May 27 (Reuters) – Brazilian police mentioned this week they had been investigating native items of three worldwide steelmakers in an enormous corruption investigation involving the nation’s state-run oil firm, Petroleo Brasileiro SA, or Petrobras.

Prosecutors have recognized no less than 285 overseas firms which have finished enterprise with people who find themselves beneath investigation, although they are saying that doesn’t imply all of the corporations are suspected of graft. Brazilian investigators are working intently with U.S. and different worldwide authorities.

Below are overseas firms which have appeared in Brazil’s largest-ever corruption case named “Operation Car Wash” for a Brasilia fuel station the place a number of the alleged cash laundering passed off. For greater than two years the investigation has ensnared the nation’s largest development firms and high-profile politicians.

Petrobras wrote off $2.1 billion in graft losses, although federal police and prosecutors consider the quantity siphoned from the corporate for greater than a decade may very well be a lot greater.

United States Steel: Prosecutors on Tuesday mentioned Apolo Tubulars, which is 50 % owned by United States Steel, allegedly paid bribes to win pipe contracts with Petrobras between 2009 and 2012. U.S. Steel mentioned it’s reviewing the matter and is in touch with Apolo Tubulars. Apolo Tubulars mentioned it was cooperating with authorities.

Tenaris SA: Luxembourg-based Tenaris’ Brazilian unit Confab was additionally accused of paying kickbacks to acquire contracts with Petrobras. Tenaris is a part of Italian-Argentine metal group Techint. Tenaris officers didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark, however Confab mentioned it has no proof its staff paid bribes and is cooperating with authorities.

Vallourec SA: Police mentioned on Tuesday they’d no proof of corruption at French pipe maker Vallourec SA however had been persevering with their investigation of the corporate’s Brazilian unit, V&M. V&M mentioned it was dealing with no expenses and had been guided by authorized requirements all through 60 years of enterprise with Petrobras.

Keppel Corp Ltd: Prosecutors charged a former lobbyist for Keppel Fels, the native unit of Singapore oil rig builder Keppel Corp Ltd, with corruption in April however mentioned they didn’t have sufficient proof to prosecute any Keppel staff. Keppel mentioned it put its relationship with the lobbyist on maintain and has a zero-tolerance stance towards any type of criminality. Prosecutors mentioned political strategist Joao Santana obtained bribes in contracts involving Petrobras, shipbuilder Sete Brasil and Keppel Fels.

Ensco Plc: Petrobras ended a drillship contract with rig contractor Ensco Plc in January due to corruption allegations. Petrobras chartered the DS-5 drillship in 2008, when it was owned by Pride International, an organization Ensco purchased in 2011. Prosecutors have mentioned they deliberate to current expenses associated to the DS-5 constitution. Ensco, which is headquartered in London, says it has discovered no proof that Pride, the corporate, or any present or former staff had been conscious of or concerned in wrongdoing. Astra Oil: The unit of Belgian-controlled Astra Transcor Energy allegedly paid $15 million in bribes to encourage Petrobras to purchase a part of Astra’s Texas-based Pasadena Refining Systems Inc for $1.2 billion in 2006, prosecutors mentioned in November. Astra has not responded to request for remark.

Transocean Ltd: A former Petrobras government mentioned in plea- cut price testimony made public in September that he was supplied funds in 2007 in trade for Switzerland-based Transocean Ltd successful a drillship contract. Transocean mentioned it requires staff and everybody making visits on its behalf to stick to excessive requirements for integrity. Vantage Drilling: Prosecutors mentioned in August {that a} lobbyist for U.S.-based Vantage Drilling organized bribes for former Petrobras executives on the Four Seasons Hotel in New York in trade for awarding Vantage Drilling a 2009 drillship contract. Vantage executives haven’t been charged and the corporate says it absolutely met the phrases of the drillship contract and has discovered no proof of improper exercise. Saipem SpA: Prosecutors in July 2015 mentioned they’re investigating whether or not a former Petrobras government accepted bribes in trade for favoring Italy’s Saipem SpA on a contract for an undersea fuel pipeline for offshore subsalt fields in Brazil. Saipem mentioned on the time it had not but been notified by authorities however deliberate to cooperate.

Sembcorp Marine Ltd: A former Petrobras government mentioned in plea testimony made public in March 2015 {that a} consultant of Sembcorp’s Jurong Aracruz shipyard was concerned in bribe funds. Sembcorp Marine Ltd mentioned it didn’t make any unlawful cost.

Maersk Group: Prosecutors say Denmark’s transport and oil group Maersk allegedly paid bribes to win Petrobras contracts. Maersk mentioned it first met with Brazilian investigators in July 2014 and obtained a request for extra info late final 12 months. Maersk has additionally mentioned it’s regular and customary to make use of brokers to advertise tanker-operators’ companies to prospects world wide and to pay brokers a 1.25 % fee on earnings from constitution contracts.

Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc : The British engineering firm that makes tools for offshore oil and fuel rigs has mentioned it’s cooperating with the investigation, although prosecutors say it has not signed a proper cooperation deal.

Skanska AB : Swedish builder Skanska’s native unit Skanska Brasil Ltda is considered one of some 20 firms being investigated by Brazil’s anti-trust regulator Cade for forming a cartel that mounted costs and overcharged Petrobras for work with a view to cross on bribes price 1 % to three % of contracts. Skanska mentioned it has a zero tolerance towards unethical conduct and takes the suspicions very severely however doesn’t search any leniency settlement because it denies being a part of a cartel.

SBM Offshore : A former Petrobras government mentioned in plea-bargain testimony seen by Reuters that he had obtained bribes from an SBM level particular person between 1995 and 2003. The world’s prime oil manufacturing ship leasing firm reached a file $240 million settlement in November 2014 with Dutch and U.S. authorities referring to corruption expenses in Angola, Brazil and Equatorial Guinea. The firm mentioned in February U.S. authorities had re-opened an inquiry into bribery allegations, nevertheless. SBM can be looking for a leniency deal in Brazil. (Compiled by Caroline Stauffer in Sao Paulo; Editing by Phil Berlowitz)

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