Spanning the Globe With Anti -Corruption and Anti-Bribery ... · PDF fileSince August 7,...
Transcript of Spanning the Globe With Anti -Corruption and Anti-Bribery ... · PDF fileSince August 7,...
© Copyright 2013 by K&L Gates LLP. All rights reserved.
MODERATOR: Dick Thornburgh, D.C. PANELISTS: Amy L. Sommers, Shanghai Matt T. Morley, D.C. Jim Bulling, Melbourne Elizabeth Robertson, London Christopher Keane, Sydney William Reichert, Moscow Edward J. Fishman, D.C. OCTOBER 16, 2013
How Can Global Companies Meet the Challenges of Different
Enforcement Approaches?
Spanning the Globe With Anti-Corruption and Anti-Bribery Government Actions
OVERVIEW
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Battle against corruption and bribery at center-stage as global financial crisis showcased economic and social costs of corruption
Significant evolution of laws around the globe since 1977 enactment of FCPA in the US 2010 UK Bribery Act;
2011 China Anti-Corruption Law;
2013 Russian Anti-Corruption Law Amendments;
2013 Brazilian Anti-Corruption Law.
Laws mirror each other more than they differ Social, cultural and political differences affect
global development of anti-corruption and anti-bribery laws Wide prosecutorial discretion Execution is the key – how aggressively
governments enforce their laws makes a difference Execution may vary and depends on political
circumstances in each country/region
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Global companies can take comfort that approaches to having effective compliance program are similar country-by-country and region-by-region
Importance of on-the-ground information, local support and relationships in structuring global compliance programs and in responding to enforcers who knock on your door
We have assembled 7 of our anti-corruption experts from our offices across the globe to share their insight on latest developments in the laws and enforcement in their regions, and on their impact on anti-corruption programs klgates.com 4
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Brief summary of the anticorruption legal framework
Recent trends in enforcement
Suggested preventative measures
PRC LEGAL FRAMEWORK - ANTIBRIBERY
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Bribes to/from officials
The Criminal Law of the People’s Republic of China (“Criminal Law”)
Bribes given/paid Commercially
Anti-Unfair Competition Law & associated regulations (civil offense) + Criminal Law (criminal offense)
Bribes to Foreign Officials
Criminal Law (as of 2011)
TWO TYPES OF ANTI-BRIBERY ENFORCEMENT CURRENTLY UNDERWAY IN CHINA
Official Commercial
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OFFICIAL BRIBERY ENFORCEMENT – WHAT ARE DRIVERS?
Internal Party power
struggles
Consolida-tion
Power
Targeted enforcement against key officials (e.g., Bo Xilai, Zhou Yongkan)
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COMMERCIAL BRIBERY ENFORCEMENT – PRICE-DRIVEN? …. WHAT COMES NEXT?
Retail price maint.
• Spring 2013: • Baby formula
Anticorruption
• Summer 2013: • Pharma co’s +
doctors/hospital personnel
Anticorruption? AML?
• Autumn 2013/Winter 2014: Medical devices? Eyeglasses?
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WHAT DO RECENT DEVELOPMENTS MEAN FOR COMPANIES OPERATING IN CHINA?
Good news (sort of): If your company gives a bribe to a PRC official and it comes to light, the PRC gov’t probably isn’t going to prosecute your company
Bad news: If your company is giving commercial bribes, you’re facing a real enforcement risk in from Chinese regulators that could implicate the FCPA even tho’ the behavior appears not to involve ‘officials’ from a China law perspective
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IMPLICATIONS (CONT’D): CHINAWHYS
Peter Humphrey, respected China-hand and founding director of ChinaWhys consultancy – arrested: Global Times: “Paying from 800 ($131) to 2,000 yuan per piece,
the couple started purchasing and collecting Chinese citizens' personal information, including names of family members, household property, addresses, overseas travel records and vehicle ownership.”
Humphrey and his partner/wife were arrested on criminal charges of trafficking personal information of Chinese citizens
Characterized as part of a nationwide sweep: “The case is part of a nationwide campaign launched by the Ministry of Public Security aimed at cracking down on infringement upon citizens' personal information. Since August 7, police in Shanghai have captured 126 suspects for illegal trading of personal information, of them 35 have been detained under criminal charges. Some 100 million pieces of personal information waiting to be sold have also been found.”
