Tyson Foods Resolves FCPA Investigation with U.S. Government

Summary: Tyson Foods, Inc., agreed to resolve a Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigation with the payment of $5.2 million in fines and penalties following the filing of criminal charges by the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) and a civil complaint by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). According to court documents, the FCPA enforcement actions were focused on corrupt payments made by Tyson and its wholly-owned subsidiary in Mexico to Mexican veterinarians. This alert discusses important lessons that companies with global operations requiring government interaction can take from the enforcement action against Tyson.