Basis of Presentation (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Basis of Presentation

Reclassification

Reclassification — Certain previously reported amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

Customer concentration

Customer concentration — We operate in multiple industry segments encompassing the construction of commercial, industrial and public works infrastructure assets primarily throughout the United States. Typically, the top ten customers in any one calendar year generate revenue in excess of 50% of total revenue; however, the group that comprises the top ten customers varies from year to year.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, revenue generated by the top ten customers were approximately $483.0 million and $1,045.9 million, respectively, which represented 53.1% and 50.7%, respectively, of total revenue during the applicable period. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, a Midwest utility customer represented 7.9% and 8.4% of total revenue, respectively, and a California utility customer represented 8.2% and 8.6% of total revenue, respectively.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, revenues generated by the top ten customers were approximately $317.2 million and $1,058.5 million, respectively, which represented 52.2% and 58.8%, respectively, of total revenues during the applicable period. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, a California utility project represented 10.6% and 8.8% of total revenues, respectively, and a state department of transportation customer represented 8.4% and 9.8% of total revenues, respectively.

At September 30, 2018, approximately 10.2% of our accounts receivable were due from one customer, and that customer provided 8.4% of our revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. In addition, of total accounts receivable, approximately 4.4% are from one customer with whom we are currently engaged in a dispute resolution. See Note 17 – “Commitments and Contingencies”.

At September 30, 2017, approximately 10.8% of our accounts receivable were due from one customer, and that customer provided 7.9% of our revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. In addition, approximately 11.2% of total accounts receivable at September 30, 2017 were from one customer with whom we are currently engaged in a dispute resolution.

Multiemployer plans

Multiemployer plans— Various of our subsidiaries are signatories to collective bargaining agreements. These agreements require that we participate in and contribute to a number of multiemployer benefit plans for our union employees at rates determined by the agreements. The trustees for each multiemployer plan determine the eligibility and allocations of contributions and benefit amounts, determine the types of benefits, and administer the plan. To the extent that any plans are underfunded, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended by the Multi-Employer Pension Plan Amendments Act of 1980, requires that if we were to withdraw from an agreement or if a plan is terminated, we may incur a withdrawal obligation. The potential withdrawal obligation may be significant. In accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), any withdrawal liability would be recorded when it is probable that a liability exists and can be reasonably estimated. In November 2011, we withdrew from the Central States Southeast and Southwest Areas Pension Fund multiemployer plan, and fully paid off the withdrawal liability in the third quarter of 2018 as discussed in Note 17 — “Commitments and Contingencies”. We have no plans to withdraw from any other agreements.

Revenue recognition

On January 1, 2018, we adopted Topic 606 using the modified retrospective method applied to those contracts that were not completed as of January 1, 2018. In adopting Topic 606, we changed our accounting policy for revenue recognition. Results for periods prior to January 1, 2018 are not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with our historic accounting under ASC Topic 605. The cumulative impact of adopting Topic 606 was immaterial and did not require an adjustment to retained earnings. However, we reclassified prior year balance sheet and cash flow amounts to conform to current year presentation.

We generate revenue under a range of contracting types, including fixed-price, unit-price, time and material, and cost reimbursable plus fee contracts. A substantial portion of our revenue is derived from contracts that are fixed-price or unit-price and is recognized over time as work is completed because of the continuous transfer of control to the customer (typically using an input measure such as costs incurred to date relative to total estimated costs at completion to measure progress). For time and material and cost reimbursable plus fee contracts, revenue is recognized primarily on an input basis, based on contract costs incurred as defined within the respective contracts. Costs to obtain contracts are generally not significant and are expensed in the period incurred.

We evaluate whether two or more contracts should be combined and accounted for as one single performance obligation and whether a single contract should be accounted for as more than one performance obligation. Topic 606 defines a performance obligation as a contractual promise to transfer a distinct good or service to a customer. A contract’s transaction price is allocated to each distinct performance obligation and recognized as revenue when, or as, the performance obligation is satisfied. Our evaluation requires significant judgment and the decision to combine a group of contracts or separate a contract into multiple performance obligations could change the amount of revenue and profit recorded in a given period. The majority of our contracts have a single performance obligation, as the promise to transfer the individual goods or services is not separately identifiable from other promises in the contract and, therefore, is not distinct. However, occasionally we have contracts with multiple performance obligations. For contracts with multiple performance obligations, we allocate the contract’s transaction price to each performance obligation using the observable standalone selling price, if available, or alternatively our best estimate of the standalone selling price of each distinct performance obligation in the contract. The primary method used to estimate standalone selling price is the expected cost plus a margin approach for each performance obligation. 

As of September 30, 2018, we had $1.73 billion of remaining performance obligations. We expect to recognize approximately 81% of our remaining performance obligations as revenue during the next four quarters and substantially all of the remaining balance by the year-end 2020.

