BEAZER HOMES USA INC - Annual Report: 2007 (Form 10-K)
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-K
(Mark
One)
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x
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Annual
report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934
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For
the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007
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o
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Transition
report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934
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Commission
file number: 001-12822
BEAZER
HOMES USA, INC.
(Exact
name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
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58-2086934
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(State
or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
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(I.R.S.
Employer Identification No.)
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1000
Abernathy Road, Suite 1200, Atlanta, Georgia 30328
(Address
of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
(770)
829-3700
(Registrant’s
telephone number including area code)
Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of
Securities
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Exchanges on which
Registered
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Common
Stock, $.001 par value per share
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New
York Stock Exchange
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Securities registered pursuant to
Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer (as defined in
Rule 405 of the Act).
Yes o No x
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.
Yes o No x
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 o No x
Indicate
by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of
Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best
of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. o
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 definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller
reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large
accelerated filer x
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Accelerated
filer o
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Non-accelerated
filer o
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Smaller
reporting company o
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Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Act). Yes o No x
The
aggregate market value of the registrant’s Common Stock held by non-affiliates
of the registrant (39,100,752 shares) as of March 31, 2007, based on the closing
sale price per share as reported by the New York Stock Exchange on such date,
was $1,135,094,831.
The
number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s Common Stock as of April 25,
2008 was 39,234,305
DOCUMENTS
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE: None
BEAZER
HOMES USA, INC.
FORM
10-K
INDEX
Page
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Number
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Introduction
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Explanatory
Note
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2
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Forward-Looking
Statements
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4
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PART
I.
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Item
1.
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Business
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5
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Item
1A.
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Risk
Factors
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15
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Item
1B.
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Unresolved
Staff Comments
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23
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Item
2.
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Properties
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23
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Item
3.
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Legal
Proceedings
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23
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Item
4.
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Submission
of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
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26
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PART
II.
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Item
5.
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Market
for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer
Purchases of Equity Securities
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27
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Item
6.
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Selected
Financial Data
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29
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Item
7.
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Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
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32
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Item
7A.
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Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
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58
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Item
8.
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Financial
Statements and Supplementary Data
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59
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Item
9.
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Changes
in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial
Disclosure
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107
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Item
9A.
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Controls
and Procedures
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108
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PART
III.
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Item
10.
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Directors,
Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
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113
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Item
11.
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Executive
Compensation
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116
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Item
12.
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Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related
Stockholder Matters
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141
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Item
13.
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Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director
Independence
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144
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Item
14.
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Principal
Accountant Fees and Services
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145
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PART
IV.
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Item
15.
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Exhibits
and Financial Statement Schedules
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145
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SIGNATURES
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1
References
to “we,” “us,” “our,” “Beazer,” “Beazer Homes,” and the “Company” in this annual
report on Form 10-K refer to Beazer Homes USA, Inc.
EXPLANATORY
NOTE
Restatement
of Consolidated Financial Results
In April
2007, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors initiated an independent
investigation of our mortgage origination business through independent legal
counsel and independent forensic accountants. During the course of this
investigation, the Audit Committee determined that our mortgage origination
practices related to certain loans in prior periods violated certain applicable
federal and/or state origination requirements. During the course of the
investigation, the Audit Committee also discovered accounting and financial
reporting errors and/or irregularities that required restatement resulting
primarily from (1) inappropriate accumulation of reserves and/or accrued
liabilities associated with land development and house costs (“Inventory
Reserves”) and the subsequent improper release of such reserves and accrued
liabilities and (2) inaccurate revenue recognition with respect to certain model
home sale-leaseback transactions. In conjunction with the restatement of the
items above, we also made corresponding capitalized interest, capitalized
indirect costs, and income tax adjustments to our consolidated financial
statements as these balances were impacted by the aforementioned adjustments. We
also made other adjustments to our consolidated financial statements relating to
corrections of accounting and financial reporting errors and/or irregularities,
some errors previously identified but historically not considered to be material
to require correction and some errors and irregularities discovered as part of
the restatement process, consisting of (1) reclassifying model home furnishings
and sales office leasehold improvements from owned inventory to property, plant
and equipment, net in the amount of $47.0 million at September 30, 2006; (2)
reclassifying depreciation and amortization of model home furnishings and sales
office leasehold improvements from home construction and land sales expenses to
depreciation and amortization in the amount of $32.1 million and $26.8 million
for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively; (3)
recognizing total revenue ($11.6 million) and home construction and land sales
expenses ($8.7 million) for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006 related to
inappropriate revenue recognition timing in the fiscal year ended September 30,
2005 for certain home closings in California; (4) reclassifying the results of
operations from our fiscal 2005 title services from other income, net ($5.9
million) to total revenue ($8.1 million) and selling, general and administrative
(“SG&A”) expenses ($2.2 million); (5) reclassifying $5.0 million from
restricted cash at September 30, 2006 to cash and cash equivalents as such
amount was determined not to be restricted; (6) recognizing the reversal of
certain warranty accruals related to our captive insurance subsidiary in the
fiscal years ended prior to fiscal 2005 ($8.7 million), as reflected in the
prior period restatement caption in the Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’
Equity, instead of the previously presented reversal of $8.7 million in warranty
accruals through home construction and land sales expenses for the fiscal year
ended September 30, 2005; (7) certain other miscellaneous immaterial
adjustments; and (8) the related tax effects of the adjustments described in (1)
through (7) above.
As
discussed in Note 17 to the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements in
this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007
(“2007 Form 10-K”) we have restated our consolidated financial statements and
the related disclosures for fiscal 2006 and 2005. Specifically, we have restated
our consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2006 and the related
consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows,
including related disclosures, for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2006 and
2005. The accompanying Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations in Part II, Item 7, has been updated to
reflect the effects of the restatement.
In
addition, the unaudited quarterly data reflected in this 2007 Form 10-K presents
the condensed consolidated financial information included in the amended
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q/A for the fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2006
and March 31, 2007 and the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter
ended June 30, 2007. These reports, which are being filed concurrently with this
2007 Form 10-K, contain restated condensed consolidated financial statements for
the comparative periods of fiscal 2007 and 2006.
As a
result of the errors and irregularities discussed above, and for the purpose of
the Selected Financial Data included in Item 6 of this 2007 Form 10-K, we have
also restated our Balance Sheet Data as of September 30, 2005, 2004 and 2003 and
the related Statement of Operations and Supplemental Financial Data for the
fiscal years ended September 30, 2004 and 2003. In addition, the cumulative
effect of the errors and irregularities attributable to periods prior to October
1, 2002 have been reflected in the Balance Sheet Data as an increase to retained
earnings at September 30, 2002 of $24.8 million for fiscal years
1998-2002.
2
The
following table reconciles net income “as previously reported” to net income “as
restated” (in thousands):
Fiscal
Year
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Net
Income, As
Previously
Reported
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Adjustments
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Net
Income,
As
Restated
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||||||||||
2003
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$ | 172,745 | $ | (971 | ) | $ | 171,774 | ||||||
2004
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235,811 | 10,365 | 246,176 | ||||||||||
2005
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262,524 | 13,375 | 275,899 | ||||||||||
2006
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388,761 | (19,925 | ) | 368,836 |
The
cumulative effect of the matters arising from the restatement for fiscal
years 1998 through 2006 is a $27.6 million increase in retained earnings,
shown below (in thousands):
Fiscal
Year(s)
Impact
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Cumulative
Restatement
Impacts
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||||
Retained
Earnings at September 30, 2006, as
previously
reported
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$
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1,362,958
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|||
Restatement
adjustments:
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|||||
Inventory
Reserves
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1998-2006
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40,183
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|||
Model
Home Sale-Leasebacks
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2001-2006
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(21,950
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)
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Other
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1998-2006
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7,895
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Benefit
From Income Taxes
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1998-2006
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1,466
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Cumulative
Impact of Restatement Adjustments
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27,594
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Retained
Earnings at September 30, 2006, as restated
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$
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1,390,552
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The
restatement impact of the model home sale-leaseback transactions primarily
relate to timing differences that have had and will have the effect of shifting
revenue and income from the date of the original transaction to the future
period in which the “leases” are terminated.
For
additional discussion of the Audit Committee’s investigation, the accounting
errors and irregularities identified, and the adjustments made as a result of
the restatements see (1) Notes 14 and 17 of the Consolidated Financial
Statements included in Part II, Item 8 – Financial Statements and Supplementary
Data and (2) Part II, Item 6 – Selected Financial Data. For a description of the
control deficiencies identified by management as a result of the investigation
and our internal reviews, and management’s plan to remediate those deficiencies,
see Part II, Item 9A – Controls and Procedures.
3
FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
This
Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
forward-looking statements represent our expectations or beliefs concerning
future events, and it is possible that the results described in this annual
report will not be achieved. These forward-looking statements can generally be
identified by the use of statements that include words such as “estimate,”
“project,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “foresee,”
“likely,” “will,” “goal,” “target” or other similar words or phrases. All
forward-looking statements are based upon information available to us on the
date of this annual report.
These
forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other
factors, many of which are outside of our control, that could cause actual
results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking
statements, including, among other things, the matters discussed in this annual
report in the section captioned “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” Additional information about
factors that could lead to material changes in performance is contained in Part
I, Item 1A– Risk Factors. Such factors may include:
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●
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the
timing and final outcome of the United States Attorney investigation, the
Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) investigation and other state
and federal agency investigations, the putative class action lawsuits, the
derivative claims, multi-party suits and similar proceedings as well as
the results of any other litigation or government
proceedings;
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●
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material
weaknesses in our internal control over financial
reporting;
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●
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additional
asset impairment charges or
writedowns;
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●
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economic
changes nationally or in local markets, including changes in consumer
confidence, volatility of mortgage interest rates and
inflation;
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●
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continued
or increased downturn in the homebuilding
industry;
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●
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estimates
related to homes to be delivered in the future (backlog) are imprecise as
they are subject to various cancellation risks which cannot be fully
controlled;
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●
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continued
or increased disruption in the availability of mortgage
financing;
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●
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our
cost of and ability to access capital and otherwise meet our ongoing
liquidity needs including the impact of any further downgrades of our
credit ratings;
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●
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potential
inability to comply with covenants in our debt
agreements;
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●
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continued
negative publicity;
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●
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increased
competition or delays in reacting to changing consumer preference in home
design;
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●
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shortages
of or increased prices for labor, land or raw materials used in housing
production;
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●
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factors
affecting margins such as decreased land values underlying land option
agreements, increased land development costs on projects under development
or delays or difficulties in implementing initiatives to reduce production
and overhead cost structure;
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●
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the
performance of our joint ventures and our joint venture
partners;
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●
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the
impact of construction defect and home warranty claims and the cost and
availability of insurance, including the availability of insurance for the
presence of moisture intrusion;
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●
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a
material failure on the part of our subsidiary Trinity Homes LLC to
satisfy the conditions of the class action settlement agreement, including
assessment and remediation with respect to moisture intrusion related
issues;
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●
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delays
in land development or home construction resulting from adverse weather
conditions;
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●
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potential
delays or increased costs in obtaining necessary permits as a result of
changes to, or complying with, laws, regulations, or governmental policies
and possible penalties for failure to comply with such laws, regulations
and governmental policies;
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●
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effects
of changes in accounting policies, standards, guidelines or principles;
or
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●
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terrorist
acts, acts of war and other factors over which the Company has little or
no control.
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Any
forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is
made, and, except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any
forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on
which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated
events. New factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for
management to predict all such factors.
4
PART
I
Item
1.
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Business
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We are a
geographically diversified homebuilder with operations in 21 states. Our homes
are designed to appeal to homeowners at various price points across various
demographic segments and are generally offered for sale in advance of their
construction. Our objective is to provide our customers with homes that
incorporate exceptional value and quality while seeking to maximize our return
on invested capital over time.
Our
principal executive offices are located at 1000 Abernathy Road, Suite 1200,
Atlanta, Georgia 30328, telephone (770) 829-3700. We also provide information
about our active communities through our Internet website located at
http://www.beazer.com.
Information on our website is not a part of and shall not be deemed incorporated
by reference in this report.
Industry
Overview and Current Market Conditions
The sale
of new homes has been and will likely remain a large industry in the United
States for four primary reasons: annual growth in both population and
households, demographic patterns that indicate an increased likelihood of home
ownership as age and income increase, job creation within geographic markets
that necessitate new home construction and consumer demand for home features
that can be more easily provided in a new home than an existing
home.
In any
year, the demand for new homes is closely tied to job growth, the availability
and cost of mortgage financing, the supply of new and existing homes for sale
and, importantly, consumer confidence. Consumer confidence is perhaps the most
important of these demand variables and is the hardest one to accurately predict
because it is a function of, among other things, consumers’ views of their
employment and income prospects, recent and likely future home price trends,
localized new and existing home inventory, the level of current and near-term
interest and mortgage rates, the availability of consumer credit, valuations in
stock and bond markets, and other geopolitical factors. Moreover, because the
purchase of a home represents many buyers’ largest single financial commitment,
it is often also associated with significant emotional
considerations.
The
supply of new homes within specific geographic markets consists of both new
homes built pursuant to pre-sale arrangements and speculative homes (frequently
referred to as “spec homes”) built by home builders prior to their sale. The
ratio of pre-sold to spec homes differs both by geographic market and over time
within individual markets based on a wide variety of factors, including the
availability of land and lots, access to construction financing, the
availability and cost of construction labor and materials, the inventory or
existing homes for sale and job growth characteristics. Consumer preferences
also play a role. In rapidly growing markets characterized by relatively few
available new homes, presale homes are very common. In markets characterized by
a significant supply of newly built and existing homes, spec homes tend to
represent a larger portion of new home sales as builders attempt to reduce their
inventories of completed homes.
In
general, high levels of employment, low mortgage interest rates and low new home
and resale inventories contribute to a strong and growing homebuilding market
environment. Conversely, rising unemployment, higher interest rates and larger
new and existing home inventories generally lead to weak industry
conditions.
While we
believe that long-term fundamentals for new home construction remain intact,
beginning in mid-fiscal 2006, accelerating during fiscal 2007 and continuing
into fiscal 2008, the homebuilding industry has experienced a significant
downturn. Most housing markets across the United States can be characterized as
suffering from an oversupply of new and resale home inventory, reduced levels of
consumer demand for new homes, increased cancellation rates, aggressive price
competition among homebuilders and increased incentives for home sales. As a
result of these factors, we, like many other homebuilders, have experienced a
material reduction in revenues and margins and we incurred a significant net
loss in fiscal 2007. This net loss was driven primarily by asset impairment and
lot option abandonment charges incurred in fiscal 2007. Please see “Management’s Discussion and
Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition” for additional
information.
5
In
response to these market conditions, we have modified our operating strategy and
implemented new policies and procedures. These changes include reducing direct
costs, overhead expenses and investments in land, and intensely focusing on
sales and marketing efforts to reduce unsold home inventories. These initiatives
are aimed at generating cash in the near term as the timing of a market recovery
in housing is currently uncertain.
Long-Term
Business Strategy
We have
developed a long-term business strategy which focuses on the following elements
in order to provide a wide range of homebuyers with quality homes while
generating returns on our invested capital over the course of a housing
cycle:
Geographic Diversification in Growth
Markets. We compete in a large number of geographically diverse markets
in an attempt to reduce our exposure to any particular regional economy. Within
these markets, we build homes in a variety of projects. We continually review
our selection of markets based on both aggregate demographic information and our
operating results. We use the results of these reviews to re-allocate our
investments to those markets where we believe we can maximize our return on
capital over the next several years.
Diversity of Product
Offerings. Our product strategy entails addressing the needs of an
increasingly diverse profile of home buyers. Within each of our markets we
determine the profile of buyers we hope to address and design neighborhoods and
homes with the specific needs of those buyers in mind. Depending on the market,
we attempt to address one or more of the following types of home buyers:
entry-level, move-up, luxury or retirement-oriented. The targeted buyer profiles
are further refined by information about their marital and family status,
employment, age, affluence and special interests. Recognizing that our customers
want to choose certain components of their new home, we offer limited
customization through the use of design studios in most of our markets. These
design studios allow the customer to select certain non-structural
customizations for their homes such as cabinetry, flooring, fixtures, appliances
and wall coverings.
Consistent Use of National
Brand. Our homebuilding and marketing activities are conducted under the
name of Beazer Homes in each of our markets. We adopted the strategy of a single
brand name across our markets in 2003 in order to better leverage our national
and local marketing activities. Using a single brand has allowed us to execute
successful national marketing campaigns and has accelerated our adoption of
emerging online marketing practices.
Operational Scale
Efficiencies. Beyond marketing advantages, we attempt to create both
national and local scale efficiencies as a result of the scope of our
operations. On a national basis we are able to achieve volume purchasing
advantages in certain product categories, share best practices in construction,
planning and design among our markets and leverage our fixed costs in ways that
improve profitability. On a local level, while we are not generally the largest
builder within our markets, we do attempt to be a major participant within our
selected submarkets and targeted buyer profiles. There are further design,
construction and cost advantages associated with having strong market positions
within particular markets.
Balanced Land Policies. We
seek to maximize our return on capital by carefully managing our investment in
land. To reduce the risks associated with investments in land, we often use
options to control land. We generally do not speculate in land which does not
have the benefit of entitlements providing basic development rights to the
owner.
6
Subsequent
Developments
Consistent
with our periodic review of our markets and our capital allocation, on February
1, 2008, we announced our decision to exit the following markets: Charlotte,
North Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, Cincinnati/Dayton and Columbus, Ohio
and Lexington, Kentucky. We have committed to complete all homes under
construction in these markets and are in the process of marketing the remaining
land positions for sale. While the underlying basis for exiting each market was
different, in each instance we concluded we could better serve shareholder
interests by re-allocating the capital employed in these markets. As of
September 30, 2007, these markets represented approximately 5% of the Company’s
total assets.
Also on
February 1, 2008, we exited the mortgage origination business and entered into
an exclusive preferred lender relationship with a national mortgage provider.
This exclusive relationship will continue to offer our homebuyers the option of
a simplified financing process while enabling us to focus on our core competency
of homebuilding. Our decision to exit the mortgage origination business was
related to the problems identified by the Audit Committee’s investigation of our
mortgage origination practices, the growing complexity and cost of compliance
with national, state and local lending rules, and the retrenchment among
mortgage capital sources which has had the effect of reducing the profitability
of many mortgage brokerage activities. We expect to record our mortgage
origination business as a discontinued operation in the second quarter of fiscal
2008.
Historically,
we have addressed homebuyers’ desire for a simple financing process by offering
mortgage financing through our subsidiary Beazer Mortgage Corporation (“Beazer
Mortgage”). Beazer Mortgage generally did not retain or service the mortgages
that it brokered. Through September 30, 2007, Beazer Mortgage also financed
certain of our mortgage lending activities with borrowings under a warehouse
line of credit or from general corporate funds prior to selling the loans and
their servicing rights shortly after origination to third-party
investors.
Reportable
Business Segments
We
design, sell and build single-family and multi-family homes in the following
geographic regions which are presented as reportable segments. Those remaining
homebuilding operations not separately reportable as segments are included in
“Other Homebuilding”:
Segment/State
|
Market(s)
/ Year Entered
|
|
West:
|
||
Arizona
|
Phoenix
(1993)
|
|
California
|
Los
Angeles County (1993), Orange County (1993), Riverside and San Bernardino
Counties (1993), San Diego County (1992), Ventura County (1993),
Sacramento (1993), Kern County (2005), Fresno (2005)
|
|
Nevada
|
Las
Vegas (1993)
|
|
New
Mexico
|
Albuquerque
(2005)
|
|
Mid-Atlantic:
|
||
Maryland
|
Baltimore
(1998), Metro-Washington, D.C. (1998)
|
|
Delaware
|
Delaware
(2003)
|
|
New
Jersey/New York/
Pennsylvania
|
Central
and Southern New Jersey (1998), Bucks County, PA (1998), Orange County, NY
(2005)
|
|
Virginia/West
Virginia
|
Fairfax
County (1998), Loudoun County (1998), Prince William County (1998), West
Virginia (2004)
|
|
Florida:
|
||
Florida
|
Jacksonville
(1993), Fort Myers/Naples (1996), Tampa/St. Petersburg (1996), Orlando
(1997), Sarasota (2005), Tallahassee (2006)
|
|
Southeast:
|
||
Georgia
|
Atlanta
(1985), Savannah (2005)
|
|
North
Carolina
|
Charlotte
(1987), Raleigh/Durham (1992), Greensboro (1999)
|
|
South
Carolina
|
Charleston
(1987), Columbia (1993), Myrtle Beach (2002)
|
|
Nashville,
Tennessee
|
Nashville
(1987)
|
7
Other
Homebuilding:
|
||
Colorado
|
Denver
(2001), Colorado Springs (2003)
|
|
Indiana
|
Indianapolis
(2002)
|
|
Kentucky
|
Lexington
(2002)
|
|
Ohio
|
Columbus
(2002), Cincinnati/Dayton (2002)
|
|
Memphis,
TN
|
Memphis
(2002)
|
|
Texas
|
Dallas/Ft.
Worth (1995), Houston (1995)
|
Financial
Services:
Historically
we have addressed homebuyers’ desire for a simple financing process by offering
mortgage financing through our subsidiary Beazer Mortgage in all of our markets.
Effective February 1, 2008, we exited the mortgage origination business and
entered into an exclusive preferred lender arrangement with a national,
third-party mortgage provider. We also provide title services to our customers
in many of our markets. The financial services operations are a reportable
segment.
Seasonal
and Quarterly Variability
Our
homebuilding operating cycle generally reflects escalating new order activity in
the second and third fiscal quarters and increased closings in the third and
fourth fiscal quarters. However, during fiscal 2007, we continued to experience
challenging conditions in most of our markets which contributed to decreased
revenues and closings as compared to prior periods including prior quarters,
thereby reducing typical seasonal variations.
Markets
and Product Description
We
evaluate a number of factors in determining which geographic markets to enter as
well as which consumer segments to target with our homebuilding activities. We
attempt to anticipate changes in economic and real estate conditions by
evaluating such statistical information as the historical and projected growth
of the population; the number of new jobs created or projected to be created;
the number of housing starts in previous periods; building lot availability and
price; housing inventory; level of competition; and home sale absorption
rates.
We
generally seek to differentiate ourselves from our competition in a particular
market with respect to customer service, product type, and design and
construction quality. We maintain the flexibility to alter our product mix
within a given market, depending on market conditions. In determining our
product mix, we consider demographic trends, demand for a particular type of
product, market research of consumer preferences, margins, timing and the
economic strength of the market. Although some of our homes are priced at the
upper end of the market, and we offer a selection of amenities, we generally do
not build “custom homes.” We attempt to maximize efficiency by using
standardized design plans whenever possible. In all of our home offerings, we
attempt to maximize customer satisfaction by incorporating quality materials,
distinctive design features, convenient locations and competitive
prices.
8
During
fiscal year 2007, the average sales price of our homes closed was approximately
$277,400. The following table summarizes certain operating information of our
reportable homebuilding segments as of and for the years ended September 30,
2007, 2006 and 2005 (dollars in thousands). Please see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis
of Results of Operations and Financial Condition” for additional
information.
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
|||||||||||||
Segment
|
Number
of
Homes
Closed
|
Average
Closing
Price
|
Number
of
Homes
Closed
|
Average
Closing
Price
|
Number
of
Homes
Closed
|
Average
Closing
Price
|
|||||||||
West
|
3,036
|
$
|
345.8
|
4,942
|
$
|
366.1
|
5,647
|
$
|
342.7
|
||||||
Mid-Atlantic
|
1,157
|
449.2
|
2,043
|
457.9
|
1,870
|
449.6
|
|||||||||
Florida
|
1,261
|
285.7
|
2,241
|
309.5
|
2,236
|
267.6
|
|||||||||
Southeast
|
3,125
|
229.9
|
4,228
|
210.1
|
3,995
|
187.5
|
|||||||||
Other
|
3,441
|
199.4
|
4,907
|
187.4
|
4,361
|
180.9
|
|||||||||
Total
Company
|
12,020
|
$
|
277.4
|
18,361
|
$
|
285.7
|
18,109
|
$
|
271.3
|
September
30, 2007
|
September
30, 2006
|
September
30, 2005
|
|||||||||||||
Segment
|
Units
in
Backlog
|
Dollar
Value
of
Backlog
|
Units
in
Backlog
|
Dollar
Value
of
Backlog
|
Units
in
Backlog
|
Dollar
Value
of
Backlog
|
|||||||||
West
|
491
|
$
|
158,172
|
1,175
|
$
|
468,560
|
3,033
|
$
|
1,060,407
|
||||||
Mid-Atlantic
|
643
|
284,265
|
577
|
290,861
|
1,193
|
557,113
|
|||||||||
Florida
|
238
|
58,551
|
508
|
173,106
|
1,259
|
401,309
|
|||||||||
Southeast
|
504
|
121,672
|
1,321
|
312,118
|
1,754
|
355,516
|
|||||||||
Other
|
1,109
|
216,146
|
1,521
|
310,811
|
2,033
|
358,911
|
|||||||||
Total
Company
|
2,985
|
$
|
838,806
|
5,102
|
$
|
1,555,456
|
9,272
|
$
|
2,733,256
|
Corporate
Operations
We
perform all or most of the following functions at our corporate
office:
|
●
|
evaluate
and select geographic markets;
|
|
●
|
allocate
capital resources to particular markets for land
acquisitions;
|
|
●
|
maintain
and develop relationships with lenders and capital markets to create
access to financial resources;
|
|
●
|
plan
and design homes and community
projects;
|
|
●
|
operate
and manage information systems and technology support operations;
and
|
|
●
|
monitor
the operations of our subsidiaries and
divisions.
|
We
allocate capital resources necessary for new projects in a manner consistent
with our overall business strategy. We will vary the capital allocation based on
market conditions, results of operations and other factors. Capital commitments
are determined through consultation among selected executive and operational
personnel, who play an important role in ensuring that new projects are
consistent with our strategy. Centralized financial controls are also maintained
through the standardization of accounting and financial policies and
procedures.
Field
Operations
The
development and construction of each project is managed by our operating
divisions, each of which is generally led by a market leader who, in turn,
reports directly or indirectly to our Chief Operating Officer. At the
development stage, a manager (who may be assigned to several projects and
reports to the market leader of the division) supervises development of
buildable lots. Subsequent to the end of fiscal 2007, we reorganized our field
operations to concentrate certain accounting, accounts payable, billing and
purchasing functions in seven regional accounting centers. Together with our
operating divisions, our field teams are equipped with the skills to complete
the functions of identification of land acquisition opportunities, land
entitlement, land development, construction, marketing, sales and warranty
service.
9
Land
Acquisition and Development
Generally,
the land we acquire is purchased only after necessary entitlements have been
obtained so that we have the right to begin development or construction as
market conditions dictate. During the current downturn in the homebuilding
industry, we do not expect to make significant land acquisitions but we will
continue to consider attractive opportunities as they arise. In certain
situations, we will purchase property without all necessary entitlements where
we perceive an opportunity to build on such property in a manner consistent with
our strategy. The term “entitlements” refers to subdivision approvals,
development agreements, tentative maps or recorded plats, depending on the
jurisdiction within which the land is located. Entitlements generally give a
developer the right to obtain building permits upon compliance with conditions
that are usually within the developer’s control. Although entitlements are
ordinarily obtained prior to the purchase of land, we are still required to
obtain a variety of other governmental approvals and permits during the
development process.
We select
our land for development based upon a variety of factors,
including:
|
●
|
internal
and external demographic and marketing
studies;
|
|
●
|
suitability
for development during the time period of one to five years from the
beginning of the development process to the last
closing;
|
|
●
|
centralized
corporate-level management review of all
decisions;
|
|
●
|
financial
review as to the feasibility of the proposed project, including profit
margins and returns on capital
employed;
|
|
●
|
the
ability to secure governmental approvals and
entitlements;
|
|
●
|
environmental
and legal due diligence;
|
|
●
|
competition
in the area;
|
|
●
|
proximity
to local traffic corridors and amenities;
and
|
|
●
|
management’s
judgment as to the real estate market and economic trends and our
experience in a particular market.
|
We
generally purchase land or obtain an option to purchase land, which, in either
case, requires certain site improvements prior to construction. Where required,
we then undertake or, in the case of land under option, the grantor of the
option then undertakes, the development activities (through contractual
arrangements with local developers), which include site planning and
engineering, as well as constructing road, sewer, water, utilities, drainage and
recreational facilities and other amenities. When available in certain markets,
we also buy finished lots that are ready for construction.
We strive
to develop a design and marketing concept for each of our projects, which
include determination of size, style and price range of the homes, layout of
streets, layout of individual lots and overall community design. The product
line offered in a particular project depends upon many factors, including the
housing generally available in the area, the needs of a particular market and
our cost of lots in the project. We are, however, often able to use standardized
home design plans.
Option Contracts. We acquire
certain lots by means of option contracts. Option contracts generally require
the payment of a cash deposit or issuance of a letter of credit for the right to
acquire lots during a specified period of time at a certain price.
Under
option contracts, both with and without specific performance, purchase of the
properties is contingent upon satisfaction of certain requirements by us and the
sellers. Our obligations with respect to options with specific performance are
included on our consolidated balance sheet in other liabilities at September 30,
2007. At September 30, 2007, we were committed to future amounts under option
contracts with specific performance obligations that aggregated $91.6 million,
net of cash deposits. Under option contracts without specific performance
obligations, our liability is generally limited to forfeiture of the
non-refundable deposits, letters of credit and other non-refundable amounts
incurred, which aggregated approximately $163.3 million at September 30, 2007.
This amount includes non-refundable letters of credit of approximately $35.5
million. At September 30, 2007, future amounts under option contracts without
specific performance obligations aggregated approximately $1.4 billion, net of
cash deposits.
10
The
following table sets forth, by reportable segment, land controlled by us as of
September 30, 2007:
Lots
Owned
|
|||||||||||||||||
Undevel-
oped
Lots(1)
|
Lots
Under
Develop-
ment
|
Finished
Lots
|
Properties
Held
for
Sale
|
Homes
Under
Con-
struction(2)
|
Total
Lots
Owned
|
Total
Lots
Under
Contract
|
Total
Lots
Controlled
|
||||||||||
Arizona
|
-
|
329
|
1,029
|
522
|
261
|
2,141
|
2,171
|
4,312
|
|||||||||
California
|
-
|
3,958
|
1,733
|
43
|
718
|
6,452
|
559
|
7,011
|
|||||||||
Nevada
|
-
|
926
|
668
|
10
|
178
|
1,782
|
1,556
|
3,338
|
|||||||||
New
Mexico
|
-
|
-
|
70
|
-
|
52
|
122
|
345
|
467
|
|||||||||
West
Segment
|
-
|
5,213
|
3,500
|
575
|
1,209
|
10,497
|
4,631
|
15,128
|
|||||||||
Maryland/Delaware
|
-
|
692
|
1,018
|
-
|
282
|
1,992
|
1,824
|
3,816
|
|||||||||
New
Jersey/New York/
|
|||||||||||||||||
Pennsylvania
|
-
|
165
|
362
|
-
|
215
|
742
|
2,936
|
3,678
|
|||||||||
Virginia/West
Virginia
|
-
|
78
|
381
|
-
|
445
|
904
|
1,623
|
2,527
|
|||||||||
Mid-Atlantic
Segment
|
-
|
935
|
1,761
|
-
|
942
|
3,638
|
6,383
|
10,021
|
|||||||||
Florida
Segment
|
-
|
1,537
|
1,437
|
-
|
499
|
3,473
|
4,077
|
7,550
|
|||||||||
Georgia
|
250
|
292
|
-
|
174
|
716
|
854
|
1,570
|
||||||||||
North
Carolina
|
60
|
1,278
|
405
|
47
|
213
|
2,003
|
801
|
2,804
|
|||||||||
South
Carolina
|
-
|
1,622
|
363
|
-
|
286
|
2,271
|
4,539
|
6,810
|
|||||||||
Nashville,
Tennessee
|
-
|
1,265
|
48
|
-
|
188
|
1,501
|
1,045
|
2,546
|
|||||||||
Southeast
Segment
|
60
|
4,415
|
1,108
|
47
|
861
|
6,491
|
7,239
|
13,730
|
|||||||||
Colorado
|
-
|
-
|
314
|
128
|
129
|
571
|
1,025
|
1,596
|
|||||||||
Indiana
|
534
|
1,738
|
1,458
|
432
|
456
|
4,618
|
505
|
5,123
|
|||||||||
Kentucky
|
-
|
262
|
143
|
-
|
83
|
488
|
410
|
898
|
|||||||||
Ohio
|
-
|
1,895
|
840
|
217
|
158
|
3,110
|
-
|
3,110
|
|||||||||
Memphis,
Tennessee
|
-
|
-
|
20
|
10
|
62
|
92
|
-
|
92
|
|||||||||
Texas
|
392
|
1,266
|
1,884
|
-
|
505
|
4,047
|
781
|
4,828
|
|||||||||
Other
|
926
|
5,161
|
4,659
|
787
|
1,393
|
12,926
|
2,721
|
15,647
|
|||||||||
Total
|
986
|
17,261
|
12,465
|
1,409
|
4,904
|
37,025
|
25,051
|
62,076
|
(1)
|
“Undeveloped
Lots” consists of raw land that is expected to be developed into the
respective number of lots reflected in this table.
|
(2) | The category “Homes Under Construction” represents lots upon which construction of a home has commenced. |
The
following table sets forth, by reportable segment, inventory held for
development and land held for sale as of September 30, 2007:
Inventory Held
for
Development
|
Land
Held for
Sale
|
Total
Owned
Inventory
|
||||||||||
West
Segment
|
$ | 868,675 | $ | 35,578 | $ | 904,253 | ||||||
Mid-Atlantic
Segment
|
439,712 | - | 439,712 | |||||||||
Florida
Segment
|
203,417 | - | 203,417 | |||||||||
Southeast
Segment
|
373,111 | 1,407 | 374,518 | |||||||||
Other
|
407,194 | 12,488 | 419,682 | |||||||||
Unallocated
|
196,209 | - | 196,209 | |||||||||
Total
|
$ | 2,488,318 | $ | 49,473 | $ | 2,537,791 |
Joint Ventures. We participate
in land development joint ventures in which Beazer Homes has less than a
controlling interest. We enter into joint ventures in order to acquire
attractive land positions, to manage our risk profile and to leverage our
capital base. Our joint ventures are typically entered into with developers,
other homebuilders and financial partners to develop finished lots for sale to
the joint venture’s members and other third parties. During fiscal 2007, we
wrote down our investment in certain of our joint ventures reflecting $28.6
million of impairments of inventory held within those ventures and $3.4 million
of contractual obligation abandonments.
11
Our joint
ventures typically obtain secured acquisition, development and construction
financing. At September 30, 2007, our unconsolidated joint ventures had
borrowings outstanding totaling $785.4 million of which $450.6 million related
to one joint venture in which we are a 2.58% partner. In some instances, Beazer
Homes and our joint venture partners have provided varying levels of guarantees
of debt of our unconsolidated joint ventures. At September 30, 2007, these
guarantees included, for certain joint ventures, construction completion
guarantees, loan to value maintenance agreements, repayment guarantees and
environmental indemnities (see Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial
Statements).
Construction
We
typically act as the general contractor for the construction of our projects.
Our project development operations are controlled by our operating divisions,
whose employees supervise the construction of each project, coordinate the
activities of subcontractors and suppliers, subject their work to quality and
cost controls and assure compliance with zoning and building codes. We specify
that quality, durable materials be used in the construction of our homes. Our
subcontractors follow design plans prepared by architects and engineers who are
retained or directly employed by us and whose designs are geared to the local
market. A majority of our home plans are prepared in our corporate office,
allowing us to ensure the quality of the plans we build as well as to enable us
to reduce direct costs through our value engineering efforts.
Subcontractors
typically are retained on a project-by-project basis to complete construction at
a fixed price. Agreements with our subcontractors and materials suppliers are
generally entered into after competitive bidding. In connection with this
competitive bid process, we obtain information from prospective subcontractors
and vendors with respect to their financial condition and ability to perform
their agreements with us. We do not maintain significant inventories of
construction materials, except for materials being utilized for homes under
construction. We have numerous suppliers of raw materials and services used in
our business, and such materials and services have been, and continue to be,
available. Material prices may fluctuate, however, due to various factors,
including demand or supply shortages, which may be beyond the control of our
vendors. Whenever possible, we enter into regional and national supply contracts
with certain of our vendors. We believe that our relationships with our
suppliers and subcontractors are good.
Construction
time for our homes depends on the availability of labor, materials and supplies,
product type and location. Homes are designed to promote efficient use of space
and materials, and to minimize construction costs and time. In all of our
markets, construction of a home is typically completed within three to six
months following commencement of construction. At September 30, 2007, we had
1,404 finished homes (excluding models), of which 542 were under contract and
included in backlog at such date.
Warranty
Program
For
certain homes sold through March 31, 2004 (and in certain markets through July
31, 2004), we self-insured our structural warranty obligations through our
wholly owned risk retention group. Beginning with homes sold April 1, 2004
(August 1, 2004 in certain markets), our warranties are issued, administered,
and insured, subject to applicable self-insured retentions, by independent third
parties. We currently provide a limited warranty (ranging from one to two years)
covering workmanship and materials per our defined performance quality
standards. In addition, we provide a limited warranty (generally ranging from a
minimum of five years up to the period covered by the applicable statute of
repose) covering only certain defined construction defects. We also provide a
defined structural element warranty with single-family homes and townhomes in
certain states.
Since we
subcontract our homebuilding work to subcontractors who generally provide us
with an indemnity and a certificate of insurance prior to receiving payments for
their work, many claims relating to workmanship and materials are the primary
responsibility of our subcontractors.
In
addition, we maintain third-party insurance, subject to applicable self-insured
retentions, for most construction defects that we encounter in the normal course
of business. We believe that our accruals and third-party insurance are adequate
to cover the ultimate resolution of our potential liabilities associated with
known and anticipated warranty and construction defect related claims and
litigation. Please see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis
of Results of Operations and Financial Condition” and Note 14,
“Contingencies” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional
information.
12
There can
be no assurance, however, that the terms and limitations of the limited warranty
will be effective against claims made by the homebuyers, that we will be able to
renew our insurance coverage or renew it at reasonable rates, that we will not
be liable for damages, the cost of repairs, and/or the expense of litigation
surrounding possible construction defects, soil subsidence or building related
claims or that claims will not arise out of uninsurable events or circumstances
not covered by insurance and not subject to effective indemnification agreements
with our subcontractors.
Marketing
and Sales
We make
extensive use of advertising and other promotional activities, including our
Internet website (http://www.beazer.com), mass-media
advertisements, brochures, direct mail, billboards and the placement of
strategically located signboards in the immediate areas of our
developments.
We
normally build, decorate, furnish and landscape model homes for each project and
maintain on-site sales offices. At September 30, 2007, we maintained 815 model
homes, of which 317 were owned, 336 were financed and 162 were leased from third
parties pursuant to sale and leaseback agreements. We believe that model homes
play a particularly important role in our marketing efforts.
We
generally sell our homes through commissioned employees (who typically work from
the sales offices located at the model homes used in the subdivision) as well as
through independent brokers. Our personnel are available to assist prospective
homebuyers by providing them with floor plans, price information and tours of
model homes, and in connection with the selection of options. The selection of
interior features is a principal component of our marketing and sales efforts.
Sales personnel are trained by us and attend periodic meetings to be updated on
sales techniques, competitive products in the area, the availability of
financing, construction schedules and marketing and advertising plans, which
management believes results in a sales force with extensive knowledge of our
operating policies and housing products. Our policy also provides that sales
personnel be licensed real estate agents where required by law. Depending on
market conditions, we also at times begin construction on a number of homes for
which no signed sales contract exists. The use of an inventory of such homes
satisfies the requirements of relocated personnel and of independent brokers,
who often represent customers who require a completed home within 60 days. At
September 30, 2007, excluding models, we had 2,276 homes at various stages of
completion (of which 862 were completed) for which we did not have a sales
contract, either because the construction of the home was begun without a sales
contract as described above or because the original sales contract had been
cancelled.
We
sometimes use various sales incentives in order to attract homebuyers. The use
of incentives depends largely on local economic and competitive market
conditions.
Customer
Financing
We
historically have offered customer financing through Beazer Mortgage. Through
September 30, 2007, Beazer Mortgage financed certain of our mortgage lending
activities with borrowings under its warehouse line of credit or from general
corporate funds prior to selling the loans and their servicing rights shortly
after origination to third-party investors. Beazer Mortgage provided qualified
homebuyers numerous financing options, including a wide variety of conventional,
Federal Housing Administration (“FHA”) and Veterans’ Administration (“VA”)
financing programs. In certain situations, we assisted our homebuyers in
obtaining financing from outside mortgage lenders and, in certain limited
circumstances, we attempted to minimize potential risks relating to the
availability of customer financing by purchasing mortgage financing commitments
that lock in the availability of funds and interest rates at specified levels
for a certain period of time. See Item 3 – Legal Proceedings for discussion of
the investigations and litigation related to our mortgage origination
business.
Through
January 31, 2008, Beazer Mortgage provided mortgage origination services, and
generally did not retain or service the mortgages that it originated. Effective
February 1, 2008, we exited the mortgage origination business and entered into
an exclusive preferred lender arrangement with a national, third-party mortgage
provider. In addition, we continue to offer title insurance services to our
homebuyers in many of our markets.
13
Competition
and Market Factors
The
development and sale of residential properties is highly competitive and
fragmented, particularly in the current weak housing environment. We compete for
residential sales on the basis of a number of interrelated factors, including
location, reputation, amenities, design, quality and price, with numerous large
and small homebuilders, including some homebuilders with nationwide operations
and greater financial resources and/or lower costs than us. We also compete for
residential sales with individual resales of existing homes, available rental
housing and, to a lesser extent, resales of condominiums.
We
utilize our experience within our geographic markets and breadth of product line
to vary our regional product offerings to reflect changing market conditions. We
strive to respond to market conditions and to capitalize on the opportunities
for advantageous land acquisitions in desirable locations. To further strengthen
our competitive position, we rely on quality design, construction and service to
provide customers with a higher measure of home.
Government
Regulation and Environmental Matters
Generally,
our land is purchased with entitlements, giving us the right to obtain building
permits upon compliance with specified conditions, which generally are within
our control. Upon compliance with such conditions, we are able to obtain
building permits. The length of time necessary to obtain such permits and
approvals affects the carrying costs of unimproved property acquired for the
purpose of development and construction. In addition, the continued
effectiveness of permits already granted is subject to factors such as changes
in policies, rules and regulations and their interpretation and application.
Many governmental authorities have imposed impact fees as a means of defraying
the cost of providing certain governmental services to developing areas. To
date, the governmental approval processes discussed above have not had a
material adverse effect on our development activities, and indeed all
homebuilders in a given market face the same fees and restrictions. There can be
no assurance, however, that these and other restrictions will not adversely
affect us in the future.
We may
also be subject to periodic delays or may be precluded entirely from developing
communities due to building moratoriums or “slow-growth” or “no-growth”
initiatives or building permit allocation ordinances which could be implemented
in the future in the states and markets in which we operate. Substantially all
of our land is entitled and, therefore, the moratoriums generally would only
adversely affect us if they arose from health, safety and welfare issues such as
insufficient water or sewage facilities. Local and state governments also have
broad discretion regarding the imposition of development fees for projects in
their jurisdictions. These fees are normally established, however, when we
receive recorded final maps and building permits. We are also subject to a
variety of local, state and federal statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations
concerning the protection of health and the environment. These laws may result
in delays, cause us to incur substantial compliance and other costs, and
prohibit or severely restrict development in certain environmentally sensitive
regions or areas.
In order
to provide homes to homebuyers qualifying for FHA-insured or VA-guaranteed
mortgages, we must construct homes in compliance with FHA and VA regulations.
Our mortgage and title subsidiaries are subject to various licensing
requirements and real estate laws and regulations in the states in which they do
business. These laws and regulations include provisions regarding
capitalization, operating procedures, investments, lending and privacy
disclosures, forms of policies and premiums.
In some
states, we are required to be registered as a licensed contractor and comply
with applicable rules and regulations. Also, in various states, our new home
counselors are required to be licensed real estate agents and to comply with the
laws and regulations applicable to real estate agents.
Failure
to comply with any of these laws or regulations could result in loss of
licensing and a restriction of our business activities in the applicable
jurisdiction.
14
Bonds
and Other Obligations
We are
frequently required, in connection with the development of our projects, to
provide letters of credit and performance, maintenance and other bonds in
support of our related obligations with respect to such developments. The amount
of such obligations outstanding at any time varies in accordance with our
pending development activities. In the event any such bonds or letters of credit
are drawn upon, we would be obligated to reimburse the issuer of such bonds or
letters of credit. At September 30, 2007 we had approximately $134.3 million and
$580.9 million of outstanding letters of credit and performance bonds,
respectively, related to our obligations to local governments to construct roads
and other improvements in various developments, which were in addition to
outstanding letters of credit of approximately $37.8 million related to our land
option contracts.
Employees
and Subcontractors
At
September 30, 2007, we employed 2,619 persons, of whom 761 were sales and
marketing personnel, 771 were executive, management and administrative
personnel, 912 were involved in construction and 175 were personnel of Beazer
Mortgage. Although none of our employees are covered by collective bargaining
agreements, certain of the subcontractors engaged by us are represented by labor
unions or are subject to collective bargaining arrangements. We believe that our
relations with our employees and subcontractors are good. During October 2007,
we continued our comprehensive review of our overhead structure in light of the
continuing weakness in the homebuilding market, reducing our number of employees
by approximately an additional 650.
Available
Information
Our
Internet website address is www.beazer.com. Our
annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on
Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to section
13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act are available free of charge through our
website as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file with or
furnish them to the SEC and are available in print to any stockholder who
requests a printed copy. The public may also read and copy any materials that we
file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street N.E.,
Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the
Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. Additionally, the
SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy statements, information
statements and other information regarding issuers, including us, that file
electronically with the SEC at www.sec.gov.
In
addition, many of our corporate governance documents are available on our
website at www.beazer.com.
Specifically, our Audit, Finance, Compensation and Nominating/Corporate
Governance Committee Charters, our Corporate Governance Guidelines and Code of
Business Conduct and Ethics are available. Each of these documents is available
in print to any stockholder who requests it.
The
content on our website is available for information purposes only and is not a
part of and shall not be deemed incorporated by reference in this
report.
Item
1A. Risk Factors
Our
home sales and operating revenues could decline due to macro-economic and other
factors outside of our control, such as changes in consumer confidence, declines
in employment levels and increases in the quantity and decreases in the price of
new homes and resale homes in the market.
Changes
in national and regional economic conditions, as well as local economic
conditions where we conduct our operations and where prospective purchasers of
our homes live, may result in more caution on the part of homebuyers and,
consequently, fewer home purchases. These economic uncertainties involve, among
other things, conditions of supply and demand in local markets and changes in
consumer confidence and income, employment levels, and government regulations.
These risks and uncertainties could periodically have an adverse effect on
consumer demand for and the pricing of our homes, which could cause our
operating revenues to decline. Additional reductions in our revenues could, in
turn, further negatively affect the market price of our securities.
15
The
homebuilding industry is experiencing a severe downturn that may continue for an
indefinite period and continue to adversely affect our business, results of
operations and stockholders’ equity.
Most
housing markets across the United States continue to be characterized by an
oversupply of both new and resale home inventory, reduced levels of consumer
demand for new homes, increased cancellation rates, aggressive price competition
among homebuilders and increased incentives for home sales. As a result of these
factors, we, like many other homebuilders, have experienced a material reduction
in revenues and margins. These challenging market conditions are expected to
continue for the foreseeable future and, in the near term, these conditions may
further deteriorate. The Company expects that continued weakness in the
homebuilding market will adversely affect its business, results of operations
and stockholders’ equity as compared to prior periods and could result in
additional inventory and goodwill impairments in the future.
In
addition, we have been experiencing a significant increase in the number of
cancellations by customers. Our backlog reflects the number and value of homes
for which we have entered into a sales contract with a customer but have not yet
delivered the home. Although these sales contracts typically require a cash
deposit and do not make the sale contingent on the sale of the customer’s
existing home, in some cases a customer may cancel the contract and receive a
complete or partial refund of the deposit as a result of local laws or as a
matter of our business practices. If home prices decline, interest rates
increase or if there is a national or local economic decline, homebuyers may
have an incentive to cancel their contracts with us, even where they might be
entitled to no refund or only a partial refund. Significant cancellations have
had, and could have, a material adverse effect on our business as a result of
lost sales revenue and the accumulation of unsold housing inventory. In
particular, our cancellation rates for the fiscal quarter and fiscal year ended
September 30, 2007 were 68% and 41%, respectively. It is important to note that
both backlog and cancellation metrics are operational, rather than accounting
data, and should be used only as a general gauge to evaluate performance. There
is an inherent imprecision in these metrics based on an evaluation of
qualitative factors during the transaction cycle.
Based on
our impairment tests and consideration of the current and expected future market
conditions, we recorded inventory impairment charges of $488.9 million, lot
option abandonment charges of $122.9 million and non-cash goodwill impairment
charges totaling $52.8 million during fiscal 2007. During fiscal 2007, we also
wrote down our investment in certain of our joint ventures reflecting $28.6
million of impairments of inventory held within those ventures and $3.4 million
of contractual obligation abandonments. While we believe that no additional
goodwill, joint venture investment or inventory impairments existed as of
September 30, 2007, future economic or financial developments, including general
interest rate increases, poor performance in either the national economy or
individual local economies, or our ability to meet our projections could lead to
future impairments.
The
current disruption in the availability of mortgage financing is expected to
continue to adversely affect our business and results of
operations.
Substantially
all purchasers of our homes finance their acquisition with mortgage financing.
The U.S. residential mortgage market is experiencing serious disruption due to
deterioration in the credit quality of loans originated to non-prime and
subprime borrowers, an increase in mortgage foreclosure rates and the recent
failure of numerous lending institutions. These difficulties are not expected to
improve until residential real estate inventories return to a more normal level
and the mortgage credit market stabilizes. This disruption has adversely
affected, and is expected to continue to adversely affect, the Company’s
business and results of operation as compared to prior periods.
16
We
are the subject of ongoing governmental criminal and civil investigations and
pending civil litigation which could result in criminal charges and could
require us to pay substantial fines, damages or other penalties or could
otherwise have a material adverse effect on us.
We and
our subsidiary, Beazer Mortgage Corporation, are under criminal and civil
investigations by the United States Attorney’s office in the Western District of
North Carolina, the SEC and other federal and state agencies. We and certain of
our current and former employees, officers and directors have been named as
defendants in securities class action lawsuits, lawsuits regarding Employee
Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”) claims, and derivative shareholder
actions. In addition, certain of our subsidiaries have been named in class
action and multi-party lawsuits regarding claims made by homebuyers. We cannot
predict or determine the timing or final outcome of the investigations or the
lawsuits or the effect that any adverse findings in the investigations or
adverse determinations in the lawsuits may have on us. While we are cooperating
with the investigations, developments, including the expansion of the scope of
the investigations, could negatively impact us, could divert the efforts and
attention of our management team from the operation of our business, and/or
result in further departures of executives or other employees. An
unfavorable determination resulting from any investigation could result in the
filing of criminal charges or the payment of substantial criminal or civil
fines, the imposition of injunctions on our conduct or the imposition of other
penalties or consequences, including but not limited to the Company having to
adjust, curtail or terminate the conduct of certain of our business operations.
Any of these outcomes could have a material adverse effect on our business,
financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. An unfavorable
determination in any of the lawsuits could result in the payment by us of
substantial monetary damages which may not be fully covered by insurance.
Further, the legal costs associated with the investigations and the lawsuits and
the amount of time required to be spent by management and the Board of Directors
on these matters, even if we are ultimately successful, could have a material
adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
In addition to expenses incurred to defend the Company in these matters, under
Delaware law and our bylaws, we may have an obligation to indemnify our current
and former officers and directors in relation to these matters.
Our
insurance carriers may seek to rescind or deny coverage with respect to certain
of the pending investigations or lawsuits, or we may not have sufficient
coverage under such policies. If the insurance companies are successful in
rescinding or denying coverage or if we do not have sufficient coverage under
our policies, our business, financial condition and results of operations could
be materially adversely affected.
We
face risks relating to our ineffective internal controls.
As a
result of our review of issues identified during the recently completed
independent investigation initiated by the Audit Committee, as well as our
internal review, management has identified several deficiencies in our control
environment that constitute material weaknesses and, consequently, has concluded
that our internal control over financial reporting was not effective as of
September 30, 2007. In addition, management has concluded, based primarily on
the identification of the material weaknesses, that our disclosure controls and
procedures were not effective at September 30, 2007. See Part II, Item 9A –
Controls and Procedures. If we are unable to successfully remediate these
material weaknesses in a timely manner, investors may lose confidence in our
reported financial information, which could lead to a decline in our stock
price, limit our ability to access the capital markets in the future, and
require us to incur additional costs to improve our internal control systems and
procedures. In addition, we are in the process of developing and implementing a
full work plan for remediation of all of the identified material weaknesses, and
this work will continue during fiscal 2008. Until our remediation efforts are
completed, management will continue to devote significant time and attention to
these efforts, and we will continue to incur the expenses associated with the
additional procedures and resources required to prepare our consolidated
financial statements.
Continuing
negative publicity may adversely affect our business.
As a
result of the various ongoing investigations and litigation discussed herein and
the issues relating thereto, we have been the subject of continuing negative
publicity. This negative publicity has contributed to significant declines in
the prices of our publicly traded securities. We believe this negative publicity
has also discouraged and may continue to discourage a number of potential
homebuyers from purchasing a home from us. In addition, the negative publicity
has adversely affected our relationships with certain of our partners, such as
land sellers, contractors and suppliers. Continuing negative publicity could
continue to have a material adverse effect on our business and the market price
of our publicly traded securities.
17
We
are dependent on the services of certain key employees, and the loss of their
services could hurt our business.
Our
future success depends upon our ability to attract, train, assimilate and retain
skilled personnel. If we are unable to retain our key employees or attract,
train, assimilate or retain other skilled personnel in the future, it could
hinder our business strategy and impose additional costs of identifying and
training new individuals. Competition for qualified personnel in all of our
operating markets is intense.
As a
result of the various ongoing investigations and litigation discussed herein and
the uncertainty of our future prospects, we have lost several key employees of
our Company. We also believe that these circumstances have adversely affected
morale and could lead to additional employee turnover. In light of these ongoing
matters, we have experienced some difficulty in attracting qualified individuals
to replace the employees we have lost.
Recent
and potential future downgrades of our credit ratings could adversely affect our
access to capital and could otherwise have a material adverse effect on
us.
Each of
S&P, Moody’s and Fitch has recently decreased its rating or outlook with
respect to our long-term unsecured debt. Specifically, on February 15, 2008,
S&P decreased its rating from B+ to B and maintained its negative outlook
(which had been revised from stable on March 28, 2007). S&P had placed the
Company’s corporate credit and senior unsecured debt ratings on negative credit
watch on August 14, 2007. On March 26, 2008, Moody’s lowered its rating from B1
to B2 and maintained its negative outlook. On March 5, 2008, Fitch lowered the
Company’s issuer-default rating from BB- to B+, convertible senior notes to B
from BB-, and its junior subordinated debt to CCC+ from B. The rating agencies
announced that these downgrades reflect deterioration in our homebuilding
operations, credit metrics and other earnings-based metrics and their outlook
for our future earnings, as well as possible distractions resulting from the
ongoing investigations described elsewhere herein. These ratings and our current
credit condition affect, among other things, our ability to access new capital,
especially debt, and may result in more stringent covenants and higher interest
rates under the terms of any new debt. Our credit ratings could be further
lowered or rating agencies could issue adverse commentaries in the future, which
could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations,
financial condition and liquidity.
We
have not been timely in our Exchange Act reporting.
Although
we have now filed all of our fiscal 2007 Exchange Act filings with the SEC, we
failed to timely file with the SEC our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the
quarterly periods ended March 31, 2007, June 30, 2007 and December 31, 2007 and
our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007.
Until we are timely in our filings for a period of 12 months (anticipated mid
2009), we will be precluded from registering any securities with the SEC on Form
S-3. As a result, our ability to access the capital markets may be constrained,
which may adversely affect our liquidity.
Our
revolving credit facility, bonds and certain other debt impose significant
restrictions and obligations on us. Restrictions on our ability to borrow could
adversely affect our liquidity. In addition, our substantial indebtedness could
adversely affect our financial condition, limit our growth and make it more
difficult for us to satisfy our debt obligations.
Our
revolving credit facility imposes significant restrictions and obligations on
us. Under this facility, we are required to meet certain financial tests,
including a minimum consolidated tangible net worth, a maximum leverage ratio, a
minimum interest coverage ratio, a maximum land inventory ratio and, under
certain circumstances, minimum liquidity. In addition, we must comply with other
covenants which, among other things, limit the incurrence of liens, secured
debt, investments, transactions with affiliates, asset sales, mergers and other
matters. Any failure to comply with any of these covenants could result in an
event of default under the revolving credit facility. Any such event of default,
any other default or any failure of our representations and warranties in the
credit agreement to be correct in all material respects on the date of a
proposed borrowing would also prohibit our ability to make borrowings under the
revolving credit facility and could negatively impact other covenants or lead to
defaults under certain of our other debt. We have in the past needed waivers and
amendments under this facility with respect to financial covenants and the
accuracy of representations of warranties made when we borrow under the
facility. There can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain any future
waivers or amendments that may become necessary without significant additional
cost or at all.
18
As of
September 30, 2007, we had total outstanding indebtedness of approximately $1.9
billion, net of unamortized discount of approximately $3.0 million. Our
substantial indebtedness could have important consequences to us and the holders
of our securities, including, among other things:
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causing
us to be unable to satisfy our obligations under our debt
agreements;
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making
us more vulnerable to adverse general economic and industry
conditions;
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making
it difficult to fund future working capital, land purchases, acquisitions,
share
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repurchases,
general corporate purposes or other purposes;
and
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causing
us to be limited in our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to,
changes in our business.
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In
addition, subject to restrictions in our existing debt instruments, we may incur
additional indebtedness. On October 10, 2007, we entered into a waiver and
amendment of our revolving credit facility. Under this and an October 26, 2007
amendment, borrowings under the revolving credit facility are secured by certain
assets and our ability to borrow under this facility is subject to satisfaction
of a secured borrowing base. We are permitted to grow the borrowing base by
adding additional cash and/or real estate as collateral securing the revolving
credit facility.
If new
debt is added to our current debt levels, the related risks that we now face
could intensify. Our growth plans and our ability to make payments of principal
or interest on, or to refinance, our indebtedness, will depend on our future
operating performance and our ability to enter into additional debt and/or
equity financings. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flows in the
future to service our debt, we may be required to refinance all or a portion of
our existing debt, to sell assets or to obtain additional financing. We may not
be able to do any of the foregoing on terms acceptable to us, if at
all.
A substantial increase in mortgage
interest rates or unavailability of mortgage financing may reduce consumer
demand for our homes.
A
substantial increase in mortgage interest rates or unavailability of mortgage
financing would adversely affect the ability of prospective first-time and
move-up homebuyers to obtain financing for our homes, as well as adversely
affect the ability of prospective move-up homebuyers to sell their current
homes. As a result, our margins, revenues and cash flows may also be adversely
affected.
If we are unsuccessful in competing
against our homebuilding competitors, our market share could decline or our
growth could be impaired and, as a result, our financial results could
suffer.
Competition
in the homebuilding industry is intense, and there are relatively low barriers
to entry into our business. Increased competition could hurt our business, as it
could prevent us from acquiring attractive parcels of land on which to build
homes or make such acquisitions more expensive, hinder our market share
expansion, and lead to pricing pressures on our homes that may adversely impact
our margins and revenues. If we are unable to successfully compete, our
financial results could suffer and the value of, or our ability to service, our
debt could be adversely affected. Our competitors may independently develop land
and construct housing units that are superior or substantially similar to our
products. Furthermore, some of our competitors have substantially greater
financial resources and lower costs of funds than we do. Many of these
competitors also have longstanding relationships with subcontractors and
suppliers in the markets in which we operate. We currently build in several of
the top markets in the nation and, therefore, we expect to continue to face
additional competition from new entrants into our markets.
Our financial condition, results of
operations and stockholders’ equity may be adversely affected by any decrease in
the value of our inventory, as well as by the associated carrying
costs.
We
regularly acquire land for replacement and expansion of land inventory within
our existing and new markets. The risks inherent in purchasing and developing
land increase as consumer demand for housing decreases. The market value of
land, building lots and housing inventories can fluctuate significantly as a
result of changing market conditions and the measures we employ to manage
inventory risk may not be adequate to insulate our operations from a severe drop
in inventory values. When market conditions are such that land values are not
appreciating, previously entered into option agreements may become less
desirable, at which time we may elect to forego deposits and preacquisition
costs and terminate the agreements. During fiscal 2007, as a result of the
further deterioration of the housing market and our strategic decision related
to projects which no longer met our internal investment standards, we determined
that the carrying amount of certain of our inventory assets exceeded their
estimated fair value. As a result of our analysis, during fiscal 2007, we
incurred $488.9 million of non-cash pre-tax charges related to inventory
impairments. If these adverse market conditions continue or worsen, we may have
to incur additional inventory impairment charges which would adversely affect
our financial condition, results of operations and stockholders’
equity.
19
We conduct certain of our operations
through unconsolidated joint ventures with independent third parties in which we
do not have a controlling interest and we can be adversely impacted by joint
venture partners’ failure to fulfill their obligations.
We
participate in land development joint ventures (“JVs”) in which we have less
than a controlling interest. We have entered into JVs in order to acquire
attractive land positions, to manage our risk profile and to leverage our
capital base. Our JVs are typically entered into with developers, other
homebuilders and financial partners to develop finished lots for sale to the
joint venture’s members and other third parties. As a result of the
deterioration of the housing market in fiscal 2007, we wrote down our investment
in certain of our JVs reflecting $28.6 million of impairments of inventory held
within those JVs and $3.4 million of contractual obligation abandonments. If
these adverse market conditions continue or worsen, we may have to take further
writedowns of our investments in these JVs.
Our joint
venture investments are generally very illiquid both because we lack a
controlling interest in the JVs and because most of our JVs are structured to
require super-majority or unanimous approval of the members to sell a
substantial portion of the JV’s assets or for a member to receive a return of
their invested capital. Our lack of a controlling interest also results in the
risk that the JV will take actions that we disagree with, or fail to take
actions that we desire, including actions regarding the sale of the underlying
property.
Our JVs
typically obtain secured acquisition, development and construction financing. At
September 30, 2007, our unconsolidated JVs had borrowings totaling $785.4
million, of which $450.6 million related to one joint venture in which we are a
2.58% partner. In some instances, we and our joint venture partners have
provided varying levels of guarantees of debt of our unconsolidated JVs. At
September 30, 2007, these guarantees included, for certain, joint ventures,
construction completion guarantees, loan-to-value maintenance agreements,
repayment guarantees and environmental indemnities. At September 30, 2007, we
had repayment guarantees of $42.3 million and loan-to-value maintenance
guarantees of $7.7 million of debt of unconsolidated joint ventures (see Notes 3
and 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). As the housing market has
deteriorated, it has become more likely that our guarantees may be called upon.
If one or more of these guarantees were drawn upon or otherwise invoked, our
obligations could be significant, individually or in the aggregate, which could
have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of
operations. We cannot guarantee that such events will not occur or that such
obligations will not be invoked.
We may not be able to utilize all of
our deferred tax assets.
We
currently believe that we are likely to have sufficient taxable income in the
future to realize the benefit of all of our deferred tax assets (consisting
primarily of inventory valuation adjustments, reserves and accruals that are not
currently deductible for tax purposes, as well as operating loss carryforwards
from losses we incurred during fiscal 2007). However, some or all of these
deferred tax assets could expire unused if we are unable to generate sufficient
taxable income in the future to take advantage of them or we enter into
transactions that limit our right to use them. If it became more likely than not
that deferred tax assets would expire unused, we would have to record a
valuation allowance to reflect this fact, which could materially increase our
income tax expense, and therefore adversely affect our results of operations and
tangible net worth in the period in which it is recorded.
20
We could experience a reduction in
home sales and revenues or reduced cash flows due to our inability to acquire
land for our housing developments if we are unable to obtain reasonably priced
financing to support our homebuilding activities.
The
homebuilding industry is capital intensive, and homebuilding requires
significant up-front expenditures to acquire land and begin development.
Accordingly, we incur substantial indebtedness to finance our homebuilding
activities. If internally generated funds and borrowings under our revolving
credit facility are not sufficient, we would seek additional capital in the form
of equity or debt financing from a variety of potential sources, including
additional bank financing and/or securities offerings. The amount and types of
indebtedness which we may incur are limited by the terms of our existing debt.
In addition, the availability of borrowed funds, especially for land acquisition
and construction financing, may be greatly reduced nationally, and the lending
community may require increased amounts of equity to be invested in a project by
borrowers in connection with both new loans and the extension of existing loans.
If we are not successful in obtaining sufficient capital to fund our planned
capital and other expenditures, we may be unable to acquire land for our housing
developments. Additionally, if we cannot obtain additional financing to fund the
purchase of land under our option contracts, we may incur contractual penalties
and fees.
