Law360, New York (February 01, 2011, 1:20 PM ET) -- The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and U.S. Department of Justice (collectively, the government) ended the 2010 Foreign Corrupt Practices Act enforcement year with the announcement of settlements with French telecommunication company Alcatel-Lucent SA resolving allegations that Alcatel and its subsidiaries violated the FCPA’s anti-bribery, internal controls, and books and records provisions.

Specifically, the government alleged that three Alcatel subsidiaries made over $8 million in improper payments to foreign officials in Costa Rica, Honduras, Malaysia and Taiwan primarily to obtain telecommunications and other contracts.[1] Alcatel was...