Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Commitments and Contingencies

v3.8.0.1
Commitments and Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments and Contingencies

(a)  Leases and Other Commitments

We have various non-cancelable operating leases for facilities, equipment, and software with terms between two and 15 years. The terms of the facilities leases typically provide for certain minimum payments as well as increases in lease payments based upon the operating cost of the facility and the consumer price index. Rent expense is recognized on a straight-line basis for rent agreements having escalating rent terms. Lease expense for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 was as follows (in thousands):
 
Operating
Lease
Expense
 
Sublease
Income
 
Net
Expense
2017
$
4,924

 
$
1,134

 
$
3,790

2016
$
5,100

 
$
888

 
$
4,212

2015
$
5,824

 
$
506

 
$
5,318



Future minimum annual non-cancelable commitments as of December 31, 2017 are as follows (in thousands):
 
Operating Leases
 
Lease
Commitments
 
Sublease
Income
 
Net
Commitments
2018
$
2,753

 
$

 
$
2,753

2019
1,214

 

 
1,214

2020
657

 

 
657

2021
427

 

 
427

2022
326

 

 
326

Thereafter
84

 

 
84

Total
$
5,461

 
$

 
$
5,461



We signed a lease in 2009 for a building to serve as our headquarters with a rent commencement date of May 1, 2012. Certain terms in the lease agreement resulted in the capitalization of construction costs due to specific accounting rules. We recorded a construction asset and corresponding long-term liability of approximately $27.3 million on May 1, 2012, which represents the construction costs incurred by the landlord as of that date. According to accounting rules, we have forms of continuing involvement that required us to account for this transaction as a financing lease upon commencement of the lease period. The building and building improvements are included on our consolidated balance sheets and are being depreciated over a 15-year period. The accumulated depreciation of the construction asset was $10.9 million and $9.0 million as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Payments made under the lease agreement are applied to service the financing obligation and interest expense based on an imputed interest rate amortizing the obligation over the life of the lease agreement. The long-term lease liability of $20.3 million and $21.7 million as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, is included in long-term lease obligations in our consolidated balance sheets. The current portion of our obligation, which is included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets, was $1.4 million and $1.3 million as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Future minimum annual non-cancelable commitments under our headquarters lease as of December 31, 2017, which are not included in the table above, are as follows (in thousands):
 
Lease
Commitments
 
Sublease
Income
 
Net
Commitments
2018
$
4,337

 
$
892

 
$
3,445

2019
4,456

 
376

 
4,080

2020
4,579

 

 
4,579

2021
4,705

 

 
4,705

2022
4,827

 

 
4,827

Thereafter
22,336

 

 
22,336

Total
$
45,240

 
$
1,268

 
$
43,972



(b)  Contingencies

In 2012, the estates of five deceased individuals and their relatives filed complaints in a state court in Hawaii against VSE and other entities and individuals for unspecified damages, alleging that the explosion of fireworks and diesel fuel that killed the five individuals in April 2011 was caused by negligence of VSE and the other defendants. The five deceased plaintiffs were employees of a vendor retained by VSE to dispose of fireworks and other explosives seized by the federal government. Together with our insurance carriers, we settled this matter with all plaintiffs in 2017, resulting in no material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows.

In November 2016, a lawsuit, Arrieta et al vs. Prime Turbines LLC et al, was filed in the District Court of Texas in Dallas County, by Edgar Arrieta, and four other plaintiffs against VSE's subsidiaries, Kansas Aviation of Independence, L.L.C. (“Kansas Aviation”) and Prime Turbines LLC (“Prime”) and three other unrelated defendants. The other named defendants are Pratt & Whitney of Canada Corporation, Cessna Aircraft Company and Woodward Inc. The Plaintiffs allege that on April 1, 2016, a plane crashed in Mexico, resulting in the death of three plaintiffs and serious injuries to six other plaintiffs and that VSE's subsidiaries were negligent in providing maintenance, service and inspection of the airplane engine prior to the crash. Plaintiffs are seeking monetary relief over $1.0 million from the defendants. The trial is scheduled for November 2018. VSE together with its insurance carrier, will aggressively defend the proceedings. While the results of legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty and the amount of loss, if any, cannot be reasonably estimated, we believe that the likelihood that this lawsuit will have a material adverse effect on our results of operation, financial condition, or cash flows is remote.

In addition to the above-referenced legal proceedings, we may have certain claims in the normal course of business, including legal proceedings, against us and against other parties. In our opinion, the resolution of these other claims will not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position, or cash flows. However, because the results of any legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, the amount of loss, if any, cannot be reasonably estimated. Further, from time-to-time, government agencies investigate whether our operations are being conducted in accordance with applicable contractual and regulatory requirements. Government investigations of us, whether relating to government contracts or conducted for other reasons, could result in administrative, civil or criminal liabilities, including repayments, fines or penalties being imposed upon us, or could lead to suspension or debarment from future government contracting. Government investigations often take years to complete and many result in no adverse action against us. We believe, based upon current information, that the outcome of any such government disputes and investigations will not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position, or cash flows.