Defense contractor to settle SEC bribery charges

(Reuters) — Defense contractor FLIR Systems Inc. will pay $9.5 million to settle civil charges that it violated federal bribery laws by financing a "world tour" of personal travel for government officials in the Middle East, U.S. regulators said Wednesday.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said that the Oregon-based company self-reported the misconduct to the SEC and cooperated in the investigation. The company is settling without admitting or denying the SEC's charges.