Commitments and Contingencies | COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Potential ERISA Section 4062(e) Liability The Company had been engaged in discussions with the PBGC regarding the status of the qualified pension plans, including potential liability under ERISA Section 4062(e) related to employee reductions resulting from ceasing enrichment operations at the Portsmouth and Paducah GDP facilities. In the event the PBGC were to determine there are funding obligations under section 4062(e), the Company believes that any such liability would be fully satisfied under the provisions of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (the “CFCAA”), which made major changes to ERISA section 4062(e). The CFCAA changes the criteria for triggering liability under section 4062(e); provides certain exemptions from the applicability of section 4062(e) to certain events; permits companies to satisfy the liability by making payments into the pension over seven years, but ends those pension obligations once the pension reaches a 90% funding level as calculated under the method provided in the CFCAA; subject to an exception not applicable here, prohibits the PBGC from taking any enforcement, administrative or other action under section 4062(e) that is inconsistent with the amendments made by the CFCAA based on events that occurred before the date of enactment (December 16, 2014); and permits companies to elect to satisfy any liability under section 4062(e) as provided in the CFCAA for an event that had occurred prior to date of enactment as if such cessation had occurred on such date of enactment. The PBGC, however, has other authorities under ERISA that it may otherwise consider in connection with the Company’s qualified defined benefit pension plans. These authorities include, but are not limited to, initiating involuntary termination of underfunded plans and seeking liens or additional funding. The Company would seek to defend against the assertion by the PBGC of any such authorities based on the facts and circumstances at the time. The involuntary termination by the PBGC of any of the qualified pension plans of Centrus or Enrichment Corp. would result in the termination of the limited, conditional guaranty by Enrichment Corp. of the PIK Toggle Notes (other than with respect to certain interest obligations). The PBGC has indicated it would like the Company to make contributions to the pension in advance of statutory funding requirements as amended by the Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014. The Company believes it is in the best interest of all stakeholders, including the PBGC, the covered plan participants and the Company, to continue funding the qualified pension plans in the ordinary course and expects to do so. There is no assurance that the Company and the PBGC will reach agreement or that the PBGC will agree with the Company’s approach. NYSE MKT Listing Standards Notice On November 17, 2015, Centrus Energy Corp. received notice from the NYSE MKT LLC (the “NYSE MKT”) indicating that the Company is not in compliance with Sections 1003(a)(i) and (ii) of the NYSE MKT's Company Guide since the Company reported a stockholders’ deficit as of September 30, 2015, and net losses in its fiscal years ended December 31, 2011, 2012 and 2013. The Company submitted a plan to regain compliance with the NYSE MKT’s continued listing standards and the NYSE MKT notified the Company in January 2016 that it accepted the plan. With the NYSE MKT’s acceptance of the plan, the Company has until May 17, 2017, to regain compliance. If the Company is not in compliance with the continued listing standards by May 17, 2017, or if the Company does not make progress consistent with the plan, the NYSE MKT may initiate delisting procedures as appropriate. In the meantime, the Company’s common stock will continue to be traded on the NYSE MKT, subject to ongoing monitoring by the NYSE MKT and the Company’s compliance with all other applicable NYSE MKT requirements. American Centrifuge Milestones under the 2002 DOE-USEC Agreement USEC and DOE signed an agreement dated June 17, 2002, as amended (the “2002 DOE-USEC Agreement”), pursuant to which the parties made long-term commitments directed at resolving issues related to the stability and security of the domestic uranium enrichment industry. DOE consented to the assumption by Centrus of the 2002 DOE-USEC Agreement and other agreements between the Company and DOE subject to an express reservation of all rights, remedies and defenses by DOE and Centrus under those agreements as part of Centrus' Chapter 11 bankruptcy process. The 2002 DOE-USEC Agreement requires Centrus to develop, demonstrate and deploy advanced enrichment technology in accordance with milestones and provides for remedies in the event of a failure to meet a milestone under certain circumstances. DOE has specific remedies under the 2002 DOE-USEC Agreement if Centrus fails to meet a milestone that