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SEC Company Response from Clearfield, Inc. (CLFD) (CIK 0000796505) (CLFD) — Nov 17, 2005

Clearfield, Inc. (CLFD) (CIK 0000796505)
Date: Nov. 17, 2005 · CIK: 0000796505 · Accession: 0001140361-05-009827

AI Filing Summary & Sentiment

Date
October 3, 2005
Author
Branch Chief
Form
CORRESP
Company
Clearfield, Inc. (CLFD) (CIK 0000796505)

Letter

Accounting Branch Chief United States Securities & Exchange Commission Mail Stop Washington, D.C. 20549

Dear Mr. Cascio:

Following is the information you requested in your letter of October 3, 2005. The numbered items below correspond to the numbered items in your letter, which is enclosed for your reference.

Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2005 - M D&A of Financial Condition and Results of Operation, page 19

Results of Operations

1)

Cost of Sales and Gross Profit, page

SEC Question:

We see that your consolidated gross profit margin was 19% in fiscal year 2005 compared to 0% in fiscal year 2004. We also note that the profit margin for your Optronics segment was (231%) in fiscal year 2005 compared to (651%) in fiscal year 2004 while the gross profit margin for your Cables and Networks segment experienced profit margins of 28% and 23% for fiscal years 2005 and 2004, respectively. Please tell us and revise future filings to provide expanded disclosure of the variances in margins, and the factors that contributed to the negative gross profit margin of Optronics and its impact on consolidated gross profit margin. In addition, provide details of your efforts to reverse the trend of negative margins.

APA Enterprises, Inc answer:

The negative gross profit at our Optronics segment is the result of costs in excess of gross profit earned from the sales of its products. Optronics has not been able to generate significant sales of its products with the exception of contracted labor it provides to Cables & Networks. Historically costs for production related expenses such as personnel, depreciation and supplies have been classified as cost of sales for Optronics. The factors that lead to negative gross margin at Optronics are:

-

Delays in sourcing component and finished goods from outside/offshore suppliers in higher volumes.

-

Unresolved quality issues (both off shore and internally produced) that prohibit full scale, high volume sales.

-

With limited quantities available of market-ready sales, we cannot market to potential customers who would order in high quantities, which could preclude or limit the amount of future sales we could generate to these customers.

Page 1 of

The costs in these periods have outweighed the revenue generated from the limited sales. These reasons have been documented in the Business Overview section of each of our filings.

With the addition of Cables & Networks in 2004, we changed our M, D & A subsection titles to ‘Cost of Sales’ in respect to the historical Optronics reporting and ‘Gross Profit’ to reflect Cables & Networks’ operations with the objective of better separating the segment discussions. In the future we will expand our detail reporting within the M, D & A to better explain the reasons and types of expenses causing the negative gross margin on the Optronics segment.

Optronics has taken steps over the last several quarters to reduce unnecessary expenses, thus reducing its cost of sales over time, including reducing headcount, limiting non-essential purchases, and phasing out certain products. We believe we are close to having most of Optronic’s products ready for high volume sales within the next few quarters. When achieved, this will improve the negative gross margin and eventually turn it positive.

Consolidated Financial Statements in 10-K for year ended March 31,

2)

Consolidated Balance Sheet, page 30

SEC Question:

We note that total liabilities and shareholders’ equity on page 30 do not agree with total assets. Please revise.

APA Enterprises, Inc. answer:

On the SEC website, the total asset value does not equal total liabilities and shareholders’ equity. The Edgarizing software program inadvertently missed a digit on the electronic filing. The total shareholders equity and liabilities should read $22,074,014. On all paper filings sent out, this number was correct and the totals matched. All future filings will reflect the correct totals for shareholders equity and total liabilities as of March 31, 2005.

3)

Note A - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, page

SEC Question:

Please revise your disclosure in future filings to provide a more specific revenue recognition policy for all significant product and services. Details should be provided to the extent that policy differs among customers, channels and products. The policy should also address, where significant, customer acceptance, return policies, post shipment obligations, warranties, credits, discounts and rebates on how these impact revenue recognition. In addition, tell us whether you have any revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables.

