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CUBIC CORP /DE/ - 10-Q - MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
(Edgar Glimpses Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
June 30, 2012
Our three primary businesses are in the defense and transportation industries.
These are high technology businesses that design, manufacture and integrate
complex systems and provide essential services to meet the needs of various
federal and regional government agencies in the U.S. and other nations around
the world.
Cubic Transportation Systems (CTS) is the leading delivery, integration and IT
service provider of automated fare collection systems and turnkey services for
public transit authorities worldwide. We provide hardware, software and
multiagency, multimodal transportation integration technologies and a full scope
of operational services that allow the agencies to efficiently collect fares,
manage their operations, reduce shrinkage and make using public transit a more
convenient and attractive option for commuters.
Cubic Defense Systems (CDS) is focused on two primary lines of business:
Training Systems and Communications. The segment is a diversified supplier of
live and virtual military training systems, and communication systems and
products to the U.S. Department of Defense, other government agencies and allied
nations. We design instrumented range systems for fighter aircraft, armored
vehicles and infantry force-on-force live training; weapons effects simulations;
laser-based tactical and communication systems; and precision gunnery solutions.
Our virtual training systems are aimed at marksmanship, armored vehicle, and
tactical missile systems. Our communications products are aimed at intelligence,
surveillance, and search and rescue markets. Other product lines include
multi-band communication tracking devices, and cross domain hardware solutions
to address multi-level security requirements.
Mission Support Services (MSS) is a leading provider of highly specialized
support services including live, virtual, and constructive training; real-world
mission rehearsal exercises; professional military education; information
technology, information assurance and related cyber support; development of
military doctrine; consequence management, infrastructure protection, and force
protection; risk mitigation services, and subject matter and operational
expertise for national agency and homeland security clients; as well as support
to field operations, force deployment and redeployment, and logistics.
Consolidated Overview
Sales for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 increased 13% to $365.4 million from
$322.8 million last year. For the first nine months of the fiscal year, sales
increased to $1.022 billion compared to $952.6 million last year, an increase of
7%. Sales from CTS increased13% for the quarter and 24% for the nine-month
period. CDS sales decreased 1% for the nine-month period but were up by 37% for
the quarter. MSS sales decreased slightly for the quarter and the nine-month
period. The acquisition of Abraxas added $56.6 million to MSS sales for the
nine-month period compared to $30.5 million last year. See the segment
discussions following for further analysis of segment sales.
Operating income was $38.6 million in the quarter compared to $27.8 million in
the third quarter of last year, an increase of 39%. For the quarter, operating
income increased primarily due to a due to a favorable change in estimate on a
CDS ground combat training range contract during the quarter. Operating income
from CTS increased for the quarter, but decreased from the MSS segment.
Unallocated corporate and other expenses for the third quarter were $1.1 million
in 2012 compared to $1.3 million in 2011.
Operating income for the nine-month period increased 5% to $98.9 million from
$93.8 million last year. Operating income increased from CTS and CDS, but
decreased from MSS for the first nine months. Unallocated corporate and other
expenses for the first nine months of the fiscal year were $3.3 million for 2012
and $4.8 million for 2011. The 2011 unallocated corporate and other expenses
include costs of $1.0 million for which we have filed an insurance claim.
However, any potential recovery is treated as a contingent gain and not recorded
until we are assured of receiving the insurance proceeds. See the segment
discussions following for further analysis of segment operating income.
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Net income attributable to Cubic for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 increased
to $26.7 million, or $1.00 per share, compared to $22.1 million, or 82 cents per
share last year. For the first nine months of the year, net income increased to
$70.8 million, or $2.65 per share, from $69.0 million, or $2.58 per share last
year. Net income increased for the quarter and first nine months primarily due
to the increase in operating income. Other income (expense) included a net
foreign currency exchange gain of $0.9 million for the first nine months of the
year compared to a loss of $0.8 million last year, before applicable income
taxes. The impact of the increases in operating income and other income on net
income were partially offset by the increase in income tax expense described
below.
Our gross margin percentage on product sales increased to 32% in the first nine
months of fiscal 2012 compared to 31% in 2011. The increase in our gross margin
percentage on product sales is primarily due to a favorable change in estimate
on a contract in the CDS segment in the third quarter of 2012. Our gross margin
percentage on service sales decreased to 18% in the nine-month period ended June
30, 2012 compared to 20% in 2011 due primarily to lower profit margins in the
MSS segment.
Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses increased in the third
quarter this year to $42.8 million compared to $38.0 million last year. For the
nine-month period, SG&A increased to $121.0 million compared to $114.6 million
last year. Increases in SG&A reflected general growth of the business and a $2.9
million provision made for a legal claim in the transportation segment during
the second quarter of this year. As a percentage of sales, SG&A expenses were
12% for the third quarter and nine-month period in both years. Company funded
research and development expenditures, which relate to new transportation and
defense technologies we are developing, increased to $8.4 million for the third
quarter compared to $6.3 million last year and $21.4 million for the nine-month
period this year compared to $17.8 million last year. Amortization of purchased
intangibles increased for the nine-month period this year to $11.4 million
compared to $10.6 million last year due to the acquisition of Abraxas in
December 2010.
As of June 30, 2012, our projected effective tax rate for fiscal 2012 is 29.6%
and is reflected in the tax provision for the nine months ended June 30, 2012.
The projected effective rate for fiscal 2012 is higher than last year's
effective rate of 27.8% primarily due to the expiration of the U.S. federal
research and development (R&D) credit on December 31, 2011. In addition, our
projected effective income tax rate for the first half of 2011 benefitted from
the retroactive reinstatement of the federal R&D credit, which reduced the tax
provision by $1.4 million in that period. The effective rate for fiscal 2012
could be affected by, among other factors, the mix of business between the U.S.
and foreign jurisdictions, our ability to take advantage of available tax
credits and audits of our records by taxing authorities.
Transportation Systems Segment (CTS)
Nine Months Ended Three Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
2012 2011 2012 2011
(in millions)
(As Restated) (As Restated)
Transportation Systems Segment
Sales $ 383.3 $ 309.6 $ 125.8 $ 111.1
Transportation Systems Segment
Operating Income $ 60.5 $ 57.7 $ 19.2 $ 17.1
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CTS sales increased 13% in the third quarter to $125.8 million compared to
$111.1 million last year, and increased 24% for the nine-month period to $383.3
million from $309.6 million last year. Sales for the quarter and the nine-month
period ended June 30, 2012 were higher from work on contracts in Australia, a
contract in Canada, and our contracts in the U.K. Partially offsetting these
increases were lower sales from design and build projects in the U.S. compared
to the third quarter and nine-month period last year. The average exchange rates
between the prevailing currency in our foreign operations and the U.S. dollar
resulted in a decrease in sales of $3.3 million for the third quarter and a
decrease of $1.7 million for the nine-month period, compared to the same periods
last year.
Operating income from CTS increased 12% in the third quarter to $19.2 million
compared to $17.1 million last year, and increased 5% for the nine-month period
to $60.5 million from $57.7 million last year. Higher sales and operating income
from contracts in Canada and the U.K., in addition to improved margins from a
service contract in the U.S. contributed toward the increases for the quarter
and nine-month periods. The nine month results were impacted by a $2.9 million
provision we recorded in the second quarter related to a claim against us, for
which we are seeking insurance reimbursement. Any potential insurance recovery
is treated as a contingent gain until we are assured of receiving the insurance
proceeds. In addition, operating income for the three and nine-month periods in
2012 was impacted by cost growth on contracts in the U.S. and Europe that
reduced operating income by $2.0 million for the third quarter and $4.8 million
for the nine-month period. We have also increased our research and development
expenditures in 2012 to $6.8 million for the first nine months compared to $2.9
million for the first nine months of last year. The average exchange rates
between the prevailing currency in our foreign operations and the U.S. dollar
reduced operating income by $0.5 million for the quarter and $0.7 million for
the nine-month period, compared to the same periods last year.
