Ballistic Recovery Systems, Inc.
300 Airport Road
South St. Paul, MN 55075
(651) 457-7492
May 12, 2005
VIA EDGAR & FEDERAL EXPRESS
Mr. David R. Humphrey
Branch Chief
Division of Corporation Finance
Securities and Exchange Commission
Judiciary Plaza
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20549
Re: Ballistic Recovery Systems, Inc. (the “Company”)
Form 10-KSB for the year ended September 30, 2004 (the “Form 10-KSB”)
File No. 0-15318
Dear Mr. Humphrey:
I am writing to respond as discussed during our telephone conversation April 27, 2005. Based upon your comment letter dated February 18, 2005, the Company has re-evaluated the value of the warrants issued to Cirrus Design Corporation (“Cirrus”).
The Company believes that the 1999 value of the purchase discounts forgiven by Cirrus was $604,000 in exchange for the issuance by the Company of performance or contingent warrants to acquire the 1,400,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock. The first set of warrants of 250,000 for the exercise period January 2002 through February 2003 was not exercised by Cirrus and therefore, expired on February 28, 2003. Therefore, the warrants that became exercisable and were exercised by Cirrus totaled 1,150,000 resulting in 82% (1,150,000/1,400,000) of the warrants exercised under the agreement. The value of the warrants, we believe is appropriate is $495,280 ($604,000 x 82%). The Company has already expensed through a reduction of sales $20,799 in fiscal year 2003 and $104,650 in fiscal year 2004. Accordingly, we propose that the financial statements for fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 be restated to show an additional reduction in sales of $369,831 ($495,280-$20,799-$104,650).
The income tax provision will be decreased as well using the September 30, 2004 effective tax rate of 39.67% ($369,831 x 39.67% = $146,700).
The following illustrates the effect of the restatement on the balance sheet as of September 30, 2004 and the statement of operations for the year ended September 30, 2004:
BALLISTIC RECOVERY SYSTEMS, INC.
BALANCE SHEET
| | | | Adjustment of | | | |
| | As Reported | | Cirrus Warrant | | Adjusted | |
| | 9/30/2004 | | Valuation | | 9/30/2004 | |
| | | | | | | |
ASSETS | | | | | | | |
Current Assets | | | | | | | |
Cash | | $ | 1,314,557 | | $ | — | | $ | 1,314,557 | |
Accounts receivable, net | | 402,113 | | — | | 402,113 | |
Note receivable – shareholder | | 12,500 | | — | | 12,500 | |
Inventories | | 1,132,496 | | — | | 1,132,496 | |
Deferred tax asset – current | | 106,000 | | 146,700 | | 252,700 | |
Prepaid expenses | | 44,025 | | — | | 44,025 | |
| | | | | | | |
Total Current Assets | | 3,011,691 | | 146,700 | | 3,158,391 | |
| | | | | | | |
Furniture, fixtures and leasehold improvements | | 591,767 | | — | | 591,767 | |
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization | | (292,164 | ) | — | | (292,164 | ) |
Furniture, fixtures and leasehold improvements, net | | 299,603 | | — | | 299,603 | |
| | | | | | | |
Other Assets | | | | | | | |
Patents, net | | 1,611 | | — | | 1,611 | |
Long-term prepaid expense | | 53,120 | | — | | 53,120 | |
Covenant not to compete, net | | 43,530 | | — | | 43,530 | |
| | | | | | | |
Total Other Assets | | 98,261 | | — | | 98,261 | |
| | | | | | | |
Total Assets | | $ | 3,409,555 | | $ | 146,700 | | $ | 3,556,255 | |
| | | | | | | |
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT) | | | | | | | |
Current Liabilities | | | | | | | |
Accounts payable | | $ | 173,515 | | $ | — | | $ | 173,515 | |
Customer deposits | | 79,061 | | — | | 79,061 | |
Accrued payroll | | 100,451 | | — | | 100,451 | |
Other accrued liabilities | | 342,635 | | — | | 342,635 | |
Current portion of covenant not to compete | | 45,255 | | — | | 45,255 | |
| | | | | | | |
Total Current Liabilities | | 740,917 | | — | | 740,917 | |
| | | | | | | |
Long-Term Liabilities | | | | | | | |
Covenant not to compete, net of current portion | | 4,000 | | — | | 4,000 | |
| | | | | | | |
Total Liabilities | | 744,917 | | — | | 744,917 | |
| | | | | | | |
Shareholders’ Equity | | | | | | | |
Common stock | | 68,443 | | — | | 68,443 | |
Additional paid-in capital | | 3,468,301 | | 369,831 | | 3,838,132 | |
Accumulated deficit | | (872,106 | ) | (223,131 | ) | (1,095,237 | ) |
| | | | | | | |
Total Shareholders’ Equity | | 2,664,638 | | 146,700 | | 2,811,338 | |
| | | | | | | |
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity | | $ | 3,409,555 | | $ | 146,700 | | $ | 3,556,255 | |
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BALLISTIC RECOVERY SYSTEMS, INC.
