tickdelta
Sign in

Tickdelta is free for now. Sign up and get Pro free

← Screener

TECHBio-Techne

Health care · Biotechnology · Nasdaq
Compare with peers → Embed
SEC comment letters, last 20 years

1 review of TECH's filings by SEC staff

UPLOAD and CORRESP
ReviewsRead ↓
1
latest letter 2008-11-03
Questions asked
4
each answered in the company's own letter
No closing letter
0
reviews without a letter saying the staff completed it

When the SEC's staff reviews a filing, it writes to the company with numbered questions, and the company answers each one in a letter. SEC publishes the exchange once the review is over, at least 20 business days later. A question is not an accusation; most reviews end with the company adding detail to its next filing.

Form 10-K for the Year Ended June 30, 2008

2008-11-03 to 2008-12-08 · 4 questions · 1 letter from the SEC, 1 from the company
Review closed 2008-12-08
RevenueSegmentsResults discussion (MD&A)Critical estimates
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results · Results of Operations, page 16
SEC asked (1)
Although you discuss increased sales volume and the impact of foreign exchange rate changes on net sales, you do not appear to discuss the impact of price changes or new product offerings on your net sales. Please revise your disclosure to separately discuss the impact of price changes, volume changes, foreign exchange rate changes and new product offerings on your net sales.
Rest of the question

See Item 303(a)(3)(iii) of Regulation S-K.

TECH answered
The Company currently has over 12,000 biotechnology products (94% of consolidated sales). The average annual sales per biotechnology product is approximately $20,000 with no one single product having annual sales over $3.0 million (less than 1.2% of consolidated sales). Therefore, price changes to an individual or a small group of products would not have a material effect on sales.

The Company very seldom does across-the-board price increases.
Rest of the answer

The most recent was January 1, 2006 (mid-fiscal 2006) and the effect on sales increases was disclosed on in the 10-K for fiscal 2006 and 2007 and included on page 17 of the 10-K for June 30, 2008: "Approximately $1.2 million of the increase in biotechnology net sales for fiscal 2007 was the result of price increases." The Company will continue to disclose the effect of price changes on sales if the amount is material.

The Company releases 1,300 to 1,500 new products each year. We will revise our future disclosures to include the effect of new products on sales revenue beginning in the 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 as follows:

"Included in consolidated net sales for the quarter and six months ended December 31, 2008, was $x,xxx and $x,xxx of sales of new biotechnology products which had their first sale in fiscal 2009."

Read in the reply ↗
In its next report

First report after the company's reply of 2008-11-13: 10-Q filed 2009-02-06 ↗, against the 10-Q filed 2008-05-09 ↗.

Tickdelta does not hold the text of both reports, so they are not compared here.

Market Risk, page 23
SEC asked (2)
On page 10 you indicate that approximately 31% of your revenues are denominated in foreign currencies. It appears that a significant percentage of your revenues in the future are expected to be denominated in foreign currencies.
Rest of the question

Please revise your disclosure to indicate the amount of trade receivables and accounts payable denominated in foreign currencies and provide either the tabular presentation, a sensitivity analysis or the value at risk disclosures for your foreign currency exchange rate exposures as required by Item 305(a) of Regulation S-K. Otherwise, please explain to us why these disclosures are not warranted.

TECH answered
We will revise our disclosure beginning in the 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 to include the following:

"The Company's exposure to foreign exchange rate fluctuations also arises from trade receivables and accounts payables denominated in foreign currencies. At December 31, 2008, the Company had the following trade receivable and accounts payable denominated in foreign currencies (in thousands): In In Foreign Currency U.S.
Rest of the answer

Dollars ---------------- ------------ Accounts Receivable: Euro x,xxx $x,xxx British pound x,xxx x,xxx Chinese yuan xxx xx

Accounts Payable: Euro xxx $ xxx British pound x,xxx x,xxx Chinese yuan x,xxx xxx

Intercompany payable: Euro xxx $ xxx British pound x,xxx x,xxx Chinese yuan x,xxx xxx

All of the above balances are revolving in nature and are not deemed to be long-term balances."

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements L. Segment Information, page 39.

Read in the reply ↗
In its next report

First report after the company's reply of 2008-11-13: 10-Q filed 2009-02-06 ↗, against the 10-Q filed 2008-05-09 ↗.

Tickdelta does not hold the text of both reports, so they are not compared here.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements · L. Segment Information, page 39
SEC asked (3)
Please revise the geographic information to exclude intangible assets from the table presented here. Refer to question 22 in the FASB Implementation Guide to FAS 131.
TECH answered
We will exclude intangible assets from the geographic information beginning with the 10-K for fiscal 2009. Read in the reply ↗
In its next report

First report after the company's reply of 2008-11-13: 10-Q filed 2009-02-06 ↗, against the 10-Q filed 2008-05-09 ↗.

Tickdelta does not hold the text of both reports, so they are not compared here.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements · L. Segment Information, page 39
SEC asked (4)
Please revise your disclosure to provide your revenue for each group of similar products and services or tell us where you have made this disclosure in your financial statements. Please see paragraph 37 of SFAS 131.
Rest of the question

Although you offer over 12,000 biotechnology products, it appears that the groupings of cytokines and enzymes, antibodies, assay kits, clinical diagnostic kits, flow cytometry products and intracellular cell signaling products you disclose in Business on page 4 would be appropriate. * * * * Please respond to these comments within 10 business days or tell us when you will provide us with a response. Please furnish a letter that keys your responses to our comments and provides the requested information. Detailed letters greatly facilitate our review. Please furnish your letter on EDGAR under the form type label CORRESP.

TECH answered
SFAS 131 paragraph 37 states: "An enterprise shall report the revenues from external customers for each product and service or each group of similar products and services unless it is impracticable to do so."

The Company considers all of its biotechnology products as one group of similar products. These products are all biological reagents, have similar gross margins and are sold to the same customer base who use them in research and/or diagnostic activities. The products outlined on page 4 are all interlinked. Cytokines/enzymes are used to produce antibodies.
Rest of the answer

Cytokines and antibodies are sold separately, but also are raw materials used in the assay and clinical diagnostic kits. Flow cytometry products are labeled antibodies. Based on the above, the Company believes its current disclosure is appropriate.

************

We hope that we have adequately addressed your Comment Letter dated November 3, 2008.

Read in the reply ↗
In its next report

First report after the company's reply of 2008-11-13: 10-Q filed 2009-02-06 ↗, against the 10-Q filed 2008-05-09 ↗.

Tickdelta does not hold the text of both reports, so they are not compared here.

Also in this review: closing letter, 2008-12-08

From the SEC's correspondence on EDGAR: staff letters (form UPLOAD) and company letters (form CORRESP), 24 letters filed since 2008-11-03. Questions and answers are matched by their numbers; topics come from words in each question. The reports are compared word for word (same form, before the first SEC letter against the first report after the company's reply). No AI.

Next in Owners and insiders Insider trades →