The Mabey Group is a British-based group of engineering companies, which specialises in bridging, steel fabrication, plant hire and construction products. Listed on Top Track 250, the group is one of the leading bridge suppliers in the world.
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Founded by Bevil Mabey in 1923,[1] he expanded the company quickly after World War II by buying up spare Bailey bridges from the British Army.[2]
Expanded through acquisition, parts of the group were founded over 150years ago. The group is still wholly family owned. With an administrative head quarters in Twyford, Berkshire, the group employs over 1,000 people in 40 locations and has an annualised turnover of £100 million. In excess of 90% of the company's production is exported to over 115 countries for use either in permanent or temporary bridging solutions.[3]
The Mabey Group has made regular donations to the local Conservative party in Wokingham. John Redwood, the Wokingham MP, was chairman of an associated investment company until March 2008.[2]
In its 2008 results, Mabey Group admitted publicly that it may have paid bribes to the regime of Saddam Hussein in order to win business in Iraq, under the Oil-for-Food Programme. In a retrospective United Nations report, it was alleged that Mabey paid a $202,000 (£101,000) kickback between 2001 and 2003, and was handed a $3.6m contract. The company is presently cooperating with the Serious Fraud Office, and an internal investigation being undertaken by solicitors Herbert Smith.[2]
In 2009, in a case brought by the SFO, the company plead guilty to the charge of “sought to influence decision makers in public contracts in Jamaica and Ghana between 1993 and 2001” at Westminster magistrates court.[5]