AIRBUS

Industry

Aerospace / Defense / Security

Corporate Headquarters

Toulouse, France

Summary of Allegations:

Nationality of Foreign Officials: Austria

Summary of Allegations:

Airbus allegedly falsely inflated prices during the transactions for a 2003 deal between Austrian Defence Ministry and Airbus under which the company sold 15 fighter jets worth EUR 2 billion to the government. Furthermore, through use of advisory firms, Airbus allegedly paid millions of euros in kickbacks to Austrian public officials, including politicians, to secure the deal. 

 

Approximate Alleged Payments to Foreign Officials: millions of euros in kickbacks

Business Advantage Allegedly Obtained: 2003 deal worth EUR 2bn

Nationality of Foreign Officials: Canada

Summary of Allegations:

Airbus allegedly paid bribes to Canadian politicians during Prime Minister Brian Mulroney's term in the 1980s to induce Air Canada to purchase a large number of Airbus jets rather than Boeing jets.

Approximate Alleged Payments to Foreign Officials: Unspecified

Business Advantage Allegedly Obtained: Attempt to influence contract for purchase of aircraft

Nationality of Foreign Officials: China, Ghana, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Unspecified

Summary of Allegations:

In April 2016, Airbus voluntarily disclosed to U.K. regulators and European export credit authorities of “misstatements and omissions” involving outside contractors in some export financing applications with discrepancies over the amount of agents' fees disclosed. This voluntary disclosure led to further review, which led in July 2017 to the company formally informing U.S. authorities of failing to comply with the U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations rules on political contributions, fees, and commissions involved in the export of military equipment.

On 31 October 2017, Airbus announced that it was in talks with the U.S. State and Justice Departments about the failure to properly notify them about Airbus' use of outside sales agents.

Malaysia

Between 2011 and 2015, Airbus bribed two AirAsia executives with aircraft purchase authority to secure an order of 180 aircraft. It provided at least US $50 million sponsorship to a sports team owned by these executives and promised to pay US $55 million.

Sri Lanka

Between 2011 and 2015, to secure SriLankan Airlines' contract of purchasing and leasing aircraft, Airbus recruited a straw company owned by the wife of a SriLankan Airlines' executive under a consultation agreement relating to sales of ten Airbus aircraft and a lease of four aircraft, with US $16.84 million offered and US $2 million paid, disregard the straw company's patent lack of aerospace expertise.

Airbus concealed the straw company's affiliation with the executive by misleading authorities about the gender and name of the executive's wife.

Taiwan

Between 2011 and 2015, to reward a TransAsia Airway ("TNA") executive's improper influence on TNA's purchase order of 20 Airbus aircraft, Airbus funneled multiple payments to the executive via two intermediaries respectively registered in Hong Kong and the UAE. The payments were disguised as consulting fees with no actual consulting services provided.

Indonesia

Between 2011 and 2015, Airbus' business partner paid over US $3.3 million to executives of a domestic airline and/or its subsidiary, or the executives' family members, intending to influence or reward their improper favor over business with Airbus.
The executives were decision-makers of the national airline's purchase of 55 Airbus aircraft.

Ghana

Between 2009 and 2015, to secure a purchase contract from the government of Ghana, Airbus engaged a close relative of the decision-making official as an intermediary, and promised or paid the intermediary a success-based commission of €5 million (US $5.5 million).

China

Between 2008 and 2015, Airbus and its affiliates, including its employees, executives, agents, and members of its strategy and marketing organization, orchestrated bribery schemes to secure contracts and business from private companies, state-owned and state-controlled entities in multiple countries including China, by offering and bribing decision-makers and influencers.

Airbus disguised the illicit payments by utilizing loan schemes, wiring payments from accounts held by companies affiliated with business partners, mischaracterizing the nature of the payments, and falsifying contracts and invoices.

In particular, Airbus engaged multiple consultants to secure aircraft purchase agreements with Chinese government entities that oversaw the aviation sector in China. The agreement stipulated the type and volume of aircraft to be purchased and delivered to state-owned and state-controlled airlines in China.

Airbus executed multiple bribery schemes to bribe Chinese government officials to induce improper influence on the approval of the agreement or an increase of purchase. Airbus and its affiliates invited officials from Chinese state-owned and state-controlled airlines to attend events hosted in an overseas luxury resort and covered all expenses. The events were disproportionate to business purposes, with a daily half-hour business-related presentation and side meetings with airlines, and the rest of the agenda set for entertainment.

