Anti-corruption compliance is an increasingly urgent priority for companies doing business in India. Bureaucratic hurdles and the need for regulatory approvals often make compliance with US, UK and local bribery laws particularly challenging given payments are often required to speed up what can be a long and drawn out process. Even what might be considered small payments can result in big penalties under applicable bribery laws.
With enforcement of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”) at an all time high, an uptick in local bribery investigations by the Central Bureau of Investigation, increased cooperation with foreign regulators, and a broader international agenda to combat bribery, recently embodied by the UK Bribery Act, companies operating in India must take special care to prevent bribery violations. In recent years, a growing number of companies, including Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies, York International, Electronic Data Services, Textron Inc., and Dow Chemical Company, have been found guilty of FCPA violations in India. At the same time, local authorities have taken steps to better enforce Indian anti-corruption laws and a number of high profile individuals and companies are currently under investigation for alleged violations.
Now in its second year, American Conference Institute’s
2nd India Summit on Anti-Corruption 2011 is the premier anti-corruption compliance event in the Region. Our 2011 event will bring together an unparalleled faculty of regulatory and enforcement officials, senior corporate ethics and compliance executives, and US, UK and local outside counsel who will provide you with crucial insights on the Indian anti-bribery landscape, how to handle facilitating payments, identify the core components of en effective anti-corruption compliance program for operations in India and implement effective internal controls to detect and prevent bribery risks unique to the Region. Topics will include:
- Dealing with requests for bribes when obtaining regulatory approvals
- Preparing for new UK Bribery Act - What are corporate offence, failure to prevent bribery and adequate procedures under rigorous new Law
- Conducting effective anti-corruption due diligence in mergers and acquisitions
- Preparing for increased scrutiny of facilitating payments or “speed money”
- Avoiding pitfalls of gift giving, entertaining and hospitality
- Ensuring compliance of local agents, business partners and intermediaries
- Implementing a robust anti-corruption compliance program that overcomes legal and cultural challenges
- Enforcement of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in India
- Creating a corporate ethics and compliance culture, starting at the top
