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ATTORNEYS AT LAW

100 NORTH TAMPA STREET, SUITE 2700

TAMPA, FL 33602-5810

P.O. BOX 3391

TAMPA, FL 33601-3391

813.229.2300 TEL

813.221.4210 FAX

foley.com

   February 15, 2011   
     

WRITER’S DIRECT LINE

813.225.4122

ccreely@foley.com EMAIL

 

CLIENT/MATTER NUMBER

097557-0105

Mr. Jim Rosenberg

Senior Assistant Chief Accountant

Securities and Exchange Commission

100 F Street, N.E.

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

  Re: Biovest International, Inc.

Form 10-K for the Year Ended September 30, 2010

File No. 000-11480

Dear Mr. Rosenberg:

On behalf of Biovest International, Inc. (the “Company”), we are transmitting the following responses to the Staff’s letter of February 11, 2011 containing the Staff’s comments regarding the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2010 (the “Form 10-K”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on December 14, 2010. For your convenience, the full text of each of the Staff’s comments is set forth below, and the Company’s response to each comment directly follows the applicable text.

Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, page 53

 

1. In light of the Confirmation Order issued by the Bankruptcy Court with regard to your Plan, please confirm that in your future filings you will review the debt and security agreements included in your exhibit list to eliminate any debt agreements that have been discharged or restated pursuant to the Plan or which may have expired. In addition, please file any restructuring agreements, notes and debentures which you entered into in connection with the bankruptcy proceedings which are required to be filed pursuant to Item 601 of Regulation S-K.

Response: The Company confirms that it will review the debt and security agreements included in its exhibit list and, in future filings, will eliminate any debt and security agreements that have been discharged or restated pursuant to the Company’s plan of reorganization (the “Plan”) or which have expired. In addition, the Company confirms that it has filed all restructuring agreements, notes and debentures which it entered into in connection with the bankruptcy proceedings which are required to be filed pursuant to Item 601 of Regulation S-K.

 

BOSTON

BRUSSELS

CHICAGO

DETROIT

  

JACKSONVILLE

LOS ANGELES

MADISON

MIAMI

  

MILWAUKEE

NEW YORK

ORLANDO

SACRAMENTO

  

SAN DIEGO

SAN DIEGO/DEL MAR

SAN FRANCISCO

SHANGHAI

  

SILICON VALLEY

TALLAHASSEE

TAMPA

TOKYO

WASHINGTON, D.C.


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Mr. Jim Rosenberg

February 15, 2011

Page 2

 

2. It appears from your disclosure on page 16 that the cell line licensed from Stanford is an essential element of your manufacturing process. Accordingly, please file a copy of your exclusive license agreement with Stanford.

Response: The Company confirms that it has filed a copy of its exclusive license agreement with Stanford as Exhibit 99.1 to its Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 15, 2011.

Consolidated Statements of Operations, page F-3

 

3. It appears that you have excluded your non-controlling interest in losses from variable interest entities in the calculation of Net Loss. Please provide us with draft disclosure for future filings to revise your Net Loss to include amounts attributable to the non-controlling interest. Refer to ASC 810-10-55-4J.

Response: The Company plans to include in its future filings disclosure in the following format relating to amounts attributable to non-controlling interest on its consolidated statement of operations:

Income (loss) before income taxes

Income taxes

Net income (loss)

Less: Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interest

Net income (loss) attributable to Biovest International, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

21. Subsequent Events, page F-40

Bankruptcy Proceedings

 

4. Please tell us how you are accounting for the plan of reorganization confirmed on November 2, 2010. In your response, provide us your analysis supporting your conclusion with specific reference to ASC 852.

Response: ASC 852-45-19 states that if the reorganization value of the assets of the emerging entity immediately before the date of confirmation is less than the total of all post-petition liabilities and allowed claims, and if the holders of existing voting shares immediately before confirmation receive less than 50 percent of the voting shares of the emerging entity, the entity shall adopt fresh-start reporting upon emergence from Chapter 11. Pursuant to the Company’s Plan, holders of existing voting shares immediately before confirmation received more than 50 percent of the voting shares of the emerging entity, thus the Company did not adopt fresh-start reporting upon emergence from Chapter 11. The Company instead followed the guidance as described in ASC 852-45-29 for entities which do not qualify for fresh-start reporting. Liabilities compromised by the Company’s Plan will be stated at present values of amounts to be paid, and forgiveness of debt will be reported as an extinguishment of debt and classified in accordance with ASC 225-20.


