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Annual Report 2015

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FY2015 Annual Report · GSK
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Annual Report 2015

2015 saw substantial progress 
to accelerate new product 
sales growth and strengthen 
our Pharmaceuticals, Vaccines 
and Consumer Healthcare 
businesses

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Overview of 2015 

“ In 2015, we made substantial progress to accelerate 
new product sales growth, integrate new businesses in 
Vaccines and Consumer Healthcare and restructure our 
global Pharmaceuticals business. This progress means  
the Group is well positioned to return to core earnings 
growth in 2016.”

 Sir Andrew Witty, Chief Executive Officer

Performance summary

£23.9bn

Group turnover 
(up 6% CER/up 1% CER  
pro-forma) a

£10.3bn

Total operating profit 
(up >100% CER) a 

£5.7bn

Core operating profit 
(down 9% CER/down 3%  
CER pro-forma) a

£3.9bn

Cash dividends paid  
in 2015

£2.0bn

New product sales b 
(up >100%)

174.3p

Total earnings per share 
(up >100%, primarily  
reflecting impact of  
transaction gains)

75.7p

Core earnings per share 
(down 15% CER, primarily 
reflecting short-term dilution  
of the Novartis transaction) a

100%

Markets now operating  
new commercial model 

~40 

20

Potential new medicines  
and vaccines profiled at R&D 
event, 80% of which have 
potential to be first-in-classc

Potential to file up to  
20 assets with regulators  
by 2020

~13%

Estimated internal  
rate of return in R&D 
in 2015

1st

In Access to Medicine 
Index

Footnotes 
a   We use a number of adjusted measures to report the performance of our business,  

as described on page 54. These include core results, CER growth rates and pro-forma 
CER growth rates. A reconciliation of total results to core results is set out on page 62.

b   New products defined as:  

Pharmaceuticals: Relvar/Breo Ellipta, Anoro Ellipta, Incruse Ellipta, Arnuity Ellipta, 
Eperzan/Tanzeum, Nucala, Tivicay, Triumeq.  
Vaccines: Menveo, Bexsero, Shingrix (not yet approved). 

c   GSK R&D event on 3 November 2015.

Front cover story
Innovation is at the heart of all we do  
Katherine, pictured left, is one of a team of scientists continuing to develop Nucala after almost  
20 years of focused R&D, including nine distinct patient studies. Nucala is a monoclonal antibody 
that stops IL-5 from binding to its receptor on the surface of eosinophils. In people with asthma, 
eosinophils – a type of white blood cell – cause inflammation in the lungs, making it difficult to 
breathe and increasing the risk of asthma attacks.  

The 2015 European and US regulatory approvals of Nucala – the first-in-class approved targeted 
biologic therapy for people with eosinophilic-driven severe asthma – consolidates GSK’s leading 
global position in respiratory medicine.

Katherine, GSK senior scientist, Stevenage, UK

B  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
At GSK, our mission is to 
improve the quality of human 
life by enabling people to do 
more, feel better, live longer. 

Find out more www.gsk.com

Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements

The Group’s reports filed with or furnished to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including this document 
and written information released, or oral statements made, to the public in the future by or on behalf of the Group, may 
contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements give the Group’s current expectations or forecasts of 
future events. An investor can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current 
facts. They use words such as ‘anticipate’, ‘estimate’, ‘expect’, ‘intend’, ‘will’, ‘project’, ‘plan’, ‘believe’ and other words and 
terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance. In particular, these 
include statements relating to future actions, prospective products or product approvals, future performance or results  
of current and anticipated products, sales efforts, expenses, the outcome of contingencies such as legal proceedings,  
and financial results. Other than in accordance with its legal or regulatory obligations (including under the UK Listing  
Rules and the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority), the Group undertakes no  
obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. 
The reader should, however, consult any additional disclosures that the Group may make in any documents which it 
publishes and/or files with the SEC. All readers, wherever located, should take note of these disclosures. Accordingly,  
no assurance can be given that any particular expectation will be met and shareholders are cautioned not to place  
undue reliance on the forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are subject to assumptions, inherent risks and uncertainties, many of which relate to factors 
that are beyond the Group’s control or precise estimate. The Group cautions investors that a number of important factors, 
including those in this document, could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any 
forward-looking statement. Such factors include, but are not limited to, those discussed under ‘Risk factors’ on pages  
231-240 of this Annual Report. Any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Group speak only as of the 
date they are made and are based upon the knowledge and information available to the Directors on the date of this  
Annual Report.

All expectations and targets regarding future performance should also be read together with ‘Assumptions related  
to 2016-2020 outlook’ on the inside back cover.

A number of adjusted measures are used to report the performance of our business. These measures are defined  
on page 54 and a reconciliation of core results to total results is set out on page 62.

Contents

Strategic report
Our investor proposition 
Our business 
Chairman’s statement 
CEO’s statement 
Our global marketplace 
Our business model 
Our strategic priorities 
How we performed 
Our approach to risk 
Pharmaceuticals 
Vaccines 
Consumer Healthcare 
Responsible business 
Group financial review 

02
04
06
07
08
11
12
14
16
18
26
32
38
50

Governance & remuneration
74
Our Board 
78
Our Corporate Executive Team 
80
Board governance 
Corporate governance framework  82
Committee reports 
  Audit & Risk 
  Nominations 
  Corporate Responsibility 
Remuneration report  
  Chairman’s annual statement 
102
  Annual report on remuneration  103
127
Remuneration policy summary 

88
95
98

Financial statements
Directors’ statement  
130
of responsibilities 
131
Independent Auditor’s report 
Financial statements 
138
Notes to the financial statements  142
Financial statements of  
GlaxoSmithKline plc  
prepared under UK GAAP 

211

218
222
225

Investor information
Quarterly trend 
Five year record 
Product development pipeline 
Product, competition and  
228
intellectual property 
231
Risk factors 
241
Share capital and share price 
243
Dividends 
243
Financial calendar 
Annual General Meeting 2016 
243
Tax information for shareholders  244
Shareholder services  
and contacts 
US law and regulation 
Group companies 
Glossary of terms 

246
248
250
259

GSK Annual Report 2015  1

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Our investor proposition

GSK is a science-led global healthcare company that aims to 
deliver growth and improving returns to shareholders through 
the development of innovative pharmaceutical, vaccine and 
consumer healthcare products.

Three world-leading 
businesses

Each has a broad range 
of growth drivers and the 
global presence to access 
increasing demand for 
healthcare.

Strong R&D 
innovation 
R&D underpins all  
our businesses with  
research focused in  
six core therapy areas. 

Pharmaceuticals

Vaccines

Consumer Healthcare

£14.2bn

2015 turnover

Leadership in key 
therapeutic areas 
including Respiratory  
and HIV

£3.7bn 

2015 turnover

£6.0bn

2015 turnover

The most comprehensive 
vaccines portfolio in the 
industry

One of the world's 
leading global Consumer 
Healthcare companies  
(by retail sales)

Vaccines

Respiratory
diseases

Rare diseases

Immuno-
inflammation

HIV/infectious
diseases

Oncology

Around 40 

new 

potential medicines and 
vaccines in our pipeline 
profiled at R&D event b 

80%

of which we believe are 
potentially first-in-class

20 

Potential to file up  
to 20 assets by 2020

b   GSK R&D event on 3 November 2015.

Efficient global 
operating model

We are focused on 
optimising our operations 
through restructuring, 
investments and 
modernisation to  
improve profitability  
and efficiency.

£2.5bn

£1bn

2015 adjusted free cash flow excluding 
costs funded by divestmentsc

in incremental annual cost 
savings delivered in 2015 and

£6.7bn

net proceeds from disposals 
generated in 2015

 £3.7bn

reduction in net debt in 2015

£3bn

in annual cost savings  
expected by end of 2017d

c   Excluding legal payments and also non-core 

restructuring and integration costs and the initial  
tax payments on the sale of the Oncology business.

d   £1.6 billion annual savings  

achieved by 31 December 2015.

£

2  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
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150+

Presence in more  
than 150 markets 

£6bn

in annual revenues  
expected from new  
Pharmaceutical and  
Vaccine product sales  
(£2bn sales achieved  
in 2015)a

~13%

Estimated internal  
rate of return on  
R&D investment 

a   At its Investor event on 6 May 2015,  

GSK outlined a series of expectations for 
its performance over the five year period 
2016-2020. See inside back cover.

1,500 

We partner with over 1,500 
organisations around the world, 
including academic institutions, 
public-private partnerships 
and other pharmaceutical and 
biotechnology companies 

100%

on time supply for all 
key new pharmaceutical 
product introduction 
launches in 2015 across  
all markets 

93%

Consumer Healthcare 
supply: average service 
levels of 93% OTIF  
(on time in full) in 2015e 

No.1

in customer trust for  
both GSK Respiratory  
and Vaccines in the USf 

1.8m

unique visitors to GSK  
HCP digital portals,  
+21% in 2015

Earnings
•  Core EPS percentage 
growth expected to 
reach double digits 
CER in 2016 

•  Medium-term outlook 

for Group to grow Core 
EPS mid-to-high single 
digitsg CAGR over five 
years to 2020 CERh

Returns
•  Ordinary dividend of 

80p per share for 2015 

•  Special dividend of  

20p per share for 2015 
(£1 billion from Novartis 
transaction proceeds) 

•  Expect to pay ordinary 
dividend of 80p per 
share for both 2016  
and 2017

e   Legacy GSK brands.
f 

 Customer trust rankings as demonstrated  
in GSK annual customer value survey of  
over 4,000 customers.

g   At its Investor event on 6 May 2015, GSK 
outlined a series of expectations for its 
performance over the five year period 
2016-2020. See inside back cover.

h   Expected compound annual growth rate 

(CAGR) to 2020, using 2015 as the base 
year. See inside back cover.

GSK Annual Report 2015  3

 
 
 
 
 
 
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Our business

We are focused on the research and development  
of innovative pharmaceutical medicines, vaccines  
and consumer healthcare products.

Our strategy
Our strategy is designed to generate 
sustainable sales and earnings growth  
and improved returns to shareholders.  
We have three strategic priorities: 

To grow a balanced business 
and product portfolio, capable of 
delivering sustainable sales growth

 To research, develop and deliver 
more high quality, innovative products 
that offer valuable improvements in 
treatment for patients, consumers  
and healthcare providers

 To simplify the way we operate to 
reduce complexity, increase efficiency 
and free up resources to reinvest 
elsewhere in the business, or return 
to shareholders wherever we see the 
most attractive returns. 

Responsible business 
Being a responsible business is central to 
our strategy, and how we deliver success  
is just as important as what we achieve. 
Our work is underpinned by our values of 
patient focus, integrity, respect for people 
and transparency.

  Read more about our strategic priorities 
and our approach to responsible 
business on pages 12 to 13.

Research & development
R&D innovation underpins all of our 
businesses. We partner with more than 
1,500 other companies and academic 
organisations around the world, 
enabling us to increase our 
understanding of new areas of science 
and to share the risk of development.

We have a deep portfolio of innovation 
focused across six core areas of 
scientific research and development: 
HIV and infectious diseases, oncology, 
immuno-inflammation, vaccines, 
respiratory and rare diseases. In 2015, 
we profiled around 40 new potential 
medicines and vaccines, 80% of which 
we believe have the potential to be 
first-in-class. This means they may offer 
benefits beyond current standards of 
care and, in some cases, could radically 
transform how patients are treated. 

  Read more about our R&D on pages 
18 to 37.

20

Potential to file up to 20  
assets by 2020

Of the 40 assets profiled  
in 2015, we expect:

phase III starts in 2016/2017 and

up to 10
up to 20

phase II starts in 2016/2017

~13%

Estimated internal rate of return 
on R&D investment

£3.1bn

Core R&D expenditure in 2015

Core R&D expenditure 
allocation in 2015 
Pharmaceuticals 
Vaccines 
Consumer Healthcare 

£bn
2.3
0.5
0.3

Our businesses
Our Pharmaceuticals, Vaccines and 
Consumer Healthcare businesses 
generated turnover of £23.9 billion in 2015. 

Each business benefits from GSK's global 
commercial infrastructure, integrated supply 
networks, innovative R&D and significant 
global presence. 

 See our business model on page 11. 

  Read more about our businesses opposite 
and on pages 18 to 37.

Global presence
We have a significant global presence  
with 101,255 employees in more than 150 
markets, a network of 89 manufacturing 
sites, and large R&D centres in the UK,  
US, Belgium and China.

Balanced geographies  
Turnover by region 2015

39%

34%

27%

 US
 Europe
  International

Balanced businesses 
2015 % of Group turnover

25%

15%

60%

 Pharmaceuticals
 Vaccines
   Consumer 
Healthcare 

4  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Pharmaceuticals
Our Pharmaceuticals business develops 
and makes medicines to treat a broad 
range of acute and chronic diseases. 
We have leading global positions in 
respiratory disease and HIV with a 
portfolio of innovative and established 
medicines. 

Vaccines
Our Vaccines business is one of  
the largest in the world, developing, 
producing and distributing over 1.9 million 
vaccines every day to people across  
the world. We have a broad portfolio  
of 39 paediatric, adolescent, adult and 
travel vaccines. 

Consumer Healthcare
Our Consumer Healthcare business  
develops and markets products in 
Wellness, Oral health, Nutrition and  
Skin health. We have a portfolio of some 
of the world’s most trusted and best-
selling brands which include Sensodyne, 
Voltaren, Horlicks and Panadol.

 Read more on pages 18 to 25.

 Read more on pages 26 to 31.

 Read more on pages 32 to 37.

£14.2bn

Total turnover

60%

of Group turnover

£3.7bn

Total turnover

15%

of Group turnover

Sales by therapy area  
Respiratory 
Cardiovascular, metabolic and urology 
Immuno-inflammation 
Oncology* 
Other pharmaceuticals 
Established Products 
HIV (ViiV Healthcare) 

£m
5,741
858
263
255
2,199
2,528
2,322

Sales by category  
Rotavirus  
Pneumococcal  
Flu    
Meningitis  
TDaP*  
Hepatitis  
Other 

£m
417
381
268
275
1,091
540
685

*  Representing sales prior to the disposal of  
the Oncology business unit to Novartis in  
March 2015.

* Tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis.

£6.0bn

Total turnover

25%

of Group turnover

Sales by category  
Wellness  
Oral health  
Nutrition  
Skin health  

£m
2,970
1,866
684
508

GSK Annual Report 2015  5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chairman’s statement

“ The Group has made good 
progress in delivering the 
strategy and outlook set 
out to shareholders in  
May 2015.” 

2015 highlights

80p + 20p

80p ordinary dividend and a special  
dividend of 20p

This is my first letter to shareholders and  
I am pleased to report that the Group made 
good progress in delivering the strategy 
and outlook set out to shareholders in  
May 2015.

A clear element of the Group’s strategy  
is to deal with the decline in sales of 
Seretide/Advair which has for the best  
part of the last decade been the biggest 
source of profits to the Group. This is a 
considerable challenge. However with the 
investments that have been made in new 
Pharmaceutical and Vaccine products we 
are now seeing an effective transition in  
the Group’s portfolio.

It is also important for the Group to secure 
the sales benefits and cost synergies 
resulting from the recent Novartis 
transaction, which was successfully 
completed in 2015. The Board is closely 
monitoring the integration of the new 
businesses acquired in Vaccines and 
Consumer Healthcare and it is clear  
that management has made substantial 
progress. 

For 2015, the Group has declared an 
ordinary dividend of 80 pence per share 
and a special dividend of 20 pence. 

The current level of annual dividend of  
80 pence exceeds the cash flows from  
our businesses. However, the Board has 
said it expects to maintain that level of 
payment for 2016 and 2017, which are 
important years of change. During this 
period, the long-term impact on cash flow 
of the decline in Seretide/Advair should 
become clearer but so should the benefit 
to cash generation of the growth of recently 
launched products, the expansion of our 
Vaccines and Consumer businesses  
and reduced restructuring expenditure. 

Good progress has been made in the 
development of the company’s operating 
model and R&D pipeline. Both of these are 
important for the long-term health of the 
company and the Board is encouraged by 
the level of innovation in the company’s 
pipeline, with novel assets in development 
across six core therapy areas. 

A priority for the Board is to manage 
succession of executive management.  
After what will have been nearly 10 years 
as CEO, Sir Andrew has indicated to the 
Board his intention to retire from the 
company in early 2017. The Board has 
agreed that he will retire on 31 March 2017. 
This will be the culmination of 32 years of 
service and leadership to GSK and the 
industry. We will thank Andrew more 
formally for his tremendous dedication and 
contribution next year. In the meantime, the 
Board will now start a formal search for a 
successor and will consider internal and 
external candidates for the role.

I am pleased to report that the Group has 
demonstrated strength in multiple areas of 
governance. A review of the work overseen 
by the Audit & Risk Committee is on page 
88. The Remuneration Committee has 
operated in accordance with the binding 
Remuneration Policy, approved by 
shareholders in 2014. The Remuneration 
report can be found on page 102.

We have been pleased to welcome two 
new independent Non-Executive Directors 
to the Board: Vindi Banga and Dr Jesse 
Goodman, as our Senior Independent 
Director Designate and a Scientific and 
Medical Expert respectively. I am pleased 
with the contributions they have made 
already to the Board’s deliberations.

Sir Christopher Gent retired from the 
Board as Chairman in May 2015 after over 
10 years at the helm of GSK. He stood 
down at the same time as Tom de Swaan 
and Jing Ulrich. Long-serving Non-
Executive Directors: Dr Stephanie Burns, 
Sir Deryck Maughan and Dr Daniel 
Podolsky will retire as planned at the  
2016 AGM in May after completing over 
nine years service. Hans Wijers has also 
decided not to seek re-election at our AGM 
this year. We have greatly appreciated all 
their dedication, experience, the wealth of 
knowledge and insights they brought to 
Board deliberations over their years of 
service on the Board.

In closing, on behalf of the Board, I would 
like to thank Sir Andrew and his executive 
team for their commitment and 
performance in 2015. 

Philip Hampton 
Chairman

6  GSK Annual Report 2015

Strategic reportStrategic reportGovernance & remunerationFinancial statementsInvestor informationGovernance & remunerationFinancial statementsInvestor information 
CEO’s statement

“ The progress we have  
made in 2015, strongly 
positions the Group to 
deliver the medium-
term outlook we set out 
to investors in May last 
year and to return to core 
earnings growth in 2016.” 

Restructuring and modernising  
our business
We are ahead of schedule on our 
integration and restructuring programmes 
and in 2015 realised £1 billion of 
incremental annual cost savings.  
We are well on track to deliver £3 billion  
of savings by the end of 2017.a 

We are modernising our business and 
making significant changes to our 
commercial model. We have already 
changed how we compensate our sales 
representatives and from the beginning  
of January 2016 stopped paying external 
doctors to speak about our products. 
These are industry firsts. At the same time, 
we are investing significantly in our own 
medical expertise and developing new 
digital capabilities to improve our 
interactions with physicians. 

Outlook
The progress we have made in 2015, 
strongly positions the Group to deliver  
the medium-term outlook we set out to 
investors in May last year and to return  
to core earnings growth in 2016.

Finally, and this year more than ever, I would 
like to thank all of our employees for their 
extraordinary energy, passion and tenacity.  

Sir Andrew Witty 
Chief Executive Officer

GSK Annual Report 2015  7

2015 highlights

£23.9bn

2015 Group turnover 
(up 6% CER/+1% CER pro-forma)

£2.0bn

New product sales 
(up >100%) 

£1.0bn

2015 incremental annual cost savings  
from integration and restructuring

2015 marked further progress against  
our strategy of creating a balanced Group  
of three world leading business in 
Pharmaceuticals, Vaccines and Consumer 
Healthcare, with a clear aim to deliver growth 
and improving returns to shareholders.

In the year, we completed our major 3-part 
transaction with Novartis and made good 
progress to integrate new businesses in 
Consumer Healthcare and Vaccines and 
restructure our Pharmaceuticals business. 
At the same time, sales of our new 
products have dramatically accelerated. 

Trading performance
Group sales rose 6% (+1% pro-forma)  
to £23.9 billion, despite trading conditions 
remaining challenging in a number of 
markets. Core earnings per share was  
75.7 pence, (-15% CER), ahead of our 
guidance for the year. Total earnings per 
share were 174.3 pence, a rise of more  
than 100%, reflecting the significant gains 
from the transaction. 

Footnote 
a   £1.6bn savings achieved as at 31 December 
2015 with a further £1.4bn to come over the 
next two years

Over the last two years we have launched a 
number of new pharmaceutical and vaccine 
products and in 2015 sales from this group 
reached £2 billion. This performance was 
driven by continued excellent uptake of  
our HIV launches (Tivicay and Triumeq), 
growing momentum in our new respiratory 
portfolio (Relvar/Breo, Anoro and Incruse) 
and significant contributions from newly 
acquired meningitis vaccines Bexsero  
and Menveo. 

New product sales are now more than 
offsetting the declines in Seretide/Advair; 
sales of which are now around 30% below 
their peak in 2013. 

2015 also saw a very strong performance 
from our Consumer Healthcare business 
with sales up 44% (+6% pro-forma)  
driven by a number of key brands including 
Sensodyne and allergy treatment Flonase 
which we switched from prescription status 
to over-the-counter in the US.

Strong R&D innovation
Our R&D organisation continued to deliver 
significant innovation for the Group in 2015. 
A key milestone was the approval in the US 
and Europe of Nucala, our first biologic 
treatment for severe asthma. We also 
successfully gained approval for our malaria 
vaccine, the first vaccine against a parasite.

Since 2008, the Group has received 
approvals for 15 new molecular entities 
(NMEs). In November 2015, we profiled 
around 40 new potential medicines and 
vaccines, 80% of which we believe could 
be first-in-class. 

Over the next two years we expect to see 
significant development milestones for a 
number of these assets including filings  
for our vaccine for shingles, Shingrix, 
sirukumab, for rheumatoid arthritis, and  
our triple combination therapy for chronic 
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).  
In addition, we expect continued progress 
in our mid and late stage pipeline in core 
therapy areas of respiratory, immuno-
inflammation, HIV, vaccines and oncology. 

Strategic reportStrategic reportGovernance & remunerationFinancial statementsInvestor informationGovernance & remunerationFinancial statementsInvestor information 
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Our global marketplace

The global healthcare marketplace is experiencing 
significant change as an uneven economic recovery,  
far-reaching global trends and an evolving commercial 
environment, particularly on pricing, transform the sector.

The global healthcare market
The global economy remained fragile  
in 2015, with overall growth falling from 
3.4% in 2014 to 3.1%a, reflecting slower 
growth in certain emerging economies  
and in oil-exporting countries. 

Despite this unsettled economic 
background, the global pharmaceuticals 
market continued to grow. Global sales 
were £428 billion for the period January  
to September 2015, up from £393 billion 
during the same nine months in 2014.  
North America remained the largest 
pharmaceuticals market, with a 49%  
share of global sales (up from 45% in 2014). 
Europe represented 21%, down from 24%, 
Asia Pacific was relatively static at 23%, 
emerging markets fell to 22% from 23%, 
with Japan down to 8% from 9%. 

In 2015, the global vaccines market grew by 
4% to around $27.5 billion. It is expected to 
continue growing at around 4% per year and 
represent around $35 billion by 2020.b 

The consumer healthcare markets in which 
GSK operates are estimated to be worth 
more than $100 billion, and are projected  
to grow by 3-4% annually over the next  
five years.c

We have evaluated the implications for 
our business of a possible exit of the 
United Kingdom from the European 
Union. In our view, there are advantages 
in the UK remaining part of the EU, where 
the Group would continue to have easy 
access to a significant economic bloc, be 
able to operate within an established and 
harmonised regulatory approval system and 
continue to benefit from EU advocacy on 
international trade discussions. However, 
while the UK leaving the EU would create 
uncertainty and add complexity to a wide 
range of our business activities, with some 
short-term disruption likely, we have plans  
in place to mitigate these effects, and we  
do not currently believe that there would  
be a material adverse impact on the  
Group’s results or financial position.

Global societal trends  
impacting healthcare
In emerging markets long-term economic 
growth, increasing expectations for healthcare 
provision, and changing diets and lifestyles 
are increasing demand for healthcare 
products across all life stages, especially  
to treat chronic conditions including 
respiratory and cardiovascular disease.  
This demand is expected to grow significantly 
faster in these markets over the coming 
years than in more mature economies.  
This will create funding challenges.

8  GSK Annual Report 2015

In developed economies, ageing 
populations and improvements in  
medical technology are further adding  
to the pressure on healthcare budgets.

Changing societal attitudes are also 
shaping the healthcare environment.  
People are taking an increasingly  
active role in managing their own  
health which is creating more demand  
for healthcare products. 

Finally, the heightened geopolitical 
uncertainty in several key regions is  
likely to impact certain healthcare markets 
during 2016 and beyond. 

GSK's group of three world leading 
businesses in Pharmaceuticals, Vaccines 
and Consumer Healthcare, and our global 
presence, means we are well positioned  
to respond to these opportunities (see  
our strategic response opposite).

Pricing and market access 
The pressure on, and public debate about, 
the industry’s approach to pricing, continued 
to increase during 2015 in all key markets, 
but particularly in the US. Alongside this, 
many healthcare systems are focusing on 
how to assess the value of medicines, with 
formal health technology assessments 
(HTAs) continuing to grow in importance.  
In both Japan and the US, new assessment 
processes are being piloted, while more 
established systems in Europe continue  
to present challenges that can delay launch 
or restrict patient populations. However, 
successful market access negotiations  
for innovative, value-adding products  
continued in most countries during 2015, 
demonstrating a continued willingness to  
pay for treatments that meet genuine unmet 
patient needs. 

Both the highly-charged public debate on 
pricing and the increased influence of value 
assessments are likely to continue in 2016 
and beyond which will continue to create 
uncertainty for the industry. Increased 
collaboration between different stakeholders 
will be key to deliver mutually acceptable 
pricing and access solutions. 

US
The healthcare landscape in the US continues 
to see substantial change, with a strong focus 
on continuing to expand healthcare coverage 
and controlling costs in areas of high growth. 
At the same time, the US government is 
implementing policies that shift payment  
away from the traditional fee-for-service 
arrangements and towards approaches that 
are intended to increase competition by 
incentivising efficiency and quality. 

Macro-economic  
and social trends

Population growth,  
ageing populations  
and lifestyle changes

Long-term economic growth  
in emerging markets

Rapid scientific and  
technological advances 

Political instability  
and fragmentation

Increased expectations  
of transparency and  
high standards for  
all businesses 

Climate change and  
resource depletion

Global competition  
for talent 

2015 saw more aggressive formulary  
price negotiations and exclusions of 
competing products. 

Public commentary on this issue was not 
able to capture the complexities of pricing 
structures and confidential discounts 
creating a lack of transparency. Many 
stakeholders, including policy makers, 
presidential election candidates, payers, 
providers and patients called for pricing 
reform, and we expect pricing to be a  
focus of policy debates in the US in  
2016 and beyond.

Footnotes 
a   International Monetary Fund, World Economic 

Outlook: Adjusting to Lower Commodity Prices, 
October 2015.

b   EvaluatePharma, World Preview 2015, Outlook  

to 2020, June 2015.

c    Internal forecasts based on Nicholas Hall and 

Euromonitor.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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The global  
healthcare 
marketplace

Opportunities and 
challenges for the 
healthcare sector

Rising living standards 
and ageing populations 
leading to growing 
demand for healthcare, 
particularly in emerging 
markets

Changing lifestyles 
leading to changing 
disease burdens

Scientific advances 
create opportunity for 
innovation 

Payer concern with 
cost and value, leading 
to pressure on pricing 
and demand for 
differentiated products

Expectation of  
high standards  
of behaviour for 
healthcare  
companies 

Our strategic response 
Three world-leading businesses 
We have created a group of three world-
leading businesses in Pharmaceuticals, 
Vaccines and Consumer Healthcare, with  
a presence in more than 150 markets.  
This provides access to global demand  
for healthcare and aims to deliver growth 
and improving returns to shareholders. 

 Read more on pages 18 to 37.

Creating innovative products 
R&D innovation underpins all our  
businesses focused in six core therapy  
areas where our scientific understanding  
can help deliver significant medical  
advances to patients. 

 Read more on pages 22, 29 and 36.

Global and sustainable pricing 
We aim to improve returns from our R&D 
innovation by striking a balance between 
price and volume generation. 

We are actively working with payers, 
policymakers, physicians and others  
on solutions to address concerns about  
the cost of healthcare. Realising and 
maximising value – for patients, for 
providers, and for innovators – has to  
be at the centre of this discussion.

 Read more on page 8.

Leading responsible  
business approach 
Being a responsible business is 
fundamental to GSK and to our strategic 
priorities. For us, how we do business is 
as important as the financial results we 
deliver. We have led the industry on 
access to medicines, data transparency 
and evolving our commercial model to 
ensure patients' interests come first. 

 Read more on page 38.

GSK Annual Report 2015  9

 
 
 
 
 
Our global marketplace
continued

Regulatory environment 
Prescription medicines and vaccines are 
highly regulated to ensure patients and 
users have access to safe and effective 
medicines. In the US, the Food and  
Drug Administration (FDA) approves new 
medicines and in 2015 approved 45 novel 
medicines (41 in 2014). This is the highest 
number of approvals across the 
pharmaceutical industry since 1996.  
The healthcare landscape continues to 
undergo substantial change, with a much 
stronger focus on improving quality and 
controlling costs. The FDA is responding  
to these challenges by working with 
industry to advance alternative approaches 
to help reduce the time and cost in 
developing new medicines particularly 
generics, which include amongst others 
the use of biomarkers and real world data.

In Europe, the European Medicines  
Agency (EMA) regulates new medicines  
and in 2015 issued 43 positive opinions  
for medicines containing new active 
substances (36 in 2014). During 2015,  
the EMA continued its efforts to help 
accelerate patient access to valuable  
new medicines. This included progressing 
its Adaptive Pathways Pilot and proposals  
to launch a new scheme to boost innovation, 
called ‘PRIME’ (PRIority MEdicines). 

In Japan, in 2015, 38 new medicines 
received approval along with the first  
two regenerative (cell based) medicine 
products, one of which was developed  
by JCR Pharmaceuticals, a partner of  
GSK. Six products obtained the first 
designations under the ‘sakigake’ fast-track 
review system, introduced in 2015  
to promote early development and 
regulatory application in Japan ahead  
of the rest of the world. 

Intellectual property and patent 
protection developments 
To ensure a reasonable return on 
investment, research-based healthcare 
companies rely on the protection of their 
intellectual property through patents, 
regulatory data exclusivity, and other rights. 

Patent expiry or the early loss of a patent 
can lead to the availability of a generic 
version of a product, which is often 
cheaper as the generic manufacturer does 
not typically incur significant R&D costs.  
In developed markets, generics can rapidly 
capture a large share of the market. Market 
erosion may be less in emerging markets. 

During 2015, agreement was reached  
on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, giving  
inter alia five years of data exclusivity  
for most non-biologic pharmaceutical 
products and, for biologics, an additional 
three years of equivalent protection. 

These provisions will be introduced  
over a period of time depending on the 
country if the agreement is ratified by the  
US Congress. 

The EU has also concluded bilateral 
agreements with other markets of this region 
in 2015, such as with Vietnam, which should 
improve the regulatory environment, and 
enhance patient access to key medicines 
and vaccines. A number of other trade 
agreements are under negotiation, such  
as the Trans-Pacific Trade and Investment 
Partnership and the EU-Japan FTA. 

In some markets the availability of intellectual 
property rights, particularly patents and data 
protection, may be more limited and more 
difficult to enforce than in developed world 
markets. For example, India, Brazil and 
Argentina have implemented, or are 
considering, practices that restrict the 
availability of patents. In addition, some 
countries are considering more widespread 
use of compulsory licensing.

Vaccines and other biological products do 
not currently face such a degree of generic 
competition, largely because for these 
products, the research required is more 
difficult, the product is more complex, and 
the quality is more dependent on technical 
manufacturing processes, compared to 
small molecule medicines.

While intellectual property protections  
are available for consumer healthcare 
products, their importance and 
effectiveness are different. Consumer 
healthcare products are also covered  
by national regulation regarding testing, 
approval, manufacturing, labelling, 
marketing and advertising. These products 
have strong reliance on brand loyalty and 
trade mark protection to create and protect 
value over time, especially in emerging 
markets. 

Competition 
GSK operates in a highly competitive and 
dynamic marketplace. 2015 saw rapid 
consolidation within the sector in response 
to the significant market pressure on the 
industry. Mergers and acquisitions in the 
pharma, medical and biotech sector hit  
a new record in 2015, with transactions 
reaching $575 billion globally ($380 billion 
in 2014)d and with 530 deals in the sector 
in the US alone.e The consumer healthcare 
market also remains highly competitive with 
several high profile deals in 2015. 

Footnotes 
d   MergerMarket. Global and regional M&A:  

2015 (page 3)

e   MergerMarket. Global and regional M&A:  

2015 (page 9)

A growing population

>7bn people

~1bn 60+ year olds  
by 2020 (+20%)

>6bn people outside  
US and Europe

650m new babies  
by 2020

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Europe
Given the significant public funding of 
healthcare in most European countries, 
pressure on government budgets continued 
to create challenges for the industry.  
The market grew in 2015, primarily due  
to the use of new high-priced medicines for 
hepatitis C, putting ever greater constraints 
on healthcare budgets. Inequality of access  
to medicines, both between European 
countries and within patient populations,  
as well as affordability, remain significant 
issues. Despite much debate on the issue  
of medicines affordability, and in particular 
affordability for member states with lower 
GDP, practical challenges remain to any 
significant reform of medicines pricing  
and access. 

Japan
There was a strong focus on pricing in 
Japan, with the government implementing  
a new approach to mitigate the fiscal burden 
associated with medicines that have annual 
sales of more than 100 billion yen, and which 
exceeded significantly the sales forecast 
agreed with the government at launch.

Emerging markets
Governments across the emerging market 
regions continue to seek ways to improve 
access to healthcare while at the same 
time manage healthcare expenditure. 

Countries dependent on oil may look  
to limit spending on health as a result  
of the significant decrease in oil prices. 
Countries as diverse as Ghana, China  
and India are looking to expand the 
population covered by government-funded 
health schemes. This increases the 
opportunities for high volume tenders  
but also impacts pricing.

10  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
Our business model

Our success depends on our ability to research and 
develop innovative healthcare products and make  
them accessible to as many people as possible.

To deliver our mission, we must align all  
our inputs behind our strategic priorities.  
We harness our primary inputs set out below, 
to strengthen our ability to make products 
that satisfy unmet needs, offer cost effective 
healthcare options to our customers, and 
increase access to our vaccines, medicines 
and consumer healthcare products.

Our business model is designed to  
deliver a range of outputs for patients, 
shareholders and society. In addition to 
direct benefits for patients, consumers  
and shareholders, a successful business 
will help build strong societies and make 
direct and indirect contributions in the 
countries where it operates through tax, 
employment and charitable support. 

If we do this well, it will lead to profitable 
and sustainable performance. In turn this 
allows us to generate value and returns  
for our shareholders and enables us to 
reinvest in the business.

Inputs

Our businesses

Our operations

Outputs

Unmet medical needs

Pharmaceuticals

R&D

Scientific and 
technological expertise

Macro socio-economic 
environment

Vaccines

Financial resources

Collaborations  
and partnerships

Our people and 
culture

Consumer Healthcare

Discovering and 
developing innovative 
healthcare products

Manufacturing

Making and distributing  
quality products  
around the world

Commercialisation  
and distribution

Improving access  
to our products

Reinvestment

Healthcare benefits  
to patients and  
consumers

Sustainable  
sales growth 

Returns to  
shareholders

Benefits to society 
(including tax, 
employment and 
charitable support)

Profits and cashflow  
generation

GSK Annual Report 2015  11

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Our strategic priorities

Our strategy is designed to generate improved sales  
and earnings growth, sustainable returns to shareholders 
and benefits to patients and consumers. 

Our strategic 
priorities

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12  GSK Annual Report 2015

Our strategic 
progress in 2015

Novartis transaction completed, 
significantly strengthening our Vaccines  
and Consumer Healthcare businesses. 

Strong performance of new 
Pharmaceutical and Vaccine products 
with £2 billion sales in 2015. 

Successful OTC launch of Flonase 
Allergy Relief in the US.

Launch in US of Nucala for eosinophilic 
asthma, and approval in Europe.

Positive phase III data for Shingrix,  
our candidate shingles vaccine. 

Filed first gene therapy for rare disease 
(ADA-SCID) in Europe. 

Integration and restructuring cost savings  
on track.

53 Pharmaceuticals and Consumer 
Healthcare markets live on GSK’s global ERP 
system since the first 'go live' in August 2011.

Consumer Healthcare supply achieved average 
service levels of 93% OTIF (on time in full).*

100% on time supply for all key new 
pharmaceutical product introduction 
launches in 2015 across all markets. 

* Legacy GSK brands

Malaria candidate vaccine, (RTS,S) 
received a positive opinion from  
European regulators. 

Continued to transform commercial 
model to drive growth and build trust, 
reshaping our relationships with 
healthcare professionals and 
implementing a new sales force 
compensation approach.

Grow 

A balanced business
Create a balanced business and  
product portfolio, capable of delivering 
sustainable sales and earnings growth, 
centred on three businesses of 
Pharmaceuticals, Vaccines, and 
Consumer Healthcare. 

  Read more on pages 22, 28 and 36.

Deliver

More products of value
Research and develop high quality, 
innovative products that offer valuable 
improvements in treatment for patients, 
consumers and healthcare providers. 

  Read more on pages 22, 29 and 36.

Simplify 

Our operating model
Transform how we operate to reduce 
complexity, increase efficiency and free 
up resources to reinvest elsewhere in 
the business, or return to shareholders 
wherever we see the most attractive 
returns. 

  Read more on pages 25, 31 and 37.

Responsible  
business

Being a responsible business is central  
to our strategy, and how we deliver 
success is just as important as what  
we achieve. 

We ensure our values are embedded in 
our culture and decision making to help us 
better meet the expectations of society. 

  Read more on pages 38 to 49.

 
 
 
 
 
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Key challenges  
in 2015

Our performance  
in 2015

Our future  
priorities

Continued pricing pressure in the  
US and Europe. 

Changes in US market dynamics 
impacting speed of uptake of new 
product launches. 

Slowing emerging market economies.

  Read more about our global 
marketplace on pages 8 to 10.

£23.9bn

Group turnover

75.7p

Core earnings per share*

*   A reconciliation of total results to core  

results is set out on page 62.

Ensure continued focus on R&D  
delivery during ongoing restructuring 
programme including site rationalisation.

~40

Integration of Novartis' vaccines 
pipeline.

SUMMIT study did not show statistically 
significant mortality benefit from Relvar/ 
Breo Ellipta in COPD patients. 

new potential medicines and vaccines  
in our pipeline profiled at R&D event* 

*  GSK R&D event on 3 November 2015.

~13%

estimated internal rate of return  
on R&D investment 

Complexity of integrating 12,000 
employees into Consumer Healthcare 
and Vaccines businesses. 

Rolling out new systems (eg ERP) at 
scale across many markets.

Transfer of marketed Oncology  
products to Novartis.

  Read more about our approach to risk 
on pages 16 and 17, and our global 
marketplace on pages 8 to 10.

£1.0bn

in incremental annual cost savings  
delivered in 2015 

27%

reduction in number of pharmaceuticals  
pack variants (against 2012 baseline)

Reducing value chain carbon emissions 
while demand for products with a high 
carbon footprint, such as Ventolin,  
is increasing.

Strengthening our values-based culture 
and further encouraging the reporting  
of any concerns.

82%

Dow Jones Sustainability Index score 

1st

Change programme to transform our 
commercial model.

We have led the Access to Medicine  
Index since 2008

Deliver 2016 earnings guidance for  
core EPS percentage growth to reach 
double digits CER.

Drive sales of new products to meet 
target of £6 billion in annual turnover.* 

Group core EPS of mid-to-high single 
digit CAGR growth on a CER basis  
over the five year period 2016-2020.*

*  At its Investor event on 6 May 2015, GSK 
outlined a series of expectations for its 
performance over the five year period 
2016-2020. See inside back cover.

File for approval key products including 
Shingrix, Benlysta subcutaneous, 
sirukumab and closed triple (EU)  
in 2016. 

Deliver up to 10 phase III starts and  
up to 20 phase II starts in 2016/7. 

Complete integration of BMS pipeline  
of HIV medicines. 

Deliver incremental annual savings  
of £0.8 billion in 2016, £0.6 billion  
in 2017 bringing the total to £3 billion 
annual savings by end 2017.* 

Continue to streamline product portfolio, 
reduce complexity in formulations and 
packaging formats, and embed common 
processes and platforms.

Integrate reporting systems following 
Novartis transaction.

*  £1.6 billion savings achieved as at  

31 December 2015. 

Support the delivery of our malaria 
vaccine at a not-for-profit price through 
key partnerships. 

Continue to enhance governance, 
compliance and quality through 
proactive risk management and  
quality-led culture. 

Continue to improve leadership 
effectiveness and quality of talent. 

GSK Annual Report 2015  13

 
 
 
 
 
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How we performed

We measure our performance against a number  
of key performance indicators and the remuneration 
of our executives is based on many of these.

Group turnover

How we performed
 Turnover was up 6% on a reported 
basis and up 1% pro-forma. On a  
pro-forma basis, higher sales in HIV, 
Vaccines and Consumer Healthcare 
were partly offset by lower Global 
Pharmaceutical sales.

£23.9bn

Growth CER %

Reported

1

(3)*

Pro-forma

6

1

Pharmaceuticals turnover

How we performed
Turnover was down 7% on a reported 
basis and down 1% pro-forma. 
Growth in HIV products, primarily 
Tivicay and Triumeq, was offset by the 
continued decline in Seretide/Advair 
sales, due to price pressure and 
increased generic competition.

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

26.5

25.6*

23.0

23.9

2013

2014

2015

*  excluding divestments completed  

in 2013

£3.7bn

Growth CER %

Reported

2

(1)

Pro-forma

Consumer Healthcare 
turnover

How we performed
Turnover grew 44% on a reported 
basis, and 6% pro-forma. The 
business benefited from sales  
of the newly acquired products, 
particularly Voltaren, Otrivin and 
Theraflu. Pro-forma growth was 
predominantly driven by the Oral 
health and Wellness categories.

19

3

3.7

3.4

3.2

2013

2014

2015

*  excluding divestments completed  

in 2013

£2.0bn

>100

>100

2.0

Cash returned to 
shareholders

How we performed
During 2015, GSK returned  
£3.9 billion to shareholders in 
dividends. In 2014, we returned  
£4.1 billion to shareholders, £3.8 
billion in dividends and £0.3 billion 
through share repurchases.

0.4

0.1
2013

2014

2015

*  excluding divestments completed  

in 2013

Vaccines turnover

How we performed
Turnover was up 19% on a reported 
basis and 3% pro-forma. The 
business benefited from the  
newly acquired Meningitis portfolio. 
Pro-forma growth was driven  
by strong Rotarix, FluLaval and  
Boostrix sales in the US and  
Bexsero sales in Europe and  
the US.

New Pharmaceutical and 
Vaccine product performance

Definition
New products identified at the Investor 
event in 2015 are expected to deliver 
at least £6 billion of sales per annum 
on a CER basis by 2020. This target  
is now expected to be reached up to  
two years earlier.

How we performed
Sales of new products were  
£2.0 billion in 2015 and represented 
11% of Pharmaceutical and Vaccines 
turnover.

14  GSK Annual Report 2015

06

05

04

03

02

01

0

Growth

CER%

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0

£14.2bn

Growth CER %

Reported

2

(5)*

17.7

17.3*

15.4

(7)

(1)

14.2

Pro-forma

18

15

12

09

06

03

0

2013

2014

2015

£6.0bn

Growth CER %

Reported

2

(1)*

Pro-forma

44

6

6.0

5.2

4.7*

4.3

06

05

04

03

02

01

0

2013

2014

2015

£3.9bn

Growth

£%

(18)

(21)

(5)

06

05

04

03

02

01

0

5.2

3.7

4.1

3.8

3.9

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Total operating  
profit and margin

How we performed
 Total operating profit was  
£10.3 billion. Excluding currency 
effects, the total operating margin 
increased 27.7 percentage points 
to 43.1%, primarily reflecting 
higher profits on the disposal of the 
Oncology business and other assets, 
partly offset by an increase in the 
contingent consideration liability 
payable in relation to ViiV Healthcare 
as a result of higher sales outlook 
for Tivicay and Triumeq, and higher 
SG&A costs following the changes 
in business mix after the Novartis 
transaction.

Total earnings per share

How we performed
 Total earnings per share was 
174.3p, compared with 57.3p in 
2014 primarily reflecting increased 
business and asset disposal gains 
partly offset by an increase in the 
contingent consideration liability 
payable in relation to ViiV Healthcare 
as a result of higher sales outlook for 
Tivicay and Triumeq.

£10.3bn

Growth

CER%

£%

12

10

08

06

04

02

0

(1)

(4)

(40)

>100

(49)

>100

43.1%

10.3

26.5%

7.0

15.6%

3.6

2013

2014

2015

174.3p

27

23

(40)

>100

(49)

>100

174.3

112.5

57.3

Growth

CER%

£%

180

150

120

90

60

30

0

Core operating  
profit and margina

Definition
Core results exclude a number of items 
from total results. A full definition of core 
results can be found on page 54 and a 
reconciliation between total results and 
core results is provided on page 62.

How we performed
 Core operating profit was £5.7 billion. 
Excluding currency effects, the 
core operating margin declined 4.1 
percentage points to 23.9%, primarily 
reflecting a 3% percentage point 
impact of the Novartis transaction.

*  excluding divestments completed  

in 2013

Core earnings per sharea

Definition
Core results exclude a number of items 
from total results. A full definition of core 
results can be found on page 54 and a 
reconciliation between total results and 
core results is provided on page 62.

How we performed
Core EPS decreased 15% primarily 
reflecting the short-term dilution 
of the Novartis transaction and the 
impact of the continuing transition 
of the Pharmaceuticals business, 
particularly in Respiratory.

2013

2014

2015

*  excluding divestments completed  

in 2013

Net debt

Definition
Net debt comprises bank loans and 
overdrafts, obligations under finance 
leases and commercial paper and 
bonds issued by GSK less cash and 
liquid investments.

How we performed
The net proceeds from the disposal 
of the Oncology business and other 
assets enabled us to accelerate 
our restructuring and integration 
programmes, return £3.9 billion of 
cash to shareholders as dividends 
and reduce net debt by £3.7 billion.

Free cash flowa

Definition
 The calculations of free cash flow and 
adjusted free cash flow are described 
on page 54 and reconciliations are 
provided on page 65. 

How we performed
Free cash outflow was £0.2 billion, but 
excluding legal settlements, payments 
of restructuring costs and the initial tax 
payments on the Oncology disposal, 
free cash flow was £2.5 billion 
compared with £3.9 billion in 2014. 
The decline reflected the initial impact 
of the Novartis transaction and lower 
operating profits.

*  Free cash flow excluding payments 
for legal costs, restructuring and  
tax on the Oncology disposal.

£(0.2)bn

Growth

£%

>100

(44)

n/a

05

04

03

02

01

0

5.3*

4.7

3.9*

2.5*

2.6

(0.2)

(01)

2013

2014

2015

Footnote 
a  We use a number of adjusted measures to report the performance  

of our business, as described on page 54. These include core results, 
which are used by management for planning and reporting purposes 
and may not be directly comparable with similarly described measures 
used by other companies. 

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Growth CER %

Reported

–

(6)*

Pro-forma

(9)

(3)

12

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04

02

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8.0

7.8*

28.7%

6.6

23.9%

5.7

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2014

2015

75.7p

Growth

CER%

£%

150

125

100

75

50

25

0

4

1

(1)*

(12)*

(15)

(21)

112.2

108.4*

95.4

75.7

2013

2014

2015

£10.7bn

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02

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14.4

12.6

10.7

2013

2014

2015

GSK Annual Report 2015  15

 
 
 
 
 
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Our approach to risk

Rigorous and consistent risk management processes 
and systems help us assure the integrity of our 
business operations.

Effective risk management is key to 
sustainable business success. Our 
established risk management framework, 
coupled with our internal controls, helps us 
maintain our focus on managing the principal 
risks affecting our business. 

The principal risks listed in the table 
opposite are those we believe could cause 
our results to differ materially from expected 
and historical results. They are also the risks 
that may significantly impact our strategic 
priorities of Grow, Deliver and Simplify.  
Our Corporate Executive Team review the 
principal risks annually in the fourth quarter 
to assure appropriateness for the following 
year. In 2015, it was agreed to consolidate  
the reporting and descriptions of a number 
of principal risks to align with how these  
are managed across the business, this 
consolidated list is reported opposite.

Within the table, we have summarised how 
we define each risk and our assessment  
of the change in risk during 2015. This 
assessment is based on the external 
environment in which we operate, our 
business operations and the impact of our 
internal controls on the severity of the risk in 
the period. Our risk exposure is continually 
reviewed by senior management and is 
therefore subject to change as a result of 
internal and external factors, future events  
or otherwise. For full details on the definition, 
context, potential impact and mitigating 
activities see pages 231 to 240.

Progress in 2015 
We established a Global Risk Management 
Office to help drive best practices and 
standards across the business. Its remit 
includes standardising our methodology for 
managing the principal risks and identifying 
significant emerging risks to our business. 

We continued to evolve our anti-bribery  
and corruption team, with enhanced 
resourcing and focus, with a remit that 
includes third party oversight (TPO). We also 
commissioned external assessors to evaluate 
our highest risk suppliers and distributors.

Building on efforts in 2014, we enhanced 
and standardised our approach to regional 
reviews of our internal controls, with our 
Pharmaceuticals business the first to be 
assessed using our new approach. The 
annual reviews, which enable us to confirm 
that company standards, local laws and 
regulations are understood and adhered to, 
will take place in all our businesses in 2016. 

Our viability statement on page 52 sets out 
our assessment of the prospects of the Group 
over the next three years, and has been made 
with reference to, amongst other things, our 
principal risks and how these are managed.

16  GSK Annual Report 2015

Principal risk  
and definition

Patient safety 
Failure to appropriately collect, review, follow up, or report adverse events  
from all potential sources, and to act on any relevant findings in a timely manner.

Intellectual property 
Failure to appropriately secure and protect intellectual property rights.

Product quality 
Failure to comply with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) or 
inadequate controls and governance of quality in the supply chain covering 
supplier standards, manufacturing and distribution of products. 

Financial control and reporting 
Failure to comply with current tax law or incurring significant losses due to 
treasury activities; failure to report accurate financial information in compliance 
with accounting standards and applicable legislation; failure to maintain adequate 
governance and oversight over third-party relationships.

Anti-Bribery and Corruption (ABAC) 
Failure to prevent GSK employees and third parties not complying with our ABAC 
principles and standards, as well as with all applicable legislation.

Commercialisation 
Failure to execute business strategies, or manage competitive opportunities or 
threats effectively and in accordance with the letter and spirit of legal, industry 
and company requirements.

Research practices 
Failure to adequately conduct ethical and sound preclinical and clinical research.  
In addition, failure to engage in scientific activities that are consistent with the letter 
and spirit of the law, industry, or the Group’s requirements. 

Environment, Health and Safety and Sustainability (EHSS) 
Failure to manage EHSS risks in line with our objectives and policies and with 
relevant laws and regulations.

Information protection 
Failure to protect and maintain access to critical or sensitive computer systems  
or information.

Crisis and continuity management 
Inability to recover and sustain critical operations, including key supply chains, 
following a disruption, or to respond to a crisis incident, in a timely manner.

 
 
 
 
 
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How we manage the risk and our assessment 
of the change in risk during 2015

  Increased risk   

  No change to risk   

  Decreased risk 

Our Chief Medical Officer leads a large Global Safety and Pharmacovigilance team, which maintains global policies to guide 
our employees. 
This risk remains of paramount focus for us and we have mature and rigorous controls in place to manage it. 

Our Global Patents group continually analyses changes in patent laws and regulations and ensures that they are incorporated 
into our processes. 

Our continued focus on ensuring we have robust and effective processes in place has meant that our assessment of this risk 
has not changed from 2014.

Our Chief Product Quality Officer is accountable for our Quality Management System including implementation of associated 
policies and leading our global network of Quality Councils.

In our view, this risk has continued to escalate due to increased regulations and sanctions across all companies in our sector.  
In response, we have significantly invested in, reinforced and strengthened the quality culture of the organisation.

Our Chief Financial Officer and Group Financial Controller oversee our internal controls relating to financial information and 
reporting, tax and treasury. 

We introduced additional resources and monitoring to ensure that robust financial controls were maintained during 2015, 
effectively managing risks while the initial phase of integrating the former Novartis’ businesses into our control and reporting 
framework were implemented, and the ongoing transformation and upgrade to our financial systems and processes continued. 
Additional risk mitigation was introduced by amending the programme timelines of the ongoing system upgrades. 

We have an extensive global ABAC programme, policy and procedure, which includes training of all our employees.

Whilst this risk remained significant to GSK in 2015, the continuous improvements in our compliance training programmes  
as well as a review and reduction of our presence in a number of 'high risk' markets, manage the bribery and corruption risk 
exposure presented through our global business operations.

We have a single global standard for promotional and marketing activities for GSK products to which all employees including 
third parties acting on our behalf must comply.

In 2015 we introduced changes to how we engage with healthcare providers and implemented a new sales force incentive  
model globally, which we believe has decreased the level of risk. Our business is also structured to provide access to fast  
growing demand for healthcare and a balanced exposure to future changes in the industry environment.

We have governance systems and controls to oversee our clinical trial research, use of biological samples, and data integrity  
in all of our key systems.

While there is continued focus on regulatory inspections, we have in place established quality assurance programmes  
ensuring we have continued adherence to regulatory requirements. 

We have global EHSS standards that support clear policies which all employees are trained on. 

We believe the overall management of EHSS risk remains effective. GSK is reducing risk in both employee harm and  
traditional enterprise disruption categories such as process safety at our high risk chemical manufacturing facilities.

Our Chief Information Security Officer oversees our global information policy and programme and regularly assesses  
changes by monitoring both our internal systems and the external environment.

We believe this risk has increased for all major companies during the year including ourselves, due to the prominence of 
external threats. Internally, we continue to invest in improving capabilities and technological solutions to counter this threat.

Our Crisis and Continuity Management (CCM) governance board, supported by a team of CCM experts ensure that critical 
business operations have plans in place. 

Potential disruptions to our business will continue to be a risk, but we have established governance boards within each of our 
businesses and continue to learn from plan activations, enabling us to continue to drive improvements in our programme. 

GSK Annual Report 2015  17

 
 
 
 
 
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Pharmaceuticals

18  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
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Our Pharmaceuticals  
business discovers, develops 
and commercialises medicines  
to treat a broad range of  
the world’s most common  
acute and chronic diseases.

In numbers

c.60,000 

number of employeesa

£2.3bn 

core R&D spend in 2015 

c.2 billion 

packs of medicine produced  
in 2015 

~40

around 40 new potential medicines 
and vaccines in our pipeline 
profiled at R&D eventb 

a  Including GMS, R&D and dedicated  

support functions staff.

b  GSK R&D event on 3 November 2015.

GSK Annual Report 2015  19

 
 
 
 
 
Pharmaceuticals

2015 performance 
summary

£14.2bn

Turnover

-7%
-1%

Reported sales growth CER 

Pro-forma sales growth CER

£4.3bn

Core operating profit 

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Our Pharmaceuticals portfolio is  
made up of innovative and established 
medicines and we hold leading global 
positions in respiratory disease and HIV.  
This is underpinned by our innovative 
Pharmaceuticals R&D organisation which 
drives the discovery and development  
in several core areas of research: HIV  
and infectious diseases, oncology,  
immuno-inflammation, respiratory  
and rare diseases. 

Respiratory
We have the most extensive portfolio  
of respiratory products in the industry. 
Seretide/Advair remains the world’s best 
selling branded respiratory product and  
we continue to lead scientific innovation  
in this area, working to ensure patients 
receive the most effective therapy possible 
through the most convenient devices. 

Over the past three years we have 
significantly broadened and strengthened  
our respiratory portfolio with the launch  
of Relvar/Breo Ellipta, Anoro Ellipta,  
Incruse Ellipta and Arnuity Ellipta. 

All these medicines are administered  
using our easy to use, patented dry  
powder inhaler, Ellipta. 

We have strengthened our 
respiratory portfolio and are 
researching next-generation 
treatments with potential  
to alter the fundamental  
course of disease 

We are focused on successfully 
transitioning to this new portfolio and 
accelerating growth of these products  
and our expectation is that by 2020,  
nine products are expected to account  
for approximately 90% of sales in 
respiratory, compared to four in 2015. 

We are targeting research at a portfolio  
of potential next-generation treatments  
for respiratory disease, beyond the current 
approach with inhaled medicines. In 2015, 
we launched Nucala (mepolizumab), GSK's 
first injectable biologic for severe asthma. 
Multiple other potential medicines targeting 
the underlying causes of respiratory disease 
are also in development.

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Our strategy  
in action

16.5% 

New Pharmaceutical products  
now make up 16.5% of overall 
Pharmaceutical sales turnover

20  GSK Annual Report 2015

By 2020, nine products are 
expected to account for 
approximately 90% of sales 
in Respiratory compared to 
four in 2015

£1.3bn 

Tivicay and Triumeq  
sales in 2015 

 
 
 
 
 
HIV
We also have a strong presence in HIV.  
Our global HIV business which is managed 
through ViiV Healthcare, a company 
majority, 78.3% owned by GSK, with  
Pfizer and Shionogi as the other 
shareholders, is one of the leading  
HIV companies in the world. 

The strong recent performance of  
our HIV business is principally led  
by Tivicay (dolutegravir), an innovative 
integrase strand transfer inhibitor,  
and by the single-pill treatment Triumeq  
– a combination of dolutegravir, abacavir 
and lamivudine. 

We have a significant HIV R&D pipeline  
and are exploring new therapies for patients 
that could potentially enable long-term  
HIV control through infrequent dosing. 

In early 2016, ViiV Healthcare acquired 
Bristol-Myers Squibb’s late stage HIV  
R&D assets and portfolio of preclinical  
and discovery stage HIV research assets.  
The acquisitions are expected to strengthen 
the Group's leadership in HIV, and provide 
us with further new opportunities for growth.

Specialty and Established Products
In addition to respiratory and HIV,  
we sell several other innovative 
pharmaceutical products, including 
Benlysta, for the treatment of lupus  
disease, and Tanzeum/Eperzan, for  
Type 2 diabetes. 

Our Established Products portfolio  
includes mature medicines in the areas  
of anti-infectives, allergy, central nervous 
system, dermatology, respiratory and 
urology. These products are an important 
part of our Emerging Markets business – 
where we sell 40% more by volume than 
our second largest competitor. 

We sell 40% more 
volume of pharmaceutical 
products in emerging 
markets than our second 
largest competitor

Advancing treatments to benefit people  
living with HIV 

Tivicay has been prescribed to more 
than 105,000 people living with HIV  
since it was launched in August 2013,  
and Triumeq to more than 75,000  
since August 2014.

Their strong sales momentum, totalling 
£1.3bn in 2015, positively supported  
our Pharmaceuticals business. In the  
US and many other countries, their 
performance has now overtaken 
previously leading third agents.  
Building on this success, Japan is the  
first country where ViiV Healthcare  
has now established a leadership  
position as the country’s largest  
HIV company.

As we continue to evolve the way we 
engage with healthcare professionals,  
our Tivicay and Triumeq launches  
have also demonstrated how digital 
communication can enhance our 
interactions with them. 

Our rapid digital launch campaign  
saw open (64%) and click through  
rates (34%), which were significantly 
above the industry average. This  
digital focus, which has been positively 
commented on by customers, remains  
a key priority.

Access to our HIV treatments is a  
major focus and is reflected in the 
regulatory strategy we are taking  
for our dolutegravir-based regimen.  
We are seeking regulatory approval  
of these products in as many countries  
as possible as well as facilitating the 
approval process of generic versions  
of dolutegravir in countries where the 
need is most pressing. 

2015 saw the first filing of a generic 
dolutegravir by Aurobindo, supported  
by ViiV Healthcare’s partnership with  
the Clinton Health Access Initiative.  
In 2015, ViiV Healthcare also signed an 
innovative manufacturing partnership 
with Desano Pharmaceuticals to enable 
the competitive supply of dolutegravir  
in China and a number of developing 
countries. By the end of 2015, Tivicay  
was available in 61 countries and  
Triumeq in 30. 

>105,000

Tivicay has been prescribed to more 
than 105,000 people living with HIV 
since it was launched in August 2013

new potential 
medicines and vaccines in our 
pipeline profiled at R&D event*

~40 
80% of which we 

believe are potentially first-in-class

* GSK R&D event on 3 November 2015

GSK has the potential  
to file up to 20 assets 
with regulators by 2020

GSK Annual Report 2015  21

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Grow
2015 performance summary
In 2015, new products made an increasing 
contribution particularly in respiratory and 
HIV. Restructuring of the Pharmaceuticals 
cost base also continued. 

Deliver
Pharmaceuticals pipeline progress 
In 2015, we continued to progress our 
Pharmaceutical R&D pipeline, which we 
believe offers significant opportunity to drive 
the long-term performance of the Group.

Our late stage pipeline delivered a new  
and first-in-class medicine, with the 
approval in the US and Europe of  
Nucala, our anti-IL-5 monoclonal antibody 
for the treatment of severe asthma with 
eosinophilic inflammation. The indication  
for Breo Ellipta was also expanded in the 
US with approval for the treatment of adults 
with asthma. 

In rare diseases, we filed for European 
approval of Strimvelis, a gene therapy to 
treat patients with adenosine deaminase 
severe combined immunodeficiency 
syndrome (ADA-SCID) – if approved it  
will be the first corrective gene therapy  
to be approved anywhere in the world. 

In immuno-inflammation positive results 
were achieved in phase III studies 
investigating subcutaneous Benlysta 
(lupus) and sirukumab (rheumatoid 
arthritis), with regulatory filings expected  
for both medicines in 2016. 

We received data in 2015 from SUMMIT, 
the Study to Understand Mortality and 
MorbidITy in COPD. While SUMMIT did  
not achieve statistical significance on the 
primary endpoint, data generated from the 
study will inform the overall profile of the 
medicine and are expected to be submitted 
to authorities for label updates. 

Reported Pharmaceutical sales were 
£14,166 million, down 7% CER, primarily 
reflecting the disposal of marketed 
oncology products. Adjusting for the 
disposal, pro-forma turnover declined 1%, 
reflecting a 7% decline in respiratory sales 
and a 15% decline in sales of Established 
Products. This was largely offset by the 
growth in new Pharmaceutical products 
which had sales of £1,713 million, an 
increase of £1,284 million. Strong 
performance from HIV products, Triumeq 
and Tivicay, together with an acceleration  
in sales of new respiratory products helped 
deliver this performance.

New Pharmaceutical product sales more 
than offset the decline in Seretide/Advair  
of £548 million. Global Seretide/Advair 
sales were £3.7 billion, down approximately 
30% from their peak in 2013.

In 2015, we made significant changes to 
further modernise our commercial model. 
We stopped paying healthcare 
professionals (HCPs) to speak about  
our products and instead have recruited  
a number of in-house medical experts.  
In addition, we have increased our digital 
communications with HCPs through 
webinars and ‘click to chat’ facilities 
enabling HCPs to talk in real time to  
GSK medical experts. Reactions from  
our customers has been very positive  
and we believe these changes offer GSK  
a source of a competitive advantage.

  Read more in the Group financial  
review on pages 50 to 72.

Pharmaceuticals
continued

New Pharmaceutical  
product sales in 2015  
more than offset the  
decline in Seretide/Advair  
of £548 million

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22  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
In 2015, we began phase III studies 
investigating our closed triple ICS/LAMA/
LABA combination treatment (COPD), 
dolutegravir in combination with Janssen's 
rilpivirine (HIV infection), sirukumab (giant 
cell arteritis) and retosiban (pre-term 
labour). We stopped development of 
losmapimod as an anti-inflammatory agent 
for patients with acute coronary syndrome, 
when an interim analysis of data from an 
ongoing phase III trial failed to show an 
efficacy signal. As per the stepwise trial 
design, this interim review enabled us to 
limit further investment in the study. 

Deep portfolio of innovation
In 2015, we profiled a portfolio of  
innovative medicines, focused across  
five core areas of pharmaceuticals 
research – HIV and infectious diseases, 
respiratory, oncology, immuno-inflammation 
and rare diseases – and vaccines R&D 
(see separate section). In total around  
40 new potential medicines and vaccines 
were profiled, supporting the Group’s 
outlook for growth in the period 2016-2020 
and the significant opportunity our Group 
has to create value beyond 2020.

We believe approximately 80% of the 
medicines reviewed have the potential  
to be first-in-class with novel mechanisms 
of action. As a result, many may offer 
benefits beyond current standards of  
care and, in some cases, could radically 
transform how patients are treated. 

In developing this portfolio of innovative 
medicines we have focused on targeting 
immune mechanisms that could alter the 
fundamental course of diseases, modify 
disease progression and present us with 
opportunities to achieve remission and 
functional cures. We are developing 
simplified treatment regimens and a 
potential new generation of long-acting 
medicines to provide long-term control and 
improve treatment outcomes for patients. 
Next generation technology platforms are 
also being used by our scientists, to 
increase our understanding of fundamental 
disease mechanisms so we can develop 
new approaches to disease management 
and control.

Two decades of innovative science delivers the first 
biologic treatment for severe eosinophilic asthma patients

This year’s US and EU regulatory 
approvals for our severe asthma 
treatment Nucala (mepolizumab)  
were key milestones in a long journey  
of discovery.

Nucala, GSK’s first injectable respiratory 
biologic therapy, was identified as a 
potential respiratory treatment in 1995. 
At that time, we were considering it as  
a treatment for mild to moderate asthma. 
However, initial results in this patient 
group were disappointing.

Our R&D team did not give up on 
mepolizumab. We believed it had great 
potential if we could use emerging 
science to identify which patients could 
benefit most.

Aided by a growing understanding about 
the causes of asthma, in particular the 
role of the eosinophil – a type of white 
blood cell that can cause inflammation  
in the lungs – we focused our research  
to look specifically at severe eosinophilic 
asthma patients.

Less than 10% of asthma patients  
have severe asthma and a proportion  
of these have severe eosinophilic asthma. 
Many struggle to control their asthma 
despite medication, experiencing  
frequent asthma attacks and regular 
hospitalisation. They are some  
of the hardest to treat patients and  
the condition o(cid:2)en results in a 
disproportionately high burden on  
the patients and healthcare systems. 

With nine studies involving over  
1,300 people, our research has allowed  
us to better understand the specific role 
eosinophils play in severe asthma and has 
led to the approval of the first-in-class 
approved targeted treatment for severe 
eosinophilic asthma patients.

1st 

first-in-class biologic 
therapy that targets  
the IL-5 antibody

GSK Annual Report 2015  23

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Notable advances within our 
Pharmaceutical R&D portfolio include 
potential leading-edge molecules in the 
field of epigenetics and immuno-oncology 
for the treatment of cancer, the next 
generation of respiratory medicines beyond 
inhaled treatments and a portfolio of new 
antibodies for inflammatory diseases 
including rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune 
diseases and osteoarthritis. We are 
investigating potential new options for 
long-term control and prevention of HIV, 
opportunities designed to cure or induce 
long-term remission in both Hepatitis B  
and C and, in Rare Diseases, potential 
breakthrough cell and gene therapies. 

2016/2017 milestones 
In 2016/2017 we expect a number of 
significant development milestones in our 
Pharmaceuticals and Vaccines pipelines 
with up to ten regulatory filings including 
Shingrix (shingles vaccine), sirukumab 
(rheumatoid arthritis), subcutaneous 
Benlysta (lupus) and our closed triple  
ICS/LAMA/LABA combination treatment  
in COPD (EU). 

We also expect up to ten phase III starts, 
including cabotegravir (HIV), daprodustat 
(anaemia) and our pentavalent candidate 
vaccine for the prevention of meningococcal 
meningitis, Men ABCWY, and up to 20 
phase II starts in immuno-inflammation, 
oncology, respiratory and infectious 
diseases. 

In total, we have the potential to file up  
to 20 assets with the regulators by 2020,  
and between 2021 and 2025 up to  
20 additional innovative assets now  
in clinical development. 

Pharmaceuticals R&D approach 
We are highly selective with our R&D, 
investing only in areas where we see the 
best opportunities, having considered 
patient need, the market opportunity and 
scientific understanding. We are also 
committed to improving our R&D 
productivity, so we can develop more 
innovative new medicines and vaccines 
with greater efficiency. 

In 2009, we committed to publishing our 
estimated R&D internal rate of return (IRR), 
based on the investment made in our late 
stage pipeline and our expectations 
regarding long-term sales performance. 
This was estimated to be 11% in 2009 and 
2011, and 13% in 2013. Applying the same 
methodology, the estimated IRR in 2015 
has remained at 13%. 

Pharmaceuticals
continued

Our scientists are using 
next generation technology 
platforms to increase 
our understanding of 
fundamental disease 
mechanisms so we can 
develop new approaches  
to disease management  
and control

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Timeline and development stages for pharmaceutical research

Drug  
discovery

Preclinical

Clinical trials

Regulatory  
review

Approval and 
launch

Post-marketing 
surveillance

Phase 1

Phase 2

Phase 3

8,000 - 10,000 
compounds

250 compounds

8 compounds

3-6 years

6-7 years

0.5-2 years

Investigational New Drug application submitted

Investigational New Drug application submitted

24  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
Collaboration with external 
partners is a critical 
component of our R&D 
strategy, enabling us to 
access and increase our 
understanding of new areas 
of science and share the  
risk of development

Our early research efforts are centred 
around discovery performance units 
(DPUs). These nimble, personalised units, 
with their own budgets and so greater 
accountability for their projects, are far 
removed from the traditional hierarchical 
R&D business model. They help us to 
maintain flexibility in our research 
investment, while focusing on the most 
promising scientific opportunities – to drive 
and accelerate drug discovery output. 
Today we have around 30 DPUs, of which 
two thirds are from the original units 
established in 2009. 

The responsibility for guiding an 
investigational medicine through the later 
development stages to filing with regulators 
rests with our medicines development 
teams, which are small units of six to  
10 people. 

We have also partnered with more than 
1,500 organisations around the world, 
including academic institutions,  
public-private partnerships and other 
pharmaceutical and biotechnology 
companies. Such collaboration with 
external partners is a critical component  
of our R&D strategy, enabling us to access 
and increase our understanding of new 
areas of science and share the risk of 
development. As a result of this 
collaborative culture within GSK R&D,  
we estimate around 60% of the new 
molecular entities (NMEs) currently in 
clinical development were discovered 
internally and 40% from collaborations  
and external partners. 

The great time and cost involved in  
drug discovery and development make  
it essential that we are highly selective  
in investing and focusing our resources. 
The R&D executive team oversees strategic 
issues and overall budget management 
across R&D, while robust governance 
boards manage investment, technical, 
scientific and commercial decisions 
through the life cycle of R&D and once  
a new medicine has launched. 

Cost savings generated from 
Pharmaceuticals restructuring will support 
delivery of £3 billion annual savings for  
the Group by the end of 2017.

Together with the improved performance  
of new products, this restructuring will 
improve the flexibility of our cost base and 
allow us to offset the headwinds to our 
operating margin from the continued 
decline in Seretide/Advair and other older 
products, while also supporting enhanced 
investments behind our new products  
the growth of which is key to deliver on  
our expected medium-term outlook to  
2020 for the Pharmaceuticals business.

We are committed to meeting the highest 
standards through stringent quality control 
and quality assurance processes. Our 
medicines and vaccines are manufactured 
according to Good Manufacturing Practice 
(cGMP) regulations, and our internal  
quality management system. In 2015,  
we had 86 regulatory inspections,  
and the vast majority concluded with 
satisfactory outcomes. We are working 
with regulators to bring those inspections 
with remaining concerns to an acceptable 
conclusion. In August 2015, following  
a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 
re-inspection, the 2014 warning letter 
relating to our Cork manufacturing site  
was lifted.

Simplify
Progress on simplifying the business
In 2015, we significantly reshaped our 
Pharmaceuticals business, and continued 
to reduce supply chain complexity, while 
retaining our commitment to quality. We 
have rescaled the commercial operations, 
global support functions, R&D and 
manufacturing that support this business.

Our supply chain improvement programme 
aims to deliver industry-leading levels of 
performance. Since 2012, this programme 
has delivered significant savings through 
procurement excellence (how and what  
we buy), logistics (distribution), portfolio 
optimisation – reducing the number of 
pharmaceutical pack variants by 27% 
(against the 2012 baseline), and 
streamlining our external supply  
network by 35%.

We have strengthened our logistics 
operations by establishing five regional 
supply and demand hubs, enabling more 
efficient use of our warehouses and 
transport reducing ‘cost to serve’ by  
£136 million.

The ongoing roll-out of our Enterprise 
Resource Planning (ERP) system across  
our commercial markets and manufacturing 
sites is a critical part of our transformation. 
Coupled with new planning capabilities, 
this increases end-to-end visibility and 
control, helping ensure supply and demand 
are robust and aligned. These changes  
will help improve service to our patients 
and consumers.

GSK Annual Report 2015  25

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26  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
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Our Vaccines business is  
one of the largest in the  
world. We develop and make 
vaccines that protect against  
a wide range of diseases. 

In numbers

c.15,000 

number of employeesa

£0.5bn 

core R&D spend in 2015

39 

licensed vaccines protecting  
against 21 diseases

c.1.9 million

vaccines delivered every day

15 

candidate vaccines in our pipeline

a  Including GMS, R&D and dedicated  

support functions staff.

GSK Annual Report 2015  27

 
 
 
 
 
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Vaccines

2015 performance 
summary

£3.7bn

Turnover

Reported sales growth CER 

+19%
+3%

Pro-forma sales growth CER

£1.0bn

Core operating profit 

Grow
2015 performance summary
Reported Vaccines sales grew 19% to 
£3,657 million with the US up 24%, Europe 
up 23% and International up 12%, as the 
business benefited from sales of the newly 
acquired products. On a pro-forma basis 
sales grew 3% with good contributions 
from Rotarix, Fluarix/FluLaval and Boostrix. 
In addition, we saw rapid sales growth of 
our new meningitis vaccine portfolio, 
Menveo and Bexsero, with sales up 43%  
pro-forma to £275 million. Notable was the 
decision made by the UK's National Health 
Service to include Bexsero in its national 
immunisation programme. Overall, growth 
was partly offset by declines in pro-forma 
sales of hepatitis A vaccines and Infanrix/
Pediarix. Sales were also impacted during 
the year by higher trade inventories 
inherited with the newly acquired vaccines 
in some international markets.

  Read more in the Group financial  
review on pages 50 to 72.

In 2015, we continued 
to make progress in our 
promising pipeline that  
will support future growth  
in our Vaccines business

Our Vaccines portfolio is the broadest of 
any vaccines company. We make available 
39 paediatric, adolescent, adult and travel 
vaccines that protect against 21 different 
diseases, including: hepatitis, influenza, 
pneumococcal disease, rotavirus and 
cervical cancer.

With the addition of the Novartis portfolio 
we gained two vaccines for the prevention 
of meningitis, Menveo, which is approved  
in the US for babies above two months  
and is marketed in 62 countries worldwide, 
and Bexsero, a new meningitis B vaccine 
currently available in 38 countries.

Our new vaccine R&D pipeline brings 
together expertise in virology, bacterial 
infection and different technological 
platforms. We have 15 candidate vaccines 
in development against diseases including 
shingles, meningitis, RSV, Group B strep 
and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 
(COPD) exacerbations.

The expansion of our portfolio has  
boosted our offering around the world, 
notably in the US, where Novartis had  
a strong presence and track record of 
regulatory approvals. GSK’s significant 
presence in emerging and developing 
countries is also providing new 
opportunities for the introduction and 
growth of newly acquired vaccines.

For many years, we have used a ‘tiered 
pricing’ approach for our vaccines, based 
on gross national income, which enables 
countries to maintain and expand their 
commitment to immunisation as their 
economies grow. We are one of the largest 
contributors to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, 
a public-private partnership to improve 
access to vaccines in developing countries. 
For more about our efforts to improve 
access to our medicines and vaccines,  
see our Responsible business section  
on page 38.

Our strategy  
in action

£275m 

(+43%) Bexsero and Menveo 
combined global sales in 2015*

*  Based on 2015 pro-forma CER  

for newly acquired meningitis portfolio

28  GSK Annual Report 2015

26.4% 

Vaccines operating 
margin in 2015

Our unique, world leading 
expertise in adjuvant technology 
could make a difference in 
helping protect against diseases 
like malaria, cervical cancer  
or pandemic flu

 
 
 
 
 
Deliver
Vaccines pipeline progress in 2015
Our Vaccine R&D work focuses on 
discovering and developing new 
prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines  
to help protect and treat people against 
serious diseases. We currently have  
15 candidate vaccines in early, mid and 
late-stage development against a range  
of diseases.

In 2015, we reported further positive pivotal 
phase III trial data in adults over 70 for our 
most advanced candidate, Shingrix, for  
the prevention of shingles. We intend to  
file global regulatory applications for 
Shingrix in the second half of 2016. 

We also received a positive scientific 
opinion from the European regulators for 
our malaria vaccine, Mosquirix, for children 
aged six weeks to 17 months. Mosquirix is 
the first vaccine for malaria to reach this 
milestone. Additionally, this was the first 
regulatory review of our AS01 adjuvant 
technology, which is also used in Shingrix. 
For more about our malaria vaccine,  
see our Responsible business section  
on page 38.

We continue to progress our paediatric 
vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella 
through an additional phase III trial which  
is required to achieve registration of the 
vaccine in the US.

Vaccines innovation 
In November 2015, we profiled a number  
of promising earlier stage assets in our 
vaccines pipeline. Our pentavalent 
candidate vaccine for the prevention of 
meningococcal meningitis, Men ABCWY, 
which combines two existing GSK 
meningococcal meningitis vaccines, is  
in advanced phase II development, with 
phase III studies planned for start in 2017. 

We have two novel candidate vaccines  
in phase II clinical development against 
respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) a common 
cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia  
in infants that can lead to hospitalisation  
and an enhanced risk of severe asthma:  
one a paediatric RSV vaccine that uses  
a genetically engineered recombinant 
chimpanzee adenovirus – the same carrier 
used in our Ebola vaccine candidate and 
the second a glycoprotein RSV vaccine 
given to pregnant women that may provide 
infants with protective maternally-derived 
RSV-neutralising antibodies. 

We reported further positive 
pivotal phase III trial data 
in adults over 70 for our 
most advanced candidate, 
Shingrix, for the prevention 
of shingles. We intend 
to file global regulatory 
applications for Shingrix  
in the second half of 2016 

1st 

Mosquirix is the first malaria 
vaccine to receive a positive 
regulatory review

90-97% efficacy of 
our most advanced late 
stage candidate vaccine, 
Shingrix, against shingles 
in two phase III studies

We have 15 candidate 
vaccines in development 
against diseases including 
shingles, meningitis, RSV, 
Group B strep and COPD 
exacerbations

GSK Annual Report 2015  29

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Vaccines
continued

We are exploring a maternal immunisation 
approach with our candidate vaccine in 
phase II development to prevent group B 
streptococcus (GBS), a leading cause of 
pneumonia, meningitis and sepsis that 
affects about one in 2,500 births in the  
US. In addition, we have a candidate 
vaccine in a phase II clinical proof of 
concept study for the prevention of 
exacerbations in chronic obstructive 
pulmonary disease (COPD). 

We continue to work with our partners  
to accelerate development of our Ebola 
candidate vaccine to help prevent future 
disease outbreaks. Our candidate vaccine 
is being tested in phase II clinical trials  
in five countries in West Africa. We are 
discussing potential regulatory pathways  
to file the candidate vaccine for approval 
with the FDA and other agencies.

Investment and governance
We are highly selective in how we invest 
and focus our resources in vaccines 
discovery and development. 

We prioritise our investment to meet the 
needs of patients and address some of the 
biggest remaining global health challenges. 
Our core vaccine R&D investment in 2015 
was £525 million, up 18.5% from 2014.  
We have more than 2,000 scientists working 
across our vaccine R&D organisation. 

Oversight for the key decisions we make 
during the vaccines development process 
rests with the Vaccine Research and 
Development Board (VRDB) which reviews 
the R&D project strategy and advises on 
scientific and technical matters, and the 
Vaccine Investment Board (VIB), which 
makes the final decision on whether to 
invest in a project, commercial opportunity 
and portfolio fit.

We continue to expand our early stage 
pipeline and strengthen our expertise  
with targeted investments. For example,  
our acquisition of GlycoVaxyn in February 
2015 with its innovative biological 
conjugation platform technology supports 
our efforts to develop new vaccines  
for a range of bacterial diseases.

30  GSK Annual Report 2015

Impressive trial results prepare ground  
for new shingles vaccine 

Our new candidate vaccine Shingrix 
demonstrated long-lasting and effective 
protection against the pain and 
discomfort of shingles in pivotal  
phase III studies.

Shingles sufferers develop a painful itchy 
rash, which o(cid:2)en turns into blisters, on  
one side of their body. Up to 30% also 
develop postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), an 
intense and distressing pain that can last 
up to three months a(cid:2)er a shingles rash 
appears. Other possible complications 
include scarring, eyesight problems, 
secondary infection and nerve palsies.

Nine out of 10 people, that is all those  
who have had chicken pox, are at risk from 
shingles. However the disease particularly 
affects adults over 50, with more than  
50% of those over 85 likely to have the 
disease in their lifetime. Individuals with 
compromised immune systems, such as 
cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy 
or people with HIV, are also especially 
susceptible.

Shingrix demonstrated its great potential  
in trials involving 37,000 people from  
all over the world. October 2015 pivotal  
phase III study results showed it was  
90% effective against shingles and 89% 
effective against PHN in people over 70.

The findings echoed earlier pivotal  
phase III study results showing 97% 
efficacy against shingles and 91% for  
PHN among the over-50s. The findings 
also showed that, not only was the 
candidate vaccine effective for all ages,  
but that its effectiveness remained 
constant for four years a(cid:2)er it was 
administered. This is a significant 
improvement on the existing vaccine, 
which is less effective for the very  
elderly and reduces in efficacy over time.

Following our successful trial results,  
later in 2016 we intend to begin filing 
applications for Shingrix for the  
prevention of shingles with regulators  
in North America, Japan and Europe.  
With Shingrix trials also ongoing for 
people with compromised immune 
systems, we hope to be able to file a 
regulatory application for this group  
of patients in 2018.

 
 
 
 
 
Vaccines research development cycle

Identify
antigens

Produce
antigens

Pre-clinical
testing

Phase I

Phase II

Proof of 
concept

Phase III

File

Registration/
post marketing
surveillance

Research (including immunology)

Pre-clinical development

Clinical development (including post marketing surveillance)

Transfer process to manufacturing

1-10 years

2-3 years

2-4 years

>1 year

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Simplify
Progress on simplifying the business 
During 2015, we made substantial progress 
in integrating the new Novartis business 
which acted as a catalyst to further simplify 
our Vaccines operating model, strengthen 
our manufacturing network, and reduce 
supply costs. These changes will help to 
deliver the annual cost savings we set out  
in 2015 by 2017, and will help us deliver  
our target operating margin of at least  
30% by 2020. Incremental annual cost 
savings in 2015, helped to increase the 
pro-forma operating profit margin by  
0.8% on a CER basis to 26.4%.

As part of the complex integration 
programme we completed all regulatory-
required divestments under the transaction 
including the divestment of our meningitis 
vaccines, Nimenrix and Mencevax.  
We have also begun a restructuring 
programme to remove any duplication  
of infrastructure and roles. 

Investing in our supply chain 
GSK has 17 vaccines manufacturing  
sites strategically positioned around the 
world. This broad and diversified footprint 
gives us greater manufacturing capacity, 
efficiency and flexibility. In 2015, we 
continued to make significant investments  
in our manufacturing network in key areas 
including starting construction of a new 
hepatitis A facility at Wavre, Belgium and  
a major capital investment plan for our 
Rosia, Italy site where our meningitis 
vaccines are made.

Committed to quality 
Our vaccines are manufactured to the 
highest quality standards, according  
to current Good Manufacturing Practice 
(cGMP) regulations. Up to 70% of the  
time it takes to produce a vaccine is 
dedicated to quality control. In 2015,  
we had 49 regulatory inspections, all  
with satisfactory outcomes. In November 
2015, our Ste. Foy facility’s warning letter 
from the US Food and Drug Administration 
(FDA) concluded after the FDA found  
that all remediation activities had been 
completed satisfactorily.

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We have 17 vaccines 
manufacturing sites  
around the world and 
distribute over 1.9 million 
vaccines every day to  
people across more than  
150 countries

GSK Annual Report 2015  31

 
 
 
 
 
Consumer 
Healthcare

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32  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
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Our Consumer Healthcare 
business has a portfolio  
of some of the world’s most 
trusted and well loved brands. 
Our brands are underpinned 
by science-based innovation 
and include Panadol, Voltaren, 
Horlicks and Sensodyne and 
have been developed to meet  
the healthcare needs of  
consumers worldwide. 

In numbers

c.21,000

number of employeesa

£0.3bn 

core R&D spend in 2015

No.1 

specialist oral care company 
(by retail sales)

190

servings of Horlicks per second in 
India as a nutritional supplement 

a  Including GMS and dedicated support 

functions staff.

GSK Annual Report 2015  33

 
 
 
 
 
Consumer Healthcare

Our Consumer Healthcare business   
is world leading and represents the 
Consumer Healthcare Joint Venture with 
Novartis together with the GSK Consumer 
Healthcare listed businesses in India  
and Nigeria, which are excluded from  
the Joint Venture. 

The business is split almost equally 
between over the counter (OTC) medicines 
and fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) 
brands dedicated to healthcare, across our 
four categories of Wellness, Oral health, 
Nutrition and Skin health. 

These categories are defined by specific 
consumer healthcare requirements and have 
complementary ranges of brands that allow 
us to evolve with our consumers’ needs.

Our brands are sold in more than  
150 countries around the world, with  
around 40% of sales in emerging markets.

Wellness
In Wellness, our biggest category, we  
are now an overall global leader and the 
number one company in 36 countries  
by retail sales. We have leading global 
positions in respiratory, cold and flu, nasal 
decongestants, allergy, smoking cessation 
and pain management, where we have  
two of the top four brands – one in 
systemic (Panadol) and one in topical  
pain relief (Voltaren). 

2015 performance 
summary

£6.0bn

Turnover

Reported sales growth CER 

+44%
+6%

Pro-forma sales growth CER

£0.7bn

Core operating profit 

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Our strategy  
in action

One of the world's leading 
OTC companies (by retail 
sales) and specialist  
oral care company

34  GSK Annual Report 2015

11.3% 

Consumer Healthcare 
operating margin in 2015 

~14% 

Innovation sales from  
product introductions  
within the last three  
years on a rolling basis

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Power and Core brands
Our power brands selected from  
our newly integrated portfolio have  
been identified as Voltaren, Panadol, 
Sensodyne, Theraflu, Otrivin,  
Parodontax and Poligrip: each of  
which are category leaders with  
long track records and a higher  
than average gross margin. 

The core brands, including Tums, 
Flonase, Horlicks and Eno, have  
many similarities to our power brands  
but are local or regional opportunities,  
rather than global. 

We are prioritising our investment  
in R&D, innovation, marketing and 
commercial execution behind the  
seven power and 12 core brands. 

Our power brands selected 
from our newly integrated 
portfolio have been identified 
as Voltaren, Panadol, 
Sensodyne, Theraflu,  
Otrivin, Parodontax and 
Poligrip: each of which are 
category leaders with long 
track records and a higher 
than average gross margin 

Oral health
We are a top three company in toothpaste 
and the number one in specialist oral 
health, with leading positions in sensitivity, 
acid erosion, denture care and gum  
health. Sensodyne is number one ‘as 
recommended by dentists’ worldwide  
for sensitivity. 

Skin health
We are in the top three globally in 
medicated skin health, focusing on  
treating conditions that affect millions  
of people worldwide, such as cold sores 
and dry and sensitive skin. Our Abreva  
and Zovirax brands hold leading positions 
in some of the world’s largest markets.

Nutrition
Our nutrition business has a particular 
focus on the Indian subcontinent,  
where Horlicks is served as a nutritional 
supplement at a rate of 190 times per 
second, mainly to children. Horlicks is  
now ranked the sixth most trusted brand  
in India across all brands and indications.

Focused brand strategy and 
innovation generating growth

   Sensodyne  

– double digit growth 
in all three regions

60% 

Horlicks market share in India

Horlicks delivered all time share 
high and is now the most trusted  
hot beverage brand in India 

1/3 

of R&D organisation now  
based in emerging markets

GSK Annual Report 2015  35

 
 
 
 
 
Consumer Healthcare
continued

Grow
2015 performance summary
Consumer Healthcare sales grew  
44% (+6% pro-forma) to £6,028 million.  
Of note was Sensodyne, which grew 
double-digits across all regions and is 
close to generating sales of £1 billion  
a year. We also had a very successful 
launch of Flonase Allergy Relief, following 
our strategy to switch the product from 
prescription only to OTC. 

Reported growth benefited from sales  
of the newly acquired products, particularly 
Voltaren, Otrivin and Theraflu, following  
the formation of the joint venture with 
Novartis. Pro-forma growth of 6% was 
predominantly driven by growth in the  
Oral health and Wellness categories. 

In 2015, 14% of Consumer Healthcare 
sales were generated from innovation 
launched within the last three years with 
more than 30 new-to-market product 
launches throughout the year. 

Our key innovation drivers in the year 
included Flonase in the US, and  
Sensodyne Complete in Japan which 
helped the Sensodyne brand to become 
the leading toothpaste in the country  
in 2015. 

Other key launches included:

•  Sensodyne Repair and  

Protect Whitening 

•  Sensodyne Complete 

• Fenbid Chewable 200mg 

• Physiogel Calming Relief range 

• Theraflu Warming Syrup

  Read more in the Group financial  
review on pages 50 to 72.

Deliver

We have a strong innovation pipeline 
across all of our categories and we  
will continue to prioritise our investment  
in R&D. 

Core R&D investment in Consumer 
Healthcare in 2015 was £0.3 billion 
(2014 – £159 million).

Through the integration process,  
we are investing further in our R&D 
capabilities, integrating our marketing, 
scientific, regulatory, technical and medical 
teams in co-located hubs; in the UK,  
the US, Switzerland, India, China and 
Singapore. Going forward a third of  
our R&D organisation will be based  
in emerging markets.

We are also building new sensory and 
packaging lab capabilities to ensure that 
we capitalise on trends in developments 
such as flavour or application techniques 
which can present growth opportunities. 
For example, we developed a formulation  
of Horlicks that consumers can mix in cold 
water, as hot water is not readily available 
for many people in the Indian subcontinent. 
A further example is Fenbid Chewable 
which we launched in China in 2015  
as a pain relief product that does not  
need water. 

We also continue to invest in our Shopper 
Science Lab. This is a state-of-the-art 
facility that allows us to research our 
innovative products in both simulated 
digital and real life environments with  
our retail partners, to test packaging, 
claims and our shopper materials.

We have identified a dozen 
markets where we will 
prioritise investment in 
advertising and promotion, 
capital expenditure, and 
place top talent. These 
markets will contribute to 
two thirds of our growth

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36  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
Simplify
Progress on simplifying  
the business 
We are using the integration process  
to simplify the organisation, to build a 
leaner business with a renewed focus on 
delivering performance, increasing agility 
and developing a high performance culture. 
With over 80% of personnel exits in the 
Consumer Healthcare Joint Venture 
completed and 54 sites now consolidated, 
we are making good progress.

These changes will help to deliver the 
annual cost savings expected from 
integration, and enables us to deliver our 
target operating margin of at least 20%  
by 2020 CER. Incremental annual cost 
savings in 2015 helped to increase the 
pro-forma operating profit margin by  
1.8% on a CER basis to 11.3%.

Careful planning enabled us to maintain  
a stable supply chain during the Novartis 
integration, so there were no disruptions  
in supply. At the same time we achieved  
an 8.4% net reduction of pack variants 
within our product portfolio. In 2015, we 
had 45 regulatory inspections, all with 
satisfactory outcomes.

Our average service levels rose to 93%  
in 2015, from 87% in 2014, due to supply 
chain improvement programme initiatives, 
such as investments at our manufacturing 
sites, enhancements in systems and 
capacity, and reductions in single-sourced 
raw materials.

Careful planning enabled us 
to maintain a stable supply 
chain during the Novartis 
integration, so there were  
no disruptions in supply

The 2015 US debut of Flonase Allergy Relief  
was the year's top over-the-counter (OTC) launch

The launch of Flonase Allergy Relief 
underlined our effective dual capabilities 
in both pharmaceuticals and fast 
moving consumer goods (FMCG). 

The nasal spray – which was formerly 
available only on prescription – contains 
the number one prescribed ingredient  
for providing temporary relief of hay  
fever and other upper respiratory allergies. 

Reflecting our heritage in respiratory 
medicines, it is the first OTC spray to 
relieve both nasal and ocular symptoms 
and, whereas most allergy treatments 
target just one histamine, it inhibits  
six key substances.

Our partnership with retailers enabled us 
to secure a strong presence in store with 
23 miles of shelf space and almost one 
million point-of-sale devices. An integrated 
consumer marketing campaign worked 
simultaneously to engage shoppers.

Within just a few months of launch 
Flonase captured more than 11% of the 
adult allergy product market and was  
the third leading brand in the category. 

It was also the leading allergy brand 
‘recommended by’ both doctors and 
allergists and the number one 
‘recommended by pharmacists’  
nasal allergy brand.

This strong performance was aided  
by Flonase’s expert digital marketing 
campaign, which achieved striking  
results across the leading social  
media channels. 

 11% 

Within a few months 
of the US launch, 
Flonase captured 
more than 11% of 
the adult allergy 
product market

GSK Annual Report 2015  37

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Responsible 
business

38 GSK Annual Report 2015
38  GSK Annual Report 2015
38 GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Being a responsible business 
is fundamental to GSK and  
to our strategic priorities.  
For us, how we do business  
is as important as the 
financial results we deliver.

In numbers

11 million  

people reached through our training 
of 40,000 frontline health workers in 
least developed countries since 2009 

1.3 million

children reached with life-saving 
immunisation, treatments and  
other interventions, through our 
ground-breaking partnership with 
Save the Children

100%

markets operating our new 
commercial model 

c.38,000

employees and family members  
in 52 countries have access to 
preventive healthcare through our 
Partnership for Prevention programme

25%

reduction in our operational waste 
(hazardous and non-hazardous)  
over the last five years 

GSK Annual Report 2015  39

 
 
 
 
 
Responsible business
Our approach

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2015 highlights

£22m

Partnership with Comic Relief 
to fight malaria

10

Extended our price freeze 
commitment to 10 years for 
countries ‘graduating’ from 
Gavi support

118

Research proposals submitted 
to access data from GSK trials

  Read more about 
responsible business  
at www.gsk.com

Creating value for society
Our success benefits wider society.  
By developing innovative healthcare 
products we directly benefit patients and 
consumers. Our flexible pricing strategy, 
which allows prices to reflect countries’ 
ability to pay, and global footprint enables 
greater access to our medicines and 
products. By delivering profitable and 
sustainable business performance,  
we generate value and returns for our 
shareholders and can reinvest in the 
business. Over and above this, wider 
society benefits as healthy people are 
essential to building strong, sustainable 
communities. 

We make significant direct and indirect 
economic contributions to the countries 
and communities where we operate 
through tax, our employment of 101,255 
people and charitable support. Further 
detail about our approach to tax is on page 
53, and we also publish full details about 
our position on tax at www.gsk.com. 

Our responsible business priorities 
GSK’s responsible business priorities sit 
within the context of the macro-economic 
and social trends that affect all companies 
and wider society. These trends present 
both opportunities and challenges for 
global healthcare companies like GSK  
(see page 8). 

We report our progress across four areas: 
Health for all, Our behaviour, Our people, 
and Our planet. We identified our priorities 
in these areas by understanding the issues 
that are most important to our business 
and to our stakeholders. 

Our longer-term commitments across  
the four areas reflect global health needs 
and align with GSK’s strategic priorities 
and our values. In many areas they also  
support the Global Goals for Sustainable 
Development. We detail our progress 
against these commitments in our 
responsible business supplement,  
available at www.gsk.com/responsibility. 

In 2015, our assessment showed  
that two commitments are complete,  
15 commitments are progressing well,  
five are on track, and one has more  
work to do, as shown in the table below.

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Progress against our responsible business commitments

Summary commitment

Progress  

Summary commitment

Progress  

 Health for all

Innovation for unmet medical needs 

Our behaviour

Ethical conduct

Better access to medicines and vaccines 

Promoting values in sales and marketing 

Building products to better meet needs 

Transparency of clinical research 

Reducing child mortality 

Rigorous patient and consumer safety 

Strengthening healthcare infrastructure 

Eliminating and controlling NTDs 

Fighting malaria 

Eradicating polio 

Access to antiretroviral treatment for HIV 

Our people

Creating inspiring and healthy workplaces 

Promoting inclusion and diversity 

Community volunteering to create change 

Minimising animal testing 

Promoting human rights 

Ensuring ethical interactions 

Working with third parties 

Our planet

Carbon

Water 

Waste

Work needed 

On track 

Progressing well

Completed

40  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
Health for all
Increasing access to healthcare

Our approach
We aim to extend the benefits of our 
products to more people, no matter where 
they live or their ability to pay. We target 
areas of unmet medical need from diseases 
of the developing world to antibiotics,  
by stimulating open innovation and 
collaborating. We are tackling barriers  
to affordability and accessibility and 
working to strengthen healthcare systems. 
In this way we seek to play our part in 
tackling global health challenges. 

Innovation 
We are committed to innovation for 
diseases that disproportionately affect the 
world’s poorest people, such as malaria, 
and where society’s need is greatest, such 
as antibiotics, even though they may not 
offer the same potential commercial return. 
Our open innovation model is core to this 
commitment. 

After 30 years of research, we have 
reached two significant milestones in our 
journey to develop a vaccine to protect 
young children from malaria. In July 2015, 
the European Medicines Agency adopted  
a positive scientific opinion for our malaria 
candidate vaccine Mosquirix, or RTS,S,  
in children aged six weeks to 17 months. 

Additionally, the World Health Organisation 
(WHO) has recommended that RTS,S 
should be introduced through a pilot 
roll-out. The WHO is now actively working 
with financing bodies, and the malaria 
vaccine clinical trials partnership (including 
PATH and GSK) to generate support for 
the pilots, and to finalise the design of the 
pilot implementation programme.

GSK developed RTS,S, which we  
will supply at a not-for-profit price,  
in partnership with the PATH Malaria 
Vaccine Initiative and with funding  
from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. 

In addition to vaccines and medicines,  
a comprehensive approach to tackle 
malaria must include wider preventative 
measures. Since 2001, we have supported 
the Africa Malaria Partnership to promote 
the use of existing interventions, such  
as bed nets, indoor residual spraying,  
and anti-malarial treatments. In January 
2016, we launched a new £22 million 
partnership with Comic Relief, a  
UK-based charity, to fight malaria  
in five endemic countries. 

As well as making new discoveries,  
we adapt existing products to tackle 
different health challenges. In October 
2015, we submitted a regulatory 
application to the European Medicines 
Agency for an antiseptic gel to prevent 
umbilical cord infections in newborns  
that we had reformulated from the 
chlorhexidine solution in our Corsodyl 
mouthwash. (See case study below.) 

Increasing antibiotic resistance is  
an emerging and urgent public health 
crisis. We have our own research unit 
focused on developing the next  
generation of antibiotics and an active 
pipeline of potential new medicines  
in development. 

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The WHO has recommended 
that our malaria candidate 
vaccine, RTS,S, should  
be introduced through  
a pilot programme 

Our most advanced asset – a topoisomerase 
inhibitor, gepotidacin (GSK2140944) –  
has been developed in collaboration  
with the US government’s Biomedical 
Advanced Research Development 
Authority (BARDA). This asset has a novel 
mechanism of action and the potential to 
address multiple indications, and is now 
moving towards phase III studies, following 
positive phase II results.

Helping more  
newborns survive 

Three million newborn babies die each 
year from infection, o(cid:2)en when the 
newly-cut umbilical cord acts as an  
entry point for bacteria. This issue is 
exacerbated in developing countries, 
where many births take place at home. 

We have been working to reformulate  
the antiseptic chlorhexidine solution used 
in our Corsodyl mouthwash into a gel to 
prevent umbilical cord infections, using 
insights and on-the-ground knowledge 
from Save the Children. 

If the European Medicines Agency 
approves our 2015 regulatory application, 
we will offer the gel at a not-for-profit price 
and share our knowledge with others so 
that it can be manufactured locally.

GSK Annual Report 2015  41

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Health for all
continued

Since 2010, we have capped 
the prices of our patented 
medicines and vaccines 
in the least developed 
countries (LDCs) at 25%  
of developed world prices, as 
long as our manufacturing 
costs are covered 

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42  GSK Annual Report 2015

Since 2009, our open innovation model 
has advanced research in such diseases 
as malaria and tuberculosis and in 
neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), which 
affect over one billion people. We have 
screened more than two million of our 
compounds to help combat these deadly 
infectious diseases and, in 2015, published 
data on high-quality hits against NTDs, 
initiating new research projects within and 
outside GSK. 

We invite external researchers to utilise  
our facilities, resources and expertise  
at our open lab in Tres Cantos, Spain.  
The lab’s recent progress in NTD research 
has included developing the first preclinical 
candidate to treat visceral leishmaniasis 
and a promising pre-candidate drug to 
combat Chagas disease. 

Open innovation is also central to our Africa 
non-communicable diseases (NCDs) open 
lab, launched in 2014. The lab will work in 
partnership with major funders, academic 
groups and governments to conduct 
research into NCDs. 

Extending affordability and availability 
Six billion people live in emerging markets, 
300 million of whom will use healthcare  
for the first time by 2020. Our flexible 
pricing strategy seeks to meet their 
healthcare needs, by providing more 
products at lower prices. Since 2010,  
we have capped the prices of our patented 
medicines and vaccines in the least 
developed countries (LDCs) at 25%  
of developed world prices, as long as  
our manufacturing costs are covered.  
We also have a tiered pricing approach, 
where poorer countries pay less.

We offer our lowest vaccine prices to 
organisations such as Gavi, the Vaccine 
Alliance, which supports countries with  
a low gross national income. In 2015, we 
froze our prices for countries that graduate 
from Gavi support so they can continue  
to buy our vaccines at discounted prices 
for a further decade. 

In middle-income countries, where  
many still live in poverty, our flexible  
pricing approach enables more people  
to access our products. In the Philippines, 
GSK has introduced a card and coupon 
patient programme, offering discounts of 
between 10-60% for selected products.  
In 2015, more than 58,000 patients 
accessed products, including antibiotics 
Augmentin and Zinnat, as well as our 
Seretide inhaler, through the programme. 

Building local capabilities improves access 
in developing countries by providing 
patients and consumers with locally relevant 
products while enhancing domestic 
manufacturing capacity and capability.

Our giving in 2015

2%

5%

27%

66%

 Cash  

   Product and in-kind    

   Time (PULSE)                      

   Management                    

£56.6m

£136.9m 

£3.7m

 £11.1m

Increasing local access and supply is an 
important part of our commitment to Africa, 
and in 2015 we continued to evaluate 
options for manufacturing in Nigeria.

In 2015, we started work on a £100 million 
pharmaceutical factory in India, and signed 
an innovative manufacturing partnership 
with China’s Desano Pharmaceuticals to 
allow us to provide dolutegravir, our HIV 
treatment, at a competitive price to China 
and other countries. 

Affordability can also hinder access in 
developed countries. We broaden access  
to our products in these markets by finding 
flexible ways to price our medicines, while 
retaining returns for our investment in 
innovation. 

For example, in the US all of our six most 
recently launched new medicines were 
priced at parity or at a discount to the 
medicines we aim to supersede. In 2015, we 
reached agreement with the UK Government 
to make Britain the first country with a 
nationwide vaccination programme against 
meningitis B. The agreement offers fair value 
for the National Health Service, while 
offering us a sustainable return. 

In the US, we offer various types of patient 
assistance to help ensure appropriate 
access to our medicines. GSK has 
programmes for eligible patients who do 
not have prescription drug coverage, those 
with a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug 
Plan and we now offer specialty product 
assistance for eligible insured patients.  
As a result of new coverage options 
available following the Affordable Care  
Act, more patients are insured and fewer 
are requiring our Patient Assistance 
Programmes (PAP). However, as part of 
our commitment to access, we continue  
to provide services to help patients 
understand alternative coverage options. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Strengthening healthcare systems 
In the world’s least developed countries 
(LDCs), a lack of trained healthcare 
workers prevents people from accessing 
life-saving medicines and vaccines.  
In the LDCs where we operate, we  
reinvest 20% of our LDC profits from  
the sale of pharmaceutical and consumer 
healthcare products to train and educate 
community health workers. 

Since 2009, we have reinvested 
£21 million of our LDC profits in 35 
countries, training 40,000 frontline 
health workers. These doctors, 
midwives, nurses and volunteers have 
reached 11 million people. In 2015, we 
expanded health worker training beyond 
LDCs to other countries in sub-Saharan 
Africa. In support of the UN One Million 
Community Health Workers Campaign 
we are funding a pilot to train 1,800 
health workers in Ghana.

Apart from training healthcare workers,  
we strengthen healthcare systems more 
broadly by, for example, improving health 
facilities, equipping training centres and 
encouraging governments to improve 
policies and increase investments. 

Our targeted product and financial 
donations help provide healthcare  
for vulnerable communities. In 2015,  
our global community investment  
totalled £208.3 million, compared  
with £201.5 million in 2014.

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Partnership with Save the Children 
Through a ground-breaking, five-year 
partnership with Save the Children we are 
helping to save one million children’s lives 
in some of the world’s poorest countries.  
The partnership involves combining  
our capabilities in R&D, supply chain, 
procurement and vaccines with the 
charity’s local expertise. In the Democratic 
Republic of Congo, for example, the 
partnership has created a model of 
essential services for neonatal, maternal 
and child health that can be replicated  
in other developing countries. 

In 2015 we estimate we have reached  
over 1.3 million children; fully immunising 
23,500, treating 125,000 for diarrhoea, 
malaria or pneumonia, and screening  
more than one million for malnutrition. 

Complementing the partnership, we 
support a broad range of work to reduce 
childhood mortality. Many of our 20% 
reinvestment programmes focus on 
reducing child and maternal mortality in 
rural communities. For instance, in Nepal, 
we work with CARE International and the 
government to improve maternal, neonatal 
and reproductive health by improving  
the skills of frontline health workers, 
providing health equipment, and enabling 
communities to feedback on health centre 
performance. Our support has enabled 
more than 6,000 health workers in Nepal  
to be trained, reaching more than one 
million people.

Our strategy  
in action

The European Medicines  
Agency adopted a positive 
scientific opinion for our malaria 
candidate vaccine, Mosquirix,  
in children aged six weeks  
to 17 months 

In 2015, we published data 
on 600 high-quality hits 
against NTDs, initiating new 
research projects within  
and outside GSK 

40,000

Frontline health workers 
trained in least developed 
countries since 2009

GSK Annual Report 2015  43

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Our behaviour
Putting the needs of patients and consumers first

Our approach 
We expect all employees to act in line  
with our values, of transparency, respect  
for people, integrity and to put patients  
and consumers first. 

These values inform how we approach 
patient and consumer safety throughout 
product development and use; how we  
sell and market our medicines; how we 
train our employees and address 
misconduct, and the expectations we  
have of third parties. 

Patient and consumer safety 
Patient safety is our priority in the 
development, testing, manufacture and  
use of our products. All medicines have 
potential risks as well as benefits. We have 
extensive controls to detect, evaluate and 
communicate benefits and risks and any 
potential safety concerns about our 
products.

We take the safety of those who take  
part in our clinical trials extremely seriously. 
Our trials are conducted in line with the 
International Conference on Harmonisation’s 
Good Clinical Practice guidelines. An 
independent ethics committee reviews  
trial protocols before studies start and  
can prevent them from going ahead. 

Our global risk register helps research 
teams keep track of emerging risks to 
quality and safety standards. Risks  
are often identified through the regular 
self-audits of our own trials or those 
conducted by third parties on our behalf. 
We performed 381 audits of trials in 2015. 

Core to our focus on safety are the strict 
quality and safety standards upheld at all 
our manufacturing sites and throughout  
the product life cycle – from the sourcing  
of raw materials to the manufacturing and 
transportation of finished products. 

We strive to minimise the risk of  
counterfeit medicines. In 2015, we 
extended our end-to-end supply chain 
serialisation programme, Fingerprint, 
across 86 packaging lines in more than  
18 manufacturing sites. The programme 
applies unique serial ‘fingerprints’  
on products and logs them into a 
government-managed database,  
which they can be verified against  
at any point in the supply chain. 

Sales and marketing practices 
We have significantly changed the way we 
sell and market our medicines and vaccines 
to further ensure patients’ interests come  
first and to better serve our customers.  
We believe these changes will provide  
long term commercial advantage. 

Transparency in clinical trial data 
We have pioneered ways to share 
information and data about our clinical 
trials. By providing greater access to trial 
data, we allow others to conduct further 
research and maximise the contribution 
made by the participants in our studies.

In January 2015, we completed the roll  
out of changes to the way sales teams are 
compensated. Our pharmaceutical medical 
representatives no longer have individual 
sales targets, but instead, are compensated 
based on their technical skills, scientific 
knowledge, quality of service they deliver to 
HCPs, and broader business performance. 
In the US, the approach has generated 
strong customer feedback – in a July 2015 
survey of 3,599 US healthcare professionals, 
GSK ranked first in both trust and customer 
value for the second time in a row.

We remain committed to ongoing  
dialogue with the scientific community  
and peer-to-peer medical education, but 
we are modernising the way we engage 
with HCPs. As of January 2016, we no 
longer pay external HCPs to speak to  
other prescribers about our medicines. We 
continue to pay HCPs for non-promotional 
advisory services and clinical research. 
These payments are governed by rigorous 
controls and are based on fair market value. 

We have also changed how we support 
medical education, by no longer choosing 
which healthcare professionals are 
sponsored to attend scientific conferences. 
Instead, we will provide funding to 
independent professional bodies who  
will allocate funding to individuals.

We are using multiple channels, including 
digital and real-time applications, to provide 
information in the way, and at the time, HCPs 
want it. In 2015, we used effective digital 
communications to support our interactions 
with HCPs when we launched two new HIV 
medicines, Tivicay and Triumeq. 

Healthcare professionals and scientists 
within GSK, including our Global Medical 
Experts, play an important role in informing 
their peers about our medicines. They  
are responsible for providing the right 
information to support the safe and 
effective use of our medicines. 

Since 2004, we have had an online  
clinical study register where we make 
available information on our trials, including 
summaries of results. We were the first 
pharmaceutical company to make clinical 
study reports – the basis of regulatory 
submissions, which include detailed 
information on trials – publicly available.

We were also the first company to sign up 
to AllTrials, which campaigns for every trial 
to be registered and the results reported.

We have set up a system for researchers  
to request access to the detailed, 
anonymised, patient-level data that  
sit behind clinical trial results –  
www.clinicalstudydatarequest.com.  
This lists over 1,700 of our global clinical 
trials conducted since the formation of 
GSK and includes clinical trials from  
12 other companies. The Wellcome Trust 
has taken over management of the panel 
which considers applications for access  
to the data, which was initially made up of 
independent experts appointed by GSK. 
This is an important step towards our vision 
of an independent data-sharing system of 
studies from across industry and academia. 
By the end of 2015, 118 research 
proposals had been submitted to access 
data from GSK trials. We have already 
given 62 research teams access to  
detailed trial data. 

Our Code of Conduct
Our Code of Conduct and an online 
resource centre guide our people in 
applying our values in everyday activities.  
In 2015, 99.9% of employees completed 
mandatory annual training on our Code. 
The online course is available in 23 
languages and includes training on our 
values, ethical leadership, anti-bribery  
and corruption, and reporting issues  
or concerns. In 2015 it was extended  
to more than 30,600 complementary 
workers. Employees who do not complete 
the course may face disciplinary action. 

