Boeing reaches deal to avoid criminal charges over deadly 737 Max crashes

Core Points - The Justice Department has reached a deal with Boeing to avoid criminal charges related to the 737 Max crashes, allowing Boeing to invest over $1 billion in compliance, safety, and quality programs [1] - The deal is not finalized and will be submitted to the court soon [1] - The lack of a felony label could help Boeing secure defense contracts without needing a waiver from the Pentagon [2] - Boeing had previously agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to defraud the FAA and pay a fine of$243.6 million, but that deal was rejected by a judge [2] - Families of victims have expressed dissatisfaction with the deal, viewing it as a failure of accountability [3] - Boeing has recently secured a defense contract for the F-47 fighter plane and has seen increased orders for the 787 Dreamliner and the yet-to-be-certified 777X [4] - Boeing's shares have risen over 17% year-to-date, outperforming the broader market [4]