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IMPLICATIONS (CONT.): EMPLOYMENT HISTORY - REVIEW
Unhappy recent exits?
Likely whistleblowers?
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IMPLICATIONS (CONT.): INTERNAL AUDIT HISTORY - REVIEW
Red flags ?
Have they been
resolved?
If not, is that a smoldering
fire?
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UNITED STATES AND THE FCPA
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MATT MORLEY K&L GATES, WASHINGTON, DC OFFICE (202) 778-9850 [email protected]
US: AGGRESSIVE PROSECUTION
US authorities say FCPA prosecutions “a top priority”
Recoveries of enormous amounts of fines and penalties Disgorgement of profits from tainted contracts, in addition to
fines Ability to charge multiple offenses on the same set of facts
Exceptionally broad assertion of extraterritorial jurisdiction
Most cases resolved by settlement rather than litigation Limited case law Facilitates ability of prosecutors to take increasingly
aggressive positions unchecked by judicial authority
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US: ELEMENTS OF EFFECTIVE COMPLIANCE No program can prevent all violations
Three key questions: Is the company’s compliance program well designed? Is it being applied in good faith? Does it work?
US DOJ/SEC Guide: “hallmarks of effective compliance” Senior management commitment Policies and procedures Oversight, autonomy and resources Risk assessment Training Incentives and disciplinary measures. Due diligence Confidential reporting and internal investigation. Periodic testing and review.
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US: SOURCES OF PROSECUTIONS
Most significant source cases is corporate self-reporting Leveraging of limited enforcement resources by offering
leniency in exchange for self-reporting
Other sources may become increasingly important Dodd-Frank whistleblower bounties
10 to 30 percent share of recovery Tips from employees, former employees, competitors, ex-
spouses Increased likelihood that authorities will learn of violations Significant pressure for company to self-report
Increasing international cooperation
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OECD Convention on Bribery (1997 vs. 2013)
US: INTERNATIONALIZATION OF ANTICORRUPTION EFFORTS
OECD Convention was largely a US initiative
According to Transparency International, of 39 signatories, only seven were “actively” enforcing their laws implementing the OECD Convention
Many nations do not make it a priority to devote resources to expensive prosecutions that may harm domestic companies
Suggestions that these laws may be used as a competitive weapon against other nations
9 of the 10 largest FCPA cases involved non-US companies.
UK authorities have said that they will prioritize Bribery Act prosecutions where a UK company was disadvantaged.
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AUSTRALIAN ANTI-CORRUPTION LEGISLATION Legislation prohibiting bribery of foreign officials similar
to UK, US and elsewhere Law reinforced by agreements with many trading
partners: mutual cooperation arrangements extradition arrangements
No specialist enforcement agency like SFO or DOJ enforced by Australian Federal Police Australian Crime Commission has mandate
Small number of convictions current cases before courts involve French, Australian
nationals
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GOVERNANCE AND PREVENTATIVE MEASURES Company can be guilty of offence where it or senior
executive authorised payment Defence available if company has governance
program in place and corporate culture of compliance Tools for prevention
Board statement and policies Codes of conduct for employees, agents, contractors Clear guidance on hospitality, entertainment Compliance resources, internal audit Due diligence, monitoring and remuneration of in-country agents Act on early warning signs
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WHEN THINGS GO WRONG
Not just another compliance issue AFP have special tools available Phone tapping, arrest, search warrants
ACC and powers of compulsion Need coordination of response across
jurisdictions on issues such as: Cooperation/resistance Privilege Representation Employee assistance
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LATIN AMERICA AND AFRICA
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EDWARD J. FISHMAN K&L GATES, WASHINGTON, DC OFFICE (202) 778-9456 [email protected]
CORRUPTION RISK IN LATIN AMERICA AND AFRICA
Many countries in these regions are in the bottom half of Transparency International’s 2012 Corruption Perceptions Index e.g. Angola (157 of 174); Nigeria (139 of 174); Brazil (69 of
174); Venezuela (165 of 174)
Many of these same countries offer significant business opportunities for global companies
The historical levels of corruption, the size of government contract opportunities and the relative lack of transparency and consistency in regulatory processes creates enormous corruption risk