We are subject to extensive
government regulation which could cause us to incur significant liabilities or
restrict our business activities.
Regulatory
requirements could cause us to incur significant liabilities and operating
expenses and could restrict our business activities. We are subject to local,
state and federal statutes and rules regulating, among other things, certain
developmental matters, building and site design, and matters concerning the
protection of health and the environment. Our operating expenses may be
increased by governmental regulations such as building permit allocation
ordinances and impact and other fees and taxes, which may be imposed to defray
the cost of providing certain governmental services and improvements. Other
governmental regulations, such as building moratoriums and “no growth” or “slow
growth” initiatives, which may be adopted in communities which have developed
rapidly, may cause delays in home projects or otherwise restrict our business
activities resulting in reductions in our revenues. Any delay or refusal from
government agencies to grant us necessary licenses, permits and approvals could
have an adverse effect on our operations.
We may incur additional operating
expenses due to compliance programs or fines, penalties and remediation costs
pertaining to environmental regulations within our markets.
We are
subject to a variety of local, state and federal statutes, ordinances, rules and
regulations concerning the protection of health and the environment. The
particular environmental laws which apply to any given community vary greatly
according to the community site, the site’s environmental conditions and the
present and former use of the site. Environmental laws may result in delays, may
cause us to implement time consuming and expensive compliance programs and may
prohibit or severely restrict development in certain environmentally sensitive
regions or areas. From time to time, the United States Environmental Protection
Agency (“EPA”) and similar federal or state agencies review homebuilders’
compliance with environmental laws and may levy fines and penalties for failure
to strictly comply with applicable environmental laws or impose additional
requirements for future compliance as a result of past failures. Any such
actions taken with respect to us may increase our costs. Further, we expect that
increasingly stringent requirements will be imposed on homebuilders in the
future. Environmental regulations can also have an adverse impact on the
availability and price of certain raw materials such as lumber. Our projects in
California are especially susceptible to restrictive government regulations and
environmental laws.
We may be subject to significant
potential liabilities as a result of construction defect, product liability and
warranty claims made against us.
As a
homebuilder, we have been, and continue to be, subject to construction defect,
product liability and home warranty claims, including moisture intrusion and
related claims, arising in the ordinary course of business. These claims are
common to the homebuilding industry and can be costly.
We and
certain of our subsidiaries have been, and continue to be, named as defendants
in various construction defect claims, product liability claims, complaints and
other legal actions that include claims related to moisture intrusion.
Furthermore, plaintiffs may in certain of these legal proceedings seek class
action status with potential class sizes that vary from case to case. Class
action lawsuits can be costly to defend, and if we were to lose any certified
class action suit, it could result in substantial potential liability for
us.
21
With
respect to certain general liability exposures, including construction defect,
moisture intrusion and related claims and product liability, interpretation of
underlying current and future trends, assessment of claims and the related
liability and reserve estimation process is highly judgmental due to the complex
nature of these exposures, with each exposure exhibiting unique circumstances.
Furthermore, once claims are asserted for construction defects, it is difficult
to determine the extent to which the assertion of these claims will expand
geographically. Although we have obtained insurance for construction defect
claims subject to applicable self-insurance retentions, such policies may not be
available or adequate to cover any liability for damages, the cost of repairs,
and/or the expense of litigation surrounding current claims, and future claims
may arise out of uninsurable events or circumstances not covered by insurance
and not subject to effective indemnification agreements with our
subcontractors.
Our operating expenses could
increase if we are required to pay higher insurance premiums or litigation costs
for various claims, which could cause our net income to
decline.
The costs
of insuring against construction defect, product liability and director and
officer claims are high. This coverage may become more costly or more restricted
in the future.
Increasingly
in recent years, lawsuits (including class action lawsuits) have been filed
against builders, asserting claims of personal injury and property damage. Our
insurance may not cover all of the claims, including personal injury claims,
arising from moisture intrusion, or such coverage may become prohibitively
expensive. If we are not able to obtain adequate insurance against these claims,
we may experience losses that could reduce our net income and restrict our cash
flow available to service debt.
Historically,
builders have recovered from subcontractors and their insurance carriers a
significant portion of the construction defect liabilities and costs of defense
that the builders have incurred. Insurance coverage available to subcontractors
for construction defects is becoming increasingly expensive, and the scope of
coverage is restricted. If we cannot effectively recover from our subcontractors
or their carriers, we may suffer greater losses which could decrease our net
income.
A
builder’s ability to recover against any available insurance policy depends upon
the continued solvency and financial strength of the insurance carrier that
issued the policy. Many of the states in which we build homes have lengthy
statutes of limitations applicable to claims for construction defects. To the
extent that any carrier providing insurance coverage to us or our subcontractors
becomes insolvent or experiences financial difficulty in the future, we may be
unable to recover on those policies, and our net income may
decline.
We are dependent on the continued
availability and satisfactory performance of our subcontractors, which, if
unavailable, could have a material adverse effect on our
business.
We
conduct our construction operations only as a general contractor. Virtually all
construction work is performed by unaffiliated third-party subcontractors. As a
consequence, we depend on the continued availability of and satisfactory
performance by these subcontractors for the construction of our homes. There may
not be sufficient availability of and satisfactory performance by these
unaffiliated third-party subcontractors in the markets in which we operate. In
addition, inadequate subcontractor resources could have a material adverse
effect on our business.
We experience fluctuations and
variability in our operating results on a quarterly basis and, as a result, our
historical performance may not be a meaningful indicator of future
results.
Our
operating results in a future quarter or quarters may fall below expectations of
securities analysts or investors and, as a result, the market value of our
common stock will fluctuate. We historically have experienced, and expect to
continue to experience, variability in home sales and net earnings on a
quarterly basis. As a result of such variability, our historical performance may
not be a meaningful indicator of future results. Our quarterly results of
operations may continue to fluctuate in the future as a result of a variety of
both national and local factors, including, among others:
|
●
|
the
timing of home closings and land
sales;
|
|
●
|
our
ability to continue to acquire additional land or secure option contracts
to acquire land on acceptable
terms;
|
|
●
|
conditions
of the real estate market in areas where we operate and of the general
economy;
|
|
●
|
raw
material and labor shortages;
|
|
●
|
seasonal
homebuying patterns; and
|
|
●
|
other
changes in operating expenses, including the cost of labor and raw
materials, personnel and general economic
conditions.
|
22
The occurrence of natural disasters
could increase our operating expenses and reduce our revenues and cash
flows.
The
climates and geology of many of the states in which we operate, including
California, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and
Texas, present increased risks of natural disasters. To the extent that
hurricanes, severe storms, earthquakes, droughts, floods, wildfires or other
natural disasters or similar events occur, our homes under construction or our
building lots in such states could be damaged or destroyed, which may result in
losses exceeding our insurance coverage. Any of these events could increase our
operating expenses, impair our cash flows and reduce our revenues, which could,
in turn, negatively affect the market price of our securities.
Future terrorist attacks against the
United States or increased domestic or international instability could have an
adverse effect on our operations.
Adverse
developments in the war on terrorism, future terrorist attacks against the
United States, or any outbreak or escalation of hostilities between the United
States and any foreign power, including the armed conflict with Iraq, may cause
disruption to the economy, our Company, our employees and our customers, which
could adversely affect our revenues, operating expenses, and financial
condition.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff
Comments
None.
Item 2.
Properties
As of
April 25, 2008, we lease approximately 57,000 square feet of office space in
Atlanta, Georgia to house our corporate headquarters. We also lease an aggregate
of approximately 615,000 square feet of office space for our subsidiaries’
operations at various locations. We own an aggregate of 57,872 square feet of
office space in Indianapolis, Indiana. We are actively marketing our Indiana
office building for sale.
Item 3. Legal
Proceedings
Investigations
United States Attorney, State and
Federal Agency Investigations. Beazer Homes and its subsidiary, Beazer
Mortgage Corporation, are under criminal and civil investigations by the United
States Attorney’s Office in the Western District of North Carolina and other
state and federal agencies concerning the matters that have been the subject of
the independent investigation by the Audit Committee of the Beazer Homes’ Board
of Directors described below. The Company is fully cooperating with these
investigations.
Securities and Exchange Commission
Investigation. On July 20, 2007, Beazer Homes received from the SEC a
formal order of private investigation to determine whether Beazer Homes and/or
other persons or entities involved with Beazer Homes have violated federal
securities laws, including, among others, the anti-fraud, books and records,
internal accounting controls, periodic reporting and certification provisions
thereof. The SEC had previously initiated an informal investigation in this
matter in May 2007. The Company is fully cooperating with the SEC
investigation.
Independent Investigation. In
April 2007, the Audit Committee of the Beazer Homes Board of Directors initiated
an independent investigation of Beazer Homes’ mortgage origination business,
including, among other things, investigating certain evidence that the Company’s
subsidiary, Beazer Mortgage Corporation, violated U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development (“HUD”) regulations and may have violated certain other laws
and regulations in connection with certain of its mortgage origination
activities. For information regarding the Audit Committee investigation, the
accounting errors and irregularities identified, and the related restatement
adjustments, see “Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”
and Notes 14 and 17 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
23
Litigation
Securities Class Actions.
Beazer Homes and certain of our current and former executive officers are named
as defendants in a putative class action securities lawsuit filed on March 29,
2007 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.
Plaintiffs filed this action on behalf of a purported class of purchasers of
Beazer Homes’ common stock between July 27, 2006 and March 27, 2007. The
complaint alleges that the defendants violated Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by issuing
materially false and misleading statements regarding our business and prospects
because we did not disclose facts related to alleged improper lending practices
in our mortgage origination business. Plaintiffs seek an unspecified amount of
compensatory damages. Two additional lawsuits were filed subsequently on May 18,
2007 and May 21, 2007 in the United States District Court for the Northern
District of Georgia making similar factual allegations and asserting class
periods of July 28, 2005 through March 27, 2007, and March 30, 2005 through
March 27, 2007, respectively. The court has consolidated these three lawsuits
and plaintiffs are expected to file a consolidated amended complaint within
thirty days after the filing of this Form 10-K with the SEC. The Company intends
to vigorously defend against these actions.
Derivative Shareholder
Actions. Certain of Beazer Homes’ current and former executive officers
and directors were named as defendants in a derivative shareholder suit filed on
April 16, 2007 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of
Georgia. The complaint also names Beazer Homes as a nominal defendant. The
complaint, purportedly on behalf of Beazer Homes, alleges that the defendants
(i) violated Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5
promulgated thereunder; (ii) breached their fiduciary duties and misappropriated
information; (iii) abused their control; (iv) wasted corporate assets; and (v)
were unjustly enriched. Plaintiffs seek an unspecified amount of compensatory
damages against the individual defendants and in favor of Beazer Homes. An
additional lawsuit was filed subsequently on August 29, 2007 in the United
States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia asserting similar
factual allegations. A motion to consolidate the two Georgia derivative actions
is pending, and the plaintiffs are expected to designate the operative complaint
within five days after the Court consolidates the actions. Additionally, on
September 12, 2007, another derivative suit was filed in Delaware Chancery
Court, and the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint on October 26, 2007. The
Delaware complaint raises similar factual and legal claims as those asserted by
the plaintiffs in the Georgia derivative actions. The defendants have moved to
dismiss the Delaware action, or in the alternative, to stay the case pending
resolution of the derivative litigation pending in Georgia. The defendants
intend to vigorously defend against these actions.
ERISA Class Actions. On April
30, 2007, a putative class action complaint was filed on behalf of a purported
class consisting of present and former participants and beneficiaries of the
Beazer Homes 401(k) Plan, naming Beazer Homes, certain of its current and former
officers and directors and the Benefits Administration Committee as defendants.
The complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern
District of Georgia. The complaint alleges breach of fiduciary duties, including
those set forth in ERISA as a result of the investment of retirement monies held
by the 401(k) Plan in common stock of Beazer Homes at a time when participants
were allegedly not provided timely, accurate and complete information concerning
Beazer Homes. Four additional lawsuits were filed subsequently on May 11, 2007,
May 14, 2007, June 15, 2007 and July 27, 2007 in the United States District
Court for the Northern District of Georgia making similar allegations. The court
has consolidated these five lawsuits, and the plaintiffs are expected to file a
consolidated amended complaint within thirty days after the filing of this Form
10-K with the SEC. The Company intends to vigorously defend against these
actions.
Homeowners Class Action Lawsuits and
Multi-Plaintiff Lawsuit. Beazer Homes’ subsidiaries, Beazer Homes Corp.
and Beazer Mortgage Corporation, were named as defendants in a putative class
action lawsuit filed on March 23, 2007 in the General Court of Justice, Superior
Court Division, County of Mecklenburg, North Carolina. The case was removed to
the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, Charlotte
Division. The complaint was filed as a putative class action. The purported
class is defined as North Carolina residents who purchased homes in subdivisions
in North Carolina containing homes constructed by the defendants where the
foreclosure rate is allegedly significantly higher than the state-wide average.
The complaint alleged that the defendants utilized unfair trade practices to
allow low-income purchasers to qualify for loans they allegedly could not
afford, resulting in foreclosures that allegedly diminished plaintiffs’ property
values. Plaintiffs sought an unspecified amount of compensatory damages and also
requested that any damage award be trebled. On April 25, 2008, the District
Court dismissed all causes of action with prejudice. If Plaintiffs file a motion
for reconsideration of the District Court’s decision or appeal the judgment of
the District Court, the defendants will continue to vigorously defend this
action.
24
A second
putative homeowner class action lawsuit was filed on April 23, 2007 in the
United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Columbia
Division. The complaint alleged that Beazer Homes Corp. and Beazer Mortgage
Corporation illegally facilitated the financing of the purchase of homes sold to
low income purchasers, who allegedly would not have otherwise qualified for the
loans. Certain of the plaintiffs also alleged that the defendants’ practices
resulted in foreclosures that allegedly diminished plaintiffs’ property values.
The complaint demanded an unspecified amount of damages, including damages for
alleged violations of federal RICO statutes and punitive damages. The Company
filed a motion to dismiss and the District Court dismissed all causes of action
with prejudice on September 10, 2007. The plaintiffs subsequently filed a motion
for reconsideration which the District Court denied. The plaintiffs did not file
a notice of appeal and this case is now concluded.
An
additional putative class action was filed on April 8, 2008 in the United States
District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, Salisbury Division,
against Beazer Homes, U.S.A., Inc., Beazer Homes Corp. and Beazer Mortgage
Corporation. The Complaint alleges that Beazer violated the Real Estate
Settlement Practices Act and North Carolina Gen. Stat. § 75-1.1 by (1)
improperly requiring homebuyers to use Beazer-owned mortgage and settlement
services as part of a down payment assistance program, and (2) illegally
increasing the cost of homes and settlement services sold by Beazer Homes Corp.
Plaintiff also asserts that Beazer was unjustly enriched by these alleged
actions. The purported class consists of all residents of North Carolina who
purchased a home from Beazer, using mortgage financing provided by and through
Beazer that included seller-funded down payment assistance, between January 1,
2000 and October 11, 2007. The Complaint demands an unspecified amount of
damages, various forms of equitable relief, treble damages, attorneys’ fees and
litigation expenses. The defendants have not yet filed a responsive pleading or
motion, but intend to vigorously defend this action.
Beazer
Homes Corp. and Beazer Mortgage Corporation are also named defendants in a
lawsuit filed on July 3, 2007, in the General Court of Justice, Superior Court
Division, County of Mecklenburg, North Carolina. The case was removed to the
U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, Charlotte
Division, but remanded on April 23, 2008 to the General Court of Justice,
Superior Court Division, County of Mecklenburg, North Carolina. The complaint
was filed on behalf of ten individual homeowners who purchased homes from Beazer
in Mecklenburg County. The complaint alleges certain deceptive conduct by the
defendants and brings various claims under North Carolina statutory and common
law, including a claim for punitive damages. The Company intends to vigorously
defend against this action.
Bond Indenture Trustee
Litigation. On September 10, 2007, we filed an Amended Complaint For
Declaratory Judgment and Injunctive Relief in an action pending in the United
States District Court in Atlanta, Georgia against the trustees under the
indentures governing our outstanding senior and convertible senior notes. We
sought, among other relief, a declaration from the court against the trustees
that the delay in filing with the SEC our Form 10-Q for the quarterly period
ended June 30, 2007 does not constitute a default under the applicable
indentures and that the delay will not give rise to any right of acceleration on
the part of the holders of the senior and convertible senior notes.
On
October 29, 2007, we notified the court and the trustees that we had
successfully concluded a consent solicitation concerning the notes at issue.
Because the consents provide us with a waiver of any and all defaults under the
indentures at issue that may have occurred or may occur prior to May 15, 2008
due to our failure to file or deliver reports or other information we would be
required to file with the SEC, we continued to request the court to rule on our
demand for declaratory judgment. In response to our notice of successful consent
solicitation, the trustees requested the court to deny our request for a ruling
on the merits and dismiss the action, without prejudice, on the ground that
there is no justiciable controversy ripe for determination. We opposed the
trustees’ suggestion of mootness and requested the court to grant us declaratory
judgment.
25
We cannot
predict or determine the timing or final outcome of the governmental
investigations or the lawsuits or the effect that any adverse findings in the
investigations or adverse determinations in the lawsuits may have on us. While
we are cooperating with the governmental investigations, developments, including
the expansion of the scope of the investigations, could negatively impact us,
could divert the efforts and attention of our management team from the operation
of our business, and/or result in further departures of executives or other
employees. An unfavorable determination resulting from any governmental
investigation could result in the filing of criminal charges, payment of
substantial criminal or civil fines, the imposition of injunctions on our
conduct or the imposition of other penalties or consequences, including but not
limited to the Company having to adjust, curtail or terminate the conduct of
certain of our business operations. Any of these outcomes could have a material
adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and
prospects. An unfavorable determination in any of the lawsuits could result in
the payment by us of substantial monetary damages which may not be fully covered
by insurance. Further, the legal costs associated with the investigations and
the lawsuits and the amount of time required to be spent by management and the
Board of Directors on these matters, even if we are ultimately successful, could
have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results
of operations.
Other Matters
EPA Information Request. In
November 2003, Beazer Homes received a request for information from the EPA
pursuant to Section 308 of the Clean Water Act seeking information concerning
the nature and extent of storm water discharge practices relating to certain of
our projects completed or under construction. The EPA has since requested
information on additional projects and has conducted site inspections at a
number of locations. In certain instances, the EPA or the equivalent state
agency has issued Administrative Orders identifying alleged instances of
noncompliance and requiring corrective action to address the alleged
deficiencies in storm water management practices. As of April 18, 2008, no
monetary penalties have been imposed in connection with such Administrative
Orders. The EPA has reserved the right to impose monetary penalties at a later
date, the amount of which, if any, cannot currently be estimated. Beazer Homes
has taken action to comply with the requirements of each of the Administrative
Orders and is working to otherwise maintain compliance with the requirements of
the Clean Water Act.
In 2006,
we received two Administrative Orders issued by the New Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection. The Orders allege certain violations of wetlands
disturbance permits. The two Orders assess proposed fines of $630,000 and
$678,000, respectively. We have met with the Department to discuss their
concerns on the two affected projects and have requested hearings on both
matters. We believe that we have significant defenses to the alleged violations
and intend to contest the agency’s findings and the proposed fines. We are
currently pursuing settlement discussions with the Department. A hearing before
the judge has been postponed pending settlement discussions.
We and
certain of our subsidiaries have been named as defendants in various claims,
complaints and other legal actions, most relating to construction defects,
moisture intrusion and product liability claims. Certain of the liabilities
resulting from these actions are covered in whole or part by insurance. In our
opinion, based on our current assessment, the ultimate resolution of these
matters will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition,
results of operations or cash flows. We have accrued $17.6 million and $18.5
million in other liabilities related to these matters as of September 30, 2007
and 2006, respectively.
Item 4. Submission
of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
No
matters were submitted during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year covered by
this report to a vote of stockholders, through the solicitation of proxies or
otherwise.
26
PART II
Item 5. Market for
Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of
Equity Securities
Market
Information
The
Company lists its common shares on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the
symbol “BZH.” On April 25, 2008, the last reported sales price of the Company’s
common stock on the NYSE was $10.50. On April 25, 2008, Beazer Homes USA, Inc.
had approximately 230 stockholders of record and 39,234,305 shares of common
stock outstanding. The following table sets forth, for the quarters indicated,
the range of high and low trading for the Company’s common stock during fiscal
2007 and 2006.
1st
Qtr
|
2nd
Qtr
|
3rd
Qtr
|
4th
Qtr
|
||||||||||||||
Fiscal
Year 2007:
|
|||||||||||||||||
High
|
$ | 48.60 | $ | 47.07 | $ | 38.76 | $ | 25.00 | |||||||||
Low
|
$ | 38.10 | $ | 27.71 | $ | 24.02 | $ | 8.08 | |||||||||
Fiscal
Year 2006:
|
|||||||||||||||||
High
|
$ | 74.61 | $ | 82.14 | $ | 69.61 | $ | 46.31 | |||||||||
Low
|
$ | 51.90 | $ | 59.00 | $ | 43.82 | $ | 35.96 |
Dividends
For
fiscal 2007, we paid quarterly cash dividends aggregating $0.40 per common
share, or a total of approximately $15.6 million. For fiscal 2006, the Company
paid quarterly cash dividends aggregating $0.40 per common share, or a total of
approximately $16.1 million. Effective November 2, 2007, the Board of Directors
suspended the payment of quarterly dividends. The Board concluded that this
action, which will allow the Company to conserve approximately $16 million of
cash on an annual basis, was a prudent effort in light of the continued
deterioration in the housing market. The Board of Directors will periodically
reconsider the declaration of dividends. The reinstatement of quarterly
dividends, the amount of such dividends, and the form in which the dividends are
paid (cash or stock) depends upon the results of operations, the financial
condition of the Company and other factors which the Board of Directors deems
relevant. The indentures under which our senior notes were issued contain
certain restrictive covenants, including limitations on payment of dividends. At
September 30, 2007, under the most restrictive covenants of each indenture,
approximately $27.6 million of our retained earnings was available for cash
dividends and for share repurchases.
Issuer Purchases of Equity
Securities
On
November 18, 2005, as part of an acceleration of our comprehensive plan to
enhance stockholder value, our Board of Directors authorized an increase of our
stock repurchase plan to ten million shares of our common stock. Shares may be
purchased for cash in the open market, on the NYSE or in privately negotiated
transactions. During fiscal 2007, we did not repurchase any shares in the open
market. At September 30, 2007, we are authorized to purchase approximately 5.4
million additional shares pursuant to the plan. We have currently suspended our
repurchase program and any resumption of such program will be at the discretion
of the Board of Directors and is unlikely in the foreseeable
future.
During
the quarter ended September 30, 2007, 5,180 shares were surrendered to us by
employees in payment of minimum tax obligations upon the vesting of restricted
stock units under our stock incentive plans. We valued the stock at the market
price on the date of surrender, for an aggregate value of $44,030 or
approximately $8.50 per share.
27
Performance Graph
The
following graph illustrates the cumulative total stockholder return on Beazer
Homes’ common stock for the last five fiscal years through September 30, 2007,
compared to the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Homebuilding Index. The
comparison assumes an investment in Beazer Homes’ common stock and in each of
the foregoing indices of $100 at September 30, 2002, and assumes that all
dividends were reinvested. Stockholder returns over the indicated period are
based on historical data and should not be considered indicative of future
stockholder returns.
Fiscal
Year Ended September 30,
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
2002
|
2003
|
2004
|
2005
|
2006
|
2007
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Beazer
Homes
USA, Inc.
|
$ | 100.00 | $ | 138.25 | $ | 175.76 | $ | 290.84 | $ | 195.07 | $ | 41.94 | ||||||||||||
S&P
500
|
$ | 100.00 | $ | 124.40 | $ | 141.65 | $ | 159.01 | $ | 176.17 | $ | 205.13 | ||||||||||||
S&P
Homebuilding
|
$ | 100.00 | $ | 154.88 | $ | 245.10 | $ | 351.19 | $ | 254.35 | $ | 129.27 |
28
Item
6. Selected Financial Data
Year
Ended September 30,
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
(i)
|
2005
(i)
|
2004
(i)
|
2003
(i)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Statement
of Operations Data:
|
As
Reported
|
As
Restated
|
As
Reported
|
As
Restated
|
As
Reported
|
As
Restated
|
As
Reported
|
As
Restated
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Total
revenue
|
$
|
3,491
|
$
|
5,462
|
$
|
5,357
|
$
|
4,995
|
$
|
4,993
|
$
|
3,907
|
$
|
3,914
|
$
|
3,177
|
$
|
3,184
|
||||||||||
Gross
(loss) profit (ii)
|
(65
|
)
|
1,261
|
1,251
|
1,172
|
1,221
|
807
|
854
|
643
|
664
|
||||||||||||||||||
Operating
(loss) income (ii)
|
(606
|
)
|
612
|
579
|
487
|
506
|
378
|
402
|
279
|
282
|
||||||||||||||||||
Net
(loss) income (ii)
|
(411
|
)
|
389
|
369
|
263
|
276
|
236
|
246
|
173
|
172
|
||||||||||||||||||
EPS
-basic (ii), (iii)
|
(10.70
|
)
|
9.76
|
9.26
|
6.49
|
6.82
|
5.91
|
6.17
|
4.47
|
4.44
|
||||||||||||||||||
EPS
-diluted (ii), (iii)
|
(10.70
|
)
|
8.89
|
8.44
|
5.87
|
6.16
|
5.59
|
5.83
|
4.26
|
4.24
|
||||||||||||||||||
Dividends
paid per common share
|
0.40
|
0.40
|
0.40
|
0.33
|
0.33
|
0.13
|
0.13
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Balance
Sheet Data (end of year):
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents and restricted cash
|
$
|
460
|
$
|
172
|
$
|
172
|
$
|
297
|
$
|
297
|
$
|
321
|
$
|
321
|
$
|
73
|
$
|
73
|
||||||||||
Inventory
|
2,775
|
3,520
|
3,608
|
2,901
|
2,934
|
2,344
|
2,355
|
1,723
|
1,718
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Total
assets (ii)
|
3,930
|
4,559
|
4,715
|
3,771
|
3,829
|
3,163
|
3,199
|
2,219
|
2,237
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Total
debt
|
1,857
|
1,839
|
1,956
|
1,322
|
1,322
|
1,151
|
1,152
|
749
|
751
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Stockholders’
equity
|
1,324
|
1,702
|
1,730
|
1,505
|
1,553
|
1,232
|
1,267
|
994
|
1,017
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Supplemental
Financial Data:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash
(used in)/provided by:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating
activities
|
$
|
509
|
$
|
(305
|
)
|
$
|
(378
|
)
|
$
|
(84
|
)
|
$
|
(46
|
)
|
$
|
(74
|
)
|
$
|
(46
|
)
|
$
|
(41
|
)
|
$
|
(18
|
)
|
||
Investing
activities
|
(52
|
)
|
(66
|
)
|
(105
|
)
|
(49
|
)
|
(85
|
)
|
(30
|
)
|
(57
|
)
|
(7
|
)
|
(29
|
)
|
||||||||||
Financing
activities
|
(171
|
)
|
236
|
353
|
109
|
108
|
352
|
351
|
(4
|
)
|
(5
|
)
|
||||||||||||||||
Financial
Statistics:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total
debt as a percentage of total debt and
stockholders’
equity
|
58.4
|
%
|
51.9
|
%
|
53.1
|
%
|
46.8
|
%
|
46.0
|
%
|
48.3
|
%
|
47.6
|
%
|
43.0
|
%
|
42.5
|
%
|
||||||||||
Net
debt as a percentage of net debt and
stockholders’
equity (v)
|
51.4
|
%
|
49.6
|
%
|
50.9
|
%
|
40.5
|
%
|
39.7
|
%
|
40.3
|
%
|
39.6
|
%
|
40.5
|
%
|
40.0
|
%
|
||||||||||
Gross
Margin (v)
|
-1.9
|
%
|
23.1
|
%
|
23.4
|
%
|
23.5
|
%
|
24.5
|
%
|
20.7
|
%
|
21.8
|
%
|
20.2
|
%
|
20.9
|
%
|
||||||||||
EBIT
margin (iv, v)
|
-13.9
|
%
|
13.0
|
%
|
12.7
|
%
|
11.6
|
%
|
11.9
|
%
|
11.6
|
%
|
12.0
|
%
|
10.7
|
%
|
10.7
|
%
|
||||||||||
Return
on average equity (v)
|
-26.7
|
%
|
24.2
|
%
|
22.1
|
%
|
19.2
|
%
|
19.6
|
%
|
21.2
|
%
|
21.5
|
%
|
19.3
|
%
|
18.7
|
%
|
||||||||||
Operating
Statistics:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
New
orders, net
|
9,903
|
14,538
|
14,191
|
18,923
|
18,925
|
17,481
|
17,483
|
16,316
|
16,318
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Closings
|
12,020
|
18,669
|
18,361
|
18,146
|
18,109
|
16,451
|
16,453
|
15,409
|
15,411
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Units
in backlog
|
2,985
|
5,102
|
5,102
|
9,233
|
9,272
|
8,456
|
8,456
|
7,426
|
7,426
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Average
Selling Price (in thousands)
|
$
|
277.4
|
$
|
286.7
|
$
|
285.7
|
$
|
271.3
|
$
|
271.3
|
$
|
232.2
|
$
|
232.2
|
$
|
201.3
|
$
|
201.3
|
|
(i)
|
See
Note 17 to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this
Form 10-K for discussion and quantification of the impact of the
restatement adjustments on our Statement of Operations Data, Balance Sheet
Data and Supplemental Financial Data as of September 30, 2006 and for the
fiscal years ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, as applicable. See the
tables below for quantification of the impact of the restatement
adjustments on our Statement of Operations Data for the fiscal years ended
September 30, 2004 and 2003 and our Balance Sheet Data as of September 30,
2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively. In addition, see the table below for
the cumulative effect of the restatement adjustments for periods prior to
fiscal 2003 totaling $24.8 million which has been reflected as an increase
to retained earnings as of October 1, 2002. In conjunction with the
restatement of the items specifically identified in the tables below, we
also made other adjustments to our financial statements. These adjustments
(which are aggregated in the tables below under the heading “Other”)
consisted of (1) reclassifying model home furnishings and sales office
leasehold improvements from owned inventory to property, plant and
equipment, net in the amount of $34.9 million at September 30, 2005;
(2) reclassifying depreciation and amortization of model home furnishings
and sales office leasehold improvements from home construction and land
sales expenses to depreciation and amortization of $22.4 million and $17.5
million for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2004 and 2003,
respectively; (3) reclassifying the results of operations from our fiscal
2004 and 2003 title services from other income, net ($4.6 million and $4.2
million) to total revenue ($6.2 million and $6.2 million), home
construction and land sales expenses ($0.5 million and $0.3 million) and
selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses ($1.1 million
and $1.8 million), respectively; (4) recognizing the reversal of certain
warranty accruals related to our captive insurance subsidiary in the
fiscal years ended September 30, 2004 ($3.3 million), 2003 ($1.1 million)
and prior to fiscal 2003 ($4.3 million) included in the cumulative effect
of the restatement adjustments, instead of the previously presented
reversal of $8.7 million in warranty accruals for the fiscal year ended
September 30, 2005; (5) certain other miscellaneous immaterial
adjustments; and (6) the related tax effects of the adjustments described
in (1) through (5) above.
|
29
Fiscal
Year Ended September 30, 2004
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjustments
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As
Previously
Reported
|
Inventory
Reserves
|
Model
Home
Sale-Leaseback
|
Other
|
Provision
for
tax
|
Reclass
|
As
Restated
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Total
revenue
|
$ | 3,907,109 | $ | - | $ | 850 | $ | 6,217 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 3,914,176 | ||||||||||||||
Home
construction and land sales expenses
|
3,099,732 | (20,094 | ) | 779 | (20,438 | ) | - | (3,180 | ) | 3,056,799 | ||||||||||||||||||
Inventory
impairments and option contract abandonments
|
- | - | - | - | - | 3,180 | 3,180 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Gross
profit
|
807,377 | 20,094 | 71 | 26,655 | - | - | 854,197 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Selling,
general and administrative expenses
|
429,442 | - | (81 | ) | 891 | - | (8,374 | ) | 421,878 | |||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
- | - | - | 22,350 | - | 8,374 | 30,724 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Operating
income
|
377,935 | 20,094 | 152 | 3,414 | - | - | 401,595 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Equity
in income of unconsolidated joint ventures
|
1,561 | - | - | (2,115 | ) | - | - | (554 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Other
income, net
|
7,079 | - | - | (4,894 | ) | - | - | 2,185 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Income
before taxes
|
386,575 | 20,094 | 152 | (3,595 | ) | - | - | 403,226 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Provision
for income taxes
|
150,764 | 6,286 | 157,050 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net
income
|
$ | 235,811 | $ | 246,176 |
Fiscal
Year Ended September 30, 2003
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjustments
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As
Previously
Reported
|
Inventory
Reserves
|
Model
Home
Sale-Leaseback
|
Other
|
Provision
for
tax
|
Reclass
|
As
Restated
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Total
revenue
|
$ | 3,177,408 | $ | - | $ | 816 | $ | 6,248 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 3,184,472 | ||||||||||||||
Home
construction and land sales expenses
|
2,534,035 | (3,207 | ) | 747 | (11,338 | ) | - | (1,854 | ) | 2,518,383 | ||||||||||||||||||
Inventory
impairments and option contract abandonments
|
- | - | - | - | - | 1,854 | 1,854 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Gross
profit
|
643,373 | 3,207 | 69 | 17,586 | - | - | 664,235 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Selling,
general and administrative expenses
|
356,648 | - | (133 | ) | 1,911 | - | (9,236 | ) | 349,190 | |||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
- | - | - | 17,478 | 9,236 | 26,714 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Expenses
related to retirement of debt
|
7,570 | - | - | (1,207 | ) | - | 6,363 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Operating
income
|
279,155 | 3,207 | 202 | (596 | ) | - | - | 281,968 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Equity
in income of unconsolidated joint ventures
|
1,597 | - | - | - | - | - | 1,597 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Other
income, net
|
4,777 | - | - | (4,156 | ) | - | - | 621 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Income
before taxes
|
285,529 | 3,207 | 202 | (4,752 | ) | - | - | 284,186 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Provision
for income taxes
|
112,784 | (372 | ) | 112,412 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net
income
|
$ | 172,745 | $ | 171,774 |
As
of September 30, 2005
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjustments
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance
Sheet Data:
|
As
Previously
Reported
|
Inventory
Reserves
|
Model
Home
Sale-Leaseback
|
Other
|
Provision
for
Tax
|
As
Restated
|
||||||||||||||||||
Inventory
|
$ | 2,901,165 | $ | 73,207 | $ | 459 | $ | (41,134 | ) | $ | - | $ | 2,933,697 | |||||||||||
Total
assets
|
3,770,516 | 73,207 | 459 | (11,416 | ) | (4,022 | ) | 3,828,744 | ||||||||||||||||
Stockholders’
equity
|
1,504,688 | 67,697 | 459 | (12,071 | ) | (7,616 | ) | 1,553,157 |
30
As
of September 30, 2004
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjustments
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance
Sheet Data:
|
As
Previously
Reported
|
Inventory
Reserves
|
Model
Home
Sale-Leaseback
|
Other
|
Provision
for
Tax
|
As
Restated
|
||||||||||||||||||
Inventory
|
$ | 2,344,095 | $ | 53,094 | $ | 1,466 | $ | (43,435 | ) | $ | - | $ | 2,355,220 | |||||||||||
Total
assets
|
3,163,030 | 53,094 | 1,466 | (17,730 | ) | (931 | ) | 3,198,929 | ||||||||||||||||
Total
debt
|
1,150,972 | - | 1,118 | - | - | 1,152,090 | ||||||||||||||||||
Stockholders’
equity
|
1,232,121 | 49,478 | 348 | (7,621 | ) | (7,111 | ) | 1,267,215 |
As
of September 30, 2003
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjustments
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance
Sheet Data:
|
As
Previously
Reported
|
Inventory
Reserves
|
Model
Home
Sale-Leaseback
|
Other
|
Provision
for
Tax
|
As
Restated
|
||||||||||||||||||
Inventory
|
$ | 1,723,483 | $ | 29,592 | $ | 2,164 | $ | (36,950 | ) | $ | - | $ | 1,718,289 | |||||||||||
Total
assets
|
2,219,407 | 29,592 | 2,164 | (10,498 | ) | (3,499 | ) | 2,237,166 | ||||||||||||||||
Total
debt
|
748,738 | - | 1,968 | - | - | 750,706 | ||||||||||||||||||
Stockholders’
equity
|
993,695 | 29,384 | 196 | (4,026 | ) | (1,775 | ) | 1,017,474 |
Summary
of the Cumulative Effect of Restatement Adjustments to Previously Reported
Beginning Retained Earnings
(in
thousands)
|
For
the fiscal year
beginning
October
1,
2002
|
|||
Beginning
retained earnings, as reported
|
$
|
338,604
|
||
Inventory
reserves
|
26,177
|
|||
Model
home sale-leasebacks
|
(6
|
)
|
||
Other
|
726
|
|||
Provision
for income taxes
|
(2,147
|
)
|
||
Cumulative
effect of restatement adjustments to beginning retained
earnings
|
24,750
|
|||
Beginning
retained earnings, as restated
|
$
|
363,354
|
(ii) The
housing market continued to deteriorate during the fiscal year ended September
30, 2007. This deterioration has resulted in an oversupply of inventory, reduced
levels of demand, aggressive price competition, increased cancellation rates and
increased incentives for homes sales. As a result, gross profit (loss) includes
inventory impairment charges of $488.9 million and lot option abandonment
charges of $122.9 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007. Gross
profit for fiscal year 2006 includes inventory impairment charges of $6.4
million and lot option abandonment charges of $37.8 million. Gross profit for
fiscal year 2005 includes lot option abandonment charges of $5.5 million.
Operating loss for fiscal year 2007 also includes a non-cash goodwill impairment
charge of $52.8 million. Fiscal year 2005 operating profit includes the impact
of a non-cash, non-tax deductible goodwill impairment charge of $130.2 million
associated with the 2002 acquisition of Crossmann Communities (see Note 1 to the
Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion). Fiscal 2007 net loss
also includes charges to write down our investment in certain of our joint
ventures which reflects $28.6 million of impairments of inventory held within
those ventures and $3.4 million of contractual obligation
abandonments.
(iii) In
October 2004, the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) of the Financial
Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) ratified the consensus on EITF Issue No.
04-8: “The Effect of Contingently Convertible Debt on Diluted Earnings Per
Share.” EITF 04-8 requires that shares issuable upon conversion of contingently
convertible debt instruments (“Co-Co’s”) be included in diluted EPS computations
using the “if-converted method” regardless of whether the issuer’s stock price
exceeds the contingent conversion price. In fiscal 2005, per share amounts in
2004 and 2003 were retroactively adjusted to reflect the Company’s March 2005
three-for-one stock split and the Company’s adoption of EITF 04-8, as
applicable.
(iv) EBIT
margin = EBIT divided by total revenues; EBIT (earnings before interest and
taxes) equals net income before (a) previously capitalized interest amortized to
costs and expenses and (b) income taxes. EBITDA (earnings before interest,
taxes, depreciation and amortization) is calculated by adding depreciation and
amortization for the period to EBIT. EBIT and EBITDA are not GAAP financial
measures. EBIT and EBITDA should not be considered alternatives to net income
determined in accordance with GAAP as an indicator of operating performance, nor
an alternative to cash flows from operating activities determined in accordance
with GAAP as a measure of liquidity. Because some analysts and companies may not
calculate EBIT and EBITDA in the same manner as Beazer Homes, the EBIT and
EBITDA information presented above may not be comparable to similar
presentations by others.
31
EBITDA is
a measure commonly used in the homebuilding industry and is presented to assist
readers in understanding the ability of our operations to generate cash in
addition to the cash needed to service existing interest requirements and
ongoing tax obligations. By providing a measure of available cash, management
believes that this non-GAAP measure enables holders of our securities to better
understand our cash performance and our ability to service our debt obligations
as they currently exist and as additional indebtedness is incurred in the
future. The measure is useful in budgeting and determining capital expenditure
levels because it enables management to evaluate the amount of cash that will be
available for discretionary spending.
A
reconciliation of EBITDA and EBIT to cash (used)/provided by operations, the
most directly comparable GAAP measure, is provided below for each period
presented (in thousands):
Year
Ended September 30,
|
||||||||||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
2004
|
2003
|
||||||||||||||||
Net
cash provided by (used in) operating activities
|
$ | 509,371 | $ | (377,996 | ) | $ | (46,156 | ) | $ | (46,339 | ) | $ | (17,948 | ) | ||||||
(Decrease)
increase in inventory
|
(134,953 | ) | 486,727 | 593,521 | 430,024 | 321,840 | ||||||||||||||
(Benefit)
provision for income taxes
|
(222,207 | ) | 214,421 | 237,315 | 157,050 | 112,412 | ||||||||||||||
Deferred
income tax benefit (provision)
|
161,605 | (25,963 | ) | 51,186 | 25,308 | (1,419 | ) | |||||||||||||
Interest
amortized to home construction and land sales expenses and inventory
impairments and option contract abandonments
|
139,880 | 95,974 | 80,180 | 66,528 | 57,989 | |||||||||||||||
Decrease
(increase) in trade accounts payable and other liabilities
|
130,787 | 84,685 | (227,130 | ) | (128,651 | ) | (95,106 | ) | ||||||||||||
Goodwill
impairment
|
(52,755 | ) | - | (130,235 | ) | - | - | |||||||||||||
Inventory
impairments and option contract abandonments
|
(611,864 | ) | (44,175 | ) | (5,511 | ) | (3,180 | ) | (1,854 | ) | ||||||||||
(Decrease)
increase in accounts and income tax receivables
|
(228,551 | ) | 181,639 | 84,637 | 2,088 | 13,012 | ||||||||||||||
(Decrease)
increase in mortgage loans available for
sale
and other assets
|
(100,556 | ) | 112,893 | 16,780 | 16,499 | 1,411 | ||||||||||||||
Equity
in (loss) earnings in joint ventures, net of income
distributions
|
(40,439 | ) | 991 | (823 | ) | (554 | ) | 1,597 | ||||||||||||
Loss
on early extinguishment of debt
|
- | - | - | - | (6,363 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Tax
benefit from stock transactions
|
2,635 | 8,205 | (11,551 | ) | (9,077 | ) | (11,502 | ) | ||||||||||||
Other
|
(1,610 | ) | 8 | (806 | ) | (1,837 | ) | (1,196 | ) | |||||||||||
EBITDA
|
(448,657 | ) | 737,409 | 641,407 | 507,859 | 372,873 | ||||||||||||||
Less
depreciation and amortization and stock compensation
amortization
|
44,743 | 58,178 | 48,013 | 38,105 | 30,698 | |||||||||||||||
EBIT
|
$ | (493,400 | ) | $ | 679,231 | $ | 593,394 | $ | 469,754 | $ | 342,175 |
(v)
Net Debt = Debt less unrestricted cash and cash equivalents; Gross margin =
Gross (loss) profit divided by total revenue; Return on average equity = net
income (loss) divided by average stockholders’ equity.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Executive Overview and
Outlook
The
homebuilding environment continued to deteriorate throughout fiscal 2007 as
consumer confidence declined, the availability of home mortgage credit tightened
significantly and the economy began to slow down. In addition, the supply of new
and resale homes in the marketplace remained excessive for the levels of
consumer demand. These pressures in the marketplace resulted in the use of
increased sales incentives and price reductions in an effort to generate sales
and reduce inventory levels. We believe that the homebuilding market will remain
challenging throughout fiscal 2008. In addition, as a result of the various
ongoing investigations and litigation discussed herein and the issues relating
thereto, we have been the subject of continuing negative publicity. This
negative publicity has contributed to significant declines in the prices of our
publicly traded securities. We believe this negative publicity has also
discouraged and may continue to discourage a number of potential homebuyers from
purchasing a home from us and has adversely affected our relationships with
certain of our partners, such as land sellers, contractors and suppliers.
Continuing negative publicity could continue to have a material adverse effect
on our business and the market price of our publicly traded
securities.
32
We have
responded to this challenging environment with a disciplined approach to the
business with continued reductions in direct costs, overhead expenses and land
spending. We have limited our supply of unsold homes under construction and have
focused on the generation of cash from our existing inventory supply as we
strive to align our land supply and inventory levels to current expectations for
home closings.
We have
also undertaken a comprehensive review of each of our markets in order to refine
our overall investment strategy and to optimize capital and resource allocations
in an effort to enhance our financial position and to increase shareholder
value. This review, which was concluded during the first quarter of fiscal 2008,
entailed an evaluation of both external market factors and our position in each
market and has resulted in the decision formalized and announced on February 1,
2008, to discontinue homebuilding operations in Charlotte, NC,
Cincinnati/Dayton, OH, Columbia, SC, Columbus, OH and Lexington, KY. We intend
to complete an orderly exit from each of these markets and remain committed to
our remaining customer care responsibilities. We have committed to complete all
homes under construction in these markets and are in the process of marketing
the remaining land positions for sale. While the underlying basis for exiting
each market was different, in each instance we concluded we could better serve
shareholder interests by re-allocating the capital employed in these markets. As
of September 30, 2007, these markets represented approximately 5% of the
Company’s total assets.
In
addition, the independent investigation initiated in April 2007 by the Audit
Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Investigation”) has identified
accounting and financial reporting errors and irregularities resulting in the
restatement of certain of our consolidated financial statements. The accounting
and financial reporting errors and irregularities related to accounting for land
development costs, homebuilding costs to complete and model home sale-leaseback
transactions, among other items.
The
fiscal 2006 and 2005 consolidated financial information has been updated within
this Management’s Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations to reflect
the effects of the restatement as more fully described in Note 17, “Restatement
of Consolidated Financial Statements” to the Consolidated Financial Statements
included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K. The impact of the adjustments was a $19.9
million reduction of net income in fiscal 2006 and a $13.4 million increase in
net income in fiscal 2005.
We have
implemented additional internal controls over the selection, application and
monitoring of appropriate accounting policies. We also terminated our former
Chief Accounting Officer who we believe may have caused, or allowed to cause,
the internal control breakdowns. We have recently hired an experienced Chief
Accounting Officer and have engaged accounting consultants for input in
financial reporting matters. See Item 9A – Controls and Procedures for
additional information.
Mortgage Origination
Issues
The
Investigation found evidence that employees of the Company’s Beazer Mortgage
Corporation (“Beazer Mortgage”) subsidiary violated certain federal and/or state
regulations, including U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”)
regulations. Areas of concern uncovered by the Investigation include: down
payment assistance program; the charging of discount points; the closure of
certain HUD Licenses; closing accommodations; and the payment of a number of
realtor bonuses and decorator allowances in certain Federal Housing
Administration (“FHA”) insured loans and non-FHA conventional loans originated
by Beazer Mortgage dating back to at least 2000. The Investigation also
uncovered limited improper practices in relation to the issuance of a number of
non-FHA Stated Income Loans. We reviewed the loan documents and supporting
documentation and determined that the assets were effectively isolated from the
seller and its creditors (even in the event of bankruptcy). Based on that
information, management continues to believe that sale accounting at the time of
the transfer of the loans to third parties was appropriate.
We intend
to attempt to negotiate a settlement with prosecutors and regulatory authorities
that would allow us to quantify our exposure associated with reimbursement of
losses and payment of regulatory and/or criminal fines, if they are imposed. See
Item 3 – Legal Proceedings for additional discussion of this matter. At this
time, we believe that although it is probable that a liability exists related to
this exposure, it is not reasonably estimable and would be inappropriate to
record a liability as of September 30, 2007.
33
Critical Accounting
Policies
Some of
our critical accounting policies require the use of judgment in their
application or require estimates of inherently uncertain matters. Although our
accounting policies are in compliance with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America, a change in the facts and
circumstances of the underlying transactions could significantly change the
application of the accounting policies and the resulting financial statement
impact. Listed below are those policies that we believe are critical and require
the use of complex judgment in their application.
Inventory Valuation – Held for
Development
Our
homebuilding inventories that are accounted for as held for development include
land and home construction assets grouped together as communities. Homebuilding
inventories held for development are stated at cost (including direct
construction costs, capitalized indirect costs, capitalized interest and real
estate taxes) unless facts and circumstances indicate that the carrying value of
the assets may not be recoverable. We assess these assets periodically for
recoverability in accordance with the provisions of Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) 144, Accounting for the Impairment or
Disposal of Long-Lived Assets. SFAS 144 requires that long-lived assets
be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate
that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of
assets is measured by comparing the carrying amount of an asset to future
undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the expected
undiscounted cash flows generated are expected to be less than its carrying
amount, an impairment charge should be recorded to write down the carrying
amount of such asset to its estimated fair value based on discounted cash
flows.
We
conduct a review of the recoverability of our homebuilding inventories held for
development at the community level as factors indicate that an impairment may
exist. We evaluate, among other things, the following information for each
community:
|
●
|
Actual
“Net Contribution Margin” (defined as homebuilding revenues less
homebuilding costs and direct selling expenses) for homes closed in the
current fiscal quarter, fiscal year to date and prior two fiscal quarters.
Homebuilding costs include land and land development costs (based upon an
allocation of such costs, including costs to complete the development, or
specific lot costs), home construction costs (including an estimate of
costs, if any, to complete home construction), previously capitalized
indirect costs (principally for construction supervision), capitalized
interest and estimated warranty
costs;
|
|
●
|
Projected
Net Contribution Margin for homes in
backlog;
|
|
●
|
Actual
and trending new orders and cancellation
rates;
|
|
●
|
Actual
and trending base home sales prices and sales incentives for home sales
that occurred in the prior two fiscal quarters that remain in backlog at
the end of the fiscal quarter and expected future homes sales prices and
sales incentives and absorption over the expected remaining life of the
community;
|
|
●
|
A
comparison of our community to our competition to include, among other
things, an analysis of various product offerings including, the size and
style of the homes currently offered for sale, community amenity levels,
availability of lots in our community and our competition’s, desirability
and uniqueness of our community and other market factors;
and
|
|
●
|
Other
events that may indicate that the carrying value may not be
recoverable.
|
In
determining the recoverability of the carrying value of the assets of a
community that we have evaluated as requiring a test for impairment, significant
quantitative and qualitative assumptions are made relative to the future home
sales prices, sales incentives, direct and indirect costs of home construction
and land development and the pace of new home orders. In addition, these
assumptions are dependent upon the specific market conditions and competitive
factors for each specific community and may differ greatly between communities
within the same market and communities in different markets. Our estimates are
made using information available at the date of the recoverability test,
however, as facts and circumstances may change in future reporting periods, our
estimates of recoverability are subject to change.
34
For
assets in communities for which the undiscounted future cash flows are less than
the carrying value, the carrying value of that community is written down to its
then estimated fair value based on discounted cash flows. The carrying value for
assets in communities that were previously impaired and continue to be
classified as held for development is not written up for future estimates of
increases in fair value in future reporting periods.
The fair
value of the homebuilding inventory held for development is estimated using the
present value of the estimated future cash flows using discount rates
commensurate with the risk associated with the underlying community assets. The
discount rate used may be different for each community. The factors considered
when determining an appropriate discount rate for a community include, among
others: (1) community specific factors such as the number of lots in the
community, the status of land development in the community, the competitive
factors influencing the sales performance of the community and (2) overall
market factors such as employment levels, consumer confidence and the existing
supply of new and used homes for sale.
For the
fiscal year ended September 30, 2007, we used discount rates of 16% to 23% in
our estimated discounted cash flow impairment calculations. During fiscal 2007,
we recorded impairments of our inventory of approximately $440.9 million for
land under development and homes under construction. During fiscal 2006, we
recorded impairments of our inventory of approximately $6.4 million for land and
land under development. We did not record any impairments during fiscal
2005.
Due to
uncertainties in the estimation process, particularly with respect to projected
home sales prices and absorption rates, the timing and amount of the estimated
future cash flows and discount rates, it is reasonably possible that actual
results could differ from the estimates used in our historical analyses. Our
assumptions about future home sales prices and absorption rates require
significant judgment because the residential homebuilding industry is cyclical
and is highly sensitive to changes in economic conditions. We calculated the
estimated fair values of inventory held for development that were evaluated for
impairment based on current market conditions and assumptions made by management
relative to future results. Because our projected cash flows are significantly
impacted by changes in market conditions, it is reasonably possible that actual
results could differ materially from our estimates and result in additional
impairments.
Asset Valuation – Land Held for
Sale
We record
assets held for sale at the lower of the carrying value or fair value less costs
to sell in accordance with SFAS 144. The following criteria are used to
determine if land is held for sale:
|
●
|
management
has the authority and commits to a plan to sell the
land;
|
|
●
|
the
land is available for immediate sale in its present
condition;
|
|
●
|
there
is an active program to locate a buyer and the plan to sell the property
has been initiated;
|
|
●
|
the
sale of the land is probable within one
year;
|
|
●
|
the
property is being actively marketed at a reasonable sale price relative to
its current fair value; and
|
|
●
|
it
is unlikely that the plan to sell will be withdrawn or that significant
changes to the plan will be made.
|
Additionally,
in certain circumstances, management will re-evaluate the best use of an asset
that is currently being accounted for as held for development. In such
instances, management will review, among other things, the current and projected
competitive circumstances of the community, including the level of supply of new
and used inventory, the level of sales absorptions by us and our competition,
the level of sales incentives required and the number of owned lots remaining in
the community. If, based on this review and the foregoing criteria have been met
at the end of the applicable reporting period, management believes that the best
use of the asset is the sale of all or a portion of the asset in its current
condition, then all or portions of the community are accounted for as held for
sale.
35
In
determining the fair value of the assets less cost to sell, we considered
factors including current sales prices for comparable assets in the area, recent
market analysis studies, appraisals, any recent legitimate offers, and listing
prices of similar properties. If the estimated fair value less cost to sell of
an asset is less than its current carrying value, the asset is written down to
its estimated fair value less cost to sell. During fiscal 2007, we recorded
inventory impairments on land held for sale of approximately $48.0 million. No
land held for sale inventory impairments were recorded in fiscal 2006 or
2005.
Due to
uncertainties in the estimation process, it is reasonably possible that actual
results could differ from the estimates used in our historical analyses. Our
assumptions about land sales prices require significant judgment because the
current market is highly sensitive to changes in economic conditions. We
calculated the estimated fair values of land held for sale based on current
market conditions and assumptions made by management, which may differ
materially from actual results and may result in additional impairments if
market conditions continue to deteriorate.
Goodwill
We test
goodwill for impairment annually as of April 30 or more frequently if an event
occurs or circumstances change that more likely than not reduce the value of a
reporting unit below its carrying value. For purposes of goodwill impairment
testing, we compare the fair value of each reporting unit with its carrying
amount, including goodwill. Each of our operating divisions is considered a
reporting unit. The fair value of each reporting unit is determined based on
expected discounted future cash flows. If the carrying amount of a reporting
unit exceeds its fair value, goodwill is considered impaired. If goodwill is
considered impaired, the impairment loss to be recognized is measured by the
amount by which the carrying amount of the goodwill exceeds implied fair value
of that goodwill.
Inherent
in our fair value determinations are certain judgments and estimates, including
projections of future cash flows, the discount rate reflecting the risk inherent
in future cash flows, the interpretation of current economic indicators and
market valuations and our strategic plans with regard to our operations. A
change in these underlying assumptions would cause a change in the results of
the tests, which could cause the fair value of one or more reporting units to be
less than their respective carrying amounts. In addition, to the extent that
there are significant changes in market conditions or overall economic
conditions or our strategic plans change, it is possible that our conclusion
regarding goodwill impairment could change, which could have a material adverse
effect on our financial position and results of operations.
Our
goodwill has been assigned to reporting units in different geographic locations.
Therefore, potential goodwill impairment charges resulting from changes in local
market and/or local economic conditions or changes in our strategic plans may be
isolated to one or a few of our reporting units. However, our business is
concentrated in the homebuilding industry and, as such, a widespread decline in
the homebuilding industry or a significant deterioration of economic conditions
could have a negative impact on the estimated fair value of a larger number of
our reporting units.
The
housing market continued to deteriorate during fiscal 2007. This deterioration
has resulted in an oversupply of inventory, reduced levels of demand, increased
cancellation rates, aggressive price competition and increased incentives for
homes sales. Based on our impairment tests and consideration of the current and
expected future market conditions, we determined that goodwill for our reporting
units in Florida, Nevada, Northern California, North Carolina and South Carolina
was impaired and recorded non-cash goodwill impairment charges totaling $52.8
million during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007. While we believe that
no additional goodwill impairment existed as of September 30, 2007, future
economic or financial developments, including general interest rate increases,
poor performance in either the national economy or individual local economies,
or our ability to meet our projections could result in a revised analysis of
fair value in the future and lead to impairment of goodwill related to reporting
units which are not currently impaired.
During
the quarter ended March 31, 2005, we estimated the fair value of our reporting
units and recorded a $130.2 million non-cash, non-tax-deductible impairment
charge to write off substantially all of the goodwill allocated to certain
underperforming markets in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Charlotte, North
Carolina. The goodwill had been recorded as a result of the April 2002
acquisition of Crossmann. The forecasts and valuations of the respective
divisions, along with weaker than anticipated local economies, particularly in
the Midwest markets, and severe price competition, particularly at entry level
price points, led the Company to conclude the goodwill was impaired in
accordance with the provisions of SFAS 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible
Assets.
36
Homebuilding Revenues and
Costs
Revenue
from the sale of a home is generally recognized when the closing has occurred
and the risk of ownership is transferred to the buyer. In situations where the
buyer’s financing is originated by Beazer Mortgage, and the buyer has not made a
sufficient initial and continuing investment, the revenue and gross profit on
such sale is deferred until the sale of the related mortgage loan to a
third-party investor has been completed. Revenue for condominiums under
construction is recognized based on the percentage-of-completion method in
accordance with SFAS 66, Accounting for Sales of Real
Estate, when certain criteria are met. All associated homebuilding costs
are charged to cost of sales in the period when the revenues from home closings
are recognized. Homebuilding costs include land and land development costs
(based upon an allocation of such costs, including costs to complete the
development, or specific lot costs), home construction costs (including an
estimate of costs, if any, to complete home construction), previously
capitalized indirect costs (principally for construction supervision),
capitalized interest and estimated warranty costs. Sales commissions are
included in selling, general and administrative expense when the closing has
occurred. All other costs are expensed as incurred.
Warranty
Reserves
We
currently provide a limited warranty (ranging from one to two years) covering
workmanship and materials per our defined performance quality standards. In
addition, we provide a limited warranty (generally ranging from a minimum of
five years up to the period covered by the applicable statute of repose)
covering only certain defined construction defects. We also provide a defined
structural element warranty with single-family homes and townhomes in certain
states.
Since we
subcontract our homebuilding work to subcontractors who generally provide us
with an indemnity and a certificate of insurance prior to receiving payments for
their work, claims relating to workmanship and materials are generally the
primary responsibility of our subcontractors.
Warranty
reserves are included in other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.
We record reserves covering our anticipated warranty expense for each home
closed. Management reviews the adequacy of warranty reserves each reporting
period, based on historical experience and management’s estimate of the costs to
remediate the claims, and adjusts these provisions accordingly. Factors that
affect our warranty liability include the number of homes sold, historical and
anticipated rates of warranty claims, and cost per claim. Based on historical
results, we believe that our existing estimation process is accurate and do not
anticipate the process to materially change in the future. Our estimation
process for such accruals is discussed in Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial
Statements. While we believe that our warranty reserves at September 30, 2007
are adequate, there can be no assurances that historical data and trends will
accurately predict our actual warranty costs or that future developments might
not lead to a significant change in the reserve.
Investments in Unconsolidated Joint
Ventures
We
periodically enter into joint ventures with unrelated developers, other
homebuilders and financial partners to develop finished lots for sale to the
joint venture’s members and other third parties. We have determined that our
interest in these joint ventures should be accounted for under the equity method
as prescribed by SOP 78-9, “Accounting for Investments in Real Estate Ventures.”
We recognize our share of profits and losses from the sale of lots to other
buyers. Our share of profits from lots purchased by Beazer Homes from the joint
ventures are deferred and treated as a reduction of the cost of the land
purchased from the joint venture. Such profits are subsequently recognized at
the time the home closes and title passes to the homebuyer.
37
We
evaluate our investments in unconsolidated entities for impairment during each
reporting period. A series of operating losses of an investee or other factors
may indicate that a decrease in the value of our investment in the
unconsolidated entity has occurred which is other-than-temporary. The amount of
impairment recognized is the excess of the investment’s carrying value over its
estimated fair value.
Our
assumptions of the joint venture’s estimated fair value is dependent on market
conditions. Inventory in the joint venture is also reviewed for potential
impairment by the unconsolidated entities in accordance with SFAS 144. If a
valuation adjustment is recorded by an unconsolidated entity in accordance with
SFAS 144, our proportionate share of it is reflected in our equity in income
(loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures with a corresponding decrease to our
investment in unconsolidated entities. The operating results of the
unconsolidated joint ventures are dependent on the status of the homebuilding
industry, which has historically been cyclical and sensitive to changes in
economic conditions such as interest rates, credit availability, unemployment
levels and consumer sentiment. Changes in these economic conditions could
materially affect the projected operational results of the unconsolidated
entities. Because of these changes in economic conditions, actual results could
differ materially from management’s assumptions and may require material
valuation adjustments to our investments in unconsolidated entities to be
recorded in the future.
During
fiscal 2007, we wrote down our investment in certain of our joint ventures
reflecting $28.6 million of impairments of inventory held within those ventures
and $3.4 million of contractual obligation abandonments. These charges are
included in equity in loss of unconsolidated joint ventures in the accompanying
Statement of Operations for the fiscal year ended September 30,
2007.
Income Taxes – Valuation
Allowance
Judgment
is required in estimating valuation allowances for deferred tax assets. In
accordance with SFAS 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, a valuation allowance is
established against a deferred tax asset if, based on the available evidence, it
is more likely than not that such assets will not be realized. The realization
of a deferred tax asset ultimately depends on the existence of sufficient
taxable income in either the carryback or carryforward periods under tax law. We
periodically assess the need for valuation allowances for deferred tax assets
based on the SFAS 109 more-likely-than-not realization threshold criterion. In
our assessment, appropriate consideration is given to all positive and negative
evidence related to the realization of the deferred tax assets. This assessment
considers, among other matters, the nature, frequency and severity of current
and cumulative losses, forecasts of future profitability, the duration of
statutory carryforward periods, our experience with operating loss and tax
credit carryforwards not expiring unused, and tax planning
alternatives.
Our
assessment of the need for the valuation of deferred tax assets includes
assessing the likely future tax consequences of events that have been recognized
in our financial statements or tax returns. We base our estimate of deferred tax
assets and liabilities on current tax laws and rates and, in certain cases,
business plans and other expectations about future outcomes. Changes in existing
tax laws or rates could affect actual tax results and future business results
may affect the amount of deferred tax liabilities or the valuation of deferred
tax assets over time. Our accounting for deferred tax consequences represents
our best estimate of future events. Although it is possible there will be
changes that are not anticipated in our current estimates, we believe it is
unlikely such changes would have a material period-to-period impact on our
financial position or results of operations.
At
September 30, 2007 and 2006, our net deferred tax asset was $232.9 million and
$71.3 million, respectively. Based on our assessment and after consideration of
both positive and negative evidence, we believe it is more likely than not that
the net deferred tax asset will be recoverable (see Note 9 to the Consolidated
Financial Statements). If results are less than projected and there is no
objectively verifiable evidence to support the realization of our deferred tax
asset, a substantial valuation allowance may be required to reduce the deferred
tax assets. However, currently no valuation allowance has been established for
our deferred tax assets. We will continue to assess the need for a valuation
allowance in the future. Due to uncertainties in the estimation process,
particularly with respect to changes in facts and circumstances in future
reporting periods (carryforward period assumptions), it is reasonably possible
that actual results could differ from the estimates used in our historical
analyses. Our assumptions require significant judgment because the residential
homebuilding industry is cyclical and is highly sensitive to changes in economic
conditions.
38
Seasonal and
Quarterly Variability: Our homebuilding operating cycle generally
reflects escalating new order activity in the second and third fiscal quarters
and increased closings in the third and fourth fiscal quarters. However, during
fiscal 2007, we continued to experience challenging conditions in most of our
markets which contributed to decreased revenues and closings as compared to
prior periods including prior quarters, thereby reducing typical seasonal
variations. The following chart presents certain quarterly operating data for
our last twelve fiscal quarters.
