hov20130524_10q.htm

 

UNITED STATES

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

[ X ]           Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended APRIL 30, 2013

OR

 

[    ]           Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Commission file number 1-8551

 

Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

Delaware (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)

 

22-1851059 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

110 West Front Street, P.O. Box 500, Red Bank, NJ  07701 (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

732-747-7800 (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

N/A  (Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes [ X ]    No [   ]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes [ X ]  No [    ]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large Accelerated Filer [   ]  Accelerated Filer  [ X ]

Non-Accelerated Filer  [   ]  (Do not check if smaller reporting company)   Smaller Reporting Company [   ]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes [    ]  No [ X ]

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date. 124,484,825 shares of Class A Common Stock and 14,657,325 shares of Class B Common Stock were outstanding as of June 3, 2013. 

 

 

 
1

 

 

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC.  

   

FORM 10-Q  

 

 

INDEX

PAGE

NUMBER

 

 

PART I.  Financial Information

 

Item l.  Financial Statements:

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of April 30, 2013 (unaudited) and October 31, 2012

3

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) for the three and six months ended April 30, 2013 and 2012

5

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Equity (unaudited) for the six months ended April 30, 2013

6

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) for the six months ended April 30, 2013 and 2012

7

 

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

9

 

 

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

36

 

 

Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

60

 

 

Item 4.  Controls and Procedures

60

 

 

PART II.  Other Information

 

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

61

 

 

Item 2.  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

61

 

 

Item 6.  Exhibits

61

 

 

Signatures

62

 

 

 

 
2

 

  

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In Thousands)

 

 

April 30,

2013

October 31,

2012

 

(Unaudited)

  (1)

ASSETS

               
                 

Homebuilding:

               

Cash

  $ 236,419   $ 258,323

Restricted cash and cash equivalents

    32,764     41,732

Inventories:

               

Sold and unsold homes and lots under development

    700,921     671,851

Land and land options held for future development or sale

    228,265     218,996

Consolidated inventory not owned - other options

    106,121     90,619

Total inventories

    1,035,307     981,466

Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures

    52,821     61,083

Receivables, deposits, and notes – net

    45,129     61,794

Property, plant, and equipment – net

    47,037     48,524

Prepaid expenses and other assets

    55,127     66,694

Total homebuilding

    1,504,604     1,519,616
                 

Financial services:

               

Cash

    8,443     14,909

Restricted cash and cash equivalents

    16,701     22,470

Mortgage loans held for sale at fair value

    85,463     117,024

Other assets

    2,193     10,231

Total financial services

    112,800     164,634

Income taxes receivable – including net deferred tax benefits

    1,483     -

Total assets

  $ 1,618,887   $ 1,684,250

 

(1)  Derived from the audited balance sheet as of October 31, 2012.

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

 

 

 

 
3

 

 

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In Thousands Except Share Amounts)

 

 

April 30,

2013

October 31,

2012

 

(Unaudited)

  (1)

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

               
                 

Homebuilding:

               

Nonrecourse mortgages

  $ 30,384   $ 38,302

Accounts payable and other liabilities

    271,736     296,510

Customers’ deposits

    32,993     23,846

Nonrecourse mortgages secured by operating properties

    18,263     18,775

Liabilities from inventory not owned

    91,150     77,791

Total homebuilding

    444,526     455,224
                 

Financial services:

               

Accounts payable and other liabilities

    27,680     37,609

Mortgage warehouse lines of credit

    65,988     107,485

Total financial services

    93,668     145,094
                 

Notes payable:

               

Senior secured notes

    977,980     977,369

Senior notes

    459,005     458,736

Senior amortizing notes

    23,149     23,149

Senior exchangeable notes

    64,880     76,851

TEU senior subordinated amortizing notes

    4,180     6,091

Accrued interest

    30,019     20,199

Total notes payable

    1,559,213     1,562,395

Income taxes payable

    -     6,882

Total liabilities

    2,097,407     2,169,595
                 

Equity:

               

Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. stockholders’ equity deficit:

               

Preferred stock, $.01 par value - authorized 100,000 shares; issued 5,600 shares with a liquidation preference of $140,000 at April 30, 2013 and at October 31, 2012

    135,299     135,299

Common stock, Class A, $.01 par value – authorized 400,000,000 shares; issued 136,244,962 shares at April 30, 2013 and 130,055,304 shares at October 31, 2012 (including 11,760,763 shares at April 30, 2013 and October 31, 2012 held in Treasury)

    1,363     1,300

Common stock, Class B, $.01 par value (convertible to Class A at time of sale) – authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued 15,349,699 shares at April 30, 2013 and 15,350,101 shares at October 31, 2012 (including 691,748 shares at April 30, 2013 and October 31, 2012 held in Treasury)

    153     154

Paid in capital - common stock

    685,398     668,735

Accumulated deficit

    (1,185,693

)

    (1,175,703

)

Treasury stock - at cost

    (115,360

)

    (115,360

)

Total Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. stockholders’ equity deficit

    (478,840

)

    (485,575

)

Noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures

    320     230

Total equity deficit

    (478,520

)

    (485,345

)

Total liabilities and equity

  $ 1,618,887   $ 1,684,250

 

(1) Derived from the audited balance sheet as of October 31, 2012.

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

 

 

 
4

 

 

 

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In Thousands Except Per Share Data)

(Unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended April 30,

Six Months Ended April 30,

 

2013

2012

2013

2012

Revenues:

                               

Homebuilding:

                               

Sale of homes

  $ 409,576   $ 312,494   $ 743,857   $ 564,824

Land sales and other revenues

    2,740     20,691     15,011     31,270

Total homebuilding

    412,316     333,185     758,868     596,094

Financial services

    10,682     8,513     22,341     15,203

Total revenues

    422,998     341,698     781,209     611,297
                                 

Expenses:

                               

Homebuilding:

                               

Cost of sales, excluding interest

    333,143     271,563     621,898     488,990

Cost of sales interest

    11,274     13,317     21,554     25,793

Inventory impairment loss and land option write-offs

    2,191     3,216     2,856     6,541

Total cost of sales

    346,608     288,096     646,308     521,324

Selling, general and administrative

    37,802     35,125     74,573     68,379

Total homebuilding expenses

    384,410     323,221     720,881     589,703
                                 

Financial services

    7,137     5,363     14,565     10,540

Corporate general and administrative

    13,725     12,264     26,228     25,049

Other interest

    22,632     26,056     46,632     48,051

Other operations

    (2,814

)

    990     (1,914

)

    6,388

Total expenses

    425,090     367,894     806,392     679,731

Gain on extinguishment of debt

    -     27,039     -     51,737

Income from unconsolidated joint ventures

    827     1,495     3,116     1,473

(Loss) income before income taxes

    (1,265

)

    2,338     (22,067

)

    (15,224

)

State and federal income tax (benefit) provision:

                               

State

    (2,432

)

    468     (2,199

)

    1,101

Federal

    (151

)

    68     (9,878

)

    138

Total income taxes

    (2,583

)

    536     (12,077

)

    1,239

Net income (loss)

  $ 1,318   $ 1,802   $ (9,990

)

  $ (16,463

)

                                 

Per share data:

                               

Basic:

                               

Income (loss) per common share

  $ 0.01   $ 0.02   $ (0.07

)

  $ (0.15

)

Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding

    145,948     116,021     144,373     112,338

Assuming dilution:

                               

Income (loss) per common share

  $ 0.01   $ 0.02   $ (0.07

)

  $ (0.15

)

Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding

    147,231     116,117     144,373     112,338

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

 

 
5

 

 

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUITY

(In Thousands Except Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

 

A Common Stock

B Common Stock

Preferred Stock

                                       
 

Shares Issued

and

Outstanding

Amount

Shares Issued

and

Outstanding

Amount

Shares Issued

and

Outstanding

Amount

Paid-In

Capital

Accumulated

Deficit

Treasury

Stock

Noncontrolling Interest

Total

Balance, November 1, 2012

    118,294,541   $ 1,300     14,658,353   $ 154     5,600   $ 135,299   $ 668,735   $ (1,175,703

)

  $ (115,360

)

  $ 230   $ (485,345

)

                                                                                         

Stock options, amortization and issuances

    31,562                                             1,552                             1,552
                                                                                         

Restricted stock amortization, issuances and forfeitures

    77,913     1                                     896                             897
                                                                                         

Settlement of prepaid common stock purchase contracts

    2,683,679     27                                     (27

)

                            -
                                                                                         

Exchange of senior exchangeable notes for Class A Common Stock

    3,396,102     34                                     14,242                             14,276
                                                                                         

Conversion of Class B to Class A Common Stock

    402     1     (402

)

    (1

)

                                                    -  
                                                                                     

Changes in noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures

                                                                            90     90
                                                                                         

Net loss

                                                            (9,990

)

                    (9,990

)

                                                                                         

Balance, April 30, 2013

    124,484,199   $ 1,363     14,657,951   $ 153     5,600   $ 135,299   $ 685,398   $ (1,185,693

)

  $ (115,360

)

  $ 320   $ (478,520

)

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited). 

 

 
6

 

 

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In Thousands)

(Unaudited)


 

Six Months Ended April 30,

 

2013

2012

Cash flows from operating activities:

               

Net loss

  $ (9,990

)

  $ (16,463

)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

               

Depreciation

    2,844     3,217

Compensation from stock options and awards

    2,455     2,867

Amortization of bond discounts and deferred financing costs

    3,646     3,493

Gain on sale and retirement of property and assets

    (4,484

)

    (127

)

Income from unconsolidated joint ventures

    (3,116

)

    (1,473

)

Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated joint ventures

    738     297

Gain on extinguishment of debt

    -     (51,737

)

Expenses related to the debt for debt exchange

    -     4,683

Inventory impairment and land option write-offs

    2,856     6,541

Decrease (increase) in assets:

               

Mortgage loans held for sale

    31,561     (2,905

)

Restricted cash, receivables, prepaids, deposits and other assets

    45,486     18,953

Inventories

    (66,205

)

    15,435

(Decrease) increase in liabilities:

               

State and federal income tax liabilities

    (8,365

)

    1,106

Customers’ deposits

    9,147     4,326

Accounts payable, accrued interest and other accrued liabilities

    (22,493

)

    (28,079

)

Net cash used in operating activities

    (15,920

)

    (39,866

)

Cash flows from investing activities:

               

Proceeds from sale of property and assets

    7,147     134

Purchase of property, equipment, and other fixed assets

    (668

)

    (728

)

Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures

    (3,012

)

    (2,768

)

Distributions of capital from unconsolidated joint ventures

    14,207     1,258

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

    17,674     (2,104

)

Cash flows from financing activities:

               

Proceeds from mortgages and notes

    39,216     5,966

Payments related to mortgages and notes

    (38,138

)

    (4,477

)

Proceeds from model sale leaseback financing programs

    3,868     26,695

Payments related to model sale leaseback financing programs

    (3,201

)

    -

Proceeds from land bank financing program

    31,294     -

Payments related to land bank financing program

    (18,602

)

    -

Net proceeds from common stock issuance

    -     47,250

Net payments related to mortgage warehouse lines of credit

    (41,497

)

    14,801

Deferred financing costs from land bank financing programs and note issuances

    (1,153

)

    -

Principal payments and debt repurchases

    (1,911

)

    (73,024

)

Payments related to the debt for debt exchange

    -     (18,861

)

Purchase of treasury stock

    -     (103

)

Net cash used in financing activities

    (30,124

)

    (1,753

)

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

    (28,370

)

    (43,723

)

Cash and cash equivalents balance, beginning of period

    273,232     250,740

Cash and cash equivalents balance, end of period

  $ 244,862   $ 207,017

 

 

 

 
7

 

 

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In Thousands - Unaudited)

(Continued)

 

 

Six Months Ended April 30,

 

2013

2012

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow:

               

Cash (received) paid during the period for income taxes

  $ (3,712 )   $ 133

 

Supplemental disclosure of noncash financing activities:

 

In the second quarter of fiscal 2013, a property that we previously acquired when our partner in a land development joint venture transferred its interest in the venture to us, was foreclosed on by the note holder. As a result, the inventory with a book value of $9.5 million and corresponding non-recourse liability of equal amount were taken off of our balance sheet in the quarter.

 

In the first quarter of fiscal 2013, 18,305 of our senior exchangeable notes were exchanged for 3,396,102 shares of Class A Common Stock.

 

In the first quarter of fiscal 2013, we entered into a new unconsolidated homebuilding joint venture which resulted in the transfer of an existing receivable from our joint venture partners of $0.6 million at October 31, 2012, to an investment in the joint venture at January 31, 2013.

 

In the second quarter of fiscal 2012, we completed several debt for equity exchanges.  See Notes 11, 12 and 16 for further information.

 

In the first quarter of fiscal 2012, we completed a debt for debt exchange. See Note 9 in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2012 for further information.

 

 

See notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited).

 

 

 

 
8

 

 

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - UNAUDITED

 

1.  Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. and Subsidiaries (the "Company”, “we”, “us” or “our”) has reportable segments consisting of six Homebuilding segments (Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Southeast, Southwest and West) and the Financial Services segment (see Note 18).

 

The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include our accounts and those of all wholly-owned subsidiaries after elimination of all significant intercompany balances and transactions.  Certain immaterial prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

 

The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2012.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments for interim periods presented have been made, which include normal recurring accruals and deferrals necessary for a fair presentation of our consolidated financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.  The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates, and these differences could have a significant impact on the financial statements.  Results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results which might be expected for a full year.  The balance sheet at October 31, 2012 has been derived from the audited Consolidated Financial Statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements.

 

2.  For the three and six months ended April 30, 2013, the Company’s total stock-based compensation expense was $1.3 million (pre and post tax) and $2.5 million (pre and post tax), respectively, and $1.7 million ($1.3 million net of tax) and $2.9 million (pre and post tax) for the three and six months ended April 30, 2012, respectively.  Included in this total stock-based compensation expense was the vesting of stock options of $0.7 million and $1.5 million for the three and six months ended April 30, 2013, respectively, and $1.6 million and $2.6 million for the three and six months ended April 30, 2012, respectively.

 

3.  Interest costs incurred, expensed and capitalized were:

 

 

Three Months Ended

April 30,

Six Months Ended

April 30,

(In thousands)

2013

2012

2013

2012

                                 

Interest capitalized at beginning of period

  $ 114,429   $ 123,315   $ 116,056   $ 121,441

Plus interest incurred(1)

    31,965     34,493     64,618     70,838

Less cost of sales interest expensed

    11,274     13,317     21,554     25,793

Less other interest expensed(2)(3)

    22,632     26,056     46,632     48,051

Interest capitalized at end of period(4)

  $ 112,488   $ 118,435   $ 112,488   $ 118,435

 

(1) 

Data does not include interest incurred by our mortgage and finance subsidiaries.

(2)

Other interest expensed is comprised of interest that does not qualify for interest capitalization because our assets that qualify for interest capitalization (inventory under development) do not exceed our debt. Interest on completed homes and land in planning, which does not qualify for capitalization, is expensed.

(3)

Cash paid for interest, net of capitalized interest, is the sum of other interest expensed, as defined above, and interest paid by our mortgage and finance subsidiaries adjusted for the change in accrued interest, which is calculated as follows:

 

 

Three Months Ended April 30,

Six Months Ended April 30,

(In thousands)

2013

2012

2013

2012

Other interest expensed

  $ 22,632   $ 26,056   $ 46,632   $ 48,051

Interest paid by our mortgage and finance subsidiaries

    631     468     1,508     944

(Increase)/decrease in accrued interest

    (1,600 )     14,350     (9,820 )     3,283

Cash paid for interest, net of capitalized interest

  $ 21,663   $ 40,874   $ 38,320   $ 52,278

 

(4)

Capitalized interest amounts are shown gross before allocating any portion of impairments to capitalized interest.

 

 

 
9

 

 

4.  Accumulated depreciation at April 30, 2013 and October 31, 2012 amounted to $77.7 million and $75.7 million, respectively, for our homebuilding property, plant and equipment.

 

5.  We record impairment losses on inventories related to communities under development and held for future development when events and circumstances indicate that they may be impaired and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than their related carrying amounts.  If the expected undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount, then the community is written down to its fair value.  We estimate the fair value of each impaired community by determining the present value of the estimated future cash flows at a discount rate commensurate with the risk of the respective community.  For the six months ended April 30, 2013 and 2012, our discount rates used for the impairments recorded ranged from 18.0% to 18.8% and from 16.8% to 18.5%, respectively. Should the estimates or expectations used in determining cash flows or fair value decrease or differ from current estimates in the future, we may need to recognize additional impairments.  During the six months ended April 30, 2013, we evaluated inventories of all 344 communities under development and held for future development for impairment indicators through preparation and review of detailed budgets or other market indicators of impairment. We performed detailed impairment calculations for 29 of those communities (i.e., those with a projected operating loss or other impairment indicators) with an aggregate carrying value of $82.0 million. As impairment indicators are assessed on a quarterly basis, some of the communities evaluated during the six months ended April 30, 2013 were evaluated in more than one quarterly period. Of those communities tested for impairment, one community with an aggregate carrying value of $2.7 million had undiscounted future cash flow that only exceeded the carrying amount by less than 20%. As a result of our impairment analysis, we recorded impairment losses, which are included in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and deducted from inventory, of $0.9 million and $2.1 million for the three months ended April 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $1.5 million and $5.2 million for the six months ended April 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

 

The following tables represent inventory impairments by homebuilding segment for the three and six months ended April 30, 2013 and 2012:

 

(Dollars in millions)

Three Months Ended April 30, 2013

Three Months Ended April 30, 2012

 

Number of

Communities

 

Dollar

Amount of

Impairment

Pre-

Impairment

Value(1)

Number of

Communities

Dollar

Amount of

Impairment

Pre-

Impairment

Value(1)

Northeast

    1   $ 0.9   $ 2.3     -   $ -   $ -

Mid-Atlantic

    -     -     -     1     0.1     0.2

Midwest

    -     -     -     -     -     -

Southeast

    -     -     -     5     2.0     4.5

Southwest

    -     -     -     -     -     -

West

    -     -     -     -     -     -

Total

    1   $ 0.9   $ 2.3     6   $ 2.1   $ 4.7

 


(Dollars in millions)

Six Months Ended April 30, 2013

Six Months Ended April 30, 2012

 

Number of

Communities

 

Dollar

Amount of

Impairment(2)

Pre-

Impairment

Value(1)

Number of

Communities

Dollar

Amount of

Impairment

Pre-

Impairment

Value(1)

Northeast

    2   $ 1.5   $ 5.2     5   $ 2.4   $ 16.1

Mid-Atlantic

    1     -     0.1     3     0.4     0.8

Midwest

    -     -     -     1     0.1     1.1

Southeast

    1     -     0.4     8     2.3     5.4

Southwest

    -     -     -     -     -     -

West

    -     -     -     -     -     -

Total

    4   $ 1.5   $ 5.7     17   $ 5.2   $ 23.4

 

(1)

Represents carrying value, net of prior period impairments, if any, at the time of recording the applicable period’s impairments.

 

(2)

During the six months ended April 30, 2013, the Mid-Atlantic had an impairment totaling $2 thousand and the Southeast had an impairment totaling $17 thousand.

 

 

 
10

 

 

The Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations line item entitled “Homebuilding: Inventory impairment loss and land option write-offs” also includes write-offs of options, and approval, engineering and capitalized interest costs that we record when we redesign communities and/or abandon certain engineering costs and we do not exercise options in various locations because the communities' pro forma profitability is not projected to produce adequate returns on investment commensurate with the risk.  Total aggregate write-offs related to these items were $1.3 million and $1.1 million for the three months ended April 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $1.4 million and $1.3 million for the six months ended April 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.  Occasionally, these write-offs are offset by recovered deposits (sometimes through legal action) that had been written off in a prior period as walk-away costs.  Historically, these recoveries have not been significant in comparison to the total cost written off.

 

The following tables represent write-offs of such costs (after giving effect to any recovered deposits in the applicable period) and the number of lots walked away from by homebuilding segment for the three and six months ended April 30, 2013 and 2012:

 

 

Three Months Ended April 30,

 

2013

2012

(Dollars in millions)

Number of Walk-Away Lots

Dollar Amount of Write-Offs (1)

Number of Walk-Away Lots

Dollar Amount of Write-Offs(1)

Northeast

    300   $ 0.1     -   $ 0.3

Mid-Atlantic

    24     -     3     0.1

Midwest

    -     -     67     0.1

Southeast

    -     0.1     593     0.6

Southwest

    189     1.1     165     -

West

    -     -     -     -

Total

    513   $ 1.3     828   $ 1.1

 

 

 

Six Months Ended April 30,

 

2013

2012

(Dollars in millions)

Number of Walk-Away Lots

Dollar Amount of Write-Offs(1)

Number of Walk-Away Lots

Dollar Amount of Write-Offs(1)

Northeast

    300   $ 0.2     -   $ 0.3

Mid-Atlantic

    164     -     182     0.2

Midwest

    -     -     105     0.1

Southeast

    -     0.1     734     0.7

Southwest

    234     1.1     165     -

West

    -     -     -     -

Total

    698   $ 1.4     1,186   $ 1.3

 

 

(1)

During the three and six months ended April 30, 2013 there were write-offs in the Mid-Atlantic totaling $2 thousand and $8 thousand, respectively. During the three and six months ended April 30, 2012 there were write-offs in the Southwest totaling $44 thousand and $52 thousand, respectively.

 

We have decided to mothball (or stop development on) certain communities when we have determined the current performance does not justify further investment at the time.  When we decide to mothball a community, the inventory is reclassified from “Sold and unsold homes and lots under development” to “Land and land options held for future development or sale”.  During the first half of fiscal 2013, we mothballed one community and we re-activated two previously mothballed communities.  As of April 30, 2013, the net book value associated with our 52 total mothballed communities was $125.2 million, net of impairment charges recorded in prior periods of $455.2 million.

 

During fiscal 2012 and 2013, we sold and leased back certain of our model homes with the right to participate in the potential profit when each home is sold to a third party at the end of the respective lease. As a result of our continued involvement, for accounting purposes in accordance with ASC 360-20-40-38, these sale and leaseback transactions are considered a financing rather than a sale. Therefore, for purposes of our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet, at April 30, 2013, inventory of $34.2 million was recorded to consolidated inventory not owned, with a corresponding amount of $33.6 million recorded to liabilities from inventory not owned.

