World Bank debars Brazilian construction and engineering firm

The World Bank announced today the three-year debarment of Construtora Norberto Odebrecht S.A., the Brazilian engineering and construction subsidiary of Odebrecht, S.A.  The debarment, which is based on the Brazilian firm’s failure to disclose fees paid to commercial agents during the tender and bidding process in a World Bank-financed dam project in Colombia, renders Construtora Norberto Odebrecht ineligible to participate in World Bank-financed projects.  As part of the settlement agreement, the firm has acknowledged responsibility for the underlying sanctionable practices and agreed to meet certain specified corporate compliance conditions as a condition for release from debarment.

World Bank press release