NEW YORK—U.S. Senator Marco Rubio has asked regulators to be vigilant about keeping American investors safe from “hazards” connected with a provision in the latest U.S.-China trade deal that encourages investment in China’s non-performing loan market.
The “Phase One” deal announced in January includes an agreement that allows U.S. financial firms to apply for licenses to acquire non-performing loans directly from Chinese banks.
“I urge you to vigilantly identify and enforce the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) cases involving the sale of distressed debt by Chinese financial and nonfinancial companies to American firms,” Rubio wrote.
“This supervision will serve to safeguard American investors from the financial and legal hazards associated with these new, high-risk institutional relationships.”
Rubio, a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, has criticized increased U.S. investments in China because of what he says are corporate governance risks and companies whose missions sometimes run counter to U.S. interests. A DOJ spokeswoman confirmed receipt of the letter but declined further comment. The SEC did not respond to an email seeking comment.
U.S. distressed asset manager Oaktree Capital Management recently set up a wholly owned unit in China seeking direct access to the country’s bad loan market.
Other firms already active in purchasing pools of Chinese non-performing loans include Bain Capital Credit LP and Blackstone Group LP.
Representatives for Oaktree, Bain and Blackstone declined to comment or did not respond to a request.
The FCPA was enacted in 1977 to stop U.S. individuals and businesses from paying bribes to foreign officials in order to win business. Prosecutions have expanded in recent years as regulators pursued a broader mix of cases, including actions of international firms to benefit U.S. affiliates and foreign companies selling U.S. securities.
U.S. authorities recovered a record $2.65 billion over 14 corporate FCPA resolutions in 2019, including a $1 billion settlement with Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson (ERICb.ST), according to a review by Debevoise & Plimpton LLP.
The DOJ last year announced a “China Initiative” that included an effort to identify FCPA cases “involving Chinese companies that compete with American businesses.”
