UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2007
Commission file number 1-11749
Lennar Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 95-4337490 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
700 Northwest 107th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33172
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrants telephone number, including area code (305) 559-4000
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class |
Name of each exchange on which registered | |
Class A Common Stock, par value 10¢ | New York Stock Exchange | |
Class B Common Stock, par value 10¢ | New York Stock Exchange |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
NONE
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. YES þ NO ¨
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. YES ¨ NO þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES þ NO ¨
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrants knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of accelerated filer and large accelerated filer in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer þ | Accelerated filer ¨ | Non-accelerated filer ¨ |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). YES ¨ NO þ
The aggregate market value of the registrants Class A and Class B common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant (124,300,318 Class A shares and 9,631,719 Class B shares) as of May 31, 2007, based on the closing sale price per share as reported by the New York Stock Exchange on such date, was $6,082,694,402.
As of December 31, 2007, the registrant had outstanding 128,616,340 shares of Class A common stock and 31,284,197 shares of Class B common stock.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE:
Related Section |
Documents | |
III | Definitive Proxy Statement to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A on or before March 29, 2008. |
PART I
Item 1. Business.
Overview of Lennar Corporation
We are one of the nations largest homebuilders and a provider of financial services. Our homebuilding operations include the construction and sale of single-family attached and detached homes, and to a lesser extent multi-level residential buildings, as well as the purchase, development and sale of residential land directly and through unconsolidated entities in which we have investments. We have grouped our homebuilding activities into three reportable segments, which we refer to as Homebuilding East, Homebuilding Central and Homebuilding West. Information about homebuilding activities in states in which our homebuilding activities are not economically similar to those in other states in the same geographic area is grouped under Homebuilding Other. Our reportable homebuilding segments and Homebuilding Other have divisions located in the following states:
East: Florida, Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia
Central: Arizona, Colorado and Texas
West: California and Nevada
Other: Illinois, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina and South Carolina
We have one Financial Services reportable segment that provides mortgage financing, title insurance, closing services and other ancillary services (including high-speed Internet and cable television) for both buyers of our homes and others. Substantially all of the loans that we originate are sold in the secondary mortgage market on a servicing released, non-recourse basis; although, we remain liable for certain limited representations and warranties related to loan sales. Our Financial Services segment operates generally in the same states as our homebuilding operations, as well as in other states. For financial information about both our homebuilding and financial services operations, you should review Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, which is Item 7 of this Report, and our consolidated financial statements and the notes to our consolidated financial statements, which are included in Item 8 of this Report.
A Brief History of Our Company
1954: |
We were founded as a local Miami homebuilder. | |
1969: |
We began developing, owning and managing commercial and multi-family residential real estate. | |
1971: |
We completed our initial public offering. | |
1972: |
Our common stock was listed on the New York Stock Exchange. We also entered the Arizona homebuilding market. | |
1986: |
We acquired Development Corporation of America in Florida. | |
1991: |
We entered the Texas homebuilding market. | |
1992: |
We expanded our commercial operations by acquiring, through a joint venture, a portfolio of loans, mortgages and properties from the Resolution Trust Corporation. | |
1995: |
We entered the California homebuilding market through the acquisition of Bramalea California, Inc. | |
1996: |
We expanded in California through the acquisition of Renaissance Homes, and significantly expanded operations in Texas with the acquisitions of the assets and operations of both Houston-based Village Builders and Friendswood Development Company, and acquired Regency Title. | |
1997: |
We completed the spin-off of our commercial real estate investment business to LNR Property Corporation. We continued our expansion in California through homesite acquisitions and investments in unconsolidated entities. We also acquired Pacific Greystone Corporation, which further expanded our operations in California and Arizona and brought us into the Nevada homebuilding market. | |
1998: |
We acquired the properties of two California homebuilders, ColRich Communities and Polygon Communities, acquired a Northern California homebuilder, Winncrest Homes, and acquired North American Title with operations in Arizona, California and Colorado. | |
1999: |
We acquired Eagle Home Mortgage with operations in Nevada, Oregon and Washington and Southwest Land Title in Texas. |
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2000: |
We acquired U.S. Home Corporation, which expanded our operations into New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Minnesota, Ohio and Colorado and strengthened our position in other states. We expanded our title operations in Texas through the acquisition of Texas Professional Title. | |
2002: |
We acquired Patriot Homes, Sunstar Communities, Don Galloway Homes, Genesee Company, Barry Andrews Homes, Cambridge Homes, Pacific Century Homes, Concord Homes and Summit Homes, which expanded our operations into the Carolinas and the Chicago, Baltimore and Central Valley, California homebuilding markets and strengthened our position in several existing markets. We also acquired Sentinel Title with operations in Maryland and Washington, D.C. | |
2003: |
We acquired Seppala Homes and Coleman Homes, which expanded our operations in South Carolina and California. We also acquired Mid America Title in Illinois. | |
2004: |
We acquired The Newhall Land and Farming Company through an unconsolidated entity of which we and LNR Property Corporation currently each own 16%. We expanded into the San Antonio, Texas homebuilding market by acquiring the operations of Connell-Barron Homes and entered the Jacksonville, Florida homebuilding market by acquiring the operations of Classic American Homes. Through acquisitions, we also expanded our mortgage operations in Oregon and Washington. We expanded our title and closing operations into Minnesota through the acquisition of Title Protection, Inc. | |
2005: |
We entered the metropolitan New York City and Boston markets by acquiring, directly and through a joint venture, rights to develop a portfolio of properties in New Jersey facing mid-town Manhattan and waterfront properties near Boston. We also entered the Reno, Nevada market and then expanded in Reno through the acquisition of Barker Coleman. We expanded our presence in Jacksonville through the acquisition of Admiral Homes. |
2007 Business Developments
Throughout 2007, market conditions in the homebuilding industry continued to deteriorate. This market deterioration was driven primarily by a decline in consumer confidence and increased volatility in the mortgage market, resulting in high cancellation rates (30% and 29%, respectively, in 2007 and 2006) and lower net new orders (new orders were down 39% and 3%, respectively, in 2007 and 2006) for our company. The market has continued to become more and more competitive and we have responded to competitive market pressure to reduce prices through the use of incentives, price reductions and incentivized brokerage fees. The use of these sales incentives had a negative impact on our gross margins.
As a result, we evaluated our balance sheet for impairment on an asset-by-asset basis. Based on this assessment, during the years ended November 30, 2007 and 2006, we recorded $2.4 billion and $501.8 million, respectively, of inventory adjustments, which included $747.8 million and $280.5 million, respectively, in 2007 and 2006 of valuation adjustments to finished homes, construction in progress and land on which we intend to build homes, $1.2 billion and $69.1 million, respectively, in 2007 and 2006, of valuation adjustments to land we intend to sell to third parties and $530.0 million and $152.2 million, respectively, in 2007 and 2006, of write-offs of deposits and pre-acquisition costs. The $1.2 billion of valuation adjustments recorded in 2007 to land we intend to sell to third parties includes $740.4 million of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment of Long-lived Assets, (SFAS 144) valuation adjustments related to the portfolio of land we sold to our strategic land investment venture with Morgan Stanley Real Estate Fund II, L.P., an affiliate of Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc., which was formed in November 2007. See Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Item 7 of this Report for further details on the aforementioned transaction and land investment venture.
