Accounting Policies, by Policy (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2013

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Revenues

Revenues include construction, engineering and installation revenues that are recognized using the percentage-of-completion method of accounting in the ratio of costs incurred to estimated final costs. Revenues from change orders, extra work and variations in the scope of work are recognized when it is probable that they will result in additional contract revenue and when the amount can be reliably estimated. During the first six months of 2013, the Company recorded revenue related to claims in its discontinued operations, which has been determined to be probable and reasonably estimated. The amount of revenue is immaterial to the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Contract costs include all direct material and labor costs and those indirect costs related to contract performance, such as indirect labor, supplies, tools and equipment costs. The Company expenses all pre-contract costs in the period these costs are incurred. Since the financial reporting of these contracts depends on estimates, which are assessed continually during the term of these contracts, recognized revenues and profit are subject to revisions as the contract progresses to completion. Revisions in profit estimates are reflected in the period in which the facts that give rise to the revision become known. If material, the effects of any changes in estimates are disclosed in the notes to the consolidated financial statements. When estimates indicate that a loss will be incurred on a contract, a provision for the expected loss is recorded in the period in which the loss becomes evident. Revenues from change orders, extra work and variations in the scope of work are recognized when it is probable that they will result in additional contract revenue and when the amount can be reliably estimated. Any revenue recognized is only to the extent costs have been recognized in the period. Additionally, the Company expenses all costs for unpriced change orders in the period in which they are incurred.

Foreign Currency Transactions and Translations Policy [Policy Text Block]

Foreign Currency Translation

For the Company’s international subsidiaries, the local currency is generally the functional currency. Assets and liabilities of these subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars using rates in effect at the balance sheet date while revenues and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars using average exchange rates. The cumulative translation adjustment resulting from changes in exchange rates are included in the consolidated balance sheets as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in total stockholders’ equity. Net foreign exchange transaction gains (losses) are included in other income (expense) in the consolidated statements of operations.

The Company’s accumulated other comprehensive income is comprised of three main components: (i) currency translation; (ii) derivatives; and (iii) gains and losses associated with the Company’s defined benefit plan in the United Kingdom.

As of June 30, 2013 and 2012, the Company had $6.0 million and $6.5 million, respectively, related to currency translation adjustments, $0.5 million and $0.8 million, respectively, related to derivative transactions and $0.2 million and $0.3 million, respectively, related to pension activity in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

Equity Method Investments, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Investments in Affiliated Companies

In June 2013, the Company sold its fifty percent (50%) interest in Insituform-Germany, held through its indirect subsidiary, Insituform Technologies Limited (UK), to Aarsleff. Insituform-Germany, a company that was jointly owned by Aegion and Aarsleff, is active in the business of no-dig pipe rehabilitation in Germany, Slovakia and Hungary. The sale price was €14 million, approximately US $18.3 million. The sale resulted in a gain on the sale of approximately $11.3 million (net of $0.5 million of transaction expenses) recorded in other income (expense) on the consolidated statement of operations. In connection with the sale, Insituform-Germany also entered into a tube supply agreement with the Company whereby Insituform-Germany will purchase on an annual basis at least GBP 2.3 million, approximately US $3.6 million, of felt cured-in-place pipe (“CIPP”) liners during the two-year period from June 26, 2013 to June 30, 2015.     

The Company, through its subsidiary, Insituform Technologies Netherlands BV, owns a forty-nine percent (49%) equity interest in WCU Corrosion Technologies Pte. Ltd.(“WCU”). WCU offers the Company’s Tite Liner® process in the oil and gas sector and onshore corrosion services, in each of Asia and Australia.

The Company, through its subsidiary, The Bayou Companies, LLC., owns a forty-nine percent (49%) equity interest in Bayou Coating. Bayou Coating provides pipe coating services from its facility in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and is adjacent to and services the Stupp pipe mill in Baton Rouge.

Investments in entities in which the Company does not have control or is not the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity, and for which the Company has 20% to 50% ownership or has the ability to exert significant influence, are accounted for by the equity method. At June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the investments in affiliated companies on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets were $11.0 million and $19.2 million, respectively.

Net income presented below for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 includes Bayou Coating’s forty-one percent (41%) interest in Delta Double Jointing, LLC (“Bayou Delta”), which is eliminated for purposes of determining the Company’s equity in earnings of affiliated companies because Bayou Delta is consolidated in the Company’s financial statements as a result of its additional ownership through another Company subsidiary.

The Company’s equity in earnings of affiliated companies for all periods presented below includes acquisition-related depreciation and amortization expense and is net of income taxes associated with these earnings. Financial data for these investments in affiliated companies are summarized in the following table (in thousands):

Consolidation, Variable Interest Entity, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Investments in Variable Interest Entities

The Company evaluates all transactions and relationships with variable interest entities (“VIE”) to determine whether the Company is the primary beneficiary of the entities in accordance with FASB ASC 810, Consolidation (“FASB ASC 810”).

The Company’s overall methodology for evaluating transactions and relationships under the VIE requirements includes the following two steps:

•     determine whether the entity meets the criteria to qualify as a VIE; and

•     determine whether the Company is the primary beneficiary of the VIE.

In performing the first step, the significant factors and judgments that the Company considers in making the determination as to whether an entity is a VIE include:

• the design of the entity, including the nature of its risks and the purpose for which the entity was created, to determine the variability that the entity was designed to create and distribute to its interest holders;

• the nature of the Company’s involvement with the entity;

• whether control of the entity may be achieved through arrangements that do not involve voting equity;

• whether there is sufficient equity investment at risk to finance the activities of the entity; and

• whether parties other than the equity holders have the obligation to absorb expected losses or the right to receive residual returns.

If the Company identifies a VIE based on the above considerations, it then performs the second step and evaluates whether it is the primary beneficiary of the VIE by considering the following significant factors and judgments:

• whether the entity has the power to direct the activities of a variable interest entity that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance; and

• whether the entity has the obligation to absorb losses of the entity that could potentially be significant to the variable interest entity or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the variable interest entity.

Based on its evaluation of the above factors and judgments, as of June 30, 2013, the Company consolidated any VIEs in which it was the primary beneficiary. Also, as of June 30, 2013, the Company had significant interests in certain VIEs primarily through its joint venture arrangements for which the Company was not the primary beneficiary. There have been no changes in the status of the Company’s VIE or primary beneficiary during 2013.

Financial data for consolidated variable interest entities are summarized in the following table (in thousands):

Balance sheet data	June 30, 2013		December 31, 2012
Current assets	$	46,049	$	65,251
Non-current assets		50,612		47,086
Current liabilities		29,399		45,604
Non-current liabilities		23,699		23,169

	Six Months Ended June 30,
Income statement data	2013		2012
Revenue	$	38,429	$	41,559
Gross profit		6,645		6,097
Net income		467		433

The Company’s non-consolidated variable interest entities are accounted for using the equity method of accounting and discussed further under “Investments in Affiliated Companies”.

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Newly Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

ASU No. 2013-01 updates standard ASU No. 2011-11 and provides guidance to implement the balance sheet offsetting disclosures that require the presentation of gross and net information about transactions that are (1) offset in the financial statements or (2) subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement, regardless of whether the transactions are actually offset in the statement of financial position. The disclosure requirements are effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods. Refer to Note 10 for discussion of the new accounting pronouncement.

ASU No. 2013-02 generally provides guidance to improve the reporting of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income to various components in the income statement. This standard requires an entity to present either parenthetically on the face of the financial statements or in the notes, significant amounts reclassified from each component of accumulated other comprehensive income and the income statement line items affected by the reclassification. ASU 2013-02 was effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2012. The Company evaluated this pronouncement effective January 1, 2013 and determined reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income to various components in the income statement is immaterial to the financial statements to the Company. Refer to Note 10 for discussion of the new accounting pronouncement.