Airbus China also contributed money to create a fund with one of the above Chinese government entities, which was used to host events for government officials, including golf retreats and entertainment events with tangential business purposes.

 

 

 

Approximate Alleged Payments to Foreign Officials: Malaysia: at least US $50 million; Indonesia: over US $3.3 million; Ghana: up to $5.5 million

Business Advantage Allegedly Obtained: Improper business advantages and contracts with private companies, state-owned and state-controlled entities

Nationality of Foreign Officials: Greece

Summary of Allegations:

Airbus Helicopters, Airbus' Eurocopter helicopter unit, allegedly paid EUR 41 million (approximately USD 45 million) in bribes to Greek officials to secure the purchase of the 20 NH-90 helicopters.

Separately, Atlas Elektronik GmbH, a joint venture between Airbus and ThyssenKrupp, allegedly paid bribes in connection with projects in Greece.

Approximate Alleged Payments to Foreign Officials: EUR 41 million

Business Advantage Allegedly Obtained: Contract to supply 20 NH-90 helicopters

Nationality of Foreign Officials: Indonesia

Summary of Allegations:

Atlas Elektronik GmbH, a joint venture between Airbus and ThyssenKrupp, allegedly paid bribes in connection with projects in Indonesia.

Approximate Alleged Payments to Foreign Officials: Unspecified

Business Advantage Allegedly Obtained: Unspecified

Nationality of Foreign Officials: Libya

Summary of Allegations:

In 2007, Airbus engaged in a plan to sell jets to Libya during the reign of Muammar Gaddafi.

Approximate Alleged Payments to Foreign Officials:

Business Advantage Allegedly Obtained:

Nationality of Foreign Officials: Pakistan

Summary of Allegations:

Atlas Elektronik GmbH, a joint venture between Airbus and ThyssenKrupp, allegedly paid bribes in connection with projects in Pakistan.

Approximate Alleged Payments to Foreign Officials: Unspecified

Business Advantage Allegedly Obtained: Unspecified

Nationality of Foreign Officials: Romania, Saudi Arabia

Summary of Allegations:

German authorities suspect that bribes were paid to enable the company to obtain contracts worth EUR 3 billion euros (GBP 2.3 billion) in Saudi Arabia and Romania.

Approximate Alleged Payments to Foreign Officials: Unspecified

Business Advantage Allegedly Obtained: Contracts valued at EUR 3 billion

Nationality of Foreign Officials: Saudi Arabia

Summary of Allegations:

A former employee of Britain-based GPT alleged that Airbus gave Saudi Arabian officials cars, jewelry, and cash to win a GBP 2 billion (USD 3.4 billion) communications contract. The contract was for an upgrade to the satellite and intranet systems of the Saudi National Guard. According to Lieutenant Colonel Ian Foxley, a former employee of GPT, the Saudi officials were given the gifts by middlemen.

Approximate Alleged Payments to Foreign Officials: Cars, jewelry and cash

Business Advantage Allegedly Obtained: GBP 2 billion communications contract

Nationality of Foreign Officials: Thailand

Summary of Allegations:

Atlas Elektronik GmbH, a joint venture between Airbus and ThyssenKrupp, allegedly paid bribes in connection with projects in Thailand.

Approximate Alleged Payments to Foreign Officials: Unspecified

Business Advantage Allegedly Obtained: Unspecified

Nationality of Foreign Officials: Turkey

Summary of Allegations:

Atlas Elektronik GmbH, a joint venture between Airbus and ThyssenKrupp, allegedly paid bribes in connection with projects in Turkey.

Approximate Alleged Payments to Foreign Officials: Unspecified

Business Advantage Allegedly Obtained: Unspecified

Nationality of Foreign Officials: Unspecified

Summary of Allegations:

The Guardian stated that it had uncovered a series of questionable financial transactions by Airbus resulting in an unexplained payment.  The newspaper alleges that hundreds of pages of leaked bank records, internal memos and financial statements reveal that two companies secretly controlled by the aviation giant engaged in transactions involving EUR 19 million (GBP 16.7 million), a large part of which was then routed to a mysterious company via a tax haven.

Eolia, a Maltese company in the business of retrofitting passenger jets to transport cargo, bought 26% of Avinco Holdings, a Dutch company that sells sells secondhand aircraft and helicopters. Both companies were secretly under Airbus’s effective control.

