Other than the U.S. federal government, no single client accounted for 10% or more of our revenue in any of the past five fiscal years. Approximately 26%, 23% and 26% of the Company's revenue was derived through direct contracts with agencies of the U.S. federal government in the years ended September 30, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. One of these contracts accounted for approximately 10%, 10% and 13% of the Company's revenue in the years ended September 30, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The work attributed to the U.S. federal government includes our work for the Department of Defense, Department of Energy and the Department of Homeland Security.

Contracts

        The price provisions of the contracts we undertake can be grouped into two broad categories: cost-reimbursable contracts and fixed-price contracts. The majority of our contracts fall under the category of cost-reimbursable contracts, which we believe are generally less subject to loss than fixed-price contracts. As detailed below, our fixed-price contracts relate primarily to design and construction management contracts where we do not self-perform or take the risk of construction.

Cost-Reimbursable Contracts

        Cost-reimbursable contracts consist of two similar contract types, cost-plus and time and material.

        Cost-Plus.    We enter into two major types of cost-plus contracts:

        Cost-Plus Fixed Fee.    Under cost-plus fixed fee contracts, we charge clients for our costs, including both direct and indirect costs, plus a fixed negotiated fee. The total estimated cost plus the fixed negotiated fee represents the total contract value. We recognize revenue based on the actual labor and other direct costs incurred, plus the portion of the fixed fee earned to date.

        Cost-Plus Fixed Rate.    Under cost-plus fixed rate contracts, we charge clients for our direct and indirect costs based upon a negotiated rate. We recognize revenue based on the actual total costs expended and the applicable fixed rate.

        Certain cost-plus contracts provide for award fees or a penalty based on performance criteria in lieu of a fixed fee or fixed rate. Other contracts include a base fee component plus a performance-based award fee. In addition, we may share award fees with subcontractors. We record accruals for fee-sharing as fees are earned. We generally recognize revenue to the extent of costs actually incurred plus a proportionate amount of the fee expected to be earned. We take the award fee or penalty on contracts into consideration when estimating revenue and profit rates, and record revenue related to the award fees when there is sufficient information to assess anticipated contract performance. On contracts that represent higher than normal risk or technical difficulty, we may defer all award fees until an award fee letter is received. Once an award fee letter is received, the estimated or accrued fees are adjusted to the actual award amount.

        Certain cost-plus contracts provide for incentive fees based on performance against contractual milestones. The amount of the incentive fees varies, depending on whether we achieve above, at, or below target results. We originally recognize revenue on these contracts based upon expected results. These estimates are revised when necessary based upon additional information that becomes available as the contract progresses.

        Time and Material.    Time and material is common for smaller scale engineering and consulting services. Under these types of contracts, we negotiate hourly billing rates and charge our clients based upon actual hours expended on a project. Unlike cost-plus contracts, however, there is no predetermined fee. In addition, any direct project expenditures are passed through to the client and are reimbursed. These contracts may have a fixed-price element in the form of not-to-exceed or guaranteed maximum price provisions.

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        For fiscal 2009, 2008 and 2007, cost-reimbursable contracts represented approximately 62% , 63%, and 62% respectively, of our total revenue, consisting of cost-plus contracts and time and material contracts as follows:

Fixed-Price Contracts

        There are typically two types of fixed-price contracts. The first and more common type, lump-sum, involves performing all of the work under the contract for a specified lump-sum fee. Lump-sum contracts are typically subject to price adjustments if the scope of the project changes or unforeseen conditions arise. The second type, fixed-unit price, involves performing an estimated number of units of work at an agreed price per unit, with the total payment under the contract determined by the actual number of units delivered.

        Many of our fixed-price contracts are negotiated and arise in the design of projects with a specified scope. Fixed-price contracts often arise in the areas of construction management and design-build services. Construction management services are typically in the form of general administrative oversight (in which we do not assume responsibility for construction means and methods and which is on a cost-reimbursable basis). Under our design-build projects, we are typically responsible for the design of a facility with the fixed contract price negotiated after we have had the opportunity to secure specific bids from various subcontractors and add a contingency fee.

        We typically attempt to mitigate the risks of fixed-price design-build contracts by contracting to complete the projects based on our design as opposed to a third party's design, by not self-performing construction (except for limited environmental tasks), by not guaranteeing new or untested processes or technologies and by working only with experienced subcontractors with sufficient bonding capacity. When public agencies seek a design-build approach for major infrastructure projects, we generally act as a fixed-price design subcontractor to the general construction contractor and do not assume overall project or construction risk.

        Some of our fixed-price contracts require us to provide performance bonds or parent company guarantees to assure our clients that their project will be completed in accordance with the terms of the contracts. In such cases, we typically require our primary subcontractors to provide similar bonds and guarantees and to be adequately insured, and we flow down the terms and conditions set forth in our agreement on to our subcontractors.

        For fiscal 2009, 2008 and 2007, fixed-price contracts represented approximately 38%, 37% and 38%, respectively, of our total revenue. Less than 10% of our revenue in each of fiscal 2009, 2008 and 2007 was generated from contracts where we have exposure to construction cost overruns. There may be risks associated with completing these projects profitably if we are not able to perform our professional services for the amount of the fixed fee. However, we attempt to mitigate these risks as described above.

Joint Ventures

        Some of our larger contracts may operate under joint ventures or other arrangements under which we team with other reputable companies, typically companies with which we have worked for many years. This is often done where the scale of the project dictates such an arrangement or when we want to strengthen either our market position or our technical skills.

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Backlog

        Backlog is expressed in terms of gross revenue and therefore may include significant estimated amounts of third party, or pass-through costs to subcontractors and other parties. Our total backlog is comprised of contracted backlog and awarded backlog. Our contracted backlog includes revenue we expect to record in the future from signed contracts, and in the case of a public client, where the project has been funded. Our awarded backlog includes revenue we expect to record in the future where we have been awarded the work, but the contractual agreement has not yet been signed. For non-government contracts, our backlog includes future revenue at contract rates, excluding contract renewals or extensions that are at the discretion of the client. For contracts with a not-to-exceed maximum amount, we include revenue from such contracts in backlog to the extent of the remaining estimated amount. We calculate backlog without regard to possible project reductions or expansions or potential cancellations until such changes or cancellations occur. No assurance can be given that we will ultimately realize our full backlog.

        The following summarizes contracted and awarded backlog excluding backlog related to businesses which we intend to divest, as discussed in Notes 4 and 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements (in billions):

Competition

        The professional technical and management support services markets we serve are highly fragmented and we compete with a large number of regional, national and international companies. Certain of these competitors have greater financial and other resources than we do. Others are smaller and more specialized, and concentrate their resources in particular areas of expertise. The extent of our competition varies according to the particular markets and geographic area. The degree and type of competition we face is also influenced by the type and scope of a particular project. Our clients make competitive determinations based upon qualifications, experience, reputation and ability to provide the relevant services in a timely, safe and cost-efficient manner.

