EX-11.2 5 v342311_ex11-2.htm EXHIBIT 11.2

 

 

Exhibit 11.2

 

Itaú Unibanco Holding S.A.

CNPJ 60.872.504/0001-23 A Publicly Listed Company NIRE 35300010230

 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE POLICY

 

Index

 

1. PURPOSE 1
   
2. REGULATORY AND SELF-REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT 2
   
3. ITAÚ UNIBANCO VISION 2
   
4. CODE OF ETHICS 3
   
5. SENIOR MANAGEMENT 3
   
6. STOCKHOLDERS’ RIGHTS 10
   
7. TRANSPARENCY 11
   
8. STOCK OPTION PLAN 13
   
9. BUSINESS WITH RELATED PARTIES 13
   
10. SUSTAINABILITY 13
   
11. SCOPE 14
   
12. APPROVAL 14

 

1. PURPOSE

 

This Corporate Governance Policy (Policy) consolidates the Corporate Governance principles and practices adopted by Itaú Unibanco Holding S.A. (Itaú Unibanco or Company).

 

Corporate Governance involves the management and monitoring of the relationship between the Company, the Board of Directors and the Committees related to it, including the Audit and Compensation Committees, the Executive Board, the Independent Audit, the Fiscal Council, its stockholders and the market. Good Corporate Governance practices add value to the Company, facilitating access to capital and contributing to Itaú Unibanco’s long-term viability.

 

The foundation stone on which Itaú Unibanco’s Policy rests is the search for excellence in Corporate Governance with a view to strengthening and creating the best conditions for the development of the institution and that of its subsidiaries.

 

The Policy is cross references to the Company’s Bylaws, the Internal Charters of the Board of Directors and other statutory bodies and Committees, the Code of Ethics and other internal regulations of Itaú Unibanco in such a way as to reflect and consolidate the existing structures for protecting the interests of the stockholders and the market, serving as signposts for the management of the Company.

 

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2. REGULATORY AND SELF-REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT

 

Itaú Unibanco is a financial institution with shares listed on three stock exchanges: the São Paulo Stock Exchange (BM&FBOVESPA), the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange (BCBA) and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). In the case of the latter two, trading takes place through depositary receipts representing the company’s shares (ADRs on the NYSE and CEDARs in the case of BCBA).

 

As a financial institution, the company is subject to the norms of the National Monetary Council (CMN) and to the rules of and inspection by the Central Bank of Brazil.

 

As a listed company with shares trading on the above mentioned stock exchanges in Brazil, Argentina and the United States, Itaú Unibanco is subject to the rules and inspection of the local authorities which regulate the respective capital markets: the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission (Comissão de Valores Mobiliários - CVM), Comisión Nacional de Valores (CNV) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), respectively, including the rules relative to Corporate Governance.

 

In addition, as a holding company controlling a range of companies acting in various segments of the market, it includes under its umbrella, controlled companies which are subject to the rules of the respective regulatory and self-regulatory authorities (if signatories) for these sectors such as, among others, the National Council of Private Insurance (CNSP), Superintendency of Private Insurance (SUSEP), the Complementary Pension Secretariat (SPC), the Brazilian Financial and Capital Markets Entities Association (ANBIMA) and the Brazilian Association of Listed Companies (ABRASCA).


In Brazil, one of the principal regulations applicable to Itaú Unibanco reflects the adherence to a BM&FBOVESPA’s Corporate Governance Level 1 listing, to which the company signed up on a voluntary basis in June 2001. Pursuant to Level 1 listing rules, Itaú Unibanco must adopt differentiated practices of corporate governance, such as greater transparency in disclosure to the market, maintenance of a minimum free float and share dispersion via public offerings of shares, respecting the interests of the minority stockholders. In addition, in 2011, Itaú Unibanco signed up to the ABRASCA Self-Regulatory Code for Good Practices of Publicly Held Companies.

 

In the United States, Itaú Unibanco is subject to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of July 2002, and also NYSE and SEC requirements applicable to foreign issuers, among them the necessity of constituting an Audit Committee and validation of the Company’s internal controls and financial statements. The establishment of the Audit Committee is also a determination of the Brazilian legislation (CMN 3198/04 and CNSP 118/04 resolutions) as well as the constitution of the Compensation Committee (CMN Resolution 3921/10).

 

3. ITAÚ UNIBANCO VISION

 

Itaú Unibanco’s vision is “To be the leading bank in sustainable performance and customer satisfaction”.

 

For Itaú Unibanco, sustainable performance is to create shared values for employees, customers, stockholders and society, guaranteeing the long-term viability of the businesses.

 

In the context of creating shareholder value, one of the ways of achieving this is the adoption of best practices of Corporate Governance, an ongoing and long-term process, focused on the Company’s sustainable performance.

