What does the 1978 Foreign Corrupt Practices Act prohibit US companies from doing?

The 1977 FCPA prohibits the bribery of most officials of foreign governments if the purpose of the payment is to get the official to provide business opportunities. The act was then amended and permits payments to foreign officials if these payments are lawful within the particular foreign country. The amended act also doesn't prohibit payments to private foreign companies of third parties unless the U.S. firm is aware that these payments will be passed on to a foreign government in violation of the FCPA.