Inbrief

Nineteen British companies are being investigated over allegations of corruption abroad, the Serious Fraud Office has revealed. The companies under investigation include BAE Systems (defence), Balfour Beatty (construction), De La Rue (printing) and PWS Holdings (reinsurance). The cases are being handled by a new division of the fraud office as part of the UK government’s tougher line on British companies’ conduct in other jurisdictions.