The tenth anniversary of the founding of the Prysmian Group was celebrated in 2015, representing an ideal occasion to remember the great success achieved over the years. These celebrations, with various initiatives involving Prysmian's people and stakeholders, also offered a chance to think about and analyse the results delivered during the past decade. Multiple marketing and communications activities were organised throughout 2015 to mark this 10-year milestone: all communications carried a golden logo created especially in honour of the tenth anniversary, while the history of Prysmian over the decade was gathered and recounted in a book, produced for the occasion, that was dedicated and distributed to every employee.
Prysmian is now included in the FTSE4Good, a prestigious global index comprising firms that stand out for both their ethical and transparent management practices, and the implementation of sustainable policies. The majority of the stringent requirements specified by the FTSE Group were met by Prysmian. In particular, Prysmian received excellent ratings from the Index's commission of experts due to the high standards assured for employees, as exemplified by our Diversity and Inclusion policies. The Group's HR management processes are designed to support the development of individuals and a common identity, via multiple programmes for the management of talent within a highly multi-cultural environment. Additional merit points were awarded for the close attention paid by the Group to the entire supply chain, thanks to the introduction of the Code of Business Conduct that was devised in order to disseminate and assure the adoption of responsible practices by all suppliers.
With regard to the economic and financial responsibilities of the Group, relations with the financial market were particularly intense during 2015, involving more than 400 meetings with institutional investors, whether in the form of conference calls or one-to-one or group sessions.
In addition, Prysmian has re-opened the international YES (Your Employee Shares) programme, following the broad involvement achieved in the first two years. This plan enables employees to purchase shares on advantageous terms. To date, the YES plan has involved about 40% of employees, with an investment of almost 17 million euro and about 1% of capital. This successful programme seeks to increase the involvement, sense of belonging and business understanding of employees, thus strengthening the internal perception of the Prysmian Group as ‘One Company’.
Consistent with the Corporate Citizenship and Philanthropy Strategy designed to support access to energy and telecommunications, the Group has collaborated with the UNHCR (United Nations High Commission for Refugees) by contributing to the purchase of solar lights for the Nepalese population that on 25 April 2015 was hit by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake that, among the very serious damage caused, also destroyed the country's electricity grid. The Group invited about 20,000 employees to make a donation, however symbolic, which CEO Valerio Battista then decided would be doubled by the Company.
The Group has also recently supported UNHCR when, on 16 April 2016, another terrible earthquake struck Ecuador's Pacific Coast. The worst affected localities were Chamanga and Pedernales in Ecuador's northwest Esmeraldas. The earthquake caused thousands of deaths and injured more than 4,000 people. And The Group has decided to support local commutities providing,a lso in this case, solar lamps able to provide some light in the affected area where families have been forced to abandon their home.”