Seasonality

        The fourth quarter of our fiscal year (July 1 to September 30) is typically our strongest quarter. The U.S. federal government has historically authorized more work during the period preceding the end of its fiscal year, September 30. In addition, many U.S. state governments with fiscal years ending on June 30 have historically accelerated spending during the fiscal first quarter when new funding budgets become

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available. Within the United States, as well as other parts of the world, we generally benefit from milder weather conditions in our fiscal fourth quarter, which allows for more productivity from our field inspection and other on-site civil services. Our construction and project management services also typically expand during the high construction season of the summer months. The first quarter of our fiscal year (October 1 to December 31) is typically our weakest quarter. The harsher weather conditions impact our ability to complete work in parts of North America and the holiday season schedule affects our productivity during this period.

Insurance and Risk Management

        We maintain insurance covering professional liability and claims involving bodily injury and property damage. We consider our present limits of coverage, deductibles, and reserves to be adequate. Wherever possible, we endeavor to eliminate or reduce the risk of loss on a project through the use of quality assurance/control, risk management, workplace safety and similar methods. A majority of our operating subsidiaries are quality certified under ISO 9001:2000 or an equivalent standard, and we plan to continue to obtain certification where applicable. ISO 9001:2000 refers to international quality standards developed by the International Organization for Standardization, or ISO.

        Risk management is an integral part of our project management approach for fixed-price contracts and our project execution process. We have a risk management group that reviews and oversees the risk profile of our operations. This group also participates in evaluating risk through internal risk analyses in which our corporate management reviews higher-risk projects, contracts or other business decisions that require corporate approval.

Regulation

        We are regulated in a number of fields in which we operate. In the United States, we deal with numerous U.S. government agencies and entities, including branches of the U.S. military, the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, intelligence agencies and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. When working with these and other U.S. government agencies and entities, we must comply with laws and regulations relating to the formation, administration and performance of contracts. These laws and regulations, among other things:

•

require certification and disclosure of all cost or pricing data in connection with various contract negotiations;



•

impose procurement regulations that define allowable and unallowable costs and otherwise govern our right to reimbursement under various cost-based U.S. government contracts; and



•

restrict the use and dissemination of information classified for national security purposes and the exportation of certain products and technical data.

        Internationally, we are subject to various government laws and regulations (including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, Arms Export Control Act, Proceeds of Crime Act and other similar non-U.S. laws and regulations), local government regulations and procurement policies and practices and varying currency, political and economic risks.

        To help ensure compliance with these laws and regulations, all of our employees are required to complete tailored ethics and other compliance training relevant to their position and our operations.

Personnel

        Our principal asset is our employees. A large percentage of our employees have technical and professional backgrounds and undergraduate and/or advanced degrees. We believe that we attract and retain talented employees by offering them the opportunity to work on highly visible and technically

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challenging projects in a stable work environment. The tables below identify our personnel by segment and geographic region.

Personnel by Segment

Personnel by Geographic Region

Personnel by Segment and Geographic Region

        We have a number of personnel with "Top Secret" or "Q" security clearances. Some of our contracts with the U.S. government relate to projects that have elements that are classified for national security reasons. Although most of our contracts are not themselves classified, persons with high security clearances are often required to perform portions of the contracts.

        A portion of our employees are employed on a project-by-project basis to meet our contractual obligations, generally in connection with government projects in our MSS segment. We believe our employee relations are good.

Geographic Information

        For financial geographic information, please refer to Note 22 to the notes to our consolidated financial statements found elsewhere in this Form 10-K.

Available Information

        The reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and proxy materials, are

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available free of charge on our website at www.aecom.com. You may read and copy any materials filed with the SEC at the SEC's Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information about the public reference room. The SEC also maintains a web site (www.sec.gov) containing reports, proxy, and other information that we file with the SEC. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines and our Code of Ethics are available on our website at www.aecom.com under the "Investing" section. Copies of the information identified above may be obtained without charge from us by writing to AECOM Technology Corporation, 555 South Flower Street, Suite 3700, Los Angeles, California 90071, Attention: Corporate Secretary.

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ITEM 1A.    RISK FACTORS

        The Company operates in a changing environment that involves numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could materially adversely affect our operations. The risks described below highlight some of the factors that have affected, and in the future could affect our operations. Additional risks we do not yet know of or that we currently think are immaterial may also affect our business operations. If any of the events or circumstances described in the following risks actually occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

We depend on long-term government contracts, some of which are only funded on an annual basis. If appropriations for funding are not made in subsequent years of a multiple-year contract, we may not be able to realize all of our anticipated revenue and profits from that project.

        A substantial majority of our revenue is derived from contracts with agencies and departments of national, state and local governments. During fiscal 2009, 2008 and 2007, approximately 71%, 64% and 61%, respectively, of our revenue was derived from contracts with government entities.

        Most government contracts are subject to the government's budgetary approval process. Legislatures typically appropriate funds for a given program on a year-by-year basis, even though contract performance may take more than one year. As a result, at the beginning of a program, the related contract is only partially funded, and additional funding is normally committed only as appropriations are made in each subsequent fiscal year. These appropriations, and the timing of payment of appropriated amounts, may be influenced by, among other things, the state of the economy, competing priorities for appropriation, changes in administration or control of legislatures and the timing and amount of tax receipts and the overall level of government expenditures. If appropriations are not made in subsequent years on our government contracts, then we will not realize all of our potential revenue and profit from that contract.

        For instance, a significant portion of historical funding for state and local transportation projects has come from the U.S. federal government through its "SAFETEA-LU" infrastructure funding program and predecessor programs. This $286 billion program covers federal fiscal years 2004-2009. Approximately 79% of the SAFETEA-LU funding is for highway programs, 18.5% is for transit programs and 2.5% is for other programs such as motor carrier safety, national highway traffic safety and research. A key uncertainty in the outlook for federal transportation funding in the United States is the future viability of the Highway Trust Fund, which has experienced shortfalls due to a decrease in the federal gas tax receipts that fund it. In September 2008, the President signed HR 6532, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code to restore the Highway Trust Fund balance, transferring funds from the general Treasury to the Highway Trust Fund to provide for the funding of authorized federal transportation priorities through the end of fiscal year 2009. This raises concerns about the future funding structure for federal highway programs, particularly after SAFETEA-LU expires on December 18, 2009.

