AMEC FOSTER WHEELER

Industry

Engineering / Construction

Corporate Headquarters

United Kingdom

Summary of Allegations:

Nationality of Foreign Officials: Brazil, India, Malaysia, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia

Summary of Allegations:

Between 2011 and 2014, Amec Foster Wheeler bribed decision-makers of Brazilian state-owned company Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. with approximately US$ 1.1 million to secure a US$ 190 million contract to design a local gas-to-chemicals complex. The bribery scheme involved multiple high-level executives of the company and utilized at least two intermediaries to facilitate the illicit payments.


In 2011, an Italian sales agent approached the AFW’s Chairman of the Board in a clothing store in New York City and was connected with AFW’s Brazil Country Manager. AFW and the agent started discussing the upcoming bidding effort on Petrobras’ contract of designing a gas-to-chemical fertilizer plant; and entered into an interim agency agreement.

The agent attempted to bring in a Monaco-based intermediary, which was declined by AFW as the intermediary had previously failed AFW’s due diligence review.

When the agent was pending AFW’s due diligence review, he traveled to Brazil to interact with Petrobras on behalf of AFW. AFW subsequently determined that the agent did not pass the due diligence process and disengaged with the agent without exiting the interim agency agreement.

In 2012, the agent connected AFW’s Brazil Country Manager with a Brazilian intermediary operated by a former Petrobras official. The Manager submitted the intermediary’s information for the due diligence process and was instructed by his director to conceal the agent’s association with the Brazilian intermediary.

AFW greenlighted the Brazilian intermediary’s due diligence review and hired it as a sales agent with a 2% commission on the bidding project. The intermediary and the Italian agent bribed a Petrobras official in exchange for confidential information of the bidding. The illicit payments were mischaracterized as commissions on AFW’s books and records.

Approximate Alleged Payments to Foreign Officials: US$ 1.1 million

Business Advantage Allegedly Obtained: Contract with state-owned company (Petrobras)

Enforcement Results

Agencies: Brazil: Advogado-Geral da União (AGU), Brazil: Controladoria-Geral da União (CGU), Brazil: Public Prosecutor's Office / Ministerio Publico Federal (MPF) , United Kingdom: Serious Fraud Office, United States: Department of Justice, United States: Securities and Exchange Commission

Results: Cease-and-Desist Order, Civil Penalty, Criminal Fine, Deferred Prosecution Agreement, Disgorgement

Year Resolved: 2021

Compliance Monitor:

Ongoing: No

Details:

The Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department of Justice have requested information from the company.

On 11 July 2017, the UK Serious Fraud Office informed Amec Foster Wheeler that it had opened an investigation into the company, along with any predecessor companies and associated persons. According to the SFO, the investigation concerns suspected offences of bribery, corruption and related offences. The company affirmed its continued cooperation with the SFO's investigation.

On 25 June 2021, the company reached a global resolution with agencies in the United States, United Kingdom, and Brazil to resolve charges stemming from a bribery scheme in Brazil.

The U.S. Department of Justice and the Securities Exchange Commission charge Amec Foster Wheeler Energy with conspiracy to violate the anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA and substantive violations of the FCPA anti-bribery, books and records, and internal accounting controls provisions.

The company agreed to pay a criminal fine of US$ 18,375,000 as well as disgorgement and interest of approximately US$ 22.7 million, for a total settlement amount of approximately US$ 41.1 million.

Approximately US$ 23.3 million is to be credited against amounts to be paid to UK and Brazilian authorities, resulting in an ultimate payment to U.S. authorities of approximately US$ 17.8 million. The company has reported that it will pay a total of US$ 177 million under the global settlement. 

The three-year deferred prosecution agreement with the DOJ reflects a 25% reduction off the bottom of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines based on the company’s remediation.

The company agreed to continue cooperation with the U.S. government on potential investigations and report on its compliance measures enhancement and implementation.

On 2 July 2021, Amec Foster Wheeler Limited reached a deferred prosecution agreement with the SFO relating to the alleged corruption activities spreading between 1996 and 2004 across Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, India, and Brazil. AFW agreed to pay £103m in total, consisted of SFO’s £3.4 million costs, £210,610 compensation to the people of Nigeria, £47,815,914 full disgorgement of profits, and £50,627,641 financial penalties. Note that the SFO's DPA focuses on Amec Foster Wheeler Limited's culpability and does not make fact findings.

ENTITIES / INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED
  • Amec Foster Wheeler
  • John Wood Group Plc
  • Foster Wheeler AG
  • Foster Wheeler Energy Limited
  • Unaoil