IBERPAPEL GESTION, S.A.
Transcription
IBERPAPEL GESTION, S.A.
IBERPAPEL GESTION, S.A. Annual Accounts and Directors’ Report 31 December 2009 IBERPAPEL GESTION, S.A. Annual accounts and Directors’ Report for 2009 On 25 February 2010 and in accordance with the requirements of Article 171 of the Spanish Companies Act and Article 37 of the Code of Commerce, the Board of Directors of Iberpapel Gestión, S.A. prepares the annual accounts and directors’ report for the year ended 31 December 2009, consisting of the documents attached hereto, set out on official paper numbered sequentially. The Board of Directors Signature Mr Iñigo Echevarría Canales Mr. Iñigo Solaun Garteiz Deceased Mr Néstor Basterra Larroude Mr Baltasar Errazti Navarro Mr Martín González del Valle Chávarri Mr Ignacio Peñalba Ceberio Mr Iñaki Usandizaga Aranzadi Mrs. María Luisa Guibert Ucin Madrid, 25 February 2010 2 CONTENTS OF THE ANNUAL ACCOUNTS OF IBERPAPEL GESTIÓN, S.A. Note Page Balance sheet 5 Income statement 7 Statement of recognized income and expense 8 Statement of changes in equity 9 Cash flow statement 11 Notes to the annual accounts 12 1. General information 12 2. Basis of presentation 12 3. Accounting policies 14 3.1. Intangible assets 14 3.2. Property, plant and equipment 15 3.3. Impairment losses on non-financial assets 16 3.4. Financial assets 16 3.5. Equity 17 3.6. Financial liabilities 18 3.7. Current and deferred taxes 18 3.8. Employee benefits 19 3.9. Provisions and contingent liabilities 19 3.10. Revenue recognition 20 3.11. Leases 21 3.12. Foreign currency transactions 21 3.13. Related-party transactions 22 Financial risk management 22 4.1. Financial risk factors 22 5. Intangible assets 25 6. Property, plant and equipment 26 7. Analysis of financial instruments 27 7.1. Analysis by category 27 7.2. Analysis by maturity date 28 7.3. Credit quality of financial assets 29 4. 8. Shares in group companies, jointly-controlled entities and associates 30 9. Loans and receivables 32 10. Cash and cash equivalents 33 11. Capital and share premium 34 12. Prior year reserves and results 35 13. Profit for the year 36 14. Borrowings and other payables 37 15. Deferred taxes 37 16. Income and expense 38 3 Note Page 17. Corporate income tax and tax situation 40 18. Financial results 42 19. Cash flows from operating activities 42 20. Cash flows from investing activities 43 21. Cash flows from financing activities 43 22. Commitments 44 23. Board of Directors and senior management compensation 44 24. Other related-party transactions 47 25. Auditors’ fees 48 26. Significant port-balance sheet events 48 Directors’ report 1 4 IBERPAPEL GESTION, S.A. BALANCE SHEET AT 31 December 2009 and 2008 (Thousand euro) Year ended 31 December Note NON-CURRENT ASSETS 2009 2008 46,006 46,057 Intangible assets 5 4 2 Property, plant and equipment 6 19 29 Long-term investments in group and associated companies 8 45,980 45,980 45,980 45,980 3 3 3 3 Equity instruments Long-term investments 7 Other financial assets Deferred tax assets 15 CURRENT ASSETS Trade and other receivables 9 Current tax assets Short-term investments in group and associated companies 8 Loans to companies Cash and cash equivalents TOTAL ASSETS 10 43 22,097 18,660 71 153 71 153 21,934 18,340 21,934 18,340 92 167 68,103 64,717 5 IBERPAPEL GESTION, S.A. BALANCE SHEET AT 31 December 2009 AND 2008 (Thousand euro) Year ended 31 December Note 2009 2008 EQUITY Equity 67,654 64,362 Share capital 11 6,980 6,980 Share premium account 11 27,104 28,027 Reserves 12 29,901 24,314 Treasury shares 11 (1,556) (1,469) Profit for the year 13 6,148 6,510 Interim dividends 11 and 13 (923) CURRENT LIABILITIES Short-term borrowings 14 Other financial liabilities Trade and other payables Sundry creditors Other payables to public entities TOTAL LIABILITIES 14 449 355 245 260 245 260 204 95 8 45 196 50 68,103 64,717 6 IBERPAPEL GESTION, S.A. INCOME STATEMENT FOR THE YEARS ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2009 AND 2008 (Thousand euro) Year ended 31 December Note 2009 2008 CONTINUED OPERATIONS Net revenues 16 7,220 7,709 Dividends from shareholdings in Group companies 2 and 16 5,937 6,200 Interest on loans to Group companies 2 and 16 615 849 668 660 (416) (412) (364) (363) Staff welfare expenses (52) (49) Other operating costs (558) (634) (556) (634) Services rendered Staff costs 16 Wages, salaries and similar remuneration External services Taxes (2) Fixed asset depreciation/amortization OPERATING RESULTS (14) (17) 6,232 6,646 Financial income FINANCIAL RESULTS 2 18 RESULTS BEFORE TAXES Corporate income tax PROFIT FOR YEAR FROM CONTINUED OPERATIONS 17 2 6,232 6,648 (84) (138) 6,148 6,510 6,148 6,510 DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS PROFIT FOR YEAR FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS NET OF TAXES PROFIT/LOSS FOR THE YEAR 7 IBERPAPEL GESTION, S.A. STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY FOR THE YEARS ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2009 AND 2008 A) STATEMENT OF RECOGNIZED REVENUE AND EXPENSES (Thousand euro) Year ended 31 December 2009 2008 Profit for the year 6,148 6,510 TOTAL RECOGNIZED REVENUES AND EXPENSES 6,148 6,510 8 IBERPAPEL GESTION, S.A. STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY FOR THE YEARS ENDED 31 December 2008 AND 2007 B) STATEMENT OF TOTAL CHANGES IN EQUITY (Thousand euro) Share capital CLOSING BALANCE 2007 Share Legal reserve premium Other Reserves Treasury shares Profit for year TOTAL 6,980 30,918 1,434 19,076 (823) 6,119 63,704 6,980 30,918 1,434 19,076 (823) 6,119 63,704 6,510 6,510 (2,315) (5,206) Adjustments due to changes in policy ADJUSTED OPENING BALANCE 2008 Total recognized revenues and expenses Transactions with shareholders or owners Capital increases Capital reduction Conversion of financial liabilities into equity Dividend payment (2,891) Transactions involving treasury shares (net) (646) (646) Other transactions with shareholders or owners Other changes in equity CLOSING BALANCE 2008 3,804 6,980 28,027 1,434 22,880 (3,804) (1,469) 6,510 64,362 9 IBERPAPEL GESTION, S.A. STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY FOR THE YEARS ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2009 AND 2008 B) STATEMENT OF TOTAL CHANGES IN EQUITY (Thousand euro) Share capital CLOSING BALANCE 2008 Share premium Legal Other reserve Reserves Treasury shares Profit for Interim year dividend TOTAL 6,980 28,027 1,434 22,880 (1,469) 6,510 64,362 6,980 28,027 1,434 22,880 (1,469) 6,510 64,362 6,148 6,148 Adjustments due to changes in policy ADJUSTED OPENING BALANCE 2009 Total recognized revenues and expenses Transactions with shareholders or owners Capital increases Capital reduction Conversion of financial liabilities into equity Distribution of dividends (Notes 11 and 13) (923) (923) (923) (2,769) Transactions involving treasury shares (net) Other transactions with shareholders or owners Other changes in equity CLOSING BALANCE 2009 (87) (87) 5,587 6,980 27,104 1,434 28,467 (5,587) (1,556) 6,148 (923) 67,654 10 IBERPAPEL GESTION, S.A. CASH FLOW STATEMENT FOR THE YEARS ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2009 AND 2008 (Thousand euro) Year ended at 31 December Note 2008 2,787 5,370 6,232 6,648 Profit adjustments (6,538) (7,034) Changes in working capital (3,418) (1,295) 6,511 7,051 (6) (9) (6) (9) (2,856) (5,852) (87) (646) (2,769) (5,206) (75) (491) Cash and equivalents at the start of the year 167 658 Cash and equivalents at the end of the year 92 167 CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES 19 2009 Profit for year before taxes Other cash flows from operating activities CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES 20 Investment payments Divestment proceeds CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCE ACTIVITIES Payments received and paid for equity instruments 21 Payments received and paid for financial liability instruments Dividend payments and compensation from other equity instruments EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES NET INCREASE / (DECREASE) IN CASH AND EQUIVALENTS 11 IBERPAPEL GESTION, S.A. NOTES TO THE ANNUAL ACCOUNTS FOR 2009 (Thousand euros) 1. General information Iberpapel Gestión, S.A. is a trading company and was incorporated on 21 July 1997 before the notary of Madrid, Mr Juan Carlos Caballería Gómez, and number 2,427 of his protocol. The Company is registered in the Mercantile Register of Guipúzcoa, volume 1,910, book 0, sheet 43, section 8, page SS 19511, and its registered office is located at Avenida Sancho el Sabio 2, San Sebastián. Its tax ID number is No. A-21248893. The corporate purpose of Iberpapel Gestión consists of: a) Sales operations of all kinds, on behalf of and representing itself or third parties, relating to any goods or objects. b) Possession and exploitation of any municipal, rural, agricultural, forestry and industrial property. c) Subscription, derivative acquisition, holding, use, administration, purchase or sale of securities and shares, except those which relate to activities regulated by Law 46/84 or by specific legislation. 2. Basis of presentation a) True and fair view The annual accounts have been prepared on the basis of the Company’s accounting records and are presented in compliance with current Spanish Company Law and the Spanish General Accounting Plan approved by Royal Decree 1514/2008 so as to provide a true and fair view of the Company’s net worth, its financial situation and the results of its operations, as well as the accuracy of the cash flows included in the cash flow statement. The figures contained in the documents that make up these annual accounts, the balance sheets, the income statements, the statement of changes in equity, the cash flow statement and these notes, are expressed in thousands of euro. 12 b) Comparability Some amounts relating to 2008 have been reclassified in these annual accounts in order to make them comparable to this year and facilitate their comparison. The most significant reclassification was as follows: Debit Credit Financial income Dividends from shareholdings in Group companies Interest on loans to Group companies 6,200 849 Net revenues Dividends from shareholdings in Group companies 6,200 Interest on loans to Group companies 849 7,049 7,049 In accordance with Consultation 2 published in the BOICAC 79/2009, dividends from shares in capital and any interest from loans granted by a holding company will be classified as revenue. c) Critical aspects of measuring and estimating uncertainty The preparation of the financial statements requires the use by the Company of certain estimates and judgements in relation to the future that are assessed constantly and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events considered reasonable. The resulting accounting estimates will, by definition, seldom equal the related actual results. d) Groupings of items For clarity, the items presented in the balance sheet, income statement, statement of changes in equity and cash flow statement are grouped together and, where necessary, a breakdown is included in the relevant notes to the accounts. 13 e) Consolidated Annual Accounts The Company is the parent of a group of companies in accordance with Royal Decree 1815/1991 (20 December) and therefore it must present consolidated annual accounts, which have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) adopted for use by the European Union, approved by the European Commission and in force at 31 December 2009. The Directors have decided to prepare the consolidated accounts separately at 25 February 2010. The consolidated accounts reflect a net consolidated profit of € 7,033 thousand and capital and reserves, excluding net profit for the year, of € 165,820 thousand. 3. Accounting policies 3.1. Intangible assets a) Research and development costs Research expenditure is recognised as an expense when incurred. Development costs incurred in projects are recognised as intangible assets when it is probable that the project will be a success considering its technological and commercial feasibility, there are sufficient technical and financial resources to complete it, the costs incurred may be measured reliably and a profit is likely to be generated. Other development expenses are recognised as an expense when incurred. Development costs previously recognised as an expense are not recognised as an asset in subsequent years. Development costs with a finite useful life that have been capitalised are amortised on a straightline basis over the period of the project’s expected benefit, not exceeding five years. When an asset’s carrying amount exceeds its estimated recoverable amount, the carrying amount is written down immediately to the recoverable amount. If the circumstances favouring the project that permitted the capitalisation of the development costs change, the unamortized portion is expensed in the year of change. b) Computer software Acquired computer software licences are capitalised on the basis of the costs incurred to acquire and bring to use the specific software. These costs are amortised over their estimated useful lives (four years). 14 The costs relating to the maintenance of computer programs are recognized as an expense when incurred. Costs directly related to the production of identifiable and unique computer programs controlled by the Company and that will probably generate economic benefits exceeding costs beyond one year are recognised as intangible assets. Direct costs include the software development employee costs and an appropriate portion of relevant overheads. Software development costs recognised as assets are amortised over the software’s estimated useful life which does not exceed four years. 3.2. Property, plant and equipment Property, plant and equipment is stated at acquisition price or production cost less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses recognised. Own work capitalised is measured is calculated by adding to the price of the consumable materials used the direct or indirect costs attributable to the assets. Costs incurred to extend, modernise or improve property, plant and equipment are only recorded as an increase in the value of the asset when the capacity, productivity or useful life of the asset is extended and it is possible to ascertain or estimate the carrying amount of the assets that have been replaced in inventories. The cost of major repairs is capitalised and depreciated over the estimated useful life of the asset, while recurring maintenance costs are charged to the income statement in the year in which they are incurred. Depreciation of property, plant and equipment, with the exception of land, which is not depreciated, is calculated systematically using the straight-line method over the assets’ estimated useful lives based on the actual decline in value brought about by operation, use and possession. Estimated useful lives are as follows: Estimated years of useful life Data-processing equipment 4 years The residual values and useful lifes of assets are reviewed and adjusted, if necessary, at each balance sheet date. If an asset’s carrying amount is greater than its estimated recoverable amount, its carrying amount is written down immediately to its recoverable amount ( Note 3.3). 15 Gains and losses on the disposal of property, plant and equipment are calculated by comparing the sale revenue with the carrying amount and are recognised in the income statement. 3.3. Losses due to impairment of non-financial assets Intangible assets that have an indefinite useful life such as goodwill, are not subject to amortization and are tested annually for impairment Other non-financial assets are tested for impairment provided that some event or change in circumstances indicates that carrying value may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognized for the amount by which the asset's carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount, understood as the asset's fair value less the higher of costs to sell and value in use. For the purposes of determining impairment, the assets are grouped at the lowest level at which cash flows may be independently identified (cash generating units). Non-financial assets, other than goodwill, which are impaired are reviewed at the balance sheet date for reversal of the loss. 3.4. Financial assets a) Loans and receivables Loans and receivables are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted on an active market. They are included in current assets, except for maturities greater than 12 months after the balance sheet date. These are classified as non-current assets. Loans and receivables are included in “Loans to companies” and “Trade and other receivables” in the balance sheet. Financial assets are initially carried at fair value, including directly attributable transaction costs, and are subsequently measured at amortized cost. Accrued interest is recognized at the effective interest rate, which is the discount rate that brings the instrument’s carrying amount into line with all estimated cash flows to maturity. Trade receivables falling due in less than one year are carried at their face value at both initial recognition and subsequent measurement, provided that the effect of not discounting flows is not significant. 16 At the year end, at least, the necessary value adjustments are made to account for impairment when there is objective evidence that all receivables will not be collected. The amount of the impairment loss is the difference between the asset’s carrying amount and the present value of estimated future cash flows, discounted at the effective interest rate prevailing at the date of initial recognition. Value adjustments, and reversals, where applicable, are recognized in the income statement. b) Investments in the equity of group, multigroup and associated companies They are stated at cost less, where appropriate, accumulated value adjustments for impairment. Nonetheless, when there is an investment prior to its classification as a group company, jointlycontrolled entity or associate, its carrying value prior to that classification is regarded as the investment cost. Previous value adjustments accounted for directly in equity are held under this heading until they are written off If there is objective evidence that the carrying value is not recoverable, the relevant value adjustments are reflected for the difference between the carrying value and recoverable amount, understood as the higher of fair value less costs to sell and the present value of cash flows from the investment Unless better evidence is available of the recoverable amount, when estimating the impairment of these investments, the investee's equity is taken into account, adjusted for any latent capital gains existing at the measurement date. The value adjustment and, if appropriate, its reversal, are reflected in the income statement for the year in which they arise 3.5. Equity Share capital consists of ordinary shares. The costs of issuing new shares or options are recognised directly in equity as a reduction in reserves. In the event that the Company’s acquires treasury shares, the price paid, including any directly attributable incremental cost, is deducted from equity until the treasury shares are redeemed, reissued or sold. When treasury shares are subsequently sold or reissued, any amount received is taken to equity net of directly attributable incremental costs. 17 3.6. Financial liabilities a) Borrowings and other payables This includes trade and non-trade payables. Borrowings are classed as current liabilities unless the Company has an unconditional right to defer settlement for at least 12 months as from the balance sheet date. Payables are initially recognised at fair value, adjusted for directly attributable transaction costs, and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. The effective interest rate is the discount rate that brings the instrument’s carrying amount into line with the expected future flow of payments to the maturity date of the liability. Trade payables falling due in less than one year without a contractual interest rate are carried at their face value at both initial recognition and subsequent measurement, provided that the effect of not discounting flows is not significant. In the event of the renegotiation of existing debts, the financial liability is not deemed to change significantly when the lender of the new loan is the same as the initial lender and the present value of cash flows, including net fees, is not more than 10% higher or lower than the present value of cash flows payable on the original liability, calculated using the same method. 3.7. Current and deferred taxes Income tax expense (income) is that amount of income tax that accrues during the period. It includes both current and deferred tax expense (income). Both current and deferred tax expense (income) is recognized in the income statement. However, the tax effect of items recorded directly in equity is recognized in equity. Current tax assets and liabilities are carried at the amounts that are expected to be payable to or recoverable from the tax authorities, in accordance with prevailing legislation or regulations that have been approved and are pending publication at the year end. 18 Deferred income tax is calculated, using the liability method, on temporary differences arising between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts. However, if the deferred tax arises from the initial recognition of a liability or an asset on a transaction other than a business combination that at the time of the transaction has no effect on reported or taxable results, they are not recognized. The deferred tax is determined applying tax regulations and rates approved or about to be approved at the balance sheet date and which are expected to be applied when the corresponding deferred tax asset is realized or deferred tax liability is settled. Deferred income tax assets are recognized to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profit will be available against which the temporary differences can be utilized. Deferred taxes on temporary differences arising on investments in subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures are recognized, except where the Company is able to control the reversal date of the temporary differences and such differences are unlikely to reverse in the foreseeable future. 3.8. Employee benefits a) Termination benefits Termination benefits are payable when employment is terminated before the normal retirement date, or whenever an employee accepts voluntary redundancy in exchange for these benefits. The Company recognizes these benefits when it has demonstrably undertaken to terminate current employees’ employment in accordance with a formal detailed plan that cannot be withdrawn, or to provide severance indemnities as a result of an offer made to encourage voluntary redundancy. Benefits that will not be paid within 12 months of the balance sheet date are discounted to their present value. 3.9. Provisions and contingent liabilities Provisions for environmental restoration, restructuring costs and legal claims are recognized when the Company has a present legal or constructive obligation as a result of past events, an outflow of funds will probably be necessary to settle the obligation, and the amount may be reliably estimated. Restructuring provisions comprise lease termination penalties and employee termination payments. Provisions are not recognized for future operating losses. 19 Provisions are carried at the present value of forecast payments that are expected to be required to settle the obligation, using a rate before taxes that reflects the current market assessment of the time value of money and the specific risks of the obligation. Adjustments made to update the provision are recognized in finance costs as they accrue. Provisions maturing in one year or less the financial effect of which is immaterial are not discounted. Where a part of the outflow necessary to settle the obligation is expected to be reimbursed by a third party, the reimbursement is recognized as a separate asset, provided collection is virtually assured. A contingent liability is a potential obligation arising from past events, the materialization of which is dependent on the occurrence or non-occurrence of one or more future events beyond the Company’s control. These contingent liabilities are not recorded in the accounts but are described in the notes presenting the financial statements. 3.10. Revenue recognition Revenue comprises the fair value of the consideration receivable and represents amounts receivable for goods delivered and services rendered in the ordinary course of the Company’s activities, net of returns, rebates, discounts and value added tax. The Company recognizes revenue when the amount may be reliably estimated, it is likely that the future economic benefits will flow to the Company and the specific conditions are fulfilled for each activity, as described below. A reliable calculation of the amount of revenue is not deemed possible until all sale-related contingencies have been resolved. The Company’s estimates are based on historical results, taking into account customer type, transaction type and specific terms. a) Interest income Interest income is recognized using the effective interest method. When a receivable is impaired, the Company reduces the carrying amount to the recoverable amount and discounts the estimated future cash flows at the original effective interest rate of the instrument and continues to carry the discount as a decrease in interest income. Interest income on loans that have become impaired is recognized using the effective interest rate method. b) Services rendered Sales of services are recognized in the accounting period in which the services are provided by reference to the completion of the specific transaction, assessed based on the actual service 20 provided as a percentage of the total service to be provided. c) Dividend income Dividend income is recognized as income in the income statement at the time the entitlement to receive the dividends is established. Nonetheless, if the dividends paid derive from profits generated prior to the date of acquisition, they are recognized as a decrease in the carrying value of the investment and not as income. 3.11. Leases a) When the Company is the lessee – operating lease Leases in which a significant portion of the risks and rewards of ownership are retained by the lessor are classified as operating leases. Payments made under operating leases (net of any incentives received from the lessor) are charged to the income statement in the period of accrual on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease. 3.12. Foreign currency transactions a) Functional and presentation currency The financial statements are presented in euro, which is the Company’s functional and presentation currency. b) Transactions and balances Foreign currency transactions are translated to the functional currency using the exchange rates prevailing at the transaction dates. Foreign currency gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions and from the translation at year-end exchange rates of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currency are recognized in the income statement, except when deferred in equity as qualifying cash flow hedges or qualifying net investment hedges. 21 3.13. Related-party transactions In general, transactions between group companies are initially recognized at fair value. If applicable, where the agreed price differs from the fair value, the difference is recognized based on the economic reality of the transaction. Transactions are subsequently measured in accordance with applicable standards. For mergers, splits and non-monetary contributions of a business, the Company applies the following: a) For transactions between group companies involving the parent of the group or of a subgroup and its subsidiary, directly or indirectly, the assets representing the business acquired are carried at the amount at which, following the transactions, is attributable to them in the group’s or subgroup’s consolidated financial statements. b) For intercompany transactions, the assets of the business are stated at their carrying value in the individual financial statements prior to the transaction. The difference that may arise is reflected in reserves. 4. Financial risk management 4.1. Financial risk factors The Company's activities are exposed to several financial risks: market risk (including the interest rate risk, exchange rate risk and price risk ), credit risk and liquidity risk. The Company’s overall risk management program focuses on unpredictability of financial markets and seeks to minimize the potential adverse effects on the Company’s financial performance. Risk management is carried out by the Company’s Treasury Department, which identifies, evaluates and hedges financial risks in accordance with the policies approved by the Board of Directors. The Board provides written policies for overall risk management and for specific areas such as foreign exchange risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk and investment of cash surpluses. 22 a) Market risk (i) Foreign exchange risk The Company operates nationally and is therefore exposed to foreign exchange risk arising from currency transactions. (ii) Price risk The Company is not exposed to equity instrument price risk because it has no investments held and classified on the balance sheet either as available for sale or carried at fair value through profit or loss. The Company is not exposed to commodity price risk. (iii) Cash flow interest rate risk and fair value risk Since the Company does not hold any significant interest-bearing assets, the revenues and cash flows from the Company's operating activities are largely unaffected by changes in market interest rates. b) Credit risk The credit risk is managed by group. Credit risk derives from cash and cash equivalents and bank and other deposits. The table below sets out the balances with the most significant counterparties at the balance sheet date: 2009 Counterparty S&P rating Balance Bank A AA- 54 Bank B AA 5 Bank C Unrated 33 92 23 c) Liquidity risk The prudent management of the liquidity risk entails holding sufficient cash, as well as available financing through sufficient credit facilities and the capacity to settle market positions. Given the dynamic nature of the underlying businesses, the company’s Cash Department has the objective of maintaining flexible financing. Management monitors the Company’s liquidity reserve requirements, including the availability of credit lines (Note 9) and cash and cash equivalents (Note 10), on the basis of expected cash flows. The liquidity reserve forecast at 15 December 2009, the date on which the Board of Directors agreed to distribute an interim dividend (Note 13) is as follows: 2009 Opening balance Collections from operations Payments of operations Closing balance 127 23,348 (17,182) 6,293 The table below sets out an analysis of the Company's financial liabilities that will be settled at the net amount, grouped together by maturity, on the basis of the periods remaining at the balance sheet date to the maturity date stipulated in the contract. The amounts set out in the table relate to the cash flows stipulated in the contract without discounting. Balances payable within 12 months are equivalent to their carrying values since the effect of discounting is not significant. 2009 Less than 1 year Trade and other payables 449 24 5. Intangible assets Cost Computer software Balance at 31/12/2007 Additions Disposals Transfers Balance at 31/12/2008 11 11 11 11 Accumulated amortization Computer software Net amount Cost Computer software (6) (3) (9) (6) (3) (9) 5 2 Balance at 31/12/2008 Additions 11 3 14 11 3 14 (9) (1) (10) (9) (1) (10) Disposals Transfers Balance at 31/12/2009 Accumulated amortization Computer software Net amount 2 4 25 Fully amortized assets At 31 December 2009, fully-amortized intangible assets with an original cost of € 9 thousand (2008: € 0 thousand) are still in use. 6. Property, plant and equipment Cost Data-processing equipment Other fixed assets Balance at 31/12/2007 Additions 72 9 3 Disposals Transfers Balance at 31/12/2008 81 3 75 9 84 (37) (15) (52) Accumulated amortization Data-processing equipment Other fixed assets (3) (40) Net amount 35 (3) (15) (55) 29 26 Cost Data-processing equipment Other fixed assets Balance at 31/12/2008 Additions 81 3 Disposals Transfers Balance at 31/12/2009 84 3 3 84 3 87 (52) (13) (65) Accumulated amortization Data-processing equipment Other fixed assets (3) (55) Net amount a) 29 (3) (13) (68) 19 Fully amortized assets At 31 December 2009, fully-depreciated property, plant and equipment with an original cost of € 36 thousand (2008: € 25 thousand) are still in use. b) Operating leases The income statement includes operating lease expenses relating to machinery rentals amounting to € 3 thousand. 7. Analysis of financial instruments 7.1. Analysis by category The carrying value of each category of financial instruments set out in the standard on accounting and measurement of financial instruments, except for investments in the equity of group companies, jointly-controlled entities and associates (Note 8), is as follows: 27 Long-term financial assets Other Other financial assets (Note 9) 2009 2008 3 3 3 3 Current financial assets Other 2009 Current tax assets Short-term loans to Group companies (Note 9) Cash and cash equivalents 2008 71 153 21,934 18,340 92 167 22,097 18,660 Current financial liabilities Other Creditors and payables (Note 14) 7.2. 2009 2008 449 355 449 355 Analysis by maturity date Financial instruments having fixed or determinable maturities are shown below by year of maturity: Financial assets 2009 2008 Investments in group companies and associates Current tax assets Short-term loans to Group companies (Note 9) 71 153 21,934 18,340 22,005 18,493 28 7.3. Credit quality of financial assets The credit quality of the financial assets that have not yet matured or are not impaired may be assessed on the basis of the credit rating afforded by external bodies or using historical default data. 2009 2008 Public institutions 71 153 Total receivables 71 153 Receivables Cash at bank and short-term bank deposits Counterparty Bank A 2009 S&P rating AA- 54 Bank B AA 5 Bank C Unrated 33 92 None of the financial assets pending maturity has been renegotiated during the year. 29 8. Shares in group companies, jointly-controlled entities and associates a) Shareholdings in group companies At 31 December 2009 and 2008 shareholdings in Group companies were as follows: % interest held Name and address Legal Activity form Direct % Indirect % Voting rights Direct Indirect % Distribuidora Papelera Madrid (Spain) S.A. Paper wholesaler 100 100 Moliner, Domínguez y Cía. Barcelona (Spain) S.A. Paper wholesaler 100 100 Ibereucaliptos La Palma del Condado (Spain) S.A. Reforestation and forestry 100 100 Papelera Guipuzcoana de Zicuñaga Hernani (Spain) S.A. Manufacture, transformation and sale of paper 100 100 Central de Suministros de Artes GráficasPapel Madrid (Spain) S.A. Paper wholesaler 100 100 Iberbarna Papel Barcelona (Spain) S.A. Paper wholesaler 100 100 Zicuimex France Hendaye (France) % S.A.R.L. Promotion of exports 100 100 Zicupap San Sebastián (Spain) S.A. Promotion of exports 100 100 Copaimex San Sebastián (Spain) S.A. Promotion of exports 100 100 Iberpapel Argentina Colón (Rep. Argentina) S.A. Reforestation and forestry 100 100 Papeteries de l'Atlantique Hendaye (France) S.A. Rent of moveable and real property, in liquidation. 99.99 99.99 Los Eucaliptus Paysandú (Uruguay) S.A. Reforestation and forestry 100 100 Samakil Montevido (Uruguay) S.A. Timber merchant 100 100 G. Gil Colón (Rep. Argentina) S.A. Timber merchant 100 100 Reforestation and forestry 100 100 Nueva Andalucía Montevido (Uruguay) S.R.L. None of the Group companies in which the Company holds an interest are listed on a stock exchange. 30 Set out below are the figures for capital, reserves and results for 2008 and other information of interest as per the Company's annual accounts: Reserves Company Carrying Share and Profit for value at Dividends capital Other year parent received Distribuidora Papelera, S.A. 60 434 Moliner, Domínguez y Cía.,S.A. 60 539 9,300 11,459 (299) 3,995 46,277 92,609 5,786 41,516 Central de Suministros de Artes Gráficas Papel, S.A. 60 422 102 60 Iberbarna Papel, S.A. 60 329 41 60 7 64 15 7 60 53 96 60 475 76 5 475 3,783 (305) 942 4,377 37 297 54 37 13,165 2,218 (28) 15,364 873 11 (30) 858 2,224 (62) 17 2,179 Ibereucaliptos, S.A. Papelera Guipuzcoana de Zicuñaga, S.A. Zicuimex FRANCE, S.A.R.L. Zicupap, S.A. Copaimex, S.A. Iberpapel Argentina, S.A. Papeteries de l'Atlantique, S.A. Los Eucaliptus, S.A. Samakil, S.A. G. Gil, S.A. Nueva Andalucia, S.R.L. 4 222 60 6,200 (197) 31 Set out below are the figures for capital, reserves and results for 2009 and other information of interest as per the Company's annual accounts: Reserves Share Company Distribuidora Papelera, S.A. Moliner, Domínguez y Cía.,S.A. Ibereucaliptos, S.A. and capital Carrying Profit for Other year value at Dividends parent received 60 438 3 222 60 540 (70) 60 9,300 11,033 1,419 3,993 46,277 86,715 5,505 41,516 5,700 Central de Suministros de Artes Gráficas Papel, S.A. 60 424 7 60 100 Iberbarna Papel, S.A. 60 329 12 60 41 8 79 (8) 7 60 53 12 60 Papelera Guipuzcoana de Zicuñaga, S.A. Zicuimex FRANCE, S.A.R.L. Zicupap, S.A. Copaimex, S.A. Iberpapel Argentina, S.A. Papeteries de l'Atlantique, S.A. Los Eucaliptus, S.A. 475 81 4 475 3,367 (529) 21 3,916 37 151 (31) 37 17,809 2,642 (468) 19,913 Samakil, S.A. 1,052 16 12 962 G. Gil, S.A. 4,098 (40) (91) 3,971 Nueva Andalucia, S.R.L. 9. 96 114 Loans and other receivables The fair value of loans and other receivables is as follows: 2009 2008 21,934 18,340 21,934 18,340 Short-term loans and receivables Loans to group companies (Note 24) 32 The carrying values of loans and receivables is denominated in the following currencies: Euro 2009 2008 21,934 18,340 21,934 18,340 All other accounts included under “Loans and receivables” has not undergone any impairment. 10. Cash and cash equivalents Cash at bank and in hand 2009 2008 92 167 92 167 For the purposes of the cash flow statement, cash and cash equivalents includes: Cash and cash equivalents 2009 2008 92 167 92 167 33 11. Capital and share premium a) Share capital Authorized capital is made up of 11,633,140 ordinary fully paid bearer shares with a par value of € 0.60 each. There are no restrictions on the transfer of the shares. At 31 December 2009, the Company has no knowledge of any companies holding interests exceeding 10% in its share capital. All company shares are listed on the Madrid and Bilbao stock exchanges. b) Share premium account This reserve is freely available for distribution. On 2 June 2009 the General Shareholders’ Meeting approved the partial reimbursement of the share premium to shareholders at a rate of 0.08 euro per share amounting to € 923 thousand. c) Treasury shares During the year the Company acquired 9,991 treasury shares on the stock market. The amount paid for the shares totaled € 87 thousand. At 31 December 2009 the Company holds a total of 98,869 treasury shares with an original cost of € 1,556 thousand. These shares represent 0.850% of the Company’s share capital. These shares are held as treasury shares. On 02 June 2009 Shareholders at a General Meeting adopted a Resolution to authorize the Board of Directors, including the express authority for replacement, to acquire Treasury shares by the Company and/or its subsidiaries, in the terms established by Law thereby canceling the authorization granted by the General Meeting on 04 June 2008. 34 12. Prior year reserves and results a) Reserves 2009 2008 1,434 1,434 1,434 1,434 28,455 22,868 12 12 28,467 22,880 Legal reserve Legal reserve Other reserves Voluntary reserves Differences on conversion of capital to euro (i) Legal reserve Appropriations to the legal reserve are made in compliance with Article 214 of the Spanish Companies Act, which stipulates that 10% of the profits for each year must be transferred to this reserve until it represents at least 20% of share capital. The legal reserve is not available for distribution. Should it be used to offset losses in the event of no other reserves being available, it must be replenished out of future profits. (ii) Differences on conversion of capital to euro This reserve is not available. In accordance with Law 46/1998 (17 December 1998) on the introduction of the euro, the Company records an unavailable reserve for differences arising on the conversion of share capital to euro. 35 13. Profit for the year a) Proposal for distributing results The proposal to be presented to the General Meeting regarding the distribution of results and reserves is as follows: 2009 2008 6,148 6,510 6,148 6,510 Available for distribution Profit and loss for the year Application Dividend Voluntary reserves b) 923 923 5,225 5,587 6,148 6,510 Interim dividend In accordance with a resolution adopted by the Board of Directors on 15 December 2009, on 22 December 2009 the Company distributed an interim dividend of € 0.08 per share, totaling € 923 thousand. This amount did not exceed the results profits obtained since the end of the previous period, after deducting the estimated corporate income tax payable on those results, as results down in Article 216 of the Spanish Companies Act of 27 December 1989. The provisional accounting statement prepared in accordance with applicable law, which shows that there are sufficient cash resources available to pay the above-mentioned dividend, is set out in Note 4. 36 14. Borrowings and other payables 2009 2008 8 45 Short-term borrowings and payables Trade payables Taxes payable 196 50 Other financial liabilities 245 260 449 355 2009 2008 15. Deferred taxes The breakdown of deferred taxes is as follows: Deferred tax assets Other tax credits 43 Deferred taxes 43 Tax assets and liabilities are offset if at that time the Company has the right to offset the recognized amounts and has the intention of settling the amounts at the net value or to realize the asset and cancel the liability simultaneously. Deferred tax assets and liabilities that have been offset are as follows: 2009 2008 Deferred tax assets Current year 43 Net deferred taxes 43 37 Gross movement in the Deferred taxes heading was as follows: 2009 Opening balance Charge to the income statement (Note 17) 43 181 (43) (138) 43 Closing balance 16. Income and expense a) Services rendered 2008 The Company's revenues are distributed geographically as follows: 2009 2008 5,937 6,200 Interest on loans to Group companies 615 849 Services rendered 668 660 7,220 7,709 2009 2008 Wages, salaries and similar remuneration 364 363 Employer’s Social Security contributions 52 49 416 412 Dividends from shareholdings in Group companies All services rendered by the Company took place in Spain. b) Staff costs 38 The average number of employees during the year, classified by category, is as follows: 2009 2008 Directors 8 9 Graduates, technicians and administrative staff 4 4 12 13 The distribution of employees by gender at the year end is as follows: 2009 Men Women Directors Graduates, 8 technicians administrative staff and Total 2008 Men 8 9 Women Total 9 2 2 4 2 2 4 10 2 12 11 2 13 39 17. Corporate income tax and tax situation The reconciliation of the net revenues and expenses during the year and the corporate income tax base is as follows: Income statement 6,148 Revenue and expense balance for the year Increases Corporate income tax Decreases 40 Permanent differences Temporary differences arising during the year 44 arising in prior years Offsetting of tax-loss carryforwards 84 Taxable income 6,232 The corporate income tax charge for the year is analyzed below: 2009 Corporate income tax payable for the year 40 Deferred tax (Note 15) 44 84 40 Current income tax results from applying a tax rate of 28% (2008: 28 %) of the tax base. Deductions to tax payable applied in 2009 amounted to € 1,917 thousand (2008: € 1,917) and withholdings and interim payments totaled € 111 thousand (2008: € 153 thousand). The amount receivable from the tax authorities totals € 153 thousand (2008: € 153 thousand). All the Company’s tax returns for the last four years for the principal taxes to which it is subject are open to inspection by the tax authorities. As a result, among other things, of the different interpretations to which Spanish tax legislation lends itself, additional tax assessments may be raised in the event of a tax inspection. The Directors considers, however, that any additional assessments that might be made would not significantly affect these accounts. Legislation applicable to the assessment of corporate income tax for 2009 is that contained in Provincial Regulation 7/1996 of 4 July 1996 with the amendments included in Provincial DecreeRegulation 4/2009, of 23 December, in force at the year end. There is no evidence at the current date of any appeals having been filed against such legislation. The Company’s Directors have calculated the amounts associated with this tax for 2009 and those years open to inspection in accordance with provincial legislation in force at each year end on the understanding that the various legal proceedings and final outcome of the appeals filed in this respect will not have a significant impact on the annual accounts taken as a whole. The Company has applied applicable tax legislation at all times. It therefore considers remote the effect, if any, that this Supreme Court ruling dated 9 December 2004 may have on the figures recorded in these annual accounts with respect to the years open to inspection. 41 18. Financial results 2009 2008 Financial income 2 Other financial income 2 19. Cash flows from operating activities 2009 2008 6,232 (6,538) 6,648 (7,034) 14 17 (6,552) (7.051) (3,418) (1,295) 82 (41) (3,594) (1,285) 94 31 6,511 7,051 5,937 6,200 Collection of interest 615 851 Corporate income tax payments made/(received) (-/+) (41) Profit for year before taxes Profit adjustments Fixed asset depreciation/amortization Financial income Changes in working capital Trade and other receivables Other current assets Trade and other payables Other cash flows from operating activities Interest payments Collection of dividends Cash flows from operating activities 2,787 5,370 42 20. Cash flows from investing activities Investment payments 2009 2008 (6) (9) Group and associated companies Intangible assets (3) Property, plant and equipment Other financial assets (3) (9) (6) (9) 2009 2008 (87) (646) (87) (646) (2,769) (5,206) (2,769) (5,206) (2,856) (5,852) Other assets Cash flows from investing activities 21. Cash flows from financing activities Payments received and paid for equity instruments Issue of equity instruments Write-off of equity instruments Acquisition of Treasury shares Disposal of Treasury shares Subsidies, donations and bequests received Dividend payments and compensation from other equity instruments Dividends Cash flows from financing activities 43 22. Commitments a) Operating lease commitments (when the Company is the lessee) The Company leases computer equipment under operating lease agreements that can be canceled. The Company must provide six months advance notice before canceling the agreement. The minimum total future payments for operating leases that cannot be canceled are as follows 2009 Less than 1 year 4 Between one and five years 1 5 The expense recognized in the income statement during the year for operating leases totals € 3 thousand. 23. Board of Directors and senior management compensation a) Board member compensation In 2009 the amount accrued by the members of the Board of Directors totaled € 335 thousand (2008: € 313 thousand) and consists of the following items and amounts: 2009 Salaries Compensation for pertaining to the Board 2008 90 90 196 223 286 313 44 As was the case in 2008, in 2009 no contributions to pension plans or plans were made on behalf of former or current members of the Company’s Board of Directors. No obligations in this respect were incurred during the year. The Company has not obtained any life insurance policies and therefore has no obligation to pay life insurance premiums. The Members of the Order Directors have not received any compensation consisting of profit sharing or bonuses. They have not received any shares or stock options during the year and have not exercised any options and there are no options outstanding. b) Compensation and loans to senior management Total compensation paid in 2009 to senior management amounted to € 187 thousand (2008: € 190 thousand). The Company has obtained a life insurance policy covering a member of senior management. During 2009 the Company did not grant any loans to senior management. It was not necessary to create any provision for loans to senior management. c) Shareholdings and positions held by the members of the Board of Directors in other similar companies Article 127 ter, paragraph 4 of the Spanish Companies Act (LSA), as worded in Law 26/2003 (18 July), whereby the Stock Market Act and the Spanish Companies Act were amended to increase transparency in listed companies, obliges Board directors to inform the company of any shareholdings in companies engaged in activities that are the same as or similar or complementary to the company’s corporate purpose, any offices or duties performed in such companies, and any activities that are the same as or similar or complementary to the company’s objects, carried out for their own account or for the account of third parties. In this respect, we note the following information provided to the Company by Directors that at 31 December 2009 occupied positions on the Company’s Board of Directors: 45 Director Mr Iñigo Echevarría Canales Company Activity Position or office Papelera Guipuzcoana de Zicuñaga, S.A. Manufacture of all kinds of paper Chairman Ibereucaliptos, S.A. Forestry purchase, lease or consortium and purchase-sale and marketing of forestry products Interest percentage in Iberpapel Gestión 0.225% Director Mr Néstor Basterra Larroude Mr Ignacio Peñalba Ceberio Papelera Guipuzcoana de Zicuñaga, S.A. Manufacture of all kinds of paper Director Ibereucaliptos, S.A. Forestry purchase, lease or consortium and purchase-sale and marketing of forestry products Director Ibereucaliptos, S.A. Forestry purchase, lease or consortium and purchase-sale and marketing of forestry products Director 0.704% 0.940% Mr Baltasar Errazti Navarro 0.008% Mr Iñaki Usandizaga Aranzadi 2.063% Mr Iñigo Solaun Garteiz Mr Martín González del Valle Chávarri Papelera Guipuzcoana de Zicuñaga, S.A. Manufacture of all kinds of paper Director 0.236% 0.003% No Director performs the same, analogous or supplementary activity to that which constitutes the Company's corporate objects on their own behalf or on the behalf of any other person. 46 24. Other related-party transactions The Company is the parent of Iberpapel Group. The transactions set out below were carried out with related parties: a) Services rendered The Company renders tax, commercial, administrative and computer advisory services to the various Group companies. 2009 2008 Amount Amount Ibereucaliptos, S.A. 118 116 C.S.A.G. Papel, S.A. 94 93 Distribuidora Papelera, S.A. 71 70 Iberbarna Papel, S.A. 47 47 Moliner, Domínguez y Cía., S.A. 47 47 Services rendered Zicupap, S.A. Papelera Guipuzcoana de Zicuñaga, S.A. b) 47 47 244 240 668 660 2009 2008 18,340 17,055 3,594 1,285 21,934 18,340 Loans granted to Group companies Opening balance Loans granted during the year 47 Short-term loans to Group companies include the amount of € 13,389 thousand drawn down on the loan facility granted to the Group company Papelera Guipuzcoana de Zicuñaga, S.A. The loan bears interest at a rate of 3.549% throughout 2009 and the limit on the facility amounts to € 22,000. This heading also records the amount drawndown totaling € 8,545 thousand under the contract with Ibereucaliptos, S.A. The interest rate applied in 2009 amounts to 3.549% and the limit is € 12,000 thousand. Both loans matured on 31 December 2009 and are renewed annually. In 2009 and 2008 there has been no need to record any provision for loans to directors and other associated companies. The Company's transactions with associated parties consist mainly of sales of goods and services. The prices applied by associated companies, with respect to physical flows and the rendering of services, have been determined in accordance with the arm's length principle. In this connection, prices have been calculated based on the net margin method for all operations, applying the net margin on sales for the sale/acquisition of products and the net margin on costs for services rendered. As regards the loans granted by Iberpapel Gestión to Ibereucaliptos and to Papelera Guipuzcoana de Zicuñaga, the comparable market price method was used. 25. Auditors’ fees The fees accrued during the year by PricewaterhouseCoopers Auditores, S.L. for audit and other verification services totaled € 16 thousand (2008: € 16 thousand) and € 35 thousand (2008: € 27 thousand), respectively. 26. Significant Post-balance sheet events At the preparation date of these annual accounts, no significant post-balance sheet events had taken place. 48 IBERPAPEL GESTION, S.A. DIRECTORS' REPORT FOR 2009 1. Development of the business In accordance with Consultation 2 published in the BOICAC 79/2009, dividends from shares in capital and any interest from loans granted by a holding company will be classified as revenue. In accordance with publication 79, some amounts relating to 2008 have been reclassified in these annual accounts in order to make them comparable to this year and facilitate their comparison. The reclassification in the income statement is set out below: Debit Credit Financial income Dividends from shareholdings in Group companies Interest on loans to Group companies 6,200 849 Net revenues Dividends from shareholdings in Group companies 6,200 Interest on loans to Group companies 849 7,049 7,049 Movements in the principal profit and loss account figures are set out below (thousand euro): Net revenues 2. 2009 2008 7,220 7,709 Treasury shares During the year the Company acquired 9,991 treasury shares on the stock market. The amount paid for the shares totaled € 87 thousand. At 31 December 2009 the Company holds a total of 98,869 treasury shares with an original cost of € 1,556 thousand. These shares represent 0.850% of the Company’s share capital. These shares are held as treasury shares. 1 3. Research & Development In 2009 the Company has not undertaken any significant R&D projects. 4. Use of financial instruments by the company. There are no hedging instruments. 5. Environment The Company makes no investments with respect to the environment, and is unaware of disputes relating to environmental issues affecting the Company. 6. Risk management The Company’s corporate objects consist of: a) Sales operations of all kinds, on behalf of and representing itself or third parties, relating to any goods or objects. b) Possession and exploitation of any municipal, rural, agricultural, forestry and industrial property. c) Subscription, derivative acquisition, holding, use, administration, purchase or sale of securities and shares, except those which relate to activities regulated by Law 46/84 or by specific legislation. The company has control systems which have been designed to ensure effective risk identification and assessment. These systems generate sufficient and reliable information for the different units and bodies with risk management authority to decide whether such risks should be assumed under controlled conditions. 7. Significant Post-balance sheet events At the preparation date of these annual accounts, no significant post-balance sheet events had taken place. 