Remuneration

Sustainability for Generali

Our journey towards sustainability is rooted in the fundamental principle of embedding long-term value creation for all stakeholders and society at large. Our current strategy, “Lifetime Partner 24: Driving Growth”, positioned sustainability as its “originator”, transforming it into the cornerstone of our vision and actions. Being the “originator” means for Sustainability to be a game changer, shaping the way all the decisions are taken and leading Generali to be a transformative, generative and impact-driven company, able to create shared value.

Generali stands firm in its role as a Responsible Insurer and Investor, weaving sustainability into the very fabric of our core business. As a Responsible Employer, we champion an inclusive workplace, prioritising the wellbeing and growth of our employees. This commitment is equally reflected in our role as a Responsible Corporate Citizen, where our engagement with communities reinforces our strategic intent. Underpinned by robust governance, comprehensive policies and guidelines, and reliable integrated reporting, our journey towards sustainability is both meaningful and accountable.

The integration of sustainability into management remuneration is a key step to ensuring an even stronger link between company/individual performance and sustainability. This is made possible by drawing on a panel of strategic sustainability goals that reflect the priorities of the “Lifetime Partner 24: Driving Growth” strategy.

Over the years, the commitments made and the results achieved by the Group have led to improvements in the ratings assigned by the main agencies specialised in the analysis of social, environmental and governance (ESG) performance and to the Group's inclusion in important international sustainability indices.

In particular, in November 2022 MSCI ESG Ratings raised Generali's rating from "AA" to "AAA", the highest possible rating, confirmed in 2023. Moreover, Generali has been confirmed for the sixth consecutive year in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World) and for the fifth year in the Dow Jones Sustainability Europe Index (DJSI Europe).


ESG Goals in the Remuneration Policy

In line with industry regulations and market recommendations, Generali’s remuneration structure is in continuity with the progressive improvements on decisions made last year, reinforcing, on the one hand, an incentives system that is even more focused on ESG issues and, on the other, data-driven performance evaluation models.

The variable component of the remuneration is based on a meritocratic approach and on a multi-year horizon, including an annual cash component and a deferred component in shares, based on the achievement of a combination of sustainable business goals and the direct link between incentives and results set at Group, Business Unit, Country, function and individual level, both financial (risk-adjusted), economic and operational, as well as non-financial/ESG.

The goals are predefined, measurable, linked to the achievement of economic, operational, financial and non-financial/ESG results. In line with our Group strategy, the performance goals consider the risks undertaken and are assessed not only with respect to the achievement of predefined and measurable targets and ambitions, but also considering the demonstrated behaviours to achieve them and their coherence with Group values.

Since the 2023 Group Remuneration Policy there is a focus on internal and measurable non-financial/ESG KPIs in the Group incentives system, in line with market recommendations and the “Lifetime Partner 24: Driving Growth” Group Strategy, which has Sustainability as Originator. In particular, the updates pertaining the Policy itself include:

In alignment with the Group strategy on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Generali's Remuneration Policy supports specific initiatives and ambitions and promotes pay equity across genders.

These actions are aimed at ensuring equal opportunities and equal treatment for all Group employees during their work experience, eliminating any institutional barriers or unconscious biases, and recognising people's diverse circumstances and needs so that they can fully contribute to the success of our Group.

In this respect, since 2020 our policies, analyses, and actions have been focused on reducing the gender pay gap, by analysing and comparing males and females doing the same work or work of equal value (Equal Pay Gap) and by observing this gap throughout the organisation (Gender Pay Gap).

During 2023, Generali's ongoing commitment to this path led to a further consolidation of our advanced data analytics model based on multiple regression in collaboration with PayAnalytics and worked to further improve the results in terms of equal pay gap, continuing to monitor the results of gender pay gap and accessibility gap to variable remuneration.