Avinco Holdings was set up in 2000, principally financed by a UAE businessman, who held 14,999 Avinco shares through a holding company. Airbus owned just one share through a shell company called Yellow Sun Holdings in the tax haven of Curaçao, in the Caribbean. The Guardian alleges that a secret agreement  granted Airbus the right to buy the UAE businessman out at any time, effectively seizing control of the company. In exchange, the businessman received a generous annual dividend equivalent to 20% of his total investment.

According to bank documents, Eolia transferred EUR 19.4 million to the businessman’s holding company on 4 January 2007, with the transfer marked “share purchase Avinco”. Eight days later, the holding company paid EUR 16.2 million to the bank account of a Panamanian company called Rochade Consultancy, and on the same day Rochade paid an identical sum to yet another company, Malana Holding. It is unclear who owns Malana, or where it is incorporated.

The EUR 16.2 million transaction then appears to have been accounted for unusually. The businessman’s holding company records the payment to Rochade as an “interim dividend” in internal financial documents. It is not clear why Rochade, which is not a shareholder in the holding company, would be entitled to any dividend.

Approximate Alleged Payments to Foreign Officials: EUR 19m to unknown entities.

Business Advantage Allegedly Obtained:

Enforcement Results

Agencies: Austria: Vienna Prosecution Office

Results:

Year Resolved:

Compliance Monitor:

Ongoing: Yes

Details:

AUSTRIAN allegations

On 16 February 2017, Austrian Defense Minister Hans Peter Doskozil disclosed that the ministry is pursuing a criminal complaint against Airbus. The Minister alleged that an investigation of a 2003 deal under which Airbus sold 15 twin-engine Eurofighter combat planes worth EUR 2 billion to the Austrian government showed "fraudulent and deceitful actions" taken by Airbus. The minister signaled the ministry could seek more than USD 1 billion in restitution. The Austrian Press Agency reported that the probe by the Ministry found that Airbus had falsely inflated prices during the transaction. Furthermore, Prosecutors in Vienna and Munich has also been investigating whether officials were paid millions of euros through advisory firms to secure the contract. The probe was originally set up in 2007 to look into possible bribes but reportedly closed without concrete conclusions. Five years later, Austrian authorities launched a fresh inquiry.

On the same day, 16 February 2017, Airbus announced that it has not been notified the ministry of the allegations and denied it.

According to media reports, as of 22 May 2017 the Austrian officials are investigating Chief Executive Tom Enders.

12 February 2018 - Reuters reported that Austria provided the findings of the defense ministry's investigation to international authorities, including the US DOJ, in December.

Agencies: Canada: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Results: Acquittal/Dismissal

Year Resolved: 2005

Compliance Monitor:

Ongoing: No

Details:

CANADA allegations

Eurocopter and two German executives were charged by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police following a nine-year investigation into the matter. In 2005, a Canadian court dismissed the charges.

Agencies: France: Parquet National Financier

Results: Deferred Prosecution Agreement

Year Resolved: 2020

Compliance Monitor: A three-year compliance audit by the AFA

Ongoing: No

Details:

Unspecified locations

On 12 October 2016, David Green, head of the SFO, confirmed that the SFO is working with French authorities in its investigation.

In March 2017, Airbus confirmed that the probe by the Parquet National Financier is looking into possible bribery and corruption in Airbus' civil aviation business related to third-party consultants. French and the UK authorities will coordinate with each other.

Airbus Global Settlement - Convention Judiciaire d'Intérêt Public with the PNF

On 28 January 2020, Airbus reached an agreement in principle with the French Parquet National Financier, the U.K. Serious Fraud Office, and the U.S. authorities, pending approval by courts in each jurisdiction. The anticipated settlement relates to investigations into alleged bribery, corruption, and compliance with the ITAR. 

On 31 January 2020, courts in France, U.K., and U.S. approved the settlement, which resolves charges of bribery in China, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Ghana, and other multiple countries, and violation of the Arms Export Control Act (“AECA”) and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (“ITAR”). 

The fine totals €3,592,766,766 (approximately US $3.98 billion) after applying a 50% discount reflecting Airbus' full cooperation with the investigation. 

The agreement with the PNF would defer prosecution against Airbus for three years, on condition that Airbus pays a fine of €2,083,137,455 (approximately US $2.31 billion) and is subject to a three-year compliance audit by the Agence Française Anticorruption ("AFA").

