Note 9 - Commitments and Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]

9.           COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Leases

The Company leases a number of its administrative and operations facilities under non-cancellable operating leases expiring at various dates through 2030. In addition, the Company leases certain construction, automotive and computer equipment on a multi-year, monthly or daily basis. Rental expense in 2012, 2011 and 2010 was $18.7 million, $21.3 million and $20.0 million, respectively.

At December 31, 2012, the future minimum lease payments required under the non-cancellable operating leases were as follows (in thousands):

Year	Minimum Lease Payments
2013	$	14,350
2014		11,082
2015		7,562
2016		4,139
2017		1,892
Thereafter		1,153
Total	$	40,178

Litigation

The Company is involved in certain litigation incidental to the conduct of its business and affairs. Management, after consultation with legal counsel, does not believe that the outcome of any such litigation, individually and in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Purchase Commitments

The Company had no material purchase commitments at December 31, 2012.

Guarantees

The Company has entered into several contractual joint ventures in order to develop joint bids on contracts for its installation business. In these cases, the Company could be required to complete the joint venture partner’s portion of the contract if the partner were unable to complete its portion. The Company would be liable for any amounts for which the Company itself could not complete the work and for which a third-party contractor could not be located to complete the work for the amount awarded in the contract. While the Company would be liable for additional costs, these costs would be offset by any related revenues due under that portion of the contract. The Company has not previously experienced material adverse results from such arrangements. At December 31, 2012, the Company’s maximum exposure to its joint venture partners’ proportionate share of performance guarantees was $1.7 million. Based on these facts, while there can be no assurances, the Company currently does not anticipate any future material adverse impact on its consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

The Company also has many contracts that require the Company to indemnify the other party against loss from claims of patent or trademark infringement. The Company also indemnifies its surety against losses from third-party claims of subcontractors. The Company has not previously experienced material losses under these provisions and, while there can be no assurances, currently does not anticipate any future material adverse impact on its consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

The Company regularly reviews its exposure under all its engagements, including performance guarantees by contractual joint ventures and indemnification of its surety. As a result of the most recent review, the Company has determined that the risk of material loss is remote under these arrangements and has not recorded a liability for these risks at December 31, 2012 on its consolidated balance sheet.

Retirement Plans

Substantially all of the Company’s U.S. employees are eligible to participate in one of the Company’s sponsored defined contribution savings plans, which are qualified plans under the requirements of Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. Total Company contributions to the domestic plans were $3.5 million, $3.2 million and $3.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

In addition, certain foreign subsidiaries maintain various other defined contribution retirement plans. Company contributions to such plans for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 were $1.4 million, $1.2 million and $1.2 million, respectively.

In connection with the 2009 acquisition of Corrpro, the Company assumed an obligation associated with a contributory defined benefit pension plan sponsored by a subsidiary of Corrpro located in the United Kingdom. Employees of this Corrpro subsidiary no longer accrue benefits under the plan; however, Corrpro continues to be obligated to fund prior period benefits. Corrpro funds the plan in accordance with recommendations from an independent actuary and made contributions of $0.6 million and $0.9 million in 2012 and 2011, respectively. Both the pension expense and funding requirements for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 were immaterial to the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations. The benefit obligation and plan assets at December 31, 2012 approximated $7.8 million and $9.1 million, respectively. The Company used a discount rate of 4.3% for the evaluation of the pension liability. The Company has recorded an asset associated with the overfunded status of this plan of approximately $1.3 million, which is included in other long-term assets on the consolidated balance sheet. The benefit obligation and plan assets at December 31, 2011 approximated $7.2 million and $7.6 million, respectively. Plan assets consist of investments in equity and debt securities as well as cash, which are primarily Level 2 investments under the fair value hierarchy of U.S. GAAP.