 

 

 
11

 

  

In addition, we entered into a land banking arrangement in fiscal 2012 with GSO Capital Partners LP ("GSO"), that continued in fiscal 2013, whereby we sold a portfolio of our land parcels to GSO, and GSO provided us an option to purchase back finished lots on a quarterly basis. Because of our option to repurchase these parcels, for accounting purposes, in accordance with ASC 360-20-40-38, this transaction is considered a financing rather than a sale. For purposes of our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet, at April 30, 2013, inventory of $71.9 million was recorded as “Consolidated inventory not owned – other options”, with a corresponding amount of $57.5 million recorded to “Liabilities from inventory not owned” for the amount of net cash received from the transactions.

 

6.   Over the past several years, general liability insurance for homebuilding companies and their suppliers and subcontractors has become very difficult to obtain. The availability of general liability insurance has been limited due to a decreased number of insurance companies willing to underwrite for the industry. In addition, those few insurers willing to underwrite liability insurance have significantly increased the premium costs. We have been able to obtain general liability insurance but at higher premium costs with higher deductibles. We have been advised that a significant number of our subcontractors and suppliers have also had difficulty obtaining insurance that also provides us coverage. As a result, we introduced an owner controlled insurance program for certain of our subcontractors, whereby the subcontractors pay us an insurance premium (through a reduction of amounts we would otherwise owe such subcontractors for their work on our homes) based on the value of their services. We absorb the liability associated with their work on our homes as part of our overall general liability insurance at no additional cost to us because our existing general liability and construction defect insurance policy and related reserves for amounts under our deductible covers construction defects regardless of whether we or our subcontractors are responsible for the defect. For the six months ended April 30, 2013 and 2012 we received $1.0 million and $0.9 million, respectively, from subcontractors related to the owner controlled insurance program, which we accounted for as a reduction to inventory.

 

We accrue for warranty costs that are covered under our existing general liability and construction defect policy as part of our general liability insurance deductible. This accrual is expensed as selling, general, and administrative costs.  For homes delivered in fiscal 2013 and 2012, our deductible under our general liability insurance is $20 million per occurrence for construction defects and warranty claims.  For bodily injury claims, our deductible per occurrence in fiscal 2013 and 2012 is $0.25 million and $0.1 million, respectively, up to a $5 million limit.  Our aggregate retention in fiscal 2013 and 2012 is $21 million for construction defects, warranty and bodily injury claims.  In addition, we establish a warranty accrual for lower cost-related issues to cover home repairs, community amenities, and land development infrastructure that are not covered under our general liability and construction defect policy.  We accrue an estimate for these warranty costs as part of cost of sales at the time each home is closed and title and possession have been transferred to the homebuyer. Additions and charges in the warranty reserve and general liability reserve for the three and six months ended April 30, 2013 and 2012 were as follows:

 

 

Three Months Ended April 30,

Six Months Ended April 30,

(In thousands)

2013

2012

2013

2012

                                 

Balance, beginning of period

  $ 121,135   $ 124,725   $ 121,149   $ 123,865

Additions – Selling, general and administrative

    4,217     4,268     8,406     6,924

Additions – Cost of sales

    3,516     4,224     6,311     10,158

Charges incurred during the period

    (3,594 )     (9,637

)

    (10,592

)

    (17,367

)

Changes to pre-existing reserves

    -     -     -     -

Balance, end of period

  $ 125,274   $ 123,580   $ 125,274   $ 123,580

 

Warranty accruals are based upon historical experience.  We engage a third-party actuary that uses our historical warranty and construction defect data, worker’s compensation data, and other industry data to assist us in estimating our reserves for unpaid claims, claim adjustment expenses and incurred but not reported claims reserves for the risks that we are assuming under the general liability and workers compensation programs.  The estimates include provisions for inflation, claims handling, and legal fees.

   

Insurance claims paid by our insurance carriers, excluding insurance deductibles paid, were $7.5 million and $1.9 million for the three months ended April 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $8.5 million and $2.6 million for the six months ended April 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, for prior year deliveries.

 

7.  We are involved in litigation arising in the ordinary course of business, none of which is expected to have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations, and we are subject to extensive and complex regulations that affect the development and home building, sales and customer financing processes, including zoning, density, building standards and mortgage financing.  These regulations often provide broad discretion to the administering governmental authorities.  This can delay or increase the cost of development or homebuilding.

 

We also are subject to a variety of local, state, federal and foreign laws and regulations concerning protection of health and the environment.  The particular environmental laws that apply to any given community vary greatly according to the community site, the site’s environmental conditions and the present and former uses of the site.  These environmental laws may result in delays, may cause us to incur substantial compliance, remediation and/or other costs, and can prohibit or severely restrict development and homebuilding activity. 

 

 

 
12

 

 

We received in October 2012 a notice from Region III of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) concerning stipulated penalties, totaling approximately $120,000, based on the extent to which we reportedly did not meet certain compliance performance specified in the previously reported consent decree entered into in August 2010; we have since paid the stipulated penalties as assessed.  Until terminated by court order, which can occur no sooner than three years from the date of its entry, the consent decree remains in effect and could give rise to additional assessments of stipulated penalties.  In October 2012, we also received notices from Region III of EPA concerning alleged violations of stormwater discharge permits, issued in 2010 pursuant to the federal Clean Water Act, at two projects in Maryland; we negotiated with the EPA two orders, which the EPA issued in February 2013, to resolve the violations.  One requires us to pay a penalty of $130,000, while the other obligates us to take certain measures to comply with those permits and detail the specific compliance measures we take, among other things; our obligations under the orders will not materially affect us.  

 

 In March 2013, we received a letter from the EPA requesting information about our involvement in a housing redevelopment project in Newark, New Jersey that a Company entity undertook during the 1990s. We understand that the development is in the vicinity of a former lead smelter and that recent tests on soil samples from properties within the development conducted by the EPA show elevated levels of lead. We also understand that the smelter operated before the City of Newark acquired properties, demolished structures existing on them, and sold the properties to the Company entity in connection with the redevelopment project. We responded to the EPA’s initial request and expect to receive an additional information request, to which we will also respond. The EPA’s investigation is in its early stages and we do not know what, if any, obligations the Company may have arising out of it beyond responding to the EPA’s requests for information.

 

We anticipate that increasingly stringent requirements will be imposed on developers and homebuilders in the future. Although we cannot predict the effect of these requirements, they could result in time-consuming and expensive compliance programs and in substantial expenditures, which could cause delays and increase our cost of operations. In addition, the continued effectiveness of permits already granted or approvals already obtained is dependent upon many factors, some of which are beyond our control, such as changes in policies, rules, and regulations and their interpretations and application. 

 

The Company is also involved in the following litigation:

 

Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. and K. Hovnanian Venture I, L.L.C. have been named as defendants in a class action suit. The action was filed by Mike D’Andrea and Tracy D’Andrea, on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Gloucester County. The action was initially filed on May 8, 2006 alleging that the HVAC systems installed in certain of the Company’s homes are in violation of applicable New Jersey building codes and are a potential safety issue. On December 14, 2011, the Superior Court granted class certification; the potential class is 1,065 homes.  We filed a request to take an interlocutory appeal regarding the class certification decision. The Appellate Division denied the request, and we filed a request for interlocutory review by the New Jersey Supreme Court, which remanded the case back to the Appellate Division for a review on the merits of the appeal on May 8, 2012. The Appellate Division, on remand, heard oral arguments on December 4, 2012 reviewing the Superior Court’s original finding of class certification.  We anticipate a ruling from the Appellate Division on the issue of class certification within the next few months.  The plaintiff seeks unspecified damages as well as treble damages pursuant to the NJ Consumer Fraud Act.   The Company believes there is insurance coverage available to it for this action.  While we have determined that a loss related to this case is not probable, it is not possible to estimate a loss or range of loss related to this matter at this time given the class certification is still in review by the Appellate Division.  On December 19, 2011, certain subsidiaries of the Company filed a separate action seeking indemnification against the various manufactures and subcontractors implicated by the class action.

 

8.  Cash represents cash deposited in checking accounts. Cash equivalents includes certificates of deposit, Treasury Bills and government money market funds with maturities of 90 days or less when purchased.  Our cash balances are held at a few financial institutions and may, at times, exceed insurable amounts.  We believe we help to mitigate this risk by depositing our cash in major financial institutions.  

 

Restricted cash and cash equivalents on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, totaled to $49.5 million and $64.2 million as of April 30, 2013 and October 31, 2012, respectively, which includes cash collateralizing our letter of credit agreements and facilities and is discussed in Note 10. Also included in this balance are homebuilding and financial services customers’ deposits of $5.7 million and $16.7 million at April 30, 2013, respectively, and $4.8 million and $22.5 million as of October 31, 2012, respectively, which are restricted from use by us. In addition, we previously collateralized our surety bonds with cash, but as of April 30, 2013 are no longer required to do so. The balance of this surety bond collateral was $6.2 million at October 31, 2012, which was in cash equivalents, the book value of which approximates fair value.  

 

Total Homebuilding Customers’ deposits are shown as a liability on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. These liabilities are significantly more than the applicable years’ escrow cash balances because, in some states, the deposits are not restricted from use and, in other states, we are able to release the majority of this escrow cash by pledging letters of credit and surety bonds.

 

 
13

 

 

 

 

9.   Our mortgage banking subsidiary originates mortgage loans, primarily from the sale of our homes. Such mortgage loans are sold in the secondary mortgage market within a short period of time of origination. Mortgage loans held for sale consist primarily of single-family residential loans collateralized by the underlying property. We have elected the fair value option to record loans held for sale and therefore these loans are recorded at fair value with the changes in the value recognized in the Statements of Operations in “Revenues: Financial services.” We currently use forward sales of mortgage-backed securities, interest rate commitments from borrowers and mandatory and/or best efforts forward commitments to sell loans to investors to protect us from interest rate fluctuations. These short-term instruments, which do not require any payments to be made to the counterparty or investor in connection with the execution of the commitments, are recorded at fair value. Gains and losses on changes in the fair value are recognized in the Statements of Operations in “Revenues: Financial services”.

 

At April 30, 2013 and October 31, 2012, respectively, $68.4 million and $104.6 million of mortgages held for sale were pledged against our mortgage warehouse lines of credit (see Note 10). We may incur losses with respect to mortgages that were previously sold that are delinquent and which had underwriting defects, but only to the extent the losses are not covered by mortgage insurance or resale value of the home. The reserves for these estimated losses are included in the “Financial services – Accounts payable and other liabilities” balances on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. We received 11 and 24 repurchase or make-whole inquiries during the three and six months ended April 30, 2013, respectively. We received 21 and 34 repurchase or make-whole inquiries during the three and six months ended April 30, 2012, respectively.

 

The activity in our loan origination reserves during the three and six months ended April 30, 2013 and 2012 was as follows:

 

 

Three Months Ended

April 30,

Six Months Ended

April 30,

(In thousands)

2013

2012

2013

2012

                                 

Loan origination reserves, beginning of period

  $ 9,118   $ 6,429   $ 9,334   $ 5,063

Provisions for losses during the period

    709     724     1,335     2,388

Adjustments to pre-existing provisions for losses from changes in estimates

    (61

)

    (39

)

    (253

)

    53

Payments/settlements

    -     (544

)

    (650

)

    (934

)

Loan origination reserves, end of period

  $ 9,766   $ 6,570   $ 9,766   $ 6,570

 

10.  We have nonrecourse mortgages for a small number of our communities totaling $30.4 million at April 30, 2013, as well as our Corporate Headquarters totaling $18.3 million at April 30, 2013, which are secured by the related real property and any improvements. These loans have installment obligations with annual principal maturities in the years ending October 31 of approximately: $30.9 million in 2013, $1.1 million in 2014, $1.2 million in 2015, $1.3 million in 2016, $1.4 million in 2017 and $12.8 million after 2017. The interest rates on these obligations ranged from 4.25% to 10.0% at April 30, 2013.

 

We do not have a revolving credit facility. We have certain stand alone cash collateralized letter of credit agreements and facilities under which there were a total of $26.6 million and $29.5 million of letters of credit outstanding as of April 30, 2013 and October 31, 2012, respectively. These agreements and facilities require us to maintain specified amounts of cash as collateral in segregated accounts to support the letters of credit issued thereunder, which will affect the amount of cash we have available for other uses. As of April 30, 2013 and October 31, 2012, the amount of cash collateral in these segregated accounts was $27.0 million and $30.7 million, respectively, which is reflected in “Restricted cash” on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

Our wholly owned mortgage banking subsidiary, K. Hovnanian American Mortgage, LLC (“K. Hovnanian Mortgage”), originates mortgage loans primarily from the sale of our homes. Such mortgage loans and related servicing rights are sold in the secondary mortgage market within a short period of time. Our secured Master Repurchase Agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (“Chase Master Repurchase Agreement”) is a short-term borrowing facility that provides up to $50 million through January 17, 2014. The loan is secured by the mortgages held for sale and is repaid when we sell the underlying mortgage loans to permanent investors.  Interest is payable monthly on outstanding advances at an adjusted LIBOR rate, which was 0.19820% at April 30, 2013, subject to a floor of 1%, plus the applicable margin of 2.5%. Therefore, at April 30, 2013, the interest rate was 3.5%. As of April 30, 2013, the aggregate principal amount of all borrowings outstanding under the Chase Master Repurchase Agreement was $32.2 million.

 

K. Hovnanian Mortgage has another secured Master Repurchase Agreement with Customers Bank (“Customers Master Repurchase Agreement”), which was amended on May 28, 2013 to extend the maturity date to May 27, 2014, that is a short-term borrowing facility that provides up to $37.5 million through maturity. The loan is secured by the mortgages held for sale and is repaid when we sell the underlying mortgage loans to permanent investors. Interest is payable daily or as loans are sold to permanent investors on outstanding advances at the current LIBOR subject to a floor of 0.5% plus the applicable margin ranging from 3.0% to 5.5% based on the takeout investor and type of loan. As of April 30, 2013, the aggregate principal amount of all borrowings outstanding under the Customers Master Repurchase Agreement was $7.6 million.

 

 

 
14

 

 

K. Hovnanian Mortgage has a third secured Master Repurchase Agreement with Credit Suisse First Boston Mortgage Capital LLC (“Credit Suisse Master Repurchase Agreement”), which was amended on January 2, 2013, that is a short-term borrowing facility that provides up to $50.0 million through the earlier of (x) 364 days from receipt of a termination notice that is delivered by the lender on or before June 21, 2013 and (y) or June 20, 2014. To date, we have not received a notice of termination. The loan is secured by the mortgages held for sale and is repaid when we sell the underlying mortgage loans to permanent investors. Interest is payable monthly on outstanding advances at the Credit Suisse Cost of Funds, which was 0.54% at April 30, 2013, plus the applicable margin ranging from 3.75% to 4.0% based on the takeout investor and type of loan. As of April 30, 2013, the aggregate principal amount of all borrowings outstanding under the Credit Suisse Master Repurchase Agreement was $26.2 million.

 

The Chase Master Repurchase Agreement, Customers Master Repurchase Agreement and Credit Suisse Master Repurchase Agreement (together, the “Master Repurchase Agreements”) require K. Hovnanian Mortgage to satisfy and maintain specified financial ratios and other financial condition tests. Because of the extremely short period of time mortgages are held by K. Hovnanian Mortgage before the mortgages are sold to investors (generally a period of a few weeks), the immateriality to us on a consolidated basis of the size of the Master Repurchase Agreements, the levels required by these financial covenants, our ability based on our immediately available resources to contribute sufficient capital to cure any default, were such conditions to occur, and our right to cure any conditions of default based on the terms of the agreement, we do not consider any of these covenants to be substantive or material. As of April 30, 2013, we believe we were in compliance with the covenants under the Master Repurchase Agreements.

 

11. As of April 30, 2013, we had $992.0 million of outstanding senior secured notes ($978.0 million, net of discount), comprised of $577.0 million 7.25% Senior Secured First Lien Notes due 2020 (the “First Lien Notes”), $220.0 million 9.125% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2020 (the “Second Lien Notes” and, together with the First Lien Notes, the “2020 Secured Notes”), $53.2 million 2.0% Senior Secured Notes due 2021 (the “2.0% 2021 Notes”) and $141.8 million 5.0% Senior Secured Notes due 2021 (the “5.0% 2021 Notes” and together with the 2.0% 2021 Notes, the “2021 Notes”).  As of April 30, 2013, we also had $460.6 million of outstanding senior notes ($459.0 million, net of discount), comprised of $36.7 million 6.5% Senior Notes due 2014, $3.0 million 6.375% Senior Notes due 2014, $21.4 million 6.25% Senior Notes due 2015, $131.2 million 6.25% Senior Notes due 2016, $86.5 million 7.5% Senior Notes due 2016, $121.0 million 8.625% Senior Notes due 2017 and $60.8 million 11.875% Senior Notes due 2015. In addition, as of April 30, 2013, we had outstanding $23.1 million 11.0% Senior Amortizing Notes due 2017 (issued as a component of our 6.0% Exchangeable Note Units and discussed below in Note 13), $64.9 million Senior Exchangeable Notes due 2017 (issued as a component of our 6.0% Exchangeable Note Units and discussed below in Note 13) and $4.2 million 7.25% Senior Subordinated Amortizing Notes (issued as part of our 7.25% Tangible Equity Units and discussed below in Note 12). Except for K. Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. (“K. Hovnanian”), the issuer of the notes, our home mortgage subsidiaries, joint ventures and subsidiaries holding interests in our joint ventures, certain of our title insurance subsidiaries and our foreign subsidiary, we and each of our subsidiaries are guarantors of the senior secured, senior, senior amortizing, senior exchangeable and senior subordinated amortizing notes outstanding at April 30, 2013 (see Note 23).  In addition, the 2021 Notes are guaranteed by K. Hovnanian JV Holdings, L.L.C. and its subsidiaries except for certain joint ventures and joint venture holding companies (collectively, the “Secured Group”). Members of the Secured Group do not guarantee K. Hovnanian's other indebtedness.  

 

The First Lien Notes are secured by a first-priority lien and the Second Lien Notes are secured by a second-priority lien, in each case, subject to permitted liens and other exceptions, on substantially all the assets owned by Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., K. Hovnanian and the guarantors of such notes. At April 30, 2013, the aggregate book value of the real property that would constitute collateral securing the 2020 Secured Notes was approximately $560.0 million, which does not include the impact of inventory investments, home deliveries, or impairments thereafter and which may differ from the value if it were appraised. In addition, cash collateral that would secure the 2020 Secured Notes was $230.6 million as of April 30, 2013, which includes $27.0 million of restricted cash collateralizing certain letters of credit. Subsequent to such date, cash uses include general business operations and real estate and other investments.

 

The guarantees with respect to the 2021 Notes of the Secured Group are secured, subject to permitted liens and other exceptions, by a first-priority lien on substantially all of the assets of the members of the Secured Group. As of April 30, 2013, the collateral securing the guarantees included (1) $31.8 million of cash and cash equivalents and (2) equity interests in guarantors that are members of the Secured Group.  Subsequent to such date, cash uses include general business operations and real estate and other investments. The aggregate book value of the real property of the Secured Group collateralizing the 2021 Notes was approximately $80.5 million as of April 30, 2013 (not including the impact of inventory investments, home deliveries, or impairments thereafter and which may differ from the appraised value).  Members of the Secured Group also own equity in joint ventures, either directly or indirectly through ownership of joint venture holding companies, with a book value of $43.9 million as of April 30, 2013; this equity is not pledged to secure, and is not collateral for, the 2021 Notes. Members of the Secured Group are “unrestricted subsidiaries” under K. Hovnanian's other senior notes, senior secured notes and senior subordinated amortizing notes, and thus have not guaranteed such indebtedness. 

 

 

 
15

 

 

The indentures governing our notes do not contain any financial maintenance covenants, but do contain restrictive covenants that limit, among other things, the Company’s ability and that of certain of its subsidiaries, including K. Hovnanian, to incur additional indebtedness (other than certain permitted indebtedness, refinancing indebtedness and non-recourse indebtedness), pay dividends and make distributions on common and preferred stock, repurchase subordinated indebtedness (with respect to certain of the senior secured notes), make other restricted payments, make investments, sell certain assets, incur liens, consolidate, merge, sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all assets and enter into certain transactions with affiliates.  The indentures also contain events of default which would permit the holders of the notes to declare the notes to be immediately due and payable if not cured within applicable grace periods, including the failure to make timely payments on the notes or other material indebtedness, the failure to comply with agreements and covenants and specified events of bankruptcy and insolvency and, with respect to the indentures governing the senior secured notes, the failure of the documents granting security for the senior secured notes to be in full force and effect and the failure of the liens on any material portion of the collateral securing the senior secured notes to be valid and perfected. As of April 30, 2013, we believe we were in compliance with the covenants of the indentures governing our outstanding notes.

 

 Under the terms of the indentures, we have the right to make certain redemptions and, depending on market conditions and covenant restrictions, may do so from time to time. We also continue to evaluate our capital structure and may also continue to make debt purchases and/or exchanges for debt or equity from time to time through tender offers, open market purchases, private transactions, or otherwise or seek to raise additional debt or equity capital, depending on market conditions and covenant restrictions.

 

If our consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio, as defined in the indentures governing our senior secured and senior notes (other than the Senior Exchangeable Notes discussed in Note 13 below), is less than 2.0 to 1.0, we are restricted from making certain payments, including dividends, and from incurring indebtedness other than certain permitted indebtedness, refinancing indebtedness, and non-recourse indebtedness. As a result of this restriction, we are currently restricted from paying dividends, which are not cumulative, on our 7.625% Series A Preferred Stock. If current market trends continue or worsen, we will continue to be restricted from paying dividends for the foreseeable future.  Our inability to pay dividends is in accordance with covenant restrictions and will not result in a default under our bond indentures or otherwise affect compliance with any of the covenants contained in the bond indentures.

 

During the three and six months ended April 30, 2012, we repurchased in open market and privately negotiated transactions $15.2 million and $21.0 million, respectively, principal amount of our 6.25% Senior Notes due 2016 and $22.8 million and $61.1 million, respectively, principal amount of 7.50% Senior Notes due 2016. In addition, during the second quarter of fiscal 2012, we repurchased, $37.4 million principal amount of 8.625% Senior Notes due 2017. The aggregate purchase price for these repurchases was $51.7 million and $70.7 million, respectively, for the three and six months ended April 30, 2012, plus accrued and unpaid interest.  These repurchases resulted in a gain on extinguishment of debt of $23.3 million and $48.0 million, respectively, for the three and six months ended April 30, 2012, net of the write-off of unamortized discounts and fees. The gain is included in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations as “Gain on extinguishment of debt”. Certain of these repurchases were funded with the proceeds from our April 11, 2012 issuance of 25,000,000 shares of our Class A Common Stock (see Note 16).

