"Deputy Attorney General Introduces Safe Harbor Policy for M&A Self-Disclosures"

Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco announced a new Safe Harbor Policy for voluntary self-disclosures made in connection with mergers and acquisitions. The policy aims to encourage the disclosure of misconduct and hold individual wrongdoers accountable. Monaco highlighted the expansion of corporate enforcement efforts in the national security realm, the use of new tools to penalize corporate misconduct and incentivize good corporate citizenship, and the importance of compliance in protecting national security. She also discussed the new Mergers & Acquisitions Safe Harbor policy, which provides a presumption of declination for acquiring companies that promptly and voluntarily disclose criminal misconduct, cooperate with investigations, and engage in appropriate remediation. Monaco emphasized the need for companies to prioritize compliance and effective due diligence in order to mitigate risks and protect shareholders.