New
Orders (net of cancellations)
|
|||||||||||||
1st
Qtr
|
2nd
Qtr
|
3rd
Qtr
|
4th
Qtr
|
||||||||||
2007
|
1,783
|
4,090
|
3,048
|
982
|
|||||||||
2006
|
3,782
|
4,145
|
4,343
|
1,921
|
|||||||||
2005
|
3,546
|
5,240
|
5,202
|
4,937
|
|||||||||
Closings
|
|||||||||||||
1st
Qtr
|
2nd
Qtr
|
3rd
Qtr
|
4th
Qtr
|
||||||||||
2007
|
2,664
|
2,748
|
2,659
|
3,949
|
|||||||||
2006
|
3,755
|
4,217
|
4,121
|
6,268
|
|||||||||
2005
|
3,575
|
3,603
|
4,631
|
6,300
|
39
RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS:
Fiscal
Year Ended September 30,
|
||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
||||||||||
($
in thousands)
|
||||||||||||
Revenues:
|
||||||||||||
Homebuilding
|
$ | 3,359,594 | $ | 5,220,021 | $ | 4,912,399 | ||||||
Land
and lot sales
|
99,063 | 90,217 | 34,527 | |||||||||
Financial
Services
|
47,437 | 65,947 | 62,253 | |||||||||
Intercompany
elimination
|
(15,275 | ) | (19,681 | ) | (16,206 | ) | ||||||
Total
|
$ | 3,490,819 | $ | 5,356,504 | $ | 4,992,973 | ||||||
Gross
profit (loss)
|
||||||||||||
Homebuilding
|
$ | (116,290 | ) | $ | 1,186,378 | $ | 1,153,619 | |||||
Land
and lot sales
|
3,423 | (1,114 | ) | 5,073 | ||||||||
Financial
Services
|
47,437 | 65,947 | 62,253 | |||||||||
Total
|
$ | (65,430 | ) | $ | 1,251,211 | $ | 1,220,945 | |||||
Selling,
general and administrative (SG&A) expenses:
|
||||||||||||
Homebuilding
|
$ | 410,432 | $ | 581,202 | $ | 507,730 | ||||||
Financial
Services
|
43,690 | 48,120 | 40,431 | |||||||||
Total
|
$ | 454,122 | $ | 629,322 | $ | 548,161 | ||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
$ | 33,594 | $ | 42,425 | $ | 36,068 | ||||||
As
a percentage of total revenue:
|
||||||||||||
Gross
Margin
|
-1.9 | % | 23.4 | % | 24.5 | % | ||||||
SG&A
- homebuilding
|
11.8 | % | 10.9 | % | 10.2 | % | ||||||
SG&A
- Financial Services
|
1.3 | % | 0.9 | % | 0.8 | % | ||||||
Goodwill
impairment
|
$ | 52,755 | $ | - | $ | 130,235 | ||||||
Equity
in (loss) income of unconsolidated joint ventures from:
|
||||||||||||
Joint
venture activities
|
$ | (3,215 | ) | $ | 1,343 | $ | 5,021 | |||||
Impairments
|
(28,553 | ) | - | - | ||||||||
Abandonments
|
(3,386 | ) | - | - | ||||||||
Equity
in (loss) income of unconsolidated joint ventures
|
$ | (35,154 | ) | $ | 1,343 | $ | 5,021 | |||||
Effective
tax rate
|
35.1 | % | 36.8 | % | 46.2 | % |
Fiscal
Year Ended September 30, 2007 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended September 30,
2006
Revenues. Revenues decreased
by 34.8% for fiscal 2007 compared to fiscal 2006. Homes closed decreased by
34.5% to 12,020 in fiscal 2007 compared to 18,361 in fiscal 2006 driven by the
continued deterioration in the majority of our housing markets. This decline was
especially pronounced in our California, Nevada, Arizona, New Jersey, Virginia
and Florida markets. The average sales price of homes closed decreased by 2.9%
to $277,400 from $285,700 for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2007 and
2006, respectively. Average sales price decreased most significantly in our
Florida, Virginia and Southern California markets, due primarily to increased
price competition and subsequent price discounting and increasing sales
incentives related to the challenging market conditions.
In
addition, we had $99.1 million and $90.2 million of land sales for the fiscal
years ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 respectively. The increase in land sales
in fiscal 2007 primarily resulted from our continued review of opportunities to
minimize underperforming investments and exit a number of less profitable
positions, reallocating funds to investments intended to optimize overall
returns in the future.
40
Gross Profit (Loss). Gross
margin for fiscal 2007 was -1.9% compared to a gross margin of 23.4% for fiscal
2006, with the decline driven by continued market weakness and non-cash pre-tax
inventory impairments and option contract abandonments of $611.9 million
recognized in fiscal 2007. Gross margins for fiscal 2007 continued to be
negatively impacted by both higher levels of price discounting and sales
incentives as compared to the same period a year ago. In response to these
market conditions and based on our internal analyses and business decisions, we
incurred non-cash, pretax charges of $488.9 million for inventory impairments
and $122.9 million for the abandonment of certain land option contracts during
fiscal 2007. During fiscal 2006, we recorded $6.4 million of inventory
impairments and $37.8 million for the abandonment of land option contracts.
Gross profit also includes a reduction in the accrual and costs related to the
Trinity class action litigation settlement of $23.8 million in 2007 and $21.7
million in 2006 (see Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial
Statements).
In an
effort to redeploy assets to more profitable endeavors, we executed several land
sales during the past two fiscal years. We realized a gain of $3.4 million on
land sales in fiscal 2007 and a loss of $1.1 million on land sales in fiscal
2006.
Selling, General and Administrative
Expense. Selling, general and administrative expense (“SG&A”) totaled
$454.1 million in fiscal 2007 and $629.3 million in fiscal 2006. The decrease in
SG&A expense during the periods presented is primarily related to cost
reductions realized as a result of our comprehensive review of our overhead
structure in light of our reduced volume expectations and lower sales
commissions related to decreased revenues, offset slightly by increased
marketing costs related to promotional campaigns. As of September 30, 2007, we
had reduced our overall number of employees by 1,615 or 38% as compared to
September 30, 2006. During the first quarter of fiscal 2008, we further reduced
the number of employees by 650, representing a cumulative reduction of 53% since
September 30, 2006. Fiscal 2007 and 2006 SG&A expense included $4.9 million
and $1.1 million in severance costs related to employees who had been severed as
of September 30 of the respective year. In addition, fiscal 2007 SG&A
expense included $17.0 million of legal, consulting and investigative costs
related to the aforementioned investigation and related restatement. As a
percentage of total revenue, SG&A expenses were 13.0% in fiscal 2007 and
11.7% in fiscal 2006. The increase in SG&A costs as a percentage of total
revenue is primarily related to the aforementioned legal, consulting,
investigating and severance costs.
Depreciation and Amortization.
Depreciation and amortization (“D&A”) totaled $33.6 million in fiscal 2007
and $42.4 million in fiscal 2006. The decrease in D&A during the periods
presented is primarily related to reduced spending on model furnishings and
sales office improvements as a result of our strategic review of our
communities.
Goodwill Impairment
Charges. In
light of continuing market weakness, impacted by both recent higher levels of
price discounting and reduced revenue volume, and in connection with goodwill
impairment tests in accordance with SFAS 142, we recorded pretax, non-cash
goodwill impairment charges of $29.8 million during the quarter ended June 30,
2007 related to our reporting units in Nevada, Northern California and Tampa,
Florida. During the quarter ended September 30, 2007, we recorded additional
goodwill impairment charges of $23.0 million related to certain of our reporting
units in South Carolina, Florida, and North Carolina. The goodwill impairment
charges are reported in Corporate and unallocated and are not allocated to our
homebuilding segments. To the extent that there is further deterioration in
market conditions or overall economic conditions or our strategic plans change,
it is possible that our conclusion regarding fair value of reporting units which
are currently not impaired could change, which could result in future goodwill
impairments that have a material adverse effect on our financial position and
results of operations.
Joint Venture Impairment
Charges. As of September 30, 2007, we participated in 24 land development
joint ventures in which we had less than a controlling interest. Our joint
ventures are typically entered into with developers, other homebuilders and
financial partners to develop finished lots for sale to the joint venture’s
members and other third parties. As a result of the deterioration of the housing
market in fiscal 2007, we wrote down our investment in certain of our joint
ventures reflecting $28.6 million of impairments of inventory held within those
joint ventures and $3.4 million of contractual obligation abandonments. If these
adverse market conditions continue or worsen, we may have to take further
writedowns of our investments in these joint ventures.
41
Income Taxes. Our effective tax rate
was 35.1% for fiscal 2007 and 36.8% for fiscal 2006. The effective tax rate for
2007 was impacted by the $52.8 million non-cash goodwill impairment charge
discussed above.
The
decrease in our effective tax rate between years is primarily due to the 2007
goodwill impairment charges ($47.5 million of which is non-tax deductible),
changes in income concentrations in the various states, the timing of certain
state tax initiatives and the expiration of statute of limitations for certain
tax contingencies. As a result, we recorded tax benefits related to certain
discrete items totaling $3.1 million in fiscal 2007 and $7.5 million in fiscal
2006. In addition, in fiscal 2006, we recognized a $5.2 million tax benefit
related to new provisions under the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (“Jobs
Act”). We did not receive a similar deduction related to the Jobs Act in fiscal
2007 due to a net loss. The principal difference between our effective rate and
the U.S. federal statutory rate is due to state income taxes incurred and
certain non-deductible goodwill impairment charges in fiscal 2007.
Segment Results for Fiscal 2007
Compared to Fiscal 2006:
Homebuilding Revenues and Average
Selling Price. The table below summarizes homebuilding revenues and the
average selling prices of our homes by reportable segment ($ in
thousands):
Homebuilding
Revenues
|
Average
Selling Price
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
Change
|
2007
|
2006
|
Change
|
|||||||||||||||||||
West
|
$ | 1,065,350 | $ | 1,792,826 | -40.6 | % | $ | 345.8 | $ | 366.1 | -5.5 | % | ||||||||||||
Mid-Atlantic
|
511,956 | 943,113 | -45.7 | % | 449.2 | 457.9 | -1.9 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Florida
|
369,136 | 684,563 | -46.1 | % | 285.7 | 309.5 | -7.7 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Southeast
|
724,364 | 882,368 | -17.9 | % | 229.9 | 210.1 | 9.4 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Other
|
688,788 | 917,151 | -24.9 | % | 199.4 | 187.4 | 6.4 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Total
|
$ | 3,359,594 | $ | 5,220,021 | -35.6 | % | $ | 277.4 | $ | 285.7 | -2.9 | % |
Homebuilding
revenues in the West segment decreased for fiscal 2007 compared to fiscal 2006
due to reduced average sales prices and reduced demand in the majority of the
markets in this segment due to deteriorating market conditions and excess
capacity in both the new home and resale markets. In addition, credit tightening
in the mortgage markets and a decline in consumer confidence in all of our
markets further compounded the market deterioration in our Nevada, California
and Arizona markets.
The year
over year change in homebuilding revenues in the Mid-Atlantic segment reflects
the impact of decreased closings, pricing pressures and increased cancellations
driven by excess capacity in the resale markets as investors continued to divest
of prior home purchases and potential homebuyers continue to experience
difficulty selling their existing homes.
Homebuilding
revenues in our Florida segment decreased by 46.1% as a result of decreased
closings of 43.7% and a 7.7% reduction in the average selling price for fiscal
2007 compared to fiscal 2006, due to deteriorating market conditions and excess
supply of new and resale homes and increased competition across all of our
Florida markets. In addition, credit tightening in the mortgage markets and a
decline in consumer confidence, further compounded the market deterioration in
many of our Florida markets.
Homebuilding
revenues in our Southeast segment decreased 17.9% in fiscal 2007 compared to
fiscal 2006, due to deteriorating market conditions resulting in decreased
closings mitigated slightly by the increase in average sales prices due to
changes in product mix. Closings decreased by 26.1% in fiscal 2007 compared to
fiscal 2006. The decrease in closings was driven by higher cancellations, lower
demand, increased competition and the tightening of credit requirements and
decreased availability of mortgage options for potential homebuyers. In
addition, our Charlotte, North Carolina operations have been further impacted by
the negative publicity relating to the Company’s various ongoing investigations
and litigation (see Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial
Statements).
42
Homebuilding
revenues in our Other Homebuilding markets decreased 24.9% in fiscal 2007 due to
decreased closings of 29.9% as a result of our 2006 decision to exit our
Memphis, Tennessee, and Ft. Wayne and Lafayette, Indiana markets, deteriorating
market conditions and excess capacity in both new home and resale inventories in
most of our other homebuilding markets. Our Colorado and Houston markets were
especially impacted by pricing pressures, reduced demand and higher cancellation
rates.
Land and Lot Sales Revenues.
The table below summarizes land and lot sales revenues by reportable segment ($
in thousands):
Land
and Lot Sales Revenues
|
||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
Change
|
||||||||||
West
|
$ | 43,701 | $ | 35,905 | 21.7 | % | ||||||
Mid-Atlantic
|
8,312 | 3,550 | 134.1 | % | ||||||||
Florida
|
20,678 | - | n/a | |||||||||
Southeast
|
17,761 | 2,669 | 565.5 | % | ||||||||
Other
|
8,611 | 48,093 | -82.1 | % | ||||||||
Total
|
$ | 99,063 | $ | 90,217 | 9.8 | % |
The
increase in land and lot sales revenues is due primarily to identifying
additional parcels of land and lots for sale in our West, Florida and Southeast
segments in fiscal 2007 that did not fit within our homebuilding programs in
those segments. These increases were offset in part by the 82.1% decline in land
and lot sales in our Other Homebuilding segment.
Gross Profit (Loss).
Homebuilding gross profit is defined as homebuilding revenues less home cost of
sales (which includes land and land development costs, home construction costs,
capitalized interest, indirect costs of construction, estimated warranty costs,
closing costs and inventory impairment and lot option abandonment charges). The
following table sets forth our homebuilding gross profit (loss) and gross margin
by reportable segment and total gross profit (loss) and gross margin ($ in
thousands):
2007
|
2006
|
||||||||||
Gross
Profit (Loss)
|
Gross
Margin
|
Gross
Profit (Loss)
|
Gross
Margin
|
||||||||
Homebuilding
|
|||||||||||
West
|
$
|
(145,768
|
)
|
-13.7
|
%
|
$
|
410,094
|
22.9
|
%
|
||
Mid-Atlantic
|
16,904
|
3.3
|
%
|
290,686
|
30.8
|
%
|
|||||
Florida
|
(3,939
|
)
|
-1.1
|
%
|
207,441
|
30.3
|
%
|
||||
Southeast
|
116,003
|
16.0
|
%
|
178,725
|
20.3
|
%
|
|||||
Other
|
35,709
|
5.2
|
%
|
121,445
|
13.2
|
%
|
|||||
Corporate
& Unallocated
|
(135,199
|
)
|
(22,013
|
)
|
|||||||
Total
Homebuilding
|
(116,290
|
)
|
-3.5
|
%
|
1,186,378
|
22.7
|
%
|
||||
Land
and Lot Sales
|
3,423
|
(1,114
|
)
|
||||||||
Financial
Services
|
47,437
|
65,947
|
|||||||||
Total
|
$
|
(65,430
|
)
|
-1.9
|
%
|
$
|
1,251,211
|
23.4
|
%
|
The
decrease in gross margins in our West segment is primarily due to the impact of
inventory impairments and abandonment of certain option contracts, significant
deterioration in market conditions, decreased contribution from lower average
sales prices, and increased sales incentives. Total charges for inventory
impairments and abandonment of lot option contracts in the West segment were
$274.7 million and $54.2 million, respectively, during fiscal 2007. These
charges were primarily related to the impairment of certain communities in Las
Vegas, NV and Sacramento, CA due to the continued deterioration of sales trends
and increased competitive pricing environments and to the abandonment of certain
large option contracts in Phoenix, AZ. Fiscal 2006 included $16.1 million of lot
option abandonment charges related to the cancellation of projects in Arizona
and Southern California.
43
Gross
margins for the Mid-Atlantic segment decreased primarily due to the impact of
inventory impairments and abandonment of lot option contracts, deteriorating
market conditions, decreased contribution from lower average sales prices, and
increased incentives offered in response to the softer market conditions. Total
charges for inventory impairments and abandonments in the Mid-Atlantic segment
were $68.4 million and $19.7 million during fiscal 2007 compared to $4.8 million
of lot option abandonments for fiscal 2006.
The
decrease in gross margins in the Florida segment is also due to the impact of
inventory impairments and abandonment of lot option contracts, significantly
deteriorating market conditions, decreased contribution from lower average sales
prices, and increased sales incentives. Total charges for inventory impairments
and abandonments in the Florida segment were $62.7 million and $26.4 million,
respectively, compared to $2.3 million of lot option abandonments in fiscal
2006.
Gross
margins in the Southeast segment decreased due to deteriorating market
conditions and the impact of inventory impairments and abandonment of lot option
contracts despite higher average sales prices in fiscal 2007 as compared to
fiscal 2006. Fiscal 2007 charges for inventory impairments and abandonments in
the Southeast segment were $13.8 million and $8.6 million, respectively,
compared to $1.1 million of inventory impairments and $4.1 million of lot option
abandonments in fiscal 2006.
Fiscal
2007 homebuilding gross margins for the other homebuilding markets were 5.2%
compared to 13.2% for fiscal 2006. The decrease in homebuilding revenues and
gross margins is primarily due to the impact of softer market conditions and
increased sales incentives across all of our markets. Gross margins were further
impacted by inventory impairments and abandonment of lot option contracts
primarily in our Indiana and Colorado markets. During fiscal 2007, in the Other
Homebuilding segment, total charges for inventory impairments were $45.4 million
and lot option abandonments were $14.0 million compared to $5.1 million for
inventory impairments and $10.5 million for lot option abandonments in fiscal
2006.
Corporate and unallocated.
Corporate and unallocated costs include the amortization of capitalized interest
and indirect construction costs. Fiscal 2007 and 2006 costs are offset by $23.8
million and $21.7 million, respectively, of reductions in accruals associated
with construction defect claims from water intrusion in Indiana related to a
prior acquisition (“Trinity Moisture Intrusion”). The increase in corporate and
unallocated costs between years is due primarily to increased expense related to
interest and indirect costs due to a lower capitalizable inventory base and the
impairment of capitalized interest and indirect costs in connection with our
impairment of inventory held for development in fiscal 2007.
Land and Lot Sales Gross Profit
(Loss). The table below summarizes land and lot sales gross profit (loss)
by reportable segment ($ in thousands):
Land
and Lot Sales Gross Profit (Loss)
|
||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
Change
|
||||||||||
West
|
$ | 2,791 | $ | 1,096 | 154.7 | % | ||||||
Mid-Atlantic
|
1,397 | 768 | 81.9 | % | ||||||||
Florida
|
(8 | ) | - | n/a | ||||||||
Southeast
|
64 | (198 | ) | 132.3 | % | |||||||
Other
|
(821 | ) | (2,780 | ) | 70.5 | % | ||||||
Total
|
$ | 3,423 | $ | (1,114 | ) | 407.3 | % |
The
increase in land and lot sales gross profit from fiscal 2006 is primarily
related to the 2006 loss on sale of land in our Other Homebuilding segment in
connection with our decision to exit certain markets in Indiana.
44
Inventory Impairments. The
following tables set forth, by reportable segment, the inventory impairments and
lot option abandonment charges recorded for the fiscal years ended September 30,
2007 and 2006 (in thousands):
Fiscal
Year Ended September 30,
|
||||||||||
2007
|
%
|
(a)
|
2006
|
%
(a)
|
||||||
Development
Projects and Homes in Process (Held for Development)
|
||||||||||
West
|
$
|
228,598
|
22
|
%
|
$
|
230
|
<1%
|
|||
Mid-Atlantic
|
68,418
|
15
|
%
|
19
|
<1%
|
|||||
Florida
|
62,246
|
23
|
%
|
-
|
||||||
Southeast
|
13,776
|
4
|
%
|
1,095
|
<1%
|
|||||
Other
|
44,024
|
9
|
%
|
5,079
|
<1%
|
|||||
Unallocated
|
23,853
|
12
|
%
|
-
|
||||||
Subtotal
|
$
|
440,915
|
16
|
%
|
$
|
6,423
|
<1%
|
|||
Land
Held for Sale
|
||||||||||
West
|
$
|
46,138
|
$
|
-
|
||||||
Florida
|
500
|
-
|
||||||||
Other
|
1,386
|
-
|
||||||||
Subtotal
|
$
|
48,024
|
$
|
-
|
||||||
Lot
Option Abandonments
|
||||||||||
West
|
$
|
54,199
|
$
|
16,108
|
||||||
Mid-Atlantic
|
19,746
|
4,795
|
||||||||
Florida
|
26,448
|
2,265
|
||||||||
Southeast
|
8,563
|
4,129
|
||||||||
Other
|
13,969
|
10,455
|
||||||||
Subtotal
|
$
|
122,925
|
$
|
37,752
|
||||||
Total
|
$
|
611,864
|
$
|
44,175
|
(a)
Represents the percentage of average held for development inventory that was
impaired during the applicable fiscal year ended September 30.
Impairments
recorded during fiscal 2007 increased significantly in each of our reportable
segments and most prominently in our West segment. The impairments recorded on
our held for development inventory, for all segments, primarily resulted from
the significant decline in the homebuilding environment that negatively impacted
the sales prices of homes and increased the sales incentives offered to
potential homebuyers in our efforts to increase home sales absorptions. The West
segment experienced the most significant amount of inventory impairments as
compared to our other homebuilding segments due to the fact that the number of
owned land and lots in the West segment comprises approximately 28.4% of our
total land and lots owned as of September 30, 2007 and the value of the
inventory held for development in the West segment represents approximately
34.9% of the dollar value our land held for development inventory as of
September 30, 2007. In addition, our homebuilding markets that comprise our West
segment consist of markets that once experienced the most significant home price
appreciation in the nation during the 2004 through 2006 periods which was driven
in large part by speculative purchases and the availability of mortgage credit
during those time periods which are no longer present in the marketplace. The
decline in the availability of mortgage loan products and the exit of
speculators from the market, among other factors, contributed to the significant
increase in the supply of new and used homes on the market for
sale.
The
impairments recorded in our other homebuilding segments are primarily as a
result of continued price competition brought on by the significant increase in
new and resale home inventory during fiscal 2007 that has resulted in increased
sales incentives and home sales price declines as we attempt to increase new
orders and generate cash to the Company.
45
We have
also recorded $48.0 million in impairments on land inventory during fiscal 2007
that we have determined does not fit within our homebuilding needs in the
current environment and have thus classified as held for sale. The inventory
classified as land held for sale is primarily located in our West segment
representing nine communities and approximately 600 lots.
In
addition, we have also completed a strategic review of all of the markets within
our homebuilding segments and the communities within each of those markets with
an initial focus on the communities for which land has been secured with option
purchase contracts. As a result of this review, we have determined the proper
course of action with respect to a number of communities within each
homebuilding segment was to abandon the remaining lots under option and to
write-off the deposits securing the option takedowns, as well as preacquisition
costs. The total abandonments recorded for fiscal 2007 were $122.9 million which
represented 118 communities. The West and Florida segments accounted for 44.1%
and 21.5%, respectively, of the abandonments as the markets in those segments
were among the markets with the highest levels of new and resale home
supply.
Inventory
impairments recorded on a quarterly basis during fiscal 2007 and their estimated
fair value, number of lots and number of communities are set forth in the table
below as follows (in thousands):
Inventory
Impairments for the Quarter Ended
|
Estimated
Fair Value
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Held
for
|
of
Impaired Inventory
|
Lots
|
Communities
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Development
|
Held
for Sale
|
Total
|
at
Period End
|
Impaired
|
Impaired
|
|||||||||||||||||||
December
31, 2006
|
$ | 115,192 | $ | - | $ | 115,192 | $ | 265,804 | 3,069 | 44 | ||||||||||||||
March
31, 2007
|
82,225 | 3,955 | 86,180 | 170,881 | 2,564 | 40 | ||||||||||||||||||
June
30, 2007
|
109,428 | - | 109,428 | 236,023 | 3,498 | 45 | ||||||||||||||||||
September
30, 2007
|
134,070 | 44,069 | 178,139 | 224,428 | 3,278 | 39 | ||||||||||||||||||
Fiscal
2007
|
$ | 440,915 | $ | 48,024 | $ | 488,939 | $ | 897,136 | 12,409 | 168 |
We
recorded inventory impairments during fiscal 2006 totaling $6.4 million of which
$0.8 million was recorded in the quarter ended March 31, 2006 and $5.6 million
in the quarter ended September 30, 2006. The inventory impaired primarily
represented homes in backlog sold at a loss for which a valuation adjustment was
recorded to properly state the inventory at fair value. The homes generally
closed in the following quarter.
Unit
Data by Segment
New
Orders, net
|
Closings
|
Backlog
at September 30,
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
Change
|
2007
|
2006
|
Change
|
2007
|
2006
|
Change
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
West
|
2,352 | 3,084 | -23.7 | % | 3,036 | 4,942 | -38.6 | % | 491 | 1,175 | -58.2 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mid-Atlantic
|
1,223 | 1,427 | -14.3 | % | 1,157 | 2,043 | -43.4 | % | 643 | 577 | 11.4 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Florida
|
991 | 1,490 | -33.5 | % | 1,261 | 2,241 | -43.7 | % | 238 | 508 | -53.1 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Southeast
|
2,308 | 3,795 | -39.2 | % | 3,125 | 4,228 | -26.1 | % | 504 | 1,321 | -61.8 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other
|
3,029 | 4,395 | -31.1 | % | 3,441 | 4,907 | -29.9 | % | 1,109 | 1,521 | -27.1 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total
|
9,903 | 14,191 | -30.2 | % | 12,020 | 18,361 | -34.5 | % | 2,985 | 5,102 | -41.5 | % |
New Orders, net. New orders,
net of cancellations, decreased to 9,903, or 30% during fiscal 2007 compared to
14,191 during fiscal 2006 as new orders decreased across most of our markets.
The decrease was due primarily to lower levels of demand for new homes, an
increase in resale home inventory, a decrease in the availability of mortgage
financing for many potential homebuyers and significant increases in
cancellation rates due partially to a decline in homebuyer confidence in the
homebuilding market. Specifically, cancellation rates increased from 37% in
fiscal 2006 to 41% in fiscal 2007. This higher cancellation rate in fiscal 2007
also reflects the challenging market environment including the inability of many
potential homebuyers to sell their existing homes, the increased price
competition and incentives offered and the tightening of credit markets. As a
result of the various ongoing investigations and litigation discussed herein, we
have been the subject of continuing negative publicity. We believe this negative
publicity has also discouraged and may continue to discourage potential
homebuyers from purchasing a home from us.
46
Backlog. The number of homes
in backlog decreased 41.5% from September 30, 2006 to September 30, 2007 driving
a 46.1% decrease in the aggregate dollar value of homes in backlog from $1.6
billion at September 30, 2006 to $838.8 million at September 30, 2007. The
decrease in aggregate dollar value also reflects a 7.8% decline in the average
price of homes in backlog from $304,900 at September 30, 2006 to $281,000 at
September 30, 2007. This decrease in average sale price was most pronounced in
the markets in our West, Mid-Atlantic and Florida segments. The decrease in the
number of homes in backlog across most of our markets is driven primarily by the
aforementioned market weakness, lower new orders and higher rate of
cancellations.
Financial Services. Our
capture rate (the percentage of mortgages we originate as a percentage of homes
closed) of mortgages originated for customers of our homebuilding business,
which was historically the most significant source of revenue in this segment,
was 66.7% for both fiscal 2007 and fiscal 2006. All costs related to Financial
Services are included in selling, general and administrative expenses. Revenue
for Financial Services decreased for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007
from the comparable period of 2006 due primarily to reduced closings throughout
our markets which contributed to lower title services revenues and a 34%
decrease in the number of mortgage originations. Operating income was further
impacted by generally lower margins earned as a result of competitive pricing in
response to significantly weaker market conditions.
Fiscal
Year Ended September 30,
|
|||||||||
2007
|
Change
|
2006
|
|||||||
Number
of mortgage originations
|
8,015
|
(34.5
|
)%
|
12,244
|
|||||
Capture
rate
|
66.7
|
%
|
0
|
bps
|
66.7
|
%
|
|||
Revenues
|
$
|
47,437
|
(28.1
|
)%
|
$
|
65,947
|
|||
Operating
income
|
$
|
3,299
|
(81.0
|
)%
|
$
|
17,366
|
Effective
February 1, 2008, we exited the mortgage origination business and entered into
an exclusive preferred lender arrangement with a national third-party mortgage
provider. This exclusive arrangement will continue to offer our homebuyers the
option of a simplified financing process while enabling us to focus on our core
competency of homebuilding.
Fiscal
Year Ended September 30, 2006 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended September 30,
2005
Revenues. Revenues increased
by 7.3% for fiscal 2006 compared to fiscal 2005. Homes closed increased by 1.4%
from 18,109 in fiscal 2005 to 18,361 in fiscal 2006 driven by strong growth in
the first half of fiscal 2006 in a majority of our markets tempered by decreased
closings in a majority of the markets due to increased competition and
moderating demand during the second half of fiscal 2006. This overall revenue
growth was partially offset by declines in Nevada and many of our California
markets in the West region and in certain of our North Carolina and Florida
markets. The average sales price of homes closed increased by 5.3% to $285,700
from $271,300 for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2006 and 2005,
respectively. Average sales price increased due primarily to product mix related
to the expansion of our product offerings in many markets to include higher
priced homes.
Also, our
revenue growth reflected a key component of our long-term growth strategy, to
continue to increase our market penetration through geographic diversification
and price point diversification, expanding our product offerings to grow market
share in those markets in which we currently operate most
profitably.
In
addition, we had $90.2 million and $34.5 million of land sales for the fiscal
years ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The increase in land
sales in fiscal 2006 primarily resulted from our continued review of
opportunities to minimize underperforming investments and exit a number of less
profitable positions, reallocating funds to investments that will optimize
overall returns in the future.
47
Gross Profit. Our gross margin
was 23.4% for fiscal 2006 compared to 24.5% for fiscal 2005. Margins in fiscal
2006 were negatively impacted by margin pressures in our West and Mid-Atlantic
regions, a higher percentage of closings from lower margin markets, higher
market driven sales incentives and costs associated with our overhead structure
realignment and the exiting of non-strategic land positions. Fiscal 2006 gross
profit included $37.8 million of costs related to the abandonment of projects
and write-off of deposits and other costs on cancelled land option contracts and
$6.4 million of inventory impairments offset partially by a $21.7 million
reduction in the accrual for construction defect claims for moisture intrusion
in Indiana (see Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). Fiscal 2005
gross margin included the impact of $55.0 million in warranty expenses
associated with the construction defect claims for moisture intrusion in
Indiana, $14.0 million of other warranty costs and $5.5 million of costs related
to the abandonment of projects.
We
executed several land sales during fiscal 2006 and 2005. We realized a loss of
$1.1 million on land sales in fiscal 2006 and gross profit of $5.1 million on
land sales in fiscal 2005.
Selling, General and Administrative
Expense. Selling, general and administrative expense (“SG&A”) totaled
$629.3 million in fiscal 2006 and $548.2 million in fiscal 2005. The increase in
SG&A expense during fiscal 2006 is primarily related to the costs associated
with a number of strategic company-wide programs, an increase in sales
commissions as a result of increased revenues and the cost of a larger
infrastructure necessary to meet the demands related to the growth in our
business. As a percentage of total revenue, SG&A expenses were 11.7% in
fiscal 2006 and 11.0% in fiscal 2005.
In the
fourth quarter of fiscal 2006, we began a comprehensive review of our overhead
structure in light of our reduced volume expectations for fiscal 2007. Fiscal
2006 SG&A expense included $1.1 million in severance costs related to
employees who had been severed as of September 30, 2006.
Depreciation and Amortization.
Depreciation and amortization (“D&A”) totaled $42.4 million in fiscal 2006
and $36.1 million in fiscal 2005. The increase in D&A during the periods
presented is primarily related to additional D&A for model furnishings and
sales office improvements.
Goodwill Impairment
Charges. During fiscal year
2005, we recorded a non-cash, non-tax deductible goodwill impairment charge of
$130.2 million to write off substantially all of the goodwill allocated to
certain underperforming markets in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Charlotte, North
Carolina. Based on our annual goodwill impairment test as of April 30, 2006, we
had no impairment of goodwill during fiscal 2006. The goodwill impairment charge
is reported in Corporate and unallocated and is not allocated to our
homebuilding segments.
Income Taxes. Our effective tax rate
was 36.8% for fiscal 2006 and 46.2% for fiscal 2005. The effective tax rate for
2005 was impacted 8.9% by the $130.2 million non-cash, non-tax deductible
goodwill impairment charge discussed above. Excluding the aforementioned
goodwill impact, the decrease in the effective tax rate between years is
primarily due to changes in income concentrations in the various states, the
timing of certain state tax initiatives and the expiration of statute of
limitations for certain tax contingencies. As a result, we recorded tax benefits
related to certain discrete items totaling $7.5 million in fiscal 2006. In
addition, in fiscal 2006, we recognized a $5.2 million benefit related to new
provisions under the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004. The principal
difference between our effective rate and the U.S. federal statutory rate is due
to state income taxes incurred.
48
Segment
Results for Fiscal 2006 Compared to Fiscal 2005:
Homebuilding Revenues and Average
Selling Price. The table below summarizes homebuilding revenues and the
average selling prices of our homes by reportable segment ($ in
thousands):
Homebuilding
Revenues
|
Average
Selling Price
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
2006
|
2005
|
Change
|
2006
|
2005
|
Change
|
|||||||||||||||||||
West
|
$ | 1,792,826 | $ | 1,935,310 | -7.4 | % | $ | 366.1 | $ | 342.7 | 6.8 | % | ||||||||||||
Mid-Atlantic
|
943,113 | 840,714 | 12.2 | % | 457.9 | 449.6 | 1.8 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Florida
|
684,563 | 598,454 | 14.4 | % | 309.5 | 267.6 | 15.7 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Southeast
|
882,368 | 748,912 | 17.8 | % | 210.1 | 187.5 | 12.1 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Other
|
917,151 | 789,009 | 16.2 | % | 187.4 | 180.9 | 3.6 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Total
|
$ | 5,220,021 | $ | 4,912,399 | 6.3 | % | $ | 285.7 | $ | 271.3 | 5.3 | % |
Homebuilding
revenues in our West segment decreased in fiscal 2006 due to decreased closings
across the markets offset slightly by increased average sales prices in the
segment. Declines in fiscal 2006 closings were due to softer market conditions,
increased competition in both new and existing home sales, higher cancellations
and the impact of extremely high closings in fiscal 2005. Homebuilding revenues
in fiscal 2005 reflected increased closings and increased average sales prices
in the majority of the markets in this segment, as we benefited from improved
pricing power and exceptionally high demand in each of these
markets.
Increased
closings and slightly increased higher average sales prices due to healthy
demand and continued constraints on the supply of available housing in our
Mid-Atlantic segment during fiscal 2005 and the first half of fiscal 2006
resulted in increased homebuilding revenues over fiscal 2005.
Homebuilding
revenues for the Florida segment in fiscal 2006 increased over fiscal 2005 due
to increased closings and increased average sales prices. The increase in fiscal
2006 revenues was primarily generated in the first six months as revenues from
the second half of fiscal 2006 were negatively impacted by decreased closings in
a majority of the markets due to increased competition and moderating
demand.
Homebuilding
revenues in fiscal 2006 increased in a majority of our markets within the
Southeast segment over fiscal 2005 driven by increased average sales prices in
most of our markets and increased closings in the majority of our South Carolina
markets; however, revenues in our Charlotte market were negatively impacted by
entry level housing competition and difficulties encountered in our integration
of the Crossmann communities in this market.
The
increase in homebuilding revenues in our other homebuilding markets in fiscal
2006 from fiscal 2005 reflected strong revenue growth in our Colorado and Texas
markets and increased fiscal 2006 closings in our Indiana markets. This revenue
growth was partially offset by continued weakness in the remaining markets in
this segment.
Land and Lot Sales Revenues.
The table below summarizes land and lot sales revenues by reportable segment ($
in thousands):
Land
and Lot Sales Revenues
|
||||||||||||
2006
|
2005
|
Change
|
||||||||||
West
|
$ | 35,905 | $ | - | n/a | |||||||
Mid-Atlantic
|
3,550 | 7,369 | -51.8 | % | ||||||||
Florida
|
- | 496 | n/a | |||||||||
Southeast
|
2,669 | 12,118 | -78.0 | % | ||||||||
Other
|
48,093 | 14,544 | 230.7 | % | ||||||||
Total
|
$ | 90,217 | $ | 34,527 | 161.3 | % |
49
The
increase in land and lot sales revenues is due primarily to identifying
additional parcels of land and lots for sale in our West and Other Homebuilding
segments in fiscal 2006 that did not fit within our homebuilding programs in
those segments. These increases were offset in part by the 78.0% decline in land
and lot sales in our Southeast segment.
Gross Profit (Loss).
Homebuilding gross profit is defined as homebuilding revenues less home cost of
sales (which includes land and land development costs, home construction costs,
capitalized interest, indirect costs of construction, estimated warranty costs,
closing costs and inventory impairment and lot option abandonment charges). The
following table sets forth our homebuilding gross profit (loss) and gross margin
by reportable segment and total gross profit (loss) and gross margin ($ in
thousands):
2006
|
2005
|
||||||||||
Gross
Profit (Loss)
|
Gross
Margin
|
Gross
Profit (Loss)
|
Gross
Margin
|
||||||||
Homebuilding
|
|||||||||||
West
|
$
|
410,094
|
22.9
|
%
|
$
|
570,145
|
29.5
|
%
|
|||
Mid-Atlantic
|
290,686
|
30.8
|
%
|
281,832
|
33.5
|
%
|
|||||
Florida
|
207,441
|
30.3
|
%
|
145,988
|
24.4
|
%
|
|||||
Southeast
|
178,725
|
20.3
|
%
|
151,649
|
20.2
|
%
|
|||||
Other
|
121,445
|
13.2
|
%
|
114,565
|
14.5
|
%
|
|||||
Corporate
& Unallocated
|
(22,013
|
)
|
(110,560
|
)
|
|||||||
Total
Homebuilding
|
1,186,378
|
22.7
|
%
|
1,153,619
|
23.5
|
%
|
|||||
Land
and Lot Sales
|
(1,114
|
)
|
5,073
|
||||||||
Financial
Services
|
65,947
|
62,253
|
|||||||||
Total
|
$
|
1,251,211
|
23.4
|
%
|
$
|
1,220,945
|
24.5
|
%
|
The
decrease in homebuilding gross margins in the West segment in fiscal 2006 from
fiscal 2005 is primarily due to softer market conditions in our California and
Nevada markets and increased costs for subdivision maintenance throughout the
region. These softer market conditions also drove our decision to abandon
certain lot option contracts resulting in $16.1 million of lot option
abandonment charges in fiscal 2006 as compared to $1.7 million of charges in
fiscal 2005. In addition, fiscal 2005 margins benefited from a higher number of
closings related to new communities and lower sales incentives compared to
fiscal 2006.
The
decrease in homebuilding gross margins from fiscal 2005 to fiscal 2006 in the
Mid-Atlantic segment primarily related to margin pressures and increased
incentives in response to softening market conditions in the last few months of
fiscal 2006. Fiscal 2006 and 2005 gross profit is net of $4.8 million and $1.4
million of lot option abandonment charges, respectively.
Homebuilding
gross margins increased to 30.3% for fiscal 2006 from 24.4% for fiscal 2005 in
the Florida segment, as we benefited from prior, lower cost land purchases and
the aforementioned increase in average sales prices. In addition, fiscal 2005
margins were slightly impacted by lower than average margins in our Tampa market
due to incentive pricing offered to stimulate traffic during the opening of a
new mid-rise condominium community.
Margins
in our Southeast segment in fiscal 2005 and 2006 were negatively impacted as we
repositioned our product offerings and reduced our investment in the entry-level
and townhouse sectors of the Charlotte market. New product offerings in Georgia
and the South Carolina markets, including our Atlantic Station community in
Georgia, and an improved product mix throughout the region contributed toward
the increased average sales prices. Gross margins for fiscal 2006 were 20.3%
compared to 20.2% for fiscal 2005. Gross margins in fiscal 2006 benefited from a
$5.0 million reduction in warranty-related accruals as pending litigation
related to one large project in South Carolina was settled favorably and $5.6
million of insurance recoveries were offset by $1.1 million of inventory
impairments and $4.1 million of lot option abandonments. The fiscal 2005 margins
were impacted by our repositioning efforts in Charlotte, increased warranty and
legal related costs in South Carolina and $0.8 million of lot option abandonment
charges.
50
Homebuilding
gross margins for our other homebuilding markets decreased from 14.5% for fiscal
2005 to 13.2% for fiscal 2006. The decrease in margins from fiscal 2005 to
fiscal 2006 was primarily due to pricing pressures in our Colorado and Ohio
markets and additional costs related to our decision to exit some sub-markets in
Indiana and Memphis, Tennessee during fiscal 2006, including $5.1 million of
inventory impairment charges and $10.5 million of lot option abandonment
charges. Fiscal 2005 margins were impacted by additional warranty costs in our
Kentucky market and repositioning costs, including higher discounting and $1.1
million of lot option abandonment charges, related to the implementation of new
home and subdivision designs in Indiana and Ohio.
Corporate and unallocated.
Fiscal 2006 corporate and unallocated costs are offset by $21.7 million of
reductions in accruals associated with construction defect claims from water
intrusion in Indiana compared to $55.0 million of warranty expenses associated
with these claims in fiscal 2005.
Land and Lot Sales Gross Profit
(Loss). The table below summarizes land and lot sales gross profit (loss)
by reportable segment ($ in thousands):
Land
and Lot Sales Gross Profit (Loss)
|
||||||||||||
2006
|
2005
|
Change
|
||||||||||
West
|
$ | 1,096 | $ | - | n/a | |||||||
Mid-Atlantic
|
768 | 3,041 | -74.7 | % | ||||||||
Florida
|
- | (2 | ) | n/a | ||||||||
Southeast
|
(198 | ) | 1,691 | -111.7 | % | |||||||
Other
|
(2,780 | ) | 343 | -910.5 | % | |||||||
Total
|
$ | (1,114 | ) | $ | 5,073 | -122.0 | % |
Unit
Data by Segment
New
Orders, net
|
Closings
|
Backlog
at September 30,
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2006
|
2005
|
Change
|
2006
|
2005
|
Change
|
2006
|
2005
|
Change
|
||||||||||||||||||||
West
|
3,084
|
5,673
|
-45.6
|
%
|
4,942
|
5,647
|
-12.5
|
%
|
1,175
|
3,033
|
-61.3
|
%
|
||||||||||||||||
Mid-Atlantic
|
1,427
|
2,016
|
-29.2
|
%
|
2,043
|
1,870
|
9.3
|
%
|
577
|
1,193
|
-51.6
|
%
|
||||||||||||||||
Florida
|
1,490
|
2,295
|
-35.1
|
%
|
2,241
|
2,236
|
0.2
|
%
|
508
|
1,259
|
-59.7
|
%
|
||||||||||||||||
Southeast
|
3,795
|
4,372
|
-13.2
|
%
|
4,228
|
3,995
|
5.8
|
%
|
1,321
|
1,754
|
-24.7
|
%
|
||||||||||||||||
Other
|
4,395
|
4,569
|
-3.8
|
%
|
4,907
|
4,361
|
12.5
|
%
|
1,521
|
2,033
|
-25.2
|
%
|
||||||||||||||||
Total
|
14,191
|
18,925
|
-25.0
|
%
|
18,361
|
18,109
|
1.4
|
%
|
5,102
|
9,272
|
-45.0
|
%
|
New Orders, net. New orders,
net of cancellations, decreased to 14,191, or by 25.0%, during fiscal 2006
compared to 18,925 for fiscal 2005 due primarily to lower levels of demand for
new homes across a majority of our markets, an increase in resale home inventory
and significant increases in cancellation rates during the second half of fiscal
2006. Specifically, orders decreased by 45.6% in our West region and 29.2% in
our Mid-Atlantic region compared to fiscal 2005 due to lower demand and higher
cancellations compared to the extremely high number of new orders received in
these regions in fiscal 2005. Orders also decreased by 35.1% in our Florida
region, primarily related to increased competition and moderating
demand.
Backlog. The aggregate dollar
value of homes in backlog of $1.6 billion at September 30, 2006 represented a
43.1% decrease from $2.7 billion at September 30, 2005. This decrease reflects a
45.0% decline in the number of homes in backlog offset partially by a 3.4%
increase in the average price of homes in backlog from $294,800 at September 30,
2005 to $304,900 at September 30, 2006. The decrease in the number of homes in
backlog is primarily driven by decreased order trends in the majority of our
markets. The increase in the average price of homes in backlog is due to the
success we experienced in diversifying our product offerings.
51
Financial Services. Our
capture rate (the percentage of mortgages we originate as a percentage of homes
closed) of mortgages originated for customers of our homebuilding business,
which was historically the most significant source of revenue in this segment,
increased to 66.7% in fiscal 2006 from 61.5% in fiscal 2005 due primarily to our
continued focus on serving our customer base. Our capture rate is based on total
closings. All costs related to Financial Services are included in SG&A.
Operating income for Financial Services decreased in fiscal 2006 primarily due
to additional costs incurred in our mortgage operations including higher price
concessions and incentives offered in response to competitive pressures in the
refinancing market.
Fiscal
Year Ended September 30,
|
|||||||||
2006
|
Change
|
2005
|
|||||||
Financial
Services
|
|||||||||
Number
of mortgage originations
|
12,244
|
9.9
|
%
|
11,144
|
|||||
Capture
rate
|
66.7
|
%
|
520
|
bps
|
61.5
|
%
|
|||
Revenues
|
$
|
65,947
|
5.9
|
%
|
$
|
62,253
|
|||
Operating
income
|
$
|
17,366
|
(18.7
|
)%
|
$
|
21,368
|
Derivative Instruments and Hedging
Activities. We are exposed to fluctuations in interest rates. From time
to time, we enter into derivative agreements to manage interest costs and hedge
against risks associated with fluctuating interest rates. We do not enter into
or hold derivatives for trading or speculative purposes. During the year ended
September 30, 2001 we entered into interest rate swap agreements (the “Swap
Agreements”) to effectively fix the variable interest rate on $100 million of
floating rate debt. The Swap Agreements matured in December 2004.
The Swap
Agreements were designated as cash flow hedges and recorded at fair value in our
consolidated balance sheets, and the related gains or losses are deferred in
stockholders’ equity, net of taxes, as a component of other comprehensive income
as of September 30, 2004. We reclassified $610,000, net of taxes of $354,000,
from other comprehensive loss to interest expense upon maturation of the Swap
Agreements in fiscal 2005.
Liquidity and Capital
Resources. Our sources of cash liquidity include, but are not limited to,
cash from operations, amounts available under credit facilities, proceeds from
senior notes and other bank borrowings, the issuance of equity securities and
other external sources of funds. Our short-term and long-term liquidity depend
primarily upon our level of net income, working capital management (accounts
receivable, accounts payable and other liabilities) and bank borrowings. We
believe that available short-term and long-term capital resources are sufficient
to fund capital expenditures and working capital requirements, scheduled debt
payments, and interest and tax obligations for the next twelve months. However,
any material variance of our operating results or land acquisitions from our
projections or investments in or acquisitions of businesses could require us to
obtain additional equity or debt financing. Long-term, we plan to use cash
generated to invest in growing the business and/or to reduce our levels of debt.
We have suspended our dividend payments and share repurchase program and any
resumption of such programs will be at the discretion of the Board of
Directors.
At
September 30, 2007, we had cash and cash equivalents of $454.3 million, compared
to $167.6 million at September 30, 2006. The increase in cash was due to the
$509.4 million provided by operating activities relating primarily to the
reduction in inventory and accounts receivable offset somewhat by the repayment
of borrowings under our warehouse line and the repurchase of $30.4 million in
senior notes. Our net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended
September 30, 2007 was $509.4 million compared to $378.0 million of cash used in
operating activities in fiscal 2006 and $46.2 million of cash used in operating
activities in fiscal 2005. Based on the applicable year’s closings, as of
September 30, 2007, our land bank includes a 5.2 year supply of land/lots for
future development compared to a 4.8 year supply as of September 30, 2006 and a
5.9 year supply as of September 30, 2005. The years’ supply in land bank
increased as of September 30, 2007 when compared to September 30, 2006 primarily
due to the decline in closings as compared to the lots in the ending land bank
as of September 30, 2007. As the homebuilding market declined, we were
successful in significantly reducing our land bank through the abandonment of
lot option contracts, the sale of land not required in our homebuilding program
and through the sale of new homes ending fiscal 2007 with only 3.1 years of
owned land and lots for future homebuilding activities. The decrease in land
bank from September 30, 2005 to September 30, 2006 related to our decision to
eliminate non-strategic positions to align our land supply with our current
expectations for future home closings. Net cash used in investing activities was
$52.0 million for fiscal 2007 compared to $104.8 million for fiscal 2006 and
$85.5 million for fiscal 2005, as we invested in unconsolidated joint ventures
to support our land acquisition strategy and model and sales office improvements
to support our marketing efforts.
52
Net cash
used in financing activities was $170.6 million in fiscal 2007 as compared to
net cash provided by financing activities of $353.2 million in fiscal 2006 and
$107.8 million in fiscal 2005. In fiscal 2007, repayments of our borrowings
under our warehouse line, other notes payable, repurchased senior notes and
dividend payments were somewhat offset by proceeds of our warehouse line. In
fiscal 2006 and 2005, proceeds from the senior note issuances (discussed below)
and stock option exercises were somewhat offset by other debt repayments, common
share repurchases and dividend payments.
At
September 30, 2007 we had the following long-term debt (in thousands):
Debt
|
Due
|
Amount
|
||||
Revolving
Credit Facility
|
August
2011
|
$
|
-
|
|||
8
5/8% Senior Notes*
|
May
2011
|
180,000
|
||||
8
3/8% Senior Notes*
|
April
2012
|
340,000
|
||||
6
1/2% Senior Notes*
|
November
2013
|
200,000
|
||||
6
7/8% Senior Notes*
|
July
2015
|
350,000
|
||||
8
1/8% Senior Notes*
|
June
2016
|
275,000
|
||||
4
5/8% Convertible Senior Notes*
|
June
2024
|
180,000
|
||||
Junior
subordinated notes
|
July
2036
|
103,093
|
||||
Other
secured notes payable
|
Various
Dates
|
118,073
|
||||
Model
home financing obligations
|
Various
Dates
|
114,116
|
||||
Unamortized
debt discounts
|
(3,033
|
)
|
||||
Total
|
$
|
1,857,249
|
||||
*
Collectively, the “Senior Notes”
|
Warehouse Line – Effective
February 7, 2007, Beazer Mortgage amended its 364-day credit agreement (the
“Warehouse Line”) to extend its maturity date to February 2008 and modify the
maximum available borrowing capacity to $100 million, subject to compliance with
the mortgage loan eligibility requirements as defined in the Warehouse Line. The
Warehouse Line was secured by certain mortgage loan sales and related property.
The Warehouse Line was entered into with a number of banks to fund the
origination of residential mortgage loans. The maximum available borrowing
capacity was subsequently reduced through amendments down to $17 million as of
September 30, 2007. The Warehouse Line was not guaranteed by Beazer Homes USA,
Inc. or any of its subsidiaries that are guarantors of the Senior Notes or
Revolving Credit Facility. There were no borrowings under the Warehouse Line at
September 30, 2007. Borrowings under the Warehouse Line were $94.9 million and
bore interest at 5.3% per annum as of September 30, 2006. Effective November 14,
2007, we terminated the Warehouse Line.
Revolving Credit Facility - In
July 2007, we replaced our former credit facility with a new $500 million,
four-year unsecured revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”)
with a group of banks, which matures in 2011. The former credit facility
included a $1 billion four-year revolving credit facility which would have
matured in August 2009. The Revolving Credit Facility has a $350 million
sublimit for the issuance of standby letters of credit. We have the option to
elect two types of loans under the Revolving Credit Facility which incur
interest as applicable based on either the Alternative Base Rate or the
Applicable Eurodollar Margin (both defined in the Revolving Credit Facility).
The Revolving Credit Facility contains various operating and financial
covenants. Substantially all of our significant subsidiaries are guarantors of
the obligations under the Revolving Credit Facility (see Note 16 to the
Consolidated Financial Statements).
We
fulfill our short-term cash requirements with cash generated from our operations
and funds available from our Revolving Credit Facility. There were no amounts
outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility at September 30, 2007 or
September 30, 2006; however, we had $133.3 million and $145.6 million of letters
of credit outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility at September 30, 2007
and September 30, 2006, respectively. As of September 30, 2007, we had available
borrowings of $274.9 million under the Revolving Credit Facility.
53
On
October 10, 2007, we entered into a waiver and amendment of our Revolving Credit
Facility, waiving events of default through May 15, 2008 under the facility
arising from our failure to file or deliver reports or other information we
would be required to file with the SEC and our decision to restate our financial
statements. Under this and the October 26, 2007 amendments, any obligations
under the Revolving Credit Facility will be secured by certain assets and our
ability to borrow under this facility is subject to satisfaction of a secured
borrowing base. We are permitted to grow the borrowing base by adding additional
cash and/or real estate as collateral securing the Revolving Credit Facility. In
addition, we obtained additional flexibility with respect to our financial
covenants in the Revolving Credit Facility.
Senior Notes - The Senior
Notes are unsecured obligations ranking pari passu with all other existing and
future senior indebtedness. Substantially all of our significant subsidiaries
are full and unconditional guarantors of the Senior Notes and are jointly and
severally liable for obligations under the Senior Notes and the New Facility.
Each guarantor subsidiary is a 100% owned subsidiary of Beazer
Homes.
Excluding
the 8 ⅜% Senior Notes issued in September 2002 which were used partially to fund
the cash portion of the Crossmann acquisition and to repay Crossmann’s
outstanding net indebtedness, the Senior Notes were generally used to pay off
borrowings under existing credit facilities, fund land acquisitions and for
general corporate purposes. The indentures under which the Senior Notes were
issued contain certain restrictive covenants, including limitations on payment
of dividends and other distributions on common stock. At September 30, 2007,
under the most restrictive covenants of each indenture, approximately $27.6
million of our retained earnings was available for cash dividends, share
repurchases and other restricted payments (as defined in each indenture). Each
indenture provides that, in the event of defined changes in control or if our
consolidated tangible net worth falls below a specified level or in certain
circumstances upon a sale of assets, we are required to offer to repurchase
certain specified amounts of outstanding Senior Notes.
On
October 26, 2007, we obtained consents from holders of our Senior Notes to
approve amendments of the indentures under which the Senior Notes were issued.
These amendments restrict our ability to secure additional debt in excess of
$700 million until certain conditions are met and enable us to invest up to $50
million in joint ventures. The consents also provided us with a waiver of any
and all defaults under the Senior Notes that may have occurred or may occur on
or prior to May 15, 2008 relating to filing or delivering annual and quarterly
financial statements. Fees and expenses related to obtaining these consents
totaled approximately $21 million.
In March
2007, we voluntarily repurchased on the open market $10.0 million of our
outstanding 8 ⅝% and $10.0 million of our outstanding 8 ⅜% Senior Notes. The
aggregate purchase price was $20.6 million, or an average of 102.8% of the
aggregate principal amount of the notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid
interest as of the purchase date. The repurchase of the notes resulted in a
$562,500 pretax loss during the second quarter of fiscal 2007. On March 28,
2007, we repurchased an additional $10.0 million of our outstanding 8 ⅝% Senior
Notes which were cash settled on April 2, 2007 at a purchase price of $9.85
million. The repurchase of the notes resulted in a $150,000 pretax gain included
in other income in the accompanying Statement of Operations for the quarter
ended June 30, 2007. Senior Notes repurchased by the Company were
cancelled.
Junior Subordinated Notes - In
June 2006, we completed a private placement of $103.1 million of unsecured
junior subordinated notes which mature in July 2036 and are redeemable at par on
or after July 30, 2011 and pay a fixed rate of 7.987% for the first ten years
ending July 2016. Thereafter, the securities have a floating interest rate equal
to three-month LIBOR plus 2.45% per annum, resetting quarterly. These notes were
issued to our wholly-owned subsidiary, Beazer Capital Trust I, which
simultaneously issued, in a private transaction, trust preferred securities and
common securities with an aggregate value of $103.1 million to fund its purchase
of these notes. The transaction is treated as debt in accordance with GAAP. The
obligations relating to these notes and the related securities are subordinated
to the Revolving Credit Facility and the Senior Notes.
54
On April
30, 2008, we received a default notice from The Bank of New York Trust Company,
National Association, the trustee under the indenture governing these junior
subordinated notes. The notice alleges that we are in default under the
indenture because we have not yet furnished certain required information
(including our annual audited and quarterly unaudited financial statements).
The
notice further alleges that this default will become an event of default under
the indenture if not remedied within 30 days. We expect to be able to cure this
default on or before May 15, 2008.
Other Secured Notes Payable -
We periodically acquire land through the issuance of notes payable. As of
September 30, 2007 and 2006, we had outstanding secured notes payable of $118.1
million and $89.3 million, respectively, primarily related to land acquisitions
and development. These notes payable expire at various times through 2010 and
had fixed and variable rates ranging from 7.2% to 11.0% at September 30, 2007.
These notes are secured by the real estate to which they relate. During the
first six months of fiscal 2008, we repaid approximately $95 million of these
secured notes payable.
Model Home Financing Obligations
- Due to a continuing interest in certain model home sale-leaseback
transactions discussed in Note 17 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, we
have recorded $114.1 million and $117.1 million of debt as of September 30, 2007
and 2006, respectively, related to these “financing” transactions in accordance
with SFAS 98 (As amended), Accounting for Leases. These
financing transactions incur interest at a variable rate of one-month LIBOR plus
450 basis points, 10.22% at September 30, 2007, and expire at various times
through 2015.
Stock Repurchases and Dividends Paid
- On November 18, 2005, as part of an acceleration of our comprehensive
plan to enhance stockholder value, our Board of Directors authorized an increase
of our stock repurchase plan to ten million shares of our common stock. Shares
may be purchased for cash in the open market, on the NYSE or in privately
negotiated transactions. We entered into a plan under Rule 10b5-1 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to execute a portion of the share repurchase
program, supplemented with opportunistic purchases in the open market or in
privately negotiated transactions. During fiscal 2006, we repurchased 3,648,300
shares for an aggregate purchase price of $205.4 million, or approximately $56
per share. During fiscal 2007 and fiscal 2005, we did not repurchase any shares
in the open market. At September 30, 2007, we are authorized to purchase
approximately 5.4 million additional shares pursuant to the plan. We have
currently suspended our repurchase program and any resumption of such program
will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors and is unlikely in the
foreseeable future.
In
addition, during fiscal 2007, fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005, 13,946 shares, 47,544
shares and 142,459 shares, respectively, were surrendered to us by employees in
payment of minimum tax obligations upon the vesting of restricted stock and
restricted stock units under our stock incentive plans. We valued the stock at
the market price on the date of surrender, for an aggregate value of
approximately $348,000, or approximately $25 per share, for fiscal 2007, $2.6
million, or approximately $55 per share, for fiscal 2006 and for an aggregate
value of $8.1 million, or approximately $57 per share, for fiscal
2005.
For
fiscal 2007, we paid quarterly cash dividends aggregating $0.40 per common
share, or a total of approximately $15.6 million. For fiscal 2006, we paid
quarterly cash dividends aggregating $0.40 per common share, or a total of
approximately $16.1 million. For fiscal 2005, we paid quarterly cash dividends
aggregating $0.33 per common share, or a total of approximately $13.9 million.
Subsequent to September 30, 2007, on November 2, 2007, our Board of Directors
suspended our dividend payments. The Board concluded that suspending dividends,
which will allow us to conserve approximately $16 million of cash annually, was
a prudent effort in light of the continued deterioration in the housing
market.
55
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and
Aggregate Contractual Commitments. At September 30, 2007, we controlled
62,076 lots (a 5-year supply based on fiscal 2007 closings). We owned 59.6%, or
37,025 lots, and 25,051 lots, 40.4%, were under option contracts which generally
require the payment of cash or the posting of a letter of credit for the right
to acquire lots during a specified period of time at a certain price. We
historically have attempted to control half or more of our land supply through
options. As a result of the flexibility that these options provide us, upon a
change in market conditions we may renegotiate the terms of the options prior to
exercise or terminate the agreement. Under option contracts, both with and
without specific performance provisions, purchase of the properties is
contingent upon satisfaction of certain requirements by us and the sellers. Our
obligation with respect to options with specific performance provisions is
included in our consolidated balance sheets in other liabilities. Under option
contracts without specific performance obligations, our liability is generally
limited to forfeiture of the non-refundable deposits, letters of credit and
other non-refundable amounts incurred, which aggregated approximately $163.3
million at September 30, 2007. This amount includes non-refundable letters of
credit of approximately $35.5 million. The total remaining purchase price, net
of cash deposits, committed under all options was $1.5 billion as of September
30, 2007. Only $91.6 million of the total remaining purchase price contains
specific performance clauses which may require us to purchase the land or lots
upon the land seller meeting certain obligations, of which $76.3 million relates
to a large, multi-story condominium project in Virginia.
We expect
to exercise substantially all of our remaining option contracts with specific
performance obligations and, subject to market conditions, most of our option
contracts without specific performance obligations. Various factors, some of
which are beyond our control, such as market conditions, weather conditions and
the timing of the completion of development activities, will have a significant
impact on the timing of option exercises or whether land options will be
exercised.
We have
historically funded the exercise of land options through a combination of
operating cash flows and borrowings under our credit facilities. We expect these
sources to continue to be adequate to fund anticipated future option exercises.
Therefore, we do not anticipate that the exercise of our land options will have
a material adverse effect on our liquidity.
Certain
of our option contracts are with sellers who are deemed to be Variable Interest
Entities (“VIEs”) under FASB Interpretation No. 46 (Revised), Consolidation of Variable Interest
Entities, an Interpretation of ARB No. 51 (“FIN 46R”). We have determined
that we are the primary beneficiary of certain of these option contracts. Our
risk is generally limited to the option deposits that we pay, and creditors of
the sellers generally have no recourse to the general credit of the Company.
Although we do not have legal title to the optioned land, for those option
contracts for which we are the primary beneficiary, we are required to
consolidate the land under option at fair value. We believe that the exercise
prices of our option contracts approximate their fair value. Our consolidated
balance sheets at September 30, 2007 and 2006 reflect consolidated inventory not
owned of $237.4 million and $471.4 million, respectively. We consolidated $92.3
million and $146.6 million of lot option agreements as consolidated inventory
not owned pursuant to FIN 46R as of September 30, 2007 and September 30, 2006,
respectively. In addition, as of September 30, 2007 and September 30, 2006, we
recorded $145.1 million and $324.8 million, respectively, of land under the
caption consolidated inventory not owned related to lot option agreements in
accordance with SFAS 49, Product Financing
Arrangements. Obligations related to consolidated inventory not owned
totaled $177.9 million at September 30, 2007 and $330.7 million at September 30,
2006. The difference between the balances of consolidated inventory not owned
and obligations related to consolidated inventory not owned represents cash
deposits paid under the option agreements.
We
participate in a number of land development joint ventures in which we have less
than a controlling interest. We enter into joint ventures in order to acquire
attractive land positions, to manage our risk profile and to leverage our
capital base. Our joint ventures are typically entered into with developers,
other homebuilders and financial partners to develop finished lots for sale to
the joint venture’s members and other third parties. We account for our interest
in these joint ventures under the equity method. Our consolidated balance sheets
include investments in joint ventures totaling $109.1 million and $124.8 million
at September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
56
Our joint
ventures typically obtain secured acquisition and development financing. At
September 30, 2007, our unconsolidated joint ventures had borrowings outstanding
totaling $785.4 million, of which $450.6 million related to one joint venture in
which we are a 2.58% partner. In some instances, we and our joint venture
partners have provided varying levels of guarantees of debt of our
unconsolidated joint ventures. At September 30, 2007, we had repayment
guarantees of $42.3 million and loan-to-value maintenance guarantees of $7.7
million of debt of unconsolidated joint ventures (see Notes 3 and 14 to the
Consolidated Financial Statements).
The
following summarizes our aggregate contractual commitments at September 30,
2007:
Payments
Due by Period (in
thousands)
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Contractual
obligations
|
Total
|
Less
than 1 Year
|
1-3
Years
|
3-5
Years
|
More
than 5
Years
|
|||||||||||||||
Senior
Notes and other notes payable
|
$ | 1,860,282 | $ | 134,190 | $ | 89,895 | $ | 527,291 | $ | 1,108,906 | ||||||||||
Interest
commitments under Senior
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Notes
and other notes payable (1)
|
1,156,642 | 132,895 | 228,602 | 217,095 | 578,050 | |||||||||||||||
Operating
leases
|
64,715 | 19,009 | 25,021 | 14,520 | 6,165 | |||||||||||||||
Purchase
obligations (2)
|
91,637 | 76,295 | 15,342 | - | - | |||||||||||||||
Total
|
$ | 3,173,276 | $ | 362,389 | $ | 358,860 | $ | 758,906 | $ | 1,693,121 |
(1)
Interest on variable rate obligations is based on rates effective as of
September 30, 2007.
(2)
Represents obligations under option contracts with specific performance
provisions, net of cash deposits.
We had
outstanding letters of credit and performance bonds of approximately $134.3
million and $580.9 million, respectively, at September 30, 2007 related
principally to our obligations to local governments to construct roads and other
improvements in various developments in addition to the letters of credit of
approximately $37.8 million relating to our land option contracts discussed
above.
Recent Accounting
Pronouncements. In 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 48,
Accounting for Uncertainty in
Income Taxes - An Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (“FIN 48”).
FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in
the financial statements in accordance with SFAS 109, Accounting for Income Taxes.
