In 2005 Diageo, a large multinational, purchased Distillers and significantly increased its contribution to the UK Thalidomide Trust. Payouts were doubled from £2.8 million to around £6.5 million a year. Today Diageo pays an average of £7.5 million ($15.5m CDN) per year towards the Thalidomide Trust and has promised to do so until 2037 (estimated total cost: £153 million, about 316m CDN).

Source: The Independent: “Still Fighting for Justice”, May 26, 2009