Additionally, during the years ended November 30, 2007 and 2006, we recorded $496.4 million and $140.9 million, respectively, of adjustments to our investments in unconsolidated entities, which included $364.2 million and $126.4 million, respectively, in 2007 and 2006, of SFAS 144 valuation adjustments related to assets of our unconsolidated entities and $132.2 million and $14.5 million, respectively, in 2007 and 2006, of valuation adjustments to our investments in unconsolidated entities in accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 18, The Equity Method of Accounting for Investments in Common Stock (APB 18).
The valuation adjustments recorded were calculated based on current market conditions and current assumptions made by management, which may differ materially from actual results if market conditions change.
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In February 2007, our LandSource joint venture admitted MW Housing Partners as a new strategic partner. As part of the transaction, the joint venture obtained $1.6 billion of non-recourse financing, which consisted of a $200 million five-year Revolving Credit Facility, a $1.1 billion six-year Term Loan B Facility and a $244 million seven-year Second Lien Term Facility. The transaction resulted in a cash distribution to us of $707.6 million. Our resulting ownership of LandSource is 16%. As a result of the recapitalization, we recognized a pretax gain of $175.9 million in 2007 and could potentially recognize additional profits in future years, in addition to profits from our continuing ownership interest.
For a number of years, we created and participated in joint ventures that acquired and developed land for our homebuilding operations, for sale to third parties or for use in their own homebuilding operations. Through these joint ventures, we reduced the amount we had to invest in order to assure access to potential future homesites, thereby mitigating risks associated with land acquisitions, and, in some instances, we obtained access to land to which we could not otherwise have obtained access or could not have obtained access on as favorable terms. Although these ventures served their initial intended purpose of risk mitigation, as the homebuilding market deteriorated in 2006 and 2007 and asset impairments resulted in loss of equity, some of our joint venture partners became financially unable or unwilling to fulfill their obligations. As a result, during 2007, we re-evaluated all of our joint venture arrangements, with particular focus on those ventures with recourse indebtedness, and began to reduce the number of joint ventures in which we were participating and the recourse indebtedness of those joint ventures. By November 30, 2007, we had reduced the number of joint ventures in which we were participating to approximately 210 joint ventures with net recourse exposure of $794.9 million, compared with approximately 260 joint ventures with net recourse exposure of $1.1 billion at November 30, 2006. In order to receive more favorable terms in the amendment of our credit agreement in January 2008, we included as part of the amendment an agreement to execute our business strategy of reducing the recourse indebtedness of joint ventures in which we participate by $300 million during our 2008 fiscal year and by an additional $200 million (for a total of $500 million) by the end of fiscal 2009. This reduction will increase the amount available for borrowing under the borrowing base provisions of the amendment.
Homebuilding Operations
Overview
We primarily sell single-family attached and detached homes, and to a lesser extent, multi-level residential buildings, in communities targeted to first-time, move-up and active adult homebuyers. The average sales price of a Lennar home was $297,000 in fiscal 2007, compared to $315,000 in fiscal 2006. We operate primarily under the Lennar brand name.
Through our own efforts and unconsolidated entities in which we have investments, we are involved in all phases of planning and building in our residential communities including land acquisition, site planning, preparation and improvement of land and design, construction and marketing of homes. We view unconsolidated entities as a means to both expand our market opportunities and manage our risks. For additional information about our investments in and relationships with unconsolidated entities, see Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Item 7 of this Report.
Management and Operating Structure
We balance a local operating structure with centralized corporate level management. Decisions related to our overall strategy, acquisitions of land and businesses, risk management, financing, cash management and information systems are centralized at the corporate level. Our local operating structure consists of divisions, which are managed by individuals who generally have significant experience in the homebuilding industry and, in most instances, in their particular markets. They are responsible for operating decisions regarding land identification, entitlement and development, the management of inventory levels for our current volume levels, community development, home design, construction and marketing our homes.
Diversified Program of Property Acquisition
We generally acquire land for development and for the construction of homes that we sell to homebuyers. Land is subject to specified underwriting criteria and is acquired through our diversified program of property acquisition consisting of the following:
| Acquiring land directly from individual land owners/developers or homebuilders; |
| Acquiring local or regional homebuilders that own, or have options to purchase, land in strategic markets; |
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| Acquiring land through option contracts, which generally enables us to control portions of properties owned by third parties (including land funds) and unconsolidated entities until we have determined whether to exercise the option; and |
| Acquiring parcels of land through joint ventures, primarily to reduce and share our risk, among other factors, by limiting the amount of our capital invested in land, while increasing our access to potential future homesites and allowing us to participate in strategic ventures. |
At November 30, 2007, we owned 62,801 homesites and had access through option contracts to an additional 85,870 homesites, of which 22,877 were through option contracts with third parties and 62,993 were through option contracts with unconsolidated entities in which we have investments. At November 30, 2006, we owned 92,325 homesites and had access through option contracts to an additional 189,279 homesites, of which 94,758 were through option contracts with third parties and 94,521 were through option contracts with unconsolidated entities in which we have investments.
Construction and Development
We generally supervise and control the development of land and the design and building of our residential communities with a relatively small labor force. We hire subcontractors for site improvements and virtually all of the work involved in the construction of homes. Generally, arrangements with our subcontractors provide that our subcontractors will complete specified work in accordance with price schedules and applicable building codes and laws. The price schedules may be subject to change to meet changes in labor and material costs or for other reasons. We believe that the sources and availability of raw materials to our subcontractors are adequate for our current and planned levels of operation. We generally do not own heavy construction equipment. We finance construction and land development activities primarily with cash generated from operations and public debt issuances, as well as cash borrowed under our revolving credit facility.
Marketing
We offer a diversified line of homes for first-time, move-up and active adult homebuyers. With homes priced from the $100,000s to above $1,000,000 and available in a variety of environments ranging from urban infill communities to golf course communities, we are focused on providing homes for a wide spectrum of buyers. Our marketing program simplifies the homebuying experience by including desirable features as standard items. This marketing program enables us to differentiate our homes from those of our competitors by creating value through standard upgrades and competitive pricing, while reducing construction and overhead costs through a simplified manufacturing process, product standardization and volume purchasing. We sell our homes primarily from models that we have designed and constructed.
We employ sales associates who are paid salaries, commissions or both to complete on-site sales of homes. We also sell homes through independent brokers. We advertise our communities in newspapers, radio advertisements and other local and regional publications, on billboards and on the Internet, including our website, www.lennar.com. In addition, we advertise our active adult communities in areas where prospective active adult homebuyers live.
We have participated in charitable down-payment assistance programs for a small percentage of our homebuyers. Through these programs, we make a donation to a non-profit organization that provides financial assistance to a homebuyer who would not otherwise have sufficient funds for a down payment.
Quality Service
We strive to continually improve homeowner customer satisfaction throughout the pre-sale, sale, construction, closing and post-closing periods. Through the participation of sales associates, on-site construction supervisors and customer care associates, all working in a team effort, we strive to create a quality homebuying experience for our customers, which we believe leads to enhanced customer retention and referrals.
The quality of our homes is substantially affected by the efforts of on-site management and others engaged in the construction process, by the materials we use in particular homes or by other similar factors. Currently, most management team members bonus plans are, in part, contingent upon achieving certain customer satisfaction standards.
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We warrant our new homes against defective materials and workmanship for a minimum period of one year after the date of closing. Although we subcontract virtually all segments of construction to others and our contracts call for the subcontractors to repair or replace any deficient items related to their trades, we are primarily responsible to the homebuyers for the correction of any deficiencies.