Governmental agencies may modify, curtail or terminate our contracts at any time prior to their completion and, if we do not replace them, we may suffer a decline in revenue.

        Most government contracts may be modified, curtailed or terminated by the government either at its convenience or upon the default of the contractor. If the government terminates a contract at its convenience, then we typically are able to recover only costs incurred or committed, settlement expenses and profit on work completed prior to termination, which could prevent us from recognizing all of our potential revenue and profits from that contract. If the government terminates the contract due to our default, we could be liable for excess costs incurred by the government in obtaining services from another source.

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Demand for our services is cyclical and may be vulnerable to sudden economic downturns and reductions in government and private industry spending. If the economy remains depressed or further weakens, our revenue and profitability could be adversely affected.

        Demand for our services is cyclical and may be vulnerable to sudden economic downturns and reductions in government and private industry spending, which may result in clients delaying, curtailing or canceling proposed and existing projects. Due to the continuing economic downturn in the U.S. and international markets and severe tightening of the global credit markets, some of our clients may face considerable budget shortfalls that may limit their overall demand for our services. In addition, our clients may find it more difficult to raise capital in the future to fund their projects due to uncertainty in the municipal and general credit markets. Also, the global demand for commodities has increased raw material costs, which will cause our clients' projects to increase in overall cost and may result in the more rapid depletion of the funds that are available to our clients to spend on projects.

        Because of an overall weakening economy, our clients may demand more favorable pricing or other terms while their ability to pay our invoices or to pay them in a timely manner may be adversely affected. Our government clients may face budget deficits that prohibit them from funding proposed and existing projects. If the economy continues to weaken and/or government spending is reduced, our revenue and profitability could be adversely affected.

Our contracts with governmental agencies are subject to audit, which could result in adjustments to reimbursable contract costs or, if we are charged with wrongdoing, possible temporary or permanent suspension from participating in government programs.

        Our books and records are subject to audit by the various governmental agencies we serve and their representatives. These audits can result in adjustments to the amount of contract costs we believe are reimbursable by the agencies and the amount of our overhead costs allocated to the agencies. In addition, if one of our subsidiaries is charged with wrongdoing as a result of an audit, that subsidiary, and possibly our company as a whole, could be temporarily suspended or could be prohibited from bidding on and receiving future government contracts for a period of time. Furthermore, as a large government contractor, we are subject to an increased risk of investigations, criminal prosecution, civil fraud, whistleblower lawsuits and other legal actions and liabilities to which purely private sector companies are not, the results of which could adversely impact our business.

A delay in the completion of the budget process of government agencies could delay procurement of our services and have an adverse effect on our future revenue.

        In years when the U.S. government does not complete its budget process before the end of its fiscal year on September 30, government operations are typically funded pursuant to a "continuing resolution" that authorizes agencies of the U.S. government to continue to operate, but does not authorize new spending initiatives. When the U.S. government operates under a continuing resolution, government agencies may delay the procurement of services, which could reduce our future revenue. Delays in the budgetary processes of states or other jurisdictions may similarly have adverse effects on our future revenue.

Our business and operating results could be adversely affected by losses under fixed-price contracts.

        Fixed-price contracts require us to either perform all work under the contract for a specified lump-sum or to perform an estimated number of units of work at an agreed price per unit, with the total payment determined by the actual number of units performed. In fiscal 2009, approximately 38% of our revenue was recognized under fixed-price contracts. Fixed-price contracts are more frequently used outside of the United States and, thus, the exposures resulting from fixed-price contracts may increase as we increase our business operations outside of the United States. Fixed-price contracts expose us to a

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number of risks not inherent in cost-plus and time and material contracts, including underestimation of costs, ambiguities in specifications, unforeseen costs or difficulties, problems with new technologies, delays beyond our control, failures of subcontractors to perform and economic or other changes that may occur during the contract period. Losses under fixed- price contracts could be substantial and adversely impact our results of operations.

We conduct a portion of our operations through joint venture entities, over which we may have limited control.

        Approximately 20% of our fiscal 2009 revenue was derived from our operations through joint ventures or similar partnership arrangements, where control may be shared with unaffiliated third parties. As with most joint venture arrangements, differences in views among the joint venture participants may result in delayed decisions or disputes. We also cannot control the actions of our joint venture partners, and we typically have joint and several liability with our joint venture partners under the applicable contracts for joint venture projects. These factors could potentially adversely impact the business and operations of a joint venture and, in turn, our business and operations.

        Operating through joint ventures in which we are minority holders results in us having limited control over many decisions made with respect to projects and internal controls relating to projects. Of the joint ventures noted above, approximately 8% of our fiscal 2009 revenue was derived from our unconsolidated joint ventures where we generally do not have control of the joint venture. These joint ventures may not be subject to the same requirements regarding internal controls and internal control over financial reporting that we follow. As a result, internal control problems may arise with respect to these joint ventures, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Misconduct by our employees or consultants or our failure to comply with laws or regulations applicable to our business could cause us to lose customers or lose our ability to contract with government agencies.

        As a government contractor, misconduct, fraud or other improper activities caused by our employees' or consultants' failure to comply with laws or regulations could have a significant negative impact on our business and reputation. Such misconduct could include the failure to comply with federal procurement regulations, regulations regarding the protection of classified information, legislation regarding the pricing of labor and other costs in government contracts, regulations on lobbying or similar activities, and anti-corruption, export control and other applicable laws or regulations. Our failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations, misconduct by any of our employees or consultants or our failure to make timely and accurate certifications to government agencies regarding misconduct or potential misconduct could subject us to fines and penalties, loss of security clearance, cancellation of contracts and suspension or debarment from contracting with government agencies, any of which may adversely affect our business.

Our defined benefit plans have significant deficits that could grow in the future and cause us to incur additional costs.

        We have defined benefit pension plans for employees in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland, Canada and Philippines. At September 30, 2009, our defined benefit pension plans had an aggregate deficit (the excess of projected benefit obligations over the fair value of plan assets) of approximately $132.5 million. In the future, our pension deficits may increase or decrease depending on changes in the levels of interest rates, pension plan performance and other factors. Because the current economic environment has resulted in declining investment returns and interest rates, we may be required to make additional cash contributions to our pension plans and recognize further increases in our net pension cost to satisfy our funding requirements. If we are forced or elect to make up all or a portion of the deficit for unfunded benefit plans, our results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

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Our operations worldwide expose us to legal, political and economic risks in different countries as well as currency exchange rate fluctuations that could harm our business and financial results.

