Taiwan Fines Dassault, Thales, Safran $268 million Over 1992 Mirage 2000-5 Deal

Three French aviation companies have been fined a total of 227 million euros ($268 million) in Taiwan over a commercial dispute dating back to 1992, the companies announced.

Dassault Aviation said it was fined 134 million euros; avionics and systems manufacturer Thales was hit with a fine of 64 million euros; and engine maker Safran was ordered to pay 29 million euros, the groups said in statements released separately late Wednesday.

The companies did not specify the nature of the dispute, but said that the fines were from "a contract signed in 1992". However, the issue could relate to the alleged illegal commissions and kickbacks surrounding the 1992 sale of 60 Mirage 2000-5 to Taiwan.

In 1992, the three companies signed a contract to sell 60 Mirage 2000-5 jet fighters and related equipment to Taiwan in an arms deal that upset China at the time.

Thales said in its statement that in late 2002 "an application for arbitrage by a common client" was made to the three companies for a sum of at least $260 million.

"This application was related to the execution of old contracts made by these manufacturers," the statement said.

Following an agreement in June 2003, the applicant made a new request for a revised amount of 226 million euros in November 2012, Thales said.

The companies are "studying what comes next given the decision" after the fines were issued on Wednesday.