NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – Agilent Technologies said in a regulatory document on Monday that an investigation by US regulators into possible infractions by the company's employees in China has ended without any enforcement actions by the agencies.
In a document filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, Agilent said that it received a letter on Sept. 15 from the commission's Division of Enforcement saying its investigation into the matter has been completed and it does not intend to recommend any enforcement action against the company. Also, on Sept. 24 Agilent received a letter from the US Department of Justice stating that it had closed its inquiry into the matter, "citing the company's voluntary disclosure and thorough investigation."
Agilent disclosed the possible infractions of US law in its 2013 second quarter Form 10-Q, saying it had uncovered activity by the employees of its subsidiaries in China that did not comply with the company's standards of business conduct, the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and other laws and regulations. As a result, Agilent launched an internal investigation related to the sale of some of its products through third-party intermediaries in China and contacted the SEC and DOJ to advise them of the internal probe.
Agilent did not disclose the specific nature of the alleged improper activities.