Deliveries
The table below indicates the number of deliveries for each of our homebuilding segments and Homebuilding Other during our last three fiscal years:
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||
East |
9,840 | 14,859 | 11,220 | |||
Central |
11,400 | 17,069 | 15,448 | |||
West |
8,739 | 13,333 | 11,731 | |||
Other |
3,304 | 4,307 | 3,960 | |||
Total |
33,283 | 49,568 | 42,359 | |||
Of the total home deliveries listed above, 1,701, 2,536 and 1,477, respectively, represent deliveries from unconsolidated entities for the years ended November 30, 2007, 2006 and 2005.
Backlog
Backlog represents the number of homes under sales contracts. Homes are sold using sales contracts, which are generally accompanied by sales deposits. In some instances, purchasers are permitted to cancel sales contracts if they fail to qualify for financing or under certain other circumstances. We experienced a cancellation rate of 30% in 2007, compared to 29% and 17%, respectively, in 2006 and 2005. Because we experienced a significant increase in our cancellation rate during 2007 and 2006, we focused significant effort on reselling these homes, which, in many instances, included the use of higher sales incentives, to avoid the build up of excess inventory. We do not recognize revenue on homes under sales contracts until the sales are closed and title passes to the new homeowners, except for our multi-level residential buildings under construction for which revenue was recognized under percentage-of-completion accounting.
The table below indicates the backlog dollar value for each of our homebuilding segments and Homebuilding Other as of the end of our last three fiscal years:
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||
(In thousands) | |||||||
East |
$ | 587,100 | 1,460,213 | 2,774,396 | |||
Central |
195,684 | 850,472 | 1,210,257 | ||||
West |
408,280 | 1,328,617 | 2,374,646 | ||||
Other |
193,073 | 341,126 | 524,939 | ||||
Total |
$ | 1,384,137 | 3,980,428 | 6,884,238 | |||
Of the dollar value of homes in backlog listed above, $182,664, $478,707 and $590,129, respectively, represent the backlog dollar value from unconsolidated entities at November 30, 2007, 2006 and 2005.
Financial Services Operations
Mortgage Financing
We provide a full spectrum of conforming conventional, jumbo, FHA-insured and VA-guaranteed residential mortgage loan products to our homebuyers and others through our financial services subsidiaries, Universal American Mortgage Company, LLC and Eagle Home Mortgage, LLC, located generally in the same states as our homebuilding operations as well as other states. In 2007, our financial services subsidiaries provided loans to 73% of our homebuyers who obtained mortgage financing in areas where we offered services. Because of the availability of mortgage loans from our financial services subsidiaries, as well as independent mortgage lenders, we believe most creditworthy purchasers of our homes have access to financing.
However, during 2007, the mortgage market experienced increased concern over rising default rates and tightening lending standards, which resulted in a significant decline in the availability of sub-prime loans (loans to persons with a FICO score under 620) and Alt A loans (loans to persons with less conventional documentation
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of their incomes or net worths and FICO score of 620 or higher). Consequently, there may be fewer buyers who qualify for financing on new and existing home purchases in the market. During both the fourth quarter of 2007 and the year ended November 30, 2007, approximately 2% of the loans our Financial Services segment made to our homebuyers were sub-prime loans. During the fourth quarter of 2007 and the year ended November 30, 2007, approximately 6% and 29%, respectively, of the loans our Financial Services segment made to our homebuyers were Alt A loans. The tightening of lending standards could lead to a further deterioration in the overall homebuilding market due to stricter credit standards, higher down payment requirements and additional documentation requirements. This deterioration could have an adverse impact on the number of homes we sell. In addition, to the extent that homeowners have used sub-prime or Alt A mortgages to finance the purchase of their homes and are later unable to refinance or maintain those loans, additional foreclosures and an oversupply of inventory may result. This could contribute to additional deterioration in the market and have an adverse impact on demand and the number of homes we sell.
During 2007, we originated approximately 30,900 mortgage loans totaling $7.7 billion, compared to 41,800 mortgage loans totaling $10.5 billion during 2006. Substantially all of the loans we originate are sold in the secondary mortgage market on a servicing released, non-recourse basis; although, we remain liable for certain limited representations. Therefore, we have little direct exposure related to the residential mortgages we sell.
We have a corporate risk management policy under which we hedge our interest rate risk on rate-locked loan commitments and loans held-for-sale to mitigate exposure to interest rate fluctuations. We finance our mortgage loan activities with borrowings under our financial services subsidiaries conduit and warehouse facilities or from our general corporate funds. However, the conduit facility matures in June 2008 ($600 million) and the warehouse facility matures in April 2008 ($425 million). Given our reduced volume of deliveries, our financing requirements have decreased. Therefore, we are working with several other lenders in case these facilities are not renewed.
Title Insurance and Closing Services
We provide title insurance and closing services as well as other ancillary services to our homebuyers and others. We provided title and closing services for approximately 136,300 real estate transactions, and issued approximately 146,200 title insurance policies through our underwriter, North American Title Insurance Company. Title and closing services are provided by agency subsidiaries in Arizona, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.
Communication Services
Lennar Communications provides cable television and high-speed Internet services to residents of our communities and others and oversees our interests and activities in relationships with providers of advanced communication services. At December 31, 2007, we had approximately 8,900 subscribers in Sacramento, California and Texas.
Seasonality
We have historically experienced variability in our results of operations from quarter-to-quarter due to the seasonal nature of the homebuilding business. Due to deteriorating market conditions, we are currently focusing our efforts, in all quarters, on inventory management in order to deliver inventory and generate cash.
Competition
The residential homebuilding industry is highly competitive. We compete for homebuyers in each of the market regions where we operate with numerous national, regional and local homebuilders, as well as with resales of existing homes and with the rental housing market. We compete for homebuyers on the basis of a number of interrelated factors including location, price, reputation, amenities, design, quality and financing. In addition to competition for homebuyers, we also compete with other homebuilders for desirable properties, raw materials and reliable, skilled labor. We compete for land buyers with third parties in our efforts to sell land to homebuilders and others. We believe we are competitive in the market regions where we operate primarily due to our:
| Balance sheet, where we continue to focus on inventory management and liquidity; |
| Access to land, particularly in land-constrained markets; and |
| Pricing to current market conditions through sales incentives offered to homebuyers. |
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Our financial services operations compete with other mortgage lenders, including national, regional and local mortgage bankers and brokers, banks, savings and loan associations and other financial institutions, in the origination and sale of mortgage loans. Principal competitive factors include interest rates and other features of mortgage loan products available to the consumer. We compete with other title insurance agencies and underwriters for closing services and title insurance. Principal competitive factors include service and price. We compete with other communication service providers in the sale of high-speed Internet and cable television services. Principal competitive factors include price, quality, service and availability.
Regulation
Homes and residential communities that we build must comply with state and local laws and regulations relating to, among other things, zoning, construction permits or entitlements, construction material requirements, density requirements, and requirements relating to building design and property elevation, building codes and handling of waste. These include laws requiring the use of construction materials that reduce the need for energy-consuming heating and cooling systems. These laws and regulations are subject to frequent change and often increase construction costs. In some instances, we must comply with laws that require commitments from us to provide roads and other offsite infrastructure to be in place prior to the commencement of new construction. These laws and regulations are usually administered by counties and municipalities and may result in fees and assessments or building moratoriums. In addition, certain new development projects are subject to assessments for schools, parks, streets and highways and other public improvements, the costs of which can be substantial.
The residential homebuilding industry is also subject to a variety of local, state and federal statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations concerning the protection of health and the environment. These environmental laws include such areas as storm water and surface water management, soil, groundwater and wetlands protection, subsurface conditions and air quality protection and enhancement. Environmental laws and existing conditions may result in delays, may cause us to incur substantial compliance and other costs and may prohibit or severely restrict homebuilding activity in environmentally sensitive regions or areas.