Page 2 of

APA Enterprises, Inc answer:

In future filings we will provide additional information related to our revenue recognition policy. We do not have any revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables. In future filings we will include the following revenue recognition policy:

“Revenue is recognized when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the product has been delivered, the fee is fixed and determinable, acceptance by the customer is reasonably certain and collection is probable. Our warranties exist for all products sold to all customer types and are generally covered for a period of one year. We record provisions against our revenue for estimated product returns in the period the related revenue is recorded. We estimate the costs to service our warranty obligations and record them within cost of sales. These estimates are based on historical sales returns, repair activity, and expectation of future market conditions. If our actual product returns and allowances exceed our estimates, additional reductions to our recorded revenue would result.”

4)

Note C - Sale of Optics Manufacturing Operations, page

SEC question:

Tell us why your statement of operations does not present the operations of the disposed optics manufacturing business as discontinued operations. Refer to SFAS 144.

APA Enterprises, Inc. answer:

Disposal of the optics manufacturing business was not presented as discontinued operations presentation, because it is immaterial to the financial statements as a whole. The following represents the numbers applicable to this product line:

APA Enterprises, Inc.

(In dollars)

Fiscal

Fiscal

Fiscal

Optics Line

Consolidated Numbers

Optics Line

Consolidated Numbers

Optics Line

Consolidated Numbers

Revenue

-

13,886,486

91,778

11,909,465

102,592

436,157

Cost of goods/expenses

-

17,681,631

369,000

18,467,964

300,000

5,765,623

Operating loss

-

(3,795,145

)

(277,222

)

(6,558,499

)

(197,408

)

(5,329,466

)

Gain on sale

208,314

-

-

-

-

-

Other income, net

-

375,107

-

23,352

-

320,032

Net loss

208,314

(3,420,038

)

(277,222

)

(6,535,147

)

(197,408

)

(5,009,434

)

% of total

-6

%

%

%

Page 3 of

5)

Note K - Stock Options and Warrants, page

SEC Question:

We see your reference to an independent third-party appraiser for the valuation of your warrants on page 45. Please note that there is no requirement to reference independent experts, however, if this reference is made the third party expert should be named and their consent included in future registration statements. Please consider in future filings.

APA Enterprises, Inc. answer:

In future filings, we will remove the reference to the third party appraiser for the valuation of the warrants.

6)

Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts, page

SEC question:

We see that you reduced your inventory reserves by $936,527 in fiscal year 2004 due to purchase price adjustment activities. Inventory reserves are permanent reductions of inventory cost that should not be reversed until the related inventory is sold or otherwise disposed. Pease describe the facts and circumstances leading to the adjustment to the inventory reserve during fiscal year 2004. Additionally, please reconcile the adjustments made on Schedule II to the disclosures on pages 38 and 39 of your consolidated financial statements.

APA Enterprises, Inc. answer:

The inventory reserves were adjusted for inventory products disposed of from the purchase of the CSP and Americable acquisitions. This was inventory that was originally reserved for at the time of acquisition or one year later, and then written off within that time frame. Inventory disposed of for both acquisitions was charged off within this fiscal year ended 3/31/04. This disposal amounted to $641,307 of excess inventory valuation over the established value established upon purchase. In accordance with this we are submitting a revised Schedule II to provide further breakdown. Please see the attachment. The gross amount of inventory disposals for the year is reflected in the deductions column. For the year ended March 31, 2004, disposals totaled $1,915,644, of which $641,307 represents the amount disposed in excess of the initial acquisition reserve. This amount is reflected in the column reflecting charges to other accounts and matches to the total inventory purchase price variances on pages 38 and 39 of the Form 10-K.