Defense Systems Segment (CDS)
Nine Months Ended Three Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
2012 2011 2012 2011
(in millions)
(As Restated) (As Restated)
Defense Systems Segment Sales
Training systems $ 241.8 $ 248.7 $ 106.8 $ 75.8
Communications 31.7 28.7 8.4 6.7
Other 7.4 6.8 1.7 3.1
$ 280.9 $ 284.2 $ 116.9 $ 85.6
Defense Systems Segment
Operating Income
Training systems $ 32.1 $ 31.4 $ 18.9 $ 7.2
Communications 0.8 3.9 (2.7 ) 2.0
Other (6.2 ) (12.6 ) (1.6 ) (5.2 )
$ 26.7 $ 22.7 $ 14.6 $ 4.0
Training Systems
Training systems sales increased 41% in the third quarter this year to $106.8
million compared to $75.8 million last year, and decreased 3% for the nine-month
period to $241.8 million compared to $248.7 million last year. Operating income
more than doubled for the quarter from $7.2 million last year to $18.9 million
this year, and was up by 2% for the nine-month period from $31.4 million last
year to $32.1 million this year. Sales were higher for the quarter from two
ground combat training ranges we are building in Europe and from sales of small
arms training systems. The increase in operating income resulted from a change
in estimate during the quarter related to a ground combat training range
contract in Europe. We had been working for more than a year under an
arrangement without a firm contract price or scope of work and had been
recognizing sales equal to costs. We have now reached agreement with the
customer on a price and scope of work, resulting in higher operating income in
the third quarter because of this favorable change in estimate. Sales were lower
for the quarter and nine-month periods from air combat training systems. A
delivery of air combat training systems to a U.S. government customer last year
had resulted in significant sales and operating income for the nine-month
period. Ground combat training sales and operating income in the U.S. and the
Far East were also lower this year for the nine-month period, but increased in
the third quarter.
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Communications
Communications sales increased 25% in the third quarter of 2012 to $8.4 million
compared to $6.7 million in 2011 and increased 10% for the nine-month period to
$31.7 million from $28.7 million in the comparable period in 2011. Higher sales
for both the quarter and nine-month period came from data links, while power
amplifier sales were higher for the nine-month period but lower for the quarter.
Personnel locater systems were lower for both the quarter and nine-month period.
Cost growth of $3.1 million on two data links contracts resulted in an operating
loss for the third quarter of $2.7 million compared to operating income of $2.0
million in 2011. Operating income was also lower for the quarter on lower sales
of personnel locater systems and power amplifiers. Operating income for the
first nine months of the fiscal year decreased 79% to $0.8 million this year
from $3.9 million last year, primarily as a result of the cost growth in the
third quarter mentioned above. Lower sales of personnel locator systems also
contributed to lower operating income from communications for the nine-month
period.
Other
The "Other" category of the defense systems segment includes businesses that are
developing cross domain and global asset tracking products. In the first nine
months of 2012 we continued to invest in the development and marketing of these
products, resulting in an operating loss for the quarter and nine-month period.
However, increased gross margins on sales of these products reduced the
operating losses for the third quarter and nine-month period compared to 2011.
Mission Support Services Segment (MSS)
Nine Months Ended Three Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
2012 2011 2012 2011
(in millions)
(As Restated) (As Restated)
Mission Support Services Segment
Sales $ 356.8 $ 357.8 $ 122.4 $ 125.9
Mission Support Services Segment
Operating Income $ 15.0 $ 18.2 $ 5.9 $ 8.0
Sales from MSS decreased 3% to $122.4 million in the third quarter of 2012, from
$125.9 million in 2011, and decreased slightly for the nine-month period to
$356.8 million from $357.8 million last year. Results for the nine-month period
included sales contributed by Abraxas, acquired in December 2010, amounting to
$56.6 million for the nine-month period compared to $30.5 million last year.
Abraxas sales for the third quarter of 2012 were $5.4 million higher than in
2011. Sales decreased for the quarter and nine-month period from training and
education contracts due to the migration of certain contracts to small
businesses where we are now in a subcontractor role. In addition, earlier in the
year we lost a contract in a competitive bid situation, for support of
simulation trainers that we had performed for several years.
MSS operating income decreased 26% to $5.9 million in the third quarter this
year from $8.0 million last year, and decreased 18% for the nine-month period to
$15.0 million this year compared to $18.2 million last year. Lower sales from
certain higher margin training and education contracts contributed to the
decrease in operating income for the quarter and nine-month period this year.
In addition, the current competitive environment in the government services
industry is driving profit margins lower than in recent years. Abraxas incurred
an operating loss of $0.3 million for the third quarter of 2012 which is the
same as in 2011. Abraxas' operating loss for the nine-month period ended June
30, 2012 decreased to $1.7 million from $1.8 million last year.
