British arms maker BAE Systems moved last night to douse allegations that improper commissions were paid to individuals connected to SA's controversial arms deal by naming the sole beneficiary, a small aviation consultancy, Osprey Aviation.

The decision to reveal the recipient of the commission follows a Guardian newspaper report based on the reply to a question filed in the British parliament. Faced with the prospect that the allegations would get out of hand, BAE Systems decided to depart from normal practice and reveal the identity of the recipient. BAE Systems' London-based spokesman, Phil Soucy, said the company had had a relationship with Osprey on the commercial side of its business before 1994. It had then engaged Osprey after 1994 as an external adviser in the arms procurement process, to help with regulatory, tendering and commercial processes.

Soucy would not say how much Osprey had been paid.

With acknowledgements to Tim Cohen, Wyndham Hartley and the Business Day.