corresp
|
|
|
|
|
Allen L. Lear |
|
(301) 564-3349 phone |
Interim General Counsel & Secretary |
|
(301) 564-3206 fax |
February 8, 2008
VIA EDGAR AND HAND DELIVERY
Mr. H. Roger Schwall
Assistant Director
Division of Corporation Finance
Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, NE
Washington, DC 20549-7010
Re: Comments on USEC Inc. Periodic Reports
Dear Mr. Schwall:
By letter dated November 29, 2007 (the Original Comment Letter), the Staff of the Division
of Corporation Finance (the Staff) delivered to USEC Inc. (USEC or the Company) the Staffs
comments on USECs Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 and proxy statement dated
March 22, 2007 (the Proxy Statement). By letter dated December 19, 2007, USEC responded to the
Original Comment Letter. By letter dated January 30, 2008 (the Comment Letter), the Staff
delivered to USEC its follow-up comments. Set forth below are responses of USEC to the most recent
comments of the Staff. The responses have been keyed to correspond to each of the comments of the
Comment Letter. In our responses we have noted certain clarifications that we will provide in
future filings. As applicable, these additional disclosures will be reflected in the proxy
statement for our 2008 annual meeting of shareholders, which we expect to file in March 2008.
Schedule 14A
Filed March 22, 2007
1. |
|
Please confirm in writing that you will comply with the following comments in all future
filings. Provide us also with an example of the disclosure you intend to use. Please
understand that after our review of your responses, we may raise additional comments. |
RESPONSE:
We will comply with the following comments in all future filings. Examples of disclosure we intend
to use to the extent applicable are provided in our responses to the comments below.
USEC Inc.
6903 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20817-1818
Telephone 301-564-3200 Fax 301-564-3201 http://www.usec.com
Mr. H. Roger Schwall
February 8, 2008
Page 2 of 5
Executive Compensation
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
Setting Executive Compensation, page 21
2. |
|
We note your response to our prior comment 5. Please identify the durable goods
manufacturing organization, the general manufacturing organization and the metals and mining
organization for which the committee reviewed pooled compensation data. |
RESPONSE:
With regard to our prior response, we would like to expand and clarify our explanation of the
survey data we used for benchmarking executive compensation. Our previous response may have
unintentionally given the impression that the Compensation Committee reviewed pooled compensation
data from a single general manufacturing organization and a single metals and mining organization.
In fact, the Compensation Committee reviews pooled compensation data from surveys that involve a
number of companies. The surveys are commercially available published books that are compiled and
sold by Watson Wyatt Worldwide and Mercer LLC. These firms aggregate data from thousands of
participants and the findings are segregated by, for example, revenue level, number of employees,
and industry. In conducting market benchmarking for us, Watson Wyatt consultants gathered
competitive market data from these surveys with scope (size, industry, etc.) matched to USEC as
closely as possible for each position. The surveys do not disclose specific companies within each
survey cut, or data tranche. For example, a particular survey cut may indicate that it is based on
50 durable goods manufacturing organizations with 50 incumbents and median revenue of $1.3 billion,
none of which are specifically disclosed. Therefore, it is not possible to identify specific
companies in the survey data as a durable goods manufacturer or a general manufacturer and no
specific durable goods manufacturing organizations, general manufacturing organizations, or metals
and mining organizations were considered by the Compensation Committee.
For benchmarking against specific companies, we use a peer group and the companies that made up our
peer group were disclosed on page 21 of our Proxy Statement.
In an attempt to make this clearer, an example of revised disclosure for 2006 would be as follows:
As a result of the limited nature of the Peer Group data, our
Compensation Committee also used commercially available survey data
provided to it by Watson Wyatt. This survey data included the
2005/2006 Watson Wyatt Data Services Top Management Report, the 2006
Mercer Executive Compensation Survey, and a proprietary Watson Wyatt
large company compensation survey. This survey data includes pooled
compensation data from many companies and the findings are
segregated by, for example,
Mr. H. Roger Schwall
February 8, 2008
Page 3 of 5
revenue level, number of employees, and industry. Using survey cuts
of durable goods manufacturing organizations and general
manufacturing organizations with comparable annual revenues, the
Compensation Committee reviewed pooled compensation data for
positions similar to those held by each named executive officer. In
the case of Messrs. Welch, Barpoulis and Hansen, the Compensation
Committee also used a survey cut of metals and mining organizations
with comparable annual revenues.
