The Board of Directors of Eni notes the decision made by the preliminary hearing judge at the court of Milan to send the company, its chief executive and a number of managers to trial on a charge of international corruption related to the acquisition, in 2011, of a stake in the OPL 245 licence in Nigeria.

Eni’s Board of Directors has reaffirmed its confidence that the company was not involved in alleged corrupt activities in relation to the transaction. The Board’s decision was also taken on the basis of the results of independent advisors’ investigations. The advisors were appointed to examine all relevant resolutions and documents deposited within the closing of the Milan prosecutors’ investigation in 2016.

The Board of Directors also confirmed its full confidence that chief executive Claudio Descalzi was not involved in the alleged illegal conduct and, more broadly, in his role as head of the company.

Eni expresses its full confidence in the judicial process and that the trial will ascertain and confirm the correctness and integrity of its conduct.