Sustainability Report 2012 - Generali Versicherung AG

at a glanceFINANCIALCOMMUNITYIn a year characterised by major internal reorganisation within the corporatestructure and of the company’s management, as well as the persistenceof a still uncertain international macroeconomic and financial scenario, theGroup confirms that making best use of its shareholders’ investment isone of the priority interests.Maintenance of the dividend at 2011 levels confirms the commitmentto providing shareholders with a satisfactory return, despite a phase ofcapital strengthening.280,000shareholdersThe perception of the Group’s financial strength by analysts and investorswas confirmed by the ratings assigned by the main international ratingsagencies and by the performances recorded by the Generali shareduring the year, in particular as a result of the appointment of new TopManagement and the presentation of business strategies.In addition, the Group’s commitment to implementing policies gearedtowards corporate social responsibility in the management of its activitieswas also increasingly recognised by the financial community: in the lastyear, the amount of share capital held by investors who adopt ethicalinvestment criteria increased, and the ratings assigned to AssicurazioniGenerali by agencies specialised in socio-environmental and governanceanalysis (ESG) were confirmed or upgraded, with the subsequent inclusionin new ethical stock market indices, including excellence indices.Dialogue with the financial community, based on maximum transparency ofinformation, to allow investors to accurately evaluate company policies andthe operating performance, was positively impacted by internal changeswhich occurred during the year: contacts with both analysts and investorsincreased in the second half of 2012 (282 meetings in total), especially inthe main European financial markets, as well as media attention on eventsorganised by the company and on Generali’s participation in importantinternational financial events.311million eurosdividends distributed to shareholders3.1%share capital held byethical investors14 | Assicurazioni Generali - Sustainability Report 2012