Ericsson takes $1.2 bn Q3 hit to settle US probes

Mobile telecom gear maker Ericsson said on Thursday its third-quarter results will be hit by a 12 billion Swedish krona ($1.23 billion) provision it was making for U.S. investigations.

The investigations, by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department of Justice, are linked to the company's compliance with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), Ericsson said in a statement.

The Swedish company said it estimated a monetary sanction of $1 billion, along with additional related costs, to settle the investigations.

"The process to find a resolution is still ongoing," Ericsson said.

The company has identified breaches of its code of ethics and of the FCPA during the course of the investigation, Ericsson said, adding that the breaches were the outcome of many deficiencies, including the company's failure to react to red flags and inadequate internal controls.

"We have to recognize that the company has failed in the past," Ericsson Chief Executive Borje Ekholm said.

The Stockholm-based company said it has improved its compliance programs, without providing further details.

Besides the financial provision, the company said it also expects the investigations to cause reputational damage to Ericsson that will have an adverse impact.

Ericsson said it initially received questions from the SEC in 2013 and from the DOJ in 2015, adding it has been cooperating with the authorities.