SEC Comment Letter for KENT FINANCIAL SERVICES INC (CIK 0000316028) — Nov 29, 2005
KENT FINANCIAL SERVICES INC (CIK 0000316028)
Date: Nov. 29, 2005 · CIK: 0000316028 · Accession: 0000000000-05-059829
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File numbers found in text: 001-07986
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<TYPE>LETTER
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>filename1.txt
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November 29, 2005
Mail Stop 3561
Via US Mail and Facsimile
Ms. Sue Ann Merrill
Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
376 Main Street, PO Box 74
Bedminster, New Jersey 07921
Re: Kent Financial Services, Inc.
Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2004
Forms10-QSB for the periods ended June 30, 2005, March 31,
2005
and
September 30, 2005
Commission file #: 001-07986
Dear Ms. Merrill:
We have reviewed your November 1, 2005 response letter and have
the
following comments. Please file an amended Form 10-KSB in
response to
our request for expanded or revised disclosure. If you disagree,
we
will consider your explanation as to why our comments are
inapplicable
or a revision is unnecessary. We also ask you to provide us with
supplemental information so we may better understand your
disclosure.
Please be as detailed as necessary in your explanation. We look
forward to working with you in these respects and welcome any
questions you may have about any aspects of our review.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2004
Notes to the Financial Statements
Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
-Sale of T.R. Winston
1. We note from your response to prior comment 1 that Galuchie`s
earnings from his interest in Winston LLC were to be deducted from
the
$390,000 purchase price. Please tell us how you have accounted
for
this reduction in purchase price during 2004 as indicated in your
response to our comment. Also, please tell us why the original
purchase price of $390,000 rather than the reduced amount of
$323,000
was stated in the sale agreement in August 2004 as a reduction in
the
$1 million sales price if Galuchie`s share of Winston`s earnings
was
to be deducted from the put option liability as your prior
response
indicates. Additionally, we note your proposed disclosure to be
provided in Note 1 and request that you include this disclosure in
your amended 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2004.
Note 3. Securities Owned
2. We note from your response to prior comment 2 that you believe
that
because four other investors owned approximately 35% of the common
stock of GNDV, you believe that you are not required to use the
equity
method of accounting. This conclusion appears to be based on one
example in FIN 35 that states that when a majority ownership of an
investee is concentrated among a small group of shareholders who
operate the investee without regard to the views of the investor,
the
investor may be unable to exercise significant influence over the
operating and financial policies of an investee. However, we do
not
believe that a 35% ownership by four other investors is a majority
ownership and do not understand based on your response how they
would
affect your influence over the investee, especially considering
that
you own a larger interest than the other investors. Therefore, we
continue to believe that the equity method of accounting for your
investment in GNDV is appropriate prior to the second quarter of
2005
when changes occurred that required consolidation. We also note
that
you do not believe the differences between the losses of GNDV that
would have been reported using the equity method of accounting and
the
unrealized losses in the GNDV investment recorded by the Company
in
2003 and 2004 were material. As we do not agree with your
conclusions
in this regard, please revise your financial statements as of
December
31, 2003 and 2004 to present your investment in GNDV using the
equity
method of accounting.
Note 4. Acquisition of Cortech
3. We note from your response to comment 3 that the differences
between the unrealized losses that were included in income in 2003
and
first quarter 2004 for your investment in Cortech and the net
losses
in the investment that would have been reported in net income in
2003
and 2004 had the investment been accounted for using the equity
method
of accounting, were $37,000 and $16,000 respectively. Because
these
amounts are material to net income during both the year ended
December
31, 2003 and the first quarter of 2004, we continue to believe
that
the investment in Cortech, prior to June 30, 2004, should be
accounted
for using the equity method of accounting. Please revise your
financial statements as of December 31, 2003 and 2004 accordingly.
Note 6. Kent Educational Services, Inc.
4. We note from your response to prior comment 5 that you have
presented the revised disclosure that you will include in your
amended
10-KSB. Please include in your disclosure that the ownership
interest
you acquired is a 60% controlling interest.
Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended September 30, 2005
Note 10. Subsequent Events
5. We note from your response to our prior comment 2 and your
disclosure in Note 10 to the interim financial statements for the
quarter ended September 30, 2005 that in October 2005 you sold
your
entire interest in GNDV for approximately $343,000, recording a
gain
of approximately $307,000. Please tell us, and disclose in future
filings, the consideration received for the sale and whether the
sale
was to a related party. Additionally, please tell us why you were
able to sell your interest for such a significant amount over the
fair
value of the investment at the time of sale.
Other
6. Please file an amended Form 10-KSB for the year ended December
31,
2004 to address all our comments, including the proposed
disclosures
you have included in your response letters, as soon as possible.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
As appropriate, please respond to these comments via EDGAR within
15
business days or tell us when you will provide us with a response.
Please furnish a cover letter that keys your responses to our
comments
and provides any requested supplemental information. Please
understand that we may have additional comments after reviewing
your
responses to our comments.
You may contact Claire Erlanger at 202-551-3301 or Linda Cvrkel at
202-551-3813 if you have questions.
Sincerely,
Joseph A. Foti
Senior Assistant Chief
Accountant
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Ms. Sue Ann Merrill
Kent Financial Services, Inc.
November 29, 2005
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