News In Brief

2 commodities firms to pay US $200 million in tax case

Marc Rich Company and Clarendon Ltd. agreed Thursday to pay the US government about $200 million in fines and interest to settle the biggest tax evasion case in American history.

The charges against fugitive commodities broker Marc Rich, however, who owns the two companies, remain unaffected by the settlement. The Swiss government has refused to extradite him.