the Supervisory Board. Therefore, according to a careful reading both of the by-laws and of the CG Reports of two-tier companies, we chose: a) to consider the Management Board together with the BoD of companies that adopted the “traditional” model; b) to consider the Supervisory Board as a separate entity; c) to consider the members of both corporate bodies in the directors’ sample. 26 The FTSE Index definition basically follows market capitalization; the median market capitalization at the end of March 2011 was (in million €): FTSE Mib: 4.113; Mid Cap: 972; Small Cap: 67. The market capitalization of Micro Cap at the same date was 86, that of “Other” and Star companies was 125 and 151, respectively. 27 The number of BoD meetings is extremely variable across companies, ranging from 4 (in 10 - mostly small - companies) to 43 meetings per year (in the Management Board of a two-tier company in financial distress); frequency is very high also in 2 companies belonging to groups in financial distress (with 30 and 29 meetings) and in two banks (28 meetings each). 28 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 Figure 3 Figure 4 In 252 cases (i.e. 96% of the aggregate; up from 91% in 2009) listed companies provided information on the meeting frequency of the BoSA (see Tab. 4). The average number of meetings is 11.5, and growing (10.4 in 2010, 10 in 2009, 9.6 in 2008); the 29 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 increase of BoSA meeting frequency is due to larger companies (up from 15.2 in 2009 to 18.7 this year, in FTSE Mib companies)28 and to the financial sector (where the number of meetings increased from 24.6 in 2009 to 31.6 this year). b) Attendance to meetings The information about attendance to BoD meetings is available very often (see Tab. 5 and Tab. 6). Information on individual attendance is available for 2,586 directors out of 2,728, i.e. 95% of the aggregate (as in 2010; up from 87% in 2009, 86% in 2008, 77% in 2007 and 65% in 2006): more than half of them (1,421) were always present. In addition, 96% of the directors (for which information is available) attended at least to half of the meetings; “extreme” negative values are quite uncommon29. Transparency has grown considerably; average attendance remains high. Figure 5 The picture about attendance to BoSA meetings is quite similar (see Tab. 5 and Tab. 6). Information is available for 733 statutory auditors out of 786, i.e. 93% of the aggregate (was 92% in 2010, 82% in 2009 and 2008, 73% in 2007 and 63% in 2006): 28 The BoSA meeting frequency is quite variable across companies, ranging from the legal minimum of 4 meetings (ex art. 2404 of the Italian Civil code) to 88 meetings per year. The first 8 companies (39 meetings per year and more) are 8 banks. Only in one case the number of meetings is lower than the legal minimum. 29 Cases of attendance equal to 0 are 15, in 11 companies (down from 18 in 15 companies in 2010). However, in one case the interested director is deceased; in other 2 cases the value may be explained with an appointment at the end of the year. 30 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 72% of them (529 statutory auditors) were always present, 99% of them attended at least to half of meetings30. c) Information about delegated powers In 257 cases (i.e. 98% of the aggregate) companies delegated powers to individual directors (see Tab. 4). The establishment of an Executive Committee remains uncommon (42 cases; basically the same as in the previous years), except in the financial sector, where it has been established by 57% of the companies; the percentage is 11% in non-financial companies. Figure 6 Companies almost always provide detailed information about powers delegated to individual directors (98% of cases) or to the Executive Committee (93% of cases) (see Tab. 4). The quality of such information is often high, with a detailed description of the delegated powers and powers exclusively assigned to the BoD. Companies that have established an Executive Committee often (in 90% of the cases) provide information on its meeting frequency: on average, 11.8 meetings per year. The number of meetings is quite variable (from 0 - in 2 cases, always the same every year to 94 meetings per year). The denomination “Executive Committee” includes bodies having heterogeneous features: some of them are involved in day-by-day business 30 Cases of attendance lower than 50% are disclosed by 4 companies (down from 10 in 2010). 31 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 decisions, while others play a limited role; sometimes, they seem a sort of back-up device, to be convened only in case of need. d) Information about Board Evaluation The Code recommends Boards of Directors to implement, at least once a year, an evaluation about its own size, composition and functioning and those of its Committees, possibly stating their orientation about professional figures whose inclusion in the board may be useful. However, the Code recommends to disclose neither the way such self-evaluation has been performed, nor the evaluation outcome: any information in this field is provided on a completely voluntary basis. Consob has recently requested additional disclosure in this field31 in the Communication no. DEM/11012984 of 24 February 2011; Consob has specified that it will follow the development of the self-regulation process and it will also analyze the evolution of the practice in order to evaluate possible new measures in this field. More than a half of listed companies (162 issuers) provided information about board evaluation (see Tab. 7); disclosure on this point is more frequent in larger (89% among FTSE Mib, 78% among Mid cap) and financial companies (75%; 60% in other industries). The data are similar to those of 2010. Companies (particularly larger companies) often disclose information about their evaluation procedures (Tab. 8): they often send a questionnaire to each director (56 cases, i.e. 35% of companies disclosing on this point); interviews are less frequent (13 cases, i.e. 8% of the aggregate). The process seems to be more structured among FTSE Mib companies: 70% of them used questionnaires and 27% interviews. The recourse to external facilitators is frequent only in larger companies (11 cases, i.e. 33% of companies that disclosed on this point), particularly publicly-owned companies (plus 4 Mid cap and one Small cap 31 In the consultation about remuneration, BoD self-evaluation and succession plans of the 18 January 2011. The proposal of Consob was to require the companies, ex art. 114, para. 5 CLF, to disclose in the “Report on corporate governance and ownership structures”, also on some further points: a) if the BoD made a self-evaluation on its own size, composition and tasks (and also on size, composition and tasks of committees). If not, to explain the reason of this choice; b) which body is in charge of the evaluation procedure; c) if the self-evaluation process referred to size and composition of the BoD and committees; and in this case, which specific elements were analyzed; d) if the self-evaluation process referred to the functioning of BoD and committees; and in this case, which specific elements were analyzed; e) if the company analyzed the effectiveness of decisions (eventually taken as a consequence of the previous selfevaluation); f) if those procedures were compared to the best practices of main Italian and foreign companies; g) which instruments were used to collect directors’ opinions; h) areas of excellence or of improvement, coming out as a result of the analysis; i) if the BoD convened a meeting to evaluate the results of the self-evaluation process and the eventually taken decisions. 32 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 company). The global number of companies with an external facilitator is 16, approximately the same as in 2010 (15 cases; up from 7 in 2009). The attribution of this task to a board Committee or to one or more independent directors is disclosed in 20% of the cases (and in 40% of the FTSE Mib companies). Companies frequently (46% of cases) disclose that they gave sufficient time and/or reserved specific items of the BoD agenda to board evaluation. The structure of the process and/or the quality of disclosure in this field vary with company size (disclosure is present in 79% of FTSE Mib, 51% of Mid cap and in 33% of Small cap firms). The result of the evaluation are, obviously, disclosed rarely and, moreover, in a short way. 10% of companies disclose the existence of excellence areas, while 21% report improvement areas (24% and 39%, respectively among FTSE Mib firms). e) Positions held in other companies Transparency on this point is increasing. Information is now available for 2,607 directors out of 2,728 (see Tab. 9), i.e. 96% of the aggregate (up from 89% in 2010, 85% in 2009). This data should be interpreted with caution, because of the vagueness of the formula used by the Code32, which led to different disclosure practices. The average number of other positions held by directors is 3.26 (slightly down yoy). 32% of the directors for whom information are available (up from 29% in 2010 and 28% in 2009) disclosed no other position and a further 16% has only one additional position. However, a number of people hold a high number of other positions (689 directors, i.e. 26% of directors for whom information is available, hold at least 5 positions in other companies; 203 of them, i.e. 8% of the aggregate, hold at least 10 other positions); the maximum number of other positions disclosed by a single director is 100 (in a number of real estate companies) It is often possible to draw information also about the other positions held by statutory auditors (even though such disclosure is not explicitly recommended by the Code)33. 32 The Code refers to positions held not only in “other companies listed on regulated markets, including foreign markets”, but also “in financial companies, banks, insurance companies or companies of a considerably large size”. 33 This point has been affected by the “Protection of Savings” Law. According to art. 144-terdecies of Consob Regulation on Issuers: “The position of member of the control body of a listed issuer may not be assumed by those who hold the same position in five listed issuers”; the same regulation provides also an additional limit for aggregate positions resulting from a complex weighting model (which takes into account both listed and unlisted companies). 33 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 This information is available for 719 statutory auditors out of 786, i.e. 91% of the aggregate (up from 87% in 2010, 75% in 2009). The average number of “other positions” held by statutory auditors is substantially stable, after a strong increase in previous years: in 2011 it is 9.9 (it was 9.8 in 2010, 9.6 in 2009, 7.6 in 2008 and 2.8 in 2007). The number of statutory auditors who disclosed no other position is increasing: in 2011 we counted 95 people (down from 107 in 2010, 106 in 2009, 178 in 2008 and 237 in 2007); moreover, a growing number of persons disclosed a high number of other positions: 300 statutory auditors (up from 296 in 2010, 252 in 2009, 175 in 2008, 47 in 2007) hold at least 10 other positions; the maximum number of other positions disclosed by an individual is 52 (in 2010 the record was 89 offices). Figure 7 The quality of information is, however, heterogeneous across companies: in particular, many issuers seemingly disclose all other positions. f) Positions held in other listed companies Comparing CG Reports with the Consob database, it is possible to obtain the number of positions held by directors and statutory auditors only in listed companies (see Tab. 10). As already mentioned in Tab. 9, listed companies have 2,728 directors; however, the number of people holding a director position is lower (2,263), because a person may hold more than one position. 1,886 people hold only one director position (they have no other offices in listed companies), 310 people hold positions in more than one 34 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 BoD (up to a maximum of 6), while 67 people hold positions both in BoDs and in one or more Board of Statutory Auditors (up to a maximum of 5 total positions)34. As shown in Tab. 9, listed companies have 786 statutory auditors; however the number of people holding such positions is lower (656), because one person may hold more of them. In this case, 508 people hold only one position of statutory auditor (they have no other office in listed companies); other 81 people hold a statutory auditor position in more than one listed company (up to a maximum of 4)35. g) Role of the Supervisory Board in two-tier companies The 7 two-tier companies often provide information about the role of their Supervisory Board (see Tab. 11). First of all, a large majority of company by-laws provide such Board with exclusive powers to deliberate on the company strategic, industrial and financial plans: this happens in 6 companies out of 7 (all banks). The Supervisory Board has not only control on the Management Board; on the opposite, it tends to perform a significant role in the definition of the company strategies. The frequency of meetings is coherent with such a role: it is growing over time and is now higher than the frequency of BoD meetings in the “traditional” model (20 meetings per year in the financial sector, as in 2010; up from 17 in 2009, 14 in 2008; 11 meetings in nonfinancial firms). Two-tier companies disclose frequently on the board evaluation procedure (57% of the cases, see Tab. 12): particularly frequent is the recourse to questionnaires (50% of the companies). No two-tier company referred to external facilitators or to a committee the duty of the board evaluation. Companies always gave sufficient time and/or reserved specific items of the agenda to board evaluation. The results are disclosed rarely and, moreover, in a short way. Disclosure of excellence or improving areas is more frequent than among “traditional” companies. 3.2. Composition of the Board of Directors and Independent Directors The survey considered the following points: a) Board Size 34 The total number of people who hold director positions is 1,886 + 310 + 67 = 2,263 (see Tab. 10) In addition to 67 people that, as mentioned above, hold positions both in BoD and in one or more BoSA. The total number of people who hold statutory auditor positions is 508 + 81 + 67 = 656 (see Tab. 10). 35 35 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 Board size is extremely variable according to firm size (ranging from 8.6 in Small Cap to 12.7 in FTSE Mib companies: the difference between FTSE Mib and Mid cap companies is now less than half than in the previous year) and across industries (15.6 in financial, 9.4 in non-financial companies)36. Financial firms have a larger board, but also a larger size37. Board size is substantially stable over time (around 10 directors) (see Tab. 13). The average Management (Supervisory) Board size in two-tier companies is 7.4 (13). Average data hide big differences, particularly across sectors: The average Management Board size in financial (non-financial) companies is 10.7 (5); (Supervisory) Board size is 20.7 (7.2). Figure 8 b) Board Composition 36 In companies adopting either the traditional or the one-tier model, BoD size is ranging from a minimum of 4 in one small company (down from 9 in 2010) to a maximum of 25 directors. In two-tier companies, the number of directors varies between a minimum of 7 units (2 in the Management Board and 5 in the Supervisory Board) and a maximum of 34 units (11 in the Management Board and 23 in the Supervisory Board). The Supervisory Board is usually larger than the Management Board (on average, there are 1.72 “supervisory” directors for each “managing” director). Only one company has a Management Board larger 5 members - than the Supervisory Board - 4 members. 37 The average (median) market capitalization of financial companies as of March 31st, 2011 was 4.43 (1.25) € millions; that of non-financial companies was 1.38 (0.14) € millions. 36 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 The number of directors belonging to various categories (executive, non-executive and independent38) is now stable. The average Board of Directors is composed, in almost equal proportions, of executive (30%), “simple” non-executive (34%) and independent directors (36%). The weight of independent directors varies with company size (from 34% in Small cap to 38% in Mid cap, up to 40.9% in FTSE Mib companies). The historical differences across industries have almost disappeared. The weight of executive directors (as a percentage on the total) was traditionally smaller in financial firms, while non-executive and independent directors was higher. This difference has reduced over the years: executive directors in financial companies grew from 17.4% (in 2007) to 27.9% (in 2011); at the same time independent directors decreased (from 50.5% in 2007 to 31.3% in 2011, i.e. less than in non-financial companies: 36.2%). However, these data seem to have stabilized. Figure 9 38 We refer here to the definition of independence provided by the CG Code. An analysis based on the CLF definition is performed in the next paragraph. The identity of executive, non-executive (and independent) directors is disclosed almost always: this information is not available only for 19 directors (in 14 companies; they were 18 in 2009) out of 2,815. 6 of them sit on the Board of a single company that did not disclose any information because the whole board was freshly appointed in January. The remaining 13 cases are also easy to explain: 11 of them are honorary chairmen, while the last 2 directors had been appointed or had resigned shortly before the CG Report date. 37 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 The new edition of the Code (approved in December 2011) recommends (art. 3.C.3.) FTSE Mib companies to have in the future independent directors accounting for at least 1/3 of the board. Our analysis shows that – at the end of 2010 – 31 companies out of 37 (i.e. 84% of the aggregate) already comply with this standard. Art. 3.C.3. of the Code recommends, companies to have at least 2 independent directors: at the end of 2010, 233 companies (i.e. 89% of the aggregate) already comply with this standard. 11 of the 29 companies “short” of independent directors, however, are firms which have decided not to adopt the CG Code.39 In two-tier companies, the composition of the Management Board is quite variable: the total number of directors is 52; executive directors are clearly prevalent (32 directors; non-executive directors are 20, 8 of whom are independent). The weight of executives in the Management Board is increasing (from 50% in 2010 to 62% in 2011). The Supervisory Board is composed exclusively of non-executive directors (91 overall; see Tab. 14). The percentage of independent directors is higher in Supervisory Boards than in Boards of Directors of companies with a different governance model (“traditional” or one-tier management and control systems). This is true both with reference to global numbers (76%), or to the total number of non-executive directors. The weight of independent directors (“Code definition”) is decreasing (from 94% down to 76%): it is plausible that this is an effect of a growing transparency on the definition of independence adopted by the firm. c) Board Independence (CG Code and CLF definitions) Since the adoption of the “Protection of Savings” Law the analysis of directors’ independence has become more complex40: two different notions of “independence” coexist in Italy; therefore, any disclosure concerning independent directors must be qualified by the definition used. Consob Regulation on Issuers (art. 144-novies and decies) 41 requires companies to disclose in their CG Reports information about directors meeting the independence 39 Out of the other 18 companies, 14 have only one independent and 4 anyone. According to art. 147-ter, para. 4 CLF, at least one director (or two directors if BoD is composed of more than 7 members) should satisfy the independence requirements established for members of the Board of Statutory Auditors and, if so provided in the by-laws, the additional requirements established in the codes of conduct adopted by the company. See Circolare Assonime no. 45/2009. 41 These rules require to disclose in the Report on the corporate governance and ownership structures data concerning “the list from which each member of the administrative and control bodies has been elected” and of “the directors who have declared they have the independence requirements provided for by art. 148 para. 3, CLF and, if provided by the by-laws, the further requirements provided by the codes of conduct”. 40 38 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 requirements set out in the CLF. This information is almost always available (258 cases out of 262, i.e. 98% of the aggregate42; up from 93% in 2010, 62% in 2009). Listed companies have 2,728 directors; 725 are executive and 2,001 are non-executive directors43: among the latter, 861 are “non-independent44” (43% of the aggregate, as in previous years) while 1,140 are “independent” according to the Code and/or the CLF definition. Among them, 1,044 (i.e. 52% of the aggregate non-executive directors) are explicitly qualified as “independent” according to the CG Code. They are usually explicitly qualified as independent also according to the CLF (this happens for 989 directors); only 55 directors (were 126 in 2010) are qualified as independent according “to the Code only”. This is apparently due to two phenomena: a) companies where information is not available (4 cases, see fn. 43); b) companies disclosing a number of “CLF independent” lower than the number of “Code independent” directors 45, probably in order to reduce the risk of automatic fall from the office in case a directors loses the “CLF independence requirements”. 42 In 3 of the remaining 4 cases CG Reports identify the independent directors, but the definition of independence used is not disclosed. In the last case there is no disclosure about independence. 43 The difference between 725 + 2,001 = 2,726 and 2,728 are 2 directors (see Footnote 39) for which such qualification is not available. 44 Or, possibly, directors, who would not qualify as independent according to the CG Code and for whom is still missing the information about “CLF requirements”. 45 This explanation is valid in 13 cases. According to art. 147-ter, para. 4, CLF, “At least one of the members of the Board of Directors, or two if the Board of Directors is composed of more than seven members, should satisfy the independence requirements established for members of the board of auditors in article 148 para. 3 and, if provided for in the Articles of Association, the additional requirements established in codes of conduct drawn up by regulated stock exchange companies or by trade associations. (…) The independent director who, following his or her nomination, loses those requisites of independence should immediately inform the Board of Directors about this and, in any case falls from his/her office”. This rule requires disclosure of directors satisfying the "CLF independence requirements" at the slate filing date; however, it does not prescribe full, up-to-date disclosure of the characteristics of all directors (particularly of those who were appointed before the entry into force of Law no. 262/2005, for whom no such disclosure was mandated). 39 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 Figure 10 There are also 96 non-executive directors (were 104 in 2010) who met the CLF independence requirements, but would not qualify as independent according to the CG Code. This situation is more frequent in two-tier companies, also because the law requires “CLF independence” for all Supervisory Board members: 16 of them (down from 23 in 2010) belong to boards of two-tier companies (4 from a Management Board and 12 from a Supervisory Board). A few executive directors (20 in 11 companies; up from 9 in 7 in 2010) meet the “independence requirements” according to art. 147-ter CLF46. Such “executive and independent” directors are never (as in 2010) essential for the firm to meet the legal minimum required by art. 147-ter and art. 147-quater CLF. d) Chairman-CEO and Lead Independent Director In 155 (i.e. 59% of the aggregate, as in 2010) companies the chairman received delegated powers (see Tab. 15). The attribution of delegated powers to the chairman is more frequent in smaller firms (69% in Small cap, 53% in Mid cap and 32% in FTSE Mib companies); moreover, a remarkable variability can be found across industries: the chairman received delegated powers in 11% of the financial and in 65% of the nonfinancial firms. 46 They are 2 chairmen, 4 managing directors, 4 deputy chairmen, 8 members of the executive committee and 1 executive director. 40 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 Figure 11 The Code recommends to avoid the concentration of corporate offices in one individual and to appoint a Lead Independent Director (LID) in the event that the chairman is also the CEO of the company, as well as in the event that the office of chairman is covered by the person controlling the issuer. 41 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 Figure 12 We identified the companies supplying sufficient information to identify a managing director as the CEO47. Among the 257 companies with executive directors, we identified a possible CEO in 196 cases (i.e. 76% of the aggregate). The CEO coincides with the chairman in 84 firms (i.e. 31% of the aggregate, in line with previous years): we consider him a Chairman-CEO. In 43 companies (16% of the aggregate)48 the office of 47 This investigation was difficult not only because the disclosure of the necessary information is not explicitly required, but also because there is no clear definition of CEO: consequently, we decided - in line with previous years - to identify: a) situations where the company has a single managing director and b) situations where, although there is a plurality of managing directors, one of them has either wider delegated powers or is invested with the role of coordinating the other executives or of supervising the ordinary course of business. The transparency on this point is probably going to improve a lot in the future: the 2011 Code recommends explicitly (art. 1.C.1. lett i)) to disclose on the role of each director and, particularly, also on those directors who held also the role of CEO. 48 In 27 cases the chairman is both the controlling shareholder and the CEO. We have considered the definition reported in the Code (“the person” who controls the company) in a narrow sense; therefore, we have ignored situations where the chairman is a member of a group of control shareholders (e.g. a family). It is interesting to notice that the appointment of a LID is inversely proportional to the company size: FTSE Mib companies with a LID are 9, i.e. about ¼ of the total, while Mid cap are 27 (45%) and the Small cap 56 (40%). The 2011 Code recommends (art. 2.C.3.) that the BoD of FTSE Mib companies must appoint a LID, 42 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 chairman is covered by the person controlling the issuer. The data are similar to previous years. The appointment of a Lead Independent Director is quite frequent in the non-financial sector, where it is disclosed by 96 companies (i.e. 71% of companies with a ChairmanCEO); in the financial sector only one company (out of 2 with a Chairman-CEO) appointed a LID. No two-tier company appointed a LID (see Tab. 14). The frequency of the appointment of a LID is now stable over time. Quite obviously, the appointment of a LID is more frequent where it is recommended by the CG Code and, particularly, where the chairman is the person controlling the firm, independently of his qualification as CEO (32 cases out of 43, i.e. 74% of the aggregate49); it is less frequent where a Chairman-CEO is indeed present, but is not the person controlling the firm (34 cases out of 54, i.e. 63% of the aggregate). A LID has been appointed also by a number of companies which are not in one of the situations identified by the Code (31 cases out of 160, i.e. 19% of the aggregate). The frequency with which a LID is appointed is stable also in these subsamples. Executive sessions of the independent directors have become more frequent in the last few years: 185 companies, i.e. 71% of the aggregate (up from 67% in 2010, 58% in 2009) state that such sessions have taken place; they are more frequent in larger companies (they took place in 84% of FTSE Mib firms; 90% of Mid cap). e) Gender diversity Finally, we collected data about the gender composition of corporate bodies. This field was under particular attention in 2011. Law no. 120/2011 (the so-called “gender quota” law) modified some CLF articles, aiming to balance gender representation in corporate bodies of listed companies. The law requires companies to introduce “gender quotas” in their by-laws, beginning from the first renewal taking place one year after the date of entry into force of the law. The quota is 1/3 of the board and it finds application for 3 consecutive mandates.50 if this is requested by a majority of independent directors, unless the board may provide an explicit justification for deciding otherwise. 49 Consequently, 11 companies would be non-compliant with the Code: our interpretation of the Code is, however, debatable. 3 of these companies did not “adopt” the CG Code as a benchmark, and another firm complied with it only partially. Moreover, 4 companies had any independent director (according to the Code definition) while 3 had only one such independent director. Among the remaining 3 companies, 2 provided an explanation for their choice not to appoint a LID: one company justified this fact explaining that the BoD “checked that there are not the necessary conditions required by the Code” and the other one endowed each independent BoD member with the power to call a meeting of independent directors. 50 Art. 2 of the law no. 120/2011 foresee the quota of almost 1/5 for the first renewal. 43 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 Figure 13 Listed companies have 2,728 directors51 (see Tab. 16). 2,546 of them are men, while 18252 are women (6.7% of the aggregate). 132 companies have at least one woman in their BoD, that means – for the first time – more than half of the companies (up from 46% in 2010, 34% in 2006). 92 of them have one female director, 34 companies have 2, 3 companies have 3, two companies have 4 and one company 5 female directors. Comparing gender representation now with that required by law no. 120/2011, only 27 companies have a BoD that already complies with the 1/5 “gender quota”; only 6 companies are already comply with 1/3 quota. This law will have a deep impact on corporate bodies: should board size remain unchanged, the number of additional women will be 469 at the first board renewal (to comply with the 1/5 quota) and further 351 women at the second renewal (to comply with the 1/3 quota). These numbers may create, at least temporarily, a significant pressure on the job market; also because the quotas are defined as a percentage rather than as an absolute number. Due to the “small” number of board members, the legal quota (to be rounded to the upper unit) will produce an even higher female representation: 24.6% (instead of 20%) at the first renewal and 37.5% (instead of 33.3%) afterwards. 51 This is the total number of directors; the number of natural persons holding a director position is lower, since a person may hold positions in multiple listed companies. The same holds true also for statutory auditors. 52 Two members of Supervisory Boards are included. 44 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 Figure 14 A probably unwanted consequence will be a huge, forced turnover of male directors – 32% in the first three years. Should board size remain unchanged, 820 male directors (out of 2528 today in charge) will not be confirmed. Figure 15 Since the Italian voting system grants representation to relevant shareholders (especially after slate voting was mandated for all listed firms) the introduction of gender quotas will have far-reaching consequences, going far beyond the protection of the less represented gender. Gender quotas, actually, follow mandatory minority board 45 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 representation and a legal requirement to have a minimum number of independent directors. The introduction of more and more constraints on board composition (i.e. to the free choice of directors by shareholders) may give rise to new, previously unforeseen problems. The picture for statutory auditors is quite similar: listed companies have 786 statutory auditors (see Tab. 16); 736 are men, 50 are women (6.4% of the total, slightly down from the previous year); gender diversity has decreased for the first time after years of slow, but continuous growth (6.7% in 2010, 3.6% in 2006). At least one woman sits in the BoSA of 48 companies, i.e. 19% of the aggregate (was the 19.8% in 2010, 11.3% in 2006). 2 companies (3 in 2010, none in 2006) have a majority of women in their BoSA (2 women out of 3). The effects of law no.120/2011 on the composition of BoSA will be the same as for the BoD, with the notable exception of the “transitional regime” (providing a quota of 1/5) being substantially useless, due to the composition of the BoSA (the BoSA has 3 members in 237 cases, i.e. 94% of the aggregate). Only 48 (or respectively, 46) companies already comply with the future 1/5 (1/3) “gender quota”. Should BoSA size remain unchanged, the number of additional women will be 254 at the first board renewal and further 15 women at the second renewal; this also implies a forced turnover of male statutory auditors (37% in the first three years). Figure 16 46 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 Should BoSA size remain unchanged, 269 male statutory auditors (out of 736 today in charge) will not be reconfirmed: that means a forced 37% turnover in three years. Contrary to what will happen to independent directors (usually, holding no other position in subsidiaries), it is possible that statutory auditors will not be completely ousted: they might continue to hold their office in one or more subsidiaries. Figure 17 3.3. Assessment of the Directors’ and Statutory Auditors’ Independence The Code recommends that: a) the BoD periodically assess directors’ independence, “having regard more to the contents than to the form” and making reference to 8 criteria proposed by the Code (which are not binding); b) the Board of Statutory Auditors check the correct application of the assessment criteria by the Board; c) Statutory Auditors shall be chosen “among people who may be qualified as independent also on the basis of the criteria provided by the Code (…) with reference to the directors”; d) the Board of Statutory Auditors check the compliance of its own members with the above mentioned criteria. As in previous years, we searched for situations referable to Code criteria53. 53 The results of our investigation should not be considered an evaluation of the “true” independence of directors and statutory auditors (the Code clearly defined such criteria as not binding) but only a test aimed to identify some situations seemingly relevant according to the Code criteria, in order to highlight the 47 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 a) Directors’ Independence The Corporate Governance Committee recommended (in a communication issued on 3 March 2010) to disclose: a) if they adopted, and with which motivation, different parameters of independence from those recommended by the Code, also with reference to single directors; b) qualitative and/or quantitative criteria possibly used to evaluate the significance of the relations under examination. The recommendation refers to the press release reporting the result of the evaluation, not to the CG Reports. With this caveat in mind, it is possible to see (see Tab. 13) that 26 companies (i.e. 10% of the aggregate, as in 2010) explicitly stated their intention not to apply one or more assessment criteria proposed by the Code. Such companies usually chose not to apply the criterion concerning the so-called 9-year rule (stating that a director who has been in charge for more than nine years might not be considered independent; this is true in 25 cases); seven companies chose not to apply the criterion concerning directors holding positions in subsidiaries; the criteria concerning crossdirectorships, additional remuneration and the network of external auditing firms were not applied in six cases; one company chose not to apply the criterion referring to close members of the family. The decision not to apply the 9-year rule is often explained with building up of relevant experience (not to be lost prematurely) actually reinforcing the role of independent directors, or with an excessive automaticity of this criterion, which – consequently – is considered not binding by the company. The adoption of predetermined qualitative and/or quantitative criteria (for the evaluation of the independence) is disclosed quite rarely: this happens in only 8 cases (4 FTSE Mib and 4 Small cap, up from 6 in 2010). It is reasonable to assume that most companies would like to evaluate each situation on a case-by-case basis (under a substantial approach, which might deviate from abstract and predetermined criteria). A different case is represented by firms that “adopted” the Code as a benchmark and positively assessed one or more directors as independent according to the general Code principle to have regard more to the contents than to the form (see criterion 3.C.1. of the CG Code) 54. evolution of the such situations over time, and to identify possible differences in the application of those parameters by single companies. 54 Actually, it is possible that the board qualifies as positively independent – in substantial terms - a director who, according to a “mechanical” application of a criterion would be classified as non independent. In this sense, it seems only normal that the criterion with which companies are more frequently non-compliant is the most “mechanical” one, i.e. the 9-year rule. 48 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 On the other hand, 7 companies – were 6 in 2010, 4 in 2009 - have adopted additional criteria which are more rigorous, in terms of extension of the situations "at risk", additional qualifications or the absence of conflicts of interest related to pending litigations. The assessment of the directors’ independence, at least in situations of best practice, is more mature and less based on a check-the-box application of the Code criteria; this seems consistent with both the letter and the spirit of the CG Code. Our analysis (see Tab. 17) considered the following situations: a) People holding important positions in other companies of the same group55: e.g. Chairman or CEO in subsidiaries (12 cases, up from 6 in 2010, 9 in 2009), in companies controlling the issuer (no case, as in 2010 and 2009) or in companies under common control with the issuer (2 cases; up from 1 case both in 2010 and 2009); b) Members of an executive committee, when it is likely to entail the systematic involvement in the day-to-day management of the issuer56: no independent director belongs to the executive committee of a company having no managing director (down from 2 in 2010, 7 in 2009); moreover, 2 independent directors are part of an executive committees meeting with high frequency (i.e. more frequently than the BoD;) (down from 5 in 2010, 6 in 2009); c) Chairmen qualified as independent directors (even though they are “significant representatives” according the Code57). 17 companies (14 in 2010, 12 in 2009) qualified their Chairman as non-executive and independent58; d) Beneficiaries of incentive plans linked to company performance (including stock option plans). Only 1 independent director (down from 5 in 2010, 8 in 2009) are beneficiaries of stock option plans; 55 Being a “significant representative” in a subsidiary of the issuer does not imply, per se, a violation of the assessment criterion (albeit such a criterion is not mandatory) suggested by the new Code, since only subsidiaries having “strategic relevance” should be considered to this purpose. 56 The Code considers as executive (thereby, by definition, not independent) the members of the company executive committee “when no managing director is appointed or when the participation in the executive committee, taking into account the frequency of the meetings and the scope of the relevant resolutions, entails, as a matter of fact, the systematic involvement of its members in the day-to-day management of the issuer”. 