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Spotlight on Foreign Corrupt Practices Act

Foreign-Corrupt-Practices-Act-Header

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), enacted in 1977, generally prohibits the payment of bribes to foreign officials to assist in obtaining or retaining business. The FCPA can apply to prohibited conduct anywhere in the world and extends to publicly traded companies and their officers, directors, employees, stockholders, and agents. Agents can include third party agents, consultants, distributors, joint-venture partners, and others.

The FCPA also requires issuers to maintain accurate books and records and have a system of internal controls sufficient to, among other things, provide reasonable assurances that transactions are executed and assets are accessed and accounted for in accordance with management's authorization.

The sanctions for FCPA violations can be significant. The SEC may bring civil enforcement actions against issuers and their officers, directors, employees, stockholders, and agents for violations of the anti-bribery or accounting provisions of the FCPA. Companies and individuals that have committed violations of the FCPA may have to disgorge their ill-gotten gains plus pay prejudgment interest and substantial civil penalties. Companies may also be subject to oversight by an independent consultant.

The SEC and the Department of Justice are jointly responsible for enforcing the FCPA. The SEC's Enforcement Division has created a specialized unit to further enhance its enforcement of the FCPA.

Summaries of FCPA cases


FCPA enforcement continues to be a high priority area for the SEC's enforcement program.

View the complete history of SEC enforcement actions against FCPA violators…

Investor Bulletins


The SEC issued an investor bulletin detailing the FCPA's prohibitions.

The SEC also issued an investor bulletin about American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs").

Speeches


Reflections on the Past, Present, and Future of the SEC's Enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
Nov. 9, 2017

ACI’s 32nd FCPA Conference Keynote Address  
Nov. 17, 2015

Remarks at 31st International Conference on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
Nov. 19, 2014

Keynote Address at the International Conference on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
Nov. 19, 2013

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News

  • Credit Suisse to Pay Nearly $475 Million to U.S. and U.K. Authorities to Resolve Charges in Connection with Mozambican Bond Offerings
    Oct. 19, 2021
  • SEC Charges World's Largest Advertising Group with FCPA Violations
    Sept. 24, 2021
  • SEC Charges Amec Foster Wheeler Limited With FCPA Violations Related To Brazilian Bribery Scheme
    June 25, 2021
  • SEC Charges Deutsche Bank With FCPA Violations Related to Third-Party Intermediaries
    Jan. 8, 2021
  • OECD Working Group on Bribery Issues Report Commending United States for Maintaining Leading Role in the Fight Against Transnational Corruption
    Nov. 17, 2020

FCPA Statute


FCPA Anti-Bribery Provisions

FCPA Recordkeeping and Internal Controls Provisions

1976 SEC Report on Questionable and Illegal Corporate Payments and Practices

Other Resources


SEC Cooperation Tools

DOJ's FCPA Webpage

U.S. Implementation of the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention

Modified: Feb. 2, 2017

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