From 1 January 2016, the date of entry into force of law 208, companies that have changed their statute becoming “benefit companies” are 2,626according to the data provided by the SB monitoring Dashboard of the Chamber of Commerce of Taranto (updated to 31 December 2022), marking a plus 54.74% over the previous year.

Benefits, as stated in the law, are companies “which, in carrying out an economic activity, in addition to the purpose of dividing profits, pursue one or more purposes of common benefit and operate in a responsible, sustainable and transparent manner towards people, communities, territories and the environment, cultural and social assets and activities, bodies and associations and other stakeholders”.

What are benefit corporations?

Basically, in addition to pursuing profit, benefits tend to achieve real benefits purpose of common interest for the community.

Precisely on the basis of this principle, companies in the world of communication have also changed their corporate structure in this sense. This is the case for example of SEC Newgate, Barabino & Partners e Communityimportant players in the sector, but also of The Skilla reference company in PR litigation and crisis management, which has taken on the new company name of Benefit Company by inserting reputational protection among the purposes of ‘common benefit’ first.

For example, The Skill will pursue – as stated in the new statute – “in addition to the interests of its shareholders, also other interests, especially those of employees and the communities in which it operates, with regard to the protection of the integrity of individuals and through fact-checking, countering fake news and defending reputation”. Added to this are more classic purposes such as the protection of the environment and of the artistic heritage and social issues. Themes that cross the incentives to the evolution of the most modern society towards topics such as the CSR, certifications, ESG criteria and forms of prevention complying with the 231 models.