44  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
Anti-Bribery and Corruption
We have zero tolerance for bribery or 
corruption. However, we recognise that  
we are exposed to bribery and corruption 
risk given our global footprint, particularly  
in markets where government structures 
and the rule of law are less developed  
and healthcare systems less mature. 

Our anti-bribery and corruption programme 
includes risk assessments, standards  
and practical guidance designed to  
prevent non-compliance. During 2015,  
all employees and complimentary workers 
completed basic level training, while 
54,000 employees in high-risk roles 
completed additional advanced training. 
We are now rolling out a framework to 
engage and train third parties, based on 
their risk profile. 

Our approach is designed to prevent 
breaches, but if things do go wrong, we act 
promptly and decisively. Our centralised 
review committee oversees investigations 
into any allegations of bribery and corruption, 
and ensures they are prioritised consistently 
across the company.

Reporting and investigating  
misconduct
We centrally track misconduct allegations, 
concerns and security incidents received 
through our Speak Up channels, monitoring, 
and other routes. In 2015 we received over 
5,780 such reports or allegations. The 
majority of these, 3,257 (3,203 in 2014), 
were through our Speak Up channels 
which offer people within and outside GSK 
the opportunity to ask questions and voice 
concerns anonymously or confidentially 
through an independent third party by 
phone or on-line. 

All concerns raised are reviewed and over 
2,670 formal investigations were initiated  
in response to these allegations. The five 
most frequent categories of allegation were 
employee performance/relations, product 
promotion, interactions with HCPs, fraud 
and Anti-Bribery and Corruption.

Disciplinary action
Disciplinary action is taken when 
employees fail to act in line with our 
policies. In 2015, 3,574 employees were 
disciplined for policy violations (3,947  
in 2014). The types of policy violations  
(see chart) in 2015 remained broadly the 
same as in 2014. Attendance and payroll 
remains the biggest type of violation at 
48% of the total (43% in 2014), followed  
by good manufacturing practices at  
11% (10% in 2014). Travel and expenses 
violations increased to 10% (3% in 2014), 
due to increased frequency of monitoring.

Of the total disciplined, 297 received 
verbal warnings, 2,890 employees received 
a documented warning (3,131 in 2014)  
and 387 (373 in 2014) were dismissed  
or agreed to leave the company voluntarily. 
The highest number of dismissals were 
related to travel and expense policy 
violations which accounted for 130 
dismissals, followed by 31 dismissals 
related to Code of Conduct violations  
and 22 for attendance/payroll violations.

Working with third parties
We expect all suppliers and third parties  
to comply with our standards on ethics, 
labour rights, health and safety, and the 
environment. In 2015, we introduced a 
comprehensive programme to strengthen 
our management of such risks in the  
supply chain.

Following a review, 1,300 suppliers  
have been identified as high risk and  
are being assessed by external risk 
assessment experts. They will be required 
to complete an extensive questionnaire  
and demonstrate policies and management 
systems for responsible business issues. 
Additional due diligence may then follow. 

In 2015, we assessed around 200 
distributors on four key risks: anti-bribery 
and corruption, labour rights, promotional 
activities and information protection.  
We also assessed more than 1,300 
suppliers that support our manufacturing,  
in line with our quality management system,  
and audited 85 on their environmental, 
health and safety management systems. 

Our approach to tax
We understand our responsibility to pay  
an appropriate amount of tax. We have 
robust internal policies, processes, training 
and compliance programmes to ensure  
we have alignment across our business  
and meet our tax obligations. 

We pay a significant amount of tax in the 
UK, where most of our global corporate 
functions and significant manufacturing  
and R&D facilities are located, and in other 
countries around the world where we have 
a substantial business and employment 
presence. 

Over the last 15 years we have paid  
£27.3 billion in corporation tax globally.  
In the UK, we have paid £2.7 billion since 
2001, nearly 10% of the global total. In 
2015, UK net sales were 4.2% of global 
net sales. 

Employees disciplined in 2015: 
breakdown of types of policy violations

7%

1%
1%
2%

4%

4%

5%

7%

10%

11%

48%

 Attendance/payroll

   Good manufacturing 
practices/good 
distribution practices

 Travel and expenses

  Marketing and 
promotional activities

 Code of conduct

  Local work  
regulation violations
  Unauthorised 
absenteeism

 EHS/safety

  Falsification of 
documents

 Training completion

 Other

We do not engage in artificial tax 
arrangements – those without business  
or commercial substance. At the same  
time we have a responsibility to our 
shareholders to be financially efficient  
and deliver a sustainable tax rate. 

Further details on our approach to tax  
and our tax disclosures can be found  
in the Group financial review on page 53  
in this report and in our responsible 
business supplement. 

Approach to human rights 
GSK is a signatory to the UN Global 
Compact, which sets out key principles  
for business on human rights. We are 
committed to upholding the Universal 
Declaration of Human Rights and the  
core labour standards set out by the 
International Labour Organization. 

Our human rights steering group provides 
direction and oversight to help ensure we 
meet our commitments on human rights  
as set out in our Human Rights Statement, 
available on our website. 

In 2012 we identified seven priority  
areas for human rights for GSK: access  
to health care, air quality impact relating  
to propellants, clinical trial standards, 
employment practices, patient safety, 
product counterfeiting and use of third-
party suppliers. 

GSK Annual Report 2015  45

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Our people
GSK’s people are essential to our success

Our approach
We need a talented, motivated and resilient 
workforce if we are to deliver against  
our strategy and tackle global health 
challenges effectively. To achieve this,  
we aim to create a working environment 
where employees feel valued, respected, 
empowered and inspired. In 2015, as our 
business experienced significant change,  
it was particularly important for us to listen 
to and support our people.

Performance and engagement 
Our global performance system is 
underpinned by a set of clear expectations 
that emphasise not just results, but also 
how they are achieved in line with our 
values.

We provide regular updates on our  
mission, strategy and progress through  
live broadcasts and messages from our 
CEO and Corporate Executive Team. 
Listening is also critical: in 2015 over 
76,000 employees, 78% of our people, 
took part in our employee survey providing 
valuable feedback. This was up from  
72% in the last survey in 2012. 

Supporting our people through 
restructuring
In 2015 we welcomed 12,000 Novartis 
employees to GSK. Clear, regular 
communication was crucial when 
introducing our new colleagues to  
our values, expectations, performance 
system and local employee practices and 
programmes. With the major reshaping  
of our global pharmaceuticals business 
occurring at the same time, we placed  
an equal focus on supporting employees 
leaving the company. We consult 
employees and their representatives on 
business changes that might affect them.

Talent and leadership
The number of graduates and 
postgraduates joining our programmes  
is increasing. In 2015, we recruited  
470 graduates and postgraduates onto  
our Future Leaders and Esprit programmes 
globally, exceeding our target of 450.  
We also welcomed 74 apprentices in  
the UK, 34% of which are women, across  
a number of disciplines and locations.  
We are looking to expand our 
apprenticeship programme into  
other geographies in 2016.

46  GSK Annual Report 2015

In 2015, we welcomed 
12,000 Novartis employees 
to GSK. Clear, regular 
communication was crucial 
when introducing our new 
colleagues to our values  
and expectations 

We put particular emphasis on leadership 
development. In 2015, more than 3,300 
line leaders completed programmes to  
help them become managers. We also 
launched the Enterprise Talent initiative, 
which develops leaders with the potential 
and aspiration to become executives.  
Since 2010, we have trained more than 
1,000 employees as coaches to help 
others fulfil their leadership potential. 

Health and wellbeing
We take a progressive approach to 
employee health, and protecting our 
workforce is a business priority. In 2015  
we refreshed and simplified our health and 
safety standards, and reviewed our global 
health and well being strategy, setting out 
our plan that every GSK employee has 
access to a consistent and comprehensive 
health service. 

We continue to be recognised as a leader 
in health and wellbeing, and in May 2015 
GSK won the Multinational Healthy 
Workplace Award from the Global Centre 
for Healthy Workplaces.

Road safety is a significant risk for our 
employees and we launched a driver safety 
programme in India that we plan to roll out 
more widely in our emerging markets. 

Following a steady reduction over 10 years, 
our reportable injury and illness rate 
increased slightly due to a large number  
of semicircular lipoatrophy cases in Brazil. 
This is a treatable condition associated 
with localised pressure from office 
furniture, and we took steps to support 
those affected and prevent recurrence.

As a global business operating in more 
than 150 markets, serious incidents do 
occur. In August 2015, an employee 
tragically died in a boiler explosion at  
our site in Rixensart, Belgium. We are 
supporting the Belgian authorities with 
their investigations and checking every 
boiler across GSK. In October, a sales 
employee in India, who was travelling on 
business, sadly died after their motorcycle 
collided with another vehicle.

Our Energy & Resilience programmes 
continued to help employees balance 
personal and professional responsibilities. 
70% of those who took part in our 
employee survey agreed that they have 
sufficient energy to invest in the things  
that matter most at work and in life. 

Providing preventive healthcare
To complement the employee healthcare 
benefits in our established markets,  
our Partnership for Prevention (P4P) 
programme aims to provide all our 
employees and their families with 
unprecedented access to preventive 
healthcare services at little or no cost. 
Implementation is being prioritised in 
regions where access to preventive 
services is unavailable or limited, 
particularly in developing markets.

The services, including immunisations  
and cancer screenings, are recommended 
by the World Health Organization and are  
now available to over 38,000 employees 
and family members in 52 countries.  
This places us halfway towards our target  
to implement P4P globally by 2018.

Volunteering to  
create change 

Through our PULSE Volunteer 
Partnership, our employees use  
their professional skills to create 
sustainable change for our non-profit 
partners and the communities  
they serve. 

Since its launch in 2009, PULSE has 
enabled 560 employees to work with  
103 non-profit partners in 62 countries, 
providing nearly £19 million worth of 
skilled services.

 
 
 
 
 
Diversity and inclusion 
We value diversity. The diverse knowledge, 
perspectives, experiences and working 
styles of our global workforce strengthens 
our business and helps us meet the needs 
of our patients and consumers.

We aim to improve gender balance at  
all levels. As at 31 December 2015, women 
represented 52% of recruits to our Future 
Leaders programme, 42% of management, 
17% of our Corporate Executive Team and 
29% of our Board. In 2015, 118 more 
female managers began Our Accelerating 
Difference programme for high performing 
women leaders. 

We strive to make GSK more accessible  
to people with disabilities. In December 
2015 we partnered with the UK 
Government’s Disability Confident 
campaign to raise disability awareness 
across our business, remove barriers, 
increase understanding and ensure that 
those with disabilities have the right 
opportunities. 

We are a global organisation serving 
diverse markets. Six nationalities are 
represented on our Corporate Executive 
Team and Board, and our employees in 
emerging markets, Asia Pacific and Japan 
represent 43% of our workforce. 

We aim to attract and develop local talent 
by partnering with universities and offering 
business opportunities. This is a particular 
focus of our Africa strategy, while our new 
regional headquarters in Singapore is 
helping to attract and develop local people 
in emerging markets. In 2015, we recruited 
444 people from 53 countries for our 
Future Leaders graduate programme. 

Women in management positions (%)

SVP/VP
Director
Manager
Total

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
29
40
45
42

29
40
45
42

26
38
42
39

27
39
43
40

28
40
44
41

Employees by gender (number)

Board
Managementa
Total
% Total 

Male Female

Total
14
4
10
16,177
9,378
6,799
57,715 43,540 101,255

57

43

a   Management: senior managers as defined in  
the Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report  
and Directors’ Report) Regulations 2013,  
which includes persons responsible for  
planning, directing or controlling the activities  
of the company, or a strategically significant  
part of the company, other than the Board,  
including directors of undertakings included  
in the consolidated accounts.

Inspiring the next generation of scientists 

“When I was young I was told by one  
of my teachers to study drama, but I  
always enjoyed sciences and maths and 
ended up completing a PhD in virology  
and immunology, part-time, whilst at GSK,” 
she said. 

In 2016, we aim to build on our 
experience in the UK by creating global 
STEM education programmes to give our 
employees the tools they need to inspire 
and foster the next generation of 
scientists and engineers worldwide.

GSK offers a range of career opportunities 
in the STEM areas; ranging from summer 
internships, to apprenticeships, graduate 
and postgraduate programmes. Our 
apprenticeship programme offers school 
and college leavers the opportunity to join 
the company in a variety of roles from 
finance and IT to laboratory science and 
engineering. Apprentices learn on-the-job 
and become valued members of the team 
as they progress, working towards 
nationally recognised qualifications  
and ultimately transition into a 
permanent role. 

The scheme has grown steadily in the UK, 
and our ambition is to continually expand 
the programme into new geographies, 
helping nurture this new generation  
of talent, and adding to the diversity  
of our business. 

By 2020, the UK alone will need one 
million new scientists and engineers  
to solve future challenges, including 
some of the biggest health challenges 
of tomorrow. As a research led 
healthcare company, GSK is playing  
a leading role in inspiring young  
people to get into science, technology, 
engineering and maths (STEM) as  
well as providing a range of career 
opportunities. 

Our Science Education and Early  
Talent team, along with our 362 STEM 
ambassadors across the UK, engage young 
people by demonstrating real-world 
science and engineering in schools, and 
manage our graduate and apprenticeship 
programmes. 

Rhiannon Lowe heads up a team of 150 
ambassadors, all volunteer GSK employees 
from our site in Ware, Hertfordshire. She 
has been part of the programme since it 
began in 1999 alongside her job as an 
investigator in investigative preclinical 
toxicology, where she focuses on diseases 
of the developing world and gene therapy.

She and her team put their expertise into 
practice to inspire people of all ages. They 
go into schools to demonstrate scientific 
experiments and host visits to GSK labs 
where students are given an opportunity 
to get involved in science that connects 
directly to our work and the real world. 

Rhiannon encourages girls, in particular, 
to pursue these subjects from a young age 
as women represent only 14% of all STEM 
professionals in the UK.

GSK Annual Report 2015  47

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Our planet
Reducing our environmental impacts

Our approach
Major environmental challenges are closely 
linked to global health concerns. Climate 
change and deforestation, for example, are 
exacerbating inequalities of health. As a 
global healthcare company we can help 
tackle both the effects of environmental 
change – and the causes. We aim to have 
a carbon neutral value chain by 2050, with 
ambitious interim goals to reduce carbon, 
water and waste. In the past five years,  
we have made significant progress. 

Carbon 
We aim to reduce our carbon footprint 
across the value chain by 25% by 2020, 
from the 2010 baseline, on the way to our 
2050 goal of a carbon neutral value chain. 
To pursue these objectives we are reducing 
our operational emissions (scope 1 and 2) 
and engaging with suppliers, patients and 
consumers to cut the emissions linked to 
sourcing raw materials for our ingredients 
and to using our products (scope 3). 

In 2015, the volume of medicines, 
consumer health products and vaccines  
we sent out from our factories was 40% 
higher than 2010. At the same time, our 
value chain carbon footprint has only  
grown by 2% (vs 2010). We have therefore 
reduced the value chain carbon footprint  
of the products we shipped in 2015 by  
an average of 25% versus 2010.

The continued growth in sales of our 
Ventolin propellant-based inhalers  
which emit greenhouse gases during  
the administration of medication to  
patients continues to impact our carbon 
footprint. We are researching solutions  
to this issue including changing the way  
we manufacture to reduce the amount  
of propellant used while maintaining 
efficacy for patients. 

Carbon emissions

Tonnes CO2ea
Scope 1 emissions
Scope 2 emissions
Scope 3 emissions

Intensity ratios

Scope 1 and 2 emissions/  
sales revenue (tonnes 
CO2e/£m)
Scope 1 and 2/FTE  
(tonnes CO2e/FTE) 

2010

2013

1,011,192
962,327
11,712,125

1,040,928
788,149
12,394,789

2014
851,113
744,973
12,533,559

2015b
884,772
765,379
12,400,202

2010

69.5

2013

69.0

2014
69.4

2015
69.0

20.5

18.4

16.3

16.0

a   Carbon emissions are calculated according to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol: 

A Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard (revised edition).

b   Data includes former Novartis sites' emissions and headcount. 

In reducing emissions from raw materials, 
engaging with suppliers is crucial. Our 
approach, recognised at the 2015 Ethical 
Corporation Responsible Business 
Awards, is founded on data collection, 
collaboration and recognition. The Ecodesk 
online platform gathers data on carbon, 
water and waste from around 180 suppliers 
representing approximately £775 million – 
more than half – of our annual spend on 
raw materials. 

Water 
By 2020 we aim to reduce GSK’s water 
impact across the value chain by 20%, 
from its 2010 level. We met the 2015 
milestone for our own operations a year 
early and, during 2015 itself, reduced this 
by a further 5%. We have achieved such 
reductions by investing in water-saving 
initiatives over the past five years, focusing 
on sites with the highest water use and 
those in regions of water scarcity. 

We have the most control over direct 
emissions from our own operations. In 
2015, we reduced emissions within our 
operations, by a further 2% to 1.6 million 
tonnes of CO2e. This is 21% less than 
2010, with a cumulative saving of around  
1 million tonnes of CO2e over five years. 
We have achieved this by using energy 
efficiently and investing in renewable 
energy, which now provides around 4%  
of our total energy use. The wind turbine  
at our facility in Cork, Ireland, for example, 
generates 28% of the site’s electricity and 
in 2015 delivered savings of €1 million and 
4,100 tonnes of CO2e. 

Around 86% of the water used across  
our value chain comes from raw materials, 
mainly agricultural. In 2015 we partnered 
with The Energy and Resources Institute,  
a sustainable development NGO in India, 
to assess how we can reduce water impact 
in the rural communities that supply us with 
the wheat, barley and milk to manufacture 
Horlicks. 

In 2015, GSK laboratories, manufacturing 
sites and offices used around 1% of our 
total water impact. We are making major 
investments to reduce this company-wide.

Our strategy  
in action

25%

We have reduced the value chain 
carbon footprint of the products  
we shipped in 2015 by an average 
of 25% versus 2010

1m 

We have reduced direct 
carbon emissions (Scope  
1 and 2) by 21% since 2010, 
saving over 1 million tonnes 
of CO2e over five years

48  GSK Annual Report 2015

We hit our 2015 water target a 
year early, reducing our usage 
by 25% since 2010 – that’s a 
saving of over 15 million m3, 
more water than we use  
in a whole year

 
 
 
 
 
Horlicks takes a Green Leap in India

Horlicks is one of our best-known 
brands. Used as a nutritional 
supplement in India, it provides 
essential vitamins and minerals for 
growing children. 

But in 2012, we discovered through 
lifecycle analysis that Horlicks had the 
second largest carbon footprint of all our 
products. One reason for this was that our 
three Horlicks factories in India – in Nabha, 
Rajahmundry and Sonepat – were powered 
by coal. 

We are investing £9.6 million in Project 
Green Leap to reduce carbon emissions  
and water use at these three Horlicks 
factories. For example, we continue to 
increase the amount of waste biomass  
we buy to replace coal as a fuel in our 
boilers.  

We will be constructing a new 1MW 
combined heat and power plant at 
Rajahmundry that will also be fuelled  
with waste biomass. This plant will  
improve efficiency by capturing heat  
from power generation that would 
otherwise be wasted. 

At Sonepat, we are installing photovoltaic 
cells that generate 0.5MW of power from 
solar energy, and we are investing in 
efficient LED lighting across all three  
sites to cut our energy use. 

Since the project began in April 2014,  
we have cut carbon emissions by 14%.

We have also installed effluent treatment 
plants and rainwater harvesting systems  
that enable water to be reused and  
disposed of safely, cutting water use by  
30% and helping to replenish groundwater 
and restore local water sources.

Consumer use accounts for about 13%  
of our water footprint – mainly for cleaning 
teeth. In 2015, we continued to encourage 
people not to leave water running while 
brushing, with Sensodyne’s support for  
the ‘Turn off the Tap’ campaign in the UK. 

Waste 
We aim to reduce our operational waste  
by 50% by 2020, compared with 2010. 
Over the last five years we have cut our 
operational waste (hazardous and non-
hazardous) by 25%.

To realise our 2020 commitment,  
we are working with experts and NGOs  
to understand how best to cut our  
water impact across the value chain.  
We have combined data from the WWF 
Water Risk Filter across four areas –  
water scarcity, local water quality,  
health and social risks, and regulatory  
and reputational risks – to identify high 
water impact hotspots. 

We encourage our sites to view waste  
as a resource and to share best practice. 
For example, our facility in East Durham,  
in the US, building on insights from our 
Dungarvan plant in Ireland, will install a 
machine that recycles fibre drums used  
for packaging, storage and transportation, 
saving more than US$300,000 per year. 

In 2015, we produced 15% less waste  
than the previous year. 6,900 tonnes, 
representing 5% of our total waste, was 
sent to landfill in 2015, a reduction of 
2,600 tonnes compared to 2014. 

By the end of 2015, 60% of our sites  
sent no waste to landfill. 

“We identified a huge 
opportunity, and have 
reduced carbon emissions  
at Sonepat by more than 
5,000 tonnes between  
2014 and 2015." 

Satyaprakash Punia 
Utilities and Site Energy Manager,  
Sonepat, India

25% 

Since 2010, we have cut our 
operational waste by 25% 

In 2015, we scored 100% for 
climate change disclosure and 
a B for performance in the 
CDP’s FTSE 350 Climate 
Disclosure Leadership Index

GSK is still the only 
pharmaceutical company 
to hold the Carbon Trust’s 
Carbon Standard for 
cutting carbon emissions 
and its Water Standard for 
reducing water use across 
our operations globally

GSK Annual Report 2015  49

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Group financial 
review

50  GSK Annual Report 2015
50  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
Group financial review

“Our significant progress  
in 2015 leaves us better 
positioned to deliver  
against our Financial 
Architecture, driving EPS 
growth ahead of sales  
and improving our cash  
flow generation.” 

2015 highlights

£23.9bn

2015 Group turnover
(up 6% CER, up 1% CER pro-forma)

174.3p

Total earnings per share
(up >100% CER)

75.7p

Core earnings per share
(down 15% CER)

Restructuring cash costs (£bn)

1.5

1.0

0.5

0

1.3

1.1

0.5a

0.6

0.5

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Forecastb

Footnotes 
a   Includes £0.3 billion cash costs on legacy 
restructuring programmes now completed.
b   Total charges for the combined restructuring 

and integration programme are expected to be 
approximately £5 billion, of which cash costs  
are expected to be approximately £3.65 billion.  
The programme is expected to be largely  
complete by the end of 2017.

In 2015, we made significant progress 
against our strategy including closing the 
Novartis transaction and accelerating the 
delivery of our restructuring and integration 
programmes. This allowed us to release  
£1 billion of incremental savings across 
the Group, ahead of our original targets by 
some £200 million. Importantly, we also 
created additional flexibility to invest behind 
both the R&D pipeline and new product 
launches, helping to build momentum in 
each of our three businesses.

The Group is now better positioned to 
drive sustainable growth and, given the 
significant restructuring and reshaping of 
our cost base, is better placed to deliver 
against our Financial architecture and drive 
growth in earnings per share ahead of 
sales, while improving cash generation to 
support the dividend over the longer term.

The current level of dividend exceeds the 
cash flows generated by the business. 
Our strategy is designed to rebuild that 
capacity through the transition of the 
Group’s business away from its previous 
reliance on Seretide/Advair to more broadly 
based and growing cash flows, driven 
by new products in Pharmaceuticals, the 
expansion of our Vaccines and Consumer 
Healthcare businesses, operating cost 
savings arising from our integration and 
restructuring programme and a reduction 
in the level of restructuring spending as the 
programme comes to an end.

During this period of transition, we have 
said that we intend to prioritise available 
cash, whether from operational cash flows 
or disposals, for the return of ordinary 
dividends to shareholders and to accelerate 
investment behind our restructuring and 
integration programmes to support more 
rapid delivery of the synergy benefits and 
other new growth opportunities we have 
identified across the Group.

In line with this prioritisation, the Board has 
declared an ordinary dividend of 80 pence 
per share for 2015 and has also said that  
it expects to pay an ordinary dividend of  
80 pence per share for 2016 and 2017 as 
we transition the Group’s businesses.

To deliver on this expectation and ensure 
sufficient financial flexibility to continue 
to invest behind the synergy benefits and 
other growth opportunities as well as 
respond to the potential exercise of put 
options by our partners in ViiV Healthcare 
and the Consumer Healthcare Joint 
Venture, we have retained all but £1 billion 
of the net proceeds received from Novartis 
and a number of other non-strategic asset 
disposals. £1 billion is being returned 
to shareholders in the form of a special 
dividend of 20 pence per share to be paid 
in April 2016.

Retention of disposal proceeds and our 
continued focus on cash flow management 
and the protection of our credit profile has 
meant that during the year we were able 
to fund the restructuring and integration 
programmes, declare an ordinary dividend 
of 80 pence per share and reduce net 
debt by £3.7 billion, securing the flexibility 
we need to complete the transition of 
our business and deliver on our strategic 
objectives.

Viability statement
A new requirement this year is to assess the 
future prospects of the Group over a period 
longer than the 12 months required by the 
going concern provisions of the Corporate 
Governance Code. The outcome of this 
review is set out under ‘Viability statement’ 
on page 52.

GSK Annual Report 2015  51
GSK Annual Report 2015  51

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Group financial review
continued

Viability statement

In accordance with provision C.2.2 of the 2014 revision of the Code, 
GSK has assessed the prospects of the Group over a longer period 
than the 12 months required by the ‘Going Concern’ provision. The 
Directors confirm that they have a reasonable expectation that GSK 
will continue to operate and meets its liabilities, as they fall due, over 
the next three years. The Directors’ assessment has been made with 
reference to our current position and prospects, our strategy, the 
Board’s risk appetite and our principal risks and how these are 
managed, as detailed on pages 16 and 17 in the Strategic report.

The Board reviews our internal controls and risk management 
policies and approves our governance structure and code of 
conduct. It also appraises and approves major financing, investment 
and licensing decisions, and evaluates and monitors the performance 
and prospects of GSK as a whole. The focus is largely on improving 
our long-term financial performance through simplifying the operating 
model, growing a diversified global business, and delivering more 
products of value. 

The three year review considers our existing strategy and the 
associated principal risks that underpin our current three year plan, 
which the Directors review at least annually. The Directors believe that 
a three year assessment is most appropriate as it aligns with our normal 
and well established three year business planning processes. This 
three year period balances the long term nature of investments in the 
Pharmaceutical industry with a realistic assessment of the variability of 
the key drivers of near term business performance as well as external 
factors and regulation impacting the business. It also reflects our view 
on access to capital markets and funding requirements as projected 
within this analysis.

The plan has been stress tested in a series of robust operational and 
principal risk downside scenarios as part of the Board’s review on risk. 
The downside scenarios also consider GSK’s cash flows, dividend 
cover, funding strategy, insurance provision and recovery as well as 
other key financial ratios over the period. These metrics have been 
subject to sensitivity analyses which involve flexing a number of the 
main assumptions underlying the forecasts both individually and in 
combination. Where appropriate, these analyses have been stress 
tested to ensure robustness of viability over the period and have 
evaluated the potential impact of material negative changes in the 
macro-economic and healthcare environment, increased pricing 
pressure in both the US and Europe, the accelerated impact of a 
generic alternative to Seretide/Advair, and our principal risks actually 
occurring as well as the earliest potential exercise of put options by  
our partners. The three year review also makes certain assumptions 
about the normal level of capital recycling likely to occur and considers 
whether additional financing facilities will be required and the 
respective level of funding flexibility and headroom.

Based on the results of this analysis, the Directors confirm they have a 
reasonable expectation that the Group will be able to continue in 
operation and meet its liabilities as they fall due over the three year 
period of their assessment.

Financial architecture
Our financial architecture is designed to support the consistent 
execution of our strategy and to enhance the returns we deliver  
to shareholders.

It is focused on delivering more sustainable sales growth across 
the company, improving operating leverage, or profitability, and 
enhancing our financial efficiency. This is in order to drive growth in 
EPS ahead of our sales performance and then convert more of those 
earnings into cash that can be used to invest in the business or 
return to shareholders, wherever we see the most attractive returns.

This clear set of priorities ensures consistency in how capital is 
allocated across and between the different businesses within GSK 
with relative returns from each business benchmarked to relevant 
external comparatives using a Cash Flow Return on Investment 
(CFROI) based framework of metrics. Specific capital investments 
are also benchmarked in a similar way.

Turnover growth
The Group’s turnover performance in 2015 reflected further 
progress in delivery against our strategic objective of building a 
more balanced set of growth drivers across our business. We 
continued to launch new products in our Pharmaceuticals business 
and we expanded our Vaccines and Consumer Healthcare 
businesses through the Novartis transaction. These new sources  
of growth more than offset the decline of Seretide/Advair and 
some of our other older products and we delivered overall turnover 
growth of 6% CER in the year, up 1% pro-forma.

Sales of New Pharmaceutical and Vaccines products of £2 billion 
in the year were a key driver but Consumer Healthcare also made 
a significant contribution, up 6% pro-forma, with new products, 
including the recent Flonase OTC switch, driving growth. 

Operating leverage
Our ability to deliver improved profitability is heavily impacted by the 
overall trend in our sales, but it can also be affected by changes in 
the mix of business, regional and product contributions to growth 
in operating profit. 2015 saw a significant change in the mix of the 
Group following the Novartis transaction, which helped create 
industry-leading Vaccines and Consumer Healthcare businesses 
alongside the divestment of our marketed Oncology products. 

At the time of divestment, the Oncology business had a much 
higher operating margin than the acquired Vaccines and Consumer 
Healthcare businesses, particularly given the heavy investment 
and cost structure inherited from Novartis. While the integration 
plans are addressing that cost structure directly and we have set 
targets for significant margin improvement in both of the acquired 
businesses, our core operating margin in the short-term has been 
affected materially by the transaction, with a total impact of around 
three percentage points of sales. 

The reported core operating margin declined a total of 4.1 
percentage points to 23.9% with substantially all of the additional 
1.1 percentage point decline reflecting the impact of the benefit  
in 2014 to the operating margin of a structural credit in SG&A of 
£219 million which was not repeated in 2015. Excluding this effect, 
the pro-forma core operating margin was broadly flat.

This reflected the delivery of around £1 billion of incremental cost 
savings from our integration and restructuring programmes. The 
savings contributed to offset price pressures in older parts of 
the portfolio and also added to the cost flexibility we have been 
building in recent years. 

This provided greater opportunities to reallocate resources across 
the Group, including reinvestment to support new launches and 
our R&D pipeline, but also improvements to our manufacturing 
capabilities and capacity.

Our integration and restructuring programme is ahead of schedule. 
By the end of 2015, the programme had delivered approximately 
£1.6 billion of annual savings and it remains on track to deliver  
£3 billion of annual savings in total by the end of 2017.

Financial efficiency
We continue to focus on improving our financial efficiency and overall 
funding costs while protecting our credit profile and, in particular, our 
short-term target credit ratings. 

52  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
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GSK financial architecture: driving improved returns to shareholders

Sales growth

Operating leverage

EPS

Financial efficiency

Free cash flow

Cash flow growth

Returns to
shareholders

Earnings per share (EPS)
Total EPS in 2015 saw a significant increase to 174.3p, primarily 
driven by the profit on the disposal of our Oncology business. Core 
EPS declined 15%, mainly reflecting the short-term dilution of the 
Novartis transaction but also the impact of the continuing transition 
of our Pharmaceuticals business, particularly in Respiratory.

In 2016, we expect core EPS percentage growth to reach  
double digits (CER). The base for this growth is the 2015 core 
EPS of 75.7p.

Free cash flow
Free cash flow generation in 2015 has been impacted by the 
ongoing transition of our pharmaceutical portfolio, particularly  
the decline in Seretide/Advair but also the short-term impact of  
the Novartis transaction and, in particular, the inherited levels 
of cost and investment that are being addressed as part of our 
synergy and integration plans.

The restructuring costs of these plans and other costs of the Novartis 
transaction are being funded from the proceeds of the disposal of the 
Oncology business and other non-strategic assets, consistent with 
our general approach to funding the costs of restructuring.

Excluding the cash restructuring charges incurred during the year 
of £1.1 billion and the initial tax payments due on the Oncology 
disposal, as well as legal payments, free cash flow generated in 
2015 was £2.5 billion compared with £3.9 billion in 2014, when 
adjusted on a comparable basis.

In addition to rebuilding our cash generation capacity, we continue 
to focus on improving the efficiency of capital investment and our 
use of working capital to reduce internal cash requirements. This 
is expected to allow us to build operating cash flows more quickly 
while maintaining the dividend, returning the Group to growth and 
protecting our credit profile.

Returns to shareholders
The Board approved an ordinary dividend of 80 pence for 2015, 
together with a special 20 pence dividend to be paid from the net 
proceeds of the Oncology business and other asset disposals. 
This will be distributed in April 2016 alongside the regular fourth 
quarter dividend for 2015. We also expect to pay annual dividends 
of 80 pence for 2016 and 2017.

A fuller review of the financial results is set out on pages 54 to 72.

Approach to tax

We understand our responsibility to pay an appropriate  
amount of tax. In 2015 the Group paid corporate income  
tax of £2,062 million (2014 – £1,108 million) on profits of  
£10,526 million (2014 – £2,968 million) representing a cash  
tax rate of 19.6% (2014 – 37.3%). The corresponding accounting 
tax charge on profits was £2,154 million (2014 – £137 million).

Tax risk is managed by a set of policies and procedures to  
seek to ensure consistency and compliance with tax legislation. 
Our Audit & Risk Committee and the Board are responsible for 
approving our tax policies and risk management. 

We seek to maintain open, positive relationships with governments 
and tax authorities worldwide and we welcome constructive 
debate on taxation policy. There continued to be a significant 
international focus on tax reform during 2015 – including the 
OECD’s Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (‘BEPS’) project 
and European Commission initiatives such as the proposed 
‘Anti-BEPS’ Directive and the increased use of fiscal state aid 
investigations. The OECD BEPS reports clarify the important 
principle that tax should be paid on profits throughout the supply 
chain, commensurate with where the profit making activity 
takes place. GSK supports this approach and has been active 
in providing relevant business input to assist in the successful 
delivery of the aims of the BEPS project. In particular, we support 
the implementation of the OECD’s recommendations on Country-
by-Country Reporting (‘CBCR’), including the exchange of CBCR 
data between tax authorities, as being key to its success. This 
data, validated against existing information held on taxpayers, will 
support their ability to ensure multinational groups pay the right 
amount of tax.

We do not engage in artificial tax arrangements – those without 
business or commercial substance. At the same time we have a 
responsibility to our shareholders to be financially efficient and 
deliver a sustainable tax rate. The ongoing alignment of our Group 
structure to reflect our mix of operations and geographies has helped 
us maintain an efficient effective tax rate. Our core tax rate for 2015 
was 19.5%, similar to the rate in 2014 of 19.6%. However, some 
moderate upward pressure on the rate is expected over the next 
several years, given the Group’s momentum and changing earnings 
mix in favour of the US in particular. For 2016 a core tax rate in the 
20-21% range is expected. 

Our approach to tax is set out in detail within the Public Policy 
positions section of our website. Further details about our 
corporate tax charges for the year are set out on page 158.

Simon Dingemans 
Chief Financial Officer

GSK Annual Report 2015  53

 
 
 
 
 
 
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Group financial review
continued

Financial review 2015

Results reporting
Our Group financial review discusses the operating and financial 
performance of the Group, cash flows and our financial position 
and resources. We compare the results for each year primarily  
with the results of the preceding year. This review discusses the 
total results of the Group and also core results.

We also use a number of adjusted measures to report the 
performance of our business. These measures are used by 
management for planning and reporting purposes and in 
discussions with and presentations to investment analysts  
and rating agencies and are defined below. These measures  
are not defined in IFRS and may not be comparable with similarly 
described measures used by other companies.

CER growth
In order to illustrate underlying performance, it is our practice  
to discuss the results in terms of constant exchange rate (CER) 
growth. This represents growth calculated as if the exchange rates 
used to determine the results of overseas companies in Sterling 
had remained unchanged from those used in the previous year. 
CER% represents growth at constant exchange rates.  
£% represents growth at actual exchange rates.

All growth rates included in this Report are at CER unless 
otherwise stated. 

Core results reporting
Total reported results represent the Group’s overall performance. 
However, these results can contain material unusual or non-
operational items that may obscure the key trends and factors 
determining the Group’s operational performance. As a result,  
we also report core results.

Core results exclude the following items from total results: 
amortisation and impairment of intangible assets (excluding 
computer software) and goodwill; major restructuring costs, 
including those costs following material acquisitions; legal charges 
(net of insurance recoveries) and expenses on the settlement of 
litigation and government investigations, and acquisition 
accounting adjustments for material acquisitions, disposals of 
associates, products and businesses, other operating income 
other than royalty income, and other items, together with the tax 
effects of all of these items.

Core results reporting is utilised as one of the bases for internal 
performance reporting alongside Total results, cash flow 
generation and a number other metrics. Core results are presented 
and discussed in this Group financial review as we believe that 
core results are more representative of the performance of the 
Group’s operations and allow the key trends and factors driving 
that performance to be more easily and clearly identified by 
shareholders. The definition of core results, as set out above, also 
aligns the Group’s results with the majority of our peer companies 
and how they report earnings. 

Reconciliations between total and core results, including detailed 
breakdowns of the key non-core items, are set out on page 62,  
and are provided to shareholders to ensure full visibility and 
transparency as they assess the Group’s performance. 

Pro-forma results reporting
The Novartis transaction completed on 2 March 2015 and so  
our reported year to date results include ten month’s turnover of 
the former Novartis Vaccines and Consumer Healthcare products 
and also exclude sales of the former GSK Oncology business from  
2 March. Following the completion of the transaction with Novartis, 
we have reorganised the Group to reflect the greater balance 
between the Pharmaceuticals, Vaccines and Consumer 
Healthcare businesses and responsibilities for some parts  
of these respective businesses have been realigned. We are 
reporting these three businesses separately with corporate costs 
reallocated to each accordingly so that the profitability of each 
business is reflected more accurately. We have restated our 
segment information consistent with this realignment.

In addition, we have presented unaudited pro-forma growth rates 
for turnover, core operating profit and core operating profit by 
business. Pro-forma growth rates are calculated comparing 
reported turnover and core operating profit for the year to 
December 2015 with the turnover and core operating profit for  
the year to December 2014 adjusted to include the equivalent  
ten month’s sales of the former Novartis Vaccines and Consumer 
Healthcare products and exclude the sales of the former GSK 
Oncology products from March to December 2014. 

Free cash flow
Free cash flow is the net cash inflow from operating activities less 
capital expenditure, interest and dividends paid to non-controlling 
interests plus proceeds from the sale of property, plant and 
equipment and dividends received from joint ventures and 
associated undertakings. Free cash flow growth is calculated  
on a Sterling basis. A reconciliation is presented on page 65.

Adjusted free cash flow
Adjusted free cash flow excludes payments made to settle legal 
disputes.

Working capital conversion cycle
The working capital conversion cycle is calculated as the number 
of days sales outstanding plus days inventory outstanding, less 
days purchases outstanding.

R&D internal rate of return
The calculation for 2015 included products launched from  
1 January 2013 to 31 December 2015 and compounds in  
phases IIb and III of the development process. The calculation  
was based on actual sales from 2013 to 2015, and forecast sales 
up to 2036, adjusted to reflect expected failure rates, which are 
broadly in line with standard industry failure rates. The cost base 
used in this calculation comprises an estimate of attributable  
R&D costs and actual and projected milestone payments  
where appropriate. 

This IRR estimate factored in applicable components of the 
Novartis transaction, including the acquisition costs and forecast 
cash flows of Bexsero and Men ABCWY, as well as cash flows  
for the relevant oncology assets divested (i.e. products launched 
since 2013 and AKT inhibitor). The oncology cash flows included 
estimated attributable R&D costs and an estimated proportion of 
the after-tax sale proceeds. Proceeds for products launched 
before 2013 are excluded for consistency with our overall 
methodology. The net impact of the acquisitions and disposals  
on the estimated IRR is not material.

54  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
Group turnover

Turnover £bn

32

28

24

20

16

12

08

04

0

26.5

23.0

23.9

£23.9bn

Group turnover

US
Europe
International

6%

1%

Reported  
CER growth

Pro-forma  
CER growth

2013

2014

2015

Operating profit £bn

16

14

12

10

08

06

04

02

0

10.3

7.0

3.6

2013

2014

2015

£10.3bn

Total operating profit

>100%

Reported  
CER growth

Global Pharmaceuticals
HIV
Pharmaceuticals
Vaccines
Consumer Healthcare
Segment turnover
Corporate and other
  unallocated turnover
Group turnover

2015 
£m
11,844
2,322
14,166
3,657
6,028
23,851

2014 
(restated)
£m

13,950
1,498
15,448
3,159
4,312
22,919

72
23,923

87
23,006

Growth
CER%

Growth
£%

(14)
54
(7)
19
44
6

(9)
6

(15)
55
(8)
16
40
4

(17)
4

 CER% represents growth at constant exchange rates. £% represents 
growth at actual exchange rates. HIV turnover represents the sales of 
ViiV Healthcare.

Group turnover for 2015 increased 6% on a reported basis to 
£23,923 million, with Pharmaceuticals down 7%, Vaccines up  
19% and Consumer Healthcare up 44%, reflecting the impact of the 
Novartis transaction. On a pro-forma basis, Group turnover increased 
1%, with Pharmaceuticals down 1%, Vaccines up 3% and Consumer 
Healthcare up 6%. Sales of New Pharmaceutical and Vaccine 
products were £1,988 million in the year.

The Corporate and unallocated turnover of £72 million represented 
sales of several Vaccines and Consumer Healthcare products, which 
were being held for sale in a number of markets. We were required  
to dispose of these products in specific markets in order to meet the 
requirements of the anti-trust approvals for the Novartis transaction. 
The disposals were completed in August and September 2015.

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Group turnover by geographic region

2015
£m
8,222
6,450
9,251
23,923

2014 
(restated)
£m

7,409
6,292
9,305
23,006

Growth
CER%

Growth
£%

3
11
5
6

11
3
(1)
4

Group turnover outside of the US and Europe represented 39% of 
total Group turnover in 2015 (2014: 40%).

Sales from new Pharmaceutical and Vaccine products

Respiratory
Relvar/Breo Ellipta
Anoro Ellipta
Arnuity Ellipta
Incruse Ellipta
Nucala
CVMU
Eperzan/Tanzeum
Global Pharmaceuticals

Tivicay
Triumeq
Pharmaceuticals

Bexsero
Menveo
Vaccines

2015 
£m

2014
£m

Growth
CER%

Growth
£%

257
79
3
14
1

41
395

588
730
1,713

115
160
275
1,988

67
17
–
–
–

6
90

282
57
429

–
–
–
429

>100
>100
–
–
–

>100
>100

>100
>100
>100

–
–
–
>100

>100
>100
–
–
–

>100
>100

>100
>100
>100

–
–
–
>100

At our Investor Day on 6 May 2015, we identified a series of  
New Pharmaceutical and Vaccine products that were expected  
to deliver at least £6 billion of revenues per annum on a CER basis 
by 2020. Those products, plus current clinical pipeline asset, 
Shingrix, are as set out above and, as a group are defined as  
New Pharmaceutical and Vaccine products. Sales of the New 
Pharmaceutical Vaccine products are now expected to reach  
£6 billion of revenues per annum on a CER basis up to two years 
earlier (2018).

Sales of New Pharmaceutical and Vaccine products were  
£1,988 million and represented approximately 11% of 
Pharmaceuticals and Vaccines turnover in the year.

GSK Annual Report 2015  55

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Group financial review
continued

Pharmaceuticals

Turnover £bn

24

21

18

15

12

09

06

03

0

17.4

15.4

14.2

2013

2014

2015

Global Pharmaceuticals

Turnover £bn

60%

of Group turnover

(7)%

Reported  
CER growth

(1)%

Pro-forma  
CER growth

24

21

18

15

12

09

06

03

0

16.0

14.0

11.8

2013

2014

2015

50%

of Group turnover

(14)%

Reported  
CER growth

(7)%

Pro-forma  
CER growth

Operating profit £bn

Operating profit £bn

08

07

06

05

04

03

02

01

0

6.1

5.0

4.3

2013

2014

2015

£4.3bn

Operating profit

(12)%

Reported  
CER growth

(4)%

Pro-forma  
CER growth

08

07

06

05

04

03

02

01

0

8.0

6.4

4.7

£4.7bn

Operating profit

(24)%

(17)%

Reported  
CER growth

Pro-forma  
CER growth

2013

2014

2015

Pharmaceuticals turnover was £14,166 million, down 7% on a 
reported basis, primarily reflecting the disposal of the Oncology 
business. Adjusting for the impact of the disposal, pro-forma 
turnover was down 1%, reflecting a 7% decline in Respiratory 
sales and a 15% decline in sales of Established Products, largely 
offset by growth in other New Pharmaceuticals products, 
particularly HIV products Tivicay and Triumeq. 

Sales of New Pharmaceutical products were £1,713 million,  
an increase of £1,284 million, which more than offset the decline 
in Seretide/Advair sales of £548 million. Global Seretide/Advair 
sales were £3.7 billion, down approximately 30% from their peak 
in 2013.

Global Pharmaceuticals turnover

Respiratory
Cardiovascular, metabolic
  and urology
Immuno-inflammation
Oncology
Other pharmaceuticals
Established Products

2015 
£m
5,741

2014 
(restated)
£m

6,168

Growth
CER%

Growth
£%

(7)

(7)

858
263
255
2,199
2,528
11,844

965
214
1,202
2,390
3,011
13,950

(9)
16
(79)
(4)
(15)
(14)

(11)
23
(79)
(8)
(16)
(15)

Global Pharmaceuticals turnover was £11,844 million, down  
14% on a reported basis, primarily reflecting the disposal of  
the Oncology business. Adjusting for the impact of the disposal, 
pro-forma turnover was down 7%, reflecting a 7% decline in 
Respiratory sales and a 15% decline in sales of Established 
Products. Sales of New Global Pharmaceutical products were 
£395 million, an increase of £305 million.

In the US, Global Pharmaceuticals reported turnover of  
£4,233 million, a decline of 20% in the year and 12% on a 
pro-forma basis. The pro-forma decline primarily reflected a  
10% fall in Respiratory sales and a 30% fall in Established 
Products sales. Within Respiratory, Advair sales were down 13% 
to £1,865 million (4% volume decline and a 9% negative impact  
of price and mix) and Flovent sales down 19% to £379 million. 
These declines were partly offset by sales of the new Respiratory 
products, Breo Ellipta, Anoro Ellipta, Incruse Ellipta and Arnuity 
Ellipta, with combined sales of £177 million in the year. 

56  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The primary driver of the decline in Established Products was 
Lovaza, which was down 64% to £93 million following the launch 
of generic competition in April 2014. Avodart declined 41% to  
£166 million reflecting the launch of generic competition in 
October 2015. Relenza sales more than doubled to £69 million, 
partly reflecting US CDC orders, while Benlysta continued its 
strong growth with sales of £209 million, up 24%.

Cardiovascular, metabolic and urology
Sales in the category declined 9% to £858 million in the year.  
The Avodart franchise fell 15% to £657 million, with 1% growth in 
sales of Duodart/Jalyn more than offset by a 21% decline in sales 
of Avodart reflecting the patent expiry in the US in October 2015. 
Sales of Prolia were up 12% to £43 million. In December 2015, 
Amgen re-acquired the rights to Prolia from GSK.

Immuno-inflammation
Immuno-inflammation sales grew 16% to £263 million. Benlysta 
sales in the year were £230 million, up 25%. In the US, Benlysta 
sales were £209 million, up 24%.

Oncology
Sales of oncology products were £255 million in the year  
(2014 – £1,202 million) following the disposal of the Oncology 
business to Novartis on 2 March 2015.

Other pharmaceuticals
Sales in other therapy areas fell 4% to £2,199 million in the year. 
Augmentin sales were down 2% at £528 million and Dermatology 
sales declined 9% to £412 million, in part adversely affected by 
supply constraints. Relenza sales were up 22% to £109 million 
driven by US CDC orders. 

Sales of products for Rare diseases declined 6% to £371 million, 
primarily as a result of generic competition to Mepron in the US.

Established Products
Established Products turnover fell 15% to £2,528 million in the 
year. Sales in the US were down 30% to £647 million, primarily 
reflecting a 64% fall in sales of Lovaza to £93 million.

Europe was down 11% to £493 million, reflecting increased 
generic competition to a number of products and some supply 
constraints. Seroxat sales fell 12% to £35 million.

International was down 8% to £1,388 million, primarily reflecting 
lower sales of Seroxat/Paxil, down 10% to £143 million, due to 
generic competition in Japan, and of Zeffix, down 23% to  
£125 million. This was partly offset by increased Valtrex sales,  
up 30% to £121 million, following the regaining of exclusivity in 
Canada from late 2014 until October 2015. Sales in China fell 
21% to £249 million, primarily reflecting significantly increased 
pricing pressures, together with supply constraints on Zeffix.

In Europe, Global Pharmaceuticals turnover declined 16% to 
£2,849 million and was down 7% on a pro-forma basis after 
adjusting for the impact of the Oncology disposal. Respiratory 
sales declined 9% to £1,415 million with an 18% decline in 
Seretide due to increased generic competition and the ongoing 
transition to the new Ellipta products, which reported total sales  
of £99 million in the year. Established Products sales were down 
11% to £493 million, reflecting increased generic competition  
and some capacity constraints to supply of a number of products.

International Global Pharmaceuticals sales of £4,762 million  
were down 7% on a reported basis and down 3% on a pro-forma 
basis. Sales in Emerging Markets of £2,963 million declined 9% 
(down 5% pro-forma). Emerging Market Respiratory sales declined 
1%, with Seretide down 5%, impacted by increased generic 
competition and price pressure, offset by Flovent up 5%, Ventolin, 
up 1%, and Avamys, up 8%, as well as £13 million of Relvar Ellipta 
and Anoro Ellipta sales. Established Products were down 14%, 
and Dermatology products were down 15%, both partly impacted 
by supply constraints. 

Within Emerging Markets, China was down 18% reported (down 
17% pro-forma), with Respiratory flat and Established Products 
down 21%, primarily reflecting significantly increased pricing 
pressures and the ongoing reshaping of the business, including  
a number of product disposals. In Japan, Global Pharmaceutical 
sales were down 5% on a reported basis (down 1% pro-forma) to 
£1,213 million with a 5% increase in Respiratory sales, primarily 
driven by Relvar Ellipta, offset by lower sales of Relenza, reflecting 
a weaker and earlier flu season than in 2014, and continued 
competitive pressures to a number of Established Products.

Respiratory
Respiratory sales in the year declined 7% to £5,741 million. 
Seretide/Advair sales were down 13% to £3,681 million,  
Flixotide/Flovent sales decreased 12% to £623 million and 
Ventolin sales fell 7% to £620 million. The combined total of all 
Ellipta product sales was £353 million.

In the US, Respiratory sales declined 10% to £2,750 million in the 
year (4% volume growth and a 14% negative impact of price and 
mix). Sales of Advair were £1,865 million, down 13% (4% volume 
decline and a 9% negative impact of price and mix, including the 
benefit of positive adjustments to payer rebates provisions in the 
fourth quarter). Flovent sales were down 19% to £379 million and 
Ventolin sales fell 15% to £304 million primarily as a result of net 
negative movements in payer rebates provisions. The new Ellipta 
products recorded sales of £177 million in the year.

European Respiratory sales were down 9% to £1,415 million,  
with Seretide sales down 18% to £1,014 million (11% volume 
decline and a 7% negative impact of price and mix), reflecting the 
expected pressures of increased competition from generics and 
the transition of the Respiratory portfolio to newer products.  
Relvar Ellipta recorded sales of £80 million in the year, while 
Anoro Ellipta recorded sales of £16 million.

Respiratory sales in the International region were flat at  
£1,576 million with Emerging Markets down 1% and Japan  
up 5%. In Emerging Markets, sales of Seretide declined 5% to  
£460 million, while Ventolin grew 1% to £182 million. In Japan, 
sales of Relvar Ellipta of £56 million, together with strong Avamys 
and Xyzal sales growth, more than offset a 13% decline in Adoair 
sales.

GSK Annual Report 2015  57

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Group financial review
continued

HIV

Turnover £bn

4.0

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0

2.3

1.4

1.5

2013

2014

2015

10%

of Group turnover

54%

Reported  
CER growth

3.7

3.4

3.2

15%

of Group turnover

Vaccines

Turnover £bn

4.0

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

0.1

0.5

0

2013

2014

2015

Operating profit £bn

Operating profit £bn

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0

1.7 £1.7bn

Operating profit

0.9

1.0

2013

2014

2015

72%

Reported  
CER growth

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0

1.0

1.0

1.0

2013

2014

2015

HIV turnover

Combivir
Epzicom/Kivexa
Lexiva/Telzir
Selzentry
Tivicay
Triumeq
Trizivir
Other

2015 
£m
34
698
65
124
588
730
26
57
2,322

2014 
£m

Growth 
CER%

Growth 
£%

59
768
87
136
282
57
36
73
1,498

(42)
(7)
(25)
(8)
>100
>100
(28)
(19)
54

(42)
(9)
(25)
(9)
>100
>100
(28)
(22)
55

Vaccines turnover

Bexsero
Infanrix, Pediarix
Boostrix
Fluarix, FluLaval
Hepatitis
Menveo
Rotarix
Synflorix
Other

19%

Reported  
CER growth

3%

Pro-forma  
CER growth

£1.0bn

Operating profit

(9)%

Reported  
CER growth

7%

Pro-forma  
CER growth

2015 
£m

2014
£m

Growth
CER%

Growth
£%

115
733
358
268
540
160
417
381
685
3,657

–
828
317
215
558
–
376
398
467
3,159

–
(9)
12
21
(4)
–
14
5
57
19

–
(11)
13
25
(3)
–
11
(4)
46
16

Vaccines sales grew 19% to £3,657 million with the US up 24%, 
Europe up 23% and International up 12%. The business benefited 
from sales of the newly acquired products, primarily the Meningitis 
portfolio, in Europe and the US. The 3% pro-forma growth was 
mainly driven by Bexsero sales in Europe and strong Rotarix, 
Fluarix/FluLaval, and Boostrix sales in the US. The growth  
was partly offset by a decline in Infanrix/Pediarix sales due to  
the return of a competitor to the market in the US, increased 
competitor activity in Europe and supply constraints in 
International. Hepatitis A vaccines sales declined due to supply 
constraints and International was impacted by higher trade 
inventory of newly acquired vaccines. Cervarix sales declined 
following the introduction of a new competitor vaccine.

Worldwide HIV sales increased 54% to £2,322 million, with  
the US up 77%, Europe up 46% and International up 15%.  
The growth in all three regions was driven primarily by the  
strong performances of both Triumeq and Tivicay, with sales  
of £730 million and £588 million respectively in the year. 

Epzicom/Kivexa sales declined 7% to £698 million and  
Selzentry declined 8% to £124 million. Combivir and Lexiva  
sales fell 42% and 25%, respectively.

58  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
In the US, sales grew 24% on a reported basis (up 9% pro-forma) 
to £1,258 million. Pro-forma growth was driven mainly by a strong 
performance from Fluarix/FluLaval as a result of the conversion  
to the Quadrivalent formulation, Rotarix benefiting from CDC 
stockpile replenishments, Boostrix due to market share gains, and 
the Meningitis portfolio driven primarily by the launch of Bexsero. 
This growth was partly offset by an Infanrix/Pediarix sales decline 
of 17%, primarily as a result of the return to the market of a 
competitor vaccine during 2014 combined with lower CDC 
stockpile purchases than in 2014.

In Europe, sales grew 23% on a reported basis (up 9% pro-forma) 
to £1,097 million. Pro-forma growth primarily reflected increased 
sales in the Meningitis portfolio with Bexsero gaining in several 
private markets including Italy, Spain, Germany and Portugal as 
well as in the UK following its inclusion in the NHS immunisation 
programme. Menveo also delivered incremental sales as a result  
of tender awards in the UK and Italy. Growth was partly offset by 
sales declines in Infanrix/Pediarix due to supply constraints and 
increased competitor activity, Hepatitis A vaccines due to supply 
constraints, and Cervarix following the introduction of a new 
competitor vaccine. Germany grew strongly with the MMRV 
portfolio, Boostrix and Infanrix/Pediarix, all up due to better  
supply and competitor supply shortages.

In International, sales grew by 12% on a reported basis but 
declined 5% on a pro-forma basis to £1,302 million. The pro-forma 
performance was mainly driven by lower tender volumes in Latin 
America, particularly for Synflorix, partly offset by increased  
market access and demand for Synflorix in Africa and Bangladesh. 
Cervarix sales decreased in Mexico and South Africa due to lower 
demand. Infanrix/Pediarix and Hepatitis A vaccines sales were 
down, reflecting supply constraints, and the newly acquired 
vaccines declined due to the phasing of shipments and higher 
trade inventory levels inherited as part of the acquisition. 

Consumer Healthcare

Turnover £bn

08

07

06

05

04

03

02

01

0

25%

6.0

of Group turnover

4.7

4.3

2013

2014

2015

44%

Reported  
CER growth

6%

Pro-forma  
CER growth

Operating profit £bn

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0

0.7

0.7

0.5

2013

2014

2015

Consumer Healthcare turnover

£0.7bn

Operating profit

66%

Reported  
CER growth

24%

Pro-forma  
CER growth

Wellness
Oral health
Nutrition
Skin health

US
Europe
International

2014 
(restated) 
£m

2015 
£m

Growth
CER%

Growth
£%

2,970
1,866
684
508
6,028

2015 
£m

1,430
1,788
2,810
6,028

1,565
1,797
633
317
4,312

2014 
(restated) 
£m

851
1,138
2,323
4,312

95
8
7
67
44

90
4
8
60
40

Growth
CER%

Growth
£%

56
70
27
44

68
57
21
40

The Consumer Healthcare business represents the Consumer 
Healthcare Joint Venture with Novartis together with the GSK 
Consumer Healthcare listed businesses in India and Nigeria, 
which are excluded from the Joint Venture.

Turnover grew 44% to £6,028 million, benefiting significantly  
from the sales of the newly-acquired products included in the Joint 
Venture. On a pro-forma basis, growth was 6% (4% volume and 
2% price), primarily reflecting strong growth in the US following 
the launch of OTC Flonase, buoyant sales in India driven by 
Horlicks as well as global specialist Oral health growth, partly  
due to a recovery from supply disruptions in 2014. Sales from new 
GSK innovations (product introductions within the last three years 
on a rolling basis) represented approximately 14% of sales, higher 
than in prior years primarily due to the Flonase switch to OTC 
earlier in the year. Other key 2015 launches included Sensodyne 
Repair and Protect Whitening in the US and Germany, Voltaren  
12 hour and the roll-out of Sensodyne mouthwash.

GSK Annual Report 2015  59

S
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S
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Group financial review
continued

US sales grew 56% on a reported basis to £1,430 million,  
and 22% on a pro-forma basis. Flonase was the region’s  
principal growth driver. Oral health sales continued to be driven  
by Sensodyne, up 13%, with the launch of Sensodyne Repair  
and Protect Whitening, supply recovery and distribution gains  
for Sensodyne Pronamel. Excedrin grew 9% following the launch  
of the gel tablet format combined with momentum in the tension 
headache variant. Theraflu posted strong growth due to its 
re-launch, the new warming syrups format and price increases. 
Nicorette lozenges, Nicorette Mini lozenges and alli returned to  
the market but Tums was impacted by supply constraints and 
increased competitive pressure during the year.

Sales in Europe grew 70% on a reported basis to £1,788 million 
and grew 3% pro-forma. The pro-forma performance was driven 
by Oral health products, which reported growth of 6%, reflecting 
strong performances from both Sensodyne and Gum health 
products following an improved supply position compared with 
2014, new advertising in key markets, and the roll out of new 
Sensodyne variants across the region. In Wellness, pain relief 
recorded a strong double-digit pro-forma performance, driven  
by Voltaren which also benefited from new marketing campaigns.  
The brand recorded its highest market shares in many of the major 
European markets, including Germany, Italy, Poland and France. 
These strong performances were partly offset by adverse 
performances in the Nutrition and Skin health categories, due to 
the re-alignment of resources across the brand portfolio following 
the integration of the businesses and the termination of a number 
of third party supply arrangements as part of a supply chain 
simplification initiative.

International sales of £2,810 million grew 27% on a reported basis 
and were up 2% pro-forma. Oral health sales grew strongly across 
the region with double-digit growth on Sensodyne and Denture 
care products. Wellness sales declined 3% on a pro-forma basis, 
largely a result of the impact of the excess channel inventories in 
parts of the acquired consumer businesses, most notably China, 
Russia and Middle East, together with generic competition which 
impacted Panadol Osteo in Australia, and economic and political 
uncertainties in Venezuela. India led the growth amongst the 
priority markets, reporting double-digit performances from Eno, 
Sensodyne and Horlicks, driven by distribution gains and new 
marketing campaigns and the re-launch of the improved chocolate 
flavoured Horlicks. Sales in Brazil were down to low-single digits 
as the business transitioned to new product formulations in the  
sun care business.

60  GSK Annual Report 2015

Total results

The total results of the Group are set out below. Reconciliations of 
total results to core results are presented on page 62. 

2015

2014

Growth

% of 
£m turnover

% of
£m turnover CER%
6
100
24
(31.8)

100 23,006
(37.0)
(7,323)

£%
4
21

)

(9,232)

(3,560
329

23,923
(8,853)

7,715
10,322
(653)

Turnover
Cost of sales
Selling, general
  and administration
Research and 
  development
Royalty income
Other operating 
  income
Operating profit
Net finance costs
Profit on disposal of
  interest in associates
Share of after tax 
  profits of associates
14
  and joint ventures
Profit before taxation 10,526
(2,154)
Taxation
Total profit after
  taxation for the year
Total profit attributable
8,422
  to shareholders
Earnings per share (p) 174.3
Earnings per ADS
  (US$)

8,372

5.33

843

(38.6) (8,246)

(35.8)

13

12

)

(14.9
1.4

)

(3,450
310

)

(15.0
1.3

2
8

3
6

32.2
43.1

(700)
3,597
(659)

–

30
2,968
(137)

(3.1) >100 >100
15.6 >100 >100

>100 >100

2,831

>100 >100

2,756
57.3

1.89

>100 >100

Cost of sales
Cost of sales as a percentage of turnover was 37.0%,  
5.2 percentage points higher than in 2014 and 5.4 percentage 
points higher on a CER basis. The increase reflected the disposal 
of our higher margin Oncology business and the acquisition of the 
lower margin Vaccines and Consumer Healthcare businesses  
from Novartis. In addition, there were adverse price movements, 
particularly in US Pharmaceuticals, and increased investments  
in Vaccines to improve the reliability and capacity of the supply 
chain, together with increased intangible asset amortisation and 
impairment charges and higher integration and restructuring costs. 
This was partly offset by an improved product mix, particularly as  
a result of the growth in HIV sales, and the benefits of the Group’s 
ongoing cost reduction programmes.

Selling, general and administration
SG&A costs as a percentage of sales were 38.6%, 2.8 percentage 
points higher than in 2014 and 2.3 percentage points higher on  
a CER basis. This increase primarily reflected the impacts of the 
Novartis transaction in 2015 and the £219 million credit in SG&A in 
2014 from a release of reserves following simplification of our entity 
structure, together with higher integration and restructuring costs 
and increased promotional product support, particularly for new 
launches in Respiratory, Consumer Healthcare, Vaccines and HIV. 
This was partly offset by the benefits of the Pharmaceuticals cost 
reduction programme, synergies in Vaccines and Consumer 
Healthcare and lower legal charges.

Research and development
R&D expenditure increased 2% CER to £3,560 million (14.9%  
of turnover) compared with £3,450 million (15.0% of turnover)  
in 2014. The benefits of the cost reduction programmes in 
Pharmaceuticals, Vaccines and Consumer Healthcare R&D were 
more than offset by higher integration and restructuring costs.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other operating income
Net other operating income of £7,715 million (2014 – £700 million 
expense) included the profits on the disposals of the Oncology 
business of £9,228 million and ofatumumab of £200 million.  
This was partly offset by a further increase in the liability for  
the contingent consideration for the acquisition of the former 
Shionogi-ViiV Healthcare joint venture of £1,874 million  
(2014 – £768 million) following the improved sales performance  
of Tivicay and Triumeq. The liability of £3,409 million at 31 
December 2015 represents the present value of expected future 
payments to Shionogi. Further details of the consideration due  
to Shionogi in relation to ViiV Healthcare are set out on page 70.

Operating profit
Total operating profit was £10,322 million compared with  
£3,597 million in 2014. The increase primarily reflected the profits  
on disposal of the Oncology business to Novartis and several equity 
investment and other asset disposals. This was partly offset by 
increased integration and restructuring costs, the adverse impact on 
margins of the disposal of the higher margin Oncology business and 
acquisition of the lower margin Vaccines and Consumer Healthcare 
businesses from Novartis and the increase in the contingent 
consideration liability payable on the acquisition of the former 
Shionogi-ViiV Healthcare joint venture.

Intangible asset amortisation decreased to £563 million from  
£575 million in 2014. Intangible asset impairments of £206 million 
(2014: £150 million) included impairments of several R&D and 
commercial assets. Both of these charges were non-cash items.

Major restructuring charges accrued in the year were £1,891 million 
(2014 – £750 million) and reflected the acceleration of a number of 
integration projects following completion of the Novartis transaction, 
as well as further charges as part of the Pharmaceuticals 
restructuring programme. Cash payments made in the year were 
£1,131 million (2014 – £566 million). The programme has delivered 
approximately £1 billion of incremental benefits in 2015 compared 
with 2014.

Charges to date for the combined restructuring and integration 
programme are £2.7 billion. The total cash charges of the combined 
programme are expected to be approximately £3.65 billion and  
the non-cash charges up to £1.35 billion. By the end of 2015,  
the programme had delivered approximately £1.6 billion of annual 
savings and remained on track to deliver £3 billion of annual savings 
in total. The programme is expected to be largely complete by the 
end of 2017.

Legal charges of £221 million (2014 – £548 million) included  
the settlement of a number of existing matters and litigation costs.  
The charge in 2014 included the £301 million fine payable to  
the Chinese government. Cash payments were £420 million  
(2014 – £702 million).

Acquisition-related adjustments resulted in a net charge of  
£2,238 million (2014 – £843 million). This included remeasurements 
of the liability and the unwinding of the discounting effects on the 
contingent consideration for the acquisition of the former Shionogi-
ViiV Healthcare joint venture of £1,874 million (2014 – £768 million); 
the contingent consideration related to the acquisition of the former 
Novartis Vaccines business of £91 million, net of hedging gains 
(2014 – £nil); and the Consumer Healthcare Joint Venture put option 
of £83 million (2014 – £nil). Further details of the consideration due 
to Shionogi in relation to ViiV Healthcare are set out on page 70.

Disposals and other items resulted in a net credit of £9,712 million 
(2014 – £131 million charge). This included the profit on disposal  
of the Oncology business to Novartis of £9,228 million and the profit 
on disposal of ofatumumab, together with equity investment and 
other asset disposals, equity investment impairments reflecting 
current market valuations, one-off required regulatory charges in 
R&D and certain other adjusting items.

Net finance costs

Finance income
Interest and other finance income
Fair value movements

Finance expense
Interest expense
Unwinding of discounts on liabilities
Remeasurements and fair value movements
Other finance expense

2015 
£m
99
5
104

(719)
(16)
(8)
(14)
(757)

2014 
£m
66
2
68

(688)
(15)
(10)
(14)
(727)

Profit on disposal of interest in associates
The profit on disposal of associates was £843 million  
(2014 – £nil). This arose from the disposal of half of our investment 
in Aspen Pharmacare and the remeasurement of the remaining 
holding to market value on its reclassification to other investments.

Share of after tax profits of associates and joint ventures
The share of profits of associates and joint ventures was  
£14 million (2014 – £30 million profit), including a £16 million  
gain, being our share of the profit on a disposal of an investment 
recognised by one of the associates. In 2014, the share of profits 
of associates principally arose on our holding in Aspen 
Pharmacare.

Profit before taxation
Taking account of net finance costs, the profit on disposal of 
interest in associates and the share of profits of associates, profit 
before taxation was £10,526 million compared with £2,968 million 
in 2014.

Taxation

UK current year charge
Rest of world current year charge
Charge in respect of prior periods
Total current taxation
Total deferred taxation
Taxation on total profits

2015 
£m
156
2,924
(508)
2,572
(418)
2,154

2014 
£m
221
1,092
(571)
742
(605)
137

The charge for taxation on total profits amounted to £2,154 million 
and represented a total effective tax rate of 20.5% (2014 – 4.6%). 
In 2015 GSK made payments of £111 million in UK Corporation 
tax. In January 2016 GSK made further payments of £100 million 
in relation to UK Corporation tax. These amounts are for 
Corporation tax only and do not include various other business 
taxes borne by GSK each year. See ‘Taxation’ on page 158 for 
further details.

Earnings per share
Total EPS was 174.3p, compared with 57.3p in 2014, the increase 
primarily reflecting the profits on disposal of the Oncology 
business and the Aspen Pharmacare shares, partly offset by the 
increase in the liability for the contingent consideration due on the 
acquisition of the former Shionogi-ViiV Healthcare joint venture 
and accelerated charges for major restructuring expenditure.

Dividends
The Board declared four interim dividends resulting in a total 
dividend for the year of 80 pence, in line with the dividend for 
2014. In addition, the Board has declared a special dividend of  
20 pence to be paid out of the proceeds of the disposals of the 
Oncology business and other assets. See Note 16 to the Financial 
statements, ‘Dividends’.

GSK Annual Report 2015  61

Strategic reportGovernance & remunerationFinancial statementsInvestor informationGroup financial review
continued

Core results reconciliation – 31 December 2015

Turnover
Cost of sales
Gross profit

Selling, general and administration
Research and development
Royalty income
Other operating income
Operating profit

Net finance costs
Profit on disposal of associates
Share of after tax profits/(losses) of
  associates and joint ventures
Profit before taxation

Taxation
Tax rate 
Profit after taxation

(Loss)/profit attributable to 
  non-controlling interests
Profit attributable to shareholders

Earnings per share

Total 
results 
£m
23,923
(8,853)
15,070

(9,232)
(3,560)
329 
7,715
10,322

(653)
843

14
10,526

(2,154)

20.5%
8,372

(50)
8,422

174.3p

Intangible 
asset 
amortisation 
£m

Intangible 
asset 
impairment 
£m

Major 
restructuring 
£m

Legal 
charges 
£m

Acquisition 
accounting 
£m

Disposals 
and other 
£m

522
522

41

147
147

7
52

563
563

1,009
319

221

563

206

1,891

221

5

89
89

88

2,061
2,238

12
12

52

(9,776)
(9,712)

12
(843)

Core 
results 
£m
23,923
(7,520)
16,403

(7,907)
(3,096)
329 
–
5,729

(636)
–

563

(161)

206

(50)

1,896

221

2,238

(16)
(10,559)

(2)
5,091

(441)

(21)

(352)

2,186

(993)
19.5%

402

156

1,455

200

1,886

(8,373)

4,098

402

156

1,455

200

500
1,386

(10)
(8,363)

440
3,658

8.3p

3.2p

30.1p

4.1p

28.8p

(173.1)p

75.7p

S
t
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a
t
e
g
c

i

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p
o
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t

G
o
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e
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n
a
n
c
e
&
r
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m
u
n
e
r
a
t
i
o
n

Weighted average number of shares (millions)

4,831

Core results reconciliation – 31 December 2014

i

F
n
a
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c
a

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s
t
a
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e
m
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s

I
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s
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n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i
o
n

Turnover
Cost of sales
Gross profit

Selling, general and administration
Research and development
Royalty income
Other operating income
Operating profit

Net finance costs
Share of after tax profits of
  associates and joint ventures
Profit before taxation

Taxation
Tax rate 
Profit after taxation

Profit attributable to 
  non-controlling interests
Profit attributable to shareholders

Total 
results 
£m
23,006
(7,323)
15,683

(8,246)
(3,450)
310 
(700)
3,597

(659)

30
2,968

(137)

4.6%

2,831

75
2,756

4,831

Core 
results 
£m
23,006
(6,535)
16,471

(7,074)
(3,113)
310 
–
6,594

Intangible 
asset 
amortisation 
£m

Intangible 
asset 
impairment 
£m

Major 
restructuring 
£m

Legal 
charges 
£m

Acquisition 
accounting 
£m

Disposals 
and other 
£m

503
503

72

78
78

72

575

150

575

(209)

366

150

(29)

121

204
204

430
116

750

5

755

(215)

3
3

119
77

(68)
131

548

75

548

768
843

8

(646)

548

843

139

30 
5,978

(26)

(134)

(422)

(1,172)

19.6%

540

522

709

(283)

4,806

366

121

540

522

147
562

(283)

222
4,584

Earnings per share

57.3p

7.6p

2.5p

11.3p

10.9p

11.7p

(5.9)p

95.4p

Weighted average number of shares (millions)

4,808

4,808

62  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Core results

We use core results, among other metrics including Total results 
and cash flow generation, to manage the performance of the 
Group. The definition of core results is set out on page 54.

Cost of sales

Cost of sales

2015
% of 
turnover 

£m
(31.4) (6,535)

£m
(7,520)

turnover  CER% £%
15

(28.4)

18

Cost of sales as a percentage of turnover was 31.4%, 3.0 
percentage points higher than in 2014. On a pro-forma basis,  
the cost of sales percentage increased 0.8 percentage points  
and 1.0 percentage points on a CER basis. This reflected  
adverse price movements, particularly in US Pharmaceuticals,  
and increased investments in Vaccines to improve the reliability 
and capacity of the supply chain. This was partly offset by an 
improved product mix, particularly as a result of the growth in HIV 
sales, and the benefits of our ongoing cost reduction programmes.

Selling, general and administration 

2015
% of 
turnover 

£m

2014
% of 

Growth

£m

turnover CER% £%

The operations of Pharmaceuticals R&D are broadly split into 
Discovery activities (up to the completion of phase IIa trials) and 
Development work (from phase IIb onwards) each supported by 
specific and common infrastructure and other shared services 
where appropriate. Phase IV costs and other administrative 
expenses are reported in SG&A and are not included in the  
table below.

2014
% of 

Growth

The table below analyses core R&D expenditure by these 
categories:

Discovery
Development
Facilities and central support functions
Pharmaceuticals R&D
Vaccines R&D
Consumer Healthcare R&D
Research and development

2015 
£m

2014 
£m

744
1,136
433
2,313
525
258
3,096

739
1,317
455
2,511
443
159
3,113

The proportion of Pharmaceuticals R&D investment made in the 
late-stage portfolio decreased from 52% of Pharmaceuticals R&D 
costs in 2014 to 49% in 2015, reflecting the completion of a 
number of late-stage programmes.

Royalty income
Royalty income was £329 million (2014 – £310 million).

Selling, general
  and administration (7,907)

(33.1)

(7,074)

(30.7)

12

12

Core operating profit by business

SG&A costs as a percentage of sales were 33.1%, 2.4 percentage 
points higher than in 2014 and 2.0 percentage points higher on a 
CER basis. On a pro-forma basis, SG&A costs as a percentage of 
sales increased 1.2 percentage points, and 0.8 percentage points 
on a CER basis. This increase primarily reflected the impact of the 
£219 million credit in SG&A in 2014 from a release of reserves 
following simplification of our entity structure. Excluding this, 
SG&A costs as a percentage of sales decreased 0.1 percentage 
points on a CER basis, driven by declines in Global 
Pharmaceuticals, including the benefits of the Pharmaceuticals 
cost reduction programme, and synergies in Vaccines and 
Consumer Healthcare, largely offset by promotional product 
support, particularly for new launches in Respiratory, Consumer 
Healthcare, Vaccines and HIV.

Research and development 

2015
% of 
turnover 

£m

2014
% of 

Growth

£m

turnover CER% £%

Research and
  development

(3,096)

(12.9) (3,113)

(13.5)

(2)

(1)

R&D expenditure declined 2% CER to £3,096 million (12.9% of 
turnover) compared with £3,113 million (13.5% of turnover) in 
2014. On a pro-forma basis, R&D expenditure declined 5% 
reflecting the benefit of cost reduction programmes in 
Pharmaceuticals, Vaccines and Consumer Healthcare R&D.

2015
Margin 
%

£m

2014 
(restated) 
Margin 

Growth

£m

% CER%

£%

Global
4,733
  Pharmaceuticals
1,686
HIV
Pharmaceuticals R&D (2,168)
4,251
Pharmaceuticals
966
Vaccines
Consumer
  Healthcare

680
5,897

Corporate & other
(168)
  unallocated costs
Core operating profit 5,729

40.0 6,388
72.6
977
(2,326)
30.0 5,039
26.4
997

11.3
24.7

491
6,527

45.8
65.2

32.6
31.6

11.4
28.5

(24)
72
(10)
(12)
(9)

(26)
73
(7)
(16)
(3)

66
(6)

38
(10)

67
23.9 6,594

>(100) >100
(13)

(9)

28.7

Core operating profit was £5,729 million, 9% lower than in 2014  
in CER terms on a turnover increase of 6%. The core operating 
margin of 23.9% was 4.8 percentage points lower than in 2014. 
Excluding the adverse impact of currency movements, particularly 
from the Euro and Emerging Markets currencies, the core 
operating margin was 4.1 percentage points lower on a CER 
basis. This decline included a 3.0 percentage point impact of the 
Novartis transaction, reflecting the disposal of the higher margin 
Oncology business and the acquisition of the lower margin and 
different cost structures of the Vaccines and Consumer 
Healthcare businesses from Novartis.

GSK Annual Report 2015  63

Strategic reportGovernance & remunerationFinancial statementsInvestor informationS
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Net finance costs

Finance income
Interest and other income
Fair value movements

Finance expense
Interest expense
Unwinding of discounts on liabilities
Remeasurements and fair value movements
Other finance expense

2015 
£m
99
5
104

(719)
1
(8)
(14)
(740)

2014 
£m
66
2
68

(688)
(2)
(10)
(14)
(714)

Net finance expense was £636 million compared with £646 
million in 2014.

Share of after tax losses of associates and joint ventures
The share of losses of associates and joint ventures was £2 million 
(2014 – £30 million profit). In March 2015, we reduced our 
shareholding in our significant associate, Aspen Pharmacare 
Holdings Limited, from 12.4% to 6.2% of the issued share capital. 
As a result, we no longer account for Aspen as an associate.

Core profit before taxation

£m
Core profit before tax 5,091

2015
% of 
turnover 

£m
21.3 5,978

2014
% of 

Growth

turnover CER% £%
(15)

26.0

(10)

Taxation
Tax on core profit amounted to £993 million and represented an 
effective core tax rate of 19.5% (2014 –19.6%), reflecting the 
resolution of a number of items that benefited the year.

Non-controlling interests
The allocation of earnings to non-controlling interests amounted  
to £440 million (2014 – £222 million), including the non-
controlling interest allocations of Consumer Healthcare segment 
profits of £205 million (2014 – £60 million) and the allocation  
of ViiV Healthcare profits, which increased to £224 million  
(2014 – £132 million). Further details of our economic interest  
in the profits of ViiV Healthcare are set out on page 70.

Core earnings per share
Core EPS of 75.7p declined 15% in CER terms compared with  
a 9% decline in operating profit, primarily reflecting the greater 
contributions to growth from businesses in which there are 
significant non-controlling interests.

Group financial review
continued

On a pro-forma basis, core operating profit was 2.7% lower in 
CER terms compared with 2014 on a turnover increase of 1%, 
which primarily reflected a decline in the pro-forma core operating 
margin of 1.1 percentage points. However, this decline also 
included a 0.9 percentage point impact from the adverse 
comparison with 2014 which included a £219 million credit in 
SG&A from a release of reserves following simplification of the 
Group’s entity structure and its trading arrangements. Excluding 
this effect, the core operating margin declined 0.2 percentage 
points reflecting the balance between the continued impact of the 
decline in sales of Seretide/Advair, including contracting and other 
price reductions, lower sales of Established Products, as well as 
the investments required behind multiple new launches in 
Pharmaceuticals, Vaccines and Consumer Healthcare, as we 
transition our product portfolio, offset by the savings released by 
our restructuring and integration programmes and the benefits of 
an improved product mix, particularly from the growth in HIV sales.

Pharmaceuticals
Pharmaceuticals operating profit was £4,251 million, 12% lower 
than in 2014 in CER terms on a turnover decrease of 7%. The  
core operating margin of 30.0% was 2.6 percentage points lower 
than in 2014 and 1.8 percentage points lower on a CER basis.  
On a pro-forma basis, the core operating margin decreased  
1.2 percentage points on a CER basis, which reflected adverse 
price movements in Global Pharmaceuticals, particularly in the  
US for Respiratory products, the increased promotional and 
manufacturing investments behind new product launches in 
Respiratory and HIV as well as targeted investments in 
manufacturing capacity and stability elsewhere in the portfolio, 
partly offset by a more favourable product mix, primarily driven  
by the growth in HIV sales, and the benefits of the Group’s cost 
reduction programmes. The core operating margin for Global 
Pharmaceuticals was 40.0% (2014 – 45.8%) and for HIV was 
72.6% (2014 – 65.2%).

Vaccines
Vaccines operating profit was £966 million, 9% lower than  
in 2014 in CER terms on a turnover increase of 19%. The core 
operating margin of 26.4% was 5.2 percentage points lower than 
2014 and 7.6 percentage points lower on a CER basis, primarily 
driven by the inclusion of the cost base of the former Novartis 
Vaccines business. Pro-forma core operating profit grew by 7%  
on a turnover increase of 3% on a CER basis. The pro-forma 
operating margin improved 0.8 percentage points to 26.4% 
reflecting an increase in cost of sales as a percentage of turnover 
due to additional supply chain investments and the benefit to cost 
of sales in 2014 of a number of inventory adjustments, more than 
offset by reductions in SG&A and R&D from restructuring and 
integration benefits.

Consumer Healthcare
Consumer Healthcare operating profit was £680 million,  
66% higher than in 2014 in CER terms on a turnover increase  
of 44%. The core operating margin of 11.3% was 0.1 percentage 
points lower than in 2014, but improved 1.7 percentage points on 
a CER basis. On a pro-forma basis the operating margin increased 
1.8 percentage points on a CER basis. This was driven by a 
reduction in cost of sales as a percentage of turnover, reflecting 
benefits from improved supply and pricing, as well as the delivery 
of integration synergies which together more than offset additional 
investment behind the growth of target power brands, particularly 
in Oral health and Wellness.

64  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
Cash generation and conversion 

A summary of the consolidated cash flow is set out below.

Net cash inflow from operating activities
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from investing activities
Net cash outflow from financing activities
Increase/(decrease) in cash and bank overdrafts

Cash and bank overdrafts at beginning of year
Increase/(decrease) in cash and bank overdrafts
Exchange adjustments
Cash and bank overdrafts at end of year

Cash and bank overdrafts at end of year
  comprise:
Cash and cash equivalents
Overdrafts

2015 
£m
2,569
6,037
(7,103)
1,503

4,028
1,503
(45)
5,486

2014 
£m
5,176
(1,078)
(5,385)
(1,287)

5,231
(1,287)
84
4,028

5,830
(344)
5,486

4,338
(310)
4,028

Adjusted net cash inflow from operating activities

2,989

5,878

The net cash inflow from operating activities for the year was 
£2,569 million (2014 – £5,176 million). Excluding legal settlements 
of £420 million (2014 – £702 million), adjusted net cash inflow 
from operating activities was £2,989 million (2014 – £5,878 
million). This was after payments of non-core restructuring and 
integration costs of £1,131 million (2014 – £566 million) and the 
initial tax payments arising on the sale of the Oncology business 
amounting to £1,071 million, all of which have been funded from 
divestment proceeds. Excluding these items, the adjusted net cash 
inflow from operating activities would have been £5,191 million 
(2014 – £6,444 million), a reduction of £1,253 million (19%).

The decrease primarily resulted from the initial impact of the 
Novartis transaction, reflecting the disposal of GSK’s higher 
margin Oncology business and the impact of acquiring the lower 
margin Vaccines and Consumer Healthcare businesses as well as 
lower operating profits, primarily in Global Pharmaceuticals, and 
the impact of negative currency movements in the year. In addition, 
the cash payments to Shionogi in relation to the ViiV Healthcare 
contingent consideration liability recognised in operating cash 
flows increased by £117 million in 2015. The total cash payments 
to Shionogi in relation to the ViiV Healthcare contingent 
consideration liability in 2015 were £159 million, of which  
£121 million was recognised in cash flows from operating activities 
and £38 million was recognised in purchases of businesses within 
investing cash flows.

Free cash flow
Free cash flow is the amount of cash generated by the business 
after meeting our obligations for interest, tax and dividends paid to 
non-controlling interests, and after capital expenditure on property, 
plant and equipment and intangible assets.

Free cash (outflow)/inflow
Adjusted free cash flow

2015 
£m
(155)
265

2014 
£m
2,620
3,322

Free cash outflow was £155 million for the year. Excluding legal 
payments of £420 million (2014 – £702 million), adjusted free cash 
flow was £265 million (2014 – £3,322 million). This was after 
non-core restructuring and integration costs, and the initial tax 
payments on the sale of the Oncology business. Excluding these 
items, the adjusted free cash inflow would have been £2,467 million 
(2014 – £3,888 million). The decrease reflected the same factors as 
for the net cash inflow from operating activities described above.

A reconciliation of net cash inflow from operating activities, which  
is the closest equivalent IFRS measure, to free cash flow is shown 
below.

Reconciliation of free and adjusted cash flow

Net cash inflow from operating activities
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
Purchase of intangible assets
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment
Interest paid
Interest received
Dividends from associates and joint ventures
Distributions to non-controlling interests
Free cash flow
Legal payments
Adjusted free cash flow

2015 
£m
2,569
(1,380)
(521)
72
(762)
99
5
(237)
(155)
420
265

2014 
£m
5,176
(1,188)
(563)
39
(707)
63
5
(205)
2,620
702
3,322

Investment appraisal
We have a formal process for assessing potential investment 
proposals in order to ensure decisions are aligned with our overall 
strategy. This process includes an assessment of the cash flow 
return on investment (CFROI), as well as its net present value 
(NPV) and internal rate of return (IRR) where the timeline for the 
project is very long term. We also consider the impact on earnings 
and credit profile where relevant. 

The discount rate used to perform financial analyses is decided 
internally, to allow determination of the extent to which investments 
cover our cost of capital. For specific investments the discount rate 
may be adjusted to take into account country or other risk weightings.

Capital expenditure and financial investment
Cash payments for tangible and intangible fixed assets amounted  
to £1,901 million (2014 - £1,751 million) and disposals realised 
£10,554 million (2014 – £594 million). Cash payments to acquire 
equity investments of £82 million (2014 – £83 million) were made 
in the year and sales of equity investments realised £357 million 
(2014 – £205 million).

Future cash flow
Over the long term, we expect that future cash generated from 
operations will be sufficient to fund our operating and debt  
servicing costs, normal levels of capital expenditure, obligations 
under existing licensing agreements, expenditure arising from 
restructuring programmes and other routine outflows including tax, 
pension contributions and dividends, subject to the ‘Risk factors’ 
discussed on pages 231 to 240. We may from time to time have 
additional demands for finance, such as for acquisitions and share 
repurchases. We have access to other sources of liquidity from 
short and long-term capital markets and financial institutions,  
in addition to the cash flow from operations, for such needs.

Working capital

Working capital percentage of turnover (%)
Working capital conversion cycle (days)

2015 

23%

191

2014 

22%

209

Our working capital programme has continued to make progress 
with further improvements in the collection of receivables and 
better inventory management.

The reported working capital conversion cycle days were distorted 
by a temporary favourable impact of 15 days arising from the 
Novartis transaction. Excluding this impact, the conversion cycle 
for 2015 was around 206 days. The reduction of 3 days compared 
with 2014 was predominantly due to an increase in the 
denominator from increased restructuring costs in 2015 offset  
by a beneficial impact from exchange, reduced receivables from 
improved collections and reduced inventory levels.

GSK Annual Report 2015  65

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Group financial review
continued

Financial position and resources

Assets
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment
Goodwill
Other intangible assets
Investments in associates and joint ventures

Other investments
Deferred tax assets
Other non-current assets
Total non-current assets

Current assets
Inventories
Current tax recoverable
Trade and other receivables
Derivative financial instruments
Liquid investments
Cash and cash equivalents
Assets held for sale
Total current assets
Total assets

Liabilities
Current liabilities
Short-term borrowings
Trade and other payables
Derivative financial instruments
Current tax payable
Short-term provisions
Total current liabilities

Non-current liabilities
Long-term borrowings
Deferred tax liabilities
Pensions and other post-employment benefits
Other provisions
Derivative financial instruments
Other non-current liabilities
Total non-current liabilities
Total liabilities
Net assets

Equity
Share capital
Share premium account
Retained earnings
Other reserves
Shareholders’ equity
Non-controlling interests

Total equity

2015 
£m

2014 
£m

9,668
5,162
16,672
207

1,255
2,905
990
36,859

4,716
180
5,615
125
75
5,830
46
16,587
53,446

9,052
3,724
8,320
340

1,114
2,688
735
25,973

4,231
138
4,600
146
69
4,338
1,156
14,678
40,651

(1,308)
(9,191)
(153)
(1,421)
(1,344)
(13,417)

(2,943)
(7,958)
(404)
(945)
(1,045)
(13,295)

(15,324)
(1,522)
(3,229)
(420)
–
(10,656)
(31,151)
(44,568)
8,878

(15,841)
(445)
(3,179)
(545)
(9)
(2,401)
(22,420)
(35,715)
4,936

1,340
2,831
(1,397)
2,340
5,114
3,764

1,339
2,759
(2,074)
2,239
4,263
673

8,878

4,936

66  GSK Annual Report 2015

Property, plant and equipment
Our business is science-based, technology-intensive and highly 
regulated by governmental authorities. We allocate significant 
financial resources to the renewal and maintenance of our property, 
plant and equipment to minimise risks of interruption of production 
and to achieve compliance with regulatory standards. A number  
of our processes use chemicals and hazardous materials. 

The total cost of our property, plant and equipment at  
31 December 2015 was £20,750 million, with a net book value  
of £9,668 million. Of this, land and buildings represented  
£4,117 million, plant and equipment £2,987 million and assets  
in construction £2,564 million. In 2015, we invested £2,134 million 
in new property, plant and equipment. This was mainly related  
to a large number of projects for the renewal, improvement  
and expansion of facilities at various worldwide sites. Property  
is mainly held freehold. New investment is financed from our  
liquid resources. At 31 December 2015, we had contractual 
commitments for future capital expenditure of £659 million and 
operating lease commitments of £789 million. We believe that  
our facilities are adequate for our current needs.

We observe stringent procedures and use specialist skills to 
manage environmental risks from our activities. Environmental 
issues, sometimes dating from operations now modified or 
discontinued, are reported under ‘Our planet’ on page 48 and  
in Note 45 to the financial statements, ‘Legal proceedings’.

Goodwill
Goodwill increased during the year to £5,162 million at  
31 December 2015, from £3,724 million. The increase reflected 
the goodwill arising from the acquired Novartis Vaccines business 
and the creation of the Consumer Healthcare Joint Venture.

Other intangible assets
Other intangible assets include the cost of intangibles acquired 
from third parties and computer software. The net book value  
of other intangible assets as at 31 December 2015 was  
£16,672 million (2014 – £8,320 million). The increase in  
2015 reflected the impact of acquiring the Vaccines business  
(£2,680 million), and the creation of the Consumer Healthcare 
Joint Venture (£6,003 million), capitalised development costs of 
£217 million, partly offset by the amortisation and impairment of 
existing intangibles of £738 million and £217 million, respectively.

Investments in associates and joint ventures
We held investments in associates and joint ventures, with a 
carrying value at 31 December 2015 of £207 million (2014 – 
£340 million). The market value at 31 December 2015 was  
£267 million (2014 – £1,388 million). The largest of these 
investments was in Theravance Inc. (now Innoviva Inc.) which had  
a book value at 31 December 2015 of £112 million. The market 
value at 31 December 2015 was £229 million. Until 1 September 
2015, Theravance Inc. was accounted for as an equity investment 
as it was considered that the Group could not exert significant 
influence over the company until that point. See Note 20 to the 
Financial statements ‘Investments in associates and joint ventures’.

Other investments
We held other investments with a carrying value at 31 December 
2015 of £1,255 million (2014 – £1,114 million). The most 
significant of these investments was in Aspen Pharmacare 
Holdings Limited which had a book value at 31 December 2015 of  
£383 million. Previously, the investment in Aspen was treated as  
an associate but in March 2015 we sold half of our holding  
in Aspen and as a result were no longer able to exert significant 
influence over the company; the investment has been reported 
within Other investments since that date. The other investments 
include equity stakes in companies with which we have research 
collaborations, which provide access to biotechnology 
developments of potential interest and interests in companies  
that arise from business divestments.

 
 
 
 
 
Derivative financial instruments: assets
We had current derivative financial instruments held at fair value  
of £125 million (2014 – £146 million). The majority of this amount 
related to foreign exchange contracts both designated and not 
designated as accounting hedges.

Inventories
Inventory of £4,716 million increased from £4,231 million in  
2014. The increase primarily reflected the impact of the Novartis 
acquisition, partly offset by exchange movements.

Trade and other receivables
Trade and other receivables of £5,615 million increased from  
2014 impacted by the Novartis acquisition, partly offset by 
exchange movements.

Derivative financial instruments: liabilities
We held current derivative financial instruments at fair value  
of £153 million (2014 – £404 million, current: £9 million, non-
current). This primarily related to foreign exchange contracts both 
designated and non-designated (inter-company loans and trade 
receivables) as accounting hedges.

Trade and other payables
Trade and other payables amounting to £9,191 million increased 
from £7,958 million in 2014, reflecting the effect of the Novartis 
acquisition and an increase in accruals for customer returns and 
rebates.

Provisions
We carried deferred tax provisions and other short-term and 
non-current provisions of £3,286 million at 31 December 2015  
(2014 – £2,035 million) of which £352 million (2014 – £520 
million) related to legal and other disputes and £816 million  
(2014 – £527 million) related to the Operational Excellence 
provision. Provision has been made for legal and other disputes, 
indemnified disposal liabilities, employee related liabilities and  
the costs of restructuring programmes to the extent that at the 
balance sheet date a legal or constructive obligation existed and 
could be reliably estimated.

Pensions and other post-employment benefits
We account for pension and other post-employment  
arrangements in accordance with IAS 19. The deficits,  
net of surpluses before allowing for deferred taxation were  
£1,584 million (2014 – £1,689 million) on pension arrangements  
and £1,387 million (2014 – £1,397 million) on unfunded post-
employment liabilities. The decreases in the deficits were 
predominantly driven by higher discount rates that we used to 
discount the value of the liabilities, partly offset by an increase  
in the UK inflation rate together with net obligations acquired  
as a result of the Novartis transaction. 

In December 2010, the UK scheme purchased an insurance 
contract that will guarantee payment of specified pensioner 
liabilities. This contract was valued at £755 million at  
31 December 2015.

Other non-current liabilities
Other non-current liabilities of £10,656 million at 31 December  
2015 (2014 – £2,401 million) included £3,549 million  
(2014 – £1,619 million) of contingent consideration payable,  
of which £3,110 million (2014 – £1,579 million) was in respect of 
the acquisition in 2012 of the former Shionogi-ViiV Healthcare joint 
venture, and £398 million was payable to Novartis in relation to  
the Vaccines acquisition during 2015. In addition, £6,287 million 
related to the present value of the estimated amount payable by  
us in the event of full exercise of Novartis’ right to require us to 
acquire its 36.5% shareholding in the Consumer Healthcare  
Joint Venture.

Net debt

Cash, cash equivalents and liquid investments
Borrowings – repayable within one year
Borrowings – repayable after one year
Net debt

2015 
£m
5,905
(1,308)
(15,324)
(10,727)

2014 
£m
4,407
(2,943)
(15,841)
(14,377)

At 31 December 2015, net debt was £10.7 billion, compared with 
£14.4 billion at 31 December 2014, comprising gross debt of 
£16.6 billion and cash and liquid investments of £5.9 billion. The 
decrease in net debt primarily reflected the impact of the Novartis 
transaction in which we sold our Oncology business for net cash 
proceeds of £10.0 billion and paid £3.4 billion, net of cash 
acquired, to purchase the Novartis Vaccines business.

The first tax payments on the Novartis transaction amounting to  
£1,071 million have been made. In addition, we sold part of our 
shareholding in Aspen for cash proceeds of £564 million and  
paid dividends to shareholders of £3,874 million. Net debt also 
reflected an exchange loss on the translation of cash held by the 
Group’s Venezuelan subsidiaries.

Because of the continuing political and economic uncertainties  
in Venezuela, at 31 December 2015, we changed the  
exchange rate used to translate our subsidiaries in Venezuela.  
Up to that point, we applied one of the official rates available  
of VEF 6.3/US$1. At 31 December 2015, this was changed to  
VEF 199.6/US$1 (VEF 293.4/£1). This change had no significant 
impact on the Group income statement, but gave rise to an 
exchange loss on translation of the cash held by the Venezuelan 
subsidiaries of £94 million.

At 31 December 2015, our cash and liquid investments were held 
as follows:

Bank balances and deposits
US Treasury and Treasury repo
  only money market funds
Liquidity funds
Government securities

2015 
£m
3,767

624
1,439
75
5,905

2014 
£m
3,529

811
–
67
4,407

Cash and liquid investments of £4.2 billion were held centrally at  
31 December 2015.

GSK Annual Report 2015  67

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Group financial review
continued

Maturity profile of gross debt 

£m equivalent 

3,000 

2,500 

2,000 

1,500 

1,000 

500 

0

2016 2017 2018 2019 2022

2023
  GBP bonds             EUR bonds            USD bonds            Other bank borrowings             Leases

2024

2025

2027

2033 2034

2038 2039

2042

2043

2045

The analysis of cash and gross debt after the effects of hedging  
is as follows.

Cash and liquid investments
Gross debt – fixed
                    – floating
                  – non-interest bearing
Net debt

Movements in net debt

Net debt at beginning of year
Increase/(decrease) in cash and bank overdrafts
Increase/(decrease) in liquid investments
Net increase in long-term loans
Net repayment of short-term loans
Exchange movements
Other movements
Net debt at end of year

2015 
£m
5,905
(16,129)
(502)
(1)
(10,727)

2014 
£m
4,407
(17,674)
(1,109)
(1)
(14,377)

2015 
£m
(14,377)
1,503
2
–
2,412
(268)
1
(10,727)

2014 
£m
(12,645)
(1,287)
(1)
(1,960)
1,709
(193)
–
(14,377)

Total equity
At 31 December 2015, total equity had increased from  
£4,936 million at 31 December 2014 to £8,878 million.  
The increase arose from the impact of both operating profits  
and business and asset disposal profits, partly offset by the 
remeasurement of the ViiV Healthcare contingent consideration  
and the dividends paid in the year.

A summary of the movements in equity is set out below.

Total equity at beginning of year
Total comprehensive income for the year
Dividends to shareholders
Ordinary shares issued
Gain on transfer of net assets
  into Consumer Healthcare JV
Consumer Healthcare JV put option
Loss on transfer of equity investment to
  investment in associate
Changes in non-controlling interests
Forward contract relating to non-controlling
  interest
Shares purchased and cancelled or held
  as Treasury shares
Shares acquired by ESOP Trusts
Share-based incentive plans
Tax on share-based incentive plans
Distributions to non-controlling interests
Total equity at end of year

2015 
£m
4,936
7,885
(3,874)
73

2,891
(6,204)

(229)
3,370

–

–
(99)
356
10
(237)
8,878

2014 
£m
7,812
1,081
(3,843)
167

–
–

–
(86)

21

(238)
(95)
326
(4)
(205)
4,936

The gain on transfer of net assets into the Consumer Healthcare 
Joint Venture of £2,891 million reflects the difference between  
the book value of the GSK Consumer Healthcare net assets 
contributed to the Joint Venture and the fair value applied as  
the consideration for the Novartis contributed assets.

The Consumer Healthcare Joint Venture put option of  
£6,204 million reflects the recognition of the initial value of  
the liability on the Group balance sheet. The changes in non-
controlling interest primarily reflect the recognition of the  
Novartis share of the Consumer Healthcare Joint Venture.

68  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Share purchases
In 2015, the Employee Share Ownership Plan (ESOP)  
Trusts acquired £99 million of shares in GlaxoSmithKline plc  
(2014 – £245 million). Shares are held by the Trusts to satisfy 
future exercises of options and awards under the Group share 
option and award schemes. A proportion of the shares held by  
the Trusts are in respect of awards where the rules of the scheme 
require us to satisfy exercises through market purchases rather 
than the issue of new shares. The shares held by the Trusts are 
matched to options and awards granted.

At 31 December 2015, the ESOP Trusts held 30 million  
(2014 – 53 million) GSK shares against the future exercise  
of share options and share awards. The carrying value of  
£75 million (2014 – £151 million) has been deducted from  
other reserves. The market value of these shares was  
£409 million (2014 – £726 million).

During 2015, no shares were repurchased. At 31 December  
2015, we held 491.5 million shares as Treasury shares  
(2014 – 491.5 million shares), at a cost of £6,917 million  
(2014 – £6,917 million), which has been deducted from  
retained earnings.

The company does not expect to make any ordinary share 
repurchases in 2016. No ordinary shares were purchased in  
the period 1 January 2016 to 25 February 2016.

Commitments and contingent liabilities
Financial commitments are summarised in Note 40 to the financial 
statements, ‘Commitments’. Other contingent liabilities and 
obligations in respect of short and long-term debt are set out  
in Note 32 to the financial statements, ‘Contingent liabilities’  
and Note 31 to the financial statements, ‘Net debt’.

Amounts provided for pensions and post-retirement benefits are 
set out in Note 28 to the financial statements, ‘Pensions and other 
post-employment benefits’. Amounts provided for restructuring 
programmes and legal, environmental and other disputes are set 
out in Note 29 to the financial statements, ‘Other provisions’.

Contractual obligations and commitments
The following table sets out our contractual obligations and 
commitments at 31 December 2015 as they fall due for payment.

Loans
Interest on loans
Finance lease obligations
Finance lease charges
Operating lease 
  commitments
Intangible assets
Property, plant & equipment
Investments
Purchase commitments
Pensions
Other commitments
Total

Total Under 1 yr
£m

1-3 yrs
£m

3-5 yrs
£m

5 yrs+
£m
1,285 4,151 1,103 10,149
908 6,601
1
3

638 1,135
34
2

12
–

23
2

£m
16,688
9,282
70
7

789
6,264
502
157
38
340
191
34,328

191
339
425
61
2
85
60

174
313
111
783 1,294 3,848
–
6
–
–
–
3,111 6,688 3,608 20,921

76
52
24
170
87

1
38
12
85
44

Commitments in respect of loans and future interest payable  
on loans are disclosed before taking into account the effect  
of derivatives.

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We have entered into a number of research collaborations to 
develop new compounds with other pharmaceutical companies. 
The terms of these arrangements can include upfront fees, equity 
investments, loans and commitments to fund specified levels of 
research. In addition, we will often agree to make further payments 
if future ‘milestones’ are achieved.

As some of these agreements relate to compounds in the early 
stages of development, the potential obligation to make milestone 
payments will continue for a number of years if the compounds 
move successfully through the development process. Generally, 
the closer the product is to marketing approval, the greater the 
probability of success. The amounts shown above within  
intangible assets represent the maximum that would be paid  
if all milestones were achieved, and include £5.1 billion which  
relates to externalised projects in the discovery portfolio.  
A number of new commitments were made in 2015 under  
licensing and other agreements, offset by amendments to  
existing agreements.

In 2013, we reached an agreement with the trustees of the  
UK pension schemes to make additional contributions over a  
three year period, including in 2013, to eliminate the pension 
deficit identified at the 31 December 2011 actuarial funding 
valuation. If the deficit persists, further contributions would be 
payable in the following four years depending on the level of deficit. 
The table above includes this commitment but excludes the normal 
ongoing annual funding requirement in the UK of approximately  
£140 million. For further information on pension obligations, see  
Note 28 to the financial statements, ‘Pensions and other post-
employment benefits’.

Contingent liabilities 
The following table sets out contingent liabilities, comprising 
discounted bills, performance guarantees, letters of credit and 
other items arising in the normal course of business, and when 
they are expected to expire.

Total Under 1 yr 1-3 yrs 3-5 yrs 5 yrs+
£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

Guarantees
Other contingent liabilities
Total

126
74
200

94
17
111

19
36
55

11
5
16

2
16
18

In the normal course of business, we have provided various 
indemnification guarantees in respect of business disposals  
in which legal and other disputes have subsequently arisen.  
A provision is made where an outflow of resources is considered 
probable and a reliable estimate can be made of the likely outcome 
of the dispute and this is included in Note 29 to the financial 
statements, ‘Other provisions’.

We provide for the outcome of tax, legal and other disputes when  
an outflow of resources is considered probable and a reliable 
estimate of the outflow may be made. At 31 December 2015,  
other than for those disputes where provision has been made,  
it was not possible to make a reliable estimate of the potential 
outflow of funds that might be required to settle disputes where 
the possibility of there being an outflow was more than remote.

The ultimate liability for such matters may vary significantly from  
the amounts provided and is dependent upon the outcome of 
litigation proceedings and negotiations with the relevant tax 
authorities. This is discussed further in ‘Risk factors’ on pages  
231 to 240 and Notes 14 and 45 to the financial statements, 
‘Taxation’ and ‘Legal proceedings’.

GSK Annual Report 2015  69

 
 
 
 
 
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Group financial review
continued

Non-controlling interests in ViiV Healthcare

Trading profit allocations
Because ViiV Healthcare is a subsidiary of the Group, 100% of  
its operating results (turnover, operating profit, profit after tax) are 
included within the Group income statement and a portion of the 
earnings is allocated to the non-controlling interests owned by  
the other shareholders, in line with their respective equity 
shareholdings (Pfizer 11.7% and Shionogi 10%). Each of the 
shareholders, including GSK, is also entitled to preferential 
dividends determined by the performance of certain products that 
each shareholder contributed. As the relative performance of these 
products changes over time, the proportion of the overall earnings 
of ViiV Healthcare allocated to each shareholder will change.  
In particular, the increasing sales of Tivicay and Triumeq have a 
favourable impact on the proportion of the preferential dividends 
that is allocated to us. We were entitled to approximately 80% of 
the core earnings of ViiV Healthcare for 2015. The preferential 
dividends allocated to Pfizer and Shionogi are included in the 
non-controlling interest line.

Acquisition-related arrangements
As part of the agreement reached to acquire Shionogi’s interest  
in the former Shionogi-ViiV Healthcare joint venture in 2012, we 
agreed to pay additional consideration to Shionogi contingent on 
the performance of the products being developed by that joint 
venture, principally dolutegravir. At 31 December 2015, the fair 
value of the contingent consideration due, representing the 
discounted value of the total amount estimated to be payable,  
was £3,409 million and this has been recognised in the Group’s 
balance sheet with £299 million shown in trade and other payables 
and £3,110 million in other non-current liabilities. 

Payments are made to Shionogi each quarter to reduce the liability 
in instalments. The payments are calculated based on the sales 
performance of the relevant products in the previous quarter and 
are reflected in the cash flow statement partly in operating cash 
flows and partly in purchases of businesses, within investing 
activities. The part of each payment relating to the original estimate 
of the fair value of the contingent consideration on the acquisition 
of the Shionogi-ViiV Healthcare joint venture in 2012 of  
£659 million is reported in purchases of businesses and the part 
of each payment relating to the increase in the liability since the 
acquisition is reported within operating cash flows. During 2015, 
these cash payments amounted to £159 million in total, of which 
£121 million was reported in operating cash flows and £38 million 
in purchases of businesses.

Exit rights
In certain circumstances, Pfizer and Shionogi may require us to 
acquire their shareholdings at a price based on the likely valuation 
of ViiV Healthcare if it were to conduct an initial public offering 
(IPO). Pfizer may request an IPO of ViiV Healthcare at any time 
and if either we do not consent to such IPO or an offering is not 
completed within nine months, Pfizer could require us to acquire 
its shareholding. Shionogi may also request GSK to acquire its 
shareholding in ViiV Healthcare in certain circumstances and six 
month windows commencing in 2017, 2020 and 2022.

Under the original agreements, we had the unconditional right, so 
long as we made no subsequent distribution to our shareholders, 
to withhold our consent to the exercise of either of the Pfizer or 
Shionogi put options and, as a result, in accordance with IFRS,  
we did not recognise liabilities for these put options on our  
balance sheet. 

However, following our recent review of the prospects for the ViiV 
Healthcare business, and our conclusion that we intended to retain 
ViiV Healthcare, we have decided that the put options held by 
Pfizer and Shionogi should now be recognised on the Group’s 
balance sheet. For the liability for the put options to be recognised 
on the Group’s balance sheet, IFRS requires the agreements 
giving us the rights to withhold consent to be changed to remove 
those rights. We have now notified Pfizer and Shionogi that we 
have irrevocably given up these rights and we will recognise the 
liability for the put options on the Group’s balance sheet in 2016. 
The estimated present value of the liability for the two put options 
is approximately £2 billion, after adjustments for the value of the 
preferential dividends due to each of the shareholders.

Consistent with this revised treatment, in 2016 we also expect to 
recognise liabilities on the Group’s balance sheet for the future 
preferential dividends anticipated to become payable to Pfizer and 
Shionogi. The estimated aggregate present value of the liability for 
preferential dividends to both Pfizer and Shionogi is approximately 
£170 million.

Critical accounting policies

The consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance 
with IFRS, as adopted for use in the European Union, and also  
with IFRS as issued by the IASB, following the accounting policies 
approved by the Board and described in Note 2 to the financial 
statements, ‘Accounting principles and policies’. 

We are required to make estimates and assumptions that affect 
the amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses reported  
in the financial statements. Actual amounts and results could differ 
from those estimates.

The critical accounting policies, for which information on the 
judgements and estimates made is given in Note 3 to the financial 
statements, ‘Key accounting judgements and estimates’, and in  
the relevant detailed notes to the financial statements as indicated 
below, relate to the following areas:

•  Turnover
•  Taxation (Note 14)
•  Legal and other disputes (Notes 29 and 45)
•  Goodwill and other intangible asset impairments (Notes 18  

and 19)

•  Business combinations (Note 38)
•  Pensions and other post-employment benefits (Note 28).

Information on the judgements and estimates made in these areas  
is given in Note 3 to the financial statements, ‘Key accounting 
judgements and estimates’.

Turnover
In respect of the Turnover accounting policy, our largest business  
is US Pharmaceuticals and Vaccines, and the US market has  
the most complex arrangements for rebates, discounts and 
allowances. The following briefly describes the nature of the 
arrangements in existence in our US Pharmaceuticals and 
Vaccines business:

•  We have arrangements with certain indirect customers whereby 

the customer is able to buy products from wholesalers at 
reduced prices. A chargeback represents the difference 
between the invoice price to the wholesaler and the indirect 
customer’s contractual discounted price. Accruals for estimating 
chargebacks are calculated based on the terms of each 
agreement, historical experience and product growth rates

70  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
•  Customer rebates are offered to key managed care and group 
purchasing organisations (GPO) and other direct and indirect 
customers. These arrangements require the customer to achieve 
certain performance targets relating to the value of product 
purchased, formulary status or pre-determined market shares 
relative to competitors. The accrual for customer rebates is 
estimated based on the specific terms in each agreement, 
historical experience and product growth rates

•  The US Medicaid programme is a state-administered 

programme providing assistance to certain poor and vulnerable 
patients. In 1990, the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program 
was established to reduce state and federal expenditure 
on prescription drugs. In 2010, the Patient Protection and 
Affordable Care Act became law. We participate by providing 
rebates to states. Accruals for Medicaid rebates are calculated 
based on the specific terms of the relevant regulations or the 
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

•  Cash discounts are offered to customers to encourage prompt 
payment. These are accrued for at the time of invoicing and 
adjusted subsequently to reflect actual experience

•  We record an accrual for estimated sales returns by applying 

historical experience of customer returns to the amounts invoiced, 
together with market related information such as stock levels at 
wholesalers, anticipated price increases and competitor activity.