 

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In this context, Itaú Unibanco has established a set of 10 attitudes (Our Way of Making it Happen) which guide the way we do business, the manner in which we relate to customers, stockholders, employees, competitors, suppliers, government and class entities and, above all, the way we establish our vision of the future and achieve our business objectives. These attitudes are as follows:

 

(1)All for the client

(2)Passion for performance

(3)Ethical, responsible leadership

(4)All-stars who are team players

(5)Focus on innovation and focused innovation

(6)Processes serving people

(7)Nimble and uncomplicated

(8)Leave your stripes at the door

(9)A sparkle in one’s eyes

(10)Dream big

 

4. CODE OF ETHICS

 

Itaú Unibanco’s operations are based on principles that sustain an organizational culture focused on the development of people, on strict compliance with the rules and regulations and on a permanent vocation for development. To assist in the implementation of these principles, since 2000, Itaú Unibanco has maintained its Code of Ethics, widely disseminated within the Company and publicly disclosed in the Investor Relations website and periodically updated to better adjust Itaú Unibanco’s positioning in the domestic and international context.

 

5. SENIOR MANAGEMENT

 

Itaú Unibanco’s senior management encompasses the General Stockholders’ Meeting and the following bodies: Board of Directors, Executive Board, Fiscal Council as well as the Committees directly related to the Board of Directors, namely the Strategy Committee, the Appointments and Corporate Governance Committee, the People Committee, Risk Management and Capital Committee, Compensation Committee and the Audit Committee, the latter two also being a statutory committees.

 

The above mentioned committees (Committees) maintain a relationship with the Board of Directors, their members being elected or nominated by this body, the purpose being to create the conditions for the uniform handling and systemization of matters of strategic relevance and for control of Itaú Unibanco. The Board of Directors and the Committees operate as collegiate bodies, seeking to arrive at a consensus through dialog and the systemic view which characterize Itaú Unibanco’s management.

 

5.1 General Stockholders’ Meetings

 

The Company’s supreme body is the General Stockholders’ Meeting, which brings stockholders together, either on an ordinary or extraordinary basis, through a convening notice as called for under Law 6.404/76 (Corporate Law).

 

The Annual General Meeting is held in the first four months of each year, for examination, discussion and voting of the financial statements reported by management, decision on the allocation of the net income for the fiscal year, payout of dividends and election of members to the Board of Directors and the Fiscal Council. The Extraordinary General Meeting is held when convened to decide on key matters when not the exclusive responsibility of the Annual General Meeting.

 

As from 2012, the Electronic Voting Platform for Annual and Extraordinary General Meetings has been made available allowing stockholders to exercise voting rights from anywhere and in advance through the intermediary of an electronic power of attorney without the need for an onsite presence at the General Stockholders Meeting.

 

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5.1.1 Voting and Share Types

 

The Corporate Bylaws provide for two types of shares: common and preferred, both book entry, with no par value and in a single class. Each common share gives its holder the right to one vote in the General Meetings.

 

Preferred shares carry no voting rights except in specific cases enshrined in the legislation. However they give their holder (i) priority in the receipt of the annual minimum, non-accumulative dividend of R$ 0.022 per share, which will be adjusted in the event of stock or reverse stock splits; (ii) participation on equal terms with common shares in the receipt of distributed profits, once the payout of dividends on common shares as determined in (i) above, and (iii) the right, in an eventual sale of control, to be included in a public offering for acquisition of shares, guaranteeing a price equal to 80% of the value paid on a share with voting rights, part of the controlling group (tag along).

 

5.2 Board of Directors and Committees

 

Operating on a collegiate basis, the Board of Directors is a mandatory body in a listed company. Among other functions, it is incumbent on the Board to provide general guidance on the Company’s businesses, elect the members of the Executive Board and supervise its management. It is incumbent on the Executive Board to exercise operational and executive functions in line with the guidelines established by the Board of Directors.

 

The structure, make up and powers of the Board of Directors is enshrined in the Bylaws of Itaú Unibanco and its rules for functioning are established in the Internal Charter. To promote the renovation of members on the Board of Directors and pursuant to best practices of Corporate Governance, Itaú Unibanco’s Bylaws provide for the ineligibility to the Board of Directors of persons of 70 years of age and older.

 

The Board of Directors is made up of natural persons and can have between 10 (ten) and 14 (fourteen) members. At the first meeting immediately subsequent to the Annual General Meeting which elected it, the members of the Board shall choose the Chairman from among their peers and from 1 (one) to 3 (three) Vice Chairmen.

