Commitments and Contingencies (Notes)

9 Months Ended

Apr. 27, 2013

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies

As part of the Company’s insurance program, it retains the risk of loss, up to certain limits, for claims related to automobile liability, general liability, workers’ compensation, employee group health, and locate damages, and the Company has established reserves that it believes to be adequate based on current evaluations and experience with these types of claims. For these claims, the effect on the Company’s financial statements is generally limited to the amount needed to satisfy its insurance deductibles or retentions.

From time to time, the Company and its subsidiaries are parties to various other claims and legal proceedings. It is the opinion of the Company’s management, based on information available at this time, that such other pending claims or proceedings will not have a material effect on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

Employee Benefit Plans

Certain of the Company's subsidiaries, including the Acquired Subsidiaries, participate in multiemployer benefit pension plans under the terms of collective-bargaining agreements. The Company's contributions were $0.8 million and $2.6 million during the three and nine months endedApril 27, 2013, respectively. The risks of participating in a multiemployer defined benefit pension plan are different from single-employer plans in the following aspects: (a) assets contributed to the multiemployer plan by one employer may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers; (b) if a participating employer stops contributing to the plan, the unfunded obligations of the plan may be inherited by the remaining participating employers; and (c) if the Company chooses to stop participating in the Multi-Employer Plan, the Company may be required to pay the plan an amount based on the underfunded status of the plan, referred to as a withdrawal liability. 

Performance Bonds and Guarantees

The Company has obligations under performance and other surety contract bonds related to certain of its customer contracts. Performance bonds generally provide the Company’s customer with the right to obtain payment and/or performance from the issuer of the bond if the Company fails to perform its contractual obligations. As of April 27, 2013, the Company had $434.4 million of outstanding performance and other surety contract bonds. The estimated cost to complete projects secured by the Company's outstanding performance and other surety contract bonds was approximately $149.2 million as of April 27, 2013. No events have occurred in which the customers have exercised their rights under the bonds.

The Company has periodically guaranteed certain obligations of its subsidiaries, including obligations in connection with obtaining state contractor licenses and leasing real property and equipment.

Letters of Credit

The Company has standby letters of credit issued under its Credit Agreement as part of its insurance program. These standby letters of credit collateralize the Company’s obligations to its insurance carriers in connection with the settlement of potential claims. As of April 27, 2013 and July 28, 2012, the Company had $46.7 million and $38.5 million, respectively, of outstanding standby letters of credit issued under the Credit Agreement.