2 8. In compliance with Article 116 bis of Law 24/2008 of 28 July 2007, on the Securities Market, introduced by Law 6/2008 of 12 April 2007, the Board of Directors of Iberpapel Gestión, S.A. issues this explanatory report on those aspects of the Directors’ Report envisaged therein for submission to the Company’s General Shareholders’ Meeting. a) The capital structure, including securities traded on a Community regulated market, indicating, where appropriate, the different classes of shares and for each class of shares, the rights and obligations granted and percentage of capital represented. The share capital of Iberpapel Gestión, S. A. at 31 December 2009 amounts to € 6,979,884.00 and has been fully paid in and is divided into 11,633,140 ordinary shares of a single class and series, with a par value of € 0,60 each, fully subscribed and paid in. b) Restriction on the transfer of shares. There are no legal restrictions or restrictions in the bylaws concerning the free acquisition or transfer of shareholdings. Article 6 of the bylaws lays down that the shares are represented by accounting entries. c) Significant direct or indirect shareholdings in capital. At 31 December 2009 the only significant shareholdings known are as follows: Name Banco Guipuzcoano % Direct % Indirect 5.226 Bestinver Gestion, S.A., S.G.I.I.C. No. of Direct rights No. of indirect rights 607,923 1,059,706 (1) 9.109 Bestinver Bolsa, FI 4.246 493,918 Onchena, S.L. 7.583 882,188 3 (1) Through: Name of indirect holder Through: Name of direct holder of Number of % total voting of the stake the stake direct voting rights rights ABEDUL 1999, S.A. SICAV 1,447 0.012 BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. ACCIONES CUP. Y OBLI. 1,876 0.016 S.G.I.I.C. SEGOVIANAS. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. BESTINFOND, F.I. 265,908 2.286 BESTINVER BOLSA, F.I. 493,918 4.246 BESTINVER MIXTO, F.I. 84,545 0.727 BESTINVER AHORRO,F.P. 41,192 0.354 BESTINVER BESTVALUE SICAV 46,129 0.397 BESTINVER GLOBAL, F.P. 49,640 0.427 BESTINVER EMPLEO FP S.A. 2,249 0.019 DIIVALSA DE INVERSIONES SICAV, S.A. 2,434 0.021 LINKER INVERSIONES, SICAV, S.A. 1,385 0.012 LOUPRI INVERSIONES 3,825 0.033 SOIXA SICAV 50,732 0.436 TEXRENTA INVERSIONES, 14,426 0.124 BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. 4 d) Restrictions on voting rights There are no legal restrictions or restrictions in the bylaws on the exercising of voting rights. e) Quasi-corporate pacts. The company has received no notification of the existence of any quasi-corporate pacts including the regulation of the exercise of voting rights at General Meetings or restrictions on the free transfer of the shares of Iberpapel Gestión, S.A. f) Regulations applicable to the appointment and replacement of the members of the Administrative Body and amendment of the corporate objects. Article 9 of the Bylaws lays down that the General Shareholders’ Meeting is authorized to appoint and dismiss Directors and ratify or revoke provisional appointments of such directors effected by the Board itself. Article 21 of the Bylaws lays down that the Board of Directors shall be made up of a minimum of three and a maximum of 10 members, designated by the General Shareholders’ Meeting. The Directors will hold office for a maximum of six years and may be re-elected one or more times for identical periods. The Board of Directors will be empowered to cover provisionally any vacancies that may arise in the same, designating the replacements in the legally established manner until the first General Shareholders’ Meeting. Those persons involved in a legal conflict of interest or declared legally incapable may not be directors. 5 Article 7 of the Board’s Regulations lays down: i) The General Shareholders’ Meeting shall determine the number of directors, with a minimum of three and a maximum of ten, as established by the Bylaws. ii) The Directors shall hold office for a maximum of six years and may be re-elected once or more times for identical periods at the most. Article 8 of the Board’s Regulations lays down: The proposals which the Board submits to the General Shareholders’ Meeting relating to the appointment or re-election of directors within the limits set out in the Bylaws, shall be made following the proposal of the Appointments and Remuneration Committee for independent directors and following a report from such Committee for other directors and will include the presence on the Board of a reasonable number of independent directors and shall have a majority of external directors not involved in management. Article 15 of the Board’s Regulations lays down: The directors shall cease to hold office when the period for which they were appointed elapses, in accordance with Article 145 of the Mercantile Registry Regulations, and when so decided by the General Shareholders’ Meeting in accordance with the powers conferred to it. Moreover, the directors shall place their position at the disposal of the Board of Directors and formalize, if deemed appropriate, their resignation in the following cases: i) When they are involved in a legal conflict of interest. ii) When their remaining on the Board may jeopardize the Company’s interests or when the reasons for which they were appointed no longer exist. iii) In the event of an accusation or instigation of oral proceedings connected with any of the crimes indicated in Article 124 of the Spanish Companies Act, the Board shall examine the case as soon as possible and decide the appropriateness of the Director continuing to hold office or otherwise. iv) Domanial directors shall resign when the shareholder whom they represent sells his shareholding in full. 6 Amendment of the Company’s bylaws Article 9 of the Bylaws lays down that authority to amend the bylaws lies with the General Shareholders’ Meeting. Article 12 of the Bylaws lays down that in order for the General Meeting to validly agree to issue bonds, increase or decrease share capital, transform, merge or split the Company or any other bylaw amendment, half of voting capital shall be present at the first call. On second call, it shall be sufficient for 25% of voting share capital to be represented. g) Powers of attorney of the members of the Board of Directors and, in particular, those relating to the possibility of issuing or repurchasing shares. Executive directors hold wide-ranging powers of attorney and administration commensurate with the characteristics and needs of the positions held. Article 6 of the Boards’ Regulations lays down that the policy concerning dividends and treasury shares and in particular, their limits, shall be known exclusively by the Board of Directors. In accordance with Article 75 of the Spanish Companies Act, the General Shareholders’ Meeting, in the meeting held on 02 June 2009, granted authorization to the Board of Directors, with the power to delegate, for the derivative acquisition of treasury shares by the Company and / or part of its subsidiaries in accordance with applicable legislation. i) Maximum number: the number of treasury shares may in no event exceed the maximum limit contained in the Spanish Companies Act for listed companies ( 5% of share capital.) ii) Term: 14 months as from 2 June 2009. iii) The price shall be a minimum of the par value and a maximum of € 40 per share. h) Any significant agreements that have been concluded by the company and enter into effect may be amended or terminated in the event of a change in control of the company as a result of a public offering and their effects, except when disclosure would have a serious adverse effect for the company. This exception shall not apply when the company is legally required to disclose this information. 7 The company has not entered into any agreements in this respect. i) The agreements between the company and its administration and management officers or employees that provide for indemnities in the event of resignation or wrongful dismissal or if the employer/ employee relation comes to an end as a result of a public offering. The Company has no agreements other than those contained in the Workers’ Statute with its administration and management officers or employees that provide for indemnities in the event of resignation or wrongful dismissal or if the employer/ employee relation comes to an end as a result of a public offering. 8 ANNUAL CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT LISTED COMPANIES ISSUER IDENTIFICATION YEAR END DATE 31-12-2009 C.I.F A21248893 Name: IBERPAPEL GESTION, S.A. 9 MODEL ANNUAL CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT FOR LISTED COMPANIES To better understand and fill in this model report, the instructions included at the end should be read. A OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE A.1 Complete the following table on the company’s capital: Date of latest modification Share capital (€ ) Number of shares 26-06-2006 6,979,884.00 11,633,140 Number of voting rights 11,633,140 State whether there are different classes of shares with different associated rights: No A.2 Give details on the direct and indirect holders of significant interest in your company at the year-end, excluding Directors: Name of shareholder BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. ONCHENA,S.L. Number of direct Number of indirect % total voting voting rights voting rights (*) rights 0 1,059,706 9.109 882,188 0 7.583 BANCO GUIPUZOANO, S.A. 607,923 0 5.226 BESTINVER BOLSA, FI 493,918 0 4.246 10 (*) Through: Name of indirect holder Through: Name of direct holder of Number of % total voting of the stake the stake direct voting rights rights ABEDUL 1999, S.A. SICAV 1,447 0.012 BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. ACCINES CUP. Y OBLI. 1,876 0.016 S.G.I.I.C. SEGOVIANAS. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. BESTINFOND, F.I. 265,908 2.286 BESTINVER BOLSA, F.I. 493,918 4.246 BESTINVER MIXTO, F.I. 84,545 0.727 BESTINVER AHORRO,F.P. 41,192 0.354 BESTINVER BESTVALUE SICAV 46,129 0.397 BESTINVER GLOBAL, F.P. 49,640 0.427 BESTINVER EMPLEO FP S.A. 2,249 0.019 DIIVALSA DE INVERSIONES SICAV, S.A. 2,434 0.021 LINKER INVERSIONES, SICAV, S.A. 1,385 0.012 LOUPRI INVERSIONES 3,825 0.033 SOIXA SICAV 50,732 0.436 TEXRENTA INVERSIONES, 14,426 0.124 BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. 11 Indicate the principal movements in the shareholding structure during the year: Name of shareholder Date of the transaction Description of the transaction BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C 19/11/2009 Reduced from 10% of share capital A.3 Complete the following tables on Directors’ shareholding interests in the company: Name of the Director Number of direct voting rights Number of indirect voting % total voting rights rights (*) Mr. IÑIGO ECHEVARRIA CANALES 25,701 490 0.225 Mr. NESTOR BASTERRA LARROUDE 61,796 20,157 0.704 873 0 0.008 108,799 600 0.940 Mr. IÑIGO SOLAUN GARTEIZ 13,213 14,215 0.236 Mr. IÑAKI USANDIZAGA ARANZADI 240,016 0 2.063 400 0 0.003 Mr. BALTASAR ERRAZTI NAVARRO Mr. IGNACIO PEÑALBA CEBERIO Mr. MARTIN GONZALEZ DEL VALLE CHAVARRI (*) Through: Name of indirect holder of the stake Through: Name of direct Number of % total voting holder of the stake direct voting rights rights Mr. IÑIGO ECHEVARRIA CANALES Mr. JAIME ECHEVARRIA AGUIRRE 490 0.004 Mr. NESTOR BASTERRA LARROUDE LINET INVERSIONES 2012, S.L. 13,425 0.115 Mr. NESTOR BASTERRA LARROUDE Mr. NESTOR E IGNACIO 6,732 0.058 14,215 0.122 600 0.005 BASTERRA MARTINEZ Mr. IÑIGO SOLAUN GARTEIZ-GOXEASCOA Mrs. Mª ANGELES BUSTILLO BASTERRA Mr. IGNACIO PEÑALBA CEBERIO Mrs. MAGDALENA OTADUY SALCEDO % total of voting rights held by the Board of Directors 4.180 12 Complete the following tables on Directors with stock options in the Company: A.4 Indicate family, commercial, contractual or corporate relationships among significant shareholders known to the company, if any, except any that are insignificant and those deriving from ordinary commercial business: A.5 Indicate commercial, contractual or corporate relationships between significant shareholders and the company and/or its group, if any, except any that are insignificant and those deriving from ordinary commercial business: A.6 Indicate any shareholders’ agreements of which the Company has been notified in pursuance of Article 112 of the Stock Market Act. Describe briefly, if any, indicating the shareholders bound by the agreement: NO Expressly indicate any change or break-up of those agreements or concerted actions, if any, that have taken place during the year: A.7 Indicate any individuals or entities that exercise or may exercise control over the Company in pursuance of Article 4 of the Stock Market Act. Identify any that exist: NO A.8 Complete the following tables on the Company’s treasury stock: At the year-end: Number of direct shares Number of indirect shares % total of share capital 98,869 0 0.850 13 (*) Through: Total: 0 Give details on any significant variations during the year, according to the provisions of Royal Decree 1362/2007: Gains/(Losses) obtained during the year on trading treasury shares (thousand euro) 0 A.9 Indicate the terms and conditions of the authorization granted by the General Meeting to the Board to buy or sell treasury shares. The Board of Directors is authorized to acquire treasury shares by the Company and/or its subsidiaries, in accordance with the terms established by Law and by shareholders at the general Meeting held on 02 June 2009, as follows: (i) Maximum number: the number of treasury shares may in no event exceed the maximum limit contained in the Spanish Companies Act for listed companies ( 5% of share capital.) (ii) Term:14 months as from today's date. (iii) The price shall be a minimum of the par value and a maximum of € 40 per share. A.10 Indicate any constraints established in law or the Articles of Association on the exercise of voting rights and legal restrictions on the acquisition and disposal of shares in the capital. Indicate whether there are any legal constraints on the exercise of voting rights: NO Maximum percentage of voting rights that may be exercised by a shareholder due to legal 0 restrictions Indicate whether the Articles of Association establish any constraints on the exercise of voting rights: NO 14 Maximum percentage of voting rights that may be exercised by a shareholder due to 0 bylaw restrictions Indicate whether there are any legal restrictions on the acquisition and disposal of shares in the capital: NO A.11 Indicate whether the General Shareholders’ Meeting has resulted in measures to neutralize a takeover bid under Law 6/2007. NO If so, explain the measures approved and the terms under which the constraints would become ineffective. B MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE OF THE COMPANY B.1 Board of Directors B.1.1 State the maximum and minimum numbers of Directors stipulated in the Articles of Association: Maximum number of Directors: Minimum number of Directors: 10 3 15 B.1.2 Complete the following table with details of the members of the Board: Name of the Director Date of first Date of last appointment appointment CHAIRMAN 21-07-1997 19-06-2007 VICE CHAIRMAN 21-10-1997 19-06-2007 DIRECTOR 21-10-1997 19-06-2007 DIRECTOR 21-10-1997 19-06-2007 DIRECTOR 21-10-1997 19-06-2007 DIRECTOR 21-07-1997 19-06-2007 DIRECTOR 22-02-2005 2-06-2009 Representative Position Mr. IÑIGO ECHEVARRIA Election procedure SHAREHOLDER VOTE CANALES Mr. NESTOR BASTERRA SHAREHOLDER VOTE LARROUDE Mr. BALTASAR ERRAZTI SHAREHOLDER VOTE NAVARRO Mr. IGNACIO PEÑALBA SHAREHOLDER VOTE CEBERIO Mr. IÑAKI SHAREHOLDER VOTE USANDIZAGA ARANZADI Mr. IÑIGO SOLAUN SHAREHOLDER VOTE GARTEIZ Mr. MARTIN MARIA SHAREHOLDER VOTE GONZALEZ DEL VALLE CHAVARRI Total Number of Directors 7 Indicate any exits from the Board of Directors during the year: Name of the Director Mr. JAIME ECHEVARRÍA ABONA Status of the Director at the time of Date of exit exit EXECUTIVE 31/12/2009 16 B.1.3 Complete the following tables on the types of Board Members: EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS Name of the Director Nominating Committee Position in Company’s organization Mr. IÑIGO ECHEVARRIA CANALES NOMINATIONS AND CHAIRMAN COMPENSATION Total number of executive Directors Total percent of the Board 1 14.286 INSTITUTIONAL OUTSIDE DIRECTORS Name of the significant Name of the Director Nominating Committee shareholder represented or that proposed the appointment Mr. IÑAKI USANDIZAGA ARANZADI NOMINATIONS AND Mr. IÑAKI USANDIZAGA COMPENSATION COMMITTEE ARANZADI Mr. IGNACIO PEÑALBA CEBERIO NOMINATIONS AND IGNACIO PEÑALBA CEBERIO COMPENSATION COMMITTEE Total number of Institutional Directors Total percent of the Board 2 28.571 INDEPENDENT OUTSIDE DIRECTORS Name of the Director Mr. BALTASAR ERRAZTI NAVARRO Profile Doctorate in Industrial Engineering from Escuela Superior de Ingenieros Industriales in Bilbao. Director of Grupo Tamoin, Director of Probask and Director of Bestergy. Simultaneously, he has been one of the key proponents of configuration and consolidation of business organizations in Euskadi and between 1984 and 1993 he was the Vice Chairman of the Basque Business Confederation (Cofebask). He chaired this organization between 25 October 1993 and July 1999. He has also formed part of the Executive Committees of the Basque Metal Industry Federation and the Vizcaya Industrial and Mercantile Center (currently called Cebek) and chaired the Industry and Energy Committee at the 17 CEOE. He was on the Executive Committee of CEOE and chaired its Technology Innovation Committee. Name of the Director Mr. IÑIGO SOLAUN GARTEIZ Profile Degree in Law from Universidad de Valladolid. He has been a Director of Garteiz, S.A, Prado Hnos, S.A, Garate Anitua y Cia S.A., Sebastián de la Fuente, S.A, Administrador Único de Productos Fotográficos, Valca,S,A, and Invelasa, S.A. (Patricio Echevarria, S.A.) Name of the Director Mr. MARTIN GONZALEZ DEL VALLE CHAVARRI Profile Degree in Law from Fundación Universitaria San Pablo CEU MBA from INSEAD- Fontainebleau in 1984. Founding Partner of Realza Capital SGECR, S.A CEO of Investindustrial Partners Spain, S.A. Assistant General Manager of Crédit Agricole Indosuez, Director of Corporate Finance Senior Director of Mercapital, S.A. He started his professional career at Duro Felguera, Baxter Travenol (health) and Socelec, S.A. (Technical lighting), holding various positions of responsibility. Chairman of Esindus, S.A. Director of Hamon&Compagnie Name of the Director Mr. NESTOR BASTERRA LARROUDE Profile Degree in Law and Diploma in Economics from Universidad de Deusto MBA from IESE Responsible for the Large Company Department Banco Santander Central Hispano. Bank of América: Corporate banking and Capital Markets Vice-Chairman of Viscofan, S.A. Director of Amistra SGC S.A Total number of independent Directors Total percent of the Board 4 57.143 OTHER OUTSIDE DIRECTORS State the reasons why they cannot be considered institutional or independent directors and their association with either the Company, executives or shareholders. 18 Indicate any variations during the year in the type of each Director: B.1.4 Explain why institutional directors have been appointed at the proposal of shareholders with less than 5% interest in the Company, if appropriate: Indicate whether any formal requests for a presence on the Board have not been met from shareholders with an interest equal to or greater than that of others at whose request institutional directors have been appointed. If so, explain why such requests have not been met: NO B.1.5 Indicate whether any director has left the position before the end of his/her term, whether he/she explained the reasons for leaving the Board and how; if done in a letter addressed to the entire Board, explain at least the reasons stated therein: Name of the Director Mr. JAIME ECHEVARRÍA ABONA Reason for exit Resignation B.1.6 Indicate the powers delegated to the Managing Director(s), if any: Name Mr. IÑIGO ECHEVARRIA CANALES Brief description Board authority, except for those that cannot be delegated as listed in the Regulations and those pertaining to the General Meeting. 19 B.1.7 Name the Board members, if any, who are also directors or executives of other companies in the same group as the listed company: Name of the Director Name of the group company Position Mr. IÑIGO ECHEVARRIA CANALES IBEREUCALIPTOS, S.A DIRECTOR Mr. IÑIGO ECHEVARRIA CANALES LOS EUCALIPTOS, S.A. VICE CHAIRMAN Mr. IÑIGO ECHEVARRIA CANALES PAPELERA Mr. IÑIGO ECHEVARRIA CANALES PAPETERIES DE L´ATLANTIQUE, S.A. CHAIRMAN Mr. IÑIGO ECHEVARRIA CANALES SAMAKIL, S.A. VICE CHAIRMAN 2 Mr. NESTOR BASTERRA LARROUDE IBEREUCALIPTOS, S.A. DIRECTOR Mr. NESTOR BASTERRA LARROUDE PAPELERA GUIPUZCOANA DE CHAIRMAN ZICUÑAGA, S.A. GUIPUZCOANA DE DIRECTOR ZICUÑAGA ,S.A. Mr. NESTOR BASTERRA LARROUDE SAMAKIL, S.A VICE CHAIRMAN 1 Mr. IGNACIO PEÑALBA CEBERIO IBEREUCALIPTOS, S.A. DIRECTOR Mr. IÑIGO SOLAUN GARTEIZ PAPELERA GUIPUZCOANA DE DIRECTOR ZICUÑAGA ,S.A. B.1.8 Name company directors, if any, on the Boards of non-group companies listed on Spanish stock exchanges, insofar as the company has been notified: Name of the Director Name of the listed company Position Mr. IÑIGO ECHEVARRIA CANALES BANCO GUIPUZCOANO DIRECTOR Mr. NESTOR BASTERRA LARROUDE VISCOFAN, S.A. VICE CHAIRMAN B.1.9 Indicate and, if appropriate, explain whether the company has established rules on the number of boards on which its Directors may sit: Yes 20 Explanation of the rules The Board Of Directors approved a Resolution stating that Company Directors may not form part of more than 10 Boards of Directors, in addition to Iberpapel Gestión, S.A, except for: The Boards of companies pertaining to Iberpapel Group. - Shareholdings held by the Director or close family members. B.1.10 With regard to recommendation number 8 of the Unified Code, indicate the general policies and strategies of the company reserved for approval by the full Board: YES Investment and financing policy YES Definition of the structure of the group of companies YES Corporate governance policy YES Corporate social responsibility policy YES Strategic or business plan, management objectives and annual budget YES Compensation policy and senior executive performance evaluation YES Risk management and control policy, and regular monitoring of internal information and control systems YES Dividend policy, treasury stock policy, especially limits. 21 B.1.11 Complete the following tables on the aggregate directors’ compensation accrued during the year: a) At the reporting company: Compensation Thousand euro Fixed compensation 90 Variable compensation 196 Per diems 0 Statutory compensation 0 Stock options and/or other financial instruments 0 Other 0 TOTAL: Other Benefits 286 Thousand euro Pre-payments 0 Loans granted 0 Pension Plans and Funds: Contributions 0 Pension Plans and Funds: Contractual obligations 0 Life insurance premiums 0 Guarantees provided by the Company for Directors 0 b) For company Directors who are on other Boards and/or in senior management of group companies: Compensation Thousand euro Fixed compensation 169 Variable compensation 41 Per diems 6 Statutory compensation 0 Stock options and/or other financial instruments 0 Other 0 TOTAL: 216 22 Other Benefits Thousand euro Pre-payments 0 Loans granted 0 Pension Plans and Funds: Contributions 0 Pension Plans and Funds: Contractual obligations 0 Life insurance premiums 0 Guarantees provided by the Company for Directors 0 c) Total compensation by type of Director: Type of directors By company Executives 189 Institutional outside directors 47 7 Independent outside directors 103 20 0 0 286 216 Other outside directors Total d) By group 136 Regarding profits attributed to the parent company: Total director compensation (thousand euro) 502 Total compensation for directors/profit attributed to the parent company (expressed in 8.2 %) B.1.12 Identify the members of senior management who are not Executive Directors and indicate the aggregate compensation accrued to them during the year: Name Position Mr. FERMIN URTASUN ERRO ASSISTANT CEO Mr. FRANCISCO FORTIN ALVAREZ TREASURY DIRECTOR Mr. LUIS GONZALEZ GUTIERREZ FINANCE DIRECTOR Mr. JOAQUIN MANSO RAMON LEGAL DIRECTOR Mr. MIGUEL A. TAPIADOR SILANET PURCHASING DIRECTOR Mr. IGNACIO BURUTARAN USANDIZAGA SALES DIRECTOR - EXPORTS Mr. PABLO FUENTES ARTOLA SALES DIRECTOR - DOMESTIC Mr. JOSE MARIA REPARAZ ABAITUA HUMAN RESOURCE DIRECTOR 23 Total senior management compensation (thousand euro) 859 B.1.13 Indicate overall whether any golden parachute clauses have been established for senior management, including Executive Directors, at the Company or its group in the event of dismissal or change of ownership. State whether these contracts have to be reported to and/or approved by the governing bodies at the Company or its group: Number of beneficiaries 0 Board of Directors General Meeting NO NO Body authorizing the clauses Is the General Meeting informed of the clauses? NO B.1.14 Explain the process for establishing the compensation for Board Members and the relevant Articles of Association: Processes for establishing the compensation for Board Members and statutory clauses Compensation for the members of the Board of Directors is established under Article 22 of the bylaws, which states: “The Board of Directors will receive compensation consisting of 4% of net profits which will only be deducted from said profits after having made all necessary contributions to the legal reserve and, if appropriate, any other mandatory reserves as well as the distribution of a dividend to shareholders of at least 4% of share capital paid in. Each year the Board of Directors will establish pacific amount to be received by each Director, adjusting the amount to be received by each one based on their membership to Board Committees, the position held on those committees as well as their dedication to the Company” Article 6 of the Board Regulations stipulates that the Board is exclusively authorized to determine the compensation for Directors and, in the case of executives, any additional compensation for executive duties and any other contractual conditions and, at the proposal of the CEO, the appointment and removal of senior management, as well as their severance packages. Article 1.3 of the Regulations stipulates that the Nomination and Compensation Committee will propose to the Board of Directors: 24 i. The compensation policy for directors and senior management; ii. The individual compensation and other contractual conditions of executive directors. iii. The standard conditions for senior management employment contracts. This Article stipulates that the mission of the aforementioned Committee will be: report the appointments and resignations of senior executives that the chief executive has proposed to the Board of Directors. Indicate whether approvals of the following decisions are reserved for the full Board: Upon recommendation by the CEO, the appointment and possible removal of senior YES management and any indemnity clauses. Directors’ compensation and, in the case of Executive Directors, additional compensation for YES their management duties and other contractual conditions. B.1.15 Indicate whether the Board of Directors approves a detailed compensation policy and specify the issues it regulates: Yes Amount of fixed compensation, including the details of per diems for Board and YES Committee Meetings and an estimate of the fixed annual compensation. Variable compensation Principal features of retirement systems, estimating the annual cost or equivalent amount. Contract conditions for executive directors YES YES YES 25 B.1.16 Indicate whether the Board submits a report on Director compensation policy to voting at the General Meeting, as a separate item on the Agenda and with an advisory nature. If so, explain the aspects of the report on the compensation policy approved by the Board for future years, the most significant changes in those policies in respect of the policy applied during the year and an overall summary of how the compensation policy was applied during the period. Describe the role played by the Compensation Committee and whether external consultants have been used, and if so, the identity of the external consultants: Yes Issues addressed by the Compensation policy report The report contains explanations regarding the general principles governing the compensation policy for Iberpapel Directors and the compensation system for Executive Directors, including fixed compensation and any variable components. Compensation for Directors is established under Article 22 of the bylaws, which states: “The Board of Directors will receive compensation consisting of 4% of net profits which will only be deducted from said profits after having made all necessary contributions to the legal reserve and, if appropriate, any other mandatory reserves as well as the distribution of a dividend to shareholders of at least 4% of share capital paid in. Each year the Board of Directors will establish pacific amount to be received by each Director, adjusting the amount to be received by each one based on their membership to Board Committees, the position held on those committees as well as their dedication to the Company” Article 1.3 of the Board Regulations states that one of the duties of the Nomination and Compensation Committee is to propose to the Board of Directors: i. The compensation policy for directors and senior management; ii. The individual compensation and other contractual conditions of executive directors. iii. The standard conditions for senior management employment contracts. Were external consultants used? Identity of the external consultants B.1.17 Name any Board Members who are also directors or executives of companies holding significant interest in the listed company and/or companies pertaining to its Group: 26 Describe any significant relationships other than those contemplated in the previous section between Board Members and significant shareholders and/or companies pertaining to their Group: B.1.18 Indicate whether any modifications have been made during the year to the Board of Directors’ Regulations: NO B.1.19 Describe the procedures for appointment, re-election, evaluation and removal of Directors. Indicate the competent bodies, the formalities and the criteria to be followed in each of these procedures. This area is regulated by the Bylaws and the Board Regulations, which state: Bylaws: Article 21.- The Board of Directors shall be made up of a minimum of three and a maximum of 10 members, designated by the General Shareholders’ Meeting. The Directors will hold office for a maximum of six years and may be re-elected one or more times for identical periods. The Board of Directors will be empowered to cover provisionally any vacancies that may arise in the same, designating the replacements in the legally established manner until the first General Shareholders’ Meeting. A Director does not have to be a shareholder. If a legal person is appointed Director, a natural person must be appointed as its representative to fulfill the duties of the post. Those persons involved in a legal conflict of interest or declared legally incapable may not be directors. Board Regulations: ARTICLE 6.- Exclusive authority. h) The appointment of a Director in the event of a vacancy until the next General Meeting is held, at the proposal of the Nomination and Compensation Committee. i) The acceptance of Director resignations. ARTICLE 7.- Composition of the Board. 27 1. The General Shareholders’ Meeting shall determine the number of directors, with a minimum of three and a maximum of ten, as established by the Bylaws. 2. The Directors will hold office for a maximum of six years and may be re-elected one or more times for identical periods. ARTICLE 8.- Appointment of Directors. The proposals which the Board submits to the General Shareholders’ Meeting relating to the appointment or re-election of directors within the limits set out in the Bylaws, shall be made following the proposal of the Appointments and Remuneration Committee for independent directors and following a report from such Committee for other directors and will include the presence on the Board of a reasonable number of independent directors and shall have a majority of external directors not involved in management. ARTICLE 9.- Board components. 9.1- The Chair a) The Chairman of the Board of Directors will be selected from among the members. The term will coincide with the term of his appointment to the Board. As a result, if he is reelected to the Board reelection to the position of Chairman is not necessary. 9.4 - Secretary The appointment and removal of the Secretary to the Board or, if appropriate, the ViceSecretary, will be approved by the full Board after receiving a report from the Nominations and Compensation Committee. 1.3 Nominations and Compensation Committee. 1. The Nominations and Compensation Committee will be responsible for: a) Supervise the process of selecting Directors and senior executives at the Company. b) Propose the appointment or reelection of independent Directors to the Board of Directors c) Report to the Board of Directors on the appointment or reelection of other Directors 2. The full Board of Directors is responsible for the appointment or removal of its members, and there will be at least three members. The members of the Committee will automatically cease to hold their positions when they are no longer members of the Board of Directors ARTICLE 12. The evaluation of the Board and Committees On an annual basis the Board of Directors will evaluate: a) The quality and efficiency of the Board's operation; b) The performance by the Chairman of the Board and the Company’s CEO based on a report that will be prepared by the Nominations and Compensation Committee; c) The operation of the Board Committees based on a report prepared by each Committee. 28 B.1.20 Indicate the cases in which Directors are required to retire. This area is regulated by the Board Regulations, as follows: ARTICLE 15.- Step-down of Directors The directors shall cease to hold office when the period for which they were appointed elapses, in accordance with Article 145 of the Mercantile Registry Regulations, and when so decided by the General Shareholders’ Meeting in accordance with the powers conferred to it. Moreover, the directors shall place their position at the disposal of the Board of Directors and formalize, if deemed appropriate, their resignation in the following cases: a) When they are involved in a legal conflict of interest or situation of incompatibility. b) When their remaining on the Board may jeopardize the Company’s interests or when the reasons for which they were appointed no longer exist. c) In the event of an accusation or instigation of oral proceedings connected with any of the crimes indicated in Article 124 of the Spanish Companies Act, the Board shall examine the case as soon as possible and decide the appropriateness of the Director continuing to hold office or otherwise. d) Domanial directors shall resign when the shareholder whom they represent sells his shareholding in full. 29 B.1.21 Explain whether the Chairman of the Board is the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. If so, state what measures have been adopted to limit the risks of one single person accumulating powers: Yes Measures to limit risks Article 9 of the Board Regulations stipulates that the Chairman will have power-of-attorney to be exercised through the Board of Directors by appropriate Resolution or ratified by the Board when the urgency of the situation makes it inadvisable to postpone the exercising of the authority. All decisions of significant importance must be taken by the Board of Directors. Article 23 of the Bylaws stipulates that the Board will meet whenever requested by two of its members. The general risk policy and the risk management systems described in sections D.1 and D.3 of this Report, prepared based on the risk control and management policy, as well as the regular monitoring of information and control systems by the Board of Directors, in accordance with Article 6 of the Board Regulations. Article 9.3 of the Board Regulations which stipulates that if the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors and the CEO of the Company are held by the same person one independent Director will be appointed to perform the following duties: a) request a Board meeting be called or include new points on the agenda b) Co-ordinate outside Directors and report their concerns. c) Direct the Board's evaluation of the Chairman. The duties attributed to the Audit Committee and the Nominations and Compensation Committee (Articles 1.2 and 1.3 of the Board Regulations) No qualified majority is required for termination of the Chairman when the Board deems it necessary. Therefore, the Board’s capacity to control this position may manifest itself through a Resolution to dismiss adopted by a simple majority. Indicate and, if appropriate, explain whether rules have been established to enable one of the independent directors to request the calling of the Board for the inclusion of new items on the agenda, to coordinate and echo the concerns of outside Directors and to direct evaluation by the Board of Directors. YES 30 Explanation of the rules By virtue of Article 9.3 of the Board Regulations, if the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors and the CEO of the Company are held by the same person one independent Director will be appointed to perform the following duties: a) request a Board meeting be called or include new points on the agenda b) Co-ordinate outside Directors and report their concerns. c) Direct the Board's evaluation of the Chairman. B.1.22 Are special majorities differing from those stipulated by Log required for any type of decision?: NO Explain how Resolutions are adopted out by the Board, indicating at least the quorum and the majorities required for adopting Resolutions: B.1.23 Explain whether or not there are any specific requirements, other than those established for Directors, to be appointed Chairman: NO B.1.24 Indicate whether the Chairman has a casting vote: YES Areas in which there is a casting vote Article 23 of the bylaws stipulates that Resolutions will be adopted by absolute majority of those attending the Meeting. In the event of a tie, the Chairman will issue a casting vote. Written, personal votes without any meeting being held will be valid if no Director opposes such action. Indicate whether the Articles of Association or the Board Regulations establish any age limit for Directors: NO Age limit for Chairman Age limit for CEO Age limit for Director 0 0 0 31 B.1.26 Indicate whether the Articles of Association or the Board Regulations establish any limit on the term of office for Independent Directors: NO Maximum term (years) 0 B.1.27 If there are few or no female Directors, explain why and what actions have been taken to remedy this situation. Explain reasons and initiatives Iberpapel Group’s equal opportunity policy avoids any discrimination against anyone for any reason with respect to joining the company or to occupying any post within the company. Among the new duties of the Nominations and Compensation Committee, in addition to supervising the process of selecting Directors and senior executives for the Company and proposing the appointment or reelection of Independent Directors to the Board of Directors and reporting the appointment or reelection of other Directors to the Board of Directors, it must also report gender diversity to the Board. The equal opportunity principle has always presided over the Nominations and Compensation Committee’s work and therefore no additional measures are necessary. In order to obtain adequate gender diversity, the Board of Directors appointed a woman independent Director to fill the vacancy relating to an Executive Director. In particular, state whether the Nominations and Compensation Committee has established procedures to ensure that the selection procedures are not affected by implicit bias that could hamper the selection of female Directors and that women with the required profile are deliberately included among the candidates: NO B.1.28 Indicate whether there are any formal processes for proxy voting in the Board of Directors. Describe briefly, if any: The representation or delegation of votes within the Board may be conferred through a letter addressed to the Chairman, as described under Article 23 of the Bylaws. B.1.29 State the number of meetings held by the Board of Directors during the year. In addition, indicate, if appropriate, how many times the Board has met without the Chairman: 32 Number of Board meetings 9 Number of Board meetings held without the Chairman 1 Indicate the number of meetings held during the year by the various Board Committees: Number of meetings held by the Executive or Delegate Committee 0 Number of meetings held by the Audit Committee 6 Number of meetings held by the Nominations and Compensation Committee 3 Number of meetings held by the Nominations Committee 0 Number of meetings held by the Compensation Committee 0 B.1.30 State the number of meetings held by the Board of Directors during the year without all members being in attendance. Non-attendance is deemed to include any proxies made without specific instructions. Number of Director absences during the year 3 % Number of absences compared with the total votes cast during the year 3 B.1.31 Indicate whether the individual and consolidated annual accounts presented to the Board for approval were previously certified: YES If appropriate, name the person(s) who certify the Company’s individual or consolidated annual accounts before they are approved by the Board: Name Position Mr. IÑIGO ECHEVARRIA CANALES CHAIRMAN Mr. LUIS GONZALEZ GUTIERREZ FINANCE DIRECTOR 33 B.1.32 Explain the mechanisms, if any, established by the Board to avoid a qualified audit report on the individual and consolidated annual accounts from being presented to shareholders at a General Meeting. The Company has an Audit Committee, which is responsible for the following, among other things: a) Monitoring the financial reporting process and the Company’s internal control systems. b) Reporting on the Annual Accounts, as well as the half yearly and quarterly financial statements which must be sent to regulators or market supervisors, making mention of internal control systems, monitoring controls and compliance through internal audit, when appropriate, as well as the accounting principles applied. The board must also be informed of any change in accounting policies and all balance sheet and off-balance sheet risks. c) Receive regular information from the external auditor on the progress and findings of the audit program, and check that senior management are acting on its recommendations. B.1.33 Is the Secretary to the Board a Director? NO B.1.34 Explain the procedures for appointing and removing the Secretary to the Board, indicating whether or not a report is issued by the Nominations Committee and whether or not the person is approved by the full Board. Procedure for appointment and removal Article 9 of the Board Regulations stipulates that the appointment and removal of the Secretary to the Board or, if appropriate, the Vice-Secretary, must be approved by the full Board after receiving a report from the Nominations and Compensation Committee. 34 Does the Nominations Committee report the nomination? Does the Nominations Committee report removals? YES YES Does the full Board approve the nomination? YES Does the full Board approve the removal? YES Does the Secretary to the Board have the responsibility of specifically monitoring Good Governance recommendations? NO Observations Although Article 9 of the Board Regulations does not specifically assign this duty, it is responsible for assuring formal legality which includes the good governance recommendations. The audit Committee is responsible, among other things, for supervising compliance with internal codes of conduct and corporate governance rules. B.1.35 Describe any mechanisms established by the Company to preserve the independence of the auditor, financial analysts, investment banks and rating agencies. The Audit Committee is responsible for proposing the selection, appointment, reelection and replacement of the external auditors to the Board of Directors. Regularly receive information from the external auditors on the audit plan and results of their work, and check that senior management takes their recommendations into account. Monitor the independence of the external auditor, to which end: The company should notify any change of auditor to the CNMV as a significant event, accompanied by a statement of any disagreements arising with the outgoing auditor and the reasons for the same. The company should ensure that the company and the auditor respect rules in force regarding the rendering of services other than audit services, business concentration limits affecting the auditor and, in general, all of the rules established to ensure the independence of auditors; The Committee should investigate the issues giving rise to the resignation of any external auditor. We provide information to financial analysts and rating agencies when requested. 35 B.1.36 Indicate whether or not the Company has changed its external auditor during the year. If so, name the outgoing and incoming auditor: NO Outgoing auditor Incoming auditor If the Company had any disagreements with the outgoing auditor, indicate their contents: NO B.1.37 State whether or not the audit firm does any work for the Company and/or its Group other than standard audit work and, if so, indicate the amount of the fees received for such work and the percentage it represents of the total fees invoiced to the Company and/or its group: YES Company Amount of work other than standard audit Group Total 35 0 35 68.63 0.000 68.63 work (thousand euro) Amount of work other than standard audit work/Total amount invoiced by the audit firm (in %) B.1.38 State whether or not the audit report on the Annual Accounts for the previous year contains any qualifications or reservations. If so, indicate the reasons given by the Chairman of the Audit Committee to explain the content and scope of those qualifications or reservations. NO B.1.39 State the number of years in succession that the current audit firm has audited the Company’s annual accounts and/or its group. In addition, indicate the ratio of the number of years audited by the current auditors to the total number of years that the annual accounts have been audited: 36 Number of years without interruption Company Group 13 13 Company Group 100.000 100.000 Number of years audited by the current audit firm/Number of years that the company has been audited (in %) B.1.40 Indicate the stake held by Members of the Company’s Board of Directors in the capital of companies that carry out the same, similar or supplementary activities as those constituting the Company and Group’s corporate purpose and which have been reported to the Company. Indicate their positions or duties at those companies: B.1.41 Indicate, and provide details, if there is an established procedure for Directors to receive external advice: YES Procedure details Article 13.2 of the Board’s Regulations lays down: Directors may request, through the Chairman, the hiring of any outside advisors considered to be necessary to properly carry out their duties. The full Board must adopt an appropriate Resolution in each case based on whether or not to obtain such external advisory services, the person or firm to provide the service, access to confidential company information that this advisor may have and the approval, if appropriate, of the relevant expense. B.1.42 Indicate, providing details as necessary, if there is an established procedure for Directors to obtain any information they may need to prepare for the Meetings of the governing bodies sufficiently in advance: YES 37 Procedure details Article 13.1 of the Board’s Regulations lays down: Directors will receive precise information to fulfill their duties on time and with adequate depth as appropriate for the issues at hand. They may requested additional information when deemed advisable which is channeled through the Secretary to the Board. B.1.43 Indicate, providing details if appropriate, if the Company has established rules requiring Directors to report and, if necessary, resigned in any cases that could be detrimental to the Company’s reputation: YES Explain the rules Article 14.3 of the Board Regulations expressly states that in accordance with the loyalty duty falling to Directors, they may not use the Company’s name or their position as Director to carry out any transactions on their own behalf or on the behalf of any associated person. Director may carry out, to their benefit for the benefit of any associated person, investments or any other transaction associated with the Company’s assets which are known to them as a result of their position when the investment for transaction would have been offered to the Company or the Company would be interested in the transaction, provided that the Company did not rule out that investment or transaction without the influence of the Director. Directors must report any direct or indirect situation of conflict to the Board of Directors when involving any Company interests and Directors will not attend or intervene in debates that involve any issue in which they have a personal interest or affects an associated person. Directors must report any criminal cases involving them, as well as all subsequent procedural issues, to the Board of Directors. Article 15 of the Board Regulations stipulates that Directors must offer their resignation to the Board of Directors and formalize their resignation, if deemed advisable, in the following cases: a) When they are involved in a legal conflict of interest or situation of incompatibility. b) When their remaining on the Board may jeopardize the Company’s interests or when the reasons for which they were appointed no longer exist. c) In the event of an accusation or instigation of oral proceedings connected with any of the crimes indicated in Article 124 of the Spanish Companies Act, the Board shall examine the case as soon as possible and decide the appropriateness of the Director continuing to hold office or otherwise. 38 B.1.44 Indicate whether the Company has been notified by any Board Member that he/she has been charged with, or is being tried for, any of the crimes contemplated under Article 124 of the Spanish Companies Act: NO Indicate whether or not the Board of Directors has analyzed the case. If so, give a reasoned explanation of the decision made as to whether or not the Director in question should remain in office. NO Decision taken Reasoned explanation B.2. Board of Directors’ Committees B.2.1 List all the Board of Directors’ Committees and their Members: AUDIT COMMITTEE Name Position Type Mr. BALTASAR ERRAZTI NAVARRO CHAIRMAN INDEPENDENT Mr. IÑAKI USANDIZAGA ARANZADI DIRECTOR INSTITUTIONAL Mr. NESTOR BASTERRA LARROUDE DIRECTOR INDEPENDENT POSITION TYPE Mr. MARTIN MARIA GONZALEZ DEL VALLE CHAVARRI DIRECTOR INDEPENDENT Mr. NESTOR BASTERRA LARROUDE DIRECTOR INDEPENDENT NOMINATIONS AND COMPENSATION COMMITTEE NAME 39 B.2.2 Indicate whether or not the following duties correspond to the Audit Committee: Supervise the integrity and process of preparing the financial information regarding the Company and its Group, ensuring compliance with all requirements, adequate definition of the YES consolidated group and the correct application of accounting principles. Regularly check the internal control and risk management systems, ensuring that the principal risks are identified, handled and reported adequately. Guarantee the independence and efficiency of the internal audit department, propose the selection, appointment, re-election and removal of the Chief Audit Officer, propose the budget YES YES for this department, receive regular information regarding its activities and check that senior management takes into account the conclusions and recommendations made in its reports. Establish and oversee a mechanism whereby employees may report confidentially and, if appropriate, anonymously, any potentially important irregularities, particularly those relating YES to financial and accounting areas that they may detect within the Company. Submit proposals to the Board for the election, appointment, re-election and replacement of YES the external auditors and the terms and conditions of their engagement. Regularly receive information from the external auditors on the audit plan and results of their YES work, and check that senior management takes their recommendations into account. YES Ensure the independence of the external auditors In the case of groups, encourage the Group’s auditors to audit the group companies YES B.2.3 Describe the rules of organization and procedure, and responsibilities attributed to each Committee. 40 Name of the Committee Nominations and Compensation Committee. Brief description Nominations and Compensation Committee Article 1.3 of the Board Regulations In accordance with the provisions of that Article, the Nominations and Compensation Committee is responsible for: a) Supervise the process of selecting Directors and senior executives at the Company. b) Propose the appointment or reelection of independent Directors to the Board of Directors c) Report to the Board of Directors on the appointment or reelection of other Directors d) Report on the senior officer appointments and removals which the chief executive proposes to the Board. e) Report gender diversity issues to the Board. f) Make proposals to the Board of Directors regarding: i. The compensation policy for directors and senior management; ii. The individual compensation and other contractual conditions of executive directors. iii. The standard conditions for senior management employment contracts. The full Board of Directors is responsible for the appointment or removal of its members, and there will be at least three members. The members of the Committee will automatically cease to hold their positions when they are no longer members of the Board of Directors Members will be appointed by the full Board and there will be no less than three members. Members will be appointed by the full Board and there will be no less than three members. The Board of Directors is responsible for both appointing and removing members. : The members of the Committee will automatically cease to hold their positions when they are no longer members of the Board of Directors Currently the Company has two Committees, the Audit Committee and the Nominations and Compensation Committee. Both Committees were created by the Board of Directors at the meeting held on 12 January 1999, following the recommendations of the Good Governance Code. Article 11 of the For Regulations stipulates that Committees will meet when called by their respective chairmen, who may do so of their own accord or at the proposal of members, or when necessary in accordance with the bylaws. 41 Name of the Committee Audit Committee. Brief description In accordance with the provisions of Article 24 the Bylaws, the Audit Committee will be governed as follows: A minimum of two and a maximum of four Directors will form part of the Audit Committee and all must be Outside Directors. The full Board of Directors is responsible for both appointing and removing members. The members of the Committee will automatically cease to hold their positions when they are no longer members of the Board of Directors The Committee members will hold office for a maximum of four years and may be re-elected one or more times for identical periods. The Committee will elect a Chairman from among its members, who will be appointed for a term of four years and may be reelected after 1 year has elapsed after last holding the office. The Secretary to the Committee will be the Secretary to the Board of Directors. The competencies of the Audit Committee will be as follows: Report to the General Meeting regarding issues raised by shareholders in the Committee’s area of responsibility. Propose the appointment of external auditors to the Board of Directors for submission to the General Meeting for approval Supervision of internal audit services, if any. Monitoring the financial reporting process and the Company’s internal control systems. Relationships with external auditors to receive information regarding those issues that may put their independence at risk in any other issues relating to the audit process, as well as any other communications established by audit legislation or by technical audit standards. Report on the Annual Accounts, as well as the half yearly and quarterly financial statements which must be sent to regulators or market supervisors, making mention of internal control systems, monitoring controls and compliance through internal audit, when appropriate, as well as the accounting principles applied. The board must also be informed of any change in accounting policies and all balance sheet and off-balance sheet risks. Prepare an annual report regarding the Committee’s activities which must be included in the Directors’ Report. 