2. | | In order to tighten the definition of “independent director” for purposes of these standards: (a) (i) No director qualifies as “independent” unless the board of directors affirmatively determines that the director has no material relationship with the listed company (either directly or as a partner, shareholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the company). (ii) In addition, in affirmatively determining the independence of any director who will serve on the compensation committee of the listed company’s board of directors, the board of directors must consider all factors specifically relevant to determining whether a director has a relationship to the listed company which is material to that director’s ability to be independent from management in connection with the duties of a compensation committee member, including, but not limited to: (A) the source of compensation of such director, including any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee paid by the listed company to such director; and (B) whether such director is affiliated with the listed company, a subsidiary of the listed company or an affiliate of a subsidiary of the listed company. (b) In addition, a director is not independent if: (i) The director is, or has been within the last three years, an employee of the listed company, or an immediate family member is, or has been within the last three years, an executive officer, of the listed company. (ii) The director has received, or has an immediate family member who has received, during any twelve-month period within the last three years, more than $120,000 in direct compensation from the listed company, other than director and committee fees and pension or other forms of deferred compensation for prior service (provided such compensation is not contingent in any way on continued service). (iii) (A) The director is a current partner or employee of a firm that is the listed company’s internal or external auditor; (B) the director has an immediate family member who is a current partner of such a firm; (C) the director has an immediate family member who is a current employee of such a firm and personally works on the listed company’s audit; or (D) the director or an immediate family member was within the last three years a partner or employee of such a firm and personally worked on the listed company’s audit within that time. (iv) The director or an immediate family member is, or has been within the last three years, employed as an executive officer of another company where any of the listed company’s present executive officers at the same time serves or served on that company’s compensation committee. (v) The director is a current employee, or an immediate family member is a current executive officer, of a company that has made payments to, or received payments from, the listed company for property or services in an amount which, in any of the last three fiscal years, exceeds the greater of $1 million, or 2% of such other company’s consolidated gross revenues. (For the purposes of these standards “executive officer” is defined to have the meaning specified for the term “officer” in Rule 16a-1(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the “Exchange Act”). | | GSK complies with the corresponding domestic requirements contained in the UK Code, which sets out the principles for GSK to determine whether a director is independent. The Board is required to identify each Non-Executive Director it considers to be independent. Circumstances which are likely to impair, or could appear to impair a non-executive director’s independence include, but are not limited to, whether a director: (a) is or has been an employee of GSK within the last five years; (b) has, or has had within the last three years, a material business relationship with GSK either directly or as a partner, shareholder, director or senior employee of a body that has such a relationship with GSK; (c) has received or receives additional remuneration from GSK apart from a director’s fee, participates in GSK’s share option or a performance-related pay scheme, or is a member of GSK’s pension scheme; (d) has close family ties with any of GSK’s advisers, directors or senior employees; (e) holds cross-directorships or has significant links with other directors through involvement in other companies or bodies; (f) represents a significant shareholder; or (g) has served on the Board for more than nine years from the date of their first appointment. Where any of these or other relevant circumstances apply, and the Board nonetheless considers that the non-executive director is independent, a clear explanation should be provided (Provision 10). The Board considers all its Non-Executive Directors to be independent in character and judgment and has concluded that all its Non-Executive Directors are independent within the meaning of the UK Code. The Chair satisfied the independence criteria on appointment in accordance with the UK Code (Provision 9). The Chair should not remain in post beyond nine years from the date of their first appointment to the Board. To facilitate effective succession planning and the development of a diverse board, this period can be extended for a limited time (Provision 19). GSK complied with the UK Code requirement, and its Articles of Association, that all Directors should be subject to annual election or re-election by shareholders (Provision 18) at its Annual General Meeting in 2022 and intends to comply with this requirement at its 2023 Annual General Meeting. The UK Code also provides that the Board should undertake a formal and rigorous annual evaluation of its own performance and that of its committees, the Chair and individual Directors (Principle L and Provision 21). Annual evaluation of the Board should consider the Board’s composition, diversity and how effectively members work together to achieve objectives. Individual evaluation should demonstrate whether each director continues to contribute effectively (Principle L). GSK has complied with this requirement. In addition, the annual evaluation of the Board should be externally facilitated at least every three years and a statement should be made as to whether an external facilitator has any other connection with GSK or individual directors and the external facilitator should be identified in the Annual Report (Provision 21). Internally facilitated evaluations were conducted in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2021. GSK conducted an externally facilitated evaluation in 2014, 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2022. The FRC’s Guidance on Board Effectiveness (“Guidance”) provides that all Directors should receive an induction on joining the Board and should regularly update and refresh their skills and knowledge. The Chair should ensure that new Directors receive a full, formal and tailored induction on joining the Board (Guidance, para 61, 75-76 & 81). The Chair should act on the results of the annual evaluation by recognising the strengths and addressing any weaknesses of the Board. Each Director should engage with this process and take appropriate action when development needs have been identified (Provision 22). |