SEC Company Response from ELEPHANT & CASTLE GROUP INC (CIK 0000899849) — Sep 23, 2005
ELEPHANT & CASTLE GROUP INC (CIK 0000899849)
Date: Sept. 23, 2005 · CIK: 0000899849 · Accession: 0001062993-05-002290
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File numbers found in text: 001-12134
Referenced dates: August 24, 2005
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Filed by Automated Filing Services Inc. (604) 609-0244 - Elephant & Castle Group Inc. - SEC Response Letter
Elephant & Castle Group Inc.
1190 Hornby Street
Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6Z 2K5
September 23, 2005
Ms. Linda Cvrkel
Branch Chief
United States Securities
and Exchange Commission
Division of Corporate Finance
Washington, DC
20549-0510
Re:
Elephant & Castle Group Inc. (the
“Company”)
File No. 001-12134
Amendment No. 1 to Form 10-K for the
year ended December 26, 2004 (the “Form 10-K”)
Form 10-Q for the
Quarterly Period Ended March 27, 2005 (the “first quarter Form 10-Q”).
Form 10-Q for the Quarterly Period Ended June 26, 2005 (the “second
quarter
Form 10-Q”, together with the Form 10-K and first quarter From
10-Q, the “Filings”).
Dear Ms. Cvrkel:
We
are responding to your letter dated August 24, 2005, relating to the
above-referenced filings. The comments contained in that letter and our
responses are set forth below.
FORM 10-K FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 26,
2004
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
SEC COMMENT:
1.
Based on our review of the proposed disclosures provided
in your response to our prior comment number 2, we note that various US
GAAP amounts presented in these proposed disclosures do not agree to the
proposed disclosures provided in response to our prior comment numbers
20, 21 and 22. Please ensure that all of the revised US GAAP information
reflected in your Selected Financial Data is in agreement with the revised
disclosures provided in Note 16 to your financial statements.
ELEPHANT & CASTLE’S RESPONSE:
The following disclosures have been corrected and are now
consistent with the proposed amendment to Note 16 to the financial statements.
The Company intends to further amend its Form 10-K to include the following
disclosures:
Five-Year Selected Data - United States GAAP
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
Sales
27,615
26,270
27,716
30,235
33,723
Income (loss) from restaurant operations
2,744
2,677
2,669
2,967
1,489
Per share
0.52
0.52
0.52
0.76
0.57
Diluted per share
0.35
0.32
0.33
0.48
0.35
Earnings (loss) before income
taxes
23
(1,229
)
(1,868
)
(30
)
(8,263
)
Per share
0.00
(0.24
)
(0.36
)
(0.01
)
(3.16
)
Diluted per share
0.00
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Net income (loss)
(155
)
(1,162
)
(1,672
)
(353
)
(7,885
)
Per share
(0.03
)
(0.23
)
(0.32
)
(0.09
)
(3.01
)
Diluted per share
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Total assets
12,876
10,046
9,886
12,025
12,274
Shareholders' equity (deficit)
(3,020
)
(4,176
)
(3,348
)
(1,540
)
(2,281
)
Long term debt
13,386
10,677
9,628
9,955
10,259
Weighted average shares
5,244,507
5,163,271
5,163,354
3,890,000
2,619,000
Diluted weighted average shares
7,802,309
8,268,578
8,085,848
6,164,000
4,251,021
Selected financial data - reconciliation from CDN GAAP to US
GAAP
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
Sales (CDN GAAP)
28,202
26,725
27,716
30,235
33,723
Less proportional share of San Fran JV
(587
)
(455
)
0
0
0
Sales (US GAAP)
27,615
26,270
27,716
30,235
33,723
Income (loss) from restaurant operations (CDN
GAAP)
2,918
2,740
2,640
3,041
1,417
Amortization of improvement
costs
6
(2
)
(6
)
(39
)
(41
)
Pre-opening costs expensed under US GAAP
45
(45
)
35
(36
)
112
Less proportional share of
San Fran JV
(26
)
(16
)
0
0
0
Less asset impairment charge
(199
)
0
0
0
0
Income (loss) from restaurant operations
(US GAAP)
2,744
2,677
2,669
2,967
1,489
Earnings (loss) before income taxes (CDN
GAAP)
(710
)
173
(1,514
)
192
(8,335
)
Amortization of improvement
costs
6
(2
)
(6
)
(39
)
(41
)
Pre-opening costs expensed under US GAAP
45
(45
)
35
(36
)
112
Dividend on paid-in capital,
interest under US GAAP
(333
)
(347
)
(330
)
(156
)
0
Gain on exchange of junior notes,
201
0
0
0
0
contributedd surplus under
CDN GAAP
Gain/loss on translation of convertible
notes,
814
(1,008
)
(53
)
9
0
using period end rate for US