        During fiscal 2009, revenue attributable to our services provided outside of the United States was approximately 54% of our total revenue. There are risks inherent in doing business internationally, including:

•

imposition of governmental controls and changes in laws, regulations or policies;



•

political and economic instability;



•

civil unrest, acts of terrorism, force majeure, war, or other armed conflict;



•

changes in U.S. and other national government trade policies affecting the markets for our services;



•

changes in regulatory practices, tariffs and taxes;



•

potential non-compliance with a wide variety of laws and regulations, including anti-corruption, export control and anti-boycott laws and similar non-U.S. laws and regulations;



•

changes in labor conditions;



•

logistical and communication challenges; and



•

currency exchange rate fluctuations, devaluations and other conversion restrictions.

        Any of these factors could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.

We operate in many different jurisdictions and we could be adversely affected by violations of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and similar worldwide anti-corruption laws.

        The U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and similar worldwide anti-corruption laws generally prohibit companies and their intermediaries from making improper payments to non-U.S. officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. Our internal policies mandate compliance with these anti-corruption laws. We operate in many parts of the world that have experienced governmental corruption to some degree, and in certain circumstances, strict compliance with anti-corruption laws may conflict with local customs and practices. Despite our training and compliance programs, we cannot assure you that our internal control policies and procedures always will protect us from reckless or criminal acts committed by our employees or agents. Our continued expansion outside the U.S., including in developing countries, could increase the risk of such violations in the future. Violations of these laws, or allegations of such violations, could disrupt our business and result in a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.

We work in international locations where there are high security risks, which could result in harm to our employees and contractors or material costs to us.

        Some of our services are performed in high-risk locations, such as Iraq and Afghanistan, where the country or location is suffering from political, social or economic problems, or war or civil unrest. In those locations where we have employees or operations, we may incur material costs to maintain the safety of our personnel. Despite these precautions, the safety of our personnel in these locations may continue to be at risk. Acts of terrorism and threats of armed conflicts in or around various areas in which we operate could limit or disrupt markets and our operations, including disruptions resulting from the evacuation of personnel, cancellation of contracts, or the loss of key employees and contractors or assets.

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Failure to successfully execute our acquisition strategy may inhibit our growth.

        We have grown in part as a result of our acquisitions over the last several years, and we expect continued growth in the form of additional acquisitions and expansion into new markets. If we are unable to pursue suitable acquisition opportunities, as a result of global economic uncertainty or other factors, our growth may be inhibited. We cannot assure you that suitable acquisitions or investment opportunities will continue to be identified or that any of these transactions can be consummated on favorable terms or at all. Any future acquisitions will involve various inherent risks, such as:

•

our ability to accurately assess the value, strengths, weaknesses, liabilities and potential profitability of acquisition candidates;



•

the potential loss of key personnel of an acquired business;



•

increased burdens on our staff and on our administrative, internal control and operating systems, which may hinder our legal and regulatory compliance activities;



•

post-acquisition integration challenges; and



•

post-acquisition deterioration in an acquired business that could result in lower or negative earnings contribution and/or goodwill impairment charges.

        Furthermore, during the acquisition process and thereafter, our management may need to assume significant transaction-related responsibilities, which may cause them to divert their attention from our existing operations. If our management is unable to successfully integrate acquired companies or implement our growth strategy, our operating results could be harmed. Moreover, we cannot assure you that we will continue to successfully expand or that growth or expansion will result in profitability.

Our ability to grow and to compete in our industry will be harmed if we do not retain the continued services of our key technical and management personnel and identify, hire and retain additional qualified personnel.

        There is strong competition for qualified technical and management personnel in the sectors in which we compete. We may not be able to continue to attract and retain qualified technical and management personnel, such as engineers, architects and project managers, who are necessary for the development of our business or to replace qualified personnel. Our planned growth may place increased demands on our resources and will likely require the addition of technical and management personnel and the development of additional expertise by existing personnel. Also, some of our personnel hold security clearances required to obtain government projects; if we were to lose some or all of these personnel, they would be difficult to replace. Loss of the services of, or failure to recruit, key technical and management personnel could limit our ability to complete existing projects successfully and to successfully compete for new projects.

Our revenue and growth prospects may be harmed if we or our employees are unable to obtain the security clearances or other qualifications we and they need to perform services for our customers.

        A number of government programs require contractors to have security clearances. Depending on the level of required clearance, security clearances can be difficult and time-consuming to obtain. If we or our employees are unable to obtain or retain necessary security clearances, we may not be able to win new business, and our existing customers could terminate their contracts with us or decide not to renew them. To the extent we cannot obtain or maintain the required security clearances for our employees working on a particular contract, we may not derive the revenue or profit anticipated from such contract.

Our industry is highly competitive and we may be unable to compete effectively, which could result in reduced revenue, profitability and market share.

        We are engaged in a highly competitive business. The extent of competition varies with the types of services provided and the locations of the projects. Generally, we compete on the bases of technical and

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management capability, personnel qualifications and availability, geographic presence, experience and price. Increased competition may result in our inability to win bids for future projects and loss of revenue, profitability and market share.

If we extend a significant portion of our credit to clients in a specific geographic area or industry, we may experience disproportionately high levels of default if those clients are adversely affected by factors particular to their geographic area or industry.

        Our clients include public and private entities that have been, and may continue to be, negatively impacted by the changing landscape in the global economy. While outside of the U.S. federal government no one client accounts for over 10% of our revenue, we face collection risk as a normal part of our business where we perform services and subsequently bill our clients for such services. In the event that we have concentrated credit risk from clients in a specific geographic area or industry, continuing negative trends or a worsening in the financial condition of that specific geographic area or industry could make us susceptible to disproportionately high levels of default by those clients. Such defaults could materially adversely impact our revenues and our results of operations.

Our services expose us to significant risks of liability and our insurance policies may not provide adequate coverage.

        Our services involve significant risks of professional and other liabilities that may substantially exceed the fees that we derive from our services. In addition, we sometimes contractually assume liability under indemnification agreements. We cannot predict the magnitude of potential liabilities from the operation of our business.

        Our professional liability policies cover only claims made during the term of the policy. Additionally, our insurance policies may not protect us against potential liability due to various exclusions in the policies and self-insured retention amounts. Partially or completely uninsured claims, if successful and of significant magnitude, could have a material adverse affect on our business.

Our backlog of uncompleted projects under contract is subject to unexpected adjustments and cancellations and thus, may not accurately reflect future revenue and profits.

        At September 30, 2009, our contracted backlog was approximately $5.4 billion and our awarded backlog was approximately $4.1 billion for a total backlog of $9.5 billion. Our contracted backlog includes revenue we expect to record in the future from signed contracts, and in the case of a public sector client, where the project has been funded. Our awarded backlog includes revenue we expect to record in the future where we have been awarded the work, but the contractual agreement has not yet been signed. We cannot guarantee that future revenue will be realized from either category of backlog or, if realized, will result in profits. Many projects may remain in our backlog for an extended period of time because of the size or long-term nature of the contract. In addition, from time to time projects are delayed, scaled back or cancelled. These types of backlog reductions adversely affect the revenue and profits that we ultimately receive from contracts reflected in our backlog.

