The appeal trial concerning the events involving the CEO and General Manager of Banca di Asti, Dr. Carlo Demartini, concluded today. The court acquitted him with full formula, stating that the alleged facts did not occur, overturning the first-instance verdict and clearing him of all charges.
While awaiting the official reasoning behind the verdict, the outcome of the trial—which dealt with highly technical matters regarding the proper accounting treatment of disputed credit positions—was favorable to the CEO. Notably, Banca di Asti, as a legal entity, had already been previously acquitted of administrative and criminal liability in the matter, due to the nonexistence of the alleged facts.
On the merits, the legal team representing the Bank’s CEO—composed of Prof. Maurizio Riverditi and Attorney Guido Carlo Alleva—submitted extensive documentation during the proceedings to demonstrate that Dr. Demartini was never involved in evaluating individual non-performing positions. His communications with Bank executives and relevant departments were always aimed solely at efficiently managing exposures in the interest of the institution, and thus indirectly of its shareholders.
Furthermore, expert witnesses supporting Dr. Demartini emphasized that the classification and determination of the level of adjustments to be recorded in the financial statements is inherently a subjective and partly discretionary exercise by the Bank. The boundaries of this discretion are defined by internal rules and are subject to strict oversight by multiple internal departments. Moreover, the disputed items concerned a number of credit positions that were entirely insignificant relative to the overall figures in the Bank’s final financial statements.
“I am pleased with the outcome of this matter,” stated CEO Demartini, “especially because I never doubted that Justice—in which I have always had full confidence—would clarify and shed light on what happened. I have always worked with one goal: to serve the Bank and, through it, the communities where it operates.”
Contacts
| Elena Rossignoli Head of Legal and Corporate Affairs Department tel 0141 393 510 e mail [email protected] | Roberta Viarengo Head of General Secretariat and Shareholders’ Office tel 0141 393 258 e mail [email protected] |
Issued via SDI 1 info on 24 september 2025 at 17:51