General Cable disclosed this week in a regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that it has launched an internal investigation into potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act concerning potential improper payments made in Angola, Portugal, Thailand, and India.

In a Form 8-K, dated Sept. 22, the maker of copper, aluminum, and fiber optic wire and cable products said it’s investigating “certain commission payments involving sales to customers of our subsidiary in Angola. The review has focused upon payment practices with respect to employees of public utility companies, use of agents in connection with such payment practices, and the manner in which the payments were reflected on our books and records.”

Additionally, the company said it has determined that certain employees in its Portugal and Angola subsidiaries “directly and indirectly made payments at various times from 2002 through 2013 to officials of Angola government-owned public utilities that raise concerns under the FCPA and possibly under the laws of other jurisdictions.” In addition to Portugal and Angola, General Cable said it’s also investigating its “use and payment of agents in connection with our Thailand and India operations, which may have implications under the FCPA.”

General Cable said that it has enlisted the help of outside counsel in these investigations. It also said it has voluntarily disclosed these matters to the SEC and the Department of Justice, and that it continues to cooperate with these agencies with respect to these matters.

The company indicated that it’s already putting in place remedial measures, including the implementation of a screening process relating to sales agents the company uses outside the United States. This screening process includes a review of the agreements under which the sales agents were retained, “and a risk-based assessment of such agents to determine the scope of due diligence measures to be performed by a third-party investigative firm,” the company stated.  

At this time, the company noted that it’s unable to predict the nature of any enforcement action, or any other remedies the government may pursue as a result of such actions.

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