FIN 48 defines the threshold for recognizing the benefits of tax return
positions as well as guidance regarding the measurement of the resulting tax
benefits. FIN 48 requires a company to recognize for financial statement
purposes the impact of a tax position, if a tax return position is “more likely
than not” to prevail (defined as a likelihood of more than fifty percent of
being sustained upon audit, based on the technical merits of the tax position).
FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and
penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. FIN 48 is
effective as of the beginning of our fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, with
the cumulative effect of the change recorded as an adjustment to retained
earnings. We estimate that the cumulative effect upon adoption of FIN 48 will
decrease retained earnings by approximately $10 million.
On
November 29, 2006, the FASB ratified EITF Issue No. 06-8, Applicability of the Assessment of a
Buyer’s Continuing Investment Under FASB Statement No. 66, Accounting for Sales
of Real Estate, for Sales of Condominiums. The EITF states that the
adequacy of the buyer’s continuing investment under SFAS 66 should be assessed
in determining whether to recognize profit under the percentage-of-completion
method on the sale of individual units in a condominium project. This consensus
could require that additional deposits be collected by developers of condominium
projects that wish to recognize profit during the construction period under the
percentage-of-completion method. EITF 06-8 is effective for fiscal years
beginning after March 15, 2007. The adoption of EITF 06-8 will not have a
material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or
cash flows.
In
December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS 141 (revised 2007), Business Combinations.
SFAS 141R amends and clarifies the accounting guidance for the acquirer’s
recognition and measurement of assets acquired, liabilities assumed and
noncontrolling interests of an acquiree in a business combination. SFAS 141R is
effective for our fiscal year ended September 30, 2009. We do not expect the
adoption of SFAS 141R to have a material impact on our consolidated financial
statements.
57
In
September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS 157, Fair Value Measurements, SFAS
157 provides guidance for using fair value to measure assets and liabilities.
SFAS 157 applies whenever other standards require (or permit) assets or
liabilities to be measured at fair value but does not expand the use of fair
value in any new circumstances. SFAS 157 includes provisions that require
expanded disclosure of the effect on earnings for items measured using
unobservable data. SFAS 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after
November 15, 2007 and for interim periods within those fiscal years. In February
2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) 157-2, Effective Date of FASB Statement No.
157, delaying the effective date of certain non-financial assets and
liabilities to fiscal periods beginning after November 15, 2008. We are
currently evaluating the impact of adopting SFAS 157 on our consolidated
financial condition and results of operations; however, it is not expected to
have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of
operations or cash flows.
In
February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial
Assets and Financial Liabilities – Including an amendment of FASB Statement No.
115. SFAS 159 permits companies to measure certain financial instruments
and other items at fair value. SFAS 159 is effective for our fiscal year
beginning October 1, 2008. We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting
SFAS 159 on our consolidated financial condition and results of operations;
however, it is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated
financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In
December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS 160, Noncontrolling Interests in
Consolidated Financial Statements – an Amendment of ARB 51. SFAS 160
requires that a noncontrolling interest (formerly minority interest) in a
subsidiary be classified as equity and the amount of consolidated net income
specifically attributable to the noncontrolling interest be included in the
consolidated financial statements. SFAS 160 is effective for our fiscal year
beginning October 1, 2009 and its provisions will be applied retrospectively
upon adoption. We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting SFAS 160 on
our consolidated financial condition and results of operations.
In
December 2007, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) issued Staff
Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) 110 which expresses the views of the Staff regarding
the use of the “simplified” method (the mid-point between the vesting period and
contractual life of the option) for “plain vanilla” options in accordance with
SFAS 123R. SAB 110 will allow the use of the “simplified” method beyond December
31, 2007 under certain conditions including a company’s inability to rely on
historical exercise data. We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting SAB
110 on our consolidated financial condition and results of
operations.
Item
7(a). Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
We are
exposed to a number of market risks in the ordinary course of business. Our
primary market risk exposure relates to fluctuations in interest rates. We do
not believe that our exposure in this area is material to cash flows or
earnings. As of September 30, 2007, we had $216.4 million of variable rate debt
outstanding. Based on our fiscal 2007 average outstanding borrowings under our
variable rate debt, a one-percentage point increase in interest rates would
negatively impact our annual pre-tax earnings by less than $2.2
million.
The
estimated fair value of our fixed rate debt at September 30, 2007 was $1,280.1
million, compared to a carrying value of $1,640.8 million, due primarily to
increases in our estimated discount rates for similar financial instruments. In
addition, the effect of a hypothetical one-percentage point decrease in our
estimated discount rates would increase the estimated fair value of the fixed
rate debt instruments from $1,280.1 million to $1,353.5 million at September 30,
2007.
58
Item
8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Beazer
Homes USA, Inc.
Consolidated
Statements of Operations
(in
thousands, except per share amounts)
Year
Ended September 30,
|
||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
||||||||||
As
Restated See Note 2
|
||||||||||||
Total
revenue
|
$ | 3,490,819 | $ | 5,356,504 | $ | 4,992,973 | ||||||
Home
construction and land sales expenses
|
2,944,385 | 4,061,118 | 3,766,517 | |||||||||
Inventory
impairments and option contract abandonments
|
611,864 | 44,175 | 5,511 | |||||||||
Gross
(loss) profit
|
(65,430 | ) | 1,251,211 | 1,220,945 | ||||||||
Selling,
general and administrative expenses
|
454,122 | 629,322 | 548,161 | |||||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
33,594 | 42,425 | 36,068 | |||||||||
Goodwill
impairment
|
52,755 | - | 130,235 | |||||||||
Operating
(loss) income
|
(605,901 | ) | 579,464 | 506,481 | ||||||||
Equity
in (loss) income of unconsolidated joint ventures
|
(35,154 | ) | 1,343 | 5,021 | ||||||||
Other
income, net
|
7,775 | 2,450 | 1,712 | |||||||||
(Loss)
income before income taxes
|
(633,280 | ) | 583,257 | 513,214 | ||||||||
(Benefit
from) provision for income taxes
|
(222,207 | ) | 214,421 | 237,315 | ||||||||
Net
(loss) income
|
$ | (411,073 | ) | $ | 368,836 | $ | 275,899 | |||||
Weighted
average number of shares:
|
||||||||||||
Basic
|
38,410 | 39,812 | 40,468 | |||||||||
Diluted
|
38,410 | 44,345 | 45,634 | |||||||||
Earnings
per share:
|
||||||||||||
Basic
|
$ | (10.70 | ) | $ | 9.26 | $ | 6.82 | |||||
Diluted
|
$ | (10.70 | ) | $ | 8.44 | $ | 6.16 | |||||
Cash
dividends per share
|
$ | 0.40 | $ | 0.40 | $ | 0.33 |
See Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements.
59
Beazer
Homes USA, Inc.
Consolidated
Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except share and per
share amounts)
September
30,
|
||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||
As
Restated,
see
Note 17
|
||||||||
ASSETS
|
||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
$ | 454,337 | $ | 167,570 | ||||
Restricted
cash
|
5,171 | 4,873 | ||||||
Accounts
receivable
|
45,501 | 338,033 | ||||||
Income
tax receivable
|
63,981 | - | ||||||
Inventory
|
||||||||
Owned
inventory
|
2,537,791 | 3,137,021 | ||||||
Consolidated
inventory not owned
|
237,382 | 471,441 | ||||||
Total
Inventory
|
2,775,173 | 3,608,462 | ||||||
Residential
mortgage loans available-for-sale
|
781 | 92,157 | ||||||
Investments
in unconsolidated joint ventures
|
109,143 | 124,799 | ||||||
Deferred
tax assets
|
232,949 | 71,344 | ||||||
Property,
plant and equipment, net
|
71,682 | 76,454 | ||||||
Goodwill
|
68,613 | 121,368 | ||||||
Other
assets
|
102,690 | 109,611 | ||||||
Total
Assets
|
$ | 3,930,021 | $ | 4,714,671 | ||||
LIABILITIES
AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
|
||||||||
Trade
accounts payable
|
$ | 118,030 | $ | 140,008 | ||||
Other
liabilities
|
453,089 | 557,754 | ||||||
Obligations
related to consolidated inventory not owned
|
177,931 | 330,703 | ||||||
Senior
Notes (net of discounts of $3,033 and $3,578,
respectively)
|
1,521,967 | 1,551,422 | ||||||
Junior
subordinated notes
|
103,093 | 103,093 | ||||||
Warehouse
Line
|
- | 94,881 | ||||||
Other
secured notes payable
|
118,073 | 89,264 | ||||||
Model
home financing obligations
|
114,116 | 117,079 | ||||||
Total
Liabilities
|
2,606,299 | 2,984,204 | ||||||
Stockholders’
Equity:
|
||||||||
Preferred
stock (par value $.01 per share, 5,000,000 shares authorized, no shares
issued)
|
- | - | ||||||
Common
stock (par value $0.001, 80,000,000 shares authorized, 42,597,229 and
42,318,098 issued, 39,261,721 and 38,889,554 outstanding)
|
43 | 42 | ||||||
Paid
in capital
|
543,705 | 529,326 | ||||||
Retained
earnings
|
963,869 | 1,390,552 | ||||||
Treasury
stock, at cost (3,335,508 and 3,428,544 shares)
|
(183,895 | ) | (189,453 | ) | ||||
Total
Stockholders’ Equity
|
1,323,722 | 1,730,467 | ||||||
Total
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
|
$ | 3,930,021 | $ | 4,714,671 |
See Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements.
60
Beazer
Homes USA, Inc.
Consolidated
Statement of Stockholders’ Equity
($
in thousands)
Preferred
Stock
|
Common
Stock
|
Paid
in
Capital
|
Retained
Earnings
|
Treasury
Stock
|
Unearned
Compensation
|
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
|
Total
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
As
Restated, see Note 17
|
As
Restated
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance,
September 30, 2004 (as reported)
|
$ | - | $ | 54 | $ | 593,874 | $ | 741,701 | $ | (88,150 | ) | $ | (14,748 | ) | $ | (610 | ) | $ | 1,232,121 | |||||||||||||
Prior
period restatement (see Note 17)
|
- | - | 950 | 34,144 | - | - | - | 35,094 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance,
September 30, 2004 (as restated)
|
- | 54 | 594,824 | 775,845 | (88,150 | ) | (14,748 | ) | (610 | ) | 1,267,215 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Comprehensive
income:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net
income (as restated)
|
- | - | - | 275,899 | - | - | - | 275,899 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unrealized
gain on interest rate swaps, net of tax of $354
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | 610 | 610 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total
comprehensive income (as restated)
|
276,509 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends
paid
|
- | - | - | (13,884 | ) | - | - | - | (13,884 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Amortization
of nonvested stock awards
|
- | - | - | - | - | 11,945 | - | 11,945 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Change
in fair value of unearned compensation, net of forfeitures (17,719
shares)
|
- | - | 2,432 | - | - | (2,432 | ) | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Exercises
of stock options (412,125 shares)
|
- | - | 5,631 | - | - | 244 | - | 5,875 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tax
benefit from stock transactions
|
- | - | 11,551 | - | - | - | - | 11,551 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of bonus stock (109,937 shares)
|
- | - | 2,034 | - | - | 4 | - | 2,038 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of restricted stock, net of forfeitures (137,957 shares)
|
- | - | 5,823 | - | - | (5,823 | ) | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Use
of treasury stock for stock dividend (12,413,628 shares)
|
- | (12 | ) | (88,138 | ) | - | 88,150 | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Common
stock redeemed (142,459 shares)
|
- | - | - | - | (8,092 | ) | - | - | (8,092 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Other
|
- | - | 1,316 | - | - | (1,316 | ) | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance,
September 30, 2005 (as restated)
|
- | 42 | 535,473 | 1,037,860 | (8,092 | ) | (12,126 | ) | - | 1,553,157 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net
income and total comprehensive income (as restated)
|
- | - | - | 368,836 | - | - | - | 368,836 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends
paid
|
- | - | - | (16,144 | ) | - | - | - | (16,144 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Purchase
of treasury stock (3,648,300 shares)
|
- | - | - | - | (205,416 | ) | - | - | (205,416 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Transfer
of unearned compensation to
|
- | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
paid
in capital
|
- | - | (12,126 | ) | - | - | 12,126 | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Amortization
of nonvested stock awards
|
- | - | 8,669 | - | - | - | - | 8,669 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Amortization
of stock option awards
|
- | - | 7,084 | - | - | - | - | 7,084 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Exercises
of stock options (415,938 shares)
|
- | - | 7,298 | - | - | - | - | 7,298 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tax
benefit from stock transactions
|
- | - | 8,205 | - | - | - | - | 8,205 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of bonus stock (62,121shares)
|
- | - | 1,402 | - | - | - | - | 1,402 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of restricted stock (409,759 shares)
|
- | - | (26,679 | ) | - | 26,679 | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Common
stock redeemed (47,544 shares)
|
- | - | - | - | (2,624 | ) | - | - | (2,624 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance,
September 30, 2006 (as restated)
|
- | 42 | 529,326 | 1,390,552 | (189,453 | ) | - | - | 1,730,467 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net
loss and total comprehensive loss
|
- | - | - | (411,073 | ) | - | - | - | (411,073 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends
paid
|
- | - | - | (15,610 | ) | - | - | - | (15,610 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Amortization
of nonvested stock awards
|
- | - | 5,318 | - | - | - | - | 5,318 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Amortization
of stock option awards
|
- | - | 5,831 | - | - | - | - | 5,831 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Exercises
of stock options (312,501 shares)
|
- | 1 | 4,421 | - | - | - | - | 4,422 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tax
benefit from stock transactions
|
- | - | 2,635 | - | - | - | - | 2,635 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of bonus stock (71,429 shares)
|
- | - | 2,080 | - | - | - | - | 2,080 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of restricted stock (159,378 shares)
|
- | - | (5,906 | ) | - | 5,906 | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Common
stock redeemed (13,946 shares)
|
- | - | - | - | (348 | ) | - | - | (348 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance,
September 30, 2007
|
$ | - | $ | 43 | $ | 543,705 | $ | 963,869 | $ | (183,895 | ) | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 1,323,722 |
See Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements.
61
Beazer
Homes USA, Inc.
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows
(in
thousands)
Year
Ended September 30,
|
||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
||||||||||
Cash
flows from operating activities:
|
As
Restated, see Note 17
|
|||||||||||
Net
(loss) income
|
$ | (411,073 | ) | $ | 368,836 | $ | 275,899 | |||||
Adjustments
to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by (used in) operating
activities:
|
||||||||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
33,594 | 42,425 | 36,068 | |||||||||
Stock-based
compensation expense
|
11,149 | 15,753 | 11,945 | |||||||||
Inventory
impairments and option contract abandonments
|
611,864 | 44,175 | 5,511 | |||||||||
Goodwill
impairment charge
|
52,755 | - | 130,235 | |||||||||
Deferred
income tax (benefit) provision
|
(161,605 | ) | 25,963 | (51,186 | ) | |||||||
Tax
benefit from stock transactions
|
(2,635 | ) | (8,205 | ) | 11,551 | |||||||
Equity
in loss (income) of unconsolidated joint ventures
|
35,154 | (1,343 | ) | (5,021 | ) | |||||||
Cash
distributions of income from unconsolidated joint ventures
|
5,285 | 352 | 5,844 | |||||||||
Changes
in operating assets and liabilities:
|
||||||||||||
Decrease
(increase) in accounts receivable
|
292,532 | (181,639 | ) | (84,637 | ) | |||||||
Increase
in income tax receivable
|
(63,981 | ) | - | - | ||||||||
Decrease
(increase) in inventory
|
134,953 | (486,727 | ) | (593,521 | ) | |||||||
Decrease
(increase) in residential mortgage loans
available-for-sale
|
91,376 | (92,157 | ) | - | ||||||||
Decrease
(increase) in other assets
|
9,180 | (20,736 | ) | (16,780 | ) | |||||||
(Decrease)
increase in trade accounts payable
|
(21,978 | ) | (1,641 | ) | 18,336 | |||||||
(Decrease)
increase in other liabilities
|
(108,809 | ) | (83,044 | ) | 208,794 | |||||||
Other
changes
|
1,610 | (8 | ) | 806 | ||||||||
Net
cash provided by (used in) operating activities
|
509,371 | (377,996 | ) | (46,156 | ) | |||||||
Cash
flows from investing activities:
|
||||||||||||
Capital
expenditures
|
(29,474 | ) | (55,088 | ) | (48,437 | ) | ||||||
Investments
in unconsolidated joint ventures
|
(24,505 | ) | (49,458 | ) | (42,619 | ) | ||||||
Changes
in restricted cash
|
(298 | ) | (4,873 | ) | - | |||||||
Distributions
from and proceeds from sale of unconsolidated joint
ventures
|
2,229 | 4,655 | 5,597 | |||||||||
Net
cash (used in) investing activities
|
(52,048 | ) | (104,764 | ) | (85,459 | ) | ||||||
Cash
flows from financing activities:
|
||||||||||||
Repayment
of term loan
|
- | - | (200,000 | ) | ||||||||
Borrowings
under credit facilities and warehouse line
|
169,888 | 1,937,528 | 439,700 | |||||||||
Repayment
of credit facilities and warehouse line
|
(264,769 | ) | (1,842,647 | ) | (439,700 | ) | ||||||
Repayment
of other secured notes payable
|
(31,139 | ) | (20,934 | ) | (16,776 | ) | ||||||
Borrowings
under senior notes
|
- | 275,000 | 346,786 | |||||||||
Borrowings
under junior subordinated notes
|
- | 103,093 | - | |||||||||
Repurchase
of senior notes
|
(30,413 | ) | - | - | ||||||||
Borrowings
under model home financing obligations
|
5,919 | 117,365 | - | |||||||||
Repayment
of model home financing obligations
|
(8,882 | ) | (286 | ) | (1,118 | ) | ||||||
Debt
issuance costs
|
(2,259 | ) | (7,206 | ) | (4,958 | ) | ||||||
Proceeds
from stock option exercises
|
4,422 | 7,298 | 5,875 | |||||||||
Common
stock redeemed
|
(348 | ) | (2,624 | ) | - | |||||||
Treasury
stock purchases
|
- | (205,416 | ) | (8,092 | ) | |||||||
Tax
benefit from stock transactions
|
2,635 | 8,205 | - | |||||||||
Dividends
paid
|
(15,610 | ) | (16,144 | ) | (13,884 | ) | ||||||
Net
cash (used in) provided by financing activities
|
(170,556 | ) | 353,232 | 107,833 | ||||||||
Increase
(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
|
286,767 | (129,528 | ) | (23,782 | ) | |||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents at beginning of year
|
167,570 | 297,098 | 320,880 | |||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents at end of year
|
$ | 454,337 | $ | 167,570 | $ | 297,098 |
See Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements.
62
Beazer
Homes USA, Inc.
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements
(1) Summary of Significant Accounting
Policies
Organization. Beazer Homes
USA, Inc. is one of the ten largest homebuilders in the United States, based on
number of homes closed. We design, sell and build primarily single-family homes
in over 45 markets located in Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida,
Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York,
North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia
and West Virginia. Through Beazer Mortgage Corporation, or Beazer Mortgage, we
historically offered mortgage origination services to our homebuyers. Effective
February 1, 2008, we exited the mortgage origination business. Through September
30, 2007, Beazer Mortgage financed certain of our mortgage lending activities
with borrowings under a warehouse line of credit or from general corporate funds
prior to selling the loans and their servicing rights shortly after origination
to third-party investors. In addition, we offer title insurance services to our
homebuyers in many of our markets.
Presentation. The accompanying
consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Beazer Homes USA, Inc.
and our subsidiaries. Intercompany balances have been eliminated in
consolidation.
Reclassifications. For the
fiscal years ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, $44.2 million and $5.5 million,
respectively, have been reclassified from home construction and land sales
expenses to inventory impairments and option contract abandonments in the
accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations to conform to the current
year presentation. For the fiscal years ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, $10.3
million and $9.2 million, respectively, have been reclassified from selling,
general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses to depreciation and
amortization in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations to
conform to the current year presentation.
Cash and Cash Equivalents and
Restricted Cash. We consider investments with maturities of three months
or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. Restricted cash includes cash
restricted by state law or a contractual requirement.
Accounts Receivable. Accounts
receivable primarily consist of escrow deposits to be received from title
companies associated with closed homes. Generally, we receive cash from title
companies within a few days of the home being closed.
Inventory. Owned inventory consists
solely of residential real estate developments. Interest, real estate taxes and
development costs are capitalized in inventory during the development and
construction period. Construction and land costs are comprised of direct and
allocated costs, including estimated future costs for warranties and amenities.
Land, land improvements and other common costs are typically allocated to
individual residential lots on a pro-rata basis, and the costs of residential
lots are transferred to construction in progress when home construction begins.
Consolidated inventory not owned represents the fair value of land under option
agreements consolidated pursuant to Financial Accounting Standards Board
(“FASB”) Interpretation No. 46 (Revised), Consolidation of Variable Interest
Entities, an Interpretation of ARB No. 51 (“FIN 46R”). FIN 46R requires
us to consolidate the financial results of a variable interest entity (“VIE”) if
the Company is the primary beneficiary of the VIE. VIEs are entities in which 1)
equity investors do not have a controlling financial interest and/or 2) the
entity is unable to finance its activities without additional subordinated
financial support from other parties. In addition to lot options recorded in
accordance with FIN 46R, we evaluate lot options in accordance with the
provisions of SFAS 49, Product
Financing Arrangements. When our deposits and pre-acquisition development
costs exceed certain thresholds, we record the remaining purchase price of the
lots as consolidated inventory not owned and obligations related to consolidated
inventory not owned in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Residential Mortgage Loans
Available-for-Sale. Residential mortgage loans available-for-sale are
stated at the lower of aggregate cost or market value. Gains and losses from
sales of mortgage loans are recognized when the loans are sold.
63
Investments in Unconsolidated Joint
Ventures. We participate in a number of land development joint ventures
in which we have less than a controlling interest. Our joint ventures are
typically entered into with unrelated developers, other homebuilders and
financial partners to develop finished lots for sale to the joint venture’s
members and other third parties. We have determined that our interest in these
joint ventures should be accounted for under the equity method as prescribed by
SOP 78-9, Accounting for
Investments in Real Estate Ventures. We recognize our share of profits
from the sale of lots to other buyers. Our share of profits from lots we
purchase from the joint ventures is deferred and treated as a reduction of the
cost of the land purchased from the joint venture. Such profits are subsequently
recognized at the time the home closes and title passes to the homebuyer. Our
joint ventures typically obtain secured acquisition and development financing.
See Note 3, “Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures.”
Property, Plant and Equipment.
Property, plant and equipment is recorded at cost. Depreciation is
computed on a straight-line basis at rates based on estimated useful lives as
follows:
Buildings
|
15
– 30 years
|
Machinery
and equipment
|
3 –
10 years
|
Information
systems
|
5
years
|
Furniture
and fixtures
|
3 –
7 years
|
Model
and sales office improvements
|
Estimated
useful life of
|
community
|
|
Leasehold
improvements
|
Lesser
of the lease term or the
|
estimated
useful life of the asset
|
Inventory Valuation – Held for
Development. Our homebuilding inventories that are accounted for as held
for development include land and home construction assets grouped together as
communities. Homebuilding inventories held for development are stated at cost
(including direct construction costs, capitalized indirect costs, capitalized
interest and real estate taxes) unless facts and circumstances indicate that the
carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. We assess these assets
periodically for recoverability in accordance with the provisions of Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) 144, Accounting for the Impairment or
Disposal of Long-Lived Assets. SFAS 144 requires that long-lived assets
be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate
that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of
assets is measured by comparing the carrying amount of an asset to future
undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the expected
undiscounted cash flows generated are expected to be less than its carrying
amount, an impairment charge should be recorded to write down the carrying
amount of such asset to its estimated fair value based on discounted cash
flows.
We
conduct a review of the recoverability of our homebuilding inventory held for
development at the community level as factors indicate that an impairment may
exist. We evaluate, among other things, the following information for each
community:
|
●
|
Actual
“Net Contribution Margin” (defined as homebuilding revenues less
homebuilding costs and direct selling expenses) for homes closed in the
current fiscal quarter, fiscal year to date and prior two fiscal quarters.
Homebuilding costs include land and land development costs (based upon an
allocation of such costs, including costs to complete the development, or
specific lot costs), home construction costs (including an estimate of
costs, if any, to complete home construction), previously capitalized
indirect costs (principally for construction supervision), capitalized
interest and estimated warranty costs;
|
|
●
|
Projected
Net Contribution Margin for homes in backlog;
|
|
●
|
Actual
and trending new orders and cancellation rates;
|
|
●
|
Actual
and trending base home sales prices and sales incentives for home sales
that occurred in the prior two fiscal quarters that remain in backlog at
the end of the fiscal quarter and expected future homes sales prices and
sales incentives and absorption over the expected remaining life of the
community;
|
|
●
|
A
comparison of our community to our competition to include, among other
things, an analysis of various product offerings including, the size and
style of the homes currently offered for sale, community amenity levels,
availability of lots in our community and our competition’s, desirability
and uniqueness of our community and other market factors; and
|
|
●
|
Other
events that may indicate that the carrying value may not be
recoverable.
|
64
In
determining the recoverability of the carrying value of the assets of a
community that we have evaluated as requiring a test for impairment, significant
quantitative and qualitative assumptions are made relative to the future home
sales prices, sales incentives, direct and indirect costs of home construction
and land development and the pace of new home orders. In addition, these
assumptions are dependent upon the specific market conditions and competitive
factors for each specific community and may differ greatly between communities
within the same market and communities in different markets. Our estimates are
made using information available at the end of a reporting period, however, as
facts and circumstances may change in future reporting periods, our estimates of
recoverability are subject to change.
For
assets in communities for which the undiscounted future cash flows are less than
the carrying value, the carrying value of that community is written down to its
then estimated fair value based on discounted cash flows. The carrying value for
assets in communities that were previously impaired and continue to be
classified as held for development is not written up for future estimates of
increases in fair value in future reporting periods.
The fair
value of the assets held for development is estimated using the present value of
the estimated future cash flows using discount rates commensurate with the risk
associated with the underlying community assets. The discount rate used may be
different for each community. The factors considered when determining an
appropriate discount rate for a community include, among others: (1) community
specific factors such as the number of lots in the community, the status of land
development in the community, the competitive factors influencing the sales
performance of the community and (2) overall market factors such as employment
levels, consumer confidence and the existing supply of new and used homes for
sale.
As of
September 30, 2007, we used discount rates of 16% to 23% in our estimated
discounted cash flow impairment calculations. During fiscal 2007 and 2006, we
recorded impairments on land held for development and houses under construction
of approximately $440.9 million and $6.4 million. We did not record any
impairments during fiscal 2005.
Due to
uncertainties in the estimation process, particularly with respect to projected
home sales prices and absorption rate, the timing and amount of the estimated
future cash flows and discount rates, it is reasonably possible that actual
results could differ from the estimates used in our historical analyses. Our
assumptions about future home sales prices and absorption rates require
significant judgment because the residential homebuilding industry is cyclical
and is highly sensitive to changes in economic conditions. We calculated the
estimated fair values of inventory held for development that were evaluated for
impairment based on current market conditions and assumptions made by management
relative to future results. Because the projected cash flows are significantly
impacted by changes in market conditions, it is reasonably possible that actual
results could differ materially from the Company’s estimates and result in
additional impairments.
Asset Valuation – Land Held for
Sale. We record assets held for sale at the lower of the carrying value
or fair value less costs to sell in accordance with SFAS 144. The following
criteria are used to determine if land is held for sale:
|
●
|
management
has the authority and commits to a plan to sell the land;
|
|
●
|
the
land is available for immediate sale in its present
condition;
|
|
●
|
there
is an active program to locate a buyer and the plan to sell the land has
been initiated;
|
|
●
|
the
sale of the land is probable within one year;
|
|
●
|
the
land is being actively marketed at a reasonable sale price relative to its
current fair value; and
|
|
●
|
it
is unlikely that the plan to sell will be withdrawn or that significant
changes to the plan will be made.
|
Additionally,
in certain circumstances, we will re-evaluate the best use of an asset that is
currently being accounted for as held for development. In such instances, we
will review, among other things, the current and projected competitive
circumstances of the community, including the level of supply of new and used
inventory, the level of sales absorptions by us and our competition, the level
of sales incentives required and the number of owned lots remaining in the
community. If, based on this review and the foregoing criteria have been met at
the end of the applicable reporting period, we believe that the best use of the
asset is the sale of all or a portion of the asset in its current condition,
then all or portions of the community are accounted for as held for
sale.
65
In
determining the fair value of the assets less cost to sell, we considered
factors including current sales prices for comparable assets in the area, recent
market analysis studies, appraisals, any recent legitimate offers, and listing
prices of similar properties. If the estimated fair value less cost to sell of
an asset is less than its current carrying value, the asset is written down to
its estimated fair value less cost to sell. During fiscal 2007, we recorded
inventory impairments on land held for sale of approximately $48.0 million. No
land held for sale inventory impairments were recorded in fiscal 2006 or
2005.
Due to
uncertainties in the estimation process, it is reasonably possible that actual
results could differ from the estimates used in our historical analyses. Our
assumptions about land sales prices require significant judgment because the
current market is highly sensitive to changes in economic conditions. We
calculated the estimated fair values of land held for sale based on current
market conditions and assumptions made by management, which may differ
materially from actual results and may result in additional impairments if
market conditions continue to deteriorate.
The
following tables set forth, by reportable segment, the inventory impairments and
lot option abandonment charges recorded for the fiscal years ended September 30,
2007 and 2006 (in
thousands):
Fiscal
Year Ended September 30,
|
||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
||||||||||
Development
Projects and Homes in Process (Held for Development)
|
||||||||||||
West
|
$ | 228,598 | $ | 230 | $ | - | ||||||
Mid-Atlantic
|
68,418 | 19 | - | |||||||||
Florida
|
62,246 | - | - | |||||||||
Southeast
|
13,776 | 1,095 | - | |||||||||
Other
|
44,024 | 5,079 | - | |||||||||
Unallocated
|
23,853 | - | - | |||||||||
Subtotal
|
$ | 440,915 | $ | 6,423 | $ | - | ||||||
Land
Held for Sale
|
||||||||||||
West
|
$ | 46,138 | $ | - | $ | - | ||||||
Mid-Atlantic
|
- | - | - | |||||||||
Florida
|
500 | - | - | |||||||||
Southeast
|
- | - | - | |||||||||
Other
|
1,386 | - | - | |||||||||
Subtotal
|
$ | 48,024 | $ | - | $ | - | ||||||
Lot
Option Abandonments
|
||||||||||||
West
|
$ | 54,199 | $ | 16,108 | $ | 1,666 | ||||||
Mid-Atlantic
|
19,746 | 4,795 | 1,384 | |||||||||
Florida
|
26,448 | 2,265 | 539 | |||||||||
Southeast
|
8,563 | 4,129 | 804 | |||||||||
Other
|
13,969 | 10,455 | 1,118 | |||||||||
Subtotal
|
$ | 122,925 | $ | 37,752 | $ | 5,511 | ||||||
Total
|
$ | 611,864 | $ | 44,175 | $ | 5,511 |
Impairments
recorded during fiscal 2007 increased significantly in each of our reportable
segments and most prominently in our West segment. The impairments recorded on
our held for development inventory, for all segments, primarily resulted from
the significant decline in the homebuilding environment that negatively impacted
the sales prices of homes and increased the sales incentives offered to
potential homebuyers in our efforts to increase home sales absorptions. The West
segment experienced the most significant amount of inventory impairments as
compared to our other homebuilding segments due to the fact that the number of
owned land and lots in the West segment comprises approximately 28.4% of our
total land and lots owned as of September 30, 2007 and the value of inventory
held for development in the West segment represents approximately 34.9% of the
dollar value of our held for development inventory as of September 30, 2007. In
addition, our homebuilding markets that comprise our West segment consist of
markets that once experienced the most significant home price appreciation in
the nation during the 2004 through 2006 periods which was driven in large part
by speculative purchases and the availability of mortgage credit during those
time periods which are no longer present in the marketplace. The decline in the
availability of mortgage loan products and the exit of speculators from the
market, among other factors, contributed to the significant increase in the
supply of new and used homes on the market for sale.
66
The
impairments recorded in our other homebuilding segments are primarily as a
result of continued price competition brought on by the significant increase in
new and resale home inventory during fiscal 2007 that has resulted in increased
sales incentives and home sales price declines as we attempt to increase new
orders and generate cash to the Company.
We have
also recorded $48.0 million in impairments on land inventory during fiscal 2007
that we have determined does not fit within our homebuilding needs in the
current environment and have thus classified as held for sale. The inventory
classified as held for sale is primarily located in our West segment
representing nine communities and approximately 600 lots.
In
addition, we have also completed a strategic review of all of the markets within
our homebuilding segments and the communities within each of those markets with
an initial focus on the communities for which land has been secured with option
purchase contracts. As a result of this review, we have determined the proper
course of action with respect to a number of communities within each
homebuilding segment was to abandon the remaining lots under option and to
write-off the deposits securing the option takedowns, as well as any
preacquisition development costs. The total abandonments recorded for fiscal
2007 were $122.9 million which represented 118 communities. The West and Florida
segments represented 44.1% and 21.5%, respectively, of the abandonments as the
markets in those segments were among the markets with the highest levels of new
and resale home supply.
Goodwill. Goodwill
represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of assets
acquired. We test goodwill for impairment annually as of April 30 or more
frequently if an event occurs or circumstances indicate that the asset might be
impaired. For purposes of goodwill impairment testing, we compare the fair value
of each reporting unit with its carrying amount, including goodwill. Each of our
operating divisions is considered a reporting unit. The fair value of each
reporting unit is determined based on expected discounted future cash flows. If
the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the goodwill
within the reporting unit may be potentially impaired. An impairment loss is
recognized if the carrying amount of the goodwill exceeds implied fair value of
that goodwill. The housing market continued to deteriorate during the fiscal
2007. This deterioration has resulted in an oversupply of inventory, reduced
levels of demand, increased cancellation rates, aggressive price competition and
increased incentives for homes sales. Based on our impairment tests and
consideration of the current and expected future market conditions, we
determined that goodwill for our South Carolina, Northern California, Nevada,
Florida and North Carolina reporting units was impaired in accordance with
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible
Assets and recorded non-cash, pre-tax goodwill impairment charges
totaling $52.8 million during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007. Based on
our annual goodwill impairment test as of April 30, 2006, we had no impairment
of goodwill during fiscal 2006. The fiscal 2005 forecasts and valuations of the
respective divisions, along with weaker than anticipated local economies,
particularly in the Midwest markets, and severe price competition, particularly
at entry level price points, led the Company to conclude that the goodwill was
impaired in accordance with SFAS 142. Accordingly, the Company recorded a $130.2
million non-cash, non tax-deductible impairment charge to write off
substantially all of the goodwill allocated to certain underperforming markets
in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Charlotte, North Carolina.
67
Goodwill
impairment charges are reported in Corporate and Unallocated and are not
allocated to our homebuilding segments. Goodwill balances by reporting segment
as of September 30, 2006 and 2007 were as follows.
Goodwill
|
September
30,
|
Fiscal
2007
|
September
30,
|
|||||||||
(in
thousands)
|
2006
|
Impairments
|
2007
|
|||||||||
West
|
$ | 55,452 | $ | (26,418 | ) | $ | 29,034 | |||||
Mid-Atlantic
|
23,286 | - | 23,286 | |||||||||
Florida
|
13,740 | (13,740 | ) | - | ||||||||
Southeast
|
17,641 | (12,597 | ) | 5,044 | ||||||||
Other
homebuilding
|
11,249 | - | 11,249 | |||||||||
Consolidated
total
|
$ | 121,368 | $ | (52,755 | ) | $ | 68,613 |
There was
no change in goodwill between September 30, 2005 and 2006.
Inherent
in our fair value determinations are certain judgments and estimates, including
projections of future cash flows, the discount rate reflecting the risk inherent
in future cash flows, the interpretation of current economic indicators and
market valuations and our strategic plans with regard to our operations. A
change in these underlying assumptions would cause a change in the results of
the tests, which could cause the fair value of one or more reporting units to be
more or less than their respective carrying amounts. In addition, to the extent
that there are significant changes in market conditions or overall economic
conditions or our strategic plans change, it is possible that our conclusion
regarding goodwill impairment could change, which could have a material adverse
effect on our financial position and results of operations. Impairment charges
related to reporting units which are not currently impaired may occur in the
future if further market deterioration occurs resulting in a revised analysis of
fair value.
Other Assets. Other
assets principally include prepaid expenses, debt issuance costs and deferred
compensation plan assets.
Income Taxes. Income
taxes are accounted for in accordance with SFAS 109, Accounting for Income Taxes.
Under SFAS 109, the provision for income taxes is comprised of taxes that are
currently payable and deferred taxes that relate to temporary differences
between financial reporting carrying values and tax bases of assets and
liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities result from deductible or
taxable amounts in future years when such assets and liabilities are recovered
or settled and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that are
expected to be in effect when the assets and liabilities are recovered or
settled. We currently believe that we are likely to have sufficient taxable
income in the future to realize the benefit of all of our deferred tax assets
(consisting primarily of inventory valuation adjustments, reserves and accruals
that are not currently deductible for tax purposes, as well as operating loss
carryforwards from losses we incurred during fiscal 2007). However, some or all
of these deferred tax assets could expire unused if we are unable to generate
sufficient taxable income in the future to utilize them or we enter into
transactions that limit our right to use them. If it became more likely than not
that deferred tax assets would expire unused, we would record a valuation
allowance to reflect our assessment of the recoverability of our deferred tax
assets.
Other Liabilities. Other liabilities include
homebuyer deposits, land purchase obligations, accrued compensation, accrued
warranty costs and various other accrued expenses.
Income Recognition and Classification
of Costs. Revenue
and related profit are generally recognized at the time of the closing of a
sale, when title to and possession of the property are transferred to the buyer.
In situations where the buyer’s financing was originated by Beazer Mortgage, our
wholly-owned mortgage subsidiary, and the buyer had not made a sufficient
initial investment as prescribed by SFAS 66, Accounting for Sales of Real-Estate,
the revenue and gross profit on such sale is deferred until the sale of
the related mortgage loan to a third-party investor has been completed. Revenue
for condominiums under construction is recognized based on the
percentage-of-completion method in accordance with SFAS 66 when certain criteria
are met.
We
recognized loan origination fees and expenses and gains and losses on mortgage
loans when the related loans were sold to third-party investors. Beazer’s policy
was to sell all mortgage loans it originates and these sales usually occur
within 15 to 30 days of the closing of the home sale.
Effective February 1, 2008, Beazer exited the mortgage origination business. We
expect to record our mortgage origination business as a discontinued operation
in the second quarter of fiscal 2008.
68
Sales
discounts and incentives include items such as cash discounts, discounts on
options included in the home, option upgrades (such as upgrades for cabinetry,
countertops and flooring), and seller-paid financing or closing costs. In
addition, from time to time, we may also provide homebuyers with retail gift
certificates and/or other nominal retail merchandise. All sales incentives other
than cash discounts are recognized as a cost of selling the home and are
included in home construction and land sales expenses. Cash discounts are
accounted for as a reduction in the sales price of the home.
Sales
commissions are included in selling, general and administrative expenses. All
expenses of operating Beazer Mortgage are included in selling, general and
administrative expenses.
Estimated
future warranty costs are charged to cost of sales in the period when the
revenues from home closings are recognized. Such estimated warranty costs
generally range from 0.5% to 1.5% of total revenue. Additional warranty costs
are charged to cost of sales as necessary based on management’s estimate of the
costs to remediate existing claims. See Note 14 for a more detailed discussion
of warranty costs and related reserves.
Advertising
costs of $39,013,000, $59,375,000 and $44,792,000 for fiscal years 2007, 2006
and 2005, respectively, were expensed as incurred and are included in selling,
general and administrative expenses.
Earnings Per Share (“EPS”) and Stock
Split. The
computation of basic earnings per common share is determined by dividing net
income applicable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of
common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS additionally gives
effect (when dilutive) to stock options, other stock based awards and other
potentially dilutive securities.
On
February 4, 2005, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a three-for-one
stock split in the form of a stock dividend. The stock dividend was distributed
on March 22, 2005 to stockholders of record on March 10, 2005. In addition,
during fiscal 2005, the Company’s stockholders approved an amendment to the
Company’s certificate of incorporation to increase the number of authorized
shares of common stock from 30 million to 80 million shares and to change the
par value of the common stock to $.001 per share. As a result, the Company
reclassified amounts from common stock to additional paid in capital based on
the total shares of common stock issued. The Company used approximately 12.4
million treasury shares to satisfy a portion of the stock dividend. The issuance
of treasury shares was accounted for by transferring the book value of those
shares from treasury stock to additional paid in capital and common
stock.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments.
The fair value of our cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable,
residential mortgage loans available-for-sale, trade accounts payable, other
liabilities, warehouse line and other notes payable approximate their carrying
amounts due to the short maturity of these assets and liabilities and the
variable interest rates on such obligations. Obligations related to consolidated
inventory not owned are recorded at estimated fair value. The fair value of our
model home financing obligations approximate their carrying amounts due to the
variable interest rates associated with those obligations. The fair value of our
publicly held junior subordinated notes is estimated by discounting scheduled
cash flows through maturity and was approximately $82 million at September 30,
2007 and $96 million at September 30, 2006. The discount rate is estimated using
market rates currently being offered on loans with similar terms and credit
quality. The fair value of our publicly held senior notes is estimated based on
the quoted bid prices for these debt instruments and was approximately $1.2
billion at September 30, 2007 and $1.5 billion at September 30,
2006.
Stock-Based Compensation. In
the first quarter of fiscal 2006, we adopted SFAS 123R, Share-Based Payment. SFAS
123R applies to new awards and to awards modified, repurchased, or cancelled
after October 1, 2005, as well as to the unvested portion of awards outstanding
as of October 1, 2005. Prior to fiscal year 2006, we accounted for stock awards
granted to employees under the recognition and measurement principles of
Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to
Employees, and related Interpretations. As a result, in the periods prior
to fiscal 2006, no compensation expense was recognized for stock options granted
to employees because all stock options granted had exercise prices not less than
the market value of Beazer Homes’ stock on the date of the grant.
69
We use
the Black-Scholes model to value stock-settled appreciation rights (“SSARs”) and
stock option grants under SFAS 123R and applied the “modified prospective
method” for existing grants which required us to value the grants made prior to
our adoption of SFAS 123R under the fair value method and expense the unvested
portion over the remaining vesting period. SFAS 123R also requires us to
estimate forfeitures in calculating the expense related to stock-based
compensation. In addition, SFAS 123R requires us to reflect the benefits of tax
deductions in excess of recognized compensation cost as a financing cash inflow
and an operating cash outflow. Nonvested stock granted to employees is valued
based on the market price of the common stock on the date of the grant.
Performance based, nonvested stock granted to employees is valued using the
Monte Carlo valuation method. We account for cash-settled, stock-based awards
issued to employees under the recognition and measurement principles of SFAS
123R. Cash-settled, stock-based awards granted to employees are initially valued
based on the market price of the underlying common stock on the date of the
grant and are adjusted to fair value until vested. We account for stock awards
issued to non-employees and under the recognition and measurement principles of
SFAS 123R and Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 96-18: Accounting for Equity Instruments
That Are Issued to Other Than Employees for Acquiring, or in Conjunction with
Selling, Goods or Services. Stock options issued to non-employees are
valued using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Nonvested stock granted to
non-employees is initially valued based on the market price of the common stock
on the date of the grant and is adjusted to fair value until
vested.
Compensation
cost arising from nonvested stock granted to employees, from cash-settled,
stock-based employee awards and from non-employee stock awards is recognized as
expense using the straight-line method over the vesting period. Unearned
compensation is now included in paid in capital in accordance with SFAS 123R. As
of September 30, 2007 and 2006, there was $21.6 million and $29.9 million,
respectively, of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested
stock. The cost remaining at September 30, 2007 is expected to be recognized
over a weighted average period of 3.7 years. For the years ended September 30,
2007, 2006 and 2005, total stock-based compensation expense, included in
SG&A expenses, was $11.1 million ($7.6 million net of tax), $15.8 million
($10.7 million net of tax) and $11.9 million ($7.4 million net of tax),
respectively. Included in this total stock-based compensation expense was
incremental expense for stock options/SSARs of $5.8 million ($3.6 million net of
tax) and $7.1 million ($4.4 million net of tax) for the years ended September
30, 2007 and 2006 related to the application of SFAS 123R.
70
The
following table illustrates the effect (in thousands, except per share
amounts) on net income and earnings per share as if our stock-based
compensation had been determined based on the fair value at the grant dates for
awards made prior to October 1, 2005:
Year
Ended September 30,
|
||||
2005
|
||||
Net
income
|
$
|
275,899
|
||
Add:
Stock-based employee compensation expense included in reported net income,
net of related tax effects
|
7,376
|
|||
Deduct:
Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair
value based method for all awards, net of related tax
effects
|
(10,341
|
)
|
||
Pro
forma net income
|
$
|
272,934
|
||
Basic
EPS
|
$
|
6.82
|
||
Basic
EPS - pro forma
|
$
|
6.74
|
||
Diluted
EPS
|
$
|
6.16
|
||
Diluted
EPS - pro forma
|
$
|
6.10
|
Use of Estimates. The
preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America (“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.
Recent Accounting
Pronouncements. In
2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income
Taxes - An Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (“FIN 48”). FIN 48
clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the
financial statements in accordance with SFAS 109, Accounting for Income Taxes.
FIN 48 defines the threshold for recognizing the benefits of tax return
positions as well as guidance regarding the measurement of the resulting tax
benefits. FIN 48 requires a company to recognize for financial statement
purposes the impact of a tax position, if a tax return position is “more likely
than not” to prevail (defined as a likelihood of more than fifty percent of
being sustained upon audit, based on the technical merits of the tax position).
FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and
penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. FIN 48 is
effective as of the beginning of our fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, with
the cumulative effect of the change recorded as an adjustment to retained
earnings. We estimate that the cumulative effect upon adoption of FIN 48 will
decrease retained earnings by approximately $10 million.
On
November 29, 2006, the FASB ratified EITF Issue No. 06-8, Applicability of the Assessment of a
Buyer’s Continuing Investment Under FASB Statement No. 66, Accounting for Sales
of Real Estate, for Sales of Condominiums. The EITF states that the
adequacy of the buyer’s continuing investment under SFAS 66 should be assessed
in determining whether to recognize profit under the percentage-of-completion
method on the sale of individual units in a condominium project. This consensus
could require that additional deposits be collected by developers of condominium
projects that wish to recognize profit during the construction period under the
percentage-of-completion method. EITF 06-8 is effective for fiscal years
beginning after March 15, 2007. The adoption of EITF 06-8 will not have a
material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or
cash flows.
In
December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS 141 (revised 2007), Business Combinations. SFAS
141R amends and clarifies the accounting guidance for the acquirer’s recognition
and measurement of assets acquired, liabilities assumed and noncontrolling
interests of an acquiree in a business combination. SFAS 141R is effective for
our fiscal year ended September 30, 2009. We do not expect the adoption of SFAS
141R to have a material impact on our consolidated financial
statements.
71
In
September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS 157, Fair Value Measurements, SFAS
157 provides guidance for using fair value to measure assets and liabilities.
SFAS 157 applies whenever other standards require (or permit) assets or
liabilities to be measured at fair value but does not expand the use of fair
value in any new circumstances. SFAS 157 includes provisions that require
expanded disclosure of the effect on earnings for items measured using
unobservable data. SFAS 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after
November 15, 2007 and for interim periods within those fiscal years. In February
2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) 157-2, Effective Date of FASB Statement No.
157, delaying the effective date of certain non-financial assets and
liabilities to fiscal periods beginning after November 15, 2008. We are
currently evaluating the impact of adopting SFAS 157 on our consolidated
financial condition and results of operations; however, it is not expected to
have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of
operations or cash flows.
In
February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial
Assets and Financial Liabilities – Including an amendment of FASB Statement No.
115. SFAS 159 permits companies to measure certain financial instruments
and other items at fair value. SFAS 159 is effective for our fiscal year
beginning October 1, 2008. We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting
SFAS 159 on our consolidated financial condition and results of operations;
however, it is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated
financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In
December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS 160, Noncontrolling Interests in
Consolidated Financial Statements – an Amendment of ARB 51. SFAS 160
requires that a noncontrolling interest (formerly minority interest) in a
subsidiary be classified as equity and the amount of consolidated net income
specifically attributable to the noncontrolling interest be included in the
consolidated financial statements. SFAS 160 is effective for our fiscal year
beginning October 1, 2009 and its provisions will be applied retrospectively
upon adoption. We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting SFAS 160 on
our consolidated financial condition and results of operations.
In
December 2007, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) issued Staff
Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) 110 which expresses the views of the Staff regarding
the use of the “simplified” method (the mid-point between the vesting period and
contractual life of the option) for “plain vanilla” options in accordance with
SFAS 123R. SAB 110 will allow the use of the “simplified” method beyond December
31, 2007 under certain conditions including a company’s inability to rely on
historical exercise data. We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting SAB
110 on our consolidated financial condition and results of
operations.
(2)
Supplemental Cash Flow Information
During
the fiscal years ended September 30, we paid interest of $148.0 million in
fiscal 2007, $114.7 million in fiscal 2006 and $79.1 million in fiscal 2005. In
addition, we paid income taxes of $15.8 million in fiscal 2007, $228.2 million
in fiscal 2006 and $234.0 million in fiscal 2005. We also had the following
non-cash activity (in
thousands):
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
||||||||||
(Decrease)
increase in consolidated inventory not owned
|
$ | (152,772 | ) | $ | 164,540 | $ | - | |||||
Land
acquired through issuance of notes payable
|
59,948 | 64,144 | 40,608 | |||||||||
Issuance
of stock under deferred bonus stock plans
|
2,080 | 1,402 | 1,634 | |||||||||
Treasury
shares utilized for stock split
|
- | - | 88,150 |
72
(3)
Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures
As of
September 30, 2007, we participated in 24 land development joint ventures in
which Beazer Homes had less than a controlling interest. Equity in (loss) income
of unconsolidated joint ventures was $(35.2) million, $1.3 million and $5.0
million for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2007, 2006 and 2005,
respectively. Equity in loss of unconsolidated joint ventures for fiscal 2007
includes the writedown of our investment in certain of our joint ventures,
specifically $28.6 million of impairments of inventory held within those
ventures in accordance with APB 18, The Equity Method of Accounting for
Investments in Common Stock, and $3.4 million of contractual obligation
abandonments. Our joint ventures typically obtain secured acquisition and
development financing. The following table presents our investment in and
guarantees under our unconsolidated joint ventures, as well as total equity and
outstanding borrowings of these joint ventures as of September 30, 2007 and
September 30, 2006:
(in
thousands)
|
September
30,
2007
|
September
30,
2006
|
||||||
Beazer’s
investment in joint ventures
|
$ | 109,143 | $ | 124,799 | ||||
Total
equity of joint ventures
|
523,597 | 487,726 | ||||||
Total
outstanding borrowings of joint ventures
|
785,437 | 753,801 | ||||||
Beazer’s
portion of loan to maintenance guarantees
|
7,717 | 20,500 | ||||||
Beazer’s
portion of repayment guarantees
|
42,307 | 22,825 |
Our joint
ventures typically obtain secured acquisition and development financing. Total
outstanding borrowings above include $450.6 million and $460.1 million related
to one joint venture in which we are a 2.58% partner. In some instances, Beazer
Homes and our joint venture partners have provided varying levels of guarantees
of debt of our unconsolidated joint ventures. At September 30, 2007, these
guarantees included, for certain joint ventures, construction completion
guarantees, loan to value maintenance agreements, repayment guarantees and
environmental indemnities. See Note 14 for further discussion of these
guarantees.
(4)
Inventory
Inventory
consists of (in
thousands):
September
30,
|
||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||
Homes
under construction
|
$ | 787,102 | $ | 1,144,750 | ||||
Development
projects in progress
|
1,546,389 | 1,813,720 | ||||||
Unimproved
land held for future development
|
11,101 | 12,213 | ||||||
Land
held for sale
|
49,473 | 30,074 | ||||||
Model
homes
|
143,726 | 136,264 | ||||||
Owned
inventory
|
$ | 2,537,791 | $ | 3,137,021 |
September
30, 2007
|
September
30, 2006
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Held
for
Development
|
Land
Held for
Sale
|
Total
Owned
Inventory
|
Held
for
Development
|
Land
Held
for
Sale
|
Total
Owned
Inventory
|
|||||||||||||||||||
West
Segment
|
$ | 868,675 | $ | 35,578 | $ | 904,253 | $ | 1,197,559 | $ | 6,411 | $ | 1,203,970 | ||||||||||||
Mid-Atlantic
Segment
|
439,712 | - | 439,712 | 449,909 | - | 449,909 | ||||||||||||||||||
Florida
Segment
|
203,417 | - | 203,417 | 337,289 | - | 337,289 | ||||||||||||||||||
Southeast
Segment
|
373,111 | 1,407 | 374,518 | 349,598 | 14,058 | 363,656 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other
|
407,194 | 12,488 | 419,682 | 559,124 | 9,605 | 568,729 | ||||||||||||||||||
Unallocated
|
196,209 | - | 196,209 | 213,468 | - | 213,468 | ||||||||||||||||||
Total
|
$ | 2,488,318 | $ | 49,473 | $ | 2,537,791 | $ | 3,106,947 | $ | 30,074 | $ | 3,137,021 |
Homes
under construction include homes finished and ready for delivery and homes in
various stages of construction. We had 862 ($179.4 million) and 1,197 ($240.8
million) completed homes available for sale that were not subject to a sales
contract, at September 30, 2007 and September 30, 2006,
respectively.
Development
projects in progress consist principally of land and land improvement costs.
Certain of the fully developed lots in this category are reserved by a deposit
or sales contract.
Inventory
located in California, the state with our largest concentration of inventory,
was $622.9 million and $859.4 million at September 30, 2007 and September 30,
2006, respectively.
73
We
acquire certain lots by means of option contracts. Option contracts generally
require the payment of cash for the right to acquire lots during a specified
period of time at a certain price. Under option contracts, both with and without
specific performance provisions, purchase of the properties is contingent upon
satisfaction of certain requirements by us and the sellers. Our obligation with
respect to options with specific performance provisions is included in our
consolidated balance sheets in other liabilities. Under option contracts without
specific performance obligations, our liability is generally limited to
forfeiture of the non-refundable deposits, letters of credit and other
non-refundable amounts incurred, which aggregated approximately $163.3 million
at September 30, 2007. This amount includes non-refundable letters of credit of
approximately $35.5 million. The total remaining purchase price, net of cash
deposits, committed under all options was $1.5 billion as of September 30, 2007.
Only $91.6 million of the total remaining purchase price contains specific
performance clauses which may require us to purchase the land or lots upon the
land seller meeting certain obligations.
We expect
to exercise substantially all of our option contracts with specific performance
obligations and, subject to market conditions, most of our option contracts
without specific performance obligations. Various factors, some of which are
beyond our control, such as market conditions, weather conditions and the timing
of the completion of development activities, will have a significant impact on
the timing of option exercises.
Certain
of our option contracts are with sellers who are deemed to be VIEs under FIN
46R. FIN 46R defines a VIE as an entity with insufficient equity investment to
finance its planned activities without additional financial support or an entity
in which the equity investors lack certain characteristics of a controlling
financial interest. Pursuant to FIN 46R, an enterprise that absorbs a majority
of the expected losses or receives a majority of the expected residual returns
of a VIE is deemed to be the primary beneficiary of the VIE and must consolidate
the VIE.
We have
determined that we are the primary beneficiary of certain of these option
contracts. Our risk is generally limited to the option deposits that we pay, and
creditors of the sellers generally have no recourse to the general credit of the
Company. Although we do not have legal title to the optioned land, for those
option contracts for which we are the primary beneficiary, we are required to
consolidate the land under option at fair value. We believe that the exercise
prices of our option contracts approximate their fair value. Our consolidated
balance sheets at September 30, 2007 and 2006 reflect consolidated inventory not
owned of $237.4 million and $471.4 million, respectively. We consolidated $92.3
million and $146.6 million of lot option agreements as consolidated inventory
not owned pursuant to FIN 46R as of September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
In addition, as of September 30, 2007 and 2006, we recorded $145.1 million and
$324.8 million, respectively, of land under the caption “consolidated inventory
not owned” related to lot option agreements in accordance with SFAS 49.
Obligations related to consolidated inventory not owned totaled $177.9 million
at September 30, 2007 and $330.7 million at September 30, 2006. The difference
between the balances of consolidated inventory not owned and obligations related
to consolidated inventory not owned represents cash deposits paid under the
option agreements.
74
(5)
Interest
Information
regarding interest (in
thousands) is as follows:
Year
Ended September 30,
|
||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
||||||||||
Capitalized
interest in inventory, beginning of year
|
$ | 78,996 | $ | 50,808 | $ | 41,292 | ||||||
Interest
incurred and capitalized
|
148,444 | 124,162 | 89,696 | |||||||||
Capitalized
interest impaired
|
(12,350 | ) | - | - | ||||||||
Capitalized
interest amortized to house construction and land sales
expenses
|
(127,530 | ) | (95,974 | ) | (80,180 | ) | ||||||
Capitalized
interest in inventory, end of year
|
$ | 87,560 | $ | 78,996 | $ | 50,808 |
(6)
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property,
plant and equipment consists of (in thousands):
September
30,
|
||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||
Building
|
$ | 2,462 | $ | 5,572 | ||||
Model
and sales office improvements
|
120,275 | 111,603 | ||||||
Leasehold
improvements
|
11,168 | 11,260 | ||||||
Machinery
and equipment
|
26,245 | 26,123 | ||||||
Information
systems
|
22,806 | 21,088 | ||||||
Furniture
and fixtures
|
13,400 | 14,260 | ||||||
196,356 | 189,906 | |||||||
Less:
Accumulated depreciation
|
(124,674 | ) | (113,452 | ) | ||||
Property,
plant and equipment, net
|
$ | 71,682 | $ | 76,454 |
(7)
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
We are
exposed to fluctuations in interest rates. From time to time, we enter into
derivative agreements to manage interest costs and hedge against risks
associated with fluctuating interest rates. We do not enter into or hold
derivatives for trading or speculative purposes. During the year ended September
30, 2001, we entered into interest rate swap agreements (the “Swap Agreements”)
to effectively fix the variable interest rate on $100 million of floating rate
debt. The Swap Agreements matured in December 2004. The Swap Agreements were
designated as cash flow hedges and, accordingly, were recorded at fair value in
our consolidated balance sheets and the related gains or losses were deferred in
stockholders’ equity, net of taxes, as a component of other comprehensive
income. We reclassified approximately $610,000, net of taxes of $354,000, from
other comprehensive loss to interest expense during fiscal 2005.
75
(8)
Borrowings
At
September 30, 2007 and 2006 we had the following long-term debt (in thousands):
Debt
|
Due
|
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||
Warehouse
Line
|
Terminated
|
$ | - | $ | 94,881 | |||||
Revolving
Credit Facility
|
August
2011
|
- | - | |||||||
8
5/8% Senior Notes*
|
May
2011
|
180,000 | 200,000 | |||||||
8
3/8% Senior Notes*
|
April
2012
|
340,000 | 350,000 | |||||||
6
1/2% Senior Notes*
|
November
2013
|
200,000 | 200,000 | |||||||
6
7/8% Senior Notes*
|
July
2015
|
350,000 | 350,000 | |||||||
8
1/8% Senior Notes*
|
June
2016
|
275,000 | 275,000 | |||||||
4
5/8% Convertible Senior Notes*
|
June
2024
|
180,000 | 180,000 | |||||||
Junior
subordinated notes
|
July
2036
|
103,093 | 103,093 | |||||||
Other
secured notes payable
|
Various
Dates
|
118,073 | 89,264 | |||||||
Model
home financing obligations
|
Various
Dates
|
114,116 | 117,079 | |||||||
Unamortized
debt discounts
|
(3,033 | ) | (3,578 | ) | ||||||
Total
|
$ | 1,857,249 | $ | 1,955,739 | ||||||
*
Collectively, the “Senior Notes”
|
Warehouse Line – Effective
February 7, 2007, Beazer Mortgage amended its 364-day credit agreement (the
“Warehouse Line”) to extend its maturity date to February 8, 2008 and modify the
maximum available borrowing capacity to $100 million, subject to compliance with
the mortgage loan eligibility requirements as defined in the Warehouse Line. The
Warehouse Line was secured by certain mortgage loan sales and related property.
The Warehouse Line was entered into with a number of banks to fund the
origination of residential mortgage loans. The maximum available borrowing
capacity was subsequently reduced through amendments down to $17 million as of
September 30, 2007. The Warehouse Line was not guaranteed by Beazer Homes USA,
Inc. or any of its subsidiaries that are guarantors of the Senior Notes or
Revolving Credit Facility. There were no borrowings under the Warehouse Line at
September 30, 2007. Borrowings under the Warehouse Line were $94.9 million and
bore interest at 5.3% per annum as of September 30, 2006. Effective November 14,
2007, we terminated the Warehouse Line.
Revolving Credit Facility - In
July 2007, we replaced our former credit facility with a new $500 million,
four-year unsecured revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”)
with a group of banks, which matures in 2011. The former credit facility
included a $1 billion four-year revolving credit facility which would have
matured in August 2009. The Revolving Credit Facility has a $350 million
sublimit for the issuance of standby letters of credit. We have the option to
elect two types of loans under the Revolving Credit Facility which incur
interest as applicable based on either the Alternative Base Rate or the
Applicable Eurodollar Margin (both defined in the Revolving Credit Facility).
The Revolving Credit Facility contains various operating and financial
covenants. Substantially all of our significant subsidiaries are guarantors of
the obligations under the Revolving Credit Facility (see Note 16).
We
fulfill our short-term cash requirements with cash generated from our operations
and funds available from our Revolving Credit Facility. There were no amounts
outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility at September 30, 2007 or
September 30, 2006; however, we had $133.3 million and $145.6 million of letters
of credit outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility at September 30, 2007
and September 30, 2006, respectively. As of September 30, 2007, we had available
borrowings of $274.9 million under the Revolving Credit Facility.
On
October 10, 2007, we entered into a waiver and amendment of our Revolving Credit
Facility, waiving events of default through May 15, 2008 under the facility
arising from our failure to file or deliver reports or other information we
would be required to file with the SEC and our decision to restate our financial
statements. Under this and the October 26, 2007 amendments, any obligations
under the Revolving Credit Facility will be secured by certain assets and our
ability to borrow under this facility is subject to satisfaction of a secured
borrowing base. We are permitted to grow the borrowing base by adding additional
cash and/or real estate as collateral securing the Revolving Credit Facility. In
addition, we obtained additional flexibility with respect to our financial
covenants in the Revolving Credit Facility.
76
Senior Notes - The Senior
Notes are unsecured obligations ranking pari passu with all other existing and
future senior indebtedness. Substantially all of our significant subsidiaries
are full and unconditional guarantors of the Senior Notes and are jointly and
severally liable for obligations under the Senior Notes and the New
Facility. Each guarantor subsidiary is a 100% owned subsidiary of Beazer
Homes.
The
indentures under which the Senior Notes were issued contain certain restrictive
covenants, including limitations on payment of dividends and other distributions
on common stock. At September 30, 2007, under the most restrictive covenants of
each indenture, approximately $27.6 million of our retained earnings was
available for cash dividends, share repurchases and other restricted
payments (as defined in each indenture). Each indenture provides that, in the
event of defined changes in control or if our consolidated tangible net worth
falls below a specified level or in certain circumstances upon a sale of assets,
we are required to offer to repurchase certain specified amounts of outstanding
Senior Notes.
On
October 26, 2007, we obtained consents from holders of our Senior Notes to
approve amendments of the indentures under which the Senior Notes were issued.
These amendments restrict our ability to secure additional debt in excess of
$700 million until certain conditions are met and enable us to invest up to $50
million in joint ventures. The consents also provided us with a waiver of any
and all defaults under the Senior Notes that may have occurred or may occur on
or prior to May 15, 2008 relating to filing or delivering annual and quarterly
financial statements. Fees and expenses related to obtaining these consents
totaled approximately $21 million.
In March
2007, we voluntarily repurchased $10.0 million of our outstanding 8 ⅝% and $10.0
million of our outstanding 8 ⅜% Senior Notes in the open market. The aggregate
purchase price was $20.6 million, or an average of 102.8% of the aggregate
principal amount of the notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest as
of the purchase date. The repurchase of the notes resulted in a $562,500 pretax
loss during the second quarter of fiscal 2007. On March 28, 2007, we repurchased
an additional $10.0 million of our outstanding 8 ⅝% Senior Notes in the open
market which were cash settled on April 2, 2007 at an aggregate purchase price
of $9.85 million, or an average of 98.5% of the aggregate principal amount of
the notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest as of the purchase date.
The repurchase of the notes resulted in a $150,000 pretax gain. Gains/losses
from note repurchases are included in other income in the accompanying
Statements of Operations. Senior Notes purchased by the Company were
cancelled.
