In August 2016, the SFO another criminal investigation into Airbus due to allegations that its aviation business engaged in bribery, corruption, and fraud related to “irregularities concerning third-party consultants.”
In 2017 and 2018, regulators in France and the United States opened their own investigation into the company based on the SFO’s allegations. On January 31, 2020, Airbus reportedly agreed to a $4 billion agreement with the UK, US, and French prosecutors to settle the charges against it.
On March 15, 2020, the Wall Street Journal reported that Airbus executives had previously raised red flags about fees paid to a number of middlemen working with its helicopter division. The matter was not previously disclosed to the public. On July 30, the newspaper reported that the SFO charged GPT and three individuals with corruption in connection with its defense contract with the UK and Saudi Arabia.
The reports regarding the investigations, the $4 billion settlement, and the corruption charges resulted in the decline of Airbus ADRs and foreign ordinaries during the relevant periods.
