corresp
March 5, 2010
VIA EDGAR CORRESPONDENCE
Ms. Kathleen Collins
Accounting Branch Chief
Division of Corporation Finance
United States Securities and Exchange Commission
Mail Stop 4561
100 F Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Re: |
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DynCorp International Inc.
Form 10-K for Fiscal Year Ended April 3, 2009
Filed June 11, 2009
Form 10-Q for Fiscal Quarter Ended October 2, 2009
Filed November 9, 2009
File No. 001-32869 |
Dear Ms. Collins:
Thank you for your letter dated January 29, 2010 to Mr. Michael J. Thorne related to the Securities
and Exchange Commissions (Commission) comments on DynCorp International Inc.s Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended April 3, 2009 and Form 10-Q for fiscal quarter ended October 2, 2009. I am
responding to your letter as Vice President Controller of DynCorp International LLC, the wholly
owned operating company of DynCorp International Inc. DynCorp International Inc. appreciates the
need for full and fair disclosure to investors and welcomes suggestions for enhancing the overall
disclosures contained in its periodic filings with the Commission.
Attached are DynCorp International Inc.s responses to each of your specific comments. For the
convenience of the Staff, we have repeated each of the Staffs comments in italics immediately
above our responses to each corresponding comment. Thank you for your consideration of our
responses and observations to your comments.
Pursuant to your request, DynCorp International Inc. hereby acknowledges that:
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it is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in its filings; |
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staff comments or changes to disclosure in response to staff comments do not foreclose
the Commission from taking any action with respect to filings; and |
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it may not assert staff comments as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the
Commission or any person under the federal securities laws of the United States. |
If you have any further questions, need any additional information or wish to discuss this letter
in greater detail, please contact me at (817) 224-1610.
Sincerely,
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/s/ Bradley G. Graham
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Bradley G. Graham |
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Vice President-Controller |
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cc: Gregory S. Nixon, Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer
cc: Michael J. Thorne, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
DynCorp International Responses
Form 10-K for Fiscal Year Ended April 3, 2009
Item 1. Business, page 3
Comment 1
You have indicated that 96% of your revenues were generated from the U.S. government and we noted
that you specially identify several multi-year contracts you consider to be material. Please
provide us with your analysis as to whether you were substantially dependent on one or more of
these contracts during the last two years and whether the contracts are required to be filed as
exhibits to your Form 10-K pursuant to Item 601(b)(10)(ii)(B) of Regulation S-K.
Response
We respectfully submit that we do not believe that our business is substantially dependent upon any
one of our contracts. Accordingly, we do not believe that we are required to file such agreements
as exhibits to our periodic reports.
Our business is comprised of numerous contracts, primarily with U.S. government agencies. While
certain contracts are responsible for driving revenue growth in our business over the last two
years, our business is not substantially dependent upon any one of our 56 contracts for the
following reasons:
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In the normal course of business we regularly win and lose contracts based on various
factors, including but not limited to, the competitive bid process, the timing or nature of
services required and the customers preference or history with incumbents or new service
providers. |
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Revenue from our significant government contracts may vary year to year due to the
nature, duration or available funding of the task orders issued under those contracts. |
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We do not have significant tangible assets tied to any one contract and a substantial
portion of our cost of services is labor that is not tied to long-term contracts making our
business scalable; therefore, while any lost contract will contribute
to lost revenue and associated gross profit, it
will not have a material effect on the Companys ability to continue operations. |
Comment 2
In your future filings, please include the SECs Public Reference Room address, where investors may
read and copy the materials you file, as required by Item 101(e)(2) of Regulation S-K.
Response
In our future filings, we will include the SECs Public Reference Room address.
Item 2. Properties, page 22
Comment 3
We note that you have not filed any lease agreements. Please tell us how you determined that none
of the lease agreements for the major facilities listed on page 22 is required to be filed
pursuant to Item 601(b)(10)(ii)(D) of Regulation S-K.
Response
We believe that none of our leases for the facilities listed on page 22 of the fiscal year 2009
Form 10-K are material. On an individual basis, no lease had future annual minimum rental payments
of more than $2.2 million, or approximately 2.1% of total fiscal year 2009 SG&A (SG&A expenses were
approximately $104 million in fiscal year 2009).
We also considered that the premises occupied in the disclosed facility leases on page 22 do not
have particularly unique characteristics, and we believe that we could readily replace the premises
(both the rented square footage and rental rates) if that was required due to early termination or
otherwise.
Accordingly, the Company concluded that the listed leases were not material, financially or
operationally, for purposes of Item 601(b)(10)(ii)(D) of Regulation S-K.
