Risk Factors Dashboard
Once a year, publicly traded companies issue a comprehensive report of their business, called a 10-K. A component mandated in the 10-K is the ‘Risk Factors’ section, where companies disclose any major potential risks that they may face. This dashboard highlights all major changes and additions in new 10K reports, allowing investors to quickly identify new potential risks and opportunities.
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Item 1A. Risk Factors
The following risk factors should be considered with the other information included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. As we operate in a continuously changing environment, other risk factors may emerge which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flow.
Risk Factors Related to Our Business and Operations
Our results of operations depend upon the award of new contracts, the timing of those awards, and the progress of work for those contracts.
Our revenue is derived primarily from contracts awarded on a project-by-project basis. Generally, it is difficult to predict whether and when we will be awarded a new contract due to lengthy and complex bidding and selection processes, changes in existing or forecasted market conditions, customers' access to financing, governmental regulations, permitting and environmental matters. Generally, it is difficult to predict whether and when we will be awarded a new contract due to lengthy and complex bidding and selection processes, changes in existing or forecasted market conditions, customers' access to financing, governmental regulations, permitting and environmental matters. Many of these same factors can affect the commencement and progress of work under large contracts already awarded. Because our revenue is derived from contract awards, our results of operations and cash flows can fluctuate materially from period to period. Because our revenue is derived from contract awards, our results of operations and cash flows can fluctuate materially from period to period.
The uncertainty associated with the timing of contract awards, and the commencement and progress of work for those awards, may reduce our short-term profitability as we balance our current capacity with expectations of future contract awards.The uncertainty associated with the timing of contract awards may reduce our short-term profitability as we balance our current capacity with expectations of future contract awards. If an expected contract award is delayed or not received, we could incur costs to maintain an idle workforce that may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. Alternatively, we may decide that our long-term interests are best served by reducing our workforce and incurring increased costs associated with severance and termination benefits, which also could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations in the period incurred. Alternatively, we may decide that our long-term interests are best served by reducing our workforce and incurring increased costs associated with severance and termination benefits, which also could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations in the period incurred. Reducing our workforce could also impact our results of operations if we are unable to adequately staff projects that are awarded subsequent to a workforce reduction. Reducing our workforce could also impact our results of operations if we are unable to adequately staff projects that are awarded subsequent to a workforce reduction.
Demand for our products and services is cyclical and is vulnerable to the level of capital and maintenance spending of our customers and to downturns in the industries and markets we serve, as well as conditions in the general economy.
The demand for our products and services depends upon the existence of construction and maintenance projects primarily in the energy markets, including LNG, hydrogen, renewable energy, midstream and downstream petroleum, and other heavy industries in the United States and Canada. Therefore, it is likely that our business will continue to be cyclical in nature and vulnerable to general downturns in the United States, Canadian and world economies and negative changes in commodity and energy prices, which could adversely affect the demand for our products and services. Therefore, it is likely that our business will continue to be cyclical in nature and vulnerable to general downturns in the United States, Canadian and world economies and negative changes in commodity and energy prices, which could adversely affect the demand for our products and services.
The availability of engineering and construction projects is dependent upon economic conditions and the outlook for renewable energy, hydrogen, natural gas, oil, petrochemical, industrial, and power industries, and specifically, the level of capital expenditures on energy infrastructure. Additionally, we expect our customers to benefit from bills such as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act. While spending and stimulus bills are expected to provide funding in many of the markets in which we operate, we may not be able to obtain the expected benefits from these bills or similar bills in the future. While spending and stimulus bills are expected to provide funding in many of the markets in which we operate, we may not be able to obtain the expected benefits from these bills or similar bills in the future. Our failure to obtain projects, the delay of project awards, the cancellation of projects or delays in the execution of contracts has resulted and may continue to result in under-utilization of our resources, which could adversely impact our revenue, margins, operating results and cash flow. There are numerous factors beyond our control that influence the level of maintenance and capital expenditures of our customers, including:
•the demand for alternative and renewable energy products, including hydrogen;
•ability and demand to export LNG and other hydrocarbon products;
•the demand for natural gas, oil and electricity;
•current or projected commodity prices, including natural gas, oil, power and mineral prices;
•refining margins;
•the ability of energy and industrial companies to generate, access and deploy capital;
•interest rates and inflation;
•technological challenges and advances;
•tax incentives, including those for alternative energy projects;
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•regulatory restraints on the rates that power companies may charge their customers; and
•local, national and international political and economic conditions.