Elements of Executive Compensation
Total Direct Compensation
Base Salary, page 23
3. |
|
We note your response to our prior comments 6 and 7. In regard to your statement that
disclosure of each individual named executive officers specific detailed objectives are
confidential and proprietary within the meaning of Instruction 4 to Item 402(b) provide the
further disclosure required by that Instruction. Specifically, discuss how difficult it will
be for the executive to achieve the undisclosed target levels. |
|
|
|
For each named executive officer disclose the target they achieved. We do not agree that
disclosure of this information would not be meaningful to investors. |
|
|
|
Finally, provide us with the actual disclosure you propose to use in response to this
comment and our prior comments 6 and 7. Included in your response should be clarification
that there are no individual performance factors in addition to, and separate from, the five
factors enumerated in the proxy statement. |
RESPONSE:
The 2006 key performance objectives were all designed to achieve the Companys strategic business
plan and accordingly were designed to be achievable, but to require a substantial effort and
initiative on the part of the individual named executive officers. Each of the named executive
officers key performance objectives were designed to be difficult to achieve and to challenge the
executive.
During 2006, the named executive officers met these challenges and the Compensation Committee
determined that achievement levels for each of the named executive officers was as follows: Mr.
Welch 99%; Mr. Barpoulis 102%; Mr. Hansen 100%; Mr. Sewell 105%; Mr. Van Namen 105%.
Mr. H. Roger Schwall
February 8, 2008
Page 4 of 5
An example of revised disclosure for 2006 incorporating your comment and your prior comment 7 would
be as follows (we have highlighted those portions that represent new disclosure from what we
provided previously for your convenience):
The 2006 key performance objectives for the Chief Executive Officer
and the other named executive officers included objectives aimed at:
(1) implementing mitigating actions to address increased electric
power costs; (2) meeting milestones relating to the Companys
American Centrifuge project under a 2002 agreement between the U.S.
Department of Energy and the Company, and validating performance and
economics of the American Centrifuge project; (3) maintaining a
stable supply of Russian highly enriched uranium; (4) developing and
implementing a revised strategic plan; and (5) developing and
executing a comprehensive communications plan. For individual named
executive officers (other than the Chief Executive Officer), their
particular objectives were a more detailed subset of these five
objectives with a focus on such named executive officers functional
area. For example, Mr. Barpoulis specific objectives as Chief
Financial Officer generally related to financial and accounting
matters; Mr. Hansens specific objectives as General Counsel
generally related to legal, corporate governance and corporate
communications matters; Mr. Sewells specific objectives as Senior
Vice President American Centrifuge and Russian HEU generally related
to operations and program management matters; and Mr. Van Namens
specific objectives as Senior Vice President, Uranium Enrichment
generally related to uranium enrichment operations and marketing and
sales matters. There are no individual performance factors in
addition to, and separate from, the five factors listed above. The
weight of each of the key performance objectives varied by
individual with any one objective being weighted between 5% and 30%.
The 2006 key performance objectives were all designed to achieve
the Companys strategic business plan and accordingly were designed
to be achievable, but to require a substantial effort and initiative
on the part of the individual named executive officers. Each of the
named executive officers key performance objectives were designed
to be difficult to achieve and to challenge the executive.
The Compensation Committee reviews and approves the achievement
level and incentive payment for each named executive officer under
the Annual Incentive Program. With respect to 2006 individual key
performance objectives, the Compensation Committee determined
achievement levels for the
Mr. H. Roger Schwall
February 8, 2008
Page 5 of 5
named executive officers ranging from 99% to 105% as follows:
Mr. Welch 99%; Mr. Barpoulis 102%; Mr. Hansen 100%; Mr. Sewell 105%;
Mr. Van Namen 105%. As described on page 24 of the proxy statement,
in determining annual incentive awards for 2006, these achievements
levels were weighted 45% and were combined with the corporate
financial performance achieved of 140.2% (weighted 55%). For the
2006 performance year, the Compensation Committee approved annual
incentive payouts to the named executive officers of between
approximately 122% and 124% of target as follows: Mr. Welch 122% of
target; Mr. Barpoulis 123% of target; Mr. Hansen 122% of target; Mr.
Sewell 124% of target; Mr. Van Namen 124% of target.
If you have any further questions or comments, please contact me at (301) 564-3349.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sincerely,
|
|
|
/s/ Allen L. Lear
|
|
|
|
|
|
Allen L. Lear
Interim General Counsel and Secretary |
|
|