In recent years, several cities and counties in which we have developments have submitted to voters slow growth initiatives and other ballot measures that could impact the affordability and availability of land suitable for residential development within those localities. Although many of these initiatives have been defeated, we believe that if similar initiatives were approved, residential construction by us and others within certain cities or counties could be seriously impacted.
In order to make it possible for some of our homebuyers to obtain FHA-insured or VA-guaranteed mortgages, we must construct the homes they buy in compliance with regulations promulgated by those agencies.
Various states have statutory disclosure requirements relating to the marketing and sale of new homes. These disclosure requirements vary widely from state-to-state. In addition, some states require that each new home be registered with the state at or before the time title is transferred to a buyer (e.g., the Texas Residential Construction Commission Act).
In some states, we are required to be registered as a licensed contractor and comply with applicable rules and regulations. In various states, our new home consultants are required to be registered as licensed real estate agents and to adhere to the laws governing the practices of real estate agents.
Our mortgage and title subsidiaries must comply with applicable real estate laws and regulations. The subsidiaries are licensed in the states in which they do business and must comply with laws and regulations in those states. These laws and regulations include provisions regarding capitalization, operating procedures, investments, lending and privacy disclosures, forms of policies and premiums.
Our cable subsidiary is generally required to both secure a franchise agreement with each locality in which it operates and to satisfy requirements of the Federal Communications Commission in the ordinary conduct of its business.
A subsidiary of The Newhall Land and Farming Company, of which we currently, indirectly own 16%, provides water to a portion of Los Angeles County, California. This subsidiary is subject to extensive regulation by the California Public Utilities Commission.
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Employees
At January 11, 2008, we employed 6,934 individuals of whom 4,506 were involved in our homebuilding operations and 2,428 were involved in our financial services operations, compared to November 30, 2006, when we employed 13,000 individuals of whom 9,359 were involved in our homebuilding operations and 3,641 were involved in our financial services operations. We do not have collective bargaining agreements relating to any of our employees. However, we subcontract many phases of our homebuilding operations and some of the subcontractors we use have employees who are represented by labor unions.
Relationship with LNR Property Corporation
In 1997, we transferred our commercial real estate investment and management business to LNR Property Corporation (LNR), and spun-off LNR to our stockholders. As a result, LNR became a publicly-traded company, and the family of Stuart A. Miller, our President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director, which had voting control of us, became the controlling shareholder of LNR.
Since the spin-off, we have entered into a number of joint ventures and other transactions with LNR. Many of the joint ventures were formed to acquire and develop land, part of which was subsequently sold to us or other homebuilders for residential building and part of which was subsequently sold to LNR for commercial development. For a number of years after the spin-off, LNR was controlled by Mr. Miller and his family; thus, all significant transactions we or our subsidiaries engaged in with LNR or entities in which it had an interest were reviewed and approved by the Independent Directors Committee of our Board of Directors.
In January 2004, a company of which we and LNR each owned 50% acquired The Newhall Land and Farming Company (Newhall) for approximately $1 billion, including $200 million we contributed and $200 million that LNR contributed (the remainder came from borrowings and sales of properties to LNR). Subsequently, we and LNR each transferred our interests in most of our joint ventures to the jointly-owned company that had acquired Newhall, and that company was renamed LandSource Communities Development LLC (LandSource). At November 30, 2007, Newhall owned approximately 35,000 acres in California.
In February 2005, LNR was acquired by a privately-owned entity. Although Mr. Millers family acquired a 20.4% financial interest in that privately-owned entity, this interest is non-voting and neither Mr. Miller nor anybody else in his family is an officer or director, or otherwise is involved in the management, of LNR or its parent. Nonetheless, because the Miller family has a 20.4% financial, non-voting, interest in LNRs parent, significant transactions with LNR or entities in which it has an interest are still reviewed and approved by the Independent Directors Committee of our Board of Directors.
In February 2007, LandSource admitted MW Housing Partners as a new strategic partner. As part of the transaction, the joint venture obtained $1.6 billion of non-recourse financing, which consisted of a $200 million five-year Revolving Credit Facility, a $1.1 billion six-year Term Loan B Facility and a $244 million seven-year Second Lien Term Facility. The transaction resulted in a cash distribution to us of $707.6 million. Our resulting ownership of LandSource is 16%. As a result of the recapitalization, we recognized a pretax gain of $175.9 million in 2007 and could potentially recognize additional profits in future years, in addition to profits from our continuing ownership interest.
NYSE Certification
We submitted our 2006 Annual CEO Certification to the New York Stock Exchange on April 11, 2007. The certification was not qualified in any respect.
Available Information
Our corporate website is www.lennar.com. We make available on our website, free of charge, our Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to these reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file these documents with, or furnish them to, the Securities and Exchange Commission. Information on our website is not part of this document.
Our website also includes printable versions of our Corporate Governance Guidelines, our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and the charters for each of our Audit, Compensation and Nominating and Corporate
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Governance Committees of our Board of Directors. Each of these documents is also available in print to any stockholder who requests a copy by addressing a request to:
Lennar Corporation
Attention: Office of the General Counsel
700 Northwest 107th Avenue
Miami, Florida 33172
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
The following risks may cause a material adverse effect upon our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, strategies and prospects.
Homebuilding Market and Economic Risks
The homebuilding industry is in the midst of a significant downturn. A continuing decline in demand for new homes coupled with an increase in the inventory of available new homes and alternatives to new homes could adversely affect our sales volume and pricing even more than has occurred to date.
The homebuilding industry is in the midst of a significant downturn. As a result, we have experienced a significant decline in demand for newly built homes in almost all of our markets. Homebuilders inventories of unsold new homes have increased as a result of increased cancellation rates on pending contracts as new homebuyers sometimes find it more advantageous to forfeit a deposit than to complete the purchase of the home. In addition, an oversupply of alternatives to new homes, such as rental properties and used homes, has depressed prices and reduced margins. This combination of lower demand and higher inventories affects both the number of homes we can sell and the prices at which we can sell them. For example, in 2007 we experienced a significant decline in our sales results, significant reductions in our margins as a result of higher levels of sales incentives and price concessions, and a higher than normal cancellation rate. We have no basis for predicting how long demand and supply will remain out of balance in markets where we operate or whether, even if demand and supply come back in balance, sales volumes or pricing will return to prior levels.
Demand for new homes is sensitive to economic conditions over which we have no control, such as the availability of mortgage financing.
Demand for homes is sensitive to changes in economic conditions such as the level of employment, consumer confidence, consumer income, the availability of financing and interest rate levels. During 2007, the mortgage lending industry experienced significant instability. As a result of increased default rates, particularly (but not entirely) with regard to sub-prime and other non-conforming loans, many lenders have reduced their willingness to make, and tightened their credit requirements with regard to, residential mortgage loans. Fewer loan products and stricter loan qualification standards have made it more difficult for some borrowers to finance the purchase of our homes. Although our finance company subsidiaries offer mortgage loans to potential buyers of most of the homes we build, we may no longer be able to offer financing terms that are attractive to our potential buyers. Unavailability of mortgage financing at acceptable rates reduces demand for the homes we build, including in some instances causing potential buyers to cancel contracts they have signed.
Increasing interest rates could cause defaults for homebuyers who financed homes using non-traditional financing products, which could increase the number of homes available for resale.
During the period of high demand in the homebuilding industry prior to 2006, many homebuyers financed their purchases using non-traditional adjustable rate or interest only mortgages or other mortgages, including sub-prime mortgages, that involved at least during initial years, monthly payments that were significantly lower than those required by conventional fixed rate mortgages. As a result, new homes became more affordable. However, as monthly payments for these homes increase either as a result of increasing adjustable interest rates or as a result of principal payments coming due, some of these homebuyers could default on their payments and have their homes foreclosed, which would increase the inventory of homes available for resale. Foreclosure sales and other distress sales may result in further declines in market prices for homes. In an environment of declining prices, many homebuyers may delay purchases of homes in anticipation of lower prices in the future. In addition, as lenders perceive deterioration in credit quality among homebuyers, lenders have been eliminating some of the available non-traditional and sub-prime financing products and increasing the qualifications needed for mortgages or adjusting their terms to address increased credit risk. In general, to the extent mortgage rates increase or lenders make it more difficult for prospective buyers to finance home purchases, it becomes more difficult or costly for customers to purchase our homes, which has an adverse affect on our sales volume.
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Land prices can be extremely volatile and our business requires that we invest in land positions well in advance of sales of finished homes on land we have acquired. We have had to take significant write-downs of the carrying values of the land we own and in investments in unconsolidated entities, and a continuing decline in land values could result in additional write-downs.
Some of the land we currently own was purchased at high prices. Also, we obtained options to purchase land at prices that no longer are attractive, and in connection with those options we made non-refundable deposits and, in some instances, agreed to incur pre-acquisition land development costs. When demand fell, we were required to take substantial write-downs of the carrying value of our land inventory and we elected not to exercise high price options, even though that required us to forfeit deposits and write-off pre-acquisition land development costs.
Additionally, as a result of these market conditions, we recorded significant valuation adjustments relating to our investments in unconsolidated entities. A majority of the valuation adjustments related to SFAS 144 valuation adjustments on assets of our unconsolidated entities. Furthermore, we recorded valuation adjustments to our investments in unconsolidated entities in accordance with APB 18.
The combination of land value write-downs and forfeitures in addition to valuation adjustments relating to our investments in unconsolidated entities had a material negative effect on our operating results for fiscal 2006 and 2007, resulting in a loss for fiscal 2007. If market conditions continue to deteriorate, some of our assets may be subject to further write-downs in the future, decreasing the assets reflected on our balance sheet and adversely affecting our stockholders equity.
Inflation can adversely affect us, particularly in a period of declining home sale prices.
Inflation can have a long-term impact on us because increasing costs of land, materials and labor require us to attempt to increase the sale prices of homes in order to maintain satisfactory margins. Although an excess of supply over demand for new homes, such as the one we are currently experiencing, requires that we reduce prices, rather than increasing them, it does not necessarily result in reductions, or prevent increases, in the costs of materials and labor. Under those circumstances, the effect of cost increases is to reduce the margins on the homes we sell. That makes it more difficult for us to recover the full cost of previously purchased land, and has contributed to the significant reductions in the value of our land inventory.
We face significant competition in our efforts to sell homes.
The homebuilding industry is highly competitive. We compete in each of our markets with numerous national, regional and local homebuilders. This competition with other homebuilders could reduce the number of homes we deliver or cause us to accept reduced margins in order to maintain sales volume.
We also compete with the resale of existing homes, including foreclosed homes, sales by housing speculators and available rental housing. As demand for homes has slowed, competition, including competition with homes purchased for speculation rather than as places to live, has created increased downward pressure on the prices at which we are able to sell homes, as well as upon the number of homes we can sell.
Operational Risks
Homebuilding is subject to warranty and liability claims in the ordinary course of business that can be significant.
As a homebuilder, we are subject to home warranty and construction defect claims arising in the ordinary course of business. We are also subject to liability claims arising in the course of construction activities. We record warranty and other reserves for the homes we sell based on historical experience in our markets and our judgment of the qualitative risks associated with the types of homes we built. We have, and many of our subcontractors have, general liability, property, errors and omissions, workers compensation and other business insurance. These insurance policies protect us against a portion of our risk of loss from claims, subject to certain self-insured retentions, deductibles and other coverage limits. However, because of the uncertainties inherent in these matters, we cannot provide assurance that our insurance coverage or our subcontractors insurance and financial resources will be adequate to address all warranty, construction defect and liability claims in the future. Additionally, the coverage offered and the availability of general liability insurance for construction defects are currently limited and costly. As a result, an increasing number of our subcontractors are unable to obtain insurance, and we have in many cases waived our customary insurance requirements. There can be no assurance that coverage will not be further restricted and become even more costly.
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Natural disasters and severe weather conditions could delay deliveries, increase costs and decrease demand for new homes in affected areas.
Many of our homebuilding operations are conducted in areas that are subject to natural disasters and severe weather. The occurrence of natural disasters or severe weather conditions can delay new home deliveries, increase costs by damaging inventories and negatively impact the demand for new homes in affected areas. Furthermore, if our insurance does not fully cover business interruptions or losses resulting from these events, our results of operations, liquidity or capital resources could be adversely affected.
Supply shortages and other risks related to the demand for skilled labor and building materials could increase costs and delay deliveries.
Increased costs or shortages of skilled labor and/or lumber, framing, concrete, steel and other building materials could cause increases in construction costs and construction delays. We generally are unable to pass on increases in construction costs to customers who have already entered into sales contracts, as those sales contracts generally fix the price of the homes at the time the contracts are signed, which may be well in advance of the construction of the home. Sustained increases in construction costs may, over time, erode our margins, particularly if pricing competition restricts our ability to pass on any additional costs of materials or labor, thereby decreasing our margins.
Reduced numbers of home sales force us to absorb additional costs.
We incur many costs even before we begin to build homes in a community. These include costs of preparing land and installing roads, sewage and other utilities, as well as taxes and other costs related to ownership of the land on which we plan to build homes. Reducing the rate at which we build homes extends the length of time it takes us to recover these costs. Also, we frequently acquire options to purchase land and make deposits that will be forfeited if we do not exercise the options within specified periods. Because of current market conditions, we have had to terminate a number of these options, resulting in significant forfeitures of deposits we made with regard to the options.
If our financial performance further declines, we may not be able to maintain compliance with the covenants in our credit facilities and senior debt securities.
Our credit facility imposes certain restrictions on our operations. The most significant restrictions relate to debt incurrence, sales of assets, cash distributions and investments by us and certain of our subsidiaries. In addition, our credit facility requires compliance with certain financial covenants, including a minimum adjusted consolidated tangible net worth requirement and a maximum permitted leverage ratio. Also, because we currently do not have investment grade debt ratings, we can only borrow up to specified percentages of the book values of various types of our assets, referred to in the credit agreement as our borrowing base. Our operating results and the asset write-downs we recorded during fiscal 2007 caused our tangible net worth to be below the minimum required by the credit agreement and caused our borrowing base to be below the level necessary for us to borrow the full amount we expect to need for our operations. In January 2008, we completed an amendment to the credit facility that modified the minimum adjusted consolidated tangible net worth requirement and restructured the borrowing base, effective as of November 30, 2007. Under this amendment, the commitment was reduced to $1.5 billion. The amendment limits the amount of permissible joint venture recourse obligations, requiring that those obligations be reduced quarterly through the end of our 2009 fiscal year. Failure to reduce such obligations in accordance with the agreed-upon schedule would constitute a violation of the terms of the amended credit facility.
While $1.5 billion of borrowing capacity should be sufficient in the current depressed market, if markets strengthen, we might have to seek increased borrowing capacity.
