DEFERRED PROSECUTION AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT
10.1
Defendant
SCHNITZER STEEL INDUSTRIES, INC. (“Schnitzer Steel” or “the Company”), an Oregon
corporation, by its undersigned attorneys, pursuant to authority granted by
its
Board of Directors, and the United States Department of Justice, Criminal
Division, Fraud Section (“Department of Justice” or the “Department”), enter
into this Deferred Prosecution Agreement (“Agreement”).
1. |
SchnitzerSteel
accepts and acknowledges that the Department of Justice will file
a
criminal Information in the United States District Court for the
District
of Oregon charging SSI International Far East, Ltd. (“SSI Korea”), a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Schnitzer Steel, with Conspiracy to violate,
and with substantive violations of, the anti-bribery provisions of
the
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (“FCPA”) and the Wire Fraud statute,
and with aiding and abetting the making of false entries in the books
and
records of Schnitzer Steel, a publicly-held corporation, in violation
of
the books and records and internal controls provisions of the FCPA.
Schnitzer Steel accepts and acknowledges that SSI Korea will enter
a plea
of guilty to all charges in the Information. Schnitzer Steel does
not
endorse, ratify or condone criminal conduct and, as set forth below,
has
taken steps to prevent such conduct from
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occurring
in the future.
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2. |
Schnitzer
Steel accepts and acknowledges that it is responsible for the acts
of its
officers and employees, and those of its wholly owned subsidiary,
SSI
Korea, as set forth in the Statement of Facts annexed hereto as
“Attachment A.” Should the Department, pursuant to Paragraphs 21 and 22 of
this Agreement, initiate the prosecution that is deferred by this
Agreement, Schnitzer Steel agrees that it will neither contest the
admissibility of, nor contradict, in any such proceeding, the facts
contained in the Statement of
Facts.
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3. |
Schnitzer
Steel expressly agrees that it shall not, through its present or
future
attorneys, Board of Directors, officers, or any other person authorized
to
speak for the Company, make any public statement, in litigation or
otherwise, contradicting Schnitzer Steel’s acceptance of responsibility
set forth above or the factual statements set forth in the Statement
of
Facts. Any such contradictory statement shall, subject to Schnitzer
Steel’s cure rights below, constitute a breach of this Agreement as
governed by Paragraph 21 of this Agreement, and Schnitzer Steel thereafter
shall be subject to prosecution as set forth in Paragraphs 21 and
22 of
this Agreement. The decision whether any public statement by any
such
person
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2
contradicting
a fact contained in the Statement of Facts will be imputed to Schnitzer
Steel for the purpose of determining whether Schnitzer Steel has
breached
this Agreement shall be at the sole discretion of the Department.
Should
the Department determine that a public statement by any such person
contradicts in whole or in part a statement contained in the Statement
of
Facts, the Department shall so notify Schnitzer Steel as provided
in
Paragraph 27, and the Company may avoid a breach of this Agreement
by
publicly repudiating such statement within two (2) business days
after
notification. Consistent with Schnitzer Steel’s obligations as set forth
above, Schnitzer Steel shall be permitted to raise defenses and to
assert
affirmative claims in civil and regulatory proceedings relating to
the
matters set forth in the Statement of Facts. This Paragraph is not
intended to apply to any statement made by any Schnitzer Steel employee
in
the course of any criminal, regulatory, or civil case initiated against
such individual, unless such individual is speaking on behalf of
Schnitzer
Steel.
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4. |
In
connection with this Agreement, Schnitzer Steel agrees to issue a
press
release, the text of which shall be acceptable to the
Department.
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5. |
During
the three-year (3) term of this Agreement, Schnitzer Steel agrees
to
cooperate fully with the Department, the
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U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and any other authority or
agency designated by the Department investigating Schnitzer Steel
and any
of its present and former officers, employees, agents, consultants,
contractors and subcontractors, in any and all matters relating to
corrupt
payments in connection with its operations. Schnitzer Steel agrees
that
its cooperation shall include, but is not limited to, the
following:
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a) |
Schnitzer
Steel shall continue to cooperate fully with the Department, the
SEC, and
any other authority or agency designated by the Department, and shall
truthfully disclose all information with respect to the activities
of
Schnitzer Steel, its officers, employees, agents, consultants, contractors
and sub-contractors concerning all matters relating to corrupt payments
in
connection with its operations, related false books and records,
and
inadequate internal controls about which Schnitzer Steel has any
knowledge
or about which the Department shall inquire. This obligation of truthful
disclosure includes an obligation upon Schnitzer Steel to provide
to the
Department and to the SEC, upon request, any document, record, or
other
tangible evidence relating to such corrupt payments, books and records,
and internal controls about which the
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Department
shall inquire of Schnitzer Steel. This obligation of truthful disclosure
includes an obligation to provide the Department with access to Schnitzer
Steel’s facilities, documents, and employees. This obligation does not
apply to any communications that are protected by the attorney-client
privilege or work product doctrine. The parties agree, however, that
the
disclosure of information to Schnitzer Steel’s counsel concerning corrupt
payments and related books and records shall not relieve Schnitzer
Steel
of its obligation to truthfully disclose such matters to the Department
and the SEC.
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b) |
Upon
request of the Department, with respect to any issue relevant to
its
investigation of corrupt payments in connection with Schnitzer Steel’s
operations, related books and records, and inadequate internal controls,
Schnitzer Steel shall designate knowledgeable employees, agents,
or
attorneys to provide to the Department the information and materials
described in Paragraph 5(a) above, on Schnitzer Steel’s behalf. It is
further understood that Schnitzer Steel must at all times provide
complete, truthful, and accurate
information.
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c) |
With
respect to any issue relevant to the Department’s
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investigation
of corrupt payments in connection with Schnitzer Steel’s operations, the
Company shall use its best efforts to make its employees available
to
provide information and testimony as requested by the Department,
including sworn testimony before a federal grand jury or in federal
trials, as well as interviews with federal law enforcement authorities.
Cooperation under this Paragraph will include identification of witnesses
who, to Schnitzer Steel’s knowledge, may have material information
regarding the matters under
investigation.
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d) |
With
respect to any issue relevant to the Department’s investigation of corrupt
payments in connection with Schnitzer Steel’s operations, the Company
shall use its best efforts to make available, for interviews or for
testimony, such present or former Schnitzer Steel officers, directors,
agents, consultants, and employees, and the officers, directors,
employees, agents and consultants of contractors and sub-contractors,
as
may be requested by Department of Justice.
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e) |
With
respect to any information, testimony, document, record, or other
tangible
evidence provided to the Department pursuant to this Agreement, Schnitzer
Steel
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consents
to any and all disclosures to other Government agencies of such materials
as the Department, in its sole discretion, shall deem
appropriate.
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6. |
In
return for
Schnitzer Steel’s full and truthful cooperation, the Department agrees not
to use any information provided by Schnitzer Steel pursuant to this
Agreement against the Company or its subsidiaries in any criminal
or civil
case relating to the conduct described in the Statement of Facts,
at
Attachment A, except in a prosecution for perjury or obstruction
of
justice; in a prosecution for making a false statement after the
date of
this Agreement; in a prosecution or other proceeding relating to
any crime
of violence; or in a prosecution or other proceeding relating to
a
violation of any provision of Title 26 of the U.S. Code. In addition,
the
Department agrees, except as provided herein, that it will not bring
any
criminal or civil case against Schnitzer Steel relating to the conduct
of
Schnitzer Steel employees as described in the attached Statement
of Facts.
