After Rockwell Automation announced that it will pay $2.7million in connection with Foreign Bribery allegations an investigation for current long term investors in Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK) concerning whether certain officer and directors can be held liable was announced.

The investigation by a law firm for current long term investors in Rockwell Automation (Public, NYSE:ROK) concerns whether certain officer and directors at Rockwell Automation can be held liable in connection with the recent agreement to settle Foreign Bribery charges with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over its former subsidiary's role in a China bribe case over possible violations of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), which prohibits companies from making improper payments to foreign officials for the purpose of obtaining or keeping business. San Diego-based Maxwell Technologies, Inc. announced on January 31, 2011 that it had reached settlements with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) with respect to charges asserted by the SEC and DOJ relating to the anti-bribery, books and records, internal controls, and disclosure provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other securities law violations.
Rockwell Automation previously disclosed that as a result of an internal review, Rockwell Automation determined in 2006 that actions by a small number of employees at its former Power Systems subsidiary in China may have violated the FCPA or other applicable laws. Rockwell Automation said it voluntarily disclosed these actions to the DOJ and the SEC beginning in September 2006.
Rockwell Automation, Inc without admitting or denying the SECs allegations, consented to the entry of a cease-and-desist order prohibiting Rockwell from further violations of the FCPAs books and records and internal controls provisions, and agreed to pay disgorgement of $1,771,000, prejudgment interest of $590,091 and a civil penalty of $400,000.
Rockwell Automations 12months Total Revenue increased from $4.332billion reported on Sept. 30, 2009 to $4.857billion reported on $4.857billion reported on Sept. 30, 2010. Its Net Income more than doubled over the same time frame, from $220.70million to $464.20million.

Shares of Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK) rose from $18.40 per share in March 09 to as high as $97 per share in April 2011.