Independence statements
Declaration of independence and qualifications
The AA1000 Assurance Standard requires us to make a statement with respect to our independence of Novo Nordisk A/S and our qualifications for undertaking the assurance engagement. The scope, the basis of opinion and our conclusions are presented in our assurance statement for Novo Nordisk’ non-financial reporting 2007 comprising the Novo Nordisk’s Annual Report 2007 and the section “Values in action” at novonordisk.com/sustainability.
Our recommendations for improvement of non-financial performance are reported in the section “Values in action” at novonordisk.com/sustainability. In addition, Novo Nordisk has included our recommendations from the assurance process 2006 and its response to these in the ‘Overview of non-financial reporting’ on p 89 in Novo Nordisk’s Annual Report 2007.
Qualifications
Our assurance team possesses the requisite skills and experience within financial and non-financial assurance, sustainability management, social and environmental issues as well as knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry to undertake this assignment. Our assurance team has been drawn from our Sustainable Business Solutions practice, which comprises individuals with educational and professional backgrounds within e.g. financial and non-financial auditing, assurance and reporting, environmental engineering and management, corporate sustainability management, communication, business, the natural sciences and the social sciences, as well as individuals from our financial audit services department.
- Mogens Nørgaard Mogensen, State Authorised Public Accountant, engagement leader and signs-off the assurance statement.
- Lars Baungaard, State Authorised Public Accountant, engagement co-leader.
- Peder Michael Pruzan-Jørgensen, M.Sc. International Business Administration, project manager and responsible for planning and implementing the engagement.
- Jens Pultz Pedersen, M.Sc. (Engineering), project manager on quantitative data and environmental expert.
- Christian Thomsen, M.Sc. (Engineering), occupational health and safety expert.
- Jens Munch Lund-Nielsen, M. Phil. (Master of Philosophy), human rights and development expert.
- Bjørn von Würden, M.Sc. Pol, sustainability expert.
- Annemette Nielsen, M.Sc. Business Administration, social expert.
- Karine Audeguy, M.Sc. in Environmental Engineering, environmental expert
In addition, the assurance team was supported by an external expert, Mr Michael Werner of the Werner Group, who conducted an in-depth review of Novo Nordisk’s bioethical performance.
Independence
As financial auditors of Novo Nordisk A/S we are required to meet the independence requirements of international professional standard setting and national regulatory bodies. In addition, PricewaterhouseCoopers’ own Global Independence Policy, which in some areas exceeds those of international professional standard setting and regulatory bodies, is applicable to the firm, the partners and its professional staff, including all members of the assurance team. In general, we conduct business without any financial interests in, or personal or business relationships with, our audit clients and their affiliates.
Gladsaxe, 30 January 2008
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Statsautoriseret Revisionsaktieselskab
This page has been reviewed by PricewaterhouseCoopers as part of its assurance of Novo Nordisk’s non-financial reporting. Please refer to Audit and assurance for a full description of the conclusions and the nature of assurance offered.
