SEC Company Response from Light & Wonder, Inc. (LNWO, LAWIL) (CIK 0000750004) (LAWIL) — Oct 27, 2005
Light & Wonder, Inc. (LNWO, LAWIL) (CIK 0000750004)
Date: Oct. 27, 2005 · CIK: 0000750004 · Accession: 0001104659-05-050686
AI Filing Summary & Sentiment
Referenced dates: September 22, 2005
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CORRESP 1 filename1.htm October 27, 2005 VIA EDGAR Mr. Brad Skinner Accounting Branch Chief Division of Corporation Finance Securities and Exchange Commission Washington, D.C. 20549 Re: Scientific Games Corporation Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 2004 Filed March 16, 2005 File No. 0-13063 Dear Mr. Skinner: Reference is made to the letter dated September 22, 2005 (the “Comment Letter”) from the Staff of the Division of Corporation Finance to Mr. A. Lorne Weil, Chief Executive Officer of Scientific Games Corporation (the “Company”), setting forth the Staff’s comments regarding the filing referenced above. As previously discussed, the Company undertook to respond to those comments by today. Accordingly, this letter contains the Company’s responses to the Staff’s comments in the Comment Letter. The paragraph numbers of the Company’s responses correspond to the numbers appearing next to the Staff’s comments as set forth in the Comment Letter. We are also sending you a copy of this letter by Federal Express. We trust that the following responses will fully address the Staff’s comments as set forth in the Comment Letter. If you have any questions or comments regarding the Company’s responses, please do not hesitate to contact me. Very truly yours, /s/ DeWayne E. Laird DeWayne E. Laird Vice President and Chief Financial Officer cc: Mr. A. Lorne Weil Chief Executive Officer Scientific Games Corporation Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 2004 Item 7. MD&A of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Results of Operations, page 41 1. Your discussion of your results of operations appears brief, particularly given the complexity of your operating segments. Tell us how you considered the guidance in Item 303(a) of Regulation S-K. In this regard, explain why you have not provided a discussion of your segment operating results along with the discussion of your consolidated results. For example, tell us why you have not disclosed the reasons for the decline in revenues in your Pari-mutuel and Venue groups for the periods presented, including your June 30, 2005 interim period, or addressed whether these declines are material trends that are expected to continue. Response: We believe that we have complied with the guidance in Item 303(a) of Regulation S-K in our Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Operating Results beginning on page 41 of our December 31, 2004 Form 10-K. Given the context and the nature of the items discussed, we have historically chosen to provide the information relating to each segment within the overall discussion. However, in light of the Staff’s comments, and in order to enhance our presentation, we will modify our Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Operating Results in our September 30, 2005 Form 10-Q and in subsequent filings to include a discussion of our operating results separately for each of our segments, rather than within the overall presentation. With respect to the revenue declines in the Pari-mutuel Group, certain declines were attributable to unique events, such as the adverse weather in the Northeast in the first quarter of 2005 and the loss of the New York Racing Association contract in 2005. With respect to other declines in wagering in the United States and in Europe, it is not clear to the Company whether such declines represent a material trend at this time. We will continue to monitor the results through the balance of 2005 and expect to provide further discussion in our Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Operating Results, as appropriate. With respect to the revenue declines in the Venue Management Group, we believe such declines are principally the result of the smoking ban adopted throughout Connecticut early in the second quarter of 2004. The effect of this event constituted a trend in 2004 through April 2005 and was disclosed in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Operating Results section of our periodic Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filings beginning with our June 30, 2004 Form 10-Q. As with the Pari-mutuel Group, it is not clear to the Company whether other declines in wagering in the United States represent a material trend at this time. We will continue to monitor the results for the remaining balance of 2005 and expect to provide further discussion in our Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Operating Results as appropriate. 