Business news for Mon, 24 Dec 2007 & with words acquisition+commission. 3 news.

ALCATEL-LUCENT will pay US$2.5 million to settle charges that it violated US anti-bribery laws by paying for hundreds of trips taken by Chinese officials to secure millions of dollars in contracts. The trips were provided between 2000 and 2003 by Lucent Technologies, prior to its 2006 acquisition by Alcatel SA, according to a US Justice Department statement. Lucent footed the bill for approximately 315 trips for Chinese officials, including sightseeing trips to Las Vegas, Disneyland and the Grand Canyon, the department said. The company paid a US$1-million fine to the Justice Department and US$1.5 million in civil penalties to settle a separate complaint by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The recipients were officials with Chinese state-owned telecommunications companies considered important to securing new business. "Alcatel-Lucent China hasn't further comment on the issue, and we will sustain a healthy and long-term relationship with Chinese government officials

Harrah's said the National Indian Gaming Commission approved the proposed acquisition of the nation's largest casino company by private-equity firms Apollo Management and Texas Pacific Group.

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Harrah's Entertainment Inc. said Monday that the National Indian Gaming Commission has given it all necessary regulatory approvals to close the proposed acquisition of the company by affiliates of Apollo Global Manangement and TPG Capital. With no more regulatory clearances required, the deal is expected to close in early 2008.