 

During the second quarter of fiscal 2012, we also purchased pursuant to agreements with bondholders, $9.1 million aggregate principal amount of our outstanding 8.625% Senior Notes due 2017 in exchange for Class A Common Stock, as discussed in Note 16. These transactions resulted in a gain on extinguishment of debt of $3.5 million for the three months ended April 30, 2012. The gain is included in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations as “Gain on extinguishment of debt”.

 

12. On February 9, 2011, we issued an aggregate of 3,000,000 7.25% Tangible Equity Units (the “TEUs”), and on February 14, 2011, we issued an additional 450,000 TEUs pursuant to the over-allotment option granted to the underwriters. Each TEU initially consists of (i) a prepaid stock purchase contract (each a “Purchase Contract”) and (ii) a senior subordinated amortizing note due February 15, 2014 (each, a “Senior Subordinated Amortizing Note”).  As of April 30, 2013, we had an aggregate principal amount of $4.2 million Senior Subordinated Amortizing Notes outstanding. On each February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15, K. Hovnanian will pay holders of the Senior Subordinated Amortizing Notes equal quarterly cash installments of $0.453125 per Senior Subordinated Amortizing Note, which cash payments in the aggregate will be equivalent to 7.25% per year with respect to each $25 stated amount of TEUs. Each installment constitutes a payment of interest (at a rate of 12.072% per annum) and a partial repayment of principal on the Senior Subordinated Amortizing Note, allocated as set forth in the amortization schedule provided in the indenture under which the Amortizing Notes were issued.  The Senior Subordinated Amortizing Notes have a scheduled final installment payment date of February 15, 2014. If we elect to settle the Purchase Contracts early, holders of the Senior Subordinated Amortizing Notes will have the right to require K. Hovnanian to repurchase such holders’ Senior Subordinated Amortizing Notes, except in certain circumstances as described in the indenture governing Senior Subordinated Amortizing Notes.

 

Unless settled earlier, on February 15, 2014 (subject to postponement under certain circumstances), each Purchase Contract will automatically settle and we will deliver a number of shares of Class A Common Stock based on the applicable market value, as defined in the purchase contract agreement, which will be between 4.7655 shares and 5.8140 shares per Purchase Contract (subject to adjustment). Each TEU may be separated into its constituent Purchase Contract and Senior Subordinated Amortizing Note after the initial issuance date of the TEUs, and the separate components may be combined to create a TEU. The Senior Subordinated Amortizing Note component of the TEUs is recorded as debt, and the Purchase Contract component of the TEUs is recorded in equity as additional paid in capital. We have recorded $68.1 million, the initial fair value of the Purchase Contracts, as additional paid in capital. As of April 30, 2013, 2.2 million Purchase Contracts had been converted into 10.4 million shares of our Class A Common Stock. There were no Purchase Contracts converted into common stock during the three months ended April 30, 2013 and 0.6 million Purchase Contracts converted into 2.7 million shares of our Class A Common Stock during the six months ended April 30, 2013.

 

 

 
16

 

 

During the second quarter of fiscal 2012, we purchased pursuant to agreements with bondholders $3.1 million aggregate principal amount of our Senior Subordinated Amortizing Notes in exchange for Class A Common Stock, as discussed in Note 16.  These transactions resulted in a gain on extinguishment of debt of $0.2 million for the three months ended April 30, 2012. The gain is included in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations as “Gain on extinguishment of debt”.

 

13. On October 2, 2012, the Company and K. Hovnanian issued $100,000,000 aggregate stated amount of 6.0% Exchangeable Note Units (the “Units”) (equivalent to 100,000 Units).  Each $1,000 stated amount of Units initially consists of (1) a zero coupon senior exchangeable note due December 1, 2017 (a “Senior Exchangeable Note”) issued by K. Hovnanian, which bears no cash interest and has an initial principal amount of $768.51 per Exchangeable Note, and that will accrete to $1,000 at maturity and (2) a senior amortizing note due December 1, 2017 (the “Senior Amortizing Note”) issued by K. Hovnanian, which has an initial principal amount of $231.49 per Senior Amortizing Note, bears interest at a rate of 11.0% per annum, and has a final installment payment date of December 1, 2017. Each Unit may be separated into its constituent Senior Exchangeable Note and Senior Amortizing Note after the initial issuance date of the Units, and the separate components may be combined to create a Unit.

 

Each Senior Exchangeable Note had an initial principal amount of $768.51 (which will accrete to $1,000 over the term of the Senior Exchangeable Note at an annual rate of 5.17% from the date of issuance, calculated on a semi-annual bond equivalent yield basis).  Holders may exchange their Senior Exchangeable Notes at their option at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the business day immediately preceding December 1, 2017.  Each Senior Exchangeable Note will be exchangeable for shares of Class A Common Stock at an initial exchange rate of 185.5288 shares of Class A Common Stock per Senior Exchangeable Note (equivalent to an initial exchange price, based on $1,000 principal amount at maturity, of approximately $5.39 per share of Class A Common Stock).  The exchange rate will be subject to adjustment in certain events.  Following certain corporate events that occur prior to the maturity date, the Company will increase the applicable exchange rate for any holder who elects to exchange its Senior Exchangeable Notes in connection with such corporate event.  In addition, holders of Senior Exchangeable Notes will also have the right to require K. Hovnanian to repurchase such holders’ Senior Exchangeable Notes upon the occurrence of certain of these corporate events.

 

On each June 1 and December 1 commencing on June 1, 2013 (each, an “installment payment date”) K. Hovnanian will pay holders of Senior Amortizing Notes equal semi-annual cash installments of $30.00 per Senior Amortizing Note (except for the June 1, 2013 installment payment, which will be $39.83 per Senior Amortizing Note), which cash payment in the aggregate will be equivalent to 6.0% per year with respect to each $1,000 stated amount of Units.  Each installment will constitute a payment of interest (at a rate of 11.0% per annum) and a partial repayment of principal on the Senior Amortizing Note. Following certain corporate events that occur prior to the maturity date, holders of the Senior Amortizing Notes will have the right to require K. Hovnanian to repurchase such holders’ Senior Amortizing Notes. As of April 30, 2013, 18.3 million Senior Exchangeable Notes have been converted into 3.4 million shares of our Class A Common Stock, all of which were converted during the first quarter of fiscal 2013 (there were no Senior Exchangeable Notes converted to common stock during the three months ended April 30, 2013).

 

14. Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) (the “numerator”) by the weighted-average number of common shares, adjusted for non-vested shares of restricted stock (the “denominator”) for the period.  The basic weighted-average number of shares for the three months ended April 30, 2013 includes 6.1 million shares related to Purchase Contracts (issued as part of our 7.25% Tangible Equity Units) which are issuable in the future with no additional cash required to be paid by the holders thereof. This number of shares represents the minimum number of shares that will, under all circumstances, be issuable upon settlement of the Purchase Contracts. As discussed previously in Note 12, the actual number of shares of Class A Common Stock we may issue upon settlement of the Purchase Contracts will be between 4.7655 shares (which is the minimum settlement rate) and 5.8140 shares (which is the maximum settlement rate) per Purchase Contract (in each case, subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments) based on the applicable market value, as defined in the purchase contract agreement governing the Purchase Contracts, of our Class A Common Stock. Computing diluted earnings per share is similar to computing basic earnings per share, except that the denominator is increased to include the dilutive effects of options and non-vested shares of restricted stock, as well as common shares issuable upon exchange of our Senior Exchangeable Notes issued as part of our 6.0% Exchangeable Note Units.  Any options that have an exercise price greater than the average market price are considered to be anti-dilutive and are excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation.  

 

All outstanding nonvested shares that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents that participate in undistributed earnings with common stock are considered participating securities and are included in computing earnings per share pursuant to the two-class method. The two class method is an earnings allocation formula that determines earnings per share for each class of common stock and participating securities according to dividends or dividend equivalents and participation rights in undistributed earnings. The Company’s restricted common stock (“nonvested shares”) are considered participating securities.

 

 

 
17

 

 

  Basic and diluted earnings per share for the periods presented below were calculated as follows:

 

 

Three Months Ended

April 30,

Six Months Ended

April 30,

(In thousands, except per share data)

2013

2012

2013

2012

                                 

Numerator:

                               

Net earnings (loss) attributable to Hovnanian

  $ 1,318   $ 1,802   $ (9,990

)

  $ (16,463

)

Less: undistributed earnings allocated to nonvested shares

    (2

)

    (3 )     -       -  

Numerator for basic earnings per share

    1,316     1,799     (9,990

)

    (16,463

)

Plus: undistributed earnings allocated to nonvested shares

    2     3                

Less: undistributed earnings reallocated to nonvested shares

    (2

)

    (3 )     -     -

Numerator for diluted earnings per share

  $ 1,316   $ 1,799   $ (9,990

)

  $ (16,463

)

Denominator:

Denominator for basic earnings per share

    145,948     116,021     144,373     112,338

Effect of dilutive securities:

Share based payments

    1,283     96     -     -

Denominator for diluted earnings per share – weighted average shares outstanding

    147,231     116,117     144,373     112,338

Basic earnings (loss) per share

  $ 0.01   $ 0.02   $ (0.07

)

  $ (0.15

)

Diluted earnings (loss) per share

  $ 0.01   $ 0.02   $ (0.07

)

  $ (0.15

)

 

 

Incremental shares attributed to non-vested stock and outstanding options to purchase common stock of 1.4 million and 0.06 million for the six months ended April 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because we had a net loss for the period, and any incremental shares would not be dilutive. Also, for the six months ended April 30, 2013, 16.5 million shares of common stock issuable upon the exchange of our senior exchangeable notes were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because we had a net loss for the period.

 

In addition, shares related to out-of-the money stock options that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share were 1.3 million and 2.6 million for both the three and six months ended April 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, because to do so would have been anti-dilutive for the periods presented.

 

15.  On July 12, 2005, we issued 5,600 shares of 7.625% Series A Preferred Stock, with a liquidation preference of $25,000.  Dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock are not cumulative and are payable at an annual rate of 7.625%.  The Series A Preferred Stock is not convertible into the Company’s common stock and is redeemable in whole or in part at our option at the liquidation preference of the shares.  The Series A Preferred Stock is traded as depositary shares, with each depositary share representing 1/1000th of a share of Series A Preferred Stock.  The depositary shares are listed on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “HOVNP”. During the three and six months ended April 30, 2013 and 2012, we did not make any dividend payments on the Series A Preferred Stock as a result of covenant restrictions in certain of our indentures.

 

 16. Each share of Class A Common Stock entitles its holder to one vote per share, and each share of Class B Common Stock generally entitles its holder to ten votes per share. The amount of any regular cash dividend payable on a share of Class A Common Stock will be an amount equal to 110% of the corresponding regular cash dividend payable on a share of Class B Common Stock. If a shareholder desires to sell shares of Class B Common Stock, such stock must be converted into shares of Class A Common Stock.

 

On March 12, 2013, the Company held its Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “2013 Annual Meeting”) at which the Company’s shareholders approved an increase in the Company’s authorized common stock from 200,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Class A Common Stock”), to 400,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, and from 30,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Class B Common Stock”), to 60,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share.

 

On April 11, 2012, we issued 25,000,000 shares of our Class A Common Stock at a price of $2.00 per share, resulting in net proceeds of $47.3 million. The net proceeds of the issuance, along with cash on hand, were used to purchase $75.4 million principal amount of our senior notes, as discussed in Note 11.

 

Pursuant to agreements with bondholders, during the second quarter of fiscal 2012, we also issued an aggregate of 3,064,330 shares of our Class A Common Stock in exchange for approximately $12.2 million of our outstanding indebtedness, consisting of $9.1 million aggregate principal amount of our outstanding 8.625% Senior Notes due 2017 and approximately $3.1 million aggregate principal amount of our 12.072% senior subordinated amortizing notes (the “exchanges”). The exchanges were effected with existing bondholders, without any underwriters, and no commission or other remuneration was paid or given directly or indirectly for soliciting such exchanges. The exchanges resulted in a gain on extinguishment of debt of $3.7 million for the three months ended April 30, 2012. The gain is included in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations as “Gain on extinguishment of debt”.

 

 

 
18

 

 

On August 4, 2008, our Board of Directors adopted a shareholder rights plan (the “Rights Plan”) designed to preserve shareholder value and the value of certain tax assets primarily associated with net operating loss carryforwards (NOL) and built-in losses under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. Our ability to use NOLs and built-in losses would be limited if there was an “ownership change” under Section 382. This would occur if shareholders owning (or deemed under Section 382 to own) 5% or more of our stock increase their collective ownership of the aggregate amount of our outstanding shares by more than 50 percentage points over a defined period of time. The Rights Plan was adopted to reduce the likelihood of an “ownership change” occurring as defined by Section 382. Under the Rights Plan, one right was distributed for each share of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock outstanding as of the close of business on August 15, 2008. Effective August 15, 2008, if any person or group acquires 4.9% or more of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock without the approval of the Board of Directors, there would be a triggering event causing significant dilution in the voting power of such person or group. However, existing stockholders who owned, at the time of the Rights Plan’s adoption, 4.9% or more of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock will trigger a dilutive event only if they acquire additional shares. The approval of the Board of Directors’ decision to adopt the Rights Plan may be terminated by the Board at any time, prior to the Rights being triggered. The Rights Plan will continue in effect until August 15, 2018, unless it expires earlier in accordance with its terms. The approval of the Board of Directors’ decision to adopt the Rights Plan was submitted to a stockholder vote and approved at a special meeting of stockholders held on December 5, 2008. Also at the Special Meeting on December 5, 2008, our stockholders approved an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to restrict certain transfers of Class A Common Stock in order to preserve the tax treatment of our NOLs and built-in losses under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. Subject to certain exceptions pertaining to pre-existing 5% stockholders and Class B stockholders, the transfer restrictions in the amended Certificate of Incorporation generally restrict any direct or indirect transfer (such as transfers of our stock that result from the transfer of interests in other entities that own our stock) if the effect would be to (i) increase the direct or indirect ownership of our stock by any person (or public group) from less than 5% to 5% or more of our common stock; (ii) increase the percentage of our common stock owned directly or indirectly by a person (or public group) owning or deemed to own 5% or more of our common stock; or (iii) create a new public group. Transfers included under the transfer restrictions include sales to persons (or public groups) whose resulting percentage ownership (direct or indirect) of common stock would exceed the 5% thresholds discussed above, or to persons whose direct or indirect ownership of common stock would by attribution cause another person (or public group) to exceed such threshold.

   

On July 3, 2001, our Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program to purchase up to 4 million shares of Class A Common Stock.  There were no shares purchased during the three and six months ended April 30, 2013.  As of April 30, 2013, approximately 3.5 million shares of Class A Common Stock have been purchased under this program.

 

17. The total income tax benefit was $12.1 million for the six months ended April 30, 2013 primarily due to the release of reserves for a federal tax position that was settled with the Internal Revenue Service and a favorable state tax audit settlement, offset slightly by state tax expenses.

 

Deferred federal and state income tax assets primarily represent the deferred tax benefits arising from temporary differences between book and tax income which will be recognized in future years as an offset against future taxable income. If the combination of future years’ income (or loss) and the reversal of the timing differences results in a loss, such losses can be carried forward to future years. In accordance with ASC 740, we evaluate our deferred tax assets quarterly to determine if valuation allowances are required.  ASC 740 requires that companies assess whether valuation allowances should be established based on the consideration of all available evidence using a “more likely than not” standard.  Because of the downturn in the homebuilding industry, resulting in significant inventory and intangible impairments in prior years, we are in a three-year cumulative loss position as of April 30, 2013.  According to ASC 740, a three-year cumulative loss is significant negative evidence in considering whether deferred tax assets are realizable.  Our valuation allowance for deferred taxes amounted to $941.8 million and $937.9 million at April 30, 2013 and October 31, 2012, respectively.  The valuation allowance increased slightly during the six months ended April 30, 2013 as compared to the prior period primarily due to additional valuation allowance recorded for the federal and state tax benefits related to the losses incurred during the period.

 

18.  Our operating segments are components of our business for which discrete financial information is available and reviewed regularly by the chief operating decision-maker, our Chief Executive Officer, to evaluate performance and make operating decisions.  Based on this criteria, each of our communities qualifies as an operating segment, and therefore, it is impractical to provide segment disclosures for this many segments.  As such, we have aggregated the homebuilding operating segments into six reportable segments.

 

 

 
19

 

 

Our homebuilding operating segments are aggregated into reportable segments based primarily upon geographic proximity, similar regulatory environments, land acquisition characteristics and similar methods used to construct and sell homes.  The Company’s reportable segments consist of the following six homebuilding segments and a financial services segment:

 

Homebuilding:

 (1) Northeast (New Jersey and Pennsylvania)

 (2) Mid-Atlantic (Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington D.C.)

 (3) Midwest (Illinois, Minnesota and Ohio)

 (4) Southeast (Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina)

 (5) Southwest (Arizona and Texas)

 (6) West (California)

 

Financial Services

 

Operations of the Company’s Homebuilding segments primarily include the sale and construction of single-family attached and detached homes, attached townhomes and condominiums, urban infill and active adult homes in planned residential developments.  In addition, from time to time, operations of the homebuilding segments include sales of land.  Operations of the Company’s Financial Services segment include mortgage banking and title services provided to the homebuilding operations’ customers.  We do not retain or service mortgages that we originate but rather sell the mortgages and related servicing rights to investors.

 

Corporate and unallocated primarily represents operations at our headquarters in Red Bank, New Jersey.  This includes our executive offices, information services, human resources, corporate accounting, training, treasury, process redesign, internal audit, construction services, and administration of insurance, quality, and safety.  It also includes interest income and interest expense resulting from interest incurred that cannot be capitalized in inventory in the Homebuilding segments, as well as the gains or losses on extinguishment of debt from debt repurchases.

  

Evaluation of segment performance is based primarily on operating earnings from continuing operations before provision for income taxes (“(Loss) income before income taxes”).  (Loss) income before income taxes for the Homebuilding segments consists of revenues generated from the sales of homes and land, (loss) income from unconsolidated entities, management fees and other income, less the cost of homes and land sold, selling, general and administrative expenses, interest expense and non-controlling interest expense.  Income before income taxes for the Financial Services segment consists of revenues generated from mortgage financing, title insurance and closing services, less the cost of such services and certain selling, general and administrative expenses incurred by the Financial Services segment.

 

Operational results of each segment are not necessarily indicative of the results that would have occurred had the segment been an independent stand-alone entity during the periods presented.

 

 

 
20

 

 

Financial information relating to the Company’s segment operations was as follows:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended April 30,

Six Months Ended April 30,

(In thousands)

2013

2012

2013

2012

                                 

Revenues:

                               

Northeast

  $ 54,236   $ 51,775   $ 109,071   $ 93,307

Mid-Atlantic

    58,405     64,776     111,124     119,171

Midwest

    39,393     23,631     71,726     41,829

Southeast

    37,192     36,346     66,153     56,555

Southwest

    161,813     114,716     293,437     206,540

West

    61,326     42,011     107,429     78,763

Total homebuilding

    412,365     333,255     758,940     596,165

Financial services

    10,682     8,513     22,341     15,203

Corporate and unallocated

    (49

)

    (70

)

    (72

)

    (71

)

Total revenues

  $ 422,998   $ 341,698   $ 781,209   $ 611,297
                                 

(Loss) income before income taxes:

                               

Northeast

  $ (4,651

)

  $ (125

)

  $ (9,538

)

  $ (5,773

)

Mid-Atlantic

    3,344     5,058     4,269     7,669

Midwest

    2,279     (91

)

    3,479     (1,247

)

Southeast

    2,719     (3,876

)

    3,309     (6,733

)

Southwest

    16,538     8,235     24,641     12,785

West

    2,422     (2,948

)

    1,327     (3,920

)

Homebuilding income before income taxes

    22,651     6,253     27,487     2,781

Financial services

    3,545     3,150     7,776     4,663

Corporate and unallocated

    (27,461

)

    (7,065

)

    (57,330

)

    (22,668

)

(Loss) income before income taxes

  $ (1,265

)

  $ 2,338   $ (22,067

)

  $ (15,224

)

 

 

(In thousands)

April 30, 2013

October 31, 2012

                 

Assets:

               

Northeast

  $ 367,882   $ 396,073

Mid-Atlantic

    210,881     200,969

Midwest

    81,338     73,305

Southeast

    91,953     90,132

Southwest

    289,577     235,367

West

    127,269     143,851

Total homebuilding

    1,168,900     1,139,697

Financial services

    112,800     164,634

Corporate and unallocated

    337,187     379,919

Total assets

  $ 1,618,887   $ 1,684,250

 

 

 
21

 

   

19.  The Company enters into land and lot option purchase contracts to procure land or lots for the construction of homes. Under these contracts, the Company will fund a stated deposit in consideration for the right, but not the obligation, to purchase land or lots at a future point in time with predetermined terms. Under the terms of the option purchase contracts, many of the option deposits are not refundable at the Company's discretion.  Under the requirements of ASC 810, certain option purchase contracts may result in the creation of a variable interest in the entity (“VIE”) that owns the land parcel under option.

 

In compliance with ASC 810, the Company analyzes its option purchase contracts to determine whether the corresponding land sellers are VIEs and, if so, whether the Company is the primary beneficiary. Although the Company does not have legal title to the underlying land, ASC 810 requires the Company to consolidate a VIE if the Company is determined to be the primary beneficiary. In determining whether it is the primary beneficiary, the Company considers, among other things, whether it has the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance. Such activities would include, among other things, determining or limiting the scope or purpose of the VIE, selling or transferring property owned or controlled by the VIE, or arranging financing for the VIE. The Company also considers whether it has the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE. As a result of its analyses, the Company determined that, as of April 30, 2013 and October 31, 2012, it was not the primary beneficiary of any VIEs from which it is purchasing land under option purchase contracts.

 

We will continue to secure land and lots using options, some of which are with VIEs. Including deposits on our unconsolidated VIEs, at April 30, 2013, we had total cash and letters of credit deposits amounting to approximately $64.0 million to purchase land and lots with a total purchase price of $864.6 million.  The maximum exposure to loss with respect to our land and lot options is limited to the deposits, although some deposits are refundable at our request or refundable if certain conditions are not met.

 

20.  We enter into homebuilding and land development joint ventures from time to time as a means of accessing lot positions, expanding our market opportunities, establishing strategic alliances, managing our risk profile, leveraging our capital base and enhancing returns on capital.  Our homebuilding joint ventures are generally entered into with third-party investors to develop land and construct homes that are sold directly to third-party homebuyers.  Our land development joint ventures include those entered into with developers and other homebuilders as well as financial investors to develop finished lots for sale to the joint venture’s members or other third parties.