42 Article 1.2 of the Board Regulations stipulates: A minimum of two and a maximum of four Directors will form part of the Audit Committee and all must be Outside Directors. The full Board of Directors is responsible for both appointing and removing members. The members of the Committee will automatically cease to hold their positions when they are no longer members of the Board of Directors The Committee members will hold office for a maximum of four years and may be re-elected one or more times for identical periods. The Committee will elect a Chairman from among its members, who will be appointed for a term of four years and may be reelected after 1 year has elapsed after last holding the office. The Secretary to the Committee will be the Secretary to the Board of Directors. Any Director, including the CEO, or any Company employee asked to do so must attend Committee meetings and cooperate and provide all available information. The competencies of the Audit Committee will be as follows: a) Report to the General Meeting regarding issues raised by shareholders in the Committee’s area of responsibility. b) Supervise internal audit services. c) Monitor the financial reporting process and the Company’s internal control systems. d) Supervise compliance with internal codes of conduct and corporate governance rules. e) With respect to external auditors: i.- Bring to the Board all proposals relating to the selection, appointment, reelection and replacement of the external auditor. ii.- Regularly receive information from the external auditors on the audit plan and results of their work, and check that senior management takes their recommendations into account. iii.- Ensure the independence of the external auditor, to which end: 1. The company should notify any change of auditor to the CNMV as a significant event, accompanied by a statement of any disagreements arising with the outgoing auditor and the reasons for the same. 2. The company should ensure that the company and the auditor respect rules in force regarding the rendering of services other than audit services, business concentration limits affecting the auditor and, in general, all of the rules established to ensure the independence of auditors; 3. The Committee should investigate the issues giving rise to the resignation of any external auditor. f) Report on the Annual Accounts, as well as the half yearly and quarterly financial statements which must be sent to regulators or market supervisors, making mention of internal control systems, monitoring controls and compliance through internal audit, when appropriate, as well as the accounting principles applied. The board must also be informed of any change in accounting policies and all balance sheet and off-balance sheet risks. 43 g) Prepare an annual report regarding the Committee’s activities which must be included in the Directors’ Report. B.2.4 Indicate, where appropriate, the advisory, consultation and delegation authority held by each of the Committees: Name of the Committee Nominations and Compensation Committee Brief description Supervise the process of selecting Directors and senior executives at the Company. The establishment and supervision of executive compensation policies. Name of the Committee Audit Committee. Brief description Inform the General Meeting of any issues raised by Shareholders regarding its area of authority, propose the appointment of external auditors to the Board of Directors for submission to the General Meeting. Supervision of internal audit services, if any. Monitor the financial reporting process and the Company’s internal control systems. Relationships with external auditors to receive information regarding those issues that may put their independence at risk in any other issues relating to the audit process, as well as any other communications established by audit legislation or by technical audit standards. Report on the Annual Accounts, as well as the half yearly and quarterly financial statements which must be sent to regulators or market supervisors, making mention of internal control systems, monitoring controls and compliance through internal audit, when appropriate, as well as the accounting principles applied, and it must also report any change in accounting policy and balance sheet and off-balance sheet risks to the Board. Prepare an annual report regarding the Committee’s activities which must be included in the Directors’ Report. 44 B.2.5 Indicate the existence, if appropriate, of Board Committee Regulations, where they are available for consultation and any modifications made during the year. State whether or not an annual report has been issued voluntarily on the activities of each Committee. Name of the Committee NOMINATIONS AND COMPENSATION COMMITTEE Brief description There are no specific regulations for Board Committees since they are regulated by the Bylaws and the Regulations governing the Board of Directors. These Bylaws and Regulations are available at the Company's website. The composition and structure of the Nominations and Compensation Committee is also available on the company's website. Name of the Committee AUDIT COMMITTEE Brief description There are no specific regulations for Board Committees since they are regulated by the Bylaws and the Regulations governing the Board of Directors. These Bylaws and Regulations are available at the Company's website. The composition and structure of the Nominations and Compensation Committee is also available on the company's website. B.2.6 Indicate whether or not the composition of the Executive Committee reflects the participation on the Board of different types of Directors: YES C RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS C.1 Indicate whether or not the full Board has reserved the approval, subject to a favorable report by the Audit Committee or any other Committee assigned this task, of any transactions that the Company may enter into with Directors, significant shareholders or shareholders represented on the Board, or with persons related to them: YES 45 C.2 List any significant transactions involving a transfer of resources or obligations between the Company and/or Companies in its group and significant Company shareholders: C.3 List any significant transactions involving a transfer of resources or obligations between the Company and/or Companies in its group and Company administrators or executives: C.4 List any significant transactions with other companies in the group that are not eliminated in the consolidated financial statements and which do not, by virtue of their object or terms, relate to the Company’s normal business: C.5 Indicate whether or not the Company’s Directors have been involved with any conflict of interest during the year, in accordance with Article 127 ter of the Spanish Companies Act. C.6 Explain the mechanisms established to detect and resolve possible conflicts of interest between the Company and/or its Group and its Directors, senior management or significant shareholders. 1) There are various rules included in the Board Regulations: Article 14.3 states: a) Directors may not use the Company’s name or their position as Director to carry out any transactions on their own behalf or on the behalf of any associated person b) No Director may carry out, to their benefit for the benefit of any associated person, investments or any other transaction associated with the Company’s assets which are known to them as a result of their position when the investment for transaction would have been offered to the Company or the Company would be interested in the transaction, provided that the Company did not rule out that investment or transaction without the influence of the Director. c) Directors must report any direct or indirect situation of conflict to the Board of Directors when involving any Company interests and Directors will not attend or intervene in debates that involve any issue in which they have a personal interest or affects an associated person. In any event, any situations of conflict of interest affecting Company Directors must be reported in the Annual Corporate Governance Report. 14.6 Abstention duty 46 Directors’ duty to abstain means not making private use of confidential information received as a result of the position of Director and not making investments or commercial transactions deriving from holding the position of Director. This duty also covers any activity carried out by an associated person. 14.7 Associated person. For the purposes of this Article, a person associated with the a Director will be deemed to be as follows: a) The spouse of the Director or any person in a similar position. b) Ascendants, descendents and siblings of the Director or the spouse of the Director c) The spouses of ascendants, descendents and the siblings of the Director. d) Companies in which the Director, personally or through an intermediary, is in one of these situations listed under Article 4 of Law 24/1988 (28 July) on the Stock Market. Associates of legal persons appointed to directorships are considered to be the following: d) Shareholders which are, with respect to the legal person Director, in one of these situations listed under Article 4 of Law 24/1988 (28 July) on the Stock Market. b) Directors, in law or de facto, liquidators and legal representatives with general power-of-attorney at the legal person Director c) Companies that form part of the same group as defined by Article 4 of Law 24/1988 (28 July) on the Stock Market and their shareholders. d) Persons considered to be associated with the legal person Directors, in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph. 2) Furthermore, there are Stock Market Conduct Regulations consisting of a group of rules intended to detect and regulate possible conflicts of interest between the Company and/or its Group, and their Directors, executives or significant shareholders. The regulations are applied with respect to securities issued by Iberpapel Gestion, to the members of the Board of Directors and any Board Committee or Commission, their representatives when members are legal persons and the Secretary or Vice-Secretary, if they are not Directors. Executives or personnel at a similar hierarchical level, and, in general, employees that directly or indirectly carry out activities relating to the stock market, particularly those relating to the Company’s treasury shares, investor relationships, public reporting or relevant information. In accordance with the definition provided by Royal Decree 377/1991 (15 March) on the Reporting of Significant Shareholdings in Listed Companies and the Acquisition of Treasury Shares (hereinafter "RD 377/1991"), executives are considered to be general managers or similar positions that perform senior management duties under the direct supervision of the governing bodies, executive committee or the Company CEO. Any other person that could have access to privileged information. Any person that knowingly possesses privileged information, or should know, may not prepare or carry out any direct or indirect transactions on their own behalf or on the behalf of a third-party involving the securities to which the privileged information refers. 47 This prohibition does not include (i) the preparation or performance of transactions whose existence constitutes the privileged information; (ii) transactions carried out to comply with an outstanding obligation to acquire or assign securities when covered by an agreement concluded before the person concerned possesses the privileged information; or (iii) any transactions carried out in conformance with applicable legislation. All persons subject to the Regulations are prohibited from (i) reporting the privileged information to third parties, unless that forms part of the normal course of their work, profession or position; and (ii) providing recommendations to a third party to acquire or assign securities or to instruct another party to acquire or assign securities based on that information (duty of confidentiality). All persons subject to the Regulations will ensure that the privileged information is duly safeguarded, notwithstanding their duty to report to, and collaborate with, legal and administrative authorities in accordance with the terms established under the Stock Market Act or any legislation in force at any given time. In addition, they must adopt adequate measures to prevent the privileged information from abuse or improper use and, if appropriate, will immediately take all necessary measures to correct the consequences deriving from such activities. Persons subject to the Regulations may not carry out personal transactions when they possess privileged information. Personal transactions will be understood to be those carried out by the persons concerned involving securities, as well as any that may be carried out by others associated with those persons. Associated persons are (i) E. Spouse or domestic partner, except for transactions involving private assets or when there is a formal separation of assets agreement in place; (ii) minor children subject to parental authority and dependent adults; (iii) companies effectively controlled by the person concerned; and (iv) intermediary persons as defined by Article 3 of RD 377/1991. Such persons will report any possible conflict of interest with Iberpapel or its Group to the person responsible for monitoring such situations when they arise for any reason and such persons will abstain from carrying out any type of personal transaction or transaction covered by a portfolio management agreement when there could be any conflict of interest, unless advance express authorization is obtained from the person responsible for monitoring such situations, in accordance with their obligations for loyal behavior deriving from stock market, corporate and employment legislation and this Internal Code of Conduct Regulations. C.7 Are more than one of the Group’s companies listed in Spain? NO 48 Identify the subsidiaries listed in Spain: D RISK CONTROL SYSTEMS D.1 General description of the Company’s risk policy and/or its Group, including detailed and an evaluation of the risks covered by the system, together with information supporting those systems’ adaptation to the profile of each type of risk. Iberpapel Group has carried out risk control and management actions which have afforded an adequate valuation in this respect. In this respect, systems have been implemented that enable the following risks affecting the Group to be identified, assessed, managed and controlled. Risk control systems, which are a component of decision-making management and assistance in the Iberpapel Group are defined on the basis of four major aspects: Principal risks of the Iberpapel Group. Risk assessment Risk control and hedges Organization and management responsibilities Principal risks of the Iberpapel Group. In 2009 the risks assessed and for which there is sufficient coverage include the following: Risk concerning the global economic situation Market / competition and selling / raw material prices risks. Forestry risks. Regulatory/ environmental risks. Risks relating to new investments and other Risks of material damages and loss of earnings. Risk assessment a) Control systems The Group’s control systems are considered appropriate in light of the Group’s risk profile and may be grouped together in the following categories: Maintaining a highly competitive cost structure that enables the impact of market crises to be addressed comparatively better than in the competition. 49 Systems of control over the distribution of forestry assets: three distant forestry areas (Argentina, Uruguay and Huelva), with the reasonable distribution of properties in each area. Moreover, forest cleaning, firebreak work etc is carried out on a regular basis, thereby reducing the impact of potential damages from fire. Improvement in competitiveness and environmental efficiency through the launch of a 50 MWh high-efficiency cogeneration plan which gives rise to an additional competitive advantage due to cost reductions and lowered dependence on electricity prices. Regulatory/ environmental risks. Plans and systems to ensure the quality of products and services: the top priority under the Iberpapel Group’s defined quality policy is customer satisfaction and on-going improvement and therefore to ensure that products and services meet quality standards. In this connection, the Group has ISO 9001 and 14001 certificates, AENOR certificates for the Custodial Chain Model and Integrated Environmental Authorization obtained in 2008. The Iberpapel Group’s basic quality policy objectives are as follows: To review, improve and optimize existing processes and controls in order to ensure product quality and traceability. To provide an adequate response to claims, implementing a process to examine, record and respond to such claims. Systems to control environmental risks: the Iberpapel group is committed to complying with applicable European, central government and regional legislation and participates actively in the development of new environmental commitments. In this respect, progress is being made on the gradual implementation of Available Technology Improvements deriving from Community Directive IPPC 96/61/EC on integrated pollution control and the processing of Integrated Environmental Management. A series of actions carried out by the Group in this connection are particularly noteworthy: Odor elimination systems. Elimination of elementary chloride as a bleaching agent. Installation of on-going emission measurement systems in conjunction with the Basque regional government. Utilization of the best available technologies to improve emissions and disposals and reduce waste. Installation of a new effluent treatment facility. The Iberpapel Group has continued to implement its reforestation policy, focusing on so-called Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM). This policy aims to secure, through such mechanisms contained in the Kyoto Protocol and European legislation, financing to ensure the feasibility of the projects started up, enabling, moreover, the obtainment of an optimum supply of raw materials for our facilities in Hernani. The aforementioned project has mainly been developed through a reforestation program based on the variety of seed or development eucalyptus cloned at the properties purchased by the group’s subsidiaries in Argentina 50 and Uruguay which were previously used as grazing land. In the past few years approximately 4,200 hectare in Argentina and 7,300 hectare in Uruguay, respectively, have been reforested. In past years Iberpapel Group obtained several environmental certificates, among them the AENOR certificate for the Custodial Chain Model for Forestry Products (PEFC) in the industrial division, together with the Sustainable Forestry Management Certificate in accordance with the FSC Standard (Forest Stewardship Council) in the forestry division. In 2009 Iberpapel Group continued with the process of making environmental improvements by obtaining new certificates such as the Custodial Chain certificate in accordance with the FSC standard by the industrial division and the forestry division (national and international). There is an investment development analysis and monitoring program in place that allows business growth processes to be satisfactorily handled and relates to the growth of the generation of electricity that the Group plans to export to the grid. Other preventive procedures: it is Iberpapel group’s policy to arrange the necessary insurance policies and hedges to mitigate as far as possible the risks deriving from the loss of earnings, material damages, customer collection, machine breakdowns etc . The decline in profits (including all industrial operations) Machine fault insurance (Including damages and loss of earnings) Material damages (comprehensive insurance) Trade receivables (the group arranges insurance for both domestic and export sales) Third-party liability (including causing agent and damages) Third-party liability of Directors and Managers b) Internal supervision procedure The Group has assessed the risks on the basis of a universal model and carried out the reviews considered necessary to update the risk map. Similarly, the impact of those risks has been calculated together with the follow-up and management actions relating to each of the aforementioned areas. D.2 Indicate whether any of the risks (operating, technological, financial, legal, reputational, tax, etc.) affecting the Company and/or its Group have actually arisen during the year: NO 51 If so, indicate the underlying circumstances and whether or not the established control systems work adequately. D.3 Is there a Committee or other governing body responsible for establishing and supervising the control systems? YES If so, state its duties. Name of the Committee or Body AUDIT COMMITTEE Description of duties It is authorized by the Board of Directors in the exercise of its duties to supervise risks. Name of the Committee or Body BOARD OF DIRECTORS. Description of duties The Board is responsible for maintaining the internal control system, including the follow-up and control of the significant risks of the Iberpapel corporate group. On the basis of the assessment of operational risks supervised by the Audit Committee, the Board of Directors carries out risk control and management. Risk Control and Management Systems in the Group. On the basis of the assessment of operational risks supervised by the Audit Committee, the Board of Directors carries out risk control and management. D.4 Identification and description of processes for complying with the various regulations affecting the Company and/or its Group. The Group has implemented the necessary mechanisms to control and manage risks in accordance with the universal assessment model which takes into account any kind. 52 Because of its universal and dynamic nature, the system enables the on-going management of the risks affecting the Iberpapel Group, making it possible to tailor it to changes in the environment, to review its objectives and strategies and upgrade its monitoring and supervisory process. With respect to compliance with the different regulations which affect the Iberpapel Group, it should be noted that the Group has a legal department and external advisors when required such that at all times it is in a position to comply with the regulations applicable to the Group in its operations. In this respect, it should be noted that as a listed Group, it complies with its quarterly, six-monthly and annual reporting obligations and issues the Significant Events report and other information requested by the National Securities Market Commission. Integrated risk management in the Iberpapel Group and companies which form it enables a profitability / risk balance to be attained, reducing the impact on results. E GENERAL MEETING E.1 Indicate whether there are any differences between the quorums for General Meetings and the minimums stipulated in the Spanish Companies Act and, if appropriate, explain. NO % quorum other than that established % quorum other than that established under Art. 102 LSA for general cases under Art. 103 LSA for the special cases established under Art. 103 Quorum required on 0 0 0 0 first call Quorum required on second call E.2 Indicate and explain, if appropriate, if there are any differences between the system used for adopting corporate resolutions in the system stipulated in the Spanish Companies Act: No Describe how it differs from the system contemplated in the Spanish Companies Act. E.3 Describe any shareholders’ rights with regard to General Meetings that differ from those established by the Spanish Companies Act. 53 The Bylaws and the General Meeting Regulations govern shareholder rights in accordance with the provisions of the Spanish Companies Act. There is no limitation whatsoever on the number of shares required to attend General Meetings. E.4 Describe the measures adopted, if any, to encourage the participation of shareholders at General Meetings. All shareholders may attend the General Meeting and take part in deliberations. Speaking and voting rights, in accordance with the provisions of the Bylaws and the General Meaning Regulations. In addition to the right to request callings of meetings, information and attendance as well as representation and remote voting, Iberpapel has a policy of encouraging shareholder participation in the General Meeting by applying the following measures: The meeting is held at the premises with the best conditions for holding and monitoring the meeting, located in the center of the municipality in which the Company’s domicile is located. Exercising of voting rights and delegation using electronic means. Personalized assistance and information for shareholders through the Shareholder Service Office. Publication on the Company’s website of all information regarding the General Meeting and the Agenda, details regarding the calling of the meeting, proposed Resolutions made by the Board of Directors and the means of communicating with the Company through which details regarding the meeting may be requested. E.5 Indicate if Chairman of the Board chairs the General Meeting. List any measures adopted to ensure the independence and correct operation of the General Meeting: YES Details regarding the measures In order to guarantee the independence and proper operation of the General Meeting, the Ordinary General Meeting held on 15 June 2004 approved a Meeting Resolution providing detailed and transparent regulations for the meeting. E.6 Indicate any modifications made during the year to the Regulations governing the General Shareholders’ meeting. E.7 Provide details of attendance records at General Meetings held during the year to which this report refers: Attendance information 54 Date of the % physically present % remote voting represented Electronic by proxy voting General Meeting 02/06/2009 % 6.836 48.412 Total Other 0.000 55.248 E.8 Briefly indicate the Resolutions adopted at the General Meetings held during the year to which this report refers and the percentage of votes with which each Resolution was adopted. The Ordinary General Shareholder Meeting held on 02 June 2009 adopted the following Resolutions (summarized): 1. The appointment of representatives to approve the Meeting Minutes was approved. Unanimously approved. 2. Approve, in the terms established in the legal documentation, the Annual Accounts (Balance sheet, Income Statement and Notes to the Annual Accounts), both for Iberpapel Gestion S.A. and its consolidated Group, as well as the individual and consolidated Directors' Report relating to the year ended 31 December 2008. Approve the proposed application of profits totaling six million five hundred ten thousand one hundred and eighty eight euro and forty five cents (€ 6,510,188.45), which will be distributed as follows: - Nine hundred twenty three thousand four hundred ninety three euro and ninety two cents (€ 923,493.92) which have already been distributed as interim dividend as approved by the Board of Directors at the meeting held on 8 January 2009. - Voluntary reserves have been allocated five million five hundred eighty six thousand six hundred ninety four euro and fifty three cents (€ 5,586,694.53). Approve the management by the Governing Body during the year. Unanimously approved. 3. – The partial refund of a share premium to shareholders totaling € 0.08 per share was approved. Unanimously approved. 4.- The Board of Directors was authorized to acquire Treasury Shares by the Company and/or its subsidiaries through the acquisition of a maximum of 5% of share capital over a 14 month and for a minimum price of the share par value and a maximum of € 40. Unanimously approved. 5. The reelection of the auditor PriceWaterhouseCoopers Auditores, SL. for a term of one year was approved for the audit of the individual and consolidated annual accounts for 2009. Unanimously approved. 6. Mr. Martín González del Valle Chavarri was re-elected to the board for a six year term. Votes in favor: 97.227% of the shares present and represented. Votes against: 2.773% of the shares present and represented. 7.- A resolution was adopted to delegate authority to the Chairman of the Board or to the Secretary to formalize, interpret, correct and execute the Resolutions adopted by the General Meeting. 55 Unanimously approved. E.9 State whether any restrictions are established in the Articles of Association requiring a minimum number of shares to attend General Meetings: No Number of shares necessary to attend the General Meeting E.10 Describe and justify the Company’s policies regarding proxy votes at General Meetings. The policy followed by the Board of Directors of Iberpapel Gestión, S.A has always been to facilitate the presence of shareholders at General Meetings, either personally or through representation. For that reason representation to attend a Meeting may fall to another person who does not have to be a shareholder. The delegation of votes at the General Meeting is governed by the Company’s Bylaws and the Meeting Regulations as well as by the Board Regulations. According to Article 14 of the Bylaws, shareholders with a right to attend meetings may delegate representation authority to another person. The representative must be named and that must be extended in writing for each Meeting. The above is notwithstanding the provisions of Article 108 of the Spanish Companies Act. In addition, shareholders may delegate representation via electronic or remote means that duly guarantee the representation authority granted and the identity of the representative when the Board of Directors considers that there are adequate guarantees of authenticity and identification of the shareholder conferring the representation authority. The representation authority granted using these means will be sent to the Company using the procedure and within the deadline established by the Board of Directors in the Resolution to call the meeting. The Board of Directors will determine, in accordance with the calling of each meeting, the procedure, requirements, system and deadline for granting and sending the Company representation or delegation of vote authority issued electronically. These circumstances will be stated in the announcements concerning the calling of the Meeting. In the event of a public request for representation, the provisions of Article 107 of the current Spanish Companies Act will be applicable and, if appropriate, so will the provisions of Article 114 of Law 24/1988 (28 July) on the Stock Market. According to Article 11 of the Board Regulations, shareholders with a right to attend meetings may delegate representation authority to another person. The representation authority must be accepted by the representative. It must be specific to each Meeting and may be conferred through the following means: a) By sending the card referred to under Article 12, duly filled in and signed by the shareholder, in accordance with the terms and conditions established in the Bylaws. b) Using electronic or remote means that duly guarantee the representation authority granted and the identity of the representative when the Board of Directors considers that there are adequate guarantees of authenticity and identification of the shareholder conferring the representation authority. The representation authority granted using these means will be sent to the Company using the procedure and within the deadline established by the Board of Directors in the Resolution to call the meeting. 3. In the event of a public request for representation, the provisions of Article 107 of the current Spanish Companies Act will be applicable and, if appropriate, so will the provisions of Article 114 of Law 24/1988 (28 56 July) on the Stock Market. In particular, the document containing the power-of-attorney must contain or bear an appendix containing the Agenda, as well as a request for instructions to exercise the right to vote and an indication of how the representative will vote in the event that no precise instructions are given. 4. Individual shareholders who do not have full legal capacity and corporate shareholders may be represented by their legal representatives, when adequately proven. Both in these cases, as well as in the case in which a shareholder delegates a right to attend the Meeting, more than one representative cannot be used. 5. Representation authority is always revocable. If the shareholder attends the Meeting, and any vote issued revokes any delegated authority whatever the date. Article 19 of the Board Regulation stipulates that public requests for the delegation of votes made by the Board of Directors or any member must expressly state the manner in which the representative will vote in the event that the shareholder does not provide instructions. A Director obtaining representation authority may not exercise the right to vote relating to the represented shares for any points of the Agenda for which there is a conflict of interest. Article 21 of the Board Regulations stipulates that delegated votes received by the Board of Directors or any Member will be faithfully executed in accordance with the instructions received in this respect and the Minutes will reflect the vote and the identification of the voting instructions received, including any vote against Board proposals, with the aim of safeguarding the rights that may fall to the delegating shareholder. E.11 Indicate whether the company is aware of the policies of institutional investors regarding their participation or not in company decisions: NO E.12 Indicate the address and access to the corporate governance contents on the company’s website. www.iberpapel. es Shareholders and investors Corporate Governance 57 F EXTENT OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE CORPORATE GOVERNANCE RECOMMENDATIONS Indicate the degree of compliance by the company with the recommendations of the Unified Good Governance Code. In the event of non-compliance with any recommendations, explain the recommendations, standards, practices or principles applied by the company. 1. The bylaws of listed companies should not place an upper limit on the votes that can be cast by a single shareholder, or impose other obstacles to the takeover of the company by means of share purchases on the market. See sections: A.9, B.1.22, B.1.23 and E.1, E.2. Comply 2. When a dominant and a subsidiary company are stock market listed, the two should provide detailed disclosure on: a) The type of activity they engage in and any business dealings between them, as well as between the subsidiary and other group companies; b) The mechanisms in place to resolve possible conflicts of interest. See sections: C.4 and C.7 Not applicable 58 3. Even when not expressly required under company law, any decisions involving a fundamental corporate change should be submitted to the General Shareholders' Meeting for approval or ratification. In particular: a) The transformation of listed companies into holding companies through the process of subsidiarization, i.e., reallocating core activities to subsidiaries that were previously carried out by the originating firm, even though the latter retains full control of the former; b) Any acquisition or disposal of key operating assets that would effectively alter the company's corporate purpose; c) Operations that effectively add up to the company's liquidation. Comply 4. Detailed proposals of the resolutions to be adopted at the General Shareholders’ Meeting, including the information stated in Recommendation 28, should be made available at the same time as the publication of the Meeting notice. Comply 5. Separate votes should be taken at the General Shareholders’ Meeting on materially separate items, so shareholders can express their preferences in each case. This rule shall apply in particular to: a) The appointment or ratification of directors, with separate voting on each candidate; b) Amendments to the bylaws, with votes taken on all articles or groups of articles that are materially different. See section: E.8 Comply 59 6. Companies should allow split votes, so financial intermediaries acting as nominees on behalf of different clients can issue their votes according to instructions. See section: E.4 Comply 7. The Board of Directors should perform its duties with unity of purpose and independent judgment, according all shareholders the same treatment. It should be guided at all times by the company's best interest and, as such, strive to maximize its value over time. It should likewise ensure that the company abides by the laws and regulations in its dealings with stakeholders; fulfills its obligations and contracts in good faith; respects the customs and good practices of the sectors and territories where it does business; and upholds any additional social responsibility principles it has subscribed to voluntarily. Comply 8. The Board should see as core components of its mission: to approve the company's strategy and authorize the organizational resources to carry it forward, and to ensure that management meets the objectives set while pursuing the company's interests and corporate purpose. As such, the Board in full should reserve the right to approve: a) The company's general policies and strategies, and in particular: i) The strategic or business plan, management targets and annual budgets; ii) Investment and financing policy; iii) Design of the structure of the corporate group; iv) Corporate governance policy; v) Corporate social responsibility policy; 60 vi) Compensation and evaluation of senior officers; vii) Risk control and management, and periodic monitoring of internal information and control systems; viii) Dividend policy, treasury stock policy, especially limits. See sections: b) The following decisions: i) See section: ii) See section: c) B.1.10, B.1.13, B.1.14 and D.3 Upon recommendation by the CEO, the appointment and possible removal of senior management and any indemnity clauses. B.1.14. Directors’ compensation and, in the case of Executive Directors, additional compensation for their management duties and other contractual conditions. B.1.14. iii) The financial information listed companies must periodically disclose. iv) Investments or operations considered strategic by virtue of their amount or special characteristics, unless their approval corresponds to the General Shareholders’ Meeting; v) The creation or acquisition of shares in special purpose entities resident in jurisdictions considered tax havens, and any other transactions or operations of a comparable nature whose complexity might impair the transparency of the group. Transactions which the company conducts with directors, significant shareholders, shareholders with board representation or other persons related thereto (“relatedparty transactions”). 61 However, Board authorization need not be required for related-party transactions that simultaneously meet the following three conditions: 1. They are governed by standard form agreements applied on an across-the-board basis to a large number of clients; 2. They go through at market rates, generally set by the person supplying the goods or services; 3. Their amount is no more than 1% of the company's annual revenues. It is advisable that related-party transactions should only be approved on the basis of a favorable report from the Audit Committee or committee handling the same function; and that the directors involved should neither exercise nor delegate their votes, and should withdraw from the meeting room while the Board deliberates and votes. Ideally, the above powers should not be delegated with the exception of those mentioned in b) and c), which may be delegated to the Delegate Committee in urgent cases and later ratified by the full Board. See sections: C.1 and C.6 Comply 9. In the interests of maximum effectiveness and participation, the Board of Directors should ideally comprise no fewer than five and no more than fifteen members. See section: B.1.1 Comply 10. External directors, proprietary and independent, should occupy an ample majority of Board places, while the number of executive directors should be the minimum practical, bearing in mind the complexity of the corporate group and the ownership interests they control. See sections: A.2, A.3, B.1.3 and B.1.14. Comply 62 11. In the event that some external director can be deemed neither proprietary nor independent, the company should disclose this circumstance and the links that person maintains with the company or its senior officers, or its shareholders. See section: B.1.3 Not applicable 12. That among external directors, the relation between proprietary members and independents should match the proportion between the capital represented on the Board by institutional directors and the remainder of the company’s capital. This proportional criterion can be relaxed so the weight of institutional directors is greater than would strictly correspond to the total percentage of capital they represent: 1. In large-cap companies where few or no equity stakes attain the legal threshold for significant shareholdings, despite the considerable sums actually invested. 2. In companies with a plurality of shareholders represented on the Board but not otherwise related. See sections: B.1.3, A.2 and A.3 Comply 13. The number of independent directors should represent at least one third of all Board members. See section: B.1.3 Comply 14. Such determination should subsequently be explained by the Board to the General Meeting and be confirmed or reviewed in each year’s Annual Corporate Governance Report, after verification by the Nomination Committee. The said Report should also disclose the reasons for the appointment of institutional directors at the urging of shareholders controlling less than 5% of capital; and explain any rejection of a formal request for a Board place from shareholders whose equity stake is equal to or greater than that of others applying successfully for a institutional directorship. See sections: B.1.3 and B.1.4 Comply 63 15. When women directors are few or non-existent, the Board should state the reasons for this situation and the measures taken to correct it; in particular, the Nomination Committee should take steps to ensure that: a) The process of filling Board vacancies has no implicit bias against women candidates; b) The company makes a conscious effort to include women with the target profile among the candidates for Board places. See sections: B.1.2, B.1.27 and B.2.3. Comply The Nominations and Compensation Committee initiates the process of selecting Directors and the near executives for the Company in order to prepare subsequent proposals for the Board of Directors and does not consider that gender should be a selection criteria but rather the candidate must meet required profile. The principle of equal opportunity has always presided over the criteria applied by the Nominations and Compensation Committee. In addition, the Committee is also responsible for reporting gender diversity issues to the Board. 16. The Chairman, as the person responsible for the proper operation of the Board of Directors, should ensure that directors are supplied with sufficient information in advance of Board meetings, and work to procure a good level of debate and active involvement of all members, safeguarding their rights to freely express and adopt positions; he or she should organize and coordinate regular evaluations of the Board and, where appropriate, the company’s chief executive, along with the chairmen of the relevant Board committees. See section: B.1.42 Comply 64 17. When a company's Chairman is also its chief executive, an independent director should be empowered to request the calling of Board meetings or the inclusion of new business on the agenda; to coordinate and give voice to the concerns of external directors; and to lead the Board’s evaluation of the Chairman. See section: B.1.21 Comply 18. The Secretary should take care to ensure that the Board’s actions: a) Adhere to the spirit and letter of laws and their implementing regulations, including those issued by regulatory agencies; b) Comply with the company bylaws and the regulations of the General Shareholders' Meeting, the Board of Directors and others; c) Are informed by those good governance recommendations of the Unified Code that the company has subscribed to. In order to safeguard the independence, impartiality and professionalism of the Secretary, his or her appointment and removal should be proposed by the Nomination Committee and approved by a full Board meeting, the relevant appointment and removal procedures being spelled out in the Board’s regulations. See section: B.1.34 Partial compliance Although Article 9 of the Board Regulations does not specifically assign the duty of ensuring, in any special way, that good governance recommendations are followed it is responsible for ensuring formal legality which includes, in a broad sense, good governance recommendations. 65 In addition, the Audit Committee is responsible for, among other things, supervising compliance with internal codes of conduct and corporate governance rules and the Secretary to that Committee ensures compliance with the duties falling to that Committee which include Corporate Good Governance rules. 19. The Board should meet with the necessary frequency to properly perform its functions, in accordance with a calendar and agendas set at the beginning of the year, to which each director may propose the addition of other items. See section: B.1.29 Comply 20. Director absences should be kept to the bare minimum and quantified in the Annual Corporate Governance Report. When directors have no choice but to delegate their vote, they should do so with instructions. See sections: B.1.28 and B.1.30 Comply 21. When directors or the Secretary express concerns about some proposal or, in the case of directors, about the company's performance, and such concerns are not resolved at the meeting, the person expressing them can request that they be recorded in the minute book. Comply 22. The Board in full should evaluate the following points on a yearly basis: a) The quality and efficiency of the Board's operation; b) Starting from a report submitted by the Nomination Committee, how well the Chairman and chief executive have carried out their duties; c) The performance of its committees on the basis of the reports furnished by the same. See section: B.1.19 Partial compliance 66 Article 12 of the Board Regulations called: The evaluation of the Board and the Committees, literally states the following: On an annual basis the Board of Directors will evaluate: a) The quality and efficiency of the Board's operation; b) The performance by the Chairman of the Board and the Company’s CEO based on a report that will be prepared by the Nominations and Compensation Committee; c) The operation of the Board Committees based on a report prepared by each Committee. In addition, Article 9.3 of these Regulations stipulates that if the Chairman of the Board and the Company’s CEO are the same person one of the Independent Directors will be appointed to direct the Board’s evaluation of the Chairman. In order to comply with the provisions of this Article, on 8 January 2009 the Board of Directors appointed Mr. Néstor Basterra Larroude to perform these duties. However, given the resignation of the Company's Chairman and CEO in December 2009 this evaluation has not been possible as a new Chairman was appointed. 23. All directors should be able to exercise their right to receive any additional information they require on matters within the Board's competence. Unless the bylaws or Board regulations indicate otherwise, such requests should be addressed to the Chairman or Secretary. See section: B.1.42 Comply 24. All directors should be entitled to call on the company for the advice and guidance they need to carry out their duties. The company should provide suitable channels for the exercise of this right, extending in special circumstances to external assistance at the company's expense. See section: B.1.41 Comply 25. Companies should organize induction programmers for new directors to acquaint them rapidly with the workings of the company and its corporate governance rules. Directors should also be offered refresher programs when circumstances so advise. Comply 67 26. Companies should require their directors to devote sufficient time and effort to perform their duties effectively, and, as such: a) Directors should apprise the Nomination Committee of any other professional obligations, in case they might detract from the necessary dedication; b) Companies should lay down rules about the number of directorships their Board members can hold. See sections: B.1.8, B.1.9 and B.1.17 Comply 27. The proposal for the appointment or renewal of directors that the Board submits to the General Shareholders’ Meeting, as well as provisional appointments by the method of cooption, should be approved by the Board: a) On the proposal of the Nomination Committee, in the case of independent directors. b) Subject to a report from the Nomination Committee in all other cases. See section: B.1.2 Comply 28. Companies should post the following directorship particulars on their websites and keep them permanently updated: a) Professional experience and background; b) Directorships held in other companies, listed or otherwise; c) An indication of the director's classification as appropriate, stating, in the case of institutional directors, the shareholder they represent or are associated with. d) The date of their first and subsequent appointments as a company director, and; e) Shares held in the company and any options on the same. Comply 68 29. Independent directors should not stay on as such for a continuous period of more than 12 years. See section: B.1.2 Comply The Board has not considered it advisable to implement recommendation 29 since it would lead to the loss of Directors whose presence on the Board is in its corporate interests due to their qualifications, contributions and experience without their presence affecting their independence. 30. Institutional directors should resign when the shareholders they represent dispose of their ownership interest in its entirety. If such shareholders reduce their stakes, thereby losing some of their entitlement to institutional directors, the latter’s number should be reduced accordingly. See sections: A.2, A.3 and B.1.2 Comply 31. The Board of Directors should not propose the removal of independent directors before the expiry of their tenure as mandated by the bylaws, except where just cause is found by the Board, based on a proposal from the Nomination Committee. In particular, just cause will be presumed when a director is in breach of his or her fiduciary duties or comes under one of the disqualifying grounds enumerated in section III.5 (Definitions) of this Code. The removal of independents may also be proposed when a takeover bid, merger or similar corporate operation produces changes in the company’s capital structure, in order to meet the proportionality criterion set out in Recommendation 12. See sections: B.1.2, B.1.5 and B.1.26 Comply 69 32. Companies should establish rules obliging directors to inform the Board of any circumstance that might harm the organization’s name or reputation, tendering their resignation as the case may be, with particular mention of any criminal charges brought against them and the progress of any subsequent trial. The moment a director is indicted or tried for any of the crimes stated in article 124 of the Public Limited Companies Law, the Board should examine the matter and, in view of the particular circumstances and potential harm to the company's name and reputation, decide whether or not he or she should be called on to resign. The Board should also disclose all such determinations in the Annual Corporate Governance Report. See sections: B.1.43, B.1.44 Comply 33. All directors should express clear opposition when they feel a proposal submitted for the Board's approval might damage the corporate interest. In particular, independents and other directors unaffected by the conflict of interest should challenge any decision that could go against the interests of shareholders lacking Board representation. When the Board makes material or reiterated decisions about which a director has expressed serious reservations, then he or she must draw the pertinent conclusions. Directors resigning for such causes should set out their reasons in the letter referred to in the next Recommendation. The terms of this Recommendation should also apply to the Secretary to the Board, Director or otherwise. Comply 34. Directors who give up their place before their tenure expires, through resignation or otherwise, should state their reasons in a letter to be sent to all members of the Board. Irrespective of whether such resignation is filed as a significant event, the motive for the same must be explained in the Annual Corporate Governance Report. See section: B.1.5 Comply 70 35. The company's compensation policy, as approved by its Board of Directors, should specify at least the following points: a) The amount of the fixed components, itemized where necessary, of Board and Board Committee attendance fees, with an estimate of the fixed annual payment they give rise to; b) Variable components, in particular: i) The types of directors they apply to, with an explanation of the relative weight of variable to fixed compensation items; ii) Performance evaluation criteria used to calculate entitlement to the award of shares or share options or any performance-related compensation; iii) The main parameters and grounds for any system of annual bonuses or other, non cash benefits; and iv) An estimate of the sum total of variable payments arising from the compensation policy proposed, as a function of degree of compliance with pre-set targets or benchmarks. c) The main characteristics of pension systems (for example, supplementary pensions, life insurance and similar arrangements), with an estimate of their amount or annual equivalent cost. d) The conditions to apply to the contracts of executive directors exercising senior management functions. Among them: i) Duration; ii) Notice periods; and iii) Any other clauses covering hiring bonuses, as well as indemnities or ‘golden parachutes’ in the event of early termination of the contractual relation between company and executive director. See section: B.1.15 Comply 71 36. Compensation comprising the delivery of shares in the company or other companies in the group, share options or other share-based instruments, payments linked to the company’s performance or membership of pension schemes should be confined to executive directors. The delivery of shares is excluded from this limitation when directors are obliged to retain them until the end of their tenure. See sections: A.3, B.1.3 Comply 37. External directors' compensation should sufficiently compensate them for the dedication, abilities and responsibilities that the post entails, but should not be so high as to compromise their independence. Comply 38. In the case of compensation linked to company earnings, deductions should be computed for any qualifications stated in the external auditor’s report. Comply 39. In the case of variable awards, compensation policies should include technical safeguards to ensure they reflect the professional performance of the beneficiaries and not simply the general progress of the markets or the company’s sector, atypical or exceptional transactions or circumstances of this kind. Comply 40. The Board should submit a report on the directors’ compensation policy to the advisory vote of the General Shareholders’ Meeting, as a separate point on the agenda. This report can be supplied to shareholders separately or in the manner each company sees fit. The report will focus on the compensation policy the Board has approved for the current year with reference, as the case may be, to the policy planned for future years. It will address all the points referred to in Recommendation 34, except those potentially entailing the disclosure of commercially sensitive information. It will emphasize the most significant changes to those policies compared with the policy referring to the General Meeting applied last year. It will also include an overall summary of how the compensation policy was applied last year. 72 The role of the Compensation Committee in designing the policy should be reported to the Meeting, along with the identity of any external advisors engaged. See section: B.1.16 Comply 41. The notes to the annual accounts should list individual directors’ compensation in the year, including: a) A breakdown of the compensation obtained by each company director, to include where appropriate: i) Participation and attendance fees and other fixed director payments; ii) Additional compensation for acting as chairman or member of a Board Committee iii) Any payments made under profit-sharing or bonus schemes, and the reason for their accrual; iv) Contributions on the director’s behalf to defined-contribution pension plans, or any increase in the director’s vested rights in the case of contributions to defined-benefit schemes; v) Any severance packages agreed or paid; vi) Any compensation they receive as directors of other companies in the group; vii) The compensation executive directors receive in respect of their senior management posts; viii) Any kind of compensation other than those listed above, of whatever nature and provenance within the group, especially when it may be accounted as a relatedparty transaction or when its omission would detract from a true and fair view of the total compensation received by the director. 