Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) announces that it is now in a position to make a provision of SEK 2.3 billion (approx. USD 220 million) in relation to a potential resolution with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding previously announced, non-criminal, alleged breaches under its 2019 Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA). Ericsson has not reached a resolution with the DOJ regarding these alleged breaches and discussions are ongoing.

This charge, which will be booked in the Company’s fourth quarter 2022 financial results, will be SEK 2.3 billion (approx. USD 220 million). The Company believes that this is a sufficiently reliable estimate of the financial penalty associated with any potential breach resolution, and this provision also includes estimated expenses for the previously announced extended monitorship. The provision will be booked as Other Operating Expenses in the income statement of Segment Other.

The Company’s internal investigation and its cooperation with authorities in relation to the allegations in the 2019 Iraq-related internal investigation report remain open and ongoing.

Since 2019, Ericsson has taken significant remedial measures, overseen by the Board of Directors. These include enhancing its group-wide approach to risk management and strengthening its compliance program and internal controls. The Company agreed in December 2022 to extend its independent compliance monitorship until June 2024 to further our efforts to embed best-in-class compliance, risk management and internal controls frameworks across the organization.

Background

In 2019, Ericsson entered into the DPA in order to resolve past (prior to 2017) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) violations relating to misconduct in certain countries. The 2019 agreement provided that, in the event of any breach of its ongoing DPA obligations, the Company could be prosecuted for the historic FCPA violations covered by the DPA.

As announced in October 2021 and March 2022, the DOJ notified Ericsson that it failed to provide documents and information to the DOJ in a timely manner and did not adequately report to the DOJ certain information relating to a 2019 Iraq-related internal investigation.

The DOJ has not alleged or charged Ericsson with any new criminal misconduct since the start of the DPA.