Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

Our performance under U.S. government contracts and compliance with the terms of those contracts and applicable laws and regulations are subject to continuous audit, review, and investigation by the U.S. government which may include such investigative techniques as subpoenas or civil investigative demands. Given the nature of our business, these audits, reviews, and investigations may focus, among other areas, on various aspects of procurement integrity, labor time reporting, sensitive and/or classified information access and control, executive compensation, and post government employment restrictions. We are not always aware of our status in such matters, but we are currently aware of certain pending audits and investigations involving labor time reporting, procurement integrity, and classified information access. In addition, from time to time, we are also involved in legal proceedings and investigations arising in the ordinary course of business, including those relating to employment matters, relationships with clients and contractors, intellectual property disputes, and other business matters. These legal proceedings seek various remedies, including claims for monetary damages in varying amounts, none of which are considered material, or are unspecified as to amount. Although the outcome of any such matter is inherently uncertain and may be materially adverse, based on current information, we do not expect any of the currently ongoing audits, reviews, investigations, or litigation to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. As of December 31, 2023 and March 31, 2023, there were no material amounts accrued in the condensed consolidated financial statements related to these proceedings.

On June 7, 2017, Booz Allen Hamilton was informed that the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) was conducting a civil and criminal investigation of the Company. In connection with the investigation, the DOJ requested information from the Company relating to certain elements of the Company’s cost accounting and indirect cost charging practices with the U.S. government. The investigation resulted from aqui tamlawsuit filed on or about September 26, 2016 in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia pursuant to thequi tam provisions of the civil False Claims Act (the “Civil Action”), which lawsuit was under judicial seal until July 21, 2023. After learning of the investigation, the Company engaged a law firm experienced in these matters to represent the Company in connection with this matter and respond to the government's requests. As is commonly the case with this type of matter, the Company was also contacted by other regulatory agencies and bodies, including the SEC, which notified the Company that it was conducting an investigation that the Company believes related to the matters that were also the subject of the DOJ's investigation.

On May 12, 2021, the Company was informed that the DOJ closed its criminal investigation.

On July 21, 2023, the Company entered into a Settlement Agreement (the “Settlement Agreement”) with the United States of America, acting through the DOJ and on behalf of the Department of Defense and Defense Contract Management Agency (collectively the “United States”), and Relator Sarah A. Feinberg, to resolve the DOJ’s civil investigation and the Civil Action. The Company entered into the Settlement Agreement to avoid the delay, uncertainty and expense of protracted litigation. The Settlement Agreement contains no admission of liability by the Company.

Under the terms of the Settlement Agreement, the Company agreed to pay to the United States $377.5 million (the “Settlement Amount”). The Company paid the Settlement Amount with cash on hand and by drawing on its revolving credit facility. As of June 30, 2023, the Company had recorded a $377.5 million reserve relating to this investigation and had previously disclosed that it believed the range of reasonably possible loss in connection with the investigation to be between $350 million and $378 million. Following the United States’ receipt of the Settlement Amount, the Company was released from any civil or administrative monetary claims under the civil False Claims Act and other specified civil statutes and common law theories of liability for certain elements of the Company’s cost accounting and indirect cost charging practices from April 1, 2011 through March 31, 2021, and the claim brought in the Civil Action was dismissed with prejudice.

On July 27, 2023, the Company was informed that the SEC concluded its investigation without recommending an enforcement action.

On June 19, 2017, a purported stockholder of the Company filed a putative class action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia styled Langley v. Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp., No. 17-cv-00696 naming the Company, its Chief Executive Officer, and its Chief Financial Officer as defendants purportedly on behalf of all purchasers of the Company’s securities from May 19, 2016 through June 15, 2017. On September 5, 2017, the court named two lead plaintiffs, and on October 20, 2017, the lead plaintiffs filed a consolidated amended complaint. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, alleging misrepresentations or omissions by the Company purporting to relate to matters that are the subject of the DOJ investigation described above. The plaintiffs seek to recover from the Company and the individual defendants an unspecified amount of damages. The Company believes the suit lacks merit and intends to defend against the lawsuit. Motions to dismiss were argued on January 12, 2018, and on February 8, 2018, the court dismissed the amended complaint in its entirety without prejudice. On September 22, 2023, plaintiffs filed a motion for leave to amend the dismissed amended complaint or, in the alternative, for relief from the court’s prior dismissal order, and on October 16, 2023, the court denied plaintiffs’ motion. On November 15, 2023, plaintiffs filed with the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit a notice of appeal from the district court’s denial of plaintiffs’ motion, and that appeal remains pending. At this stage of the lawsuit, the Company is not able to reasonably estimate the expected amount or range of cost or any loss associated with the lawsuit.

On November 13, 2017, a Verified Shareholder Derivative Complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware styled Celine Thum v. Rozanski et al., C.A. No. 17-cv-01638, naming the Company as a nominal defendant and numerous current and former officers and directors as defendants. The complaint asserts claims for breach of fiduciary duties, unjust enrichment, waste of corporate assets, abuse of control, gross mismanagement, and violations of Sections 14(a), 10(b), and 20(a) of the Exchange Act, purportedly relating to matters that are the subject of the DOJ investigation described above. The parties have stipulated to a stay of the proceedings pending the outcome of the securities litigation (described above), which the court so ordered on January 24, 2018. On December 12, 2019, the court ordered that the stay remain in effect and ordered the parties to submit periodic status reports. Starting on May 27, 2020, the parties have submitted periodic status reports as ordered by the court stating that plaintiff believes the stay should remain in effect and defendants do not object to the stay remaining in effect. At this stage of the lawsuit, the Company is not able to reasonably estimate the expected amount or range of cost or any loss associated with the lawsuit.