ABB Ltd

In December 2020 ABB agreed to pay about 1.56 billion rand to Eskom in a settlement with Eskom and the Special Investigating Unit^S4. On 2 December 2022 the Justice Department announced a deferred prosecution agreement with a criminal penalty of US$315 million, with guilty pleas by two subsidiaries^S1. The SEC imposed a US$75 million civil penalty and more than US$72 million in disgorgement^S2. ABB said its settlements with US, South African and Swiss authorities totalled US$327 million^S3. Press reported the US$315 million figure as the overall cost^S5. The government moved to dismiss in June 2025^S6, and the court granted it on 20 June 2025^S8.

Also known as: ABB, ABB South Africa (Pty) Ltd, ABB Management Services Ltd
Headquarters: Switzerland
Records from: United States, South Africa, Switzerland
Current status: Listed industrial engineering group based in Zurich. The US criminal information over the Kusile bribes was dismissed with prejudice on 20 June 2025 after the Justice Department ended the deferred prosecution agreement early^S6^S8. Two ABB subsidiaries pleaded guilty in 2022^S1.

Scope. This record covers ABB's Kusile power station contracts with Eskom and the 2020 and 2022 resolutions. It does not cover ABB's earlier FCPA cases of 2004 and 2010 except as context, or the prosecution of former Eskom officials.

Claims assessed

4 claims. Scores grade the evidence for each claim, not the organization.

Supported95
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.
Regulator statement, 2 December 20223 records citedBribery
Partly supported87
OCCRP reported in December 2022 that ABB agreed to pay US$315 million to settle a multinational bribery investigation.
Press report, 7 December 20224 records citedBribery
Supported86
ABB said it voluntarily disclosed improper payments on the Kusile project and cooperated fully with the authorities.
Company statement, 2 December 20224 records citedBribery
Outdated95
The US Justice Department said in December 2022 that ABB entered into a three-year deferred prosecution agreement.
Regulator statement, 2 December 20224 records citedCorporate status

Cases and proceedings

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.
- 18 June 2025 Government files unopposed motion to dismiss^S6
- 20 June 2025 Order dismissing the information with prejudice^S8
In the Matter of ABB LtdUS Securities and Exchange Commission. Regulatory. Not published.Stage: Settled cease-and-desist order.
- 2 December 2022 ABB consents to the order, US$75 million penalty and more than US$72 million disgorgement^S2
Eskom Holdings and the Special Investigating Unit with ABB South AfricaSpecial Investigating Unit and Eskom, South Africa. Civil. Not published.Stage: Full and final settlement.
- 11 December 2020 ABB agrees to pay about 1.56 billion rand to Eskom^S4

Responses on record

ABB Ltd, 2 December 2022, on The US Justice Department and the SEC said in December 2022 that ABB, through subsidiaries...
ABB's chief executive said the company takes the Kusile matter very seriously and has zero tolerance for non-ethical behaviour.^S3

Revision history

25 October 2026 Profile and 4 assessments first published. Records checked to 25 October 2026.

Source records

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
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
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.
S4Tier B ABB reaches settlement with Eskom and South Africa's SIUABB Ltd. Company statement. 11 December 2020.Supports the 1.56 billion rand Eskom settlement and the reference to voluntary disclosure. It makes no explicit admission.
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.
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
S5Tier C Swiss Company ABB to Pay $315 Million in South African Bribery ProbeOCCRP. Press report. 7 December 2022.Report by Inci Sayki using the US$315 million headline figure. It later gives US$327 million across agencies.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
S7Tier D DOJ terminates ABB's DPA earlyWillkie Farr & Gallagher, Compliance Concourse. Academic paper. 25 June 2025.Law firm bulletin reporting that the court granted dismissal on 20 June 2025. It is professional analysis, not the order.Link working, checked 25 October 2026