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SEC Company Response from LPL Financial Holdings Inc. (LPLA) (CIK 0001397911) (LPLA) — Sep 7, 2010

LPL Financial Holdings Inc. (LPLA) (CIK 0001397911)
Date: Sept. 7, 2010 · CIK: 0001397911 · Accession: 0000950123-10-084250

AI Filing Summary & Sentiment

File numbers found in text: 333-167325

Referenced dates: August 31, 2010

Date
September 7, 2010
Author
Julie H. Jones
Form
CORRESP
Company
LPL Financial Holdings Inc. (LPLA) (CIK 0001397911)

Letter

Re:

September 7, 2010

VIA EDGAR

LPL Investment Holdings Inc.

Registration Statement on Form S-1 Filed June 4, 2010, as amended

File No. 333-167325

Sonia Gupta Barros, Special Counsel

Kristina Aberg, Attorney-Adviser

Division of Corporation Finance

Securities and Exchange Commission

100 F Street, N.E.

Washington, D.C. 20549

Ladies and Gentlemen:

On behalf of LPL Investment Holdings Inc. (the “Company”), we hereby transmit via EDGAR for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) the following responses to the comment letter dated August 31, 2010 from the Staff regarding the registration statement. To assist your review, we have presented the text of the Staff’s comments in italics below. The responses and information described below are based upon information provided to us by the Company.

Recent Developments, page 8

1. In an appropriate section of the prospectus, please describe the escrow and contingent payment in greater detail, including a description of the “specified matters” for the escrow and the maximum amount of the contingent payment. Please also include the acquisition agreement as an exhibit to the registration statement or tell us why you believe you are not required to do so.

Response to Comment 1:

In response to the Staff’s comments, the Company will revise the disclosure about the recent acquisition of certain assets of National Retirement Partners, Inc. (“NRP”) as follows (revised language in bold):

Acquisition of National Retirement Partners

On July 14, 2010, we announced a definitive agreement to acquire certain assets from National Retirement Partners, Inc. (“NRP”). NRP’s advisors offer products and services to retirement

plan sponsors and participants and comprehensive financial services to high net worth individuals. Through this asset purchase, NRP’s independent advisors will have the opportunity to join LPL Financial. This transaction will further enhance our capabilities and presence in group retirement plans, while providing benefits for both NRP advisors who join LPL Financial as well as for our existing advisors.

The consideration for the transaction consists of a payment on the closing date of $27.0 million, subject to a post-closing purchase price adjustment secured by a $5.4 million escrow, and a contingent payment to be made on the third anniversary of closing of approximately 25%-30% of the amount by which the gross trailing twelve-month commission and fee revenues relating to the business exceed an agreed upon performance target. There is no cap on the contingent payment amount, which is currently anticipated to be substantially less than the closing date payment amount. Upon completion of this transaction, certain NRP employees will join LPL Financial. NRP has agreed to indemnify us for breaches of representations and warranties and covenants, as well as pre-closing actions or omissions. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2010, subject to customary closing conditions including regulatory approvals.

The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment regarding the acquisition agreement related to the purchase of certain assets of NRP. The Company has concluded that it is not required to include the acquisition agreement as an exhibit pursuant to Item 601 of Regulation S-K because the acquisition is not material. In reaching this conclusion, the Company considered the following factors, among other things:

•

Purchase price is a small percentage of the Company’s assets. The consideration for the transaction consists of a payment on the closing date of $27.0 million, with a potential contingent payment to be made on the third anniversary of closing. The $27.0 million purchase price payment represents only 0.81% of the Company’s total assets (as of June 30, 2010), and the contingent payment is currently anticipated to be substantially less than the closing date payment amount.

•

Acquired business does not meet the Regulation S-X significance criteria. Assuming completion of the acquisition, the acquired NRP business will not be “significant” pursuant to Rule 1-02(w) or Rule 3-05 of Regulation S-X because the acquired business does not exceed 10% of any of the three significance criteria.

•

Insignificant ongoing obligations. There are no significant continuing obligations of the Company after the purchase of the assets other than the potential contingent payment, which is currently anticipated to be substantially less than the closing date payment amount.

Principal and Selling Shareholders, page 124

2. Please disclose the total number of “Other selling shareholders” that will be included in the Form 8-K referenced in footnote 14 to the table on page 125.

Response to Comment 2:

The Company will revise the disclosure in the prospectus to include the total number of “Other selling shareholders” that will be included in the Form 8-K referenced in footnote 14 to the table on page 125.

* * * * *

We would appreciate the opportunity to discuss at your convenience any questions or further comments you may have on the above responses. Please do not hesitate to call me at 617-951-7294.

Very truly yours,
/s/
Julie H. Jones

Show Raw Text
CORRESP
1
filename1.htm

corresp

September 7, 2010

VIA EDGAR

    Re:

    LPL Investment Holdings Inc.

Registration Statement on Form S-1 Filed June 4, 2010, as amended

File No. 333-167325

Sonia Gupta Barros, Special Counsel

Kristina Aberg, Attorney-Adviser

Division of Corporation Finance

Securities and Exchange Commission

100 F Street, N.E.

Washington, D.C. 20549

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     On behalf of LPL Investment Holdings Inc. (the “Company”), we hereby transmit via EDGAR for
filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) the following responses to
the comment letter dated August 31, 2010 from the Staff regarding the registration statement. To
assist your review, we have presented the text of the Staff’s comments in italics below. The
responses and information described below are based upon information provided to us by the Company.

Recent Developments, page 8

1. In an appropriate section of the prospectus, please describe the escrow and contingent payment
in greater detail, including a description of the “specified matters” for the escrow and the
maximum amount of the contingent payment. Please also include the acquisition agreement as an
exhibit to the registration statement or tell us why you believe you are not required to do so.

Response to Comment 1:

     In response to the Staff’s comments, the Company will revise the disclosure about the recent
acquisition of certain assets of National Retirement Partners, Inc. (“NRP”) as follows (revised
language in bold):

     Acquisition of National Retirement Partners

     On July 14, 2010, we announced a definitive agreement to
acquire certain assets from National Retirement Partners, Inc.
(“NRP”). NRP’s advisors offer products and services to retirement

plan sponsors and participants and comprehensive financial services
to high net worth individuals. Through this asset purchase, NRP’s
independent advisors will have the opportunity to join LPL
Financial. This transaction will further enhance our capabilities
and presence in group retirement plans, while providing benefits
for both NRP advisors who join LPL Financial as well as for our
existing advisors.

     The consideration for the transaction consists of a payment on
the closing date of $27.0 million, subject to a post-closing
purchase price adjustment secured by a $5.4 million escrow, and a
contingent payment to be made on the third anniversary of closing
of approximately 25%-30% of the amount by which the gross trailing
twelve-month commission and fee revenues relating to the business
exceed an agreed upon performance target. There is no cap on the
contingent payment amount, which is currently anticipated to be
substantially less than the closing date payment amount. Upon
completion of this transaction, certain NRP employees will join LPL
Financial. NRP has agreed to indemnify us for breaches of
representations and warranties and covenants, as well as
pre-closing actions or omissions. The transaction is expected to
close in the fourth quarter of 2010, subject to customary closing
conditions including regulatory approvals.

     The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment regarding the acquisition agreement related to
the purchase of certain assets of NRP. The Company has concluded that it is not required to
include the acquisition agreement as an exhibit pursuant to Item 601 of Regulation S-K because the
acquisition is not material. In reaching this conclusion, the Company considered the following
factors, among other things:

    •

    Purchase price is a small percentage of the Company’s assets. The consideration
for the transaction consists of a payment on the closing date of $27.0 million,
with a potential contingent payment to be made on the third anniversary of closing.
The $27.0 million purchase price payment represents only 0.81% of the Company’s
total assets (as of June 30, 2010), and the contingent payment
is currently anticipated to be substantially less than the closing date payment
amount.

    •

    Acquired business does not meet the Regulation S-X significance criteria.
Assuming completion of the acquisition, the acquired NRP business will not be
“significant” pursuant to Rule 1-02(w) or Rule 3-05 of Regulation S-X because the
acquired business does not exceed 10% of any of the three significance criteria.

    •

    Insignificant ongoing obligations. There are no significant continuing
obligations of the Company after the purchase of the assets other than the
potential contingent payment, which is currently anticipated to be substantially
less than the closing date payment amount.

Principal and Selling Shareholders, page 124

2. Please disclose the total number of “Other selling shareholders” that will be included in the
Form 8-K referenced in footnote 14 to the table on page 125.

Response to Comment 2:

     The Company will revise the disclosure in the prospectus to include the total number of “Other
selling shareholders” that will be included in the Form 8-K referenced in footnote 14 to the table
on page 125.

*      *      *      *      *

     We would appreciate the opportunity to discuss at your convenience any questions or further
comments you may have on the above responses. Please do not hesitate to call me at 617-951-7294.

Very truly yours,

/s/
Julie H. Jones

Julie H. Jones

    cc:

    LPL Investment Holdings Inc.

Stephanie L. Brown