Aviva 2007 Annual Report Download - page 85
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Please find page 85 of the 2007 Aviva annual report below. You can navigate through the pages in the report by either clicking on the pages listed below, or by using the keyword search tool below to find specific information within the annual report.It is the Company’s policy not to make political donations
of the type caught by the Companies Acts (although
overseas subsidiaries do make other donations such
as those made through Political Action Committees),
and the Company does not intend to change this policy.
However, at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting
of the Company the shareholders’ approval will again be
sought to authorise the Group to make political donations
and/or incur political expenditure (as such terms are
defined in Sections 362 to 379 of the Companies Act
2006 which superseded Section 347A of the Companies
Act 1985) in amounts not exceeding £100,000.
The definitions used in the Companies Act 2006 are
broad in nature and this authority is being sought to
ensure that any activities undertaken throughout the
Group’s businesses which could otherwise be construed
to fall within these provisions can be undertaken without
inadvertently infringing them. Further details of this are
contained in the Notice of Meeting.
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, opinion surveys and the Group’s
climate survey which is open to all employees. Face-to-face
briefings and team meetings are actively encouraged
and are held in all business units across the Group.
The Group’s businesses in the United Kingdom have
established employee consultative forums and a European
Consultative Forum convenes annually to discuss matters
impacting the business across Europe.
Employee practice
Aviva Group companies are committed to providing equal
opportunities to all employees, irrespective of their gender,
sexual orientation, marital status, 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, promotion and performance appraisal.
In the event of employees becoming disabled, every effort
is made to ensure that 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 2007 represented approximately 23 days of
average daily purchases through the year (2006: 22 days).
Reappointment of the auditor and
disclosure of information to the auditor
In accordance with Section 385 of the Companies Act
1985, a resolution is to be proposed at the Annual
General Meeting to reappoint Ernst & Young LLP
as auditor of the Company. A resolution 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.
The directors in office at the date of this report confirm
that, so far as they are each aware, there is no relevant
audit information of which Ernst & Young LLP are
unaware and each director has taken all steps that
ought to have been taken as a director to be aware
of any relevant audit information and to establish that
Ernst & Young are aware of that information.
Annual General Meeting
The 2008 Annual General Meeting of the Company
will be held on 1 May 2008 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.
Graham Jones
Group Company Secretary
27 February 2008
Registered Office: St. Helen’s
1 Undershaft, London EC3P 3DQ Registered in England No. 2468686
Aviva plc
Annual Report and
Accounts 2007
81
Governance