57 The president of the entity, the legal representative, the chairman of the BoD, the executive directors and the executives with strategic responsibilities of the relevant company or entity, must be considered as “significant representatives”. 58 Plus the Chairmen of the Supervisory Board in 4 two-tier companies. 49 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 e) Directors receiving a remuneration “significantly” higher than the average nonexecutive director59. Every benchmark is inherently open to question. Our analysis identified 63 independent directors that receive a compensation: i) at least twice as high as the average compensation of other non-executive directors; ii) at the same time, not related to membership in Board Committees recommended by the Code; this number is much higher than in previous years (40 in 2010, 35 in 2009). An in-depth analysis was performed on this phenomenon: first of all, among the 63 directors “at risk”, 6 have been recently appointed, 3 were classified as independent in 2010 but their compensation was not available; among the remaining 53 directors, 28 had a high compensation also in 2010. The other 25 directors are qualified “at risk” for the first time in 2011: 13 received an important remuneration increase in 2011 (the average increase is about 30%; compensation was sometimes “low” in 2010 because some directors were appointed during the year). The reason of the last 12 cases is growing transparency, also due to Consob Communication no. DEM/11012984 of the 24 February 2011, which allows to identify more precisely the basis-compensation of non-executive directors and, consequently, to discover situations which were previously not classified “at risk”60. f) Cross-directorships with executive directors; 1 director (down from 4 in 2010 and 2009) is involved in such situations61 62; 59 Such cases are typically explained by the payment of additional remuneration for chairman or deputychairman positions held in the issuer or in subsidiaries (this is not, however, the case of a controlling company or of companies under common control, since the information available in financial statements only concerns the “lower” branches of the group structure) and/or by the participation to an “active” executive committee. 60 A concrete example may clarify this point: 4 independent directors are appearing now as “at risk” for the first time due to their “high” compensation (even if their compensation is the same as in 2010). This apparent nonsense may be explained with the fact that, after the Conosb Communication, the definition of “compensation for the office” is now divided in 2 different definitions: “compensation for the position in the issuer” and “compensation for the positions held in subsidiaries”. On this basis it is now, for the first time, possible to use only the first definition to calculate the basis-compensation of non-executive directors. 61 According to art. 3.C.1 of the Code, this is a situation where a director of the issuer “is vested with the executive director office in another company in which an executive director of the issuer holds the office of director”. In our investigation, “significant representatives” (included the chairman) of the companies involved have been conventionally considered as “executive”. The cross directorship that has been found was evaluate in the CG Report, with a substantial approach , as non significant. 62 The 2011 Code recommends (art. 2.C.5) that the Chief Executive Officer of issuer (A) shall not be appointed director of another issuer (B) not belonging to the same corporate group, in the event that the Chief Executive Officer of issuer (B) is a director of issuer (A). As better explained in the comment to art. 2: “such circumstances may cause potential conflicts of interests; however, it is not possible to exclude that, depending on the circumstances, sometimes they may be justified”. But find out this kind of situations is very difficult, because there is no clear definition about the meaning of “CEO” and “group”. However, no critical cases have been found. But we made a further analysis on this point: a) we used the foreseen 50 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 g) “Possible family ties” (independent directors with the same family name as executive directors and/or controlling shareholders). Such situations, once extremely rare, have disappeared entirely; People who were in charge 9 years ago63, on the basis of the Consob database. The number of independent directors who were in charge 9 years ago is quite high (139 directors, 16 in a single company). This number is increasing for the first time in 2010 (115 in 2010, 92 in 2009, 106 in 2008, 138 in 2007, 177 in 2006). h) The last phenomenon is apparently due to various factors: a) a relevant number of issuers chose explicitly not to comply with this Code criterion (32 independent directors “at risk” belong to these companies; up from 27 in 2010, 44 in 2009); b) a longer time series in the Consob database; c) some independent directors “newly at risk” have been appointed for the first time after the CG Code entered into force, and precisely to comply with the recommendation concerning independent directors. The situations “at risk” are generally more frequent in the financial sector. Many situations “at risk” have substantially disappeared; the only two notable exceptions are: a) people receiving a “significantly” higher remuneration than other non-executive directors (usually for positions held in subsidiaries) and b) people who have been in charge for more than 9 years. This is apparently due, in the former case, to more transparency and, in the latter case, to the particular “quality” of independent directors (appointed after the compliance with the Code). definition of CEO; b) we defined as subsidiaries all the companies that are controlled at least for 30%. The result was a very low number of “at risk” situations (4): at least 3 cases are not concerned by the 2011 Code; the last case is a borderline one (it depends on the future disclosure on the CEO role and on the definition of “group”). 63 The 9 year rule refers to being a “director of the issuer for more than nine years in the last twelve years”. To keep the analysis simple, we limited our investigation to cases where the director was in charge nine years ago. This implies skipping a precise check of the time in office; consequently, a few classification errors may occur. We considered also occasional cases where a person shifted from the office of statutory auditor to that of director (and vice versa). 51 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 Figure 18 The numbers reported are not additive, since a single person may be involved in more situations at risk (i.e. a director may be a member of an active executive committee, and at the same time be the Chairman of a subsidiary and receive, therefore, a “high” remuneration). The independent directors that do not fall in any of the mentioned situations are 846 out of 1,044 (i.e. 81% of the aggregate, down from 85% in 2009). This decrease is clearly 52 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 connected with the phenomena previously mentioned. The average number of situations “at risk” for a single director is stable (1.11; 1.16 in 2010). Figure 19 In non-financial companies the percentage of independent directors who do not fall in any “particular” situation (traditionally very high, around 90%) is now slightly decreasing. This percentage was traditionally smaller in financial companies (48% in 2006, versus 85% in non-financial firms); however, the gap has reduced remarkably over time (in financial firms independent directors who do not fall in any “particular” situation are now 68% versus 84% in non-financial firms). This improvement seems to be associated both to increasing transparency and to an enhanced sensibility of the companies toward the situations considered by the Code. This phenomenon refers, at least partially, to the re-classification of a certain number of directors in “particular” situations and it is also coherent with the evolution of board composition in financial companies (where the average weight of executive directors increased from 17% in 2007 to 28% in 2011, while that of independent directors decreased drastically - from 51% in 2007 to 31% in 2011, see Tab. 13). b) Statutory Auditors’ Independence In 189 cases, i.e. 75% of the aggregate (up from 72% in 2010), the company states that the Board of Statutory Auditors has assessed its own members’ independence (see Tab. 18). 53 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 With regard to statutory auditors (see Tab. 16), we focused on a narrower range of “particular” situations, because only some of the assessment criteria suggested for independent directors fit statutory auditors64: a) People who receive a total compensation which is significantly higher than that coming from the office of statutory auditors for the issuer (74 statutory auditors, 75 in 2010)65. It is to underline that the compensation of statutory auditors is less complex; consequently, controlling situations “at risk” is easier: therefore, unsurprisingly, the number of statutory auditors “at risk” due to “high” compensation remains stable. It is also to mention that statutory auditors fall in this situation more often than independent directors: this happens for 9.4% of statutory auditors and only for 6% of independent directors. b) People who were already in charge nine years ago (136 statutory auditors, 129 in 2010, 113 in 2009 and 136 in 2008)66. The number is growing, after years of decrease. 15 statutory auditors (i.e. 12% of the aggregate) belong to companies which stated their intention not to apply such criterion. It is also more frequent for a statutory auditor than for an independent director to be “at risk” because he/she has been in charge for more than 9 years (this happens for 17.3% of statutory auditors and only for 13.3% of independent directors). Also for statutory auditors the reported numbers are not additive, since a single person may be involved in more than one “particular” situation. The statutory auditors that do not fall in any of the mentioned situations are 604 (i.e. 77% of the aggregate, down from 81% in 2010). The percentage of statutory auditors (77% in 2011) is lower than the percentage of independent directors who are not “at risk” (81%), even though independent directors have been checked against a higher number of control criteria. 64 Quite obviously, statutory auditors cannot be members of an executive committee; on the other hand, family ties between statutory auditors and directors, or the attribution of director offices in companies controlling the issuer, subsidiaries of the issuer or companies under common control with the issuer are forbidden by art. 148 CLF. Even the participation to incentive plans seems to be banned, since it would not be consistent with the control role of statutory auditors (it may, however, affect members of “controlling bodies” in one-tier and two-tier companies, whose duties are not limited to a mere control function). 65 They are - typically – people holding multiple statutory auditor offices in subsidiaries of the issuer. 4 (were 6 in 2010) companies have a BoSA entirely made up of people receiving additional “significant” remuneration. 66 See the methodological issues commented upon with regard to independent directors. 11 companies (up from 6 in 2010) have a BoSA made up entirely of statutory auditors who have been in charge for more than nine years. 54 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 Figure 20 As with independent directors, the percentage of statutory auditors that do not fall in any “particular” situation was traditionally higher (albeit lower than for independent directors) in non-financial firms. Financial companies started from a much lower value (56%, versus 77% in non-financial companies, in 2006), but the gap has now reduced considerably (67%, versus 78% in non-financial companies, in 2011). 3.4. Nomination Committee The establishment of a nomination committee is neither mandatory nor explicitly recommended by the 2006 Code as a general solution67. CG Reports often disclose information on this point (see Tab. 20). A nomination committee has been established by 43 companies, i.e. 16% of the aggregate (as in 2010). When established, it is often unified with the remuneration committee (49% of the cases). The composition of the Nomination Committee is now always available: this result is associated with the coming into effect of art. 123-bis CLF (until 2009 information in a handful of cases was not complete). The committee is almost always composed entirely of non-executive directors (only 5 companies – 3 banks and 2 non-financial companies – have executives in the committee), a majority of whom is independent 67 Principle 6.P.2 recommends that the Board evaluate “whether” to establish this committee, which is not recommended on a “comply or explain” basis. 55 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 (one company has 3 independent directors in a 7-member Committee, while 3 companies have no independent director in the Committee). In 22 cases (51% of the aggregate) listed companies provide information about the frequency of the committee meetings: on average 2.1 meetings per year (up from 1.6 in 2010); meeting frequency is higher in the financial sector (4.4 meetings, versus 0.8 in other industries) and in large companies (4.3 in FTSE Mib, 1.3 in Mid Cap, 0.8 in Small Cap firms). 3.5. Slate voting The 2010 analysis included an investigation on the functioning of slate voting in Italy. Slate voting is a technical mechanism, which aims to guarantee that minority shareholders may appoint one or more representatives to the corporate bodies of listed firms. This voting method has received particular attention in Italy, where recent reforms produced a regulatory regime which appears unique in the international arena68 The election of corporate bodies usually takes place according to a single-winner voting method, with only a quota reserved for minorities: according to this system, the slate which received the highest number of votes takes all but a pre-determined number of seats69 (set out in the by-laws), which are left for candidates taken from minority slates. Some (mostly financial) companies adopt, however, a “proportional” multi-winner voting method, which doesn’t foresee a majority premium: Consequently, a slate receiving only a “relative majority” vote may well elect less than 50% of board members.70 The appointment of directors and statutory auditors usually takes place according to the so-called “quotient” method, whereby the votes received by each slate are divided by a sequence of whole numbers, from one up to the number of directors/statutory auditors to be elected; there are also some mechanisms in place in order to guarantee 68 Slate voting was first introduced in Italy by Law 474/1994 on privatization of publicly-owned enterprises. In 1998, art.148, para. 2, CLF required all the companies to include in their articles of association clauses necessary to guarantee almost one minority effective statutory auditor in their BoSA. Finally, the “Protection of Savings” Law extended slate voting to BoD elections. This decree also delegated Consob to establish rules guaranteeing that minority shareholders may elect at least one statutory auditor (with the new Title V-bis of the Regulation) 69 Art.147-ter, para.3, CLF provides a minimum quota of one seat for candidates taken from minority slates which “have been neither presented nor voted” by shareholders “linked in any way, even indirectly” with those who have presented or voted the majority slate. However, a number of companies have introduced higher quotas (either voluntarily, or to comply with other pieces of legislation). Furthermore, if the company adopted a “proportional” voting method, the number of candidates taken from minority slates may exceed the quota set out in the by-laws. 70 A control blockholder may (also without any previous agreement) submit a slate with a number of candidates which is not sufficient to obtain the majority of the BoD seats; consequently, the “minority slate” may then get a majority of the BoD seats. 56 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 that other legal or regulatory conditions are met (e.g. the presence of a sufficient number of “independent” directors in the board). This mechanisms will need to change to comply with law no. 120/2011: slate voting rules must be made compatible with “gender quotas” set out by the law; this may not be an easy task. Compatibility seems to be more hard to grant in companies without a control shareholder, particularly where a proportional voting method is in place, since relevant shareholders may submit their own slates without a previous consultation. We investigated the following points: a) On the basis of AGM Minutes, we identified companies where lists (or individual candidates71) have been submitted by minority shareholders for the election of corporate bodies, the necessary quorum, the shareholders who submitted the lists and the outcome of the vote. b) on the basis of Corporate Governance Reports, we analyzed the number of minority representatives in the corporate bodies and the role of the minority directors after their appointment72. a) Presentation of multiple slates In 2011 we found 77 AGM Minutes73 reporting the appointment of the BoD (or of the SB in two-tier companies: see Tab. 21). The number of AGM Minutes is the same as in 2008 (72), but lower than in the last two years (90 in 2010, 92 in 2009). In fact, almost all companies appoint their corporate bodies for a 3-year mandate: a one-year mandate is quite rare (however, a renewal may take place before 3 years in case of mergers or acquisitions); another infrequent solution (4 cases) is the adoption of a staggered board with a renewal of 1/3 of the BoD every year.74 71 Sometimes the slates are not submitted in advance (within a term which is defined usually in the bylaws) but directly at the AGM. 72 The CG Reports refer to the corporate bodies in charge in 2010; directors and statutory auditors resulting from AGM Minutes may not appear in the CG Reports (e.g. in case they have resigned; or if they have been appointed after 31 December 2010). For this reasons we analyzed AGM Minutes and CG Reports separately. 73 Those are AGM of 2011 (except some rare cases where the fiscal year doesn’t concur with the calendar one) of companies that were still listed till 31 March 2011.The data are compared with those of the previous year (with the necessary editing; the analysis of the previous year compared 2008, 2009 and 2010 data). Last year we focused on elections made up with the slate voting system, in particular on the elections of the whole board (or at least 1/3 of the board in case of a staggered board system): last year we didn’t count the substitution or confirm of single co-opted directors, which normally require the relative majority or, however, produce results that are difficult to compare with those of “general” elections. 74 Those are the only cases of staggered board (for all or a part of the BoD) related to the comment on art. 2 of the 2011 Code. 57 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 In 2011 we found also 78 AGM Minutes reporting the appointment of the BoSA (see Tab. 22). Also here the number of BoSA elections varies over time. Overlooking this particular dynamic of board renewals over time might induce serious interpretation errors. Figure 21 The submission of “minority slates” is signaled by the existence of multiple lists of candidates (i.e. No. lists 2). The submission of “minority slates” varies over time, between 37 and 49% of the aggregate, both for directors75 (37 companies out of 79 in 2011) and statutory auditors (37 companies out of 76) (see Tab. 21 and 22). Slate voting is a relevant phenomenon in the Italian market, even though minority shareholders took the opportunity to submit a slate in less than half of the cases. The submission of minority slates seems to be slightly increasing for the appointment of directors (49% in 2011, 43% in 2008) and stable for the appointment of statutory auditors (47% in 2011, 49% in 2008). The submission of minority slates for the appointment of directors (see Tab. 21) is more frequent in large companies: in 2011 it took place in 67% of FTSE Mib, 50% of Mid cap and 41% of Small cap companies. Data are quite similar also for the statutory auditors. 75 The number of the companies where have been submitted slates for the appointment of directors (76) is lower than the number of available AGM Minutes (77): in one case, the shareholders’ meeting adopted the resolution about the liquidation of the company and appointed a liquidator. The same shareholders’ meeting appointed also the BoSA with the slate voting (2 slates were submitted). 58 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 Figure 22 In 2011 the submission of minority slates is slightly less frequent for financial firms (44% of cases; 49% for other companies); however, data are variable over time. The submission of multiple slates for the appointment of statutory auditors is more frequent in financial firms (57% of cases against 46% in other industries). The submission of multiple slates is very frequent in publicly-owned companies76 (91% for directors’ appointment in 2011, as in 2008); the frequency is lower in family firms (36% of cases, up from 33% in 2008). The data are almost the same for the BoSA. 76 The definition refers to a qualification based on the existence of one control shareholder (with at least the 30% of voting rights) and on his identity. We identified: a) family companies, b) publicly-owned companies (controlled by State or other public authority); c) other ownership structures (e.g. companies controlled by financial firms; widely held companies, where is no shareholder with more than a 10% of the capital; other companies, where alternatively one or more shareholders have more than the 10% of the capital but they are not exercising the control or where an another company – where the shareholders have a low participation, which is not enough for the control - exercise the control). In figures and tables are reported only the values of family and publicly-owned companies. 59 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 Figure 23 b) Quorum for the presentation The average quorum for the submission of slates for the BoD (in companies with a renewal in 2011) is 2.36%, slightly higher than in the previous year and also than in 2008. The quorum required to present a list of candidates to corporate bodies is set out in art. 144-quater, Regulation on Issuers, on the basis of the capitalization of the firm. The by-laws often refer explicitly to the thresholds set out in Consob regulation. For this reason, a change in market capitalization due to fluctuations in Stock Exchange prices can produce a change of the quorum (which is inversely related to market prices). For the same reasons the average quorum changes with firm size (1.27% in FTSE Mib, 1.81% in Mid cap and 2.97% in Small cap companies); the quorum is lower among financial firms (1.22%, i.e. less than half the value in other industries: 2.51%), due to the larger size of banks and insurance companies. 60 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 Figure 24 The quorum is lower in publicly-owned companies (1.55% in 2011) and slightly higher than the average quorum among family firms (2.63%). These data are also influenced by firm size. The frequency of the submission of slates depends on the ownership structure (particularly on the existence of minority shareholders holding a relevant stake77) and on the decision of such shareholders to “become active”, i.e. to submit their candidates without a previous consultation with majority shareholders (i.e., without a submission of a unique slate). Such a decision cannot be taken for granted: actually, it depends on a cost-benefit analysis. A lower quorum in the by-laws seems to make easier the submission of minority slates. Companies where have been submitted more slates have a lower average quorum (2.16% versus a general average of 2.36%). However, even where no minority slate has been submitted, the quorum is not so high as to explain the absence of “active” minority shareholders. This is confirmed also by the analysis on shareholders in companies where multiple slates have (or have not) been submitted (see Tab. 23). First of all, companies where no shareholder holds the stake required to submit a minority slate are quite rare: in 2011, this happened only in 11 cases (i.e. 15% of the aggregate) for the appointment of directors and in 9 cases (i.e. 12% of the aggregate) for statutory auditors. Data were 77 In the 2010 analysis we underlined that all the companies have introduced (as allowed by art. 147-ter, para. 1 CLF) in the by-laws a minimal voting quorum for minority slates for the appointment of the BoD, in order to guarantee that minority candidates are appointed only if they get a minimum consensus. 61 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 similar in previous years. Furthermore, where no shareholder holds the quorum, it doesn’t appear particularly difficult or expensive to reach the minimum stake allowing to submit a slate. The absence of minority slates seems to be linked more to a low interest for this opportunity (rational apathy) than to a too high quorum level. Focusing on companies that have a relevant shareholder (who holds a sufficient stake to submit an alternative slate for the BoD), we may see that in 2011 these shareholders preferred not to use this opportunity in 45% of cases. Our data may even underestimate investors’ lack of interest for slate voting. Even where no single shareholder holds the necessary quorum, investors might still: a) form a coalition with other investors in order to reach the quorum and present an alternative slate78; b) exploit (for BoSA elections) the opportunity offered by art. 144-sexies, para. 5 of the Consob Regulation concerning issuers, providing that, if only one list has been submitted, further lists may be submitted up to the fifth working day after the original expiry date, and the thresholds established in the articles of association shall be halved79. The results for the BoSA appointment are the same as for the BoD (see Tab. 21 and 22). First of all, the quorum in the by-laws is almost the same (2.36% for directors, 2.26% for statutory auditors in 2011). Also here the quorum is lower in companies where multiple slates have been actually submitted: it is 2.03% (versus a general average of 2.26%) and it varies with size and industry. 78 This is not only a textbook example. Individual Italian mutual funds rarely possess a sufficient number of shares; however, they have been able to form a coalition in a number of cases in order to reach the necessary quorum. Also in 2011 we found 2 cases (see Tab. 23) where, although no single investor held the necessary (2% or respectively 1%) stake, a number of shareholders formed a coalition and were able to submit a slate of candidates to the BoD (or BoSA). 79 This is not a textbook case, either. As in the past we found a company (see Tab. 23) where, although no minority shareholder held the (2%) required stake, a slate for the BoSA election was presented by an investor holding a 1,72% stake, who took the opportunity offered by the “quorum halving” rule. 62 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 Figure 25 The quorum for the submission of a slate for the appointment of statutory auditors may, actually be lower than the threshold set out in the by-laws, since art. 144-sexies para. 5 of the Consob Regulation concerning Issuers provides that, if only one slate has been submitted, the thresholds “eventually established in the articles of association” shall be halved. In spite of this different regime, the frequency of minority slates is almost the same in both cases (47% for statutory auditors, 49% for directors, in 2011). Some doubt may therefore arise about the opportunity of this rule, which is complex but apparently ineffective in favoring “activism”; furthermore, as already noted, cases where no shareholder holds a sufficient stake to submit a minority slate are extremely rare: in 2011 this happened in 9 cases (i.e. 12% of the aggregate) for the appointment of statutory auditors (against 15% for the appointment of the BoD). The data are similar to those for previous years. Focusing on companies that have a relevant shareholder (who holds a sufficient stake to submit an alternative slate for the BoD), we may see that in 2011 these shareholders preferred not to use this opportunity in 48% of cases (see Tab. 23). The average number of the slates submitted in 2011 is 1.59 for the appointment of directors (slightly higher than in previous years) and 1.54 for statutory auditors (up from previous year, but almost the same as in 2008). Where multiple slates have been submitted for the appointment of the corporate bodies, their total number is usually 2 (in 2011 this happened in 29 cases out of 37, i.e. 63 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 78% of the aggregate for BoD80, and in 34 firms out of 37, i.e. 89% of the aggregate, for BoSA elections81). Since detailed information about the ownership structure of listed firms is publicly available, the mechanism set out in the articles of the association influences the number of slates submitted: shareholders rationally try to avoid transactions costs where an alternative list would have a low probability of success. Figure 26 c) Who presented the slates The slates are submitted almost always by shareholders. Only in three companies (cooperatives) one slate of candidates to the BoD (or SB) was presented by the outgoing Board. The picture is quite similar for BoSA elections: only in one cooperative company one slate was presented by the incumbent Board of Directors82. In all these cases, the slate submitted by the BoD always resulted first in terms of votes received. Minority shareholders who submitted a list may be classified as follows: a) Many individual shareholders; b) State and other publicly-owned entities; c) Foundation (they are almost always “bank holding” foundations); d) Private equity and other funds acting independently (i.e. not in concert with other similar funds); e) Italian mutual funds, 80 3 slates were presented in 8 firms; in the past we found 2 cases with 4 slates, one case with 5 slates and one with 6 slates 81 In 3 cases there were 3 slates. 82 In one another company the BoD submitted in 2008 a slate for the appointment of statutory auditors. This has not happened in 2011. 64 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 acting under the lead of Assogestioni83; f) Financial institution (bank or insurance company); g) Industrial partners (primary firms, Italian or foreign, operating in the same industry as the listed company); h) Family members of the control blockholder, possibly acting in concert with other shareholders; i) Private shareholders (a residual category). The analysis of the previous year showed that almost one-half of the “minority” slates for the election of directors were presented by private shareholders and that the number of slates submitted by funds acting under the lead of Assogestioni, although politically important, was quite low. This is true also in 2011: we counted 8 slates by Assogestioni for the appointment of directors and 7 for statutory auditors, always in FTSE Mib companies. These results are probably driven by the typical composition of mutual funds’ portfolios, oriented to invest in large companies for a number of reasons (higher liquidity, compliance with regulatory benchmarks, availability of derivatives for hedging purposes, etc). Target firms are mostly (6 cases out of 8 for directors and 3 out of 6 for statutory auditors) “privatized” firms, characterized by a regulatory regime particularly favourable to minority board representation. d) Majority and minority slates Slates may be qualified alternatively as “majority” or “minority”, according to the number of votes they received at the AGM. In 2011 121 slates have been submitted (in 78 companies) for the elections of directors and 118 (in 78 companies) for the election of statutory auditors. 45 lists of candidates to the BoD and 40 lists of candidates to the BoSA (see Tab. 24 and 25) could be qualified as minority slates. The number of candidates in each slate seems to be determined strategically, according to: a) the electoral mechanism (majority or proportional system); b) the probability of appointing their candidates (which depends, in turn, on the number of seats “reserved” to minorities); c) other eventual provisions set out in the by-laws (for example the articles of the association may require that lists are made up of a number of candidates equal to the total number of seats, not only to the seats “reserved” to minority candidates). “Minority slates” are made up of a lower number of candidates than “majority” slates (on average 3.6 versus 9.3 BoD candidates and 1.4 versus 2.8 BoSa candidates). 43% of minority candidates are actually elected directors (and 68% are elected statutory auditors); majority slates elect 96% of candidate directors and 91% of candidate 83 These cases are explicitly identified as such also on the Assogestioni website, in the “Rules and governance” section. 65 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 statutory auditors. The probability for an individual minority candidate to be appointed depends, quite obviously, on the electoral system, on the votes obtained by each slate and on the quotient mechanism and position of the candidate on the slate. The ranking of the slates, according to the capital held by the shareholders who submitted the list, and to the number of received votes do usually coincide. In a small number of cases, however, the ranking may change. This may happen for two basic reasons: a) the shareholders submitting a list presented a certification accounting only for a fraction of the capital they actually held; b) the list was voted also by other investors (not necessarily related to those who submitted the slate). Both majority and minority slates did actually often receive more votes in the AGM than those held by shareholders who submitted those slates. This is particularly evident for majority lists: in 2011 the slates for the election of the BoD had been presented by shareholders holding on average 45.1% of equity capital; however, they were voted by 58% of the capital (+12,9%). These data are slightly higher in comparison to previous years (10.3% in 2010, 11% in 2008). In 2011 the same phenomenon takes place also for minority slates: in the case of BoD (BoSA) elections, they had been presented by shareholders holding on average 6.1% of equity capital; however, they were voted by 12.9 of the capital (+6.8%; up from +1.8% in 2010 and +2.8% in 2008). This increase is probably due to the application of the Directive no. 2007/36/EC on “Shareholders’ rights” into the Italian law; for example, the directive introduced the so-called record date system for participation and vote in the AGM84. This system, allows investors not to “block” their shares till the date of the shareholders’ meeting; consequently, institutional investors may exercise the right to vote without any restriction on the liquidity and/or the composition of their trading portfolio. 84 Art. 83-sexies CLF requires that “the legitimate attendance of shareholders' meetings and the exercise of voting rights is confirmed by a statement to the issuer from the intermediary (…) on behalf of the person with the right to vote”. By Italian listed companies “the statement envisaged in subsection 1 shall be issued by the intermediary on the basis of balances recorded at the end of the seventh trading day prior to the date of the shareholders’ meeting on first or single call. Credit and debit records entered on accounts after this deadline shall not be considered for the purpose of legitimising the exercise of voting rights at the shareholders’ meeting”. 66 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 Figure 27 Figure 28 In large firms (see Tab. 26 and 27), minority slates are filed by shareholders holding a much lower stake (3.3% of equity capital in FTSE Mib BoD elections, 5% in Mid Cap, and 8.3% in Small Cap firms); however, they are voted by investors representing a substantially higher stake of capital. This phenomenon increased clearly in 2011: from +5.7% in 2008 to +12.8% in 2011 in the FTSE Mib. The increase is not so evident, however, in smaller companies: from 2% of 2008 to 5.3% in 2011 in Mid cap and from 1% in 2008 to 1.7% in 2011 in Small cap firms. If the increase in “activism” is associated with the introduction of the record date system, it is also evident that the effectiveness of this system varies with company characteristics. 67 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 Figure 29 In the financial sector minority slates are filed by shareholders holding, on average, a 1.7% equity stake (6.7% in non-financial companies); they get additional votes at the AGM (+ 5.2%, reaching a total 6.9% stake in financial firms; versus a +6.3%, reaching a 13% stake, in non-financial firms). The results for BoSA elections are quite similar. Particularly interesting are the data in connection to the ownership structure. In family firms the minority slates for the appointment of directors are submitted by shareholders with a significant stake (on average, 7.9% of the capital); the number of additional votes is low (+1.4%, up to +9.3% of the aggregate). The data are basically the same as in 2008. On the contrary, in publicly-owned companies minority slates are submitted by shareholders with a lower stake (on average, 4.4% of the capital); however, the number of additional votes is much higher (+10.2%, up to +14.6% of the aggregate) and also higher than in 2008 (when the minority slates, submitted by 5.1% of the capital, collected an additional 2.6%, 7.7% altogether). The data for the BoSA are almost the same. 68 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 Figure 30 Figure 31 These results are apparently linked to Assogestioni slates getting more support by Italian and foreign institutional investors. In 2011 Assogestioni submitted 8 (for directors) and 6 (for statutory auditors) slates (see Tab. 21 and 22), predominantly in “privatized” and larger companies (all FTSE Mib): such slates were submitted with 1.7% of the capital (on average); however, they collected votes amounting to the 18.9% (+17.2%) of the capital for the appointment of directors (for statutory auditors, the Assogestioni slates were submitted with 1.6% of the capital, but collected votes from 20.1% of the capital). In the most successful case, the slate (for the appointment of directors) presented by shareholders holding 2.2% of the capital, but collected votes 69 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 from 28.8% of the capital (+26.6%); simultaneously the BoSA was also appointed, with a similar outcome. The number of companies where Assogestioni submitted a slate is substantially stable: slates for the election of directors were presented in two companies more than in 200885; the number of slates submitted for the election of statutory auditors is exactly the same as in 2008, although the legal environment is much more friendly for active investors. This result confirms that activism requires an organizational effort and meaningful costs. Figure 32 Finally, 2011 data show a moderate increase of companies characterized by activism for the election of directors: minority slates have been submitted in 37 companies (up from 31 in 2008). However, the same phenomenon doesn’t occur for the election of statutory auditors: companies with minority slates have decreased from 38 to 37 (see Tab. 26 and 27). The number of slates submitted by Assogestioni is the same as before, but the percentage of the capital that supported those slates has increased a lot. This led to a different voting outcome: the total number of minority directors has increased slightly (from 60 in 2008 to 67 in 2011); however, the number of Assogestioni candidates actually appointed has almost doubled, from 14 to 24. Consequently, they 85 The net settlement (+2) is due to 3 companies more and 1 less. Moreover, one company is just apparently more, because one slate of Assegestioni was submitted already in 2008, but it wasn’t analyzed because the AGM Minute was not available. 