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The Compliance and Ethics organisation supports these initiatives, with designated Compliance Coordinators in place in every market where CRH has a business presence. Their role is to support local management to ensure that the conduct of employees complies with the law and our codes, and to help sustain the overriding message that in CRH “there is never a right business reason to do the wrong thing”. 

## Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility 

Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) concepts are embedded in all CRH operations and activities. Excellence in the areas of health and safety, environment and climate change, governance, and people and community is a daily key priority of line management. The Group’s policies and implementation systems are summarised on page 6 and are described in detail in the Sustainability Report, which is typically published in June in respect of the previous calendar year and is available on the Group’s website. During 2012, CRH was again recognised by several leading socially responsible investment (SRI) agencies as being among the leaders in its sector in these areas. 

## Substantial Holdings 

The Company is not owned or controlled directly or indirectly by any government or by any corporation or by any other natural or legal person severally or jointly. The major shareholders do not have different voting rights. 

Between 31 December 2012 and 25 February 2013, the Company has been advised that The 

## Substantial Holdings 

Capital Group Companies, Inc. has decreased its holding to 28,182,547 (3.87%) and that BlackRock, Inc. has increased its holding to 35,977,552 (4.95%). 

## Communications with Shareholders 

Communications with shareholders are given high priority and we communicate with shareholders in a number of ways. There is regular dialogue with institutional shareholders and proxy voting agencies, as well as presentations and webcasts at the time of the release of the annual and interim results. Conference calls are held following the issuance of interim management statements and major announcements by the Group, which afford Directors the opportunity to hear investors’ reactions to the announcements and their views on other issues. Interim management statements are issued in May and November. Major acquisitions are notified to the Stock Exchanges in accordance with the requirements of the Listing Rules. In addition, development updates, giving details of other acquisitions completed and major capital expenditure projects, are usually issued in January and July each year. 

In November, the Chairman and senior executives hosted a capital markets day for investors and sector analysts in London, which was repeated in New York. The day included presentations on various aspects of CRH’s operations and strategy, and provided an opportunity for investors and analysts to meet with CRH’s senior executive and divisional management team. The full suite of presentations and a video recording of executive presentations is available on the CRH website. 

During 2012, the Board received and considered reports on the issues raised by investors in the course of the presentations and meetings. 

News releases are made available in the Media section of the website immediately after release to the Stock Exchanges. Webcasts of key investor briefings are broadcast live and are made available as recordings in the Media section. 

In addition, we respond throughout the year to correspondence from shareholders on a wide range of issues. 

The Chief Executive presented an overview of CRH strategy to shareholders at the 2012 Annual General Meeting. 

## General Meetings 

The Company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), which is held in Ireland, affords individual shareholders the opportunity to question the Chairman and the Board. All Directors attended the 2012 AGM. The Notice of the AGM, which specifies the time, date, place and the business to be transacted, is sent to shareholders at least 20 working days before the meeting. At the meeting, resolutions are voted on by way of a poll using an electronic voting system. The votes of shareholders present at the meeting are added to the proxy votes received in advance and the total number of votes for, against and withheld for each resolution are announced. This information is made available on the Company’s website following the meeting. 

All other general meetings are called Extraordinary General Meetings (EGMs). An EGM called for the 

As at 31 December 2012, the Company had received notification of the following interests in its Ordinary share capital: 

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* BlackRock, Inc. has advised that its interests in CRH shares arise by reason of discretionary investment management arrangements entered into by it or its subsidiaries. 

** In 2012, CGC advised the Company that, with effect from 1 September 2012, the holdings of CRMC and Capital Group International, Inc. (‘CGII’), which were previously reported separately, would be reported in aggregate by CGC, the parent of both CRMC and CGII. 

