LAN Airlines Gets Prosecution Deferred Will Pay $22 Million to Settle FCPA Charges

South American-based LAN Airlines will pay more than $22 million to settle civil and criminal cases related to improper payments it authorized during a dispute between the airline and its union employees in Argentina.

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The company was represented by Roger Witten of WilmerHale in New York.

An SEC investigation found that when LAN encountered problems negotiating labor agreements with the unions, it was contacted by a consultant from Argentina who offered to negotiate on the company’s behalf.

The consultant made clear that he would expect compensation for such negotiations, and that payments would be made to third parties who had influence over the unions.

LAN’s CEO approved $1.15 million in payments to the consultant through a sham contract for a purported study of existing air routes in Argentina.

The CEO knew that no actual study would be performed and that it was possible the consultant would pass some portion of the money to union officials in Argentina to settle the wage disputes.

To settle the SEC’s charges that it failed to keep accurate books and records and maintain adequate internal accounting controls, LAN agreed to pay $9.4 million in disgorgement and prejudgment interest.

In a deferred prosecution agreement with U.S. Department of Justice, LAN will pay a $12.75 million penalty.

Earlier this year, the SEC charged LAN’s CEO Ignacio Cueto Plaza with FCPA violations and he settled the charges.

“LAN used a sham consulting agreement to make its financial reporting appear as though the company was funding a study rather than steering money to settle labor disputes,” said Kara Brockmeyer, Chief of the SEC Enforcement Division’s FCPA Unit.  “This settlement along with our prior case against the CEO shows that public companies and their executives must be truthful and forthcoming about its overseas consulting agreements or otherwise pay the consequences.”

Under the settlement, LAN must retain an independent compliance monitor for a period of not less than 27 months.

In reaching the settlement, the SEC considered LAN’s remedial acts and general cooperation with the investigation.

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