May 1, 2026
Faras Baloch and Trevor Archer represented the Serious Fraud Office in proceedings for a Deferred Prosecution Agreement with Ultra Electronics Holdings Ltd, a manufacturer of electronic systems for the international defence and aerospace market. The relevant conduct relates to alleged failure to prevent bribery arising from the company’s operations in Algeria and Oman. The 3-year DPA provides for:
- UEH to pay a financial penalty of £10,083,150 within 30 days
- Costs of c.£4.8 million
- Annual reporting to the SFO
- Ongoing co-operation
Faras Baloch is a specialist in the most serious and complex criminal cases. He has particular expertise in Business Crime & Fraud, Money Laundering & Proceeds of Crime, Financial Services Regulation & Professional Discipline and Serious and Organised Crime.
Trevor Archer is ranked as a leading practitioner in the major legal directories. He is frequently instructed to act in complex investigations that attract significant public interest or address novel legal issues. He has particular experience defending and prosecuting complex corporate crime, including cases that involve parallel civil proceedings or proceedings in other jurisdictions.
See News Links here:
https://www.ft.com/content/b9cc2191-716e-40fa-b4d0-3c25676e9409
https://www.thetimes.com/business/companies-markets/article/ultra-electronics-pays-15m-fraud-office-sfo-bribery-investigation-ggn06ws05
https://www.theguardian.com/law/2026/may/01/uk-defence-firm-ultra-electronics-bribery-settlement-sfo
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/sfo-secures-10m-from-british-defence-supplier
https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/uk-defence-firm-ultra-agrees-deal-with-prosecutors-over-failure-prevent-bribery-2026-05-01/
https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/sfo-secures-first-deferred-prosecution-agreement-for-four-years/5126671.article
https://www.globalbankingandfinance.com/uk-defence-firm-ultra-agrees-deal-prosecutors-over-failure/
https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/south-west/news/39797-defence-firm-to-pay-15m-after-african-bribery-investigation
https://globalinvestigationsreview.com/article/sfo-reaches-first-dpa-in-five-years
https://www.law360.com/articles/2472553
https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/law-order/3893601-ultra-electronics-strikes-10-million-deal-with-serious-fraud-office-over-bribery-case