This Paragraph does not provide any protection against prosecution
for
corrupt payments, if any, made in the future by Schnitzer Steel,
its
subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents
or
consultants, whether or not disclosed by Schnitzer Steel pursuant
to the
terms of this Agreement, nor does it
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apply
to any such payments, made in the past, which are not described in
the
attached Statement of Facts. In addition, this Paragraph does not
provide
any protection against criminal prosecution for any violations committed
by any present or former officer, employee, director, agent or consultant
of Schnitzer Steel or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates.
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7.
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Schnitzer
Steel represents that it has implemented a compliance and ethics
program
designed to detect and prevent violations of the FCPA, U.S. commercial
bribery laws and all applicable foreign bribery laws throughout its
operations, including those of its subsidiaries, affiliates, and
joint
ventures, and those of its contractors and subcontractors, with
responsibilities that include interactions with foreign officials.
Implementation of these policies and procedures shall not be construed
in
any future enforcement proceeding as providing immunity or amnesty
for any
crimes not disclosed to the Department as of the date of the execution
of
this Agreement for which Schnitzer Steel would otherwise be
responsible.
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8.
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Schnitzer
Steel agrees to the appointment of an independent compliance consultant
(“Compliance Consultant”), within sixty (60) calendar days of the signing
of this Agreement, to monitor the Company’s compliance program with
respect to
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the
FCPA, U.S. commercial bribery laws, and applicable foreign bribery
laws
for a period of three (3) years from the execution of this Agreement,
subject to the provisions of Paragraph 11. The Compliance Consultant
shall
be the same person as appointed pursuant to any agreement between
Schnitzer Steel and the SEC concerning the acts described in the
Statement
of Facts at Attachment A. The Compliance Consultant will review and
evaluate the effectiveness of Schnitzer Steel’s internal controls,
record-keeping, and financial reporting policies and procedures as
they
relate to Schnitzer Steel’s compliance with the books and records,
internal accounting controls, and anti-bribery provisions of the
FCPA,
U.S. commercial bribery laws, and all applicable foreign bribery
laws. This
review and evaluation shall include an assessment of those policies
and
procedures as actually implemented.
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9.
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The
Department shall provide to Schnitzer Steel, within thirty (30) days
of
the signing of this Agreement, the names of two (2) recommended Compliance
Consultants. Thereafter, Schnitzer Steel shall select one person
as its
Compliance Consultant or, in the event the Company does not select
a
person within thirty (30) days, the Department shall have the sole
right
to select the Compliance Consultant. The compensation and expenses
of the
Compliance Consultant, and
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of
any persons hired under his or her authority, shall be paid by Schnitzer
Steel.
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10.
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Schnitzer
Steel shall cooperate fully with the Compliance Consultant. The Compliance
Consultant shall have the authority to take such reasonable steps,
in the
Compliance Consultant’s view, as may be necessary to be fully informed
about the operations of Schnitzer Steel within the scope of his or
her
responsibilities under this Agreement. To that end, Schnitzer Steel
shall
provide the Compliance Consultant with access to all files, books,
records, and personnel that fall within the scope of his or her
responsibilities under this Agreement. It shall be a condition of
the
Compliance Consultant’s retention that the Compliance Consultant is
independent of Schnitzer Steel and that no attorney-client relationship
shall be formed between them. Except insofar as Schnitzer Steel retains
the attorney-client privilege or work product doctrine described
in
Paragraph 5(a) of this Agreement, Schnitzer Steel shall not withhold
from
the Department, and shall require the Compliance Consultant to agree
not
to withhold from the Department, any documents or information on
the basis
of any privilege or work product
claims.
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11.
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Schnitzer
Steel agrees that the Compliance Consultant shall assess whether
Schnitzer
Steel’s policies and procedures are
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reasonably
designed to detect and prevent violations of the FCPA, all applicable
U.S.
commercial bribery laws, and all applicable foreign bribery laws,
and,
during the three-year consultancy, shall conduct an initial review
and
prepare an initial report, followed by two (2) follow-up reviews
and
follow-up reports as described below. With respect to each of the
three
(3) reviews, after initial consultations with Schnitzer Steel, the
Department, and the SEC, the Compliance Consultant shall prepare
a written
work plan for each of the reviews, which shall be submitted in advance
to
Schnitzer Steel, the Department and the SEC for comment. In order
to
conduct an effective initial review and to fully understand any existing
deficiencies in controls, policies and procedures related to the
FCPA,
U.S. commercial bribery laws, and all applicable foreign bribery
laws, the
Compliance Consultant’s initial work plan shall include such steps as are
necessary to develop an understanding of the facts and circumstances
surrounding the violations described in the attached Statement of
Facts.
Any disputes between Schnitzer Steel and the Compliance Consultant
with
respect to the work plan shall be decided by the Department in its
sole
discretion.
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12.
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In
connection with the initial review, the Compliance Consultant shall
issue
a written report within one hundred
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twenty
(120) calendar days after being retained, setting forth the Compliance
Consultant’s assessment and making recommendations reasonably designed to
improve Schnitzer Steel’s policies and procedures for ensuring compliance
with the FCPA, U.S. commercial bribery laws, and all applicable foreign
bribery laws. The Compliance Consultant shall provide the report
to
Schnitzer Steel’s Board of Directors and its Audit Committee and
contemporaneously transmit copies to the following individuals, or
their
successors: 1) Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx, Deputy Chief, Fraud Section, Criminal
Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 00xx
xxx Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxx., X.X. (Xxxx), Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000; and 2)
Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx, District Administrator, U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission, 00 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx
Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000. The Compliance Consultant may extend
the
time period for issuance of the report with prior written approval
of the
Department and the SEC.
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13.
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Within
one hundred twenty (120) calendar days after receiving the report,
Schnitzer Steel shall adopt all recommendations in the report of
the
Compliance Consultant; provided, however, that within one hundred
twenty
(120) calendar days after receiving the report, Schnitzer Steel shall
advise the Compliance Consultant, the Department and the SEC in writing
of
any recommendations that it considers
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to
be unduly burdensome, impractical, or costly. With respect to any
recommendation that Schnitzer Steel considers unduly burdensome,
impractical, or costly, Schnitzer Steel need not adopt that recommendation
within that time but shall propose in writing an alternative policy,
procedure or system designed to achieve the same objective or purpose.
As
to any recommendation on which Schnitzer Steel and the Compliance
Consultant do not agree, such parties shall attempt in good faith
to reach
an agreement within sixty (60) calendar days after Schnitzer Steel
serves
the written advice. In the event Schnitzer Steel and the Compliance
Consultant are unable to agree on an alternative proposal, Schnitzer
Steel
shall abide by the determinations of the Compliance Consultant. With
respect to any recommendation that the Compliance Consultant determines
cannot reasonably be implemented within one hundred twenty (120)
calendar
days after receiving the report, the Compliance Consultant may extend
the
time period for implementation with prior written approval of the
Department.
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14.
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The
Compliance Consultant shall undertake two follow-up reviews to further
monitor and assess whether Schnitzer Steel’s policies and procedures are
reasonably designed to detect and prevent violations of the FCPA,
U.S.
commercial bribery laws, and all applicable foreign bribery laws.