Our profitability could be negatively impacted if we are not able to maintain appropriate utilization of our workforce.
The extent to which we utilize our workforce affects our profitability. If we under utilize our workforce, our gross margins and overall profitability suffer in the short-term. If we under utilize our workforce, our gross margins and overall profitability suffer in the short-term. If we over utilize our workforce, we may negatively impact safety, employee satisfaction and project execution. If we over utilize our workforce, we may negatively impact safety, employee satisfaction and project execution. The utilization of our workforce is impacted by numerous factors including:
•our estimate of the headcount requirements for various operating units based upon our forecast of the demand for our products and services;
•our ability to maintain our talent base and manage attrition;
•productivity;
•our ability to schedule our portfolio of projects to efficiently utilize our employees and minimize downtime between project assignments; and
•our need to invest time and resources into functions such as training, business development, employee recruiting, and sales that are not chargeable to customer projects.
An inability to attract and retain qualified personnel, and in particular, engineers, project managers, and skilled craft workers, could impact our ability to perform on our contracts, which could harm our business and impair our future revenue and profitability.
Our ability to attract and retain qualified engineers, project managers, skilled craftsmen and other experienced professionals in accordance with our need is an important factor in our ability to maintain profitability and grow our business. The market for these professionals is competitive, particularly during periods of economic growth when the supply is limited. We cannot provide any assurance that we will be successful in our efforts to retain or attract qualified personnel when needed. We cannot provide any assurance that we will be successful in our efforts to retain or attract qualified personnel when needed. Therefore, when we anticipate or experience growing demand for our services, we may incur additional cost to maintain a professional staff in excess of our current contract needs in an effort to have sufficient qualified personnel available to address this anticipated demand. If we do incur additional compensation and benefit costs, our customer contracts may not allow us to pass through these costs.
Competent and experienced engineers, project estimators, project managers, and craft workers are especially critical to the profitable performance of our contracts, particularly on our fixed-price contracts where superior design and execution of the project can result in profits greater than originally estimated or where inferior design and project execution can reduce or eliminate estimated profits or even result in a loss.
Our project managers are involved in most aspects of contracting and contract execution, including:
•supervising the bidding process, including providing estimates of significant cost components, such as material and equipment needs, and the size, productivity and composition of the workforce;
•negotiating contracts;
•supervising project performance, including performance by our employees, subcontractors and other third-party suppliers and vendors;
•estimating costs for completion of contracts that is used to estimate amounts that can be reported as revenue and earnings on the contract under the percentage-of-completion method of accounting;
•negotiating requests for change orders and the final terms of approved change orders; and
•determining and documenting claims by us for increased costs incurred due to the failure of customers, subcontractors and other third-party suppliers of equipment and materials to perform on a timely basis and in accordance with contract terms.
The loss of one or more of our significant customers could adversely affect us.
One or more customers have in the past and may in the future contribute a material portion of our revenue in any one year. Because these significant customers generally contract with us for specific projects or for specific periods of time, we may lose
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these customers from year to year as the projects or maintenance contracts are completed. The loss of business from any one of these customers could have a material adverse effect on our business or results of operations.
Our backlog is subject to unexpected fluctuations, adjustments and cancellations and does not include the full value of our long-term maintenance contracts, and therefore, may not be a reliable indicator of our future earnings.
Backlog may not be a reliable indicator of our future performance. We cannot guarantee that the revenue projected in our backlog will be realized or profitable. We cannot guarantee that the revenue projected in our backlog will be realized or profitable. Projects may remain in our backlog for an extended period of time. In addition, project cancellations or scope adjustments may occur from time to time with respect to contracts included in our backlog that could reduce the dollar amount of our backlog and the revenue and profits that we actually earn. Many of our contracts have termination rights. Therefore, project adjustments may occur from time to time to contracts in our backlog.