73 b) An individual breakdown of deliveries to directors of shares, share options or other share-based instruments, itemized by: i) Number of shares or options awarded in the year, and the terms set for their execution; ii) Number of options exercised in the year, specifying the number of shares involved and the exercise price; iii) Number of options outstanding at the annual close, specifying their price, date and other exercise conditions; iv) Any change over the year in the exercise terms of previously-awarded options. c) Information on the relation in the year between the compensation obtained by executive directors and the company’s profits, or some other measure of enterprise results. Comply 42. When the company has a Delegate Committee, the breakdown of its members by director category should be similar to that of the Board itself. The Secretary of the Board should also act as secretary to the Delegate Committee. See sections: B.2.1 and B.2.6 Not applicable 43. The Board should be kept fully informed of the business transacted and decisions made by the Delegate Committee. To this end, all Board members should receive a copy of the Committee’s minutes. Not applicable 44. In addition to the Audit Committee mandatory under the Securities Market Law, the Board of Directors should form a committee, or two separate committees, of Nomination and Compensation. 74 The rules governing the make-up and operation of the Audit Committee and the committee or committees of Nomination and Compensation should be set forth in the Board regulations, and include the following: a) The Board of Directors should appoint the members of such committees with regard to the knowledge, aptitudes and experience of its directors and the terms of reference of each committee; discuss their proposals and reports; and be responsible for overseeing and evaluating their work, which should be reported to the first Board plenary following each meeting; b) These committees should be formed exclusively of external directors and have a minimum of three members. Executive directors or senior officers may also attend meetings, for information purposes, at the Committees’ invitation. c) Committees should be chaired by an independent director. d) They may engage external advisors, when they feel this is necessary for the discharge of their duties. e) Meeting proceedings should be minuted and a copy sent to all Board members. See sections: B.2.1 and B.2.3 Comply The Company complies with the sections regarding the Recommendation, except for those included under paragraphs b) and c) With respect to paragraph b) an Executive Director forms part of the Nominations and Compensation Committee. This Director does not receive any compensation whatsoever for his executive duties. With respect to paragraph c) this Committee is led by and Executive Director who, as was explained above, does not receive compensation for the executive duties carried out. 75 45. The job of supervising compliance with internal codes of conduct and corporate governance rules should be entrusted to the Audit Committee, the Nomination Committee or, as the case may be, separate Compliance or Corporate Governance committees. Comply 46. All members of the Audit Committee, particularly its chairman, should be appointed with regard to their knowledge and background in accounting, auditing and risk management matters. Comply 47. Listed companies should have an internal audit function, under the supervision of the Audit Committee, to ensure the proper operation of internal reporting and control systems. Comply 48. The head of internal audit should present an annual work program to the Audit Committee; report to it directly on any incidents arising during its implementation; and submit an activities report at the end of each year. Comply 49. Control and risk management policy should specify at least: a) The different types of risk (operational, technological, financial, legal, reputational…) the company is exposed to, with the inclusion under financial or economic risks of contingent liabilities and other off-balance-sheet risks; b) The determination of the risk level the company sees as acceptable; c) Measures in place to mitigate the impact of risk events should they occur; d) The internal reporting and control systems to be used to control and manage the above risks, including contingent liabilities and off-balance-sheet risks. See section: D Comply 76 50. The Audit Committee’s role should be: 1. With respect to internal control and reporting systems: a) Monitor the preparation and the integrity of the financial information prepared on the company and, where appropriate, the group, checking for compliance with legal provisions, the accurate demarcation of the consolidation perimeter, and the correct application of accounting principles. b) Review internal control and risk management systems on a regular basis, so main risks are properly identified, managed and disclosed. c) Monitor the independence and efficacy of the internal audit function; propose the selection, appointment, reappointment and removal of the head of internal audit; propose the department’s budget; receive regular report-backs on its activities; and verify that senior management are acting on the findings and recommendations of its reports. d) Establish and supervise a mechanism whereby staff can report confidentially and, if necessary, anonymously, any irregularities they detect in the course of their duties, in particular financial or accounting irregularities, with potentially serious implications for the firm. 2. With respect to the external auditor: a) Make recommendations to the Board for the selection, appointment, reappointment and removal of the external auditor, and the terms and conditions of the engagement. b) Receive regular information from the external auditor on the progress and findings of the audit program, and check that senior management are acting on its recommendations. c) Monitor the independence of the external auditor, to which end: i) The company should notify any change of auditor to the CNMV as a significant event, accompanied by a statement of any disagreements arising with the outgoing auditor and the reasons for the same. 77 ii) iii) The company should ensure that the company and the auditor respect rules in force regarding the rendering of services other than audit services, business concentration limits affecting the auditor and, in general, all of the rules established to ensure the independence of auditors; iii) The Committee should investigate the issues giving rise to the resignation of any external auditor. d) In the case of groups, encourage the Group’s auditors to audit the group companies See sections: B.1.35, B.2.2, B.2.3 and D.3 Comply 51. The Audit Committee should be empowered to meet with any company employee or manager, even ordering their appearance without the presence of another senior officer. Comply 52. The Audit Committee should prepare information on the following points from Recommendation 8 for input to Board decision-making: a) The financial information listed companies must periodically disclose. The Committee should ensure that interim statements are drawn up under the same accounting principles as the annual statements and, to this end, may ask the external auditor to conduct a limited review. b) The creation or acquisition of shares in special purpose entities resident in jurisdictions considered tax havens, and any other transactions or operations of a comparable nature whose complexity might impair the transparency of the group. c) Related-party transactions, except where their scrutiny has been entrusted to some other supervision and control committee. See sections: B.2.2 and B.2.3 Partial compliance 78 The Board Regulations do not expressly state that the Audit Committee must inform the Board beforehand of any decisions taking regarding the issues indicated under paragraph b). 53. The Board of Directors should seek to present the annual accounts to the General Shareholders’ Meeting without reservations or qualifications in the audit report. Should such reservations or qualifications exist, both the Chairman of the Audit Committee and the auditors should give a clear account to shareholders of their scope and content. See section: B.1.38 Comply 54. The majority of Nomination Committee members – or Nomination and Compensation Committee members as the case may be – should be independent directors. See section: B.2.1 Comply 55. The Nomination Committee should have the following functions in addition to those stated in earlier recommendations: a) Evaluate the balance of skills, knowledge and experience on the Board, define the roles and capabilities required of the candidates to fill each vacancy, and decide the time and dedication necessary for them to properly perform their duties. b) Examine or organize, in appropriate form, the succession of the chairman and the chief executive, making recommendations to the Board so the handover proceeds in a planned and orderly manner. c) Report on the senior officer appointments and removals which the chief executive proposes to the Board. d) Report to the Board on the gender diversity issues discussed in Recommendation 14 of this Code. See section: B.2.3 Partial compliance 79 The Nominations and Compensation Committee has not been formally given the authority listed under paragraph b). 56. The Nomination Committee should consult with the company’s Chairman and chief executive, especially on matters relating to executive directors. Any Board member may suggest directorship candidates to the Nomination Committee for its consideration. Comply 57. The Compensation Committee should have the following functions in addition to those stated in earlier recommendations: a) Make proposals to the Board of Directors regarding: i) The compensation policy for directors and senior management; ii) The individual compensation and other contractual conditions of executive directors. iii) The standard conditions for senior management employment contracts. b) Oversee compliance with the compensation policy set by the company. See sections: B.1.14, B.2.3 Comply 58. The Compensation Committee should consult with the Chairman and chief executive, especially on matters relating to executive directors and senior officers. Comply 80 G OTHER INFORMATION OF INTEREST If you consider there to be an important principle or aspects regarding the corporate governance practices applied by your Company that have not been mentioned in this report, indicate them below and explain their contents. This section may be used to include any other information, clarification or qualification relating to the previous sections of the report. Specifically, state whether the company is subject to any laws other than the laws of Spain on corporate governance and, if this is the case, include whatever information the Company may be required to provide when different from the information included in this report. Binding definition of independent director: Indicate whether any of the independent directors have or have had any relationship with the company, its significant shareholders or its executives, which, if sufficiently significant or important, would have meant that the director could no longer be considered independent, pursuant to the definition sat out in Section 5 of the Unified Good Governance Code: NO This annual report on corporate governance was approved by the Board of Directors of the Company on 25/02/2010 Indicate whether any Directors have voted against or abstained in connection with the approval of this Report. NO Madrid, 25 February 2010 81 IBERPAPEL GESTIÓN, S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES Consolidated Annual Accounts and Directors’ Report at 31 December 2009 IBERPAPEL GESTION, S.A. Consolidated annual accounts and Directors’ Report for 2009 On 25 February 2010 and in accordance with the requirements of Article 171 of the Spanish Companies Act and Article 37 of the Code of Commerce, the Board of Directors of Iberpapel Gestión, S.A. prepares the consolidated annual accounts and directors’ report for the year ended 31 December 2009, consisting of the documents attached hereto, set out on official paper numbered sequentially. The Board of Directors Signature Mr Iñigo Echevarría Canales Mr. Iñigo Solaun Garteiz Deceased Mr Néstor Basterra Larroude Mr Baltasar Errazti Navarro Mr Ignacio Peñalba Ceberio Mr Iñaki Usandizaga Aranzadi Mr Martín González del Valle Chávarri Ms. María Luisa Guibert Ucin Madrid, 25 February 2010 2 CONTENT PAGE OF THE CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL ACCOUNTS FOR IBERPAPEL GESTION, S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES AT 31 DECEMBER 2009 Note Page Consolidated balance sheet 5 Consolidated income statement 7 Overall statement of consolidated profits 8 Consolidated statement of changes in equity 9 Consolidated cash flow statement 11 Notes to the consolidated annual accounts 12 1. General information 12 2. Summary of the main accounting policies 13 2.1. Basis of presentation 13 2.2. Consolidation principles 14 2.3. Segment reporting 15 2.4. Foreign currency transactions 15 2.5. Property, plant and equipment 16 2.6. Biological assets 17 2.7. Intangible assets 19 2.8. Interest costs 21 2.9. Losses due to impairment of non-financial assets 21 2.10. Financial assets 21 2.11. Compensation for financial instruments 23 2.12. Financial asset impairment losses 23 2.13. Inventories 25 2.14. Trade receivables 25 2.15. Cash and cash equivalents 25 2.16. Share capital 26 2.17. Government grants 26 2.18. Trade payables 26 2.19. Borrowings 27 2.20. Current and deferred taxes 27 2.21. Employee benefits 28 2.22. Provisions 29 2.23. Revenue recognition 29 2.24. Non-current assets (or disposal groups) held for sale 30 2.25. Dividend payment 31 2.26. Leases 31 2.27. New standards (IFRS /IAS) and interpretations (IFRIC) 31 3 CONTENT PAGE OF THE CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL ACCOUNTS FOR IBERPAPEL GESTION, S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES AT 31 DECEMBER 2009 3. Financial risk and capital management 44 4. Accounting estimates and judgments 49 5. Segment reporting 50 6. Property, plant and equipment 53 7. Biological assets (Eucalyptus) 55 8. Intangible assets 55 9. Financial instruments 57 10. Trade and other receivables 59 11. Inventories 61 12. Cash and cash equivalents 61 13. Share capital 62 14. Retained earnings and other reserves 64 15. Cumulative translation difference 65 16. Availability and restrictions on Reserves and Retained earnings and Other Reserves 66 17. Trade and other payables 68 18. Borrowings 69 19. Deferred taxes 72 20. Provisions and other liabilities 74 21. Net turnover and other revenues 75 22. Expenses by nature 75 23. Employee benefit expenses 76 24. Net financial costs 76 25. Income tax 77 26. Earnings per share 79 27. Dividends per share 80 28. Cash generated by operations Cash Flow 80 29. Contingencies 80 30. Related- party transactions 81 31. Environment 84 32. Other information 85 33. Significant port-balance sheet events 85 Appendix I 86 Directors’ report 1 4 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL ACCOUNTS OF IBERPAPEL GESTION, S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES AT 31 DECEMBER 2009 AND 2008 CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (Thousand euro) Year ended at 31 December Note NON-CURRENT ASSETS 2009 2008 196,884 200,249 Property, plant and equipment 6 164,304 170,542 Biological assets 7 13,296 11,136 Intangible assets 8 5,705 4,484 Deferred tax assets 19 13,541 14,047 38 40 66,978 81,732 Financial accounts receivable CURRENT ASSETS Inventories 11 21,923 27,327 Trade and other receivables 10 41,437 49,826 Cash and cash equivalents 12 3,618 4,579 263,862 281,981 TOTAL ASSETS The accompanying notes included in pages 12 to 87 are an integral part of these consolidated annual accounts. 5 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL ACCOUNTS OF IBERPAPEL GESTION, S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES AT 31 DECEMBER 2009 AND 2008 CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (Thousand euro) Year ended at 31 December Note TOTAL EQUITY 2009 2008 172,853 166,530 Share capital 13 6,980 6,980 Share premium account 13 27,104 28,027 Treasury shares 13 (1,556) (1,469) Cumulative translation difference 15 (1,189) (3,334) Retained earnings and other reserves 14 142,437 136,326 Interim dividend (923) NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES 45,346 62,010 Borrowings 18 41,543 57,773 Deferred tax liabilities 19 3,743 4,147 Provisions for other liabilities and charges 20 60 90 45,663 53,441 CURRENT LIABILITIES Trade and other payables 17 29,219 39,243 Current tax liabilities 17 2,187 1,793 Borrowings 18 10,668 8,563 Provisions for other liabilities and charges 20 3,589 3,842 91,009 115,451 263,862 281,981 TOTAL LIABILITIES TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES The accompanying notes included in pages 12 to 87 are an integral part of these consolidated annual accounts. 6 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL ACCOUNTS FOR IBERPAPEL GESTION, S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES AT 31 DECEMBER 2009 AND 2008 CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT (Thousand euro) Year ended at 31 December Note 2009 2008 Net revenues 21 180,760 182,859 Other revenues 21 7,782 8,115 Changes in inventories of finished goods and work in progress 22 (4,521) 1,732 Raw materials and consumption of materials utilized 22 (72,980) (89,426) Employee benefit expense 23 (17,302) (17,301) Depreciation/Amortization 22 (12,692) (10,046) Other net (expenses)/gains 22 (71,803) (68,573) 9,244 7,360 (903) (1,433) 8,341 5,927 (1,308) 1,549 7,033 7,476 7,033 7,476 7,033 7,476 Operating profit Net financial costs 24 Profit before taxes Income tax 25 Profit / (loss) after taxes on continuing activities Discontinued operations Profit after taxes on discontinued activities PROFIT FOR YEAR Profit attributable to: Owners of the parent company Minority interests Earnings per share from continued and discontinued activities attributed to the holders of equity instruments during the year (Expressed in euro per share) Basic 26 0.613 0.652 Diluted 26 0.613 0.652 The accompanying notes included in pages 12 to 87 are an integral part of these consolidated annual accounts. 7 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL ACCOUNTS FOR IBERPAPEL GESTION, S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES AT 31 DECEMBER 2009 AND 2008 OVERALL STATEMENT OF CONSOLIDATED PROFITS (Thousand euro) Year ended at 31 December Note Profit for the year 2009 2008 14 7,033 7,476 15 2,145 (1,594) 2,145 (1,594) 9,178 5,882 9,178 5,882 9,178 5,882 Other overall profits Differences on exchange Other overall profits net of taxes Overall profit for the year Attributable Owners of the parent company Minority interests Overall profit for the year The accompanying notes included in pages 12 to 87 are an integral part of these consolidated annual accounts. 8 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL ACCOUNTS FOR IBERPAPEL GESTION, S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES AT 31 December 2008 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (Thousand euro) Attributable to the Company’s shareholders Notes Balance at 1 January 2008 Overall results Profits for 2008 Share capital Share premium account Treasury shares Cumulative translation difference Retained earnings Total equity 6,980 30,918 (823) (1,740) 131,231 166,566 7,476 7,476 14 Other overall profits: Conversion differences 15 (1,594) Total overall results (1,594) (1,594) 7,476 5,882 Transactions with owners: Treasury shares acquired 13 (646) (646) Dividend payment: Results 27 Due to share premium account 13 Variation internal dividends 14 (2,315) (2,891) Total transactions with owners: Balance at 31 December 2008 6,980 (2,315) (2,891) (2,891) (646) 28,027 (1,469) (3,334) (66) (66) (2,381) (5,918) 136,326 166,530 The accompanying notes included in pages 12 to 87 are an integral part of these consolidated annual accounts. 9 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL ACCOUNTS FOR IBERPAPEL GESTION, S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES AT 31 DECEMBER 2009 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (Thousand euro) Attributable to the Company’s shareholders Notes Balance at 1 January 2009 Overall results Profits for 2009 Share capital Share premium account Treasury shares Cumulative translation difference Retained earnings 6,980 28,027 (1,469) (3,334) 136,326 166,530 7,033 7,033 14 Interim dividend Total equity Other overall profits: Conversion differences 15 2,145 Total overall results 2,145 2,145 7,033 9,178 Transactions with owners: Treasury shares acquired 13 (87) (87) Dividend payment: Results 27 Due to share premium account 13 (922) (923) Total transactions with owners: Balance at 31 December 2009 (923) 6,980 (1,845) (923) (923) (87) 27,104 (1,556) (1,189) (922) (923) (2,855) 142,437 (923) 172,853 The accompanying notes included in pages 12 to 87 are an integral part of these consolidated annual accounts. 10 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL ACCOUNTS OF IBERPAPEL GESTION, S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES AT 31 DECEMBER 2009 AND 2008 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (Thousand euro) Year ended 31 December Notes CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES 2009 2008 22,020 12,973 Cash generated from operations 28 23,191 16,307 Interest paid 24 (862) (1,569) (309) (1,765) (6,430) (23,386) (6,411) (23,383) (19) (3) (16,432) 3,046 Taxes paid CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES Acquisition of property, plant and equipment and biological assets Acquisition of intangible assets 6 and 7 8 CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCE ACTIVITIES Acquisition of Treasury shares 13 (87) (646) Income from borrowings 18 (13,577) 8,898 Dividends paid to the Company’s shareholders 27 (1,845) (2,315) Return of Share premium account 13 (923) (2,891) (842) (7,367) NET (DECREASE)/INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS Cash and bank overdrafts at beginning of the year 12 4,579 12,066 Exchange gains /(losses) on cash and bank overdrafts 24 (119) (120) CASH AND BANK OVERDRAFTS AT THE YEAR END 12 3,618 4,579 The accompanying notes included on pages 12 to 87 form an integral part of these consolidated annual accounts. 11 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL ACCOUNTS FOR IBERPAPEL GESTION, S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES AT 31 DECEMBER 2009 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL ACCOUNTS (Thousand euro) 1. General information At the 2009 year end IBERPAPEL GESTION, S.A. (hereinafter the Group) forms a group (hereinafter the Group) made up of 16 companies: IBERPAPEL GESTION, S.A., the parent company, and 15 subsidiaries. Appendix 1 to these notes contains additional information concerning the entities included in the consolidation using the full consolidation method. All parent company shares are listed on the Madrid and Bilbao stock exchanges. The Group has a single manufacturing plant in Hernani and it sells mainly in Europe, and its main activity is the manufacture and marketing of writing and printing paper. For the purposes of preparing the consolidated annual accounts, a group is understood to exist when the parent company has one or more subsidiaries, understood as those entities which the parent company controls directly or indirectly. The principles applied in the preparation of the Group’s consolidated annual accounts together with the consolidation scope. IBERPAPEL GESTION, S.A., the Group’s parent company, was set up in Madrid on 21 July 1997 as a public limited company. It is entered in the Mercantile Register of Guipúzcoa, page SS-19511, sheet 43 of volume 1910, book 0, section 8 of the Companies Book. The latest amendment of the Articles of Association in order to comply with the first final provision of Law 19/2005 of 14 November 2005 on European Public Limited Companies, domiciled in Spain, was approved by the General Shareholders’ Meeting of 26 June 2006. The General Shareholders’ Meeting similarly approved the amendment of Article 5 relating to Share Capital. This resulted in entry 16 in the Mercantile Register of Guipúzcoa. The registered office of IBERPAPEL GESTION, S.A. is located at Avenida de Sancho el Sabio, Nº 2-1º, San Sebastian. 12 The Company’s corporate purposes are described in Article 2 of its Articles of Association and consist of: i) Sales operations of all kinds, on behalf of and representing itself or third parties, relating to any goods or objects. ii) Possession and exploitation of any municipal, rural, agricultural, forestry and industrial property. iii) Subscription, derivative acquisition, holding, use, administration, purchase or sale of securities and shares, except activities regulated by Law 46/84 or by specific legislation. These consolidated annual accounts were prepared by the Board of Directors on 25 February 2010. They will be submitted to the General Shareholders’ Meeting within the established time periods. The Parent Company’s directors consider that they will be approved without significant changes. 2. Summary of the main accounting policies The main accounting policies adopted in the preparation of these consolidated annual accounts are described below. These policies have been applied uniformly to all years presented unless otherwise stated. 2.1. Basis of presentation The Group’s consolidated annual accounts at 31 December 2009 have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) adopted for use in the European Union and approved by the European Commission Regulations and effective at 31 December 2009, and the IFRIC interpretations and the commercial legislation applicable to companies that prepare information in accordance with IFRS-EU. The consolidated annual accounts have been prepared on a cost basis, although modified by the measurement under IAS 41 of forestry assets. 13 The preparation of consolidated annual accounts under IFRS requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. The use of IFRS also requires that Management exercise judgment in the process of applying the Company’s accounting policies. Note 4 discloses the areas that require a higher level of judgment or entail greater complexity or the areas where assumptions and estimates are significant for the consolidated annual accounts. 2.2. Consolidation principles Subsidiaries are all those companies where the Group is able to manage the financial and operating policies which is generally accompanied by a shareholding involving more than half of the voting rights. When assessing whether the Group controls another company, the existence and effects of potential voting rights which may be currently exercised or converted are taken into account. Subsidiaries are consolidated as from the date on which control is transferred to the Group and are excluded from the consolidation on the date on which such control ceases. The Group accounts for the acquisition of subsidiaries under the purchase method. Acquisition cost is the fair value of the asset delivered, the equity instruments issued and the liabilities incurred or assumed at the date of exchange, plus the costs directly attributable to the acquisition. The identifiable assets acquired and identifiable contingencies assumed in a business combination are initially measured at fair value on the acquisition date, irrespective of minority interests. The excess of acquisition cost over the fair value of the Group’s interest in identifiable net assets acquired is recognized as goodwill. If the acquisition cost is less than the fair value of net assets in the subsidiary acquired, the difference is recognized directly in the income statement. Intercompany transactions, balances and unrealized gains on transactions between Group companies are eliminated. Unrealized losses are also eliminated unless the transaction provides evidence of impairment losses on the asset transferred. When necessary to ensure consistency with Group policies, subsidiaries’ accounting policies are changed accordingly. Appendix 1 hereto set outs the identification details of the 15 subsidiaries included in consolidation under the full consolidation method. the 14 2.3. Segment reporting Reporting segments are presented in coherence with the internal information provided to the maximum decision taking body. The maximum decision taking body that is responsible for assigning resources to operating segments and to evaluate their performance is the Board of Directors. 2.4. Foreign currency transactions a) Functional and presentation currency The items included in the annual accounts of each of the Group companies are measured using the currency of the principal economic environment in which the company operates («functional currency»). The consolidated annual accounts are presented in thousands of euro, which is the Group’s functional and presentation currency. b) Transactions and balances Transactions in foreign currency are translated to the functional currency using the exchange rates in force at the transaction dates. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of these transactions and translation at the year- end exchange rates of monetary assets and liabilities denominated foreign currency are recognized in the income statement. Exchange differences on non-monetary assets and liabilities are recognized in the income statement as part of the gain or loss on fair value. c) Group companies Results and the financial situation of all Group companies (none of which has the currency of a hyperinflationary economy), with a functional currency that differs from the presentation currency are translated to the presentation currency as follows: i) The assets and liabilities on each balance sheet presented are translated at the closing exchange rate at the balance sheet date ; 15 ii) The income and expenses in each income statement are translated at the average exchange rates, unless this average is not a reasonable approximation of the cumulative effect of the rates existing at the transaction dates, in which case income and expenses are translated at the rates on the transaction dates; and iii) All resulting exchange differences are recognized as a separate component of equity. On consolidation, any exchange differences resulting from the translation of a net investment in foreign companies and loans and other instruments in foreign currency designated as hedges of those investments are taken to equity. When sold, such exchange differences are recognized in the income statement as part of the profit or loss on the sale. 2.5. Property, plant and equipment Property, plant and equipment are recognized at cost less depreciation and cumulative impairment losses, except for land which is presented net of impairment losses. Cost includes the expenses directly attributable to purchases of property, plant and equipment. Subsequent costs are included in the carrying value of the asset or recognized as a separate asset only when it is probable that the future economic benefits associated with the asset are to flow to the Group and the cost of the asset may be reliably determined. Other repair and maintenance expenses are charged in the income statement in the year in which they are incurred. No depreciation is charged on land. Depreciation of other assets is calculated using the straightline method over the following estimated useful lives: Estimated years of useful life Buildings 33 years Plant 3-10-20 years Machinery and tooling 5-10-20 years Furnishings Data-processing equipment Vehicles 10 years 4 years 10 years 16 The residual value and useful lifes of assets are reviewed, if necessary, at each balance sheet date. When an asset’s carrying value exceeds its estimated recoverable value, carrying value is reduced immediately to the recoverable amount . Gains and losses on the sale of property, plant and equipment are calculated by comparing the revenue obtained with the carrying value and are included in the income statement. 2.6. Biological assets On each balance sheet date the Group initially recognizes biological assets at fair value less estimated costs at the point of sale. Gains or losses on the initial recognition of a biological asset at fair value less estimated costs at the point of sale and those resulting from all successive changes in fair value less estimated costs at the point of sale are included in the net profit or loss for the year. Government grants associated with a biological asset are recognized when and only when they are payable. a) Calculation of inventories The Group carries out a count of its biological assets every two years, grouping them together on the basis of their physical and geographical characteristics. i) It considers that the basic unit for grouping the biological assets is the “batch”, understood as the set of biological assets associated with a specific plot of land and with common physical characteristics. ii) As the main physical characteristics when defining batches, the Group takes into account the species of the biological assets and its level of maturity, since these parameters are the basic determinants of value. 17 b) Basic characteristics of batches For each batch of biological assets, geographical location is indicated together with common physical properties. The main characteristics are: i) Species: The species of the biological asset identifies the families of a group of biological assets (trees). ii) Quality: Characteristic that identifies the different qualities of each species (seed, clone). iii) Average annual increase (AAI): Value that establishes the annual growth of biological assets for the year, based on measurements by technical personnel and statistical data. iv) Level of maturity: Code that identifies the degree of the assets’ biological transformation: Immature: Those assets that have not reached conditions for harvesting or the biological transformation of which has been insignificant. Maturity: Those assets which are in condition for harvesting or which are able to support regular production or harvesting. Agricultural products: Agricultural products result from the processing or harvesting of mature biological assets. c) Measurement of Biological Asset batches Once the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of each batch have been ascertained, fair value is determined less estimated costs at point of sale of the same. Fair value is defined as the amount at which an asset may be exchanged between knowledgeable willing parties carrying out an arm’s length transaction. 18 Costs at point of sale include commissions to intermediaries and sales staff, charges that relate to regulatory agencies and stock exchanges or organized commodity markets and taxes and charges on transfers. Costs at point of sale do not include transport and other necessary costs to take the assets to market. In order to determine fair value and costs at point of sale of the biological assets identified, the quoted prices of standing timber on the most significant active markets have been used as a basis, as appropriate. When active markets are not significant or when there are no active markets for the biological markets identified, the following have been used: i) the most recent transaction price on the market, assuming that there have been no major changes in the economic circumstances between the transaction and balance sheet dates; ii) the market prices of similar assets, as adjusted to reflect existing differences; and iii) sector references. When the biological transformation since the initial costs were incurred has been limited or the impact on the price of the biological transformation is not expected to be significant, the costs incurred have been considered a valid approximation of fair value. 2.7. Intangible assets a) Computer programs Software licenses acquired are capitalized on the basis of the costs incurred in their acquisition and preparation for the use of the specific program. These costs are amortized over the assets’ estimated useful lives (4 years). 19 Expenses relating to software development or maintenance are recognised when incurred. Costs directly related to the production of single identifiable computer programs controlled by the Group and which will probably generate economic benefits in excess of costs for more than one year are recognised under intangible assets. Direct costs include the software development employee costs and an appropriate portion of relevant overheads. b) Research and development costs Research expenses are recognised as an expense when incurred. The costs incurred in development projects (associated with the design and testing of new products or upgrades) are recognised as an intangible asset when the project will probably be successful, taking into account its technical and commercial feasibility and provided that the costs involved may be reliably estimated. Other development expenses are recognised as an expense when incurred. Development costs previously recognised as an expense are not recognised as an asset in subsequent years. Capitalised development costs with a finite useful life are amortised from the start-up of the product’s commercial production on a straight-line basis over the period in which profits are expected to be generated but in no event over more than five years. c) CO2 Emission rights CO2 emission rights are carried at fair value at the beginning of the year by credit to deferred income since the authorities’ transfer of these rights constitutes a grant. Since the assets involved are quoted on a regulated market, the fair value agrees with the quoted value of these rights at that date. “Other operating expenses” in the income statement record the expense pertaining to total emissions arising in the year, by credit to provisions for short-term liabilities and charges under liabilities on the balance sheet. This provision will continue to be recorded under the obligation is settled through the delivery of the rights to the Administration by 30 April of the following year. Additionally, deferred income will be adjusted as and when the aforementioned expenses are accounted for. 20 2.8. Interest costs The Group capitalizes borrowing costs that are directly attributable to the acquisition, construction or production of qualifying assets. 2.9. Impairment losses on non-financial assets Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are not subject to amortization and are tested annually for impairment losses. Other non-financial assets are tested for impairment provided that some event or change in circumstances indicates that carrying value may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognized for the amount in excess of the recoverable book value. The recoverable amount is the higher of fair value of an asset less selling costs and value in use. For the purposes of determining impairment, the assets are grouped at the lowest level at which cash flows may be independently identified (cash generating units). Non-financial assets, other than goodwill, which are impaired are reviewed at the balance sheet date for reversal of the loss. 2.10. Financial assets 2.10.1. Classification The Group classifies its financial assets into the following categories: loans and receivables, available-for-sale assets. The classification depends on the purpose for which the financial assets were acquired. Management determines the classification of financial assets at the time of initial recognition. a) Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss Financial assets at fair value through changes in profit or loss are financial assets held for trading. 21 A financial asset is classified under this category if it is mainly acquired for sale in the short term or if it is thus designated by management. Derivatives are also classified as acquired for trading unless they are designated as hedges. Assets in this category are classified as current assets. b) Loans and other receivables Loans and other receivables and accounts receivable are non-derivative financial assets involving fixed or determinable payments, which are not listed on an active market. They arise when the Group supplies money, goods or services directly to a debtor and does not intend to trade with the account receivable. They are included in current assets, except for maturities greater than 12 months after the balance sheet date. These are classified as non-current assets. Group loans and receivables consist of the headings "Trade and other receivables" and "Cash and cash equivalents". c) Available-for-sale financial assets Available-for-sale financial assets are not derivatives. They are financial assets designated under this category or not classified in other categories. They are included in non-current assets unless management intends to sell the investment within 12 months of the balance sheet date. 2.10.2. Recognition and measurement Acquisitions and disposals of investments are recognized at the trading date, i.e., on the date the Group undertakes to acquire or sell the asset. Investments are recognized initially at fair value plus the transaction costs for all financial assets not carried at fair value through profit or loss Investments are written off when the rights to receive cash flows from them have expired or have been transferred and the Group has transferred substantially all the risks and advantages deriving from ownership. Available-for-sale financial assets and financial assets at fair value through profit or loss are subsequently accounted for at fair value. Loans and accounts receivable and investments which it is intended to hold to maturity are accounted for at amortized cost under the effective interest rate method. 22 2.11. Compensation for financial instruments Financial assets and liabilities are offset and are presented net in the balance sheet, when there is a legal right to offset the amounts recognized, and the Group has the intention of settling for the net amount of to simultaneously realize the asset and cancel the liability. 2.12. Losses due to the impairment of financial assets. a) Assets at amortized cost. At the balance sheet date, the Group assesses whether there is objective evidence of impairment losses with respect to a financial asset or group of financial assets. A financial asset or a group of financial assets is impaired, and an impairment loss is recognized, when and only when there is objective evidence of the impairment as a result of one or more events that took place after the asset was initially recognized (and event that causes the loss) and that causing event or events has an impact on the future estimated cash flows from the financial asset or group of financial assets and it can be reliably estimated. The Group's policies for determining whether or not there is objective evidence of an impairment loss include: (a) Significant financial difficulties affecting the issuer or the obligated party. (b) Failure to comply with contractual clauses, such as failures to make, or delays in, payment of interest or principal. (c) For financial or legal reasons relating to financial difficulties faced by the borrower, the Group grants the borrower concessions or advantages that under other circumstances would not have been the case. (d) It is progressively more likely that the borrower will enter into bankruptcy or any other kind of financial reorganization. (e) The disappearance of an active market for the financial asset in question, due to financial difficulties, or (f) Observable data indicate that there has been a measurable decrease in the estimated future cash flows for a group of financial assets since their initial recognition, although the decrease cannot be identified with respect to the Group's individual financial assets, including: 23 i) Adverse changes in the payment conditions for Group borrowers, or ii) Local or national financial conditions are related to defaults involving the group's assets. The Group first evaluates whether or not there is objective evidence of impairment. The loss is calculated as the difference between the carrying value of the asset and the present value of estimated future cash flows (excluding future credit losses that have not been incurred) discounted at the asset's original effective interest rate. The asset's carrying value is reduced and the amount of the loss is recognized in the income statement. If a loan or investment held to maturity bears a variable interest rate, the discount rate applied to calculate the impairment loss is the current effective interest rate stipulated in thge contract. For practical purposes, the Group calculates impairment based on the fair value of the instrument using an observable market price. If in a subsequent period the amount of the impairment decreases and the decrease may be objectively attributed to an event taking place after the impairment has been recognized (such as an improvement in the borrower's credit rating), the reversal of the previously recognized impairment will be recorded in the consolidated income statement. b) Assets classified as held for sale At the end of each accounting period the Group determines whether or not there is any objective evidence that a financial asset or group of financial assets has become impaired. For debt instruments the Group uses policy (a) described above. In the case of investments in equity instruments classified as held for sale, a significant or prolonged decline in the fair value of the instrument below cost is considered to be evidence of the impairment of the asset. If there is any evidence of this type for financial assets held for sale, the cumulative loss determined as the difference between the acquisition cost and current fair value, less any impairment loss in that financial asset previously recognized in results is eliminated from equity and recognized in the separate consolidated income statement. Impairment losses on equity instruments recognized in the separate consolidated income statement no not reverse in the separate consolidated income statement. If in a subsequent period the fair value of a debt instrument classified as held for sale increases and the increase may be objectively attributed to an event taking place after the impairment loss was recognized in the income statement, the impairment loss will reverse in the separate consolidated income statement. 24 Evidence of the impairment of receivables is described in Note 2.14. 2.13. Inventories Inventories are measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Cost is determined using the average weighted cost method. The cost of finished products and work in progress includes raw material costs, direct labor costs, other direct costs and manufacturing overheads (based on normal operating capacity). However, it does not include interest costs. The net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less applicable variable cost of sales. 2.14. Trade receivables Trade receivables are amounts owed by customers for the sale or goods or services rendered during the normal course of business. If the amount is expected to be collected within one year or less (or in the normal operating cycle if longer), they are classified under current assets. If this is not the case they are presented as non-current assets. Trade accounts receivable are initially recognized at fair value and subsequently at amortized cost in accordance with the effective interest rate method, less the provision for impairment losses. 2.15. Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents include cash, demand deposits at credit institutions, other short-term highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less and bank overdrafts. In the balance sheet, bank overdrafts are classified as borrowings under current liabilities. 25 2.16. Share capital Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue of new shares or options are presented in equity as a deduction, net of taxes, from the revenue obtained. When a Group company acquires Company shares (treasury shares), the consideration paid, including any directly attributable incremental cost (net of income tax) is deducted from equity attributable to the Company’s shareholders through to redemption, reissue or disposal. When these shares are sold or subsequently reissued, any amount received, net of any incremental cost on the transaction which is directly attributable and the corresponding income tax effects, is included in equity attributable to the Company’s shareholder. 2.17. Government grants Government grants are recognized at fair value when there is reasonable assurance that the grant will be collected and the Group will comply with all established terms and conditions. Government grants related to costs are deferred and recognized in the income statement over the necessary period to match them to the costs which it is intended to cover. Government grants for the acquisition of property, plant and equipment are included in noncurrent liabilities as deferred government grants and credited to the income statement on a straight-line basis over the expected lives of the corresponding assets. 2.18. Trade payables Trade payables are payment obligations for goods or services received from suppliers during the normal course of business. Payables are classified as a current liability of the payments fall due in one year or less (or fall due during the normal operating cycle if longer). If this is not the case they are presented as non-current liabilities. 26 Trade payables are initially recognized at fair value and subsequently are measured at their amortized cost using the effective interest rate method. 2.19. Borrowings Borrowings are recognized initially at fair value, net of the costs incurred in the transaction. Borrowings are subsequently measured at amortized cost. Any differences between the funds obtained (net of the necessary costs incurred in their obtainment) and repayment value are recognized in the income statement over the life of the debt in accordance with the effective interest rate method. Borrowings are classified as current liabilities unless the Group has an unconditional right to defer settlement for at least 12 months as from the balance sheet date. 2.20. Current and deferred taxes Tax expense for the year includes current and deferred taxes. The tax is recognized in the income statement, except to the extent that it relates to items recognized directly under equity. In this case, the tax is also recognized under equity. Current tax expense is calculated based on tax laws that have been approved or are about to be approved at the balance sheet date in the countries in which its subsidiaries and associates operate and which generate profits subject to taxation. Management regularly evaluates the positions taken with respect to tax returns concerning situations in which tax law is subject to interpretation and creating, if appropriate, all necessary provisions based on the amounts that are expected to be paid to the tax authorities. Deferred taxes are recognized in accordance with the liability method on the temporary differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying values in the consolidated annual accounts. However, if the deferred taxes arise from the initial recognition of a liability or an asset on a transaction other than a business combination that at the time of the transaction has no effect on the tax gain or loss, they are not accounted for. The deferred tax is determined using tax rates (and laws) approved or about to be approved at the balance sheet date and which are expected to be applied when the corresponding deferred tax asset is realized or the deferred tax liability is settled. 27 Deferred tax assets are recognised insofar as future tax profits will probably arise against which to offset the temporary differences. Deferred taxes on temporary differences arising on investments in subsidiaries and associates are recognized, except where the Group may control the date on which the temporary differences reverse and such temporary differences are unlikely to reverse in the foreseeable future. Deferred tax assets are recognized insofar as future tax profits will probably arise against which to offset the temporary differences. Deferred taxes on temporary differences arising on investments in subsidiaries and associates are recognized, except where the Group may control the date on which the temporary differences reverse and such temporary differences are unlikely to reverse in the foreseeable future. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset if, and only if, there is a legally recognized right to offset current tax assets against current tax liabilities and when the deferred tax assets and liabilities derive from income tax payable to the same tax authority, payable by the same company or taxpayer, or different companies or taxpayers that wish to settle current tax assets and liabilities at their net amount. 2.21. a) Employee benefits Severance indemnities are paid to employees as a result of the Group’s decision to terminate employment contracts before the normal retirement age or when employees voluntarily agree to resign in return for such benefits. The Group recognizes these benefits when it has demonstrably undertaken to terminate current employees’ employment in accordance with a formal detailed plan that cannot be withdrawn, or to provide severance indemnities as a result of an offer made to encourage voluntary redundancy. Benefits that will not be paid within 12 months of the balance sheet date are discounted to their present value. 28 b) Pension commitments The Company is a member of the retirement organization "Geroa", in accordance with the Collective Wage Agreement for Pulp, Paper and Cardboard Manufacturers in Guipuzcoa and defined contributions must be made through regular payments. 2.22. Provisions Provisions for environmental restoration, restructuring and litigations are recognized when: i) The Group has a present obligation, legal or implicit, as a result of past events; ii) It is more probable than not that an outflow of funds will be required to settle the obligation. iii) The amount may be reliably estimated. When there is a number of similar obligations, the probable need for an outflow to settle them is determined taking into account the type of obligations as a whole. A provision is recognized even if the probability of an outflow with respect to any item included in the same class of obligations may be regarded as remote. Provisions are stated at the actual value of the payments that are expected to be necessary to settle the obligation using a before tax rate that reflects current market evaluations of the temporary value of money and the specific risks affecting the obligation. Any increase in the provision due to the passing of time is recognized as an interest expense. 