Olympus to pay at least $646 million to end US probes

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) – Olympus Corp., the nation’s largest distributor of endoscopes and related equipment, will pay $646 million to resolve separate criminal and civil investigations into kickbacks and foreign bribery, company and federal officials announced Tuesday.

Olympus said its U.S. unit will pay $623.2 million plus interest to end the kickback case in New Jersey. The company also agreed to a corporate-integrity agreement and the appointment of a monitor.

The firm’s Latin American medical business will pay $22.8 million to resolve a separate criminal case in which it allegedly violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

“Olympus leadership acknowledges the company’s responsibility for the past conduct, which does not represent the values of Olympus or its employees,” president and CEO Nacho Abia said. “Olympus is committed to complying with all laws and regulations and to adhering to our own rigorous code of conduct.”

Federal officials said they will drop criminal charges facing both units as part of the deferred prosecution agreement. It calls for the firm to pay a $312.4 million criminal penalty and an additional $310.8 million to settle civil claims under the federal and various state False Claims Acts.

That’s the largest total amount paid in U.S. history for violations involving the anti-kickback statute by a medical device company, federal officials said.

The kickback case involved an investigation of the company’s financial relationship with medical business customers and doctors. The probe focused on activities between 2006 and 2011 to induce the sale of Olympus products.

Federal prosecutors had alleged that Olympus officials sought to boost sales by providing research grants and lavish trips that included golf, ballooning and winery tours.

“For years, Olympus Corporation of the Americas and Olympus Latin America dropped the compliance ball and failed to have in place policies and practices that would have prevented the substantial kickbacks and bribes they paid,” said Paul Fishman, the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey. “It is appropriate that they be punished for that. At the same time, the deferred prosecution agreement takes into account the companies’ cooperation and commitment to fully functional corporate compliance.”