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Re:
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LiveDeal, Inc.
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1.
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We note the sustained decline in your market capitalization during fiscal year 2010 into 2011. We also note that revenue decreased significantly for the year ended September 30, 2010, and through the quarterly period ended December 31, 2010. Please tell us what consideration you gave to reassessing your intangible assets as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2010. If you did not perform an interim impairment test, please explain why you did not perform this additional impairment analysis given the downward trend in the fair market value of your stock, as well as decreased revenues. To the extent that an impairment test was performed, tell us how you determined that no impairment existed. Refer to ASC 350-30-35-14 and 21.
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September 30,
2010
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December 31,
2010
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Domain names and marketing related items
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$ | 1,509,600 | $ | 1,509,600 | ||||
Accumulated amortization of domain names and marketing related items
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(249,425 | ) | (268,175 | ) | ||||
Net domain names and marketing related items
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1,260,175 | 1,241,425 | ||||||
Website and technology related items
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$ | 1,914,991 | 1,914,991 | |||||
Accumulate amortization of website and technology related items
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(1,236,214 | ) | (1,367,531 | ) | ||||
Net website and technology related items
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678,777 | 547,460 | ||||||
Net intangible assets
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$ | 1,938,952 | $ | 1,788,885 |
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2.
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Explain why you believe that recording revenue as earned is appropriate when you have recognized a large allowance for doubtful accounts. Tell us how you concluded that collection is reasonably assured when you have experienced significant write-offs. In addition, tell us why you believe your fees are fixed or determinable and explain how you are able to estimate refunds, dilutions or fees on a timely basis. Indicate whether you record adjustments for one reporting period in another reporting period.
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Persuasive Evidence of An Arrangement Exists – a contract is signed by each customer outlining the terms of the arrangement including the services to be delivered and the price for such services
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Services Have Been Rendered – services are provided monthly (i.e. allowing access to the website or the advertisement is posted). Concepts Statement 5, paragraph 84(d) states that “If services are rendered or rights to use assets extended continuously over time (for example, interest or rent), reliable measures are based on contractual prices established in advance are commonly available, and revenues may be recognized as earned as time passes.” Thus, revenue is recognized ratably over the life of the contract as services are provided.
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The Seller’s Price to the Buyer is Fixed and Determinable – the prices for services are included in the contract. Thus, they are fixed and determinable. For certain customers, the amount is collected in advance and amortized to revenue on a monthly basis. For other customers, the amounts are billed monthly.
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Collectability is Reasonably Assured – The allowance for doubtful accounts and other reserves are based upon current and historical business activities and percentages. We match all expenses in the period in which the revenue is earned. We record expenses in the same period as the revenue is earned based upon contracts with vendors and historical experience. We record allowances in the period the revenue is earned based upon our collection experience including all write offs that have occurred in the past. Estimated allowances and reserves are recorded on a monthly basis and adjusted to actual historic results at least quarterly. Fees, dilutions and refunds are based upon vendor contracts and actual monthly settlement reports received from our vendors. Estimated adjustments are recorded in the period in which the revenue is earned and adjusted based upon historic percentages at least quarterly.