 

5.2.1 Independent Member of the Board of Directors

 

The independence of the Board members is designed especially to safeguard the Company’s interests and those of its minority stockholders, to foster debate of ideas which may eventually differ from those of the Directors nominated by the controlling group. In this context, the Board’s Internal Charter states that the independent Directors may meet to examine specific themes relevant to the Company, reporting back to the Chairman of the Board on the matters discussed and eventual suggestions of measures to be adopted.

 

An independent Director is one that has neither a commercial relationship nor one of any other nature with the Company, with a company under the same control, with a stockholder part of the controlling group or with a member of the management body which could potentially (i) result in a conflict of interests; or (ii) negatively affect the said Director’s capacity and impartiality of analysis and appreciation.

 

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In this context for example, a person may not be deemed independent who:

 

- holds either a direct or indirect stake in the capital stock of the Company or any other company controlled by it or under common control, equal to or more than 5% (five percent);

 

- is included in a stockholders’ agreement or is connected to the controlling shareholding group, directly or indirectly (through a corporate entity or due to family member ties*);

 

- is or has been in the past three years an employee or officer of the Company or of a company under the same control or whose family relative* is or has been an officer of the Company or a company subject to the same control;

 

- is or has been (or whose family member* is or has been), in the last three years, the responsible technician, partner, director, manager, supervisor or any other member, with a managerial function, of the team involved in external auditing work for the Company or of a company subject to the same control.

 

The Appointments and Corporate Governance Committee shall vouch for the independence of the Director, the said Committee’s examination not necessarily being restricted to the limits or the relationships exemplified above.

 

(*) Family members are spouses, blood relatives or related by direct or collateral affinity to the second degree of affinity.

 

5.2.2 Committees related to the Board of Directors

 

a) Strategy Committee

 

Within the scope of the Board of Directors, the Strategy Committee has as its principal function, the discussion of relevant matters and those of a significant impact. It is also incumbent on the said Committee to: (i) support the Board of Directors in the discussion with the Executive Board of Itaú Unibanco on the strategic guidelines for business matters; (ii) issue opinions and recommendations on strategic guidelines, thus enriching discussions and decisions of the Board of Directors; (iii) within the scope of the Board of Directors, take the initiative in discussions on key matters and those with a significant impact; (iv) review opportunities for investment submitted by the Executive Board and which have a critical impact on the business; and (v) issue opinions and recommendations on proposed investment opportunities, providing input for Board of Directors’ discussions and decisions.

 

With respect to Itaú Unibanco’s budgetary guidelines, it is incumbent on the Strategy Committee to (i) propose budgetary guidelines to the Board of Directors; (ii) conduct an in-depth discussion with the Executive Board in order to allow the budgetary guidelines to be defined; (iii) make recommendations to the Board of Directors, following discussion with the Executive Board, on the budget for the current year; and (iv) advise and support the Chief Executive Officer in the monitoring of the corporate strategy for the budget.

 

The members of the Strategy Committee are elected annually by the Board of Directors and may be members of the Board itself, the Executive Board of the Company and of controlled companies or professionals of proven knowledge in the area.

 

b) Appointments and Corporate Governance Committee

 

The Appointments and Corporate Governance Committee’s principal function is to monitor the governance of the Company, especially in relation to matters concerning the Board of Directors.

 

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In this context, it is incumbent on the Appointments and Corporate Governance Committee to: (i) identify, analyze and propose candidates to the Board for submission to the General Meeting, determining if the candidate shall be deemed, if elected, an internal, external or independent director; (ii) review periodically criteria for defining an independent director in accordance with the principles of governance and the applicable regulations, recommending to the Board any modifications deemed necessary and reevaluating the situation of each Director in the light of any new criteria for defining independence which may eventually be established; (iii) evaluate the functioning of the Board of Directors; (iv) discuss and make recommendations on succession of the chairman of the Board of Directors and of the Directors, establishing a succession plan; (v) discuss and make recommendations on guidelines and processes of selection and nomination of the Chief Executive Officer; (vi) discuss and make recommendations on the succession of the Chief Executive Officer, establishing a succession plan; and (vii) assist in the identification of the Directors qualified to fill vacancies on the Committees which are subordinate to the Board, including the Appointments and Corporate Governance Committee, in this context specifically furnishing an opinion on the proposed Directors’ independence and financial specialization for the Audit Committee. The Appointments and Corporate Governance Committee shall, and whenever deemed appropriate, propose changes in the make-up of the Board of Directors and the Committees that are subordinated to it, as well as propose changes to the structure of the Committees which are subordinated to it, including the creation and/or extinguishment of Committees.

