UNITED STATES

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

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

 

 

 

 

Commission file number 1-8551

 

Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

110 West Front Street, P.O. Box 500, Red Bank, NJ 07701

 

732-747-7800

(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date. 62,649,376 shares of Class A Common Stock and 14,574,819 shares of Class B Common Stock were outstanding as of September 1, 2009.

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1) Derived from the audited balance sheet as of October 31, 2008.

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

 

 

 

 

(1) Derived from the audited balance sheet as of October 31, 2008.

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

 

 

 

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

 

 

 

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of noncash financing activities:

 

In the first quarter of fiscal 2009, the Company issued $29.3 million of 18.0% Senior Secured Notes due 2017 in exchange for $71.4 million of unsecured senior notes.

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

 

 

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - UNAUDITED

 

Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. (“the Company”, “the Parent”, “we”, “us” or “our”) has reportable segments consisting of six Homebuilding segments (Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Southeast, Southwest and West) and the Financial Services segment (see Note 15).

 

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

 

1. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. In the opinion of management, all adjustments for interim periods presented have been made, which include normal recurring accruals and deferrals necessary for a fair presentation of our consolidated financial position, results of operations, and cash flows. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates, and these differences could have a significant impact on the financial statements. Results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results which might be expected for a full year. The balance sheet at October 31, 2008 has been derived from the audited Consolidated Financial Statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In preparing these financial statements, the Company has evaluated subsequent events and transactions for potential recognition or disclosure through September 4, 2009, the date the financial statements were filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

2. For the three and nine months ended July 31, 2009, the Company’s total stock-based compensation expense was $2.0 million (net of tax) and $23.2 million (net of tax), respectively. Included in this total stock-based compensation expense was the vesting of stock options of $0.7 million (net of tax) and $16.1 million (net of tax) for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2009, respectively. Included in the three and nine months ended July 31, 2009 is a $0.8 million adjustment for the change in our estimated forfeiture rate. Also, included in the nine months ended July 31, 2009 is $12.3 million (net of tax) for stock option cancellations that occurred in the first quarter of fiscal 2009. The Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and each of the non-executive members of the Board of Directors consented to the cancellation of certain of their options (with the full understanding that the Company made no commitment to provide them with any other form of consideration in respect to the cancelled options) in order to reduce a portion of the equity reserve “overhang” under the Company’s equity compensation plans represented by the number of shares of the Company’s common stock remaining available for future issuance under such plans (including shares that may be issued upon the exercise or vesting of outstanding options and other rights).

 

 

 

 

 

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

(2) Beginning in the third quarter of fiscal 2008, our assets that qualify for interest capitalization (inventory

(3) We have incurred significant inventory impairments in recent years, which are determined based on

 

4. Accumulated depreciation at July 31, 2009 and October 31, 2008 amounted to $79.7 million and $70.5 million, respectively, for our homebuilding property, plant and equipment.

 

5. In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 144 ("SFAS 144"), Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long Lived Assets, we record impairment losses on inventories related to communities under development and held for future development when events and circumstances indicate that they may be impaired and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than their related carrying amounts. If the expected undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount, then the community is written down to its fair value. We estimated the fair value of each impaired community by determining the present value of the estimated future cash flows at a discount rate commensurate with the risk of the respective community. For the nine months ended July 31, 2009, our discount rates used for the impairments recorded range from 14.3% to 20.3%. Should the estimates or expectations used in determining cash flows or fair value decrease or differ from current estimates in the future, we may be required to recognize additional impairments. As a result of a continued decline in sales price and general market conditions, we recorded inventory impairments, for the three months ended July 31, 2009 and 2008, of $94.6 million and $80.2 million, respectively, and for the nine months ended July 31, 2009 and 2008, of $491.4 million and $380.4 million, respectively, each of which are presented in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations as part of “Inventory impairment loss and land option write-offs” and deducted from inventories as presented in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

 

The following table represents inventory impairments by homebuilding segment for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2009 and 2008:

 

 

 

(1) Represents carrying value, net of prior period impairments, if any, at the time of recording

 

The Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations line entitled "Inventory impairment loss and land option write-offs" also includes write-offs of capitalized approval, engineering and interest costs that we record when we redesign communities and/or abandon certain engineering costs or the write-off of the deposit when we do not intend to exercise options (“walk-away”) in various locations because the communities' projected profitability will not produce adequate returns on investment commensurate with the risk. The total aggregate write-offs were $6.5 million and $30.8 million for the three months ended July 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and $30.1 million and $66.6 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

 

 

            The following table represents write-offs of such costs and the related number of lots by homebuilding segment for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2009 and 2008:

 

 

As a result of the declining homebuilding market, we have decided to mothball (or stop development on) certain communities in some of our segments where we have determined the current performance does not justify further investment at this time. When we decide to mothball a community, the inventory is reclassified from “Sold and unsold homes and lots under development” to “Land and land options held for future development or sale”. During the third quarter of fiscal 2009, we mothballed nine communities with a net book value of $43.0 million, net of an impairment reserve balance of $15.8 million. Also during the third quarter of fiscal 2009, we sold four previously mothballed communities and re-activated four previously mothballed communities, which combined had a net book value of $11.8 million, net of an impairment reserve balance of $23.3 million. As of July 31, 2009, the net book value associated with our 77 total mothballed communities was $376.3 million, net of an impairment reserve balance of $509.1 million.

 

6. We establish a warranty accrual for repair costs under $5,000 per occurrence to homes, community amenities and land development infrastructure. We accrue for warranty costs as part of cost of sales at the time each home is closed and title and possession have been transferred to the homebuyer. In addition, we accrue for warranty costs over $5,000 per occurrence as part of our general liability insurance deductible, which is expensed as selling, general and administrative costs. For homes delivered in fiscal 2009 and 2008, our deductible under our general liability insurance is $20 million per occurrence with an aggregate $20 million for liability claims and an aggregate $21.5 million for construction defect claims. Additions and charges in the warranty reserve and general liability accrual for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2009 and 2008 were as follows:

 

 

 

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

 

Insurance claims paid by our insurance carriers were $6.8 million and $11.9 million for the three months ended July 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and $26.3 million and $18.9 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, for prior year deliveries.

 

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

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

In March 2005, we received two requests for information pursuant to Section 308 of the Clean Water Act from Region 3 of the Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”). These requests sought information concerning storm water discharge practices in connection with completed, ongoing and planned homebuilding projects by subsidiaries in the states and district that comprise EPA Region 3. We also received a notice of violations for one project in Pennsylvania and requests for sampling plan implementation in two projects in Pennsylvania. We have subsequently received notification from the EPA alleging violations of storm water discharge practices at other locations and requesting related information. We provided the EPA with information in response to its requests. The Department of Justice (“DOJ”) is also involved in the review of these practices and enforcement with respect to them. We are engaged in discussions with the DOJ and EPA regarding a resolution of these matters. We cannot predict whether those discussions will result in a resolution, or what any resolution of these matters ultimately will require of us.

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

The Company, Chief Executive Officer and President Ara K. Hovnanian, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer J. Larry Sorsby and a former officer of a Company subsidiary have been named as

 

 

defendants in a purported class action. The original complaint, which only named Mr. Sorsby as a defendant, was filed on September 14, 2007 in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, captioned Herbert Mankofsky v. J. Larry Sorsby. On January 31, 2008, the court appointed Herbert Mankofsky as Lead Plaintiff. On February 19, 2008, the action was transferred to the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. On March 10, 2008, plaintiff filed an amended complaint, captioned In re Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. Securities Litigation, alleging, among other things, that the defendants violated federal securities laws by making false and misleading statements regarding the Company’s business and future prospects in connection with the Company’s acquisition of First Home Builders of Florida. The Company filed a Motion to Dismiss the amended complaint on July 14, 2008. On September 11, 2008, plaintiff filed his opposition to the Motion to Dismiss. The Company filed its reply brief on October 28, 2008. In March, 2009, the parties agreed that the Motion to Dismiss would be withdrawn and that the Plaintiffs would file a second amended complaint. The Company’s insurance carrier has agreed to provide coverage for the case under the Company’s insurance policy, therefore the maximum exposure to the Company is the deductible, which has already been incurred and expensed as defense costs. The matter has been resolved, pending court approval, with no further payments from the Company.

A subsidiary of the Company has been named as a defendant in a purported class action suit filed on May 30, 2007 in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Randolph Sewell, et al., v. D’Allesandro & Woodyard, et al., alleging violations of the federal securities acts, among other allegations, in connection with the sale of some of the subsidiary’s homes in Fort Myers, Florida. Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint on October 19, 2007. Plaintiffs sought to represent a class of certain home purchasers in southwestern Florida and sought damages, rescission of certain purchase agreements, restitution of out-of-pocket expenses, and attorneys’ fees and costs. The Company’s subsidiary filed a Motion to Dismiss the amended complaint on December 14, 2007. Following oral argument on the motion in September 2008, the court dismissed the amended complaint with leave for plaintiffs to amend. Plaintiffs filed a second amended complaint on October 31, 2008. The Company has filed a Motion to Dismiss this second amended complaint. Plaintiffs seek to represent a class of certain home purchasers in southwestern Florida and seek damages, rescission of certain purchase agreements, restitution of out-of-pocket expenses, and attorneys’ fees and costs. While we have determined that a loss related to this case is not probable, it is not possible to estimate a loss or range of loss related to this matter at this time.

 

8. Cash and cash equivalents include cash deposited in checking accounts, repurchase agreements, certificates of deposit, Treasury Bills and government money market funds with maturities of 90 days or less when purchased. Our cash balances are held at numerous financial institutions and may, at times, exceed insurable amounts. We believe we help to mitigate this risk by depositing our cash in major financial institutions. At July 31, 2009, $539.1 million of the total cash and cash equivalents was in cash equivalents, the book value of which approximates fair value.

9. On May 16, 2008, we entered into Amendment No. 1 (the “Amendment”) to the Seventh Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (as amended, the “Amended Credit Agreement”). On May 27, 2008, in conjunction with the consummation of the issuance of $600 million of 11 1/2% Senior Secured Notes due 2013, the Amendment became effective. The Amendment decreased the aggregate amount of commitments under the Amended Credit Agreement from $900 million to $300 million. The maturity date of the facility remains May 31, 2011. Availability under the Amended Credit Agreement equals the lesser of $300 million and the amount available pursuant to the borrowing base. The sub-limit for revolving loans is $100 million. Borrowings under the Amended Credit Agreement bear interest at a rate equal, at the Company’s option, to (1) one, two, three or six month LIBOR, plus 4.50%, (2) a base rate equal to the greater of PNC Bank, National Association’s prime rate and the federal funds effective rate plus 0.50%, plus 2.75% or (3) an index rate based on daily LIBOR, plus 4.625%. In addition to paying interest on outstanding principal under the revolving facility, the Company is required to pay an unused fee equal to 0.55% per annum on the daily average unused portion of the revolving facility. The Company will also pay a letter of credit fee of 4.50% per annum on the average outstanding face amount of letters of credit issued under the revolving facility. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the interest rate and fees payable under the revolving facility may not be less than the applicable interest rates and fees that would have been payable pursuant to the revolving facility that was in effect prior to March 7, 2008, the date of the Amended Credit Agreement. Borrowings under the Amended Credit Agreement may be used for general corporate purposes and working capital. As of both July 31, 2009 and October 31, 2008, there was zero drawn under the Amended Credit Agreement, excluding letters of credit totaling $138.3 million and $197.5 million, respectively.

 

 

We and each of our subsidiaries are guarantors under the Amended Credit Agreement, except for K. Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. (“K. Hovnanian”), the borrower, certain of our financial services subsidiaries and joint ventures. All obligations under the Amended Credit Agreement, and the guarantees of those obligations, are secured, subject to permitted liens and other exceptions, by a first-priority lien on substantially all of the assets owned by us, K. Hovnanian and the guarantors.

The Amended Credit Agreement has covenants that prohibit the payment of dividends on, and the making of distributions with respect to, common and preferred stock and that restrict, among other things, the ability of the Company and certain of its subsidiaries, including K. Hovnanian, to incur additional indebtedness, repurchase capital stock, make other restricted payments, make investments, dispose of assets, incur liens, consolidate, merge, sell or otherwise transfer all or substantially all assets and enter into certain transactions with affiliates. The Amended Credit Agreement also contains a covenant that requires that as of the last day of each fiscal quarter either (1) the ratio of our adjusted operating cash flow to fixed charges exceed 1.50 to 1.00 or (2) our liquidity, as defined in the Amended Credit Agreement, equals or exceeds $100 million. However, the Amended Credit Agreement does not contain any other financial maintenance covenants. The Amended Credit Agreement contains events of default which would permit the lenders to accelerate the loans if not cured within applicable grace periods, including the failure to make timely payments under the Amended Credit Agreement or other material indebtedness, the failure to satisfy covenants, the failure of the documents granting security for the obligations under the Amended Credit Agreement to be in full force and effect and specified events of bankruptcy and insolvency. As of July 31, 2009, we believe we were in compliance with the covenants under the Amended Credit Agreement.

 

Our wholly-owned mortgage banking subsidiary originates mortgage loans, primarily from the sale of our homes. Such mortgage loans and related servicing rights are sold in the secondary mortgage market within a short period of time. Our secured Master Repurchase Agreement with a group of banks is a short term borrowing facility, which was amended on March 6, 2009, extending the maturity to March 5, 2010 and reducing the capacity to $60 million from $151 million. Interest is payable monthly, at the Company’s option, at either LIBOR plus 2.00% or the prime rate, with a rate floor of 4.25% on both. The loan is secured by the mortgages held for sale and is repaid when we sell the underlying mortgage loans to permanent investors. The Master Repurchase Agreement requires K. Hovnanian American Mortgage, LLC (“K. Hovnanian Mortgage”) to satisfy and maintain specified financial ratios and other financial condition tests. Because of the extremely short period of time mortgages are held by K. Hovnanian Mortgage before the mortgages are sold to investors (generally a period of a few weeks), the immateriality to us on a consolidated basis of the size of the facility, the levels required by these financial covenants, our ability based on our immediately available resources to contribute sufficient capital to cure any default, were such conditions to occur, and our right to cure any conditions of default based on the terms of the Master Repurchase Agreement, we do not consider any of these covenants to be substantive or material. As of July 31, 2009, we believe we were in compliance with the covenants of the Master Repurchase Agreement. As of July 31, 2009, the aggregate principal amount of all borrowings under the Master Repurchase Agreement was $49.8 million.

