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Commitments and Contingencies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Commitments and Contingencies | COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Russian Supply Agreement On March 23, 2011, USEC signed an agreement with TENEX for the 10-year supply of Russian LEU, which became effective in December 2011. Under the terms of the agreement, the supply of LEU to USEC began in 2013. Beginning in 2015, TENEX and USEC may mutually agree to increase the purchases and sales of SWU by certain optional quantities of SWU. The LEU that USEC obtains from TENEX under the agreement is subject to quotas and other restrictions applicable to commercial Russian LEU. Deliveries under the supply agreement are expected to continue through 2022. USEC purchases the SWU component of the LEU and delivers natural uranium to TENEX for the LEU’s uranium component. The pricing terms for SWU under the contract are based on a mix of market-related price points and other factors. American Centrifuge Project Funding USEC is re-evaluating its plan and alternatives for proceeding with the financing and commercialization of the American Centrifuge project. Factors that can affect this plan and the economics of the project include key variables related to project cost, schedule, the status of the supply chain for centrifuge manufacturing and plant support systems, market demand and market prices for LEU, financing costs and other financing terms. The economics of the project are severely challenged by the current supply/demand imbalance in the market for LEU and related downward pressure on market prices for SWU which are now at their lowest levels in more than a decade. At current market prices, USEC does not believe that its plans for commercialization of the American Centrifuge project are economically viable without additional government support beyond the $2 billion loan guarantee funding that the Company has applied for from DOE. Although the economics of the American Centrifuge project are severely challenged under current enrichment market conditions, USEC continues to believe that the deployment of the American Centrifuge project represents its clearest path to a long-term, direct source of domestic enrichment production, and therefore the long-term viability of USEC's LEU business. USEC has provided various options to DOE related to preserving the American Centrifuge technology for national security needs which may enable USEC to maintain the option to deploy the technology for commercial purposes at some point in the future. Over the past two years, USEC confirmed the technical readiness of the American Centrifuge technology through a cooperative cost-sharing RD&D Program with DOE. The continuation of the RD&D Program in 2014 includes work primarily related to additional cascade testing. The program continuation also supports DOE analysis of the technology while sustaining program capabilities as DOE considers its options for meeting national security needs. USEC could make a decision in the near term to reduce, demobilize or terminate the American Centrifuge project if additional DOE funding or support is not available or if USEC determines there is no longer a viable path to commercialization of the American Centrifuge project. Under the amended cooperative agreement, the RD&D Program is extended through April 15, 2014. The latest funding was included in the omnibus appropriations bill for government fiscal year 2014 passed by Congress and signed by the President in January 2014. This appropriated $62 million for the RD&D Program, including $29.3 million that had been previously provided under the cooperative agreement pursuant to the continuing resolutions that previously funded government operations in government fiscal year 2014 and the additional $22.6 million provided under the cooperative agreement by DOE since its passage. The omnibus appropriations bill also provides DOE with authority to transfer up to an additional $56.65 million of funding within DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration appropriations to fund the RD&D Program or a successor program. Such transfer authority is subject to further approval of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees after a minimum 30-day review period. To obtain such approvals, the Secretary of Energy must notify Congress and submit to the Appropriations Committees a cost-benefit analysis of available and prospective domestic enrichment technologies for national security needs and the scope, schedule and cost of the Secretary’s preferred option. Funding for the RD&D Program has only been provided through April 15, 2014, and DOE has stated that it does not plan to extend the RD&D cooperative agreement beyond such date. We continue to discuss with DOE its options for maintaining a domestic enrichment capability and DOE’s plans for the American Centrifuge project post-April 15, as well as USEC’s potential role in such options and during any transition. However, the scope of and USEC's role in a program after April 15 are uncertain, and USEC has no assurance that the U.S. government will continue to support the project beyond April 15, 2014. Due to the absence of clarity regarding both DOE funding and DOE’s plans for the American Centrifuge project beyond April 15, USEC Inc. issued notices to all of its employees working on the American Centrifuge project as required by the WARN Act of the potential for layoffs. Additional details regarding the incremental funding for the RD&D Program to date are provided in Note 5, "Advanced Technology Costs and Other Income." Milestones under the 2002 DOE-USEC Agreement USEC and DOE are parties to an agreement dated June 17, 2002, as amended (the “2002 DOE-USEC Agreement”), pursuant to which USEC and DOE made long-term commitments directed at resolving issues related to the stability and security of the domestic uranium enrichment industry. The agreement provides that USEC will develop, demonstrate and deploy advanced enrichment technology in accordance with milestones and provides for remedies in the event of a failure to meet a milestone under certain circumstances. The 2002 DOE-USEC Agreement provides DOE with specific remedies if USEC fails to meet a milestone that would materially impact USEC's ability to begin commercial