Item 7. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Impairment of Goodwill, Page 44
Comment 4
To the extent that any of your reporting units have estimated fair values that are not
substantially in excess of the carrying values and are at potential risk of failing step one of
your goodwill impairment analysis, please tell us and disclose the following in future filings:
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the percent by which the fair value of the reporting unit exceeded the carrying value as
of the date of the most recent test; |
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the amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit; |
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describe the potential events and/or changes in circumstances that could reasonably be
expected to negatively affect the key assumptions used in determining fair value. |
If you have determined that the estimated fair value substantially exceeds the carrying value for
all of your reporting units, please disclose this determination. Please refer to Item
303(a)(3)(ii) of Regulation S-K and Section V of SEC Release No. 33-8350.
Response
For the fiscal year ended April 3, 2009, we had eight reporting units, including the GLS reporting
unit which had no allocated goodwill. Of our seven reporting units that had allocated goodwill, all
but one had estimated fair values that substantially exceeded their carrying values. That one
reporting unit had an estimated fair value approximately equal to its carrying value and had
allocated goodwill of $11.7 million as of April 3, 2009. We performed step two of the goodwill
impairment test, which did not result in impairment for the reporting unit. The fair value of this
reporting unit was low due to certain loss contracts that were expected to be completed during
fiscal 2010. The potential events that could affect the assumptions we used to determine fair value
would be the loss of significant contracts that are expected to generate positive future cash flows
or a significant increase in the estimated losses on the contracts that were near completion. As
disclosed in our quarterly filings, in fiscal year 2010 our business structure was reorganized to
better align with strategic markets and to streamline our infrastructure, resulting in a change in
segments and reporting units.
In future filings we will make the recommended disclosures if the estimated fair value of reporting
units do not substantially exceed their carrying value. Based on our preliminary estimates for
fiscal 2010, we expect the estimated fair values of our reporting units to substantially exceed
their carrying values.
In
addition, we will include disclosure similar in scope and content to
the following, subject to modification as appropriate, within the discussion of
impairment of goodwill to explain how our change in segment reporting affected our allocation of
goodwill:
As announced on April 6, 2009, we changed from reporting financial results on the three segments
utilized in fiscal year 2009 to reporting three new segments beginning with fiscal year 2010. The
goodwill carrying value was reallocated to the three new operating segments using a relative fair
value approach based on the new reporting unit structure. Under the new structure, we have six
reporting units, two of which have no allocated goodwill carrying value. The remaining four
reporting units were allocated goodwill based on relative fair values as required
under ASC 350 Intangibles-Goodwill and Other, all of which had estimated fair values that
substantially exceeded their carrying values.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplemental Data
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statement
Note 15 Related Parties, Joint Ventures and Variable Interest Entities
Joint Ventures, page 75
Comment 5
We note that you consolidate DIFZ as you are the primary beneficiary. We also note your disclosure
on page 75 which indicates that currently, all DIFZ revenue and costs are eliminated through our
consolidation process. Please tell us how your accounting complies with paragraph 29 of ARB 51.
Response
We believe our disclosure complies with ASC 810-10-45-19 [formerly ARB 51, paragraph 29]. DIFZ
provides employee leasing services in support of the Companys international operations. Because we
are DIFZs sole customer, all DIFZ revenue and costs, which represent intercompany activity, are
eliminated in consolidation. DIFZ bills us on a per head basis using fully loaded costs, which
includes general and administrative costs. Therefore, there are no revenue or cost associated with
DIFZ that are not eliminated in consolidation.
In future filings, we intend to include disclosure similar in scope and content to the following,
subject to modification as appropriate:
Our joint venture, DIFZ, provides us employee staffing services in support of certain of our
contracts. DIFZ bills us on a per head basis for this intercompany support. We eliminate this
intercompany activity in consolidation.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting, page 83
Comment 6
We note your statement that no significant changes in your internal control over financial
reporting occurred during the most recently completed fiscal quarter that materially affected your
internal control over financial reporting. Please note that Item 308(c) of Regulation S-K requires
disclosure of any change in your internal control over financial reporting that has materially
affected or is reasonably likely to materially affect, your internal control over financial
reporting. Please confirm, if true, that there were no such changes and provide us with a
representation that you will provide conforming disclosure in future filings.
Response
We
respectfully confirm that, during the quarter ended April 3, 2009, there were no such
changes that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our
internal control over financial reporting. In future filings, we will provide conforming
disclosure.
Part III, page 85
Comment 7
Each item in Part III of your Form 10-K states that you are incorporating by reference from your
definitive proxy statement the required disclosure, but you have not clearly identified, by caption
or otherwise, the material incorporated by reference as required by Securities Exchange Act Rule
12b-23(b). In future filings, please ensure that your Part III disclosure identifies by title the
section of your definitive proxy statement from which you are incorporating by reference the
required disclosure, or otherwise clearly identify the material incorporated by reference.