 

The Appointments and Corporate Governance Committee is also responsible for processes involving appraisal of Board performance, being incumbent on the Committee to (i) recommend appraisal processes for the Board, Directors, Chairman of the Board, Committees and Chief Executive Officer; and (ii) provide methodological and procedural support to the evaluation of the Board, Board Directors, Chairman of the Board, Committees and Chief Executive Officer. It is also incumbent upon this Committee to propose the apportionment of the aggregate compensation set by the General Stockholders’ Meeting among the Directors.

 

Finally and based on criteria preliminarily established by the Board of Directors, the Appointments and Corporate Governance Committee shall also examine and disclose situations where there is a potential conflict of interests between the Directors and the companies under the umbrella of the Itaú Unibanco Conglomerate, particularly in relation to (i) situations arising from external activities carried on by the Directors, such as participation of members of the Board of Directors or the Executive Board in statutory bodies of other companies not part of the Itaú Unibanco Conglomerate; and (ii) transactions between Directors and companies under the umbrella of the Itaú Unibanco Conglomerate.

 

On an annual basis, the Board of Directors shall nominate Directors to sit as members of the Appointments and Corporate Governance Committee. Notwithstanding, the Committee may also invite company executives and specialists in the area of human resources and corporate governance to make up the Committee.

 

c) People Committee

 

The People Committee is responsible deciding the principal guidelines with respect to policies for people.

 

With respect to the guidelines for attracting and retaining talents, it is incumbent on the People Committee to (i) debate strategies for the domestic and international attraction and mobility of executives; (ii) discuss, monitor and advise the Executive Board on the career of strategic talents in the Itaú Unibanco Conglomerate; (iii) monitor the performance of the key executives in the Itaú Unibanco Conglomerate and the result of the trainees program; (iv) be informed of the system for appraisal of employees; (v) provide support in establishing guidelines for monitoring and mentoring executives and (vi) suggest to the Compensation Committee policies for compensation of employees including the various forms of fixed and variable compensation.

 

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Furthermore, the said Committee has a function for advising on the skills and profile of talents required for the Itaú Unibanco Conglomerate to achieve its medium to long-term aspirations; to be cognizant of the tendencies for hiring at other companies in the same sector; to discuss the culture, suitability of profile and training needs; to be informed on the policy for training courses and processes for upgrading the skills; and to provide support for decisions on further education programs.

 

Finally, the People Committee is responsible for institutional decisions within the scope of the stock options plans sponsored by Itaú Unibanco and to approve the grant of Partners’ Stock Options and Simple Options.

 

The Board of Directors shall annually nominate the Directors to comprise the People Committee. Notwithstanding, the Committee may also invite officers from the Company and specialists in the area of human resources and corporate governance to sit on the Committee.

 

d) Risk Management and Capital Committee

 

It is incumbent on the Risk Management and Capital Committee to support the Board of Directors in the performance of its responsibilities with respect to the management of risks and capital of the Company, submitting reports and recommendations on these issues for the resolution of the Board with respect to i) decisions on the Company’s appetite for risk in terms of capital, liquidity, results and company franchise, ensuring these aspects are in alignment with the strategy and including: acceptable levels of capital and liquidity for the Company, types of risk to which the Company could be exposed as well as aggregate limits for each type of risk, tolerances to volatility of results and risk concentrations, general guidelines on tolerance to risks that may have an impact on the value of the Company’s franchise (example: risk of image); ii) supervision of the Company’s risk control management activities in order to ensure their suitability to the levels of risk assumed and to the complexity of the operations as well as the meeting of regulatory requirements; iii) revision and approval of policies and strategies for the management of capital, which establish mechanisms and procedures for maintaining the capital compatible with the risks that are taken by the institution; iv) establishing the minimum return expected on the Company’s capital stock as a whole and its lines of business as well as monitoring performance; v) supervision of the incentive structures, including compensation, for ensuring alignment to the objectives of risk control and creation of value; and vi) fostering improvement in the Company’s risk culture.

 

The Risk Management and Capital Committee shall be made up of at least 3 (three) and at the most, 10 (ten) members, elected annually by the Board of Directors from among its members and professionals of notorious knowledge in the area. The Chairman shall be nominated from among the elected Directors, members of the Committee. The function of a member of the Committee is not delegable. The election of the members of the Committee shall take place at the first meeting of the Board of Directors immediately following the Annual General Meeting. The Board of Directors may elect or remove members at any time.

 

e) Compensation Committee

 

The Compensation Committee is the statutory body instituted by the General Stockholders’ Meeting in April 2012 covering the decisions and discussions on the compensation policies for the Itaú Unibanco Conglomerate. In the light of the growing discussions on the compensation of management in financial institutions and in order to adhere to best governance practices in effect both domestically and internationally, it is incumbent on the Compensation Committee to ensure the equilibrium of the institution’s risk management practices.