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13
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Within
one hundred twenty (120) calendar days of initiating each follow-up
review, the Compliance Consultant (i) shall complete the review,
(ii)
certify whether Schnitzer Steel’s anti-bribery compliance program,
including its policies and procedures, is appropriately designed
and
implemented to ensure compliance with the FCPA, U.S. commercial bribery
laws, and all applicable foreign bribery laws, and (iii) report on
the
Compliance Consultant’s findings in the same fashion as set forth in
Paragraph 12 with respect to the initial review. The first follow-up
review shall commence one year after appointment of the Compliance
Consultant, and the second follow-up review shall commence at least
one
year after completion of the first review. The Compliance Consultant
may
extend the time period for these follow-up reviews with prior written
approval of the Department and the SEC.
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15.
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In
undertaking the assessment and reviews described in Paragraphs 8
through
14 of this Agreement, the Compliance Consultant shall formulate
conclusions based on, among other things, (i) inspection of documents,
including all the policies and procedures relating to Schnitzer Steel’s
anti-bribery compliance program; (ii) onsite observation of Schnitzer
Steel’s systems and procedures, including Schnitzer Steel’s internal
controls, recordkeeping and
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internal
audit procedures; (iii) meetings with and interviews of Schnitzer
Steel’s
employees, officers, directors and any other relevant persons; and
(iv)
analyses, studies and testing of Schnitzer Steel’s anti-bribery compliance
program. In undertaking such assessment and reviews, the Compliance
Consultant, at his or her own discretion, may rely, to a reasonable
extent
and after reasonable inquiry, on reports, studies, and analyses issued
or
undertaken by other consultants hired by Schnitzer Steel prior to
the date
of this Agreement.
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16.
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The
Compliance Consultant’s charge, as further described in Paragraphs 8
through 15 above, is to review Schnitzer Steel’s controls, policies and
procedures related to the compliance with the FCPA, U.S. commercial
bribery laws and all other applicable foreign bribery laws. Should
the
Compliance Consultant, during the course of his or her engagement,
discover that corrupt payments or corrupt transfers of property or
interests may have been offered, promised, paid, or authorized by
any
Schnitzer Steel entity or person, or any entity or person working
directly
or indirectly for Schnitzer Steel, the Compliance Consultant shall
promptly report such payments to Schnitzer Steel’s Corporate Compliance
Officer and its Audit Committee for further investigation, unless
the
Compliance Consultant
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believes,
in the exercise of his or her discretion, that such disclosure should
be
delayed. In such circumstances, the Compliance Consultant may refer
the
matter directly to the Department and the SEC. If the Compliance
Consultant refers the matter only to Schnitzer Steel’s Corporate
Compliance Officer or its Audit Committee, Schnitzer Steel shall
promptly
report the same to the Department and the SEC. If Schnitzer Steel
fails to
make such disclosure within ten (10) calendar days of the report
of such
payments to Schnitzer Steel’s Corporate Compliance Officer or its Audit
Committee, the Compliance Consultant shall independently disclose
his or
her findings to the Department and the SEC, at the addresses listed
above
in Paragraph 12. If the Compliance Consultant reasonably concludes
that
disclosure to Schnitzer Steel’s Corporate Compliance Officer or its Audit
Committee would be inappropriate, the Compliance Consultant may limit
such
disclosure to any one of the foregoing parties. If the Compliance
Consultant reasonably concludes that disclosure to even one of the
foregoing parties would be inappropriate, the Compliance Consultant
may
refer the matter directly to the Department or the SEC. In the event
of
such a direct referral, the Compliance Consultant shall make a similar
disclosure to Schnitzer Steel’s Corporate Compliance Officer or its Audit
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Committee
as soon as the reason for the nondisclosure has abated, unless directed
not to do so by the relevant authorities. Further, in the event that
any
Schnitzer Steel entity or person, or any entity or person working
directly
or indirectly for Schnitzer Steel, refuses to provide information
necessary for the performance of the Compliance Consultant’s
responsibilities, the Compliance Consultant shall disclose that fact
to
the Department and the SEC. Schnitzer Steel shall not take any action
to
retaliate against the Compliance Consultant for such disclosures.
The
Compliance Consultant is not precluded from reporting other criminal
or
regulatory violations discovered in the course of performing his
or her
duties, in the same manner as described
above.
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17.
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The
Agreement between Schnitzer Steel and the Compliance Consultant shall
provide that for the three-year period of engagement and for a period
of
two (2) years from completion of the engagement, the Compliance Consultant
shall not enter into any additional employment, consultant,
attorney-client, auditing or other professional relationship with
Schnitzer Steel, or any of its present or former affiliates, directors,
officers, employees, or agents acting in their capacity as such.
The
agreement will also provide that the Compliance Consultant will require
that any firm with which
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he
or she is affiliated or of which he or she is a member, and any person
engaged to assist the Compliance Consultant in performance of his
or her
duties under this Agreement shall not, without prior written consent
of
the Department and the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, enter into any
employment, consultant, agency, attorney-client, auditing or other
professional relationship with Schnitzer Steel, or any of its present
or
former affiliates, directors, officers, employees, or agents acting
in
their capacity as such for the period of the engagement and for a
period
of two (2) years after the engagement. To ensure the independence
of the
Compliance Consultant, Schnitzer Steel shall not have the authority
to
terminate the Compliance Consultant without the prior written approval
of
the Department and the SEC.
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18.
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Schnitzer
Steel further agrees that its subsidiary, SSI Korea, shall pay a
monetary
penalty of $7,500,000 to the U.S. Treasury within ten (10) days of
the
imposition of any fine upon SSI Korea by the District Court for the
District of Oregon. Schnitzer Steel will offset against the $7,500,000
monetary penalty required under this Agreement any fine imposed upon
SSI
Korea by the District Court for the District of Oregon. This amount
is a
final payment and shall not be refunded (a) if the Department does
not
institute a criminal prosecution against Schnitzer Steel
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pursuant
to Paragraph 21 below, or (b) should the Department later determine
that
Schnitzer Steel has breached this Agreement and brings a prosecution
against it pursuant to Paragraph 22 below. Further, nothing in this
Agreement shall be deemed an agreement by the Department that this
amount
is the maximum criminal fine that may be imposed in such prosecution,
and
the Department shall not be precluded from arguing that the Court
should
impose a higher fine. The Department agrees, however, to recommend
to the
Court that any amounts paid pursuant to this Agreement and in the
criminal
proceeding against SSI Korea should be offset against whatever fine
the
Court shall impose as part of its judgment in the event of a subsequent
breach and prosecution. Schnitzer Steel agrees, on behalf of itself
and
its subsidiaries, including SSI Korea, that no tax deduction will
be
sought in connection with the $7,500,000 million monetary penalty
required
under this Agreement or any criminal fine imposed by a Court in connection
with any criminal proceeding arising from the facts contained in
the
Statement of Facts.
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19.
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In
consideration of the action of the Audit Committee of the Board of
Directors of Schnitzer Steel in initiating an investigation conducted
by
outside legal counsel and the voluntary disclosure to the Department
and
the SEC; the cooperation of the Audit Committee and the Company with
the
investigations conducted by the Department and the SEC; the
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willingness
of the Board of Directors to replace senior officers of the Company,
to
increase the number of independent directors, and to adopt and implement
effective compliance procedures; and the willingness of Schnitzer
Steel to
(a) acknowledge responsibility for its behavior, (b) cause its subsidiary,
SSI Korea, to enter a plea of guilty to criminal charges, (c) continue
its
cooperation with the Department, the SEC, and other investigative
and
regulatory authorities and agencies, (d) adopt and maintain remedial
measures and its commitment to independently review and audit such
measures, and (e) consent to pay the criminal fine in connection
with the
plea of guilty of its subsidiary SSI Korea, the Department agrees
that any
prosecution of Schnitzer Steel be and hereby is deferred for a period
of
three (3) years from the date of this
Agreement.