A reconciliation of gross turnover to net turnover for the US 
Pharmaceuticals business, including Puerto Rico, is as follows:

2015
Margin 
%
100

£m
8,212

2014 
(restated) 
Margin 
%
100

£m 
7,789

2013 
(restated) 
Margin 
%
100

£m 
8,684

(1,737)

(21)

(1,260)

(16)

(1,063)

(12)

(1,874)
(154)

(23)
(2)

(1,381)
(147)

(18)
(2)

(1,194)
(168)

(14)
(2)

(79)

(1)

(59)

(1)

(64)

(1)

113
(248)
(3,979)
4,233

1
(2)
(48)
52

156
(161)
(2,852)
4,937

2
(2)
(37)
63

79
(99)
(2,509)
6,175

1
(1)
(29)
71

Gross turnover

Market driven
  segments
Government  
  mandated and state 
  programs
Cash discounts
Customer
  returns
Prior year
  adjustments
Other items
Total deductions 
Net turnover

Market driven segments consist primarily of Managed Care and 
Medicare plans with which GSK negotiates contract pricing that  
is honoured via rebates and chargebacks. Mandated segments 
consist primarily of Medicaid and Federal government programs 
which receive government mandated pricing via rebates and 
chargebacks.

The balance sheet accruals for rebates, discounts, allowances  
and returns for the US Pharmaceuticals and Vaccines business are 
managed on a combined basis. At 31 December 2015, the total 
accrual amounted to £1,464 million (2014 – £1,308 million). 

A monthly process is operated to monitor inventory levels at 
wholesalers for any abnormal movements. This process uses gross 
sales volumes, prescription volumes based on third party data 
sources and information received from key wholesalers. The aim  
of this is to maintain inventories at a consistent level from year to 
year based on the pattern of consumption.

On this basis, US Pharmaceuticals and Vaccines inventory levels 
at wholesalers and in other distribution channels at 31 December 
2015 were estimated to amount to approximately five weeks of 
turnover. This calculation uses third party information, the accuracy 
of which cannot be totally verified, but is believed to be sufficiently 
reliable for this purpose.

Legal and other disputes
In respect of the accounting policy for Legal and other disputes,  
the following briefly describes the process by which we determine 
the level of provision that is necessary.

In accordance with the requirements of IAS 37, ‘Provisions, 
contingent liabilities and contingent assets’, we provide for 
anticipated settlement costs where an outflow of resources is 
considered probable and a reliable estimate may be made of the  
likely outcome of the dispute and legal and other expenses arising 
from claims against the Group. We may become involved in 
significant legal proceedings, in respect of which it is not possible  
to make a reliable estimate of the expected financial effect, if any,  
that could result from ultimate resolution of the proceedings. In 
these cases, appropriate disclosure about such cases would be 
included in the Annual Report, but no provision would be made.

This position could change over time and, therefore, there can be 
no assurance that any losses that result from the outcome of any 
legal proceedings will not exceed by a material amount the amount 
of the provisions reported in the Group’s financial statements.

Like many pharmaceutical companies, we are faced with various 
complex product liability, anti-trust and patent litigation, as well as 
investigations of its operations conducted by various governmental 
regulatory agencies. Throughout the year, the General Counsel  
of the Group, as head of the Group’s legal function, and the  
Senior Vice President and Head of Global Litigation for the Group,  
who is responsible for all litigation and government investigations, 
routinely brief the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial 
Officer and the Board of Directors on the significant litigation 
pending against the Group and governmental investigations  
of the Group. 

These meetings, as appropriate, detail the status of significant 
litigation and government investigations and review matters such 
as the number of claims notified to us, information on potential 
claims not yet notified, assessment of the validity of claims, 
progress made in settling claims, recent settlement levels and 
potential reimbursement by insurers.

The meetings also include an assessment of whether or not  
there is sufficient information available for us to be able to make  
a reliable estimate of the potential outcomes of the disputes. 
Often, external counsel assisting us with various litigation matters 
and investigations will also assist in the briefing of the Board and 
senior management. Following these discussions, for those 
matters where it is possible to make a reliable estimate of the 
amount of a provision, if any, that may be required, the level of 
provision for legal and other disputes is reviewed and adjusted  
as appropriate. These matters are discussed further in Note 45  
to the financial statements, ‘Legal proceedings’.

GSK Annual Report 2015  71

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Group financial review
continued

Treasury policies

We report in Sterling and pay dividends out of Sterling profits.  
The role of Corporate Treasury is to monitor and manage our 
external and internal funding requirements and financial risks  
in support of our strategic objectives. We operate on a global  
basis, primarily through subsidiary companies, and we manage  
our capital to ensure that our subsidiaries are able to operate as 
going concerns and to optimise returns to shareholders through  
an appropriate balance of debt and equity. Treasury activities are 
governed by policies approved annually by the Board of Directors, 
and most recently on 8 July 2015. A Treasury Management Group 
(TMG) meeting, chaired by our Chief Financial Officer, takes place 
on a monthly basis to review treasury activities. Its members receive 
management information relating to these activities.

Treasury operations
The objective of our treasury activity is to minimise the post-tax  
net cost of financial operations and reduce its volatility in order  
to benefit earnings. We use a variety of financial instruments to 
finance our operations and derivative financial instruments to 
manage market risks from these operations. These derivatives, 
principally comprising forward foreign currency contracts, foreign 
currency options and interest rate swaps, are used to swap 
borrowings and liquid assets into currencies required for Group 
purposes and to manage exposure to financial risks from changes 
in foreign exchange rates and interest rates.

We do not hold or issue derivatives for speculative purposes  
and our Treasury policies specifically prohibit such activity. All 
transactions in financial instruments are undertaken to manage  
the risks arising from underlying business activities, not for 
speculation.

Capital management
Our financial strategy, implemented through our Financial 
architecture, supports the Group’s strategic priorities and it is 
regularly reviewed by the Board. We manage the capital structure 
of the Group through an appropriate mix of debt and equity. 

Our long-term credit rating with Standard and Poor’s is A+  
(stable outlook) and with Moody’s Investor Services (‘Moody’s’)  
is A2 (negative outlook). Our short-term credit ratings are A-1  
and P-1 with Standard and Poor’s and Moody’s respectively.

Liquidity risk management
Our policy is to borrow centrally in order to meet anticipated 
funding requirements. Our cash flow forecasts and funding 
requirements are monitored by the TMG on a monthly basis.  
Our strategy is to diversify liquidity sources using a range of  
facilities and to maintain broad access to funding markets.

Each day, we sweep cash from a number of global subsidiaries  
to central Treasury accounts for liquidity management purposes.

Interest rate risk management
Our objective is to minimise the effective net interest cost and  
to balance the mix of debt at fixed and floating interest rates over 
time. The policy on interest rate risk management limits the amount 
of floating interest payments to a prescribed percentage of 
operating profit.

Foreign exchange risk management
Foreign currency transaction exposures arising on internal and 
external trade flows are not typically hedged. Our objective is  
to minimise the exposure of overseas operating subsidiaries to 
transaction risk by matching local currency income with local 
currency costs where possible. Our internal trading transactions 
are matched centrally and we manage inter-company payment 
terms to reduce foreign currency risk. Foreign currency cash flows 
can be hedged selectively under the management of Treasury and 
the TMG. These include hedges of the foreign exchange risk 
arising from acquisitions and disposals of assets. Where possible, 
we manage the cash surpluses or borrowing requirements of 
subsidiary companies centrally using forward contracts to hedge 
future repayments back into the originating currency. 

In order to reduce foreign currency translation exposure, we seek 
to denominate borrowings in the currencies of our principal assets 
and cash flows. These are primarily denominated in US dollars, 
Euros and Sterling. Certain borrowings can be swapped into other 
currencies as required. 

Borrowings denominated in, or swapped into, foreign currencies  
that match investments in overseas Group assets may be treated  
as a hedge against the relevant assets. Forward contracts in major 
currencies are also used to reduce exposure to our investment in 
overseas Group assets. The TMG reviews the ratio of borrowings  
to assets for major currencies monthly.

Counterparty risk management
We set global counterparty limits for each of our banking and 
investment counterparties based on long-term credit ratings from 
Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s. Corporate Treasury’s usage of 
these limits is monitored daily by a Corporate Compliance Officer 
(CCO) who operates independently of Corporate Treasury. Any 
breach of these limits would be reported to the CFO immediately.

The CCO also monitors the credit rating of these counterparties 
and, when changes in ratings occur, notifies Corporate Treasury 
so that changes can be made to investment levels or to authority 
limits as appropriate. In addition, relationship banks and their credit 
ratings are reviewed regularly and a report is presented annually to 
the TMG for approval.

Strategic report

The Strategic report was approved by the Board of Directors on 
16 March 2016 and signed on its behalf by:

Simon Dingemans 
Chief Financial Officer 
16 March 2016

72  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
Governance & 
remuneration

In this section

Our Board  
Our Corporate Executive Team  
Board governance  
Corporate governance framework  
Committee reports  

Audit & Risk  
Nominations  
Corporate Responsibility  

Remuneration report

Chairman’s annual statement  
Annual report on remuneration  

Remuneration policy summary  

74
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127

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GSK Annual Report 2015  73
GSK Annual Report 2015  73

 
 
 
 
 
Our Board

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74  GSK Annual Report 2015

Sir Philip Hampton 62
Non-Executive Chairman

Nationality 
British

Appointment date
1 January 2015. Deputy 
Chairman from 1 April 2015  
and Non-Executive Chairman 
from 7 May 2015

Committee membership
Nominations Committee 
Chairman, Finance

Sir Andrew Witty 51
Chief Executive Officer

Nationality 
British

Appointment date
31 January 2008 and as  
Chief Executive Officer  
on 21 May 2008

Committee membership
Finance

Simon Dingemans 52
Chief Financial Officer

Nationality 
British

Appointment date
4 January 2011 and as Chief 
Financial Officer on 1 April 2011

Committee membership
Finance

Dr Moncef Slaoui 56
Chairman, Global Vaccines

Nationality 
Moroccan, Belgian & American

Appointment date
17 May 2006

Committee membership
Finance

Skills and experience
Prior to joining GSK, Sir Philip chaired major FTSE 100 companies 
including The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc and J Sainsbury plc. 
He has also served as Group Finance Director at Lloyds TSB Group, 
BT Group plc, BG Group plc, British Gas and British Steel plc.  
Sir Philip was previously appointed an Executive Director of Lazards 
and a Non-Executive Director at RMC Group Plc and Belgacom SA. 
Until 2009, he was Chairman of UK Financial Investments Limited, 
which manages the UK Government’s shareholdings in banks.

External appointments
Sir Philip is currently the Senior Independent Director of Anglo 
American Plc, Chairman of its Remuneration Committee and  
member of its Audit Committee. Sir Philip is also Chair of the  
Women on Board’s review; an independent review on increasing 
representation of women in the executive level of FTSE 350 
companies.

Skills and experience
Sir Andrew joined GSK in 1985. He has worked in the UK, South 
Africa, the US and Singapore in various senior roles. In 2003,  
he was appointed President of Europe and joined GSK’s Corporate 
Executive Team. Andrew has served in numerous advisory roles to 
Governments around the world including South Africa, Singapore, 
Guangzhou China and the UK, where he was a member of the  
Prime Minister’s Business Advisory Group from 2010-2015. He  
was awarded a Knighthood for services to the economy and to the  
UK pharmaceutical industry in the 2012 New Year Honours List.

External appointments
Sir Andrew is appointed to the UK Business Ambassador Group, the 
China-Britain Business Council Advisory Council and the School of 
Economics & Management Advisory Board (SEM), Tsinghua University, 
Beijing, China. Sir Andrew is Chancellor of the University of Nottingham. 

Skills and experience
Prior to joining GSK, Simon had over 25 years of experience in 
investment banking at SG Warburg and Goldman Sachs. During this 
time, he advised a broad range of large corporates across a number of 
industry sectors, including pharmaceuticals and consumer healthcare. 
Simon advised GSK for over a decade before his appointment and  
was closely involved in a number of GSK’s key strategic projects.

External appointments
Simon is Chairman of the 100 Group of Finance Directors.

Skills and experience
Moncef joined GSK Vaccines in 1988 where he engineered the 
development of a robust vaccines pipeline. He then led Worldwide 
Business Development for pharmaceutical products before his 
appointment to lead R&D in 2006. He was given overall responsibility  
for GSK’s Oncology Business in 2010; for GSK Vaccines in 2011;  
and for all Global Franchises in 2012. Moncef has advised the US 
President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology and he 
was a member of the Board of the Agency for Science, Technology  
& Research (A*STAR) until January 2011.

He has a PhD in Molecular Biology and Immunology from Université  
Libre de Bruxelles and has published more than 100 scientific papers  
and presentations. Prior to joining GSK, Moncef was Professor of 
Immunology at the University of Mons, Belgium.

External appointments
Moncef is a member of the Biotechnology Industry Organization Board 
in the US and a member of the Advisory Committee to the Director  
of National Institutes of Health. He is also an adviser to the Qatar 
Foundation, and a member of the Qatar Biomedical Research Institute 
Scientific Advisory Committee. Moncef serves as a Non-Executive 
Director for the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI).

 
 
 
 
 
Sir Deryck Maughan 68
Senior Independent  
Non-Executive Director

Nationality 
British

Appointment date
1 June 2004 and as Senior 
Independent Non-Executive 
Director on 1 May 2013

Committee membership
Audit & Risk, Nominations, 
Remuneration and Finance

Professor Sir Roy Anderson 68
Independent Non-Executive 
Director & Scientific Expert

Nationality 
British

Appointment date
1 October 2007

Committee membership
Nominations and Finance

Manvinder Singh (Vindi)
Banga 61
Independent Non-Executive 
Director

Nationality 
Indian

Appointment date
1 September 2015

Committee membership
Audit & Risk, Nominations, 
Remuneration and Finance

Dr Stephanie Burns 61
Independent Non-Executive 
Director

Nationality 
American

Appointment date
12 February 2007

Committee membership
Corporate Responsibility, 
Remuneration and Finance

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Skills and experience
Sir Deryck has a wealth of international corporate and investment 
banking experience, having previously served as Chairman and  
Chief Executive Officer of Citigroup International and of Salomon 
Brothers Inc. He served as Vice Chairman of the New York Stock 
Exchange from 1996 to 2000. Sir Deryck was a former Senior Adviser 
to, and Partner of, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co and previously served 
as a Non-Executive Director of Thomson Reuters. 

External appointments
Sir Deryck is a Non-Executive Director of BlackRock, Inc. and a  
Trustee of the British Museum. 

Skills and experience
Professor Sir Roy is a world-renowned medical scientist with advanced 
knowledge of infectious disease epidemiology, and is currently 
Professor of Infectious Disease in the Faculty of Medicine, Imperial 
College, London. He is a fellow of the Royal Society, the Academy of 
Medical Sciences and the Royal Statistical Society. He is an Honorary 
Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries and a Foreign Associate Member  
of the National Academy of Medicine at the US National Academy of 
Sciences and the French Academy of Sciences. Professor Sir Roy 
brings scientific expertise to the Board’s deliberations.

External appointments
Professor Sir Roy is a member of the International Advisory Board of 
Holdingham Group and Chairman of the Science Advisory Board of the 
Natural History Museum, London. He is also a member of the Vaccine 
International Advisory Board (VACCIAB) of AJ Pharma Holding Sdn. 
Bhd in Malaysia.

Skills and experience
Prior to joining GSK, Vindi spent 33 years at Unilever plc, where his  
last role (amongst several senior positions) was President of the Global 
Foods, Home and Personal Care businesses, and he was a member of 
the Unilever Executive Board. Vindi sat on the Prime Minister of India’s 
Council of Trade & Industry from 2004 to 2014, and was on the Board 
of Governors of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad.

Vindi is also the recipient of the Padma Bhushan, one of India’s highest 
civilian honours.

External appointments
Vindi is a partner at private equity investment firm Clayton Dubilier & 
Rice. He is also Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Mauser Group, 
Senior Independent Director of Marks & Spencer Group plc, and a 
member of its Nominations and Remuneration Committees. He is also  
a Non-Executive Director of Thompson Reuters Corp and a member  
of its HR Committee. Vindi is on the Governing Board of the Indian 
School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad.

Skills and experience
Stephanie is a recognised global business leader, having served as 
Chairman, President and CEO of Dow Corning Corporation until her 
retirement at the end of 2011. She has a strong scientific background,  
with a PhD in organic chemistry with an organosilicon speciality, and  
is an advocate for science education. Stephanie previously sat on the 
US President’s Export Council and was an Officer of the Society of 
Chemical Industry, American Section, as well as the past Honorary 
President of the UK-based parent society. Stephanie was also an 
Officer and Chairman of the American Chemistry Council.

External appointments
Stephanie is a Non-Executive Director of Corning Inc. and of  
Kellogg Company, and was appointed to the Board of HP Inc.  
in November 2015.

GSK Annual Report 2015  75

 
 
 
 
 
Our Board
continued

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76  GSK Annual Report 2015

Stacey Cartwright 52
Independent Non-Executive 
Director

Nationality 
British

Appointment date
1 April 2011

Committee membership
Audit & Risk and Finance

Skills and experience
Stacey is a Chartered Accountant and has significant experience of 
global consumer businesses and of corporate finance. She served as 
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer of Burberry Group plc 
until July 2013. Prior to joining Burberry Group plc in 2004, Stacey held 
the role of Chief Financial Officer at Egg plc between 1999 and 2003, 
and from 1988 to 1999 she worked in various finance-related positions 
at Granada Group plc.

The Board has determined that Stacey has recent and relevant financial 
experience, and agreed that she has the appropriate qualifications and 
background to be an audit committee financial expert.

External appointments
Stacey is Chief Executive Officer of Harvey Nichols Group of Companies.

Lynn Elsenhans 59
Independent Non-Executive 
Director

Nationality 
American

Appointment date
1 July 2012

Skills and experience
Lynn has a wealth of experience of running a global business and 
significant knowledge of the global markets in which GSK operates.  
She served as Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sunoco 
Inc. from 2009 to 2012. Prior to joining Sunoco in 2008 as President and 
Chief Executive Officer, Lynn worked for Royal Dutch Shell which she 
joined in 1980 and where she held a number of senior roles, including 
Executive Vice President, Global Manufacturing from 2005 to 2008. 

Committee membership
Corporate Responsibility 
Committee Chairman,  
Audit & Risk, Nominations 
and Finance

External appointments
Lynn is a Non-Executive Director of Baker Hughes Inc. and  
Flowserve Corporation, a Director of the Texas Medical Center,  
and a Non-Executive Director of The First Tee of Greater Houston.  
She is also a Trustee of the United Way of Greater Houston. 

Dr Jesse Goodman 64
Independent Non-Executive 
Director & Scientific Expert

Nationality 
American

Appointment date
1 January 2016

Committee membership
Finance

Judy Lewent 67
Independent Non-Executive 
Director

Nationality 
American

Appointment date
1 April 2011

Committee membership
Audit & Risk Committee 
Chairman, Nominations, 
Remuneration and Finance

Skills and experience
Dr Goodman previously served in senior leadership positions at the US 
Food and Drug Administration (FDA), including most recently as FDA’s 
Chief Scientist and previously as Deputy Commissioner for Science 
and Public Health and as Director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation 
and Research (CBER). 

Dr Goodman played a leadership role in developing FDA’s Regulatory 
Science and Medical Countermeasures Initiatives and has worked 
collaboratively with industry, academia, government and global public 
health and regulatory partners to prepare for and respond to major 
public health threats, including emerging infectious diseases, disasters 
and terrorism. He led FDA’s response to West Nile Virus and to the 
2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic and served on the Senior Leadership 
Team for the 2010 White House Medical Countermeasure Review.  
Dr Goodman brings scientific and public health expertise to the  
Board’s deliberations.

External appointments
Dr Goodman, currently Professor of Medicine at Georgetown University, 
directs the Georgetown University Center on Medical Product Access, 
Safety and Stewardship (COMPASS) and is an active clinician who serves 
as Attending Physician in Infectious Diseases. He also serves as President 
and Member of the Board of the United States Pharmacopeia (USP).

Skills and experience
Judy has extensive knowledge of the global pharmaceutical industry and 
of corporate finance, having joined Merck & Co. in 1980 and then served 
as Chief Financial Officer from 1990 to 2007 when she retired. Judy  
was previously a Non-Executive Director of Purdue Pharma Inc, Napp 
Pharmaceutical Holdings Limited and certain Mundipharma International 
Limited companies until 31 December 2014. Judy previously served as  
a Non-Executive Director of Dell Inc. and Quaker Oats Company. 

The Board has determined that Judy has recent and relevant financial 
experience, and agreed that she has the appropriate qualifications and 
background to be an audit committee financial expert.

External appointments
Judy is a Non-Executive Director of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. and 
Motorola Solutions Inc. She is also a Trustee of the Rockefeller Family Trust 
and Chairperson of the Audit Committee of Rockefeller Financial Services, 
a life member of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Corporation 
and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. 

 
 
 
 
 
Dr Daniel Podolsky 62
Independent Non-Executive 
Director & Scientific Expert

Nationality 
American

Appointment date
1 July 2006

Committee membership
Audit & Risk, Corporate 
Responsibility and Finance

Urs Rohner 56
Independent Non-Executive 
Director

Nationality 
Swiss

Appointment date
1 January 2015

Committee membership
Remuneration Committee 
Chairman and Finance

Skills and experience
Daniel is a world-renowned researcher who has advanced knowledge  
of underlying mechanisms of disease and new therapies for 
gastrointestinal disorders. He was formerly Mallinckrodt Professor  
of Medicine and Chief of Gastroenterology at Massachusetts General 
Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and previously served as the 
Chief Academic Officer of Partners Healthcare System. Daniel’s 
current responsibilities in leading a large academic medical centre  
give him relevant insight into healthcare delivery. Daniel brings scientific 
expertise to the Board and the Audit & Risk Committee’s deliberations.

External appointments
Daniel is President of the University of Texas Southwestern  
Medical Center and holds the Philip O’Bryan Montgomery, Jr., M.D. 
Distinguished Presidential Chair in Academic Administration, and the 
Doris and Bryan Wildenthal Distinguished Chair in Medical Science. 
He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine at the US 
National Academy of Sciences, member of the Board of the 
Southwestern Medical Foundation and a Director of Antibe 
Therapeutics, Inc. 

He is also a member of the National Academies of Sciences Board  
on Army Science and Technology.

Skills and experience
Urs has a broad range of business and legal experience having served 
as Chairman on a number of Boards, most recently for Credit Suisse,  
a world leading financial services company. Prior to joining Credit 
Suisse in 2004, Urs served as Chairman of the Executive Board and 
CEO of ProSieben and ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG. This followed a 
number of years in private practice at major law firms in Switzerland  
and the US, having been admitted to the bars of the canton of Zurich in 
1986 and the state of New York in 1990. 

External appointments
Urs is currently appointed Chairman of the Board of Credit Suisse 
Group AG and of the Chairman’s and Governance Committee.  
He is also appointed Chairman and member of the Board of Trustees  
of Credit Suisse Research Institute and Credit Suisse Foundation.  
Urs was appointed Vice-Chairman of the Governing Board of the  
Swiss Bankers Association in 2015.

Hans Wijers 65
Independent Non-Executive 
Director

Nationality 
Dutch

Appointment date
1 April 2013

Committee membership
Corporate Responsibility, 
Remuneration and Finance

Skills and experience
Hans has a broad range of business, economic and political 
experience, having served as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman  
at Akzo Nobel NV from 2002 to 2012. Hans had a long and 
distinguished career in academia, public service and strategy 
consulting. He served as Senior Partner of the Boston Consulting 
Group from 1998 to 2002.

External appointments
Hans is Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Heineken NV and also 
Deputy Chairman and Non-Executive Director of Royal Dutch Shell.  
He is Chairman of the Supervisory Board of AFC Ajax and member  
of the Supervisory Board of HAL Holding N.V.

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GSK Annual Report 2015  77

 
 
 
 
 
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Our Corporate Executive Team

Our CEO, with the assistance of the Corporate Executive Team, is responsible for  
the management of the business, developing the Group’s strategic direction for 
consideration and approval by the Board and implementing the agreed strategy.

Sir Andrew Witty
Chief Executive Officer*

Simon Dingemans
Chief Financial Officer*

Dr Moncef Slaoui
Chairman, Global Vaccines*

*For biographical details, see page 74.

Roger Connor
President, Global Manufacturing & Supply

Roger joined CET in 2012 and was appointed 
as President, Global Manufacturing & Supply 
(GMS) in 2013, after working for a year as 
President Designate, GMS. 

Roger joined GSK in 1998 from AstraZeneca 
and has worked in finance and manufacturing 
strategy roles, including at GSK sites in Cork 
in Ireland and Ware in the UK. Prior to his 
position in GMS, Roger was Vice President, 
Office of the CEO and Corporate Strategy, 
from February 2010. 

He holds a degree in Mechanical and 
Manufacturing Engineering from Queen’s 
University Belfast and a Masters in 
Manufacturing Leadership from Cambridge 
University. He is also a Chartered Accountant.

Nick Hirons
Senior Vice President, Global Ethics and 
Compliance

Nick was appointed to CET in September 
2014 as Senior Vice President, Global Ethics 
and Compliance and is responsible for 
compliance, risk management and corporate 
security and investigations. 

Nick joined GSK in 1994 as an International 
Auditor in the UK. He was later Head of Audit 
& Assurance, where he combined five 
separate audit functions into an independent 
team operating with a common risk-based 
methodology. In June 2013, Nick took up a 
role in China, where he established a new 
governance model for our China business that 
created a consistent approach to compliance. 

Nick is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of 
Management Accountants.

Abbas Hussain
President, Global Pharmaceuticals

Abbas joined CET in 2008 and was appointed 
President, Global Pharmaceuticals in October 
2014, having joined the company as President, 
Emerging Markets & Asia Pacific in June 2008. 
He joined the ViiV Healthcare Ltd. Board in 
October 2009.

Previously, he spent 20 years at Eli Lilly where 
he held positions including President, Europe 
and before that Vice President, Europe. He 
also held positions with Eli Lilly in Australia, 
the US, India, Turkey and Germany in several 
roles including business development, sales 
and marketing, and management. 

He has a degree in Medicinal Chemistry & 
Pharmacology from Loughborough University 
and was born in Madras, India.

78  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
S

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David Redfern
Chief Strategy Officer

David joined CET as Chief Strategy Officer  
in May 2008 and is responsible for corporate 
development and strategic planning. In 
addition, he was appointed Chairman of the 
Board of ViiV Healthcare Ltd. in April 2011 
and a Non-Executive Director of the Aspen 
Pharmacare Ltd. Board in February 2015. 

Previously, he was Senior Vice President, 
Northern Europe with responsibility for GSK’s 
pharmaceutical businesses in that region and, 
prior to that, was Senior Vice President for 
Central and Eastern Europe. David joined 
GSK in 1994 and was Finance Director of  
the European business from 1999 to 2002. 

David has a Bachelor of Science degree from 
Bristol University in the UK and is a Chartered 
Accountant.

Claire Thomas
Senior Vice President, Human Resources

Claire was appointed to CET as Senior Vice 
President, Human Resources in May 2008. 

Claire joined the company in 1996 as Senior 
Manager, Human Resources, Sales and 
Marketing Group, UK Pharmaceuticals before 
becoming Director of Human Resources for 
UK Pharmaceuticals in 1997. She was 
appointed Senior Vice President, Human 
Resources, Pharmaceuticals Europe in 2001, 
and Senior Vice President Human Resources 
International in 2006. 

Prior to joining the company she worked  
for Ford Motor Company, holding various 
positions in Human Resources. 

Claire has a Bachelor of Science degree  
in Economics, Management and Industrial 
Relations from the University of Wales. 

Phil Thomson
Senior Vice President, Communications and  
Government Affairs 

Phil joined CET in 2011 and was appointed 
Senior Vice President, Communications  
and Government Affairs in 2014. He has 
responsibility for Media Relations, Investor 
Relations, Corporate Responsibility, Internal 
Communications, Product Communications, 
Government Affairs and GSK’s Global Brand. 

He joined Glaxo Wellcome as a trainee in 1996, 
moving from pharmaceutical brand marketing to 
product communications. In 1999, he became 
Director of Media Relations for Glaxo Wellcome 
plc and was then Director, Investor Relations 
from 2001 to 2004, when he returned to 
Corporate Media Relations as Vice President. 
Phil has worked on numerous corporate, 
product and reputational matters at GSK.

Phil earned his degree in English and History 
from Durham University. 

Dan Troy
Senior Vice President & General Counsel

Patrick Vallance
President, Pharmaceuticals R&D

Emma Walmsley
CEO, GSK Consumer Healthcare

Dan joined GSK and the CET as Senior  
Vice President & General Counsel in 
September 2008. 

He was previously a Partner at the 
Washington law firm Sidley Austin LLP,  
where he represented mainly pharmaceutical 
companies and trade associations on matters 
related to the US Food and Drug 
Administration (FDA) and government 
regulations. Dan was formerly Chief Counsel 
for the FDA, where he served as a primary 
liaison to the White House and the US 
Department of Health and Human Services. 

Dan is a graduate from Cornell University’s 
School of Industrial and Labor Relations,  
and earned his law degree from Columbia 
University School of Law. Dan was named  
a ‘Legend in the Law’ at the Burton Awards.

Patrick joined CET in 2010 and was 
appointed President, Pharmaceuticals R&D, 
in January 2012. Prior to this he was Senior 
Vice President, Medicines Discovery and 
Development. 

Patrick joined the company in 2006 as Head 
of Drug Discovery. Prior to joining GSK 
Patrick was a clinical academic and led the 
Division of Medicine at University College 
London. He has over 20 years’ experience  
of research clinical medicine, general internal 
medicine, cardiovascular medicine and clinical 
pharmacology. He was elected to the 
Academy of Medical Sciences in 1999.

Patrick has been on the Board of the UK 
Office for Strategic Co-ordination of Health 
Research (OSCHR) since 2009.

Emma is CEO of GSK Consumer Healthcare, 
which includes the joint venture with Novartis 
and the listed Consumer Healthcare 
businesses in India and Nigeria. The business 
is split almost equally between OTC 
medicines and fast moving consumer goods 
brands, across four categories of Wellness, 
Oral health, Nutrition and Skin health. 

Prior to this Emma was President of GSK 
Consumer Healthcare and has been a 
member of CET since 2011. She joined  
GSK in 2010.  

Prior to this, Emma worked with L’Oreal for  
17 years. She has a degree in Classics and 
Modern Languages from Oxford University.

Emma became a non-executive director of 
Diageo plc with effect from 1 January 2016.

GSK Annual Report 2015  79

 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate governance

Board governance 

Our strategy and progress towards its delivery are set out in the Strategic Report. The following pages provide information about the Board 
and its oversight of the Group’s activities during 2015.

The Board
The Board is pleased to report that in 2015 it was in full compliance with the requirements of the Financial Reporting Council’s (FRC)
UK Corporate Governance Code (Code), with the exception of Code provision C.3.7. which requires audit contract tenders to be 
undertaken at least every 10 years. Page 92 sets out the details of this year’s audit contract tender process. A copy of the Code is 
available on the FRC’s website, www.frc.org.uk

The Board is responsible for the long-term success of the company and is accountable to our shareholders for ensuring that the Group is 
appropriately managed and governed. We believe that our governance structure provides the right base to help us deliver our strategy to 
Grow a diversified business, Deliver more products of value and Simplify our operating model, and in doing so create additional long-term 
value for our shareholders. 

2015 Board programme
The Board met face to face six times in 2015 and each Board member attended all scheduled Board meetings.

The Board agendas were shaped to create more time for strategic discussion and debate by closely managing time allocated to routine items  
to ensure focused consideration of our strategic priorities. During 2015, the agendas for Board meetings included the following business: 

Month

Strategy

Board and risk oversight*

Governance

January

•   Review of CEO objectives 2014  

•   Review of 2014 financial results  

and 2015

•  Review of 2014 investor activity  

and 2015 activity

•  Approval of 2015 Budget and 

2015-2017 Plan

and outlook for 2015

•   Re-appointment of auditors 
•  Novartis transaction update

•   Secretary’s Report (including  

regulatory and governance updates)

March

•   Review of reshaped Consumer 

•   Review financial results for the  

•   Secretary’s Report (including  

Healthcare and Global Pharmaceuticals 
businesses

year to date

•   Ebola Vaccines update

•   ‘Deep Dive’ – US Pharmaceuticals 

pricing and formulary access 

regulatory and governance updates)
•   Mandatory annual Corporate Integrity 

Agreement (CIA) training

May

•   Review revised 2015-20 Plan and  
long range forecasting following 
completion of Novartis transaction

•   Review of financial results for the  

•   Secretary’s Report (including  

year to date

regulatory and governance updates)

•   Global Manufacturing & Supply  

•   Preparation for AGM

annual update

• Novartis transaction update
•  Review Annual CIA agreement 

compliance resolutions

July

•   Annual Review of Talent and Leadership  

•  Review of financial results for the  

Development strategy 

year to date

•   Review of funding strategy and  

•   Vaccines annual update (including 

•   Secretary’s Report (including  

regulatory and governance updates)

treasury policy

•   Review of Pensions and Insurance 

strategies

•   Proposed agenda for annual  

Board & CET Strategy meeting 

• Review of Going Concern assumptions

integration and pipeline)

October

•   Annual Board & CET strategy meeting
•   Review of output from the annual  
Board & CET strategy meeting

•  Review of financial results for the  

•    Secretary’s Report (including regulatory 

year to date

• R&D annual update
• Quality update
•  New Healthcare professional (HCP) 

model update

and governance updates)

December

•   Review of 2016 Budget and  

•  Review of financial results for the  

•   Secretary’s Report (including regulatory 

2016-2018 Plan

year to date

• Supply Chain update
• Nucala launch plans
• Pricing update

and governance updates)

*   During the year, all Board members were invited to attend the Audit & Risk Committee meetings where risk matters were routinely discussed. 

80  GSK Annual Report 2015

Strategic reportGovernance & remunerationFinancial statementsInvestor informationBoard governance continued

2015 Board performance action points
Progress against the conclusions of the 2014 Board evaluation review, independently facilitated by Dr Tracy Long of Boardroom  
Review Limited, is set out below: 

Key findings/Action points

Progress/Achievement

The composition of the Board is due to change over the next two to three years which 
will require a carefully planned and thoughtfully executed refreshment programme.

The Chairman Designate, together with the Nominations Committee, will seek to enhance the 
governance processes relating to Board composition, tenure and size.

They will review and seek to develop objective specifications and plans for all the Board’s roles  
in alignment with our strategy, the external landscape, and the company’s evolving circumstances.

A Board composition assessment exercise 
has been undertaken to enable the 
Nominations Committee to plan for the Board 
changes due to occur in the next few years 
and to ensure that the Board has the 
necessary skills.

The Directors have identified gaps in the Board’s current composition relating to US 
pricing and healthcare, emerging markets and consumer healthcare knowledge.

Closing these knowledge and experience gaps will be considered as part of the process of 
recruitment of new Non-Executive Directors combined with the refreshment of designated 
specialist roles on the Board, such as scientific and medical expertise (SME) and the Senior 
Independent Director (SID).

Given the speed and complexity of the external landscape changes, and potential for 
surprises, highly experienced Non-Executive Directors are a crucial component of the 
Board’s composition.

The critical skill sets of potential candidates, such as international markets and cultural 
experience, crisis and stakeholder management, will be considered and the composition 
choices of peer group Boards will be benchmarked.

The Board was pleased that Vindi Banga and  
Dr Jesse Goodman, as SID designate and 
SME respectively, agreed to join the Board. 
Their appointments have helped to fill the 
identified skills gaps. The Nominations 
Committee continues to refresh the Board  
to meet the Company’s future needs.

Such characteristics have been factored  
into the individual search profiles and selection 
process to recruit new Non-Executive 
Directors.

The replacement of the current SID who is due to retire at the 2016 AGM is a priority issue.

The Chairman Designate is leading the search involving internal and external candidates for  
this role.

A SID specification is being developed that balances the replacement of existing knowledge 
with the ability to work well with the Chairman Designate, conduct robust Board evaluations, 
interact well with shareholders and be able to commit the necessary time to the role.

Vindi Banga, whose background and 
experience fulfilled the requirements of our  
SID specification was appointed as SID 
designate in September 2015 and will 
succeed Sir Deryck Maughan, our current SID, 
at the conclusion of our 2016 AGM.

Consideration should be given to reducing the size of the Board, if it is judged to have a 
strong enough composition and dynamic.

This aspiration will be considered against a refreshed Board competence/skills matrix that is 
being used as part of the Board refreshment programme, and is linked to the company’s strategy.

The Board has, on the recommendation of  
the Nominations Committee, agreed and is 
working towards an ideal Board size of around 
12 directors.

Consideration should be given to enhancing the Non-Executive Director evaluation process.

The Chairman Designate will lead this process and consider best practice techniques, such as 
a combination of annual individual and peer evaluations.

The Chairman concluded this review and 
agreed to introduce peer evaluation to further 
inform his annual review meetings with each 
Board director.

Board performance action points for 2016
The agreed action points arising from the 2015 Board evaluation review, internally facilitated by our Company Secretary, Victoria Whyte, 
against which progress will be disclosed in GSK’s 2016 Annual Report, are set out below: 

Executive succession 
and NED refreshment

Deep dives and  
sites visits

Further increase the focus 
on executive succession 
plans and ensure the 
effectiveness of the 
disaster recovery plan. 

Consider alternative 
suggestions for Non-
Executive Director 
refreshment. 

Consider further deep 
dives particularly on:  
R&D strategy and pipeline, 
product launches,  
US pricing, joint ventures,  
new business models  
and GMS.

Consider holding one site 
visit to an operational site 
each year.

Shareholders

Review and look to  
further enhance how the  
company communicates 
with shareholders.

Strategy

Assist newer Directors  
with additional background 
briefing materials ahead of 
debates on strategy. 

Arrange more regular 
discussion of medium and 
longer term strategy with 
fresh insights from different 
perspectives. 

Implement suggestions  
to further enhance the 
effectiveness of the annual 
Board & CET strategy 
meetings. 

Board materials  
and logistics

Continue the drive to make 
Board/Committee materials 
more concise and also 
effective in highlighting 
issues and concerns. 

Aim to have less 
presentation time and  
more time for discussion 
and debate at meetings. 

Allow for social time for 
Board members to get to 
know each other better 
given the number of new 
Board members.

GSK Annual Report 2015  81

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Corporate governance
continued

Corporate governance framework

The Board has a coherent corporate governance framework with clearly defined responsibilities and accountabilities designed to 
safeguard and enhance long-term shareholder value and provide a robust platform to realise the Group’s strategy to Grow, Deliver  
and Simplify. Our internal control and risk management arrangements, which are described on pages 16 to 17, and 85 to 86, are  
an integral part of GSK’s governance framework.

Board Committees
For the Board to operate effectively and to give full consideration to key matters, Board Committees have been established by  
the Board. A summary of the role of each Board Committee is set out in the table below. The full terms of reference of each Committee  
are available on www.gsk.com and reports on the membership of, and work undertaken by, the Audit & Risk, Nominations, Corporate 
Responsibility and Remuneration Committees during 2015 are given on pages 88 to 126.

Board

Chief Executive 
Officer

Corporate  
Executive 
Team

Corporate 
Administration 
& Transactions 
Committee 

Reviews and 
approves:
Matters in 
connection with  
the administration  
of the Group’s 
business and  
certain corporate 
transactions

Corporate 
Responsibility 
Committee

Reviews:
External issues that 
have the potential for 
serious impact upon 
GSK’s business

Reputation 
management

Annual governance 
oversight of GSK’s 
responsible business 
commitments

Finance 
Committee

Reviews and 
approves:
Annual Report  
and Form 20-F, 
convening of the 
AGM and the 
quarterly results 
announcements

Certain major 
licensing and capital 
transactions and 
changes to the 
Group’s investment 
instrument and 
counterparty limits

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Audit & Risk 
Committee

Remuneration 
Committee

Nominations 
Committee

Reviews and 
recommends to  
the Board:
The structure, size 
and composition of 
the Board and the 
appointment of 
Directors, Committee 
members and CET 
members

Succession to the 
Board and the CET

Reviews and 
recommends to  
the Board:
The overall executive 
remuneration policy 
with reference to the 
remuneration of all 
employees

The appropriate fees 
for the Chairman 

Determines:
Terms of service  
and remuneration of 
Executive Directors 
and other members  
of the CET

Reviews and 
approves:
The Remuneration 
report

Reviews and 
responsible for:
Financial and internal 
reporting processes, 
integrity of the 
financial statements, 
including the  
Annual Report, and  
quarterly results 
announcements, 
system of internal 
controls, 
identification and 
management  
of risks and external 
and internal audit 
processes

Initiating audit 
tenders, the 
selection and 
appointment of 
external auditors, 
their remuneration 
and oversight of  
their work

82  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
Leadership and effectiveness

The Chairman

Non-Executive Directors

Senior Independent 
Non-Executive Director

CEO

Company Secretary 

The role of the Chairman is to lead and manage the business of the Board and to provide direction and  
focus, while ensuring that there is a clear structure for the effective operation of the Board and its Committees. 
He sets the agenda for Board discussions to promote effective and constructive debate and to support  
a sound decision-making process.

Sir Philip Hampton, who succeeded Sir Christopher Gent as Chairman on 7 May 2015, works closely with the 
Chief Executive Officer, Sir Andrew Witty, to ensure that the strategies and actions agreed by the Board are 
effectively implemented. He also provides support and advice to Sir Andrew, while respecting his executive 
responsibility for managing the Group. The division of responsibilities between the Chairman and the CEO  
has been agreed by the Board and is set out in the governance section of our website.

Sir Philip satisfied the FRC Code’s independence test on his appointment to the Board, and is responsible  
to shareholders for the performance of the Group and leads discussions with them.

The Non-Executive Directors provide a strong, independent element on the Board. They are well placed to 
constructively challenge and support management and to shape proposals on strategy and succession planning. 
Between them, they bring independent judgement and a breadth of skills and experience gained at the most 
senior levels of international business operations and academia.

Each Non-Executive Director has a letter of appointment which sets out the terms and conditions of his  
or her directorship.

All our Non-Executive Directors are expected to devote such time as is necessary for the proper performance 
of their duties. No precise timings are given as this will vary from year to year depending on the company’s 
activities. They are expected to attend all Board meetings, and any additional meetings as required. 

The Board considers all of its Non-Executive Directors, including those with tenure of more than nine years,  
to demonstrate an appropriate degree of independence in character and judgement and to be free from  
any business or other relationship which could materially interfere with the exercise of their judgement.  
The independence and commitment of those Non-Executive Directors who have served on the Board  
for over six years was subjected to a rigorous review.

Sir Deryck Maughan has been our Senior Independent Non-Executive Director (SID) since 1 May 2013.  
Sir Deryck’s role is to act as a sounding board for the Chairman and a trusted intermediary for the other  
Directors. The SID also works on the process for the selection of a new Chairman, as appropriate, and chairs  
the Nominations Committee when agreeing the recommendation to the Board for the Chairman’s successor. 

Sir Deryck maintains an understanding of the issues and concerns of our major shareholders through meetings 
with them and reports from our Investor Relations team and briefings from the Company Secretary on corporate 
governance issues.

Vindi Banga will succeed Sir Deryck as SID when he retires from the Board after our AGM on 5 May 2016.

Sir Andrew is responsible for the management of the business, developing the Group’s strategic direction  
for consideration and approval by the Board and implementing the agreed strategy. He is assisted by other 
members of the Corporate Executive Team (CET), which meets at least 11 times a year and more often  
if required. Short biographies of the members of the CET are given under ‘Our Corporate Executive Team’  
on pages 78 to 79.

The Company Secretary, Victoria Whyte, is a solicitor and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries 
and Administrators. Victoria was formerly Deputy Secretary and Secretary to the Remuneration Committee. 
She has acted as Secretary to the Board and all the Board’s Committees since her appointment as 
Company Secretary on 1 January 2011.

Victoria Whyte supports the Chairman in designing the induction for new Directors, in the delivery of our 
corporate governance agenda, in particular in the planning of agendas for the annual cycle of Board and 
Committee meetings, and in ensuring that information is made available to Board members on a timely basis. 
She advises the Directors on Board procedures and corporate governance matters, and arranges for the 
Non-Executive Directors to meet with investors to discuss aspects of our corporate governance arrangements 
on request. She also arranges for them to attend internal management meetings and to make visits to our 
business operations to enhance their knowledge and understanding of the business.

During 2015, the Company Secretary responded to various consultations on the evolving global governance 
and corporate reporting agenda on behalf of the Group and engaged with shareholders to ensure they fully 
understood GSK’s governance and remuneration arrangements.

At the request of the Chairman, she undertakes the evaluation of the Board and its Committees  
(in collaboration with the Committee Chairmen) in years when the evaluation is conducted internally.

GSK Annual Report 2015  83

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Corporate governance
continued

Diversity 
Experience

        Scientific 

        Finance 

        Industry 

International experience

Composition

Tenure (Non-Executives)

27%
27%
46%

Global 

US 

Europe 

EMAP 

73%
100%
87%
60%

20%
  Executive 
  Non-Executive  80%
73%
27%

  Female 

  Male 

Up to 3 years 

3-6 years 

7-9 years 

Over 9 years 

42%
25%
8%
25%

The Board
The Board met face to face six times in 2015, with each member 
attending as follows: 

In addition to the scheduled meetings, the Board also met  
on a quorate basis on five occasions to consider corporate 
transactions, including the Novartis transaction. 

Board member since 

Number of  
meetings attended

Sir Philip Hampton 

1 January 2015

Sir Andrew Witty

Simon Dingemans

Dr Moncef Slaoui 

Sir Deryck Maughan 

31 January 2008

4 January 2011

17 May 2006

1 June 2004 

Professor Sir Roy Anderson 

1 October 2007

Vindi Banga

1 September 2015

Dr Stephanie Burns 

12 February 2007

Stacey Cartwright

Lynn Elsenhans

Judy Lewent

Dr Daniel Podolsky

Urs Rohner 

Hans Wijers

Sir Christopher Gent*

Tom de Swaan*

Jing Ulrich*

1 April 2011

1 July 2012

1 April 2011

1 July 2006 

1 January 2015 

1 April 2013

1 June 2004

1 January 2006

1 July 2012

6/6

6/6

6/6

6/6

6/6 

6/6

2/2

6/6

6/6

6/6

6/6

6/6 

6/6 

5/6

3/3

3/3

2/3

Dr Jesse Goodman was appointed as a Non-Executive Director with effect 
from 1 January 2016.

Each Board member that is seeking re-election at GSK’s 2016 AGM 
attended all six scheduled Board meetings.

*  These directors retired from the Board on 7 May 2015.

Board composition and diversity
We seek to build an effective and complementary Board, whose 
capability is appropriate for the scale, complexity and strategic 
positioning of our business. The process for Board appointments 
is led by the Nominations Committee and is described on  
pages 95 to 97.

We are mindful of the need to balance the composition of the Board 
and its Committees and to refresh them progressively over time so 
that we can draw upon the experience of longer serving Directors, 
while tapping into the new external perspectives and insights which 
more recent appointees bring to the Board’s deliberations.

Non-Executive Directors are drawn from a wide range of industries 
and backgrounds, including pharmaceutical and healthcare, 
medical research and academia, and retail, insurance and financial 
services, and have appropriate experience of complex organisations 
with global reach. Some have considerable experience of the 
pharmaceutical industry and the more recent appointees bring  
a new approach to the Group, and to Board discussions.

The Board’s diversity policy is set out on page 97 and for details  
of the gender diversity of GSK’s global workforce, see page 47.

84  GSK Annual Report 2015

Board induction
A number of new Non-Executive Directors have joined the 
Board during the year and have each undertaken Board induction 
programmes that commenced when they were each appointed. 

The programme devised for our new Chairman, was based on  
the principles of the company’s new Non-Executive Directors 
programmes outlined below. It was further customised to take 
account of his leadership role at GSK. A core element of this was 
individual meetings he held on a listening tour of GSK’s major 
shareholders, to understand firsthand their views and perspectives 
on the Group, the company’s strategy, leadership, business model, 
performance and trading environment.

His enhanced programme is set out in full on page 81 of GSK’s 
2014 Annual Report.

The induction programmes for Urs Rohner, Vindi Banga and  
Dr Jesse Goodman have been:

(i)    Individually designed and facilitated: by the Chairman  

and the Company Secretary.

(ii)   Designed with the purpose: to orientate and familiarise 
them with our industry, organisation, governance and our 
strategy to Grow, Deliver & Simplify.

(iii)   Customised: to take account of their respective experience, 

different geographical backgrounds and business 
perspectives, in light of the particular roles they would 
perform and the Committees on which they would serve.

Key elements of the induction programmes including one-to-one 
briefings, “teach-in” sessions and site visits undertaken by  
Urs Rohner, Vindi Banga and Dr Jesse Goodman are set out 
below:

•  Executive Directors to discuss GSK’s strategic, financial and 

R&D priorities.

•  CET members to cover our principal Pharmaceuticals, 

Consumer Healthcare and Vaccines businesses, together  
with the R&D and GMS organisations that underpin our 
operating model.

•  Other senior executives to cover our core operations such  
as Strategic Development, Finance, Tax, Treasury, Audit and 
Assurance, HR, Investor Relations and Global Ethics and 
Compliance.

• Site visits to our GMS, Vaccines, and R&D facilities.

•  Investor meetings which have been particularly customised  

for Vindi Banga in his role of SID.

•  CIA each new Director receives two hours of training on our  

CIA obligations.

 
 
 
 
 
  
 
Board, business awareness and training
To ensure that our Non-Executive Directors develop and maintain  
a greater insight and understanding of the business, they are 
invited to attend internal management meetings, including 
meetings of the CET, the Research & Development Executive 
(RADEX), the Product Executive, the Scientific Review Board, the 
Portfolio Investment Board, the US Commercial Accountability 
Board and the Risk Oversight and Compliance Council (ROCC). 
They also meet employees informally during visits to the Group’s 
operations and at receptions held around Board meetings.

The Chairman also meets with each Director annually on a one-to- 
one basis to discuss his or her ongoing training and development 
requirements. The Board is kept up-to-date on legal, regulatory 
and governance matters through regular papers from the Company 
Secretary and presentations by internal and external advisers.

The Board members undertook specific refresher training on, and 
under the provisions of, the CIA in March 2015. Each new Board 
member is required, as part of his or her induction programme, to 
receive comprehensive training on the CIA. Philip Hampton and 
Urs Rohner, in January 2015, Vindi Banga, in September 2015, 
and Jesse Goodman, in January 2016 have each taken part in such 
a training session as part of their induction programmes.

2015 Internal evaluation of the Board
The Board carries out an evaluation of its performance and  
that of its Committees every year and the evaluation is facilitated 
externally every third year. The progress of the Board against the 
agreed action points of the 2014 evaluation, which was externally 
facilitated by Dr Tracy Long of Boardroom Review Limited, are 
disclosed on page 81.

The 2015 Board and Committees evaluation process was 
conducted internally by the Secretary, at the request of the 
Chairman and the CEO, who:

•  prepared surveys that were completed by Board members  

and held interviews with each Director;

•  discussed the outcomes and recommendations with the 

Chairman; and

•  following discussion with the Board as a whole, identified areas 

for improvement as agreed by the Board.

Amongst the areas reviewed were Board oversight issues, 
shareholders and other stakeholder relationships, Board culture 
and how it balances challenge and support, ethics, strategy  
and priorities. 

The Board is viewed by all members as effective, strong and well 
able and equipped to navigate the challenges ahead. The action 
points arising from the 2015 evaluation are disclosed on page 81. 

Chairman and Non-Executive Director evaluation
The Senior Independent Non-Executive Director (SID) sought 
feedback on the Chairman’s performance and canvassed views 
on the Chairman’s performance from the Non-Executive Directors 
collectively. The results of the Chairman’s effectiveness review 
were then discussed by the Chairman and the SID.

The Chairman met with each Non-Executive Director to discuss 
individual contributions and performance, together with training 
and development needs. He also shares peer feedback that is 
provided as part of the evaluation process. In addition, the 
Chairman met with all the Non-Executive Directors independently 
of the Executive Directors.

Accountability 

Internal control framework
The Board recognises its responsibilities to present a fair, 
balanced and understandable assessment of the Group’s position 
and prospects. The Board has accountability for reviewing and 
approving the effectiveness of internal controls operated by the 
Group, including financial, operational and compliance controls, 
and risk management.

The GSK Internal Control Framework (the Framework) is  
the means by which GSK assures compliance with laws  
and regulations, the reliability of financial reporting and the 
effectiveness of risk management. The Framework assists in the 
ongoing process of the Board’s identification, evaluation, and 
management of the company’s Principal Risks as required by the 
FRC’s Code, and is designed to manage rather than eliminate the 
risk of not achieving business objectives. A fit-for-purpose internal 
control framework, in conjunction with embedding the GSK Values 
and our ‘Speak Up’ reporting lines, ensures that our Principal Risks 
are actively and effectively controlled. For more information see 
‘Our approach to risk’ on pages 16 to 17.

The Framework is designed to ensure the risks associated with 
conducting our business activities are effectively controlled in line 
with GSK’s risk appetite. We believe the Framework provides 
reasonable, but not absolute, assurance against material 
misstatement or loss.

To ensure effective governance and an ethical culture, GSK has 
established the Risk Oversight and Compliance Council (ROCC). 
This team of senior leaders is authorised by the Board to assist  
the Audit & Risk Committee (the Committee) in overseeing risk 
management and internal control activities. It also provides the 
business with a framework for risk management, upward reporting 
of significant risks, GSK Values and policies. Each business unit 
and global support function has a risk board structure which 
reports to the ROCC. These Risk Management and Compliance 
Boards (RMCB) are responsible for local ‘tone from the top’, risk 
management and internal controls.

The ROCC and the RMCBs are assisted by Global Ethics and 
Compliance (GEC), which is responsible for supporting risk 
management and the development and implementation of 
practices that facilitate employees’ compliance with laws and 
policy. GEC also provides assistance to help employees meet  
high ethical standards by operating in accordance with our Values, 
and to comply with applicable laws and regulations and corporate 
responsibility.

GSK’s Audit & Assurance (A&A) provides an objective view  
(i.e. assurance) to senior management and the Board of how risk is 
being managed across the Group in line with an agreed Assurance 
Plan. This assurance helps them meet their oversight and advisory 
responsibilities in fulfilling our strategic and operational ambitions 
and building trust with our patients and other stakeholders. A&A 
has a dual reporting line into the CFO and the Committee.

The Committee receives reports from Business Unit Heads, GEC 
and A&A on areas of significant risk to the Group and on related 
internal controls. These reports provide summaries of changes to 
the control environment within each Principal Risk area. Following 
consideration of these reports, the Committee reports annually to 
the Board on the effectiveness of controls.

GSK Annual Report 2015  85

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Corporate governance
continued

The Board, through the Committee, has conducted a robust 
assessment of the Group’s Principal Risks and the Framework, 
and has considered the effectiveness of the system of internal 
controls in operation across the Group for the year covered by  
this Annual Report and up to the date of its approval by the Board. 
The Board’s review focuses on the company and its subsidiaries 
and does not extend to material associated undertakings, joint 
ventures or other investments, although it considers the risk of the 
company’s participation in these activities. There are established 
procedures and controls in place to identify entities whose results 
must be consolidated with the Group’s results.

We believe the process followed by the Board, through the 
Committee, in reviewing regularly the system of internal controls 
and risk management arrangements is in accordance with the 
Guidance on Risk Management, Internal Control and Related 
Financial and Business Reporting issued by the FRC. These 
ongoing review and monitoring arrangements were expanded 
during the year to include the impact of the Novartis transaction 
that closed on 2 March 2015. For further details see page 88.

This is in accordance with the provisions of the FRC’s Code, 
which provide that the Board is responsible for determining the 
nature and extent of the Principal Risks it is willing to take in 
achieving its strategic objectives. The Board provides oversight  
to help ensure that the Group maintains sound risk management 
and internal control systems. The Framework has been in operation  
for the whole year and continues to operate up to and beyond  
the date of the approval of this Annual Report.

A review of the Group’s risk management approach is further 
discussed in ‘Our approach to risk’ section of the Strategic Report 
on pages 16 to 17. Our management and mitigation of each 
Principal Risk is explained in ‘Principal risks and uncertainties’   
on pages 231 to 240. The Group’s viability is discussed in the 
Group financial review section of the Strategic report on page 52.

Our internal control framework

Governance structure of risk management

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Board of
Directors

Responsible for our system 
of corporate governance, 
strategy, risk management 
and financial performance

Audit & Risk  
Committee

Responsible for reviewing 
and approving the adequacy 
and effectiveness of our risk 
management and internal 
controls

Corporate 
Executive Team

Supports the CEO in 
managing our business  
and activities

Risk Oversight 
and Compliance 
Council

Authorised by the Board 
to assist the Audit & Risk 
Committee in overseeing the 
risk management and internal 
control activities of the Group

Business units

Responsible for identifying, 
assessing and managing risks 
within their businesses

Risk Oversight 
and Compliance 
Council

Ensure that appropriate  
internal controls for effective risk 
management are implemented

Complemented by Country 
Executive Risk Boards to ensure 
a consistent approach to risk 
management across local 
geographies

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E n t e r p r ise Oversight
d e p e n d ent Assurance
n d e n t   B usiness Monitorin

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GSK Val u e s

Key

      Individual Accountability
      Line Management Accountability with Compliance

      Business Management Accountability with Compliance
      Audit & Assurance

86  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Remuneration

Our Remuneration report comprises the Remuneration Committee 
Chairman’s annual statement and the annual report on 
remuneration and is set out on pages 102 to 126. In addition,  
we have produced a summary of the shareholder approved 
Remuneration policy report, which is set out on pages 127 to 128.

Relations with shareholders

We work to engage effectively with shareholders through our regular 
communications, the AGM and other investor relations activities.

It has been a particularly busy year in terms of shareholder 
engagement, in what has been a transformational year for the 
company as a result of the Novartis transaction. In addition to the 
continuous dialogue the CEO and CFO maintain with institutional 
shareholders, in which they held 40 individual meetings and 
hosted 13 group events, there has been a number key shareholder 
engagement events during the year, including:

•  the new Chairman undertaking a listening tour of our institutional 
investors to understand firsthand their views and perspectives 
on the issues and challenges facing the industry and GSK;

•  holding an Investor Day in May 2015, at which the CEO and 
the leaders of our Pharmaceuticals, Vaccines and Consumer 
Healthcare businesses outlined the strategic proposition for the 
reshaped Group and profiled the medium to long-term shape 
and opportunities for GSK;

•  holding an R&D event in November 2015, at which the CEO and 
leaders of our R&D Pharmaceuticals and Vaccines businesses 
profiled 40 potential new medicines and vaccines that offer 
significant opportunity to drive long-term performance and 
deliver new benefits to patients and consumers; and also

•  holding our annual investors meetings in November 2015, 
at which the new Chairman and Remuneration Committee 
Chairman, the Audit & Risk Committee Chairman, our SID  
and Company Secretary discussed corporate governance  
and remuneration matters with our institutional investors.

Committee reports

The reports of the Audit & Risk, Nominations and Corporate 
Responsibility Committees, describing the activities of those 
Committees during the year, are set out on pages 88 to 99.

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GSK Annual Report 2015  87

 
 
 
 
 
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Corporate governance
continued

Audit & Risk Committee Report

Judy Lewent
Audit & Risk Committee 
Chairman

Dear Shareholder
During 2015, the Committee’s agenda has continued to be built 
around the usual review of our financial results and ensuring the 
ongoing effectiveness of the company’s internal control and risk 
management arrangements. This year, however, it has also had  
a particular focus on the impact of the Novartis transaction that  
we closed on 2 March 2015. The transaction resulted in very 
material change in all three of our core businesses and has 
required significant integration and restructuring efforts to embed 
the acquired businesses in Vaccines and Consumer and extract 
the oncology marketed products from Pharmaceuticals. Regular 
reviews were held by the Committee to ensure that our control 
framework and reporting requirements were being maintained 
throughout.

In addition, the Committee has continued to monitor the Group’s 
key ongoing transformation and simplification programmes 
including, in particular, those in our Global Support Functions 
where we are continuing to simplify our operating model through 
programmes such as Finance Transformation as well as 
undertaking major upgrades to the Group’s systems and global 
processes, including core ERP, HR and supply chain platforms. 
The Committee has also regularly reviewed the Group’s cyber 
security and the progress of our Infoprotect programme which  
is designed to address this risk specifically. 

New standards introduced into the FRC’s Code for 2015 have 
required additional focus from the Committee this year to ensure 
our compliance with these requirements. Probably the most 
significant change this year has been the new requirements 
relating to the company’s viability which we report on for the  
first time on page 52.

Finally, the Committee has approved the formal commencement  
of an audit tender in the autumn of 2016 that will result in a new 
audit firm replacing PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) at the 
beginning of 2018. This is a significant and important step for the 
Committee and the Board and more details on the audit tender 
process, its governance and timescales can be found on page 92.

Internal framework for control and risk management
The enhancements made to our internal control framework have 
helped to build a stronger culture of compliance and enable a 
multi-faceted approach to strengthening controls around each  
of our Principal Risks. During 2015, extensive training and 
communications were implemented across our compliance 
functions, and in turn, with key risk groups in each of our business 
units. This progress has been supported by our Global Ethics  
and Compliance (GEC) function. The activities of GEC were 
re-organised and enhanced during 2015 to put in place a network 
of experts sitting in Centres of Excellence that manage the key 
elements of our Principal Risks and internal control framework. 
This new governance model is designed to standardise, prioritise 
and drive integrated compliance controls across each of our 
Principal Risks.

88  GSK Annual Report 2015

The following Centres of Excellence have been established:

•   Global Risk Office has accountability for strengthening risk 

management by standardising methodology around managing 
our Principal Risks, including our combined ABAC and Third 
Party risk programme, as well as identifying emerging risks 
through scanning the external and internal environment, and 
serving as the steward of our internal control framework model 
by proactively communicating and monitoring effective 
implementation. 

•   Strategy, Planning and Operations has accountability for 
ensuring our global system of governance is embedded by 
maintaining and proactively delivering standards, policies, 
training and our values assurance programme throughout GSK. 

•   Investigations & Independent Business Monitoring offers 
three tiers of service, delivered via regional hubs, to provide  
a consistent framework for delivering effective Independent 
Business Monitoring which is also aligned to GSK’s Values. 

Other related initiatives overseen by the Committee included:

•   Improved coordination of our investigatory efforts through the 
establishment of an Enterprise Investigations Committee to 
accelerate the management of ‘Speak-Up’, Anti-Bribery and 
Corruption (ABAC) and Computer Security Incident Response 
issues, assign issues for investigation as appropriate, and enable 
greater collaboration across GEC, Legal, HR and our Computer 
Security Response teams.

•   Monitoring progress in implementing the programme of actions 

underway to enhance the control of our ABAC risk and ultimately 
incorporate ABAC requirements into regular business practices. 
Employee and management accountability was further improved 
in 2015 through the establishment of a network of ABAC owners 
within the business units, broadening of ABAC training and 
communications across the enterprise, the introduction of 
periodic certifications, the reinforcement of the linkage between 
GSK Values and performance, and the implementation of a new 
policy on senior management financial recoupment.

•   Completion of General Manager (GM) Confirmations of the 

operation of our internal control framework for all markets in the 
Pharmaceuticals and Vaccines businesses, excluding the US 
which has a different system of review. This was completed in 
2015. The assessment process has become an annual process 
and now operates a standardised and consistent approach. 
Output from these reviews has been consolidated to provide a 
clearer view of current trends, assist with the identification of 
potential gaps and facilitate the sharing of good practices. In 
2016, Consumer Healthcare will implement a similar process  
for GM Confirmation of the operation of our internal control 
framework for key risks and minimum controls.

Novartis integration
Oversight of the Novartis transaction has been a key priority for the 
Committee, given the importance of the success of the transaction 
to the Group. The Committee has received regular reports and 
presentations on the integration and management of the acquired 
Novartis businesses from an operational, internal control 
accounting and risk management perspective both in the run  
up to the close of the transaction in March 2015 and regularly 
throughout the year as the integration and associated restructuring 
programmes began to be implemented. In addition, on-boarded 
Novartis employees have successfully completed the mandatory 
training on our Code of Conduct, ABAC, and Corporate Integrity 
Agreement obligations.

 
 
 
 
 
Global Support Function simplification programmes
The Committee has continued to review regularly the multi-year 
programmes underway to simplify our support functions and 
standardise our operating model around new and upgraded 
platforms. These programmes are now well established but are  
at a peak of activity currently as the new platforms and processes 
are rolled out across the Group, compounded by the additional 
requirements to integrate the former Novartis businesses into  
the Group’s operating and reporting infrastructure. Significant 
progress has been reported with the completion of new global  
HR and supply chain forecasting systems and multiple cut overs  
of local operating companies onto the new ERP platform delivered 
during the year with targeted control levels maintained throughout. 
The Committee has also paid particular attention to the parallel 
transformation programmes underway in a number of the support 
functions, especially the Finance Transformation initiative, to 
ensure that controls and reporting requirements are not affected. 

InfoProtect
The Committee continues to keep the multi-year programme  
to enhance, secure and strengthen our cyber security defences 
under close scrutiny. As part of this review process a cyber 
security report is submitted by the Chief Information Security 
Officer to each scheduled meeting and we were pleased that  
a number of key risk reduction initiatives were delivered during  
the year. 

UK Corporate Governance Code  
Following the issue of FRC’s updated Code and associated 
Guidance that came into effect for the 2015 financial reporting 
year, the Committee has devoted time to satisfying itself that  
our internal control and risk management arrangements and 
monitoring practices accord with these new enhanced 
requirements. A particular area of investment during the year  
was the development and recommendation to the Board of  
a new viability statement, which examines the company’s longer 
term solvency and viability and is set out on page 52. We agreed 
the analytical and assurance work by management that underpins 
the statement and considered that three years was an appropriate 
timeframe on which to base an assessment of long-term viability 
as it aligns with our regular business planning period. The 
Committee also reviewed the outcome of the stress testing 
performed by management and recommended that the Directors 
confirm that they have a reasonable expectation that the Group  
will be able to continue in operation and meet its liabilities as  
they fall due over the three year period of the assessment. 

The Committee will continue its work to encourage and support 
further enhancements to the Group’s internal controls and audit 
assurance arrangements. In addition, I look forward to reporting 
the conclusion of our external audit tender process and to 
explaining how the plan to manage the transition from PwC  
to our new auditor will operate. 

Judy Lewent
Audit & Risk Committee Chairman 
16 March 2016

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Membership and attendance
The membership of the Committee, together with appointment 
dates and attendance at meetings, is set out below:

Committee  
member since

Attendance at full 
meetings during 2015

Members

Judy Lewent  
(Chairman from 1 January 2013)  

Vindi Banga

Lynn Elsenhans

Stacey Cartwright

1 April 2011                            

1 January 2016

1 January 2014

1 April 2011

Sir Deryck Maughan

21 January 2005

Dr Daniel Podolsky

Tom de Swaan* 

Jing Ulrich*

1 January 2007

1 January 2006

1 May 2013

6/6

0/0

6/6

6/6

6/6

6/6

2/3

2/3

*  Tom de Swaan and Jing Ulrich both retired from the Board on  

7 May 2015.

In addition to the six scheduled meetings, the Committee also met 
on a quorate basis on six occasions to review or approve matters 
associated with the Annual Report and Form 20-F, and preliminary 
and quarterly results announcements.

Details of the members’ financial, accounting or scientific experience 
and expertise are given in their biographies under ‘Our Board’ on 
pages 74 to 77.

The Company Secretary is Secretary to the Committee and attends 
all meetings. The entire Board is invited to attend the Committee 
meetings and other attendees include:

Attendee

General Counsel

Financial Controller

Head of Audit & Assurance

Head of Global Ethics and Compliance

Chief Medical Officer

Chief Product Quality Officer

External auditor

Regular 
attendee

Attends as 
required

(cid:22)

(cid:22)

(cid:22)

(cid:22)

(cid:22)

(cid:22)

(cid:22)

In accordance with the FRC’s Code, the Board has determined that 
Stacey Cartwright and Judy Lewent both have recent and relevant 
financial experience. The Board has also agreed that Stacey 
Cartwright and Judy Lewent have the appropriate qualifications and 
background to be audit committee financial experts as defined by the 
US Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and has determined that each is 
independent within the meaning of the US Securities Exchange Act 
of 1934, as amended. 

In addition, Vindi Banga, Judy Lewent, Sir Deryck Maughan are also 
members of the Remuneration Committee, which allows them to 
provide input on the Committee’s review of the Group’s performance 
and oversight on any risk factors relevant to remuneration matters.

GSK Annual Report 2015  89

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Corporate governance
continued

Principal activities and matters addressed during 2015

Month

Financial reporting

January

•  Integrity of draft 

financial statements 
and appropriateness of 
accounting policies 
•  Draft 2014 Annual 

report and Form 20-F 
and annual summary 
leaflet

Global internal control  
& compliance

External auditors

Risk

•  Review 2014 risk 
management and 
internal control report

• Litigation report
•  Corporate Integrity 
Agreement (CIA) 
update reports 

•  Review annual Audit 
and Assurance Plan 
and report

•  Assessment of external 
auditors, effectiveness 
of external audit 
process

•  Re-appointment of 

auditors proposed for 
approval at AGM
•  External auditor 

•  China investigations 
and ABAC update 
• Emerging risk review
•  Global Support 

Functions – change 
programme impacts 
•  ROCC meeting update 
•  Novartis transaction 

year-end audit findings

update

•  Audit/non-audit 

expenditure during 2014

Governance and other 
matters

•  Compliance with FRC’s 

Code 

•  Corporate Governance 

update

•  Committee evaluation 
•  Private meetings with 
the external auditors, 
Head of Audit and 
Assurance respectively

•  Committee members 

met privately

•  Going concern 
assumptions

•  Preliminary results 

announcement

•  Directors expenses
•  Approval of 2014 

Annual Report and 
20-F and annual 
summary leaflet

February

March

May

•  1st quarter results 

announcement

•  Sarbanes-Oxley  

•  Audit/non-audit 

compliance 
confirmation

•  Approach on 

Sarbanes-Oxley 
compliance for 2015

•  Litigation report
•  CIA update reports
•  Global Ethics and 
Compliance report

•  Global Pharma 

business unit report

•  Litigation report
•  Consumer Healthcare  
& GMS business unit 
reports

expenditure during 2014

•  External auditor 

Sarbanes-Oxley control 
findings

•  External auditor Annual 
Report and Form 20-F 
findings

•  Performance 

expectations for 
external auditors

•  China investigations 
and ABAC update 
•  Emerging risk review
•  Commercial Practices 

Enterprise Risk 
•  Vaccines update
• ROCC meeting update
•  Novartis transaction 

update

•  Audit and Assurance 

rating system

•  Private meeting with the 

external auditors

•  Committee members 

met privately

•  External auditor 1st 

•  China investigations and 

•  Private meeting with the 

quarter results review 
findings

•  External audit plan and 
fee proposal for 2015

ABAC update 

external auditors

•  Novartis transaction 

•  Committee members 

update

•  ERP annual update
•  ROCC meeting update
•  Emerging risk review

met privately

July

•  Going concern 

assumptions and 
Viability Statement 
approach

•  2nd quarter results 

announcement

•  Review of accounting 
issue development 
impacts

• Litigation report
• CIA update reports
•  Assessment of key 
internal control by 
principal risk

•  Vaccines business unit 

report

•  External auditor 2nd 

•  China investigations and 

quarter results review 
findings

ABAC update 

• ROCC meeting update
• Cyber security report
• Emerging risk review
•  Novartis transaction 

update

•  EHS&S & Third Party 

Oversight (TPO) 
Enterprise Risks

•  Treasury, Tax, Pensions 

and Insurance risk

• ABAC update
• ROCC meeting update
• Cyber security report
• Emerging risk review 
•  Novartis transaction 

update

•  Scientific Engagement, 
Patient Safety, Product 
Quality and TPO 
Enterprise Risks 

• ABAC update
• Cyber security report
• ROCC meeting update
•  Novartis transaction 

update

• Emerging risk review
• Information protection
•  Terrorism risk 
assessment

•  Corporate Governance 
update, including FRC 
Code changes

•  Private meeting with the 

external auditors

•  Committee members 

met privately

•  FRC Code and 

guidance changes

•  Private meeting with the 

external auditors

•  Committee members 

met privately

•  Private meetings with 
the external auditors 
and the Corporate 
Compliance Officer 
respectively

•  Corporate Governance 

Disclosures

•  Committee members 

met privately

October

•  3rd quarter results 

announcement

• Litigation report
• CIA update reports
•  Operational Excellence 

update 

•  External auditor 3rd 

quarter results review 
findings

•  Novartis 2015 external 

•  R&D business unit 

audit plan

report

December

•  Viability Statement 

update

•  Management report on 
accounting issues and 
appropriateness of 
accounting policies 

•  Litigation report
•  CIA update reports
•  Global Support 

Functions business unit 
report

•  Internal Control 

Framework assessment

•  External Audit Phase 1 

results and Annual 
Report disclosure 
requirements

•  Pre-approval of external 
auditor budget for non-

  audit services in 2016
•  Update on 2015 external 
auditor fees and budget

•  Audit tender review

90  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Committee’s financial reporting activities 
In respect of financial reporting activities, the Committee reviews 
and recommends to the Board for its approval all financial results 
announcements. In considering the quarterly financial results 
announcements and the financial results contained in the 2015 
Annual Report, the Committee reviewed the significant issues and 
judgements made by management in determining those results. The 
Committee reviewed papers prepared by management setting out 
the key areas of risk, the actions undertaken to quantify the effects 
of the relevant issues and the judgements made by management on 
the appropriate accounting required to address those issues in the 
financial statements. 

Significant issues relating to the financial statements
The significant issues considered in relation to the financial 
statements for the year ended 31 December 2015 are set out in 
the following table, together with a summary of the financial 
outcomes where appropriate. In addition, the Committee and the 
external auditors have discussed the significant issues addressed 
by the Committee during the year and the areas of particular audit 
focus, as described in the Independent Auditor’s Report on pages 
131 to 137. 

Significant issues considered 
by the Committee in relation  
to the financial statements

Going concern basis for the 
preparation of the financial 
statements

Revenue recognition, including 
returns and rebates (RAR) 
accruals

How the issue was addressed by the Committee

The Committee considered the outcome of management’s half-yearly reviews of current and forecast net debt 
positions and the various financing facilities and options available to the Group. Following a review of the risk 
and potential impact of unforeseen events, the Committee confirmed that the application of the going concern 
basis for the preparation of the financial statements continued to be appropriate.

The Committee reviewed management’s approach to the timing of recognition of revenue and accruals for 
customer returns and rebates. The US Pharmaceuticals and Vaccines accrual for returns and rebates was  
£1.5 billion at 31 December 2015 and the Committee reviewed the basis on which the accrual had been 
made and concurred with management’s judgements on the amounts involved. A fuller description of the 
process operated in the US Pharmaceuticals and Vaccines business in determining the level of accrual 
necessary is set out in ‘Critical accounting policies’ on page 70.

Provisions for legal matters, 
including investigations into the 
Group’s commercial practices

The Committee received detailed reports on actual and potential litigation from both internal and external 
legal counsel, together with a number of detailed updates on investigations into the Group’s commercial 
practices. Management outlined the levels of provision and corresponding disclosure considered necessary 
in respect of potential adverse litigation outcomes and also those areas where it was not yet possible to 
determine if a provision was necessary, or its amount. At 31 December 2015, the provision for legal matters 
was £0.4 billion, as set out in Note 29 to the financial statements, ‘Other provisions’.

Provisions for uncertain tax 
positions

The Committee considered current tax disputes and areas of potential risk and concurred with 
management’s judgement on the levels of tax contingencies required. At 31 December 2015, the Group’s 
balance sheet included a tax payable liability of £1.4 billion.

Impairments of intangible 
assets

The Committee reviewed management’s process for reviewing and testing goodwill and other intangible 
assets for potential impairment. The Committee accepted management’s judgements on the intangible 
assets that required writing down and the resulting impairment charge of £217 million in 2015. See Note 19 
to the financial statements, ‘Other intangible assets’ for more details.

Valuation of contingent 
consideration in relation to 
ViiV Healthcare

The Committee considered management’s judgement that following the further improved sales performance of 
Tivicay and Triumeq, it was necessary to increase the liability to pay contingent consideration for the acquisition 
of the former Shionogi-ViiV Healthcare joint venture. At 31 December 2015, the Group’s balance sheet included 
a net contingent consideration liability of £3.4 billion. See Note 38 to the financial statements, ‘Acquisitions and 
disposals’ for more details.

Novartis transaction items 
including Vaccines contingent 
consideration and Consumer 
Healthcare put option

The Committee received regular reports throughout the year on the progress of the Novartis transaction.  
The Committee reviewed the basis of the valuation of the assets and liabilities acquired from Novartis, and  
in particular, the calculations of the liabilities for the Vaccines contingent consideration and the Consumer 
Healthcare put option. The Committee concurred with management’s judgements on the amounts to be 
recognised.

GSK Annual Report 2015  91

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Corporate governance
continued

Audit tendering 
PwC has been the auditor of the company and the Group since the inception of each in 2000. Their performance has been reviewed 
annually and audit partner rotation requirements have been observed. During this time, the Directors have not sought to tender PwC’s 
contract. As a result of the UK’s implementation of the EU’s mandatory firm rotation requirements, the company is required to replace 
PwC with another auditor no later than for the financial year commencing 1 January 2021.

In January 2015, when the Committee, as usual, reviewed PwC’s performance for the previous year and recommended their 
reappointment for a further year, it also considered whether to initiate or defer an external audit contract tendering process. The 
Committee agreed that given the level of change that was being experienced in the business, it was not appropriate to put the audit  
out to tender in 2015. However, having reviewed the relative merits of conducting a tender and the recent changes in regulations in  
this area, the Committee considered that it was in the best interests of shareholders to plan to undertake a tender process in the  
second half of 2016. 

It would target appointing the new auditor with effect from 1 January 2018, which would coincide with the end of the current PwC 
partner’s five year tenure as the Group audit engagement leader. If the company was to reappoint PwC from 1 January 2018, a new PwC 
Partner would need to be appointed and PwC would still be required to rotate after the 2020 audit. Consequently, PwC will not  
be asked to participate in the anticipated tender exercise in the second half of 2016. 

Audit tender governance 
In December 2015, the Committee agreed that, to achieve the move to a new audit firm to take over the audit for the 2018 
financial year, an audit contract tender be conducted in the autumn of 2016. A final recommendation by the Committee of at  
least two audit firms with a preference expressed for the appointment of one of those firms is anticipated to be made in 
December 2016 for final approval by the Board by the end of 2016. The Committee will direct and supervise the tender process 
and has agreed the implementation of a robust audit tender governance structure to deliver a successful audit contract tender 
process with minimal disruption to the Group. The main elements of this governance structure are as follows:

Audit Tender 
Planning Team 
Remit: design, plan, 
implement and run 
audit tender process
Meets: weekly

Operations Steering 
Committee 
Remit: 
coordinate/execute 
audit tender process 
and consider shortlisting 
arrangements
Meets: monthly then 
fortnightly towards 
end of process

Executive Steering 
Committee 
Remit: lead/oversee 
audit tender process 
implementation
Assess candidates; 
liaise with the ARC 
during process and 
final evaluation
Members: ARC 
Chair, CFO, Group 
Financial Controller and 
Company Secretary
Meets: monthly

Audit & Risk 
Committee 
Remit: direct and 
supervise audit 
tender process 
and recommend 
new auditor to 
the Board

Board 

Remit: Appoints new 
auditor with effect 
from 1 January 2018 
and agrees to seek 
shareholder approval 
for the appointment 
at the AGM

92  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ongoing effectiveness and quality of external audit process
The Committee is committed to ensuring on an ongoing basis that GSK receives a high quality and effective audit. In evaluating the 
effectiveness of the audit process prior to making a recommendation on the re-appointment of the external auditor, the Committee 
reviews the effectiveness of their performance against criteria which it agrees, in conjunction with management, at the beginning  
of each year’s audit.

The cycle of activities the Committee typically undertakes each year to satisfy itself of external audit quality and effectiveness, 
together with their timelines, is set out below.

Auditor re-appointment 
process

Auditor expectations 
setting

Formal auditor appointment 
and audit planning

Committee evaluation and 
budget setting

Matters addressed: 
•  agree the performance
  expectations of the auditor 

for the upcoming audit

Matters addressed: 
•  review effectiveness of external
  auditor against expectations 
  set in previous year
•  review auditor’s independence,
  appropriate level of
  qualifications, expertise and
  resources
•  consider whether auditor
  exhibited appropriate level of
  challenge/scepticism in their
  work
•  consider whether to initiate or
  defer an audit contract tender
•  once satisfied, recommend to
  Board auditor re-appointment 
  at next AGM

Matters addressed: 
•  shareholders vote at AGM 
  on resolutions to appoint
  auditor and fix their
  remuneration 
•  review and agree audit plan

for upcoming audit

•  consider auditor’s quality
  control procedures 
•  agree and set statutory 
  audit fee
•  receive management

feedback on prior year’s 

  audit process through 
  survey covering:
  –  robustness of audit

    process

  –  quality of delivery, people

    and service

Matters addressed: 
•  review feedback from
  Committee members

independently as part of

  annual Committee evaluation
  covering:
  –  relationship with auditor 
  –  quality of insights they
    provide Committee on
    their work

  –  whether they have
    sufficient access to
    auditor with management

•  pre-approve budget for
  non-audit services (ideally
  below 50% of statutory 
  audit fee) for following year

January

March

May

December

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The detailed criteria the Committee uses for judging the effectiveness of the external auditor and their overriding responsibility  
to deliver a smooth running, thorough and efficiently executed audit are set out below: 

Specific auditor responsibilities

Wider auditor responsibilities

Performance expectations for GSK’s external auditor

•   Discuss approach and areas of focus in advance with early 

•   Provide up-to-date advice on the new viability statement 

engagement on understanding the implications of GSK’s new 
operating model 

requirement

•   Provide up-to-date knowledge of technical and governance  

•   Ensure Sarbanes-Oxley scope and additional procedures are 

issues, providing accurate and timely advice

discussed and endorsed by management and communicated on  
a timely basis within GSK and PwC

•   Avoid surprises through timely reporting of issues at all levels within 

the Group 

•   Ensure there is clarity of roles and responsibilities between the 

auditor and local management

•   Respond to any issues raised by management on a timely basis

•   Meet agreed deadlines

•   Provide continuity and succession planning of key employees of  

the auditor

•   Provide sufficient time for management to consider draft auditor 

reports and respond to requests and queries

•   Employ consistent communication between local and central  

audit teams. 

•   Serve as an industry resource; communicating best practice  

and industry trends in reporting

•   Adhere to all independence policies (including GSK’s policies,  

the Financial Reporting Council’s ISA 240 and applicable 
Securities and Exchange Commission standards)

•   Deliver a focused and consistent audit approach globally that 

reflects local risks and materiality

•   Liaise with GSK’s Audit & Assurance team to avoid duplication  

of work and Global Ethics and Compliance team to ensure 
common understanding of audit outcomes

•   Provide consistency of advice at all levels of the organisation

•   Ultimately provide a high quality service to the Board,  

be scrupulous in their scrutiny of the Group and act with  
utmost integrity. 

GSK Annual Report 2015  93

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
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Fair, balanced and understandable assessment 
One of the key compliance requirements of a group’s financial 
statements is for the Annual Report to be fair, balanced and 
understandable. The coordination and review of Group-wide 
contributions into the Annual Report follows a well established  
and documented process, which is performed in parallel with  
the formal process undertaken by the external auditor. 

The Committee received a summary of the approach taken by 
management in the preparation of GSK’s 2015 Annual Report  
to ensure that it met the requirements of the FRC’s Code.  
This enabled the Committee, and then the Board, to confirm  
that GSK’s 2015 Annual Report taken as a whole is fair,  
balanced and understandable.

Code of Conduct and reporting lines
We also have a number of well established policies, including a 
Code of Conduct, which is available on the governance section  
of our website, and confidential ‘Speak Up’ reporting lines for  
the reporting and investigation of unlawful conduct. An updated 
version of the Code of Conduct was published in January 2014.

CMA Order 2014 Statement of compliance 
The Committee confirms that during 2015 the company has  
complied with the mandatory audit processes and audit committee 
responsibilities provisions of the Competition and Markets Authority 
Statutory Audit Services Order 2014, as outlined in this report which 
describes the work of the Committee in discharging its 
responsibilities. 

Committee evaluation
The Committee’s annual evaluation was internally facilitated by  
the Company Secretary, and supplemented by a questionnaire 
circulated to Committee members on behalf of the Committee 
Chairman. It was concluded that the Committee continued to 
operate effectively.  In terms of enhancements to the Committee’s 
deliberations the following improvement points were agreed:

•  Continue to improve on paper content and focus, ensuring 

brevity throughout;

•  Further increase the focus on setting, monitoring and adjusting 

risk appetite;

•  Incorporate the new Risk Oversight Compliance Council 
reporting updates on new and emerging issues into the 
Committee’s agenda, to aid anticipation of potential risk  
and audit issues; and

•  Consider the division of meetings into two halves, focusing  

on traditional financial and audit related matters for Committee 
members only, and risk, litigation and serious issues facing the 
Group. The Committee subsequently debated the organisation 
of its meetings and agreed that all Board members wished to 
continue to attend the entire meeting.

Corporate governance
continued

Non-audit services
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 prohibits the engagement  
of the external auditor for the provision of certain services  
such as legal, actuarial, internal audit outsourcing or financial 
information systems design. Where the external auditor is 
permitted to provide non-audit services (such as audit-related,  
tax and other services), the Committee ensures that auditor 
objectivity and independence are safeguarded by a policy 
requiring pre-approval by the Committee for such services.  
There were no contractual or similar obligations restricting  
the Group’s choice of external auditor.

All non-audit services over £50,000 are put out to competitive 
tender with financial service providers other than the external 
auditor, in line with the Group’s procurement process, unless the 
skills and experience of the external auditor make them the most 
suitable supplier of the non-audit service under consideration,  
in which case a request for proposal is submitted by the relevant 
CET member to the CFO for approval. Non-audit services 
spending is monitored by the Committee on a quarterly basis  
and discussed with the Committee Chairman.

The following policy guidelines on engaging the external auditor  
to provide non-audit services are observed:

•  ascertaining that the skills and experience of the external  

auditor make them a suitable supplier of the non-audit services;

•  ensuring adequate safeguards are in place so that the objectivity 

and independence of the Group audit are not threatened or 
compromised; and

•  ensure that the total fee levels do not exceed 50% of the annual 
audit fee, except in special circumstances where there would 
be a clear advantage in the company’s auditor undertaking such 
additional work.

Fees paid to the company’s auditor and its associates are set  
out below. Further details are given in Note 8 to the financial 
statements, ‘Operating profit’.

Where possible, other accounting firms are engaged to undertake 
non-audit services.

Audit/non-audit service three year comparison graph (£m)

30

25

20

15

10

05

0

20.0

20.1

8.6

5.3

6.2

27.5*

20.0

5.3

2013

2014

2015

Audit and assurance services
Other services, including tax, regulatory, compliance 
and treasury-related services
Services related to the Novartis transaction

*   The fee for audit and assurance services in 2015 includes £7.5 million 
arising from the Novartis transaction and the subsequent increase in 
complexity of the Group. Approximately half of this is expected to be 
recurring.

94  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
Nominations Committee Report

Philip Hampton
Nominations Committee 
Chairman

Dear Shareholder
One of the first key priorities when I joined the Board at the start  
of the year was to succeed Sir Christopher Gent as Nominations 
Committee Chairman. Last year was a year of significant transition 
and this meant that I could focus immediately on tailoring the 
refreshment of the Board in line with the: 

•  agreed principles and actions set out in Dr Tracy Long’s 2014 

external evaluation review; and

•  requirements of the reshaped Group to create and maximise the 

long-term value of the Novartis transaction to shareholders.  

The Nominations Committee (the Committee) has had a busy year 
and has made good progress towards its aim of first considering 
Board size and composition and then replacing a number of 
planned retirements for Non-Executive Board members and 
addressing identified skills gaps. The Committee has also focused 
on effective management succession of executive management. 
Progress in respect of these elements is set out below.

Board size and composition
A central element of the current Board refreshment programme 
was the consideration of the most appropriate size and 
composition for the Board given the scale, complexity and 
strategic positioning of the business. In performing this analysis, 
the Committee used an enhanced Board competence and 
experience matrix linked to the company’s strategy and underpins 
the Board refreshment programme. We are making good progress 
in identifying an ideal future size of the Board, which is likely to see 
a reduction in the second half of 2016. As part of this analysis, the 
Committee has also factored the increased target of 33% size in 
female representation by 2020 as outlined by Lord Davies in his 
final ‘Women on Boards’ report published in October 2015.

CEO and management succession
The Committee has continued to scrutinise the robustness of 
succession planning arrangements for the Executive Directors and 
each executive management role, together with the adequacy of 
the pipeline of leadership talent below the CET. After what will 
have been nearly 10 years as CEO, Sir Andrew has indicated to 
the Board his intention to retire from the company in early 2017. 
The Board has agreed that he will retire on 31 March 2017. The 
Committee will now start a formal search for a successor and will 
consider internal and external candidates for the role. To that end, 
Egon Zehnder and Korn Ferry have been engaged.

Senior Independent Director (SID) succession
Sir Deryck Maughan has brought his own style to the role of SID, 
discharging its responsibilities with great diligence including 
leading and concluding the recent Chairman succession search 
process. We were pleased that Sir Deryck agreed to further 
extend his tenure on the Board to step down at the AGM in May 
2016. He brings continuity to the Board’s composition, given his 
significant knowledge of, and experience in, GSK’s business 
affairs. In a period of significant change to the Board’s 
membership, Sir Deryck has helped to facilitate the transition 
between Sir Christopher and myself. 

In addition, as a Committee member, he has helped in the search 
and recruitment of his successor, as SID. The Committee was 
pleased to recommend to the Board the appointment of Vindi 
Banga as SID designate. Vindi joined the Board in September 
2015 and was appointed to the same Committees as Sir Deryck  
in January 2016 (Nominations, Audit & Risk and Remuneration). 
They are working closely together to ensure a smooth transition. 
Vindi will succeed Sir Deryck as SID at the conclusion of the  
AGM on 5 May 2016.

Scientific and Medical Expert (SME) succession 
Dr Daniel Podolsky has served as the Board’s US-based 
designated SME with great distinction during his tenure on the 
Board. He will be stepping down from the Board as planned at the 
2016 AGM after serving nine years. After commencing the search 
for his successor in this highly specialist role at the beginning of 
the year, the Committee was pleased to recommend to the Board 
the appointment of Dr Jesse Goodman as a Non-Executive 
Director and SME. He joined the Board in January 2016 and  
was appointed to the Corporate Responsibility Committee with 
effect from May 2016. 

Further details on the role criteria and recruitment process for  
the SID and SME roles and rationale behind the Committee 
recommending Vindi Banga and Dr Jesse Goodman’s 
appointments is given on page 96.

Committee membership
Lynn Elsenhans was appointed to the Committee in January 2015 
to join me and Judy Lewent as newer appointees to ensure the 
Committee achieved a good balance between longer serving 
Committee members and newer appointees to support shaping 
the Board for the longer term. I was also grateful to Sir Christopher 
for sharing his insights and deep understanding of the evolution  
of the Board, its culture and composition during the period of his 
stewardship. 

The Committee’s key focus in 2016 will be the progression of our 
management succession plans working in collaboration with the 
CEO. In addition, we will continue to refresh the non-executive 
representation on the Board with the aim of reducing the overall 
Board size to around twelve members. 

Philip Hampton
Nominations Committee Chairman 
16 March 2016

GSK Annual Report 2015  95

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Refreshment of specialist roles on the Board
During 2015, as part of an orderly refreshment of the Board, a 
particular area of focus for the Committee was the searches for a 
successor to Sir Deryck Maughan as SID and Dr Daniel Podolsky 
as our US-based SME, both of whom are due to retire and stand 
down from the Board after our 2016 AGM. 

The Committee felt that in determining the key essentials for the 
SID, it was very desirable to have a UK-based director, or failing 
that, someone who travelled and spent the majority of their time in 
the UK. It was also thought important that the individual should 
have a strong understanding of the UK corporate governance 
environment.

Korn Ferry, who only provides recruitment services to the company, 
was engaged to conduct the search for the SID and they provided 
a long and then a short list of potential candidates. After 
interviewing suitable SID candidates, feedback was sought from 
and support was received from certain investors before the 
Committee recommended to the Board Vindi Banga as a potential 
independent Non-Executive Director and SID designate. He was 
appointed to the Board on 1 September 2015. The Board 
considered that he had a strong operational bias, bringing with him 
many years of commercial experience and a track record of 
delivering outstanding performance in a highly competitive global 
consumer-focused industry, which will be invaluable to the 
company. He currently serves as a non-executive director on the 
Boards of two other FTSE 100 companies. Vindi will succeed  
Sir Deryck Maughan as SID when he steps down from the Board 
at the close of the AGM on 5 May 2016. 

When the Committee was drawing up the role specification for the 
new SME role it considered that Dr Podolsky’s successor should 
ideally have a strong business perspective, be US-based, 
understand the US healthcare environment, be a medic who was 
close to the patient either through running operations at scale in a 
hospital or an institution, have an understanding of vaccines, 
preferably, (or if not Respiratory) considering the standing of GSK’s 
Vaccines portfolio since the Novartis transaction was completed. 
Internal soundings were taken from within Vaccines and R&D to 
identify potential external candidates. Egon Zehnder undertook a full 
external market search for suitable candidates.

Egon Zehnder, who only provides recruitment services to the 
company, was engaged to conduct the search for the US-based 
SME role. Dossiers of potential Non-Executive appointees were 
considered by the Committee and candidates were shortlisted for 
interview on merit and against objective criteria, after assessing 
their relevant qualifications and time commitments.

After interviewing suitable SME candidates, the Committee 
recommended to the Board Dr Jesse Goodman as a potential 
Non-Executive Director and SME. He was appointed to the Board 
on 1 January 2016. Dr Jesse Goodman is a leader in public health 
who brings a wealth of expertise spanning science, medicine, 
vaccines, regulation and public health, and has a proven record in 
addressing pressing public health needs from both the academic 
and federal sectors, which will be invaluable to GSK and the Board.

Corporate governance
continued

Membership
The membership of the Committee, together with appointment 
dates and attendance at meetings, is set out below:

Members

Committee  
member since

Attendance at  
full meetings 
during 2015

Sir Philip Hampton 
(Chairman from 27 January 2015)

27 January 2015

Professor Sir Roy Anderson

1 October 2012

Vindi Banga

Lynn Elsenhans

Judy Lewent

Sir Deryck Maughan

Sir Christopher Gent*

Tom de Swaan**

1 January 2016

27 January 2015

8 May 2014

9 July 2009

9 December 2004

1 October 2012

6/6

6/6

0/0

5/5

6/6

5/6

3/3

3/3

 *    Sir Christopher Gent was Committee Chairman from 1 January 2005 

to 27 January 2015 and retired from the Board on 7 May 2015.

**  Tom de Swaan retired from the Board on 7 May 2015.

The Company Secretary is Secretary to the Committee and attends 
all meetings. Other attendees at Committee meetings may include: 

Attendee

Chief Executive Officer
Head of Human Resources
Appropriate external advisers

Regular 
attendee

Attends 
as required

(cid:22)
(cid:22)

(cid:22)

Work of the Committee during 2015
Main responsibilities
The main responsibilities of the Committee are set out on page 82.

CEO and management succession
The Committee and the CEO, with assistance from the Head of 
Human Resources, have been working on managing succession 
arrangements for the Executive Directors and each executive 
management role to secure the best leadership for the company. 
The specification for each role is considered in detail against the 
current and future needs of the changing environment in which the 
company operates. In compiling any succession plan, internal and 
external talent are considered and reviewed against the 
specification which has been drawn together.

In terms of the Executive team, as part of ensuring more focused 
management of the company’s Consumer Healthcare, Vaccines, 
and Pharmaceuticals businesses as a result the transformational 
Novartis transaction: 

•  Emma Walmsley who was previously President, Consumer 

Healthcare was appointed CEO of the Consumer Healthcare Joint 
Venture business and became a member of its Board when the 
Novartis transaction successfully completed on 2 March 2015; 

•  following the announcement by Deirdre Connelly, President 
North America Pharmaceuticals, in February 2015 of her 
intention to retire from GSK, her role was not replaced on the 
CET; and, in addition

•  Bill Louv, Senior Vice President, Core Business Services retired 
as planned from GSK in 2015. His successor reports to the 
CFO, but is not a member of the CET.

96  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Board Committee Chairmen and membership changes
The refreshment of the Board has also led to the following orderly changes to our Board Committee membership.

Director

Committee membership

Appointment date

Retirement date

Sir Philip Hampton

Nominations Committee Chairman

Urs Rohner

Remuneration Committee member 
Remuneration Committee Chairman

Lynn Elsenhans

Corporate Responsibility Committee Chairman

27 January 2015

1 January 2015
8 May 2015

8 May 2015  
(member since 1 October 2012)

1 January 2016

Vindi Banga

Professor Sir Roy  
Anderson

Audit & Risk, Remuneration and  
Nominations Committee member

Corporate Responsibility Committee member

1 May 2016

Dr Jesse Goodman

Corporate Responsibility Committee member

1 May 2016

Sir Christopher Gent

Corporate Responsibility Committee Chairman,  
Remuneration and Nominations Committee member

Tom de Swaan

Remuneration Committee Chairman,  
Audit & Risk and Nominations Committee member

Jing Ulrich

Audit & Risk Committee member

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

7 May 2015

7 May 2015

7 May 2015

Board and committee changes
The ongoing refreshment of the Board has resulted in orderly  
and planned changes in the composition of the Board and its 
Committees during the year on the recommendation of the 
Committee. These changes, including the planned retirements of 
Dr Stephanie Burns, Sir Deryck Maughan, Dr Daniel Podolsky and 
Hans Wijers from the Board at the close of the AGM in May 2016, 
are set out below.

Board appointments and retirements
The refreshment of the Board has led to the following orderly 
changes of Board members.

Director

Appointment date

Retirement date

Sir Philip Hampton

Urs Rohner

Vindi Banga

1 January 2015

1 January 2015

1 September 2015

Dr Jesse Goodman

1 January 2016

Sir Christopher Gent

Tom de Swaan

Jing Ulrich

Dr Stephanie Burns

Sir Deryck Maughan

Dr Daniel Podolsky

Hans Wijers

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

7 May 2015

7 May 2015

7 May 2015

5 May 2016

5 May 2016

5 May 2016

5 May 2016

Board composition and diversity
We are mindful of the need to balance the composition of the Board 
and its Committees and to refresh them progressively over time so 
that we can draw upon the experience of longer serving Directors, 
while tapping into the new external perspectives and insights which 
more recent appointees bring to the Board’s deliberations.

Non-Executive Directors are drawn from a wide range of industries 
and backgrounds, including pharmaceutical and healthcare, 
medical research and academia, and retail, insurance and financial 
services, and have appropriate experience of complex organisations 
with global reach. Some have considerable experience of the 
pharmaceutical industry and the more recent appointees bring a 
new approach to the Group, and to Board discussions.

We are committed to the diversity of our boardroom and we are 
similarly committed to equal opportunities for all our employees at 
all levels of the organisation. The diversity and inclusiveness of our 
workforce are promoted throughout GSK.

A key requirement of an effective board is that it comprises a range 
and balance of skills, experience, knowledge, gender and 
independence, with individuals that are prepared to challenge 
each other and work as a team. This needs to be backed by a 
diversity of personal attributes, including character, intellect, sound 
judgement, honesty and courage.

The Committee is responsible for developing measurable 
objectives to support the implementation of the Board’s diversity 
policy, including gender, and monitoring progress towards the 
achievement of these objectives. In terms of the balance of Board 
gender diversity, we exceeded the target of at least 25% by 2013 
that we had set ourselves in May 2011 and our current female 
Board level representation stands at 27%. We have noted Lord 
Davies’ new target to increase female board representation to at 
least 33% by 2020 as set out in his ‘Women on Boards: Five Year 
Summary’ report published in October 2015.

We also have a good representation of women in management 
positions which is illustrated on page 47 as part of the gender 
diversity of GSK’s global workforce. We will continue to support 
efforts to further increase the pipeline of women into senior 
positions within GSK. We also support the engagement of 
executive search firms such as MWM, Egon Zehnder and Korn 
Ferry, who have signed up to the Voluntary Code of Conduct for 
Executive Search Firms on gender diversity and best practice.

Committee evaluation
The Committee’s annual evaluation was internally facilitated by  
the Company Secretary on behalf of the Committee Chairman, and 
supplemented by a questionnaire circulated to Committee 
members. It was concluded that the Committee continued to 
operate effectively. 

In terms of enhancements to the Committee’s work it was agreed 
that more focus should be directed to forward planning for 
executive succession. Replenishment of the Board in anticipation 
of Directors rotating off the Board would also be a key priority. 

GSK Annual Report 2015  97

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Corporate governance
continued

Corporate Responsibility Committee Report

Lynn Elsenhans 
Corporate Responsibility 
Committee Chairman

Dear Shareholder
I would like to thank my predecessor, Sir Christopher Gent, for  
his strong leadership of the Committee over the last 10 years, 
which under his stewardship has overseen the development and 
refinement of GSK’s CR Principles into our current Responsible 
Business Commitments. In addition, the Committee has acted as 
custodian of the policies and practices that define and safeguard 
the reputation of the company. As the new Chair of the Committee  
I will seek to build on his legacy as the Committee continues to 
challenge and shape the company’s responsible business agenda. 

The Committee members bring a wide range of experience and 
insight from across different sectors to provide oversight of the 
company’s responsible business opportunities and risks. This has 
been invaluable in relation to the Committee’s assessment of the 
corporate responsibility challenges of integrating the Novartis 
assets the company acquired during a year of substantial change. 

I have been particularly pleased that the work of the Committee  
this year has focused on issues that are material to GSK’s mission, 
strategy and values. Much of our discussions have focused on how 
the company seeks to balance the need for a return on investment 
for innovation with the need to price its products appropriately to 
drive access for a broad range of patients. In addition, we have 
considered the ways in which GSK continues to build its 
commitment to operating transparently and with integrity through  
its commercial model transformation. 

I am also pleased that we continue to enjoy positive engagement 
with investors on our Responsible Business Commitments which 
have included, in particular, a focus on our approach to addressing 
Anti-Bribery and Corruption (ABAC) issues from a reputational 
perspective, the changes to how we sell and market our medicines 
to healthcare professionals, access and innovation, and clinical 
trials transparency disclosures.

Lynn Elsenhans 
Corporate Responsibility Committee Chairman 
16 March 2016

Membership
The membership of the Committee, together with appointment 
dates and attendance at meetings, is set out below:

Members

Committee member since

Lynn Elsenhans 
(Chairman from 8 May 2015)

1 October 2012

Dr Stephanie Burns

Dr Daniel Podolsky

Hans Wijers

6 December 2007

1 July 2006

10 October 2013

Sir Christopher Gent*

9 December 2004

Attendance at  
full meetings 
during 2015

3/3

3/3

3/3

3/3

1/1

*  Sir Christopher Gent (who served as Committee Chairman to 7 May 2015) 

retired from the Board on 7 May 2015. 

Professor Sir Roy Anderson and Dr Jesse Goodman have been 
appointed to the Committee with effect from 1 May 2016.

The Company Secretary is Secretary to the Committee and 
attends all meetings. Other attendees at Committee meetings  
may include:

Attendee

Chief Executive Officer

Company Chairman

Chairman, Global Vaccines

General Counsel

Head of Communications & Government Affairs

Head of Pharmaceuticals

Head of Pharmaceuticals R&D

Head of Human Resources

Head of External & Market Communication

Head of Global Corporate Responsibility

Other Executives

Independent external corporate  
responsibility adviser

Regular 
attendee

Attends 
as required

(cid:22)

(cid:22)

(cid:22)

(cid:22)

(cid:22)

(cid:22)

(cid:22)

(cid:22)

(cid:22)

(cid:22)

(cid:22)

(cid:22)

Independent External Corporate Responsibility Adviser
To augment our engagement with stakeholder opinion, in May 2013, 
Sophia Tickell was appointed as an independent external adviser to 
the Committee, a position that she had previously held from March 
2009 to July 2011. Ms Tickell has extensive experience in the 
pharmaceuticals industry in improving health systems productivity, 
sustainability in energy supply and distribution, climate change 
policy and short-termism in financial markets.

She is the co-founder and Director of Meteos, from where she 
directs the Pharma Futures Series, which aims to align better 
societal and shareholder value. She holds a number of other board 
and advisory roles. 

Ms Tickell attended meetings of the Committee and provided 
independent advice and guidance on corporate and social 
responsibility matters to both the Chairman and the CEO. 

98  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
Main responsibilities
The main responsibilities of the Committee are set out on page 82.

•  Our people: enabling our people to thrive and develop  

as individuals to deliver our mission 

The Committee has a rolling agenda and receives reports from 
members of the CET and senior managers to ensure that progress 
in meeting our Responsible Business Commitments within four 
areas of focus is reviewed on an annual basis as follows: 

•  Health for all: innovating to address currently unmet health 

needs; improving access to our products, irrespective of where 
people live or their ability to pay; and controlling or eliminating 
diseases affecting the world’s most vulnerable people.

•  Our behaviour: putting the interests of patients and consumers 
first, driven by our values in everything we do and backed by 
robust policies and strong compliance processes.

•  Our planet: growing our business while reducing our 

environmental impact across the value chain.

In addition, at each meeting the Committee considers possible 
emerging issues that may have a bearing on the Company’s 
reputation of interaction with its stakeholders. The Committee  
also reviews and approves the Responsible Business Supplement 
which is available for reference on www.gsk.com/responsibility.

Work of the Committee during 2015
During 2015, the Committee focused its core remit on the matters set out below, and in doing so, the reports it received highlighted  
the evolving challenges in these areas including, in particular, the impact of the Novartis transaction.

CR Focus area

Health for all 

Committee’s area of focus during 2015

•  Flexible and open R&D approach for diseases of the developing world and other areas of great medical 

need, such as antibiotics and dementia. 

•   GSK’s approach to pricing, in particular how to balance returns for investment in innovation alongside 

the need to support access to medicines.

•   Vaccines strategy to support global public health priorities, including pricing models, Malaria vaccine 

and Ebola response.

Our behaviour 

•   Global incentive compensation program and selling competency model.

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•   Changes to how GSK engages with healthcare professionals. 

•   Further embedding values-based decision making in the organisation, including training and 

compliance.

•   Progress on work to align Third Parties with GSK’s standards and expectations

•  Conduct and public disclosure of clinical research, transparency of detailed data behind trial results 

and patient safety 

•  Replacement, refinement and reduction in use of animals in research and development

Our people 

•   Organisational change and employee relations 

•   Inclusion and diversity

•  Leadership, development and approach to performance management 

• Employee health, safety and wellbeing

• Insights from the staff survey 

• Employee health, safety and wellbeing

Our planet 

•   Environmental performance across carbon, water and waste impacts 

Committee evaluation
The Committee’s annual evaluation was internally facilitated by the Company Secretary, and supplemented by a questionnaire  
circulated to Committee members on behalf of the Committee Chairman. It was concluded that the Committee continued to operate 
effectively. In terms of enhancements to the Committee’s deliberations it was agreed that the Committee would on a regular basis  
look to take a more advanced long-term perspective on how the company may be impacted by the external environment.

GSK Annual Report 2015  99

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The Nominations Committee reviewed the register of potential 
conflict authorisations in January 2016 and reported to the Board 
that the conflicts had been appropriately authorised and that the 
process for authorisation continues to operate effectively. Except 
as described in Note 35 to the financial statements, ‘Related party 
transactions’, during or at the end of the financial year no Director 
or connected person had any material interest in any contract of 
significance with a Group company.

Independent advice
The Company has an agreed procedure for Directors to take 
independent legal and/or financial advice at the company’s 
expense where they deem it necessary.

Indemnification of Directors
Qualifying third party indemnity provisions (as defined in the 
Companies Act 2006) are in force for the benefit of Directors and 
former Directors who held office during 2015 and up to the signing  
of the Annual Report.

Change of control and essential contracts
We do not have contracts or other arrangements which individually 
are fundamental to the ability of the business to operate effectively, 
nor is the company party to any material agreements that would take 
effect, be altered, or terminate upon a change of control following  
a takeover bid. We do not have agreements with any Director that 
would provide compensation for loss of office or employment 
resulting from a takeover, except that provisions of the company’s 
share plans may cause options and awards granted under such  
plans to vest on a takeover. Details of the termination provisions in  
the company’s framework for contracts for Executive Directors are 
given in the full version of the company’s remuneration policy report 
which is available at www.gsk.com in the Investors section.

Corporate governance
continued

Directors
Our Directors’ powers are determined by UK legislation and our 
Articles of Association, which contain rules about the appointment 
and replacement of Directors. They provide that Directors may be 
appointed by an ordinary resolution of the members or by a 
resolution of the Directors, provided that, in the latter instance,  
a Director appointed in this way retires at the first AGM following 
his or her appointment.

Our Articles also provide that Directors should normally be subject  
to re-election at the AGM at intervals of three years or annually if  
they have held office for a continuous period of nine years or more. 
However, the Board agreed in 2011 that all Directors who wish to 
continue as members of the Board should seek re-election 
annually in accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code.

A Director may cease to be a Director if he or she: 
•  becomes bankrupt
•  ceases to be a Director by virtue of the Companies  

Act or the Articles 

•  suffers mental or physical ill health and the Board resolves  

that he or she shall cease to be a Director

•  has missed Directors’ meetings for a continuous period of six 
months without permission and the Board resolves that he or 
she shall cease to be a Director 

•  is prohibited from being a Director by law 
•  resigns, or offers to resign and the Board accepts that offer 
•  is required to resign by the Board

Directors’ conflicts of interest
All Directors have a duty under the Companies Act 2006 to avoid a 
situation in which they have, or could have, a direct or indirect conflict 
of interest or possible conflict with the company. Our Articles provide  
a general power for the Board to authorise such conflicts. 

The Nominations Committee has been authorised by the Board  
to grant and regularly review any potential or actual conflict 
authorisations, which are recorded by the Company Secretary  
and noted by the Board. Directors are not counted in the quorum 
for the authorisation of their own actual or potential conflicts.

On an ongoing basis, the Directors are responsible for informing 
the Company Secretary of any new actual or potential conflicts 
that may arise or if there are any changes in circumstances that 
may affect an authorisation previously given. Even when provided 
with authorisation, a Director is not absolved from his or her 
statutory duty to promote the success of the company. If an actual 
conflict arises post-authorisation, the Board may choose to 
exclude the Director from receipt of the relevant information and 
participation in the debate, or suspend the Director from the 
Board, or, as a last resort, require the Director to resign.

