11.23.2007 - 10:00am ET

(CSRwire) LONDON – November 23, 2007 - Standard Chartered is today launching a new programme to partner organisations across the world to educate their workforces and members about HIV/AIDS. The initiative is being undertaken as part of Standard Chartered’s global health commitment to the Clinton Global Initiative to educate one million people about HIV/AIDS by 2010.

The Virgin Group, which manages more than 250 branded companies in 29 countries, is announcing that it will become a global partner as part of its strategy to educate its 50,000 employees throughout Europe, North America, Asia and Africa. The company will begin the process by rolling out the e-Learning module developed by Standard Chartered to its staff on World AIDS Day on 1 December.

At a briefing for business leaders in London, co-hosted by Standard Chartered and the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Peter Sands, Group Chief Executive of Standard Chartered, said: "I am delighted to announce that the Virgin Group has joined us as a global partner. Both companies share a belief that nothing is more important than the health and wellbeing of our people. HIV/AIDS remains a threat, not just to the economies in which we invest and the communities in which we operate, but also to our businesses. We invite organisations from all over the world to share and build on our intellectual capital in the fight against the HIV epidemic."

Patrick McCall, Virgin Group Commercial Director, said: "Virgin is passionate about the importance of protecting its employees throughout the world from HIV/AIDS, and we are extremely pleased to be joining Standard Chartered Bank as a partner. As Standard Chartered has shown through the success of its workplace education programme, business has a crucial role to play in tackling HIV/AIDS."

Standard Chartered is a private sector leader in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. The winner of the Global Business Coalition's 2007 Outstanding Business Action Award for Core Competency, Standard Chartered has developed a highly effective HIV/AIDS education model that has been rolled out to all its employees, as well as external audiences including customers, suppliers, governments and wider communities. Central to Standard Chartered's approach is the training of HIV Champions to educate their peers about the pandemic in face-to-face seminars.

As part of Standard Chartered's commitment to the Clinton Global Initiative, the Bank is working with the Global Business Coalition to identify potential partner organisations that will roll out its HIV/AIDS education programme. In addition, Standard Chartered is collaborating with AIESEC, the world's largest student organisation, to educate 300,000 young adults across the globe. Standard Chartered aims to train peer educators within partner organisations, as well as offer access to a range of educational resources - such as the e-Learning module - which can be adapted to suit partners' own operations.


For more information, please contact:

Standard Chartered PLC
Fiona Chan
Acting Head of Media Relations
+ 44 (0) 20 7280 7163
Fiona.SF.Chan@hk.standardchartered.com

Portland
Toby Orr
+ 44 (0) 20 7421 6124
+ 44 (0) 77361 75311
toby.orr@portlandpr.co.uk


Standard Chartered - leading the way in Asia, Africa and the Middle East

Standard Chartered PLC, listed on both the London Stock Exchange and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, ranks among the top 25 companies in the FTSE-100 by market capitalisation. The London-headquartered group has operated for over 150 years in some of the world’s most dynamic markets, leading the way in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Its income and the number of employees have more than doubled over the last five years primarily as a result of organic growth and supplemented by acquisitions.

Standard Chartered aspires to be the best international bank in its markets by being the right partner for its stakeholders and leading by example. The group now employs over 65,000 people, representing some 100 nationalities, in more than 1,400 branches located in over 50 countries. The bank generates more than 90 per cent of its profits from Asia, Africa and the Middle East, with balanced income derived from both Wholesale and Consumer Banking.

The group is committed to building a sustainable business over the long term and is trusted worldwide for upholding high standards of corporate governance, social responsibility, environmental protection and employee diversity.

For those wanting to find out more about becoming a partner to educate their workforces and members about HIV/AIDS, please visit the Sustainability page on Standard Chartered's website. A selection of Standard Chartered's HIV/AIDS resources can also be accessed on its website: http://www.standardchartered.com/sustainability/.


Virgin Group

Virgin Group, a leading branded venture capital organization, is one of the world's most recognised and respected brands. Conceived in 1970 by Sir Richard Branson, the Virgin Group has gone on to grow very successful businesses in sectors ranging from mobile telephony, to transportation, travel, financial services, leisure, music, holidays, publishing and retailing. Virgin has created more than 250 branded companies worldwide, employing approximately 50,000 people, in 29 countries. Revenues around the world in 2006 exceeded £10 billion (approx. US$20 billion). For more information, please visit:www.virgin.com

The Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

The Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GBC) is an alliance of 220 international companies leading the private sector fight against these three epidemics. GBC works to leverage the business sector’s unique skills and expertise – including comprehensive workplace policies; community programs; core competencies; leadership and advocacy and public-private partnerships – in the global drive to eradicate these deadly illnesses. The official focal point of the private sector delegation to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, GBC maintains offices in New York, Paris, Johannesburg, Beijing, Geneva, Nairobi, Moscow, and Kiev. For more information, please visit: www.businessfightsaids.org / www.businessfightstb.org / www.businessfightsmalaria.org.

AIESEC

AIESEC is the international student platform for young people to discover and develop their potential. Present in over 1,100 universities and encompassing over 23,000 members, AIESEC is one of the world's largest student organizations. AIESEC provides the platform for leadership development for young people by offering over 5,000 leadership opportunities each year, in addition to over 4,000 international internship opportunities for its members. AIESEC is an organization that activates leaders, creating a network of change agents that have a positive impact on society. Find out more about AIESEC online at: www.aiesec.org.

For more information please contact: