SEC Comment Letter for PRIMACOM AG (CIK 0001077945) — Sep 20, 2005
PRIMACOM AG (CIK 0001077945)
Date: Sept. 20, 2005 · CIK: 0001077945 · Accession: 0000000000-05-048392
AI Filing Summary & Sentiment
Referenced dates: August 15, 2005
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Securities and Exchange Commission
Mail Stop 3561
CF/AD11
100 F St. NE
Washington, DC 20549-3561
Date September 19, 2005
Mr. Wolfgang Preuss
Chairman
PrimaCom AG
An der Ochsenwiese 3
55124 Mainz, Germany
Re: PrimaCom AG
Form 20-F for Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2004
Filed April 29, 2005
File No. 0-30004
Dear Mr. Preuss:
We have reviewed your letter dated August 15, 2005 and have
the
following comment. In our comment, we ask you to provide us with
supplemental information so we may better understand your
disclosure.
After reviewing this information, we may or may not raise
additional
comments.
Form 20-F
Financial Statements, page F-1
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Goodwill and Customer Lists, page F-9
1. Reference is made to the second and third paragraph on page 5
of
your letter dated August 15, 2005. We do not understand
management`s
assertion that "goodwill associated with the various components in
Germany is more likely recoverable based on multiple components
vs. a
single component given the necessity of a large customer base to
generate cash flow." This response appears to suggest that the
cash
flow generated by certain networks may not be sufficient to fully
recover their associated goodwill. We would consider this to be a
strong indicator that goodwill impairment should be assessed at
the
component level. Further, we note during 2002 you assessed long-
lived assets for impairment at the component level in Germany and
certain of the long-lived assets associated with specific regional
locations were determined to be impaired. This suggests to us
that
your German components may be sufficiently different economically
to
not support aggregating them into a single reporting unit. Unless
you are able to demonstrate that the components work together in
concert, and not as independent networks as you indicate in your
response, and they have similar economic characteristics such as
long-term gross margins, it would appear you should revise your
goodwill impairment policy to assess impairment at the component
level.
2. Please explain to us the facts and circumstances concerning
your
plan to sell Multikabel, including your discussions with the
second
secured lenders, the receipt of the necessary consents, the timing
and extent of management approval, the nature and extent of your
discussions with any potential buyers, and the anticipated timing
of
the sale. Tell us your consideration, at December 31, 2004 and
March
31 and June 30, 2005, of whether or not to classify this disposal
group as assets held for sale under SFAS 144. Explain to us
whether
the individual criteria of paragraph 30 of SFAS 144 were met at
December 31, 2004 and March 31, 2005, or thereafter, and how you
determined whether or not it was necessary to recognize an
impairment
loss.
* * * *
Please respond to these comments within 10 business days or
tell us when you will provide us with a response. Please furnish
a
letter that keys your responses to our comments and provides any
requested information. Detailed letters greatly facilitate our
review. Please understand that we may have additional comments
after
reviewing your responses to our comments.
We urge all persons who are responsible for the accuracy and
adequacy of the disclosure in the filing to be certain that the
filing includes all information required under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and that they have provided all information
investors require for an informed investment decision. Since the
company and its management are in possession of all facts relating
to
a company`s disclosure, they are responsible for the accuracy and
adequacy of the disclosures they have made.
In connection with responding to our comments, please
provide,
in writing, a statement from the company acknowledging that:
* the company is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the
disclosure in the filings;
* staff comments or changes to disclosure in response to staff
comments do not foreclose the Commission from taking any action
with
respect to the filings; and
* the company 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.
In addition, please be advised that the Division of
Enforcement
has access to all information you provide to the staff of the
Division of Corporation Finance in our review of your filings or
in
response to our comments on your filings.
You may contact Joseph M. Kempf, Senior Staff Accountant, at
(202) 551-3352 or Robert S. Littlepage, Accountant Branch Chief,
at
(202) 551-3361 if you have questions regarding comments on the
financial statements and related matters. Please contact me at
(202)
551-3810 with any other questions.
Sincerely,
Larry Spirgel
Assistant Director
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Mr. Wolfgang Preuss
Chairman
PrimaCom AG
September 19, 2005
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