NEW YORK, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Seven public companies

agreed to pay a combined $3 million to settle U.S. Securities

and Exchange Commission charges they violated whistleblower

protections, the regulator said on Monday.

TransUnion ( TRU ) agreed to pay $312,000 and Acadia Healthcare

Company ( ACHC ) will pay $1.39 million in connection with the

settlements the SEC disclosed on Monday.

The firms were each charged in connection with employment,

separation or other agreements that violated a rule that

prohibits any actions to impede individuals communicating with

the regulator directly about possible violations of securities

laws, the SEC said in its statement.

They have all worked toward remediation, including changing

the agreements at issue, the SEC said.

The other penalties were as follows:

* a.k.a. Brands Holding Corp. agreed to pay a $399,750 civil

penalty

* AppFolio Inc. agreed to pay a $692,250 civil penalty

* IDEX Corporation ( IEX ) agreed to pay a $75,000 civil penalty

* LSB Industries ( LXU ) agreed to pay a $156,000 civil penalty

* Smart for Life Inc. ( SMFL ) agreed to pay a $19,500 civil penalty