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SEC Company Response from CREATIVE REALITIES, INC. (CREX) (CIK 0001356093) (CREX) — Aug 12, 2009

CREATIVE REALITIES, INC. (CREX) (CIK 0001356093)
Date: Aug. 12, 2009 · CIK: 0001356093 · Accession: 0001356093-09-000017

AI Filing Summary & Sentiment

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Summary

Reasoning

File numbers found in text: 001-33169

Referenced dates: July 29, 2009

Date
Aug. 12, 2009
Author
Branch Chief
Form
CORRESP
Company
CREATIVE REALITIES, INC. (CREX) (CIK 0001356093)

Letter

VIA EDGAR Division of Corporation Finance Wireless Ronin Technologies, Inc. Form 10-K for Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2008 Forms 8-K Filed February 17, 2009 and May 7, 2009 File No. 001-33169

Dear Ms. Collins:

We are responding to your letter dated July 29, 2009. Our responses follow the comments included in your letter, which are presented in boldface type. From a disclosure perspective, we intend to address concerns raised in your comments in future periodic reports in accordance with the responses set forth below.

Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2008

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis or Plan of Operations

Results of Operations, page

1.

In the discussion of your results of operations, you refer to various factors that have impacted revenue without quantifying the impact of each factor. For example, you disclose that the increase in sales was the result of new customer relationships, the expansion of existing customer relationships and a full year of sales from your Canadian operations, offset by the loss of a large customer in 2007 but you give no indication as to the relative impact of each factor. Please explain to us how you considered Section III.D of SEC Release No. 33-6835 and Section III.B of SEC Release No. 33-8350. Note that this comment also applies to your discussion on changes to cost of sales and various operating expenses.

Response: The Company discloses factors that contribute to material changes in its results of operations in order of their magnitude. Although the Company did not quantify the individual impact of each source, the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “10-K”) for the year ended December 31, 2008, provide additional disclosure which further helps to rank the relative importance and impact of each factor cited.

In future filings, when identifying two or more sources as factors that contribute to a material change in results of operations, the Company will continue to list the sources in the relative order of importance and impact and will quantify individual effects of multiple factors to the extent possible and meaningful.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Operating Activities, page

2.

We note that your discussion of cash flows from operating activities is essentially a recitation of the reconciling items identified on the face of the statement of cash flows. This does not appear to contribute substantively to an understanding of your cash flows. Rather, it repeats items that are readily determinable from the financial statements. When preparing the discussion and analysis of operating cash flows, you should address material changes in the underlying drivers that affect these cash flows. These disclosures should also include a discussion of the underlying reasons for changes in working capital items that affect operating cash flows. Please tell us how you considered the guidance in Section IV.B.1 of SEC Release 33-8350.

Response: The Company did not provide explanations of the underlying drivers that affect cash flow as the fluctuations in our working capital accounts from period to period were considered either mere timing differences (i.e. receipt of payments from customers or payments to our vendors) or the result of an overall increase in revenue and expenses for the period. The Company determined that none of the changes to its working capital accounts for the period presented was the result of a material change in the underlying drivers and, therefore, they were not necessary to disclose as prescribed in Section IV.B.1 of SEC Release 33-8350.

In the future filings, when discussing changes in working capital accounts within the operating activities of its cash flow, the Company will include discussions of any material underlying drivers.

Kathleen Collins

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

August 12, 2009

Page

Consolidated Statements of Operations, page F-4

3.

Your disclosures indicate that for certain arrangements, the Company recognizes revenue pursuant to SOP 81-1. Tell us the amount of revenues recognized using contract accounting for each period presented. Also, tell us where you classify these revenues and related costs in your Consolidated Statements of Operations. If you classify these revenues and related costs as a single line item (i.e. within “Services and other”) or allocate between products and services, please explain your basis of presentation or allocation methodology, why you believe such presentation is reasonable and confirm to us that this presentation has been consistently applied. Assuming that your presentation of revenues and cost of revenues is considered reasonable for purposes of complying with Rule 5-03(b)(1) and (2) of Regulation S-X, please ensure that your MD&A, Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates and footnote disclosures include a discussion of your basis of presentation or allocation methodology and discuss the reasons for such presentation or allocation.

