COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

9 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES 

Litigation and other legal matters

In connection with the matters described below, the Company has accrued for loss contingencies where it believes that losses are probable and estimable. Although it is reasonably possible that actual losses could be in excess of the Company’s accrual, the Company is unable to estimate a reasonably possible loss or range of loss in excess of its accrual, due to various reasons, including, among others, that: (i) the proceedings are in early stages or no claims have been asserted, (ii) specific damages have not been sought in all of these matters, (iii) damages, if asserted, are considered unsupported and/or exaggerated, (iv) there is uncertainty as to the outcome of pending appeals, motions, or settlements, (v) there are significant factual issues to be resolved, and/or (vi) there are novel legal issues or unsettled legal theories presented. Any such excess loss could have a material effect on the Company’s results of operations or cash flows for a particular period or on the Company’s financial condition.

One of the Company's Brazilian subsidiaries has received assessments for certain sales and import taxes. There were originally six tax assessments totaling the updated amount inclusive of interest and penalties of 419 million Brazilian reals (approximately USD $87 million based on the exchange rate as of December 31, 2023). The Company successfully defeated one of the six assessments in September 2019 (totaling approximately 61 million Brazilian reals or USD $13 million). The Company successfully defeated another three of the assessments in September 2022 (totaling the updated amount inclusive of interest and penalties of approximately 261 million Brazilian reals or USD $54 million), each of which remains subject to appeal. The Company was unsuccessful at the administrative level for one of the assessments and filed an annulment action in federal court in Brasilia, Brazil on March 23, 2020; the updated value of that assessment inclusive of interest and penalties is 41 million Brazilian reals (approximately USD $8 million). One of the assessments remains in the review process at the administrative level. The Company believes that it has meritorious defenses to each of these assessments and will continue to vigorously oppose all of them, as well as any future assessments. The Company does not expect final judicial determination on any of these claims in the near future.

On February 14, 2019, the Company submitted an initial notification of voluntary disclosure to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC") regarding possible noncompliance with U.S. economic sanctions requirements among certain non-U.S. Flex-affiliated operations. On September 28, 2020, the Company made a submission to OFAC that completed the Company’s voluntary disclosure based on the results of an internal investigation regarding the matter. On June 11, 2021, the Company notified OFAC that it had identified possible additional relevant transactions at one non-U.S. Flex-affiliated operation. The Company submitted an update to OFAC on November 16, 2021 reporting on the results of its review of those transactions. The Company intends to continue to cooperate fully with OFAC in this matter going forward. Nonetheless, it is reasonably possible that the Company could be subject to penalties that could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

A foreign Tax Authority (“Tax Authority”) has assessed a cumulative total of approximately $221 million in taxes owed for multiple Flex legal entities within its jurisdiction for various fiscal years ranging from fiscal year 2010 through fiscal year 2020. The assessed amounts related to the denial of certain deductible intercompany payments and taxability of income earned outside such jurisdiction. The Company disagrees with the Tax Authority’s assessments and is actively contesting the assessments through the administrative and judicial processes. 

As the final resolution of the above outstanding tax item remains uncertain, the Company continues to provide for the uncertain tax positions based on the more likely than not standard. While the resolution of the issues may result in tax liabilities, interest and penalties, which may be significantly higher than the amounts accrued for these matters, management currently believes that the resolution will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In addition to the matters discussed above, from time to time, the Company is subject to legal proceedings, claims, and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company defends itself vigorously against any such claims. Although the outcome of these matters is currently not determinable, management expects that any losses that are probable or reasonably possible of being incurred as a result of these matters, which are in excess of amounts already accrued in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets, would not be material to the financial statements as a whole.