2.23. Revenue recognition Ordinary revenues include the fair value of compensation received or to be received for the sale of assets and services during the Group's ordinary course of business. Ordinary revenues are stated net of value added tax, returns, discounts and rebates, and after eliminating intra-group sales. 29 The Group recognizes revenues when the amount concerned may be reliably measured, it is likely that future profits will flow to the company and the specific conditions for each of the Group's activities is met, as is described below. Revenues are not considered to be reliable until all contingencies relating to a sale have been resolved. The Group bases its estimates on past results, taking into account the type of client, the type of transaction and the specific terms of each agreement. a) Sales of paper, wood and electricity Sales of assets are recognized when a Group company has delivered the products to the customer, the customer has accepted the products and the collectability of the relevant accounts receivable is reasonably assured. b) Sales of services Sales of services are recognized in the accounting period in which the services are provided by reference to the completion of the specific transaction, assessed based on the actual service provided as a percentage of the total service to be provided. c) Interest income Interest income is recognized using the effective interest method. When there is an impairment loss in respect of an account receivable, the Group reduces the carrying value to the recoverable amount, discounting estimated future cash flows at the original effective interest rate of the instrument and continues to carry the discount as a decrease in interest revenue. Interest revenue on loans in respect of which there are impairment losses is recognized when the cash is collected or on the basis of the recovery of cost when conditions are guaranteed. 2.24. Non-current assets (or disposal groups) held for sale Non-current assets (or disposal groups) are classified as assets held for sale and are recognized at the lower of carrying value and fair value less selling costs, if the carrying value is mainly recovered through a sale instead of continuing use. 30 2.25. Dividend payment The payment of dividends to the Company’s shareholders is recognized as a liability in the Group’s consolidated annual accounts in the year in which the dividends are approved by the Company’s shareholders. 2.26. Leases Leases in which the lessor retains a substantial part of the risks and advantages deriving from ownership are classified as operating leases. Operating lease payments (net of any incentive received by the lessor) are debited in the income statement on a straight- line basis over the lease period The Group leases certain property, plant and equipment. Leases of property, plant and equipment in which the Group holds substantially all the risks and advantages deriving from ownership are classified as finance leases. Finance leases are capitalized at the start of the lease at the lower of the leased asset’s fair value and the present value of the minimum lease payments. Each lease payment is distributed between the liability and the financial charge such that a consistent interest rate is obtained on the balance of the debt payable. The lease obligations, net of financial charges, are included under long-term payables. The interest associated with the financial charge is debited in the income statement over the period during which the lease is in effect in order to obtain a constant regular interest rate on the balance of the debt payable in each period. Property, plant and equipment acquired under finance lease are depreciated over the lower of their useful lives and the lease period. 2.27. a) New standards (IFRS /IAS) and interpretations (IFRIC) Standards, amendments and interpretations effective in 2009 On 1 January 2009 the Group adopted the new IFRS and IFRS amendments indicated below: IFRS 7 (Revised) “Financial Instruments: Disclosures") (in force as from 1 January 2009). 31 This amendment requires further disclosures regarding fair value measurement and liquidity risk. Specifically, the amendment requires disclosures of fair value in accordance with a hierarchical order of fair value parameters. Since the change in the accounting standard only requires additional disclosures, there is no impact on earnings per share. IFRS 8 (Revised) "Operating segments" (in force as from 1 January 2009). IRFS 8 replaces IAS 14 and brings the presentation of segment financial information into line with the US standard SFAS 131 “Disclosures about segments of an enterprise and related information”. The new Standard requires a management approach under which segment information is presented on the same basis as which it is used for internal purposes. The manner in which the information is presented has been changed to bring it into line with the internal information prepared and supplied to decision making bodies. IAS 1 (Revised) “Presentation of financial statements” (in force since 1 January 2009) The amended standard prohibits the presentation of revenues and expenses (i.e. changes in equity carried out with non-owners") in the statement of changes in equity and requires that these items be presented separately in an overall income statement. As a result, the Group presents all changes in equity deriving from transactions with owners in the consolidated statement of changes in equity, such that all changes in equity deriving from transactions with non-owners are presented in the consolidated overall income statement. Comparative information has been restated in accordance with the amended standard. Since the modification only affects presentation issues, there is no impact on earnings per share. b) Standards, amendments and interpretations effective in 2009 but the application of which has no effect on the Group's accounts At the date these accounts were prepared, the IASB had published the interpretations set out below, which are mandatory for all years commencing as from 1 January 2009, but whose application did not have any effect on the Group's accounts: 32 IFRS 2 (Revised) "Share-based payments" (in force since 1 January 2009). This amendment covers vesting conditions and cancellations. This standard clarifies that only service and performance conditions may be considered concession conditions. Other characteristics of share-based payments are not considered to be concession conditions but rather should be included in the calculation of fair value at the concession date within the transactions with employees and third-parties that rent or similar services, such that neither the number of awards that are expected to vest more their subsequent measurement at the concession date do not have any effect. All cancellations, both those made by the Company and by third-parties, must receive the same accounting treatment. This amendment did not have any effect on the Group's financial statements. IAS 23 (Revised), "Borrowing costs" (in force as from 1 January 2009) With respect to borrowing costs relating to qualifying assets that started to be capitalized after 1 January 2009, borrowing costs that are directly attributable to the acquisition, construction or production of the asset are capitalized by the Group as part of the cost of the asset concerned. Before the entry of this amendment into force, the Group had chosen to apply the alternative treatment permitted by the preceding IAS 23, and therefore the adoption of IAS 23 "Borrowing costs" (2007) did not have a significant effect on the Group's financial statements. IAS 32 – (Revised) “Financial Instruments: Presentation" and IAS 1 (Revised) "Presentation of financial statements"-"Puttable instruments and obligations arising on liquidation" (in force since 1 January 2009). These amendments require companies that reclassify puttable instruments and instruments (or components thereof) that require the company to deliver a fraction of net assets in the event of an equity settlement, provided that the instrument has certain characteristics and meets certain conditions. The Group has applied IAS 32 and IAS 1 (Revised) as from 1 January 2009, although they did not have any effect on the financial statements. 33 IFRS 1 (Revised) “First-time adoption of IFRS” and IAS 27 “Consolidated and separate financial statements" (in force since 1 January 2009). The amended standard allows first-time adopters to use fair value, or the carrying value resulting from applying the previous accounting standards, as the attributed cost of investments in subsidiaries, combined businesses and associated companies in the separate financial statements. The amendment also eliminates the definition of the cost method from IAS 27 and replaces it with a requirement to present dividends as revenues in the investor's separate financial statements. The Group has also applied IFRS 1 (Revised) as from 1 January 2009, the date on which the Group's subsidiaries transition to IFRS. This amendment did not have any effect on the Group's financial statements. IFRIC 14, “IAS 19 - The limit on a defined benefit asset, minimum funding requirements and their interaction (in force since 1 January 2009) which establishes the guidelines for evaluating the limit established under IAS 19 regarding any surplus that may be recognized as an asset.” It also explains the manner in which current pension liabilities may be affected by minimum funding obligations established by contract or by law. This interpretation has no impact on the Group’s accounts. Improvement project published by the IASB in May 2008, and which affects the following standards and interpretations: IAS 1 (Revised) “Presentation of financial statements” (in force since 1 January 2009) This amendment clarifies that some, but not all, financial instruments classified as held for trading, in accordance with IAS 39 "Financial Instruments: Recognition and measurement" are examples of current assets and liabilities, respectively. The Group has applied this amendment as from 1 January 2009 and it did not have any effect on its financial statements. IAS 19 (Revised), "Employee benefits" (in force as from 1 January 2009). 34 (i) This amendment clarifies that improvements to a plan that give rise to change, to the extent that promised benefits will be affected by future salary increases, are considered to be a reduction whereas amendments that give rise to a change in benefits attributable to past services results in a negative past service cost, provided that this originates from a decline in the present value of the defined benefit obligation. (ii) The definition of the yield from assets linked to the plan has been changed to indicate that the plan's administration costs are deducted from the calculation of the yield from the assets linked to the plan only to the extent that these costs have been excluded from the measurement of the defined benefit obligation. (iii) A distinction made between long and short-term employee benefits is based on whether or not the benefits will be settled within 12 months following the date on which the services have been rendered or after that date. (iv) IAS 37 “Provisions, contingent liabilities and contingent assets" requires that contingent liabilities be broken down, not that they be recognized, in the financial statements. IAS 19 has been amended in line with this policy. The adoption of this standard did not have any effect on the Group's financial statements. IAS 23 (Revised), "Borrowing costs" (in force as from 1 January 2009). The definition of borrowing costs has been modified so that interest is calculated in accordance with the effective interest rate defined by IAS 39 "Financial Instruments: Recognition and measurement". This eliminates the inconsistency between the terminology used by IAS 39 and IAS 23. IAS 28 (Revised) "Investments in Associates" (and relevant changes in IAS 32 "Financial instruments: Presentation" and IFRS 7: “Financial instruments: Disclosures") (in force as from 1 January 2009). An investment in an associate is considered to be a separate asset for the purposes of calculating impairment. Any impairment loss is not taken to specific assets included within the investment, for example, goodwill. Any reversal of impairment losses is recognized as an adjustment in the investment balance to the extent that the in recoverable amount of the investment has increased. The Group has applied IAS 28 (Revised) to the 35 impairment test for investments in subsidiaries and related impairment losses as from 1 January 2009, although it had no effect on the financial statements. IAS 36 (Revised), "Impairment of assets" (in force as from 1 January 2009). In the cases in which fair value less selling costs is calculated based on discounted cash flows, the equivalent breakdowns of the value-in-use calculation must be presented. IAS 38 (Revised), "Intangible assets" (in force as from 1 January 2009). A pre-payment may only be recognized when early payment was made to obtain access to certain assets or services. IAS 39 – (Revised) “Financial Instruments: Recognition and measurement") (in force as from 1 January 2009). (i) This amendment clarifies that movements from and to the heading financial assets at fair value through changes in profit and loss may exist in cases in which a derivative commences (or ceases) to pertain to the hedge instrument classification in a cash flow or net investment hedge. (ii) The definition of a financial asset or liability at fair value through changes in profit and loss is also modified, to the extent that it refers to items held-for-trading. A financial asset or liability that forms part of a financial instrument portfolio that is jointly managed and for which there is evidence of a recent short-term profit matrix, is included in that portfolio as from initial recognition. (iii) The current guidelines for designating and documenting hedging relationships stipulate that a hedge instrument must involve a third party outside the unit presenting financial information and uses the example of a company segment. This means that in order to apply hedge accounting at the segment level, the segment must meet the hedge accounting requirements. The amendment eliminates the segment examples to bring them into line with IFRS 8 “Operating segments" that requires segment reporting be based on information that is presented to the members of management responsible for taking decisions. For the purposes of presenting segment information, currently each subsidiary designates cash contracts with the Group as cash flow hedges such that these hedges are presented in the segment to which the hedged item pertains. This presentation is coherent with the information received at the decision-taking level. After the amendment enters into force, the hedge will continue to be effective and will be reflected in the segment to which the hedged item pertains (and information reported to management 36 taking decisions), although the Group will not formally document or test this hedging relationship. (iv) When this debt instrument is re-measured, once the hedge accounting at fair value has ceased, the amendment clarifies that the revised effective interest rate method must be used. The Group has applied IFRS 39 (Revised) as from 1 January 2009, and there has not been any effect on the Group’s income statement. Other minor changes to IFRS 7 “Financial instruments: Disclosures", IAS 8 “Accounting policies, changes in accounting estimates and errors", IAS 10 “Events after the reporting period", IAS 18 "Ordinary revenue" and IAS 34 "Interim financial reporting" which did not have any effect on the Group's financial statements. IFRIC 9 (Revised) "Reassessment of embedded derivatives" and IAS 39 (Revised) "Financial instruments: Recognition and measurement (in force for all years ended as from 30 June 2009). This amendment requires that the company determine whether or not an embedded derivative must be separated from the main contract at the time a hybrid asset is reclassified from a category of financial assets at fair value through changes in profit or loss. This evaluation must be carried out based on the circumstances existing at the most recent of the following dates: (a) the date on which the company first becomes a party to the contractor, (b) the date on which there is a change in the terms of the contract that significantly modify the cash flows resulting from that contract. Its application did not have any effect on the Group's financial statements. 37 IFRIC 13 “Customer loyalty programs" (in force as from 1 July 2008). IFRIC 13 clarifies that in cases in which assets or services are rendered together with a loyalty incentive (for example, loyalty points or free products), the agreement is considered to be a multiple item contract and the amount received or to be received from the customer must be attributed among the components of the agreement at fair value. Its application did not have any effect on the Group's financial statements. The amendments listed below, which relate to the improvement project published by the IASB in May 2008, and which have been adopted by the European Union in January 2009: IAS 16 (Revised) “Property, plant and equipment” (and the relevant amendment of IAS 7 "Cash flow statement") (in force as from 1 January 2009). Those companies whose primary activity consists of leasing and then subsequently selling assets, will present the amounts obtained on those sales as revenue and the assets must be reclassified to inventories at the time at which the asset becomes held-for-sale. As a result, IAS 7 is amended, indicating that the cash flows deriving from the acquisition, rental and sale of such assets are classified as cash flows from operations. This amendment will not have any impact on the Group's activities since no group company leases and sells assets. IAS 27 (Revised) “Consolidated and separate financial statements” (in force since 1 January 2009) In those cases in which an investment in a subsidiary is recognized in accordance with IAS 39 "Financial instruments: Recognition and measurement", it is classified as held for sale, in accordance with IFRS 5 "Non-Current assets held for sale and discontinued operations", IAS 39 will continue to be applicable. This modification will not have any impact on the Group since it applies the policy of recording investments in subsidiaries at cost in the separate financial statements. This amendment will be applied on a prospective basis. IAS 28 (Revised) "Investments in Associates" (and relevant changes in IAS 32 "Financial instruments: Presentation" and IFRS 7 "Financial instruments: Disclosures") (in force as from 1 January 2009). When an investment in an associate is recognized in accordance with IAS 39 "Financial instruments: Recognition and measurement", only certain breakdowns of IAS 28 must be included, in addition to the requirements of IAS 32 "Financial instruments: Presentation" and IFRS 7 “Financial instruments: Disclosures".. This amendment will not have any effect on the Group's operations given that the Group's policy is to recognize investments in Associates in accordance with the equity method. This amendment may be applied on a prospective basis. 38 IAS 29 (Revised) “Financial reporting in hyperinflationary economies” (in force since 1 January 2009). The standard's guidelines change with respect to clarifying that certain assets and liabilities must be recognized at fair value instead of at historic cost. This amendment will not have any effect on the Group's operations since no subsidiary or associate operates in hyperinflationary economies. IAS 31 (Revised) “Interests in joint ventures" (and the relevant amendments to IAS 32 and IFRS 7) (in force as from 1 January 2009). When an investment in a joint venture is recorded in accordance with IAS 39, only some of the breakdowns demanded by IAS 31 are required, in addition to those required by IAS 32 (Financial instruments: Presentation" and IFRS 7 "Financial instruments: Disclosures".. This amendment will not have any effect on the Group's operations given that the Company does not hold any interests in joint ventures. This amendment may be applied on a prospective basis. IAS 38 (Revised), "Intangible assets" (in force as from 1 January 2009). This amendment eliminates the mention of "rarely, or perhaps never" to justify the use of a method that results in an amortization rate that is lower than that which results from applying the straight line method. This amendment will not have an effect on the Group's operations, given that all intangible assets are amortized on a straight line basis. IAS 40 (Revised) "Investment property" (and related amendments to IAS 16) (in force as from 1 January 2009). Buildings that are under construction or being developed for future use as investment properties are included within the scope of IAS 40. Accordingly, when the fair value model is used these buildings must be recognized at fair value. However, when the fair value of investment properties under construction cannot be reliably determined, the property will be measured at cost until the date on which construction ends or until the date on which the fair value can be reliably determined, if earlier. This amendment will not have any effect on the Group's operations since it does not have any investment properties. 39 IAS 41 (Revised), "Agriculture" (in force as from 1 January 2009). It requires the use of a market discount rate in those cases in which fair value is calculated based on discounted cash flows and the elimination of the prohibition from taking into consideration biological transformation when calculating fair value. This amendment will not have any effect on the Group's operations given that it does not carry out any activities in the agriculture sector. This amendment will be applied on a prospective basis. IAS 20 (Revised) “Accounting for government grants and disclosure of government assistance" (in force as from 1 January 2009). The benefit of a loan at a lower-than-market rate granted by a public entity is measured as the difference between the carrying value in accordance with IAS 39 (Financial instruments: Recognition and measurement", and the amount received is recognized in accordance with IAS 20. This amendment will not have any effect on the Group's operations given that it has not received any government loans or other assistance. This amendment will be applied on a prospective basis. Other minor amendments of IAS 20 “Accounting for government grants and disclosure of government assistance”, IAS 29 “Financial reporting in hyperinflationary economies”, IAS 40 "Investment properties" and IAS 41 "Agriculture" will not have any effect on the Group's financial statements for the reasons indicated above. c) Standards and amendments and interpretations of existing standards which are not yet effective and which the Group has not adopted early IFRIC 12 “Customer loyalty programs" (in force as from 01 January 2010). This interpretation affects public-private service concession agreements when the grantor regulates the services that must be rendered by the concessionaire for the infrastructure, who the service must be rendered to, at what price and controls any significant residual share in the infrastructure at the end of the agreement. The Group will apply the IFRIC 12 as from 1 January 2010. IFRIC 16 “Hedges of a net investment in a foreign operation" (in force for all years commencing as from 30 June 2009). This interpretation clarifies the accounting treatment to be applied with respect to the hedging of a net investment, including the fact that the net investment hedge refers to differences involving the functional currency and not the reporting currency, as well as the fact that the hedge instrument may be maintained at any part of the Group. The requirements established by IAS 21 "The effects of changes in 40 foreign exchange rates" are applicable to the hedged item. The Group will apply the IFRIC 16 as from 1 January 2010. This is not expected to have any effect on the Group's financial statements. IFRIC 17 “Distribution of assets other than cash to owners” (in force as from 1 July 2009). This interpretation forms part of the annual IASB improvement project published in April 2009. This interpretation provides guidelines for recognizing those agreements under which a company distributes assets other than case to owners, either as a distribution of reserves or as dividends. IFRS 5 has also been amended to require that assets be classified as held for distribution only if they are available for distribution in their current state and provided that such distribution is highly likely. The Group and the Company will apply IFRIC 17 on a prospective basis as from 1 January 2010. This is not expected to have any effect on the Group's financial statements. IFRIC 18 "Transfers of assets from customers" (in force for years commencing as from 1 July 2009). This interpretation provides guidelines as to how to record property, plant and equipment received from customers, or the cash received that will be used to acquire or build specific assets. This interpretation is only applicable to those assets that are used to connect the customer to a network or to provide continuous access to goods or services, or both. This amendment must be applied on a retroactive basis. This is not expected to have any effect on the Group's financial statements. IAS 27 (Revised) “Consolidated and separate financial statements” (in force since 1 January 2009) The amended standard requires that the effects of all transactions involving non-controlling shareholdings be recorded under equity if there is no change in control, such that these transactions no longer generate goodwill, or gains or losses. The standard also covers the accounting treatment to be applied when control is lost. Any residual shareholding maintained in the company is restated at fair value and a gain or loss is recognized in the income statement. The Group will apply IAS 27 (Revised) on a prospective basis to all transactions with minority shareholders as from 1 January 2010. IFRS 3 (Revised) "Business combinations" (in force as from 1 July 2009). 41 The revised standard maintains the acquisition method for business combinations, although it introduces important changes. For example, all payments made to acquire a business are recognized at fair value at the acquisition date and contingent payments that are classified as liabilities are measured at each closing date at fair value, and all changes are recorded in the income statement. An accounting policy option is introduced and is applicable to the business combination level, consisting of measuring minority shareholdings at fair value or the proportional amount of the net assets and liabilities recorded by the target company. All transactional costs are expensed. The Group will apply IFRS 3 (Revised) on a prospective basis to all business combinations as from 1 January 2010. IFRS 5 (Revised), “Non-current assets held for sale and Discontinued operations” (and the relevant amendment of IFRS 1 "First-time adoption of IFRS) (in force as from 1 July 2009). This amendment is part of the annual IASB improvement project from 2008 and clarifies that all assets and liabilities at a subsidiary must be classified as held for sale if control over the subsidiary is lost as a result of a plan for its partial sale. In the event that the conditions are met to consider an operation to be discontinued, the relevant breakdowns regarding the subsidiary must be included. As a result, IFRS 1 also has been adapted to take into account this amendment, such that its application will be done on a prospective basis as from the date of transition to IFRS. The Group will adopt IFRS 5 (Revised) on a prospective basis effective for all partial sales of subsidiaries taking place as from 1 January 2010. IFRS 1 (Revised) "First time adoption of IFRS" (in force as from 1 January 2009). In 2007 the Board proposed, as part of its annual improvement project, to amend IFRS 1 to make it more understandable to users and to design it such that future amendments could be better accommodated. This version, revised in November 2008, maintains the substance of the preceding version, but it has a modified structure. 42 IAS 32 (Revised) "Classification of rights issues" (in force for years commencing as from 1 February 2010). This amendment covers the classification of the issue of rights (rights to shares, options, warrants) denominated in a currency other than the issuer's functional currency. The amendment indicated that if the issued is a pro-rata for the issuer's shareholders, and in a fixed amount in any currency, it must be classified as equity, regardless of the currency in which the strike price is denominated. IAS 39 (Revised) “Items that may be classified as hedged” (in force since 1 July 2009). This amendment introduces two important changes that prohibit designating inflation as a component that may be hedged by fixed rate debt and include the temporary value as part of the hedged risk when options are designated to be hedges. In addition, at the date these financial statements were prepared, the IASB had published the rules indicated below, which have yet to be adopted by the European Union: (i) Improvement project for 2009, published in April 2009 by the IASB, which amends IFRS 2, 5 and 8, IAS 1, 7, 17, 18, 36, 38 and 29 and IFRIC 9 and 16. The amendments introduced by this improvement project are mandatory for years commencing as from 1 January 2010, except for the amendments of IFRS 2 and IAS 38, which enter into force for years commencing as from 1 July 2009. (ii) IFRIC 2 (Revised) "Pre-payment of minimum financing requirements" (in force for years commencing as from 01 January 2010). (iii) IFRS 1 (Revised) "Additional exemptions for first time adopters" (in force for years commencing as from 1 January 2010). (iv) IAS 24 (Revised) "Disclosures regarding related parties" (in force for years commencing as from 1 January 2011). 43 (v) IFRS 9 (Revised) "Financial instruments" (in force for years commencing as from 1 January 2013). (vi) IFRIC 19 "Elimination of a financial liability with equity instruments" (in force for years commencing as from 1 July 2010). (vii) IFRIC 14 (Revised) "Pre-payment of minimum financing requirements" (in force for years commencing as from 1 January 2011). d) Standards and amendments and interpretations of existing standards which are not yet effective and which are not relevant to the Group’s operations IFRIC 15 "Agreements for the construction of real estate" (in force as from 01 January 2010). This interpretation clarifies when, for certain transactions, IAS 18 "Ordinary revenue" or IAS 11 "Construction contracts" should be applied, which makes it more likely that IAS 18 will be applied to a larger number of transactions. This interpretation is not relevant to the Group's operations given that all revenue is recorded in accordance with IAS 18 and not IAS 11. 3. Financial risk and capital management The Group's activities are exposed to several financial risks: market risk (including the interest rate risk, exchange rate risk and price risk), credit risk and liquidity risk. The Group’s risk management program focuses on minimizing the effects of uncertainty on the financial markets and attempts to minimize the potential adverse effects on the Group’s financial performance. Risk management is controlled through various levels of supervision in accordance with the policies approved by the Board of Directors that is responsible for maintaining the internal control system which includes the follow-up and control of the Group’s significant risks. 44 Similarly, the Audit Committee is responsible for risk supervision, in accordance with the authorization of the Board of Directors. On the basis of the assessment of the operational risks supervised by the Audit Committee, the Board of Directors carries out the relevant risk control and management, approving, where appropriate, the actions aimed at improving existing procedures. a) Market risk i) Foreign exchange risk The exchange rate risk is limited since most transactions are carried out in the functional currency. Additionally, sales to other countries outside of that environment are also made in euro (mainly Africa). The Group has various investments abroad, mainly, forestry investments, whose net assets are exposed to foreign currency translation risks. ii) Price risk In order to mitigate the risk in selling prices the Group maintains a very competitive cost structure. Similarly, in order to reduce exposure to the price risk of the Group’s principal raw material (wood), it manages 25,448 hectares distributed between Argentina (8,527 hectares), Uruguay (10,804 hectares) and Spain (6,117 hectares), reforested and in the process of reforestation, mainly with eucalyptus. The Group has improved is competitive structure and environmental efficiency through the launch in 20098 of a new 50 Mw/h high-efficiency cogeneration plant. iii) Cash flow interest rate risk As the Group has no major interest-bearing assets, revenues and cash flows from operating activities are relatively independent of variations in market interest rates. 45 The Group’s interest rate risk results from long-term borrowings. Borrowings issued at variable interest rates expose the Group to cash flow interest rate risk. However, the impact would not have been significant since if at 31 December 2009 interest rates on borrowings (loans and credit facilities with financial institutions) at variable rates had been 10% higher or lower, all other variables remaining constant, the profit after tax for the year would have been between € 56 thousand and € 73 thousand higher or lower, respectively, as a result of the difference in the interest expense on variable interest loans. b) Credit risk The Group’s main financial assets are cash and bank balances, trade and other receivable balances, which represent the Group’s maximum credit risk exposure in relation to financial assets. The Group’s credit risk is mainly attributable to its trade debts. The amounts involved are recorded in the balance sheet, net of bad debt provisions, which are estimated by Group management on the basis of prior year experience and an assessment of the current economic environment. The Group’s credit risk concentration is not significant and exposure is distributed among a large number of counterparties. In addition, the Group insures practically all paper sales and as a result, most trade receivables, using the following insurance companies. Insurance company S&P rating Mapfre AA Euler Hermes AA- Crédito Y Caución Cesce AUnrated Similarly, excluding accounts receivable, the Iberpapel Group concentrates most of its investment in financial assets, short-term deposits maturing on average at 8 to 10 days, amounting to € 155 thousand at 31 December 2009 (€ 366 thousand at 31 December 2008). The Group has no direct risks with the Company’s Directors at 31 December 2009. 46 c) Liquidity risk The prudent management of the liquidity risk entails maintaining sufficient cash, having financing available through a sufficient amount of committed credit facilities and having capacity to settle market positions. Management carries out a regular follow-up of the Group’s liquidity forecasts on the basis of forecast cash flows. The Group has sufficient cash to cover its liquidity needs. Additionally, it has unutilized credit lines amounting to € 29 million at 31 December 2009 in order to cover specific cash needs. The table below presents an analysis of the Group’s financial liabilities, grouped together by maturity, in accordance with the time at the balance sheet date to maturity as stipulated in the relevant contract. Less than 1 Between 1 and 2 Between 2 and More than 5 year years 9,621 19,399 years years At 31 December 2009 Bank loans and overdrafts Suppliers and creditors Amounts payable to official bodies 29,219 904 Current tax liabilities 2,187 Other payables 3,589 3.1. 655 1,254 Capital risk management The Group’s aim in relation to capital management is to have a low level of leverage making it easy for it to obtain additional borrowings, if necessary, in order to carry out new investments. A large part of the Group’s borrowings are made up of advances repayable to official bodies and generate no interest expense as they are subsidized. 47 The Group follows up capital in accordance with the gearing ratio. This ratio is calculated as net debt divided by equity. Net debt is calculated as total borrowings (loans and credit facilities with credit institutions) less cash and cash equivalents. Equity is reflected in the relevant balance sheet heading, as shown in the consolidated accounts. Gearing ratios at 31 December 2009 and 2008 were as follows: 2009 2008 Borrowings and other payables (Note 18) 29,983 42,179 Less: Cash and cash equivalents (3,618) (4,579) Net debt 26,365 37,600 Equity 172,853 166,530 Leveraging index 15.25% 22.58% 3.2. Estimate of fair value It is assumed that the carrying value less the provision for impairment of accounts receivable and payable approximates fair value. The fair value of financial liabilities for reporting purposes is estimated by discounting future contractual cash flows at the current market interest rate which may be available to the Group for similar financial instruments . 48 4. Significant accounting estimates and judgments Estimates and judgments are assessed on an on-going basis and are based on historic experience and other factors, including expectations of future events which may be considered reasonable in the circumstances. 4.1. Significant estimates and assumptions The Group makes estimates and assumptions relating to the future. The resulting accounting estimates will, by definition, no exactly equal the related actual results. The most significant estimates and judgments that could affect subsequent financial years are explained below, although Group management considers it unlikely that material adjustments will arise. Useful lives of property, plant and equipment Group management determines the estimated useful lives and the associated depreciation charges for property, plant and equipment. This may change as a result, mainly, of significant technological innovation. Management increases the depreciation charge when the useful lives are lower than the previously estimated lives, or will write-off or otherwise eliminate technically obsolete or non-strategic assets that have been abandoned or sold. A 20% change in the estimated useful lives of property, plant and equipment will give rise to an increase or decrease in the depreciation expense for 2009 and 2008 totaling approximately € 540 thousand and € 445 thousand, respectively. 4.2. Significant judgments when applying accounting policies a) Measurement of forestry assets As is indicated in Note 2.6, the Group establishes certain assumptions regarding the measurement of the value of biological assets. To determine fair value, the biological assets are grouped in accordance with their qualitative characteristics and are sized in accordance with their quantitative characteristics. 49 5. Segment reporting The Board of Directors considers the business primarily from a product point of view, independent of the geographic area where the business takes place. The operating segments reported thus obtain their ordinary revenue mainly from the manufacture and marketing of paper, the sale le electricity produced through gas co-generation plans and, finally, revenue from the investments in forestry assets held by the Group. The start of operations of a gas co-generation plant at the beginning of 2009 has given rise to separate information being disclosed regarding a new operating segment this year (electricity). The ordinary revenues from this activity represent 10% of the Group's ordinary revenues. The Board of Directors evaluates the development of each segment based on an income statement and balance sheet segmented by activity. The segment reporting provided to the Board of Directors for those segments that must be reported in the year ended 31 December 2009, is as follows: Paper Total segment revenues Activity Forestry and Electricity Others Group 271,711 37,048 44,197 352,956 Inter-segment sales (117,150) (10,207) (41,578) (168,935) Sales to outside customers 154,561 26,841 2,619 184,021 (9,896) (2,704) (86) (12,686) Depreciation of property, plant and equipment (Note 6) Amortization of intangible assets (Note 8) (6) (6) Impairment of trade receivables (Note 10) (456) (456) Operating profit 3,519 5,424 301 9,244 Net financial costs (Note 24) (258) (423) (222) (903) Profit before taxes 3,261 5,001 79 8,341 Income tax 1,420 (2,116) (612) (1,308) Profit for the year 4,681 2,885 (533) 7,033 50 Paper Electricity Forestry Activity Group 163,213 65,565 35,084 263,862 1,065 2,048 2,028 5,141 (68,298) (15,714) (6,997) (91,009) Paper Forestry Activity Group 296,389 48,934 345,323 Inter-segment sales (107,428) (45,189) (152,617) Sales to outside customers 188,961 3,745 192,706 (9,950) (83) (10,033) Amortization of intangible assets (Note 8) (10) (3) Impairment of trade receivables (Note 10) (352) Operating profit 5,722 1,638 7,360 Net financial costs (Note 24) (677) (756) (1,433) Total assets Of which: Fixed asset investments (Notes 6 and 8) Total liabilities The information relating to 2008 is as follows: Total segment revenues Depreciation of property, plant and equipment (Note 6) (13) (352) Profit before taxes 5,045 882 5,927 Income tax 2,451 (902) 1,549 Profit for the year 7,496 (20) 7,476 Forestry Paper Activity Group 250,860 31,121 281,981 250,860 31,121 281,981 Liabilities 108,403 7,048 115,451 Fixed asset investments (Notes 6 and 8) 22,073 1,310 23,383 Assets Total assets At 31 December 2008 property, plant and equipment totaling € 42,046 thousand was under construction, consisting of investments made to launch the gas co-generation plant in 2009. 51 Transfers or transactions between segments are conducted under ordinary business terms and conditions that should also be available to non-related third parties. The following tables show the Group's ordinary revenues and total assets by geographic area: Sales 2009 2008 European Union (excluding Spain) 64,982 74,759 Africa 18,401 22,211 1,107 2,782 96,270 83,107 180,760 182,859 South America Spain Sales are assigned on the basis of the country where the customer is located. Total assets Spain France South America 2009 2008 229,021 254,282 350 624 34,491 27,075 263,862 281,981 Total assets are assigned on the basis of the assets’ location. Assets in South America relate mainly to biological assets at various stages of development, measured in accordance with IAS 41 "Agriculture". The geographic distribution of the investment in assets is as follows: Fixed asset investment 2009 2008 Spain 3,119 22,073 South America 2,022 1,310 5,141 23,383 52 The breakdown of sales by category was as follows: Distribution of sales by category Sale of paper and electricity Sale of timber Sale of electricity 2009 2008 142,560 179,638 2,619 3,221 35,581 180,760 6. 182,859 Property, plant and equipment Set out below is a breakdown together with movements in the different categories of property, plant and equipment: Cost Land and buildings Balance at 31/12/2007 Additions Disposals 35,051 2,395 (2,275) 210,973 967 (41,606) Fixtures, fittings, tools and equipment 17,511 922 (355) Payments on account and assets in course of construction 23,247 19,071 (68) 834 28 287,616 Plant and machinery Other fixed assets Transfers Translation differences Balance at 31/12/2008 (1,700) 33,471 (148) 170,385 (33) 18,045 (5) 42,046 (299) (12) 551 23,383 (44,603) (1,898) 264,498 (8,908) (438) 2,347 10 (6,989) (110,749) (7,942) 41,606 69 (77,016) (8,170) (1,607) 367 24 (9,386) (718) (46) 202 (3) (565) (128,545) (10,033) 44,522 100 (93,956) 199 (199) Accumulated amortization Buildings Plant and machinery Fixtures, fittings, tools and equipment Other fixed assets Net amount 159,071 170,542 53 Balance at 31/12/2008 Cost Land and buildings Plant and machinery Fixtures, fittings, tools and equipment Payments on account and assets in course of construction Other fixed assets Additions 33,471 2,047 170,385 2,661 18,045 387 42,046 Transfers 42,046 Translation differences Consolidation adjustments Balance at 31/12/2009 1,370 36,888 18 215,110 2 1,146 19,580 (42,046) 551 27 6 584 264,498 5,122 1,396 (6,989) (474) 31 (77,016) (10,469) 50 (9,386) (1,688) 54 (11,020) (565) (55) 14 (606) (93,956) (12,686) 149 1,146 272,162 Accumulated amortization Buildings Plant and machinery Fixtures, fittings, tools and equipment Other fixed assets Net amount a) (7,432) (1,365) (1,365) 170,542 (88,800) (107,858) 164,304 Fully amortized assets At 31 December 2009 fully depreciated property, plant and equipment still in use totaled € 28,791 thousand (2008: € 27,724 thousand). At 31 December assets had been delivered to third parties as guarantees (Note 29). The acquisition of certain fixed assets has been partly financed through capital grants received amounting to € 13,553 thousand (Note 18). 54 7. Biological assets (Eucalyptus) 2009 2008 At beginning of the year 11,136 9,879 Gain due to physical changes Decrease owing to sales Differences on exchange and other At end of the year 2,502 (611) 269 13,296 2,353 (745) (351) 11,136 8. Intangible assets The movement in the main intangible asset classes, broken down between those generated internally and other intangible assets, is as follows: Cost Computer software CO2 rights Balance at 31/12/2007 Additions Disposals 678 3 (82) 599 1,268 4,477 (1,268) 4,477 1,946 4,480 (1,350) 5,076 (662) (13) 83 (592) (662) (13) 83 (592) Transfers Translation differences Balance at 31/12/2008 Accumulated amortization Computer software Net amount 1,284 4,484 55 Balance at 31/12/2008 Cost Computer software CO2 rights Additions Disposals Translation Transfers differences Balance at 31/12/2009 599 19 4,477 4,878 (3,670) 5,685 618 5,076 4,897 (3,670) 6,303 (592) (6) (598) (592) (6) (598) Accumulated amortization Computer software Net amount a) 4,484 5,705 Fully amortized assets At 31 December 2009 fully amortized intangible assets still in use totaled € 586 thousand (2008: € 569 thousand). b) CO2 Emission rights On 8 November 2007, the Group company Papelera Guipuzcoana de Zicuñaga received notification from the Ministry of the Environment stating that it had been granted 173,150 emission rights for the period 2008-2012. In April 2009 this company received a new assignment of 110,405 emission rights due to the launch of the new co-generation plant. Furthermore, 88,324 emission rights were granted for 2010, 2011 and 2012. 56 The volume of rights assigned for the period 2009 through 2012 totals: CO2 emission rights assigned 2009 2010 2011 2012 Total 283,555 261,474 261,474 261,474 1,067,977 The emission rights granted in 2009 have been recorded at current-use value which agrees with the quoted value at the beginning of the year of 15.68 € / right (2008: € 23.00/ right). In December 2009 the company Papelera Guipuzcoana de Zicuñaga, S.A. acquired 30,000 rights (CER) at € 14.40, for a total amount of € 432 thousand. 9. Financial instruments 9.1. Financial instruments by categories 2009 Assets Loans and other receivables Cash and cash equivalents Liabilities Loans and receivables 2008 Loans and receivables 41,437 49,826 3,618 4,579 45,055 54,405 2009 2008 Other financial liabilities at amortized cost Other financial liabilities at amortized cost Borrowings (Note 18) 52,211 66,336 Borrowings and payables (Note 17) 29,219 39,243 81,430 105,579 57 a) Credit quality of financial assets The credit quality of financial assets which have not yet matured and which have not suffered impairment may be assessed on the basis of the credit rating assigned by third parties or, in the case of customers without a credit rating, by differentiating those relating to the Social Security and Official Bodies that, by nature, are not subject to impairment. Receivables 2009 2008 Customers with no outside credit rating "A" Customers "B" Customers 6,609 5,133 8,532 11,469 "C" Customers 5,339 9,127 "D" Customers 13,480 15,051 "E" Customers 2,529 "F" Customers 2,677 722 Public institutions 4,800 5,795 41,437 49,826 The Group insures practically all paper sales using a credit policy from the institutions indicated below, which are also rated by S&P. Receivables Counterparty 2009 2008 6,609 5,133 S&P rating Mapfre AA Crédito y Caución AA- 8,532 11,469 A- 5,339 9,127 Unrated 13,480 15,051 Euler Hermes Cesce Trade receivables Other Public institutions A Unrated 2,529 2,677 722 4,800 5,795 41,437 49,826 58 Cash at bank and short-term bank deposits Counterparty 2009 2008 S&P rating A Banks AA 943 2,462 B Banks AA- 1,098 198 C Banks A D Banks Unrated 10. 383 1,194 1,919 3,618 4,579 Trade and other receivables 2009 2008 Trade receivables 36,552 42,839 Less: Provision for impairment losses on accounts receivable (2,074) (1,780) Trade receivables – Net 34,478 41,059 6,959 8,767 41,437 49,826 Other receivables net Total current portion The fair values of trade and other receivables do not differ significantly from their current values as they mainly consist of balances receivable in less than one year and are possibly subject to interest if collection is delayed beyond that time. The carrying values of accounts receivable are denominated in euros. In 2009 impairment losses on accounts receivable amounted to € 456 thousand (€ 352 thousand in 2008). The amount of the provision amounted to € 2,074 thousand at 31 December 2009 (€ 1,780 thousand at 31 December 2008). 59 The movement in the provision for impairment losses on trade receivables is as follows: Opening balance Provision for impairment losses on accounts receivable Application Closing balance 2009 2008 (1,780) (1,437) (456) (352) 162 9 (2,074) (1,780) Other accounts included in receivables contain no assets that have suffered impairment. The company considers that trade receivables due and payable outstanding for more than three months have not suffered any impairment. At 31 December 2009 receivables totaling € 288 thousand had fallen due but had not yet been collected, although they have not suffered any impairment loss. These accounts relate to a number of independent customers that do not have any recent history of non-payment. The analysis of the age of these accounts is as follows: 2009 Up to 3 months Between 3 and 6 months 49 239 288 60 11. Inventories 2009 2008 Raw materials 5,653 6,036 Other supplies 3,134 3,006 Work in progress 216 156 Finished products 11,299 16,092 1,462 1,908 159 129 21,923 27,327 2009 2008 3,463 4,213 155 366 3,618 4,579 Agricultural products (cubic meters de-barked) Advance payment 12. Cash and cash equivalents Cash and banks Short-term bank deposits The effective interest rate on short-term deposits at credit institutions stood at 1.75% (2008: 3.90%). These deposits mature on average at 8 and 10 days in both 2009 and 2008. 61 13. Share capital At 01 January 2008 No. of shares Share capital Share premium t Treasury shares Total 11,633,140 6,980 30,918 (823) 37,075 Return of the share premium account (2,891) Treasury shares acquired (2,891) (646) (646) (1,469) 33,538 Redemption of Treasury Shares Balance at 31 December 2008 11,633,140 6,980 Return of the share premium account 28,027 (923) Treasury shares acquired Balance at 31 December 2009 11,633,140 6,980 27,104 (923) (87) (87) (1,556) 32,528 The total authorized number of ordinary shares is 11,633,140 shares (2008: 11,633,140 shares) with a par value of 0.60 € / share (2008: 0.60 € / share). In 2009 Iberpapel Gestión, S.A. acquired 9,991 treasury shares on the stock exchange. The amount paid to acquire the shares totaled € 87 thousand, net of taxes, which are held as Treasury Shares. At 31 December 2009 the Company holds a total of 98,869 own shares amounting to € 1,556 thousand. These shares represent 0.850% of the Company’s share capital. The value of these shares is included in Treasury shares as a decrease in the value of equity in accordance with IAS 32. There are no restrictions on the transfer of the shares. All company shares are listed on the Madrid and Bilbao stock exchanges. All shares issued have been paid in. 62 At 31 December 2009, the Company has no knowledge of any companies holding interests exceeding 10% in its share capital. Significant direct or indirect shareholdings in capital are as follows: % Direct Name Banco Guipuzcoano % Indirect 5.226 Bestinver Gestion, S.A., S.G.I.I.C. No. of Direct rights 607,923 1,059,706 (1) 9.109 Bestinver Bolsa, FI 4.246 566,396 Onchena, S.L. 7.583 882,188 (1) No. of indirect rights Through: Name of indirect holder Through: Name of direct holder of Number of % total voting of the stake the stake direct voting rights rights ABEDUL 1999, S.A. SICAV 1,447 0.012 BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. ACCIONES CUP. Y OBLI. 1,876 0.016 S.G.I.I.C. SEGOVIANAS. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. BESTINFOND, F.I. 265,908 2.286 BESTINVER BOLSA, F.I. 493,918 4.246 BESTINVER MIXTO, F.I. 84,545 0.727 BESTINVER AHORRO,F.P. 41,192 0.354 BESTINVER BESTVALUE SICAV 46,129 0.397 BESTINVER GLOBAL, F.P. 49,640 0.427 BESTINVER EMPLEO FP S.A. 2,249 0.019 DIIVALSA DE INVERSIONES SICAV, S.A. 2,434 0.021 BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. 63 BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. LINKER INVERSIONES, SICAV, S.A. 1,385 0.012 LOUPRI INVERSIONES 3,825 0.033 SOIXA SICAV 50,732 0.436 TEXRENTA INVERSIONES, 14,426 0.124 S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. 14. Retained earnings and other reserves Reserves in consolidated companies At 01 January 2008 Chang in reserves in Consolidated 90,972 Restatement reserve Retained earnings and other reserves Total 12 40,247 131,231 5,860 (5,860) Dividends 2008 profit Variation internal dividends Balance at 31 December 2008 Change in reserves in Consolidated 96,832 12 2,716 (2,315) (2,315) 7,476 7,476 (66) (66) 39,482 136,326 (2,716) Dividends (922) (922) 2009 profit 7,033 7,033 42,876 142,437 Variation internal dividends Balance at 31 December 2009 99,548 12 Retained earnings and other reserves include the legal reserve amounting to € 1,435 thousand (2008: € 1,435 thousand), and reserve for redeemed capital amounting to € 191 thousand (2008: 191). In accordance with Law 46/1998 (17 December 1998) on the introduction of the euro, Iberpapel Gestión, S.A. records an unavailable reserve for differences arising on the conversion of share capital to euro, amounting to € 12 thousand. 64 15. Cumulative translation difference Translation 1 January 2008 (1,740) Translation differences (1,594) 31 December 2008 (3,334) Translation differences 2,145 31 December 2009 (1,189) The breakdown of the cumulative translation difference by company / subgroup at the 2009 and 2008 year ends is as follows: 2009 2008 Company or subgroup Iberpapel Argentina, S.A. Los Eucaliptus, S.A. G. Gil, S.A. Samakil, S.A. Nueva Andalucia, S.R.L. (1,755) (1,274) 1,912 (1,021) (1,035) (560) (318) (494) 7 15 (1,189) (3,334) 65 16. Availability and restrictions on Reserves and Retained earnings and Other Reserves The breakdown by company at 31 December 2009 and 2008 of Results in Consolidated Companies and for IFRS is as follows: Company or subgroup 2009 2008 Iberbarna Papel, S.A. 329 329 Moliner, Domínguez y Cia., S.A. 540 539 Distribuidora Papelera, S.A. 276 273 Central de Suministros de Artes Gráficas Papel, S.A. 424 422 Zicuimex France, S.A.R.L Papelera Guipuzcoana de Zicuñaga, S.A. Copaimex, S.A. Papeteries de l'Atlantique, S.A. Ibereucaliptos, S.A. Zicupap, S.A. Nueva Andalucia, S.R.L. 79 65 80,598 79,192 81 76 151 296 24,851 24,791 53 53 (115) 82 Iberpapel Argentina, S.A. (6,133) (7,587) Los Eucaliptus, S.A. (1,829) (1,954) Samakil, S.A. G. Gil, S.A. 389 418 (146) (163) 99,548 96,832 At 31 December 2009 unavailable reserves and retained earnings amounted to € 1.638 thousand (2008: € 1,638 thousand) relating to the legal reserve, reserve for the translation of share capital to euro and reserve for redeemed capital. Appropriations to the legal reserve amounting to € 1,435 thousand have been made in compliance with Article 214 of the Spanish Companies Act which stipulates that 10% of the profits for each year must be transferred to this reserve until it represents at least 20% of share capital. The legal reserve is not available for distribution. Should it be used to offset losses in the event of no other reserves being available, it must be replenished out of future profits. 