We have submitted claims to clients for work we performed beyond the initial scope of some of our contracts. If these clients do not approve these claims, our results of operations could be adversely impacted.

        We typically have pending claims submitted under some of our contracts for payment of work performed beyond the initial contractual requirements for which we have already recorded revenue. In general, we cannot guarantee that such claims will be approved in whole, in part, or at all. If these claims are not approved, our revenue may be reduced in future periods.

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In conducting our business, we depend on other contractors and subcontractors. If these parties fail to satisfy their obligations to us or other parties, or if we are unable to maintain these relationships, our revenue, profitability and growth prospects could be adversely affected.

        We depend on contractors and subcontractors in conducting our business. There is a risk that we may have disputes with our subcontractors arising from, among other things, the quality and timeliness of work performed by the subcontractor, customer concerns about the subcontractor, or our failure to extend existing task orders or issue new task orders under a subcontract. In addition, if any of our subcontractors fail to deliver on a timely basis the agreed-upon supplies and/or perform the agreed-upon services, our ability to fulfill our obligations as a prime contractor may be jeopardized and/or we could be held responsible for such failures.

        We also rely on relationships with other contractors when we act as their subcontractor or joint venture partner. Our future revenue and growth prospects could be adversely affected if other contractors eliminate or reduce their subcontracts or joint venture relationships with us, or if a government agency terminates or reduces these other contractors' programs, does not award them new contracts or refuses to pay under a contract. In addition, due to "pay when paid" provisions that are common in subcontracts in certain countries, including the U.S., we could experience delays in receiving payment if the prime contractor experiences payment delays.

Our quarterly operating results may fluctuate significantly.

        Our quarterly revenue, expenses and operating results may fluctuate significantly because of a number of factors, including:

•

the spending cycle of our public sector clients;



•

employee hiring and utilization rates;



•

the number and significance of client engagements commenced and completed during a quarter;



•

the ability of clients to terminate engagements without penalties;



•

the ability of our project managers to accurately estimate the percentage of the project completed;



•

delays incurred as a result of weather conditions;



•

delays incurred in connection with an engagement;



•

the size and scope of engagements;



•

the timing and magnitude of expenses incurred for, or savings realized from, corporate initiatives;



•

changes in foreign currency rates;



•

the seasonality of our business;



•

the impairment of goodwill or other intangible assets; and



•

general economic and political conditions.

        Variations in any of these factors could cause significant fluctuations in our operating results from quarter to quarter.

Systems and information technology interruption could adversely impact our ability to operate.

        We rely heavily on computer, information and communications technology and related systems in order to properly operate. From time to time, we experience occasional system interruptions and delays. If we are unable to continually add software and hardware, effectively upgrade our systems and network infrastructure and take other steps to improve the efficiency of and protect our systems, systems operation

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could be interrupted or delayed. In addition, our computer and communications systems and operations could be damaged or interrupted by natural disasters, telecommunications failures, acts of war or terrorism, computer viruses, physical or electronic security breaches and similar events or disruptions. Any of these or other events could cause system interruption, delays and loss of critical data, or delay or prevent operations, and adversely affect our operating results.

Failure to adequately protect, maintain, or enforce our rights in our intellectual property may adversely limit our competitive position.

        Our success depends, in part, upon our ability to protect our intellectual property. We rely on a combination of intellectual property policies and other contractual arrangements to protect much of our intellectual property where we do not believe that trademark, patent or copyright protection is appropriate or obtainable. Trade secrets are generally difficult to protect. Although our employees are subject to confidentiality obligations, this protection may be inadequate to deter or prevent misappropriation of our confidential information and/or the infringement of our patents and copyrights. Further, we may be unable to detect unauthorized use of our intellectual property or otherwise take appropriate steps to enforce our rights. Failure to adequately protect, maintain, or enforce our intellectual property rights may adversely limit our competitive position.

Our charter documents contain provisions that may delay, defer or prevent a change of control.

        Provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire control of us, even if the change in control would be beneficial to stockholders. These provisions include the following:

•

division of our Board of Directors into three classes, with each class serving a staggered three-year term;



•

removal of directors for cause only;



•

ability of our Board of Directors to authorize the issuance of preferred stock in series without stockholder approval;



•

two-thirds stockholder vote requirement to approve specified business combinations, which include a sale of substantially all of our assets;



•

vesting of exclusive authority in our Board of Directors to determine the size of the board (subject to limited exceptions) and to fill vacancies;



•

advance notice requirements for stockholder proposals and nominations for election to our Board of Directors; and



•

prohibitions on our stockholders from acting by written consent and limitations on calling special meetings.

ITEM 1B.    UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

        None.

ITEM 2.    PROPERTIES

        Our corporate offices are located in approximately 74,000 square feet of space at 555 and 515 South Flower Street, Los Angeles, California. Our other offices consist of an aggregate of approximately 6.5 million square feet worldwide. We also maintain smaller administrative or project offices. Virtually all of our offices are leased. See Note 14 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements for information regarding our lease obligations. We believe our current properties are adequate for our business

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operations and are not currently underutilized. We may add additional facilities from time to time in the future as the need arises.

ITEM 3.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

        As a government contractor, we are subject to various laws and regulations that are more restrictive than those applicable to non-government contractors. Intense government scrutiny of contractors' compliance with those laws and regulations through audits and investigations is inherent in government contracting, and, from time to time, we receive inquiries, subpoenas, and similar demands related to our ongoing business with government entities. We also conduct internal investigations from time to time to determine if violations of company policy or applicable law have occurred. Violations can result in civil or criminal liability as well as suspension or debarment from eligibility for awards of new government contracts or option renewals.

        We are involved in various investigations, claims and lawsuits in the normal conduct of our business. Although the outcome of our legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty and no assurances can be provided, in the opinion of our management, based upon current information and discussions with counsel, none of the investigations, claims and lawsuits in which we are involved is expected to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations, cash flows or our ability to conduct business. From time to time we establish reserves for litigation when we consider it probable that a loss will occur and the loss is estimable.

ITEM 4.    SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

        None.

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PART II

ITEM 5.    MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF SECURITIES

        Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). According to the records of our transfer agent, there were 1,546 stockholders of record as of November 18, 2009. The following table sets forth the low and high closing sales prices of a share of our common stock during each of the fiscal quarters presented, based upon quotations on the NYSE consolidated reporting system:

        Our policy is to use cash flow from operations to fund future growth and pay down debt. Accordingly, we have not paid a cash dividend since our inception and we currently have no plans to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Additionally, our term credit agreement and revolving credit facility restrict our ability to pay cash dividends.

