We have prepared the following response to the questions below from your letter dated April 24, 2009. In addition, in response to your letter dated January 22, 2009, Question 6, we have attached as Exhibit 1 hereto a draft of the 8-K for the completion of the acquisition of Dyson Properties, Inc. in July 2007.
Please be advised that the Company has changed its name to Green Planet Group, Inc. and reported such change on a Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 1, 2009.
Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2008
Financial Statements
Note 11 - Accounting for derivative financial instruments, page F-18
1. | In your response to prior comment 8 you indicated that the face value of the debt is reported net of unamortized issue costs and debt discounts in the line item “Conversion Share Derivative Liability,” and that the conversion feature was not bifurcated and reported separately as a derivative liability in accordance with SFAS 133 and EITF 00-19. As your disclosures in Notes 9 and 11 are not consistent with the information you provided in this response, please explain the reasons for your disclosure and explain why your actual accounting is not consistent, i.e. tell us why the conversion feature should not be reported separate from the host contract and accounted for as a derivative liability. |
Mr. Karl Hiller, Branch Chief
Securities and Exchange Commission
June 15, 2009
Page 2
1.A. The loan commitment and the warrants were committed by a predecessor company in March 2006, prior to being a public company with publicly traded stock. The Company began trading in the pink sheets in April 2006 and filed a registration statement in August, 2006 which became effective in November, 2006 and we began trading on the OTC:BB in February, 2007. Trading volume in the pink sheets was extremely low and prices did not represent a true value of the stock ranging from $7.00 to $0.63 during the period nor are there enough statistical sample points to create a realistic assessment of the volatility.
Facts:
When the commitment was made, there was no public stock and all sales had been at $1.00 per share and the conversion rate was 50% of the then market price at conversion. Therefore, in the simplistic model, the face amount of the aggregate debt to be incurred of $3 million dollars would produce a $6 million share value based on the commitment date, price (see the more technical analysis below). However, since the number of shares into which this debt could be convertible is variable, and virtually unlimited, thereby exceeding the aggregate number of shares available for conversion would force the beneficial conversion feature “BCF” and thereby the related warrants to purchase 7 million shares at $2.50 a share, to both be recorded as liabilities under the EITF 98-5 “Accounting for Convertible Securities with Beneficial Conversion Features or Contingently Adjustable Conversion Ratios” and EITF 00-27, “Application of Issue No. 98-5 to Certain Convertible Instruments." Under the application of these EITF’s three potential liabilities are developed: 1) the debt component, 2) the BCF component and 3) the warrants. Collectively, in the aggregate at any point in time, these three components would exactly equal the amortized aggregate bond value outstanding as of that date. Issue costs at inception were $487,500 and are being amortized as yield adjustments each period during the term of the original debt. Except for conversions that have and may occur during the term of the debt and are recognized as completed, the BCF component and the warrant value component liabilities amortize over the debt term on a yield basis (reduce liability) and at the same time the debt portion is increased by the same amount (increase liabilities) resulting in no net change in liabilities and no change to the statement of operations for any period.
Since there was no public market at the commitment date, if the actual company experience were used to value the warrants it would produce a volatility of zero and thereby no valuation assigned to the warrants, if a comparable volatility were used it would produce a value. While FASB 133 dictates the use of comparable volatilities we did not find this criteria in the EITF 98-5 and EITF 00-27 literature. With the warrant value being treated as a liability and amortized into another liability the net effect on the financial statements is nil.
Note: The following is an example of the calculation that is associated with the transaction. However, the actual loans were funded in four traunches, and from four affiliated lenders during the period from April 28, 2006 through November 10, 2006. This example is based on a single funding using the commitment date prior to the Company being public. In our original assessment we did not assign a value to the warrant component as we are here, but we believe that as stated herein, there is no significant impact for this treatment is either case Valuation:
Mr. Karl Hiller, Branch Chief
Securities and Exchange Commission
June 15, 2009
Page 3
Original debt $3 million.
Interest rate 6%.
Term 3 years.
The issue costs associated with this transaction were $487,500.
Conversion rate 50% of the five day average price prior to exercise.
Stock price prior to public trading was one dollar per share, and had remained unchanged for at least six months prior to March 31, 2006.
Warrants 7 million exercisable at $2.50 per share per warrant.
Warrant term seven years.
Volatility was based on what the Company believes are representative companies with similar experience and longer trading histories.