 

The tables set forth below summarize the combined financial information related to our unconsolidated homebuilding and land development joint ventures that are accounted for under the equity method.

 

(Dollars in thousands)

April 30, 2013

 

Homebuilding

Land Development

Total

Assets:

                       

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 31,821   $ 142   $ 31,963

Inventories

    140,007     13,329     153,336

Other assets

    9,241     5     9,246

Total assets

  $ 181,069   $ 13,476   $ 194,545
                         

Liabilities and equity:

                       

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

  $ 18,090   $ 5,436   $ 23,526

Notes payable

    60,285     -     60,285

Total liabilities

    78,375     5,436     83,811

Equity of:

                       

Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.

    43,828     2,697     46,525

Others

    58,866     5,343     64,209

Total equity

    102,694     8,040     110,734

Total liabilities and equity

  $ 181,069   $ 13,476   $ 194,545

Debt to capitalization ratio

    37 %     0%     35 %

  

 
22

 

  

(Dollars in thousands)

October 31, 2012

 

Homebuilding

Land Development

Total

Assets:

                       

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 29,657   $ 1,686   $ 31,343

Inventories

    177,170     14,853     192,023

Other assets

    12,886     5     12,891

Total assets

  $ 219,713   $ 16,544   $ 236,257
                         

Liabilities and equity:

                       

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

  $ 24,651   $ 12,233   $ 36,884

Notes payable

    79,675     -     79,675

Total liabilities

    104,326     12,233     116,559

Equity of:

                       

Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.

    45,285     794     46,079

Others

    70,102     3,517     73,619

Total equity

    115,387     4,311     119,698

Total liabilities and equity

  $ 219,713   $ 16,544   $ 236,257

Debt to capitalization ratio

    41

%

    0

%

    40

%

 

As of April 30, 2013 and October 31, 2012, we had advances outstanding of approximately $6.3 million and $15.0 million, respectively, to these unconsolidated joint ventures, which were included in the “Accounts payable and accrued liabilities” balances in the tables above.  On our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets our “Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures” amounted to $52.8 million and $61.1 million at April 30, 2013 and October 31, 2012, respectively.  In some cases, our net investment in these joint ventures is less than our proportionate share of the equity reflected in the tables above because of the differences between asset impairments recorded against our joint venture investments and any impairments recorded in the applicable joint venture.  Impairments of our joint venture equity investments are recorded when we deem a decline in fair value to be other than temporary while impairments recorded in the joint ventures are recorded when undiscounted cash flows of the community indicate that the carrying amount is not recoverable.  During fiscal 2012 and the first six months of fiscal 2013, we did not write down any joint venture investments based on our determination that none of the investments in our joint ventures sustained an other than temporary impairment during those periods.

 

 

For the Three Months Ended April 30, 2013

(In thousands)

Homebuilding

Land Development

Total

                         

Revenues

  $ 74,423   $ 1,661   $ 76,084

Cost of sales and expenses

    (70,826 )     (1,506 )     (72,332 )

Joint venture net income

  $ 3,597   $ 155   $ 3,752

Our share of net income

  $ 807   $ 78   $ 885

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended April 30, 2012

(In thousands)

Homebuilding

Land Development

Total

                         

Revenues

  $ 78,534   $ 2,727   $ 81,261

Cost of sales and expenses

    (73,792

)

    (1,381

)

    (75,173

)

Joint venture net income

  $ 4,742   $ 1,346   $ 6,088

Our share of net income

  $ 1,035   $ 633   $ 1,668

 

 

 
23

 

  

 

For the Six Months Ended April 30, 2013

(In thousands)

Homebuilding

Land Development

Total

                         

Revenues

  $ 134,566   $ 9,475   $ 144,041

Cost of sales and expenses

    (127,115 )     (4,455 )     (131,570 )

Joint venture net income

  $ 7,451   $ 5,020   $ 12,471

Our share of net income

  $ 716   $ 2,510   $ 3,226

 

 

 

For the Six Months Ended April 30, 2012

(In thousands)

Homebuilding

Land Development

Total

                         

Revenues

  $ 131,131   $ 6,083   $ 137,214

Cost of sales and expenses

    (126,487

)

    (4,585

)

    (131,072

)

Joint venture net income

  $ 4,644   $ 1,498   $ 6,142

Our share of net income

  $ 984   $ 749   $ 1,733

 

“Income from unconsolidated joint ventures” is reflected as a separate line item in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and reflects our proportionate share of the income or loss of these unconsolidated homebuilding and land development joint ventures.  The difference between our share of the loss or income from these unconsolidated joint ventures disclosed in the tables above compared to the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and six months ended April 30, 2013 and 2012, is due to the reclassification of the intercompany portion of management fee income from certain joint ventures and the deferral of income for lots purchased by us from certain joint ventures. To compensate us for the administrative services we provide as the manager of certain joint ventures, we receive a management fee based on a percentage of the applicable joint venture’s revenues. These management fees, which totaled $2.7 million and $3.5 million, for the three months ended April 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $5.5 million and $5.9 million for the six months ended April 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, are recorded in “Homebuilding-Selling, general and administrative” on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

In determining whether or not we must consolidate joint ventures where we are the manager of the joint venture, we assess whether the other partners have specific rights to overcome the presumption of control by us as the manager of the joint venture.  In most cases, the presumption is overcome because the joint venture agreements require that both partners agree on establishing the operations and capital decisions of the partnership, including budgets in the ordinary course of business.

 

Typically, our unconsolidated joint ventures obtain separate project-specific mortgage financing. The amount of financing is generally targeted to be no more than 50% of the joint venture’s total assets.  For our more recent joint ventures, obtaining financing has become challenging, therefore, some of our joint ventures are capitalized only with equity. However, for one of our most recent joint ventures, a portion of our partner's contribution was in the form of mortgage financing. Including the impact of impairments recorded by the joint ventures, the average debt to capitalization ratio of all our joint ventures is currently 35%. Any joint venture financing is on a nonrecourse basis, with guarantees from us limited only to performance and completion of development, environmental warranties and indemnification, standard indemnification for fraud, misrepresentation and other similar actions, including a voluntary bankruptcy filing.  In some instances, the joint venture entity is considered a VIE under ASC 810-10 "Consolidation – Overall" due to the returns being capped to the equity holders; however, in these instances, we are not the primary beneficiary, and therefore we do not consolidate these entities.

 

21.  As of April 30, 2013, there were no pending accounting pronouncements applicable to the Company.

 

22.  ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures”, provides a framework for measuring fair value, expands disclosures about fair-value measurements and establishes a fair-value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value summarized as follows:

 

Level 1                      Fair value determined based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets.

 

Level 2                      Fair value determined using significant other observable inputs.

 

Level 3                      Fair value determined using significant unobservable inputs.

 

 
24

 

 Our financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below:

 

(In thousands)

Fair Value Hierarchy

Fair Value at

April 30, 2013

Fair Value at

October 31, 2012

                   

Mortgage loans held for sale (1)

Level 2

  $ 86,543   $ 116,912

Interest rate lock commitments

Level 2

    264     (8

)

Forward contracts

Level 2

    (1,344 )     120
      $ 85,463   $ 117,024

 

(1)  The aggregate unpaid principal balance was $82.2 million and $113.8 million at April 30, 2013 and October 31, 2012, respectively.

 

We elected the fair value option for our loans held for sale for mortgage loans originated subsequent to October 31, 2008 in accordance with ASC 825, “Financial Instruments”, which permits us to measure financial instruments at fair value on a contract-by-contract basis.  Management believes that the election of the fair value option for loans held for sale improves financial reporting by mitigating volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring the fair value of the loans and the derivative instruments used to economically hedge them without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions.  In addition, the fair value of servicing rights is included in the Company’s loans held for sale as of April 30, 2013.  Fair value of the servicing rights is determined based on values in the Company’s servicing sales contracts.  Fair value of loans held for sale is based on independent quoted market prices, where available, or the prices for other mortgage whole loans with similar characteristics.

 

The Financial Services segment had a pipeline of loan applications in process of $496.5 million at April 30, 2013.  Loans in process for which interest rates were committed to the borrowers totaled approximately $54.6 million as of April 30, 2013. Substantially all of these commitments were for periods of 60 days or less. Since a portion of these commitments is expected to expire without being exercised by the borrowers, the total commitments do not necessarily represent future cash requirements.

 

The Financial Services segment uses investor commitments and forward sales of mandatory mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) to hedge its mortgage-related interest rate exposure.  These instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk.  Credit risk is managed by entering into MBS forward commitments, option contracts with investment banks, federally regulated bank affiliates and loan sales transactions with permanent investors meeting the segment’s credit standards.  The segment’s risk, in the event of default by the purchaser, is the difference between the contract price and fair value of the MBS forward commitments and option contracts.  At April 30, 2013, the segment had open commitments amounting to $9.0 million to sell MBS with varying settlement dates through May 21, 2013.

 

The assets accounted for using the fair value option are initially measured at fair value.  Gains and losses from initial measurement and subsequent changes in fair value are recognized in the Financial Services segment’s income. The changes in fair values that are included in income are shown, by financial instrument and financial statement line item, below:

 

 
25

 

  

 

Three Months Ended April 30, 2013

(In thousands)

 

Loans Held

For Sale

Interest Rate Lock

Commitments

Forward Contracts

                         

Changes in fair value included in net income (loss), all reflected in financial services revenues

  $ 1,776   $ 480   $ (1,668 )

 

 

 

Three Months Ended April 30, 2012

(In thousands)

 

Loans Held

For Sale

Interest Rate Lock

Commitments

Forward Contracts

                         

Changes in fair value included in net income (loss), all reflected in financial services revenues

  $ (51 )   $ (4 )   $ (136 )

 

 

 

Six Months Ended April 30, 2013

(In thousands)

Loans Held

For Sale

 

Interest Rate Lock

Commitments

Forward Contracts

                         

Changes in fair value included in net income (loss), all reflected in financial services revenues

  $ 738   $ 272   $ (1,464 )

 

 

 

Six Months Ended April 30, 2012

(In thousands)

Loans Held

For Sale

 

Interest Rate Lock

Commitments

Forward Contracts

                         

Changes in fair value included in net income (loss), all reflected in financial services revenues

  $ (446 )   $ (9 )   $ 482

 

The Company’s assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis are those assets for which the Company has recorded valuation adjustments and write-offs during the periods presented.  The assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis are all within the Company’s Homebuilding operations and are summarized below:

 

 
26

 

 

 

 

 

Non-financial Assets

 

   

Three Months Ended April 30, 2013

                           

(In thousands)

 

Fair Value

Hierarchy

Pre-Impairment

Amount

Total Losses

Fair Value

                           

Sold and unsold homes and lots under development

Level 3

  $ 2,348   $ (910 )   $ 1,438

Land and land options held for future development or sale

Level 3

  $ -   $ -   $ -

 

   

Three Months Ended April 30, 2012

                           

(In thousands)

 

Fair Value

Hierarchy

Pre-Impairment

Amount

Total Losses

Fair Value

                           

Sold and unsold homes and lots under development

Level 3

  $ 4,550   $ (2,011

)

  $ 2,539

Land and land options held for future development or sale

Level 3

  $ 180   $ (91

)

  $ 89

 

   

Six Months Ended April 30, 2013

                           

(In thousands)

Fair Value

Hierarchy

 

Pre-Impairment

Amount

Total Losses

Fair Value

                           

Sold and unsold homes and lots under development

Level 3

  $ 5,243   $ (1,478 )   $ 3,765

Land and land options held for future development or sale

Level 3

  $ 485   $ (19 )   $ 466

 

   

Six Months Ended April 30, 2012

                           

(In thousands)

Fair Value

Hierarchy

 

Pre-Impairment

Amount

Total Losses

Fair Value

                           

Sold and unsold homes and lots under development

Level 3

  $ 6,978   $ (2,715

)

  $ 4,263

Land and land options held for future development or sale

Level 3

  $ 16,496   $ (2,528

)

  $ 13,968

 

We record impairment losses on inventories related to communities under development and held for future development when events and circumstances indicate that they may be impaired and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than their related carrying amounts.  If the expected undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount, then the community is written down to its fair value.  We estimate the fair value of each impaired community by determining the present value of its estimated future cash flows at a discount rate commensurate with the risk of the respective community. Should the estimates or expectations used in determining cash flows or fair value decrease or differ from current estimates in the future, we may be required to recognize additional impairments.  We recorded inventory impairments, which are included in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations as “Inventory impairment loss and land option write-offs” and deducted from Inventory of $0.9 million and $2.1 million for the three months ended April 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $1.5 million and $5.2 million for the six months ended April 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.  See Note 5 for a further discussion of communities evaluated for impairment.

 

The fair value of our cash equivalents and restricted cash approximates their carrying amount, based on Level 1 inputs.

  

 
27

 

 

The fair value of each series of the senior unsecured notes (other than the senior exchangeable notes) and senior subordinated amortizing notes is estimated based on recent trades or quoted market prices for the same issues or based on recent trades or quoted market prices for our debt of similar security and maturity to achieve comparable yields, which are Level 2 measurements.  The fair value of the senior unsecured notes (all series in the aggregate), other than the senior exchangeable notes and senior amortizing notes, and senior subordinated amortizing notes, was estimated at $488.5 million and $4.7 million, respectively, as of April 30, 2013.  As of October 31, 2012 the fair value of the senior unsecured notes (all series in the aggregate), other than the senior exchangeable notes and the senior amortizing notes and senior subordinated amortizing notes, was estimated at $448.7 million and $5.5 million, respectively.

 

The fair value of each of the senior secured notes (all series in the aggregate), senior amortizing notes and senior exchangeable notes is estimated based on third party broker quotes, a Level 3 measurement. The fair value of the senior secured notes (all series in the aggregate), senior amortizing notes and senior exchangeable notes was estimated at $1,062.1 million, $23.1 million and $86.3 million, respectively, as of April 30, 2013. As of October 31, 2012, the fair value of the senior secured notes (all series in the aggregate), senior amortizing notes and senior exchangeable notes was estimated at $994.2 million, $23.1 million and $87.2 million, respectively.

 

23.  Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., the parent company (the “Parent”), is the issuer of publicly traded common stock, preferred stock, which is represented by depository shares, and 7.25% Tangible Equity Units. One of its wholly owned subsidiaries, K. Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. (the “Subsidiary Issuer”), acts as a finance entity that, as of April 30, 2013, had issued and outstanding approximately $992.0 million of senior secured notes ($978.0 million, net of discount), $460.6 million senior notes ($459.0 million, net of discount), $23.1 million senior amortizing notes and $64.9 million senior exchangeable notes (issued as components of our 6.0% Exchangeable Note Units) and $4.2 million senior subordinated amortizing notes (issued as a component of our 7.25% Tangible Equity Units). The senior secured notes, senior notes, senior amortizing notes, senior exchangeable notes and senior subordinated amortizing notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Parent.

 

In addition to the Parent, each of the wholly owned subsidiaries of the Parent other than the Subsidiary Issuer (collectively, “Guarantor Subsidiaries”), with the exception of our home mortgage subsidiaries, certain of our title insurance subsidiaries, joint ventures, subsidiaries holding interests in our joint ventures and our foreign subsidiary (collectively, the “Nonguarantor Subsidiaries”), have guaranteed fully and unconditionally, on a joint and several basis, the obligations of the Subsidiary Issuer to pay principal and interest under the senior secured notes (other than the 2021 Notes), senior notes, senior exchangeable notes, senior amortizing notes and senior subordinated amortizing notes.  The Guarantor Subsidiaries are directly or indirectly 100% owned subsidiaries of the Parent. The 2021 Notes are guaranteed by the Guarantor Subsidiaries and the members of the Secured Group (see Note 11).

 

The senior notes, senior amortizing notes, senior exchangeable notes and senior subordinated amortizing notes have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The 2020 Secured Notes and the 2021 Notes (see Note 11) are not, pursuant to the indentures under which such notes were issued, required to be registered.  The Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements presented below are in respect of our registered notes only and not the 2020 Secured Notes or the 2021 Notes (however, the Guarantor Subsidiaries for the 2020 Secured Notes are the same as those represented by the accompanying Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements). In lieu of providing separate financial statements for the Guarantor Subsidiaries of our registered notes, we have included the accompanying Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements. Therefore, separate financial statements and other disclosures concerning such Guarantor Subsidiaries are not presented.

 

The following Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements present the results of operations, financial position and cash flows of (i) the Parent, (ii) the Subsidiary Issuer, (iii) the Guarantor Subsidiaries, (iv) the Nonguarantor Subsidiaries and (v) the eliminations to arrive at the information for Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. on a consolidated basis. 

 

 
28

 

 

 

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET

APRIL 30, 2013

(In Thousands)

 

 

Parent

Subsidiary Issuer

Guarantor

Subsidiaries

Nonguarantor

Subsidiaries

Eliminations

Consolidated

ASSETS:

                                               

Homebuilding

  $       $ 241,996   $ 968,307   $ 294,301         $ 1,504,604

Financial services

                    13,646     99,154             112,800

Income taxes (payable) receivable

    (31,795

)

            33,278                     1,483

Investments in and amounts due to and from consolidated subsidiaries

    (104,989

)

    (8,930

)

    268,438    

 

    (154,519

)

    -

Total assets

  $ (136,784

)

  $ 233,066   $ 1,283,669   $ 393,455   $ (154,519

)

  $ 1,618,887
                                                 

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:

                                               

Homebuilding

  $ 1,931   $ 123   $ 379,450   $ 63,022   $       $ 444,526

Financial services

                    13,588     80,080             93,668

Notes payable

            1,558,066     819     328             1,559,213

Intercompany

    340,125     (1,155,371

)

    855,327     (18,733

)

    (21,348

)

    -

Stockholders’ (deficit) equity

    (478,840

)

    (169,752

)

    34,485     268,438     (133,171

)

    (478,840

)

Non-controlling interest in consolidated joint ventures

                        320             320

Total liabilities and equity

  $ (136,784

)

  $ 233,066   $ 1,283,669   $ 393,455   $ (154,519

)

  $ 1,618,887

 

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET

OCTOBER 31, 2012

(In Thousands)

 

 

Parent

Subsidiary

Issuer

Guarantor

Subsidiaries

Nonguarantor

Subsidiaries

Eliminations

Consolidated

ASSETS:

                                               

Homebuilding

  $ 6,155   $ 259,339   $ 976,836   $ 277,286   $       $ 1,519,616

Financial services

                    23,669     140,965             164,634

Investments in consolidated subsidiaries

    (80,674

)

    13,790     246,467             (179,583

)

    -

Total assets

  $ (74,519

)

  $ 273,129   $ 1,246,972   $ 418,251   $ (179,583

)

  $ 1,684,250
                                                 

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:

                                               

Homebuilding

  $ 1,671   $ 125   $ 391,628   $ 61,800   $       $ 455,224

Financial services

                    23,070     122,024             145,094

Notes payable

            1,561,635     271     489             1,562,395

Income taxes payable (receivable)

    40,551             (33,669

)

                    6,882

Intercompany

    368,834     (1,930,998

)

    1,589,502     (12,759 )     (14,579

)

    -

Stockholders’ (deficit) equity

    (485,575

)

    642,367     (723,830

)

    246,467     (165,004

)

    (485,575

)

Non-controlling interest in consolidated joint ventures

                            230             230

Total liabilities and equity

  $ (74,519

)

  $ 273,129   $ 1,246,972   $ 418,251   $ (179,583

)

  $ 1,684,250

 

 
29

 

  

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

THREE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 2013

(In Thousands)

 

 

Parent

Subsidiary

Issuer

Guarantor

Subsidiaries

Nonguarantor

Subsidiaries

Eliminations

Consolidated

Revenues:

                                               

Homebuilding

  $ 1   $ (54

)

  $ 362,496   $ 51,121   $ (1,248

)

  $ 412,316

Financial services

                    2,586     8,096             10,682

Intercompany charges

            20,207     (25,013

)

    (877

)

    5,683     -

Total revenues

    1     20,153     340,069     58,340     4,435     422,998
                                                 

Expenses:

                                               

Homebuilding

    2,396     29,838     345,306     40,482     (69

)

    417,953

Financial services

    5             1,848     5,284             7,137

Total expenses

    2,401     29,838     347,154     45,766     (69

)

    425,090

(Loss) income from unconsolidated joint ventures

                    (123

)

    950             827

(Loss) income before income taxes

    (2,400

)

    (9,685

)

    (7,208

)

    13,524     4,504     (1,265

)

State and federal income tax (benefit) provision

    (2,714

)

            131                     (2,583

)

Equity in income (loss) of consolidated subsidiaries

    1,004     (11,601

)

    13,524             (2,927

)

    -

Net income (loss)

  $ 1,318   $ (21,286

)

  $ 6,185   $ 13,524   $ 1,577   $ 1,318

 

 

 
30

 

 

 HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

THREE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 2012

(In Thousands)

 

 

Parent

Subsidiary

Issuer

Guarantor

Subsidiaries

Nonguarantor

Subsidiaries

Eliminations

Consolidated

Revenues:

                                               

Homebuilding

  $       $ (75

)

  $ 314,161   $ 20,337   $ (1,238

)

  $ 333,185

Financial services

                    1,696     6,817             8,513

Intercompany charges

            23,949     (18,779

)

    (2,449

)

    (2,721

)

    -  

Total revenues

    -     23,874     297,078     24,705     (3,959

)

    341,698
                                                 

Expenses:

                                               

Homebuilding

    2,435     9,456     316,409     15,910     18,321     362,531

Financial services

    29             1,335     3,995     4     5,363

Total expenses

    2,464     9,456     317,744     19,905     18,325     367,894

Gain on extinguishment of debt

            27,039                             27,039

Income from unconsolidated joint ventures

                    462     1,033             1,495

(Loss) income before income taxes

    (2,464

)

    41,457     (20,204

)

    5,833     (22,284

)

    2,338

State and federal income tax (benefit) provision

(4,104 ) 4,640 536

Equity in income (loss) of consolidated subsidiaries

    162     33,834     5,833             (39,829 )     -

Net income (loss)

  $ 1,802   $ 75,291   $ (19,011

)

  $ 5,833   $ (62,113

)

  $ 1,802

  

 
31

 

  

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

SIX MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 2013

(In Thousands)

 

 

Parent

Subsidiary

Issuer

Guarantor

Subsidiaries

Nonguarantor

Subsidiaries

Eliminations

Consolidated

Revenues:

                                               