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20.
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The
Department further agrees that if Schnitzer Steel is in full compliance
with all of its obligations under this Agreement, including its obligation
to adopt the recommendations of the Compliance Consultant in accordance
with the terms of Paragraph 13, the Department will not institute
a
criminal prosecution against Schnitzer Steel pursuant to Paragraph
1, and
this Agreement shall expire
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except
that the Department shall remain bound to its obligation in paragraph
6
not to bring any criminal or civil case against Schnitzer Steel relating
to the conduct described in the Statement of
Facts.
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21. |
If
the Department determines, in its sole discretion, that Schnitzer
Steel,
at any time between the execution of this Agreement and completion
of
Schnitzer Steel’s cooperation as set forth in Paragraph 5, provided
deliberately false, incomplete, or misleading information under this
Agreement or has committed any federal crimes subsequent to the date
of
this Agreement or has otherwise violated any provision of this Agreement,
Schnitzer Steel shall, in the Department’s sole discretion, thereafter be
subject to prosecution for any federal criminal violation of which
the
Department has knowledge. Any such prosecutions may be premised on
information provided by Schnitzer Steel. Moreover, Schnitzer Steel
agrees
that any such prosecutions that are not time-barred by the applicable
statute of limitations on the date of this Agreement may be commenced
against Schnitzer Steel in accordance with this Agreement, notwithstanding
the expiration of the statute of limitations between the signing
of this
Agreement and the termination of this Agreement. By this Agreement,
Schnitzer Steel expressly intends to and does waive any rights in
this
respect.
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22.
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It
is further agreed that in the event that the Department, in its sole
discretion, determines that Schnitzer Steel has violated any provision
of
this Agreement: (a) all statements made by or on behalf of Schnitzer
Steel
to the Department, and any testimony given by Schnitzer Steel before
a
grand jury or any tribunal, at any legislative hearings, or to the
SEC,
whether prior or subsequent to this Agreement, or any leads derived
from
such statements or testimony, shall be admissible in evidence in
any and
all criminal proceedings brought by the Department against Schnitzer
Steel
and (b) Schnitzer Steel shall not assert any claim under the United
States
Constitution, Rule 11(f) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure,
Rule
410 of the Federal Rules of Evidence, or any other federal rule,
that
statements made by or on behalf of Schnitzer Steel prior to or subsequent
to this Agreement, or any leads therefrom, should be suppressed.
The
decision whether conduct or statements of any individual will be
imputed
to Schnitzer Steel for the purpose of determining whether Schnitzer
Steel
has violated any provision of this Agreement shall be in the sole
discretion of the Department.
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23.
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Schnitzer
Steel acknowledges that the Department has made no representations,
assurances, or promises concerning
what
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sentence
may be imposed by the Court should Schnitzer Steel breach this
Agreement
and this matter proceed to judgment. Schnitzer Steel further
acknowledges
that any such sentence is solely within the discretion of the
Court and
that nothing in this Agreement binds or restricts the Court in
the
exercise of such discretion.
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24.
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Schnitzer
Steel agrees that in the event it sells or merges all or substantially
all
of its business operations as they exist as of the date of this Agreement,
whether such sale is structured as a stock or asset sale, it shall
include
in any contract for sale or merger a provision binding the purchaser
or
any successor to the obligations described in this
Agreement.
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25.
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It
is understood that this Agreement is binding on Schnitzer Steel and
the
Department but specifically does not bind any other federal agencies,
or
any state or local law enforcement or regulatory agencies, although
the
Department will bring the cooperation of Schnitzer Steel and its
compliance with its other obligations under this Agreement to the
attention of such agencies and authorities if requested to do so
by
Schnitzer Steel and its attorneys.
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26.
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This
Agreement sets forth all the terms of the Deferred Prosecution Agreement
between Schnitzer Steel and the Department. No modifications or additions
to this Agreement
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shall
be valid unless they are in writing and signed by the Department,
Schnitzer Steel’s attorneys, and a duly authorized representative of
Schnitzer Steel.
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27.
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Any
notice to Schnitzer Steel under this Agreement shall be given by
personal
delivery, overnight delivery by a recognized delivery service or
registered or certified mail, in each case addressed to Schnitzer
Steel
Industries, Inc., Attn: President and Chief Executive Officer, 0000
XX
Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx XX 00000, with a copy by the same means to
Schnitzer
Steel Industries, Inc., Attn: General Counsel, 0000 XX Xxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx XX 00000. Notice shall be effective upon actual receipt
by
Schnitzer Steel.
|
FOR
THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE:
/S/
XXXXXX
X.
XXXXXXX
Xxxxxx
X.
Xxxxxxx
Acting
Chief, Fraud Section
By:
/s/ Xxxxxxxx XxXxxxxx
XXXX
X.
XXXXXXXXXX
Deputy
Chief, Fraud Section
XXXXXXX
X. XXXXXXXXXXX
Assistant
Chief, Fraud Section
XXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXX
Trial
Attorney, Fraud Section
Fraud
Section, Criminal Division
24
United
States Department of Justice
10th&
Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX
Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000
Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000
(000)
000-0000
25
FOR
SCHNITZER:
/s/
XXXXXXX X. XXXXXX
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
Chairman
Schnitzer
Steel Industries, Inc.
0000XX
Xxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxx 00000
26
OFFICER’S
CERTIFICATE
I
have
read this Agreement and carefully reviewed every part of it with counsel for
Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc., (“Schnitzer Steel”). I understand the terms of
this Agreement and voluntarily agree, on behalf of Schnitzer Steel, to each
of
its terms. Before signing this Agreement, I consulted with the attorney for
Schnitzer Steel. The attorney fully advised me of Schnitzer Steel’s rights, of
possible defenses, of the Sentencing Guidelines’ provisions, and of the
consequences of entering into this Agreement.
I
have
carefully reviewed every part of this Agreement with the Audit Committee of the
Board of Directors of Schnitzer Steel, to which the Board has delegated the
authority to approve and enter into this Agreement on behalf of Schnitzer Steel.
I have fully advised the Audit Committee of Schnitzer Steel’s rights, of
possible defenses, of the Sentencing Guidelines’ provisions, and of the
consequences of entering into the Agreement.
No
promises or inducements have been made other than those contained in this
Agreement. Furthermore, no one has threatened or forced me, or to my knowledge
any person authorizing this Agreement on behalf of Schnitzer Steel, in any
way
to enter into this Agreement. I am also satisfied with the attorney’s
representation in this matter. I certify that I am an officer of
27
Schnitzer
Steel and that I have been duly authorized by Schnitzer Steel to execute this
Agreement on behalf of Schnitzer Steel.
10/16/06
Date Schnitzer
Steel Industries, Inc.
By:
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
28
CERTIFICATE
OF COUNSEL
I
am
counsel for Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc., (“Schnitzer Steel”) in the matter
covered by this Agreement. In connection with such representation, I have
examined relevant Schnitzer Steel documents and have discussed this Agreement
with the authorized representative of Schnitzer Steel. Based on my review of
the
foregoing materials and discussions, I am of the opinion that: Schnitzer Steel’s
representative has been duly authorized to enter into this Agreement on behalf
of Schnitzer Steel. This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized,
executed, and delivered on behalf of Schnitzer Steel and is a valid and binding
obligation of Schnitzer. Further, I have carefully reviewed every part of this
Agreement with the General Counsel of Schnitzer Steel. I have fully advised
him
of Schnitzer Steel’s rights, of possible defenses, of the Sentencing Guidelines’
provisions, and of the consequences of entering into this Agreement. To my
knowledge, Schnitzer Steel’s decision to enter into this Agreement is an
informed and voluntary one.
10/16/06
Date
/s/
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx
Counsel
for SCHNITZER STEEL INDUSTRIES, INC.
29
CERTIFICATE
OF CORPORATE RESOLUTIONS
A
copy of
the executed Certificate of Corporate Resolutions is annexed hereto as
“Attachment B.”
30
Attachment
B
SCHNITZER
STEEL INDUSTRIES, INC. LIMITED CERTIFICATE OF
CORPORATE
RESOLUTIONS
I,
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, do hereby certify that I am the duly elected, qualified
and acting Secretary of Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. (“Schnitzer”), an
Oregon corporation, and that the following is a complete and accurate copy
of
the resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of Schnitzer at a meeting
held
on July 26, 2006 at which a quorum was present and resolved as
follows:
WHEREAS,
by resolutions adopted at its meeting on April 19, 2006, the Board approved
in
principle a settlement of the investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice
(“DOJ”) and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”)
into the Company’s past payment practices in the Far East and delegated to the
Audit Committee of the Board authority to negotiate the definitive documentation
of the settlement, subject to final approval of the Board; and
WHEREAS,
the Audit Committee, with the assistance of its counsel and input from
management of the Company, has prepared and obtained DOJ approval of a revised
code of conduct and compliance program document, which was a condition to
approval by DOJ of the settlement; and
WHEREAS,
the settlement contemplates (a) the Company executing a deferred prosecution
agreement with the DOJ and an offer of settlement to the Commission pursuant
to
which the Commission would issue a cease and desist order directed to the
Company (together, the “Settlement Documents”), (b) the Company paying fines and
disgorgement to the DOJ and the Commission in the amount of approximately
$15
million (including prejudgment interest) and (c) SSI International Far East
Ltd., a subsidiary of the Company, pleading guilty to certain crimes; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED,
that the Audit Committee, or a subcommittee thereof as designated by the
Audit
Committee, is authorized and empowered, with the assistance of its counsel
and
in consultation of management of the Company as it deems appropriate, to
negotiate the final forms of the Settlement Documents; and it is
further
RESOLVED,
that the Company is authorized to pay to the DOJ and the Commission penalties,
disgorgement and prejudgment interest in the aggregate amount of $15,225,201;
and it is further
RESOLVED,
that Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Chairman of the Board, is authorized, for and on
behalf
of the Company, to execute and deliver the
1
Settlement
Documents and such other documents and to take such other and further actions
as
may be approved by the Audit Committee or subcommittee thereof, as applicable,
to consummate the resolution of the investigation.
I
further
certify that the aforesaid resolutions have not been amended or revoked in
any
respect and remains in full force and effect.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Certificate on September 25,
2006.
By:
/s/
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxxx, Secretary
Schnitzer
Steel Industries, Inc.
2
STATEMENT
OF FACTS
X.
|
Xxxxxxxxx
Steel’s Status as an “Issuer” Under the Foreign Corrupt Practices
Act
|
1. Schnitzer
Steel Industries, Inc. (“Schnitzer Steel”) is a publicly traded corporation
organized under the laws of Oregon with its headquarters in Portland, Oregon,
and offices in Oregon, California and Washington. Schnitzer Steel operates
in
three vertically integrated business segments: a metals recycling business;
an
auto parts business; and a steel manufacturing business. Schnitzer Steel
maintains a class of securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. § 78l) and was required to file
reports with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under
Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. § 78m). Accordingly,
Schnitzer Steel is an “issuer” within the meaning of the Foreign Corrupt
Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. § 78dd-1.
2. From
1995
to the present, Schnitzer Steel has maintained a wholly-owned subsidiary
in
Seoul, Republic of Korea (“South Korea”). The subsidiary, SSI International Far
East, Ltd. (“SSI Korea”), facilitates the sale of ferrous recycled (“scrap”)
metal by Schnitzer Steel from the United States and also acts as a broker
for
the sale of scrap metal by Japanese suppliers to steel producers in the People’s
Republic of China (“China”) and South Korea. SSI Korea maintains its principal
office in Seoul. It is managed by SSI International, Inc., a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Schnitzer Steel in Tacoma, Washington. SSI Korea acts as Schnitzer
Steel’s agent in South Korea and China, maintaining the business relationships
with Schnitzer Steel’s customers in those countries. SSI Korea also
transmits
1
requests
to the United States for approval and wire transfer of funds in connection
with
sales of scrap metal to Schnitzer Steel’s customers in South Korea and China,
which payments subsequently are processed and approved by employees and officers
of Schnitzer Steel in Portland, Oregon. Accordingly, SSI Korea operates within
the territorial jurisdiction of the United States, within the meaning of
the
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. § 78dd-3.
3. Schnitzer
Steel has developed longstanding relationships with steel producers in South
Korea and China that have purchased Schnitzer Steel’s scrap metal. Some of those
steel producers in China, such as Baosteel, are wholly or partially owned
by the
government of China. Those government-owned customers are foreign government
“instrumentalities,” and their officers and employees are “foreign officials,”
within the meaning of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. §
78dd-1(f)(1)(A).
II. |
Overview
of Violations
|
4. From
at
least 1995, continuing to in or about at least August 2004, Schnitzer Steel
through its officers and employees authorized and made corrupt payments,
principally in cash, to officers and employees (“managers”) of private customers
in South Korea and private and government-owned customers in China to induce
them to purchase, and to secure an improper advantage with respect to the
purchase of, scrap metal from Schnitzer Steel. In total, corrupt payments
of
approximately $204,537 were paid to managers of government-owned customers
in
China, and corrupt payments of approximately $1,683,672 were paid to managers
of
private customers in China and South Korea. These
2
corrupt
payments took three basic forms: (1) commissions, (2) refunds, and (3)
gratuities.
III. |
Details
of the Violations
|
A.
Commissions
5. From
at
least 1999 to in or about August 2004, Schnitzer Steel made corrupt payments
in
connection with nearly every sale of scrap metal to customers in South Korea
and
China, which payments were falsely reflected on Schnitzer Steel’s books and
records as “commissions” (hereafter “commissions”). The “commissions” were
included in the purchase price of the scrap metal. For scrap metal sold to
customers in South Korea, the “commission” was a standard $0.25 per ton. For
scrap metal sold to customers in China, the “commission” was a standard $0.15
per ton. Schnitzer Steel wired the “commissions” at the request of the head of
its Asian scrap metal sales (“Officer A”) to off-books bank accounts in South
Korea opened and maintained by the manager of SSI Korea (“Employee A”),
specifically for receiving these payments. Officer A was a resident of Tacoma,
Washington, and was an employee of SSI International, Inc. from in or about
1995
through 2005. From in or about March 2000 to in or about May 2004, Officer
A was
a senior officer of SSI International, Inc. and was responsible for Schnitzer
Steel’s Asian scrap metal sales. Officer A’s duties included, among other
things, negotiating sales of scrap metal with steel production companies
in Asia
on behalf of Schnitzer Steel; handling invoices from SSI Korea for payment
in
connection with sales to Schnitzer Steel’s customers in Asia; and forwarding to
Schnitzer Steel’s offices in Portland, Oregon, for processing and authorization
wire transfer requests for payment to managers of Schnitzer Steel’s scrap metal
3
customers
in China and South Korea. Employee A was a resident of Seoul, South Korea,
and
was an employee of SSI Korea from in or about 1995 through 2005. From in
or
about 1998 through 2005, Employee A was the manager of SSI Korea and was
responsible for managing the business relationships locally with Schnitzer
Steel’s scrap metal customers in Asia, managing SSI Korea’s Japanese brokered
scrap metal sales, coordinating the delivery of scrap metal to steel xxxxx
in
South Korea and China and forwarding to Officer A in Tacoma, Washington,
invoices for payment in connection with sales to Schnitzer Steel’s customers in
South Korea and China and wire transfer requests for payment to managers
of
Schnitzer Steel’s scrap metal customers in those countries.