 

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The principal functions of the Compensation Committee are to: (i) prepare the compensation policy for the management of Itaú Unibanco, proposing to the Board of Directors the various forms of fixed and variable compensation as well as special benefits and programs for recruitment and termination; (ii) discuss, analyze and supervise the implementation and operation of the existing compensation models for Itaú Unibanco S.A. and for Banco Itaú BBA S.A. (including the treasury areas), discussing the general principles for the employee compensation policy and recommending its correction or improvement to the Board of Directors; (iii) supervise the implementation and operation of Itaú Unibanco’s compensation policy for management; (iv) review the Company’s compensation policy for management on an annual basis, recommending its correction or improvement to the Board of Directors; (v) propose to the Board of Directors the aggregate compensation for management to be submitted to the General Stockholders Meeting; (vi) evaluate and propose a compensation package for the Company’s Chief Executive Officer for Board of Director approval; (vii) evaluate and approve compensation packages, proposed by the Chief Executive Officer, for the Executive Vice Presidents of Itaú Unibanco S.A. and for the Chief Executive Officer and for the Executive Vice Presidents of Banco Itaú BBA S.A., including fixed and variable salaries, benefits and long-term incentives, as the case may be, also evaluating the compensation packages of the remaining members of management of the Itaú Unibanco Conglomerate; (viii) evaluate future internal and external scenarios and their possible impacts on the management compensation policy; (ix) examine the management compensation policy of the Company in relation to market practices with a view to identifying significant discrepancies in relation to similar companies, proposing the necessary adjustments; (x) ensure that the compensation policy for management is permanently compatible with the risk management policy, with the targets and the current and expected financial situation of the Company and with the provision in National Monetary Council CMN Resolution 3.921/2010; and (x) prepare the “Compensation Committee Report” on an annual basis.

 

In addition to complying with CMN Resolution 3921/10, the Compensation Committee shall evaluate the impact of other legislations with respect to compensation existing in other countries where the Company’s subsidiaries are operating, it being incumbent on the Committee to propose the necessary measures to ensure compliance with these rules.

 

On an annual basis, the Board of Directors shall nominate the members who shall comprise the Compensation Committee with at least one member not being a member of management. Notwithstanding, the Committee may also invite officers of the Company and specialists in the area of human resources and corporate governance to sit on the Committee.

 

f) Audit Committee

 

A statutory body instituted by the General Stockholders’ Meeting in April 2004, the Audit Committee is only required for institutions authorized to operate by the Central Bank of Brazil and for companies under the supervision of the Superintendency of Private Insurance that are part of the Itaú Unibanco Conglomerate and reporting to the Board of Directors. This Committee fully meets the provisions of CMN Resolution 3198/2004, CNSP Resolution 118/2004, and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and NYSE rules in these latter two cases where applicable to foreign private issuers.

 

Pursuant to its Internal Charter, approved by the Board of Directors, it is incumbent on the Audit Committee to supervise: (i) the processes of internal controls and risk management; (ii) the internal audit activities and (iii) the activities of the independent audit companies of the Itaú Unibanco Conglomerate.

 

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It is also incumbent on the Committee to safeguard (i) the quality and integrity of the financial statements; (ii) compliance with the legal and regulatory requirements; (iii) operation, independence and quality of the work of the independent audit companies; (iv) the operation, independence and quality of the work of the Internal Audit; and (v) the quality and effectiveness of the internal control and risk management systems.

 

The Audit Committee is made up of at least (3) three and at the most, (7) seven members elected annually by the Board of Directors from among the latter’s members and from professionals of proven technical capacity compatible with the Committee’s responsibilities contingent on (i) the chair – to be appointed by the Board of Directors – being exercised by a Director; and (ii) one of the members of this Committee, at least, being designated as Financial Specialist. The election of the members of the Audit Committee shall take place normally at the meeting of the Board of Directors at which the Executive Board of Itaú Unibanco is elected. In the election, the criteria of independence in the Audit Committee Regulations and the applicable regulation shall be taken into account.

 

In addition, the Committee must, individually or jointly with the respective independent audit companies for the Itaú Unibanco Conglomerate, formally notify the Central Bank of Brazil and the Superintendency of Private Insurance of any eventual evidence of: (i) non-compliance with the legal and regulatory norms, which might put the continuity of any of the Itaú Unibanco Conglomerate’s companies at risk; (ii) fraud of any value perpetrated by the management of any of the companies in the Itaú Unibanco Conglomerate; (iii) significant fraud practiced by employees of any of the companies in the Itaú Unibanco Conglomerate, or by third parties; and (iv) errors which result in critical inaccuracies in the financial statements of any of the companies in the Itaú Unibanco Conglomerate.