66 The contribution of each company included in the scope of consolidation to consolidated results, indicating the part that pertains to minority interests, is as follows: Company/ subgroup Iberpapel Gestión, S.A. Papelera Guipuzcoana de Zicuñaga, S.A. Ibereucaliptos, S.A. Iberbarna Papel, S.A. Moliner, Domínguez y Cia., S.A. Distribuidora Papelera, S.A. Central de Suministros de Artes Gráficas Papel, S.A. 2009 2008 Consolidated results Consolidated results 212 310 6,886 5,418 408 60 12 41 (70) 1 3 4 7 102 Iberpapel Argentina, S.A. 236 1,455 G. Gil, S.A. (91) 17 Papeteries de l'Atlantique, S.A. (32) 54 (674) 125 12 (30) 4 5 Los Eucaliptus, S.A. Samakil, S.A. Copaimex, S.A. Zicuimex France, S.A.R.L (8) 15 Zicupap, S.A. 13 96 115 (197) 7,033 7,476 Nueva Andalucia, S.R.L. 67 The proposed distribution of 2009 profits of the parent company, determined in accordance with mercantile legislation and accounting principles used in the preparation of the parent company’s individual annual accounts to be submitted to the General Shareholders’ Meeting and the approved distribution for 2008 are as follows: 2009 2008 6,148 6,510 6,148 6,510 Available for distribution Profit and loss for the year Application Dividends 923 923 5,225 5,587 6,148 6,510 2009 2008 Trade payables 25,156 35,251 Other payables 4,063 3,992 29,219 39,243 2,187 1,793 31,406 41,036 Voluntary reserves 17. Trade and other payables Current tax liabilities Total 68 18. Borrowings 2009 2008 20,245 34,546 2,726 4,107 18,572 19,120 41,543 57,773 9,738 7,633 Non-current Bank borrowings and credit facilities Other payables Government grants Current Bank borrowings and credit facilities Other payables Total borrowings 930 930 10,668 8,563 52,211 66,336 Bank borrowings and credit facilities (current) include € 6,556 thousand which relates to Shortterm debts on discounting of bills and short-term interest on bank borrowings amounting to € 30 thousand. a) Bank borrowings and credit facilities The exposure of the Group’s loans and credit facilities to interest rate variations and the contract dates on which prices are reviewed is as follows: At 31 December 2008 Total borrowings At 31 December 2009 Total borrowings 6 months or less Total 34,546 34,546 34,546 34,546 23,396 23,396 23,396 23,396 69 The overall limit on credit lines and loans with credit institutions at 31 December 2009 amounts to € 52,210 thousand (2008: € 46,810 thousand). The carrying and fair values of non-current borrowings (bank loans and lines of credit) are as follows: Carrying value Bank loans Fair value 2009 2008 2009 2008 20,245 34,546 19,824 34,888 The fair value of current borrowings equals the carrying value, given that the effect of the discount is not significant. Fair values are based on cash flows discounted at a rate based on the 2.145% borrowing rate (2008: 4.159%) Non-current borrowings have the following maturities: Between 2 and 5 years 2009 2008 20,245 34,546 2009 2008 % % 2.15 5.03 Effective interest rates on the balance sheet date were as follows: Bank loans and credit facilities The carrying value of short-term borrowings approximates fair value. 70 b) Other payables Other payables include a loan amounting to € 5,456 thousand (reimbursable amount) granted in January 2000 by the Ministry of Industry and Energy to the company Papelera Guipuzcoana de Zicuñaga. This loan matures on 31 October 2014 and its balance at 31 December 2009 amounts to € 2,480, of which € 1,984 thousand falls due in more than one year and € 496 thousand in less than one year. Similarly, this includes two loans to this company amounting to € 1,758 thousand and € 361 thousand granted by the Ministry of Science and Technology. These loans mature on 26 December 2010 and 31 October 2011, respectively. The outstanding balance falling due in the short-term at 31 December 2009 with respect to the first loan totals € 251 thousand. With respect to the second loan, at 31 December 2009 the balance pending maturity amounts to € 103 thousand, of which € 51 thousand falls due in more than one year and € 52 thousand in less than one year. Finally, on 31 December 2006 the C.D.T.I. granted a loan to the company in the amount of € 855 thousand, falling due on 31 December 2013. The outstanding balance at 31 December 2009 the balance pending maturity amounts to € 525 thousand, of which € 394 thousand falls due in more than one year and € 131 thousand in less than one year. The restated amount pending reimbursement for the aforementioned advance payments totals € 2,909 thousand, € 1,979 thousand in more than one year and € 930 thousand in less than one year. c) Government grants Capital grants break down as follows: Date granted 30/06/1998 30/12/1999 26/12/2000 23/01/2001 23/01/2001 18/06/2002 Purpose New factory project Water saving Expansion of cellulose plant Environmental improvements Environmental improvements Environmental improvements Amount granted To be released to income 8 799 120 4 243 60 126 205 13,553 4,473 12 2,758 18 33 105 7,399 71 At 31 December 2009 there are no grants pending collection. In relation to the tax advantages for investment in new fixed assets, they have been recorded in accordance with IAS 20 for an amount of € 9,218 thousand (2008: € 10,634 thousand). These deductions are considered government assistance connected with depreciable assets and are recorded as grants. d) Foreign currency balances The carrying value of the group’s borrowings is denominated in the following currencies: Euro 19. 2009 2008 52,211 66,336 52,211 66,336 2009 2008 9,900 7,364 (102) 2,536 9,798 9,900 Deferred taxes Gross movement in the Deferred taxes heading was as follows: At 1 January Debited/(credited) to results At 31 December Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset if there is a legally enforceable right to set off current and deferred tax assets and liabilities with respect to the same tax authorities. 72 Movements during the year in deferred tax assets and liabilities, not taking into account the offset of balances relating to the same tax authorities are as follows: Deferred tax liabilities At 01 January 2008 Debited/(credited) to results At 31 December 2008 Debited/(credited) to results At 31 December 2009 Deferred tax assets Deduction new fixed assets At 01 January 2008 10,243 Debited/(credited) to results At 31 December 2008 Debited/(credited) to results At 31 December 2009 Provision for portfolio Assets assets 3,447 209 3,656 491 4,147 (463) 59 (404) 3,193 550 3,743 Deductions R&D+i Other Total 288 6 3,741 203 (6) 406 Tax loss carryforwards Inventories Other Total 608 32 222 11,105 129 121 (81) 2,942 3,000 737 153 141 14,047 1,000 (608) (36) (109) (506) 4,000 129 117 32 13,541 (227) 3,000 10,016 (753) 9,263 Deferred tax assets in respect of tax losses available for offset are recognized insofar as the realization of the relevant tax benefit through future tax profits is probable. 73 20. Provisions and other liabilities At 01 January 2008 Current year Non-current CO2 rights Litigation Total 909 174 1,083 Charged to the income statement Additional provisions Applied during the year At 31 December 2008 3,842 3,842 (909) (84) (993) 3,842 90 3,932 Charged to the income statement Additional provisions Applied during the year At 31 December 2009 3,589 3,589 (3,842) (30) (3,872) 3,589 60 3,649 2009 2008 Analysis of total provisions Non-current Current 60 90 3,589 3,842 3,649 3,932 Transfers amounting to € 3,589 thousand relate to the valuation of Emission Rights consumed in 2009. Applications made during 2009 relate to the reversal of a short-term provision for liabilities and charges concerning CO2 emission rights. The Group company Papeteries de L’Atlantique records a provision amounting to € 60 thousand for litigation with its former employees. 74 21. Net turnover and other revenues Sale of paper Sale of Electricity Sale of timber Net revenues 2009 2008 142,560 168,763 35,581 10,875 2,619 3,221 180,760 182,859 Lease revenues 217 198 Revenues from different services 398 130 5,524 5,962 Capital grants released to income during the year Provisions applied 196 Other revenue 1,447 1,825 Total other revenues 7,782 8,115 188,542 190,974 2009 2008 Depreciation/Amortization 12,692 10,046 Employee benefit expense 17,302 17,301 4,521 (1,732) 72,980 89,426 9,245 10,706 Total 22. Expenses by nature Changes in inventories of finished goods and work in progress Raw materials and consumables used Transport Repairs and maintenance 9,462 8,792 Supplies 38,425 36,214 Other expenses 14,671 12,861 179,298 183,614 Total 75 23. Employee benefit expenses 2009 2008 (2008: € 58 thousand). 13,435 13,415 Social Security expense 3,680 3,686 187 200 17,302 17,301 2009 2008 Bank loans and credit facilities (862) (1,569) Losses on exchange (925) (1,199) (11) (9) (1,798) (2,777) 726 1,079 Wages and salaries, including severance indemnities amounting to € 133 thousand Other benefits 24. Net financial costs Other financial expenses Interest costs: Income from fixed interest securities Gains on exchange Other financial income 169 265 Interest income 895 1,344 (903) (1,433) 76 25. Income tax 2009 2008 Corporate income tax payable for the year 2,218 1,793 Deferred tax (Note 19) (910) (3,342) 1,308 (1,549) The Group’s profit before income tax differs from the theoretical amount that would have been obtained had the average weighted tax rate applicable to the consolidated companies’ profits been used as follows: Profit before taxes Tax calculated at the Group's average tax rate Income not subject to tax Deferred tax assets (R&D+i deductions) 2009 2008 8,341 5,927 (2,504) (1,900) 396 396 1,000 3,000 (200) (76) (1,308) 1,549 129 Deferred tax assets (tax-loss carryforwards) Tax losses for which no deferred tax asset was recognized. Corporate income tax expense The Group's average tax rate in 2009 was 30.02% (2008: 32.06%) At 31 December 2009 the amount of deductions pending application for corporate income tax purposes in future years, included under Deferred tax assets on the asset side of the consolidated balance sheet, totals € 9,263 thousand in respect of new fixed assets (Note 19) and € 4,000 thousand for R&D+i deductions. 77 Depending on the taxable income generated in previous years and on the basis of forecast taxable income in subsequent years, the directors of Papelera Guipuzcoana de Zicuñaga, S.A. have no reasonable doubts as to the recoverability of the deductions for investment capitalized and pending application for tax purposes mentioned above. The group company Papelera Guipuzcoana de Zicuñaga, S.A. is not affected by additional provision ten of Provincial Regulation 7/1997 (27 December 1997). Additionally, the group company Papelera Guipuzcona de Zicuñaga, S.A. has deductions amounting to € 15,757 thousand granted by the Provincial Authorities of Guipúzcoa in respect of R&D, as a result of the verification carried out by this body in 2004. These deductions are available for application in future corporate income tax assessments. For reasons of prudence, the Directors have not recognized this amount under assets in the consolidated balance sheet at 31 December 2009. Legislation applicable to the assessment of corporate income tax for 2009 is that contained in Provincial Regulation 7/1996 of 4 July 1996 with the amendments included in Provincial DecreeRegulation 4/2009, of 23 December, in force at the year end. There is no evidence at the current date of any appeals having been filed against such legislation. The Company’s Directors have calculated the amounts associated with this tax for 2009 and those years open to inspection in accordance with provincial legislation in force at each year end on the understanding that the various legal proceedings and final outcome of the appeals filed in this respect will not have a significant impact on the annual accounts taken as a whole. The years open to a tax inspection vary for the different companies pertaining to the consolidated group located in Spain although the returns for the past four years are generally open to inspection. The tax situation of the foreign subsidiaries is subject to applicable legislation in their respective countries. 78 In accordance with current legislation, tax assessments may not be considered definitive until the returns filed have been inspected by the tax authorities or the inspection period has elapsed. The Directors of the parent company do not expect any additional significant liabilities to arise in the event of an inspection. Under applicable accounting standards, contingencies considered probable are provided for while those other contingencies which are deemed remote are not recognized as such or disclosed, except when the level of probability may be rated at least possible. Deferred tax liabilities have not been recognized in respect of withholdings and other taxes payable on profits not remitted by foreign subsidiaries since the amounts involved are permanently reinvested and, in any event, the company is able to control the dividend payment policy in the same. 26. Earnings per share Basic Basic earnings per share are calculated by dividing the profit attributable to the Company’s shareholders by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in the year, excluding treasury shares acquired by the Company (Note 13). Profit attributable to the Company shareholders (thousand) Weighted average number of ordinary shares Basic earnings per share (€ per share) 2009 2008 7,033 7,476 11,473,847 11,544,902 0.613 0.652 The calculation of diluted earnings per share does not differ from the amount reflected with respect to basic earnings per share. 79 27. Dividends per share The dividends paid in January and December 2009 amounted to € 923 thousand (0.08 € /share, gross) and € 923 thousand (0.08 € /share, gross), respectively. 28. Cash generated by Cash Flow operations Profit for the year Adjustments: 2009 2008 7,033 7,476 12,340 8,206 1,308 (1,549) 12,686 10,033 6 13 Net movements in provisions (Note 20) (196) (47) Interest income (895) 265 Taxes (Note 25) Depreciation of property, plant and equipment (Note 6) Amortization of intangible assets (Note 8) Interest costs (Note 24) Grants released to income for the year Changes in working capital Inventories Trade and other receivables Trade and other payables Cash generated from operations 29. 1,798 1,569 (2,367) (2,078) 3,818 625 5,404 (4,811) 8,438 (3,754) (10,024) 9,190 23,191 16,307 Contingencies Through a public document executed before the Notary of Madrid, Mr Luis Maiz Cal, on 29 December 2000, with protocol number 5.228, the Group company Ibereucaliptos, S.A. arranged a mortgage with Banco Zaragozano (currently the Barclays Group) for a maximum liability of € 6,611 thousand on property it owns (Las Medianillas and El Vinagre), as security for guarantees furnished by this bank to Papelera Guipuzcoana de Zicuñaga, S.A., amounting to € 2,977 thousand and maturing on 1 January 2025. 80 30. Related- party transactions The transactions set out below were carried out with related parties: a) Compensation paid to key management personnel and directors 2009 2008 Salaries and other short-term compensation paid to Directors 498 525 Salaries and other short-term compensation paid to key executives 859 904 1,357 1,429 Set out below is the compensation accrued by each member of the Parent Company’s Board of Directors for all items. Remuneration as members of the Parent Company’s Board Remuneration as members of other Boards Per diems Mr Jaime Echevarría Abona 23 12 2 Mr Néstor Basterra Larroude 23 12 2 Mr Iñigo Solaun Garteiz 23 7 Mr Martín González del Valle Chávarri 28 Mr Ignacio Peñalba Ceberio 23 Mr Iñaki Usandizaga Aranzadi 24 Mr Baltasar Errazti Navarro 28 Mr Iñigo Echevarría Canales 23 Remuneration Senior Management remuneration 2 7 259 81 The Group does not record pension and life insurance commitments with any member of the Board. Mr. Iñigo Echevarría Canales is the only Director who, as an employee of Papelera Guipuzcoana de Zicuñaga, S.A., and as is stipulated by the Provincial Collective Wage Agreement, benefits like any other employee from company contributions to EPSV Geroa, in the same amount as received by other employees. Papelera Guipuzcoana de Zicuñaga, S.A has obtained life insurance policies that cover disability and death contingencies, of which Mr. Iñigo Echevarría Canales benefits just like any other employee. The Company has granted no types of guarantees in favor of Board members. b) Related- party loans In accordance with the provisions of Article 127 ter.4 of the Spanish Companies Act, introduced by Law 26/2003 (17 July), whereby Law 24/1998 (28 July) on the Securities Market is amended, and the Spanish Companies Act , in order to reinforce transparency in public limited companies, it is reported that the members of the Board of Directors hold no holdings in the capital of companies that carry out an identical, analogous or supplementary kind of activity to that which makes up the company’s corporate objects outside the Iberpapel Group. Similarly, the members of the Board of Directors have carried out no activities on their own account or on account of other companies carrying on an analogous or complementary kind of activity to that which constitutes the corporate objects of Iberpapel Gestión, S.A. In accordance with the interpretation by the Spanish Institute of Auditors and Accountants of Article 127, the positions held by the Directors of this Company in other group companies together with the percentage of share capital held are as follows. 82 Director Mr Iñigo Echevarría Canales Mr Néstor Basterra Larroude Mr Ignacio Peñalba Ceberio Company Activity Position or office Papelera Guipuzcoana de Zicuñaga, S.A. Manufacture of all kinds of paper Chairman Ibereucaliptos, S.A. Forestry purchase, lease or consortium and purchase-sale and marketing of forestry products Papelera Guipuzcoana de Zicuñaga, S.A. Manufacture of all kinds of paper Ibereucaliptos, S.A. Forestry purchase, lease or consortium and purchase-sale and marketing of forestry products Ibereucaliptos, S.A. Forestry purchase, lease or consortium and purchase-sale and marketing of forestry products Interest percentage in Iberpapel Gestión 0.225% Director Director Director Director 0.704% 0.940% Mr Baltasar Errazti Navarro 0.008% Mr Iñaki Usandizaga Aranzadi 2.063% Mr Iñigo Solaun Garteiz Mr Martín González del Valle Chávarri Papelera Guipuzcoana de Zicuñaga, S.A. Manufacture of all kinds of paper Director 0.236% 0.003% 83 c) Key management personnel Key management personnel consist of those individuals who have been granted power-ofattorney and who report directly to management. The Company's transactions with associated parties consist mainly of sales of goods and services. The prices applied by associated companies, with respect to physical flows and the rendering of services, have been determined in accordance with the arm's length principle. In this connection, prices have been calculated based on the net margin method for all operations, applying the net margin on sales for the sale/acquisition of products and the net margin on costs for services rendered. As regards the loans granted by Iberpapel Gestión to Ibereucaliptos and to Papelera Guipuzcoana de Zicuñaga, the comparable market price method was used. 31. Environment The Iberpapel group is committed to complying with applicable European, central government and regional legislation and participates actively in the development of new environmental commitments. In this respect, progress is being made on the gradual implementation of Available Technology Improvements deriving from Community Directive IPPC 96/61/EC on integrated pollution control and the processing of Integrated Environmental Management. The Group has ISO 9001 and 140001 certificates, AENOR certificates for the custodial chain model and Integrated Environmental Authorization. In 2009 Papelera Guipuzcoana de Zicuñaga did not make any significant environmental investments. Furthermore, the expenses incurred for the protection and improvement of the environment taken directly to the income statement total € 291 thousand (2008: € 266 thousand). Potential environmental contingencies, indemnities and other environmental risks that could affect Group companies are adequately covered by the civil liability insurance policies that it has obtained. 84 32. a) Other information Average number of employees in the Iberpapel Group by category Women 2008 Total 8 43 17 260 27 11 8 43 44 271 328 38 366 Men Women 2009 Total 8 48 8 262 25 13 8 48 33 275 326 38 364 Men Managers Technical personnel Administrative staff Factory workers Managers Technical personnel Administrative staff Semi-skilled workers and specialists b) Fees of the auditors and group or related companies The fees for the audit and other services provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers Auditores in 2009 amounted to € 139 thousand (in 2008 € 130 thousand). The fees charged for other services rendered by other companies using the PricewaterhouseCoopers Trademark in 2009 totalled € 58 thousand (in 2008 € 22 thousand). The fees for the audit services provided by other companies in 2009 amounted to € 29 thousand (in 2008 € 24 thousand). 33. Significant Post-balance sheet events At the preparation date of these annual accounts, no significant post-balance sheet events had taken place. 85 APPENDIX I Subsidiaries included in the Consolidation interest Name Papelera Guipuzcoana de Zicuñaga, S.A. Distribuidora Papelera, S.A. Moliner, Domínguez y Cia., S.A. Ibereucaliptos, S.A. Central de Suministros de Artes Gráficas Papel, S.A. Iberbarna Papel, S.A. Zicuimex France, S.A.R.L Zicupap, S.A. Nueva Andalucia, S.R.L. Address Bº de Zicuñaga, S/N Hernani (Spain) C/ Velázquez, 105 Madrid (Spain) C/ Bogatell, 43-49 Sant Adriá de Besós (Spain) C/ Velázquez, 14 La Palma del Condado (Spain) C/ Velázquez, 105 Madrid (Spain) C/ Bogatell, 43-49 Sant Adriá de Besós (Spain) Z.I. des Joncaux. Bâtiment C. Hendaya (France) Avda. Sancho el Sabio, 2-1º. San Sebastián (Spain) Plaza Cagancha, 1335 oficina 1101 Montevido (Uruguay) Copaimex, S.A. Avda. Sancho el Sabio, 2-1º. San Sebastián (Spain) Iberpapel Argentina, S.A. C/ General Urquiza, 137. Colón (Argentina) Z.I. des Joncaux. Papeteries de L’Atlantique, Bâtiment C. Hendaya S.A. (in liquidation) (France) Los Eucaliptus, S.A. Samakil, S.A. G. Gil, S.A. Paraje Constancia Padrones, Nº 222982- y 9370 Paysandú. (Uruguay) Plaza Cagancha, 1335 oficina 1101 Montevido (Uruguay) C/ Lugones, 40. Colon (Argentina) Cost in € ’000 % par value Company holding the interest Iberpapel Gestión, S.A. Reason for Consolidation Activity Auditor a 1 A 41,516 100 222 100 Iberpapel Gestión, S.A. a 2 A 60 100 Iberpapel Gestión, S.A. a 2 A 3,994 100 Iberpapel Gestión, S.A. a 3 A 60 100 Iberpapel Gestión, S.A. a 2 A 60 100 Iberpapel Gestión, S.A. a 2 A 8 100 Iberpapel Gestión, S.A. a 4 C 60 100 Iberpapel Gestión, S.A. a 4 A d 3 B 475 100 Papelera Guipuzcoana de Zicuñaga, S.A. a 4 A 3,916 100 Ibereucaliptos, S.A. a 3 B Papelera Guipuzcoana de Zicuñaga, S.A. a 5 C 37 99.99 19,913 100 Ibereucaliptos, S.A. a 3 B 962 100 Ibereucaliptos, S.A. a 6 B 3,971 100 Ibereucaliptos, S.A. a 6 B 86 APPENDIX I Notes: Reason for Consolidation The cases defined by Article 42 of the Commercial Code are: a) The parent company holds a majority of the voting rights. b) The parent company is empowered to appoint or remove the majority of the administrative body’s members. c) The parent company may cast, by virtue of the agreements concluded with other shareholders, the majority of the voting rights. d) The parent company has appointed solely with its votes the majority of the administrative body’s members, who hold their positions at the time the consolidated accounts are drawn up and for the two immediately preceding years. For such purposes, the rights held through other subsidiaries or persons acting in their own name but on account of the parent company or other subsidiaries or those held by agreement with any other person will be added to the rights held by the parent company. It will similarly be assumed that there is a single decision-making unit when, through any other means, one or several companies are under a single management team. In particular, when the majority of the members of the subsidiary’s administrative body are members of the administrative body or senior managers of the parent company or any other company controlled by the latter. Unless otherwise stated, the closing date of the annual accounts is 31 December 2009. Activity: 1) Manufacture, transformation and sale of paper 2) Paper wholesaler 3) Reforestation and forestry activities. 4) Promotion of exports. 5) Rent of moveable and real property 6) Timber merchant Auditor: A) Audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers Auditores, S. L.. B) Audited by P & A Auditores. C) Audited by Sogeca. 87 1. Development of the business The development of the paper industry in 2009 was characterized by significant declines in demand and paper product prices. This trend affected practically all European markets, with Spain, the United Kingdom and France being affected the most. In this environment, Iberpapel has benefited from the flexibility of its sales policy, its energy efficiency policy and cost control plan, which have allowed it to continue to improve its operating margins and significantly reduce its debt. 1.1. Consolidated Management Results at 31 December 2009 Net turnover totaled € 180,760 thousand represents a 1.1% decline compared with last year (2008: € 182,859 thousand). The Group's total revenues reached € 188,542 thousand (2008: € 190,974 thousand). EBITDA totaled € 21,936 thousand (2008: € 17,406 thousand) and grew by 26.0%. The gross operating margin on revenues improved significantly to 11.6%. EBIT at 31 December 2009 stood at € 9,244 thousand (2008: € 7,360 thousand), 25.6% higher. The profit before taxes recorded by Iberpapel Group rose by 40.7% to € 8,341 thousand (2008: € 5,927 thousand). Net profit rose during the twelve months of 2009 to € 7,033 thousand (2008: € 7,476 thousand). The Group's investments amounted to € 5,141 thousand. Short and long-term bank borrowings totaling € 29,983 thousand fell by € 12,196 thousand (28.9%), which reduced leverage by 15.3%. 88 1.2. Income statement a) Operating revenues and profits Accumulated net revenues recorded by Iberpapel Group at 31 December 2009 amounted to € 180,760 thousand (2008: € 182,859 thousand), which is a 1.1% decline. The most significant components were as follows: 31/12/2009 31/12/2008 Var. % Sale of paper 142,560 168,763 -15.5% Sale of timber 2,619 3,221 -18.7% Sale of Electricity 35,581 10,875 227.2% Paper sales fell by 15.5% due to the negative market situation, which mainly affected selling prices, but also the number of physical units sold dropped by around 6%. IBG PAPER PRICES. BASE 100 INDICES 2000 The cost of supplies totaled € 72,980 thousand, an 18% decline that is mainly due to the purchasing policies that have allowed action to be taken with respect to raw material prices. The prices to acquire timber and long and short fibers underwent substantial declines in 2009. Supply costs were also helped by a higher contribution of in-house cellulose production for the manufacture of paper. 89 The heading "Other expenses" shows the positive effect that the fall in gas prices has had on this heading, which was partially offset by higher consumption by the new co-generation plant. Up until December 2009 Iberpapel Group imported three shipments of Eucalyptus from its properties in South America (72,250 cubic meters). Personnel costs totaling € 17,302 thousand remain at the same level as in 2008 (€ 17,301 thousand). The Group's gross operating profit rose to € 21,936 thousand (2008: € 17,406), which is 26.0% more. EBITDA reflects the sharp decline in paper prices, offset in part by the decline in raw material prices, the significant fall in gas prices and the increase in electricity sold by the Group subsidiary Papelera Guipuzcoana de Zicuñaga. b) Payroll At 31 December 2009 the average number of employees stood at 364 (2008: 366). EVOLUTION OF WORKFORCE 1.3. a) Consolidated balance sheet Other intangible assets This heading includes CO2 emission rights granted this year and measures at the price established at 1 January 2009. b) Biological assets The measurement of biological assets is done on an annual basis by the independent expert “GALTIER FRANCO IBERICA, S.A.” 90 c) Investment The Group made investments totaling € 5,141 thousand in 2009 (2008: € 23,383 thousand), of which € 2,048 thousand relate to the co-generation activity, € 2,028 to forestry activities and € 1,065 to paper manufacturing activities. d) Bank loans and overdrafts Short and long-term bank borrowings at 31 December 2009 totaled € 29,983 thousand (2008: € 42,179 thousand). The Group reduced its debt by € 12,196 thousand (-28.9%), which reduced its leveraging to 15.3% (2008: 22.6%) € ’000 31/12/2009 31/12/2008 Bank borrowings and overdrafts falling due within and after one year 29,983 42,179 Less: Cash and cash equivalents (3,618) (4,579) Net debt 26,365 37,600 172,853 166,530 15.3% 22.6% Equity Leveraging index LEVERAGE % The decrease in debt allowed the Group to improve its financial structure. At 31 December 2009 the Group's capital and reserves represent 65.5% of total liabilities. 91 FINANCIAL STRUCTURE Equity 1.4. Liabilities Relevant events 11/03/2009 The Company announced that on 2 March 2009,the Guipúzcoa Mercantile Registry recorded the termination of the Director Mr. José María Cuevas Salvador due to his death. 29/04/2009 The Company called a General Meeting 03/06/2009 The Company sent the Resolutions adopted by the General Meeting. 16/12/2009 The Company issued information regarding the interim dividend distributed from 2009 profits as agreed by the Board of Directors at a meeting held in 15 December 2009. 17/12/2009 Mr. Echevarría Abona resigned as the Chairman of the Board fn CEO and Mr. Echevarría Canales was appointed. 2. Treasury shares In 2009 Iberpapel Gestión, S.A. acquired 9,991 treasury shares on the stock exchange. The amount paid for the shares totaled € 87 thousand, net of taxes. 92 At 31 December 2009 the Company holds a total of 98,869 own shares amounting to € 1,556 thousand. These shares represent 0.850% of the Company’s share capital. The value of these shares is included in Treasury shares as a decrease in the value of equity in accordance with IAS 32. 3. Research & Development The Company continues to focus its efforts on R&D and innovation programs in the search for new products, the improvement of the production process and the on-going follow-up of the technologies affecting each business process. 4. Risk management 4.1. General description of the risk policy. The Iberpapel Group has carried out risk control and management actions which have afforded an adequate valuation in this respect. In this respect, systems have been implemented that enable the following risks affecting the Group to be identified, assessed, managed and controlled. a) Principal risks of the Iberpapel Group. The Group’s control systems are considered appropriate in light of the Group’s risk profile and may be grouped together in the following categories: i) Market / competition and selling / raw material prices risks. Maintaining a highly competitive cost structure that enables the impact of market crises to be addressed comparatively better than in the competition. Improvement in competitiveness and environmental efficiency through the launch of a 50 MWh high-efficiency cogeneration plan which gives rise to an additional competitive advantage due to cost reductions and lowered dependence on electricity prices. 93 ii) Forestry risks. Systems of control over the distribution of forestry assets: three distant forestry areas (Argentina, Uruguay and Huelva), with the reasonable distribution of properties in each area. Moreover, forest cleaning, firebreak work etc is carried out on a regular basis, thereby reducing the impact of potential damages from fire. iii) Regulatory/ environmental risks. Plans and systems to ensure the quality of products and services: the top priority under the Iberpapel Group’s defined quality policy is customer satisfaction and on-going improvement and therefore to ensure that products and services meet quality standards. In this connection, the Group has ISO 9001 and 14001 certificates, AENOR certificates for the Custodial Chain Model and Integrated Environmental Authorization obtained in 2008. The Iberpapel Group’s basic quality policy objectives are as follows: To review, improve and optimize existing processes and controls in order to ensure product quality and traceability. To provide an adequate response to claims, implementing a process to examine, record and respond to such claims. Systems to control environmental risks: the Iberpapel group is committed to complying with applicable European, central government and regional legislation and participates actively in the development of new environmental commitments. In this respect, progress is being made on the gradual implementation of Available Technology Improvements deriving from Community Directive IPPC 96/61/EC on integrated pollution control and the processing of Integrated Environmental Management. A series of actions carried out by the Group in this connection are particularly noteworthy: Odor elimination systems. Elimination of elementary chloride as a bleaching agent. 94 Installation of on-going emission measurement systems in conjunction with the Basque regional government. Utilization of the best available technologies to improve emissions and disposals and reduce waste. Installation of a new effluent treatment facility. The Iberpapel Group has continued to implement its reforestation policy, focusing on so-called Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM). This policy aims to secure, through such mechanisms contained in the Kyoto Protocol and European legislation, financing to ensure the feasibility of the projects started up, enabling, moreover, the obtainment of an optimum supply of raw materials for our facilities in Hernani. This project is a worldwide benchmark for the forestry sector since the calculation methods developed by the Group may be applied to any other project . The aforementioned project has mainly been developed through a reforestation program based on the variety of seed or development eucalyptus cloned at the properties purchased by the group’s subsidiaries in Argentina and Uruguay which were previously used as grazing land. The total number of reforested hectares over the past few years is approximately 4,200 in Argentina and 7,300 in Uruguay. Iberpapel Group is developing a specific energy and climate change program to improve the balance of CO2 emissions and to facilitate a favorable competitive position, including the improvement of CO2 emissions and the strengthening of the use biomass as fuel. In past years Iberpapel Group obtained several environmental certificates, among them the AENOR certificate for the Custodial Chain Model for Forestry Products (PEFC) in the industrial division, together with the Sustainable Forestry Management Certificate in accordance with the FSC Standard (Forest Stewardship Council) in the forestry division. 95 In 2009 Iberpapel Group continued with the process of making environmental improvements by obtaining new certificates such as the Custodial Chain certificate in accordance with the FSC standard by the industrial division and the forestry division (national and international). iv) Risks relating to new investments and other There is an investment development analysis and monitoring program in place that allows business growth processes to be satisfactorily handled and relates to the growth of the generation of electricity that the Group plans to export to the grid. v) Risks of material damages and loss of earnings. Other preventive procedures: it is Iberpapel group’s policy to arrange the necessary insurance policies and hedges to mitigate as far as possible the risks deriving from the loss of earnings, material damages, customer collection, machine breakdowns etc . The decline in profits (including all industrial operations) Machine fault insurance (Including damages and loss of earnings) Material damages (comprehensive insurance) Customer collections (the group arranges insurance for both domestic and export sales) Third-party liability (including causing agent and damages) Third-party liability of Directors and Managers b) Risk control and coverage The Group has assessed the risks on the basis of a universal model and carried out the reviews considered necessary to update the risk map. Similarly, the impact of those risks has been calculated together with the follow-up and management actions relating to each of the aforementioned areas. 96 In order to reinforce the control environment, Iberpapel Group hired Deloitte & Touche, S.L. to perform an internal audit of the Group. This consultant reported directly to the Audit Commission as the body responsible for supervising internal control. c) Organization and responsibilities The Company controls and manages the risks of the Iberpapel Group at different supervisor, control and management levels. i) Board of Directors: The Board is responsible for maintaining the internal control system, including the follow-up and control of the significant risks of the Iberpapel corporate group. ii) Audit Committee. The Audit Committee carries out the risk management policy and the regular follow-up of information and control systems. iii) Risk Control and Management Systems in the Group. On the basis of the assessment of operational risks supervised by the Audit Committee, the Board of Directors carries out risk control and management and supervises the internal audit services. The Group has implemented the necessary mechanisms to control and manage risks in accordance with the universal assessment model which takes into account any kind. Because of its universal and dynamic nature, the system enables the on-going management of the risks affecting the Iberpapel Group, making it possible to tailor it to changes in the environment, to review its objectives and strategies and upgrade its monitoring and supervisory process. With respect to compliance with the different regulations which affect the Iberpapel Group, it should be noted that the Group has a legal department and external advisors when required such that at all times it is in a position to comply with the regulations applicable to the Group in its operations. 97 In this respect, it should be noted that as a listed Group, it complies with its quarterly, sixmonthly and annual reporting obligations and issues the Significant Events report and other information requested by the National Securities Market Commission. Integrated risk management in the Iberpapel Group and companies which form it enables a profitability / risk balance to be attained, reducing the impact on results. 4.2. Derivative financial instruments and hedge accounting The Group does not trade in derivative financial instruments and does not carry out hedge accounting. 4.3. Foreign currency transactions The Group’s functional currency is the euro. As a result, transactions in currencies other than the euro are considered to be denominated in foreign currency and are recorded at the exchange rates prevailing on the transaction dates. At the balance sheet date, monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currency are translated at the rates in force at the balance sheet date. Gains or losses are taken directly to the income statement. On consolidation, the assets and liabilities of the Group’s foreign operations are translated at the exchange rates in force at the balance sheet dates. Income and expense items are translated at the average exchange rates for the period unless such rates fluctuate significantly. Any exchange differences that may arise are classified as equity. Such translation differences are recognized as income or expenses in the period in which the investment is made or sold. 4.4. Risks associated with assets The Group has formalized insurance policies to cover the possible risks to which certain property, plant and equipment are subject and the possible claims that may be filed in relation to the performance of its operations. These policies are understood to provide sufficient coverage of the risks to which such assets are subject. 98 4.5. Credit risk The Group’s main financial assets are cash and bank balances, trade and other receivable balances and investments, which represent the Group’s maximum credit risk exposure in relation to financial assets. The Group’s credit risk is mainly attributable to its trade debts. The amounts involved are recorded in the balance sheet, net of bad debt provisions, which are estimated by Group management on the basis of prior year experience and an assessment of the current economic environment. The Group has no significant credit risk concentration and exposure is spread among a large number of counterparties. Moreover, the group insures almost all paper sales. The Group has no direct risks with the Company’s Directors at 31 December 2009. In all cases, the transactions that gave rise to these balances were completed on an arm’s length basis. 5. Events after the balance sheet date At the preparation date of these annual accounts, no significant post-balance sheet events had taken place. 99 6. In compliance with Article 116 bis of Law 24/2008 of 28 July 2007, on the Securities Market, introduced by Law 6/2008 of 12 April 2007, the Board of Directors of Iberpapel Gestión, S.A. issues this explanatory report on those aspects of the Directors’ Report envisaged therein for submission to the Company’s General Shareholders’ Meeting. a) The capital structure, including securities traded on a Community regulated market, indicating, where appropriate, the different classes of shares and for each class of shares, the rights and obligations granted and percentage of capital represented. The share capital of Iberpapel Gestión, S. A. at 31 December 2009 amounts to € 6,979,884.00 and has been fully paid in and is divided into 11,633,140 ordinary shares of a single class and series, with a par value of € 0,60 each, fully subscribed and paid in. b) Restriction on the transfer of shares. There are no legal restrictions or restrictions in the bylaws concerning the free acquisition or transfer of shareholdings. Article 6 of the bylaws lays down that the shares are represented by accounting entries. c) Significant direct or indirect shareholdings in capital. At 31 December 2009 the only significant shareholdings known are as follows: Name Banco Guipuzcoano % Direct % Indirect 5.226 Bestinver Gestion, S.A., S.G.I.I.C. No. of Direct rights No. of indirect rights 607,923 1,059,706 (1) 9.109 Bestinver Bolsa, FI 4.246 493,918 Onchena, S.L. 7.583 882,188 100 (1) Through: Name of indirect holder Through: Name of direct holder of Number of % total voting of the stake the stake direct voting rights rights ABEDUL 1999, S.A. SICAV 1,447 0.012 BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. ACCIONES CUP. Y OBLI. 1,876 0.016 S.G.I.I.C. SEGOVIANAS. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. BESTINFOND, F.I. 265,908 2.286 BESTINVER BOLSA, F.I. 493,918 4.246 BESTINVER MIXTO, F.I. 84,545 0.727 BESTINVER AHORRO,F.P. 41,192 0.354 BESTINVER BESTVALUE SICAV 46,129 0.397 BESTINVER GLOBAL, F.P. 49,640 0.427 BESTINVER EMPLEO FP S.A. 2,249 0.019 DIIVALSA DE INVERSIONES SICAV, S.A. 2,434 0.021 LINKER INVERSIONES, SICAV, S.A. 1,385 0.012 LOUPRI INVERSIONES 3,825 0.033 SOIXA SICAV 50,732 0.436 TEXRENTA INVERSIONES, 14,426 0.124 BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION, S.A. S.G.I.I.C. 101 d) Restrictions on voting rights There are no legal restrictions or restrictions in the bylaws on the exercising of voting rights. e) Quasi-corporate pacts. The company has received no notification of the existence of any quasi-corporate pacts including the regulation of the exercise of voting rights at General Meetings or restrictions on the free transfer of the shares of Iberpapel Gestión. S.A. f) Regulations applicable to the appointment and replacement of the members of the Administrative Body and amendment of the corporate objects. Article 9 of the Bylaws lays down that the General Shareholders’ Meeting is authorized to appoint and dismiss Directors and ratify or revoke provisional appointments of such directors effected by the Board itself. Article 21 of the Bylaws lays down that the Board of Directors shall be made up of a minimum of three and a maximum of 10 members. designated by the General Shareholders’ Meeting. The Directors will hold office for a maximum of six years and may be re-elected one or more times for identical periods. The Board of Directors will be empowered to cover provisionally any vacancies that may arise in the same. designating the replacements in the legally established manner until the first General Shareholders’ Meeting. Those persons involved in a legal conflict of interest or declared legally incapable may not be directors. 102 Article 7 of the Board’s Regulations lays down: i) The General Shareholders’ Meeting shall determine the number of directors. with a minimum of three and a maximum of ten. as established by the Bylaws. ii) The Directors shall hold office for a maximum of six years and may be re-elected once or more times for identical periods at the most. Article 8 of the Board’s Regulations lays down: The proposals which the Board submits to the General Shareholders’ Meeting relating to the appointment or re-election of directors within the limits set out in the Bylaws. shall be made following the proposal of the Appointments and Remuneration Committee for independent directors and following a report from such Committee for other directors and will include the presence on the Board of a reasonable number of independent directors and shall have a majority of external directors not involved in management. Article 15 of the Board’s Regulations lays down: The directors shall cease to hold office when the period for which they were appointed elapses. in accordance with Article 145 of the Mercantile Registry Regulations. and when so decided by the General Shareholders’ Meeting in accordance with the powers conferred to it. Moreover. the directors shall place their position at the disposal of the Board of Directors and formalize. if deemed appropriate. their resignation in the following cases: i) When they are involved in a legal conflict of interest. ii) When their remaining on the Board may jeopardize the Company’s interests or when the reasons for which they were appointed no longer exist. iii) In the event of an accusation or instigation of oral proceedings connected with any of the crimes indicated in Article 124 of the Spanish Companies Act. the Board shall examine the case as soon as possible and decide the appropriateness of the Director continuing to hold office or otherwise. iv) Domanial directors shall resign when the shareholder whom they represent sells his shareholding in full. 103 Amendment of the Company’s bylaws Article 9 of the Bylaws lays down that authority to amend the bylaws lies with the General Shareholders’ Meeting. Article 12 of the Bylaws lays down that in order for the General Meeting to validly agree to issue bonds. increase or decrease share capital. transform. merge or split the Company or any other bylaw amendment. half of voting capital shall be present at the first call. On second call. it shall be sufficient for 25% of voting share capital to be represented. g) Powers of attorney of the members of the Board of Directors and. in particular. those relating to the possibility of issuing or repurchasing shares. Executive directors hold wide-ranging powers of attorney and administration commensurate with the characteristics and needs of the positions held. Article 6 of the Boards’ Regulations lays down that the policy concerning dividends and treasury shares and in particular. their limits. shall be known exclusively by the Board of Directors. In accordance with Article 75 of the Spanish Companies Act. the General Shareholders’ Meeting. in the meeting held on 02 June 2009. granted authorization to the Board of Directors. with the power to delegate. for the derivative acquisition of treasury shares by the Company and / or part of its subsidiaries in accordance with applicable legislation. i) Maximum number: the number of treasury shares may in no event exceed the maximum limit contained in the Spanish Companies Act for listed companies ( 5% of share capital.) ii) Term: 14 months as from 2 June 2009. iii) The price shall be a minimum of the par value and a maximum of € 40 per share. h) Any significant agreements that have been concluded by the company and enter into effect may be amended or terminated in the event of a change in control of the company as a result of a public offering and their effects. except when disclosure would have a serious adverse effect for the company. This exception shall not apply when the company is legally required to disclose this information. 104 The company has not entered into any agreements in this respect. i) The agreements between the company and its administration and management officers or employees that provide for indemnities in the event of resignation or wrongful dismissal or if the employer/ employee relation comes to an end as a result of a public offering. The Company has no agreements other than those contained in the Workers’ Statute with its administration and management officers or employees that provide for indemnities in the event of resignation or wrongful dismissal or if the employer/ employee relation comes to an end as a result of a public offering. 105 ANNUAL CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT LISTED COMPANIES ISSUER IDENTIFICATION YEAR END DATE 31-12-2009 C.I.F A21248893 Name: IBERPAPEL GESTION. S.A. 106 MODEL ANNUAL CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT FOR LISTED COMPANIES To better understand and fill in this model report. the instructions included at the end should be read. A OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE A.1 Complete the following table on the company’s capital: Date of latest modification Share capital (€ ) Number of shares 26-06-2006 6,979,884.00 11,633,140 Number of voting rights 11,633,140 State whether there are different classes of shares with different associated rights: No A.2 Give details on the direct and indirect holders of significant interest in your company at the year-end. excluding Directors: Name of shareholder BESTINVER GESTION. S.A. S.G.I.I.C. ONCHENA.S.L. Number of direct Number of indirect % total voting voting rights voting rights (*) rights 0 1,059,706 9.109 882,188 0 7.583 BANCO GUIPUZOANO. S.A. 607,923 0 5.226 BESTINVER BOLSA. FI 493,918 0 4.246 107 (*) Through: Name of indirect holder Through: Name of direct holder of Number of % total voting of the stake the stake direct voting rights rights ABEDUL 1999. S.A. SICAV 1,447 0.012 BESTINVER GESTION. S.A. ACCINES CUP. Y OBLI. 1,876 0.016 S.G.I.I.C. SEGOVIANAS. BESTINVER GESTION. S.A. BESTINFOND. F.I. 265,908 2.286 BESTINVER BOLSA. F.I. 493,918 4.246 BESTINVER MIXTO. F.I. 84,545 0.727 BESTINVER AHORRO.F.P. 41,192 0.354 BESTINVER BESTVALUE SICAV 46,129 0.397 BESTINVER GLOBAL. F.P. 49,640 0.427 BESTINVER EMPLEO FP S.A. 2,249 0.019 DIIVALSA DE INVERSIONES SICAV. S.A. 2,434 0.021 LINKER INVERSIONES. SICAV. S.A. 1,385 0.012 LOUPRI INVERSIONES 3,825 0.033 SOIXA SICAV 50,732 0.436 TEXRENTA INVERSIONES. 14,426 0.124 BESTINVER GESTION. S.A. S.G.I.I.C. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION. S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION. S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION. S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION. S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION. S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION. S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION. S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION. S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION. S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION. S.A. S.G.I.I.C. BESTINVER GESTION. S.A. S.G.I.I.C. 108 Indicate the principal movements in the shareholding structure during the year: Name of shareholder Date of the transaction Description of the transaction BESTINVER GESTION. S.A. S.G.I.I.C 19/11/2009 Reduced from 10% of share capital A.3 Complete the following tables on Directors’ shareholding interests in the company: Name of the Director Number of direct voting rights Number of indirect voting % total voting rights rights (*) Mr. IÑIGO ECHEVARRIA CANALES 25,701 490 0.225 Mr. NESTOR BASTERRA LARROUDE 61,796 20,157 0.704 873 0 0.008 108,799 600 0.940 Mr. IÑIGO SOLAUN GARTEIZ 13,213 14,215 0.236 Mr. IÑAKI USANDIZAGA ARANZADI 240,016 0 2.063 400 0 0.003 Mr. BALTASAR ERRAZTI NAVARRO Mr. IGNACIO PEÑALBA CEBERIO Mr. MARTIN GONZALEZ DEL VALLE CHAVARRI (*) Through: Name of indirect holder of the stake Through: Name of direct Number of % total voting holder of the stake direct voting rights rights Mr. IÑIGO ECHEVARRIA CANALES Mr. JAIME ECHEVARRIA AGUIRRE 490 0.004 Mr. NESTOR BASTERRA LARROUDE LINET INVERSIONES 2012. S.L. 13,425 0.115 Mr. NESTOR BASTERRA LARROUDE Mr. NESTOR E IGNACIO 6,732 0.058 14,215 0.122 600 0.005 BASTERRA MARTINEZ Mr. IÑIGO SOLAUN GARTEIZ-GOXEASCOA Mrs. Mª ANGELES BUSTILLO BASTERRA Mr. IGNACIO PEÑALBA CEBERIO Mrs. MAGDALENA OTADUY SALCEDO % total of voting rights held by the Board of Directors 4,180 109 Complete the following tables on Directors with stock options in the Company: A.4 Indicate family. commercial. contractual or corporate relationships among significant shareholders known to the company. if any. except any that are insignificant and those deriving from ordinary commercial business: A.5 Indicate commercial. contractual or corporate relationships between significant shareholders and the company and/or its group. if any. except any that are insignificant and those deriving from ordinary commercial business: A.6 Indicate any shareholders’ agreements of which the Company has been notified in pursuance of Article 112 of the Stock Market Act. Describe briefly. if any. indicating the shareholders bound by the agreement: NO Expressly indicate any change or break-up of those agreements or concerted actions. if any. that have taken place during the year: A.7 Indicate any individuals or entities that exercise or may exercise control over the Company in pursuance of Article 4 of the Stock Market Act. Identify any that exist: NO A.8 Complete the following tables on the Company’s treasury stock: At the year-end: Number of direct shares Number of indirect shares % total of share capital 98,869 0 0.850 110 (*) Through: Total: 0 Give details on any significant variations during the year. according to the provisions of Royal Decree 1362/2007: Gains/(Losses) obtained during the year on trading treasury shares (thousand euro) 0 A.9 Indicate the terms and conditions of the authorization granted by the General Meeting to the Board to buy or sell treasury shares. The Board of Directors is authorized to acquire treasury shares by the Company and/or its subsidiaries. in accordance with the terms established by Law and by shareholders at the general Meeting held on 02 June 2009. as follows: (i) Maximum number: the number of treasury shares may in no event exceed the maximum limit contained in the Spanish Companies Act for listed companies ( 5% of share capital.) (ii) Term:14 months as from today's date. (iii) The price shall be a minimum of the par value and a maximum of € 40 per share. A.10 Indicate any constraints established in law or the Articles of Association on the exercise of voting rights and legal restrictions on the acquisition and disposal of shares in the capital. Indicate whether there are any legal constraints on the exercise of voting rights: NO Maximum percentage of voting rights that may be exercised by a shareholder due to legal 0 restrictions Indicate whether the Articles of Association establish any constraints on the exercise of voting rights: NO 111 Maximum percentage of voting rights that may be exercised by a shareholder due to 0 bylaw restrictions Indicate whether there are any legal restrictions on the acquisition and disposal of shares in the capital: NO A.11 Indicate whether the General Shareholders’ Meeting has resulted in measures to neutralize a takeover bid under Law 6/2007. NO If so. explain the measures approved and the terms under which the constraints would become ineffective. B B.1 MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE OF THE COMPANY Board of Directors B.1.1 State the maximum and minimum numbers of Directors stipulated in the Articles of Association: Maximum number of Directors: Minimum number of Directors: 10 3 112 B.1.2 Complete the following table with details of the members of the Board: Name of the Director Date of first Date of last appointment appointment CHAIRMAN 21-07-1997 19-06-2007 VICE CHAIRMAN 21-10-1997 19-06-2007 DIRECTOR 21-10-1997 19-06-2007 DIRECTOR 21-10-1997 19-06-2007 DIRECTOR 21-10-1997 19-06-2007 DIRECTOR 21-07-1997 19-06-2007 DIRECTOR 22-02-2005 2-06-2009 Representative Position Mr. IÑIGO ECHEVARRIA Election procedure SHAREHOLDER VOTE CANALES Mr. NESTOR BASTERRA SHAREHOLDER VOTE LARROUDE Mr. BALTASAR ERRAZTI SHAREHOLDER VOTE NAVARRO Mr. IGNACIO PEÑALBA SHAREHOLDER VOTE CEBERIO Mr. IÑAKI SHAREHOLDER VOTE USANDIZAGA ARANZADI Mr. IÑIGO SOLAUN SHAREHOLDER VOTE GARTEIZ Mr. MARTIN MARIA SHAREHOLDER VOTE GONZALEZ DEL VALLE CHAVARRI Total Number of Directors 7 Indicate any exits from the Board of Directors during the year: Name of the Director Mr. JAIME ECHEVARRÍA ABONA Status of the Director at the time of Date of exit exit EXECUTIVE 31/12/2009 113 B.1.3 Complete the following tables on the types of Board Members: EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS Name of the Director Nominating Committee Position in Company’s organization Mr. IÑIGO ECHEVARRIA CANALES NOMINATIONS AND CHAIRMAN COMPENSATION Total number of executive Directors Total percent of the Board 1 14,286 INSTITUTIONAL OUTSIDE DIRECTORS Name of the significant Name of the Director Nominating Committee shareholder represented or that proposed the appointment Mr. IÑAKI USANDIZAGA ARANZADI NOMINATIONS AND Mr. IÑAKI USANDIZAGA COMPENSATION COMMITTEE ARANZADI Mr. IGNACIO PEÑALBA CEBERIO NOMINATIONS AND IGNACIO PEÑALBA CEBERIO COMPENSATION COMMITTEE Total number of Institutional Directors Total percent of the Board 2 28,571 INDEPENDENT OUTSIDE DIRECTORS Name of the Director Mr. BALTASAR ERRAZTI NAVARRO Profile Doctorate in Industrial Engineering from Escuela Superior de Ingenieros Industriales in Bilbao. Director of Grupo Tamoin. Director of Probask and Director of Bestergy. Simultaneously. he has been one of the key proponents of configuration and consolidation of business organizations in Euskadi and between 1984 and 1993 he was the Vice Chairman of the Basque Business Confederation (Cofebask). He chaired this organization between 25 October 1993 and July 1999. He has also formed part of the Executive Committees of the Basque Metal Industry Federation and the Vizcaya Industrial and Mercantile Center (currently called Cebek) and chaired the Industry and Energy Committee at the 114 CEOE. He was on the Executive Committee of CEOE and chaired its Technology Innovation Committee. Name of the Director Mr. IÑIGO SOLAUN GARTEIZ Profile Degree in Law from Universidad de Valladolid. He has been a Director of Garteiz. S.A. Prado Hnos. S.A. Garate Anitua y Cia S.A.. Sebastián de la Fuente. S.A. Administrador Único de Productos Fotográficos. Valca.S.A. and Invelasa. S.A. (Patricio Echevarria. S.A.) Name of the Director Mr. MARTIN GONZALEZ DEL VALLE CHAVARRI Profile Degree in Law from Fundación Universitaria San Pablo CEU MBA from INSEAD- Fontainebleau in 1984. Founding Partner of Realza Capital SGECR. S.A CEO of Investindustrial Partners Spain. S.A. Assistant General Manager of Crédit Agricole Indosuez. Director of Corporate Finance Senior Director of Mercapital. S.A. He started his professional career at Duro Felguera. Baxter Travenol (health) and Socelec. S.A. (Technical lighting). holding various positions of responsibility. Chairman of Esindus. S.A. Director of Hamon&Compagnie Name of the Director Mr. NESTOR BASTERRA LARROUDE Profile Degree in Law and Diploma in Economics from Universidad de Deusto MBA from IESE Responsible for the Large Company Department Banco Santander Central Hispano. Bank of América: Corporate banking and Capital Markets Vice-Chairman of Viscofan. S.A. Director of Amistra SGC S.A Total number of independent Directors Total percent of the Board 4 57,143 OTHER OUTSIDE DIRECTORS State the reasons why they cannot be considered institutional or independent directors and their association with either the Company. executives or shareholders. 115 Indicate any variations during the year in the type of each Director: B.1.4 Explain why institutional directors have been appointed at the proposal of shareholders with less than 5% interest in the Company. if appropriate: Indicate whether any formal requests for a presence on the Board have not been met from shareholders with an interest equal to or greater than that of others at whose request institutional directors have been appointed. If so. explain why such requests have not been met: NO B.1.5 Indicate whether any director has left the position before the end of his/her term. whether he/she explained the reasons for leaving the Board and how; if done in a letter addressed to the entire Board. explain at least the reasons stated therein: Name of the Director Mr. JAIME ECHEVARRÍA ABONA Reason for exit Resignation B.1.6 Indicate the powers delegated to the Managing Director(s). if any: Name Mr. IÑIGO ECHEVARRIA CANALES Brief description Board authority. except for those that cannot be delegated as listed in the Regulations and those pertaining to the General Meeting. 116 B.1.7 Name the Board members. if any. who are also directors or executives of other companies in the same group as the listed company: Name of the Director Name of the group company Position Mr. IÑIGO ECHEVARRIA CANALES IBEREUCALIPTOS. S.A DIRECTOR Mr. IÑIGO ECHEVARRIA CANALES LOS EUCALIPTOS. S.A. VICE CHAIRMAN Mr. IÑIGO ECHEVARRIA CANALES PAPELERA Mr. IÑIGO ECHEVARRIA CANALES PAPETERIES DE L´ATLANTIQUE. S.A. CHAIRMAN Mr. IÑIGO ECHEVARRIA CANALES SAMAKIL. S.A. VICE CHAIRMAN 2 Mr. NESTOR BASTERRA LARROUDE IBEREUCALIPTOS. S.A. DIRECTOR Mr. NESTOR BASTERRA LARROUDE PAPELERA GUIPUZCOANA DE CHAIRMAN ZICUÑAGA. S.A. GUIPUZCOANA DE DIRECTOR ZICUÑAGA .S.A. Mr. NESTOR BASTERRA LARROUDE SAMAKIL. S.A VICE CHAIRMAN 1 Mr. IGNACIO PEÑALBA CEBERIO IBEREUCALIPTOS. S.A. DIRECTOR Mr. IÑIGO SOLAUN GARTEIZ PAPELERA GUIPUZCOANA DE DIRECTOR ZICUÑAGA .S.A. B.1.8 Name company directors. if any. on the Boards of non-group companies listed on Spanish stock exchanges. insofar as the company has been notified: Name of the Director Name of the listed company Position Mr. IÑIGO ECHEVARRIA CANALES BANCO GUIPUZCOANO DIRECTOR Mr. NESTOR BASTERRA LARROUDE VISCOFAN. S.A. VICE CHAIRMAN B.1.9 Indicate and. if appropriate. explain whether the company has established rules on the number of boards on which its Directors may sit: Yes 117 Explanation of the rules The Board Of Directors approved a Resolution stating that Company Directors may not form part of more than 10 Boards of Directors. in addition to Iberpapel Gestión. S.A. except for: The Boards of companies pertaining to Iberpapel Group. - Shareholdings held by the Director or close family members. B.1.10 With regard to recommendation number 8 of the Unified Code. indicate the general policies and strategies of the company reserved for approval by the full Board: YES Investment and financing policy YES Definition of the structure of the group of companies YES Corporate governance policy YES Corporate social responsibility policy YES Strategic or business plan. management objectives and annual budget YES Compensation policy and senior executive performance evaluation YES Risk management and control policy. and regular monitoring of internal information and control systems YES Dividend policy. treasury stock policy. especially limits. 118 B.1.11 Complete the following tables on the aggregate directors’ compensation accrued during the year: a) At the reporting company: Compensation Thousand euro Fixed compensation 90 Variable compensation 196 Per diems 0 Statutory compensation 0 Stock options and/or other financial instruments 0 Other 0 TOTAL: Other Benefits 286 Thousand euro Pre-payments 0 Loans granted 0 Pension Plans and Funds: Contributions 0 Pension Plans and Funds: Contractual obligations 0 Life insurance premiums 0 Guarantees provided by the Company for Directors 0 b) For company Directors who are on other Boards and/or in senior management of group companies: Compensation Thousand euro Fixed compensation 169 Variable compensation 41 Per diems 6 Statutory compensation 0 Stock options and/or other financial instruments 0 Other 0 TOTAL: 216 119 Other Benefits Thousand euro Pre-payments 0 Loans granted 0 Pension Plans and Funds: Contributions 0 Pension Plans and Funds: Contractual obligations 0 Life insurance premiums 0 Guarantees provided by the Company for Directors 0 c) Total compensation by type of Director: Type of directors By company Executives 189 Institutional outside directors 47 7 Independent outside directors 103 20 0 0 286 216 Other outside directors Total d) By group 136 Regarding profits attributed to the parent company: Total director compensation (thousand euro) 502 Total compensation for directors/profit attributed to the parent company (expressed in 8.2 %) B.1.12 Identify the members of senior management who are not Executive Directors and indicate the aggregate compensation accrued to them during the year: Name Position Mr. FERMIN URTASUN ERRO ASSISTANT CEO Mr. FRANCISCO FORTIN ALVAREZ TREASURY DIRECTOR Mr. LUIS GONZALEZ GUTIERREZ FINANCE DIRECTOR Mr. JOAQUIN MANSO RAMON LEGAL DIRECTOR Mr. MIGUEL A. TAPIADOR SILANET PURCHASING DIRECTOR Mr. IGNACIO BURUTARAN USANDIZAGA SALES DIRECTOR - EXPORTS Mr. PABLO FUENTES ARTOLA SALES DIRECTOR - DOMESTIC Mr. JOSE MARIA REPARAZ ABAITUA HUMAN RESOURCE DIRECTOR 120 Total senior management compensation (thousand euro) 859 B.1.13 Indicate overall whether any golden parachute clauses have been established for senior management. including Executive Directors. at the Company or its group in the event of dismissal or change of ownership. State whether these contracts have to be reported to and/or approved by the governing bodies at the Company or its group: Number of beneficiaries 0 Board of Directors General Meeting NO NO Body authorizing the clauses Is the General Meeting informed of the clauses? NO B.1.14 Explain the process for establishing the compensation for Board Members and the relevant Articles of Association: Processes for establishing the compensation for Board Members and the relevant Articles of Association and statutory clauses Compensation for the members of the Board of Directors is established under Article 22 of the bylaws. which states: “The Board of Directors will receive compensation consisting of 4% of net profits which will only be deducted from said profits after having made all necessary contributions to the legal reserve and. if appropriate. any other mandatory reserves as well as the distribution of a dividend to shareholders of at least 4% of share capital paid in. Each year the Board of Directors will establish pacific amount to be received by each Director. adjusting the amount to be received by each one based on their membership to Board Committees. the position held on those committees as well as their dedication to the Company” Article 6 of the Board Regulations stipulates that the Board is exclusively authorized to determine the compensation for Directors and. in the case of executives. any additional compensation for executive duties and any other contractual conditions and. at the proposal of the CEO. the appointment and removal of senior management. as well as their severance packages. Article 1.3 of the Regulations stipulates that the Nomination and Compensation Committee will propose to the 121 Board of Directors: i. The compensation policy for directors and senior management; ii. The individual compensation and other contractual conditions of executive directors. iii. The standard conditions for senior management employment contracts. This Article stipulates that the mission of the aforementioned Committee will be: report the appointments and resignations of senior executives that the chief executive has proposed to the Board of Directors. Indicate whether approvals of the following decisions are reserved for the full Board: Upon recommendation by the CEO. the appointment and possible removal of senior YES management and any indemnity clauses. Directors’ compensation and. in the case of Executive Directors. additional compensation for YES their management duties and other contractual conditions. B.1.15 Indicate whether the Board of Directors approves a detailed compensation policy and specify the issues it regulates: Yes Amount of fixed compensation. including the details of per diems for Board and YES Committee Meetings and an estimate of the fixed annual compensation. Variable compensation Principal features of retirement systems. estimating the annual cost or equivalent amount. YES YES 122 YES Contract conditions for executive directors B.1.16 Indicate whether the Board submits a report on Director compensation policy to voting at the General Meeting. as a separate item on the Agenda and with an advisory nature. If so. explain the aspects of the report on the compensation policy approved by the Board for future years. the most significant changes in those policies in respect of the policy applied during the year and an overall summary of how the compensation policy was applied during the period. Describe the role played by the Compensation Committee and whether external consultants have been used. and if so. the identity of the external consultants: Yes Issues addressed by the Compensation policy report The report contains explanations regarding the general principles governing the compensation policy for Iberpapel Directors and the compensation system for Executive Directors. including fixed compensation and any variable components. Compensation for Directors is established under Article 22 of the bylaws. which states: “The Board of Directors will receive compensation consisting of 4% of net profits which will only be deducted from said profits after having made all necessary contributions to the legal reserve and. if appropriate. any other mandatory reserves as well as the distribution of a dividend to shareholders of at least 4% of share capital paid in. Each year the Board of Directors will establish pacific amount to be received by each Director. adjusting the amount to be received by each one based on their membership to Board Committees. the position held on those committees as well as their dedication to the Company” Article 1.3 of the Board Regulations states that one of the duties of the Nomination and Compensation Committee is to propose to the Board of Directors: i. The compensation policy for directors and senior management; ii. The individual compensation and other contractual conditions of executive directors. iii. The standard conditions for senior management employment contracts. Were external consultants used? Identity of the external consultants 123 B.1.17 Name any Board Members who are also directors or executives of companies holding significant interest in the listed company and/or companies pertaining to its Group: Describe any significant relationships other than those contemplated in the previous section between Board Members and significant shareholders and/or companies pertaining to their Group: B.1.18 Indicate whether any modifications have been made during the year to the Board of Directors’ Regulations: NO B.1.19 Describe the procedures for appointment. re-election. evaluation and removal of Directors. Indicate the competent bodies. the formalities and the criteria to be followed in each of these procedures. This area is regulated by the Bylaws and the Board Regulations. which state: Bylaws: Article 21.- The Board of Directors shall be made up of a minimum of three and a maximum of 10 members. designated by the General Shareholders’ Meeting. The Directors will hold office for a maximum of six years and may be re-elected one or more times for identical periods. The Board of Directors will be empowered to cover provisionally any vacancies that may arise in the same. designating the replacements in the legally established manner until the first General Shareholders’ Meeting. A Director does not have to be a shareholder. If a legal person is appointed Director. a natural person must be appointed as its representative to fulfill the duties of the post. Those persons involved in a legal conflict of interest or declared legally incapable may not be directors. Board Regulations: ARTICLE 6.- Exclusive authority. h) The appointment of a Director in the event of a vacancy until the next General Meeting is held. at the proposal of the Nomination and Compensation Committee. i) The acceptance of Director resignations. 124 ARTICLE 7.- Composition of the Board. 1. The General Shareholders’ Meeting shall determine the number of directors. with a minimum of three and a maximum of ten. as established by the Bylaws. 2. The Directors will hold office for a maximum of six years and may be re-elected one or more times for identical periods. ARTICLE 8.- Appointment of Directors. The proposals which the Board submits to the General Shareholders’ Meeting relating to the appointment or re-election of directors within the limits set out in the Bylaws. shall be made following the proposal of the Appointments and Remuneration Committee for independent directors and following a report from such Committee for other directors and will include the presence on the Board of a reasonable number of independent directors and shall have a majority of external directors not involved in management. ARTICLE 9.- Board components. 9.1- The Chair a) The Chairman of the Board of Directors will be selected from among the members. The term will coincide with the term of his appointment to the Board. As a result. if he is reelected to the Board reelection to the position of Chairman is not necessary. 9.4 - Secretary The appointment and removal of the Secretary to the Board or. if appropriate. the ViceSecretary. will be approved by the full Board after receiving a report from the Nominations and Compensation Committee. 1.3 Nominations and Compensation Committee. 1. The Nominations and Compensation Committee will be responsible for: a) Supervise the process of selecting Directors and senior executives at the Company. b) Propose the appointment or reelection of independent Directors to the Board of Directors c) Report to the Board of Directors on the appointment or reelection of other Directors 2. The full Board of Directors is responsible for the appointment or removal of its members. and there will be at least three members. The members of the Committee will automatically cease to hold their positions when they are no longer members of the Board of Directors ARTICLE 12. The evaluation of the Board and Committees On an annual basis the Board of Directors will evaluate: a) The quality and efficiency of the Board's operation; 125 b) The performance by the Chairman of the Board and the Company’s CEO based on a report that will be prepared by the Nominations and Compensation Committee; c) The operation of the Board Committees based on a report prepared by each Committee. B.1.20 Indicate the cases in which Directors are required to retire. This area is regulated by the Board Regulations. as follows: ARTICLE 15.- Step-down of Directors The directors shall cease to hold office when the period for which they were appointed elapses. in accordance with Article 145 of the Mercantile Registry Regulations. and when so decided by the General Shareholders’ Meeting in accordance with the powers conferred to it. Moreover. the directors shall place their position at the disposal of the Board of Directors and formalize. if deemed appropriate. their resignation in the following cases: a) When they are involved in a legal conflict of interest or situation of incompatibility. b) When their remaining on the Board may jeopardize the Company’s interests or when the reasons for which they were appointed no longer exist. c) In the event of an accusation or instigation of oral proceedings connected with any of the crimes indicated in Article 124 of the Spanish Companies Act. the Board shall examine the case as soon as possible and decide the appropriateness of the Director continuing to hold office or otherwise. d) Domanial directors shall resign when the shareholder whom they represent sells his shareholding in full. 126 B.1.21 Explain whether the Chairman of the Board is the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. If so. state what measures have been adopted to limit the risks of one single person accumulating powers: Yes Measures to limit risks Article 9 of the Board Regulations stipulates that the Chairman will have power-of-attorney to be exercised through the Board of Directors by appropriate Resolution or ratified by the Board when the urgency of the situation makes it inadvisable to postpone the exercising of the authority. All decisions of significant importance must be taken by the Board of Directors. Article 23 of the Bylaws stipulates that the Board will meet whenever requested by two of its members. The general risk policy and the risk management systems described in sections D.1 and D.3 of this Report. prepared based on the risk control and management policy. as well as the regular monitoring of information and control systems by the Board of Directors. in accordance with Article 6 of the Board Regulations. Article 9.3 of the Board Regulations which stipulates that if the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors and the CEO of the Company are held by the same person one independent Director will be appointed to perform the following duties: a) request a Board meeting be called or include new points on the agenda b) Co-ordinate outside Directors and report their concerns. c) Direct the Board's evaluation of the Chairman. The duties attributed to the Audit Committee and the Nominations and Compensation Committee (Articles 1.2 and 1.3 of the Board Regulations) It should be noted that there is no requirement of a qualified majority to remove the Chairman when the Board deems it necessary. Therefore. the Board’s capacity to control this position may manifest itself through a Resolution to dismiss adopted by a simple majority. Indicate and. if appropriate. explain whether rules have been established to enable one of the independent directors to request the calling of the Board for the inclusion of new items on the agenda. to coordinate and echo the concerns of outside Directors and to direct evaluation by the Board of Directors. YES 127 Explanation of the rules By virtue of Article 9.3 of the Board Regulations. if the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors and the CEO of the Company are held by the same person one independent Director will be appointed to perform the following duties: a) request a Board meeting be called or include new points on the agenda b) Co-ordinate outside Directors and report their concerns. c) Direct the Board's evaluation of the Chairman. B.1.22 Are special majorities differing from those stipulated by Log required for any type of decision?: NO Explain how Resolutions are adopted out by the Board. indicating at least the quorum and the majorities required for adopting Resolutions: B.1.23 Explain whether or not there are any specific requirements. other than those established for Directors. to be appointed Chairman: NO B.1.24 Indicate whether the Chairman has a casting vote: YES Areas in which there is a casting vote Article 23 of the bylaws stipulates that Resolutions will be adopted by absolute majority of those attending the Meeting. In the event of a tie. the Chairman will issue a casting vote. Written. personal votes without any meeting being held will be valid if no Director opposes such action. Indicate whether the Articles of Association or the Board Regulations establish any age limit for Directors: NO Age limit for Chairman Age limit for CEO Age limit for Director 0 0 0 128 B.1.26 Indicate whether the Articles of Association or the Board Regulations establish any limit on the term of office for Independent Directors: NO Maximum term (years) 0 B.1.27 If there are few or no female Directors. explain why and what actions have been taken to remedy this situation. Explain reasons and initiatives Iberpapel Group’s equal opportunity policy avoids any discrimination against anyone for any reason with respect to joining the company or to occupying any post within the company. Among the new duties of the Nominations and Compensation Committee. in addition to supervising the process of selecting Directors and senior executives for the Company and proposing the appointment or reelection of Independent Directors to the Board of Directors and reporting the appointment or reelection of other Directors to the Board of Directors. it must also report gender diversity to the Board. The equal opportunity principle has always presided over the Nominations and Compensation Committee’s work and therefore no additional measures are necessary. In order to obtain adequate gender diversity. the Board of Directors appointed a woman independent Director to fill the vacancy relating to an Executive Director. In particular. state whether the Nominations and Compensation Committee has established procedures to ensure that the selection procedures are not affected by implicit bias that could hamper the selection of female Directors and that women with the required profile are deliberately included among the candidates: NO B.1.28 Indicate whether there are any formal processes for proxy voting in the Board of Directors. Describe briefly. if any: The representation or delegation of votes within the Board may be conferred through a letter addressed to the Chairman. as described under Article 23 of the Bylaws. B.1.29 State the number of meetings held by the Board of Directors during the year. In addition. indicate. if appropriate. how many times the Board has met without the Chairman: 129 Number of Board meetings 9 Number of Board meetings held without the Chairman 1 Indicate the number of meetings held during the year by the various Board Committees: Number of meetings held by the Executive or Delegate Committee 0 Number of meetings held by the Audit Committee 6 Number of meetings held by the Nominations and Compensation Committee 3 Number of meetings held by the Nominations Committee 0 Number of meetings held by the Compensation Committee 0 B.1.30 State the number of meetings held by the Board of Directors during the year without all members being in attendance. Non-attendance is deemed to include any proxies made without specific instructions. Number of Director absences during the year 3 % Number of absences compared with the total votes cast during the year 3 B.1.31 Indicate whether the individual and consolidated annual accounts presented to the Board for approval were previously certified: YES If appropriate. name the person(s) who certify the Company’s individual or consolidated annual accounts before they are approved by the Board: Name Position Mr. IÑIGO ECHEVARRIA CANALES CHAIRMAN Mr. LUIS GONZALEZ GUTIERREZ FINANCE DIRECTOR 130 B.1.32 Explain the mechanisms. if any. established by the Board to avoid a qualified audit report on the individual and consolidated annual accounts from being presented to shareholders at a General Meeting. The Company has an Audit Committee. which is responsible for the following. among other things: a) Monitoring the financial reporting process and the Company’s internal control systems. b) Reporting on the Annual Accounts. as well as the half yearly and quarterly financial statements which must be sent to regulators or market supervisors. making mention of internal control systems. monitoring controls and compliance through internal audit. when appropriate. as well as the accounting principles applied. The board must also be informed of any change in accounting policies and all balance sheet and off-balance sheet risks. c) Receive regular information from the external auditor on the progress and findings of the audit program. and check that senior management are acting on its recommendations. B.1.33 Is the Secretary to the Board a Director? NO B.1.34 Explain the procedures for appointing and removing the Secretary to the Board. indicating whether or not a report is issued by the Nominations Committee and whether or not the person is approved by the full Board. Procedure for appointment and removal Article 9 of the Board Regulations stipulates that the appointment and removal of the Secretary to the Board or. if appropriate. the Vice-Secretary. must be approved by the full Board after receiving a report from the Nominations and Compensation Committee. 131 Does the Nominations Committee report the nomination? Does the Nominations Committee report removals? YES YES Does the full Board approve the nomination? YES Does the full Board approve the removal? YES Does the Secretary to the Board have the responsibility of specifically monitoring Good Governance recommendations? NO Observations Although Article 9 of the Board Regulations does not specifically assign this duty. it is responsible for assuring formal legality which includes the good governance recommendations. The audit Committee is responsible. among other things. for supervising compliance with internal codes of conduct and corporate governance rules. B.1.35 Describe any mechanisms established by the Company to preserve the independence of the auditor. financial analysts. investment banks and rating agencies. The Audit Committee is responsible for proposing the selection. appointment. reelection and replacement of the external auditors to the Board of Directors. Regularly receive information from the external auditors on the audit plan and results of their work. and check that senior management takes their recommendations into account. Monitor the independence of the external auditor. to which end: The company should notify any change of auditor to the CNMV as a significant event. accompanied by a statement of any disagreements arising with the outgoing auditor and the reasons for the same. The company should ensure that the company and the auditor respect rules in force regarding the rendering of services other than audit services. business concentration limits affecting the auditor and. in general. all of the rules established to ensure the independence of auditors; The Committee should investigate the issues giving rise to the resignation of any external auditor. We provide information to financial analysts and rating agencies when requested. 132 B.1.36 Indicate whether or not the Company has changed its external auditor during the year. If so. name the outgoing and incoming auditor: NO Outgoing auditor Incoming auditor If the Company had any disagreements with the outgoing auditor. indicate their contents: NO B.1.37 State whether or not the audit firm does any work for the Company and/or its Group other than standard audit work and. if so. indicate the amount of the fees received for such work and the percentage it represents of the total fees invoiced to the Company and/or its group: YES Company Amount of work other than standard audit Group Total 35 0 35 68.63 0.000 68.63 work (thousand euro) Amount of work other than standard audit work/Total amount invoiced by the audit firm (in %) B.1.38 State whether or not the audit report on the Annual Accounts for the previous year contains any qualifications or reservations. If so. indicate the reasons given by the Chairman of the Audit Committee to explain the content and scope of those qualifications or reservations. NO B.1.39 State the number of years in succession that the current audit firm has audited the Company’s annual accounts and/or its group. In addition. indicate the ratio of the number of years audited by the current auditors to the total number of years that the annual accounts have been audited: 133 Number of years without interruption Company Group 13 13 Company Group 100.000 100.000 Number of years audited by the current audit firm/Number of years that the company has been audited (in %) B.1.40 Indicate the stake held by Members of the Company’s Board of Directors in the capital of companies that carry out the same. similar or supplementary activities as those constituting the Company and Group’s corporate purpose and which have been reported to the Company. Indicate their positions or duties at those companies: B.1.41 Indicate. and provide details. if there is an established procedure for Directors to receive external advice: YES Procedure details Article 13.2 of the Board’s Regulations lays down: Directors may request. through the Chairman. the hiring of any outside advisors considered to be necessary to properly carry out their duties. The full Board must adopt an appropriate Resolution in each case based on whether or not to obtain such external advisory services. the person or firm to provide the service. access to confidential company information that this advisor may have and the approval. if appropriate. of the relevant expense. B.1.42 Indicate. providing details as necessary. if there is an established procedure for Directors to obtain any information they may need to prepare for the Meetings of the governing bodies sufficiently in advance: YES 134 Procedure details Article 13.1 of the Board’s Regulations lays down: Directors will receive precise information to fulfill their duties on time and with adequate depth as appropriate for the issues at hand. They may requested additional information when deemed advisable which is channeled through the Secretary to the Board. B.1.43 Indicate. providing details if appropriate. if the Company has established rules requiring Directors to report and. if necessary. resigned in any cases that could be detrimental to the Company’s reputation: YES Explain the rules Article 14.3 of the Board Regulations expressly states that in accordance with the loyalty duty falling to Directors. they may not use the Company’s name or their position as Director to carry out any transactions on their own behalf or on the behalf of any associated person. Director may carry out. to their benefit for the benefit of any associated person. investments or any other transaction associated with the Company’s assets which are known to them as a result of their position when the investment for transaction would have been offered to the Company or the Company would be interested in the transaction. provided that the Company did not rule out that investment or transaction without the influence of the Director. Directors must report any direct or indirect situation of conflict to the Board of Directors when involving any Company interests and Directors will not attend or intervene in debates that involve any issue in which they have a personal interest or affects an associated person. Directors must report any criminal cases involving them. as well as all subsequent procedural issues. to the Board of Directors. Article 15 of the Board Regulations stipulates that Directors must offer their resignation to the Board of Directors and formalize their resignation. if deemed advisable. in the following cases: a) When they are involved in a legal conflict of interest or situation of incompatibility. b) When their remaining on the Board may jeopardize the Company’s interests or when the reasons for which they were appointed no longer exist. c) In the event of an accusation or instigation of oral proceedings connected with any of the crimes indicated in Article 124 of the Spanish Companies Act. the Board shall examine the case as soon as possible and decide the appropriateness of the Director continuing to hold office or otherwise. 135 B.1.44 Indicate whether the Company has been notified by any Board Member that he/she has been charged with. or is being tried for. any of the crimes contemplated under Article 124 of the Spanish Companies Act: NO Indicate whether or not the Board of Directors has analyzed the case. If so. give a reasoned explanation of the decision made as to whether or not the Director in question should remain in office. NO Decision taken Reasoned explanation B.2. Board of Directors’ Committees B.2.1 List all the Board of Directors’ Committees and their Members: AUDIT COMMITTEE Name Position Type Mr. BALTASAR ERRAZTI NAVARRO CHAIRMAN INDEPENDENT Mr. IÑAKI USANDIZAGA ARANZADI DIRECTOR INSTITUTIONAL Mr. NESTOR BASTERRA LARROUDE DIRECTOR INDEPENDENT POSITION TYPE Mr. MARTIN MARIA GONZALEZ DEL VALLE CHAVARRI DIRECTOR INDEPENDENT Mr. NESTOR BASTERRA LARROUDE DIRECTOR INDEPENDENT NOMINATIONS AND COMPENSATION COMMITTEE NAME 136 B.2.2 Indicate whether or not the following duties correspond to the Audit Committee: Supervise the integrity and process of preparing the financial information regarding the Company and its Group. ensuring compliance with all requirements. adequate definition of the YES consolidated group and the correct application of accounting principles. Regularly check the internal control and risk management systems. ensuring that the principal risks are identified. handled and reported adequately. Guarantee the independence and efficiency of the internal audit department. propose the selection. appointment. re-election and removal of the Chief Audit Officer. propose the budget YES YES for this department. receive regular information regarding its activities and check that senior management takes into account the conclusions and recommendations made in its reports. Establish and oversee a mechanism whereby employees may report confidentially and. if appropriate. anonymously. any potentially important irregularities. particularly those relating YES to financial and accounting areas that they may detect within the Company. Submit proposals to the Board for the election. appointment. re-election and replacement of YES the external auditors and the terms and conditions of their engagement. Regularly receive information from the external auditors on the audit plan and results of their YES work. and check that senior management takes their recommendations into account. YES Ensure the independence of the external auditors In the case of groups. encourage the Group’s auditors to audit the group companies YES B.2.3 Describe the rules of organization and procedure. and responsibilities attributed to each Committee. 137 Name of the Committee Nominations and Compensation Committee. Brief description Nominations and Compensation Committee Article 1.3 of the Board Regulations In accordance with the provisions of that Article. the Nominations and Compensation Committee is responsible for: a) Supervise the process of selecting Directors and senior executives at the Company. b) Propose the appointment or reelection of independent Directors to the Board of Directors c) Report to the Board of Directors on the appointment or reelection of other Directors d) Report on the senior officer appointments and removals which the chief executive proposes to the Board. e) Report gender diversity issues to the Board. f) Make proposals to the Board of Directors regarding: i. The compensation policy for directors and senior management; ii. The individual compensation and other contractual conditions of executive directors. iii. The standard conditions for senior management employment contracts. The full Board of Directors is responsible for the appointment or removal of its members. and there will be at least three members. The members of the Committee will automatically cease to hold their positions when they are no longer members of the Board of Directors Members will be appointed by the full Board and there will be no less than three members. Members will be appointed by the full Board and there will be no less than three members. The Board of Directors is responsible for both appointing and removing members. : The members of the Committee will automatically cease to hold their positions when they are no longer members of the Board of Directors Currently the Company has two Committees. the Audit Committee and the Nominations and Compensation Committee. Both Committees were created by the Board of Directors at the meeting held on 12 January 1999. following the recommendations of the Good Governance Code. Article 11 of the For Regulations stipulates that Committees will meet when called by their respective chairmen. who may do so of their own accord or at the proposal of members. or when necessary in accordance with the bylaws. 138 Name of the Committee Audit Committee. Brief description In accordance with the provisions of Article 24 the Bylaws. the Audit Committee will be governed as follows: A minimum of two and a maximum of four Directors will form part of the Audit Committee and all must be Outside Directors. The full Board of Directors is responsible for both appointing and removing members. The members of the Committee will automatically cease to hold their positions when they are no longer members of the Board of Directors The Committee members will hold office for a maximum of four years and may be re-elected one or more times for identical periods. The Committee will elect a Chairman from among its members. who will be appointed for a term of four years and may be reelected after 1 year has elapsed after last holding the office. The Secretary to the Committee will be the Secretary to the Board of Directors. The competencies of the Audit Committee will be as follows: Report to the General Meeting regarding issues raised by shareholders in the Committee’s area of responsibility. Propose the appointment of external auditors to the Board of Directors for submission to the General Meeting for approval Supervision of internal audit services. if any. Monitoring the financial reporting process and the Company’s internal control systems. Relationships with external auditors to receive information regarding those issues that may put their independence at risk in any other issues relating to the audit process. as well as any other communications established by audit legislation or by technical audit standards. Report on the Annual Accounts. as well as the half yearly and quarterly financial statements which must be sent to regulators or market supervisors. making mention of internal control systems. monitoring controls and compliance through internal audit. when appropriate. as well as the accounting principles applied. The board must also be informed of any change in accounting policies and all balance sheet and off-balance sheet risks. Prepare an annual report regarding the Committee’s activities which must be included in the Directors’ Report. 139 Article 1.2 of the Board Regulations stipulates: A minimum of two and a maximum of four Directors will form part of the Audit Committee and all must be Outside Directors. The full Board of Directors is responsible for both appointing and removing members. The members of the Committee will automatically cease to hold their positions when they are no longer members of the Board of Directors The Committee members will hold office for a maximum of four years and may be re-elected one or more times for identical periods. The Committee will elect a Chairman from among its members. who will be appointed for a term of four years and may be reelected after 1 year has elapsed after last holding the office. The Secretary to the Committee will be the Secretary to the Board of Directors. Any Director. including the CEO. or any Company employee asked to do so must attend Committee meetings and cooperate and provide all available information. The competencies of the Audit Committee will be as follows: a) Report to the General Meeting regarding issues raised by shareholders in the Committee’s area of responsibility. b) Supervise internal audit services. c) Monitor the financial reporting process and the Company’s internal control systems. d) Supervise compliance with internal codes of conduct and corporate governance rules. e) With respect to external auditors: i.- Bring to the Board all proposals relating to the selection. appointment. reelection and replacement of the external auditor. ii.- Regularly receive information from the external auditors on the audit plan and results of their work. and check that senior management takes their recommendations into account. iii.- Ensure the independence of the external auditor. to which end: 1. The company should notify any change of auditor to the CNMV as a significant event. accompanied by a statement of any disagreements arising with the outgoing auditor and the reasons for the same. 2. The company should ensure that the company and the auditor respect rules in force regarding the rendering of services other than audit services. business concentration limits affecting the auditor and. in general. all of the rules established to ensure the independence of auditors; 3. The Committee should investigate the issues giving rise to the resignation of any external auditor. f) Report on the Annual Accounts. as well as the half yearly and quarterly financial statements which must be sent to regulators or market supervisors. making mention of internal control systems. monitoring controls and compliance through internal audit. when appropriate. as well as the accounting principles applied. The board must also be informed of any change in accounting policies and all balance sheet and off-balance sheet risks. 140 g) Prepare an annual report regarding the Committee’s activities which must be included in the Directors’ Report. B.2.4 Indicate. where appropriate. the advisory. consultation and delegation authority held by each of the Committees: Name of the Committee Nominations and Compensation Committee Brief description Supervise the process of selecting Directors and senior executives at the Company. The establishment and supervision of executive compensation policies. Name of the Committee Audit Committee. Brief description Inform the General Meeting of any issues raised by Shareholders regarding its area of authority. propose the appointment of external auditors to the Board of Directors for submission to the General Meeting. Supervision of internal audit services. if any. Monitor the financial reporting process and the Company’s internal control systems. Relationships with external auditors to receive information regarding those issues that may put their independence at risk in any other issues relating to the audit process. as well as any other communications established by audit legislation or by technical audit standards. Report on the Annual Accounts. as well as the half yearly and quarterly financial statements which must be sent to regulators or market supervisors. making mention of internal control systems. monitoring controls and compliance through internal audit. when appropriate. as well as the accounting principles applied. and it must also report any change in accounting policy and balance sheet and off-balance sheet risks to the Board. Prepare an annual report regarding the Committee’s activities which must be included in the Directors’ Report. 141 B.2.5 Indicate the existence. if appropriate. of Board Committee Regulations. where they are available for consultation and any modifications made during the year. State whether or not an annual report has been issued voluntarily on the activities of each Committee. Name of the Committee NOMINATIONS AND COMPENSATION COMMITTEE Brief description There are no specific regulations for Board Committees since they are regulated by the Bylaws and the Regulations governing the Board of Directors. These Bylaws and Regulations are available at the Company's website. The composition and structure of the Nominations and Compensation Committee is also available on the company's website. Name of the Committee AUDIT COMMITTEE Brief description There are no specific regulations for Board Committees since they are regulated by the Bylaws and the Regulations governing the Board of Directors. These Bylaws and Regulations are available at the Company's website. The composition and structure of the Nominations and Compensation Committee is also available on the company's website. B.2.6 Indicate whether or not the composition of the Executive Committee reflects the participation on the Board of different types of Directors: YES C RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS C.1 Indicate whether or not the full Board has reserved the approval. subject to a favorable report by the Audit Committee or any other Committee assigned this task. of any transactions that the Company may enter into with Directors. significant shareholders or shareholders represented on the Board. or with persons related to them: YES 142 C.2 List any significant transactions involving a transfer of resources or obligations between the Company and/or Companies in its group and significant Company shareholders: C.3 List any significant transactions involving a transfer of resources or obligations between the Company and/or Companies in its group and Company administrators or executives: C.4 List any significant transactions with other companies in the group that are not eliminated in the consolidated financial statements and which do not. by virtue of their object or terms. relate to the Company’s normal business: C.5 Indicate whether or not the Company’s Directors have been involved with any conflict of interest during the year. in accordance with Article 127 ter of the Spanish Companies Act. C.6 Explain the mechanisms established to detect and resolve possible conflicts of interest between the Company and/or its Group and its Directors. senior management or significant shareholders. 1) There are various rules included in the Board Regulations: Article 14.3 states: a) Directors may not use the Company’s name or their position as Director to carry out any transactions on their own behalf or on the behalf of any associated person b) No Director may carry out. to their benefit for the benefit of any associated person. investments or any other transaction associated with the Company’s assets which are known to them as a result of their position when the investment for transaction would have been offered to the Company or the Company would be interested in the transaction. provided that the Company did not rule out that investment or transaction without the influence of the Director. c) Directors must report any direct or indirect situation of conflict to the Board of Directors when involving any Company interests and Directors will not attend or intervene in debates that involve any issue in which they have a personal interest or affects an associated person. In any event. any situations of conflict of interest affecting Company Directors must be reported in the Annual Corporate Governance Report. 14.6 Abstention duty 143 Directors’ duty to abstain means not making private use of confidential information received as a result of the position of Director and not making investments or commercial transactions deriving from holding the position of Director. This duty also covers any activity carried out by an associated person. 14.7 Associated person. For the purposes of this Article. a person associated with the a Director will be deemed to be as follows: a) The spouse of the Director or any person in a similar position. b) Ascendants. descendents and siblings of the Director or the spouse of the Director c) The spouses of ascendants. descendents and the siblings of the Director. d) Companies in which the Director. personally or through an intermediary. is in one of these situations listed under Article 4 of Law 24/1988 (28 July) on the Stock Market. Associates of legal persons appointed to directorships are considered to be the following: d) Shareholders which are. with respect to the legal person Director. in one of these situations listed under Article 4 of Law 24/1988 (28 July) on the Stock Market. b) Directors. in law or de facto. liquidators and legal representatives with general power-of-attorney at the legal person Director c) Companies that form part of the same group as defined by Article 4 of Law 24/1988 (28 July) on the Stock Market and their shareholders. d) Persons considered to be associated with the legal person Directors. in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph. 2) Furthermore. there are Stock Market Conduct Regulations consisting of a group of rules intended to detect and regulate possible conflicts of interest between the Company and/or its Group. and their Directors. executives or significant shareholders. The regulations are applied with respect to securities issued by Iberpapel Gestion. to the members of the Board of Directors and any Board Committee or Commission. their representatives when members are legal persons and the Secretary or Vice-Secretary. if they are not Directors. Executives or personnel at a similar hierarchical level. and. in general. employees that directly or indirectly carry out activities relating to the stock market. particularly those relating to the Company’s treasury shares. investor relationships. public reporting or relevant information. In accordance with the definition provided by Royal Decree 377/1991 (15 March) on the Reporting of Significant Shareholdings in Listed Companies and the Acquisition of Treasury Shares (hereinafter "RD 377/1991"). executives are considered to be general managers or similar positions that perform senior management duties under the direct supervision of the governing bodies. executive committee or the Company CEO. Any other person that could have access to privileged information. Any person that knowingly possesses privileged information. or should know. may not prepare or carry out any direct or indirect transactions on their own behalf or on the behalf of a third-party involving the securities to which the privileged information refers. 