In a quarterly report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Walmart has disclosed an internal investigation into “whether certain matters, including permitting, licensing and inspections, were in compliance with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act [FCPA].”
The retail giant said the investigation began after information was discovered during a compliance review, and “from other sources.” According to the filing, Walmart “voluntarily disclosed its internal investigation to the U.S. Department of Justice [DOJ] and the [SEC].”
The company did not disclose where the bribes might have occurred, who received them, or the amounts involved.
Outside of the United States, the Bentonville, Arkansas-based company operates stores in Puerto Rico, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, the United Kingdom, China, and India.
In an e-mail, a Walmart spokesperson reportedly said that as part of the investigation, Walmart is “taking a deep look at our policies and procedures in every country in which we operate.” The e-mail also reportedly stated that the investigation is “currently focused on discrete incidents in specific areas.”