Homebuilding

  $ 3   $ (99 )   $ 661,511   $ 99,948   $ (2,495

)

  $ 758,868

Financial services

                    4,663     17,678             22,341

Intercompany charges

            40,407     (50,334

)

    (1,751

)

    11,678     -

Total revenues

    3     40,308     615,840     115,875     9,183     781,209
                                                 

Expenses:

                                               

Homebuilding

    2,744     59,699     643,076     83,895     2,413     791,827

Financial services

    9             3,690     10,866             14,565

Total expenses

    2,753     59,699     646,766     94,761     2,413     806,392

(Loss) gain on extinguishment of debt

            (770,009 )     770,009                     -

Income from unconsolidated joint ventures

                    2,259     857             3,116

(Loss) income before income taxes

    (2,750 )     (789,400 )     741,342     21,971     6,770     (22,067 )

State and federal income tax (benefit) provision

    (17,075 )             4,998                     (12,077 )

Equity in (loss) income of consolidated subsidiaries

    (24,315 )     (22,719 )     21,971         25,063     -

Net (loss) income

  $ (9,990 )   $ (812,119 )   $ 758,315   $ 21,971   $ 31,833   $ (9,990 )

 

 

 
32

 

 
HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

SIX MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 2012

(In Thousands)

 

 

Parent

Subsidiary

Issuer

Guarantor

Subsidiaries

Nonguarantor

Subsidiaries

Eliminations

Consolidated

Revenues:

                                               

Homebuilding

  $ 4   $ (105

)

  $ 577,467   $ 21,206   $ (2,478 )   $ 596,094

Financial services

                    2,995     12,208             15,203

Intercompany charges

            23,949     (31,131

)

    (3,448

)

    10,630     -

Total revenues

    4     23,844     549,331     29,966     8,152     611,297
                                                 

Expenses:

                                               

Homebuilding

    4,175     24,077     601,746     14,575     24,618     669,191

Financial services

    80             2,561     7,911     (12 )     10,540

Total expenses

    4,255     24,077     604,307     22,486     24,606     679,731

Gain on extinguishment of debt

            51,737                             51,737

Income from unconsolidated joint ventures

                    491     982             1,473

(Loss) income before income taxes

    (4,251

)

    51,504     (54,485

)

    8,462     (16,454 )     (15,224

)

State and federal income tax (benefit) provision

    (8,668

)

            9,907                     1,239

Equity in (loss) income of consolidated subsidiaries

    (20,880

)

    22,172     8,462             (9,754 )     -

Net (loss) income

  $ (16,463

)

  $ 73,676   $ (55,930

)

  $ 8,462   $ (26,208 )   $ (16,463

)

 

 

 
33

 

   

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

SIX MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 2013

(In Thousands)

 

 

Parent

Subsidiary

Issuer

Guarantor

Subsidiaries

Nonguarantor

Subsidiaries

Eliminations

Consolidated

Cash flows from operating activities:

                                               

Net (loss) income

  $ (9,990

)

  $ (812,119

)

  $ 758,315   $ 21,971   $ 31,833   $ (9,990

)

Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

    14,384     773,776     (773,952 )     11,695     (31,833

)

    (5,930 )

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

    4,394     (38,343

)

    (15,637 )     33,666     -     (15,920

)

Net cash provided by investing activities

            242     12,033     5,399             17,674

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

            (2,169

)

    20,087     (48,042

)

            (30,124

)

Intercompany investing and financing activities – net

    (4,394

)

    28,338     (17,970 )     (5,974

)

            -

Net (decrease) in cash

    -     (11,932

)

    (1,487 )     (14,951

)

    -     (28,370

)

Cash and cash equivalents balance, beginning of period

            197,097     (2,017 )     78,152             273,232

Cash and cash equivalents balance, end of period

  $ -   $ 185,165   $ (3,504 )   $ 63,201   $ -   $ 244,862

 

 

 
34

 

 

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

SIX MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 2012

(In Thousands)

 

 

Parent

Subsidiary

Issuer

Guarantor

Subsidiaries

Nonguarantor

Subsidiaries

Eliminations

Consolidated

Cash flows from operating activities:

                                               

Net (loss) income

  $ (16,463

)

  $ 73,676   $ (55,930

)

  $ 8,462   $ (26,208

)

  $ (16,463

)

Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

    14,463     (46,947

)

    28,283     (45,410

)

    26,208     (23,403

)

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

    (2,000

)

    26,729     (27,647

)

    (36,948

)

    -     (39,866

)

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

            (1,121

)

    (1,011

)

    28             (2,104

)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

    47,147     (91,885

)

    25,585     17,400             (1,753

)

Intercompany investing and financing activities – net

    (45,147

)

    52,388     5,352     (12,593

)

            -

Net (decrease) increase in cash

    -     (13,889

)

    2,279     (32,113

)

    -     (43,723

)

Cash and cash equivalents balance, beginning of period

            112,122     (4,989

)

    143,607             250,740

Cash and cash equivalents balance, end of period

  $ -   $ 98,233   $ (2,710

)

  $ 111,494   $ -   $ 207,017

 

 

 
35

 

 

 ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

OVERVIEW

 

During the first half of fiscal 2013, the housing market continued to strengthen, and, as a result, we experienced further positive operating trends, including improvements in several metrics for the three and six month periods ended April 30, 2013 compared to the same periods of fiscal 2012. For the three months ended April 30, 2013 compared to the three months ended April 30, 2012, we experienced net contract growth of 11.1%, an increase in gross margin percentage, before cost of sales interest expense and land charges, from 17.4% to 18.9% and a decrease in selling, general and administrative costs (including corporate general and administrative expenses) as a percentage of total revenue from 13.9% to 12.2%. For the six months ended April 30, 2013 compared to the six months ended April 30, 2012, there were improvements in the same metrics: net contract growth of 17.2%, an increase in gross margin percentage, before cost of sales interest expense and land charges, from 17.0% to 18.0% and a decrease in selling, general and administrative costs (including corporate general and administrative expenses) as a percentage of total revenue from 15.3% to 12.9%. In addition, our contract cancellation rate was 15% in the second quarter of fiscal 2013, which is below what we believe to be a normalized level of approximately 20%.  Active selling communities remained flat at 177 at both April 30, 2013 and 2012. However, net contracts per average active selling community increased to 9.6 for the three months ended April 30, 2013 compared to 8.2 in the same period in the prior year and increased to 16.5 for the six months ended April 30, 2013 compared to 13.1 in the same period in the prior year.  

 

Our gross margin percentage, before cost of sales interest expense and land charges, and selling, general and administrative costs (including corporate general and administrative expenses) as a percentage of revenues also had favorable variances when comparing sequentially from the first quarter of fiscal 2013 to the second quarter of fiscal 2013. Gross margin percentage increased from 17.0% to 18.9% and selling, general and administrative costs (including corporate general and administrative expenses) as a percentage of revenues decreased from 13.8% to 12.2%, as compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2013. Cost of sales and selling, general and administrative costs include some fixed costs that are not impacted by delivery volume. Therefore, as volume increased from the first quarter of fiscal 2013 to the second quarter of fiscal 2013, selling, general and administrative expense as a percentage of revenues improved. The increase in gross margin percentage partially resulted from the volume increase, but also was the result of higher home prices that exceeded increased construction costs in certain markets and an increase in the percentage of deliveries from newly identified communities (which we define as communities that were controlled subsequent to January 31, 2009), which generally have higher gross margins then our older communities. Provided market conditions remain stable, we expect our gross margin percentage to increase and selling, general and administrative costs as a percentage of revenues to decrease for our full fiscal 2013 year compared to the full year for fiscal 2012.

 

While we are encouraged by the positive operating trends of fiscal 2012 and the first half of fiscal 2013, several challenges such as persistently high unemployment levels, national and global economic weakness and uncertainty, the restrictive mortgage lending environment and the potential for more foreclosures continue to threaten a recovery in the housing market. Our recent operating results and other national data indicate that the overall demand for new homes during fiscal 2012 and through the first half of fiscal 2013 has improved from the prior year. However, both national new home sales and our home sales remain below historical levels. Until there is a more robust U.S. economic recovery, we expect national demand for new homes to remain at below normal levels, with uneven improvement across our operating markets.

 

During the prolonged downturn of the housing market, we adjusted our approach to land acquisition and construction practices and shortened our land pipeline, reduced production volumes, and balanced home price and profitability with sales pace. We delayed and cancelled planned land purchases, renegotiated land prices and significantly reduced our total number of controlled lots owned and under option. Additionally, we significantly reduced our total number of speculative homes put into production. Since January 2009, however, we began to see more opportunities to purchase land at prices that made economic sense in light of our sales prices and sales paces and plan to continue pursuing such land acquisitions. New land purchases at pricing that we believe will generate appropriate investment returns and drive greater operating efficiencies are needed to return to sustained profitability. During the first half of fiscal 2013, we opened for sale 51 new communities, purchased approximately 2,600 lots within 169 newly identified communities (which we define as communities that were controlled subsequent to January 31, 2009) and optioned approximately 4,300 lots in 120 newly identified communities, 69 of which were communities identified this fiscal year. From April 30, 2012 to April 30, 2013, our active community count remained flat at 177 communities. As we have experienced increased sales pace over the past year, causing communities to sell out more rapidly, we continue to consider and make new land acquisitions to replenish or grow our community count. As a result, our community count increased by five communities from October 31, 2012 to April 30, 2013. We have also continued to closely evaluate and control selling, general and administrative expenses, including corporate general and administrative expenses. While homebuilding selling, general and administrative expenses increased $2.7 million from $35.1 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2012 to $37.8 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2013, in connection with our increased revenues, these expenses as a percentage of total homebuilding revenues decreased from 10.5% to 9.2% due to the revenue growth across most of our operating segments. Corporate general and administrative expenses as a percentage of total revenue decreased from 3.6% in the second quarter of fiscal 2012 to 3.2% in the second quarter of fiscal 2013. Given the persistence of difficult market conditions, improving the efficiency of our selling, general and administrative expenses will continue to be a significant area of focus.

 

 
36

 

 

 

 CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

As disclosed in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2012, our most critical accounting policies relate to revenue recognition, inventories, land options, unconsolidated joint ventures, warranty, insurance and income taxes.  Since October 31, 2012, there have been no significant changes to those critical accounting policies.

 

 

CAPITAL RESOURCES AND LIQUIDITY

 

Our operations consist primarily of residential housing development and sales in the Northeast (New Jersey, Pennsylvania), the Mid-Atlantic (Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington D.C.), the Midwest (Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio), the Southeast (Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina), the Southwest (Arizona, Texas) and the West (California).  In addition, we provide certain financial services to our homebuilding customers.

 

We have historically funded our homebuilding and financial services operations with cash flows from operating activities, borrowings under our bank credit facilities (when we had such facilities for our homebuilding operations) and the issuance of new debt and equity securities.  During the prolonged housing market downturn that began in late 2006, we had been operating with a primary focus to generate cash flows from operations through reductions in assets during fiscal 2007 through fiscal 2009.  The generation of cash flow, together with debt repurchases and exchanges at prices below par, allowed us to reduce debt (notes payable, excluding accrued interest) during fiscal 2009 by approximately $754 million.  Since the latter half of fiscal 2009, we have seen more opportunities to purchase land at prices that make economic sense given the then-current home sales prices and sales paces.  As such, since that time, despite acquiring new land at higher levels than in the previous few years, we have been able to further reduce our debt by approximately $223 million.  

 

Our homebuilding cash balance at April 30, 2013 decreased by $21.9 million from October 31, 2012. The significant use of cash during the first half of fiscal 2013 was primarily due to spending $229.9 million on land and land development, offset by cash generated by our normal operations.

 

Our cash uses during the three months ended April 30, 2013 and 2012 were for operating expenses, land purchases, land deposits, land development, construction spending, debt payments, state income taxes, interest payments and investments in joint ventures. We provided for our cash requirements from available cash on hand, housing and land sales, financial service revenues and other revenues. We believe that these sources of cash will be sufficient through fiscal 2013 to finance our working capital requirements and other needs, despite the termination of our revolving credit facility in fiscal 2009 and the collateralization with cash in segregated accounts to support certain of our letters of credit.  We may also enter into land sale agreements or joint ventures to generate cash from our existing balance sheet. 

 

     Our net income (loss) historically does not approximate cash flow from operating activities. The difference between net income (loss) and cash flow from operating activities is primarily caused by changes in inventory levels together with changes in receivables, prepaid and other assets, mortgage loans held for sale, interest and other accrued liabilities, deferred income taxes, accounts payable and other liabilities, and noncash charges relating to depreciation, amortization of computer software costs, stock compensation awards and impairment losses for inventory. When we are expanding our operations, inventory levels, prepaids, and other assets increase causing cash flow from operating activities to decrease. Certain liabilities also increase as operations expand and partially offset the negative effect on cash flow from operations caused by the increase in inventory levels, prepaids and other assets. Similarly, as our mortgage operations expand, net income from these operations increases, but for cash flow purposes net income is offset by the net change in mortgage assets and liabilities. The opposite is true as our investment in new land purchases and development of new communities decrease, which is what happened during the last half of fiscal 2007 through fiscal 2009, allowing us to generate positive cash flow from operations during this period. Since the latter part of fiscal 2009 cumulative through April 30, 2013, as a result of the new land purchases and land development, we have used cash in operations as we add new communities. Looking forward, given the unstable housing market, it will continue to be difficult to generate positive cash flow from operations until we return to sustained profitability. However, we will continue to make adjustments to our structure and our business plans in order to maximize our liquidity while also taking steps to return to sustained profitability, including through land acquisitions.  

 

We do not have a revolving credit facility. We have certain stand alone cash collateralized letter of credit agreements and facilities under which there were a total of $26.6 million and $29.5 million of letters of credit outstanding as of April 30, 2013 and October 31, 2012, respectively. These agreements and facilities require us to maintain specified amounts of cash as collateral in segregated accounts to support the letters of credit issued thereunder, which will affect the amount of cash we have available for other uses. As of April 30, 2013 and October 31, 2012, the amount of cash collateral in these segregated accounts was $27.0 million and $30.7 million, respectively, which is reflected in “Restricted cash” on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

  

 
37

 

 

Our wholly owned mortgage banking subsidiary, K. Hovnanian American Mortgage, LLC (“K. Hovnanian Mortgage”), originates mortgage loans primarily from the sale of our homes. Such mortgage loans and related servicing rights are sold in the secondary mortgage market within a short period of time. Our secured Master Repurchase Agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (“Chase Master Repurchase Agreement”) is a short-term borrowing facility that provides up to $50 million through January 17, 2014. The loan is secured by the mortgages held for sale and is repaid when we sell the underlying mortgage loans to permanent investors. Interest is payable monthly on outstanding advances at an adjusted LIBOR rate, which was 0.19820% at April 30, 2013, subject to a floor of 1% plus the applicable margin of 2.5%. Therefore, at April 30, 2013, the interest rate was 3.5%. As of April 30, 2013, the aggregate principal amount of all borrowings outstanding under the Chase Master Repurchase Agreement was $32.2 million.

 

K. Hovnanian Mortgage has another secured Master Repurchase Agreement with Customers Bank (“Customers Master Repurchase Agreement), which was amended on May 28, 2013 to extend the maturity date to May 27, 2014, that is a short-term borrowing facility that provides up to $37.5 million through maturity. The loan is secured by the mortgages held for sale and is repaid when we sell the underlying mortgage loans to permanent investors. Interest is payable daily or as loans are sold to permanent investors on outstanding advances at the current LIBOR subject to a floor of 0.5% plus the applicable margin ranging from 3.0% to 5.5% based on the takeout investor and type of loan. As of April 30, 2013, the aggregate principal amount of all borrowings outstanding under the Customers Master Repurchase Agreement was $7.6 million.

 

 K. Hovnanian Mortgage has a third secured Master Repurchase Agreement with Credit Suisse First Boston Mortgage Capital LLC (“Credit Suisse Master Repurchase Agreement”), which was amended on January 2, 2013, that is a short-term borrowing facility that provides up to $50.0 million through the earlier of (x) 364 days from receipt of a termination notice that is delivered by the lender on or before June 21, 2013 and (y) or June 20, 2014. To date, we have not received a notice of termination. The loan is secured by the mortgages held for sale and is repaid when we sell the underlying mortgage loans to permanent investors. Interest is payable monthly on outstanding advances at the Credit Suisse Cost of Funds, which was 0.54% at April 30, 2013, plus the applicable margin ranging from 3.75% to 4.0% based on the takeout investor and type of loan. As of April 30, 2013, the aggregate principal amount of all borrowings outstanding under the Credit Suisse Master Repurchase Agreement was $26.2 million.

 

The Chase Master Repurchase Agreement, Customers Master Repurchase Agreement and Credit Suisse Master Repurchase Agreement (together, the “Master Repurchase Agreements”) require K. Hovnanian Mortgage to satisfy and maintain specified financial ratios and other financial condition tests. Because of the extremely short period of time mortgages are held by K. Hovnanian Mortgage before the mortgages are sold to investors (generally a period of a few weeks), the immateriality to us on a consolidated basis of the size of the Master Repurchase Agreements, the levels required by these financial covenants, our ability based on our immediately available resources to contribute sufficient capital to cure any default, were such conditions to occur, and our right to cure any conditions of default based on the terms of the agreement, we do not consider any of these covenants to be substantive or material. As of April 30, 2013, we believe we were in compliance with the covenants under the Master Repurchase Agreements.

 

As of April 30, 2013, we had $992.0 million of outstanding senior secured notes ($978.0 million, net of discount), comprised of $577.0 million 7.25% Senior Secured First Lien Notes due 2020 (the “First Lien Notes”), $220.0 million 9.125% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2020 (the “Second Lien Notes” and, together with the First Lien Notes, the “2020 Secured Notes”), $53.2 million 2.0% Senior Secured Notes due 2021 (the “2.0% 2021 Notes”) and $141.8 million 5.0% Senior Secured Notes due 2021 (the “5.0% 2021 Notes” and together with the 2.0% 2021 Notes, the “2021 Notes”).  As of April 30, 2013, we also had $460.6 million of outstanding senior notes ($459.0 million, net of discount), comprised of $36.7 million 6.5% Senior Notes due 2014, $3.0 million 6.375% Senior Notes due 2014, $21.4 million 6.25% Senior Notes due 2015, $131.2 million 6.25% Senior Notes due 2016, $86.5 million 7.5% Senior Notes due 2016, $121.0 million 8.625% Senior Notes due 2017 and $60.8 million 11.875% Senior Notes due 2015. In addition, as of April 30, 2013, we had outstanding $23.1 million 11.0% Senior Amortizing Notes due 2017 (issued as a component of our 6.0% Exchangeable Note Units and discussed in Note 13), $64.9 million Senior Exchangeable Notes due 2017 (issued as a component of our 6.0% Exchangeable Note Units and discussed in Note 13) and $4.2 million 7.25% Senior Subordinated Amortizing Notes (issued as part of our 7.25% Tangible Equity Units and discussed in Note 12). Except for K. Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. (“K. Hovnanian”), the issuer of the notes, our home mortgage subsidiaries, joint ventures and subsidiaries holding interests in our joint ventures, certain of our title insurance subsidiaries and our foreign subsidiary, we and each of our subsidiaries are guarantors of the senior secured, senior, senior amortizing, senior exchangeable and senior subordinated amortizing notes outstanding at April 30, 2013 (see Note 23).  In addition, the 2021 Notes are guaranteed by K. Hovnanian JV Holdings, L.L.C. and its subsidiaries except for certain joint ventures and joint venture holding companies (collectively, the “Secured Group”). Members of the Secured Group do not guarantee K. Hovnanian's other indebtedness.  

 

      The First Lien Notes are secured by a first-priority lien and the Second Lien Notes are secured by a second-priority lien, in each case, subject to permitted liens and other exceptions, on substantially all the assets owned by Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., K. Hovnanian and the guarantors of such notes. At April 30, 2013, the aggregate book value of the real property that would constitute collateral securing the 2020 Secured Notes was approximately $560.0 million, which does not include the impact of inventory investments, home deliveries, or impairments thereafter and which may differ from the value if it were appraised. In addition, cash collateral that would secure the 2020 Secured Notes was $230.6 million as of April 30, 2013, which includes $27.0 million of restricted cash collateralizing certain letters of credit. Subsequent to such date, cash uses include general business operations and real estate and other investments.

 

 
38

 

  

The guarantees with respect to the 2021 Notes of the Secured Group are secured, subject to permitted liens and other exceptions, by a first-priority lien on substantially all of the assets of the members of the Secured Group. As of April 30, 2013, the collateral securing the guarantees primarily included (1) $31.8 million of cash and cash equivalents and (2) equity interests in guarantors that are members of the Secured Group.  Subsequent to such date, cash uses include general business operations and real estate and other investments. The aggregate book value of the real property of the Secured Group collateralizing the 2021 Notes was approximately $80.5 million as of April 30, 2013 (not including the impact of inventory investments, home deliveries, or impairments thereafter and which may differ from the appraised value).  Members of the Secured Group also own equity in joint ventures, either directly or indirectly through ownership of joint venture holding companies, with a book value of $43.9 million as of April 30, 2013; this equity is not pledged to secure, and is not collateral for, the 2021 Notes. Members of the Secured Group are “unrestricted subsidiaries” under K. Hovnanian's other senior notes, senior secured notes and senior subordinated amortizing notes, and thus have not guaranteed such indebtedness. 

 

The indentures governing our notes do not contain any financial maintenance covenants, but do contain restrictive covenants that limit, among other things, the Company’s ability and that of certain of its subsidiaries, including K. Hovnanian, to incur additional indebtedness (other than certain permitted indebtedness, refinancing indebtedness and non-recourse indebtedness), pay dividends and make distributions on common and preferred stock, repurchase subordinated indebtedness (with respect to certain of the senior secured notes), make other restricted payments, make investments, sell certain assets, incur liens, consolidate, merge, sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all assets and enter into certain transactions with affiliates.  The indentures also contain events of default which would permit the holders of the notes to declare the notes to be immediately due and payable if not cured within applicable grace periods, including the failure to make timely payments on the notes or other material indebtedness, the failure to comply with agreements and covenants and specified events of bankruptcy and insolvency and, with respect to the indentures governing the senior secured notes, the failure of the documents granting security for the senior secured notes to be in full force and effect and the failure of the liens on any material portion of the collateral securing the senior secured notes to be valid and perfected. As of April 30, 2013, we believe we were in compliance with the covenants of the indentures governing our outstanding notes.