GAAP
Earnings (loss) before
income taxes (US GAAP)
23
(1,229
)
(1,868
)
(30
)
(8,263
)
Net income (loss) (CDN GAAP)
(888
)
228
(1,344
)
192
(7,956
)
Amortization of improvement costs
6
(2
)
(6
)
(39
)
(41
)
Pre-opening costs expensed
under US GAAP
45
(45
)
35
(36
)
112
Dividend on paid-in capital, interest under
US GAAP
(333
)
(335
)
(304
)
(479
)
0
Gain on exchange of junior
notes,
201
0
0
0
0
contributedd surplus under CDN GAAP
Gain/loss on translation of
convertible notes,
814
(1,008
)
(53
)
9
0
using period end rate for US GAAP
Net income (loss) (US GAAP)
(155
)
(1,162
)
(1,672
)
(353
)
(7,885
)
Selected financial data - reconciliation from CDN GAAP to US
GAAP
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
Total assets (CDN GAAP)
15,164
10,677
10,656
13,043
12,974
Adjust for proportional share of assets in JV
(34
)
(40
)
0
0
0
Deferred financing costs
(1,876
)
(162
)
(387
)
(606
)
(363
)
Amortization of improvement costs
(378
)
(384
)
(382
)
(376
)
(337
)
Pre-opening costs expensed
under US GAAP
0
(45
)
(1
)
(36
)
0
Total assets (US GAAP)
12,876
10,046
9,886
12,025
12,274
Shareholders' equity
(deficit) (CDN GAAP)
(2,642
)
2,470
1,908
3,421
(1,945
)
Convertible notes, debt under US GAAP
0
(5,541
)
(5,205
)
(4,933
)
0
Amortization of improvement
costs
(378
)
(384
)
(382
)
(376
)
(337
)
Pre-opening costs expensed under US GAAP
0
(45
)
(1
)
(36
)
0
Gain/loss on translation of
convertible notes,
0
(676
)
331
384
0
using period end rate for US GAAP
Shareholders' equity
(deficit) (US GAAP)
(3,020
)
(4,176
)
(3,348
)
(1,540
)
(2,281
)
Long term debt (CDN GAAP)
15,262
4,622
5,142
6,012
10,622
Convertible notes, debt under US GAAP
0
6,217
4,873
4,549
0
Deferred financing costs
(1,876
)
(162
)
(387
)
(606
)
(363
)
Long term debt (US
GAAP)
13,386
10,677
9,628
9,955
10,259
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS, PAGE 4
SEC COMMENT:
2.
We note your response to our prior comment 7, but
do not believe that you fully responded to our prior comment. As previously
requested, please provide us with your proposed disclosures to present
separately revenues and costs related to franchisor-owned restaurants
from revenues and costs related to franchised restaurants, or disclose
why it is not practicable to do so. The above presentation should separately
disclose within cost related to franchise restaurants, cost associated
with administering and supporting the franchise operations, which based
on your response to our prior comment 7 is included within General and
Administrative expenses. If you are note able to determine the cost specifically
related to franchised restaurants, please state this in your response
and in your future disclosure. Also if there were significant changes
in franchisor-owned outlets or franchised outlets during the year, please
disclose the number of (a) franchises sold, (b) franchises purchased during
the year, (c) franchised outlets in operation, and (d) franchisor-owned
outlets in operation. Additionally, we note from your response to our
prior comment 7 that the Company has cost obligations related to earning
the initial franchise fee revenue, which is not recognized until these
obligations are fulfilled. Please tell us and revise to disclose the services
you have agreed to provide in connection with earning franchise fees.
Refer to the requirements of paragraph 20 of SFAS No. 45.
ELEPHANT & CASTLE’S RESPONSE:
The Company provides operational support and advice to its
franchise partners on an ongoing basis. This support is provided by the same
operational management teams that supports the Company’s corporately owned
restaurants, and as such cannot be separately identified and reported. These
costs are included within the Company’s General and Administrative expenses, as
are the costs associated with marketing and selling new franchises. The Company
intends to further amend its Form 10-K to include the following disclosure:
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
(a)
Franchise fees
The Company recognizes initial fees from the sale
of franchises as revenue once the Company has fully complied with its
obligations to the new franchisee in providing operational support and
training regarding the opening of the restaurant. Continuing franchise
royalties are shown as a separate line item within sales as they are earned.
