Legal Proceedings

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Legal Proceedings [Abstract]

Legal Proceedings

Legal Proceedings

Various legal proceedings, claims and investigations related to products, contracts, employment and other matters are pending against us.

In addition, we are subject to various U.S. government inquiries and investigations from which civil, criminal or administrative proceedings could result or have resulted in the past. Such proceedings involve or could involve claims by the government for fines, penalties, compensatory and treble damages, restitution and/or forfeitures. Under government regulations, a company, or one or more of its operating divisions or subdivisions, can also be suspended or debarred from government contracts, or lose its export privileges, based on the results of investigations. Except as described below, we believe, based upon current information, that the outcome of any such legal proceeding, claim, or government dispute and investigation will not have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. Where it is reasonably possible that we will incur losses in excess of recorded amounts in connection with any of the matters set forth below, we will disclose either the amount or range of reasonably possible losses in excess of such amounts or, where no such amount or range can be reasonably estimated, the reasons why no such estimate can be made.

Multiple legal actions have been filed against us as a result of the October 29, 2018 accident of Lion Air Flight 610 and the March 10, 2019 accident of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302. Further, we are subject to, and cooperating with, ongoing governmental and regulatory investigations and inquiries relating to the accidents and the 737 MAX, including investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission, the outcome of which may be material. We cannot reasonably estimate a range of loss, if any, not covered by available insurance that may result given the current status of the lawsuits, investigations, and inquiries related to the 737 MAX.

During the first quarter of 2019, we entered into definitive transaction documents with respect to a strategic partnership with Embraer S.A. (Embraer). The partnership contemplated the establishment of joint ventures that included the commercial aircraft and services operations of Embraer, of which we were expected to acquire an 80 percent ownership stake for $4,200, as well as a joint venture to promote and develop new markets for the C-390 Millennium.

The transaction documents permitted either party to terminate the proposed partnership beginning on April 24, 2020, provided that certain closing conditions were not met. Based on Embraer’s failure to satisfy required closing conditions, we exercised our contractual termination right during the second quarter of 2020, which Embraer has disputed. We would have been required to pay a termination fee of $100 had the transaction been terminated due to a failure to obtain antitrust approvals. Because the transaction was terminated due to a failure by Embraer to meet other closing conditions, we do not expect to be required to pay a termination fee in connection with the termination of the transaction. Boeing and Embraer are arbitrating their dispute over Boeing’s termination of the agreement. We cannot reasonably estimate a range of loss, if any, that may result from the arbitration.