COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

General

From time to time, we are involved in legal proceedings that are incidental to the operation of our businesses. Some of these proceedings seek remedies relating to environmental matters, employment matters and commercial or contractual disputes.

Although the ultimate outcome of any legal matter cannot be predicted with certainty, based on present information, including our assessment of the merits of each particular claim, we do not expect that any asserted or unasserted legal claims or proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on our cash flow, results of operations, or financial condition.

Environmental

In the ordinary course of business, we are subject to Federal, state, local and foreign environmental laws and regulations. Accruals for environmental matters are recorded on a site by site basis when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the liability can be reasonably estimated, based on current law and existing technologies available to us. Our accrued liabilities for these environmental matters represent the best estimates related to the investigation and remediation of environmental media such as water, soil, soil vapor, air and structures, as well as related legal fees. These estimates, and related accruals, are reviewed quarterly and updated for progress of investigation and remediation efforts and changes in facts and legal circumstances. Liabilities for these environmental expenditures are recorded on an undiscounted basis.

It is difficult to estimate the final costs of investigation and remediation due to various factors, including incomplete information regarding particular sites and other potentially responsible parties, uncertainty regarding the extent of investigation or remediation and our share, if any, of liability for such conditions, the selection of alternative remedial approaches and changes in environmental standards and regulatory requirements. We have estimated and accrued approximately $4 million as of each of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, for environmental matters. These amounts were included in Other non-current liabilities in our unaudited Condensed Combined Balance Sheets. In our opinion, the total amount accrued is appropriate based on existing facts and circumstances known to us. Any environmental liabilities as of the date of the Spin-off were retained by Exelis as set forth in the Distribution Agreement and accordingly, after the Spin-off the Company will eliminate the liability and record a contribution to capital.

The following table illustrates the range of our currently estimated loss and number of active sites for these environmental matters:



(In millions)	September 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
Low-end range	$	3	$	3
High-end range	$	30	$	6
Number of active environmental investigation and remediation sites	28		5

U.S. Government Contracts, Investigations and Claims

The Company has U.S. government contracts that are funded incrementally on a year-to-year basis. Changes in government policies, priorities or funding levels through agency or program budget reductions by the U.S. Congress or executive agencies could materially adversely affect the Company’s financial condition or results of operations. Furthermore, contracts with the U.S. government may be terminated or suspended by the U.S. government at any time, with or without cause. Such contract suspensions or terminations could result in unreimbursable expenses or charges or otherwise adversely affect the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

Departments and agencies of the U.S. government have the authority to investigate various transactions and operations of the Company, and the results of such investigations may lead to administrative, civil or criminal proceedings, the ultimate outcome of which could be fines, penalties, repayments or compensatory or treble damages. U.S. government regulations provide that certain findings against a contractor may lead to suspension or debarment from future U.S. government contracts or the loss of export privileges for a company or an operating division or subdivision. Suspension or debarment could have a material adverse effect on the Company because of its reliance on U.S. government contracts.

U.S. government agencies, including the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) and others, routinely audit and review a contractor’s performance on government contracts, indirect rates and pricing practices, and compliance with applicable contracting and procurement laws, regulations and standards. Accordingly, costs billed or billable to the U.S. government customers are subject to potential adjustment upon audit by such agencies. The agencies also review the adequacy of the contractor’s compliance with government standards for its accounting and management internal control systems, including: control environment and accounting systems, general information technology systems, budget and planning systems, purchasing systems, material management systems, compensation systems, labor systems, indirect and other direct costs systems, property systems, billing systems and estimating systems. Audits currently underway include the Company’s control environment and accounting, billing, and indirect and other direct cost systems, as well as reviews of the Company’s compliance with certain U.S. government Cost Accounting Standards.

From time to time, U.S. government customers advise the Company of claims and penalties concerning certain potential disallowed costs. When such findings are presented, Vectrus and the U.S. government representatives engage in discussions to enable Vectrus to evaluate the merits of these claims as well as to assess the amounts being claimed. Where appropriate, provisions are made to reflect the expected exposure to the matters raised by the U.S. government representatives and such provisions are reviewed on a quarterly basis for sufficiency based on the most recent information available to us.