Litigation and contingencies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2022

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Litigation and contingencies

Litigation and contingencies

The company is involved in a wide range of lawsuits, claims, investigations and proceedings, which arise in the ordinary course of business, including actions with respect to commercial and government contracts, labor and employment, employee benefits, environmental matters, intellectual property and non-income tax matters. Further, given the rapidly evolving external landscape of cybersecurity, privacy and data protection laws, regulations and threat actors, the company and its clients have been and will continue to be subject to actions or proceedings in various jurisdictions. These matters can involve a number of different parties, including competitors, clients, current or former employees, government and regulatory agencies, stockholders and representatives of the locations in which the company does business.

The company records a provision for these matters when it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Significant judgment is required in both the determination of probability and the determination as to whether an exposure is reasonably estimable. Because of uncertainties related to these matters, accruals are based only on the best information available at the time. Any provisions are reviewed at least quarterly and are adjusted to reflect the impact and status of settlements, rulings, advice of counsel and other information and events pertinent to a particular matter. These adjustments could have a material impact on our results of operations and financial position.

The company intends to defend itself vigorously with respect to legal matters pending against it. Based on its experience, the company also believes that the damage amounts claimed in the matters disclosed below are not a meaningful indicator of the company’s potential liability. 

Litigation is inherently unpredictable and unfavorable resolutions could occur. Whether any losses, damages or remedies finally determined in any claim, suit, investigation or proceeding could reasonably have a material effect on the company’s business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows will depend on a number of variables, including: the timing and amount of such losses or damages; the structure and type of any such remedies; the significance of the impact any such losses, damages or remedies may have in the company’s consolidated financial statements; and the unique facts and circumstances of the

particular matter that may give rise to additional factors. Accordingly, it is possible that an adverse outcome from such matters could be material to the company’s financial condition, results of operations and cash flows in any particular reporting period.

Notwithstanding that the ultimate results of the lawsuits, claims, investigations and proceedings that have been brought or asserted against the company are not currently determinable, the company believes that at December 31, 2022, it has adequate provisions for any such matters.

The following is a summary of the more significant legal matters involving the company.

The company’s Brazilian operations, along with those of many other companies doing business in Brazil, are involved in various litigation matters, including numerous governmental assessments related to indirect and other taxes, as well as disputes associated with former employees and contract labor. The tax-related matters pertain to value-added taxes, customs, duties, sales and other non-income-related tax exposures. The labor-related matters include claims related to compensation. The company believes that appropriate accruals have been established for such matters based on information currently available. At December 31, 2022, excluding those matters that have been assessed by management as being remote as to the likelihood of ultimately resulting in a loss, the amount related to unreserved tax-related matters, inclusive of any related interest, is estimated to be up to approximately $109 million.

On November 11, 2022, a purported stockholder of the company filed a putative securities class action complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against the company and certain of its current officers, alleging violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, based on allegedly false or misleading statements related to projections and certain other statements positively characterizing the company’s momentum, business, prospects and operations, and the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting and the company’s disclosure controls and procedures. The plaintiff seeks an award of compensatory damages, among other relief, and costs and attorneys’ and experts’ fees.

With respect to the specific legal proceedings and claims described above, except as otherwise noted, either (i) the amount or range of possible losses in excess of amounts accrued, if any, is not reasonably estimable or (ii) the company believes that the amount or range of possible losses in excess of amounts accrued that are estimable would not be material.