GSK China Fined Almost $500M After Bribery Ruling

Sept. 22, 2014

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced in a press release that the Changsha Intermediate People’s Court in Hunan Province, China, ruled that GSK China Investment Co. Ltd (GSKCI) has offered money or property to non-government personnel in order to obtain improper commercial gains, and been found guilty of bribing non-government personnel. The verdict follows investigations initiated by China’s Ministry of Public Security in June 2013.

As a result of the Court’s verdict, GSKCI will pay a fine of almost $500M to the Chinese government. This will be funded through existing cash resources, GSK says. Associated costs and charges related to restructuring will be included in GSK’s third quarter update.

The releast stated that the illegal activities of GSKCI are a clear breach of GSK’s governance and compliance procedures; and are wholly contrary to the values and standards expected from GSK employees. GSK has published a statement of apology to the Chinese government and its people on its website.

GSK's CEO, Sir Andrew Witty, said: "Reaching a conclusion in the investigation of our Chinese business is important, but this has been a deeply disappointing matter for GSK. We have and will continue to learn from this. GSK has been in China for close to a hundred years and we remain fully committed to the country and its people. We will continue to expand access to innovative medicines and vaccines to improve their health and well-being. We will also continue to invest directly in the country to support the government's health care reform agenda and long-term plans for economic growth."

Read the full release