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Abraxas' operating results included $2.2 million of amortization of intangible
assets for the third quarter of this year compared to $2.6 million last year.
Abraxas recorded $7.1 million of amortization for the nine-month period ended
June 30, 2012 while amortization and acquisition-related costs were $5.5 million
and $0.7 million, respectively, in the comparable period last year.
Backlog
June 30, September 30,
2012 2011
(in millions)
(As Restated)
Total backlog
Transportation Systems $ 1,692.4 $ 1,321.4
Mission Support Services 845.2 931.5
Defense Systems:
Training systems 400.2 481.5
Communications 29.7 36.0
Other 5.7 9.7
Total Defense Systems 435.6 527.2
Other Operations 0.7 1.3
Total $ 2,973.9 $ 2,781.4
Funded backlog
Transportation Systems $ 1,692.4 $ 1,321.4
Mission Support Services 308.3 258.1
Defense Systems:
Training systems 400.2 481.5
Communications 29.7 36.0
Other 5.7 9.7
Total Defense Systems 435.6 527.2
Other Operations 0.7 1.3
Total $ 2,437.0 $ 2,108.0
As reflected in the table above, total backlog increased $192.5 million and
funded backlog increased $329.0 million from September 30, 2011 to June 30,
2012. The majority of the backlog increase was from a new transportation
contract awarded in Chicago, which added $454 million. Changes in exchange rates
between the prevailing currency in our foreign operations and the U.S. dollar as
of June 30, 2012 increased backlog by approximately $32.1 million compared to
September 30, 2011.
The difference between total backlog and funded backlog represents options under
multiyear service contracts. Funding for these contracts comes from annual
operating budgets of the U.S. government and the options are normally exercised
annually. Options for the purchase of additional systems or equipment are not
included in backlog until exercised. In addition to the amounts identified
above, we have been selected as a participant in or, in some cases, the sole
contractor for several substantial indefinite delivery/ indefinite quantity
(IDIQ) contracts. IDIQ contracts are not included in backlog until an order is
received. We also have several service contracts in our transportation business
that include contingent revenue provisions tied to meeting certain performance
criteria. These variable revenues are also not included in the amounts
identified above.
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Liquidity and Capital Resources
Operating activities used cash of $38.8 million for the nine-month period.
Increases in accounts receivable, inventories, and long-term capitalized
contract costs, and decreases in other current liabilities and customer advances
contributed to the use of cash. Use of cash by our CTS and CDA segments was
partially offset by positive cash flows from our MSS segment. A significant
portion of the cash used was in the transportation segment for expenditures
related to large contracts in Australia, Canada, and the U.S., where we must
meet certain milestones before being paid by the customer.
Investing activities for the nine-month period included capital expenditures of
$13.2 million and proceeds from maturities of marketable securities of $25.8
million. Financing activities for the nine-month period consisted of scheduled
payments on our long-term debt of $4.4 million, dividends paid to our
shareholders of $3.2 million and the transfer of cash into a restricted account
totaling $68.6 million, as described below.
We have a committed five-year revolving credit agreement with a group of
financial institutions in the amount of $200 million, expiring in May 2017.
Commitment fees associated with this financing arrangement are 0.20% of the
unutilized balance per annum. As of June 30, 2012, there were no borrowings
under this agreement; however, there were letters of credit outstanding under
the agreement totaling $26.8 million, which reduce the available line of credit
to $173.2 million.
On January 12, 2012 we entered into an additional secured letter of credit
facility agreement with a bank which supports our issuance of letters of credit
that guarantee our obligations to perform under contracts in all of our
operating segments. At June 30, 2012 there were letters of credit outstanding
under this agreement of $57.7 million. In support of the facility, we placed
$68.7 million of our cash held in the U.K. on deposit as collateral in a
restricted account with the bank providing the facility. We are required to
leave the cash in the restricted account so long as the bank continues to
maintain associated letters of credit under the facility. In return the bank
will reduce associated letter of credit fees, accommodate extended expiration
dates for the underlying letters of credit and pay an interest rate
approximating the three month LIBOR on the deposit. This interest rate provides
an improvement over the rate earned on our previous investment choices. The
maximum amount of letters of credit currently allowed by the facility is $66.7
million, and any increase above this amount would require bank approval and
additional restricted funds to be placed on deposit. The initial term of the
facility is one year; however we may choose at any time to terminate the
facility, pending the payment of certain breakage fees, and move the associated
letters of credit to another credit facility.