operations of the American Centrifuge Plant on schedule and such delay was within USEC's control or was due to USEC's fault or negligence. These remedies could include terminating the 2002 DOE-USEC Agreement, revoking USEC's access to DOE's U.S. centrifuge technology that USEC requires for the success of the American Centrifuge project and requiring USEC to transfer certain of its rights in the American Centrifuge technology and facilities to DOE, and to reimburse DOE for certain costs associated with the American Centrifuge project. Any of these remedies under the 2002 DOE-USEC Agreement could have a material adverse impact on USEC's business. The 2002 DOE-USEC Agreement provides that if a delaying event beyond the control and without the fault or negligence of USEC occurs which would affect USEC's ability to meet an ACP milestone, DOE and USEC will jointly meet to discuss in good faith possible adjustments to the milestones as appropriate to accommodate the delaying event. 2002 DOE-USEC Agreement - Domestic Enrichment Facilities Under the 2002 DOE-USEC Agreement, USEC agreed to operate the Paducah GDP at a production rate at or above 3.5 million SWU per year and production at Paducah may not be reduced below a minimum of 3.5 million SWU per year until six months before USEC has the permanent addition of 3.5 million SWU per year of new capacity installed based on advanced enrichment technology. By letter dated May 30, 2013, USEC provided notice to DOE under the 2002 DOE-USEC Agreement that it would cease enrichment at the Paducah GDP at the conclusion of the agreements related to the one-year, multi-party depleted uranium enrichment program on May 31, 2013. Under the 2002 DOE-USEC Agreement, DOE can transition operations of Paducah from USEC operation to ensure the continuity of domestic enrichment operations and the fulfillment of supply contracts. DOE has not exercised its remedy under the 2002 DOE-USEC Agreement related to the cessation of enrichment and USEC has been in discussions with DOE to establish a mutually agreed-upon date to return the leased areas to DOE. NYSE Listing Standards Notices On May 8, 2012, USEC received notice from the NYSE that the average closing price of its common stock was below the NYSE's continued listing criteria relating to minimum share price. The NYSE listing requirements require that a company's common stock trade at a minimum average closing price of $1.00 over a consecutive 30 trading-day period. On July 1, 2013, USEC effectuated a reverse stock split in order to regain compliance with the NYSE continued listing criteria related to minimum share price. This action resulted in USEC's closing share price exceeding $1.00 per share and remaining above that level, and the condition has now been cured. On April 30, 2013, USEC received notice from the NYSE that the decline in USEC's total market capitalization has caused it to be out of compliance with another of the NYSE's continued listing standards. The NYSE listing requirements require that a company maintain an average market capitalization of not less than $50 million over a consecutive 30 trading-day period where the company's total stockholders' equity is less than $50 million. In accordance with the NYSE's rules, USEC submitted a plan advising the NYSE of definitive action it has taken, or is taking, that would bring it into conformity with the market capitalization listing standards within 18 months of receipt of the letter. On August 1, 2013, the NYSE accepted USEC's plan of compliance and USEC's common stock will continue to be listed on the NYSE during the 18-month cure period, subject to the compliance with other NYSE continued listing standards and continued periodic review by the NYSE of USEC's progress with respect to its plan. USEC's plan outlines initiatives USEC must execute by quarter. These initiatives include the successful completion of ACP development milestones, commercialization activities related to the American Centrifuge project, as well as the successful execution of the Company's Russian Supply Agreement and the Company's potential balance sheet restructuring. The NYSE has notified USEC that if USEC does not achieve these financial and operational goals, the Company will be subject to NYSE trading suspension at the point the initiative or goal is not met. In addition, the NYSE can at any time suspend trading in a security and delist the stock if it deems it necessary for the protection of investors. The NYSE can take accelerated listing action if USEC's common stock trades at levels viewed to be “abnormally low” over a sustained period of time. USEC would also be subject to immediate suspension and de-listing from the NYSE if its average market capitalization is less than $15 million over a consecutive 30 trading-day period. During July 2013, USEC's market capitalization fell below $15 million for several days. Even if USEC meets the numerical listing standards above, the NYSE reserves the right to assess the suitability of the continued listing of a company on a case-by-case basis whenever it deems it appropriate and will consider factors such as unsatisfactory financial conditions and/or operating results or inability to meet debt obligations or adequately finance operations. Under the terms of USEC's convertible notes, a "fundamental change" is triggered if USEC's shares of common stock are not listed for trading on any of the NYSE, the American Stock Exchange (now NYSE-MKT), the NASDAQ Global Market or the NASDAQ Global Select Market, and the holders of the notes can require USEC to repurchase the notes at par for cash. However, as a result of the Chapter 11 filing, any actions to enforce such repurchase right or to otherwise exercise rights under the notes are stayed. Potential ERISA Section 4062(e) Liability USEC is in discussions with the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (“PBGC”) regarding the impact of USEC's de-lease of the Portsmouth gaseous diffusion facilities and related transition of employees performing government services work to DOE's D&D contractor on September 30, 2011. USEC notified the PBGC of this occurrence and the PBGC has informally advised USEC of its preliminary view that the Portsmouth site transition is a cessation of operations that triggers liability under ERISA Section 4062(e) and that its preliminary estimate