Commercial Crime Court charges them with bribery

Munich (dapd). Two former managers of MAN-Ferrostaal are to appear before the criminal court in Munich for commercial crimes in connection with kickbacks amounting to millions of Euros. The press service of the regional court in Munich declared on Thursday that two former top managers of MAN Ferrostaal, Johann-Friedrich H. and Hans-Dietrich M. were charged with having paid bribes to foreign officials in international transactions. Ferrostaal has also been charged as a co-accused.

The prosecutors raised charges against the former managers that they paid at least €62 million in kickbacks between 2000 and 2004 and in 2007 to officials in relation to submarines that were ordered by Greece and Portugal. They also paid bribes to backhanders (go-betweens) and "consultants", who have contacts with the officials who had to decide about the deals, before they were concluded. In Portugal they also approached a diplomatic dignitary.

It is alleged that Ferrostaal made profits amounting more than €170 million from these deals, which came about unlawfully. Consequently, the court ordered that Ferrostaal should be joined as a co-accused. Ferrostaal belongs to 30% to MAN. The other 70% of the shares in Ferrostaal are held by IPIC (International Petroleum Investment Company) of Abu Dhabi.

After the bribery scandal became known, IPIC set things in motion to rescind their shareholding. MAN confirmed on Monday that they are buying back the shares from IPIC for €350 million. MAN indicated, though, that it does not want to retain Ferrostaal. It is to be sold to a Hamburg investor group. The Arabs bought the Ferrostaal shares in 2009 for around €490 million.

The case has been scheduled to be heard for 4 court days and will continue until 21 December. Three witnesses will give testimony.

Ehemalige Ferrostaal-Manager kommen ab 15. Dezember vor Gericht

AZ Nurnberg
DAPD
16 December 2011
http://www.abendzeitung-nuernberg.de/default.aspx?ID=12512&showNews=1077345

Wirtschaftsstrafkammer München wirft ihnen gemeinschaftliche Bestechung vor

München (dapd). Im Zusammenhang mit Schmiergeldzahlungen in Millionenhöhe wird zwei ehemaligen Managern der MAN-Beteiligung Ferrostaal vom 15. Dezember an der Prozess gemacht. Die Wirtschaftsstrafkammer am Landgericht München I habe gegen das ehemalige Vorstandsmitglied Johann-Friedrich H. und den früheren Prokuristen Hans-Dieter M. das Verfahren wegen gemeinschaftlicher Bestechung ausländischer Amtsträger im internationalen Geschäftsverkehr zur Hauptverhandlung zugelassen, teilte die Justizpressestelle am Donnerstag mit. Von der Anklage erfasst ist auch die Ferrostaal AG als sogenannte Nebenbeteiligte.

Die Staatsanwaltschaft wirft den ehemaligen Managern vor, für Aufträge zur Lieferung von U-Booten nach Griechenland und Portugal zwischen 2000 und 2004 sowie 2007 mindestens 62 Millionen Euro an Schmiergeldern bezahlt zu haben. Sie sollen sich im Vorfeld der Auftragsvergabe verschiedener Mittelsmänner und "Berater" bedient haben, die die erforderlichen Kontakte zu Entscheidungsträgern hatten. In Portugal sollen sie sich diesbezüglich auch an einen portugiesischen Generalkonsul gewandt haben.

Der Ferrostaal AG sollen durch die auf diese Weise zustande gekommenen Geschäfte mehr als 170 Millionen Euro Gewinn entstanden sein. Deshalb wurde eine Nebenbeteiligung des Essener Unternehmens zum Prozess angeordnet. Ferrostaal gehört zu 30 Prozent zu MAN. Die restlichen 70 Prozent hatte 2009 der arabische Staatsfonds IPIC (International Petroleum Investment Company) von MAN erworben.

Nach Bekanntwerden der Schmiergeldaffäre wollte IPIC den Kauf rückgängig machen. MAN bestätigte am Montag nun den Rückkauf seines Aktienpakets für 350 Millionen Euro. Allerdings soll Ferrostaal nicht im MAN-Konzern bleiben, sondern an eine Hamburger Investorengruppe gehen. Die Araber hatten die Ferrostaal-Anteile 2009 für rund 490 Millionen Euro erworben.

Für den Prozess sind bis zum 21. Dezember vier Verhandlungstage angesetzt, zu denen drei Zeugen geladen sind.

English Translation courtesy of :

http://translate.google.com/#de|en|

Economic Community Criminal Division in Munich accuses them bribes

Munich (DAPD). In connection with the payment of bribes in the millions will be two former managers of the MAN Ferrostaal stake of 15 December made to the process. The business criminal division at the Regional Court Munich I have against the former board member Johann Friedrich H., and former attorney Hans-Dieter M. the procedures approved for Community Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions for the trial, said the Justice press office on Thursday. Covered by the indictment, the Ferrostaal AG is known as secondary stakeholders.

The prosecution alleges that the former managers, having paid for orders to supply submarines to Greece and Portugal, 2000-2004 and 2007 at least 62 million euros in bribes. They should have used prior to the procurement of various middlemen and "consultants" who had the necessary contacts to decision makers. In Portugal, they should have turned in this regard also to a Portuguese consul general.

Ferrostaal AG to the transactions concluded in this way more than 170 million euro profit for a grant. Therefore, a secondary involvement of the Essen-based company was ordered to the process. Ferrostaal belongs to 30 percent of MAN. The remaining 70 percent had purchased 2009 of the Arab state fund IPIC (International Petroleum Investment Company) MAN.

After becoming aware of the bribery scandal IPIC wanted to cancel the purchase. MAN now confirmed on Monday to buy back its stake for 350 million €. However, should not be left in the MAN Ferrostaal Group, but go to a Hamburg investors group. The Arabs had acquired the shares in Ferrostaal 2009 for around 490 million euros.

For the process to 21 December scheduled four days of hearings at which three witnesses are loaded.

With acknowledgements to AZ Nurnberg.

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