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Commitments and Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Commitments under SWU Purchase Agreement
 
The Company’s leading supplier of SWU is the Russian government entity Joint Stock Company “TENEX” (“TENEX”). Under a 2011 agreement with TENEX (the “Russian Supply Agreement”), the Company purchases SWU contained in LEU received from TENEX, and the Company delivers natural uranium to TENEX for the LEU’s uranium component. The LEU that Centrus obtains from TENEX under the agreement is subject to quotas and other restrictions applicable to commercial Russian LEU.

In December 2015, the Company successfully negotiated an amendment to the Russian Supply Agreement to better align the Company’s purchase obligations in light of market conditions generally, the Company’s sales order book, and restrictions on the import of Russian LEU. The amendment extended the Russian Supply Agreement beyond 2022 and gives the Company the right to reschedule quantities of SWU into the period 2023-2026, in return for the purchase of additional SWU in those years. Depending on the total purchase obligations rescheduled to 2023-2026, the Company may defer certain limited quantities beyond 2026.

The amended agreement provides that the Company must pay for all SWU in its minimum purchase obligation each year, even if it fails to submit orders for such SWU.  The Company would then have the right to take the unordered SWU in the following year. The December 2015 modification did not change the pricing terms for SWU under the Russian Supply Agreement, which are based on a mix of market-related price points and other factors.

Potential ERISA Section 4062(e) Liability

The Company had been engaged in discussions with the PBGC regarding the status of the qualified pension plans, including potential liabilities under ERISA Section 4062(e) related to employee reductions resulting from ceasing enrichment operations at the Portsmouth and Paducah GDP facilities. In February 2017, the PBGC confirmed that given changes to ERISA Section 4062(e) enacted by Congress in recent years, the Company is able to waive liability with respect to employee reductions at the Portsmouth and Paducah GDP facilities. In addition, the PBGC stated that it agrees to forbear from future action under ERISA Section 4062(e) related to the American Centrifuge project. In its notification to the Company, the PBGC cited the positive results of the Company’s exchange offer and consent solicitation described in Note 19, Subsequent Event.
 
NYSE MKT Listing Standards Notice

On November 17, 2015, Centrus Energy Corp. received notice from the NYSE MKT LLC (the “NYSE MKT”) indicating that the Company is not in compliance with Sections 1003(a)(i) and (ii) of the NYSE MKT’s Company Guide since the Company reported a stockholders’ deficit as of September 30, 2015, and net losses in its fiscal years ended December 31, 2011, 2012 and 2013. The Company submitted a plan to regain compliance with the NYSE MKT’s continued listing standards and the NYSE MKT notified the Company in January 2016 that it accepted the plan. With the NYSE MKT’s acceptance of the plan, the Company has until May 17, 2017, to regain compliance. If the Company is not in compliance with the continued listing standards by May 17, 2017, or if the Company does not make progress consistent with the plan, the NYSE MKT may initiate delisting procedures as appropriate. In the meantime, the Company’s common stock will continue to be traded on the NYSE MKT, subject to ongoing monitoring by the NYSE MKT and the Company’s compliance with all other applicable NYSE MKT requirements.

American Centrifuge

Milestones under the 2002 DOE-USEC Agreement

USEC and DOE signed an agreement dated June 17, 2002, as amended (the “2002 DOE-USEC Agreement”), pursuant to which the parties made long-term commitments directed at resolving issues related to the stability and security of the domestic uranium enrichment industry. DOE consented to the assumption by Centrus of the 2002 DOE-USEC Agreement and other agreements between the Company and DOE subject to an express reservation of all rights, remedies and defenses by DOE and Centrus under those agreements as part of Centrus’ Chapter 11 bankruptcy process. The 2002 DOE-USEC Agreement requires Centrus to 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.

DOE has specific remedies under the 2002 DOE-USEC Agreement if Centrus fails to meet a milestone that would adversely impact its ability to begin commercial operations of the American Centrifuge Plant on schedule, and such delay was within Centrus’ control or was due to its fault or negligence or if Centrus abandons or constructively abandons the commercial deployment of an advanced enrichment technology. These remedies include terminating the 2002 DOE-USEC Agreement, revoking Centrus’ access to DOE’s centrifuge technology that is required for the success of the American Centrifuge project, requiring Centrus to transfer certain rights in the American Centrifuge technology and facilities to DOE, and requiring Centrus to reimburse DOE for certain costs associated with the American Centrifuge project.

