Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Commitments and Contingencies

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Commitments and Contingencies
3 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Commitments and Contingencies.  
Commitments and Contingencies

9. Commitments and Contingencies

 

Litigation

 

The Company is involved in various legal proceedings, including contract and employment claims, in the ordinary course of its business. The matters reported on below involve significant pending or potential claims against us.

 

In March 2009, a state Medicaid agency asserted a claim against MAXIMUS, related to a discontinued business line, in the amount of $2.3 million in connection with a contract MAXIMUS had through February 1, 2009 to provide Medicaid administrative claiming services to school districts in the state. MAXIMUS entered into separate agreements with the school districts under which MAXIMUS helped the districts prepare and submit claims to the state Medicaid agency which, in turn, submitted claims for reimbursement to the federal government. No legal action has been initiated. The state has asserted that its agreement with MAXIMUS requires the Company to reimburse the state for the amounts owed to the federal government. However, the Company’s agreements with the school districts require them to reimburse MAXIMUS for such payments and therefore MAXIMUS believes the school districts are responsible for any amounts disallowed by the state Medicaid agency or the federal government. Accordingly, the Company believes its exposure in this matter is limited to its fees associated with this work and that the school districts will be responsible for the remainder. During the second quarter of fiscal 2009, MAXIMUS recorded a $0.7 million reduction of revenue reflecting the fees it earned under the contract. MAXIMUS has exited the federal healthcare claiming business and no longer provides the services at issue in this matter.

 

In 2010, the Company received a draft audit report prepared on behalf of one of its former SchoolMAX customers. The SchoolMAX business line was sold as part of the divestiture of the MAXIMUS Education Systems division in 2008. The draft audit report recommended a refund of approximately $11.6 million primarily arising out of the alleged failure of MAXIMUS and the buyer of the division to observe the most favored customer pricing term of the contract. A final audit report was issued in 2011 which reduced the amount allegedly owed to approximately $42,000. Earlier in 2011, the client sent a letter to MAXIMUS and the buyer of the business initiating the dispute resolution process under the contract. The client reiterated some of the audit issues previously identified and also raised a number of issues pertaining to services and products delivered under the contract. At that time, the client alleged total damages in excess of $30 million, although that amount will likely be reduced in light of the substantial reduction in the audit-related claim. MAXIMUS and the buyer are contesting the client’s claims. The Company also believes that it is entitled to indemnification from the buyer of the business for claims pertaining to services and deliverables.

 

Credit Facilities and Performance Bonds

 

The Company’s Revolving Credit Agreement provides for a senior secured revolving credit facility, with SunTrust Bank as administrative agent, issuing bank and swingline lender, and a syndicate of other lenders (the “Credit Facility”). The Credit Facility provides for a $35.0 million revolving line of credit commitment, which may be used (i) for revolving loans, (ii) for swingline loans, subject to a sublimit of $5.0 million, and (iii) to request the issuance of letters of credit on the Company’s behalf, subject to a sublimit of $25.0 million. The Company may request an increase in the commitment under the Credit Facility, such that the aggregate commitments under the Credit Facility shall at no time exceed $75.0 million. The credit available under the Credit Facility may be used, among other purposes, to refinance the Company’s current indebtedness, to repurchase shares of the Company’s capital stock and to finance the ongoing working capital, capital expenditure, and general corporate needs of the Company. The Credit Facility matures on January 25, 2013, at which time all outstanding borrowings must be repaid and all outstanding letters of credit must have been terminated or cash collateralized. At December 31, 2011, letters of credit totaling $14.0 million were outstanding under the Credit Facility.

 

Subject to applicable conditions, the Company may elect interest rates on its revolving borrowings calculated by reference to (i) the prime lending rate as announced by SunTrust Bank (or, if higher, the federal funds effective rate plus 0.50% or the one-month adjusted LIBOR) (a Base Rate Borrowing), or (ii) the reserve adjusted rate per annum equal to the offered rate for deposits in U.S. dollars for a one (1), two (2), three (3) or six (6) month period in the London Inter-Bank Market (a LIBOR Borrowing), and, in each case, plus an applicable margin that is determined by reference to the Company’s then-current leverage ratio. For swingline borrowings, the Company will pay interest at the rate of interest for a one (1) month LIBOR Borrowing, plus the applicable margin, or at a rate to be separately agreed upon by the Company and the administrative agent.

 

The Credit Facility provides for the payment of specified fees and expenses, including commitment and letter of credit fees, and contains customary financial and other covenants that require the maintenance of certain ratios including a maximum leverage ratio and a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio. The Company was in compliance with all covenants in the amended Credit Facility as of December 31, 2011. The Company’s obligations under the Credit Facility are guaranteed by certain of the Company’s direct and indirect subsidiaries (collectively, the “Guarantors”) and are secured by substantially all of MAXIMUS’ and the Guarantors’ present and future tangible and intangible assets, including the capital stock of subsidiaries and other investment property.

 

The Company also has a loan agreement with the Atlantic Innovation Fund of Canada. This provides for a loan of up to 1.8 million Canadian Dollars, which must be used for specific technology-based research and development. The loan has no interest charge and is repayable in installments between 2012 and 2022. At December 31, 2011, $1.7 million (1.8 million Canadian Dollars) was outstanding under this agreement.

 

Certain contracts require us to provide a surety bond as a guarantee of performance. At December 31, 2011 and September 30, 2011, the Company had performance bond commitments totaling $17.2 million and $16.9 million, respectively. These bonds are typically renewed annually and remain in place until the contractual obligations have been satisfied. Although the triggering events vary from contract to contract, in general, we would only be liable for the amount of these guarantees in the event of default in our performance of our obligations under each contract, the probability of which we believe is remote.

 

Flexible New Deal Contract Liabilities

 

In August 2009, the Company commenced work for the United Kingdom government as a provider of services under the “Flexible New Deal,” a welfare-to-work initiative. The work was performed in the Company’s Human Services Segment. This initiative was terminated for all contract providers during the 2011 fiscal year and replaced with the “Work Programme,” under which MAXIMUS also performs services. As a consequence of the termination of the Flexible New Deal, MAXIMUS incurred certain costs related to the termination of contracts, including property leases for offices which are no longer occupied by the Company but for which the Company retains responsibility for future lease payments. For properties which have been exited, the Company has recognized a liability for future lease rentals, service charges and property taxes for which they are liable, offset by anticipated future sublease rentals. The Company initially recorded a reserve of $0.5 million at September 30, 2011 to cover these liabilities and no additional expense has been recorded at this time. Cash disbursements have reduced the net liability to $0.3 million at December 31, 2011.

 

As part of the Flexible New Deal contract, MAXIMUS was entitled to reimbursement for costs incurred as a consequence of early termination, as well as revenue earned for payments the Company would have received for realizing certain long-term goals under the contract. During the period ended December 31, 2011, MAXIMUS received a payment of $2.7 million for revenue earned and $1.5 million of cost recoveries, net of subcontractor expenses.