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        The following table presents certain information about our equity compensation plans as of September 30, 2009:

Unregistered Sale of Securities

        During the three-month period ended September 30, 2009, we have issued the following securities that were not registered under the Securities Act:

            i.  On September 30, 2009, 0.524 shares of our Class C preferred stock were transferred to U.S. Trust for the benefit of our employee stockholders under our Deferred Compensation Plan; and

           ii.  On September 30, 2009, 247,877 shares of our common stock and shares exchangeable into our common stock on a 1-to-1 basis to the shareholders of privately-held companies in connection with our acquisition of the companies.

        We issued the securities identified in paragraph (i) above to our directors, officers, employees and consultants under written compensatory benefit plans in reliance upon Rule 701 under the Securities Act and/or Section 4(2) of the Securities Act as transactions by an issuer not involving any public offering. We issued the securities identified in paragraph (ii) above in reliance upon Section 4(2) of the Securities Act as transactions by an issuer not involving any public offering or Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act as sales occurring outside of the United States.

Performance Measurement Comparison(1)

        The following chart compares the percentage change of AECOM stock with that of the S&P MidCap 400 and the S&P 1500 SuperComposite Engineering and Construction indices from March 31, 2007 to September 30, 2009. We believe the S&P MidCap 400, on which we are listed, is an appropriate independent broad market index, since it measures the performance of similar mid-sized companies in numerous sectors. In addition, we believe the S&P 1500 SuperComposite Engineering and Construction

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Index is an appropriate published industry index since it measures the performance of engineering and construction companies.

Comparison of Percentage Change

March 1, 2007—September 30, 2009

End-of-Month Prices by Quarter

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ITEM 6.    SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

        You should read the following selected consolidated financial data along with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and our consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes, which are included in this Form 10-K. We derived the selected consolidated financial data from our audited consolidated financial statements.

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ITEM 7.    MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

        You should read the following discussion in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included in this report. In addition to historical consolidated financial information, the following discussion contains forward-looking statements that reflect our plans, estimates and beliefs. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Our actual results could differ materially. Factors that could cause or contribute to these differences include those discussed below and elsewhere in this report, particularly in "Risk Factors."

Overview

        We are a leading global provider of professional technical and management support services for commercial and government clients around the world. We provide our services in a broad range of end markets and strategic geographic markets through a global network of operating offices and approximately 42,600 employees and staff employed in the field on projects.

        Our business focuses primarily on providing fee-based professional technical and support services and therefore our business is labor and not capital intensive. We derive income from our ability to generate revenue and collect cash from our clients through the billing of our employees' time spent on client projects and our ability to manage our costs. We report our business through two segments: Professional Technical Services (PTS) and Management Support Services (MSS).

        Our PTS segment delivers planning, consulting, architecture and engineering design, and program and construction management services to institutional, commercial and government clients worldwide in end markets such as the transportation, facilities, environmental and energy markets. PTS revenue is primarily derived from fees from services that we provide, as opposed to pass-through fees from subcontractors and other direct costs. Revenue for our PTS segment for the year ended September 30, 2009 was $5.0 billion.

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        Our MSS segment provides facilities management and maintenance, training, logistics, consulting, technical assistance and systems integration services, primarily for agencies of the U.S. government. MSS revenue typically includes a significant amount of pass-through fees from subcontractors and other direct costs. Revenue for our MSS segment for the year ended September 30, 2009 was $1.1 billion.

        Our revenue is dependent on our ability to attract and retain qualified and productive employees, identify business opportunities, allocate our labor resources to profitable markets, secure new contracts and renew existing client agreements. Moreover, as a professional services company, maintaining the high quality of the work generated by our employees is integral to our revenue generation.

        Our costs consist primarily of the compensation we pay to our employees, including salaries, fringe benefits, the costs of hiring subcontractors and other project-related expenses, and sales, general and administrative costs.

Components of Income and Expense

        Our management analyzes the results of our operations using several non-GAAP measures. A significant portion of our revenue relates to services provided by subcontractors and other non-employees that we categorize as other direct costs. Those costs are typically paid to service providers upon our receipt of payment from the client. We segregate other direct costs from revenue resulting in a measurement that we refer to as "revenue, net of other direct costs," which is a measure of work performed by AECOM employees. We have included information on revenue, net of other direct costs, as we believe that it is useful to view our revenue exclusive of costs associated with external service providers.

        The following table presents, for the periods indicated, a presentation of the non-GAAP financial measures reconciled to the closest GAAP measure:

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Other Direct Costs

        In the course of providing its services, the Company routinely subcontracts for services and incurs other direct costs on behalf of its clients. These costs are passed through to clients and, in accordance with industry practice and generally accepted accounting principles, are included in the Company's revenue and cost of revenue. Since subcontractor services and other direct costs can change significantly from project to project and period to period, changes in revenue may not accurately reflect business trends.

Revenue, Net of Other Direct Costs

        Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations uses revenue, net of other direct costs as a point of reference. Revenue, net of other direct costs is a non-GAAP measure and may not be comparable to similarly titled items reported by other companies.

Cost of Revenue, Net of Other Direct Costs

        Cost of revenue, net of other direct costs reflects the cost of our own personnel (including fringe benefits and overhead expense) associated with revenue, net of other direct costs.

Equity in Earnings of Joint Ventures

        Equity in earnings of joint ventures includes our portion of fees charged by unconsolidated joint ventures in which we participate to clients for services performed by us and other joint venture partners along with earnings we receive from investments in unconsolidated joint ventures.

Amortization Expense of Acquired Intangible Assets

        Included in our cost of revenue, net of other direct costs is amortization of acquired intangible assets. We have ascribed value to identifiable intangible assets other than goodwill in our purchase price allocations for companies we have acquired. These assets include but are not limited to backlog and customer lists. To the extent we ascribe value to identifiable intangible assets that have finite lives, we amortize those values over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Such amortization expense, although non-cash in the period expensed, directly impacts our results of operations.

        It is difficult to predict with any precision the amount of expense we may record relating to acquired intangible assets. As backlog is typically the shortest lived intangible asset in our business, we would expect to see higher amortization expense in the first 12 to 18 months (the typical backlog amortization period) after an acquisition has been consummated.

General and Administrative Expenses

        General and administrative expenses include corporate overhead expenses, including personnel, occupancy, and administrative expenses.