100  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
Directors continued

Directors’ Report
For the purposes of the UK Companies Act 2006, the Directors’ 
Report of GlaxoSmithKline plc for the year ended 31 December 
2015 comprises pages 73 to 101 of the Corporate Governance 
Report, the Directors’ Responsibility Statements on pages 130 
and 211 and pages 231 to 258 of Investor Information. The 
Strategic report sets out those matters required to be disclosed 
in the Directors’ Report which are considered to be of strategic 
importance to the company, as follows:
•  risk management objectives and policies (pages 16, 17  

and 72)

•  likely future developments of the company (throughout the 

Strategic report)

•  research and development activities (pages 18 to 31) 
•  diversity and inclusion (page 47)
•  provision of information to, and consultation with, employees 

(page 46)

•  carbon emissions (page 48)

The following information is also incorporated into the  
Directors’ Report:

Interest capitalised 

Location in Annual Report

Financial statements,  
Notes 17 and 19

Publication of unaudited financial information Group financial review, page 51

Details of any long-term incentive schemes

Remuneration report

Waiver of emoluments by a Director

Not applicable

Waiver of future emoluments by a Director

Not applicable

Non pre-emptive issues of equity for cash

Not applicable

Non pre-emptive issues of equity for cash  
by any unlisted major subsidiary undertaking

Not applicable

Parent company participation in a placing  
by a listed subsidiary

Provision of services by a controlling 
shareholder

Not applicable

Not applicable

Shareholder waiver of dividends

Shareholder waiver of future dividends

Financial statements, 
Notes 15 and 42

Financial statements,  
Notes 15 and 42 

Agreements with controlling shareholders

Not applicable

The Directors’ Report has been drawn up and presented in 
accordance with and in reliance upon English company law and 
the liabilities of the Directors in connection with that report shall  
be subject to the limitations and restrictions provided by such law. 
The Directors’ Report was approved by the Board of Directors on 
16 March 2016 and signed on its behalf by: 

Philip Hampton 
Chairman 
16 March 2016

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GSK Annual Report 2015  101

 
 
 
 
 
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Remuneration report
Chairman’s annual statement

Dear Shareholder

Following the 2015 AGM, I succeeded Tom de Swaan as Chair of 
the Remuneration Committee (the ‘Committee’), and I am pleased 
to present to you our Remuneration Report for 2015. I would also 
like to take this opportunity to thank Tom on behalf of the 
Committee for his leadership during his time as its Chairman.

Remuneration decisions in respect of 2015
2015 marked further substantial progress against our strategy of 
creating a balanced group of three world leading businesses in 
Pharmaceuticals, Vaccines and Consumer Healthcare, with a clear 
aim to deliver growth and improve returns to shareholders. The 
Group is in a strong position to succeed as a long-term business 
with global scale and less exposure to risk and volatility. In the past 
year, we have accelerated new product sales growth, integrated the 
new businesses in Vaccines and Consumer Healthcare and 
restructured our Pharmaceuticals business. Our financial results 
were ahead of the guidance set out towards the start of the year, 
and we believe we are well positioned to return to Core earnings 
per share growth in 2016.

Against this background, the key decisions made by the 
Committee in respect of 2015 remuneration were as follows: 

•  The bonus outcomes for the Executive Directors were 

determined by reference to performance against the agreed 
financial measures, as well as the Committee’s assessment 
of their individual performance. GSK achieved performance 
in excess of the relevant financial targets for the year. The 
improved performance for 2015, together with the assessment 
of individual performance and contribution, resulted in bonus 
awards for 2015 which were ahead of the previous year. I would 
draw shareholders’ attention to the detailed disclosure in the 
following report of our annual bonus plan and of the bonuses 
earned.  We have further enhanced the reporting of our annual 
bonus plan and of the bonuses to be paid, to help shareholders 
understand how these awards were earned.  I hope that 
shareholders will join me in welcoming these enhanced 
disclosures. 

•  Vesting of the 2013 Performance Share Plan and Deferred 

Annual Bonus Plan awards was based on the agreed measures 
of relative TSR, adjusted free cash flow, R&D new products 
and business diversification performance, each over the three 
years to 31 December 2015.  The overall vesting level achieved 
for the 2013 LTI awards was 37.75%.  Further details of that 
achievement are also presented in the following report.

The Committee believes that significant shareholdings remain a key 
mechanism for aligning the personal interests of our executives with 
the interests of long-term shareholders. Sir Andrew’s shareholding 
is over 10 times his base salary in GSK shares, which is well in 
excess of his share ownership requirement of four times his base 
salary. 

As disclosed in our 2014 Remuneration Report, the setting of 
adjusted free cash flow and R&D new product targets for LTI 
awards granted in 2015 was delayed pending the completion  
of the Novartis transaction. Targets for these awards were  
agreed and details of the adjusted free cash flow target were 
communicated via a stock exchange announcement on 31 July 
2015. Given the significance of the transaction, the Committee  
also considered the impact of the changes on targets for the 
outstanding 2013 and 2014 LTI awards. The key principle was  
to ensure that the incentives continued to operate as originally 
intended. The Committee has focussed on ensuring that the stretch 
of performance targets was retained and that incentives continued  
to measure performance against the strategic objectives originally 
identified at grant. Details of the decisions reached are set out  
in the following report. 

Agenda for 2016
No material changes to executive remuneration are proposed  
for 2016. The Committee decided that salary levels for Executive 
Directors would be increased by 2.5% effective 1 January 2016. 
This is consistent with the salary increase budget for our broader 
employee populations in the UK and US. Given that our 
Remuneration Policy will expire at our 2017 AGM, this year the 
Committee will be undertaking a review of GSK’s remuneration 
arrangements. As part of this review we will continue our regular 
dialogue with shareholders and will hold our annual meetings  
with GSK’s largest investors later in the year to listen to their views 
and feedback. Meanwhile, if any shareholders have any feedback 
on our current remuneration arrangements, or views on where  
we should focus the review, please do not hesitate to pass  
those comments for my attention to our Company Secretary, 
Victoria Whyte.

AGM
Finally, I would like to thank shareholders for their input and 
engagement during my first year as Chairman of the Committee  
and I welcome all shareholders’ feedback on this report. We look 
forward to receiving your support for our 2015 Remuneration 
Report at our AGM on 5 May 2016.

Urs Rohner 
Remuneration Committee Chairman 
16 March 2016

102  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
Annual report on remuneration

Executive Directors’ remuneration summary

Remuneration principles and policy

Principles

Policy

The Committee believes in pay for performance and that Executive Directors’ remuneration should be designed to promote 
the long-term success of the company. The Committee seeks to ensure that performance-related elements of the Executive 
Directors’ remuneration are transparent, stretching and rigorously applied.

The Committee considers the company’s shareholder approved remuneration policy, our Executive Directors’ pay 
comparator groups and pay levels for the wider employee population of the Group when determining the total individual 
pay packages of the Executive Directors. The balance between the fixed, short-term variable and long-term variable 
elements of pay is carefully reviewed, with overall packages weighted heavily towards the latter to closely align Executive 
Directors’ interests with those of shareholders. 

The table below summarises how the Committee sets each element of the remuneration packages for our Executive Directors.

Fixed Pay

Base salary

Salaries are reviewed annually, supported by data from relevant comparator groups, taking into account the 
Executive Director’s role, experience and performance as well as the average increases for the broader GSK 
workforce. Salary levels in respect of 2016 are as follows: Sir Andrew Witty – £1,114,500; Simon Dingemans – 
£735,600 and Dr Moncef Slaoui – $1,242,100.

Other benefits

Principally healthcare, car, personal financial advice, life assurance, assignment and travel expenses.

Pension

UK Executives

US Executives

Sir Andrew Witty, who joined the group in 1991, and certain other UK Executives are members of legacy final salary 
plans, which have been closed to new entrants since 2001. From 2013, increases in pensionable earnings have 
been limited to 2% per annum. Otherwise, GSK operates a defined contribution plan for UK Executives. Simon 
Dingemans is not a member of a plan for pension contributions but instead receives cash in lieu of contributions. 

GSK operates the Cash Balance Pension Plan, and the GSK 401(k) Plan, a savings scheme. The Supplemental 
Cash Balance Pension Plan and the Executive Supplemental Savings Plan (ESSP), a savings scheme, are open to 
Dr Moncef Slaoui and certain other US Executives to accrue benefits above US Government limits imposed on the 
401(k) Plan and the Cash Balance Pension Plan.

 Pay for performance

Safeguards 
and risk  
management

The company has long standing clawback and malus arrangements under its LTI and bonus plans for Executive 
Directors and other Executives that enable the company to recover sums paid or withhold the payment of any 
sum, on the occurrence of a triggering event (e.g. significant misconduct by way of violation of regulation, law, or a 
significant GSK policy, such as the Code of Conduct). 

105

105

106

106

113

107

Annual bonus

The target and maximum bonus opportunities 
for the Executive Directors are as follows:

Target  Maximum 
% of 
salary 

% of  
salary

 CEO 
 CFO 
 Chairman, Global Vaccines 

125 
80 
85 

200
180
200 

Deferred  
Annual
Bonus Plan
(DABP)

Individuals must defer 25%, and may defer  
up to a total of 50%, of any bonus earned.

Deferred bonuses may be matched up to  
one-for-one subject to performance criteria.

Performance
Share Plan
(PSP) 

The performance share awards for the  
Executive Directors are as follows:

 % of salary 

CEO 
CFO 
Chairman, Global Vaccines 

600
400
500

•   The majority of the bonus is based on achievement of 

challenging financial targets (core Group/business unit 
operating profit and core Group profit before interest and tax) 
as agreed by the Board and the Committee 

•   Individual performance against pre-determined personal 

objectives

•   PSP and DAPB matching awards are based on the following 
three equally weighted performance measures over a three- 
year period:

109 
to 
110

  –  R&D new product performance*; 
  –  Adjusted free cash flow*; and 
  –  Relative TSR+.

 *   25% vests at threshold, rising to 100% for stretching 

performance exceeding the set threshold by a  
specified margin.

 +     Against a comparator group comprising GSK and nine 
other pharmaceutical companies based on a vesting 
schedule of 30% vesting at median, rising to 100% 
vesting for upper quartile performance.

•   PSP awards are subject to a three-year performance period 

and an additional two-year vesting period.

109 
to 
110

GSK Annual Report 2015  103

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Annual report on remuneration
continued

Total remuneration for 2015 (audited)

Salary

Benefits

+

Pension

+

Annual 
bonus

Value earned  
from long-term 
incentive 
awards

Total 
remuneration

=

A. Fixed pay

B. Pension

C. Pay for performance

The total remuneration for 2015 for each Executive Director is set out in the table below:

Sir Andrew Witty,  
CEO

Simon Dingemans,  
CFO

Dr Moncef Slaoui,  
Chairman, Global Vaccines 

2015 
£000

% of 
total

2014 
£000

% of 
total

2015 
£000

% of 
total

2014 
£000

% of 
total

2015 
$000

% of 
total

2014 
$000

% of 
total

1,087

110

1,087

70

718

82

718

79

1,212

545

1,212

571

1,197 18%

1,157 30%

800 25%

797

43%

1,757

24%

1,783

41%

458

7%

671

17%

144

5%

144

8%

1,316(3) 18%

365

8%

2,175

917

989

446

1,632

1,108

A. Fixed pay

Salary

Benefits

Total fixed pay

B. Pension

C. Pay for performance
Annual bonus – including the 
amount deferred

Value earned from LTI awards: 

Matching awards under Deferred 
Annual Bonus Plan(1)

Performance Share Plan

Total value earned from LTI awards

2,831

194

2,637

122

1,035

1,157

73

1,160

1,233

72

398

470

274

2,345

2,619

144

939

1,083

Total pay for performance

5,006 75%

2,074 53%

2,222 70%

916

49%

4,251

58%

2,191

51%

Total remuneration(2)

6,661

3,902

3,166

1,857

7,324

4,339

Deferral of 2015 annual bonus

Amount of bonus deferred  

Number
of shares

%

25

£000

544

%

50

£000

494

Number
of shares

%

50

$000

816

Number
of ADS

Number of shares or ADS purchased

40,003

36,381

20,854

Full details of each of the elements of ‘Total remuneration’ above are given on the following pages of this report.

Fixed Pay

Pension

Pay for performance

Base salary

Pages 105 and 111

Page 106

Annual bonus

Pages 107, 108 and 111

Other benefits Pages 105 and 111

Value earned from LTI awards

Pages 109, 110 and 119 onwards

Notes:

(1)   Please note that the 2014 values shown differ from those disclosed in the 2014 Annual Report as the DABP value was based on an 

estimated vesting price of £14.14/$44.76. This has now been valued based on a fair market value of £15.60/$46.73; the closing share 
prices from the business day prior to the vesting date. 

(2)   The Committee may in specific circumstances, and in line with stated principles, apply clawback/malus, as it determines appropriate. 
Following due consideration by the Committee, there has been no recovery of sums paid (clawback) or reduction of outstanding 
awards or vesting levels (malus) applied during 2015 in respect of any of the Executive Directors.

(3)   The difference in the 2015 and 2014 pension values for Dr Slaoui is due to movements in the interest rate assumption (IRA) used in the 

projection to age 65. The IRA had decreased from 2013 to 2014 but then increased slightly from 2014 to 2015.

104  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total remuneration

Fixed pay (audited)

The following sections provide details of each element of ‘Total 
remuneration’, including how the Committee implemented the 
approved remuneration policy in 2015 and how it will be applied  
in 2016.

Comparator groups for pay and performance
The Committee uses two primary pay comparator groups when 
considering executive pay:

UK cross-industry  
comparator group

Anglo American

AstraZeneca

BG Group

BHP Billiton

BP

British American Tobacco

Global pharmaceutical  
comparator group

France

Sanofi

Switzerland

Novartis

UK

US

Roche Holdings

AstraZeneca

AbbVie*

Amgen*

Salary
The table below sets out the base salaries of the Executive 
Directors over the last two years and for 2016. 

Sir Andrew Witty
Simon Dingemans
Dr Moncef Slaoui 

Base salary

2016

% 
change
2014
2.5% £1,114,500 £1,087,300 £1,087,300
2.5%
£717,700
2.5% $1,242,100 $1,211,800 $1,211,800

£735,600

£717,700

2015

Benefits (audited)
The following table shows a breakdown of the grossed up cash 
value of the benefits received by the Executive Directors in 2015 
and 2014. 

Sir Andrew 
Witty

Simon 
Dingemans

Dr Moncef 
Slaoui

  2015 benefits

£000

£000

Diageo

Reckitt Benckiser

Rio Tinto

Royal Dutch Shell

SAB Miller

Tesco

Unilever

Vodafone

Bristol-Myers Squibb

 Employee benefits (1)

Eli Lilly

Johnson & Johnson

Merck & Co

Pfizer

 Travel(2) 

 Other benefits (3)

 Total 2015 benefits

  2014 benefits

 Employee benefits (1)

 Travel(2) 

 Other benefits (3)

 Total 2014 benefits

26

48

36

110

20

42

8

70

29

39

14

82

24

42

13

79

$000

216

86

243

545

136

105

330

571

*  Amgen and AbbVie are included for remuneration benchmarking, but  

are not included in the TSR comparator group.

The global pharmaceutical comparator group is also used as the 
basis for the TSR comparator group which features in our long-term 
incentive awards. The primary pay comparator group for each of 
the Executive Directors is shown in the table below:

Director

Sir Andrew Witty
Simon Dingemans 
Dr Moncef Slaoui

Primary pay comparator group

Global  
pharmaceutical

UK  
cross-industry
(cid:22)
(cid:22)

(cid:22)

When reviewing the CEO’s remuneration, the Committee also 
references pay for a group of leading European companies whose 
selection is based on their size and complexity.

Summary of total remuneration competitive positioning  
for the CEO

Total remuneration benchmarking (£m)

12

10

8

6

4

UK cross-industry 
group

Global pharmaceutical 
group

European cross-industry 
group

Lower quartile to median        Median to upper quartile        Current position

Benchmarking includes salary and the expected value of incentives based on 
the Committee’s agreed benchmarking methodology.

(1)   Employee benefits include all employee share plans, healthcare, car 
allowance, personal financial advice, and life assurance/death in 
service.

(2)   Travel expenses include car, travel and spouse/partner costs 

associated with accompanying the director on GSK business, 
which are deemed to be taxable benefits on the individual.

(3)   Other benefits comprise expenses incurred in the ordinary course  

of business, which are deemed to be taxable benefits on the 
individual and, as such, have been included in the table above.  
For Dr Slaoui, this includes UK accommodation of $225,806 in 
2015 ($326,610 in 2014). 

GSK Annual Report 2015  105

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Annual report on remuneration
continued

Pension (audited) 

Pension arrangements

Sir Andrew 
Witty

Sir Andrew Witty is a member of the Glaxo Wellcome defined benefit pension plan, which has been closed to new entrants since 2001. 
The section of the plan that Sir Andrew is a member of provides for a normal retirement age of 60 and a maximum pension value of 
2/3rds of pensionable salary. Since 1 April 2013, pensionable earnings increases have been limited to 2% per annum for all members, 
including Sir Andrew. 

Simon 
Dingemans

Simon Dingemans is not a member of any GSK pension plan for pension contributions and instead receives a cash payment in lieu  
of pension of 20% of base salary in line with GSK’s defined contribution pension plan rates. 

Simon Dingemans receives death in service and ill-health insurance that is provided as part of the pension plan. This has been 
included in his employee benefits on page 105.

Dr Moncef 
Slaoui

Dr Slaoui is a member of the Cash Balance Pension Plan and the Supplemental Cash Balance Pension Plan which provides for 
an Executive Pension Credit. GSK makes annual contributions to Dr Slaoui’s pension plans of 38% of his base salary. The plans 
provide a cash sum at retirement and the fund increases at an interest rate set annually in advance, based on the 30 year US Treasury 
bond rate. The plan has no entitlement to a spouse’s pension or to pension increases. He was an active member of the Belgium AG 
Insurance (ex-Fortis) Plan (Belgian Plan) until 31 May 2006 and has been a deferred member since. This plan is a defined benefit plan 
with a lump sum payable at a normal retirement age of 60. There are no further company contributions to this plan. 

Dr Slaoui is also a member of the 401(k) plan open to all US employees and the ESSP, a savings scheme open to executives to accrue 
benefits above US government limits imposed on the 401(k) Plan. Contributions to both plans are invested in a range of funds. The 
combined contribution rate under the plans is up to 6% (2% core contributions plus a match of up to 4%) of total base salary and 
bonus, less any bonus deferred under the DABP.

The following table shows the breakdown of the pension values set out on page 104.

Pension remuneration values

UK defined benefit
US defined benefit
Belgian defined benefit
Employer cash contributions
Member contributions to
  defined benefit plans

Total pension remuneration value

Sir Andrew Witty

Simon Dingemans

Dr Moncef Slaoui

2015 
£000

472
–
–
–

(14)
458

2014 
£000

703
–
–
–

(32)
671

2015 
£000

–
–
–
144

–
144

2014 
£000

–
–
–
144

–
144

2015 
000

–
$1,191
€51
$68

–
$1,316

2014 
000

–
$157
€58
$131

–
$365

a)   The pension remuneration figures have been calculated in accordance with the methodology set out in The Large and Medium-sized 

Companies and Group (Accounts and Reports) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 (Remuneration Regulations). In calculating the defined benefit 
pension values for 2015, the difference between the accrued pension as at 31 December 2015 and the accrued pension as at 31 December 
2014 increased by inflation (1.2% for UK defined benefit, 0.5% for US defined benefit, 0.5% for Belgian defined benefit) has been multiplied 
by 20. Where this results in a negative value, this has been deemed to be zero. In calculating total values, amounts have been translated from 
Euros into US dollars using an exchange rate of 1.12 for 2015 and 1.33 for 2014.     

b)  For Sir Andrew, further details regarding the 2015 pension values are set out in the table below.        

Sir Andrew Witty

UK – Funded
UK – Unfunded
Total 

Accrued pension as at  
31 December 2015 (£ p.a.)
71,648
644,459
716,107

Accrued pension as at  
31 December 2014 (£ p.a.)
70,810
613,521
684,331

Pension remuneration  
value for 2015 (£000)
–
472
472

 Sir Andrew joined GSK predecessor companies in 1991 and progressed through roles of increasing seniority within GSK until he was appointed 
CEO in May 2008. During this time, he built up pensionable service through the different tiers of the Glaxo Wellcome Pension Plan. His current 
pension entitlement is a product of his service and progression within GSK. 

c)  For Dr Moncef Slaoui, further details regarding the 2015 pension values are set out in the table below.  

Dr Moncef Slaoui

US – Funded
US – Unfunded
Belgium – Funded
US – 401(k) & ESSP
Total 

Accrued pension as at  
31 December 2015 (p.a.)
$14,473
$396,297
€91,000
–

Accrued pension as at  
31 December 2014 (p.a.)
$12,310
$337,157
€88,000
–

Pension remuneration  
value for 2015 (000)
$42
$1,149
€51
$68
$1,316

 Dr Slaoui joined GSK predecessor companies in 1988 and he progressed through a number of senior roles within GSK until he was  
appointed Chairman, Research & Development in 2006 and then Chairman, Global Vaccines in 2014. During this time, he has built up pensionable 
service in the Belgian Plan, the Cash Balance and Supplemental Pension Plans. Annual employer cash contributions were made to the 401(k) Plan 
and ESSP. His current pension entitlement is a product of his service and progression within GSK. The difference in the 2015 and 2014 pension 
values is due to movements in the interest rate assumption (IRA) used in the projection to age 65. The IRA had decreased from 2013 to 2014 but 
then increased slightly from 2014 to 2015.

106  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pay for performance (audited)
Annual bonus

The majority of the annual bonus opportunity is based on a formal review of performance against stretching financial targets.  
This outcome is then adjusted to reflect individual performance by applying an individual performance multiplier (IPM).

The IPM is set by the Committee taking into account performance against individual objectives. The multiplier may be set between  
0% and 150%. Generally, in a year when an Executive Director has performed strongly against all of his objectives, it would be 
expected that they would receive an IPM towards the top of that range.

For 2015, the annual bonus was based on the following financial measures and weightings.

2015 performance  
against targets

Weighting

Sir Andrew Witty

Simon Dingemans

Dr Moncef Slaoui

2015 performance

Target

Outcome

Core Group operating profit

Core Group PBIT

Vaccines performance

75%

75%

–

25%

25%

25%

–

–

75%

£6,092 million

£6,405 million

£5,885 million

£6,224 million

£850 million

£896 million

The core Group operating profit and core Group PBIT targets and outcomes for the purpose of annual bonuses differ from core Group 
operating profit and PBIT disclosed elsewhere in this Annual Report primarily because both the target and outcome numbers are 
calculated applying GSK budget exchange rates and not actual exchange rates. The core Group operating profit measure excludes 
corporate costs, but these costs are included in core Group PBIT.

The following table shows actual bonuses earned compared to opportunity for 2015 and 2014.

Bonus 

Sir Andrew Witty

Simon Dingemans

Dr Moncef Slaoui

2015
Base salary  
£/$000

£1,087

£718

$1,212

Bonus opportunity 

Total bonus

Bonus earned

Target  
(% of salary)

Maximum
(% of salary)

2015
(% of salary)

2014
(% of salary)

125%

80%

85%

200%

180%

200%

200%

138%

135%

84%

62%

91%

2015  
£/$000

£2,175

£989

$1,632

2014  
£/$000

£917

£446

$1,108

The table below sets out the matters which the Committee considered in respect of the financial measures and weightings set for the 
Executive Directors.

Financial performance

Core Group 
operating profit  
and core Group 
profit before  
interest and tax 

Vaccines 
performance

Group turnover increased 6% CER on a reported basis to £23,923 million and 1% CER on a pro-forma basis. Core 
Group operating profit and core Group profit before interest and tax were ahead of targets set for 2015. Profits benefited 
from the acceleration in sales of new products together with cost savings released by the Group’s restructuring and 
integration programmes. Offsetting these benefits were declines in sales of Seretide/Advair, lower sales of Established 
Products and the investments made to support the new product launches. The short-term dilution of the Novartis 
transaction together with an adverse comparison to 2014, which included an SG&A credit, also impacted core operating 
profit in 2015. Excluding both of these, the core operating margin declined 0.2 percentage points.

Vaccines sales were £3,675 million, up 19% CER and up 3% on a pro-forma basis in 2015. The pro-forma growth was 
primarily driven by Bexsero sales in Europe and strong Rotarix, Fluarix/FluLaval and Boostrix sales in the US. Vaccines 
operating profit was £966 million, down 9% CER primarily reflecting inclusion of the cost base acquired from the former 
Novartis vaccines business. On a pro-forma basis, Vaccines operating profit was up 7%. Substantial progress was made 
on the integration of the acquired business in 2015. Initial restructuring and integration benefits helped to deliver an 
improvement of 0.8 percentage points in the pro-forma core operating margin of 26.4% on a CER basis in 2015. 

GSK Annual Report 2015  107

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Annual report on remuneration
continued

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Pay for performance continued

The table below sets out the matters which the Committee considered in respect of the individual objectives set for each Executive Director.

Personal performance

Sir Andrew Witty

Sir Andrew successfully delivered on a number of key strategic priorities for the Group including:

•  Completing the highly complex Novartis transaction to create a Group of three world-leading businesses in 

Pharmaceuticals, Vaccines and Consumer Healthcare.  

•  Significant progress on integration of new businesses into Vaccines and Consumer Healthcare; integration ahead  

of schedule with £1 billion of incremental cost savings delivered for costs of £1.9 billion. On track to deliver  
£3 billion of annual savings by the end of 2017.

•  Restructuring of the Pharmaceuticals business including commercial reorganisation in the US.

•  Accelerating new product performance with sales of £2 billion in 2015 and revised expectation to achieve target  

of £6 billion in annual sales of new products by 2018, two years ahead of previous plan.

•  Core EPS of 75.7p, ahead of financial guidance of high teens decline.

•  Profiling innovative R&D portfolio of approximately 40 assets focused on Oncology, Immuno-Inflammation,  

Vaccines, Infectious, Respiratory and Rare diseases. Portfolio is expected to deliver multiple, significant milestones  
in the next 24 months.

•  Worldwide implementation of business model changes covering sales force incentivisation and HCP interactions.

•  Successful progress on delivery of responsible business commitments with notable advances in access to 

medicines and approval of new malaria vaccine.

•  2015 ordinary dividend of 80p together with special dividend of 20p to be paid from the net proceeds of the 

Novartis transaction. Expectation to pay 80p full year ordinary dividend for 2016 and 2017.

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Simon Dingemans

Mr Dingemans delivered strong financial leadership for the Group in 2015: 

•  Restructuring and integration ahead of schedule with £1 billion of incremental cost savings delivered for costs of  

£1.9 billion. On track to deliver £3 billion of annual savings by the end of 2017.

•  Reduced net debt by £3.7 billion despite significant cash restructuring costs.

•  2015 core EPS of 75.7p, ahead of financial guidance of high teens decline. 

•  Effective core tax rate for the Group of 19.5%.

•  Substantial progress made on deployment of new core business systems and supply chain improvements.

•  2015 ordinary dividend of 80p together with special dividend of 20p to be paid from the net proceeds of the 

Novartis transaction. Expectation to pay 80p full year ordinary dividend for 2016 and 2017.

Dr Moncef Slaoui

Under Dr Slaoui’s leadership, the Vaccines business delivered strong performance against plan for 2015. Vaccines 
sales grew 19% to £3.7 billion with the business benefitting from sales of newly acquired products, primarily the 
meningitis portfolio (Menveo/Bexsero) in Europe and the US as well as strong sales growth from legacy GSK 
vaccines such as Fluarix/FluLaval, Rotarix and Boostrix in the US.

Dr Slaoui also delivered a number of strategic priorities:

•  Following the completion of the Novartis transaction in March 2015, Dr Slaoui led the effective integration of the 

GSK and Novartis vaccines organisations.

•  Accelerated commercialisation of the acquired portfolio, particularly the meningitis portfolio. 

•  Significant contribution to global public health agenda with extensive research and development progress on 

candidate vaccines for malaria and Ebola.

•  Led successful vaccines R&D organisation; successes through the year included positive Phase III trial success  

for a candidate vaccine for Shingles.

108  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
Value earned from long-term incentives (LTIs)
2013 awards with a performance period ended 31 December 2015 (audited)
The Committee reviewed the performance of the PSP and DABP matching awards granted to Executive Directors against targets set in 
2013. The performance achieved in the three years to 31 December 2015 and the vesting levels are set out in the table below. 

The Committee previously provided estimates of vesting for 2013 awards in GSK’s 2013 and 2014 Annual Reports. Those estimates 
were based on performance achieved at that time and the following reflects performance achieved over the course of the whole 
performance period. In line with the Committee’s agreed principles for each measure, actual performance against targets was reviewed 
and adjustments made as appropriate to reflect the impact of the Novartis transaction on the business and to ensure that the vesting 
outcome reflected genuine underlying business performance.

Performance
measures  
and relative 
weighting

R&D new  
product  
performance 
(25%)

Business  
diversification
performance 
(25%)

Vesting

% of  
maximum

% of 
award

82%

20.5%

Performance targets and performance achieved

The R&D new product performance measure was based on an aggregate three-year revenue 
target for New Product sales. New Products are defined as products launched in the 
performance period and the two preceding years. Therefore products launched in the years 
2011 to 2015 were included. Aggregate sales for the period were £6.19 billion. 

The vesting schedule is shown below with straight-line vesting between these points. This 
vesting schedule has been adjusted to exclude the impact of the Novartis transactions, i.e. 
revenues from divested Oncology products were removed from the target and outcome for 2015 
in determining performance. One acquired Vaccines product, Bexsero, was judged to meet the 
condition of a ‘new product’ and has therefore been included in the target and outturn.

Maximum

Threshold

Target
£6.61bn
£6.01bn
£5.71bn
£5.41bn

% vesting
100%
75%
50%
25%

The target originally set for this element at the time of grant was based on aggregate revenues from 
Vaccines, Consumer Healthcare and Emerging Markets, and Japan with the purpose of incentivising 
and rewarding the growth of a globally diversified business. 

69%

17.25%

The Remuneration Committee determined that the original target was not sustainable in light of the 
transformational three-part transaction with Novartis. The Committee therefore reviewed both the 
original target and performance in light of the additional sales from the acquired Vaccines business 
and the Consumer Healthcare joint venture, and overall progress made towards the strategic goal of 
diversification. The Committee noted several strong performances from business initiatives over the 
period including in relation to Fluarix/Flulaval following the launch of the Quadrivalent formulation, 
strong Emerging Market sales from products such as Synflorix and Rotarix, progress in Japan in 
transitioning the respiratory portfolio to the new Ellipta portfolio, and the successful OTC switch of 
Flonase in Consumer Healthcare. All of these factors have supported the Group’s ambition of 
creating a long-term business with global scale and reduced exposure to risk and volatility,  
consistent with the strategic targets identified at the start of the performance period.

It was subsequently determined that in light of the progress made during the performance period, 
vesting for this element should be between threshold and maximum and that 69% of this element of 
the award should vest.

Adjusted free  
cash flow  
performance 
(25%)

The Adjusted Free Cash Flow (AFCF) vesting schedule which was disclosed at the time of grant 
had a vesting threshold of £14.06 billion, and maximum vesting for achieving £16.66 billion.

0%

0%

During 2015, the Committee reviewed the target and vesting schedule in light of the completion 
of the Novartis transaction and determined that it should be adjusted to reflect the impact of the 
transactions and other restructuring. The adjusted vesting schedule is: 

Maximum

Threshold

Target
£13.88bn
£13.28bn
£12.07bn
£11.71bn

% vesting
100%
75%
50%
25%

AFCF for the three years was £11.08 billion which, in line with the Committee’s agreed principles, 
included adjustments for a number of material distorting items, including legal settlements, 
exchange rate movements and special pension contributions. The threshold level of performance 
was not met and this element therefore lapsed.  

Relative TSR 
performance 
(25%)

GSK’s TSR rank position was 10th in the comparator group of ten pharmaceutical companies 
(GSK and nine other companies) and this element therefore lapsed. The vesting schedule and 
comparator group is as set out for the 2016 awards on page 112. 

0%

0%

No adjustments were made to reflect the Novartis transaction.

Total vesting in respect of 2013 awards

37.75%

GSK Annual Report 2015  109

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Annual report on remuneration
continued

Update on performance of ongoing LTI awards 

The Committee also reviewed the performance of the PSP and DABP matching awards granted to Executive Directors in 2014 and 
2015. The following tables provide an estimate of vesting taking into account performance to date. Actual vesting levels will only be 
determined based on performance over the full three-year performance periods. The indications below should therefore not be 
regarded as predictions of the final vesting levels. 

In line with the Committee’s agreed principles for each measure, these estimates of vesting include adjustments that will be required  
to reflect the impact of the Novartis transaction on the business and to ensure that the outcome reflects genuine underlying business 
performance. Further details on any adjustments made will be provided at the time of vesting.

2014 awards with a performance period ending 31 December 2016

Performance  
measures  
and relative 
weighting

R&D new product 
performance 
(1/3rd)

Performance update

R&D new product sales performance measures aggregate three-year sales for new products launched in the 
three-year performance period and preceding two years, i.e. 2012-16. Threshold performance results in 25% vesting 
and maximum performance (122% of threshold) results in 100% vesting. There were strong sales of new products in 
the two years ending 31 December 2015.  Based on aggregate sales of new products for the two years, and based 
on performance measure definitions, vesting is currently estimated to be around maximum.   

Adjusted free  
cash flow 
performance 
(1/3rd)

The Adjusted Free Cash Flow (AFCF) vesting schedule which was disclosed at the time of grant had a vesting threshold 
of £13.68 billion, and maximum vesting for achieving £16.22 billion. During 2015, the Committee reviewed the target and 
vesting schedule in light of the completion of the Novartis transaction and determined that it should be adjusted to reflect 
the impact of the transactions and other restructuring. 

The adjusted vesting schedule is: 25% (threshold) of the award vests for achieving AFCF of £10.92 billion, 50% for 
achieving £11.26 billion, 75% for achieving £12.38 billion and 100% (maximum) for achieving £12.95 billion, with  
straight-line vesting between these points. Based on AFCF for the two years ending 31 December 2015, and on 
performance measure definitions, vesting is currently estimated to be below threshold.

Relative TSR 
performance 
(1/3rd)

For the period 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2015, GSK’s TSR rank position was 10th in the comparator group of 
ten pharmaceutical companies (GSK and nine other companies). The vesting schedule and comparator group are as 
set out for the 2016 awards on page 112. If the ranking position remains at this level, vesting would be below 
threshold.

Current estimate of potential total vesting for 2014 awards

Between 25% and 50% vesting

2015 awards with a performance period ending 31 December 2017

Performance  
measures  
and relative 
weighting

R&D new product 
performance 
(1/3rd)

Adjusted free  
cash flow 
performance 
(1/3rd)

Performance update

R&D new product sales performance measures aggregate three-year sales for new products launched in the 
three-year performance period and preceding two years, i.e. 2013-17.  Threshold performance results in 25% 
vesting and maximum performance (122% of threshold) results in 100% vesting. There were strong sales of new 
products in the year ending 31 December 2015.  Based on aggregate sales of new products for the year, and based 
on performance measure definitions, vesting is currently estimated to be around maximum.   

The Adjusted Free Cash Flow (AFCF) vesting schedule for the 2015 awards was determined following the completion of 
the Novartis transaction and disclosed via an announcement to the Stock Exchange in July 2015. 

In order to fully assess disciplined use of restructuring funds over the period 2015-2017,  the Committee added back 
planned restructuring costs for the period of £3.3 billion which are being separately funded from retained divestment 
proceeds. In order to incentivise management to deliver the restructuring at or below those planned costs, any overspend  
or underspend versus the £3.3 billion will then translate into an adjustment in determining adjusted free cash flow 
performance relative to target. 

The vesting schedule for this award is:  25% (threshold) of the award vests for achieving AFCF of £11.5 billion, 50% for 
achieving £11.9 billion, 75% for achieving £13.0 billion and 100% (maximum) for achieving £13.6 billion, with straight-line 
vesting between these points. Based on AFCF for the year, and on performance measure definitions, vesting is currently 
estimated to be between threshold and maximum.

Relative TSR 
performance 
(1/3rd)

For the period 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2015, GSK’s TSR rank position was 10th in the comparator group of 
ten pharmaceutical companies (GSK and nine other companies). The vesting schedule and comparator group are as 
set out for the 2016 awards on page 112. If the ranking position remains at this level, vesting would be below 
threshold.

Current estimate of potential total vesting for 2015 awards

Between 50% and 75% vesting

110  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
Executive director remuneration in 2016 (audited)

Salary
For 2016, the average salary increase budget for employees below the level of the CET will be approximately 2.5% in both the UK and 
the US. The Committee decided to increase Executive Directors’ salaries by 2.5% for 2016.

Benefits
No significant changes to the provision of benefits are proposed for 2016. For full details of the policy in relation to benefits, please  
refer to the 2014 remuneration policy on www.gsk.com in the Investors section.

2016 operation of annual bonus plan
No changes are proposed to the operation of the annual bonus plan for 2016. Inevitably, targets linked directly to the financial and 
strategic plan are commercially sensitive and the Committee does not consider it appropriate to disclose annual bonus targets during  
the year as it may result in competitive harm. However, details of performance achieved will be disclosed in the 2016 Annual Report.

2016 long-term incentive awards

The levels of participation in the Deferred Annual Bonus Plan (DABP) in respect of 2014 and 2015 for the Executive Directors are  
shown in the table below, together with the maximum matching awards granted in 2016 in respect of the deferrals of 2015 bonuses.

The table below shows Performance Share Plan (PSP) award levels for 2015 and 2016 for each Executive Director. DABP matching 
awards and PSP awards are both subject to performance and continued employment.

DABP matching awards

PSP awards

2016

Matching
award

40,003 shares

36,381 shares

20,854  ADSs

2015

2014

% of total bonus deferred  
into shares or ADS

2016  
Award

2016 
Award level as % of 
base salary

2015 
Award level as % of 
base salary

25%

50% 

50%

50%

50%

50%

492,052 shares

216,512 shares

158,714  ADSs

600%

400%

500%

600%

400%

500%

  Sir Andrew Witty

  Simon Dingemans

  Dr Moncef Slaoui

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Performance targets for 2016 awards
The 2016 performance targets and vesting schedules are set out in the table on page 112. Measures linked directly to strategy are 
commercially sensitive. In particular, the Committee does not consider it appropriate to disclose the target range for R&D new product 
performance at grant, as it may result in competitive harm. However, the target range will be disclosed in full in GSK’s 2018 Annual Report 
at the end of the performance period, together with details of the extent to which targets have been met. The Committee will provide 
updates on estimated vesting against targets during the performance period.

GSK Annual Report 2015  111

 
 
 
 
 
 
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Annual report on remuneration
continued

Executive director remuneration in 2016 continued

2016 awards with a performance period ending 31 December 2018

Performance  
measures  
and relative 
weighting

R&D new 
product 
performance
(1/3rd)

Adjusted 
free  
cash flow 
performance
(1/3rd)

Link to strategy

Vesting schedule

Recognises importance of R&D to future business growth. This 
revenue target is based on new product sales to incentivise better 
R&D performance and commercialisation. New products are defined as 
products launched in the performance period and the two preceding 
years. Therefore, for the 2016-2018 performance period, products 
launched in the years 2014-2018 will be included in the target. 

Performance 
(% of threshold)

Maximum

Threshold

122%

100%

% vesting

100%

25%

The use of cash flow as a performance measure is intended to 
recognise the importance of effective working capital management and 
of generating cash to fund the Group’s operations, investments, and 
ordinary dividends to shareholders. The free cash flow target represents 
the operating profit of the business adjusted for non-cash items after 
deducting the cost or benefit of working capital, capital expenditure 
and taxation, and after adding back planned restructuring costs for the 
period of £2.3 billion which are being separately funded from retained 
divestment proceeds. In order to incentivise management to deliver 
the restructuring at or below those planned costs, any overspend or 
underspend versus the £2.3 billion will then translate into an adjustment 
in determining adjusted free cash flow performance relative to target.

The adjustments to free cash flow, used to set the target for the 
purpose of the performance measure, include legal settlements, special 
pension contributions, foreign exchange, divestments and acquisitions. 
The measure post-adjustment is the “adjusted free cash flow”.

Maximum

Threshold

Adjusted free  
cash flow
£13.8 billion

% vesting
100%

£13.2 billion

£12.0 billion

£11.6 billion

< £11.6 billion

75%

50%

25%

0%

Relative TSR 
performance
(1/3rd) 

Focuses on the delivery of value to shareholders. 

Relative TSR using a comparator group comprising GSK and nine 
other global pharmaceutical companies. Relative TSR is measured 
over three years, using a twelve-month averaging period. TSR is 
measured in local currency. 

TSR ranking 
within comparator  
group1

% vesting

Maximum

1st, 2nd, 3rd

100%

Threshold2

4th

5th

Median

6th to 10th

72%

44%

30%

0%

1   TSR comparator group: AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb,  

Eli Lilly, GSK, Johnson & Johnson, Merck & Co, Novartis, Pfizer, 
Roche Holdings and Sanofi.

2   The vesting schedule is based on delivering 30% vesting for median 
performance. In a comparator group of ten companies, median falls 
between two companies. Threshold vesting is therefore for achieving 
above median performance.

112  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
Other remuneration and performance disclosures

CEO Remuneration table

2015 
£000

2014 
£000

2013 
£000

2012 
£000

2011 
£000

2010 
£000

2009 
£000

6,661 3,902 7,207 4,386 6,807 4,562

5,790

100% 42% 88% 44% 100% 59% 100%

37.75% 13.5% 31% 24% 70% (2)35% (2)35%

Single figure of 
remuneration

Annual bonus 
award(1)   
(% of maximum)

Vesting of LTI 
awards  
(% of maximum)

(1)   2009 and 2010 bonus amounts include amounts paid under the 

Operational Efficiency Bonus in place for those years. The overall 
maximum bonus receivable was still subject to a limit of 200% of 
base salary.

(2)   In respect of the 2007 and 2008 PSP awards. Sir Andrew also had 

outstanding awards over 195,500 and 525,000 share options, 
granted in 2007 and 2008 respectively, which lapsed in full. These 
have not been included in the total vesting percentage due to the 
distorting effect of aggregating conditional shares and share 
options.

Performance graph and table 
The following graph sets out the performance of the company 
relative to the FTSE 100 index, and to the pharmaceutical 
performance comparator group for the seven-year period to 31 
December 2015. The graph has been prepared in accordance with 
the Remuneration Regulations and is not an indication of the likely 
vesting of awards granted under any of the company’s incentive 
plans. These indices were selected for comparison purposes as 
they reflect both the index of which GSK is a constituent and the 
industry in which it operates.

220

200

180

160

140

120

100

80

60

31/12/08

31/12/09 31/12/10 31/12/11 31/12/12 31/12/13

31/12/14 31/12/15

GSK Total Return

GSK Pharma Peers 
Total Return Index*

FTSE 100 
Total Return Index

* This index comprises AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, 
  Johnson & Johnson, Merck & Co, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche Holdings and Sanofi. 

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Historical vesting for GSK’s LTIs 
The following table shows historical vesting levels under the company’s long-term incentive plans (Deferred Annual Bonus Plan  
matching awards, Performance Share Plan and Share Option Plan) in respect of awards made to executives since 2007.

  Deferred Annual Bonus Plan

  Performance Share Plan

Year of  
grant
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013

Performance period
2007–2009
2008–2010
2009–2011/12
2010–2012/13
2011–2013
2012–2014
2013–2015

Total 
vesting 
%
n/a
n/a
n/a
30
40
13.5
37.75

Vesting 
under  
TSR 
%
35
35
9
9
0
0
0

Vesting 
under  
adjusted free  
cash flow  
%
n/a
n/a
40
16
13
0
0

Vesting 
under  
R&D new 
product  
%
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
16
6.75
20.5

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under  
business 
diversification  
%
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
11
6.75
17.25

Total 
vesting 
%
35
35
49
25
40
13.5
37.75

Share  
Option Plan

Vesting 
under  
EPS  
%
0
0
0
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a

For the DABP, the 2010 awards were subject wholly to TSR performance and from 2011 awards were subject to the same performance measures 
as PSP awards. 

Malus and clawback policy
The company’s policy on malus and clawback is set out in the 
company’s Remuneration policy report which is available at  
www.gsk.com in the Investors section. The Committee has 
jurisdiction on malus and clawback in respect of the executives.  
In the event of a ‘triggering’ event (e.g. significant misconduct by  
way of violation of regulation, law or significant GSK policy, such  
as the Code of Conduct), the company will have the ability to claw 
back up to three years’ annual and deferred bonuses as well as 
vested and unvested LTIs. The Recoupment Committee exercises 
this authority for the wider employee base. It is comprised of senior 
executives with relevant oversight and appropriate experience, 
including the Senior Vice President, Global Ethics and Compliance, 
and the Senior Vice President & General Counsel.

From 1 January 2015, in respect of each financial year, the Committee 
discloses whether it (or the Recoupment Committee) has exercised 
clawback or malus.  

Disclosure will only be made when the matter has been the subject of 
public reports of misconduct, where it has been fully resolved, where  
it is legally permissible to disclose and where it can be made without 
unduly prejudicing the company and therefore shareholders. In line 
with these disclosure guidelines, neither the Committee (nor the 
Recoupment Committee) has exercised malus or clawback during 
2015.

The Committee has determined that the release of some shares 
under the LTI plans may be delayed in the case of leavers, to 
reinforce the implementation of the malus and clawback policy. 
Also, in the case of deferred bonus awards under the DABP 
granted to executives who then retire or are made redundant, the 
vesting of those awards will normally be delayed so that they vest 
on their original timescales rather than vesting earlier at the end of 
the year in which the termination date falls.

GSK Annual Report 2015  113

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Annual report on remuneration
continued

Other remuneration and performance disclosures continued

Other all-employee share plans
The Executive Directors participate in various all-employee share 
plans, including ShareSave and ShareReward. The ShareSave  
Plan is an HM Revenue & Customs approved plan open to all UK 
employees. Participants may save up to £250 a month from their 
net salaries for a fixed term of three years and at the end of the 
savings period they have the option to buy GSK shares at a 
discount of up to 20% of the market price set at the launch of each 
savings contract. Sir Andrew Witty and Simon Dingemans each 
contribute the maximum of £250 a month into the ShareSave Plan.

The ShareReward Plan is an HM Revenue & Customs approved 
plan open to all UK employees on the same terms. Participants 
contribute up to £125 a month from their gross salaries to purchase 
GSK shares and the company matches the number of GSK shares 
bought each month under this arrangement. Sir Andrew Witty and 
Simon Dingemans each contribute the maximum of £125 a month 
to buy shares under the ShareReward Plan.

Dilution limits 
All awards are made under plans which incorporate dilution  
limits consistent with the guidelines published by the Investment 
Association, which was formed following the merger of the IMA and 
the ABI. These limits are 10% in any rolling ten year period for all 
plans and 5% in any rolling ten year period for executive share 
plans. Estimated dilution from existing awards made over the last 
ten years up to 31 December 2015 is as follows: 

All GSK employee share plans

Executive share plans

10%

10

08

06

04

02

0

3.05%

Actual

Limit

5%

2.77%

Relative importance of spend on pay
The table shows the percentage changes in the Group’s dividends 
paid to shareholders, share buy-back and total employee pay. 

Total employee pay
Dividends
Share buyback

2015 
£m

8,030
3,874
–

2014 
£m

7,520
3,843
238

% change

7
1
(100)

The figures in the table above are as set out on pages 141 and 
155. Dividends declared in respect of 2015 were £3,871 million  
(2014 – £3,865 million), i.e. an increase of 1%. Given the impact 
of the sustained strength of Sterling on free cash flow, the 
company suspended its share repurchase programme during 
2014. Following the completion of the Novartis transaction, GSK 
will return approximately £1 billion of the net proceeds by way of  
a special dividend payable at the same time as the 2015 Q4 
dividend. The special dividend is not included in the above 
amounts. The company does not expect to make any ordinary 
share repurchases in 2016. 

Total employee pay is based on 101,192 employees, the average 
number of people employed during 2015 (2014 – 98,702).

114  GSK Annual Report 2015

Percentage change in remuneration of CEO 

Salary
Benefits
Annual bonus

Sir Andrew Witty

UK Employees

% change

% change

0%
57%
137%

1%
0%
38%

2015 
£000
1,087
110
2,175

This reflects salary earned in, benefits received in and annual 
bonus earned in respect of 2015 compared with 2014. For the 
wider UK employee population, the salary increase includes the 
annual salary review as well as any additional changes in the year, 
e.g. on promotion. The increase in benefits for the CEO is not as a 
result of a change to his benefit arrangements. UK employee 
benefits are unchanged on the previous year as there have been 
no changes to our benefit policies or levels. It does not reflect any 
changes to the level of benefits an individual may have received as 
a result of a change in role, e.g. promotion. The UK population was 
considered to be the most relevant comparison as it most closely 
reflects the economic environment encountered by the CEO.

External appointments for Executive Directors 
The Board encourages Executive Directors to hold one external 
directorship each once they have become established in their 
roles, to broaden their experience and development, and help 
increase the pool of Non-Executive Director candidates.  
Any outside appointments are considered by the Nominations 
Committee to ensure they would not cause a conflict of interest 
and are then approved by the Chairman on behalf of the Board.  
It is the company’s policy that remuneration earned from such 
appointments may be kept by the individual Executive Director. 

During 2015, Dr Moncef Slaoui did not receive any fees in relation 
to his membership of the Qatar Biomedical Research Institute 
Scientific Advisory Committee, as no meetings took place in the 
period. He earned a $400 honorarium for attending a board 
meeting of the Advisory Committee to the Director of National 
Institute of Health. There are no other external appointments for 
which he receives any remuneration. During 2015, Sir Andrew 
Witty and Simon Dingemans did not hold any external 
appointments for which they were remunerated.

Service contracts
The table below sets out the relevant dates of the current 
Executive Directors’ service contracts, which are available for 
review at the company’s registered office during office hours. 

Sir Andrew 
Witty

Simon 
Dingemans

Dr Moncef 
Slaoui

Date of 
contract
18.06.08 

Effective  

date Expiry date

Notes
31.08.24  Contract amended  

22.05.08 

in 2010 to remove 
entitlement to bonus 
on termination 

08.09.10 

04.01.11 

30.04.28 

21.12.10

21.12.10 

01.08.19  Contract replaced in 

2010, principally to 
remove entitlement to 
bonus on termination 

Payments to past directors during 2015 (audited)
There were no payments to past directors during 2015. 

Payments for loss of office during 2015 (audited)
There were no payments for loss of office to directors during 2015.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Overview of 2015 total pay

Summary of 2015 remuneration
The following shows a breakdown of total remuneration paid to Executive Directors in respect of 2014 and 2015.

CEO

CFO

Chairman, Global Vaccines

£8m

£7m

£6m

£5m

£4m

£3m

£2m

£1m

£0m

£8m

£7m

£6m

£5m

£4m

£3m

£2m

£1m

£0m

$8m

$7m

$6m

$5m

$4m

$3m

$2m

$1m

$0m

2014

2015

2014

2015

2014

2015

Fixed pay – salary, benefits and pension

Performance pay – annual bonus and LTIs earned

2015 annual bonus and 2013 LTI awards – summary of outcomes
The charts below illustrate:

•  annual bonus outcomes for the financial year ending 31 December 2015; and 

•   vesting levels of the PSP and DABP matching awards that were granted to the Executive Directors in 2013 with performance  
periods ending 31 December 2015. These awards were based on four equally weighted performance measures (R&D new  
product performance, adjusted free cash flow, relative TSR and business diversification).

2015 financial performance

Maximum

Target

Threshold

2013 LTI outcomes

Business 
diversification 
25%

R&D 
new products 
25%

17.25%

20.5%

0%

0%

Core Group 
Operating  
Profit

Core Group 
PBIT

Vaccines 
Performance

Adjusted 
free cash flow 
25%

Relative
TSR 
25%

Maximum performance target

Performance achieved

Award lapsed

Award vested

Executive Directors’ shareholdings (audited)
To align the interests of Executive Directors with those of 
shareholders, they are required to build and maintain significant 
holdings of shares in GSK over time. Executive Directors are 
required to continue to satisfy these shareholding requirements for 
a minimum of 12 months following retirement from the company.

Current share ownership requirements (SOR) are as follows: 

CEO

Other Executive Directors

Other CET members

Share ownership requirement

4x base salary

3x base salary

2x base salary

Current share ownership

CEO

CFO

Chairman, Global Vaccines

Base 
salary

x2

x4

x6

x8

x10

x12

Current shareholdings are illustrated in the chart opposite.

SOR

31.12.2015 shareholding

GSK Annual Report 2015  115

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Annual report on remuneration
continued

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Remuneration governance

The Remuneration Committee 
Remuneration Committee Chairman Urs Rohner joined the Board 
and was appointed to the Committee on 1 January 2015. He was 
appointed Committee Chairman with effect from 8 May 2015, 
following the retirement of Tom de Swaan as Committee Chairman 
and Non-Executive Director on 7 May 2015. 

Role of the Committee
The role of the Committee is to set the company’s remuneration 
policy so that GSK is able to recruit, retain and motivate its 
executives. The remuneration policy is regularly reviewed to  
ensure that it is consistent with the company’s scale and scope  
of operations, supports the business strategy and growth plans  
and helps drive the creation of shareholder value. 

Terms of reference
The Committee’s full terms of reference are available on the 
company’s website. The terms of reference, which are reviewed  
at least annually, were last revised in January 2016 to reflect best 
practice and corporate governance developments. 

Governance
The Board considers all of the members of the Committee to be 
independent Non-Executive Directors in accordance with the  
UK Corporate Governance Code.

The Committee met six times in scheduled meetings during 2015, 
with each member attending as follows:

Adviser to the Committee 
The Committee has access to external advice as required. The 
Committee carried out a formal review of the independent advisers  
to the Committee in 2013. As a result of this review, the Committee 
reappointed Deloitte LLP to provide it with independent advice on 
executive remuneration. The Committee Chairman agrees the 
protocols under which Deloitte provides advice and the Committee  
is satisfied that the advice they have received from Deloitte has 
been objective and independent. 

Deloitte is a member of the Remuneration Consultants’ Group and,  
as such, voluntarily operates under the code of conduct in relation  
to executive remuneration consulting in the UK. The code of conduct 
can be found at www.remunerationconsultantsgroup.com.

Deloitte provided independent commentary on matters under 
consideration by the Committee and updates on market practice  
and legislative requirements. Deloitte’s fees for advice provided to  
the Committee in 2015 were £138,130. Fees were charged on a 
time and materials basis. Deloitte LLP also provided other consulting, 
tax and assurance services to GSK during the year. However, the 
Committee is satisfied that this does not compromise the 
independence of the advice they have received from Deloitte.

Willis Towers Watson provided additional market data to the Committee.

Shareholder votes on remuneration matters

Committee 
member since

Attendance at full 
meetings during 2015

2015 
AGM
Remuneration report

Total votes 
cast (billion)
3.5

Total votes 
for (%)
98.03

Total votes 
against (%)
1.97

Votes 
withheld 
(million)
205

Votes 
withheld 
(million)
171
100

2014 
AGM
Remuneration report
Remuneration policy

Total votes 
cast (billion)
3.4
3.5

Total votes 
for (%)
98.5
97.4

Total votes 
against (%)
1.5
2.6

Consideration of shareholder views 
The Committee engages in regular dialogue with shareholders and 
holds annual meetings with GSK’s largest investors to discuss and 
take feedback on its remuneration policy and governance matters. 

The annual meetings were held in November 2015, at which  
Urs Rohner, Committee Chairman, shared updates on remuneration 
matters in the last 12 months and proposals for 2016 onwards.  
In particular this covered proposed enhanced annual bonus 
disclosures for inclusion in the 2015 Annual Report. In addition, 
investors’ initial views were sought on the future development of  
the approved Remuneration Policy in advance of the anticipated 
submission by the company of a binding shareholder resolution to 
approve a new Remuneration Policy at the 2017 AGM.

Committee evaluation
The Committee’s annual evaluation was internally facilitated by  
the Company Secretary, and supplemented by a questionnaire 
circulated to Committee members on behalf of the Committee 
Chairman. It was concluded that the Committee continued to 
operate effectively. In terms of enhancements to the Committee’s 
deliberations it was agreed that the Committee would focus its 
attention during 2016 on reviewing the company’s Remuneration 
Policy.

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Members

Urs Rohner 
(Chairman from 7 May 2015)
Vindi Banga

Dr Stephanie Burns

Judy Lewent

Sir Deryck Maughan

1 January 2015

1 January 2016

1 May 2013

1 January 2013

1 July 2012

Hans Wijers

10 October 2013

Sir Christopher Gent*

1 January 2007

Tom de Swaan* 
(Chairman to 7 May 2015)

20 May 2009

6/6

0/0

6/6

6/6

5/6

5/6

3/3

3/3

*Sir Christopher Gent and Tom de Swaan retired from the Board on 7 May 2015.

In addition to the six scheduled meetings, the Committee met on  
a quorate basis on three occasions to approve the formal grant of 
long-term incentive awards to employees below the CET, and 
address other LTI administrative matters.

Committee meetings usually include a closed session, during  
which only members of the Committee are present. Other 
individuals may also be invited to attend Committee meetings 
during the year. Executives and other Committee attendees  
are not involved in any decisions, and are not present at any 
discussions regarding their own remuneration. 

The Company Secretary is Secretary to the Committee and 
attends all meetings. Other attendees at Committee include:

Attendee

CEO

CFO

Head of Human Resources

Head of Reward

Committee Adviser – Deloitte LLP

Regular 
attendee

Attends as 
required
(cid:22)

(cid:22)

(cid:22)

(cid:22)

(cid:22)

116  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Remuneration governance continued

Principal activities and matters addressed during 2015

Month

January

Remuneration

Overall 

Items specific to:
Annual bonus and LTIs

Governance and  
other matters

•    Approve CET salary increase 

•   Review and approve R&D Annual bonus 

recommendations

target metric

•   Review draft 2014 Remuneration report
•   Review shareholder feedback from 

•   Review and approve executives’ 2014 

annual investor meetings

February

•   Receive update on remuneration  

related implications of the Novartis 
transaction

•   Review Committee external evaluation 

report

•   Review 2014 Remuneration report

bonuses

•   Set CEO 2015 bonus objectives
•   Update on Deferred  

Annual Bonus Plan Rules

•   Update on LTI performance for 2012 LTI 

awards (2012-2014)

•   Review LTI performance outcomes and 
approve vesting of 2012 LTI awards 
(2012-2014) for CET and below CET

•   Review and approve 2015-2017 LTI 

grants for CET and below

•   Grant interim Share Value Plan awards 

(below CET)

March

•   Remuneration environment update

•   Update on Performance Share Plan for 

•   Update on remuneration considerations 

employees below CET

for 2015

•   Grant awards to certain eligible former 

Novartis employees

July

•   Review of CEO and CFO pay 

competitiveness

•   Review of remuneration benchmark 

comparator groups

•   Approve adjusted free cash flow target 

for 2015 awards following completion of 
the Novartis transaction

•   Review AGM and remuneration report 
feedback, the external remuneration 
environment and performance target 
disclosures for incentive plans

•   Approve Committee evaluation process
•     Review Chairman fees
•   Environmental update

August

October

•   Grant interim and main Share Value 

Plan awards (below CET)

•   Consider remuneration  

report disclosures for 2015

•   Update on CEO, CFO  

and CET remuneration competitiveness

•   Draft plan for review of remuneration 

policy for 2017 AGM

•   Update on LTI vesting for 2013 awards 

•   Update on remuneration report 

(2013-2015)

disclosures

•  Review adjustment principles for LTI 
measures in respect of the Novartis 
transaction

•   Preparation for annual investor  

meetings

November

Annual meeting with investors

December

•   Annual CET benchmarking and 

•   Grant awards to certain eligible former 

•   Review Investment Association 

competitiveness review

Novartis employees

•   Approve Executive Director salary 

increases for 2016

Principles of Remuneration

•   Update on remuneration report 

disclosures

•   Review shareholder feedback from 

annual investor meetings

GSK Annual Report 2015  117

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Annual report on remuneration
continued

Non-Executive Directors fees

Chairman and other Non-Executive Directors 
The company aims to provide the Chairman and other Non-
Executive Directors with fees that are competitive with those paid 
by other companies of equivalent size and complexity, subject to 
the limits contained in GSK’s Articles of Association.

Chairman’s fees
Chairman Sir Philip Hampton was appointed a Non-Executive 
Director on 1 January 2015, and received the standard annual  
fee for a Non-Executive Director of £85,000, until 1 April 2015,  
he then received fees of £350,000 per annum as Deputy 
Chairman. Since his appointment as Chairman at the conclusion  
of the AGM on 7 May 2015, his fees increased to £700,000 per 
annum. He has elected to take 25% of his fees as GSK shares. 

Non-Executive Director fees
Non-Executive Director fees were last increased in January 2013. 
There were no increases to the supplemental fees. A minimum of 
25% of fees will continue to be delivered as shares deferred until 
the Non-Executive Director steps down from the Board.

The Non-Executive Directors’ fees applying since 1 January 2013 
are set out below:

Standard annual fee
Supplemental fees
Chairman of the Audit & Risk Committee
Senior Independent Director and Scientific/Medical Experts
Chairmen of the Remuneration and Corporate 
  Responsibility Committees
Non-Executive Director undertaking intercontinental  
  travel to meetings

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Letters of appointment
The terms of engagement of the Non-Executive Directors are  
set out in letters of appointment which are available for inspection  
at the company’s registered office and at the AGM. For each 
Non-Executive Director, his or her initial appointment and any 
subsequent re-appointment are subject to election and, thereafter, 
periodic re-election by shareholders.

The Non-Executive Directors’ letters of appointment do not  
contain provision for notice periods or for compensation if their 
appointments are terminated.

The following table shows the date of the initial letter of 
appointment of each Non-Executive Director:

Non-Executive Director

Sir Philip Hampton

Professor Sir Roy Anderson

Vindi Banga

Dr Stephanie Burns

Stacey Cartwright

Lynn Elsenhans

Dr Jesse Goodman

Judy Lewent

Sir Deryck Maughan

Dr Daniel Podolsky

Per annum

£85,000

£80,000
£30,000
£20,000

 £7,500 
per meeting

Urs Rohner

Hans Wijers

Date of letter of 
appointment

25 September 2014

28 September 2007

5 May 2015

12 February 2007

3 March 2011

3 May 2012

23 December 2015

3 March 2011

26 May 2004

3 July 2006

3 October 2014

29 January 2013

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 The table below (audited) sets out the value of fees and benefits received by the Non-Executive Directors in the form of cash and shares 
or ADS. Further details of the Non-Executive Directors’ share allocation plan are set out on page 119.

Non-Executive Directors’ 
emoluments (000) (audited)

Professor Sir Roy Anderson
Vindi Banga
Dr Stephanie Burns
Stacey Cartwright
Lynn Elsenhans
Sir Christopher Gent
Sir Philip Hampton
Judy Lewent
Sir Deryck Maughan
Dr Daniel Podolsky
Urs Rohner
Tom de Swaan
Jing Ulrich
Hans Wijers
Sir Robert Wilson

Cash

£98
–
$91
£75
£14
£187
£389
$249
–
$60
£85
£38
$92
£75
–

Fees 
Shares/ADS

Benefits

£32
£28
$91
£25
£122
£63
£130
$83
$241
$181
£28
£7
$14
£25
–

£10
£1
$77
£7
£63
£72
£3
$171
$146
$155
£19
£24
$35
£16
–

2015

Total

£140
£29
$259
£107
£199
£322
£522
$503
$387
$396
£132
£69
$141
£116
–

Cash

£98
–
$105
£75
£13
£460
–
$255
–
$65
–
£84
$167
£75
£22

Fees
Shares/ADS

Benefits

£32
–
$105
£25
£110
£250
–
$85
$247
$194
–
£28
$56
£25
£23

£11
–
$134
£6
£90
£67
–
$262
$149
$220
–
£30
$190
£19
£10

2014

Total

£141
–
$344
£106
£213
£777
–
$602
$396
$479
–
£142
$413
£119
£55

a)    Benefits primarily consist of travel and subsistence costs incurred in the normal course of business, in relation to meetings on Board and 
Committee matters and other GSK-hosted events which are considered to be taxable. For overseas-based Non-Executive Directors, this 
includes travel to meetings in the UK.

b)    Non-Executive Directors fees that are paid other than in GBP are converted using an exchange rate that is set annually based on the average rate  

for the last quarter of the year prior to payment. The rate is reviewed if it moves significantly during the year. 

 c)  Sir Philip Hampton and Urs Rohner joined the Board from 1 January 2015. Vindi Banga joined the Board from 1 September 2015. 

d)    Sir Christopher Gent, Tom de Swaan and Jing Ulrich all retired from the Board on 7 May 2015. Sir Robert Wilson retired from the Board on  

7 May 2014.

e)    Sir Christopher Gent’s benefits number includes £3,012 travel and hospitality costs incurred whilst attending GSK hosted events as previously 

agreed at the request of the company, after he retired on 7 May 2015. 

118  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
Directors’ interests in shares (audited) 

The interests of the Directors of the company in office at 31 December 2015 and their connected persons are shown in the tables below.

Total directors’ interests as at

10 March 
2016

31 December 
2015

1 January 
2015

(a)Unvested and 
not subject to 
performance 

Shares/ADS
Unvested and 
subject to 
performance 

Total share plan interests as at 31 December 2015 
Options

(a)Unvested and 
not subject to 
performance 

Unvested and 
subject to 
performance

Vested but  
not exercised

Exercised in 
the year

Executive Directors
Shares
Sir Andrew Witty(b,c,d,f,g,i)
Simon Dingemans(b,c,d,f,i)
Dr Moncef Slaoui (g)
ADS
Dr Moncef Slaoui (c,d,e,h)

1,050,062
267,899
28,464

859,350
179,527
28,300

760,988
157,208
27,657

18,174 1,390,416
611,834
–

–
–

131,195
50,449
–

130,307
49,729
–

89,993
–
68,520

66,529
39,150
–

286,300

234,270

196,133

80,057

471,769

–

–

4,235

–

Total directors’ interests as at

Shares/ADS

Share allocation plan for Non-Executive Directors 
Number of shares or ADS

Non-Executive Directors
Shares (j)
Professor Sir Roy Anderson
Vindi Banga
Dr Stephanie Burns
Stacey Cartwright
Sir Christopher Gent(k)
Sir Philip Hampton
Urs Rohner
Tom de Swaan(k)
Hans Wijers
ADS (j)
Dr Stephanie Burns
Lynn Elsenhans
Judy Lewent
Sir Deryck Maughan
Dr Daniel Podolsky
Jing Ulrich(k)

31 December 
2015 
or date of 
resignation

1 January 
2015 
or date of 
appointment

10 March 
2016

23,969
37,303
44
8,469
–
16,696
2,080
–
4,845

20,584
14,839
17,636
51,937
37,745
–

23,969
37,303
44
8,469
136,566
16,696
2,080
27,750
4,845

20,584
14,839 
17,636
51,937
37,745
3,363

20,424
35,200
44
6,286
132,575
6,918
–
27,331
2,852

17,355
9,657
15,332
43,537
31,515
3,056

31 December 
2015

Paid out

Dividends 
reinvested

Allocated 
& elected

31 December  
2014

23,969
2,103
–
8,347
–
9,778
2,080
–
4,845

20,520
13,839
7,469
51,937
37,745
–

–
–
–
–
(136,566)
–
–
(27,750)
–

–
–
–
–
–
(3,025)

1,182
–
–
364
–
47
17
–
175

1,036
543
321
2,621
1,896
–

2,363
2,103
–
1,818
3,991
9,731
2,063
419
1,818

2,194
4,639
1,982
5,779
4,334
307

20,424
–
–
6,165
132,575
–
–
27,331
2,852

17,290
8,657
5,166
43,537
31,515
2,718

a)  Unvested shares and ADS and unvested options held by Executive Directors which are not subject to performance reflect bonus  

deferrals under the DABP, ShareSave and Share Value Plan (SVP) awards.

b)   Total directors’ interests as at 10 March 2016 include Deferred Annual Bonus Awards and related Matching Awards which vested on 28 February 2016.  
As these awards for UK participants are structured as nil cost options, the following gross interests have been included in the table above and tax will be 
due at the point of exercise: Sir Andrew Witty: 36,442 Deferred Annual Bonus Award and 13,757 vested Matching Award and Mr Simon Dingemans: 
13,799 Deferred Annual Bonus Award and 5,209 vested Matching Award. Total directors’ interests also includes shares purchased through the  
GlaxoSmithKline ShareReward Plan. During 2015, Sir Andrew Witty and Simon Dingemans were each awarded 212 shares under the plan. 
The balance of shares within the plan is as follows: 

ShareReward Plan (Shares)
Sir Andrew Witty
Simon Dingemans

10 March 2016

3,229
1,169

31 December 2015
3,132
1,100

1 January 2015

2,758
837

  Dr Moncef Slaoui is not eligible to participate in the ShareReward Plan, as this is only open to UK employees. 

GSK Annual Report 2015  119

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Annual report on remuneration
continued

Directors’ interests in shares continued 

c)   Total directors’ interests includes shares or ADS resulting from the deferral of bonus (and the subsequent re-investment of dividends) under the 
DABP. The totals shown in the table below include bonus deferrals, but exclude any unvested matching awards which are subject to ongoing  
performance criteria. The amounts represent the gross share and ADS balances prior to the sale of any shares or ADS to satisfy tax liabilities. 

Deferred Annual Bonus Plan (Bonus deferrals)
Sir Andrew Witty (Shares)
Simon Dingemans (Shares)
Dr Moncef Slaoui (ADS)

10 March 2016

135,662
72,996
53,867

31 December 2015
130,307
49,729
50,897

1 January 2015

150,488
66,257
58,769

d)  Total directors’ interests at 10 March 2016 include any shares or ADS which vested due to performance being met under elements of the PSP  

(2013-2015 awards), less those sold to satisfy tax liabilities on the vested amounts (see pages 124 to 125 for further details). 

e)  For Dr Moncef Slaoui, total directors’ interests includes ADS purchased within the 401(k) Plan and the US Executive Supplemental Savings 

Plan (ESSP), and ADS awarded to Dr Slaoui’s connected person under the SVP. The relevant balances are as follows: 

Dr Moncef Slaoui (ADS)
US Retirement Savings Plans 
Share Value Plan

10 March 2016

14,036
4,830

31 December 2015
13,431
7,820

1 January 2015

13,045
7,590

 As an Executive Director, Dr Moncef Slaoui is not eligible to receive awards under the SVP. The SVP awards shown above reflect the holdings  
of Dr Slaoui’s connected person, who is also an employee of GSK. The awards are subject to three-year vesting periods and vesting is 
contingent on continued employment within GSK. Any gains arising on vesting are not included in Dr Moncef Slaoui’s total remuneration  
figures. During the year, his connected person was granted 2,530 ADS on 25 August 2015 at a grant price of $39.41 (face value of $99,707).  
Dr Slaoui’s total share plan interests also include PSP awards held by his connected person. These awards are subject to performance criteria 
relevant to employees below the CET. As at 31 December 2015, his connected person held 6,700 ADS under the PSP, comprising awards 
made in 2013 (2,344 ADS) and 2014 (2,237 ADS) and 2015 (2,119 ADS), all amounts including dividend re-investment. 

f)  Unvested options not subject to performance 

 For Sir Andrew Witty and Simon Dingemans, the unvested options not subject to performance include holdings of 888 and 720 respectively  
in the ShareSave Plan, in which they participate on the same terms as all other employees. 888 ShareSave options were granted to Sir Andrew 
Witty during 2015. Simon Dingemans was granted 266 options under the plan on 29 October 2015. The remainder of unvested options not 
subject to performance relate to bonus deferrals structured as nil-cost options under the DABP.

g) Vested but not exercised options 

 For the Executive Directors, the following table provides details of vested but unexercised options as at 31 December 2015 under the Share 
Option Plan (SOP), which lapsed on 20 February 2016. GSK granted options under this plan to Executive Directors on an annual basis  
until 2009.

Share Option Plan
Date of grant
21.02.06

Lapse date
20.02.16

Grant price
£14.68

Number of shares under option

Sir Andrew Witty
89,993
89,993  

Dr Moncef Slaoui
68,520
68,520

h)  The ADS vested but unexercised options totalling 4,235 for Dr Moncef Slaoui represent the ADS options held by Dr Moncef Slaoui’s 

connected person. 

120  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Directors’ interests in shares continued 

i)   The following table sets out details of options (including nil-cost options under the DABP) exercised during 2015 by Executive Directors.  

Dr Moncef Slaoui did not exercise any options during the year.

Type of award
Sir Andrew Witty
   ShareSave
   DABP – deferral
   DABP – matching

Simon Dingemans
   ShareSave
   DABP – deferral
   DABP – matching

Date of grant

Number of shares 
under option

Date of exercise

Grant price

Market  
price at exercise

Gain on exercise 
(000)

01.12.12
09.03.12
09.03.12

01.12.12
09.03.12
09.03.12

776
57,932
7,821
66,529

310
34,220
4,620
39,150

01.12.15
14.05.15
14.05.15

01.12.15
08.05.15
08.05.15

£11.59
–
–

£11.59
–
–

£13.51
£14.14
£14.14

£13.51
£14.72
£14.72

£1
£819
£111
£931

£1
£504
£68
£573

     In respect of options under the SOP and the ShareSave plans, the remuneration receivable by an Executive Director is calculated on the date 
that the options first vest. The remuneration is the difference between the amount the Executive Director is required to pay to buy the shares or 
ADS and the total value of the shares or ADS on the vesting date. If the Executive Director chooses not to exercise the options on the vesting 
date, any subsequent increase or decrease in the amount realised will be due to movements in the share or ADS price between the vesting date 
and the date of exercise. This increase or decrease in value is the result of an investment decision by the Executive Director and, as such, is not 
recorded as remuneration. No options vested for Executive Directors during 2015. 

 In respect of nil-cost options under the DABP, the bonus which is deferred by the Director is recorded as remuneration (under annual bonus)  
for the year to which it relates. The gain recorded on exercise of the nil-cost option comprises this remuneration, the total of the amounts 
received in re-invested dividends prior to vesting and the gains or losses resulting from movements in the share price between the dates  
of grant and exercise for the initial bonus amount deferred and the dates of dividend reinvestment and exercise for the re-invested dividends.

 For the matching element of the DABP, the remuneration of the Executive Director is recorded in the year that the performance criteria end  
and represents the number of vested shares multiplied by the price at vesting. The gain recorded on exercise of the nil-cost option comprises 
the total of this remuneration and the gain or loss resulting from the movement in the share price between vesting and exercise.

       For Sir Andrew Witty:

 •   The total gain of £1,490 following the exercise of 776 options granted under the ShareSave Plan.

 •   The gain of £819,158 recorded following the exercise of the 57,932 nil-cost options relating to the deferral of bonus earned in respect  

of 2011 comprises remuneration of £700,000 recorded in 2011 as annual bonus and a net gain of £119,158 relating to the re-investment  
of dividends prior to vesting and movements in the share price between grant and dividend re-investment dates and the exercise date.

 •   The gain of £110,589 recorded following the exercise of the 7,821 nil-cost options relating to the DABP matching award comprises 

remuneration of £122,008 recorded in 2014 in relation to the DABP (see page 122) and an investment loss of £11,419 relating to the  
movement in the share price between the vesting and exercise dates.

  For Simon Dingemans:

 •   The total gain of £595 following the exercise of 310 options granted under the ShareSave Plan.

 •   The gain of £503,718 recorded following the exercise of the 34,220 nil-cost options relating to the deferral of bonus earned in respect of 
2011 comprises remuneration of £413,520 recorded in 2011 as annual bonus and a net gain of £90,198 relating to the re-investment of 
dividends prior to vesting and movements in the share price between grant and dividend re-investment dates and the exercise date.

 •   The gain of £68,006 recorded following the exercise of the 4,620 nil-cost options relating to the DABP matching award comprises 
remuneration of £72,072 recorded in 2014 in relation to the DABP (see page 123) and an investment loss of £4,066 relating to the 
movement in the share price between the vesting and exercise dates.

j)   For Non-Executive Directors, total interests include shares or ADS received as part or all of their fees under the Non-Executive Director  

Share Allocation Plan. Note that dividends received on shares or ADS under the plan during 2015 were converted into shares or ADS as  
at 31 December 2015.

k)  Sir Christopher Gent, Tom de Swaan and Jing Ulrich all retired from the Board on 7 May 2015. They elected to receive their shares from  
the Non-Executive Directors’ Share Allocation Plan immediately upon retiring from the Board. Dividend entitlements in respect of the  
Q3 and Q4 2014 and the Q1 2015 dividends were paid in cash in accordance with the plan rules.

GSK Annual Report 2015  121

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Annual report on remuneration
continued

Directors’ interests in shares continued 

Deferred Annual Bonus Plan matching awards 

Deferred Annual Bonus Plan (DABP) matching awards are made annually to Executive Directors, based on the individual’s mandatory  
deferral and voluntary bonus deferral election. The company will match shares or ADS up to one-for-one depending on the company’s 
performance during a three-year performance period. Performance conditions and vesting levels are described on pages 109, 110 and  
112 of this report. 

Awards to UK-based Executive Directors are made in the form of nil-cost options. Once an award vests, the UK-based Executive 
Director may choose to exercise the award at any time up to 10 years from the date of grant. Awards to US-based Executive 
Directors are made as conditional awards of ADS. The amount of remuneration receivable in respect of the matching shares or ADS 
is calculated using the share or ADS price on the date the relevant award vests. If the award vests after the date of the Remuneration 
report, the calculation is performed using the average share or ADS price over the last quarter of the financial year. If an Executive 
Director chooses not to exercise the nil-cost options on the vesting date, any subsequent increase or decrease in the amount 
realised will be due to movements in the share price between the vesting date and the date of exercise. This increase or decrease  
in value is the result of an investment decision and, as such, is not recorded as remuneration. 

Dividends are reinvested on the nil-cost options or conditional awards of shares or ADS made to Executive Directors up to the date  
of vesting.

The following tables provide details for each Executive Director in respect of DABP matching awards. Market price at grant and at 
vesting represent the closing share prices on those dates. 

Sir Andrew Witty – Shares

Market price at grant
Unvested at 31 December 2014
Granted
Face value at grant (000)
Dividends reinvested
Vested
Lapsed
Unvested at 31 December 2015

Granted 
Face value at grant (000)
Dividends reinvested
Vested
Lapsed
Unvested at 10 March 2016

Vested shares
Number of shares 
Market price at vesting

Gain:
  Remuneration for 2014(a)
  Remuneration for 2015

2012-2014

£14.12
57,145
–
–
787
(7,821)
(50,111)
–

7,821
£15.60

000

£122
–

2013-2015

2014-2016

2015-2017

2016-2018

Performance period

£16.43
59,382
–
–
3,475
–
–
62,857

–
–
865
–
–
63,722

£15.20
–
30,172
£459
1,331
–
–
31,503

–
–
434
–
–
31,937

£13.59
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

40,003
£544
–
–
–
40,003

£14.54
33,961
–
–
1,986
–
–
35,947

–
–
495
(13,757)
(22,685)
–

13,757
£14.11

000

–
£194

a)  The value shown in the 2014 column is the award which vested on 9 March 2015. This has been valued based on a fair market value of 

£15.60; the closing share price from the business day prior to the vesting date. Please note that the values shown differ from those disclosed 
in the 2014 Annual Report as the value was based on an estimated vesting price of £14.14.

122  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
Directors’ interests in shares continued 

Deferred Annual Bonus Plan matching awards continued  

Simon Dingemans – Shares

Market price at grant
Unvested at 31 December 2014
Granted
Face value at grant (000)
Dividends reinvested
Vested*
Lapsed
Unvested at 31 December 2015
Granted
Face value at grant (000)
Dividends reinvested
Vested
Lapsed
Unvested at 10 March 2016

Vested shares
Number of shares 
Market price at vesting

Gain:
  Remuneration for 2014(a)
  Remuneration for 2015

2012-2014

2013-2015

2014-2016

2015-2017

2016-2018

Performance period

£16.43
19,643
–
–
1,148
–
–
20,791
–
–
286
–
–
21,077

£15.20
–
14,680
£223
647
–
–
15,327
–
–
211
–
–
15,538

£13.59
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
36,381
£494
–
–
–
36,381

£14.12
33,755
–
–
465
(4,620)
(29,600)
–

–

4,620
£15.60

000

£72
–

£14.54
12,859
–
–
752
–
–
13,611
–
–
187
(5,209)
(8,589)
–

5,209
£14.11

000

–
£73

a)  The value shown in the 2014 column is the award which vested on 9 March 2015. This has been valued based on a fair market value of 

£15.60; the closing share price from the business day prior to the vesting date. Please note that the values shown differ from those disclosed 
in the 2014 Annual Report as the value was based on an estimated vesting price of £14.14.

Dr Moncef Slaoui – ADS

Market price at grant
Unvested at 31 December 2014
Granted
 Face value at grant (000)
Dividends reinvested
Vested
Lapsed
Unvested at 31 December 2015
Granted
 Face value at grant (000)
Dividends reinvested
Vested
Lapsed
Unvested at 10 March 2016

Vested ADS
Number of ADS 
Market price at vesting

Gain:
  Remuneration for 2014(a)
  Remuneration for 2015

2012-2014

2013-2015

2014-2016

2015-2017

Performance period
2016-2018

$54.17
18,951
–
–
1,122
–
–
20,073
–
–
271
–
–
20,344

$46.25
–
11,973
$554
527
–
–
12,500
–
–
169
–
–
12,669

$39.13
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
20,854
$816
–
–
–
20,854

$44.68
22,518
–
–
327
(3,085)
(19,760)
–

–

3,085
$46.73

000

$144
–

$44.27
17,300
–
–
1,025
–
–
18,325
–
–
247
(7,011)
(11,561)
–

7,011
$39.14

000

–
$274

a)  The value shown in the 2014 column is the award which vested on 9 March 2015. This has been valued based on a fair market value of 

$46.73, the closing share price from the business day prior to the vesting date. Please note that the values shown differ from those disclosed 
in the 2014 Annual Report as the value was based on an estimated vesting price of $44.76.

GSK Annual Report 2015  123

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Annual report on remuneration
continued

Directors’ interests in shares continued 

Performance Share Plan awards
Performance Share Plan (PSP) awards are made to Executive Directors on an annual basis. Under the terms of the PSP, the number  
of shares or ADS vesting is determined following the end of the relevant performance period and is dependent on GSK’s 
performance during that period. Performance conditions and vesting levels are described on pages 109, 110 and 112. 

Dividends are reinvested on the performance shares or ADS awarded to executives throughout the performance period and up to the 
date of vesting. At vesting, UK participants receive the relevant number of shares and US participants may defer receipt of all or part  
of their vested awards. The amount of remuneration receivable in respect of performance shares is calculated using the share or ADS 
price on the date the relevant PSP award vests.

The PSP awards made to Sir Andrew Witty in 2012, 2013 and 2014 have three-year performance periods. However, the deeds  
of award specified that 25% of the awards would be subject to a further two-year vesting period (five years in total). During this 
two-year period, there are no additional performance criteria and the awards will only lapse if Sir Andrew is dismissed for cause.  
The remuneration in respect of these awards will therefore be considered to be realised in full following the determination by the 
Remuneration Committee of the vesting levels of the initial 75% of the awards (i.e. full remuneration will be recognised at the end  
of the three-year performance period). From 2015, the whole of the award made to each Executive Director has a three-year 
performance period, and an additional two-year vesting period. Each award will therefore only vest after five years. During the final 
two years of the vesting period, the award for each Director will only lapse if he is dismissed for cause. The remuneration in respect 
of the awards and dividend equivalent up to that point will therefore be recognised at the end of the three-year performance period 
(i.e. in the 2017 Remuneration report).

The following tables provide details for each Executive Director in respect of PSP awards. Market price at grant and at vesting represent 
the closing share prices on those dates.  

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2013-2015

2014-2016

2015-2017

2016-2018

Performance period

£16.43
413,229
–
–
23,822
–

–
437,051
–
–
6,016
–
–
443,067

£15.20
–
429,338
£6,526
18,787
–

–
448,125
–
–
6,168
–
–
454,293

£13.59
–
–
–
–
–

–
–
492,052
£6,687
–
–
–
492,052

£14.12
509,128
–
–
6,777
(69,650)

(446,255)
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

69,650
£14.86

000

£1,035
–

£14.54
477,699
–
–
27,540
–

–
505,239
–
–
6,954
(193,354)
(318,839)
–

193,354
£13.64

000

–
£2,637

Sir Andrew Witty – Shares

Market price at grant
Unvested at 31 December 2014
Granted

Face value at grant (000)

Dividends reinvested
Vested

Lapsed
Unvested at 31 December 2015
Granted

Face value at grant (000)

Dividends reinvested
Vested
Lapsed
Unvested at 10 March 2016

Vested shares:
Number of shares
Market price at vesting

Gain:
  Remuneration for 2014
  Remuneration for 2015

124  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
Directors’ interests in shares continued 

Performance Share Plan awards continued 

Simon Dingemans – Shares

Market price at grant
Unvested at 31 December 2014
Granted

Face value at grant (000)

Dividends reinvested
Vested
Lapsed
Unvested at 31 December 2015
Granted

Face value at grant (000)

Dividends reinvested
Vested
Lapsed
Unvested at 10 March 2016

Vested shares:
Number of shares
Market price at vesting

Gain:
  Remuneration for 2014
  Remuneration for 2015

Dr Moncef Slaoui – ADS

Market price at grant
Unvested at 31 December 2014
Granted

Face value at grant (000)

Dividends reinvested
Vested
Lapsed
Unvested at 31 December 2015
Granted

Face value at grant (000)

Dividends reinvested
Vested
Lapsed
Unvested at 10 March 2016

Vested ADS
Number of ADS
Market price at vesting

Gain:
  Remuneration for 2014
  Remuneration for 2015

2014-2016

£16.43
181,842
–
–
10,483
–
–
192,325
–
–
2,647
–
–
194,972

2014-2016

$54.17
116,412

–
6,830
–
–
123,242
–
–
1,665
–
–
124,907

2015-2017

£15.20
–
188,930
£2,872
8,267
–
–
197,197
–
–
2,714
–
–
199,911

Performance period

2016-2018

£13.59
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
216,512
£2,942
–
–
–
216,512

Performance period

2015-2017

2016-2018

$46.25
–
131,005
$6,059
5,746
–
–
136,751
–
–
1,847
–
–
138,598

$39.13
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
158,714
$6,210
–
–
–
158,714

2012-2014

£14.12
196,014
–
–
2,609
 (26,815)
(171,808)
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

26,815
£14.86

000

£398
–

2012-2014

$44.68
149,302
–
–
2,119
(20,443)
(130,978)
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

20,443
$45.95

000
$939
–

2013-2015

£14.54
210,194
–
–
12,118
–
–
222,312
–
–
3,060
(85,078)
(140,294)
–

85,078
£13.64

000

–
£1,160

2013-2015

$44.27
145,634

8,545
–
–
154,179
–
–
2,082
(58,989)
(97,272)
–

58,989
$39.76

000
–
$2,345

GSK Annual Report 2015  125

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Annual report on remuneration
continued

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Directors and Senior Management 

Further information is provided on compensation and interests of Directors and Senior Management as a group (‘the group’). For this 
purpose, the group is defined as the Non-Executive and Executive Directors, other members of the CET and the Company Secretary.  
For the financial year 2015, the following table sets out aggregate remuneration for the group for the periods during which they served  
in that capacity. 

Remuneration for 2015 
Total compensation paid
Aggregate increase in accrued pension benefits (net of inflation)
Aggregate payments to defined contribution schemes

(£)

22,817,904
143,039
839,379

During 2015, members of the group were awarded shares and ADS under the company’s various share plans, as set out in the table 
below. 

Awarded during 2015
Deferred Annual Bonus Plan 
Performance Share Plan
Deferred Investment Awards (a) (b)
Share Value Plan(b)

Shares

122,475
1,533,782
–
11,060

Awards

ADS

24,686
307,710
–
2,530

Dividend reinvestment awards

Shares

22,628
249,257
12,714
–

ADS

5,068
48,825
–
–

At 10 March 2016, the group had the following interests in shares and ADS of the company. Holdings issued under the various executive 
share plans are described in Note 42 to the financial statements, ‘Employee share schemes’ on page 202.

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Interests at 10 March 2016
Owned 
Unexercised options
Deferred Annual Bonus Plan
Performance Share Plan
Deferred Investment Awards (a) (b) 
Share Value Plan(b)

a)  Notional shares and ADS.

Shares

1,945,852
422,601
1,077,034
4,951,255
236,364
21,110

ADS

476,009
24,675
166,832
749,909
–
4,830

b) Executive Directors are not eligible to receive Deferred Investment Awards or participate in the Share Value Plan. 

Basis of preparation

The Remuneration report has been prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2006 and The Large and Medium-sized Companies 
and Groups (Accounts and Reports) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 (the Regulations). In accordance with the Regulations, the following 
parts of the Annual report on remuneration are subject to audit: total remuneration figures for Executive Directors, including further details 
for each element of remuneration (salary, benefits, annual bonus, long-term incentive awards and pension); Non-Executive Directors’ fees 
and emoluments received in the year; Directors’ interests in shares, including interests in GSK share plans; payments to past directors; 
payments for loss of office; and share ownership requirements and holdings, for which the opinion thereon is expressed on page 136. 
The remaining sections of the Remuneration report are not subject to audit nor are the pages referred to from within the audited sections. 

The Remuneration report has been approved by the Board of Directors and signed on its behalf by 

Urs Rohner 
Remuneration Committee Chairman 
16 March 2016

126  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
2014 Remuneration policy summary 

Executive Director remuneration policy

The company’s remuneration policy report was approved on 7 May 2014 at GSK’s Annual General Meeting. The full policy is available at 
www.gsk.com in the Investors section or in our 2013 Annual Report from page 117 to 126. The following is a summary of this policy.

Salary

Benefits

+

Pension

+

Annual 
bonus

Value earned  
from long-term 
incentive 
awards

Total 
remuneration

=

Element

Salary

Benefits

Pension

A. Fixed pay

B. Pension

C. Pay for performance

Purpose and link to strategy

Operation

To provide a core reward for the role.

Set at a level appropriate to secure 
and retain high calibre individuals 
needed to deliver the Group’s 
strategic priorities.

Levels are set to recruit and retain 
high calibre individuals to execute the 
business strategy.

Individual’s role, experience and performance and independently sourced data  
for relevant comparator groups considered when determining salary levels.

Executive Directors are generally eligible to receive benefits in line with the policy 
for other employees which may vary by location. These include travel allowances 
(including spouse/partner travel), healthcare, life assurance/death in service  
(where not provided as part of the individual’s pension arrangements), personal 
financial advice and contractual post-retirement benefits. 

Pension arrangements provide a 
competitive level of retirement 
income.

Pension arrangements are structured in accordance with the plans operated  
in the country in which the individual is likely to retire. Where the individual 
chooses not to become a member of the pension plan, cash in lieu of the 
relevant pension contribution is paid instead. 

New Executive Directors in the UK will be entitled either to join the defined 
contribution pension plan or to receive a cash payment in lieu of pension 
contribution. Where an individual is a member of a GSK legacy defined benefit 
plan, a defined contribution plan or an alternative pension plan arrangement and 
is subsequently appointed to the Board, he or she may remain a member of that 
plan. 

Annual bonus

To incentivise and recognise 
execution of the business strategy 
on an annual basis.

Financial, operational and business targets are set at the start of the year by  
the Committee and bonus levels are determined by the Committee based on 
performance against those targets.

Rewards the achievement of 
stretching annual financial and 
strategic business targets and 
delivery of personal objectives.

Individual objectives are set at the start of the year by the Committee and 
performance against objectives is assessed by the Committee.

Executive Directors are required to defer 25% of any bonus earned into shares, 
or ADS as appropriate, for three years. They may defer up to an additional 25% 
of bonus earned, up to an overall maximum deferral of 50%. Deferred shares 
vest at the end of the three year performance period.

Long-term 
incentive awards

To incentivise and recognise delivery 
of the longer term business 
priorities, financial growth and 
increases in shareholder value 
compared to other pharmaceutical 
companies.

In addition, to provide alignment with 
shareholder interests, a retention 
element, to encourage long-term 
shareholding and discourage 
excessive risk taking.

Deferred Annual Bonus Plan 
Deferred shares may be matched subject to the achievement of performance 
conditions over three years. Matching awards may be conditional shares or 
nil-cost options and are eligible for dividend equivalents in respect of the 
performance period.

Performance Share Plan  
Conditional awards are made annually with vesting dependent on the 
achievement of performance conditions over three years. Vested awards  
are subject to an additional two-year vesting period. Awards are eligible  
for dividend equivalents up to the date of vesting.

For details of our policy on clawback/malus, recruitment remuneration, loss of office and termination payments, please refer to the full  
2014 remuneration policy report. 

GSK Annual Report 2015  127

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2014 Remuneration policy summary 
continued

Non-Executive Director remuneration policy  

Element

Purpose and link to strategy

Overview

To provide an inclusive flat rate fee 
that is competitive with those paid 
by other companies of equivalent 
size and complexity subject to the 
limits contained in GSK’s Articles  
of Association.

There is no formal maximum, however, fees are reviewed annually and set  
by reference to a review of the Chairman’s performance and independently 
sourced market data.

The Remuneration Committee is responsible for evaluating and making 
recommendations to the Board on the fees payable to the Chairman.  
The Chairman does not participate in discussions in respect of his fees.

Fees can be paid in a combination of cash and/or GSK shares or ADS. 

Chairman’s fee

Basic fee

Supplemental  
fees

To provide additional compensation 
for Non-Executive Directors 
(excluding the Chairman) taking on 
additional Board responsibilities or 
undertaking intercontinental travel  
to meetings.

Benefits

To facilitate execution of 
responsibilities and duties  
required by the role.

Non-Executive 
Directors’ share 
allocation plan

To enhance the link between 
directors and shareholders,  
GSK requires Non-Executive 
Directors to receive a significant 
part of their fees in the form of  
GSK shares or ADS.

There is no formal maximum, however, fees are reviewed annually  
and set by reference to independently sourced market data.

The Chairman and CEO are responsible for evaluating and making 
recommendations to the Board on the fees payable to the company’s  
Non-Executive Directors.

A minimum of 25% is delivered in the form of GSK shares or ADS.

Additional fees for Committee Chairmen, intercontinental travel, the  
Senior Independent Director and Medical/Scientific Experts. Current fee  
levels are set out on page 118 of the 2015 Annual Report.

Travel and subsistence costs for Non-Executive Directors are incurred in the 
normal course of business in relation to meetings on Board and Committee 
matters and other GSK-hosted events. This includes Non-Executive Directors 
undertaking intercontinental travel to meetings. Non-Executive Directors may 
from time to time be accompanied by their spouse or partner to these meetings 
or events. The costs associated with the above are all met by the company and 
in some instances, they are deemed to be taxable and therefore treated as 
benefits for the Non-Executive Director.

At least 25% of the Non-Executive Directors’ total fees, excluding those of the 
Chairman, are paid in the form of GSK shares or ADS and allocated to a share  
or ADS account. 

The Non-Executive Directors may also take the opportunity to invest part or  
all of the balance of their fees into the same share or ADS account.

The GSK shares or ADS which are notionally awarded to the Non-Executive 
Directors and allocated to their interest accounts are set out in the Directors’ 
interests table on page 119 of the 2015 Annual Report.

The accumulated balances of these GSK shares or ADS, together with the 
notional dividends accrued, are not paid out to Non-Executive Directors until 
they leave the Board. Upon leaving, the Non-Executive Directors will receive 
either the GSK shares or ADS, or a cash amount equivalent to the value of the 
GSK shares or ADS at the date of leaving, or date of payment if later.

Letter of 
appointment

Non-Executive Directors’ and the 
Chairman’s terms of engagement 
are set out in letters of appointment 
as set out in the table on page 118 
of the 2015 Annual Report.

Non-Executive Directors will be subject to annual election or re-election and  
will normally serve no longer than nine years from the date of first election by 
shareholders at a general meeting.

The Chairman will be subject to annual appointment by shareholders and may 
serve longer than nine years from the date of first election by shareholders at a 
general meeting.

128  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
Financial 
statements

In this section

Directors’ statement of responsibilities   130
131
Independent Auditor’s report  
138
Financial statements  
Notes to the financial statements  
142
Financial statements of 
GlaxoSmithKline plc prepared 
under UK GAAP  

211

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GSK Annual Report 2015  129

 
 
 
 
 
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Directors’ statement
of responsibilities

The Directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report,  
the Remuneration report and the Group financial statements  
in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Disclosure of information to auditors
The Directors in office at the date of this Annual Report have each  
confirmed that:

UK company law requires the Directors to prepare financial 
statements for each financial year. Under that law the Directors  
are required to prepare the Group financial statements in 
accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards 
(IFRS) as adopted by the European Union. In preparing the Group 
financial statements, the Directors have also elected to comply 
with IFRS as issued by the International Accounting Standards 
Board (IASB). Under company law the Directors must not approve 
the Group financial statements unless they are satisfied that they 
give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position 
and profit or loss of the Group for that period.

In preparing those financial statements, the Directors are  
required to:

•  select suitable accounting policies and then apply them 

consistently;

•  make judgements and accounting estimates that are  

reasonable and prudent;

•  state that the Group financial statements comply with IFRS 
as adopted by the European Union and IFRS as issued by 
the IASB, subject to any material departures disclosed and 
explained in the Group financial statements;

•  prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis 
unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Group will  
continue in business.

The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting 
records that are sufficient to show and explain the company’s 
transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time  
the financial position of the Group and to enable them to ensure 
that the Group financial statements and the Remuneration report 
comply with the Companies Act 2006 and Article 4 of the IAS 
Regulation. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets 
of the Group and hence for taking reasonable steps for the 
prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The Group financial statements for the year ended 31 December 
2015, comprising principal statements and supporting notes,  
are set out in ‘Financial statements’ on pages 138 to 210 of this 
report. The responsibilities of the auditors in relation to the Group 
financial statements are set out in the Independent Auditors’ report 
on pages 131 to 137.

The Group financial statements for the year ended 31 December 
2015 are included in the Annual Report, which is published in  
printed form and made available on our website. The Directors are 
responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the Annual Report  
on our website in accordance with UK legislation governing the 
preparation and dissemination of financial statements. Access to  
the website is available from outside the UK, where comparable 
legislation may be different.

•  so far as he or she is aware, there is no relevant audit information 

of which the company’s auditors are unaware; and

•  he or she has taken all the steps that he or she ought to have 
taken as a Director to make himself or herself aware of any 
relevant audit information and to establish that the company’s 
auditors are aware of that information.

This confirmation is given and should be interpreted in accordance 
with the provisions of section 418 of the Companies Act 2006.

Going concern basis
Pages 51 to 72 contain information on the performance of the 
Group, its financial position, cash flows, net debt position and 
borrowing facilities. Further information, including Treasury risk 
management policies, exposures to market and credit risk and 
hedging activities, is given in Note 41 to the financial statements, 
‘Financial instruments and related disclosures’. Having assessed 
the principal risks and other matters considered in connection with 
the viability statement, the Directors considered it appropriate to 
adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the 
financial statements.

Internal control
The Board, through the Audit & Risk Committee, has reviewed the 
assessment of risks and the internal control framework that operates 
in GSK and has considered the effectiveness of the system of 
internal control in operation in the Group for the year covered by  
this Annual Report and up to the date of its approval by the Board  
of Directors.

The UK Corporate Governance Code
The Board considers that GlaxoSmithKline plc applies the 
principles and complies with the provisions of the UK Corporate 
Governance Code maintained by the Financial Reporting Council, 
as described in the Corporate Governance section on pages 80  
to 101. The Board further considers that the Annual Report, taken 
as a whole, is fair, balanced and understandable, and provides the 
information necessary for shareholders to assess the Group’s 
position and performance, business model and strategy.

As required by the Financial Conduct Authority’s Listing Rules,  
the auditors have considered the Directors’ statement of 
compliance in relation to those points of the UK Corporate 
Governance Code which are specified for their review.

Annual Report
The Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2015, 
comprising the Report of the Directors, the Remuneration report,  
the Financial statements and additional information for investors, 
has been approved by the Board of Directors and signed on its 
behalf by

Each of the current Directors, whose names and functions are 
listed in the Corporate Governance section of the Annual Report 
2015 confirms that, to the best of his or her knowledge:

Philip Hampton
Chairman
16 March 2016

•  the Group financial statements, which have been prepared  
in accordance with IFRS as adopted by the EU and IFRS  
as issued by the IASB, give a true and fair view of the assets, 
liabilities, financial position and profit of the Group; and

•  the Strategic report and risk sections of the Annual Report, 

which represent the management report, include a fair review 
of the development and performance of the business and 
the position of the Group, together with a description of the 
principal risks and uncertainties that it faces.

130  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
Independent Auditors’ report
to the members of GlaxoSmithKline plc

Report on the Group financial statements

Our opinion  
In our opinion, GlaxoSmithKline plc’s Group financial statements:

•  give a true and fair view of the state of the Group’s affairs at  

31 December 2015 and of its profit and cash flows for the year 
then ended;

•  have been properly prepared in accordance with International 
Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRSs”) as adopted by the 
European Union; and

•  have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the 

Companies Act 2006 and Article 4 of the IAS Regulation.

Separate opinion in relation to IFRSs as issued by the IASB
As explained in Note 1 to the Group financial statements, the 
Group, in addition to applying IFRSs as adopted by the European 
Union, has also applied IFRSs as issued by the International 
Accounting Standards Board (IASB).

In our opinion, the Group financial statements comply with IFRSs 
as issued by the IASB.

What we have audited
The Group financial statements, included within the Annual Report, 
comprise:

•  the consolidated balance sheet at 31 December 2015;

•  the consolidated income statement and consolidated statement 

of comprehensive income for the year then ended;

•  the consolidated cash flow statement for the year then ended;

•  the consolidated statement of changes in equity for the year 

then ended; and

•  the notes to the Group financial statements which include a 

summary of significant accounting policies and other  
explanatory information. 

Certain required disclosures have been presented elsewhere in 
the Annual Report, rather than in the notes to the financial 
statements. These are cross-referenced from the financial 
statements and are identified as audited. 

The financial reporting framework that has been applied in the 
preparation of the Group financial statements is applicable law  
and IFRSs as adopted by the European Union. 

Our audit approach
Overview
Materiality
•  Overall group materiality: £200 million which represents 

approximately 4% of profit before tax, adding back certain  
non-recurring items (“adjusted profit before tax”).

Audit scope
•  Our audit included full scope audits of 28 reporting components 

with specific audit procedures performed at a further 39 
reporting components.

•  Taken together, the components at which audit work was 

performed accounted for 65% of consolidated revenue, 80% of 
consolidated profit before tax and 76% of adjusted profit before 
tax and covered all components that individually contributed more 
than 2% of revenue, profit before tax and adjusted profit before tax.

Areas of focus
•  Three-part transaction with Novartis

•  Rebates, discounts, allowances and returns in the US 

Pharmaceuticals and Vaccines business

•  Investigations into the Group’s commercial practices

•  Litigation

•  Carrying value of goodwill and intangible assets

•  Re-measurement of the Shionogi-ViiV Healthcare contingent 

consideration

•  Uncertain tax positions

Context
The context of our audit is set by the Group’s major activities in 
2015. The most significant event of the last twelve months has 
been the completion of the Group’s three-part transaction with 
Novartis AG. This has therefore become a new area of focus for 
our audit in 2015 given the number of significant management 
estimates and judgements required to account for the transaction 
(including valuations of acquired assets and liabilities, the impact 
of acquisition accounting, recognition and measurement of a put 
option liability and certain tax judgements) and the broad range of 
financial statement line items that are impacted.

At the same time, fewer markets migrated in 2015 compared to 
either 2013 or 2014 onto the Group’s common enterprise-wide 
resource planning platforms (“ERP”) or moved financial transaction 
and accounting services to business process outsourcing 
locations (“BPO”) and to in-house business service centres 
(“BSC”). This decision was taken consciously by management 
given the competing pressures on the organisation to complete 
and integrate the Novartis transaction. As a result, transformation 
of the Group’s finance processes, highlighted as an area of focus 
in our 2014 report, was an area of lower risk in 2015 and is not 
included as an area of focus in the 2015 report. However, we 
expect this area to feature again as an area of focus in 2016 as  
the newly acquired Novartis businesses start to be migrated onto 
GSK’s centralised platforms. 

We also added a new area of focus for the Group’s estimation  
of the fair value of the Shionogi-ViiV Healthcare contingent 
consideration reflecting the significant estimation uncertainty 
inherent in the calculation of this balance and given the continued 
increase in the size of this balance in response to changes in 
management estimates to address better than expected 
performance of acquired products and revisions to certain other 
assumptions. Following the resolution of the investigation into the 
Group’s Chinese Pharmaceuticals business in September 2014 
– and considering the output of our audit work over this risk in 
2013 and 2014 – our focus for 2015 was principally directed at the 
financial reporting judgements relating to the active investigations 
by the Department of Justice (“DoJ”) in the US and Serious Fraud 
Office (“SFO”) in the UK.

Our other areas of focus have been refined to reflect developments 
in the Group’s business including consideration of the expansion 
of healthcare reform and continued competitive pricing pressure 
and discounting in the US, progress in litigation to which the 
Group is exposed, the impact of changes in the Group’s segmental 
reporting following the Novartis transaction on the determination of 
cash generating units (“CGUs”) for impairment testing purposes 
and management’s assessment of uncertain tax positions.

GSK Annual Report 2015  131

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Independent Auditors’ report
continued

The scope of our audit and our areas of focus
We conducted our audit in accordance with International 
Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland) (“ISAs (UK & Ireland)”).

We designed our audit by determining materiality and assessing the 
risks of material misstatement in the financial statements. In 
particular, we looked at where the directors made subjective 
judgements, for example in respect of significant accounting 
estimates that involved making assumptions and considering future 
events that are inherently uncertain. As in all of our audits, we also 
addressed the risk of management override of internal controls, 
including evaluating whether there was evidence of bias by the 
directors that represented a risk of material misstatement due to 
fraud, and the risk of fraud in revenue recognition. Procedures 
designed and executed to address these risks included use of data 
enabled auditing techniques to test journal entries and post-close 
adjustments, testing and evaluating management’s key accounting 
estimates for reasonableness and consistency, undertaking cut-off 

procedures to verify proper cut-off of revenue and expenses and 
testing the existence and accuracy of revenue transactions. In 
addition, we incorporate an element of unpredictability into our audit 
work each year.

The risks of material misstatement that had the greatest effect on 
our audit, including the allocation of our resources and effort, are 
identified as areas of focus in the table below. We have also set out 
how we tailored our audit to address these specific areas in order to 
provide an opinion on the Group financial statements as a whole. 
Any comments we make on the results of our procedures should be 
read in this context. For each area of focus below, where 
appropriate, we evaluated the design and tested the operating 
effectiveness of key internal controls over financial reporting, 
including testing the operation of IT systems from which financial 
information is generated. This is not a complete list of all risks 
identified by our audit. 

Area of focus

How our audit addressed the area of focus

Three-part transaction with Novartis
Refer to Notes 3, 30 and 38 in the Group financial statements.

On 2 March 2015, the Group completed its three-part transaction with 
Novartis AG. The Group acquired Novartis’ existing Vaccines business 
for cash consideration of US$5.25 billion, disposed of its Oncology 
business for cash consideration of US$16.0 billion and each party 
contributed its existing Consumer Healthcare business into a new 
venture, in which the Group has a 63.5% controlling interest.

We focused on this area because the accounting for each component of 
the three-part transaction gave rise to the following significant audit risks:

•  The recognition of goodwill (£1,350 million) and intangible assets 
(£8,683 million) on the acquisitions of Vaccines and the Novartis 
Consumer Healthcare business;

•  Accounting for the establishment of the Consumer Healthcare joint 
venture is complicated and required the fair valuing of the portion of 
GSK’s existing business contributed (£4,116 million) and of the non-
controlling interest that arose on the acquisition (£2,150 million);

•  A number of internal restructuring steps were undertaken prior to 

the Oncology disposal and the Consumer Healthcare and Vaccines 
acquisitions in order to support these transactions in a tax efficient 
manner; and

•  The Group recognised a liability for the present value of the expected 
redemption price of a written put option over Novartis’ non-controlling 
interest in the new Consumer Healthcare venture (the “Consumer 
put option”), for which the value is subject to significant judgement 
and estimation uncertainty. At 31 December 2015, this liability had a 
carrying value of £6,287 million.

Deploying our valuations specialists, we audited the methodology, 
underlying assumptions and mechanical accuracy of valuation models for 
each of the significant acquired intangible assets, consideration paid 
(including contingent consideration) and the settlement of pre-existing 
relationships. We challenged the cash flow projections that underpinned 
each of these valuations, including the Consumer put option, by comparing 
to historical cash flows and understanding the reasons for the growth 
profile of projections.

Deploying our tax specialists, we evaluated the external tax opinions 
obtained by management to verify their technical accuracy and to validate 
that the steps taken by the Group in effecting the transactions are 
consistent with the external advice and opinions. 

We instructed component teams at 13 locations to undertake certain 
substantive procedures over the acquired opening balance sheets for 
Vaccines and Consumer Healthcare, including attendance at inventory 
counts close to the acquisition date, physical verification of assets acquired 
and substantive procedures focused on revenue and cost cut-off.

As a result of our work, we determined that the provisional purchase  
price allocations for the Vaccines and Consumer Healthcare acquisitions 
outlined in Note 38 to the Group financial statements were reasonable.  
In connection with the Oncology disposal, we verified the cash proceeds 
and we reperformed management’s calculation of the resultant gain on 
disposal. We found that the pre-tax gain on disposal of Oncology of 
£9,228 million and the associated tax charge of £1,920 million were 
reasonably stated, with the latter reflecting management’s best estimate  
of the incremental tax risk arising as a result of the three-part transaction.  
We determined that the carrying value of the Consumer put option was 
calculated in accordance with the agreement with Novartis, was based  
on board approved projections for the business and was reasonably  
stated. Finally, we found the disclosures in respect of each aspect of the 
transaction to be reasonable, providing a fair reflection of the accounting 
and valuations judgements.

132  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
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Area of focus

How our audit addressed the area of focus

Rebates, discounts, allowances and returns in the US 
Pharmaceuticals and Vaccines business
Refer to Notes 3 and 27 in the Group financial statements.

The Group makes sales to various customers in the US that fall under 
certain commercial and government mandated contracts and 
reimbursement arrangements, of which the most significant are Medicaid 
and Medicare. The Group also provides a right of return to its customers 
for certain products. 

These arrangements result in deductions to gross sales in arriving at 
turnover and give rise to obligations for the Group to provide customers 
with rebates, discounts, allowances and the right of return, which for 
unsettled amounts are recognised as an accrual.

We focused on this area because rebates, discounts, allowances and 
returns arrangements are complex and because establishing an appropriate 
accrual requires significant judgement and estimation by the directors. This 
judgement is particularly complex in a US healthcare environment in which 
competitive pricing pressure and product discounting are growing trends. 
The directors have determined an accrual of £1,464 million to be necessary 
at 31 December 2015 (31 December 2014 – £1,308 million).

Investigations into the Group’s commercial practices
Refer to Notes 3, 29 and 45 in the Group financial statements.

The Group remains subject to ongoing investigations by the DoJ in the 
US and the SFO in the UK into the Group’s commercial practices in a 
number of markets. At 31 December 2015, the Group has concluded 
that it does not yet have sufficient clarity on the likely timing of the 
completion of these investigations nor is it able to make a sufficiently 
reliable estimate of any fines or penalties that either the DoJ or the  
SFO might impose on the Group on completion of their respective 
investigations. As a result, the Group has stated in note 45 that it is 
unable to recognise a provision for its estimate of the eventual outcome 
of either investigation.

In addition, the Group is carrying out its own investigations in a number 
markets to ascertain if activities similar to those previously alleged in 
China have occurred elsewhere.

We focused on the following risks, which might have a material impact 
on the Group’s financial statements:

•  That fines and penalties might be forthcoming in respect of ongoing 

investigations into the Group’s commercial practices, including those 
by the DoJ and SFO, that could give rise to the need for material 
provisions or asset impairments; and

•  That illegal acts similar to those previously alleged in China have 

occurred elsewhere in the Group.

Litigation
Refer to Notes 3, 29 and 45 in the Group financial statements.

The pharmaceuticals industry is heavily regulated which increases 
inherent litigation risk. The Group is engaged in a number of legal 
actions, including product liability, anti-trust and related private litigation, 
of which the most significant are disclosed in Notes 29 and 45.

We focused on this area as the eventual outcome of claims is uncertain 
and the positions taken by the directors are based on the application of 
material judgement and estimation. Accordingly, unexpected adverse 
outcomes could significantly impact the Group’s reported profit and 
balance sheet position.

