Legg Mason to pay $34M to resolve charges related to bribery scheme

(Reuters) — The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said on Monday that Legg Mason Inc. will pay more than $34 million to resolve a charge it violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in bribing Libyan officials to secure investments.

The SEC said that between 2004 and 2010, a former Legg Mason asset management subsidiary, Permal Group Inc., partnered with a French financial services company in paying bribes to solicit investment business from Libyan state-owned financial institutions.

The SEC fine is the second half of a settlement announced by the Department of Justice in June.

"We do not expect the payment to have any impact on future investment and operations. We are pleased that this matter with the SEC is now concluded," a spokeswoman for Legg Mason said in an email.