6. Officer
A
and Employee A would use funds from the secret accounts to make cash
“commission” payments to the managers of the customers, the funding of which is
described below. “Commissions” typically were paid directly to a customer’s
manager in cash, either at a restaurant or at the customer’s office. Between
September 1999 and August 2004, at least 131 “commission” payments were made in
South Korea and China. Of those, at least 72 “commission” payments were made to
managers of their scrap metal customers in China. Those payments totaled
approximately $299,558.10, of which at least approximately $104,297.03 was
paid
to managers of foreign government “instrumentalities” within the meaning of the
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. § 78dd-1(f)(1)(A) (hereafter
“government instrumentalities”). At least 59 payments totaling approximately
$475,021.15 were made to managers of non-government owned or controlled
(“private”) customers in South Korea.
7. SSI
Korea
also acted as a broker for Japanese scrap metal companies that sold scrap
metal
in South Korea and
4
China,
receiving brokerage commissions for finding buyers for scrap metal in South
Korea and China. From at least September 1999 until at least September 2001,
Japanese companies provided SSI Korea with funds to make corrupt payments
to
managers of the South Korean and Chinese steel xxxxx similar to the corrupt
payments made by Schnitzer Steel for the scrap metal it sold. Employee A
generally delivered these corrupt payments to the managers of the South Korean
and Chinese steel xxxxx. Employee A and others delivered at least 135 cash
“commission” payments by Japanese scrap metal suppliers to managers of their
customers in South Korea and China. These payments totaled approximately
$156,059.50, of which at least $3,823.35 was paid to managers of steel xxxxx
which were government instrumentalities. Records of these “commission” payments
were maintained by Schnitzer Steel in the United States until September 2001.
All records of “commissions” related to the Japanese brokered sales paid after
September 2001 were maintained in South Korea by SSI Korea. In or around
August
2004, the records maintained by SSI Korea were intentionally destroyed by
an SSI
Korea employee, as described below.
B.
Refunds
8. Schnitzer
Steel made a second type of corrupt payment in connection with sales of scrap
metal to South Korean and Chinese customers. Those payments typically were
reflected on Schnitzer Steel’s books and records as a “refund to customer” or
“rebate to customer,” although some were characterized variously as “quality
claims,” “discounts,” “credits,” and “freight savings” (hereafter “refunds”). In
order to pay the refunds, Schnitzer Steel participated in a scheme whereby
the
customer’s manager would cause the customer to overpay Schnitzer
5
Steel
for
the scrap metal purchase, and would then personally recover the overpayment
from
Schnitzer Steel. For sales in which “refunds” were paid, “commissions” typically
also were paid, resulting in two or more corrupt payments to the customer’s
manager.
9. The
practice of paying “refunds” appears to have started in mid-2001, due to the
volatility in the price of scrap metals, which sometimes resulted in a
substantial difference in the price of metal between the time of signing
the
contract and shipment 60 to 90 days later. When the price in the market at
the
time of shipment was substantially lower than the contract price, a customer’s
manager often demanded to be paid a “refund.” The “refund” was negotiated at the
time the customer entered into a subsequent contract with Schnitzer Steel.
The
amount of the “refund” was based on the tonnage of the next shipment to the
customer.
10. Unlike
“commissions,” which were a fixed per-ton amount, “refunds” varied from $0.25
per ton up to $1.00 per ton. The so-called “refund” was then incorporated in the
price of the subsequent scrap metal contract so that the customer, not Schnitzer
Steel, bore the cost of the “refund” which was thereafter paid to the customer’s
manager. “Refunds” were paid in the same way as “commission payments.” Schnitzer
Steel wired the money for the “refunds” to secret bank accounts in South Korea
opened and maintained by Employee A specifically for the purpose of receiving
these payments. Officer A and Employee A then used funds from the secret
accounts to pay “refunds” to the managers of the customers, the funding of which
is described below. “Refunds” typically were paid directly to the customer’s
manager in cash, either at a restaurant or at the customer’s office.
6
11. At
least
80 “refund” payments were made between May 2001 and August 2004, totaling
approximately $889,372.68. Of those, at least 38 “refund” payments were made to
customers’ managers in China, totaling approximately $280,046.47, of which
approximately $57,218.18 was paid to managers of customers which were government
instrumentalities. At least 42 “refund” payments totaling approximately
$609,326.21 were made to managers of private customers in South
Korea.
12. Three
“refund” payments were made or facilitated by Schnitzer Steel in regard to its
brokerage of Japanese scrap metal between May and September 2002. The total
amount of those payments was approximately $12,399.00, all of which were
paid to
managers of private customers. Records related to those three “refunds” were
maintained by Schnitzer Steel in the United States; all other records of
“refund” payments related to the Japanese brokered sales after September 2001
were maintained by SSI Korea in South Korea. In or around August 2004, the
records maintained by SSI Korea related to “refund” payments were destroyed by
an SSI Korea employee, as described below.
C.
|
Funding
of “Commission” and “Refund” Payments Through Off-Book Bank Accounts in
South Korea
|
13. In
1995,
Schnitzer Steel acquired Manufacturing Management Inc. (“MMI”) and its South
Korean subsidiary, MMI International Far East, Ltd. (“MMI Korea”), which became
SSI Korea. Thereafter, Schnitzer Steel adopted MMI’s practice of making illegal
“commission” payments to managers of customers in cash or bank check from funds
held in a series of bank accounts
7
in
South
Korea that were not reflected on the books and records of Schnitzer Steel
or SSI
Korea (the “off-book” bank accounts). Starting around 2001, funds from those
bank accounts were also used to pay illegal “refunds.”
14. Between
1995 and 1998, the off-book bank accounts were opened and maintained in the
names of relatives of “Employee B,” a former MMI Korea employee who in 1995
became the manager of SSI Korea. Employee B was a resident of Seoul, South
Korea. Between 1995 and 1998, Employee B was responsible for managing the
business relationships locally with Schnitzer Steel’s scrap metal customers in
Asia, managing SSI Korea’s Japanese brokered scrap metal sales, coordinating the
delivery of scrap metal to the customers of Schnitzer Steel and the Japanese
scrap metal suppliers, and forwarding to Tacoma, Washington, invoices for
payment in connection with sales to Schnitzer Steel’s customers in South Korea
and China and wire transfer requests for payment to managers of Schnitzer
Steel’s scrap metal customers in those countries.
