SEC Company Response from BED BATH & BEYOND, INC. (NXH, BBBYW) (CIK 0001130713) (NXH) — Feb 27, 2008
BED BATH & BEYOND, INC. (NXH, BBBYW) (CIK 0001130713)
Date: Feb. 27, 2008 · CIK: 0001130713 · Accession: 0001104659-08-013030
AI Filing Summary & Sentiment
Referenced dates: January 4, 2008, November 15, 2007, November 15, 2007
Show Raw Text
CORRESP 1 filename1.htm February 26, 2008 By EDGAR and by Facsimile to (202) 772-9202 Securities and Exchange Commission 100 F Street Washington, D.C. 20549 Attention: Millwood Hobbs Staff Accountant Division of Corporation Finance Re: Overstock.com, Inc. SEC Comment Letter dated November 15, 2007 Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 Forms 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended September 30, 2007, June 30, 2007 and March 31, 2007 File No. 0-49799 Dear Mr. Hobbs: We write in response to your letter dated January 4, 2008 regarding the above-referenced filings. The following responses are numbered to correspond to the Staff’s comments. SEC Comment — 1. Where a comment below requests additional disclosure to be included, please show us in your supplemental response what the revised disclosures will look like. These additional disclosures should be included in your future filings. See responses below. We will provide these additional disclosures in future filings. SEC Comment — 2. We note your revised disclosure and response to comment 2 of our letter dated November 15, 2007 regarding revenues contributed by each class of product or service. It is not clear to us why you believe disclosing 80% of your revenues in a “general merchandise” category would provide investors with an understanding of your sales mix as opposed to categories such as jewelry, home, bedding, furniture, and clothing. Please revise your proposed disclosure by identifying more product categories based on your product offerings to comply with the requirement of Item 101(c)(1)(i) of Regulation S-K. In response to your request, we have revised our proposed disclosure to include additional product categories, grouped in “classes of similar products” as required by Regulation S-K. We will include the following table in Part I, Item 1 of future Reports on Form 10-K: For 2005, 2006 and 2007, the percentages of gross sales contributed by similar classes of products were as follows: 1 Percentage of Sales Category 2005 2006 2007 Home and garden(1) 41 % 42 % 44 % Jewelry, watches, clothing and accessories 28 % 27 % 25 % BMMG(2), electronics and computers 23 % 23 % 23 % Other 8 % 8 % 8 % Total 100 % 100 % 100 % (1) Home and garden includes home décor, bedding, bath, furniture, housewares, garden, patio and other related products. (2) BMMG stands for “Books, Music, Movies and Games”. SEC Comment — 3. We note your response to comment 5 of our letter dated November 15, 2007 regarding your policy for revenue recognition and SAB Topic 13:A. According to your response, you currently recognize revenue for direct revenue and fulfillment partner revenue based on the premise that risk of loss and title transfers to the customer on the date of delivery to the carrier. However, as stated in your response, in substance, risk of loss does not transfer to the customer at point of shipment, but instead transfers to the customer upon delivery and acceptance. Since assumption for risk of loss is a significant obligation during the delivery process, we are not persuaded that you should recognize revenue before the delivery process is complete. Please revise disclosure of your accounting policy accordingly to clarify that risk of loss transfers to the customer upon delivery and acceptance for all sales at which time revenue is recognized. Please revise your financial statements accordingly to reflect revenue being recognized based on delivery to the customer for all periods presented and provide the disclosures required by SFAS 154 for correction of an error. Part I: In response to your first request, we will expand our revenue recognition disclosure to state when risk of loss transfers to the customer and when revenue is recognized in the “Critical accounting policies and estimates” section of MD&A, and in the footnotes to the financial statements, as follows: “Revenue is recognized when the following revenue recognition criteria are met: (1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; (2) delivery has occurred or the service has been provided; (3) the selling price or fee revenue earned is fixed or determinable; and (4) collection of the resulting receivable is reasonably assured. Revenue related to merchandise sales is recognized upon delivery to and acceptance by our customer. We estimate delivery date based on transit time information provided by our shipping carriers. The delivery date is typically one to six business days from the date of shipment.” 