FLIR Systems Agrees To Pay $9.5 Mln To Settle SEC Bribery Charges

(RTTNews) - The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charged FLIR Systems, Inc. (FLIR) with violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or FCPA by financing what an employee termed a "world tour" of personal travel for government officials in the Middle East who played key roles in decisions to purchase FLIR products. FLIR earned more than $7 million in profits from sales influenced by the improper travel and gifts.

FLIR, which develops infrared technology for use in binoculars and other sensing products and systems, agreed to settle the SEC's charges by paying more than $9.5 million and reporting its FCPA compliance efforts to the agency for the next two years. The SEC previously charged two FLIR employees in the case.

According to the SEC's order instituting a settled administrative proceeding against FLIR, the company had few internal controls over gifts and travel out of its foreign sales offices. Two employees in its Dubai office provided expensive watches to government officials with the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Interior in 2009, and they arranged for the company to pay for a 20-night excursion by Saudi officials that included stops in Casablanca, Paris, Dubai, Beirut, and New York City.

The value of the gifts and the extent and nature of the travel were falsely recorded in FLIR's books and records as legitimate business expenses, and the company's internal controls failed to catch the improper payments despite documentation suggesting that extravagant gifts and travel were being provided.

The SEC's order finds that from 2008 to 2010, FLIR paid approximately $40,000 for additional travel by Saudi government officials, including multiple New Year's Eve trips to Dubai with airfare, hotel, and expensive dinners and drinks. FLIR also accepted cursory invoices from a FLIR company partner without any supporting documentation to pay extended travel of Egyptian officials in mid-2011.

FLIR self-reported the misconduct to the SEC and cooperated with the SEC's investigation. FLIR consented to the order without admitting or denying the findings and agreed to pay disgorgement of $7.53 million, prejudgment interest of $970,584 and a penalty of $1 million for a total of $9.50 million.