Note 16 - Accounting for Claims, Unapproved Change Orders and Incentives on Long-Term Construction Contracts
 3 Months Ended
Nov. 30, 2012
Long-term Contracts or Programs Disclosure [Text Block]
Note 16 —Accounting for Claims, Unapproved Change Orders and Incentives on Long-Term Construction Contracts

Claims include amounts in excess of the original contract price (as it may be adjusted for approved change orders) that we seek to collect from our clients for delays, errors in specifications and designs, contract terminations, change orders in dispute or unapproved as to both scope and price or other causes of unanticipated additional costs, and are included in estimated revenues when recovery of the amounts is probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated. Similarly, backcharges and claims against vendors, subcontractors and others are included in our cost estimates as a reduction in total estimated costs when recovery of the amounts is probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated.

Claims and backcharges are recorded at the amount deemed probable of recovery up to the amount of estimated costs, and profit is not recorded until the claim or backcharge is resolved. The recognition of these items may increase gross profit or reduce gross loss on the related projects as compared to the gross profit/gross loss that would have been recognized had no claim revenue been recorded. Claims receivable are included in costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

We enter into cost-reimbursable arrangements in which the final outcome or overall estimate at completion may be materially different than the original contract estimated value. We believe the terms of such contracts indicate costs are to be reimbursed by our clients. However, we typically process change notice requests to document agreement as to scope and price and thereby mitigate potential exposure relative to costs incurred in excess of agreed upon contract value. Due to the nature of these items, we have not classified and disclosed costs incurred in excess of agreed upon contract value as unapproved change orders.

Unapproved Change Orders and Claims

The table below (in millions) summarizes information related to our significant unapproved change orders and claims from project owners that we have recorded on a total project basis at November 30, 2012, and November 30, 2011, and excludes all unrecorded amounts and non-significant unapproved change orders and claims.

   
Fiscal Year
2013
   
Fiscal Year
2012
 
Amounts included in project estimates-at-completion at September 1
  $ 381.4     $ 448.3  
Changes in estimates-at-completion
    3.1       9.6  
Approved by clients
    (1.0 )     (8.7 )
Amounts included in project estimates-at-completion at November 30 for unapproved change orders and claims
  $ 383.5     $ 449.2  
Amounts recorded in revenues (or reductions to contract costs) on a percentage-of-completion  basis at November 30
  $ 95.3     $ 116.6  

In the table above, the difference between the amounts included in project estimates-at-completion and the amounts recorded in revenues (or reductions to contract costs) on a total project basis represents the forecasted costs for work which has not yet been incurred (i.e. the remaining percentage-of-completion revenue to be recognized on the related project). The amounts presented in this table include, but are not limited to, those matters currently in litigation or arbitration for which we have recorded revenue. Additional discussion regarding our legal proceedings relating to unapproved change orders and claims in litigation or arbitration is provided in our Legal Proceedings in Note 12 – Contingencies and Commitments.

The majority of the amounts included in the project estimates-at-completion in the table above relate to engineering, equipment supply, material fabrication and construction cost estimates and costs from regulatory required design changes and delays in our clients’ obtaining combined operating licenses (COLs) for two nuclear power reactors in Georgia. Under the provisions of this contract, we have entered into a formal dispute resolution process on certain claims associated with backfill activities, shield building, large structural modules and COL issuance delays included within construction costs at the site. As provided in the contract, as of November 30, 2012, we have received a partial funding payment from our customer of $29.0 million related to the backfill costs and $96 million related to the COL issuance delays while the dispute resolution process continues. These amounts are included in billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts. Should we not prevail in these disputes, we may be required to repay a portion or all of these amounts. We continue to discuss with our client the impact of other elements of unapproved change orders associated with this project. Should those matters in Georgia proceed to formal dispute resolution, our contract calls for the clients to co-fund our costs until the matters are resolved.

