Corporate Governance

Internal audit is carried out by the Group Internal Audit Division, which is an independent department with its own written regulation, reporting to the Board of Directors’ Audit Committee.

Internal audit was performed in 2012 by 14 executives who had the necessary training and experience to expertly carry out their work.

Internal Audit’s primary role is to evaluate the checks and balances that have been put in place for all Group functions in terms of their adequacy and effectiveness. Internal Audit’s functions also include checking compliance with the laws in all jurisdictions in which the Group operates, as well as compliance with the Company’s Internal Regulation and Code of Conduct.

During 2012, 22 written reports from the Internal Audit Division relating to all audits of Group functions were submitted to the Audit Committee and via it to the Board of Directors. The half-yearly and annual reports on the work of the Internal Audit Division, which contained an overall reference to the most important audit findings, were also submitted. During 2012 the Audit Committee held regular private meetings with the Group’s Internal Audit Director to discuss functional and organizational issues, and all the information requested was provided and briefings were given about the audit systems currently in place, their effectiveness and the progress of audits. Following a report from the Audit Committee, the Board of Directors approved the audit schedule for 2013 and specified the functions and points on which internal audit must focus.