A global provider of civilian and military aircraft based in France, Airbus SE has entered into the largest global foreign bribery resolution by consenting to pay combined penalties of over $3.9 billion to resolve foreign bribery charges with authorities in the US, France and the UK in order to avoid prosecution in a charge of conspiracy to violate anti-bribery provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and conspiracy to violate the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) and its implementing regulations, the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR)) filed against the company on January 28, 2020, in the district of Columbia. As stated by Assistant Attorney General Brian A Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, the charge came as a result of Airbus SE engagement in a multi-year and massive scheme to corruptly enhance its business interest by offering bribes in China and other countries and concealing those bribes. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General David P. Burns of the Justice Department’s National Security Division (NSD) said the announcement demonstrates the Department’s commitment to holding violators of the US export control laws accountable.
Airbus SE will pay a sum of $527 million for the FCPA and ITAR violations among other several payments totalling the penalty to over $3.9 billion. As part of the deferred prosecution agreement with the department, Airbus SE has agreed to continue cooperating with the department in any ongoing investigations and prosecutions relating to conduct, including individuals, and to enhance its compliance program. The Department of Justice acknowledges and expresses its appreciation for the significant support provided by France’s Parquet National Financier and the UK’s Serious Fraud Office in detecting and prosecuting the fraud.