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
| | | | Adjustment of | | | |
| | As Reported | | Cirrus Warrant | | Adjusted | |
| | 9/30/2004 | | Valuation | | 9/30/2004 | |
| | | | | | | |
Sales | | $ | 6,928,382 | | $ | (369,831 | ) | $ | 6,558,551 | |
| | | | | | | |
Cost of Sales | | 4,252,531 | | — | | 4,252,531 | |
| | | | | | | |
Gross Profit | | 2,675,851 | | (369,831 | ) | 2,306,020 | |
| | | | | | | |
Operating Expenses | | | | | | | |
Selling, general and administrative | | 1,494,447 | | — | | 1,494,447 | |
Research and development | | 272,782 | | — | | 272,782 | |
Intangible amortization | | 35,519 | | — | | 35,519 | |
| | | | | | | |
Total Operating Expenses | | 1,802,748 | | — | | 1,802,748 | |
| | | | | | | |
Income from Operations | | 873,103 | | (369,831 | ) | 503,272 | |
| | | | | | | |
Other Income (Expense) | | | | | | | |
Interest expense | | (7,875 | ) | — | | (7,875 | ) |
Other income (expense) | | 4,377 | | — | | 4,377 | |
| | | | | | | |
Net Other Expense | | (3,498 | ) | — | | (3,498 | ) |
| | | | | | | |
Income before income taxes | | 869,605 | | (369,831 | ) | 499,774 | |
| | | | | | | |
Income tax expense | | 345,000 | | (146,700 | ) | 198,300 | |
| | | | | | | |
Net Income | | $ | 524,605 | | $ | (223,131 | ) | $ | 301,474 | |
The 1999 value of the purchase discounts forgiven to Cirrus was $604,000 in exchange for 1,400,000 warrants. The first set of warrants of 250,000 for January 2002 through February 2003 was never exercised. Therefore, the warrants exercised by Cirrus totaled 1,150,000 resulting in a discount of 18% (250,000/1,400,000). The value of the warrants we believe is $495,280 ($604,000 x 100%-18%). The Company has already expensed through a reduction of sales $20,799 in fiscal year 2003 and $104,650 in fiscal year 2004. The financial statements will be restated to show an additional reduction of sales of $369,831($495,280-$20,799-$104,650).
Income tax provision was decreased using the September 30, 2004 effective tax rate of 39.67% ($369,831 x 39.67% = $146,700).
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It is our intention to amend accordingly, the Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004.
If you want to discuss this or have any additional questions or comments regarding our responses or about the Company, the Form 10-KSB or this letter, please feel free to call me at 651-457-7491.
| Very truly yours, |
| |
| |
| /s/ Robert Nelson | |
| |
| Robert Nelson |
| Chairman of the Board and |
| Chief Financial Officer |
cc: | Larry Williams, Chief Executive Officer |
| Darrel Brandt, Chairman, Audit Committee |
| Steven Stensrud, Virchow, Krause & Company, LLP |
| Douglas T. Holod, Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, LLP |
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