Global Trade & Foreign Policy Insights

In a significant decision announced last week, the Department of Justice (DOJ) declined to prosecute a private equity (PE) firm after the firm voluntarily disclosed sanctions and export control violations committed by a portfolio company the firm acquired. This result, and the government’s joint enforcement actions against the portfolio company and its former CEO, offer several important takeaways:

• It is critical for PE firms to conduct robust, non-siloed due diligence for trade and other compliance both before and after acquisition.

• Sanctions and export controls enforcement remains a key government focus, as evidenced by the extensive behind-the-scenes coordination between Justice, Treasury, Commerce, and Homeland Security.

• It is not uncommon for private equity firms to acquire a company and then discover hidden problems. Firms that promptly investigate, self-report, cooperate, and remediate can avoid criminal prosecution, even for serious violations.

• The government continues to hold individuals personally responsible for violations of sanctions and export controls regulations.

On February 28, President Biden issued a major new executive order. The E.O. directs the Attorney General to issue regulations within 180 days that prohibit or restrict U.S. persons from engaging in transactions with “countries of concern” involving the transfer of Americans’ bulk sensitive data or U.S. government-related data. 

On December 13, 2019, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the release of a revised policy for business organizations regarding voluntary disclosures of export control and sanctions violations (VSD Policy) where there are potentially “willful” violations. The updated policy is intended to incentivize businesses to voluntarily self-disclose any such potentially willful violations and to cooperate fully with the government. The revised policy also reflects a recent push from government organizations to foster a greater public-private partnership to promote national security.