70 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 are now 36% of the total minority directors appointed in 2011 (up from 23% in 2008). The 24 directors elected by Assogestioni are 83% of the total minority directors appointed in FTSE Mib companies in 2011. The data for statutory auditors are similar: Assogestioni appointed 7 candidates, i.e. 70% of the minority statutory auditors appointed in 2011 in FTSE Mib companies. Figure 33 e) The result of the vote Minority slates are often successful: they elected at least one director in 82% of the cases (the percentage is 92% for statutory auditors). The average number of candidates elected from each “minority” slate is 1.52 for directors and 0.95 for statutory auditors. This number depends, obviously, on the voting mechanism adopted by the individual firm (multi-winner proportional system vs. singlewinner with quotas + size of the minority quota). Unsurprisingly, the number of directors elected by minority slates depends on the size (2.1 minority directors in FTSE Mib companies) and the ownership structure (1.9 in publicly-owned companies, against 1.3 in family firms) of the company. Unsurprisingly, since BoSA are almost always made up of 3 members, the number of minority statutory auditors is almost always one. 71 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 3.6. Number and role of minority representatives The CG Reports disclose additional information about the number and role of the representatives (directors and statutory auditors) appointed by minorities. We analyzed the following themes: a) Number of minority directors and statutory auditors Firms with at least one minority representative are 93, i.e. 35% of the aggregate, plus 5 two-tier companies (out of 7; i.e. 71% of the aggregate). The global number (98) has increased significantly: it was 88 (83+5) in 2010, 56 (52+4) in 2009. The total number of minority directors at the end of 2010 is 18586, i.e. 1.8 directors per company: they represent on average 18% of the board87. The number of minority directors is growing (169 in 2010, 122 in 2009, 90 in 2006); at the same time their average number (and their weight) per company is decreasing: (they were 2.3 in 2009, 3.9 in 2006, i.e. 31% of board seats). This can be explained with the fact that smaller companies “forced” to introduce slate voting have, frequently, required the appointment of one minority director (i.e. the legal minimum provided by the CLF). The framework is basically the same for statutory auditors: 97 companies (i.e. 38% of the aggregate; up from 96 in 2010, 79 in 2009; see Tab. 13, 14 and 18) have at least one minority statutory auditor. The global number of minority statutory auditors is increasing (from 64 in 2006 to 86 in 2009, to 99 in 2010 and 104 this year); their average weight is, obviously, stable (1 out of 3)88 The number and weight of minority directors varying considerably with firm size (2.9 directors, i.e. 24% of the aggregate in FTSE Mib companies; 2, i.e. 15% of the board in Mid caps and 1.3, i.e. 15% of the board in Small cap) and industry: financial firms have on average 2.8 minority directors versus 1.7 in non-financial firms (18% of the aggregate in both cases). Number and weight of minority directors are higher in publicly-owned companies (3.2, i.e. 29% of the aggregate). Their values are almost double than in other companies 86 These are 170 members of the BoD and 15 members of the SB. The increase of the members of the SB (from 7 in 2010) is due to a single bank, with a fractionate shareholding, where more slates have been submitted by relevant shareholders, who had presented one single slate in the past. The number of “minority” directors in the SB changed from 1 to 9 (implying that minority representatives in SB increased from 5% to 48%). 87 Minority directors are: 175 males and 10 females (as in 2010); 5 (out of 10) women have been drawn from a slate presented by Assogestioni. 88 Minority statutory auditors are: 102 males and 2 females (as in 2010); no female statutory auditors has been drawn from Assogestioni slates. 72 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 (where minority directors are 1.5 on average, i.e. 14% of the aggregate). In fact, in publicly-owned companies minority directors are more frequent (in 21 cases out of 24, i.e. 87.5% of the aggregate; against 74 cases out of 238 in other companies, i.e. 31% of the aggregate), and they have also a higher weight on the board than in other companies. On this point it is easy to see the influence of law no. 474/1994, which set out a minimum weight of minority directors (20%) in companies operating in industries where a voting cap had been introduced. Figure 34 No difference in weight is present (see Tab. 18) for statutory auditors, because of the uniform structure of the BoSA (almost always 3 statutory auditors, 1 of whom may be 73 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 appointed by minority shareholders). The small differences are due to a handful of companies with a 5-member BoSA (1 or 2 seats may be left to minority shareholders). b) The role of minority directors Our analysis shows that not all minority directors may qualify as independent or even as non-executive. In CG Reports 185 directors are explicitly qualified as “drawn from a minority slate” (see Tab. 28): 167 of them (90% of the aggregate) have been qualified as nonexecutive, and 18 (serving in 8 different firms89) as executive. Four of them have taken the role of chairman of the board, two are CEOs, 6 are members of executive committees. The increase seems to be caused, at least partially, to the re-qualification of chairmen and directors that are members of executive committees. Minority directors qualifying as independent according to the Code (CLF) definition are slightly increasing in both number and percentage terms: in 2011 they are, respectively, 131 (i.e. 71% of the aggregate) and 140 (76%). Figure 35 89 They were 6 in 2010. In one of these firms the control blockholder voluntarily presented a slate with a number of candidates much lower than the number of board seats; consequently the majority of board members (including the chairman and the managing director) were actually drawn from the “minority” list. 74 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 c) Minority directors and the composition of board committees The Internal Control Committee (ICC) and the Remuneration Committee (RC) have been established by 90 (i.e. 92% of the aggregate) and 84 (i.e. 86% of the aggregate) companies out of the 98 where minority shareholders appointed directors. These percentage values are in line with the general average. At least one minority director has been appointed to the ICC in 54% of the companies (see Tab.29). This happens more frequently in large firms (73% of the cases, in FTSE Mib, 48% in Mid Cap, 55% in Small Cap companies) and in publicly-owned companies (76% of the aggregate). No particular difference does emerge across sectors. Figure 36 75 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 Figure 37 The picture is quite similar for the Remuneration Committee. At least one minority director has been appointed to the RC in 57% of the companies (see Tab. 29) having minority directors on the board which have established the RC. This happens more frequently in large firms (68% of the cases, in FTSE Mib, 52% in Mid Cap, 50% in Small Cap companies) and in publicly-owned firms (100% of the cases). There are differences between financial and non-financial firms: minority directors are less often members of the RC in financial companies (43% of the aggregate, versus 60% in other firms). The minority directors disclosed in CG Reports (185) are appointed to board committees more frequently than the 951 directors drawn from majority slates. 70 of them (i.e. 38% of the aggregate) are members of the ICC, while 61 (i.e. 33% of the aggregate) are members of the RC. Therefore, even though minority representatives are only 17% of the aggregate number of directors, they cover the 23% of the ICC and the 21% of the RC seats. Minority directors (particularly those appointed by Assogestioni90) are frequently involved in committees; this happens, in particular, in larger and in non-financial firms. Globally, the appointment of a minority director to a committee seems – correctly – to be linked to his/her professional skills; it does not seem to be avoided a priori by the companies. 90 Among the 185 minority directors mentioned in the CG Reports, 25 have been appointed by slates of funds under the lead of Assogestioni. 12 of them are members of the ICC, 7 of the RC, 3 of both; only three do not take part in any committee. 76 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 3.7. Remuneration Committee We analyzed the following points: a) Establishment of a Remuneration Committee A Remuneration Committee has been established in a wide majority of companies (223, i.e. 85% of the aggregate: see Tab. 30), particularly in large firms (97% in FTSE Mib, 95% in Mid cap, 80% in Small cap companies); the number of companies that have established this committee is slowly, but steadily growing91. Figure 38 91 32 companies disclose the reason why a remuneration committee has not been established: they may range from the attribution of its functions to the general meeting (or to the BoD), to their small size, or their small number of independent directors (insufficient to form a Committee), to their ownership structure or to the exercise of the same function by another committee (CGC for one-tier companies) or by the equivalent committee of the holding company. Art. 4.2.C. of the Code 2011 says that the creation of an ICC may be avoided reserving the same functions to the whole BoD, but only at the following conditions: (i) independent directors are at least half of the Board of Directors members; if the number of the Board members is odd, a rounding down to the lower unit shall be carried out; (ii) adequate time is dedicated during the Board meetings to actions that the Code requires the Committees to carry out, and this circumstance is disclosed in the Corporate Governance Report; (iii) as far as the control and risk committee is concerned, the issuer is neither controlled by another listed company nor it is subject to direction and coordination. 9 companies (out of the 39 that have no RC) didn’t comply with the Code; from the other 30 companies, only 8 would have a sufficient number of independent directors to respect the condition (i). 77 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 b) Duties of the Remuneration Committee Companies disclose frequently information about the duties of the RC (see Tab. 30): this happens in 72% of cases (up from 66% in 2010, 65% in 2009, 62% in 2008, 54% in 2007, 50% in 2006). Transparency on this point is higher among larger (89% in FTSE Mib) and financial (84% of cases) companies. Figure 39 c) Composition of the Remuneration Committee The composition of the Remuneration Committee is always available. The number of its members varies between 2 (in 9 cases; 7 in 2010, 15 in 2009) and 8 members (in a large bank, followed by two more banks with a 7-member and other 11 companies with a 5-member RC). The Remuneration Committee is usually made up of 3 members (this happens in 187 companies, i.e. 84% of the aggregate). The 2006 Code recommends that the committee be: a) made up entirely of nonexecutive directors; b) the majority of which are independent. The former recommendation (Remuneration Committee made up of non-executive directors) has been followed by 215 companies (96% of the aggregate; see Tab. 31); this percentage is increasing over time (94% in 2010, 93% in 2009, 88% in 2008, 79% in 2007, 67% in 2006). In 7 cases (down from 13 in 2010, 14 in 2009, 26 in 2008, 43 in 2007, 56 in 2006), the committee includes an executive director; 1 company (as in the last two years) has appointed two executives to the RC. 78 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 Figure 40 The latter recommendation (majority of independent directors) has been followed by 200 companies (90% of the aggregate, as in the last two years; up from 87% in 2008, 68% in 2007 and 2006); in 5 more cases, the committee is made up of one independent and one non-executive director; in the remaining 18 cases, independent directors are a minority92. In 72 cases (i.e. 32% of the aggregate; up from 25% in 2010), the committee is made up only of independent directors93. d) Frequency of the meetings of the Remuneration Committee The information about the frequency of committee meetings is available almost always (in 97% of the cases94, see Tab. 30). The average number of meetings varies with industry (5.6 in financial, 2.4 in non-financial companies) and size (5.1 in FTSE Mib, 3.1 in Mid Cap, 1.9 in Small Cap firms), and is slightly increasing over time; this seems to be associated with a more intense activity of committees in financial companies (the average number of meetings is 5.6; up from 4 in 2010, 3.9 in 2009, 3.3 in 2008). The number of meetings is extremely variable at the company lavel, ranging from 0 (in 16 companies95; down from 23 in 2010) to 21 meetings per year. 92 In 11 cases independent directors are a minority. 7 companies have a remuneration committee with no independent directors. 93 Art. 6.P.3. of the Code recommend only independent directors for the composition of the RC. Alternatively it is recommended a RC made up off only non-executive, more than a half of independent directors, but one of the independent has to be the Chairman of the Committee. 94 In fact one company create a unique committee (RC+ICC) and discloses the total number of the meetings. 95 In 5 companies there were no RC meetings also in the previous year. 79 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 Figure 41 e) Attendance to meetings of the Remuneration Committee Transparency on the attendance to committee meetings has increased (see Tab. 30 and Tab. 32). This holds true also for the Remuneration Committee. RC members are 700; information about their attendance to committee meetings is available in 600 cases96 ( i.e. 86% of the aggregate, up from 82% in 2010, 78% in 2009): 87% of them (521 directors) have been always present; 97% of them attended at least half of the meetings; low attendance is “extremely” rare97. 3.8. Directors’ Remuneration We collected data about the amount and the structure of directors’ remuneration from financial statements. As in the previous years, these data were subsequently associated with the information available in the CG Reports. Financial statements of Italian issuers include a detailed prospectus reporting director remuneration, drawn up according to Annex 3C of the art. 78 and 79 of the Consob Regulation on Issuers (which include “detailed tables disclosing information about the remuneration and the ownership of managing and control bodies, general managers 96 Almost half (43 out of 100) directors for which no information is available, are actually members of committees that never met during the year. 97 9 directors (in 9 companies) did not attend any meeting. One of these directors deceased shortly afterwards. 80 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 and managers with strategic responsibilities”). We focused on Model 198, reporting compensation paid to BoD and BoSA members, according to the following classification: a) Remuneration for office held; b) Non-monetary benefits; c) Bonuses and other incentives; d) Other remuneration. Consob explains: “Under emoluments for the office state there are: (i) the emoluments for the period resolved by the shareholders’ meeting, or pursuant to Article 2389, para. 2, Civil Code, even if not yet paid, (ii) any profit-sharing, (iii) attendance allowances, and (iv) expense reimbursements. (…) The column non-monetary benefits shall show the fringe benefits (…) including any insurance policy. The bonuses and other incentives include the portions of remuneration paid on a one-off basis. The value of the stock options assigned or exercised must never be included. The other remuneration shall show (i) the emoluments for offices held in listed and unlisted subsidiary companies, (ii) employee salaries (…), (iii) end of office indemnities, and (iv) any other additional remuneration resulting from other services provided”99. The variety of real world situations is so rich that the inclusion of some remuneration components in a particular column is not always straightforward. Listed companies often add footnotes to explain the nature (and frequently the amount) of each component. However, single column data may be less comparable than total values; we therefore focus mainly on the latter. We analyzed the following points: 98 Model 1 does not disclose data on stock-based remuneration, which is reported in Model 2 (Stock-option assigned to BoD members and to general managers) and Model 3 (Shares held by administrative and control bodies’ members and by general managers). The stock-based component was investigated in detail in 2009; the analysis was not repeated this year. 99 Consob recommended, in Communication no. DEM/11012984 of the 24 February 2011: a) to use the whole Model 1, disclosing also on the components that were not given; b) to distinguish in the columns or notes, the different components as “Emoluments for the office” and “Other compensations”, referring also to the sub-items of the Model 1, to clarify the table. Referring to the item “Emoluments for the office”, Consob recommended also to disclose separately the compensation for the participation to the committees. In October 2011 has also published a consultation document (about the application of the art. 123-ter CLF about the transparency of compensations of directors in listed companies) that set out some novelties in this field. 81 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 a) The amount of directors’ remuneration An analysis of Model 1 allowed us to collect data on the remuneration of 2,726 directors (out of 2,728)100. Summary statistics are reported in Tab. 33101. The average remuneration of directors is 226.000 € (3% higher than in 2010; in the previous year it had decreased by 7%); remuneration varies considerably according to firm size (435.000 € in FTSE Mib, i.e. about 3 times the remuneration in Small Cap firms, i.e. 138.000 €) and - to a smaller extent - to industry (292.000 € in financial versus 211.000 € in non-financial firms). The increase is mainly due to non-financial companies (where average remuneration was 200.000 € in 2010). The main component is remuneration for office held (53% of the total amount); “other remuneration” accounts for 35% of the total, while bonuses are usually lower (11.2%; were 9.8% in 2010, down from 14% in 2009); non-monetary benefits are almost negligible (1%). The variation of average remuneration is principally due to swings in the average bonus (down from 34.000 in 2009 to 21.000 € in 2010 and then again up to 25.000 € in 2011). As already observed, the distribution is skewed (a relatively small number of people typically executive directors - receive an extremely high remuneration). Median values (reflecting the remuneration of non-executives, who usually represent the majority of the board) are therefore much lower (50.000 €), and also more stable over time, since the median director does not receive any bonus. 100 It is: a) the total number of directors in companies adopting the “traditional” or the one-tier board model, plus: b) the total number of both Management and Supervisory Board members in companies adopting the two-tier model. Missing data (68 directors) are associated with the following situations: a) firms whose financial statements (with all their annexes - in particular, Model 1) were not yet available on line, or whose Model 1 was incomplete (20 directors); b) the remaining 48 directors for whom complete data were missing, probably because they did not receive any remuneration in the reference year (e.g. because they have a “honorary” role - 10 cases - or because they were appointed at the end of the year or because they received the payment after the end of the year). 101 The tables are divided into sections, reporting average and median data, respectively. The distribution is skewed (a small number of directors received very high remunerations, thereby affecting the average value); it is therefore advisable to take into account both average and median values. An example can be useful to clarify this point: consider 3 people (A, B and C) receiving a remuneration equal to, respectively, 30, 50, 1,000,000 €; their median remuneration is 50, while the average one is 360 (i.e. much higher, due to the relevant influence of a single “extreme” value). Median values show that the majority of directors receive a moderate remuneration. On the other hand, median values are not additive and are therefore difficult to employ in further calculations. 82 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 Figure 42 Figure 43 b) Remuneration and directors’ role Data about remuneration and directors’ role are reported in Tab. 34. We use a classification based on both Consob (distinguishing Managing Director, Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Other Directors) and CG Report data (in particular, the classification of directors as executive, non-executive and independent). Tab. 34 is based on the following categories: 83 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 a) MD: 321 directors qualified as Managing Directors in the Consob database; b) Chairmen: 204 Chairmen who are not also MDs102; they are further classified according to their qualification as executive or non-executive (109 and 95 persons, respectively); c) Deputy Chairmen: 182 Deputy Chairmen who are not also MDs; d) Other Executives: 210 directors who are not MD, Chairman or Deputy Chairman, who are qualified as executive in the CG Reports; they are usually officers in the listed company or in its subsidiaries; e) Non-Executive Members of the Executive Committee (59 people)103; f) Other Non-Executives: 768 non-executive directors who are NOT qualified as independent (according to the CG Code definition) in the CG Reports; g) Other Independent: 982 directors who are qualified as independent (according to the CG Code definition) in the CG Reports and have not already been included in any other category104. Figure 44 102 Directors holding a “dual” role (e.g.. Chairman-MD or Deputy Chairman-MD) have been classified as Managing Directors. In companies having a two-tier board, the Chairmen of both bodies (Managing and Supervisory Board) have been included in the category “Chairman”, unless they were also Managing Directors. 103 They are members of Executive Committees different from Chairman, Vice-Chairman, MD and other directors qualified as executive in the CG Reports. They may be, alternatively, non-executive (44 directors) or independent (15 directors). 104 Consequently, this notion of “independent” director is more restrictive than the CG Code definition. The following situations are excluded: a) independent Chairman or Deputy Chairman (21 and 25 persons, respectively); b) independent member of the Executive Committee (15 directors). 84 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 The distribution is heavily skewed: a majority of directors belongs to categories receiving, on average, a moderate remuneration (lower than 80.000 €); the last two categories (“simple” non-executives and independent) include 1,750 people, i.e. 64% of the aggregate. Figure 45 Remuneration varies according to the role: Managing Directors got the highest average compensation (791.000 €). Chairmen received on average 513.000 €. Other executive directors received on average 404.000 €. Non-executive members of the executive committees received, on average, 88.000 €; for the first time this amount is similar to the average remuneration of “simple” non-executive directors (74.000 €). Independent directors got the lowest remuneration (55.000 €). It is interesting to follow the variation of remuneration over time (see Tab. 34): the dynamics is quite different according to the directors’ role. The compensation of MDs and “other executives” (including managers of the company and/or people with executive roles in subsidiaries) increased in 2011 (+18% for MD, +19% for “other executives”); this is due to an increase of bonuses (+46% for MD, +22% for “other executives”). The remuneration of all other directors has decreased in 2011 (Chairman: -8%, Deputy Chairman: -15%, other non-executive and independent: -10%); independent directors’ remuneration is substantially stable (between 50 and 55.000 €, on average). 85 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 Figure 46 The variations are basically the same also for median data, implying that the observed variation is not connected to a few particularly high data. c) The structure of directors’ remuneration Our data show that a different role does not imply only a different compensation, but a wholly different standard remuneration package, which tends to remain stable over time. Chairmen and Managing Directors (MDs) receive, on average, a similar remuneration for office held (approx. between 375 and 380.000 € in 2011); however, MDs receive substantially higher bonuses and other remuneration. “Other executives’” remuneration for office held is quite low (approximately 20% of their global remuneration); actually, most of their compensation comes from salary (as managers of the company) and/or other remuneration received in subsidiaries (where they have frequently other offices or delegated powers). Non-executive directors rarely receive bonuses; even when this happens, they are usually of limited amount; however, they frequently receive significant “other remuneration” (on average, 51% of their total compensation, usually associated to positions held in subsidiaries). Independent directors, on the opposite, do rarely receive any additional compensation (on average, such additional compensation amounts to 8% of the aggregate). 86 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 Tab. 35 reports data by industry (financial vs. non-financial); the data are similar to those for general remuneration. Average remuneration is usually higher in financial firms; this is due, at least in part, to their larger size. In financial companies “other remuneration” is higher (110 versus 72.000 € elsewhere) and paid to all categories, except independent directors. d) The remuneration of Independent Directors Tab. 36 shows the remuneration of the 982 “other independent” directors, by market index (a proxy for company size). The remuneration of independent directors follows the general pattern, and increases with firm size: average remuneration is above 100.000 € in FTSE Mib, and is around 50 and 31.000 € in Mid Cap and Small Cap firms, respectively. This is possibly associated with both greater complexity and also a more detailed and formal implementation of the CG Code requiring a specific role for independent directors. Our data do not allow an in-depth analysis aimed to discover what are the true costs of effectively complying with CG Code recommendations. However, they show that in a number of companies independent directors get constantly a very low remuneration (in Small Cap the median remuneration of an independent director is 23.000 €). This raises some concerns about the effectiveness of compliance with some Code recommendations and also about the adequacy, in some cases, of the remuneration in relation to the role and the responsibility of Independent Directors. Figure 47 87 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 We compared the data in Tab. 36 together with the composition of the committees recommended by the CG Code to trace proportionality between remuneration and engagement of the independent directors (actually, recommended by art. 7.C.2 of the Code). Tab. 37 reports the average (median) remuneration of “other independent” directors, by committee membership (ICC or RC). As already observed in previous years, not all independent directors are members of a committee; committee membership is stable over time: in 2011, 247 directors (more than 1/4 of the “Other independent” category) do not participate in any committee. On the other hand, 305 directors are members of both the Internal Control and the Remuneration Committee in the same company. This result is driven by company size and industry (see Tab. 38): independent directors who do not participate to any committee are more frequent in large (they are 31% the total independent in FTSE Mib, 23% of Mid Cap and 21% in Small Cap firms) and financial companies (43% versus 21% of the total in non-financial firms). Directors who are members of both committees are more frequent in small companies (43% of the aggregate in Small Cap, 26% in Mid Cap, 16% in FTSE Mib firms). Independent directors who do not participate in any committee receive on average 57.000 €, ICC members get an additional 15% (65.000 €); RC members an additional 3% (55.000 €). However, directors who are members of both committees receive a remuneration 19% lower (46.000 €): this apparently paradoxical result is driven by the smaller size of companies appointing the same directors to both committees. Data classified by market index show that membership in the ICC only actually implies a significant additional remuneration; this increase, albeit of variable amount, may be found in almost all firm size categories (30% in FTSE Mib, 14% in Mid Cap, 13% in Small Cap companies) Membership in the RC (alone) rarely implies an additional remuneration (and, where it happens, its amount is lower); this may be connected to the fact that such committee usually requires a lower additional effort and does not imply a high number of meetings per year. 88 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 Figure 48 We finally compared remuneration of “other independent” directors and of directors “at risk” (see Tab. 17), to see if such situations are characterized by a meaningful remuneration increase (this would be a possible evidence of a “loss of the independence requirements”). The results are shown in Tab. 39: as in previous years, the few independent directors “at risk” actually received a higher remuneration (on average, 83.000 € versus 50.000 € for directors who are not in “particular situations”). After a decrease in 2010, the difference has increased again. Figure 49 89 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 3.9. Internal Control Committee We analyzed the following points: a) Establishment of an Internal Control Committee An Internal Control Committee has been established in a wide majority of listed firms (90% of the aggregate: see Tab. 40)105, especially in large companies (the committee has been established in all FTSE Mib, in 98% of Mid Cap and in 87% of Small Cap firms). Figure 50 105 25 companies disclose the reason why an ICC has not been established: they may range from the attribution of its functions to the BoD as a whole, to their small size, or, finally, to their ownership structure. Sometimes, the Committee is simply defined as “not necessary”. One company set up a committee on March 2011. Art. 4.C.2. of the Code 2011 says that the institution of one or more committees should be avoided reserving the functions of the committee to the whole BoD at the following conditions: (i) independent directors represent almost the half of the BoD, rounding down if the BoD has an odd number; (ii) adequate space in the boards’ meetings to the exercise of the committee functions recommended by the Code; (iii) for the control and risk committee, the issuer is not controlled by any other listed company (or under control and coordination of any other listed company). 10 companies, out of the 27 without an ICC, didn’t comply to the Code; from the other 17, only 2 of them have a sufficient number of independent directors as required by condition (i). Moreover, 23 out of the 27 companies without an ICC are not controlled (30%) from other listed companies; 3 out of the other 4 complied to the Code; therefore, only one company (one out of the 2 that are compliant with the condition (i)), do not comply to the condition (iii) (we didn’t analyzed this point also on the subject of direction and coordination). 90 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 b) Duties of the Internal Control Committee Companies frequently disclose information about the effective duties of the ICC (see Tab. 40); this happens in 81% of cases (was 76% in 2010, 69% in 2009, 67% in 2008, 57% in 2007, 59% in 2006). Transparency on this point is higher in larger companies (information are available in 89% of FTSE Mib companies). Figure 51 c) Composition of the Internal Control Committee The composition of the Internal Control Committee is always available (see Tab. 40). The number of its members ranges from 2 (in 8 cases, as in 2010106; down from 15 in 2009) to 9 components in a large bank (followed by another bank with 6 members – actually, the same having an 8-member RC; and by 9 more companies – 5 of which are banks - with a 5-member ICC). In a majority of cases (195, i.e. 83% of the aggregate), the Committee is made up of 3 members. The Code recommends that: a) the Committee be made up only of non-executive directors; b) a majority of which are independent; c) at least one member have financial expertise. If the issuer is controlled by another listed company, the ICC should be made up exclusively of independent directors. 106 Four of these 8 companies are the same firms that have a Remuneration Committee composed of 2 directors. 91 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 The first recommendation (ICC made up only of non-executive directors) is followed by 229 companies out of 235 (97% of the aggregate). 5 companies have one executive director, 1 company (who chose not to adopt the CG Code) has 3 executives in the Committee. Figure 52 The second recommendation (majority of independent directors) is followed by 218 companies (93% of the aggregate); in 5 cases, independent directors account for half of the seats in the Committee; in the remaining 12 cases, they are a minority107. In 110 cases (47% of the aggregate; up from 43% in 2010) the Committee is made up exclusively of independent directors108. We tried to check compliance with the recommendation concerning firms controlled by other listed companies (ICC composed only of independent directors), even though any test in this field is problematic, because different definitions of "control" are used in different contexts. We tested the existence of control by a single shareholder (i.e. we ignored situations of joint control by multiple shareholders, e.g. through a shareholders' agreement) and we made use of two alternative ownership thresholds (50% and 30%, respectively). 107 In 8 cases Independent Directors are a minority of the ICC. In the last 4 cases, no independent director has been appointed to the ICC (however, 2 of such companies chose not to adopt the Code, while a third “will comply” in the near future). 108 A BoD made up of only independent directors is recommended by art. 7.P.4. of the Code 2011. Alternatively it is recommended that the BoD is made up of only non-executive directors, a majority of whom are independent: in this case the Chairman of the Committee should be independent. 92 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 We found 26 (33) firms controlled by other listed companies at the 50% (30%) level; 22 (29) of them have established an ICC; in all companies controlled at the 50% control threshold (and in 26 companies controlled at the 30% threshold) the ICC is composed exclusively of independent directors. We can underline the following results: a. At the 50% control threshold, the recommendation of the Code seems to be followed by 100% of the companies that have established an ICC (up from 91% in 2010, 86% in 2009, 72% in 2008), and by 85% of the firms controlled by other listed companies (up from 74% in 2010, 65% in 2009, 57% in 2008). b. At the 30% control level, the recommendation of the Code seems to be followed by 90% of the companies that have established an ICC (up from 84% in 2010, 83% in 2009 and 79% in 2008), and by 79% of the firms controlled by other listed companies (up from 74% in 2010, 73% in 2009 and 63% in 2008). Figure 53 The third recommendation (at least one director has financial expertise) is followed by 195 companies (i.e. 83% of the aggregate, up from 79% in 2010, 66% in 2009, 61% in 2008; see Tab. 40). 93 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 Figure 54 d) Frequency of the meetings of the Internal Control Committee Information about the frequency of committee meetings is available almost always (see Tab. 40); the average number of meetings (6.3) is higher than in 2010 (5.9); it varies with firm size (11.8 meetings in FTSE Mib, 6.4 in Mid Cap and 4.8 in Small Cap companies) and industry (14 meetings/year in the financial sector, versus 5.4 in other industries). The number of meetings is extremely variable at the company level, ranging from 0 (in an IPO case, followed by 5 companies with only one meeting) to 53 meetings per year (the top three positions in the ranking are held by three large banks). Figure 55 94 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 e) Attendance to meetings of the Internal Control Committee Transparency about individual attendance to committee meetings is improving (see Tab. 32 and Tab. 40). This is true also for ICC members. Their total number is 735; information about their attendance is available in 675 cases109, i.e. 92% of the aggregate (up from 91% in 2010, 81% in 2009, 83% in 2008, 72% in 2007, 64% in 2006): 76% of them (511 directors) were always present; 97% of the members attended at least half of the meetings; low values are quite rare110. 3.10. Other issues concerning the Internal Control System We analyzed the following points: a) Internal Audit function CG Reports often show (in 80% of the cases, and almost always in financial companies; 76% in 2010, 73% in 2009) that issuers set up an internal audit function, as recommended by Code (see Tab. 41). The internal audit function is frequently unified at the group level (sometimes through the constitution of a specific company in charge of supplying audit services to all companies in the group); such organizational arrangements are useful, since they may guarantee coordination and standardization of control at the group level; they also allow to comply with the Code recommendation about the independence of people in charge of internal controls from managers of operating divisions. Some issuers have outsourced this activity (as allowed by the CG code). b) Compliance with the Legislative Decree no. 231/2001 i. Information about the adoption of an organizational model and the establishment of a Supervisory Body The transparency in CG Reports about the institution of an organizational and management model, suitable to prevent the offences considered by Legislative Decree no. 231/2001 (see Tab. 41) is growing over time (this information is supplied on a fully voluntary basis): today 247 companies provide such information, i.e. 94% of the aggregate (up from 91% in 2010, 83% in 2009, 73% in 2008). In particular, 246 companies (244 in 2010, 218 in 2009, 185 in 2008) provide information on the establishment and/or on the tasks assigned to the Supervisory Body (the so-called 109 Only for 3 directors no information was available, because they are actually members of committees that never met during the year. 110 Attendance is equal to 0 in 4 cases (in 4 companies). 95 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 Organismo di Vigilanza or OdV) pursuant to Legislative Decree no. 231/2001 (information is provided more often by larger companies). Figure 56 ii. Composition of the Supervisory Body In 97% of the cases, companies have established a collegiate OdV: only 16 small companies have an individual OdV (typically, the Head of internal audit)111. The composition of collegiate OdVs may vary. We analyze the composition of the OdVs in terms of the relative weight of different categories of possible members. The composition of a collegiate OdVs has been disclosed by 214 companies (up from 206 in 2010, 181 in 2009, 148 in 2008, 97 in 2007). The number of components ranges from 2 to 7112; there is a clear preference for a three-members body (in 170 cases, i.e. 79% of the aggregate). The members of the OdV identified in CG Reports are 698 (up from 650 in 2010, 607 in 2009): 194, typically independent, directors (down from 208 in 2010), 46 statutory auditors (up from 44 in 2010), 226 managers (up from 210 in 2010, 181 in 2009; they often include the Head of internal audit - the Head of compliance in banks - and the Head of legal affairs; other choices - e.g. the risk manager or the Head of human 111 In three cases, an external consultant had been appointed as Supervisory Body. The Supervisory Body is composed by 2 members in 16 companies (as well as in 2010). 