144 This prohibition does not include (i) the preparation or performance of transactions whose existence constitutes the privileged information; (ii) transactions carried out to comply with an outstanding obligation to acquire or assign securities when covered by an agreement concluded before the person concerned possesses the privileged information; or (iii) any transactions carried out in conformance with applicable legislation. All persons subject to the Regulations are prohibited from (i) reporting the privileged information to third parties. unless that forms part of the normal course of their work. profession or position; and (ii) providing recommendations to a third party to acquire or assign securities or to instruct another party to acquire or assign securities based on that information (duty of confidentiality). All persons subject to the Regulations will ensure that the privileged information is duly safeguarded. notwithstanding their duty to report to. and collaborate with. legal and administrative authorities in accordance with the terms established under the Stock Market Act or any legislation in force at any given time. In addition. they must adopt adequate measures to prevent the privileged information from abuse or improper use and. if appropriate. will immediately take all necessary measures to correct the consequences deriving from such activities. Persons subject to the Regulations may not carry out personal transactions when they possess privileged information. Personal transactions will be understood to be those carried out by the persons concerned involving securities. as well as any that may be carried out by others associated with those persons. Associated persons are (i) E. Spouse or domestic partner. except for transactions involving private assets or when there is a formal separation of assets agreement in place; (ii) minor children subject to parental authority and dependent adults; (iii) companies effectively controlled by the person concerned; and (iv) intermediary persons as defined by Article 3 of RD 377/1991. Such persons will report any possible conflict of interest with Iberpapel or its Group to the person responsible for monitoring such situations when they arise for any reason and such persons will abstain from carrying out any type of personal transaction or transaction covered by a portfolio management agreement when there could be any conflict of interest. unless advance express authorization is obtained from the person responsible for monitoring such situations. in accordance with their obligations for loyal behavior deriving from stock market. corporate and employment legislation and this Internal Code of Conduct Regulations. C.7 Are more than one of the Group’s companies listed in Spain? NO 145 Identify the subsidiaries listed in Spain: D RISK CONTROL SYSTEMS D.1 General description of the Company’s risk policy and/or its Group. including detailed and an evaluation of the risks covered by the system. together with information supporting those systems’ adaptation to the profile of each type of risk. Iberpapel Group has carried out risk control and management actions which have afforded an adequate valuation in this respect. In this respect. systems have been implemented that enable the following risks affecting the Group to be identified. assessed. managed and controlled. Risk control systems. which are a component of decision-making management and assistance in the Iberpapel Group are defined on the basis of four major aspects: Principal risks of the Iberpapel Group. Risk assessment Risk control and hedges Organization and management responsibilities Principal risks of the Iberpapel Group. In 2009 the risks assessed and for which there is sufficient coverage include the following: Risk concerning the global economic situation Market / competition and selling / raw material prices risks. Forestry risks. Regulatory/ environmental risks. Risks relating to new investments and other Risks of material damages and loss of earnings. Risk assessment a) Control systems The Group’s control systems are considered appropriate in light of the Group’s risk profile and may be grouped together in the following categories: Maintaining a highly competitive cost structure that enables the impact of market crises to be addressed comparatively better than in the competition. 146 Systems of control over the distribution of forestry assets: three distant forestry areas (Argentina. Uruguay and Huelva). with the reasonable distribution of properties in each area. Moreover. forest cleaning. firebreak work etc is carried out on a regular basis. thereby reducing the impact of potential damages from fire. Improvement in competitiveness and environmental efficiency through the launch of a 50 MWh high-efficiency cogeneration plan which gives rise to an additional competitive advantage due to cost reductions and lowered dependence on electricity prices. Regulatory/ environmental risks. Plans and systems to ensure the quality of products and services: the top priority under the Iberpapel Group’s defined quality policy is customer satisfaction and on-going improvement and therefore to ensure that products and services meet quality standards. In this connection. the Group has ISO 9001 and 14001 certificates. AENOR certificates for the Custodial Chain Model and Integrated Environmental Authorization obtained in 2008. The Iberpapel Group’s basic quality policy objectives are as follows: To review. improve and optimize existing processes and controls in order to ensure product quality and traceability. To provide an adequate response to claims. implementing a process to examine. record and respond to such claims. Systems to control environmental risks: the Iberpapel group is committed to complying with applicable European. central government and regional legislation and participates actively in the development of new environmental commitments. In this respect. progress is being made on the gradual implementation of Available Technology Improvements deriving from Community Directive IPPC 96/61/EC on integrated pollution control and the processing of Integrated Environmental Management. A series of actions carried out by the Group in this connection are particularly noteworthy: Odor elimination systems. Elimination of elementary chloride as a bleaching agent. Installation of on-going emission measurement systems in conjunction with the Basque regional government. Utilization of the best available technologies to improve emissions and disposals and reduce waste. Installation of a new effluent treatment facility. The Iberpapel Group has continued to implement its reforestation policy. focusing on so-called Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM). This policy aims to secure. through such mechanisms contained in the Kyoto Protocol and European legislation. financing to ensure the feasibility of the projects started up. enabling. moreover. the obtainment of an optimum supply of raw materials for our facilities in Hernani. The aforementioned project has mainly been developed through a reforestation program based on the variety of seed or development eucalyptus cloned at the properties purchased by the group’s subsidiaries in Argentina 147 and Uruguay which were previously used as grazing land. In the past few years approximately 4.200 hectare in Argentina and 7.300 hectare in Uruguay. respectively. have been reforested. In past years Iberpapel Group obtained several environmental certificates. among them the AENOR certificate for the Custodial Chain Model for Forestry Products (PEFC) in the industrial division. together with the Sustainable Forestry Management Certificate in accordance with the FSC Standard (Forest Stewardship Council) in the forestry division. In 2009 Iberpapel Group continued with the process of making environmental improvements by obtaining new certificates such as the Custodial Chain certificate in accordance with the FSC standard by the industrial division and the forestry division (national and international). There is an investment development analysis and monitoring program in place that allows business growth processes to be satisfactorily handled and relates to the growth of the generation of electricity that the Group plans to export to the grid. Other preventive procedures: it is Iberpapel group’s policy to arrange the necessary insurance policies and hedges to mitigate as far as possible the risks deriving from the loss of earnings. material damages. customer collection. machine breakdowns etc . The decline in profits (including all industrial operations) Machine fault insurance (Including damages and loss of earnings) Material damages (comprehensive insurance) Trade receivables (the group arranges insurance for both domestic and export sales) Third-party liability (including causing agent and damages) Third-party liability of Directors and Managers b) Internal supervision procedure The Group has assessed the risks on the basis of a universal model and carried out the reviews considered necessary to update the risk map. Similarly. the impact of those risks has been calculated together with the follow-up and management actions relating to each of the aforementioned areas. D.2 Indicate whether any of the risks (operating. technological. financial. legal. reputational. tax. etc.) affecting the Company and/or its Group have actually arisen during the year: NO 148 If so. indicate the underlying circumstances and whether or not the established control systems work adequately. D.3 Is there a Committee or other governing body responsible for establishing and supervising the control systems? YES If so. state its duties. Name of the Committee or Body AUDIT COMMITTEE Description of duties It is authorized by the Board of Directors in the exercise of its duties to supervise risks. Name of the Committee or Body BOARD OF DIRECTORS. Description of duties The Board is responsible for maintaining the internal control system. including the follow-up and control of the significant risks of the Iberpapel corporate group. On the basis of the assessment of operational risks supervised by the Audit Committee. the Board of Directors carries out risk control and management. Risk Control and Management Systems in the Group. On the basis of the assessment of operational risks supervised by the Audit Committee. the Board of Directors carries out risk control and management. D.4 Identification and description of processes for complying with the various regulations affecting the Company and/or its Group. The Group has implemented the necessary mechanisms to control and manage risks in accordance with the universal assessment model which takes into account any kind. 149 Because of its universal and dynamic nature. the system enables the on-going management of the risks affecting the Iberpapel Group. making it possible to tailor it to changes in the environment. to review its objectives and strategies and upgrade its monitoring and supervisory process. With respect to compliance with the different regulations which affect the Iberpapel Group. it should be noted that the Group has a legal department and external advisors when required such that at all times it is in a position to comply with the regulations applicable to the Group in its operations. In this respect. it should be noted that as a listed Group. it complies with its quarterly. six-monthly and annual reporting obligations and issues the Significant Events report and other information requested by the National Securities Market Commission. Integrated risk management in the Iberpapel Group and companies which form it enables a profitability / risk balance to be attained. reducing the impact on results. E GENERAL MEETING E.1 Indicate whether there are any differences between the quorums for General Meetings and the minimums stipulated in the Spanish Companies Act and. if appropriate. explain. NO % quorum other than that established % quorum other than that established under Art. 102 LSA for general cases under Art. 103 LSA for the special cases established under Art. 103 Quorum required on 0 0 0 0 first call Quorum required on second call E.2 Indicate and explain. if appropriate. if there are any differences between the system used for adopting corporate resolutions in the system stipulated in the Spanish Companies Act: No Describe how it differs from the system contemplated in the Spanish Companies Act. E.3 Describe any shareholders’ rights with regard to General Meetings that differ from those established by the Spanish Companies Act. 150 The Bylaws and the General Meeting Regulations govern shareholder rights in accordance with the provisions of the Spanish Companies Act. There is no limitation whatsoever on the number of shares required to attend General Meetings. E.4 Describe the measures adopted. if any. to encourage the participation of shareholders at General Meetings. All shareholders may attend the General Meeting and take part in deliberations. Speaking and voting rights. in accordance with the provisions of the Bylaws and the General Meaning Regulations. In addition to the right to request callings of meetings. information and attendance as well as representation and remote voting. Iberpapel has a policy of encouraging shareholder participation in the General Meeting by applying the following measures: The meeting is held at the premises with the best conditions for holding and monitoring the meeting. located in the center of the municipality in which the Company’s domicile is located. Exercising of voting rights and delegation using electronic means. Personalized assistance and information for shareholders through the Shareholder Service Office. Publication on the Company’s website of all information regarding the General Meeting and the Agenda. details regarding the calling of the meeting. proposed Resolutions made by the Board of Directors and the means of communicating with the Company through which details regarding the meeting may be requested. E.5 Indicate if Chairman of the Board chairs the General Meeting. List any measures adopted to ensure the independence and correct operation of the General Meeting: YES Details regarding the measures In order to guarantee the independence and proper operation of the General Meeting. the Ordinary General Meeting held on 15 June 2004 approved a Meeting Resolution providing detailed and transparent regulations for the meeting. E.6 Indicate any modifications made during the year to the Regulations governing the General Shareholders’ meeting. 151 E.7 Provide details of attendance records at General Meetings held during the year to which this report refers: Attendance information Date of the % physically present General Meeting 02/06/2009 % % remote voting represented Electronic by proxy voting 6.836 48.412 Total Other 0.000 55.248 E.8 Briefly indicate the Resolutions adopted at the General Meetings held during the year to which this report refers and the percentage of votes with which each Resolution was adopted. The Ordinary General Shareholder Meeting held on 02 June 2009 adopted the following Resolutions (summarized): 1. The appointment of representatives to approve the Meeting Minutes was approved. Unanimously approved. 2. Approve. in the terms established in the legal documentation. the Annual Accounts (Balance sheet. Income Statement and Notes to the Annual Accounts). both for Iberpapel Gestion S.A. and its consolidated Group. as well as the individual and consolidated Directors' Report relating to the year ended 31 December 2008. Approve the proposed application of profits totaling six million five hundred ten thousand one hundred and eighty eight euro and forty five cents (€ 6.510.188.45). which will be distributed as follows: - Nine hundred twenty three thousand four hundred ninety three euro and ninety two cents (€ 923.493.92) which have already been distributed as interim dividend as approved by the Board of Directors at the meeting held on 8 January 2009. - Voluntary reserves have been allocated five million five hundred eighty six thousand six hundred ninety four euro and fifty three cents (€ 5.586.694.53). Approve the management by the Governing Body during the year. Unanimously approved. 3. – The partial refund of a share premium to shareholders totaling € 0.08 per share was approved. Unanimously approved. 4.- The Board of Directors was authorized to acquire Treasury Shares by the Company and/or its subsidiaries through the acquisition of a maximum of 5% of share capital over a 14 month and for a minimum price of the share par value and a maximum of € 40. Unanimously approved. 5. The reelection of the auditor PriceWaterhouseCoopers Auditores. SL. for a term of one year was approved for the audit of the individual and consolidated annual accounts for 2009. Unanimously approved. 152 6. Mr. Martín González del Valle Chavarri was re-elected to the board for a six year term. Votes in favor: 97.227% of the shares present and represented. Votes against: 2.773% of the shares present and represented. 7.- A resolution was adopted to delegate authority to the Chairman of the Board or to the Secretary to formalize. interpret. correct and execute the Resolutions adopted by the General Meeting. Unanimously approved. E.9 State whether any restrictions are established in the Articles of Association requiring a minimum number of shares to attend General Meetings: No Number of shares necessary to attend the General Meeting E.10 Describe and justify the Company’s policies regarding proxy votes at General Meetings. The policy followed by the Board of Directors of Iberpapel Gestión. S.A has always been to facilitate the presence of shareholders at General Meetings. either personally or through representation. For that reason representation to attend a Meeting may fall to another person who does not have to be a shareholder. The delegation of votes at the General Meeting is governed by the Company’s Bylaws and the Meeting Regulations as well as by the Board Regulations. According to Article 14 of the Bylaws. shareholders with a right to attend meetings may delegate representation authority to another person. The representative must be named and that must be extended in writing for each Meeting. The above is notwithstanding the provisions of Article 108 of the Spanish Companies Act. In addition. shareholders may delegate representation via electronic or remote means that duly guarantee the representation authority granted and the identity of the representative when the Board of Directors considers that there are adequate guarantees of authenticity and identification of the shareholder conferring the representation authority. The representation authority granted using these means will be sent to the Company using the procedure and within the deadline established by the Board of Directors in the Resolution to call the meeting. The Board of Directors will determine. in accordance with the calling of each meeting. the procedure. requirements. system and deadline for granting and sending the Company representation or delegation of vote authority issued electronically. These circumstances will be stated in the announcements concerning the calling of the Meeting. In the event of a public request for representation. the provisions of Article 107 of the current Spanish Companies Act will be applicable and. if appropriate. so will the provisions of Article 114 of Law 24/1988 (28 July) on the Stock Market. According to Article 11 of the Board Regulations. shareholders with a right to attend meetings may delegate representation authority to another person. The representation authority must be accepted by the representative. It must be specific to each Meeting and may be conferred through the following means: a) By sending the card referred to under Article 12. duly filled in and signed by the shareholder. in accordance with the terms and conditions established in the Bylaws. 153 b) Using electronic or remote means that duly guarantee the representation authority granted and the identity of the representative when the Board of Directors considers that there are adequate guarantees of authenticity and identification of the shareholder conferring the representation authority. The representation authority granted using these means will be sent to the Company using the procedure and within the deadline established by the Board of Directors in the Resolution to call the meeting. 3. In the event of a public request for representation. the provisions of Article 107 of the current Spanish Companies Act will be applicable and. if appropriate. so will the provisions of Article 114 of Law 24/1988 (28 July) on the Stock Market. In particular. the document containing the power-of-attorney must contain or bear an appendix containing the Agenda. as well as a request for instructions to exercise the right to vote and an indication of how the representative will vote in the event that no precise instructions are given. 4. Individual shareholders who do not have full legal capacity and corporate shareholders may be represented by their legal representatives. when adequately proven. Both in these cases. as well as in the case in which a shareholder delegates a right to attend the Meeting. more than one representative cannot be used. 5. Representation authority is always revocable. If the shareholder attends the Meeting. and any vote issued revokes any delegated authority whatever the date. Article 19 of the Board Regulation stipulates that public requests for the delegation of votes made by the Board of Directors or any member must expressly state the manner in which the representative will vote in the event that the shareholder does not provide instructions. A Director obtaining representation authority may not exercise the right to vote relating to the represented shares for any points of the Agenda for which there is a conflict of interest. Article 21 of the Board Regulations stipulates that delegated votes received by the Board of Directors or any Member will be faithfully executed in accordance with the instructions received in this respect and the Minutes will reflect the vote and the identification of the voting instructions received. including any vote against Board proposals. with the aim of safeguarding the rights that may fall to the delegating shareholder. E.11 Indicate whether the company is aware of the policies of institutional investors regarding their participation or not in company decisions: NO E.12 Indicate the address and access to the corporate governance contents on the company’s website. www.iberpapel. es Shareholders and investors Corporate Governance 154 F EXTENT OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE CORPORATE GOVERNANCE RECOMMENDATIONS Indicate the degree of compliance by the company with the recommendations of the Unified Good Governance Code. In the event of non-compliance with any recommendations. explain the recommendations. standards. practices or principles applied by the company. 1. The bylaws of listed companies should not place an upper limit on the votes that can be cast by a single shareholder. or impose other obstacles to the takeover of the company by means of share purchases on the market. See sections: A.9. B.1.22. B.1.23 and E.1. E.2. Comply 2. When a dominant and a subsidiary company are stock market listed. the two should provide detailed disclosure on: a) The type of activity they engage in and any business dealings between them. as well as between the subsidiary and other group companies; b) The mechanisms in place to resolve possible conflicts of interest. See sections: C.4 and C.7 Not applicable 155 3. Even when not expressly required under company law. any decisions involving a fundamental corporate change should be submitted to the General Shareholders' Meeting for approval or ratification. In particular: a) The transformation of listed companies into holding companies through the process of subsidiarization. i.e.. reallocating core activities to subsidiaries that were previously carried out by the originating firm. even though the latter retains full control of the former; b) Any acquisition or disposal of key operating assets that would effectively alter the company's corporate purpose; c) Operations that effectively add up to the company's liquidation. Comply 4. Detailed proposals of the resolutions to be adopted at the General Shareholders’ Meeting. including the information stated in Recommendation 28. should be made available at the same time as the publication of the Meeting notice. Comply 5. Separate votes should be taken at the General Shareholders’ Meeting on materially separate items. so shareholders can express their preferences in each case. This rule shall apply in particular to: a) The appointment or ratification of directors. with separate voting on each candidate; b) Amendments to the bylaws. with votes taken on all articles or groups of articles that are materially different. See section: E.8 Comply 156 6. Companies should allow split votes. so financial intermediaries acting as nominees on behalf of different clients can issue their votes according to instructions. See section: E.4 Comply 7. The Board of Directors should perform its duties with unity of purpose and independent judgment. according all shareholders the same treatment. It should be guided at all times by the company's best interest and. as such. strive to maximize its value over time. It should likewise ensure that the company abides by the laws and regulations in its dealings with stakeholders; fulfills its obligations and contracts in good faith; respects the customs and good practices of the sectors and territories where it does business; and upholds any additional social responsibility principles it has subscribed to voluntarily. Comply 8. The Board should see as core components of its mission: to approve the company's strategy and authorize the organizational resources to carry it forward. and to ensure that management meets the objectives set while pursuing the company's interests and corporate purpose. As such. the Board in full should reserve the right to approve: a) The company's general policies and strategies. and in particular: i) The strategic or business plan. management targets and annual budgets; ii) Investment and financing policy; iii) Design of the structure of the corporate group; iv) Corporate governance policy; v) Corporate social responsibility policy; 157 vi) Compensation and evaluation of senior officers; vii) Risk control and management. and periodic monitoring of internal information and control systems; viii) Dividend policy. treasury stock policy. especially limits. See sections: b) The following decisions: i) See section: ii) See section: c) B.1.10. B.1.13. B.1.14 and D.3 Upon recommendation by the CEO. the appointment and possible removal of senior management and any indemnity clauses. B.1.14. Directors’ compensation and. in the case of Executive Directors. additional compensation for their management duties and other contractual conditions. B.1.14. iii) The financial information listed companies must periodically disclose. iv) Investments or operations considered strategic by virtue of their amount or special characteristics. unless their approval corresponds to the General Shareholders’ Meeting; v) The creation or acquisition of shares in special purpose entities resident in jurisdictions considered tax havens. and any other transactions or operations of a comparable nature whose complexity might impair the transparency of the group. Transactions which the company conducts with directors. significant shareholders. shareholders with board representation or other persons related thereto (“relatedparty transactions”). 158 However. Board authorization need not be required for related-party transactions that simultaneously meet the following three conditions: 1. They are governed by standard form agreements applied on an across-the-board basis to a large number of clients; 2. They go through at market rates. generally set by the person supplying the goods or services; 3. Their amount is no more than 1% of the company's annual revenues. It is advisable that related-party transactions should only be approved on the basis of a favorable report from the Audit Committee or committee handling the same function; and that the directors involved should neither exercise nor delegate their votes. and should withdraw from the meeting room while the Board deliberates and votes. Ideally. the above powers should not be delegated with the exception of those mentioned in b) and c). which may be delegated to the Delegate Committee in urgent cases and later ratified by the full Board. See sections: C.1 and C.6 Comply 9. In the interests of maximum effectiveness and participation. the Board of Directors should ideally comprise no fewer than five and no more than fifteen members. See section: B.1.1 Comply 10. External directors. proprietary and independent. should occupy an ample majority of Board places. while the number of executive directors should be the minimum practical. bearing in mind the complexity of the corporate group and the ownership interests they control. See sections: A.2. A.3. B.1.3 and B.1.14. Comply 159 11. In the event that some external director can be deemed neither proprietary nor independent. the company should disclose this circumstance and the links that person maintains with the company or its senior officers. or its shareholders. See section: B.1.3 Not applicable 12. That among external directors. the relation between proprietary members and independents should match the proportion between the capital represented on the Board by institutional directors and the remainder of the company’s capital. This proportional criterion can be relaxed so the weight of institutional directors is greater than would strictly correspond to the total percentage of capital they represent: 1. In large-cap companies where few or no equity stakes attain the legal threshold for significant shareholdings. despite the considerable sums actually invested. 2. In companies with a plurality of shareholders represented on the Board but not otherwise related. See sections: B.1.3. A.2 and A.3 Comply 13. The number of independent directors should represent at least one third of all Board members. See section: B.1.3 Comply 14. Such determination should subsequently be explained by the Board to the General Meeting and be confirmed or reviewed in each year’s Annual Corporate Governance Report. after verification by the Nomination Committee. The said Report should also disclose the reasons for the appointment of institutional directors at the urging of shareholders controlling less than 5% of capital; and explain any rejection of a formal request for a Board place from shareholders whose equity stake is equal to or greater than that of others applying successfully for a institutional directorship. See sections: B.1.3 and B.1.4 160 Comply 15. When women directors are few or non-existent. the Board should state the reasons for this situation and the measures taken to correct it; in particular. the Nomination Committee should take steps to ensure that: a) The process of filling Board vacancies has no implicit bias against women candidates; b) The company makes a conscious effort to include women with the target profile among the candidates for Board places. See sections: B.1.2. B.1.27 and B.2.3. Comply The Nominations and Compensation Committee initiates the process of selecting Directors and the near executives for the Company in order to prepare subsequent proposals for the Board of Directors and does not consider that gender should be a selection criteria but rather the candidate must meet required profile. The principle of equal opportunity has always presided over the criteria applied by the Nominations and Compensation Committee. In addition. the Committee is also responsible for reporting gender diversity issues to the Board. 16. The Chairman. as the person responsible for the proper operation of the Board of Directors. should ensure that directors are supplied with sufficient information in advance of Board meetings. and work to procure a good level of debate and active involvement of all members. safeguarding their rights to freely express and adopt positions; he or she should organize and coordinate regular evaluations of the Board and. where appropriate. the company’s chief executive. along with the chairmen of the relevant Board committees. See section: B.1.42 Comply 161 17. When a company's Chairman is also its chief executive. an independent director should be empowered to request the calling of Board meetings or the inclusion of new business on the agenda; to coordinate and give voice to the concerns of external directors; and to lead the Board’s evaluation of the Chairman. See section: B.1.21 Comply 18. The Secretary should take care to ensure that the Board’s actions: a) Adhere to the spirit and letter of laws and their implementing regulations. including those issued by regulatory agencies; b) Comply with the company bylaws and the regulations of the General Shareholders' Meeting. the Board of Directors and others; c) Are informed by those good governance recommendations of the Unified Code that the company has subscribed to. In order to safeguard the independence. impartiality and professionalism of the Secretary. his or her appointment and removal should be proposed by the Nomination Committee and approved by a full Board meeting. the relevant appointment and removal procedures being spelled out in the Board’s regulations. See section: B.1.34 Partial compliance Although Article 9 of the Board Regulations does not specifically assign the duty of ensuring. in any special way. that good governance recommendations are followed it is responsible for ensuring formal legality which includes. in a broad sense. good governance recommendations. 162 In addition. the Audit Committee is responsible for. among other things. supervising compliance with internal codes of conduct and corporate governance rules and the Secretary to that Committee ensures compliance with the duties falling to that Committee which include Corporate Good Governance rules. 19. The Board should meet with the necessary frequency to properly perform its functions. in accordance with a calendar and agendas set at the beginning of the year. to which each director may propose the addition of other items. See section: B.1.29 Comply 20. Director absences should be kept to the bare minimum and quantified in the Annual Corporate Governance Report. When directors have no choice but to delegate their vote. they should do so with instructions. See sections: B.1.28 and B.1.30 Comply 21. When directors or the Secretary express concerns about some proposal or. in the case of directors. about the company's performance. and such concerns are not resolved at the meeting. the person expressing them can request that they be recorded in the minute book. Comply 22. The Board in full should evaluate the following points on a yearly basis: a) The quality and efficiency of the Board's operation; b) Starting from a report submitted by the Nomination Committee. how well the Chairman and chief executive have carried out their duties; c) The performance of its committees on the basis of the reports furnished by the same. See section: B.1.19 Partial compliance 163 Article 12 of the Board Regulations called: The evaluation of the Board and the Committees. literally states the following: On an annual basis the Board of Directors will evaluate: a) The quality and efficiency of the Board's operation; b) The performance by the Chairman of the Board and the Company’s CEO based on a report that will be prepared by the Nominations and Compensation Committee; c) The operation of the Board Committees based on a report prepared by each Committee. In addition. Article 9.3 of these Regulations stipulates that if the Chairman of the Board and the Company’s CEO are the same person one of the Independent Directors will be appointed to direct the Board’s evaluation of the Chairman. In order to comply with the provisions of this Article. on 8 January 2009 the Board of Directors appointed Mr. Néstor Basterra Larroude to perform these duties. However. given the resignation of the Company's Chairman and CEO in December 2009 this evaluation has not been possible as a new Chairman was appointed. 23. All directors should be able to exercise their right to receive any additional information they require on matters within the Board's competence. Unless the bylaws or Board regulations indicate otherwise. such requests should be addressed to the Chairman or Secretary. See section: B.1.42 Comply 24. All directors should be entitled to call on the company for the advice and guidance they need to carry out their duties. The company should provide suitable channels for the exercise of this right. extending in special circumstances to external assistance at the company's expense. See section: B.1.41 Comply 25. Companies should organize induction programmers for new directors to acquaint them rapidly with the workings of the company and its corporate governance rules. Directors should also be offered refresher programs when circumstances so advise. Comply 164 26. Companies should require their directors to devote sufficient time and effort to perform their duties effectively. and. as such: a) Directors should apprise the Nomination Committee of any other professional obligations. in case they might detract from the necessary dedication; b) Companies should lay down rules about the number of directorships their Board members can hold. See sections: B.1.8. B.1.9 and B.1.17 Comply 27. The proposal for the appointment or renewal of directors that the Board submits to the General Shareholders’ Meeting. as well as provisional appointments by the method of cooption. should be approved by the Board: a) On the proposal of the Nomination Committee. in the case of independent directors. b) Subject to a report from the Nomination Committee in all other cases. See section: B.1.2 Comply 28. Companies should post the following directorship particulars on their websites and keep them permanently updated: a) Professional experience and background; b) Directorships held in other companies. listed or otherwise; c) An indication of the director's classification as appropriate. stating. in the case of institutional directors. the shareholder they represent or are associated with. d) The date of their first and subsequent appointments as a company director. and; e) Shares held in the company and any options on the same. Comply 165 29. Independent directors should not stay on as such for a continuous period of more than 12 years. See section: B.1.2 Comply The Board has not considered it advisable to implement recommendation 29 since it would lead to the loss of Directors whose presence on the Board is in its corporate interests due to their qualifications. contributions and experience without their presence affecting their independence. 30. Institutional directors should resign when the shareholders they represent dispose of their ownership interest in its entirety. If such shareholders reduce their stakes. thereby losing some of their entitlement to institutional directors. the latter’s number should be reduced accordingly. See sections: A.2. A.3 and B.1.2 Comply 31. The Board of Directors should not propose the removal of independent directors before the expiry of their tenure as mandated by the bylaws. except where just cause is found by the Board. based on a proposal from the Nomination Committee. In particular. just cause will be presumed when a director is in breach of his or her fiduciary duties or comes under one of the disqualifying grounds enumerated in section III.5 (Definitions) of this Code. The removal of independents may also be proposed when a takeover bid. merger or similar corporate operation produces changes in the company’s capital structure. in order to meet the proportionality criterion set out in Recommendation 12. See sections: B.1.2. B.1.5 and B.1.26 Comply 166 32. Companies should establish rules obliging directors to inform the Board of any circumstance that might harm the organization’s name or reputation. tendering their resignation as the case may be. with particular mention of any criminal charges brought against them and the progress of any subsequent trial. The moment a director is indicted or tried for any of the crimes stated in article 124 of the Public Limited Companies Law. the Board should examine the matter and. in view of the particular circumstances and potential harm to the company's name and reputation. decide whether or not he or she should be called on to resign. The Board should also disclose all such determinations in the Annual Corporate Governance Report. See sections: B.1.43. B.1.44 Comply 33. All directors should express clear opposition when they feel a proposal submitted for the Board's approval might damage the corporate interest. In particular. independents and other directors unaffected by the conflict of interest should challenge any decision that could go against the interests of shareholders lacking Board representation. When the Board makes material or reiterated decisions about which a director has expressed serious reservations. then he or she must draw the pertinent conclusions. Directors resigning for such causes should set out their reasons in the letter referred to in the next Recommendation. The terms of this Recommendation should also apply to the Secretary to the Board. Director or otherwise. Comply 34. Directors who give up their place before their tenure expires. through resignation or otherwise. should state their reasons in a letter to be sent to all members of the Board. Irrespective of whether such resignation is filed as a significant event. the motive for the same must be explained in the Annual Corporate Governance Report. See section: B.1.5 Comply 167 35. The company's compensation policy. as approved by its Board of Directors. should specify at least the following points: a) The amount of the fixed components. itemized where necessary. of Board and Board Committee attendance fees. with an estimate of the fixed annual payment they give rise to; b) Variable components. in particular: i) The types of directors they apply to. with an explanation of the relative weight of variable to fixed compensation items; ii) Performance evaluation criteria used to calculate entitlement to the award of shares or share options or any performance-related compensation; iii) The main parameters and grounds for any system of annual bonuses or other. non cash benefits; and iv) An estimate of the sum total of variable payments arising from the compensation policy proposed. as a function of degree of compliance with pre-set targets or benchmarks. c) The main characteristics of pension systems (for example. supplementary pensions. life insurance and similar arrangements). with an estimate of their amount or annual equivalent cost. d) The conditions to apply to the contracts of executive directors exercising senior management functions. Among them: i) Duration; ii) Notice periods; and iii) Any other clauses covering hiring bonuses. as well as indemnities or ‘golden parachutes’ in the event of early termination of the contractual relation between company and executive director. See section: B.1.15 Comply 168 36. Compensation comprising the delivery of shares in the company or other companies in the group. share options or other share-based instruments. payments linked to the company’s performance or membership of pension schemes should be confined to executive directors. The delivery of shares is excluded from this limitation when directors are obliged to retain them until the end of their tenure. See sections: A.3. B.1.3 Comply 37. External directors' compensation should sufficiently compensate them for the dedication. abilities and responsibilities that the post entails. but should not be so high as to compromise their independence. Comply 38. In the case of compensation linked to company earnings. deductions should be computed for any qualifications stated in the external auditor’s report. Comply 39. In the case of variable awards. compensation policies should include technical safeguards to ensure they reflect the professional performance of the beneficiaries and not simply the general progress of the markets or the company’s sector. atypical or exceptional transactions or circumstances of this kind. Comply 40. The Board should submit a report on the directors’ compensation policy to the advisory vote of the General Shareholders’ Meeting. as a separate point on the agenda. This report can be supplied to shareholders separately or in the manner each company sees fit. The report will focus on the compensation policy the Board has approved for the current year with reference. as the case may be. to the policy planned for future years. It will address all the points referred to in Recommendation 34. except those potentially entailing the disclosure of commercially sensitive information. It will emphasize the most significant changes to those policies compared with the policy referring to the General Meeting applied last year. It will also include an overall summary of how the compensation policy was applied last year. 169 The role of the Compensation Committee in designing the policy should be reported to the Meeting. along with the identity of any external advisors engaged. See section: B.1.16 Comply 41. The notes to the annual accounts should list individual directors’ compensation in the year. including: a) A breakdown of the compensation obtained by each company director. to include where appropriate: i) Participation and attendance fees and other fixed director payments; ii) Additional compensation for acting as chairman or member of a Board Committee iii) Any payments made under profit-sharing or bonus schemes. and the reason for their accrual; iv) Contributions on the director’s behalf to defined-contribution pension plans. or any increase in the director’s vested rights in the case of contributions to defined-benefit schemes; v) Any severance packages agreed or paid; vi) Any compensation they receive as directors of other companies in the group; vii) The compensation executive directors receive in respect of their senior management posts; viii) Any kind of compensation other than those listed above. of whatever nature and provenance within the group. especially when it may be accounted as a relatedparty transaction or when its omission would detract from a true and fair view of the total compensation received by the director. 170 b) An individual breakdown of deliveries to directors of shares. share options or other share-based instruments. itemized by: i) Number of shares or options awarded in the year. and the terms set for their execution; ii) Number of options exercised in the year. specifying the number of shares involved and the exercise price; iii) Number of options outstanding at the annual close. specifying their price. date and other exercise conditions; iv) Any change over the year in the exercise terms of previously-awarded options. c) Information on the relation in the year between the compensation obtained by executive directors and the company’s profits. or some other measure of enterprise results. Comply 42. When the company has a Delegate Committee. the breakdown of its members by director category should be similar to that of the Board itself. The Secretary of the Board should also act as secretary to the Delegate Committee. See sections: B.2.1 and B.2.6 Not applicable 43. The Board should be kept fully informed of the business transacted and decisions made by the Delegate Committee. To this end. all Board members should receive a copy of the Committee’s minutes. Not applicable 44. In addition to the Audit Committee mandatory under the Securities Market Law. the Board of Directors should form a committee. or two separate committees. of Nomination and Compensation. 171 The rules governing the make-up and operation of the Audit Committee and the committee or committees of Nomination and Compensation should be set forth in the Board regulations. and include the following: a) The Board of Directors should appoint the members of such committees with regard to the knowledge. aptitudes and experience of its directors and the terms of reference of each committee; discuss their proposals and reports; and be responsible for overseeing and evaluating their work. which should be reported to the first Board plenary following each meeting; b) These committees should be formed exclusively of external directors and have a minimum of three members. Executive directors or senior officers may also attend meetings. for information purposes. at the Committees’ invitation. c) Committees should be chaired by an independent director. d) They may engage external advisors. when they feel this is necessary for the discharge of their duties. e) Meeting proceedings should be minuted and a copy sent to all Board members. See sections: B.2.1 and B.2.3 Comply The Company complies with the sections regarding the Recommendation. except for those included under paragraphs b) and c) With respect to paragraph b) an Executive Director forms part of the Nominations and Compensation Committee. This Director does not receive any compensation whatsoever for his executive duties. With respect to paragraph c) this Committee is led by and Executive Director who. as was explained above. does not receive compensation for the executive duties carried out. 172 45. The job of supervising compliance with internal codes of conduct and corporate governance rules should be entrusted to the Audit Committee. the Nomination Committee or. as the case may be. separate Compliance or Corporate Governance committees. Comply 46. All members of the Audit Committee. particularly its chairman. should be appointed with regard to their knowledge and background in accounting. auditing and risk management matters. Comply 47. Listed companies should have an internal audit function. under the supervision of the Audit Committee. to ensure the proper operation of internal reporting and control systems. Comply 48. The head of internal audit should present an annual work program to the Audit Committee; report to it directly on any incidents arising during its implementation; and submit an activities report at the end of each year. Comply 49. Control and risk management policy should specify at least: a) The different types of risk (operational. technological. financial. legal. reputational…) the company is exposed to. with the inclusion under financial or economic risks of contingent liabilities and other off-balance-sheet risks; b) The determination of the risk level the company sees as acceptable; c) Measures in place to mitigate the impact of risk events should they occur; d) The internal reporting and control systems to be used to control and manage the above risks. including contingent liabilities and off-balance-sheet risks. See section: D Comply 173 The Audit Committee’s role should be: 1. With respect to internal control and reporting systems: a) Monitor the preparation and the integrity of the financial information prepared on the company and. where appropriate. the group. checking for compliance with legal provisions. the accurate demarcation of the consolidation perimeter. and the correct application of accounting principles. b) Review internal control and risk management systems on a regular basis. so main risks are properly identified. managed and disclosed. c) Monitor the independence and efficacy of the internal audit function; propose the selection. appointment. reappointment and removal of the head of internal audit; propose the department’s budget; receive regular report-backs on its activities; and verify that senior management are acting on the findings and recommendations of its reports. d) Establish and supervise a mechanism whereby staff can report confidentially and. if necessary. anonymously. any irregularities they detect in the course of their duties. in particular financial or accounting irregularities. with potentially serious implications for the firm. 2. With respect to the external auditor: a) Make recommendations to the Board for the selection. appointment. reappointment and removal of the external auditor. and the terms and conditions of the engagement. b) Receive regular information from the external auditor on the progress and findings of the audit program. and check that senior management are acting on its recommendations. c) Monitor the independence of the external auditor. to which end: i) The company should notify any change of auditor to the CNMV as a significant event. accompanied by a statement of any disagreements arising with the outgoing auditor and the reasons for the same. ii) The company should ensure that the company and the auditor respect rules in force regarding the rendering of services other than audit services. business concentration limits affecting the auditor and. in general. all of the rules established to ensure the independence of auditors; 174 iii) The Committee should investigate the issues giving rise to the resignation of any external auditor. d) In the case of groups. encourage the Group’s auditors to audit the group companies See sections: B.1.35. B.2.2. B.2.3 and D.3 Comply 50. The Audit Committee should be empowered to meet with any company employee or manager. even ordering their appearance without the presence of another senior officer. Comply 51. The Audit Committee should prepare information on the following points from Recommendation 8 for input to Board decision-making: a) The financial information listed companies must periodically disclose. The Committee should ensure that interim statements are drawn up under the same accounting principles as the annual statements and. to this end. may ask the external auditor to conduct a limited review. b) The creation or acquisition of shares in special purpose entities resident in jurisdictions considered tax havens. and any other transactions or operations of a comparable nature whose complexity might impair the transparency of the group. c) Related-party transactions. except where their scrutiny has been entrusted to some other supervision and control committee. See sections: B.2.2 and B.2.3 Partial compliance 175 The Board Regulations do not expressly state that the Audit Committee must inform the Board beforehand of any decisions taking regarding the issues indicated under paragraph b). 52. The Board of Directors should seek to present the annual accounts to the General Shareholders’ Meeting without reservations or qualifications in the audit report. Should such reservations or qualifications exist. both the Chairman of the Audit Committee and the auditors should give a clear account to shareholders of their scope and content. See section: B.1.38 Comply 53. The majority of Nomination Committee members – or Nomination and Compensation Committee members as the case may be – should be independent directors. See section: B.2.1 Comply 54. The Nomination Committee should have the following functions in addition to those stated in earlier recommendations: a) Evaluate the balance of skills. knowledge and experience on the Board. define the roles and capabilities required of the candidates to fill each vacancy. and decide the time and dedication necessary for them to properly perform their duties. b) Examine or organize. in appropriate form. the succession of the chairman and the chief executive. making recommendations to the Board so the handover proceeds in a planned and orderly manner. c) Report on the senior officer appointments and removals which the chief executive proposes to the Board. d) Report to the Board on the gender diversity issues discussed in Recommendation 14 of this Code. See section: B.2.3 Partial compliance 176 The Nominations and Compensation Committee has not been formally given the authority listed under paragraph b). 55. The Nomination Committee should consult with the company’s Chairman and chief executive. especially on matters relating to executive directors. Any Board member may suggest directorship candidates to the Nomination Committee for its consideration. Comply 56. The Compensation Committee should have the following functions in addition to those stated in earlier recommendations: a) Make proposals to the Board of Directors regarding: i) The compensation policy for directors and senior management; ii) The individual compensation and other contractual conditions of executive directors. iii) The standard conditions for senior management employment contracts. b) Oversee compliance with the compensation policy set by the company. See sections: B.1.14. B.2.3 Comply 57. The Compensation Committee should consult with the Chairman and chief executive. especially on matters relating to executive directors and senior officers. Comply 177 G OTHER INFORMATION OF INTEREST If you consider there to be an important principle or aspects regarding the corporate governance practices applied by your Company that have not been mentioned in this report. indicate them below and explain their contents. This section may be used to include any other information. clarification or qualification relating to the previous sections of the report. Specifically. state whether the company is subject to any laws other than the laws of Spain on corporate governance and. if this is the case. include whatever information the Company may be required to provide when different from the information included in this report. Binding definition of independent director: Indicate whether any of the independent directors have or have had any relationship with the company. its significant shareholders or its executives. which. if sufficiently significant or important. would have meant that the director could no longer be considered independent. pursuant to the definition sat out in Section 5 of the Unified Good Governance Code: NO This annual report on corporate governance was approved by the Board of Directors of the Company on 25/02/2010 Indicate whether any Directors have voted against or abstained in connection with the approval of this Report. NO Madrid, 25 February 2010 178