IES HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(All Amounts in Thousands Except Share Amounts)
(Unaudited)
The following is a discussion of our significant legal matters:
USAMRIID Claim
On December 6, 2017, IES Commercial, Inc. filed suit in the United States District Court of Maryland in the matterUSA for the use and benefit of IES Commercial, Inc. and IES Commercial, Inc. v. Manhattan Construction Co., Torcon, Inc., Manhattan Torcon A Joint Venture, Federal Ins. Co., Fidelity & Deposit Co. of Maryland, Zurich American Ins. Co., and Travelers Casualty & Surety Co. This suit related to a large project (“USAMRIID”) which has been ongoing since 2009, having originally been scheduled for completion in early 2013 with a contract value of approximately $61,146, subject to additions or deductions. The Company had sought in the suit approximately $25,500 for claims incurred and expected to be incurred through completion of the project. On January 22, 2018, the defendants in this matter filed a motion to dismiss the suit, and on September 26, 2018, the District Court ruled on the motion, granting it in part and denying it in part. The ruling, were it to withstand an appeal, would likely have reduced the size of the Company’s estimated damages claim by approximately 50%.
Following mediation in September 2018, the parties entered into a memorandum of agreement to settle all claims brought in the suit, and entered into a formalized settlement agreement on December 21, 2018. IES moved to dismiss the case on December 28, 2018, and the case was dismissed with prejudice on January 2, 2019. Pursuant to the settlement agreement, the parties have agreed that in exchange for IES Commercial, Inc.’s dismissal of the suit and completion of a limited scope of subcontracting work, as well as mutual releases and parent guaranties by the parties, among other items, MTJV will make $2,500 in cash payments to IES Commercial, Inc., including $1,000 up front and $1,500 contingent upon completion of the remaining work, less an agreed credit amount of $150 in connection with a pending change order. In January 2019, we received the initial $1,000.
The Company has not made any material change to the charge it recorded in the quarter ended September 30, 2018, in connection with this claim. At December 31, 2018, based on our most current revised cost estimates, the Company estimates this project to be 99% complete.
Risk-Management
We retain the risk for workers’ compensation, employer’s liability, automobile liability, construction defects, general liability and employee group health claims, as well as pollution coverage, resulting from uninsured deductibles per accident or occurrence which are generally subject to annual aggregate limits. Our general liability program provides coverage for bodily injury and property damage. In many cases, we insure third parties, including general contractors, as additional insureds under our insurance policies. Losses are accrued based upon our known claims incurred and an estimate of claims incurred but not reported. As a result, many of our claims are effectively self-insured. Many claims against our insurance are in the form of litigation. At December 31, 2018, and September 30, 2018, we had $5,931 and $6,202, respectively, accrued for self-insurance liabilities. We are also subject to construction defect liabilities, primarily within our Residential segment. As of December 31, 2018, and September 30, 2018, we had $154 and $171, respectively, reserved for these claims. Because the reserves are based on judgment and estimates and involve variables that are inherently uncertain, such as the outcome of litigation and an assessment of insurance coverage, there can be no assurance that the ultimate liability will not be higher or lower than such estimates or that the timing of payments will not create liquidity issues for the Company.
Some of the underwriters of our casualty insurance program require us to post letters of credit as collateral. This is common in the insurance industry. To date, we have not had a situation where an underwriter has had reasonable cause to effect payment under a letter of credit. At December 31, 2018, and September 30, 2018, $6,351 and $6,101, respectively, of our outstanding letters of credit was utilized to collateralize our insurance program.
Surety
As of December 31, 2018, the estimated cost to complete our bonded projects was approximately $60,948. We evaluate our bonding requirements on a regular basis, including the terms offered by our sureties. We believe the bonding capacity presently provided by our current sureties is adequate for our current operations and will be adequate for our operations for the foreseeable future. Posting letters of credit in favor of our sureties reduces the borrowing availability under our credit facility.
Other Commitments and Contingencies
Some of our customers and vendors require us to post letters of credit, or provide intercompany guarantees, as a means of guaranteeing performance under our contracts and ensuring payment by us to subcontractors and vendors. If our customer has reasonable cause to effect payment under a letter of credit, we would be required to reimburse our creditor for the letter of credit. At December 31, 2018, and September 30, 2018, $458 and $508, respectively, of our outstanding letters of credit were to collateralize our vendors.
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