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Mr. Jim Rosenberg

February 15, 2011

Page 3

 

Pro forma Balance Sheet as of Reorganization Plan Effective Date (unaudited)

 

5. Please tell us what specific event(s) are being presented in the pro forma balance sheet. In addition, provide us a description of each adjustment made to arrive at the pro forma September 30, 2010 balance.

Response: The pro forma balance sheet presented includes the following events, which occurred between October 1, 2010 through and including November 17, 2010 (the effective date of the Company’s Plan):

 

   

DIP Lender Plan Note, further described on page F-41 of the Form 10-K: The Company replaced the note it had previously issued to Corps Real, LLC with a new note in an original principal amount of $2,291,560. Under the terms of the new note, the Company is allowed to draw up to an additional $0.9 million. The Company drew an additional $0.25 million under the line of credit between September 30, 2010 and November 17, 2010 (the effective date of the Company’s Plan), resulting in an increase to cash. The Company also recorded the new, discounted note, a beneficial conversion feature, and removed the carrying value of the old note (from notes payable, related parties as the original note was not subject to compromise through the Company’s reorganization proceedings). The difference between carrying values was recorded as a decrease to accumulated deficit.

 

   

Convertible Note Transaction, further described on page F-41 of the Form 10-K: The Company issued an aggregate $7.0 million in new notes to a total of twelve accredited investors. As a result, the Company recorded an increase in cash and debt issuance costs as well as the new notes at a discount. The discount resulted from the Series A and B exchange warrants issued with the notes as well as conversion features associated with the notes. Both the warrants and the conversion features were recorded as derivative liabilities. The Company also recorded an increase to common stock and additional paid in capital to account for conversions of the notes to equity that occurred on November 17, 2010 (the effective date of the Company’s Plan). Finally, the Company recorded a charge to accumulated deficit to account for the day one loss on the value of the associated conversion features (the fair value of the conversion feature that exceeded the financing proceeds allocated to it), as well as interest and amortization charges from October 19, 2010 through November 17, 2010.

 

   

Laurus/Valens Secured Claims, further described on page F-43 of the Form 10-K: The Company issued to Laurus Master Fund, Ltd. (“Laurus”) and certain of its affiliated entities both Term A Notes, maturing on November 17, 2012, in the principal amount of $24.9 million and Term B Notes, maturing on November 17, 2013, in the principal amount of $4.16 million. These Term A Notes and Term B Notes were issued in satisfaction of prepetition claims against the Company resulting from the following obligations:

 

   

The $7.799 million note payable to Laurus (originated in March 2006);


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Mr. Jim Rosenberg

February 15, 2011

Page 4

 

   

The $0.250 million note payable to Valens Offshore SPV II, Corp. (originated in October 2007);

 

   

The $0.245 million note payable to Valens U.S. SPV I, LLC (originated in October 2007);

 

   

The $3.6 million note payable to Valens Offshore SPV II, Corp. (originated in December 2007);

 

   

The $4.9 million note payable to Valens U.S. SPV I, LLC (originated in December 2007);

 

   

The $7.5 million minimum royalty due on sales of AutovaxID instrumentation (originated in April 2007); and

 

   

The $4.4 million loan modification fee (originated in July 2008) in consideration for modifying the terms of all the then outstanding debt due to Laurus, PSource Structured Debt Limited (“PSource”), Valens Offshore SPV I, Ltd. (“Valens I”), Valens Offshore SPV II, Corp. (“Valens II”), Valens U.S. SPV I, LLC (“Valens US” and together with Valens I and Valens II, “Valens”), and LV Administrative Services, Inc., as administrative and collateral agent for Laurus, PSource, and Valens (“LV” and together with Laurus, PSource, Valens, and each of their respective affiliates, “Laurus/Valens”).

The Company recorded the new notes as long term debt and removed the carrying value of the previous obligations listed above from liabilities subject to compromise. The difference between carrying values was recorded to accumulated deficit. Furthermore, the Company was required to pay down approximately $1.4 million on the principal balance of the Term A Notes with proceeds received from the convertible note transaction discussed above, resulting in a decrease to cash and a corresponding decrease to the carrying value of the Term A Notes on the pro forma balance sheet.

 

   

Conversion of Secured Notes held by Accentia Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Accentia”), further described on page F-44 of the Form 10-K: On November 17, 2010 (the effective date of the Company’s Plan), Accentia converted its claim into 17.9 million shares of the Company’s common stock. As a result, the Company recorded an increase in common stock and additional paid in capital for the fair value of the shares issued and a decrease in liabilities subject to compromise for the carrying amount of the Accentia claim. The difference between these two amounts was recorded to accumulated deficit.


