Cognizant makes $95-mn deal with US shareholders

Cognizant Technology Solutions has reached a $95 million settlement to resolve a lawsuit accusing the IT services firm of defrauding shareholders by concealing bribes to officials in India.

A preliminary settlement of the proposed class action was filed on Tuesday with the federal court in Newark, New Jersey, and requires a judge’s approval. Shareholders accused Cognizant of failing to disclose payments made to obtain permits for facilities in ‘special economic zones,’ including its Indian headquarters in Chennai, where it could enjoy tax and other benefits.

Cognizant’s share price fell 13.3 per cent on September 30, 2016, after the Teaneck, New

Jersey-based firm said it was looking into bribery allegations, and whether there were violations of the federal Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

The defendants, including former president Gordon Coburn and former chief legal officer Steven Schwartz, denied wrongdoing in agreeing to settle. Cognizant said it expected insurers to cover a substantial majority of the payment.

In February 2019, Cognizant agreed to pay $25 million to settle a related US Securities and Exchange Commission civil probe. US prosecutors charged Coburn and Schwartz that month with FCPA and other violations. Those criminal cases remain pending.

Lawyers for Coburn and Schwartz did not immediately respond on Wednesday to requests for comment.