 

Agencies: France: Parquet National Financier

Results:

Year Resolved:

Compliance Monitor:

Ongoing: Yes

Details:

Libya

On 28 October 2022, Airbus confirmed that it is negotiating a new bribery settlement with French authorities over past dealings in Libya on top of fines agreed to in 2020.

Agencies: France: Unspecified

Results:

Year Resolved:

Compliance Monitor:

Ongoing: Yes

Details:

Kazakhstan and Tunisia

On 30 July 2019, Airbus confirmed ongoing cooperation with French authorities regarding a probe into business dealings in Kazakhstan and a request for legal assistance by the Tunisian government relating to previous aircraft sales.

On 28 October 2022, Airbus confirmed that it is in negotiations with French authorities over past dealings in Kazakhstan on top of prior fines agreed to in 2020, and described as a "limited extension" of the matters that led to the 2020 fine.

 

Agencies: Germany: Bremen Public Prosecutor's Office

Results:

Year Resolved:

Compliance Monitor:

Ongoing: Yes

Details:

INDONESIA & THAILAND allegations

In 2016, the Bremen public prosecutor began an investigation into Atlas Elektronik GmbH, a joint venture between Airbus and ThyssenKrupp, for alleged bribery of foreign officials concerning projects in Indonesia and Thailand. The company entered into settlement talks with the prosecutors in November 2016.

Agencies: Germany: Munich Public Prosecutor's Office

Results:

Year Resolved:

Compliance Monitor:

Ongoing: Yes

Details:

ROMANIA & SAUDI ARABIA allegations

On 3 December 2014, the Munich prosecutor's office confirmed that Airbus's defense unit was under investigation for suspicion of paying bribes to foreign officials and tax evasion in connection with contracts with Romania and Saudi Arabia. Prosecutors said a small number of people were targets of the investigation and they raided homes of the suspects as well at company premises, including offices in Ottobrunn, Unterschleissheim, Manching, Ulm and Friedrichshafen, Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported in October 2014. Confiscated materials are being evaluated.

In October 2016, German authorities announced that they were not continuing with the investigations.

In February 2017, it was reported that the Munich prosecutors are set to finish their preliminary proceedings into Airbus in 2017.

AUSTRIA allegations

In March 2012, after receiving a request for assistance by an Austrian public prosecutor, the German public prosecutor began a criminal investigation into alleged bribery, tax evasion and breach of trust by current and former employees of EADS Deutschland GmbH (renamed on 1 July 2014 Airbus Defence and Space GmbH) and Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH as well as by third parties relating to the sale of Eurofighter aircraft to Austria in 2003. Airbus provided a report produced after a 2013 internal investigation to the public prosecutors in Germany and has a pending request for access to the prosecutor’s file. 

On 13 October 2017, Munich prosecutors said they expected soon to complete their investigations into the USD 2 billion deal.

09 February 2018: Airbus SE reached a settlement to resolve this probe, which yielded no proof of bribery, but uncovered internal controls failures. Airbus agreed to pay 81 million euros in disgorgement and a 250,000-euro administrative fine.

GREECE allegations

In 2013, a public prosecutor began an investigation into employees and managing directors of Atlas Elektronik GmbH, a joint venture between Airbus and ThyssenKrupp, for alleged bribery of foreign officials concerning projects in Greece.

TURKEY allegations

In 2015, a public prosecutor began an investigation into employees and managing directors of Atlas Elektronik GmbH, a joint venture between Airbus and ThyssenKrupp, for alleged bribery of foreign officials concerning projects in Turkey. In 2016, the investigation expanded to include five current and former employees of Atlas Electronik's shareholders.

PAKISTAN allegations

In 2016, a public prosecutor began an investigation into two former employees of Atlas Elektronik GmbH, a joint venture between Airbus and ThyssenKrupp, for alleged bribery of foreign officials concerning projects in Pakistan.

Agencies: Ghana: Unspecified

Results:

Year Resolved:

Compliance Monitor:

Ongoing: Yes

Details:

In May 2020, Ghanaian police were seeking to question British citizen Philip Middlemiss for the Airbus bribery scandal relating to a sale of three Airbus C-295 aircrafts worth £50 million in total between 2009 and 2015.

Middlemiss was allegedly a travel consultant closely affiliated with a sibling of the Vice President of Ghana.

