International

A lesser-known provision of the Dodd-Frank Act requires publicly traded companies to disclose if their manufacturing process employs conflict minerals like tantalum, tin, tungsten, and gold. These minerals play an important role in a wide variety of industries, from electronics and communications to semiconductors and jewelry, and they are found in products as diverse as cell phones, nuclear reactors, and light bulbs.

Corporations doing business in foreign markets must be proactive and vigilant around their employees’ and third parties’ practices there. Business transactions that may be perfectly acceptable in other countries can lead to huge fines–or worse–here at home.

A recent report by IntraLinks found a 24% increase in global M&A deal activity for first quarter 2011 compared to the same period last year. Every region experienced an upswing in deal activity year- over-year for the first quarter, with Latin America posting the largest gain at 39%.

Whether U.S. authorities ultimately bring an FCPA action against News Corp., the company and board will still have to deal with related civil litigation.

To avoid corruption violations, firms should consider an anti-corruption program intended to prevent, deter and detect improper payments by employees and agents. Here's what a robust program typically includes...

Recently there have been more than 40 China-based companies that have stopped trading, been subject to securities fraud allegations from the SEC or private investors, and/or had auditors resign citing lack of confidence in or actual knowledge of misstatements by company management.

While a majority of U.S. and U.K. compliance executives say bribery and corruption remains part of doing business in some countries, most companies have not abandoned operating in such places.

2011 is proving to be yet another blockbuster year in Foreign Corrupt Practices Act enforcement.  The following are some highlights of 2011 year-to-date...

40 percent of the world’s largest publicly listed companies have not appointed even one woman to their boards. Even in major markets like Japan, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States women continue to be grossly under-represented on corporate boards.

Although the Act was passed in 2010, issues of practicality, timing, and vague drafting have recently created a storm of controversy and delayed the Act's implementation.  Here's a look at the Act's current status, and some predictions about how the pending issues will be resolved.