2 companies (banks) have a 7-member SB, another bank and one publicly-owned company have a 6-member SB. 112 96 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 resources - are less frequent) and, finally, 216 “outsiders” (up from 186 in 2010, 181 in 2009; typically lawyers or certified accountants; sometimes retired magistrates). The number of companies turning to managers, on one hand, and to external consultants, on the other hand, has increased remarkably over time: probably the recourse to managers grants better continuity of action, while recourse to outsiders is perceived to increase the autonomy of the OdV in the light of some recent academic views (and court pronunciations); on the other hand, this may increase compliance costs and lead to suboptimal coordination of control systems113. Figure 57 iii. Frequency of meetings Information about the OdV activities are rarely disclosed in CG Reports, since such disclosure is not recommended by the Code. For example, the frequency of meetings 113 On this subject see art. 6 of the Legislative Decree no. 231/2001, which says: “The BoSA, the SB and the MCC (Management Control Committee) coordinate the control system of the companies and exercise the functions of the OdV, referring to para.1, let. b).” The comment to art. 7 of the 2011 edition of the CG Code recommends issuers to evaluate the opportunity of giving to the BoSA the functions of the OdV ex L.D. no. 231/2001. 97 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 can be found in 81 cases (i.e. 36% of the companies having a collective OdV; up from 32% in 2010, 28% in 2009). The average number of meetings is 5.7 per year, with relevant differences due to industry and size114. 114 The number of meetings ranges between 0 (in 2 cases; in 4 more cases – 2 of them belonging to the same group – the OdV was convened only once) and a maximum of 14 per year (in a bank and in a publicly-owned company, followed by a company with 13 meetings and 2 more firms with 12 meetings per year). 98 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 SECOND PART: PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS 4. Procedures for handling related party (RPT) transactions This year the in-depth analysis is devoted to the Procedures for Handling Related Party Transactions (RPT). The focus on this topic is triggered by the approval of Consob Regulation no. 17221 issued on March 12th, 2010 (hereinafter “RPT Regulation”), requiring the issuers to adopt special “RPT procedures” by October 1st, 2010 (such a term was subsequently postponed to December 1st, 2010 by Resolution no.17389 dated June 23rd, 2010), to be applied since January 1st, 2011. Given the complexity of such a Regulation and the heated debate that arose out during the consultation period, it seemed interesting to analyze how the issuers applied actually such regulatory provisions. In-depth studies have been carried out under a double profile: a) firstly, RPT Procedures as approved by the issuers115 were investigated in order to identify any relationships between the structure of the procedures (or the adoption of particular technical solutions) and the features of the companies (e.g. in terms of size, business sector or shareholding structure). In this respect, additional information was drawn “crossing” data stemming from the procedures with these drawn from the Corporate Governance Reports.116. b) at the same time, an investigation on major RPT executed during the first period after the Regulation became effective was carried out; for such a purpose Reports published in the first semester of 2011 pursuant to article 5, para. 1, of the Regulation were collected and reviewed. 115 The Regulation applies not only to the “Italian companies with shares listed on Italian or other EU countries’ regulated markets” but also to Italian companies “whose shares are significantly spread among the public”. However, the investigation was focused only on issuers with listed shares, for symmetry with the rest of analyses. 116 In this respect, it is necessary to make a preliminary general remark: time references in the documents are not perfectly in line between themselves (basically, November 2010 for the procedures; between the end of December 2010 and the end of March 2011 for the Reports). The combination between different documents extends the reading of the issuers’ choices in matter of RPT but it involves, sometimes, the risk for certain limited inconsistencies that, however, shall be highlighted from time to time. Data on belonging to stock exchange indexes, sectors and shareholding structures refer to March 2011. 99 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 4.1. RPT procedures The procedures that were adopted by the issuers pursuant to RPT Regulation were searched for (on Network Information System of Borsa Italiana – NIS – and on companies web-sites). The total collected procedures are 262117. The relevant approval dates fall between October 19th, 2010 and December 1st, 2010 (in 10 cases)118. The date of effectiveness is generally January 1st, 2011: 10 issuers chose to advance such a date, generally on December 1st, 2010119. The investigation on RPT procedures related to the following issues: a) The approval of the procedures Art. 4, para. 3 of RPT Regulation sets forth that the resolutions on the procedures and the relevant amendments are to be approved after the positive opinion to be issued by a committee exclusively made up of independent directors. If at least three independent directors are not in charge, such resolution shall be approved after the positive opinion of the existing independent directors or, if they do not exist, after that a non binding opinion of an independent expert has been issued. Procedures shall frequently mention (generally in an initial paragraph) information on the procedure applied for their approval; notably, they often contain the statement that the procedure was unanimously approved.120. 117 Total numbers being equal, the sample composition is slightly different from the one used for the Reports investigation: as for 4 companies RPT procedure was available while the Report was not (one of these companies is the one already mentioned since it was excluded from the Reports investigation sample; on the contrary, as for 4 companies (all being “smaller” ones pursuant to art. 3, paragraph 1, letter f) of the Regulation) finding the RPT procedure in a timely manner was impossible (in three cases it resulted available on the website only after the conclusion of the data collection phase; in the latter case the procedure is still impossible to find). 118 Three procedures have a later approval date: two cases relate to adaptation of already existing procedures, that were not possible to find and the latter case relate to a suspended company, where the procedure was approved before the new admission to listing. Save for the cases indicated above, any subsequent updating of the procedures whose search would have required a real time monitoring of the issuers’ web sites was not taken into consideration. 119 This happens in 9 cases, the majority of which referring to the same group or to persons “close” to such a group; in the latter case, it was just one day earlier, on 31/12/2010. 120 By resolution no. DEM/10094530 dated 15-11-2010, Consob expressly required to divulge the outcome of the vote. The communication channel to be used is, however, a press release (if any). Notably, according to the above mentioned communication, companies are required to publish a press release within December 3rd, 2010, should the procedure have been approved notwithstanding an adverse vote or the abstention from voting of one or more directors (even not independent ones) or of an adverse non binding opinion issued by the independent expert. Such a press release shall contain the following information: a) a mention of the adverse vote or of the abstention from voting of one or more directors or of the existence of an adverse opinion issued by an independent director; b) identification of the director or 100 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 In 159 cases, equal to 59% of the aggregate, procedures do mention who issued the “prior positive opinion”. Such kind of information is supplied more often by major companies (68% in FTSE Mib and among Mid cap, 56% among Small cap, even lower in the remaining segments) and in the financial sector (71%, against 58% in the other sectors). In addition, collecting information among companies adhering to Corporate Governance Code is definitely easier (60%; 38% among non-adhering companies) and among companies having at least 3 independent directors (67%; it is 44% among companies having less than 3 independent directors). The most frequently used solution (64% of the cases: see Tab. 42) consists in entrusting a special committee, to be incorporated for such a special purpose, with the issuance of the opinion, followed behind by the recourse to Internal Control Committee (28% of the cases). Only in 12 non-financial companies (nearly all Small cap) the opinion was given by existing independent directors.121. No procedure reports the use of independent experts. The recourse to ICC depends upon the size of the firm (35% in the FTSE Mib, 27% among the Mid Cap, 24% among the Small Cap) and upon the shareholding structure (it is more frequent – 38% – among publicly-owned companies). directors in question and clarification of their role; c) indication whether the contrary vote or the abstention took place when adopting the opinion or at the approval of the procedure by the board of directors; d) indication of the underlying reasons of the contrary vote or the abstention or the contrary opinion issued by the independent expert. Information concerning abstentions is very rare, and generally no grounds are provided for. 121 As already mentioned, combining data procedures with the Reports extends the reading although it causes sometimes a limited risk of inconsistencies: this happened in Tab. 42, where a company “having at least three independent directors” at the report date (when it had exactly three independent directors) requested the previous opinion of “existing independent directors”, who at the date of approval of the Procedures were only 2. 101 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 Figure 58 The choice of the person charged with the issuance of the opinion is significantly affected by the way in which issuers have implemented recommendations set out by the Corporate Governance Code: first of all, no company non adhering to the Code or having less than three independent directors122 has entrusted the ICC with such task; secondly, the use of ICC has been much more frequent (61% of the aggregate) in companies having an ICC exclusively made up of independent directors123. The recourse to existing independent directors instead is more frequent for companies that do not adhere to the Code (20%, against 7% among the adhering ones), for those that do not have (as at the Report date) 3 independent directors in the board and for those that do not have an ICC made up of independent directors solely. Indeed, the presence of minority directors in the ICC does appear wholly insignificant for the issuers’ choices. 122 Here is a second little inconsistency caused by the different reference dates. A company “having at least three independent” at the report date requested the previous opinion to its own ICC; such a committee was formerly made up of 3 independent directors. 123 Only one company having non independent directors in its ICC (that was made up of 4 non executive directors, three of which being also independent) pursued such a way and it specified that the opinion was issued by the committee “in its component made up of independent directors only”. It is worth noting that it should not be correct qualifying such a case as “existing independent directors” since the total number of independent directors is 4 (of which 3 only are part of ICC). 102 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 b) The implementation scope of the procedures RPT Regulation defined a minimal implementation scope for procedures adopted by the issuers. Art. 4, section 2 contemplates that managing bodies of the issuers should assess whether to apply, wholly or partly, the procedures “also to entities others than related parties”, taking into account, notably, and the shareholdings’ structure, significant contractual or by-laws obligations, if any, as well as, the applicable sector rules. Despite schedule 1 to RPT Regulation has adopted a wide related party definition (the one pursuant to “IAS 24 in force as at the date of the Regulation approval”), 35 issuers (13% of the aggregate) decided to extend further on a voluntary basis the number of entities subject to the RPT procedure, wholly or partially (see. Tab. 43). The kinds of entities “affected” may actually vary greatly. A partial list includes: a) A name list of the shareholders, significant shareholders (owning more than 2%) and/or members of shareholders’ agreements, persons empowered to appoint at least one director; b) Individuals having relationships for a number of reasons, with the issuer and/or controlling and controlled companies (managers with strategic tasks, statutory auditors, – also deputy auditors, members of Supervisory Body pursuant to Law 231/2001, external auditors); c) Certain types of relatives of the individuals listed under a) and/or b); d) Entities related to the issuers according to the “new” definition under IAS 24, e) Controlled companies pursuant to the widest definition of article 2359 of the civil code and/or (notably in the financial sector) special purpose entities in which the issuer or companies of its group hold interests. The voluntary extension is more frequent among larger companies (it can be traced in 32% of FTSE Mib companies, in 13% of the Mid cap, in 9% of the Small cap), in the financial sector (36%, against 11% in the other sectors) and among publiclyowned (25%) or widely held (33%) companies. The decision seems due not only to the structure of corporate governance but also to complex issues arising out on a case by case basis: in this respect the figure for widely held companies is significant, since they deem to have conflicts of interests issues also in respect of cases not falling within control or notable influence definitions. 103 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 Figure 59 In 30 cases (11% of the aggregate) companies attach to the procedure a list of related parties (and/or equivalent persons), also in order to sort out any doubt in advance. This practice is followed more often by larger(21% in the FTSE Mib) and publicly-owned companies (25%) that, as it is known,124 have specific issues for the related party definition. Very frequently procedures expressly do identify the person in charge for the “recognition” that the opposite party of the transaction is a related party (this occurs 60% of the cases) and/or that it is a “non exempt” transaction (it means that it does not fall within an exemption provision, even on a voluntary basis, set out by the Regulation: it happens in 42% of the cases). In both the cases the provision is more frequent in large companies; the specific assignment of the duty to identify related parties is more frequent in the financial sector and among widely held companies. In 131 cases (50% of the aggregate) procedures identify the person in charge of monitoring continuously the consistency of the related party list. Less frequently (11% 124 Please see the answer provided by Consob to the remarks expressed by Assonime and Confindustria, pages 4 and 5 of the Document concerning the outcome of the consultation on the Communication and entitled “Guidelines for the implementation of the regulation on related party transactions adopted by resolution no. 17221 dated March 12th 2010, as subsequently amended”. 104 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 of the cases) the procedures identify a person in charge of monitoring on a continuous basis the consistency of the different “thresholds” that actually determine the way each single transaction is approved (exiguous transactions, minor and major transactions). The reason for such a low frequency is traceable most likely accounted for the sever system of thresholds set out by the regulation. It should also be noted that companies that have not inserted express provisions in the procedures may, however, have done so in internal more detailed organization rules allowing a major implementation flexibility, not being subject to the though regulation for approval/amendment. c) Transactions carried out by controlled companies Art. 1 of the Regulation sets out the principles that should be complied by companies in order to ensure transparency and substantive and procedural appropriateness of the RPT carried out directly or “through” controlled companies. Art. 4, para. 1, lett. d) contemplates that the procedures “identify rules for the cases where the company examines or approves controlled companies' transactions, either Italian or foreign”. As a result, from one side, the procedural rules applicable to the approval of the RPT carried out “through” controlled companies may be different from those applicable to the RPT carried out directly by the issuer; from the other side, an RPT is carried out “through” controlled companies only where the issuer actually “examines or approves” such transaction125. Generally, RPT procedures set out rules aimed at being applicable in cases contemplated by the Regulation, without setting forth additional requirements: thus procedures apply if and when the RPT carried out by controlled companies are actually subject to preliminary review by the board of directors or a manager from the controlling company126; the procedures do not apply instead where the transaction is carried out 125 Consob has provided further clarifications in Communication No. DEM/10078683 of 24-09-2010: a) the review or approval of the transactions shall not be carried out necessarily pursuant to internal regulations or take place by way of resolution: it will suffice that a manager of the controlling company preliminarily reviews or approves the transactions pursuant to the relevant powers; b) the “review” is not merely a collection of information but an assessment of the transaction that may lead to an intervention (e.g. an opinion, even not binding) such as to affect the approval procedure of the transaction by the controlled company. 126 For example, a company contemplates that: “in case of transactions with controlled companies that are subject to a preliminary review of the Board of Directors or of a Manager with Strategic Duties” of the issuer “that is completed with the approval of the transaction or with the issue of an opinion, although not binding, addressed to the corporate bodies of the controlled companies empowered to resolve or decide upon the transaction (the "Preliminary Review"), the procedure applies (…) provided the following. The Preliminary Review must be provided by the Board of Directors of the issuer where the transaction is (…) 105 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 autonomously by the controlled company. By the way, this is consistent with the Regulation philosophy that does not impose “to controlling companies the exercise of an influence (…) additional to the one they already exert in respect of the controlled companies. Indeed, it only affects the decisional procedures relating to the transactions carried out by the controlled companies, adopted by the companies regardless of the Regulation implementation” (as specified by Consob in the Notice No. DEM/10078683 of 24-09-2010). However, 45 companies (17% of the aggregate: see Tab.. 44) have adopted rules – in respect of RPT carried out by the controlled companies – more extensive than the Regulation scope; this occurs more frequently with larger companies (29% in the FTSE Mib) and with the financial sector (39% of the cases). In 34 cases a preliminary assessment by the board of directors of the issuer is contemplated upon the occurrence of certain situations; conditions that require a preliminary assessment are generally defined in advance, with no subsequent discretion. In 11 cases the preliminary assessment is always contemplated where the general quantitative criteria are exceeded (for larger and smaller size transactions, see infra): transactions carried out by controlled companies are thus actually put on the same level as those carried out by the issuer127. Finally, in 13 cases the preliminary assessment by the board of directors of the issuer is always regarded as binding: obviously, this occurs more frequently in financial sector companies (it is contemplated by 64% of the companies that always provided for the major. The Preliminary Review must be made with the prior issue of a grounded opinion (…) by the competent committee (…), provided that: (a) the grounded opinion of the committee:(i) is not binding where the transaction (is) minor, while it is binding for the Board of Directors of the issuer where the transaction (is) of major;( ii) must be submitted to the body empowered to approve the transaction or to issue the opinion”. 127 A company puts on the same level the transactions carried out by controlled companies and those carried out directly: “The Board of Directors and the Delegated Bodies, when carrying out directly or through controlled companies transactions with related parties, shall comply with these procedures”. Transactions carried out through controlled companies are then defined as (all) “the RPT carried out by the controlled companies of the Company”. Another company contemplates that (all) “the transactions carried out by the controlled companies with related parties of the holding company, exceeding the significance thresholds set out in Schedule (…) are subject to the prior non binding approval of the holding company and to the subsequent resolution of the Board of Directors of the controlled company(…). For such a purpose, the controlled companies must ensure a review of the proposal consistent with the provisions of this Regulation (…) The application for the prior approval of the holding company is submitted to the managing director (…) and then to the board (…) and to the committee for related party transactions through the relative secretarial offices. The application is treated differently depending whether the transaction may be regarded as minor, major or strategic”. It should be noted, however, as it will be better described later on, that in such latter case the “exiguity amount” adopted threshold is the highest of the whole Stock Exchange. 106 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 preliminary assessment; 18% of the aggregate in the other sectors), often subject to specific provisions as to the liability of the holding company. d) The approval of “minor” transactions Art. 7, para. 1, letter a) of the Regulation requires that, prior to the approval of a minor RPT, a committee made up of non executive and non related directors, the majority of which to be independent, issues a – non binding – opinion on the company’s interest to carry out the transaction as well as on the suitability and material correctness of the relevant conditions. The issuance of the opinion is assigned to a special committee in 253 companies (equal to 97% of the aggregate), including all the FTSE Mib, companies operating in the financial sector and public owned companies. The remaining 9 companies (all having less than three directors) usually entrust with such task the existing independent directors. A Micro cap company, that does not adhere to the Corporate Governance Code and being without the ICC and independent directors (pursuant to the Code requirements; whilst it has one independent director pursuant to the Consolidated Financial Act) charged the board of statutory auditors with such a task. Most of the issuers entrusted a special committee with the preparation of an opinion: It is possible to notice such a choice in 148 cases, equal to 56% of the aggregate. As for 30% of the cases such a duty is assigned to ICC, as for 10% of the cases to ICC or to the Remuneration Committee, depending on the kind of transactions. Availing of the existing independent directors is more frequent among companies that do not adhere to Code (15% against 2% recorded among non adhering companies), among those without 3 independent directors inside the board (as at the Report date) and among those that do not have an ICC made up of independent directors only. Certain companies defined on a voluntary basis additional duties in respect of the ones set forth by the Regulation. The Board of Directors has been charged with the power to resolve upon minor transactions in 6 cases, as a general rule or in respect of minor RPT transactions whose value exceeds a certain amount (above € 2.5 million). In case of a negative opinion issued by the committee, three companies provided for the 107 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 transfer of the power resolution to the Board of Directors (sometimes with 2/3 qualified majority of non related directors)128. Moreover, it was possible to identify two issuers (both being Small cap companies, one of which benefiting from the easier terms – as described below – available for “recently listed” companies) setting out that a committee is allowed to resolve “by written procedure”, through a simple round of documents, without holding official meetings. The committee requested to issue an opinion on RPT is allowed to be assisted, at the company’s expenses, by one or more independent expert at its own choice. Art. 7, para. 2 of the Regulation allows the companies to define – with exclusive reference to minor transactions129 – a maximum amount for the expenses relating to each single transaction, to be calculated in total or in proportion to the transactions value, due for services carried out by independent experts. Such an option was exploited by 106 companies (see Tab. 45), equal to 40% of the total number of companies; the remaining companies did not deem opportune to identify a maximum figure. Smaller companies use to set a budget (this occurs in 47% of the cases among the Small cap, in 37% of the Mid cap and in the 32% of the FTSE Mib companies; furthermore, it was set by 48% of the smaller companies and/or “recently listed” companies allowed to avail of easier terms for major RPT transactions and in the financial sector (46% of the aggregate; in the remaining sector such a figure is 40%). Setting a budget is less frequent among the publicly-owned companies (20% of the aggregate). 128 A company expressly provided for the Managing Director’s faculty to require the adoption of the major RPT procedures even in case of minor transactions. Moreover, it seems possible to use such a chance notwithstanding the absence of a special provision in this respect. 129 Three companies provide for a double limit, depending on the fact that RPT in question is of higher or less significance (two companies define it by value, respectively amounting to € 30 and 10.000 and € 10 and 3.000, the remaining company define it by percentage, respectively amounting to 3 or 4% of the transaction value). That part of such clauses relating to major RPT seems in breach of the Regulation and for such a reason it should not be applied. 108 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 Figure 60 Figure 61 In 85 cases (out of 106) the budget is identified as a total (or through statements such as “the lower amount of €…. and … % of the transaction value”). Sometimes the budget is set by the Board of Directors year by year or with reference to a single transaction or, again, depending on the transaction value it is set a thumb index. When the value is defined as a percentage it is often included in the range between 1 and 5% 109 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 of the transaction value (in a big bank the minimum value is 0.05%; alternatively to the amount of € 15.000 the highest value is 20%). Where it is not determined by value, the average budget is € 53.000; it significantly changes depending on the company size (€ 178.000 among FTSE Mib, € 72.000 among Mid cap, € 26.000 among Small cap); as a matter of fact, it is possible to envisage different amounts also in consideration of the sector (€ 82.000 in the financial sector, € 50.000 in the remaining sectors) and of the shareholding structure (€ 53.000 among family controlled companies, € 111.000 among publicly-owned companies). As per single company, the budget varies greatly, from a minimum of € 2.000 and to a maximum of € 1 million. 25 companies (almost all Small or Micro cap) set a budget lower or equal to € 10.000; 15 companies (almost all FTSE Mib or Mid cap) set a budget exceeding or equal to € 100.000. e) The approval of “major” transactions Art. 8, para. 1 of RPT Regulation130 requires that the procedures for the approval of “major” RPT transactions shall set forth at least the following: a) the exclusive competence of the Board of Directors to resolve upon; b) that a committee, even incorporated for such a purpose, exclusively made up of non related independent directors (or one or more members delegated by it) take part to the preliminary investigation phase; c) that the Board of Directors approves the transaction upon a grounded positive opinion issued by the committee on the company’s interest in carrying out such a transaction and on its suitability and the material correctness of the relevant terms, or, alternatively, that other ways for approving the transaction are used provided that a conclusive role is ensured to the majority of unrelated independent directors. Choices in matter of assignment of the opinion relating to most significant RPT transactions are very similar to the ones described in relation to minor transactions. A committee is quite generally entrusted with the preparation of the binding opinion. This circumstance occurs in 253 companies (97% of the aggregate), including all companies belonging to FTSE Mib, the financial sector companies as well as the publicly-owned companies. The remaining 9 companies (all having less than three 130 Similar principles do apply to companies adopting the dualistic system pursuant to art.9 and Attachment 2 of the Regulation. 110 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 independent directors) usually entrust existent independent directors. A Micro cap, that do not adhere to the Corporate Governance Code, without ICC and independent directors (pursuant to the Code; while there is one independent director pursuant to the Consolidated Financial Act), entrusted the Board of Statutory Auditors with such duty. Most of the issuers entrusted a special committee with the preparation of the opinion: It is possible to notice such a choice in 148 cases, equal to 56% of the aggregate. As for 30% of the cases such a duty is assigned to ICC, as for 10% of the cases to ICC or to the Remuneration Committee, depending on the kind of transaction.131. Figure 62 As well as it happens for the opinion on the procedure, the way the issuers applied the Corporate Governance Code materially affects even the choice of the entity to entrust with the opinion on major RPT: firstly, no companies that do not adhere to Code entrusted the ICC or the Remuneration Committee with such a task; secondly, availing of one of the committees set forth by the Corporate Governance Code is more frequent among companies having at least 3 independent directors (as at the Report date) and among those that do have an ICC made up of independent directors only132. The 131 It is worth noting that, where such a duty is assigned to a special committee, this can correspond to ICC or RC for single transactions. Generally, the procedure does not provide for such a correspondence and such a circumstance makes the difference. 132 The circumstance that companies having less than 3 independent directors and/or with an ICC that is not made up only by independent directors entrusted such a committee exactly for the preparation of the opinion on major RPT may puzzle somebody. What seems to highlight a breach of the Regulation (the committee to be made up of independent directors only) has a double explanation: firstly, certain companies charged ICC with such a duty as for its only component made up of independent directors; however, mostly, companies in question are quite always “smaller companies” and/or “recently listed” ones 111 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 presence of directors representing minority shareholders in ICC is utterly irrelevant on the issuers’ choices. On the contrary, the involvement of the existing independent directors is more frequent among companies that do not adhere to the Code (20%, against 7% among the adhering companies), among companies that do not have (at the Report date) 3 independent directors in the Board and among the ones that do not have an ICC made up of independent directors only. 15 companies (all non financial ones) provide for special rules concerning Board of Directors’ resolutions, in addition to committee’s binding opinion. 7 companies adopt a stricter solution, since the approval of major RPT requires, in addition to the ordinary majority of the Board of Directors, also the majority of “the independent directors” or of the “independent and not related directors”; as for two companies, the double majority is required if one or more members of the committee “result related to the transaction”. As for the remaining 9 companies the double majority differently characterize since the board resolution “with the favourable vote of the majority of independent directors” is set forth as an alternative to the positive opinion issued by the committee (such a wording, literally, allows to submit the transaction directly to the approval of the Board of Directors, without the official opinion of the Committee – notwithstanding its involvement) or it permits the overcoming of the negative opinion, if issued by the committee, where the relevant board resolution is supported by the majority of the non related independent directors133. Even in this case such a choice does not seem affected by special features of the companies’ governance: notably, the composition of both the Board of Directors and ICC seems to be without significance, in terms of presence (and number) of both the independent and the minority directors Notwithstanding Appendix 3 of RPT Regulation adopted a wide definition of “major” transactions (basically, these are the in ones in which at least one index of significance that are allowed to avail of the simplified regime set forth by article 10, para. 1 of the Regulation (see below in this text). 133 Some companies expressly stated the following: “Any negative opinion issued by the Committee inside the Board is to be deemed overcome and void when the transaction (either less or major) is approved by the Board of Directors with a double majority: absolute majority of the directors attending the meeting and absolute majority of the independent directors in charge that have no relationships in respect of the specific transaction. The information document on major transaction so approved shall explain the grounds underlying the overcoming of the initial negative opinion”. 112 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 – of the three ones proposed by Consob134 – is higher than 5% threshold), 27 issuers (10% of the aggregate) spontaneously decided to set lower percentage thresholds (see Tab. 45). This circumstance occurs more frequently among companies belonging to the financial sector (in 18% of the cases against 9% in the remaining sectors). 6 companies provided for thresholds alike the following; “the minor between the figure of … and the percentage set forth by the Regulation”. The values vary significantly case by case (from € 100,000 to € 140,000,000). Any reduction relates always to the threshold calculated on the counter-value (that is on the average cut by half, and equal to 2.4%); in 16 cases relates to the other two indicators too. Such a reduction is slightly lower in FTSE Mib companies (where the average threshold adopted is – in the cases that were examined – equal to 3% for the opposite value and to 3.5% for the other indicators). f) Simplified regime for “smaller” and/or “recently listed” companies Art. 10, para. 1 of the Regulation permits listed “smaller” companies, recently listed companies (and companies having spread out shares) applying the procedure set forth by art. 7 to major transactions, by way of derogation to art. 8 (such a special procedure having the same less strict requirements as minor transactions). Listed companies that are controlled, even if indirectly, by another listed company cannot avail of such a derogation. By matching the data obtained reading the procedures with other information, it was possible to reconstruct the choices made by the companies entitled to avail of such simplifications. For the purposes of such survey, the following was taken into account: a) “smaller” companies include the ones that declared to be smaller ones in the RPT procedure and, however, the ones in line with the benchmarks set out by Consob as at the date of the last approved financial statement before adopting such a procedure; they totally are 141 issuers; b) “recently listed companies” are the 8 issuers whose shares started to be negotiated after 1/1/2008 (source: Borsa Italiana web site), save for three companies whose listing took place as a consequence of extraordinary transactions; 134 Indexes are: a) ratio of the value of the transaction to (consolidated) net worth of the company; b) ratio of total assets of the transaction entity to total assets of the company; c) ratio of total liabilities of the purchased entity to total assets of the company. 