While we currently are in compliance with the financial covenants in the amended credit agreement, if we had to record significant impairments in the future, they could cause us to fail to comply even with the amended credit agreement debt covenants. In addition, if we default in the payment or performance of certain obligations relating to the debt of unconsolidated entities above a specified threshold amount, we would be in default under the amended credit agreement. Either of those events would give the lenders the right to cause any amounts we owe under that credit facility to become immediately due. If we were unable to repay the borrowings when they became due, that could entitle the holders of $2.2 billion of debt securities we have sold into the capital markets to cause the sums evidenced by those debt securities to become due immediately. We would not be able to repay those amounts without selling substantial assets, which we might have to do at prices well below the fair values, and the carrying values, of the assets.
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Failure to comply with the minimum adjusted consolidated tangible net worth requirement in our credit facility is also a default under the $600 million conduit facility of our Financial Services segment. If recording significant impairments in the future caused us not to comply with the minimum adjusted consolidated tangible net worth covenant in our credit facility, the lender under the $600 million conduit facility would have the right to terminate that conduit facility and cause any amounts we owe under the conduit facility to become due immediately. If we were unable to pay those borrowings when they become due, that could entitle holders of the debt securities we have sold into the capital markets to cause the sums evidenced by those debt securities to become due immediately.
We may be unable to obtain suitable financing and bonding for the development of our communities.
Our business depends upon our ability to obtain financing for the development of our residential communities and to provide bonds to ensure the completion of our projects. We currently use our credit facility to provide some of the financing we need. In addition, we have from time-to-time raised funds by selling debt securities into public and private capital markets. As is noted above, a recent amendment to our credit agreement reduced the commitment from $3.1 billion to $1.5 billion. The willingness of lenders to make funds available to us has been affected both by factors relating to us as a borrower, and by a decrease in the willingness of banks and other lenders to lend to homebuilders generally. If we were unable to finance the development of our communities through our credit facility or other debt, or if we were unable to provide required surety bonds for our projects, our business operations and revenues could suffer materially.
Our ability to continue to grow our business and operations in a profitable manner depends to a significant extent upon our ability to access capital on favorable terms.
Our ability to access capital on favorable terms has been an important factor in growing our business and operations in a profitable manner. Recently, each of the principal credit rating agencies lowered our credit rating, which will make it more difficult and costly for us to access the debt capital markets for funds we may require in order to implement our business plans and achieve our growth objectives. If we are subject to a further downgrade, it would exacerbate such difficulties.
The credit facilities of our Financial Services segment will expire in 2008.
Our Financial Services segment has a conduit and warehouse facility totaling $1.0 billion, recently reduced from $1.1 billion in order to obtain a waiver of a financial covenant. It uses those facilities to finance its lending activities until it accumulates sufficient mortgage loans to be able to sell them into the capital markets. The lines of credit consist of a conduit facility, that matures in June 2008 ($600 million) and a warehouse facility that matures in April 2008 ($425 million). In the past, we have been able to obtain renewals of these facilities at the times of their maturities. If we are unable to renew or replace these facilities when they mature in April and June 2008, it could seriously impede the activities of our Financial Services segment. The risk of inability to renew or replace these facilities may be more significant if, as currently is the case, capital market participants are reluctant to purchase securities backed by residential mortgages.
Our competitive position could suffer if we were unable to take advantage of acquisition opportunities.
Our growth strategy depends in part on our ability to identify and purchase suitable acquisition candidates, as well as our ability to successfully integrate acquired operations into our business. Given current market conditions, executing this strategy by identifying opportunities to purchase at favorable prices companies that are having problems contending with the current difficult homebuilding environment may be particularly important. Not properly executing this strategy could put us at a disadvantage in our efforts to compete with other major homebuilders who are able to take advantage of such favorable acquisition opportunities.
We may not be able to utilize all of our deferred tax assets.
We currently believe that we are likely to have sufficient taxable income in the future to realize the benefit of all of our deferred tax assets (consisting primarily of valuation adjustments, reserves and accruals that are not currently deductible for tax purposes, as well as operating loss carryforwards from losses we incurred during fiscal 2007). However, some or all of these deferred tax assets could expire unused if we are unable to generate sufficient taxable income in the future to take advantage of them or we enter into transactions that limit our right to use them. If it became more likely than not that deferred tax assets would expire unused, we would have to create a valuation allowance to reflect this fact, which could materially increase our income tax expense, and therefore adversely affect our results of operations and tangible net worth in the period in which it is recorded.
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We might have difficulty integrating acquired companies into our operations.
The integration of operations of acquired companies with our operations, including the consolidation of systems, procedures, personnel and facilities, the relocation of staff, and the achievement of anticipated cost savings, economies of scale and other business efficiencies, presents significant challenges to our management, particularly if several acquisitions occur at the same time.
We conduct certain of our operations through unconsolidated joint ventures with independent third parties in which we do not have a controlling interest and we can be adversely impacted by joint venture partners failure to fulfill their obligations.
For a number of years, we created and participated in joint ventures that acquired and developed land for our homebuilding operations, for sale to third parties or for use in their own homebuilding operations. Through these joint ventures, we reduced the amount we had to invest in order to assure access to potential future homesites, and, in some instances, we obtained access to land to which we could not otherwise have obtained access or could not have obtained access on as favorable terms. However, as the homebuilding market deteriorated in 2006 and 2007, many of our joint venture partners became financially unable or unwilling to fulfill their obligations.
Most joint ventures borrowed money to help finance their activities, and although recourse on the loans was generally limited to the joint ventures and their properties, frequently we and our joint venture partners were required to provide maintenance guarantees (guarantees that the values of the joint ventures assets would be at least specified percentages of their borrowings) or limited repayment guarantees.
Our joint venture strategy depends in large part on the ability of our joint venture partners to perform their obligations under our agreements with them. If a joint venture partner does not perform its obligations, we may be required to make significant financial expenditures or otherwise undertake the performance of obligations not satisfied by our partner at significant cost to us. Also, when we have guaranteed joint venture obligations, we have been given the right to be reimbursed by our joint venture partners for any amounts by which we pay more than our pro rata share of the joint ventures obligations. However, particularly if our joint venture partners are having financial problems, we may have difficulty collecting the sums they owe us, and therefore, we may be required to pay a disproportionately large portion of the guaranteed amounts. In addition, because we lack a controlling interest in these joint ventures, we are usually unable to require that they sell assets, return invested capital or take any other action without the consent of at least one of our joint venture partners. As a result, without joint venture partner consent, we may be unable to liquidate our joint venture investments to generate cash. Even if we are able to liquidate joint venture investments, the amounts received upon liquidation may be insufficient to cover the costs we have incurred in satisfying joint venture obligations.
During 2007, we began to reduce the number of joint ventures in which we participate and the recourse indebtedness of such joint ventures. However, the risks to us from joint ventures in which we are a participant are likely to continue at least as long as the value of residential properties continues to decline.
The unconsolidated entities in which we have investments may not be able to modify the terms of their debt arrangements.
Some of the unconsolidated entities debt arrangements contain certain financial covenants. Additionally, certain joint venture loan agreements have minimum number of homesite takedown requirements in which the joint ventures are required to sell a minimum amount of homesites over a stated amount of time. Due to the deterioration of the homebuilding market, we are generally in the process of repaying, refinancing, renegotiating or extending our joint venture loans. This action may be required, for example, in the case of an expired maturity date or a failure to comply with the loans covenants. There can be no assurance that we will be able to successfully finance, refinance, renegotiate or extend, on terms we deem acceptable, all of the joint venture loans that we are currently in the process of negotiating. If we were unsuccessful in these efforts, we could be required to repay one or more of these loans.
We could be adversely impacted by the loss of key management personnel.
