A small company based in Rotherham could be about to make a dubious kind of history by being the first in the UK to strike a new form of plea deal in order to avoid prosecution on bribery allegations.

Sarclad, which provides technology products to the metals industry and also has operations in China, is one of two companies said to be considering a deferred prosecution agreement with the Serious Fraud Office.

A DPA is a court-approved deal whereby a company admits wrongdoing, pays a fine and agrees to remedial measures, such as paying compensation and overhauling compliance.

In return, prosecutors agree to suspend any charges over a set period of time. Corporate convictions can cripple a company by barring it from lucrative government tender lists, resulting in mass layoffs.

The original article can be found at www.ft.com