During the year, the most significant increase to the Group’s litigation 
provisions was in respect of the Paxil product liability referred to in 
Notes 29 and 45 which was reassessed following unsuccessful 
mediation with plaintiffs giving rise to a subsequent revision of 
management’s best estimate of settling these claims. This increase was 
more than offset by utilisation of existing provisions of £428 million.  
At 31 December 2015, the Group held provisions of £352 million in 
respect of legal actions (31 December 2014 – £520 million). 

We obtained management’s calculations for accruals under applicable 
schemes and validated the assumptions used by reference to the Group’s 
stated commercial policies, the terms of the applicable contracts, third party 
data related to patient enrolment in US government funded benefit schemes 
and historical levels of product returns. 

We compared the assumptions to contracted prices, historical rebates, 
discounts, allowances and returns levels (where relevant) and to current 
payment trends. We also considered the historical accuracy of the Group’s 
estimates in previous years, including certain changes made to management’s 
estimates in 2015 to update Medicaid rebates for a new pricing methodology 
and to respond to the impact of competitive pricing pressures (particularly for 
Advair) and greater discounting in the US market more generally. We formed 
an independent expectation of the largest elements of the accrual at  
31 December 2015 using third party data and compared this expectation  
to the actual accrual recognised by the Group. 

Based on the procedures performed, we did not identify any material 
differences between our independent expectations and the accrual.

We met with the directors, management, in-house legal counsel and spoke 
with the Group’s external advisors to assess the risk of occurrence of  
similar acts to those previously alleged in China, the status of ongoing 
investigations and the potential for further fines and penalties. This included 
understanding and evaluating the Group’s internal investigations processes, 
which assess risks and allegations reported through various channels 
including whistle-blowing hotlines. We also evaluated the ongoing 
enhancements and changes that have been made to other control 
processes and business practices since the original allegations in China in 
2013.

Deploying our forensic specialists, we assessed the scope and findings of 
the investigative work performed by the Group as well as the risk assessment 
exercise that management has performed into third party interaction and 
engagement more broadly. We used the output of this assessment to instruct 
ten component teams (including certain markets not otherwise included in 
Group audit scope) to undertake risk-focused audit procedures to address 
the audit risk that the Group financial statements might be materially 
misstated due to the potential financial implications of alleged illegal acts.

In respect of the DoJ and SFO investigations, we independently circularised 
external legal counsel engaged by the Group to obtain its views on the status  
of the investigations and to ascertain the reasonableness of management’s 
assertions in respect of the likely outcome of each investigation. We discussed 
the responses received directly with external legal counsel and found that they 
were consistent with the representations received from management.

We were satisfied with the Group’s provisioning decisions at 31 December 
2015 and with the adequacy of the disclosures given the status of these 
investigations.

We discussed the status of significant known actual and potential litigation 
with in-house legal counsel. We obtained and substantively tested evidence 
to support the decisions and rationale for provisions held or decisions not to 
record provisions, including correspondence with legal counsel and other 
counter-parties to litigation. We also monitored and considered external 
information sources to identify potential legal actions.

We developed an independent expectation of the litigation provisions based 
on product litigation history and other available evidence to challenge the 
valuation and completeness of the provisions recognised by the Group.  
We obtained confirmations from external legal counsel to confirm our 
understanding of settled and outstanding litigation and asserted claims.  
We evaluated significant adjustments to legal provisions recorded during the 
year to determine if they were indicative of management bias. In respect of 
the increase in the provision for Paxil product liability litigation, we obtained 
sufficient evidence to conclude that this increase was reasonable, including 
review of external legal advice.

As disclosed in Notes 29 and 45 to the Group financial statements, the eventual 
outcome of legal proceedings is dependent on the outcome of future events and 
the position taken by the Group is inherently judgemental. We found that in the 
context of the Group financial statements taken as a whole the judgements 
made by management were reasonable and the disclosures made in respect of 
these provisions and contingent liabilities were appropriate.

GSK Annual Report 2015  133

 
 
 
 
 
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Independent Auditors’ report
continued

Area of focus

How our audit addressed the area of focus

Carrying value of goodwill and intangible assets
Refer to Notes 3, 18 and 19 in the Group financial statements.

The Group has £16.0 billion of intangible assets (31 December 2014 – 
£7.8 billion), comprising significant licenses, patents and acquired trade 
marks (and excluding computer software). In addition, the Group has  
£5.2 billion of goodwill at 31 December 2015 (31 December 2014 –  
£3.7 billion). The Group recognised impairments to these intangible 
assets amounting to £206 million during the year. 

The carrying values of goodwill and intangible assets are contingent on 
future cash flows and there is risk if these cash flows do not meet the 
Group’s expectations that the assets will be impaired. The impairment 
reviews performed by the Group contained a number of significant 
judgements and estimates including revenue growth, the success of new 
product launches, patent expiry dates, profit margins, cash conversion, 
terminal values and discount rate. Changes in these assumptions might 
lead to a change in the carrying value of intangible assets and goodwill.

During the year, the Group reduced its number of individual cash 
generating units (“CGUs”) for goodwill impairment testing purposes from 
eight to four, comprising Global Pharmaceuticals, Consumer Healthcare, 
Vaccines and ViiV Healthcare. This exercise was undertaken to align the 
CGUs to the Group’s operating segments which were changed following 
the Group’s restructuring following the Novartis transaction. Through 
this exercise, Vaccines has been treated as a separate CGU for the first 
time and the Global Pharmaceuticals CGU aggregates pharmaceuticals 
businesses previously separated into the US, Europe, Japan, Emerging 
Markets and Other.

We focused on acquired intangible assets, as these are the most 
significant individually and in aggregate, and a number have indefinite 
lives, including the most significant of the intangible assets acquired from 
Novartis. The Group has also recognised goodwill from a number of its 
acquisitions, including the three-part transaction with Novartis.

Re-measurement of the Shionogi-ViiV Healthcare contingent 
consideration
Refer to Notes 3, 30, 38 and 41 in the Group financial statements.

When the Group’s subsidiary, ViiV Healthcare, acquired the remaining 
50% interest in the Shionogi-ViiV Healthcare joint venture in 2012,  
£659 million was recognised as contingent consideration. This 
represented the fair value of expected payments to be made to Shionogi, 
contingent on future sales of dolutegravir products. This liability is 
required to be re-measured to its fair value at each reporting date.  
Since its initial recognition, it has been increased in response to actual 
and future sales significantly exceeding original expectations. At  
31 December 2015, the associated financial liability was £3,409 million  
(31 December 2014 – £1,684 million).

We focused on this area as the fair value of the contingent consideration 
is determined by a number of significant unobservable inputs and by 
management judgements and estimates, including forecast future sales 
of Tivicay and Triumeq, the overall market size for HIV therapies and the 
potential impact of competitor products launched in 2015 and expected 
to be launched in the future. In addition, the valuation is sensitive to 
changes in other assumptions, including discount and tax rates, both of 
which were revised in determining the valuation at 31 December 2015.

Uncertain tax positions
Refer to Notes 3 and 14 in the Group financial statements.

The Group operates in a complex multinational tax environment and there 
are open tax and transfer pricing matters with UK and overseas tax 
authorities. In addition, from time to time the Group enters into 
transactions with complicated accounting and tax consequences, 
including the three-part transaction with Novartis in 2015. Judgement  
is required in assessing the level of provisions required in respect of 
uncertain tax positions. At 31 December 2015, the Group has 
recognised provisions of £1,687 million in respect of uncertain tax 
positions (2014 – £1,344 million).

Deploying our valuations specialists, we obtained the Group’s impairment 
analyses and tested the reasonableness of key assumptions, including profit 
and cash flow growth, terminal values, the impact of the expiry of patents, 
potential product obsolescence and the selection of discount rates. We 
challenged management to substantiate its assumptions, including 
comparing relevant assumptions to industry and economic forecasts. 

We interrogated the integrity of supporting calculations and we corroborated 
certain information with third party sources, including expectations of 
performance of certain assets and components of the business. We obtained 
and evaluated management’s sensitivity analyses to ascertain the impact of 
reasonably possible changes in key assumptions and we performed our own 
independent sensitivity calculations to quantify the downside changes to 
management’s models required to result in impairment.

As a result of our work, we determined that the quantum of impairment 
recognised in 2015 was appropriate. For those intangible assets, including 
goodwill, where management determined that no impairment was required, 
we found that these judgements were supported by reasonable assumptions 
that would require unreasonable downside changes before any additional 
material impairment was necessary.

In respect of the aggregation of CGUs, we confirmed that this is the lowest 
level at which management monitors goodwill for internal purposes, that it  
is consistent both with the way in which the Group’s leadership team is 
structured and with how the Group’s results and financial position are 
reported to the CET and that no CGU for goodwill impairment testing 
purposes is larger than any of the Group’s new operating segments.

Deploying our valuations specialists, we evaluated management’s fair value 
computation model, including the projections and key assumptions used 
therein. We also compared the Group’s projections for its dolutegravir 
products against certain third party expectations and found them to be 
reasonable. In particular, we considered reasonably possible alternative 
scenarios, comprising a downside case in the event that products launched 
by competitors cannibalise more of the Group’s market share than anticipated 
in management’s base case and an upside case when the competitor 
launches are less successful. These scenarios result in contingent 
consideration liabilities that are materially lower and higher respectively. 
Notwithstanding this, we believe that the Group has a reasonable basis for  
its determination of the fair value at 31 December 2015 and that the value 
reflects management’s best estimates.

We validated that the methodology was consistent with previous years, and 
that where certain inputs were changed, such as discount and tax rates, we 
validated that appropriate triggers occurred in 2015 to support such 
changes. We also verified that the updated assumptions were reasonable. 
We also validated that the Group’s disclosures in respect of this liability, 
including the disclosure of estimation uncertainty and its impact on the fair 
value of the liability are reasonable.

In conjunction with our UK, US, international tax and transfer pricing 
specialists, we evaluated and challenged management’s judgements in 
respect of estimates of tax exposures and contingencies in order to assess 
the adequacy of the Group’s tax provisions. This included obtaining and 
evaluating certain third party tax opinions that the Group has obtained to 
assess the appropriateness of any assumptions used.

In understanding and evaluating management’s judgements, we considered 
the status of recent and current tax authority audits and enquiries, the outturn 
of previous claims, judgemental positions taken in tax returns and current year 
estimates and developments in the tax environment. From the evidence 
obtained, we considered the level of provisioning to be acceptable in the 
context of the Group financial statements taken as a whole. However, we 
noted that the assumptions and judgements that are required to formulate the 
provisions mean that the range of possible outcomes is broad.

134  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
How we tailored the audit scope 
We tailored the scope of our audit to ensure that we performed 
enough work to be able to give an opinion on the Group financial 
statements as a whole, taking into account the geographic structure 
of the Group, the accounting processes and controls and the 
industry in which the Group operates. 

The Group financial statements are a consolidation of over 500 
reporting components. We identified 28 reporting components that, 
in our view, required an audit of their complete financial information 
due to their size or risk characteristics. Specific audit procedures 
over significant balances and transactions were performed at a 
further 39 reporting components to give appropriate coverage  
of material balances. Where these reporting components are 
supported by shared financial service centres, these centres  
were also included in Group audit scope. None of the reporting 
components not included in our Group audit scope individually 
contributed more than 2% to consolidated revenue, profit before  
tax or adjusted profit before tax.

Where the work was performed by component auditors, we 
determined the level of involvement we needed to have in the audit 
work at those reporting component units. As a result, nine overseas 
components were visited by senior members of the Group audit 
team, including each of the Group’s financially significant 
components in the US (which are visited at least annually) alongside 
Belgium, Japan, Switzerland, Germany and India. We also held a two 
day audit planning workshop in London attended by 34 of our 

component teams, largely focused on the impact of the three-part 
transaction with Novartis alongside other planning and risk 
assessment activities. In addition, we visited four of the shared 
service centres supporting reporting components in Group audit 
scope. For those components in Group audit scope where a site visit 
was not undertaken, our involvement included regular dialogue with 
our component teams, review of component auditor work papers and 
participation in certain component audit clearance meetings. 

Further specific audit procedures over central functions, the Group 
consolidation and areas of significant judgement (including taxation, 
goodwill, intangible assets, treasury, post-retirement benefits, 
litigation and the elimination of unrealised intercompany profit in 
inventory) were directly led by the Group audit team.

Taken together, the territories and functions where we performed  
our audit work accounted for 65% of consolidated revenue, 80% of 
consolidated profit before tax and 76% of adjusted profit before tax. 
This was before considering the contribution to our audit evidence 
from performing audit work at the divisional and Group levels, 
including testing of monitoring controls and disaggregated analytical 
review procedures, which covers a significant portion of the Group’s 
smaller and lower risk components that were not directly included in 
our Group audit scope. In addition, we obtained audit evidence over 
certain out-of-scope components through the procedures we 
undertook at the Group’s shared service centres, encompassing 
BPOs and BSCs, and over centralised IT infrastructure where  
these processes are standardised.

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Materiality
The scope of our audit was influenced by our application of materiality. We set certain quantitative thresholds for materiality. These, 
together with qualitative considerations, helped us to determine the scope of our audit and the nature, timing and extent of our audit 
procedures on the individual financial statement line items and disclosures and in evaluating the effect of misstatements, both 
individually and on the financial statements as a whole. 

Based on our professional judgement, we determined materiality for the financial statements as a whole as follows:

Overall group materiality

How we determined it 

Rationale for benchmark applied

£200 million (2014 – £215 million).

Approximately 4% of profit before tax (£10,526 million), adding back certain non-recurring items 
including the re-measurement charge for the Shionogi-ViiV Healthcare contingent consideration 
(£1,874 million), the re-measurement charge of the Consumer Healthcare put option (£83 million), 
major restructuring costs (£1,896 million), legal costs (£221 million), equity investment 
impairments (£263 million) and impairment of intangible assets (£206 million) and deducting 
non-recurring net income relating to major acquisition and disposal activity (net £10,599 million).

The Group’s principal measure of earnings comprises core results, which adds back to statutory 
results a number of items of income and expenditure including those detailed above. Management 
uses this measure as it believes that it eliminates the volatility inherent in one-off items. We took 
this measure into account in determining our materiality, except that we did not adjust profit before 
tax to add back amortisation of intangible assets and certain other smaller non-core items as in our 
view these are recurring items which do not introduce volatility to the Group’s earnings. Materiality 
is lower than last year primarily due to the effect of lower profits in 2015.

We agreed with the Audit & Risk Committee that we would report to it misstatements identified during our audit above £10 million  
(2014 – £10 million) as well as misstatements below that amount that, in our view, warranted reporting for qualitative reasons.

Going concern 
Under the Listing Rules, we are required to review the directors’ 
statement, set out on page 130, in relation to going concern. We 
have nothing to report having performed our review.

Under ISAs (UK & Ireland), we are also required to report to you if 
we have anything material to add or to draw attention to in relation 
to the directors’ statement about whether they considered it 
appropriate to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the 
Group financial statements. We have nothing material to add or  
to draw attention to.

As noted in the directors’ statement, the directors have concluded 
that it is appropriate to adopt the going concern basis in preparing 
the Group financial statements. The going concern basis 
presumes that the Group has adequate resources to remain in 
operation, and that the directors intend it to do so, for at least one 
year from the date the Group financial statements were signed.  
As part of our audit, we have concluded that the directors’ use  
of the going concern basis is appropriate.

However, because not all future events or conditions can be 
predicted, these statements are not a guarantee as to the Group’s 
ability to continue as a going concern.

GSK Annual Report 2015  135

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Independent Auditors’ report
continued

Other required reporting

Consistency of other information

Companies Act 2006 opinion
In our opinion, the information given in the Strategic Report and the Directors’ Report for the financial year for which the Group financial 
statements are prepared is consistent with the Group financial statements.

ISAs (UK & Ireland) reporting

Under ISAs (UK & Ireland), we are required to report to you if, in our opinion:

•  information in the Annual Report is:
  –  materially inconsistent with the information in the audited Group financial statements; or
  –   apparently materially incorrect based on, or materially inconsistent with, our knowledge of the Group acquired in the 

We have no exceptions  
to report.

course of performing our audit; or

  –  otherwise misleading.

•  the statement given by the directors on page 130, in accordance with provision C.1.1 of the UK Corporate Governance 
Code (the ‘Code’), that they consider the Annual Report taken as a whole to be fair, balanced and understandable and 
provides the information necessary for members to assess the Group’s position and performance, business model and 
strategy is materially inconsistent with our knowledge of the Group acquired in the course of performing our audit.

We have no exceptions  
to report.

•  the section of the Annual Report on page 88, as required by provision C.3.8 of the Code, describing the work of the 

Audit Committee does not appropriately address matters communicated by us to the Audit Committee.

We have no exceptions  
to report.

The directors’ assessment of the prospects of the Group and of the principal risks that would threaten the solvency or 
liquidity of the Group 

Under ISAs (UK & Ireland) we are required to report to you if we have anything material to add or to draw attention to in relation to:

•  the directors’ confirmation in the Annual Report, in accordance with provision C.2.1 of the Code, that they have 
carried out a robust assessment of the principal risks facing the Group, including those that would threaten its 
business model, future performance, solvency or liquidity.

We have nothing material to 
add or to draw attention to.

•  the disclosures in the Annual Report that describe those risks and explain how they are being managed or mitigated. We have nothing material to 

•  the directors’ explanation in the Annual Report, in accordance with provision C.2.2 of the Code, as to how they 

have assessed the prospects of the Group, over what period they have done so and why they consider that period 
to be appropriate, and their statement as to whether they have a reasonable expectation that the Group will be able 
to continue in operation and meet its liabilities as they fall due over the period of their assessment, including any 
related disclosures drawing attention to any necessary qualifications or assumptions.

add or to draw attention to.

We have nothing material to 
add or to draw attention to.

Under the Listing Rules, we are required to review the directors’ statement that they have carried out a robust assessment of the principal risks facing 
the Group and the directors’ statement in relation to the longer-term viability of the Group, set out on page 52. Our review was substantially less in 
scope than an audit and only consisted of making enquiries and considering the directors’ process supporting their statements; checking that the 
statements are in alignment with the relevant provisions of the Code; and considering whether the statements are consistent with the knowledge 
acquired by us in the course of performing our audit. We have nothing to report having performed our review.

Adequacy of information and explanations received
Under the Companies Act 2006, we are required to report to you 
if, in our opinion, we have not received all the information and 
explanations we require for our audit. We have no exceptions to 
report arising from this responsibility. 

Corporate governance statement
Under the Listing Rules, we are required to review the part of the 
Corporate Governance Statement relating to ten further provisions 
of the UK Corporate Governance Code. We have nothing to report 
having performed our review. 

Directors’ remuneration
Under the Companies Act 2006, we are required to report to you 
if, in our opinion, certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration 
specified by law are not made. We have no exceptions to report 
arising from this responsibility. 

136  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
Responsibilities for the financial statements 
and the audit

Our responsibilities and those of the directors 
As explained more fully in the directors’ statement of 
responsibilities set out on page 130, the directors are responsible 
for the preparation of the Group financial statements and for being 
satisfied that they give a true and fair view.

Our responsibility is to audit and express an opinion on the Group 
financial statements in accordance with applicable law and ISAs 
(UK & Ireland). Those standards require us to comply with the 
Auditing Practices Board’s Ethical Standards for Auditors.

This report, including the opinions, has been prepared for and  
only for the Company’s members as a body in accordance with 
Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and for no other 
purpose. We do not, in giving these opinions, accept or assume 
responsibility for any other purpose or to any other person to 
whom this report is shown or into whose hands it may come save 
where expressly agreed by our prior consent in writing.

Other matters

We have reported separately on the parent company financial 
statements of GlaxoSmithKline plc for the year ended  
31 December 2015 and on the information in the directors’ 
Remuneration Report that is described as having been audited.

The company has passed a resolution in accordance with section 
506 of the Companies Act 2006 that the senior statutory auditor’s 
name should not be stated.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors
London
16 March 2016

Notes:

What an audit of financial statements involves
An audit involves obtaining evidence about the amounts and 
disclosures in the financial statements sufficient to give reasonable 
assurance that the financial statements are free from material 
misstatement, whether caused by fraud or error. This includes an 
assessment of: 

(a)    The maintenance and integrity of the GlaxoSmithKline plc 

website is the responsibility of the directors; the work carried 
out by the auditors does not involve consideration of these 
matters and, accordingly, the auditors accept no responsibility 
for any changes that may have occurred to the financial 
statements since they were initially presented on the website.

•  whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the Group’s 

circumstances and have been consistently applied and 
adequately disclosed; 

(b)    Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation 
and dissemination of financial statements may differ from 
legislation in other jurisdictions.

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•  the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made  

by the directors; and 

•  the overall presentation of the financial statements. 

We primarily focus our work in these areas by assessing the 
directors’ judgements against available evidence, forming our  
own judgements, and evaluating the disclosures in the financial 
statements.

We test and examine information, using sampling and other 
auditing techniques, to the extent we consider necessary to 
provide a reasonable basis for us to draw conclusions. We obtain 
audit evidence through testing the effectiveness of controls, 
substantive procedures or a combination of both. 

In addition, we read all the financial and non-financial information  
in the Annual Report to identify material inconsistencies with the 
audited financial statements and to identify any information that is 
apparently materially incorrect based on, or materially inconsistent 
with, the knowledge acquired by us in the course of performing the 
audit. If we become aware of any apparent material misstatements 
or inconsistencies, we consider the implications for our report.

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GSK Annual Report 2015  137

 
 
 
 
 
Financial statements

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Consolidated income statement
for the year ended 31 December 2015

Turnover
Cost of sales
Gross profit
Selling, general and administration
Research and development
Royalty income
Other operating income
Operating profit

Finance income
Finance expense
Profit on disposal of interest in associates
Share of after tax profits of associates and joint ventures
Profit before taxation

Taxation

Profit after taxation for the year

(Loss)/profit attributable to non-controlling interests
Profit attributable to shareholders

Basic earnings per share (pence)
Diluted earnings per share (pence)

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Consolidated statement of comprehensive income 
for the year ended 31 December 2015

Profit for the year

Items that may be subsequently reclassified to income statement:
Exchange movements on overseas net assets and net investment hedges
Reclassification of exchange on liquidation or disposal of overseas subsidiaries
Deferred tax on exchange movements
Fair value movements on available-for-sale investments
Deferred tax on fair value movements on available-for-sale investments
Reclassification of fair value movements on available-for-sale investments
Deferred tax reversed on reclassification of available-for-sale investments
Fair value movements on cash flow hedges
Deferred tax on fair value movements on cash flow hedges
Reclassification of cash flow hedges to income statement
Share of other comprehensive income of associates and joint ventures

Items that will not be reclassified to income statement:
Exchange movements on overseas net assets of non-controlling interests
Remeasurement gains/(losses) on defined benefit plans
Deferred tax on remeasurement gains/(losses) in defined benefit plans

Notes
6

7
8

11
12

13

14

15
15

34
34

2015 
£m
23,923
(8,853)
15,070
(9,232)
(3,560)
329
7,715
10,322

104
(757)
843
14
10,526

2014 
£m
23,006
(7,323)
15,683
(8,246)
(3,450)
310
(700)
3,597

68
(727)
–
30
2,968

2013 
£m
26,505
(8,585)
17,920
(8,480)
(3,923)
387
1,124
7,028

61
(767)
282
43
6,647

(2,154)

(137)

(1,019)

8,372

(50)
8,422
8,372

174.3p
172.3p

2,831

75
2,756
2,831

57.3p
56.7p

5,628

192
5,436
5,628

112.5p
110.5p

2015 
£m
8,372

2014 
£m
2,831

2013 
£m
5,628

(618)
–
–
416
(91)
(346)
36
2
–
2
(77)
(676)

8
261
(80)
189

(497)
(219)
(2)
29
(78)
(155)
58
5
(1)
(5)
18
(847)

16
(1,181)
262
(903)

(255)
–
–
367
(29)
(38)
7
(9)
1
2
15
61

(35)
847
(286)
526

587

Other comprehensive (expense)/income for the year

34

(487)

(1,750)

Total comprehensive income for the year

Total comprehensive income for the year attributable to:
Shareholders
Non-controlling interests
Total comprehensive income for the year

138  GSK Annual Report 2015

7,885

1,081

6,215

7,927
(42)
7,885

990
91
1,081

6,058
157
6,215

 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated balance sheet 
as at 31 December 2015

Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment
Goodwill
Other intangible assets
Investments in associates and joint ventures
Other investments
Deferred tax assets
Other non-current assets
Total non-current assets

Current assets
Inventories
Current tax recoverable
Trade and other receivables
Derivative financial instruments
Liquid investments
Cash and cash equivalents
Assets held for sale
Total current assets
Total assets

Current liabilities
Short-term borrowings
Trade and other payables
Derivative financial instruments
Current tax payable
Short-term provisions
Total current liabilities

Non-current liabilities
Long-term borrowings
Deferred tax liabilities
Pensions and other post-employment benefits
Other provisions
Derivative financial instruments
Other non-current liabilities
Total non-current liabilities
Total liabilities
Net assets

Equity
Share capital
Share premium account
Retained earnings
Other reserves
Shareholders’ equity
Non-controlling interests
Total equity

Notes

2015 
£m

2014 
£m 

17
18
19
20
21
14
22

23
14
24
41
31
25
26

31
27
41
14
29

31
14
28
29
41
30

33
33
34
34

9,668
5,162
16,672
207
1,255
2,905
990
36,859

4,716
180
5,615
125
75
5,830
46
16,587
53,446

(1,308)
(9,191)
(153)
(1,421)
(1,344)
(13,417)

(15,324)
(1,522)
(3,229)
(420)
–
(10,656)
(31,151)
(44,568)
8,878

1,340
2,831
(1,397)
2,340
5,114
3,764
8,878

9,052
3,724
8,320
340
1,114
2,688
735
25,973

4,231
138
4,600
146
69
4,338
1,156
14,678
40,651

(2,943)
(7,958)
(404)
(945)
(1,045)
(13,295)

(15,841)
(445)
(3,179)
(545)
(9)
(2,401)
(22,420)
(35,715)
4,936

1,339
2,759
(2,074)
2,239
4,263
673
4,936

The financial statements on pages 138 to 210 were approved by the Board on 16 March 2016 and signed on its behalf by

Philip Hampton 
Chairman

GSK Annual Report 2015  139

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Financial statements
continued

Consolidated statement of changes in equity
for the year ended 31 December 2015

At 1 January 2013

  Profit for the year
  Other comprehensive income/(expense) for the year
Total comprehensive income for the year

Distributions to non-controlling interests
Dividends to shareholders
Changes in non-controlling interests
Ordinary Shares issued
Ordinary Shares purchased and cancelled or held as Treasury shares
Ordinary Shares acquired by ESOP Trusts
Write-down of shares held by ESOP Trusts
Share-based incentive plans
Tax on share-based incentive plans
At 31 December 2013

  Profit for the year
  Other comprehensive (expense)/income for the year
Total comprehensive income/(expense) for the year

Distributions to non-controlling interests
Dividends to shareholders
Changes in non-controlling interests
Forward contract relating to non-controlling interest
Ordinary Shares issued
Ordinary Shares purchased and cancelled or held as Treasury shares
Ordinary Shares acquired by ESOP Trusts
Write-down of shares held by ESOP Trusts
Share-based incentive plans
Tax on share-based incentive plans
At 31 December 2014

  Profit/(loss) for the year
  Other comprehensive (expense)/income for the year
Total comprehensive income/(expense) for the year

Distributions to non-controlling interests
Dividends to shareholders
Gains on transfer of net assets into Consumer Healthcare
  Joint Venture
Consumer Healthcare Joint Venture put option
Changes in non-controlling interests
Loss on transfer of equity investment to investment in associate
Ordinary Shares issued
Ordinary Shares acquired by ESOP Trusts
Write-down of shares held by ESOP Trusts
Share-based incentive plans
Tax on share-based incentive plans
At 31 December 2015

Shareholders’ equity

Share 
capital 
£m
1,349

Share 
premium 
£m
2,022

Retained 
earnings 
£m
642

Other 
reserves 
£m
1,787

–
–
–

–
–
–
12
(25)
–
–
–
–
1,336

–
–
–

–
–
–
–
3
–
–
–
–
–
1,339

–
–
–

–
–

–
–
–
–
1
–
–
–
–
1,340

–
–
–

–
–
–
573
–
–
–
–
–
2,595

–
–
–

–
–
–
–
164
–
–
–
–
–
2,759

–
–
–

–
–

–
–
–
–
72
–
–
–
–
2,831

5,436
316
5,752

–
(3,680)
(584)
–
(1,504)
–
(80)
294
73
913

2,756
(1,626)
1,130

–
(3,843)
(58)
–
–
(238)
150
(450)
326
(4)
(2,074)

8,422
(520)
7,902

–
(3,874)

2,891
(6,204)
–
(229)
–
–
(175)
356
10
(1,397)

–
306
306

–
–
–
–
25
(45)
80
–
–
2,153

–
(140)
(140)

–
–
–
21
–
–
(245)
450
–
–
2,239

–
25
25

–
–

–
–
–
–
–
(99)
175
–
–
2,340

Non-
controlling 
interests 
£m
937

192
(35)
157

(238)
–
(41)
–
–
–
–
–
–
815

75
16
91

(205)
–
(28)
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
673

(50)
8
(42)

(237)
–

–
–
3,370
–
–
–
–
–
–
3,764

Total 
£m
5,800

5,436
622
6,058

–
(3,680)
(584)
585
(1,504)
(45)
–
294
73
6,997

2,756
(1,766)
990

–
(3,843)
(58)
21
167
(238)
(95)
–
326
(4)
4,263

8,422
(495)
7,927

–
(3,874)

2,891
(6,204)
–
(229)
73
(99)
–
356
10
5,114

Total 
equity 
£m
6,737

5,628
587
6,215

(238)
(3,680)
(625)
585
(1,504)
(45)
–
294
73
7,812

2,831
(1,750)
1,081

(205)
(3,843)
(86)
21
167
(238)
(95)
–
326
(4)
4,936

8,372
(487)
7,885

(237)
(3,874)

2,891
(6,204)
3,370
(229)
73
(99)
–
356
10
8,878

140  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated cash flow statement
for the year ended 31 December 2015

Cash flow from operating activities
Profit after taxation for the year
Adjustments reconciling profit after tax to operating cash flows
Cash generated from operations
Taxation paid
Net cash inflow from operating activities

Cash flow from investing activities
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment
Purchase of intangible assets
Proceeds from sale of intangible assets
Purchase of equity investments
Proceeds from sale of equity investments
Purchase of businesses, net of cash acquired
Disposal of businesses
Investments in associates and joint ventures
Proceeds from disposal of subsidiary and interest in associate
(Increase)/decrease in liquid investments
Interest received
Dividends from associates and joint ventures
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from investing activities

Cash flow from financing activities
Shares acquired by ESOP Trusts
Issue of share capital
Purchase of own shares for cancellation or to be held as Treasury shares
Purchase of non-controlling interests
Increase in long-term loans
Repayment of short-term loans
Net repayment of obligations under finance leases
Interest paid
Dividends paid to shareholders
Distributions to non-controlling interests
Other financing cash flows
Net cash outflow from financing activities

Notes

36

38
38
20

33

2015 
£m

2014 
£m

2013 
£m

8,372
(3,741)
4,631
(2,062)
2,569

(1,380)
72
(521)
236
(82)
357
(3,541)
10,246
(16)
564
(2)
99
5
6,037

(99)
73
–
–
–
(2,412)
(25)
(762)
(3,874)
(237)
233
(7,103)

2,831
3,453
6,284
(1,108)
5,176

(1,188)
39
(563)
330
(83)
205
(104)
225
(9)
1
1
63
5
(1,078)

(95)
167
(238)
(679)
1,960
(1,709)
(23)
(707)
(3,843)
(205)
(13)
(5,385)

5,628
2,871
8,499
(1,277)
7,222

(1,188)
46
(513)
136
(133)
59
(247)
1,851
(8)
429
15
59
18
524

(45)
585
(1,504)
(588)
1,913
(1,872)
(31)
(749)
(3,680)
(238)
(64)
(6,273)

Increase/(decrease) in cash and bank overdrafts

37

1,503

(1,287)

1,473

Cash and bank overdrafts at beginning of year
Exchange adjustments
Increase/(decrease) in cash and bank overdrafts
Cash and bank overdrafts at end of year

Cash and bank overdrafts at end of year comprise:
Cash and cash equivalents
Overdrafts

4,028
(45)
1,503
5,486

5,830
(344)
5,486

5,231
84
(1,287)
4,028

4,338
(310)
4,028

3,906
(148)
1,473
5,231

5,534
(303)
5,231

GSK Annual Report 2015  141

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Notes to the financial statements

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1 Presentation of the financial statements
Description of business
GSK is a major global healthcare group which is engaged in the 
creation and discovery, development, manufacture and marketing 
of pharmaceutical products including vaccines, over-the-counter 
(OTC) medicines and health-related consumer products. GSK’s 
principal pharmaceutical products include medicines in the 
following therapeutic areas: respiratory, anti-virals, central nervous 
system, cardiovascular and urogenital, metabolic, anti-bacterials, 
dermatology, rare diseases, immuno-inflammation, vaccines  
and HIV.

Compliance with applicable law and IFRS
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with  
the Companies Act 2006, Article 4 of the IAS Regulation and 
International Accounting Standards (IAS) and International 
Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and related interpretations, 
as adopted by the European Union.

The financial statements are also in compliance with IFRS as 
issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.

Composition of financial statements
 The consolidated financial statements are drawn up in Sterling,  
the functional currency of GlaxoSmithKline plc, and in accordance 
with IFRS accounting presentation. The financial statements 
comprise:

•  Consolidated income statement

•  Consolidated statement of comprehensive income

Implementation of new accounting standards
An amendment to IAS 19 ‘Defined benefit plans: Employee 
contribution’ was issued in November 2013 and was implemented 
by GSK from 1 January 2015. The amendment provides additional 
guidance on the treatment of contributions to defined benefit 
plans from employees and third parties and has no material impact 
on the current period.

Financial period
These financial statements cover the financial year from 1 January 
to 31 December 2015, with comparative figures for the financial 
years from 1 January to 31 December 2014 and, where 
appropriate, from 1 January to 31 December 2013.

Parent company financial statements
The financial statements of the parent company, GlaxoSmithKline 
plc, have been prepared in accordance with UK GAAP and with UK 
accounting presentation. The company balance sheet is presented 
on page 213 and the accounting policies are given on page 214. 

2 Accounting principles and policies
Consolidation
 The consolidated financial statements include:

•  the assets and liabilities, and the results and cash flows,  

of the company and its subsidiaries, including ESOP Trusts

•   the Group’s share of the results and net assets of associates 

and joint ventures

•  the Group’s share of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses  

•  Consolidated balance sheet

of joint operations.

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•  Consolidated statement of changes in equity

•  Consolidated cash flow statement

•  Notes to the financial statements.

Composition of the Group
A list of the subsidiary and associated undertakings which, in the 
opinion of the Directors, principally affected the amount of profit  
or the net assets of the Group is given in Note 44, ‘Principal  
Group companies’.

Accounting principles and policies
The financial statements have been prepared using the historical  
cost convention modified by the revaluation of certain items, as  
stated in the accounting policies, and on a going concern basis.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance  
with the Group’s accounting policies approved by the Board  
and described in Note 2, ‘Accounting principles and policies’. 
Information on the application of these accounting policies, 
including areas of estimation and judgement is given in Note 3,  
‘Key accounting judgements and estimates’. 

The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with 
generally accepted accounting principles requires management  
to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported 
amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent 
assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and  
the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the 
reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

The financial statements of entities consolidated are made up  
to 31 December each year.

Entities over which the Group has the power to direct the relevant 
activities so as to affect the returns to the Group, generally through 
control over the financial and operating policies, are accounted for  
as subsidiaries. Where the Group has the ability to exercise joint 
control over, and rights to the net assets of, entities, the entities  
are accounted for as joint ventures. Where the Group has the 
ability to exercise joint control over an arrangement, but has rights 
to specified assets and obligations for specified liabilities of the 
arrangement, the arrangement is accounted for as a joint 
operation. Where the Group has the ability to exercise significant 
influence over entities, they are accounted for as associates.  
The results and assets and liabilities of associates and joint 
ventures are incorporated into the consolidated financial 
statements using the equity method of accounting. The  
Group’s rights to assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses  
of joint operations are included in the consolidated financial 
statements in accordance with those rights and obligations.

Interests acquired in entities are consolidated from the date the 
Group acquires control and interests sold are de-consolidated 
from the date control ceases.

142  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
Revenue
Revenue is recognised in the income statement when goods or 
services are supplied or made available to external customers 
against orders received, title and risk of loss is passed to the 
customer, reliable estimates can be made of relevant deductions 
and all relevant obligations have been fulfilled, such that the 
earnings process is regarded as being complete. 

Turnover represents net invoice value after the deduction of 
discounts and allowances given and accruals for estimated future 
rebates and returns. The methodology and assumptions used to 
estimate rebates and returns are monitored and adjusted regularly 
in the light of contractual and legal obligations, historical trends, 
past experience and projected market conditions. Market 
conditions are evaluated using wholesaler and other third-party 
analyses, market research data and internally generated 
information. Value added tax and other sales taxes are excluded 
from revenue.

Where the Group co-promotes a product and the counterparty 
records the sale, the Group records its share of revenue as  
co-promotion income within turnover. The nature of co-promotion 
activities is such that the Group records no costs of sales. 
Pharmaceutical turnover includes co-promotion revenue of  
£14 million (2014 – £22 million; 2013 – £37 million). In addition,  
initial or event-based milestone income (excluding royalty income) 
arising on development or marketing collaborations of the Group’s 
compounds or products with other parties is recognised in  
turnover. Milestone income of £nil is included in turnover  
(2014 – £57 million; 2013 – £78 million).

Royalty income is recognised on an accruals basis in accordance 
with the terms of the relevant licensing agreements.

Expenditure
Expenditure is recognised in respect of goods and services 
received when supplied in accordance with contractual terms. 
Provision is made when an obligation exists for a future liability  
in respect of a past event and where the amount of the obligation  
can be reliably estimated. Manufacturing start-up costs between 
validation and the achievement of normal production are expensed 
as incurred. Advertising and promotion expenditure is charged  
to the income statement as incurred. Shipment costs on inter-
company transfers are charged to cost of sales; distribution  
costs on sales to customers are included in selling, general  
and administrative expenditure. 

Restructuring costs are recognised and provided for, where 
appropriate, in respect of the direct expenditure of a business 
reorganisation where the plans are sufficiently detailed and  
well advanced, and where appropriate communication to those 
affected has been undertaken.

2 Accounting principles and policies continued

Transactions and balances between subsidiaries are eliminated 
and no profit before tax is taken on sales between subsidiaries 
until the products are sold to customers outside the Group. The 
relevant proportion of profits on transactions with joint ventures, 
joint operations and associates is also deferred until the products 
are sold to third parties. Transactions with non-controlling interests 
are recorded directly in equity. Deferred tax relief on unrealised 
intra-Group profit is accounted for only to the extent that it is 
considered recoverable.

Goodwill is capitalised as a separate item in the case of 
subsidiaries and as part of the cost of investment in the case  
of joint ventures and associates. Goodwill is denominated  
in the currency of the operation acquired.

Where the cost of acquisition is below the fair value of the  
net assets acquired, the difference is recognised directly in  
the income statement.

Business combinations
Business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition 
accounting method. Identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent 
liabilities acquired are measured at fair value at acquisition date.  
The consideration transferred is measured at fair value and 
includes the fair value of any contingent consideration. Where  
the consideration transferred, together with the non-controlling 
interest, exceeds the fair value of the net assets, liabilities and 
contingent liabilities acquired, the excess is recorded as goodwill. 
The costs of acquisition are charged to the income statement in 
the period in which they are incurred. 

Where not all of the equity of a subsidiary is acquired the non-
controlling interest is recognised either at fair value or at the 
non-controlling interest’s share of the net assets of the subsidiary, 
on a case-by-case basis. Changes in the Group’s ownership 
percentage of subsidiaries are accounted for within equity. 

Foreign currency translation
 Foreign currency transactions are booked in the functional 
currency of the Group company at the exchange rate ruling on  
the date of transaction. Foreign currency monetary assets and 
liabilities are retranslated into the functional currency at rates of 
exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. Exchange differences 
are included in the income statement.

On consolidation, assets and liabilities, including related goodwill, 
of overseas subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures, are 
translated into Sterling at rates of exchange ruling at the balance 
sheet date. The results and cash flows of overseas subsidiaries, 
associates and joint ventures are translated into Sterling using 
average rates of exchange. 

Exchange adjustments arising when the opening net assets  
and the profits for the year retained by overseas subsidiaries, 
associates and joint ventures are translated into Sterling, less 
exchange differences arising on related foreign currency 
borrowings which hedge the Group’s net investment in these 
operations, are taken to a separate component of equity.

When translating into Sterling the assets, liabilities, results and 
cash flows of overseas subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures 
which are reported in currencies of hyper-inflationary economies, 
adjustments are made where material to reflect current price levels. 
Any loss on net monetary assets is charged to the consolidated 
income statement.

GSK Annual Report 2015  143

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Notes to the financial statements
continued

Employee share plans
Incentives in the form of shares are provided to employees under 
share option and share award schemes. 

The fair values of these options and awards are calculated at  
their grant dates using a Black-Scholes option pricing model and 
charged to the income statement over the relevant vesting periods.

The Group provides finance to ESOP Trusts to purchase company 
shares to meet the obligation to provide shares when employees 
exercise their options or awards. Costs of running the ESOP 
Trusts are charged to the income statement. Shares held by the 
ESOP Trusts are deducted from other reserves. A transfer is made 
between other reserves and retained earnings over the vesting 
periods of the related share options or awards to reflect the 
ultimate proceeds receivable from employees on exercise.

Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment (PP&E) is stated at the cost of 
purchase or construction less provisions for depreciation and 
impairment. Financing costs are capitalised within the cost of 
qualifying assets in construction.

Depreciation is calculated to write off the cost less residual value  
of PP&E, excluding freehold land, using the straight-line basis over 
the expected useful life. Residual values and lives are reviewed, 
and where appropriate adjusted, annually. The normal expected 
useful lives of the major categories of PP&E are:

Freehold buildings 
Leasehold land and buildings 
Plant and machinery 
Equipment and vehicles 

20 to 50 years
Lease term or 20 to 50 years
10 to 20 years
3 to 10 years

On disposal of PP&E, the cost and related accumulated 
depreciation and impairments are removed from the financial 
statements and the net amount, less any proceeds, is taken to  
the income statement.

Leases
Leasing agreements which transfer to the Group substantially  
all the benefits and risks of ownership of an asset are treated as 
finance leases, as if the asset had been purchased outright. The 
assets are included in PP&E or computer software and the capital 
elements of the leasing commitments are shown as obligations 
under finance leases. Assets held under finance leases are 
depreciated on a basis consistent with similar owned assets or  
the lease term if shorter. The interest element of the lease rental  
is included in the income statement. All other leases are operating 
leases and the rental costs are charged to the income statement 
on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

Goodwill
Goodwill is stated at cost less impairments. Goodwill is deemed  
to have an indefinite useful life and is tested for impairment at  
least annually.

Where the fair value of the interest acquired in an entity’s assets, 
liabilities and contingent liabilities exceeds the consideration paid, 
this excess is recognised immediately as a gain in the income 
statement.

2 Accounting principles and policies continued
Research and development
 Research and development expenditure is charged to the income 
statement in the period in which it is incurred. Development 
expenditure is capitalised when the criteria for recognising an 
asset are met, usually when a regulatory filing has been made in a 
major market and approval is considered highly probable. Property, 
plant and equipment used for research and development is 
capitalised and depreciated in accordance with the Group’s policy.

Environmental expenditure
Environmental expenditure related to existing conditions resulting 
from past or current operations and from which no current or  
future benefit is discernible is charged to the income statement. 
The Group recognises its liability on a site-by-site basis when  
it can be reliably estimated. This liability includes the Group’s 
portion of the total costs and also a portion of other potentially 
responsible parties’ costs when it is probable that they will not be 
able to satisfy their respective shares of the clean-up obligation. 
Recoveries of reimbursements are recorded as assets when 
virtually certain.

Legal and other disputes
Provision is made for the anticipated settlement costs of legal  
or other disputes against the Group where an outflow of resources  
is considered probable and a reliable estimate can be made of  
the likely outcome. In addition, provision is made for legal or  
other expenses arising from claims received or other disputes.  
In respect of product liability claims related to certain products, 
there is sufficient history of claims made and settlements to  
enable management to make a reliable estimate of the provision 
required to cover unasserted claims. In certain cases, an incurred 
but not reported (IBNR) actuarial technique is used to determine 
this estimate. 

The Group may become involved in legal proceedings, in respect  
of which it is not possible to make a reliable estimate of the 
expected financial effect, if any, that could result from ultimate 
resolution of the proceedings. In these cases, appropriate 
disclosure about such cases would be included but no provision 
would be made. Costs associated with claims made by the Group 
against third parties are charged to the income statement as they 
are incurred.

Pensions and other post-employment benefits
The costs of providing pensions under defined benefit schemes 
are calculated using the projected unit credit method and spread 
over the period during which benefit is expected to be derived from 
the employees’ services, consistent with the advice of qualified 
actuaries. Pension obligations are measured as the present value 
of estimated future cash flows discounted at rates reflecting the 
yields of high quality corporate bonds. Pension scheme assets  
are measured at fair value at the balance sheet date.

The costs of other post-employment liabilities are calculated in  
a similar way to defined benefit pension schemes and spread  
over the period during which benefit is expected to be derived  
from the employees’ services, in accordance with the advice of  
qualified actuaries.

Actuarial gains and losses and the effect of changes in actuarial 
assumptions, are recognised in the statement of comprehensive 
income in the year in which they arise. 

The Group’s contributions to defined contribution plans are  
charged to the income statement as incurred.

144  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale investments
Liquid investments and other investments are classified as 
available-for-sale investments and are initially recorded at fair  
value plus transaction costs and then remeasured at subsequent 
reporting dates to fair value. Unrealised gains and losses on 
available-for-sale investments are recognised directly in other 
comprehensive income. Impairments arising from the significant  
or prolonged decline in fair value of an equity investment reduce 
the carrying amount of the asset directly and are charged to the 
income statement.

On disposal or impairment of the investments, any gains and 
losses that have been deferred in other comprehensive income  
are reclassified to the income statement. Dividends on equity 
investments are recognised in the income statement when the 
Group’s right to receive payment is established. Equity investments 
are recorded in non-current assets unless they are expected to be 
sold within one year. 

Purchases and sales of equity investments are accounted for on  
the trade date and purchases and sales of other available-for-sale 
investments are accounted for on settlement date.

Inventories
Inventories are included in the financial statements at the lower of 
cost (including raw materials, direct labour, other direct costs and 
related production overheads) and net realisable value. Cost is 
generally determined on a first in, first out basis. Pre-launch 
inventory is held as an asset when there is a high probability of 
regulatory approval for the product. Before that point a provision  
is made against the carrying value to its recoverable amount; the 
provision is then reversed at the point when a high probability of 
regulatory approval is determined.

Trade receivables
Trade receivables are carried at original invoice amount less any 
provisions for doubtful debts. Provisions are made where there  
is evidence of a risk of non-payment, taking into account ageing, 
previous experience and general economic conditions. When a 
trade receivable is determined to be uncollectable it is written off, 
firstly against any provision available and then to the income 
statement. 

Subsequent recoveries of amounts previously provided for are 
credited to the income statement. Long-term receivables are 
discounted where the effect is material. 

Borrowings
All borrowings are initially recorded at the amount of proceeds 
received, net of transaction costs. Borrowings are subsequently 
carried at amortised cost, with the difference between the 
proceeds, net of transaction costs, and the amount due on 
redemption being recognised as a charge to the income  
statement over the period of the relevant borrowing.

2 Accounting principles and policies continued
Other intangible assets
Intangible assets are stated at cost less provisions for amortisation 
and impairments. 

Licences, patents, know-how and marketing rights separately 
acquired or acquired as part of a business combination are 
amortised over their estimated useful lives, generally not exceeding 
20 years, using the straight-line basis, from the time they are 
available for use. The estimated useful lives for determining the 
amortisation charge take into account patent lives, where 
applicable, as well as the value obtained from periods of non-
exclusivity. Asset lives are reviewed, and where appropriate 
adjusted, annually. Contingent milestone payments are recognised 
at the point that the contingent event becomes probable. Any 
development costs incurred by the Group and associated with 
acquired licences, patents, know-how or marketing rights are 
written off to the income statement when incurred, unless the 
criteria for recognition of an internally generated intangible asset 
are met, usually when a regulatory filing has been made in a major 
market and approval is considered highly probable.

Acquired brands are valued independently as part of the fair value  
of businesses acquired from third parties where the brand has a  
value which is substantial and long term and where the brands  
either are contractual or legal in nature or can be sold separately  
from the rest of the businesses acquired. Brands are amortised  
over their estimated useful lives of up to 20 years, except where  
it is considered that the useful economic life is indefinite.

The costs of acquiring and developing computer software for 
internal use and internet sites for external use are capitalised  
as intangible fixed assets where the software or site supports  
a significant business system and the expenditure leads to the 
creation of a durable asset. ERP systems software is amortised 
over seven to ten years and other computer software over three  
to five years.

Impairment of non-current assets
The carrying values of all non-current assets are reviewed for 
impairment, either on a stand-alone basis or as part of a larger 
cash generating unit, when there is an indication that the assets 
might be impaired. Additionally, goodwill, intangible assets with 
indefinite useful lives and intangible assets which are not yet 
available for use are tested for impairment annually. Any provision 
for impairment is charged to the income statement in the year 
concerned.

Impairments of goodwill are not reversed. Impairment losses on  
other non-current assets are only reversed if there has been a  
change in estimates used to determine recoverable amounts  
and only to the extent that the revised recoverable amounts do  
not exceed the carrying values that would have existed, net of 
depreciation or amortisation, had no impairments been recognised.

Investments in associates, joint ventures and joint operations
Investments in associates and joint ventures are carried in the 
consolidated balance sheet at the Group’s share of their net 
assets at date of acquisition and of their post-acquisition  
retained profits or losses together with any goodwill arising  
on the acquisition. The Group recognises its rights to assets, 
liabilities, revenue and expenses of joint operations. 

GSK Annual Report 2015  145

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Notes to the financial statements
continued

2 Accounting principles and policies continued
Taxation
Current tax is provided at the amounts expected to be paid 
applying tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted 
by the balance sheet date.

Deferred tax is provided in full, on temporary differences arising 
between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying 
amounts in the financial statements. Deferred tax assets are 
recognised to the extent that it is probable that future taxable 
profits will be available against which the temporary differences 
can be utilised. Deferred tax is provided on temporary differences 
arising on investments in subsidiaries, associates and joint 
ventures, except where the timing of the reversal of the temporary 
difference can be controlled and it is probable that the temporary 
difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future. Deferred tax is 
provided using rates of tax that have been enacted or substantively 
enacted by the balance sheet date. 

Derivative financial instruments and hedging
Derivative financial instruments are used to manage exposure to 
market risks. The principal derivative instruments used by GSK 
are foreign currency swaps, interest rate swaps, foreign exchange 
forward contracts and options. The Group does not hold or issue 
derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative 
purposes.

Derivative financial instruments are classified as held-for-trading 
and are carried in the balance sheet at fair value. Derivatives 
designated as hedging instruments are classified on inception  
as cash flow hedges, net investment hedges or fair value hedges. 

Changes in the fair value of derivatives designated as cash flow 
hedges are recognised in other comprehensive income to the 
extent that the hedges are effective. Ineffective portions are 
recognised in profit or loss immediately. Amounts deferred  
in other comprehensive income are reclassified to the income 
statement when the hedged item affects profit or loss.

Net investment hedges are accounted for in a similar way  
to cash flow hedges. 

Changes in the fair value of derivatives designated as fair value 
hedges are recorded in the income statement, together with  
the changes in the fair value of the hedged asset or liability.

Changes in the fair value of any derivative instruments that do  
not qualify for hedge accounting are recognised immediately  
in the income statement.

Discounting
Where the time value of money is material, balances are 
discounted to current values using appropriate rates of interest. 
The unwinding of the discounts is recorded in finance income  
and finance expense.

3 Key accounting judgements and estimates

In preparing the financial statements, management is required  
to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts of 
assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses reported in the financial 
statements. Actual amounts and results could differ from those 
estimates. The following are considered to be the key accounting 
judgements and estimates made.

Turnover
Revenue is recognised when title and risk of loss is passed to the 
customer, reliable estimates can be made of relevant deductions 
and all relevant obligations have been fulfilled, such that the 
earnings process is regarded as being complete. 

Gross turnover is reduced by rebates, discounts, allowances  
and product returns given or expected to be given, which vary by 
product arrangements and buying groups. These arrangements 
with purchasing organisations are dependent upon the submission 
of claims some time after the initial recognition of  
the sale. Accruals are made at the time of sale for the estimated 
rebates, discounts or allowances payable or returns to be made, 
based on available market information and historical experience.

Because the amounts are estimated they may not fully reflect the 
final outcome, and the amounts are subject to change dependent 
upon, amongst other things, the types of buying group and product 
sales mix. 

The level of accrual is reviewed and adjusted regularly in the  
light of contractual and legal obligations, historical trends, past 
experience and projected market conditions. Market conditions  
are evaluated using wholesaler and other third-party analyses, 
market research data and internally generated information. 

Future events could cause the assumptions on which the  
accruals are based to change, which could affect the future  
results of the Group.

Taxation
Current tax is provided at the amounts expected to be paid,  
and deferred tax is provided on temporary differences between  
the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts,  
at the rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by  
the balance sheet date.

Deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is  
probable that future taxable profits will be available against  
which the temporary differences can be utilised, based on 
management’s assumptions relating to the amounts and timing  
of future taxable profits. Factors affecting the tax charge in  
future years are set out in Note 14, ‘Taxation’. A 1% change  
in the Group’s effective tax rate in 2015 would have changed  
the total tax charge for the year by approximately £105 million. 

The Group has open tax issues with a number of revenue 
authorities. Where an outflow of funds is believed to be probable 
and a reliable estimate of the outcome of the dispute can be made, 
management provides for its best estimate of the liability. In 
calculating any such liability GSK applies a risk based approach 
which takes into account, as appropriate, the probability that the 
Group would be able to obtain compensatory adjustments under 
international tax treaties. These estimates take into account the 
specific circumstances of each dispute and relevant external 
advice, are inherently judgemental and could change substantially 
over time as new facts emerge and each dispute progresses. GSK 
continues to believe that it has made adequate provision for the 
liabilities likely to arise from open assessments. Where open 
issues exist the ultimate liability for such matters may vary from  
the amounts provided and is dependent upon the outcome of 
negotiations with the relevant tax authorities or, if necessary, 
litigation proceedings.

146  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
3  Key accounting judgements and estimates 

continued

Legal and other disputes
The Group provides for anticipated settlement costs where  
an outflow of resources is considered probable and a reliable 
estimate may be made of the likely outcome of the dispute and 
legal and other expenses arising from claims against the Group. 
These estimates take into account the specific circumstances  
of each dispute and relevant external advice, are inherently 
judgmental and could change substantially over time as new  
facts emerge and each dispute progresses. Details of the status 
and various uncertainties involved in the significant unresolved 
disputes are set out in Note 45, ‘Legal proceedings’.

The company’s Directors, having taken legal advice, have 
established provisions after taking into account the relevant  
facts and circumstances of each matter and in accordance with 
accounting requirements. In respect of product liability claims 
related to certain products there is sufficient history of claims 
made and settlements to enable management to make a reliable 
estimate of the provision required to cover unasserted claims.  
The Group may become involved in legal proceedings, in respect 
of which it is not possible to make a reliable estimate of the 
expected financial effect, if any, that will result from ultimate 
resolution of the proceedings. In these cases, appropriate 
disclosure about such cases would be included, but no provision 
would be made and no contingent liability can be quantified.  
At 31 December 2015 provisions for legal and other disputes 
amounted to £0.4 billion (2014 – £0.5 billion).

The ultimate liability for legal claims may vary from the amounts 
provided and is dependent upon the outcome of litigation 
proceedings, investigations and possible settlement negotiations. 
The position could change over time and, therefore, there can be 
no assurance that any losses that result from the outcome of any 
legal proceedings will not exceed the amount of the provisions 
reported in the Group’s financial statements by a material amount.

Goodwill and other intangible asset impairments
Goodwill is deemed to have an indefinite life and so is not 
amortised. Annual impairment tests of the cash generating  
units to which goodwill is allocated are performed. Impairment 
tests are based on established market multiples or risk-adjusted 
future cash flows discounted using appropriate interest rates.  
The assumptions used in these impairment tests are set out  
in Note 18, ‘Goodwill’. 

In each case the valuations indicate sufficient headroom such  
that a reasonably possible change to key assumptions is unlikely  
to result in an impairment of the related goodwill. 

Impairment tests on other intangible assets are undertaken if  
events occur which call into question the carrying values of the 
assets. Where brands and other intangible assets which are not 
yet available for use are not amortised, they are subject to annual 
impairment tests. Valuations for impairment tests are based on 
established market multiples or risk-adjusted future cash flows  
over the estimated useful life of the asset, where limited, 
discounted using appropriate interest rates as set out in  
Note 19, ‘Other intangible assets’. 

The assumptions relating to future cash flows, estimated useful  
lives and discount rates are based on business forecasts and are 
therefore inherently judgemental. Future events could cause the 
assumptions used in these impairment tests to change with a 
consequent adverse effect on the future results of the Group.

Business combinations
Any contingent consideration included in the consideration 
payable for a business combination is recorded at fair value  
at the date of acquisition. These fair values are generally based  
on risk-adjusted future cash flows discounted using appropriate 
interest rates. The fair values are reviewed on a regular basis,  
at least annually, and any changes are reflected in the income 
statement.

At 31 December 2015, the liability for contingent consideration 
amounted to £3,855 million (2014 – £1,724 million) (see Note 38, 
‘Acquisitions and disposals’). Of this amount, £3,409 million  
(2014 – £1,684 million) arose on the acquisition of the former 
Shionogi-ViiV Healthcare joint venture in 2012 and £405 million 
arose on the acquisition of the Vaccines business from Novartis  
in 2015.

During 2015, the Group granted a put option to Novartis in  
respect of Novartis’ shareholding in the Consumer Healthcare 
Joint Venture. In certain circumstances, Novartis has the right to 
require GSK to acquire its 36.5% shareholding in the Consumer 
Healthcare Joint Venture at a market-based valuation. This right is 
exercisable in certain windows from 2018 to 2035 and may be 
exercised either in respect of Novartis’ entire shareholding or in  
up to four instalments. GSK has recognised a financial liability of 
£6,287 million in Other non-current liabilities at 31 December 
2015. This represents the present value of the estimated amount 
payable by GSK in the event of full exercise of the right by Novartis 
and is calculated by applying market-based multiples to forecast 
future profits in accordance with the shareholder agreements. 
Sensitivity analysis is given in Note 30, ‘Other non-current 
liabilities’.

The assumptions relating to future cash flows and discount rates 
are based on business forecasts and are therefore inherently 
judgemental. Future events could cause the assumptions used  
in these projections or the market-based multiples to change with 
a consequent adverse effect on the future results of the Group.

Pensions and other post-employment benefits
The costs of providing pensions and other post-employment 
benefits are charged to the income statement in accordance with 
IAS 19 ‘Employee benefits’ over the period during which benefit  
is derived from the employee’s services. The costs are assessed  
on the basis of assumptions selected by management. These 
assumptions include future earnings and pension increases, 
discount rates, expected long-term rates of return on assets and 
mortality rates, and are disclosed in Note 28, ‘Pensions and other 
post-employment benefits’. Where a surplus on a defined benefit 
scheme arises, or there is potential for a surplus to arise from 
committed future contributions, the rights of the Trustees to 
prevent the Group obtaining a refund of that surplus in the future 
are considered in determining whether it is necessary to restrict 
the amount of the surplus that is recognised.

The expected long-term rates of return on bonds are determined 
based on the portfolio mix of index-linked, government and 
corporate bonds. An equity risk premium is added to this for 
equities. 

Discount rates are derived from AA rated corporate bond yields 
except in countries where there is no deep market in corporate 
bonds where government bond yields are used. Sensitivity analysis 
is provided in Note 28, ‘Pensions and other post-employment 
benefits’, but a 0.25% reduction in the discount rate would lead to 
an increase in the net pension deficit of approximately £630 million 
and an increase in the annual pension cost of approximately  
£24 million. The selection of different assumptions could affect  
the future results of the Group.

GSK Annual Report 2015  147

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Notes to the financial statements
continued

4 New accounting requirements

5 Exchange rates

The following new and amended accounting standards have been 
issued by the IASB and are likely to affect future Annual Reports. 
The amendment to IFRS 11 is not expected to have a material 
impact on the results and financial position of the Group. The 
impacts of IFRS 15, IFRS 9 and IFRS 16 on the results and 
financial position of the Group are currently being assessed.

The Group uses the average of exchange rates prevailing during  
the period to translate the results and cash flows of overseas 
subsidiaries, joint ventures and associated undertakings into 
Sterling and period end rates to translate the net assets of  
those undertakings. The currencies which most influence  
these translations and the relevant exchange rates were:

Average rates:
US$/£
Euro/£
Yen/£

Period end rates:

US$/£
Euro/£
Yen/£

2015

2014

2013

1.53
1.37
185

1.47
1.36
177

1.65
1.24
175

1.56
1.29
187

1.57
1.18
153

1.66
1.20
174

An amendment to IFRS 11 ‘Joint arrangements’ was issued in May 
2014 and will be implemented by the Group from 1 January 2016. 
The amendment requires the acquisition of a joint operation that 
meets the definition of a business to be accounted for in 
accordance with IFRS 3 ‘Business combinations’.

IFRS 15 ‘Revenue from contracts with customers’ was issued in 
May 2014 and will be implemented by the Group from 1 January 
2018. The Standard provides a single, principles-based approach 
to the recognition of revenue from all contracts with customers.  
It focuses on the identification of performance obligations in a 
contract and requires revenue to be recognised when or as those 
performance obligations are satisfied.

IFRS 9 ‘Financial instruments’ was issued in its final form in July 
2014 and will be implemented by the Group from 1 January 2018. 
The Standard will replace the majority of IAS 39 and covers the 
classification, measurement and derecognition of financial assets 
and financial liabilities, impairment of financial assets and provides 
a new hedge accounting model.

IFRS 16 ‘Leases’ was issued in January 2016 and will be 
implemented by the Group from 1 January 2019. The Standard will 
replace IAS 17 ‘Leases’ and will require lease liabilities and right of 
use assets to be recognised on the balance sheet for almost all 
leases.

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148  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
6 Segment information

Operating segments are reported based on the financial information provided to the Chief Executive Officer and the responsibilities  
of the Corporate Executive Team (CET). The completion of the Novartis transaction on 2 March 2015 has changed the balance of the 
Group and GSK has changed its segment reporting to reflect this. With effect from 1 January 2015, GSK has reported results under 
five segments: Global Pharmaceuticals, HIV, Pharmaceuticals R&D, Vaccines and Consumer Healthcare and individual members of 
the CET are responsible for each segment. Comparative information has been restated accordingly. In addition, the 2013 segment 
turnover and profit have been restated to exclude the divestments completed in 2013.

The Group’s management reporting process allocates intra-Group profit on a product sale to the market in which that sale is 
recorded, and the profit analyses below have been presented on that basis.

The Pharmaceuticals R&D segment is the responsibility of the Head of Research & Development and is reported as a separate 
segment.

Corporate and other unallocated turnover and costs include the results of several Vaccines and Consumer Healthcare products  
which were held for sale in a number of markets in order to meet anti-trust approval requirements, together with the costs of  
corporate functions.

From 1 January 2016, the Global Pharmaceuticals and HIV segments will be combined as one operating segment: Pharmaceuticals.

Turnover by segment

Global Pharmaceuticals
HIV 
Pharmaceuticals
Vaccines
Consumer Healthcare
Segment turnover   
Corporate and other unallocated turnover

Divestments completed in 2013

Global Pharmaceuticals turnover by therapeutic area

Respiratory
Cardiovascular, metabolic and urology
Immuno-inflammation
Oncology
Other pharmaceuticals
Established Products

2015 
£m
11,844
2,322
14,166
3,657
6,028
23,851
72
23,923
–
23,923

2015 
£m
5,741
858
263
255
2,199
2,528
11,844

2014 
(restated) 
£m
13,950
1,498
15,448
3,159
4,312
22,919
87
23,006
–
23,006

2014 
(restated) 
£m
6,168
965
214
1,202
2,390
3,011
13,950

2013 
(restated) 
£m
15,983
1,386
17,369
3,384
4,703
25,456
146
25,602
903
26,505

2013 
(restated) 
£m
7,259
1,073
161
969
2,652
3,869
15,983

GSK Annual Report 2015  149

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Notes to the financial statements
continued

6 Segment information continued

Consumer Healthcare turnover by category

Wellness
Oral care
Nutrition
Skin health

2015 
£m
2,970
1,866
684
508
6,028

 2014
(restated) 
£m
1,565
1,797
633
317
4,312

 2013
(restated) 
£m
1,807
1,884
627
385
4,703

During 2015, the US elements of Global Pharmaceuticals, HIV and Vaccines made sales to three wholesalers of approximately  
£1,574 million (2014 – £1,478 million; 2013 – £2,071 million), £2,471 million (2014 – £2,315 million; 2013 – £2,658 million) and 
£1,602 million (2014 – £1,627 million; 2013 – £1,695 million) respectively, after allocating final-customer discounts to the wholesalers.

Segment profit

Global Pharmaceuticals
HIV
Pharmaceuticals R&D
Pharmaceuticals
Vaccines
Consumer Healthcare
Segment profit
Corporate and other unallocated costs
Other reconciling items between segment profit and operating profit
Operating profit

Finance income
Finance costs
Profit on disposal of interest in associates
Share of after tax profits of associates and joint ventures
Profit before taxation
Taxation
Profit after taxation for the year

 2015 
£m
4,733
1,686
(2,168)
4,251
966
680
5,897
(168)
4,593
10,322

104
(757)
843
14
10,526
(2,154)
8,372

 2014
(restated) 
£m
6,388
977
(2,326)
5,039
997
491
6,527
67
(2,997)
3,597

68
(727)
–
30
2,968
(137)
2,831

2013 
(restated) 
£m
7,976
885
(2,804)
6,057
963
650
7,670
101
(743)
7,028

61
(767)
282
43
6,647
(1,019)
5,628

Other reconciling items between segment profit and operating profit comprise items not specifically allocated to segment profit.  
These include impairment and amortisation of intangible assets, major restructuring charges, legal charges and expenses on the 
settlement of litigation and government investigations, disposals of businesses, products and associates and certain other items related 
to major acquisition and disposal activity.

Depreciation and amortisation by segment

Global Pharmaceuticals
HIV
Pharmaceuticals R&D
Pharmaceuticals
Vaccines
Consumer Healthcare
Segment depreciation and amortisation
Corporate and other unallocated depreciation and amortisation
Other reconciling items between segment depreciation and amortisation and 
  total depreciation and amortisation
Total depreciation and amortisation

 2015 
£m
302
1
238
541
253
140
934
145

2014
(restated) 
£m
298
4
161
463
224
105
792
112

2013 
(restated) 
£m
290
2
171
463
217
74
754
109

551
1,630

580
1,484

551
1,414

150  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6 Segment information continued

PP&E, intangible asset and goodwill impairment by segment

Global Pharmaceuticals
HIV
Pharmaceuticals R&D
Pharmaceuticals
Vaccines
Consumer Healthcare
Segment impairment
Corporate and other unallocated impairment
Other reconciling items between segment impairment and total impairment
Total impairment

PP&E and intangible asset impairment reversals by segment

Global Pharmaceuticals
HIV
Pharmaceuticals R&D
Pharmaceuticals
Vaccines
Consumer Healthcare
Segment impairment reversals
Corporate and other unallocated impairment reversals
Total impairment reversals

Net assets by segment

Global Pharmaceuticals
HIV
Pharmaceuticals R&D
Pharmaceuticals
Vaccines
Consumer Healthcare
Segment net operating assets
Corporate and other unallocated net operating assets
Net operating assets

Net debt
Investments in associates and joint ventures
Derivative financial instruments
Current and deferred taxation
Assets held for sale
Net assets

2015 
£m
57
–
105
162
17
5
184
18
385
587

2015 
£m
(8)
–
(10)
(18)
–
(4)
(22)
(2)
(24)

2015 
£m
7,257
(1,536)
615
6,336
8,884
4,154
19,374
(136)
19,238

(10,727)
207
(28)
142
46
8,878

2014
(restated)
£m
52
2
24
78
1
16
95
3
153
251

2014 
(restated)
£m
(39)
–
(23)
(62)
–
(14)
(76)
–
(76)

2014 
(restated)
£m
10,736
301
542
11,579
5,681
3,110
20,370
(3,722)
16,648

(14,377)
340
(267)
1,436
1,156
4,936

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2013 
(restated) 
£m
35
–
22
57
2
11
70
–
799
869

2013 
(restated) 
£m
(18)
–
(2)
(20)
–
(4)
(24)
–
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The HIV segment includes the Shionogi-ViiV Healthcare contingent consideration liability of £3,409 million (2014 – £1,684 million).  
The Consumer Healthcare segment includes the put option liability of £6,287 million (2014 – £nil).

GSK Annual Report 2015  151

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Notes to the financial statements
continued

6 Segment information continued

Geographical information

The UK is regarded as being the Group’s country of domicile. 

Turnover by location of customer
UK
US
International
External turnover

Turnover by location of subsidiary
UK
US
International
Turnover including inter-segment turnover

UK
US
International
Inter-segment turnover

UK
US
International
External turnover

Operating profit by location
UK
US
International
Total operating profit

Non-current assets by location
UK
US
International
Non-current assets

2015 
£m
1,106
8,222
14,595
23,923

2015 
£m
3,146
13,273
17,385
33,804

1,751
4,934
3,196
9,881

1,395
8,339
14,189
23,923

2015 
£m
8,243
4,307
(2,228)
10,322

2015 
£m
6,967
7,524
17,474
31,965

2014
(restated) 
£m
1,100
7,409
14,497
23,006

2013 
(restated) 
£m
1,480
8,770
16,255
26,505

2013 
£m
4,174
11,684
18,515
34,373

1,772
3,026
3,070
7,868

2,402
8,658
15,445
26,505

2013 
£m
568
3,063
3,397
7,028

2014 
£m
3,518
10,768
17,227
31,513

1,994
3,432
3,081
8,507

1,524
7,336
14,146
23,006

2014 
£m
414
1,375
1,808
3,597

2014 
£m
6,688
6,512
8,431
21,631

Non-current assets by location excludes amounts relating to other investments, deferred tax assets, derivative financial instruments, 
pension assets, amounts receivable under insurance contracts and certain other non-current receivables.

152  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
7 Other operating income

Impairment of equity investments
Disposal of equity investments
Disposal of businesses and assets
Fair value remeasurements on contingent consideration
  recognised in business combinations
Remeasurement of Consumer Healthcare put option liability
Fair value adjustments on derivative financial instruments
Other income/(expense)

2015 
£m
(263)
342
9,661

(1,965)
(83)
2
21
7,715

2014 
£m
(25)
155
244

(770)
–
(313)
9
(700)

2013 
£m
(70)
38
1,413

(251)
–
12
(18)
1,124

Disposal of businesses and assets in 2015 included the disposal of the Oncology business to Novartis for £9,228 million and  
£200 million for the divestment of ofatumumab, and in 2014 included the gain on the disposal of Treximet. Fair value remeasurements  
on contingent consideration recognised in business combinations comprised £1,874 million related to the acquisition of the former  
Shionogi-ViiV Healthcare joint venture and £91 million, net of hedging gains, related to the acquisition of the Vaccines business  
from Novartis.

Fair value adjustments on derivative financial instruments arise from foreign exchange forward contracts and options taken out to  
hedge against foreign currency movements when sales and purchases are denominated in foreign currencies (see Note 41, ‘Financial 
instruments and related disclosures’). In 2014 this included an unrealised loss of £299 million arising from a number of forward exchange 
contracts entered into following announcement of the proposed Novartis transaction to protect the Sterling value of the net US dollar 
proceeds due to the Group on completion of the transaction. 

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Notes to the financial statements
continued

8 Operating profit

The following items have been included in operating profit:

Employee costs (Note 9)
Advertising
Distribution costs
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment
Impairment of property, plant and equipment, net of reversals
Amortisation of intangible assets
Impairment of intangible assets, net of reversals
Net foreign exchange losses/(gains)
Inventories:
   Cost of inventories included in cost of sales
   Write-down of inventories
   Reversal of prior year write-down of inventories
Operating lease rentals:
   Minimum lease payments
   Contingent rents
   Sub-lease payments
Fees payable to the company’s auditor and its associates in relation to the Group (see below)

2015 
£m
8,030
1,059
376
892
346
738
217
47

7,602
488
(65)

101
8
7
32.5

2014 
£m
7,520
671
325
780
18
704
157
(18)

6,334
389
(169)

133
8
5
33.7

2013 
£m
7,591
808
371
732
100
682
745
41

7,290
338
(43)

127
12
2
25.7

The reversals of prior year write-downs of inventories principally arise from the reassessment of usage or demand expectations prior  
to inventory expiration.

Included within operating profit are major restructuring charges of £1,891 million (2014 – £750 million; 2013 – £517 million), see  
Note 10, ‘Major restructuring costs’.

Fees payable to the company’s auditor and its associates:

Audit of parent company and consolidated financial statements
Audit of the company’s subsidiaries 
Audit-related assurance services, including attestation under s.404
   of Sarbanes-Oxley Act 2002
Audit and audit-related services
Taxation compliance
Taxation advice
Other assurance services
All other services

In addition to the above, fees paid in respect of the GSK pension schemes were: 

Audit
Other services

2015 
£m
7.1
16.1

4.3
27.5
0.3
3.2
1.1
0.4
32.5

2015 
£m
0.3
–

2014 
£m
4.9
11.2

4.0
20.1
0.6
4.5
8.0
0.5
33.7

2014 
£m
0.3
–

2013 
£m
5.1
11.0

3.9
20.0
0.6
3.3
1.5
0.3
25.7

2013 
£m
0.4
–

154  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
9 Employee costs

Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension and other post-employment costs, including augmentations (Note 28)
Cost of share-based incentive plans
Severance and other costs from integration and restructuring activities

2015 
£m
6,132
633
467
349
449
8,030

2014 
£m
5,879
639
403
346
253
7,520

2013 
£m
6,262
685
170
319
155
7,591

The Group provides benefits to employees, commensurate with local practice in individual countries, including, in some markets, 
healthcare insurance, subsidised car schemes and personal life assurance.

The charge for pension and other post-employment costs in 2013 includes a credit of £279 million following a restructuring of US 
post-retirement medical obligations. These are set out in Note 28, ‘Pensions and other post-employment benefits’.

The cost of share-based incentive plans is analysed as follows:

Share Value Plan
Performance Share Plan
Share option plans
Other plans

The average number of persons employed by the Group (including Directors) during the year was: 

Manufacturing
Selling, general and administration
Research and development

2015 
£m
307
26
4
12
349

2014 
£m
302
20
3
21
346 

2013 
£m
243
47
4
25
319

2015 
Number
37,025
52,121
12,046
101,192

2014 
Number
31,726
54,618
12,358
98,702

2013 
Number
31,586
55,660
12,571
99,817

The average number of Group employees excludes temporary and contract staff. The numbers of Group employees at the end of each 
financial year are given in the financial record on page 224. The average number of persons employed by GlaxoSmithKline plc in 2015 
was nil (2014 – nil).

The compensation of the Directors and Senior Management (members of the CET) in aggregate, was as follows:

Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension and other post-employment costs
Cost of share-based incentive plans

2015 
£m
23
2
3
18
46

2014 
£m
19
3
3
13
38

2013 
£m
23
3
3
13
42

GSK Annual Report 2015  155

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Notes to the financial statements
continued

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10 Major restructuring costs

Major restructuring costs charged in arriving at operating profit include restructuring costs arising under the Major Change programme 
initiated in 2013, under the Pharmaceuticals Restructuring Programme announced in October 2014 and following the Novartis transaction, 
completed in 2015.

For 2015, GSK is reporting these programmes together as one combined programme and the total restructuring costs of £1.9 billion  
in 2015 were incurred in the following areas:

•  Restructuring of the Pharmaceuticals business in North America, Emerging Markets and Europe leading to staff reductions in sales 

force and administration.

•  Restructuring of the R&D organisation, predominantly in the United Kingdom, North America and Japan.

•  Projects to simplify or eliminate processes leading to staff reductions in support functions.

•  Transformation of the Manufacturing and Vaccines businesses to deliver a step change in quality, cost and productivity.

•  The integration of the Novartis Consumer Healthcare business to the new Consumer Healthcare Joint Venture.

The analysis of the costs charged to operating profit under these programmes is as follows:

Increase in provision for major restructuring programmes (see Note 29)
Amount of provision reversed unused (see Note 29)
Impairment losses recognised
Other non-cash charges
Other cash costs

2015 
£m
(718)
44
(419)
(51)
(747)
(1,891)

2014 
£m
(267)
4
–
(15)
(472)
(750)

2013 
£m
(179)
11
(60)
(5)
(284)
(517)

Asset impairments of £419 million (2014 – £nil; 2013 – £60 million) and other non-cash charges totalling £51 million (2014 –  
£15 million; 2013 – £5 million) are non-cash items, principally fixed asset write downs in manufacturing and research facilities and 
accelerated depreciation where asset lives in R&D have been shortened as a result of the major restructuring programmes. All other 
charges have been or will be settled in cash and include the termination of leases, site closure costs, consultancy and project 
management fees. 

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11 Finance income

Interest income arising from:
  cash and cash equivalents
  available-for-sale investments
  derivatives at fair value through profit or loss
  loans and receivables
Fair value adjustments on derivatives at fair value through profit or loss

2015 
£m

71
1
24
3
5
104

2014 
£m

2013 
£m

56
1
–
9
2
68

55
2
–
2
2
61

All derivatives at fair value through profit or loss other than designated and effective hedging instruments (see Note 41, ‘Financial 
instruments and related disclosures’) are classified as held-for-trading financial instruments under IAS 39. 

156  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
12 Finance expense

Interest expense arising on:
   financial liabilities at amortised cost
   derivatives at fair value through profit or loss
Fair value hedges:
   fair value movements on derivatives designated as hedging instruments
   fair value adjustments on hedged items
Fair value movements on other derivatives at fair value through profit or loss
Reclassification of cash flow hedge from other comprehensive income
Unwinding of discounts on provisions
Movements on amounts owed to non-controlling interests
Other finance expense

2015 
£m

(655)
(64)

–
–
(6)
(2)
(16)
–
(14)
(757)

2014 
£m

(665)
(23)

10
(5)
(15)
–
(15)
–
(14)
(727)

2013 
£m

(708)
(18)

(37)
36
(2)
–
(14)
(2)
(22)
(767)

All derivatives at fair value through profit or loss other than designated and effective hedging instruments (see Note 41, ‘Financial 
instruments and related disclosures’) are classified as held-for-trading financial instruments under IAS 39. Interest expense arising  
on derivatives at fair value through profit or loss relates to swap interest expense.

13 Associates and joint ventures

The Group’s share of after tax profits and losses of associates and joint ventures is set out below:

Share of after tax profits of associates
Share of after tax losses of joint ventures

2015 
£m
16
(2)
14

2014 
£m
38
(8)
30

2013 
£m
45
(2)
43

At 31 December 2015, the Group held one significant associate, Theravance, Inc. (now Innoviva, Inc.). This investment has been 
accounted for as an investment in an associate since 1 September 2015, as described in Note 20 ‘Investments in associates and joint 
ventures’. Previously it was included in Other investments. The Group’s share of after tax profits of associates includes a loss of  
£8 million in respect of Theravance (now Innoviva).

In March 2015, the Group divested half of its shareholding in Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Limited and ceased to account for the 
remaining investment as an associate. The investment in Aspen is now included in Other investments (Note 21). In 2014 and 2013, 
Aspen was the Group’s only significant associate. Summarised income statement information in respect of Aspen is set out below  
for the periods in which the Group accounted for its investment in Aspen as an associate. The Group’s 2015 share of after tax  
profits of associates and other comprehensive income includes a profit of £10 million and other comprehensive income of £2 million  
in respect of Aspen.

Turnover
Profit after taxation
Comprehensive income
Total comprehensive income

To 20 March 
2015 
£m
441
67
16
83

2014 
£m

1,823
313
148
461

2013 
£m

1,485
247
192
439

The results of Aspen included in the summarised income statement information above represent the estimated earnings of the Aspen 
group in the relevant periods, adjusted for transactions between GSK and Aspen.

Aggregated financial information in respect of other associated undertakings and joint ventures is set out below:

Share of turnover
Share of after tax profits/(losses)
Share of other comprehensive income
Share of total comprehensive income

2015 
£m
188
12
25
37

2014 
£m
187
(9)
–
(9)

2013 
£m
225
(2)
–
(2)

The Group’s sales to associates and joint ventures were £41 million in 2015 (£85 million in 2014; £103 million in 2013). 

The profit on disposal of interest in associates of £843 million in the year arose on the Group’s divestment of one half of its shareholding in 
Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Limited in March 2015. This included a gain of £457 million resulting from the change in measurement basis  
of the Group’s retained investment in Aspen on reclassification of the investment following the divestment. The retained investment was 
transferred from Investments in associates, which are equity accounted, to Other investments, which are measured at fair value.

GSK Annual Report 2015  157

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Notes to the financial statements
continued

14 Taxation 

Taxation charge based on profits for the year

UK current year charge
Rest of world current year charge
Charge in respect of prior periods
Total current taxation
Total deferred taxation

2015 
£m
156
2,924
(508)
2,572
(418)
2,154

2014 
£m
221
1,092
(571)
742
(605)
137

2013 
£m
107
1,311
131
1,549
(530)
1,019

In 2015, GSK made payments of £111 million in UK Corporation tax. In January 2016 GSK made further payments of £100 million in relation to 
UK Corporation tax. These amounts are for Corporation tax only and do not include the various other business taxes borne by GSK each year.

A significant component of the deferred tax credit for each of 2015 and prior periods arose in respect of the remeasurement of the 
contingent consideration in relation to the former Shionogi-ViiV Healthcare joint venture. In 2015 the credit also included the unwind of 
deferred tax liabilities on the disposal of the Group’s Oncology business to Novartis. In 2014 the credit also included recognition of a 
deferred tax asset on capital losses anticipated to be utilised on completion of the Novartis transaction.

The following table reconciles the tax charge calculated at the UK statutory rate on the Group profit before tax with the actual tax charge 
for the year. 

Reconciliation of taxation on Group profits

Profit before tax
UK statutory rate of taxation
Differences in overseas taxation rates
Benefit of intellectual property incentives
R&D credits
Inter-company inventory profit
Impact of share-based payments
Losses not recognised/(previously unrecognised losses) 
Permanent differences on disposals and acquisitions
Other permanent differences
Re-assessments of prior year estimates
Disposal of associate
Tax on unremitted earnings
Deferred tax and other adjustments on restructuring
Tax charge / tax rate

2015 
£m
10,526
2,131
1,035
(286)
(38)
(16)
12
31
(248)
79
(578)
–
32
–
2,154

2015 
%

20.25
9.8
(2.7)
(0.4)
(0.1)
0.1
0.3
(2.4)
0.8
(5.5)
–
0.3
–
20.5

2014 
£m
2,968
638
406
(323)
(72)
(27)
31
(205)
23
264
(617)
–
19
–
137

2014 
%

21.5
13.7
(10.9)
(2.4)
(0.9)
1.0
(6.9)
0.8
8.9
(20.8)
–
0.6
–
4.6

2013 
£m
6,647
1,545
196
(189)
(88)
(121)
(2)
(18)
(227)
301
(197)
(67)
20
(134)
1,019

2013 
%

23.2
2.9
(2.8)
(1.3)
(1.8)
–
(0.3)
(3.4)
4.5
(3.0)
(1.0)
0.3
(2.0)
15.3

GSK has a substantial business presence in many countries around the globe. The impact of differences in overseas taxation rates arose 
from profits being earned in countries with tax rates higher than the UK statutory rate, the most significant of which in 2015 were the US, 
India, France and Germany. This was partially offset by the increased benefit of intellectual property incentives from the UK Patent Box and 
Belgian Patent Income Deduction regimes. Such regimes provide a reduced rate of corporate income tax on profits earned from qualifying 
patents. The impact of overseas tax rates was further offset by permanent differences on disposals during 2015 which were subject to the 
UK ‘Substantial Shareholdings’ Exemption from tax. In 2014 the anticipated Oncology disposal resulted in the recognition of deferred tax 
assets on capital losses subsequently utilised in 2015. The reduction in the benefit provided by R&D credits reflects the change in the UK 
regime to record the benefit within the R&D expense in the income statement. Re-assessments of prior year estimates in 2015 include a 
benefit of £498 million from the resolution of a number of tax matters in various countries.  

Future tax charges , and therefore our effective tax rate, may be affected by factors such as acquisitions, disposals, restructurings, the 
location of research and development activity, tax regime reforms and resolution of open matters as we continue to bring our tax affairs up 
to date around the world.

Tax on items charged to equity and statement of comprehensive income
Current taxation
  Share-based payments
  Defined benefit plans

Deferred taxation
  Share-based payments
  Defined benefit plans
  Exchange movements
  Fair value movements on cash flow hedges
  Fair value movements on available-for-sale investments

Total (charge)/credit to equity and statement of comprehensive income

2015 
£m

22
30
52

(12)
(110)
–
–
(55)
(177)
(125)

2014 
£m

55
–
55

(59)
262
(2)
(1)
(20)
180
235

2013 
£m

31
–
31

42
(286)
–
1
(22)
(265)
(234)

All of the above items have been charged to the statement of comprehensive income except for tax on share based payments.

158  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
14 Taxation continued
Issues relating to taxation
The integrated nature of the Group’s worldwide operations involves significant investment in research and strategic manufacture at a 
limited number of locations, with consequential cross-border supply routes into numerous end-markets. GSK’s biggest risk with respect 
to taxation is that different tax authorities will seek to attribute further profit to activities being undertaken in their jurisdiction potentially 
resulting in double taxation. While GSK applies OECD established principles in matching the profit generated by each legal entity to the 
risk borne and value being added by each part of the value chain, this is inherently subjective and can be challenged by tax authorities. 
This gives rise to complexity and delay in resolving audits with revenue authorities as to the profits on which individual Group companies 
are liable to tax. In calculating the tax liability of the Group, GSK applies a risk based approach to determine the transactions most likely 
to be subject to challenge and the probability that the Group would be able to obtain compensatory adjustments under international tax 
treaties.

There continues to be a significant international focus on tax reform – including the OECD’s “BEPS” project, and European Commission 
initiatives such as the proposed ‘Anti-BEPS’ Directive and the increased use of fiscal state aid investigations. Together with domestic 
initiatives around the world, these may result in significant changes to established tax principles and an increase in tax authority disputes. 
In turn, this could affect adversely our effective tax rate or result in higher cash tax liabilities.

The Group continues to believe that it has made adequate provision for the liabilities likely to arise from periods which are open and  
not yet agreed by tax authorities. The ultimate liability for such matters may vary from the amounts provided and is dependent upon the 
outcome of agreements with relevant tax authorities or litigation where appropriate.

The aggregate amount of unremitted profits at the balance sheet date was approximately £16 billion (2014 – £20 billion). UK legislation 
relating to company distributions provides for exemption from tax for most overseas profits, subject to certain exceptions. Provision  
for deferred tax liabilities of £180 million (2014 – £147 million) has been made in respect of withholding taxation that would arise on  
the distribution of profits by certain overseas subsidiaries. The unremitted profits on which deferred tax has not been provided is  
£1.5 billion (2014 – £1.6 billion). Deferred tax on distribution of these profits has not been provided on the grounds that the Group is 
able to control the timing of the reversal of the remaining temporary differences and it is probable that they will not reverse in  
the foreseeable future. 

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  Movement in deferred tax assets and liabilities

At 1 January 2015
Exchange adjustments
Credit/(charge) to income statement
Charge to equity 
Charge to statement of
  comprehensive income
Acquisitions and disposals
At 31 December 2015

Accelerated 
capital 
allowances 
£m
(446)
16
102
–

Intangible 
assets 
£m
(1,056)
3
296
–

Contingent  
consideration 
£m
404
–
185
–

Intra-group 
profit 
£m
684
26
63
–

Pensions &  
other post 
employment 
benefits 
£m
1,069
23
(31)
–

–
(18)
(346)

–
(1,477)
(2,234)

–
201
790

–
52
825

(110)
38
989

Share 
option 
and award 
schemes 
£m
124
–
(20)
(12)

Other 
net 
temporary 
differences 
£m
1,049
16
147
–

Total 
£m
2,243
84
418
(12)

–
–
92

(56)
14
1,170

(166)
(1,184)
1,383

Tax 
losses 
£m
415
–
(324)
–

–
6
97

Recognised tax losses comprise £97 million trading losses (2014 – £210 million trading losses, £205 million capital losses).

Other net temporary differences include accrued expenses for which a tax deduction is only available on a paid basis.

Deferred tax assets are recognised in those territories where it is probable that the Group will continue to generate taxable profits in  
the future against which those assets can be utilised.

After offsetting deferred tax assets and liabilities where appropriate within territories, the net deferred tax asset comprises:

Deferred tax assets
Deferred tax liabilities

2015 
£m
2,905
(1,522)
1,383

2014 
£m
2,688
(445)
2,243

GSK Annual Report 2015  159

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Notes to the financial statements
continued

14 Taxation continued

Unrecognised tax losses
Trading losses expiring:
Within 10 years
More than 10 years
Available indefinitely
At 31 December

Capital losses
At 31 December

2015 
£m

354
812
58
1,224

2015 
£m
2,771
2,771

2014 
£m

186
723
–
909

2014 
£m
2,760
2,760

Deferred tax assets are recognised where it is probable that future taxable profit will be available to utilise losses. The amount of 
unrecognised capital losses for 2014 has been revised following a reassessment of available losses for which deferred tax was not 
recognised.

15 Earnings per share

Basic earnings per share
Diluted earnings per share

2015 
pence
174.3
172.3

2014 
pence
57.3
56.7

2013 
pence
112.5
110.5

Basic earnings per share has been calculated by dividing the profit attributable to shareholders by the weighted average number of 
shares in issue during the period after deducting shares held by the ESOP Trusts and Treasury shares. The trustees have waived their 
rights to dividends on the shares held by the ESOP Trusts.

Diluted earnings per share has been calculated after adjusting the weighted average number of shares used in the basic calculation  
to assume the conversion of all potentially dilutive shares. A potentially dilutive share forms part of the employee share schemes where 
its exercise price is below the average market price of GSK shares during the period and any performance conditions attaching to the 
scheme have been met at the balance sheet date. 

The numbers of shares used in calculating basic and diluted earnings per share are reconciled below.

Weighted average number of shares in issue

Basic
Dilution for share options and awards
Diluted

16 Dividends

2015 
millions
4,831
57
4,888

2014 
millions
4,808
57
4,865

2013 
millions
4,831
88
4,919

First interim
Second interim
Third interim
Fourth interim
Total

Paid/payable

9 July 2015
1 October 2015
14 January 2016
14 April 2016

Special dividend

14 April 2016

Dividend 
per share 
(pence)

19
19
19
23
80

20

2015

Total
dividend 
£m
920
919
919
1,113
3,871

968

Dividend 
per share 
(pence)

Paid

2014

Total
dividend 
£m

Dividend 
per share 
(pence)

Paid

10 July 2014
2 October 2014
8 January 2015
9 April 2015

19
19
19
23
80

11 July 2013
916
918 3 October 2013
9 January 2014
924
1,111
10 April 2014
3,869

18
18
19
23
78

2013

Total
dividend 
£m

878
864
910
1,099
3,751

Under IFRS interim dividends are only recognised in the financial statements when paid and not when declared. GSK normally pays a 
dividend two quarters after the quarter to which it relates and one quarter after it is declared. The 2015 financial statements recognise  
those dividends paid in 2015, namely the third and fourth interim dividends for 2014, and the first and second interim dividends for 2015.

The amounts recognised in each year are as follows:

Dividends to shareholders

2015 
£m
3,874

2014 
£m
3,843

2013 
£m
3,680

160  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
17 Property, plant and equipment

Cost at 1 January 2014
Exchange adjustments
Additions
Capitalised borrowing costs
Disposals and write-offs
Reclassifications
Transfer to assets held for sale
Cost at 31 December 2014
Exchange adjustments
Additions through business combinations
Other additions
Capitalised borrowing costs
Disposals and write-offs
Reclassifications
Transfer to assets held for sale
Cost at 31 December 2015

Depreciation at 1 January 2014
Exchange adjustments
Charge for the year
Disposals and write-offs
Transfer to assets held for sale
Depreciation at 31 December 2014
Exchange adjustments
Charge for the year
Disposals and write-offs
Transfer to/(from) assets held for sale
Depreciation at 31 December 2015

Impairment at 1 January 2014
Exchange adjustments
Disposals and write-offs
Impairment losses
Reversal of impairments
Impairment at 31 December 2014
Exchange adjustments
Disposals and write-offs
Impairment losses
Reversal of impairments
Transfer to assets held for sale
Impairment at 31 December 2015

Total depreciation and impairment at 31 December 2014
Total depreciation and impairment at 31 December 2015

Net book value at 1 January 2014

Net book value at 31 December 2014

Net book value at 31 December 2015

Land and 
buildings 
£m
6,793
(85)
38
–
(62)
211
(91)
6,804
(48)
310
95
–
(74)
228
(10)
7,305

(2,542)
28
(212)
27
18
(2,681)
16
(291)
54
(12)
(2,914)

(159)
–
30
(34)
47
(116)
(8)
7
(162)
5
–
(274)

(2,797)
(3,188)

4,092

4,007

4,117

Plant, 
equipment 
and vehicles 
£m
9,944
(122)
252
–
(322)
454
(36)
10,170
(92)
285
242
–
(340)
557
(47)
10,775

Assets in 
construction 
£m
2,116
(42)
971
16
(3)
(677)
–
2,381
(42)
103
1,099
19
(15)
(875)
–
2,670

(6,926)
70
(568)
250
23
(7,151)
41
(601)
275
21
(7,415)

(291)
4
25
(45)
28
(279)
1
16
(177)
19
47
(373)

(7,430)
(7,788)

2,727

2,740

2,987

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

(63)
–
1
(15)
1
(76)
1
–
(31)
–
–
(106)

(76)
(106)

2,053

2,305

2,564

Total 
£m
18,853
(249)
1,261
16
(387)
(12)
(127)
19,355
(182)
698
1,436
19
(429)
(90)
(57)
20,750

(9,468)
98
(780)
277
41
(9,832)
57
(892)
329
9
(10,329)

(513)
4
56
(94)
76
(471)
(6)
23
(370)
24
47
(753)

(10,303)
(11,082)

8,872

9,052

9,668

Following the completion of the Novartis transaction, the Group revised its segmental reporting and allocation of costs and assets.  
As part of this process, a review has been conducted to ensure consistent and appropriate classification and reporting across the Group 
and its segments which has resulted in a number of classification adjustments within property, plant and equipment. This reclassification 
has no impact on the net book value of property, plant and equipment reported at each year-end or the income statement for any year 
but, within the stated total for PP&E, has reduced the opening balance of assets in construction at 1 January 2014 by £401 million and 
increased the opening balances of land and buildings and plant, equipment and vehicles by £183 million and £218 million, respectively, 
with equivalent adjustments to the reclassifications reported in 2014. 

GSK Annual Report 2015  161

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Notes to the financial statements
continued

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17 Property, plant and equipment continued

The net book value at 31 December 2015 of the Group’s land and buildings comprises freehold properties £3,155 million (2014 – 
£3,160 million), properties with leases of 50 years or more £327 million (2014 – £336 million) and properties with leases of less  
than 50 years £196 million (2014 – £162 million).

Included in land and buildings at 31 December 2015 are leased assets with a cost of £756 million (2014 – £733 million), accumulated 
depreciation of £233 million (2014 – £226 million), impairment of £nil (2014 – £9 million) and a net book value of £523 million  
(2014 – £498 million). Included in plant, equipment and vehicles at 31 December 2015 are leased assets with a cost of £31 million  
(2014 – £68 million), accumulated depreciation of £27 million (2014 – £17 million), impairment of £nil (2014 – £2 million) and  
a net book value of £4 million (2014 – £49 million). Some lease agreements include renewal or purchase options or escalation clauses.

The impairment losses principally arise from decisions to rationalise facilities and are calculated based on either fair value less costs  
of disposal or value in use. The fair value less costs of disposal valuation methodology uses significant inputs which are not based on 
observable market data, and therefore this valuation technique is classified as level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. These calculations 
determine the net present value of the projected risk-adjusted, post-tax cash flows of the relevant asset or cash generating unit, applying 
a discount rate of the Group post-tax weighted average cost of capital (WACC) of 7%, adjusted where appropriate for relevant  
specific risks. For value in use calculations, where an impairment is indicated and a pre-tax cash flow calculation is expected to give a 
materially different result, the test would be reperformed using pre-tax cash flows and a pre-tax discount rate. The Group WACC is 
equivalent to a pre-tax discount rate of approximately 9%. The net impairment losses have been charged to cost of sales £109 million  
(2014 – £36 million), R&D £63 million (2014 – £11 million) and SG&A £174 million (2014 – £47 million), and include £327 million  
(2014 – £nil) arising from the major restructuring programmes.

Reversals of impairment arise from subsequent reviews of the impaired assets where the conditions which gave rise to the original 
impairments are deemed no longer to apply. All of the reversals have been credited to cost of sales.

The carrying value at 31 December 2015 of assets for which impairments have been charged or reversed in the year was £138 million  
(2014 – £225 million).

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18 Goodwill

Cost at 1 January
Exchange adjustments
Additions through business combinations (Note 38)
Transfer to assets held for sale
Movements in contingent consideration balances
Cost at 31 December

Net book value at 1 January

Net book value at 31 December

2015 
£m
3,724
66
1,372
–
–
5,162

3,724

5,162

2014 
£m
4,205
34
–
(511)
(4)
3,724

4,205

3,724

During 2015, GSK divested to Novartis its marketed Oncology portfolio, acquired Novartis’ Vaccines business (excluding influenza 
vaccines) and created the Consumer Healthcare Joint Venture with Novartis over which GSK has control with an equity interest  
of 63.5%.

The acquisitions resulted in the recognition of additional goodwill which was allocated to Vaccines (£576 million) and Consumer 
Healthcare (£774 million). The disposal of the Oncology business resulted in a transfer of goodwill to assets held for sale in 2014 and  
a reduction in goodwill in Global Pharmaceuticals of £497 million. This disposal was completed in 2015.

The carrying value of goodwill, translated at year-end exchange rates, is allocated to the following cash generating units:

Global Pharmaceuticals
HIV
Vaccines
Consumer Healthcare
Net book value at 31 December

2015 
£m
2,826
126
1,003
1,207
5,162

2014 
£m
2,774
124
487
339
3,724

The goodwill balance at 31 December 2014 has been reallocated to reflect the revised cash generating units for 2015.

162  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
.

18 Goodwill continued

The recoverable amounts of the cash generating units are assessed using a fair value less costs of disposal model. Fair value less costs 
of disposal is calculated using a discounted cash flow approach, with a post-tax discount rate applied to the projected risk-adjusted 
post-tax cash flows and terminal value. 

The discount rate used is based on the Group WACC of 7%, as most cash generating units have integrated operations across large 
parts of the Group. The discount rate is adjusted where appropriate for specific country or currency risks. The valuation methodology 
uses significant inputs which are not based on observable market data, therefore this valuation technique is classified as level 3 in the fair 
value hierarchy.

Details relating to the discounted cash flow models used in the impairment tests of the Global Pharmaceuticals, HIV, Vaccines and 
Consumer Healthcare cash generating units are as follows:

Valuation basis

Key assumptions

Determination of assumptions

Fair value less costs of disposal

Sales growth rates 
Profit margins 
Terminal growth rate 
Discount rate
Taxation rate

Growth rates are internal forecasts based on both internal and external market information.
Margins reflect past experience, adjusted for expected changes.
Terminal growth rates based on management’s estimate of future long-term average growth rates.
Discount rates based on Group WACC, adjusted where appropriate.
Taxation rates based on appropriate rates for each region.

Period of specific projected cash flows

Five years

Terminal growth rate and discount rate

                                                                                Terminal growth rate          Discount rate

Global Pharmaceuticals  
HIV 
Vaccines 
Consumer Healthcare 

1% p.a. 
1% p.a. 
2% p.a. 
2% p.a. 

  7%
  8.5%
7%
  7%

The terminal growth rates do not exceed the long-term projected growth rates for the relevant markets, reflect the impact of future 
generic competition and take account of new product launches. 

In each case the valuations indicate sufficient headroom such that a reasonably possible change to key assumptions is unlikely to result 
in an impairment of the related goodwill. Goodwill is monitored at the segmental level.

The Global Pharmaceuticals cash generating unit comprises a collection of smaller cash generating units including assets with indefinite lives 
with a carrying value of £240 million (2014 – £595 million). The Consumer Healthcare cash generating unit also comprises a collection of 
smaller cash generating units including brands with indefinite lives with a carrying value of £7.71 billion (2014 – £1.48 billion).

Details of indefinite life brands are given in Note 19 ‘Other intangible assets’.

GSK Annual Report 2015  163

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Notes to the financial statements
continued

19 Other intangible assets

Cost at 1 January 2014
Exchange adjustments
Capitalised development costs
Capitalised borrowing costs
Other additions
Reclassifications
Disposals and asset write-offs
Transfer to assets held for sale
Cost at 31 December 2014
Exchange adjustments
Capitalised development costs
Capitalised borrowing costs
Additions through business combinations
Other additions
Reclassifications
Disposals and asset write-offs
Transfer to assets held for sale
Cost at 31 December 2015

Amortisation at 1 January 2014
Exchange adjustments
Charge for the year
Disposals and asset write-offs
Amortisation at 31 December 2014
Exchange adjustments
Charge for the year
Disposals and asset write-offs
Transfer to assets held for sale
Amortisation at 31 December 2015

Impairment at 1 January 2014
Exchange adjustments
Impairment losses
Disposals and asset write-offs
Impairment at 31 December 2014
Exchange adjustments
Impairment losses
Disposals and asset write-offs
Transfer to assets held for sale
Impairment at 31 December 2015

Total amortisation and impairment at 31 December 2014
Total amortisation and impairment at 31 December 2015

Net book value at 1 January 2014

Net book value at 31 December 2014

Net book value at 31 December 2015

Computer 
software 
£m
1,631
11
–
6
179
12
(21)
–
1,818
32
–
7
–
174
90
(91)
(2)
2,028

(1,102)
(13)
(115)
17
(1,213)
(15)
(140)
73
1
(1,294)

(41)
2
(7)
4
(42)
1
(14)
16
–
(39)

(1,255)
(1,333)

488

563

695

Licences, 
patents, etc. 
£m
10,472
52
242
3
108
–
(9)
(587)
10,281
74
217
–
2,791
132
–
(98)
(3)
13,394

Amortised 
brands 
£m
419
3
–
–
–
–
–
–
422
3
–
–
–
–
–
–
(38)
387

Indefinite life 
brands 
£m
2,191
(6)
–
–
–
–
–
(30)
2,155
(14)
–
–
5,997
–
–
–
(64)
8,074

(2,857)
(63)
(578)
6
(3,492)
(34)
(596)
92
–
(4,030)

(1,090)
(18)
(131)
–
(1,239)
(58)
(148)
6
–
(1,439)

(4,731)
(5,469)

6,525

5,550

7,925

(123)
–
(11)
–
(134)
(1)
(2)
–
4
(133)

(140)
–
(14)
–
(154)
–
(15)
–
15
(154)

(288)
(287)

156

134

100

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

(77)
–
(5)
–
(82)
–
(40)
–
–
(122)

(82)
(122)

2,114

2,073

7,952

Total 
£m
14,713
60
242
9
287
12
(30)
(617)
14,676
95
217
7
8,788
306
90
(189)
(107)
23,883

(4,082)
(76)
(704)
23
(4,839)
(50)
(738)
165
5
(5,457)

(1,348)
(16)
(157)
4
(1,517)
(57)
(217)
22
15
(1,754)

(6,356)
(7,211)

9,283

8,320

16,672

The net book value of computer software includes £407 million (2014 – £82 million) of internally generated costs.

The charge for impairments in the year includes the impairments of the MAGE-A3 asset and Maxinutrition. The carrying value at  
31 December 2015 of intangible assets, for which impairments have been charged or reversed in the year, following those impairments 
or reversals, was £308 million (2014 – £121 million).

164  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
19 Other intangible assets continued

Amortisation and impairment losses, net of reversals, have been charged in the income statement as follows:

Cost of sales
Selling, general and administration
Research and development

Amortisation

Net impairment losses

2015 
£m
532
66
140
738

2014 
£m
503
86
115
704

2015 
£m
143
22
52
217

2014 
£m
78
7
72
157

Licences, patents, etc. includes a large number of acquired licences, patents, know-how agreements and marketing rights, which are 
either marketed or in use, or still in development. Note 38, ‘Acquisitions and disposals’ gives details of additions through business 
combinations in the year. The book values of the largest individual items are as follows:

dolutegravir
Benlysta
Menveo
Bexsero
Men ABCWY
Fluarix/FluLaval
Selzentry
Okairos technology platform
Others

2015 
£m
1,585
1,083
833
819
591
333
208
167
2,306
7,925

2014 
£m
1,680
1,104
–
–
–
415
223
177
1,951
5,550

Indefinite life brands comprise a portfolio of Consumer Healthcare products primarily acquired with the acquisitions of Sterling  
Winthrop, Inc. in 1994, Block Drug Company, Inc. in 2001, CNS, Inc. in 2006 and the Novartis Consumer Healthcare business in  
2015, together with a number of pharmaceutical brands from the acquisition of Stiefel Laboratories, Inc. in 2009. The book values  
of the major brands are as follows:

Voltaren
Otrivin
Fenistil
Theraflu
Panadol
Sensodyne
Lamisil
Breathe Right
Stiefel trade name
Excedrin
Physiogel
Polident
Others

2015 
£m
2,411
1,225
576
391
361
258
257
217
201
164
147
109
1,635
7,952

2014 
£m
–
–
–
–
393
260
–
204
200
–
155
110
751
2,073

Each of these brands is considered to have an indefinite life, given the strength and durability of the brand and the level of marketing 
support. The brands are in relatively similar stable and profitable market sectors, with similar risk profiles, and their size, diversification 
and market shares mean that the risk of market-related factors causing a reduction in the lives of the brands is considered to be relatively 
low. The Group is not aware of any material legal, regulatory, contractual, competitive, economic or other factor which could limit their 
useful lives. Accordingly, they are not amortised. 

Each brand is tested annually for impairment and other amortised intangible assets are tested when indicators of impairment arise.  
This testing applies a fair value less costs of disposal methodology, generally using post-tax cash flow forecasts with a terminal value 
calculation and a discount rate equal to the Group post-tax WACC of 7%, adjusted where appropriate for country and currency specific 
risks. This valuation methodology uses significant inputs which are not based on observable market data, and therefore this valuation 
technique is classified as level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. The main assumptions include future sales price and volume growth, product 
contribution and the future expenditure required to maintain the product’s marketability and registration in the relevant jurisdictions.  
These assumptions are based on past experience and are reviewed as part of management’s budgeting and strategic planning cycle  
for changes in market conditions and sales erosion through competition. The terminal growth rates applied of between nil and 3% are 
management’s estimates of future long-term average growth rates of the relevant markets. In each case the valuations indicate sufficient 
headroom such that a reasonably possible change to key assumptions is unlikely to result in an impairment of these intangible assets.

GSK Annual Report 2015  165

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Notes to the financial statements
continued

20 Investments in associates and joint ventures

At 1 January
Exchange adjustments
Additions
Disposals
Transfer from/(to) other investments
Distributions received
Other movements
Profit/(loss) after tax recognised in the consolidated 
  income statement
Other comprehensive income recognised in the
  consolidated statement of comprehensive income
At 31 December

Joint 
ventures 
£m
8
1
13
–
–
–
–

(2)

–
20

Associates 
£m
332
2
10
(143)
146
(38)
(165)

16

27
187

2015 
Total 
£m
340
3
23
(143)
146
(38)
(165)

14

27
207

Joint 
ventures 
£m
15
(1)
2
–
–
–
–

(8)

–
8

Associates 
£m
308
(18)
7
(1)
(13)
(5)
16

38

–
332

2014 
Total 
£m
323
(19)
9
(1)
(13)
(5)
16

30

–
340

The Group held one significant associate at 31 December 2015, Theravance, Inc., which changed its name to Innoviva, Inc. on 8 January 
2016. At 31 December 2015, the Group owned 32 million shares or 27.8% of Theravance Inc. (now Innoviva Inc.), which is a 
biopharmaceutical company listed on NASDAQ. The company partnered with GSK in the development of Relvar/Breo Ellipta and Anoro 
Ellipta and receives royalty income from sales of these products. It is also eligible to receive royalty income from sales of vilanterol 
monotherapy, if approved and commercialised, and retains a 15% economic interest in future payments made by GSK for earlier-stage 
programmes partnered with Theravance Biopharma, Inc. GSK recognised Theravance as an associate on 1 September 2015, following 
the expiry of a governance agreement related to the Group’s investment in the company. Under the terms of that governance agreement, 
the Group was required (with certain limited exceptions) to vote its shares either in support of the recommendation of the independent 
directors of the board or in proportion to other shareholders’ votes cast. The expiry of the governance agreement and removal of this 
voting rights’ restriction was considered to provide the Group with the ability to exert significant influence over the activities of the 
company. The investment had a market value of £229 million at 31 December 2015. Other movements primarily reflect the recognition  
of GSK’s share of Theravance’s past losses on the transfer of Theravance to investments in associates.

At 31 December 2014, the Group’s only significant investment in associate was its holding of 12.4% in Aspen Pharmacare Holdings 
Limited. In March 2015, the Group sold half of its holding in Aspen. As a result, the Group no longer has the ability to exert significant 
influence over Aspen, and the Group’s remaining investment in Aspen is accounted for in Other investments. 

Summarised balance sheet information, based on preliminary results information, in respect of Theravance (now Innoviva) at  
31 December 2015 and Aspen at 31 December 2014 is set out below:

Theravance

At 31 December 
2015 
£m
143
146

(9)
(513)

(233)

2015 
£m
(65)
64
113

112

Aspen

At 31 December 
2014 
£m

2,336
1,791

(909)
(1,955)

1,263

2014 
£m
157
117
–

274

Non-current assets
Current assets

Current liabilities
Non-current liabilities

Net (liabilities)/assets

Interest in associated undertaking
Goodwill
Fair value and other adjustments

Carrying value at 31 December

166  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
21 Other investments

At 1 January
Exchange adjustments
Additions
Fair value gain on reclassification from investment in associate
Other net fair value movements
Impairment losses
Transfer to investments in associates and joint ventures
Disposals
At 31 December

2015 
£m
1,114
38
120
457
323
(258)
(146)
(393)
1,255

2014 
£m
1,202
63
95
–
(16)
(25)
–
(205)
1,114

Other investments comprise non-current equity investments which are available-for-sale investments recorded at fair value at each 
balance sheet date. For investments traded in an active market, the fair value is determined by reference to the relevant stock exchange 
quoted bid price. For other investments, the fair value is estimated by management with reference to relevant available information, 
including the current market value of similar instruments and discounted cash flows of the underlying net assets. The Group holds a 
number of equity investments in entities where the Group has entered into research collaborations. Other investments include listed 
investments of £987 million (2014 – £892 million), the increase arising from additions, fair value adjustments and the transfer of the 
Group’s investment in Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Limited from Investments in associates to Other investments, offset by the transfer  
of the Group’s investment in Theravance, Inc. to Investments in associates and disposals and impairments, principally relating to Aspen.

