SEC Fines AB-InBev For Alleged Foreign Bribery And Blocking Whistleblower

The Securities and Exchange Commission fined Anheuser-Busch InBev $6 million to settle charges that it made improper payments to government officials in India that violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and blocked a whistleblower from supporting the SEC investigation into the misconduct. Anheuser-Busch terminated the whistleblower and imposed conditions that stopped an employee from continuing to voluntarily communicate with the SEC by threatening a substantial financial penalty for violating strict non-disclosure terms. Anheuser-Busch InBev did not admit or deny the findings but must make reasonable efforts to notify certain former employees that it does not prohibit employees from contacting the SEC about possible law violations. The company also agreed to cooperate with the SEC and report on its FCPA compliance efforts.