That Clear Channel FCPA Settlement

Clear Channel

Before the moment slips by, we should take a look at that FCPA enforcement action against Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings that the Securities and Exchange Commission announced two weeks ago. The more you read the details, the more you wince at this tale of poorly managed executives and ineffective internal auditing. Don’t let this stuff…

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Canadian Bank Needs Spy Compliance

Canadian

Nutty news from up north: Canadian regulators have forced a bank there suspected of ties to the Chinese government to cut ties with its three founders, relocate to new headquarters with better security, sweep the corporate premises for bugs, and hire two senior compliance officers — including a “national security” compliance officer who will need…

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China’s New Anti-Corruption Maneuver

anti-corruption

It seems that China is revising its anti-corruption rules to give it a stronger hand in prosecuting overseas corporations that bribe government officials, in case you need yet another headache in your compliance officer life.  We don’t know the exact details of the new rules or even have a copy of them available to the…

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Update on Jailed Compliance Officer

cco liability

We have an update on Samuel Bickett, the corporate compliance officer jailed in Hong Kong on trumped-up charges that he assaulted a police officer. He is currently appealing his 18-week prison sentence, and spending the rest of his time helping other inmates he met during an early stint in Hong Kong’s maximum-security prison. Bickett, you…

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On Booting Chinese Firms Off U.S. Exchanges

anti-corruption

Amid the many executive orders and memoranda President Trump has ballyhooed lately, let’s not forget this sneaky little number: a proposal that Chinese businesses listed on U.S. stock exchanges must submit to U.S. auditing standards.  Right now, Chinese firms don’t have to do that. Rather, they can publish financial statements audited by Chinese audit firms;…

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U.S. Regulators Warn on China

China

U.S. securities and audit regulators have issued an extraordinary warning that they are not getting the cooperation that they want from their Chinese counterparts, and that U.S.-listed companies with significant operations in China should prepare for more strained relations between U.S. and Chinese securities regulators. The message came in two parts: first, in a special…

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Three Lessons From Qualcomm FCPA Settlement

rankings

Nothing beats a good “princeling” case under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act for tough, teachable moments that a compliance officer should study. We have that example today, since Qualcomm just paid $7.5 million in fines and penalties to the SEC for its princeling offenses. So let’s take a look. The facts are straightforward. Qualcomm makes…

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