At 31 December 2015, the Group held 22.1% of the common stock of Theravance Biopharma, Inc. The Group’s investment in 
Theravance Biopharma is accounted for as an equity investment as the Group does not have the power to exert significant influence over 
the activities of the company. In 2014, the Group and Theravance Biopharma entered into a governance agreement which expires in 
2017. Under this agreement, the Group does not have the right to appoint a director to the Theravance Biopharma board and must (with 
certain limited exceptions) vote its shares either in support of the recommendation of the independent directors of the board or in 
proportion to other shareholders’ votes cast.

On 1 September 2015, a similar governance agreement with another investee, Theravance, Inc. (now Innoviva, Inc.) expired. The expiry  
of this agreement was considered to provide the Group with the ability to exert significant influence over the activities of the company 
and the Group has therefore accounted for its shareholding as an investment in an associate since that date.

In March 2015, the Group sold half of its shareholding in Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Limited, an investment which it had previously 
accounted for as an associate. As a result of the sale, the Group was no longer considered to have the ability to exert significant 
influence over Aspen and the Group’s remaining investment was transferred from Investments in associates to Other investments.  
At 31 December 2015, this investment had a fair value of £383 million. 

On disposal of investments, fair value movements are reclassified from equity to the income statement based on average cost for  
shares acquired at different times. 

The impairment losses recorded above have been recognised in the income statement for the year within Other operating income, 
together with amounts reclassified from the fair value reserve on recognition of the impairments. These impairments initially result  
from prolonged or significant declines in the fair value of the equity investments below acquisition cost, subsequent to which any  
further declines in fair value are immediately taken to the income statement. 

The carrying value at 31 December of Other investments which have been impaired is as follows:

Original cost
Cumulative impairments recognised in the income statement
Subsequent fair value increases
Carrying value at 31 December

22 Other non-current assets

Amounts receivable under insurance contracts
Pension schemes in surplus
Other receivables

2015 
£m
1,049
(549)
279
779

2015 
£m
477
258
255
990

2014 
£m
558
(420)
268
406

2014 
£m
447
93
195
735

GSK Annual Report 2015  167

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Notes to the financial statements
continued

23 Inventories

Raw materials and consumables
Work in progress
Finished goods

24 Trade and other receivables 

Trade receivables, net of provision for bad and doubtful debts
Accrued income
Other prepayments
Interest receivable
Employee loans and advances
Other receivables

2015 
£m
1,563
1,453
1,700
4,716

2015 
£m
3,824
55
307
9
36
1,384
5,615

2014 
£m
1,156
1,604
1,471
4,231

2014 
£m
3,556
37
252
9
28
718
4,600

Trade receivables included £8 million (2014 – £28 million) due from associates and joint ventures. Other receivables included £nil 
(2014– £8 million) due from associates and joint ventures. The increase in other receivables primarily arises from the Novartis 
transaction.

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Bad and doubtful debt provision

At 1 January
Exchange adjustments
Charge for the year
Subsequent recoveries of amounts provided for
Utilised
At 31 December

25 Cash and cash equivalents

Cash at bank and in hand
Short-term deposits

26 Assets held for sale

Property, plant and equipment
Goodwill
Other intangibles
Inventory
Other

2015 
£m
142
(2)
45
(17)
(1)
167

2015 
£m
1,114
4,716
5,830

2015 
£m
32
–
5
15
(6)
46

2014 
£m
137
(3)
22
(13)
(1)
142

2014 
£m
1,313
3,025
4,338

2014 
£m
60
511
543
42
–
1,156

Non-current assets and disposal groups are transferred to assets held for sale when it is expected that their carrying amounts will be 
recovered principally through disposal and a sale is considered highly probable. They are held at the lower of carrying amount and fair 
value less costs to sell. 

Included within Assets held for sale are assets which were written down to fair value less costs to sell of £36 million (2014 – £26 million). 
The valuation methodology uses significant inputs which are not based on observable market data, therefore, this valuation is classified as 
level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

168  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
27 Trade and other payables

Trade payables
Wages and salaries
Social security
Other payables
Deferred income
Customer return and rebate accruals
Contingent consideration
Other accruals

2015 
£m
3,120
1,069
118
368
73
2,056
306
2,081
9,191

2014 
£m
2,790
957
91
301
62
1,774
105
1,878
7,958

Customer return and rebate accruals are provided for by the Group at the point of sale in respect of the estimated rebates, discounts  
or allowances payable to customers, including £1,464 million (2014 – £1,308 million) in respect of US Pharmaceuticals and Vaccines. 
Accruals are made at the time of sale but the actual amounts paid are based on claims made some time after the initial recognition of 
the sale. As the amounts are estimated they may not fully reflect the final outcome and are subject to change dependent upon, amongst 
other things, the types of buying group and product sales mix. The level of accrual is reviewed and adjusted quarterly in the light of 
historical experience of actual rebates, discounts or allowances given and returns made and any changes in arrangements. Future 
events could cause the assumptions on which the accruals are based to change, which could affect the future results of the Group.

Trade and other payables include £17 million (2014 – £9 million) due to associates and joint ventures. 

28 Pensions and other post-employment benefits

Pension and other post-employment costs
UK pension schemes
US pension schemes
Other overseas pension schemes
Unfunded post-retirement healthcare schemes

Analysed as:
Funded defined benefit/hybrid pension schemes
Unfunded defined benefit pension schemes
Unfunded post-retirement healthcare schemes
Defined benefit schemes
Defined contribution pension schemes

2015 
£m
177
96
135
59
467

345
36
59
440
27
467

2014 
£m
125
85
123
70
403

267
34
70
371
32
403

2013 
£m
139
95
111
(175)
170

283
30
(175)
138
32
170

The net reduction in the post-retirement healthcare schemes cost in 2013 arises from the restructuring of US post-retirement medical 
obligations. For further details see page 171.

The costs of the defined benefit pension and post-retirement healthcare schemes are charged in the income statement as follows:

Cost of sales
Selling, general and administration
Research and development

2015 
£m
143
225
72
440

2014 
£m
117
194
60
371

2013 
£m
104
27
7
138

GSK entities operate pension arrangements which cover the Group’s material obligations to provide pensions to retired employees. These 
arrangements have been developed in accordance with local practices in the countries concerned. Pension benefits can be provided by 
state schemes; by defined contribution schemes, whereby retirement benefits are determined by the value of funds arising from contributions 
paid in respect of each employee; or by defined benefit schemes, whereby retirement benefits are based on employee pensionable 
remuneration and length of service. Some ‘hybrid’ defined benefit schemes also include defined contribution sections.

GSK Annual Report 2015  169

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Notes to the financial statements
continued

28 Pensions and other post-employment benefits continued

Pension costs of defined benefit schemes for accounting purposes have been calculated using the projected unit method. In certain 
countries pension benefits are provided on an unfunded basis, some administered by trustee companies. Formal, independent, actuarial 
valuations of the Group’s main plans are undertaken regularly, normally at least every three years. 

Actuarial movements in the year are recognised through the statement of comprehensive income. Discount rates are derived from AA 
rated corporate bond yields except in countries where there is no deep market in corporate bonds where government bond yields are 
used. Discount rates are selected to reflect the term of the expected benefit payments. Projected inflation rate and pension increases  
are long-term predictions based on the yield gap between long-term index-linked and fixed interest Gilts. In the UK, mortality rates are 
determined by adjusting the SAPS S2 standard mortality tables to reflect recent scheme experience. These rates are then projected to 
reflect improvements in life expectancy in line with the CMI projections with a long-term rate of improvement of 1.25% per year for both 
males and females. In the US, mortality rates are calculated using the RP2014 white collar table adjusted to reflect recent experience. 
These rates are projected using scale BB-2D to allow for future improvements in life expectancy.

The average life expectancy assumed now for an individual at the age of 60 and projected to apply in 2035 for an individual then at the 
age of 60 is as follows:

Current
Projected for 2035

Male 
Years
27.8
29.7

UK

Female 
Years
29.9
32.0

Male 
Years
27.1
28.8

US

Female 
Years
28.8
30.5

The assets of funded schemes are generally held in separately administered trusts, either as specific assets or as a proportion of a 
general fund, or are insurance contracts. Assets are invested in different classes in order to maintain a balance between risk and return. 
Investments are diversified to limit the financial effect of the failure of any individual investment. The Group reviewed the investment 
strategy of the UK plans in 2011 and the asset allocation for the UK plans has been adjusted to approximately 55% return seeking assets 
and 45% liability matching assets. In 2013, the target asset allocation of the US plans was also updated to 55% return seeking assets 
and 45% liability matching assets.

The Pension Plans are exposed to risk that arises because the estimated market value of the Plans’ assets might decline, the investment 
returns might reduce, or the estimated value of the Plans’ liabilities might increase.

In line with the agreed mix of return seeking assets to generate future returns and liability matching assets to better match future pension 
obligations, the Group has defined an overall long-term investment strategy for the Plans, with investments across a broad range of 
assets. The main market risks within the asset and hedging portfolio are against credit risk, interest rates, long-term inflation, equities, 
property, and bank counterparty risk.

The Plan liabilities are a series of future cash flows with relatively long duration. On an IAS 19R basis, these cash flows are sensitive to 
changes in the expected long-term inflation rate and the discount rate (AA corporate bond yield curve) where an increase in long-term 
inflation corresponds with an increase in the liabilities, and an increase in the discount rate corresponds with a decrease in the liabilities. 

In the UK the defined benefit pension schemes operated for the benefit of former Glaxo Wellcome employees and former SmithKline 
Beecham employees remain separate. These schemes were closed to new entrants in 2001 and subsequent UK employees are entitled 
to join a defined contribution scheme. In the US the former Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham defined benefit schemes were 
merged during 2001. In addition, the Group operates a number of post-retirement healthcare schemes, the principal one of which is in 
the US.

The Group has applied the following financial assumptions in assessing the defined benefit liabilities:

Rate of increase of future earnings
Discount rate
Expected pension increases
Cash balance credit/conversion rate
Inflation rate

2015 
% pa
2.00
3.80
3.10
n/a
3.10

2014 
% pa
2.00
3.60
3.00
n/a
3.00

UK

2013 
% pa
2.00
4.50
3.40
n/a
3.40

2015 
% pa
4.00
4.20
n/a
3.20
2.25

2014 
% pa
4.00
3.80
n/a
3.00
2.25

US

2013 
% pa
4.00
4.60
n/a
4.20
2.25

2015 
% pa
2.70
2.20
2.00
0.60
1.40

Rest of World

2014 
% pa
2.60
2.00
2.00
0.50
1.40

2013 
% pa
2.80
3.40
2.10
0.90
1.80

170  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
28 Pensions and other post-employment benefits continued

The amounts recorded in the income statement and statement of comprehensive income for the three years ended 31 December 2015  
in relation to the defined benefit pension and post-retirement healthcare schemes were as follows:

US 
£m

Rest of World 
£m

Pensions
Group 
£m

Post-retirement 
benefits
Group 
£m

2015
Amounts charged to operating profit
Current service cost
Past service cost/(credit)
Net interest cost
Gains from settlements
Expenses

UK 
£m

131
25
14
–
7
177

67
2
22
1
4
96

110
(10)
13
(9)
4
108

308
17
49
(8)
15
381

Remeasurements recorded in the statement of
  comprehensive income

82

(30)

147

199

2014
Amounts charged to operating profit
Current service cost
Past service cost/(credit)
Net interest (credit)/cost
Gains from settlements
Expenses

UK 
£m

119
7
(7)
–
6
125

US 
£m

Rest of World 
£m

Pensions
Group 
£m

Post-retirement 
benefits
Group 
£m

66
1
14
–
4
85

90
(11)
14
(4)
2
91

275
(3)
21
(4)
12
301

24
(8)
54
–
–
70

Remeasurements recorded in the statement of
  comprehensive income

(629)

(223)

(244)

(1,096)

(85)

US 
£m

Rest of World 
£m

Pensions
Group 
£m

Post-retirement 
benefits
Group 
£m

2013
Amounts charged to operating profit
Current service cost
Past service cost/(credit)
Net interest cost
Expenses

UK 
£m

117
4
12
6
139

74
–
17
4
95

89
(31)
17
4
79

280
(27)
46
14
313

Remeasurements recorded in the statement of
  comprehensive income

349

257

74

680

The past service credit of £273 million in 2013 includes an amount of £279 million in relation to the restructuring of the US post-retirement 
medical obligations for both active and retired members under the age of 65.

The amounts included within past service costs include £25 million (2014 – £7 million; 2013 – £nil) of augmentation costs arising from 
major restructuring programmes (see Note 29, ‘Other provisions’).

GSK Annual Report 2015  171

22
(8)
52
(7)
–
59

62

37
(273)
61
–
(175)

167

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Notes to the financial statements
continued

28 Pensions and other post-employment benefits continued

A summarised balance sheet presentation of the Group defined benefit pension schemes and other post-retirement benefits is set out in the 
table below:

Recognised in Other non-current assets:
   Pension schemes in surplus
Recognised in Pensions and other post-employment benefits:
   Pension schemes in deficit
   Post-retirement benefits

2015 
£m

258

(1,842)
(1,387)
(3,229)

2014 
£m

93

2013 
£m

330

(1,782)
(1,397)
(3,179)

(943)
(1,246)
(2,189)

The fair values of the assets and liabilities of the UK and US defined benefit pension schemes, together with aggregated data for other 
defined benefit pension schemes in the Group are as follows:

At 31 December 2015
Equities: 

Property: 
Corporate bonds: 

–  listed 
–  unlisted
–  unlisted 
–  listed
–  unlisted

Government bonds:  –  listed
Insurance contracts
Other assets
Fair value of assets
Present value of scheme obligations
Net obligation

Included in Other non-current assets
Included in Pensions and other post-employment benefits

Actual return on plan assets

UK 
£m
6,646
481
302
251
232
5,780
755
(2,572)
11,875
(12,192)
(317)

232
(549)
(317)

1

US 
£m
1,235
–
175
727
–
184
–
180
2,501
(3,134)
(633)

–
(633)
(633)

(30)

Rest of World 
£m
355
1
8
76
2
664
439
205
1,750
(2,384)
(634)

26
(660)
(634)

23

Group 
£m
8,236
482
485
1,054
234
6,628
1,194
(2,187)
16,126
(17,710)
(1,584)

258
(1,842)
(1,584)

(6)

The index-linked gilts held as part of the UK repo programme are included in government bonds. The related loan is included within 
‘Other assets’ at a value of £2,215 million (2014 – £(537)  million; 2013 – £(407) million).

UK 
£m
6,734
247
256
1,403
247
2,489
803
(127)
12,052
(12,492)
(440)

72
(512)
(440)

977

US 
£m
1,203
–
146
921
–
152
–
109
2,531
(3,133)
(602)

–
(602)
(602)

99

Rest of World 
£m
325
9
4
97
25
603
378
88
1,529
(2,176)
(647)

21
(668)
(647)

181

Group 
£m
8,262
256
406
2,421
272
3,244
1,181
70
16,112
(17,801)
(1,689)

93
(1,782)
(1,689)

1,257

At 31 December 2014
Equities: 

Property: 
Corporate bonds: 

–  listed 
–  unlisted
–  unlisted 
–  listed
–  unlisted

Government bonds:  –  listed
Insurance contracts
Other assets
Fair value of assets
Present value of scheme obligations
Net obligation

Included in Other non-current assets
Included in Pensions and other post-employment benefits

Actual return on plan assets

172  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
28 Pensions and other post-employment benefits continued

At 31 December 2013

Equities: 

Property: 
Corporate bonds: 

–  listed 
–  unlisted
–  unlisted 
–  listed
–  unlisted

Government bonds:  –  listed
Insurance contracts
Other assets
Fair value of assets
Present value of scheme obligations
Net asset/(obligation)

Included in Other non-current assets
Included in Pensions and other post-employment benefits

Actual return on plan assets

Movements in fair values of assets
Assets at 1 January 2013
Exchange adjustments
Interest income
Expenses
Remeasurement
Employer contributions
Scheme participants’ contributions
Benefits paid
Assets at 31 December 2013
Exchange adjustments
Interest income
Expenses
Settlements and curtailments
Remeasurement
Employer contributions
Scheme participants’ contributions
Benefits paid
Assets at 31 December 2014
Exchange adjustments
Additions through business combinations
Interest income
Expenses
Settlements and curtailments
Remeasurement
Employer contributions
Scheme participants’ contributions
Benefits paid
Assets at 31 December 2015

UK 
£m
6,474
–
254
1,484
–
2,376
775
(119)
11,244
(11,132)
112

292
(180)
112

1,383

US 
£m
1,202
–
131
531
–
320
–
330
2,514
(2,793)
(279)

–
(279)
(279)

218

Rest of World 
£m
422
9
5
57
20
517
366
71
1,467
(1,913)
(446)

38
(484)
(446)

98

UK
£m
9,981
–
385
(6)
998
219
26
(359)
11,244
–
437
(6)
–
540
202
34
(399)
12,052
–
–
374
(7)
–
(373)
218
37
(426)
11,875

US 
£m
2,521
(49)
96
(4)
122
20
–
(192)
2,514
154
112
(4)
–
(13)
19
–
(251)
2,531
147
–
95
(4)
–
(125)
132
–
(275)
2,501

Rest of World 
£m
1,377
(45)
45
(4)
53
104
10
(73)
1,467
(101)
47
(2)
(65)
134
102
10
(63)
1,529
(52)
233
33
(4)
(16)
(10)
112
14
(89)
1,750

Pensions
Group
£m
13,879
(94)
526
(14)
1,173
343
36
(624)
15,225
53
596
(12)
(65)
661
323
44
(713)
16,112
95
233
502
(15)
(16)
(508)
462
51
(790)
16,126

Group 
£m
8,098
9
390
2,072
20
3,213
1,141
282
15,225
(15,838)
(613)

330
(943)
(613)

1,699

Post-retirement 
benefits
Group
£m
–
–
–
–
–
76
15
(91)
–
–
–
–
–
–
70
10
(80)
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
82
14
(96)
–

The UK defined benefit schemes include defined contribution sections with account balances totalling £1,591 million at 31 December 
2015 (2014 – £1,501 million; 2013 – £1,366 million).

During 2015, the Group made special funding contributions to the UK pension schemes totalling £85 million (2014 – £85 million;  
2013 – £93 million) and £111 million (2014 – £nil; 2013 – £nil) to the US scheme. In 2013, GSK reached an agreement with the 
trustees of the UK pension schemes to make additional contributions to eliminate the pension deficit identified at the 31 December 
2011 actuarial funding valuation. Based on the funding agreements following the 2011 valuation, the additional contributions are 
expected to be £85 million in 2016. The contributions were based on a government bond yield curve approach to selecting the 
discount rate; the rate chosen included an allowance for expected investment returns which reflected the asset mix of the schemes. 

Employer contributions for 2016, including special funding contributions, are estimated to be approximately £540 million in respect of 
defined benefit pension schemes and £80 million in respect of post-retirement benefits.

GSK Annual Report 2015  173

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Notes to the financial statements
continued

28 Pensions and other post-employment benefits continued

Movements in defined benefit obligations

Obligations at 1 January 2013
Exchange adjustments
Service cost
Past service cost
Interest cost
Other movements
Remeasurement
Scheme participants’ contributions
Benefits paid
Obligations at 31 December 2013
Exchange adjustments
Service cost
Past service cost
Interest cost
Settlements and curtailments
Other movements
Remeasurement
Scheme participants’ contributions
Benefits paid
Obligations at 31 December 2014
Exchange adjustments
Additions through business combinations
Service cost
Past service cost
Interest cost
Settlements and curtailments
Remeasurement
Scheme participants’ contributions
Benefits paid
Obligations at 31 December 2015

UK
£m
(10,298)
–
(117)
(4)
(397)
–
(649)
(26)
359
(11,132)
–
(119)
(7)
(430)
–
–
(1,169)
(34)
399
(12,492)
–
–
(131)
(25)
(388)
–
455
(37)
426
(12,192)

US 
£m
(2,979)
46
(74)
–
(113)
–
135
–
192
(2,793)
(188)
(66)
(1)
(126)
–
–
(210)
–
251
(3,133)
(184)
–
(67)
(2)
(117)
(1)
95
–
275
(3,134)

Rest of World 
£m
(1,914)
37
(89)
31
(62)
–
21
(10)
73
(1,913)
139
(90)
11
(61)
69
(6)
(378)
(10)
63
(2,176)
78
(397)
(110)
10
(46)
25
157
(14)
89
(2,384)

Pensions
Group
£m
(15,191)
83
(280)
27
(572)
–
(493)
(36)
624
(15,838)
(49)
(275)
3
(617)
69
(6)
(1,757)
(44)
713
(17,801)
(106)
(397)
(308)
(17)
(551)
24
707
(51)
790
(17,710)

Post-retirement 
benefits
Group
£m
(1,685)
9
(37)
273
(61)
12
167
(15)
91
(1,246)
(68)
(24)
8
(54)
–
2
(85)
(10)
80
(1,397)
(64)
(11)
(22)
8
(52)
7
62
(14)
96
(1,387)

The UK defined benefit schemes include defined contribution sections with obligations totalling £1,591 million at 31 December 2015 
(2014 – £1,501 million; 2013 – £1,366 million). 

The defined benefit pension obligation is analysed as follows:

Funded
Unfunded

2015 
£m
(17,143)
(567)
(17,710)

2014
£m
(17,350)
(451)
(17,801)

2013 
£m
(15,432)
(406)
(15,838)

The liability for the US post-retirement healthcare scheme has been assessed using the same assumptions as for the US pension 
scheme, together with the assumption for future medical inflation of 6.5% (2014 – 6.75%), grading down to 5.0% in 2022 and  
thereafter. At 31 December 2015, the US post-retirement healthcare scheme obligation was £1,208 million (2014 – £1,191 million;  
2013 – £1,066 million). Post-retirement benefits are unfunded.

174  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
28 Pensions and other post-employment benefits continued

The movement in the net defined benefit liability is as follows:

At 1 January
Exchange adjustments
Additions through business combinations
Service cost
Past service cost
Interest income/(cost)
Settlements and curtailments
Remeasurements:
   Return on plan assets, excluding amounts included in interest
   Gain/(loss) from change in demographic assumptions
   Gain/(loss) from change in financial assumptions
   Experience losses
Employer contributions
Expenses/other movements
At 31 December

The remeasurements included within post-retirement benefits are detailed below:

Gain/(loss) from change in demographic assumptions
Gain/(loss) from change in financial assumptions
Experience (losses)/gains

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2015
£m
(1,689)
 (11)
(164)
(308)
(17)
(49)
8

(508)
120
362
225
462
(15)
(1,584)

2015 
£m
15
59
(12)
62

2014 
£m 
(613)
 4
–
(275)
3
(21)
4

661
(64)
(1,578)
(115)
323
(18)
(1,689)

2014
£m
10
(120)
25
(85)

2013 
£m
(1,312)
 (11)
–
(280)
27
(46)
–

1,173
(89)
(118)
(286)
343
(14)
(613)

2013 
£m
(1)
143
25
167

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GSK Annual Report 2015  175

 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the financial statements
continued

28 Pensions and other post-employment benefits continued

The defined benefit pension obligation analysed by membership category is as follows:

Active
Retired
Deferred

The post-retirement benefit obligation analysed by membership category is as follows:

Active
Retired
Deferred

The weighted average duration of the defined benefit obligation is as follows:

Pension benefits
Post-retirement benefits

Sensitivity analysis

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2015 
£m
5,510
7,969
4,231
17,710

2015 
£m
499
887
1
1,387

2015 
years
16
12

2014
£m
5,422
7,967
4,412
17,801

2014
£m
590
805
2
1,397

2014
years
16
12

2013
£m
5,053
7,137
3,648
15,838

2013
£m
545
699
2
1,246

2013 
years
16
12

Effect of changes in assumptions used on the benefit obligations and on the 2016 annual defined benefit pension and post retirement 
costs.

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A 0.25% decrease in discount rate would have the following approximate effect:

   Increase in annual pension cost
   Decrease in annual post-retirement benefits cost
   Increase in pension obligation
   Increase in post-retirement benefits obligation

A one year increase in life expectancy would have the following approximate effect:

   Increase in annual pension cost
   Increase in annual post-retirement benefits cost 
   Increase in pension obligation
   Increase in post-retirement benefits obligation

A 1% increase in the rate of future healthcare inflation would have the following approximate effect:

   Increase in annual post-retirement benefits cost
   Increase in post-retirement benefits obligation

A 0.25% increase in inflation would have the following approximate effect:

   Increase in annual pension cost
   Increase in pension obligation

£m

24
(1)
630
40

20
2
444
36

3
64

19
375

176  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
29 Other provisions

At 1 January 2015
Exchange adjustments
Charge for the year
Reversed unused
Unwinding of discount
Utilised
Reclassifications and other movements
Transfer to Pension obligations
At 31 December 2015

To be settled within one year
To be settled after one year
At 31 December 2015

Legal and other disputes
The Group is involved in a substantial number of legal and other 
disputes, including notification of possible claims, as set out in 
Note 45 ‘Legal proceedings’. Provisions for legal and other 
disputes include amounts relating to product liability, anti-trust, 
government investigations (principally relating to the SEC/DOJ  
and SFO related investigations), contract terminations, self 
insurance and environmental clean-up. 

The charge for the year of £257 million (£225 million net of 
reversals and estimated insurance recoveries) primarily related to 
provisions for product liability cases regarding Paxil and other 
products, commercial disputes and various other government 
investigations.

The discount on the provisions decreased by £1 million in 2015  
(2014 – £nil) and was calculated using risk-adjusted projected 
cash flows and risk-free rates of return. The movement in 2015 
includes an increase of £1 million (2014 – £1 million) arising from 
a change in the discount rate in the year.

In respect of product liability claims related to certain products, 
there is sufficient history of claims made and settlements to enable 
management to make a reliable estimate of the provision required 
to cover unasserted claims. The ultimate liability for such matters 
may vary from the amounts provided and is dependent upon the 
outcome of litigation proceedings, investigations and possible 
settlement negotiations.

It is in the nature of the Group’s business that a number of  
these matters may be the subject of negotiation and litigation  
over many years. Litigation proceedings, including the various 
appeal procedures, often take many years to reach resolution, and 
out-of-court settlement discussions can also often be protracted.

The Group is in potential settlement discussions in a number of  
the disputes for which amounts have been provided and, based  
on its current assessment of the progress of these disputes, 
estimates that £0.3 billion of the amount provided at 31 December 
2015 will be settled within one year. At 31 December 2015, it was 
expected that none (2014 – £nil) of the provision made for legal 
and other disputes will be reimbursed by third party insurers. For  
a discussion of legal issues, see Note 45, ‘Legal proceedings’.

Legal 
and other 
disputes 
£m

Major 
restructuring 
programmes 
£m

Employee 
related 
provisions 
£m

Other 
provisions 
£m 

520
28
257
(32)
–
(428)
7
–
352

319
33
352

527
15
718
(44)
5
(382)
2
(25)
816

692
124
816

252
3
60
–
–
(39)
(1)
–
275

133
142
275

291
5
87
(32)
11
(47)
6
–
321

200
121
321

Total 
£m

1,590
51
1,122
(108)
16
(896)
14
(25)
1,764

1,344
420
1,764

Major restructuring programmes
In 2013, the Group initiated the Major Change restructuring 
programme focused on opportunities to simplify supply chain 
processes, build the Group’s capabilities in manufacturing and 
R&D and restructure the European Pharmaceuticals business.

The Pharmaceuticals restructuring programme, announced in 
October 2014, will rescale commercial operations, global support 
functions and the relevant R&D/manufacturing operations across 
Pharmaceuticals. In addition, an integration restructuring programme 
was initiated in 2015, following the completion of the Novartis 
transaction. All of these restructuring and integration programmes 
are now reported together as one combined major restructuring 
programme.

Provisions for staff severance payments are made when 
management has made a formal decision to eliminate certain 
positions and this has been communicated to the groups of 
employees affected and appropriate consultation procedures 
completed, where appropriate. No provision is made for staff 
severance payments that are made immediately.

Pension augmentations arising from staff redundancies of  
£25 million (2014 – £7 million) have been charged during the year 
and then transferred to the pension obligations provision as shown  
in Note 28, ‘Pensions and other post-employment benefits’.  
Asset write-downs have been recognised as impairments of 
property, plant and equipment in Note 17, ‘Property, plant and 
equipment’. The majority of the amounts provided are expected  
to be utilised in the next two years.

Employee related provisions
Employee related provisions include obligations for certain 
medical benefits to disabled employees and their spouses in  
the US. At 31 December 2015, the provision for these benefits 
amounted to £111 million (2014 – £114 million). Other employee 
benefits reflect a variety of provisions for severance costs, jubilee 
awards and other long-service benefits.

Other provisions
Included in other provisions are insurance provisions of  
£98 million (2014 – £83 million), onerous property lease 
provisions of £32 million (2014 – £33 million) and a number  
of other provisions including vehicle insurance and regulatory 
matters.

GSK Annual Report 2015  177

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Notes to the financial statements
continued

30 Other non-current liabilities

Accruals and deferred income
Contingent consideration (Note 38)
Consumer Healthcare put option liability
Other payables

2015 
£m
64
3,549
6,287
756
10,656

2014 
£m
92
1,619
–
690
2,401

The Consumer Healthcare put option liability relates to the ability of Novartis to put its shares in the Consumer Healthcare Joint Venture 
to GSK at certain points in the future, commencing in 2018. The liability is recorded at the present value of the expected redemption 
amount, calculated using a multiples approach based on the forecast revenue and earnings of the Consumer Healthcare Joint Venture. 
The table below shows on an indicative basis the income statement and balance sheet sensitivity to reasonably possible changes in 
either the sales forecasts or the sales multiples used in the valuation of this liability. 

Increase/(decrease) in financial liability and loss/(gain) in Income statement from changes in key inputs

10% increase in sales forecasts or sales multiple applied
10% decrease in sales forecasts or sales multiple applied

Listing exchange

New York Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange

New York Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange

31 Net debt

Current assets:
Liquid investments
Cash and cash equivalents

Short-term borrowings:
Commercial paper
Bank loans and overdrafts
Obligations under finance leases
0.7% US$ US Medium Term Note 2016
0.75% US$ US Medium Term Note 2015

3.875% € European Medium Term Note 2015

Long-term borrowings:
0.7% US$ US Medium Term Note 2016
1.50% US$ US Medium Term Note 2017
5.625% € European Medium Term Note 2017
5.65% US$ US Medium Term Note 2018
0.625% € European Medium Term Note 2019
2.85% US$ US Medium Term Note 2022
2.8% US$ US Medium Term Note 2023
1.375% € European Medium Term Note 2024
4.00% € European Medium Term Note 2025
3.375% £ European Medium Term Note 2027
5.25% £ European Medium Term Note 2033
5.375% US$ US Medium Term Note 2034
6.375% US$ US Medium Term Note 2038
6.375% £ European Medium Term Note 2039
5.25% £ European Medium Term Note 2042
4.2% US$ US Medium Term Note 2043
4.25% £ European Medium Term Note 2045
Obligations under finance leases

Net debt

178  GSK Annual Report 2015

2015 
£m
619
(619)

2015 
£m

75
5,830
5,905

–
(435)
(23)
(850)
–
–
(1,308)

–
(1,358)
(918)
(1,869)
(1,096)
(1,351)
(841)
(726)
(546)
(592)
(985 )
(338)
(1,854)
(695)
(987)
(333)
(788)
(47)
(15,324)
(10,727)

2014 
£m

69
4,338
4,407

(656)
(379)
(28)
–
(641)
(1,239)
(2,943)

(800)
(1,278)
(967)
(1,760)
(1,154)
(1,271)
(792)
(764)
(575)
(591)
(984)
(318)
(1,747)
(695)
(987)
(313)
(788)
(57)
(15,841)
(14,377)

 
 
 
 
 
31 Net debt continued
Current assets
Liquid investments are classified as available-for-sale investments. 
At 31 December 2015, they included US Treasury Notes and  
other government bonds. The effective interest rate on liquid 
investments at 31 December 2015 was approximately 0.7%  
(2014 – approximately 0.3%). Liquid investment balances at  
31 December 2015 earning interest at floating rates amount to  
£4 million (2014 – £69 million). Liquid investment balances at  
31 December 2015 earning interest at fixed rates amount to  
£71 million (2014 – £nil).

The effective interest rate on cash and cash equivalents at  
31 December 2015 was approximately 1.3% (2014 – 
approximately 1.6%). Cash and cash equivalents at  
31 December 2015 earning interest at floating and fixed rates 
amount to £5,654 million and £nil respectively (2014 –  
£4,243 million and £1 million).

GSK’s policy regarding the credit quality of cash and cash 
equivalents is referred to in Note 41, ‘Financial instruments  
and related disclosures’.

Short-term borrowings
GSK has a $10 billion (£6.8 billion) US commercial paper 
programme which was undrawn at 31 December 2015  
(2014 – $1.0 billion (£0.7 billion) drawn). GSK also has £1.9 billion  
five year committed medium-term facilities and $2.5 billion  
(£1.7 billion) of 364 day committed facilities. These facilities  
were put in place in September 2015 and were undrawn at  
31 December 2015. Liquid investments, cash and cash 
equivalents were as shown in the table on page 178.

The weighted average interest rate on current bank loans and 
overdrafts at 31 December 2015 was 3.49% (2014 – 4.28%).

Finance lease obligations
Rental payments due within one year
Rental payments due between one and two years
Rental payments due between two and three years
Rental payments due between three and four years
Rental payments due between four and five years
Rental payments due after five years
Total future rental payments
Future finance charges
Total finance lease obligations

32 Contingent liabilities

Long-term borrowings
At the year-end, GSK had long-term borrowings of £15.3 billion  
(2014 – £15.8 billion) of which £10 billion (2014 – £9.8 billion)  
falls due in more than five years. The average effective pre-swap 
interest rate of all notes in issue at 31 December 2015 was 
approximately 3.9% (2014 – approximately 3.8%). 

Long-term borrowings repayable after five years carry interest  
at effective rates between 1.49% and 6.39%. The repayment  
dates range from 2022 to 2045. 

Pledged assets
The Group has pledged investments in US Treasury Notes with  
a par value of $105 million (£71 million), (2014 – $105 million  
(£67 million)) as security against irrevocable letters of credit  
issued on the Group’s behalf in respect of the Group’s self-
insurance activity. Provisions in respect of self-insurance are 
included within the provisions for legal and other disputes 
discussed in Note 29, ‘Other provisions’. In addition, £37 million  
(2014 – £32 million) of assets included in Note 22, ‘Other  
non-current assets’, which do not form part of Net debt, were 
pledged as collateral against future rental payments under 
operating lease arrangements entered into by Human Genome 
Sciences, Inc. prior to its acquisition by the Group.

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£m
25
21
15
6
6
4
77
(7)
70

2014
£m
31
23
19
13
3
2
91
(6)
85

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At 31 December 2015, contingent liabilities, comprising guarantees, discounted bills and other items arising in the normal course of 
business, amounted to £200 million (2014 – £185 million). At 31 December 2015, £nil (2014 – £nil) of financial assets were pledged  
as collateral for contingent liabilities. Provision is made for the outcome of tax, legal and other disputes where it is both probable that the 
Group will suffer an outflow of funds and it is possible to make a reliable estimate of that outflow. At 31 December 2015, other than for 
those disputes where provision has been made, it was not possible to make a reliable estimate of the potential outflow of funds that might 
be required to settle disputes where the possibility of there being an outflow was more than remote. Descriptions of the significant tax, 
legal and other disputes to which the Group is a party are set out in Note 14, ‘Taxation’ and Note 45, ‘Legal proceedings’.

GSK Annual Report 2015  179

 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the financial statements
continued

33 Share capital and share premium account

Share capital authorised
At 31 December 2013
At 31 December 2014
At 31 December 2015
Share capital issued and fully paid
At 1 January 2013
Issued under employee share schemes
Share capital cancelled
At 31 December 2013
Issued under employee share schemes
At 31 December 2014
Issued under employee share schemes
At 31 December 2015

Number of shares issuable under employee share schemes
Number of unissued shares not under option

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Ordinary Shares of 25p each

Share 
premium

Number

£m

£m

10,000,000,000
10,000,000,000
10,000,000,000

5,397,595,969
44,610,727
(100,000,000)
5,342,206,696
13,090,536
5,355,297,232
6,010,415
5,361,307,647

31 December 2015 
000
99,833
4,538,859

2,500
2,500
2,500

1,349
12
(25)
1,336
3
1,339
1
1,340

2,022
573
–
2,595
164
2,759
72
2,831

31 December 2014
000 
88,801
4,555,902

At 31 December 2015, of the issued share capital, 29,801,412 shares were held in the ESOP Trusts, 491,515,950 shares were held as 
Treasury shares and 4,839,990,285 shares were in free issue. All issued shares are fully paid. The nominal, carrying and market values 
of the shares held in the ESOP Trusts are disclosed in Note 42, ‘Employee share schemes’. 

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180  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
34 Movements in equity 

Retained earnings and other reserves amounted to £943 million at 31 December 2015 (2014 – £165 million; 2013 – £3,066 million)  
of which £283 million (2014 – £337 million; 2013 – £307 million) relates to joint ventures and associated undertakings. The cumulative 
translation exchange in equity is as follows:

At 1 January 2013
Exchange movements on overseas net assets
At 31 December 2013
Exchange movements on overseas net assets
Reclassification of exchange on liquidation or disposal of overseas subsidiaries
At 31 December 2014
Exchange movements on overseas net assets
At 31 December 2015

The analysis of other comprehensive income by equity category is as follows:

2015
Items that may be subsequently reclassified to income statement:
   Exchange movements on overseas net assets and net investment hedges
   Fair value movements on available-for-sale investments
   Deferred tax on fair value movements on available-for-sale investments
   Reclassification of fair value movements on available-for-sale investments
   Deferred tax on reclassification of fair value movements on available-for-sale investments
   Reclassification of cash flow hedges to income statement
   Fair value movements on cash flow hedges    
   Share of other comprehensive income of associates and joint ventures

Items that will not be reclassified to income statement:
   Exchange movements on overseas net assets of non-controlling interests
   Remeasurement gains on defined benefit plans
   Deferred tax on remeasurement gains in defined benefit plans
Other comprehensive (expense)/income for the year

2014
Items that may be subsequently reclassified to income statement:
   Exchange movements on overseas net assets and net investment hedges
   Reclassification of exchange on liquidation or disposal of overseas subsidiaries
   Deferred tax on exchange movements
   Fair value movements on available-for-sale investments
   Deferred tax on fair value movements on available-for-sale investments
   Reclassification of fair value movements on available-for-sale investments
   Deferred tax on reclassification of fair value movements on available-for-sale investments
   Reclassification of cash flow hedges to income statement
   Fair value movements on cash flow hedges    
   Deferred tax on fair value movements on cash flow hedges
   Share of other comprehensive income of associates and joint ventures

Items that will not be reclassified to income statement:
   Exchange movements on overseas net assets of non-controlling interests
   Remeasurement losses on defined benefit plans
   Deferred tax on remeasurement losses in defined benefit plans
Other comprehensive (expense)/income for the year

Net translation exchange included in:
Non- 
controlling 
interests 
£m
(98)
(35)
(133)
16
–
(117)
8
(109)

Fair value 
reserve 
£m
(8)
5
(3)
7
–
4
6
10

Retained 
earnings 
£m
846
(260)
586
(504)
(219)
(137)
(624)
(761)

Retained 
earnings 
£m

Other 
reserves 
£m

Non- 
controlling 
interests 
£m

(624)
–
–
–
–
–
–
(77)

–
261
(80)
(520)

6
416
(91)
(346)
36
2
2
–

–
–
–
25

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

8
–
–
8

Retained 
earnings 
£m

Other 
reserves 
£m

Non- 
controlling 
interests 
£m

(504)
(219)
(2)
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
18

–
(1,181)
262
(1,626)

7
–
–
29
(78)
(155)
58
(5)
5
(1)
–

–
–
–
(140)

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

16
–
–
16

Total 
translation 
exchange 
£m
740
(290)
450
(481)
(219)
(250)
(610)
(860)

Total 
£m

(618)
416
(91)
(346)
36
2
2
(77)

8
261
(80)
(487)

Total 
£m

(497)
(219)
(2)
29
(78)
(155)
58
(5)
5
(1)
18

16
(1,181)
262
(1,750)

GSK Annual Report 2015  181

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Notes to the financial statements
continued

34 Movements in equity continued

2013
Items that may be subsequently reclassified to income statement:
   Exchange movements on overseas net assets and net investment hedges
   Fair value movements on available-for-sale investments
   Deferred tax on fair value movements on available-for-sale investments
   Reclassification of fair value movements on available-for-sale investments
   Deferred tax on reclassification of fair value movements on available-for-sale investments
   Reclassification of cash flow hedges to income statement
   Fair value movements on cash flow hedges    
   Deferred tax on fair value movements on cash flow hedges
   Share of other comprehensive income of associates and joint ventures

Items that will not be reclassified to income statement:
   Exchange movements on overseas net assets of non-controlling interests
   Remeasurement gains on defined benefit plans
   Deferred tax on remeasurement gains in defined benefit plans
Other comprehensive income/(expense) for the year

The analysis of other reserves is as follows:

Retained 
earnings 
£m

Other 
reserves 
£m

Non- 
controlling 
interests 
£m

(260)
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
15

–
847
(286)
316

5
367
(29)
(38)
7
2
(9)
1
–

–
–
–
306

At 1 January 2013
Transferred to income and expense in the year on disposals
Transferred to income and expense in the year on impairment
Net fair value movement in the year
Ordinary shares purchased and cancelled
Ordinary shares acquired by ESOP Trusts
Write-down of shares held by ESOP Trusts
At 31 December 2013
Transferred to income and expense in the year on disposals
Net fair value movement in the year
Ordinary shares acquired by ESOP Trusts
Write-down of shares held by ESOP Trusts
Forward contract on non-controlling interest
At 31 December 2014
Transferred to income and expense in the year on disposals
Transferred to income and expense in the year on impairments
Net fair value movement in the year
Ordinary shares acquired by ESOP Trusts
Write-down of shares held by ESOP Trusts
At 31 December 2015

ESOP Trust 
shares 
£m
(391)
–
–
–
–
(45)
80
(356)
–
–
(245)
450
–
(151)
–
–
–
(99)
175
(75)

Fair value 
reserve 
£m
105
(38)
(1)
347
–
–
–
413
(155)
16
–
–
–
274
(356)
10
367
–
–
295

Cash flow 
hedge reserve 
£m 
(10)
2
–
(4)
–
–
–
(12)
(5)
4
–
–
–
(13)
2
–
2
–
–
(9)

Total 
£m

(255)
367
(29)
(38)
7
2
(9)
1
15

(35)
847
(286)
587

Total 
£m
1,787
(36)
(1)
343
25
(45)
80
2,153
(160)
20
(245)
450
21
2,239
(354)
10
369
(99)
175
2,340

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

(35)
–
–
(35)

Other 
reserves 
£m
2,083
–
–
–
25
–
–
2,108
–
–
–
–
21
2,129
–
–
–
–
–
2,129

Other reserves include various non-distributable merger and pre-merger reserves amounting to £1,849 million at 31 December 2015  
(2014 – £1,849 million; 2013 – £1,849 million). Other reserves also include the capital redemption reserve created as a result of the 
share buy-back programme amounting to £280 million at 31 December 2015 (2014 – £280 million; 2013 – £280 million). 

182  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
35 Related party transactions

GSK held a 12.4% interest in Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Limited at 31 December 2014 (2013 – 12.4%). Following the sale of half  
of the Group’s holding in Aspen during March 2015, the investment is no longer accounted for as an associate.

At 31 December 2015, GSK owned 32 million shares or 27.8% of Theravance, Inc. (now Innoviva Inc.) which is a biopharmaceutical 
company listed on NASDAQ. GSK began recognising Theravance as an associate on 1 September 2015. The royalty revenues paid 
by GSK to Theravance in the period from 1 September 2015 to 31 December 2015 were £11 million (2014 – £nil). At 31 December 
2015, the balance payable by GSK to Theravance was £17 million.

At 31 December 2015, GSK held a 50% interest in Japan Vaccine Co. Ltd (JVC) through its subsidiary GlaxoSmithKline K.K. This joint 
venture with Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd is primarily responsible for the development and marketing of certain prophylactic vaccines in 
Japan. During 2015, GSK sold £27 million (2014 – £27 million) of its vaccine products into the joint venture. At 31 December 2015,  
the trading balance due to GSK from JVC was £8 million and the balance payable by GSK to JVC was £nil. In addition, a loan of  
£6 million was made to JVC during the year and this amount remained due to GSK at 31 December 2015.

The aggregate compensation of the Directors and CET is given in Note 9, ‘Employee Costs’.

36 Adjustments reconciling profit after tax to operating cash flows

Profit after tax

Tax on profits
Share of after tax profits of associates and joint ventures
Finance income net of finance expense
Depreciation
Amortisation of intangible assets
Impairment and assets written off
Profit on sale of businesses
Profit on sale of intangible assets
Profit on sale of investments in associates
Profit on sale of equity investments

Changes in working capital:
   Increase in inventories
  Decrease in trade receivables
   (Increase)/decrease in other receivables
   Increase in trade payables
   Increase in other payables
   Increase/(decrease) in pension and other provisions
Share-based incentive plans
Fair value adjustments
Other

2015
£m
8,372

2,154
(14)
653
892
738
822
(9,308)
(349)
(843)
(342)

(111)
98
(593)
40
2,141
100
368
–
(187)
(3,741)

2014
£m
2,831

137
(30)
659
780
704
205
–
(255)
–
(149)

(529)
347
95
91
698
(41)
332
313
96
3,453

2013 
£m
5,628

1,019
(43)
706
732
682
928
(1,331)
(78)
(282)
(36)

(95)
16
(218)
125
393
(165)
319
(12)
211
2,871

Cash generated from operations

4,631

6,284

8,499

GSK Annual Report 2015  183

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Notes to the financial statements
continued

37 Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net debt

Net debt at beginning of year

Increase/(decrease) in cash and bank overdrafts
Decrease/(increase) in liquid investments
Net increase in long-term loans
Net repayment of short-term loans
Net repayment of obligations under finance leases
Net non-cash funds of subsidiary undertakings acquired
Exchange adjustments
Other non-cash movements
Movement in net debt

Net debt at end of year

Analysis of changes in net debt
Liquid investments

Cash and cash equivalents
Overdrafts

Debt due within one year:
Commercial paper
European and US Medium Term Notes
Other

Debt due after one year:
European and US Medium Term Notes
Other

Net debt

2015
£m
(14,377)

2014
£m
(12,645)

2013
£m
(14,037)

1,503
2
–
2,412
25
–
(268)
(24)
3,650

(1,287)
(1)
(1,960)
1,709
23
–
(193)
(23)
(1,732)

1,473
(15)
(1,913)
1,872
31
(6)
(34)
(16)
1,392

(10,727)

(14,377)

(12,645)

At 1 January  
2015  
£m
69

Exchange 
£m
4

Other 
£m
–

Reclass- 
ifications 
£m
–

Cash flow 
£m
2

At 31December  
2015 
£m
75

4,338
(310)
4,028

(656)
(1,880)
(97)
(2,633)

(15,784)
(57)
(15,841)

(14,377)

(54)
9
(45)

–
65
1
66

(292)
(1)
(293)

(268)

–
–
–

–
–
–
–

(17)
(7)
(24)

(24)

–
–
–

–
(816)
(18)
(834)

816
18
834

–

1,546
(43)
1,503

656
1,781
–
2,437

–
–
–

3,942

5,830
(344)
5,486

–
(850)
(114)
(964)

(15,277)
(47)
(15,324)

(10,727)

For further information on significant changes in net debt see Note 31, ‘Net debt’.

184  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
38 Acquisitions and disposals

Details of the acquisition and disposal of significant subsidiaries and associates, joint ventures and other businesses are given below:

2015
Acquisitions

Novartis Consumer Healthcare and Vaccines businesses
The three-part inter-conditional transaction with Novartis AG involving the Consumer Healthcare, Vaccines and Oncology businesses 
completed on 2 March 2015.

GSK and Novartis have contributed their respective Consumer Healthcare businesses into a Consumer Healthcare Joint Venture in a 
non-cash transaction. GSK has an equity interest of 63.5% and majority control of the Joint Venture. In addition, GSK has acquired 
Novartis’ global Vaccines business (excluding influenza vaccines) for an initial cash consideration of $5.25 billion (£3.417 billion) with 
contingent consideration representing subsequent potential milestone payments of up to $1.8 billion (£1.2 billion) arising on the 
achievement of specified development targets and ongoing royalties based on the future sales performance of certain products, and  
so the total amount payable is unlimited. The first milestone of $450 million (£300 million) was paid on 26 March 2015. 

Other business acquisitions
In addition, GSK completed one smaller Vaccines business acquisition for cash consideration of £120 million, net of cash acquired,  
and the fair value of existing investments of £15 million. This represented goodwill of £22 million and intangible assets of £124 million 
less other net liabilities of £11 million. 

The fair values of the assets acquired in business combinations, including goodwill, are set out in the table below. These amounts are 
provisional and subject to change.

Net assets acquired:
  Intangible assets
   Property, plant and equipment
   Inventory
   Trade and other receivables
   Other assets including cash and cash equivalents
   Trade and other payables
   Deferred tax liabilities
   Other liabilities

  Non-controlling interest
  Goodwill

Consideration settled by shares in GSK Consumer Healthcare Holdings
Cash consideration paid after purchase adjustments
Fair value of equity investment disposal
Contingent consideration
Deferred tax on contingent consideration
Loss on settlement of pre-existing relationships
Total consideration

Novartis 
Consumer 
Healthcare 
business 
£m

Novartis 
Vaccines 
business 
£m

6,003
249
257
400
304
(402)
(1,154)
(165)
5,492
(2,150)
774
4,116

4,116
–
–
–
–
–
4,116

2,680
434
347
162
283
(107)
(78)
(299)
3,422
(19)
576
3,979

–
3,461
–
594
(52)
(24)
3,979

Other 
£m

124
1
–
2
19
(3)
(26)
–
117
–
22
139

–
124
15
–
–
–
139

The non-controlling interest in the Consumer Healthcare Joint Venture, calculated applying the full goodwill method, represents Novartis’ 
share of the net assets of the Joint Venture together with attributable goodwill. 

The goodwill in the businesses acquired represents the potential for further synergies arising from combining the acquired businesses 
with GSK’s existing businesses together with the value of the workforce acquired. The majority of the goodwill recognised is not 
expected to be deductible for tax purposes. 

Total transaction costs recognised in 2014 and 2015 for the acquisitions from Novartis amounted to £102 million.

Since acquisition on 2 March 2015, turnover of £1,941 million arising from the Novartis Consumer Healthcare and Vaccines businesses 
has been included in Group turnover. If the businesses had been acquired at the beginning of the year, it is estimated that Group turnover 
in 2015 would have been approximately £320 million higher. These businesses have been integrated into the Group’s existing activities 
and it is not practicable to identify the impact on the Group profit in the period.

Disposals
Oncology
GSK has divested its marketed Oncology business, related R&D activities and rights to its AKT inhibitor and also granted 
commercialisation partner rights for future oncology products to Novartis for consideration of $16 billion (£10,395 million) before 
purchase adjustments.

GSK Annual Report 2015  185

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Notes to the financial statements
continued

38 Acquisitions and disposals continued

Other business disposals
GSK also made a number of small business disposals in the period for net cash consideration of £309 million. Profit on disposal of the 
businesses has been determined as follows:

Cash consideration including currency forwards and purchase adjustments
Net assets sold:
   Goodwill
   Intangible assets
   Property, plant and equipment
   Inventory
   Cash
   Other net assets

Loss on currency forwards booked in 2014
Disposal costs
Profit on disposal

Oncology 
£m
10,060

(497)
(516)
–
–
–
–
(1,013)
299
(118)
9,228

Other 
£m
309

(14)
(107)
(25)
(51)
(5)
(6)
(208)
–
(21)
80

Investments in associates and joint ventures
In March 2015, GSK sold half of its shareholding in Aspen, representing 6.2% of the issued share capital of the company, for  
£571 million in cash. As a result of the sale, the Group was no longer considered to have the ability to exert significant influence over 
Aspen and the Group’s remaining investment was transferred from Investments in associates to Other investments.

Cash consideration
Net book value of shares
Reclassification of exchange from other comprehensive income
Transaction fees
Other items
Profit on disposal

Cash flows
Cash consideration (paid)/received after purchase adjustments
Cash and cash equivalents acquired/(divested)
Deferred cash proceeds
Contingent consideration paid
Transaction costs and other
Cash (outflow)/inflow in 2015

Business 
acquisitions  
£m
(3,585)
404
–
(338)
(22)
(3,541)

Business 
disposals  
£m
10,369
(5)
(38)
–
(80)
10,246

Associates 
and JV 
disposals 
£m
571
–
–
–
(7)
564

In addition, GSK made cash investments of £16 million into associates and joint ventures.

Contingent consideration payable
The consideration for certain acquisitions includes amounts contingent on future events such as development milestones or sales 
performance. The Group has provided for the fair value of this contingent consideration as follows:

At 1 January 2014
Remeasurement through goodwill
Remeasurement through income statement
Settlement
At 31 December 2014
Additions through business combinations
Remeasurement through income statement
Settlement
Other movements
At 31 December 2015

Shionogi-  
ViiV  
Healthcare 
£m
923
–
768
(7)
1,684
–
1,874
(159)
10
3,409

Novartis 
Vaccines 
£m
–
–
–
–
–
594
111
(300)
–
405

Other 
£m
1
(4)
2
41
40
–
1
–
–
41

£m
571
(143)
(30)
(7)
(5)
386

Total 
£m
7,355
399
(38)
(338)
(109)
7,269

Total 
£m
924
(4)
770
34
1,724
594
1,986
(459)
10
3,855

£306 million of the contingent consideration payable at 31 December 2015 is expected to be paid within one year (2014 – £105 million).
The consideration payable for the acquisition of the Shionogi-ViiV Healthcare joint venture and the Novartis Vaccines business is 
expected to be paid over a number of years. Information on the sensitivity of the income statement and balance sheet to reasonably 
possible changes in key inputs to the valuations of the contingent consideration payable for the Shionogi-ViiV Healthcare business and 
Novartis Vaccines business is provided in Note 41, ‘Financial instruments and related disclosures’.

186  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
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38 Acquisitions and disposals continued

During 2015, cash payments to settle the Shionogi-ViiV Healthcare joint venture contingent consideration payable amounted to  
£159 million in total, of which £121 million was reported in operating cash flows and £38 million in the cash flow for purchases of 
business.

2014
Acquisitions
There were no acquisitions in 2014. 

Acquisition and integration costs of £141 million arising on the proposed three-part inter-conditional transaction with Novartis AG  
were expensed in 2014, of which £104 million was paid in cash in the year.

Disposals
During the year, £225 million was received as deferred consideration from the sale of the anti-coagulant business completed in 2013  
and £1 million from the disposal of an associate.

GSK also made cash investments of £9 million into associates.

Cash flows
Cash consideration paid
Transaction costs paid
Purchases of businesses and associates

Net cash proceeds from disposals

Business 
acquisitions 
and disposals 
£m
–
104
104

Associates 
and joint 
ventures 
£m
9
–
9

225

1

Total 
£m
9
104
113

226

2013
Acquisitions
During 2013, GSK completed the acquisition of three businesses for cash, including Okairos AG, a European based biopharmaceutical 
company focused on the development of a specific vaccine technology in the prophylactic and therapeutic fields, which was acquired in 
May. The total purchase price for these businesses of £255 million included £7 million of cash acquired and £1 million of contingent 
consideration.

Net assets acquired
   Intangibles
   Property, plant and equipment
   Inventory
   Trade and other receivables
   Other assets including cash and cash equivalents
   Deferred tax provision
   Trade and other payables

Goodwill

Cash consideration paid
Contingent consideration
Total consideration

Fair value 
£m

198
23
6
16
8
(23)
(26)
202
53
255

254
1
255

If the acquisitions had been made at the beginning of the year, it is estimated that Group turnover would have increased by approximately  
£50 million for the year. Okairos has been fully integrated into the GSK business and it is not practicable to separately identify the impact 
on the Group profit for the year. The other acquisitions occurred shortly before the end of the year and had no material impact on the 
Group profit for the year. 

The goodwill arising on the acquisitions reflects potential for business synergies and the value of workforce acquired. The majority of  
this goodwill is not expected to be deductible for income tax purposes.

The results of the acquisitions are reported within the US, Europe, Emerging Markets, Japan, Other trading and unallocated 
Pharmaceuticals and Vaccines and Consumer Healthcare operating segments. The transactions were accounted for using the 
acquisition accounting method.

Acquisition costs expensed in 2013 totalled £2 million.

GSK Annual Report 2015  187

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the financial statements
continued

38 Acquisitions and disposals continued

Disposals
Lucozade and Ribena
On 31 December 2013, GSK completed the sale of the Lucozade and Ribena business including a manufacturing site and related 
inventory to Suntory Beverage and Food Ltd for £1,352 million in cash and recognised a profit on disposal in Other operating income of 
£1,057 million. Lucozade and Ribena sales, excluding retained markets, totalled £527 million for the year ending 31 December 2013.

Cash consideration
Net assets sold:
   Inventory
   Property, plant and equipment
   Goodwill

Disposal costs
Profit on disposal

£m
1,352

(45)
(149)
(24)
(218)
(77)
1,057

Anti-coagulant business
On 31 December 2013, GSK completed the sale of the anti-coagulant business comprising of worldwide intellectual property rights 
(excluding China, India and Pakistan) of Fraxiparine and Arixtra together with related inventory and a manufacturing site to the Aspen 
Group for consideration of £732 million, of which £499 million was received in cash and £233 million was deferred.

Profit on disposal of £274 million was recognised in Other operating income. Worldwide sales of Fraxiparine and Arixtra, excluding 
retained markets, were £345 million for the year ending 31 December 2013.

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Cash consideration receivable

Net assets sold:
   Inventory
   Property, plant and equipment
   Intangible assets
   Goodwill

Disposal costs
Total profit on disposal
Deferral of profit
Profit recognised in year

£m
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233
732

(138)
(91)
(80)
(31)
(340)
(79)
313
(39)
274

Investments in associates and joint ventures
In November 2013, GSK sold one third of its shareholding in Aspen, representing 6.2% of the issued share capital of the company,  
for £429 million in cash. At 31 December 2013, GSK held 12.4% of Aspen and continued to recognise its investment in Aspen as  
an associate.

Cash consideration
Net book value of shares
Reclassification of exchange from other comprehensive income
Reclassification of fair value movements from other comprehensive income
Profit on disposal

£m
429
(132)
(42)
19
274

188  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
38 Acquisitions and disposals continued

Cash flows
Cash consideration paid 
Cash and cash equivalents acquired
Cash consideration paid, net of cash acquired

Total cash consideration payable, net of cash acquired
Contingent consideration
Cash consideration paid, net of cash acquired

Total cash proceeds receivable
Cash proceeds deferred
Net cash proceeds from disposals

Business 
acquisitions 
and disposals 
£m
254
(7)
247

Associates 
and joint 
ventures 
£m
8
–
8

248
(1)
247

2,084
(233)
1,851

8
–
8

429
–
429

Total 
£m
262
(7)
255

256
(1)
255

2,513
(233)
2,280

39 Non-controlling interests
The Group has two subgroups that have material non-controlling interests, ViiV Healthcare Limited and its subsidiaries and GSK 
Consumer Healthcare Holdings Limited and its subsidiaries. Summarised financial information in respect of the ViiV Healthcare group 
and GSK Consumer Healthcare Joint Venture is set out below:

ViiV Healthcare

Turnover
(Loss)/profit after taxation
Other comprehensive income/(expense)
Total comprehensive (expense)/income

Non-current assets
Current assets
Total assets
Current liabilities
Non-current liabilities
Total liabilities
Net liabilities

Net cash inflow from operating activities
Net cash outflow from investing activities
Net cash outflow from financing activities
Increase/(decrease) in cash and bank overdrafts in the year

2015 
£m
2,330
(1,426)
7
(1,419)

2015 
£m
2,466
1,619
4,085
(1,218)
(5,490)
(6,708)
(2,623)

2015 
£m
1,097
(63)
(814)
220

2014 
£m
1,466
(606)
8
(598)

2014 
£m
2,245
1,308
3,553
(815)
(3,253 )
(4,068)
(515)

2014 
£m
765
(25)
(540)
200

2013 
£m
1,371
190
(9)
181

2013 
£m
637
(27)
(662)
(52)

The above financial information relates to the ViiV Healthcare group on a stand-alone basis, before the impact of Group-related 
adjustments, primarily related to the recognition of preferential dividends. The loss after taxation of £1,426 million (2014 – loss after 
taxation of £606 million; 2013 – profit after taxation of £190 million) is stated after a charge of £1,874 million (2014 – £768 million;  
2013 – £253 million) for remeasurement of the contingent consideration payable for the acquisition of the former Shionogi-ViiV 
Healthcare joint venture. This consideration is expected to be paid over a number of years. 

The following amounts attributable to the ViiV Healthcare group are included in GSK’s Consolidated statement of comprehensive 
income, Consolidated statement of changes in equity and Consolidated balance sheet:

Total comprehensive (expense)/income for the year attributable to non-controlling interests
Dividends paid to non-controlling interests

Non-controlling interests in the Consolidated balance sheet

2015 
£m
(143)
163

68

2014 
£m
(16)
120

374

2013 
£m
76
106

GSK Annual Report 2015  189

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£m
4,627
(39)
72
33

2015 
£m
11,602
3,810
15,412
(2,822)
(1,849)
(4,671)
10,741

2015 
£m
277
(691)
(42)
(456)

2015 
£m
14

3,371

Notes to the financial statements
continued

39 Non-controlling interests continued

Consumer Healthcare Joint Venture

Turnover
Loss after taxation
Other comprehensive income
Total comprehensive income

Non-current assets
Current assets
Total assets
Current liabilities
Non-current liabilities
Total liabilities
Net assets

Net cash inflow from operating activities
Net cash outflow from investing activities
Net cash outflow from financing activities
Decrease in cash and bank overdrafts in the year

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The above financial information relates to the Consumer Healthcare Joint Venture on a stand-alone basis since its formation on  
2 March 2015, before the impact of Group-related adjustments.

The following amounts attributable to the Consumer Healthcare Joint Venture are included in GSK’s Consolidated statement of 
comprehensive income, Consolidated statement of changes in equity and Consolidated balance sheet:

Total comprehensive income for the year attributable to non-controlling interests

Non-controlling interests in the Consolidated balance sheet

190  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
40 Commitments

Contractual obligations and commitments
Contracted for but not provided in the financial statements:
Intangible assets
Property, plant and equipment
Investments
Purchase commitments
Pensions
Other commitments
Interest on loans
Finance lease charges

2015 
£m 

2014 
£m

6,264
502
157
38
340
191
9,282
7
16,781

7,079
359
100
428
425
186
9,744
6
18,327

The commitments related to intangible assets include milestone payments, which are dependent on successful clinical development  
or on meeting specified sales targets, and which represent the maximum that would be paid if all milestones, however unlikely, are 
achieved. The amounts are not risk-adjusted or discounted. A number of commitments were made in 2015 under licensing and other 
agreements. These new arrangements were offset by reduced commitments due on prior year transactions including amendments to 
the agreement with Ionis and Shionogi.

In 2013, GSK reached an agreement with the trustees of the UK pension schemes to make additional contributions to eliminate the 
pension deficit identified at the 31 December 2011 actuarial funding valuation. A payment of £85 million is due in 2016. Future  
payments will be based on the deficit position of the scheme, up to a maximum of £255 million. The table above includes this 
commitment, but excludes the normal ongoing annual funding requirement in the UK of approximately £140 million.

The Group also has other commitments which principally relate to revenue payments to be made under licences and other alliances.

Commitments in respect of future interest payable on loans are disclosed before taking into account the effect of interest rate swaps.

Commitments under non-cancellable operating leases are disclosed below. £314 million (2014 – £310 million) is provided against  
these commitments on the Group’s balance sheet.

Commitments under non-cancellable operating leases
Rental payments due within one year
Rental payments due between one and two years
Rental payments due between two and three years
Rental payments due between three and four years
Rental payments due between four and five years
Rental payments due after five years
Total commitments under non-cancellable operating leases

2015 
£m 
191
98
76
58
53
313
789

2014 
£m
138
91
73
54
48
297
701

GSK Annual Report 2015  191

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Notes to the financial statements
continued

Market risk
Interest rate risk management
GSK’s objective is to minimise the effective net interest cost and  
to balance the mix of debt at fixed and floating interest rates over 
time. The policy on interest rate risk management limits the amount 
of floating interest payments to a prescribed percentage of 
operating profit.

Foreign exchange risk management
Foreign currency transaction exposures arising on internal and 
external trade flows are not typically hedged. The Group’s 
objective is to minimise the exposure of overseas operating 
subsidiaries to transaction risk by matching local currency income 
with local currency costs where possible. GSK’s internal trading 
transactions are matched centrally and inter-company payment 
terms are managed to reduce foreign currency risk. Foreign 
currency cash flows can be hedged selectively including hedges 
of the foreign exchange risk arising from acquisitions and disposals 
of assets.

Where possible, GSK manages the cash surpluses or borrowing 
requirements of subsidiary companies centrally using forward 
contracts to hedge future repayments back into the originating 
currency. In order to reduce foreign currency translation exposure, 
the Group seeks to denominate borrowings in the currencies of  
the principal assets and cash flows. These are primarily 
denominated in US dollars, Euros and Sterling. Certain borrowings 
can be swapped into other currencies as required. Borrowings 
denominated in, or swapped into, foreign currencies that match 
investments in Group overseas assets may be treated as a hedge 
against the relevant assets. Forward contracts in major currencies 
are also used to reduce exposure to the Group’s investment in 
overseas assets (see ‘Net investment hedges’ section of this note 
for further details).

41  Financial instruments and related 

disclosures

GSK uses a variety of financial instruments to finance its 
operations and derivative financial instruments to manage market 
risks from these operations. These derivatives, principally 
comprising forward foreign currency contracts, foreign currency 
options and interest rate swaps, are used to swap borrowings and 
liquid assets into currencies required for Group purposes and to 
manage exposure to financial risks from changes in foreign 
exchange rates and interest rates.

GSK does not hold or issue derivatives for speculative purposes 
and the Treasury policies specifically prohibit such activity. All 
transactions in financial instruments are undertaken to manage  
the risks arising from underlying business activities, not for 
speculation.

Capital management
GSK’s financial strategy supports the Group’s strategic priorities 
and is regularly reviewed by the Board. GSK manages the capital 
structure of the Group through an appropriate mix of debt and 
equity. 

The capital structure of the Group consists of net debt of  
£10.7 billion (see Note 31, ‘Net debt’) and shareholders’ equity of  
£5.1 billion (see ‘Consolidated statement of changes in equity’ on 
page 140). Total capital, including that provided by non-controlling 
interests, is £19.6 billion.

Our long-term credit rating with Standard and Poor’s is A+  
(stable outlook) and with Moody’s Investor Services (‘Moody’s’)  
it is A2 (negative outlook). The Group’s short-term credit ratings 
are A-1 and P-1 with Standard and Poor’s and Moody’s 
respectively. 

Liquidity risk management
GSK’s policy is to borrow centrally in order to meet anticipated 
funding requirements. The strategy is to diversify liquidity sources 
using a range of facilities and to maintain broad access to funding 
markets.

At 31 December 2015, GSK had £1.3 billion of borrowings 
repayable within one year and held £5.9 billion of cash and cash 
equivalents and liquid investments of which £4.2 billion was held 
centrally. GSK has access to short-term finance under a  
$10 billion (£6.8 billion) US commercial paper programme. GSK 
also has £1.9 billion five year committed medium-term facilities and 
$2.5 billion (£1.7 billion) of 364 day committed facilities. These 
facilities were put in place in September 2015 and were undrawn 
at 31 December 2015. GSK considers this level of committed 
facilities to be adequate given current liquidity requirements. 

GSK has a £15 billion European Medium Term Note programme  
and at 31 December 2015, £7.4 billion of notes were in issue 
under this programme. The Group also has a US shelf registration 
statement and at 31 December 2015, had $13.0 billion  
(£8.8 billion) of notes in issue under this programme. GSK’s 
long-term borrowings mature at dates between 2016 and 2045.

192  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
41  Financial instruments and related 

disclosures continued

Credit risk
The Group considers its maximum credit risk at 31 December  
2015 to be £11,423 million (31 December 2014 – £9,054 million)  
which is the total of the Group’s financial assets with the exception  
of ’Other investments’ (comprising equity investments) which bear 
equity risk rather than credit risk. See page 195 for details on the 
Group’s total financial assets. At 31 December 2015, GSK’s 
greatest concentration of credit risk was £0.8 billion with Citibank 
(A/A1) (2014 – £0.7 billion with HSBC (AA-/Aa3)). 

Treasury-related credit risk
GSK sets global counterparty limits for each of GSK’s banking and 
investment counterparties based on long-term credit ratings from 
Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s. Usage of these limits is monitored 
daily.

GSK actively manages its exposure to credit risk, reducing surplus 
cash balances wherever possible. This is part of GSK’s strategy to 
regionalise cash management and to concentrate cash centrally as 
much as possible. The table below sets out the credit exposure to 
counterparties by rating for liquid investments, cash and cash 
equivalents and derivatives. The gross asset position on each 
derivative contract is considered for the purpose of this table, 
although, under ISDA agreements, the amount at risk is the net 
position with each counterparty. Table (e) on page 199 sets out the 
Group’s financial assets and liabilities on an offset basis.

Following the completion of the Novartis transaction in March 
2015, GSK’s cash and liquid investment balances increased 
materially. A significant proportion of these funds were placed in  
a number of AAA/Aaa rated US Treasury and Treasury repo only 
money market funds and AAA/Aaa rated liquidity funds.

During 2015, the credit ratings of a number of the Group’s 
relationship banks were downgraded, most notably Deutsche  
Bank which was downgraded to BBB+/Baa1 from A-/A3. Where 
possible, measures have been taken to reduce the exposure to 
lower rated counterparties, including further active management  
of cash balances within GSK’s European cash pool.

At 31 December 2015, £48 million of cash is categorised as held 
with unrated or sub-investment grade rated counterparties (lower 
than BBB-/Baa3) of which £31 million is cash in transit. The 
remaining exposure is concentrated in overseas banks used for 
local cash management or investment purposes (including  
£7 million in Nigeria held with Zenith Bank and United Bank for 
Africa, £2 million with BTV in Austria and £2 million with 
Islandsbanki in Iceland).

Of the £386 million of bank balances and deposits held with  
BBB/Baa rated counterparties, £85 million was held with  
BBB-/Baa3 rated counterparties. This includes bank balances or 
deposits of £53 million with State Bank of India and £25 million 
with HDFC Bank in India. These banks are used for either local 
cash management purposes or for local investment purposes.

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Bank balances and deposits
US Treasury and Treasury repo only money market funds
Liquidity funds
Government securities
3rd party financial derivatives
Total

2014
Bank balances and deposits
US Treasury and Treasury repo only money market funds
Government securities
3rd party financial derivatives
Total

AAA/Aaa 
£m
–
624
1,439
–
–
2,063

AAA/Aaa 
£m
–
811
–
–
811

AA/Aa 
£m
1,354
–
–
72
55
1,481

AA/Aa 
£m
1,104
–
68
45
1,217

A/A
£m
1,979
–
–
–
67
2,046

A/A
£m
2,118
–
–
87
2,205

BBB/Baa
£m
386
–
–
3
3
392

BBB/Baa
£m
184
–
1
6
191

BB+/Ba1 
and below
/unrated  
£m
48
–
–
–
–
48

BB+/Ba1 
and below
/unrated  
£m
121
–
–
–
121

Total
£m
3,767
624
1,439
75
125
6,030

Total
£m
3,527
811
69
138
4,545

The 2014 table has been restated to include further detail regarding counterparty credit ratings. Credit ratings are assigned by Standard 
and Poor’s and Moody’s respectively. Where the opinion of the two rating agencies differ, GSK assigns the lower rating of the two to the 
counterparty. Where local rating agency or Fitch data is the only source available, the ratings are converted to global ratings equivalent to 
those of Standard and Poor’s or Moody’s using published conversion tables. 

GSK Annual Report 2015  193

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Notes to the financial statements
continued

41  Financial instruments and related 

disclosures continued

GSK’s centrally managed cash reserves amounted to £3.1 billion 
at 31 December 2015, all available within three months. This 
excludes £1.1 billion centrally managed cash held by ViiV 
Healthcare, a 78.3% owned subsidiary. The Group has invested 
centrally managed liquid assets in bank deposits, Aaa/AAA rated 
US Treasury and Treasury repo only money market funds and  
Aaa/AAA rated liquidity funds.

Wholesale and retail credit risk
Outside the US, no customer accounts for more than 5% of the 
Group’s trade receivables balance. 

In the US, in line with other pharmaceutical companies, the Group 
sells its products through a small number of wholesalers in 
addition to hospitals, pharmacies, physicians and other groups. 
Sales to the three largest wholesalers amount to approximately 
82% of the sales of the US elements of the Global 
Pharmaceuticals, HIV and Vaccines segments. At 31 December 
2015, the Group had trade receivables due from these three 
wholesalers totalling £990 million (2014 – £908 million). The 
Group is exposed to a concentration of credit risk in respect of 
these wholesalers such that, if one or more of them encounters 
financial difficulty, it could materially and adversely affect the 
Group’s financial results.

The Group’s credit risk monitoring activities relating to these 
wholesalers include a review of their quarterly financial information 
and Standard & Poor’s credit ratings, development of GSK internal 
risk ratings, and establishment and periodic review of credit limits. 
However, the Group believes there is no further credit risk 
provision required in excess of the normal provision for bad and 
doubtful debts (see Note 24, ‘Trade and other receivables’). 

Fair value of financial assets and liabilities
The table on page 195 presents the carrying amounts and the  
fair values of the Group’s financial assets and liabilities at  
31 December 2015 and 31 December 2014. 

The fair values of the financial assets and liabilities are included at  
the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer  
a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at  
the measurement date.

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate  
the fair values: 

•  Cash and cash equivalents – approximates to the carrying 

amount

•  Liquid investments – based on quoted market prices or 

calculated based on observable inputs in the case of marketable 
securities; based on principal amounts in the case of non-
marketable securities because of their short repricing periods

•  Other investments – equity investments traded in an active 

market determined by reference to the relevant stock exchange 
quoted bid price; other equity investments determined by 
reference to the current market value of similar instruments or 
by reference to the discounted cash flows of the underlying net 
assets

•  Short-term loans, overdrafts and commercial paper – 

approximates to the carrying amount because of the short 
maturity of these instruments

•  Long-term loans – based on quoted market prices in the case 
of European and US Medium term notes and other fixed rate 
borrowings (a level 1 fair value measurement); approximates to 
the carrying amount in the case of floating rate bank loans and 
other loans

•  Contingent consideration for business acquisitions – based on 

present values of expected future cash flows

•  Interest rate swaps, foreign exchange forward contracts and 

options – based on the present value of contractual cash flows 
or option valuation models using market sourced data (exchange 
rates or interest rates) at the balance sheet date

•  Receivables and payables – approximates to the carrying 

amount

•  Company-owned life insurance policies – based on cash 

surrender value

•  Lease obligations – approximates to the carrying amount.

Fair value of investments in GSK shares
At 31 December 2015, the Employee Share Ownership Plan  
(ESOP) Trusts held GSK shares with a carrying value of  
£75 million (2014 – £151 million) and a fair value of £409 million  
(2014 – £726 million) based on quoted market price. The shares 
are held by the ESOP Trusts to satisfy future exercises of options 
and awards under employee incentive schemes. In 2015, the 
carrying value, which is the lower of cost or expected proceeds,  
of these shares has been recognised as a deduction from other 
reserves. At 31 December 2015, GSK held Treasury shares at a 
cost of £6,917 million (2014 – £6,917 million) which has been 
deducted from retained earnings.

194  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
41 Financial instruments and related disclosures continued

Cash and cash equivalents

Available-for-sale investments:
  Liquid investments (Government bonds)
  Other investments

Loans and receivables: 
  Trade and other receivables and certain Other non-current 

   assets in scope of IAS 39

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss:
  Other non-current assets in scope of IAS 39
  Derivatives designated as at fair value through profit or loss
  Derivatives classified as held for trading under IAS 39
Total financial assets

Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost:
  Borrowings excluding obligations under finance leases:
  –  bonds in a designated hedging relationship
  –  other bonds
  –  bank loans and overdrafts
  –  commercial paper
  Total borrowings excluding obligations under finance leases
  Obligations under finance leases
  Total borrowings
  Trade and other payables, Other provisions and certain

   Other non-current liabilities in scope of IAS 39

Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss:
    Trade and other payables, Other provisions and certain

   Other non-current liabilities in scope of IAS 39

  Derivatives designated as at fair value through profit or loss
  Derivatives classified as held for trading under IAS 39
Total financial liabilities

Net financial assets and financial liabilities

Notes
e

a
a

b

a,b
a,d,e
a,d,e

d

e

f

c

a,c
a,d,e
a,d,e

Carrying 
value 
£m
5,830

75
1,255

2015

Fair 
value 
£m
5,830

75
1,255

Carrying 
value 
£m
4,338

69
1,114

2014

Fair 
value 
£m
4,338

69
1,114

5,114

5,114

4,232

4,232

279
6
119
12,678

279
6
119
12,678

269
76
70
10,168

269
76
70
10,168

(2,740)
(13,387)
(435)
–
(16,562)
(70)
(16,632)

(2,872)
(15,209)
(435)
–
(18,516)
(70)
(18,586)

(4,124)
(13,540)
(379)
(656)
(18,699)
(85)
(18,784)

(4,349)
(15,706)
(379)
(656)
(21,090)
(85)
(21,175)

(14,748)

(14,748)

(7,566)

(7,566)

(3,855)
(97)
(56)
(35,388)

(3,855)
(97)
(56)
(37,342)

(1,724)
(3)
(410)
(28,487)

(1,724)
(3)
(410)
(30,878)

(22,710)

(24,664)

(18,319)

(20,710)

The valuation methodology used to measure fair value in the above table is described and categorised on page 194. Trade and other 
receivables, Other non-current assets, Trade and other payables, Other provisions and Other non-current liabilities are reconciled to  
the relevant Notes on pages 197 and 198. 

GSK Annual Report 2015  195

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Notes to the financial statements
continued

41 Financial instruments and related disclosures continued
(a) Financial instruments held at fair value
The following tables categorise the Group’s financial assets and liabilities held at fair value by the valuation methodology applied in 
determining their fair value. Where possible, quoted prices in active markets are used (Level 1). Where such prices are not available,  
the asset or liability is classified as Level 2, provided all significant inputs to the valuation model used are based on observable market 
data. If one or more of the significant inputs to the valuation model is not based on observable market data, the instrument is classified as 
Level 3. Other investments classified as Level 3 in the tables below comprise equity investments in unlisted entities with which the Group 
has entered into research collaborations and also investments in emerging life science companies. Trade and other payables and Other 
non-current liabilities classified as level 3 comprise contingent consideration for business acquisitions.

Level 1 
£m

Level 2 
£m

Level 3
£m

Total 
£m

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At 31 December 2015
Financial assets at fair value
Available–for–sale financial assets:
   Liquid investments
   Other investments
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss:
   Other non-current assets
   Derivatives designated as at fair value through profit or loss
   Derivatives classified as held for trading under IAS 39

Financial liabilities at fair value
Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss:
   Trade and other payables
   Other non-current liabilities
   Derivatives designated as at fair value through profit or loss
   Derivatives classified as held for trading under IAS 39

At 31 December 2014
Financial assets at fair value
Available–for–sale financial assets:
   Liquid investments
   Other investments
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss:
   Other non-current assets
   Derivatives designated as at fair value through profit or loss
   Derivatives classified as held for trading under IAS 39

Financial liabilities at fair value
Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss:
   Trade and other payables
   Other non-current liabilities
   Derivatives designated as at fair value through profit or loss
   Derivatives classified as held for trading under IAS 39

Movements in the year for financial instruments measured using Level 3 valuation methods are presented below:

At 1 January
Net losses recognised in the income statement
Net gains recognised in other comprehensive income
Contingent consideration liabilities for businesses acquired during the year
Payment of contingent consideration liabilities
Additions
Disposals
Transfers from Level 3
Exchange
At 31 December

196  GSK Annual Report 2015

71
987

–
–
–
1,058

–
–
–
–
–

Level 1 
£m

67
892

–
–
–
959

–
–
–
–
–

4
–

276
6
116
402

–
–
(97)
(55)
(152)

Level 2 
£m

2
–

264
76
69
411

–
–
(3)
(402)
(405)

–
268

3
–
3
274

(306)
(3,549)
–
(1)
(3,856)

Level 3
£m

–
222

5
–
1
228

(105)
(1,619)
–
(8)
(1,732)

2015 
£m
(1,504)
(1,994)
36
(594)
459
77
(64)
(7)
9
(3,582)

75
1,255

279
6
119
1,734

(306)
(3,549)
(97)
(56)
(4,008)

Total 
£m

69
1,114

269
76
70
1,598

(105)
(1,619)
(3)
(410)
(2,137)

2014 
£m
(757)
(775)
155
–
7
55
(153)
(47)
11
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41 Financial instruments and related disclosures continued

Included in net losses of £1,994 million (2014 – £775 million) attributable to Level 3 financial instruments which were recognised in the 
income statement are net losses of £2,035 million (2014 – £775 million) in respect of financial instruments which were held at the end  
of the year. These net losses were reported in Other operating income. £1,874 million (2014 – £768 million) arose from remeasurement  
of the contingent consideration payable for the acquisition of the former Shionogi-ViiV Healthcare joint venture and £111 million arose  
from remeasurement of the contingent consideration payable on the acquisition in 2015 of the Novartis Vaccines business. Net gains  
of £36 million (2014 – £155 million) attributable to Level 3 equity investments reported in Other comprehensive income as Fair value 
movements on available-for-sale investments included net losses of £8 million (2014 – net gains of £32 million) in respect of equity 
investments held at the end of the year.

Financial liabilities measured using Level 3 valuation methods at 31 December include £3,409 million (2014 – £1,684 million) in respect 
of contingent consideration payable for the acquisition in 2012 of the former Shionogi-ViiV Healthcare joint venture. The increase in fair 
value included the impacts of revisions to the discount rate and tax rate in the year. This consideration is expected to be paid over a 
number of years and will vary in line with the future performance of specified products. They also include £405 million in respect of 
contingent consideration for the acquisition of the Novartis Vaccines business. This consideration is expected to be paid over a number 
of years and will vary in line with the future performance of specified products and the achievement of certain milestone targets.

The table below shows on an indicative basis the income statement and balance sheet sensitivity to reasonably possible changes in  
key inputs to the valuations of these liabilities.

Increase/(decrease) in financial liability and loss/(gain) in Income statement from change in key inputs
10% increase in sales forecasts
10% decrease in sales forecasts
1% increase in market interest rates
1% decrease in market interest rates
10% increase in probability of milestone success
10% decrease in probability of milestone success

Shionogi-  
ViiV 
Healthcare 
£m
340
(340)
(180)
196

Novartis 
Vaccines 
£m
43
(41)
(33)
39
50
(50)

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(b) Trade and other receivables and Other non-current assets in scope of IAS 39
The following table reconciles financial instruments within Trade and other receivables and Other non-current assets which fall within  
the scope of IAS 39 to the relevant balance sheet amounts. The financial assets are predominantly non-interest earning. Financial 
instruments within the Other non-current assets balance include company-owned life insurance policies. Non-financial instruments 
include tax receivables, pension surplus balances and prepayments, which are outside the scope of IAS 39.

At fair value 
through  
profit or loss 
£m

Loans and 
receivables 
£m

Financial 
instruments 
£m

Non-
financial 
instruments 
£m

2015

Total 
£m

At fair value 
through  
profit or loss 
£m

Loans and 
receivables 
£m

Financial 
instruments 
£m

Non-
financial 
instruments 
£m

2014

Total 
£m

Trade and other receivables  
  (Note 24)
Other non-current assets  
  (Note 22)

–

4,751

4,751

864

5,615

–

3,921

3,921

679

4,600

279
279

363
5,114

642
5,393

348
1,212

990
6,605

269
269

311
4,232

580
4,501

155
834

735
5,335

The following table shows the age of such financial assets which are past due and for which no provision for bad or doubtful debts has 
been made:

Past due by 1–30 days
Past due by 31–90 days
Past due by 91–180 days
Past due by 181–365 days
Past due by more than 365 days

2015 
£m
200
136
76
49
90
551

2014 
£m
116
130
110
67
41
464

GSK Annual Report 2015  197

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Notes to the financial statements
continued

41 Financial instruments and related disclosures continued
(c) Trade and other payables, Other provisions and Other non-current liabilities in scope of IAS 39
The following table reconciles financial instruments within Trade and other payables, Other provisions and Other non-current liabilities 
which fall within the scope of IAS 39 to the relevant balance sheet amounts. The financial liabilities are predominantly non-interest 
bearing. Accrued wages and salaries are included within financial liabilities. Non-financial instruments includes payments on account,  
tax and social security payables and provisions which do not arise from contractual obligations to deliver cash or another financial asset, 
which are outside the scope of IAS 39. 

At fair value 
through 
profit or loss 
£m

Other 
liabilities 
£m

Financial 
instruments 
£m

Non-
financial 
instruments 
£m

2015

Total 
£m

At fair value 
through  
profit or loss 
£m

Other 
liabilities 
£m

Financial 
instruments 
£m

Non-
financial 
instruments 
£m

2014

Total 
£m

(306
)

(8,199
)

)
(8,505

)
(686

(9,191
)

(105

)

(7,345)

(7,450)

(508)

(7,958)

–

(159
)

)
(159

)
(1,605

(1,764

)

–

)
(158

)
(158

(1,432)

(1,590)

(3,549
)
(3,855)

(6,390
)
(14,748)

(9,939
)
(18,603)

)

(717

(10,656
)
(3,008) (21,611)

Trade and other payables 
  (Note 27)
Other provisions 
  (Note 29)
Other non-current liabilities 
  (Note 30)

(d) Derivative financial instruments and hedging programmes
The following table sets out the fair values of derivatives held by GSK.

Net investment hedges – Foreign exchange contracts
   (principal amount – £6,192 million (2014 – £5,365 million)) 

Cash flow hedges – Foreign exchange contracts
   (principal amount – £69 million (2014 – £133 million))

Derivatives designated as at fair value through profit or loss

Foreign exchange contracts
   (principal amount – £12,152 million (2014 – £15,851 million))

Embedded and other derivatives

Derivatives classified as held for trading under IAS 39
Total derivative instruments

Analysed as:
   Current
   Non-current
Total

(1,619
)
(1,724)

(63)
(7,566)

(1,682)
(9,290)

(719)

(2,401)
(2,659) (11,949)

2015 
Fair value

Liabilities 
£m

Assets 
£m

2014 
Fair value

Liabilities 
£m

Assets 
£m

3

3

6

115

4

119
125

125
–
125

(97)

–

(97)

(54)

(2)

(56)
(153)

(153)
–
(153)

74

2

76

68

2

70
146

146
–
146

(1)

(2)

(3)

(399)

(11)

(410)
(413)

(404)
(9)
(413)

Foreign exchange contracts classified as held for trading under IAS 39
The principal amount on foreign exchange contracts is the absolute total of outstanding positions at the balance sheet date. The Group’s 
foreign exchange contracts are for periods of 12 months or less. At 31 December 2015, the Group held outstanding foreign exchange 
contracts with a net asset fair value of £61 million (£115 million asset less £54 million liability). At December 2014, the fair value was  
£331 million net liability (£68 million asset less £399 million liability). 

Following the announcement of the Novartis transaction in April 2014, GSK entered into a number of forward exchange contracts to 
protect the Sterling value of the net US dollar proceeds due to the Group on completion of the transaction. At 31 December 2014, these 
contracts were in a loss position and resulted in a liability of £264 million and an unrealised loss of £299 million. At maturity on 2 March 
2015, these contracts were in a loss position of £319 million and resulted in a realised loss of £55 million in the year. This loss has partly 
offset the gain in the Sterling value of the proceeds received by the Group on divestment of its Oncology business as a result of 
favourable exchange movements since the inception of the forward contracts. 

The overall increase in the net asset fair value has been due to the maturity of this hedge during the year and to increased hedging of 
inter-company loans that are not designated as accounting hedges. Fair value movements are taken to the income statement in the 
period to offset the exchange gains and losses on the related inter-company loan balances.

198  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
41 Financial instruments and related disclosures continued
Fair value hedges
At 31 December 2015, the Group had no designated fair value hedges.

Net investment hedges
During the year, certain foreign exchange contracts were designated as net investment hedges in respect of the foreign currency 
translation risk arising on consolidation of the Group’s net investment in its European (Euro) and Japanese (Yen) foreign operations as 
shown in the table above. Net assets in Swiss (Franc) and South African (Rand) foreign operations were also in designated net 
investment hedges, although none remained outstanding at 31 December 2015.

The carrying value of bonds on page 195 includes £2,740 million (2014 – £4,124 million) that are designated as hedging instruments in 
net investment hedges.

Cash flow hedges
During 2015, the Group entered into forward foreign exchange contracts which it designated as cash flow hedges of its foreign 
exchange exposure arising on Euro and US dollar denominated coupon payments relating to the Group’s European and US medium term 
notes. 

In addition, the Group carries a balance in reserves that arose from pre-hedging fluctuations in long-term interest rates when pricing 
bonds issued in prior years. The balance is reclassified to finance costs over the life of these bonds.

(e) Offsetting of financial assets and liabilities
The following tables set out the financial assets and financial liabilities which are subject to offsetting, enforceable master netting 
arrangements and similar agreements. Amounts which are set off against financial assets and liabilities in the Group’s balance sheet are 
set out below. For Trade and other receivables, Trade and other payables, Derivative financial assets and Derivative financial liabilities, 
amounts not offset in the balance sheet but which could be offset under certain circumstances are also set out.

At 31 December 2015
Trade and other receivables
Derivative financial assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Trade and other payables
Derivative financial liabilities

Bank loans and overdrafts

At 31 December 2014
Trade and other receivables
Derivative financial assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Trade and other payables
Derivative financial liabilities

Bank loans and overdrafts

Gross 
financial 
assets/ 
(liabilities) 
£m
4,757
125

5,833
10,715

(8,511)
(153)

(438)
(9,102)

Gross 
financial 
assets/ 
(liabilities) 
£m
3,926
146

4,570
8,642

(7,455)
(413)

(611)
(8,479)

 Gross 
financial 
(liabilities)/ 
assets  
set off 
£m
(6)
–

 Net financial 
assets/ 
(liabilities) 
per balance 
sheet 
£m
4,751
125

Related 
amounts not  
set off in the 
balance sheet 
£m
(17)
(98)

Net 
£m
4,734
27

(3)
(9)

6
–

3
9

5,830
10,706

(8,505)
(153)

(435)
(9,093)

17
98

(8,488)
(55)

 Gross 
financial 
(liabilities)/ 
assets  
set off 
£m
(5)
–

 Net financial 
assets/ 
(liabilities) 
per balance 
sheet 
£m
3,921
146

Related 
amounts not  
set off in the 
balance sheet 
£m
(22)
(134)

Net 
£m
3,899
12

(232)
(237)

5
–

232 
237

4,338
8,405

(7,450)
(413)

(379)
(8,242)

22
134

(7,428)
(279)

The gross financial assets and liabilities set off in the balance sheet primarily relate to cash pooling arrangements with banks. Amounts  
which do not meet the criteria for offsetting on the balance sheet but could be settled net in certain circumstances principally relate to 
derivative transactions under ISDA (International Swaps and Derivatives Association) agreements where each party has the option to 
settle amounts on a net basis in the event of default of the other party.

GSK Annual Report 2015  199

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Notes to the financial statements
continued

41 Financial instruments and related disclosures continued
(f) Debt interest rate repricing table
The following table sets out the exposure of the Group to interest rates on debt, including commercial paper. The maturity analysis of 
fixed rate debt is stated by contractual maturity and of floating rate debt by interest rate repricing dates. For the purpose of this table, 
debt is defined as all classes of borrowings other than obligations under finance leases.

Floating and fixed rate debt less than one year
Between one and two years
Between two and three years
Between three and four years
Between four and five years
Between five and ten years
Greater than ten years
Total
Original issuance profile:
   Fixed rate interest
   Floating rate interest
Total interest bearing
Non-interest bearing

2015

Total 
debt 
£m
(1,285)
(2,276)
(1,868)
(1,096)
–
(3,464)
(6,573)
(16,562)

(16,127)
(434)
(16,561)
(1)
(16,562)

2014

Total 
£m
(2,915)
(800)
(2,244)
(1,760)
(1,154)
(2,827)
(6,999)
(18,699)

(17,665)
(1,033)
(18,698)
(1)
(18,699)

(g) Sensitivity analysis
Foreign exchange and interest rate sensitivity analysis has been prepared on the assumption that the amount of net debt, the ratio of  
fixed to floating interest rates of the debt and derivatives portfolio and the proportion of financial instruments in foreign currencies are all 
constant and on the basis of the hedge designations as at 31 December. Financial instruments affected by market risk include cash and 
cash equivalents, borrowings, trade receivables and payables and derivative financial instruments.

The following analyses are intended to illustrate the sensitivity of such financial instruments to changes in foreign exchange and interest rates.

Foreign exchange sensitivity
Foreign currency exposures arise from the translation of financial assets and liabilities which are not in the functional currency of the 
entity that holds them (cash and cash equivalents, bank loans and overdrafts, inter-company loans and deposits, other receivables and 
payables and trade receivables and payables) and derivative financial instruments hedging legal provisions and activities arising from 
acquisitions and disposals of assets.

The Group is primarily exposed to foreign exchange risk in relation to Sterling against movements in US dollar, Euro and Japanese Yen. 
Based on the Group’s net financial assets and liabilities as at 31 December, a weakening of Sterling against these currencies, with all 
other variables held constant, is illustrated in the table below. The table excludes financial instruments that expose the Group to foreign 
exchange risk where this risk is fully hedged with another financial instrument. 

Income statement impact of non-functional currency foreign exchange exposures
10 cent appreciation of the US dollar (2014: 10 cent)
10 cent appreciation of the Euro (2014: 10 cent)
10 yen appreciation of the Yen (2014: 10 yen)

2015

2014

Increase/(decrease) in 
income 
£m
77
7
(1)

Increase/(decrease) in 
income 
£m
(263)
11
–

An equivalent depreciation in the above currencies would cause the following increase/(decrease) in income £(67) million, £(6) million 
and £1 million (2014 – £169 million, £(10) million and £nil) for US dollar, Euro and Yen exchange rates respectively. 

200  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
41 Financial instruments and related disclosures continued

The equity impact, shown below, for foreign exchange sensitivity relates to derivative and non-derivative financial instruments hedging  
the Group’s net investments in its European (Euro) and Japanese (Yen) foreign operations and cash flow hedges of its foreign exchange 
exposure arising on Euro dominated coupon payments relating to the Group’s European medium term notes.

Equity impact of non-functional currency foreign exchange exposures
10 cent appreciation of the US dollar (2014: 10 cent)
10 cent appreciation of the Euro (2014: 10 cent)
10 yen appreciation of the Yen (2014: 10 yen)

2015

2014

Increase/(decrease) in 
equity 
£m

Increase/(decrease) in 
equity 
£m

–
(676)
(20)

2
(762)
(18)

An equivalent depreciation in the above currencies would cause the following increase/(decrease) in equity: £nil, £584 million and  
£18 million (2014 – £(2) million, £652 million and £16 million) for US dollar, Euro and Yen exchange rates respectively.

The table below presents the Group’s sensitivity to foreign exchange rates based on the composition of net debt as shown in Note 31 
adjusting for the effects of foreign exchange derivatives that are not part of net debt but affect future foreign currency cash flows.

Impact of foreign exchange movements on net debt
10 cent appreciation of the US dollar (2014: 10 cent)
10 cent appreciation of the Euro (2014: 10 cent)
10 yen appreciation of the Yen (2014: 10 yen)

2015

2014

(Increase)/decrease in 
net debt 
£m
(471)
221
4

(Increase)/decrease in 
net debt 
£m
(446)
227
11

An equivalent depreciation in the above currencies would have the following impact on net debt: £411 million, £(190) million and  
£(4) million for US dollar, Euro and Yen exchange rates respectively (2014 – £392 million, £(195) million and £(9) million).

Interest rate sensitivity
The Group is exposed to interest rate risk on its outstanding borrowings and investments where any changes in interest rates will affect 
future cash flows or the fair values of financial instruments.

The majority of debt is issued at fixed interest rates and changes in the floating rates of interest do not significantly affect the Group’s net 
interest charge, although the majority of cash and liquid investments earn floating rates of interest.

The table below hypothetically shows the Group’s sensitivity to changes in interest rates in relation to Sterling, US dollar and Euro 
variable rate financial assets and liabilities. If the interest rates applicable to floating rate financial assets and liabilities were to have 
increased by 1% (100 basis points), and assuming other variables had remained constant, it is estimated that the Group’s finance income 
for 2015 would have increased by approximately £37 million (2014 - £5 million increase). A 1% (100 basis points) movement in interest 
rates is not deemed to have a material effect on equity.

Income statement impact of interest rate movements
1% (100 basis points) increase in Sterling interest rates (2014: 1%)
1% (100 basis points) increase in US dollar interest rates (2014: 1%)
1% (100 basis points) increase in Euro interest rates (2014: 1%)

2015

2014

Increase/(decrease) in 
income 
£m
19
14
4

Increase/(decrease) in 
income 
£m
(19)
19
5

(h) Contractual cash flows for non-derivative financial liabilities and derivative instruments

The following tables provides an analysis of the anticipated contractual cash flows including interest payable for the Group’s non-
derivative financial liabilities on an undiscounted basis. The impact of interest rate swaps has been excluded. For the purpose of this 
table, debt is defined as all classes of borrowings except for obligations under finance leases. Interest is calculated based on debt held 
at 31 December without taking account of future issuance. Floating rate interest is estimated using the prevailing interest rate at the 
balance sheet date. Cash flows in foreign currencies are translated using spot rates at 31 December. Contractual cash flows in respect 
of operating lease vacant space provisions are excluded from the table below as they are included in the Commitments under non-
cancellable operating leases table in Note 40, ‘Commitments’. 

At 31 December 2015
Due in less than one year
Between one and two years
Between two and three years
Between three and four years
Between four and five years
Between five and ten years
Greater than ten years
Gross contractual cash flows

Interest on 
debt 
£m
(638)
(625)
(510)
(457)
(451)
(2,047)
(4,554)
(9,282)

Obligations  
under finance 
leases 
£m
(23)
(20)
(14)
(6)
(6)
(1)
–
(70)

Finance charge 
on obligations
under finance 
 leases 
£m
(2)
(1)
(1)
–
–
–
(3)
(7)

Trade payables 
and other 
liabilities not 
in net debt 
£m
(8,505)
(479)
(7,688)
(452)
(655)
(2,452)
(2,635)
(22,866)

Debt 
£m
(1,285)
(2,280)
(1,871)
(1,103)
–
(3,498)
(6,651)
(16,688)

Total 
£m
(10,453)
(3,405)
(10,084)
(2,018)
(1,112)
(7,998)
(13,843)
(48,913)

GSK Annual Report 2015  201

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Notes to the financial statements
continued

41 Financial instruments and related disclosures continued
Contractual cash flows for non-derivative financial liabilities and derivative instruments

At 31 December 2014
Due in less than one year
Between one and two years
Between two and three years
Between three and four years
Between four and five years
Between five and ten years
Greater than ten years
Gross contractual cash flows

Interest on 
debt 
£m
(678)
(623)
(611)
(497)
(447)
(2,074)
(4,814)
(9,744)

Obligations  
under finance 
leases 
£m
(29)
(21)
(18)
(12)
(3)
(2)
–
(85)

Finance charge 
on obligations
under finance 
 leases 
£m
(2)
(2)
(1)
(1)
–
–
–
(6)

Trade payables 
and other 
liabilities not 
in net debt 
£m
(7,489)
(251)
(219)
(273)
(324)
(1,969)
(1,734)
(12,259)

Debt 
£m
(2,917)
(801)
(2,251)
(1,763)
(1,163)
(2,859)
(7,085)
(18,839)

Total 
£m
(11,115)
(1,698)
(3,100)
(2,546)
(1,937)
(6,904)
(13,633)
(40,933)

The increase in contractual cash flows for non-derivative financial liabilities of £8 billion over the year results principally from the addition 
of the Consumer Healthcare put option liability and contingent consideration payable for the Novartis Vaccines business acquired in  
the year. In addition, there is an increase of £1 billion in forecast future cash flows in respect of contingent consideration payable for  
the acquisition of the former Shionogi-ViiV Healthcare joint venture in 2012. These increases are partially offset by a reduction of  
£2.6 billion in forecast future cash flows for repayment of debt and debt interest.

The table below provides an analysis of the anticipated contractual cash flows for the Group’s derivative instruments, excluding 
embedded derivatives and equity options which are not material, using undiscounted cash flows. Cash flows in foreign currencies are 
translated using spot rates at 31 December. The gross cash flows of foreign exchange contracts are presented for the purposes of this 
table although, in practice, the Group uses standard settlement arrangements to reduce its liquidity requirements on these instruments.

The amounts receivable and payable in less than one year have decreased compared to 31 December 2014 due to the maturity of the 
foreign exchange contracts that were hedging the US dollar proceeds of the Novartis transaction.

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Between one and two years
Gross contractual cash flows

42 Employee share schemes 

Receivables 
£m
18,283
20
18,303

2015

Payables 
£m
(18,318)
(20)
(18,338)

Receivables 
£m
21,586
–
21,586

2014

Payables 
£m
(21,841)
–
(21,841)

GSK operates several employee share schemes, including the Share Value Plan, whereby awards are granted to employees to acquire 
shares or ADS in GlaxoSmithKline plc at no cost after a three year vesting period and the Performance Share Plan, whereby awards are 
granted to employees to acquire shares or ADS in GlaxoSmithKline plc at no cost, subject to the achievement by the Group of specified 
performance targets. The granting of these restricted share awards has replaced the granting of options to employees as the cost of the 
schemes more readily equates to the potential gain to be made by the employee. The Group also operates savings related share option 
schemes, whereby options are granted to employees to acquire shares in GlaxoSmithKline plc at a discounted price. 

Grants of restricted share awards are normally exercisable at the end of the three year vesting or performance period. Awards under the 
Performance Share Plan are normally granted to employees to acquire shares or ADS in GlaxoSmithKline plc but in some circumstances 
may be settled in cash. Grants under savings-related share option schemes are normally exercisable after three years’ saving. In 
accordance with UK practice, the majority of options under the savings-related share option schemes are granted at a price 20% below 
the market price ruling at the date of grant. Options under historical share option schemes were granted at the market price ruling at the 
date of grant.

The total charge for share-based incentive plans in 2015 was £349 million (2014 – £346 million; 2013 – £319 million). Of this amount, 
£307 million (2014 – £302 million; 2013 – £243 million) arose from the Share Value Plan. See Note 9, ‘Employee Costs’ for further 
details.

202  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
42 Employee share schemes continued
GlaxoSmithKline share award schemes

Share Value Plan
Under the Share Value Plan, share awards are granted to certain employees at no cost. The awards vest after two and a half to three 
years and there are no performance criteria attached. The fair value of these awards is determined based on the closing share price on 
the day of grant, after deducting the expected future dividend yield of 5.7% (2014 – 5.2%; 2013 – 5.0%) over the duration of the award.

Number of shares and ADS issuable
At 1 January 2013
Awards granted
Awards exercised
Awards cancelled
At 31 December 2013
Awards granted
Awards exercised
Awards cancelled
At 31 December 2014
Awards granted
Awards exercised
Awards cancelled
At 31 December 2015

Shares 
Number (000)
25,318
12,011
(5,324)
(938)
31,067
12,410
(9,642)
(923)
32,912
13,019
(11,476)
(1,878)
32,577

Weighted 
fair value

£14.76

£12.65

£11.57

ADS 
Number (000)
17,788
7,681
(4,009)
(622)
20,838
7,842
(6,787)
(666)
21,227
7,198
(8,878)
(2,027)
17,520

Weighted 
fair value

$46.04

$41.56

$35.66

Performance Share Plan
Under the Performance Share Plan, share awards are granted to Directors and senior executives at no cost. The percentage of each 
award that vests is based upon the performance of the Group over a defined measurement period with dividends reinvested during the 
same period. For awards granted from 2014 to Directors and members of the CET, the performance conditions are based on three 
equally weighted measures over a three year performance period. These are adjusted free cash flow, TSR and R&D new product 
performance.  

For those awards made to all other eligible employees the performance conditions are based on both GSK’s EPS growth compared  
with the increase in the UK Retail Prices Index over the three year measurement period and adjusted free cash flow. In addition, some 
businesses have an element of their award based on a strategic or operational business measure, over a three year measurement period, 
specific to the employee’s business area.

The fair value of the awards is determined based on the closing share price on the day of grant. For TSR performance elements,  
this is adjusted by the likelihood of that condition being met, as assessed at the time of grant.

During 2015, awards were made of 4.6 million shares at a weighted fair value of £12.19 and 1.3 million ADS at a weighted fair value  
of $37.27. At 31 December 2015, there were outstanding awards over 13.2 million shares and 3.5 million ADS.

Share options and savings-related options
For the purposes of valuing options and savings-related options to arrive at the share based payment charge, a Black-Scholes option 
pricing model has been used. The assumptions used in the model are as follows:

Risk-free interest rate
Dividend yield
Volatility
Expected life
Savings-related options grant price (including 20% discount)

2015
0.88%
6.5%
21%
3 years
£10.14

2014
0.7%
5.8%
19%
3 years
£11.31

2013
0.7%
5.3%
20%
3 years
£12.47

GSK Annual Report 2015  203

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Notes to the financial statements
continued

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Options outstanding

At 31 December 2015
Range of exercise prices on options outstanding
  at year end
Weighted average market price on exercise
  during year
Weighted average remaining contractual life

Share option 
schemes – shares
Weighted 
exercise 
price
£12.86

Number 
000
13,227

Share option 
schemes – ADS
Weighted 
exercise 
price
$47.75

Number 
000
10,957

Savings-related 
share option schemes
Weighted 
exercise 
price
£10.68

Number 
000
6,611

£11.47 –     £14.93

$33.42

–     $58.00

£10.13

–     £12.47

£14.73
2.2 years

$44.63
1.6 years

£13.45
2.8 years

Options over 4.4 million shares were granted during the year under the savings-related share option scheme at a weighted average fair 
value of £1.78. At 31 December 2015, 5.9 million of the savings-related share options were not exercisable. All of the other share options 
and ADS options are currently exercisable and all will expire if not exercised on or before 22 July 2020.

There has been no change in the effective exercise price of any outstanding options during the year.

Employee Share Ownership Plan Trusts
The Group sponsors Employee Share Ownership Plan (ESOP) Trusts to acquire and hold shares in GlaxoSmithKline plc to satisfy  
awards made under employee incentive plans and options granted under employee share option schemes. The trustees of the ESOP  
Trusts purchase shares with finance provided by the Group by way of loans or contributions. In 2014, Treasury shares with a carrying 
value of £150 million were purchased by the UK ESOP Trust to satisfy future awards under the shareholder approved Performance Share 
Plan. The costs of running the ESOP Trusts are charged to the income statement. Shares held by the ESOP Trusts are deducted from 
other reserves and amortised down to the value of proceeds, if any, receivable from employees on exercise by a transfer to retained 
earnings. The trustees have waived their rights to dividends on the shares held by the ESOP Trusts.

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Shares held for share award schemes

Number of shares (000)

Nominal value
Carrying value
Market value

Shares held for share option schemes
Number of shares (000)

Nominal value
Carrying value
Market value

43 Post balance sheet events

2015

2014

29,662

52,595

£m
7
74
407

2015
139

£m
–
1
2

£m
13
150
724

2014

139

£m
–
1
2

In certain circumstances, Pfizer and Shionogi (GSK’s partners in ViiV Healthcare) were historically able to require GSK to acquire their 
shareholdings at a price based on the likely valuation of ViiV Healthcare if it were to conduct an initial public offering. Under the original 
agreements, GSK had the unconditional right, so long as it made no subsequent distribution to its shareholders, to withhold its consent 
to the exercise of either put option.

In February 2016, GSK notified Pfizer and Shionogi that it had irrevocably given up this right. This will lead to recognition of a liability  
for these put options on the Group’s balance sheet in 2016. The estimated present value of the liability for the two put options is 
approximately £2 billion, after adjustments for the value of preferential dividends due to each of the shareholders. 

Consistent with this revised treatment, in 2016 GSK will also recognise liabilities on the Group’s balance sheet for the future preferential 
dividends anticipated to become payable to Pfizer and Shionogi. The estimated aggregate present value of the liability for preferential 
dividends to both Pfizer and Shionogi is approximately £170 million.

On 22 February 2016, ViiV Healthcare completed two previously announced transactions with Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS). ViiV 
Healthcare acquired late-stage R&D assets from BMS for an initial upfront payment of $317 million followed by development and first 
commercial sale milestones of up to $518 million, and tiered royalties on sales. ViiV Healthcare also acquired BMS’s preclinical and 
discovery stage HIV research business for an upfront payment of $33 million, followed by development and first commercial sales 
milestones of up to $587 million, and further consideration contingent on future sales performance.

204  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
44 Principal Group companies 

The following represent the principal subsidiaries and their countries of incorporation of the Group at 31 December 2015. The equity 
share capital of these entities is wholly owned by the Group except where its percentage interest is shown otherwise. All companies are 
incorporated in their principal country of operation except where stated.

England

US

Block Drug Company, Inc.
Corixa Corporation
GlaxoSmithKline Capital Inc.
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, L.P. (55.9%)

Glaxo Group Limited
Glaxo Operations UK Limited
GlaxoSmithKline Capital plc
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Holdings Limited (63.5%)
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (UK) Trading Limited (63.5%) GlaxoSmithKline Holdings (Americas) Inc.
GlaxoSmithKline Export Limited
GlaxoSmithKline Finance plc
GlaxoSmithKline Holdings Limited *
GlaxoSmithKline Research & Development Limited
GlaxoSmithKline Services Unlimited *
GlaxoSmithKline UK Limited
Setfirst Limited
SmithKline Beecham Limited
ViiV Healthcare Limited (78.3%)
ViiV Healthcare UK Limited (78.3%)

GlaxoSmithKline LLC
Human Genome Sciences, Inc.
Novartis Consumer Health, Inc.
Stiefel Laboratories, Inc.
ViiV Healthcare Company (78.3%)

Europe

Others

GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals S.A. (Belgium)
GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals S.A. (Belgium)
GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals S.A.S. (France)
Groupe GlaxoSmithKline S.A.S. (France) 
Laboratoire GlaxoSmithKline S.A.S. (France)
ViiV Healthcare S.A.S. (France) (78.3%)
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare GmbH & Co. KG
  (Germany) (63.5%)
GlaxoSmithKline GmbH & Co. KG (Germany)
Novartis Consumer Health GmbH (Germany) (63.5%)
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare S.p.A. (Italy) (63.5%)
GlaxoSmithKline S.p.A. (Italy)
GlaxoSmithKline B.V. (Netherlands)
GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals S.A. (Poland)
GSK Services Sp.z.o.o. (Poland) 
GlaxoSmithKline Trading Services Limited (Republic of Ireland) (i) 
GlaxoSmithKline S.A. (Spain)
Novartis Consumer Health S.A. (Switzerland) (63.5%)

GlaxoSmithKline Argentina S.A. (Argentina)
GlaxoSmithKline Australia Pty Ltd. (Australia)
GlaxoSmithKline Brasil Limitada (Brazil)
GlaxoSmithKline Inc. (Canada)
ID Biomedical Corporation of Quebec (Canada)
GlaxoSmithKline (China) Investment Co. Ltd. (China)
GlaxoSmithKline Limited (China)
GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals (Suzhou) Limited (China)
Sino-American Tianjin Smith Kline & French Laboratories Ltd. (China) (34.9%)
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Limited (India) (72.5%)
GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Limited (India) (75%)
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Japan K.K. (Japan)
GlaxoSmithKline K.K. (Japan)
GlaxoSmithKline Mexico S.A. de C.V. (Mexico)
GlaxoSmithKline Pakistan Limited (Pakistan) (82.6%)
Glaxo Wellcome Manufacturing Pte Ltd. (Singapore)
GlaxoSmithKline Pte Ltd. (Singapore)
GlaxoSmithKline Korea Limited (South Korea) 
GlaxoSmithKline llaclari Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. (Turkey)

(i)  

 Exempt from the provisions of section 347 and 348 of the Companies Act 2014 (Ireland), in accordance with the exemptions noted 
in Section 357 of that Act. Further subsidiaries, as disclosed on pages 250 to 258, are exempt from these provisions as they are 
also consolidated in the group financial statements.