is that the ERISA Section 4062(e) liability (computed taking into account the plan's underfunding on a termination basis, which amount differs from that computed for GAAP purposes) for the Portsmouth site transition is approximately $130 million. USEC has informed the PBGC that it does not agree that the Portsmouth de-lease and transition of employees constituted a cessation of operations that triggered liability under ERISA Section 4062(e). USEC also disputes the amount of the PBGC's preliminary calculation of the potential ERISA Section 4062(e) liability. In addition, USEC believes that DOE is responsible for a significant portion of any pension costs associated with the transition of employees at Portsmouth. However, USEC has not reached a resolution with the PBGC and USEC has no assurance that the PBGC will agree with it or will not pursue a requirement for it to accelerate funding or take other actions to provide security. USEC is also in discussions with the PBGC regarding the cessation of enrichment at the Paducah GDP and related transition of employees including reductions in force. In addition, the PBGC could take the position that a demobilization of the American Centrifuge project, either alone or taken together with the transition of the Paducah and Portsmouth GDPs, creates potential liabilities under ERISA Section 4062(e). Legal Matters USEC is subject to various legal proceedings and claims, either asserted or unasserted, which arise in the ordinary course of business. While the outcome of these claims cannot be predicted with certainty, USEC does not believe that the outcome of any of these legal matters will have a material adverse effect on its results of operations, cash flows or financial condition. On June 27, 2011, a complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, against USEC by a former Portsmouth GDP employee claiming that USEC owes severance benefits to him and other similarly situated employees that have transitioned or will transition to the DOE D&D contractor. The plaintiff amended its complaint on August 31, 2011 and February 10, 2012, among other things, to limit the purported class of similarly situated employees to salaried employees at the Portsmouth site who transitioned to the D&D contractor and are allegedly eligible for or owed benefits. On October 11, 2012, the United States District Court granted USEC’s motion to dismiss the complaint and dismissed Plaintiffs’ motion for class certification as moot. The Plaintiffs filed an appeal on January 18, 2013. On July 19, 2013, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit upheld the District Court decision and dismissed the Plaintiffs' appeal. The Plaintiffs have no further rights to appeal. USEC had not accrued any amounts for this matter. On March 5, 2014 (the “Petition Date”), USEC Inc. filed a voluntary petition for relief (the “Bankruptcy Filing”) under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (the “Bankruptcy Court”) case number 14-10475. The Bankruptcy Filing was a “pre-arranged” filing which, as described in Note 1, included the filing of a proposed Plan of Reorganization (the “Plan”) which is supported by certain holders of the claims and interests impaired under the Plan. USEC Inc.’s subsidiaries (collectively, the “Non-Filing Entities”), including United States Enrichment Corporation (“Enrichment”), which is USEC Inc.'s primary operating subsidiary, were not part of the Bankruptcy Filing. USEC Inc. will continue to operate its business as “debtor-in-possession” under the jurisdiction of the Bankruptcy Court and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code and the orders of the Bankruptcy Court. The Non-Filing Entities will continue to operate in the ordinary course of business. Lease Commitments Operating costs incurred under the operating leases with DOE for the Paducah, Piketon, and Oak Ridge facilities, and leases for office space and equipment amounted to $7.1 million in 2013, $7.3 million in 2012 and $8.5 million in 2011. Future estimated minimum lease payments and expected lease administration payments follow (in millions):
2014 | $ | 6.2 |
2015 | 4.5 |
2016 | 3.6 |
2017 | 1.9 |
2018 | 1.9 |
Thereafter | 45.8 |
| $ | 63.9 |
Future payments for the GDP lease at Paducah are through August 1, 2015 based on USEC's official notice to terminate provided to DOE. USEC anticipates being ready to complete the return of leased premises and to terminate the Paducah lease as early as July 2014. However, based on USEC's current discussions with DOE, the return of the leased premises appears unlikely before October 2014 and USEC and DOE have not reached agreement on a lease termination date prior to August 1, 2015. USEC leases facilities in Piketon for the American Centrifuge Plant from DOE. The current five-year lease term is through June 2019. USEC has the option to extend the lease term for additional five-year terms ending in 2043. Thereafter, USEC has the right to extend the American Centrifuge Plant lease for up to an additional 20 years, through 2063, if it agrees to demolish the existing buildings leased to USEC after the lease term expires and subject to certain other conditions. USEC may terminate the American Centrifuge Plant lease upon three years’ notice. DOE may terminate the lease for default, including if DOE is able to exercise its remedies with respect to the ACP under the 2002 DOE-USEC Agreement. USEC has office space and equipment leases for its corporate headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland through November 2016, and for a Washington, D.C. office through June 2014. DOE Technology License USEC has a non-exclusive license in DOE inventions that pertain to enriching uranium using gas centrifuge technology. The license agreement with DOE provides for annual royalty payments based on a varying percentage (1% up to 2%) of USEC’s annual revenues from sales of the SWU component of LEU produced by USEC at the American Centrifuge Plant and any other facility using DOE centrifuge technology. There is a minimum annual royalty payment of $100,000 and the maximum cumulative royalty over the life of the license is $100 million. The license may be terminated by DOE in the event DOE is able to exercise its remedies with respect to the ACP under the 2002 DOE-USEC Agreement.

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