In June
2006, we issued $275 million of 8 ⅛% Senior Notes due in June 2016. Interest on
the 8 ⅛% Senior Notes is payable semi-annually. We may redeem these notes at any
time, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to the principal amount
thereof plus an applicable premium, as defined in the 8 ⅛% Senior Notes, plus
accrued and unpaid interest.
In June
2005, we issued $300 million aggregate principal amount of 6 ⅞% Senior Notes due
July 2015 (the “6 ⅞% Senior Notes”). The 6 ⅞% Senior Notes were issued at a
price of 99.096% of their face amount (before underwriting and other issuance
costs). In July 2005, the Company issued an additional $50 million aggregate
principal amount of the 6 ⅞% Senior Notes. The additional $50 million of 6 ⅞%
Senior Notes was issued at a price of 99.976% of their face amount (before
underwriting and other issuance costs) and accrue interest from June 8, 2005
(the date of the original issuance of the 6 ⅞% Senior Notes). Interest on the 6
⅞% Senior Notes is payable semi-annually. Beazer Homes may, at the Company’s
option, redeem the 6 ⅞% Senior Notes in whole or in part at any time after July
2008 under certain conditions at specified redemption prices.
77
In June
2004, we issued $180 million aggregate principal amount of 4 ⅝% Convertible
Senior Notes due 2024 (the “Convertible Senior Notes”). In August 2004, we filed
a registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC covering resales of the
Convertible Senior Notes and the common stock issuable upon conversion. The
Convertible Senior Notes were issued at a price of 100% of their face amount
(before underwriting and other issuance costs). Interest on the Convertible
Senior Notes is payable semiannually beginning December 2004. The notes were
convertible by holders into shares of our common stock at an initial conversion
rate of 19.44 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount, under certain
circumstances as defined in the agreement. During the fourth quarter of fiscal
2007, the cumulative dividends declared to date caused a change in the
conversion rate per $1,000 principal amount to an adjusted conversion rate of
20.1441 shares of common stock, representing a current conversion price of
$49.64 per share. We may, at our option, redeem for cash the Convertible Senior
Notes in whole or in part at any time on or after June 15, 2009 at certain
specified redemption prices. Holders have the right to require us to purchase
all or any portion of the Convertible Senior Notes for cash on June 15,
2011, June 15, 2014 and June 15, 2019 or if we undergo a fundamental
change, as defined.
Excluding
the 8 ⅜% Senior Notes issued in September 2002 which were used partially to fund
the cash portion of the Crossmann acquisition and to repay Crossmann’s
outstanding net indebtedness, the Senior Notes were generally used to pay off
borrowings under existing credit facilities, fund land acquisitions and for
general corporate purposes.
Junior Subordinated Notes - In
June 2006, we completed a private placement of $103.1 million of unsecured
junior subordinated notes which mature in July 2036 and are redeemable at par on
or after July 30, 2011 and pay a fixed rate of 7.987% for the first ten years
ending July 2016. Thereafter, the securities have a floating interest rate equal
to three-month LIBOR plus 2.45% per annum, resetting quarterly. These notes were
issued to our wholly-owned subsidiary, Beazer Capital Trust I, which
simultaneously issued, in a private transaction, trust preferred securities and
common securities with an aggregate value of $103.1 million to fund its purchase
of these notes. The transaction is treated as debt in accordance with GAAP. The
obligations relating to these notes and the related securities are subordinated
to the Revolving Credit Facility and the Senior Notes.
On April
30, 2008, we received a default notice from The Bank of New York Trust Company,
National Association, the trustee under the indenture governing these junior
subordinated notes. The notice alleges that we are in default under the
indenture because we have not yet furnished certain required information
(including our annual audited and quarterly unaudited financial statements).
The
notice further alleges that this default will become an event of default under
the indenture if not remedied within 30 days. We expect to be able to cure this
default on or before May 15, 2008.
Other Secured Notes Payable
- We periodically
acquire land through the issuance of notes payable. As of September 30, 2007 and
2006, we had outstanding secured notes payable of $118.1 million and $89.3
million, respectively, primarily related to land acquisitions and development.
These notes payable expire at various times through 2010 and had fixed and
variable rates ranging from 7.2% to 11.0% at September 30, 2007. These notes are
secured by the real estate to which they relate. During the first six months of
fiscal 2008, we repaid approximately $95 million of these secured notes
payable.
Model Home Financing
Obligations - Due to a continuing interest in certain model home
sale-leaseback transactions discussed in Note 17, we have recorded $114.1
million and $117.1 million of debt as of September 30, 2007 and 2006,
respectively, related to these “financing” transactions in accordance with SFAS
98 (As amended), Accounting
for Leases.
These model home transactions incur interest at a variable rate of
one-month LIBOR plus 450 basis points (10.22% as of September 30, 2007) and
expire at various times through 2015.
78
As of
September 30, 2007, future maturities of our borrowings are as follows (in thousands):
Year
Ending September 30,
|
||||
2008
|
$
|
134,190
|
||
2009
|
57,654
|
|||
2010
|
32,241
|
|||
2011
|
187,107
|
|||
2012
|
340,184
|
|||
Thereafter
|
1,108,906
|
|||
Total
|
$
|
1,860,282
|
(9)
Income Taxes
The
(benefit) provision for income taxes consists of (in thousands):
Year
Ended September 30,
|
||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
||||||||||
Current
Federal
|
$ | (61,971 | ) | $ | 169,231 | $ | 256,735 | |||||
Current
State
|
1,369 | 19,227 | 31,766 | |||||||||
Deferred
Federal
|
(143,544 | ) | 21,885 | (46,293 | ) | |||||||
Deferred
State
|
(18,061 | ) | 4,078 | (4,893 | ) | |||||||
Total
|
$ | (222,207 | ) | $ | 214,421 | $ | 237,315 |
The
(benefit) provision for income taxes differs from the amount computed by
applying the federal income tax statutory rate as follows (in thousands):
Fiscal
Year Ended September 30,
|
||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
||||||||||
Income
tax computed at statutory rate
|
$ | (221,648 | ) | $ | 204,140 | $ | 179,625 | |||||
State
income taxes, net of federal benefit
|
(18,510 | ) | 15,192 | 15,787 | ||||||||
Impairment
of non-deductible goodwill
|
16,634 | - | 45,582 | |||||||||
Section
199 tax benefit (1)
|
- | (5,240 | ) | - | ||||||||
Other
|
1,317 | 329 | (3,679 | ) | ||||||||
Total
|
$ | (222,207 | ) | $ | 214,421 | $ | 237,315 | |||||
(1) The
American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (the “AJCA”) introduced a special tax
deduction on qualified production activities. FASB Staff Position 109-1
clarifies that this tax deduction should be accounted for as a special tax
deduction in accordance with SFAS 109, Accounting for Income Taxes.
The provisions of AJCA were applicable to us beginning in fiscal 2006. The
initial deduction was 3% of qualified production activity income in fiscal 2006.
We did not qualify for this deduction in fiscal 2007 due to our net
loss.
79
Deferred
tax assets and liabilities are composed of the following (in thousands):
September
30,
|
||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||
Deferred
tax assets:
|
||||||||
Warranty
and other reserves
|
$ | 29,172 | $ | 47,332 | ||||
Incentive
compensation
|
30,855 | 28,478 | ||||||
Property,
equipment and other assets
|
2,968 | 1,197 | ||||||
State
loss carryforwards
|
7,030 | 2,682 | ||||||
Inventory
adjustments
|
173,559 | 2,411 | ||||||
Other
|
4,964 | 2,232 | ||||||
Total
deferred tax assets
|
248,548 | 84,332 | ||||||
Deferred
tax liabilities:
|
||||||||
Inventory
adjustments
|
(15,599 | ) | (12,988 | ) | ||||
Total
deferred tax liabilities
|
(15,599 | ) | (12,988 | ) | ||||
Net
deferred tax assets
|
$ | 232,949 | $ | 71,344 |
At
September 30, 2007, we had U.S. state net operating loss carryforwards (“NOL”)
of approximately $142 million that will expire between 2009 and 2027. We expect
to fully utilize these NOLs.
Primarily
as a result of recording significant inventory impairments charges during fiscal
2007, the balance of the deferred tax asset increased substantially. The net
deferred tax asset of $232.9 million as of September 30, 2007 assumes that the
value of these assets will be realized. In assessing the recoverability of
deferred tax assets, we analyze all evidence, both positive and negative. As of
September 30, 2007 the positive evidence we considered included (1) the cyclical
nature of the homebuilding industry; (2) our long history of profitability; (3)
the determination that we are not in a cumulative loss position; (4) our
experience that no NOLs have expired unutilized; (5) our ability to carryback
NOLs; and (6) the steps we are taking to improve our future profitability. As of
September 30, 2007, we considered the negative evidence including (1) our fiscal
2007 loss and the expectation of losses in fiscal 2008 and (2) the uncertainty
as to the timing of when the homebuilding industry will rebound. After
consideration of this evidence, we believe that as of September 30, 2007, it is
more likely than not that our net deferred tax assets are recoverable. If market
conditions within the homebuilding industry do not improve or continue to worsen
and/or our assessment of the positive and negative evidence changes, it may
affect our ability to fully realize the value of these assets, which may require
a valuation adjustment and additional income tax expense in our consolidated
statements of operations, and such expense could be material.
In
accordance with SFAS 109 and SFAS 5, Accounting for Contingencies,
we establish reserves for tax contingencies that reflect our best estimate of
the deductions and credits that we may be unable to sustain, or that we would be
willing to concede as a part of a broader tax settlement. As of September 30,
2007 and 2006, we had recorded tax contingency reserves of $17.5 million and
$15.3 million, respectively.
We are
currently under examination by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) for fiscal
2003 and 2004. We are also subject to various income tax examinations in the
states in which we do business. During fiscal 2007, we completed a number of
state examinations without any material effect on our fiscal 2007 net
loss.
80
(10)
Leases
We are
obligated under various noncancelable operating leases for office facilities,
model homes and equipment. Rental expense under these agreements, which is
included in selling, general and administrative expenses, amounted to
approximately $23.3 million, $24.0 million and $17.7 million for the years ended
September 30, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. This rental expense excludes
model home transactions accounted for as financing arrangements in accordance
with SFAS 98 as discussed in Note 8. As of September 30, 2007, future minimum
lease payments under noncancelable operating lease agreements are as follows
(in
thousands):
Year
Ending September 30,
|
||||
2008
|
$
|
19,009
|
||
2009
|
14,580
|
|||
2010
|
10,441
|
|||
2011
|
8,480
|
|||
2012
|
6,040
|
|||
Thereafter
|
6,165
|
|||
Total
|
$
|
64,715
|
(11)
Stockholders’ Equity
Preferred Stock. We currently
have no shares of preferred stock outstanding.
Common Stock Repurchase Plan.
On November 18, 2005, as part of an acceleration of our comprehensive
plan to enhance stockholder value, our Board of Directors authorized an increase
of our stock repurchase plan to ten million shares of our common stock. Shares
may be purchased for cash in the open market, on the NYSE or in privately
negotiated transactions. During fiscal 2006, we repurchased 3,648,300 shares for
an aggregate purchase price of $205.4 million, or approximately $56 per share.
During fiscal 2007 and fiscal 2005, we did not repurchase any shares in the open
market. At September 30, 2007, we are authorized to purchase approximately 5.4
million additional shares pursuant to the plan. We have currently suspended our
repurchase program and any resumption of such program will be at the discretion
of the Board of Directors and is unlikely in the foreseeable
future.
During
fiscal 2007, 2006 and 2005, 13,946, 47,544 and 142,459 shares, respectively,
were surrendered to us by employees in payment of minimum tax obligations upon
the vesting of restricted stock and restricted stock units under our stock
incentive plans. We valued the stock at the market price on the date of
surrender, for an aggregate value of approximately $348,000, or approximately
$25 per share in fiscal 2007, $2.6 million, or approximately $55 per share, in
fiscal 2006, and $8.1 million, or approximately $57 per share, in fiscal
2005.
Shareholder Rights Plan. In
June 1996, our Board of Directors adopted a Shareholder Rights Plan and
distributed a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a “Right”) to
purchase one one-hundredth of a share of Series B Junior Participating Preferred
Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Junior Preferred Shares”), of Beazer
Homes. The Rights expired in June 2006. No Rights issued under this plan were
redeemed or exercised prior to expiration.
Dividends. For fiscal 2007,
fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005, we paid quarterly cash dividends aggregating
approximately $15.6 million ($0.40 per common share), $16.1 million ($0.40 per
common share) and approximately $13.9 million ($0.33 per common share),
respectively. Effective November 2, 2007, our Board of Directors suspended
payment of quarterly dividends. The Board concluded that suspending dividends,
which will allow us to conserve approximately $16 million of cash annually, was
a prudent effort in light of the continued deterioration in the housing
market.
81
(12)
Earnings Per Share
Basic and
diluted earnings per share are calculated as follows (in thousands, except per share
amounts):
Year
Ended September 30,
|
||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
||||||||||
Basic:
|
||||||||||||
Net
(loss) income
|
$ | (411,073 | ) | $ | 368,836 | $ | 275,899 | |||||
Weighted
average number of common shares outstanding
|
38,410 | 39,812 | 40,468 | |||||||||
Basic
(loss) earnings per share
|
$ | (10.70 | ) | $ | 9.26 | $ | 6.82 | |||||
Diluted:
|
||||||||||||
Net
(loss) income
|
$ | (411,073 | ) | $ | 368,836 | $ | 275,899 | |||||
Interest
on convertible debt – net of taxes
|
- | 5,367 | 5,325 | |||||||||
Net
(loss) income applicable to common stockholders
|
$ | (411,073 | ) | $ | 374,203 | $ | 281,224 | |||||
Weighted
average number of common shares outstanding
|
38,410 | 39,812 | 40,468 | |||||||||
Effect
of dilutive securities:
|
||||||||||||
Shares
issuable upon conversion of convertible debt
|
- | 3,503 | 3,499 | |||||||||
Options
to acquire common stock
|
- | 504 | 621 | |||||||||
Contingent
shares (performance based stock)
|
- | 35 | - | |||||||||
Nonvested
restricted stock
|
- | 491 | 1,046 | |||||||||
Diluted
weighted average number of common shares outstanding
|
38,410 | 44,345 | 45,634 | |||||||||
Diluted
(loss) earnings per share
|
$ | (10.70 | ) | $ | 8.44 | $ | 6.16 |
In
computing diluted loss per share for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007,
common stock equivalents were excluded from the computation of diluted loss per
share as a result of their anti-dilutive effect. Options to purchase 672,544
shares of common stock were not included in the computation of diluted earnings
per share for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006 because their inclusion
would have been anti-dilutive. There were no options that were excluded from the
computation of diluted earnings per share for the fiscal year ended September
30, 2005.
(13)
Retirement Plan and Incentive Awards
401(k) Retirement Plan. We
sponsor a 401(k) plan (the “Plan”). Substantially all employees are eligible for
participation in the Plan after completing one calendar month of service with
us. Participants may defer and contribute to the Plan from 1% to 80% of their
salary with certain limitations on highly compensated individuals. We match 50%
of the first 6% of the participant’s contributions. The participant’s
contributions vest 100% immediately, while our contributions vest over five
years. Our total contributions for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2007,
2006 and 2005 were approximately $2.8 million, $4.5 million and $3.3 million,
respectively. During fiscal 2007, 2006 and 2005 participants forfeited $1.6
million, $1.2 million and $1.0 million, respectively, of unvested matching
contributions.
Deferred Compensation Plan.
During fiscal 2002, we adopted the
Beazer Homes USA, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan (the “DCP Plan”). The DCP Plan
is a non-qualified deferred compensation plan for a select group of executives
and highly compensated employees. The DCP Plan allows the executives to defer
current compensation on a pre-tax basis to a future year, up until termination
of employment. The objectives of the DCP Plan are to assist executives with
financial planning and capital accumulation and to provide the Company with a
method of attracting, rewarding, and retaining executives. Participation in the
DCP Plan is voluntary. Beazer Homes may voluntarily make a contribution to the
participants’ DCP accounts. For the years ended September 30, 2007, 2006 and
2005, Beazer Homes contributed approximately $4.7 million, $8.8 million and $4.4
million, respectively, to the DCP Plan.
Stock Incentive Plans. During
fiscal 2000, we adopted the 1999 Stock Incentive Plan (the “1999 Plan”) because
the shares reserved under the 1994 Stock Incentive Plan (the “1994 Plan”) had
been substantially depleted. We also maintained a Non-Employee Director Stock
Option Plan (the “Non-Employee Director Plan”) that expired September 30, 2005.
At September 30, 2007, we had reserved 11,925,000 shares of common stock for
issuance under our various stock incentive plans, of which approximately 853,000
shares are available for future grants.
Stock Option and SSAR Awards.
We have issued various stock option and SSAR awards to officers and key
employees under both the 1999 Plan and the 1994 Plan and to non-employee
directors pursuant to the Non-Employee Director Plan. Stock options have an
exercise price equal to the fair market value of the common stock on the grant
date, vest three years after the date of grant and may be exercised thereafter
until their expiration, subject to forfeiture upon termination of employment as
provided in the applicable plan. Under certain conditions of retirement,
eligible participants may receive a partial vesting of stock options. Stock
options granted prior to fiscal 2004, generally expire on the tenth anniversary
from the date such options were granted. Beginning in fiscal 2004, newly granted
stock options expire on the seventh anniversary from the date such options were
granted. Beginning in fiscal 2007, SSARs were granted in lieu of stock options.
SSARs generally vest three years after the date of grant, have an exercise price
equal to the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant and are
subject to forfeiture upon termination of employment as provided in the
applicable plan. Under certain conditions of retirement, eligible participants
may receive a partial vesting of SSARs.
82
The
following table summarizes stock option and SSARs outstanding as of September 30
and activity during the fiscal years ended September 30:
Year
Ended September 30,
|
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Shares
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
|
Shares
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
|
Shares
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Outstanding
at beginning of year
|
2,135,572 | $ | 43.82 | 1,654,751 | $ | 23.91 | 1,821,804 | $ | 19.59 | |||||||||||||||
Granted
|
538,594 | 38.61 | 945,500 | 67.03 | 289,250 | 38.54 | ||||||||||||||||||
Exercised
|
(312,501 | ) | 14.15 | (415,938 | ) | 17.55 | (412,125 | ) | 14.26 | |||||||||||||||
Forfeited
|
(309,286 | ) | 56.84 | (48,741 | ) | 42.06 | (44,178 | ) | 32.05 | |||||||||||||||
Outstanding
at end of year
|
2,052,379 | 45.01 | 2,135,572 | 43.82 | 1,654,751 | 23.91 | ||||||||||||||||||
Exercisable
at end of year
|
617,914 | $ | 26.36 | 681,753 | $ | 18.19 | 577,050 | $ | 15.45 |
The
following table summarizes information about stock options and SSARs outstanding
and exercisable at September 30, 2007:
Stock
Options/SSARs Outstanding
|
Stock
Options/SSARs Exercisable
|
||||||||||||||
Range
of
Exercise
Prices
|
Number
Outstanding
|
Weighted
Average
Contractual
Remaining
Life
(Years)
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
|
Number
Exercisable
|
Weighted
Average
Contractual
Remaining
Life
(Years)
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
|
|||||||||
$6
- $9
|
23,115
|
1.97
|
$
|
6.78
|
23,115
|
1.97
|
$
|
6.78
|
|||||||
$18
- $21
|
216,348
|
5.17
|
20.56
|
216,348
|
5.17
|
20.56
|
|||||||||
$24
- $29
|
147,183
|
4.53
|
26.83
|
147,183
|
4.53
|
26.83
|
|||||||||
$30
- $39
|
685,424
|
4.82
|
34.82
|
227,976
|
3.36
|
21.63
|
|||||||||
$40
- $49
|
241,460
|
6.36
|
43.10
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||
$62
- $66
|
170,004
|
5.12
|
62.12
|
3,292
|
5.13
|
60.20
|
|||||||||
$68
- $69
|
568,845
|
5.35
|
68.56
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||
$6
- $69
|
2,052,379
|
5.16
|
$
|
45.01
|
617,914
|
4.23
|
$
|
26.36
|
The
weighted average fair value of each SSAR/option granted during the years ended
September 30, 2007, 2006, and 2005 was $20.48, $29.17 and $15.80, respectively.
The fair value of each grant is estimated on the date of grant using the
Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Expected life of options/SSARs granted is
computed using the mid-point between the vesting period and contractual life of
the options/SSARs and was a weighted average of 5.25 years for fiscal 2007
grants, 5.4 years for fiscal 2006 grants and 5.0 years for fiscal 2005 grants.
Expected volatilities are based on the historical volatility of the Company’s
stock and other factors and averaged 60.33%, 42.69% and 44.01% in fiscal 2007,
2006, and 2005, respectively. Expected discrete dividends of $0.10 per quarter
were assumed in lieu of a continuously compounding dividend yield. The weighted
average risk-free interest rate assumed was 4.66%, 4.51% and 3.39%,
respectively, for fiscal 2007, 2006, and 2005.
At
September 30, 2007, 1,678,548 SSARs/stock options were vested or expected to
vest in the future with a weighted average exercise price of $42.51 and a
weighted average expected life of 3.24 years. At September 30, 2007, the
aggregate intrinsic value of SSARs/stock options outstanding, vested and
expected to vest in the future and SSARs/options exercisable was approximately
$34,000. The intrinsic value of a stock option/SSAR is the amount by which the
market value of the underlying stock exceeds the exercise price of the
option/SSAR. The intrinsic value for options/SSARs exercised in the fiscal years
ended September 30, 2007, 2006 and 2005 was $8.7 million, $19.8 million and
$14.6 million, respectively.
Nonvested Stock Awards. We
have made various non-vested stock awards to officers and key employees under
both the 1999 Plan and the 1994 Plan. All restricted stock is awarded in the
name of the participant, who has all the rights of other common stockholders
with respect to such stock, subject to restrictions and forfeiture provisions.
Accordingly, such non-vested stock awards are considered outstanding shares.
Restricted stock awards generally vest from three to seven years after the date
of grant. Certain restricted stock awards provide for accelerated vesting if
certain performance goals are achieved.
In fiscal
2007 and fiscal 2006, we issued 75,939 and 144,755 shares of restricted stock,
respectively, to our executive officers with vesting contingent upon the
achievement of performance criteria based on Beazer Homes’ total shareholder
return, as defined by the award agreements, as compared to the total shareholder
return of a defined peer group. The grants of performance-based, nonvested stock
were valued using the Monte Carlo valuation method and had a weighted average
fair value of $32.13 for fiscal 2007 grants and $67.27 for fiscal 2006 grants.
One-third of the shares will be eligible to vest on dates defined in the grant
agreements, generally three, four and five years after the date of grant.
Depending on the level of performance achieved based on the established
criteria, between 0% and 150% of the eligible shares will vest as of each
applicable date.
83
A Monte
Carlo simulation model requires the following inputs, as of the modification
date: (1) expected dividend yield on the underlying stock, (2) expected price
volatility of the underlying stock, (3) risk-free interest rate for a period
corresponding with the expected term of the option and (4) fair value of the
underlying stock. The methodology used to determine these assumptions is similar
as for the Black-Scholes Model discussed above; however, the expected term is
determined by the model in the Monte-Carlo simulation.
For
Beazer Homes and each member of the peer group, the following inputs were used
in the Monte Carlo simulation model to determine fair value as of the grant date
for the performance-based, nonvested awards: risk-free interest rate ranging
from 4.54% to 4.8% for 2007 grants and 4.53% to 4.55% for 2006 grants; aggregate
discrete dividends during the performance period ($0.10 per quarter for the
company for all grants); and expected volatility ranging from 35.16% to 38.14%
for 2007 grants and from 34.3% to 42.9% for 2006 grants.
We also
have two incentive compensation plans (called the Value Created Incentive Plan
and the Executive Value Created Incentive Plan), modeled under the concepts of
economic profit or economic value added. Participants may defer a portion of
their earned annual incentive compensation under the applicable plan pursuant to
the terms of the Corporate Management Stock Purchase Program (the “CMSPP”). The
deferred amounts are represented by restricted stock units, each of which
represents the right to receive one share of Beazer Homes’ common stock upon
vesting. Such shares are issued after a three-year vesting period, subject to an
election for further deferral by the participant. The number of restricted stock
units granted is based on a discount to the market value of our common stock at
the time the bonus is earned. Should the participant’s employment terminate
during the vesting period, the deferred incentive compensation is settled in
cash or cash and stock, depending on the cause of termination as set forth in
the CMSPP or applicable deferred compensation plan. Deferred compensation assets
of $53.5 million and $48.3 million and deferred compensation liabilities of
$56.4 million and $51.3 million as of September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively,
are included in other assets and other liabilities on the accompanying
Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Activity
relating to the nonvested stock awards for the fiscal year ended September 30,
2007 is as follows:
Shares
|
Weighted
Average
Fair
Value
|
|||||||
Beginning
of year
|
974,457 | $ | 50.66 | |||||
Granted
|
287,436 | 39.12 | ||||||
Vested
|
(101,043 | ) | 39.26 | |||||
Forfeited
|
(254,952 | ) | 50.15 | |||||
End
of year
|
905,898 | $ | 48.42 |
Compensation
expense for the nonvested stock awards totaled $5.3 million, $8.7 million and
$7.9 million for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2007, 2006 and 2005,
respectively. The weighted average grant-date fair value of nonvested stock
awards granted during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 was
$66.19 and $48.35, respectively.
A former
Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) resigned effective September 30, 2003. Effective
October 1, 2003, Beazer Homes and this former CFO entered into a consulting and
non-compete agreement pursuant to which this former CFO retained and continued
to vest in various stock awards during the two-year life of the agreement which
would have otherwise been forfeited upon termination and represented up to
139,227 shares of the Company’s common stock. The agreement expired September
30, 2005 at which time all remaining shares were forfeited. Compensation expense
recognized for such awards totaled $4,011,000 for the fiscal year ended
September 30, 2005.
(14)
Contingencies
Beazer
Homes and certain of its subsidiaries have been and continue to be named as
defendants in various construction defect claims, complaints and other legal
actions that include claims related to moisture intrusion.
84
Warranty Reserves. We
currently provide a limited warranty (ranging from one to two years) covering
workmanship and materials per our defined performance quality standards. In
addition, we provide a limited warranty (generally ranging from a minimum of
five years up to the period covered by the applicable statute of repose)
covering only certain defined construction defects. We also provide a defined
structural element warranty with single-family homes and townhomes in certain
states.
Since we
subcontract our homebuilding work to subcontractors who generally provide us
with an indemnity and a certificate of insurance prior to receiving payments for
their work, claims relating to workmanship and materials are generally the
primary responsibility of the subcontractors.
Our
warranty reserves at September 30, 2007 and 2006 include accruals for Trinity
Homes LLC (“Trinity”) moisture intrusion issues discussed more fully below.
Warranty reserves are included in other liabilities and provisions for warranty
accruals are included in home construction and land sales expenses in the
consolidated financial statements. We record reserves covering anticipated
warranty expense for each home closed. Management reviews the adequacy of
warranty reserves each reporting period based on historical experience and
management’s estimate of the costs to remediate the claims and adjusts these
provisions accordingly. While we believe that our warranty reserves are
adequate, historical data and trends may not accurately predict actual warranty
costs, or future developments could lead to a significant change in the
reserve.
Warranty
reserves, which include amounts related to the Trinity moisture intrusion issues
discussed below, are as follows (in thousands):
Fiscal
Year Ended
September
30,
|
||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
||||||||||
Balance
at beginning of year
|
$ | 99,030 | $ | 136,481 | $ | 76,077 | ||||||
Provisions
(1)
|
4,736 | 16,944 | 106,841 | |||||||||
Payments
|
(46,713 | ) | (54,395 | ) | (46,437 | ) | ||||||
Balance
at end of year
|
$ | 57,053 | $ | 99,030 | $ | 136,481 |
(1)
Provisions for future warranty claims in fiscal 2005 included provisions of
$55.0 million for anticipated costs related to the Trinity moisture intrusion
related issues. Upon review of the adequacy of the warranty reserves, it was
determined that the warranty reserve as of September 30, 2007 and 2006,
respectively, contained reserves in excess of anticipated claims related to the
Trinity moisture intrusion related issues. As a result, the provision to
warranty reserves for fiscal 2007 and 2006 was reduced by $23.8 million and
$21.7 million, respectively. In addition, the Company also determined that its
warranty reserve covering workmanship, materials, certain construction defects
and structural elements were in excess of anticipated claims as of September 30,
2007, which resulted in an additional reduction in the provision to warranty
reserves of $8.3 million in fiscal 2007.
Trinity Moisture Intrusion Reserves.
We have experienced a significant number of warranty claims in our
Midwest region and particularly with respect to homes built by Trinity, a
subsidiary which was acquired in the Crossmann acquisition in 2002. As of
September 30, 2007, there were five pending lawsuits related to such complaints
received by Trinity. All five suits are by individual homeowners, and the cost
to resolve these matters is not expected to be material, either individually or
in the aggregate. Additionally, a class action suit was filed in the State of
Indiana in August 2003 against Trinity Homes LLC. The parties in the class
action reached a settlement agreement which was approved by the Court on October
20, 2004.
The
settlement class includes, with certain exclusions, the current owners of all
Trinity homes that have brick veneer, where the closing of Trinity’s initial
sale of the home took place between June 1, 1998 and October 31, 2002. The
settlement agreement establishes an agreed protocol and process for assessment
and remediation of any external moisture intrusion issues at the homes which
includes, among other things, that the homes will be repaired at Trinity’s
expense. The settlement agreement also provides for payment of plaintiffs’
attorneys’ fees and for Trinity to pay an agreed amount for engineering
inspection costs for each home for which a claim is filed under the
settlement.
85
Under the
settlement, subject to Trinity’s timely performance of the specified assessments
and remediation activities for homeowners who file claims, each homeowner
releases Trinity, Beazer Homes Investments, LLC and other affiliated companies,
including Beazer Homes, from the claims asserted in the class action lawsuit,
claims arising out of external water intrusion, claims of improper brick
installation, including property damage claims, loss or diminution of property
value claims, and most personal injury claims, among others. No appeals of the
Court’s Order approving the settlement were received by the Court within the
timeframe established by the Court. We sent out the claims notices on December
17, 2004, and the Class Members had until February 15, 2005 to file claims. A
total of 1,311 valid claims were filed (of the 2,161 total Class Members), of
which 613 complaints had been received prior to our receipt of the claim
notices. Class Members who did not file a claim by February 15, 2005 are no
longer able to file a class action claim under the settlement or pursue an
individual claim against Trinity. As of September 30, 2007, we had completed
remediation of 1,505 homes related to 1,820 total Trinity claims.
The cost
to assess and remediate a home depends on the extent of moisture damage, if any,
that the home has incurred. Homes for which we receive complaints are classified
into one of three categories: 1) homes with no moisture damage, 2) homes with
isolated moisture damage or 3) homes with extensive moisture
damage.
As of
September 30, 2007 and 2006, we accrued for our estimated cost to remediate
homes that we had assessed and assigned to one of the above categories. For
purposes of our accrual, we have historically assigned homes not yet assessed to
categories based on our expectations about the extent of damage and trends
observed from the results of assessments performed to date. In addition,
beginning in the quarter ended March 31, 2005, we refined our cost estimation
process to consider the subdivision of the claimant along with the
categorization discussed above. Once a home is categorized, detailed budgets are
used as the basis to prepare our estimated costs to remediate such
home.
During
fiscal 2004, we initiated a program under which we offered to repurchase a
limited number of homes from specific homeowners. The program was concluded
during the first quarter of fiscal 2005. We have repurchased a total of 54 homes
under the program. During the fiscal years ended September 30, 2007, 2006 and
2005, we sold 15, 16 and 6 of the repurchased homes, respectively. The remaining
17 homes were acquired for an aggregate purchase price of $5.4 million and are
included in owned inventory at estimated fair value less costs to
sell.
The
following accruals represent our best estimates of the costs to resolve all
asserted complaints associated with Trinity moisture intrusion issues. We
regularly review our estimates of these costs. Since the commencement of the
remediation program, our remediation cost per home has continued to decrease as
homes requiring more extensive repairs were addressed first and our internal
processes and procedures, including enhanced contractor bid negotiations and
inspections, improved as experienced gained in addressing these issues has
yielded meaningful benefits on a per home basis. During fiscal 2007 and fiscal
2006, we continued to reassess our estimate of these costs and the related
accruals and recorded reductions of $23.8 million and $21.7 million,
respectively, based on historical experience in resolving claims to date, the
number of homes remediated and current estimates to resolve remaining claims.
Changes in the accrual for Trinity moisture intrusion issues during the fiscal
year were as follows (in
thousands):
Fiscal
Year Ended September 30,
|
||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
||||||||||
Balance
at beginning of year
|
$ | 47,704 | $ | 80,708 | $ | 42,173 | ||||||
(Reductions)
provisions
|
(23,772 | ) | (21,700 | ) | 55,000 | |||||||
Payments
|
(11,816 | ) | (11,304 | ) | (16,465 | ) | ||||||
Balance
at end of year
|
$ | 12,116 | $ | 47,704 | $ | 80,708 |
Actual
costs to assess and remediate homes in each category and subdivision, the extent
of damage to homes not yet assessed, estimates of costs to sell repurchased
homes, and losses on such sales could differ from our estimates. As a result,
the costs to resolve existing complaints could differ from our recorded accruals
and have a material adverse effect on the Company’s earnings in the periods in
which the matters are resolved. Additionally, it is possible that we will incur
additional losses related to these matters, including additional losses related
to homes for which we have not yet received complaints.
86
Guarantees
Construction
Completion Guarantees
We and
our joint venture partners are generally obligated to the project lenders to
complete land development improvements and the construction of planned homes if
the joint venture does not perform the required development. Provided the joint
venture and the partners are not in default under any loan provisions, the
project lenders would be obligated to fund these improvements through any
financing commitments available under the applicable loans.
Loan
to Value Maintenance Agreements
We and
our joint venture partners generally provide credit enhancements to acquisition,
development and construction borrowings in the form of loan to value maintenance
agreements, which can limit the amount of additional funding provided by the
lenders (although not generally requiring repayment of the borrowings) to the
extent such borrowings plus construction completion costs exceed a specified
percentage of the value of the property securing the borrowings. During the year
ended September 30, 2007, we were not required to make any payments on the loan
to value maintenance guarantees. At September 30, 2007, we had total loan to
value maintenance guarantees of $7.7 million related to our unconsolidated joint
venture borrowings.
Repayment
Guarantees
We and
our joint venture partners have repayment guarantees related to certain joint
venture’s borrowings. These repayment guarantees requires the repayment of all
or a portion of the debt of the unconsolidated joint venture in the event the
joint venture defaults on its obligations under the borrowing or files for
bankruptcy. During the year ended September 30, 2007, we were not required to
make payments related to any portion of the repayment guarantees. At September
30, 2007, we had repayment guarantees of $42.3 million related to the
borrowings on these applicable unconsolidated joint ventures, some of which
are only triggered upon bankruptcy of the joint venture.
Environmental
Indemnities
Additionally,
we and our joint venture partners generally provide unsecured environmental
indemnities to joint venture project lenders. In each case, we have performed
due diligence on potential environmental risks. These indemnities obligate us to
reimburse the project lenders for claims related to environmental matters for
which they are held responsible. During the years ended September 30, 2007, 2006
and 2005, we were not required to make any payments related to environmental
indemnities.
In
general, we have not recorded a liability for the non-contingent aspect of any
of these guarantees as such amounts are not material. In assessing the need to
record a liability for the contingent aspect of these guarantees in accordance
with FIN 45, Guarantor’s
Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect
Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others, we consider our historical
experience in being required to perform under the guarantees, the fair value of
the collateral underlying these guarantees and the financial condition of the
applicable unconsolidated joint ventures. In addition, we monitor the fair value
of the collateral of these unconsolidated joint ventures to ensure that the
related borrowings do not exceed the specified percentage of the value of the
property securing the borrowings. To date, we have not incurred any obligations
related to the aforementioned guarantees. Based on these considerations, we have
determined that it is remote that we will have to perform under the contingent
aspects of these guarantees and, as a result, have not recorded a liability for
the contingent aspects of these guarantees. To the extent the recording of a
liability related to such guarantees would be required; the recognition of such
liability would result in an increase to the carrying value of our investment in
the associated joint venture.
Investigations
United States Attorney, State and
Federal Agency Investigations. Beazer Homes and its subsidiary, Beazer
Mortgage Corporation, are under criminal and civil investigations by the United
States Attorney’s Office in the Western District of North Carolina and other
state and federal agencies concerning the matters that have been the subject of
the independent investigation by the Audit Committee of the Beazer Homes’ Board
of Directors (the “Investigation”) described in Note 17. The Company is fully
cooperating with these investigations.
87
Securities and Exchange Commission
Investigation. On July 20, 2007, Beazer Homes received from the SEC a
formal order of private investigation to determine whether Beazer Homes and/or
other persons or entities involved with Beazer Homes have violated federal
securities laws, including, among others, the anti-fraud, books and records,
internal accounting controls, periodic reporting and certification provisions
thereof. The SEC had previously initiated an informal investigation in this
matter in May 2007. The Company is fully cooperating with the SEC
investigation.
Mortgage
Origination Issues
The
Investigation found evidence that employees of the Company’s Beazer Mortgage
Corporation subsidiary violated certain federal and/or state regulations,
including U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) regulations.
Areas of concern uncovered by the Investigation include: down payment
assistance program; the charging of discount points; the closure of certain HUD
Licenses; closing accommodations; and the payment of a number of realtor bonuses
and decorator allowances in certain Federal Housing Administration (“FHA”)
insured loans and non-FHA conventional loans originated by Beazer Mortgage
dating back to at least 2000. The Investigation also uncovered limited improper
practices in relation to the issuance of a number of non-FHA Stated Income
Loans. We reviewed the loan documents and supporting documentation and
determined that the assets were effectively isolated from the seller and its
creditors (even in the event of bankruptcy). Based on that information,
management continues to believe that sale accounting at the time of the transfer
of the loans to third parties was appropriate.
We intend
to attempt to negotiate a settlement with prosecutors and regulatory authorities
that would allow us to quantify our exposure associated with reimbursement of
losses and payment of regulatory and/or criminal fines, if they are imposed. At
this time, we believe that although it is probable that a liability exists
related to this exposure, it is not reasonably estimable and would be
inappropriate to record a liability as of September 30, 2007.
Litigation
Securities Class Actions.
Beazer Homes and certain of our current and former executive officers are named
as defendants in a putative class action securities lawsuit filed on March 29,
2007 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.
Plaintiffs filed this action on behalf of a purported class of purchasers of
Beazer Homes’ common stock between July 27, 2006 and March 27, 2007. The
complaint alleges that the defendants violated Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by issuing
materially false and misleading statements regarding our business and prospects
because we did not disclose facts related to alleged improper lending practices
in our mortgage origination business. Plaintiffs seek an unspecified amount of
compensatory damages. Two additional lawsuits were filed subsequently on May 18,
2007 and May 21, 2007 in the United States District Court for the Northern
District of Georgia making similar factual allegations and asserting class
periods of July 28, 2005 through March 27, 2007, and March 30, 2005 through
March 27, 2007, respectively. The court has consolidated these three lawsuits
and plaintiffs are expected to file a consolidated amended complaint within
thirty days after the filing of this Form 10-K with the SEC. The Company intends
to vigorously defend against these actions.
Derivative Shareholder
Actions. Certain of Beazer Homes’ current and former executive officers
and directors were named as defendants in a derivative shareholder suit filed on
April 16, 2007 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of
Georgia. The complaint also names Beazer Homes as a nominal defendant. The
complaint, purportedly on behalf of Beazer Homes, alleges that the defendants
(i) violated Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5
promulgated thereunder; (ii) breached their fiduciary duties and misappropriated
information; (iii) abused their control; (iv) wasted corporate assets; and
(v) were unjustly enriched. Plaintiffs seek an unspecified amount of
compensatory damages against the individual defendants and in favor of Beazer
Homes. An additional lawsuit was filed subsequently on August 29, 2007 in the
United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia asserting
similar factual allegations. A motion to consolidate the two Georgia derivative
actions is pending, and the plaintiffs are expected to designate the operative
complaint within five days after the Court consolidates the actions.
Additionally, on September 12, 2007, another derivative suit was filed in
Delaware Chancery Court, and the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint on
October 26, 2007. The Delaware complaint raises similar factual and legal claims
as those asserted by the plaintiffs in the Georgia derivative actions. The
defendants have moved to dismiss the Delaware action, or in the alternative, to
stay the case pending resolution of the derivative litigation pending in
Georgia. The defendants intend to vigorously defend against these
actions.
88
ERISA Class Actions. On April
30, 2007, a putative class action complaint was filed on behalf of a purported
class consisting of present and former participants and beneficiaries of the
Beazer Homes 401(k) Plan, naming Beazer Homes, certain of its current and former
officers and directors and the Benefits Administration Committee as defendants.
The complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern
District of Georgia. The complaint alleges breach of fiduciary duties, including
those set forth in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”) as a
result of the investment of retirement monies held by the 401(k) Plan in common
stock of Beazer Homes at a time when participants were allegedly not provided
timely, accurate and complete information concerning Beazer Homes. Four
additional lawsuits were filed subsequently on May 11, 2007, May 14, 2007, June
15, 2007 and July 27, 2007 in the United States District Court for the Northern
District of Georgia making similar allegations. The court has consolidated these
five lawsuits, and the plaintiffs are expected to file a consolidated amended
complaint within thirty days after the filing of this Form 10-K with the SEC.
The Company intends to vigorously defend against these actions.
Homeowners Class Action Lawsuits and
Multi-Plaintiff Lawsuit. Beazer Homes’ subsidiaries, Beazer Homes Corp.
and Beazer Mortgage Corporation, were named as defendants in a putative class
action lawsuit filed on March 23, 2007 in the General Court of Justice, Superior
Court Division, County of Mecklenburg, North Carolina. The case was removed to
the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, Charlotte
Division. The complaint was filed as a putative class action. The purported
class is defined as North Carolina residents who purchased homes in subdivisions
in North Carolina containing homes constructed by the defendants where the
foreclosure rate is allegedly significantly higher than the state-wide average.
The complaint alleged that the defendants utilized unfair trade practices to
allow low-income purchasers to qualify for loans they allegedly could not
afford, resulting in foreclosures that allegedly diminished plaintiffs’ property
values. Plaintiffs sought an unspecified amount of compensatory damages and also
requested that any damage award be trebled. On April 25, 2008, the District
Court dismissed all causes of action with prejudice. If Plaintiffs file a motion
for reconsideration of the District Court’s decision or appeal the judgment of
the District Court, the defendants will continue to vigorously defend this
action.
A second
putative homeowner class action lawsuit was filed on April 23, 2007 in the
United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Columbia
Division. The complaint alleged that Beazer Homes Corp. and Beazer Mortgage
Corporation illegally facilitated the financing of the purchase of homes sold to
low-income purchasers, who allegedly would not have otherwise qualified for the
loans. Certain of the plaintiffs also alleged that the defendants’ practices
resulted in foreclosures that allegedly diminished plaintiffs’ property values.
The complaint demanded an unspecified amount of damages, including damages for
alleged violations of federal RICO statutes and punitive damages. The Company
filed a motion to dismiss and the District Court dismissed all causes of action
with prejudice on September 10, 2007. The plaintiffs subsequently filed a motion
for reconsideration which the District Court denied. The plaintiffs did not file
a notice of appeal and this case is now concluded.
An
additional putative class action was filed on April 8, 2008 in the United States
District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, Salisbury Division,
against Beazer Homes, U.S.A., Inc., Beazer Homes Corp. and Beazer Mortgage
Corporation. The Complaint alleges that Beazer violated the Real Estate
Settlement Practices Act and North Carolina Gen. Stat. § 75-1.1 by (1)
improperly requiring homebuyers to use Beazer-owned mortgage and settlement
services as part of a down payment assistance program, and (2) illegally
increasing the cost of homes and settlement services sold by Beazer Homes Corp.
Plaintiff also asserts that Beazer was unjustly enriched by these alleged
actions. The purported class consists of all residents of North Carolina who
purchased a home from Beazer, using mortgage financing provided by and through
Beazer that included seller-funded down payment assistance, between January 1,
2000 and October 11, 2007. The Complaint demands an unspecified amount of
damages, various forms of equitable relief, treble damages, attorneys’ fees and
litigation expenses. The defendants have not yet filed a responsive pleading or
motion, but intend to vigorously defend this action.
89
Beazer
Homes Corp. and Beazer Mortgage Corporation are also named defendants in a
lawsuit filed on July 3, 2007, in the General Court of Justice, Superior Court
Division, County of Mecklenburg, North Carolina. The case was removed to the
U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, Charlotte
Division, but remanded on April 23, 2008 to the General Court of Justice,
Superior Court Division, County of Mecklenburg, North Carolina. The complaint
was filed on behalf of ten individual homeowners who purchased homes from Beazer
in Mecklenburg County. The complaint alleges certain deceptive conduct by
the defendants and brings various claims under North Carolina statutory and
common law, including a claim for punitive damages. The Company intends to
vigorously defend against this action.
Bond Indenture Trustee
Litigation. On September 10, 2007, we filed an Amended Complaint For
Declaratory Judgment and Injunctive Relief in an action pending in the United
States District Court in Atlanta, Georgia against the trustees under the
indentures governing our outstanding senior and convertible senior notes. We
sought, among other relief, a declaration from the court against the trustees
that the delay in filing with the SEC our Form 10-Q for the quarterly period
ended June 30, 2007 does not constitute a default under the applicable
indentures and that the delay will not give rise to any right of acceleration on
the part of the holders of the senior and convertible senior notes.
On
October 29, 2007, we notified the court and the trustees that we had
successfully concluded a consent solicitation concerning the notes at issue.
Because the consents provide us with a waiver of any and all defaults under the
indentures at issue that may have occurred or may occur prior to May 15, 2008
due to our failure to file or deliver reports or other information we would be
required to file with the SEC, we continued to request the court to rule on our
demand for declaratory judgment. In response to our notice of successful consent
solicitation, the trustees requested the court to deny our request for a ruling
on the merits and dismiss the action, without prejudice, on the ground that
there is no justiciable controversy ripe for determination. We opposed the
trustees’ suggestion of mootness and requested the court to grant us declaratory
judgment.
We cannot
predict or determine the timing or final outcome of the governmental
investigations or the lawsuits or the effect that any adverse findings in the
investigations or adverse determinations in the lawsuits may have on us. While
we are cooperating with the governmental investigations, developments, including
the expansion of the scope of the investigations, could negatively impact us,
could divert the efforts and attention of our management team from the operation
of our business, and/or result in further departures of executives or other
employees. An unfavorable determination resulting from any governmental
investigation could result in the filing of criminal charges, the payment of
substantial criminal or civil fines, the imposition of injunctions on our
conduct or the imposition of other penalties or consequences, including but not
limited to the Company having to adjust, curtail or terminate the conduct of
certain of our business operations. Any of these outcomes could have a material
adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and
prospects. An unfavorable determination in any of the lawsuits could result in
the payment by us of substantial monetary damages which may not be fully covered
by insurance. Further, the legal costs associated with the investigations and
the lawsuits and the amount of time required to be spent by management and the
Board of Directors on these matters, even if we are ultimately successful, could
have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results
of operations.
Other
Matters
EPA Information Request. In
November 2003, Beazer Homes received a request for information from the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”) pursuant to Section 308 of the Clean
Water Act seeking information concerning the nature and extent of storm water
discharge practices relating to certain of our projects completed or under
construction. The EPA has since requested information on additional projects and
has conducted site inspections at a number of locations. In certain instances,
the EPA or the equivalent state agency has issued Administrative Orders
identifying alleged instances of noncompliance and requiring corrective action
to address the alleged deficiencies in storm water management practices. As of
September 30, 2007, no monetary penalties have been imposed in connection with
such Administrative Orders. The EPA has reserved the right to impose monetary
penalties at a later date, the amount of which, if any, cannot currently be
estimated. Beazer Homes has taken action to comply with the requirements of each
of the Administrative Orders and is working to otherwise maintain compliance
with the requirements of the Clean Water Act.
90
In 2006,
we received two Administrative Orders issued by the New Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection. The Orders allege certain violations of wetlands
disturbance permits. The two Orders assess proposed fines of $630,000 and
$678,000, respectively. We have met with the Department to discuss their
concerns on the two affected projects and have requested hearings on both
matters. We believe that we have significant defenses to the alleged violations
and intend to contest the agency’s findings and the proposed fines. We are
currently pursuing settlement discussions with the Department. A hearing before
the judge has been postponed pending settlement discussions.
We and
certain of our subsidiaries have been named as defendants in various claims,
complaints and other legal actions, most relating to construction defects,
moisture intrusion claims and product liability. Certain of the liabilities
resulting from these actions are covered in whole or part by insurance. In our
opinion, based on our current assessment, the ultimate resolution of these
matters will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition,
results of operations or cash flows. We have accrued $17.6 million and $18.5
million in other liabilities related to these matters as of September 30, 2007
and 2006, respectively.
We had
outstanding letters of credit and performance bonds of approximately $134.3
million and $580.9 million, respectively, at September 30, 2007 related
principally to our obligations to local governments to construct roads and other
improvements in various developments in addition to the letters of credit of
approximately $37.8 million relating to our land option contracts discussed in
Note
4.
(15) Segment
Information
As
defined in SFAS 131, Disclosures About Segments of an
Enterprise and Related Information, we have 31 homebuilding operating
segments operating in 21 states and one financial services segment. Revenues in
our homebuilding segments are derived from the sale of homes which we construct
and from land and lot sales. Revenues in our financial services segment are
derived primarily from mortgage originations and title services provided
predominantly to customers of our homebuilding operations. We have aggregated our
homebuilding segments into the reportable segments, described below, for our
homebuilding operations and one reportable segment for our financial services
operations. The segments reported have been determined to have similar economic
characteristics including similar historical and expected future operating
performance, employment trends, land acquisition and land constraints, and
municipality behavior and meet the other aggregation criteria in SFAS 131. The
reportable homebuilding segments, and all other homebuilding operations not
required to be reported separately, include operations conducting business in
the following states:
West: Arizona, California,
Nevada and New Mexico
Mid-Atlantic: Delaware,
Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West
Virginia
Florida
Southeast: Georgia, North
Carolina, South Carolina and Nashville, Tennessee
Other Homebuilding: Colorado,
Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Texas and Memphis, Tennessee
Management’s
evaluation of segment performance is based on segment operating income, which
for our homebuilding segments is defined as homebuilding and land sale revenues
less home construction, land development and land sales expense, depreciation
and amortization and certain selling, general and administrative expenses which
are incurred by or allocated to our homebuilding segments. Segment operating
income for our Financial Services segment is defined as revenues less costs
associated with our mortgage operations and certain selling, general and
administrative expenses incurred by or allocated to the Financial Services
segment. The accounting policies of our segments are those described in Note 1.
The following information is in thousands:
91
Fiscal
Year Ended September 30,
|
||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
||||||||||
Revenue
|
||||||||||||
West
|
$ | 1,109,051 | $ | 1,828,731 | $ | 1,935,310 | ||||||
Mid-Atlantic
|
520,268 | 946,663 | 848,083 | |||||||||
Florida
|
389,814 | 684,563 | 598,950 | |||||||||
Southeast
|
742,125 | 885,037 | 761,030 | |||||||||
Other
Homebuilding
|
697,399 | 965,244 | 803,553 | |||||||||
Financial
Services
|
47,437 | 65,947 | 62,253 | |||||||||
Intercompany
elimination
|
(15,275 | ) | (19,681 | ) | (16,206 | ) | ||||||
Consolidated
total
|
$ | 3,490,819 | $ | 5,356,504 | $ | 4,992,973 | ||||||
Fiscal
Year Ended September 30,
|
||||||||||||
Operating
(loss) income
|
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
|||||||||
West
|
$ | (253,685 | ) | $ | 252,389 | $ | 430,204 | |||||
Mid-Atlantic
|
(44,938 | ) | 203,550 | 210,054 | ||||||||
Florida
|
(47,230 | ) | 139,194 | 83,833 | ||||||||
Southeast
|
34,283 | 78,288 | 67,174 | |||||||||
Other
Homebuilding
|
(59,308 | ) | (5,420 | ) | 5,218 | |||||||
Financial
Services
|
3,299 | 17,366 | 21,368 | |||||||||
Segment
operating (loss) income
|
(367,579 | ) | 685,367 | 817,851 | ||||||||
Corporate
and unallocated (a)
|
(238,322 | ) | (105,903 | ) | (311,370 | ) | ||||||
Total
operating (loss) income
|
(605,901 | ) | 579,464 | 506,481 | ||||||||
Equity
in (loss) income of unconsolidated joint ventures
|
(35,154 | ) | 1,343 | 5,021 | ||||||||
Other
income, net
|
7,775 | 2,450 | 1,712 | |||||||||
(Loss)
income before income taxes
|
$ | (633,280 | ) | $ | 583,257 | $ | 513,214 | |||||
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
|||||||||
West
|
$ | 11,966 | $ | 16,936 | $ | 14,924 | ||||||
Mid-Atlantic
|
4,194 | 5,287 | 4,462 | |||||||||
Florida
|
1,995 | 2,652 | 1,780 | |||||||||
Southeast
|
4,306 | 4,718 | 4,485 | |||||||||
Other
Homebuilding
|
6,657 | 8,244 | 6,752 | |||||||||
Financial
Services
|
448 | 461 | 454 | |||||||||
Segment depreciation
and amortization
|
29,566 | 38,298 | 32,857 | |||||||||
Corporate
and unallocated
|
4,028 | 4,127 | 3,211 | |||||||||
Total
depreciation and amortization
|
$ | 33,594 | $ | 42,425 | $ | 36,068 |
September
30,
|
||||||||
Assets
|
2007
|
2006
|
||||||
West
|
$ | 940,161 | $ | 1,410,812 | ||||
Mid-Atlantic
|
546,182 | 564,524 | ||||||
Florida
|
242,733 | 418,380 | ||||||
Southeast
|
403,472 | 435,771 | ||||||
Other
homebuilding
|
469,520 | 643,164 | ||||||
Financial
Services
|
99,710 | 205,669 | ||||||
Corporate
and unallocated (b)
|
1,228,243 | 1,036,351 | ||||||
Consolidated
total
|
$ | 3,930,021 | $ | 4,714,671 |
92
(a)
|
Corporate
and unallocated includes the amortization of capitalized interest and
numerous shared services functions that benefit all segments, the costs of
which are not allocated to the operating segments reported above including
information technology, national sourcing and purchasing, treasury,
corporate finance, legal, branding and other national marketing costs.
Fiscal 2007 and fiscal 2006 include reductions of $23.8 million and $21.7
million, respectively, in the accrual and costs related to construction
defect claims for moisture intrusion in Indiana (see Note 14). Fiscal 2007
also includes $17.0 million related to legal, investigative and consulting
costs related to the internal investigation. Fiscal 2005 includes $55.0
million of warranty expenses associated with construction defect claims
for water intrusion in Indiana (Note 14). Fiscal 2007 includes a $52.8
million non-cash goodwill impairment charge to write-off all of the
goodwill allocated to certain underperforming markets in Florida, Nevada,
Northern California, North Carolina and South Carolina. Fiscal 2005 also
includes a $130.2 million non-cash, non-tax deductible goodwill impairment
charge to write-off substantially all of the goodwill allocated to certain
underperforming markets in Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky in our other
homebuilding segment ($116.6 million) and Charlotte, North Carolina in our
Southeast segment ($13.6 million). There was no change in goodwill from
September 30, 2005 to September 30, 2006 (See Note
1).
|
(b)
|
Primarily
consists of cash and cash equivalents, consolidated inventory not owned,
deferred taxes, and capitalized interest and other corporate items that
are not allocated to the segments.
|
(16)
|
Supplemental
Guarantor Information
|
As
discussed in Note 8, our obligations to pay principal, premium, if any, and
interest under certain debt are guaranteed on a joint and several basis by
substantially all of our subsidiaries. Certain of our title and warranty
subsidiaries and Beazer Mortgage do not guarantee our Senior Notes or our
Revolving Credit Facility. The guarantees are full and unconditional and the
guarantor subsidiaries are 100% owned by Beazer Homes USA, Inc. We have
determined that separate, full financial statements of the guarantors would not
be material to investors and, accordingly, supplemental financial information
for the guarantors is presented.
93
Beazer
Homes USA, Inc.
Consolidating
Balance Sheet Information
September
30, 2007
(in
thousands)
ASSETS
|
Beazer
Homes
USA,
Inc.
|
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
|
Beazer
Mortgage
Corp.
|
Other
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries
|
Consolidating
Adjustments
|
Consolidated
Beazer
Homes
USA,
Inc.
|
||||||||||||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
$ | 447,296 | $ | - | $ | 9,700 | $ | 1,559 | $ | (4,218 | ) | $ | 454,337 | |||||||||||
Restricted
cash
|
- | 5,171 | - | - | - | 5,171 | ||||||||||||||||||
Accounts
receivable
|
- | 44,449 | 1,038 | 14 | - | 45,501 | ||||||||||||||||||
Income
tax receivable
|
63,981 | - | - | - | - | 63,981 | ||||||||||||||||||
Owned
inventory
|
- | 2,537,791 | - | - | - | 2,537,791 | ||||||||||||||||||
Consolidated
inventory not owned
|
- | 237,382 | - | - | - | 237,382 | ||||||||||||||||||
Residential
mortgage loans available-for-sale
|
- | - | 781 | - | - | 781 | ||||||||||||||||||
Investments
in unconsolidated joint ventures
|
3,093 | 106,050 | - | - | - | 109,143 | ||||||||||||||||||
Deferred
tax assets
|
232,537 | - | 412 | - | - | 232,949 | ||||||||||||||||||
Property,
plant and equipment, net
|
- | 70,979 | 701 | 2 | - | 71,682 | ||||||||||||||||||
Goodwill
|
- | 68,613 | - | - | - | 68,613 | ||||||||||||||||||
Investments
in subsidiaries
|
1,397,158 | - | - | - | (1,397,158 | ) | - | |||||||||||||||||
Intercompany
|
956,941 | (1,039,576 | ) | 50,774 | 6,729 | 25,132 | - | |||||||||||||||||
Other
assets
|
19,650 | 75,812 | 269 | 6,959 | - | 102,690 | ||||||||||||||||||
Total
Assets
|
$ | 3,120,656 | $ | 2,106,671 | $ | 63,675 | $ | 15,263 | $ | (1,376,244 | ) | $ | 3,930,021 | |||||||||||
LIABILITIES
AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Trade
accounts payable
|
$ | - | $ | 118,030 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 118,030 | ||||||||||||
Other
liabilities
|
60,419 | 372,050 | 4,958 | 7,657 | 8,005 | 453,089 | ||||||||||||||||||
Intercompany
|
(2,661 | ) | - | - | 2,661 | - | - | |||||||||||||||||
Obligations
related to consolidated inventory not owned
|
- | 177,931 | - | - | - | 177,931 | ||||||||||||||||||
Senior
Notes (net of discounts of $3,033)
|
1,521,967 | - | - | - | - | 1,521,967 | ||||||||||||||||||
Junior
subordinated notes
|
103,093 | - | - | - | - | 103,093 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other
secured notes payable
|
- | 118,073 | - | - | - | 118,073 | ||||||||||||||||||
Model
home financing obligations
|
114,116 | - | - | - | - | 114,116 | ||||||||||||||||||
Total
Liabilities
|
1,796,934 | 786,084 | 4,958 | 10,318 | 8,005 | 2,606,299 | ||||||||||||||||||
Stockholders’
Equity
|
1,323,722 | 1,320,587 | 58,717 | 4,945 | (1,384,249 | ) | 1,323,722 | |||||||||||||||||
Total
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
|
$ | 3,120,656 | $ | 2,106,671 | $ | 63,675 | $ | 15,263 | $ | (1,376,244 | ) | $ | 3,930,021 |
94
Beazer
Homes USA, Inc.
Consolidating
Balance Sheet Information
September
30, 2006
(in
thousands)
ASSETS
|
Beazer
Homes
USA,
Inc.
|
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
|
Beazer
Mortgage
Corp.
|
Other
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries
|
Consolidating
Adjustments
|
Consolidated
Beazer
Homes
USA,
Inc.
|
||||||||||||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
$ | 254,915 | $ | - | $ | 10,664 | $ | 829 | $ | (98,838 | ) | $ | 167,570 | |||||||||||
Restricted
cash
|
- | 4,873 | - | - | - | 4,873 | ||||||||||||||||||
Accounts
receivable
|
- | 333,514 | 4,331 | 188 | - | 338,033 | ||||||||||||||||||
Owned
inventory
|
- | 3,137,021 | - | - | - | 3,137,021 | ||||||||||||||||||
Consolidated
inventory not owned
|
- | 471,441 | - | - | - | 471,441 | ||||||||||||||||||
Residential
mortgage loans available-for-sale
|
- | - | 92,157 | - | - | 92,157 | ||||||||||||||||||
Investments
in unconsolidated joint ventures
|
3,093 | 121,706 | - | - | - | 124,799 | ||||||||||||||||||
Deferred
tax assets
|
70,847 | - | 497 | - | - | 71,344 | ||||||||||||||||||
Property,
plant and equipment, net
|
- | 75,498 | 954 | 2 | - | 76,454 | ||||||||||||||||||
Goodwill
|
- | 121,368 | - | - | - | 121,368 | ||||||||||||||||||
Investments
in subsidiaries
|
1,858,513 | - | - | - | (1,858,513 | ) | - | |||||||||||||||||
Intercompany
|
1,365,588 | (1,550,974 | ) | 52,568 | 5,792 | 127,026 | - | |||||||||||||||||
Other
assets
|
22,751 | 76,908 | 2,419 | 7,533 | - | 109,611 | ||||||||||||||||||
Total
Assets
|
$ | 3,575,707 | $ | 2,791,355 | $ | 163,590 | $ | 14,344 | $ | (1,830,325 | ) | $ | 4,714,671 | |||||||||||
LIABILITIES
AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Trade
accounts payable
|
$ | - | $ | 139,876 | $ | 132 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 140,008 | ||||||||||||
Other
liabilities
|
75,407 | 454,506 | 9,168 | 8,310 | 10,363 | 557,754 | ||||||||||||||||||
Intercompany
|
(1,761 | ) | - | - | 1,761 | - | - | |||||||||||||||||
Obligations
related to consolidated inventory not owned
|
- | 330,703 | - | - | - | 330,703 | ||||||||||||||||||
Senior
Notes (net of discounts of $3,578)
|
1,551,422 | - | - | - | - | 1,551,422 | ||||||||||||||||||
Junior
subordinated notes
|
103,093 | - | - | - | - | 103,093 | ||||||||||||||||||
Warehouse
Line
|
- | - | 94,881 | - | - | 94,881 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other
secured notes payable
|
- | 89,264 | - | - | - | 89,264 | ||||||||||||||||||
Model
home financing obligations
|
117,079 | - | - | - | - | 117,079 | ||||||||||||||||||
Total
Liabilities
|
1,845,240 | 1,014,349 | 104,181 | 10,071 | 10,363 | 2,984,204 | ||||||||||||||||||
Stockholders’
Equity
|
1,730,467 | 1,777,006 | 59,409 | 4,273 | (1,840,688 | ) | 1,730,467 | |||||||||||||||||
Total
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
|
$ | 3,575,707 | $ | 2,791,355 | $ | 163,590 | $ | 14,344 | $ | (1,830,325 | ) | $ | 4,714,671 |
95
Beazer
Homes USA, Inc.