Income Tax Expense

        Income tax expense varies as a function of income before income tax expense and permanent non-tax deductible expenses. Acquisitions have a material effect on our income tax expense. We anticipate continuing our acquisition strategy and, as such, we anticipate that there will be variability in our effective tax rate from quarter to quarter and year to year, especially to the extent that our permanent differences increase or decrease.

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Acquisitions

        One of our key strategies is to focus on acquisitions of companies that complement our range of services and/or expand our geographic presence.

        The aggregate value of consideration for our acquisitions consummated during the year ended September 30, 2009 was $63 million.

        The aggregate value of all consideration for our acquisitions consummated during the year ended September 30, 2008 was $632 million, the largest of which were:

•

Tecsult—During the quarter ended March 31, 2008, we completed the acquisition of Tecsult Inc., a Montreal, Canada-based engineering services firm, with particular strengths in hydroelectric power and developing country infrastructure engineering.



•

Boyle—During the quarter ended June 30, 2008, we completed the acquisition of Boyle Engineering Corporation, a California-based engineering services firm that focuses on the environmental market.



•

Earth Tech—During the quarter ended September 30, 2008, we acquired substantially all of Earth Tech, Inc., a California-based environmental engineering and government services company, from Tyco International, Ltd.

        All of our acquisitions have been accounted for as purchases and the results of operations of the acquired companies have been included in our consolidated results since the dates of the acquisitions.

Critical Accounting Policies

        Our financial statements are presented in accordance with GAAP. Highlighted below are the accounting policies that management considers significant to understanding the operations of our business.

Revenue Recognition

        The Company generally utilizes a cost-to-cost approach in applying the percentage-of-completion method of revenue recognition, under which revenue is earned in proportion to total costs incurred, divided by total costs expected to be incurred. Recognition of revenue and profit under this method is dependent upon a number of factors, including the accuracy of a variety of estimates, including engineering progress, materials quantities, the achievement of milestones, penalty provisions, labor productivity and cost estimates. Due to uncertainties inherent in the estimation process, it is possible that actual completion costs may vary from estimates. If estimated total costs on contracts indicate a loss, the Company recognizes that estimated loss in the period the estimated loss first becomes known.

Claims Recognition

        Claims are amounts in excess of the agreed contract price (or amounts not included in the original contract price) that we seek to collect from customers or others for delays, errors in specifications and designs, contract terminations, change orders in dispute or unapproved as to both scope and price or other causes of unanticipated additional costs. The Company records contract revenue related to claims only if it is probable that the claim will result in additional contract revenue and if the amount can be reliably estimated. In such cases, the Company records revenue only to the extent that contract costs relating to the claim have been incurred. The amounts recorded, if material, are disclosed in the notes to the financial statements. Costs attributable to claims are treated as costs of contract performance as incurred.

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Unbilled Accounts Receivable and Billings in Excess of Costs on Uncompleted Contracts

        Unbilled accounts receivable represents the contract revenue recognized to date using the percentage-of-completion accounting method but not yet invoiced to the client due to contract terms or the timing of the accounting invoicing cycle.

        Billings in excess of costs on uncompleted contracts represent the billings to date, as allowed under the terms of a contract, but not yet recognized as contract revenue using the percentage-of-completion accounting method.

        Government Contract Matters—The Company's federal government and certain state and local agency contracts are subject to, among other regulations, regulations issued under the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR). These regulations can limit the recovery of certain specified indirect costs on contracts and subjects the Company to ongoing multiple audits by government agencies such as the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA). In addition, most of the Company's federal and state and local contracts are subject to termination at the discretion of the client.

        Audits by the DCAA and other agencies consist of reviews of the Company's overhead rates, operating systems and cost proposals to ensure that the Company accounted for such costs in accordance with the Cost Accounting Standards of the FAR (CAS). If the DCAA determines the Company has not accounted for such costs consistent with CAS, the DCAA may disallow these costs. Historically, the Company has not had any material cost disallowances by the DCAA as a result of audit. However, there can be no assurance that audits by the DCAA or other governmental agencies will not result in material cost disallowances in the future.

        Allowance for Doubtful Accounts—The Company records its accounts receivable net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. This allowance for doubtful accounts is estimated based on management's evaluation of the contracts involved and the financial condition of its clients. The factors the Company considers in its contract evaluations include, but are not limited to:

•

Client type—federal or state and local government or commercial client;



•

Historical contract performance;



•

Historical collection and delinquency trends;



•

Client credit worthiness; and



•

General economic conditions.

Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures

        The Company has non-controlling interests in joint ventures accounted for under the equity method. Fees received for and the associated costs of services performed by the Company and billed to joint ventures with respect to work done by the Company for third-party customers are recorded as revenues and costs of the Company in the period in which such services are rendered. In certain joint ventures, a fee is added to the respective billings from the Company and the other joint venture partners on the amounts billed to the third-party customers. These fees result in earnings to the joint venture and are split with each of the joint venture partners and paid to the joint venture partners upon collection from the third-party customer. The Company records its allocated share of these fees as equity in earnings of joint ventures.

Income Taxes

        Valuation Allowance.    Deferred income taxes are provided on the liability method whereby deferred tax assets and liabilities are established for the difference between the financial reporting and income tax basis of assets and liabilities, as well as operating loss and tax credit carry forwards. Deferred tax assets and

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liabilities are adjusted for the effects of changes in tax laws and rates on the date of enactment of such changes to laws and rates.

        Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in our opinion, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets may not be realized. Whether a deferred tax asset may be realized requires considerable judgment by us. In considering the need for a valuation allowance, we consider the future reversal of existing temporary differences, future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences and carry forwards, taxable income in carry-back years if carry-back is permitted under tax law, and prudent and feasible tax planning strategies that would normally be taken by management, in the absence of the desire to realize the deferred tax asset. Whether a deferred tax asset will ultimately be realized is also dependent on varying factors, including, but not limited to, changes in tax laws and audits by tax jurisdictions in which we operate.

        We review the need for a valuation allowance at least quarterly. If we determine we will not realize all or part of our deferred tax asset in the future, we will record an additional valuation allowance. Conversely, if a valuation allowance exists and we determine that the ultimate realizability of all or part of the net deferred tax asset is more likely than not to be realized, then the amount of the valuation allowance will be reduced. This adjustment will increase or decrease income tax expense in the period of such determination.

        Undistributed Non-U.S. Earnings.    The results of our operations outside of the United States are consolidated by us for financial reporting; however, earnings from investments in non-U.S. operations are included in domestic U.S. taxable income only when actually or constructively received. No deferred taxes have been provided on the undistributed earnings of non-U.S. operations of approximately $318.2 million because we plan to permanently reinvest these earnings overseas. If we were to repatriate these earnings, additional taxes would be due at that time. However, these additional U.S. taxes may be offset in part by the use of foreign tax credits.

