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Jul. 21, 2021

M&A Lessons From the Amec Foster Wheeler Resolutions

  • Gwen Romack
    Anti-Corruption Report
The John Wood Group has reached a $177 million settlement to resolve widespread bribery and corruption allegations related to the Amec Foster Wheeler companies, which it acquired in 2017. The settlement was global, including deals with the DOJ and SEC in the U.S., the SFO in the U.K. and several Brazilian authorities. A review of the allegations and their underlying issues highlights the need for effective pre- and post-acquisition due diligence, effective legal and board-level responses to corruption red flags, and the ever-present risks associated with the use of third-party business intermediaries. See our three-part series on managing M&A anti-corruption risk: “Pre-Deal Prep” (Oct. 3, 2018); “Pre-Closing Risk Assessments and Due Diligence” (Oct. 17, 2018); and “Deal Terms and Integration” (Oct. 31, 2018).

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