Consolidating
Statements of Operations
(in
thousands)
For
the fiscal year ended
September
30, 2007
|
Beazer
Homes
USA,
Inc.
|
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
|
Beazer
Mortgage
Corp. (a)
|
Other
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries
|
Consolidating
Adjustments
|
Consolidated
Beazer
Homes
USA,
Inc.
|
||||||||||||||||||
Total
revenue
|
$ | - | $ | 3,464,800 | $ | 39,369 | $ | 1,925 | $ | (15,275 | ) | $ | 3,490,819 | |||||||||||
Home
construction and land sales expenses
|
148,444 | 2,832,130 | - | - | (36,189 | ) | 2,944,385 | |||||||||||||||||
Inventory
impairments and option contract abandonments
|
- | 611,864 | - | - | - | 611,864 | ||||||||||||||||||
Gross
(loss) profit
|
(148,444 | ) | 20,806 | 39,369 | 1,925 | 20,914 | (65,430 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Selling,
general and administrative expenses
|
- | 412,759 | 40,348 | 1,015 | - | 454,122 | ||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
- | 33,176 | 418 | - | - | 33,594 | ||||||||||||||||||
Goodwill
impairment
|
- | 52,755 | - | - | - | 52,755 | ||||||||||||||||||
Operating
(loss) income
|
(148,444 | ) | (477,884 | ) | (1,397 | ) | 910 | 20,914 | (605,901 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Equity
in loss of unconsolidated joint ventures
|
- | (35,154 | ) | - | - | - | (35,154 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Other
income, net
|
- | 7,320 | 276 | 179 | - | 7,775 | ||||||||||||||||||
(Loss)
income before income taxes
|
(148,444 | ) | (505,718 | ) | (1,121 | ) | 1,089 | 20,914 | (633,280 | ) | ||||||||||||||
(Benefit
from) provision for income taxes
|
(56,820 | ) | (173,380 | ) | (429 | ) | 417 | 8,005 | (222,207 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Equity
in income (loss) of subsidiaries
|
(319,449 | ) | - | - | - | 319,449 | - | |||||||||||||||||
Net
(loss) income
|
$ | (411,073 | ) | $ | (332,338 | ) | $ | (692 | ) | $ | 672 | $ | 332,358 | $ | (411,073 | ) | ||||||||
For
the fiscal year ended
September
30, 2006
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total
revenue
|
$ | - | $ | 5,318,829 | $ | 54,483 | $ | 2,873 | $ | (19,681 | ) | $ | 5,356,504 | |||||||||||
Home
construction and land sales expenses
|
124,162 | 3,984,825 | - | - | (47,869 | ) | 4,061,118 | |||||||||||||||||
Inventory
impairments and option contract abandonments
|
- | 44,175 | - | - | - | 44,175 | ||||||||||||||||||
Gross
(loss) profit
|
(124,162 | ) | 1,289,829 | 54,483 | 2,873 | 28,188 | 1,251,211 | |||||||||||||||||
Selling,
general and administrative expenses
|
- | 584,911 | 43,666 | 745 | - | 629,322 | ||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
- | 41,999 | 426 | - | - | 42,425 | ||||||||||||||||||
Operating
(loss) income
|
(124,162 | ) | 662,919 | 10,391 | 2,128 | 28,188 | 579,464 | |||||||||||||||||
Equity
in income of unconsolidated joint ventures
|
- | 1,343 | - | - | - | 1,343 | ||||||||||||||||||
Royalty
and management fee expenses
|
- | 3,098 | (3,098 | ) | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||
Other
income, net
|
- | 2,284 | - | 166 | - | 2,450 | ||||||||||||||||||
Income
before income taxes
|
(124,162 | ) | 669,644 | 7,293 | 2,294 | 28,188 | 583,257 | |||||||||||||||||
(Benefit
from) provision for income taxes
|
(45,646 | ) | 246,180 | 2,681 | 843 | 10,363 | 214,421 | |||||||||||||||||
Equity
in income of subsidiaries
|
447,352 | - | - | - | (447,352 | ) | - | |||||||||||||||||
Net
income
|
$ | 368,836 | $ | 423,464 | $ | 4,612 | $ | 1,451 | $ | (429,527 | ) | $ | 368,836 | |||||||||||
For
the fiscal year ended
September
30, 2005
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total
revenue
|
$ | - | $ | 4,953,865 | $ | 54,171 | $ | 1,143 | $ | (16,206 | ) | $ | 4,992,973 | |||||||||||
Home
construction and land sales expenses
|
89,696 | 3,702,543 | - | - | (25,722 | ) | 3,766,517 | |||||||||||||||||
Inventory
impairments and option contract abandonments
|
- | 5,511 | - | - | - | 5,511 | ||||||||||||||||||
Gross
(loss) profit
|
(89,696 | ) | 1,245,811 | 54,171 | 1,143 | 9,516 | 1,220,945 | |||||||||||||||||
Selling,
general and administrative expenses
|
- | 509,653 | 38,283 | 225 | - | 548,161 | ||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
- | 35,667 | 401 | - | - | 36,068 | ||||||||||||||||||
Goodwill
impairment
|
- | 130,235 | - | - | - | 130,235 | ||||||||||||||||||
Operating
(loss) income
|
(89,696 | ) | 570,256 | 15,487 | 918 | 9,516 | 506,481 | |||||||||||||||||
Equity
in income of unconsolidated joint ventures
|
- | 5,021 | - | - | - | 5,021 | ||||||||||||||||||
Royalty
and management fee expenses
|
- | 3,093 | (3,093 | ) | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||
Other
income, net
|
- | 1,621 | - | 91 | - | 1,712 | ||||||||||||||||||
Income
before income taxes
|
(89,696 | ) | 579,991 | 12,394 | 1,009 | 9,516 | 513,214 | |||||||||||||||||
(Benefit
from) provision for income taxes
|
(33,081 | ) | 261,943 | 4,571 | 372 | 3,510 | 237,315 | |||||||||||||||||
Equity
in income of subsidiaries
|
332,514 | - | - | - | (332,514 | ) | - | |||||||||||||||||
Net
income
|
$ | 275,899 | $ | 318,048 | $ | 7,823 | $ | 637 | $ | (326,508 | ) | $ | 275,899 |
(a)
|
Effective
January 2006, Beazer Mortgage Corp. is no longer a guarantor of the Senior
Notes.
|
96
Beazer
Homes USA, Inc.
Consolidating
Statements of Cash Flows
(in
thousands)
For
the fiscal year ended
September
30, 2007
|
Beazer
Homes
USA,
Inc.
|
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
|
Beazer
Mortgage
Corp. (a)
|
Other
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries
|
Consolidating
Adjustments
|
Consolidated
Beazer
Homes
USA,
Inc.
|
||||||||||||||||||
Net
cash provided by operating activities
|
$ | (329,882 | ) | $ | 745,770 | $ | 92,716 | $ | 767 | $ | - | $ | 509,371 | |||||||||||
Cash
flows from investing activities:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Capital
expenditures
|
- | (29,309 | ) | (165 | ) | - | - | (29,474 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Investments
in unconsolidated joint ventures
|
(3,093 | ) | (21,412 | ) | - | - | - | (24,505 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Changes
in restricted cash
|
- | (298 | ) | - | - | - | (298 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Distributions
from and proceeds from sale of unconsolidated joint
ventures
|
- | 2,229 | - | - | - | 2,229 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net
cash used in investing activities
|
(3,093 | ) | (48,790 | ) | (165 | ) | - | - | (52,048 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Cash
flows from financing activities:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Borrowings
under credit facilities and warehouse line
|
- | - | 169,888 | - | - | 169,888 | ||||||||||||||||||
Repayment
of credit facilities and warehouse line
|
- | - | (264,769 | ) | - | - | (264,769 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Repayment
of other secured notes payable
|
- | (31,139 | ) | - | - | - | (31,139 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Repurchase
of senior notes
|
(30,413 | ) | - | - | - | - | (30,413 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Borrowings
under model home financing obligations
|
5,919 | - | - | - | - | 5,919 | ||||||||||||||||||
Repayment
of model home financing obligations
|
(8,882 | ) | - | - | - | - | (8,882 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Advances
(to) from subsidiaries
|
569,568 | (665,841 | ) | 1,690 | (37 | ) | 94,620 | - | ||||||||||||||||
Debt
issuance costs
|
(1,935 | ) | - | (324 | ) | - | - | (2,259 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Proceeds
from stock option exercises
|
4,422 | - | - | - | - | 4,422 | ||||||||||||||||||
Common
stock redeemed
|
(348 | ) | - | - | - | - | (348 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Tax
benefit from stock transactions
|
2,635 | - | - | - | - | 2,635 | ||||||||||||||||||
Dividends
paid
|
(15,610 | ) | - | - | - | - | (15,610 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Net
cash (used in)/provided by financing activities
|
525,356 | (696,980 | ) | (93,515 | ) | (37 | ) | 94,620 | (170,556 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Increase/(decrease)
in cash and cash equivalents
|
192,381 | - | (964 | ) | 730 | 94,620 | 286,767 | |||||||||||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents at beginning of year
|
254,915 | - | 10,664 | 829 | (98,838 | ) | 167,570 | |||||||||||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents at end of year
|
$ | 447,296 | $ | - | $ | 9,700 | $ | 1,559 | $ | (4,218 | ) | $ | 454,337 | |||||||||||
For
the fiscal year ended
September
30, 2006
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net
cash (used in)/provided by operating activities
|
$ | (95,117 | ) | $ | (200,873 | ) | $ | (83,543 | ) | $ | 1,537 | $ | - | $ | (377,996 | ) | ||||||||
Cash
flows from investing activities:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Capital
expenditures
|
- | (54,456 | ) | (630 | ) | (2 | ) | - | (55,088 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Investments
in unconsolidated joint ventures
|
(3,093 | ) | (46,365 | ) | - | - | - | (49,458 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Changes
in restricted cash
|
- | (4,873 | ) | - | - | - | (4,873 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Distributions
from and proceeds from sale of unconsolidated joint
ventures
|
- | 4,655 | - | - | - | 4,655 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net
cash used in investing activities
|
(3,093 | ) | (101,039 | ) | (630 | ) | (2 | ) | - | (104,764 | ) | |||||||||||||
Cash
flows from financing activities:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Borrowings
under credit facilities and warehouse line
|
1,634,100 | - | 303,428 | - | - | 1,937,528 | ||||||||||||||||||
Repayment
of credit facilities and warehouse line
|
(1,634,100 | ) | - | (208,547 | ) | - | - | (1,842,647 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Repayment
of other secured notes payable
|
- | (20,934 | ) | - | - | - | (20,934 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Borrowings
under senior notes
|
275,000 | - | - | - | - | 275,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
Borrowings
under junior subordinated notes
|
103,093 | 103,093 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Borrowings
under model home financing obligations
|
117,365 | - | - | - | - | 117,365 | ||||||||||||||||||
Repayment
of model home financing obligations
|
(286 | ) | - | - | - | - | (286 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Advances
(to) from subsidiaries
|
(313,515 | ) | 322,846 | 658 | (1,097 | ) | (8,892 | ) | - | |||||||||||||||
Debt
issuance costs
|
(6,274 | ) | - | (932 | ) | - | - | (7,206 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Proceeds
from stock option exercises
|
7,298 | - | - | - | - | 7,298 | ||||||||||||||||||
Common
stock redeemed
|
(2,624 | ) | - | - | - | - | (2,624 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Treasury
stock purchases
|
(205,416 | ) | - | - | - | - | (205,416 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Tax
benefit from stock transactions
|
8,205 | - | - | - | - | 8,205 | ||||||||||||||||||
Dividends
paid
|
(16,144 | ) | - | - | - | - | (16,144 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Net
cash (used in)/provided by financing activities
|
(33,298 | ) | 301,912 | 94,607 | (1,097 | ) | (8,892 | ) | 353,232 | |||||||||||||||
(Decrease)/increase
in cash and cash equivalents
|
(131,508 | ) | - | 10,434 | 438 | (8,892 | ) | (129,528 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents at beginning of year
|
386,423 | - | 230 | 391 | (89,946 | ) | 297,098 | |||||||||||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents at end of year
|
$ | 254,915 | $ | - | $ | 10,664 | $ | 829 | $ | (98,838 | ) | $ | 167,570 |
(a)
|
Effective
January 2006, Beazer Mortgage Corp. is no longer a guarantor of the Senior
Notes.
|
97
Beazer
Homes USA, Inc.
Consolidating
Statements of Cash Flows
(in
thousands)
Beazer
Homes
USA,
Inc.
|
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
|
Beazer
Mortgage
Corp. (a)
|
Other
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries
|
Consolidating
Adjustments
|
Consolidated
Beazer
Homes
USA,
Inc.
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Fot
the fiscal year ended
September
30, 2005
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net
cash (used in)/provided by operating activities
|
$ | (50,545 | ) | $ | (1,876 | ) | $ | 6,926 | $ | (661 | ) | $ | - | $ | (46,156 | ) | ||||||||
Cash
flows from investing activities:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Capital
expenditures
|
- | (48,078 | ) | (359 | ) | - | - | (48,437 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Investments
in unconsolidated joint ventures
|
- | (42,619 | ) | - | - | - | (42,619 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Distributions
from and proceeds from sale of unconsolidated joint
ventures
|
- | 5,597 | - | - | - | 5,597 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net
cash used in investing activities
|
- | (85,100 | ) | (359 | ) | - | - | (85,459 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Cash
flows from financing activities:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Repayment
of term loan
|
(200,000 | ) | - | - | - | - | (200,000 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Borrowings
under credit facility
|
439,700 | - | - | - | - | 439,700 | ||||||||||||||||||
Repayment
of credit facility
|
(439,700 | ) | - | - | - | - | (439,700 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Repayment
of other secured notes payable
|
- | (16,776 | ) | - | - | - | (16,776 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Borrowings
under senior notes
|
346,786 | - | - | - | - | 346,786 | ||||||||||||||||||
Repayment
of model home financing obligations
|
(1,118 | ) | - | - | - | - | (1,118 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Advances
(to) from subsidiaries
|
(79,751 | ) | 103,752 | (7,030 | ) | 956 | (17,927 | ) | - | |||||||||||||||
Debt
issuance costs
|
(4,958 | ) | - | - | - | - | (4,958 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Proceeds
from stock option exercises
|
5,875 | - | - | - | - | 5,875 | ||||||||||||||||||
Common
stock redeemed
|
(8,092 | ) | - | - | - | - | (8,092 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Dividends
paid
|
(13,884 | ) | - | - | - | - | (13,884 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Net
cash provided by/(used in) financing activities
|
44,858 | 86,976 | (7,030 | ) | 956 | (17,927 | ) | 107,833 | ||||||||||||||||
(Decrease)/increase
in cash and cash equivalents
|
(5,687 | ) | - | (463 | ) | 295 | (17,927 | ) | (23,782 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents at beginning of year
|
392,110 | - | 693 | 96 | (72,019 | ) | 320,880 | |||||||||||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents at end of year
|
$ | 386,423 | $ | - | $ | 230 | $ | 391 | $ | (89,946 | ) | $ | 297,098 |
(a)
Effective January 2006, Beazer Mortgage Corp. is no longer a guarantor of the
Senior Notes.
(17)
Restatement of Consolidated Financial Statements
Subsequent
to the issuance of the fiscal 2006 consolidated financial statements, in April
2007, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors initiated an independent
investigation of our mortgage origination business through independent legal
counsel and independent forensic accountants. During the course of this
investigation, the Audit Committee determined that our mortgage origination
practices related to certain loans in prior periods violated certain applicable
federal and/or state origination requirements. During the course of the
investigation, the Audit Committee also discovered accounting and financial
reporting errors and/or irregularities resulting primarily from (1)
inappropriate accumulation of reserves and/or accrued liabilities associated
with land development and house costs (“Inventory Reserves”) and the subsequent
improper release of such reserves and accrued liabilities and (2) inaccurate
revenue recognition with respect to certain model home sale-leaseback
transactions (“Model Home Sale-Leasebacks”). In conjunction with the restatement
of the items above, we also made corresponding capitalized interest, capitalized
indirect costs, and income tax adjustments to our consolidated financial
statements (included in the “Other” and “Provision for Tax” columns) as these
balances were impacted by the aforementioned adjustments. We also made other
adjustments to our consolidated financial statements relating to corrections of
accounting and financial reporting errors and/or irregularities, some errors
previously identified, but historically not considered to be material to require
correction and some errors and irregularities discovered as part of the
restatement process, consisting of (1) reclassifying model home furnishings and
sales office leasehold improvements from owned inventory to property, plant and
equipment, net in the amount of $47.0 million at September 30, 2006; (2)
reclassifying depreciation and amortization of model home furnishings and sales
office leasehold improvements from home construction and land sales expenses to
depreciation and amortization in the amount of $32.1 million and $26.8 million
for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively; (3)
recognizing total revenue ($11.6 million) and home construction and land sales
expenses ($8.7 million) for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006 related
to inappropriate revenue recognition timing in the fiscal year ended
September 30, 2005 for certain home closings in California; (4)
reclassifying the results of operations from our fiscal 2005 title services from
other income, net ($5.9 million) to total revenue ($8.1 million) and selling,
general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses ($2.2 million); (5)
reclassifying $5.0 million from restricted cash at September 30, 2006 to cash
and cash equivalents as such amount was determined not to be restricted; (6)
recognizing the reversal of certain warranty accruals related to our captive
insurance subsidiary in the fiscal years prior to fiscal 2005 ($8.7 million), as
reflected in the prior period restatement caption in the Consolidated Statements
of Stockholders’ Equity, instead of the previously presented reversal of $8.7
million in warranty accruals through home construction and land sales expenses
for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2005; (7) certain other miscellaneous
immaterial adjustments; and (8) the related tax effects of the adjustments
described in (1) through (7) above.
98
The
accounting and financial reporting errors and irregularities identified as part
of the Investigation and subsequent restatement preparation are described and
summarized as follows:
Accounting
for Reserves and Other Accrued Liabilities
Reserves
and other accrued liabilities, relating primarily to land development costs and
costs to complete on closed homes (“Inventory Reserves”) were recorded in prior
accounting periods in excess of amounts that would have been appropriate under
GAAP. The Investigation uncovered the accumulation of reserves and other accrued
liabilities in the earlier periods affected by the restatement that were
partially and improperly released into income during fiscal 2006.
Model
Home Sale-Leaseback Accounting
During
the course of the Investigation, we also identified the existence of a
continuing interest in the potential appreciation of model homes sold in certain
sale-leaseback transactions to investors. Due to this continuing interest, these
model home transactions did not qualify for sale-leaseback accounting, and,
instead, should have been accounted for as financing transactions in accordance
with GAAP. The restatement of these transactions will primarily relate to timing
differences that have had and will have the effect of shifting revenue and
income from the date of the original transaction to the future period in which
the “leases” are terminated.
Summary
of the Cumulative Effect of Restatement Adjustments to Previously Reported
Beginning Retained Earnings
(in
thousands)
|
For
the fiscal year
beginning
October
1,
2004
|
|||
Beginning
retained earnings, as reported
|
$
|
741,701
|
||
Inventory
reserves
|
49,478
|
|||
Model
home sale-leasebacks
|
348
|
|||
Other
|
(7,621
|
)
|
||
Provision
for income taxes
|
(8,061
|
)
|
||
Cumulative
restatement adjustments
to
beginning retained earnings
|
34,144
|
|||
Beginning
retained earnings, as restated
|
$
|
775,845
|
Summary
of the Effect of the Restatement of the Company’s Financial
Statements
The
following tables set forth the effect of the restatement of the Company’s
Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2006 and its Consolidated
Statements of Operations and Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the
fiscal years ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 (in thousands):
99
Consolidated
Balance Sheet
|
As
of September 30, 2006
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Adjustments
|
||||||||||||||||||||
As
Previously
Reported
|
Inventory
Reserves
|
Model
Home
Sale-Leaseback
|
Other
|
As
Restated
|
||||||||||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
$ | 162,570 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 5,000 | $ | 167,570 | ||||||||||
Restricted
cash
|
9,873 | - | - | (5,000 | ) | 4,873 | ||||||||||||||
Accounts
receivable
|
333,571 | - | - | 4,462 | 338,033 | |||||||||||||||
Owned
inventory
|
3,048,891 | 50,533 | 92,971 | (55,374 | ) | 3,137,021 | ||||||||||||||
Total
inventory
|
3,520,332 | 50,533 | 92,971 | (55,374 | ) | 3,608,462 | ||||||||||||||
Investments
in unconsolidated joint ventures
|
122,799 | - | - | 2,000 | 124,799 | |||||||||||||||
Deferred
tax assets
|
59,842 | - | - | 11,502 | 71,344 | |||||||||||||||
Property,
plant and equipment, net
|
29,465 | - | - | 46,989 | 76,454 | |||||||||||||||
Other
assets
|
107,454 | - | 2,158 | (1 | ) | 109,611 | ||||||||||||||
Total
assets
|
4,559,431 | 50,533 | 95,129 | 9,578 | 4,714,671 | |||||||||||||||
Trade
accounts payable
|
141,131 | - | - | (1,123 | ) | 140,008 | ||||||||||||||
Other
liabilities
|
547,014 | 10,350 | - | 390 | 557,754 | |||||||||||||||
Model
home financing obligations
|
- | - | 117,079 | - | 117,079 | |||||||||||||||
Total
liabilties
|
2,857,508 | 10,350 | 117,079 | (733 | ) | 2,984,204 | ||||||||||||||
Paid
in capital
|
528,376 | - | - | 950 | 529,326 | |||||||||||||||
Retained
earnings
|
1,362,958 | 40,183 | (21,950 | ) | 9,361 | 1,390,552 | ||||||||||||||
Total
stockholders’ equity
|
1,701,923 | 40,183 | (21,950 | ) | 10,311 | 1,730,467 | ||||||||||||||
Total
liabilities and stockholders’ equity
|
4,559,431 | 50,533 | 95,129 | 9,578 | 4,714,671 |
Consolidated
Statements of Operations
|
Fiscal
Year Ended September 30, 2006
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjustments
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As
Previously
Reported
|
Inventory
Reserves
|
Model
Home
Sale-Leaseback
|
Other
|
Provision
for
tax
|
Reclass
|
As
Restated
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Total
revenue
|
$ | 5,462,003 | $ | - | $ | (117,079 | ) | $ | 11,580 | $ | - |
-
|
$ | 5,356,504 | ||||||||||||||
Home
construction and land sales expenses
|
4,201,318 | 27,514 | (91,453 | ) | (32,086 | ) | - | (44,175 | ) | 4,061,118 | ||||||||||||||||||
Inventory
impairments and option contract abandonments
|
- | - | - | - | - | 44,175 | 44,175 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Gross
profit
|
1,260,685 | (27, 514 | ) | (25,626 | ) | 43,666 | - | - | 1,251,211 | |||||||||||||||||||
Selling,
general and administrative expenses
|
649,010 | - | (3,217 | ) | (6,167 | ) | - | (10,304 | ) | 629,322 | ||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
- | - | - | 32,121 | - | 10,304 | 42,425 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Operating
income
|
611,675 | (27,514 | ) | (22,409 | ) | 17,712 | - | - | 579,464 | |||||||||||||||||||
Equity
in (loss) income of unconsolidated joint ventures
|
(772 | ) | - | - | 2,115 | - | - | 1,343 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Other
income, net
|
2,311 | - | - | 139 | - | - | 2,450 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Income
before taxes
|
613,214 | (27,514 | ) | (22,409 | ) | 19,966 | - | - | 583,257 | |||||||||||||||||||
Provision
for income taxes
|
224,453 | (10,032 | ) | 214,421 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net
income
|
$ | 388,761 | $ | 368,836 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Earnings
per share - basic
|
$ | 9.76 | $ | 9.26 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Earnings
per share - diluted
|
$ | 8.89 | $ | 8.44 |
100
Consolidated
Statements of Operations
|
Fiscal
Year Ended September 30, 2005
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjustments
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As
Previously
Reported
|
Inventory
Reserves
|
Model
Home
Sale-Leaseback
|
Other
|
Provision
for
tax
|
Reclass
|
As
Restated
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Total
revenue
|
$ | 4,995,353 | $ | - | $ | 1,118 | $ | (3,498 | ) | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 4,992,973 | |||||||||||||
Home
construction and land sales expenses
|
3,823,300 | (18,219 | ) | 1,025 | (34,078 | ) | - | (5,511 | ) | 3,766,517 | ||||||||||||||||||
Inventory
impairments and option contract abandonments
|
- | - | - | - | - | 5,511 | 5,511 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Gross
profit
|
1,172,053 | 18,219 | 93 | 30,580 | - | - | 1,220,945 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Selling,
general and administrative expenses
|
554,900 | - | (18 | ) | 2,508 | - | (9,229 | ) | 548,161 | |||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
- | - | - | 26,839 | - | 9,229 | 36,068 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Goodwill
impairment
|
130,235 | - | - | - | - | - | 130,235 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Operating
income
|
486,918 | 18,219 | 111 | 1,233 | - | - | 506,481 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Equity
in income of unconsolidated joint ventures
|
5,021 | - | - | - | - | - | 5,021 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Other
income, net
|
7,395 | - | - | (5,683 | ) | - | - | 1,712 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Income
before taxes
|
499,334 | 18,219 | 111 | (4,450 | ) | - | - | 513,214 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Provision
for income taxes
|
236,810 | 505 | 237,315 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net
income
|
$ | 262,524 | $ | 275,899 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Earnings
per share - basic
|
$ | 6.49 | $ | 6.82 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Earnings
per share - diluted
|
$ | 5.87 | $ | 6.16 |
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows
|
Fiscal
Year Ended September 30, 2006
|
|||||||||||
As
Previously
Reported
|
Adjustments
|
As
Restated
|
||||||||||
Net
income
|
$ | 388,761 | $ | (19,925 | ) | $ | 368,836 | |||||
Adjustments
to reconcile net income to net
cash
used in operating activities:
|
||||||||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
10,304 | 32,121 | 42,425 | |||||||||
Inventory
impairments and option contract abandonments
|
43,477 | 698 | 44,175 | |||||||||
Deferred
income tax benefit
|
41,487 | (15,524 | ) | 25,963 | ||||||||
Tax
benefit from stock transactions
|
- | (8,205 | ) | (8,205 | ) | |||||||
Equity
in loss (income) of unconsolidated joint ventures
|
772 | (2,115 | ) | (1,343 | ) | |||||||
Changes
in operating assets and liabilities:
|
||||||||||||
Increase
in accounts receivable
|
(171,251 | ) | (10,388 | ) | (181,639 | ) | ||||||
Increase
in inventory
|
(430,345 | ) | (56,382 | ) | (486,727 | ) | ||||||
Increase
in other assets
|
(19,462 | ) | (1,274 | ) | (20,736 | ) | ||||||
Decrease
in trade accounts payable
|
(492 | ) | (1,149 | ) | (1,641 | ) | ||||||
Decrease
in other liabilities
|
(92,342 | ) | 9,298 | (83,044 | ) | |||||||
Other
changes
|
680 | (688 | ) | (8 | ) | |||||||
Net
cash used in operating activities
|
(304,463 | ) | (73,533 | ) | (377,996 | ) | ||||||
Capital
expenditures
|
(11,542 | ) | (43,546 | ) | (55,088 | ) | ||||||
Changes
in restricted cash
|
(9,873 | ) | 5,000 | (4,873 | ) | |||||||
Net
cash used in investing activities
|
(66,218 | ) | (38,546 | ) | (104,764 | ) | ||||||
Borrowings
under model home financing obligations
|
- | 117,365 | 117,365 | |||||||||
Repayments
of model home financing obligations
|
- | (286 | ) | (286 | ) | |||||||
Net
cash provided by financing activities
|
236,153 | 117,079 | 353,232 | |||||||||
Decrease
in cash and cash equivalents
|
(134,528 | ) | $ | 5,000 | $ | (129,528 | ) | |||||
Cash
and cash equivalents at end of year
|
$ | 162,570 | $ | 5,000 | $ | 167,570 | ||||||
101
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows
|
Fiscal
Year Ended September 30, 2005
|
|||||||||||
As
Previously
Reported
|
Adjustments
|
As
Restated
|
||||||||||
Net
income
|
$ | 262,524 | $ | 13,375 | $ | 275,899 | ||||||
Adjustments
to reconcile net income to net
cash
used in operating activities:
|
||||||||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
9,229 | 26,839 | 36,068 | |||||||||
Deferred
income tax benefit
|
(54,631 | ) | 3,445 | (51,186 | ) | |||||||
Changes
in operating assets and liabilities:
|
||||||||||||
Increase
in accounts receivable
|
(91,306 | ) | 6,669 | (84,637 | ) | |||||||
Increase
in inventory
|
(572,114 | ) | (21,407 | ) | (593,521 | ) | ||||||
Increase
in other assets
|
(16,775 | ) | (5 | ) | (16,780 | ) | ||||||
Increase
in other liabilities
|
199,076 | 9,718 | 208,794 | |||||||||
Other
changes
|
1,333 | (527 | ) | 806 | ||||||||
Net
cash used in operating activities
|
(84,263 | ) | 38,107 | (46,156 | ) | |||||||
Capital
expenditures
|
(13,448 | ) | (34,989 | ) | (48,437 | ) | ||||||
Investments
in unconsolidated joint ventures
|
(40,619 | ) | (2,000 | ) | (42,619 | ) | ||||||
Net
cash used in investing activities
|
(48,470 | ) | (36,989 | ) | (85,459 | ) | ||||||
Repayments
of model home financing obligations
|
- | (1,118 | ) | (1,118 | ) | |||||||
Net
cash provided by financing activities
|
$ | 108,951 | $ | (1,118 | ) | $ | 107,833 |
102
REPORT
OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTING
FIRM
To the
Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Beazer
Homes USA, Inc.
Atlanta,
Georgia
We have
audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Beazer Homes USA, Inc.
and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of September 30, 2007 and 2006, and the
related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity, and cash
flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2007. These
consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial
statements based on our audits.
We
conducted our audits in accordance with standards of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan
and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial
statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a
test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial
statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and
significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our
opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material
respects, the financial position of Beazer Homes USA, Inc. and subsidiaries as
of September 30, 2007 and 2006, and the results of their operations and their
cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2007,
in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States
of America.
As
discussed in Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements, the accompanying
fiscal 2006 and 2005 consolidated financial statements have been
restated.
As
described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company
adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R), Share-Based Payment, on
October 1, 2005, based on the modified prospective application transition
method.
We have
also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board (United States), the effectiveness of the Company’s internal
control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2007, based on the criteria
established in Internal
Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring
Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated May 12, 2008
expressed an unqualified opinion on management’s assessment of the effectiveness
of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and an adverse
opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial
reporting.
/s/
Deloitte & Touche LLP
Atlanta,
Georgia
May 12,
2008
103
REPORT
OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTING
FIRM ON INTERNAL CONTROL
OVER
FINANCIAL REPORTING
To the
Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Beazer
Homes USA, Inc.:
Atlanta,
Georgia
We have
audited management’s assessment, included in the accompanying Management’s
Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting, that Beazer Homes USA, Inc.
and subsidiaries (the “Company”) did not maintain effective internal control
over financial reporting as of September 30, 2007, because of the effect of the
material weaknesses identified in management’s assessment based on criteria
established in Internal
Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring
Organizations of the Treadway Commission. The Company’s management is
responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting
and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial
reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on management’s
assessment and an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control
over financial reporting based on our audit.
We
conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan
and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective
internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material
respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over
financial reporting, evaluating management’s assessment, testing and evaluating
the design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing such
other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe
that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinions.
A
company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or
under the supervision of, the company’s principal executive and principal
financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the
company’s board of directors, management, and other personnel to provide
reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the
preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over
financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain
to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly
reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company;
(2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as
necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of
the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management
and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance
regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or
disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the
financial statements.
Because
of the inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting,
including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of
controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may not be prevented or
detected on a timely basis. Also, projections of any evaluation of the
effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods
are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of
changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or
procedures may deteriorate.
A
material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal
control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility
that a material misstatement of the company’s annual or interim financial
statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. The following
material weaknesses have been identified and included in management’s
assessment:
Control Environment – The
control environment, which is the responsibility of senior management, sets the
tone of the organization, influences the actions of its employees, and is the
foundation for all other components of internal control over financial
reporting. The Company did not maintain an effective control
environment. The following deficiencies in the Company’s control
environment as of September 30, 2007 have been identified, each of which is
considered to be a material weakness.
|
●
|
Code
of Conduct Violations
|
The
operating effectiveness of the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
Policy (the “Code”), which governs the execution by employees of their duties
and responsibilities within established procedures, was deficient. As a
result, the Code was not consistently and strictly adhered to, including by
certain of the Company’s former executive officers, and violations of the Code
were not promptly and appropriately reported. This deficiency led to an
environment where improper and erroneous accounting information was utilized
related to certain transactions and financial statement matters and
inappropriate decisions could have been made, and were made, including with
respect to certain model home sale-leaseback transactions and certain home
closings in California, that were not in accordance with GAAP.
104
|
●
|
Compliance
With Laws and Regulations
|
The
design of the Company’s controls related to the Company’s mortgage origination
practices was not sufficient to ensure compliance with all applicable laws,
rules, and regulations, or to enable a determination of the financial statement
impact of such violations to the Company’s financial statement amounts and
disclosures. This resulted in the violation of certain applicable federal
and/or state regulations, and could result in reimbursement of losses and
payment of regulatory and/or criminal fines.
|
●
|
Segregation
of Duties
|
The
Company’s former Chief Accounting Officer had primary review and oversight
responsibilities for many financial reporting activities and controls designed
to ensure the accuracy of our financial statements. This lack of segregation of
duties was a deficiency in the design of the Company’s internal control over
financial reporting that allowed for improprieties or errors in the application
of accounting practices to go undetected.
|
●
|
Management
Override and Collusion
|
Based on
the results of the independent investigation by the Company’s Audit Committee,
the Company believes that its former Chief Accounting Officer caused or
permitted deficiencies to occur in the operating effectiveness of the Company’s
internal controls through the override of certain documentation and financial
accounting and reporting controls. In addition, the results of the investigation
uncovered collusion with some of the Company’s business unit employees to
inappropriately manipulate earnings.
Accounting Policy, Procedures, and
Controls – There was a material weakness in the design of the Company’s
accounting policies, procedures, and controls specifically related to the
application of GAAP in accounting for (1) certain estimates involving
significant management judgments. Specifically the Company’s policies did
not:
|
●
|
Establish
objective guidelines that should be applied in the determination of
certain accruals;
|
|
●
|
Require
detailed analyses and review of certain subjective
estimates;
|
|
●
|
Require
significant estimates and related assumptions to be documented and
approved;
|
|
●
|
Require
dual approval for material journal entries that directly impact earnings
through the adjustment of accruals and
reserves;
|
|
●
|
Establish
consistent guidelines for the compilation of financial and operational
reports; and
|
|
●
|
Provide
visibility into accruals and estimates which were recorded in the
consolidated financial statements in amounts that were different from the
sum of such accruals recorded at a divisional
level.
|
These
material weaknesses resulted in the restatement of the Company’s annual
financial statements for fiscal years 1998-2006. These material weaknesses had
the following impacts on the Company’s financial reporting:
|
●
|
Inappropriate
reserves and other accrued liabilities were recorded relating to land
development costs, house construction costs and warranty accruals. These
errors were caused by a failure to require a determination and
documentation of the reasonableness of the assumptions used to develop
such estimates of future expenditures for land development, house
construction and warranty claims.
|
105
|
●
|
Asset
impairments were misstated because certain assumptions used to calculate
impairments, indirect costs and capitalized interest were improper or
inaccurate.
|
|
●
|
The
accounting for certain model home sale and leaseback agreements was not in
compliance with GAAP. GAAP does not permit a sale of real estate to
be recognized if the seller has a continuing involvement in the real
estate sold. The Company's arrangement for certain sale and
leaseback transactions included various forms of continuing
involvement which prevented the Company from accounting for the
transactions as sales.
|
|
●
|
Certain
sale and leaseback agreements entered into by the former Chief Accounting
Officer of the Company were not properly documented and considered in the
evaluation of the accounting for the
transactions.
|
|
●
|
Certain
home closings in California were not reflected in the Company’s accounting
records in the proper accounting
periods.
|
These
material weaknesses were considered in determining the nature, timing, and
extent of audit tests applied in our audit of the consolidated financial
statements as of and for the year ended September 30, 2007, of the Company and
this report does not affect our report on such financial
statements.
In our
opinion, management’s assessment that the Company did not maintain effective
internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2007, is fairly
stated, in all material respects, based on the criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated
Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the
Treadway Commission. Also in our opinion, because of the effect of
the material weaknesses described above on the achievement of the objectives of
the control criteria, the Company has not maintained effective internal control
over financial reporting as of September 30, 2007, based on the criteria
established in Internal
Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring
Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
We have
also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated financial statements as of and
for the year ended September 30, 2007 of the Company and our report dated May
12, 2008 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial
statements.
/s/
Deloitte & Touche LLP
Atlanta,
Georgia
May 12,
2008
106
Quarterly
Financial Data
Summarized
quarterly financial information (unaudited):
Quarter
Ended
|
||||||||||||||||
(in
thousands, except per share data)
|
December
31
|
March
31
|
June
30
|
September
30
|
||||||||||||
Fiscal
2007
|
||||||||||||||||
Total
revenue
|
$ | 802,535 | $ | 829,333 | $ | 758,146 | $ | 1,100,805 | ||||||||
Gross
(loss) profit (a)
|
(2,985 | ) | 21,045 | (40,052 | ) | (43,438 | ) | |||||||||
Goodwill
impairment (b)
|
- | - | 29,752 | 23,003 | ||||||||||||
Operating
loss
|
(127,459 | ) | (91,154 | ) | (181,815 | ) | (205,473 | ) | ||||||||
Net
loss
|
(79,903 | ) | (57,191 | ) | (118,747 | ) | (155,232 | ) | ||||||||
Basic
EPS
|
$ | (2.09 | ) | $ | (1.49 | ) | $ | (3.09 | ) | $ | (4.03 | ) | ||||
Diluted
EPS
|
$ | (2.09 | ) | $ | (1.49 | ) | $ | (3.09 | ) | $ | (4.03 | ) | ||||
Fiscal
2006
|
(c)
|
|||||||||||||||
Total
revenue
|
$ | 1,085,508 | $ | 1,251,175 | $ | 1,191,952 | $ | 1,827,869 | ||||||||
Gross
profit
|
276,806 | 343,802 | 285,666 | 344,937 | ||||||||||||
Operating
income
|
136,218 | 186,533 | 124,720 | 131,993 | ||||||||||||
Net
income
|
86,619 | 116,901 | 81,609 | 83,707 | ||||||||||||
Basic
EPS
|
$ | 2.11 | $ | 2.89 | $ | 2.07 | $ | 2.18 | ||||||||
Diluted
EPS
|
$ | 1.93 | $ | 2.62 | $ | 1.89 | $ | 1.99 |
(a)
|
Gross
(loss) profit in fiscal 2007 and 2006 includes inventory impairment and
option contract abandonments as
follows:
|
(in
thousands)
|
Fiscal
2007
|
Fiscal
2006
|
||||||
1st
Quarter
|
$ | 140,367 | $ | 2,927 | ||||
2nd
Quarter
|
105,245 | 6,704 | ||||||
3rd
Quarter
|
154,244 | 10,721 | ||||||
4th
Quarter
|
212,008 | 23,823 | ||||||
$ | 611,864 | $ | 44,175 |
(b)
|
In
fiscal 2007, the Company recognized non-cash goodwill impairment charges
to write off all of the goodwill allocated to certain reporting units in
Florida, Nevada, Northern California, North Carolina and South
Carolina.
|
(c)
|
Restated
quarterly information of the quarter ended September 30, 2006 is as
follows:
|
(in
thousands, except per share data)
|
As
Previously
Reported
|
Adjustments
|
As
Restated
|
|||||||||
Total
revenue
|
$ | 1,883,758 | $ | (55,889 | ) | $ | 1,827,869 | |||||
Gross
profit
|
364,053 | (19,116 | ) | 344,937 | ||||||||
Operating
income
|
151,326 | (19,333 | ) | 131,993 | ||||||||
Net
income
|
91,873 | (8,166 | ) | 83,707 | ||||||||
Basic
EPS
|
$ | 2.39 | $ | (0.21 | ) | $ | 2.18 | |||||
Diluted
EPS
|
$ | 2.19 | $ | (0.20 | ) | $ | 1.99 |
Item
9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial
Disclosure
None.
107
Item
9A. Controls and Procedures
Background
and Results of Independent Investigation
In April
2007, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors initiated an independent
investigation of our mortgage origination business through independent legal
counsel and independent forensic accountants. During the course of this
investigation, the Audit Committee determined that our mortgage origination
practices related to certain loans in prior periods violated certain applicable
federal and/or state origination requirements. During the course of the
investigation, the Audit Committee also discovered accounting and financial
reporting errors and/or irregularities that required restatement resulting
primarily from (1) inappropriate accumulation of reserves and/or accrued
liabilities associated with land development and house costs (“Inventory
Reserves”) and the subsequent improper release of such reserves and accrued
liabilities and (2) inaccurate revenue recognition with respect to certain model
home sale-leaseback transactions. In conjunction with the restatement of the
items above, we also made corresponding capitalized interest, capitalized
indirect costs, and income tax adjustments to our consolidated financial
statements as these balances were impacted by the aforementioned adjustments. We
also made other adjustments to our consolidated financial statements relating to
corrections of accounting and financial reporting errors and/or
irregularities, some errors previously identified, but historically not
considered to be material to require correction and some errors and
irregularities discovered as part of the restatement process, consisting of (1)
reclassifying model home furnishings and sales office leasehold improvements
from owned inventory to property, plant and equipment, net in the amount of
$47.0 million at September 30, 2006; (2) reclassifying depreciation and
amortization of model home furnishings and sales office leasehold improvements
from home construction and land sales expenses to depreciation and amortization
in the amount of $32.1 million and $26.8 million for the fiscal years ended
September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively; (3) recognizing total revenue ($11.6
million) and home construction and land sales expenses ($8.7 million) for the
fiscal year ended September 30, 2006 related to inappropriate revenue
recognition timing in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2005 for certain home
closings in California; (4) reclassifying the results of operations from
our fiscal 2005 title services from other income, net ($5.9 million) to total
revenue ($8.1 million) and selling, general and administrative expenses ($2.2
million); (5) reclassifying $5.0 million from restricted cash at September 30,
2006 to cash and cash equivalents as such amount was determined not to be
restricted; (6) recognizing the reversal of certain warranty accruals related to
our captive insurance subsidiary in the fiscal years ended prior to fiscal 2005
($8.7 million), as reflected in the prior period restatement caption in the
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity, instead of the previously
presented reversal of $8.7 million in warranty accruals through home
construction and land sales expenses for the fiscal year ended September 30,
2005; (7) certain other miscellaneous immaterial adjustments; and (8) the
related tax effects of the adjustments described in (1) through (7) above. See
Note 17 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8. Financial
Statements and Supplementary Data for further discussion of the restatement
issues.
Disclosure
Controls and Procedures
Management,
under the supervision and with the participation of its Chief Executive Officer
(“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), evaluated the effectiveness of the
Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and
15d-15(e) promulgated under the Act), as of the end of period covered by this
report. Management concluded that, as of September 30, 2007, the Company’s
disclosure controls and procedures were not effective primarily because of the
identification of material weaknesses in our internal control over financial
reporting, which we view as an integral part of our disclosure controls and
procedures. In addition, our disclosure controls and procedures not relating to
internal control over financial reporting were not sufficiently documented and
were not designed to require all accounting and financial employees, and other
corporate employees with specific knowledge of, or responsibility for, other
disclosures to complete quarterly certifications (management
representations).
Based on
a number of factors, including the completion of the Audit Committee’s
investigation, our internal review that identified revisions to our previously
issued financial statements, efforts to remediate the material weaknesses in
internal control over financial reporting described below, and the performance
of additional procedures by management designed to ensure the reliability of our
financial reporting, we believe that the consolidated financial statements in
this Report fairly present, in all material respects, our financial position,
results of operations and cash flows as of the dates, and for the periods,
presented, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States of America (“GAAP”).
We have
reviewed and are implementing additional disclosure controls and procedures.
This includes expanding the Disclosure Committee to include representatives from
Operations, Compliance, and Audit and Controls. In addition, a formal Disclosure
Committee charter and formal written disclosure controls and procedures will be
implemented in the third quarter of fiscal 2008. Further, we are implementing an
enhanced quarterly certification (management representation) process that will
include not just the signoff by executive management and the business unit
executives, but also by managers of the corporate finance departments, senior
leadership at the corporate office, and other business and finance employees who
are significantly involved in the financial reporting process. These new
processes will help ensure Company employees at various levels make full and
complete representations concerning, and assume accountability for, the accuracy
and integrity of our financial statements and other public
disclosures.
108
Attached
as exhibits to this Annual Report on Form 10-K are certifications of our CEO and
CFO, which are required by Rule 13a-14 of the Act. This Disclosure Controls and
Procedures section includes information concerning management’s evaluation of
disclosure controls and procedures referred to in those certifications and, as
such, should be read in conjunction with the certifications of the CEO and
CFO.
Management’s
Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Beazer
Homes USA, Inc.’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining
adequate internal control over financial reporting. Pursuant to the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, internal control over
financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of,
the Company’s principal executive and principal financial officer and effected
by Beazer Homes USA, Inc.’s board of directors, management and other personnel,
to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial
reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and includes those
policies and procedures that:
●
|
Pertain
to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and
fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the
Company;
|
●
|
Provide
reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit
preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that
receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance
with authorizations of management and directors of the Company;
and
|
●
|
Provide
reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of
unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that
could have a material effect on the financial
statements.
|
A
material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies in internal
control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility
that a material misstatement of the company’s annual or interim financial
statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Management
performed an assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control
over financial reporting as of September 30, 2007, utilizing the criteria
described in the “Internal Control – Integrated Framework” issued by the
Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). The
objective of this assessment was to determine whether the Company’s internal
control over financial reporting was effective as of September 30, 2007. That
assessment identified the following control deficiencies as of September 30,
2007, that constituted material weaknesses:
Control Environment –
The control environment, which is the responsibility of senior management, sets
the tone of the organization, influences the actions of its employees, and is
the foundation for all other components of internal control over financial
reporting. We did not maintain an effective control environment. The Company
identified the following deficiencies in our control environment as of September
30, 2007, each of which is considered to be a material weakness:
● Code
of Conduct Violations
The
operating effectiveness of the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
Policy (the “Code”), which governs the execution by employees of their duties
and responsibilities within established procedures, was deficient. As a
result, the Code was not consistently and strictly adhered to, including by
certain of the Company’s former executive officers, and violations of the Code
were not promptly and appropriately reported. This deficiency led to an
environment where improper and erroneous accounting information was utilized
related to certain transactions and financial statement matters and
inappropriate decisions could have been made, and were made, including with
respect to certain model home sale-leaseback transactions and certain home
closings in California, that were not in accordance with GAAP.
● Compliance
With Laws and Regulations
The
design of the Company’s controls related to our mortgage origination practices
was not sufficient to ensure compliance with all applicable laws, rules, and
regulations, or to enable a determination of the financial statement impact
of such violations to the Company’s financial statement amounts and disclosures.
This resulted in the violation of certain applicable federal and/or state
regulations, and could result in reimbursement of losses and payment of
regulatory and/or criminal fines.
● Segregation
of Duties
Our
former Chief Accounting Officer had primary review and oversight
responsibilities for many financial reporting activities and controls designed
to ensure the accuracy of our financial statements. This lack of segregation of
duties was a deficiency in the design of our internal control over financial
reporting that allowed for improprieties or errors in the application of
accounting practices to go undetected.
● Management
Override and Collusion
Based on
the results of the independent investigation by the Audit Committee, we believe
that our former Chief Accounting Officer caused or permitted deficiencies to
occur in the operating effectiveness of our internal controls through the
override of certain documentation and financial accounting and reporting
controls. In addition, the results of the investigation uncovered collusion with
some of the Company’s business unit employees to inappropriately manipulate
earnings.
109
Accounting Policy, Procedures, and
Controls – There was a material weakness in the design of accounting
policies, procedures, and controls specifically related to the application of
GAAP in accounting for certain estimates involving significant management
judgments. Specifically our policies did not:
|
●
|
Establish
objective guidelines that should be applied in the determination of
certain accruals;
|
|
●
|
Require
detailed analyses and review of certain subjective
estimates;
|
|
●
|
Require
significant estimates and related assumptions to be documented and
approved;
|
|
●
|
Require
dual approval for material journal entries that directly impact earnings
through the adjustment of accruals and
reserves;
|
|
●
|
Establish
consistent guidelines for the compilation of financial and operational
reports; and
|
|
●
|
Provide
visibility into accruals and estimates which were recorded in the
consolidated financial statements in amounts that were different from the
sum of such accruals recorded at a divisional
level.
|
The
material weaknesses described above resulted in the restatement of our annual
financial statements for fiscal years 1998-2006 and our quarterly financial
statements for the quarters ended December 31, 2006 and March 31, 2007. These
material weaknesses had the following impacts on the Company’s financial
reporting:
|
●
|
Inappropriate
reserves and other accrued liabilities were recorded relating to land
development costs, house construction costs and warranty accruals. These
errors were caused by a failure to require a determination and
documentation of the reasonableness of the assumptions used to develop
such estimates of future expenditures for land development, house
construction and warranty claims.
|
|
●
|
Asset
impairments were misstated because certain assumptions used to calculate
impairments, indirect costs and capitalized interest were improper or
inaccurate.
|
|
●
|
The
accounting for certain model home sale and leaseback agreements was not in
compliance with GAAP. GAAP does not permit a sale of real estate to be
recognized if the seller has a continuing involvement in the real estate
sold. The Company’s arrangement for certain sale and leaseback
transactions included various forms of continuing involvement which
prevented the Company from accounting for the transactions as
sales.
|
|
●
|
Certain
sale and leaseback agreements entered into by the former Chief Accounting
Officer were not properly documented and considered in the evaluation of
the accounting for the
transactions.
|
|
●
|
Certain
home closings in California were not reflected in the Company’s accounting
records in the proper accounting
periods.
|
Because
of the material weaknesses described above, the Company did not maintain
effective internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2007.
The attestation report of Beazer Homes’ independent registered public accounting
firm is included in Part II, Item 8. “Financial Statements and
Supplementary Data” of this report under the captions entitled “Report of
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Control Over Financial
Reporting.”
Change
in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There
have not been any changes in our internal control over financial reporting
during the quarter ended September 30, 2007 that have materially affected, or
are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial
reporting.
Remediation
Steps to Address Material Weaknesses
The
Company’s executive, regional and financial management are committed to
achieving and maintaining a strong control environment and an overall tone
within the organization that empowers all employees to act with the highest
standards of ethical conduct. In addition, management remains committed to the
process of developing and implementing improved corporate governance and
compliance initiatives. Our current management team has been actively working on
remediation efforts to address the material weaknesses, as well as other
identified areas of risk as follows:
110
●
|
We
appointed a Compliance Officer in November 2007. The Compliance Officer is
responsible for implementing and overseeing the Company’s enhanced
Compliance Program. The Compliance Officer has oversight responsibility
for compliance practices across the organization and will implement
programs designed to foster compliance with all laws, rules, and
regulations as well as Company policies and
procedures.
|
●
|
We
revised, adopted, disclosed, and distributed an amended Code of Business
Conduct and Ethics in March 2008. In addition, a comprehensive set of
“Interpretive Guidelines” was developed and implemented in conjunction
with the amended Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. These guidelines are
intended to assist employees with understanding the requirements of the
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics by setting out specific examples of
potential business situations. Both the Code and the Guidelines highlight
the existence of multiple lines of communication for employees to report
concerns which include: their immediate supervisor, any member of
management, any local or corporate officer, local or Corporate Human
Resources, the Compliance Officer, the Head of Audit and Controls, the
Legal Department, the Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee of the Board of Directors or through the Ethics
Hotline.
|
●
|
We
transferred the administration of our Ethics Hotline from officers of the
Company to an independent third party company in March 2008. Complaints
are reported directly to the independent third party, whether via the
toll-free Ethics Hotline or via an on-line form. In addition to other
things, the transfer of administration of the Ethics Hotline is intended
to help ensure that all employees understand that there is an independent,
confidential, and if the employee chooses, anonymous method of reporting
ethics concerns, including those related to accounting, financial
reporting or other irregularities. An “Awareness Campaign” will be
launched to introduce all employees to the new Ethics Hotline process and
to encourage reporting of all
concerns.
|
●
|
We
launched a comprehensive training program in April 2008 that emphasizes
adherence to and the vital importance of the Company’s Code of Business
Conduct and Ethics. Every employee in the Company is required to
participate in the training program which was developed by an outside
company that specializes in ethics and other employee training
programs.
|
●
|
We
withdrew from the mortgage business and voluntarily discontinued accepting
mortgage applications in February 2008. Prior to our withdrawal from the
mortgage business, we terminated certain employees from our mortgage
subsidiary who we concluded violated certain HUD
regulations.
|
●
|
We
terminated the Company’s former Chief Accounting Officer and took
appropriate action, including the termination of employment, against other
business unit employees who violated the Company’s Code of Business
Conduct and Ethics Policy. While the former Chief Accounting Officer was
terminated for cause, due to violations of the Company’s ethics policy
stemming from attempts to destroy documents in violation of the Company’s
document retention policy, we believe his termination has addressed
concerns about the internal control deficiencies that we believe he caused
or permitted to occur.
|
●
|
We
hired a new, experienced Chief Accounting Officer in February 2008. The
new Chief Accounting Officer has significant experience in the
homebuilding industry, including one prior circumstance where he was
retained to oversee financial
controls.
|
●
|
We
have reorganized our field operations to concentrate certain accounting,
accounts payable, billing, and purchasing functions into Regional
Accounting Centers, and we are implementing new controls and procedures.
This centralization is designed to create a greater degree of control and
consistency in financial reporting practices and enable trend analyses
across business units.
|
●
|
We
have created the position of Regional CFOs within the
Regional Accounting Center finance function to minimize the lack
of segregation of duties in our prior structure that placed overly
concentrated control with the Corporate Chief Accounting Officer. The
Regional CFOs will play a critical role in ensuring the integrity of
financial information prior to submission to the Corporate office and
enable these employees to assess data and identify trends across multiple
markets. The risks of override and collusion are also expected to be
minimized as these positions have a much wider span of control and
authority.
|
●
|
The
Chief Accounting Officer and Regional CFOs are taking, or plan to take in
the near term, the following additional
actions:
|
|
-
|
Conducting
reviews of accounting processes to incorporate technology improvements to
strengthen the design and operation of
controls;
|
|
-
|
Formalizing
the process, analytics, and documentation around the monthly analysis of
actual results against budgets and forecasts conducted within the
accounting and finance departments;
|
|
-
|
Improving
quality control reviews within the accounting function to ensure account
analyses and reconciliations are completed accurately, timely, and with
proper management review;
|
|
-
|
Formalizing
and expanding the documentation of the Company’s procedures for review and
oversight of financial reporting.
|
111
●
|
We
have streamlined the responsibilities of business unit financial
Controllers to eliminate certain previously held responsibilities related
to Budgeting & Forecasting and Land Management; Controllers are now
specifically responsible solely for financial reporting, which we believe
will foster a more thorough and targeted review of financial
statements.
|
●
|
We
are in the process of developing, and/or clarifying existing accounting
policies related to estimates involving significant management judgments,
as well as other financial reporting areas. The new policies will focus on
ensuring appropriate review and approval, defining minimum documentation
requirements, establishing objective guidelines to minimize the degree of
judgment in the determination of certain accruals, enforcing consistent
reporting practices, and enabling effective account reconciliation, trend
analyses, and exception reporting capabilities. Specific policies and
practices that have already been implemented
include:
|
|
-
|
House
construction cost accruals are now cleared at consistent intervals after
the house has closed with the
customer.
|
|
-
|
Warranty
reserves are now consistent across business units according to a routine
calculation based on historical
trends.
|
|
-
|
Several
system applications were developed during the restatement process to
identify transactions requiring adjustment. These tools were designed so
that they can, and will, be used prospectively to monitor several of the
specific areas which required
restatement.
|
●
|
We
have allocated additional resources within our Audit and Controls
department to the review of financial reporting policies, process,
controls, and risks. The Audit and Controls department has also developed
and is in the process of implementing additional review procedures
specifically focused on period-end reporting
validation.
|
We
believe the measures described above, once designed and operating effectively,
will remediate the material weaknesses we have identified and strengthen our
internal control over financial reporting. We are committed to continuing to
improve our internal control processes and will diligently and vigorously review
our financial reporting controls and procedures. As we continue to evaluate and
work to improve our internal control over financial reporting, we may determine
to take additional remediation measures or determine to modify, or in
appropriate circumstances not to complete, certain of the remediation measures
described above.
Inherent
Limitations over Internal Controls
Our
system of controls is designed to provide reasonable, not absolute, assurance
regarding the reliability and integrity of accounting and financial reporting.
Management does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our
internal control over financial reporting will prevent or detect all errors
and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can
provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the
control system will be met. These inherent limitations include
the following:
●
|
Judgments
in decision-making can be faulty, and control and process breakdowns can
occur because of simple errors or
mistakes.
|
● Controls
can be circumvented by individuals, acting alone or in collusion with each
other, or by management override.
●
|
The
design of any system of controls is based in part on certain assumptions
about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that
any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential
future conditions.
|
●
|
Over
time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or
deterioration in the degree of compliance with associated policies or
procedures.
|
●
|
The
design of a control system must reflect the fact that resources are
constrained, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to
their costs.
|
Because
of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls
can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud,
if any, have been detected.
112
PART
III
Item
10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Directors
and Executive Officers
Set forth
below is a list of our directors and executive officers as of April 25,
2008:
Name
|
Age
|
Position
|
||
Ian
J. McCarthy
|
54
|
President,
Chief Executive Officer and Director
|
||
Michael
H. Furlow
|
57
|
Executive
Vice President, Chief Operating Officer
|
||
Allan
P. Merrill
|
42
|
Executive
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
|
||
Michael
R. Douglas
|
54
|
Executive
Vice President, Special Counsel
|
||
Laurent
Alpert
|
61
|
Director
|
||
Katie
J. Bayne
|
41
|
Director
|
||
Brian
C. Beazer
|
73
|
Director
|
||
Peter
G. Leemputte
|
51
|
Director
|
||
Larry
T. Solari
|
65
|
Director
|
||
Stephen
P. Zelnak
|
63
|
Director
|
Business
Experience
IAN J.
MCCARTHY. Mr. McCarthy is the President and Chief Executive Officer of
Beazer Homes and has served as a director of Beazer Homes since the IPO. Mr.
McCarthy has served as President of predecessors of Beazer Homes since January
1991 and was responsible for all United States residential homebuilding
operations in that capacity. During the period May 1981 to January 1991, Mr.
McCarthy was employed in Hong Kong and Thailand, becoming a director of Beazer
Far East and from January 1980 to May 1981 was employed by Kier, Ltd., a company
engaged in the United Kingdom construction industry which became an indirect,
wholly owned subsidiary of Beazer PLC. Mr. McCarthy is a Chartered Civil
Engineer with a Bachelor of Science degree from The City University, London. Mr.
McCarthy currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of HomeAid
America and of Builder Homesite, Inc. He was inducted into the California
Building Industry Hall of Fame in 2004, the first non-California resident to
receive this honor.
MICHAEL
H. FURLOW. Mr. Furlow joined us in October 1997 as the Executive Vice President
for Operations and was named Chief Operating Officer in 1998. In this capacity,
the Division Presidents report, directly or indirectly, to Mr. Furlow, and he is
responsible for the performance of those operating divisions. During the 12
years prior to joining Beazer Homes, Mr. Furlow was with Pulte Home Corporation
in various field and corporate roles, most recently as a Regional President. Mr.
Furlow received a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in Accounting from the
University of West Florida and initially worked as a Certified Public Accountant
for Arthur Young & Company.
ALLAN P.
MERRILL. Mr. Merrill joined us in May 2007 as Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer. Mr. Merrill was previously with Move, Inc. where he served as
Executive Vice President of Corporate Development and Strategy beginning in
October 2001. From April 2000 to October 2001, Mr. Merrill was president of
Homebuilder.com, a division of Move, Inc. Mr. Merrill joined Move, Inc.
following a 13-year tenure with the investment banking firm UBS (and its
predecessor Dillon, Read & Co.), where he was a managing director and served
most recently as co-head of the Global Resources Group, overseeing the
construction and building materials, chemicals, forest products, mining and
energy industry groups. Mr. Merrill is a member of the Policy Advisory Board of
the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University and the Homebuilding
Community Foundation. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania,
Wharton School with a Bachelor of Science in Economics.
113
MICHAEL
R. DOUGLAS. Mr. Douglas joined us in May 2007 as Senior Vice President, Special
Counsel and was promoted to Executive Vice President, Special Counsel in August
2007. Mr. Douglas previously served as executive vice president, general counsel
and secretary of Move, Inc. since October 2002. From 1997 to October 2002, Mr.
Douglas was a product liability consultant. From 1987 to 1997, Mr. Douglas was
senior vice president, general counsel and secretary at Fibreboard Corporation.
Mr. Douglas has served as a director of law of the Asbestos Claims Facility,
litigation counsel for Jim Walter Corporate and as an attorney in private
practice. Mr. Douglas received his Juris Doctor from the George Washington
University Law School in 1979. Mr. Douglas resigned his position as executive
vice president effective April 25, 2008 and will cease to be an employee
effective on or prior to July 15, 2008.
LAURENT
ALPERT. Mr. Alpert, 61, has served as a director since February 2002. Mr. Alpert
is a partner in the international law firm of Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen &
Hamilton. He joined Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton in 1972 and became a
partner in 1980. He received his undergraduate degree from Harvard College and a
law degree from Harvard Law School. Mr. Alpert is also a Director of the
International Rescue Committee, a non-profit organization providing relief and
resettlement services to refugees.
KATIE J.
BAYNE. Ms. Bayne, 41, has served as a director since December 2003. Ms. Bayne is
Chief Marketing Officer, Coca-Cola North America for The Coca-Cola Company,
responsible for portfolio strategy, knowledge and insights, consumer
communication, brand programming, media, sports/entertainment, and interactive
marketing. Since joining The Coca-Cola Company in 1989, she has held various
marketing positions in Atlanta, Los Angeles and Sydney, Australia. Ms. Bayne
holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Duke University, and a master of business
administration from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. She
currently sits on the board of Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of
Atlanta.
BRIAN C.
BEAZER. Mr. Beazer, 72, is the Non-Executive Chairman of Beazer Homes’
Board of Directors and has served as a director of Beazer Homes since its
initial public offering (the “IPO”) in 1994. From 1968 to 1983, Mr. Beazer was
Chief Executive Officer of Beazer PLC, a United Kingdom company, and then was
Chairman and CEO of that company from 1983 to the date of its acquisition by an
indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Hanson PLC (effective December 1, 1991).
During that time Beazer PLC expanded its activities to include homebuilding,
quarrying, contracting and real estate, and became an international group with
annual revenue of approximately $3.4 billion. Mr. Beazer was educated at the
Cathedral School, Wells, Somerset, England. He is a Director of Beazer Japan,
Ltd; Seal Mint, Ltd; United Pacific Industries Limited; and Numerex Corp., and
is a private investor.
PETER G.
LEEMPUTTE. Mr. Leemputte, 50, has been a director since August 2005. Mr.
Leemputte has been Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for
Brunswick Corporation, a publicly traded global leader in the leisure products
industry, including pleasure boats, marine engines, bowling and billiards
products and fitness equipment since 2003, having joined Brunswick in 2001 as
Vice President and Controller. Prior to joining Brunswick Corporation, Mr.
Leemputte was Executive Vice President, Chief Financial and Administrative
Officer of Chicago Title Corporation, a leading publicly traded national service
provider offering residential and commercial title insurance. Before joining
Chicago Title Corporation, Mr. Leemputte was a Vice President with Mercer
Management Consulting in Chicago where he was a partner in the firm’s global
practice covering strategy and operational studies within process industries.
His career also includes domestic and international financial assignments with
Armco Inc., FMC Corporation and BP Amoco. He also served as a product
development engineer with Procter & Gamble Company. Mr. Leemputte holds a
Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Washington University,
St. Louis and a Master of Business Administration in Finance and Marketing from
the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.
LARRY T.
SOLARI. Mr. Solari, 65, has served as a director of Beazer Homes since the IPO.
From 1998 to 2001, Mr. Solari was the Chairman and CEO of BSI Holdings, Inc. in
Carmel, California. Mr. Solari was the Chairman and CEO of Sequentia, Inc. from
1996 to 1997 and President of the Building Materials Group of Domtar, Inc. from
1994 to 1996. Mr. Solari was President of the Construction Products Group of
Owens-Corning Fiberglas from 1986 to 1994. Mr. Solari held various other
positions with Owens-Corning Fiberglas since 1966. Mr. Solari earned a Bachelor
of Science degree in Industrial Management and a Master of Business
Administration degree from San Jose State University and is a graduate of
Stanford University’s Management Program. Mr. Solari is a Director of Pacific
Coast Building Products, Inc., Atrium Companies, Inc., TruStile Doors, LLC, and
Performance Contracting Group. Mr. Solari is a past director of the Policy
Advisory Board of the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies and an Advisory
Board Member of the National Home Builders Association.
STEPHEN
P. ZELNAK, JR. Mr. Zelnak, 62, has served as a director of Beazer Homes
since February 2003. He is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Martin
Marietta Materials, Inc. Mr. Zelnak joined Martin Marietta Corporation in 1981
and prior to assuming his current position in 1993, had been the President of
Martin Marietta Corporation’s Materials Group and of Martin Marietta’s
Aggregates Division. Mr. Zelnak received a Bachelors degree from Georgia
Institute of Technology and Masters degrees in Administrative Science and
Business Administration from the University of Alabama System. He has served as
Chairman of the North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry, and is the
past Chairman of the North Carolina Community College Foundation. He serves on
the Advisory Boards of North Carolina State University and Georgia Institute of
Technology.
114
Code
of Ethics
Beazer
Homes has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for its senior financial
officers, which applies to its principal financial officer and controller, other
senior financial officers and Chief Executive Officer. The full text of the Code
of Business Conduct and Ethics can be found on the Company’s website,
www.beazer.com. If at any time there is an amendment or waiver of any provision
of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that is required to be disclosed,
information regarding such amendment or waiver will be published on our
website.
Audit
Committee
We have
an Audit Committee of the Board of Directors that meets the definition of an
audit committee as set forth in Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). The members of the Audit Committee are Messrs.
Alpert, Leemputte and Solari. The Board has determined that Mr. Leemputte
is an “audit committee financial expert” (as defined in Item 401(h) of
Regulation S-K).
