GlaxoSmithKline to cease providing corporate political contributions
Issued: Monday 22 December 2008, London UK
GlaxoSmithKline today announced a new global policy to voluntarily stop all corporate political contributions. In the past, GSK - in common with many companies and in full compliance with local laws - has made a number of corporate contributions in countries such as the US and Canada. GSK's new policy will ensure that no such contributions will be made in the future.
"We continue to believe that it is important for GSK to be engaged in policy debates and the political process. However, we need to ensure that there is no implication whatsoever that corporate political contributions provide us with any special privileges. We do not believe they have, and in the few countries we have given contributions we have done so in full compliance of the law. As part of our overall drive to improve transparency in terms of our interactions with governments, political leaders and candidates for public office, we believe that stopping corporate political contributions is the right thing to do. Our focus is, as it always has been, on helping governments by providing them with evidence that our medicines and vaccines provide a strong value proposition," said Andrew Witty, CEO, GlaxoSmithKline.
In the US, the company will continue to support a voluntary and independent Political Action Committee (PAC) to facilitate political contributions by eligible GSK employees.
GlaxoSmithKline - one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies - is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. For further information please visit www.gsk.com [1].
GlaxoSmithKline Enquiries
UK Media enquiries:
Philip Thomson
(020) 8047 5502
Alice Hunt
(020) 8047 5502
Stephen Rea
(020) 8047 5502
US Media enquiries:
Nancy Pekarek
(919) 483 2839
Mary Anne Rhyne
(919) 483 2839
Sarah Alspach
(215) 751 7709
European Analyst/Investor enquiries:
David Mawdsley
(020) 8047 5564
Sally Ferguson
(020) 8047 5543
Gary Davies
(020) 8047 5503
US Analyst/ Investor enquiries:
Tom Curry
(215) 751 5419
Jen Hill
(215) 751 7002
Links:
[1] http://www.gsk.com/