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Q1 2009 | Q2 2009 | Q3 2009 | Q4 2009 | Q1 2010 | Q2 2010 | Q3 2010 | Q4 2010 | Q1 2011 | |||||||||||||||||||
Sales
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5,163,130 | 3,548,275 | 2,448,569 | 2,432,296 | 2,477,446 | 2,165,653 | 1,651,107 | 1,783,227 | 1,717,008 | ||||||||||||||||||
AR Current
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8,342,754 | 4,579,074 | 2,934,886 | 3,776,966 | 3,357,556 | 2,798,302 | 2,588,105 | 2,750,393 | 2,367,886 | ||||||||||||||||||
AR Long Term
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2,255,895 | 3,339,258 | 3,252,416 | 1,581,946 | 1,436,389 | 1,019,541 | 884,628 | 680,108 | 608,917 | ||||||||||||||||||
AR Total
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10,598,649 | 7,918,332 | 6,187,302 | 5,358,912 | 4,793,945 | 3,817,843 | 3,472,733 | 3,430,501 | 2,976,803 | ||||||||||||||||||
Allowance
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1,998,810 | 2,037,954 | 1,840,523 | 2,841,326 | 2,606,927 | 2,057,577 | 1,884,671 | 2,151,828 | 1,796,132 | ||||||||||||||||||
Pct of Total AR
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18.86 | % | 25.74 | % | 29.75 | % | 53.02 | % | 54.38 | % | 53.89 | % | 54.27 | % | 62.73 | % | 60.34 | % | |||||||||
Bad Debt Expense
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374,745 | 462,128 | 186,338 | 1,679,856 | 227,873 | 420,688 | 49,577 | 223,666 | 206,990 | ||||||||||||||||||
Pct of Sales
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7.26 | % | 13.02 | % | 7.61 | % | 69.06 | % | 9.20 | % | 19.43 | % | 3.00 | % | 12.54 | % | 12.06 | % |
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In the second quarter of 2009, LiveDeal sold 14,185 legacy customers to Local.com. After that transaction, the Company reviewed the accounts receivable allowance for the remaining customers and booked additional reserves based on estimated collectability, vendor contracts and actual settlement reports. Since the life of the LiveDeal customers increased, the average age of long-term accounts receivable (reserves) increased and current accounts receivable declined. The allowance for reserves is greater than the allowance for current receivables.
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Upon completion of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 customer review, the Company determined there were 440 LME delinquent customer accounts totaling $698,000. Also, in connection with the year-end review, the legacy customer base was reviewed and long-term reserves were increased $680,000 based on collection history; the collection percentage declines as the age of long-term receivables increases and the legacy customer base was older so the reserves needed to be increased. As the age of the legacy reserves increases, the percentage amount of reserves collected declines. The older the reserve balances, the more the allowance increases due to the actual decreased collection percentage.
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Third, the Company increased its reserves for a bankrupt clearinghouse by $148,000 resulting in an increase in the reserve for that account from 75% to 90% of the gross account receivable. This increase was based on new information obtained from the bankrupt company’s creditors meeting.
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LiveDeal cancelled 1,130 delinquent and non-renewing Direct Sales customers during the second quarter of 2010 and the Bad Debt Expense for those write-offs and uncollectible accounts was $410,000. The large amount of cancelled contracts was significantly impacted by the change in LME Sales policy which tightened contract terms and conditions in January 2010. History indicated to us that the new contracts had a lower delinquency and cancelation rate than we previously experienced with other products. We believe that collection rates are better with the new contracts and implemented that policy in January 2010.
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The bad debt expense in the third quarter of 2010 was lower than the other quarters due to the collection of $241,000 from one of our Legacy reserves customers. Based on the age of those receivables, a reserve had been previously established. Once the collection occurred, we no longer needed the reserve and it was reduced. As a result, the company reduced bad debt expense for the change in the reserve for the period.
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3.
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It does not appear that you have previously filed the agreement for your Series E convertible preferred stock. Please advise.
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4.
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We note your statement that “a control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance…” If you are able to conclude that your disclosure controls and procedures were effective, please disclose that they were effective at the reasonable assurance level. In the alternative, remove the reference to the level of assurance of your disclosure controls and procedures. Please refer to Section II.F.4 of Management’s Reports on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting and Certification of Disclosure in Exchange Act Periodic Reports, SEC Release No. 33-8238, available on our website at <http://www.sec.gov/rules/final/33- 8238.htm>.
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the Company is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in the filings;
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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
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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.
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Sincerely,
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/s/ Kevin A. Hall, Esq.
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Kevin A. Hall, Esq.
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President and Chief Executive Officer
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LiveDeal, Inc.
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