As of June, 2012, $210.1 million of the $231.1 million of our cash, cash
equivalents, and short-term investments was held by our foreign subsidiaries.
Also, all of our restricted cash was held by our subsidiary in the U.K. If any
of the funds held by our foreign subsidiaries are needed for our operations in
the U.S., we would be required to accrue and pay U.S. taxes to repatriate these
funds. However, our intent is to permanently reinvest these funds outside of the
U.S. and our current plans do not demonstrate a need to repatriate them to fund
our U.S. operations.
Our financial condition remains strong with working capital of $423.3 million
and a current ratio of 2.5 to 1 at June 30, 2012. We expect that cash on hand,
cash flows from operations, and our unused lines of credit will be adequate to
meet our liquidity requirements for the foreseeable future.
Critical Accounting Policies, Estimates and Judgments
Our financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles
that are generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these
financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the
reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosure of contingent assets
and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported
amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. We continually
evaluate our estimates and judgments, the most critical of which are those
related to revenue recognition, income taxes, valuation of goodwill, purchased
intangibles and pension costs. We base our estimates and judgments on historical
experience and other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the
circumstances. Materially different results can occur as circumstances change
and additional information becomes known.
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Besides the estimates identified above that are considered critical, we make
many other accounting estimates in preparing our financial statements and
related disclosures. All estimates, whether or not deemed critical affect
reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, as well as
disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. These estimates and judgments
are also based on historical experience and other factors that are believed to
be reasonable under the circumstances. Materially different results can occur as
circumstances change and additional information becomes known, even for
estimates and judgments that are not deemed critical.
In connection with the restatement of our consolidated financial statements
described in Note 2 of Part 1 Item 1, we revised our critical accounting policy
for revenue recognition as follows:
Revenue Recognition
A significant portion of our business is derived from long-term development,
production and system integration contracts. We consider the nature of these
contracts, and the types of products and services provided, when we determine
the proper accounting for a particular contract. Generally, we record revenue
for long-term fixed price contracts on a percentage-of-completion basis using
the cost-to-cost method to measure progress toward completion. Many of our
long-term fixed-price contracts require us to deliver quantities of products
over a long period of time or to perform a substantial level of development
effort in relation to the total value of the contract. Under the cost-to-cost
method of accounting, we recognize revenue based on a ratio of the costs
incurred to the estimated total costs at completion. For certain other
long-term, fixed price production contracts not requiring substantial
development effort we use the units-of-delivery percentage-of-completion method
as the basis to measure progress toward completing the contract and recognizing
sales. The units-of-delivery measure recognizes revenues as deliveries are made
to the customer generally using unit sales values in accordance with the
contract terms. We estimate profit as the difference between total estimated
revenue and total estimated cost of a contract and recognize that profit over
the life of the contract based on deliveries.
As a general rule, we recognize sales and profits earlier in a production cycle
when we use the cost-to-cost method of percentage-of-completion accounting than
when we use the units-of-delivery method. In addition, our profits and margins
may vary materially depending on the types of long-term contracts undertaken,
the costs incurred in their performance, the achievement of other performance
objectives, and the stage of performance at which the right to receive fees,
particularly under award and incentive fee contracts, is finally determined.
Award fees and incentives related to performance on contracts, which are
generally awarded at the discretion of the customer, as well as penalties
related to contract performance, are considered in estimating sales and profit
rates. Estimates of award fees are based on actual awards and anticipated
performance. Incentive provisions that increase or decrease earnings based
solely on a single significant event are generally not recognized until the
event occurs. Those incentives and penalties are recorded when there is
sufficient information for us to assess anticipated performance.
Accounting for long-term contracts requires judgment relative to assessing
risks, estimating contract revenues and costs, and making assumptions for
schedule and technical issues. Due to the scope and nature of the work required
to be performed on many of our contracts, the estimation of total revenue and
cost at completion is complicated and subject to many variables. Contract costs
include material, labor, and subcontracting costs, as well as an allocation of
indirect costs. For contracts with the U.S. federal government, general and
administrative costs are considered contract costs; however, general and
administrative costs are not considered contract costs for any other customers.
