SocGen Reaches Historic Deal With France and U.S., Legg Mason Tags Along

SocGen, one of France’s largest financial institutions, recently earned the dubious distinction of becoming the first company to reach a bilateral settlement with France and the United States. The $585-million anti-corruption settlement, which resolved claims that SocGen executed a multi-year scheme to pay bribes to officials in Libya in exchange for investments, is the first time France has levied its own anti-corruption charges against a company. On the same day, the DOJ also announced a related $64-million settlement with Maryland-based investment management firm Legg Mason. We detail the bribery scandal underlying the charges against both companies and dissect the terms of their settlements. An upcoming companion article will discuss what the settlements say about the DOJ’s new policy against “piling on,” America’s commitment to international cooperation and France’s efforts to join the international corruption enforcement big leagues. See “An Insider’s Take on France’s New Approach to Foreign Corruption” (May 16, 2018).

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