The CSP portion of the $641,307 was $627,384 and reported on page 38 of the 10-K, and the Americable portion was $13,944 and is reported on page 39. This amount was then reclassified to Goodwill. We will reflect the changes to this Schedule in future filings.

Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2005

7)

Item 4 - Controls and Procedures, page

SEC question:

We note your statement that your chief executive officer and your chief financial officer have concluded that your controls and procedures were sufficiently effective to ensure that the information required to be disclosed with adequate timeliness, accuracy and completeness. It does note appear that your certifying officers have reached a conclusion that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective. Please revise future filings to clearly disclose your officers’ conclusions regarding the effectiveness of your disclosure controls and procedures.

Page 4 of

APA Enterprises, Inc. answer:

In future filings we will revise the wording (i.e. we will delete “sufficiently”) to clarify our officers’ conclusion regarding the effectiveness of the internal controls and procedures.

APA Enterprises, Inc. acknowledges they are responsible for the adequacy of the disclosure in the filing. In addition, staff comments or changes to disclosure in response to staff comments do not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the filing, and APA Enterprises, Inc. 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.

We hope this addresses your questions. If there are further questions or follow up comments needed, please feel free to call at 763-784-4995.

Regards,
Anil
K.
Jain

Show Raw Text
CORRESP
1
filename1.htm

      notify@edgarfilings.com

    2950
      84th
      Lane N.E., Blaine, MN 55449 Telephone: (763) 784-4995 Fax: (763)
      784-2038

    November
      11, 2005

    Mr.
      Brian
      Cascio

    Accounting
      Branch Chief

    United
      States Securities & Exchange Commission

    Mail
      Stop
      6010

    Washington,
      D.C. 20549

    Dear
      Mr.
      Cascio:

    Following
      is the information you requested in your letter of October 3, 2005. The numbered
      items below correspond to the numbered items in your letter, which is enclosed
      for your reference.

    Form
      10-K for the year ended March 31, 2005 - M D&A of Financial Condition and
      Results of Operation, page 19

    Results
      of Operations

              1)

              Cost
                of Sales and Gross Profit, page
                22

    SEC
      Question:

    We
      see
      that your consolidated gross profit margin was 19% in fiscal year 2005 compared
      to 0% in fiscal year 2004. We also note that the profit margin for your
      Optronics segment was (231%) in fiscal year 2005 compared to (651%) in fiscal
      year 2004 while the gross profit margin for your Cables and Networks segment
      experienced profit margins of 28% and 23% for fiscal years 2005 and 2004,
      respectively. Please tell us and revise future filings to provide expanded
      disclosure of the variances in margins, and the factors that contributed to
      the
      negative gross profit margin of Optronics and its impact on consolidated gross
      profit margin. In addition, provide details of your efforts to reverse the
      trend
      of negative margins.

    APA
      Enterprises, Inc answer:

    The
      negative gross profit at our Optronics segment is the result of costs in excess
      of gross profit earned from the sales of its products. Optronics has not been
      able to generate significant sales of its products with the exception of
      contracted labor it provides to Cables & Networks. Historically costs for
      production related expenses such as personnel, depreciation and supplies have
      been classified as cost of sales for Optronics. The factors that lead to
      negative gross margin at Optronics are:

              -

              Delays
                in sourcing component and finished goods from outside/offshore suppliers
                in higher volumes.

              -

              Unresolved
                quality issues (both off shore and internally produced) that prohibit
                full
                scale, high volume sales.

              -

              With
                limited quantities available of market-ready sales, we cannot market
                to
                potential customers who would order in high quantities, which could
                preclude or limit the amount of future sales we could generate to
                these
                customers.

        Page
          1 of
          5

    The
      costs
      in these periods have outweighed the revenue generated from the limited sales.
      These reasons have been documented in the Business Overview section of each
      of
      our filings.

    With
      the
      addition of Cables & Networks in 2004, we changed our M, D & A
      subsection titles to ‘Cost of Sales’ in respect to the historical Optronics
      reporting and ‘Gross Profit’ to reflect Cables & Networks’ operations with
      the objective of better separating the segment discussions. In the future we
      will expand our detail reporting within the M, D & A to better explain the
      reasons and types of expenses causing the negative gross margin on the Optronics
      segment.