 

10. At July 31, 2009, we had $629.3 million ($624.7 million net of discount) of outstanding senior secured notes, comprised of $600.0 million 11 1/2% Senior Secured Notes due 2013 and $29.3 million 18% Senior Secured Notes due 2017. At July 31, 2009 we also had $972.7 million of outstanding senior notes ($970.6 million net of discount), comprised of $43.5 million 8% Senior Notes due 2012, $144.0 million 6 1/2% Senior Notes due 2014, $114.3 million 6 3/8% Senior Notes due 2014, $129.3 million 6 1/4% Senior Notes due 2015, $173.2 million 6 1/4% Senior Notes due 2016, $172.5 million 7 1/2% Senior Notes due 2016 and $195.9 million 8 5/8% Senior Notes due 2017. In addition, we had $173.5 million of outstanding senior subordinated notes, comprised of $11.1 million 6% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2010, $69.0 million 8 7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012, and $93.4 million 7 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013.

 

On December 3, 2008, the Company issued $29.3 million of 18% Senior Secured Notes due 2017 in exchange for $71.4 million of unsecured senior notes as follows: $0.6 million aggregate principal amount of 8% Senior Notes due 2012, $12.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6 1/2% Senior Notes due 2014, $1.1 million aggregate principal amount of 6 3/8% Senior Notes due 2014, $3.3 million aggregate principal amount of 6 1/4% Senior Notes due 2015, $24.8 million aggregate principal amount of 7 1/2% Senior Notes due 2016, $28.7 million aggregate principal amount of 6 1/4% Senior Notes due 2016 and $1.0 million aggregate principal amount of 8 5/8% Senior Notes due 2017. This exchange resulted in a recognized gain on extinguishment of debt of $41.3 million, net of the write-off of unamortized discounts and fees.

 

 

 

During the nine months ended July 31, 2009, we repurchased in open market transactions $11.3 million principal amount of 8% Senior Notes due 2012, $58.9 million principal amount of 6 1/2% Senior Notes due 2014, $33.6 million principal amount of 6 3/8% Senior Notes due 2014, $61.3 million principal amount of 6 1/4% Senior Notes due 2015, $88.9 million principal amount of 6 1/4% Senior Notes due 2016, $78.5 million principal amount of 7 1/2% Senior Notes due 2016, $41.8 millions principal amount of 8 5/8% Senior Notes due 2017, $71.1 million principal amount of 6% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2010, $79.1 million principal amount of 8 7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012, and $53.8 million principal amount of 7 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013. The aggregate purchase price for these repurchases was $223.1 million, plus accrued and unpaid interest. There were no open market repurchases during the three months ended July 31, 2009. These repurchases resulted in a gain on extinguishment of debt of $349.5 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2009, net of the write-off of unamortized discounts and fees. The gains from the exchanges and repurchases are included in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations for the nine months ended July 31, 2009 as “Gain on extinguishment of debt”.

 

On July 21, 2009, we completed cash tender offers whereby we purchased (1) in a fixed price tender offer, approximately $17.8 million principal amount of 6% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2010 for approximately $17.5 million, plus accrued and unpaid interest, (2) in a modified “Dutch Auction,” a total of approximately $49.5 million principal amount of 8% Senior Notes due 2012, 8 7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012 and 7 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 for approximately $36.1 million, plus accrued and unpaid interest and (3) in a modified “Dutch Auction,” a total of approximately $51.9 million of 6 1/2% Senior Notes due 2014, 6 3/8% Senior Notes due 2014, 6 1/4% Senior Notes due 2015, 6 1/4% Senior Notes due 2016, 7 1/2% Senior Notes due 2016 and 8 5/8% Senior Notes due 2017 for approximately $26.9 million, plus accrued and unpaid interest. These tender offers resulted in a gain on extinguishment of debt of $37.0 million, net of the write-off of unamortized discounts and fees.

 

We and each of our subsidiaries are guarantors of the Senior Secured, Senior and Senior Subordinated Notes, except for K. Hovnanian, the issuer of the notes, certain of our financial services subsidiaries and joint ventures and our foreign subsidiary (see Note 21). The indentures governing the Senior Secured, Senior and Senior Subordinated Notes do not contain any financial maintenance covenants, but do contain restrictive covenants that limit, among other things, the ability of Hovnanian and certain of its subsidiaries, including K. Hovnanian, to incur additional indebtedness (other than certain permitted indebtedness, refinancing indebtedness and non-recourse indebtedness), pay dividends and make distributions on common and preferred stock, repurchase senior notes and senior subordinated notes (with respect to the Senior Secured Notes indentures), make other restricted payments, make investments, sell certain assets, incur liens, consolidate, merge, sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all assets and enter into certain transactions with affiliates. The indentures also contain events of default which would permit the holders of the Senior Secured, Senior and Senior Subordinated Notes to declare those notes to be immediately due and payable if not cured within applicable grace periods, including the failure to make timely payments on the notes or other material indebtedness, the failure to comply with agreements and covenants and specified events of bankruptcy and insolvency and, with respect to the indentures governing the senior secured notes, the failure of the documents granting security for the senior secured notes to be in full force and effect and the failure of the liens on any material portion of the collateral securing the senior secured notes to be valid and perfected. As of July 31, 2009, we believe we were in compliance with the covenants of the indentures governing our outstanding notes. Under the terms of the indentures, we have the right to make certain redemptions and, depending on market conditions and covenant restrictions, may do so from time to time. We may also continue to make debt purchases and/or exchanges from time to time, through tender offers, open market purchases, private transactions or otherwise, however, going forward our debt covenants will limit our ability to repurchase more debt.

 

The 11 1/2% Senior Secured Notes due 2013 are secured by a second-priority lien and the 18% Senior Secured Notes due 2017 are secured by a third-priority lien, in each case, subject to permitted liens and other exceptions, on substantially all the assets owned by us, K. Hovnanian (the issuer of the senior secured notes) and the guarantors to the extent such assets secure obligations under the Amended Credit Agreement and, in the case of the 18% Senior Secured notes due 2017, the 11 1/2% Senior Secured Notes due 2013. At July 31, 2009, the aggregate book value of the real property collateral securing these notes was approximately $983.6 million, which does not include the impact of inventory investments, home deliveries, or impairments thereafter and which may differ from the appraised value. In addition, cash collateral securing these notes was $561.6 million as of July 31, 2009.

 

 

Because of the prohibition in the Amended Credit Agreement and covenant restrictions in our bond indentures, we are currently unable to pay dividends, which are not cumulative, on our 7.625% Series A Preferred Stock. Even if the Amended Credit Agreement were to allow us to pay dividends, if current market trends continue or worsen, we will continue to be restricted from paying dividends in fiscal 2009 and possibly beyond as a result of covenant restrictions in our bond indentures. Our inability to pay dividends is in accordance with covenant restrictions and will not result in a default under the Amended Credit Agreement or our bond indentures or otherwise affect compliance with any of the covenants contained in the Amended Credit Agreement or the bond indentures.

 

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

 

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing income available to common shareholders (the “numerator”) by the weighted-average number of common shares, adjusted for non-vested shares of restricted stock (the “denominator”) for the period. Computing diluted earnings per share is similar to computing basic earnings per share, except that the denominator is increased to include the dilutive effects of options and non-vested shares of restricted stock. Any options that have an exercise price greater than the average market price are considered to be anti-dilutive and are excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation. For the three and nine months ended July 31, 2009 and 2008, all stock options and non-vested restricted stock were excluded from the calculation as they were anti-dilutive due to the net loss recorded during the periods. As a result, the calculation of diluted earnings per share excludes 3.0 million and 1.8 million stock options and shares of restricted stock for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2009, respectively.

 

On July 3, 2001, our Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program to purchase up to 4 million shares of Class A Common Stock. As of July 31, 2009, 3.4 million shares of Class A Common Stock have been purchased under this program.

 

12. On July 12, 2005, we issued 5,600 shares of 7.625% Series A Preferred Stock, with a liquidation preference of $25,000. Dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock are not cumulative and are paid at an annual rate of 7.625%. The Series A Preferred Stock is not convertible into the Company’s common stock and is redeemable in whole or in part at our option at the liquidation preference of the shares beginning on the fifth anniversary of their issuance. The Series A Preferred Stock is traded as depositary shares, with each depositary share representing 1/1000^th of a share of Series A Preferred Stock. The depositary shares are listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “HOVNP”. During the nine months ended July 31, 2009 and 2008, we did not make any dividend payments on the Series A Preferred Stock as a result of covenant restrictions in the Amended Credit Agreement and in the indentures governing our senior secured, senior and senior subordinated notes (See Note 10) and the payment date of April 15, 2009 was the sixth dividend payment date for which dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock have not been paid. As a result, and in accordance with the Certificate of Designations, Powers, Preferences and Rights of the Series A Preferred Stock, we held a meeting of the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock (and hence the depositary shares) on June 24, 2009, for the purpose of nominating two persons to serve as non-voting “Advisory Directors” to attend the portion of meetings of the Board of Directors discussing the agenda item relating to the Series A Preferred Stock until such time as full dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock have been paid for four consecutive quarterly dividend periods. A quorum was not obtained at this meeting. As a result, we were precluded from conducting any business at the meeting and no “Advisory Directors” were nominated.

 

13. On August 4, 2008, we announced that our Board of Directors adopted a shareholder rights plan (the “Rights Plan”) designed to preserve shareholder value and the value of certain tax assets primarily associated with net operating loss carryforwards (NOL) and built-in losses under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. Our ability to use NOLs and built-in losses would be limited if there was an “ownership change” under Section 382. This would occur if shareholders owning (or deemed under Section 382 to own) 5% or more of our stock increase their collective ownership of the aggregate amount of our outstanding shares by more than 50 percentage points over a defined period of time. The Rights Plan was adopted to reduce the likelihood of an “ownership change” occurring as defined by Section 382. Under the Rights Plan, one right was distributed for each share of Class A Common

 

 

Stock and Class B Common Stock outstanding as of the close of business on August 15, 2008. Effective August 15, 2008, if any person or group acquires 4.9% or more of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock without the approval of the Board of Directors, there would be a triggering event causing significant dilution in the voting power of such person or group. However, existing stockholders who owned, at the time of the Rights Plan’s adoption, 4.9% or more of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock will trigger a dilutive event only if they acquire additional shares. The approval of the Board of Directors’ decision to adopt the Rights Plan may be terminated by the Board at any time, prior to the Rights being triggered. The Rights Plan will continue in effect until August 15, 2018, unless it is terminated or redeemed earlier by the Board of Directors. The approval of the Board of Directors’ decision to adopt the Rights Plan was submitted to a stockholder vote and approved at a Special Meeting of stockholders held on December 5, 2008.

 

Also at the Special Meeting on December 5, 2008, our stockholders approved an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to restrict certain transfers of Class A Common Stock in order to preserve the tax treatment of our net operating loss carryforwards and built-in losses under Section 382. Subject to certain exceptions pertaining to pre-existing 5% stockholders and Class B stockholders, the transfer restrictions generally restrict any direct or indirect transfer (such as transfers of our stock that result from the transfer of interests in other entities that own our stock) if the effect would be to: (i) increase the direct or indirect ownership of our stock by any person (or public group) from less than 5% to 5% or more of our common stock; (ii) increase the percentage of our common stock owned directly or indirectly by a person (or public group) owning or deemed to own 5% or more of our common stock; or (iii) create a new public group. Transfers included under the transfer restrictions include sales to persons (or public groups) whose resulting percentage ownership (direct or indirect) of common stock would exceed the 5% thresholds discussed above, or to persons whose direct or indirect ownership of common stock would by attribution cause another person (or public group) to exceed such threshold.

 

14. Total tax provision was $20.9 million and $42.7 million for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2009, respectively. During fiscal 2009, we recorded $23.0 million for estimated income taxes for amounts that should have been recorded in prior reporting periods. These amounts principally relate to an increase in tax liabilities to eliminate the assumed federal benefit of certain tax accruals. In fiscal 2009, we also recorded an accrual for federal taxes and related interest for a change in estimate of certain temporary differences amounting to $19.3 million. A valuation allowance was established for the entire deferred tax asset resulting from these timing differences. As more fully described in the next paragraph, we fully reserve our net deferred tax assets. We do not expect to record any additional net tax benefits unless there is a tax law change or we begin to generate profits.

 

Deferred federal and state income tax assets primarily represent the deferred tax benefits arising from temporary differences between book and tax income which will be recognized in future years as an offset against future taxable income. If future years income (or loss) combined with the reversal of the timing differences results in a loss, such losses can be carried back to income in prior years, if available or carried forward to income in future years to recover the deferred tax assets. In accordance with SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes ("SFAS 109"), we evaluate our deferred tax assets quarterly to determine if valuation allowances are required. SFAS 109 requires that companies assess whether valuation allowances should be established based on the consideration of all available evidence using a "more likely than not" standard. Due to the continued downturn in the homebuilding industry during 2007, 2008 and into 2009, we are in a cumulative loss position over the most recent three year period. Based on the requirements of SFAS 109, this three year cumulative loss and the uncertainty of the timing of our ability to generate profits required us to provide a valuation allowance for our deferred tax assets. Our valuation allowance for current and deferred tax assets increased $76.7 million and $198.3 million, respectively, during the three and nine months ended July 31, 2009. At July 31, 2009, our total valuation allowance amounted to $873.8 million. In the first quarter of 2009, we received a tax refund of $145.2 million thus realizing the tax assets recorded as of October 31, 2008.

 

We recognize tax liabilities in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Financial Interpretation (“FIN”) 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, and we adjust these liabilities when our judgment changes as a result of the evaluation of new information not previously available. Due to the complexity of some of these uncertainties, the ultimate resolution may result in a liability that is materially different from our current estimate. These differences will be reflected as increases or decreases to income tax expense in the period in which they are determined. Interest expense related to unrecognized tax benefits are recognized in the financial statements as a component of provision/benefit for income taxes.