2 Part II: In response to your second request, we considered the guidance in SAB 99, SAB 108 and SFAS 154. We have concluded that the effect of the error is immaterial for all periods (see our materiality analysis in the enclosed EXHIBITS A and B, and our SAB 99 analysis in the enclosed EXHIBIT C). Accordingly, we have concluded that it is appropriate to record the effect of the correction in the fourth quarter of 2007, effectively deferring all sales that were in-transit as of that date, along with the corresponding cost of sales. Note that the nature of the error is self-correcting, as amounts deferred in one period are properly recognized in the next period, rather than accumulating from period to period. Initially, we analyzed the effect of the error compared to certain “rules of thumb” sometimes used as a starting point to assess the materiality of an error (i.e. the percentage error in net income). The result of this analysis indicated that the error represented a less than five percent change in net income for the annual periods ended 2003 through 2007 and the quarterly periods during 2006 and 2007, with the exception of the 2004 annual period (see EXHIBIT A). The effect in 2004 is primarily due to the narrowing loss in 2004, rather than the importance of the error to a reasonable investor making an investment decision. In absolute dollar terms, the correction to 2004 revenue is only $4.3 million on a $494.6 million year (less than 1%), and the correction to net income is only $923k. Accordingly, while such rules of thumb regarding materiality are a relevant starting point for assessing materiality, they are not by themselves determinative. Thus, consistent with SAB 99 and SAB 108, we considered all of the relevant qualitative factors surrounding the error in determining whether the error was material. Based on our analysis of the effect the correction would have on trends in revenue, gross profit and earnings, we have concluded that the error was not material because it would not be significant to a reasonable investor relying on the 2004 reported financial statements in making an investment decision. As support for this conclusion, see the following tables showing revenue, gross profit and net income for the five annual periods to be presented in the 2007 10-K (2003-2007): Table A - Revenue Revenue Revenue Diff. as a % as as of Reported $ Reported Adjusted Revenue Difference FY 2003 (rollover) $ 238,945,000 $ 237,200,926 -0.73 % $ (1,744,074 ) FY 2004 (rollover) $ 494,635,000 $ 490,290,699 -0.88 % $ (4,344,301 ) FY 2005 (rollover) $ 799,316,000 $ 792,543,320 -0.85 % $ (6,772,680 ) FY 2006 (rollover) $ 788,150,000 $ 788,598,283 0.06 % $ 448,283 FY 2006 (iron curtain) $ 788,150,000 $ 775,892,860 -1.56 % $ (12,257,140 ) FY 2007 (rollover) $ 773,843,000 $ 777,515,188 0.47 % $ 3,672,188 FY 2007 (iron curtain) $ 773,843,000 $ 766,026,971 -1.01 % $ (7,816,029 ) 3 Table B - Gross Profit Gross Profit Gross Profit Diff. as a % as as of Reported $ Reported Adjusted Gross Profit Difference FY 2003 (rollover) $ 25,716,000 $ 25,527,743 -0.73 % $ (188,257 ) FY 2004 (rollover) $ 66,239,000 $ 65,424,744 -1.23 % $ (814,256 ) FY 2005 (rollover) $ 116,876,000 $ 116,310,466 -0.48 % $ (565,534 ) FY 2006 (rollover) $ 94,800,000 $ 95,398,198 0.63 % $ 598,198 FY 2006 (iron curtain) $ 94,800,000 $ 93,660,086 -1.20 % $ (1,139,914 ) FY 2007 (rollover) $ 132,638,000 $ 132,566,430 -0.05 % $ (71,570 ) FY 2007 (iron curtain) $ 132,638,000 $ 131,426,515 -0.91 % $ (1,211,485 ) Table C - Net Income Net Income Net Income Diff. as a % as as of Reported $ Reported Adjusted Net Income Difference FY 2003 (rollover) $ (11,810,000 ) $ (11,998,257 ) 1.59 % $ (188,257 ) FY 2004 (rollover) $ (4,728,000 ) $ (5,651,256 ) 19.53 % $ (923,256 ) FY 2005 (rollover) $ (25,103,000 ) $ (25,559,534 ) 1.82 % $ (456,534 ) FY 2006 (rollover) $ (101,865,000 ) $ (101,266,802 ) -0.59 % $ 598,198 FY 2006 (iron curtain) $ (101,865,000 ) $ (103,004,914 ) 1.12 % $ (1,139,914 ) FY 2007 (rollover) $ (43,331,000 ) $ (43,402,570 ) 0.17 % $ (71,570 ) FY 2007 (iron curtain) $ (43,331,000 ) $ (44,542,485 ) 2.80 % $ (1,211,485 ) Note that the effect of the correction on revenue is less than 1% for each year, and the effect on gross profit is less than 2%. The effect on net income is also less than 2%, except for 2004. However, as is shown in Table C above, the absolute dollar value of the net loss in 2004 was much smaller than in other years (less than $5 million), which magnifies the percentage difference in net income after the correction. We conclude that the correction does not affect the overall trend in earnings, nor does it change the results enough to effect a reasonable investor’s decision. We have concluded that the qualitative factors (discussed in our qualitative SAB 99 analysis in the enclosed EXHIBIT C) related to the proposed error correction and its impact on the 2003-2007 financial statements indicate that the proposed error correction is immaterial. As the number of days’ sales to be deferred and the total sales dollars per day do not change significantly from period to period, we would conclude that the error does not mask a change or trend in revenue or earnings. Based on our conclusion that the period errors are immaterial to the previously issued financial statements, we analyzed the impact of recording the full