would adversely impact its ability to begin commercial operations of the American Centrifuge Plant on schedule, and such delay was within Centrus’ control or was due to its fault or negligence or if Centrus abandons or constructively abandons the commercial deployment of an advanced enrichment technology. These remedies include terminating the 2002 DOE-USEC Agreement, revoking Centrus’ access to DOE’s centrifuge technology that is required for the success of the American Centrifuge project, requiring Centrus to transfer certain rights in the American Centrifuge technology and facilities to DOE, and requiring Centrus to reimburse DOE for certain costs associated with the American Centrifuge project. The 2002 DOE-USEC Agreement provides that if a delaying event beyond the control and without the fault or negligence of Centrus occurs that could affect Centrus’ ability to meet an American Centrifuge Plant milestone, DOE and Centrus will jointly meet to discuss in good faith possible adjustments to the milestones as appropriate to accommodate the delaying event. The Company notified DOE that it had not met the June 2014 milestone within the time period currently provided due to events beyond its control and without the fault or negligence of the Company. The assumption of the 2002 DOE-USEC Agreement provided for under the Plan of Reorganization did not affect the ability of either party to assert all rights, remedies and defenses under the agreement and all such rights, remedies and defenses are specifically preserved and all time limits tolled expressly including all rights, remedies and defenses and time limits relating to any missed milestones. DOE and Centrus have agreed that all rights, remedies and defenses of the parties with respect to any missed milestones since March 5, 2014, including the June 2014 and November 2014 milestones, and all other matters under the 2002 DOE-USEC Agreement continued to be preserved, and that the time limits for each party to respond to any missed milestones continue to be tolled. Piketon Facility Costs and D&D Obligations Effective October 1, 2015, the U.S. government discontinued funding of the American Centrifuge demonstration cascade at Piketon. Funding for American Centrifuge is now limited to research and development work at our facilities in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. As a result of reduced program funding, Centrus incurred a special charge in the third quarter of 2015 for estimated employee termination benefits, and began reductions in force. Refer to Note 2, Special Charges , for details. Centrus began to incur expenditures in the second quarter of 2016 associated with the decontamination and decommissioning (“D&D”) of the Piketon facility in accordance with the requirements of the NRC and DOE. Centrus leases the Piketon facility from DOE. At the conclusion of the lease, Centrus is obligated to return the facility to DOE in a condition that meets NRC requirements and in the same condition as the facility was in when it was leased to Centrus (other than due to normal wear and tear). Centrus must remove all Company-owned capital improvements at the Piketon facility, unless otherwise consented to by DOE, by the conclusion of the lease term. The lease will expire on June 30, 2019, unless it is extended. Remaining costs to perform the D&D work are estimated to be within a range of $38.9 million to $49.4 million based on updated cost estimates that reflect changes in the approach and anticipated timeframe over which the work will be conducted, as described below. As of September 30, 2016, Centrus has accrued $38.9 million on the balance sheet as Decontamination and Decommissioning Obligations , of which $28.3 million is classified as current and $10.6 million is classified as long-term. Centrus has experienced delays in obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals and therefore implementing the D&D process has been delayed. Centrus is working to finalize contractual and regulatory arrangements for the disposition of materials. As a result of the delays experienced in obtaining regulatory approvals, Centrus has revised its schedule and approach to completing D&D in order to minimize the impact of such delays and to mitigate future cost and schedule risk. The D&D work is expected to extend through 2018. Centrus is required to provide financial assurance to the NRC and DOE for D&D costs under a regulatorily-prescribed methodology that includes potential contingent costs and reserves. As of September 30, 2016, and December 31, 2015, Centrus has provided financial assurance to the NRC and DOE in the form of surety bonds totaling $29.4 million , which are fully cash collateralized by Centrus. Centrus expects to receive cash when surety bonds are reduced and/or cancelled as the Company fulfills its D&D and lease obligations. The Company has not made a decision on lease turnover and is continuing to evaluate future uses for the site. |