In line with our Group strategy on DEI, all Countries/Business Units monitor the gender pay gap annually, with the goal of identifying specific actions at local level, aimed at structurally reducing the Gender Pay Gap and supporting our ambition to achieve an Equal Pay Gap towards zero in the 2022-2024 strategic cycle.

In order to promote a meritocratic environment that fosters alignment with strategic goals and people’s participation in the value creation process, in 2019 Generali developed and launched We SHARE, the first Share Plan of its kind for Group employees. Based on the high employee participation in the first edition of the Plan and to further promote our culture of ownership, in April 2023 the Annual General Meeting approved a new Plan with ~90% of favourable votes.

In continuity with the previous edition, the “We SHARE 2.0” Plan provides employees¹ with the opportunity to purchase Generali shares at favourable conditions within a protected framework, awarding them additional free shares in case of share price appreciation.

In this second edition, with the aim to embed the Group’s climate strategy objectives and to make the new Plan more effective with respect to the current market context, some enhancements have been introduced:

• the introduction of an Environmental Social Governance (ESG) goal connected to the CO₂ emissions reduction;
• the allocation of additional free shares linked to the new ESG goal;
• the broadening of the exercise period, assessing the share price appreciation condition up to 3 times instead of 1;
• the allocation, in case of share price depreciation, of free additional shares linked to the dividends distributed, if the Net Holding Cash Flow (NHCF) goal is reached.

The Plan, having a duration of indicatively 3 years, was launched in June 2023 and offered to over 68,000 people in 34 countries. More than 23,400 Generali employees joined the Plan with a global take-up rate of almost 35%². This extremely high rate of participation and commitment is strong evidence of the enthusiasm and sense of belonging of Generali employees towards their company and its strategic vision. It is a clear indication that Generali people positively received the enhancements introduced in this edition to make the Plan more effective with respect to the market context and the link with the ESG Goal of decarbonising Generali’s operations.

Also in this second edition, Generali renewed its support to The Human Safety Net Foundation, by making a donation for each employee joining the Plan, and participants have the opportunity to do the same. Overall, more than € 380,000 have been donated to further support the financial education project addressed to families living in vulnerable circumstances, launched in the first edition of the Plan. This is a demonstration of the Group’s commitment towards the shared purpose of enabling people to shape a safer and more sustainable future by caring for their lives and dreams.

This initiative is a tangible sign of Generali’s drive to promote across the Group employee commitment towards the achievement of strategic objectives, a culture of ownership and empowerment, and their participation in Group sustainable value creation.

For more details about the Share Plan for Generali Group Employees, click here.

In Generali, we fully acknowledge the importance of providing a working environment that addresses the engagement, health, and wellbeing of our employees as an important part of our organisational culture and identity.

We believe that everything is possible for people who are engaged, believe in a common purpose, operate in an environment that can nurture their passion, and have the ambition to succeed in everything they do. From this perspective, Generali wants to be a workplace where everyone feels valued, included, and empowered to face the future at their best.

To enhance our employees’ sense of belonging, making them feel more connected, supported, and closer than ever to their organisation, we commit to improving interaction through regular and active listening. This “Listening Strategy” helps us design and take action based on what matters most to our employees.

For example, feedback from our Generali Global Engagement Survey, launched to measure our people's engagement levels and recurring at the beginning and end of every 3-year strategic cycle, inspired further development of Generali's “Next Normal” initiative. This program focuses on supporting work-life balance, fostering inclusive work environments, and attracting and retaining talent. The valuable insights gleaned from the Survey not only confirmed the positive reception of our existing hybrid and flexible working model, but also uncovered additional ways to optimise its effectiveness.

Additionally, in 2022 as part of our “GPeople24 - Ready for the Next” Strategy, we introduced the Global Pulse Survey, which provides a dynamic platform for ongoing employee interaction, filling the interval between the Global Engagement Surveys conducted every three years. These targeted employee listening sessions throughout the Group aim to identify specific areas for improvement in our ways of working, business processes, and internal tools. The goal is to streamline our employees’ daily activities, thereby enhancing their working conditions overall.

