the corruption allegations were also referred to the uk's serious fraud office a criminal investigation by us federal prosecutors and wider investigations into un procurement by both the southern district court of new york, the us congress and the un. compass had agreed by october 2006 to pay to up to £40m to settle two lawsuits brought against it for allegedly bribing a un official to win catering contracts. compass group did not admit any legal liability and paid a confidential settlement in the region of £40m.