Agencies: Greece: Athens Public Prosecutor's Office

Results: Suspension/Debarment

Year Resolved:

Compliance Monitor:

Ongoing: Yes

Details:

GREECE allegations

In February 2015, Greek Alternate Defense Minister announce that Greece plans to exclude Airbus Helicopter from public procurement and the Defense Ministry is investigating the purchase of 20 NH-90 military helicopters.

Agencies: Internal Investigation

Results:

Year Resolved:

Compliance Monitor:

Ongoing: Yes

Details:

Airbus announced it has launched an internal investigation into possible corruption after the Guardian uncovered a series of questionable financial transactions resulting in an unexplained payment of EUR 19 million.

Agencies: Malaysia: Anti-Corruption Commission

Results:

Year Resolved:

Compliance Monitor:

Ongoing: Yes

Details:

On 1 February 2020, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (“MACC”) opened a bribery investigation into AirAsia and its two executives implicated in Airbus' global settlement reached in January 2020.

The MACC confirmed that it was in contact with the SFO regarding the newly opened probe.

Agencies: Malaysia: Securities Commission ("SC")

Results:

Year Resolved:

Compliance Monitor:

Ongoing: Yes

Details:

On 3 February 2020, the Malaysian Securities Commission states that it will review all bribery and corruption allegations against AirAsia and refer to available information in Airbus' global settlement in January 2020 to determine if AirAsia violated securities laws.

 

Agencies: Netherlands: Civil Lawsuit

Results:

Year Resolved:

Compliance Monitor:

Ongoing: Yes

Details:

Airbus disclosed that two lawsuits were filed in August 2021 by investors who claim that Airbus failed to adequately disclose events relating to the bribery scandal that resulted in a $4 billion settlement with French, U.S. and U.K. prosecutors in 2020.

Agencies: Tunisia: Unspecified

Results:

Year Resolved:

Compliance Monitor:

Ongoing: Yes

Details:

Kazakhstan and Tunisia

On 30 July 2019, Airbus confirmed ongoing cooperation with French authorities regarding a probe into business dealings in Kazakhstan and a request for legal assistance by the Tunisian government relating to previous aircraft sales.

Agencies: United Kingdom: Serious Fraud Office

Results: Deferred Prosecution Agreement

Year Resolved: 2020

Compliance Monitor:

Ongoing: No

Details:

Allegations of Bribery in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Ghana

On 8 August 2016, the SFO announced that it opened a criminal investigation against Airbus Group in July 2016. The investigation relates to allegations of fraud, bribery, and corruption in its civil aviation business relating to irregularities concerning third-party consultants.

On 12 October 2016, David Green, head of the SFO, confirmed that the SFO is working with the French PNF in its investigation.

On 13 January 2017, the SFO and the PNF reached a Joint Investigation Team Agreement ("JIT") to enable probes into allegations of fraud, bribery, corruption, and relevant offenses against Airbus. The initial scope of the investigation broadly covered the conducts and businesses of Airbus Group and its affiliates, including Airbus' former and current employees, business partners, and intermediaries.

Under the JIT, the agencies would look into Airbus and its affiliates' relevant conducts until 2016, with probes in United Arab Emirates, China, South Korea, Nepal, India, Taiwan, Russian, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Japan, Turkey, Mexico, Thailand, Brazil, and Kuwait assigned to the PNF and investigations in South Korea, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Taiwan, Ghana, Colombia, and Mexico to the SFO. 

In 2018, the DOJ announced joining the corruption probe.

Airbus has stated that it is cooperating with the investigation.

David Green has stated that he would like to resolve the Airbus investigation by the time he leaves the SFO in April 2018.

Airbus Global Settlement - Deferred Prosecution Agreement with the SFO

On 28 January 2020, Airbus reached an agreement in principle with the French Parquet National Financier, the U.K. Serious Fraud Office, and the U.S. authorities, pending approval by courts in each jurisdiction. The anticipated settlement relates to investigations into alleged bribery, corruption, and compliance with the ITAR. 

On 31 January 2020, courts in France, U.K., and U.S. approved the settlement, which resolves charges of bribery in China, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Ghana, and other multiple countries, and violation of the Arms Export Control Act (“AECA”) and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (“ITAR”). 

The fine totals €3,592,766,766 (approximately US $3.98 billion) after applying a 50% discount reflecting Airbus' full cooperation with the investigation.