 

Under the terms of the indentures we have the right to make certain redemptions and, depending on market conditions and covenant restrictions, may do so from time to time. We also continue to evaluate our capital structure and may also continue to make debt purchases and/or exchanges for debt or equity from time to time through tender offers, open market purchases, private transactions, or otherwise or seek to raise additional debt or equity capital, depending on market conditions and covenant restrictions.

  

If our consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio, as defined in the indentures governing our senior secured and senior notes (other than the Senior Exchangeable Notes), is less than 2.0 to 1.0, we are restricted from making certain payments, including dividends, and from incurring indebtedness other than certain permitted indebtedness, refinancing indebtedness, and non-recourse indebtedness. As a result of this restriction, we are currently restricted from paying dividends, which are not cumulative, on our 7.625% Series A Preferred Stock. If current market trends continue or worsen, we will continue to be restricted from paying dividends for the foreseeable future.  Our inability to pay dividends is in accordance with covenant restrictions and will not result in a default under our bond indentures or otherwise affect compliance with any of the covenants contained in the bond indentures.

 

During the three and six months ended April 30, 2012, we repurchased in open market and privately negotiated transactions $15.2 million and $21.0 million, respectively, principal amount of our 6.25% Senior Notes due 2016 and $22.8 million and $61.1 million, respectively, principal amount of 7.50% Senior Notes due 2016. In addition, during the second quarter of fiscal 2012, we repurchased $37.4 million principal amount of 8.625% Senior Notes due 2017. The aggregate purchase price for these repurchases was $51.7 million and $70.7 million, respectively, for the three and six months ended April 30, 2012, plus accrued and unpaid interest. These repurchases resulted in a gain on extinguishment of debt of $23.3 million and $48.0 million, respectively, for the three and six months ended April 30, 2012, net of the write-off of unamortized discounts and fees. The gain is included in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations as “Gain on extinguishment of debt”. Certain of these repurchases were funded with the proceeds from our April 11, 2012 issuance of 25,000,000 shares of our Class A Common Stock (see Note 16).

 

During the second quarter of fiscal 2012, we also purchased pursuant to agreements with bondholders, $9.1 million aggregate principal amount of our outstanding 8.625% Senior Notes due 2017 in exchange for Class A Common Stock, as discussed in Note 16. These transactions resulted in a gain on extinguishment of debt of $3.5 million for the three months ended April 30, 2012. The gain is included in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations as “Gain on extinguishment of debt.”

 

During fiscal 2011 and 2012 and in the first half of fiscal 2013, Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”), Moody’s Investor Services (“Moody’s”) and Standard and Poor’s (“S&P”) took certain rating actions as follows:

 

 

On June 28, 2011, S&P downgraded our corporate credit rating from CCC+ to CCC.

 

On September 8, 2011, Moody’s downgraded our corporate family and probability of default ratings to Caa2 from Caa1. Moody’s also lowered the rating on our 10.625% senior secured notes to B2 from B1 and our senior unsecured notes to Caa3 from Caa2. The rating on our preferred stock was affirmed at Ca, and our speculative grade liquidity assessment remained SGL-3.

 

 
39

 

 

 

On October 5, 2011, S&P downgraded our corporate credit ratings and its ratings on our 10.625% senior secured notes to “CC” from “CCC”. S&P also lowered the rating on our senior unsecured notes to C from CC.

On October 20, 2011, Moody’s changed our probability of default ratings to Caa2/LD from Caa2 and also lowered the rating on our 10.625% senior secured notes to B3 from B2 and assigned a rating of B3 to our 2.0% and 5.0% senior secured notes (issued in November 2011). Subsequently, on October 25, 2011, the LD designation on our probability of default ratings was removed.

On October 29, 2011, S&P lowered our corporate credit rating to Selective Default (“SD”) from CC and lowered our rating on our senior unsecured notes from C to D.Subsequently, on November 3, 2011, S&P raised the Company’s corporate credit rating to CCC- from SD.S&P also raised our ratings on our 10.625% senior secured notes to CCC- from CC and our senior unsecured notes to CC from D.

On November 2, 2011, Fitch lowered our Issuer Default Rating (“IDR”) to Restricted Default (“RD”) from CCC. Subsequently, on November 14, 2011, Fitch raised our IDR from RD back to CCC.

On July 27, 2012, S&P revised its outlook on the Company to positive from negative. At the same time, it affirmed its ratings on the Company, including the “CCC-” corporate credit rating.

On November 5, 2012, S&P raised our corporate credit rating to CCC+ from CCC- and removed us from CreditWatch positive. On the same date, S&P also raised the ratings on our 2021 Notes to CCC from CC and on our senior unsecured notes (due 2014-2017) to CCC- from CC, as well as removed them from CreditWatch positive.

On April 23, 2013, S&P raised our corporate credit rating to B- from CCC+. On the same date, S&P raised the issue ratings on our First Lien Notes to B- from CCC+ and Second Lien Notes to CCC from CCC-. In addition, S&P raised the rating on our 2021 Notes to CCC+ from CCC and on our senior unsecured notes (due 2014-2017) to CCC from CCC-.

 

Downgrades in our credit ratings do not accelerate the scheduled maturity dates of our debt or affect the interest rates charged on any of our debt issues or our debt covenant requirements or cause any other operating issue. A potential risk from negative changes in our credit ratings is that they may make it more difficult or costly for us to access capital. However, due to our available cash resources, the downgrades and revisions to our credit ratings in 2011 or 2012 discussed above have not impacted management’s operating plans, or our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

 

 Total inventory, excluding consolidated inventory not owned, increased $38.3 million during the six months ended April 30, 2013.  Total inventory, excluding consolidated inventory not owned, increased in the Mid-Atlantic by $20.5 million, in the Midwest by $7.0 million, and in the Southwest by $35.3 million. This increase was offset by decreases in the Northeast of $13.8 million, in the Southeast of $2.2 million, and in the West of $8.5 million. The increases were primarily attributable to new land purchases and land development during the six months ended April 30, 2013, offset by home deliveries. The decreases in the Northeast, Southeast, and West during the six months ended April 30, 2013, were due to delivering homes at a faster pace than purchasing new land to replenish our inventory.  During the six months ended April 30, 2013, we incurred $1.5 million in impairments, primarily in the Northeast.  In addition, we wrote-off costs in the amount of $1.4 million during the six months ended April 30, 2013 related to land options that expired or that we terminated, as the communities’ forecasted profitability was not projected to produce adequate returns on investment commensurate with the risk.  In the last few years, we have been able to acquire new land parcels at prices that we believe will generate reasonable returns under current homebuilding market conditions. There can be no assurances that this trend will continue in the near term. Substantially all homes under construction or completed and included in inventory at April 30, 2013 are expected to be closed during the next 12 months.  

  

 
40

 

 

The total inventory increase discussed above excluded the increase in consolidated inventory not owned of $15.5 million. Consolidated inventory not owned consists of other options that were added to our balance sheet in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The increase from October 31, 2012 to April 30, 2013, was due to sale and leaseback of certain model homes and land banking transactions during the first six months of fiscal 2013.  During fiscal 2012 and 2013, we sold and leased back certain of our model homes with the right to participate in the potential profit when each home is sold to a third party at the end of the respective lease. As a result of our continued involvement for accounting purposes in accordance with ASC 360-20-40-38, these sale and leaseback transactions are considered a financing rather than a sale for accounting purposes. Therefore, for purposes of our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet, at April 30, 2013, inventory of $34.2 million was recorded to consolidated inventory not owned, with a corresponding amount of $33.6 million recorded to liabilities from inventory not owned. In addition, we entered into a land banking arrangement in fiscal 2012 with GSO Capital Partners LP (“GSO”) that continued in fiscal 2013 whereby we sold a portfolio of our land parcels to GSO, and GSO provided us an option to purchase back finished lots on a quarterly basis. Because of our option to repurchase these parcels, for accounting purposes in accordance with ASC 360-20-40-38, this transaction is considered a financing rather than a sale. For purposes of our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet, at April 30, 2013, inventory of $71.9 million was recorded to consolidated inventory not owned, with a corresponding amount of $57.5 million recorded to liabilities from inventory not owned for the amount of net cash received from the transactions.

 

When possible, we option property for development prior to acquisition. By optioning property, we are only subject to the loss of the cost of the option and predevelopment costs if we choose not to exercise the option. As a result, our commitment for major land acquisitions is reduced. The costs associated with optioned properties are included in “Land and land options held for future development or sale inventory”. Also included in "Land and land options held for future development or sale inventory" are amounts associated with inventory in mothballed communities. We mothball (or stop development on) certain communities when we determine the current performance does not justify further investment at the time. That is, we believe we will generate higher returns if we decide against spending money to improve land today and save the raw land until such times as the markets improve or we determine to sell the property.  As of April 30, 2013, we have mothballed land in 52 communities. The book value associated with these communities at April 30, 2013 was $125.2 million, net of impairment charges recorded in prior periods of $455.2 million. We continually review communities to determine if mothballing is appropriate. During the first half of fiscal 2013, we mothballed one community, and re-activated two communities which were previously mothballed. Our inventory representing “Land and land options held for future development or sale” at April 30, 2013, on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, increased by $9.3 million compared to October 31, 2012.  The increase was primarily due to the acquisition of new land in all segments during the first six months of 2013, offset by the movement of certain of our communities from held for future development to sold and unsold homes and lots under development during the period, combined with land sales in the Northeast and Southwest.

 

Inventories held for sale, which are land parcels where we have decided not to build homes, represented $1.8 million of our total inventories at April 30, 2013, and are reported at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell. In determining fair value for land held for sale, management considers, among other things, prices for land in recent comparable sale transactions, market analysis studies, which include the estimated price a willing buyer would pay for the land (other than in a forced liquidation sale) and recent bona fide offers received from outside third parties.

 

The following tables summarize home sites included in our total residential real estate. The increase in total home sites available at April 30, 2013 compared to October 31, 2012 is attributable to signing new land option agreements and acquiring new land parcels, offset by terminating certain option agreements and delivering homes.

 

 

Active

Communities(1)

Active

Communities

Homes

Proposed

Developable

Homes

Total

Homes

April 30, 2013:

                               
                                 

Northeast

    15     1,522     2,999     4,521

Mid-Atlantic

    25     2,337     2,793     5,130

Midwest

    20     2,543     1,042     3,585

Southeast

    19     1,099     1,370     2,469

Southwest

    88     4,524     1,671     6,195

West

    10     1,443     5,013     6,456
                                 

Consolidated total

    177     13,468     14,888     28,356
                                 

Unconsolidated joint ventures

    13     1,369     532     1,901
                                 

Total including unconsolidated joint ventures

    190     14,837     15,420     30,257
                                 

Owned

            6,783     9,129     15,912

Optioned

            6,471     5,759     12,230
                                 

Controlled lots

            13,254     14,888     28,142
                                 

Construction to permanent financing lots

            214     -     214
                                 

Consolidated total

            13,468     14,888     28,356
                                 

Lots controlled by unconsolidated joint ventures

            1,369     532     1,901
                                 

Total including unconsolidated joint ventures

            14,837     15,420     30,257

 

(1)  Active communities are open for sale communities with 10 or more home sites available.

  

 
41

 

 

 

 

Active

Communities(1)

Active

Communities

Homes

Proposed

Developable

Homes

Total

Homes

October 31, 2012:

                               
                                 

Northeast

    16     1,611     2,752     4,363

Mid-Atlantic

    20     2,225     3,653     5,878

Midwest

    21     2,259     945     3,204

Southeast

    19     848     1,331     2,179

Southwest

    84     4,180     1,573     5,753

West

    12     1,758     4,884     6,642
                                 

Consolidated total

    172     12,881     15,138     28,019
                                 

Unconsolidated joint ventures

    17     1,500     274     1,774
                                 

Total including unconsolidated joint ventures

    189     14,381     15,412     29,793
                                 

Owned

            6,675     9,752     16,427

Optioned

            6,032     5,386     11,418
                                 

Controlled lots

            12,707     15,138     27,845
                                 

Construction to permanent financing lots

            174     -     174
                                 

Consolidated total

            12,881     15,138     28,019
                                 

Lots controlled by unconsolidated joint ventures

            1,500     274     1,774
                                 

Total including unconsolidated joint ventures

            14,381     15,412     29,793

 

(1)  Active communities are open for sale communities with 10 or more home sites available. 

 

 
42

 

  

The following table summarizes our started or completed unsold homes and models, excluding unconsolidated joint ventures, in active and substantially completed communities. Started or completed unsold homes decreased in total, and on a per active selling community basis, from October 31, 2012 to April 30, 2013, primarily due to increased sales pace in many of our homebuilding markets. Model homes increased in total from October 31, 2012 to April 30, 2013, primarily due to newly opened communities in the Mid-Atlantic, but were flat on a per community basis for both periods.

 

 

April 30, 2013

October 31, 2012

                                                 
 

Unsold

Homes

Models

Total

Unsold

Homes

Models

Total

                                                 

Northeast

    119     10     129     116     9     125

Mid-Atlantic

    53     20     73     65     7     72

Midwest

    21     18     39     19     22     41

Southeast

    64     7     71     55     10     65

Southwest

    309     19     328     355     19     374

West

    15     7     22     39     6     45

Total

    581     81     662     649     73     722

Started or completed unsold homes and models per active selling communities (1)

    3.3     0.4     3.7     3.8     0.4     4.2

 

 

(1)

Active selling communities (which are communities that are open for sale with 10 or more home sites available) were

177 and 172 at April 30, 2013 and October 31, 2012, respectively. Ratio does not include substantially completed communities, which are communities with less than 10 home sites available.

 

 

 
43

 

  

 Homebuilding restricted cash and cash equivalents decreased $9.0 million to $32.8 million at April 30, 2013 compared to October 31, 2012. The decrease was primarily related to a reduction in our surety bond escrow cash requirements during the first six months of fiscal 2013. Also contributing to the decrease was the release of cash securitizing letters of credit due to a reduction in our outstanding letters of credit.  

 

Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures decreased $8.3 million to $52.8 million at April 30, 2013 compared to October 31, 2012. The decrease was primarily due to the timing of advances at April 30, 2013 as compared to October 31, 2012. Partially offsetting this decrease was an increase related to the investment in a new homebuilding joint venture during the first six months of fiscal 2013. As of April 30, 2013, we had investments in seven homebuilding joint ventures and two land development joint ventures. We have no guarantees associated with our unconsolidated joint ventures, other than guarantees limited only to performance and completion of development, environmental indemnification and standard warranty and representation against fraud misrepresentation and similar actions, including a voluntary bankruptcy.

 

Receivables, deposits and notes decreased $16.7 million from October 31, 2012 to $45.1 million at April 30, 2013. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in receivables for home closings as a result of cash in transit from various title companies at the end of the respective periods, as well as reimbursements from our insurance carriers for certain warranty claims.

 

Prepaid expenses and other assets were as follows as of:

 

(In thousands)

April 30, 2013

October 31, 2012

Dollar Change

                         

Prepaid insurance

  $ 2,996   $ 1,729   $ 1,267

Prepaid project costs

    23,883     24,008     (125

)

Net rental properties

    1,999     5,430     (3,431

)

Other prepaids

    25,948     26,086     (138

)

Other assets

    301     9,441     (9,140

)

Total

  $ 55,127   $ 66,694   $ (11,567

)

 

Prepaid insurance increased due to premium payments made on certain liability insurance policies during the six months ended April 30, 2013.  These costs are amortized over the life of the associated insurance policy, which can be one to three years. Prepaid project costs consist of community specific expenditures that are used over the life of the community. Such prepaids are expensed as homes are delivered.  Net rental properties decreased primarily due to the sale of our last senior residential rental property during the second quarter of fiscal 2013. The remaining balance of net rental properties represents leasehold improvements for an office building that we fully sub-lease. Other assets decreased mainly due to the sale of Company-owned life insurance policies to a third party during the first six months for approximately book value.

 

Financial Services restricted cash and cash equivalents decreased $5.8 million to $16.7 million at April 30, 2013 compared to October 31, 2012. The decrease is primarily due to escrow cash at our title company related to the timing of home closings at the end of the first half of fiscal 2013 compared to the end of fiscal 2012.

 

Financial Services - Mortgage loans held for sale consist primarily of residential mortgages receivable held for sale, of which $82.9 million and $115.0 million at April 30, 2013 and October 31, 2012, respectively, were being temporarily warehoused and are awaiting sale in the secondary mortgage market. The decrease in mortgage loans held for sale from October 31, 2012 is related to a decrease in the volume of loans originated during the second quarter of 2013 compared to the fourth quarter of 2012, partially offset by an increase in the average loan value.

 

Financial Services – Other assets decreased $8.0 million to $2.2 million at April 30, 2013 compared to October 31, 2012. The decrease is related to the closing of mortgages in the first quarter of fiscal 2013, which were wired out in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, in anticipation of home closings on the last days of October 2012 that did not occur until early November, due to weather-related delays from Hurricane Sandy.

 

Income taxes payable of $6.9 million at October 31, 2012 decreased $8.4 million in the six months ended April 30, 2013 to a receivable of $1.5 million primarily due to the release of reserves for a federal tax position that was settled with the Internal Revenue Service during the first quarter of fiscal 2013 and a favorable state tax audit settlement in the second quarter of fiscal 2013, offset slightly by state tax expense.

  

 
44

 

 

Nonrecourse mortgages decreased to $30.4 million at April 30, 2013 from $38.3 million at October 31, 2012.  The decrease was primarily due to a property in the Mid-Atlantic, which we had previously acquired when our partner in a land development joint venture transferred its interest in the venture to us, that was foreclosed on. As a result, the non-recourse liability of $9.5 million and corresponding inventory balance were taken off our balance sheet for the second quarter of fiscal 2013. Also contributing to the decrease during the period were principal payments made on certain of our existing non-recourse mortgages, partially offset by increased borrowings on certain of our existing non-recourse mortgages and new mortgages for communities in the Northeast, the Midwest and the Southwest obtained during the six months ended April 30, 2013.  

 

Accounts payable and other liabilities are as follows:

 

(In thousands)

April 30, 2013

October 31, 2012

Dollar Change

                         

Accounts payable

  $ 81,553   $ 89,310   $ (7,757

)

Reserves

    130,857     129,025     1,832

Accrued expenses

    24,542     29,969     (5,427

)

Accrued compensation

    20,803     26,625     (5,822

)

Other liabilities

    13,981     21,581     (7,600

)

Total

  $ 271,736   $ 296,510   $ (24,774

)

 

The decrease in accounts payable was primarily due to the lower volume of deliveries in the second quarter of fiscal 2013 compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012. Reserves increased during the period as new accruals for general liability insurance exceeded payments for warranty related claims. The decrease in accrued expenses is primarily due to decreases in property tax accruals and amortization of abandoned lease space accruals. The decrease in accrued compensation is primarily due to the payment of our fiscal year 2012 bonuses during the first quarter of 2013 only partially offset by two quarters of fiscal 2013 accrued bonuses. Other liabilities decreased primarily due to an installment payment made to a former joint venture partner for the buy-out of their share of the joint venture during fiscal 2012.

 

Customer deposits increased $9.1 million from $23.8 million at October 31, 2012 to $32.9 million at April 30, 2013.  This increase is primarily attributable to the increase in backlog during the period.

 

Liabilities from inventory not owned increased $13.4 million to $91.2 million at April 30, 2013 from $77.8 million at October 31, 2012. The increase is primarily due to additional transactions under our land banking and model home programs described above.

 

Financial Services - Accounts payable and other liabilities decreased $9.9 million to $27.7 million at April 30, 2013. The decrease is primarily associated with the decrease in Financial Services restricted cash at our title company, due to the timing of home closings during the second quarter of fiscal 2013 compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012.

 

Financial Services - Mortgage warehouse lines of credit decreased $41.5 million from $107.5 million at October 31, 2012, to $66.0 million at April 30, 2013. The decrease correlates to the decrease in the volume of mortgage loans held for sale during the period, along with the decrease in financial services other assets, discussed above.

 

Accrued interest increased $9.8 million to $30.0 million at April 30, 2013. This increase is due to the timing of semi-annual interest payments on our bonds. 

 

 
45

 

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 2013 COMPARED TO THE THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 2012

 

Total revenues

 

Compared to the same prior period, revenues increased/(decreased) as follows:

 

 

Three Months Ended

(Dollars in thousands)

April 30, 2013

April 30, 2012

Dollar Change

Percentage Change

Homebuilding:

                               

Sale of homes

  $ 409,576   $ 312,494   $ 97,082     31.1 %

Land sales and other revenues

    2,740     20,691     (17,951

)

    (86.8 )%

Financial services

    10,682     8,513     2,169     25.5 %

Total revenues

  $ 422,998   $ 341,698   $ 81,300     23.8 %

 

 

 

Six Months Ended

(Dollars in thousands)

April 30, 2013

April 30, 2012

Dollar Change

Percentage Change

Homebuilding:

                               

Sale of homes

  $ 743,857   $ 564,824   $ 179,033     31.7 %

Land sales and other revenues

    15,011     31,270     (16,259

)

    (52.0 )%

Financial services

    22,341     15,203     7,138     47.0 %

Total revenues

  $ 781,209   $ 611,297   $ 169,912     27.8 %

 

 

Homebuilding

 

For the three and six months ended April 30, 2013, sale of homes revenues increased $97.1 million, or 31.1%, and $179.0 million, or 31.7%, respectively, as compared to the same period of the prior year.  These increases were primarily due to the number of home deliveries increasing 20.3% and 19.9% for the three and six months ended April 30, 2013, respectively, compared to the three and six months ended April 30, 2012, as well as the increase in average price per home.  The average price per home increased to $326,000 in the three months ended April 30, 2013 from $300,000 in the three months ended April 30, 2012.  The average price per home increased to $321,000 in the six months ended April 30, 2013 from $292,000 in the six months ended April 30, 2012.  The fluctuations in average prices were a result of geographic and community mix of our deliveries, as well as price increases in individual communities.  During the first six months of 2013, we have been able to raise prices in a majority of our communities.  Land sales are ancillary to our homebuilding operations and are expected to continue in the future but may significantly fluctuate up or down.  For further details on the decreases in land sales and other revenues, see the section titled “Land Sales and Other Revenues” below.