 

For the semesters ending June 30 and December 31, the Audit Committee is responsible for preparing the "Audit Committee Report", which covers information required by the prevailing regulations. In addition to the mandatory information, the report of December 31 also includes aspects relative to (i) a formal evaluation of the work carried out by the internal and external audit in the fiscal year; (ii) the self-evaluation of the Committee; and (iii) training of the Committee members.

 

Together with the semi-annual and annual financial statements of Itaú Unibanco Conglomerate, a summary of the Audit Committee Report is published containing its principal findings. Finally, the Audit Committee Report is made available to the Central Bank of Brazil, Superintendency of Private Insurance, and the Board of Directors for a minimum term of five years as from the date of its conclusion.

 

5.3 Fiscal Council

 

The Fiscal Council is an independent management body comprising from 3 (three) to 5 (five) members elected by the General Meeting to supervise the activities of management and the independent auditors. The composition, functioning, duties and responsibilities of the Fiscal Council are established in its Internal Charter. Its responsibilities include the preparation of a technical opinion on the quarterly and annual reports submitted for approval of the stockholders (which should be made available to the stockholders up to one month prior to the date set for the Annual General Meeting). The holders of the preferred shares have the right to elect an effective member and respective alternate to this Council. Minority stockholders are equally entitled to elect an effective member where they represent jointly, 10% (ten percent) or more of the shares with voting rights.

 

Pursuant to Itaú Unibanco’s Bylaws, the Fiscal Council is not permanently installed and its installation depends on a decision by the General Meeting in accordance with the Corporate Law. The Fiscal Council has been uninterruptedly installed since 2000. The members nominated by the controlling stockholders of Itaú Unibanco are independent professionals with wide experience in the financial market.

 

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6. STOCKHOLDERS’ RIGHTS

 

6.1 Dividend Policy

 

Since July 1980, Itaú Unibanco has maintained as its dividend distribution policy the monthly payout of dividends and complementary semi-annual and annual payments.

 

During each fiscal year, the stockholders have the right to receive as a mandatory dividend, an amount no less than 25% (twenty-five percent) of the posted net income in the same fiscal year, adjusted up or down for the specific values in letters "a" and "b" of subsection I of Article 202 of Law 6.404/76 and pursuant to subsections II and III of the same legal provision. In addition to the mandatory dividend, the Board of Directors may (i) propose to the Annual General Meeting the payout of dividends calculated on the basis of retained earnings, revenue reserves and, in some cases, capital reserves and (ii) establish the payment of interest on capital. Payment of interim dividends or interest on capital is incorporated as an integral part of the mandatory dividend for the fiscal year. The values per share paid out in dividends and/or interest on capital are equal both for common and preferred shares.

 

The Stockholders Compensation Policy is available from the Investor Relations website (www.itau-unibanco.com/ir > Corporate Governance > Rules and Policies).

 

6.1.1 Dividend Reinvestment Program

 

The Dividend Reinvestment Program (PRD) was launched in 2004 as a further benefit to Itaú Unibanco stockholders, permitting the automatic investment of the dividends in the purchase of preferred or common shares of the Company. Any stockholder with an Itaú Unibanco S.A. current account, whether a personal or corporate entity, may participate in the PRD.

 

Itaú Unibanco’s PRD was the first CVM-registered and approved dividend reinvestment program of a Brazilian company with the following advantages for Itaú Unibanco stockholders: (i) offers a safe, efficient, systematic and organized share purchase alternative; (ii) allows individual share purchase offers to be combined with the offers of all the other stockholders of the same company which have adhered to the PRD, thus increasing investment volumes and the consequent reduction in brokerage fees when compared to a regular acquisition of shares; and (iii) promotes a gradual increase of participation in the capital stock of the Company and in distributed dividends.

 

6.2 Tag Along

 

The Tag Along is a minority stockholder defense mechanism (those stockholders not part of the controlling group) which guarantees a minimum price for the shares of minorities in an eventual sale of the company’s control.

 

Brazilian corporate legislation requires that in the event of the sale of a publicly listed company, the acquiring party must make a public offering for the acquisition of the common shares of the non-controlling stockholders at a minimum price equal to 80% (eighty percent) of the value paid per share to the controlling group. A General Meeting of Itaú Unibanco, held in April 2002, extended to the holders of preferred shares the same tag along right. Thus, at Itaú Unibanco, the tag along is a right granted not only to the holders of common shares (as prescribed in law), but also to the holders of the preferred shares.

 

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BM&FBOVESPA has included Itaú Unibanco as a component with a significant participation in the ITAG – Special Tag Along Stock Index created to differentiate and enhance the importance of companies dispensing greater attention to their minority stockholders.

 

7. TRANSPARENCY

 

7.1 Investor Relations

 

The prime objective of the Investor Relations area (IR) is to transparently and accessibly disseminate information on Itaú Unibanco on which an investment in shares of its own issue can be based. Hence, the IR area seeks to consolidate and maintain Itaú Unibanco’s image of leadership and innovation in the capital markets, always underscoring respect for legal and ethical principles.

 

Public meetings held by the IR area are one of the most important communication channels and appreciated by investors, analysts and stockholders alike. The opportunity to discuss strategies and reported results with Senior Management can represent a decisive factor in making investment decisions. It is mandatory for companies included in BM&FBOVESPA’s corporate governance listing levels to hold at least one investor meeting annually. It is worth noting that over the last few years we have run more than 20 public meetings on an annual basis.

 

Since 1996, Itaú Unibanco has held public meetings at the APIMEC’s (Association of Capital Markets Analysts and Investment Professionals) regional offices as well as various presentations overseas. At these meetings and presentations, Itaú Unibanco aims to give a clear picture to the domestic and international financial community as to its performance, strategy for the creation of stockholder value and perspectives for the future, among other themes of investor interest. With a view to increasing access to personal investors, Itaú Unibanco has also held these meetings at the Expo Money financial fairs.

 

Other important aspects of Investor Relations policy are the IR website and the Domestic and International Conference Calls with stockholders, analysts and potential investors which take place quarterly 1 (one) day after the announcement of Itaú Unibanco Financial Conglomerate’s results and, in certain instances, following the announcement of material facts. Itaú Unibanco also provides Investor Relations information via Twitter (@itauunibanco_ri). These initiatives play an important role in Corporate Governance practices and in a dynamic and democratic manner provide the opportunity for direct contact between the stockholders, the market and Itaú Unibanco, facilitating access to key information on the Company.

 

7.2 National and International Stock Indices

 

In the pursuit of corporate governance excellence, Itaú Unibanco has been successful in being included in the principal stock indices that measure the degree of adherence of the company to recognized effective practices in this area. These indices include ITAG, already cited, and the IGC - BM&FBOVESPA Corporate Governance Stock Index, a listing which groups companies able to offer greater investor security.

 

In the same line, Itaú Unibanco’s shares are also now components of the BM&FBOVESPA Corporate Sustainability Stock Index (ISE), created jointly with various institutions, among them the Brazilian Corporate Governance Institute (IBGC), the institution becoming a benchmark for socially responsible investment and a catalyst for good practices in the Brazilian corporate sector.

 

The shares of Itaú Unibanco have also been part of the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World) since the latter’s inception in 1999. DJSI World selects companies of recognized corporate sustainability, with the capacity to create long-term stockholder value, through the ability to leverage opportunities and manage the risks associated with economic, environmental and social factors. Selection not only takes into account financial performance, but principally the quality of management, which should combine economic values with social and environmental activities as a means to long-term sustainability.

 

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7.3 Policy for Disclosure of an Act or Material Fact, Share Trading Policy and Disclosure and Trading Committee

 

CVM Instruction 358 of July 2002 established that listed companies should adopt a Policy for Disclosure of an Act or Material Fact (Disclosure Policy) and may adopt a Policy for Trading of Own Shares (Trading Policy). Both were adopted by Itaú Unibanco.

 

In addition to the adoption of a Disclosure Policy and a Trading Policy, Itaú Unibanco has exceeded the scope of the above Instruction by creating a specific committee for the management of the Policies. Among the listed companies in Brazil, it was a pioneer in the creation and operation of such a committee, always with a view to best corporate governance practice.

 

The Disclosure and Trading Committee has the prime function of administering the Trading and Disclosure Policy. Its function shelters a range of internal initiatives for improving information flow and safeguarding the ethical conduct of its management and staff signatories to the Policies in order to: (i) assure the transparency, quality, equality and safety of the information provided to stockholders, investors, the press, governmental authorities and to other capital market agents; (ii) respect and to apply the criteria established in the Policies such that members of management, stockholders, controlling stockholders and employees, as well as third parties that have a professional relationship or one of trust with the Company, adhere to ethical and legal standards in the trading of the Company’s securities, or securities benchmarked to them; (iii) evaluate Trading Policy guidelines and procedures and those which must be pursued in the disclosure of an act or material fact and in maintaining the confidentiality of such information, established by the Disclosure Policy as well as to examine the content of press releases prior to their publication; (iv) monitor and regulate adherence of the management and other employees of the Itaú Unibanco Financial Conglomerate to the policies, and (v) verify cases of violations of the policies, making eventual infringements known to the Board of Directors and the Ethics Committee.