113 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 c) companies “controlled” by another company are the ones that had been already considered for the survey carried out on the composition of the ICC; they are totally 34 issuers. Firstly it is worth noting that 128 companies are entitled to have access to the simplified regime (plus the 4 companies whose RPT procedure is not available, for a total of 132), that is half of the stock exchange list. Typically the relevant reason is the small company size rather than the recent listing. The “smaller” and/or “recently listed” companies entrust the ICC with the issuance of opinions on major transactions with a frequency exceeding the average (38%, against 23% of the other companies). As a matter of fact it seems that the (modest) relaxation in matter of requirements composition granted by Consob effectively made easier the adoption of simple and unequivocal solutions. Figure 63 114 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 g) Framework resolutions Art. 12 of the Regulation allows the adoption, to the extent it is set forth by RPT procedures, of framework resolutions relating to a number of homogeneous transactions with determined categories of related parties. The faculty to adopt framework resolutions was introduced in the procedures of 183 companies, equal to 70% of the aggregate (see Tab. 44): this option is obviously more frequent in bigger companies (it is 82% in FTSE Mib, 72% among Mid cap, 69% among Small cap), being generally more complex. The adoption of framework resolutions is more frequent among companies having a more structured governance (indeed, it is more frequent among companies which adopted the Corporate Governance Code, as well as among those having at least three independent directors and those having an ICC made up exclusively of independent directors). Figure 64 h) The exclusions A significant number of issuers used the options offered by article 13 of the Regulation, consisting in the exclusion of certain kind of transactions from the procedures 115 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 application. Indeed, the occurrence of such a circumstance was to be expected, in light of either the wideness of the number of transactions potentially subject to the procedures and the complexity and articulated structure of the same. The use of the exclusion option that, as a matter of fact, is very common, is total or almost total among the larger companies. On the contrary, how the Corporate Governance Code is implemented does not seem to affect significantly issuers’ resolutions. Stating that choices are significantly affected by the complex application requirements eventually produced by the omitted exclusion is deemed correct. i. “Exiguous amount” transactions Art. 13, para. 2, of RPT Regulation contemplates the possibility that procedures provide for identification criteria of “exiguous amount” transactions “to be exempted” from the regulation provisions: this issue is particularly delicate, because these transactions that are defined “exiguous” wholly get away from the regulation application (this means that neither the approval procedures nor the market information regime apply). In addition in order to guarantee that the identification of the exiguous transactions thresholds does not cause the getting round of the purposes of the relevant provision, Consob recommended in the above mentioned Communication no. DEM/10078683 dated 2409-2010, that the companies define, where possible, the exiguous transactions thresholds in absolute amounts rather than referring to percentage figures. Moreover, Consob highlighted that the procedures could identify different exiguous transactions thresholds depending on the kind of transaction or the category of the involved related party. The recommendation to determine the exiguous transactions thresholds in absolute figures was implemented by 242 companies, equal to 92% of the aggregate (see Tab. 46): among these, 164 companies chose a unique threshold, whilst the remaining 78 defined distinct thresholds depending on the kind of transaction or category of the related party in question. The adoption of distinct thresholds is significantly affected by the company size (it was adopted by 58% of FTSE Mib companies, by 34% of the Mid cap and only by 23% of the Small cap), the relevant sector (it is more frequent in the financial sector, where it is adopted by 54% of the cases, against 30% in the non financial companies) and the shareholding structure (it is made by 57% of the publicly-owned companies and this means that its frequency is double – 29% – of the one that can be found in the family controlled companies). The adoption of a unique threshold is much more frequent among companies that do not adhere to the Corporate Governance Code or having 116 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 less structured corporate governance (whose number of independent directors is less than 3, ICC is made up not only by independent directors). Figure 65 Where a unique threshold was defined, its average value is € 229.000. Where distinct thresholds were defined, the minimum average threshold is €156.000 whilst the average maximum one is € 2.1 million. The variance of the threshold is quite short among companies that adopted a unique threshold (the average threshold ranges between € 142.000 as for Small cap and € 546.000 as for FTSE Mib companies). As far as companies that chose distinct thresholds are concerned, the variance is almost absent in the minimum thresholds (the average threshold ranges between € 126.000 in the Small cap and € 205.000 in the FTSE Mib companies); on the contrary, it is very strong in the maximum thresholds (it is € 744.000 in the average among Small cap, although it increases up to € 1.7 million among Mid cap and € 5.6 million among the FTSE Mib companies). The maximum values are clearly higher in the financial sector. 117 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 Figure 66 As far as each single company is concerned, obviously, the exiguous transactions thresholds are very changeable. Among the cases that are worth mentioning by reason of a specially low threshold level there are two banks providing for respectively € 2.000 for company gifts and € 25.000 for any other kind of transaction, and € 15.000 for transactions entered into with officers charged with strategic responsibilities and € 30.000 for any other transaction; also other smaller issuers adopt a very low fixed threshold (€ 5, 10 or 15.000). Right at the opposite side there are certain companies, often being big sized companies, that identify fixed thresholds equal to € 1 or 2 million or fluctuating thresholds ranging between a rather low minimum amount (approximately € 200 or 300.000, often applied to transactions entered into with officers entrusted with strategic responsibilities or, however, with related persons being natural persons) and a surely higher maximum amount in relation to other kind of transactions that are often described widely135. 135 Two companies provide for a maximum amount equal to € 20 million (respectively in relation to transactions with controlled companies and transactions in which the opposite party is a company); seven companies provide for a € 10,000,000 threshold (respectively in relation to transactions in which the opposite party is a company; in respect of mergers and de-mergers in which the total assets, on the basis of the latest financial statement approved, do not exceed such an amount; with reference to transactions with legal entities whose annual aggregate turnover exceeds € 200 million); in relation to all the transactions that are others than those entered into with officers provided entrusted with strategic responsibilities; with reference to capital increase with option right exclusion in favour of company and/or under 100% controlled companies). A company sets out a maximum threshold equal to € 6 million, three € 5 million, one € 3 million. 118 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 A small number of companies (17, equal to 6% of the aggregate) chose to regard as significant certain kinds of RPT (even when they are exiguous) and therefore to remove them from the exclusion: these are very different kinds of transactions, that certain companies define in broad terms (transactions that may involve risks for investors or that may affect significantly the company’s assets; no ordinary transactions or transactions that do not comply with market standard conditions; transactions pertaining to the Board of Directors pursuant to the law or the by-laws) or in detail (transfer of trademarks or other immaterial fixed assets real estate transactions, advisory agreements, purchase and sale of control stakes, other extraordinary transactions; in one case even the assignment of remuneration to officers entrusted with strategic responsibilities). ii. Remuneration plans based on financial instruments It should be noted that 234 companies (89% of the aggregate) excluded, wholly or partially, from the application of the procedures the remuneration plans based on financial instruments approved by the shareholders’ meeting pursuant to article 114-bis of the Consolidated Financial Act and the relevant transactions carried out pursuant to such plans (letter a: see Tab. 47). As a matter of fact, the plans are already subject to regulations ruling the procedures concerning the approval and market information. Figure 67 119 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 iii. Remuneration for directors and officers entrusted with strategic responsibilities Furthermore, 228 companies (87% of the aggregate) excluded from the procedures application resolutions on remuneration for directors charged with special duties and for officers entrusted with strategic responsibilities (at the conditions set forth by the Regulation, including the adoption of a remuneration policy136) (letter b). iv. Standard or market conditions transactions 256 companies equal to 98% of the total (letter c) (see Tab. 47) opted for the exclusion of ordinary transactions entered into at condition equivalent to the market or standard ones. More than half of the companies which availed themselves of such an option clearly explained that such an exclusion is suitable for whatever size of transaction, also even when the “ordinary” transaction exceeds the thresholds that qualify it as “major”. In 58% of the cases the exemption relates to the publication of the information document requested for major transactions pursuant to art. 5, para. 1-7 of RPT Regulation. v. Urgent transactions The faculty to exclude the “urgent transactions” (not included in the shareholders’ meeting competence) as granted by article 13, para. 16, of the Regulation shows a different trend137. Such an exclusion, requiring a special by-laws amendment, is 136 The adoption of a remuneration policy shall become mandatory by virtue of the expected issuance by Consob of the application rules of art. 123-ter CFA. Such a provision sets forth that: “At least twenty one days before the shareholders’ meeting (…) the companies whose shares are listed shall publish a report on the remuneration (…) to be divided into the two sections set forth by paragraphs 3 and 4 and it shall be approved by the board of directors (…) The first section (…) shall illustrate: a) the company’s policy on remuneration of the board of directors’ members, of the general directors and of the officers with strategic responsibilities with reference at least to the following financial year; b) the procedures used for the adoption and the implementation of such a policy”. The requirements that continue to be non mandatory in order to avail of the exemption are the followings: a) the involvement in the policy definition of a committee whose composition is in line with the Corporate Governance Code recommendations (non executive directors only, the majority of which being independent) and b) the consistency with the assigned remuneration policy. It is worth outlining that any procedure expressly assign to a special entity the duty to check the consistency of the remunerations with the policy. This likely means that such a checking duty is included in the functions (as well as in the responsibilities) of the person who assign effectively the remunerations (Board of Directors or Managing Director, depending on the cases), that is subject to the periodic evaluation of the ICC (according to art.7.C.5 of the Corporate Governance Code, as amended in 2010) and, in any case, to the Board of Statutory Auditors supervision. 137 The provision sets forth that: “If the transaction does not pertain to the competence of the shareholders’ meeting and any shareholders’ meeting authorization is requested, where expressly allowed by the bylaws, in case of urgency (…) RPT are to be executed by way of derogation to articles 7 and 8 and to 120 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 provided for by 140 companies (53% of the aggregate): it is more frequent in the non financial sectors (56%; it is 32% in the financial sector) (see Tab. 47). vi. Intra-group transactions and the “significant interests” A further exclusion option is set forth by article 14, para. 2 of the Regulation with reference to transactions “with or between controlled companies, even jointly”, as well as for transactions with associated companies (hereinafter, “Intra-group transactions”). In order to effectively avail of such a faculty it is necessary that “no significant interests (…) of other related parties of the company exist in the controlled or associated companies that are opposite parties of the transactions. Interests arising out from the mere sharing of one or more directors or of officers entrusted with strategic responsibilities are not deemed significant interests”. The option to exclude, wholly or partially, the intra-group transactions from the application procedures was used by 246 companies, equal to 94% of the aggregate (see Tab. 47), including all the FTSE Mib companies and the Mid cap. Figure 68 Attachment 2, provided that: a) if the transaction to be entered into is included into the functions of the managing director or the executive committee, the chairman (…) must be informed promptly before carrying out the transaction; b) subsequently such transactions are submitted to a non binding resolution of the immediate following ordinary shareholders’ meeting, notwithstanding their effectiveness; c) the calling body prepares a report adequately explaining the reasons for urgency. The controlling body reports to the shareholders’ meeting its evaluation in matter of the existence or not of the urgency reasons; d) the report and the evaluations indicated under letter c) are made available to the public at least 21 days before the date fixed for the shareholders’ meeting (…); e) by the day following the shareholders’ meeting the companies make available to the public (…) the information on the vote outcome, with special reference to the number of votes totally expressed by non related shareholders”. It is worth outlining that, due to the non binding nature of the resolution, here the whitewash mechanism is not mandatory (see below). 121 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 The exclusion of intra-group transactions is almost always total, with the only limit given by the absence of “interests regarded as significant”. In 19 cases (more frequent in the financial sector) a partial exclusion is set forth138. The most frequent case records are as follows: a) The exclusion is limited to transactions whose amount is under certain thresholds; b) The exclusion is limited to transactions with totally controlled (directly or indirectly) or quite totally controlled companies (e.g. 95%), or with controlled companies in the capital of which any other related party of the issuer holds a stake exceeding a certain percentage; c) It is outlined that the exclusion applies to “ordinary” or “market conditions” transactions only; d) Certain categories of “significant agreements” that are specifically listed do not fall within the exclusion. The procedures set forth in several cases (in 196 cases, equal to 75% of the aggregate: see Tab. 48) explicit guidelines on how to identify “significant interests” whose presence does not allow the exclusion. The most frequent method for such an identification (174 cases, equal to 66% of the aggregate) is the direct provision of examples (in positive or in negative), that are sometimes referred to actual situations of the company: this seems to be efficient whenever it is possible to identify clearly “at risk” situations, at least theoretically139. The provision of examples is issued more frequently in bigger companies (79% in FTSE Mib, 73% among Mid cap, 61% among Small cap) and in non financial sectors (68%, against 54% in the financial sector). It is extremely uncommon that the procedure contains a reference to the definition set forth by the Regulation (this happens in 4 cases only). 138 Sometimes the partial exemption is provided for under terms that are similar among several companies of the same group. 139 This means that in such cases certain kind of interests that could potentially involve conflict risks have been identified. This does not entail that such interests are effectively existing today. 122 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 Figure 69 The provision of examples is definitely more frequent among companies which set forth the total exemption of intra-group transactions, save for, indeed, the presence of “significant interests” (here it is present in 74% of the cases against 20% among other companies). It is clear that such a provision is actually aimed at checking in advance – to the extent that it is possible – any uncertain cases and at rendering easier the procedures application. The examples mainly refer to the shareholders composition (80% of the cases, mostly among companies adopting the total exemption, save in case of significant interests) and/or the sharing with the same of directors or officers entrusted with strategic responsibilities (79% of the cases); in such latter case, the shared director’s/officer’s interests often become material if a significant part of his/her remuneration depend on the economic trend or on the market value of the counterparty’s shares. On the contrary, the provision of other kinds of significant (or non significant) interests varies in the opposite direction of the companies size (13% among FTSE Mib, 23% among Mid cap, 41% among Small cap). As a matter of fact, the kinds of “other” interests are very different. A list, that is partial however, includes the following categories: a) Presumption of interests significance, where the other related party has significant credits towards the company in which it holds stakes or granted loans or guarantees in its favour (not proportional to the stakes held in it) or, 123 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 more generally speaking, it has significant “assets relationships” with the company in which it holds a stake140; b) Presumption (or respectively exclusion) of interests significance when their potential value exceeds (or respectively does not exceed) predetermined amounts (that sometimes are defined on the basis of the exiguity thresholds or of the “major” transactions thresholds); c) Exclusion of interests significance by reason of the mere entering into a “tax consolidated” that is agreed at symmetrical and/or at market conditions; d) Presumption of interests significance in presence of undertakings of the controlled companies set forth by agreements or by laws with the other related party; e) Lists of significant RPT or reference to definitions that were approved in subsequent Board of Directors’ resolutions. i) The adoption of “equivalent measures” Articles 7 and 8 of RPT Regulation contemplates that the approval of procedures of both less and major RPT must set out “equivalent measures” aimed at protecting the substantial fairness of the transaction, should the company not be provided with a sufficient number of independent directors. It is possible to find a description of such measures in 222 companies, equal to 85% of the aggregate (see Tab. 49). Such measures are normally identified in a single solution, as a set of rules to be applied, should the number of independent directors be insufficient or, if this is the case, if the transaction is either minor or major. It is worth outlining that in this regard the lack of identification of protection measures is not necessarily due to a poor quality of the procedures. Simply, the complexity of the procedures as well as the size and the composition of corporate bodies may render extremely unlikely (that is to say almost impossible) the occurrence of the event contemplated by the Regulation. This is the case of certain larger companies in the Stock Exchange list, that are characterized by a split shareholders composition, a large board of directors and a number of directors exceeding the average. The most frequent solution (that was adopted in 63% of the cases; the percentage increases up to 83% in the FTSE Mib and to 91% among publicly-owned companies) is 140 A company widens the definition of significant interests including the mere sharing of directors. 124 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 represented by the introduction of rules governing the replacement of independent related directors inside the committee that is charged with the preparation of a grounded binding opinion. As far as the remaining 37% of the cases is concerned, the opinion is to be issued by other “alternate” entities (a single independent non related “remaining” director, the board of statutory auditors, other). In 19 cases (9% of the aggregate) it is possible to avail of an independent expert or of an entity outside the company where other solutions are not possible. Figure 70 Rules governing the replacement of “related” independent directors are definitely more common among companies that adopted a more complex corporate governance structure (notably, among such companies that officially adhered to the Corporate Governance Code, among these companies having at least three independent directors as well as among these companies having an ICC made up of independent directors only). Furthermore, such rules are more frequent among companies having minority directors in the ICC (this data is 81%, against 58% among companies that do not have representatives of the minorities in the ICC): it is worth outlining this data, since this is the only case in which the presence of minority directors seems to have a certain impact on decisions in matter of RPT procedures. In 159 cases (72% of the aggregate; the percentage increases up to 83% among FTSE Mib companies) companies provided for “cascade” rules, setting forth how to proceed actually, should the second best solution not be practicable. 125 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 j) “Whitewashing” Art. 8, para. 2 of RPT Regulation allows the companies to set forth as follows: “save for the by-laws provisions pursuant to the law, the Board of Directors may approve major transactions despite the adverse opinion of independent directors, provided that the execution of the relevant transaction has been approved (…) by the shareholders’ meeting, that shall resolve in compliance with article 11, para. 3”, this meaning by way of the so-called whitewashing system. Basically, it is requested that the majority of non related shareholders does not express an adverse vote on the relevant transaction, in addition to the ordinary majority. The recourse to shareholders’ meeting (through the whitewashing) in order to overtake the “adverse opinion” of the independent directors is possible, subject to the prior insertion in the by-laws, in two different cases: a) For transactions not falling within the shareholders’ meeting competence (that is transactions falling within the competence of the Board of Directors or delegated bodies), when the Board of Directors requests the shareholders’ meeting approval to proceed, despite the adverse opinion expressed by the independent directors; b) For transactions falling within the shareholders’ meeting competence, when the Board of Directors submits the transaction to the shareholders’ meeting though (otherwise such a transaction would result barred, given the adverse opinion of the independent directors). The possibility to have recourse to the shareholders’ meeting in order to overtake the “adverse opinion” of the committee has been set forth respectively by 95 companies (36% of the aggregate), as far as transactions not falling within the shareholders’ meeting competence are concerned, and by 155 companies (59% of the aggregate), as far as transactions falling within the shareholders’ meeting competence are concerned (see Tab. 50)141. As it is clarified by art. 11, para. 3 of the Regulation, the procedures may set forth that the execution of a transaction is jeopardized only if non related shareholders attending the meeting represent at least a certain portion of the voting share capital, however not exceeding 10%. Such a restriction for the whitewash mechanism is provided for in 70 141 The 4 dualistic companies are to be added to the 95 companies that set forth the first possibility. The 4 dualistic companies set forth the analogous possibilities offered by Attachment 2 of the Regulation, para. 2.1, letter d) and 2.2, letter d); among 155 companies that set forth the second possibility there also 5 dualistic companies (out of 7). 126 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 cases (74% of the aggregate), quite always with minimum portion of share capital amounting to 10%; in 7 cases only, a lower threshold is set forth (5 issuers provided for a 5% threshold; 2 cooperatives set forth lower thresholds, in one case equal to 3%, in the other equal to 2.5%). A third case of recourse to the shareholders’ meeting (through whitewash) is based on art. 11, para. 5 of the Regulation, according to which companies may set forth that RPT falling within the shareholders’ meeting competence shall be executed – in case of urgency due to crisis situations –“by way of derogation to the provisions set forth by para. 1, 2 and 3” of the same article (namely without the previous involvement of and without independent directors’ opinion) subject to the condition that the shareholders’ meeting resolves according to the whitewash mechanism. Such a possibility was provided for by 76 companies (29% of the aggregate). Choices made in respect of the recourse to the shareholders’ meeting (through whitewash) seem to be due to the decision to contemplate, in the by-laws, the exclusion pursuant to art. 13, para. 6 of the Regulation (according to such a provision the execution of “urgent” RPT transactions not falling within the shareholders’ meeting competence may, upon certain conditions, be removed from the application of rules set forth by the procedures). Among companies which chose such exclusion, the possibility to have recourse to the shareholders’ meeting increases up to 46% (it is 25% for the remaining companies) as far as transactions not falling within shareholders’ meetings are concerned; up to 70% (it is 47% for the remaining companies) as far as transactions falling within shareholders’ meetings are concerned; and it is 49% (it is 7% for the remaining companies) as for transactions in case of urgency due to crisis situations. 31 companies provided for the possibility to avail of all the four derogations; 43 companies did not set forth derogations. 4.2. Information documents published in the first half-year period of 2011 Upon completion of this survey, a review on major RPTs completed in the first half-year period after the Regulation became effective was carried out. For such purpose, Information Documents that were published in the first half-year period of 2011 pursuant to article 5, para. 1 of the Regulation were collected (from NIS and sometimes from the corporate web sites). 127 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 Totally 36 transactions were detected (and for which 35 Documents are available142). On the other hand, it sometimes happens that issuers notify, for transparency reasons, also the execution of “minor” transactions or, even, “excluded” from the application scope of the procedures (given that they are “ordinary” ones and entered into at “market or standard conditions”). Generally it happens, however, by means of press releases, that is without the publication of a report. Firstly, in respect of “major” RPT transactions” that were identified with reference to the first half-year period of 2011 very few ones were carried out by large sized companies: 7 transactions were carried out by Mid cap companies, none was carried out by FTSE Mib companies. As it was expected, the average amount of the RPT carried out by Mid cap companies (€ 1,658 million) is significantly higher than this of transactions carried out by other companies. 16 transactions were carried out by companies that do qualify as “smaller companies” pursuant to the Regulation: in such circumstances, the average amount is obviously lower (€ 23.000). Transactions can be classified into very different categories. An attempt was made in order to classify them into the following macro-categories: a) Financing transactions, that were carried out nearly always by listed banks, often controlled by another listed bank (intra-group financings, issuance of bonds restricted to banks belonging to the same group, securitization transactions executed with other banks of the group, amendment of pre-existing real estate lease agreements); b) Share capital increases with exclusion of the pre-emption right, even in the context of refinancing pursuant to articles 2446-2447 of the Civil Code, shareholders’ financings that in consideration of the relevant amount and terms are deemed to be, undoubtedly, mere advance payments for future share capital increases; almost always, these are transactions carried out for the benefit of companies under financial crisis (sometimes in the context of real restructuring plans, even pursuant to art. 67 of the bankruptcy law or through conversion of debts into capital) or where, however, the lack of support by the controlling shareholder could affect relationships with lenders; 142 As for three cases, after the consultation of both the “press releases” and “notices” sections of the NIS, it was possible to identify RPT whose information document was not available in the “documents” section. In two cases, one of which related to a company “suspended and admitted again” to listing, it was possible to find the report in the relevant company’s website. In the latter case, relating to a company that was under a deep financial crisis, the press release stated that “The company shall promptly prepare the information document”; notwithstanding the above, it is still unobtainable. According to such a press release, it comes out that the transaction in question consists in the incorporation of a newco and in the subsequent lease of a branch of the going concern to the newco itself. Therefore, this seems to be an intra-group transaction entered into with a totally controlling company (that the company in question did not excluded from the application of the procedures, whilst almost all issuers did it). 128 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 c) Transactions concerning material assets: by way of example purchase/transfer of stakes from/to significant shareholders (as far as banks are concerned including purchase/sale of intra-group counters), merger/demerger transactions, incorporation or winding up of joint ventures; in a certain case, there is a significant emptying out of the assets (the lease of the whole business activity of the main subsidiary) in favour of a company controlled by 50% and managed by the Managing Directors of the subsidiary143; d) Business transactions with significant shareholders; two cases deal with transactions entered into with companies controlled by local authorities, that approved the review or the renewal of public services supply agreement to one or more of the local authorities holding stakes; the latter case deal with the assignment of plants construction contracts to opposite parties that are controlled by the company holding a stake of 50% of the main direct shareholder. In the first instance, the limited frequency of RPT concerning business matters (only 3) is impressive. On the contrary, it had to be envisaged the absence of “transactions” concerning the assignment of remuneration to directors and officers entrusted with strategic responsibilities that shall hardly trigger the threshold that would render them “major transactions”. “Major” RPT are almost exclusively financial (loans, capital increases) or investments/disinvestments (purchase/sale of assets). It is worth highlighting that, incidentally, – alongside certain very significant transactions – there are many others without issues that could justify the attention reserved to them in the application of RPT Regulation: several share capital increases (and similar transactions) of companies in crisis, intra-group transactions with totally owned companies, certain joint venture transactions and a large part of the intra-group financings. The reasons behind the existence of a relationship (that could be more than one for each transaction) are various. In 15 cases the counterparty is directly the controlling shareholder, in 5 cases a shareholder having a significant influence, in 10 cases a company with which certain directors are shared, in 11 cases a company that is subject to the common control or the significant influence of the controlling shareholder; in one case a connected company; in one case the reason is that the shareholder being the counterparty in the transactions is the main supplier of the company. 143 Sometimes transactions that seem to be out from the application scope of the procedure are reported. A company points out the transfer of an intra-group stake (excluded) to an almost totally controlling company (as at 99,95%); another company points out the winding up of a joint venture with a third party (in respect of which no “significant interests” are highlighted). 129 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 In 6 cases the transaction falls within the shareholders’ meeting competence, in 5 it is stated that the relevant transaction is entered at market conditions, in 2 publicly-owned companies negotiations were carried out prior to the entry into force of the Regulation. In one case the document describes a transaction that was carried out by a company controlled by the issuer with an entity that is, on its own turn, the shareholder having “a material and significant influence” of the company controlling the issuer: therefore, it seems that the transaction may be deemed as carried out “through” a controlled company144. In 27 cases the (positive) opinion of the Committee or of the existing independent directors is attached to the Document. In 6 cases (3 of which in the banking sector) the independent experts' opinion to support decisions has been requested. The reviewed Documents have an average number of pages equal to 11.2 (without attachments) and 17.5 (with the attachments, if any, on average consisting of 7,8 pages, basically made up by the committees’ and experts’ opinions to support the transaction). The opinions are often concise, basically resulting in an acknowledgment of the information received and of the procedural rules, after having reviewed the same the opinion is favourable, generally without further qualifications. There are however exceptions, notably in case of transactions contemplating the purchase, the sale or contribution of assets, typically combined with fairness opinions that can be rather voluminous.145 Certain opinions, however, do have a rich information content. A report contains an opinion of the committee (wholly made up of independent directors, despite the issuer may be regarded as a "small size" issuer) especially detailed: a) description of the transaction - complex indeed; b) requirements and reasons for the committee's intervention; c) description of the review proceedings, with particular reference to the information requested to the management; d) review and assessment of the company's interest to entering into the transaction as well as of the convenience and the 144 Peculiar is the procedure followed in such a case, one of the two cases occurred during the entry into force of the RPT procedure (the other is a joint-venture break up). The transaction has been carried out by the management with the support of the in-house counsel. The negotiation (for the supply of heating services) took place before the entry into force of the procedure, that is in 2010. The RPT Committee has been informed and activated "starting from the expression of interest" by the opposite party (March 2011). The Committee collected all information regarding the transaction and met on March 16, 2011, approving unanimously the transaction with a grounded opinion, concisely set out in the Information Document, The transaction has been approved by the Board of Directors on March 22, 2011 with the unanimous vote of the 19 directors attending, 6 of them being independent. The agreement has been signed on June 9, 2011. 145 The extreme case is a transaction contemplating the merger of a controlled company, where the Information Document contains a 143 pages attachment. 130 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 substantial appropriateness of the relevant terms; e) conclusions setting out both the convenience of the transaction and the risks it implies for the issuer. 