SBM Offshore, a Dutch company providing FPSO units to oil and gas industry, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Brazil’s Comptroller General’s Office (Controladoria-Geral da União – CGU), the Attorney General’s Office (Advocacia-Geral da União – AGU).
Namely, SBM Offshore will cooperate with Brazilian authorities that are investigating the corruption scandal involving the state-owned oil company Petrobras.
According to SBM Offshore, this MoU sets a framework between the company, the CGU and the AGU for discussions on a potential mutually acceptable settlement and for the disclosure by SBM Offshore of information relevant to the CGU’s investigations.
In May 2014, Petrobras said it would not seek bids from SBM Offshore as long as SBM is under bribery investigation in Brazil. SBM settled the bribery case with the Dutch Public Prosecutor’s Office in November 2014, but the CGU continued to investigate it in Brazil. According to Reuters, this leniency agreement could enable Petrobras to do business with SBM Offshore again.
Offshore Energy Today Staff