Response: Revenue recognized using contract accounting for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, totaled $2,827,000, $1,349,000 and $0, respectively. The Company classified the revenue and associated cost on the “Services and Other” line within the “Sales” and “Cost of Sales” sections of the Consolidated Statement of Operations on page F-4 of the 10-K. In all cases where the Company applied the contract method of accounting, the Company’s only deliverable was professional services, thus, the Company believes presenting the revenue on a single line is appropriate. The Company’s presentation of revenue recognized on a contract completion basis has been consistently applied for all periods presented.

The Company will ensure future filings include a discussion regarding the basis of presentation or allocation methodology and the reasons for such presentation or allocation within the MD&A, Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates and footnote disclosures in accordance with Rule 5-03(b)(1) and (2) of Regulation S-X.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Revenue Recognition, page F-7

4.

We note that you derive revenue from multiple element arrangements that include a combination of software products, system hardware, maintenance and support, or installation and training services in accordance with SOP 97-2. Please describe your methodology for establishing vendor-specific objective evidence (“VSOE”) of fair value for each of your elements, the accounting literature you considered, and how you considered disclosing your policy in your revenue recognition footnote. If VSOE is based on stated renewal rates then please tell us how you determined the renewal rates are substantive. In this regard, please provide the range of renewal rates and tell us what percentage of your customers actually renew at such rates. Alternatively, if VSOE is based on stand-alone sales, then provide the volume and range of stand alone sales used to establish VSOE. Also, please describe the various factors that affect your VSOE analysis including customer type and other pricing factors (e.g., geographic region, purchase volume, competitive pricing, perpetual versus term license, etc.).

Response: The Company has established VSOE of fair value for each of its products and services as a result of the sale of each of these elements on a stand-alone basis. The Company has an established history of selling individual monitors and media players. In addition, the Company routinely sells various service offerings individually, including installation, content creation and other professional services. The Company’s fair value of software and licenses is based on normal pricing and discounts for the product when sold separately. The fair value for purposes of determining VSOE for maintenance and support services is based upon the renewal rate the Company charges for post-contract support agreements. The Company considered EITF 00-21 “Application Guidance” for purposes of determining the basis of establishing individual VSOE for each element. The Company disclosed how VSOE of each element was determined and the applicable accounting literature used as a basis for this determination in Note 1 to Consolidated Financial Statements on page F-8 of the 10-K.

In the case of establishing VSOE for the Company’s software maintenance or post-contract support agreements, the Company applies the renewal rate which has historically been 20% of the software sales price. Of the customers who renew their maintenance in the subsequent years, the Company has consistently charged all them at this rate, which supports the fair value and establishment of VSOE for the offer.

For those offerings on which VSOE is established on a stand-alone basis, the Company has substantiated VSOE through the stand-alone sale of hardware, which is comprised of screens or monitors and a media player. The sale price of monitors can range from $1,500 to over $5,000 depending on the size and type. Of the Company’s monitor sales, 90% are 42 inch screens at a sales price of approximately $1,500. The sale price of a media player is approximately $1,000. The volume generated in fiscal year 2008 for screens and media players was approximately 1,000 units each.

The other items sold on a stand-alone basis are our services. The Company charges from $80 to $150 per hour, depending on the type of services provided. The volume of total hours worked during the fiscal year 2008 was approximately 25,000. The billable rate is adjusted depending on the size and scope of the project. For instance, the Company usually provides a discount from its published billing rates for a larger project. Also, the rate depends on the type of service offering. The hourly billing rate for content creation is typically significantly less ($80 to $100) than the rate charged for software development ($115 to $150).

Kathleen Collins

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

August 12, 2009

Page

5.

We note in your disclosure that you defer revenue under the residual method for undelivered maintenance and support fees included in the price of software. Reconcile this statement with your disclosure that “each element of [your] multiple element arrangements qualifies for separate accounting with the exception of undelivered maintenance and service fees.” In this regard, explain how you utilize the residual method for elements that do not qualify for separate accounting.

Response: The Company provides each of its customers a one-year software warranty, which includes technical support and rights to future upgrades/updates to our software. As a result, the Company applies the residual method of accounting whereby it defers 20% of the software sales price. The deferred portion is recorded as “Deferred Revenue” and amortized over the one year period as “Services” revenue over the period provided. The Company’s reference to “Undelivered maintenance and service fees” was unintentionally mislabeled as it should have referenced “Undelivered maintenance and support fees.” Given that the second sentence in the last paragraph in Note 1 under the section “The Company recognizes revenue primarily from these sources:” on page F-8 of the 10-K references “Support fees,” which follows the reference to “Service fees,” we would not look to amend our 10-K, but rather address this in our subsequent filings. All other elements, other than maintenance and support fees, qualify for separate accounting and do not utilize the residual method of accounting.

6.

We note that the Company records revenue from your SOP 81-1 contracts based on the percentage of services provided during the reporting period to total estimated services to be provided over the duration of the contract. Please explain further what you mean by “services provided.” In this regard, clarify whether you recognize revenue using input measures or output measures and tell us what specific measures are used to determine “services provided” (i.e. labor hours, service milestones, etc.). Also, please consider revising your disclosures to more clearly describe how you measure progress to completion for the Company’s SOP 81-1 contracts.

Response: The Company enters into contracts which provide technology integration consulting services, which designs/resigns, builds and implements new or enhanced system applications and related processes for clients. The Company’s reference to “services provided” in Note 1 on page F-9 of the 10-K under the paragraph “Software design and development services” refers to the effort expended by the Company in the form of labor hours as outlined in the contract (input measures). A typical contract will outline the services to be performed and an estimate of the number of hours to complete a particular project as part of a proposal or statement of work. If a project is not milestone based, the Company will make a determination of the revenue to be recognized based on the total hours worked during a reporting period as a percentage of the total estimated hours for the entire project.

The Company has also entered into other contracts which outline specific milestones as part of a statement of work. These milestones usually involve the delivery of a particular phase of the project and customer acceptance. The Company will defer revenue until each milestone has been delivered and the customer evidences acceptance by signing a customer certificate which signifies the completion of the milestone.

The Company plans to revise its disclosure in future filings to more clearly describe how our Company measures its progress for completion of SOP 81-1 contracts. An example would be as follows: The Company measures its progress for completion in accordance with SOP 81-1 based on either the hours worked as a percentage of the total number of hours of the project or by delivery and customer acceptance of specific milestones as outlined per the terms of the agreement with the customer.

Use of Non-GAAP Measures

7.

We note your use of non-GAAP measures in the Form 8-Ks filed February 17, 2009 and May 7, 2009 that exclude a number of items that appear to be recurring in nature. Please revise to include the following disclosures pursuant to Question 8 of Frequently Asked Questions Regarding the Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures:

·

the economic substance behind management’s decision to use such a measure;

Show Raw Text
CORRESP
1
filename1.htm

    corresp.htm

    Wireless
Ronin Technologies, Inc.

    5929
Baker Road, Suite 475

    Minnetonka,
MN 55345

               VIA EDGAR

                 August 12,
      2009

    Kathleen
Collins

    Accounting
Branch Chief

    Mail Stop
4561

    U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission

    Division
of Corporation Finance

    100 F
Street, N.E.

    Washington,
D.C. 20549

                Re:

                Wireless
      Ronin Technologies, Inc.