Our future success depends, to a significant degree, on the efforts of our senior management. Our operations could be adversely affected if key members of senior management cease to be active in our company. As a result of a decline in our stock price, previous retention mechanisms, such as equity awards, have diminished in value.
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If our ability to resell mortgages to investors is impaired, we may be required to broker loans or fund them ourselves.
We sell substantially all of the loans we originate within a short period in the secondary mortgage market on a servicing released, non-recourse basis; although, we remain liable for certain limited representations and warranties related to loan sales. If there is a decline in the secondary mortgage market, our ability to sell mortgages could be adversely impacted and we could be required to fund our commitments to our buyers with our own financial resources or require our buyers to find other sources of financing.
Our Financial Services segment could be adversely affected by reduced demand for our homes.
A majority of the mortgage loans made by our Financial Services segment are made to buyers of homes we build. Therefore, a decrease in the demand for our homes adversely affects the financial results of this segment of our business.
We may not be able to acquire land suitable for residential homebuilding at reasonable prices, which could increase our costs and reduce our revenues, earnings and margins.
Our long-term ability to build homes depends upon our acquiring land suitable for residential building at reasonable prices in locations where we want to build. For a number of years, we experienced an increase in competition for suitable land as a result of land constraints in many of our markets. That increased the price we had to pay to acquire land. Then, when demand for new homes began to drop beginning in 2006, we started to reduce our land inventory to bring it in line with the reduced rate at which we were absorbing land into our operations. While the current low demand for new single family homes is making it possible to purchase land at prices far below those we were required to pay prior to 2006, in the long term, competition for suitable land is likely to increase again, and as available land is developed, the cost of acquiring additional suitable land could rise, and in some areas suitable land may not be available at reasonable prices. Any land shortages or any decrease in the supply of suitable land at reasonable prices could limit our ability to develop new communities or result in increased land costs that we are not able to pass through to our customers. This could adversely impact our revenues, earnings and margins.
Regulatory Risks
Federal laws and regulations that adversely affect liquidity in the secondary mortgage market could hurt our business.
Recent federal laws and regulations could have the effect of curtailing the activities of the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac). These organizations provide significant liquidity to the secondary mortgage market. Any curtailment of their activities could increase mortgage interest rates and increase the effective cost of our homes, which could reduce demand for our homes and adversely affect our results of operations.
Government entities in regions where we operate have adopted or may adopt, slow or no growth initiatives, which could adversely affect our ability to build or timely build in these areas.
Some state and local governments in areas where we operate have approved, and others where we operate may approve, various slow growth or no growth homebuilding initiatives and other ballot measures that could negatively impact the availability of land and building opportunities within those jurisdictions. Approval of slow growth, no growth or similar initiatives (including the effect of these initiatives on existing entitlements and zoning) could adversely affect our ability to build or timely build and sell homes in the affected markets and/or create additional administrative and regulatory requirements and costs, which, in turn, could have an adverse effect on our future revenues and earnings.
Compliance with federal, state and local regulations related to our business could create substantial costs both in time and money, and some regulations could prohibit or restrict some homebuilding ventures.
We are subject to extensive and complex laws and regulations that affect the land development and homebuilding process, including laws and regulations related to zoning, permitted land uses, levels of density, building design, elevation of properties, water and waste disposal and use of open spaces. In addition, we are subject to laws and regulations related to workers health and safety. We also are subject to a variety of local, state and federal laws and regulations concerning the protection of health and the environment. In some of the markets where we operate, we are required to pay environmental impact fees, use energy-saving construction
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materials and give commitments to municipalities to provide certain infrastructure such as roads and sewage systems. We generally are required to obtain permits, entitlements and approvals from local authorities to commence and carry out residential development or home construction. Such permits, entitlements and approvals may, from time-to-time, be opposed or challenged by local governments, neighboring property owners or other interested parties, adding delays, costs and risks of non-approval to the process. Our obligation to comply with the laws and regulations under which we operate, and our obligation to ensure that our employees, subcontractors and other agents comply with these laws and regulations, could result in delays in construction and land development, cause us to incur substantial costs and prohibit or restrict land development and homebuilding activity in certain areas in which we operate.
Tax law changes could make home ownership more expensive or less attractive.
Significant expenses of owning a home, including mortgage interest expense and real estate taxes, generally are deductible expenses for the purpose of calculating an individuals federal, and in some cases state, taxable income, subject to various limitations under current tax law and policy. If the government were to make changes to income tax laws that eliminate or substantially reduce these income tax deductions, then the after-tax cost of owning a new home would increase substantially. This could adversely impact demand for, and/or sales prices of, new homes.
Other Risks
We have a stockholder who can exercise significant influence over matters that are brought to a vote of our stockholders.
Stuart A. Miller, our President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director, has voting control, through personal holdings and family-owned entities, of Class A and Class B common stock that enables Mr. Miller to cast approximately 49% of the votes that may be cast by the holders of our outstanding Class A and Class B common stock combined. That effectively gives Mr. Miller the power to control the election of our directors and the approval of matters that are presented to our stockholders. Mr. Millers voting power might discourage someone from acquiring us or from making a significant equity investment in us, even if we needed the investment to meet our obligations and to operate our business. Also, because of his voting power, Mr. Miller may be able to authorize actions in matters that are contrary to our other stockholders desires.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
Not applicable.
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Executive Officers of Lennar Corporation
The following individuals are our executive officers as of January 29, 2008:
Name |
Position |
Age | ||
Stuart A. Miller |
President and Chief Executive Officer | 50 | ||
Jonathan M. Jaffe |
Vice President and Chief Operating Officer | 48 | ||
Richard Beckwitt |
Executive Vice President | 48 | ||
Bruce E. Gross |
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | 49 | ||
Diane J. Bessette |
Vice President and Controller | 47 | ||
Mark Sustana |
Secretary and General Counsel | 46 |
Mr. Miller has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer since 1997 and is one of our Directors. Before 1997, Mr. Miller held various executive positions with us.
Mr. Jaffe has served as Vice President since 1994 and has served as our Chief Operating Officer since December 2004. Before that time, Mr. Jaffe served as a Regional President in our Homebuilding operations. Additionally, prior to his appointment as Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Jaffe was one of our Directors from 1997 through June 2004.
Mr. Beckwitt has served as our Executive Vice President since March 2006. In this position, Mr. Beckwitt is involved in all operational aspects of our company. Mr. Beckwitt served on the Board of Directors of D.R. Horton, Inc. from 1993 to November 2003. From 1993 to March 2000, he held various executive officer positions at D.R. Horton, including President of the company.
Mr. Gross has served as Vice President and our Chief Financial Officer since 1997. Before that, Mr. Gross was Senior Vice President, Controller and Treasurer of Pacific Greystone Corporation.
Ms. Bessette joined us in 1995 and has served as our Controller since 1997. She was appointed a Vice President in 2000.
Mr. Sustana has served as our Secretary and General Counsel since 2005. Before joining Lennar, Mr. Sustana held various legal positions at GenTek, Inc., a manufacturer of communication products, industrial components and performance chemicals.
Item 2. Properties.
We lease and maintain our executive offices in an office complex in Miami, Florida. Our homebuilding and financial services offices are located in the markets where we conduct business, primarily in leased space. We believe that our existing facilities are adequate for our current and planned levels of operation.