Section
16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section
16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires our executive
officers and directors and persons who own more than ten percent of our stock,
as well as certain affiliates of such persons, to file initial reports of
ownership and changes of ownership with the SEC and the NYSE. These parties are
required to furnish us with copies of forms they file. Based solely on a review
of the copies of the Section 16(a) forms and amendments thereto received by us
and on written representations that no other reports were required, we believe
that all reports required pursuant to Section 16(a) for fiscal year 2007 were
timely filed by all persons known by us to be required to file such reports with
respect to our securities, with the following exceptions. A Form 4 for Michael
T. Rand, former Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer, has not been
filed by Mr. Rand to report forfeitures of options and restricted shares
pursuant to his termination of employment for cause. A Form 4 for each of Ian J.
McCarthy, Brian C. Beazer, and Katie J. Bayne to report vesting of restricted
stock units was inadvertently filed one day late.
115
Item
11. Executive Compensation
Compensation
Discussion and Analysis
This
Compensation Discussion and Analysis addresses the following:
● | compensation governance; | |
● | the process for determining compensation for Named Executive Officers; | |
|
●
|
the
philosophy and objectives of our executive compensation program, including
what the program is intended to reward;
|
● | composition of and rationale for the individual elements of our executive compensation program; and | |
●
|
methods
for determining the level of each individual
element.
|
Compensation Governance. The
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors is comprised of Messrs. Solari
and Zelnak and Ms. Bayne, each of whom the Board has determined to be
independent in accordance with the NYSE listing standards. Mr. Solari has
chaired the Committee since October 2002.
Role of the
Committee
The
Compensation Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of
Directors. A copy of the charter is available in the Investor Relations section
of our website, www.beazer.com, under “Corporate Governance.”. In general, the
Compensation Committee carries out the Board’s responsibilities relating to the
compensation of our executives and directors. The fundamental responsibilities
of the Compensation Committee include the following:
|
●
|
review,
oversee and approve corporate performance goals, objectives and policies
related to executive compensation;
|
|
●
|
evaluate
the Chief Executive Officer’s and other executive officers’ performance in
light of those performance goals and
objectives;
|
|
●
|
based
on this evaluation, either as a Committee, or together with other
independent directors (as directed by the Board), determine and approve
the compensation level and individual compensation elements for the CEO
and, with the CEO’s input, for other executive
officers;
|
|
●
|
administer
the Company’s cash-based and equity incentive compensation plans and
approve all awards under such plans for members of senior management,
which includes all of the Named Executive
Officers;
|
|
●
|
oversee
corporate succession planning; and
|
|
●
|
review
and establish compensation levels and programs for our
directors.
|
The
Committee has the sole authority on behalf of the Company to retain and
terminate any outside compensation consultant as well as the authority to
approve the fees charged by such consultant and other retention terms. In fiscal
2007, the Committee retained Tatum Partners regarding executive compensation
matters, and Berkowitz, Trager & Trager and PriceWaterhouseCoopers regarding
executive employment agreements. In prior years, the Committee has also retained
Watson Wyatt on executive compensation matters and Sullivan and Cromwell as
independent legal counsel to the Committee.
Annually,
the Committee reviews and examines comparative cash and equity compensation
data, including that extracted from the proxy statements, for a peer group of
publicly-held homebuilders (the “Peer Group”). The Peer Group currently consists
of Centex Corporation, D.R. Horton, Inc., Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., KB Home,
Lennar Corporation, M.D.C Holdings, Inc., NVR, Inc., Pulte Homes, Inc., Ryland
Group, Inc., and Toll Brothers, Inc. These companies were chosen due to their
similarity to us in principal business activities. This comparative compensation
data is used to gauge the appropriateness and competitiveness of our executive
compensation plans and programs. The Committee believes information regarding
pay practices at other publicly-held homebuilders is useful to establish that
our executive compensation practices are generally competitive, although the
Committee does not establish compensation levels based on industry practice
alone.
116
Role of
Executives
The Chief
Executive Officer annually reviews the performance of each of his direct
reports, which in fiscal 2007 included all other Named Executive Officers
(except for Mrs. Boydston) and makes recommendations to the Committee based on
this review. The Chief Financial Officer reviewed the performance of Mrs.
Boydston. The Non-Executive Chairman of the Board prepares and presents an
annual assessment of the performance of the Chief Executive Officer to the
Committee. In its annual evaluation of executive performance, the Committee
considers the reports of the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial
Officer and the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board; however it has total
discretion in adopting any recommendations of the Chief Executive Officer, the
Chief Financial Officer and the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board. The Chief
Executive Officer is present for Committee deliberations related to his direct
reports, but not for himself. The Chief Executive Officer, along with the
Chairman of the Compensation Committee and the Non-Executive Chairman of the
Board, are charged by the Compensation Committee with recommending performance
guidelines, reviewing executive performance against such performance guidelines
approved by the Committee, and recommending bonus awards to the Committee,
including those for Named Executive Officers (other than the CEO for himself),
under the Discretionary Bonus Plan which was established in September 2006 and
is described below.
At
various times during the year at the request of the Committee, the Chief
Financial Officer and the Senior Vice President, Human Resources may attend
Committee meetings, or portions thereof, to provide the Committee with
information requested by the Committee.
Compensation Philosophy. The
Company’s executive compensation program is designed to attract and retain
highly qualified executive leadership and fully align the executives’ interests
with those of stockholders by a) rewarding through cash incentive compensation
both annual and long-term financial success as measured by Value Created,
defined as earnings before interest and taxes (“EBIT”) in excess of cost of
capital and by b) rewarding through equity incentive compensation for both
relative and absolute performance of the Company’s stock and total return to
stockholders.
The key
principles of our executive compensation program that support this philosophy
include:
|
1.
|
Base
salaries should generally be comparable to the median for similar
positions at companies in the Peer
Group;
|
|
2.
|
Annual
incentive opportunities should represent a significant portion of total
cash compensation for executives, and provide both meaningful upside
opportunity for current and future EBIT in excess of cost of capital and
downside risk for current and future shortfalls of the same;
and
|
|
3.
|
Equity
incentives should include executive ownership of our equity as well as
stock options and stock-settled stock appreciation rights in order to
align executives’ risks and rewards directly with those of our
stockholders. A portion of equity incentives should also be tied to the
relative performance of the Company’s total stockholder return as compared
to a defined industry peer group (“the Performance Stock Peer
Group”).
|
This
philosophy aims to strike an appropriate balance between annual compensation and
long-term compensation so that our executives are appropriately focused on the
achievement of both near-term and longer-term financial performance and total
return to stockholders. We further aim to ensure management’s interests are
directly aligned with those of stockholders through an appropriate balance
between cash and equity compensation. Such a balance further ensures that our
executives are appropriately incentivized and at the same time both conserves
the Company’s working capital and prevents undue dilution of our stockholders’
holdings.
117
Elements of Executive
Compensation. Each element of executive compensation is described further
below.
Base Salary
We pay
base salaries to our executives in order to recruit and retain executives and to
provide a base level of compensation in light of the executive’s qualifications,
responsibilities and contributions. Base salaries are generally determined by
the Compensation Committee based on comparisons of Peer Group base salary
practices for positions of similar responsibilities and size, the roles and
responsibilities of the executives, and on individual performance as presented
to the Compensation Committee as described above. The Compensation Committee
does not engage in a formulaic benchmarking process and does not assign a
particular weight to any of these factors in its review. For 2007, the
Compensation Committee decided not to increase the base salaries of the Named
Executive Officers and has made a similar determination for 2008, with the
exception of Mr. Douglas, for whom the Committee approved an increased base
salary of $50,000 or 14.3% to $400,000 in accordance with the terms of his
employment letter effective May 1, 2007, and Mrs. Boydston, whose base salary
was increased by $7,410 or 3% to $254,410. Mr. Douglas resigned his position as
executive vice president effective April 25, 2008 and will cease to be an
employee effective on or prior to July 15, 2008. Mrs. Boydston resigned
effective March 14, 2008.
Annual Incentive
Compensation
The Executive Value Created
Incentive Plan
Except as
described below, we pay annual incentive compensation to our Named Executive
Officers under the Amended and Restated 2005 Executive Value Created Incentive
Plan or Executive VCIP. The most recent plan was approved by stockholders in
2005, although the Company has administered earlier versions of this plan since
1997. Participation in the Executive VCIP is at the discretion of the
Compensation Committee and is generally available only to officers who are full
time employees at the level of corporate senior vice president and above. Named
Executive Officers who were participants in the plan in fiscal 2007 were Messrs.
McCarthy and Furlow and Mrs. Boydston. Mr. O’Leary was also a participant in
this plan until his resignation in March 2007. Mr. Merrill, who joined the
Company in May 2007 was not a participant in fiscal 2007, but will be one in
fiscal 2008. Mr. Douglas, who also joined the Company in May 2007, is not a
participant in this plan; elements of his annual incentive compensation are
further described below.
The
awards under this Plan are made based upon the extent to which Beazer Homes
realizes EBIT, defined as earnings before interest and taxes, in excess of our
cost of capital. The amount of EBIT in excess of cost of capital is referred to
as Value Created. Plan
awards are also based on the increase in Value Created over the prior
year, referred to as Incremental Value Created.
The Compensation Committee believes paying annual incentive compensation based
on generating returns in excess of the cost of capital encourages executives to
make investment and operating decisions with a view toward both current year and
long-term financial performance, particularly given the longer investment time
horizons inherent in the homebuilding industry. In addition, the Committee
believes an incentive plan based on return on capital further aligns the
interests of executives with those of stockholders.
In
determining award levels under Executive VCIP, each participating executive is
assigned a range of percentages (in the case of Value Created) and a specific
percentage (in the case of Incremental Value Created) by
the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee also sets a maximum award
amount under the Executive VCIP for each executive by reference to a multiple of
salary. The ranges, percentages and multiples are determined based on the
executive’s position and with a view of providing cash incentive compensation
that is competitive with those awarded to similar positions at companies in the
Peer Group, if such information is available. The ranges, percentages and
multiples set by the Compensation Committee for fiscal 2007 and fiscal 2008 are
set forth below under “Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table and
Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table”.
118
The cost
of capital component of these formulae consists of a capital charge for the use
of capital employed in the business. The Compensation Committee sets the capital
charge for the participating Named Executive Officers as a percentage of the
capital employed. The capital charge, which currently ranges from 11% to 14% is
determined based both on the Company’s estimated cost of capital and on the
executive’s position, with a view of providing cash incentive compensation that
is competitive with those awarded to similar positions at companies in the Peer
Group, if such information is available. In fiscal 2007, for corporate executive
vice presidents and above, including Messrs. McCarthy, Furlow and O’Leary, the
capital charge was 11% and for corporate senior vice presidents, including Mrs.
Boydston, was 14%. For fiscal 2008, the capital charge will remain the same for
the current participants and will be 11% for Mr. Merrill.
Payments
under the Executive VCIP are made subject to the sole discretion of the
Committee and the Committee may reduce or disallow any payment or award under
the Executive VCIP on a case by case basis in appropriate
circumstances.
Based
upon our fiscal 2007 financial performance, resulting in negative EBIT, compared
to positive EBIT in fiscal 2006, both Value Created and Incremental Value Created for
the Company were negative for fiscal 2007 and no incentive amounts were earned
by or paid to the Named Executive Officers under the Executive
VCIP.
Each
year, the Committee has the right to review and revise the formula used to
calculate incentive compensation payments under the Executive VCIP. Any changes
approved by the Committee before the beginning of any fiscal year are applied to
awards under the Executive VCIP for that fiscal year. The Compensation Committee
intends to review the Executive VCIP for potential changes at least every three
years and reserves the right to amend it for any fiscal year prior to the
commencement of such fiscal year, subject to stockholder approval if required by
law, the rules of the NYSE or in order to continue to qualify payments hereunder
as “performance-based compensation” under Internal Revenue Code Section 162 (m).
Payments made under this Executive VCIP are intended to qualify as
“performance-based compensation” under Internal Revenue Code Section
162(m).
A
description of additional terms of the Executive VCIP may be found in the
“Narrative Disclosure to the Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based
Awards Table”.
Discretionary Bonus Awards and
Retention Payments
On
September 27, 2006, the Compensation Committee approved the establishment of a
Discretionary Bonus Plan for certain of the Company’s employees, including the
Named Executive Officers. Awards under this Plan may be granted to participants
based in whole or in part by the achievement of performance guidelines
established from time to time at the discretion of the Committee, but awards may
also be made by the Compensation Committee under this Plan without reference to
any specific performance guidelines. The Committee determined that establishing
a separate discretionary plan alongside the Executive VCIP was appropriate in
order to reward exceptional performance that supports overall Company
objectives. Furthermore, the plan was designed to provide flexibility,
particularly in light of current market conditions, to retain top performing
executives, and to motivate executives by tying compensation to individual
performance against criteria supporting specific Company objectives appropriate
to the current downturn in housing. The Chairman of the Compensation Committee,
the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors and our Chief Executive
Officer are charged with recommending performance guidelines, reviewing
executive performance for purposes of the Plan and recommending bonus awards to
the Committee (other than the CEO for himself). Payments under the discretionary
bonus plan do not qualify as performance-based compensation under Internal
Revenue Code Section 162(m).
In fiscal
2007, the Committee evaluated the possibility of implementing performance
guidelines for the purposes of granting awards under this Plan, but ultimately
decided not to and has not made a determination with respect to fiscal 2008 at
this time. No awards under the discretionary plan were made to Named Executive
Officers for fiscal 2007 with the exception of Mr. Merrill, who was awarded
$200,000. The award was made in recognition of his contributions since joining
the Company in May 2007, including those leading to the successful conclusion of
an amended revolving credit facility agreement and consent solicitation of the
Company’s senior note holders, both of which were important achievements for the
Company in navigating the current downturn in the housing market.
119
In
accordance with the terms of his offer letter dated April 13, 2007, Mr. Merrill
also received a guaranteed bonus of $250,000 for fiscal 2007. In accordance with
the terms of his employment letter effective May 2007, Mr. Douglas received a
guaranteed bonus of $145,833, representing 100% of salary, prorated for months
worked in fiscal 2007.
The
Compensation Committee also determined that is was appropriate to award
retention payments to certain key members of senior management for fiscal 2007.
One Named Executive Officer, Mrs. Boydston, received a retention payment of
$50,000 for fiscal 2007.
The Corporate Management Stock
Purchase Program
In order
to promote ownership of our stock by key executives, we maintain the Corporate
Management Stock Purchase Program or CMSPP. Under the CMSPP, certain key
executives, including the Named Executive Officers, may, at their election, have
a portion of their annual cash awards under the Executive VCIP and Discretionary
Bonus Plan deposited into an account as Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”)
representing shares of our common stock. These elections are made during
September preceding the fiscal year for which the elections apply. The number of
RSUs deposited is determined based on a per share price calculated at a 20%
discount from the closing stock price of our common stock on the date of award.
Shares represented by RSUs are issuable three years from the date of award,
subject to an election for further deferral by the participant. Until issued,
the shares cannot be sold, assigned, pledged or encumbered, receive no
dividends, have no voting rights, and may appreciate or depreciate in value from
the time they are purchased to when they vest and are subsequently issued. No
RSUs were issued under the CMSPP to Named Executive Officers for fiscal 2007
incentive compensation.
Due to
low availability of shares at the beginning of fiscal 2008 under the Amended and
Restated 1999 Stock Incentive Plan, from which shares under CMSPP are issued,
the Compensation Committee suspended this program for fiscal 2008 and will
revisit its use for fiscal 2009.
Long-term Incentive
Compensation
Equity-based Long-term
Incentives
We
utilize four equity-based, long-term incentives: stock options, stock-settled
stock appreciation rights (“SSARs”), time-based restricted stock, and
performance-based restricted stock pursuant to the Amended and Restated 1999
Stock Incentive Plan. Grants of some combination of stock options, SSARs,
restricted stock and performance-based stock are generally made annually.
Interim grants are made from time to time for new executive appointments and
promotions. Beginning in February 2006, the Committee adopted a practice of
awarding to Named Executive Officers 50% of equity incentives in the form of
stock options or SSARs and 50% in the form of restricted stock, generally half
of which is in the form of time-based restricted stock and half in the form of
performance-based restricted stock. The Committee believes that awarding a mix
of equity incentives in these proportions appropriately balances rewarding
absolute and relative performance of the Company’s stock to ensure an alignment
of the interests of management with those of stockholders in order to maximize
stockholder return.
Stock
options and SSARs are granted with exercise prices equal to 100% of fair market
value of the common stock on the date of grant. Commencing in fiscal 2007, the
Company began granting SSARs in lieu of stock options. The Committee viewed this
to be beneficial as SSARs are less dilutive to other stockholders than stock
options since only the amount of appreciation, rather than the entire grant, is
awarded in shares. At the same time, they are cost neutral to stock options for
the Company since they are treated the same under FAS 123(R). The allocation of
future awards of SSARs and stock options will also depend on availability of
each under the Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Incentive Plan, as the plan has
different sublimits for these awards. The Amended and Restated 1999 Stock
Incentive Plan contains a prohibition on re-pricing options without stockholder
approval.
120
Grants of
time-based restricted stock are restricted from sale and subject to forfeiture
prior to vesting. Performance-based restricted stock vests contingent upon the
ranking of the compound annual growth rate (“CAGR”) of total return to
stockholders of Beazer Homes’ stock as compared to the compound annual growth
rate of total stockholder return of the stock of the Performance Stock Peer
Group over a defined time period (the “performance period”). The Performance
Stock Peer Group consists of the following nine companies: Centex Corporation,
D.R. Horton, Inc., Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., KB Home, Lennar Corporation,
M.D.C Holdings, Inc., Pulte Homes, Inc., Ryland Group, Inc., and Toll Brothers,
Inc. NVR, Inc., which is included in the Peer Group used for comparative
compensation analysis, was excluded from the Performance Stock Peer Group by the
Compensation Committee due to a lack of comparability in terms of capital
structure and stock valuation metrics. Further information on the vesting of
performance-based restricted stock and other equity incentives are included in
the “Narrative Disclosure to the Summary Compensation Table and Grants of
Plan-Based Awards Table.”
The
Compensation Committee generally reviews and approves proposed grants of all
awards under the equity incentive plans in connection with the February Board of
Directors meeting and Annual Meeting of Stockholders. This was done to establish
consistent measurement dates across participants for the purposes of determining
vesting of performance-based restricted stock. However, as a result of the
pending U.S. Attorney and SEC investigations, litigation and related matters,
including the restatement of the prior years’ financial statements recently
conducted, the Company has not yet held its Annual Meeting and the Compensation
Committee has not reviewed or approved any grants for fiscal 2008 at this
time.
In
determining the amount of equity compensation to be granted to Named Executive
Officers annually, the Compensation Committee employs a defined multiple of base
salary, although this is subject to the discretion of the Committee, who may
alter the amount based on additional factors such as past award histories and
assessment of competitive practice. The multiples of base salary are determined
based on the executive’s position and with a view of providing levels of equity
compensation that are competitive with those awarded to similar positions at
companies in the Peer Group, if such information is available. The resulting
dollar amount is converted to a unit equivalent based on the closing stock price
on the grant date, and, in the case of stock options or SSARs, this closing
stock price on the grant date is discounted by 60% solely for the purpose of
converting the multiple of salary to a unit equivalent; as noted above the
exercise price is equal to 100% of fair market value of the common stock on the
date of grant. As noted above, 50% of the award is granted in the form of stock
options or SSARs, 25% in the form of time-based restricted stock and 25% in the
form of performance-based restricted stock. Although not all Named Executive
Officers received equity grants in fiscal 2007 (as discussed further below) and
no grants for 2008 have been reviewed or approved at this time, salary multiples
in place for the Named Executive Officers are as follows:
Ian
J. McCarthy
|
6.0
times base salary
|
|
Michael
H. Furlow
|
4.0
times base salary
|
|
Allan
P. Merrill
|
4.0
times base salary
|
|
Michael
Douglas
|
3.0
times base salary
|
|
Cory
J. Boydston
|
0.3
times base salary
|
In
February 2006, the Committee approved long-term stock incentive grants for
Messrs. McCarthy, Furlow, and O’Leary. These long-term stock incentive grants
were approved to ensure the retention of these executives and to more fully
align their interests with those of stockholders by rewarding them for relative
and absolute performance of the Company’s stock from 2006 onward. Pursuant to
his voluntary resignation in March 2007, Mr. O’Leary’s unvested grants were
forfeited. The grants were comprised 50% in the form of stock options and 50% in
the form of restricted stock, half of which was in the form of time-based
restricted stock and half in the form of performance-based restricted stock.
These grants were intended to be in lieu of the typical annual grants for the
subsequent three years, and as such, the multiple of salary was applied to three
years’ base salary at the then current level. As such, no stock incentive grants
were made to these executives in fiscal 2007. Mr. Merrill received a similar
grant in May 2007, at the time he joined the Company. Salary multiples used for
these grants were 6.0 times for Mr. McCarthy and 4.0 times for Messrs. Furlow,
O’Leary and Merrill.
121
In
accordance with the terms of Mr. Douglas’ employment letter effective May 1,
2007, he was awarded ‘phantom’ stock options and ‘phantom’ restricted stock on
his employment date. Each phantom stock option and each share of phantom
restricted stock is the economic equivalent to an option to purchase one share
of Beazer stock and one share of Beazer stock, respectively. The form and
vesting schedule (which is accelerated as compared to the vesting schedule of
equity grants to other Named Executive Officers) of Mr. Douglas’ phantom equity
compensation was designed differently from the other Named Executive Officers
given his role as Special Counsel, where his duties include handling all
litigation stemming from the recent investigation into the Company’s mortgage
origination practices and accounting restatement, securities litigation and
related issues. Mr. Douglas resigned his position as executive vice president
effective April 25, 2008 and will cease to be an employee effective on or prior
to July 15, 2008.
Executives
who resign from Beazer, or are terminated for cause before equity-based grants
are vested, forfeit such grants.
Stock Ownership
Guidelines
In order
to more closely align the interests of directors and senior corporate management
with those of stockholders, the Board has adopted guidelines requiring that
directors and certain senior corporate officers, including the Named Executive
Officers, acquire and maintain ownership, directly or beneficially, of a
meaningful amount of Company stock (“Executive and Director Stock Ownership
Program”). As currently structured, within four years of appointment to covered
positions, each covered individual must acquire and continue to own a minimum
level of Company stock equivalent in value to a specified multiple of the
executive’s annual base salary or director’s annual retainer. The required
multiples vary according to the covered position and are summarized
below:
Position
|
Value
of Required Stock Ownership
|
|||
Directors
|
5 x
Annual Director Retainer
|
|||
President
& CEO
|
5 x
Base Salary
|
|||
Executive
Vice President & COO
|
4 x
Base Salary
|
|||
Executive
Vice President & CFO
|
3 x
Base Salary
|
|||
Certain
Other Corporate Executives, including the other
Named
Executive Officers
|
2 x
Base Salary
|
The Board
has delegated to the Compensation Committee the primary responsibility for
overseeing and implementing the Executive and Director Stock Ownership Program,
including interpreting, monitoring compliance with and enforcing Executive and
Director Stock Ownership Program as adopted or amended by the Board from time to
time. As a result of the pending U.S. Attorney and SEC investigations,
litigation and related matters, including the restatement of the prior years’
financial statements recently conducted, the Company’s directors and the Named
Executive Officers were subject to ongoing closed period restrictions which
prohibited them from buying or selling Beazer stock through much of fiscal 2007
and to date in fiscal 2008. As such, the Compensation Committee and Board of
Directors suspended the Executive and Director Stock Ownership Program for
fiscal 2008 and will revisit the program, including possible modifications of
required multiples, later this fiscal year.
Deferred Compensation
Plan
Effective
January 1, 2002, we adopted the Beazer Homes USA, Inc. Deferred Compensation
Plan to provide eligible employees the opportunity to defer receipt of current
compensation. The amount of compensation deferred by participants is determined
based on elections by the plan participants and paid in accordance with the
terms of the Deferred Compensation Plan. Prior to the beginning of each year,
Plan participants for that year may elect to defer up to 50% of their base
salary and up to 75% of their annual bonus. The election is irrevocable for the
year, and Plan participants must make a new election each year in which they
wish to participate. At the same time deferral elections are made, Plan
participants also elect when they wish to receive distributions in the future of
their deferrals and any discretionary Company contributions. Plan participants
may schedule a fixed payment date or dates for payment of the deferred amounts
while employed or elect to have such amounts paid upon termination of
employment, either in lump sum or installments. Early non-scheduled
distributions (permitted only for funds deferred in plan years 2002 through
2004, under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code) can be made and incur a
penalty. Distributions which qualify as ‘hardship’ distributions from any plan
year incur no penalty. For fiscal 2007, we provided matching cash contributions
equal to the lesser of 50% of compensation deferred under the Plan or 3% of
eligible compensation, reduced by the matching contributions credited to the
participant under our 401(k) Plan. In the case of the Chief Executive Officer,
the Chief Operating Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, the Compensation
Committee has historically, in lieu of matching contributions, made
discretionary lump sum deferred compensation payments on behalf of these
executives in annual amounts of $200,000, $100,000, $50,000, respectively, with
a view of providing an attractive and competitive element of deferred,
post-employment or supplemental retirement benefit. These amounts are paid on a
pro-rata basis each pay period. As such, in the case of Messrs. McCarthy,
Furlow, Merrill and O’Leary, in fiscal 2007, the Compensation Committee made
discretionary lump sum deferred compensation payments on behalf of these Named
Executive Officers of $200,000, $100,000, $20,833 and $24,013,
respectively.
122
Other Benefits
Our Named
Executive Officers participate in employee benefit plans generally available to
all employees on the same terms, including a 401(k) Plan that provides for a
Company match on contributions. We do not have a defined benefit pension plan or
supplemental executive retirement plan. Our Named Executive Officers are
eligible, as are other senior managers, to use a company car or to receive a car
allowance. In addition, they are granted vacation at the beginning of the year
(as opposed to accruing it during the course of the fiscal year as is generally
the case with other employees), and may elect to participate in the Executive
Long-Term Disability Plan.
Employment and Change of Control
Agreements. On September 1, 2004, Beazer Homes entered into amended and
restated employment agreements (the “Employment Agreements”) with each of the
following Named Executive Officers: Ian J. McCarthy, Michael H. Furlow, and
James O’Leary. These agreements were subsequently amended on February 3, 2006.
Effective May 1, 2007, Beazer Homes entered into an employment agreement with
Allan P. Merrill. The Employment Agreements set forth the basic terms of
employment for each executive, including base salary, bonus and benefits,
including benefits to which each executive is entitled if employment is
terminated for various reasons. The basic terms of employment for Mr. Douglas,
including base salary, bonus and benefits are outlined in his employment letter
effective May 1, 2007, when he joined the Company. Mr. Douglas resigned his
position as executive vice president effective April 25, 2008 and will cease to
be an employee effective on or prior to July 15, 2008.
The Board
of Directors of the Company, at the recommendation of the Compensation
Committee, has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and
its stockholders to assure that the Company will have the continued dedication
of the Named Executive Officers, notwithstanding the possibility, threat or
occurrence of a Change of Control of the Company. The Board believes it is
imperative to diminish the inevitable distraction of an executive by virtue of
the personal uncertainties and risks created by a pending or threatened Change
of Control and to encourage the executive’s full attention and dedication to the
Company currently and in the event of any threatened or pending Change of
Control, and to provide the executive with compensation and benefits
arrangements upon a Change of Control which ensure that the compensation and
benefits expectations of the executive will be satisfied and which are
competitive. As such, the Compensation Committee has approved Supplemental
Employment (Change of Control) Agreements for the Named Executive Officers.
These Supplemental Employment Agreements provide for continued employment of the
Named Executive Officer for two years following a Change of Control or stated
benefits if the Named Executive Officer’s employment is terminated without
cause, or he or she leaves with Good Reason, within two years of a Change of
Control (a “double-trigger”). The Change of Control provisions in these
agreements supersede any similar provisions in the Named Executive Officer’s
Employment Agreement.
A
description of additional terms of the employment and change of control
agreements may be found in the “Narrative Disclosure to the Post-Employment
Compensation Table.”
123
Tax Deductibility of
Compensation. It is the Committee’s general policy to consider whether
particular payments and awards are deductible to Beazer Homes for Federal income
tax purposes, along with other factors, which may be relevant in setting
executive compensation practices. The Internal Revenue Service limits the
deductibility for Federal income tax purposes of compensation payments to
certain executive officers in excess of $1 million subject to certain exemptions
and exceptions.
Report
of the Compensation Committee
The
Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion
and Analysis required by Item 402 (b) of Regulation S-K with management and,
based on such review and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to
the Board that the compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this
Annual Report on Form 10-K and the Company’s Proxy Statement.
Larry
T. Solari
|
|
Katie
J. Bayne
|
|
Stephen
P. Zelnak, Jr.
|
|
The Members of the
Committee
|
Summary
Compensation Table
Set forth
below is summary compensation information for each person who was (1) at any
time during fiscal 2007 our Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer
and (2) at September 30, 2007, one of our three most highly compensated
executive officers, other than the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief
Financial Officer (collectively, the “Named Executive Officers”).
Name
and
Principal
Position
|
Year
|
Salary
($)
(2)
|
Bonus
($)
(3)
|
Stock
Awards
($)
(4)
|
Option
Awards
($)
(4)
|
Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compensation
($)
|
Change
in
Pension
Value
and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)
|
All
Other
Compensation
($)
(5)
|
Total
|
||||||||||||||||||
Ian
J. McCarthy -
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
President
and Chief
|
2007
|
$
|
1,200,000
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
3,168,413
|
$
|
2,947,523
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
219,522
|
$
|
7,535,458
|
||||||||||
Executive
Officer
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Michael
H.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Furlow -
Executive
|
2007
|
$
|
800,000
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
1,495,010
|
$
|
1,395,412
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
111,011
|
$
|
3,801,433
|
||||||||||
Vice
President and Chief Operating Officer
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Allan
P. Merrill -
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Executive
Vice
|
2007
|
$
|
250,000
|
$
|
450,000
|
$
|
303,870
|
$
|
405,368
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
30,040
|
$
|
1,439,278
|
||||||||||
President
and Chief Financial Officer(1)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Michael
Douglas -
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Special
Counsel
|
2007
|
$
|
145,833
|
$
|
145,833
|
$
|
26,692
|
$
|
15,378
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
6,625
|
$
|
340,361
|
||||||||||
and
former Executive Vice President (1)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cory
J. Boydston -
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Former
Senior Vice
|
2007
|
$
|
247,000
|
$
|
50,000
|
$
|
30,080
|
$
|
34,251
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
15,000
|
$
|
376,331
|
||||||||||
President
and Treasurer (1)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
James
O’Leary -
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Former
Executive
|
2007
|
$
|
269,590
|
$
|
944,892
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
28,529
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
81,563
|
$
|
1,324,574
|
||||||||||
Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer (1)
|
124
(1)
|
Mr.
O’Leary resigned from the Company effective March 23, 2007. Messrs.
Merrill and Douglas joined the Company effective May 1, 2007. Mr. Douglas
resigned his position as executive vice president effective April 25, 2008
and will cease to be an employee effective on or prior to July 15, 2008.
Mrs. Boydston resigned from the Company effective March 14,
2008.
|
(2)
|
Includes
$3,000 and $51,042, respectively for Messrs. Merrill and Douglas which
were deferred by the executive under the Deferred Compensation
Plan
|
(3)
|
For
Mr. Merrill, includes $250,000 guaranteed bonus in accordance with his
offer letter and $200,000 discretionary bonus awarded by the Compensation
Committee. Mr. Douglas received a guaranteed bonus of $145,833, equal to
his base salary prorated for months worked in fiscal 2007, in accordance
with his employment letter. Mrs. Boydston received a retention payment of
$50,000. For Mr. O’Leary, represents his prorated average annual bonus
that he became entitled to upon his resignation in accordance with his
employment agreement.
|
(4)
|
Amounts
reflect the dollar amount recognized for financial statement reporting
purposes for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007 in accordance with
FAS 123(R) except that estimated forfeitures have been disregarded for
these purposes. These columns include amounts from awards of restricted
stock, RSUs, stock options and SSARs granted both in and prior to fiscal
2007. Messrs. McCarthy, Furlow and O’Leary received no grants in fiscal
2007, with the exception of RSUs to Mr. McCarthy representing his election
to defer a portion of his fiscal 2006 annual cash bonus compensation. See
“Grants of Plan Based Awards Table” for information pertaining to grants
made to Messrs. McCarthy, Merrill and Douglas and Mrs. Boydston in fiscal
2007. Further information regarding the valuation of stock and option
awards can be found in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in
this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2007.
Mrs. Boydston resigned from the Company effective March 14, 2008; all
unvested equity awards were forfeited. Mr. O’Leary resigned from the
Company effective March 23, 2007; all unvested equity awards were
forfeited. Mr. Douglas resigned from his position as executive vice
president of the Company effective April 25, 2008. Upon his termination of
employment, which will be effective on or prior to July 15, 2008, all
unvested equity awards will be
forfeited.
|
(5)
|
“All
Other Compensation” consists of the
following:
|
Name
and Principal Position
|
Deferred
Compensation
Match
or
Discretionary
Lump
Sum
Contributions
|
401
K
Company
Match
|
Car
Allowance/
Company
Car
|
Accrued
Vacation
Paid
at
Termination
|
Total
|
|||||||||||
Ian J. McCarthy -
President and Chief
|
$
|
200,000
|
$
|
6,750
|
$
|
12,772
|
N/A
|
$
|
219,522
|
|||||||
Executive
Officer
|
||||||||||||||||
Michael H. Furlow -
Executive Vice
|
$
|
100,000
|
$
|
6,750
|
$
|
4,261
|
N/A
|
$
|
111,011
|
|||||||
President
and Chief Operating Officer
|
||||||||||||||||
Allan P. Merrill -
Executive Vice
|
$
|
20,833
|
$
|
4,870
|
$
|
4,337
|
N/A
|
$
|
30,040
|
|||||||
President
and Chief Financial Officer
|
||||||||||||||||
Michael Douglas -
Special Counsel and
|
$
|
2,625
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
4,000
|
N/A
|
$
|
6,625
|
|||||||
former
Executive Vice President
|
||||||||||||||||
Cory J. Boydston -
Former Senior Vice
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
6,600
|
$
|
8,400
|
N/A
|
$
|
15,000
|
|||||||
President
and Treasurer
|
||||||||||||||||
James O’Leary - Former
Executive Vice
|
$
|
24,013
|
$
|
3,945
|
$
|
1,913
|
$
|
51,692
|
$
|
81,563
|
||||||
President
and Chief
|
||||||||||||||||
Financial
Officer
|
125
Grants
of Plan-Based Awards
The
following table shows information about eligible or granted plan-based awards
for fiscal 2007 to the Named Executive Officers.
Estimated
Future Payouts
Under
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Awards
|
Estimated
Future Payouts
Under
Equity
Incentive Plan
Awards
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name
|
Grant
Date
|
Threshold
($)
|
Target
($)
|
Maximum
($)
(1)
|
Threshold
(#)
(2)
|
Target
(#)
(2)
|
Maximum
(#)
(2)
|
All
Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stock or Units (#)
|
All
Other Option Awards:
Number
of Securities Underlying Options (#)
|
Exercise
or
Base
Price
of
Option
Awards
($/sh)
|
Grant
Date
Fair
Value of Stock and
Option
Awards
($)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ian
J.
McCarthy
|
(1)
|
(1)
|
$
|
10,560,000
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/15/2006
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
40,103
|
(3)
|
-
|
-
|
$
|
1,783,380
|
(3)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Michael
H.
Furlow
|
(1)
|
(1)
|
$
|
4,488,000
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Allan
P.
|
5/1/2007
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
26,471
|
52,941
|
79,412
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
$
|
1,808,818
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Merrill
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5/1/2007
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
52,941
|
(4)
|
-
|
-
|
$
|
1,799,994
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
5/1/2007
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
264,706
|
$
|
34.00
|
$
|
4,864,413
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Michael
Douglas
|
5/1/2007
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
15,441
|
(4)
|
-
|
-
|
$
|
524,994
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
5/1/2007
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
38,603
|
(5)
|
$
|
34.00
|
$
|
686,361
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Cory
J.
Boydston
|
(1)
|
(1)
|
$
|
339,625
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
11/15/2006
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1,765
|
(3)
|
-
|
-
|
$
|
78,490
|
(3)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
2/6/2007
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
237
|
473
|
710
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
$
|
13,031
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/6/2007
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
473
|
(4)
|
-
|
-
|
$
|
20,386
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
2/6/2007
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
2,364
|
$
|
43.10
|
$
|
53,261
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
James
O’Leary
|
(1)
|
(1)
|
$
|
2,618,000
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
(1)As
discussed in “Compensation Discussion & Analysis” and in “Narrative
Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table and Grants of
Plan-Based Awards Table”, awards under the Executive VCIP are made based
upon the extent to which Beazer Homes realizes EBIT in excess of cost of
capital, referred to as
Value Created. Executives participating in the Executive VCIP each
year are paid a set percentage of Value Created (if
positive) and a set percentage of the increase in Value Created over the
prior year (if positive), referred to as Incremental Value
Created. As such, there are no threshold or target levels of
estimated future payout under the Executive VCIP. The maximum total amount
which may be awarded to a participant in any one year under the Executive
VCIP is subject to a maximum bonus salary multiple determined by the
participants position, prior to any performance factor adjustment, and in
any case, may not exceed $11 million including any performance factor
adjustment. (see “Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table and
Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table”). No awards were
earned under the Executive VCIP for fiscal
2007.
|
|
(2)Represents
grants of performance-based restricted stock which vests contingent upon
the ranking of the compound annual growth rate (“CAGR”) of total return to
stockholders of Beazer Homes’ stock as compared to the compound annual
growth rate of total stockholder return of the stock of the Performance
Stock Peer Group (which currently consist of nine companies) over a
defined time period (the “performance period”). See “Narrative Disclosure
to Summary Compensation Table” and “Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table” for
further detail. Amounts shown assume a threshold level of achievement at a
50% vesting percentage assuming that our CAGR peer ranking achieved is
equal to or above the 7th ranked peer during the performance period, a
target level of achievement at a 100% vesting percentage assuming that our
CAGR peer ranking achieved is equal to or above the 5th ranked peer during
the performance period, and a maximum level of achievement at a 150%
vesting percentage, assuming that our CAGR peer ranking achieved is above
the 3rd ranked peer during the performance
period.
|
|
(3)Represents
portion of executive’s fiscal 2006 annual cash bonus compensation deferred
under the CMSPP. Deferred amounts are deposited into an account as RSUs
representing shares of our common stock. As such, the annual cash bonus
compensation was earned and reported in fiscal 2006, although the grant
took place in fiscal 2007. The number of RSUs deposited is determined
based on a per share price calculated at a 20% discount from the closing
stock price of our common stock on the date of award. Shares represented
by RSUs vest three years from the date of award. Until vested, such shares
cannot be sold, assigned, pledged or encumbered, do not receive dividends
and do not have voting rights and may appreciate or depreciate in value
from the time they are purchased to when they vest and are subsequently
issued. The grant date fair value amount shown reflects the total number
of RSUs granted, although only the 20% discount is amortized and expensed
under FAS 123R.
|
|
(4)In
the case of Mr. Merrill and Mrs. Boydston, represents grants of time-based
restricted stock. In the case of Mr. Douglas, represents the grant of
‘phantom’ restricted stock.
|
|
(5)Award
in the form of ‘phantom’ stock
options.
|
126
Narrative
Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards
Table
The
Executive Value Created Incentive Plan
Grants of
awards under our Executive Value Created Incentive Plan are disclosed in the
Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table in the year they are granted. The value of the
award is disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table in the year when the
performance criteria under the plan are satisfied and the compensation
earned.
The
awards under this Plan are made based upon the extent to which Beazer Homes
realizes EBIT in excess of our cost of capital. This amount of EBIT in excess of
cost of capital is referred to as Value Created. Executives
participating in the Executive VCIP each year are paid a set percentage of Value Created (if positive)
and a set percentage of the increase in Value Created over the prior
year (if positive), referred to as Incremental Value Created.
Elements for determining Value
Created and Incremental
Value Created are defined as follows:
EBIT - Earnings Before
Interest and Taxes.
Value Created (VC) - EBIT less
a Capital Charge.
Incremental Value Created
(IVC) - Increase or decrease in Value Created compared to the prior
year.
Capital Employed - Total
Assets, excluding cash, less Total Liabilities (other than debt). Also equal to
total debt plus total equity, less cash on hand. This represents the total book
value of the investment in the business. Capital Employed is determined
daily.
Capital Charge – A charge for
the use of capital employed in the business. The Capital Charge for the
participating Named Executive Officers is currently in the range of 11% to 14%
of the Capital Employed. In fiscal 2007, the Capital Charge was 11% for
corporate executive vice presidents and above, including Messrs. McCarthy,
Furlow and O’Leary and 14% for corporate senior vice presidents, including Mrs.
Boydston. For fiscal 2008, the Capital Charge will remain the same for current
participants and will be 11% for Mr. Merrill. The Capital Charge for purposes of
this Plan is determined from time to time by, and may be adjusted individually
or for the participants as a whole, at the discretion of the Compensation
Committee in connection with its review of the Executive VCIP. The Compensation
Committee, at its sole discretion, may approve objectively measurable
adjustments to the Capital Charge, and therefore to VC and IVC, in recognition
of special circumstances or to provide special incentives in the long-term
interests of value creation. As an example, credit to the Capital Charge may be
granted for purchases of land in advance of the immediate need for development,
thereby encouraging commitments for future land development.
The
percentage of Value
Created paid is determined on a graduated scale which decreases as Value
Created increases. The percentage of Incremental Value Created is
fixed regardless of the level of Value Created. Each
participating executive is assigned a range of percentages (in the case of Value Created) and a specific
percentage (in the case of Incremental Value Created) by
the Compensation Committee.
In
addition, each year, pursuant to the Executive VCIP, the same percentages of
Value Created and Incremental Value Created
(whether positive or negative) are deemed to be put into a bank, which
represents future bonus potential based upon a combination of both past and
future performance, further encouraging a long-term view to decision-making. The
bank is always at risk, and can be reduced by future negative
performance.
Each
year, after adding or subtracting the current year’s amounts to the bank, one
third of the bank is paid out. The maximum balance of the bank, after current
year additions and payments, is equal to one times the current year’s maximum
cash payment, defined below. Twenty-five percent of any amount over this limit
will be awarded in a combination of restricted stock and/or deferred
compensation, at the discretion of the Compensation Committee. The remaining 75%
of the excess is forfeited. At the end of each fiscal year, 10% of any positive
ending bank, after current year adjustments, cash payments and any reduction for
excess over the maximum limit specified in the Plan will be awarded as deferred
compensation. This deferred compensation or restricted stock vests three years
after the grant date and is forfeited upon termination for any reason other than
a Change in Control. Upon a Change in Control, all such deferred compensation or
restricted stock vests immediately.
In
September 2006, the Committee established a minimum of one-half of an employee’s
salary for purposes of annual opening bank balances under the Executive VCIP for
fiscal year 2007 and future years.
The
maximum total amount which may be awarded to any participant in any one year
under the Executive VCIP is $10.0 million excluding any performance factor
adjustment (described below) and $11.0 million including any performance factor
adjustment, subject to a maximum bonus salary multiple which is determined by
the participant’s position.
For
fiscal 2007 and 2008, the percentages and maximum bonus salary multiples for the
participating Named Executive Officers were and are as follows:
Name
and Principal Position
|
Value
Created (000’s)
|
|||||||||||||||
From
|
To
|
Value
Created
Percentage
|
Incremental
Value
Created
Percentage
|
Maximum
Bonus
Salary
Multiple
|
||||||||||||
Ian J. McCarthy -
President and Chief Executive Officer
|
<
|
$
|
0
|
2.50
|
%
|
2.50
|
%
|
2.55
|
||||||||
$
|
1
|
$
|
5,000
|
2.50
|
%
|
2.50
|
%
|
3.83
|
||||||||
$
|
5,001
|
$
|
10,000
|
1.50
|
%
|
2.50
|
%
|
4.25
|
||||||||
$
|
10,001
|
$
|
20,000
|
1.00
|
%
|
2.50
|
%
|
4.68
|
||||||||
$
|
20,001
|
$
|
60,000
|
0.85
|
%
|
2.50
|
%
|
6.50
|
||||||||
$
|
60,000
|
>
|
0.63
|
%
|
2.50
|
%
|
8.00
|
|||||||||
Michael H. Furlow -
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
|
<
|
$
|
0
|
1.50
|
%
|
1.50
|
%
|
2.19
|
||||||||
$
|
1
|
$
|
5,000
|
1.50
|
%
|
1.50
|
%
|
3.28
|
||||||||
$
|
5,001
|
$
|
10,000
|
0.90
|
%
|
1.50
|
%
|
3.64
|
||||||||
$
|
10,001
|
$
|
20,000
|
0.60
|
%
|
1.50
|
%
|
4.01
|
||||||||
$
|
20,001
|
$
|
60,000
|
0.30
|
%
|
1.50
|
%
|
4.37
|
||||||||
$
|
60,000
|
>
|
0.20
|
%
|
1.50
|
%
|
5.10
|
|||||||||
Allan P. Merrill -
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
|
<
|
$
|
0
|
0.83
|
%
|
0.83
|
%
|
1.82
|
||||||||
$
|
1
|
$
|
5,000
|
0.83
|
%
|
0.83
|
%
|
2.73
|
||||||||
$
|
5,001
|
$
|
10,000
|
0.50
|
%
|
0.83
|
%
|
3.04
|
||||||||
$
|
10,001
|
$
|
20,000
|
0.33
|
%
|
0.83
|
%
|
3.34
|
||||||||
$
|
20,001
|
$
|
60,000
|
0.17
|
%
|
0.83
|
%
|
3.64
|
||||||||
$
|
60,000
|
>
|
0.10
|
%
|
0.83
|
%
|
4.25
|
|||||||||
Cory J. Boydston -
Former Senior Vice President and Treasurer
|
<
|
$
|
0
|
0.20
|
%
|
0.20
|
%
|
0.54
|
||||||||
$
|
1
|
$
|
5,000
|
0.20
|
%
|
0.20
|
%
|
0.80
|
||||||||
$
|
5,001
|
$
|
10,000
|
0.12
|
%
|
0.20
|
%
|
0.89
|
||||||||
$
|
10,001
|
$
|
20,000
|
0.08
|
%
|
0.20
|
%
|
0.98
|
||||||||
$
|
20,001
|
$
|
60,000
|
0.04
|
%
|
0.20
|
%
|
1.07
|
||||||||
$
|
60,000
|
>
|
0.02
|
%
|
0.20
|
%
|
1.25
|
|||||||||
James O’Leary - Former
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
|
<
|
$
|
0
|
0.83
|
%
|
0.83
|
%
|
1.82
|
||||||||
$
|
1
|
$
|
5,000
|
0.83
|
%
|
0.83
|
%
|
2.73
|
||||||||
$
|
5,001
|
$
|
10,000
|
0.50
|
%
|
0.83
|
%
|
3.04
|
||||||||
$
|
10,001
|
$
|
20,000
|
0.33
|
%
|
0.83
|
%
|
3.34
|
||||||||
$
|
20,001
|
$
|
60,000
|
0.17
|
%
|
0.83
|
%
|
3.64
|
||||||||
$
|
60,000
|
>
|
0.10
|
%
|
0.83
|
%
|
4.25
|
Percentages
and Maximum Bonus Salary Multiples for Value Created less than $0 are for the
purposes of calculating reductions in the bank and maximum payments from the
bank, if positive.
127
Actual
incentive payments funded may be adjusted by additional performance factors and
percentages, subject to the determination by the Compensation Committee prior to
the beginning of any fiscal year that such additional adjustments shall not
apply. The Compensation Committee adopts from time to time a schedule showing
the percentage adjustments based on scores or other elements achieved with
respect to the additional performance factors. For fiscal 2007, the following
performance factor adjustments were in place:
(a)
|
Profitable
Growth:
|
0%
to +10%
|
||
(b)
|
Customer
Satisfaction:
|
-10%
to +0%
|
As such,
actual incentive payments adjustments for fiscal 2007 could vary from -10% to
+10% of the amount that would have been payable under the Executive VCIP before
application of the performance factor adjustments.
As
discussed above, based upon our fiscal 2007 financial performance both Value Created and Incremental Value Created for
the Company were negative and no incentive amounts were earned by or paid to the
Named Executive Officers under the Executive VCIP.
Equity-based
Incentives
Grants of
equity incentive plan awards and the full grant date fair value (determined in
accordance with FAS 123(R)) of such awards are disclosed in the “Grants of
Plan-Based Awards Table” in the year they are granted. The amount recorded as
compensation expense in our income statement in accordance with FAS 123(R)
relating to any such awards is disclosed in the “Summary Compensation Table” in
the year when the compensation expense is recorded.
We
utilize four equity-based, longer-term incentives: stock options, stock-settled
stock appreciation rights (“SSARs”), time-based restricted stock, and
performance-based restricted stock pursuant to the Amended and Restated 1999
Stock Incentive Plan.
Except in
the case of the grants made to Messrs. McCarthy, Furlow, and O’Leary in February
2006 and to Mr. Merrill in May 2007, equity incentives vest as
follows:
|
●
|
Stock
options and SSARs vest after three years from the date of grant and expire
seven years after grant (ten years for stock options granted prior to May
2003).
|
|
●
|
Time-based
restricted stock vests five years from the date of
grant.
|
|
●
|
Performance-based
restricted stock vests after three years from grant contingent upon the
ranking of the compound annual growth rate (“CAGR”) of total return to
stockholders of Beazer Homes’ stock as compared to the compound annual
growth rate of total stockholder return of the stock of the Performance
Stock Peer Group over a defined time period (the “performance
period”).
|
The
performance criteria and corresponding vesting percentages for achieving such
for performance-based restricted stock are defined as follows:
CAGR
Peer Ranking
|
Vesting
Percentage
|
|
Above
3rd Ranked Peer
|
150%
|
|
Equal
to 3rd Ranked Peer
|
130%
|
|
Equal
to or Above 4th Ranked Peer
|
115%
|
|
Equal
to or Above 5th Ranked Peer
|
100%
|
|
Equal
to or Above 6th Ranked Peer
|
75%
|
|
Equal
to or Above 7th Ranked Peer
|
50%
|
|
Below
7th Ranked Peer
|
0%
|
Total
stockholder return is defined as ending stock price plus dividends paid, divided
by beginning stock price. Beginning stock price is defined as the average of the
closing stock prices for the 20 trading days ending on the last trading day
prior to the first trading day of the applicable performance period. Ending
stock price is defined as the average of the closing stock prices for the 20
trading days ending on the last trading day of the performance
period.
128
In
February 2006, the Committee approved long-term stock incentive grants for
Messrs. McCarthy, Furlow, and O’Leary. Mr. Merrill received a similar grant in
May 2007, at the time he joined the Company. The vesting schedule for these
grants differed from those described above as follows:
Performance-based restricted stock:
One-third each of the aggregate number of performance-based restricted
shares is eligible to vest depending on performance three, four and five years
respectively after the beginning of the performance period, as defined in the
award agreement. Depending on the level of performance achieved, as measured by
the performance criteria described above, between 0% and 150% of shares then
eligible for vesting on the performance date will vest. Upon termination of
employment other than for cause or voluntary resignation, a portion of the
performance-based restricted stock will vest, depending on length of service
since the grant date.
Time-based restricted stock:
Beginning five years after the date of grant, the restrictions on
one-third of the time-based restricted stock will lapse each year for three
years subject to continued employment. Upon termination of
employment other than for cause or voluntary resignation, a portion of the
restricted stock will vest, depending on length of service since the grant
date.
Stock options or SSARs:
Beginning three years after the date of grant, the stock options or SSARs vest
one third each year for three years and will expire seven years after the date
of grant. Upon
termination of employment other than for cause or voluntary resignation, a
portion of the stock options or SSARs will vest, depending on length of service
since the grant date.
In
accordance with the terms of Mr. Douglas’ employment letter effective May 2007,
he was awarded ‘phantom’ stock options and ‘phantom’ restricted stock on his
employment date. These phantom stock options were scheduled to vest over three
years with one third vesting on the first anniversary of employment. The
remaining two thirds were scheduled to vest in ratable increments each quarter
over the following eight quarters. The phantom shares of restricted stock were
scheduled to vest over five years, with 20% vesting on the first anniversary of
employment with the remaining 80% vesting in ratable increments each quarter
over the following 16 quarters. As a result of his termination of employment,
which will be effective on or prior to July 15, 2008, all of the unvested
‘phantom’ stock options and restricted stock will be forfeited on the date of
termination.
129
Outstanding
Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
The
following table provides information with respect to the common stock that may
be issued upon the exercise of options and other awards under our existing
equity incentive plans as of September 30, 2007.
Option
Awards
|
Stock
Awards
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Equity
Incentive Plan
Awards
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number
of Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name
|
Grant
Date
|
Exercisable
|
Unexercisable
|
Option
Exercise
Price
($)
|
Option
Expiration
Date
|
Number
of
Shares
or
Units
of
Stock
That
Have
Not
Vested
(#)
|
Market
Value
of
Shares
or
Units
of
Stock
That
Have
Not
Vested
($)
(11)
|
Number
of
Unearned
Shares,
Units
or
Other
Rights
that
Have
Not
Vested (#)
(12)
|
Market
or
Payout
Value
of
Unearned
Shares,
Units
or
Other
Rights
That
Have
Not
Vested
($)
(11)
|
|||||||||||||||
Ian
J.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
McCarthy
|
4/16/2002
|
73,824
|
-
|
$
|
26.55
|
4/16/2012
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||||||||
4/16/2002
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
24,362
|
(6)
|
$
|
200,987
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||||||||
11/15/2002
|
114,279
|
-
|
$
|
20.83
|
11/15/2012
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||||||||
2/10/2004
|
45,129
|
-
|
$
|
32.96
|
2/10/2011
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||||||||
2/10/2004
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
36,105
|
(7)
|
$
|
297,866
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||||||||
11/4/2004
|
41,379
|
-
|
$
|
38.06
|
11/4/2011
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||||||||
11/4/2004
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
33,102
|
(7)
|
$
|
273,092
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||||||||
11/15/2005
|
-
|
33,860
|
(2)
|
$
|
62.02
|
11/15/2012
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||||||||
11/15/2005
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
27,088
|
(7)
|
$
|
223,476
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||||||||
2/2/2006
|
-
|
393,816
|
(3)
|
$
|
68.56
|
2/2/2013
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||||||||
2/2/2006
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
78,763
|
(8)
|
$
|
649,795
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||||||||
2/2/2006
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
39,382
|
$
|
324,897
|
|||||||||||||||
11/15/2006
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
40,103
|
(10)
|
$
|
330,850
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||||||||
Michael
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
H.
Furlow
|
4/16/2002
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
12,977
|
(6)
|
$
|
107,060
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||||||
2/10/2004
|
27,306
|
-
|
$
|
32.96
|
2/10/2011
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||||||||
2/10/2004
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
21,846
|
(7)
|
$
|
180,230
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||||||||
11/4/2004
|
25,614
|
-
|
$
|
38.06
|
11/14/2011
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||||||||
11/4/2004
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
20,493
|
(7)
|
$
|
169,067
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||||||||
11/15/2005
|
-
|
19,349
|
(2)
|
$
|
62.02
|
11/15/2012
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||||||||
11/15/2005
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
15,479
|
(7)
|
$
|
127,702
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||||||||
2/2/2006
|
-
|
175,029
|
(3)
|
$
|
68.56
|
2/2/2013
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||||||||
2/2/2006
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
35,007
|
(8)
|
$
|
288,808
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||||||||
2/2/2006
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
17,504
|
$
|
144,404
|
|||||||||||||||
Allan
P.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Merrill
|
5/1/2007
|
-
|
264,706
|
(3)(4)
|
$
|
34.00
|
5/1/2014
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||||||
5/1/2007
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
52,941
|
(8)
|
$
|
436,763
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||||||||
5/1/2007
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
26,471
|
$
|
218,382
|
|||||||||||||||
Michael
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Douglas
|
5/1/2007
|
-
|
38,603
|
(5)
|
$
|
34.00
|
5/1/2014
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||||||
5/1/2007
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
15,441
|
(9)
|
$
|
127,388
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||||||||
Cory
J.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Boydston
(1)
|
11/15/2002
|
4,803
|
-
|
$
|
20.83
|
11/15/2012
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||||||||
2/10/2004
|
3,450
|
-
|
$
|
32.96
|
2/10/2011
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||||||||
11/4/2004
|
1,590
|
-
|
$
|
38.06
|
11/4/2011
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||||||||
11/15/2005
|
-
|
1,042
|
(2)
|
$
|
62.02
|
11/15/2012
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||||||||
11/15/2006
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1,765
|
(10)
|
$
|
14,561
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||||||||
2/6/2007
|
-
|
2,364
|
(2)(4)
|
$
|
43.10
|
2/6/2014
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||||||||
2/6/2007
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
473
|
(7)
|
$
|
3,902
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||||||||
2/6/2007
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
237
|
$
|
1,951
|
|||||||||||||||
James
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
O’Leary
(1)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(1)
|
Mrs.
Boydston resigned from the Company effective March 14, 2008; all unvested
equity awards were forfeited. Mr. O’Leary resigned from the Company
effective March 23, 2007; all unvested equity awards were
forfeited.
|
(2)
|
Award
vests three years following grant.
|
(3)
|
Award
vests ratably over a three year period beginning three years following
grant.
|
(4)
|
Award
in the form of stock-settled stock appreciation rights
(“SSARs”).
|
(5)
|
Award
in the form of ‘phantom’ stock options. One-third of these vested on May
1, 2008, the first anniversary of employment. The remaining two-thirds
will be forfeited on the effective date of Mr. Douglas’ termination of
employment, which will be on or prior to July 15,
2008.
|
130
(6) Award
vests seven years following grant.
(7)
|
Award
vests five years following grant.
|
(8)
|
Beginning
five years after the date of grant, the restrictions on one-third of the
award will lapse each year for three years subject to continued
employment.
|
(9)
|
Award
in the form of ‘phantom’ shares of restricted stock. 20% of these vested
on May 1, 2008, the first anniversary of employment. The remaining 80%
will be forfeited on the effective date of Mr. Douglas’ termination of
employment, which will be on or prior to July 15,
2008.
|
(10)
|
Represents
portion of executive’s annual cash bonus compensation deposited into an
account as Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”) representing shares of our
common stock. The number of RSUs deposited is determined based on a per
share price calculated at a 20% discount from the closing stock price of
our common stock on the date of award. Shares represented by RSUs vest
three years from the date of award. Until vested, such shares cannot be
sold, assigned, pledged or encumbered, do not receive dividends and do not
have voting rights and may appreciate or depreciate in value from the time
they are purchased to when they vest and are subsequently
issued.
|
(11)
|
Reflects
the value using the closing share price of Beazer stock of $8.25 on the
last trading day of fiscal 2007 (September 28,
2007).
|
(12)
|
Performance-based
restricted stock vests contingent upon the ranking of the compound annual
growth rate (“CAGR”) of total return to stockholders of Beazer Homes’
stock as compared to the compound annual growth rate of total stockholder
return of the stock of the Performance Stock Peer Group over a defined
time period (the “performance period”). See “Narrative Disclosure to
Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table” for
further detail. Amounts shown assumes a threshold level of achievement at
a 50% vesting percentage which assumes that our CAGR peer ranking achieved
is equal to or above the 7th ranked peer during the performance
period.
|
Option
Exercises and Stock Vested
The
following table provides information with respect to the number and value of
shares acquired during fiscal 2007 from the exercise of vested stock options and
the vesting of restricted stock and RSUs.
Option
Awards
|
Stock
Awards
|
||||||||||||
Name
|
Number
of Shares
Acquired
on
Exercise
(#)
|
Value
Realized
Upon
Exercise ($)
(4)
|
Number
of Shares
Acquired
on
Vesting
(#)
|
Value
Realized
Upon
Vesting ($)
|
|||||||||
Ian
J. McCarthy
|
179,535
|
(1)
|
$
|
6,292,552
|
19,254
|
(5)
|
$
|
163,659
|
|||||
Michael
H. Furlow
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||
Allan
P. Merrill
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||
Michael
Douglas
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||
Cory
J. Boydston
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||
James
O’Leary
|
23,049
|
(2)
|
$
|
507,766
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||
10,500
|
(2)
|
$
|
189,768
|
||||||||||
17,394
|
(3)
|
$
|
14,220
|
(1)
|
Exercise
of 179,535 stock options on November 14, 2006 at an option exercise price
of $8.02 from a grant dated September 14,
2000.
|
(2)
|
Exercise
of 23,049 and 10,500 stock options on November 13, 2006 at an option
exercise price of $20.83 from a grant dated November 15, 2002 and $24.78
from a grant dated July 10, 2002,
respectively.
|
(3)
|
Exercise
of 17,394 stock options on March 23, 2007 at an option exercise price of
$32.96 from a grant dated February 10,
2004.
|
(4)
|
Value
realized upon exercise based on the difference between the market price of
Beazer Homes common stock at the time of exercise of the option and the
exercise price of the option.
|
(5)
|
Vesting
of RSUs on September 25, 2007, representing previously deferred portion of
executive’s annual cash bonus compensation three years prior. The per
share market value of the vested RSUs was $8.50, which was the closing
price of Beazer Homes common stock on that
date.
|
131
Pension
Benefits
We do not
have a defined benefit pension plan or supplemental executive retirement plan or
any other plans that are required to be disclosed in a pension benefits
table.
Non-qualified
Deferred Compensation
As
discussed above, we maintain the Beazer Homes USA, Inc. Deferred Compensation
Plan to provide eligible employees the opportunity to defer receipt of current
compensation. The following table sets forth the non-qualified deferred
compensation of each Named Executive Officer in fiscal 2007.
Name
|
Executive
Contributions
in
Last
FY ($)
|
Registrant
Contributions
in
Last
FY ($)(1)(2)
|
Aggregate
Earnings
in Last
FY
($)(3)
|
Aggregate
Withdrawals
/
Distributions
($)
|
Aggregate
Balance
at
Last FYE ($)(4)
|
||||||||||||||||
Ian
J. McCarthy
|
$ | 0 | $ | 786,208 | $ | 605,497 | $ | 0 | $ | 5,372,609 | |||||||||||
Michael
H. Furlow
|
$ | 0 | $ | 377,798 | $ | 1,225,080 | $ | 0 | $ | 10,277,388 | |||||||||||
Allan
P. Merrill
|
$ | 3,000 | $ | 20,833 | $ | 206 | $ | 0 | $ | 24,039 | |||||||||||
Michael
Douglas
|
$ | 51,042 | $ | 2,625 | $ | 518 | $ | 0 | $ | 54,185 | |||||||||||
Cory
J. Boydston
|
$ | 0 | $ | 28,218 | $ | 7,855 | $ | 0 | $ | 127,518 | |||||||||||
James
O’Leary
|
$ | 0 | $ | 172,283 | $ | 93,159 |
($
|
13,369 | ) | $ | 2,072,973 |
(1)
|
Includes
discretionary lump sum or matching contributions by the Company of
$200,000, $100,000, $20,833, $2,625 and $24,013 for Messrs. McCarthy,
Furlow, Merrill, Douglas and O’Leary, respectively. These amounts are also
reported under the “Summary Compensation Table – All Other
Compensation”.
|
(2)
|
Includes
amounts awarded of 10% of ending bank balance for fiscal 2006 under the
Executive VCIP of $586,208, $277,798 and $148,270 for Messrs. McCarthy,
Furlow and O’Leary, respectively. These amounts were awarded and therefore
reported in the “Summary Compensation Table – All Other Compensation” in
fiscal 2006, but were contributed by the Company in fiscal 2007. As such,
they are not reported under the “Summary Compensation Table – All Other
Compensation” for fiscal 2007.
|
(3)
|
Represents
amounts of earnings on the balance of the participants’ accounts that are
attributable to the performance of independently managed funds available
to and selected by each participant under the Deferred Compensation Plan
and in which deferred amounts are deemed to be invested. There is no
guaranteed rate of return on these funds and the rate of return depends on
the participants’ investment selections and on the market performance of
the funds. None of the earnings in this column are included in the
“Summary Compensation Table” because they were not preferential or
above-market.
|
(4)
|
Aggregate
balances include unvested amounts of Company
contributions.
|
Narrative
Disclosure to Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Table
In fiscal
2007, discretionary lump sum deferred compensation payments, in lieu of matching
contributions, totaled $200,000, $100,000, $20,833 and $24,013, for Messrs.
McCarthy, Furlow, Merrill and O’Leary, respectively. In addition, contributions,
which vest after three years, are made to the Plan under the Executive VCIP as
described above, if applicable. Under the Plan, participants select from a menu
of investment options which track a variety of independently managed benchmark
funds in which the funds are deemed to be invested. The return on the underlying
investments determines the amount of earnings and losses that are credited or
debited to the participants’ account. There is no guaranteed rate of return on
these funds and the rate of return depends on the participants’ deemed
investment option elections and on the market performance of the underlying
funds. Deferred amounts and Company contributions are deposited in a trust that
qualifies as a grantor trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
and are invested in Company-owned variable life insurance contracts. We own
these contracts and are the sole beneficiary. Our obligations under the Plan are
unsecured general obligations and rank equally with our other unsecured general
creditors. Amounts deferred by participants and earnings and losses thereon are
100% vested. With the exception of contributions made under the Executive VCIP,
the Company contributions and earnings and losses thereon vest on the same
schedule as our 401(k) Plan.
