Attention:
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Mr. Craig Slivka, Special Counsel | |
Re:
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Aaron Rents, Inc. Form 10-K Response to SEC Comments dated January 19, 2010 File Number 1-13941 |
| 1. | We note your response to prior comments 2 and 3. However, the operative issue for judging the materiality of a remedial effort is its impact. Thus, we do not agree with your position that because the steps taken to correct the material weakness in your internal control over financial reporting were somehow minor or relatively easy to implement, then they are therefore immaterial. We believe that if even a minor fix has a material impact by correcting a material weakness, then the steps themselves are material. Please amend your 10-K to comply with our comments. |
| Response: | |||
| The Company acknowledges the Staffs position, communicated to our counsel at the January 26, 2010 telephone conference referred to above, that any changes to the Companys internal control over financial reporting (ICOFR) that are made to correct a material weakness in ICOFR should be considered material changes to ICOFR, regardless of the nature of the change, and should be disclosed as such pursuant to Item 308(c) of Regulation S-K. The Company undertakes to comply with this position in the future, and to otherwise report any ICOFR change that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect Aarons ICOFR, as required by Item 308(c). |
| 2. | We note your response to prior comment 7. However, several items are unclear from the disclosure in the proxy and your December 14, 2009 response. Specifically, it is unclear whether pre-tax earnings need to exceed the previous years pre-tax earnings by a certain amount in order for the percentage-based bonuses to be paid. Also, in the case of Messrs. Butler and Evans, it is unclear whether their respective divisions pre-tax earnings must be a certain amount in order for their bonuses to be paid. If bonuses are paid as calculated in the proxy when the pre-tax earnings exceed the previous years pre-tax earnings by any amount, then please clarify this in future filings. Otherwise, please amend your 10-K to disclose the specific corporate and division objectives that must be achieved for your named executive officers to receive their bonus. | ||
| Response: | |||
| We confirm that annual cash incentives are paid as calculated in the proxy statement when the Companys pre-tax earnings (or the Aarons Sales & Lease Ownership Divisions pre-tax earnings in the case of Mr. Butler) exceed the prior years pre-tax earnings by any amount (conversely, no incentives whatsoever are payable if pre-tax earnings fall below the prior years pre-tax earnings by any amount). The Company will clarify this in applicable future filings, including its next proxy statement. | |||
| As discussed in the 2009 proxy statement, Mr. Evans is paid a quarterly cash incentive, rather than an annual one, which depends on his achievement of quarterly pre-tax profit objectives for the Aarons Sales & Lease Ownership Divisions franchise operations and on new franchised store openings. The 2009 proxy statement discloses both his pre-tax earnings objectives and the manner of calculation |
| for the 2008 fiscal year, starting on the bottom of page 18 and continuing to the top of page 19. |
| 3. | It is unclear from your response to prior comment 8 how the size and type of individual equity awards are made. Does your reference to historical award levels mean that the named executive officers receive the same amount and type of equity awards every year regardless of performance or other criteria? Please clarify this in your amended 10-K. | ||
| Response: | |||
| In response to your comment, the Company anticipates including disclosure substantially to the following effect in the proxy statement for its next annual meeting of shareholders. The second paragraph in the proposed disclosure below is new; the first and third are merely the proposed disclosure we set forth as one paragraph in our December 14, 2009 response, divided into two paragraphs with the new text separating them. | |||
| In the reproduced third paragraph, please note the last sentence concerning the adjustment of award sizes between years, which is partially responsive to the portion of your comment asking whether the reference to historical award levels means equity awards are the same size every year. |
| Sincerely, AARONS, INC. |
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| By: | /s/ Robert P. Sinclair | |||
| Robert P. Sinclair | ||||
| Vice President, Corporate Controller | ||||