Unapproved Change Orders and Claims Against Clients and Estimated Recoveries of Claims Against Suppliers and Subcontractors

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Unapproved Change Orders and Claims Against Clients and Estimated Recoveries of Claims Against Suppliers and Subcontractors

The amounts of unapproved change orders and claims against clients and estimated recoveries of claims against suppliers and subcontractors included in determining the profit or loss on contracts are as follows:


Dollars in millions	2021		2020
Amounts included in project estimates-at-completion at January 1,	$	1,048	$	978
(Decrease) increase in project estimates	(228)		(1)
Approved change orders	(374)		(6)
Foreign currency impact	(20)		77

Amounts included in project estimates-at-completion at December 31,	$	426	$	1,048
Amounts recognized over time based on progress at December 31,	$	426	$	1,048

KBR and its joint ventures have been pursuing approval and collection of amounts due under major unapproved client change orders and subcontractor claims. The remaining commercial matters may not be resolved in the near term. Our current estimates for approval and recoveries may differ materially from the amounts we have recorded and could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position and cash flows.

As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the majority of unapproved change orders and claims against client and estimated recoveries of claims against suppliers and subcontractors relates to the Ichthys LNG Project discussed below.

Ichthys LNG Project

We have a 30% ownership interest in the JKC joint venture ("JKC"), which was contracted to perform the engineering, procurement, supply, construction and commissioning of onshore LNG facilities for a client in Darwin, Australia (the "Ichthys LNG Project"). The construction and commissioning of the Ichthys LNG Project is complete, and the facility has been handed over to the client and is producing LNG.

Settlement Agreement with the Client

In October 2021, JKC entered into a binding settlement agreement (the “Settlement Agreement”) that resolved the outstanding claims and disputes between JKC and its client, Ichthys LNG Pty, Ltd (collectively, “the Parties”). As a result of

the Settlement Agreement, the Parties agreed to withdraw all claims and terminate all ongoing arbitrations and court proceedings between the Parties, including the following:

•Under the cost-reimbursable scope of the contract, JKC believed amounts paid or payable to the suppliers and subcontractors in settlement of their contract claims related to the cost-reimbursable scope were an adjustment to the contract price. JKC made claims for such contract price adjustments; however, the client disputed some of these contract price adjustments. In order to facilitate the continuation of work, the client agreed to a contractual mechanism (“Funding Deed”) in 2016 providing funding in the form of an interim contract price adjustment to JKC, consented to settlement of subcontractor claims as of that date related to the cost-reimbursable scope, but reserved its right to dispute. In 2017, additional settlements pertaining to suppliers and subcontractors under the cost-reimbursable scope of the contract were presented to the client, and the client consented to payment to JKC but reserved its contractual rights. The Settlement Agreement fully resolved these matters capping JKC's recovery to amounts previously funded by the client.

•JKC was entitled to an amount of profit and overhead which was a fixed percentage of the target reimbursable costs under the reimbursable component of the contract. The Parties were unable to reach agreement on incremental amounts claimed by JKC. The Settlement Agreement fully resolved this matter.

•Claims for incurred costs related to scope increases and other factors for which JKC believed it is entitled to reimbursement under the contract along with claims asserted by the client.

In connection with preliminary settlement discussions, the Company recorded a non-cash charge to equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates in the amount of $193 million in the quarter ended June 30, 2021, which reflected KBR’s proportionate share of the unpaid, unapproved change orders and claims. In the quarter ended September 30, 2021, KBR recorded an additional charge of approximately $10 million for its proportionate share of final warranty items.

As part of the Settlement Agreement, KBR’s letters of credit were also reduced to $82 million from $164 million.

The Settlement Agreement does not impact pursuit of, or positions related to, JKC’s subcontractor claims associated with the combined cycle power plant described below.

Paint and Insulation Claims Against Insurer and Paint Manufacturer

There has been deterioration of paint and insulation on certain exterior areas of the plant. As part of the Settlement Agreement, the Parties agreed to consult in good faith and to cooperate to seek maximum recovery from the insurance policies and paint manufacturer for the paint and insulation matters. The Parties agreed to collectively pursue claims against the paint manufacturer, and JKC has assigned claims under the insurance policy regarding the paint and insulation matters to the client.

Under the Settlement Agreement, the parties have agreed that if, at the date of final resolution of the above proceedings and claims with respect to the paint and insulation matters, the recovered amount from the paint manufacturer and insurance claim is less than the stipulated ceiling amount in the Settlement Agreement, JKC will pay the client the difference between the stipulated ceiling amount and the recovered amount. JKC has provided for and continues to maintain its contingent liability.