               Form
      10-K for Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2008

               Forms
      8-K Filed February 17, 2009 and May 7, 2009

               File
      No. 001-33169

    Dear Ms.
Collins:

    We are
responding to your letter dated July 29, 2009.  Our responses follow
the comments included in your letter, which are presented in boldface
type.  From a disclosure perspective, we intend to address concerns
raised in your comments in future periodic reports in accordance with the
responses set forth below.

    Form 10-K for the Fiscal
Year Ended December 31, 2008

    Item
7.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis or Plan of
Operations

    Results of Operations, page
36

              1.

              In
      the discussion of your results of operations, you refer to various factors
      that have impacted revenue without quantifying the impact of each
      factor.  For example, you disclose that the increase in sales
      was the result of new customer relationships, the expansion of existing
      customer relationships and a full year of sales from your Canadian
      operations, offset by the loss of a large customer in 2007 but you give no
      indication as to the relative impact of each factor.  Please
      explain to us how you considered Section III.D of SEC Release No. 33-6835
      and Section III.B of SEC Release No. 33-8350.  Note that this
      comment also applies to your discussion on changes to cost of sales and
      various operating expenses.

    Response:   The
Company discloses factors that contribute to material changes in its results of
operations in order of their magnitude.    Although the
Company did not quantify the individual impact of each source, the accompanying
notes to the consolidated financial statements contained in the Company’s Annual
Report on Form 10-K (the “10-K”) for the year ended December 31, 2008, provide
additional disclosure which further helps to rank the relative importance and
impact of each factor cited.

    In future
filings, when identifying two or more sources as factors that contribute to a
material change in results of operations, the Company will continue to list the
sources in the relative order of importance and impact and will quantify
individual effects of multiple factors to the extent possible and
meaningful.

    Liquidity and Capital
Resources

    Operating Activities, page
40

              2.

              We
      note that your discussion of cash flows from operating activities is
      essentially a recitation of the reconciling items identified on the face
      of the statement of cash flows.  This does not appear to
      contribute substantively to an understanding of your cash
      flows.  Rather, it repeats items that are readily determinable
      from the financial statements.  When preparing the discussion
      and analysis of operating cash flows, you should address material changes
      in the underlying drivers that affect these cash flows.  These
      disclosures should also include a discussion of the underlying reasons for
      changes in working capital items that affect operating cash
      flows.  Please tell us how you considered the guidance in
      Section IV.B.1 of SEC Release
33-8350.

    Response:  The
Company did not provide explanations of the underlying drivers that affect cash
flow as the fluctuations in our working capital accounts from period to period
were considered either mere timing differences (i.e. receipt of payments from
customers or payments to our vendors) or the result of an overall increase in
revenue and expenses for the period.  The Company determined that none
of the changes to its working capital accounts for the period presented was the
result of a material change in the underlying drivers and, therefore, they were
not necessary to disclose as prescribed in Section IV.B.1 of SEC Release
33-8350.

    In the
future filings, when discussing changes in working capital accounts within the
operating activities of its cash flow, the Company will include discussions of
any material underlying drivers.

    Kathleen
Collins

      U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission

      August
12, 2009

      Page
2

    Consolidated Statements of
Operations, page F-4

              3.

              Your
      disclosures indicate that for certain arrangements, the Company recognizes
      revenue pursuant to SOP 81-1.  Tell us the amount of revenues
      recognized using contract accounting for each period
      presented.  Also, tell us where you classify these revenues and
      related costs in your Consolidated Statements of Operations.  If
      you classify these revenues and related costs as a single line item (i.e.
      within “Services and other”) or allocate between products and services,
      please explain your basis of presentation or allocation methodology, why
      you believe such presentation is reasonable and confirm to us that this
      presentation has been consistently applied.  Assuming that your
      presentation of revenues and cost of revenues is considered reasonable for
      purposes of complying with Rule 5-03(b)(1) and (2) of Regulation S-X,
      please ensure that your MD&A, Critical Accounting Policies and
      Estimates and footnote disclosures include a discussion of your basis of
      presentation or allocation methodology and discuss the reasons for such
      presentation or allocation.