131 Corporate Governance in Italy 3/2012 ATTACHMENTS 132 Listed Companies on 31/3/2011 (index composition at the same date) Company name Sector Index FTSE SMALL CAP NON-FINANCIAL A.S. Roma FTSE MIB NON-FINANCIAL A2A FTSE MID CAP NON-FINANCIAL Acea FTSE SMALL CAP NON-FINANCIAL Acegas-Aps FTSE SMALL CAP NON-FINANCIAL Acotel Group FTSE SMALL CAP NON-FINANCIAL Acque Potabili FTSE SMALL CAP NON-FINANCIAL Acsm-Agam FTSE SMALL CAP NON-FINANCIAL Aedes FTSE SMALL CAP NON-FINANCIAL Aeffe FTSE MICRO CAP NON-FINANCIAL Aeroporto di Firenze FTSE SMALL CAP NON-FINANCIAL Aicon FTSE SMALL CAP NON-FINANCIAL Alerion Cleanpower FTSE MID CAP NON-FINANCIAL Amplifon FTSE MIB NON-FINANCIAL Ansaldo STS FTSE SMALL CAP NON-FINANCIAL Antichi Pellettieri FTSE SMALL CAP NON-FINANCIAL Apulia Prontoprestito FTSE SMALL CAP NON-FINANCIAL Arena FTSE SMALL CAP NON-FINANCIAL Arkimedica FTSE MID CAP NON-FINANCIAL Arnoldo Mondadori Editore FTSE MID CAP NON-FINANCIAL Ascopiave FTSE MID CAP NON-FINANCIAL Astaldi FTSE MIB NON-FINANCIAL Atlantia FTSE MIB NON-FINANCIAL Autogrill FTSE MID CAP NON-FINANCIAL Autostrada TO-MI FTSE SMALL CAP NON-FINANCIAL Autostrade Meridionali FTSE MIB NON-FINANCIAL Azimut Holding FTSE SMALL CAP NON-FINANCIAL B&C Speakers FTSE MID CAP FINANCIAL Banca Carige FTSE SMALL CAP FINANCIAL Banca Finnat FTSE MID CAP NON-FINANCIAL Banca Generali FTSE SMALL CAP NON-FINANCIAL Banca Ifis FTSE MID CAP NON-FINANCIAL Banca Intermobiliare FTSE MIB FINANCIAL Banca Monte Dei Paschi Di Siena FTSE MID CAP FINANCIAL Banca Popolare di Sondrio FTSE MID CAP FINANCIAL Banca Popolare Emilia Romagna FTSE SMALL CAP FINANCIAL Banca Popolare Etruria e Lazio FTSE MIB FINANCIAL Banca Popolare Milano FTSE MICRO CAP FINANCIAL Banca Popolare Spoleto Company name Banca Profilo Banco di Desio e Brianza Banco di Sardegna Banco Popolare Basicnet Bastogi Bee Team Beghelli Benetton Group Beni Stabili Best Union Company Bialetti Industrie Biancamano Biesse Boero Bartolomeo Bolzoni Bonifiche Ferraresi Borgosesia Brembo Brioschi Bulgari Buongiorno Buzzi Unicem Cad It Cairo Communication Caleffi Caltagirone Caltagirone Editore Camfin Campari Cape Listed Investment Vehicle In Equity Carraro Cattolica Assicurazioni Cdc Point Cembre Cementir Holding Centrale del Latte di Torino Chl Index FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MIB FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MID CAP FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MICRO CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MICRO CAP FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MIB FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MIB FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP OTHERS FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MIB FTSE MICRO CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP Sector NON-FINANCIAL FINANCIAL FINANCIAL FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL Company name Ciccolella CIR Class Editori Cobra Automotive Technologies Cofide Cogeme Set Compagnia Immobiliare Azionaria Conafi Prestito' Credito Artigiano Credito Bergamasco Credito Emiliano Credito Valtellinese Crespi Csp International Dada Damiani Danieli & C Datalogic De' Longhi DeA Capital Diasorin Digital Bros Dmail Group Dmt-Digital Multimedia Technologies Edison Eems El.En. Elica Emak Enel Enel Green Power Enervit Engineering Eni Erg Erg Renew Ergycapital Esprinet Index OTHERS FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MID CAP OTHERS FTSE MID CAP FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MID CAP FTSE MID CAP FTSE MID CAP FTSE MID CAP FTSE MIB FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MIB FTSE MIB FTSE MICRO CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MIB FTSE MID CAP OTHERS FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MID CAP Sector NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL FINANCIAL FINANCIAL FINANCIAL FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL Company name Eurotech Exor Exprivia Falck Renewables Fiat Fidia Fiera Milano Finarte Casa D'aste Finmeccanica FNM Fondiaria - Sai Fullsix Gabetti Property Solutions Gas Plus Gefran Gemina Generali Assicurazioni Geox Gewiss Greenvision Ambiente Gruppo Ceramiche Ricchetti Gruppo Coin Gruppo Editoriale L'Espresso Gruppo Minerali Maffei Gruppo Mutuionline Hera I Grandi Viaggi Igd Siiq Il Sole 24 Ore IMA Immsi Impregilo Indesit Company Industria e Innovazione Intek Interpump Group Intesa Sanpaolo Investimenti e Sviluppo Index FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MIB FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MIB FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP OTHER FTSE MIB FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MIB FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MID CAP FTSE MIB FTSE MID CAP OTHERS FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MID CAP FTSE MID CAP FTSE MICRO CAP FTSE MICRO CAP FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MIB FTSE MID CAP FTSE MICRO CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MID CAP FTSE MIB FTSE SMALL CAP Sector NON- FINANCIAL NON- FINANCIAL NON- FINANCIAL NON- FINANCIAL NON- FINANCIAL NON- FINANCIAL NON- FINANCIAL NON- FINANCIAL NON- FINANCIAL NON- FINANCIAL FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL Company name Irce Iren Isagro Itway Italcementi Italmobiliare IW Bank Juventus Football Club K.R. Energy Kerself Kinexia Kme Group La Doria Landi Renzo Le Buone Società Lottomatica Luxottica Group Maire Tecnimont Management & Capitali Marcolin Marr Mediacontech Mediaset Mediobanca Mediolanum Meridiana Fly Meridie Mid Industry Capital Milano Assicurazioni Mittel Molmed Mondo He Mondo Tv Monrif Montefibre Monti Ascensori Nice Noemalife Index FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MID CAP FTSE MID CAP OTHERS FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MIB FTSE MIB FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MID CAP FTSE MICRO CAP FTSE MIB FTSE MIB FTSE MIB FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MICRO CAP FTSE MICRO CAP FTSE MID CAP FTSE MICRO CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MID CAP FTSE MICRO CAP Sector NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL FINANCIAL FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL Company name Nova Re Olidata Panariagroup Industrie Ceramiche Parmalat Piaggio & C Pierrel Pininfarina Piquadro Pirelli & C. Poligrafica San Faustino Poligrafici Editoriale Poltrona Frau Pramac Prelios Premafin Finanziaria Hp Premuda Prima Industrie Prysmian Ratti Rcf Group Rcs Mediagroup Rdb Recordati Reno De Medici Reply Retelit Richard Ginori 1735 Risanamento Rosss S.S. Lazio Sabaf Sadi Servizi Industriali Saes Getters Safilo Group Saipem Saras Sat Save Index OTHERS FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MIB FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MIB FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MICRO CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MIB OTHERS FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MID CAP FTSE MIB FTSE MID CAP FTSE MICRO CAP FTSE MID CAP Sector NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL Company name Screen Service Broadcasting Technologies Seat Pagine Gialle Servizi Italia Sias Snai Snam Rete Gas SO.PA.F Socotherm Sogefi Sol Sorin Stefanel Tamburi Investment Partners Tas Telecom Italia Telecom Italia Media Terna Ternienergia Tesmec Tiscali Tod'S Toscana Finanza Trevi Fin Industriale Txt Unicredito Italiano Unione di Banche Italiane Unipol Valsoia Vianini Industria Vianini Lavori Vittoria Assicurazioni Yoox Zignago Vetro Zucchi Index FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MIB FTSE SMALL CAP OTHERS FTSE MID CAP FTSE MICRO CAP FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MICRO CAP OTHERS FTSE MIB FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MIB FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MIB FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MIB FTSE MIB FTSE MID CAP OTHERS FTSE MICRO CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MID CAP FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP Sector NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL FINANCIAL FINANCIAL FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL Companies listed on AIM Italia (not included in the monitoring) Fintel Energia Group First Capital Ikf Methorios Capital Neurosoft Pms PolIgrafici Printing Tbs Group Unione Alberghi Italiani Vita Società Editoriale VrWay Communication Foreign companies (not included in the monitoring) D'Amico International SPhillips Aegon Agea Daimler Ppr Ahold Kon Danone Renault Alcatel-Lucent Deutsche Bank Rwe Allianz Deutsche Telekom Sanofi Axa E.On Sap Banco Santander France Telecom Siemens Basf Gdf Suez Societe Generale Bayer Ing Groep Stmicroelectronics Bb Biotech Italy1 Investment Telefonica Bmw L'Oreal Tenaris Bnp Paribas Lvmh Total Munich Re Unilever Carrefour Cell Therapeutics Neurosoft Vivendi Nokia Corporation Credit Agricole TAB.1: GENERAL INFORMATION INDEX FTSE MIB FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MICRO CAP OTHERS STAR OTHERS FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL TOTAL Year 2011 2010 2009 2008 2011 2010 2009 2008 2011 2010 2009 2008 2011 2010 2009 2008 2011 2010 2009 2007 Number of companies that have (formally) adopted the Corporate Governance Companies that adopt the Companies that adopt the Companies that adopt the two-tier model Code traditional Board model one-tier model # No. % # No. % # No. % # No. % 37 33 89,2% 37 0 0,0% 37 4 10,8% 37 37 100,0% 37 33 89,2% 37 0 0,0% 37 4 10,8% 37 37 100,0% 39 34 87,2% 39 0 0,0% 39 5 12,8% 39 39 100,0% 37 34 91,9% 37 0 0,0% 37 3 8,1% 37 37 100,0% 60 60 100,0% 60 0 0,0% 60 0 0,0% 60 58 96,7% 61 60 98,4% 61 1 1,6% 61 0 0,0% 61 59 96,7% 60 59 98,3% 60 1 1,7% 60 0 0,0% 60 59 98,3% 43 43 100,0% 43 0 0,0% 43 0 0,0% 43 41 95,3% 134 129 96,3% 134 3 2,2% 134 2 1,5% 134 129 96,3% 149 145 97,3% 149 2 1,3% 149 2 1,3% 149 142 95,3% 140 135 96,4% 140 3 2,1% 140 2 1,4% 140 138 98,6% Number of companies disclosing why they did not adopt the Code # No. % 0 0 n.d. 0 0 n.d. Number of companies that explicitly not adopt singol criteria # No. % 37 5 13,5% 37 6 16,2% 39 9 23,1% 2 2 1 1 50,0% 50,0% 60 61 60 5 3 7 8,3% 4,9% 11,7% 5 7 2 2 40,0% 28,6% 134 17 149 18 140 9 12,7% 12,1% 6,4% The CG Report follows the "Experimental Format for CG Report" issued by the Italian Stock Exchange # No. % 37 22 59,5% 37 19 51,4% 39 19 48,7% 37 13 35,1% 60 46 76,7% 61 44 72,1% 60 34 56,7% 43 24 55,8% 134 115 85,8% 149 117 78,5% 140 84 60,0% Number of companies including in their CG Report the tables suggested by the Format # No. % 37 21 56,8% 37 30 81,1% 39 27 69,2% 37 26 70,3% 60 32 53,3% 61 47 77,0% 60 25 41,7% 43 18 41,9% 134 76 56,7% 149 80 53,7% 140 52 37,1% 19 12 22 18 11 21 94,7% 91,7% 95,5% 19 12 22 0 0 0 0,0% 0% 0,0% 19 12 22 1 1 1 5,3% 8,3% 4,5% 19 12 22 16 10 17 84,2% 83,3% 77,3% 3 2 2 1 66,7% 50,0% 19 12 21 2 0 2 10,5% 0,0% 9,5% 19 12 21 18 11 16 94,7% 91,7% 76,2% 19 12 21 13 10 3 68,4% 83,3% 14,3% 12 13 21 12 13 21 100,0% 100,0% 100,0% 12 13 21 0 0 0 0,0% 0,0% 0,0% 12 13 21 0 0 0 0,0% 0,0% 0,0% 12 13 20 9 10 16 75,0% 76,9% 80,0% 3 3 2 0 66,7% 0,0% 12 13 19 2 0 1 16,7% 0,0% 5,3% 12 13 19 8 10 10 66,7% 76,9% 52,6% 12 13 19 6 8 7 50,0% 61,5% 36,8% 2011 2010 2009 2008 2011 2010 2009 2007 72 71 71 79 190 201 211 70 69 69 77 182 193 201 97,2% 97,2% 97,2% 97,5% 95,8% 96,0% 95,3% 72 71 71 79 190 201 211 2 2 2 2 1 1 2 2,8% 2,8% 2,8% 2,5% 0,5% 0,5% 0,9% 72 71 71 79 190 201 211 0 0 0 0 7 7 8 0,0% 0,0% 0,0% 0,0% 3,7% 3,5% 3,8% 72 72 71 71 71 70 79 79 190 177 201 187 210 199 100,0% 100,0% 98,6% 100,0% 93,2% 93,0% 94,8% 0 0 0 0 n.d. n.d. 13 14 7 4 53,8% 28,6% 72 6 71 7 71 3 79 2 190 25 201 20 208 25 8,3% 9,9% 4,2% 2,5% 13,2% 10,0% 12,0% 72 71 71 79 190 201 208 64 60 45 37 145 141 118 88,9% 84,5% 63,4% 46,8% 76,3% 70,1% 56,7% 72 71 71 79 190 201 208 42 44 28 34 106 131 86 58,3% 62,0% 39,4% 43,0% 55,8% 65,2% 41,3% 2011 2010 2009 2008 2011 2010 2009 2008 28 29 33 37 234 243 249 256 25 26 29 34 227 236 241 248 89,3% 89,7% 87,9% 91,9% 97,0% 97,1% 96,8% 96,9% 28 29 33 37 234 243 249 256 0 0 0 0 3 3 4 4 0,0% 0,0% 0,0% 0,0% 1,3% 1,2% 1,6% 1,6% 28 29 33 37 234 243 249 256 3 3 4 3 4 4 4 4 10,7% 10,3% 12,1% 8,1% 1,7% 1,6% 1,6% 1,6% 28 29 32 35 234 243 249 256 25 26 30 34 224 232 239 243 89,3% 89,7% 93,8% 97,1% 95,7% 95,5% 96,0% 94,9% 3 3 1 1 33,3% 33,3% 10 11 6 3 60,0% 27,3% 28 29 31 35 234 243 248 256 5 5 9 6 26 22 19 12 17,9% 17,2% 29,0% 17,1% 11,1% 9,1% 7,7% 4,7% 28 29 31 35 234 243 248 256 18 18 16 18 191 183 147 118 64,3% 62,1% 51,6% 51,4% 81,6% 75,3% 59,3% 46,1% 28 29 31 35 234 243 248 256 12 20 14 16 136 155 100 118 42,9% 69,0% 45,2% 45,7% 58,1% 63,8% 40,3% 46,1% 2011 2010 2009 2008 262 272 282 293 252 262 270 282 96,2% 96,3% 95,7% 96,2% 262 272 282 293 3 3 4 4 1,1% 1,1% 1,4% 1,4% 262 272 282 293 7 7 8 7 2,7% 2,6% 2,8% 2,4% 262 272 281 291 249 258 269 277 95,0% 94,9% 95,7% 95,2% 13 14 7 4 53,8% 28,6% 262 272 279 291 31 27 28 18 11,8% 9,9% 10,0% 6,2% 262 272 279 291 209 201 163 136 79,8% 73,9% 58,4% 46,7% 262 272 279 291 148 175 114 134 56,5% 64,3% 40,9% 46,0% TAB.2: INFORMATION ABOUT The company CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND The company discloses discloses the the existence of OWNERSHIP STRUCTURES restrictions on the existence of securities transfer of securities ex with special control rights ex art. 123-bis, art. 123-bis, para 1, para 1, lett.d) CLF lett.b) CLF INDEX Year # No. % # No. % FTSE MIB FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MICRO CAP OTHERS STAR The company discloses the existence of restrictions on voting rights ex art. 123-bis, para 1, lett.f) CLF # No. % Agreements which The company discloses the Agreements which Agreements which envisage The company existence of agreements with The company discloses envisage envisage indemnities indemnities in the discloses the '"optthe existence of envisage indemnities to directors indemnities in the in the even of event of takeover out" to passivity rule "change of control" in the event of resignation or event of dismissal withouit bid/Change of in the event of hostile clauses ex art. 123-bis, dismissal ex art. 123-bis, para 1, resignation just cause control takeover bid para 1, lett.h) CLF lett.i) CLF # No. % # No. % # No. % # No. % # No. % # No. % 2011 37 13 35,1% 37 6 16,2% 37 12 32,4% 37 30 81,1% 37 17 45,9% 2010 2009 37 12 32,4% 37 6 16,2% 37 13 35,1% 37 28 76% 37 15 40,5% 2011 60 14 23,3% 60 1 1,7% 60 12 20,0% 60 29 48,3% 60 15 25,0% 2010 2009 61 12 19,7% 61 0 0,0% 61 9 14,8% 61 33 54,1% 61 12 19,7% 2011 134 20 14,9% 134 1 0,7% 134 9 6,7% 134 53 39,6% 134 14 10,4% 2010 2009 149 16 10,7% 149 1 0,7% 149 5 3,4% 149 50 34% 149 11 7,4% 2011 19 5 26,3% 19 2 10,5% 19 0 0,0% 19 5 26,3% 19 2 10,5% 2010 2009 12 2 16,7% 12 1 8,3% 12 0 0,0% 12 3 25,0% 12 2 16,7% 2011 12 3 25,0% 12 0 0,0% 12 1 8,3% 12 5 41,7% 12 1 8,3% 2010 2009 13 2 15,4% 13 0 0,0% 13 1 7,7% 13 4 30,8% 13 0 0,0% 2011 72 8 11,1% 72 0 0,0% 72 2 2,8% 72 27 37,5% 72 13 18,1% 2010 71 6 8,5% 71 0 0,0% 71 0 0,0% 71 24 33,8% 71 10 14,1% 2011 190 47 24,7% 190 10 5,3% 190 32 16,8% 190 95 50,0% 190 36 18,9% 2010 201 38 18,9% 201 4,0% 201 28 13,9% 201 94 46,8% 201 30 14,9% 17 13 76,5% 17 17 100,0% 17 6 35,3% 37 1 2,7% 15 8 53,3% 15 15 100,0% 15 5 33,3% 60 0 0,0% 14 10 71,4% 14 13 92,9% 14 5 35,7% 134 0 0,0% 2 1 50,0% 2 2 100,0% 2 0 0,0% 19 0 0,0% 1 0 0,0% 1 1 100,0% 1 0 0,0% 12 0 0,0% 13 9 69,2% 13 13 100,0% 13 7 53,8% 72 0 0,0% 36 23 63,9% 36 35 97,2% 36 9 25,0% 190 1 0,5% 5 3 60,0% 5 5 100,0% 5 0 0,0% 28 0 0,0% 44 29 65,9% 44 43 97,7% 44 16 36,4% 234 1 0,4% 49 32 65,3% 49 48 98,0% 49 16 32,7% 262 1 0,4% 2009 OTHERS FINANCIAL 8 2011 28 13 46,4% 28 0 0,0% 28 14 50,0% 28 9 32,1% 28 5 17,9% 2010 29 13 44,8% 29 0 0,0% 29 11 37,9% 29 12 41,4% 29 4 13,8% 2009 NON-FINANCIAL TOTAL 2011 234 42 17,9% 234 10 4,3% 234 20 8,5% 234 113 48,3% 234 44 18,8% 2010 2009 243 31 12,8% 243 8 3,3% 243 17 7,0% 243 106 43,6% 243 36 14,8% 2011 262 55 21,0% 262 10 3,8% 262 34 13,0% 262 122 46,6% 262 49 18,7% 2010 2009 272 44 16,2% 272 2,9% 272 28 10,3% 272 118 43,4% 272 40 14,7% 8 Companies disclose the existence of a structured process of "succession planning" to Executive Directors TAB.3 PRESENCE AND FEATURES OF A "SUCCESSION PLAN" Companies disclose the existence of a succession plans Companies where exist a succession plan Companies who identified the corporate bodies involved in the plan establishment Companies giving information about mode and timing of the plan INDEX Year # No. % # No. % # No. % # No. % # No. % FTSE MIB 2011 37 26 70,3% 37 3 8,1% 3 2 66,7% 3 1 33,3% 3 1 33,3% FTSE MID CAP 2011 60 2 3,3% 60 0 0,0% 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. FTSE SMALL CAP 2011 134 9 6,7% 134 0 0,0% 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. FTSE MICRO CAP 2011 19 0 0,0% 19 0 0,0% 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. OTHERS 2011 12 1 8,3% 12 0 0,0% 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. STAR 2011 72 7 9,7% 72 0 0,0% 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. OTHES 2011 190 31 16,3% 190 3 1,6% 3 2 66,7% 3 1 33,3% 3 1 33,3% FINANCIAL 2011 28 7 25,0% 28 1 3,6% 1 1 100,0% 1 0 0,0% 1 1 100,0% NON-FINANCIAL 2011 234 31 13,2% 234 2 0,9% 2 1 50,0% 2 1 50,0% 2 0 0,0% TOTAL 2011 262 38 14,5% 262 3 1,1% 3 2 66,7% 3 1 8,3% 3 1 33,3% TAB.4: BOARD OF DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE COMMITEE AND BOARD OF STATUTORY AUDITORS Number of companies providing information of Executive Committee meetings # No. % 10 10 100,0% 12 12 100,0% 10 10 100,0% Number of companies providing information on the frequency of the Board of Statutory Auditors' meetings # No. % 33 33 100,0% 33 33 100,0% 34 34 100,0% Number of companies providing detailed information on power delegated to executive directors (if present) # No. % 36 35 97,2% 36 34 94,4% 38 37 97,4% Number of companies providing detailed information on power delegated to Executive Commitee # No. % 10 10 100,0% 12 12 100,0% 10 9 90,0% Year 2011 2010 2009 Number of companies providing information on the frequency of Board of Directors' meetings # No. % 37 37 100,0% 37 37 100,0% 39 39 100,0% FTSE MID CAP 2011 2010 2009 60 61 60 60 61 60 100,0% 100,0% 100,0% 9,8 9,8 9,4 19 20 21 19 20 21 100,0% 100,0% 100,0% 15,2 13,4 9,7 60 60 59 59 58 57 98,3% 96,7% 96,6% 13,6 12,1 11,7 60 61 60 59 60 60 98,3% 98,4% 100,0% 19 20 21 19 20 19 100,0% 100,0% 90,5% FTSE SMALL CAP 2011 2010 2009 134 133 149 147 140 136 99,3% 98,7% 97,1% 9,9 9,8 9,5 8 8 6 6 6 4 75,0% 75,0% 66,7% 5,0 4,8 3,0 129 123 145 137 135 121 95,3% 94,5% 89,6% 9,0 8,2 7,9 132 129 145 137 137 134 97,7% 94,5% 97,8% 8 8 6 6 6 7 75,0% 75,0% 116,7% FTSE MICRO CAP 2011 2010 2009 19 12 21 18 12 19 94,7% 100,0% 90,5% 11,2 9,9 9,6 3 1 3 2 1 3 66,7% 100,0% 100,0% 7,5 5,0 9,3 18 11 20 17 11 14 94,4% 100,0% 70,0% 10,1 8,2 6,7 18 11 20 18 11 19 100,0% 100,0% 95,0% 3 1 3 3 1 3 100,0% 100,0% 100,0% OTHERS 2011 2010 2009 12 13 19 12 13 19 100,0% 100,0% 100,0% 10,5 15,8 10,6 2 3 2 1 2 2 50,0% 66,7% 100,0% 16,0 15,0 14,0 12 13 19 11 13 17 91,7% 100,0% 89,5% 10,3 14,0 11,2 11 11 17 11 10 17 100,0% 90,9% 100,0% 2 3 2 1 3 2 50,0% 100,0% 100,0% 2011 2010 2009 2008 2011 2010 2009 72 71 71 79 190 201 208 72 71 70 77 188 199 203 100,0% 100,0% 98,6% 97,5% 98,9% 99,0% 97,6% 8,8 8,3 8,8 9,4 10,8 11,1 10,4 4 4 4 5 38 40 38 3 4 4 5 35 37 36 75,0% 100,0% 100,0% 100,0% 92,1% 92,5% 94,7% 8,0 6,8 6,5 8,2 12,2 11,1 9,6 70 69 69 77 182 193 198 68 67 65 68 175 185 178 97,1% 97,1% 94,2% 88,3% 96,2% 95,9% 89,9% 8,9 7,8 7,9 7,6 12,6 11,5 10,7 72 71 70 78 185 193 202 71 67 69 74 181 185 198 98,6% 94,4% 98,6% 94,9% 97,8% 95,9% 98,0% 4 4 4 5 38 40 38 4 4 4 5 35 38 36 100,0% 100,0% 100,0% 100,0% 92,1% 95,0% 94,7% 2011 2010 2009 2008 2011 2010 2009 2008 28 29 31 35 234 243 248 256 27 28 31 35 233 242 242 244 96,4% 96,6% 100,0% 100,0% 99,6% 99,6% 97,6% 95,3% 15,7 15,5 15,5 13,9 9,6 9,7 9,3 9,5 16 16 15 20 26 28 27 29 15 15 15 20 23 26 25 26 93,8% 93,8% 100,0% 100,0% 88,5% 92,9% 92,6% 89,7% 21,5 21,8 16,6 16,6 5,6 4,3 5,0 4,5 25 26 27 32 227 236 240 248 23 23 26 30 220 229 217 217 92,0% 88,5% 96,3% 93,8% 96,9% 97,0% 90,4% 87,5% 31,6 26,9 24,6 19,2 9,4 8,9 8,2 8,3 24 24 28 29 233 240 244 252 23 20 27 27 229 232 240 240 95,8% 83,3% 96,4% 93,1% 98,3% 96,7% 98,4% 95,2% 16 16 15 20 26 28 27 29 15 15 15 18 24 27 25 27 93,8% 93,8% 100,0% 90,0% 92,3% 96,4% 92,6% 93,1% 2011 2010 2009 2008 262 272 279 291 260 270 273 279 99,2% 99,3% 97,8% 95,9% 10,2 10,3 10,0 10,1 42 44 42 49 38 41 40 46 90,5% 93,2% 95,2% 93,9% 11,8 10,7 9,3 9,8 252 262 267 280 243 252 243 247 96,4% 96,2% 91,0% 88,2% 11,5 10,6 10,0 9,6 257 264 272 281 252 252 267 267 98,1% 95,5% 98,2% 95,0% 42 44 42 49 39 42 40 45 92,9% 95,5% 95,2% 91,8% INDEX FTSE MIB STAR OTHERS FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL TOTAL Number of meetings µ 11,4 11,8 12,4 Number of meetings µ 10,1 8,9 10,1 Number of meetings µ 18,7 17,2 15,2 TAB.5: ATTENDANCE TO BOARD MEETING AND OTHER POSITIONS Number of companies HELD BY DIRECTORS AND providing information on the STATUTORY AUDITORS attendance of each director to board meetings; attendance to meetings (average data per company) INDEX FTSE MIB FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MICRO CAP OTHERS STAR OTHERS FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL TOTAL Number of companies providing information on positions held by directors in other companies Number of companies providing information on the attendance of Number of companies Number of directors in the each statutory auditors to board which: a) have an Executive Commitee (% of Auditors; attendance to Executive Committe and values of the total of their meetings (average data per b) provide information on BoD); attendance to meetings company) (average data per company) its composition Number of companies providing information on positions held by Statutory Auditors in other companies Year # No. % µ # No. % # No. % µ % µ # No. % µ # No. % 2011 37 37 100,0% 91,3% 37 37 100,0% 37 10 27,0% 6,6 43,5% 93,3% 33 33 100,0% 94,8% 33 30 90,9% 2010 37 37 100,0% 90,1% 37 37 100,0% 37 12 32,4% 6,1 39,7% 94,0% 33 33 100,0% 94,1% 33 32 97,0% 2009 39 37 94,9% 88,8% 39 39 100,0% 39 10 25,6% 5,9 37,9% 91,2% 34 31 91,2% 96,3% 34 28 82,4% 2011 60 59 98,3% 89,0% 60 59 98,3% 60 18 30,0% 5,4 39,8% 93,4% 60 58 96,7% 94,2% 60 57 95,0% 2010 61 60 98,4% 88,2% 61 58 95,1% 61 20 32,8% 5,5 40,0% 92,4% 60 57 95,0% 95,5% 60 57 95,0% 2009 60 57 95,0% 87,9% 60 58 96,7% 60 21 35,0% 5,1 40,0% 91,5% 59 55 93,2% 95,4% 59 53 89,8% 2011 134 128 95,5% 89,8% 134 126 94,0% 134 10 7,5% 4,6 36,1% 93,3% 129 117 90,7% 96,2% 129 116 89,9% 2010 149 139 93,3% 89,6% 149 135 90,6% 149 8 5,4% 4,9 40,1% 97,3% 145 128 88,3% 95,7% 145 124 85,5% 2009 140 119 85,0% 88,6% 140 123 87,9% 140 4 2,9% 3,8 34,1% 90,6% 135 109 80,7% 94,6% 135 100 74,1% 2010 19 17 89,5% 86,0% 19 18 94,7% 19 3 15,8% 4,7 31,8% 100,0% 18 18 100,0% 94,6% 18 17 94,4% 2010 12 12 100,0% 89,8% 12 10 83,3% 12 1 8,3% 3,0 30,0% n.a. 11 11 100,0% 93,9% 11 10 90,9% 2009 22 18 81,8% 92,6% 22 18 81,8% 22 2 9,1% 3,5 35,0% n.a. 20 15 75,0% 97,3% 20 13 65,0% 2011 12 9 75,0% 91,0% 12 11 91,7% 12 2 16,7% 4,0 37,1% 95,7% 12 10 83,3% 95,3% 12 11 91,7% 2010 13 13 100,0% 89,4% 13 12 92,3% 13 2 15,4% 5,0 39,4% 85,6% 13 13 100,0% 92,5% 13 13 100,0% 2009 21 14 66,7% 87,9% 21 15 71,4% 21 2 9,5% 6,5 46,3% 84,8% 19 14 73,7% 94,6% 19 15 78,9% 2011 72 70 97,2% 90,0% 72 72 100,0% 72 5 6,9% 4,0 28,9% 96,0% 70 66 94,3% 95,5% 70 65 92,9% 2010 71 70 98,6% 89,7% 71 69 97,2% 71 4 5,6% 4,3 29,8% 100,0% 69 66 95,7% 95,2% 69 64 92,8% 2009 2008 71 79 63 67 88,7% 84,8% 89,0% 88,5% 71 79 68 72 95,8% 91,1% 71 79 4 5 5,6% 6,3% 3,3 4,0 30,8% 41,3% 100,0% 90,4% 69 77 59 59 85,5% 76,6% 97,5% 94,7% 69 77 56 58 81,2% 75,3% 2011 190 180 94,7% 89,5% 190 179 94,2% 190 38 20,0% 5,6 40,3% 93,7% 182 170 93,4% 95,3% 182 166 91,2% 2010 201 191 95,0% 89,2% 201 183 91,0% 201 39 19,4% 5,6 40,7% 93,1% 193 176 91,2% 95,2% 193 172 89,1% 2009 211 182 86,3% 88,6% 211 185 87,7% 211 35 16,6% 5,4 39,8% 90,8% 198 165 83,3% 94,3% 198 153 77,3% 2011 28 26 92,9% 88,6% 28 26 92,9% 28 16 57,1% 6,8 41,5% 91,8% 25 22 88,0% 94,6% 25 23 92,0% 2010 29 27 93,1% 87,2% 29 26 89,7% 29 16 55,2% 6,7 40,8% 91,4% 26 23 88,5% 94,4% 26 23 88,5% 2009 2008 33 37 28 32 84,8% 86,5% 87,8% 87,2% 33 37 29 33 87,9% 89,2% 33 37 13 20 39,4% 54,1% 6,4 6,5 40,2% 42,9% 88,2% 88,7% 27 34 24 30 88,9% 88,2% 95,1% 96,4% 27 34 22 22 81,5% 64,7% 2011 234 224 95,7% 89,7% 234 225 96,2% 234 27 11,5% 4,6 37,8% 95,2% 227 214 94,3% 95,4% 227 208 91,6% 2010 243 234 96,3% 89,6% 243 226 93,0% 243 27 11,1% 4,7 39,0% 94,5% 236 219 92,8% 95,3% 236 213 90,3% 2009 2008 249 217 256 216 87,1% 84,4% 88,9% 89,2% 249 224 256 227 90,0% 88,7% 249 26 256 27 10,4% 10,5% 4,5 4,5 38,3% 39,1% 93,2% 92,8% 240 200 247 202 83,3% 81,8% 95,2% 95,0% 240 187 247 194 77,9% 78,5% 2011 262 250 95,4% 89,6% 262 251 95,8% 262 43 16,4% 5,4 39,2% 93,8% 252 236 93,7% 95,4% 252 231 91,7% 2010 272 261 96,0% 89,4% 272 252 92,6% 272 43 15,8% 5,5 39,7% 93,3% 262 242 92,4% 95,2% 262 236 90,1% 2009 2008 282 245 293 248 86,9% 84,6% 88,7% 89,0% 282 253 293 260 89,7% 88,7% 282 39 293 47 13,8% 16,0% 5,2 5,3 38,9% 40,7% 91,5% 90,8% 267 224 281 232 83,9% 82,6% 95,2% 95,2% 267 209 281 216 78,3% 76,9% Board of Directors TAB.6: ATTENDANCE TO Average BOARD MEETINGS Median (INDIVIDUAL DIRECTORS AND STATUTORY AUDITORS, 2011 DATA) Executive Committe Board of Statutory Auditors 89,4% Average 93,3% Average 95,2% 100% Median 100% Median 100% Attendance distribution No % % cumulated No % % cumulated No % 100 1421 55% 55% 116 68% 68% 529 72% % cumulated 72% 90<x<100 260 10% 65% 22 13% 81% 72 10% 82% 75<x<90 538 21% 86% 18 11% 92% 96 13% 95% 50<x<75 274 11% 96% 12 7% 99% 32 4% 99% 100% 100% 100% x<50 93 4% 2 1% 4 1% Total available data n.a. 2586 95% 170 73% 733 93% n.d. Total 142 2728 5% 62 232 27% 53 786 7% Executive Committe Board of Directors ATTENDANCE TO BOARD Average MEETINGS (2010 DATA) Median Board of Statutory Auditors 88,8% Average 92,2% Average 95,0% 100% Median 100% Median 100% Attendance distribution No % % cumulated No % % cumulated No % 100 1498 56% 56% 107 69% 69% 554 73% 73% 90<x<100 224 8% 64% 11 7% 76% 63 8% 82% % cumulated 75<x<90 574 21% 86% 22 14% 90% 100 13% 95% 50<x<75 266 10% 96% 12 8% 97% 27 4% 99% 100% 100% 100% x<50 118 4% 4 3% 10 1% Total available data 2680 95% 156 78% 754 92% n.a. Total 135 2815 5% 79 201 39% 63 817 8% Board of Directors ATTENDANCE TO BOARD Average MEETINGS ( 2009 DATA) Median Executive Committe Board of Statutory Auditors 88,2% Average 90,6% Average 95,0% 100% Median 100% Median 100% Attendance distribution No % % cumulated No % % cumulated No % 100 1342 54% 54% 99 65% 65% 511 74% % cumulated 74% 90<x<100 219 9% 62% 15 10% 75% 62 9% 83% 75<x<90 552 22% 84% 20 13% 88% 77 11% 94% 50<x<75 280 11% 96% 13 8% 96% 37 5% 99% 100% 100% 100% x<50 111 4% 6 4% 5 1% Total available data 2504 87% 153 76% 692 82% n.a. Total 360 2864 13% 48 201 24% 147 839 18% TAB.7: BOARD EVALUATION INDEX FTSE MIB FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP The BoD discloses that he had already done the board evaluation No. % # No. % # No. % # No. % # N°o. % # No. % 33 89,2% 33 26 78,8% 33 8 24,2% 33 13 39,4% 33 5 15,2% 37 35 94,6% 2010 2009 37 39 33 30 89,2% 76,9% 2011 60 47 78,3% 47 24 51,1% 47 5 10,6% 47 8 17,0% 47 1 2,1% 60 57 95,0% 2010 2009 61 60 48 35 78,7% 58,3% 2011 134 69 51,5% 69 23 33,3% 69 3 4,3% 69 12 17,4% 69 1 1,4% 134 118 88,1% 2010 2009 149 140 68 59 45,6% 42,1% 6 1 16,7% 6 1 16,7% 6 1 16,7% 6 0 0,0% 19 16 84,2% 7 1 14,3% 7 0 0,0% 7 0 0,0% 7 0 0,0% 12 10 83,3% 47 20 42,6% 47 5 10,6% 47 6 12,8% 47 0 0,0% 72 70 97,2% 115 55 47,8% 115 12 10,4% 115 28 24,3% 115 7 6,1% 190 166 87,4% 21 10 47,6% 21 1 4,8% 21 5 23,8% 21 0 0,0% 28 23 82,1% 141 65 46,1% 141 16 11,3% 141 29 20,6% 141 7 5,0% 234 213 91,0% 162 75 46,3% 162 17 10,5% 162 34 21,0% 162 7 4,3% 262 236 90,1% 6 31,6% 12 21 4 7 33,3% 33,3% 2011 12 7 58,3% OTHERS 2010 2009 13 19 7 9 53,8% 47,4% 2011 72 47 65,3% 2010 2009 71 71 40 35 56,3% 49,3% 2011 190 115 60,5% 2010 2009 201 208 120 105 59,7% 50,5% 2011 28 21 75,0% 2010 2009 29 31 17 16 58,6% 51,6% 2011 234 141 60,3% 2010 2009 243 248 143 124 58,8% 50,0% 2011 262 162 61,8% 2010 2009 272 279 160 140 58,8% 50,2% TOTAL The company discloses when the directors' independence was evaluated # 19 NON-FINANCIAL The company discloses further datailed information (ex. best practices, analysis of previous actions) 37 2010 2009 FINANCIAL The company discloses the exixtence of improvement areas Year 2011 OTHERS The company discloses the exixtence of axcellent areas 2011 FTSE MICRO CAP STAR The company expressly dislosed that the BoD have met to analyze the results of the board evaluation TAB. 8: INFORMATION ON THE PROCESS OF BOARD EVALUATION INDEX FTSE MIB ICC or CG Committee are in charge of the procedure Remuneration or Nomination Committee are in charge of the procedure The Chairman is in charge of the procedure One or more independent directors (but not together in a committee) is/are in charge of the procedure External facilitators in charge of the procedure Other types of Board Evaluation Adopted tool: questionnaire Adopted tool: interview Adopted tool: other Yaer # No. % # No. % # No. % # No. % # No. % # No. % # No. % # No. % # No. % 2011 33 7 21% 33 3 9% 33 0 0% 33 3 9% 33 11 33% 33 1 3% 33 23 70% 33 9 27% 33 2 6% 47 3 6% 47 1 2% 47 0 0% 47 4 9% 47 4 9% 47 4 9% 47 15 32% 47 3 6% 47 3 6% 69 8 12% 69 1 1% 69 0 0% 69 2 3% 69 1 1% 69 2 3% 69 16 23% 69 1 1% 69 0 0% 6 0 0% 6 0 0% 6 0 0% 6 0 0% 6 0 0% 6 0 0% 6 1 17% 6 0 0% 6 0 0% 7 0 0% 7 0 0% 7 0 0% 7 0 0% 7 0 0% 7 0 0% 7 1 14% 7 0 0% 7 0 0% 47 5 11% 47 2 4% 47 0 0% 47 2 4% 47 2 4% 47 2 4% 47 13 28% 47 1 2% 47 1 2% 115 13 11% 115 3 3% 115 0 0% 115 7 6% 115 14 12% 115 5 4% 115 43 37% 115 12 10% 115 4 3% 21 2 10% 21 1 5% 21 0 0% 21 2 10% 21 2 10% 21 0 0% 21 9 43% 21 1 5% 21 1 5% 141 16 11% 141 4 3% 141 0 0% 141 7 5% 141 14 10% 141 7 5% 141 47 33% 141 12 9% 141 4 3% 162 18 11% 162 5 3% 162 0 0% 162 9 6% 162 16 10% 162 7 4% 162 56 35% 162 13 8% 162 5 3% 2010 2009 2011 FTSE MID CAP 2010 2009 2011 FTSE SMALL CAP 2010 2009 2011 FTSE MICRO CAP 2010 2009 2011 OTHERS 2010 2009 2011 STAR 2010 2009 2011 OTHERS 2010 2009 2011 FINANCIAL 2010 2009 2011 NON-FINANCIAL 2010 2009 2011 TOTAL 2010 2009 TAB.9: OTHER POSITION HELD BY DIRECTORS AND STATUTORY AUDITORS (INDIVIDUAL DIRECTORS AND STATUTORY AUDITORS) Average Median Distribution 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 >10 Total available data n.a. Total Directors 3,26 2 No. 822 412 295 226 163 140 136 92 67 51 43 160 2607 121 2728 DISTRIBUTIONS OF THE OTHER POSITIONS HELD BY DIRECTORS AND STATUTORY AUDITORS (INDIVIDUAL DIRECTORS AND STATUTORY AUDITORS, 2010 DATA) Average Median Diistribution 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 >10 Total available data n.a. Total DISTRIBUTION OF THE OTHER POSITIONS HELD BY DIRECTORS AND STATUTORY AUDITORS (INDIVIDUAL DIRECTORS AND STATUTORY AUDITORS 2009 DATA) Average Median Distribution 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 >10 Total available data n.a. Total % 32% 16% 11% 9% 6% 5% 5% 4% 3% 2% 2% 6% 96% 4% 100% Statutory Auditors % Cumulated 32% 47% 59% 67% 74% 79% 84% 88% 90% 92% 94% 100% 9,93 7 No 95 67 35 28 46 36 35 23 28 26 18 282 719 67 786 Directors 408 279 247 179 134 131 98 67 50 34 162 2508 307 2815 9,78 7 % % Cumulated No % % Cumulated 16% 11% 10% 7% 5% 5% 4% 3% 2% 1% 6% 89% 11% 100% 45% 56% 66% 73% 78% 84% 88% 90% 92% 94% 100% 59 40 39 28 38 31 25 29 21 29 267 713 104 817 8% 6% 5% 4% 5% 4% 4% 4% 3% 4% 37% 87% 13% 100% 23% 29% 34% 38% 44% 48% 51% 56% 58% 63% 100% Directors 3,39 2 No 680 387 263 253 165 155 134 93 70 50 36 148 2434 430 2864 % Cumulated 13% 23% 27% 31% 38% 43% 48% 51% 55% 58% 61% 100% Statutory Auditors 3,36 2 No % 13% 9% 5% 4% 6% 5% 5% 3% 4% 4% 3% 39% 91% 9% 100% % 28% 16% 11% 10% 7% 6% 6% 4% 3% 2% 1% 6% 85% 15% 100% % Cumulated 28% 44% 55% 65% 72% 78% 84% 88% 90% 92% 94% 100% Statutory Auditors 9,55 6 No 106 62 45 33 28 30 26 14 18 15 11 241 629 210 839 % 17% 10% 7% 5% 4% 5% 4% 2% 3% 2% 2% 38% 75% 25% 100% % Cumulated 17% 27% 34% 39% 44% 48% 52% 55% 58% 60% 62% 100% 2011 DATA TAB.10: PERSONS HOLDING MULTIPLE POSITIOS IN LISTED COMPANIES No.Persons holding No. Positions No.Persons with no. Positions 1 Tot.multiple positions of which: 2 3 4 5 6 7 Directors Statutory Auditors Both Total 2196 589 67 2644 2196 693 589 1886 310 217 62 19 10 2 0 2010 DATA Directors Statutory Auditors Both Total 2852 2271 625 65 177 67 3514 2852 2732 2271 728 625 508 81 0 67 2394 458 83,9% 16,1% 83,9% 1963 308 60 19 2 0 0 0 35 22 9 1 0 0 312 103 30 11 2 0 10,9% 3,6% 1,1% 0,4% 0,1% 0,0% 94,9% 98,5% 99,5% 99,9% 100,0% 100,0% 207 63 26 10 2 0 % total % cumulated 2009 DATA Directors Statutory Auditors Both Total 2961 2298 655 53 3006 172 65 3632 2961 2790 2298 766 655 147 53 3703 3006 540 85 0 65 2503 458 84,5% 15,5% 84,5% 1973 325 567 88 0 53 69 14 2 0 0 0 34 21 9 1 0 0 310 98 37 11 2 0 10,5% 3,3% 1,2% 0,4% 0,1% 0,0% 95,0% 98,3% 99,6% 99,9% 100,0% 100,0% 218 64 29 12 1 1 69 15 4 0 0 0 24 20 6 3 0 0 % total % cumulated % total % cumulated 2540 466 84,5% 15,5% 84,5% 311 99 39 15 1 1 10,3% 3,3% 1,3% 0,5% 0,0% 0,0% 94,8% 98,1% 99,4% 99,9% 100,0% 100,0% Year The company by-laws provides that the Supervisory Board approves strategic, business and financial plans of the company # N0. % 2011 4 4 100,0% 4 4 100,0% 18,3 4 3 75,0% 2010 2009 4 5 4 5 100,0% 100,0% 4 5 4 5 100,0% 1 18,75 17,4 4 5 2 2 50,0% 0,4 2011 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0 0 n.a. 2010 2009 0 0 0 0 n.a. n.a. 0 0 0 0 n.a. n.a. 0 0 0 0 0 0 n.a. n.a. 2011 2 1 50,0% 2 2 100,0% 7 2 0 0,0% 2010 2009 2 2 1 1 50,0% 50,0% 2 2 2 2 100,0% 1 9 8 2 2 0 0 0,0% 0 2011 1 1 100,0% 1 1 100,0% 18 1 0 0,0% 2010 2009 1 1 1 1 100,0% 100,0% 1 1 1 1 100,0% 100,0% 12 7 1 1 0 0 0,0% 0,0% 2011 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0 0 n.a. 2010 2009 0 0 0 0 n.a. n.a. 0 0 0 0 n.a. n.a. 0 0 0 0 0 0 n.a. n.a. TAB.11: ROLE OF THE SUPERVISORY BOARD (TWOTIER BOARDS) INDEX FTSE MIB FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MICRO CAP OTHERS STAR OTHERS FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL TOTAL Number of companies providing information about Supervisory Board meetings # No. % Attendance to Supervisory Board meetings (No./Year) µ Number of companies who foresee meetings of independent directors # No. % 2011 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0 0 n.a. 2010 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0 0 n.a. 2009 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0 0 n.a. 2011 7 6 85,7% 7 7 100,0% 15 7 3 42,9% 2010 2009 7 8 6 7 85,7% 87,5% 7 8 7 8 100,0% 100,0% 15 13,75 7 8 2 2 28,6% 25,0% 2011 3 3 100,0% 3 3 100,0% 20,3 3 3 100,0% 2010 3 3 100,0% 3 3 100,0% 20,0 3 2 66,7% 2009 4 4 100,0% 4 4 100,0% 17,0 4 2 50,0% 2011 4 3 75,0% 4 4 100,0% 11,0 4 0 0,0% 2010 2009 4 4 3 3 75,0% 75,0% 4 4 4 4 100,0% 100,0% 11,3 10,5 4 4 0 0 0,0% 0,0% 2011 7 6 85,7% 7 7 100,0% 15,0 7 3 42,9% 2010 2009 7 8 6 7 85,7% 87,5% 7 8 7 8 100,0% 100,0% 15,0 13,8 7 8 2 2 28,6% 25,0% TAB.12: BOARD EVALUATION OF THE SUPERVISORY BOARD INDEX The Supervisory Board has already done the board evaluation % The company The company disclose expressly The company disclose disclose the that the SB have the existence of existence of met to analyze the exellent areas improvement areas results of the board evaluation The company dislose furhter detailed information (es. best practices, analysis of previous actions) # No. % # No. % # No. Adopted tool: questionnaire % Adopted tool: interview Adopted tool: other Year # No. % # No. % # No. # No. % # No. % 2011 4 4 100% 4 4 100% 4 1 25% 4 2 50% 4 0 0% 4 2 50% 4 0 0% 4 0 0% 2011 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 2011 2 0 0% 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 2011 1 0 0% 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 2011 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 2009 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 7 4 57% 4 4 100% 4 1 25% 4 2 50% 4 0 0% 4 2 50% 4 0 0% 4 0 0% 3 3 100% 3 3 100% 3 0 0% 3 1 33% 3 0 0% 3 1 33% 3 0 0% 3 0 0% 4 1 25% 1 1 100% 1 1 100% 1 1 100% 1 0 0% 1 1 100% 1 0 0% 1 0 0% 7 4 57% 4 4 100% 4 1 25% 4 2 50% 4 0 0% 4 2 50% 4 0 0% 4 0 0% FTSE MIB FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MICRO CAP OTHERS STAR 2008 2007 2009 OTHERS 2008 2007 2009 FINANCIAL 2008 2007 2009 NON-FINANCIAL 2008 2007 2009 TOTAL 2008 2007 TAB.13: COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS INDEX FTSE MIB FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MICRO CAP OTHERS STAR OTHERS FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL TOTAL EXECUTIVE directors (% on the BoD) µ µ% 3,4 27,9% 3,2 25,8% 3,1 26,4% NON-EXECUTIVE directors (% on the BoD) µ µ% 9,3 72,1% 10,2 74,2% 9,8 73,6% The company disclose criteria adopted by the BoD to INDEPENDENT evaluate the directors (% on Companies with "Minority" directors (% significance of those "minority" directors on the BoD) the BoD) relationships µ µ% µ % # No. % # No. % 5,2 40,9% 37 18 48,6% 2,9 24,0% 37 4 10,8% 5,8 43,0% 37 16 43,2% 3,0 25,0% 37 3 8,1% 5,7 44,4% 39 13 33,3% 3,2 28,6% Year 2011 2010 2009 Number of Directors µ 12,7 13,4 12,9 2011 2010 2009 12,2 11,8 11,4 2,9 3,2 3,2 24,6% 27,8% 28,6% 9,3 8,6 8,3 75,4% 72,2% 71,4% 4,6 4,4 4,5 38,3% 37,2% 38,8% 60 61 60 21 21 14 35,0% 34,4% 23,3% 2,0 2,0 2,6 14,9% 16,5% 20,9% 60 61 0 1 0,0% 1,6% 2011 2010 2009 2008 2011 2010 2009 8,7 8,6 8,5 2,6 2,7 2,9 32,6% 33,9% 36,4% 6,0 5,9 5,6 67,4% 66,1% 63,6% 3,0 2,9 2,8 34,4% 33,1% 33,1% 134 44 149 37 140 18 32,8% 24,8% 12,9% 1,3 1,6 1,9 16,5% 17,9% 20,0% 134 149 4 2 3,0% 1,3% 9,0 9,3 8,6 2,4 2,2 2,7 29,3% 30,9% 37,6% 6,6 7,1 6,0 70,7% 69,1% 62,4% 2,7 3,8 2,6 28,4% 34,3% 27,0% 19 12 21 8 6 4 42,1% 50,0% 19,0% 1,9 1,3 1,0 18,9% 14,6% 11,4% 19 12 0 0 0,0% 0,0% 2011 2010 2009 8,5 8,3 8,9 2,5 2,0 2,6 32,5% 28,8% 35,5% 6,0 6,3 5,6 67,5% 71,2% 64,5% 2,9 2,7 2,8 32,1% 32,7% 34,5% 12 13 19 2 3 3 16,7% 23,1% 15,8% 1,0 1,0 1,0 8,4% 10,7% 12,6% 12 13 0 0 0,0% 0,0% 2011 2010 2009 2008 2011 2010 2009 9,5 9,4 9,2 9,0 10,3 10,2 9,9 2,8 3,0 3,1 3,0 2,8 2,8 2,9 31,4% 33,1% 35,0% 35,7% 29,2% 30,3% 32,7% 6,6 6,4 6,2 5,9 7,5 7,4 7,0 68,6% 66,9% 65,1% 64,3% 70,8% 69,7% 67,2% 3,5 3,3 3,2 3,2 3,7 3,8 3,7 36,8% 35,2% 34,9% 35,7% 35,2% 35,5% 35,8% 72 71 71 79 190 201 208 18 15 8 7 75 68 44 25,0% 21,1% 11,3% 8,9% 39,5% 33,8% 21,2% 1,4 1,5 1,9 1,1 1,9 2,0 2,4 17,0% 18,2% 21,0% 11,4% 17,8% 18,5% 21,3% 72 71 1 1 1,4% 1,4% 190 201 7 5 3,7% 2,5% 2011 2010 2009 2008 2011 2010 2009 2008 15,6 15,3 14,1 14,3 9,4 9,3 9,2 9,2 4,0 3,7 3,2 2,8 2,6 2,7 2,9 2,9 27,9% 25,3% 26,6% 21,6% 30,1% 31,7% 34,1% 34,7% 11,6 11,7 10,7 11,3 6,8 6,6 6,3 6,3 72,1% 74,7% 73,4% 78,4% 69,9% 68,3% 65,9% 65,3% 5,1 5,1 5,5 5,6 3,5 3,5 3,3 3,4 31,3% 31,8% 36,2% 37,9% 36,2% 35,8% 35,5% 36,1% 28 29 31 35 234 243 248 256 11 10 6 6 82 73 46 32 39,3% 34,5% 19,4% 17,1% 35,0% 30,0% 18,5% 12,5% 2,8 3,3 4,3 4,8 1,7 1,8 2,0 2,5 17,5% 21,4% 29,4% 33,4% 17,7% 18,0% 20,2% 21,9% 28 29 2 1 7,1% 3,4% 234 243 6 5 2,6% 2,1% 2011 2010 2009 2008 10,1 10,0 9,7 9,8 2,8 2,8 2,9 2,9 29,8% 31,1% 33,3% 33,1% 7,3 7,2 6,8 6,9 70,2% 68,9% 66,7% 66,9% 3,7 3,6 3,6 3,7 35,7% 35,4% 35,6% 36,3% 262 272 279 291 93 83 52 38 35,5% 30,5% 18,6% 13,1% 1,8 1,9 2,3 2,8 17,6% 18,4% 21,3% 23,7% 262 272 8 6 3,1% 2,2% NONTAB.14: COMPOSITION OF EXECUTIV EXECUTIVE INDEPENDENT THE SUPERVISORY BOARD E directors directors (% Number of directors (% (TWO-TIER BOARDS) (% on the on the Companies with minority on the Number of Supervisor Supervisory minority directors Supervisory Directors y Board)) Board) directors (% values) Board) INDEX Year µ µ % µ % µ % # No. % µ % FTSE MIB FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MICRO CAP OTHERS STAR OTHERS FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL TOTAL Disclose criteria Number of Number of adopted by the companies that companies that Supervisory have chosen not have chosen to The company to adopt one or adopt additional Board to evaluate appointing a the significance more applicative criteria in Lead of those criteria set out in relation to the Independent relationships the Code Director (LID) Code # No. % # µ % # No. % # µ % 2011 19,3 0,0 0,0% 19,3 100,0% 18,0 93,7% 4 4 100,0% 3,5 19,2% 4 1 25,0% 4 0,0 0,0% 4 0 0,0% 4 0,0 0,0% 2010 2009 19,3 18,6 0,0 0,0 0,0% 0,0% 19,3 100,0% 17,8 18,6 100,0% 14,2 92,3% 76,8% 4 5 3 3 75,0% 60,0% 4 5 1 1 25,0% 20,0% 4 0,0 5 0,0 0,0% 0,0% 4 0 0,0% 4 0,0 5 0,0 0,0% 0,0% 2011 0,0 0,0 0,0% 0,0 0,0% 0,0 0,0% 0 0 n.a. 0,0 0,0% 0 0 n.a. 0 0,0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0,0 n.a. 2010 2009 0,0 0,0 0,0 0,0 0,0% 0,0% 0,0 0,0 0,0% 0,0% 0,0 0,0 0,0% 0,0% 0 0 0 0 n.a. n.a. 0,0 0,0 0,0% 0,0% 0 0 0 0 n.a. n.a. 0 0,0 0 0,0 n.a. n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0,0 0 0,0 n.a. n.a. 1,7 10,1% 2,0 11,6% 2011 5,0 0,0 0,0% 5,0 100,0% 1,5 30,0% 2 1 50,0% 1,0 20,0% 2 0 0,0% 2 0,0 0,0% 2 0 0,0% 2 0,0 0,0% 2010 2009 5,0 5,0 0,0 0,0 0,0% 0,0% 5,0 5,0 100,0% 100,0% 0,0 0,0 0,0% 0,0% 2 2 1 1 50,0% 50,0% 1,0 20,0% 1,0 20,0% 2 2 0 0 0,0% 0,0% 2 0,0 2 0,0 0,0% 0,0% 2 0 0,0% 2 0,0 2 0,0 0,0% 0,0% 0,0% 0,0 0,0% 1 0 0,0% 1 0,0 0,0% 1 0 0,0% 1 0,0 0,0% 100,0% 1,0 20,0% 0,0% 0,0 0,0% 1 1 0 0 0,0% 0,0% 1 0,0 1 0,0 0,0% 0,0% 1 0 0,0% 1 0,0 1 0,0 0,0% 0,0% 0,0% 0 0 n.a. 0 0,0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0,0 n.a. 0,0% 0,0% 0 0 0 0 n.a. n.a. 0 0,0 0 0,0 n.a. n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0,0 0 0,0 n.a. n.a. 2011 4,0 0,0 0,0% 4,0 100,0% 4,0 100,0% 1 0 2010 2009 5,0 5,0 0,0 0,0 0,0% 0,0% 5,0 5,0 100,0% 100,0% 5,0 5,0 100,0% 100,0% 1 1 1 0 2011 0,0 0,0 0,0% 0,0 0,0% 0,0 0,0% 0 0 n.a. 0,0 2010 2009 0,0 0,0 0,0 0,0 0,0% 0,0% 0,0 0,0 0,0% 0,0% 0,0 0,0 0,0% 0,0% 0 0 0 0 n.a. n.a. 0,0 0,0 2011 0,0 0,0 0,0% 0,0 0,0% 0,0 0,0% 0 0 n.a. 0,0 0,0% 0 0 n.a. 0 0,0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0,0 n.a. 2010 0,0 0,0 0,0% 0,0 0,0% 0,0 0,0% 0 0 n.a. 0,0 0,0% 0 0 n.a. 0 0,0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. 0 0,0 n.a. 2009 0,0 0,0 0,0% 0,0 0,0% 0,0 0,0% 0 0 n.a. 0,0 0,0% 0 0 n.a. 0 0,0 n.a. 2011 13,0 0,0 0,0% 13,0 100,0% 11,3 76,4% 7 5 71,4% 3,0 19,3% 7 1 14,3% 7 0,0 0,0% 7 0 0,0% 7 0,0 0,0% 2010 2009 13,1 13,5 0,0 0,0 0,0% 0,0% 13,1 100,0% 15,2 13,5 100,0% 12,7 93,8% 80,7% 7 8 5 4 71,4% 50,0% 1,4 14,1% 1,8 13,7% 7 8 1 1 14,3% 12,5% 7 0,0 8 0,0 0,0% 0,0% 7 0 0,0% 7 0,0 8 0,0 0,0% 0,0% 2011 20,7 0,0 0,0% 20,7 100,0% 19,0 91,6% 3 3 100,0% 3,7 18,9% 3 1 33,3% 3 0,0 0,0% 3 0 0,0% 3 0,0 0,0% 2010 20,7 0,0 0,0% 20,7 100,0% 18,7 89,7% 3 2 66,7% 1,0 5,1% 3 1 33,3% 3 0,0 0,0% 3 0 0,0% 3 0,0 0,0% 2009 19,5 0,0 0,0% 19,5 100,0% 14,5 74,4% 4 2 50,0% 1,5 7,4% 4 1 25,0% 4 0,0 0,0% 4 0,0 0,0% 2011 7,3 0,0 0,0% 7,3 100,0% 5,5 65,0% 4 2 50,0% 2,0 20,0% 4 0 0,0% 4 0,0 0,0% 4 0 0,0% 4 0,0 0,0% 2010 2009 7,5 7,5 0,0 0,0 0,0% 0,0% 7,5 7,5 100,0% 10,0 100,0% 9,0 100,0% 93,3% 4 4 3 2 75,0% 50,0% 1,7 20,0% 2,0 20,0% 4 4 0 0 0,0% 0,0% 4 0,0 4 0,0 0,0% 0,0% 4 0 0,0% 4 0,0 4 0,0 0,0% 0,0% 2011 13,0 0,0 0,0% 13,0 100,0% 11,3 76,4% 7 5 71,4% 3,0 19,3% 7 1 14,3% 7 0,0 0,0% 7 0 0,0% 7 0,0 0,0% 2010 2009 13,1 13,5 0,0 0,0 0,0% 0,0% 13,1 100,0% 15,2 13,5 100,0% 12,7 93,8% 80,7% 7 8 5 4 71,4% 50,0% 1,4 14,1% 1,8 13,7% 7 8 1 1 14,3% 12,5% 7 0,0 8 0,0 0,0% 0,0% 7 0 0,0% 7 0,0 8 0,0 0,0% 0,0% 0 0,0 n.a. TAB.15: CHAIRMAN AND CEO INDEX FTSE MIB FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MICRO CAP OTHERS STAR OTHERS FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL TOTAL Year Number of Number of Number of Number of companies Number of companies that companies companies where the companies that identify the CEO where the where the Chairman is also have appointed among the Chiarman Chairman is also the person a Lead Executive receveid the CEO controlling the Independent Directors delegated power (Chairman-CEO) Director (LID) issuer # No. % # No. % # No. % # No. % # No. % Number of companies providing meetings of the Independent Directors only # No. % 2011 36 31 86,1% 37 12 32,4% 37 5 13,5% 37 2 5,4% 37 9 24,3% 37 31 83,8% 2010 36 30 83,3% 37 13 35,1% 37 4 10,8% 37 2 5,4% 37 9 24,3% 37 31 83,8% 2009 38 30 78,9% 39 16 41,0% 39 6 15,4% 39 3 7,7% 39 11 28,2% 39 28 71,8% 2011 60 45 75,0% 60 32 53,3% 60 15 25,0% 60 7 11,7% 60 27 45,0% 60 54 90,0% 2010 61 45 73,8% 61 33 54,1% 61 16 26,2% 61 5 8,2% 61 29 47,5% 61 51 83,6% 2009 60 46 76,7% 60 34 56,7% 60 18 30,0% 60 8 13,3% 60 26 43,3% 60 42 70,0% 2011 132 102 77,3% 134 92 68,7% 134 53 39,6% 134 30 22,4% 134 56 41,8% 134 85 63,4% 2010 145 104 71,7% 149 97 65,1% 149 55 36,9% 149 30 20,1% 149 57 38,3% 149 91 61,1% 2009 137 97 70,8% 140 97 69,3% 140 50 35,7% 140 25 17,9% 140 55 39,3% 2011 18 10 55,6% 19 12 63,2% 19 4 21,1% 19 1 5,3% 19 3 15,8% 19 8 42,1% 2010 11 6 54,5% 12 10 83,3% 12 3 25,0% 12 1 8,3% 12 2 16,7% 12 3 25,0% 2009 20 11 55,0% 21 13 61,9% 21 2 9,5% 21 1 4,8% 21 3 14,3% 2011 11 8 72,7% 12 7 58,3% 12 4 33,3% 12 3 25,0% 12 2 16,7% 12 7 58,3% 2010 11 11 100,0% 13 7 53,8% 13 6 46,2% 13 3 23,1% 13 3 23,1% 13 7 53,8% 2009 17 14 82,4% 19 12 63,2% 19 5 26,3% 19 4 21,1% 19 6 31,6% 2011 72 56 77,8% 72 50 69,4% 72 32 44,4% 72 14 19,4% 72 49 68,1% 72 62 86,1% 2010 71 52 73,2% 71 47 66,2% 71 28 39,4% 71 12 16,9% 71 43 60,6% 71 59 83,1% 2009 70 47 67,1% 71 50 70,4% 71 26 36,6% 71 15 21,1% 71 43 60,6% 2008 78 56 71,8% 79 55 69,6% 79 30 38,0% 79 13 16,5% 79 46 58,2% 2011 185 140 75,7% 190 105 55,3% 190 49 25,8% 190 29 15,3% 190 48 2010 193 144 74,6% 201 113 56,2% 201 56 27,9% 201 29 14,4% 201 57 25,3% 190 123 64,7% 28,4% 201 114 56,7% 2009 202 151 74,8% 208 122 58,7% 208 55 26,4% 208 26 12,5% 208 58 27,9% 2011 28 15 53,6% 28 3 10,7% 28 2 7,1% 28 0 0,0% 28 1 3,6% 28 22 78,6% 2010 29 15 62,5% 29 4 13,8% 29 2 6,9% 29 0 0,0% 29 1 3,4% 29 18 62,1% 31 17 54,8% 2009 28 16 57,1% 31 7 22,6% 31 2 6,5% 31 1 3,2% 31 3 9,7% 2008 29 18 62,1% 35 7 20,0% 35 1 2,9% 35 1 2,9% 35 1 2,9% 2011 229 181 79,0% 234 152 65,0% 234 79 33,8% 234 43 18,4% 234 96 41,0% 234 163 69,7% 2010 240 181 75,4% 243 156 64,2% 243 82 33,7% 243 41 16,9% 243 99 40,7% 243 165 67,9% 2009 2008 244 182 252 195 74,6% 77,4% 248 165 66,5% 248 256 162 63,3% 256 79 89 31,9% 248 40 34,8% 256 35 16,1% 248 98 13,7% 256 98 39,5% 248 144 58,1% 38,3% 37,0% 262 185 70,6% 2011 257 196 76,3% 262 155 59,2% 262 81 30,9% 262 43 16,4% 262 97 2010 264 196 74,2% 272 160 58,8% 272 84 30,9% 272 41 15,1% 272 100 36,8% 272 183 67,3% 2009 2008 272 198 281 213 72,8% 75,8% 279 172 61,6% 279 291 169 58,1% 291 81 90 29,0% 279 41 30,9% 291 36 14,7% 279 101 36,2% 279 161 57,7% 12,4% 291 99 34,0% Female Male Total 2006 125 2673 2798 Tab.16: GENDER COMPOSITION OF THE COMPANY BODIES Board of Directors Board of Statutory Auditors 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2006 2007 2008 2009 136 158 166 169 182 Female 31 32 41 59 2689 2791 2698 2646 2546 Male 834 826 832 780 2825 2949 2864 2815 2728 Total 865 858 873 839 % Data 2011 6,7% 93,3% 100,0% Companies with at least one woman in their BoD 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Number 93 105 120 124 127 N.total 274 282 293 282 272 2011 132 262 % Data 2011 50 736 786 2010 6,7% 93,3% 100,0% 2011 6,4% 93,6% 100,0% % Data 2010 6,0% 94,0% 100,0% Female Male Total 2010 55 762 817 2006 4,5% 95,5% 100,0% 33,9% 2007 4,8% 95,2% 100,0% 37,2% 2008 5,4% 94,6% 100,0% 41,0% 2009 5,8% 94,2% 100,0% 44,0% 46,7% 50,4% Female Male Total 2006 3,6% 96,4% 100,0% 2007 3,7% 96,3% 100,0% 2008 4,7% 95,3% 100,0% 2009 7,0% 93,0% 100,0% Companies with at least one woman in their Board of Statutory Auditors 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Number 31 29 37 55 52 48 N.total 274 274 282 270 262 252 % Data 11,3% 10,6% 13,1% 20,4% 19,8% 19,0% TAB.17: INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS IN "PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES" 2011 Data 2728 Financial Non-financial Non-financial Non-financial 512 2303 2009 Data 2864 Financial 2231 2010 Data 2815 Financial 497 544 2320 2726 99,9% 496 99,8% 2230 100,0% 2795 99,3% 509 99,4% 2286 99,3% 2805 97,9% 510 93,8% 2295 98,9% 725 2001 1044 108 388 200 617 1613 844 768 2027 1057 107 402 205 661 1625 852 809 1996 1059 100 410 223 709 1586 836 Ind.directors who are "Relevant Representative" : - Subsidiaries - the company controlling the issuer - companies under common control with the iusser 12 0 2 5 0 1 7 0 1 6 0 1 4 0 1 2 0 0 9 0 3 6 3 1 2 Ind.directors: - stock options - "high" compensation 1 63 0 22 1 41 5 40 0 19 5 21 8 35 19 8 16 Ind.directors who are Members of the Executive Committee: - and no CEO - and "frequent" meetings 0 2 0 1 0 1 4 5 4 5 0 0 7 6 6 6 1 0 Cross-directorship 1 0 1 4 1 3 4 2 2 139 48 91 115 44 71 92 43 49 846 81,0% 136 68,0% 710 84,1% 902 85,3% 144 70,2% 758 89,0% 912 86,1% 151 67,7% 761 91,0% N.total of which with classification available (% Data) Executive Non-executive of which: independent "Particular situations" identified Ind. directors with "Recurring" family names Board members 9 year ago Independent directors involved in none of the above situations Total % Data Number of "minority" Statutory Auditors and their weight with reference to the total number of S.A. TAB.18: COMPOSITION OF Only in THE BOARD OF STATUTORY AUDITOTORS Companies disclosing companies with the effective presence minority of "minority" Statutory Statutory Auditors Auditors INDEX Year # No. % µ % FTSE MIB FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MICRO CAP OTHERS STAR OTHERS FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL TOTAL Considering also companies who disclose that they have NO S.A. µ % The BoSA evaluated the "CG Code independence" of its members # No. % 2011 33 18 54,5% 1,3 35,6% 0,7 19,4% 33 30 90,9% 2010 33 17 51,5% 1,4 35,7% 0,7 19,0% 33 30 90,9% 2009 34 16 47,1% 1,4 35,8% 0,7 17,4% 34 31 91,2% 2011 60 22 36,7% 1,0 32,2% 0,4 12,3% 60 50 83,3% 2010 60 24 40,0% 1,0 32,2% 0,4 14,1% 60 48 80,0% 2009 59 19 32,2% 1,0 33,3% 0,4 13,8% 59 42 71,2% 2011 129 46 35,7% 1,0 33,2% 0,4 11,8% 129 94 72,9% 2010 145 44 30,3% 1,0 33,9% 0,4 12,2% 145 97 66,9% 2009 135 37 27,4% 1,1 36,0% 0,5 15,0% 135 71 52,6% 2011 18 8 44,4% 1,0 30,0% 0,4 13,3% 18 9 50,0% 2010 11 6 54,5% 1,0 28,9% 0,5 15,8% 11 6 54,5% 2009 20 5 25,0% 1,0 33,3% 0,4 13,9% 20 10 50,0% 2011 12 3 25,0% 1,0 33,3% 0,3 8,3% 12 6 50,0% 2010 13 5 38,5% 1,2 34,7% 0,5 13,3% 13 8 61,5% 2009 19 2 10,5% 1,5 36,7% 0,2 5,2% 19 7 36,8% 2011 70 19 27,1% 1,0 32,6% 0,3 8,9% 70 56 80,0% 2010 69 18 26,1% 1,0 33,3% 0,3 9,5% 69 52 75,4% 2009 69 16 23,2% 1,1 35,4% 0,3 11,6% 69 40 58,0% 2008 77 14 18,2% 1,1 35,7% 0,3 11,4% 77 36 46,8% 2011 182 78 42,9% 1,1 33,2% 0,5 14,4% 182 133 73,1% 2010 193 78 40,4% 1,1 33,5% 0,5 15,4% 193 137 71,0% 2009 198 63 31,8% 1,2 35,1% 0,5 15,3% 198 121 61,1% 2011 25 15 60,0% 1,1 32,4% 0,7 19,5% 25 19 76,0% 2010 26 14 53,8% 1,1 33,3% 0,7 20,3% 26 20 76,9% 2009 27 14 51,9% 1,3 35,2% 0,8 20,6% 27 19 70,4% 2011 227 82 36,1% 1,1 33,3% 0,4 12,2% 227 170 74,9% 2010 236 82 34,7% 1,1 33,5% 0,4 13,1% 236 169 71,6% 2009 240 65 27,1% 1,1 35,2% 0,4 13,5% 240 142 59,2% 2011 252 97 38,5% 1,1 33,1% 0,4 12,9% 252 189 75,0% 2010 262 96 36,6% 1,1 33,5% 0,4 13,8% 262 189 72,1% 2009 267 79 29,6% 1,2 35,2% 0,5 14,3% 267 161 60,3% TAB.19: STATUTORY AUDITORS IN "PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES" 2011 Data 786 Financial NonFinanzcial 89 Statutory Auditors who received: - a "high" compensation 74 Statutory Auditors who were members of th Number of Statutory Auditors Financial NonFinancial 697 2010 Data 817 Financial NonFinancial 725 2009 Data 839 92 101 738 11 63 75 10 65 71 14 57 136 22 114 129 28 101 113 23 90 604 76,8% 60 67,4% 544 78,0% 659 80,7% 62 67,4% 597 82,3% 674 80,3% 70 69,3% 604 81,8% "Particular situations" identified Statutory Auditors involved in none of the above situations Total % Data) TAB.20: NOMINATION COMMITEE INDEX FTSE MIB FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MICRO CAP OTHERS STAR OTHERS FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL TOTAL Year Number of The Nomination companies that Committee is have established unified with the a Nomination Remuneration Committee Committee # No. % # No. % Number of companies providing information on the committee composition # No. % Number of directors in the committee µ EXECUTIVE directors (% on the Committee) µ % NON -EXECUTIVE directors (% on the Committee) µ % INDEPENDENT directors (% on the NONEXECUTIVE directors) µ % MINORITY directors (% on the committee) µ % Number of companies providing information on the attendance of each directors to committee meetings # No. % µ Number of companies providing information on the meetings' frequency # No. % Number of meetings µ 2011 37 13 35,1% 13 6 46,2% 13 13 100,0% 4,4 0,3 6,2% 4,1 93,8% 2,9 73,8% 0,2 5,6% 13 7 53,8% 98,2% 13 7 53,8% 4,29 2010 37 13 35,1% 13 5 38,5% 13 13 100,0% 4,5 0,3 6,2% 4,2 93,8% 2,9 71,2% 0,1 2,6% 13 7 53,8% 97,4% 13 11 84,6% 2,27 2011 60 15 25,0% 15 6 40,0% 15 15 100,0% 3,3 0,1 2,2% 3,2 97,8% 2,1 67,2% 0,3 5,6% 13 5 38,5% 95,0% 15 8 53,3% 1,25 2010 61 13 21,3% 13 7 53,8% 13 13 100,0% 3,2 0,2 5,1% 3,0 94,9% 2,2 71,8% 0,3 6,4% 12 4 33,3% 95,8% 13 6 46,2% 1,33 2011 134 13 9,7% 8 61,5% 13 13 100,0% 2,9 0,2 7,7% 2,7 92,3% 2,0 69,2% 0,3 10,3% 11 4 36,4% 95,9% 13 6 46,2% 0,83 2010 149 15 10,1% 15 10 66,7% 15 15 100,0% 2,9 0,0 0,0% 2,9 100,0% 2,2 76,7% 0,4 15,6% 14 4 28,6% 100,0% 15 7 46,7% 0,86 13 2011 19 1 5,3% 1 0 0,0% 1 1 100,0% 3,0 0,0 0,0% 3,0 100,0% 2,0 66,7% 0,0 0,0% 1 0 0,0% n.a. 1 1 100,0% 1,00 2010 12 1 8,3% 1 0 0,0% 1 1 100,0% 3,0 0,0 0,0% 3,0 100,0% 2,0 66,7% 0,0 0,0% 1 0 0,0% n.a. 1 1 100,0% 1,00 2011 12 1 8,3% 1 1 100,0% 1 1 100,0% 3,0 0,0 0,0% 3,0 100,0% 3,0 100,0% 0,0 0,0% 1 0 0,0% n.a. 1 0 0,0% 0,00 2010 13 1 7,7% 1 1 100,0% 1 1 100,0% 3,0 0,0 0,0% 3,0 100,0% 1,0 33,3% 0,0 0,0% 0 0 n.d. n.a. 1 0 0,0% 0,00 2011 72 10 13,9% 10 5 50,0% 10 10 100,0% 2,9 0,0 0,0% 2,9 100,0% 2,1 73,3% 0,2 6,7% 9 3 33,3% 100,0% 10 6 60,0% 0,50 2010 71 10 14,1% 10 4 40,0% 10 10 100,0% 2,9 0,0 0,0% 2,9 100,0% 2,1 73,3% 0,3 11,7% 10 3 30,0% 100,0% 10 6 60,0% 0,83 2011 190 33 17,4% 33 16 48,5% 33 33 100,0% 3,7 0,3 6,5% 3,4 93,5% 2,4 69,7% 0,3 6,8% 30 13 43,3% 95,8% 33 16 48,5% 2,69 2010 201 33 16,4% 33 19 57,6% 33 33 100,0% 3,6 0,2 4,5% 3,4 95,5% 2,5 72,0% 0,2 7,1% 30 12 40,0% 97,1% 33 19 57,6% 1,84 2011 28 13 46,4% 13 5 38,5% 13 13 100,0% 4,6 0,4 6,2% 4,2 93,8% 2,6 60,3% 0,5 9,5% 12 8 66,7% 95,3% 13 8 61,5% 4,38 2010 29 13 44,8% 13 5 38,5% 13 13 100,0% 4,6 0,5 8,8% 4,2 91,2% 2,7 63,5% 0,3 6,4% 12 7 58,3% 95,0% 13 9 69,2% 2,78 2011 234 30 12,8% 30 16 53,3% 30 30 100,0% 3,0 0,1 4,4% 2,9 95,6% 2,2 75,0% 0,2 5,6% 27 8 29,6% 97,9% 30 14 46,7% 0,79 2010 243 30 12,3% 30 18 60,0% 30 30 100,0% 3,0 0,0 1,1% 2,9 98,9% 2,2 76,1% 0,2 8,9% 28 8 28,6% 100,0% 30 16 53,3% 0,94 2011 262 43 16,4% 43 21 48,8% 43 43 100,0% 3,5 0,2 5,0% 3,3 95,0% 2,3 70,6% 0,3 6,7% 39 16 41,0% 96,6% 43 22 51,2% 2,09 2010 272 43 15,8% 43 23 53,5% 43 43 100,0% 3,5 0,2 3,4% 3,3 96,6% 2,4 72,3% 0,3 8,1% 40 15 37,5% 97,7% 43 25 58,1% 1,60 TAB. 21: APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTORS INDEX FTSE MIB FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL FAMILY STATE TOTAL Quorum (%) to submit a list µ Number of Companies companies where multiple for which the lists were minutes are submitted available Quorum (% )in the companies where multiple lists were submitted Average number of submitted lists Number of lists submitted by more Italian Funds (Assogestioni) µ µ 1,15% 1,00% 0,75% 1,28% 1,93 1,92 1,78 1,86 1,56% 1,80% 1,81% 2,31% 1,69 1,30 1,45 1,67 1,41 1,50 1,35 1,30 0 0 0 0 2,30% 2,24% 2,35% 2,22% 1,56 1,83 2,00 1,33 1,60 1,49 1,43 1,52 0 2 1 0 8 1 1 6 36% 31% 27% 33% 91% 80% 83% 91% 2,59% 2,33% 2,35% 2,63% 1,25% 1,00% 1,50% 1,35% 1,38 1,33 1,28 1,35 2,27 2,80 2,50 2,09 1 0 1 1 5 1 0 4 49% 40% 38% 43% 2,16% 2,01% 2,11% 2,19% 1,59 1,53 1,49 1,50 8 3 2 6 Year 2011 2010 2009 2008 2011 2010 2009 2008 2011 2010 2009 2008 1,27% 1,33% 1,22% 1,39% No. 15 12 9 14 No. 10 8 4 9 1,81% 2,03% 2,14% 2,20% 2,97% 2,64% 2,58% 2,55% 16 23 22 15 37 46 54 37 8 5 8 8 15 20 17 11 % 67% 67% 44% 64% 50% 22% 36% 53% 41% 43% 31% 30% 2011 2010 2009 2008 2011 2010 2009 2008 1,22% 1,23% 1,39% 1,58% 2,51% 2,44% 2,43% 2,30% 9 12 9 6 67 78 83 66 4 7 5 2 33 29 30 29 44% 58% 56% 33% 49% 37% 36% 44% 1,00% 1,07% 0,70% 1,75% 2011 2010 2009 2008 2011 2010 2009 2008 2,63% 2,46% 2,45% 2,47% 1,55% 1,20% 1,67% 1,32% 47 58 64 46 11 5 6 11 17 18 17 15 10 4 5 10 2011 2010 2009 2008 2,36% 2,28% 2,33% 2,24% 76 90 92 72 37 36 35 31 2,97% 2,50% 2,47% 2,95% No. 8 3 2 6 0 0 0 0 TAB. 22: APPOINTMENT OF STATUTORY AUDITORS INDEX FTSE MIB FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL FAMILY STATE TOTAL Quorum % to submit a list µ Number of companies for which the minutes are available Companies where multiple lists were submitted Quorum (%) in the companies where Numbero of lists multiple lists were submitted (in total) submitted Number of lists submitted by a number of Italian Funds (Assogestioni) µ µ 0,94% 1,13% 0,83% 1,19% 1,85 1,50 1,82 1,85 2,05% 1,63% 1,89% 2,29% 1,58 1,28 1,48 1,68 1,37 1,38 1,41 1,34 0 0 1 0 2,09% 2,07% 2,24% 2,16% 1,86 1,63 1,88 2,00 1,51 1,35 1,42 1,49 1 2 0 1 5 2 4 5 37% 20% 36% 39% 92% 100% 75% 92% 2,32% 2,50% 2,23% 2,38% 1,41% 1,00% 1,50% 1,59% 1,38 1,20 1,39 1,41 2,00 2,14 1,75 2,00 1 0 3 1 3 2 0 4 47% 37% 38% 49% 2,03% 1,98% 2,08% 2,05% 1,54 1,38 1,45 1,54 6 4 4 6 Year 2011 2010 2009 2008 2011 2010 2009 2008 2011 2010 2009 2008 1,27% 1,56% 1,32% 1,38% N° 13 8 11 13 No. 8 4 6 8 2,13% 2,02% 1,98% 2,26% 2,80% 2,49% 2,56% 2,56% 19 18 21 19 30 42 59 35 10 4 9 12 11 16 21 12 % 62% 50% 55% 62% 53% 22% 43% 63% 37% 38% 36% 34% 2011 2010 2009 2008 2011 2010 2009 2008 1,64% 1,54% 1,06% 1,56% 2,32% 2,33% 2,44% 2,29% 7 8 8 8 71 63 89 70 4 5 4 6 33 21 33 32 57% 63% 50% 75% 46% 33% 37% 46% 1,50% 1,60% 0,75% 1,50% 2011 2010 2009 2008 2011 2010 2009 2008 2,39% 2,48% 2,37% 2,34% 1,67% 1,00% 1,75% 1,63% 52 41 67 54 12 7 4 12 19 8 24 21 11 7 3 11 2011 2010 2009 2008 2,26% 2,24% 2,32% 2,22% 78 71 97 78 37 26 37 38 2,73% 2,31% 2,50% 2,54% No. 6 3 3 6 0 1 0 0 TAB. 23: PRESENCE OF MINORITY SHAREHOLDERS HOLDING A BLOCK OF SHARES EXCEEDING THE QUORUM REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A LIST For the election of the BoD/Supervisory Board For the election of the BoSA Have been submitted: Shareholders over the quorum % NO shareholders over the quorum % Total % Shareholders over the quorum % NO shareholders over the quorum % Total % More slates Only one slate Total 36 29 65 55% 45% 100% 1 10 11 9% 91% 100% 37 39 76 49% 51% 100% 36 33 69 52% 48% 100% 1 8 9 11% 89% 100% 37 41 78 47% 53% 100% % Total % TAB. 23: PRESENCE OF MINORITY SHAREHOLDERS HOLDING A BLOCK OF SHARES EXCEEDING THE QUORUM REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A LIST (2010) For the election of the BoD/Supervisory Board % Total % Shareholders over the quorum % NO shareholders over the quorum 0 0% 36 40% 26 39% 0 0% 26 37% 9 9 100% 100% 54 90 60% 100% 40 66 61% 100% 5 5 100% 100% 45 71 63% 100% Have been submitted: Shareholders over the quorum % NO shareholders over the quorum More slates 36 44% Only one slate Total 45 81 56% 100% TAB. 23: PRESENCE OF MINORITY SHAREHOLDERS HOLDING A BLOCK OF SHARES EXCEEDING THE QUORUM REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A LIST (2009) For the election of the BoSA For the election of the BoD/Supervisory Board For the election of the BoSA Have been submitted: Shareholders over the quorum % NO shareholders over the quorum % Total % Shareholders over the quorum % NO shareholders over the quorum % Total % More slates Only one slate Total 34 46 80 43% 58% 100% 1 11 12 8% 92% 100% 35 57 92 38% 62% 100% 37 52 89 42% 58% 100% 0 8 8 0% 100% 100% 37 60 97 38% 62% 100% TAB. 23: PRESENCE OF MINORITY SHAREHOLDERS HOLDING A BLOCK OF SHARES EXCEEDING THE QUORUM REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A LIST (2008) For the election of the BoD/Supervisory Board For the election of the BoSA Have been submitted: Shareholders over the quorum % NO shareholders over the quorum % Total % Shareholders over the quorum % NO shareholders over the quorum % Total % More slates Only one slate Total 31 35 66 47% 53% 100% 0 6 6 0% 100% 100% 31 41 72 43% 57% 100% 37 36 73 51% 49% 100% 1 5 6 17% 83% 100% 38 41 79 48% 52% 100% TAB. 24: LISTS OF CANDIDATES TO THE BoD (2011 DATA) Lists Votes (%) Voting rights (%) held by the shareholders received at the AGM who submitted the list Difference (further votes received) At least one candidate is elected Number of candidates on the list Candidates Elected No. µ µ µ No. No.TOT µ N°o.TOT Ranking of the list: majority 74 45,1% 58,0% 12,9% 100,0% 691 9,3 660 8,9 96% minority TOTAL 45 119 6,1% 30,1% 12,9% 41,0% 6,7% 10,9% 82,2% 161 852 3,6 7,2 67 727 1,5 43% 6,2 86% LISTS OF CANDIDATES TO THE BoD (2010 DATA) Lists Difference (further votes received) At least one candidate is elected Ranking of the list: majority minority TOTAL LISTS OF CANDIDATES BoD (2009 DATA) Ranking of the list: majority minority TOTAL LISTS OF CANDIDATES TO THE Bod (2008 DATA) Ranking of the list: majority minority TOTAL Votes (%) Voting rights (%) held by the shareholders received at the AGM who submitted the list No. µ µ µ 90 47 137 48,8% 8,7% 34,8% 59,1% 10,5% 42,5% 10,3% 1,8% 7,7% 100,0% 91,5% Difference (further votes received) At least one candidate is elected Lists Votes (%) Voting rights (%) held by the shareholders received at the AGM who submitted the list No. µ µ µ 92 45 137 48,4% 7,4% 35,3% 59,4% 10,3% 44,6% 11,1% 2,9% 9,3% 100,0% 88,9% Difference (further votes received) At least one candidate is elected Lists Votes (%) Voting rights (%) held by the shareholders received at the AGM who submitted the list No. µ µ µ 72 36 108 46,1% 6,7% 32,7% 57,1% 9,5% 40,8% 11,0% 2,8% 8,1% 100,0% 94,4% Number of candidates on the list µ No.TOT 875 168 1043 9,7 3,6 7,6 822 64 886 µ % 9,1 94% 1,4 38% 6,5 85% Candidate Elected No. TOT µ No. TOT 893 195 1088 9,7 4,3 7,9 858 62 920 Number of candidates on the list % Candidates Elected No.TOT Number of candidates on the list µ µ % 9,3 96% 1,4 32% 6,7 85% Candidates Elected No. TOT µ No. TOT 683 99 782 9,6 2,8 7,3 651 60 711 µ % 9,0 94% 1,7 61% 6,6 90% TAB. 25: LISTS OF CANDIDATES TO THE BOARD OF STATUTORY AUDITORS (2011 DATA) Ranking of the list majority minority TOTAL LISTS OF CANDIDATES TO THE BOARD OF STATUTORY AUDITORS (2010 DATA) Ranking of the list: majority minority TOTAL LISTS OF CANDIDATES TO THE BOARD OF STATUTORY AUDITORS (2009 DATA) Ranking of the list: majority minority TOTAL LISTS OF CANDIDATES TO THE BOARD OF STATUTORY AUDITORS (2008 DATA) Ranking of the list: majority minority TOTAL Lists Voting rights (%) held by the shareholders who submitted the list Votes (%) received at the AGM Difference (further votes received) At least one candidate is elected No. µ µ µ No. No.TOT µ No.TOT 78 40 118 51,0% 8,3% 36,5% 60,8% 15,2% 45,2% 9,8% 7,0% 8,7% 100,0% 92,1% 219 56 275 2,8 1,4 2,3 199 38 237 Lists Voting rights (%) held by the shareholders who submitted the list Votes (%) received at the AGM Difference (further votes received) At least one candidate is elected No. µ µ µ 71 27 98 50,9% 6,6% 38,3% 60,2% 9,2% 46,1% 9,3% 2,6% 7,8% 100,0% 96,3% Lists Voting rights (%) held by the shareholders who submitted the list Votes (%) received at the AGM Difference (further votes received) At least one candidate is elected No. µ µ µ 97 44 141 46,7% 6,1% 34,3% 59,6% 8,7% 44,8% 12,9% 2,5% 10,5% 100,0% 88,6% Lists Voting rights (%) held by the shareholders who submitted the list Votes (%)received at the AGM Difference (further votes received) At least one candidate is elected No. µ µ µ 78 42 120 48,5% 6,2% 33,8% 57,7% 9,4% 41,1% 9,2% 3,3% 7,3% 100,0% 90,5% Number of candidates on the list Number of candidates on the lists Candidates Elected µ No.TOT 208 51 259 2,9 1,9 2,6 190 27 217 2,6 91% 1,0 68% 2,0 86% µ % 2,7 91% 1,0 53% 2,2 84% Candidates Elected No. TOT µ No.TOT 292 80 372 3,0 1,8 2,6 262 41 303 Number of candidates on the lists % Candidates Elected No. TOT Number of candidates on the lists µ µ % 2,7 90% 0,9 51% 2,1 81% Candidates Elected No.TOT µ No.TOT 224 59 283 2,9 1,4 2,4 199 39 238 µ % 2,6 89% 0,9 66% 2,0 84% Voting rights (%) held by the Minority slates shareholders who submitted the list TAB. 26: " MINORITY LISTS" OF CANDIDATES TO THE BoD INDEX FTSE MIB FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL FAMILY STATE TOTAL Votes (%) receveid at the AGM Difference (furter votes received) Number of candidates on the list Directors elected by "minority lists" Directors elected by Assogestioni lists (total) % in term of candidates on No.TOT the list 60% 24 70% 8 3 36% 14 75% 29% 0 35% 0 42% 0 68% 0 42% 0 30% 0 43% 0 57% 0 No. % µ µ µ No.TOT µ No.TOT µ Year 2011 2010 2009 2008 2011 2010 2009 2008 2011 2010 2009 2008 14 11 7 12 11 7 10 19 15 23 19 11 31% 23% 16% 33% 24% 15% 22% 53% 33% 49% 42% 31% 3,3% 4,1% 4,5% 2,4% 5,0% 5,1% 8,3% 7,3% 8,3% 10,1% 7,0% 9,7% 16,1% 7,3% 8,1% 8,1% 10,3% 8,7% 11,5% 9,3% 10,1% 10,6% 8,1% 10,7% 12,8% 3,2% 3,7% 5,7% 5,3% 3,6% 3,2% 2,0% 1,7% 0,5% 1,0% 1,0% 48 30 42 32 41 26 43 25 51 86 47 28 3,4 2,7 6,0 2,7 3,7 3,7 4,3 2,5 3,4 3,7 2,5 2,5 29 21 15 24 12 9 18 17 20 26 20 16 2,1 1,9 2,1 2,0 1,1 1,3 1,8 1,7 1,4 1,1 1,1 1,5 2011 2010 2009 2008 2011 2010 2009 2008 5 10 9 2 40 37 36 34 11% 21% 20% 6% 89% 79% 80% 94% 1,7% 3,0% 6,2% 3,9% 6,7% 10,1% 7,6% 6,9% 6,9% 7,1% 11,1% 5,9% 13,0% 11,1% 10,2% 9,7% 5,2% 4,0% 4,9% 2,0% 6,3% 1,0% 2,6% 2,8% 34 44 54 3 127 124 141 96 6,8 4,4 6,0 1,5 3,2 3,4 3,9 2,8 2 15 24 2 65 49 38 58 0,5 1,5 2,7 1,0 1,6 1,3 1,1 1,7 7% 34% 44% 67% 51% 40% 27% 60% 0 5 2 0 24 3 1 14 0% 33% 8% 0% 37% 6% 3% 24% 2011 2010 2009 2008 2011 2010 2009 2008 18 19 18 16 14 8 9 12 40% 40% 40% 44% 31% 17% 20% 33% 7,9% 11,1% 6,9% 8,0% 4,4% 9,4% 9,3% 5,1% 9,3% 12,3% 8,0% 9,0% 14,6% 11,5% 11,6% 7,7% 1,4% 1,2% 1,1% 1,0% 10,2% 2,0% 2,2% 2,6% 36 46 55 28 47 29 41 45 2,0 2,4 3,1 1,8 3,4 3,6 4,6 3,8 24 22 19 21 26 16 22 22 1,3 1,2 1,1 1,3 1,9 2,0 2,4 1,8 67% 48% 35% 75% 55% 55% 54% 49% 4 0 1 4 15 3 0 9 17% 0% 5% 19% 58% 19% 0% 41% 2011 2010 2009 2008 45 47 45 36 100% 100% 100% 100% 6,1% 8,7% 7,4% 6,7% 12,9% 10,5% 10,3% 9,5% 6,7% 1,8% 2,9% 2,8% 161 168 195 99 3,6 3,6 4,3 2,8 67 64 62 60 1,5 1,4 1,4 1,7 43% 38% 32% 61% 24 8 3 14 36% 13% 5% 23% % 83% 38% 20% 58% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% Voting rights (%) held by the Minority slates shareholders who submitted the list TAB. 27: "MINORITY LISTS" OF CANDIDATES TO THE BOARD OF STATUTORY AUDITORS INDEX FTSE MIB FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL FAMILY STATE TOTAL Votes (%) received at the AGM Difference (further votes received) Number of candidates on the list Statutory Auditors elected by "minority lists" No. % µ µ µ No.TOT µ No.TOT µ Year 2011 2010 2009 2008 2011 2010 2009 2008 2011 2010 2009 2008 10 4 9 11 11 5 10 13 10 16 24 12 25% 15% 20% 26% 28% 19% 23% 31% 25% 59% 55% 29% 3,1% 3,6% 4,3% 1,3% 6,4% 4,5% 7,5% 5,5% 7,9% 7,2% 6,0% 7,3% 19,0% 7,0% 8,1% 9,2% 13,9% 7,2% 11,8% 7,6% 9,6% 9,9% 7,7% 8,5% 15,9% 3,3% 3,8% 7,9% 7,6% 2,7% 4,3% 2,2% 1,6% 2,7% 1,7% 1,2% 13 8 17 12 12 11 23 15 16 28 37 23 1,3 2,0 1,9 1,1 1,1 2,2 2,3 1,2 1,6 1,8 1,5 1,9 10 5 9 9 10 4 9 12 10 16 22 12 1,0 1,3 1,0 0,8 0,9 0,8 0,9 0,9 1,0 1,0 0,9 1,0 % (in term of candidates on the list) 77% 63% 53% 75% 83% 36% 39% 80% 63% 57% 59% 52% 2011 2010 2009 2008 2011 2010 2009 2008 4 5 7 8 36 22 37 34 10% 19% 16% 19% 90% 81% 84% 81% 3,3% 2,6% 4,5% 2,3% 8,8% 7,5% 6,3% 7,2% 8,4% 6,7% 10,9% 6,3% 16,0% 9,7% 8,5% 10,1% 5,1% 4,1% 6,5% 4,0% 7,2% 2,2% 2,2% 2,9% 6 12 21 10 50 39 59 49 1,5 2,4 3,0 1,3 1,4 1,8 1,6 1,4 4 6 5 6 34 21 36 33 1,0 1,2 0,7 0,8 0,9 1,0 1,0 1,0 2011 2010 2009 2008 2011 2010 2009 2008 19 8 26 22 12 8 3 12 48% 30% 59% 52% 30% 30% 7% 29% 9,7% 9,2% 6,4% 6,8% 6,2% 5,6% 6,4% 6,3% 13,5% 11,3% 7,3% 8,7% 16,2% 7,6% 11,4% 8,7% 3,9% 2,2% 0,9% 1,9% 10,0% 2,0% 4,9% 2,4% 25 12 40 32 16 15 5 15 1,3 1,5 1,5 1,5 1,3 1,9 1,7 1,3 18 8 26 21 12 7 3 12 2011 2010 2009 2008 40 27 44 42 100% 100% 100% 100% 8,3% 6,6% 6,1% 6,2% 15,2% 9,2% 8,7% 9,4% 7,0% 2,6% 2,5% 3,3% 56 51 80 59 1,4 1,9 1,8 1,4 38 27 41 39 Statutory Auditors elected by Assogestioni lists (total) No. TOT % 7 5 3 5 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 70% 100% 33% 56% 0% 0% 11% 0% 0% 6% 0% 0% 67% 50% 24% 60% 68% 54% 61% 67% 1 3 0 1 6 3 4 4 25% 50% 0% 17% 18% 14% 11% 12% 0,9 1,0 1,0 1,0 1,0 0,9 1,0 1,0 72% 67% 65% 66% 75% 47% 60% 80% 1 1 3 1 4 2 0 3 6% 13% 12% 5% 33% 29% 0% 25% 1,0 1,0 0,9 0,9 68% 53% 51% 66% 7 6 4 5 18% 22% 10% 13% Independent Directors Total number of TAB. 28: CLASSIFICATION OF directors (for which DIRECTORS (IN COMPANIES the E/NE classification WHERE MINORITY DIRECTORS is available) HAVE BEEN ELECTED-2011 DATA) Executive Directors Non-Executive Directors according to the "CG Code definiton" according to the "CLF definiton" No. No. % No. % No. % No. % Number of Directors appointed by minority shareholders appointed by majority shareholders TOTAL 185 951 1.136 18 245 263 10% 26% 23% 167 706 873 90% 74% 77% 131 364 495 71% 38% 44% 140 406 546 76% 43% 48% % values appointed by minority shareholders appointed by majority shareholders TOTAL 16% 84% 100% Total number of CLASSIFICATION OF DIRECTORS (IN COMPANIES WHERE MINORITY directors (for which DIRECTORS HAVE BEEN ELECTED- the E/NE classification is available) 2010 DATA) 7% 93% 100% 19% 81% 100% 26% 74% 100% 26% 74% 100% Independent Directors Executive Directors Non-Executive Directors according to the "CG Code definition" according to the "CLF definition" No. No. % No. % No. % No. % Number of Directors appointed by minority shareholders appointed by majority shareholders TOTAL 169 851 1.020 12 211 223 7% 25% 22% 157 640 797 93% 75% 78% 115 316 431 68% 37% 42% 119 332 451 70% 39% 44% % values appointed by minority shareholders appointed by majority shareholders TOTAL 17% 83% 100% 5% 95% 100% 20% 80% 100% 27% 73% 100% 26% 74% 100% Number of companies where Number of companies Number of a) Minority where at least one companies where Directors have been Minority Director is Minority Directors elected and b) ICC member of the ICC have been elected has been established TAB. 29: COMPANIES WITH DIRECTORS APPOINTED BY MINORITY SHAREHOLDERS AND COMPOSITION OF BOARD COMMITTEES INDEX FTSE MIB FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL FAMILY STATE TOTAL Number of companies where a) Minority Directors have been elected and b) RC has been established Number of companies were at least one Minority Directors is member of the RC Year 2011 2010 2009 2008 2011 2010 2009 2008 2011 2010 2009 2008 No. 22 19 No. 22 19 % 100% 100% No. 16 15 % 73% 79% No. 22 19 % 100% 100% No. 15 14 % 68% 74% 21 21 21 21 100% 100% 10 11 48% 52% 21 21 100% 100% 11 12 52% 57% 45 38 38 34 84% 89% 21 17 55% 50% 32 29 71% 76% 16 15 50% 52% 2011 2010 2009 2008 2011 2010 2009 2008 14 12 14 11 100% 92% 7 6 50% 55% 14 11 100% 92% 6 5 43% 45% 84 76 76 70 90% 92% 42 41 55% 59% 70 64 83% 84% 42 41 60% 64% 2011 2010 2009 2008 2011 2010 2009 2008 45 38 38 33 84% 87% 18 18 47% 55% 37 31 82% 82% 15 14 41% 45% 24 23 21 23 88% 100% 16 17 76% 74% 19 20 79% 87% 19 19 100% 95% 2011 2010 2009 2008 98 88 90 81 92% 92% 49 47 54% 58% 84 75 86% 85% 48 46 57% 61% Year Number of companies Number of companies EXECUTIVE INDEPENDENT Number of that have established providing information on directors (% NON-EXECUTIVE directors (% on MINORITY directors in the a Remuneration on the directors (% on NON-EXECUTIVE directors (% on the the committee committee Committee Committee) the committee) directors) composition committee) # No. % # No. % µ µ % µ % µ % µ % Number of companies providing information on the attendance of each directors to committee meetings # No. % µ Number of companies providing information on tasks entrusted to the committee # No. % Number of companies providing information on the meetings' frequency # No. % 2011 37 36 97,3% 36 36 100,0% 3,8 0,1 2,8% 3,7 97,2% 2,9 79,6% 0,6 18,1% 36 35 97,2% 0,94 36 32 88,9% 36 36 ##### 5,08 2010 37 36 97,3% 36 36 100,0% 3,9 0,1 1,9% 3,9 98,1% 3,0 78,6% 0,6 16,0% 36 36 100,0% 0,94 36 32 88,9% 36 36 ##### 5,42 2009 39 37 94,9% 37 37 100,0% 3,8 0,1 1,6% 3,7 98,4% 2,7 75,3% 37 34 91,9% 0,93 37 34 91,9% 37 37 ##### 4,24 TAB.30: REMUNERATION COMMITTEE INDEX FTSE MIB FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MICRO CAP OTHERS STAR OTHERS FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL TOTAL Number of meetings µ 2011 60 57 95,0% 57 57 100,0% 3,2 0,0 0,4% 3,2 99,6% 2,4 74,8% 0,2 7,0% 56 51 91,1% 0,96 57 45 78,9% 57 55 96,5% 3,11 2010 61 58 95,1% 58 58 100,0% 3,2 0,1 1,5% 3,1 98,5% 2,2 70,6% 0,2 6,9% 58 49 84,5% 0,96 58 38 65,5% 58 57 98,3% 2,74 2009 60 56 93,3% 56 56 100,0% 3,2 0,1 2,7% 3,1 97,3% 2,3 74,3% 56 50 89,3% 0,93 56 38 67,9% 56 53 94,6% 2,79 2011 134 107 79,9% 107 107 100,0% 3,0 0,0 1,1% 2,9 98,9% 2,2 74,9% 0,1 4,7% 105 85 81,0% 0,98 107 72 67,3% 107 103 96,3% 1,93 2010 149 117 78,5% 117 117 100,0% 3,0 0,1 1,6% 2,9 98,4% 2,2 74,2% 0,1 5,3% 117 89 76,1% 0,97 117 71 60,7% 117 112 95,7% 1,86 2009 140 109 77,9% 109 108 99,1% 2,9 0,1 1,9% 2,9 98,1% 2,2 76,1% 107 73 68,2% 0,95 109 65 59,6% 109 100 91,7% 1,83 2011 2010 2009 19 12 21 78,9% 66,7% 71,4% 15 8 15 100,0% 100,0% 100,0% 3,0 3,1 2,9 0,1 0,4 0,2 2,2% 12,5% 6,7% 2,9 2,8 2,7 97,8% 87,5% 93,3% 1,9 1,9 1,9 61,1% 62,5% 64,4% 15 8 15 12 6 10 80,0% 75,0% 66,7% 1,0 1,0 1,00 15 8 15 40,0% 25,0% 33,3% 15 8 15 2,29 1,63 1,85 15 8 15 15 8 15 0,3 0,5 10,6% 15,6% 6 2 5 14 93,3% 8 ##### 13 86,7% 2011 12 8 66,7% 8 8 100,0% 3,0 0,0 0,0% 3,0 100,0% 2,3 75,0% 0,1 4,2% 8 5 62,5% 0,93 8 5 62,5% 8 8 ##### 1,88 2010 13 10 76,9% 10 10 100,0% 3,0 0,1 3,3% 2,9 96,7% 1,9 66,7% 0,1 3,3% 10 8 80,0% 0,92 10 7 70,0% 10 10 ##### 1,70 2009 19 12 63,2% 12 12 100,0% 2,9 0,0 0,0% 2,9 100,0% 2,1 74,4% 13 10 76,9% 0,97 12 7 58,3% 12 12 ##### 2,17 2011 72 72 100,0% 72 72 100,0% 3,0 0,0 0,0% 3,0 100,0% 2,3 77,3% 0,1 3,5% 70 59 84,3% 0,97 72 51 70,8% 72 70 97,2% 2,20 2010 71 71 100,0% 71 71 100,0% 3,0 0,0 0,0% 3,0 100,0% 2,2 74,2% 0,1 4,0% 71 60 84,5% 0,97 71 46 64,8% 71 69 97,2% 2,14 2009 71 71 100,0% 71 71 100,0% 3,0 0,0 0,5% 3,0 99,5% 2,3 75,1% 71 54 76,1% 0,95 71 43 60,6% 71 67 94,4% 2,31 2008 79 79 100,0% 79 79 100,0% 3,0 0,1 2,8% 2,9 97,6% 2,2 76,8% 78 59 75,6% 0,97 79 46 58,2% 79 75 94,9% 2,39 2011 190 151 79,5% 151 151 100,0% 3,3 0,1 1,8% 3,2 98,2% 2,3 73,5% 0,3 9,9% 150 129 86,0% 0,96 151 109 72,2% 151 146 96,7% 3,05 2010 201 158 78,6% 158 158 100,0% 3,3 0,1 3,0% 3,2 97,0% 2,3 72,8% 0,3 9,3% 158 128 81,0% 0,96 158 104 65,8% 158 154 97,5% 2,86 2009 208 158 76,0% 158 157 99,4% 3,2 0,1 3,0% 3,1 97,0% 2,3 74,5% 157 123 78,3% 0,94 158 106 67,1% 158 148 93,7% 2,59 2011 28 25 89,3% 25 25 100,0% 3,7 0,1 2,7% 3,6 97,3% 2,5 71,5% 0,4 12,3% 25 22 88,0% 0,93 25 21 84,0% 25 25 ##### 5,56 2010 29 25 86,2% 25 25 100,0% 3,8 0,1 2,7% 3,7 97,3% 2,5 67,5% 0,3 8,9% 25 22 88,0% 0,90 25 20 80,0% 25 25 ##### 3,96 2009 31 25 80,6% 25 25 100,0% 3,8 0,1 2,7% 3,8 97,3% 2,4 67,4% 26 21 80,8% 0,90 25 20 80,0% 25 25 ##### 3,92 2008 35 27 77,1% 27 27 100,0% 3,7 0,1 2,8% 3,6 97,2% 2,3 64,4% 27 25 92,6% 0,95 27 24 88,9% 27 27 ##### 3,33 2011 234 198 84,6% 198 198 100,0% 3,1 0,0 1,0% 3,1 99,0% 2,3 75,1% 0,2 7,2% 195 166 85,1% 0,97 198 139 70,2% 198 191 96,5% 2,41 2010 243 204 84,0% 204 204 100,0% 3,1 0,1 2,0% 3,0 98,0% 2,3 73,9% 0,2 7,5% 204 166 81,4% 0,97 204 130 63,7% 204 198 97,1% 2,47 2009 2008 248 204 256 207 82,3% 80,9% 204 203 207 204 99,5% 98,6% 3,0 3,1 0,1 0,1 2,2% 4,2% 3,0 2,9 97,8% 95,6% 2,2 2,2 75,6% 77,3% 202 156 200 152 77,2% 76,0% 0,95 0,96 204 129 207 121 63,2% 58,5% 204 190 93,1% 207 193 93,2% 2,32 2,28 2011 2010 262 223 272 229 85,1% 84,2% 223 223 229 229 100,0% 100,0% 3,2 3,2 0,0 0,1 1,2% 2,1% 3,1 3,1 98,8% 97,9% 2,3 2,3 74,7% 73,2% 220 188 229 188 85,5% 82,1% 0,97 0,96 223 160 229 150 71,7% 65,5% 223 216 96,9% 229 223 97,4% 2,78 2,64 2009 2008 279 229 291 234 82,1% 80,4% 229 228 234 231 99,6% 98,7% 3,1 3,1 0,1 0,1 2,2% 4,1% 3,1 3,0 97,8% 95,8% 2,3 2,2 74,7% 75,8% 228 177 227 177 77,6% 78,0% 0,95 0,96 229 149 234 145 65,1% 62,0% 229 215 93,9% 234 220 94,0% 2,50 2,41 0,3 0,2 7,8% 7,6% Number of companies that have established the Remuneration TAB.31: COMPOSITION OF Committee BOARD COMMITTEES INDEX FTSE MIB RC composed by only NON-EXECUTIVE directors RC composed by majority of INDEPENDENT directors RC composed by only INDEPENDENT directors Number of companies that have esteblished the Internal Control Committee ICC composed by only NON-EXECUTIVE directors ICC composed by ICC composed by only majority of INDEPENDENT directors INDEPENDENT directors Year # No. % # No. % # No. % # No. % # No. % # No. % # No. % # No. % 2011 37 36 97,3% 36 34 94,4% 36 33 91,7% 36 12 33,3% 37 37 100,0% 37 36 97,3% 37 37 100,0% 37 21 56,8% 2010 37 36 97,3% 36 34 94,4% 36 34 94,4% 36 10 27,8% 37 37 100,0% 37 37 100,0% 37 36 97,3% 37 23 62,2% 2011 60 57 95,0% 57 56 98,2% 57 54 94,7% 57 18 31,6% 60 59 98,3% 59 59 100,0% 59 54 91,5% 59 29 49,2% 2010 61 58 95,1% 58 55 94,8% 58 52 89,7% 58 13 22,4% 61 59 96,7% 59 58 98,3% 59 56 94,9% 59 23 39,0% 2009 FTSE MID CAP 2009 2011 134 107 79,9% 107 103 96,3% 107 95 88,8% 107 35 32,7% 134 117 87,3% 117 113 96,6% 117 107 91,5% 117 51 43,6% FTSE SMALL CAP 2010 149 117 78,5% 117 112 95,7% 117 105 89,7% 117 33 28,2% 149 125 83,9% 125 119 95,2% 125 117 93,6% 125 48 38,4% 2011 FTSE MICRO CAP 2010 2009 19 12 15 8 78,9% 66,7% 15 8 14 5 93,3% 62,5% 15 8 10 6 66,7% 75,0% 15 8 5 2 33,3% 25,0% 19 12 13 8 68,4% 66,7% 13 8 12 8 92,3% 100,0% 13 8 11 8 84,6% 100,0% 13 8 5 3 38,5% 37,5% 2011 12 8 66,7% 8 8 100,0% 8 8 100,0% 8 2 25,0% 12 9 75,0% 9 9 100,0% 9 9 100,0% 9 4 44,4% 2010 13 10 76,9% 10 9 90,0% 10 9 90,0% 10 0 0,0% 13 11 84,6% 11 11 100,0% 11 11 100,0% 11 4 36,4% 2009 OTHERS 2009 STAR 2011 72 72 100,0% 72 72 100,0% 72 71 98,6% 72 23 31,9% 72 72 100,0% 72 72 100,0% 72 72 100,0% 72 28 38,9% 2010 71 71 100,0% 71 71 100,0% 71 70 98,6% 71 16 22,5% 71 71 100,0% 71 71 100,0% 71 71 100,0% 71 24 33,8% 2011 190 151 79,5% 151 143 94,7% 151 129 85,4% 151 49 32,5% 190 163 85,8% 163 157 96,3% 163 146 89,6% 163 82 50,3% 2010 201 158 78,6% 158 144 91,1% 158 136 86,1% 158 42 26,6% 201 169 89,7% 169 162 95,9% 169 157 92,9% 169 77 45,6% 2009 2008 OTHERS 2009 FINANCIAL 2011 28 25 89,3% 25 24 96,0% 25 21 84,0% 25 6 24,0% 28 26 92,9% 26 25 96,2% 26 25 96,2% 26 13 50,0% 2010 29 25 86,2% 25 23 92,0% 25 21 84,0% 25 3 12,0% 29 26 89,7% 26 25 96,2% 26 24 92,3% 26 14 53,8% 2011 234 198 84,6% 198 191 96,5% 198 179 90,4% 198 66 33,3% 234 209 89,3% 209 204 97,6% 209 193 92,3% 209 97 46,4% 2010 243 204 84,0% 204 192 94,1% 204 185 90,7% 204 55 27,0% 243 214 88,1% 214 208 97,2% 214 204 95,3% 214 87 40,7% 262 223 272 229 85,1% 84,2% 223 215 229 215 96,4% 93,9% 223 200 229 206 89,7% 90,0% 223 72 229 58 32,3% 25,3% 262 235 272 240 89,7% 88,2% 235 229 240 233 97,4% 97,1% 235 218 240 228 92,8% 95,0% 235 110 240 101 46,8% 42,1% 2009 2008 NON-FINANCIAL 2009 2008 TOTAL 2011 2010 2009 2008 INTERNAL CONTROL COMMITTEE REMUNERATION COMMITTEE TAB.32: ATTENDANCE TO BOARD COMMITTES Average (NDIVIDUAL DIRECTORS- Median 2011 DATA) Attendance distribution 100 90<x<100 75<x<90 50<x<75 x<50 Total (available data) n.a. Total 96,0% 100% No. 521 4 25 31 19 600 100 700 % 87% 1% 4% 5% 3% 86% 14% 100% Average Median % cumulated 87% 88% 92% 97% 100% No. 511 31 75 37 21 675 60 735 REMUNERATION COMMITTE ATTENDANCE TO BOARD COMMITTEES Average (INDIVIDUAL Median DIRECTORS-2010 DATA) Attendance distribution 100 90<x<100 75<x<90 50<x<75 x<50 Total (available data) n.a. Total No. 539 3 18 24 15 599 128 727 ATTENDANCE TO BOARD COMMITTEES Average (INDIVIDUAL Median DIRECTORS-2009 DATA) Attendance distribution 100 90<x<100 75<x<90 50<x<75 x<50 Total (available data) n.a. Total ATTENDANCE TO BOARD COMMITTEES (2007 DATA) Attendance distribution 100 90<x<100 75<x<90 50<x<75 x<50 Total (available data) n.a. Total No. 497 1 23 19 13 553 156 709 ATTENDANCE TO BOARD COMMITTEE (2007 DATA) REMUNERATION COMMITTEE Average Median Attendance distribution 100 90<x<100 75<x<90 50<x<75 x<50 Total (available data) n.a. Total No. 56 2 4 3 1 66 71 137 INTERNAL CONTROL COMMITTEE % 85% 3% 6% 5% 2% 48% 52% 100% Average 96,2% 100% Median 100% Median 100% % 90% 1% 3% 4% 3% 82% 18% 100% % cumulated 90% 90% 93% 97% 100% No 519 19 75 49 22 684 68 752 % 86% 1% 4% 6% 3% 78% 22% 100% Average Median % cumulated 86% 87% 91% 97% 100% % 76% 3% 11% 7% 3% 91% 9% 100% % cumulated 76% 79% 90% 97% 100% INTERNAL CONTROL COMMITTEE 93,0% 100% No. 454 22 67 48 10 601 140 741 % 76% 4% 11% 8% 2% 81% 19% 100% % cumulated 76% 79% 90% 98% 100% INTERNAL CONTROL COMMITTEE 95,6% 100% % 90% 0% 4% 3% 2% 78% 22% 100% Average Median % cumulated 90% 90% 94% 98% 100% % 85% 0% 5% 4% 6% 65% 35% 100% 93,5% 100% No. 490 15 49 49 15 618 131 749 INTERNAL CONTROL COMMITTEE Average Median % cumulated 85% 85% 90% 94% 100% No. 384 8 46 35 26 499 192 691 % 79% 2% 8% 8% 2% 83% 17% 100% % cumulated 79% 82% 90% 98% 100% 91,0% 100% % 77% 2% 9% 7% 5% 72% 28% 100% % cumulated 77% 79% 88% 95% 100% % cumulated 85% 88% 94% 98% 100% NOMINATION COMMITTEE 92,2% 92,0% 100% No. 372 1 22 17 25 437 236 673 % cumulated 76% 80% 91% 97% 100% 95,9% 100% Average 94,0% 100% REMUNERATION COMMITTEE Average Median % 76% 5% 11% 5% 3% 92% 8% 100% NOMINATION COMMITTEE Average Median 95,5% REMUNERATION COMMITEE No. 480 4 21 33 17 555 160 715 93,7% 100% No. 57 0 4 2 1 64 76 140 % 89% 0% 6% 3% 2% 46% 54% 100% % cumulated 89% 89% 95% 98% 100% TAB.33 b): DIRECTORS' REMUNERATION (median data in € .000) TAB.33 a): DIRECTORS' REMUNERATION (average data in € .000) INDEX FTSE MIB FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MICRO CAP OTHERS STAR OTHERS FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL TOTAL Year # Remunerat ion for office held 2011 548 203 46,6% 4 0,8% Bonuses and other incentive s 62 2010 2009 568 585 205 197 47,2% 47,3% 6 3 1,4% 0,8% 51 68 11,8% 16,3% (in % of Total) Non Monetary Benefits (in % of Total) (in % of Total) Other Remunera tion (in % of Total) Total Remunera tion 14,2% 167 38,3% 435 172 148 39,6% 35,6% 434 417 2011 732 138 55,9% 3 1,2% 28 11,3% 78 31,5% 247 2010 2009 708 677 138 129 55,1% 48,3% 2 2 0,7% 0,7% 19 39 7,8% 14,6% 91 97 36,4% 36,5% 250 267 2011 1170 81 58,5% 2 1,6% 9 6,8% 46 33,2% 138 2010 2009 1246 1137 74 79 62,1% 53,7% 1 9 0,8% 6,0% 9 15 7,9% 9,9% 35 45 29,2% 30,4% 120 148 2011 175 60 60,9% 1 0,9% 18 18,0% 20 20,1% 99 2010 2009 113 189 69 73 69,7% 57,7% 2 9 1,6% 7,3% 5 22 5,3% 17,1% 23 23 23,3% 17,9% 99 126 2011 101 94 56,4% 1 0,6% 1 0,6% 71 42,4% 167 2010 2009 102 141 55 88 39,1% 48,7% 0 1 0,2% 0,6% 35 40 25,4% 22,0% 49 52 35,3% 28,6% 140 181 2011 682 98 58,2% 3 1,6% 21 12,6% 46 27,5% 168 2010 647 88 55,2% 2 1,3% 18 11,0% 52 32,5% 160 INDEX FTSE MIB FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MICRO CAP OTHERS STAR Remunerati on for office held Non Monetary Benefits Bonuses Other Total and other Remunerati Remunerati incentives on on Year # 2011 548 99 0 0 0 125 2010 2009 568 585 90 85 0 0 0 0 0 0 120 113 2011 732 40 0 0 0 55 2010 2009 708 677 38 38 0 0 0 0 0 0 53 50 2011 1170 25 0 0 0 32 2010 2009 1246 1137 24 22 0 0 0 0 0 0 30 30 2011 175 20 0 0 0 20 2010 2009 113 189 19 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 28 2011 101 20 0 0 0 25 2010 2009 102 141 25 40 0 0 0 0 0 0 45 52 2011 682 32 0 0 0 38 2010 647 27 0 0 0 38 39 2009 630 85 44,9% 15 7,8% 36 18,7% 54 28,5% 190 2009 630 28 0 0 0 2011 2044 127 52,0% 2 1,0% 26 10,8% 89 36,2% 245 2011 2044 39 0 0 0 54 2010 2009 2090 2099 126 126 53,1% 50,8% 2 3 1,0% 1,1% 23 33 9,6% 13,4% 86 86 36,3% 34,7% 237 249 2010 2009 2090 2099 44 45 0 0 0 0 0 0 62 62 2011 497 167 57,0% 3 1,2% 12 4,1% 110 37,7% 292 2010 507 176 58,7% 3 1,0% 18 5,9% 103 34,4% 299 OTHERS FINANCIAL 2011 497 40 0 0 0 50 2010 507 82 0 0 0 109 113 2009 509 176 58,7% 4 1,4% 49 16,4% 70 23,5% 300 2009 509 80 0 0 0 2011 2229 109 52,0% 2 1,1% 28 13,3% 71 33,6% 211 2011 2229 45 0 0 0 62 2010 2009 2230 2220 104 103 51,7% 46,9% 2 6 1,0% 2,6% 22 30 11,2% 13,8% 72 81 36,1% 36,7% 200 220 2010 2009 2230 2220 30 30 0 0 0 0 0 0 44 44 2011 2726 120 53,1% 3 1,1% 25 11,2% 78 34,6% 226 2011 2726 37 0 0 0 50 2010 2009 2737 2729 117 117 53,5% 49,7% 2 5 1,0% 2,3% 21 34 9,8% 14,4% 78 79 35,7% 33,6% 219 235 2010 2009 2737 2729 38 37 0 0 0 0 0 0 55 55 NON-FINANCIAL TOTAL Tab. 34 a): DIRECTORS' REMUNERATION, BY ROLE (average data in € .000) Remunerati on for office held % Non Monetary Benefits % Bonuses and other incentives % Others Remunera tion % Total Remunera tion 321 379 47,9% 14 1,7% 157 19,8% 241 30,5% 791 326 343 354 343 52,7% 47,2% 9 32 1,3% 4,5% 108 128 16,0% 17,5% 201 225 29,9% 30,9% 672 727 204 375 73,1% 3 0,7% 34 6,7% 100 19,5% 513 214 210 382 359 68,8% 62,0% 4 4 0,6% 0,7% 51 74 9,2% 12,8% 119 141 21,4% 24,4% 555 579 2011 182 170 56,0% 4 1,3% 28 9,1% 102 33,6% 303 2010 2009 178 168 162 190 45,4% 45,7% 2 3 0,5% 0,7% 14 66 4,0% 15,8% 178 157 50,1% 37,8% 356 416 2011 210 79 19,6% 3 0,8% 27 6,7% 294 72,8% 404 2010 2009 225 234 72 81 21,1% 22,1% 7 4 2,0% 1,0% 22 67 6,6% 18,4% 239 215 70,4% 58,5% 340 367 Role Year Managing Director 2011 2010 2009 2011 2010 2009 Chairman Deputy Chairman Other Executives Non-Executive in EC Other Non-Executives (Not Independent) Other Independent TOTAL # 2011 59 69 78,3% 1 0,8% 0 0,0% 18 20,8% 88 2010 2009 58 62 86 79 66,0% 58,1% 2 2 1,7% 1,5% 23 5 17,4% 3,9% 19 50 14,9% 36,5% 131 136 2011 768 35 47,5% 1 0,7% 1 0,7% 38 51,1% 74 2010 2009 755 730 36 33 43,6% 44,6% 0 1 0,6% 1,0% 5 8 5,5% 10,1% 42 33 50,4% 44,2% 83 75 2011 982 51 91,8% 0 0,2% 0 0,1% 4 7,9% 55 2010 2009 981 982 46 46 90,7% 88,0% 0 1 0,1% 1,8% 0 0 0,8% 0,8% 4 5 8,3% 9,4% 51 53 2011 2726 120 53,1% 3 1,1% 25 11,2% 78 34,6% 226 2010 2009 2737 2729 117 117 53,5% 50% 2 5 1,0% 2% 21 34 9,8% 14% 78 79 35,7% 34% 219 235 Tab. 34 b): DIRECTORS' REMUNERATION, BY ROLE (median data in € .000) Remunerati Non Bonuses Other Total ROLE Year # on for Monetary and other remunerati remunerati office held Benefits incentives on on Mananging Director 2011 321 241 0 0 36 409 2010 326 200 0 0 28 358 2009 343 181 0 0 33 360 Chairman Deputy Chairman Others Independent Non-Executive in EC Other NonExecutives (Not Independent) Other Independent TOTAL 2011 204 173 0 0 0 259 2010 2009 214 210 180 182 0 0 0 0 0 0 272 244 2011 182 119 0 0 0 173 2010 2009 178 168 111 118 0 0 0 0 0 0 169 193 2011 210 35 0 0 87 180 2010 2009 225 234 36 32 0 0 0 0 83 77 154 163 2011 59 47 0 0 0 59 2010 2009 58 62 53 62 0 0 0 0 0 0 63 69 2011 768 20 0 0 0 29 2010 2009 755 730 20 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 25 2011 982 35 0 0 0 36 2010 2009 981 982 30 32 0 0 0 0 0 0 35 35 2011 2726 40 0 0 0 55 2010 2009 2737 2729 38 37 0 0 0 0 0 0 55 55 Tab. 35: DIRECTORS' REMUNERATION, BY ROLE AND SECTOR (average data in € .000) Remuneration for office held # Non-Financial Financial NonFinancial Financial Non-Financial Financial Non-Financial 302 887 352 92 27 1001 476 752 211 2018 714 308 321 1148 761 308 314 22 20 8 33 325 457 95 105 528 299 182 219 2023 1537 594 672 30 174 674 323 11 15 0 291 114 100 791 463 31 34 183 176 750 758 319 282 2 4 4 4 85 147 46 60 32 63 133 157 869 972 502 503 2011 59 123 209 151 8 23 0 333 157 76 369 272 2010 2009 56 57 122 111 199 229 145 170 2 4 2 3 3 53 20 72 188 82 174 196 391 368 340 440 2011 55 155 91 70 17 8 0 168 298 305 393 407 2010 2009 58 46 167 188 87 104 66 76 15 5 4 3 3 143 29 49 345 358 202 180 450 610 301 308 2011 20 39 106 50 5 5 0 0 28 13 135 64 2010 2009 20 24 38 38 124 101 66 65 1 0 3 3 0 0 35 9 23 9 17 75 148 111 122 152 2011 136 632 63 29 3 16 0 30 69 32 132 61 2010 2009 140 128 615 602 66 67 29 26 0 2 1 1 0 1 6 9 66 29 36 34 133 99 71 70 Non-Financial Mananging Director 2011 19 2010 2009 18 22 2011 2010 2009 Non-Executive in EC Other Non-Executives (Not Independent) Other Independent TOTAL Total Remuneration Financial Financial Other Executives Other Remuneration Non-Financial Year Deputy Chairman Bonuses and other incentives Financial Role Chairman Non Monetary Benefits 2011 178 804 99 41 2 3 0 6 9 3 107 44 2010 2009 184 198 797 784 93 92 36 35 0 5 0 0 1 1 0 0 8 10 3 4 102 107 40 39 2011 497 2229 167 110 19 18 1001 326 110 72 292 211 2010 2009 507 509 2230 2220 176 176 104 103 3 4 2 6 18 49 22 30 103 70 72 81 299 300 200 