Goodwill and Acquired Intangible Assets

        Goodwill represents the excess amounts paid over the fair value of net assets acquired in mergers and acquisitions. In order to determine the amount of goodwill resulting from a merger or acquisition, the Company performs an assessment to determine the value of the acquired company's tangible and identifiable intangible assets and liabilities. In its assessment, the Company determines whether identifiable intangible assets exist, which typically include backlog and customer relationships.

        Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 142, later codified in Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 350-10, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets", requires that the Company perform an impairment test of its goodwill at least annually for each reporting unit of the Company. We have multiple reporting units, as defined under SFAS No. 142. A reporting unit is defined as an operating segment or one level below an operating segment. Our impairment tests are performed at the operating segment level as they represent our reporting units. See also Note 22.

        The impairment test is a two-step process. During the first step, we estimate the fair value of the reporting unit and compare that amount to the carrying value of that reporting unit. In the event the fair value of the reporting unit is determined to be less than the carrying value, a second step is required. The second step requires us to perform a hypothetical purchase allocation for that reporting unit and to compare the resulting current implied fair value of the goodwill to the current carrying value of the goodwill for that reporting unit. In the event that the current implied fair value of the goodwill is less than the carrying value, an impairment charge is recognized.

        During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009, we conducted our annual impairment test. The impairment evaluation process is an income-based approach that utilizes discounted cash flows to determine the fair values of reporting units. Material assumptions used in the impairment analysis included the weighted average cost of capital (WACC) percent and terminal growth rates. As a result of the impairment analysis,

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the Company determined that goodwill was not impaired for the year ended September 30, 2009. A 1% change in the WACC rate represents a $700 million change to the fair value of the Company's reporting units. A 1% change in the terminal growth rate represents a $400 million change to the fair value of the Company's reporting units. Neither of these changes individually would have resulted in the conclusion that goodwill was impaired at September 30, 2009.

Pension Plans

        The Company accounts for its defined benefit pension plans in accordance with SFAS No. 87, later codified in ASC 715-10, "Employers' Accounting for Pensions," as amended (SFAS 87). As permitted by SFAS 87, changes in retirement plan obligations and assets set aside to pay benefits are not recognized as they occur but are recognized over subsequent periods. In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 158, later codified in ASC 715-10, "Employers' Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans" (SFAS 158). This statement amends SFAS 87 and requires that the funded status of plans, measured as the difference between plan assets at fair value and the pension benefit obligations, be recognized in the statement of financial position and that various items be recognized in other comprehensive income before they are recognized in periodic pension expense. The statement was adopted by the Company in 2007 and resulted in a $20.8 million after-tax charge to accumulated other comprehensive loss, which reduced shareholders' equity.

        A number of assumptions are necessary to determine our pension liabilities and net periodic costs. These liabilities and net periodic costs are sensitive to changes in those assumptions. The assumptions include discount rates, long-term rates of return on plan assets and inflation levels limited to the United Kingdom and are generally determined based on the current economic environment in each host country at the end of each respective annual reporting period. The Company evaluates the funded status of each of its retirement plans using these current assumptions and determines the appropriate funding level considering applicable regulatory requirements, tax deductibility, reporting considerations and other factors. Based upon current assumptions, the Company expects to fund approximately $21.4 million for the fiscal year 2010. If the discount rate was reduced by 25 basis points, plan liabilities would increase by approximately $25 million. If the discount rate and return on plan assets were reduced by 25 basis points, plan expense would increase by approximately $1.3 million and $1.4 million, respectively. If inflation increased by 25 basis points, plan liabilities in the United Kingdom would increase by approximately $18 million and plan expense would increase by approximately $2.3 million.

        At each measurement date, all assumptions are reviewed and adjusted as appropriate. With respect to establishing the return on assets assumption, the Company considers the long term capital market expectations for each asset class held as an investment by the various pension plans. In addition to expected returns for each asset class, the Company takes into account standard deviation of returns and correlation between asset classes. This is necessary in order to generate a distribution of possible returns which reflects diversification of assets. Based on this information, a distribution of possible returns is generated based on the plan's target asset allocation.

        Capital market expectations for determining the long term rate of return on assets are based on forward-looking assumptions which reflect a 20-year view of the capital markets. In establishing those capital market assumptions and expectations, the Company relies on the assistance of its actuary and its investment consultant. The Company and Trustees review whether changes to the various plans' target asset allocations are appropriate. A change in the plans' target asset allocations would likely result in a change in the expected return on asset assumptions. In assessing a plan's asset allocation strategy, the Company and Trustees considers factors such as the structure of the plan's liabilities, the plan's funded status, and the impact of the asset allocation to the volatility of the plan's funded status, so that the overall risk level resulting from the Company's defined benefit plans is appropriate within the Company's risk management strategy.

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        Between September 30, 2008 and September 30, 2009, the aggregate worldwide pension deficit grew from $116.3 million to an estimated $132.5 million. This increase in unfunded liabilities is primarily driven by losses in equity markets worldwide. Although funding rules are subject to local laws and regulations and vary by location, the Company expects to reduce this deficit over a period of 7 to 10 years. If the various plans do not experience future investment gains to reduce this shortfall, the deficit will be funded by Company contributions.

Accrued Professional Liability Costs

        We carry professional liability insurance policies or self-insure for our initial layer of professional liability claims under our professional liability insurance policies and for a deductible for each claim even after exceeding the self-insured retention. We accrue for our portion of the estimated ultimate liability for the estimated potential incurred losses. We establish our estimate of loss for each potential claim in consultation with legal counsel handling the specific matters and based on historic trends taking into account recent events. We also use an outside actuarial firm to assist us in estimating our future claims exposure. It is possible that our estimate of loss may be revised based on the actual or revised estimate of liability of the claims.

        Foreign Currency Translation—The Company's functional currency is the U.S. dollar. Results of operations for foreign entities are translated to U.S. dollars using the average exchange rates during the period. Assets and liabilities for foreign entities are translated using the exchange rates in effect as of the date of the balance sheet. Resulting translation adjustments are recorded as a foreign currency translation adjustment into other accumulated comprehensive income/(loss) in stockholders' equity.

        The Company uses forward exchange contracts from time to time to mitigate foreign currency risk. The Company limits exposure to foreign currency fluctuations in most of its contracts through provisions that require client payments in currencies corresponding to the currency in which costs are incurred. As a result of this natural hedge, the Company generally does not need to hedge foreign currency cash flows for contract work performed. The functional currency of all significant foreign operations is the respective local currency.

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Fiscal year ended September 30, 2009 compared to the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008

Consolidated Results