We have to make assumptions regarding labor productivity and availability, the
complexity of the work to be performed, the availability of materials, estimated
increases in wages and prices for materials, performance by our subcontractors,
and the availability and timing of funding from our customer, among other
variables. For contract change orders, claims, or similar items, we apply
judgment in estimating the amounts and assessing the potential for realization.
These amounts are only included in contract value when they can be reliably
estimated and realization is considered probable. We have accounting policies
and controls in place to address these, as well as other contractual and
business arrangements to properly account for long-term contracts, and we
continue to monitor and improve such policies, controls, and arrangements.
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Products and services provided under long-term, fixed-price contracts
represented the majority of our net sales for the nine months ended June 30,
2012. Because of the significance of the judgments and estimation processes, it
is likely that materially different amounts could be recorded if we used
different assumptions or if our underlying circumstances were to change. When
adjustments in estimated contract revenues or estimated costs at completion are
required, any changes from prior estimates are recognized by recording
adjustments in the current period for the inception-to-date effect of the
changes on current and prior periods using the cumulative catch-up method of
accounting. When estimates of total costs to be incurred on a contract exceed
total estimates of revenue to be earned, a provision for the entire loss on the
contract is recorded in the period the loss is determined.
We occasionally enter into contracts that include multiple deliverables such as
the construction or upgrade of a system and subsequent services related to the
delivered system. Recently we have seen an increase in the number of customer
requests for proposal that include this type of contractual arrangement. An
example of this is a contract we entered into in 2011 to provide system upgrades
and long-term services for the Vancouver, B.C. Canada Smart Card and Faregate
system. We elected to adopt updated authoritative accounting guidance for
multiple-element arrangements in 2010 on a prospective basis. For contracts of
this nature entered into in 2010 and beyond, the contract value is allocated at
the inception of the contract to the different contract elements based on their
relative selling price. The relative selling price for each deliverable is
determined using vendor specific objective evidence (VSOE) of selling price or
third-party evidence of selling price if VSOE does not exist. If neither VSOE
nor third-party evidence exists, which is typically the case for our contracts,
we use our best estimate of the selling price for each deliverable. Once the
contract value is allocated to the separate deliverables, revenue recognition
guidance relevant to each contractual element is followed. For example, for the
long-term construction portion of a contract we use the cost-to-cost
percentage-of-completion method and for the services portion we recognize the
service revenues on a straight-line basis over the contractual service period or
based on measurable units of work performed or incentives earned. The judgment
we apply in allocating the relative selling price to each deliverable can have a
significant impact on the timing of recognizing revenues and operating income on
a contract.
We provide services under contracts including outsourcing-type arrangements and
operations and maintenance contracts. Revenue under our service contracts with
the U. S. government, which is generally in our MSS segment, is recorded under
the cost-to-cost percentage-of-completion method. Award fees and incentives
related to performance on services contracts at MSS are generally accrued during
the performance of the contract based on our historical experience with such
awards.
Revenue under contracts for services other than those with the U.S. government
and those associated with design, development, production, or maintenance
activities is recognized either as services are performed or when a
contractually required event has occurred, depending on the contract. These
types of service contracts are entered primarily by our CTS segment and to a
lesser extent by our CDS segment. Revenue under such contracts is generally
recognized on a straight-line basis over the period of contract performance,
unless evidence suggests that the revenue is earned or the obligations are
fulfilled in a different pattern. Costs incurred under these services contracts
are expensed as incurred. Earnings related to services contracts may fluctuate
from period to period, particularly in the earlier phases of the contract.
Incentive fees included in some of our transportation systems service contracts
are recognized when they become fixed and determinable based on the provisions
of the contract. Often these fees are based on meeting certain contractually
required service levels or based on system usage levels.
More than half of our total sales are driven by pricing based on costs incurred
to produce products or perform services under contracts with the U.S.
government. Cost-based pricing is determined under the Federal Acquisition
Regulation (FAR). The FAR provides guidance on the types of costs that are
allowable in establishing prices for goods and services under U.S. government
contracts. For example, costs such as those related to charitable contributions,
interest expense, and certain advertising activities are unallowable, and
therefore not recoverable through sales.
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and
notes thereto included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended
September 30, 2011.
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