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FCPA Related Caremark Claim Dismissed

By on October 6, 2022 in Caremark, Cognizant Technology Solutions, Related Civil Litigation
Dismissed

As highlighted here, in 2019 Cognizant Technology Solutions resolved a $25 million SEC FCPA enforcement action in connection with various licenses and permits in India.

As often happens in the aftermath of Foreign Corrupt Practices Act scrutiny or enforcement, plaintiff lawyers representing shareholders filed related civil claims.

Several related derivative actions against current and former members of Cognizant’s board as well as current and former Cognizant executive officers were filed and consolidated into one action.

Recently, the court dismissed the consolidated actions (see here) and in doing so concluded, among other things, that plaintiffs’ so-called Caremark claims were not viable.

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Cognizant’s $95 Million Ripple

By on September 16, 2021 in Cognizant Technology Solutions, Collateral Effects, Related Civil Litigation
Ripple

Foreign Corrupt Practices Act settlement amounts are one obvious consequence of alleged FCPA non-compliance and tend to generate the most headlines.

However, as has been discussed on these pages for years  including in this article “FCPA Ripples”, settlement amounts are only one consequence of the overall financial ramifications of FCPA scrutiny and enforcement.

As highlighted in this prior post, in early 2019 Cognizant Technology Solutions, without admitting or denying the SEC’s findings, resolved a $25 million SEC enforcement action in connection with various licenses and permits in India. To get to that point, the company spent approximately $75 million in pre-enforcement action professional fees and expenses. (See here).

Like many instances of FCPA scrutiny and enforcement, Cognizant was also hit with a variety of civil lawsuits by shareholders. (See here).

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The Many Issues To Consider From The Cognizant Technology Enforcement Action

By on February 19, 2019 in Cognizant Technology Solutions, DOJ FCPA Corporate Enforcement Policy, FCPA Investigative Costs, Gray Cloud, Investigative Fees, Permits / Licenses / Customs / Tax, Third Parties, Transparency
Issues

Previous posts here and here highlighted the recent Foreign Corrupt Practices Act enforcement action against Cognizant Technology Solutions and two of its former executives.

This post continues the analysis by highlighting several issues to consider.

Timeline

As highlighted in this prior post, Cognizant disclosed its FCPA scrutiny in a September 2016 SEC filing. Thus from start to finish, Cognizant’s FCPA scrutiny lasted approximately 2.5 years. While 2.5 years is shorter than recent medians of over 4 years (see here), 2.5 years is still too long for FCPA scrutiny to last.

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Cognizant Technology Solutions Resolves $25 Million SEC Enforcement Action In Connection With Various Licenses And Permits In India

By on February 15, 2019 in 2019 Enforcement Actions, Cognizant Technology Solutions, DOJ Enforcement Action, Permits / Licenses / Customs / Tax, SEC Enforcement Action, SOX Certification Issues, Technology Industry
cognizant

This previous post highlighted the DOJ and SEC’s individual enforcement action against Gordon Coburn and Steven Schwartz (former executives of Cognizant Technology Solutions) in connection with a planning permit in India.

This post highlights the SEC’s enforcement action (as well as the DOJ’s so-called declination letter) against the company based on the same core conduct in which the company, without admitting or denying the SEC’s findings, agreed to pay approximately $25 million in disgorgement and prejudgement interest.

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Former Cognizant Technology Solutions Executives Criminally And Civilly Charged In Connection With Indian Planning Permit – Company Resolves $25 Million SEC Enforcement Action

By on February 15, 2019 in 2019 Enforcement Actions, Cognizant Technology Solutions, DOJ Enforcement Action, Executive Enforcement Action, Gordon Coburn, India, Individual Enforcement Action, Permits / Licenses / Customs / Tax, SEC Enforcement Action, Steven Schwartz
coburnschwartz

In this 2016 post highlighting Cognizant Technology Solutions’s disclosure of Foreign Corrupt Practices Act scrutiny it was also noted that Gordon Coburn resigned from his position as President of Cognizant Technology Solutions. This follow-up post noted that the two disclosures were likely related.

Sure enough as today the DOJ announced that Coburn and Steven Schwartz (Executive Vice President, Chief Legal and Corporate Affairs Officer) were criminally charged with FCPA violations. If the defendants choose to put the DOJ/SEC to its burden of proof, disputed issues will likely focus on corrupt intent, obtain or retain business and the facilitating payments exception.

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