SEC Company Response from MAXIMUS, INC. (MMS) (CIK 0001032220) (MMS) — Jun 18, 2010
MAXIMUS, INC. (MMS) (CIK 0001032220)
Date: June 18, 2010 · CIK: 0001032220 · Accession: 0001104659-10-034571
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CORRESP 1 filename1.htm MAXIMUS 11419 Sunset Hills Road Reston VA 20190 June 18, 2010 United States Securities and Exchange Commission Division of Corporate Finance — Mail Stop 3010 Washington DC 20549 Dear Ms. Monick, In response to your letter of June 3, 2010, our responses are below. In addition, we acknowledge that: · The Company is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in the filing; · Staff comments or changes to disclosure in response to staff comments do not foreclose the Securities and Exchange Commission from taking any action with respect to the filing; · The Company may not assert staff comments as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any person under the federal securities laws of the United States. Note 13, Shareholders’ Equity We note you corrected an error related to stock-based compensation expense. Please tell us how you have complied with ASC 250. We note your response to prior comment three and request that you provide us with a more robust analysis of materiality related to the $2.2 million stock-based compensation charge recorded during the first quarter of fiscal 2008. In your response, please provide us with a thorough materiality analysis which is performed at the segment level and which addresses the impact to both income from continuing operations and net income. Additionally, help us to understand what you, your investors and analysts were focusing on during the earnings calls during 2007 and 2008. Please tell us if the focus was on earnings including or excluding these “unusual and infrequently occurring items.” Your response should include excerpts from your earnings calls. Finally, provide us with samples of analysts’ reports for 2007, 2008 and 2009 and be sure to provide samples from quarters that were most relevant to the $2.2 million adjustment. 1 Analysis of materiality In providing a more robust analysis of the materiality of the charge, we will provide certain information from our previous submission for ease of review. In correcting the stock based compensation in 2008, management considered the effect of the Stock-Based Compensation Adjustments (“SBC Adjustments”) on the financial results for 2006, 2007 and 2008, as well as the effects of the SBC Adjustments on the trend of earnings and other factors. In performing this evaluation, management also considered the effects of the SBC Adjustments on the results as stated for the business as a whole. The SBC Adjustments were recorded in the first quarter of fiscal year 2008. The Company’s Systems segment was discontinued in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008. Since the correction occurred prior to the discontinued operations of the Systems segment, management based its judgment on materiality upon the financial information that existed prior to the financials being recast for discontinued operations. Appendix 1 shows the SBC Adjustments by segment both before and after the discontinued operations recast the financial results. In the appendices to this letter, we provide financial and segment analysis relative to the SBC Adjustments as if the Systems segment was not discontinued. We have also provided the SBC Adjustments relative to continuing operations, which reflects the SBC Adjustments and segment information after the financials were recast for the discontinued operations. In performing the evaluation, management concluded that the SBC Adjustments were not material to any of the periods affected. This is true with or without the decision in fiscal year 2008 to discontinue the systems segment. That evaluation included consideration of the guidance related to materiality included in ASC 250-10-S99 (SAB Topic 1.M). In conjunction with that guidance, we considered both the quantitative and qualitative factors in concluding that the amounts were not material. Quantitatively, we considered the following when reviewing the SBC Adjustments relative to consolidated results: · We compared the SBC Adjustments to the revenue and income to determine materiality. During the years affected by the SBC Adjustments, management and industry analysts adjusted income for certain unusual and infrequently occurring items. Appendix 6 provides the components of these unusual and infrequent adjustments and operating income trends without these items. The primary driver for the adjustments was the economic impact of an unfavorable contract with Accenture to provide services to the Texas HHSC. This subcontract generated large losses and a write-off of deferred contract costs. The Accenture subcontract was terminated during the second quarter of fiscal 2007 and became a legal matter. The work performed under this subcontract was replaced with a new contract that the Company entered into directly with the State of Texas, which returned the operations to profitability in the third quarter of fiscal 2007. The Accenture subcontract was a major driver of the legal and settlement expense. The