The terms of our contracts could expose us to unforeseen costs and costs not within our control, which may not be recoverable and could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
A significant amount of our work is performed under fixed-price contracts. Under fixed-price contracts, we agree to perform the contract for a fixed price and, as a result, can improve our expected profit by superior execution, productivity, workplace safety and other factors resulting in cost savings. However, we could incur cost overruns above the approved contract price, which may not be recoverable. Under certain incentive fixed-price contracts, we may agree to share with a customer a portion of any savings we generate while the customer agrees to bear a portion of any increased costs we may incur up to a negotiated ceiling. To the extent costs exceed the negotiated ceiling price, we may be required to absorb some or all of the cost overruns.
Fixed-price contract prices are established based largely upon estimates and assumptions relating to project scope and specifications, personnel and productivity, material needs, and site conditions. These estimates and assumptions may prove inaccurate, or conditions may change due to factors out of our control, resulting in cost overruns, which we may be required to absorb and which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, our profits from these contracts could decrease or we could experience losses if we incur difficulties in performing the contracts or are unable to secure fixed-pricing commitments from our manufacturers, suppliers and subcontractors at the time we enter into fixed-price contracts with our customers.
Under cost-plus and time-and-material contracts, we perform our services in return for payment of our agreed upon reimbursable costs plus a profit. The profit component is typically expressed in the contract either as a percentage of the reimbursable costs we actually incur or is factored into the rates we charge for labor or for the cost of equipment and materials, if any, we are required to provide. The profit component is typically expressed in the contract either as a percentage of the reimbursable costs we actually incur or is factored into the rates we charge for labor or for the cost of equipment and materials, if any, we are required to provide. Our profit could be negatively impacted if our actual costs exceed the estimated costs utilized to establish the billing rates included in the contracts. Our profit could be negatively impacted if our actual costs exceed the estimated costs utilized to establish the billing rates included in the contracts.
We may incur significant costs in providing services in excess of original project scope without having an approved change order.
After commencement of a contract, we may perform, without the benefit of an approved change order from the customer, additional services requested by the customer that were not contemplated in our contract price for various reasons, including customer changes or incomplete or inaccurate engineering, changes in project specifications and other similar information provided to us by the customer. Our construction contracts generally require the customer to compensate us for additional work or expenses incurred under these circumstances.
A failure to obtain adequate compensation for these matters could require us to record in the current period an adjustment to revenue and profit recognized in prior periods under the percentage-of-completion accounting method. Any such adjustments, if substantial, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition, particularly for the period in which such adjustments are made. We can provide no assurance that we will be successful in obtaining, through negotiation, arbitration, litigation or otherwise, approved change orders in an amount adequate to compensate us for our additional work or expenses. We can provide no assurance that we will be successful in obtaining, through negotiation, arbitration, litigation or otherwise, approved change orders in an amount adequate to compensate us for our additional work or expenses.
Our business may be affected by difficult work sites and environments, which may adversely affect our overall business.
We perform our work under a variety of conditions, including, but not limited to, difficult terrain, difficult site conditions and busy urban centers where delivery of materials and availability of labor may be impacted. Performing work under these conditions can slow our progress, potentially causing us to incur contractual liability to our customers. These difficult conditions may also cause us to incur additional, unanticipated costs that we might not be able to pass on to our customers. These difficult conditions may also cause us to incur additional, unanticipated costs that we might not be able to pass on to our customers.
We are susceptible to severe weather conditions, including those caused by climate change or otherwise, which may harm our business and financial results.10Table of ContentsWe are susceptible to severe weather conditions, including those caused by climate change or otherwise, which may harm our business and financial results.
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Our business may be adversely affected by severe weather in areas where we have significant operations. Repercussions of severe weather conditions may include:
•curtailment of services;
•suspension of operations;
•inability to meet performance schedules in accordance with contracts and potential liability for liquidated damages;
•injuries or fatalities;
•weather related damage to our facilities or work-in-progress on project sites;
•disruption of information systems;
•inability to receive machinery, equipment and materials at job sites; and
•loss of productivity.
The frequency and severity of severe weather conditions may be enhanced by present and future changes to our climate.
Our business has been affected by inflation, supply chain disruptions and shortages of materials and labor.
We may experience increases in construction costs, including increases in the costs of materials and labor due to inflation or supply chain challenges. To the extent we can, we mitigate these risks primarily by procuring materials upon contract execution to ensure that our purchase price approximates the costs included in the project estimate, and also by contract provisions that mitigate our exposure to fluctuations in material costs. However, we may be unable to pass through some or all of these increases in costs to our customers which may materially affect our results of operations. Additionally, our clients' interest in approving new projects, budgets for capital expenditures and need for our services have in the past been, and may in the future be, adversely affected by, among other things, poor economic conditions, including inflation, slow growth or recession, changes to governments' fiscal or monetary policy and higher interest rates. These factors could materially and adversely affect the demand for our services.