* 

Directly held wholly owned subsidiary of GlaxoSmithKline plc.

The subsidiaries and associates listed above principally affect the figures in the Group’s financial statements. Each of GlaxoSmithKline 
Capital Inc. and GlaxoSmithKline Capital plc is a wholly-owned finance subsidiary of the company, and the company has fully and 
unconditionally guaranteed the securities issued by each of GlaxoSmithKline Capital Inc. and GlaxoSmithKline Capital plc.

See pages 250 to 258 for a complete list of subsidiary undertakings, associates and joint ventures, which form part of these financial 
statements.

GSK Annual Report 2015  205

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Notes to the financial statements
continued

45 Legal proceedings

The Group is involved in significant legal and administrative 
proceedings, principally product liability, intellectual property,  
tax, anti-trust and governmental investigations, as well as related 
private litigation. The Group makes provision for these proceedings 
on a regular basis as summarised in Note 2, ‘Accounting principles 
and policies’ and Note 29, ‘Other provisions’. The Group may 
become involved in significant legal proceedings in respect of 
which it is not possible to make a reliable estimate of the expected 
financial effect, if any, that could result from ultimate resolution of 
the proceedings. In these cases, appropriate disclosures about 
such cases would be included, but no provision would be made.

With respect to each of the legal proceedings described below, 
other than those for which a provision has been made, the Group 
is unable to make a reliable estimate of the expected financial 
effect at this stage. The Group does not believe that information 
about the amount sought by the plaintiffs, if that is known, would 
be meaningful with respect to those legal proceedings. This is due 
to a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the stage of 
proceedings, the entitlement of parties to appeal a decision and 
clarity as to theories of liability, damages and governing law.

Intellectual property claims include challenges to the validity and 
enforceability of the Group’s patents on various products or 
processes as well as assertions of non-infringement of those 
patents. A loss in any of these cases could result in loss of patent 
protection for the product at issue. The consequences of any such 
loss could be a significant decrease in sales of that product and 
could materially affect future results of operations for the Group.

Legal expenses incurred and provisions related to legal claims  
are charged to selling, general and administration costs. Provisions 
are made, after taking appropriate legal and other specialist 
advice, where an outflow of resources is considered probable  
and a reliable estimate can be made of the likely outcome of the 
dispute. For certain product liability claims, the Group will make  
a provision where there is sufficient history of claims made and 
settlements to enable management to make a reliable estimate of 
the provision required to cover unasserted claims. At 31 December 
2015, the Group’s aggregate provision for legal and other disputes 
(not including tax matters described in Note 14, ‘Taxation’) was  
£0.4 billion. The ultimate liability for legal claims may vary from the 
amounts provided and is dependent upon the outcome of litigation 
proceedings, investigations and possible settlement negotiations.

The Group’s position could change over time, and, therefore,  
there can be no assurance that any losses that result from the 
outcome of any legal proceedings will not exceed by a material 
amount the amount of the provisions reported in the Group’s 
financial statements. If this were to happen, it could have a material 
adverse impact on the results of operations of the Group in the 
reporting period in which the judgments are incurred or the 
settlements entered into. The most significant of these matters  
are described below.

Intellectual property
Advair HFA, Flovent HFA, Ventolin HFA
On 29 September 2015, Mylan Pharmaceuticals (Mylan) filed a 
petition for an Inter Partes Review (IPR) with the United States 
Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) seeking to invalidate a 
patent covering the surfactant-free formulation and its use in the 
hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) metered dose inhalers for Advair, Flovent 
and Ventolin. The Group exclusively licenses the patent from 3M 
and has the first right to enforce and defend it. The patent, which 
expires on 1 December 2021, is listed in the Orange Book. The 
Group filed a Patent Owner’s Preliminary Response opposing the 
institution of the IPR on 6 January 2015. A decision on institution is 
due by 6 April 2016. The patent that Mylan has challenged is just 
one of a number of patents covering Advair, Flovent and Ventolin 
and their use in HFA metered dose inhalers.

Men B vaccines/Bexsero
Following its acquisition of the Novartis Vaccine business, the 
Group has taken over litigation originally filed by Novartis against 
Pfizer, Inc. (Pfizer) in the UK, Italy and the United States related  
to meningococcal B (Men B) vaccines. On 18 February 2015, 
Novartis filed suit against Pfizer in the UK High Court (Patents 
Court) for a declaration that a European patent owned by Pfizer 
was not infringed by Bexsero and was invalid. The Group assumed 
responsibility for this matter on 27 April 2015. Pfizer filed a 
Statement of Defence on 27 May 2015 and counterclaimed for 
infringement. Trial in the matter commenced on 7 March 2016.

On 18 February 2015, Novartis filed suit against Pfizer in the  
Court of Rome for a declaration that a European patent owned by 
Pfizer was not infringed by Bexsero and was invalid. The Group 
has assumed responsibility for this matter. The Group is also 
prosecuting a lawsuit against Pfizer, originally filed by Novartis,  
for a declaration that a European patent issued to Pfizer related  
to meningitis B vaccines is not infringed by Bexsero. 

On 18 February 2015, Novartis filed suit against Pfizer in the  
US District Court for the District of New Jersey for patent 
infringement. The complaint asserts six patents against Pfizer, 
alleging that Pfizer’s sale of Trumenba infringes those patents. 
Trumenba is indicated for active immunization to prevent invasive 
disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B. On  
27 April 2015, the Group filed a First Amended Complaint against 
Pfizer reasserting the six patents originally asserted by Novartis, 
but also asserting one additional recently-granted patent. 
Infringement contentions were served by the Group on 29 October 
2015; Pfizer served non-infringement and invalidity contentions on  
18 December 2015. The Group responded to Pfizer’s invalidity 
contentions on 5 February 2016. No dates have been set for 
summary judgment motions or trial.

206  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
In May 2015, Mylan filed an action in the UK Patents Court  
alleging that the patent covering the combination of lamivudine and 
abacavir for Kivexa is invalid. They also allege that the SPC based 
upon the patent is invalid because it was not the first marketing 
authorisation for the combination, alleging instead that the prior 
approval of Trizivir was the first. Trial is scheduled for May 2016.  
In addition, Mylan has challenged the combination patent and 
associated SPC in France, Italy and Portugal. No trial dates have  
been set in these jurisdictions.

Lexiva
On 10 December 2014, Lupin filed a petition with the USPTO for 
an IPR alleging that the patent covering the active ingredient for 
Lexiva is invalid. ViiV Healthcare filed a Patent Owner’s Preliminary 
Response opposing the petition on 12 April 2015. On 9 July 2015, 
the USPTO granted in-part and denied in-part the petition for an 
IPR. Significantly, the USPTO denied the petition for the basic 
compound claims covering Lexiva, while granting the petition for 
other claims in the patent. On 24 July 2015, Lupin requested 
reconsideration of the decision not to initiate review of the claims 
specifically covering Lexiva. On 14 October 2015, ViiV Healthcare 
requested adverse judgment as to the claims upon which review 
was granted (effectively cancelling those claims). On 2 November 
2015, the USPTO denied Lupin’s motion for reconsideration and, 
on 3 November 2015, the USPTO cancelled the requested claims 
and terminated the IPR, leaving the claims covering Lexiva intact. 
On 4 February 2016, Lupin filed a new petition for an IPR on the 
remaining claims. A Patent Owner’s Preliminary Response is due 
11 May 2016.

Product liability
Pre-clinical and clinical trials are conducted during the 
development of potential products to determine the safety and 
efficacy of products for use by humans following approval by 
regulatory bodies. Notwithstanding these efforts, when drugs and 
vaccines are introduced into the marketplace, unanticipated safety 
issues may become, or be claimed by some to be, evident. The 
Group is currently a defendant in a number of product liability 
lawsuits related to the Group’s Pharmaceutical, Vaccine and 
Consumer Healthcare products. The most significant of these 
matters are described below.

The Group has been able to make a reliable estimate of the 
expected financial effect of the matters discussed in this category 
and has included a provision, as appropriate, for the matters below 
in the provision for legal and other disputes. Matters for which the 
Group has made a provision are also noted in Note 29, ‘Other 
provisions’.

45 Legal proceedings continued
Coreg CR
Mylan sent a Paragraph IV certification, dated 26 August 2015,  
to the Group and Flamel Ireland Ltd. (Flamel) stating that it had 
submitted an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) to the 
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeking approval of a 
generic version of Coreg CR. The notice asserted that the patents 
listed in the Orange Book for Coreg CR were either invalid or not 
infringed by Mylan’s product. On 9 October 2015, Flamel filed a 
civil complaint in the US District Court for the Northern District of 
West Virginia alleging that Mylan’s product infringes Flamel’s 
Orange Book-listed extended release formulation patent which 
expires 11 March 2026. The Group is the exclusive licensee of this 
patent for Coreg CR. Mylan answered on 18 December 2015, 
asserting that Flamel’s patent was invalid or not infringed. Mylan 
also filed a third party complaint against the Group requesting a 
declaration that the Group’s patent on carvedilol phosphate 
hemihydrate is invalid or not infringed. A scheduling conference 
has been set for 12 May 2016.

Epzicom/Kivexa/Trizivir 
On 6 February 2014, ViiV Healthcare received notice that Lupin 
Limited (Lupin) had filed an ANDA containing a Paragraph IV 
certification for Epzicom, alleging that the three patents listed in 
the Orange Book for Epzicom are either invalid, unenforceable or 
not infringed. ViiV Healthcare filed suit against Lupin on 3 March 
2014, alleging infringement of both the patent covering the 
combination of lamivudine and abacavir and the patent covering 
the hemisulfate salt of abacavir. ViiV Healthcare settled with Lupin 
on 22 June 2015, and the case was dismissed on 7 August 2015.

On 2 June 2014, Apotex filed a Petition requesting an Inter Partes 
Review (IPR) of the combination patent covering Epzicom and 
Trizivir. The USPTO granted the petition on 8 December 2014 
which initiated the IPR. On 8 January 2015, Teva filed a petition 
with the USPTO to join the proceeding. ViiV Healthcare filed an 
opposition to Teva’s joinder motion on 3 April 2015, and Teva’s 
motion to join was denied on 25 June 2015. On 29 July 2015,  
ViiV Healthcare and Apotex settled the case, and the USPTO 
terminated the IPR on 3 August 2015.

Teva Canada and Apotex each filed Notices of Allegation 
challenging patents for Kivexa (lamivudine/abacavir) listed on  
the Canadian Patent Register. ViiV Healthcare filed suit for 
infringement against Teva on 12 September 2013 under the 
patents covering abacavir hemisulfate and the combination of 
lamivudine and abacavir. ViiV Healthcare filed suit against Apotex 
on 31 January 2014 under the patent covering abacavir hemisulfate 
and on 14 March 2014 for infringement of the patent covering the 
combination of lamivudine and abacavir. ViiV Healthcare settled 
the case against Teva on 24 April 2015 and against Apotex on  
29 July 2015. 

Teva also challenged the claims of the combination patent covering 
Kivexa in Germany, France, Italy and the United Kingdom. The 
combination patent expires across Europe in 2016. In addition, 
ViiV Healthcare has a corresponding Supplementary Protection 
Certificate (SPC) for Kivexa that does not expire until late 2019.
Teva also challenged the validity of the SPC. ViiV Healthcare 
reached a settlement with Teva in May 2015 and the litigation  
was terminated. 

GSK Annual Report 2015  207

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Notes to the financial statements
continued

•  Acts of violence
As of February 2016, there were six pending matters concerning 
allegations that patients who took paroxetine or Paxil committed  
or attempted to commit suicide or acts of violence. Trial on one  
of these cases is scheduled for 19 September 2016.

•  Discontinuation
In the UK, in late 2010, due to poor prospects of success,  
public funding of Seroxat claimants who had alleged withdrawal  
reactions was ceased. The majority of the claimants discontinued 
their claims. In 2011, about 120 claimants appealed the decision  
to the Special Cases Review Panel. The Special Cases Review 
Panel denied the appeal, and the public funding certificate was 
discharged by the Legal Aid Agency on 29 January 2015. One 
hundred and three cases remain. These were the subject of a 
hearing held on 14 December 2015. The judgement from the 
hearing was published on 4 February 2016 and allowed the 
remaining claims to continue under court management. A further 
case management conference is expected by the summer.

Zofran
Plaintiffs allege that their children suffered birth defects as a result 
of the mothers’ ingestion of Zofran and/or generic ondansetron for 
pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting. Plaintiffs assert that the 
Group sold Zofran knowing it was unsafe for pregnant women, 
failed to warn of the risks, and illegally marketed Zofran “off-label” 
for use by pregnant women. As of February 2016, the Group is  
a defendant in 226 personal injury lawsuits brought on behalf of 
236 individual plaintiffs in the US. All 221 federal cases are part  
of a multi-district litigation proceeding (MDL) in the District of 
Massachusetts. The Group is also a defendant in four proposed 
class actions in Canada, which are in their early stages. Class 
certification issues in these cases have not yet been addressed.

On 27 January 2016, the MDL court issued an order denying the 
Group’s motion to dismiss all claims of the grounds that they are 
preempted under federal law. The Group may renew the motion at 
a later date. The MDL continues with monthly status conferences 
where issues such as the sufficiency of the pleadings and the 
scope of discovery will be addressed. 

45 Legal proceedings continued
Avandia
The Group has been named in product liability lawsuits on behalf 
of individuals asserting personal injury claims arising out of the use 
of Avandia. The federal cases filed against the Group are part of a 
multi-district litigation proceeding pending in the US District Court 
for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (the ‘MDL Court’). Cases 
have also been filed in a number of state courts.

As of February 2016, the Group has reached agreements to settle 
the substantial majority of federal and state cases pending in the 
US. Fifteen purported class actions on Avandia are pending in 
Canada.

There are four purported class actions seeking economic damages 
on behalf of third party payers (TPPs) asserting claims arising 
under various state and federal laws, including the Racketeer 
Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), state unfair 
trade practices and/or consumer protection laws. The MDL Court 
has consolidated these four actions for pre-trial proceedings, and 
has appointed a Plaintiffs Steering Committee. The Group is filing 
a petition for writ of certiorari in the United States Supreme Court 
seeking review of the Third Circuit’s decision that the TPPs state  
a valid cause of action.

The sole remaining consumer class action, brought on behalf of 
Missouri residents, was dismissed by the MDL Court; the Third 
Circuit has affirmed the MDL’s decision dismissing the action.  
As a result, no consumer class actions remain.

Seroxat/Paxil and Paxil CR
The Group has received numerous lawsuits and claims alleging 
that use of Paxil (paroxetine) has caused a variety of injuries.

Most of these lawsuits contain one or more of the following 
allegations: (i) that use of Paxil during pregnancy caused 
congenital malformations or persistent pulmonary hypertension;  
(ii) that Paxil treatment caused patients to commit suicidal or 
violent acts; and (iii) that the Group failed to warn that patients 
could experience certain symptoms on discontinuing Paxil 
treatment. 

•  Pregnancy
The Group has reached agreements to settle the majority of the 
US claims relating to the use of Paxil during pregnancy as of 
February 2016, but a number of claims related to use during 
pregnancy are still pending in various courts in the US. Other 
matters have been dismissed without payment. Currently, there  
are twelve trials scheduled in 2016.

There are two proposed, and one certified, class actions in 
Canada. The action that has been certified as a national class 
action is in British Columbia and relates to cardiovascular defects. 
An appeal from that certification decision was dismissed in 
October 2013, and the case is scheduled to be tried in October 
2016.

208  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
45 Legal proceedings continued
Sales and marketing and regulation
The Group has been able to make a reliable estimate of the 
expected financial effect of the matters discussed in this category, 
and has included a provision for such matters in the provision for 
legal and other disputes, except as noted below. Matters for which 
the Group has made a provision are also noted in Note 29, ‘Other 
provisions’.

SEC/DOJ and SFO Anti-corruption enquiries
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the US 
Department of Justice (DOJ) initiated an industry-wide enquiry in 
2010 into whether pharmaceutical companies may have engaged in 
violations of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) relating 
to the sale of pharmaceuticals, including in Argentina, Brazil, 
Canada, China, Germany, Italy, Poland, Russia and Saudi Arabia. 
The Group is one of the companies that has been asked to respond 
to this enquiry and is cooperating with the SEC and DOJ. The 
Group has informed the DOJ and SEC about the investigation of its 
China operations by the Chinese government that was initiated in 
2013 and the outcome of that investigation. The Group also has 
briefed the DOJ and SEC regarding other countries and issues.

The Group also has advised the UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO) 
regarding the investigation of its China operations by the Chinese 
government and the outcome of that investigation. The SFO  
has requested information from the Group on its commercial 
operations in a number of countries. On 27 May 2014, the  
SFO informed the Group that it had formally opened a criminal 
investigation into the Group’s practices. The Group is responding 
to the SFO’s requests. The Group is unable to make a reliable 
estimate of the expected financial effect of these investigations, 
and no provision has been made for them.

US Vaccines subpoena
On 25 February 2016, the Group received a subpoena from the 
US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York 
requesting documents relating to the Group’s Vaccines business. 
The Group is responding to the subpoena. The Group is unable  
to make a reliable estimate of the expected financial effect of this 
matter, and no provision has been made for it.

US subpoena relating to Imitrex and Amerge
On 7 March 2016, the Group received a subpoena from the US 
Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York requesting 
documents relating to the Group’s US contracts for Imitrex and 
Amerge. The Group is responding to the subpoena. The Group is 
unable to make a reliable estimate of the expected financial effect 
of this matter, and no provision has been made for it.

Avandia
The Group is defending an action by the County of Santa Clara, 
California, which was brought under California’s consumer 
protection laws seeking civil penalties and restitution as a result  
of the Group’s marketing of Avandia. The Group has filed a number 
of dispositive motions which are pending before the MDL Court. 
The County of Santa Clara recently has filed a motion to dismiss 
the action from federal court for lack of federal jurisdiction. This 
motion has been briefed and argued by the parties.

Average wholesale price
State Attorneys General in Wisconsin and Illinois have filed suit 
against the Group and a number of other pharmaceutical 
companies claiming damages and restitution due to average 
wholesale price (AWP) and/or wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) 
price reporting for pharmaceutical products covered by the states’ 
Medicaid programmes. These cases allege that the Group 
reported or caused to be reported false AWP and WAC prices, 
which, in turn, allegedly caused state Medicaid agencies to 
reimburse providers more money for covered medicines than  
the agencies intended. The states have sought recovery on behalf 
of the states as payers and, in some cases, on behalf of in-state 
patients as consumers. The Group has reached a settlement  
with the State of Wisconsin resolving all claims in the matter.  
The Illinois case is ongoing, and no trial date has yet been set.

Cidra third-party payer litigation
On 25 July 2013, a number of major US healthcare insurers  
filed suit against the Group in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 
County Court of Common Pleas seeking compensation for 
reimbursements they made for medicines manufactured at  
the Group’s former Cidra plant in Puerto Rico. These insurers  
claim that the Group knowingly and illegally marketed and sold 
adulterated drugs manufactured under conditions non-compliant 
with cGMP (current good manufacturing practices) and that they, 
as third-party insurers, were unlawfully induced to pay for them. 
The suit alleges both US federal and various state law causes of 
action.

The case had been stayed pending the decision of the US Court 
of Appeals for the Third Circuit on an overlapping, potentially 
dispositive issue in the Group’s third-party payer litigation 
regarding Avandia. As a result of the Third Circuit’s denial of  
the Group’s petition, the judge in this litigation has lifted the stay. 
The parties have filed supplemental briefings on the Group’s 
motion to dismiss and await a ruling from the court. The Group  
has made no provision for this matter.

Anti-trust/competition
The Group has been able to make a reliable estimate of the 
expected financial effect of the matters discussed in this category 
and has included a provision for such matters in the provision for 
legal and other disputes, except as noted below. Matters for which 
the Group has made a provision are also noted in Note 29, ‘Other 
provisions’.

UK Competition and Markets Authority investigation
On 12 February 2016, the UK Competition and Markets Authority 
(CMA) issued a decision fining the Group and two other 
pharmaceutical companies for infringement of the Competition 
Act. The CMA imposed a fine of £37.6 million on the Group, as 
well as fines totalling £7.4 million against the other companies.

This relates to agreements to settle patent disputes between the 
Group and potential suppliers of generic paroxetine formulations, 
entered between 2001 and 2003. The Group terminated the 
agreements at issue in 2004. The Group believes it has strong 
arguments to defend its actions and is currently examining the 
CMA’s finding with its legal advisors with a view to appeal to the 
Competition Appeal Tribunal such that the fine is overturned or 
substantially reduced. Accordingly no provision has been made  
for this matter.

GSK Annual Report 2015  209

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In addition to the private litigant suits, on 12 December 2011, the 
US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a formal 
complaint against Stiefel and Charles Stiefel in the US District 
Court for the District of Florida alleging that Stiefel and its 
principals violated federal securities laws by inducing Stiefel 
employees to sell their shares in the employee stock plan back to 
the company at a greatly undervalued price and without disclosing 
to employees that the company was about to be sold. The case 
had been stayed but was returned to active status in early summer 
2015. On 30 November 2015, the court entered orders asking the 
parties to rebrief their summary judgment motions and setting a 
pretrial conference for August 2016. The Group has made a 
provision for the Stiefel litigation.

Environmental matters
The Group has been notified of its potential responsibility relating 
to past operations and its past waste disposal practices at certain 
sites, primarily in the US. Some of these matters are the subject of 
litigation, including proceedings initiated by the US federal or state 
governments for waste disposal, site remediation costs and tort 
actions brought by private parties.

The Group has been advised that it may be a responsible party  
at approximately 21 sites, of which 11 appear on the National 
Priority List created by the Comprehensive Environmental 
Response Compensation and Liability Act (Superfund). These 
proceedings seek to require the operators of hazardous waste 
facilities, transporters of waste to the sites and generators of 
hazardous waste disposed of at the sites to clean up the sites  
or to reimburse the US Government for cleanup costs. In most 
instances, the Group is involved as an alleged generator of 
hazardous waste. 

Although Superfund provides that the defendants are jointly  
and severally liable for cleanup costs, these proceedings are 
frequently resolved on the basis of the nature and quantity of  
waste disposed of by the generator at the site. The Group’s 
proportionate liability for cleanup costs has been substantially 
determined for 18 of the sites referred to above.

The Group’s potential liability varies greatly from site to site.  
While the cost of investigation, study and remediation at such  
sites could, over time, be significant, the Group routinely accrues 
amounts related to its share of the liability for such matters.

45 Legal proceedings continued
Lamictal
Purported classes of direct and indirect purchasers filed suit in  
the US District Court for the District of New Jersey alleging that 
the Group and Teva Pharmaceuticals unlawfully conspired to delay 
generic competition for Lamictal, resulting in overcharges to the 
purchasers, by entering into an allegedly anti-competitive reverse 
payment settlement to resolve patent infringement litigation. A 
separate count accuses the Group of monopolising the market.  
On 26 June 2015, the Court of Appeals reversed the trial court’s 
decision to dismiss the case and remanded the action back to the 
trial court. On 26 October 2015, the trial court denied the Group’s 
motion for a stay and set a schedule for early dispositive motions 
and discovery. The Group filed a petition for certiorari with the 
United States Supreme Court on 19 February 2016. 

Wellbutrin XL
Plaintiffs claimed antitrust injury related to allegedly sham patent 
litigation filed by Biovail against generic companies pursuing 
ANDAs for generic Wellbutrin XL. The Group was named as a 
party plaintiff in two patent infringement actions but later withdrew 
from those matters. The Group was not a party in the remaining 
two patent infringement actions relating to Wellbutrin XL. Plaintiffs 
alleged that a conspiracy to delay generic approval existed 
between Biovail and the Group, but the Court granted summary 
judgment in favour of the Group on those claims. 

The sole remaining claim related to plaintiffs’ allegations that the 
Group entered into an anti-competitive reverse payment settlement 
to resolve the patent infringement litigation. The Court granted 
summary judgment in favour of the Group on all claims, and the 
matter is currently pending appeal before the US Court of Appeals 
for the Third Circuit Court.

Commercial and corporate
Where the Group is able to make a reliable estimate of the 
expected financial effect, if any, for the matters discussed in this 
category, it has included a provision in respect of such matters in 
the provision for legal and other disputes as set out in Note 29, 
‘Other provisions’.

Securities/ERISA class actions – Stiefel
There are currently three outstanding lawsuits brought by former 
Stiefel Laboratories, Inc. (Stiefel) employees alleging that Stiefel 
and its officers and directors violated the US Employee Retirement 
Income Security Act (ERISA) and federal and state securities laws 
by inducing Stiefel employees to sell their shares in the employee 
stock plan back to Stiefel at a greatly undervalued price and 
without disclosing to employees that Stiefel was about to be  
sold to the Group.

The Fried case is currently on appeal to the US Court of Appeals 
for the Eleventh Circuit with oral argument having taken place in 
February 2016. Stiefel won a complete defence verdict in this 
matter at a jury trial in federal court in Florida in October 2013 and 
the plaintiff appealed. Trial of a second Florida case has been 
stayed pending resolution of the Fried matter. Discovery also 
continues in a case pending in New York federal court. 

210  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
Financial statements of GlaxoSmithKline plc
prepared under UK GAAP (including FRS 101 ‘Reduced Disclosure Framework’)

Directors’ statement of responsibilities  
in relation to the company’s financial 
statements

The Directors are responsible for preparing the parent company, 
GlaxoSmithKline plc, financial statements and the Remuneration 
report in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

UK company law requires the Directors to prepare financial 
statements for each financial year. Under that law the Directors 
have elected to prepare the parent company financial statements  
in accordance with United Kingdom Accounting Standards and 
applicable law (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting 
Practice). Under company law the Directors must not approve the 
parent company financial statements unless they are satisfied that 
they give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial 
position and profit or loss of the company for that period.

In preparing those financial statements, the Directors are required 
to:

•  select suitable accounting policies and then apply them 

consistently;

•  make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable 

and prudent;

•  state with regard to the parent company financial statements 

that applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, 
subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in 
the parent company financial statements;

•  prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis 

unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Group will continue 
in business.

The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting 
records that are sufficient to show and explain the company’s 
transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the 
financial position of the company and to enable them to ensure that 
the parent company financial statements and Remuneration report 
comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible  
for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking 
reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and  
other irregularities.

The parent company financial statements for the year ended  
31 December 2015, comprising the balance sheet for the year  
ended 31 December 2015 and supporting notes, are set out  
on pages 213 to 216 of this report.

The responsibilities of the auditors in relation to the parent 
company financial statements are set out in the Independent 
Auditors’ report on page 212.

The financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2015  
are included in the Annual Report, which is published in printed 
form and made available on our website. The Directors are 
responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the Annual Report 
on our website in accordance with UK legislation governing the 
preparation and dissemination of financial statements. Access to 
the website is available from outside the UK, where comparable 
legislation may be different.

The Strategic Report and risk sections of the Annual Report, which 
represent the management report, include a fair review of the 
development and performance of the business and the position  
of the company and the Group taken as a whole, together with a 
description of the principal risks and uncertainties that it faces.

Disclosure of information to auditors
The Directors in office at the date of this Annual Report have each 
confirmed that:

•  so far as he or she is aware, there is no relevant audit information 

of which the company’s auditors are unaware; and

•  he or she has taken all the steps that he or she ought to have 
taken as a Director to make himself or herself aware of any 
relevant audit information and to establish that the company’s 
auditors are aware of that information.

This confirmation is given and should be interpreted in accordance 
with the provisions of section 418 of the Companies Act 2006.

Going concern basis
Having assessed the principal risks and other matters considered 
in connection with the viability statement, the Directors considered 
it appropriate to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in 
preparing the financial statements.

The UK Corporate Governance Code
The Board considers that GlaxoSmithKline plc applies the 
principles and complies with the provisions of the UK Corporate 
Governance Code maintained by the Financial Reporting Council, 
as described in the Corporate Governance section on pages 80 
to 101. The Board further considers that the Annual Report, taken 
as a whole, is fair, balanced and understandable, and provides the 
information necessary for shareholders to assess the Group’s 
position and performance, business model and strategy.

As required by the Financial Conduct Authority’s Listing Rules,  
the auditors have considered the Directors’ statement of 
compliance in relation to those points of the UK Corporate 
Governance Code which are specified for their review.

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Chairman
16 March 2016

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GSK Annual Report 2015  211

 
 
 
 
 
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Independent Auditors’ report
to the members of GlaxoSmithKline plc

Report on the parent company financial 
statements
Our Opinion
In our opinion, GlaxoSmithKline plc’s parent company financial 
statements (the “financial statements”):
•  give a true and fair view of the state of the parent company’s 

affairs at 31 December 2015;

•  have been properly prepared in accordance with United 
Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
•  have been prepared in accordance with the requirements  

of the Companies Act 2006.

What we have audited
The financial statements, included within the Annual Report, 
comprise:

•  the Company balance sheet at 31 December 2015;
•  the Company statement of changes in equity for the year then 

ended; and

•  the notes to the financial statements, which include a summary of 
significant accounting policies and other explanatory information.

Certain required disclosures have been presented elsewhere  
in the Annual Report, rather than in the notes to the financial 
statements. These are cross-referenced from the financial 
statements and are identified as audited. The financial reporting 
framework that has been applied in the preparation of the financial 
statements is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting 
Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting 
Practice), including FRS 101 “Reduced Disclosure Framework”.

Other required reporting
Consistency of other information
Companies Act 2006 opinion
In our opinion, the information given in the Strategic Report  
and the Directors’ Report for the financial year for which the 
financial statements are prepared is consistent with the  
financial statements.

ISAs (UK & Ireland) reporting
Under International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland)  
(“ISAs (UK & Ireland)”) we are required to report to you if, in  
our opinion, information in the Annual Report is:

•  materially inconsistent with the information in the audited 

financial statements; or

•  apparently materially incorrect based on, or materially 

inconsistent with, our knowledge of the company acquired  
in the course of performing our audit; or

•  otherwise misleading.

We have no exceptions to report arising from this responsibility.

Adequacy of accounting records and information and 
explanations received
Under the Companies Act 2006, we are required to report to  
you if, in our opinion:

•  we have not received all the information and explanations we 

require for our audit; or

•  adequate accounting records have not been kept by the parent 

company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been 
received from branches not visited by us; or

•  the financial statements and the part of the Directors’ 

Remuneration Report to be audited are not in agreement with  
the accounting records and returns.

We have no exceptions to report arising from this responsibility.

Directors’ remuneration
Directors’ Remuneration report – Companies Act 2006 opinion
In our opinion, the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to  
be audited has been properly prepared in accordance with the 
Companies Act 2006.

Other Companies Act 2006 reporting
Under the Companies Act 2006, we are required to report to you  
if, in our opinion, certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration 
specified by law are not made. We have no exceptions to report 
arising from this responsibility.

Responsibilities for the financial statements 
and the audit
Our responsibilities and those of the directors
As explained more fully in the Directors’ statement of 
responsibilities set out on page 211, the directors are responsible 
for the preparation of the financial statements and for being 
satisfied that they give a true and fair view.

Our responsibility is to audit and express an opinion on the 
financial statements in accordance with applicable law and ISAs 
(UK & Ireland). Those standards require us to comply with the 
Auditing Practices Board’s Ethical Standards for Auditors.

This report, including the opinions, has been prepared for and only 
for the company’s members as a body in accordance with Chapter 
3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and for no other purpose. 
We do not, in giving these opinions, accept or assume 
responsibility for any other purpose or to any other person to whom 
this report is shown or into whose hands it may come save where 
expressly agreed by our prior consent in writing.

What an audit of financial statements involves
We conducted our audit in accordance with ISAs (UK & Ireland). An 
audit involves obtaining evidence about the amounts and disclosures 
in the financial statements sufficient to give reasonable assurance 
that the financial statements are free from material misstatement, 
whether caused by fraud or error. This includes an assessment of: 

•  whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the parent 
company’s circumstances and have been consistently applied 
and adequately disclosed;

•  the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made  

by the directors; and 

•   the overall presentation of the financial statements. 

We primarily focus our work in these areas by assessing the directors’ 
judgements against available evidence, forming our own judgements, 
and evaluating the disclosures in the financial statements.

We test and examine information, using sampling and other 
auditing techniques, to the extent we consider necessary to 
provide a reasonable basis for us to draw conclusions. We obtain 
audit evidence through testing the effectiveness of controls, 
substantive procedures or a combination of both. 

In addition, we read all the financial and non-financial information  
in the Annual Report to identify material inconsistencies with the 
audited financial statements and to identify any information that is 
apparently materially incorrect based on, or materially inconsistent 
with, the knowledge acquired by us in the course of performing the 
audit. If we become aware of any apparent material misstatements 
or inconsistencies we consider the implications for our report.

Other matter 

We have reported separately on the Group financial statements of 
GlaxoSmithKline plc for the year ended 31 December 2015.

The company has passed a resolution in accordance with section 
506 of the Companies Act 2006 that the senior statutory auditor’s 
name should not be stated.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors
London
16 March 2016

212  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
Company balance sheet – UK GAAP (including FRS 101 ‘Reduced Disclosure Framework’) 
at 31 December 2015

Fixed assets – investments

Current assets:
Trade and other receivables
Cash at bank
Total current assets

Trade and other payables
Net current assets

Total assets less current liabilities
Provisions
Other non-current liabilities
Net assets

Capital and reserves
Called up share capital
Share premium account
Other reserves
Retained earnings

Equity shareholders’ funds

Notes
F

2015 
£m
20,096

2014 
£m
19,691

G

H

I
J

K
K

L

6,635
2
6,637

(671)
5,966

26,062
(40)
(398)
25,624

1,340
2,831
1,420
20,033

25,624

10,900
2
10,902

(1,799)
9,103

28,794
(25)
–
28,769

1,339
2,759
1,420
23,251

28,769

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The financial statements on pages 213 to 216 were approved by the Board on 16 March 2016 and signed on its behalf by

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Chairman

GlaxoSmithKline plc 
Registered number: 3888792

Company statement of changes in equity

At 1 January 2014
Profit attributable to shareholders
Dividends to shareholders
Shares issued under employee share schemes
Shares purchased and held as Treasury shares
Treasury shares transferred to the ESOT held by a subsidiary company
At 31 December 2014
Profit attributable to shareholders
Dividends to shareholders
Shares issued under employee share schemes
At 31 December 2015

Share 
capital 
£m
1,336
–
–
3
–
–
1,339
–
–
1
1,340

Share 
premium 
account 
£m
2,595
–
–
164
–
–
2,759
–
–
72
2,831

Other 
reserves 
£m
1,420
–
–
–
–
–
1,420
–
–
–
1,420

Retained 
earnings 
£m
17,179
10,003
(3,843)
–
(238)
150
23,251
656
(3,874)
–
20,033

Total 
£m
22,530
10,003
(3,843)
167
(238)
150
28,769
656
(3,874)
73
25,624

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GSK Annual Report 2015  213

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Notes to the company balance sheet –  
UK GAAP (including FRS 101 ‘Reduced 
Disclosure Framework’)
A) Presentation of the financial statements

Description of business
GlaxoSmithKline plc is the parent company of GSK, a major global 
healthcare group which is engaged in the creation and discovery, 
development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceutical 
products, including vaccines, over-the-counter (OTC) medicines  
and health-related consumer products.

Preparation of financial statements
The financial statements, which are prepared using the historical 
cost convention and on a going concern basis, are prepared in 
accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 101 ‘Reduced 
Disclosure Framework’ and with UK accounting presentation as at 
31 December 2015, with comparative figures as at 31 December 
2014. There were no comparative figures that required changing 
as a result of the current year adoption of FRS101.

As permitted by section 408 of the Companies Act 2006, the 
income statement of the company is not presented in this Annual 
Report.

The company is included in the Group financial statements of 
GlaxoSmithKline plc, which are publicly available. 

The following exemptions from the requirements of IFRS have  
been applied in the preparation of these financial statements,  
in accordance with FRS 101:

•  Paragraphs 45(b) and 46 to 52 of IFRS 2, ‘Share-based 

payment’

•  IFRS 7, ‘Financial Instruments - Disclosures’
•  Paragraphs 91-99 of IFRS 13, ‘Fair value measurement’
•  Paragraph 38 of IAS 1, ‘Presentation of financial statements’ 

comparative information requirements in respect of  
paragraph 79(a) (iv) of IAS 1

•  Paragraphs 10(d), 10(f), 16, 38(A), 38 (B to D), 40 (A to D),  

111 and 134 to 136 of IAS 1, ‘Presentation of financial 
statements’

•  IAS 7, ‘Statement of cash flows’
•  Paragraph 30 and 31 of IAS 8, ‘Accounting policies, changes  

in accounting estimates and errors’

•  Paragraph 17 of IAS 24, ‘Related party disclosures’ and 

the further requirement in IAS 24 to disclose related party 
transactions entered into between two or more members of  
a Group.

Accounting convention and standards
The balance sheet has been prepared using the historical  
cost convention and complies with applicable UK accounting 
standards.

Accounting principles and policies
The preparation of the balance sheet in conformity with generally 
accepted accounting principles requires management to make 
estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of 
assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and 
liabilities at the date of the balance sheet. Actual amounts could  
differ from those estimates.

The balance sheet has been prepared in accordance with the 
company’s accounting policies approved by the Board and 
described in Note B.

B) Accounting policies

Foreign currency transactions
 Foreign currency transactions are recorded at the exchange rate 
ruling on the date of transaction. Foreign currency assets and 
liabilities are translated at rates of exchange ruling at the balance 
sheet date.

Dividends paid and received
Dividends paid and received are included in the financial 
statements in the period in which the related dividends are  
actually paid or received.

Expenditure
Expenditure is recognised in respect of goods and services 
received when supplied in accordance with contractual terms. 
Provision is made when an obligation exists for a future liability  
in respect of a past event and where the amount of the obligation 
can be reliably estimated.

Investments in subsidiary companies
Investments in subsidiary companies are held at cost less any 
provision for impairment.

Impairment of investments
The carrying value of investments are reviewed for impairment  
when there is an indication that the investment might be impaired. 
Any provision resulting from an impairment review is charged to  
the income statement in the year concerned.

Share based payments
The issuance by the company to its subsidiaries of a grant over  
the company’s shares, represents additional capital contributions  
by the company in its subsidiaries. An additional investment in 
subsidiaries results in a corresponding increase in shareholders’ 
equity. The additional capital contribution is based on the fair value 
of the grant issued, allocated over the underlying grant’s vesting 
period.

Taxation
Current tax is provided at the amounts expected to be paid 
applying tax rates that have been enacted or substantively  
enacted by the balance sheet date.

Deferred tax is provided in full, using the liability method, on 
temporary differences arising between the tax bases of assets and 
liabilities and their carrying amounts in the financial statements. 
Deferred tax assets are only recognised to the extent that they are 
considered recoverable against future taxable profits.

Deferred tax is measured at the average tax rates that are expected  
to apply in the periods in which the temporary differences are 
expected to be realised or settled. Deferred tax liabilities and 
assets are not discounted.

Financial guarantees
Liabilities relating to guarantees issued by the company on behalf 
of its subsidiaries are initially recognised at fair value and 
amortised over the life of the guarantee.

Legal and other disputes
The company provides for anticipated settlement costs where  
an outflow of resources is considered probable and a reliable 
estimate may be made of the likely outcome of the dispute and 
legal and other expenses arising from claims against the company. 
At 31 December 2015 provisions for legal and other disputes 
amounted to £40 million (2014 – £25 million).

214  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the company balance sheet – UK GAAP (including FRS 101 ‘Reduced Disclosure 
Framework’) continued

C) Key accounting judgements and estimates

Legal and other disputes
The company provides for anticipated settlement costs where  
an outflow of resources is considered probable and a reliable 
estimate may be made of the likely outcome of the dispute and 
legal and other expenses arising from claims against the company.  
These estimates take into account the specific circumstances  
of each dispute and relevant external advice, are inherently 
judgmental and could change substantially over time as new facts 
emerge and each dispute progresses.

The company’s Directors, having taken legal advice, have 
established provisions after taking into account the relevant facts 
and circumstances of each matter and in accordance with 
accounting requirements. At 31 December 2015 provisions for 
legal and other disputes amounted to £40 million (2014 –  
£25 million).

The ultimate liability for legal claims may vary from the amounts 
provided and is dependent upon the outcome of litigation 
proceedings, investigations and possible settlement negotiations. 
The position could change over time and, therefore, there can be no 
assurance that any losses that result from the outcome of any legal 
proceedings will not exceed the amount of the provisions reported 
in the company’s financial statements by a material amount.

Contingent consideration
Any contingent consideration included in the consideration 
payable for a business combination is recorded at fair value at  
the date of acquisition.  These fair values are generally based  
on risk-adjusted future cash flows discounted using appropriate 
interest rates.  At 31 December 2015, the liability for contingent 
consideration amounted to £405 million on the acquisition of the 
Vaccines business from Novartis in 2015.

The assumptions relating to future cash flows and discount rates 
are based on business forecasts and are therefore inherently 
judgemental. Future events could cause the assumptions used  
in these projections to change with a consequent adverse effect 
on the future results of the company.

D)  Operating profit

A fee of £12,053 (2014 – £11,523) relating to the audit of the 
company has been charged in operating profit. 

E)  Dividends

The directors declared four interim dividends resulting in a 
dividend for the year of 80 pence, in line with the dividend for 
2014. A special dividend of 20 pence has also been declared in 
the year. For further details, see Note 16 to the Group financial 
statements, ‘Dividends’. 

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F) Fixed assets – investments

Shares in GlaxoSmithKline Services Unlimited
Shares in GlaxoSmithKline Holdings (One) Limited
Shares in GlaxoSmithKline Holdings Limited
Shares in GlaxoSmithKline Mercury Limited

Capital contribution relating to share based payments
Contribution relating to contingent consideration

G) Trade and other receivables

Amounts due within one year:
UK Corporation tax recoverable
Other receivables
Deferred tax recoverable
Amounts owed by Group undertakings

Amounts due after more than one year:
Amounts due by Group undertakings

2015 
£m
613
18
17,888
33
18,552
1,139
405
20,096

2014 
£m

613
18
17,888
33
18,552
1,139
–
19,691

2015 
£m

2014 
£m

201
41
–
5,977
6,219

416
6,635

205
3
205
10,055
10,468

432
10,900

The deferred tax balance of £205 million reported in 2014 and reversed in 2015 arose as a result of the recognition of a deferred tax 
asset on tax losses expected to be used following completion of the Novartis transaction on 2 March 2015.

GSK Annual Report 2015  215

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Notes to the company balance sheet – UK GAAP (including FRS 101 ‘Reduced Disclosure 
Framework’) continued

H) Trade and other payables

Amounts due within one year:
Other creditors
Contingent consideration payable
Amounts owed to Group undertakings

2015 
£m

478
7
186
671

2014 
£m

497
–
1,302
1,799

The company has guaranteed debt issued by its subsidiary companies from one of which it receives an annual fee. In aggregate, the 
company has outstanding guarantees over £16.1 billion of debt instruments. The amounts due from the subsidiary company in relation  
to these guarantee fees will be recovered over the life of the bonds and are disclosed within ‘Trade and other receivables’ (see Note G). 

I) Provisions

At 1 January
Charge for the year
Utilised
Other movements
At 31 December

The provisions relate to a number of legal and other disputes in which the company is currently involved.

J) Other non-current liabilities

Contingent consideration payable

2015 
£m
25
139
(127)
3
40

2015 
£m
398
398

2014 
£m
–
148
(138)
15
25

2014 
£m
–
–

The contingent consideration relates to the amount payable for the acquisition in 2015 of the Novartis Vaccines portfolio. The current 
year liability is included within ‘Trade and other payables’.

K) Called up share capital and share premium account

Share capital authorised
At 31 December 2014
At 31 December 2015
Share capital issued and fully paid
At 1 January 2014
Issued under employee share schemes
At 31 December 2014
Issued under employee share schemes
At 31 December 2015

Number of shares issuable under outstanding options
Number of unissued shares not under option

Ordinary Shares of 25p each

Number

£m

Share 
premium 
account 
£m

10,000,000,000
10,000,000,000

5,342,206,696
13,090,536
5,355,297,232
6,010,415
5,361,307,647

31 December 
2015 
000
99,833
4,538,859

2,500
2,500

1,336
3
1,339
1
1,340

2,595
164
2,759
72
2,831

31 December 
2014 
000 
88,801
4,555,902

At 31 December 2015, of the issued share capital, 29,801,412 shares were held in the ESOP Trusts, 491,515,950 shares were held as 
Treasury shares and 4,839,990,285 shares were in free issue. All issued shares are fully paid. The nominal, carrying and market values  
of the shares held in the ESOP Trusts are disclosed in Note 42, ‘Employee share schemes’.

L) Reserves
The profit of GlaxoSmithKline plc for the year was £656 million (2014 – £10,003 million), which after dividends of £3,874 million  
(2014 – £3,843 million), gave a retained loss of £3,218 million (2014 – £6,160 million profit). No Treasury shares were purchased in  
the year (2014 – £238 million) and no Treasury shares were transferred to a subsidiary (2014 – £150 million). At 31 December 2015,  
the retained earnings stood at £20,033 million (2014 – £23,251 million), of which £4,096 million was unrealised (2014 – £4,096 million).

M) Group companies
See pages 250 to 258 for a complete list of subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures, which form part of these financial statements.

216  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
Investor
information

In this section

Quarterly trend  
218
Pharmaceuticals and Vaccines turnover  220
222
Five year record  
Product development pipeline  
225
Products, competition and 
intellectual property  
Risk factors  
Share capital and share price  
Dividends  
Financial calendar  
Annual General Meeting 2016  
Tax information for shareholders  
Shareholder services and contacts  
US law and regulation  
Group companies 
Glossary of terms  

228
231
241
243
243
243
244
246
248
250
259

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GSK Annual Report 2015  217

 
 
 
 
 
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Financial record

Quarterly trend

An unaudited analysis of the Group results is provided by quarter in Sterling for the financial year 2015.  

Income statement – total

Turnover – Pharmaceuticals
              – Vaccines
              – Consumer Healthcare 

              Corporate and other unallocated turnover
Total turnover
Cost of sales
Selling, general and administration 
Research and development 
Royalty income
Other operating income
Operating profit/(loss)
Net finance costs
Profit/(loss) on disposal of interest in associates
  and joint ventures
Share of after tax profits/(losses) of associates
  and joint ventures
Profit/(loss) before taxation
Taxation
Tax rate %
Profit/(loss) after taxation for the period
(Loss)/profit attributable to non-controlling interests
Profit/(loss) attributable to shareholders
Basic earnings/(loss) per share (pence)
Diluted earnings/(loss) per share (pence)

Income statement – core

Total turnover
Cost of sales
Selling, general and administration 
Research and development 
Royalty income
Operating profit
Net finance costs
Share of after tax (losses)/profits of associates
  and joint ventures
Profit before taxation
Taxation
Tax rate %
Profit after taxation for the period
Profit attributable to non-controlling interests
Profit attributable to shareholders
Adjusted earnings per share (pence)

12 months 2015

Reported Pro-forma

Q4 2015

Reported Pro-forma

CER%
(1)
3
6
1
(25)
1

CER%
(7)
19
44
6
(9)
6
24
13
2
8

£%
(8)
16
40
4
(17)
4
21
12
3
6

>100

>100

>100

>100

>100

>100

>100

>100

6
18
12
(2)
8
(9)

4
15
12
(1)
6
(13)

1
5
4
(5)
(4)
(3)

(10)

(15)

(10)

(15)

£m
14,166
3,657
6,028
23,851
72
23,923
(8,853)
(9,232)
(3,560)
329
7,715
10,322
(653)

843

14
10,526
(2,154)

20.5%

8,372
(50)
8,422
174.3
172.3

23,923
(7,520)
(7,907)
(3,096)
329
5,729
(636)

(2)
5,091
(993)
19.5%

4,098
440
3,658

75.7p

(15)

(21)

CER%
(1)
(1)
5
–
>(100)
–

CER%
(9)
20
47
5

£%
(11)
15
41
2
>(100) >(100)
2
25
13
8
36

4
29
15
9
39

>(100) >(100)

>(100) >(100)

>(100) >(100)

£m
3,763
963
1,562
6,288
(2)
6,286
(2,541)
(2,498)
(1,054)
91
(538)
(254)
(158)

1

(5)
(416)
(12)
(2.9)%
(428)
(74)
(354)

(7.3)p >(100) >(100)
(7.3)p

6,286
(2,066)
(2,108)
(846)
91
1,357
(154)

(5)
1,198
(215)
17.9%
983
109
874
18.1p

4
18
15
3
39
(18)

2
15
13
3
36
(23)

–
3
5
(1)
39
(10)

(20)

(26)

(22)

(28)

(28)

(34)

The calculation of core results is described on page 54.

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Q3 2015

Reported Pro-forma

Q2 2015

Reported Pro-forma

Q1 2015

Reported Pro-forma

CER%
(1)
13
7
5
10
5

CER%
(7)
32
55
11
27
11
24
(1)
1
–

£%
(8)
30
48
8
15
9
21
(2)
3
(2)

53

46

69

58

80

68

45

32

11
22
26
(3)
–
(5)

9
18
25
(2)
(2)
(9)

5
6
13
(6)
(11)
–

(5)

(10)

(5)

(10)

£m
3,340
1,181
1,576
6,097
30
6,127
(2,204)
(1,968)
(827)
99
(202)
1,025
(154)

(2)

(2)
867
(220)
25.4%
647
109
538
11.1p
11.0p

6,127
(1,936)
(1,842)
(730)
99
1,718
(148)

(2)
1,568
(314)
20.0%

1,254
141
1,113

23.0p

(13)

(18)

£m
3,540
814
1,509
5,863
25
5,888
(2,005)
(2,541)
(812)
62
(257)
335
(182)

1

(2)
152
(37)
24.3%
115
(34)
149
3.1p
3.1p

5,888
(1,779)
(2,091)
(731)
62
1,349
(178)

(2)
1,169
(233)
20.0%
936
99
837
17.3p

CER%
2
(5)
6
2
87
2

CER%
(6)
11
51
7
87
7
19
21
(2)
(14)

£%
(6)
7
48
6
67
6
16
24
–
(14)

(61)

(71)

(73)

(85)

(70)

(84)

(63)

(77)

7
18
7
(6)
(14)
3

1

4

–

6
16
9
(5)
(14)
(4)

(7)

(5)

(9)

2
3
(2)
(10)
(33)
14

£m
3,523
699
1,381
5,603
19
5,622
(2,103)
(2,225)
(867)
77
8,712
9,216
(159)

843

23
9,923
(1,885)

19.0%

8,038
(51)
8,089
167.8p
166.4p

5,622
(1,739)
(1,866)
(789)
77
1,305
(156)

7
1,156
(231)
20.0%
925
91
834
17.3p

CER%
(5)
3
8
(1)
(19)
(1)

CER%
(7)
10
24
1
(9)
1
23
14
(2)
13

£%
(8)
7
23
–
(17)
–
21
13
1
10

>100

>100

>100

>100

>100

>100

>100

>100

1
13
4
(2)
13
(14)

–
12
3
1
10
(15)

(1)
8
1
(4)
5
(12)

(14)

(16)

(12)

(13)

(16)

(18)

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continued

Pharmaceuticals turnover by therapeutic area 2015

Therapeutic area/major products

£m

£m CER%

2014
2015 (restated)

Total

Growth
£%

US

2015

£m CER%

Growth
£%

2015

£m CER%

Europe

Growth
£%

International

2015

£m CER%

Growth
£%

Respiratory
Anoro Ellipta
Avamys/Veramyst
Flixotide/Flovent
Relvar/Breo Ellipta
Seretide/Advair
Ventolin
Other

Cardiovascular, metabolic and  
urology (CVMU)
Avodart
Other

Immuno-inflammation
Benlysta
Other

Oncology

Other pharmaceuticals
Dermatology
Augmentin
Other anti-bacterials
Rare diseases
Other

Innovative Pharmaceuticals

Established Products
Coreg
Hepsera
Imigran/Imitrex
Lamictal
Lovaza
Requip
Serevent
Seroxat/Paxil
Valtrex
Zeffix
Other

5,741
79
229
623
257
3,681
620
252

858
657
201

263
230
33

255

2,199
412
528
184
371
704

9,316

2,528
123
63
160
531
93
93
93
165
165
134
908

6,168
17
238
702
67
4,229
665
250

965
805
160

214
173
41

1,202

2,390
470
573
215
417
715

10,939

3,011
124
85
172
531
240
109
108
210
154
166
1,112

Global Pharmaceuticals

11,844

13,950

HIV
Combivir
Epzicom/Kivexa
Lexiva/Telzir
Selzentry
Tivicay
Triumeq
Trizivir
Other

2,322
34
698
65
124
588
730
26
57

1,498
59
768
87
136
282
57
36
73

(7)

(7)
>100  >100 
(4)
(11)
>100  >100 

3 
(12)

2,750 

(10)
(3)
56  >100  >100 
(19)
(26)
25 
379 
(13)
(19)
108  >100  >100 
(6)
(13)
(15)
(8)
13  >100  >100 

(13) 1,865 
304 

(7)
1 

(9)

4 
(1)

(15)
>100  >100 
(4)
(10)
>100  >100
(24)
(6)
7 

(18)
1 
11 

1,415
16
66
92
80
1,014
117
30

260
254
6

15
15
–

70

596
138
170
51
122
115

(14)
(36)
38 

23 
34 
(20)

(82)

9 
(16)
(100)
– 
(30)
92 

(12)

2,356

(25)
(1)
– 
(8)
5 
(61)
(29)
– 
– 
(23)
(33)
(60)

493
–
1
56
96
–
29
36
35
24
7
209

(14)

2,849

1,576
7
138
152
69
802
199
209

284
237
47

6
6
–

93

1,415
233
358
127
202
495

3,374

1,388
–
62
28
169
–
59
14
143
121
125
667

(11)
(9)
(54)

25 
25 
– 
(83)

(10)
(8)
(10)
(16)
(9)
(9)

(23)

(18)
– 
– 
(8)
(9)
– 
(26)
(25)
(19)
(11)
(13)
(22)

– 

9 
1 

(5)
>100  >100 
– 
(6)
>100  >100 
(12)
(6)
(5)

(8)
– 
– 

– 
(4)
23 

20 
20 
– 
(65)

(6)
(12)
(2)
(12)
(1)
(6)

(7)

(8)
– 
(28)
4 
3 
– 
– 
(12)
(10)
30 
(23)
(11)

(7)

(7)
(11)
21 

20 
20 
– 
(66)

(9)
(14)
(7)
(14)
(6)
(9)

(11)

(10)
– 
(27)
– 
(1)
– 
(6)
(18)
(14)
21 
(19)
(13)

(11)

(3)
(1)
(46)

42 
42 
– 
(82)

(2)
(1)
(2)
(8)
(1)
1 

(16)

(11)
– 
– 
– 
(2)
– 
(23)
(21)
(12)
(4)
(13)
(16)

(16)

(13)
(7)
6 

(9)
(15)
21 

16 
25 
(24)

(79)

(4)
(9)
(2)
(11)
(6)
1 

(14)

(15)
(8)
(27)
(5)
(1)
(64)
(10)
(14)
(16)
14 
(22)
(16)

(14)

(11)
(18)
26 

23 
33 
(20)

(79)

(8)
(12)
(8)
(14)
(11)
(2 )

(15)

(16)
(1)
(26)
(7)
– 
(61)
(15)
(14)
(21)
8 
(19)
(18)

314 
166 
148 

242 
209 
33 

92

188 
41 
– 
6 
47 
94 

3,586

647 
123 
– 
76 
266 
93 
5 
43 
(13)
20 
2 
32 

(15)

4,233

(20)
(41)
28 

14 
24 
(24)

(83)

2 
(20)
(100)
– 
(33)
76 

(18)

(30)
(8)
– 
(11)
(3)
(64)
(29)
(7)
–
(27)
(33)
(63)

(20)

(22)

4,762

54 
(42)
(7)
(25)
(8)

55 
(42)
(9)
(25)
(9)
>100  >100 
>100  >100 
(28)
(22)

(28)
(19)

91 
77 
1,301 
(11)
(17)
10 
(7)
(14)
258 
40 
(15)
(21)
9 
2 
60 
389 
93 
79 
510  >100  >100 
(15)
(21)
(24)
(27)

9 
25 

716
9
304
12
48
147
176
14
6

46 
(46)
(1)
(32)
(10)

34
(51)
(9)
(39)
(18)
>100  >100
>100  >100
(35)
(45)

(29)
(36)

305
15
136
13
16
52
44
3
26

15 
(50)
(5)
(27)
(26)

8
(49)
(12)
(36)
(30)
>100  >100
>100  >100
11
(7)

(43)
– 

Pharmaceuticals

14,166

15,448

(7)

(8)

5,534

(8)

(1)

3,565

(8)

(15)

5,067

(6)

(10)

Vaccines turnover 2015

Major products
Bexsero
Boostrix
Cervarix
Fluarix, FluLaval
Hepatitis
Infanrix, Pediarix
Menveo
Rabipur/RabAvert
Rotarix
Synflorix
Other

Vaccines

2014
2015 (restated)

£m
115
358
88
268
540
733
160
61
417
381
536

£m CER%
– 
12 
(20)
21 
(4)
(9)
–
–
14 
5 
65 

–
317
118
215
558
828
–
–
376
398
349

Total

Growth
£%
– 
13 
(25)
25 
(3)
(11)
–
–
11 
(4)
52 

US

2015

Growth
£%
£m CER%
– 
– 
17 
27 
18 
209 
(50)
(50)
3 
38 
28 
197 
16 
7 
273 
(10)
(17)
269 
–
–
99 
–
–
28 
58 
47 
139 
– 
– 
– 
24  >100  >100 

Europe

Growth
£%
– 
13 
(23)
5 
(17)
(10)
–
–
(4)
(3)
44 

2015

£m CER%
– 
86
23 
88
(15)
37
14 
23
(11)
154
(2)
332
–
36
–
17
3 
64
8 
39
56 
221

International

2015

£m CER%
– 
12
(12)
61
(21)
48
48
2 
(12)
113
(9)
132
–
25
–
16
4 
214
342
4 
64 
291

Growth
£%
– 
(19)
(24)
(2)
(16)
(17)
–
–
(3)
(4)
48

3,657

3,159

19

16

1,258

24

34

1,097

23

14

1,302

12

4

CER% represents growth at constant exchange rates. £% represents growth at actual exchange rates.  

220  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
Pharmaceuticals turnover by therapeutic area 2014

Total

US

Europe

International

Therapeutic area/major products

£m

£m CER%

£%

£m CER%

£%

£m CER%

£m CER%

2014

2013
(restated)  (restated)

2014
Growth (restated) 

2014
Growth (restated) 

2014
Growth (restated) 

Respiratory
Avamys/Veramyst
Flixotide/Flovent
Relvar/Breo Ellipta
Seretide/Advair
Ventolin
Other

Cardiovascular, metabolic and  
urology (CVMU)
Avodart
Other

Immuno-inflammation
Benlysta
Other

Oncology

Other pharmaceuticals
Dermatology
Augmentin
Other anti-bacterials
Rare diseases
Other

6,168
238
702
67
4,229
665
267

965
805
160

214
173
41

1,202

2,390
470
573
215
417
715

Innovative Pharmaceuticals

10,939

12,114

Established Products
Coreg
Hepsera
Imigran/Imitrex
Lamictal
Lovaza
Requip
Serevent
Seroxat/Paxil
Valtrex
Zeffix
Other

3,011
124
85
172
531
240
109
108
210
154
166
1,112

3,869 
131 
96 
188 
557 
584 
125 
129 
285 
224 
182 
1,368 

Global Pharmaceuticals

13,950

15,983

7,259 
249 
796 

5,274 
642 
290 

(9)
(15)
5 
(4)
(12)
(6)
8  >100  >100
(20)
(15)
4
11 
(8)
2

1,073 
857 
216 

(3)
1 
(21)

(10)
(6)
(26)

161 
146 

40 
33
18
25 
15  >100  >100

969 

2,652 
609 
630 
224 
495 
694 

33 

(2)
(17)
(2)
3 
(8)
15 

(3 )

(16)
(1)
(5)
(4)
3 
(57)
(4)
(12)
(19)
(24)
(3)
(12)

(6)

24

(10)
(23)
(9)
(4)
(16)
4

(10)

(22)
(5)
(11)
(9)
(5)
(59)
(13)
(16)
(26)
(31)
(9)
(19)

(13)

HIV
Combivir
Epzicom/Kivexa
Lexiva/Telzir
Selzentry
Tivicay
Trizivir
Other

1,498
59
768
87
136
282
36
130

1,386 
116 
763 
113 
143 

8
15 
(49)
(46)
1
8 
(23)
(17)
(5)
– 
19  >100  >100
(63)
(61)
97 
(4)
5 
135 

2,830
31
437
29
1,987
330
16

366
259
107

197
156
41

512

172
49
1
6
67
49

4,077 

860
124
–
83
254
240
7
43
–
26
3
80

4,937

680
11
278
47
55
202
11
76

(18)
(22)
(5)

(22)
(26)
(10)
>100  >100
(29)
13
>100  >100

(25)
18 

(16)
(13)
(23)

(20)
(17)
(26)

39 
22 

32
16
>100  >100

41 

(31)
(56)
– 
(14)
(38)
>100 

(12)

(31)
(1)
– 
5 
(4)
(57)
– 
(12)
– 
(40)
(79)
(28)

(16)

34

(34)
(57)
–
(14)
(41)
93

(16)

(34)
(6)
–
4
(9)
(59)
–
(16)
–
(42)
(79)
(31)

(20)

27 
(66)
8 
(24)
(4)

21
(68)
2
(27)
(8)
>100  >100
(82)
48

(81)
55 

1,673
69
102
18
1,330
124
30

293
280
13

12
12
–

417

660
150
189
61
134
126

3,055

601
–
–
61
106
–
39
48
43
27
8
269

3,656

534
18
335
20
58
56
22
25

£%

(7)
–
(13)
–
(9)
(2)
3

(5)
3
(63)

50
50
–

23

(8)
(12)
(7)
(8)
4
(17)

(4)

(16)
–
–
(3)
(4)
–
(25)
(13)
(19)
(7)
(33)
(22)

1,665
138
163
20
912
211
221

306
266
40

5
5
–

273

1,558
271
383
148
216
540

3,807

1,550
–
85
28
171
–
63
17
167
101
155
763

Growth
£%

(10)
–
(15)
>100
(12)
(5)
(15)

–
(2)
11

24
24
–

10

(6)
(16)
(10)
(2)
(15)
6

(6)

(16)
–
(12)
(37)
1
–
(7)
(25)
(28)
(32)
(1)
(16)

(9)

1
13
(5)
>100
(1)
6
(4)

12
10
27

22
22
–

26

4
(8)
(2)
6
(3)
19

5

(7)
–
(6)
(28)
14
–
6
(16)
(20)
(23)
5
(8)

1

(3)
4 
(9)
– 
(5)
2 
10 

– 
8 
(63)

63 
63 
– 

29 

(4)
(8)
(2)
(3)
9 
(12)

– 

(13)
– 
– 
2 
1 
– 
(19)
(9)
(15)
(3)
(25)
(19)

(2)

(6)

5,357

6 
(52)
7 
(25)
(3)

2
(54)
2
(28)
(7)
>100  >100
(31)
(32)

(28)
(30)

284
30
155
20
23
24
3
29

9
(22)
9
14
19
>100
(38)
(25)

(5)
(28)
(5)
(3)
11
>100
(45)
(40)

Pharmaceuticals

15,448

17,369

(5)

(11)

5,617

(12)

(17)

4,190

(1)

(5)

5,641

1

(9)

Vaccines turnover 2014

Major products
Boostrix
Cervarix
Fluarix, FluLaval
Hepatitis
Infanrix, Pediarix
Rotarix
Synflorix
Other

Vaccines

2013
2014 (restated)

£m
317
118
215
558
828
376
398
349

£m CER%
16 
288 
(26)
172 
(9)
251 
(6)
629 
2 
862 
7 
375 
4 
405 
(7)
402 

Total

Growth
£%
10
(31)
(14)
(11)
(4)
–
(2)
(13)

US

2014

Growth
£%
(11)
(14)
(4)
(11)
9
(20)
–
>100  >100

£m CER%
(6)
164
(14)
6
1 
143
(6)
236
15 
300
(15)
88
– 
–
3

Europe

Growth
£%
20
(21)
(37)
(6)
(7)
14
(17)
(10)

International

2014

£m CER%
>100
75
(32)
64
(19)
50
(10)
136
(7)
159
221
16
6
358
(9)
192

Growth
£%
92
(38)
(26)
(18)
(16)
7
0
17

2014

£m CER%
26 
78
(16)
48
(34)
22
(2)
186
(3)
369
19 
67
(13)
40
(6)
154

3,159

3,384

(1)

(7)

940

–

(5)

964

(2)

(7)

1,255

–

(8)

CER% represents growth at constant exchange rates. £% represents growth at actual exchange rates.  

GSK Annual Report 2015  221

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Financial record
continued

Five year record
A record of financial performance is provided, analysed in accordance with current reporting practice. The information included in the 
Five year record is prepared in accordance with IFRS as adopted by the European Union and also with IFRS as issued by the 
International Accounting Standards Board. 

With effect from 1 January 2015, GSK has reported turnover under four segments: Global Pharmaceuticals, HIV, Vaccines and 
Consumer Healthcare. Comparative turnover information in all four years has been restated accordingly. Comparative information has 
also been restated to reflect the current breakdown of the group by geographic region.

Comparative information for 2012 and 2013 is also reported including the effect of the divestments completed in 2013. The 2011 
information is reported excluding the effects of these divestments.

Group turnover by geographic region
US
Europe
International

Divestments
Total turnover including divestments

Group turnover by segment
Global Pharmaceuticals
HIV
Pharmaceuticals
Vaccines
Consumer Healthcare
Segment turnover
Corporate and other unallocated turnover

Divestments completed in 2013

Pharmaceuticals turnover by therapeutic area
Respiratory
Cardiovascular, Metabolic and urogenital
Immuno-inflammation
Oncology
Other pharmaceuticals
Established Products
Global Pharmaceuticals
HIV
Pharmaceuticals

2015 
£m
8,222
6,450
9,251
23,923
–
23,923

11,844
2,322
14,166
3,657
6,028
23,851
72
23,923
–
23,923

5,741
858
263
255
2,199
2,528
11,844
2,322
14,166

2014 
)
(restated 
£m
7,409
6,292
9,305
23,006
–
23,006

13,950
1,498
15,448
3,159
4,312
22,919
87
23,006
–
23,006

6,168
965
214
1,202
2,390
3,011
13,950
1,498
15,448

2013 
)
(restated 
£m
8,695
6,681
10,226
25,602
903
26,505

15,983
1,386
17,369
3,384
4,703
25,456
146
25,602
903
26,505

7,259
1,073
161 
969 
2,652
3,869
15,983
1,386
17,369

2012 
)
(restated 
£m
8,330
6,675
10,478
25,483
948
26,431

15,984
1,374
17,358
3,296
4,722
25,376
107
25,483
948
26,431

7,016
1,144
70
798
2,605
4,351
15,984
1,374
17,358

2011 
)
(restated 
£m
8,696 
8,276
10,415 
27,387 
–
27,387

16,856
1,569
18,425
3,469
5,403 
27,297
90
27,387 
–
27,387

6,993
1,108
15 
683 
2,732
5,325
16,856
1,569
18,425 

Vaccine turnover

3,657

3,159

3,384 

3,296

3,469

Consumer Healthcare turnover
Wellness
Oral care
Nutrition
Skin health

2,970
1,866
684
508
6,028

1,565
1,797
633
317
4,312

1,807 
1,884
627
 385 
4,703

1,941
1,806
590
385
4,722

2,267
1,722 
1,025 
389 
5,403 

222  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
Five year record continued

Financial results – total
Turnover
Operating profit
Profit before taxation
Profit after taxation

Basic earnings per share

Diluted earnings per share

Weighted average number of shares in issue:
   Basic
   Diluted

Financial results – core
Turnover
Operating profit
Profit before taxation
Profit after taxation

Core earnings per share

Return on capital employed

2015 
£m
23,923
10,322
10,526
8,372

pence
174.3

172.3

2014 
£m
23,006
3,597
2,968
2,831

pence
57.3

56.7

2013 
£m
26,505
7,028
6,647
5,628

pence
112.5

110.5

2012 
£m
26,431
7,300
6,600
4,678

pence
91.6

90.2

2011 
£m
27,387
7,734
7,625
5,405

pence
103.6

102.1

2015 
millions

2014 
millions

2013 
millions

2012 
millions

2011 
millions

4,831
4,888

2015 
£m
23,923
5,729
5,091
4,098

pence
75.7p

% 
152.4

4,808
4,865

4,831
4,919

4,912
4,989 

5,028
5,099

2014 
£m
23,006
6,594
5,978
4,806

pence
95.4

% 
46.6

2013 
£m
25,602
7,771
7,122
5,487

pence
108.4

%
91.4

2012 
£m
25,483
7,974
7,279
5,511

pence
107.4

%
84.9

2011 
£m
27,387
8,730
8,038
5,954

pence
114.5

%
82.3

Return on capital employed is calculated as total profit before taxation as a percentage of average net assets over the year.

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Five year record continued

Balance sheet
Non-current assets
Current assets
Total assets

Current liabilities
Non-current liabilities
Total liabilities

Net assets

Shareholders’ equity
Non-controlling interests
Total equity

Number of employees

US
Europe
International

Manufacturing
Selling
Administration
Research and development

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2015 
£m
36,859
16,587
53,446

(13,417)
(31,151)
(44,568)

8,878

5,114
3,764
8,878

2015

14,696
43,538
43,021
101,255

38,855
39,549
11,140
11,711
101,255

2014 
£m
25,973
14,678
40,651

(13,295)
(22,420)
(35,715)

2013 
£m
26,859
15,227
42,086

(13,677)
(20,597)
(34,274)

2012 
£m
27,789
13,692
41,481

(13,815)
(20,929)
(34,744)

2011 
£m
24,921
16,167
41,088

(15,010)
(17,264)
(32,274)

4,936

7,812

6,737

8,814

4,263
673
4,936

2014

16,579
37,899
43,443
97,921

32,171
42,785
10,630
12,335
97,921

6,997
815
7,812

2013

16,530
38,367
44,554
99,451

31,502
45,397
10,232
12,320
99,451

5,800
937
6,737

2012

17,201
38,788
43,499
99,488

31,369
45,601
9,607
12,911
99,488

8,019
795
8,814

2011

16,707
38,696
41,986
97,389

30,664
45,155
8,883
12,687
97,389

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The geographic distribution of employees in the table above is based on the location of GSK’s subsidiary companies. The number of 
employees is the number of permanent employed staff at the end of the financial period. It excludes those employees who are employed 
and managed by GSK on a contract basis.

Exchange rates
As a guide to holders of ADS, the following tables set out, for the periods indicated, information on the exchange rate of US dollars for 
Sterling as reported by the Bank of England (4pm buying rate).

Average

2015

1.53

2014

1.65

2013

1.56

The average rate for the year is calculated as the average of the 4pm buying rates for each day of the year.

High
Low

2016
Mar
1.43
1.39

2016
Feb
1.46
1.39

2016 
Jan
1.47
1.41

2015 
Dec
1.52
1.47

2015
Nov
1.54
1.51

2012

1.59

2015
Oct
1.55
1.52

2011

1.60

2015 
Sep
1.56
1.51

The 4pm buying rate on 10 March 2016 was £1= US$1.43. 

224  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
Pipeline, products and competition

Pharmaceuticals and Vaccines product development pipeline  
Key
† 
^ 

In-licence or other alliance relationship with third party
 ViiV  Healthcare,  a  global  specialist  HIV  company  with  GSK, 
Pfizer, Inc. and Shionogi Limited as shareholders, is responsible 
for developing and delivering HIV medicines.
Also being developed for indications in another therapeutic area
Option-based alliance with Ionis Pharmaceuticals  
Option-based alliance with Adaptimmune Ltd. 
Option-based alliance with OncoMed Pharmaceuticals 
Option-based alliance with Telethon and Ospedale San Raffaele 
Option-based alliance with Valneva 

* 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 

Month of first submission
 Biological Licence Application
Marketing Authorisation Application (Europe) 
New Drug Application (US)

S 
BLA 
MAA 
NDA 
Phase I  Evaluation of clinical pharmacology, usually conducted in volunteers
Phase II   Determination of dose and initial evaluation of efficacy, conducted in a 

small number of patients

Phase III   Large comparative study (compound versus placebo and/or established 

treatment) in patients to establish clinical benefit and safety

MAA and NDA/BLA regulatory review milestones shown in the table below are those that have been achieved. Future filing dates are not included in this list.

glucocorticoid agonist + long-acting beta2
  agonist + muscarinic acetylcholine antagonist

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

III

Type

Compound
HIV^ and Infectious Diseases
dolutegravir +
  rilpivirine†
3684934
tafenoquine†
Relenza i.v.†
cabotegravir

HIV integrase inhibitor + non-nucleoside
  reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)
HIV attachment inhibitor
8-aminoquinoline
neuraminidase inhibitor (i.v.)
HIV integrase inhibitor (long-acting
  parenteral formulation)
HIV integrase inhibitor + non-nucleoside
  reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)
  (long-acting parenteral formulations)
type 2 topoisomerase inhibitor

chemokine (C-X-C Motif) receptor 2
  (CXCR2) antagonist
HIV maturation inhibitor
HIV maturation inhibitor
HBV antisense oligonucleotide
HBV LICA antisense oligonucleotide
nonstructural protein 5B (NS5B)
  polymerase inhibitor

interleukin 5 (IL5) monoclonal antibody
muscarinic acetylcholine antagonist, beta2
  agonist (MABA)
961081†
muscarinic acetylcholine antagonist, beta2
  + fluticasone furoate   agonist (MABA) + glucocorticoid agonist
2245035
2269557

toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) agonist
phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase delta (PI3K(cid:303)) 
  inhibitor
recombinant human angiotensin converting
   enzyme 2 (rhACE2)
tumour necrosis factor receptor-1 (TNFR1)
  domain antibody
chemokine (C-X-C Motif) receptor 2 (CXCR2)
  antagonist
glucocorticoid agonist + long-acting beta2
  agonist + muscarinic acetylcholine
  antagonist
p38 kinase inhibitor
interleukin 5 (IL5) monoclonal antibody
interleukin 5 (IL5) monoclonal antibody
interleukin 6 (IL6) human monoclonal antibody
alpha V beta 6 integrin antagonist

cabotegravir +
  rilpivirine†

gepotidacin
  (2140944)
danirixin

3532795
2838232
32288361
33894041
2878175

Respiratory
fluticasone furoate
  + vilanterol†
  + umeclidinium
mepolizumab
961081†

2586881†

2862277

danirixin

fluticasone furoate
  + vilanterol† 
  + umeclidinium
losmapimod
mepolizumab
mepolizumab
sirukumab†
3008348

Indication

Phase

MAA

Achieved regulatory  
review milestones
NDA/BLA

HIV infections – two drug maintenance regimen

HIV infections
Plasmodium vivax malaria
influenza
HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis

HIV infections

bacterial infections

influenza*

HIV infections
HIV infections
hepatitis B
hepatitis B
hepatitis C

III

III
III
III
II

II

II

II

II
I
I
I
I

COPD*
COPD

COPD

asthma
asthma and COPD

acute lung injury

acute lung injury

COPD*

asthma

COPD*
nasal polyposis*
hypereosinophilic syndrome*
severe asthma*
idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

III
II

II

II
II

II

II

II

II

II
II
II
II
I

GSK Annual Report 2015  225

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Type

Indication

Phase

MAA

Achieved regulatory  
review milestones
NDA/BLA

Pipeline, products and competition
continued

Pharmaceuticals and Vaccines product development pipeline continued

Immuno-inflammation
sirukumab†

Compound
Oncology
33777942

tarextumab3
brontictuzumab3
3174998†
2879552

2857916†

2849330

2816126

2636771

2256098
525762

sirukumab†

Benlysta

Benlysta

Benlysta

Benlysta + Rituxan†

3196165†

2330811
2618960

2646264

2831781†

2982772

3050002†

3117391†

3179106

NY-ESO-1 autologous engineered
  TCR-T cells (engineered TCR)
notch 2/3 monoclonal antibody
notch 1 monoclonal antibody
OX40 agonist monoclonal antibody
lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1)
  inhibitor
beta cell maturation antigen antibody
  drug conjugate
erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 3
  (ErbB3) monoclonal antibody
enhancer of zeste homologue2
  (EZH2) inhibitor
phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase
  (PI3K) beta inhibitor
focal adhesion kinase inhibitor 
BET family bromodomain inhibitor

sarcoma, multiple myeloma, non-small cell lung
  cancer, melanoma and ovarian cancer
small cell lung cancer
solid tumours and haematological malignancies
solid tumours and haematological malignancies
acute myeloid leukemia and small cell lung cancer

multiple myeloma

solid tumours

solid tumours and haematological malignancies

castration resistant prostate cancer

mesothelioma
solid tumours and haematological malignancies

systemic lupus erythematosus*

rheumatoid arthritis*

transplant rejection*

Sjogren's syndrome

vasculitis*

giant cell arteritis*

interleukin 6 (IL6) human monoclonal
  antibody
interleukin 6 (IL6) human monoclonal
  antibody
B lymphocyte stimulator monoclonal
  antibody (s.c.)
B lymphocyte stimulator monoclonal
  antibody (i.v.)
B lymphocyte stimulator monoclonal
  antibody (i.v.)
B lymphocyte stimulator monoclonal
  antibody (s.c.) + cluster of differentiation
  20 (CD20) monoclonal antibody (i.v.)
granulocyte macrophage colony-
  stimulating factor monoclonal antibody
oncostatin M (OSM) monoclonal antibody systemic sclerosis
interleukin 7 (IL7) receptor monoclonal 
  antibody
spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) inhibitor
  (topical)
lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG3)
  protein monoclonal antibody
receptor-interacting protein 1 (RIP1)
  kinase inhibitor
chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 20
  (CCL20) monoclonal antibody
macrophage targeted histone
  deacetylase inhibitor
rearranged during transfection (RET)
  kinase inhibitor

psoriatic arthritis

chronic urticaria

rheumatoid arthritis

rheumatoid arthritis

Sjogren's syndrome

autoimmune disease

psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis

inflammatory disorders of the bowel

II

II
I
I
I

I

I

I

I

I
I

III

III

III

III

II

II

II

I
I

I

I

I

I

I

I

Rare diseases
2696273†

ex-vivo stem cell gene therapy 

29987281
mepolizumab
2398852† + 2315698† serum amyloid P component (SAP)

transthyretin (TTR) production inhibitor
interleukin 5 (IL5) monoclonal antibody

adenosine deaminase severe combined immune
  deficiency (ADA-SCID)
transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis
eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis*
amyloidosis

2696274†
2696275†
26962774

  monoclonal antibody + SAP depleter
  (CPHPC)
ex-vivo stem cell gene therapy 
ex-vivo stem cell gene therapy 
ex-vivo stem cell gene therapy 

metachromatic leukodystrophy
Wiscott-Aldrich syndrome
beta-thalassemia

Submitted S: May15

III
III
II

II
II
I

226  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
Pharmaceuticals and Vaccines product development pipeline continued  

Indication

Phase

MAA

NDA/BLA

Achieved regulatory  
review milestones

Compound
Vaccines
Shingrix†
  (Zoster Vaccine)
MMR
Ebola†
Group B
  Streptococcus
S. pneumoniae next
  generation†
COPD†

Type

recombinant

live attenuated
recombinant viral vector
conjugated

recombinant – conjugated

recombinant

Hepatitis C†
Malaria next generation†
Men ABCWY

recombinant viral vector
recombinant
recombinant – conjugated

Pseudomonas5
Shigella†
Tuberculosis†
RSV

recombinant
conjugated and outer membrane
recombinant
recombinant

RSV

HIV†

replication-defective recombinant
  viral vector
recombinant proteins

Other pharmaceuticals

oxytocin antagonist

Metabolic
retosiban
daprodustat (1278863) prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor 
2330672
camicinal
Eperzan/Tanzeum
  (albiglutide)
losmapimod
otelixizumab
daprodustat (1278863) prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor (topical)

ileal bile acid transport (IBAT) inhibitor
motilin receptor agonist
glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP1)
  receptor agonist
p38 kinase inhibitor
cluster of differentiation 3 (CD3)

Herpes Zoster prophylaxis

measles, mumps, rubella prophylaxis
Ebola haemorrhagic fever prophylaxis
Group B streptococcus prophylaxis
  (maternal immunisation)
Streptococcus pneumoniae disease prophylaxis

reduction of the frequency of COPD exacerbations
  associated with non-typeable Haemophilus
  influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis
hepatitis C virus prophylaxis
malaria prophylaxis (Plasmodium falciparum)
meningococcal A,B,C,W and Y disease prophylaxis
  in adolescents
pseudomonas infection prophylaxis
Shigella diarrhea prophylaxis
tuberculosis prophylaxis
respiratory syncytial virus prophylaxis
  (maternal immunisation)
respiratory syncytial virus prophylaxis

HIV infection prophylaxis

spontaneous pre-term labour 
anaemia associated with chronic renal disease
cholestatic pruritus
delayed gastric emptying
type 1 diabetes

focal segmental glomerular sclerosis*
new onset type 1 diabetes
wound healing

  monoclonal antibody
transient receptor potential cation
  channel V4 (TRPV4) antagonist
selective androgen receptor modulator
oxytocin

heart failure

muscle wasting
postpartum hemorrhage

cationic polybiguanide (topical)
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (topical)
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (topical)
ROR gamma inverse agonist (topical)
muscarinic acetylcholine antagonist (topical)
interleukin 5 (IL5) monoclonal antibody

prevention of omphalitis
atopic dermatitis
psoriasis
psoriasis
hyperhidrosis*
severe atopic dermatitis*

2798745

2881078
oxytocin (inhaled)†

Dermatology
chlorhexidine
2894512†
2894512†
2981278
umeclidinium
mepolizumab

Neurosciences
933776
Benlysta

rilapladib

n/a

III

III (US)
II
II

N/A

II

II

II
II
II

II
II
II
II

I

I

III
II
II
II
II

II
II
I

I

I
I

Submitted S: Oct15
II
II
II
II
I

beta amyloid monoclonal antibody
B lymphocyte stimulator monoclonal
  antibody (i.v.)
lipoprotein-associated phospholipase
  A2 (Lp-PLA2) inhibitor
ocular target LICA antisense
  oligonucleotide1

geographic retinal atrophy
myasthenia gravis*

Alzheimer's disease 

geographic atrophy age-related macular disease

II
II

II

I

GSK Annual Report 2015  227

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2025
(NCE)
2027-2030
(device/
formulation)
2021
(NCE)
2027-2030
(device/
formulation)
20212
2016
(Diskus device)
2018-20261
(HFA-device)
2025
(NCE)
2027-2030
(device/
formulation)
20164
2022
(NCE)
2027-2030
(device/
formulation)
2016
(Diskus device)
2018-20261
(HFA-device)
2016
(Diskus device)

2018-20261
(HFA-device)

2029
(NCE)
2022-2025
(device/
formulation)
NA

2023
expired 
(Diskus device)
2017
(HFA-device)
2029
(NCE)
2022-2025
(device/
formulation)
20204
2027
(NCE)
2022-2025
(device/
formulation)
expired
(Diskus device)
2017
(HFA-device)
expired
(Diskus device)
2019
(HFA-device) 
2017
(HFA-device)

Pipeline, products and competition
continued

Pharmaceutical products, competition and intellectual property

Products
Respiratory
Anoro Ellipta

Compounds

Indication(s)

umeclidinium bromide/
vilanterol terfenatate

COPD

Arnuity Ellipta

fluticasone furoate

asthma

Major
competitor brands

Patent expiry dates3
US

EU

Spiriva Handihaler/
Respimat, Stiolto/
Spiolto Respimat
Ultibro Breezhaler,
Duaklir Genuair
Qvar, Pulmicort
Asmanex, 
Alvesco

Avamys/Veramyst
Flixotide/Flovent

fluticasone furoate
fluticasone propionate

rhinitis
asthma/COPD

Nasonex
Qvar, Singulair

Incruse Ellipta

umeclidinium bromide

COPD

Spiriva Handihaler/
Respimat,
Eklira Genuair

Nucala
Relvar/Breo
Ellipta

mepolizumab
fluticasone furoate/
vilanterol terfenatate

severe eosinophilic asthma
asthma/COPD

Xolair
Symbicort, Foster,
Flutiform, Dulera

Seretide/Advair*

salmeterol xinafoate/
fluticasone propionate

asthma/COPD

Symbicort, Foster,
Flutiform, Dulera

Serevent

salmeterol xinafoate

asthma/COPD

Foradil, Spiriva,
Handihaler/Respimat
Onbrez

Ventolin HFA

albuterol sulphate

asthma/COPD

generic companies

Anti-virals
Valtrex

valaciclovir

lamivudine

Zeffix/Epivir-HBV
Central nervous system
Lamictal
Imigran/Imitrex
Seroxat/Paxil

lamotrigine
sumatriptan
paroxetine

genital herpes, coldsores,
shingles

Famvir

expired

expired

chronic hepatitis B

Hepsera

expired

expired

epilepsy, bipolar disorder
migraine
depression, various
anxiety disorders

Keppra, Dilantin
Zomig, Maxalt, Relpax
Effexor, Cymbalta,
Lexapro

expired
expired
expired

expired
expired
expired

Cardiovascular and urogenital
Eperzan/Tanzeum albiglutide

Type 2 diabetes

Avodart

dutasteride

benign prostatic hyperplasia

Coreg CR

carvedilol phosphate

mild-to-severe heart failure,
hypertension, left ventricular
dysfunction post MI

Victoza, Byetta
Bydureon, Lyxumia
Trulicity
Proscar, Flomax,
finasteride
Toprol XL

2022

2027

expired

20261,2
(formulation)

2017

NA

*  See ’Risk factors’ on page 232 for details of uncertainty on the timing of follow-on competition.  
1  See Note 45 to the financial statements, ‘Legal proceedings’.
2  Generic competition possible in 2016.
3  Includes Supplementary Protection Certificates and other patent term extensions, where granted.
4  Data exclusivity expires 2025 (EU) and 2027 (US). 

228  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
Pharmaceutical products, competition and intellectual property continued

Products
Anti-bacterials
Augmentin

Compounds

Indication(s)

amoxicillin/clavulanate
potassium

common bacterial
infections

Major
competitor brands

generic products

Patent expiry dates3

US

NA

Rare diseases
Volibris
Immuno-inflammation
Benlysta
HIV
Epzicom/Kivexa

ambrisentan

belimumab

lamivudine and abacavir

Lexiva/Telzir

fosamprenavir

Selzentry/Celsentri maraviroc

Tivicay

Triumeq

Trizivir

dolutegravir

dolutegravir, lamivudine
and abacavir

lamivudine, zidovudine
and abacavir

pulmonary hypertension

Tracleer, Revatio

NA

systemic lupus erythematosus

2023

HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS

Truvada, Atripla
Stribild
Complera/Eviplera
Prezista, Kaletra, 
Reyataz
Isentress, Intelence, 
Prezista
Isentress, Prezista
Reyataz, Kaletra
Truvada, Atripla
Stribild
Complera/Eviplera
Truvada, Atripla
Stribild
Complera/Eviplera

20161
(combination)

20191
(combination)

20181

2021

2027

2027

2019

2022

2029

2031

20161,2
(combination)

2016
(combination)

EU

expired

2020

2026

Vaccines products, competition and intellectual property

Products
Bexsero

Boostrix

Infanrix Hexa/
Pediarix

Cervarix

Fluarix Tetra

FluLaval

Menveo

Prepandrix

Rotarix
Synflorix

Major
competitor brands

Adacel

diphtheria, tetanus, acellular
Pertussis booster vaccination

Indication(s)
Meningitis group B prevention Trumenba

Compounds
meningococcal group-B
vaccine
diphtheria, tetanus, acellular
pertussis
diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Prophylaxis against diphtheria, Pentacel, Pediacel,
polio, hepatitis B, 
Haemophilus influenzae
type B (EU)
HPV 16 & 18 virus like 
particles (VLPs), AS04 
adjuvant (MPL + aluminium
hydroxide)
split inactivated influenza
virus subtypes A and
subtype B antigens

tetanus, pertussis, polio, 
hepatitis B, Haemophilus
influenzae type B (EU)
human papilloma virus
type 16 and 18

seasonal influenza
prophylaxis

Gardasil (Silgard)

Pentaxim, Pentavac, 
Hexaxim

split inactivated influenza
virus subtypes A and
subtype B antigens

seasonal influenza
prophylaxis

Intenza, Flumist QIV,
Vaxigrip QIV, 
Fluzone QIV, 
Fluzone High Dose
Vaxigrip, Mutagrip,
Fluzone, Influvac,
Aggripal, Fluad,
Intenza, Flumist

meningococcal group A, C, W- Meningitis group A, C, W-135 Mencevax, Menactra
135 and Y conjugate vaccine
derived split inactivated
influenza virus antigen,
AS03 adjuvant
Human rotavirus RIX4414 strain Rotavirus prophylaxis
conjugated pneumococcal
polysaccharide

and Y prophylaxis
pandemic H5N1
influenza prophylaxis

Rotateq
Prevenar (Prevnar)

Aflunov, Vepacel

Prophylaxis against invasive
disease, pneumonia,
acute otitis media

1  See Note 45 to the financial statements, ‘Legal proceedings’.
2  Generic competition commenced in 2014.
3  Includes Supplementary Protection Certificates and other patent term extensions, where granted. 

Patent expiry dates

US
2027

2017

2018

EU
20281

2017

expired

2020

2020

2022

2022

2022

2022

2025

–

–
NA

2025

2026

2020
2024

GSK Annual Report 2015  229

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Products

Application

Markets

Competition

Pipeline, products and competition
continued

Consumer Healthcare products and competition  

Brand
Wellness
Panadol and
Panadol Cold
& Flu

tablets, caplets, 
infant syrup drops

Voltaren

topical gel

paracetamol-based
treatment for headache,
joint pain, fever, 
cold symptoms
non-steroidal, diclofenac
based anti-inflammatory

Otrivin

nasal spray

nasal decongestant

Theraflu

tablets and syrups

cold and flu relief

nasal spray

allergy relief

global (except US)

global

Germany, Poland,
Russia, Sweden,
Ukraine
Russia, Poland,
Ukraine, US

China, Ireland,
UK, US

effervescent

immediate relief antacid

global (except US)

Tums

chewable tablets

immediate relief antacid

US

lozenges, gum and
trans-dermal patches

toothpastes, toothbrushes,
mouth rinse

toothpaste,
medicated mouthwash, 
gel and spray

denture adhesive, denture
cleanser

toothpastes, toothbrushes
mouthwashes

treatment of nicotine 
withdrawal as an aid to 
smoking reduction and
cessation

relief of dentinal
hypersensitivity.
Pronamel additionally
protects against acid
erosion
helps prevent bleeding
gums, treats and prevents
gingivitis

global

global

Germany, Ireland
Italy, United Kingdom

improve retention and
comfort of dentures,
cleans dentures
aids prevention of dental
cavities, maintains healthy
teeth, gums and fresh breath

global

global

topical cream and
non-medicated patch

lip care to treat and prevent
the onset of cold sores

global

malted drinks and foods

nutritional 
beverages & food

Indian sub-continent,
United Kingdom, Ireland Complan, Heinz

Bournvita, Mondelez 

Advil, Pfizer
Aspirin, Bayer
Tylenol, Johnson & Johnson

Advil, Pfizer
Aspirin, Bayer
Tylenol, Johnson & Johnson 
Afrin, Merck 
Nasivin, Merck

Tylenol Cold & Flu,
  Johnson & Johnson 
Mucinex, Reckitt Benckiser
Lemsip, Reckitt Benckiser
Claritin, Bayer
Rhinocort, Astra Zeneca
Nasacort, Sanofi

Estomazil, Hypermarca
Gelusil, Pfizer
Alka-Seltzer, Bayer
Gaviscon, Reckitt Benckiser
Rolaids, Sanofi
Nicorette, Johnson & Johnson
NiQuitin, Perrigo

Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief, 
 Colgate-Palmolive
Elmex, Colgate-Palmolive
Oral B, Procter & Gamble

Colgate Total Gum Health,
  Colgate-Palmolive
Yunnan Baiyao, State
  Enterprise (China)
Fixodent and Kukident,
  Procter & Gamble,
Steradent, Reckitt Benckiser
Colgate, Colgate-Palmolive
Crest, Procter & Gamble
Oral-B, Procter & Gamble

Compeed, Johnson & Johnson
Carmex, Carma Labs
Blistex, Blistex Incorporated
retail own label

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Flonase
Flixanase
Flixonase
Piriteze
ENO

Nicorette (US),
NicoDerm,
Nicotinell
(ex. Australia)
Oral health
Sensodyne,
Pronamel

Parodontax/
Corsodyl

Polident,
Poligrip,
Corega
Aquafresh

Skin health
Zovirax
Abreva

Nutrition
Horlicks

230  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
Principal risks and uncertainties
Risk factors

The principal risks discussed below are the risks and uncertainties 
relevant to our business, financial condition and results of operations  
that may affect our performance and ability to achieve our objectives.  
The factors below are those that we believe could cause our actual 
results to differ materially from expected and historical results. 

We must adapt to and comply with a broad range of laws and 
regulations. These requirements apply to research and development, 
manufacturing, testing, approval, distribution, sales and marketing of 
Pharmaceutical, Vaccine and Consumer Healthcare products, and affect 
not only the cost of product development but also the time required to 
reach the market and the likelihood of doing so successfully. 

Moreover, as rules and regulations change, and governmental 
interpretation of those rules and regulations evolves, the nature of  
a particular risk may change. Changes to certain regulatory regimes  
may be substantial. Any change in, and any failure to comply with, 
applicable law and regulation could materially and adversely affect  
our financial results. 

Patient safety

Risk definition
Failure to appropriately collect, review, follow up, or report adverse 
events from all potential sources, and to act on any relevant findings 
in a timely manner. 

Risk impact
The impact of this risk is potentially to compromise our ability to 
conduct robust safety signal detection and interpretation and to 
ensure that appropriate decisions are taken with respect to the  
risk/benefit profile of our products, including the completeness  
and accuracy of product labels and the pursuit of additional  
studies/analyses, as appropriate. This could lead to potential harm  
to patients, reputational damage, product liability claims or other 
litigation, governmental investigation, regulatory action such as  
fines, penalties or loss of product authorisation.

Context
Pre-clinical and clinical trials are conducted during the development 
of investigational Pharmaceutical, Vaccine and Consumer Healthcare 
Products to determine the safety and efficacy of the products for use 
by humans. Notwithstanding the efforts we make to determine the 
safety of our products through appropriate pre-clinical and clinical 
trials, unanticipated side effects may become evident only when 
products are widely introduced into the marketplace. Questions  
may be raised not only by our ongoing safety surveillance and 
post-marketing studies but also by governmental agencies and 
third-parties that may analyse publicly available clinical trial results. 

The Group is currently a defendant in a number of product liability 
lawsuits, including class actions, that involve significant claims for 
damages related to our products. Litigation, particularly in the US, is 
inherently unpredictable. Class actions that seek to sweep together 
all persons who were prescribed our products increase the potential 
liability. Claims for pain and suffering and punitive damages are 
frequently asserted in product liability actions and, if allowed, can 
represent potentially open-ended exposure and thus, could materially 
and adversely affect the Group’s financial results.

Mitigating activities
The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) is responsible for medical 
governance for the Group under a global policy. Under that policy, 
safeguarding human subjects in our clinical trials and patients who 
take our products is of paramount importance, and the CMO has the 
authoritative role for evaluating and addressing matters of human 
safety.  

Similarly, our business exposes us to litigation and government 
investigations, including but not limited to product liability litigation, patent 
and antitrust litigation and sales and marketing litigation. Litigation and 
government investigations, including related provisions we may make for 
unfavourable outcomes and increases in related costs such as insurance 
premiums, could materially and adversely affect our financial results. 

More detail on the status and various uncertainties involved in our 
significant unresolved disputes and potential litigation is set out in  
Note 45, ‘Legal proceedings,’ on pages 206 to 210. 

UK regulations require a discussion of the mitigating activities a company 
takes to address principal risks and uncertainties. A summary of the 
activities that the Group takes to manage each of our principal risks 
accompanies the description of each principal risk below. The principal 
risk factors and uncertainties are not listed in order of significance.

Individual Medical Officers and the Group’s substantial Global 
Safety and Pharmacovigilance organisation keep track of any adverse 
issues reported for our products during the course of clinical studies. 

Once a Group product is approved for marketing, the Group has an 
extensive post-marketing surveillance and signal detection system. 
Information on possible side effects of medicines is received from 
several sources including unsolicited reports from health 
professionals and patients, regulatory authorities, medical and 
scientific literature and the media. It is our policy that employees are 
required to report immediately any issues relating to the safety or 
quality of our products. Each of our country managers is responsible 
for monitoring, exception tracking and training that helps assure the 
collection of safety information and reporting the information to the 
relevant central safety department, in accordance with Group policy 
and legal requirements. 

Information that changes the benefit/risk profile of one of the Group’s 
medicines will result in certain actions to characterise, communicate 
and minimise the risk. Proposed actions are discussed with 
regulatory authorities and can include modifying the prescribing 
information, communications to physicians and other healthcare 
providers, restrictions on product prescribing/availability to help 
assure safe use, and sometimes carrying out further clinical trials.  
In certain cases, it may be appropriate to stop clinical trials or to 
withdraw the medicine from the market. The Group’s Global Safety 
Board (GSB), comprising senior physicians and representatives  
of supporting functions, is an integral component of the system.  
The GSB (including subsidiary boards dedicated to Consumer 
Healthcare Products and Vaccines) reviews the safety of 
investigational and marketed products across the Group and has  
the authority to stop a clinical trial if continued conduct of such trial  
is not ethically or scientifically justified in light of information that has 
emerged since the start of the trial. 

In addition to the medical governance framework within the Group  
as described above, the Group uses several mechanisms to foster 
the early evaluation, mitigation, and resolution of disputes as they 
arise and of potential claims even before they arise. The goal of  
the programmes is to create a culture of early identification and 
evaluation of risks and claims (actual or potential), in order to 
minimise liability and litigation.

GSK Annual Report 2015  231

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Principal risks and uncertainties
Risk factors – continued

Generic drug manufacturers have also exhibited a readiness to 
market generic versions of many of our most important products prior 
to the expiration of our patents. Their efforts may involve challenges 
to the validity or enforceability of a patent or assertions that their 
generic product does not infringe our patents. As a result, we are  
and may continue to be involved in legal proceedings involving patent 
challenges, which may materially and adversely affect our financial 
results. Moreover, in the US, it has become increasingly common for 
patent infringement actions to prompt claims that anti-trust laws have 
been violated during the prosecution of the patent or during litigation 
involving the defence of that patent. Such claims by direct and 
indirect purchasers and other payers are typically filed as class 
actions. The relief sought may include treble damages and restitution 
claims. Similarly, anti-trust claims may be brought by government 
entities or private parties following settlement of patent litigation, 
alleging that such settlements are anti-competitive and in violation  
of anti-trust laws. A successful anti-trust claim by a private party or 
government entity could materially and adversely affect our financial 
results. 

The expiration dates for patents for our major products which may 
affect the dates on which generic versions of our products may be 
introduced are set out on pages 228 to 229. Legal proceedings 
involving patent challenges are set out in Note 45 to the financial 
statements, ‘Legal proceedings’.

Mitigating activities
Our Global Patents group focuses on securing and protecting  
our patent rights. This global group maintains internal processes 
designed to seek to ensure successful procurement, enforcement 
and defence of our patents with the goal of maintaining exclusive 
rights in markets for our products. 

The Global Patents group monitors new developments in 
international patent law to seek to ensure appropriate protection of 
our assets. Sometimes acting through trade associations, we work 
with local governments to seek to secure effective and balanced 
intellectual property protection designed to meet the needs of 
patients and payers while supporting long-term investment in 
innovation.

Intellectual property

Risk definition
Failure to appropriately secure and protect intellectual property 
rights.

Risk impact
Any failure to obtain or subsequent loss of patent protection, 
including reducing the availability or scope of patent rights or 
compulsory licensing (in which a government forces a manufacturer 
to license its patents for specific products to a competitor), could 
materially and adversely affect our financial results in those markets. 
Absence of adequate patent or data exclusivity protection could limit 
the opportunity to rely on such markets for future sales growth for our 
products, which could also materially and adversely affect our 
financial results.

Context
As an innovative Pharmaceutical, Vaccine and Consumer Healthcare 
Products company, we seek to obtain appropriate intellectual 
property protection for our products. Our ability to obtain and enforce 
patents and other proprietary rights with regard to our products is 
critical to our business strategy and success. Pharmaceutical and 
Vaccine products are usually only protected from being copied by 
generic manufacturers during the period of exclusivity provided by  
an issued patent or related intellectual property rights such as 
Regulatory Data Protection or Orphan Drug status. Following 
expiration of certain intellectual property rights, a generic 
manufacturer may lawfully produce a generic version of the product. 

We operate in markets where intellectual property laws and patent 
offices are still developing and where governments may be unwilling 
to grant or enforce intellectual property rights in a fashion similar to 
more developed regions such as the EU, Japan and the US. Some 
developing countries have limited, or threatened to limit, effective 
patent protection for pharmaceutical products in order to facilitate 
early competition within their markets from generic manufacturers. 

We face competition from manufacturers of proprietary and generic 
pharmaceutical products in all of our major markets. Introduction of 
generic products, particularly in the US where we have our highest 
turnover and margins, typically leads to a rapid and dramatic loss of 
sales and reduces our revenues and margins for our proprietary 
products.

We depend on certain key products for a significant portion of our 
sales. One such product is our respiratory pharmaceutical product 
Seretide/Advair which accounts for significant Group sales 
worldwide. The timing and impact of entry in the US for a generic 
product containing the same combination of active substances as 
Seretide/Advair is uncertain. The US patent for compositions 
containing the combination of active substances in Seretide/Advair 
expired during 2010 although the US patent on a component of the 
Advair Diskus device continues until August 2016. Generic products 
containing the same combination of active substances as Seretide/
Advair (in both metered dose inhalers and dry powder inhalers) have 
been launched by several manufacturers in a number of European 
markets. The timing and impact of entry in the US and major markets 
in Europe for a ‘follow-on’ product to Seretide/Advair is uncertain. 

232  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
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Product quality 

Risk definition
Failure to comply with current Good Manufacturing Practices 
(cGMP) or inadequate controls and governance of quality in the 
supply chain covering supplier standards, manufacturing and 
distribution of products. 

Risk impact
A failure to ensure product quality could have far reaching 
implications in terms of patient and consumer safety resulting in 
product launch delays, supply interruptions and product recalls 
which would have the potential to do damage to our reputation. 
Associated regulatory, legal, and financial consequences could 
materially and adversely affect our reputation and financial results.

Context
Patients, consumers and healthcare professionals trust the quality 
of our products. A failure to ensure product quality is an enterprise 
risk which is applicable across all of our business activities. 
Product quality may be influenced by many factors including 
product and process understanding, consistency of manufacturing 
components, compliance with GMP, accuracy of labelling, 
reliability of the external supply chain, and the embodiment of an 
overarching quality culture. The internal and external environment 
continues to evolve as new products, new markets and new 
legislation are introduced, with increasing scrutiny of supply 
continuity, a focus on improved distribution practice and the 
introduction of novel cell and gene based therapies. Review of 
inspections conducted across the industry by national regulatory 
authorities during 2015 highlighted an ongoing focus on data 
integrity, contamination prevention and the rigour of quality 
investigations including the robustness of decision making and  
the timely escalation of pertinent issues to regulatory authorities.

Mitigating activities
We have developed and implemented a single Pharmaceutical 
Quality System (PQS) that defines the quality standards and 
systems for our businesses associated with Pharmaceuticals, 
Vaccines and Consumer Healthcare products and clinical trial 
materials. This system has a broad scope and is applicable 
throughout the lifecycle of products from R&D to mature 
commercial supply. 

There is no single external global quality standard or system which 
governs the lifecycle of medicinal products and requirements are 
often complex and fragmented across national and regional 
boundaries. The ICH guideline Q10: Pharmaceutical Quality 
Systems provides a model for a comprehensive quality framework 
which takes into account international quality concepts and is 
designed to be implemented through the product lifecycle. This 
framework has been adopted by GSK and is augmented with a 
consolidation of multiple regulatory requirements from across the 
world in order to seek to ensure that the GSK PQS meets external 
expectations for Product Quality in the markets supplied. The PQS 
is regularly updated to seek to ensure it keeps pace with external 
regulatory changes, and reflects both operational improvements 
and new scientific understanding to support the delivery of 
consistent and reliable products. 

An extensive global network of quality and compliance 
professionals is aligned with each business unit to provide 
oversight and assist with the delivery of quality performance and 
operational compliance, from site level to senior management level. 
Management oversight of those activities is accomplished through 
a hierarchy of Quality Councils and through an independent Chief 
Product Quality Officer and Global Product Quality Office.

GSK has implemented a risk-based approach to assessing and 
managing our third-party suppliers that provide materials used in 
finished products. Contract manufacturers making our products 
are expected to comply with standards identified by GSK and are 
audited to help provide assurance that expected standards are 
met. 

All staff members are regularly trained to seek to ensure that 
cGMP standards and behaviours based on our GSK values are 
followed. Additionally, advocacy and communication programmes 
are routinely deployed to seek to ensure consistent messages are 
conveyed across GSK, whether they originate from changes in 
regulation or learnings from inspections or regulatory submissions. 
There is a continued emphasis on the value of quality performance 
metrics to facilitate improvement and foster a culture of ‘right  
first time’.

GSK Annual Report 2015  233

 
 
 
 
 
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Principal risks and uncertainties
Risk factors – continued

Financial control and reporting

Risk definition
Failure to comply with current tax law or incurring significant  
losses due to treasury activities; failure to report accurate financial 
information in compliance with accounting standards and applicable 
legislation; failure to maintain adequate governance and oversight 
over third-party relationships.

Risk impact
Non-compliance with existing or new financial reporting and 
disclosure requirements, or changes to the recognition of income 
and expenses, could expose us to litigation and regulatory action  
and could materially and adversely affect our financial results. 
Changes in tax laws or in their application with respect to matters 
such as transfer pricing, foreign dividends, controlled companies, 
R&D tax credits, taxation of intellectual property or a restriction in tax 
relief allowed on the interest on intra-group debt, could impact our 
effective tax rate. Significant losses may arise from inconsistent 
application of treasury policies, transactional or settlement errors,  
or counterparty defaults. Any changes in the substance or 
application of the governing tax laws, failure to comply with such tax 
laws or significant losses due to treasury activities could materially 
and adversely affect our financial results.

Failure to adequately manage third-party relationships could result in 
business interruption and exposure to risk ranging from sub-optimal 
contractual terms and conditions, to severe business sanctions  
and/or significant reputational damage. Any of these consequences 
could materially and adversely affect our business operations and 
financial results.

Context
The Group is required by the laws of various jurisdictions to 
disclose publicly its financial results and events that could 
materially affect the financial results of the Group. Regulators 
routinely review the financial statements of listed companies for 
compliance with new, revised or existing accounting and regulatory 
requirements. The Group believes that it complies with the 
appropriate regulatory requirements concerning our financial 
statements and disclosure of material information including any 
transactions relating to business restructuring such as acquisitions 
and divestitures. However, should we be subject to an investigation 
into potential non-compliance with accounting and disclosure 
requirements, this may lead to restatements of previously reported 
results and significant penalties.

Our Treasury group deals in high value transactions, mostly foreign 
exchange and cash management transactions, on a daily basis. 

The Group’s effective tax rate reflects rates of tax in the 
jurisdictions in which the Group operates that are both higher  
and lower than the UK rate and take into account regimes that 
encourage innovation and investment in science by providing tax 
incentives which, if changed, could affect the Group’s tax rate.

The tax charge included in our financial statements is our best 
estimate of tax liability pending audits by tax authorities. The 
worldwide nature of our operations and cross-border supply 
routes can be complex and can lead to questions on tax audit. 

There continues to be a significant international focus on tax 
reform, including the OECD’s ‘BEPS’ project and European 
Commission initiatives such as the proposed ‘anti-BEPS’ Directive 
and the increased use of fiscal state aid investigations. Together 
with domestic initiatives around the world, these may result in 
significant changes to established tax principals and an increase  
in tax authority disputes. These, regardless of their merit or 
outcomes, can be costly, divert management attention and may 
adversely impact our reputation.

Third parties are critical to our business delivery and are an  
integral part of the solution to improve our productivity, quality, 
service and innovation. We rely on third-parties, including 
suppliers, distributors, individual contractors, licensees, and  
other pharmaceutical and biotechnology collaboration partners  
for discovery, manufacture, and marketing of our products and 
important business processes. 

Third party business relationships present a material risk. For 
example, we share critical and sensitive information such as 
marketing plans, clinical data, and employee data with specific 
third parties who are conducting the relevant outsourced business 
operations. Inadequate protection or misuse of this information  
by third parties could have significant business impact. Similarly, 
we use distributors and agents in a range of activities such as 
promotion and tendering which have inherent risks such as 
inappropriate promotion or corruption. Insufficient internal 
compliance and controls by the distributors could affect our 
reputation. These risks are further increased by the complexities  
of working with large numbers of third parties.

Mitigating activities
The Group maintains a control environment designed to identify 
material errors in financial reporting and disclosure. The design 
and operating effectiveness of key financial reporting controls  
are regularly tested by management and via independent business 
monitoring. This provides us with the assurance that controls over 
key financial reporting and disclosure processes have operated 
effectively. 

We keep up-to-date with the latest developments in financial 
reporting requirements by working with our external auditors  
and legal advisors.

There is shared accountability for financial results across our 
businesses. Financial results are reviewed and approved by 
regional management and then reviewed with the Financial 
Controller and the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). This allows our 
Financial Controller and our CFO to assess the evolution of the 
business over time, and to evaluate performance to plan. 
Significant judgments are reviewed and confirmed by senior 
management. Business reorganisations and newly acquired 
activities such as Novartis acquired businesses and Oncology 
divestitures are integrated into risk assessments and appropriate 
controls and reviews have been applied.

We introduced additional resources and monitoring to ensure that 
robust financial controls were maintained during 2015, effectively 
managing risks while the initial phase of integrating the former 
Novartis’ businesses into our control and reporting framework 
were implemented, and the ongoing transformation and upgrade  
to our financial systems and processes continued. Additional risk 
mitigation was introduced by amending the programme timelines 
of the ongoing system upgrades.

The Group maintains a Disclosure Committee reporting to the 
Board, which reviews the Group’s quarterly results and Annual 
Report and determines throughout the year, in consultation with  
its legal advisors, whether it is necessary to disclose publicly 
information about the Group through Stock Exchange 
announcements.

The Treasury Management Group (TMG) meets on a regular  
basis to seek to ensure that liquidity, interest rate, foreign currency 
transaction and foreign currency translation risks are all managed 
in line with the conservative approach as detailed in the associated 
risk strategies and policies which have been adopted by the 
Board.