    Optronics
      has taken steps over the last several quarters to reduce unnecessary expenses,
      thus reducing its cost of sales over time, including reducing headcount,
      limiting non-essential purchases, and phasing out certain products. We believe
      we are close to having most of Optronic’s products ready for high volume sales
      within the next few quarters. When achieved, this will improve the negative
      gross margin and eventually turn it positive.

    Consolidated
      Financial Statements in 10-K for year ended March 31,
      2005

              2)

              Consolidated
                Balance Sheet, page 30

    SEC
      Question:

    We
      note
      that total liabilities and shareholders’ equity on page 30 do not agree with
      total assets. Please revise.

    APA
      Enterprises, Inc. answer:

    On
      the
      SEC website, the total asset value does not equal total liabilities and
      shareholders’ equity. The Edgarizing software program inadvertently missed a
      digit on the electronic filing. The total shareholders equity and liabilities
      should read $22,074,014. On all paper filings sent out, this number was correct
      and the totals matched. All future filings will reflect the correct totals
      for
      shareholders equity and total liabilities as of March 31, 2005.

              3)

              Note
                A - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, page
                34

    SEC
      Question:

    Please
      revise your disclosure in future filings to provide a more specific revenue
      recognition policy for all significant product and services. Details should
      be
      provided to the extent that policy differs among customers, channels and
      products. The policy should also address, where significant, customer
      acceptance, return policies, post shipment obligations, warranties, credits,
      discounts and rebates on how these impact revenue recognition. In addition,
      tell
      us whether you have any revenue arrangements with multiple
      deliverables.

        Page
          2 of
          5

    APA
      Enterprises, Inc answer:

    In
      future
      filings we will provide additional information related to our revenue
      recognition policy. We do not have any revenue arrangements with multiple
      deliverables. In future filings we will include the following revenue
      recognition policy:

    “Revenue
      is recognized when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the product
      has
      been delivered, the fee is fixed and determinable, acceptance by the customer
      is
      reasonably certain and collection is probable. Our warranties exist for all
      products sold to all customer types and are generally covered for a period
      of
      one year. We record provisions against our revenue for estimated product returns
      in the period the related revenue is recorded. We estimate the costs to service
      our warranty obligations and record them within cost of sales. These estimates
      are based on historical sales returns, repair activity, and expectation of
      future market conditions. If our actual product returns and allowances exceed
      our estimates, additional reductions to our recorded revenue would result.”

              4)

              Note
                C - Sale of Optics Manufacturing Operations, page
                39

    SEC
      question:

    Tell
      us
      why your statement of operations does not present the operations of the disposed
      optics manufacturing business as discontinued operations. Refer to SFAS
      144.

    APA
      Enterprises, Inc. answer:

    Disposal
      of the optics manufacturing business was not presented as discontinued
      operations presentation, because it is immaterial to the financial statements
      as
      a whole. The following represents the numbers applicable to this product
      line:

              APA
                Enterprises, Inc.

              (In
                dollars)

              Fiscal
                2005

              Fiscal
                2004

              Fiscal
                2003

              Optics
                Line

              Consolidated
                Numbers

              Optics
                Line

              Consolidated
                Numbers

              Optics
                Line

              Consolidated
                Numbers

              Revenue

              -

              13,886,486

              91,778

              11,909,465

              102,592

              436,157

              Cost
                of goods/expenses

              -

              17,681,631

              369,000

              18,467,964

              300,000

              5,765,623

              Operating
                loss

              -

              (3,795,145

              )

              (277,222

              )

              (6,558,499

              )

              (197,408

              )

              (5,329,466

              )

              Gain
                on sale

              208,314

              -

              -

              -

              -

              -

              Other
                income, net

              -

              375,107

              -

              23,352

              -

              320,032

              Net
                loss

              208,314

              (3,420,038

              )

