5 Key Trends in Global Anti-Bribery Enforcement
Civis Mundi Digitaal #34
Vrijwel gelijktijdig publiceerde TRACE, Anti-Bribery Compliance Solutions, → http://www.traceinternational.org/5-key-trends-in-global-anti-bribery-enforcement/
wat het ziet als de vijf belangrijkste ontwikkelingen op ditzelfde terrein.
Opvallend in dit rapport is de nadruk die gelegd wordt op het verschuiven van de aandacht in de VS op wat er elders op de wereld gebeurt. Corruptie bestrijdende acties elders kwamen in aantal boven wat er in de VS werd aangepakt.
Het ‘Alstom compendium’ wat onder punt 3 hierna genoemd wordt geeft in samenvattende vorm een goed inzicht in wat er zoal aan de orde wordt gesteld als een bedrijf wat nader bekeken wordt.
It seems the headlines this year have been dominated by one corruption scandal after another, and the resulting enforcement actions. The Global Enforcement Report (the “GER”, → http://www.traceinternational.org/about-trace/publications/), published annually since 2011 by TRACE, summarizes worldwide trends in anti-bribery enforcement. The information is based primarily on investigations and cases tracked in the TRACE Compendium, → http://www.traceinternational.org/compendium/ an online database of cross-border anti-bribery cases. Below are five key trends reflected in the GER that have practical implications for compliance professionals.
1. Enforcement of anti-bribery laws remains a priority across the globe, not just in the U.S.
Companies face the risk of prosecution from U.S. and non-U.S. authorities for violation of anti-bribery laws. While the U.S. leads the world in total number of investigations and enforcement actions, more and more countries are beginning to take action against companies and individuals who have bribed foreign officials. Non-U.S. enforcement actions have more than doubled in the past few years. In fact, in 2014 the number of non-U.S. enforcement actions (15) surpassed the number of U.S. enforcement actions (13).
2. An increasing number of countries are focusing on bribery of their own government officials.
Companies also face the risk of prosecution for violating local anti-bribery laws. Almost twice as many countries are investigating bribery of their own officials compared to bribery of foreign officials. This may be an upward trend. Countries have brought a number of enforcement actions in the past for bribery of domestic officials; however, according to the GER, there were twice as many ongoing investigations as of December 31, 2014 than those past enforcement actions. Even if only a portion of these investigations results in enforcement actions, the next few years could far exceed the prior rate.
3. U.S. regulators continue to have non-U.S. companies in their sights.
Companies headquartered outside of the U.S. should not overlook their risk of prosecution under the FCPA. As of December 31, 2014, approximately 40% of investigations by U.S. authorities involved non-U.S. companies, and of those the majority were European. Non-U.S. companies account for almost all of the top 10 largest FCPA enforcement actions, with only two U.S. companies making the list (France now has three companies in the top 10, with the addition of Alstom’s $772 million settlement in 2014). → https://www.traceinternational2.org/compendium/view.asp?id=109
4. Anti-bribery enforcement actions are highest in China, Iraq, Nigeria, India, Russia, Brazil and Indonesia.
Virtually every country in the world has been impacted by bribery. But operating or doing business in certain countries comes with an increased risk of prosecution for bribery. China, Iraq, Nigeria, India, Russia, Brazil, and Indonesia have seen the highest level of enforcement activity. China took the top spot with Chinese officials having allegedly received bribes in 90 separate enforcement actions. This type of information from the GER and tools like the TRACE Matrix http://www.traceinternational.org/trace-matrix/ can help companies more accurately assess risk when thinking of expanding business to a foreign country.
5. The extractive industries continue to have the highest number of anti-bribery enforcement actions worldwide.
The extractive industries remain the focus of enforcement activity throughout the world (followed by engineering, manufacturing, and aerospace and defense industries). In addition to the extractive industries, the U.S. has seen a higher number of investigations in the technology, financial services, and entertainment and film industries.
The trends identified in the GER highlight the challenges facing companies in the current enforcement environment, but also provide compliance professionals an opportunity to strengthen compliance programs. With this information, companies can tailor their compliance programs and avoid becoming another enforcement statistic.
A version of this piece was originally published by Alexandra Wrage in The Compliance & Ethics Blog.
Andere belangwekkende studies van TRACE zijn: http://www.traceinternational.org/about-trace/publications/
- How to Pay a Bribe: Thinking Like a Criminal to Thwart Bribery Schemes (2014)
en
- The High Cost of Small Bribes (2015)
151120, The-High-Cost-of-Small-Bribes-2015.pdf
From the Introduction:
‘No one knows better than companies operating internationally that bribery is bad for business. These companies report that corruption introduces uncertainty into commercial transactions, fosters a permissive atmosphere for other business crimes, undermines employee confidence in management and puts a company’s value and reputation at risk.
Most multinational companies have made progress toward eliminating traditional bribes from their business practices. [ … ]
Now many of these companies are taking steps to eliminate “facilitation payments” from their business practices as well. These small bribes, also called “grease payments,” permitted under the laws of some countries, are made to government officials to encourage them to perform or expedite routine governmental tasks. The definition of such tasks, however, is often unclear and stretched to the breaking point.
The purpose of this guidebook is to educate business people and compliance officers on the high cost of small bribes and to provide guidance on how to eliminate these
payments from business practices.
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