An SEC investigation has ordered Anheuser Busch Inbev SA (ADR) (NYSE: BUD) to pay $6 million to settle charges that it violated the Foreign Corrupt
Practices Act (FCPA).
According to the investigation, Anheuser-Busch "used
third-party sales promoters to make improper payments to government officials in India to increase the sales and production" in
India.
The brewing giant received several complaints from employees, but the SEC found that the company had "inadequate internal
accounting controls to detect and prevent the improper payments."
Anheuser-Busch reportedly "chilled" a whistleblower from communicating with the SEC, which in turn caused the fine.
Related Link: This Bud's For You: InBev's $103 Billion Takeover Of Rival
SABMiller Is Official
The news comes on the same day shareholders approved the massive merger between SABMiller plc (ADR) (OTC: SBMRY) and Anheuser-Busch.
"For a two-year period, the company must cooperate with the SEC and report its FCPA compliance efforts while making reasonable
efforts to notify certain former employees that Anheuser-Busch InBev does not prohibit employees from contacting the SEC about
possible law violations," the SEC press release read.
At time of publication, however, Anheuser-Busch's stock was up 1.08 percent at $133.30, while SABMiller was relatively flat on
the day at $58.22.
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