              (277,222

              )

              (6,535,147

              )

              (197,408

              )

              (5,009,434

              )

              %
                of total

              -6

              %

              4

              %

              4

              %

          Page
            3 of
            5

              5)

              Note
                K - Stock Options and Warrants, page
                45

    SEC
      Question:

    We
      see
      your reference to an independent third-party appraiser for the valuation of
      your
      warrants on page 45. Please note that there is no requirement to reference
      independent experts, however, if this reference is made the third party expert
      should be named and their consent included in future registration statements.
      Please consider in future filings.

    APA
      Enterprises, Inc. answer:

    In
      future
      filings, we will remove the reference to the third party appraiser for the
      valuation of the warrants.

              6)

              Schedule
                II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts, page
                52

    SEC
      question:

    We
      see
      that you reduced your inventory reserves by $936,527 in fiscal year 2004 due
      to
      purchase price adjustment activities. Inventory reserves are permanent
      reductions of inventory cost that should not be reversed until the related
      inventory is sold or otherwise disposed. Pease describe the facts and
      circumstances leading to the adjustment to the inventory reserve during fiscal
      year 2004. Additionally, please reconcile the adjustments made on Schedule
      II to
      the disclosures on pages 38 and 39 of your consolidated financial statements.

    APA
      Enterprises, Inc. answer:

    The
      inventory reserves were adjusted for inventory products disposed of from the
      purchase of the CSP and Americable acquisitions. This was inventory that was
      originally reserved for at the time of acquisition or one year later, and then
      written off within that time frame. Inventory disposed of for both acquisitions
      was charged off within this fiscal year ended 3/31/04. This disposal amounted
      to
      $641,307 of excess inventory valuation over the established value established
      upon purchase. In accordance with this we are submitting a revised Schedule
      II
      to provide further breakdown. Please see the attachment. The gross amount of
      inventory disposals for the year is reflected in the deductions column. For
      the
      year ended March 31, 2004, disposals totaled $1,915,644, of which $641,307
      represents the amount disposed in excess of the initial acquisition reserve.
      This amount is reflected in the column reflecting charges to other accounts
      and
      matches to the total inventory purchase price variances on pages 38 and 39
      of
      the Form 10-K.

    The
      CSP
      portion of the $641,307 was $627,384 and reported on page 38 of the 10-K, and
      the Americable portion was $13,944 and is reported on page 39. This amount
      was
      then reclassified to Goodwill. We will reflect the changes to this Schedule
      in
      future filings.

    Form
      10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2005

              7)

              Item
                4 - Controls and Procedures, page
                19

    SEC
      question:

    We
      note
      your statement that your chief executive officer and your chief financial
      officer have concluded that your controls and procedures were sufficiently effective
      to
      ensure that the information required to be disclosed with adequate timeliness,
      accuracy and completeness. It does note appear that your certifying officers
      have reached a conclusion that our disclosure controls and procedures are
effective.
      Please
      revise future filings to clearly disclose your officers’ conclusions regarding
      the effectiveness of your disclosure controls and procedures.

        Page
          4 of
          5

    APA
      Enterprises, Inc. answer:

    In
      future
      filings we will revise the wording (i.e. we will delete “sufficiently”) to
      clarify our officers’ conclusion regarding the effectiveness of the internal
      controls and procedures.

    APA
      Enterprises, Inc. acknowledges they are responsible for the adequacy of the
      disclosure in the filing. In addition, staff comments or changes to disclosure
      in response to staff comments do not foreclose the Commission from taking any
      action with respect to the filing, and APA Enterprises, Inc. 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.

    We
      hope
      this addresses your questions. If there are further questions or follow up
      comments needed, please feel free to call at 763-784-4995.

    Regards,

    Anil
      K.
      Jain

    Chief
      Financial Officer

    APA
      Enterprises, Inc.

    Page
      5 of
      5