 

 

 

15. Our operating segments are components of our business for which discrete financial information is available and reviewed regularly by the chief operating decision-maker, our Chief Executive Officer, to evaluate performance and make operating decisions. We have more than 34 homebuilding operating segments, and therefore, it is impractical to provide segment disclosures for this many segments. As such, we have aggregated the homebuilding operating segments into six reportable segments.

 

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

 

 

 

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

 

Corporate and unallocated primarily represents operations at our headquarters in Red Bank, New Jersey. This includes our executive offices, information services, human resources, corporate accounting, training, treasury, process redesign, internal audit, construction services, and administration of insurance, quality, and safety. It also includes interest income and interest expense resulting from interest incurred that cannot be capitalized in inventory in the Homebuilding segments. In 2009, corporate and unallocated also included the gain on extinguishment of debt of $427.8 million and cancellation of stock options of $12.3 million.

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

16. In accordance with FASB Interpretation No. 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities (“FIN 46R”) a variable interest entity (“VIE”) is created when (i) the equity investment at risk is not sufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties or (ii) equity holders either (a) lack direct or indirect ability to make decisions about the entity, (b) are not obligated to absorb expected losses of the entity or (c) do not have the right to receive expected residual returns of the entity if they occur. If an entity is deemed to be a VIE pursuant to FIN 46R, an enterprise that absorbs a majority of the expected losses of the VIE is considered the primary beneficiary and must consolidate the VIE.

 

 

 

Based on the provisions of FIN 46R, we have concluded that, whenever we option land or lots from an entity and pay a non-refundable deposit, a VIE is created. We are deemed to have provided subordinated financial support, which refers to variable interests that will absorb some or all of an entity’s expected theoretical losses if they occur. For each VIE created with a significant nonrefundable option fee (we currently define significant as greater than $100,000 because we have determined that in the aggregate the VIE’s related to deposits of this size or less are not material), we compute expected losses and residual returns based on the probability of future cash flows as outlined in FIN 46R. If we are deemed to be the primary beneficiary of the VIE, we consolidate it on our balance sheet. The fair value of the VIE’s inventory is reported as “Consolidated inventory not owned – variable interest entities”.

 

Typically, the determining factor in whether or not we are the primary beneficiary is the non-refundable deposit amount as a percentage of the total purchase price, because it determines the amount of the first risk of loss we take on the contract. The higher this percentage deposit, the more likely we are to be the primary beneficiary. Other important criteria that impact the outcome of the analysis are the probability of getting the property through the approval process for residential homes, because this impacts the ultimate value of the property, as well as determining who is the party responsible (seller or buyer) for funding the approval process and development work that will take place prior to our decision to exercise the option.

 

Management believes FIN 46R was not clearly thought out for application in the homebuilding industry for land and lot options. Under FIN 46R, we can have an option and put down a small deposit as a percentage of the purchase price and still have to consolidate the entity. Our exposure to loss as a result of our involvement with the VIE is only the deposit, not the VIE’s total assets consolidated on our balance sheet. In certain cases, we will have to place inventory the VIE has optioned to other developers on our balance sheet. In addition, if the VIE has creditors, its debt will be placed on our balance sheet even though the creditors have no recourse against us. Based on these observations, we believe consolidating VIEs based on land and lot option deposits does not reflect the economic realities or risks of owning and developing land.

 

At July 31, 2009, all eight VIEs we were required to consolidate were the result of our options to purchase land or lots from the selling entities. We paid cash or issued letters of credit deposits to these VIEs totaling $6.3 million. Our option deposits represent our maximum exposure to loss. The fair value of the property owned by these VIEs was $43.1 million. Because we do not own an equity interest in any of the unaffiliated VIEs that we must consolidate pursuant to FIN 46R, we generally have little or no control or influence over the operations of these entities or their owners. When our requests for financial information are denied by the land sellers, certain assumptions about the assets and liabilities of such entities are required. In most cases, we determine the fair value of the assets of the consolidated entities based on the remaining contractual purchase price of the land or lots we are purchasing. In these cases, it is assumed that the entities have no debt obligations and the only asset recorded is the land or lots we have the option to buy with a related offset to minority interest for the assumed third party investment in the variable interest equity. At July 31, 2009, the balance reported in minority interest from inventory not owned was $30.2 million. Creditors of these eight VIEs have no recourse against us.

 

We will continue to control land and lots using options. Not all of our deposits are with VIEs. Including the deposits with the eight VIEs described above, at July 31, 2009, we had total cash and letters of credit deposits amounting to approximately $41.2 million to purchase land and lots with a total purchase price of $639.9 million. The maximum exposure to loss is limited to the deposits, although some deposits are refundable at our request or refundable if certain conditions are not met.

 

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

 

 

 

 

As of July 31, 2009 and October 31, 2008, we had advances outstanding of approximately $18.1 million and $15.6 million, respectively, to these unconsolidated joint ventures, which were included in the “Accounts payable and accrued liabilities” balances in the table above. On our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets our “Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures” amounted to $35.6 million and $71.1 million at July 31, 2009 and October 31, 2008, respectively. In some cases, our net investment in these joint ventures is less than our proportionate share of the equity reflected in the table above because of the differences between asset impairments recorded against our joint venture investments and any impairments recorded in the applicable joint venture. During the first nine months of fiscal 2009, we wrote down certain joint venture investments by $18.0 million, based on our determination that the investment in certain joint ventures has sustained an other than temporary impairment.

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from unconsolidated joint ventures is reflected as a separate line in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and reflects our proportionate share of the loss of these unconsolidated homebuilding and land development joint ventures. The difference between our share of the loss from these unconsolidated joint ventures disclosed in the tables above compared to the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations is due primarily to the write down of our investment in joint ventures where we have determined that our investment has an other than temporary impairment. It is also due to the reclassification of the intercompany portion of management fee income from certain joint ventures and the deferral of income for lots purchased by us from certain joint ventures. Our ownership interests in the joint ventures vary but are generally less than or equal to 50%. In determining whether or not we must consolidate joint ventures where we are the manager of the joint venture, we assess whether the other partners have specific rights to overcome the presumption of control by us as the manager of the joint venture. In most cases, the presumption is overcome because the joint venture agreements require that both partners agree on establishing the operating and capital decisions of the partnership, including budgets, in the ordinary course of business.

 

 

Typically, our unconsolidated joint ventures obtain separate project specific mortgage financing. Generally, the amount of such financing is targeted to be no more than 50% of the joint venture’s total assets. However, because of impairments realized in the joint ventures the average debt to assets ratio of our joint ventures is currently 78%. This financing is obtained on a non-recourse basis, with guarantees from us limited only to performance and completion of development, environmental indemnification, standard warranty and representation against fraud, misrepresentation and other similar actions including a voluntary bankruptcy filing. In some instances, the joint venture entity is considered a VIE under FIN 46R due to the returns being capped to the equity holders; however, in these instances, we are not the primary beneficiary, and therefore we do not consolidate these entities.

 

18. Recent Accounting Pronouncements - In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (“SFAS 157”), which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS 157 was effective for us on November 1, 2008. In February 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) No. FAS 157-2, which partially defers the effective date of SFAS No. 157 for nonfinancial assets and liabilities, except for items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis, until November 1, 2009 for the Company. The Company adopted SFAS 157 as it applies to our Financial Services segment effective November 1, 2008. The adoption did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. This pronouncement is effective for our other segments’ non-financial assets in fiscal 2010. We are currently evaluating the impact, if any, that FAS 157 may have on our consolidated financial statements. See Note 19 for additional information.

In April 2009, the FASB issued FSP FAS 157-4, Determining Whether a Market Is Not Active and a Transaction Is Not Distressed (FSP 157-4). FSP 157-4 provides additional guidance on factors to consider in estimating fair value when there has been a significant decrease in market activity for a financial asset. FSP 157-4 was effective for us for the quarter ended July 31, 2009 and did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities-Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115 (“SFAS 159”). The statement permits entities to choose to measure certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected are reported in earnings. The Company adopted FAS 159 effective November 1, 2008 and has elected to adopt the fair value option for its mortgage loans held for sale. The implementation did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. See Note 19 for additional information.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements - an amendment of ARB No. 51 (“SFAS 160”). The statement clarifies the accounting for non-controlling interests and establishes accounting and reporting standards for the non-controlling interest in a subsidiary, including classification as a component of equity. SFAS No. 160 is effective for us on November 1, 2009. We are currently evaluating the impact, if any, that SFAS 160 may have on our consolidated financial statements.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007), Business Combinations (“SFAS 141(R)”). The statement provides revised guidance for recognizing and measuring identifiable assets and goodwill acquired, liabilities assumed, and any non-controlling interest in the acquiree. It also provides disclosure requirements to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. SFAS No. 141(R) is effective for any business combinations we enter into on or after November 1, 2009. We do not expect that SFAS 141 (R) will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, Disclosures About Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities-an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133 (“SFAS 161”). SFAS 161 expands the disclosure requirements in SFAS 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, regarding an entity’s derivative instruments and hedging activities. The Company adopted SFAS 161 effective November 1, 2008. This pronouncement is related to disclosure only and did not have an impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In May 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 165, Subsequent Events, (“SFAS 165”). SFAS 165 establishes general standards of accounting for and disclosures of events that occur after the balance sheet date, but before

 

 

financial statements are issued or are available to be issued. Among other things, SFAS 165 requires the disclosure of the date through which an entity has evaluated subsequent events and the basis for that date. SFAS 165 is effective for the Company’s quarter ended July 31, 2009. This statement did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 166, Amendments to FASB Interpretation No. 140, (“SFAS 166”). SFAS 166 removes the concept of a qualifying special-purpose entity from Statement 140 and removes the exception from applying FIN 46R to variable interest entities that are qualifying special-purpose entities. SFAS 166 is effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning November 1, 2009. We are currently evaluating the impact, if any, that SFAS 166 may have on our consolidated financial statements.

 

In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 167, Amendments to FASB Interpretation No. 46(R), (“SFAS 167”). SFAS 167 amends the consolidation guidance applicable to variable interest entities and the definition of a variable interest entity, and requires enhanced disclosures to provide more information about an enterprise’s involvement in a variable interest entity. This statement also requires ongoing assessments of whether an enterprise is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity. SFAS 167 is effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning November 1, 2009. We are currently evaluating the impact, if any, that SFAS 167 may have on our consolidated financial statements..

 

In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 168, The FASB Accounting Standards Codification and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, a replacement of FASB Statement No. 162 , (“SFAS 168”). SFAS 168 establishes the FASB Accounting Standards Codification as the source of authoritative accounting principles recognized by the FASB to be applied by nongovernmental entities in the preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP. SFAS 168 is effective for the Company’s October 31, 2009 consolidated financial statements. SFAS 168 does not change GAAP and will not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In June 2008, the FASB issued FSP Emerging Issues Task Force 03-6-1, Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share-Based Payment Transactions Are Participating Securities (“FSP-EITF 03-6-1”). Under FSP-EITF 03-6-1, unvested share-based payment awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents (whether paid or unpaid) are participating securities and shall be included in the computation of earnings per share pursuant to the two-class method. FSP-EITF 03-6-1 is effective for us on November 1, 2009. We are currently evaluating the impact, if any, that FSP-EITF 03-6-1 may have on our consolidated financial statements.

 

In December 2008, the FASB issued FSP FAS 140-4 and FIN 46(R)-8, Disclosures by Public Entities (Enterprises) about Transfers of Financial Assets and Interests in Variable Interest Entities. The document increases disclosure requirements for public companies and became effective for us beginning with the first quarter of fiscal 2009. The purpose of this FSP is to promptly improve disclosures by public entities and enterprises until the pending amendments to FASB Statement No. 140, Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities, and FIN 46 (R) are finalized and approved by the FASB. The FSP amends Statement 140 to require public entities to provide additional disclosures about transferors’ continuing involvements with transferred financial assets. It also amends FIN 46 (R) to require public enterprises, including sponsors that have a variable interest in a variable interest entity, to provide additional disclosures about their involvement with variable interest entities. This pronouncement is related to disclosure only and did not have an impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

In April 2009, the FASB issued FSP FAS 115-2 and FAS 124-2, Recognition and Presentation of Other-Than-Temporary Impairments which changes the method for determining whether an other-than-temporary impairment exists for debt securities and the amount of the impairment to be recorded in earnings. This guidance became effective for us for the quarter ended July 31, 2009 and did not have an impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

In April 2009, the FASB issued FSP FAS 107-1 and APB 28-1, Interim Disclosures About Fair Value of Financial Instruments which requires fair value disclosures in both interim as well as annual financial statements in order to provide more timely information about the effects of current market conditions on financial instruments.

 

 

This guidance became effective for us for the quarter ended July 31, 2009, and the required disclosures are included in Note 19.

 

19. Effective November 1, 2008, the Company adopted SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements, for fair value measurements of certain financial instruments. SFAS 157 provides a framework for measuring fair value, expands disclosures about fair value measurements and establishes a fair value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value summarized as follows:

 

 

 

 

The Company’s financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below:

 

 

(1) The difference between the aggregate fair value of $56.1 million and the aggregate unpaid

 

The Company elected the fair value option for its loans held-for-sale for mortgage loans originated subsequent to October 31, 2008 in accordance with SFAS 159, which permits entities to measure various financial instruments and certain other items at fair value on a contract-by-contract basis. Management believes that the election of the fair value option for loans held-for-sale improves financial reporting by mitigating volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring the fair value of the loans and the derivative instruments used to economically hedge them without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions. In addition, the Company adopted SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 109 on February 1, 2008, requiring the recognition of the fair value of its rights to service a mortgage loan as revenue upon entering into an interest rate lock loan commitment with a borrower. The fair value of these servicing rights is included in the Company’s loans held-for-sale as of July 31, 2009. Prior to February 1, 2008, the fair value of the servicing rights was not recognized until the related loan was sold. Fair value of the servicing rights is determined based on values in the Company’s servicing sales contracts. Fair value of loans held for sale is based on independent quoted market prices, where available, or the prices for other mortgage whole loans with similar characteristics.

 

The assets accounted for under SFAS 159 are initially measured at fair value. Gains and losses from initial measurement and subsequent changes in fair value are recognized in the Financial Services segment’s earnings (loss). The changes in fair values that are included in earnings (loss) are shown, by financial instrument and financial statement line item, below:

 

 

 

 

 

The Financial Services segment had a pipeline of loan applications in process of $382.9 million at July 31, 2009. Loans in process for which interest rates were committed to the borrowers totaled approximately $80.5 million as of July 31, 2009. Substantially all of these commitments were for periods of 60 days or less. Since a portion of these commitments is expected to expire without being exercised by the borrowers, the total commitments do not necessarily represent future cash requirements.

 

The Financial Services segment uses investor commitments and forward sales of mandatory mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) to hedge its mortgage-related interest rate exposure. These instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk. Credit risk is managed by entering into MBS forward commitments, option contracts with investment banks, federally regulated bank affiliates and loan sales transactions with permanent investors meeting the segment’s credit standards. The segment’s risk, in the event of default by the purchaser, is the difference between the contract price and fair value of the MBS forward commitments and option contracts. At July 31, 2009, the segment had open commitments amounting to $25.0 million to sell MBS with varying settlement dates through September 14, 2009.

 

Our financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, receivables, deposits and notes, accounts payable and other liabilities, customer deposits, mortgage loans held for sale or investment, nonrecourse land and operating properties mortgages, our revolving credit agreement, mortgage warehouse line of credit, accrued interest, and the Senior Secured, Senior and Senior Subordinated Notes payable. The fair value of financial instruments is determined by reference to various market data and other valuation techniques, as appropriate. The fair value of each of the Senior Secured, Senior and Senior Subordinated Notes is estimated based on the quoted market prices for the same or similar issues or on the current rates offered to us for debt of the same remaining maturities. The fair value of the Senior Secured, Senior and Senior Subordinated Notes is estimated at $587.3 million, $532.2 million and $96.9 million, respectively, as of July 31, 2009. Unless otherwise disclosed, the fair value of our financial instruments approximates their recorded values.

 

20. Prior to October 31, 2008, the intangible assets recorded on our balance sheet were goodwill, which has an indefinite life, and definite life intangibles, including trade names, architectural designs, distribution processes, and contractual agreements resulting from our acquisitions. We did not amortize goodwill but instead assessed it periodically for impairment. We performed such assessments utilizing a fair value approach as of October 31, 2008. If the fair value of the applicable business unit is less than the carrying amount of that business unit, the goodwill of that business unit is considered impaired. The amount of the impairment is determined as the excess of the book value of the goodwill over the implied fair value of the goodwill, and the implied fair value of the goodwill is determined in the same manner as the amount of goodwill recognized in a business combination is determined. That is, the fair value of the business unit is allocated to all of the assets and liabilities of that business unit as if the business unit had been acquired in a business combination. The excess of the fair value of the business unit over the amounts assigned to its assets and liabilities is the implied fair value of goodwill. The estimates used in the determination of the estimated cash flows and fair value of a business unit are based on factors known to us at the time such estimates are made and our expectations of future operations and economic conditions. Despite years of significant income generation in our markets with goodwill, primarily Texas in the Southwest segment and our Mid-Atlantic segment, the current weakening market resulted in financial estimates in 2008 that resulted in fully impairing the remaining $32.7 million of goodwill, based upon present value of cash flow analyses.

 

We also assess definite life intangibles for impairment whenever events or changes indicate that their carrying amount may not be recoverable. An intangible impairment is recorded when events and circumstances indicate the undiscounted future cash flows generated from the business unit with the intangible asset are less than the net assets of the business unit. The impairment loss is the lesser of the difference between the net assets of the

 

 

business unit and the discounted future cash flows generated from the applicable business unit, which approximates fair value, and the intangible asset balance. The estimates used in the determination of the estimated cash flows and fair value of a business unit are based on factors known to us at the time such estimates are made and our expectations of future operations and economic conditions. This was the case in fiscal 2008, whereby we wrote off the carrying amount of $2.7 million of intangible assets in our Mid-Atlantic segment, bringing the balance to zero at October 31, 2008.

21. The Parent is the issuer of publicly traded common stock and preferred stock (represented by depository shares). One of its wholly owned subsidiaries, K. Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. (the “Subsidiary Issuer”), acts as a finance entity that as of July 31, 2009 had issued and outstanding $629.3 million face value of senior secured notes ($624.7 million, net of discount), $972.7 million face value of senior notes ($970.6 million, net of discount), $173.5 million of senior subordinated notes, and had zero drawn under the Amended Credit Agreement (see Notes 9 and 10). The senior secured notes, senior notes, senior subordinated notes, and the Amended Credit Agreement are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Parent.

 

In addition to the Parent, each of the wholly owned subsidiaries of the Parent other than the Subsidiary Issuer (collectively, the “Guarantor Subsidiaries”), with the exception of certain of our financial service subsidiaries and joint ventures and, in the case of the senior secured, senior and senior subordinated notes, our foreign subsidiary (collectively, the “Non-guarantor Subsidiaries”), have guaranteed fully and unconditionally, on a joint and several basis, the obligations of the Subsidiary Issuer to pay principal and interest under the senior secured notes, senior notes, senior subordinated notes and the Amended Credit Agreement.

 

In lieu of providing separate financial statements for the Guarantor Subsidiaries, we have included the accompanying condensed consolidating financial statements. Management does not believe that separate financial statements of the Guarantor Subsidiaries are material to users of our consolidated financial statements. Therefore, separate financial statements and other disclosures concerning the Guarantor Subsidiaries are not presented.

 

The following condensed consolidating financial statements present the results of operations, financial position and cash flows of (i) the Parent, (ii) the Subsidiary Issuer, (iii) the Guarantor Subsidiaries under the bond indentures, (iv) the Non-guarantor Subsidiaries under the bond indentures and (v) the eliminations to arrive at the information for Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. on a consolidated basis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning during the second half of our fiscal year ended October 31, 2006 and continuing through today, the U. S. housing market has been impacted by a lack of consumer confidence, increasing home foreclosure rates and large supplies of resale and new home inventories. The result has been weakened demand for new homes, slower sales, higher than normal cancellation rates, and increased price discounts and other sales incentives to attract homebuyers. Additionally, the availability of certain mortgage financing products became more constrained starting in February 2007 when the mortgage industry began to more closely scrutinize sub-prime, Alt-A, and other non-prime mortgage products. The overall economy has weakened significantly and fears of a prolonged recession are pronounced due to rising unemployment levels, further deterioration in consumer confidence and the reduction in extensions of credit and consumer spending. As a result, we have experienced significant decreases in our revenues and gross margins during 2007 and 2008 and through the third quarter of 2009 compared with prior years. Additionally, we incurred total land-related impairment charges of $710.1 million for the year ended October 31, 2008 and $521.5 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2009. These charges resulted from the write-off of deposit and preacquisition costs of $30.1 million related to land we no longer plan to pursue and impairments on owned inventory of $491.4 million. The charges for the nine months ended July 31, 2009, are largely related to the continued decline in land values and are in addition to the $1.5 billion total land-related charges, consisting of $380.6 million from the write-off of deposits plus preacquisition costs and impairments on owned land of $1.1 billion we have taken from the fourth quarter of our fiscal year ended October 31, 2006 through October 31, 2008. In addition to land related charges, the continued weakening of the market resulted in impairments of our intangible assets and goodwill of $3.3 million, $135.2 million, and $35.4 million during fiscal 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively, resulting in a full write-off of these assets as of October 31, 2008.

 

We have exposure to additional impairments of our inventories, which, as of July 31, 2009, have a book value of $1.3 billion, net of $1.0 billion of impairments recorded on 226 of our communities. We also have $97.0 million invested in 13,395 lots under option, including cash and letters of credit option deposits of $41.2 million as of July 31, 2009. We will record a write-off for the amounts associated with an option if we determine it is probable we will not exercise it. As of July 31, 2009, we have total investments in, and advances to, unconsolidated joint ventures of $35.6 million. Each of our joint ventures assesses its inventory and other long-lived assets for impairment and we separately assess our investment in joint ventures for recoverability in accordance with GAAP, which has resulted in total reductions in our investment in joint ventures of $107.3 million from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006, the first quarter in which we had impairments on our joint ventures, through July 31, 2009. We still have exposure to future write-downs of our investment in unconsolidated joint ventures if conditions continue to deteriorate in the markets in which our joint ventures operate. With respect to goodwill and intangibles, there is no remaining risk of further exposure to impairments because both goodwill and definite life intangibles have been fully written off as of October 31, 2008.

We continue to operate our business with the expectation that difficult market conditions will continue to impact us for at least the near term. We have adjusted our approach to land acquisition and construction practices and continue to shorten our land pipeline, reduce production volumes, and balance home price and profitability with sales pace. We are delaying and cancelling planned land purchases and renegotiating land prices and have significantly reduced our total number of controlled lots owned and under option. Additionally, we are significantly reducing the number of speculative homes put into production. While we will continue to purchase select land positions where it makes strategic and economic sense to do so (we have recently begun to see more opportunities to purchase land at prices that make economic sense in light of the current sales prices and sales paces) we currently anticipate minimal investment in new land parcels for the remainder of fiscal 2009. We have also closely evaluated and made reductions in selling, general and administrative expenses, including corporate general and administrative expenses, reducing these expenses $165.3 million from $625.2 million in fiscal 2007 to $459.9 million in fiscal 2008 due in large part to a 59% reduction in head count at that time from our peak in June 2006. As of July 31, 2009 our headcount reduction since our peak was 72%. Given the persistence of these difficult market conditions, improving the efficiency of our selling, general and administrative expenses will continue to be a significant area of focus. For the nine months ended July 31, 2009, homebuilding selling, general and administrative costs declined 35.0% to $187.1 million compared to the nine months ended July 31, 2008. Corporate general and administrative expenses include $12.3 million for certain stock options held by the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and the

 

 

non-executive members of the Board of Directors which they elected to cancel during the first quarter of fiscal 2009. Excluding this charge, corporate general and administrative expenses would have declined 15.6% to $52.5 million, compared to the nine months ended July 31, 2008.

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Management believes that the following critical accounting policies require its most significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements:

Income Recognition from Home and Land Sales - We are primarily engaged in the development, construction, marketing and sale of residential single-family and multi-family homes where the planned construction cycle is less than 12 months. For these homes, in accordance with SFAS No. 66, Accounting for Sales of Real Estate (“SFAS 66”), revenue is recognized when title is conveyed to the buyer, adequate initial and continuing investments have been received and there is no continued involvement. In situations where the buyer’s financing is originated by our mortgage subsidiary and the buyer has not made an adequate initial or continuing investment as prescribed by SFAS 66, the profit on such sales is deferred until the sale of the related mortgage loan to a third-party investor has been completed.

Additionally, in certain markets, we sell lots to customers, transferring title, collecting proceeds, and entering into contracts to build homes on these lots. In these cases, we do not recognize the revenue from the lot sale until we deliver the completed home and have no continued involvement related to that home. The cash received on the lot is recorded as a reduction of inventory until the revenue is recognized.

Income Recognition from Mid-Rise Projects - When we develop mid-rise buildings, they often take more than 12 months to complete. If these buildings qualify, revenues and costs are recognized using the percentage of completion method of accounting in accordance with SFAS 66. Under the percentage of completion method, revenues and costs are to be recognized when construction is beyond the preliminary stage, the buyer is committed to the extent of having a sufficient initial and continuing investment that the buyer cannot require to be refunded except for non-delivery of the home, sufficient homes in the building have been sold to ensure that the property will not be converted to rental property, the sales prices are collectible and the aggregate sales proceeds and the total cost of the building can be reasonably estimated. We currently do not have any buildings that meet these criteria; therefore the revenues from delivering homes in mid-rise buildings are recognized when title is conveyed to the buyer, adequate initial and continuing involvement have been received and there is no continued involvement with respect to that home.

Income Recognition from Mortgage Loans - Our Financial Services segment originates mortgages, primarily for our homebuilding customers. We use mandatory investor commitments and forward sales of mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) to hedge our mortgage-related interest rate exposure on agency and government loans. These instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk. Credit risk associated with MBS forward commitments and loan sales transactions is managed by limiting our counterparties to investment banks, federally regulated bank affiliates and other investors meeting our credit standards. Our risk, in the event of default by the purchaser, is the difference between the contract price and fair value of the MBS forward commitments. In an effort to reduce our exposure to the marketability and disposal of non-agency and non-governmental loans, including Alt-A (FICO scores below 680 and depending on credit criteria) and sub-prime loans (FICO scores below 580 and depending on credit criteria), we require our Financial Services segment to either presell or broker all of these loans, on an individual loan basis as soon as they are committed to by the customer. However, because of the recent tightening by mortgage lenders, none of the loans we originated during the first nine months of 2009 were Alt-A or sub-prime as compared to 10.2% of our originated loans being Alt-A loans and 0.4% of our originated loans being sub-prime loans for the same period last year. In addition, of the $56.5 million of mortgage loans held for sale as of July 31, 2009, none were Alt-A or sub-prime loans. There were, however, $3.8 million of mortgage loans held for investment at July 31, 2009, which represent loans that cannot currently be sold at reasonable terms in the secondary mortgage market. As Alt-A and sub-prime originations declined, we have seen an increase in our level of Federal Housing Administration and Veterans Administration (“FHA/VA”) loan origination. For the nine months ended July 31, 2009 and 2008, FHA/VA loans represented 45.1% and 30.7%, respectively, of our total loans. Profits and losses relating to the sale of mortgage loans are recognized when legal control passes to the buyer of the mortgage and the sales price is collected.

 

 

Interest Income Recognition for Mortgage Loans Receivable and Recognition of Related Deferred Fees and Costs - Interest income is recognized as earned for each mortgage loan during the period from the loan closing date to the sale date when legal control passes to the buyer, and the sale price is collected. All fees related to the origination of mortgage loans and direct loan origination costs are expensed when incurred. These fees and costs include loan origination fees, loan discount, and salaries and wages.

Inventories - Inventories consist of land, land development, home construction costs, capitalized interest and construction overhead and are stated at cost, net of impairment losses, if any. Construction costs are accumulated during the period of construction and charged to cost of sales under specific identification methods. Land, land development and common facility costs are allocated based on buildable acres to product types within each community, then charged to cost of sales equally based upon the number of homes to be constructed in each product type.

Our inventories consist of the following three components: (1) Sold and unsold homes and lots under development, which includes all construction, land, capitalized interest and land development costs related to started homes and land under development in our active communities; (2) Land and land options held for future development or sale, which includes all costs related to land in our communities in planning or mothballed communities; and (3) Consolidated inventory not owned, which includes all cost related to specific performance options, variable interest entities, and other options, which consists primarily of our model homes and inventory related to structured lot options.

As a result of the declining homebuilding market, we have decided to mothball (or stop development on) certain communities where we determine the current performance does not justify further investment at this time. When we decide to mothball a community, the inventory is reclassified from “Sold and unsold homes and lots under development” to “Land and land options held for future development or sale”. As of July 31, 2009, the book value associated with the 77 mothballed communities was $376.3 million, net of an impairment balance of $509.1 million. Also during the third quarter of fiscal 2009, we sold 4 previously mothballed communities and re-activated 4 previously mothballed communities, which combined had a net book value of $11.8 million, net of an impairment reserve balance of $23.3 million. We continually review communities to determine if mothballing is appropriate.

The recoverability of inventories and other long-lived assets are assessed in accordance with the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets (“SFAS 144”). SFAS 144 requires long-lived assets, including inventories held for development, to be evaluated for impairment based on undiscounted future cash flows of the assets at the lowest level for which there are identifiable cash flows. As such, we evaluate inventories for impairment at the individual community level, the lowest level of discrete cash flows that we measure.

We evaluate inventories of communities under development and held for future development for impairment when indicators of potential impairment are present. Indicators of impairment include, but are not limited to, decreases in local housing market values, decreases in gross margins or sales absorption rates, decreases in net sales prices (base sales price net of sales incentives), or actual or projected operating or cash flow losses. The assessment of communities for indication of impairment is performed quarterly, primarily by completing detailed budgets for all of our communities and identifying those communities with a projected operating loss for any projected fiscal year or for the entire projected community life. For those communities with projected losses, we estimate remaining undiscounted future cash flows and compare those to the carrying value of the community, to determine if the carrying value of the asset is recoverable.

The projected operating profits, losses or cash flows of each community can be significantly impacted by our estimates of the following:

 

 

These estimates are dependent upon specific market conditions for each community. While we consider available information to determine what we believe to be our best estimates as of the end of a quarterly reporting period, these estimates are subject to change in future reporting periods as facts and circumstances change. Local market-specific conditions that may impact our estimates for a community include:

These and other local market-specific conditions that may be present are considered by management in preparing projection assumptions for each community. The sales objectives can differ between our communities, even within a given market. For example, facts and circumstances in a given community may lead us to price our homes with the objective of yielding a higher sales absorption pace, while facts and circumstances in another community may lead us to price our homes to minimize deterioration in our gross margins, although it may result in a slower sales absorption pace. In addition, the key assumptions included in our estimate of future undiscounted cash flows may be interrelated. For example, a decrease in estimated base sales price or an increase in homes sales incentives may result in a corresponding increase in sales absorption pace. Additionally, a decrease in the average sales price of homes to be sold and closed in future reporting periods for one community that has not been generating what management believes to be an adequate sales absorption pace may impact the estimated cash flow assumptions of a nearby community. Changes in our key assumptions, including estimated construction and development costs, absorption pace and selling strategies, could materially impact future cash flow and fair value estimates. Due to the number of possible scenarios that would result from various changes in these factors, we do not believe it is possible to develop a sensitivity analysis with a level of precision that would be meaningful to an investor.

If the undiscounted cash flows are more than the carrying value of the community, then the carrying amount is recoverable, and no impairment adjustment is required. However, if the undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount, then the community is deemed impaired and is written-down to its fair value. We determine the estimated fair value of each community by determining the present value of the estimated future cash flows at a discount rate commensurate with the risk of the respective community. Our discount rates used for all impairments recorded from October 31, 2006 to date range from 13.5% to 20.3%. The estimated future cash flow assumptions are the same for both our recoverability and fair value assessments. Should the estimates or expectations used in determining estimated cash flows or fair value, including discount rates, decrease or differ from current estimates in the future, we may be required to recognize additional impairments related to current and future communities. The impairment of a community is allocated to each lot on a straight line basis.

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

From time to time, we write-off deposits and approval, engineering and capitalized interest costs when we decide not to exercise options to buy land in various locations or when we redesign communities and/or abandon certain engineering costs. In deciding not to exercise a land option, we take into consideration changes in market conditions, the timing of required land takedowns, the willingness of land sellers to modify terms of the land option contract (including timing of land takedowns), and the availability and best use of our capital, among other factors. The write-off is recorded in the period it is deemed probable that the optioned property will not be acquired. In

 

 

certain instances, we have been able to recover deposits and other preacquisition costs which were previously written off. These recoveries are generally not significant in comparison to the total costs written off.

The impairment of communities under development and held for future development and inventories held for sale, and the charge for land option write-offs, are reflected on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations in a separate line entitled “Homebuilding - Inventory impairment loss and land option write-offs”. See also the “Results of Operations” below and Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for inventory impairment and write-off amounts by segment.

Insurance Deductible Reserves - For homes delivered in fiscal 2009 and 2008, our deductible is $20 million per occurrence with an aggregate $20 million for liability claims and an aggregate $21.5 million for construction defect claims under our general liability insurance. Our worker’s compensation insurance deductible is $0.5 million per occurrence in fiscal 2009 and fiscal 2008. Reserves have been established based upon actuarial analysis of estimated losses for fiscal 2009 and fiscal 2008. We engage a third party actuary that uses our historical warranty data to estimate our unpaid claims, claim adjustment expenses and incurred but not reported claims reserves for the risks that we are assuming under the general liability and workers compensation programs. The estimates include provisions for inflation, claims handling and legal fees. These estimates are subject to a high degree of variability due to uncertainties such as trends in construction defect claims relative to our markets and the types of products we build, claim settlement patterns, insurance industry practices and legal interpretations, among others. Because of the high degree of judgment required in determining these estimated liability amounts, actual future costs could differ significantly from our currently estimated amounts.

Interest - In accordance with SFAS 34, Capitalization of Interest Cost, interest incurred is first capitalized to properties under development during the land development and home construction period and expensed along with the associated cost of sales as the related inventories are sold. Interest incurred in excess of interest capitalized because qualifying assets for interest capitalization are less than debt, or interest incurred on borrowings directly related to properties not under development are expensed immediately in “Other interest”.

Land Options - Costs are capitalized when incurred and either included as part of the purchase price when the land is acquired or charged to operations when we determine we will not exercise the option. In accordance with FASB Interpretation No. 46R (“FIN 46R”) Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an interpretation of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51, SFAS No. 49 Accounting for Product Financing Arrangements (“SFAS 49”), SFAS No. 98 Accounting for Leases (“SFAS 98”), and Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) No. 97-10 “The Effects of Lessee Involvement in Asset Construction” (“EITF 97-10”), we record on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets specific performance options, options with variable interest entities and other options under “Consolidated inventory not owned” with the offset to “Liabilities from inventory not owned” and “Minority interest from inventory not owned”.

Unconsolidated Homebuilding and Land Development Joint Ventures - Investments in unconsolidated homebuilding and land development joint ventures are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Under the equity method, we recognize our proportionate share of earnings and losses earned by the joint venture upon the delivery of lots or homes to third parties. Our ownership interest in joint ventures varies but is generally less than or equal to 50%. In determining whether or not we must consolidate joint ventures where we are the managing member of the joint venture, we assess whether the other partners have specific rights to overcome the presumption of control by us as the manager of the joint venture. In most cases, the presumption is overcome because the joint venture agreements require that both partners agree on establishing the operating and capital decisions of the partnership, including budgets, in the ordinary course of business. In accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion 18 (“APB 18”), we assess our investments in unconsolidated joint ventures for recoverability, and if it is determined that a loss in value of the investment is other than temporary, we write-down the investment to the recoverable value. We evaluate our equity investments for recoverability based on the joint venture’s projected cash flows. During fiscal 2009, we have written down certain joint venture investments by $18.0 million, based on this recoverability analysis.

Post-Development Completion and Warranty Costs - In those instances where a development is substantially completed and sold and we have additional construction work to be incurred, an estimated liability is provided to cover the cost of such work. In addition, we accrue warranty costs as part of cost of sales for repair costs under $5,000 per occurrence to homes, community amenities and land development infrastructure. In addition,

 

 

we accrue for warranty costs over $5,000 per occurrence as part of our general liability insurance deductible expensed as selling, general and administrative costs. Both of these liabilities are recorded in “Accounts payable and other liabilities” on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Income Taxes - Deferred income taxes or income tax benefits are provided for temporary differences between amounts recorded for financial reporting and for income tax purposes. If, for some reason, the combination of future years income (or loss) combined with the reversal of the timing differences results in a loss, such losses can be carried back to prior years or carried forward to future years to recover the deferred tax assets. In accordance with SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes (“SFAS 109”), we evaluate our deferred tax assets quarterly to determine if valuation allowances are required. SFAS 109 requires that companies assess whether valuation allowances should be established based on the consideration of all available evidence using a “more likely than not” standard. See Total Taxes below under Results of Operations for further discussion of the valuation allowances.

We recognize tax liabilities in accordance with FASB (“FIN”) 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, and we adjust these liabilities when our judgment changes as a result of the evaluation of new information not previously available. Due to the complexity of some of these uncertainties, the ultimate resolution may result in a liability that is materially different from our current estimate. These differences will be reflected as increases or decreases to income tax expense in the period in which they are determined.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements - See Note 18 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this Form 10-Q.

 

CAPITAL RESOURCES AND LIQUIDITY

We have historically funded our homebuilding and financial services operations with cash flows from operating activities, borrowings under our bank credit facilities and the issuance of new debt and equity securities. In light of the challenging homebuilding market conditions experienced over the past few years, which are continuing as reflected in our 46.0% and 55.2% decline in revenues during the three and nine months ended July 31, 2009, as compared to the same periods of 2008, we have been operating with a primary focus to generate cash flows through reductions in assets. The generation of cash flow together with debt repurchases and exchanges at prices below par has allowed us to reduce net debt (debt less cash) by $475.0 million over the past nine months.

Our cash uses during the nine months ended July 31, 2009 and 2008 were for operating expenses, land purchases, land deposits, construction, state income taxes, interest and debt repurchases. We provided for our cash requirements from available cash on hand, housing and land sales, financial service revenues, federal tax refunds and other revenues. We believe that these sources of cash are sufficient to finance our working capital requirements and other needs, despite continued declines in total revenues and a reduction in the size of our revolving credit facility. For the remainder of fiscal 2009, we will continue to focus on maximizing cash flow, even at the expense of lower gross margins, by limiting investments in new communities and delaying further investment in current communities thereby reducing our inventory as we continue to build and deliver homes from our current communities. We may also enter into land sale agreements or joint ventures to generate cash from our existing balance sheet. During the first quarter of fiscal 2009, we received a federal tax refund of $145.2 million. Unless there is a change in tax law, we will not receive federal tax refunds until we return to profitability on an annual basis.

Our net (loss) income historically does not approximate cash flow from operating activities. The difference between net (loss) income and cash flow from operating activities is primarily caused by changes in inventory levels together with changes in receivables, prepaid and other assets, interest and other accrued liabilities, deferred income taxes, accounts payable, mortgage loans and liabilities, and non-cash charges relating to depreciation, amortization of computer software costs, stock compensation awards and impairment losses for inventory. When we are expanding our operations, which was the case in fiscal 2006, inventory levels, prepaids and other assets increase causing cash flow from operating activities to decrease. Certain liabilities also increase as operations expand and partially offset the negative effect on cash flow from operations caused by the increase in inventory levels, prepaids and other assets. Similarly, as our mortgage operations expand, net income from these operations increase, but for cash flow purposes are offset by the net change in mortgage assets and liabilities. The opposite is true as our investment in new land purchases and development of new communities decrease, which is what has been

 

 

happening since the last half of fiscal 2007 allowing us to generate positive cash flow from operations during this period. Looking forward, given the continued deterioration in the housing market, it will become more difficult to generate positive cash flow. However, we will continue to make adjustments to our structure and our business plans in order to maximize our liquidity.

On July 3, 2001, our Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program to purchase up to 4 million shares of Class A Common Stock. As of July 31, 2009, 3.4 million shares of Class A Common Stock have been purchased under this program (See Part II, Item 2 for information on equity purchases).

On July 12, 2005, we issued 5,600 shares of 7.625% Series A Preferred Stock, with a liquidation preference of $25,000. Dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock are not cumulative and are paid at an annual rate of 7.625%. The Series A Preferred Stock is not convertible into the Company’s common stock and is redeemable in whole or in part at our option at the liquidation preference of the shares beginning on the fifth anniversary of their issuance. The Series A Preferred Stock is traded as depositary shares, with each depositary share representing 1/1000^th of a share of Series A Preferred Stock. The depositary shares are listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “HOVNP”. In each of fiscal year 2007 and 2006, we paid $10.7 million of dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock. In fiscal 2008 and thus far in fiscal 2009, we have not made any dividend payments as a result of covenant restrictions in the Amended Credit Agreement and in the indentures governing our Senior Secured, Senior and Senior Subordinated Notes discussed below. We anticipate that we will continue to be restricted from paying dividends for the remainder of fiscal 2009 and potentially beyond. The payment date of April 15, 2009 was the sixth dividend payment date for which dividends have not been paid. As a result, and in accordance with the Certificate of Designations, Powers, Preferences and Rights of the Series A Preferred Stock, we held a meeting of the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock (and hence the depositary shares) on June 24, 2009, for the purpose of nominating, by majority vote, two persons to serve, without compensation or reimbursement of expenses, as non-voting “Advisory Directors” to attend the portion of meetings of the Board of Directors discussing the agenda item relating to the Series A Preferred Stock until such time as full dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock have been paid for four consecutive quarterly dividend periods. Quorum was not reached at this meeting. As a result, no advisory directors were elected.

 

On May 16, 2008, we entered into Amendment No. 1 (the “Amendment”) to the Seventh Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (as amended, the “Amended Credit Agreement”). On May 27, 2008, in conjunction with the consummation of the issuance of $600.0 million of 11 1/2% Senior Secured Notes due 2013, the Amendment became effective. The Amendment decreased the aggregate amount of commitments under the Amended Credit Agreement from $900 million to $300 million. The maturity date of the facility remains May 31, 2011. Availability under the Amended Credit Agreement equals the lesser of $300 million and the amount available pursuant to the borrowing base and the sub-limit for revolving loans is $100 million. Borrowings under the Amended Credit Agreement bear interest at a rate equal, at the Company’s option, to (1) one, two, three or six month LIBOR, plus 4.50%, (2) a base rate equal to the greater of PNC Bank, National Association’s prime rate and the federal funds effective rate plus 0.50%, plus 2.75% or (3) an index rate based on daily LIBOR, plus 4.625%. In addition to paying interest on outstanding principal under the revolving facility, the Company is required to pay an unused fee equal to 0.55% per annum on the daily average unused portion of the revolving facility. The Company will also pay a letter of credit fee of 4.50% per annum on the average outstanding face amount of letters of credit issued under the revolving facility. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the interest rate and fees payable under the revolving facility may not be less than the applicable interest rates and fees that would have been payable pursuant to the revolving facility that was in effect prior to March 7, 2008, the date of the Amended Credit Agreement. Borrowings under the Amended Credit Agreement may be used for general corporate purposes and working capital. As of both July 31, 2009 and October 31, 2008, there was zero drawn under the Amended Credit Agreement, excluding letters of credit totaling $138.3 million and $197.5 million, respectively.

 

We and each of our subsidiaries are guarantors under the Amended Credit Agreement, except for K. Hovnanian, the borrower, certain of our financial services subsidiaries and joint ventures. All obligations under the Amended Credit Agreement, and the guarantees of those obligations, are secured, subject to permitted liens and other exceptions, by a first-priority lien on substantially all of the assets owned by us, K. Hovnanian and the guarantors.

The Amended Credit Agreement has covenants that prohibit the payment of dividends on, and the making of distributions with respect to, common and preferred stock and that restrict, among other things, the ability of the

 

 

Company and certain of its subsidiaries, including K. Hovnanian, to incur additional indebtedness, repurchase capital stock, make other restricted payments, make investments, dispose of assets, incur liens, consolidate, merge, sell or otherwise transfer all or substantially all assets and enter into certain transactions with affiliates. The Amended Credit Agreement also contains a covenant that requires that as of the last day of each fiscal quarter either (1) the ratio of our adjusted operating cash flow to fixed charges exceed 1.50 to 1.00 or (2) our liquidity, as defined in the Amended Credit Agreement, equals or exceeds $100 million. However, the Amended Credit Agreement does not contain any other financial maintenance covenants. The Amended Credit Agreement contains events of default which would permit the lenders to accelerate the loans if not cured within applicable grace periods, including the failure to make timely payments under the Amended Credit Agreement or other material indebtedness, the failure to satisfy covenants, the failure of the documents granting security for the obligations under the Amended Credit Agreement to be in full force and effect and specified events of bankruptcy and insolvency. As of July 31, 2009, we believe we were in compliance with the covenants under the Amended Credit Agreement and because of our $545.6 million of homebuilding cash at July 31, 2009, and our expectations of cash flows for the rest of fiscal 2009, we believe we will be in compliance for the remainder of 2009.

Our wholly-owned mortgage banking subsidiary originates mortgage loans, primarily from the sale of our homes. Such mortgage loans and related servicing rights are sold in the secondary mortgage market within a short period of time. Our secured Master Repurchase Agreement with a group of banks is a short term borrowing facility, which was amended on March 6, 2009, extending the maturity to March 5, 2010 and reducing the capacity to $60 million from $151 million. Interest is payable monthly, at the Company’s option, at either LIBOR plus 2.00% or the prime rate, with a rate floor of 4.25% on both. The loan is secured by the mortgages held for sale and is repaid when we sell the underlying mortgage loans to permanent investors. The Master Repurchase Agreement requires K. Hovnanian American Mortgage, LLC (“K. Hovnanian Mortgage”) to satisfy and maintain specified financial ratios and other financial condition tests. Because of the extremely short period of time mortgages are held by K. Hovnanian Mortgage before the mortgages are sold to investors (generally a period of a few weeks), the immateriality to us on a consolidated basis of the size of the facility, the levels required by these financial covenants, our ability based on our immediately available resources to contribute sufficient capital to cure any default, were such conditions to occur, and our right to cure any conditions of default based on the terms of the Master Repurchase Agreement, we do not consider any of these covenants to be substantive or material. As of July 31, 2009, we believe we were in compliance with the covenants of the Master Repurchase Agreement. As of July 31, 2009, the aggregate principal amount of all borrowings under the Master Repurchase Agreement was $49.8 million.

 

At July 31, 2009, we had $629.3 million ($624.7 million net of discount) of outstanding senior secured notes, comprised of $600 million 11 1/2% Senior Secured Notes due 2013 and $29.3 million 18% Senior Secured Notes due 2017. At July 31, 2009 we also had $972.7 million of outstanding senior notes ($970.6 million net of discount), comprised of $43.5 million 8% Senior Notes due 2012, $144.0 million 6 1/2% Senior Notes due 2014, $114.3 million 6 3/8% Senior Notes due 2014, $129.3 million 6 1/4% Senior Notes due 2015, $173.2 million 6 1/4% Senior Notes due 2016, $172.5 million 7 1/2% Senior Notes due 2016 and $195.9 million 8 5/8% Senior Notes due 2017. In addition, we had $173.5 million of outstanding senior subordinated notes, comprised of $11.1 million 6% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2010, $69.0 million 8 7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012, and $93.4 million 7 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013.

 

On December 3, 2008, the Company issued $29.3 million of 18% Senior Secured Notes due 2017 in exchange for $71.4 million of unsecured senior notes as follows: $0.6 million aggregate principal amount of 8% Senior Notes due 2012, $12.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6 1/2% Senior Notes due 2014, $1.1 million aggregate principal amount of 6 3/8% Senior Notes due 2014, $3.3 million aggregate principal amount of 6 1/4% Senior Notes due 2015, $24.8 million aggregate principal amount of 7 1/2% Senior Notes due 2016, $28.7 million aggregate principal amount of 6 1/4% Senior Notes due 2016 and $1.0 million aggregate principal amount of 8 5/8% Senior Notes due 2017. This exchange resulted in a recognized gain on extinguishment of debt of $41.3 million, net of the write-off of unamortized discounts and fees.

 

During the nine months ended July 31, 2009, we repurchased in open market transactions $11.3 million principal amount of 8% Senior Notes due 2012, $58.9 million principal amount of 6 1/2% Senior Notes due 2014, $33.6 million principal amount of 6 3/8% Senior Notes due 2014, $61.3 million principal amount of 6 1/4% Senior Notes due 2015, $88.9 million principal amount of 6 1/4% Senior Notes due 2016, $78.5 million principal amount of 7 1/2% Senior Notes due 2016, $41.8 millions principal amount of 8 5/8% Senior Notes due 2017, $71.1 million

 

 

principal amount of 6% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2010, $79.1 million principal amount of 8 7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012, and $53.8 million principal amount of 7 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013. The aggregate purchase price for these repurchases was $223.1 million, plus accrued and unpaid interest. There were no open market repurchases during the three months ended July 31, 2009. These repurchases resulted in a gain on extinguishment of debt of $349.5 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2009, net of the write-off of unamortized discounts and fees.

 

On July 21, 2009, we completed cash tender offers whereby we purchased (1) in a fixed price tender offer, approximately $17.8 million principal amount of 6% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2010 for approximately $17.5 million, plus accrued and unpaid interest, (2) in a modified “Dutch Auction,” a total of approximately $49.5 million principal amount of 8% Senior Notes due 2012, 8 7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012 and 7 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 for approximately $36.1 million, plus accrued and unpaid interest and (3) in a modified “Dutch Auction,” a total of approximately $51.9 million of 6 1/2% Senior Notes due 2014, 6 3/8% Senior Notes due 2014, 6 1/4% Senior Notes due 2015, 6 1/4% Senior Notes due 2016, 7 1/2% Senior Notes due 2016 and 8 5/8% Senior Notes due 2017 for approximately $26.9 million, plus accrued and unpaid interest. These tender offers resulted in a gain on extinguishment of debt of $37.0 million, net of the write-off of unamortized discounts and fees.

 

The gains from the exchanges, repurchases and tender offer are included in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations for the nine months ended July 31, 2009 as “Gain on extinguishment of debt”. Additionally, these transactions have reduced our annual interest by $49.6 million.

 

We and each of our subsidiaries are guarantors of the Senior Secured, Senior and Senior Subordinated Notes, except for K. Hovnanian, the issuer of the notes, certain of our financial services subsidiaries and joint ventures and our foreign subsidiary (See “Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Information” – Note 21 for further information). The indentures governing the Senior Secured, Senior and Senior Subordinated Notes do not contain any financial maintenance covenants, but do contain restrictive covenants that limit, among other things, the ability of Hovnanian and certain of its subsidiaries, including K. Hovnanian, to incur additional indebtedness (other than certain permitted indebtedness, refinancing indebtedness and non-recourse indebtedness), pay dividends and make distributions on common and preferred stock, repurchase senior notes and senior subordinated notes (with respect to the Senior Secured Notes indentures), make other restricted payments, make investments, sell certain assets, incur liens, consolidate, merge, sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all assets and enter into certain transactions with affiliates. The indentures also contain events of default which would permit the holders of the Senior Secured, Senior and Senior Subordinated Notes to declare those notes to be immediately due and payable if not cured within applicable grace periods, including the failure to make timely payments on the notes or other material indebtedness, the failure to comply with agreements and covenants and specified events of bankruptcy and insolvency and, with respect to the indentures governing the senior secured notes, the failure of the documents granting security for the senior secured notes to be in full force and effect and the failure of the liens on any material portion of the collateral securing the senior secured notes to be valid and perfected. As of July 31, 2009, we believe we were in compliance with the covenants of the indentures governing our outstanding notes. Under the terms of the indentures, we have the right to make certain redemptions and, depending on market conditions and covenant restrictions, may do so from time to time. We may also continue to make debt purchases and/or exchanges from time to time, through tender offers, open market purchases, private transactions or otherwise, however, going forward our debt covenants will limit our ability to repurchase future debt.

 

The 11 1/2% Senior Secured Notes due 2013 are secured by a second-priority lien and the 18% Senior Secured Notes due 2017 are secured by a third-priority lien, in each case, subject to permitted liens and other exceptions, on substantially all the assets owned by us, K. Hovnanian (the issuer of the senior secured notes) and the guarantors to the extent such assets secure obligations under the Amended Credit Agreement and, in the case of the 18% Senior Secured notes due 2017, the 11 1/2% Senior Secured Notes due 2013. At July 31, 2009, the aggregate book value of the real property collateral securing these notes was approximately $983.6 million, which does not include the impact of inventory investments, home deliveries, or impairments thereafter and which may differ from the appraised value. In addition, cash collateral securing these notes was $561.6 million as of July 31, 2009.

 

 

Because of the prohibition in the Amended Credit Agreement and covenant restrictions in our bond indentures, we are currently unable to pay dividends, which are not cumulative, on our 7.625% Series A Preferred Stock. Even if the Amended Credit Agreement were to allow us to pay dividends, if current market trends continue or worsen, we will continue to be restricted from paying dividends in fiscal 2009 and possibly beyond as a result of covenant restrictions in our bond indentures. Our inability to pay dividends is in accordance with covenant restrictions and will not result in a default under the Amended Credit Agreement or our bond indentures or otherwise affect compliance with any of the covenants contained in the Amended Credit Agreement or the bond indentures.

 

During the second quarter of fiscal 2009, our credit ratings were downgraded by Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”), Moody’s Investors Services (“Moody’s”) and Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”), as follows:

 

 

Downgrades in our credit ratings do not accelerate the scheduled maturity dates of our debt or affect the amount available under our Amended Credit Agreement, interest rates charged on any of our debt or credit lines, or our debt covenant requirements or cause any other operating issue. The only potential risk from these negative changes in our credit ratings is that they may make it more difficult or costly for us to access capital. However, due to our available cash resources, the downgrades in our credit ratings in the second quarter of fiscal 2009 have not impacted management’s operating plans, or our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

 

Total inventory decreased $760.9 million, excluding inventory not owned, during the nine months ended July 31, 2009. Total inventory, excluding inventory not owned, decreased in the Northeast $254.1 million, in the Mid-Atlantic $85.3 million, in the Midwest $12.0 million, in the Southeast $63.7 million, in the Southwest $102.9 million, and in the West $242.9 million. These decreases were due to decisions to delay or terminate new communities, as well as slow spending in current communities and due to inventory impairments recorded in these segments. During the first three quarters of 2009, we incurred $491.4 million in write-downs primarily attributable to impairments as a result of a continued decline in sales pace, sales price and general market conditions. In addition, we wrote-off costs in the amount of $30.1 million during the nine months ended July 31, 2009, related to land options that expired or we terminated. See “Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements” - Note 5 for additional information. Substantially all homes under construction or completed and included in inventory at July 31, 2009 are expected to be closed during the next 12 months. Most inventory completed or under development was/is partially financed through our line of credit and debt and equity issuances.

 

The decreases discussed above excluded the decrease in consolidated inventory not owned of $51.3 million consisting of specific performance options, options with variable interest entities, and other options that were added to our balance sheet in accordance with SFAS 49, SFAS 98, and EITF 97-10, and variable interest entities in accordance with FIN 46R. See “Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements”-Note 16 for additional information on FIN 46R. Specific performance options inventory increased $20.9 million for the period. This increase was primarily due to the addition of specific performance lots in a community in the Northeast in the second quarter of fiscal 2009. Variable interest entity options inventory decreased $33.9 million as we continue to take down land or walk away from deals previously consolidated under FIN 46R. Other options inventory decreased $38.3 million for the period. Other options consist of inventory financed via a model home program and structured lot option agreements. Model home inventory decreased $26.9 million as a result of the fact that we have terminated the use of models in certain communities where the models were no longer needed and in conjunction therewith also terminated the option to purchase those models. Structured lot option inventory decreased $11.5 million. This decrease was primarily in the Southwest where we walked away from a large land purchase transaction during the first quarter of fiscal 2009.

 

We usually option property for development prior to acquisition. By optioning property, we are only subject to the loss of the cost of the option and predevelopment costs if we choose not to exercise the option. As a

 

 

result, our commitment for major land acquisitions is reduced. Our inventory representing “Land and land options held for future development or sale” at July 31, 2009, on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, decreased by $179.1 million compared to October 31, 2008. The decrease is due to significant impairments that were taken on land that has previously been mothballed and has been slightly offset by “Sold and unsold homes and lots under development inventory” being reclassified to “Land and land options held for future development or sale inventory” when we decide to mothball (or stop development on) a community. We mothball communities when we determine the current performance does not justify further investment at this time. That is, we believe we will generate higher returns if we avoid spending money to improve land today and save the raw land until such times as the markets improve. As of July 31, 2009, we have mothballed land in 77 communities. The book value associated with these communities at July 31, 2009 was $376.3 million, net of an impairment balance of $509.1 million. We continually review communities to determine if mothballing is appropriate.

 

 

            The following table summarizes home sites included in our total residential real estate. The decrease in total home sites available in 2009 compared to 2008 is partially attributable to terminating certain option agreements, as discussed herein.

 

 

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

 

 

 

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

 

 

The following table summarizes our started or completed unsold homes and models, excluding unconsolidated joint ventures.

 

 

 

 

The decrease in total started unsold homes compared to the prior year end is primarily due to a continued focused effort to sell inventoried homes during the first nine months of fiscal 2009. In some instances, this required additional incentives to be given to homebuyers on completed unsold homes. The decrease was also due to the decrease of 86 active communities from 284 at October 31, 2008 to 198 at July 31, 2009, which, in turn, resulted in a decrease in models.

 

Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures decreased $35.5 million during the nine months ended July 31, 2009. This decrease is primarily due to the write-down of our investment in certain joint ventures in accordance with APB 18, as well as distributions received from the joint ventures during the nine months ended July 31, 2009. As of July 31, 2009, we have investments in eight homebuilding joint ventures and seven land development joint ventures. Other than guarantees limited only to performance and completion of development, environmental indemnification, standard indemnification for fraud and misrepresentation including a voluntary bankruptcy, we have no other guarantees associated with unconsolidated joint ventures.

 

Receivables, deposits and notes decreased $15.8 million since October 31, 2008, to $63.0 million at July 31, 2009. The decrease is primarily due to the receipt of cash from insurance carriers related to outstanding warranty claims, as well as the return of deposits on land option transactions we terminated in fiscal 2008.

 

Property, plant and equipment decreased $13.2 million during the nine months ended July 31, 2009, primarily due to depreciation and a small amount of disposals, which were offset by minor additions for leasehold improvements during the period.

 

 

 

Prepaid insurance decreased due to amortization of certain liability insurance premium costs during the first nine months of fiscal 2009. These costs are amortized over the life of the associated insurance policy, which can be one to three years. Prepaid project costs decreased for homes delivered and have not been replenished, as we have reduced the number of active selling communities given the current homebuilding environment. Prepaid project costs consist of community specific expenditures that are used over the life of the community. Such prepaids are expensed as homes are delivered. Other prepaids decreased mainly due to the debt repurchased during the first half of 2009, which resulted in the write-off of portions of the associated prepaid debt costs and continued amortization of the remaining prepaid debt costs and prepaid credit facility costs.

 

Financial Services - Mortgage loans held for sale or investment consist primarily of residential mortgages receivable held for sale of which $56.5 million and $87.5 million at July 31, 2009 and October 31, 2008, respectively, are being temporarily warehoused and are awaiting sale in the secondary mortgage market. Also included are residential mortgages receivable held for investment of $3.8 million and $3.2 million at July 31, 2009 and October 31, 2008, respectively, which represent loans that cannot currently be sold at reasonable terms in the secondary mortgage market. We may incur risk with respect to mortgages that are delinquent, but only to the extent the losses are not covered by mortgage insurance or resale value of the house. Historically, we have incurred minimal credit losses. We have reserves for potential losses on mortgages we currently hold. The decrease in mortgage loans held for sale or investment from October 31, 2008 is directly related to a decrease in the volume of loans financed at July 31, 2009.

 

 

 

Income taxes receivable of $126.8 million at October 31, 2008 decreased $187.2 million in the nine months ended July 31, 2009 to an income tax payable of $60.4 million primarily because we received our federal tax refund for fiscal year 2008 during the first quarter of fiscal 2009 of $145.2 million. All remaining tax assets are fully reserved as we no longer have profits available to carryback losses for refund.

 

 

 

The decrease in accounts payable was primarily due to the lower volume of deliveries in the third quarter of fiscal 2009, compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008. The increase in the reserves is attributable to additional accruals needed for closed communities in our West segment, due to a change in estimates related to the costs for transitioning the homeowners association from the Company to the homeowners and final work to be performed in order to have municipalities provide final bond release. The decrease in accrued expenses is primarily due to payments made for land options that were terminated and accrued in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 but paid in the first quarter of 2009. The decrease in accrued compensation was primarily due to the payout of our fiscal year 2008 bonuses during the first quarter of 2009 and reduced accruals under bonus plans in fiscal 2009. The decrease in other liabilities is primarily due to the payment of a note that was paid during the first quarter of fiscal 2009, and a decrease in deferred revenue related to sold and leased-back model homes.

 

Customer deposits decreased $3.0 million from $28.7 million at October 31, 2008 to $25.7 million at July 31, 2009. This decrease is mainly attributable to lower average purchase prices of homes in backlog and certain incentive programs in place that allow for lower deposit amounts.

 

Liabilities from inventory not owned and minority interest from inventory not owned decreased $54.2 million and increased $5.3 million, respectively, from $135.1 million and $24.9 million, respectively, at October 31, 2008 to $80.9 million and to $30.2 million at July 31, 2009, respectively. The net change in these amounts is directly correlated to the change in “Consolidated inventory not owned” on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, which is explained in the discussion of inventory in this “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

 

Mortgage warehouse line of credit under our secured master repurchase agreement decreased $35.0 million from $84.8 million at October 31, 2008 to $49.8 million at July 31, 2009. The decrease is directly correlated to the decrease in mortgage loans held for sale from October 31, 2008 to July 31, 2009.

 

Accrued interest decreased $43.5 million to $29.0 million at July 31, 2009. This decrease is primarily attributed to the fact that the majority of our semi-annual interest payments for our Senior Secured, Senior and Senior Subordinated Notes are due and paid in the first and second quarter of the year. Accrued interest is also impacted by the reduction of our debt as a result of the repurchases of our unsecured senior and senior subordinated notes during the first nine months of fiscal 2009.

 

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED JULY 31, 2009 COMPARED TO THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED JULY 31, 2008

 

Total revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

Homebuilding:

 

Compared to the same prior period, homebuilding revenues decreased $324.3 million, or 46.2%, during the three months ended July 31, 2009 and decreased $1,413.4 million, or 55.5%, during the nine months ended July 31, 2009. These declines were primarily due to the number of home deliveries also declining 39.5% and 52.7% for the three and nine month periods, respectively. Average price per home also decreased to $278,000 and $283,000 for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2009, respectively, compared to $317,000 and $302,000 for the same periods of the prior year as a result of price declines and geographic and community mix of our deliveries. Land sales are ancillary to our homebuilding operations and are expected to continue in the future but may significantly fluctuate up or down. For further details on land sales and other revenues, see the section titled “Land Sales and Other Revenues” below.

 

 

                Information on homes delivered by segment is set forth below:

 

 

(1) Includes 1,345 homes delivered at our Ft. Myers, Florida division in the first quarter of fiscal 2008.

 

The decrease in housing revenues during the three and nine months ended July 31, 2009 was primarily due to the continued weak market conditions in most of our markets. Another reason for reduced sales was H.R. 3221, enacted into law in 2008, which includes the “American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008.” Among other provisions, this law eliminated seller-funded down payment assistance on FHA insured loans approved on or after October 1, 2008. Of our total home closings utilizing K. Hovnanian Mortgage for the mortgage loans in fiscal 2008 and the first quarter of fiscal 2009, approximately 21% and 3%, respectively, were funded with mortgage loans whereby the homebuyer used a seller-financed down payment assistance program. These programs were ended during the first quarter of fiscal 2009, which resulted in none of our homebuyers utilizing them during the second or third quarter of fiscal 2009. While we will seek other down payment assistance and mortgage financing alternatives for our buyers, we expect that the elimination of seller-financed down payment assistance programs to continue to have a negative impact on our future sales and revenues.

 

 

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

 

 

(1) Net contracts are defined as new contracts executed during the period for the purchase of homes,

 

 

Our reported level of sales contracts (net of cancellations) has been impacted by a slowdown in the pace of sales in all of the Company’s segments, due to weakening market conditions and tighter mortgage loan underwriting criteria. Cancellation rates represent the number of cancelled contracts in the quarter divided by the number of gross sales contracts executed in the quarter. For comparison, the following are historical cancellation rates, excluding unconsolidated joint ventures:

 

 

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

 

 

Historically, most cancellations occur within the legal rescission period, which varies by state but is generally less than two weeks. Cancellations also occur as a result of buyer failure to qualify for a mortgage, which generally occurs during the first few weeks after signing. However, beginning in fiscal 2007, we have experienced a higher than normal number of cancellations later in the construction process. These cancellations are related primarily to falling prices, sometimes due to new discounts offered by us and other builders, leading the buyer to lose confidence in the contract price and due to tighter mortgage underwriting criteria leading to some customers’ inability to be approved for a mortgage loan. In some cases, the buyer will walk away from a significant nonrefundable deposit that we recognize as other revenues. While our cancellation rate based on gross sales contracts for the first nine months of fiscal 2009 is lower than it has been for several years, and closer to more normalized levels, it is difficult to predict if this trend will continue. However, for this same period, the cancellation rate as a percentage of beginning backlog remains higher than historical periods.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

We sell a variety of home types in various communities, each yielding a different gross margin. As a result, depending on the mix of communities delivering homes, consolidated gross margin may fluctuate up or down. Total homebuilding gross margins, before interest expense and land impairment and option write-off charges, increased to 9.1% during the three months ended July 31, 2009 compared to 8.5% for the same period last year and increased to 7.7% during the nine months ended July 31, 2009 compared to 7.2% for the same period last year. The declining pace of sales in our markets over the past couple of years has led to intense competition in many of our specific community locations. In order to attempt to maintain a reasonable pace of absorption, we have increased incentives, reduced lot location premiums, as well as lowered base prices, all of which have impacted our margins significantly and resulted in significant inventory impairments. However, the rate of the decline has slowed in most of our segments and in a few locations we have been able to raise prices without adversely impacting sales pace. In addition, we are delivering the final homes in some older communities and seeing the first deliveries in new communities where we have acquired the land at more reasonable prices. This has resulted in the modest improvement in our gross margins before cost of sales interest and land charges.

 

 

Reflected as inventory impairment loss and land option write-offs in cost of sales (“land charges”), we have written-off or written-down certain inventories totaling $101.1 million and $110.9 million during the three months ended July 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and $521.5 million and $447.0 million during the nine months ended July 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, to their estimated fair value. During the three and nine months ended July 31, 2009, we wrote-off residential land options and approval and engineering costs amounting to $6.5 million and $30.1 million, compared to $30.8 million and $66.6 million for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2008, which are included in the total adjustments mentioned above. When a community is redesigned, abandoned engineering costs are written-off. Option and approval and engineering costs are written-off when a community’s proforma profitability is not projected to produce adequate returns on the investment commensurate with the risk and we cancel the option. The impairments amounting to $94.6 million and $80.2 million during the three months ended July 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and $491.4 million and $380.4 million for the nine months ending July 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, were incurred because of continued downward pressure on prices in order to maintain sales pace in many of our markets. In 2009, the majority of the impairments were in the Northeast and West segments. Impairments in the Northeast were due to increased weakness in the market, primarily in the suburbs of Manhattan. In the West, where we have to compete with significant competition from foreclosures, we have had to continue to reduce prices in order to maintain sales pace. This is especially true in some of the more fringe markets in our West segment. See Notes to “Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements” - Note 5 for an additional information of segment impairments.

 

Land Sales and Other Revenues:

 

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

 

 

Land sales are ancillary to our residential homebuilding operations and are expected to continue in the future but may significantly fluctuate up or down. Although we budget land sales, they are often dependent upon receiving approvals and entitlements, the timing of which can be uncertain. As a result, projecting the amount and timing of land sales is difficult.

 

Other Revenues include income from contract cancellations, where the deposit has been forfeited due to contract terms, interest income, cash discounts, buyer walk aways and miscellaneous one-time receipts.

 

Homebuilding, Selling, General and Administrative

 

Homebuilding selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of homebuilding revenues increased to 14.6% for the three months ended July 31, 2009, compared to 12.8% for the three months ended July 31, 2008 and increased to 16.5% for the nine months ended July 31, 2009, compared to 11.3% for the nine months ended July 31, 2008. Expenses decreased $34.7 million for the three months ended July 31, 2009 and decreased $100.7 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2009 compared to the same periods last year as we have reduced these costs through headcount reduction, other cost saving measures and a decreased number of communities. Despite the decreases in expenses, the amount of homebuilding selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenue has increased, due to reduced home deliveries.