The DPA with the SFO imposes a fine of €990,963,712 (approximately US $1.09 billion) on Airbus for violating Section 7 of the UK Bribery Act, by failing to prevent bribery in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Ghana between 2011 and 2015.

Agencies: United Kingdom: Serious Fraud Office

Results:

Year Resolved: 2021

Compliance Monitor:

Ongoing: No

Details:

SAUDI ARABIA allegations

In May 2011, media reported that the SFO confirmed a preliminary investigation is underway and Foxley has been interviewed by the investigators.

On 7 August 2012, the SFO announced that it decided to open a criminal investigation into allegations concerning GPT and aspects of the conduct of their business in Saudi Arabia.

On 9 July 2014, the SFO questioned and arrested six people at GPT in connection with a long-running investigation into the alleged corrupt business practices in Saudi Arabia. The individuals include two current GPT employees, two former GPT employees, and two U.K. Ministry of Defence ("MoD") officials.

The SFO reportedly informed GPT Special Project Management’s former commercial director Richard Moody and Chief Financial Officer Laurence Bryant that the agency is not pursuing charges against them. Both Moody and Bryant were part of the individuals arrested and questioned by the SFO in 2014. Another individual and former employee, Malcolm Peto was told by the SFO that they weren't in a position to make a decision on Peto's case yet.

On 30 July 2020, the SFO charged GPT Special Project Management Ltd (“GPT”), its former Managing Director Jeffrey Cook, and its subcontractor Simec and Duranton’s officer and partial owner John Mason with one count of corruption relating to GPT’s work for the Saudi Arabian National Guard.

On 28 April 2021, GPT pleaded guilty in a UK court to a charge of corruption stemming from the above business conducts in Saudi Arabia between 2008 and 2010. The company was ordered to confiscate £20,603,000 and pay a fine of £7,521,920.

Agencies: United States: Department of Justice, United States: Department of State

Results: Deferred Prosecution Agreement

Year Resolved: 2020

Compliance Monitor:

Ongoing: No

Details:

On 28 January 2020, Airbus reached an agreement in principle with the French Parquet National Financier, the U.K. Serious Fraud Office, and the U.S. authorities, pending approval by courts in each jurisdiction. The anticipated settlement relates to investigations into alleged bribery, corruption, and compliance with the ITAR.

On 31 January 2020, courts in France, U.K., and U.S. approved the settlement, which resolves charges of bribery in China, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Ghana, and other multiple countries, and violation of the Arms Export Control Act (“AECA”) and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (“ITAR”). 

The fine totals €3,592,766,766 (approximately US $3.98 billion) after applying a 50% discount reflecting Airbus' full cooperation with the investigation.

Airbus Global Settlement - Deferred Prosecution Agreement with the DOJ and Consent Agreement the Department of State ("DOS")

Allegations of Bribery in China

Airbus settles charges of conspiracy to violate the anti-bribery provision of FCPA in China with the DOJ, and conspiracy to violate the AECA and its implementing regulations the ITAR with the DOS.

Airbus agreed to pay US $294.5 million for the FCPA-related offense, US $232.7 million for the ITAR-related offense, and US $55 million civil forfeiture arising from its ITAR-related conduct.

 

 

Agencies: United States: Department of Justice

Results:

Year Resolved:

Compliance Monitor:

Ongoing: Yes

Details:

Austrian Allegations:

12 February 2018 - Reuters reported that Austria provided the findings of the defense ministry's investigation of Austria's 2003 Airbus Eurofighter jet purchase to international authorities, including the US DOJ, in December 2017. 

On 21 December 2018, the US DOJ official launched a probe on Airbus.

ENTITIES / INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED
  • Airbus S.A.S. (formerly EADS) ("Airbus")
  • GPT Special Project Management Ltd., subsidiary of Airbus ("GPT")
  • Lieutenant Colonel Ian Foxley (whistleblower)
  • Eurocopter S.A. (an EADS company that is an important supplier in all Airbus programs)
  • Eolia (Maltese company)
  • Avinco Holdings (Dutch company that sells sells secondhand aircraft and helicopters)
  • Yellow Sun Holdings (shell company in Curaçao)
  • Rochade Consultancy (Panamanian company)
  • Malana Holding (unknown)
Details Of How Conduct Was Discovered

Discovery Method: Whistleblower

Details:

Lieutenant Colonel Ian Foxley made a report to the UK SFO after he was allegedly fired after raising concerns within the company about the possibility of bribes.

Country:

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