    Response:  Revenue
recognized using contract accounting for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007
and 2006, totaled $2,827,000, $1,349,000 and $0, respectively.  The
Company classified the revenue and associated cost on the “Services and Other”
line within the “Sales” and “Cost of Sales” sections of the Consolidated
Statement of Operations on page F-4 of the 10-K.  In all cases where
the Company applied the contract method of accounting, the Company’s only
deliverable was professional services, thus, the Company believes presenting the
revenue on a single line is appropriate.  The Company’s presentation
of revenue recognized on a contract completion basis has been consistently
applied for all periods presented.

    The
Company will ensure future filings include a discussion regarding the basis of
presentation or allocation methodology and the reasons for such presentation or
allocation within the MD&A, Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates and
footnote disclosures in accordance with Rule 5-03(b)(1) and (2) of Regulation
S-X.

    Notes to Consolidated
Financial Statements

    Note 1.  Nature of
Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

    Revenue Recognition, page
F-7

              4.

              We
      note that you derive revenue from multiple element arrangements that
      include a combination of software products, system hardware, maintenance
      and support, or installation and training services in accordance with SOP
      97-2.  Please describe your methodology for establishing
      vendor-specific objective evidence (“VSOE”) of fair value for each of your
      elements, the accounting literature you considered, and how you considered
      disclosing your policy in your revenue recognition footnote.  If
      VSOE is based on stated renewal rates then please tell us how you
      determined the renewal rates are substantive.  In this regard,
      please provide the range of renewal rates and tell us what percentage of
      your customers actually renew at such rates.  Alternatively, if
      VSOE is based on stand-alone sales, then provide the volume and range of
      stand alone sales used to establish VSOE.  Also, please describe
      the various factors that affect your VSOE analysis including customer type
      and other pricing factors (e.g., geographic region, purchase volume,
      competitive pricing, perpetual versus term license,
  etc.).

    Response:   The
Company has established VSOE of fair value for each of its products and services
as a result of the sale of each of these elements on a stand-alone
basis.  The Company has an established history of selling individual
monitors and media players. In addition, the Company routinely sells various
service offerings individually, including installation, content creation and
other professional services.  The Company’s fair value of software and
licenses is based on normal pricing and discounts for the product when sold
separately.  The fair value for purposes of determining VSOE for
maintenance and support services is based upon the renewal rate the Company
charges for post-contract support agreements.   The Company
considered EITF 00-21 “Application Guidance” for purposes of determining the
basis of establishing individual VSOE for each element.   The
Company disclosed how VSOE of each element was determined and the applicable
accounting literature used as a basis for this determination in Note 1 to
Consolidated Financial Statements on page F-8 of the 10-K.

    In the
case of establishing VSOE for the Company’s software maintenance or
post-contract support agreements, the Company applies the renewal rate which has
historically been 20% of the software sales price.  Of the customers
who renew their maintenance in the subsequent years, the Company
has consistently charged all them at this rate, which supports the
fair value and establishment of VSOE for the offer.

    For those
offerings on which VSOE is established on a stand-alone basis, the Company has
substantiated VSOE through the stand-alone sale of hardware, which is comprised
of screens or monitors and a media player.  The sale price of monitors
can range from $1,500 to over $5,000 depending on the size and
type.  Of the Company’s monitor sales, 90% are 42 inch screens at a
sales price of approximately $1,500.  The sale price of a media player
is approximately $1,000.  The volume generated in fiscal year 2008 for
screens and media players was approximately 1,000 units each.

    The other
items sold on a stand-alone basis are our services. The Company charges from $80
to $150 per hour, depending on the type of services provided.  The
volume of total hours worked during the fiscal year 2008 was approximately
25,000.  The billable rate is adjusted depending on the size and scope
of the project. For instance, the Company usually provides a discount from its
published billing rates for a larger project.  Also, the rate depends
on the type of service offering. The hourly billing rate for content creation is
typically significantly less ($80 to $100) than the rate charged for software
development ($115 to $150).