As described above, the variable number of shares issuable under the conversion option and the potential for the shares issuable under the option, exceeding the number of shares available for issue by the company makes all of these components liabilities. Applying EITF 00-27 and allocating the cost would produce the following example:
| Total debt | | $ | 3,000,000 | |
| Issue costs | | $ | 487,500 | |
| Net proceeds | | $ | 2,512,500 | |
Calculating the fair value of the three instruments, and then allocating between the three based on the relative values produce the following table:
Mr. Karl Hiller, Branch Chief
Securities and Exchange Commission
June 15, 2009
Page 4
SUMMARY | | Fair Values | | | | Relative Values |
| | | | | |
FV convertible debt | 2,404,348 | | | 0.40 | 537,890 |
FV conversion (a) | | 3,595,652 | | | 0.60 | 804,404 |
| | 6,000,000 | 53.42% | 1,342,294 | | 1,342,294 |
| | | | | | |
FV warrants (7m) (b) | 5,230,770 | 46.58% | 1,170,206 | | 1,170,206 |
| | 11,230,770 | | 2,512,500 | | 2,512,500 |
___________
(a) | Based on the Tsiveriotis and Fernandes methodology. |
(b) | Based on the Binomial Term Structure. |
Then in terms of yield there are three components, 1) the original interest payment at 6% per annum (interest expense), 2) the amortization of the issue discount over the debt term at 6% on the face amount of the debt (interest expense) and 21.7% based on the debt component of the instruments and 3) amortization of the BCF and warrant allocated values over the debt term at 70% (recorded as a reduction in the conversion and warrant liabilities and an increase in the debt liability). We believe that separate line classifications in the balance sheet of these 3 components does not produce a meaningful disclosure and would tend to be more confusing than informative.
Once valued as outlined above as of the determination date, this EITF does not require continued valuation to fair value in subsequent periods.
Further discussion:
If the actual valuation were used to value the non-trading stock at the commitment date no value would be assigned to the warrants. In this case the full value would be allocated between the debt instrument and the BCF. The net result would be the same in either case since all of the components would be classified as liabilities and netted against each other as amortized.
We do propose revisions to footnotes 9 and 11 of the March 31, 2008 10-K and related filings with similar revisions as enumerated below based on the three components of the debt instruments:
1.1 | In addition, you state in your response to prior comment 8 that "...the valuation of this loan program should be governed by EITF 00-27...." Please tell us why you have referenced the guidance in EITF 00-27 in your response as it does not appear that you recorded a beneficial conversion feature in conjunction with the debt issuance. Please disclose the conversion price of the debt and tell us how this compared to your stock price at the date of issuance. |
Mr. Karl Hiller, Branch Chief
Securities and Exchange Commission
June 15, 2009
Page 5
1.1A The Company believes that the guidance of EITF 00-27, as an extension of EITF 98-5, most closely fits the facts and circumstances of the convertible instruments with detachable warrants. As discussed in 1.A above, the value of the BCF and warrants are liabilities that have the same effect whether they are bifurcated into 3 instruments or reported as one combined convertible debt instrument. The footnotes have been changed to reflect this change and disclose the components and the methods of valuation. We will rewrite the disclosers to make it clear what method we used and the results. The stock price at the commitment date was $1.00 per share, the stock price at the first funding was $5.00 after 17 days of public trading in the pink sheets. The $1.00 price is the share price of the company involved in a reverse acquisition that became EMTA Holdings, Inc., the pre reverse acquisition entity stock was trading at $0.0001 (less than the par value).
Original disclosures in 10-K for March 31, 2008
Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies
Fair Value Disclosures - The carrying values of cash, accounts receivable, deposits, prepaid expenses, accounts payable and accrued expenses generally approximate the respective fair values of these instruments due to their current nature.
The fair values of debt instruments for disclosure purposes only are estimated based upon the present value of the estimated cash flows at interest rates applicable to similar instruments.
The Company generally does not use derivative financial instruments to hedge exposures to cash flow or market risks. However, certain other financial instruments, such as warrants and embedded conversion features that are indexed to the Company’s common stock, are classified as liabilities when either (a) the holder possesses rights to net-cash settlement or (b) physical or net-share settlement is not within the control of the Company. In such instances, net-cash settlement is assumed for financial accounting and reporting, even when the terms of the underlying contracts do not provide for net-cash settlement. Such financial instruments are initially recorded at fair value and subsequently adjusted to fair value at the close of each reporting period.
