John Deere Settles Foreign Bribery Case with $9.9 Million Agreement

Deere & Company has agreed to pay $9.9 million to settle charges from the Security and Exchange Commission alleging that the company violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits U.S. companies from paying foreign government officials to aid in acquiring business.

The SEC concluded that Deere was in violation of the FCPA's record keeping policies and Deere & Company agreed to the SEC's order to cease and desist from further violations of the FCPA. The $9.9 million is a result of 2 separate payments — $5.4 million which the company is alleged to have profited from the scandal as well as $4.5 million in additional civil penalties. 

Despite calls from various organizations for top Deere officials to resign, the terms of the $9.9 million settlement do not include any acknowledgement of fault or denial of guilt from Deere.