By Rory Gallivan
LONDON--Cable & Wireless Communications PLC (CWC.LN) donated
$100,916 to political parties in the year to March 31, up from
$91,126 in the previous 12 months, the Caribbean-focused
telecommunications company said in its annual report Friday.
CWC, which operates in Panama, Jamaica and other countries in
the region, didn't give details of the donations except to say that
they were "made to non-EU political parties by non-EU subsidiary
companies during the year."
The company wasn't immediately available for comment.
CWC's activities frequently bring it into contact with
politicians, particularly in Panama and Trinidad, where it operates
as part of joint ventures with governments.
Donating to political parties is rare among companies quoted on
the London Stock Exchange. Listed companies that have made
political donations include public relations and marketing company
Chime Communications PLC (CHW.LN), which said in its latest annual
report that it donated 5,500 pounds ($9,250) to "various
organizations connected with the [U.K.] Conservative Party."
CWC's sector peer BT Group PLC (BT) said in its latest annual
report that it paid GBP3,000 to cover the cost of a meeting with
Scottish National Party politicians but stated its "policy is that
no company in the group will make contributions in cash or kind to
any political party."
Political donations can be a source of opposition among
shareholders. In 2012, 30% of shareholders voted against online
gambling group Betfair Group PLC's (BET.LN) request for permission
to make political donations.
Shares at 1237 GMT, unchanged at 51 pence valuing the company at
GBP1.3 billion ($2.2 billion)
-Write to Rory Gallivan at rory.gallivan@wsj.com; Twitter:
@RoryGallivan
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