Alcatel shares up after settling bribery charges

Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU) shares are up this morning after the company agreed to pay more than $137 million to settle bribery charges brought by the SEC and the Justice Department.

The company’s shares are 2.10 percent higher at $2.92 per share just before 10 a.m. (EDT).

Alcatel was accused of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act by issuing bribes to government officials in Costa Rica, Honduras, Malaysia and Taiwan between December 2001 and June 2006.

Under terms of the settlement, Alcatel will pay more than $45 million to settle the SEC's charges and pay an additional $92 million to settle criminal charges announced by the Justice Department.