 

 

 
46

 

 

 

Information on homes delivered by segment is set forth below:

 

 

Three Months Ended April 30,

Six Months Ended April 30,

(Dollars in thousands)

2013

2012

% Change

2013

2012

% Change

                                                 

Northeast:

Dollars

$ 53,099 $ 49,834 6.6

%

$ 107,333 $ 82,911 29.5

%

Homes

113 115 (1.7 )% 237 191 24.1

%

Mid-Atlantic:

Dollars

$ 57,706 $ 64,432 (10.4 )% $ 110,152 $ 117,545 (6.3 )%

Homes

135 157 (14.0 )% 252 283 (11.0 )%

Midwest:

Dollars

$ 39,356 $ 23,590 66.8

%

$ 71,528 $ 41,747 71.3

%

Homes

159 109 45.9

%

297 189 57.1

%

Southeast:

Dollars

$ 37,119 $ 21,462 72.9

%

$ 65,723 $ 41,587 58.0

%

Homes

135 93 45.2

%

244 180 35.6

%

Southwest:

Dollars

$ 160,988 $ 114,284 40.9

%

$ 281,717 $ 205,437 37.1

%

Homes

571 446 28.0

%

1,019 834 22.2

%

West:

Dollars

$ 61,308 $ 38,892 57.6

%

$ 107,404 $ 75,597 42.1

%

Homes

142 123 15.4

%

268 255 5.1

%

Consolidated total:

Dollars

$ 409,576 $ 312,494 31.1

%

$ 743,857 $ 564,824 31.7

%

Homes

1,255 1,043 20.3

%

2,317 1,932 19.9

%

Unconsolidated joint ventures:

Dollars

$ 74,119 $ 77,066 (3.8 )% $ 133,113 $ 129,466 2.8

%

Homes

169 164 3.0

%

295 287 2.8

%

Totals:

Housing revenues

$ 483,695 $ 389,560 24.2

%

$ 876,970 $ 694,290 26.3

%

Homes delivered

1,424 1,207 18.0

%

2,612 2,219 17.7

%

 

The overall increase in housing revenues and deliveries during the three and six months ended April 30, 2013, as compared to the same periods of the prior year, was primarily attributed to market improvements demonstrated by an increase in sales pace per community from 8.2 to 9.6 for the three months ended April 30, 2012 and 2013, respectively, and from 13.1 to 16.5 for the six months ended April 30, 2012 and 2013, respectively. 

 

 
47

 

 

 

An important indicator of our future results are recently signed contracts and our home contract backlog for future deliveries. Our sales contracts and homes in contract backlog by segment are set forth below:                              

                                       


    Net Contracts (1) for the  

Net Contracts (1) for the

Contract Backlog as of

Three Months Ended April 30

Six Months Ended April 30,

April 30,

(Dollars in thousands)

2013

2012

2013

2012

2013

2012

                                                 

Northeast:

                                               

Dollars

  $ 86,311   $ 54,887   $ 131,667   $ 83,085   $ 139,750   $ 114,148

Homes

    183     126     288     194     315     268
                                                 

Mid-Atlantic:

                                               

Dollars

  $ 89,896   $ 82,121   $ 159,818   $ 131,744   $ 168,438   $ 151,456

Homes

    181     191     327     318     341     360
                                                 

Midwest:

                                               

Dollars

  $ 60,898   $ 45,431   $ 100,885   $ 73,839   $ 125,073   $ 79,138

Homes

    247     206     400     349     530     386
                                                 

Southeast:

                                               

Dollars

  $ 51,479   $ 39,305   $ 84,743   $ 63,776   $ 81,715   $ 52,261

Homes

    184     165     304     273     295     217
                                                 

Southwest:

                                               

Dollars

  $ 235,517   $ 166,529   $ 394,786   $ 270,388   $ 273,910   $ 152,629

Homes

    779     655     1,338     1,053     825     550
                                                 

West:

                                               

Dollars

  $ 55,461   $ 61,670   $ 104,609   $ 91,876   $ 76,082   $ 49,319

Homes

    121     183     233     279     156     140
                                                 

Consolidated total:

                                               

Dollars

  $ 579,562   $ 449,943   $ 976,508   $ 714,708   $ 864,968   $ 598,951

Homes

    1,695     1,526     2,890     2,466     2,462     1,921
                                                 

Unconsolidated joint ventures:

                                               

Dollars

  $ 116,572   $ 119,827   $ 182,790   $ 181,040   $ 159,583   $ 163,842

Homes

    255     249     404     388     365     377
                                                 

Totals:

                                               

Housing revenues

  $ 696,134   $ 569,770   $ 1,159,298   $ 895,748   $ 1,024,551   $ 762,793

Homes delivered

    1,950     1,775     3,294     2,854     2,827     2,298

 

(1)  Net contracts are defined as new contracts executed during the period for the purchase of homes, less cancellations of contracts in the same period. 

 

In the first half of 2013, our open for sale community count increased to 177 from 172 at October 31, 2012, which is the net result of opening 51 new communities and closing 46 communities since the beginning of fiscal 2013.  Our reported level of sales contracts (net of cancellations) has been impacted by an increase in the pace of sales in most of the Company’s segments, due to better market conditions and historically low interest rates on mortgages. Contracts per average active selling community for the three and six months ended April 30, 2013 were 9.6 and 16.5, respectively, compared to 8.2 and 13.1, respectively, for the same period in the prior year, demonstrating a meaningful increase in sales pace over the prior year.

 

 
48

 

 

  Cancellation rates represent the number of cancelled contracts in the quarter divided by the number of gross sales contracts executed in the quarter.  For comparison, the following are historical cancellation rates, excluding unconsolidated joint ventures:         

 

Quarter

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

First

    16 %     21 %     22 %     21 %     31 %

Second

    15 %     16 %     20 %     17 %     24 %

Third

            20 %     18 %     23 %     23 %

Fourth

            23 %     21 %     24 %     24 %

 

Another common and meaningful way to analyze our cancellation trends is to compare the number of contract cancellations as a percentage of beginning backlog.  The following table provides this historical comparison, excluding unconsolidated joint ventures:         

 

Quarter

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

First

    12 %     18 %     18 %     13 %     22 %

Second

    15 %     21 %     22 %     17 %     31 %

Third

            18 %     20 %     15 %     23 %

Fourth

            18 %     18 %     25 %     20 %

 

Historically, most cancellations occur within the legal rescission period, which varies by state but is generally less than two weeks after the signing of the contract.  Cancellations also occur as a result of a buyer's failure to qualify for a mortgage, which generally occurs during the first few weeks after signing.  However, beginning in fiscal 2007, we started experiencing higher than normal numbers of cancellations later in the construction process.  These cancellations were related primarily to falling prices, sometimes due to new discounts offered by us and other builders, leading the buyer to lose confidence in their contract price and due to tighter mortgage underwriting criteria leading to some customers’ inability to be approved for a mortgage loan.  In some cases, the buyer will walk away from a significant nonrefundable deposit that we recognize as other revenues.  Our cancellation rate based on gross sales contracts and also as a percentage of beginning backlog for the first half of fiscal 2013 was lower than what we believe to be normalized levels. However, it is difficult to predict if this trend will continue.

 

 

 
49

 

 

 

“Total cost of sales” includes expenses for consolidated housing and land and lot sales, including inventory impairment loss and land option write-offs (defined as “land charges” in the tables below).  A breakout of such expenses for housing sales and housing gross margin is set forth below:

 

 

Three Months Ended

April 30,

Six Months Ended

April 30,

(Dollars in thousands)

2013

2012

2013

2012

                                 

Sale of homes

  $ 409,576   $ 312,494   $ 743,857   $ 564,824
                                 

Cost of sales, net of impairment reversals and excluding interest

    332,134     258,034     609,692     468,608
                                 

Homebuilding gross margin, before cost of sales interest expense and land charges

    77,442     54,460     134,165     96,216
                                 

Cost of sales interest expense, excluding land sales interest expense

    11,227     9,715     21,387     20,651
                                 

Homebuilding gross margin, after cost of sales interest expense, before land charges

    66,215     44,745     112,778     75,565
                                 

Land charges

    2,191     3,216     2,856     6,541
                                 

Homebuilding gross margin, after cost of sales interest expense and land charges

  $ 64,024   $ 41,529   $ 109,922   $ 69,024
                                 

Gross margin percentage, before cost of sales interest expense and land charges

    18.9

%

    17.4

%

    18.0

%

    17.0

%

                                 

Gross margin percentage, after cost of sales interest expense, before land charges

    16.2

%

    14.3

%

    15.2

%

    13.4

%

                                 

Gross margin percentage, after cost of sales interest expense and land charges

    15.6

%

    13.3

%

    14.8

%

    12.2

%

 

 

 
50

 

  

Cost of sales expenses as a percentage of consolidated home sales revenues are presented below:

 

 

Three Months Ended

April 30,

Six Months Ended

April 30,

 

2013

2012

2013

2012

                                 

Sale of homes

    100

%

    100

%

    100

%

    100

%

                                 

Cost of sales, net of impairment reversals and excluding interest:

                               

Housing, land and development costs

    71.1 %     71.1 %     71.2 %     71.1 %

Commissions

    3.3 %     3.5 %     3.4 %     3.5 %

Financing concessions

    1.5 %     1.8 %     1.5 %     1.8 %

Overheads

    5.2 %     6.2 %     5.9 %     6.6 %

Total cost of sales, before interest expense and land charges

    81.1 %     82.6 %     82.0 %     83.0 %

Gross margin percentage, before cost of sales interest expense and land charges

    18.9 %     17.4 %     18.0 %     17.0 %
                                 

Cost of sales interest

    2.7 %     3.1 %     2.8 %     3.6 %

Gross margin percentage, after cost of sales interest expense and before land charges

    16.2 %     14.3 %     15.2 %     13.4 %

 

We sell a variety of home types in various communities, each yielding a different gross margin.  As a result, depending on the mix of communities delivering homes, consolidated gross margin may fluctuate up or down.  Total homebuilding gross margin percentage, before interest expense and land impairment and option write off charges, increased to 18.9% during the three months ended April 30, 2013, compared to 17.4% for the same period last year and increased to 18.0% during the six months ended April 30, 2013 compared to 17.0% for the same period last year.  The increase in gross margin percentage is primarily due to the mix of higher margin homes delivered in the second quarter of 2013 compared to the same period of the prior year.  This mix change is a result of delivering more homes in communities where we acquired the land more recently at lower costs than land acquired before the housing downturn. In addition, we have begun to see an increase in the pace of sales in some of our markets and, as a result, in a majority of communities we have been able to increase base prices and increase lot premiums, without adversely impacting the sales pace.  For the three months ended April 30, 2013 and 2012, gross margin was favorably impacted by the reversal of prior period inventory impairments of $12.4 million and $20.8 million, respectively, which represented 3.0% and 6.7%, respectively, of “Sale of homes” revenue. For the six months ended April 30, 2013 and 2012, gross margin was favorably impacted by the reversal of prior period inventory impairments of $27.6 million and $37.7 million, respectively, which represented 3.7% and 6.7%, respectively, of “Sale of homes” revenue.

 

Reflected as inventory impairment loss and land option write-offs in cost of sales (“land charges”), we have written-off or written-down certain inventories totaling $2.2 million and $3.2 million during the three months ended April 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $2.9 million and $6.5 million during the six months ended April 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, to their estimated fair value.  During the three and six months ended April 30, 2013, we wrote-off residential land options and approval and engineering costs amounting to $1.3 million and $1.4 million compared to $1.1 million and $1.3 million for the three and six months ended April 30, 2012, which are included in the total land charges discussed above.  When a community is redesigned or abandoned, engineering costs are written-off.  Option, approval and engineering costs are written-off when a community’s pro forma profitability is not projected to produce adequate returns on the investment commensurate with the risk and we believe it is probable we will cancel the option.  Such write-offs were located in our Northeast, Southeast and Southwest segments in the first half of fiscal 2013, and in our Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and Southeast segments in the first half of fiscal 2012.  We recorded inventory impairments of $0.9 million and $2.1 million during the three months ended April 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $1.5 million and $5.2 million during the six months ended April 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.  Inventory impairments in the first half of 2013 and 2012 were lower than they had been in several years as we have begun to see some stabilization in prices and sales pace in our segments.  It is difficult to predict if this trend will continue and, should it become necessary to further lower prices, or should the estimates or expectations used in determining estimated cash flows or fair value decrease or differ from current estimates in the future, we may need to recognize additional impairments.  See “Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements” – Note 5 for an additional information of segment impairments.

 

 
51

 

  

Land Sales and Other Revenues:

 

Land sales and other revenues consist primarily of land and lot sales.  A breakout of land and lot sales is set forth below:

 

 

Three Months Ended

April 30,

Six Months Ended

April 30,

(In thousands)

2013

2012

2013

2012

                                 

Land and lot sales

  $ 1,451   $ 18,310   $ 13,278   $ 26,914

Cost of sales, excluding interest

    1,009     13,529     12,206     20,382

Land and lot sales gross margin, excluding interest

    442     4,781     1,072     6,532

Land sales interest expense

    47     3,602     167     5,142

Land and lot sales gross margin, including interest

  $ 395   $ 1,179   $ 905   $ 1,390

 

Land sales are ancillary to our residential homebuilding operations and are expected to continue in the future but may significantly fluctuate up or down.  Although we budget land sales, they are often dependent upon receiving approvals and entitlements, the timing of which can be uncertain.  As a result, projecting the amount and timing of land sales is difficult.  There were two land sales in the three months ended April 30, 2013, compared to six in the same period of the prior year, which resulted in a decrease of $16.9 million in land sales revenue.  There were six land sales for the six months ended April 30, 2013, compared to eleven in the same period of the prior year, which resulted in a decrease of $13.6 million in land sales revenue.

 

Land sales and other revenues decreased $18.0 million and $16.3 million for the three and six months ended April 30, 2013, compared to the same period in the prior year.  Other revenues include income from contract cancellations where the deposit has been forfeited due to contract terminations, interest income, cash discounts, buyer walk-aways and miscellaneous one-time receipts.  For the three and six months ended April 30, 2013, compared to the three and six months ended April 30, 2012, there were minor fluctuations in other revenues, resulting in a net decrease of $1.1 million for the three months ended April 30, 2013 as compared to the prior year and $2.7 million for the six months ended April 30, 2013 as compared to the prior year.

 

Homebuilding Selling, General and Administrative

 

Homebuilding selling, general and administrative expenses increased $2.7 million and $6.2 million for the three and six months ended April 30, 2013, compared to the same period last year mainly due to higher insurance costs and additional overhead as a result of the increase in sales and deliveries of homes. However, these expenses increased at a slower rate than the increase in revenues, therefore, homebuilding selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of homebuilding revenues improved to 9.2% and 9.8% for the three and six months ended April 30, 2013, compared to 10.5% and 11.5% for the three and six months ended April 30, 2012. 

 

 
52

 

 

 

 

HOMEBUILDING OPERATIONS BY SEGMENT

 

Segment Analysis

 

 

Three Months Ended April 30,

(Dollars in thousands, except average sales price)

2013

2012

Variance

Variance %

                                 

Northeast

                               

Homebuilding revenue

  $ 54,236   $ 51,775   $ 2,461     4.8

%

Loss before income taxes

  $ (4,651

)

  $ (125

)

  $ (4,526

)

    3,620.8

%

Homes delivered

    113     115     (2

)

    (1.7

)%

Average sales price

  $ 469,907   $ 433,339   $ 36,568     8.4

%

                                 

Mid-Atlantic

                               

Homebuilding revenue

  $ 58,405   $ 64,776   $ (6,371

)

    (9.8

)%

Income before income taxes

  $ 3,344   $ 5,058   $ (1,714

)

    (33.9

)%

Homes delivered

    135     157     (22

)

    (14.0

)%

Average sales price

  $ 427,450   $ 410,395   $ 17,055     4.2

%

                                 

Midwest

                               

Homebuilding revenue

  $ 39,393   $ 23,631   $ 15,762     66.7

%

Income (loss) before income taxes

  $ 2,279   $ (91

)

  $ 2,370     (2,604.4

)%

Homes delivered

    159     109     50     45.9

%

Average sales price

  $ 247,522   $ 216,422   $ 31,100     14.4

%

                                 

Southeast

                               

Homebuilding revenue

  $ 37,192   $ 36,346   $ 846     2.3

%

Income (loss) before income taxes

  $ 2,719   $ (3,876

)

  $ 6,595     (170.1

)%

Homes delivered

    135     93     42     45.2

%

Average sales price

  $ 274,952   $ 230,774   $ 44,178     19.1

%

                                 

Southwest

                               

Homebuilding revenue

  $ 161,813   $ 114,716   $ 47,097     41.1

%

Income before income taxes

  $ 16,538   $ 8,235   $ 8,303     100.8

%

Homes delivered

    571     446     125     28.0

%

Average sales price

  $ 281,941   $ 256,242   $ 25,699     10.0

%

                                 

West

                               

Homebuilding revenue

  $ 61,326   $ 42,011   $ 19,315     46.0

%

Income (loss) before income taxes

  $ 2,422   $ (2,948

)

  $ 5,370     (182.2

)%

Homes delivered

    142     123     19     15.4

%

Average sales price

  $ 431,749   $ 316,195   $ 115,554     36.5

%

 

 

 
53

 

  

 

 

Six Months Ended April 30,

(Dollars in thousands, except average sales price)

2013

2012

Variance

Variance %

                                 

Northeast

                               

Homebuilding revenue

  $ 109,071   $ 93,307   $ 15,764     16.9

%

Loss before income taxes

  $ (9,538

)

  $ (5,773

)

  $ (3,765

)

    65.2

%

Homes delivered

    237     191     46     24.1

%

Average sales price

  $ 452,884   $ 434,089   $ 18,795     4.3

%

                                 

Mid-Atlantic

                               

Homebuilding revenue

  $ 111,124   $ 119,171   $ (8,047

)

    (6.8

)%

Income before income taxes

  $ 4,269   $ 7,669   $ (3,400

)

    (44.3

)%

Homes delivered

    252     283     (31

)

    (11.0

)%

Average sales price

  $ 437,113   $ 415,353   $ 21,760     5.2

%

                                 

Midwest

                               

Homebuilding revenue

  $ 71,726   $ 41,829   $ 29,897     71.5

%

Income (loss) before income taxes

  $ 3,479   $ (1,247

)

  $ 4,726     (379.0

)%

Homes delivered

    297     189     108     57.1

%

Average sales price

  $ 240,834   $ 220,884   $ 19,950     9.0

%

                                 

Southeast

                               

Homebuilding revenue

  $ 66,153   $ 56,555   $ 9,598     17.0

%

Income (loss) before income taxes

  $ 3,309   $ (6,733

)

  $ 10,042     (149.1

)%

Homes delivered

    244     180     64     35.6

%

Average sales price

  $ 269,357   $ 231,039   $ 38,318     16.6

%

                                 

Southwest

                               

Homebuilding revenue

  $ 293,437   $ 206,540   $ 86,897     42.1

%

Income before income taxes

  $ 24,641   $ 12,785   $ 11,856     92.7

%

Homes delivered

    1,019     834     185     22.2

%

Average sales price

  $ 276,464   $ 246,327   $ 30,137     12.2

%

                                 

West

                               

Homebuilding revenue

  $ 107,429   $ 78,763   $ 28,666     36.4

%

Income (loss) before income taxes

  $ 1,327   $ (3,920

)

  $ 5,247     (133.9

)%

Homes delivered

    268     255     13     5.1

%

Average sales price

  $ 400,761   $ 296,459   $ 104,302     35.2

%

 

 

 
54

 

 

 

 Homebuilding Results by Segment

 

Northeast - Homebuilding revenues increased 4.8% for the three months ended April 30, 2013 compared to the same period of the prior year.  The increase is attributed to an 8.4% increase in average sales price, offset by a 1.7% decrease in homes delivered and a $0.8 million decrease in land sales and other revenue.  The increase in average sales price was the result of the mix of communities delivering in the three months ended April 30, 2013 compared to the same period of 2012, as well as increasing prices in certain communities as the market has improved.

 

Loss before income taxes increased $4.5 million compared to the prior year to a loss of $4.7 million for the three months ended April 30, 2013 compared to the same period of 2012.  This increase is mainly due to an increase of $2.9 million for selling, general and administrative costs due to increased insurance costs and other overhead items. In addition, inventory impairment losses and land option write-offs increased $0.7 million for the three months ended April 30, 2013 compared to the same period of 2012.  Gross margin percentage before interest expense for the three months ended April 30, 2013 was relatively flat compared to the same period of the prior year.

 

Homebuilding revenues increased 16.9% for the six months ended April 30, 2013 compared to the same period of the prior year.  The increase is attributed to a 24.1% increase in homes delivered and a 4.3% increase in average sales price.  The increase in average sales price was the result of the mix of communities delivering in the six months ended April 30, 2013 compared to the same period of 2012, as well as increased prices in certain communities as the market has improved. These increases were partially offset by an $8.7 million decrease in land sales and other revenue.

 

Loss before income taxes increased $3.8 million compared to the prior year to a loss of $9.5 million for the six months ended April 30, 2013.  This increase was mainly due to a $4.7 million increase in selling, general and administrative costs due to increased insurance costs and other overhead items. Gross margin percentage before interest expense for the six months ended April 30, 2013 was relatively flat compared to the same period of the prior year.

 

Mid-Atlantic - Homebuilding revenues decreased 9.8% for the three months ended April 30, 2013 compared to the same period in the prior year.  The decrease was primarily due to a 14.0% decrease in homes delivered, partially offset by a 4.2% increase in average sales price for the three months ended April 30, 2013. While community count increased slightly year over year, during the three months ended April 30, 2012, certain communities were delivering at their peak rate. Those communities have since closed and therefore had few or no deliveries during the three months ended April 30, 2013, while newly opened communities are not yet delivering homes or are in the early stages of delivering homes, thereby causing the decrease in homes delivered period over period. The increase in average sales prices was the result of the mix of communities delivering in the three months ended April 30, 2013 compared to the same period of 2012, as well as increased prices in certain communities as the market has improved.

 

Income before income taxes decreased $1.7 million compared to the prior year to $3.3 million for the three months ended April 30, 2013 due primarily to the decrease in homebuilding revenues discussed above, combined with a decrease in gross margin percentage before interest expense.

 

Homebuilding revenues decreased 6.8% for the six months ended April 30, 2013 compared to the same period in the prior year.  The decrease was primarily due to an 11.0% decrease in homes delivered, partially offset by a 5.2% increase in average sales price for the six months ended April 30, 2013. While community count increased slightly year over year, during the six months ended April 30, 2012, certain communities were delivering at their peak rate. Those communities have since closed and therefore had few or no deliveries during the six months ended April 30, 2013, while newly opened communities are not yet delivering homes or are in the early stages of delivering homes, thereby causing the decrease in homes delivered period over period. The increase in average sales prices was the result of the mix of communities delivering in the six months ended April 30, 2013 compared to the same period of 2012, as well as increased prices in certain communities as the market has improved.