Note 9 - Convertible Debt and Conversion Share Derivative Liability
The Company entered into a Convertible Loan Agreement which entitled the lenders to warrants and convert the loans at their option to common stock of the Company. The face value of the Convertible Notes, 6%, interest quarterly to March 31, 2008 was as follows:
Mr. Karl Hiller, Branch Chief
Securities and Exchange Commission
June 15, 2009
Page 6
Maturity | | Amount | | | Exercised | | | Balance | |
| | | | | | | | | |
April 28, 2009 | | $ | 414,894 | | | $ | 100,200 | | | $ | 314,694 | |
August 17, 2009 | | | 648,563 | | | | – | | | | 648,563 | |
October 28, 2009 | | | 297,398 | | | | – | | | | 297,398 | |
November 10, 2009 | | | 1,102,160 | | | | – | | | | 1,102,160 | |
Total | | $ | 2,463,015 | | | $ | 100,200 | | | $ | 2,362,815 | |
The lenders were issued warrants to purchase 7,000,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $2.50 per share. The Company also issued warrants to a broker in the transaction for the exercise of 700,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $2.50. These warrants expire if not exercised at various dates in 2013 through November 10, 2013. All of the 7,700,000 warrants have been issued entitling the lender to one share for each warrant at an exercise price of $2.50 per share.
The agreements include registration rights and certain other terms and conditions related to share settlement of the embedded conversion features and the warrants. In this instance, EITF 00-19, “Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments Indexed to, and Potentially Settled in, a Company’s Own Stock”, requires allocation of the proceeds between the various instruments and the derivative elements carried at fair values.
As a result of the Company not having filed the registration statement within 30 days of the execution of the loan agreement, the parties agreed that the Company would issue warrants to purchase an additional 5,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at $2.50 per share. The warrants expire if not exercised on August 10, 2013. These warrants were issued to cure the default that occurred on June 28, 2006 and was executed on August 10, 2006. The Company recorded the fair value of these warrants as loan default costs as of June 28, 2006.
Note 11 - Accounting for derivative financial instruments
In April 29, 2006, the Company entered into an agreement whereby it would issued 6% secured convertible notes in the aggregate principal amount of $3,000,000 which are convertible into common shares of the Company at the lender’s option based on a rate of 50% of the then current market price at the time of the conversion election. The Company has the right at any time that the stock is trading below $5.00 per share to call the notes at a prepayment premium of 130% of the outstanding balance. The Company has reserved a sufficient number of its common shares to meet these obligations.
Mr. Karl Hiller, Branch Chief
Securities and Exchange Commission
June 15, 2009
Page 7
The consolidated financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2007 has recognize all features of the derivative financial instruments including the host instruments, the embedded conversion features and the free-standing warrants in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (“SFAS 133”) and EITF 00-19, “Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments Indexed to, and Potentially Settled in, a Company’s Own Stock” (“EITF 00-19”).
Host instrument:
The proceeds from each financing arrangement were allocated to the various elements of the financing resulting in discounts to the face values of the debt instruments. These discounts were then amortized over the debt terms (in all instances three-years) using the effective interest method.
Free-standing warrants:
Proceeds from the financing were allocated to the fair value of the warrants issued using the binomial model. These instruments will be carried as additional paid in capital, and their carrying values will not be adjusted to fair value at the end of each subsequent reporting period.
Free standing instruments, consisting of warrants, are valued using the binomial model valuation methodology because that model embodies all of the relevant assumptions that address the features underlying these instruments.
Significant assumptions included in this model as of March 31, 2008 are as follows:
| | Original | | | Default | |
| | Warrants | | | Warrants | |
| | | | | | | | |
Exercise price | | $ | 2.50 | | | $ | 2.50 | |
Shares subject to exercise | | | 7,000,000 | | | | 5,000,000 | |
Weighted Average Term Remaining (years) | | | 5.41 | | | | 5.25 | |
Volatility | | | 115.8 | % | | | 115.8 | % |
Risk-free rate | | | 1.55-2.46 | % | | | 1.55-2.46 | % |
Implied value | | $ | 945,809 | | | $ | 658,123 | |
Recorded value | | $ | – | | | $ | 13,960,334 | |
Mr. Karl Hiller, Branch Chief
Securities and Exchange Commission
June 15, 2009
Page 8
The value of the original warrants was limited by the net loan amounts and debt conversion value after issue costs.