Domestic and foreign trade tariffs could raise the price and reduce the availability of raw materials to us, which could negatively impact our operating results and financial condition.
Domestic and foreign trade tariffs could raise the price and reduce the availability of raw materials such as steel plate and steel pipe, which are key materials used by us. Supplies of these materials are available throughout the United States and globally from numerous sources. We anticipate that adequate amounts of these materials will be available in the foreseeable future. However, if trade tariffs should significantly impact the price and availability of these materials, we could experience lower gross margins, operational inefficiencies and project delays.
Unsatisfactory safety performance may subject us to penalties, affect customer relationships, result in higher operating costs, negatively impact employee morale and result in higher employee turnover.
Our projects are conducted at a variety of sites including construction sites and industrial facilities. With each location, hazards are part of the day-to-day exposures that we must manage on a continuous basis to ensure our employees return home from work the same way they arrived. We understand that everyone plays a role with safety and everyone can make a difference with their active participation. With our proactive approach, our strategy is to identify the exposures and correct them before they result in an incident whether that involves an injury, damage or destruction of property, plant and equipment or an environmental impact. We are intensely focused on maintaining a strong safety culture and strive for zero incidents.
Although we have taken what we believe are appropriate precautions to adequately train and equip our employees, we have experienced serious accidents, including fatalities, in the past and may experience additional accidents in the future. Serious accidents may subject us to penalties, civil litigation or criminal prosecution. Claims for damages to persons, including claims for bodily injury or loss of life, could result in costs and liabilities, which could materially and adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Poor safety performance could also jeopardize our relationships with our customers and increase our insurance premiums. Poor safety performance could also jeopardize our relationships with our customers and increase our insurance premiums.
We are exposed to credit risk from customers. If we experience delays and/or defaults in customer payments, we could suffer liquidity problems or we could be unable to recover amounts owed to us. If we experience delays and/or defaults in customer payments, we could suffer liquidity problems or we could be unable to recover amounts owed to us.
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Under the terms of our contracts, at times we commit resources to customer projects prior to receiving payments from customers in amounts sufficient to cover expenditures on these projects as they are incurred. Many of our fixed-price or cost-plus contracts require us to satisfy specified progress milestones or performance standards in order to receive a payment. Many of our fixed-price or cost-11Table of Contentsplus contracts require us to satisfy specified progress milestones or performance standards in order to receive a payment. Under these types of arrangements, we may incur significant costs for labor, equipment and supplies prior to receipt of payment. If the customer fails or refuses to pay us for any reason, there is no assurance we will be able to collect amounts due to us for costs previously incurred. In some cases, we may find it necessary to terminate subcontracts with suppliers engaged by us to assist in performing a contract, and we may incur costs or penalties for canceling our commitments to them. Delays in customer payments require an investment in working capital. If we are unable to collect amounts owed to us under our contracts, we may be required to record a charge against previously recognized earnings related to the project, and our liquidity, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
We contribute to multiemployer plans that could result in liabilities to us if those plans are terminated or if we withdraw from those plans.
We contribute to several multiemployer pension plans for employees covered by collective bargaining agreements. These plans are not administered by us and contributions are determined in accordance with provisions of negotiated labor contracts. The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended by the Multiemployer Pension Plan Amendments Act of 1980, imposes certain liabilities upon employers who are contributors to a multiemployer plan in the event of the employer’s withdrawal from, or upon termination of, such plan. If we terminate, withdraw, or partially withdraw from other multiemployer pension plans, we could be required to make significant cash contributions to fund that plan's unfunded vested benefit, which could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations; however, we are not currently able to determine the net assets and actuarial present value of the multiemployer pension plans’ unfunded vested benefits allocable to us, if any, and we are not presently aware of the amounts, if any, for which we may be contingently liable if we were to withdraw from any of these plans. In addition, if the funding level of any of these multiemployer plans becomes classified as “critical status” under the Pension Protection Act of 2006, we could be required to make significant additional contributions to those plans.
A failure or outage in our operational systems or cyber security attacks on any of our systems, or those of third parties, may adversely affect our financial results.
We have become more reliant on technology to help increase efficiency in our business. We use numerous technologies to help run our operations, and this may subject our business to increased risks. Any cyber security attack that affects our facilities, our systems, our customers and any of our financial data could have a material adverse effect on our business. In addition, a cyber-attack on our customer and employee data may result in a financial loss, including potential fines for failure to safeguard data, and may damage our reputation. Third-party systems on which we rely could also suffer system failure. Additionally, as artificial intelligence ("AI") technologies become increasingly sophisticated, the security risks associated with their use and the potential for misuse also increase. Hackers and malicious actors can harness the power of AI to develop more advanced cyberattacks, bypass security measures, and exploit vulnerabilities in systems. Deepfake technology can be used to undermine organizations, spread false claims, misinform investors, and impact financial markets. Any of these occurrences could disrupt our business, result in potential liability or reputational damage or otherwise have an adverse effect on our financial results. Any of these occurrences could disrupt our business, result in potential liability or reputational damage or otherwise have an adverse effect on our financial results.
Any security breach resulting in the unauthorized use or disclosure of certain personal information could put individuals at risk of identity theft and financial or other harm and result in costs to us in investigation, remediation, legal defense and in liability to parties who are financially harmed. We may incur significant costs to protect against the threat of information security breaches or to respond to or alleviate problems caused by such breaches. We may incur significant costs to protect against the threat of information security breaches or to respond to or alleviate problems caused by such breaches. For example, laws may require notification to regulators, clients or employees and enlisting credit monitoring or identity theft protection in the event of a privacy breach. For example, laws may require notification to regulators, clients or employees and enlisting credit monitoring or identity theft protection in the event of a privacy breach. A cybersecurity attack could also be directed at our systems and result in interruptions in our operations or delivery of services to our clients and their customers. A cybersecurity attack could also be directed at our systems and result in interruptions in our operations or delivery of services to our clients and their customers. Furthermore, a material security breach could cause us to lose revenue, lose clients or cause damage to our reputation. Furthermore, a material security breach could cause us to lose revenue, lose clients or cause damage to our reputation.
We have experienced cybersecurity threats to our information technology infrastructure and have experienced cyber-attacks, attempts to breach our systems and other similar incidents. Such prior events have not had a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. Such prior events have not had a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. However, future threats could cause harm to our business and our reputation, as well as negatively impact our results of operations materially. However, future threats could cause harm to our business and our reputation, as well as negatively impact our results of operations materially. Our insurance coverage may not be adequate to cover all the costs related to cyber-attacks or disruptions resulting from such events. Our insurance coverage may not be adequate to cover all the costs related to cyber-attacks or disruptions resulting from such events.
We rely on internally and externally developed software applications and systems to support critical functions including project management, estimating, scheduling, human resources, accounting, and financial reporting.12Table of ContentsWe rely on internally and externally developed software applications and systems to support critical functions including project management, estimating, scheduling, human resources, accounting, and financial reporting. Any sudden loss, disruption or unexpected costs to maintain these systems could significantly increase our operational expense as well as disrupt the management of our business operations.
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We rely on various software systems to conduct our critical operating and administrative functions. We depend on our software vendors to provide long-term software maintenance support for our information systems. Software vendors may decide to discontinue further development, integration or long-term software maintenance support for our information systems, in which case we may need to abandon one or more of our current information systems and migrate some or all of our project management, human resources, estimating, scheduling, accounting and financial information to other systems, thus increasing our operational expense as well as disrupting the management of our business operations. Software vendors may decide to discontinue further development, integration or long-term software maintenance support for our information systems, in which case we may need to abandon one or more of our current information systems and migrate some or all of our project management, human resources, estimating, scheduling, accounting and financial information to other systems, thus increasing our operational expense as well as disrupting the management of our business operations. Additionally, we may use artificial intelligence in our business, and challenges with effectively managing associated processes, data, and models could result in reputational harm, competitive harm, and legal liability, and adversely affect our results of operations. If the content, analyses, or recommendations that artificial intelligence applications assist in producing are, or are alleged to be, unstable, deficient, inaccurate, biased, or yield conclusions for which there is no actionable recourse for those affected by its decisions, our business, financial condition, and results of operations may be adversely affected.