 

 

 

HOMEBUILDING OPERATIONS BY SEGMENT

 

Segment Analysis

 

 

 

 

 

Homebuilding Results by Segment

 

Northeast - Homebuilding revenues decreased 49.5% and 50.3% for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2009, respectively, compared to the same periods of the prior year. The decreases are primarily due to a 42.1% and 41.9% decrease in homes delivered and a 13.6% and 12.1% decrease in average sales price for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2009, respectively. Loss before income taxes increased $32.0 million and $226.0 million to a loss of $43.2 million and $273.5 million for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2009, respectively. This increase is mainly due to a $19.0 million and $167.6 million increase in inventory impairment losses and land option write-offs recorded for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2009. Gross margin percentage before interest expense is also down for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2009, as the markets in this segment continue to be very competitive.

 

Mid-Atlantic - Homebuilding revenues decreased 34.1% and 42.7% for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2009, respectively, compared to the same periods of the prior year. The decreases are primarily due to a 26.5% and

 

 

35.8% decrease in homes delivered and an 11.2% and 10.7% decrease in average sales price for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2009, respectively, as a result of increased incentives and the different mix of communities delivering in 2009 compared to 2008. Loss before income taxes decreased $30.6 million and $24.7 million to a loss of $16.8 million and $66.6 million for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2009, respectively, due partly to a $25.9 million and $18.6 million decrease in inventory impairment losses and land option write-offs for the three and nine months, respectively.

 

Midwest - Homebuilding revenues decreased 41.3% and 47.5% for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2009, respectively, compared to the same periods of the prior year. The decreases are primarily due to a 44.3% and 49.1% decrease in homes delivered, slightly offset by a 5.4% and 3.9% increase in average sales price for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2009, respectively. The fluctuations in average sales prices were the result of the mix of communities delivering in 2009 compared to 2008. Loss before income taxes decreased $3.2 million and $11.2 million to a loss of $3.8 million and $18.5 million for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2009, respectively. The decrease in the loss for the nine months ended July 31, 2009, was primarily due to our share of net losses on an unconsolidated joint venture of $4.8 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2008, which did not recur in fiscal 2009, as we wrote-off our investment in the joint venture at October 31, 2008,

 

Southeast - Homebuilding revenues decreased 66.3% and 83.9% for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2009, respectively, compared to the same periods of the prior year. The decreases are primarily due to a 64.9% and 83.2% decrease in homes delivered and a 5.3% and 6.2% decrease in average sales price, respectively. The decrease in the nine months ended July 31, 2009 is primarily due to 1,345 deliveries from our Fort Myers operations in the first quarter of 2008 compared to 23 deliveries in the first quarter of 2009. Loss before income taxes decreased $29.0 million and $22.0 million to a loss of $7.9 million and $47.9 million for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2009, respectively, due partly to an $18.9 million and $18.4 million decrease in inventory impairment losses and land option write-offs for the three and nine months, respectively.

 

Southwest - Homebuilding revenues decreased 20.3% and 30.3% for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2009, respectively, compared to the same periods of the prior year. The decreases are primarily due to a 16.1% and 28.1% decrease in homes delivered, and an 11.4% and 5.6% decrease in average selling price for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2009, respectively. Loss before income taxes decreased $4.8 million to a loss of $16.0 million for the three months ended July 31, 2009 and increased $9.3 million to a loss of $55.8 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2009. The decrease in loss for the three months ended July 31, 2009 was partially due to a $12.7 million decrease in inventory impairment losses and land option write-offs. The increase in loss for the nine months ended July 31, 2009 was partially due to a reduction in gross margin percentage before interest expense for our Texas operations resulting from a competitive marketplace and the difficult economy.

 

West - Homebuilding revenues decreased 67.9% and 64.7% for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2009, respectively, compared to the same periods of the prior year. The decreases are primarily due to a 57.8% and 56.1% decrease in homes delivered and a 21.2% and 18.5% decrease in average selling price for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2009, respectively. The decrease in deliveries was the result of the continued slowing of the housing market in California and reduced active communities as nearly half of our mothballed communities are in the West. Loss before income taxes increased $11.7 million to a loss of $63.8 million for the three months ended July 31, 2009 and decreased $102.7 million to a loss of $259.6 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2009. The increased loss for the three months ended July 31, 2009 was primarily due to a $28.0 million increase in inventory impairments and land option write-offs taken in the third quarter of fiscal 2009, compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2008. The decreased loss for the nine months ended July 31, 2009 was partially due to a $50.4 million decrease in inventory impairment losses and land option write offs. In addition gross margin before interest expense increased for the nine months ended July 31, 2009, as we are starting to see signs of price stabilization in this market and the benefit of impairment reserve reversals as homes are delivered.

 

Financial Services

 

Financial services consist primarily of originating mortgages from our homebuyers, selling such mortgages in the secondary market, and title insurance activities. For the three and nine months ended July 31, 2009, financial services provided $2.6 million and $6.7 million in income before income taxes, compared to $5.9 million and $13.1

 

 

million for the same periods in 2008. The decrease in pretax profit for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2009 was due to decreased mortgage settlements and a decrease in the average loan amount, partially offset by a reduction in costs. The volume of our financial services business declines as our homebuilding deliveries decline.

 

Corporate General and Administrative

 

Corporate general and administrative expenses include the operations at our headquarters in Red Bank, New Jersey. These expenses include payroll, stock compensation, facility and other costs associated with our executive offices, information services, human resources, corporate accounting, training, treasury, process redesign, internal audit, construction services and administration of insurance, quality and safety. Corporate general and administrative expenses decreased to $15.5 million for the three months ended July 31, 2009, compared to $20.5 million for the three months ended July 31, 2008 and increased to $64.8 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2009 from $62.2 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2008. During the first quarter of fiscal 2009, the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and each of the non-executive members of the Board of Directors consented to the cancellation of certain of their options (with the full understanding that the Company made no commitment to provide them with any other form of consideration in respect of the cancelled options) in order to reduce a portion of the equity reserve “overhang” under the Company’s equity compensation plans represented by the number of shares of the Company’s common stock remaining available for future issuance under such plans (including shares that may be issued upon the exercise or vesting of outstanding options and other rights). As a result of this cancellation, we recorded additional expense of $12.3 million. This charge to operations is offset by a credit to paid in capital. Excluding this option cancellation expense, corporate, general and administrative expenses decreased $5.0 million and $9.7 million for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2009, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2008, primarily due to reduced salaries resulting from headcount reduction, and lower bonus accruals.

 

Other Interest

 

Other interest increased $13.3 million and $55.0 million for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2009, compared to the three and nine months ended July 31, 2008. The increase was primarily due to direct expensing of interest. Beginning in the third quarter of fiscal 2008, our assets that qualify for interest capitalization (inventory under development) no longer exceed our debt, and therefore the portion of interest not covered by qualifying assets must be directly expensed. As our inventory balances have decreased from fiscal 2008 to fiscal 2009, the amount of interest required to be directly expensed has increased.

 

Other Operations

 

Other operations consist primarily of miscellaneous residential housing operations expenses, senior rental residential property operations, legal fees related to shareholder lawsuits, minority interest relating to consolidated joint ventures, and corporate owned life insurance. Other operations decreased to $2.0 million and increased to $8.6 million for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2009, compared to $3.4 million and $6.7 million for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2008. The increase for the nine months ended July 31, 2009 was primarily due to additional bond expense related to the issuance of 11 1/2% Notes due 2013 in May 2008. Amortization of these Notes did not start until June of 2008.

 

Intangible Amortization

 

Intangible amortization decreased $0.3 million and $1.5 million for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2009, when compared to the same periods in 2008. At the end of fiscal year 2008, we wrote off all of our remaining intangible assets. As a result, there was zero expense for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2009.

 

 

 

Gain on Extinguishment of Debt

 

During the nine months ended July 31, 2009, we repurchased in the open market a total of $578.3 million principal amount of various issues of our unsecured senior and senior subordinated notes due 2010 through 2017 for an aggregate purchase price of $223.1 million, plus accrued and unpaid interest. We recognized a gain of $349.5 million net of the write-off of unamortized discounts and fees, related to these purchases which represents the difference between the principal amounts of the notes and the aggregate purchase price. In addition, on December 3, 2008, we exchanged a total of $71.4 million principal amount of various issues of our unsecured senior notes due 2012 through 2017 for $29.3 million in senior secured 18% notes due 2017. This exchange resulted in a recognized gain of $41.3 million. During the three months ended July 31, 2009, we completed cash tender offers whereby we purchased an aggregate of approximately $119.2 million principal amount of various issues of our unsecured senior and senior subordinated notes due 2010 through 2017 for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $80.5 million, plus accrued unpaid interest. As a result of the tender offers we recognized a gain of $37.0 million in the third quarter, net of the write-off of unamortized discounts and fees. We may continue to make additional debt purchases and/or exchanges through tender offers, open market purchases, private transactions or otherwise from time to time depending on market conditions and covenant restrictions.

 

Loss From Unconsolidated Joint Ventures

 

The loss from unconsolidated joint ventures increased $4.6 million and $28.9 million to a loss of $5.5 million and $38.2 million for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2009, when compared to the same periods last year. The increased loss in 2009 is mainly due to the write down of our investment in one of our joint ventures where the full investment is deemed to be an other than temporary impairment, as well as our share of the losses from inventory impairments from another two of our joint ventures. These losses were offset by the fact that we are no longer recording any loss related to a fourth joint venture because we wrote off our investment in that joint venture in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008, and have no further funding commitments to this entity.

 

Total Taxes

 

Total tax provision was $20.9 million and $42.7 million for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2009, respectively. During fiscal 2009, we recorded $23.0 million for estimated income taxes for amounts that should have been recorded in prior reporting periods. These amounts principally relate to an increase in tax liabilities to eliminate the assumed federal benefit of certain tax accruals. In fiscal 2009, we also recorded an accrual for federal taxes and related interest for a change in estimate of certain temporary differences amounting to $19.3 million. A valuation allowance was established for the entire deferred tax asset resulting from these timing differences. As more fully described in the next paragraph, we fully reserve our net deferred tax assets. We do not expect to record any additional net tax benefits unless there is a tax law change or we begin to generate profits.

 

Deferred federal and state income tax assets primarily represent the deferred tax benefits arising from temporary differences between book and tax income which will be recognized in future years as an offset against future taxable income. If, for some reason, the combination of future years income (or loss) combined with the reversal of the timing differences results in a loss, such losses can be carried back to prior years or carried forward to future years to recover the deferred tax assets. In accordance with SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes ("SFAS 109"), we evaluate our deferred tax assets quarterly to determine if valuation allowances are required. SFAS 109 requires that companies assess whether valuation allowances should be established based on the consideration of all available evidence using a "more likely than not" standard. Due to the continued downturn in the homebuilding industry during 2007, 2008 and into 2009, we are in a cumulative loss position over the most recent three year period. Based on the requirements of SFAS 109, this three year cumulative loss and the uncertainty of the timing of our ability to generate profits required us to provide a valuation allowance for our deferred tax assets. Our valuation allowance for current and deferred taxes increased $76.7 million and $198.3 million, respectively, during the three and nine months ended July 31, 2009, to $873.8 million at July 31, 2009. In the first quarter of 2009, we received a tax refund of $145.2 million thus realizing the tax assets recorded as of October 31, 2008.

 

 

 

Inflation

 

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

 

Inflation has a lesser short-term effect, because we generally negotiate fixed price contracts with many, but not all, of our subcontractors and material suppliers for the construction of our homes. These prices usually are applicable for a specified number of residential buildings or for a time period of between three to twelve months. Construction costs for residential buildings represent approximately 59.7% of our homebuilding cost of sales.

 

Safe Harbor Statement

 

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

 

 

Certain risks, uncertainties, and other factors are described in detail in Part I, Item 1 “Business” and Item 1A “Risk Factors” in our Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2008. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities laws, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or any other reason after the date of this Form 10-Q.

 

 

Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

 

A primary market risk facing us is interest rate risk on our long-term debt. In connection with our mortgage operations, mortgage loans held for sale and the associated mortgage warehouse line of credit under our secured master repurchase agreement are subject to interest rate risk; however, such obligations reprice frequently and are short-term in duration. In addition, we hedge the interest rate risk on mortgage loans by obtaining forward commitments from private investors. Accordingly, the risk from mortgage loans is not material. We do not use financial instruments to hedge interest rate risk except with respect to mortgage loans. We are also subject to foreign currency risk, but we do not believe that this risk is material. The following table sets forth as of July 31, 2009, our long-term debt obligations principal cash flows by scheduled maturity, weighted average interest rates and estimated fair value (“FV”).

 

 

(1) Does not include the mortgage warehouse line of credit made under our secured master repurchase

 

There have been no material changes in market risk for our variable rate debt under our Amended Credit Agreement at July 31, 2009 from those described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2008.

 

Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. Any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. The Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of July 31, 2009. Based upon that evaluation and subject to the foregoing, the Company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of July 31, 2009 are effective to accomplish their objectives.

In addition, there was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended July 31, 2009 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

PART II. Other Information

 

 

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

 

 

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

In July 2001, our Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program to purchase up to 4 million shares of Class A Common Stock (adjusted for a 2 for 1 stock dividend on March 5, 2004). No shares of our Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock were purchased by or on behalf of Hovnanian Enterprises or any affiliated purchaser during the fiscal first, second and third quarters of 2009 (excluding any purchases that may have been made by certain members of the Hovnanian family, which would have been reported in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission). The maximum number of shares that may yet be purchased under the Company’s plans or programs is 0.6 million.

 

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

On June 24, 2009, the Company held a special meeting of holders of its 7.625% Series A Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Stock”) (represented by Depositary Shares), which was called for the purpose of nominating two persons to serve as non-voting “Advisory Directors” to attend the portion of meetings of the Board of Directors discussing the agenda item relating to the Preferred Stock until such time as full dividends on the Preferred Stock have been paid for four consecutive quarterly dividend periods. As a result of restrictions in the Company’s credit agreement and bond indentures, the Company has been, and continues to be, prohibited from paying dividends on the Preferred Stock. A quorum was not obtained at the meeting. Therefore, the Company was precluded from conducting any business at the special meeting and no “Advisory Directors” were nominated.

 

 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of l934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC.

(Registrant)