subcontract and its related litigation represented a significant contingency to the Company and was a major focus of industry analysis aside from the 2 Company’s core business operations. In addition, during these years, the Company reached a large settlement with the Department of Justice and realized a gain on the sale of an owned office building. These items were separately identified in their relevant periods, with their effects on operating income and EPS communicated to the public. When management and industry analysts evaluated the Company’s performance and assessed its future prospects, it was done by adjusting income for these unusual and infrequently occurring items and then separately identifying and evaluating the Texas subcontract contingency. Accordingly, in our analysis, we have adjusted income from continuing operations in each period to reflect these items. · Prior to the problems under the Texas subcontract, the Company had never recorded a loss as a public company and had recorded net income in excess of $35 million in each of the five fiscal years prior to 2006. Similarly, the Company returned to its previous high levels of profitability in fiscal 2009 and YTD fiscal 2010. The SBC Adjustments as a percentage of historical results would also not be material. Management’s adjustments for unusual and infrequent events, when adjusted out from net income, would show the Company recording levels of income consistent with those both prior to fiscal 2006 and subsequent to fiscal 2008. For this reason, management considers this adjusted income to be a more appropriate basis for measuring materiality, based upon the focus of the analysts and investor community on the adjusted results. · We compared the SBC Adjustments to the revenue and income of the business as recorded in 2006 and 2007 prior to the discontinued operations and to the 2008 financial results as they would have been stated if we did not recast our financials for discontinued operations. As noted above, at the time of the correction, these were the basis for management’s assessment of materiality. This analysis of SBC Adjustments compared to financial results prior to recasting for the discontinued operations is provided in Appendix 2. In no year do the SBC Adjustments exceed 0.3% of revenue, or 3.5% of adjusted income. Based upon this analysis, we do not consider the SBC Adjustments to be material. · Management compared the SBC Adjustments to revenue, income from continuing operations and net income based upon the financial results of the business following discontinued operations at the end of 2008. Those financial results were disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2008, filed with the SEC on December 15, 2008. The analysis is summarized on Appendix 3. In no year do the SBC Adjustments exceed 0.3% of revenue, or 3% of adjusted income from continuing operations. In addition, the tax-effected SBC Adjustments never exceed 5% of net income. Based upon this analysis, we do not consider the SBC Adjustments to be material. Quantitatively, we considered the following when reviewing the SBC Adjustments relative to segment results: 3 · The segment analysis at Appendix 4 is prepared as if we did not recast our financials for discontinued operations, consistent with the analysis provided at Appendix 2. The segment analysis provided at Appendix 5 is prepared consistent with fiscal 2008 year-end financials that treat the systems segment as discontinued. Appendix 5 is prepared on a basis consistent with Appendix 3. When evaluating segment information, management concluded that the SBC Adjustments were not material to any of the periods affected. This is true with or without the decision in fiscal year 2008 to discontinue the Systems segment. · For all segments, relative to all years, the effects of the SBC Adjustments are less than 1% of revenue. This calculation is shown at Appendixes 4 and 5. Based upon this segment analysis, we do not consider the SBC Adjustments to be material. · The Operations Segment is the dominant segment by either revenue or operating income measures. The SBC Adjustments for this segment range between 1.0% and 2.1% of operating income adjusted for the Texas subcontract. Based upon this segment analysis, we do not consider the SBC Adjustments to be material to the operating income for the Operations segment. · In all years, the Systems segment recorded a loss and in certain periods operated at near-breakeven. Accordingly, it would be inappropriate to use operating profit as a measure of materiality. In no year do the SBC Adjustments change the loss to profit. Based upon this segment analysis, we do not consider the SBC Adjustments to be material to the operating income for the Systems segment. The Systems segment was discontinued in the fiscal year in which the correction was made. Accordingly, it is included in discontinued operations and had no impact to continuing operations. · The impact the SBC Adjustments had on the Consulting segment in fiscal year 2007 was less than 5% of operating income and was immaterial. For fiscal year 2006, prior to the recast detailed on Appendix 4, the effect of the SBC Adjustments would have been less than 5% of operating income. Similarly, fiscal year 2008, prior to the recast, had an operating loss and is an inappropriate measure for materiality and the adjustment would not change the perception held by shareholders or the investment community that the segment results were marginal. Since the correction occurred prior to the discontinued operations of the Systems segment, management based its judgment on materiality upon financial information prior to the financials being recast. The effect of the SBC Adjustments on Consulting segment profit margin after discontinuing the Systems segment would be to reduce fiscal 2006 margin by 0.3% to 3.9% and increase the fiscal 2008 margin by 0.6% to 1.8%. Management believes that a reader of the financial statements will still view the SBC Adjustments as immaterial to the Consulting segment. Based upon this segment analysis, we do not consider the SBC Adjustments to be material to the operating income for the Consulting segment. As part of the qualitative analysis, we considered the following: 4 · The SBC Adjustments do not significantly change, or mask changes, in earnings or other trends at the consolidated or segment level. · Analysts historically review results adjusted for certain items discussed above and the SBC Adjustments would not impact their assessments. · The SBC Adjustments would not move the Company between income or loss in any periods affected. · The SBC Adjustments do not affect any compliance matters, including compliance with debt covenants. · The SBC Adjustments do not affect management compensation and represent a non-cash item. · The SBC Adjustments do not represent any unlawful or fraudulent transactions. Upon our conclusion that the amounts were not material, we considered the guidance of ASC 250-10-S99-3 related to immaterial adjustments. The example in SAB Topic 5.F. states that, if an accounting change does not have a material impact in the financial statements, the cumulative effect of the change should be included in the income statement for the period in which the change is made. In accordance with that guidance, the full amount of the change is reflected in the period in which it was made. Finally, we note that the SBC Adjustments and their correction were fully and appropriately disclosed in the footnotes to our financial statements allowing the user of the statements complete transparency into our operating results. In our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, the SBC Adjustments are disclosed in Note 13 (page 55 of the 2009 10-K and page 51 of the 2008 10-K) as well as within the MD&A (page 21 in 2009, page 20 in 2008). In our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for 2008, the SBC Adjustments are disclosed in the MD&A on page 15 of Q1 and Q2 and page 18 of Q3. The focus of 2007 and 2008 earnings calls During earnings calls and other communications to shareholders and analysts during 2007 and 2008, significant focus was placed upon the unusual and infrequently occurring items. This information is of significant value to these parties in assessing the past performance of management and assessing the likely future prospects of the Company. The breakdown of these charges (after-tax) was as follows: 5 2006 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Total Texas Contract — 1,392 20,754 7,742 29,887 Legal and Settlement Expense 303 439 5,492 (550 ) 5,683 2007 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Total Texas Contract 16,940 3,933 — (5,627 ) 15,246 Legal and Settlement Expense 1,815 3,691 19,965 1,414 26,885 2008 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Total Legal and Settlement Expense — 563 423 22,221 23,207 Gain on Sale of Building — — (2,382 ) — (2,382 ) Goodwill impairment charge — — — 4,598 4,598 2009 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Total Legal and Settlement Expense — — (4,271 ) — (4,271 ) · In all quarters in 2007 and in the latter quarters of 2006 and 2008, the Company included an analysis of “Supplemental Pro Forma Information” which adjusted the financial results of the Company from GAAP to an adjusted result excluding the effects of the Texas Project, Legal and Settlement Expense, the gain on sale of a Company building, and a goodwill write-off. This was typically referred to as “adjusted” EPS or adjusted income before income taxes. · During 2007, the Company frequently referred to “Base Operations” in press releases and earnings calls. Base Operations was defined as the Company’s financial results, excluding losses on the Texas Project and legal expenses. This term is also used by certain analysts in assessing the results of the business. · A summary of this supplemental information by fiscal year is provided at Appendix 6. Specific quarterly matters are noted below: Second Quarter 2006 (March 31, 2006) · The company’s earnings press release, issued on May 3, 2006 and filed as Exhibit 99.1 on Form 8-K on May 5, 2006, mentions losses in Texas and British Columbia. In addition, the transcript of the subsequent conference call was filed as Exhibit 99.2 in the same Form 8-K. The Texas subcontract is mentioned in both the press release and the call (“In the current quarter our Texas