Financial Risks
Our borrowing capacity under our Credit Agreement is determined by the size of our borrowing base and if the size of our borrowing base combined with our unrestricted cash does not provide adequate liquidity, then we may need to raise additional capital in the future for working capital letters of credit, capital expenditures and/or acquisitions, and we may not be able to do so on favorable terms or at all, which would impair our ability to operate our business or achieve our strategic plan.
Management believes it has sufficient cash on hand and will generate sufficient cash from operations to fund the business. However, should we require additional liquidity, there is risk that we will be unable to access the amount of additional liquidity needed from our Credit Agreement if the level of assets included in the borrowing base is insufficient. However, should we require additional liquidity, there is risk that we will be unable access the amount of additional liquidity needed from our Credit Agreement if the level of assets included in the borrowing base is insufficient. The borrowing base includes restricted cash plus a percentage of the value of certain accounts receivable, inventory and equipment, reduced for certain reserves. Accounts receivable eligible to be included in the borrowing base are generally limited to receivables associated with time and materials and other cost reimbursable contracts. While receivables associated with fixed price work do not increase the borrowing base, such work often has upfront billings, which help support the liquidity needs of the business. While receivables associated with fixed price work do not increase the borrowing base, such work often has upfront billings, which help support the liquidity needs of the business. As of June 30, 2024, our borrowing base was $60.9 million. Our borrowing base has ranged from $60.9 million to $74.6 million during fiscal 2024.
To the extent that cash on hand, cash flow from operations, and borrowing availability under the Credit Agreement are insufficient to make future investments, or provide needed working capital, we may require additional financing from other sources. Our ability to obtain such additional financing in the future will depend in part upon prevailing capital market conditions, as well as conditions in our business and our operating results; and those factors may affect our efforts to arrange additional financing on terms that are satisfactory to us. Our ability to obtain such additional financing in the future will depend in part upon prevailing capital market conditions, as well as conditions in our business and our operating results; and those factors may affect our efforts to arrange additional financing on terms that are satisfactory to us. If adequate funds are not available, or are not available on acceptable terms, we may not be able to make future investments or respond to competitive challenges. If adequate funds are not available, or are not available on acceptable terms, we may not be able to make future investments or respond to competitive challenges.
Our Credit Agreement imposes restrictions that may limit business alternatives.
Our Credit Agreement prohibits or limits us from making acquisitions, repurchasing equity, incurring additional debt, acquiring or disposing of assets, or making other distributions, including cash dividends. In addition, our Credit Agreement requires that we comply with a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio financial covenant under certain conditions. In addition, our Credit Agreement requires that we comply with a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio financial covenant under certain conditions. These covenants and restrictions may impact our ability to effectively execute operating and strategic plans and our operating performance may not be sufficient to comply with the required covenants. These covenants and restrictions may impact our ability to effectively execute operating and strategic plans and our operating performance may not be sufficient to comply with the required covenants.
Our failure to comply with one or more of the covenants in our Credit Agreement could result in an event of default. We can provide no assurance that a default could be remedied, or that our creditors would grant a waiver or further amend the terms of the Credit Agreement. We can provide no assurance that a default could be remedied, or that our creditors would grant a waiver or further amend the terms of the Credit Agreement.
We may be unable to compete for projects if we are not able to obtain surety bonds or letters of credit.
A portion of our business depends on our ability to provide surety bonds or letters of credit. Current or future market conditions, including losses incurred in the construction industry or as a result of large corporate bankruptcies, as well as changes in our sureties’ assessment of our operating and financial risk, could cause our surety providers and lenders to decline to issue or renew, or substantially reduce the amount of, bid or performance bonds for our work and could increase our costs associated with collateral. These actions could be taken on short notice. These actions could be taken on short notice. If our surety providers or lenders were to limit or eliminate our access to bonding or letters of credit, our alternatives would include seeking capacity from other sureties and lenders or finding more business that does not require bonds or that allows for other forms of collateral for project performance, such as cash. If our surety providers or lenders were to limit or eliminate our access to bonding or letters of credit, our alternatives would include seeking capacity from other sureties and lenders or finding more business that does not require bonds or that allows for other forms of collateral for project performance, such as cash. We may be unable to secure these alternatives in a timely manner, on acceptable terms, or at all, which could affect our ability to bid for or work on certain future projects requiring financial assurances. We may be unable to secure these alternatives in a timely manner, on acceptable terms, or at all, which could affect our ability to bid for or work on certain future projects requiring financial assurances.
