Serious Fraud Office investigating Thales for corruption

The Serious Fraud Office has launched an investigation into suspected bribery and corruption at Thales, the French multinational aviation and defence electronics group.
The UK fraud agency is working alongside Parquet National Financier, the French authority, in a joint investigation.
Thales, which has its headquarters in Paris and employs more than 7,000 staff in the UK across 16 sites, has been informed.
It is the sixth new investigation announced since Nick Ephgrave joined the SFO as director in September last year and follows an investigation between the fraud office and PNF into Airbus, which culminated in a €3.6 billion global penalty for the company in 2020, the largest for international bribery.
Ephgrave, a former assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police and chief constable of Surrey, said: “Working collaboratively with our international partners is a crucial factor in the fight against international corruption and with this case I hope to reinforce the SFO and PNF’s long-standing relationship, built on mutual co-operation and shared success.
“We will together rigorously pursue every avenue in our investigation into these serious allegations.”
Thales, valued at about €31.3 billion in Paris, operates in 68 countries, employs 81,000 people and generated revenues of €18.4 billion last year. The group spans space, defence and security, and aerospace and had an order book of €45.3 billion in 2023.
Its defence unit provides sensors, radios and air defence systems and its aerospace business includes in-flight entertainment systems and air traffic management.
In the UK, where its roots go back 140 years, it is among about 40 strategic suppliers to the government, alongside BAE Systems, G4S and Babcock.
The company has 18 live contracts worth a combined £623.5 million with the UK, according to Tussell, the data provider. The largest is with the Home Office to produce the new generation of British non-EU passports. They also include 13 live contracts with the Ministry of Defence worth a total of £337.4 million. Its work has included designing the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers.
The UK arm of Thales is headed by Phil Siveter, a former UK and Ireland boss of Nokia, who was appointed last month.
Thales said: “Thales confirms that the SFO and the PNF have commenced an investigation in relation to four of its entities in France and the UK. Thales is co-operating with the PNF in France and the SFO in the UK. The group complies with all national and international regulations. As the investigation is ongoing, Thales will not comment further.”