The 2002 DOE-USEC Agreement provides that if a delaying event beyond the control and without the fault or negligence of Centrus occurs that could affect Centrus’ ability to meet an American Centrifuge Plant milestone, DOE and Centrus will jointly meet to discuss in good faith possible adjustments to the milestones as appropriate to accommodate the delaying event. The Company notified DOE that it had not met the June 2014 milestone within the time period currently provided due to events beyond its control and without the fault or negligence of the Company. The assumption of the 2002 DOE-USEC Agreement provided for under the Plan of Reorganization did not affect the ability of either party to assert all rights, remedies and defenses under the agreement and all such rights, remedies and defenses are specifically preserved and all time limits tolled expressly including all rights, remedies and defenses and time limits relating to any missed milestones. DOE and Centrus have agreed that all rights, remedies and defenses of the parties with respect to any missed milestones since March 5, 2014, including the June 2014 and November 2014 milestones, and all other matters under the 2002 DOE-USEC Agreement continued to be preserved, and that the time limits for each party to respond to any missed milestones continue to be tolled.

Piketon Facility Costs and D&D Obligations

Effective October 1, 2015, the U.S. government discontinued funding of the American Centrifuge demonstration cascade at Piketon. Funding for American Centrifuge is now limited to research and development work at our facilities in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. As a result of reduced program funding, Centrus incurred a special charge in the third quarter of 2015 for estimated employee termination benefits, and began reductions in force. Refer to Note 2, Special Charges, for details. Centrus began to incur expenditures in the second quarter of 2016 associated with the D&D of the Piketon facility in accordance with the requirements of the NRC and DOE. Centrus leases the Piketon facility from DOE. At the conclusion of the lease, Centrus is obligated to return the facility to DOE in a condition that meets NRC requirements and in the same condition as the facility was in when it was leased to Centrus (other than due to normal wear and tear). Centrus must remove all Company-owned capital improvements at the Piketon facility, unless otherwise consented to by DOE, by the conclusion of the lease term. The lease will expire on June 30, 2019, unless it is extended. The D&D work is expected to extend through 2017 and be substantially completed by year-end. As of December 31, 2016, we have accrued $38.6 million on the balance sheet as Decontamination and Decommissioning Obligations for the estimated fair value of the remaining costs to complete the D&D work.

Centrus is required to provide financial assurance to the NRC and DOE for D&D costs under a regulatorily-prescribed methodology that includes potential contingent costs and reserves. As of December 31, 2016, Centrus has provided financial assurance to the NRC and DOE in the form of surety bonds totaling $29.4 million, which are fully cash collateralized by Centrus. Centrus expects to receive cash when surety bonds are reduced and/or cancelled as the Company fulfills its D&D and lease obligations.


Waste Disposition

The Company’s prior enrichment operations generated hazardous, low-level radioactive and mixed wastes. The treatment and disposal of wastes from our prior operations at the Paducah GDP was completed in 2016. For the former Portsmouth GDP in Piketon, Ohio, DOE agreed in 2011 to accept ownership of all nuclear material at the site, some of which required processing for waste disposal. We agreed to pay DOE for costs for disposing of our share of such wastes. Centrus’ liability for the processing of remaining waste quantities was $0.2 million at December 31, 2016, and $0.7 million at December 31, 2015.

The USEC Privatization Act and our lease with DOE provide that DOE remains responsible for the decontamination and decommissioning of the Paducah and Portsmouth sites.

Legal Matters

Centrus 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, Centrus does not believe that the outcome of any of these legal matters will have a material adverse effect on its results of operations or financial condition.

Lease Commitments

Expenses under operating leases for office space, equipment and the Piketon and Oak Ridge facilities amounted to $2.9 million in 2016 and $4.3 million in 2015. Future estimated minimum lease payments and expected lease administration payments follow (in millions):
2017
$
3.1

2018
2.4

2019
1.6

2020
0.9

2021
0.9

Thereafter
5.7

 
$
14.6



Centrus has a lease with DOE for centrifuge testing facilities in Oak Ridge through December 2017. Centrus leases facilities in Piketon for the American Centrifuge Plant from DOE. The current five-year lease term is through June 2019. Centrus has the option to extend the lease term for additional five-year terms. 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.
  
Centrus leases the office space for its corporate headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland through October 2027 with an option to extend for five years.