Response
In future filings, we will ensure that Part III disclosure identifies by title the section of our
definitive proxy statement from which we are incorporating by reference the required disclosure, or
will otherwise clearly identify the material incorporated by reference as required by Securities
Exchange Act Rule 12b-23(b).
Item 11. Executive Compensation (Incorporated by Reference from Definitive Proxy Statement on
Schedule 14A, filed June 15, 2009)
Compensation Discussion and Analysis, Page 12
Comment 8
We note that your compensation philosophy is to provide pay opportunities and a compensation
program that are slightly above the median results of the market analysis, which includes a
custom peer group of comparator companies. However, your discussion of the various elements of
compensation, such as base salaries and incentive bonus compensation, does not specifically explain
how you arrived at the actual amounts paid for each named executive officer or how those amounts
compare to the benchmark used. Please expand your disclosure accordingly. Where actual payments
were above or below the benchmark, your disclosure should discuss the reasons for the variations.
Response
In setting compensation amounts for each NEO, the Compensation Committee begins with considering base salary
relative to each NEOs position, experience and comparative market data. Annual base salary merit adjustments are
set based on evaluation of individual performance and consideration of comparative market data. Incentive bonus
compensation targets and equity-based compensation grants are then set based on a percentage of base salary with
consideration of comparative market data and achievement of total compensation targets.
For each element of
compensation, set amounts and actual amounts paid were lower than the targeted compensation range,
as described in our response to Comment #9, primarily due to the following considerations:
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a NEOs initial compensation starting at levels below target when hired or promoted due
to limited prior experience at that new position; |
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the impact of Class B equity based compensation on our NEOs total compensation as
described below; and |
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consideration of the percentage increase in annual base compensation during the period
of their employment. |
Given
satisfactory performance evaluations, over time our goal is to align
all NEOs total compensation with our
targeted compensation percentile range. However, the consideration factors noted above may create
an alignment period extending over multiple fiscal years.
For fiscal year 2009, our actual incentive bonus compensation was solely determined based on the
Companys actual performance as compared to performance targets as further described in our
response to Comment #11.
We currently have two types of share-based payment awards, restricted stock units (RSUs) and
Class B Interests in DIV Holding LLC (Class B Interests). The Class B Interests were primarily
issued during periods prior to our
IPO and
were subject to either four-year or five-year vesting schedules. Class B Interests were
granted with no exercise price or expiration date. For fiscal year 2009, all of our NEOs, except
Mr. Ballhaus, had Class B Interests. It has been our policy to exclude NEOs who had
received Class B Interests from receiving new RSU grants as the Class B Interests represented
significant compensation consistent with our targeted compensation for long-term equity. In future periods NEOs who had received Class B
Interests will begin to receive RSUs as Class B Interests become completely vested. Because Class B
Interests are treated as equity awards and are thus not subsequently remeasured, the value shown
for equity-based compensation to our NEOs is based on the historic issuance price, which was lower
than current RSUs remeasured at our current stock price. This can create variances in stock
compensation resulting from the accounting for these awards rather than true economic realization by
our NEOs.
In future
filings, we will clarify our disclosure consistent with this response.
Comment 9
It appears from your disclosure that individual performance and the achievement of personal goals
were also considered in setting compensation levels, though you have not included a discussion of
how individual performance affected compensation for each of the named executive officers. Please
describe the elements of individual performance that were taken into consideration in establishing,
for example, base salaries and incentive bonus compensation, and any other element of compensation
for which individual performance was a factor. Refer to Item 402(b)(2)(vii) of Regulation S-K.
Response
Personal
performance is typically only significant in base pay merit
adjustments. Adjusted annual
base salaries are also referenced to comparative market data to ensure market alignment and overall
consistency with our compensation policy. The impact on base pay
merit adjustments for each NEO can
be seen in our Summary Compensation Tables on page 21 and reflects favorable overall assessments of
performance for each NEO. The Compensation Committee considers, among other performance standards,
the NEOs contributions in assisting the Company in meeting its financial targets, improving
operational efficiencies, creating and executing a clear strategy, leading and overseeing major
projects, creating a winning culture, compliance, and safety. For
fiscal year 2009 each
NEOs salary remains below our targeted range of the median to sixtieth percentile as indicated in
our compensation policy as described in our response to Comment #8.
The
Compensation Committee may consider individual performance in regards
to actual incentive
compensation. This authority is provided to allow the Compensation Committee flexibility to
recognize unusual circumstances that merit adjustments to calculated compensation. However, for fiscal year
2009, the Compensation Committee did not exercise any discretionary adjustments that impacted the
final calculation for actual incentive compensation payouts. For further explanation regarding the
calculation of incentive compensation payout, see our response to Comment #11.
