Sept 10 (Reuters) - Deere agreed to pay $9.93

million to settle U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

charges that a Thailand subsidiary offered massage parlor

services and other improper gifts to win government business,

and engaged in commercial bribery.

Tuesday's settlement resolves charges that high-level

managers and employees at the agricultural equipment and heavy

machinery company's Wirtgen Thailand unit made improper payments

to officials at entities including the Royal Thai Air Force and

Thailand's Department of Highways.

The SEC said payments were made though the unit's code of

conduct prohibited giving "absolutely anything" to improperly

influence government officials.

Payments made from late 2017 through 2020 allegedly took the

form of cash, meals, sham consulting fees, sightseeing ventures

disguised as "factory visits" in Switzerland and other European

countries, and massage parlor "entertainment."

The SEC said Deere's conduct violated the books and records

and internal accounting controls provisions of a federal

anti-bribery law, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Deere's payment includes a $4.5 million civil fine, the

disgorgement of $4.34 million of improper benefits, and $1.09

million of interest.

It also reflected Moline, Illinois-based Deere's

cooperation with the SEC, termination of employees involved in

misconduct, and upgrades to compliance procedures and

anti-bribery training.

"These allegations represent a clear violation of our

company policies and ethical standards," Deere said in a

statement. "They are in direct conflict with our core

values--particularly our commitment to integrity--and we

strongly condemn such practices."