Aviva 2006 Annual Report Download - page 80

Aviva plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2006 76
Directors’ report continued
The Group acquired the AmerUs group of companies on
15 November 2006 and, in line with accepted practice in the
United States that group made political donations totalling $2,250
in December 2006. In common with other sizeable companies in
the US, AmerUs also operates a Political Action Committee (PAC).
The PAC allows employees to make contributions to be used for
political donations and, in December 2006 a donation of $1,000
was made by the employee PAC. These are not political donations
made by the Company. Following the integration of AmerUs into
the Aviva Group, no future political donations will be made by the
Company although AmerUs will continue to operate its employee
PAC.
Group employees
The Group’s statement on its employees is set out in the
Business Review.
In summary, the Group’s commitment to communication and
dialogue with employees continues. A strong emphasis is placed
on the provision of news through a variety of media, including
intranets (both a Group-wide intranet, Arena, and local business
unit intranets), Aviva radio, which can be accessed via mobile
phone or computer,and poster campaigns. Employees have
opportunities to voice their opinions and ask questions through
intranet sites and climate surveys. Face-to-face briefings and team
meetings areactively encouraged and areheld in all business units
across the Group. During 2006, the Group’s businesses in the
United Kingdom established employee consultative forums.
Employee practice
Aviva Group companies arecommitted to providing equal
opportunities to all employees, irrespective of their sex, sexual
orientation, marital status, creed, colour, race, nationality, ethnic
origin, disability, age, religion or union membership status.
Aviva is an inclusive employer and values diversity in its employees.
These commitments extend to recruitment and selection, training,
career development, flexible working arrangements and promotion
and performance appraisal. In the event of employees becoming
disabled, every effort is made to ensurethat their employment with
the Group continues and to provide specialised training where this
is appropriate.
Creditor payment policy and practice
It is the Group’s policy to pay creditors when they fall due for
payment. Terms of payment are agreed with suppliers when
negotiating each transaction and the policy is to abide by those
terms, provided that the suppliers also comply with all relevant
terms and conditions. The Company has no trade creditors.
In respect of Group activities in the UK, the amounts due to trade
creditors at 31 December 2006 represented approximately 13 days
of average daily purchases through the year (2005: 8 days).
Auditor and the disclosure of information to the auditor
Each person who was a director of the Company on the date
that this report was approved, confirms that so far as the director is
aware, there is no relevant audit information, being information
needed by the auditor in connection with preparing its report, of
which the auditor is unaware. Each director has taken all the steps
that he/she ought to have taken as a director in order to make
himself/herself aware of any relevant audit information and
to establish that the auditor is aware of that information.
This confirmation is given and should be interpreted in accordance
with the provisions of Section 234ZA of the Companies Act 1985.
In accordance with Section 385 of the Companies Act 1985, a
resolution is to be proposed at the Annual General Meeting for the
reappointment of Ernst & Young LLP as auditor of the Company.
Aresolution will also be proposed authorising the directors to
determine the auditor’s remuneration. The Audit Committee
reviews the appointment of the auditor, the auditor’s effectiveness
and relationship with the Group, including the level of audit and
non-audit fees paid. Further details on the work of the auditor
and the Audit Committee are set out below in the Audit
Committee report.
Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting of the Company will be held on
26 April 2007 at The Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London
EC2Y 8DS at 11am. A separate document accompanying the
Annual Report and Accounts contains the notice convening the
Meeting and a description of the business to be conducted thereat.
By order of the Board.
RichardWhitaker
Group Company Secretary
28 February 2007
Registered Office: St. Helen’s
1Undershaft, London EC3P 3DQ
Registered in England No. 2468686
Governance continued