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Commitments and Contingencies
6 Months Ended
Jul. 01, 2011
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES


Legal Matters


FMU-143


As reported previously, the Company is involved in various litigation concerning its prior FMU-143 program at the Aerospace segment’s Orlando facility (“Orlando Facility”).  The suits involve (a) a civil action brought by the U.S. Government (“USG”) under the False Claims Act in federal district court in Orlando alleging that the Company knowingly substituted the wrong version of the bellows motor into some FMU-143 lots, for which the current damages claim is approximately $6 million and (b) various claims and counterclaims before the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (the “Board”) concerning performance under the program, with the USG alleging that the Company owes the USG over $15 million and the Company claiming that the USG owes it over $8 million. A trial is set for October 2011 in the False Claims Act matter. A trial regarding determination of liability in the contract matter is scheduled for July 2012.  At July 1, 2011, the Company had no amount accrued for these matters, as it believes that the likelihood of adverse outcomes to these items is remote.






10.
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (CONTINUED)


Legal Matters - continued


Wichita Subpoena Matter


A grand jury subpoena has been issued out of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas to Kaman Aerospace Corp., Aerostructures Division, in connection with a government investigation relating to record keeping associated with the manufacture of certain composite parts. Kaman Aerospace is cooperating with the government’s investigation and believes that it has fully complied with all legal obligations in connection with the manufacture of the parts in question. At July 1, 2011, the Company had no amount accrued for this matter, as it is unable to estimate the amount of cost, if any, that might be incurred in connection with the resolution of this matter at this time. The Company believes that the likelihood of an adverse outcome to this matter is remote.


Other Matters


Revenue Sharing Agreement with the Commonwealth of Australia


Pursuant to the terms of its revenue sharing agreement with the Commonwealth of Australia, the Company will share all proceeds from the resale of the SH-2G(I), formerly SH-2G(A), aircraft, spare parts, and equipment with the Commonwealth on a predetermined basis, and total payments of at least $39.5 million (AUD) must be made to the Commonwealth regardless of sales. Cumulative payments of $26.8 million (AUD) have been made through July 1, 2011. Additional payments of $6.4 million (AUD) each must be paid in March of 2012 and 2013 to the extent that cumulative payments have not yet reached $33.1 million (AUD) and $39.5 million (AUD) as of such dates, respectively.


To secure these payments, the Company has provided the Commonwealth with a $12.7 million (AUD) unconditional letter of credit as of July 1, 2011, which is being reduced as such payments are made. As of July 1, 2011, the U.S. dollar value of the remaining $12.7 million (AUD) required payment was $13.7 million, of which $6.8 million is due no later than March 2012. In late 2008, the Company entered into foreign currency exchange contracts that limit the foreign currency risks associated with these required payments. These contracts will enable the Company to purchase $9.8 million (AUD) for $6.3 million. See Note 6, Derivative Financial Instruments, for further discussion of these instruments.


Moosup


The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (“CTDEP”) has given the Company approval for reclassification of groundwater in the vicinity of the Moosup, CT facility consistent with the character of the area. This facility is currently being held for disposal. The Company has completed the process of connecting neighboring properties to public drinking water in accordance with such approval and in coordination with the CTDEP and local authorities. Site characterization of the environmental condition of the property, which began in 2008, is continuing and is expected to be completed by the end of 2011.


The total anticipated cost of the environmental remediation activities associated with the Moosup property is $4.2 million, all of which has been accrued. The total amount paid to date in connection with these environmental remediation activities is $2.0 million. A portion ($0.4 million) of the accrual related to this property is included in other accruals and payables and the balance is included in other long-term liabilities. The remaining balance of the accrual reflects the total anticipated cost of completing these environmental remediation activities. Although it is reasonably possible that additional costs will be paid in connection with the resolution of this matter, the Company is unable to estimate the amount of such additional costs, if any, at this time.


New Hartford


In connection with the sale of the Music segment in 2007, the Company assumed responsibility for meeting certain requirements of the Connecticut Transfer Act (the “Transfer Act”) that applied to the transfer of the New Hartford, Connecticut, facility leased by that segment for guitar manufacturing purposes (“Ovation”). Under the Transfer Act, those responsibilities essentially consist of assessing the site's environmental conditions and remediating environmental impairments, if any, caused by Ovation's operations prior to the sale. The site is a multi-tenant industrial park, in which Ovation and other unrelated entities lease space. The environmental assessment process, which began in 2008, is still in process.


10.
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (CONTINUED)


Other Matters - Continued


New Hartford - continued


The Company's estimate of its portion of the cost to assess the environmental conditions and remediate this site is $2.2 million, unchanged from previously reported estimates, all of which has been accrued. The total amount paid to date in connection with these environmental remediation activities is $0.5 million. A portion ($0.5 million) of the accrual related to this property is included in other accruals and payables and the balance is included in other long-term liabilities. The remaining balance of the accrual reflects the total anticipated cost of completing these environmental remediation activities. Although it is reasonably possible that additional costs will be paid in connection with the resolution of this matter, the Company is unable to estimate the amount of such additional costs, if any, at this time.


Bloomfield


In connection with the 2008 purchase of the portion of the Bloomfield campus that Kaman Aerospace Corporation had leased from NAVAIR, the Company assumed responsibility for environmental remediation at the facility as may be required under the Transfer Act and continues the effort to define the scope of the remediation that will be required by the CTDEP. The assumed environmental liability of $10.3 million was determined by taking the undiscounted estimated remediation liability of $20.8 million and discounting it at a rate of 8%. This remediation process will take many years to complete. The total amount paid to date in connection with these environmental remediation activities is $3.3 million. A portion ($1.4 million) of the accrual related to this property is included in other accruals and payables and the balance is included in other long-term liabilities. Although it is reasonably possible that additional costs will be paid in connection with the resolution of this matter, the Company is unable to estimate the amount of such additional costs, if any, at this time.


United Kingdom


In connection with the purchase of Kaman U.K. Composites (“U.K. Composites”), the Company accrued, at the time of acquisition, £1.6 million for environmental compliance at the facilities. The remaining balance of the accrual at July 1, 2011 was £1.0 million, with £0.4 million having been paid to date in connection with these environmental remediation activities and £0.2 million released to income.  The U.S. dollar equivalent of the remaining environmental compliance liability as of July 1, 2011, is $1.7 million, which is included in other accruals and payables. The Company continues to assess the work that may be required, which may result in a change to this accrual. Although it is reasonably possible that additional costs will be paid in connection with the resolution of this matter, the Company is unable to estimate the amount of such additional costs, if any, at this time.


In December 2008, a workplace accident occurred at one of the Company’s U.K. Composites facilities in which one employee died and another was seriously injured. The local Health and Safety Executive initiated civil proceedings for alleged violations of U.K. health and safety laws and a hearing was held in March 2011. The Company was fined £0.1 million as a result of that hearing.