HOUSTON, July 25 (Reuters) - Halliburton Co <HAL.N> and KBR Inc <KBR.N>, its former engineering and construction arm, have held talks with U.S. regulators and prosecutors to settle allegations that the companies violated U.S. bribery laws, Halliburton said in a filing on Friday.
'From time to time, we and KBR have engaged in discussions with the SEC and the DOJ regarding a settlement of these matters,' Halliburton said in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Halliburton said there is no assurance a settlement can be reached.
The companies are under investigation by the United States and other governments for allegedly making improper payments to officials in Nigeria in violation of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).
The probes are related to the construction and expansion of a gas liquefaction facility at Bonny Island in Rivers State, Nigeria, as well as other projects dating back as far as 20 years, the filing said.
The U.S. government is investigating Halliburton and a number of other oilfield services for possible violations of the FCPA. Under that law, it is illegal for U.S. companies or their agents to use bribery to win business in foreign countries.
A representative for Halliburton could not be reached immediately for comment and a spokeswoman for KBR said the company had no comment.
(Editing by Gerald E. McCormick, Leslie Gevirtz) Keywords: HALLIBURTON/ tf.TFN-Europe_newsdesk@thomson.com ak COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Financial News Limited 2007. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Thomson Financial News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Financial News.
'From time to time, we and KBR have engaged in discussions with the SEC and the DOJ regarding a settlement of these matters,' Halliburton said in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Halliburton said there is no assurance a settlement can be reached.
The companies are under investigation by the United States and other governments for allegedly making improper payments to officials in Nigeria in violation of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).
The probes are related to the construction and expansion of a gas liquefaction facility at Bonny Island in Rivers State, Nigeria, as well as other projects dating back as far as 20 years, the filing said.
The U.S. government is investigating Halliburton and a number of other oilfield services for possible violations of the FCPA. Under that law, it is illegal for U.S. companies or their agents to use bribery to win business in foreign countries.
A representative for Halliburton could not be reached immediately for comment and a spokeswoman for KBR said the company had no comment.
(Editing by Gerald E. McCormick, Leslie Gevirtz) Keywords: HALLIBURTON/ tf.TFN-Europe_newsdesk@thomson.com ak COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Financial News Limited 2007. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Thomson Financial News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Financial News.