corresp
January 4, 2008
United States Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C. 20549-0402
Attention: Daniel Morris
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RE:
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Northrop Grumman Corporation |
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Definitive 14A filed |
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April 12, 2007 |
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File No. 001-16411 |
Reference is made to the letter dated December 10, 2007 from Daniel Morris (Comment Letter) of
your office to Northrop Grumman Corporation (the Company). We understand the purpose of your
review, and appreciate your comments. In response to your Comment Letter, the Company submits the
following responses for the Staffs consideration. The Company requested and was granted an
extension on the due date of our response to January 4, 2008. For your convenience, we have
reprinted the Staffs original comments, followed by the Companys response.
Comment 1:
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We note your supplemental response to prior comment 4. Please confirm that you will identify
all benchmark companies in future filings. |
Response:
The SEC requested in its letter dated August 21, 2007 that the Company identify the companies
included in the general industry peer group which the Company did in the response letter dated
October 18, 2007. The Company will provide a similar list in future filings that lists all
companies used for benchmark purposes.
Comment 2:
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We note your response to prior comment 9. In future filings, please disclose all performance
targets related to your Supplemental Goals for Sector Operating Units, including without
limitation, new product development, new business initiatives and productivity. |
Response:
The Company notes the Staffs comment. We will disclose a summary of key performance targets
related to Supplemental Goals for Sector Operating Units unless the disclosure of these targets
would disclose confidential proprietary information which the
January 4, 2008
United States Securities Exchange Commission
File No. 001-16411
Company believes would result in competitive harm. In such event, we will discuss the expected
level of difficulty of achieving the targets that are not disclosed.
Comment 3:
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We note your response to prior comment 14 which indicates that plan provisions were
determined based upon market prevalence and prevalent market data. In future filings,
please describe in greater detail how appropriate payment and benefit levels were determined. |
Response:
The Company notes the Staffs comment. In future filings, the Company will provide greater detail
regarding how payments and benefit levels are determined.
We believe that our responses address the matters contained in your Comment Letter, and we are
available to discuss any supplemental comments or questions you may have by telephone if you so
desire. If you would like to speak with us about any of these matters, please do not hesitate to
call me at 310-201-1630.
Very truly yours,
/s/
STEPHEN D. YSLAS
Stephen D. Yslas
Corporate Vice President, Secretary
and Deputy General Counsel
Attachment
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cc:
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Ronald D. Sugar |
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Wesley G. Bush |
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