2 Item 8. Financial Statements of Supplementary Data Note 1. Description of the Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (i) Other Assets and Investments, page 66 2. Further clarify how you account for your computer software development costs and whether you apply SFAS 86 or SOP 98-1 to those costs. Clarify how your accounting meets the “technological feasibility and recoverability tests” of each standard. In this regard, note that technological feasibility does not apply to SOP 98-1. See paragraph 51 of SOP 98-1. Response: Our software development costs are costs incurred for internal use software which is used in connection with our long-term lottery and pari-mutuel service contracts and software used to meet our internal needs. Our software development costs are accounted for pursuant to SOP 98-1. The software is used by us to provide a service to our customers. The customer does not acquire a license to use the software under these contracts. Costs incurred during the preliminary project stage are expensed as incurred. Software costs incurred after the preliminary project stage is complete are capitalized, when we have committed to the project, and it is probable the software will be used to perform the function intended. We also capitalize costs associated with upgrades and enhancements to existing systems. Capitalized software costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the expected useful lives. Additionally, we capitalize costs for internal accounting systems and amortize such costs over their expected useful lives. In order to further clarify our approach, we will modify our disclosure for software development costs in our 2005 Form 10-K filing as follows: In accordance with the provisions of Statement of Position 98-1, Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software Developed for Internal Use, the Company capitalizes costs associated with internally developed and/or purchased software systems for use in its lottery and wagering service contracts. Capitalized costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the expected useful lives. (k) Revenue Recognition, page 66 3. We have reviewed your business section and note the complexity of your revenue generating activities by each of your segments and the multiple elements you provide. However, your revenue recognition disclosures in your audited financial statements and critical accounting policies appear general in nature and do not specifically address the different arrangements you enter into and when revenues are recognized for your various products, services and elements. For each of your 3 segments, please provide us a detailed summary of the various arrangements you enter into and how your accounting follows the principles and guidance set forth in EITF 00-21, SAB 104 and/or SOP 97-2. Similarly, address your accounting for the costs associated with these arrangements, including the accounting literature that supports deferral of your installation costs and related equipment. Please ensure your response addresses all of the various elements you describe in your business section including, but not limited, to ticket sales, ticket design, ticket manufacturing, game design, sales and marketing support, inventory management and warehousing and fulfillment services, customized computer software, equipment, data communication services, cooperative services program and facilities management services. Response: We analyze our revenue recognition based on the applicable guidance available for each of our revenue streams. We begin our analysis with the guidance from SAB 104, which provides that revenue should be recognized when it is realized or realizable and earned, which generally occurs when all of the following criteria are met: (a) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (b) delivery has occurred, (c) the vendor’s fee is fixed or determinable and (d) collectibility is reasonably assured. If a contract has multiple elements (with no software element), then we consider the revenue allocation guidance in EITF 00-21, which provides that, in an arrangement with multiple deliverables, the delivered item(s) should be considered a separate unit of accounting if all of the following criteria are met: (a) the delivered item(s) has value to the customer on a standalone basis, (b) there is objective and reliable evidence of the fair value of the undelivered item(s), and (c) if the arrangement includes a general right of return relative to the delivered item, delivery or performance of the undelivered item(s) is considered probable and substantially in the control of the vendor. If a multiple element contract includes the license of software and post contract support (“PCS”), then we consider the revenue allocation guidance in SOP 97-2. Revenue from PCS should be recognized ratably over the term of the PCS arrangement. However, we note that all of our software sales involve significant customization of software to meet the specific needs of each customer and therefore the revenue recognition guidance in SOP 97-2 is not applicable. If the contract includes a binding agreement to supply a lottery or a pari-mutuel wagering system, contains a software license agreement that involves customization of software to meet our customer’s specifications and makes our right to receive payment dependent on our performance in accordance with the agreement, we consider the guidance in SOP 81-1. Under SOP 81-1, portions of the total estimated contract revenues and costs are reflected in income each period based on the proportion of the progress toward completion during the period, which is usually measured based on cost incurred to date as a percentage of total estimated cost to complete the contract. 