 

Income before income taxes decreased $3.4 million compared to the prior year to $4.3 million for the six months ended April 30, 2013 due primarily to the decrease in homebuilding revenues discussed above, combined with a decrease in gross margin percentage before interest expense.

 

Midwest - Homebuilding revenues increased 66.7% for the three months ended April 30, 2013 compared to the same period in the prior year.  The increase was primarily due to a 45.9% increase in homes delivered and a 14.4% increase in average sales price for the three months ended April 30, 2013. The increase in average sales price was the result of the mix of communities delivering in the three months ended April 30, 2013 compared to the same period of 2012, as well as increased prices in certain communities as the market has improved.

 

Income (loss) before income taxes increased $2.4 million compared to the prior year to a profit of $2.3 million for the three months ended April 30, 2013.  The improvement from a loss to a profit for the three months ended April 30, 2013 was primarily due to the increase in homebuilding revenues discussed above. Gross margin percentage before interest expense for the three months ended April 30, 2013 was relatively flat compared to the same period of the prior year.

  

 
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Homebuilding revenues increased 71.5% for the six months ended April 30, 2013 compared to the same period in the prior year.  The increase was primarily due to a 57.1% increase in homes delivered and a 9.0% increase in average sales price for the six months ended April 30, 2013.  The increase in average sales price was the result of the mix of communities delivering in the six months ended April 30, 2013 compared to the same period of 2012, as well as increased prices in certain communities as the market has improved.

 

      Income (loss) before income taxes increased $4.7 million compared to the prior year to a profit of $3.5 million for the six months ended April 30, 2013.  The improvement from a loss to a profit for the six months ended April 30, 2013 was primarily due to the increase in homebuilding revenue discussed above and a minor increase in gross margin percentage before interest expense for the period.

 

Southeast - Homebuilding revenues increased 2.3% for the three months ended April 30, 2013 compared to the same period in the prior year.  The increase for the three months ended April 30, 2013 was attributed to the 45.2% increase in homes delivered and by a 19.1% increase in average sales price, partially offset by a $14.8 million decrease in land sales and other revenue.  The increase in average sales price was primarily due to the different mix of communities delivering in the three months ended April 30, 2013 compared to the same period of 2012, as well as increased prices in certain communities as the market has improved.

 

Income (loss) before income taxes increased $6.6 million compared to the prior year to a profit of $2.7 million for the three months ended April 30, 2013. The improvement from a loss to a profit for the three months ended April 30, 2013 was primarily due to the increase in homebuilding revenue discussed above, a decrease in inventory impairment losses and land option write-offs of $2.5 million, a decrease of $0.4 million in selling, general and administrative costs and a significant increase in gross margin percentage before interest expense for the period.

 

Homebuilding revenues increased 17.0% for the six months ended April 30, 2013 compared to the same period in the prior year.  The increase for the six months ended April 30, 2013 was attributed to the 35.6% increase in homes delivered and by a 16.6% increase in average sales price, partially offset by a $14.5 million decrease in land sales and other revenue.  The increase in average sales price was primarily due to the different mix of communities delivering in the six months ended April 30, 2013 compared to the same period of 2012, as well as increased prices in certain communities as the market has improved.

 

Income (loss) before income taxes increased $10.0 million compared to the prior year to a profit of $3.3 million for the six months ended April 30, 2013. The improvement from a loss to a profit for the six months ended April 30, 2013 was primarily due to the increase in homebuilding revenue discussed above, a decrease in inventory impairment losses and land option write-offs of $2.9 million, a decrease of $0.8 million in selling, general and administrative costs and a significant increase in gross margin percentage before interest expense for the period.

 

Southwest - Homebuilding revenues increased 41.1% for the three months ended April 30, 2013 compared to the same period in the prior year.  The increase was primarily due to a 28.0% increase in homes delivered and a 10.0% increase in average sales price for the three months ended April 30, 2013, as a result of the different mix of communities delivering in the three months ended April 30, 2013 compared to the same period of 2012, as well as increased prices in certain communities as the market has improved.

 

Income before income taxes increased $8.3 million compared to the prior year to $16.5 million for the three months ended April 30, 2013.  The increase was primarily due to the increase in homebuilding revenues discussed above and a slight increase in gross margin percentage before interest expense for the three months ended April 30, 2013 compared to the same period of the prior year.

 

            Homebuilding revenues increased 42.1% for the six months ended April 30, 2013 compared to the same period in the prior year.  The increase was primarily due to a 22.2% increase in homes delivered and a 12.2% increase in average sales price for the six months ended April 30, 2013, as a result of the different mix of communities delivering in the six months ended April 30, 2013 compared to the same period in 2012, as well as increased prices in certain communities as the market has improved. This was further impacted by a $10.6 million increase in land sale and other revenue for the six months ended April 30, 2013 compared to the same period of the prior year.

 

Income before income taxes increased $11.9 million compared to the prior year to $24.6 million for the six months ended April 30, 2013.  The increase was primarily due to the increases in homebuilding revenue discussed above and a slight increase in gross margin percentage before interest expense for the six months ended April 30, 2013 compared to the same period of the prior year.

 

West - Homebuilding revenues increased 46.0% for the three months ended April 30, 2013 compared to the same period in the prior year.  The increase for the three months ended April 30, 2013 was attributed to a 15.4% increase in homes delivered and a 36.5% increase in average sales price, due to the different mix of communities delivering in the three months ended April 30, 2013 compared to the same period of the prior year, as well as increased prices in certain communities as the market has improved. This increase was partially offset by a $3.1 million decrease in land sales and other revenue.

  

 
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Income (loss) before income taxes increased $5.4 million compared to the prior year to a profit of $2.4 million for the three months ended April 30, 2013.  The improvement from a loss to a profit for the three months ended April 30, 2013 was primarily due to the impact of the increase in homebuilding revenue discussed above and a significant increase in gross margin percentage before interest expense.

 

Homebuilding revenues increased 36.4% for the six months ended April 30, 2013 compared to the same period in the prior year.  The increase for the six months ended April 30, 2013 was attributed to a 5.1% increase in homes delivered, along with a 35.2% increase in average sales price, due to the different mix of communities delivering in the six months ended April 30, 2013 compared to the same period of the prior year, as well as increased prices in certain communities as the market has improved. This increase was partially offset by a $3.1 million decrease in land sales and other revenue.

 

Income (loss) before income taxes increased $5.2 million compared to the prior year to a profit of $1.3 million for the six months ended April 30, 2013.  The improvement from a loss to a profit for the six months ended April 30, 2013 was primarily due to the impact of the increase in homebuilding revenue discussed above and a significant increase in gross margin percentage before interest expense.

 

Financial Services

 

Financial services consist primarily of originating mortgages from our homebuyers, selling such mortgages in the secondary market, and title insurance activities. We use mandatory investor commitments and forward sales of mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) to hedge our mortgage-related interest rate exposure on agency and government loans. These instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk. Credit risk associated with MBS forward commitments and loan sales transactions is managed by limiting our counterparties to investment banks, federally regulated bank affiliates and other investors meeting our credit standards. Our risk, in the event of default by the purchaser, is the difference between the contract price and fair value of the MBS forward commitments. For the first half of fiscal 2013 and 2012, Federal Housing Administration and Veterans Administration (“FHA/VA”) loans represented 34.0% and 45.5%, respectively, of our total loans. While the origination of FHA/VA loans have decreased from the first half of fiscal 2012 to the first half of fiscal 2013, our conforming conventional loan originations as a percentage of our total loans increased from 49.5% for the first half of fiscal 2012 to 60.8% for the first half of fiscal 2013. Profits and losses relating to the sale of mortgage loans are recognized when legal control passes to the buyer of the mortgage and the sales price is collected.

 

During the three and six months ended April 30, 2013, financial services provided a $3.5 million and $7.8 million pretax profit compared to $3.2 million and $4.7 million of pretax profit, respectively, for the same periods of fiscal 2012.  Revenues were up 25.5% for the three months ended April 30, 2013 compared to the same period of the prior year and costs were up 33.1% for such period.  Mortgage settlements and the average price of loans settled increased for the three months ended April 30, 2013 compared to the same period in the prior year, contributing to the increase in revenues.  The increase in costs was attributed to the increase in the number of loans closed during such period, as well as an increase in salary costs due to increased headcount and other overhead costs.  While revenues were up 47.0% for the six months ended April 30, 2013 compared to the same period of the prior year, costs were up 38.2% for such period.  Mortgage settlements and the average price of loans settled increased for the six months ended April 30, 2013 compared to the same period in the prior year, contributing to the increase in revenues.  The increase in costs was due to an increase in salary costs due to increased headcount and other overhead costs and to the increase in costs associated with the increase in the number of loans closed during such period.  In the market areas served by our wholly owned mortgage banking subsidiaries, approximately 72.2% and 75.3% of our non-cash homebuyers obtained mortgages originated by these subsidiaries during the three months ended April 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and 72.9% and 77.0% of our non-cash homebuyers obtained mortgages originated by these subsidiaries for the six months ended April 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.  Servicing rights on new mortgages originated by us are sold with the loans.

 

Corporate General and Administrative

 

Corporate general and administrative expenses include the operations at our headquarters in Red Bank, New Jersey.  These expenses include payroll, stock compensation, facility and other costs associated with our executive offices, information services, human resources, corporate accounting, training, treasury, process redesign, internal audit, construction services, and administration of insurance, quality and safety.  Corporate general and administrative expenses increased to $13.7 million for the three months ended April 30, 2013 compared to $12.3 million for the three months ended April 30, 2012, and increased to $26.2 million for the six months ended April 30, 2013 compared to $25.0 million for the six months ended April 30, 2012.  The minor increase for the three and six months ended April 30, 2013 from the prior year period was attributed to increased total compensation as a result of a slight increase in headcount, additional amounts accrued for bonuses as a result of improved operating performance and additional professional services for various corporate operations.

 

Other Interest

 

Other interest decreased $3.4 million for the three months ended April 30, 2013 compared to the three months ended April 30, 2012 and decreased $1.4 million for the six months ended April 30, 2013 compared to the six months ended April 30, 2012.  Our assets that qualify for interest capitalization (inventory under development) are less than our debt, and therefore a portion of interest not covered by qualifying assets must be directly expensed.  For the three and six months ended April 30, 2013, our inventory balances for the qualifying assets have increased enough to cause the amount of interest required to be directly expensed to decrease.  In addition, our interest incurred decreased compared to the prior year for both the three and six months resulting in less interest that was required to be directly expensed.

  

 
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Other Operations

 

  Other operations consist primarily of miscellaneous residential housing operations expenses, senior rental residential property operations, rent expense for commercial office space, amortization of prepaid bond fees, noncontrolling interest relating to consolidated joint ventures, and corporate owned life insurance.  Other operations generated income of $2.8 million and $1.9 million for the three and six months ended April 30, 2013 compared to $1.0 million and $6.4 million of expenses for the three and six months ended April 30, 2012.  The decrease in expenses for the three and six months ended April 30, 2012 was due to the gain recognized from the sale of our last remaining senior rental residential property.  The decrease for the six months ended April 30, 2013 was further impacted by $4.7 million of costs incurred in the prior year from a debt-for-debt exchange on November 1, 2011. Due to the then existing financial condition of K. Hovnanian as determined in accordance with ASC 470-60 and, because the holders of K. Hovnanian’s senior notes that exchanged such notes for 2021 Notes granted K. Hovnanian a concession in the form of extended maturities and reduced interest rates, the debt exchange was accounted for as a troubled debt restructuring, which required any costs incurred associated with the exchange to be expensed as incurred.  

 

Gain on Extinguishment of Debt

 

There were no debt repurchases and/or exchanges during the three and six months ended April 30, 2013, however, such transactions during the three and six months ended April 30, 2012, resulted in a gain on extinguishment of debt of $27.0 million and $51.7 million, respectively.  During the three months ended January 31, 2012, we repurchased in the open market a total of $44.0 million principal amount of various issues of our unsecured senior notes due 2016 for an aggregate purchase price of $19.0 million, plus accrued and unpaid interest.  We recognized a gain of $24.7 million net of the write-off of unamortized discounts and fees related to these purchases, which represents the difference between the aggregate principal amounts of the notes purchased and the total purchase price.  As noted above, the accounting for the November 1, 2011 debt exchange is being treated as a troubled debt restructuring. Under this accounting, the Company did not recognize any gain or loss on extinguishment of debt. During the three months ended April 30, 2012, we repurchased a total of $75.4 million principal amount of various issues of our unsecured notes due 2016 and 2017 for an aggregate purchase price of $51.7 million, plus accrued and unpaid interest.  We recognized a gain of $23.3 million net of the write-off of unamortized discounts and fees related to these purchases, which represents the difference between the aggregate principal amounts of the notes purchased and the total purchase price.  During the second quarter of fiscal 2012, we exchanged $9.1 million aggregate principal amount of our outstanding 8.625% Senior Notes due 2017 and $3.1 million aggregate principal amount of our 12.072% Senior Subordinated Amortizing Notes for Class A Common Stock, as discussed in Notes 11, 12 and 16 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. These transactions resulted in a gain on extinguishment of debt of $3.7 million for the three months ended April 30, 2012.  

 

Under the terms of our indentures governing our bonds, we have the right to make certain redemptions and, depending on market conditions and covenant restrictions, may do so from time to time.  We may also continue to make additional debt purchases and/or exchanges for debt or equity from time to time through tender offers, open market purchases, private transactions or otherwise from time to time depending on market conditions and covenant restrictions.  

 

Income From Unconsolidated Joint Ventures

 

Income from unconsolidated joint ventures was $0.8 million and $3.1 million for the three and six months ended April 30, 2013, compared to $1.5 million for both the three and six months ended April 30, 2012, a decrease of $0.7 million and an increase of $1.6 million for the three and six months ended April 30, 2013, respectively. During the second quarter of fiscal 2013, we recognized a loss on our most recently formed joint venture because this venture is in the development and construction stage and is currently generating only expenses. This reduced our overall income for the second quarter of fiscal 2013, and generated an unfavorable variance compared to the same period of the prior year. For the six months ended April 30, 2013 we recognized profit from one of our land development joint ventures, as we share 50% of the joint venture’s profit. Also, certain of our joint ventures delivered more homes and reported increased profits during the first half of fiscal 2013 as compared to the first half of 2012. These increases, partially offset by the expenses incurred for our most recently formed joint venture described above, generated a favorable variance for the six months ended April 30, 2013 compared to the same period of the prior year.

 

Total Taxes

 

The total income tax benefit of $12.1 million recognized during the six months ended April 30, 2013 was primarily due to the release of reserves for a federal tax position that was settled with the Internal Revenue Service and a favorable state tax audit settlement, offset slightly by state tax expenses.

  

 
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Deferred federal and state income tax assets primarily represent the deferred tax benefits arising from temporary differences between book and tax income which will be recognized in future years as an offset against future taxable income. If the combination of future years’ income (or loss) and the reversal of the timing differences results in a loss, such losses can be carried forward to future years. In accordance with ASC 740, we evaluate our deferred tax assets quarterly to determine if valuation allowances are required.  ASC 740 requires that companies assess whether valuation allowances should be established based on the consideration of all available evidence using a “more likely than not” standard.  Because of the downturn in the homebuilding industry, resulting in significant inventory and intangible impairments in prior years, we are in a three-year cumulative loss position as of April 30, 2013.  According to ASC 740, a three-year cumulative loss is significant negative evidence in considering whether deferred tax assets are realizable.  Our valuation allowance for deferred taxes amounted to $941.8 million and $937.9 million at April 30, 2013 and October 31, 2012, respectively.  The valuation allowance increased during the six months ended April 30, 2013 primarily due to additional valuation allowance recorded for the federal and state tax benefits related to the losses incurred during this period.

 

 Inflation

 

Inflation has a long-term effect, because increasing costs of land, materials, and labor result in increasing sale prices of our homes.  In general, these price increases have been commensurate with the general rate of inflation in our housing markets and have not had a significant adverse effect on the sale of our homes.  A significant risk faced by the housing industry generally is that rising house construction costs, including land and interest costs, will substantially outpace increases in the income of potential purchasers.

 

Inflation has a lesser short-term effect, because we generally negotiate fixed price contracts with many, but not all, of our subcontractors and material suppliers for the construction of our homes.  These prices usually are applicable for a specified number of residential buildings or for a time period of between three to twelve months.  Construction costs for residential buildings represent approximately 57% of our homebuilding cost of sales.

 

Safe Harbor Statement

 

All statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that are not historical facts should be considered “Forward-Looking Statements” within the meaning of the “Safe Harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.  Although we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations reflected in, or suggested by, such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such plans, intentions, or expectations will be achieved.  Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to:

 

Changes in general and local economic and industry and business conditions and impacts of the sustained homebuilding downturn;

   

Adverse weather and other environmental conditions and natural disasters;

   

Changes in market conditions and seasonality of the Company’s business;

   

Changes in home prices and sales activity in the markets where the Company builds homes;

   

Government regulation, including regulations concerning development of land, the home building, sales and customer financing processes, tax laws and the environment;

   

Fluctuations in interest rates and the availability of mortgage financing;

   

Shortages in, and price fluctuations of, raw materials and labor;

   

The availability and cost of suitable land and improved lots;

   

Levels of competition;

   

Availability of financing to the Company;

   

Utility shortages and outages or rate fluctuations;

   

Levels of indebtedness and restrictions on the Company's operations and activities imposed by the agreements governing the Company's outstanding indebtedness;

   

The Company's sources of liquidity;

   

Changes in credit ratings;

 

 
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Availability of net operating loss carryforwards;

   

Operations through joint ventures with third parties;

   

Product liability litigation, warranty claims and claims made by mortgage investors;

   

Successful identification and integration of acquisitions;

   

Changes in tax laws affecting the after-tax costs of owning a home;

   

Significant influence of the Company's controlling stockholders; and

   

Geopolitical risks, terrorist acts and other acts of war.

 

 

      Certain risks, uncertainties, and other factors are described in detail in Part I, Item 1 “Business” and Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2012. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities laws, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or any other reason after the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 

Item 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

A primary market risk facing us is interest rate risk on our long term debt.  In connection with our mortgage operations, mortgage loans held for sale, and the associated mortgage warehouse lines of credit under our Master Repurchase Agreements are subject to interest rate risk; however, such obligations reprice frequently and are short-term in duration.  In addition, we hedge the interest rate risk on mortgage loans by obtaining forward commitments from private investors.  Accordingly, the interest rate risk from mortgage loans is not material.  We do not use financial instruments to hedge interest rate risk except with respect to mortgage loans.  We are also subject to foreign currency risk but we do not believe that this risk is material.  The following table sets forth as of April 30, 2013, our long-term debt obligations, principal cash flows by scheduled maturity, weighted average interest rates and estimated fair value (“FV”).

 

 

 

Long Term Debt as of April 30, 2013 by Fiscal Year of Expected Maturity Date

(Dollars in thousands)

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Thereafter

Total

 

FV at

April 30,

2013

                                                                 

Long term debt(1):

                                                               

Fixed rate

  $ 35,233   $ 43,724   $ 90,700   $ 223,691   $ 127,662   $ 1,072,501   $ 1,593,511   $ 1,713,337

Weighted average interest rate

    6.52 %     6.94 %     10.26 %     6.84 %     8.70 %     7.01 %     7.29 %        

 

(1)  Does not include the mortgage warehouse lines of credit made under our Master Repurchase Agreements.  See Note 10 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.

 

Item 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.  Any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives.  The Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of April 30, 2013.  Based upon that evaluation and subject to the foregoing, the Company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to accomplish their objectives.

 

There was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended April 30, 2013 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

  

 
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PART II.  Other Information

 

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

 

Information with respect to legal proceedings is incorporated into this Part II, Item 1 from Note 7 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 

Item 2.  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

Recent Sales of Unregistered Equity Securities

 

None.

 

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

No shares of our Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock were purchased by or on behalf of the Company or any affiliated purchaser during the fiscal second quarter of 2013.  The maximum number of shares that may yet be purchased under the Company’s repurchase plans or programs is 0.5 million.

 

Dividends

 

Certain debt agreements to which we are a party contain restrictions on the payment of cash dividends.  As a result of the most restrictive of these provisions, we are not currently able to pay any cash dividends.  We have never paid a cash dividend to common stockholders.

 

Item 6.  Exhibits

 

 3(a)

Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant.(2)

 3(b)

Restated Bylaws of the Registrant.(3)

 4(a)

Specimen Class A Common Stock Certificate.(6)

 4(b)

Specimen Class B Common Stock Certificate.(6)

 4(c)

Certificate of Designations, Powers, Preferences and Rights of the 7.625% Series A Preferred Stock of Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., dated January 12, 2005.(4)

 4(d)

Certificate of Designations of the Series B Junior Preferred Stock of Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., dated August 14, 2008.(1)

 4(e)

Rights Agreement, dated as of August 14, 2008, between Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. and National City Bank, as Rights Agent, which includes the Form of Certificate of Designation as Exhibit A, Form of Right Certificate as Exhibit B and the Summary of Rights as Exhibit C.(5)

   

10(a)*

Form of 2013 Long-Term Incentive Program Award Agreement.

31(a)

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer.

31(b)

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer.

32(a)

Section 1350 Certification of Chief Executive Officer.

32(b)

Section 1350 Certification of Chief Financial Officer.

101**

The following financial information from our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 30, 2013, formatted in Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (i) the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at April 30, 2013 and October 31, 2012, (ii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and six months ended April 30, 2013 and 2012, (iii) the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Equity for the six months ended April 30, 2013, (iv) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended April 30, 2013 and 2012, and (v) the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

* Management contracts or compensatory plans or arrangements.

   

**XBRL

Information is furnished and not filed or a part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, is deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.

 

 

(1)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Registrant for the quarter ended July 31, 2008.

 

 
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(2)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to Current Report on Form 8-K of the Registrant filed March 15, 2013.

 

(3)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to Current Report on Form 8-K of the Registrant filed December 21, 2009.

 

(4)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to Current Report on Form 8-K of the Registrant filed on July 13, 2005.

 

(5)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to the Registration Statement on Form 8-A of the Registrant filed August 14, 2008.

 

(6)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Registrant for the quarter ended January 31, 2009.

 

 


SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC.

(Registrant)

 

DATE:

June 7, 2013

 

 

/s/ J. LARRY SORSBY               

 

 

J. Larry Sorsby

 

 

Executive Vice President and

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

DATE:

June 7, 2013

 

 

/s/ Brad G. O’Connor                 

 

 

Brad G. O’Connor

 

 

Vice President/Chief Accounting Officer/Corporate Controller

 

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