corresp
[Letterhead of The St. Joe Company]
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Direct Dial: 904-301-4481 |
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Direct Fax: 904-301-4681 |
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E-Mail: jconnolly@joe.com |
June 24, 2008
VIA FACSIMILE AND EDGAR
Securities and Exchange Commission
Division of Corporation Finance
100 F. Street, N.E.
Washington, DC 20549
Fax: 202-772-9209
Attention: Kevin Woody and Jennifer Monick
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Re:
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The St. Joe Company |
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Form 10-K for Year Ended December 31, 2007 |
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Filed February 25, 2008 |
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SEC File No. 1-10466 |
Dear Mr. Woody:
This letter responds to comments by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
Commission) contained in the letter (the Comment Letter) dated June 12, 2008, from you to
William S. McCalmont, the Chief Financial Officer of The St. Joe Company (the Company). For ease
of reference, we have reproduced below the full text of the staffs comment, which is followed by
the Companys response.
Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 2007
Item 7. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
Critical Accounting Estimates
Pension Plan, page 28
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We note managements use of independent third parties in various estimation processes,
including pension plan accounting. Please provide us with managements analysis supporting a
conclusion that these independent third parties are not experts. Alternatively, please name
the third parties and provide the appropriate consents. |
As stated on page 28 of our Form 10-K, we engage a third-party actuary to assist us in the
calculation of benefit obligations and income under our pension plan. While the actuary provides
assistance in this process by suggesting various assumptions and performing actuarial
Securities and Exchange Commission
June 24, 2008
Page 2
calculations, the work of the actuary and the assumptions used in its calculations are reviewed,
discussed and approved by management. By referring to the actuarys role as providing assistance
to management, we were attempting to convey that management utilizes appropriate resources, but
retains full responsibility for the Companys financial statements. Further, we did not quote or
summarize any portion of the actuarys report in our Form 10-K, nor did we state that the actuary
reviewed or passed upon any information in our Form 10-K. For these reasons, we did not believe
that the actuary was an expert for purposes of federal securities laws. In response to your
comment, however, we will remove the reference to the actuary in future filings.
Exhibits 31.1 and 31.2
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We note your certifications do not comply with the content of the certifications required
under Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a). Specifically, we note you have removed
(the registrants fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) from paragraph 4(d)
and you have removed (or persons performing the equivalent functions) from paragraph 5.
Please revise your certifications in future fillings to comply with the Exchange Act Rules. |
We will revise the certifications in our future annual and quarterly reports in accordance with
your comment.
At your request, the Company also hereby acknowledges the following:
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The Company is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in its
filings; |
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staff comments or changes to disclosure in response to staff comments do not foreclose
the Commission from taking any action with respect to the filings; and |
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the Company may not assert staff comments as a defense in any proceeding initiated by
the Commission or any person under the federal securities laws of the United States. |
If you have any questions or comments regarding the foregoing, please contact me at your
convenience at 904-301-4481.
Sincerely,
/s/ Janna L. Connolly
Janna L. Connolly
Chief Accounting Officer
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cc:
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Wm. Britton Greene, President and Chief Executive Officer |
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William S. McCalmont, Chief Financial Officer |
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Christine M. Marx, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |