Government regulators note voluntary disclosure and “extensive cooperation”
DECATUR, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) announced today that it had
reached a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of allegations under the
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) relating primarily to conduct by a
Ukraine subsidiary of ADM’s majority-owned subsidiary, Alfred C. Toepfer
International.
Under the settlement, ADM has entered into a non-prosecution agreement
with DOJ and a consent decree with SEC and has agreed with these
agencies to monetary relief totaling approximately $54 million, the
amount for which ADM previously established a reserve.
In announcing the settlement, government regulators noted ADM’s
''timely, voluntary, and thorough disclosure of the conduct,''
''extensive cooperation,'' and ''early and extensive remedial efforts''
to enhance its compliance program. ADM will not be required to institute
a monitor, as has occurred in some past FCPA settlements with other
companies.
ADM Chairman and CEO Patricia Woertz commented on ADM’s process: “In
2008, soon after we became aware of some questionable transactions by a
non-U.S. subsidiary, we engaged an outside law firm and an accounting
firm to undertake a comprehensive internal investigation,” she said. “In
early 2009, we voluntarily disclosed the matter to appropriate U.S. and
foreign government agencies and undertook a comprehensive
anti-corruption global risk analysis and compliance assessment. We have
also implemented internal-control enhancements, and taken disciplinary
action, including termination, with a number of employees.
“The conduct that led to this settlement was regrettable, but I believe
we handled our response in the right way, and that the steps we took,
including self-reporting, underscore our commitment to conducting
business ethically and responsibly,” Woertz said.
About ADM
For more than a century, the people of Archer Daniels Midland Company
(NYSE: ADM) have transformed crops into products that serve vital needs.
Today, 30,000 ADM employees around the globe convert oilseeds, corn,
wheat and cocoa into products for food, animal feed, industrial and
energy uses. With more than 265 processing plants, 460 crop procurement
facilities, and the world’s premier crop transportation network, ADM
helps connect the harvest to the home in more than 140 countries. For
more information about ADM and its products, visit www.adm.com.
Archer Daniels Midland Company
Media Relations
Jackie Anderson, 217-424-5413
media@adm.com