15. Employee
B resigned from SSI Korea in 1998. Following his resignation, his former
deputy,
Employee A, became the manager of SSI Korea. Around that time, Employee C,
a
former employee of MMI based in Tacoma, Washington, who was Officer A’s
supervisor and the manager of Schnitzer Steel’s Asian scrap metal sales until he
retired in or around February 2000, traveled to South Korea and instructed
Employee A that he was to continue making “commission” payments on behalf of
Schnitzer Steel to managers of its South Korean and Chinese customers. Employee
C further instructed Employee A that he should establish bank accounts to
be
used to facilitate the “commission” payments. Thereafter, Employee A opened bank
accounts in South Korea in the
8
names
of
his mother and wife. On August 21, 2001, Employee A opened a bank account
in the
name of a fictitious corporate entity, similar to that of SSI Korea, “SSI
International Co., Ltd.” Employee A maintained these off-book bank accounts on
behalf of SSI Korea from 1998 through sometime in 2004.
16. After
a
shipment of scrap metal was delivered from Schnitzer Steel to the South Korean
or Chinese customer, Employee A sent to Officer A in Tacoma, Washington,
an
invoice for the “commission” associated with that shipment.
17. After
receiving an invoice from Employee A for a “commission,” Officer A authorized it
and requested a wire transfer be made to one of SSI Korea’s off-book bank
accounts. The wire transfer request was forwarded from Officer A in Tacoma,
Washington, to Schnitzer Steel employees in Portland, who approved and processed
it. The request typically identified a bank account number, but not the
individual or entity in whose name that bank account was maintained. The
request
typically identified the payment as a “commission.” Each “commission” payment
was authorized by one or more Schnitzer Steel executives. Similarly, Officer
A
made a wire request for each “refund,” which was sent from Tacoma, Washington,
to Portland, Oregon, for approval and processing. “Officer B,” who supervised
Officer A, authorized at least 40 “commissions” or “refunds” between
September 1999 and October 2003. Officer B was a resident of Portland, Oregon,
who was employed as a senior executive officer of Schnitzer Steel, based
in
Portland, Oregon, from at least 1990 to 2005. Officer B’s responsibilities
included, among other things, setting policy for the sale of scrap metal
to
Asian customers, approving all such sales, authorizing wire
transfer
9
requests
for payment to managers of customers of Schnitzer Steel, and directly
supervising the work of and approving the expenses of Officer A.
18. The
funds
for the “commissions” and “refunds” were transmitted by Schnitzer Steel in
Portland to the off-book bank accounts in South Korea by wire transfers that
were reflected in Schnitzer Steel’s books and records as “commissions” and
“refunds.” Between September 1999 and August 2004, at least 121 such wire
transfers were made.1
19. Prior
to
August 21, 2001, the off-book bank accounts in South Korea were maintained
in
the names of individuals. The Japanese suppliers for which SSI Korea brokered
scrap metal sales refused to transfer funds to those accounts, because the
suppliers did not want to send funds to bank accounts in the names of
individuals. Instead, the Japanese suppliers transferred funds for both SSI
Korea’s brokerage commission and the corrupt payments to the managers of the
customers to the bank account of SSI Korea. Employee A, however, did not
want to
make the payments from the SSI Korea bank account, because he did not want
to
risk disclosure of the payments. Accordingly, Employee A in South Korea and
Officer A in Tacoma, Washington, agreed that Schnitzer Steel in Portland
would
wire transfer funds to the off-book bank accounts in South Korea. These wire
transfers were authorized by one or more Schnitzer Steel executives or officers.
20. Between
September 1999 and September 2001, there
____________________
1
7 of the 121 wire transfers to off-book bank accounts paying “commissions” and
“refunds” also included payments associated with the Japanese brokered scrap
metal sales. See footnote 2 below.
10
were
25
wire transfers from Schnitzer Steel to off-book bank accounts in South Korea
in
connection with “commissions” related to Japanese brokered scrap metal
sales.2
Officer
B authorized 4 of those wire transfers. In addition, in 2002, there were
3 wire
transfers from Schnitzer Steel to the off-book bank account in the name of
the
fictitious entity SSI International Co., Ltd. in connection with “refunds”
related to Japanese brokered scrap metal sales.
21. After
Employee A opened an off-book bank account on August 21, 2001 in the fictitious
name SSI International Co., Ltd., the Japanese scrap metal suppliers transferred
funds to cover their corrupt payments to managers of their customers directly
to
that account. The records of all funds received from the Japanese scrap metal
suppliers after August 21, 2001, with the exception of the 3 “refund” payments
noted above, were maintained solely by SSI Korea. Those records were destroyed
in or about August 2004 by an SSI Korea employee, as described
below.
D.
Gratuities
22. In
addition to the “commission” and “refund” payments, Schnitzer Steel, from at
least October 1999 to in or about May 2003, made a third type of corrupt
payment
in connection with certain sales of scrap metal to customers in South Korea
and
China. The third type of payment was made through checks written to Schnitzer
Steel employees or to “cash,” which were reflected on Schnitzer Steel’s books
and records as
____________
2
7 of the 25 wire transfers made in connection with the Japanese brokered
scrap
metal sales also included payments for “commissions” and “refunds.”
11
“gratuities,’”
“other marine expenses,” “commissions,” “customer relations,” and “bonuses”
(hereafter “gratuities”).
23. Checks
to
fund the “gratuities” were written and cashed by Schnitzer Steel employees in
the United States at the direction of Schnitzer Steel Officer A in Tacoma,
Washington. Some of these checks were written and cashed with the authorization
by one or more Schnitzer Steel executives or officers. The cash was delivered
in
the United States to the manager of the South Korean or Chinese customer
at or
about the time that a cargo of scrap metal was loaded for shipment.
24. Between
October 1999 and April 2003, at least 26 payments of “gratuities” were made in
the United States to managers of South Korean and Chinese customers. Of those,
at least 18 of the “gratuity” payments were made to managers of Chinese
customers. Those payments totaled $45,198.60, of which at least $39,198.60
was
paid to managers of customers which were government instrumentalities. At
least
6 payments totaling $6,600 were made to managers of private South Korean
customers. Two additional payments of “gratuities” totaling $4,000 were made to
managers of customers, the identities of which cannot be determined from
Schnitzer Steel’s books and records.
E.
|
Other
Cash Payments to Officers or Employees of
Customers
|
25. In
addition to the payments of “commissions,” “refunds,” and “gratuities,” other
cash payments were made by Officer A and Employee A to managers of Schnitzer
Steel’s customers. Some of the other cash payments ranged in amount from $2,000
to over $6,000. Others, characterized in Schnitzer Steel’s books and records as
“condolence money” and
12
“congratulations
money,” typically ranged in amount from $45 to $500. The other cash payments
made by Officer A were authorized by Officer B.
26. Approximately
25 other cash payments to managers of Schnitzer Steel’s customers were made
between September 1999 and December 2004, the total amount of which was
$17,243.46, of which $4,500 was paid to managers of customers which were
government instrumentalities.
