Allison Everhardt, Associate Managing Director, participated in a panel at Latin Lawyer-GIR Live Anti-Corruption & Investigations on June 6, 2019.
No company or executive wants to buy, at least unknowingly, a corruption problem. On top of possible regulatory exposure, there is the terrifying prospect that an investment’s value could unexpectedly torpedo after an acquired company rightfully stops engaging in any past problematic practices, such as paying bribes.
This panel focused on risk-based anti-corruption due diligence, which is critical to understanding the value and appropriateness of a potential transaction, as well as the potential risk of successor liability. Panelists addressed the various considerations prospective buyers should take into account ahead of purchases, including identifying a target’s key anti-corruption risks, evaluating the effectiveness of its compliance program, and ensuring appropriate post-closing remediation.
Andrew Levine of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP in New York moderated a panel discussion between Christopher Georgiou of Deloitte in New York; Allison Everhardt of Nardello & Co. in Washington, DC; Leonel Pereznieto of Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enriquez in Mexico City; and Matt Galvin, vice president of ethics and compliance at Anheuser-Busch InBev in New York.