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Mr. Jim Rosenberg

February 15, 2011

Page 5

 

   

2008 Secured Debentures, further described on page F-44 of the Form 10-K: In settlement of the claims of the holders of the Company’s 2008 Secured Debentures, the Company issued 400,206 shares of its common stock, as well as an agreement to issue an additional 481,250 shares of its common stock in seven quarterly installments following November 17, 2010 (the effective date of the Company’s Plan). The Company recorded an increase in common stock and additional paid in capital for the fair value of the shares issued, as well as a liability for the fair value of the 481,250 shares to be issued at future dates. The Company also removed the carrying value of the 2008 Secured Debenture holders’ aggregate claims from liabilities subject to compromise. The Company recorded the difference between these two amounts to accumulated deficit. One of the Company’s 2008 Secured Debenture holders was Valens U.S. SPV I, LLC. The Valens claim was settled by issuance of the Term A Notes and Term B Notes discussed above.

 

   

Claims of Ronald E. Osman, further described on page F-44 of the Form 10-K: In settlement of the claims related to the Company’s May 9, 2008 promissory note issued to Ronald E. Osman, the Company issued 608,224 shares of its common stock. The Company recorded an increase in common stock and additional paid in capital for the fair value of the shares issued and removed the carrying value of the claims associated with the May 9, 2008 promissory note from liabilities subject to compromise. The Company recorded the difference between these two amounts to accumulated deficit.

 

   

Plan Distributions to Unsecured Creditors, further described on page F-44 of the Form 10-K: In satisfaction of all other allowed unsecured claims against the Company, it issued a combination of notes and shares of its common stock, at an effective conversion rate equal to $1.66 per share. The new notes were recorded as long term debt, at fair value; the common shares were recorded as increases to common stock and additional paid in capital, at fair value; and the carrying values of the liabilities associated with these unsecured claims were removed from liabilities subject to compromise. The Company recorded the difference between these two amounts to accumulated deficit. Unresolved claims in the amount of $0.43 million were reclassified from liabilities subject to compromise to reserve for unresolved pre-petition claims.

 

   

April and December New Markets Tax Credits Transactions, further described on page F-45 of the Form 10-K: In consideration of the retention of an unsecured claim of approximately $0.6 million by the parties to the New Markets Tax Credit (“NMTC”) transactions that occurred in April 2006 and December 2006, all of the Company’s obligations relating to both the April 2006 and the December 2006 NMTC transactions were terminated on November 17, 2010 (the effective date of the Company’s Plan). As a result, the Company ceased to have a financial interest in the entities that were party to these transactions and had been included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements as variable interest entities. This resulted in the deconsolidation of these entities following the guidance of ASC 810-10-40. In order to de-recognize the entities, the Company recorded a decrease to cash, prepaid expenses, other assets, accounts payable, liabilities subject to compromise and non-controlling interest in variable interest entities, with an offset to accumulated deficit.


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Mr. Jim Rosenberg

February 15, 2011

Page 6

 

   

Termination of Warrants and Issuance of Shares, further described on page F-45 of the Form 10-K: On November 17, 2010 (the effective date of the Company’s Plan), the Company issued 14,834,782 shares of its common stock in consideration for the cancellation of outstanding warrants held by Laurus and its affiliates. Some of these warrants were not afforded equity classification upon issuance due to various adjustment features associated with their strike price, and thus were classified as liabilities subject to compromise. As a result of the settlement of these warrants, the Company recorded a reduction to liabilities subject to compromise and an increase to common stock and additional paid in capital for the fair value of the shares issued, with an offset to accumulated deficit.

 

   

Stock Compensation Expense: On November 17, 2010 (the effective date of the Company’s Plan), approximately 3.1 million option shares previously issued under the Company’s incentive stock option plan vested resulting in an increase to additional paid in capital and a charge to accumulated deficit for stock compensation expense.

The acknowledgements requested in the Staff’s letter are attached hereto as Addendum A.

If you have any additional questions regarding the foregoing, please do not hesitate to contact me.

 

Very truly yours,

 

/s/ Curt P. Creely

 

Curt P. Creely


Addendum A

In connection with the Company’s response to the Staff’s letter of February 11, 2011 containing the Staff’s comments regarding the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2010 filed on December 14, 2010, the Company acknowledges that:

 

   

the Company is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in its filings;

 

   

staff comments or changes to disclosure in response to staff comments do not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the Company’s filings; and

 

   

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.

 

/s/ Brian D. Bottjer
Brian D. Bottjer,
Acting Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Accounting Officer)