SEC Company Response from Cushman & Wakefield Ltd. (CWK) (CIK 0001628369) (CWK) — Feb 26, 2020
Cushman & Wakefield Ltd. (CWK) (CIK 0001628369)
Date: Feb. 26, 2020 · CIK: 0001628369 · Accession: 0001193125-20-050251
AI Filing Summary & Sentiment
Referenced dates: December 2, 2019
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CORRESP 1 filename1.htm CORRESP Introductory Note: This correspondence has been resubmitted at the request of the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission to set forth previously redacted information in the exhibit included herein. Ryan Lawrence Deputy General Counsel 225 West Wacker, Suite 3000 Chicago, IL 60606 Main +1 312 470 1800 ryan.lawrence@cushwake.com cushmanwakefield.com February 5, 2020 CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD PLC HAS REQUESTED CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT OF THE REDACTED PORTIONS OF THIS LETTER, WHICH WERE REPLACED WITH THE FOLLOWING PLACEHOLDER “[* * *]” IN THE LETTER FILED VIA EDGAR, UNDER RULE 83 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE COMMISSION’S RULES OF PRACTICE (“RULE 83”), AND THE COMPANY DELIVERED A COMPLETE UNREDACTED COPY OF THE LETTER TO ITS EXAMINER AT THE DIVISION OF CORPORATE FINANCE. Via EDGAR U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Division of Corporation Finance Office of Real Estate & Construction 100 F Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20549 Attn: Jennifer Monick Jeffrey Lewis Re: Cushman & Wakefield plc Ladies and Gentlemen: Following telephonic conversations with the staff (the “Staff”) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on January 7 and 28, 2020, Cushman & Wakefield plc (the “Company”), is hereby providing supplementally to the Staff proposed revisions (“Proposed Revisions”) to certain sections of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K in response to the Staff’s comment letter dated December 2, 2019 (the “Comment Letter”) provided in connection with the Staff’s review of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 (the “Form 10-K”). The Proposed Revisions contain proposed modifications to the “Segment Data” footnote included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements included in the Form 10-K and to the presentation of certain non-GAAP financial measures presented in the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” section of the Form 10-K. For the Staff’s convenience, the Proposed Revisions are presented in redline form (i.e. strikethrough text in red ink is to be deleted and bold and underlined text in blue ink is to be added). * * * * * Securities and Exchange Commission February 5, 2020 Page 2 Should you have any questions relating to any of the foregoing, please feel free to contact the undersigned at (312) 424-8285 or Robert M. Hayward of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, counsel to the Company, at (312) 862-2133. Thank you for your assistance in this matter. Sincerely, /s/ Ryan Lawrence Ryan Lawrence Deputy General Counsel Enclosure cc: Robert M. Hayward Kirkland & Ellis LLP CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD plc PROPOSED REVISIONS SEGMENT DATA FOOTNOTE Note 3: Segment Data The Company reports its operations through the following segments: (1) Americas, (2) EMEA and (3) APAC. The Americas consists of operations located in the United States, Canada and key markets in Latin America. EMEA includes operations in the UK, France, Netherlands and other markets in Europe and the Middle East. APAC includes operations in Australia, Singapore, China and other markets in the Asia Pacific region. For segment reporting, gross contract costs are excluded from revenue in determining “Fee revenue”. Additionally, pursuant to business combination accounting rules, certain Fee revenue that was deferred by the acquiree may be recorded as a receivable on the acquisition date by the Company. Such contingent Fee revenue is recorded for segment reporting as an acquisition accounting adjustment to reflect the revenue recognition of the Company absent the application of acquisition accounting. Corporate expenses are allocated to the segments based upon Fee revenue of each segment. Gross contract costs are excluded from operating expenses in determining “Fee-based operating expenses”. Adjusted EBITDA is the profitability metric reported to the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) for purposes of making decisions about allocation of resources to each segment and assessing performance of each segment. Adjusted EBITDA excludes depreciation and amortization, interest expense, net of interest income, income taxes, as well as integration and other costs related to acquisitions, expenses related to the Cassidy Turley deferred payment obligation (the “DPO”; refer to Note 13: Stock-based Payments for further discussion), stock-based compensation for plans enacted before the Company’s IPO (“pre-IPO stock-based compensation”) and other charges. As segment assets are not reported to or used by the CODM to measure business performance or allocate resources, total segment assets and capital expenditures are not presented below. Summarized financial information by segment is as follows (in millions): Year Ended December 31, Americas 2018 2017 2016 Total revenue $ 5,724.7 $ 4,600.2 $ 4,124.3 Less: Gross contract costs (1,684.5) (1,023.4) (851.4) Acquisition accounting adjustments 2.5 20.0 30.6 Total Fee revenue $ 4,042.7 $ 3,596.8 $ 3,303.5 Service lines: Property, facilities and project management $ 1,698.6 $ 1,638.3 $ 1,445.4 Leasing 1,481.6 1,244.6 1,140.7 Capital markets 699.4 530.4 536.2 Valuation and other 163.1 183.5 181.2 Total Fee revenue $ 4,042.7 $ 3,596.8 $ 3,303.5 Segment operating expenses $ 5,276.9 $ 4,275.1 $ 3,843.8 Less: Gross contract costs (1,684.5) (1,023.4) (851.4) Total Fee-based operating expenses $ 3,592.4 $ 3,251.7 $ 2,992.4 Adjusted EBITDA $ 450.3 $ 344.6 $ 311.6 Year Ended December 31, EMEA 2018 2017 2016 Total revenue $ 999.8 $ 863.3 $ 755.5 Less: Gross contract costs (111.9) (81.3) (65.0) Acquisition accounting adjustments — 3.2 (0.8) Total Fee revenue $ 887.9 $ 785.2 $ 689.7 Service lines: Property, facilities and project management $ 262.1 $ 200.5 $ 172.9 Leasing 265.0 256.5 229.1 Capital markets 173.5 154.3 128.0 Valuation and other 187.3 173.9 159.7 Total Fee revenue $ 887.9 $ 785.2 $ 689.7 Segment operating expenses $ 896.5 $ 769.8 $ 670.9 Less: Gross contract costs (111.9) (81.3) (65.0) Total Fee-based operating expenses $ 784.6 $ 688.5 $ 605.9 Adjusted EBITDA $ 107.9 $ 108.8 $ 90.8 Year Ended December 31, APAC 2018 2017 2016 Total revenue $ 1,495.4 $ 1,460.4 $ 1,335.9 Less: Gross contract costs (475.4) (522.6) (489.6) Acquisition accounting adjustments — — 0.3 Total Fee revenue $ 1,020.0 $ 937.8 $ 846.6 Service lines: Property, facilities and project management $ 661.4 $ 649.7 $ 572.4 Leasing 174.1 149.7 129.1 Capital markets 86.7 55.8 66.6 Valuation and other 97.8 82.6 78.5 Total Fee revenue $ 1,020.0 $ 937.8 $ 846.6 Segment operating expenses $ 1,395.4 $ 1,386.1 $ 1,265.0 Less: Gross contract costs (475.4) (522.6) (489.6) Total Fee-based operating expenses $ 920.0 $ 863.5 $ 775.4 Adjusted EBITDA $ 100.9 $ 75.1 $ 72.4 Adjusted EBITDA % Change in USD % Change in Local Currency Year Ended December 31, 2018 Year Ended December 31, 2017 Year Ended December 31, 2016 2018 v 2017 2017 v 2016 2018 v 2017 2017 v 2016 Total Revenues Americas $ 5,724.7 $ 4,600.2 $ 4,124.3 24 % 12 % 25 % 11 % EMEA 999.8 863.3 755.5 16 % 14 % 13 % 14 % APAC 1,495.4 1,460.4 1,335.9 2 % 9 % 4 % 8 % Total Revenues $ 8,219.9 $ 6,923.9 $ 6,215.7 19 % 11 % 19 % 11 % Adjusted EBITDA Americas $ 450.3 $ 344.6 $ 311.6 31 % 11 % 31 % 10 % EMEA 107.9 108.8 90.8 (1 )% 20 % 2 % 12 % APAC 100.9 75.1 72.4 34 % 4 % 35 % 3 % Total Adjusted EBITDA $ 659.1 $ 528.5 $ 474.8 25 % 11 % 26 % 9 % Adjusted EBITDA at the consolidated level is calculated as follows (in millions): Year Ended December 31, 2018 2017 2016 Net loss attributable to the Company $ (185.8 ) $ (221.3 ) $ (434.2 ) Add/(less): Depreciation and amortization 290.0 270.6 260.6 Interest expense, net of interest income 228.8 183.1 171.8 Benefit from income taxes (25.0 ) (120.5 ) (24.3 ) Integration and other costs related to acquisitions 244.7 328.3 427.1 Pre-IPO stock-based compensation 63.4 27.1 23.2 Cassidy Turley deferred payment obligation 33.0 44.0 47.6 Other 10.0 17.2 3.0 Adjusted EBITDA $ 659.1 $ 528.5 $ 474.8 Below is the reconciliation of consolidated operating expenses to Fee-based operating expenses (in millions): Year Ended December 31, 2018 2017 2016 Total operating expenses $ 8,207.3 $ 7,095.0 $ 6,511.1 Less: Gross contract costs (2,271.8) (1,627.3) (1,406.0) Fee-based operating expenses $ 5,935.5 $ 5,467.7 $ 5,105.1 Below is the reconciliation of Fee-based operating expenses by segment to Consolidated Fee-based operating expenses (in millions): Year Ended December 31, 2018 2017 2016 Americas Fee-based operating expenses $ 3,592.4 $ 3,251.7 $ 2,992.4 EMEA Fee-based operating expenses 784.6 688.5 605.9 APAC Fee-based operating expenses 920.0 863.5 775.4 Segment Fee-based operating expenses 5,297.0 4,803.7 4,373.7 Depreciation and amortization 290.0 270.6 260.6 Integration and other costs related to acquisitions(1) 242.1 305.1 397.0 Pre-IPO stock-based compensation 63.4 27.1 23.2 Cassidy Turley deferred payment obligation 33.0 44.0 47.6 Other 10.0 17.2 3.0 Fee-based operating expenses $ 5,935.5 $ 5,467.7 $ 5,105.1 (1) Represents integration and other costs related to acquisitions, comprised of certain direct and incremental costs resulting from acquisitions and related integration efforts, as well as costs related to restructuring programs. Excludes the impact of acquisition accounting revenue adjustments as these amounts do not impact operating expenses. Geographic Information Revenue in the table below is allocated based upon the country in which services are performed (in millions): Year Ended December 31, 2018 2017 2016 United States $ 5,403.6 $ 4,298.7 $ 3,854.4 Australia 589.5 711.3 630.0 United Kingdom 425.9 364.6 359.4 All other countries 1,800.9 1,549.3 1,371.9 $ 8,219.9 $ 6,923.9 $ 6,215.7 The long-lived assets in the table below are comprised of property and equipment (in millions): As of December 31, 2018 2017 United States $ 216.9 $ 211.6 United Kingdom 40.5 30.3 All other countries 56.4 62.4 $ 313.8 $ 304.3 PRESENTATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures We have used the following measures, which are considered “non-GAAP financial measures” under SEC guidelines: i. Fee revenue and Fee-based operating expenses; ii. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”) and Adjusted EBITDA margin; and iii. Local currency. Our management principally uses these non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate operating performance, develop budgets and forecasts, improve comparability of results and assist our investors in analyzing the underlying performance of our business. These measures are not recognized measurements under GAAP. When analyzing our operating results, investors should use them in addition to, but not as an alternative for, the most directly comparable financial results calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Because the Company’s calculation of these non-GAAP financial measures may differ from other companies, our presentation of these measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. The Company believes that these measures provide a more complete understanding of ongoing operations, enhance comparability of current results to prior periods and may be useful for investors to analyze our financial performance. The