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ANTI-CORRUPTION ENFORCEMENT IN BRAZIL
Recent scandals involving public corruption and infrastructure development for the World Cup and Olympics prompted Brazilian legislature to enact robust anti-corruption legislation
The legislation becomes effective in January 2014 and imposes civil (not criminal) penalties on companies that bribe Brazilian or foreign public officials; effective compliance is a mitigating factor but not a full defense
Recent internal investigations or settled U.S. enforcement proceedings involving Brazil include Embraer, Eli Lilly and Nature’s Sunshine
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ANTI-CORRUPTION ENFORCEMENT IN NIGERIA
Several of the largest FCPA settlements involved Nigeria, including the TSKJ Consortium (Bonny Island), Noble Corporation and Panalpina
Nigerian authorities prosecuted and reached settlements with KBR over the Bonny Island scandal
Nigerian government continues to focus on domestic public corruption, including ongoing scandal involving petroleum sales and continuing allegations that former government officials amassed overseas fortunes through hidden ownership of companies involved in oil and gas business
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KEY LESSONS IN THESE MARKETS
Importance of Due Diligence Third Party Agents and Local Partners – focus on their
beneficial ownership and shareholders, reputation, experience/value and compliance culture
Projects and Transactions – ensure the proposed business makes economic and logical sense; look for “traps” that may be potential evidence of bribery scheme
M&A Due Diligence – thoroughly vet any target company operations in high-risk markets
Implementation of Robust Compliance Programs Training of Local Employees, JV Partners and Agents Continuous Monitoring and Oversight
Increasing Local Awareness of Anti-Corruption Risks and Compliance Best Practices
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SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC
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CHRISTOPHER KEANE K&L GATES, SYDNEY OFFICE +61 2 9513 2562 [email protected]
SOUTH EAST ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC: MAJOR CHALLENGES AND DRAMATIC RESPONSES A highly problematic region for corporations engaged in
international commerce A major social and political issue Dramatic legislative reforms Emphasis remains ‘local’ but increasingly with a cross-
border focus
3 jurisdictions indicative of the reforms, challenges and risks throughout the region
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SOUTH EAST ASIA & THE SOUTH PACIFIC: INDONESIA
Pursuit of high profile targets Willingness to pursue foreign directors and corporations Participation in global investigations and information
sharing The rise of anti anti-corruption law?
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SOUTH EAST ASIA & THE SOUTH PACIFIC: PHILIPPINES
‘Minor’ offending with major repercussions The reverse onus of proof and its impact on policies
regarding facilitation payments and gifts Increasingly sophisticated laws regarding financial record
keeping Witness immunity to maximize prospects of successful
convictions
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SOUTH EAST ASIA & THE SOUTH PACIFIC: PAPUA NEW GUINEA AND THE ISLAND NATIONS OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC
Tiny nations, massive projects
Who is a public official? Lack of enforcement activity is no guarantee the law will
not be enforced against you Politically and commercially motivated prosecutions Use of unconventional methods to secure a conviction
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BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION IN SOUTH EAST ASIA & THE SOUTH PACIFIC: ADAPTING COMPLIANCE AND RISK MANAGEMENT FOR MAXIMUM EFFECT
Stop thinking ‘regional’ and start thinking ‘local’
Introduce a compliance program that can and will be complied with
Identify all of the potential repercussions - its not just the company that is under threat
Monitoring compliance from afar
Anticipate what could go wrong in the event of an investigation
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ANTI-CORRUPTION COMPLIANCE IN RUSSIA
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WILLIAM REICHERT K&L GATES, MOSCOW OFFICE +7 495 643 1700 [email protected]
ANTI-CORRUPTION LAW There is no unified anti-corruption law in Russia Anti-corruption rules are dispersed among two federal laws, three codes and other
pieces of legislation Gifts to public officials are prohibited in connection with their official duties (with
certain limited exceptions) Bribe giving, bribe taking and commercial bribery by individuals are all prohibited
under the Russian Criminal Code Commercial bribes may result in criminal liability for individuals Criminal liability is applied to individuals (regardless of whether a bribe is given
