• |

Jul. 21, 2021

M&A Lessons From the Amec Foster Wheeler Resolutions

  • Gwen Romack
    Anti-Corruption Report
The John Wood Group has reached a $177 million settlement to resolve widespread bribery and corruption allegations related to the Amec Foster Wheeler companies, which it acquired in 2017. The settlement was global, including deals with the DOJ and SEC in the U.S., the SFO in the U.K. and several Brazilian authorities. A review of the allegations and their underlying issues highlights the need for effective pre- and post-acquisition due diligence, effective legal and board-level responses to corruption red flags, and the ever-present risks associated with the use of third-party business intermediaries. See our three-part series on managing M&A anti-corruption risk: “Pre-Deal Prep” (Oct. 3, 2018); “Pre-Closing Risk Assessments and Due Diligence” (Oct. 17, 2018); and “Deal Terms and Integration” (Oct. 31, 2018).

To read the full article

Continue reading your article with an ACR subscription.

Most-Read Articles

Ion Analytics' Spotlight on Trailblazing Women

In honor of International Women’s Day, some of ION Analytics' editorial teams led by women interviewed notable women in the markets and industries we cover. This part highlights notable women in compliance and hedge fund, data privacy and cybersecurity, and anti-corruption law, including Amii Barnard-Bahn, Abigail Bell, Genna Garver, Jane Horvath, Barbara Li, Amy Mushahwar, Mara Senn and Carol Widger. The interviews are here.

Data, Culture, ESG and Scope Creep with GM's Michael Ortwein

The Anti-Corruption Report spoke with chief compliance officer and assistant general counsel at General Motors, Michael Ortwein, who shared his insights on top-of-mind issues in advance of his participation in ACI's FCPA Conference. 

The full video is here. The associated article is here.

Corporate Compliance and Enforcement Hot Topics With IBM VP Una Dean

The Anti-Corruption Report spoke with IBM's vice president and assistant general counsel of investigations Una Dean, who co-chaired ACI's FCPA conference, about a range of hot compliance topics. 

The video is here

Quick Take on FARA

https://acuris.wistia.com/medias/wmb5vyeq2f

The Anti-Corruption Report discusses the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) in this short video. For our three-part guide to FARA and the new risk environment, see here.

ACR Editor Discusses Using Artificial Intelligence to Support Anti-Corruption Compliance

Senior Editor Megan Zwiebel recently appeared on a podcast with Perkins Coie White Collar & Investigations partners Gina LaMonica and Caryn Trombino, who discussed the use of AI in compliance programs, including trends in AI-based compliance, steps companies can take to utilize AI in their compliance programs, and how regulators view the use of data and AI in compliance programs. Listen to the podcast here.

ACR Q3 Editorial Update

Listen to our Fall Editorial Update for a discussion of recent enforcement actions; enforcement trends and policies; and top-of-mind issues, such as internal investigations and hotlines, all in under 15 minutes. Register here.

ACR and CSLR Spring Update 2020

​​​​The Senior Editors of the Anti-Corruption Report and the Cybersecurity Law Report recently teamed up to present an update on the trends and hot topics in the anti-corruption, cybersecurity and data privacy spaces since the beginning of the year and what the publications will be focusing on in the coming months. A complimentary download of the webinar is available here.

Upcoming Webinar to Explore Best Practices for AML Compliance by Private Fund Managers

Please join our sister product, the Hedge Fund Law Report, on Thursday, May 30, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. EDT, for a complimentary webinar discussing the key components of a robust anti-money laundering program. To register for the webinar, click here.

ACR Webinar: The Art and Science of Transaction Monitoring: A Google Perspective

Transaction monitoring can help a company identify problem areas and assess how well its compliance program is working. Please join the Anti-Corruption Report for a complimentary webinar on May 2, 2019, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. EDT, where Senior Editor Megan Zwiebel will interview Google global ethics & compliance senior counsel Therese Lee and forensic program manager Aditya Yerramilli about how Google handles the art and science of transaction monitoring. Registration information is here.

ACR Webinar: Mitigating Risk in Argentina After the Notebooks Scandal

Doing business in a country that is embroiled in a mega-scandal can be treacherous. This is particularly true when the local business community is slow to get on the compliance bandwagon, as has been the case in Argentina while the Notebooks Scandal has been unfolding. Please join the Anti-Corruption Report on April 17, 2019, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. EDT for a complimentary webinar in which Editor-in-Chief Nicole Di Schino will discuss how to mitigate risk in light of the developing scandal with Argentinian attorney Guillermo Jorge, a partner at Bruchou, Fernandez Madero & Lombardi, and Barrick Gold’s Jonathan Drimmer. To register, please click here.