Embedded conversion features:
Each hybrid instrument was analyzed in accordance with the guidance in SFAS 133 for features that possessed the characteristics of derivative instruments. Those instruments whose economic characteristics and risks of the embedded derivative instrument were not “clearly and closely related” to the host instrument were bifurcated and treated as derivatives under the guidance of SFAS 133 and recorded at fair value with adjustments to fair value at the end of each subsequent reporting period. This resulted in the conversion feature being recorded as an embedded derivative at each loan funding date, April 29, 2006, August 17, 2006, October 28, 2006 and November 10, 2006.
Summary:
As a result of the above at March 31, 2008 the balances were as follows:
| | Liability | | | Expense | |
| | | | | | | | |
Original Warrants | | $ | – | | | $ | – | |
Conversion feature | | | 2,362,815 | | | | 296,944 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 2,362,815 | | | $ | 296,944 | |
New Footnotes to replace the original Notes above:
Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies
Fair Value Disclosures - The carrying values of cash, accounts receivable, deposits, prepaid expenses, accounts payable and accrued expenses generally approximate the respective fair values of these instruments due to their current nature.
Mr. Karl Hiller, Branch Chief
Securities and Exchange Commission
June 15, 2009
Page 9
Derivative Financial Instruments - The Company accounts for derivative instruments and debt instruments in accordance with the interpretative guidance of SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (“SFAS 133”), EITF 00-19, “Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments Indexed to, and Potentially Settled in, a Company’s Own Stock,” APB No. 14, “Accounting for Convertible Debt and Debt Issued with Stock Purchase Warrants,” EITF 98-5, “Accounting for Convertible Securities with Beneficial Conversion Features or Contingently Adjustable Conversion Ratios” (“EITF 98-5”), and EITF 00-27, “Application of Issue No. 98-5 to Certain Convertible Instruments” (“EITF 00-27”), and associated pronouncements related to the classification and measurement of warrants and instruments with conversion features. It is necessary for the Company to make certain assumptions and estimates to value derivatives and debt instruments.
Note 9 - Convertible Debt and Conversion Share Derivative Liability
In 2006, the Company entered into a Convertible Loan Agreement which entitled the lenders to 7,000,000 warrants and to convert the loans at the holders’ option to common stock of the Company.
At March 31, 2008, the remaining face value of the Convertible Notes, 6%, interest quarterly was as follows:
Maturity | | Amount | | | Exercised | | | Balance | |
| | | | | | | | | |
April 28, 2009 | | $ | 414,894 | | | $ | 100,200 | | | $ | 314,694 | |
August 17, 2009 | | | 648,563 | | | | – | | | | 648,563 | |
October 28, 2009 | | | 297,398 | | | | – | | | | 297,398 | |
November 10, 2009 | | | 1,102,160 | | | | – | | | | 1,102,160 | |
Total | | $ | 2,463,015 | | | $ | 100,200 | | | $ | 2,362,815 | |
The lenders were issued warrants to purchase 7,000,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $2.50 per share. The Company also issued warrants to a broker in the transaction for the exercise of 700,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $2.50. These warrants expire if not exercised at various dates in 2013 through November 10, 2013. All of the 7,700,000 warrants have been issued entitling the lender to one share for each warrant at an exercise price of $2.50 per share.
The agreements include registration rights which required the Company to file a registration statement within 30 days of the execution of the loan agreement, the Company failed to meet this deadline and as a result the parties agreed that the Company would issue warrants to purchase an additional 5,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at $2.50 per share. The additional warrants issued to cure the default were not provided for in the original agreements. The warrants expire if not exercised on August 10, 2013. These warrants were issued to cure the default that occurred on June 28, 2006 and was executed on August 10, 2006. The Company recorded the fair value of these warrants as loan default costs as of June 28, 2006.
Mr. Karl Hiller, Branch Chief
Securities and Exchange Commission
June 15, 2009
Page 10
Accounting for derivative financial instruments
In April 29, 2006, the Company entered into an agreement whereby it would issued 6% secured convertible notes in the aggregate principal amount of $3,000,000 which are convertible into common shares of the Company at the lender’s option based on a rate of 50% of the then current market price at the time of the conversion election. The Company has the right at any time that the stock is trading below $5.00 per share to call the notes at a prepayment premium of 130% of the outstanding balance. At the time of commitment, the Company has reserved a sufficient number of its common shares to meet these obligations.
