UK launches corruption probe into Chemring
A criminal probe has been launched into the activities of defence company Chemring and one of its subsidiaries, the UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO) announced on 18 January.
The probe concerns both the parent group and its British-based Chemring Technology Solutions Limited (CTSL) division.
The UK SFO said: ‘The SFO confirms it has opened a criminal investigation into bribery, corruption and money laundering arising from the conduct of business by Chemring Group and CTSL including any officers, employees, agents and persons associated with them.’
In the group's annual results on 18 January, Chemring had raised concerns about two ‘specific historical contracts’ – notably concerning intermediaries who had represented its CTSL subsidiary and its predecessor companies.
The defence group said it was fully cooperating with the SFO probe.
The first contract was awarded prior to the group's ownership of the business now known as CTSL, while the second took place in 2011.
However, Chemring said that neither of the two incidents ‘are considered to be material in the context of the group’.
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