 

The Committee meets quarterly when so convened by the Investor Relations Officer, the latter being a permanent member. The Committee is made up of between 2 (two) and 10 (ten) members nominated annually from among the members of the Company’s Board of Directors, the Executive Board and controlled companies and among professionals of proven knowledge in the capital markets area.

 

7.4 Operational Rules for Treasury

 

In November 2004, following a broad-based national and international survey of best Corporate Governance practices, Itaú Unibanco became the first Brazilian company on a voluntary basis to adopt Operating Rules for the Trading of Shares for Treasury Stock (Rules). These Rules now govern trading in shares issued by Itaú Unibanco on Stock Exchanges where its shares are eligible for trading.

 

In Itaú Unibanco management’s view, the adherence to these Rules has brought innumerous benefits, among which the reduction in operational, financial and strategic risk, the creation of an internal culture for these operations in the capital markets, the reduction in the possibility of market concentration or improper price fixing, the underscoring of the strategy for the repurchase of securities focused on the preservation of liquidity and creation of stockholder value. All this leads to a greater transparency for this type of operation.

 

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8. STOCK OPTION PLAN

 

Since 1995, Itaú Unibanco has offered grants of stock options on its shares permitting the alignment of the interests of the executives with those of Itaú Unibanco, so that the same risks and gains from the appreciation of the Company’s securities are shared.

 

The purpose of the Stock Option Plan is to make officers and directors parties to the medium and long-term development of the Company, thus allowing them to participate in the added value which their work and dedication has brought to the shares of the Company. The People Committee is responsible for the management of the Plan, designating each year those eligible to receive options, their quantity and price as well as taking institutional decisions according to the scope of the Stock Option Plan which covers both the executives of Itaú Unibanco and also the other companies of the Conglomerate.

 

9. BUSINESS WITH RELATED PARTIES

 

The business between Itaú Unibanco and related parties is conducted according to the legal and ethical norms.

 

These norms do not limit the capacity of Itaú Unibanco to conclude operations in the interbank market with its affiliates which are financial institutions, these operations being conducted at the same prices, terms and rates as prevailing in the market as a whole. The operations are excluded from the consolidated position and from the result of Itaú Unibanco’s operations, and are inspected by independent auditors and published quarterly in the Account Statements.

 

The remaining agreements with related parties follow the same criterion of strict submission to the legal rules, to avoid any intercompany favoritism or favoritism to controlling stockholders. For this reason, any agreements are always subject to exhaustive analysis by Senior Management. Should transactions be conducted involving parties, members of the Board of Directors of Itaú Unibanco, these must be examined by the Appointments and Corporate Governance Committee.

 

10. SUSTAINABILITY

 

For Itaú Unibanco, sustainability is the essential means in order that the quest for sustainable performance is built from the incorporation out of the real needs of our clients, the comprehension of the new social dynamics and the addressing of the growing environmental challenges.

 

Itaú Unibanco’s sustainability strategy has a strategic focus which addresses issues of major importance for the Company and for the businesses in the Conglomerate: financial education, risks and socio-environmental opportunities, dialog and transparency.

 

In order to bolster the sustainability agenda in the decision-making process at Itaú Unibanco, sustainability governance has been structured in three parts: a Sustainability Supervision Committee (made up of members of the Board of Directors); an Executive Sustainability Committee (made up of members of the Executive Committee); a Sustainability Committee (made up of officers and area heads).

 

Other Itaú Unibanco collegiate organs (Board of Directors, committees and commissions) also cover matters related to sustainability. Among these organs, those of particular importance are: the Senior Ethics Commission, the Audit Committee, the Disclosure and Trading Committee, the Products and Processes Evaluation Committee, the Socio-environmental Risk Committee and the Prevention Commission for Combating Illicit Acts.

 

Itaú Unibanco is signatory to various voluntary national and international commitments, among them: Global Compact, Equator Principles, Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), Responsible Investment Principles (PRI) and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). To access all the voluntary commitments signed by the Conglomerate, access: www.itau.com.br/sustentabilidade > No Itaú > Compromissos, Parcerias e Representações > Compromissos e Pactos Voluntários (in Portuguese only).

 

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Itaú Unibanco implements its social and cultural investments through the Itaú Social Foundaiton, the Unibanco Institute and the Itaú Cultural Institute, the first institution focusing on public education and the third, on the dissemination of Brazilian culture.

 

11. SCOPE

 

Itaú Unibanco’s Corporate Governance Policy is published in the website www.itau-unibanco.com.br/ir.

 

This is applicable to Itaú Unibanco Holding S.A. and to its controlled companies in Brazil and overseas.

 

The operating companies with shares listed on the stock exchange have their own rules of corporate governance.

 

12. APPROVAL

 

This Policy was approved by the meeting of the Company’s Board of Directors on June 29, 2012.

 

 

 

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