Tagged: due diligence

The Importance of Risk Ranking to Compliance

We all face a number of risks every day. Yet, we do not respond to each and every risk. We engage in risk-ranking our responses. Some are more risk than others and some are more catastrophic than others. So, we engage in risk ranking each day and allocate our time and attention accordingly. The same applies, or should apply, when managing a compliance program. Resources...

Webinar: Cutting Edge Issues in Third Party Risk Management

July 26, 2016, 12 Noon EST Sign Up Here Global companies continue to elevate their due diligence and audit programs to mitigate third party risks. With the advent of new technology platforms and improved information collection products, global companies need to “stay ahead of the curve” when it comes to managing third party risks. Global companies face a variety of third party risks depending on...

Analogic FCPA Settlement – From Russia With(out) Love

Analogic Corp. and its Danish subsidiary, BK Medical ApS,  settled an FCPA enforcement action last week with the Justice Department and the SEC for approximately $14 million. Analogic agreed to pay $3.4 million to the Justice Department as part of a non-prosecution agreement (NPA), and paid the SEC approximately $11.4 million in disgorgement and interest. Lars Frost, a former CFO at BK Medical, settled an...

Third Party Risk Management: Balancing Due Diligence Screening and Monitoring

In response to aggressive FCPA enforcement and recurring problems with third parties, companies have spent substantial resources and time to design and implement comprehensive ethics and compliance programs. A key part of this effort was to implement robust due diligence programs to screen and identify potential risks created by third party intermediaries. Hui Chen, DOJ Compliance Counsel, called 2015 “The Year of Due Diligence.” Many...

Corruption Risks and Corporate Social Responsibility Spending

Global companies have been embracing socially responsible spending projects to build stronger relationships with local communities. The idea makes a lot of sense and real projects can result in real benefits. As with any significant source of money, there are risks. Major global companies have been caught in some embarrassing situations, some of which can have real legal and reputational consequences. Think of the irony...

Watch Michael Volkov on Bureau van Dijk Webinar Addressing Third-Party Due Diligence

I was honored to conduct a live, video webinar last week on third party due diligence, focusing on the importance of beneficial ownership.  My co-panelists were Bill Hauserman and Ted Datta from Bureau van Dijk. You can watch the webinar and download the slides from the webinar (here). I have been impressed with BvD’s product offering – key tools in your third party screening process...

The Evolving Due Diligence Standards and Beneficial Ownership

In case you are not following all the latest scandals – Unaoil and the Panama Papers being two significant ones – we are seeing an evolution and possibly a revolution in due diligence expectations. No matter what context or what your specific concern may be, the need for every compliance department to identify the beneficial owners of joint venture partners, third party intermediaries, distributors, agents...

Panama Papers: Prosecutors Launch Investigations

When a scandal hits the media like the Panama Papers leak of 11.5 million confidential legal records, we all know what to expect. Criminal investigations, regulatory responses, and of course, congressional hearings of some sort so that everyone gets a piece of the scandal pie. The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (“ICIJ”) reported the leak of 11.5 million confidential legal records designed to expose shell...

New Sponsor: Bureau van Dijk (BvD)

I am excited to announce a new sponsor of Corruption Crime and Compliance, Bureau van Dijk (BvD). I have been impressed with BvD’s product offering – key tools in your third party screening process that offer difficult to find information. BvD specializes in information on private companies, detailing company hierarchies and standardized financial reports so you can compare companies across international borders. BvD’s product range...

Checking In on “The Year of Third-Party Due Diligence”

Hui Chen, the Department of Justice’s Compliance Counsel, recently stated that 2015 was the year of due diligence and third-party compliance. A recent survey conducted by Kroll and Ethisphere provided a status check on how the due diligence compliance effort is going. Many companies have heard the message about the importance of due diligence compliance and instituted due diligence systems, hopefully using automated programs. Companies...