Skip to main content

Imtech - update on the Fritz & Macziol Schweiz investigation

Following media coverage which contained allegations of unethical business behaviour, Imtech began an internal investigation into the former management of Fritz & Macziol Schweiz. This behaviour allegedly included excessive gifts and entertainment offered to Seco civil servants. The internal investigation initiated by Imtech was conducted by a substantial external team of lawyers, accountants and forensic experts. The office of the public prosecutor in Switzerland has also initiated criminal investigati
March 19, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
Following media coverage which contained allegations of unethical business behaviour, 769 Imtech began an internal investigation into the former management of Fritz & Macziol Schweiz. This behaviour allegedly included excessive gifts and entertainment offered to Seco civil servants.

The internal investigation initiated by Imtech was conducted by a substantial external team of lawyers, accountants and forensic experts. The office of the public prosecutor in Switzerland has also initiated criminal investigations. Imtech is fully cooperating with the Swiss authorities.

The initial findings by Imtech confirm that a non-business relationship existed between the former management of Fritz & Macziol Schweiz and certain Seco civil servants. This was reflected in excessive entertainment, overly informal contacts and questionable business behaviour. A conflict of interest by Fritz & Macziol Schweiz management was also identified. Fritz & Macziol Schweiz is not a suspect in the Swiss criminal investigations at this stage.

Imtech’s investigations have not yet been completed due to the ongoing criminal investigation by the Swiss Authorities and it is therefore it is too early to draw final conclusions. Imtech will provide a further update at a later date.

The management of Fritz & Macziol Schweiz has been replaced. As a consequence of the adverse publicity, the organisation of Fritz & Macziol Schweiz is to be restructured. The potential financial exposure of the situation is difficult to assess, but judged to be limited.

Imtech strongly rejects any unethical business behaviour and has further tightened its already strict policies on matters such as sponsorship, gifts, hospitality and conflicts of interest.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • How can your business plan for the worst?
    May 12, 2022
    Covid and extreme weather events have recently shown that disruption to our lives and daily routines can come suddenly, and on a staggering scale. Roger Leyland of ISN Solutions outlines what can be done to ensure continuity for agencies and businesses
  • Royal Imtech declared bankrupt
    August 14, 2015
    Royal Imtech has announced that it, Imtech Capital, Imtech and Imtech Group have been declared redundant as of 13 August. The group states that this does not affect its Traffic & Infra division. The group’s Marine and Nordic divisions have been set outside of the group under the control of Imtech's financiers with a view to their sale to third parties to ensure as much as possible the continuation of their businesses and the continued employment of their 7,300 employees. Imtech, with Visser and Smit
  • Redflex ‘does not expect further action’ from US Department of Justice
    January 18, 2019
    Traffic enforcement specialist Redflex Holdings says it expects no further legal action or new financial liabilities arising from investigations by the US Department of Justice (DoJ). The action, which has rumbled on for several years, related to misconduct by former employees of US subsidiary Redflex Traffic Systems. The company signed a two-year non-prosecution agreement (NPA) with the DoJ, which has now ended. Under the expired deal, the DoJ agreed not to charge the firm with any offence provided the
  • Need for best practice enforcement standards
    February 3, 2012
    Leading systems suppliers discuss how recent events in Italy have affected the automated enforcement sector and how the situation might be remediated