ght charges of corruption with regard to deals in South Africa, although some claim that these allegations are politically motivated (South Africa's Police Chief Accused of "Maladministration' Over Lease Deal, 2011).
The importance of being perceived as an ethical company, and of following ethical procedures, is underscored by an increased interest among investors to maintain portfolios that reflect an ethical perspective. Some of the scandals that have troubled Thales proved problematic for the company; in addition, some of the products included in the company's mix were considered unethical by some investors. Thales participates in the defense sector, which means that some investors will dismiss the company simply for those products. Other investor groups take a more nuanced approach to the company, maintaining that weapons and products used in weapons are acceptable for companies in which they invest so long as the weapons fall within specific parameters. In the case of Norway's government pension fund, for example, the company was reinstated for inclusion in the fund's portfolio after it stopped manufacturing cluster munitions (Wagg, 2009).
Thales has a formal corporate social responsibility statement in place which is available on its Web site, but which has not been updated since 2008. The company has an ethics and corporate responsibi
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