Accounting for long-term contracts involves the use of various techniques to estimate total transaction price and costs. For long-term contracts, transaction price, estimated cost at completion and total costs incurred to date are used to calculate revenue earned. Unforeseen events and circumstances can alter the estimate of the costs and potential profit associated with a particular contract.  Total estimated costs, and thus contract revenue and income, can be impacted by changes in productivity, scheduling, the unit cost of labor, subcontracts, materials and equipment. Additionally, external factors such as weather, client needs, client delays in providing permits and approvals, labor availability, governmental regulation and politics may affect the progress of a project’s completion, and thus the timing of revenue recognition. To the extent that original cost estimates are modified, estimated costs to complete increase, delivery schedules are delayed, or progress under a contract is otherwise impeded, cash flow, revenue recognition and profitability from a particular contract may be adversely affected.

The nature of our contracts gives rise to several types of variable consideration, including contract modifications (change orders and claims), liquidated damages, volume discounts, performance bonuses, incentive fees, and other terms that can either increase or decrease the transaction price. We estimate variable consideration as the most likely amount to which we expect to be entitled. We include estimated amounts in the transaction price to the extent we believe we have an enforceable right, and it is probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur. Our estimates of variable consideration and the determination of whether to include estimated amounts in the transaction price are based largely on an assessment of our anticipated performance and all information (historical, current and forecasted) that is reasonably available to us at this time.  

Contract modifications result from changes in contract specifications or requirements. We consider unapproved change orders to be contract modifications for which customers have not agreed to both scope and price. We consider claims to be contract modifications for which we seek, or will seek, to collect from customers, or others, for customer-caused changes in contract specifications or design, or other customer-related causes of unanticipated additional contract costs on which there is no agreement with customers. Claims can also be caused by non-customer-caused changes, such as rain or other weather delays. Costs associated with contract modifications are included in the estimated costs to complete the contracts and are treated as project costs when incurred. In most instances, contract modifications are for goods or services that are not distinct, and, therefore, are accounted for as part of the existing contract. The effect of a contract modification on the transaction price, and our measure of progress for the performance obligation to which it relates, is recognized as an adjustment to revenue on a cumulative catch-up basis. In some cases, settlement of contract modifications may not occur until after completion of work under the contract.

As a significant change in one or more of these estimates could affect the profitability of our contracts, we review and update our contract-related estimates regularly. We recognize adjustments in estimated profit on contracts under the cumulative catch-up method. Under this method, the cumulative impact of the profit adjustment is recognized in the period the adjustment is identified. Revenue and profit in future periods of contract performance are recognized using the adjusted estimate. In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, revenue recognized from performance obligations satisfied in previous periods was $2.5 million and $27.5  million, respectively. If at any time the estimate of contract profitability indicates an anticipated loss on a contract, the projected loss is recognized in full, including any previously recognized profit, in the period it is identified and recognized as an “accrued loss provision” which is included in “Contract liabilities” on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. For contract revenue recognized over time, the accrued loss provision is adjusted so that the gross profit for the contract remains zero in future periods.

At September 30, 2018, we had approximately $90.4 million of unapproved contract modifications included in the aggregate transaction prices. These contract modifications were in the process of being negotiated in the normal course of business. Approximately $82.9 million of the contract modifications had been recognized as revenue on a cumulative catch-up basis through September 30, 2018.

In all forms of contracts, we estimate the collectability of contract amounts at the same time that we estimate project costs.  If we anticipate that there may be issues associated with the collectability of the full amount calculated as the transaction price, we may reduce the amount recognized as revenue to reflect the uncertainty associated with realization of the eventual cash collection. For example, when a cost reimbursable project exceeds the client’s expected budget amount, the client frequently requests an adjustment to the final amount. Similarly, some utility clients reserve the right to audit costs for significant periods after performance of the work.

The timing of when we bill our customers is generally dependent upon agreed-upon contractual terms, milestone billings based on the completion of certain phases of the work, or when services are provided. Sometimes, billing occurs subsequent to revenue recognition, resulting in unbilled revenue, which is a contract asset. Also, we sometimes receive advances or deposits from our customers before revenue is recognized, resulting in deferred revenue, which is a contract liability.

The caption “Contract assets” in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets represents the following:

· unbilled revenue (formerly costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings), which arise when revenue has been recorded but the amount will not be billed until a later date;

· retainage amounts for the portion of the contract price earned by us for work performed, but held for payment by the customer as a form of security until we reach certain construction milestones; and

· contract materials for certain job specific materials not yet installed, which are valued using the specific identification method relating the cost incurred to a specific project.

Derivative instruments and hedging activities

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities— We recognize all derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities on the balance sheet at their respective fair values. Our use of derivatives consists of an interest rate swap agreement. The interest rate swap agreement was entered into to improve the predictability of cash flows from interest payments related to variable rate debt for the duration of the term loan. The interest rate swap matures in July 2023 and is not designated as a hedge for accounting purposes. Therefore, the change in the fair value of the derivative asset or liability is reflected in net income in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (mark-to-market accounting). Cash flows from derivatives settled are reported as cash flow from operating activities.