Foreign Issuers Archives - FCPA Professor

Issues To Consider From The Corficolombiana / Grupo Aval Enforcement Action

By Mike Koehler on August 22, 2023 in Cash Cow, Foreign Issuers, Gray Cloud, OECD

This previous post highlighted the net $60.6 million Foreign Corrupt Practices Act enforcement action against Colombian entities Corficolombiana / Grupo Aval.

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

Cash Cow?

In the minds of some (including former FCPA enforcement officials), FCPA enforcement is a convenient cash cow for the U.S. government.

Those who believe this will find support in the Corficolombiana / Grupo Aval enforcement action.

The allegations were basically as follows.

Colombian Entities Resolve Net $60.6 Million FCPA Enforcement Action

By Mike Koehler on August 14, 2023 in 2023 Enforcement Action, Colombia, Corficolombiana, DOJ Enforcement Action, Financial Services Industry, Foreign Issuers, Grupo Aval, Odebrecht, SEC Enforcement Action

Once upon a time, a Colombian company (owned and controlled by another Colombian company with shares registered in the U.S.), through a wholly-owned and controlled subsidiary, agreed with a Brazilian company to form a joint venture and consortium to bid for public contracts with the Colombian government.

An executive of the Brazilian company informed an executive of the Colombian company that a Colombian lobbyist would help win projects by making bribe payments to Colombian officials and the Colombian company executive agreed.

That, in a nutshell, describes last week’s net $60.6 million Foreign Corrupt Practice Act enforcement action against Corporacion Financiera Colombiana S.A. (Corficolombiana) and Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores S.A. (Grupo Aval).

The enforcement action involved a DOJ component (in which the entities agreed to pay a net $20.3 million criminal penalty) and an SEC component (in which the entities agreed to pay approximately $40.3 million in disgorgement and prejudgment interest).

Thus Far From The SEC

By Mike Koehler on May 16, 2023 in Foreign Issuers, OECD, SEC

Thus far in 2023, the SEC has brought four FCPA enforcement actions.

All of the enforcement actions have been against foreign issuers.

All of the enforcement actions have been resolved through an administrative order (meaning there was no judicial scrutiny whatsoever).

All of the enforcement actions have lacked related enforcement actions against individuals.

Philips Joins The Corporate FCPA Repeat Offender Club

By Mike Koehler on May 11, 2023 in 2023 Enforcement Action, China, Distributor Issues, Foreign Issuers, Healthcare Companies, Philips, SEC Enforcement Action, Third Parties

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act corporate repeat offender club is getting so large, that it really is not all that exclusive.

In 2013, Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (“Philips”), a Netherlands-based company with shares listed on the New York Stock Exchange, resolved a $4.5 million FCPA enforcement action concerning conduct in Poland. (See here for the prior post).

In resolving the matter, Philips consented to entry of the Order prohibiting future FCPA violations.

Yesterday, the SEC announced that Philips agreed to pay “more than $62 million to resolve charges that it violated the FCPA” with respect to conduct related to its sales of medical diagnostic equipment in China.”

Frank’s International Resolves $8 Million FCPA Enforcement Action

By Mike Koehler on April 27, 2023 in 2023 Enforcement Action, Angola, Expro International, Foreign Issuers, Frank’s International, Oil and Gas Industry, SEC Enforcement Action, Third Parties

The SEC has announced that Frank’s International N.V., (a Dutch oilfield services provider) now known as Expro Group Holdings N.V., has resolved an approximate $8 million Foreign Corrupt Practices Act enforcement action.

The conduct at issue based focuses on Angola and occurred between 2008 and 2014 (in other words approximately 10-15 years ago).

This administrative order finds in summary fashion:

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Issues To Consider From The Corficolombiana / Grupo Aval Enforcement Action

Colombian Entities Resolve Net $60.6 Million FCPA Enforcement Action

Thus Far From The SEC

Philips Joins The Corporate FCPA Repeat Offender Club

Frank’s International Resolves $8 Million FCPA Enforcement Action

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