The Company has no obligated costs in connection with continuing franchise
royalties, but provides on-going operational support and advice to franchisees.
This support is provided by the same operational management teams that
supports the Company’s corporately owned restaurants, and as such
cannot be separately identified and reported. These costs are included
within the Company’s General and Administrative expenses, as are
the costs associated with marketing and selling new franchises.
The following table summarizes the number of franchised
restaurants currently in operation:
2004
2003
2002
Franchised restaurants
operating at start of year
8
9
8
New franchised restaurants
opened
0
1
1
Franchised restaurants closed
(1)
(2)
0
Franchised restaurants operating at end of
year
7
8
9
Note 6. Financing Structure, page 12
SEC COMMENT:
3.
We note your response to our prior comment number
13. Please revise the notes to your financial statements to explain the
accounting treatment that has or will be used for the acquisition of 699,534
common shares and 487,196 preferred shares in exchange for $215,000 and
for the warrant to acquire an additional 5% of the Company’s common
and preferred shares in exchange for $108,000. Your revised disclosure
should include a discussion of the rationale for treatment the amounts
as deferred financing costs in your financial statements.
ELEPHANT & CASTLE’S RESPONSE:
The Company intends to further amend its Form 10-K to include
the following disclosure:
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 8(b)(vi) Accounting treatment
(a) Preferred shares
Holders of Preferred Shares, Series…
(b) Transactions with
Management
During the year ended December 26, 2004, the Company entered
into an agreement with three senior managers (note 6(c)) whereby in order for
the lenders to renegotiate the existing debt, the lenders required management to
commit to the purchase of 699,354 common and 487,196 preferred shares for total
proceeds to the Company CDN$265 (US$215). The price was agreed by way of arms
length negotiation, and was deemed to represent fair market value for the shares
acquired. As the commitment is directly related to the renegotiation of the
debt, any difference between the agreed upon purchase price and the share price
as at that date or redemption price per share will be accounted for as debt
issue costs.
The common shares have a negotiated purchase price of US$0.10
per share representing fair value at the date of issuance. Any difference
between the share price as at that date and the purchase price of US $0.10 per
share will be recorded in the balance sheet as a deferred financing fee to be
amortized over the remaining life of the GEIPPPII debt.
The Preferred shares have a negotiated price of US$0.30 per
share and a redemption value of CDN $2.00 (US$ 1.63) per share. As described in
note 8 (b)(vi)(a) the preferred shares are treated as a liability, and
accordingly, will be recorded as a liability in the books of the Company at the
time of issuance. The difference between the negotiated
price of US$0.30 per share and the redemption price will be
recorded in the balance sheet as a deferred financing cost and amortized over
the remaining life of the related debt.
Warrants issued to management are exercisable in five years
from the date of issue, exercisable for a 60 day period provided all the new
notes and Crown debt are fully repaid. Past experience indicates the likelihood
such warrants will be exercised is not high. Accordingly, no value has been
assigned to these warrants.
Note 16. Difference Between Canadian and United States
Generally Accepted Accounting Principle (Canadian GAAP and
US GAAP) (b)Reconciliation of total assets, liabilities and shareholders’ equity
(deficit), page 29 (c)Reconciliation of earnings (loss) reported in accordance
with Canadian GAAP and US GAAP, page 30
SEC COMMENT:
4.
We note your response to prior comment 20. Please
explain in your disclosures why the amounts in the line item entitled
“convertible notes, debt under US GAAP”, do not agree to the
amounts reflected in the line item “convertible notes, debt under
US GAAP” included in the reconciliation of long-term debt under Canadian
GAAP to that under US GAAP. Please revise as appropriate to explain the
factors responsible for the difference.
ELEPHANT & CASTLE’S RESPONSE:
Further to the response provided for SEC comment 5 following
the first table relating to the accounting for the change in functional
currency, under Canadian GAAP, the Convertible Junior notes were considered an
equity instrument and as such recorded in the equity section of the balance
sheet translated at a historical rate of US$1.00 = Cdn$1.45. Under US GAAP,
these notes are considered a liability instrument and since the functional
currency at that time was the Canadian dollar, this liability had to be
translated at each balance sheet date at the period end rate of exchange. As a
result, t