Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
The United States is introduced to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”), a federal United States law intended to prevent the bribery of foreign government officials in an effort to retain business. The FCPA also requires companies whose securities are listed in the U.S. to adhere to accounting provisions outlined under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Since its execution in 1977, the FCPA's anti-bribery provisions have applied to all U.S. citizens. After the amendments made in 1998, the anti-bribery provisions were expanded to include foreign firms and persons who, either directly or by proxy, make corrupt payments within U.S. territory.
The FCPA covers publicly traded companies, their officers, directors, employees, stockholders