A private security contractor previously known as Blackwater Worldwide, that once protected American officials in Afghanistan and Iraq, has agreed to pay $US42 million in fines for export rule violations.
The New York Times says these included exports of illegal weapons to Afghanistan, making unauthorised proposals to train troops in southern Sudan and providing sniper training for police in Taiwan.
Citing unnamed company and government officials, the Times says that by reaching the agreement with the State Department to pay the fines, the company - now called Xe Services - avoids criminal charges.