A Guide to Disclosing Corruption Investigations in SEC Filings: Compendium of SEC Filings (Part Four of Four)

This is the fourth and final article in the Anti-Corruption Report’s series on when and how public companies should disclose FCPA and other corruption issues in SEC filings.  In this article, we have organized (with help from Intelligize’s database and search tools) a compendium of actual FCPA-related disclosures from recent SEC filings.  The filings are grouped based on the type of event that triggered the initial disclosure, as follows: U.S. government subpoena; U.S. government inquiry; foreign government investigation; internal compliance discovery; whistleblower allegation; and post-acquisition due diligence.  These real-world examples of relevant disclosures can serve as precedents for counsel tasked with drafting or reviewing SEC filings relating to an FCPA issue.  To maximize the value of this compendium as a practice tool, this compendium also contains links to each of the filings discussed and quoted.  The first article in the series discussed factors that companies should consider when determining whether a public disclosure is appropriate; what experts a company should retain to help it make appropriate disclosure decisions; and the risks and benefits of disclosing at different stages of an anti-corruption investigation.  The second installment in the series detailed the risks inherent in disclosure and non-disclosure; addressed ways to diminish those risks, including handling media coverage; and discussed best practices when disclosing foreign investigations to the SEC.  The third article in the series provided insight on the most effective language to use in disclosures, and analyzed Wal-Mart’s disclosures at critical decision points in its recent investigation.

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