Companies must resist temptations to cut corners.

• Author: Latour, Renee
• Position: ETHICS CORNER

* Current economic challenges have forced companies to take cost-cutting measures to protect the bottom line.

Some may be tempted to sacrifice needed compliance-related due diligence measures or skirt risk assessments that should be standard operating procedure for all prospective international business transactions. Others may pursue unfamiliar offshore business opportunities, or relationships with unknown or less-trustworthy foreign partners, agents or third-party intermediaries.

These cost-cutting measures are wrong. Management must counter any temptation to cut corners that could result in violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).

Throughout 2009, the Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission project continued aggressive investigation and enforcement of FCPA. Penalties for violations include billions of dollars in fines as well as criminal sentences.

Thorough evaluation of all prospective foreign partners, agents and third parties should be conducted before ever engaging in international business. The same applies to any targeted international merger and acquisition company. Myriad factors complement a thorough risk assessment review. While the extent of the due diligence may vary, some factors are a must. For example, firms must always screen parties to any international transaction against various U.S. government-administered lists of prohibited and restricted entities. In addition to the customer/end-user, U.S. companies must also screen marketing agents, consultants, distributors, joint venture partners, freight forwarders, shipping lines and insurers, and financial institutions, including intermediary or advising banks.

Due diligence screening should also assess the personal and professional reputation of prospective partners. Even Internet searches often can uncover key information. Due diligence reviews should also assess the foreign country's reputation for corruption, which is periodically rated by organizations such as Transparency International. In addition, links to foreign governments or political parties, parliaments, royal families and multinational organizations should be fully analyzed. If possible, a due diligence review should evaluate the referral source for a potential party, with heightened scrutiny of any foreign government referrals.

Companies must also be attuned to potential red flags when entering into agreements with foreign parties. Many warning signs are just plain common...