Raytheon settles dispute with UK Home Office
The settlement includes a cash payment from the UK Home Office to RSL of £150 million in exchange for the resolution of all claims and counterclaims of both parties that were part of the London arbitration of the eBorders contract claims.
In July 2010, the UK Home Office terminated the eBorders contract that RSL had with the UK Border Agency to provide electronic border security capabilities. RSL disputed the validity of the termination. In August 2010, the UK Home Office initiated arbitration proceedings and brought substantial claims against RSL.
In August 2014, after more than four years of litigation, the Arbitration Tribunal found that the UK Home Office had unlawfully terminated the contract. It denied all of the U.K. Home Office claims against RSL, and awarded RSL damages for breach of contract by the UK Home Office and other compensation amounting to £186M plus interest. The Arbitration Tribunal reserved its decision on costs.
The UK Home Office challenged the award, and in February 2015, a judge of the London High Court partially upheld the challenge, but stayed his decision and granted both parties permission to appeal. RSL filed an appeal denying there was any proper basis for a challenge and relying on the well-established principles of finality of arbitral awards and non-intervention by national courts in the arbitration process.
To avoid further uncertainty and the expense of more protracted litigation, and to strengthen their important customer relationship with the British Government, Raytheon and RSL have decided to put this matter behind them.
RSL and Raytheon Company have continued throughout the dispute to serve as suppliers to the British Government on key defence, national security and commercial pursuits.
