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Claim review. Bribery

Supported

The cited record supports the material proposition.

The US Justice Department and the SEC said in December 2022 that ABB, through subsidiaries, paid bribes to a South African government official at Eskom in connection with the Kusile power station.

About
ABB Ltd
Claim made by
US Department of Justice, regulator statement
Published
2 December 2022
Original
ABB Agrees to Pay Over $315 Million to Resolve Coordinated Global Foreign Bribery Case
Evidence score
95 How it was scored
Last reviewed
25 October 2026

Why this label

The DOJ release states that ABB, through certain subsidiaries, paid bribes to a South African government official at Eskom, and that two subsidiaries in Switzerland and South Africa each pleaded guiltyS1. The SEC release says ABB won a US$160 million contract for cabling and installation at Kusile and paid service providers more than US$37 million to bribe the officialS2. ABB consented to the SEC orderS2. ABB's own release says it takes the Kusile matter very seriouslyS3. The guilty pleas are admissions by the subsidiaries. The parent's charge was later dismissed after it met its obligationsS8, which does not withdraw the facts stated in 2022.

Current procedural position

Guilty pleas by ABB Management Services Ltd and ABB South Africa (Pty) Ltd announced on 2 December 2022S1. SEC cease-and-desist order consented to by ABBS2. Charge against ABB Ltd dismissed with prejudice on 20 June 2025S8.

Record supporting the assessment

ABB Management Services Ltd. (Switzerland) and ABB South Africa (Pty) Ltd. (South Africa) each pleaded guilty
S1 Tier A US Department of Justice, ABB Agrees to Pay Over $315 Million to Resolve Coordinated Global Foreign Bribery Case, 2 December 2022
ABB obtained a $160 million contract to provide cabling and installation work at Eskom’s Kusile Power Station.
S2 Tier A US Securities and Exchange Commission, Press Release 2022-214, Dated 3 December 2022 on the page
ABB paid the service providers more than $37 million to bribe the government official.
S2 Tier A US Securities and Exchange Commission, Press Release 2022-214, Dated 3 December 2022 on the page

Conflicting or limiting record

No record located that conflicts with this assessment.

Evidence score: 95 of 100

The score grades how well the record establishes this assessment. It is not a score of ABB Ltd. Score = source authority + directness + corroboration + procedural accuracy + currency + reproducibility.

ComponentPointsMaxReason
Source authorityIs the source competent to establish the proposition?2930DOJ and SEC releases are competent records of the resolutions and pleas.
DirectnessDoes the source state the proposition or only discuss adjacent facts?1920Both releases state the bribes and the Kusile contract in plain terms.
CorroborationDo independent records support the same material point?1415DOJ, SEC and ABB's own release agree.
Procedural accuracyDoes the record settle the procedural state the claim describes?1315Guilty pleas and a consented SEC order are settled, and the parent's charge was dismissed after compliance.
CurrencyHas the record been checked against later developments?1010Checked against the June 2025 motion and dismissal.
ReproducibilityCan a reader locate the passage and repeat the assessment?1010Both releases are public on government sites.
Total95100

Timeline

  1. DOJ announces DPA and subsidiary guilty pleasS1
  2. SEC announces its settled orderS2
  3. Court dismisses the charge against ABB LtdS8

Related cases

  • United States v. ABB LtdUS District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Criminal. 1:22-CR-220.Stage: Dismissed with prejudice on 20 June 2025 after early termination of the DPA.
    • Government files unopposed motion to dismissS6
    • Order dismissing the information with prejudiceS8
  • In the Matter of ABB LtdUS Securities and Exchange Commission. Regulatory. Not published.Stage: Settled cease-and-desist order.
    • ABB consents to the order, US$75 million penalty and more than US$72 million disgorgementS2

Responses

  • ABB Ltd, 2 December 2022: ABB's chief executive said the company takes the Kusile matter very seriously and has zero tolerance for non-ethical behaviour.S3

Revision history

  • Assessment first published with label Supported.

Have a record that changes this assessment? See corrections and responses.

Sources

  1. S1Tier A ABB Agrees to Pay Over $315 Million to Resolve Coordinated Global Foreign Bribery CaseUS Department of Justice. Regulator press release. 2 December 2022.Supports the DPA, the penalty, the guilty pleas and the disclosure credit. It does not give the South African amount.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
  2. S2Tier A Press Release 2022-214US Securities and Exchange Commission. Regulator press release. Dated 3 December 2022 on the page.Supports the Kusile contract value, the US$37 million in payments and the SEC amounts. It does not cover the 2025 dismissal.
  3. S8Tier A Order, United States v. ABB Ltd., No. 1:22-cr-00220-MSNUS District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Court judgment. 20 June 2025.Signed order filed on 20 June 2025 per the docket stamp, dismissing the information with prejudice. Copy hosted by a law firm, not the court.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
  4. S6Tier A Government's Unopposed Motion to Dismiss Information, United States v. ABB Ltd, No. 1:22-CR-220US Department of Justice, filed in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Court filing. 18 June 2025.Government motion filed as ECF No. 23 with a proposed order. It supports full compliance, payment of the US$315,000,000 penalty and the request for dismissal with prejudice.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
  5. S3Tier B ABB concludes settlements for Kusile projectABB Ltd. Company statement. 2 December 2022.ABB's total of US$327 million and its list of authorities. It does not break out the South African payment.

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