4 The majority of our revenues are earned under long-term lottery and pari-mutuel service contracts. The amount of such revenues are determined as a percentage of the amount of retail sales of lottery tickets or wagers made by our customers or by our customers’ patrons pursuant to the terms of the contract. Our service costs, which include telecommunications, field support, rent, paper, supplies and ink, related to long-term lottery and pari-mutuel service contracts are expensed as incurred. Our direct installation activities, which include costs for online terminals, facilities wiring, computers, internal labor and travel, are performed at the inception of a specific contract with a specific customer to enable us to perform under the terms of the contract. These activities begin after we enter into a contract and end when the setup activities are substantially complete. Such activities do not represent a separate earnings process and are deferred and amortized over the life of the contract. With respect to accounting for deferred installation activities we follow the guidance set forth in paragraph 5 of SFAS 91. The methodology in SFAS 91 requires capitalization of incremental direct costs paid to third parties related to a successfully completed arrangement or contract. Further, certain internal direct costs are capitalized when directly related to setting up a customer for service. We also earn revenues from the supply of products to our customers, including instant tickets, prepaid phone cards and lottery terminals. Revenue for these product sales is recognized when the customer takes ownership of the product and assumes risk of loss for the product pursuant to the terms of the applicable contracts. Ticket manufacturing costs are recognized when the customer accepts the product pursuant to the terms of the contract. Costs incurred for ticket design, game design, sales and marketing support are expensed as incurred. In addition to the general policies discussed above, the following are the specific revenue recognition policies for our four segments: • Lottery Group • Pari-mutuel Group • Venue Management Group • Telecommunications Products Group Lottery Group The Lottery Group is our largest segment and accounted for 71% of total consolidated revenues for the year-ended December 31, 2004. The Lottery Group’s services and sales revenues are as follows: • Instant Lottery Tickets • Cooperative Services • Licensed Branded Lottery Products • Online Lottery Services • Lottery Systems Sales • Lottery Software Licensing 5 • Lottery Terminal Sales Instant Lottery Tickets: Instant tickets, commonly referred to as scratch-off tickets, are typically printed on paper and played by removing a coating to determine if they are winning tickets. Our instant ticket contracts typically have an initial term of three years and frequently include multiple renewal options, which our customers have generally exercised for additional periods ranging from one to five years. For the year ended December 31, 2004, revenues from the sale of instant tickets represented approximately 26% of the Lottery Group’s total revenue. We sell instant tickets under two different arrangements and recognize revenues from each arrangement using the guidance in SAB 104. Revenue from the sale of instant tickets that are sold on a per unit price basis is recognized when the customer accepts the product pursuant to terms of the contract. Revenue from the sale of instant tickets that are sold on a variable-price basis is recognized when the percentage of the amount of retail sales is determined; such determination is made when the fee is fixed or determinable pursuant to the terms of the contract. Cooperative Services: A cooperative service contract is an arrangement whereby we manage a lottery authority’s instant ticket operations. Under a cooperative service contract we typically receive a percentage of the lottery authority’s total instant ticket revenues. Therefore, we recognize revenue as we perform the service based on when ticket sales occur. For the year ended December 31, 2004, revenues from performing cooperative services represented approximately 19% of the Lottery Group’s total revenue. Revenue for cooperative services contracts is accounted for pursuant to SAB 104 and recognized based upon a percentage of the amount of the retail value of lottery tickets pursuant to the terms of the contract. Licensed Branded Lottery Products: Revenue from the licensing of branded property is earned under two types of contracts. The majority of our contracts include the licensing of the selected branded property coupled with a service component whereby we purchase and distribute merchandise prizes on behalf of the lottery authorities to identified winners. We also have contracts that include only the licensing of the selected branded property, with no service component. For the year ended December 31, 2004, revenues from licensed branded products represented approximately 5% of the Lottery Group’s total revenue. Revenue for licensing and service arrangements is accounted for pursuant to SAB 104. SAB 104, which refers to SFAC 5, states that if services are rendered or rights to use assets extend continuously over tim