COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES |
12 Months Ended |
|---|---|
Mar. 31, 2026 | |
| COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES. | |
| COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES | NOTE 14. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES The Company guarantees certain loans and financial commitments. The maximum potential future payment under these financial guarantees and the fair value of these guarantees recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheet at March 31, 2026 and 2025 were not material. Additionally, the Company has contractual commitments that are noncancellable with certain software, hardware and cloud partners used in the delivery of services to customers. The Company has determined that these commitments may exceed the Company’s needs over the next to three years. If the Company is unable to satisfy, reduce or amend these contractual commitments, it will record the future charges for any payments related to excess commitments as cost of services. At March 31, 2026, we had short-term (April 2026 through March 2027), mid-term (April 2027 through March 2029) and long-term (April 2029 onward) purchase commitments in the amount of $0.2 billion, $0.4 billion and $0.3 billion, respectively. Purchase commitments year-over-year have remained relatively consistent. Purchases under these commitments were $0.5 billion for the year ended March 31, 2026. As a Fortune 500 company with customers and employees around the world, Kyndryl is subject to, and could become subject to, either as plaintiff or defendant, a variety of contingencies, including claims, demands and suits, investigations, tax matters and other legal proceedings that arise from time to time, including in the ordinary course of its business. In addition, given the rapidly evolving external landscape of cybersecurity, privacy and data protection laws, regulations and threat actors, the Company or its clients have and could become subject to actions or proceedings in various jurisdictions. The Company is also subject to, and could become subject to, actions and proceedings in various jurisdictions involving a wide range of labor and employment issues (including matters related to contested employment decisions, country-specific labor and employment laws, and the Company’s benefit plans), as well as actions with respect to commercial matters, contracts, securities, foreign operations, competition law, environmental matters and regulatory compliance matters, among others. These actions have been and may be commenced by a number of different parties, including competitors, clients, suppliers, service providers, licensees, employees, government and regulatory agencies, stockholders and representatives of the locations in which the Company does business. Some of the actions to which the Company is, or may become, party involve particularly complex technical issues, and some actions raise novel questions under the laws of the various jurisdictions in which these matters arise. Additionally, the Company is, and may become, a party to agreements pursuant to which it may be obligated to indemnify the other party with respect to certain disputed matters. The Company cannot predict the final outcome in any type of legal proceeding described above and there can be no assurance that the Company will be successful or obtain any requested relief or outcome in any matter. Matters often develop over a long period of time and expectations can change as a result of new findings, rulings, appeals, settlements, legal or regulatory changes or other factors. From time to time, the Company may discontinue or settle and compromise matters as appropriate in the Company’s best interest. The Company records a provision with respect to a claim, suit, investigation or proceeding when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. If the Company is unable to assess the outcome of a matter or estimate the possible loss or range of losses that could potentially result from such matter, a liability is not recorded. The Company reviews claims, suits, investigations and proceedings, and decisions are made with respect to recording or adjusting provisions and relevant disclosures to reflect the impact and status of settlement discussions, discovery, procedural and substantive rulings, reviews by counsel and other information pertinent to a particular matter. In the year ended March 31, 2026, the Company recorded a reserve related to an interim arbitration decision on a pre-spin customer contract dispute that was recorded as transaction-related costs. 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 consolidated financial statements; and the unique facts and circumstances of the particular matter that may give rise to additional factors. While the Company will continue to prosecute or defend itself vigorously, as appropriate, it is possible that the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows could be affected overall or in any particular fiscal period by any of these matters or any claims or legal proceedings that arise as a result of these matters. In addition, the legal costs associated with the foregoing could be substantial, regardless of their outcome. SEC Matter The Company continues to cooperate with the Division of Enforcement of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in its investigation relating to the Company’s cash management practices, related disclosures, the efficacy of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, and certain other matters. The matter is ongoing and the Company cannot currently predict its final outcome. Securities Litigation In February and March 2026, two purported Company stockholders filed putative class actions in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York and in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against the Company and certain current and former officers, alleging false and misleading statements in the Company’s disclosures. The plaintiffs in both actions seek monetary damages and costs and expenses. The matters are ongoing and the Company cannot currently predict their final outcome. |