234  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
Financial control and reporting continued

Oversight of Treasury’s role in managing counterparty risk in  
line with agreed policy is performed by a Corporate Compliance 
Officer (CCO), who operates independently of Treasury.

Further details on mitigation of Treasury Risks can be found on 
page 192, Note 41, ‘Financial instruments and related disclosures’. 

Tax risk is managed by a set of policies and procedures to seek  
to ensure consistency and compliance with tax legislation. 

We seek to maintain open, positive relationships with governments 
and tax authorities worldwide. We monitor government debate  
on tax policy in our key jurisdictions to deal proactively with any 
potential future changes in tax law. We engage advisors and legal 
counsel to review tax legislation and the implications for our 
business. Where relevant we are active in providing relevant 
business input to tax policy makers. 

A centralised team of dedicated specialists are responsible for 
managing transactional tax reporting and compliance. 

We submit tax returns according to statutory time limits and 
engage with tax authorities to seek to ensure our tax affairs are 
current, entering into arrangements such as Continuous Audit 
Programmes and Advance Pricing Agreements to provide  
long-term certainty over tax treatment where appropriate. In 
exceptional cases where matters cannot be settled by agreement 
with tax authorities, we may have to resolve disputes through 
formal appeals or other proceedings.

Each business unit leadership team retains ultimate accountability 
for managing third party interactions and risks. When working with 
third parties, all GSK employees are expected to manage external 
interactions and commitments responsibly. This expectation is 
embedded in our values and code of conduct. It is our 
responsibility that all activities are performed safely and in 
compliance with applicable laws and GSK’s values, standards  
and code of conduct.

To seek to guide and enforce our global principles for interactions 
with third parties we have in place a policy framework applicable  
to buying goods and services, managing our external spend, 
paying and working with our third parties. This policy framework 
applies to all employees and complementary workers worldwide. 
The framework is complemented by technical and local standards 
designed to seek to ensure alignment with the nature of third  
party interactions, such as good manufacturing practice and 
adherence to local laws and regulations. Independent business 
monitoring of key financial and operational controls is in place  
and is supplemented by periodic checks from the company’s       
independent Audit & Assurance function. 

Continuous monitoring and performance of third parties is 
enhanced through a Third Party Oversight team in the Global 
Ethics and Compliance organisation. This team commenced 
implementation of a global programme that takes an enterprise 
view of third party related risks, the programme is strengthening 
risk assessment and due diligence efforts on third parties and 
improving the overall management of our third party risks through 
the lifecycle of the third party engagement. Oversight for the 
programme is provided by the newly created global risk office 
within GSK’s Global Ethics and Compliance group.

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GSK Annual Report 2015  235

 
 
 
 
 
 
Principal risks and uncertainties
Risk factors – continued

Mitigating activities
Our Code of Conduct, values and behaviours and commitment to 
zero tolerance are integral to how we mitigate this risk. In light of 
the complexity and geographic breadth of this risk, we constantly 
enhance our oversight of activities and data, reinforce to our 
employees and contractors clear expectations regarding 
acceptable behaviours, and maintain on-going communications 
between the Group centre headquarters and local markets. 

The Group has an enterprise-wide ABAC programme designed  
to respond to the threat and risk of bribery and corruption. It  
builds on the Group’s values and existing standards to form a 
comprehensive and practical approach to compliance, and is 
flexible to the evolving nature of our business. For example, we 
scaled our acquisition ABAC due diligence specific to the 2015 
Novartis transaction. 

Our ABAC programme is supported by: top-level commitment 
from the Group Board of Directors and leadership throughout the 
business; ongoing risk assessment; a global ABAC policy; and 
written standards that address commercial and other practices 
that give rise to ABAC risk; due diligence of high risk third parties; 
ongoing training and communications; a confidential reporting line; 
monitoring of compliance and an investigations team. In addition, 
the programme mandates enhanced controls over interactions with 
government officials and when undertaking business development 
transactions. Programme governance is provided by the Group’s 
ABAC Governance Board which includes representation from key 
functional areas and business units. 

Additionally, we have a dedicated ABAC team responsible for the 
implementation and evolution of the programme in response to 
developments in the internal and external environment. This is 
complemented with ABAC investigations, ABAC Audit and 
Independent Business Monitoring teams which have separate 
reporting lines. 

We continually benchmark our ABAC programme against other 
large multi-national companies and use external expertise to review 
and help improve elements of our ABAC programme. As a result  
of the China and other country investigations, the Group has 
increased resources in both its centrally located ABAC team as 
well as regional ABAC teams. During 2015, we also completed  
an ABAC review and reduced our presence in a number of 
high-risk markets.

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Anti-Bribery and Corruption

Risk definition
Failure to prevent GSK employees and third parties not complying 
with our ABAC principles and standards, as well as with all 
applicable legislation.

Risk impact
Failure to mitigate this risk could expose the Group and associated 
persons to governmental investigation, regulatory action and civil 
and criminal liability, as well as damage the Group’s reputation, 
shareholder value, and our licence to operate in particular 
jurisdictions, all of which could materially and adversely affect  
our financial results.

Context
We are exposed to bribery and corruption risk through our global 
business operations. In some markets, the government structure 
and the rule of law are less developed, and this has a bearing on 
our bribery and corruption risk exposure. In addition to the global 
nature of our business, the healthcare sector is highly competitive 
and subject to regulation. This increases the instances where we 
are exposed to activities and interactions with bribery and 
corruption risk. 

The US and UK authorities are leading extra-territorial ABAC 
enquiries into certain of the Group’s operations. These 
investigations are discussed further in Note 45 ‘Legal proceedings’.

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Commercialisation

Risk definition
Failure to execute business strategies, or manage competitive 
opportunities or threats effectively and in accordance with the 
letter and spirit of legal, industry or company requirements.

Risk impact
Failure to manage risks related to commercialisation could 
materially and adversely affect our ability to grow a diversified 
global business and deliver more products of value.

Failure to comply with applicable laws, rules and regulations may 
result in governmental investigation, regulatory action and legal 
proceedings brought against the Group by governmental and 
private plaintiffs. Failure to provide accurate and complete 
information related to our products may result in incomplete 
awareness of the benefit:risk profile of our products and possibly 
suboptimal treatment of patients and consumers. Any of these 
consequences could materially and adversely affect the Group. 
Any practices that are found to be misaligned with our values 
could also result in reputational damage and dilute trust 
established with key stakeholders.

Context
We operate on a global basis in an industry that is both highly 
competitive and highly regulated. Our competitors may make 
significant product innovations and technical advances and may 
intensify price competition. In light of this competitive environment, 
continued development of commercially viable new products and 
the development of additional uses for existing products are critical 
to achieve our strategic objectives. 

Developing new pharmaceutical, vaccine and consumer healthcare 
products is a costly, lengthy and uncertain process, however,  
and a product candidate may fail at any stage, including after 
significant Group economic and human resources have been 
invested. Our competitors’ products or pricing strategies or any 
failure on our part to develop commercially successful products,  
or to develop additional uses for existing products, could materially 
and adversely affect our ability to achieve our strategic objectives.

We are committed to the ethical and responsible 
commercialisation of our products to support our mission to 
improve the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, 
feel better, and live longer. To accomplish this mission, we engage 
the healthcare community in various ways to provide important 
information about our medicines. 

Promotion of approved products seeks to ensure that HCPs globally 
have access to information they need, that patients and consumers 
have access to the products they need and that products are 
prescribed, recommended or used in a manner that provides the 
maximum healthcare benefit to patients and consumers. We are 
committed to communicating information related to our approved 
products in a responsible, legal, and ethical manner.

At times, researchers, HCPs, healthcare organisations (HCOs) 
and other external experts that we engage may be compensated 
for services and expertise provided. However, payments must  
not be excessive and must never be or be perceived to be an 
inducement or reward for prescribing or recommending our 
products. Consistent with our ABAC policies, they also must 
comply with a market’s ABAC laws if the recipient of any payment 
is a government official.

In 2012, we paid $3 billion (£1.9 billion) to resolve government 
investigations in the US focused in large part on promotional 
practices and in 2014 we paid RMB 3 billion (£301 million), to 
resolve a government investigation in China focused on offering 
money or property to non-government personnel in order to obtain 
improper commercial gains.

Mitigating activities
Our strategic objectives are designed to ensure the Group 
achieves its mission of helping people do more, feel better and  
live longer. The Group continues to transform by strengthening our 
presence in key emerging markets, restructuring R&D, simplifying 
core business operations and reducing our manufacturing 
footprint. Our recent transaction with Novartis has helped further 
accelerate this pace of change, while strengthening our three  
core businesses: Pharmaceuticals, Vaccines and Consumer 
Healthcare. 

These changes are allowing us to be more global and more 
relevant to the needs of the world. Our aim is to reach as many 
patients and consumers as we can, improving their health and 
wellbeing through the use of our products. How we deliver this 
goal is just as important as what we achieve. Our values provide a 
guide for how we lead and make decisions. We constantly strive to 
do the right thing and deliver quality products, seeking to ensure 
our behaviours reflect our values and the mission of our company.

The Corporate Executive Team has set out their shared objectives 
which describe the most important priorities we need to deliver 
across the Group and a set of enterprise-wide projects which  
are critical to achieving these objectives. The strategic objectives 
are cascaded throughout the Group to ensure enterprise-wide 
alignment. Processes are in place to regularly review achievement 
towards these objectives.

We have taken action at all levels of the Group to enhance and 
improve standards and procedures for promotional interactions, 
based on our values of transparency, respect, integrity and patient 
focus. We have policies and standards governing promotional 
activities undertaken by the Group or on its behalf. All of these 
activities we conduct worldwide must conform to high ethical, 
regulatory, and industry standards. Where local standards differ 
from global standards, the more stringent of the two applies. 

The Group has harmonised policies and procedures to guide 
above country Commercial Practices processes as well as 
clarified applicable standards when engaging in the markets. 
Commercial Practices activities have oversight from both business 
unit Risk Management and Compliance Boards (RMCBs) and 
Country Executive Boards (CEBs) that manage risks across 
in-country business activities. 

All promotional materials and activities must be reviewed and 
approved according to the Group’s policies and standards, and 
conducted in accordance with local laws and regulations, to seek 
to ensure that these materials and activities fairly represent the 
products or services of the Group. When necessary, we have 
disciplined (up to and including termination) employees who have 
engaged in misconduct and have broadened our ability to claw 
back remuneration from senior management in the event of 
misconduct. 

In 2015, GSK also implemented globally changes already made  
in the US to the compensation model for sales professionals and 
their managers who interact with HCPs. The changes eliminate 
rewards based on sales or market shares in individuals’ territories 
in favour of rewards based on the quality of the individuals’ 
interactions with healthcare professionals. Starting in 2016, GSK 
will implement its prior commitment to stop paying HCPs to deliver 
promotional presentations for GSK or directly to sponsor their 
travel to medical educational conferences. 

GSK Annual Report 2015  237

 
 
 
 
 
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Principal risks and uncertainties
Risk factors – continued

Research practices

Risk definition
Failure adequately to conduct ethical and sound preclinical and 
clinical research. In addition, failure to engage in scientific activities 
that are consistent with the letter and spirit of the law, industry, or 
the Group’s requirements.

Risk impact
The impacts of the risk include harm to patients, reputational damage, 
failure to obtain the necessary regulatory approvals for our products, 
governmental investigation, legal proceedings brought against the 
Group by governmental and private plaintiffs (product liability suits 
and claims for damages), and regulatory action such as fines, 
penalties or loss of product authorisation. Any of these 
consequences could materially and adversely affect our financial 
results.

Context
Research relating to animals can raise ethical concerns. While we 
attempt to proactively address this, animal studies remain a vital part 
of our research. In many cases, they are the only method that can be 
used to investigate the effects of a potential new medicine in a living 
body before it is tested in humans, and they are generally mandated 
by regulators and ethically imperative. Animal research can provide 
critical information about the causes of diseases and how they 
develop. Some countries require additional animal testing even 
when medicines have been approved for use elsewhere. 

Clinical trials in healthy volunteers and patients are used to assess 
and demonstrate an investigational product’s efficacy and safety  
or further evaluate the product once it has been approved for 
marketing. We also work with human biological samples. These 
samples are fundamental to the discovery, development and safety 
monitoring of our products. 

The integrity of our data is essential to success in all stages of  
the research data lifecycle: design, generation, recording and 
management, analysis, reporting and storage and retrieval. Our 
research data is governed by legislation and regulatory requirements. 

Research data and supporting documents are core components at 
various stages of pipeline progression decision-making and also 
form the content of regulatory submissions. Poor data integrity can 
compromise our research efforts. 

There are innate complexities and interdependencies required  
for regulatory filings, particularly given our global research and 
development footprint. Rapid changes in submission requirements 
in developing countries continue to increase the complexity of 
worldwide product registration.

Scientific Engagement (SE) is an essential part of scientific 
discourse defined as the interaction and exchange of information 
between GSK and external communities in order to advance 
scientific and medical understanding, including the appropriate 
development and use of our products. Such non-promotional 
engagement with external stakeholder groups is vital to GSK’s 
mission and necessary for scientific and medical advance. 

The scope of SE activities includes: advisory boards; scientific 
consultancies; pre-planned informal discussions with Healthcare 
Professionals (HCP); sharing medical information; publications 
(including abstracts to congresses); scientific interactions with 
payers, patients, governments and the media; and support for 
Independent Medical Education. Non-independent educational 
activities are covered by Commercial Practices (CP).

SE activities are essential but present legal, regulatory, and 
reputational risk if the sharing of data, invited media coverage or 
payments for service providers has, or is perceived to have, 
inappropriate promotional intent. The risks are particularly high 
where HCP engagement and associated Financial and/or Transfer 
of Value disclosures are required by GSK.

238  GSK Annual Report 2015

Mitigating activities
We established an Office of Animal Welfare, Ethics and Strategy 
(OAWES), led by the Chief of Animal Welfare, Ethics and Strategy, 
to seek to ensure the humane and responsible care of animals and 
increase the knowledge and application of non-animal alternatives 
for the Group. OAWES embeds a framework of animal welfare 
governance, promotes application of 3Rs (replacement, refinement 
and reduction of animals in research), explores opportunities for 
cross-industry data sharing, and conducts quality assessments. 

We report the results of our human subject research for our 
medicines and vaccines on our publicly accessible clinical study 
register website, on government-required repositories, and we 
submit human research results as manuscripts for publication in 
peer reviewed scientific journals. During 2015, we disclosed over 
450 Clinical Study Reports of marketed and terminated medicines 
(once the research results were published in the scientific literature) 
on our register, bringing the total reports available to over 550. By 
the end of 2015, we listed over 1,700 clinical trials on the GSK 
online system, www.clinicalstudydatarequest.com, and have 
completed our commitment to list completed global studies 
conducted since the formation of GSK in 2000. The online system 
allows researchers to request access to anonymised patient-level 
data from the Group’s clinical trials after the medicine has been 
approved or terminated and the trial has been published. 

We have a Global Human Biological Samples Management (HBSM) 
governance framework in place to oversee the ethical and lawful 
acquisition and management of human biological samples. Our 
global HBSM network champions HBSM activities and provides an 
experienced group to support internal Sample Custodians on best 
practice. 

It remains an important priority to enhance our data integrity 
controls. During 2015 we began work on a new written standard  
to seek to ensure the integrity of our data across Research and 
Development (R&D). A Data Integrity Committee was in place 
throughout the year to provide oversight and a Data Integrity  
Quality Assurance team began conducting assessments intended 
to provide independent business monitoring of our internal controls 
for R&D activities. 

The Chief Regulatory Officer oversees the activities of the 
Regulatory Governance Board which includes promoting 
compliance with regulatory requirements and Group-wide 
standards, making regulatory services more efficient and agile,  
and further aligning regulatory capabilities with our international 
business needs at the enterprise and local levels.

The Group strictly prohibits promotional practices prior to marketing 
authorisation, and care is taken to seek to ensure that Scientific 
Engagement activity is not perceived to be promotional.

Specific accountability and authorisation for Scientific Engagement 
resides within the Medical Governance framework that is overseen by 
the Medical Governance Executive Committee (MGEC), accountable 
to the Chief Medical Officer. MGEC is responsible for oversight of 
applicable Policies and seeking to ensure the highest level of integrity 
and continuous development of Scientific Engagement at GSK. This 
framework seeks to ensure the right level of accountability and clear 
programme guidance above country across R&D business units and 
in Local Operating Companies (LOC). 

The Group takes an integrated approach to managing both Scientific 
Engagement and Commercial Practices related risks, including a 
combined guidance document for Promotional Code and Scientific 
Engagement standards. In this way, those considerations and risks 
that are common to both Scientific Engagement and Commercial 
Practices such as ABAC and Healthcare Professionals (HCP) 
engagements are managed in the right context and in one place  
to seek to ensure clarity and clear lines of accountability.

 
 
 
 
 
Environment, health and safety and sustainability

Risk definition
Failure to manage EHSS risks in line with our objectives and 
policies and with relevant laws and regulations.

Risk impact
Failure to manage EHSS risks could lead to significant harm to 
people, the environment and communities in which we operate, 
fines, failure to meet stakeholder expectations and regulatory 
requirements, litigation or regulatory action, and damage to the 
Group’s reputation and could materially and adversely affect our 
financial results.

Context
The Group is subject to health, safety and environmental laws of 
various jurisdictions. These laws impose duties to protect people, 
the environment and the communities in which we operate as well 
as potential obligations to remediate contaminated sites. We have 
also been identified as a potentially responsible party under the 
US Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and 
Liability Act at a number of sites for remediation costs relating to 
our use or ownership of such sites. Failure to manage these 
environmental risks properly could result in litigation, regulatory 
action and additional remedial costs that may materially and 
adversely affect our financial results. See Note 45 to the financial 
statements, ‘Legal proceedings’, for a discussion of the 
environmental related proceedings in which we are involved. We 
routinely accrue amounts related to our liabilities for such matters.

Mitigating activities
The Corporate Executive Team is responsible for EHSS 
governance for the Group under a global policy. Under that policy, 
the CET seeks to ensure there is a control framework in place to 
manage the risks, impacts and legal compliance issues that relate 
to EHSS and for assigning responsibility to senior managers for 
providing and maintaining those controls. Individual managers seek 
to ensure that the EHSS control framework is effective and well 
implemented in their respective business area and that it is fully 
compliant with all applicable laws and regulations, adequately 
resourced, maintained, communicated, and monitored. 
Additionally, each employee is personally responsible for ensuring 
that all applicable local standard operating procedures are 
followed and expected to take responsibility for EHSS matters.

Our risk-based, proactive approach is articulated in our refreshed 
Global EHS Standards which support our EHSS policy and 
objective to discover, develop, manufacture, supply and sell our 
products without harming people or the environment. In addition  
to the design and provision of safe facilities, plant and equipment, 
we operate rigorous procedures that help us eliminate hazards 
where practicable and protect employees’ health and well-being. 

Through our continuing efforts to improve environmental 
sustainability we have reduced our value chain carbon intensity  
per pack, water consumption and waste generation. We actively 
manage our environmental remediation obligations and seek to 
ensure practices are environmentally sustainable and compliant.

Our EHSS performance results are shared with the public each 
year in our Responsible Business Supplement.

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Risk definition
Failure to protect and maintain access to critical or sensitive 
computer systems or information.

Risk impact
Failure to adequately protect critical and sensitive systems  
and information may result in loss of commercial or strategic 
advantage, damage to our reputation, litigation, or other business 
disruption including regulatory sanction, which could materially 
and adversely affect our financial results.

Context
We rely on critical and sensitive systems and data, such as 
corporate strategic plans, sensitive personally identifiable 
information, intellectual property, manufacturing systems and trade 
secrets. There is the potential that malicious or careless actions 
expose our computer systems or information to misuse or 
unauthorised disclosure. 

Several GSK employees were indicted for theft of GSK research 
information. While the charges against the individuals are 
concerning, based on what we know, we do not believe this 
breach has had any material impact on the company’s R&D activity 
or ongoing business. GSK is conducting a full internal review into 
what occurred, and planning to continue to enhance the multiple 
layers of data protection that we already have in place.

Mitigating activities
The Group has a global information protection policy that is 
supported through a dedicated programme of activity. To increase 
our focus on information security, the Group established the 
Information Protection & Privacy function to provide strategy, 
direction, and oversight while enhancing our global information 
security capabilities. 

We assess changes in our information protection risk environment 
through briefings by government agencies, subscription to 
commercial threat intelligence services and knowledge sharing 
with other Pharmaceutical and cross-industry companies. 

We aim to use industry best practices as part of our information 
security policies, processes and technologies and invest in 
strategies that are commensurate with the changing nature of  
the security threat landscape. 

We are also subject to various laws that govern the processing  
of Personally Identifiable Information (Pll). the Group’s Binding 
Corporate Rules (BCRs) have been approved by the UK 
Information Commissioner’s Office for human resource and 
research activities data. BCRs have been signed by 23 European 
states allowing us transfer PII internationally between the Group’s 
entities without individual privacy agreements in each European 
Union country.

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GSK Annual Report 2015  239

 
 
 
 
 
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Principal risks and uncertainties
Risk factors – continued

Crisis and continuity management

Risk definition
Failure to deliver a continuous supply of compliant finished 
product; inability to recover and sustain critical operations, 
including key supply chains, following a disruption, or to respond  
to a crisis incident, in a timely manner.

Risk impact
We recognise that failure to supply of our products can adversely 
impact consumers and patients who rely on them. A material 
interruption of supply or exclusion from healthcare programmes 
could expose us to litigation or regulatory action, incurring of fines 
or disgorgement and materially and adversely affect the Group’s 
financial results. The Group’s international operations, and those  
of its partners, maintain a vast global footprint also expose our 
workforce, facilities, operations and information technology to 
potential disruption resulting from a natural event (e.g. storm or 
earthquake), a man-made event (e.g. civil unrest, terrorism), or  
a global emergency (e.g. Ebola outbreak, Flu pandemic). It is 
important for GSK to have robust crisis management and recovery 
plans in place to manage such events.

Context
Our supply chain operations are subject to review and approval by 
various regulatory agencies that effectively provide our licence to 
operate. Failure by our manufacturing and distribution facilities or 
by suppliers of key services and materials could lead to litigation or 
regulatory action such as product recalls and seizures, interruption 
of supply, delays in the approval of new products, and suspension 
of manufacturing operations pending resolution of manufacturing 
or logistics issues. 

Materials and services provided by third-party suppliers are 
necessary for the commercial production of our products, 
including active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), antigens, 
intermediates, commodities and components necessary for  
the manufacture and packaging of many of our Pharmaceutical, 
Vaccine and Consumer Healthcare products. Some of the 
third-party services procured, such as services provided by 
contract manufacturing organisations and clinical research 
organisations to support development of key products, are 
important to ensure continuous operation of our businesses. 
Although we undertake business continuity planning, single 
sourcing of certain components, bulk API, finished products,  
and services creates a risk of failure of supply in the event of 
regulatory non-compliance or physical disruption at the 
manufacturing sites or logistics system.

The failure of a small number of single-source, third-party suppliers 
or service providers to fulfil their contractual obligations in a timely 
manner or as a result of regulatory non-compliance or physical 
disruption of logistics and manufacturing sites may result in delays 
or service interruptions.

Through effective crisis management and business continuity 
planning we are committed to providing for the health and safety  
of our people, minimising damage and impact to the Group, and 
maintaining functional operations following a natural or man-made 
disaster, or a public health emergency. 

Mitigating activities
Our supply chain model is designed to seek to ensure the supply, 
quality and security of our products globally. We closely monitor, 
through the Supply Chain Governance Committees, the inventory 
status and delivery of our products to seek to ensure that our 
customers have the medicines, vaccines and products they need. 

The improved linkage between commercial forecasting and 
manufacturing made possible by our Core Commercial Cycle 
methodology should over time, decrease the risk associated with 
demand fluctuations impacting our ability to supply or write-offs 
associated with product exceeding expiry dating. During 2015, 
each node of the supply chain was optimised to seek to ensure 
adequate safety stock while balancing working capital associated 
with the end-to-end supply chain. 

Safety stocks and backup supply arrangements for medically-
critical and high-revenue products are in place to help mitigate  
this risk. In addition, the compliance of manufacturing external 
suppliers is routinely monitored in order to identify and manage 
supply base risks. Where practical, dependencies on single 
sources of critical items are removed. Our reliance on single 
source components has been further reduced for certain key 
products through qualification of alternative materials that will help 
improve supply chain robustness. In cases, where dual sourcing is 
not possible, an inventory strategy has been developed to protect 
the supply chain from unanticipated disruption. 

We continued to implement anti-counterfeit systems such as 
product serialisation in accordance with emerging supply chain 
requirements around the world. 

CCM governance for the Group is set forth in a global policy. 
Under that policy, each business unit and functional area head 
(‘BU’) ensures effective crisis management and business 
continuity plans are in place that include authorised response  
and recovery strategies, key areas of responsibility and clear 
communication routes before a business disruption occurs. 
Additionally, each BU is represented on a CCM governance board 
which performs risk oversight and provides vital information to the 
CCM programme team regarding new threats, acquisitions or 
significant business or organisational changes. 

A dedicated team of CCM experts supports the business.  
Their responsibilities include: chairing the governance board; 
coordinating crisis management and business continuity training; 
facilitating exercises and monitoring to provide for global 
consistency and alignment; and centrally storing and monitoring 
updates for plans supporting our critical business processes. 
These activities help ensure an appropriate level of readiness and 
response capability is maintained. We also develop and maintain 
partnerships with external bodies like the Business Continuity 
Institute and the UN International Strategy for Disaster Risk 
Reduction which helps improve our business continuity initiatives 
in disaster prone areas and supports the development of 
community resilience to disasters. 

We continue to evaluate the implications for our business of a 
possible exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union. 
While the UK leaving the EU would create uncertainty and 
potentially add complexity to a wide range of our business 
activities, we do not currently believe that there would be a  
material adverse impact on the Group’s results in the longer term.

We continually improve our CCM risk management programme 
and tools based on learning from plan activations. For example,  
the Group has implemented a global system that provides GSK 
leaders with access to the vital information they need to effectively 
respond to disruptions and for monitoring the status of their 
preparedness and response capability. We regularly solicit and 
take recommendations for improvements from many different 
sources/suppliers charged with the responsibility for assisting  
in managing GSK’s risks and introduce new tools to improve  
our CCM practices.

240  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
Shareholder information

Share capital and control

Details of our issued share capital and the number of shares  
held in Treasury as at 31 December 2015 can be found in  
Note 33 to the financial statements, ‘Share capital and share 
premium account’. 

Our Ordinary Shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange 
and are also quoted on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)  
in the form of American Depositary Shares (ADS). Each ADS 
represents two Ordinary Shares. For details of listed debt and 
where it is listed refer to Note 31 to the financial statements,  
‘Net debt’.

Holders of Ordinary Shares and ADS are entitled to receive 
dividends (when declared), the company’s Annual Report, to 
attend and speak at general meetings of the company, to appoint 
proxies and to exercise voting rights.

There are no restrictions on the transfer, or limitations on the 
holding, of Ordinary Shares and ADS and no requirements to 
obtain approval prior to any transfers. No Ordinary Shares or ADS 
carry any special rights with regard to control of the company and 
there are no restrictions on voting rights. Major shareholders have 
the same voting rights per share as all other shareholders. There 
are no known arrangements under which financial rights are held 
by a person other than the holder of the shares and no known 
agreements on restrictions on share transfers or on voting rights.

Shares acquired through our share schemes and plans rank 
equally with the other shares in issue and have no special rights. 
The trustees of our Employee Share Ownership Plan trusts have 
waived their rights to dividends on shares held by those trusts.

Exchange controls and other limitations affecting security 
holders
Other than certain economic sanctions, which may be in force  
from time to time, there are currently no applicable laws, decrees  
or regulations restricting the import or export of capital or affecting 
the remittance of dividends or other payments to holders of the 
company’s shares who are non-residents of the UK. Similarly, other 
than certain economic sanctions which may be in force from time to 
time, there are no limitations relating only to non-residents of the UK 
under English law or the company’s Articles of Association on the 
right to be a holder of, and to vote in respect of, the company’s 
shares.

Interests in voting rights
Other than as stated below, as far as we are aware, there are no 
persons with significant direct or indirect holdings in the company. 
Information provided to the company pursuant to the Financial 
Conduct Authority’s (FCA) Disclosure and Transparency Rules 
(DTRs) is published on a Regulatory Information Service and on  
the company’s website.

At 10 March 2016, the company had received notifications in 
accordance with the FCA’s DTRs of the following notifiable 
interests in the voting rights in the company’s issued share capital:

BlackRock, Inc.
Legal & General Group Plc

No. of 
shares
327,190,315
147,931,457

*Percentage of 
issued 
capital (%)
6.72
3.04

Share buy-back programme
The Board has been authorised to issue and allot Ordinary Shares 
under Article 9 of the company’s Articles of Association. The 
power under Article 9 and the authority for the company to make 
purchases of its own shares are subject to shareholder authorities 
which are sought on an annual basis at our Annual General 
Meeting (AGM). Any shares purchased by the company may  
be cancelled or held as Treasury shares or used for satisfying 
share options and grants under Group employee share plans.

Our programme covers purchases of shares for cancellation or  
to be held as Treasury shares, in accordance with the authority 
renewed by shareholders at the AGM in May 2015, when the 
company was authorised to purchase a maximum of just over  
486 million shares. Details of shares purchased, those cancelled, 
and those held as Treasury shares are disclosed in Note 33 to the 
financial statements, ‘Share capital and share premium account’.

In determining specific share repurchase levels, the company 
considers the development of free cash flow during the year. Given 
the impact of the sustained strength of Sterling on free cash flow, 
the company suspended its share repurchase programme during 
2014 and no shares were purchased during the financial year 
ended 2015. 

The company confirms that it does not currently intend to make any 
further market purchases in 2016. The company will review the 
potential for future share buy-backs during 2017 in line with its 
usual annual cycle and subject to return and ratings criteria.

Market capitalisation
The market capitalisation, based on shares in issue excluding 
Treasury shares, of GSK at 31 December 2015 was £66.82 billion. 

At that date, GSK was the third largest company by market 
capitalisation in the FTSE index.

Share price

At 1 January
At 31 December
(Decrease)/increase
High during the year
Low during the year

2015 
£
13.76
13.73

(0.2)%

16.42
12.38

2014 
£
16.12
13.76
(14.6)%
16.91
13.24

2013 
£
13.35
16.12

20.7%
17.82
13.35

The table above sets out the middle market closing prices.  
The company’s share price decreased by 0.2% in 2015. This 
compares with a decrease in the FTSE 100 index of 4.9% during 
the year. The share price on 10 March 2016 was £13.86.

UK£ 

18 

17 

16 

15 

14 

13 

12 

11 

10 

US$ 

75

70

65

60

55

50

45

40

35

*  Percentage of Ordinary Shares in issue, excluding Treasury shares.

We have not acquired or disposed of any interests in our own 
shares during the period under review.

09 
31/12/12 

31/12/13 

31/12/14 

30
31/12/15 

UK share price (UK£)

US ADS price (US$)

GSK Annual Report 2015  241

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Shareholder information
continued

Nature of trading market 
The following tables set out, for the periods indicated, the high and low middle market closing quotations in pence for the shares on the 
London Stock Exchange, and the high and low closing prices in US dollars for the ADS on the NYSE. 

March 2016*
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
Quarter ended 31 December 2015
Quarter ended 30 September 2015
Quarter ended 30 June 2015
Quarter ended 31 March 2015
Quarter ended 31 December 2014
Quarter ended 30 September 2014
Quarter ended 30 June 2014
Quarter ended 31 March 2014
Year ended 31 December 2015
Year ended 31 December 2014
Year ended 31 December 2013
Year ended 31 December 2012
Year ended 31 December 2011

*  to 10 March 2016

Analysis of shareholdings at 31 December 2015

Holding of shares
Up to 1,000 
1,001 to 5,000 
5,001 to 100,000 
100,001 to 1,000,000 
Over 1,000,000 

Held by
Nominee companies
Investment and trust companies
Insurance companies
Individuals and other corporate bodies
BNY (Nominees) Limited
Held as Treasury shares by GlaxoSmithKline

Ordinary Shares
Pence per share 
Low
1370
1346
1345
1280
1313
1268
1238
1275
1268
1238
1323
1357
1324
1377
1543
1554
1238
1324
1335
1318
1128

High
1415
1435
1439
1392
1397
1421
1339
1458
1421
1458
1642
1635
1502
1583
1666
1691
1642
1691
1782
1508
1474

ADS

US dollars per share

Low
39.10
38.50
38.90
39.10
39.87
38.74
37.56
39.41
38.74
37.56
41.65
41.68
41.30
45.97
51.55
50.90
37.56
41.30
43.47
41.90
36.33

High
40.00
42.10
41.29
41.19
43.11
43.53
40.64
45.14
43.53
45.14
48.23
48.81
47.14
54.52
56.39
56.66
48.81
56.66
53.68
47.45
45.74

Number of 
accounts

% of total 
accounts

% of total 
shares

Number of 
shares

95,993
31,335
6,754
724
360
135,166

6,430
25
5
128,704
1
1

71.02
23.18
5.00
0.53
0.27
100.00

4.76
0.02
0.00
95.22
0.00
0.00

0.66
1.25
1.77
4.68
91.64
100.00

64.67
0.07
0.00
10.58
15.51
9.17

35,453,438
66,940,529
94,807,078
250,764,319
4,913,342,283
5,361,307,647

3,467,199,262
4,015,180
4,401
567,192,207
831,380,647
491,515,950

BNY Mellon is the Depositary for the company’s ADS, which are listed on the NYSE. Ordinary Shares representing the company’s  
ADR programme, which is managed by the Depositary, are registered in the name of BNY (Nominees) Limited. At 10 March 2016,  
BNY (Nominees) Limited held 827,207,151 Ordinary Shares representing 16.98% of the issued share capital (excluding Treasury shares) 
at that date.

At 10 March 2016, the number of holders of Ordinary Shares in the US was 1,030 with holdings of 1,054,172 Ordinary Shares, and the 
number of registered holders of ADS was 24,763 with holdings of 413,603,575 ADS. Certain of these Ordinary Shares and ADS were 
held by brokers or other nominees. As a result, the number of holders of record or registered holders in the US is not representative of 
the number of beneficial holders or of the residence of beneficial holders.

242  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
Dividends
The company pays dividends quarterly and continues to return cash 
to shareholders through its dividend policy. Dividends remain an 
essential component of total shareholder return and the company  
is committed to increasing its dividend over the long-term. Details 
of the dividends declared, the amounts and the payment dates are 
given in Note 16 to the financial statements, ‘Dividends’.

GSK completed a transaction with Novartis in March 2015, 
whereby GSK and Novartis created a new world-leading 
Consumer Healthcare business, GSK acquired Novartis’ global 
Vaccines business and GSK divested its marketed Oncology 
portfolio and related R&D activities.

GSK plans to use the net cash transaction proceeds to fund a 
return of approximately £1 billion (20p per share) to shareholders 
via a special dividend to be paid with GSK’s Q4 2015 ordinary 
dividend payment.

Dividends per share
The table below sets out the dividend per share and per ADS for the 
last five years. The dividend per ADS is translated into US dollars at 
applicable exchange rates.

Year 
2015
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2011

Dividend
Special*

Supplemental**

pence
20
80
80
78
74
70
5

US$
–1
–1
2.59
2.47
2.35
2.25
0.16

1    The Q4 2015 interim ordinary dividend and special dividend 

receivable by ADR holders will be calculated based on the exchange 
rate on 12 April 2016. The cumulative dividend receivable by ADR 
holders for Q1, Q2 and Q3 2015 was 1.71 US$.   

*    The 2015 special dividend relates to the return of part of the net  

cash proceeds from the Novartis transaction.

 **   The 2011 supplemental dividend related to the disposal of certain 
non-core OTC brands in North America. This was paid with the  
fourth quarter ordinary dividend for 2011.

Dividend fee for ADR holders
GSK introduced a dividend fee for ADR holders with effect from  
the Q1 2015 dividend payment, authorised under the terms of the 
amended and restated Deposit Agreement. A notice was provided 
to registered ADR holders on 6 April 2015.

The fee was introduced to offset, in part, the costs related to  
SEC registration including Sarbanes-Oxley related expenses, 
administration of the ADS Facility and the maintenance of our 
NYSE listing fees. The fee is expected to remain in place for  
future dividends.

The annual fee is currently set at $0.02 per ADR (or $0.005 per 
ADR per quarter). Under the Depositary Agreement, GSK can 
charge up to 5 cent per ADR.

Dividend calendar

Quarter

Q4 2015
and special  
dividend

Q1 2016

ADS ex-dividend 
date

Ex-dividend  
date

Record date 

Payment date 

17 February 2016 18 February 2016 19 February 2016

14 April 2016

11 May 2016

12 May 2016

13 May 2016

14 July 2016

Q2 2016

10 August 2016

11 August 2016

12 August 2016 13 October 2016

Q3 2016

2 November 2016 3 November 2016 4 November 2016

12 January 2017

Financial calendar

Event 
Quarter 1 results’ announcement
Annual General Meeting
Quarter 2 results’ announcement
Quarter 3 results’ announcement
Preliminary/Quarter 4 results’ announcement
Annual Report publication
Annual Report distribution

Date
April/May 2016
May 2016
July 2016
October 2016
February 2017 
February/March 2017
March 2017

Information about the company, including the share price, is available 
on our website at www.gsk.com. Information made available on the 
website does not constitute part of this Annual Report.

Results announcements
Results announcements are issued to the London Stock Exchange 
and are available on its news service. They are also sent to the  
US Securities and Exchange Commission and the NYSE, issued  
to the media and made available on our website.

Financial reports 
The company publishes an Annual Report which is made available 
on our website from the date of publication. Shareholders may 
elect to receive the Annual Report by contacting the registrar. 
Alternatively, shareholders may elect to receive notification by 
email of the publication of financial reports by registering on  
www.shareview.co.uk.

Copies of previous financial reports are available on our website. 
Printed copies can be obtained from our registrar in the UK and  
from the GSK Response Center in the US (see pages 246 and 
247 for the contact details).

Annual General Meeting 2016
2.30pm (UK time) on Thursday 5 May 2016  
The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, Broad Sanctuary, 
Westminster, London SW1P 3EE.

The AGM is the company’s principal forum for communication  
with private shareholders. In addition to the formal business,  
there will be a presentation by the CEO on the performance of  
the Group and its future development. There will be an opportunity 
for questions to be asked to the Board. Chairmen of the Board’s 
Committees will take questions relating to those Committees.

Investors holding shares through a nominee service should arrange 
with that nominee service to be appointed as a proxy in respect of 
their shareholding in order to attend and vote at the meeting. 

ADR holders wishing to attend the meeting must obtain a proxy 
from BNY Mellon, as Depositary, by notifying them of your request 
to do so. This will enable you to attend and vote on the business  
to be transacted. ADR holders may instruct BNY Mellon as to the 
way in which the shares represented by their ADR should be voted 
by completing and returning the voting card provided by the 
Depositary.

Documents on display
The Articles of Association of the company and Directors’ service 
contracts or, where applicable, letters of appointment between 
Directors and the company or any of its subsidiaries (and any side 
letters relating to severance terms and pension arrangements) are 
available for inspection at the company’s registered office and will  
be made available for inspection at the AGM.

GSK Annual Report 2015  243

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Shareholder information
continued

Tax information for shareholders
A summary of certain UK tax and US federal income tax 
consequences for holders of shares and ADR who are citizens of 
the UK or the US is set out below. It is not a complete analysis of 
all the possible tax consequences of the purchase, ownership or 
sale of these securities. It is intended only as a general guide. 
Holders are advised to consult their advisers with respect to the 
tax consequences of the purchase, ownership or sale of their 
shares or ADR and the consequences under state and local tax 
laws in the US and the implications of the current UK/US tax 
conventions. 

US holders of ADR generally will be treated as the owners of the 
underlying shares for the purposes of the current US/UK double 
taxation conventions relating to income and gains (Income Tax 
Convention), estate and gift taxes (Estate and Gift Tax 
Convention), and for purposes of the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986, as amended (the Code). 

UK shareholders 
This summary only applies to a UK resident shareholder that holds 
shares as capital assets. 

Taxation of dividends 
Different regimes apply to the taxation of dividend income payable 
to UK resident individuals in UK tax years up to 5 April 2016 and to 
those tax years commencing on or after 6 April 2016.

For UK tax years up to and including 2015/16, UK resident 
shareholders will generally be subject to UK income tax on the full 
amount of dividends paid, grossed up for the amount of a tax 
credit. The tax credit may be set against the individual’s income tax 
liability in respect of the gross dividend, but is not repayable to 
shareholders with a tax liability of less than the associated tax 
credit. To the extent that individuals’ income exceeds the basic rate 
limit, but not the higher rate limit an upper dividend rate applies, 
which is set at 32.5% of the grossed up dividend figure and for 
those whose income exceeds the additional rate limit of £150,000, 
an additional dividend rate of 37.5% will normally apply.

For UK tax years from 2016/17 onwards, dividend tax credits will 
no longer apply and UK resident individuals will be entitled instead 
to a dividend tax allowance of up to £5,000, so that the first 
£5,000 of dividends received in a tax year will be free of tax. 
Dividends in excess of this allowance will be taxed at 7.5% for 
basic rate taxpayers, 32.5% for higher rate taxpayers and 38.1% 
for additional rate taxpayers.

UK resident shareholders that are corporation taxpayers should 
note that dividends payable on ordinary shares are generally 
entitled to exemption from corporation tax. 

Taxation of capital gains 
UK shareholders may be liable for UK tax on gains on the disposal 
of shares or ADR. For disposals by individuals and subject to the 
availability of any exemption or relief such as the annual exempt 
amount, a taxable capital gain accruing on a disposal of shares or 
ADR will be taxed at 28% if, after all allowable deductions, such 
shareholders’ taxable income for the tax year exceeds the basic 
rate income tax limit. In other cases, a taxable capital gain accruing 
on a disposal of shares or ADR may be taxed at 18% or 28% or at 
a combination of both rates. Corporation taxpayers may be entitled 
to an indexation allowance which applies to reduce capital gains to 
the extent that such gains arise due to inflation. Indexation 
allowance may reduce a chargeable gain but will not create an 
allowable loss. 

Inheritance tax 
Individual (UK-domiciled or otherwise) shareholders may be liable 
to UK inheritance tax on the transfer of shares or ADR. Tax may be 
charged on the amount by which the value of the shareholder’s 
estate is reduced as a result of any transfer by way of lifetime gift 
or other disposal at less than full market value. In the case of a 
bequest on death, tax may be charged on the value of the shares 
at the date of the shareholder’s death. If such a gift or other 
disposal were subject to both UK inheritance tax and US estate or 
gift tax, the Estate and Gift Tax Convention would generally 
provide for tax paid in the US to be credited against tax payable in 
the UK. 

Stamp duty and Stamp Duty Reserve Tax
UK stamp duty and/or stamp duty reserve tax (SDRT) will, subject 
to certain exemptions, be payable on the transfer of shares at a 
rate of 0.5% (rounded up to the nearest £5 in the case of stamp 
duty) of the consideration for the transfer. Notwithstanding this, 
provided that an instrument is executed in pursuance of the 
agreement that gave rise to the charge to SDRT and that 
instrument is stamped within six years of the agreement (including 
being stamped as exempt) any SDRT charge should be cancelled 
and any SDRT which has already been paid will be repaid.

US shareholders 
This summary only applies to a shareholder (who is a citizen or 
resident of the US or a domestic corporation or a person that is 
otherwise subject to US federal income tax on a net income basis 
in respect of the shares or ADR) that holds shares or ADR as 
capital assets, is not resident in the UK for UK tax purposes and 
does not hold shares for the purposes of a trade, profession or 
vocation that is carried on in the UK through a branch or agency. 

The summary also does not address the tax treatment of holders 
that are subject to special tax rules, such as banks, tax-exempt 
entities, insurance companies, dealers in securities or currencies, 
persons that hold shares or ADR as part of an integrated 
investment (including a ‘straddle’) comprised of a share or ADR 
and one or more other positions, and persons that own (directly or 
indirectly) 10% or more of the voting stock of the company, nor 
does it address tax treatment that may be applicable as a result of 
international income tax treaties.

244  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
Taxation of capital gains 
Generally, US holders will not be subject to UK capital gains tax, 
but will be subject to US tax on capital gains realised on the sale 
or other disposal of shares or ADR. Such gains will be long-term 
capital gains (subject to reduced rates of taxation for individual 
holders) if the shares or ADR were held for more than one year, 
from the date the shares were vested/released. Short-term capital 
gains can be subject to taxation of rates of up to 43.4%, whereas 
long-term capital gains may be subject to rates of up to 23.8%.  
State and local tax rates on capital gains may also apply.

Information reporting and backup withholding 
Dividends and payments of the proceeds on a sale of shares or 
ADR, paid within the US or through certain US-related financial 
intermediaries are subject to information reporting and may be 
subject to backup withholding unless the US holder is a 
corporation or other exempt recipient or provides a taxpayer 
identification number and certifies that no loss of exemption has 
occurred. Non-US holders generally are not subject to information 
reporting or backup withholding, but may be required to provide a 
certification of their non-US status in connection with payments 
received. Any amounts withheld will be allowed as a refund or 
credit against a holder’s US federal income tax liability provided 
the required information is furnished to the Internal Revenue 
Service. 

Estate and gift taxes 
Under the Estate and Gift Tax Convention, a US shareholder is not 
generally subject to UK inheritance tax. 

Stamp duty 
UK stamp duty and/or SDRT will, subject to certain exemptions,  
be payable on any transfer of shares to the ADR custodian or 
depository at a rate of 1.5% of the amount of any consideration 
provided (if transferred on sale), or their value (if transferred for  
no consideration). 

However, no stamp duty or SDRT should be payable on the 
transfer of, or agreement to transfer, an ADR. 

Taxation of dividends 
The gross amount of dividends received is treated as foreign 
source dividend income for US tax purposes. It is not eligible for 
the dividend received deduction allowed to US corporations. 
Dividends on ADR are payable in US dollars; dividends on shares 
are payable in pounds Sterling. Dividends paid in pounds Sterling 
will be included in income in the US dollar amount calculated by 
reference to the exchange rate on the day the dividends are 
received by the holder. Subject to certain exceptions for short-term 
or hedged positions, an individual eligible US holder will be subject 
to US taxation at a maximum rate of 23.8% in respect of qualified 
dividends. A qualified dividend as defined by the US Internal 
Revenue Service is a dividend that meets the following criteria:

1.   Must be issued by a US corporation, a corporation incorporated 

in a US possession, or a corporation that is eligible for the 
benefits of a comprehensive income tax treaty deemed 
satisfactory, as published by the IRS. 

2.   The dividends are not listed with the IRS as dividends that do 

not qualify.

3.   The required dividend holding period has been met. The shares 
must have been owned by you for more than 60 days of the 
“holding period” – which is defined as the 121-day period that 
begins 60 days before the ex-dividend date, or the day in which 
the stock trades without the dividend priced in. For example, if a 
stock’s ex-dividend date is October 1, the shares must be held 
for more than 60 days in the period between August 2 and 
November 30 of that year in order to count as a qualified 
dividend.

Dividends that are not qualified are subject to taxation at the US 
federal graduated tax rates, at a maximum rate of 43.4%. Some 
types of dividends are automatically excluded from being qualified 
dividends, even if they meet the other requirements. These include 
(but are not limited to):

1.  Capital gains distributions

2.  Dividends on bank deposits

3.   Dividends held by a corporation in an Employee Stock 

Ownership Plan (ESOP)

4.  Dividends paid by tax-exempt corporations

US state and local tax rates on qualified and non-qualified 
dividends may vary and would be assessed in addition to the 
federal tax rates communicated above.

GSK Annual Report 2015  245

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Shareholder information
continued

Shareholder services and contacts 
Registrar
The company’s registrar is:
Equiniti Limited
Aspect House, Spencer Road, Lancing, BN99 6DA
www.shareview.co.uk
Tel: 0371 384 2991 (in the UK)*
Tel: +44(0)121 415 7067 (outside the UK)

Equiniti provides a range of services for shareholders:

Service

What it offers

How to participate

Dividend Reinvestment Plan  
(DRIP)

As an alternative to receiving cash dividends you may choose to 
reinvest your dividends to buy more GSK shares. 

A DRIP election form can be downloaded 
from www.shareview.co.uk or  
requested by telephoning Equiniti.

Dividend payment direct to your bank account 
(Bank Mandate)

If you currently receive your dividends by cheque through the post, 
you can instead have them paid directly into your bank or building 
society account. This is quicker, more secure and avoids the risk 
of your cheque going astray.

A dividend bank mandate form can  
be downloaded from www.shareview.co.uk  
or requested by telephoning Equiniti.

Dividend payment direct to bank account for 
overseas shareholders 

Instead of waiting for a sterling cheque to arrive by post, Equiniti 
will convert your dividend into your local currency and send it 
direct to your local bank account. This service is available in over 
100 countries worldwide. 

For more details on this service and the costs 
involved please contact Equiniti.

Electronic communications

Shareholders may elect to receive electronic notifications of 
company communications including our Annual Report, dividend 
payments (if paid by way of a Bank Mandate), access to electronic 
tax vouchers and the availability of online voting for all general 
meetings. Each time GSK mails out hard copy shareholder 
documents you will receive an email containing a link to the 
document or relevant website.

You can register at www.shareview.co.uk

Shareview portfolio service

This enables you to create a free online portfolio to view your 
share balance and movements, update your address and dividend 
payment instructions and register your votes for our AGM.

You can register at www.shareview.co.uk

Duplicate publications or mailings

If you receive duplicate copies of this report or other mailings, 
please contact Equiniti and they will arrange for your accounts to 
be merged into one for your convenience and to avoid waste and 
unnecessary costs.

Please contact Equiniti.

Share dealing service†
(please note that market trading hours  
are from 8.00am to 4.30pm UK time, 
Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays in 
England and Wales))

Shareholders may trade shares, either held in certificated form or 
held in our Corporate Sponsored Nominee, by internet, telephone 
or by a postal dealing service provided by Equiniti Financial 
Services Limited.

Corporate Sponsored Nominee Account

This is a convenient way to manage your shares without requiring 
a share certificate. The service provides a facility for you to hold 
your shares in a nominee company sponsored by the company. 
You will continue to receive dividend payments, annual reports and 
can attend and vote at the company’s general meetings. 
Shareholders’ names do not appear on the publicly available share 
register and the service is free to join.

Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs)†

The company has arranged for Equiniti Financial Services Limited 
to provide a GSK Corporate ISA to hold GSK Ordinary Shares. 

For internet transactions, please log  
on to www.shareview.co.uk/dealing.

For telephone transactions, please  
call 0345 603 7037 (in the UK) or  
+44 (0)121 415 7560 (outside the UK).

For postal transactions, please call  
0371 384 2991* to request a  
dealing form.

An application form can be requested  
from www.shareview.co.uk or  
by telephoning Equiniti on  
0371 384 2991*.

Details are available from  
www.shareview.co.uk or can be 
requested by telephoning Equiniti, 
on 0345 300 0430. Lines are open 8.00am 
to 4.30pm for dealing, and until 6.00pm  
for enquiries Monday to Friday (excluding 
public holidays in England and Wales). 

*   UK lines are open from 8.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays in England and Wales).

†   The provision of share dealing details is not intended to be an invitation or inducement to engage in an investment activity.  

Advice on share dealing should be obtained from a stockbroker or independent financial adviser.

246  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
ADR Depositary

The ADR programme is administered by The Bank of New  
York Mellon:

Contacts
Investor relations
Investor relations may be contacted as follows:

BNY Mellon Shareowner Services 
PO Box 30170 
College Station, TX 77842-3170

Overnight correspondence should be sent to: 
BNY Mellon Shareowner Services 
211 Quality Circle, Suite 210 
College Station, TX 77845

www.mybnymdr.com
Tel:   +1 877 353 1154 (US toll free) 
Tel:   +1 201 680 6825 (outside the US) 
email:  shrrelations@cpushareownerservices.com

UK
980 Great West Road 
Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 9GS 
Tel: +44 (0)20 8047 5000

US
5 Crescent Drive 
Philadelphia PA 19112 
Tel: +1 888 825 5249 (US toll free) 
Tel: +1 215 751 4611 (outside the US) 
GSK Response Center
Tel: +1 888 825 5249 (US toll free)

The Depositary also provides Global BuyDIRECT†, a direct ADS 
purchase/sale and dividend reinvestment plan for ADR holders.  
For details of how to enrol please visit www.mybnymdr.com or  
call the above helpline number to obtain an enrolment pack.

Share scam alert
If you receive an unsolicited telephone call offering to sell or buy 
your shares, please take extra care. The caller may be part of a 
highly organised financial scam.

If you are a UK shareholder, please contact the Financial Conduct 
Authority for further information on this, or other similar activities,  
at www.fca.org.uk/consumers or on its consumer helpline:

Tel: 0800 111 6768 (in the UK)* 
Tel: +44 20 7066 1000 (outside the UK)
*   Lines are open from 8.00am to 6.00pm, UK time, 
Monday to Friday, except UK public holidays, 
and 9.00am to 1.00pm on Saturdays.

Responsible Business Supplement
We are publishing our Responsible Business Supplement 2015 
online. This will outline GSK’s approach to, and performance in, 
our key responsible business areas, Health for all, Our behaviour, 
Our people and Our planet.

Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham  
Corporate PEPs
The Share Centre Limited 
Oxford House, Oxford Road, Aylesbury, Bucks HP21 8SZ 
Tel:  +44 (0)1296 414 141 
www.share.com

Donating shares to Save the Children
In 2013, GSK embarked on an ambitious global partnership with 
Save the Children to share our expertise and resources with the 
aim of helping to save the lives of one million children.

Shareholders with a small number of shares, the value of which 
makes it uneconomical to sell, may wish to consider donating them 
to Save the Children. Donated shares will be aggregated and sold 
by Save the Children who will use the funds raised to help them 
reach the above goal.†

To obtain a share donation form, please contact our registrar, 
Equiniti, who is managing the donation and sale of UK shares  
to Save the Children free of charge.

†   The provision of share dealing details is not intended to be an 
invitation or inducement to engage in an investment activity.  
Advice on share dealing should be obtained from a stockbroker 
or independent financial adviser.

GSK Annual Report 2015  247

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Other statutory disclosures

US law and regulation
A number of provisions of US law and regulation apply to the 
company because our shares are quoted on the New York Stock 
Exchange (NYSE) in the form of ADSs.

NYSE rules
In general, the NYSE rules permit the company to follow UK 
corporate governance practices instead of those applied in the 
US, provided that we explain any significant variations. This 
explanation is contained in our Form 20-F, which can be accessed 
from the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) EDGAR 
database or via our website. NYSE rules that came into effect in 
2005 require us to file annual and interim written affirmations 
concerning the Audit & Risk Committee and our statement on 
significant differences in corporate governance.

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Following a number of corporate and accounting scandals in  
the US, Congress passed the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. 
Sarbanes-Oxley is a wide-ranging piece of legislation concerned 
largely with financial reporting and corporate governance.

As recommended by the SEC, the company has established  
a Disclosure Committee. The Committee reports to the CEO,  
the CFO and to the Audit & Risk Committee. It is chaired by the 
Company Secretary and the members consist of senior managers 
from finance, legal, corporate communications and investor 
relations.

External legal counsel, the external auditors and internal experts are 
invited to attend its meetings periodically. It has responsibility for 
considering the materiality of information and, on a timely basis, 
determining the disclosure of that information. It has responsibility 
for the timely filing of reports with the SEC and the formal review  
of the Annual Report and Form 20-F. In 2015, the Committee met  
14 times.

Sarbanes-Oxley requires that the annual report on Form 20-F 
contain a statement as to whether a member of our Audit & Risk 
Committee (ARC) is an audit committee financial expert as defined 
by Sarbanes-Oxley. Such a statement for each of the relevant 
members of the ARC (Stacey Cartwright and Judy Lewent) is 
included in the Audit & Risk Committee report on page 89 and  
in their biographies on page 76. Additional disclosure 
requirements arise under section 302 and section 404 of 
Sarbanes-Oxley in respect of disclosure controls and procedures 
and internal control over financial reporting. 

Section 302: Corporate responsibility for financial reports
Sarbanes-Oxley also introduced a requirement for the CEO and  
the CFO to complete formal certifications, confirming that:

•  they have each reviewed the annual report on Form 20-F

•  based on their knowledge, the annual report on Form 20-F 

contains no material misstatements or omissions

•  based on their knowledge, the financial statements and other 
financial information fairly present, in all material respects, the 
financial condition, results of operations and cash flows as of 
the dates, and for the periods, presented in the annual report  
on Form 20-F

•  they are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure 
controls and procedures that ensure that material information is 
made known to them, and have evaluated the effectiveness of 
these controls and procedures as at the year-end, the results of 
such evaluation being contained in the annual report on Form 20-F

•  they are responsible for establishing and maintaining internal 

control over financial reporting that provides reasonable 
assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and  
the preparation of financial statements for external purposes  
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles

248  GSK Annual Report 2015

•  they have disclosed in the annual report on Form 20-F any 

changes in internal controls over financial reporting during the 
period covered by the annual report on Form 20-F that have 
materially affected, or are reasonably likely to affect materially, 
the company’s internal control over financial reporting, and they 
have disclosed, based on their most recent evaluation of internal 
control over financial reporting, to the external auditors and the 
ARC, all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the 
design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting 
which are reasonably likely to affect adversely the company’s 
ability to record, process, summarise and report financial 
information, and any fraud (regardless of materiality) involving 
persons that have a significant role in the company’s internal 
control over financial reporting.

The Group has carried out an evaluation under the supervision  
and with the participation of its management, including the CEO  
and CFO, of the effectiveness of the design and operation  
of the Group’s disclosure controls and procedures as at  
31 December 2015.

There are inherent limitations to the effectiveness of any system  
of disclosure controls and procedures, including the possibility  
of human error and the circumvention or overriding of the controls  
and procedures. Accordingly, even effective disclosure controls  
and procedures can only provide reasonable assurance of 
achieving their control objectives.

The CEO and CFO expect to complete these certifications and 
report their conclusions on the effectiveness of disclosure controls 
and procedures in March 2016, following which the certificates  
will be filed with the SEC as part of our Group’s Form 20-F.

Section 404: Management’s annual report on internal control 
over financial reporting
In accordance with the requirements of section 404 of Sarbanes-
Oxley, the following report is provided by management in respect 
of the company’s internal control over financial reporting (as 
defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the US Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934):

•  management is responsible for establishing and maintaining 

adequate internal control over financial reporting for the Group. 
Internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide 
reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial 
reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external 
purposes in accordance with IFRS 

•  management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of 

internal control over financial reporting based on the framework, 
Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by 
the Committee of Sponsoring Organisations of the Treadway 
Commission (COSO)

•  there have been no changes in the Group’s internal control over 
financial reporting during 2015 that have materially affected, 
or are reasonably likely to affect materially, the Group’s internal 
control over financial reporting

•  management has assessed the effectiveness of internal control 

over financial reporting as at 31 December 2015 and its 
conclusion will be filed as part of the Group’s Form 20-F, and 

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, which has audited the consolidated 
financial statements of the Group for the year ended 31 December 
2015, has also assessed the effectiveness of the Group’s internal 
control over financial reporting under Auditing Standard No. 5 of  
the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). 
Their audit report will be filed with the Group’s Form 20-F. 

 
 
 
 
 
Section 13(r) of the US Securities Exchange Act
Section 13(r) of the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as 
amended, requires issuers to make specific disclosure in their 
annual reports of certain types of dealings with Iran, including 
transactions or dealings with government-owned entities, as well 
as dealings with entities sanctioned for activities related to 
terrorism or proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, even 
when those activities are not prohibited by US law and do not 
involve US persons. The Group does not have a legal entity based 
in Iran, but it does export certain pharmaceutical and vaccine 
products to Iran, via sales by non-US entities, to two privately held 
Iranian distributors. The Group also does business, via non-US 
entities, in other jurisdictions targeted by sanctions laws, including 
Syria, Crimea, North Korea and Sudan. 

We do not believe that any of the Group’s direct dealings with  
Iran require specific disclosure under these requirements, and the 
Group limits sales to Iran, North Korea, Syria, Sudan and Cuba to 
essential medicines (determined in part using criteria set by the 
World Health Organization). The Group has no direct knowledge 
of the identity of its distributors’ downstream customers in Iran, 
and it is possible that these customers include entities, such as 
government-owned hospitals and pharmacies, that are owned  
or controlled directly or indirectly by the Iranian government or  
by persons or entities sanctioned in connection with terrorism  
or proliferation activities. Because the Group has no direct 
knowledge of its distributors’ customers, it cannot establish the 
proportion of gross revenue or sales potentially attributable to 
entities affiliated with the Iranian government or parties sanctioned 
for disclosable activities. As a result, the Group is reporting the 
entire gross revenues (£nil) and net losses (£0.41 million)  
from the Group’s sales to Iran in 2015.

The Group is also aware that some hospitals or other medical 
facilities in Lebanon may be affiliated with or controlled by 
Hezbollah, which is designated by the United States as a terrorist 
organisation. Again, the Group does not deal directly with such 
facilities and sells through distributors. The Group is also unable  
to identify with certainty the degree or nature of any affiliation of 
the end customers with Hezbollah, and the Group is unable to 
establish the proportion of gross revenue or sales potentially 
attributable to reportable entities. As a result, the Group is 
reporting the entire gross revenues (£37 million) and net profits  
(£15 million) from the Group’s sales to Lebanon in 2015. 

Donations to political organisations and 
political expenditure
With effect from 1 January 2009, to ensure a consistent approach  
to political contributions across the Group, we introduced a global 
policy to stop voluntarily all corporate political contributions.

In the period from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2015, the Group 
did not make any political donations to EU or non-EU organisations.

Notwithstanding the introduction of this policy, in accordance with 
the Federal Election Campaign Act in the US, we continue to 
support an employee-operated Political Action Committee (PAC) 
that facilitates voluntary political donations by eligible GSK 
employees. 

The PAC is not controlled by GSK. Decisions on the amounts and 
recipients of contributions are made by participating employees 
exercising their legal right to pool their resources and make 
political contributions, which are subject to strict limitations.  
In 2015, a total of US$446,727 (2014 – US$525,900) was 
donated to political organisations by the GSK employee PAC.

At the AGM in May 2001, shareholders first authorised the 
company to make donations to EU political organisations and to 
incur EU political expenditure, under the provisions of the Political 
Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, of up to £100,000 
each year. This authority has since been renewed annually. The 
Companies Act 2006 requires companies to continue to obtain 
shareholder approval before they can make donations to EU 
political organisations or incur EU political expenditure. 

However, we do not make and do not intend to make donations to 
political parties or independent election candidates, nor do we 
make any donations to EU political organisations or incur EU 
political expenditure. 

The definitions of political donations, political expenditure and 
political organisations used in the legislation are very wide. In 
particular, the definition of EU political organisations may extend  
to bodies such as those concerned with policy review, law reform, 
the representation of the business community and special interest 
groups such as those concerned with the environment, which the 
company and its subsidiaries might wish to support. As a result, 
the definitions may cover legitimate business activities not in the 
ordinary sense considered to be political donations or political 
expenditure.

Such activities are not designed to support any political party or 
independent election candidate. The authority which the Board  
has sought annually is a precautionary measure to ensure that  
the company and its subsidiaries do not inadvertently breach  
the legislation.

GSK Annual Report 2015  249

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Other statutory disclosures
continued

Group companies 
In accordance with Section 409 of the Companies Act 2006 a full list of subsidiaries, associates, joint ventures and joint arrangements, 
the country of incorporation and effective percentage of equity owned, as at 31 December 2015 are disclosed below. Unless otherwise 
stated the share capital disclosed comprises ordinary shares which are indirectly held by GlaxoSmithKline plc. All subsidiary companies 
are resident for tax purposes in their country of incorporation unless otherwise stated.

Country of  
incorporation

Effective % 
Ownership

Security

% Held by  
Class of Share

Name

Wholly owned subsidiaries
1506369 Alberta ULC
Action Potential Venture Capital Limited
Adechsa GmbH
Affymax Research Institute
Alenfarma – Especialidades Farmaceuticas, Limitada (iv)
Allen & Hanburys Limited (iv)
Allen & Hanburys Pharmaceutical Nigeria Limited
Allen Farmaceutica, S.A.
Allen Pharmazeutika Gesellschaft m.b.H.
Aners S.A (iv)

Barrier Therapeutics, Inc.
Beecham Group p l c
Beecham Pharmaceuticals (Pte) Limited
Beecham Pharmaceuticals S.A (iv) (vi)
Beecham Portuguesa-Produtos Farmaceuticos e Quimicos, Lda
Beecham S.A. (iv)
Biddle Sawyer Limited
Biovesta Ilaçlari Ltd. Sti.
Burroughs Wellcome & Co (Australia) Pty Limited (iv) (vi)
Burroughs Wellcome & Co (Bangladesh) Limited
Burroughs Wellcome International Limited
Caribbean Chemical Company, Ltd. 
  (will be struck off on 31.03.16)
Cascan GmbH & Co. KG
Castleton Investment Ltd (vi)
Cellzome GmbH
Cellzome Limited
Cellzome Therapeutics, Inc. (iv)
Cellzome, Inc.

Canada
England & Wales
Switzerland
United States
Portugal
England & Wales
Nigeria
Spain
Austria
Argentina

United States
England & Wales
Singapore
Ecuador
Portugal
Belgium
India
Turkey
Australia
Bangladesh
England & Wales
Cayman Islands

Germany
Mauritius
Germany
England & Wales
United States
United States

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

100
100
100
100
100
100

Charles Midgley Limited (iv)

England & Wales

100

Clarges Pharmaceuticals Limited

England & Wales

100

Colleen Corporation
Corixa Corporation
Coulter Pharmaceutical, Inc. (iv)
Dealcyber Limited
Desarrollo Energia Solar Alternativa S.L.
Domantis Limited
Duncan Flockhart Australia Pty Limited (iv) (vi)
Duncan Pharmaceuticals Philippines Inc.
Edinburgh Pharmaceutical Industries Limited
Eskaylab Limited
Etex Farmaceutica Ltda
Europharm Holding S.A.
Europharm S.A.
Fedialis Medica S.A.S.
Fipar (Thailand) Ltd (In liquidation)
Genelabs Technologies, Inc.
Glaxo AS (iv)
Glaxo Group Limited
Glaxo Kabushiki Kaisha (iv)

250  GSK Annual Report 2015

United States
United States
United States
England & Wales
Spain
England & Wales
Australia
Philippines
Scotland
England & Wales
Chile
Romania
Romania
France
Thailand
United States
Norway
England & Wales
Japan

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

Common
Ordinary
Ordinary
Common
Ordinary Quota 
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Non-endorsable Nominative 
Ordinary
Common
20p Shares 'A'; 5p Shares B
Ordinary
Nominative
Ordinary Quota 
Ordinary
Equity
Nominative 
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary

Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary  
Series A Preferred  
Series B Preferred  
Series C-1 Convertible Preferred  
Series C-3 Convertible Preferred
Ordinary  
Cumulative Preference
Ordinary 
Preference
Shares – No Par Value (Common)
Common
Common
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Common
Ordinary; Preference
10p Ordinary
Social Capital 
Nominative
Nominative
Ordinary
Ordinary 
Common
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

100
100
100
100
100
100 
100 
100 
100 
100
100 
100
100 
99.97
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

 
 
 
 
 
 
Group companies continued 

Name

Wholly owned subsidiaries continued
Glaxo Laboratories (Nigeria) Limited (iv)
Glaxo Laboratories Limited (iv)
Glaxo Operations UK Limited
Glaxo Properties BV
Glaxo Verwaltungs GmbH (vi)
Glaxo Wellcome Australia Pty Ltd (iv) (vi)
Glaxo Wellcome Ceylon Limited

Glaxo Wellcome Farmaceutica, Limitada
Glaxo Wellcome Holdings Limited (In liquidation)
Glaxo Wellcome International B.V. (v)
Glaxo Wellcome Manufacturing Pte Ltd
Glaxo Wellcome Production S.A.S.
Glaxo Wellcome PST Pty Ltd (iv) (vi)
Glaxo Wellcome UK Limited
Glaxo Wellcome Vidhyasom Limited (iv)
Glaxo Wellcome, S.A.
Glaxo, S.A.
Glaxo-Allenburys (Nigeria) Limited (iv)
Glaxochem (UK) Unlimited

Glaxochem Pte Ltd (v)
GlaxoSmithKline – Produtos Farmaceuticos, Limitada
GlaxoSmithKline (Cambodia) Co., Ltd.
GlaxoSmithKline (China) Investment Co Ltd
GlaxoSmithKline (China) R&D Company Limited
GlaxoSmithKline (Cyprus) Limited
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) S.R.L.
GlaxoSmithKline (Ireland) Limited (ii)
GlaxoSmithKline (Israel) Ltd
GlaxoSmithKline (Malta) Limited
GlaxoSmithKline (Private) Limited (iv)
GlaxoSmithKline (Thailand) Limited
GlaxoSmithKline A.E.B.E.
GlaxoSmithKline AB
GlaxoSmithKline AG
GlaxoSmithKline Algérie S.P.A.
GlaxoSmithKline Argentina S.A.
GlaxoSmithKline AS
GlaxoSmithKline Asia Pvt. Limited
GlaxoSmithKline Australia Pty Ltd
GlaxoSmithKline B.V.
GlaxoSmithKline Beteiligungs GmbH
GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals (Shanghai) Ltd.
GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd (iv)
GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals Kft.
GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals S.A.S.
GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals SA
GlaxoSmithKline Brasil Limitada
GlaxoSmithKline Business Services S.A. (iv) (vi)
GlaxoSmithKline Capital Inc.
GlaxoSmithKline Capital plc
GlaxoSmithKline Caribbean Limited
GlaxoSmithKline Chile Farmaceutica Limitada
GlaxoSmithKline Colombia S.A.
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Investments  
  (Ireland) Limited (ii) (v)
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Ireland IP Limited (ii) (v)
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Pakistan Limited
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Sri Lanka  
  Holdings Limited (iv) 
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Holding B.V.
GlaxoSmithKline d.o.o

Country of  
incorporation

Effective % 
Ownership

Security

% Held by  
Class of Share

Nigeria
England & Wales
England & Wales
Netherlands
Germany
Australia
Sri Lanka

Portugal
England & Wales
Netherlands
Singapore
France
Australia
England & Wales
Thailand
Spain
Spain
Nigeria
England & Wales

Singapore
Portugal
Cambodia
China
China
Cyprus
Romania
Ireland
Israel
Malta
Zimbabwe
Thailand
Greece
Sweden
Switzerland
Algeria
Argentina
Norway
India
Australia
Netherlands
Germany
China
China
Hungary
France
Belgium
Brazil
Costa Rica
United States
England & Wales
England & Wales
Chile
Colombia
Ireland

Ireland
Pakistan
England & Wales

Netherlands
Bosnia and 
Herzegovina

100
100
100
100
100
100
100

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

100
100
100

100
100

Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary  
Ordinary B
Ordinary Quota 
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary 
Ordinary 
Ordinary
Ordinary 
Ordinary B  
Ordinary C
Ordinary
Ordinary Quota 
Ordinary
Ordinary
Equity
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Equity
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary; Preference 
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Social Capital 
Ordinary
Ordinary

Ordinary
Ordinary 
Ordinary

Ordinary
Euro Quota

100
100
100
100
100
100
100 
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100 
100 
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

100
100
100

100
100

GSK Annual Report 2015  251

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Other statutory disclosures
continued

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Name

Wholly owned subsidiaries continued
GlaxoSmithKline d.o.o.
GlaxoSmithKline doo Beograd
GlaxoSmithKline Ecuador S.A.
GlaxoSmithKline Eesti OU
GlaxoSmithKline ehf
GlaxoSmithKline El Salvador S.A. de C.V.
GlaxoSmithKline EOOD
GlaxoSmithKline Export Limited
GlaxoSmithKline Export Panama S.A.
GlaxoSmithKline Far East B.V.
GlaxoSmithKline Finance plc
GlaxoSmithKline GmbH & Co. KG
GlaxoSmithKline Guatemala S.A.
GlaxoSmithKline Holding AS
GlaxoSmithKline Holdings (Americas) Inc.
GlaxoSmithKline Holdings (Ireland) Limited
GlaxoSmithKline Holdings (One) Limited (i)
GlaxoSmithKline Holdings Limited (i)
GlaxoSmithKline Holdings Pty Ltd
GlaxoSmithKline Honduras S.A.
GlaxoSmithKline IHC Limited
GlaxoSmithKline Ilaclari Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S.
GlaxoSmithKline Inc.

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GlaxoSmithKline Insurance Ltd.
GlaxoSmithKline Intellectual Property (No.2) Limited
GlaxoSmithKline Intellectual Property Development Limited
GlaxoSmithKline Intellectual Property Holdings Limited
GlaxoSmithKline Intellectual Property Limited
GlaxoSmithKline Intellectual Property Management Limited
GlaxoSmithKline International Limited
GlaxoSmithKline Investigación y Desarrollo, S.L.
GlaxoSmithKline Investment Holdings Limited
GlaxoSmithKline Investment Services Limited
GlaxoSmithKline Investments (Ireland) Limited (ii) (v)
GlaxoSmithKline Investments Pty Ltd
GlaxoSmithKline K.K.
GlaxoSmithKline Korea Limited
GlaxoSmithKline Latin America, S.A.
GlaxoSmithKline Latvia SIA
GlaxoSmithKline Lietuva UAB
GlaxoSmithKline Limited
GlaxoSmithKline LLC
GlaxoSmithKline Manufacturing SpA
GlaxoSmithKline Maroc S.A.
GlaxoSmithKline Medical and Healthcare Products Limited
GlaxoSmithKline Mercury Limited (i)
GlaxoSmithKline Mexico S.A. de C.V.
GlaxoSmithKline NZ Limited
GlaxoSmithKline Oy
GlaxoSmithKline Peru S.A.
GlaxoSmithKline Pharma A/S
GlaxoSmithKline Pharma GmbH
GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceutical Kenya Limited
GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceutical Nigeria Limited
GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceutical Sdn Bhd
GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals (Pvt) Ltd (iv)
GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals (Suzhou) Limited
GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Costa Rica S.A
GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals S.A.

252  GSK Annual Report 2015

Country of  
incorporation

Effective % 
Ownership

Security

% Held by  
Class of Share

Croatia
Serbia
Ecuador
Estonia
Iceland
El Salvador
Bulgaria
England & Wales
Panama
Netherlands
England & Wales
Germany
Guatemala
Norway
United States
England & Wales
England & Wales
England & Wales
Australia
Honduras
England & Wales
Turkey
Canada

Bermuda
England & Wales
England & Wales
England & Wales
England & Wales
England & Wales
England & Wales
Spain
England & Wales
England & Wales
Ireland
Australia
Japan
South Korea
Panama
Latvia
Lithuania
Hong Kong
United States
Italy
Morocco
Hungary
England & Wales
Mexico
New Zealand
Finland
Peru
Denmark
Austria
Kenya
Nigeria
Malaysia
Sri Lanka
China
Costa Rica 
Poland

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

Equity
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Partnership Capital
Ordinary
Ordinary
Common
Ordinary; Deferred
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Nominative 
Class A Common  
Class C Preference
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
A Ordinary; B Ordinary
Ordinary; Deferred
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary 
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
LLC Interests
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary Quotas
Ordinary
Ordinary A; Ordinary B
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Class A
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary 
Ordinary A; Ordinary B; 
Ordinary C; Ordinary D

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100 
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

 
 
 
 
 
Country of  
incorporation

Effective % 
Ownership

Security

% Held by  
Class of Share

Group companies continued 

Name

Wholly owned subsidiaries continued
GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals SA
GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Ukraine LLC
GlaxoSmithKline Philippines Inc
GlaxoSmithKline Pte Ltd
GlaxoSmithKline Puerto Rico Inc. (iv)
GlaxoSmithKline Republica Dominicana S.A.
GlaxoSmithKline Research & Development Limited
GlaxoSmithKline S.A.
GlaxoSmithKline S.p.A.
GlaxoSmithKline s.r.o.
GlaxoSmithKline Services GmbH & Co. KG (vi)
GlaxoSmithKline Services Inc. (iv)
GlaxoSmithKline Services Unlimited (i)
GlaxoSmithKline SL Holdings, LLC
GlaxoSmithKline SL LLC
GlaxoSmithKline SL LP (iv)
GlaxoSmithKline Slovakia s.r.o.
GlaxoSmithKline South Africa (Pty) Limited
GlaxoSmithKline Superannuation Company Pty Ltd (iv) (vi)
GlaxoSmithKline Trading Services Limited (ii) (v)
GlaxoSmithKline Trading ZAO
GlaxoSmithKline Tunisia S.A.R.L.
GlaxoSmithKline UK Limited
GlaxoSmithKline Uruguay S.A.

100
Belgium
100
Ukraine
100
Philippines
100
Singapore
Puerto Rico
100
Dominican Republic 100
100
England & Wales
100
Spain
100
Italy
100
Czech Republic
100
Germany
100
United States
100
England & Wales
100
United States
100
United States
100
England & Wales
100
Slovakia
100
South Africa
100
Australia
100
Ireland
100
Russia
100
Tunisia
100
England & Wales
100
Uruguay

GlaxoSmithKline Venezuela C.A.
GlaxoSmithKline Vietnam Limited Liability Company (iv)
Glycovaxyn AG (iv) (vi)

Venezuela
Vietnam
Switzerland

Group Laboratories South Africa (Pty) Limited (iv) (vi)
Groupe GlaxoSmithKline S.A.S.
GSK Business Service Centre Sdn Bhd
GSK Commercial Sp. z o.o.
GSK d.o.o., Ljubljana
GSK Employee Share Plan Pty Ltd
GSK Kazakhstan LLP
GSK Services Sp z o.o.
GSK Vaccines GmbH
GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health S.r.l.
GSK Vaccines S.r.l.
GSK Vaccines Vertriebs GmbH
Herbridge (ii) (iv) (vi)
HGS France S.a.r.l. 
HGS Luxembourg LLC (iv) (vi)
Horlicks Limited
Human Genome Sciences Pacific Pty Ltd (vi)
Human Genome Sciences, Inc.
ID Biomedical Corporation of Quebec
ID Biomedical Corporation of Washington (iv)
Instituto Luso Farmaco, Limitada (iv)
InterPharma Dienstleistungen GmbH 
J&J Technologies, LC (iv)
Laboratoire GlaxoSmithKline
Laboratoire Pharmaceutique Algérien LPA Production SPA 
Laboratoire Pharmaceutique Algérien SPA
Laboratoires Paucourt (iv)
Laboratoires Saint-Germain (iv)
Laboratorios Dermatologicos Darier, S.A de C.V.
Laboratorios Farmaceuticos Stiefel (Portugal) LTDA (iv)
Laboratorios Phoenix Sociedad Anonima Industrial  
  Comercial Y Financiera
Laboratorios Stiefel de Chile & CIA LTDA
Laboratorios Stiefel de Venezuela SA

South Africa
France
Malaysia
Poland
Slovenia
Australia
Kazakhstan
Poland
Germany
Italy
Italy
Germany
Ireland
France
United States
England & Wales
Australia
United States
Canada
United States
Portugal
Austria
United States
France
Algeria
Algeria
France
France
Mexico
Portugal
Argentina

Chile
Venezuela

100
100
100

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

100
100

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
c

i

r
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e
&
r
e
m
u
n
e
r
a
t
i
o
n

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

I
n
v
e
s
t
o
r

i

n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i
o
n

Ordinary
Chartered Capital
Common
Ordinary
Common
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Partnership Capital
Common
Ordinary
LLC Interests
LLC Interests
Partnership
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary 
Ordinary
Registered Shares Provisory 
Stock
Ordinary
Equity Capital
Common; Preferred A,  
Preferred B; Preferred C
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary 
Ordinary
Ordinary
Partnership Interest
Ordinary
Ordinary 
Quota
Quota
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Common Interests
Ordinary
Ordinary
Common
Common
Common
Ordinary Quota 
Quota
Membership Interest
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary A; Ordinary B
Ordinary Quota
Non-endorsable Nominative 
Ordinary Shares
Social Capital 
Ordinary

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

100
100
100

GSK Annual Report 2015  253

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other statutory disclosures
continued

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
c

i

r
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e
&
r
e
m
u
n
e
r
a
t
i
o
n

Group companies continued 

Name

Wholly owned subsidiaries continued
Laboratorios Stiefel Ltda.
Laboratorios Wellcome De Portugal Limitada (iv)
Laboratorios Wellcome S.A. (In liquidation) 
Maxinutrition Limited (In liquidation)
Mixis Genetics Limited

Montrose Fine Chemical Company Ltd
Montrose Pharma Company Limited
Montrose Pharma UAB (iv)
Nanjing Meirui Pharma Co. Ltd
Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics AG (vi)
Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics Pty Ltd
Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics S.L. (vi)
Okairos AG (iv) (vi)

Penn Labs Inc. (iv)
S.R. One International B.V.
S.R. One, Limited
Setfirst Limited
Smith Kline & French Laboratories Limited
Smith Kline & French Portuguesa-Produtos 
  Farmaceuticos, LDA (iv)
SmithKline Beecham (Australia) Pty Ltd (iv) (vi)
SmithKline Beecham (Bangladesh) Private Limited (iv)
SmithKline Beecham (Cork) Limited (ii)
SmithKline Beecham (Export) Limited
SmithKline Beecham (H) Limited

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

I
n
v
e
s
t
o
r

i

n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i
o
n

SmithKline Beecham (Investments) Limited
SmithKline Beecham (Manufacturing) Limited (ii)
SmithKline Beecham (SWG) Limited
SmithKline Beecham Animal Health Company
SmithKline Beecham Biologicals US Partnership
SmithKline Beecham Egypt L.L.C.
SmithKline Beecham Farma, S.A.
SmithKline Beecham Holdings (Australia) Pty. Limited (iv) (vi) 
SmithKline Beecham Inter-American Corporation (iv)
SmithKline Beecham Limited
SmithKline Beecham Marketing and Technical Services Limited
SmithKline Beecham Nominees Limited
SmithKline Beecham Overseas Limited
SmithKline Beecham Pension Plan Trustee Limited (iv)
SmithKline Beecham Pension Trustees Limited (iv)
SmithKline Beecham Pharma GmbH & Co KG 
SmithKline Beecham Pharma Verwaltungs GmbH
SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals (Pty) Limited (iv) (vi)
SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals Co.
SmithKline Beecham Port Louis Limited (vi)
SmithKline Beecham Retirement Plan (Nominees)
  Pty Limited (iv) (vi)
SmithKline Beecham Senior Executive Pension Plan  
  Trustee Limited (iv)
Stiefel Distributors (Ireland) Limited (ii) (iv)
Stiefel Dominicana SRL (iv)
Stiefel Farma, S.A
Stiefel GmbH & Co. KG
Stiefel India Private Limited
Stiefel Laboratories (Ireland) Limited (ii)
Stiefel Laboratories (Maidenhead) Ltd
Stiefel Laboratories (Thailand) Ltd. (Liquidated 25 Jan 2016)
Stiefel Laboratories (U.K.) Ltd
Stiefel Laboratories Limited (iv)

254  GSK Annual Report 2015

Country of  
incorporation

Effective % 
Ownership

Security

% Held by  
Class of Share

Brazil
Portugal
Uruguay
England & Wales
England & Wales

Scotland
Hungary
Lithuania
China
Switzerland
Australia
Spain
Switzerland

United States
Netherlands
United States
England & Wales
England & Wales
Portugal

Australia
Bangladesh
Ireland
England & Wales
England & Wales

England & Wales
Ireland
England & Wales
Canada
United States
Egypt
Spain
Australia
United States
England & Wales
England & Wales
England & Wales
England & Wales
England & Wales
England & Wales
Germany
Germany
South Africa
United States
Mauritius
Australia

100
100
100
100
100

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

100
100
100
100
100
100

100
100
100
100
100

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

Ordinary
Ordinary Quota 
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary 
Ordinary Euro
Ordinary
Ordinary Quota
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Common; Preferred A;  
Preferred B
Common
Ordinary
Units (Common)
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary Quota

Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Non-Cumulative  
Non-Redeemable 
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary 
Ordinary
Common
Partnership Interests
Quotas
Ordinary
Ordinary A; Ordinary B
Shares No par Value (Common)
Ordinary 6.25p
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Partnership Capital
Ordinary
Ordinary
Shares No par Value (Common)
Ordinary
Ordinary

England & Wales

100

Ordinary

100
Ireland
Dominican Republic 100
100
Spain
100
Germany
100
India
100
Ireland
100
England & Wales
100
Thailand
100
England & Wales
100
England & Wales

Ordinary
Ordinary Quotas
Ordinary
Partnership Capital
Equity
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary; Preference
Ordinary
Ordinary

100
100
100
100
100 
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

100
100
100
100

100 
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

100

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

 
 
 
 
 
 
Group companies continued 

Name

Wholly owned subsidiaries continued
Stiefel Laboratories Pte Limited
Stiefel Laboratories Pty Ltd (iv) (vi)
Stiefel Laboratories SA (Pty) Ltd (iv) (vi)
Stiefel Laboratories Taiwan Ltd (Liquidated 5 Jan 2016) 
Stiefel Laboratories, Inc.
Stiefel Maroc SARL
Stiefel Polska SP Z O.O. w likwidacji (In liquidation)
Stiefel Research (Australia) Holdings Pty Ltd (iv)
Stiefel Research Australia Pty Ltd
Stiefel Research Institute, Inc. (vi)
Stiefel Sales, Inc. (iv) (vi)
Stiefel West Coast LLC
Strebor Inc.
Tempero Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

The Sydney Ross Co. (iv)
The Wellcome Foundation Limited
UCB Pharma (Thailand) Ltd (Liquidated 25 Jan 2016)
UCB Pharma Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd (iv)
Webderm, Inc. (iv) (vi)
Wellcome Consumer Healthcare Limited (iv)
Wellcome Consumer Products Limited (iv)
Wellcome Developments Pty Ltd (iv) (vi)
Wellcome Limited
Wellcome Operations Pty Ltd (iv) (vi)

Subsidiaries where the effective interest is less than 100%
Amoun Pharmaceutical Industries Co. S.A.E.
Beecham Enterprises Inc. (iv)
Block Drug Company, Inc. 
British Pharma Group Limited
Block Drug Corporation (iv)
de Miclén a.s.
Duncan Consumer Healthcare Philippines Inc
Ex-Lax, Inc.
Fondation Novartis Consumer Health Pour I'Avancement  
  Des Sciences Medicales, Biologiques Et Pharmaceutiques
Glaxo Saudi Arabia Limited
GlaxoSmithKline (Tianjin) Co. Ltd
GlaxoSmithKline Bangladesh Limited
GlaxoSmithKline Brasil Produtos para Consumo e Saude Ltda
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (China) Co. Ltd
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (Hong Kong) Limited
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (Ireland) Limited (ii)
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (Overseas) Limited
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (Thailand) Limited
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (UK) IP Limited
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (UK) Trading Limited 
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (US) IP LLC
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare A/S
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare AB
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare AG
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Argentina S.A. (iv)

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Australia Pty ltd
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare B.V.
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Canada Corp
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Colombia SAS
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Czech Republic s.r.o.
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Finance Limited
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Finland Oy 
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare GmbH 
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare GmbH & Co. KG

Country of  
incorporation

Effective % 
Ownership

Security

% Held by  
Class of Share

Singapore
Australia
South Africa
Taiwan  
United States
Morocco
Poland
Australia
Australia
United States
United States
United States
United States
United States

United States
England & Wales
Thailand
Malaysia
United States
England & Wales
England & Wales
Australia
England & Wales
Australia

Egypt
United States
United States
England & Wales
United States
Slovakia
Philippines
Puerto Rico
Switzerland

Saudi Arabia
China
Bangladesh
Brazil
China
Hong Kong
Ireland
England & Wales
Thailand
England & Wales
England & Wales
United States
Denmark
Sweden
Switzerland
Argentina 

Australia
Netherlands
Canada
Colombia
Czech Republic
England & Wales
Finland
Austria
Germany

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

99.5
55.9
63.5
50
63.5
63.5
63.5
63.5
63.5

49
90
82
63.5
63.5
63.5
63.5
63.5
63.5
63.5
63.5
63.5
63.5
63.5
63.5
63.5

63.5
63.5
63.5
63.5
63.5
63.5
63.5
63.5
63.5

Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Common
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Common
Common
LLC Interests
USD 1 par value (Common)
Series A Preference  
Series B Preference; Common
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary 
Ordinary
Common
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary

New Monetary Shares
Common
Common
Capital
Common No Par Value
Ordinary 
Common 
Common
Capital

Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary 
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
LLC Interests
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Nominative non endorseable 
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary A
Common
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary 
Ordinary
Partnership Capital

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100 
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

99.5
100
100
50
100
100
100
100
63.5

49
90
82
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

GSK Annual Report 2015  255

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
c

i

r
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e
&
r
e
m
u
n
e
r
a
t
i
o
n

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

I
n
v
e
s
t
o
r

i

n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i
o
n

 
 
 
 
 
 
S
t
r
a
t
e
g
c

i

r
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e
&
r
e
m
u
n
e
r
a
t
i
o
n

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

I
n
v
e
s
t
o
r

i

n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i
o
n

Other statutory disclosures
continued

Group companies continued 

Name

Country of  
incorporation

Effective % 
Ownership

Security

% Held by  
Class of Share

Subsidiaries where the effective interest is less than 100% continued
Greece
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Greece Societe 
  Anonyme
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Holdings (US) LLC 
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Holdings Limited 

United States
England & Wales

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Inc.

Canada

Japan
Korea
United States
India

New Zealand
Norway
Philippines
Singapore
Belgium
Spain
Italy
Malaysia
Slovakia
South Africa
Poland
Romania
United States
Portugal

Ireland

Ireland

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Investments  
  (Ireland) (No 2) (ii) (v)
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Investments  
  (Ireland) (No 3) Limited (ii) (v)
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Japan K.K.
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Korea Co., Ltd.
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare L.L.C.
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Limited
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Mexico, S. De R.L. de C.V. Mexico
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare New Zealand Limited
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Norway AS
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Philippines Inc
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Pte. Ltd.
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare S.A.
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare S.A.
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare S.p.A.
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Sdn. Bhd.
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Slovakia s. r. o.
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare South Africa Pty (Ltd) 
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Sp.z.o.o.
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare SRL
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, L.P.
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, Produtos para  
  a Saude e Higiene, Lda
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria plc (iii)
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Private Limited
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Trading Services Limited
GlaxoSmithKline Costa Rica S.A.
GlaxoSmithKline Dungarvan Limited (ii)
GlaxoSmithKline Healthcare AO 
GlaxoSmithKline Healthcare GmbH
GlaxoSmithKline Healthcare Ukraine O.O.O.
GlaxoSmithKline Landholding Company, Inc
GlaxoSmithKline Limited
GlaxoSmithKline OTC (PVT.) Limited 
GlaxoSmithKline Pakistan Limited
GlaxoSmithKline Panama S.A.
GlaxoSmithKline Paraguay S.A.
GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Limited
GlaxoSmithKline S.A.E.
GlaxoSmithKline Sante Grand Public SAS
GlaxoSmithKline Tuketici Sagligi Anonim Sirketi
GlaxoSmithKline-Consumer Hungary Limited Liability Company Hungary
GSK Consumer Healthcare Singapore Pte. Ltd
Iodosan S.p.A.
Kuhs GmbH
Laboratorios ViiV Healthcare, S.L.
Modern Pharma Trading Company L.L.C.
Novartis Consumer Health Australasia Pty Ltd

Nigeria
India
England & Wales
Costa Rica
Ireland
Russia
Germany
Ukraine
Philippines
Kenya
Pakistan
Pakistan
Panama
Paraguay
India
Egypt
France
Turkey

Singapore
Italy
Germany
Spain
Egypt
Australia

Novartis Consumer Health Canada Inc./Novartis Sante 
  Familiale Canada, Inc.
Novartis Consumer Health GmbH 
Novartis Consumer Health LLC

Canada

Germany
Russia

256  GSK Annual Report 2015

63.5

63.5
63.5

63.5

63.5

63.5

63.5
63.5
63.5
72.5
63.5
63.5
63.5
63.5
63.5
63.5
63.5
63.5
63.5
63.5
63.5
63.5
63.5
55.9
63.5

46.4
63.5
63.5
63.5
63.5
63.5
63.5
63.5
39.9
63.5
63.5
82.6
63.5
63.5
75
91.2
63.5
63.5
63.5
63.5
63.5
63.5
78.3
98.2
63.5

63.5

38.1
63.5

Ordinary

LLC Interests
Ordinary A  
Ordinary B 
Common 
Preferred
Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary
Ordinary
LLC Interests
Equity
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Common
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ownership Interest
Ordinary
Common 
Ordinary
Partnership Interest
Ordinary Quota 

Ordinary
Equity
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary 
Ordinary
Ordinary 
Ownership Interest
Common
Ordinary
Ordinary 
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Equity
Ordinary
Ordinary
Nominative
Membership
Ordinary
Ordinary 
Equity
Ordinary 
Quotas
Ordinary 
Redeemable Preference
Common

Ordinary
Participation Interest 

100

100
100 
0
100 
100
100

100

100
100
100
72.5
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
55.9
100

46.4
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
82.6
100
100
75
91.2
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
98.2
100 
100
100

100
100

 
 
 
 
 
Group companies continued 

Name

Country of  
incorporation

Effective % 
Ownership

Security

% Held by  
Class of Share

Subsidiaries where the effective interest is less than 100% continued
Belgium
Novartis Consumer Health N.V. 
Spain
Novartis Consumer Health S.A.
Switzerland
Novartis Consumer Health S.A.
Switzerland
Novartis Consumer Health Schweiz AG
Switzerland
Novartis Consumer Health Services S.A.
England & Wales
Novartis Consumer Health UK Limited
United States
Novartis Consumer Health, Inc.
Austria
Novartis Consumer Health-Gebro GmbH
France
Novartis Sante Familiale S.A.S. (In liquidation) 
Indonesia
P.T. SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals

P.T. Sterling Products Indonesia

Panadol GmbH
PHIVCO Jersey II Limited (iv) (v)
PHIVCO Jersey Limited (iv) (v)
PHIVCO UK II Limited
PHIVCO UK Limited
PHIVCO-1 LLC
PHIVCO-2 LLC
PT Glaxo Wellcome Indonesia

PT. Bina Dentalindo (In liquidation)
Shionogi-ViiV Healthcare LLC (iv)
Sino-American Tianjin Smith Kline & French Laboratories Ltd
SmithKline Beecham (Private) Limited
SmithKline Beecham Research Limited
SmithKline Beecham S.A.
SmithKline Beecham-Biomed O.O.O.
Stafford-Miller (Ireland) Limited (ii)
Stafford-Miller Limited

Sterling Drug (Malaya) Sdn Berhad
Sterling Products International, Incorporated (iv)
Stiefel Consumer Healthcare (UK) Limited
Stiefel Egypt LLC (iv)
Stiefel Manufacturing (Ireland) Limited (ii)
ViiV Healthcare (South Africa) (Proprietary) Limited
ViiV Healthcare BV
ViiV Healthcare Company
ViiV Healthcare Finance 1 Limited (iv) 
ViiV Healthcare Finance 2 Limited (iv) 
ViiV Healthcare GmbH
ViiV Healthcare GmbH
ViiV Healthcare Kabushiki Kaisha
ViiV Healthcare Limited

ViiV Healthcare Overseas Limited
ViiV Healthcare Pty Ltd
ViiV Healthcare Puerto Rico, LLC
ViiV Healthcare S.r.l.
ViiV Healthcare SAS
ViiV Healthcare sprl
ViiV Healthcare Trading LLC
ViiV Healthcare Trading Services UK Limited
ViiV Healthcare UK (No.2) Limited (v)
ViiV Healthcare UK (No.3) Limited
ViiV Healthcare UK (No.4) Limited (iv)
ViiV Healthcare UK Limited

Indonesia

Germany
Jersey
Jersey
England & Wales
England & Wales
United States
United States
Indonesia

Indonesia 
United States
China
Sri Lanka
England & Wales
Spain
Russia
Ireland
England & Wales

Malaysia
United States
England & Wales
Egypt
Ireland
South Africa
Netherlands
United States
England & Wales
England & Wales
Germany
Switzerland
Japan
England & Wales

England & Wales
Australia
Puerto Rico
Italy
France
Belgium
Russia
England & Wales
Jersey
England & Wales
England & Wales
England & Wales

63.5
63.5
63.5
63.5
63.5
63.5
63.5
38.1
63.5
99

63.5

63.5
78.3
78.3
78.3
78.3
78.3
78.3
95

63.5
78.3
34.9
99.6
63.5
63.5
97
63.5
63.5

63.5
63.5
63.5
99
63.5
78.3
78.3
78.3
78.3
78.3
78.3
78.3
78.3
78.3

78.3
78.3
78.3
78.3
78.3
78.3
78.3
78.3
78.3
78.3
78.3
78.3

Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Registered Shares
Ordinary 
Common
Ordinary
Ordinary
A Shares 
B Shares
A Shares 
B Shares
Ordinary 
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
LLC Interests
LLC Interests
A Shares 
B Shares
Ordinary
Common Interests
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Participation Interest
Ordinary
Ordinary  
Non-Cumulative Non 
Redeemable Preference
Ordinary
Common
Ordinary
Quota
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Common
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Class A Shares  
Class B Shares  
Class C Shares  
Class D1 Preference 
Class D2 Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
LLC Interests
Quota
Ordinary
Ordinary
Participation Interest
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
60
100
100 
100
100 
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100 
100
100
100
55
99.6
100
100
97
100
100 

100
100
100
100
99
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100 
0 
0 
0 
0
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

GSK Annual Report 2015  257

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Other statutory disclosures
continued

S
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G
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Group companies continued 

Name

Country of  
incorporation

Effective % 
Ownership

Security

% Held by  
Class of Share

Subsidiaries where the effective interest is less than 100% continued
Canada
ViiV Healthcare ULC
United States
ViiV Healthcare Venture LLC
Portugal
ViiV HIV Healthcare Unipessoal Lda
Nigeria
Winster Pharmaceuticals Limited
China
Zhejiang Tianyuan Bio-Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd

Associates
Calci Medica Inc.
Index Ventures Life VI (Jersey) LP
Theravance, Inc. (now Innoviva, Inc.)
JCR Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd
Kurma Biofund II, FCPR
Longwood Founders Fund LP
River Vision Development Corp.

Joint Ventures
Chiron Panacea Vaccines Private Ltd (In liquidation)
Japan Vaccine Co., Ltd
Japan Vaccine Distribution Co., Ltd
Qualivax Pte Limited
Qura Therapeutics LLC

United States
United States
United States
Japan
France
United States
United States

India
Japan
Japan
Singapore
United States

78.3
78.3
78.3
46.4
95

33.9
25
27.8
24.6
32
28
33

50
50
50
50
50

Common
LLC Interests
Quota
Ordinary
Ordinary

Series A and Junior Preferred
Partnership Interest
Common
Common
Partnership Interest
Partnership Interest
Series A Preferred

100
100
100
100
95

33.9
25
27.8
24.6
32
28
33

i

F
n
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l

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Key

(i)   Directly owned by GlaxoSmithKline plc.
(ii)  

 Exempt from the provisions of section 347 and 348 of the Companies Act 2014 (Ireland), in accordance with the exemptions  
noted in Section 357 of that Act. 

(iii)    Consolidated as a subsidiary in accordance with section 1162 (4)(a) of the Companies Act 2006 on the grounds of  

dominant influence.
(iv)  Dormant company.
(v)  Tax resident in the UK. 

(vi)  Entity expected to be disposed of or removed in 2016. 

258  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Glossary of terms  

Terms used in the Annual Report  

US equivalent or brief description

Accelerated capital allowances 

 Tax allowance in excess of depreciation arising from the purchase of fixed assets that delay  
the charging and payment of tax. The equivalent of tax depreciation.

American Depositary Receipt (ADR)  

 Receipt evidencing title to an ADS. Each GSK ADR represents two Ordinary Shares.

American Depositary Shares (ADS) 

Listed on the New York Stock Exchange; represents two Ordinary Shares.

Basic earnings per share 

Basic income per share.

Called up share capital 

Ordinary Shares, issued and fully paid.

CER growth 

The company 

Corporate Integrity Agreement (CIA) 

Currency swap 

Defined benefit plan 

Defined contribution plan 

Growth at constant exchange rates. 

GlaxoSmithKline plc.

 In 2012, the company entered into a settlement with the US Federal Government related to past 
sales and marketing practices. As part of the settlement the company entered into a Corporate 
Integrity Agreement with the US Department of Health and Human Services, under which 
improvements are being built into its existing compliance programmes.

 An exchange of two currencies, coupled with a subsequent re-exchange of those currencies, 
at agreed exchange rates and dates.

Pension plan with specific employee benefits, often called ‘final salary scheme’.

 Pension plan with specific contributions and a level of pension dependent upon the growth  
of the pension fund.

Derivative financial instrument 

A financial instrument that derives its value from the price or rate of some underlying item.

Diluted earnings per share 

Diluted income per share.

Employee Share Ownership Plan Trusts 

Trusts established by the Group to satisfy share-based employee incentive plans.

Equity Shareholders’ funds 

Shareholders’ equity.

S
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p
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i

F
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n

Finance lease 

Freehold 

The Group 

GSK 

Hedging 

Intangible fixed assets 

Novartis transaction 

Ordinary Share 

Profit 

Profit attributable to shareholders 

Share capital 

Share option 

Capital lease.

Ownership with absolute rights in perpetuity.

GlaxoSmithKline plc and its subsidiary undertakings.

GlaxoSmithKline plc and its subsidiary undertakings.

 The reduction of risk, normally in relation to foreign currency or interest rate movements, 
by making off-setting commitments.

 Assets without physical substance, such as computer software, brands, licences, patents,  
know-how and marketing rights purchased from outside parties.

 The three-part inter-conditional transaction with Novartis AG involving the Consumer Healthcare, 
Vaccines and Oncology businesses completed on 2 March 2015.

A fully paid up ordinary share in the capital of the company.

Income.

Net income.

Ordinary Shares, capital stock or common stock issued and fully paid.

Stock option.

Share premium account 

Additional paid-up capital or paid-in surplus (not distributable).

Shares in issue 

Subsidiary 

Treasury share 

Turnover 

The number of shares outstanding.

An entity in which GSK exercises control.

Treasury stock.

Revenue.

UK Corporate Governance Code 

 As required by the UK Listing Authority, the company has disclosed in the Annual Report how it 
has applied the best practice corporate governance provisions of the Financial Reporting 
Council’s UK Corporate Governance Code.

GSK Annual Report 2015  259

 
 
 
 
 
S
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Index

Accountability 
Accounting principles and policies 
Acquisitions and disposals 
Adjustments reconciling profit after tax to operating
   cash flows 
Annual General Meeting 2016 
Assets held for sale 
Associates and joint ventures 
Board governance 
Cash and cash equivalents 
CEO’s statement 
Chairman’s statement 
Commitments 
Committee reports 
Competition 
Consolidated balance sheet 
Consolidated cash flow statement 
Consolidated income statement 
Consolidated statement of changes in equity 
Consolidated statement of comprehensive income 
Consumer Healthcare 
Consumer Healthcare products and competition 
Contingent liabilities 
Corporate Executive Team 
Corporate governance 
Critical accounting policies 
Directors and senior management 
Directors’ interests in shares 
Directors’ statement of responsibilities 
Dividends 
Donations to political organisations and  
   political expenditure 
Earnings per share 
Employee costs 
Employee share schemes 
Exchange rates 
Executive Director remuneration 
Finance expense 
Finance income 
Financial instruments and related disclosures 
Financial position and resources 
Financial statements of GlaxoSmithKline plc, prepared  
   under UK GAAP 
Five year record 
Glossary of terms 
Goodwill 
Group companies 
Group financial review 
Health for all 
Independent Auditors’ report 
Inventories 
Investments in associates and joint ventures 
Investor relations 
Key accounting judgements and estimates 
Key performance indicators 
Leadership and effectiveness 
Legal proceedings 

Page

85
142
185

183
243
168
157
80
168
7
6
191
88
10
139
141
138
140
138
32
230
179
78 
80
70
126
119
130
160

249
160
155
202
148
103
157
156
192
66

211
222
259
162
250
50
41
131
168
166
247
146
14
83
206

Long-term Incentive awards 
Major restructuring costs 
Movements in equity 
Net debt 
New accounting requirements 
Non-controlling interests 
Non-controlling interests in ViiV Healthcare 
Non-Executive Directors’ fees 
Notes to the financial statements 
Operating profit 
Other intangible assets 
Other investments 
Other non-current assets 
Other non-current liabilities 
Other operating income 
Other provisions 
Our approach to risk 
Our behaviour 
Our Board 
Our business 
Our global marketplace 
Our people 
Our planet 
Our strategy priorities 
Overview of 2015 total pay 
Pensions and other post-employment benefits 
Pharmaceuticals 
Pharmaceutical products, competition and  
   intellectual property 
Pipeline 
Post balance sheet events 
Presentation of the financial statements 
Principal Group companies 
Property, plant and equipment 
Quarterly trend 
Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net debt 
Registrar 
Related party transactions 
Relations with shareholders 
Remuneration governance 
Remuneration policy summary 
Remuneration report 
Research and development 
Responsible business 
Risk factors 
Segment information 
Share capital and control 
Share capital and share premium account 
Share price 
Shareholder information 
Taxation 
Tax information for shareholders 
Trade and other payables 
Trade and other receivables 
US law and regulation 
Vaccines 
Viability statement 

Page

109
156
181
178
148
189
70
118
142
154
164
167
167
178
153
177
16
44
74
4
8
46
48
12
115
169
18

228
225
204
142
205
161
218
184
246
183 
87
116
127
102
4
38
231
149
241
180
241
241
158
244
169
168
248
26
52

260  GSK Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
About GSK

GlaxoSmithKline plc was incorporated as an 
English public limited company on 6 December 
1999. We were formed by a merger between 
Glaxo Wellcome plc and SmithKline Beecham 
plc. GSK acquired these two English companies 
on 27 December 2000 as part of the merger 
arrangements.

Our shares are listed on the London Stock 
Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange.

Read more at www.gsk.com

Here you will find downloadable PDFs of:
•  Annual Report 2015
•  Form 20-F
•  Responsible Business Supplement 2015

Brand names
Brand names appearing in italics 
throughout this report are trade marks 
either owned by and/or licensed to 
GSK or associated companies, with the 
exception of Prolia, owned by Amgen, 
Zofran, owned by Novartis, Trumenba 
and Mencevax, owned by Pfizer, Treximet, 
owned by Pernix Ireland, Lucozade and 
Ribena, owned by Suntory and Nimenrix, 
a trade mark of GSK licensed to Pfizer.

Acknowledgements
Printing 
Printed at Pureprint Group, ISO 14001.
FSC certified and Carbon Neutral.

Paper 
This Annual Report is printed on
Amadeus 100 Silk, a 100% recycled
paper with full FSC certification. All pulps
used are made from 100% de-inked,
post-consumer waste and are elemental
chlorine free. The manufacturing mill
holds the ISO 14001 and EU Ecolabel
certificates for environmental
management.

Notice regarding limitations on  
Director Liability under English Law
Under the UK Companies Act 2006, a safe harbour limits 
the liability of Directors in respect of statements in and 
omissions from the Directors’ Report (for which see  
page 101), the Strategic report and the Remuneration 
report. Under English law the Directors would be liable to 
the company, but not to any third party, if one or more of 
these reports contained errors as a result of recklessness 
or knowing misstatement or dishonest concealment of a 
material fact, but would otherwise not be liable. Pages 73 
to 101, 130, 211 and 231 to 258 inclusive comprise the 
Directors’ Report, pages 2 to 72 inclusive comprise the 
Strategic report and pages 102 to 126 inclusive comprise 
the Remuneration report, each of which have been drawn 
up and presented in accordance with and in reliance upon 
English company law and the liabilities of the Directors 
in connection with these reports shall be subject to the 
limitations and restrictions provided by such law.

Website
GSK’s website www.gsk.com gives additional information 
on the Group. Notwithstanding the references we make 
in this Annual Report to GSK’s website, none of the 
information made available on the website constitutes part 
of this Annual Report or shall be deemed to be incorporated 
by reference herein.

Cautionary statement regarding  
forward-looking statements
The Group’s reports filed with or furnished to the US 
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including 
this document and written information released, or oral 
statements made, to the public in the future by or on behalf 
of the Group, may contain forward-looking statements. 
Forward-looking statements give the Group’s current 
expectations or forecasts of future events. An investor 
can identify these statements by the fact that they do not 
relate strictly to historical or current facts. They use words 
such as ‘anticipate’, ‘estimate’, ‘expect’, ‘intend’, ‘will’, 
‘project’, ‘plan’, ‘believe’ and other words and terms of 
similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future 
operating or financial performance. In particular, these 
include statements relating to future actions, prospective 
products or product approvals, future performance or 
results of current and anticipated products, sales efforts, 
expenses, the outcome of contingencies such as legal 
proceedings, and financial results. Other than in accordance 
with its legal or regulatory obligations (including under the 
UK Listing Rules and the Disclosure and Transparency 
Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority), the Group 
undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking 
statements, whether as a result of new information, future 
events or otherwise. The reader should, however, consult 
any additional disclosures that the Group may make in any 
documents which it publishes and/or files with the SEC. 
All readers, wherever located, should take note of these 
disclosures. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that 
any particular expectation will be met and shareholders are 
cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-
looking statements. 

Forward-looking statements are subject to assumptions, 
inherent risks and uncertainties, many of which relate to 
factors that are beyond the Group’s control or precise 
estimate. The Group cautions investors that a number of 
important factors, including those in this document, could 
cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed 
or implied in any forward-looking statement. Such factors 
include, but are not limited to, those discussed under ‘Risk 
factors’ on pages 231 to 240 of this Annual Report. Any 
forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the 
Group speak only as of the date they are made and are 
based upon the knowledge and information available to the 
Directors on the date of this Annual Report. 

A number of adjusted measures are used to report the 
performance of our business. These measures are defined 
on page 54 and a reconciliation of core results to total 
results is set out on page 62.

The information in this document does not constitute an 
offer to sell or an invitation to buy shares in GlaxoSmithKline 
plc or an invitation or inducement to engage in any other 
investment activities. Past performance cannot be relied 
upon as a guide to future performance. Nothing in this 
Annual Report should be construed as a profit forecast.

Assumptions related to 2016-2020 outlook
In outlining the expectations for the five-year period 2016-
2020, the Group has made certain assumptions about 
the healthcare sector, the different markets in which the 
Group operates and the delivery of revenues and financial 
benefits from its current portfolio, pipeline and restructuring 
programmes.

For the Group specifically, over the period to 2020 GSK 
expects further declines in sales of Seretide/Advair. The 
introduction of a generic alternative to Advair in the US has 
been factored into the Group’s assessment of its future 
performance. The Group assumes no premature loss of 
exclusivity for other key products over the period. The 
Group’s expectation of at least £6 billion of revenues per 
annum on a CER basis by 2020 from products launched in 
the last three years includes contributions from the current 
pipeline asset Shingrix. This target is now expected to be 
met up to two years earlier. The Group also expects volume 
demand for its products to increase, particularly in Emerging 
Markets.

The assumptions for the Group’s revenue and earnings 
expectations assume no material mergers, acquisitions, 
disposals, litigation costs or share repurchases for the 
Company; and no change in the Group’s shareholdings in 
ViiV Healthcare or Consumer Healthcare. They also assume 
no material changes in the macro-economic and healthcare 
environment.

The Group’s expectations assume successful delivery of the 
Group’s integration and restructuring plans over the period 
2016-2020. Material costs for investment in new product 
launches and R&D have been factored into the expectations 
given. The expectations are given on a constant currency 
basis and assume no material change to the Group’s 
effective tax rate.

GSK Annual Report 2015

Head Office and Registered Office 
GlaxoSmithKline plc 
980 Great West Road 
Brentford, Middlesex TW8 9GS 
United Kingdom 
Tel: +44 (0)20 8047 5000

Registered number: 3888792

www.gsk.com

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