In connection with our consortium agreement for the design and construction of two domestic nuclear power reactors in South Carolina, we reached an agreement with the client to settle certain change orders resulting from regulatory required design changes and COL issuance delays on the project. As a result of this agreement, these costs have been excluded from the total of unapproved change orders presented above.

We believe the amounts included in the table above related to all of our AP1000 nuclear and other projects are recoverable from our clients under existing provisions of our contractual arrangements. The nuclear power projects have a long construction duration and the cost estimates cover costs that will not be incurred for several years. It is expected that the cost estimates resulting from the design changes and COL delays will continue to be refined as more information becomes available. It is possible that these commercial matters may not be resolved in the near term.

Under the terms of two consortium agreements with WEC, which is our EPC partner, to design and construct the four nuclear power reactors, we perform much of the pipe, steel and modular fabrication and assembly and certain engineering and construction related activities on the domestic AP1000 nuclear projects, with WEC being responsible for the nuclear island engineering and equipment supply. During the quarter ended February 29, 2012, we signed a memorandum of understanding with WEC (“the WEC MOU”) wherein WEC has the obligation, in addition to obligations under the original consortium agreement, to reimburse us for material and fabrication costs associated with design changes to the extent these costs are not recovered from our clients. Accordingly, amounts which may be recovered under the WEC MOU have been excluded from the unapproved change orders and claims presented in the table above, even when we are seeking recovery from the client. These consortium agreements, as supplemented by the WEC MOU, provide a contractual mechanism for cost sharing to the extent project costs exceed certain thresholds and are not recovered from our clients. Our costs, including construction related expenses, resulting from the design changes and delays in issuance of the COLs would be considered within this cost sharing mechanism. As of November 30, 2012, we estimate that our recovery under these consortium agreements and the related WEC MOU is approximately $293.0 million, which has been excluded from the presentation of unapproved change orders in the above table. The amounts recoverable from WEC will decline to the extent we recover the costs from our clients.

In the ordinary course of business, the Company enters into various agreements and guarantees to clients. While in most cases these performance risks are offset by similar guarantees by our suppliers, there are instances where the full extent of the exposure is not eliminated.

In general, if we collect amounts differing from the amounts that we have recorded as unapproved change orders/claims receivable on any of our projects, that difference will be reflected in the estimate at completion (EAC) used in determining contract profit or loss. Timing of claim collections is uncertain and depends on such items as regulatory approvals, negotiated settlements, trial date scheduling and other dispute resolution processes pursuant to the contracts. As a result, we may not collect our unapproved change orders/claims receivable within the next twelve months. Should we not prevail in these matters, the outcome could have an adverse effect on our statements of operations and statement of cash flows.

Project Incentives

Some of our contracts contain performance incentive and award fee arrangements (collectively referred to as incentive fees) that provide for increasing or decreasing our revenue based upon the achievement of some measure of contract performance in relation to agreed upon targets. Incentive fees can occur in all segments, but the majority of contracts containing project incentives are in our Plant Services and E&I segments. Therefore, the gross profit in those segments may be significantly influenced by these project incentives.

We include in our EAC revenue an estimate of the probable amounts of the incentive fees we expect to earn if we achieve the agreed-upon criteria. We bill incentive fees based on the terms and conditions of the individual contracts which may allow billing over the performance period of the contract or only after the target criterion have been achieved. We generally recognize incentive fee revenue using the percentage of completion method of accounting. As the contract progresses and more information becomes available, the estimate of the anticipated incentive fee that will be earned is revised as necessary. Incentive fees which have been recognized but not billed are included in costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Incentive fees that have been billed but for which we have not recognized as revenue are included in the advanced billings and billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

At November 30, 2012, and August 31, 2012, our project EACs included approximately $67.7 million and $78.2 million, respectively, related to estimates of amounts we expect to earn on incentive fee arrangement. We have recorded $40.7 million and $48.0 million as of November 30, 2012, and August 31, 2012, respectively, of these estimated amounts in revenues for the related contracts. If we do not achieve the criteria at the amounts we have estimated, project revenues and profit may be materially reduced.