measures eliminate the impact of certain items that may obscure trends in the underlying performance of our business. The Company believes that they are useful to investors, for the additional purposes described below. Service line fee revenue (“Fee revenue:”): The Company believes that investors may find this measure useful to analyze the financial performance of our Property, facilities and project management service line and our business generally. Fee revenue is GAAP revenue excludingexcludes costs reimbursable by clients which have substantially no margin, and as such provides greater visibility into the underlying performance of our business. Additionally, pursuant to business combination accounting rules, certain fees that may have been deferred by the acquiree may be recorded as a receivable on the acquisition date by the Company. Such fees are included inalso excluded from Fee revenue as acquisition accounting adjustments based on when the acquiree would have recognized revenue in the absence of being acquired by the Company. Fee-based operating expenses: Consistent with GAAP, reimbursed costs for certain customer contracts are presented on a gross basis (“gGross contract costsreimbursables”) in both revenue and operating expenses. As described above, gross contract costs are excluded from revenue in determining “Fee revenue.”” excludes Gross contract reimbursables. Gross contract costsreimbursables are similarly excluded from operating expenses in determining “Fee-based operating expenses.” Excluding gGross contract costsreimbursables from Fee-based operating expenses more accurately reflects how we manage our expense base and operating margins and, accordingly, is useful to investors and other external stakeholders for evaluating performance. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin: We have determined Adjusted EBITDA to be our primary measure of segment profitability. We believe that investors find this measure useful in comparing our operating performance to that of other companies in our industry because these calculations generally eliminate integration and other costs related to acquisitions, pre-IPO stock-based compensation, the deferred payment obligation related to the acquisition of Cassidy Turley and other items. Adjusted EBITDA also excludes the effects of financings, income tax and the non-cash accounting effects of depreciation and intangible asset amortization. Adjusted EBITDA margin, a non-GAAP measure of profitability as a percent of revenue, is calculated by dividing Adjusted EBITDA by Fee revenue. Local currency: In discussing our results, we refer to percentage changes in local currency. These metrics are calculated by holding foreign currency exchange rates constant in year-over-year comparisons. Management believes that this methodology provides investors with greater visibility into the performance of our business excluding the effect of foreign currency rate fluctuations. Results of Operations The following table sets forth items derived from our audited consolidated statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 (in millions): % Change in USD % Change in Local Currency Year Ended December 31, 2018 Year Ended December 31, 2017 Year Ended December 31, 2016 2018 v 2017 2017 v 2016 2018 v 2017 2017 v 2016 Revenue: Total revenue $ 8,219.9 $ 6,923.9 $ 6,215.7 19% 11% 19% 11% Less: Gross contract costs (2,271.8 ) (1,627.3 ) (1,406.0 ) 40% 16% 40% 15% Acquisition accounting adjustments 2.5 23.2 30.1 n/m (23 )% n/m (24 )% Total Fee revenue $ 5,950.6 $ 5,319.8 $ 4,839.8 12% 10% 12% 10% Service Lines: Property, facilities and project management $ 2,622.1 $ 2,488.5 $ 2,190.7 5% 14% 6% 13% Leasing 1,920.7 1,650.8 1,498.9 16% 10% 16% 10% Capital markets 959.6 740.5 730.8 30% 1% 29% 1% Valuation and other 448.2 440.0 419.4 2% 5% 1% 5% Total Fee revenue $ 5,950.6 $ 5,319.8 $ 4,839.8 12% 10% 12% 10% Co