-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, JbMwknhLsi+j6zbv+akuuJccatxF+rKdPypYCJu72naZxSPjQ7ynoxlhW4Jb98Tb A4UdCr3g08r6+2F9+bfzzg== 0000950123-09-003299.txt : 20090413 0000950123-09-003299.hdr.sgml : 20090413 20090224105708 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950123-09-003299 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: CORRESP PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 FILED AS OF DATE: 20090224 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: ARGAN INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000100591 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: CONSTRUCTION SPECIAL TRADE CONTRACTORS [1700] IRS NUMBER: 131947195 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 0131 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: CORRESP BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: ONE CHURCH STREET SUITE 401 CITY: ROCKVILLE STATE: MD ZIP: 20850 BUSINESS PHONE: 301 315-0027 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: ONE CHURCH STREET SUITE 401 CITY: ROCKVILLE STATE: MD ZIP: 20850 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: PUROFLOW INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19920703 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: ULTRA DYNAMICS CORP DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19830522 CORRESP 1 filename1.htm CORRESP
February 24, 2009
VIA EDGAR
Securities and Exchange Commission
Division of Corporation Finance
100 F Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Attention: John Cash, Accounting Branch Chief
 
           Re:   Argan, Inc., File No. 001-31756
Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended January 31, 2008
Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed May 14, 2008
Form 10-Q for the Fiscal Quarter Ended October 31, 2008
Dear Mr. Cash:
Set forth below is our response to your letter dated February 18, 2009 (the “Comment Letter”) regarding Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2008; definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed on May 14, 2008; and Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended October 31, 2008 of Argan, Inc. (the “Company”). All responses correspond to the sequential numbering of the comments and headings used in the Comment Letter issued by the staff (the “Staff”) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”). The Company’s response to the Comment Letter is as follows:
Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended January 31, 2008
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis, page 24
Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization, page 33
  1.   We appreciate your response to prior comment 2; however, it appears that your intention to present “Adjusted EBITDA” may violate Item 10(e)(ii)(B) of Regulation S-K since your proposed disclosure would adjust EBITDA for asset impairment losses which have occurred within the prior two fiscal years. Additionally, Question 8 of the SEC’s “Frequently Asked Questions Regarding the Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” notes that it may be permissible to adjust earnings for recurring items if you believe it is probable that the recurring item will disappear or become immaterial within a near-term finite period. In this regard, we note that asset impairment losses have reoccurred during the nine-month period ended October 31, 2008. Please advise or revise your future filings accordingly.
 
      Response
 
      In future filings and pursuant to your comment, we will present the determination of Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (“EBITDA”) in tabular form without adjustment for asset impairment losses. We will no longer make a presentation of Adjusted EBITDA.
If you have any further comments or questions regarding our response, please do not hesitate to contact me by phone at (301) 315-0027 or by fax at (301) 315-0064.
Sincerely,
/s/ Arthur F. Trudel
Arthur F. Trudel
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

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