Generali: one in two employees worldwide is a shareholder; in Italia, the figure stands at 65 per cent

Generali has set a new record for participation in its employee share ownership scheme. ‘We Share’ (as it is called), now in its third year, has attracted participation from half of those eligible (around 70,000), namely 35,800 employees across 32 countries, representing a 50 per cent increase compared with the 23,400 participants in the previous edition launched in 2023. In Italia, around 12,000 employees have joined the scheme, accounting for 65 per cent of those eligible. Participation in the schemes has been on the rise: the first, launched in 2020, was taken up by 35 per cent of those eligible; the second, in 2023, maintained that level; whilst the third saw a significant double-digit increase, bringing participation to over 50 per cent.

Monica Possa, Group Chief People & Organization Officer di Generali

According to Monica Possa, Group Chief People & Organisation Officer at Generali, “the exceptional level of participation in We Share 3 confirms our people’s strong sense of belonging and the confidence they have in Generali’s future. The record number of participants in this year’s edition demonstrates our colleagues’ desire to play an active part in the Group’s growth and is a strong endorsement of the value of an initiative which, over time, has succeeded in engaging a growing number of people around the world.”

The scheme was approved by the Shareholders’ Meeting last April with over 99 per cent of votes in favour and gives employees the opportunity to purchase Generali shares on favourable terms. It also entitles them to receive additional bonus shares, depending on the share price performance and the achievement of specific strategic and sustainability targets. To go into a little more detail, contributions from participating employees will begin in November. In the first phase – the enrolment phase – employees choose the monthly amount to be set aside, ranging from 20 to 300 euros, for the potential purchase of Generali shares. In the second phase – the accumulation phase – the amount is deducted monthly from their salary and set aside for the duration of the scheme. The third phase, the final allocation phase, provides that, upon the plan’s expiry, the final price will be compared with the initial price set at 39.33 euros, to determine the purchase of shares and the allocation of bonus shares.

The scheme will end in April 2029, when, should the share price rise, participants – using their accrued contributions – will automatically purchase the shares at the initial price, and will also receive bonus shares linked to the target for reducing CO₂ emissions generated by the group’s operational activities and to dividends distributed during the period 2026–2028. If, on the other hand, the share price falls, participants will have their set-aside contributions returned to them, together with bonus shares linked to the target for reducing CO₂ emissions generated by the group’s operational activities and to the dividends distributed during the period 2026–2028.

Through targets linked to the sustainability strategy, We Share 3 also supports Generali’s climate ambitions and will continue to support Generali’s foundation, The Human Safety Net, and its mission to unlock the potential of people living in vulnerable circumstances. As Possa sums it up, ‘We Share is much more than a share ownership scheme: it is a tool that strengthens our people’s sense of ownership and engagement, creating an ever-closer link between individual contributions, the Group’s strategic objectives and the creation of sustainable long-term value, as part of a shared journey of growth and responsibility. The integration of environmental and social objectives into the plan’s structure also reflects the central role that sustainability plays in Generali’s strategy and in the way we do business.”