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Under standard terms in the surety market, sureties issue or continue bonds on a project-by-project basis and can decline to issue bonds at any time or require the posting of additional collateral as a condition to issuing or renewing bonds. If we were to experience an interruption or reduction in the availability of bonding capacity as a result of these or other reasons, we may be unable to compete for or work on certain projects that require bonding.
Accounting Risks
Our use of percentage-of-completion accounting for fixed-price contracts could result in a reduction or elimination of previously reported profits.
Revenue for fixed-price contracts is recognized using the percentage-of-completion method of accounting. Under percentage-of-completion accounting, contract revenue and earnings are recognized ratably over the contract term based on the proportion of actual costs incurred to total estimated costs. Under percentage-of-completion accounting, contract revenue and earnings are recognized ratably over the contract term based on the proportion of actual costs incurred to total estimated costs. We review our estimates of contract revenue, costs and profitability on a monthly basis. We review our estimates of contract revenue, costs and profitability on a monthly basis. As a result, we may adjust our estimates on one or more occasions as a result of changes in cost estimates, change orders to the original contract, or claims against the customer for increased costs incurred by us due to customer-induced delays and other factors. As a result, we may adjust our estimates on one or more occasions as a result of changes in cost estimates, change orders to the original contract, or claims against the customer for increased costs incurred by us due to customer-induced delays and other factors. See "Revenue Recognition" within Note 1 - Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies, for more discussion on our percentage-of-completion revenue recognition.
If estimates of costs to complete fixed-price contracts indicate a loss, a provision is made to accrue the total loss anticipated in the period the loss is determined. Contract profit estimates are also adjusted, on a percentage of completion basis, in the fiscal period in which it is determined that an adjustment is required. No restatements are made to prior periods. No restatements are made to prior periods. Further, many of our contracts contain various cost and performance incentives and penalties that impact the earnings we realize from our contracts, and adjustments related to these incentives and penalties are recorded on a percentage of completion basis in the period when estimable and probable.
As a result of the requirements of the percentage-of-completion method of accounting, the possibility exists that we could have estimated and reported a profit on a contract over several prior periods and later determine, as a result of additional information, that all or a portion of such previously estimated and reported profits were overstated. If this occurs, the full aggregate amount of the overstatement will be recognized in the period in which such change in estimate occurs.
Actual results could differ from the estimates and assumptions that we use to prepare our financial statements.
To prepare financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, management is required to make estimates and assumptions, as of the date of the financial statements, which affect the reported values of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. Areas requiring significant estimation by our management include:
•contract costs and application of percentage-of-completion accounting;
•provisions for uncollectable receivables from customers for invoiced amounts;
•the amount and collectability of unpriced change orders and claims against customers;
•provisions for income taxes and related valuation allowances;
•recoverability of goodwill and intangible assets;
•valuation of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in connection with business combinations; and
•accruals for estimated liabilities, including litigation and insurance reserves.
Our actual results could materially differ from these estimates.
Earnings for future periods may be affected by impairment charges.
Because we have grown in part through acquisitions, goodwill and other acquired intangible assets represent a substantial portion of our assets. We perform annual goodwill impairment reviews in the fourth quarter of every fiscal year. We perform annual goodwill impairment reviews in the fourth quarter of every fiscal year. In addition, we perform an impairment review whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the fair value of a goodwill reporting unit may be less than its carrying value or the carrying value of an intangible or fixed asset may not recoverable. In addition, we perform an impairment review whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the fair value of a goodwill reporting unit may be less than its carrying value or the carrying value of an intangible or fixed asset may not recoverable. As of June 30, 2024, we had $1.7 million of amortizing intangible assets and $29.0 million of non-amortizing goodwill representing 0.4% and 6.4% of our total assets, respectively. As of June 30, 2023, we had $3.1 million of amortizing intangible assets and $29.1 million of non-amortizing goodwill representing 0.8% and 7.3% of our total assets, respectively.
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Legal, Insurance, Regulatory and Compliance Risks
We are involved, and are likely to continue to be involved in legal proceedings, which will increase our costs and, if adversely determined, could have a material effect on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and liquidity.