In future
filings, we will clarify our disclosure consistent with this response.
Comment 10
We note your statement on page 13 that in determining the adequacy of the executive compensation
package, you consider total cash compensation and total direct compensation, as defined by you,
compared to the median results of the market analysis. Please clarify to what extent decisions
regarding each element of compensation affects decisions regarding other elements. Refer to Item
402(b)(1)(vi) of Regulation S-K.
Response
We respectfully direct the Staffs attention to our response to Comment #8, which clarifies to what extent decisions
regarding each element of compensation affects decisions regarding
other elements. In future filings we will endeavor to make this disclosure more prominent.
Incentive Bonus Compensation, page 14
Comment 11
Please expand your disclosure to specifically address how actual incentive bonus compensation was
determined given that all performance targets for fiscal year 2009 were exceeded. Clarify whether
discretionary action was exercised by the Compensation Committee and what role the achievement or
non-achievement of personal goals played with respect to payouts under the Executive Incentive
Plan.
Response
Our actual incentive bonus compensation was solely determined based on the Companys actual
performance as compared to targeted performance for fiscal year 2009. The Compensation Committee
did not (i) exercise any discretion with respect to payouts or (ii) consider the achievement or
non-achievement of personal goals when granting incentive bonus compensation under the Executive
Incentive Plan for fiscal year 2009. For fiscal year 2009, our financial performance criteria for
our NEOs included certain performance metrics, as disclosed in the section titled Incentive Bonus
Compensation, for which an excerpt is provided below:
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Performance Targets |
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Weighting of |
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Actual Results (for |
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Performance Metric |
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for Fiscal Year |
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Performance Metrics |
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the Fiscal Year) |
April 3, 2009 |
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EBITDA |
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$214 million |
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$221 million |
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Revenue |
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$2.950 billion |
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25 |
% |
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$3.101 billion |
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DSO |
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75 days |
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25 |
% |
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72 days |
Since all performance metrics were exceeded, actual incentive compensation for each NEO was
higher than target. Actual incentive compensation for exceeded performance metrics is calculated
using a pre-defined formula comparing actual to targeted results resulting in a potential payout
ranging from 0% to 200% of each NEOs target bonus percentage. For fiscal year 2009, actual
incentive bonus compensation was calculated for each NEO based on the following method:
[each NEOs percentage of base salary eligible for incentive compensation
(e.g. Mr. Ballhaus eligible percentage was 100%)] multiplied by [each NEOs
actual base salary (e.g. Mr. Ballhaus base salary was
$650,000)] multiplied
by [each performance metrics multiplier (e.g. DSO was 25%)] multiplied by
[the pre-defined ratio of each performance metrics actual vs. targeted
performance (e.g. DSO of 72 days resulted in a 150% payout for that metric)].
For fiscal year 2009, actual performance resulted in an approximate 125% payout for each NEOs
target bonus percentage.
In future
filings, we will clarify our disclosure consistent with this response.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder
Matters (Incorporated by Reference from Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed June 15,
2009
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners, Page 5
Comment 12
In your future filings, please disclose the number of shares beneficially held by your officers and
directors as a group. Refer to Item 403(b) of Regulation S-K.
Response
In future filings, we will disclose the number of shares beneficially held by our officers and
directors as a group in the table included in the section titled Security Ownership of Certain
Beneficial Owners.
Form 10-Q for Fiscal Quarter Ended October 2, 2009
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Disclosure Controls and Procedures, page 40
Comment 13
We note your disclosures on page 18 where you indicate that the Company became aware of certain
payments that may have raised compliance issues under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and that
you are evaluating your internal policies and procedures in an effort to improve your compliance
procedures. Please tell us when these payments were initially made and when you first became aware
of the nature of the payments. Further, tell us how you considered this incident of possible
noncompliance when assessing the effectiveness of your disclosure controls and procedures.
Response
The
payments that raised compliance concerns under the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (the
FCPA) were initially made in March 2009. The Companys management learned about the payments in
late May 2009, at which time it initiated an investigation. By the end of October 2009, the
Company determined that there were possible compliance issues regarding the nature of the payments.
We have assessed this incident by evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures that brought
such a matter to managements attention, the materiality of such payments from a financial point of
view, and the extent of remediation (both financially and operationally) involved in
refining the control environment. With respect to our assessment of the disclosure controls and
procedures, we considered matters such as the timing of the payments, the purpose of the payments
and the promptness of the discovery of the payments. With respect to our assessment of the internal
control over financial reporting, the extent of such payments was immaterial, as we disclosed in
our second quarter Form 10-Q. We assessed the potential for other such transactions and concluded
the risk of any additional material transactions, either individually or in aggregate, was less
than probable.
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