      Kathleen
Collins

      U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission

      August
12, 2009

      Page
3

              5.

              We
      note in your disclosure that you defer revenue under the residual method
      for undelivered maintenance and support fees included in the price of
      software.  Reconcile this statement with your disclosure that
      “each element of [your] multiple element arrangements qualifies for
      separate accounting with the exception of undelivered maintenance and
      service fees.”  In this regard, explain how you utilize the
      residual method for elements that do not qualify for separate
      accounting.

    Response:  The
Company provides each of its customers a one-year software warranty, which
includes technical support and rights to future upgrades/updates to our
software. As a result, the Company applies the residual method of accounting
whereby it defers 20% of the software sales price.  The deferred
portion is recorded as “Deferred Revenue” and amortized over the one year period
as “Services” revenue over the period provided.   The Company’s
reference to “Undelivered maintenance and service fees” was unintentionally
mislabeled as it should have referenced “Undelivered maintenance and support
fees.”    Given that the second sentence in the last
paragraph in Note 1 under the section “The Company recognizes revenue primarily
from these sources:” on page F-8 of the 10-K references “Support fees,” which
follows the reference to “Service fees,” we would not look to amend our 10-K,
but rather address this in our subsequent
filings.   All other elements, other than maintenance and support
fees, qualify for separate accounting and do not utilize the residual method of
accounting.

              6.

              We
      note that the Company records revenue from your SOP 81-1 contracts based
      on the percentage of services provided during the reporting period to
      total estimated services to be provided over the duration of the
      contract.  Please explain further what you mean by “services
      provided.”  In this regard, clarify whether you recognize
      revenue using input measures or output measures and tell us what specific
      measures are used to determine “services provided” (i.e. labor hours,
      service milestones, etc.).  Also, please consider revising your
      disclosures to more clearly describe how you measure progress to
      completion for the Company’s SOP 81-1
contracts.

    Response:  The
Company enters into contracts which provide technology integration consulting
services, which designs/resigns, builds and implements new or enhanced system
applications and related processes for clients.  The Company’s
reference to “services provided” in Note 1 on page F-9 of the 10-K under the
paragraph “Software design and development services” refers to the effort
expended by the Company in the form of labor hours as outlined in the contract
(input measures).  A typical contract will outline the services to be
performed and an estimate of the number of hours to complete a particular
project as part of a proposal or statement of work. If a project is not
milestone based, the Company will make a determination of the revenue to be
recognized based on the total hours worked during a reporting period as a
percentage of the total estimated hours for the entire project.

    The
Company has also entered into other contracts which outline specific milestones
as part of a statement of work.  These milestones usually involve the
delivery of a particular phase of the project and customer
acceptance.  The Company will defer revenue until each milestone has
been delivered and the customer evidences acceptance by signing a customer
certificate which signifies the completion of the milestone.

    The
Company plans to revise its disclosure in future filings to more clearly
describe how our Company measures its progress for completion of SOP 81-1
contracts.  An example would be as follows:  The Company
measures its progress for completion in accordance with SOP 81-1 based on either
the hours worked as a percentage of the total number of hours of the project or
by delivery and customer acceptance of specific milestones as outlined per the
terms of the agreement with the customer.

    Use of Non-GAAP
Measures

              7.

              We
      note your use of non-GAAP measures in the Form 8-Ks filed February 17,
      2009 and May 7, 2009 that exclude a number of items that appear to be
      recurring in nature.  Please revise to include the following
      disclosures pursuant to Question 8 of Frequently Asked Questions Regarding
      the Use of Non-GAAP Financial
Measures:

              ·

              the
      economic substance behind management’s decision to use such a
      measure;