SEC Company Response from DIGITAL DESCRIPTOR SYSTEMS INC (CIK 0000927454) — Sep 27, 2005
DIGITAL DESCRIPTOR SYSTEMS INC (CIK 0000927454)
Date: Sept. 27, 2005 · CIK: 0000927454 · Accession: 0001144204-05-030029
AI Filing Summary & Sentiment
File numbers found in text: 000-26604
Referenced dates: April 29, 2005
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May 12, 2005
VIA FEDERAL EXPRESS
Division of Corporation Finance
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Station Place
100F Street, N.E.
Washington, DC 20549
Attn: Craig Wilson,
Senior Assistant Chief Accountant
Mail Stop 4-6
Re: Digital Descriptor Systems, Inc.
Form 10-KSB for year ended December 31, 2004
File No. 000-26604
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Dear Mr. Wilson:
In response to your comments dated April 29, 2005, Digital Descriptor
Systems, Inc. (the "Company") has the following responses:
1. We note you have recognized the total amount of the beneficial conversion
feature associated with your convertible debentures issued in February,
May and November 2004 as interest expense for the year ended December 31,
2004. Tell us how you considered the guidance in Issue 6 of EITF 00-27 in
recognizing the beneficial conversion feature immediately versus over the
redemption period.
The Company has recognized the total amount of the beneficial conversion
feature associated with its convertible debentures issued in February, May
and November 2004 as interest expense for the year ended December 31,
2004. In recognizing the beneficial conversion feature immediately versus
over the redemption period, the Company has considered Issue 6 of EITF
00-27 both in preparation of the financial statements for the year ended
December 31, 2004 and in response to this comment. The Company has
determined however that because the holders of these convertible
debentures have the right to convert the notes immediately at their
discretion, it is more appropriate to take the discount at any time. The
investors have never held the Company to any of the stated redemption
dates of the convertible debentures and only amended the redemption dates
of certain of the convertible debentures at the request of the Company, as
a condition to the closing of the acquisition of CGM Security Solutions,
Inc.
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The Company also believes that by expensing the total amount of the
beneficial conversion feature all at once, it is using the most
conservative method of accounting. Therefore having considered both
alternatives, the Company determined that the entire amount of the
beneficial conversion feature should be recognized as interest expense
immediately.
2. We note that in connection with the acquisition of CGM, the Company
extended the maturity date of debt instruments and amended the conversion
price. Tell us how you accounted for these changes and tell us how you
considered EITF 96-19 in determining whether this was a modification or
exchange of debt.
In connection with the extension of the maturity date of debt instruments
and amendment of the conversion price, the issue is whether the existing
debt should be considered extinguished, resulting in an extraordinary gain
or loss. EITF 96-19 states that "[f]rom the debtor's perspective, an
exchange of debt instruments between or a modification of a debt
instrument by a debtor and a creditor in a non-troubled debt situation is
deemed to have been accomplished with debt instruments that are
substantially different if the present value of the cash flows under the
terms of the new debt instrument is at least 10 percent different from the
present value of the remaining cash flows under the terms of the original
instrument." In this case, the Company does not believe that the net
present value of the cash flows after the modification changed by more
than 10%. As discussed below, the Company believes that a typographical
error in Note 4 to the financial statements may be a source of confusion
in connection with the belief that the cash flow effect on a present value
basis was 10%. Therefore, the debt instruments should not be considered to
be substantially different. No extinguishment of the original debt
occurred.
The Company notes that in Note 11 (Subsequent Events) to the financial
statements, in connection with the acquisition of substantially all of the
assets of CGM Security Solutions, Inc., the Company entered into a letter
agreement with certain of its investors which extended the maturity date
of debt instruments issued on November 30, 2004 until March 1, 2008, and
amended the conversion price of the debt that is held by the Investors to
the lower of (i) $0.0005 or (ii) 60% of the average of the three lowest
intraday trading prices for the Company's common stock during the 20
trading days before, but not including, the conversion date. Note 4 to the
financial statements reads that the conversion feature of the 2004 debt
instruments was originally (1) $0.005 or (2) 67% of the average of the
lowest three inter-day sales prices of the common stock during the twenty
trading days immediately preceding the applicable conversion date. In
reality, the conversion price was always $0.0005. In addition, for the
cash flow analysis of the repayments, the Company assumes that the
conversion price will be $0.0005 and therefore there is very little or no
change in the net present value of the cash flows. This correction will be
in an amendment to the Form 10-K filed on April 15, 2005.
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If you have any questions or comments, please contact the undersigned at
212-981-6772. Thank you for your assistance with this matter.
Very truly yours,
David Schiff
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