We are currently a defendant in legal proceedings arising from the operation of our business, and it is reasonable to expect that we would be named in future actions. Many of the actions against us arise out of the normal course of performing services on project sites, and include workers’ compensation claims, personal injury claims and contract disputes with our customers. From time to time, we are also named as a defendant for actions involving the violation of federal and state labor laws related to employment practices, wages and benefits. We may also be a plaintiff in legal proceedings against customers seeking to recover payment of contractual amounts due to us as well as claims for increased costs incurred by us resulting from, among other things, services performed by us at the request of a customer that are in excess of original project scope that are later disputed by the customer and customer-caused delays in our contract performance. We may also be a plaintiff in legal proceedings against customers seeking to recover payment of contractual amounts due to us as well as claims for increased costs incurred by us resulting from, among other things, services performed by us at the request of a customer that are in excess of original project scope that are later disputed by the customer and customer-caused delays in our contract performance.
We maintain insurance against operating hazards in amounts that we believe are customary in our industry. However, our insurance policies include deductibles and certain coverage exclusions, so we cannot provide assurance that we are adequately insured against all of the risks associated with the conduct of our business. A successful claim brought against us in excess of, or outside of, our insurance coverage could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and liquidity.
Litigation, regardless of its outcome, is expensive, typically diverts the efforts of our management away from operations for varying periods of time, and can disrupt or otherwise adversely impact our relationships with current or potential customers, subcontractors and suppliers. Payment and claim disputes with customers may also cause us to incur increased interest costs resulting from incurring indebtedness under our revolving line of credit or receiving less interest income resulting from fewer funds invested due to the failure to receive payment for disputed claims and accounts.
Our projects expose us to potential professional liability, product liability, pollution liability, warranty and other claims, which could be expensive, damage our reputation and harm our business. We may not be able to obtain or maintain adequate insurance to cover these claims.
We perform construction and maintenance services at large industrial facilities where accidents or system failures can be disastrous and costly. Any catastrophic occurrence in excess of our insurance limits at locations engineered or constructed by us or where our products are installed or services performed could result in significant professional liability, product liability, warranty and other claims against us by our customers, including claims for cost overruns and the failure of the project to meet contractually specified milestones or performance standards. Further, the rendering of our services on these projects could expose us to risks and claims by third parties and governmental agencies for personal injuries, property damage and environmental matters, among others. Further, the rendering of our services on these projects could expose us to risks and claims by third parties and governmental agencies for personal injuries, property damage and environmental matters, among others. Any claim, regardless of its merit or eventual outcome, could result in substantial costs, divert management’s attention and create negative publicity, particularly for claims relating to environmental matters where the amount of the claim could be extremely large. We may not be able to or may choose not to obtain or maintain insurance coverage for the types of claims described above. We may not be able to or may choose not to obtain or maintain insurance coverage for the types of claims described above. If we are unable to obtain insurance at an acceptable cost or otherwise protect against the claims described above, we will be exposed to significant liabilities, which may materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Employee, subcontractor or partner misconduct or our overall failure to comply with laws or regulations could harm our reputation, damage our relationships with customers, reduce our revenue and profits, and subject us to criminal and civil enforcement actions.
Misconduct, fraud, non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations, or other improper activities by one of our employees, subcontractors or partners could have a significant negative impact on our business and reputation. Such misconduct could include the failure to comply with safety standards, laws and regulations, customer requirements, regulations pertaining to the internal controls over financial reporting, environmental laws and any other applicable laws or regulations. The precautions we take to prevent and detect these activities may not be effective, since our internal controls are subject to inherent limitations, including human error, the possibility that controls could be circumvented or become inadequate because of changed conditions, and fraud.
Our failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations or acts of misconduct could subject us to fines and penalties, harm our reputation, damage our relationships with customers, reduce our revenue and profits and subject us to criminal and civil enforcement actions.
Environmental factors and changes in laws and regulations could increase our costs and liabilities.15Table of ContentsEnvironmental factors and changes in laws and regulations could increase our costs and liabilities.
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Our operations are subject to environmental laws and regulations, including those concerning emissions into the air; discharges into waterways; generation, storage, handling, treatment and disposal of hazardous material and wastes; and health and safety.