Combined Cycle Power Plant

Pursuant to JKC's fixed-price scope of its contract with its client, JKC awarded a fixed-price EPC contract to a subcontractor for the design, construction and commissioning of the Combined Cycle Power Plant (the "Power Plant"). The subcontractor was a consortium consisting of General Electric and GE Electrical International Inc. and a joint venture between UGL Infrastructure Pty Limited and CH2M Hill (collectively, the "Consortium"). On January 25, 2017, JKC received a Notice of Termination from the Consortium, and the Consortium ceased work on the Power Plant and abandoned the construction site. JKC believes the Consortium materially breached its subcontract and repudiated its obligation to complete the Power Plant, plus undertook actions making it more difficult and more costly for the works to be completed by others after the Consortium abandoned the site. Subsequently, the Consortium filed a request for arbitration with the ICC asserting that JKC repudiated the contract. The Consortium also sought an order that the Consortium validly terminated the subcontract. JKC has responded to this request, denying JKC committed any breach of its subcontract with the Consortium and restated its claim that the Consortium breached and repudiated its subcontract with JKC and is liable to JKC for all costs to complete the Power Plant.

In March 2017, JKC prevailed in a legal action against the Consortium requiring the return of materials, drawings and tools following their unauthorized removal from the site by the Consortium. After taking over the work, JKC discovered incomplete and defective engineering designs, defective workmanship on the site, missing, underreported and defective

materials and the improper termination of key vendors/suppliers. JKC's investigations also indicate that progress of the work claimed by the Consortium was over-reported. JKC has completed the Consortium's work and the incurred costs significantly exceed the awarded fixed-price subcontract value. JKC's cost to complete the Power Plant includes re-design efforts, additional materials and significant re-work.

JKC is pursuing recourse against the Consortium to recover all of the costs to complete the Power Plant, plus the additional interest, and/or general damages. Each of the Consortium partners has joint and several liability with respect to all obligations under the subcontract.

Costs incurred to complete the Power Plant that have been determined to be probable of recovery from the Consortium under U.S. GAAP have been included as a reduction of cost in our estimate of profit at completion. The estimated recoveries exclude interest, liquidated damages and other related costs which JKC intends to pursue recovery from the Consortium. Amounts expected to be recovered from the Consortium are included in the table above at the beginning of this Note 6.

As of December 31, 2021, JKC's claims against the Consortium were approximately $1.6 billion (net of subcontractor bonds and remaining original lump sum subcontract value) for recovery of JKC's costs. The opening hearing of the power plant arbitration was held in April 2021. The final hearing is expected to be held in April and May 2022. The previous hearing dates were vacated due to the COVID-19 delay and the current dates may continue to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

JKC asked the Australian courts to require the parent company guarantors of the Consortium to issue payment to JKC in advance of the completion of the arbitration proceedings. The court concluded that the parent companies are responsible for Consortium’s liability resulting from the arbitration outcome, but they are not required to pay in advance of the arbitration. JKC continues to pursue the resolution of this matter and will seek collection from the Consortium and their parent guarantors who are all jointly and severally liable for any damages owed to JKC.

To the extent JKC is unsuccessful in prevailing in the Arbitration or the Consortium members are unable to satisfy their financial obligations in the event of a decision favorable to JKC, we would be responsible for our pro-rata portion of unrecovered costs from the Consortium. This could have a material adverse impact on the profit at completion of the overall contract and thus on our consolidated statements of operations and financial position.

See Note 10 "Equity Method Investments and Variable Interest Entities" to our consolidated financial statements for further discussion regarding our equity method investment in JKC.

Changes in all other Project-related Estimates

There are many factors that may affect the accuracy of our cost estimates and ultimately our future profitability. These

include, but are not limited to, the availability and costs of resources (such as labor, materials and equipment), productivity,

weather, and ongoing resolution of legacy projects and legal matters. We generally realize both lower and higher than expected margins on projects in any given period. We recognize revisions of revenues and costs in the period in which the revisions are known. This may result in the recognition of costs before the recognition of related revenue recovery, if any.

During year ended December 31, 2021 within our STS business segment, we recognized a non-cash charge to equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates of $193 million as a result of changes in estimates on the Ichthys LNG project during the second quarter of 2021 and an additional $10 million charge for final warranty items during the third quarter of 2021. Additionally, during the year ended December 31, 2021, we recognized a favorable change of $37 million in gross profit associated with the settlement of a legacy EPC project matter, partially offset by $20 million related to the resolution of other legacy matters.

During year ended December 31, 2020, we recognized a favorable change of $16 million in estimated revenues and gross profit associated with variable consideration resulting from resolution of a contingency of a legacy EPC project during the first quarter of 2020.