Commitments and Contingencies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies

Note 18—Commitments and Contingencies

Leases— The Company leases certain property and equipment under non-cancellable operating leases which expire at various dates through 2019. The leases require the Company to pay all taxes, insurance, maintenance and utilities and are classified as operating leases in accordance with ASC Topic 840 “Leases”.

Total lease expense during the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 amounted to $3,845 and $2,242, respectively, including amounts paid to related parties of $399 and $325, respectively.

Letters of credit— At March 31, 2013, the Company had letters of credit outstanding of $9,066 and at December 31, 2012, the Company had letters of credit outstanding of $6,168.  The outstanding amounts include the U.S. dollar equivalents for letters of credit issued in Canadian dollars.

Litigation— The Company is subject to claims and legal proceedings arising out of its business. Management believes that the Company has meritorious defenses to such claims. Although management is unable to ascertain the ultimate outcome of such matters, after review and consultation with counsel and taking into consideration relevant insurance coverage and related deductibles, management believes that the outcome of these matters will not have a materially adverse effect on the consolidated financial position of the Company.

Bonding— At March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company had bid and completion bonds issued and outstanding totaling approximately $1,183,423 and $1,298,589, respectively.

Withdrawal liability for multiemployer pension plan—In November 2011, Rockford and ARB, along with other members of the Pipe Line Contractors Association (“PLCA”), withdrew from the Central States Southeast and Southwest Areas Pension Fund multiemployer pension plan (the “Plan”). In connection with the withdrawal, the Company has recorded an estimated liability of $7,500 based on information provided by the Plan. The Company withdrew from the Plan in order to mitigate its liability in connection with the Plan, which is significantly underfunded. The Plan has asserted that the PLCA members did not affect a withdrawal in 2011, although the Company believes that a legally effective withdrawal occurred in November 2011 and has recorded the withdrawal liability on that basis. If the Plan were to prevail in its assertion and the withdrawal of the Company were deemed to occur after 2011, the amount of any withdrawal liability would be expected to increase.

Prior to its acquisition, Q3C had also withdrawn from the Plan.  At the November 2012 acquisition closing, Q3C estimated a withdrawal liability of $85.  Subsequently, in the first quarter of 2013, the Plan asserted that the liability was $119.  Without agreeing to the amount, Q3C has made a payment toward the liability.

Contingent Consideration—Earnouts related to acquisitions as discussed in Note 8 — Business Combinations and Note 13 — Contingent Earnout Liabilities.