DOJ, SEC Announce FCPA Actions Against U.S. ATM Maker

China Russia Indonesia Diebold

On October 22, the DOJ and the SEC announced parallel actions against a U.S. company that makes ATMs and bank security systems for allegedly violating the FCPA. The federal authorities allege that from 2005 to 2010 the company provided a total of approximately $1.8 million in payments, gifts, and non-business travel to employees of state-owned banks in China and Indonesia, and attempted to disguise the benefits, including by making payments through third parties designated by the banks and by inaccurately recording leisure trips for bank employees as "training." The government also alleges that from 2005 to 2009, the company entered into false contracts with a distributor in Russia for services that the distributor was not performing in order to facilitate approximately $1.2 million in bribes to employees of privately-owned banks in Russia in order to obtain and retain ATM-related contracts with those customers. The company entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the DOJ and consented to a final judgment in the SEC matter. Pursuant to those agreements, the company must pay a $25.2 million penalty and disgorge approximately $22.97 million, inclusive of prejudgment interest. The company also must implement numerous specific changes to its internal controls and compliance systems, and retain a compliance monitor for at least 18 months. The government acknowledged the company's voluntary disclosure and extensive internal investigation and cooperation.