Boeing Co (NYSE:BA) was trading lower in premarket Thursday, opening at $179.76 per share.
The air carrier has agreed to finalize a guilty plea to a criminal fraud conspiracy charge and pay at least $243.6 million for breaching a 2021 agreement with the U.S. Justice Department.
Under the plea agreement, Boeing will invest at least $455 million over three years to enhance safety and compliance programs, a 75% increase from its previous plans.
An independent monitor will oversee Boeing's compliance, with annual progress reports and a three-year probation period that could extend if terms are not met.
The plane maker acknowledged allowing potentially risky work at its factories and failing to ensure complete and accurate airplane record keeping.
This admission came in response to the Justice Department's accusation that Boeing violated its deferred prosecution agreement from 2021,
As part of the plea deal, Boeing will pay the maximum fine of $487.2 million, with a recommendation to credit its previous $243.6 million payment.
On July 7, Boeing agreed in principle to plead guilty to conspiring to defraud the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) by knowingly making false statements about key software for the 737 MAX.
The Justice Department highlighted ongoing safety and quality issues, including a January incident with an Alaska Air Group Inc (NYSE:ALK) 737 MAX that revealed continuing concerns. Boeing also failed to ensure proper documentation and accurate completion of work during airplane manufacturing.
In April, Boeing disclosed false stamping by employees at its South Carolina 787 plant, which is under FAA investigation. Additionally, out-of-sequence work prioritized by senior executives increased the risk of manufacturing defects.
Families of the 737 MAX crash victims have one week to file objections before Judge Reed O'Connor, who will decide on the deal and potential restitution. Boeing's board must meet with the relatives within four months of sentencing.
Boeing stock has lost more than 15% in the last 12 months. Investors can gain exposure to the stock via IShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (BATS:ITA) and Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF (NYSE:PPA).
Price Action: BA shares are trading higher by 0.18% at $180.42 at last check Thursday.
波音公司(紐約證券交易所代碼:BA)週四盤前下跌,開盤價爲每股179.76美元。
該航空公司已同意完成對一項刑事欺詐陰謀指控的認罪,並因違反2021年與美國司法部達成的協議而支付至少2.436億美元。
根據認罪協議,波音將在三年內投資至少4.55億美元,以加強安全和合規計劃,比之前的計劃增長75%。
獨立監督機構將監督波音的合規情況,提供年度進展報告和三年試用期,如果不滿足條款,試用期可能會延長。
這家飛機制造商承認允許在其工廠進行潛在的危險工作,並且未能確保完整和準確地保存飛機記錄。
這一承認是對司法部指控波音自2021年起違反其延期起訴協議的回應,
作爲認罪協議的一部分,波音將支付最高4.872億美元的罰款,並建議記入其先前的2.436億美元款項。
7月7日,波音公司原則上同意對串謀欺詐美國聯邦航空管理局(FAA)認罪,蓄意對737 MAX的關鍵軟件作出虛假陳述。
司法部強調了持續存在的安全和質量問題,包括1月份與阿拉斯加航空集團公司(紐約證券交易所代碼:ALK)737 MAX發生的事件,該事件顯示出持續的擔憂。波音在飛機制造過程中也未能確保提供適當的文件和準確完成工作。
4月,波音披露了其南卡羅來納州787工廠員工的虛假蓋章,該工廠正在接受美國聯邦航空局的調查。此外,高級管理人員優先考慮的不順序工作增加了製造缺陷的風險。
737 MAX墜機事故受害者的家屬有一週的時間向裏德·奧康納法官提出異議,裏德·奧康納將就協議和可能的賠償作出決定。波音董事會必須在宣判後的四個月內與親屬會面。
在過去的12個月中,波音的股票下跌了15%以上。投資者可以通過iShares美國航空航天與國防ETF(BATS: ITA)和景順航空航天與國防ETF(紐約證券交易所代碼:PPA)獲得股票敞口。
價格走勢:週四最後一次檢查時,英國航空股價上漲0.18%,至180.42美元。