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email-forbes-to-sondheim-comfort-letter.eml
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From: Natasha Forbes <nforbes@calderwoodharkness.com>
From: Natasha Forbes <nforbes@calderwoodharkness.com> To: Gregory Sondheim <gsondheim@ashfordpemberton.com> Cc: Jennifer Kwon <jkwon@calderwoodharkness.com> Subject: Calloway-Briggs Renewables Inc. — Proposed IPO — Comfort Letter Scope and Timing
I hope this finds you well. I am writing in connection with the proposed initial public of
I hope this finds you well. I am writing in connection with the proposed initial public offering of Calloway-Briggs Renewables Inc. ("CBR") (C&H Matter No. 1015-00001) to align on the scope, timing, and procedures for the initial comfort letter under SAS 72 / AU-C 920.
As you know, CBR's confidential draft registration statement on Form S-1 was initially sub
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⚑ Confidentiality undertaking
As you know, CBR's confidential draft registration statement on Form S-1 was initially submitted to the SEC on April 11, 2022 (EDGAR Accession No. 0001948372-22-000001), and Amendment No. 1 was filed on May 20, 2022 in response to the SEC's first-round comment letter (18 comments received May 6, 2022). With the amendment now on file, we would like to use this email to confirm the parties' understanding on several com
**1. Scope of the Initial Comfort Letter**
**1. Scope of the Initial Comfort Letter**
We understand that the initial comfort letter will cover: (a) the audited consolidated fin
We understand that the initial comfort letter will cover: (a) the audited consolidated financial statements of CBR for fiscal years 2019, 2020, and 2021 (fiscal year ended December 31, 2021); and (b) the unaudited interim financial data for Q1 2022 (quarter ended March 31, 2022). The comfort letter should be addressed to Hargrove Keating & Co., as representative of the several underwriters, together with Linden Pratt
As a reference point, the draft comfort letter request previously circulated by Hargrove K
As a reference point, the draft comfort letter request previously circulated by Hargrove Keating on behalf of the underwriters to Ashford & Pemberton has been reviewed by both Calderwood & Harkness (on behalf of CBR) and Prescott, Danforth & Yee (on behalf of the underwriters), and comments have been provided. We believe the request letter is substantially in agreed form, but we flag the following expected procedures
- Independence confirmation;
- Independence confirmation; - Tick-and-tie of all financial data appearing in the registration statement and prospectus to the audited financial statements and underlying accounting records; - Specific agreed-upon procedures on selected financial data, the capitalization table, the dilution analysis, and selected statistical and operating data — including the operating capacity figures disclosed in the S-1 (3.8 GW o
Please let us know if Ashford & Pemberton has any concerns with the scope as outlined abov
Please let us know if Ashford & Pemberton has any concerns with the scope as outlined above or if there are additional items the engagement team would expect to include.
You will have noted that the SEC's first-round comment letter raised questions regarding t
You will have noted that the SEC's first-round comment letter raised questions regarding the Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation and the presentation of non-GAAP measures more broadly. The response filed with Amendment No. 1 enhanced the reconciliation disclosures in several respects. We would appreciate it if Ashford & Pemberton could confirm whether the enhanced non-GAAP reconciliation as set forth in Amendment No. 1 is
We also note that we anticipate a second-round comment letter from the SEC in the near ter
We also note that we anticipate a second-round comment letter from the SEC in the near term, which may include further follow-up on the non-GAAP reconciliation. We will of course keep you apprised as soon as any additional comments are received.
As you are aware, the SEC's first-round comments specifically addressed the Hypothetical-L
As you are aware, the SEC's first-round comments specifically addressed the Hypothetical-Liquidation-at-Book-Value (HLBV) methodology used for accounting for the Solaris West tax-equity partnership with Veltara Basin Financial LLC ($280M invested). Our tax specialist, Leonard Cross, and the team at Kessler McBride & Associates LLP (Alan Kessler and Linda McBride) have been coordinating with Ashford & Pemberton on the
We wanted to ask whether Ashford & Pemberton currently anticipates any exceptions or quali
We wanted to ask whether Ashford & Pemberton currently anticipates any exceptions or qualifications in the comfort letter related to the HLBV accounting or the tax-equity partnership structures generally. To the extent any open items remain on the audit side with respect to these structures, it would be helpful to understand them now so that we can address them in advance of the comfort letter delivery.
