In the Matter of BJ Services Co. (2004)
Case Details
- Case Name
- In the Matter of BJ Services Co. (2004)
- Foreign Official
- Argentine customs officials and an employee of Argentina’s Secretary of Industry and Commerce.
- Date of Conduct
-
1998 to 2002
- Nature of Business
- Provision of oil well maintenance services by BJ Services Co. (“BJ Services”), a Houston based corporation which provides oil field services, products, and equipment to petroleum producers worldwide.
- Influence to be Obtained
- Employees of BJ Services Argentine subsidiary, BJ Services, S.A., paid approximately 65,000 pesos to several Argentine customs officials in 2001 in return for the officials assistance in overlooking customs law violations relating to the importation of a piece of oil well maintenance equipment.
- Enforcement
- BJ Services identified the improper payments and violations of the books and records provisions of the FCPA during a routine financial audit and conducted an internal investigation. The company also reported the payments to the SEC. In March 2004, BJ Services settled the case with the SEC with the filing of a cease‑and‑desist order relating to the actions of BJ Services, S.A. Citing the company’s prompt remedial actions and cooperating with the SEC, in accepting the settlement offer, the SEC did not fine BJ Services.
- Amount of the Value
- Several payments totaling 72,000 Argentine pesos.
- Amount of Business Related to Payment
- Not Stated
- Citizenship of Parent Entity
- United States
- Reporting Requirements
- No
Defendants
BJ Services Co.
- Citation
- In the Matter of BJ Servs. Co., Admin. Proc. File No. 3-11427 (Mar. 10, 2004).
- Other Statutory Provision
- None
- Disposition
- Cease-and-Desist Order
- Defendant Jurisdictional Basis
- Issuer
- Defendant's Citizenship
- United States