adjustment in Q4 2007, and determined that the impact is immaterial to the Q4 2007 and to the full year 2007 financial statements (i.e., using the dual method prescribed in SAB 108). The impact of 4 the cumulative adjustment in 2007 on revenue and net income is 1.1% and 2.8%, respectively. Additionally, we disclosed the estimated cumulative effect of the error related to the correction in our Q4 and FY 2007 earnings release and conference call on January 30, 2008. The stock price has not moved significantly since the earnings release date. Therefore, we believe that recording the cumulative adjustment in Q4 2007 would not affect a reasonable investor making an investment decision. In addition, analyst reports published subsequent to the earnings release made no mention of the cumulative adjustment or the correction. Therefore, we believe that recording the full adjustment in Q4 2007 was not an issue of concern to analysts. We performed an analysis on the factors that are most important to management and to our investors, using specific data from 2006-2007 earnings releases, conference calls and analyst reports. This analysis has shown that as we have a history of losses (only two profitable quarters and no profitable years as a public company), management’s focus and communications have been on improving areas that support revenue and demonstrate progress towards profitability (such as revenue growth, growth in gross profits, contribution margin and EBITDA) rather than on net income. We have concluded that the qualitative factors shown in the 2006-2007 analysis are applicable and important to investors in assessing our performance during prior periods, including 2004 (see an overview/history of the company and support for management/analyst sentiments during 2006-2007 in the enclosed EXHIBIT D). Based on the points discussed above and our responses to the qualitative issues detailed in the SAB 99 analysis, we believe it is appropriate to record the full effect of the correction of the error in Q4 2007. In relation to the adjustment, we will include the following disclosure within both our MD&A and notes to our financial statements: “From our inception through the third quarter of 2007, we recorded revenue based on product ship date. In the fourth quarter of 2007, we determined that we should not have recorded revenue until the delivery date. We performed a detailed analysis of this error and the impact of recording the cumulative effect of the error in the fourth quarter of 2007, and have determined that the impact of the correction is immaterial to the fourth quarter of 2007 and to all prior periods. As a result, in accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, “Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements” (SAB 108), we recorded the cumulative effect of this correction in the fourth quarter of 2007. This change resulted in a deferral of $7.8 million of revenue (including $2.1 million of direct revenue and $5.7 million of fulfillment partner revenue), and a decrease in cost of goods sold of $6.6 million ($1.8 million direct and $4.8 million fulfillment partner), which reduced gross 5 profit and net income by $1.2 million (see Item 15 of Part IV, “Financial Statements” —Note 2 — “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” — “Revenue Recognition”). Prospectively, we will make a deferral each quarter based on estimated product delivery date. Additionally, in the “Quarterly Financial Data” footnote in our financial statements, we will add the following note to the Q4-2007 data: “Includes the correction of an error requiring a change in revenue recognition from ship date to estimated delivery date. This correction resulted in a deferral of $7.8 million of revenue (including $2.1 million of direct revenue and $5.7 million of fulfillment partner revenue), and a decrease in cost of goods sold of $6.6 million ($1.8 million direct and $4.8 million fulfillment partner), which reduced gross profit and net income by $1.2 million (see Item 15 of Part IV, “Financial Statements” —Note 2 — “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” — “Revenue Recognition”). SEC Comment — 4. We note your response to comment 6 of our letter dated November 15, 2007 regarding your basis for gross reporting of revenue from fulfillment partner sales. Please revise your disclosure to indicate that you are the primary obligor on these transactions and revenue is reported on a gross basis. We will revise our disclosure of fulfillment partner revenue to state the following: “We evaluate the criteria outlined in EITF Issue No. 99-19, Reporting Revenue Gross as a Principal Versus Net as an Agent, in determining whether it is appropriate to record the gross amount of product sales and related costs or the net amount earned as commissions. When we are the primary obligor in a transaction, are subject to inventory risk, have latitude in establishing prices and selecting suppliers, or have several but not all of these indicators, revenue is recorded gross. If we are not the primary obligor in the transaction and amounts e