The Italian Corporate Governance Code: New Standards for a Changing Market in Difficult Times

Giuseppe Catalano, General Counsel - Company Secretary, Indesit Company, Italy

The new edition of Corporate Governance Code of companies listed on Borsa Italiana (the Italian Stock Exchange) was published on December 5th, 2011. The Code was presented by Gabriele Galateri di Genola and Domenico Siniscalco, respectively Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Italian Corporate Governance Committee, during a press conference held at Palazzo Mezzanotte, headquarters of the Stock Exchange in Milan.

Giuseppe Catalano is a corporate generalist attorney with substantial in-house legal experience. High premium on providing preemptive legal support in English or Italian. Focus on intellectual property, contract drafting and governance issues.

Indesit Company is one of the European leading manufacturers and distributors of major domestic appliances (washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, fridges, freezers, cookers, hoods, ovens and hobs). It is the undisputed leader in major markets such as Italy, the UK and Russia. Founded in 1975 and listed on the Milan stock exchange since 1987, the Group posted sales of €2.8 billion in 2011. Indesit Company has 14 production facilities (in Italy, Poland, the UK, Russia and Turkey) and 16,000 employees. The Group’s main brands are Indesit, Hotpoint and Scholtès.