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Brazil's Embraer, Italy firm drop helicopter plans

Agence France-PresseApril 24, 2013 11:16
Brazil's top planemaker Embraer and Italy's AgustaWestland have dropped joint-venture talks to produce the Anglo-Italian company's helicopters in the South American country. A brief Embraer statement on Wednesday said the two companies jointly decided "to terminate negotiations without reaching an agreement for the establishment of a joint venture in Brazil." It gave no explanation for why the talks collapsed.

India puts off purchase of 197 helicopters over bribery claim

April 2, 2013 11:47
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India on Tuesday deferred a decision on a deal to buy 197 light-utility helicopters pending completion of an investigation into kickback allegations, the latest setback to efforts to upgrade the country's ageing arsenal. A previous tender to buy 197 helicopters for the army for $550 million (363 million pounds) collapsed in 2007 after claims of irregularities in the field trials.

India wrestles with dilemma of blacklisting AgustaWestland

March 17, 2013 00:45
By Manoj Kumar and Ross Colvin NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony is leaning toward barring Anglo-Italian helicopter firm AgustaWestland from doing business in the country because of a corruption scandal, but he could be outvoted by cabinet colleagues, several government sources said.

India vows to change weapons import procedures

March 4, 2013 10:00
India said on Monday it plans to draft new arms procurement procedures in the wake of a corruption scandal involving Italian helicopters -- just two years after the rules were last overhauled. The redrafting could mean fresh delays to India's ambitious programme of arming its million-plus military with latest hardware, experts say. "Within a few months, we are going to change the defence procurement procedure again," Defence Minister A.K. Antony told parliament. The procurement policy was last revised in 2011.

UPDATE 4-Italy's Finmeccanica delays results over India probe

February 21, 2013 07:00
* Says to meet on results to "no later than April 30" * Finmeccanica met on helicopter deal with Indian delegation * India has threatened to scrap helicopter deal By Paolo Biondi and Danilo Masoni ROME/MILAN, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Italian defence group Finmeccanica has delayed publication of its 2012 results after a bribery probe connected with the sale of 12 helicopters to Indian authorities, it said on Thursday.

India PM conveys 'concern' to Cameron over graft claims

February 19, 2013 04:45
India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Tuesday he had conveyed his "serious concern" to British counterpart David Cameron over allegations of corruption in a 2010 deal for Anglo-Italian helicopters. "I also conveyed to the prime minister our very serious concerns regarding allegations that unethical means were used in securing the 2010 contract for AgustaWestland," Singh told a joint press conference. "Prime Minister David Cameron has assured me of the cooperation of his government in the investigation," he added.

Italy helicopter company in bribe probe says it is clean

February 16, 2013 08:30
AgustaWestland, a unit of Italian aerospace group Finmeccanica, said Saturday that it was complying with India's request for clarifications over a bribery scandal and had fully respected the law. "AgustaWestland is confident that the full compliance with the relevant laws as well as the good conduct of its past and present senior executives and managers will be demonstrated as soon as practicable," it said in a note.

India says to cancel scandal-plagued Italian helicopter deal

February 15, 2013 12:01
India on Friday said it had taken steps to cancel a contract for 12 Italian helicopters amid allegations the deal was won through kickbacks as the head of the suspected defence company stepped down. The Indian ministry of defence said in a statement it had "initiated action for cancellation" of the $748 million contract for the helicopters from AgustaWestland, a unit of Italian aerospace group Finmeccanica, intended for use by top politicians.

India says to cancel scandal-plagued Italian helicopter deal

February 15, 2013 11:00
India on Friday said it had taken steps to cancel a contract for 12 Italian helicopters amid allegations the deal was won through kickbacks as the head of the suspected defence company stepped down. The Indian ministry of defence said in a statement it had "initiated action for cancellation" of the $748 million contract for the helicopters from AgustaWestland, a unit of Italian aerospace group Finmeccanica, intended for use by top politicians.

India says to cancel scandal-plagued Italian helicopter deal

February 15, 2013 09:01
India on Friday said it had started the process of cancelling a $748-million deal for 12 Italian helicopters amid allegations that the contract was won through kickbacks. The ministry of defence said in a statement it had "initiated action for (the) cancellation" of the contract for 12 helicopters from AgustaWestland intended for use by VIPs such as the prime minister. The decision is a severe blow to the parent company of AgustaWestland, Italian aerospace group Finmeccanica whose chief executive was arrested earlier this week in Milan amid a probe by Italian prosecutors.
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