F. |
Gifts
and Entertainment
|
27. Both
Officer A and Employee A gave gifts to managers of customers. Some of the
gifts
were given in conjunction with the payments of “commissions” and “refunds,”
which Officer A and Employee A typically presented privately to the manager
in
cash or “bank check” wrapped with a gift (e.g., pens, jewelry, perfume). The
value of those gifts was generally less than $350. However, more substantial
gifts, ranging in value from $400 to $8,000, were also given. The value of
the
gifts increased substantially in the fall of 2004 after the practice of making
corrupt payments to managers of Schnitzer Steel’s customers was uncovered and
Officer B instructed that no further “commissions” or “refunds” be paid to
managers of Schnitzer Steel’s customers. For example, Officer A gave a manager
of a private customer a $2,400 Cartier watch in or about September 2004,
and
Employee A gave a manager of a different
13
private customer two gift certificates worth approximately
$10,000 in or about November 2004.
28. Between
September 1999 and December 2004, gifts with a total value of $50,392.12
were
given to managers of customers by Officer A and Employee A. At least $3,564.65
of those gifts were given to managers of customers which were government
instrumentalities.
29. Officer
A
and Employee A also entertained managers of customers extensively. This
entertainment was provided in South Korea, China and the United States. The
entertainment in South Korea included free use of SSI Korea’s golf club
membership and a condominium time-share which gave SSI Korea the right to
accommodations at five resort locations. The expenses attributed to the
entertainment of managers of customers between September 1999 and December
31,
2004 totaled $87,636.75.
30. Officer
B
authorized the expenses for gifts and entertainment incurred by Officer
A.
G.
|
Books
and Records Violations
|
31. Schnitzer
Steel failed to properly account for the various types of corrupt payments
made
and failed to accurately describe the same in its books and records. Instead,
Schnitzer Steel improperly characterized the payments it made as legitimate
payments for “commissions,” “sales commissions,” “commissions to the customer,”
“refunds,” “rebates,” “refunds to customer,” “rebates to customer,” “quality
claims,” “discounts,” “credits,” “freight savings,” “cash,” “gratuities,” “other
marine expenses,”
14
“customer relations,” “bonuses,” “condolence money,” and
“congratulations money,” in its books and records.
IV.
|
Knowledge
of the Payment Practices by Schnitzer Steel Senior
Management
|
32. Certain
members of the senior executive management of Schnitzer Steel, including
Officer
B, were aware of and either authorized or had knowledge of, within the meaning
of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, § 78dd-1(f)(2), the giving of corrupt cash
payments and gifts, and of providing entertainment to customers’ managers in
South Korea and China, including managers of government
instrumentalities.
V. |
Revenue
Realized by Schnitzer Steel on Scrap Metal Sales for Which Corrupt
Payments Were Made to Managers of
Customers
|
33. Schnitzer
Steel realized gross revenue of approximately $602,139,470 and profits of
approximately $54,927,319 on scrap metal sold by Schnitzer Steel to South
Korean
and Chinese customers between September 1999 and August 2004 with respect
to
which corrupt payments were paid. From those scrap metal sales to government
instrumentalities, Schnitzer Steel realized gross revenue of approximately
$96,396,740 and profits of approximately $6,259,104.
34. Schnitzer
Steel realized gross revenue of approximately $1,513,097 and profits of
approximately $420,512 on scrap metal sales by Japanese suppliers to South
Korean and Chinese customers between September 1999 and August 2004 for which
SSI Korea received a brokerage commission, and for which it may be inferred,
based on the destruction of records by SSI
15
Korea,
that “commissions” or “refunds” were paid. From those sales, Schnitzer Steel
realized gross revenue of approximately $58,610 and profits of approximately
$19,991 on scrap metal sold to government instrumentalities.
VI.
|
Schnitzer
Steel’s Lack of Internal
Controls
|
35. Prior
to
May 2004, and during the period of these transactions, Schnitzer Steel provided
no training or education to any of its employees, agents or subsidiaries
regarding the requirements of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or the
prohibitions on the payments of commercial bribes or “kickbacks.” Schnitzer
Steel also failed to maintain any program or procedures to monitor its
employees, agents and subsidiaries for compliance with the FCPA and commercial
bribery laws.
VII. |
Schnitzer
Steel’s Investigation and Initial
Response
|
36. In
May
2004, when Schnitzer Steel introduced its new compliance and ethics program,
Schnitzer Steel’s compliance department uncovered the corrupt payments and
Schnitzer Steel began to investigate the potential violations of law. At
that
time, Officer B prohibited any further corrupt payments, but nonetheless
authorized Officer A to make at least two additional corrupt payments that
Schnitzer Steel previously had promised private customers. In late May or
early
June 2004, Officer B also authorized Officer A to increase entertainment
expenses in lieu of cash payments to Schnitzer Steel’s private and
government-owned scrap metal customers. In response, Officer A and Employee
A
gave managers of Schnitzer Steel’s scrap metal customers additional gifts,
including gift certificates worth $10,000 and a Cartier watch worth $2,400,
as
described above.
16
VIII. |
Destruction
of Records by SSI Korea
|
37. After
Schnitzer Steel began its internal investigation in late May or early June
2004
but before it had issued a directive to its employees to preserve documents
related to the scrap metal transactions, an SSI Korea employee destroyed
documents concerning the corrupt payments and off-book bank accounts, at
the
direction of Employee A, as described below.
38. Around
May 2004, the general practice of making corrupt payments to managers of
South
Korean steel producers that purchased scrap metal became a matter of public
notice when South Korean law enforcement authorities conducted raids at the
offices of a South Korean steel company and six suppliers of its imported
raw
materials.
39. Although
SSI Korea was not one of the companies whose offices were searched, Employee
A
was summoned twice for interviews by the South Korean public prosecutor
investigating the matter and was questioned regarding any corrupt payments
made
to the South Korean steel company’s managers. In the initial interview, Employee
A denied making any such payments. In his second interview, however, Employee
A
admitted making the corrupt payments, but claimed a much smaller amount than
had
actually been paid.
40. Shortly
after each interview, Employee A and Officer A discussed the interview and
its
implications. Officer A shared the content of those discussions with Officer
B.
Employee A later suggested to Officer A that the records of corrupt payments
to
and from the off-book bank accounts be
17
destroyed,
and Officer A did not disagree. In or about August 2004, Employee A directed
a
member of the SSI Korea staff to destroy all records pertaining to the off-book
bank accounts, which the staff member did. Thereafter, Employee A informed
Officer A that the documents had been destroyed.
IX. |
Schnitzer
Steel’s Cooperation and Remedial
Actions
|
41. Schnitzer
Steel has fully cooperated with the investigation, producing all documents
and
information requested, including voluntary production of documents protected
by
the attorney-client privilege and early production and identification to
the
Department of Justice (“DOJ”) of relevant documents. Schnitzer Steel also agreed
to make employees available for interviews and encouraged employee cooperation
by agreeing to pay travel expenses and attorneys’ fees.
42. Schnitzer
Steel’s Audit Committee and Board of Directors have taken additional remedial
actions, including ordering an investigation, the results of which were provided
to DOJ and the SEC. Schnitzer Steel has also designed and is implementing
a
remedial plan, which includes (i) the appointment of a corporate compliance
officer who reports to Schnitzer Steel’s Audit Committee, (ii) expanded roles
for Schnitzer Steel’s Audit Committee to oversee compliance with the Foreign
Corrupt Practices Act and other applicable bribery laws, (iii) new reporting
lines directly to the Audit Committee and Board of Directors, (iv) new ethics
and due diligence policies, and (v) enhanced programs for educating and training
executives and employees on ethical matters, including Foreign Corrupt Practices
Act /anti-bribery compliance training. These and other remedial actions build
on
other corporate governance changes adopted by
18
Schnitzer Steel pursuant to the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx
Act of
2002.
19