220 Tab. 36 a): REMUNERATION OF INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS (average data in € .000) INDEX FTSE MIB FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MICRO CAP OTHERS STAR OTHERS FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL TOTAL Non Monetary Benefits Bonuses and other incentives Tab. 36 b): REMUNERATION OF INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS (median data in € .000) Other Remunera tion Total Remunera tion # Remuneration for office held 2011 245 100 93,9% 0 0,2% 0 0,0% 6 5,9% 107 2010 2009 261 268 93 90 92,0% 89,4% 0 0 0,1% 0,1% 1 0 0,9% 0,2% 7 10 7,0% 10,3% 101 101 Year % % % % 2011 264 44 90,2% 0 0,2% 0 0,0% 5 9,6% 49 2010 2009 252 256 42 42 88,2% 87,8% 0 0 0,3% 0,2% 0 1 0,0% 2,2% 5 5 11,5% 9,8% 48 47 2011 391 27 87,2% 0 0,0% 0 0,2% 4 12,6% 31 2010 2009 393 360 23 22 89,5% 91,2% 0 0 0,0% 0,0% 0 0 1,4% 0,4% 2 2 9,1% 8,4% 25 24 2011 50 36 94,7% 0 0,0% 1 3,0% 1 2,2% 38 2010 2009 45 53 22 22 95,5% 52,6% 0 16 1,0% 38,2% 1 1 3,5% 1,9% 0 3 0,0% 7,3% 23 43 2011 32 50 100,0% 0 0,0% 0 0,0% 0 0,0% 50 2010 2009 30 45 27 39 95,9% 98,0% 0 0 0,0% 0,0% 0 0 0,0% 0,0% 1 1 4,1% 2,0% 28 39 2011 247 28 93,8% 0 0,0% 0 0,2% 2 6,0% 30 2010 226 25 90,3% 0 0,0% 1 2,0% 2 7,6% 28 INDEX FTSE MIB FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MICRO CAP OTHERS STAR Year # Remunerat ion for office held Non Monetary Benefits Bonuses and other incentives Total Other remunerati remuneration on 2011 245 92 2 0 0 95 2010 2009 261 268 77 75 0 0 0 0 0 0 85 88 2011 264 37 1 2 0 40 2010 2009 252 256 35 36 0 0 0 0 0 0 40 40 2011 391 21 0 2 0 23 2010 2009 393 360 20 18 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 20 2011 50 19 0 10 0 20 2010 2009 45 53 13 17 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 17 2011 32 37 0 0 0 36 2010 2009 30 45 24 35 0 0 0 0 0 0 26 35 2011 247 25 0 6 0 25 2010 226 23 0 0 0 26 27 2009 216 26 88,4% 0 0,0% 1 4,3% 2 7,3% 30 2009 216 23 0 0 0 2011 735 59 91,5% 0 0,2% 0 0,1% 5 8,2% 64 2011 735 41 2 8 0 43 2010 2009 755 766 53 52 90,8% 88,0% 0 1 0,2% 2,0% 0 0 0,6% 0,3% 5 6 8,4% 9,7% 58 59 2010 2009 755 766 35 36 0 0 0 0 0 0 40 40 2011 178 99 91,6% 0 0,2% 0 0,0% 9 8,2% 108 2010 184 93 91,6% 0 0,2% 1 0,6% 8 7,6% 102 OTHERS FINANCIAL 2011 178 87 2 0 0 95 2010 184 77 0 0 0 84 90 2009 198 92 85,4% 5 4,2% 1 1,3% 10 9,1% 107 2009 198 72 0 0 0 2011 804 40 91,9% 0 0,1% 0 0,2% 3 7,8% 44 2011 804 30 2 7 0 31 2010 2009 797 784 36 35 90,2% 89,8% 0 0 0,1% 0,1% 0 0 0,9% 0,4% 3 4 8,7% 9,6% 40 39 2010 2009 797 784 28 27 0 0 0 0 0 0 30 30 2011 982 51 91,8% 0 0,2% 0 0,1% 4 7,9% 55 2010 2009 981 982 46 46 90,7% 88,0% 0 1 0,1% 1,8% 0 0 0,8% 0,8% 4 5 8,3% 9,4% 51 53 NON-FINANCIAL TOTAL 2011 982 35 2 7 0 36 2010 2009 981 982 30 32 0 0 0 0 0 0 35 35 TAB.37 a): REMUNERATION OF INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR BY COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP (average data in € .000) Remuneration for office held INDEX Both Internal Control and Remuneration Committee Internal Control Committe Remuneration Committee No Committee Membership Total Independent Directors % Non Monetary Benefits % Bonuses and other incentives % Other remunerati on % Total remunerati on Year # 2011 305 41 89,4% 0 0,2% 0 0,1% 5 10,3% 46 2010 2009 305 303 38 36 90,9% 89,2% 0 0 0,1% 0,1% 0 0 0,2% 0,1% 4 4 8,8% 10,6% 42 40 2011 250 60 91,6% 0 0,1% 0 0,1% 5 8,1% 65 2010 2009 252 249 55 56 90,0% 89,3% 0 1 0,1% 1,3% 1 0 1,3% 0,6% 5 6 8,5% 8,9% 61 63 2011 180 53 95,5% 0 0,2% 0 0,4% 2 3,9% 55 2010 2009 176 171 49 48 91,5% 87,9% 0 0 0,1% 0,1% 1 1 1,8% 2,1% 3 5 6,5% 9,9% 53 54 2011 247 52 91,7% 0 0,2% 0 0,0% 5 8,1% 57 2010 2009 248 259 46 48 90,8% 85,7% 0 3 0,2% 4,8% 0 0 0,2% 0,7% 5 5 8,8% 8,8% 51 56 2011 982 51 91,8% 0 0,2% 0 0,1% 4 7,9% 55 2010 2009 981 982 46 46 90,7% 88,0% 0 1 0,1% 1,8% 0 0 0,8% 0,8% 4 5 8,3% 9,4% 51 53 TAB.37 b): REMUNERATION OF INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS BY COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP (median data in € .000) INDEX Both Internal Control and Remuneration Committee Internal Control Committee Remuneration Committee No Committee Membership Total Independent 2011 305 Remuneration for office held 29 2010 2009 305 303 29 29 2011 250 38 0 2010 2009 252 249 34 35 0 0 2011 180 40 0 2010 2009 176 171 33 35 0 0 2011 247 30 0 2010 2009 248 259 32 35 0 0 2011 982 35 0 2010 2009 981 982 30 32 0 0 Year # Non Monetary Benefits 0 Bonuses and other incentives 0 0 0 0 0 Other remuneration Total Remuneration 0 30 0 0 30 33 0 0 40 0 0 0 0 40 40 0 0 41 0 0 0 0 36 38 0 0 32 0 0 0 0 34 36 0 0 36 0 0 0 0 35 35 TAB.38 a): REMUNERATION OF INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS, BY COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP, INDEX AND SECTOR (average data in € .000) INDEX FTSE MIB FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MICRO CAP OTHERS STAR OTHERS FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL Year Internal Control Commitee # Average Remuneration Committee # Average No Committee Membership # Average 2011 40 90 73 132 55 92 77 101 2010 2009 36 29 103 97 79 80 117 119 61 62 90 85 85 97 94 97 2011 69 59 75 47 58 47 62 41 2010 2009 66 66 57 56 69 67 47 48 54 54 45 48 63 69 40 38 2011 168 30 87 31 52 35 84 28 2010 181 2009 174 27 26 87 80 28 24 52 39 26 24 73 67 19 17 2011 14 28 8 21 11 17 17 67 2010 2009 7 16 15 31 10 10 30 46 7 11 14 13 21 16 26 74 2011 14 73 7 33 4 26 7 34 2010 2009 15 18 32 41 7 12 21 42 2 5 10 57 6 10 32 26 2011 116 28 49 36 40 34 42 22 2010 119 27 43 34 34 31 30 19 2009 117 29 42 37 32 32 25 2011 189 58 201 72 140 61 205 2010 186 2009 186 52 48 209 207 66 68 142 139 58 59 218 234 55 60 INDEX FTSE MIB FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MICRO CAP OTHERS Both Internal Control and Remuneration Committee Median Year # Internal Control Committee # Median Remuneration No Committee Committee Membership # # Median Median 2011 40 71 73 114 55 91 77 95 2010 2009 36 29 76 75 79 80 95 99 61 62 81 71 85 97 89 103 2011 69 47 75 37 58 40 62 31 2010 2009 66 66 44 40 69 67 40 45 54 54 40 41 63 69 30 35 2011 168 20 87 29 52 28 84 13 2010 181 2009 174 20 23 87 80 25 23 52 39 21 19 73 67 15 16 2011 14 20 8 10 11 13 17 20 2010 2009 7 16 12 20 10 10 19 17 7 11 13 11 21 16 10 48 2011 14 37 7 36 4 25 7 41 2010 2009 15 18 30 38 7 12 13 33 2 5 10 72 6 10 33 18 2011 116 22 49 32 40 30 42 20 2010 119 23 43 30 34 30 30 20 20 2009 117 27 42 31 32 27 25 64 2011 189 40 201 44 140 50 205 2010 186 2009 186 38 36 209 207 43 42 142 139 42 46 218 234 44 47 2011 30 80 44 137 27 95 77 95 2010 29 65 44 106 26 91 85 84 2011 30 96 44 146 27 93 77 95 2010 29 95 44 132 26 96 85 90 STAR OTHERS FINANCIAL TAB.38 c): DISTRIBUTION OF INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS BY Both Interal COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP, INDEX AND Control and SECTOR (% values) Remunerati Internal Rmuneratio on Control n No Committee Committee Committee Committee Membership # # # # (%) (%) (%) (%) INDEX Year FTSE MIB FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MICRO CAP OTHERS # Total (%) 2011 40 16,3% 73 29,8% 55 22,4% 77 31,4% 245 100,0% 2010 2009 36 29 13,8% 10,8% 79 80 30,3% 29,9% 61 62 23,4% 23,1% 85 97 32,6% 36,2% 261 100,0% 268 100,0% 2011 69 26,1% 75 28,4% 58 22,0% 62 23,5% 264 100,0% 2010 2009 66 66 26,2% 25,8% 69 67 27,4% 26,2% 54 54 21,4% 21,1% 63 69 25,0% 27,0% 252 100,0% 256 100,0% 2011 168 43,0% 87 22,3% 52 13,3% 84 21,5% 391 100,0% 2010 2009 181 46,1% 174 48,3% 87 80 22,1% 22,2% 52 39 13,2% 10,8% 73 67 18,6% 18,6% 393 100,0% 360 100,0% 2011 14 28,0% 8 16,0% 11 22,0% 17 34,0% 50 100,0% 2010 2009 7 16 15,6% 30,2% 10 10 22,2% 18,9% 7 11 15,6% 20,8% 21 16 46,7% 30,2% 45 53 100,0% 100,0% 2011 14 43,8% 7 21,9% 4 12,5% 7 21,9% 32 100,0% 2010 2009 15 18 50,0% 40,0% 7 12 23,3% 26,7% 2 5 6,7% 11,1% 6 10 20,0% 22,2% 30 45 100,0% 100,0% 2011 116 47,0% 49 19,8% 40 16,2% 42 17,0% 247 100,0% 2010 119 52,7% 43 19,0% 34 15,0% 30 13,3% 226 100,0% 20 2009 117 54,2% 42 19,4% 32 14,8% 25 11,6% 216 100,0% 45 2011 189 25,7% 201 27,3% 140 19,0% 205 27,9% 735 100,0% 2010 2009 186 24,6% 209 27,7% 142 18,8% 186 24,3% 207 27,0% 139 18,1% 218 234 28,9% 30,5% 755 100,0% 766 100,0% 2011 30 16,9% 44 24,7% 27 15,2% 77 43,3% 178 100,0% 2010 29 15,8% 44 23,9% 26 14,1% 85 46,2% 12,1% 49 24,7% 29 STAR OTHERS FINANCIAL 184 100,0% 2009 24 97 49 135 29 105 96 96 2009 24 62 49 135 29 104 96 97 2009 24 14,6% 96 48,5% 198 100,0% 2011 275 41 206 48 153 48 170 40 2011 275 28 206 35 153 36 170 21 2011 275 34,2% 206 25,6% 153 19,0% 170 21,1% 804 100,0% 2010 276 2009 279 37 36 208 200 46 45 150 142 46 44 163 163 31 33 2010 276 2009 279 30 30 208 200 35 33 150 142 33 33 163 163 20 20 2010 2009 276 34,6% 208 26,1% 150 18,8% 279 35,6% 200 25,5% 142 18,1% 163 163 20,5% 20,8% 797 100,0% 784 100,0% 2011 TOTAL Both Internal Control and Remuneration Committee # Average TAB.38 b): REMUNERATION OF INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS, BY COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP, INDEX AND SECTOR (median data in € .000) 305 46 250 65 180 55 247 57 2010 305 2009 303 42 40 252 249 61 63 176 171 53 54 248 259 51 56 NON-FINANCIAL TOTAL 2011 305 30 250 40 180 41 247 32 2010 305 2009 303 30 33 252 249 40 40 176 171 36 38 248 259 34 36 NON-FINANCIAL TOTAL 2011 305 31,1% 250 25,5% 180 18,3% 247 25,2% 982 100,0% 2010 2009 305 31,1% 252 25,7% 176 17,9% 303 30,9% 249 25,4% 171 17,4% 248 259 25,3% 26,4% 981 100,0% 982 100,0% TAB.39 a): Remuneration of independent directors who are/are not in "particular circumstance"(average data in € .000) # INDEX FTSE MIB FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MICRO CAP OTHERS STAR OTHERS FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL TOTAL Year Indip. DOC Indip. "at risk" Remuneration for office held Indip. Indip. "at DOC risk" Non-Monetary Benefits Indip. Indip."at DOC risk" Bonuses and other incentives Indip. Indip. DOC "at risk" Other remuneration Total remuneration Indip. Indip. "at Indip. Indip. "at DOC risk" DOC risk" 2011 203 42 95 125 0 0 0 0 3 22 98 147 2010 2009 219 228 42 40 89 87 113 112 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 5 6 17 33 96 93 130 145 2011 223 41 44 44 0 0 0 0 2 17 46 61 2010 2009 227 226 25 30 42 43 41 30 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 4 3 23 16 46 47 64 48 2011 324 67 26 32 0 0 0 0 1 18 27 50 2010 2009 343 323 50 37 23 22 21 22 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 2 6 6 25 23 29 28 2011 45 5 20 177 0 0 1 0 0 6 22 183 2010 2009 45 42 0 11 22 16 n.a. 48 0 0 n.a. 79 1 1 n.a. 0 0 4 n.a. 0 23 21 n.a. 126 2011 30 2 49 54 0 0 0 0 0 0 49 54 2010 2009 27 42 3 3 26 37 36 58 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 0 27 38 39 58 2011 212 35 28 28 0 0 0 0 1 8 28 36 2010 199 27 26 20 0 0 0 4 2 2 28 26 2009 194 22 27 19 0 0 1 2 2 5 30 26 2011 613 122 55 75 0 0 0 0 2 21 58 97 2010 2009 662 667 93 99 51 50 69 65 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 0 3 4 16 19 54 54 86 93 2011 131 47 95 109 0 0 0 0 4 21 100 130 2010 140 44 91 98 0 0 0 3 5 18 96 119 2009 143 55 93 89 0 16 2 1 5 21 100 127 2011 694 110 39 46 0 0 0 0 1 17 41 63 2010 2009 721 718 76 66 36 35 34 30 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 11 13 39 39 45 43 2011 825 157 48 65 0 0 0 0 2 18 50 83 2010 2009 861 861 120 121 45 45 58 57 0 0 0 7 0 0 1 0 3 3 13 17 48 49 72 81 TAB.39 b): Remuneration of independent directors who are/not are in "particular circumstances" (median data in € .000) INDEX FTSE MIB FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MICRO CAP OTHERS STAR OTHERS FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL TOTAL # 2011 203 Indip. "at risk" 42 2010 2009 219 228 42 40 Year Indip. DOC Remuneration for office held Non-Monetary Benefits Indip. "at Indip. "at Indip. DOC Indip. DOC risk" risk" 89 96 0 0 75 72 90 104 0 0 0 0 Bonuses and other incentives Indip. "at Indip. DOC risk" 0 0 0 0 0 0 Other remuneration Indip. "at Indip. DOC risk" 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total remuneration Indip. "at Indip. DOC risk" 89 145 80 82 100 127 2011 223 41 36 40 0 0 0 0 0 6 40 50 2010 2009 227 226 25 30 35 37 31 26 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 36 40 43 43 2011 324 67 20 23 0 0 0 0 0 0 21 32 2010 2009 343 323 50 37 20 18 20 17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 20 21 21 2011 45 5 15 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 20 2010 2009 45 42 0 11 13 13 n.a. 47 0 0 n.a. 96 0 0 n.a. 0 0 0 n.a. 0 14 13 n.a. 143 2011 30 2 35 54 0 0 0 0 0 0 35 54 2010 2009 27 42 3 3 22 35 47 52 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 22 35 50 52 2011 212 35 25 23 0 0 0 0 0 0 25 32 2010 199 27 24 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 26 27 2009 194 22 24 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 20 2011 613 122 40 50 0 0 0 0 0 0 41 65 2010 2009 662 667 93 99 35 36 40 47 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 40 37 61 67 2011 131 47 85 95 0 0 0 0 0 0 86 96 2010 140 44 74 90 0 0 0 0 0 0 78 90 2009 143 55 74 66 0 0 0 0 0 0 77 133 2011 694 110 29 35 0 0 0 0 0 0 30 40 2010 2009 721 718 76 66 28 27 30 21 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 30 30 35 35 2011 825 157 32 40 0 0 0 0 0 0 35 51 2010 2009 861 861 120 121 30 31 35 38 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 34 35 40 50 TAB.40: INTERNAL CONTROL COMMITTEE INDEX FTSE MIB FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MICRO CAP OTHERS STAR OTHERS FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL TOTAL Year Number of companies Number of providing companies that have established information on the committee an Internal Control composition Committee # No. % # No. % 2011 37 37 100,0% 37 37 100,0% Number of directors in the committee µ 3,65 NONEXECUTIVE EXECUTIVE directors (% MINORITY INDEPENDENT directors (% on directors (% on directors (% on on te committee) the committee) the committee) the committee) µ % µ % µ % µ % Number of companies providing information on the attendance of each director to committee meetings # No. % µ At least one Number of committee companies member has providing adequate information on experience in the tasks accounting and entrusted to the finance committee # No. % # No. % Number of companies providing information on the meetings' frequency # No. % 0,03 37 37 37 0,9% 3,62 99,1% 3,22 87,8% 0,76 19,3% 0,68 17,5% 2010 37 37 100,0% 37 37 100,0% 3,65 0,00 0,0% 3,65 100,0% 3,24 88,1% 2009 39 38 97,4% 38 38 100,0% 3,58 0,00 0,0% 3,58 100,0% 3,13 87,7% 2011 60 59 98,3% 59 59 100,0% 3,29 0,00 0,0% 3,29 100,0% 2,63 80,9% 0,29 2010 61 59 96,7% 59 59 100,0% 3,12 0,02 0,6% 3,10 99,4% 2,39 78,2% 0,25 2009 60 59 98,3% 59 59 100,0% 3,02 0,00 0,0% 3,02 100,0% 2,36 78,8% 2011 134 117 87,3% 117 117 100,0% 3,01 0,05 1,5% 2,96 98,5% 2,32 78,7% 0,19 2010 149 125 83,9% 125 125 100,0% 3,00 0,07 2,3% 2,93 97,7% 2,30 78,4% 0,15 2009 140 119 85,0% 119 119 100,0% 2,96 0,04 1,1% 2,91 98,7% 2,34 80,6% 2011 19 13 68,4% 13 13 100,0% 2,92 0,08 2,6% 2,85 97,4% 2,15 75,6% 0,38 2010 12 8 66,7% 8 8 100,0% 3,13 0,00 0,0% 3,13 100,0% 2,38 78,3% 0,38 2009 2008 21 13 61,9% 13 13 100,0% 3,08 0,00 0,0% 3,08 100,0% 2,31 76,4% 2011 12 9 75,0% 9 9 100,0% 2,89 0,00 0,0% 2,89 100,0% 2,33 81,5% 0,00 0,0% 2010 13 11 84,6% 11 11 100,0% 3,00 0,00 0,0% 3,00 100,0% 2,36 78,8% 0,09 3,0% 2009 19 13 68,4% 13 13 100,0% 2,85 0,00 0,0% 2,85 100,0% 2,31 82,7% 2011 72 72 100,0% 72 72 100,0% 3,01 0,00 0,0% 3,01 100,0% 2,40 79,9% 0,15 2010 71 71 100,0% 71 71 100,0% 3,01 0,00 0,0% 3,01 100,0% 2,35 78,1% 0,15 2009 71 71 100,0% 71 71 100,0% 3,01 0,00 0,0% 3,00 99,5% 2,41 2008 79 79 100,0% 79 79 100,0% 2,97 0,00 0,0% 2,96 99,7% 2011 190 163 85,8% 163 163 100,0% 3,24 0,05 1,5% 3,19 2010 201 169 84,1% 169 169 100,0% 3,18 0,06 1,9% 2009 208 171 82,2% 171 171 100,0% 3,09 0,03 0,7% 37 100% 0,94 31 84% 37 33 89,2% 37 100,0% Number of meetings µ 11,84 37 37 100% 0,95 37 30 81% 37 33 89,2% 37 37 100,0% 11,24 38 36 95% 0,94 38 27 71% 38 35 92,1% 38 38 100,0% 11,03 7,9% 59 57 97% 0,94 59 56 95% 59 51 86,4% 59 59 100,0% 6,39 8,2% 59 57 97% 0,93 59 56 95% 59 48 81,4% 59 59 100,0% 5,97 59 54 92% 0,92 59 48 81% 59 41 69,5% 59 59 100,0% 5,47 6,3% 115 104 90% 0,94 117 95 81% 117 94 80,3% 117 114 97,4% 4,78 5,3% 125 108 86% 0,91 125 91 73% 125 91 72,8% 125 122 97,6% 4,38 117 87 74% 0,94 119 71 60% 119 80 67,2% 119 111 93,3% 4,44 14,1% 13 10 77% 0,94 13 8 62% 13 6 46,2% 13 13 100,0% 4,38 12,9% 8 6 75% 0,92 8 5 63% 8 4 50,0% 8 8 100,0% 4,25 13 9 69% 0,94 13 4 31% 13 5 38,5% 13 12 92,3% 4,92 9 6 67% 0,97 9 5 56% 9 6 66,7% 9 9 100,0% 6,00 11 10 91% 0,89 11 7 64% 11 7 63,6% 11 11 100,0% 5,55 14 10 71% 0,94 13 9 69% 13 6 46,2% 13 13 100,0% 6,31 4,9% 70 64 91% 0,92 72 62 86% 72 58 80,6% 72 72 100,0% 4,68 5,0% 71 63 89% 0,94 71 58 82% 71 55 77,5% 71 70 98,6% 4,23 80,2% 71 58 82% 0,95 71 47 66% 71 50 70,4% 71 68 95,8% 4,68 2,35 79,6% 77 63 82% 0,94 79 45 57% 79 50 63,3% 79 76 96,2% 4,20 98,5% 2,59 80,9% 0,37 10,8% 163 150 92% 0,95 163 133 82% 163 132 81,0% 163 160 98,2% 7,09 3,12 98,1% 2,52 80,6% 0,31 9,3% 169 155 92% 0,91 169 131 78% 169 128 75,7% 169 167 98,8% 6,59 3,06 99,3% 2,49 81,6% 170 138 81% 0,93 171 112 65% 171 117 68,4% 171 165 96,5% 6,41 2011 28 26 92,9% 26 26 100,0% 3,81 0,04 1,3% 3,77 98,7% 3,15 83,2% 0,46 9,8% 26 24 92% 0,93 26 21 81% 26 22 84,6% 26 26 100,0% 14,00 2010 29 26 89,7% 26 26 100,0% 3,62 0,04 1,3% 3,58 98,7% 2,96 83,4% 0,27 6,7% 26 23 88% 0,92 26 21 81% 26 20 76,9% 26 26 100,0% 12,19 2009 31 27 87,1% 27 27 100,0% 3,48 0,00 0,0% 3,48 100,0% 2,93 83,8% 28 23 82% 0,93 27 19 70% 27 21 77,8% 27 27 100,0% 12,33 2008 35 29 82,9% 29 29 100,0% 3,45 0,00 0,0% 3,45 100,0% 2,72 79,3% 29 26 90% 0,93 29 19 66% 29 24 82,8% 29 29 100,0% 8,97 2011 234 209 89,3% 209 209 100,0% 3,09 0,03 1,0% 3,06 99,0% 2,45 80,3% 0,29 8,9% 207 190 92% 0,94 209 174 83% 209 168 80,4% 209 206 98,6% 5,37 0,26 8,2% 2010 243 214 88,1% 214 214 100,0% 3,07 0,04 1,4% 3,03 98,6% 2,41 79,4% 2009 2008 248 215 256 222 86,7% 86,7% 215 215 222 221 100,0% 99,5% 3,02 3,00 0,02 0,04 0,6% 1,0% 2,99 2,96 99,3% 98,9% 2,41 2,38 80,8% 80,4% 214 195 91% 0,92 214 168 79% 214 163 76,2% 214 211 98,6% 5,12 213 173 217 176 81% 81% 0,93 215 140 0,94 222 135 65% 61% 215 146 67,9% 215 206 222 144 64,9% 222 211 95,8% 95,0% 5,06 4,38 2011 262 235 89,7% 235 235 100,0% 3,17 0,03 1,0% 3,14 99,0% 2,53 80,6% 0,31 9,0% 233 214 92% 0,94 235 195 83% 235 190 80,9% 235 232 98,7% 6,34 2010 272 240 88,2% 240 240 100,0% 3,13 0,04 1,4% 3,09 98,6% 2,47 79,9% 0,26 8,1% 240 218 91% 0,92 240 189 79% 240 183 76,3% 240 237 98,8% 5,89 2009 2008 279 242 291 251 86,7% 86,3% 242 242 251 250 100,0% 99,6% 3,07 3,23 0,02 0,02 0,5% 0,5% 3,05 3,02 99,3% 99,0% 2,47 2,42 81,2% 80,3% 241 196 246 202 81% 82% 0,93 242 159 0,94 251 154 66% 61% 242 167 69,0% 242 233 251 168 66,9% 251 240 96,3% 95,6% 5,91 4,93 TAB.41: INTERNAL CONTROL COMMITTEE AND SUPERVISORY CONTROL Number of companies that have established an audit fuction INDEX FTSE MIB FTSE MID CAP FTSE SMALL CAP Number of companies providing information on the application of legislative decree No. 231/2001 Number of companies providing information on the Supervisory Body Number of Number of companies companies Number of providing Number of providing companies companies where information on information on where the the Supervisory the frequency of the composition Supervisory Body is a the Supervisory of the Boby is an Body meetings Supervisory Body individual body collegiate body Number of meetings Year # N° % # N° % # N° % # N° % # N° % # N° % # N° % µ 2011 37 36 97,3% 37 37 100,0% 37 37 100,0% 37 37 100,0% 37 1 2,7% 37 36 97,3% 36 13 36,1% 7,69 2010 37 36 97,3% 37 37 100,0% 37 36 97,3% 36 34 94,4% 34 0 0,0% 34 34 100,0% 34 9 26,5% 7,44 2009 39 38 97,4% 39 38 97,4% 38 35 92,1% 35 31 88,6% 31 0 0,0% 31 31 100,0% 31 9 29,0% 8,11 2011 60 55 91,7% 60 60 100,0% 60 60 100,0% 60 60 100,0% 60 2 3,3% 60 58 96,7% 58 24 41,4% 6,04 2010 61 53 86,9% 61 61 100,0% 61 60 98,4% 60 59 98,3% 59 1 1,7% 59 58 98,3% 58 18 31,0% 6,11 2009 60 54 90,0% 60 59 98,3% 59 56 94,9% 56 54 96,4% 54 2 3,7% 54 52 96,3% 52 15 28,8% 5,07 2011 134 99 73,9% 134 123 91,8% 123 122 99,2% 122 116 95,1% 116 8 6,9% 116 108 93,1% 108 44 40,7% 4,91 2010 149 101 67,8% 149 129 86,6% 129 127 98,4% 127 120 94,5% 120 10 8,3% 120 110 91,7% 110 41 37,3% 4,56 2009 140 90 64,3% 140 109 77,9% 109 101 92,7% 101 98 97,0% 98 6,1% 98 92 93,9% 92 28,3% 5,00 6 26 2011 19 12 63,2% 19 17 89,5% 17 17 100,0% 17 16 94,1% 16 3 18,8% 16 13 81,3% 13 0 0,0% 0,00 FTSE MICRO CAP 2010 12 8 66,7% 12 10 83,3% 10 10 100,0% 10 9 90,0% 9 2 22,2% 9 7 77,8% 7 1 14,3% 4,00 2009 21 9 42,9% 21 14 66,7% 14 14 100,0% 14 12 85,7% 12 1 8,3% 12 11 91,7% 11 1 9,1% 3,00 0,00 OTHERS STAR OTHERS FINANCIAL NON-FINANCIAL TOTAL 2011 12 8 66,7% 12 10 83,3% 10 10 100,0% 10 10 100,0% 10 2 20,0% 10 8 80,0% 8 0 0,0% 2010 13 10 76,9% 13 11 84,6% 11 11 100,0% 11 10 90,9% 10 0 0,0% 10 10 100,0% 10 1 10,0% 4,00 2009 19 13 68,4% 19 12 63,2% 12 12 100,0% 12 8 66,7% 8 2 25,0% 8 6 75,0% 6 3 50,0% 13,00 2011 72 60 83,3% 72 72 100,0% 72 72 100,0% 72 72 100,0% 72 4 5,6% 72 68 94,4% 68 31 45,6% 5,39 2010 71 58 81,7% 71 71 100,0% 71 70 98,6% 70 70 100,0% 70 3 4,3% 70 67 95,7% 67 26 38,8% 5,04 2009 71 56 78,9% 71 70 98,6% 70 67 95,7% 67 65 97,0% 65 2 3,1% 65 63 96,9% 63 22 34,9% 4,82 2008 79 56 70,9% 2011 190 150 78,9% 190 175 92,1% 175 174 99,4% 174 167 96,0% 167 12 7,2% 167 155 92,8% 155 50 32,3% 5,88 2010 201 150 74,6% 201 177 88,1% 177 174 98,3% 174 162 93,1% 162 10 6,2% 162 152 93,8% 152 44 28,9% 5,48 2009 208 148 71,2% 208 162 77,9% 162 151 93,2% 151 138 91,4% 138 9 6,5% 138 129 93,5% 129 32 24,8% 6,72 2011 28 26 92,9% 28 28 100,0% 28 28 100,0% 28 27 96,4% 27 0 0,0% 27 27 100,0% 27 4 14,8% 9,25 2010 29 24 82,8% 29 29 100,0% 29 28 96,6% 28 25 89,3% 25 0 0,0% 25 25 100,0% 25 3 12,0% 13,00 2009 31 31 100,0% 31 31 100,0% 31 29 93,5% 29 24 82,8% 24 0 0,0% 24 24 100,0% 24 5 20,8% 10,00 2008 35 35 100,0% 35 35 100,0% 35 31 88,6% 31 27 87,1% 27 1 3,7% 27 26 96,3% 26 7 26,9% 8,57 2011 234 184 78,6% 234 219 93,6% 219 218 99,5% 218 212 97,2% 212 16 7,5% 212 196 92,5% 196 77 39,3% 5,51 2010 243 184 75,7% 243 219 90,1% 219 216 98,6% 216 207 95,8% 207 13 6,3% 207 194 93,7% 194 67 34,5% 4,97 2009 2008 248 173 256 177 69,8% 69,1% 248 201 256 176 81,0% 68,8% 201 189 176 154 94,0% 87,5% 189 179 154 145 94,7% 94,2% 179 11 145 9 6,1% 6,2% 179 168 145 136 93,9% 93,8% 168 49 136 45 29,2% 33,1% 5,53 5,24 2011 262 210 80,2% 262 247 94,3% 247 246 99,6% 246 239 97,2% 239 16 6,7% 239 223 93,3% 223 81 36,3% 5,69 2010 272 208 76,5% 272 248 91,2% 248 244 98,4% 244 232 95,1% 232 13 5,6% 232 219 94,4% 219 70 32,0% 5,31 2009 2008 279 204 291 212 73,1% 72,9% 279 232 291 211 83,2% 72,5% 232 218 211 185 94,0% 87,7% 218 203 185 172 93,1% 93,0% 203 11 172 10 5,4% 5,8% 203 192 172 162 94,6% 94,2% 192 54 162 52 28,1% 32,1% 5,94 5,69 TAB. 42: APPROVAL OF THE RPT PROCEDURES Number of companies with available data Number of companies providing the opinion on RPT Procedures Companies dislose on who provided the opinion No. No. % ICC No. Special Committee % No. % Existing Independent Directors No. µ % Index FTSE MIB 38 26 68% 9 35% 17 65% 0 0% n.a. FTSE MID CAP 60 41 68% 11 27% 29 71% 1 2% 2,0 FTSE SMALL CAP 132 74 56% 18 24% 46 62% 10 14% 2,2 FTSE MICRO CAP 19 9 47% 2 22% 6 67% 1 11% 1,0 OTHERS 13 5 38% 4 80% 1 20% 0 0% n.a. Sector FINANCIAL 28 20 71% 5 25% 15 75% 0 0% n.a. NON-FINANCIAL 234 135 58% 39 29% 84 62% 12 9% 2,1 FAMILY 166 99 60% 28 28% 60 61% 11 11% 2,1 STATE 24 16 67% 6 38% 10 63% 0 0% n.a. Ownership structure Comparison with CG Reports Adhering to the Code Yes 249 150 60% 44 29% 95 63% 11 7% 2,2 No 13 5 38% 0 0% 4 80% 1 20% 1,0 Yes 181 121 67% 43 36% 77 64% 1 1% 4,5 No 81 34 42% 1 3% 22 65% 11 32% 1,6 Yes 109 71 65% 43 61% 27 38% 1 1% 2,0 No 153 84 55% 1 1% 72 86% 11 13% 2,1 Having at least three Independent Directors Having an ICC of Independent Directors only Having an ICC of Minority Directors Yes 50 30 60% 9 30% 18 60% 3 10% 2,0 No 212 125 59% 35 28% 81 65% 9 7% 2,1 TOTAL 262 155 59% 44 28% 99 64% 12 8% 2,1 TAB. 43: EXTENSION OF THE RPT PROCEDURES Number of companies which data are available Companies that use the procedure also with others (no related parties) on a voluntary basis No. No. % Companies that Companies that decided attached to the Companies that decided Companies that decided Companies that decided in the procedure who procedure also a list of in the procedure who in the procedure who in the procedure who has to verify the related parties and/or has to verify which RPT has to update the list of has to identify the congruence of the people compared to related parties are exepmt or excluded related parties threshold over time related parties No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % INDEX FTSE MIB 38 12 32% 8 21% 27 71% 19 50% 21 55% 2 5% FTSE MID CAP 60 8 13% 4 7% 41 68% 28 47% 31 52% 6 10% FTSE SMALL CAP 132 12 9% 14 11% 75 57% 52 39% 64 48% 3 2% FTSE MICRO CAP 19 2 11% 2 11% 9 47% 7 37% 9 47% 1 5% OTHERS 13 1 8% 2 15% 6 46% 5 38% 6 46% 1 8% Sector FINANCIAL 28 10 36% 4 14% 21 75% 12 43% 15 54% 2 7% NON-FINANCIAL 234 25 11% 26 11% 137 59% 99 42% 116 50% 11 5% FAMILY 166 17 10% 19 11% 98 59% 68 41% 85 51% 8 5% STATE 24 6 25% 6 25% 15 63% 11 46% 13 54% 4 17% Ownership structure Comparison with the CG Reports Adhering to the Code Yes 249 35 14% 30 12% 149 60% 105 42% 125 50% 13 5% No 13 0 0% 0 0% 9 69% 6 46% 6 46% 0 0% Yes 181 32 18% 25 14% 113 62% 80 44% 100 55% 13 7% No 81 3 4% 5 6% 45 56% 31 38% 31 38% 0 0% Having at least three Independent Directors Having an ICC of Independent Directors only Yes 109 19 17% 15 14% 68 62% 48 44% 60 55% 8 7% No 153 16 10% 15 10% 90 59% 63 41% 71 46% 5 3% TOTAL 262 35 13% 30 11% 158 60% 111 42% 131 50% 13 5% TAB. 44: FRAMEWORK RESOLUTIONS AND RPTs CARRIED OUT BY CONTROLLED COMPANIES Prevision of a prior evaluation of the issuers' BoD of the RPT in the subsidiaries Companies with available data No. of which: Companies that foresee the possibility of framework resolutions No. Prevision of a prior evaluation % No. Always % No. Only on special conditions % No. Ex ante defined conditions % No. The evaluation is binding A residual discretion ex post % No. % No. % Index 7 64% FTSE MID CAP 60 43 72% 9 15% 0 0% 9 100% 8 89% 1 11% 2 22% FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MIB 132 38 91 31 69% 82% 21 11 16% 29% 5 4 24% 36% 16 76% 12 6 75% 86% 4 1 25% 14% 7 4 33% 36% FTSE MICRO CAP 19 11 58% 1 5% 0 0% 1 100% 1 100% 0 0% 0 0% OTHERS 13 7 54% 3 23% 2 67% 1 33% 1 100% 0 0% 0 0% Sector FINANCIAL 28 20 71% 11 39% 2 18% 9 82% 9 100% 0 0% 7 64% NON-FINANCIAL 234 163 70% 34 15% 9 26% 25 74% 19 76% 6 24% 6 18% FAMILY 166 111 67% 26 16% 6 23% 20 77% 16 80% 4 20% 8 31% STATE 24 19 79% 5 21% 0 0% 5 100% 4 80% 1 20% 1 20% Yes 249 177 71% 44 18% 11 25% 33 75% 27 82% 6 18% 13 30% No 13 6 46% 1 8% 0 0% 1 100% 1 100% 0 0% 0 0% Yes 181 134 74% 36 20% 7 19% 29 81% 25 86% 4 14% 13 36% No 81 49 60% 9 11% 4 44% 5 56% 3 60% 2 40% 0 0% Ownership structure Comparison with CG Reports Adhering to the Code Having at least three Independent Directors Having an ICC of Independent Directors only Yes 109 88 81% 22 20% 5 23% 17 77% 14 82% 3 18% 5 23% No 153 95 62% 23 15% 6 26% 17 74% 14 82% 3 18% 8 35% TOTAL 262 183 70% 45 17% 11 24% 34 76% 28 82% 6 18% 13 29% Average value of thresholds according to: TAB. 45: APPROVAL OF RPTs Companies with available data Companies that have fixed thresholds (% values) to define a "major" transaction which is lower than those provided by Appendix 3 of RPT Regulation Exchange value of transactions Total assets Opinion in the case of "major" RPT entrused to: Total liabilities A committe of which: ICC of which: ICC or RC No. No. % No. µ No. µ No. µ No. % No. 38 5 13% 5 3,0% 1 3,5% 1 3,5% 38 100% 9 24% % o Opinion in the case of "minor" RPT entrused to: of which: special committee Existing Independent Directors of which: ICC A committee of which: ICC or RC "minor" RPT of which: special committe Existing Independent Directors Prevision of a MAX budget for Independent experts Average budget (€ x 1.000) No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % µ 21% 21 55% 0 0% 38 100% 12 32% 9 24% 17 45% 0 0% 12 32% 178 72 % No. % Index FTSE MIB 8 FTSE MID CAP 60 7 12% 7 2,1% 6 2,3% 6 2,3% 58 97% 15 25% 5 8% 38 63% 2 3% 59 98% 20 33% 6 10% 33 55% 1 2% 22 37% FTSE SMALL CAP 132 13 10% 13 2,5% 8 2,6% 8 2,6% 128 97% 47 36% 10 8% 71 54% 4 3% 128 97% 50 38% 9 7% 69 52% 4 3% 62 47% FTSE MICRO CAP 19 2 11% 2 1,8% 1 2,5% 1 2,5% 17 89% 3 16% 2 11% 12 63% 1 5% 16 84% 3 16% 2 11% 11 58% 2 11% 5 26% 21 OTHERS 13 0 0% n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. 12 92% 5 38% 1 8% 6 46% 1 8% 12 92% 6 46% 1 8% 5 38% 1 8% 5 38% 39 26 Sector FINANCIAL 28 5 18% 5 2,2% 2 2,5% 2 2,5% 28 100% 5 18% 3 11% 20 71% 0 0% 28 100% 7 25% 4 14% 17 61% 0 0% 13 46% 82 NON-FINANCIAL 234 22 9% 22 2,5% 14 2,5% 14 2,5% 225 96% 74 32% 23 10% 128 55% 8 3% 225 96% 84 36% 23 10% 118 50% 8 3% 93 40% 50 FAMILY 166 19 11% 19 2,4% 11 2,5% 11 2,5% 160 96% 54 33% 16 10% 90 54% 5 3% 160 96% 63 38% 17 10% 80 48% 5 3% 70 42% 53 STATE 24 1 4% 1 2,5% 0 0,0% 0 0,0% 24 100% 8 33% 5 21% 11 46% 0 0% 24 100% 8 33% 5 21% 11 46% 0 0% 5 21% 111 Yes 249 27 11% 27 2,4% 16 2,5% 16 2,5% 242 97% 79 32% 26 10% 137 55% 7 3% 243 98% 90 36% 27 11% 126 51% 6 2% 105 42% 54 No Having at least three Independent Directors 13 0 0% n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. 11 85% 0 0% 0 0% 11 85% 1 8% 10 77% 1 8% 0 0% 9 69% 2 15% 1 8% 10 Yes 181 20 11% 20 2,4% 13 2,5% 13 2,5% 181 100% 60 33% 22 12% 99 55% 0 0% 181 100% 70 39% 23 13% 88 49% 0 0% 74 41% 67 No 81 7 9% 7 2,6% 3 2,7% 3 2,7% 72 89% 19 23% 4 5% 49 60% 8 10% 72 89% 21 26% 4 5% 47 58% 8 10% 32 40% 22 Ownership structure Comparison with CG Reports Adhering to the Code Companies that have defined thresholds (in % value to RPT transaction of more significant Having an ICC of Independent Directors only Yes 109 8 7% 8 2,4% 8 2,4% 8 2,4% 109 100% 51 47% 20 18% 38 35% 0 0% 99 91% 53 49% 19 17% 27 25% 0 0% 38 35% 41 No 153 19 12% 19 2,4% 8 2,7% 8 2,7% 144 94% 28 18% 6 4% 110 72% 8 5% 144 94% 38 25% 8 5% 98 64% 8 5% 68 44% 61 Having an ICC of Minority Directors Yes 50 4 8% 4 2,8% 3 2,8% 3 2,8% 50 100% 15 30% 7 14% 28 56% 0 0% 50 100% 15 30% 7 14% 28 56% 0 0% 15 30% 35 No 212 23 11% 23 2,4% 13 2,5% 13 2,5% 203 96% 64 30% 19 9% 120 57% 8 4% 203 96% 76 36% 20 9% 107 50% 8 4% 91 43% 57 Yes 128 12 9% 12 2,3% 6 2,6% 6 2,6% 123 96% 48 38% 7 5% 68 53% 5 4% 123 96% 48 38% 7 5% 68 53% 5 4% 62 48% 25 No 134 15 11% 15 2,5% 10 2,5% 10 2,5% 130 97% 31 23% 19 14% 80 60% 3 2% 130 97% 43 32% 20 15% 67 50% 3 2% 44 33% 96 TOTAL 262 27 10% 27 2,4% 16 2,5% 16 2,5% 253 97% 79 30% 26 10% 148 56% 8 3% 253 97% 91 35% 27 10% 135 52% 8 3% 106 40% 53 "Smaller" or "recently listed companies " Average number of thresholds (€ x 1.000) TAB. 46: "EXIGUITY" THRESHOLDS Companies with available data Companies fixing the exiguity thresholds (in a value) No. No. % Companies fixing an unique thresholds No. Threshold value % Companies fixing distinct thresholds µ No. % Companies defining RPT always considered relavant (even if it are exiguous amount) Minimum Maximum µ µ No. % Index FTSE MIB 38 36 95% 15 42% 587 21 58% 199 5.360 2 5% FTSE MID CAP 60 56 93% 37 66% 349 19 34% 205 1.700 2 3% FTSE SMALL CAP 132 118 89% 91 77% 142 27 23% 126 744 10 8% FTSE MICRO CAP 19 19 100% 13 68% 148 6 32% 70 187 2 11% OTHERS 13 13 100% 8 62% 127 5 38% 63 206 1 8% Sector FINANCIAL 28 26 93% 12 46% 334 14 54% 133 3.522 2 7% NON-FINANCIAL 234 216 92% 152 70% 221 64 30% 162 1.840 15 6% FAMILY 166 154 93% 110 71% 199 44 29% 184 1.805 14 8% STATE 24 23 96% 10 43% 315 13 57% 113 4.096 2 8% Ownership structure Comparison with CG Reports Adhering to the Code Yes 249 230 92% 153 67% 230 77 33% 157 2.167 17 7% No 13 12 92% 11 92% 218 1 8% 100 250 0 0% Yes 181 166 92% 103 62% 269 63 38% 161 2.561 14 8% No 81 76 94% 61 80% 162 15 20% 186 383 3 4% Yes 109 101 93% 59 58% 216 42 42% 174 3.101 7 6% No 153 141 92% 105 74% 236 36 26% 136 1.024 10 7% TOTAL 262 242 92% 164 68% 229 78 32% 156 2.142 17 6% Having at least of Independent Directors Having an ICC of Independent Directors only Companies that foresee explicitly the exemption of certain categories of transactions: Standard or market condition transactions TAB. 47: EXCLUSIONS Companies with available IN THE RPT data PROCEDURES Stock-based plans No. No. % Intra. group transactions Remuneration of directors and managers of which: of which: exemption also with strategic Companies providing an Companies providing an "total"exemption (even if in relation to the responsabilities (in case exemption exemption publication ex art. 5 para RPT is major of remuneration policy) 1-7 transaction) No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % Total exemption (in all transactions "with or among" controlled and with associated companies), exept the existance of "interest regarded as significant" "Urgent" transaction (not falling within the shareholders' meeting competence) Limited exemption No. % No. % No. % Index FTSE MIB 38 36 95% 34 89% 38 100% 19 50% 23 61% 38 100% 35 92% 3 8% 20 53% FTSE MID CAP 60 55 92% 52 87% 60 100% 34 57% 39 65% 60 100% 56 93% 4 7% 34 57% FTSE SMALL CAP 132 113 86% 113 86% 126 95% 65 52% 71 56% 119 90% 109 92% 10 8% 71 54% FTSE MICRO CAP 19 19 100% 17 89% 19 100% 11 58% 11 58% 16 84% 14 88% 2 13% 9 47% OTHERS 13 11 85% 12 92% 13 100% 4 31% 5 38% 13 100% 13 100% 0 0% 6 46% Sector FINANCIAL 28 26 93% 24 86% 28 100% 10 36% 17 61% 27 96% 19 70% 8 30% 9 32% NON-FINANCIAL 234 208 89% 204 87% 228 97% 123 54% 132 58% 219 94% 208 95% 11 5% 131 56% FAMILY 166 147 89% 144 87% 162 98% 89 55% 96 59% 158 95% 146 92% 12 8% 92 55% STATE 24 21 88% 17 71% 24 100% 8 33% 12 50% 22 92% 22 100% 0 0% 12 50% Ownership structure Comparison with CG Reports Adhering to the Code Yes 249 224 90% 216 87% 243 98% 130 53% 145 60% 234 94% 217 93% 17 7% 137 55% No 13 10 77% 12 92% 13 100% 3 23% 4 31% 12 92% 10 83% 2 17% 3 23% Yes 181 162 90% 156 86% 178 98% 94 53% 107 60% 171 94% 156 91% 15 9% 96 53% No 81 72 89% 72 89% 78 96% 39 50% 42 54% 75 93% 71 95% 4 5% 44 54% Having at least three Independent Directors Having ICC of Independent Directors only Yes 109 99 91% 93 85% 107 98% 55 51% 66 62% 105 96% 98 93% 7 7% 58 53% No 153 135 88% 135 88% 149 97% 78 52% 83 56% 141 92% 129 91% 12 9% 82 54% TOTAL 262 234 89% 228 87% 256 98% 133 52% 149 58% 246 94% 227 92% 19 8% 140 53% "Significant interest" definition of which referable to : TAB. 48: DEFINITION OF "SIGNIFICANT INTERESTS" IN THE INTRA-GROUP RPTs Companies with available data Mere reference to the Regulation No. No. Definition per general categories % No. % Examples (positive or negative) No. % Sharing (with the opposite Ownership structure of the party) of same directors or managers entrusted with opposite party strategic responsibilities No. % No. % Other No. % Index FTSE MIB 38 0 0% 10 26% 30 79% 24 80% 28 93% 4 13% FTSE MID CAP 60 1 2% 16 27% 44 73% 33 75% 34 77% 10 23% FTSE SMALL CAP 132 2 2% 24 18% 81 61% 68 84% 62 77% 33 41% FTSE MICRO CAP 19 1 5% 4 21% 12 63% 9 75% 9 75% 6 50% OTHERS 13 0 0% 2 15% 7 54% 5 71% 4 57% 3 43% FINANCIAL 28 0 0% 8 29% 15 54% 11 73% 12 80% 1 7% NON-FINANCIAL 234 4 2% 48 21% 159 68% 128 81% 125 79% 55 35% FAMILY 166 1 1% 29 17% 114 69% 90 79% 88 77% 39 34% STATE 24 1 4% 9 38% 19 79% 16 84% 16 84% 5 26% Sector Ownership structure Comparison with CG Reports Adhering to the Code Yes 249 4 2% 54 22% 168 67% 133 79% 131 78% 51 30% No 13 0 0% 2 15% 6 46% 6 100% 6 100% 5 83% Yes 181 3 2% 44 24% 124 69% 99 80% 100 81% 34 27% No 81 1 1% 12 15% 50 62% 40 80% 37 74% 22 44% Yes 109 2 2% 27 25% 72 66% 54 75% 58 81% 23 32% No 153 2 1% 29 19% 102 67% 85 83% 79 77% 33 32% Yes 227 3 1% 56 25% 167 74% 136 81% 132 79% 55 33% No 35 1 3% 0 0% 7 20% 3 43% 5 71% 1 14% TOTAL 262 4 2% 56 21% 174 66% 139 80% 137 79% 56 32% Having at least three Independent Directors Having an ICC of Independent Directors only Companies that excluded totally intra-group transactions (except the existance of "interests regarded as significant") The "equivalent measures" of which: TAB. 49: "Equivalent Measures" where the number of independent directors is lower than the regulatory minimum Companies with available data Companies providing equivalent measures % Rules governing the replacement of Independent related directors in the committe No. % Companies providing "cascade" rules Opinion iussed by others No. Individual independet director % No. Indipendent Expert Board of Statutory Auditors No. N° 38 35 92% 29 83% 6 17% 1 % 3% No. 1 % 3% No. Other % No. % No. % Index FTSE MIB 1 3% 4 11% 29 83% FTSE MID CAP 60 56 93% 34 61% 22 39% 2 4% 4 7% 5 9% 13 23% 41 73% FTSE SMALL CAP 132 104 79% 64 62% 40 38% 5 5% 9 9% 10 10% 24 23% 71 68% FTSE MICRO CAP 19 17 89% 10 59% 7 41% 1 6% 1 6% 1 6% 4 24% 13 76% OTHERS 13 10 77% 2 20% 8 80% 2 20% 4 40% 2 20% 4 40% 5 50% Sector FINANCIAL 28 24 86% 16 67% 8 33% 1 4% 3 13% 0% 4 17% 13 54% NON -FINANCIAL 234 198 85% 123 62% 75 38% 10 5% 16 8% 19 10% 45 23% 146 74% FAMILY 166 140 84% 79 56% 61 44% 9 6% 13 9% 15 11% 35 25% 95 68% STATE 24 23 96% 21 91% 2 9% 0% 1 4% 1 4% 21 91% Ownership structure 0% Comparison with CG Reports Adhering to the Code Yes 249 211 85% 136 64% 75 36% 8 4% 16 8% 16 8% 46 22% 152 72% No 13 11 85% 3 27% 8 73% 3 27% 3 27% 3 27% 3 27% 7 64% Yes 181 157 87% 110 70% 47 30% 2 1% 10 6% 12 8% 28 18% 110 70% No 81 65 80% 29 45% 36 55% 9 14% 9 14% 7 11% 21 32% 49 75% Having at least three Independent Directors Having an ICC of Independet Directors only Yes 109 94 86% 69 73% 25 27% 0 0% 1 1% 5 5% 19 20% 69 73% No 153 128 84% 70 55% 58 45% 11 9% 18 14% 14 11% 30 23% 90 70% Having an ICC of Minority Directors Yes 50 42 84% 34 81% 8 19% 1 2% 2 5% 3 7% 5 12% 34 81% No 212 180 85% 105 58% 75 42% 10 6% 17 9% 16 9% 44 24% 125 69% TOTAL 262 222 85% 139 63% 83 37% 11 5% 19 9% 19 9% 49 22% 159 72% Transactions NOT falling within the shareholders' meeting competence TAB. 50: WHITEWASHING Companies with available data No. Companies that foresee the possibility of whitewash in case of a negative opinion of independent directors N° % Transactions falling within the shareholders' meeting competence of which: The prevision of a minimum treshold in case of negative AGM vote No. Companies that foresee the possibility of whitewash in case of a negative opinion of independent directors on BoD proposal to AGM The average treshold µ % No. % Companies that foresee a derogation to the ordinary procedure (WITH whitewash) in case of urgency due to firm crisis No. % Index 38 18 47% 14 78% 10,0% 23 61% 7 18% FTSE MID CAP 60 34 57% 27 79% 9,5% 34 57% 15 25% FTSE SMALL CAP FTSE MIB 132 35 27% 25 71% 9,2% 80 61% 42 32% FTSE MICRO CAP 19 3 16% 2 67% 10,0% 11 58% 9 47% OTHERS 13 5 38% 2 40% 7,5% 7 54% 3 23% FINANCIAL 28 12 43% 8 67% 7,5% 18 64% 3 11% NON-FINANCIAL 234 83 35% 62 75% 9,7% 137 59% 73 31% FAMILY 166 58 35% 44 76% 9,6% 104 63% 48 29% STATE 24 11 46% 9 82% 10,0% 12 50% 5 21% Sector Ownership structure Comparison with CG Reports Adhering to the Code Yes 249 93 37% 69 74% 9,4% 150 60% 73 29% No 13 2 15% 1 50% 10,0% 5 38% 3 23% Having at least three Independent Directors Yes 181 79 44% 59 75% 9,3% 114 63% 50 28% No 81 16 20% 11 69% 10,0% 41 51% 26 32% Yes 109 47 43% 37 79% 9,6% 62 57% 34 31% No 153 48 31% 33 69% 9,2% 93 61% 42 27% Having an ICC of Independet Directors only "Smaller" companies Yes 103 10 10% 7 70% 8,6% 66 64% 36 35% No 159 85 53% 63 74% 9,5% 89 56% 40 25% Yes 50 22 44% 17 77% 10,0% 28 56% 13 26% No 212 73 34% 53 73% 9,2% 127 60% 63 30% Yes 140 64 46% 46 72% 9,6% 98 70% 68 49% No 122 31 25% 24 77% 9,0% 57 47% 8 7% TOTAL 262 95 36% 70 74% 9,4% 155 59% 76 29% Having an ICC of Minority Directors Derogated ex art. 13, para 6 Operation type: TAB. 51: "MAJOR" TRANSACTIONS CARRIED OUT DURING THE FIRST HALF-YEAR PERIOD OF 2011 AVAILABLE RPT No. Financing transaction No. % Share capital increases or financing transaction of shareholders RPT concerning partecipations, joint venture, merger/demerger No. % No. RPT where the value is noticeable Business RPT % No. % No. % Average value µ Index FTSE MIB 0 0 n.a. 0 n.a. 0 n.a. 0 0 n.a. n.a. FTSE MID CAP 7 2 29% 0 0% 4 57% 1 n.a. 14% 5 71% 1.658 41 FTSE SMALL CAP 17 3 18% 8 47% 4 24% 2 12% 14 82% FTSE MICRO CAP 2 1 50% 0 0% 1 50% 0 0% 2 100% 31 OTHERS 10 6 60% 2 20% 2 20% 0 0% 10 100% 384 FINANCIAL 14 10 71% 0 0% 4 29% 0 0% 12 86% 965 NON-FINANCIAL 22 2 9% 10 45% 7 32% 3 14% 19 86% 63 FAMILY 12 1 8% 7 58% 3 25% 1 8% 11 92% 33 STATE 4 0 0% 0 0% 2 50% 2 50% 2 50% 359 Sector Ownership structure Comparison with CG Reports Adhering to the Code Yes 33 9 27% 10 30% 11 33% 3 9% 29 88% 421 No 6 3 50% 0 0% 3 50% 0 0% 2 33% 280 at least three Independent Directors Yes 25 8 32% 6 24% 9 36% 2 8% 21 84% 577 No 11 4 36% 4 36% 2 18% 1 9% 10 91% 66 an ICC of Independent Directors only Yes 16 7 44% 3 19% 4 25% 2 13% 14 88% 796 No 20 5 25% 7 35% 7 35% 1 5% 17 85% 96 Having Minority Directors Yes 14 2 14% 4 29% 5 36% 3 21% 11 79% 118 No 22 10 45% 6 27% 6 27% 0 0% 20 91% 574 "Smaller" or "recently listed companies" Yes 16 2 13% 9 56% 4 25% 1 6% 15 94% 23 No 20 10 50% 1 5% 7 35% 2 10% 16 80% 776 TOTAL 36 12 33% 10 28% 11 31% 3 8% 31 86% 412