BOURBON: Press release : BOURBON SA involved
14 Avril 2015 - 9:22PM
Paris, April 14, 2015
Bourbon SA
involved after tax audits in West Africa
Following the arrest of the former
Tax Manager of the company at the airport of Marseille-Provence
while he was returning from Africa in possession of approximately
190,000 euros in cash in October 2012, a judicial investigation has
been initiated in Marseille.
This investigation relates in
particular to allegations of bribery of public officials in
Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria in connection with the tax
audits of local entities in 2011 and 2012.
The former Tax Manager, who had
been immediately dismissed since then, has been placed under formal
investigation, in particular for bribery of foreign public
officials. As a consequence, the legal entity Bourbon SA has today
been placed under formal investigation for the same charge,
together with a guarantee of 1 million euros.
Pursuant to this procedure, after
the former Tax Manager was placed under formal investigation, some
members of the Executive Management were placed under formal
investigation in April and November 2013 for complicity in
bribery.
BOURBON and its Executive
Management contest very strongly the charges brought against them,
and it is noted that they are entitled to the presumption of
innocence and will reserve their explanations for the judicial
authorities.
The group operates in complex
environments. Its activities are carried out in strict compliance
with the laws of each country and BOURBON attaches great importance
to compliance with anti-bribery regulations. Moreover, these events
have encouraged the group to strengthen its policies, procedures
and training programs in relation to ethics and compliance and in
particular those regarding the fight against bribery.
About BOURBON
Among the market
leaders in marine services for offshore oil & gas, BOURBON
offers the most demanding oil & gas companies a wide range of
marine services, both surface and sub-surface, for offshore oil
& gas fields and wind farms. These extensive services rely on a
broad range of the latest-generation vessels and the expertise of
more than 11,000 skilled employees. Through its 28 operating
subsidiaries the group provides local services as close as possible
to customers and their operations throughout the world, of the
highest standards of service and safety.
BOURBON provides
two operating Activities (Marine Services and Subsea Services) and
also protects the French coastline for the French Navy.
In 2014,
BOURBON'S revenue came to €1,346.4 million and the company operated
a fleet of 505 vessels as of December 31, 2014. Under the "BOURBON
2015 Leadership Strategy" plan, the group has built a vast fleet of
innovative, high-performance mass produced offshore
vessels.
Placed by ICB
(Industry Classification Benchmark) in the "Oil Services" sector,
BOURBON is listed on the Euronext Paris, Compartment A.
Contact
Media relations
agency
Publicis Consultants
Jérôme Goaer
+33 144 824 624
jerome.goaer@consultants.publicis.fr
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information contained therein.
Source: BOURBON via Globenewswire
HUG#1911230