By actively listening, we ensure our initiatives remain relevant and impactful. For instance, following the most recent Global Engagement Survey, Business Units implemented 428 targeted local engagement initiatives, with 93% already underway and full completion expected by year-end 2024. The 2023 Global Pulse Survey continued this commitment to regular communication and adapting actions based on employee feedback.

As part of the Group strategic commitments to the market, our People Strategy aims to reach and maintain a People Engagement Rate above the external market benchmark³.

As we evolve our working models, we maintain an open dialogue with the European Works Council, as demonstrated by the Joint Declaration on the 'New Sustainable Way of Working in a Next Normal Scenario' issued in February 2023. This declaration underscores the critical importance of trust, empowerment, and care as fundamental principles. Furthermore, together with the subsequent ‘Declaration on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’ signed in November 2023, it aims to advance inclusion, equality, non-discrimination, and the right to disconnect for all employees, whether they choose to work remotely or on-site.

Within our efforts towards building a sustainable organisation, employee health and wellbeing are a top priority, accelerated during the public health crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic, and which remains essential now and for the years to come. Through welfare activities we aim to provide the necessary support for all employees and their personal needs. Specific programs are developed locally to encourage prevention, physical activities, healthy habits, and good mental health.

Furthermore, training and digital content are available for employees with the aim to raise awareness, learn good practices and coping strategies on how to take care of personal and family health concerns, as well as how to effectively deal with special personal circumstances.

Our focusing on employee wellbeing demonstrates the Group’s commitment to our people and recognises the vital role it plays in sustaining engagement and achieving business success.

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS

The Remuneration Policy related to all Directors without executive powers - with the exception of the Chairman, whose remuneration is detailed below - provides that the remuneration is composed of three elements: a fixed annual fee, an attendance fee for each meeting of the Board of Directors where they participate, as well as reimbursement of expenses incurred for attending the meetings.

The Shareholders' Meeting of 29 April 2022 determined that, for the three-year period 2022-2024, each member of the Board of Directors is entitled to:

• a gross annual fixed remuneration of € 100,000, with an increase of 50% for the members of the Executive Committee, if established;
• an attendance fee of € 4,000 gross for each meeting of the Board of Directors and of the Executive Committee, if established;
• the reimbursement of out of pocket expenses incurred to attend meetings and perform other activities required by their office.

Directors who are also members of Board Committees are paid fees that are additional to those already received as members of the Board of Directors, with the exception of those who are also executives of the Generali Group. The remuneration is established by the Board of Directors pursuant to Article 2389, paragraph 3 of the Italian Civil Code according to both the powers assigned to these Committees and the commitment required for participation in their work in terms of number of meetings and preparatory activities.

Furthermore, in line with regulatory legislation and international market best practices, no variable remuneration is paid to non-executive directors.

The Remuneration Policy for the Chairman of the Board of Directors provides for the payment of a fixed annual remuneration determined based on comparative analyses with similar national and international figures. Like all Directors without executive powers, the Chairman does not participate in the short- and medium/long-term incentive plans. For this figure, the Remuneration Policy of Assicurazioni Generali also provides for the allocation of some benefits such as, for example, insurance coverage for death and total permanent disability from injury or illness, as well as health care and the availability of a Company car with driver for both private and business use.

SUPERVISORY BODY

For these parties, the Policy provides for the payment of an annual fixed gross remuneration for the entire duration of the mandate, with an increase of the amount for the Chair of the Board of Statutory Auditors considering the related coordination activities. The members of the Board of Statutory Auditors may be granted an attendance fee for participating in meetings of the Board of Directors and Board Committees. There are no variable remuneration components.

The remuneration levels of the members of the Control Body are defined taking into account, among other things, the reference benchmark and the size/complexity of the Company.

The members of the Body are reimbursed for expenses incurred while exercising their functions and the coverages of the D&O insurance policy as illustrated below.