personally or through an intermediary, or directly to a public official or to his/her relatives)
Bribery by legal entities is prohibited under the Code of Administrative Offences (there is no criminal liability for legal entities in Russia)
A failed attempt to bribe can still result in liability
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AMENDMENTS TO ANTI-CORRUPTION LAW In January 2013 Russia enacted amendments to the Federal Law “On Counteracting
Corruption” with Article 13.3 “The Obligation of Organizations to Undertake Anti-
Corruption Measures”
Article 13.3 imposes an affirmative obligation on companies doing business in Russia
to implement anti-corruption compliance measures that may include:
Identifying departments and officers who will be responsible for compliance
Cooperating with law enforcement agencies
Developing and implementing anti-corruption standards
Adopting a code of professional ethics and conduct
Preventing and resolving conflicts of interest
Preventing the creation and use of false documents
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AMENDMENTS TO ANTI-CORRUPTION LAW Article 13.3 contains only suggestions with regard to possible anti-corruption measures
The sufficiency of an organization’s anti-corruption compliance measures will still
require a case-by-case judicial determination
Article 13.3 does not contain a penalty provision, and so the court will refer to the Code
of Administrative Offences
In the event of a violation a legal entity may be fined for up to100 times the amount of
the bribe
A legal entity may be deemed liable under the Code of Administrative Offences if it
failed to take “all measures to comply” that were within its control
There is no court practice yet available with regard to the application of Article 13.3
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CORRUPTION RED FLAGS IN RUSSIA Because endemic corruption is widespread, you may be deemed to be on notice before you even
enter the market A major risk in Russia involves use of third parties, including agents, intermediaries, resellers,
distributors, and joint venture partners Lack of transparency is a red flag Examples of non-transparent practices include:
Complicated ownership arrangements Use of or affiliations with shell companies Use of offshore holding companies Use of offshore bank accounts Use of fake invoices and stamps Use of sham counterparties to create unrecorded cash (obnalichka/obnalichivanie)
Difficult (but not impossible) to detect in audit Often also used for tax avoidance and money laundering
This underscores the need for heightened scrutiny of business partners in the region
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UNITED KINGDOM
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ELIZABETH ROBERTSON K&L GATES, LONDON OFFICE Head, Corporate Crime Practice Group +44 (0) 20 7360 8255 [email protected]
BRIBERY ACT 2010
Four Offences “Bribing” (s1) “Being bribed” (s2) “Bribery of a foreign public official” (s6) UK Public Officials? “Failure [by a company] to prevent bribery” (s7) Also consent or connivance by senior officer (s14) ANYWHERE And anyone not just public officials
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DEFERRED PROSECUTION AGREEMENTS
To become Law in the UK 2014
The power to negotiate deferred prosecutions will be available to SFO, CPS, FSA and OFT
The onus and the financial burden will be on potential corporate defendants to make sure they comply with the law
Middle and senior management “go under a bus”?
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UK BRIBERY ACT – ADEQUATE PROCEDURES THE SIX GUIDANCE PRINCIPLES FOR PREVENTION OF BRIBERY
What do we need to demonstrate to show we take this seriously? Proportionate procedures – anti-bribery procedures that are proportionate to the
specific risks we face and to the nature, scale and complexity of our operations Top level commitment – senior management demonstrate commitment to
preventing bribery, establish a culture that supports this commitment and communicate our anti-bribery policy throughout the group
Risk assessment – assess, know and respond to the nature and extent of our corruption risks
Due diligence – understand the background and reputation of the parties with whom we do business
Communication (including training) – communicate and effectively embed our policy controls in our day to day business processes
Monitoring and review – appropriate monitoring and review mechanisms to ensure compliance with our policy and controls
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UK DPA V US DPA: A COMPARISON (TAKEN FROM THE LEGISLATION AND THE DRAFT CODE) Level of Judicial Oversight Availability to individual defendants
Selection of the Monitor
Controls on the Monitor
Required Disclosure
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Key Issues and Themes for General Counsel
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