Feral Jundi

Monday, December 12, 2011

Industry Talk: Xe Services Announces Name Change To ACADEMI

Filed under: Industry Talk,Iraq — Tags: , , , , — Matt @ 10:06 PM

Plato’s Akademia, established in the third century B.C., was an institution that produced the best thinkers and warriors alike. These were elite individuals capable of facing the challenges of the time thanks to a strong foundation in training, strategy and strength, both mental and physical.

Interesting news. I am wondering if this will help things at all for future contracts?  In interviews, CEO Ted Wright said they plan on pursuing contracts in Iraq again, and that would be quite the thing.  Here is a quote from CNN’s interview with him:

“The day I’m allowed to do business in Iraq will be success,” said Wright. “If the government of Iraq let’s us do business there again, you know we’ve been successful.”

As to the new business focus of ACADEMI, here was a little hint as to what they are thinking:

Wright would like to double the training side of the business. His company boasts one of the country’s largest, most well-equipped training facilities, located in Moyock, in sparsely populated northeastern North Carolina. He’s also exploring new business opportunities when it comes to certifying bodyguards for high net-worth individuals, such as celebrities or executives. He’d also like to expand the company’s number of commercial clients such as oil and gas companies, and insurers who do business in dangerous parts of the world.

“Hopefully we can reduce insurance rates for their clients so that they can bring us on as an offering to say, ‘Hey listen, go use these people, they’re gonna come and do an assessment for you and they’re gonna improve your security environment and your insurance rates will go down,” said Wright.

Now that is cool. Maybe they might get into the maritime security game again?  That industry needs quality folks and those shipping companies would benefit greatly from reduced insurance rates based on using the services of a company like ACADEMI. Even if they do not get into that game, the energy sector is still a massive market. Things are also getting more dangerous and unstable, and the world is highly dependent on the free flow of oil. Security is a crucial element of the free flow. –Matt

 

 

Leading Training and Security Services Provider Xe Services Announces Name Change to ACADEMI
New name draws on company legacy while building on new leadership, governance and strategy.
Dec 12, 2011
USTC Holdings, LLC, the investor consortium that acquired Xe Services, LLC, including its main holding U.S. Training Center, Inc. in December 2010, today announced ACADEMI as the new name and brand for Xe Services. The name ACADEMI (pronounced “academy”) was selected to better communicate the new company’s focus on future growth.
“We have had a year of extraordinary changes that have resulted in a new, better company,” President and CEO Ted Wright said in a statement. The ACADEMI name communicates both our legacy and where we are going as a company in the future. This is more than a simple name change,” Wright continued. “Rather it is a reflection of the changes we have made while retaining those elements that made us who we are today — the best in our industry.”
The announcement of ACADEMI is the culmination of a year of change as part of the company’s new chapter of growth. Upon acquiring Xe Services and its core operating subsidiaries in December 2010, USTC Holdings, LLC indicated that it would form a new Board of Directors, including independent unaffiliated directors, to manage the company and enhance its governance and oversight capabilities.

(more…)

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Industry Talk: Xe Gets A New CEO And Some New Blood

Xe is starting to infuse some new blood into their game. Red McCombs, John Ashcroft and Bobby Ray Inman all make the list and here is a quick run down of each.

The Texas oil executive (Red McCombs) is a co-founder of Clear Channel Communications and a former owner of the Minnesota Vikings, Denver Nuggets and San Antonio Spurs.
In addition, former Attorney General John Ashcroft and retired Adm. Bobby Ray Inman, a former director of the National Security Agency, have been brought on board as independent directors.

Not to mention the new CEO Ted Wright who came from KBR. It will be interesting to see where the company goes from here. –Matt

Xe Services, successor to Blackwater, names new CEO
By Bill Sizemore
June 1, 2011
Xe Services, the security and training company formerly known as Blackwater, has named a new chief executive officer. He is one of several new faces joining the company as it tries to distance itself from a history of legal troubles and international controversy.
USTC Holdings, Xe’s parent company, announced Wednesday that Ted Wright will join the company as CEO effective June 13. Wright comes to Xe from Houston-based KBR, a global engineering, construction and services company, where he had been president for North American government and defense. He spent 30 years on active and reserve duty in the Air Force.

(more…)

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Legal News: Former Attorney General John Ashcroft To Become Independent Director Of Xe Services

This is a very interesting move, and bravo to the investors and to Xe for bringing on this heavy weight. John Ashcroft is definitely taking on a risky move as well, and I salute his courage for jumping on board.

So what does this mean in terms of the future of Xe? There are three things that come to mind.  The first is the ongoing litigation that Xe has been up against, both by lawsuits and with the stuff going on between the US Gov and the company over various incidents. The second is the legally complex and highly dangerous missions that Xe is a part of, and especially as the DoS builds and expands their army of private security contractors. Third is how to structure the companies policies to best fit in with the new codes of conduct and licenses that companies will have to abide by as budgets are approved and laws are implemented.

Probably the one thing that keeps coming to my mind about this industry is that companies will continue to risk a lot, and in order to protect themselves legally, they have to have an army of lawfare warriors. That whole saying of ‘send guns, money, and lawyers’ is absolutely true, and the companies that want to survive and continue to provide their services, need really kick ass legal firms or legal eagles to protect them.

It will be a complex legal environment as we press forward in this war, and as we involve industry in the counter-piracy or counter-transnational criminal organizations game, and picking a former Attorney General of the United States (with all of his connections and influence) is a good move to help navigate that.

What is also interesting about this move, is that having him on board might help to attract a CEO and/or management team of a higher caliber.  It will add ‘value’ to the company, because they have added a significant player to the team.  These things matter at the upper level, and the investors are doing all they can to not only maintain the company’s current value, but to increase it and grow.  And if the customer (meaning the US government) knows that the company has a high level legal heavy weight and a strong lawfare army, then that gives them and the tax paying public a little bit more of a warm and fuzzy about the intent of the company. The narrative says that ‘the company wants to do good, and provide an excellent service for it’s clients’. –Matt

Former Attorney General John Ashcroft to Become Independent Director of Xe Services
Past Department of Justice Head to Chair Governance Subcommittee
May 04, 2011
USTC Holdings, LLC, the investor consortium that acquired Xe Services, LLC, including its main holding U.S. Training Center, Inc. (“USTC”) in December 2010, today announced that former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft will serve as an Independent Director of the company. USTC is a leading provider of training and security services focused on worldwide operations in support of the United States Government and other customers.
“Attorney General Ashcroft’s accomplished career will certainly provide a strong reference for the Company as we continue to strengthen its governance and accountability.” (more…)

Friday, February 4, 2011

Legal News: Contractor That Worked In Iraq Cannot Exclude Compensation Under § 112

     Ok gang, this is important and please feel free to pass this around.  This contractor lost in this case and the one thing that saved his bacon was this little memo that came from an IRS Acting Deputy Director in 2004.  If you filed your taxes with the impression that you fell under the same ‘combat zone compensation’ that the members of the Armed Forces received back then, then this memo could be your life saver. If anyone has a copy of this thing, I will make an edit and add it to this post so everyone knows where to find it. Robert L. Hunt was the IRS Acting Deputy Director at the time.

     The other point I wanted to bring up here is this. The powers that be are certainly trying all they can to put us under military/government control or under UCMJ, but god forbid if contractors actually enjoyed the same tax benefits as the Armed Services in combat zones? –Matt

Edit: 02/06/2011 – Thanks to Chris for sending me a copy of this memo.  I put it up in my Scribd account here if you want to check it out.

Court: Blackwater Contractor in Iraq Cannot Exclude Compensation Under § 112

By The Tax Prof

February 1, 2011

The Tax Court yesterday held that a Florida man who earned $98,400 in 2005 working for Blackwater (since renamed Xe) providing security services to the U.S. Army in Iraq could not exclude the compensation from income under § 112 as “combat zone compensation of members of the Armed Forces.” Holmes v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2011-26 (Jan. 31, 2011). The Tax Court concluded that the taxpayer did not serve in the Armed Forces of the United States but instead was a private citizen hired by and paid by a private company (Blackwater). The Tax Court refused to impose a penalty because the taxpayer relied on an IRS memorandum wrongly stating that civilian personnel in direct support of combat zone military operations qualified for the § 112 exclusion.

Link to TaxProf blog post here.

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From the Tax Court memo Holmes v. Commissioner, Page 9

     Petitioner admitted on brief that he did not file a return for calender year 2005.  Petitioner’s only explanation for failing to file is that in 2005 while in Iraq, he was given a memorandum that caused him to believe that the income he was receiving from Blackwater was not taxable.  This memorandum was an internal memorandum written to give the Commissioner’s employees field guidance for examination and collection activity involving taxpayers in Iraq.  The memorandum, titled “Memorandum for Acting Deputy Director, Compliance Field Operations”, was issued by the Internal Revenue Service Small Business/Self-Employment Division on June 28, 2004.  The memorandum states that civilian or military personnel who are in direct support of a combat zone military initiative and physically located in the combat area are entitled to the exclusion.  It also states that time spent in a combat zone by an individual serving in support of the Armed Forces will be disregarded with respect to “certain acts required under the Internal Revenue Code.”  It goes on to state that “This change in procedure will be reflected in the next revision of the IRM, which is in the process of being written.”

     Petitioner satisfies all the criteria found in the memorandum.  He was serving in Iraq alongside the military, provided security to Government officials, and aided in giving air support, medical aid, and emergency response assistance. Petitioner had no background in tax law and was given this memorandum written by an IRS employee while serving in Iraq.  We believe that receiving this memorandum while serving in Iraq could give someone reasonable cause to believe that his payments from Blackwater were excluded from gross income.  Therefore, petitioner is not liable for the addition to tax under section 6651(a)(1).

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From the Judicial Review

     While in Iraq, petitioner was given a memorandum issued by Robert L. Hunt, the Acting Deputy Director, Compliance Field Operations, Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This memorandum discussed the appropriate steps for civilian personnel to take when engaged in an IRS examination and collection activity involving a taxpayer deployed to a Qualified Combat Zone. Petitioner did not remember who gave the memorandum to him.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Industry Talk: Security Firms Are The Target Of A Corrupt Afghan Government Once Again

“The lack of transparency makes it very difficult to operate effectively: The rules change every day depending on which department you are talking to,” said a second executive with one of the security firms, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “We’ve heard of companies being pulled up on everything from taxes to vehicle registrations to visas.”

     What can I say? This Afghan government is corrupt and greedy, and is doing all they can to juice this industry and the US.  From the taxation game to this crap, what’s next?

     One funny side note is that Xe was not on this latest list.  I guess they win for the moment. lol –Matt

Security firms are accused of breaking Afghan laws

By Joshua Partlow and Rajiv ChandrasekaranSunday, January 23, 2011

KABUL – The Afghan government has accused several prominent private security companies, including some that work with the U.S. government, of committing “major offenses,” a move that U.S. officials fear could hasten their departure from the country.

A list compiled by Afghan officials cites 16 companies, including several American and British firms, for unspecified serious violations and seven others for having links to high-ranking Afghan officials, according to a copy obtained by The Washington Post.

A decision to ban the major violators and those that have relationships with senior Afghan officials would affect firms that provide about 800 guards for the U.S. Agency for International Development projects and about 3,000 who work on military construction projects for the coalition, said a senior U.S. official.

“We’re wringing our hands over this,” the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. “We’re waiting to hear which companies will get disbandment notices and when they will have to disband.”

Among those listed as major offenders are Triple Canopy, based in Reston; Washington-based Blue Hackle; and the British firm G4S, the parent company of ArmorGroup North America, which provides security for the U.S. Embassy in Kabul.

(more…)

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