Swiss Police Raid Alstom

Swiss police last week arrested a former manager of French engineering giant Alstom and searched for evidence as part of a corruption and money-laundering investigation. Offices near Zurich and in Baden were raided, as were homes in several cantons.

Paris-based Alstom is a global leader in equipment and services for power generation and high-speed rail transport. It operates in more than 70 countries with about 76,000 employees. Revenues last year were €16.9 billion. It has an office in Windsor, Connecticut and its securities trade in the pink sheets (Other OTC: AOMFF.PK).

The raids and arrest last week are reported to be unrelated to another investigation involving suspected corrupt payments in Asia and South America between 1995 and 2003. Reports in May said that Swiss authorities found evidence Alstom paid around €20 million via shell companies to agents and others in Singapore, Indonesia, Venezuela and Brazil. Reports also mentioned payments of $6.8 million in connection with a $45 million contract for the Sao Paolo subway and a Brazilian energy plant.

In June this year, the press said French judges had charged a former Alstom consultant for his role in suspected overseas bribes. The company apparently appeared as a civil plaintiff in that case, claiming it may have been a victim of embezzlement.

Alstom said over the weekend that it's "cooperating fully with the judicial authorities in this [new] matter."

Forbes said "investors were cautious about painting [Alstom] with the same brush as Siemens, which has been embroiled in a slush fund scandal. Also, the previous investigation into Alstom was over infrastructure contracts in South America and Asia between 1995 and 2003, before the company's chief executive, Patrick Kron, took charge. If the previous investigation was over past contracts, chances are that this one is too, suggesting a limited impact on the company and its current management."

U.S. authorities haven't said whether they're investigating or planning to investigate Alstom for violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or other laws.

Thanks to CW for the heads up.

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