uk bat.com - Political donations
We have a clear policy and compliance procedures on political donations, set out in our Group-wide Standards of Business Conduct. Contributions from our companies to political parties and organisations, their officers, elected politicians and candidates for elective office are generally not encouraged.
Such payments can only be made for the purpose of influencing the debate on issues affecting the company or Group and not to achieve any improper business or other advantage (such as to secure a government contract), must not be intended personally to benefit the recipient or his or her family, friends, associates or acquaintances and must be permissible under all applicable laws.
Controls on political donations
Any donation must be authorised by the board of the Group company making it, must be fully documented in the company’s books and, if required by local law, must be put on the public record.
Any payment that has been authorised must be notified in writing to the Company Secretary of British American Tobacco p.l.c.
Donations to political organisations within the European Union may only be made out of funds previously authorised by shareholders at a General Meeting. At the Annual General Meeting in 2009, British American Tobacco p.l.c. was given that authority covering the four years to 2013.
In 2012 no donation was made to any UK registered political party.
Group companies must return a certificate to the Company Secretary each year stating either that no payment has been made or giving details where a payment has taken place. These results are reported annually to the Audit Committee of British American Tobacco p.l.c., with an interim report to the Committee at the half year in respect of those countries where payments were reported or made in the preceding year.
Political donations by Group companies in 2012
We collate information centrally on contributions to political parties and to individual politicians that are made for the benefit of their party. Payments in 2012 were as follows:
|
Country/Group company |
Payments |
|---|---|
| Samoa: British American Tobacco Samoa Ltd |
604.00 |
| South Africa: British American Tobacco South Africa Ltd |
4,979.00 |
| Total |
5,583.00 |
(Note: £ equivalent based on the same average currency conversion rates as used for the Group Income Statement in the Annual Report 2012.)
The data on this page has been reviewed by Ernst & Young LLP. For more details see their Assurance Statement.
March 2013