132
Potential
Post-employment Compensation
We have
entered into Employment Agreements with certain of the Named Executive Officers
and Supplemental Employment Agreements in the event of a Change of Control with
each of the Named Executive Officers. Under the terms of these agreements, the
Named Executive Officers are entitled to severance payments and other benefits
in the event termination of employment under certain circumstances. These
benefits may include cash payments, continuation of benefits and the
acceleration of vesting outstanding equity-based incentives.
Employment
Agreements
On
September 1, 2004, Beazer Homes entered into amended and restated employment
agreements (the “Employment Agreements”) with each of the following Named
Executive Officers: Ian J. McCarthy, Michael H. Furlow, and James O’Leary. These
agreements were subsequently amended on February 3, 2006. On May 1, 2007, Beazer
Homes entered into an employment agreement with Allan P. Merrill. The Employment
Agreements set forth the basic terms of employment for each executive, including
base salary, bonus and benefits, including benefits to which each executive is
entitled if employment is terminated for various reasons.
The
Employment Agreement between the Company and Mr. McCarthy is effective for a
three year period. The Employment Agreements between the Company and Messrs.
Furlow and Merrill are each effective for a two year period, as was the
employment agreement between Mr. O’Leary and the Company prior to his
resignation in March 2007. Each Employment Agreement will be extended for
successive one year periods unless earlier terminated by the Company or the
executive or otherwise terminated in accordance with the respective Employment
Agreement.
In the
event an executive’s employment is terminated by the Company other than for
“cause”, as defined below (or, in the case of Mr. McCarthy, terminated by the
executive for “good reason”, generally defined as the assignment of the
Executive to any duties materially inconsistent with his position as
contemplated under the Employment Agreement or to any office or location other
than as provided in the Employment Agreement, or certain other failures or
breaches by the Company with respect to certain provisions under the Employment
Agreement), the Company will pay to the executive in a lump sum in cash within
30 days after the date of termination the following amounts: (1) the executive’s
annual base salary through the date of termination to the extent not already
paid, (2) any accrued but unpaid annual bonus for any completed fiscal year
ending prior to the date of termination, (3) the arithmetic average of the
executive’s bonuses under the Company’s annual incentive plans in which the
executive participates during the last three full fiscal years prior to the date
of termination or for such lesser period as the executive has been employed by
the Company (annualized in the event that the Executive was not employed by the
Company for the whole of any such fiscal year) (“Average Annual Bonus”),
pro-rated to the date of termination and (4) any deferred compensation (subject
to payment election previously made by the executive) and accrued vacation pay.
The sum of these amounts are referred to as “Accrued Obligations.”
In
addition, the executive will be entitled to receive an amount equal to the sum
of (1) executive’s annual base salary, and (2) the Average Annual Bonus, for the
severance period. The sum of these amounts are referred to as “Severance”. The
severance periods are three years from the date of termination for Mr. McCarthy,
and two years from the date of termination for Messrs. Furlow and Merrill.
Executives also continue to participate in the Company’s benefit plans during
the severance period. These amounts will be paid at the same time that payments
of annual base salary and bonus would otherwise have become due and payable
absent termination. The Severance payments and the continuation of the benefits
are subject to the compliance by the executive with the non-compete,
non-solicitation and confidentiality provisions in the applicable Employment
Agreement.
If an
executive voluntarily terminates his employment, he will be entitled to receive
an amount equal to the Accrued Obligations.
133
If the
executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for “cause”, or as a result
of the executive’s death or disability, the executive will be entitled to
receive an amount equal to his base salary through the effective date of
termination, and all other amounts to which the executive may be entitled under
his Employment Agreement to the effective date of termination, including, in the
case of termination for death or disability only, bonus amounts under the
incentive plans in which the executive participates, which will be prorated to
the date of termination. For the purposes of the Employment Agreements, “cause”
is generally defined as (1) any act or failure to act by the Named Executive
Officer done with the intent to harm in any material respect the financial
interests or reputation of the Company; (2) Named Executive Officer being
convicted of (or entering a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to) a felony; (3)
Named Executive’s dishonesty, misappropriation or fraud to the Company, (4) a
grossly negligent act or failure to act by Named Executive Officer which has a
material adverse affect on the Company; (5) the material breach by Named
Executive Officer of his agreements or obligations under the Employment
Agreement which has a material adverse effect on the Company; or (6) the
continued refusal to follow the directives of the Board or its designees which
are consistent with Executive’s duties and responsibilities.
The
timing of payment by the Company of any deferred compensation shall remain
subject to the terms and conditions of the Deferred Compensation Plan and any
payment election previously made by the executive; provided, however, that, if
at the time of termination, the executive is a “specified employee” within the
meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, then
payments shall not be made before the date which is six (6) months after
the date of separation from service with the Company.
Upon his
voluntary resignation from the Company in March 2007, Mr. O’Leary received an
amount equal to his base salary through the effective date of termination and
accrued vacation pay. Mr. O’Leary’s compensation deferred under the Deferred
Compensation Plan was paid in accordance with the Plan and his elections
beginning in March 2008. In addition in March 2008 he received $944,892
representing his prorated average annual bonus that he became entitled to upon
his resignation.
Under the
Employment Agreement, a Named Executive Officer is subject to certain
non-compete and non-solicitation restrictions at all times that the Executive is
employed by the Company and for a period of time after the Executive’s
employment under the Employment Agreement is terminated for any reason equal to
the greater of 180 days or such longer period of time that the Executive is
entitled to receive payments under the Employment Agreement.
On May 1,
2007, the Company extended an employment letter to Mr. Douglas which set forth
the basic terms of his employment, including base salary and benefits, a
guaranteed bonus, and long-term incentive compensation. Upon the termination of
his employment for any reason (which will occur on or prior to July 15, 2008),
the Company’s obligations are as follows: to pay a lump sum in cash within 30
days after the date of termination equal to the sum of (1) base salary through
the date of termination to the extent not theretofore paid, (2) except in the
case of termination for cause, any accrued but unpaid annual bonus respecting
any completed fiscal year ending prior to the date of termination, and (3) any
compensation previously deferred (together with any accrued interest or earnings
thereon) and any vacation pay, in each case to the extent not theretofore
paid.
Supplemental
Employment (Change of Control) Agreements
On
September 1, 2004, each of Mr. McCarthy, Mr. Furlow, Mr. O’Leary, and Mrs.
Boydston entered into a supplemental employment agreement (the “Supplemental
Employment Agreements”), each of which were amended in February 2006. These
Supplemental Employment Agreements provide for continued employment of a Named
Executive Officer for two years following a Change of Control or stated benefits
if the Named Executive Officer’s employment is terminated without cause, or he
or she leaves with good reason within two years of a Change of Control (a
“double-trigger”). A “Change of Control” is defined generally as:
|
●
|
The
acquisition by any individual, entity or group of beneficial ownership of
25% or more of either the outstanding shares of common stock of the
Company or the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities
of the Company entitled to vote in the election of directors;
or
|
|
●
|
Individuals
who, as of the date of the Supplemental Employment Agreement, constitute
the Board of Directors (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to
constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided however, that any
individual subsequently becoming a director whose election was approved by
a vote of at least a majority of the Incumbent Board shall be considered
as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board;
or
|
134
|
●
|
Consummation
of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition
of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company;
or
|
|
●
|
Approval
by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or
dissolution of the Company.
|
The
Change of Control provisions in these agreements supersede any similar
provisions in the Named Executive Officer’s Employment Agreement. Mr. Merrill
and Mr. Douglas entered into similar agreements in May 2007 when they joined the
Company.
Pursuant
to the Supplemental Employment Agreements, the Company will continue to employ
the executive for a period of two years from the date the Change of Control
occurs (the “Effective Date”). In the event a Change of Control occurs and an
executive terminates his or her employment for good reason or is terminated by
the Company other than for cause, then the executive will be entitled to an
amount, payable in a lump sum, equal to the sum of (1) the Accrued Obligations;
(2) the product of (A) a stated multiple ranging from 1.5 to 3.0 and (B) the sum
of the executive’s annual base salary and the highest annual bonus paid to the
executive during the preceding three full fiscal years or for such lesser period
as the executive has been employed by the Company (annualized in the event that
the Executive was not employed by the Company for the whole of any such fiscal
year) (“Highest Annual Bonus”); and (3) all other amounts to which the Executive
may be entitled under his or her Supplemental Employment Agreement. In addition,
the Company must provide the Executive and his or her family benefits similar to
those in place prior to the Effective Date for a period of one year times the
applicable stated multiple following the effective date of
termination.
The
stated multiple for Mr. McCarthy is 3.0, for Messrs. Furlow and Merrill, 2.0 and
for Mr. Douglas and Mrs. Boydston, 1.5.
The
Supplemental Employment Agreements also provide that the executive may terminate
his or her employment during the 30-day period following the six-month
anniversary of a Change of Control, and such termination will be deemed to be
termination for good reason. If the executive terminates his or her employment
pursuant to the good reason termination provision, then the executive will be
subject to certain non-compete and non-solicitation restrictions for a period of
one year following the termination of the executive’s
employment.
Subsequent
to a Change of Control, if the executive’s employment is terminated by the
Company for cause, the executive will be entitled to receive an amount equal to
the portion of his or her annual base salary accrued through the effective date
of termination and any compensation previously deferred and all other payments
to which the executive may be entitled under his or her Supplemental Employment
Agreement.
The
Supplemental Employment Agreements provide that if any payment or distribution
by the Company to the Named Executive Officer would be subject to the excise tax
imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, the Company will pay the
Named Executive Officer an additional amount sufficient to cover the excise tax,
as well as any applicable federal, state income and employment taxes or other
payments that may apply to the additional amounts paid.
PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP, Berkowitz, Trager & Trager, and Sullivan and Cromwell served as
advisors to the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors in
establishing the terms of the Employment Agreements, the Supplemental Employment
Agreements and amendments thereof. PricewaterhouseCoopers concluded that the
agreements are reasonable in terms of both comparability to competitive practice
and advancement of stockholder interests.
Disposition
of Outstanding Equity Awards at Termination
Under the
Company’s equity incentive plans, executives who resign from Beazer, or are
terminated for cause, before equity-based grants are vested, forfeit such
grants, except as described below with respect to grants of RSUs.
135
Our
equity incentive plans provide for accelerated vesting of all outstanding
equity-based grants in the event of a Change of Control. In the event that an
executive’s employment is terminated by the Company other than for cause or due
to death or disability, vested grants of most stock options and SSARs are
exercisable for a period of 3 to 12 months following termination, depending on
the reason for termination, and (except as noted in the next sentence) unvested
grants are forfeited. Certain grants of stock options or SSARs made to Messrs.
McCarthy, Furlow and Merrill and grants of restricted stock or performance-based
restricted stock are subject to pro-rata vesting based on the number of whole
months worked since the date of grant up to the date of termination (except in
the case of termination for cause or voluntary resignation).
Under the
CMSPP, executives who resign from Beazer, or are terminated for cause, prior to
the vesting of RSUs receive the lesser of the amount originally deferred by the
executive or the current value of the equivalent number of shares of stock
represented by the RSUs. In the event of a Change of Control or termination of
employment due to death or disability, RSUs vest in full. Executives whose
employment is otherwise terminated by the Company other than for cause receive
shares represented by RSUs on a pro-rata basis based on the number of whole
months worked since the date of grant up to the date of termination. For RSUs
that do not convert to shares as described above, executives receive the lesser
of the amount originally deferred by the executive or the current value of the
remaining RSUs that did not convert.
Potential
Post-employment Compensation Table
The
following table summarizes the payments and benefits that each executive would
be entitled to receive in the event termination of employment under certain
circumstances as of the last day of the Company’s fiscal year, September 30,
2007, and is based on each executive’s compensation and a closing stock price of
$8.25 as of that date.
Information
is not included for James O’Leary, our former Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer as Mr. O’Leary’s termination benefits were triggered on his
effected date of resignation in March 2007 and are included in the Summary
Compensation Table above.
136
Type
of Termination
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Payment
or Benefit Type
|
Change
in
Control
(1)
|
Death
or
Disability
|
Voluntarily
by
Executive
|
Voluntarily
by
Executive
for
Good
Reason
|
By
the
Company
for
Cause
|
By
the
Company
Other
Than
for
Cause
|
|||||||||||||||
Ian
J. McCarthy
|
Severance
|
$
|
28,152,300
|
(2)
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
25,687,269
|
(3)
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
25,687,269
|
(2)
|
|||||
Accrued
Obligations (4)
|
$
|
7,394,731
|
$
|
7,394,731
|
$
|
7,394,731
|
$
|
7,394,731
|
$
|
32,308
|
$
|
7,394,731
|
|||||||||
Continuation
of Benefits (5)
|
$
|
72,334
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
72,334
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
72,334
|
|||||||||
Stock
Option/SSAR Vesting
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
|||||||||
Restricted
Stock Vesting
|
$
|
1,645,223
|
$
|
752,697
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
752,697
|
|||||||||
Restricted
Stock Unit Vesting/Payout
|
$
|
330,850
|
$
|
330,850
|
$
|
330,850
|
$
|
330,850
|
$
|
330,850
|
$
|
330,850
|
|||||||||
Performance
Restricted Stock Vesting
|
$
|
704,921
|
$
|
205,772
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
205,772
|
|||||||||
Gross-up
Payment
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
|||||||||
Total
|
$
|
38,300,359
|
$
|
8,684,050
|
$
|
7,725,581
|
$
|
33,485,184
|
$
|
363,158
|
$
|
34,443,653
|
|||||||||
Michael
H. Furlow
|
Severance
|
$
|
9,519,582
|
(2)
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
N/A
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
9,084,042
|
(2)
|
|||||||
Accrued
Obligations (4)
|
$
|
3,772,790
|
$
|
3,772,790
|
$
|
3,772,790
|
N/A
|
$
|
30,769
|
$
|
3,772,790
|
||||||||||
Continuation
of Benefits (5)
|
$
|
50,840
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
N/A
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
50,840
|
||||||||||
Stock
Option/SSAR Vesting
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
N/A
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
||||||||||
Restricted
Stock Vesting
|
$
|
872,858
|
$
|
419,991
|
$
|
0
|
N/A
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
419,991
|
||||||||||
Restricted
Stock Unit Vesting/Payout
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
N/A
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
||||||||||
Performance
Restricted Stock Vesting
|
$
|
313,312
|
$
|
91,460
|
$
|
0
|
N/A
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
91,460
|
||||||||||
Gross-up
Payment
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
N/A
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
||||||||||
Total
|
$
|
14,529,382
|
$
|
4,284,241
|
$
|
3,772,790
|
N/A
|
$
|
30,769
|
$
|
13,419,123
|
||||||||||
Allan
P. Merrill
|
Severance
|
$
|
3,600,000
|
(2)
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
N/A
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
3,600,000
|
(2)
|
|||||||
Accrued
Obligations (4)
|
$
|
1,224,038
|
$
|
1,224,038
|
$
|
1,224,038
|
N/A
|
$
|
24,038
|
$
|
1,224,038
|
||||||||||
Continuation
of Benefits (5)
|
$
|
30,183
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
N/A
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
30,183
|
||||||||||
Stock
Option/SSAR Vesting
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
N/A
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
||||||||||
Restricted
Stock Vesting
|
$
|
436,763
|
$
|
20,815
|
$
|
0
|
N/A
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
20,815
|
||||||||||
Restricted
Stock Unit Vesting/Payout
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
N/A
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
||||||||||
Performance
Restricted Stock Vesting
|
$
|
447,357
|
$
|
29,123
|
$
|
0
|
N/A
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
29,123
|
||||||||||
Gross-up
Payment (6)
|
$
|
2,365,860
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
N/A
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
||||||||||
Total
|
$
|
8,104,201
|
$
|
1,273,976
|
$
|
1,224,038
|
N/A
|
$
|
24,038
|
$
|
4,904,159
|
||||||||||
Michael Douglas
(7)
|
Severance
|
$
|
1,050,000
|
(2)
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
N/A
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
20,192
|
(2)
|
|||||||
Accrued
Obligations (4)
|
$
|
376,923
|
$
|
26,923
|
$
|
26,923
|
N/A
|
$
|
26,923
|
$
|
26,923
|
||||||||||
Continuation
of Benefits (5)
|
$
|
21,640
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
N/A
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
||||||||||
Phantom
Stock Option Vesting
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
N/A
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
||||||||||
Phantom
Restricted Stock Vesting
|
$
|
127,388
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
N/A
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
||||||||||
Restricted
Stock Unit Vesting/Payout
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
N/A
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
||||||||||
Gross-up
Payment (6)
|
$
|
592,733
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
N/A
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
||||||||||
Total
|
$
|
2,168,684
|
$
|
26,923
|
$
|
26,923
|
N/A
|
$
|
26,923
|
$
|
47,115
|
||||||||||
Cory
J. Boydston (8)
|
Severance
|
$
|
891,734
|
(2)
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
N/A
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
57,000
|
(2)
|
|||||||
Accrued
Obligations (4)
|
$
|
340,391
|
$
|
14,102
|
$
|
14,102
|
N/A
|
$
|
14,102
|
$
|
14,102
|
||||||||||
Continuation
of Benefits (5)
|
$
|
18,125
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
N/A
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
||||||||||
Stock
Option/SSAR Vesting
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
N/A
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
||||||||||
Restricted
Stock Vesting
|
$
|
3,902
|
$
|
462
|
$
|
0
|
N/A
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
||||||||||
Restricted
Stock Unit Vesting/Payout
|
$
|
14,561
|
$
|
14,561
|
$
|
14,561
|
N/A
|
$
|
14,561
|
$
|
14,561
|
||||||||||
Performance
Restricted Stock Vesting
|
$
|
4,044
|
$
|
462
|
$
|
0
|
N/A
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
||||||||||
Gross-up
Payment
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
N/A
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
||||||||||
Total
|
$
|
1,272,757
|
$
|
29,587
|
$
|
28,663
|
N/A
|
$
|
28,663
|
$
|
85,663
|
(1)
|
Amounts
set forth in this column are payable following a Change in Control only
upon a termination by the Company other than for cause or a termination by
the executive for good reason.
|
(2)
|
Severance
in the event of a Change of Control equals the executive’s stated multiple
times the sum of the executive’s annual base salary and the Highest Annual
Bonus. Mr. Merrill’s Supplemental Employment Agreement, which he entered
into in May 2007 upon joining the company, stipulates for the purpose
solely of calculating his Highest Annual Bonus that his fiscal 2007 bonus
was deemed to be equal to two times his annual salary, or
$1,200,000.
|
(3)
|
For
Messrs. McCarthy, Furlow and Merrill, severance in the event of a
termination of employment by the Company other than for cause (or for good
reason in the case of Mr. McCarthy) equals the executive’s stated multiple
times the sum of the executive’s annual base salary and the Average Annual
Bonus. Mr. Merrill’s Supplemental Employment Agreement, which he entered
into in May 2007 upon joining the company, stipulates for the purpose
solely of calculating his Average Annual Bonus that his fiscal 2007 bonus
was deemed to be equal to two times his annual salary, or $1,200,000. For
Mr. Douglas and Ms. Boydston, who were not subject to an employment
agreement, severance would be paid at the discretion of the Compensation
Committee, but is assumed for purposes of this table to be based on
severance arrangements provided to other employees, which is 2 weeks
salary per year of service, with a minimum of 3 weeks salary and a maximum
of 12 weeks salary.
|
(4)
|
At
September 30, 2007, Accrued Obligations would have equaled one times
Average Annual Bonus plus accrued vacation for termination other than for
cause, and accrued vacation for termination for
cause.
|
(5)
|
Continuation
of benefits during the severance period include car allowance or use of
company-owned automobile and medical, life and accidental death and
dismemberment insurance coverage.
|
(6)
|
In
the event of a termination due to a Change of Control effective September
30, 2007, it is estimated that Messrs. Merrill’s and Douglas’ payments
under their Supplemental Employment Agreements would be subject to an
excise tax. Under their Supplemental Employment Agreements, the Company
will pay them an additional amount sufficient to cover the excise tax, as
well as any applicable federal, state income and employment taxes or other
payments that may apply to the additional amounts paid. This amount is
represented by ‘Gross-up Payment’ in the
table.
|
(7)
|
Mr.
Douglas resigned his position as executive vice president effective April
25, 2008 and will cease to be an employee effective on or prior to July
15, 2008.
|
(8)
|
Mrs.
Boydston resigned effective March 14,
2008.
|
137
Director
Compensation
The
following table sets forth the compensation of each non-employee Director in
fiscal 2007.
Name
(1)
|
Fees
Earned
or
Paid in
Cash
(3)(4)(5) ($)
|
Stock
Awards
($)
(6) (7)
|
Option
Awards
($)
(6) (8)
|
Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compensation
($)
|
Total
($)
|
|||||||||||
Laurent
Alpert
|
$
|
155,750
|
$
|
48,317
|
$
|
30,326
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
234,393
|
||||||
Katie
J. Bayne
|
$
|
66,500
|
$
|
51,046
|
$
|
56,392
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
173,938
|
||||||
Brian
C. Beazer
|
$
|
225,000
|
$
|
86,554
|
$
|
74,313
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
385,867
|
||||||
Peter
G. Leemputte
|
$
|
152,315
|
$
|
93,834
|
$
|
61,829
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
307,978
|
||||||
Maureen
O’Connell (2)
|
$
|
23,185
|
$
|
135,434
|
$
|
38,342
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
196,961
|
||||||
Larry
T. Solari
|
$
|
160,750
|
$
|
51,046
|
$
|
30,326
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
242,122
|
||||||
Stephen
P. Zelnak, Jr.
|
$
|
86,750
|
$
|
52,293
|
$
|
30,326
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
169,369
|
|
(1)
|
Ian
J. McCarthy is a member of the Board of Directors, as well as President
and Chief Executive Officer of Beazer Homes. His compensation is disclosed
in the preceding executive compensation tables. Since he does not receive
compensation separately for his duties as a Director, he is not included
in the Director Compensation table.
|
|
(2)
|
Ms.
O’Connell retired from the Board of Directors effective with the Annual
Meeting of Stockholders in February
2007.
|
|
(3)
|
For
Mr. Beazer, includes annual retainer fee of $225,000 only. For other
directors, includes annual retainer fee, paid quarterly, of $35,000
(pro-rated for Ms. O’Connell), $1,500 fee per meeting attended, $5,000 in
additional payments to Mr. Solari for meetings with the Non-Executive
Chairman for additional work in furtherance of his duties as Compensation
Committee Chair as approved by the Non-Executive Chairman and $5,000 chair
fee for Messrs. Alpert, Leemputte (pro-rated), Solari and Zelnak and Ms.
O’Connell (pro-rated).
|
|
(4)
|
Fees
for Messrs. Alpert, Leemputte and Solari reflect 55 meetings held by the
Audit Committee in fiscal 2007. Payment for each meeting at the per
meeting fee was approved by the Compensation Committee in recognition of
the significant amount of time and work performed by the Audit Committee
in conducting the independent
investigation.
|
|
(5)
|
For
Messrs. Beazer, Leemputte, Solari, and Zelnak and Ms. Bayne, includes
portion of annual retainer deferred under the Director Stock Purchase
Program and represented by RSUs which vest over three
years.
|
|
(6)
|
Amounts
reflect the dollar amount recognized for financial statement reporting
purposes for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007 in accordance with
FAS 123(R) except that estimated forfeitures have been disregarded for
these purposes. These columns include amounts from awards of restricted
stock, RSUs, stock options and SSARs granted both in and prior to fiscal
2007. For fiscal 2007, 491 RSUs were granted each to Messrs. Beazer,
Leemputte, Solari, and Zelnak and Ms. Bayne. The RSUs represents a portion
of the director’s fiscal 2006 annual retainer deferred under the DSPP.
Deferred amounts are deposited into an account as RSUs representing shares
of our common stock. As such, the annual retainer was earned and reported
in fiscal 2006, although the grant took place in fiscal 2007. The number
of RSUs deposited is determined based on a per share price calculated at a
20% discount from the closing stock price of our common stock on the date
of award. Shares represented by RSUs vest three years from the date of
award. Until vested, such shares cannot be sold, assigned, pledged or
encumbered, do not receive dividends and do not have voting rights and may
appreciate or depreciate in value from the time they are purchased to when
they vest and are subsequently issued. Additionally, 1,500 SSARs and 1,500
time-based restricted shares were granted to each non-employee director,
except for Ms. O’Connell and Mr. Beazer. Mr. Beazer received a grant of
5,374 SSARs, 1,075 time-based restricted shares, and 1,075
performance-based restricted shares in fiscal 2007. Ms. O’Connell received
no grants of SSARs or time-based restricted shares in fiscal 2007 due to
her retirement from the Board of Directors. The grant date fair value of
the award of RSUs to each non-employee director was $21,835. This amount
reflects the total number of RSUs granted, although only the 20% discount
is amortized and expensed under FAS 123R. The grant date fair value of the
award of SSAR’s and time-based restricted shares to each non-employee
director except for Mr Beazer was $33,795 and $64,650, respectively. The
grant date fair value of the award of SSAR’s and restricted shares to Mr
Beazer was $121,076 and $75,949, respectively. Further information
regarding the valuation of stock and option awards can be found in Note 1
to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended September 30,
2007.
|
|
(7)
|
The
non-employee directors held the following amounts of restricted stock and
restricted stock units at September 30, 2007: Mr. Alpert – 6,000; Ms.
Bayne – 6,863; Mr. Beazer – 11,611; Mr. Leemputte – 8,491; Mr. Solari
–6,863; and Mr. Zelnak – 7,388. See “Security Ownership of Management” in
Item 12 of this Form 10-K for complete beneficial ownership information of
Beazer Homes stock for each of our
directors.
|
|
(8)
|
The
non-employee directors held the following amounts of stock options and
SSARs at September 30, 2007: Mr. Alpert – 24,000; Ms. Bayne – 36,000; Mr.
Beazer – 64,567; Mr. Leemputte – 8,000; Mr. Solari – 41,115; and Mr.
Zelnak – 36,000. See “Security Ownership of Management” in Item 12 of this
Form 10-K for complete beneficial ownership information of Beazer Homes
stock for each of our directors.
|
138
Narrative Disclosure to Director
Compensation Table
Non-employee Directors (excluding
Brian C. Beazer): Non-employee directors receive an annual retainer of
$35,000 for services to Beazer Homes as members of the Board of Directors. In
addition, directors receive $1,500 for each meeting or teleconference of the
Board of Directors or any of its committees attended as well as for attendance
at the annual meeting of stockholders and separate meetings of the independent
directors. In addition, all Committee Chairs receive an annual fee of $5,000
relating to their role as Chair. Committee Chairs, in addition to the payments
described above, may also receive additional payments for meetings with the
Non-Executive Chairman or other work in furtherance of their duties as Chair as
approved from time to time by the Non-Executive Chairman.
Directors
may elect to defer receipt of up to 50% of their annual retainer under Beazer
Homes’ Director Stock Purchase Program or DSPP. Deferred fees are represented by
restricted stock units (“RSUs”) which vest after three years. For fiscal 2007,
the number of RSU’s received was determined based on a 20% discount from the
actual closing stock price of Beazer Homes’ common stock on the date of grant.
Due to low availability of shares under the Amended and Restated 1999 Stock
Incentive Plan at the beginning of fiscal 2008, from which shares under DSPP are
issued, the Compensation Committee suspended this program for fiscal 2008 and
will revisit its use for fiscal 2009.
In addition, directors are
eligible to receive grants of stock options, SSARs and time-based restricted
shares pursuant to the Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Incentive Plan, at the
discretion of the Compensation Committee. The Compensation
Committee’s rationale for equity grants to directors is, similar to that for the
Named Executive Officers, with an aim to align their interests with those of
stockholders. For fiscal 2007, the Compensation Committee approved grants of
1,500 SSARs and 1,500 time-based restricted shares to each non-employee director
except for Mr. Beazer. The amount of the director grant is determined in
consultation with the Committee’s retained compensation consultants. Stock
options and SSARs granted to directors fully vest after three years and expire
seven years after grant. Shares of time-based restricted stock are restricted
for use or sale for five years from grant. All directors receive reimbursement
for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with
participating in meetings of the Board of Directors and any committees
thereof.
Brian C. Beazer: For fiscal
2007, we paid our Non-Executive Chairman of the Board a retainer of $225,000 for
services rendered. This amount will remain the same for fiscal 2008. Similar to
the other directors, Mr. Beazer may elect to defer receipt of a portion of his
annual retainer up to the amount equal to the eligible deferral amount for the
other directors under Beazer Homes’ Director Stock Purchase Program (suspended
for fiscal 2008 as described above). In addition, Mr. Beazer is
eligible to receive grants of stock options, SSARs, and both performance-based
and time-based restricted shares pursuant to the Amended and Restated 1999 Stock
Incentive Plan, at the discretion of the Compensation Committee. In determining
the amount of equity compensation to be granted to Mr. Beazer, the Compensation
Committee currently employs a defined multiple of approximately 0.8 of his
annual retainer (which was set in light of his position of Non-Executive
Chairman of the Board) although this is subject to the discretion of the
Committee. The resulting dollar amount is converted to a unit equivalent based
on the closing stock price on the grant date, and, in the case of stock options
or SSARs,, this closing stock price on the grant date is discounted by 60%
solely for the purpose of converting the multiple of salary to a unit
equivalent; as noted above the exercise price is equal to 100% of fair market
value of the common stock on the date of grant. As in the case of the Named
Executive Officers, 50% of the award is granted in the form of stock options or
SSARs, 25% in the form of time-based restricted stock and 25% in the form of
performance-based restricted stock. Vesting and expiration of such grants of
stock options, SSARs and time-based restricted shares are the same as those for
the other directors. Grants of performance-based shares vest after three years,
contingent upon the ranking of the compound annual growth rate of total return
to stockholders of Beazer Homes’ stock as compared to the compound annual growth
rate of total stockholder return of the stock of the Performance Stock Peer
Group over a defined time period (the “performance period”) as described
above.
139
In
addition, Mr. Beazer is eligible to receive cash incentive compensation, at the
discretion of the Compensation Committee based on predetermined criteria
relating to 1) the performance of the market price of Beazer Homes’ common stock
and the total return to Beazer Homes’ stockholders relative to the Peer Group
and 2) relating to the Company’s financial performance under the Executive Value
Created Incentive Plan. Mr. Beazer’s annual incentive compensation may not
exceed two times his annual retainer, and no more than 50% of his incentive
compensation may be derived from either of the two categories described above.
Mr. Beazer did not receive any incentive compensation for fiscal year
2007.
The
Compensation Committee’s rationale for Mr. Beazer’s eligibility for incentive
compensation is similar to that for the Named Executive Officers with an aim to
align his interests with those of stockholders by (1) rewarding through cash
incentive compensation both annual and long-term financial success as measured
by Value Created, defined as EBIT in excess of cost of capital and by (2)
rewarding through equity incentive compensation for both relative and absolute
performance of the Company’s stock and total return to
stockholders.
Other
than described above, no director receives any compensation from Beazer Homes
for services rendered as a director.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and
Insider Participation
The
members of our Compensation Committee during fiscal 2007 were Messrs. Solari and
Zelnak and Ms. Bayne. None of the members of our Compensation Committee has ever
been an officer or employee of Beazer or any of its subsidiaries. None of the
members of our Compensation Committee had any relationship requiring disclosure
under “Transactions with Related Persons” below. During fiscal 2007, none of our
executive officers served as a Director or member of the Compensation Committee
(or other Board committee performing equivalent functions) of another entity an
executive officer of which served on our Board of Directors.
140
Item
12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and
Related Stockholder Matters
Securities
Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans
The
following table provides information as of September 30, 2007 with respect to
our shares of common stock that may be issued under our existing equity
compensation plans, all of which have been approved by our
stockholders:
Plan
Category
|
Number
of Common
Shares
to be Issued
Upon
Exercise of
Outstanding
Options
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
of
Outstanding
Options
|
Number
of Common Shares
Remaining
Available for Future
Issuance
Under Equity Compensation
Plans
(Excluding Common Shares
Reflected
in Column (a))
|
||||
(a)
|
(b)
|
(c)
|
|||||
Equity
compensation plans
approved
by stockholders
|
2,052,379 | $45.01 | 853,333 |
Security
Ownership of Management
The
following table sets forth information as of April 25, 2008 with respect to the
beneficial ownership of our common stock by each Director, each Named Executive
Officer, and all directors and executive officers as a group. Except as
otherwise indicated, each beneficial owner possesses sole voting and investment
power with respect to all shares.
Name
of Beneficial Owner
|
Number
of Common
Shares
Beneficially
Owned
(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)
|
Percent
of
Outstanding
|
|||||
Laurent
Alpert
|
34,500
|
*
|
|||||
Katie
J. Bayne
|
39,429
|
*
|
|||||
Brian
C. Beazer
|
136,313
|
*
|
|||||
Peter
G. Leemputte
|
8,000
|
*
|
|||||
Ian
J. McCarthy
|
1,093,565
|
2.79
|
%
|
||||
Larry
T. Solari
|
48,615
|
*
|
|||||
Stephen
P. Zelnak, Jr.
|
39,000
|
*
|
|||||
Michael
H. Furlow
|
210,508
|
*
|
|||||
Allan
P. Merrill
|
105,882
|
*
|
|||||
Michael
R. Douglas
|
-
|
*
|
|||||
Cory
J. Boydston, Former Senior Vice President and Treasurer
|
305
|
*
|
|||||
James
O’Leary, Former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer
|
2,189
|
*
|
|||||
Directors
and Executive Officers as a Group (12 persons)
|
1,718,306
|
4.38
|
%
|
* Less
than 1%
(1)
|
Beneficial
ownership includes restricted stock as follows: Mr. Alpert – 6,000, Ms.
Bayne – 6,000, Mr. Beazer – 9,673, Mr. Leemputte – 8,000, Mr. McCarthy –
199,420, Mr. Solari – 6,000, Mr. Zelnak – 6,000, Mr. Furlow – 105,802 and
Mr. Merrill – 52,941. Such shares of restricted stock were awarded under
the Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Incentive Plan (the “1999 Plan”) and
will vest unconditionally from five to eight years from the date of
grant.
|
(2)
|
Beneficial
ownership includes performance-based restricted stock as follows: Mr.
Beazer – 1,075, Mr. McCarthy – 78,763, Mr. Furlow – 35,007 and Mr. Merrill
– 52,941. Such shares of restricted stock were awarded under the 1999
Plan, and will vest contingent upon the achievement of performance
criteria based on the Company’s total shareholder return as compared to
the total shareholder return of the Performance Stock Peer
Group.
|
141
(3)
|
Beneficial
ownership includes shares of the Company’s common stock held through the
Company’s 401(k) Plan as follows: Mr. McCarthy – 5,097, Mr. Furlow –
4,565, Ms. Boydston – 305, and Mr. O’Leary
2,189.
|
(4)
|
Beneficial
ownership includes shares underlying stock options, respectively, which
were fully vested and exercisable at, or will vest within 60 days of,
April 25, 2008 as follows: Mr. Alpert – 21,000; Ms. Bayne – 33,000, Mr.
Beazer – 56,703, Mr. McCarthy – 274,611, Mr. Solari – 38,115, Mr. Zelnak –
33,000, and Mr. Furlow – 52,920.
|
(5)
|
Beneficial
ownership does not include Mr. McCarthy’s right to receive 40,103 shares
of common stock, currently represented by restricted stock units, which he
is entitled to receive three years from the award date in lieu of a
portion of his fiscal year 2006 annual cash bonus
compensation.
|
(6)
|
Beneficial
ownership does not include the right to receive shares of common stock,
currently represented by restricted stock units, which director is
entitled to receive three years from the award date in lieu of a portion
of their annual retainer as follows: Ms. Bayne – 863, Mr. Beazer – 863,
Mr. Leemputte – 491, Mr. Solari – 863, and Mr. Zelnak –
1,388.
|
Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Holders
The
following table sets forth information as of April 25, 2008 with respect to the
beneficial ownership of Beazer Homes’ common stock by all persons known by us to
beneficially own more than 5% of our common stock.
Name
and Address
Of
Beneficial Owner
|
Amount
and Nature
of
Beneficial
Ownership
|
Percent
of
Class (1)
|
Legg
Mason Capital Management, Inc.
100
Light Street
Baltimore,
MD 21202
|
6,580,171
(2)
|
16.77%
|
Capital
Group International, Inc.
11100
Santa Monica Blvd.
Los
Angeles, CA 90025
|
5,292,800
(3)
|
13.49%
|
FMR
LLC
82
Devonshire Street
Boston,
MA 02109
|
4,919,231
(4)
|
12.54%
|
Hotchkis
& Wiley Capital Management LLC
725
S. Figueroa Street 39th Floor
Los
Angeles, CA 90017
|
3,876,608
(5)
|
9.88%
|
Deutsche
Bank AG
Theodor-Heuss-Allee
70
60468
Frankfurt am Main
Federal
Republic of Germany
|
3,605,138
(6)
|
9.19%
|
Franklin
Mutual Advisers, LLC
101
John F. Kennedy Parkway
Short
Hills, NJ 07078
|
3,162,578
(7)
|
8.06%
|
Jeffrey
L. Gendell
55
Railroad Ave., 3rd Floor
Greenwich,
CT 06830
|
3,061,683
(8)
|
7.80%
|
Ziff
Asset Management, L.P.
283
Greenwich Avenue
Greenwich,
CT 06830
|
2,995,800
(9)
|
7.64%
|
Barclays
Global Investors NA
45
Fremont Street
San
Francisco, CA 94105
|
2,655,221
(10)
|
6.77%
|
State
Street Bank and Trust Company
One
Lincoln Street
Boston,
MA 02111
|
2,521,779
(11)
|
6.43%
|
Citigroup,
Inc.
399
Park Avenue
New
York, NY 10043
|
2,322,751
(12)
|
5.92%
|
Canyon
Capital Advisors LLC
9665
Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 200
Beverly
Hills, CA 90212
|
2,062,152
(13)
|
5.26%
|
|
(1)
|
Based
upon 39,234,305 shares of outstanding Common Stock as of April 18, 2008.
The beneficial ownership information regarding principal stockholders is
based upon the most recently available Form 13G or amendment thereto filed
by each respective holder.
|
|
(2)
|
Legg
Mason Capital Management, Inc., LMM LLC and Legg Mason Opportunity Trust
jointly filed a Schedule 13G/A on February 14, 2008. According to the
Schedule 13G/A, (a) Legg Mason Capital Management, Inc. had shared voting
power and shared dispositive power as to all of its reported beneficially
owned shares (2,980,171 shares); (b) LMM LLC had shared voting power and
shared dispositive power as to all of its reported beneficially owned
shares (3,600,000 shares); and (c) Legg Mason Opportunity Trust had shared
voting power and shared dispositive power as to all of its reported
beneficially owned shares (3,600,000 shares). Each of the reporting
entities has the same address.
|
|
(3)
|
Capital
Group International, Inc and Capital International Limited jointly filed a
Schedule 13G/A on February 1, 2008. According to the Schedule 13G/A,
(a) Capital Group International, Inc. had sole voting power as to
4,538,270 shares and sole dispositive power as to 5,292,800 shares;
(b) Capital International Limited had sole voting power as to
2,909,270 shares and sole dispositive power as to 3,139,570 shares; (c)
Capital Group International, Inc. (“CGII”) is the parent holding company
of a group of investment management companies that hold investment power
and, in some cases, voting power over the securities reported on the
Schedule 13G; and (d) CGII does not have investment power or voting power
over any of the securities reported on the Schedule 13G; however CGII may
be deemed to beneficially own 5,292,800
shares.
|
142
|
(4)
|
FMR
LLC and Edward C. Johnson 3d jointly filed a Schedule 13G/A on February
14, 2008. According to the Schedule 13G/A, (a) FMR LLC had sole voting
power on 2,000 of its beneficially owned shares and sole dispositive power
as to all of its beneficially owned shares (4,919,231 shares); (b)
Fidelity Management & Research Company (“Fidelity”), a wholly-owned
subsidiary of FMR LLC and an investment adviser registered under Section
203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, is the beneficial owner of
4,919,231 shares as a result of acting as investment adviser to various
investment companies registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company
Act of 1940; and (c) Edward C. Johnson 3d and FMR LLC, through its control
of Fidelity, and the funds each has sole power to dispose of 4,919,231
shares. Each of the reporting entities has the same
address.
|
|
(5)
|
Hotchkis
& Wiley Capital Management LLC filed a Schedule 13G/A on February 14,
2008. According to the Schedule 13/GA, Hotchkis & Wiley Capital
Management LLC had sole voting power as to 2,899,508 shares and sole
dispositive power as to all of its beneficially owned
shares.
|
|
(6)
|
Deutsche
Bank AG, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and Deutsche Bank AG, London
Branch, jointly filed a Schedule 13G on February 7, 2008. According to the
Schedule 13G, (a) the reporting entities had sole voting power and sole
dispositive power as to all of the reported beneficially owned shares
(3,605,138 shares); (b) Deutsche Bank AG had sole voting power and sole
dispositive power as to all of its beneficially owned shares (2,993,688
shares); (c) Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. had sole voting power and sole
dispositive power as to all of its beneficially owned shares (611,450
shares); and (d) Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch, had sole voting power
and sole dispositive power as to all of its beneficially owned shares
(2,993,688 shares). Each of the reporting entities has the same
address.
|
|
(7)
|
Franklin
Mutual Advisers, LLC filed a Schedule 13G on January 30, 2008. According
to the Schedule 13G, Franklin Mutual Advisers, LLC had sole voting power
and sole dispositive power as to all of the reported beneficially owned
shares (3,162,578 shares).
|
|
(8)
|
Mr.
Gendell, Tontine Partners, L.P., Tontine Management, L.L.C., Tontine
Capital Partners, L.P., Tontine Capital Management, L.L.C., and Tontine
Overseas Associates, L.L.C. jointly filed a Schedule 13G/A on February 8,
2008. According to the Schedule 13G/A, (a) Mr. Gendell had sole voting and
dispositive power as to 205,135 shares, shared voting and dispositive
power as to 2,856,548 and aggregate beneficial ownership of 3,061,683
shares; (b) Tontine Partners, L.P. and Tontine Management, L.L.C. each had
shared voting and dispositive power as to the 726,272 shares they
beneficially owned; (c) Tontine Overseas Associates, L.L.C. had shared
voting and dispositive power as to the 2,011,776 shares it beneficially
owned; (d) Tontine Capital Partners, L.P. had shared voting and
dispositive power as to the 118,500 shares they beneficially owned; and
(e) Tontine Capital Management, L.L.C. had shared voting and dispositive
power as to the 317,706 shares it beneficially owned. The Schedule 13G/A
indicates that Mr. Gendell is the managing member of (a) Tontine
Management, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, which is the
general partner of Tontine Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership,
and has the power to direct its affairs; (b) Tontine Capital Management,
L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, which is the general partner
of Tontine Capital Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and has
the power to direct its affairs; and (c) Tontine Overseas Associates,
L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, and in that capacity Mr.
Gendell directs their operations. Each of the reporting entities has the
same address.
|
|
(9)
|
Ziff
Asset Management, L.P., PBK Holdings, Inc., Philip B. Korsant and ZBI
Equities LLC jointly filed a Schedule 13G/A on February 13, 2008.
According to the Schedule 13G/A, (a) Ziff Asset Management, L.P. had
shared voting and dispositive power as to the 2,763,750 shares it
beneficially owned; (b) each of PBK Holdings, Inc., Philip B. Korsant and
ZBI Equities LLC had shared voting and dispositive power as to the
2,995,800 shares it beneficially owned; and (c) partnerships of which PBK
Holdings, Inc. is the general partner, including (9) Ziff Asset
Management, L.P., are the owners of record of the shares reported on the
Schedule 13G/A and each of PBK Holdings, Inc., Philip B. Korsant, and ZBI
Equities, L.L.C. may be deemed to beneficially own all or a portion of the
shares reported on the Schedule 13G/A as a result of the direct or
indirect power to vote or dispose of such stock. Each of the reporting
entities has the same address.
|
(10) |
Barclays
Global Investors, NA and Barclays Global Fund Advisors jointly filed a
Schedule 13G on February 5, 2008. According to the Schedule 13G, (a)
Barclays Global Investors, NA had sole voting power as to 744,587 shares
and sole dispositive power as to the 869,247 shares it beneficially owned;
and (c) Barclays Global Fund Advisors had sole voting and dispositive
power as to the 1,785,974 shares it beneficially owned. Each of the
reporting entities has the same address.
|
|
(11) |
State
Street Bank and Trust Company filed a Schedule 13G on February 12, 2008.
According to the Schedule 13G, State Street Bank and Trust Company had
sole voting power and shared dispositive power as to the 2,521,779 shares
it beneficially owned.
|
|
(12) |
Citigroup
Inc., Citigroup Financial Products Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets
Holdings Inc. jointly filed a Schedule 13G on February 8, 2008. According
to the Schedule 13G, each of Citigroup Inc., Citigroup Financial Products
Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. has shared voting and
dispositive power as to the 2,322,751 shares it beneficially owns. The
address of the principal office of each of Citigroup Financial Products
Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. is 388 Greenwich Street,
New York, NY 10013.
|
|
(13) |
Canyon
Capital Advisors LLC, Mitchell R. Julis, Joshua S. Friedman and K. Robert
Turner jointly filed a Schedule 13G on February 14, 2008. According to the
Schedule 13G, (a) Canyon Capital Advisors LLC had sole voting and
dispositive power as to the 2,062,152 shares it beneficially owned; (b)
each of Messrs. Julis, Friedman and Turner had shared voting and
dispositive power as to the 2,062,152 shares he beneficially owned; (c)
Canyon Capital Advisors LLC is an investment advisor to various managed
accounts with the right to receive, or the power to direct the receipt, of
dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of the securities held by,
such managed accounts; and (d) Messrs. Julis, Friedman, and Turner
control entities which own 100% of Canyon Capital Advisors LLC. Each of
the reporting entities has the same
address.
|
143
Item
13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director
Independence
Transactions
with Related Persons
There
were no reportable transactions with related persons during fiscal
2007.
Review,
Approval or Ratification of Transactions with Related Persons
The
Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee Charter provides that the committee
will conduct an appropriate review of all proposed related party transactions to
identify potential conflict of interest situations and the committee will submit
the related party transactions to the Board for its approval and implementation
of appropriate action to protect the Company from potential conflicts of
interest. The committee has not adopted any specific procedures for conducting
such reviews and considers each transaction in light of the specific facts and
circumstances presented. Also, as described below, a portion of the review
authority, in the case of transactions with employees, is delegated to
supervising employees pursuant to the terms of our Code of Business Conduct and
Ethics.
Our Code
of Business Conduct and Ethics, which applies to all directors, officers and
employees, directs each individual to avoid any actual or apparent conflict of
interest. Under this code, each director is required to notify the Chair of the
Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee, in writing, as soon as such director
or any immediate family member becomes involved with or affiliated with, any
activity, business or other entity which has a business, charitable or other
relationship with the Company. In addition, the code requires each employee,
including all executive officers, to promptly disclose to his or her immediate
supervisor, in writing, before the employee or any immediate family member
becomes actively involved with, or affiliated with, any activity, business or
other entity which has a business, charitable or other relationship with the
Company. In determining whether a conflict exists, the supervisor shall seek
further guidance as is appropriate (which may include discussions with more
senior officers or the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee).
Each
director, officer and employee is required to provide an annual certification
that he or she has received and reviewed the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
and disclose any related person transactions.
Director
Independence
Listing
standards relating to corporate governance promulgated by the NYSE require that
the Board of Directors be comprised of a majority of independent directors. The
Sarbanes-Oxley Act and rules of the SEC require that the Audit Committee be
comprised solely of independent directors. The NYSE standards further require
that the Compensation and Nominating/Corporate Governance Committees also be
comprised solely of independent directors. On the basis of information solicited
from each director, and upon the advice and recommendation of the
Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee, the Board of Directors has determined
that five of its current seven directors have no material relationship with
Beazer Homes other than their relationship as members of the Board and are
independent within the meaning of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the NYSE standards.
Those directors serving during fiscal 2007 determined to be independent were
Messrs. Alpert, Leemputte, Solari, and Zelnak and Ms. Bayne.
In making
these determinations, at the request of the Board, the Nominating/Corporate
Governance Committee, with assistance from the Company’s General Counsel,
evaluated responses to an independence and qualification questionnaire completed
annually by each director and follow up inquiries made to certain directors. The
Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee made a recommendation that five
directors be considered independent, which recommendation the Board subsequently
discussed and adopted. The Board concluded that four of those five directors,
Messrs. Alpert, Leemputte and Zelnak, and Ms. Bayne, had no relationship with
Beazer Homes other than their relationship as members of the Board. In the case
of Mr. Solari, the responses to the questionnaire indicated a potential
relationship with two companies that provided some goods or services to Beazer
Homes. In this case, based upon the most recent information available, the
amount paid for goods and services represented less than one half of one
percent of both the providing companies’ and Beazer Homes annual gross
revenues. Accordingly, based upon the amount paid for the goods and services,
the Board affirmatively determined that the relationship was not material either
to Beazer Homes or to the other companies. Based on the foregoing, the Board of
Directors of Beazer Homes had a majority of independent directors and each of
the Audit, Nominating/Corporate Governance and Compensation committees of the
Board during fiscal 2007 were comprised entirely of independent directors and it
is expected that the majority of directors and all committee members in fiscal
2008, other than one member of the Finance Committee, as to which independence
is not required for membership, will be independent as well. Accordingly, Beazer
Homes was, in fiscal 2007, and continues to be in compliance with the
requirements of the NYSE and the SEC for Board independence.
144
Item
14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
For the
fiscal years ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, professional services were
performed by Deloitte & Touche LLP, the member firms of Deloitte Touche
Tohmatsu, and their respective affiliates (collectively, “Deloitte &
Touche”).
Audit Fees: The
aggregate fees billed for the audit of our annual financial statements for the
fiscal years ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 and for reviews of the financial
statements included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q were $3,098,351 and
$1,110,310, respectively and include fees for Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404
attestation procedures.
Audit-Related Fees: The
aggregate fees billed for audit-related services for the fiscal years ended
September 30, 2007 and 2006 were $84,800 and $130,300, respectively. These fees
relate to assurance and related services performed by Deloitte & Touche that
are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our
financial statements. These services include: employee benefit and compensation
plan audits, attestations by Deloitte that are not required by statute or
regulation, and consulting on financial accounting/reporting
standards.
Tax Fees: The aggregate fees
billed for tax services for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2007 and 2006
were $448,492 and $352,400, respectively. These fees relate to professional
services performed by Deloitte & Touche with respect to tax compliance, tax
advice and tax planning. These services include preparation of original and
amended tax returns for the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, refund
claims, payment planning, tax audit assistance, and tax work stemming from
“Audit-Related” items. The aggregate fees billed for tax compliance and advice
services for fiscal years ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 were $259,600 and
$352,400, respectively. The aggregate fees billed for tax planning services for
fiscal years ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 were $188,892 and $0,
respectively.
All Other Fees: No other fees
were paid to Deloitte & Touche in either fiscal year 2007 or fiscal year
2006.
The Audit
Committee annually approves each year’s engagement for audit services in
advance. The Audit Committee has also established complementary procedures to
require pre-approval of all permitted non-audit services provided by the
Company’s independent auditors. All non-audit services described above were
pre-approved by the Audit Committee in fiscal 2007.
PART
IV
Item
15. Exhibits
and Financial Statement Schedules
The
following documents are filed as part of this Annual Report on Form
10-K.
|
(a)
|
1.
Financial Statements
|
Page
herein
|
|
Consolidated
Statements of Operations for the years ended September 30, 2007, 2006 and
2005.
|
59
|
Consolidated
Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2007 and 2006.
|
60
|
Consolidated
Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended September 30, 2007,
2006 and 2005.
|
61
|
145
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended September 30, 2007, 2006 and
2005.
|
62
|
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements.
|
63
|
|
2.
|
Financial
Statement Schedules
|
None
required.
|
3.
|
Exhibits
|
Exhibit
Number
|
Exhibit
Description
|
|
3.1
|
--
|
Amended
and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company – incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Registration Statement
on Form S-4/A filed on March 12, 2002
|
3.2
|
--
|
Second
Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company – incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended
September 30, 2004 (File No. 001-12822)
|
4.1
|
--
|
Indenture
dated as of May 21, 2001 among the Company and U.S. Bank Trust National
Association, as trustee, related to the Company’s 8 ⅝% Senior Notes due
2011 – incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.4 of the Company’s
Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2001 (File No.
001-12822)
|
4.2
|
--
|
Supplemental
Indenture (8 ⅝% Notes) dated as of May 21, 2001 among the Company, its
subsidiaries party thereto and U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as
trustee – incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.5 of the Company’s
Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2001 (File No.
001-12822)
|
4.3
|
--
|
Form
of 8 ⅝% Senior Notes due 2011 – incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 4.6 of the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended September 30,
2001 (File No. 001-12822)
|
4.4
|
--
|
Specimen
of Common Stock Certificate – incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
4.1 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 initially filed on
December 6, 1993
|
4.5
|
--
|
Indenture
dated as of April 17, 2002 among Beazer, the Guarantors party thereto and
U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as trustee, related to the Company’s
8 ⅜% Senior Notes due 2012 – incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
4.11 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed on July 16,
2002
|
4.6
|
--
|
First
Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 17, 2002 among Beazer, the
Guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as
trustee, related to the Company’s 8 ⅜% Senior Notes due 2012 –
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.12 of the Company’s
Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed on July 16,
2002
|
4.7
|
--
|
Form
of 8 ⅜% Senior Notes due 2012 – incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 4.14 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed on
July 16, 2002
|
4.8
|
--
|
Second
Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 13, 2003 among Beazer, the
Guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as
trustee, related to the Company’s 6 ½% Senior Notes due 2013 –
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.11 of the Company’s Form
10-K for the year ended September 30, 2003 (File No.
001-12822)
|
4.9
|
--
|
Form
of 6 ½% Senior Notes due 2013 – incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 4.12 of the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended September 30,
2003 (File No. 001-12822)
|
4.10
|
--
|
Indenture
dated as of June 8, 2004 among Beazer, the Guarantors party thereto and
SunTrust Bank, as trustee, related to the 4 ⅝% Convertible Senior Notes
due 2024 – incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the
Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004 (File No.
001-12822)
|
4.11
|
--
|
Form
of 4 ⅝% Convertible Senior Notes due 2024 – incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
June 30, 2004 (File No. 001-12822)
|
4.12
|
--
|
Form
of 6 ⅞% Senior Notes due 2015 – incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June 13,
2005
|
4.13
|
--
|
Form
of Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 8, 2005, by and among
Beazer, the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National
Association, as trustee – incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1
of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June 13, 2005
|
4.14
|
--
|
Sixth
Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 9, 2006, to the Trust
Indenture dated as of May 21, 2001 – incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 99.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on January 17, 2006 (File No.
001-12822)
|
146
4.15
|
--
|
Seventh
Supplement Indenture, dated as of January 9, 2006, to the Trust Indenture
dated as of April 17, 2002 – incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
99.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on January 17, 2006 (File No.
001-12822)
|
4.16
|
--
|
Form
of Senior Note due 2016 – incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2
of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June 8, 2006 (File No.
001-12822)
|
4.17
|
--
|
Form
of Eighth Supplemental Indenture, dated June 6, 2006, by and among Beazer
Homes USA, Inc., the guarantors named therein and UBS Securities LLC,
Citigroup Global Markets Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities, Inc., Wachovia
Capital Markets, LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., BNP Paribas
Securities Corp. and Greenwich Capital Markets – incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June 8, 2006
(File No. 001-12822)
|
4.18
|
--
|
Form
of Junior Subordinated indenture between Beazer Homes USA, Inc., JPMorgan
Chase Bank, National Association, dated June 15, 2006 – incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June
21, 2006 (File No. 001-12822)
|
4.19
|
--
|
Form
of the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement among Beazer Homes USA, Inc.,
JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, Chase Bank USA, National
Association and certain individuals named therein as Administrative
Trustees, dated June 15, 2006 - incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June 21, 2006 (File No.
001-12822)
|
4.20
|
--
|
Seventh
Supplemental Indenture, dated October 26, 2007, amending and supplementing
the Indenture, dated May 21, 2001, among the Company, US Bank National
Association, as trustee, and the subsidiary guarantors party thereto –
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K
filed on October 30, 2007 (File No. 001-12822)
|
4.21
|
--
|
Ninth
Supplemental Indenture, dated October 26, 2007, amending and supplementing
the Indenture, dated April 17, 2002, among the Company, US Bank National
Association, as trustee, and the subsidiary guarantors party thereto –
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Form 8-K
filed on October 30, 2007 (File No. 001-12822)
|
4.22
|
--
|
Third
Supplemental Indenture, dated October 26, 2007, amending and supplementing
the Indenture, dated June 8, 2004, among the Company, SunTrust Bank, as
trustee, and the subsidiary guarantors party thereto – incorporated herein
by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on October
30, 2007 (File No. 001-12822)
|
10.1*
|
--
|
Amended
and Restated 1994 Stock Incentive Plan – incorporated herein by reference
to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended September
30, 2005 (File No. 001-12822)
|
10.2*
|
--
|
Non-Employee
Director Stock Option Plan – incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
10.2 of the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2001
(File No. 001-12822)
|
10.3*
|
--
|
Amended
and Restated 1999 Stock Incentive Plan – incorporated herein by reference
to Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s Form S-8 filed on June 17,
2004
|
10.4*
|
--
|
2005
Value Created Incentive Plan – incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
10.4 of the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2004
(File No. 001-12822)
|
10.5*
|
--
|
Second
Amended and Restated Corporate Management Stock Purchase
Program
|
10.6*
|
--
|
Customer
Survey Incentive Plan – incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.6
of the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2004 (File No.
001-12822)
|
10.7*
|
--
|
Director
Stock Purchase Program – incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.7
of the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2004 (File No.
001-12822)
|
10.8*
|
--
|
Form
of Stock Option and Restricted Stock Award Agreement – incorporated herein
by reference to Exhibit 10.8 of the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended
September 30, 2004 (File No. 001-12822)
|
10.9*
|
--
|
Form
of Stock Option Award Agreement – incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 10.9 of the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended September 30,
2004 (File No. 001-12822)
|
10.10*
|
--
|
Amended
and Restated Employment Agreement of Ian J. McCarthy dated as of September
1, 2004 – incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.01 of the
Company’s Form 8-K filed on September 1, 2004 (File No.
001-12822)
|
10.11*
|
--
|
First
Amendment to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement of Ian J. McCarthy
dated as of February 3, 2006 – incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
10.11 of the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006
(File No. 001-12822)
|
10.12*
|
--
|
Amended
and Restated Employment Agreement of Michael H. Furlow dated as of
September 1, 2004 – incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.02 of
the Company’s Form 8-K filed on September 1, 2004 (File No.
001-12822)
|
147
10.13*
|
--
|
First
Amendment to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement of Michael H.
Furlow dated as of February 3, 2006 – incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 10.12 of the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31,
2006 (File No. 001-12822)
|
10.14*
|
--
|
Employment
Agreement effective May 1, 2007 for Allan P. Merrill - incorporated herein
by reference to Exhibit 10.01 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on April 24,
2007 (File No. 001-12822)
|
10.15*
|
--
|
Employment
Letter for Michael Douglas, effective May 1, 2007 and as amended on August
24, 2007 and November 12, 2007
|
10.16*
|
--
|
Amended
and Restated Supplemental Employment Agreement of Ian J. McCarthy dated as
of February 3, 2006 – incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1of
the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006 (File No.
001-12822)
|
10.17*
|
--
|
Amended
and Restated Supplemental Employment Agreement of Michael H. Furlow dated
as of February 3, 2006 – incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2
of the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006 (File No.
001-12822)
|
10.18*
|
--
|
Change
of Control Employment Agreement effective May 1, 2007 for Allan P. Merrill
– incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.02 of the Company’s Form
8-K filed on April 24, 2007 (File No. 001-12822)
|
10.19*
|
--
|
Amended
and Restated Supplemental Employment Agreement of Cory J. Boydston dated
as of February 3, 2006 – incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.6
of the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006 (File No.
001-12822)
|
10.20*
|
--
|
Change
of Control Employment Agreement effective May 1, 2007 for Michael R.
Douglas
|
10.21*
|
--
|
Form
of Performance Shares Award Agreement dated as of February 2, 2006 –
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.18 of the Company’s Form
10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006 (File No.
001-12822)
|
10.22*
|
--
|
Form
of Award Agreement dated as of February 2, 2006 – incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.19 of the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended March 31, 2006 (File No. 001-12822)
|
10.23*
|
--
|
2005
Executive Value Created Incentive Plan – incorporated herein by reference
to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on February 9, 2005 (File
No. 001-12822)
|
10.24
|
--
|
Credit
Agreement dated as of July 25, 2007 between the Company, the lenders
thereto, and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Agent, BNP Paribas,
The Royal Bank of Scotland, and Guaranty Bank, as Documentation Agents,
Regions Bank, as Senior Managing Agent, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as
Managing Agent – incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the
Company’s Form 8-K filed on July 26, 2007 (File No.
001-12822)
|
10.25
|
--
|
Waiver
and First Amendment, dated as of October 10, 2007, to and under the Credit
Agreement, dated as of July 15, 2007, among the Company, the lenders
thereto and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Agent – incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on
October 11, 2007 (File No. 001-12822)
|
10.26
|
--
|
Second
Amendment, dated October 26, 2007, to and under the Credit Agreement,
dated as of July 15, 2007, among the Company, the lenders thereto and
Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Agent – incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on October 30,
2007 (File No. 001-12822)
|
10.27*
|
--
|
2008
Beazer Homes USA, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan, adopted effective
January 1, 2008
|
10.28*
|
--
|
Discretionary
Employee Bonus Plan
|
21
|
--
|
Subsidiaries
of the Company
|
31.1
|
--
|
Certification
pursuant to 17 CFR 240.13a-14 promulgated under Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|
31.2
|
--
|
Certification
pursuant to 17 CFR 240.13a-14 promulgated under Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|
32.1
|
--
|
Certification
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|
32.2
|
--
|
Certification
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|
*
Represents a management contract or compensatory plan or
arrangement
|
148
(c) Exhibits
Reference
is made to Item 15(a)3 above. The following is a list of exhibits, included in
item 15(a)3 above, that are filed concurrently with this report.
10.5*
|
--
|
Second
Amended and Restated Corporate Management Stock Purchase
Program
|
10.15*
|
--
|
Employment
Letter for Michael Douglas, effective May 1, 2007 and as amended on August
24, 2007 and November 12, 2007
|
10.20*
|
--
|
Change
of Control Employment Agreement effective May 1, 2007 for Michael R.
Douglas
|
10.27*
|
--
|
2008
Beazer Homes USA, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan, adopted effective
January 1, 2008
|
10.28*
|
--
|
Discretionary
Employee Bonus Plan
|
21
|
---
|
Subsidiaries
of the Company
|
31.1
|
---
|
Certification
pursuant to 17 CFR 240.13a-14 promulgated under Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|
31.2
|
---
|
Certification
pursuant to 17 CFR 240.13a-14 promulgated under Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|
32.1
|
---
|
Certification
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|
32.2
|
---
|
Certification
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|
(d)
|
Financial
Statement Schedules
|
Reference
is made to Item 15(a)2 above.
149
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.
Beazer
Homes USA, Inc.
|
|||
By:
|
/s/
Ian J. McCarthy
|
||
Name:
Ian J. McCarthy
|
|||
Title:
President and Chief
|
|||
Executive
Officer
|
|||
Date:
May 12, 2008
|
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been
signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
May
12, 2008
|
By:
|
/s/
Brian C. Beazer
|
||
Date
|
Brian
C. Beazer, Director and Non-
Executive
Chairman of the Board
|
|||
May
12, 2008
|
By:
|
/s/
Ian J. McCarthy
|
||
Date
|
Ian
J. McCarthy, Director, President
and
Chief Executive Officer
|
|||
(Principal
Executive Officer)
|
||||
May
12, 2008
|
By:
|
/s/
Laurent Alpert
|
||
Date
|
Laurent
Alpert, Director
|
|||
May
12, 2008
|
By:
|
/s/
Katie J. Bayne
|
||
Date
|
Katie
J. Bayne, Director
|
|||
May
12, 2008
|
By:
|
/s/
Peter G. Leemputte
|
||
Date
|
Peter
G. Leemputte, Director
|
|||
May
12, 2008
|
By:
|
/s/
Larry T. Solari
|
||
Date
|
Larry
T. Solari, Director
|
|||
May
12, 2008
|
By:
|
/s/
Stephen P. Zelnak
|
||
Date
|
Stephen
P. Zelnak, Jr., Director
|
|||
May
12, 2008
|
By:
|
/s/
Allan P. Merrill
|
||
Date
|
Allan
P. Merrill, Executive Vice
President
and Chief Financial
|
|||
Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
|
||||
May
12, 2008
|
By:
|
/s/
Robert Salomon
|
||
Date
|
Robert
Salomon, Senior Vice
President,
Chief Accounting Officer
|
|||
and
Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)
|
150