“Avon Products has been the subject of an investigation since 2008 for possible violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. The investigation is looking at travel, entertainment, gifts,.. The final tally for the internal investigation could easily reach $250 million… Given the widening investigation of payments at Avon, the settlement number will likely run into the millions of dollars, depending on the amount of any corrupt payments and the benefits the company derived from them.”
“The High Price of Internal Inquiries,” Peter Henning, DealBook, May 6, 2011
Hosting business clients and associates by providing complimentary tickets to sports and entertainment events is a well-ingrained business tradition. From Super Bowl and Final Four tickets, to tickets to a badminton match in China, to sold-out arena concerts, many companies provide event tickets to clients and business associates as a means of expressing appreciation for loyalty and fostering business relationships. It is certainly possible to furnish tickets as a part of normal business hospitality without violating global anti-corruption laws. As explained by the United Kingdom’s chief enforcer, no one wants to stop firms getting to know their clients by taking them to events like Wimbledon or the Grand Prix.” But in an environment of heightened anti-corruption enforcement -- which has led to billions of dollars of fines and penalties over the last few years -- companies run the risk of triggering anti-corruption laws if their marketing and entertainment expenditures cross a line into conduct that could be characterized as bribery. In particular, companies need to understand the strict limits placed on providing things of value, including tickets to sports and entertainment events, to both domestic and foreign government officials, to employees of state-owned enterprises, and even to purely private, commercial customers. So, while companies may continue to entertain clients at such events, they need to take affirmative steps to ensure that corporate travel, meals, entertainment and gifts and other business courtesies are given in accordance with the requirements of global anti-corruption laws.
“The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended (the “FCPA”), as well as the laws of numerous other countries around the globe, govern the worldwide activities of U.S. companies and their employees. In general, the FCPA prohibits offering, paying, promising to pay or authorizing payment of money, gifts or anything of value to a foreign official: (i) to influence any act or decision by the official; (ii) to induce the official to use his or her influence to affect any act or decision; or (iii) to seek any improper advantage to assist the company in obtaining or retaining business. The FCPA also prohibits the payment of anything of value to persons acting on behalf of a U.S. company, such as agents, representative or other business partners, while knowing that all or part of the payment would be used in this fashion. Publicly traded companies also must maintain internal controls intended to inhibit corrupt payments and keep records that, in reasonable detail, record transactions appropriately.” Of key importance to many firms that operate abroad, “foreign official” is broadly defined to include not only traditional government officials or individuals employed by the government, a government agency or a government ministry, but also employees of an entity owned or controlled by a foreign government, even if the government entity operates in a purely commercial fashion. Likewise, under the FCPA, the phrase “obtain or retain business” is broadly interpreted to include not only conduct that leads to specific government business, but also conduct that assists the company in doing business in the general sense, such as obtaining licenses or permits. Even unsuccessful bribery attempts are violations of the law and grounds for prosecution. Further complicating the anti-corruption calculus is that many countries have laws in place that outlaw purely commercial bribery. These laws, including the UK Bribery Act, prohibit any corrupt payment to anyone – not just to foreign officials – to obtain or retain business. U.S. enforcement authorities have also prosecuted companies and individuals for paying bribes to domestic government officials and to private parties using such laws as the Travel Act and wire and mail fraud statutes. Because of these laws, the growing trend in anti-corruption compliance is to draft policies broadly, so as to restrict both government-related and commercial bribery.
Important to note for companies considering entertaining clients or business associates, the FCPA broadly defines “anything of value” to include much more than just cash or cash equivalents. “Anything of value” can include the payment of travel expenses, providing services, golf outings or other entertainment not customary to a particular business transaction, assumption or forgiveness of debt, personal favors, offers of employment, and even charitable donations. Naturally enough, this would include event tickets, golf outings, and many other forms of sports-related corporate booster activities. Normal business entertainment expenses directly connected to a bona fide business purpose, as well as nominal gifts such as small gifts with a corporate logo, are generally acceptable under the FCPA. As discussed below, however, excessive marketing expenses, including lavish entertainment and travel given in return for obtaining or retaining business, might violate anticorruption laws. Running Afoul of the FCPA for Excessive Business Entertainment Several FCPA enforcement actions have targeted companies alleged to have provided overly lavish entertainment to foreign officials. For example, in 2007, Lucent Technologies agreed to settle parallel DOJ and SEC enforcements by paying $2.5 million in fines and penalties. In doing so, the company acknowledged that it paid over $10 million for employees of a Chinese state-owned company to take approximately 315 trips to the U.S. over a three-year period. These trips, which often included spouses and children, also included visits to tourist destinations such as Las Vegas, Disney World, Niagara Falls, and Hawaii. In addition, officials were given a high daily expense allowance upwards of $500 to $1,000. Similarly, Control Component, Inc. (“CCI”) was fined over $18 million for making improper payments to government officials in China, Malaysia, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates in order to win contracts. Notably, CCI was alleged to have provided government officials in these countries extravagant overseas holidays to destinations that included Disneyland, Las Vegas and Hawaii. Other companies that have settled FCPA charges that, at least in part, involved providing lavish entertainment and travel to government officials include IBM (China, South-Korea) and Ingersoll-Rand Italiana S.p.A. (Iraq).
“Unfortunately, when a company gets caught up in a Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigation, its legal costs can continue for years, even after a settlement with the government.”
“The High Price of Internal Inquiries,” Peter Henning, DealBooK, May 6, 2011
From box seats at the U.S. Open going for upwards of $45,000, to business seats at the 2010 World Cup Quarter finals costing $2,500, the high cost of indemand tickets to sports and entertainment events puts companies entertaining clients or associates at risk if proper protocols are not followed. Most important, companies need to ensure that the entertainment costs are reasonable under the circumstances and are connected to a legitimate business purpose. Ultimately, client entertainment must be provided in good faith and without a corrupt intent or the expectation of a favor in return.
Inviting prospects and customers to sports and entertainment events has become a mainstream sales and marketing tactic. Used correctly, entertainment of this nature can make a positive contribution to sales and marketing efforts. But used incorrectly, the risk of running afoul of the law is high and the potential penalties are significant. Unfortunately, there are no bright lines to distinguish between acceptable client entertainment and those payments that could be construed as violating the FCPA or other anti-corruption laws. Nonetheless, below are ten protocols companies should consider following when providing gifts (including tickets), meals, entertainment, and travel, including when entertaining clients at sports and entertainment events:
About Foley & Lardner LLP Foley & Lardner LLP continually evolves to meet the changing legal needs of our clients. Our team-based approach, proprietary client service technology, and practice depth enhance client relationships while seeing clients through their most complex legal challenges. The BTI Consulting Group (Wellesley, Massachusetts) recently recognized Foley as one of the top four law firms shaping the U.S. legal market, while CIO magazine has named Foley to its CIO 100 list six times for our client-focused technology. With more than 1,000 attorneys in 21 offices and more than 60 practices, Foley strives to provide high-caliber business and legal insight. Learn more at Foley.com. Foley & Lardner's FCPA Practice is among the oldest and most experienced in the field. Featuring former federal prosecutors, regulatory enforcement staff, and international trade specialists, we provide a complete range of services, including FCPA counseling, compliance programs and training, due diligence reviews for international joint ventures and acquisitions, internal investigations, and representation before regulatory law enforcement agencies. Visit our site at http://www.foley.com/fcpa-anti-corruption/
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Copyright 2012 Foley & Lardner LLP. This article is intended to provide information (not advice) about important legal developments.