JPMorgan Settles French Tax-Fraud Case for $30 Million
JPMorgan Chase & Co. settled a longstanding French criminal investigation over allegations it helped clients commit tax fraud for 25 million euros ($29.6 million).
The case relates to allegations of tax fraud seen to benefit former managers at investment firm Wendel, top financial prosecutor Jean-François Bohnert said at a Thursday court hearing in Paris. The bank’s involvement revolves mainly over financing provided by its Paris branch to the managers in 2007 to restructure their holdings in Wendel.
Paris judge Stéphane Nöel approved the settlement after a short presentation of the main facts of the case and of the deal.
Thierry Marembert, a lawyer for JPMorgan, said the bank had “a very limited role” in the alleged fraud and wants to move on.
The settlement comes just a few months after Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon said Paris had become JPMorgan’s main trading center in the European Union. The bank aims to have 800 staff in its Paris office by the end of 2022.
JPMorgan “believes in France, believes in its commercial development here,” Marembert said. “It’s important for the bank to have peaceful relationships.”
Under the terms of Thursday’s settlement deal, JPMorgan didn’t plead guilty. Unless the bank withdraws within the next 10 days, the agreement will become final. Marembert said JPMorgan will decline its right to retract itself from the deal.
Prosecutor François-Xavier Dulin said the 25 million-euro fine is more than 130 times larger than the maximum penalty the bank could have faced in court, in line with French laws at the time.
Paris judge Stéphane Nöel approved the settlement after a short presentation of the main facts of the case and of the deal.
Thierry Marembert, a lawyer for JPMorgan, said the bank had “a very limited role” in the alleged fraud and wants to move on.
The settlement comes just a few months after Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon said Paris had become JPMorgan’s main trading center in the European Union. The bank aims to have 800 staff in its Paris office by the end of 2022.
JPMorgan “believes in France, believes in its commercial development here,” Marembert said. “It’s important for the bank to have peaceful relationships.”
Under the terms of Thursday’s settlement deal, JPMorgan didn’t plead guilty. Unless the bank withdraws within the next 10 days, the agreement will become final. Marembert said JPMorgan will decline its right to retract itself from the deal.
Prosecutor François-Xavier Dulin said the 25 million-euro fine is more than 130 times larger than the maximum penalty the bank could have faced in court, in line with French laws at the time.
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