We confirm our understanding that three circle-ups of the comfort letter are planned:
We confirm our understanding that three circle-ups of the comfort letter are planned:
1. **Initial comfort letter** — targeted delivery on or about June 8, 2022 (consistent wit
1. **Initial comfort letter** — targeted delivery on or about June 8, 2022 (consistent with the date reflected in the current document inventory); 2. **Bring-down comfort letter (pricing)** — to be delivered on the pricing date; and 3. **Bring-down comfort letter (closing)** — to be delivered on the closing date.
Specific dates for the bring-down letters will be confirmed once the offering timeline is
Specific dates for the bring-down letters will be confirmed once the offering timeline is finalized and market conditions are assessed. In the meantime, we would appreciate Ashford & Pemberton's confirmation that the engagement team will be available to turn around the bring-down letters on an expedited basis — typically within two to three business days from the applicable cutoff date — once pricing is determined. W
The initial comfort letter should cover the "change period" — that is, the period from the
The initial comfort letter should cover the "change period" — that is, the period from the date of the most recent audited balance sheet (December 31, 2021) through a date not more than five business days prior to the date of the comfort letter. Assuming a June 8 delivery, we would expect the cutoff date to be approximately June 1, 2022.
Negative assurance should be provided with respect to any decrease in revenue, net income,
Negative assurance should be provided with respect to any decrease in revenue, net income, or total assets, or any increase in total debt, during the change period as compared to the corresponding prior-year period, subject to customary limitations. We would also request that the change-period procedures cover the unaudited Q1 2022 interim period and any subsequent interim period data available through the cutoff dat
Marcus and Priya — we wanted to confirm that CBR management will provide Ashford & Pembert
Marcus and Priya — we wanted to confirm that CBR management will provide Ashford & Pemberton with the necessary management representation letters and any supplemental financial data needed for the change-period procedures on a timeline consistent with the June 8 target. Please let us know if there are any concerns on the company side regarding data availability.
**6. Coordination on SEC Comment Responses**
**6. Coordination on SEC Comment Responses**
As noted above, the response to the SEC's first-round comments was filed on May 20, 2022 w
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⚑ Assignment / subcontracting
As noted above, the response to the SEC's first-round comments was filed on May 20, 2022 with Amendment No. 1 (EDGAR Accession No. 0001948372-22-000002), and we anticipate a second-round comment letter in the near term. We would ask that Ashford & Pemberton flag any comfort letter scope issues that may arise from the SEC's comments, particularly with respect to revenue recognition, segment reporting, or PPA revenue d
**7. Draft Comfort Letter and Proposed Call**
**7. Draft Comfort Letter and Proposed Call**
With the foregoing in mind, we have the following requests on timing and next steps:
With the foregoing in mind, we have the following requests on timing and next steps:
- We would appreciate it if you or Irene could circulate a draft of the initial comfort le
- We would appreciate it if you or Irene could circulate a draft of the initial comfort letter for our review no later than **Friday, June 3, 2022** (approximately five business days before the targeted June 8 delivery). Calderwood & Harkness will prepare a review memorandum analyzing the scope, procedures, and any exceptions noted in the draft, and we will coordinate our comments with Prescott, Danforth & Yee. - We
Thank you, as always, for the excellent coordination throughout this process. We recognize
Thank you, as always, for the excellent coordination throughout this process. We recognize that timing is important given the overall IPO timeline, though we appreciate that market conditions will ultimately drive the final schedule. We look forward to continuing to work together toward a smooth execution.
Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or if it would be helpful to discus
Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or if it would be helpful to discuss any of the above in advance of the proposed call.
Natasha Forbes
Natasha Forbes Associate, Capital Markets Calderwood & Harkness LLP 599 Lexington Avenue New York, NY 10022 T: (212) 558-7243 E: nforbes@calderwoodharkness.com
*CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This email and any attachments are intended solely for the use of
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⚑ Forum / governing law
*CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This email and any attachments are intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential, and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, or an employee or agent responsible for delivering this message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissem