LONDON: The British engine maker, Rolls-Royce, has pledged to take measure for obeying laws as the Financial Times accused the company of involvement in a bribery scandal with the Brazilian energy giant Petrobras.
The British company, which makes gas turbines for oil rigs for Petrobras, allegedly paid bribes via an agent in exchange for a $100 million contract as part of a scheme in operation over the past decade, the FT reported, citing testimony from a former Petrobras executive.
“We have not received details of the allegations made in recent press reports, nor have we been approached by the authorities in Brazil,” a Rolls-Royce spokesman said. “We have always been clear that we will not tolerate improper business conduct of any sort and will take all necessary action to ensure compliance, including cooperating with authorities in any country.”
The FT reported that former Petrobras executive Pedro Barusco told Brazilian police that he had received $200,000 from Rolls-Royce – only part of the bribes he alleges were paid to politicians and other executives at the group.
Meanwhile, mounting allegations that Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff’s party received hundreds of millions of dollars in a kickbacks scandal engulfing Petrobras have sent her poll ratings tumbling.
Rousseff embarked on a second term in office only last month, having succeeded popular Workers Party predecessor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in 2011. Rolls-Royce is already facing a corruption probe in Britain, where the Serious Fraud Office is investigating alleged bribery linked to the group’s overseas operations.
In midday deals, Rolls-Royce shares slid 0.32 percent to 941.50 pence on London’s FTSE 100 index, which was 0.16 percent lower at 6,862.50 points. Last Friday, Rolls-Royce slashed its 2015 profit forecast, blaming tumbling oil prices which have hurt sales at its marine offshore division.