In accordance with the provisions of EITF 98-5 and EITF 00-27, the Company allocated the net proceeds received from the Convertible Debt to the elements of the debt instrument based on their relative fair values. The Company allocated fair value to the original 7,000,000 warrants and conversion option utilizing the binomial option pricing model and Tsiveriotis and Fernandes methodology, respectively. The following assumptions and estimates were used: volatility of 98.6%; an average risk-free interest rate of 4.82%; dividend yield of 0%; and a life of 7 years for the warrants and 3 years for the debt and conversion components. The fair value of debt component of the Convertible debt was based on the net present value of the underlying cash flows at a discount rate of 14.0%, which is estimated by the Company to be the discount rate absent any conversion feature. Once the relative fair values were established, the Company allocated the proceeds to each component of the contract. Because the conversion price was lower than the then current fair market value of the Company’s common stock, the Company determined that a beneficial conversion feature (“BCF”) existed which required separate accounting.
The variable nature of the conversion option could require the Company to issue more shares of its common stock on conversion that is available or authorized, dictates that the host, beneficial conversion feature (“BCF”) and free standing warrants all be treated as liabilities. The BCF and warrant liabilities amortize into the debt liability at the same rate and have no impact on the results of operations for any period. Collectively, the debt, BCF and warrants are reported as the Conversion Share Derivative Liability. The original issue costs are being amortized on a yield basis over the loan term.
For informational purposes, the components of the Conversion Share Derivative Liability at March 31, 2008 are as follows:
| Debt – Host Instrument | | $ | 1,139,131 | |
| BCF | | | 486,707 | |
| Free Standing Warrants | | | 736,977 | |
| Conversion Share Derivative Liability | | $ | 2,362,815 | |
Mr. Karl Hiller, Branch Chief
Securities and Exchange Commission
June 15, 2009
Page 11
Host instrument:
The proceeds from each financing arrangement were allocated to the various elements of the financing resulting in discounts to the face values of the debt instruments. These discounts are then amortized over the debt terms (in all instances three-years) using the effective interest method. The debt component was $537,890 at issuance. The issues costs are being amortized to interest expense over the debt term on an effective yield basis of 21.7%.
Beneficial Conversion Feature
The allocation of proceeds to the BCF resulted in $804,404 at issuance. This value is being accreted at a yield rate of 30.9% over the debt term. The balance is adjusted for conversions.
Free-standing warrants:
The allocation to the 7,000,000 warrants resulted in a valuation of $1,170,206 at issuance. This value is being accreted at a yield rate of 39.1% over the debt term.
Note 11 – [Deleted] {Change subsequent note numbering}
2. | We note you assigned no value to the warrants issued in conjunction with the convertible debt issued between April 2006 and November 2006. However, it appears you assigned a significant value to the 5,000,000 warrants issued in August 2006 to cure a default in the loan agreements. Please explain to us why you did not allocate a portion of the debt proceeds to the 7,000,000 warrants issued with the debt following the guidance of APB 14. |
2.A. A value was ascribed to the 5,000,000 warrants since the default provision for additional warrants was not part of the original commitment and was negotiated separately, after the fact as a separate free standing instrument. At the time the stock had established some market value, as trading in the pink sheets and a binomial model valuation of the warrants was done as of the August 10, 2006 commitment date to the issuance of the additional warrants.
Mr. Karl Hiller, Branch Chief
Securities and Exchange Commission
June 15, 2009
Page 12
3. | Please tell us where you have filed as exhibits all relevant agreements related to the issuance of the convertible debt. If you have not filed these agreements, submit them with your response and file them as exhibits to comply with Item 601 of Regulation S-K. |
3.A. The final documents for the 4 company loans made on 4 different dates in 2006 were filed as exhibits to Form S-1 filed with the Commission on August 14, 2006 as Exhibits 10.3, 10.4, 10.5, 10.6 and 10.7.
If you have any questions please contact me at 480.443.0500, by facsimile at 480.948.9739, email at JMarshall@EMTACorp.com or mail at the Company address 7430 E. Butherus Dr., Suite D, Scottsdale, AZ 85260.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ James C. Marshall
James C. Marshall
Chief Financial Officer
Green Planet Group, Inc.
(formerly EMTA Holdings, Inc.)
Direct Phone: 480.443.0500
Enc: Exhibit 1 – Form 8-K