Because of the nature of our homebuilding operations, significant amounts of property are held as inventory in the ordinary course of our homebuilding business. We discuss these properties in the discussion of our homebuilding operations in Item 1 of this Report.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
We are party to various claims and lawsuits which arise in the ordinary course of business. Although the specific allegations in the lawsuits differ, they most commonly involve claims that we failed to construct homes in particular communities in accordance with plans and specifications or applicable construction codes and seek reimbursement for sums allegedly needed to remedy the alleged deficiencies, assert contract issues or relate to personal injuries. Lawsuits of these types are common within the homebuilding industry. We do not believe that the ultimate resolution of these claims or lawsuits will have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations or cash flows. From time-to-time, we also receive notices from environmental agencies regarding alleged violations of environmental laws. We typically settle these matters before they reach litigation for amounts that are not material to us.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
Not applicable.
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PART II
Item 5. | Market for Registrants Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities. |
Our Class A and Class B common stock are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols LEN and LEN.B, respectively. The following table shows the high and low sales prices for our Class A and Class B common stock for the periods indicated, as reported by the NYSE, and cash dividends declared per share:
Class A Common Stock High/Low Prices |
Cash Dividends Per Class A Share |
|||||||||||
Fiscal Quarter |
2007 | 2006 | 2007 | 2006 | ||||||||
First |
$ | 56.54 48.33 | $ | 66.44 55.23 | 16 | ¢ | 16 | ¢ | ||||
Second |
$ | 49.90 40.65 | $ | 62.38 47.30 | 16 | ¢ | 16 | ¢ | ||||
Third |
$ | 45.90 26.92 | $ | 49.10 38.66 | 16 | ¢ | 16 | ¢ | ||||
Fourth |
$ | 28.96 14.00 | $ | 53.00 41.79 | 16 | ¢ | 16 | ¢ | ||||
Class B Common Stock High/Low Prices |
Cash Dividends Per Class B Share |
|||||||||||
Fiscal Quarter |
2007 | 2006 | 2007 | 2006 | ||||||||
First |
$ | 52.42 45.27 | $ | 61.26 50.99 | 16 | ¢ | 16 | ¢ | ||||
Second |
$ | 46.44 38.35 | $ | 57.55 43.71 | 16 | ¢ | 16 | ¢ | ||||
Third |
$ | 42.53 25.61 | $ | 45.09 35.93 | 16 | ¢ | 16 | ¢ | ||||
Fourth |
$ | 27.39 13.00 | $ | 48.97 39.25 | 16 | ¢ | 16 | ¢ |
As of December 31, 2007, the last reported sale price of our Class A common stock was $17.89 and the last reported sale price of our Class B common stock was $16.60. As of December 31, 2007, there were approximately 1,100 and 800 holders of record, respectively, of our Class A and Class B common stock.
On January 28, 2008, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.16 per share for both our Class A and Class B common stock, which is payable on February 19, 2008 to holders of record at the close of business on February 8, 2008. We regularly pay quarterly dividends as set forth in the table above. We regularly evaluate with our Board of Directors the decision to declare a dividend and the amount of the dividend.
In June 2001, our Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program to permit future purchases of up to 20 million shares of our outstanding common stock. During the three months ended November 30, 2007, there were no shares repurchased under this program.
The information required by Item 201(d) of Regulation S-K is provided under Item 12 of this document.
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Performance Graph
The following graph compares the five-year cumulative total return of our Class A common stock with the Dow Jones U.S. Home Construction Index and the Dow Jones U.S. Total Market Index. The graph assumes $100 invested on November 30, 2002 in our Class A common stock, the Dow Jones U.S. Home Construction Index and the Dow Jones U.S. Total Market Index, and the reinvestment of all dividends. Because of our dividend of Class B common stock in April 2003, our returns for the fiscal years ended November 30, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004 and 2003 are based on the sales price of one share of our Class A common stock and one-tenth of the sale price of one share of our Class B common stock.
2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | ||||||||
Lennar Corporation |
$ | 100 | 203 | 188 | 244 | 225 | 68 | ||||||
Dow Jones U.S. Home Construction Index |
$ | 100 | 195 | 222 | 299 | 238 | 100 | ||||||
Dow Jones U.S. Total Market Index |
$ | 100 | 118 | 133 | 147 | 168 | 181 |
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Item 6. | Selected Financial Data. |
The following table sets forth our selected consolidated financial and operating information as of or for each of the years ended November 30, 2003 through 2007. The information presented below is based upon our historical financial statements, except for the results of operations of a subsidiary of the Financial Services segments title company that was sold in May 2005, which have been classified as discontinued operations. Share and per share amounts have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the effect of our January 2004 two-for-one stock split.
At or for the Years Ended November 30, | ||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 (1) | 2003 (1) | ||||||||
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) | ||||||||||||
Results of Operations: |
||||||||||||
Revenues: |
||||||||||||
Homebuilding |
$ | 9,730,252 | 15,623,040 | 13,304,599 | 10,000,632 | 8,348,645 | ||||||
Financial services |
$ | 456,529 | 643,622 | 562,372 | 500,336 | 556,581 | ||||||
Total revenues |
$ | 10,186,781 | 16,266,662 | 13,866,971 | 10,500,968 | 8,905,226 | ||||||
Operating earnings (loss) from continuing operations: |
||||||||||||
Homebuilding (2) |
$ | (2,913,999 | ) | 986,153 | 2,277,091 | 1,548,488 | 1,164,089 | |||||
Financial services |
$ | 6,120 | 149,803 | 104,768 | 110,731 | 153,719 | ||||||
Corporate general and administrative expenses |
$ | 173,202 | 193,307 | 187,257 | 141,722 | 111,488 | ||||||
Loss on redemption of 9.95% senior notes |
$ | | | 34,908 | | | ||||||
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before provision (benefit) for income taxes |
$ | (3,081,081 | ) | 942,649 | 2,159,694 | 1,517,497 | 1,206,320 | |||||
Earnings from discontinued operations before provision for income taxes (3) |
$ | | | 17,261 | 1,570 | 734 | ||||||
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations |
$ | (1,941,081 | ) | 593,869 | 1,344,410 | 944,642 | 750,934 | |||||
Earnings from discontinued operations |
$ | | | 10,745 | 977 | 457 | ||||||
Net earnings (loss) |
$ | (1,941,081 | ) | 593,869 | 1,355,155 | 945,619 | 751,391 | |||||
Diluted earnings (loss) per share: |
||||||||||||
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations |
$ | (12.31 | ) | 3.69 | 8.17 | 5.70 | 4.65 | |||||
Earnings from discontinued operations |
$ | | | 0.06 | | | ||||||
Net earnings (loss) |
$ | (12.31 | ) | 3.69 | 8.23 | 5.70 | 4.65 | |||||
Cash dividends declared per shareClass A common stock |
$ | 0.64 | 0.64 | 0.573 | 0.513 | 0.144 | ||||||
Cash dividends declared per shareClass B common stock |
$ | 0.64 | 0.64 | 0.573 | 0.513 | 0.143 | ||||||
Financial Position: |
||||||||||||
Total assets (4) |
$ | 9,102,747 | 12,408,266 | 12,541,225 | 9,165,280 | 6,775,432 | ||||||
Debt: |
||||||||||||
Homebuilding |
$ | 2,295,436 | 2,613,503 | 2,592,772 | 2,021,014 | 1,552,217 | ||||||
Financial services |
$ | 541,437 | 1,149,231 | 1,269,782 | 896,934 | 734,657 | ||||||
Stockholders equity |
$ | 3,822,119 | 5,701,372 | 5,251,411 | 4,052,972 | 3,263,774 | ||||||
Shares outstanding (000s) |
159,887 | 158,155 | 157,559 | 156,230 | 157,836 | |||||||
Stockholders equity per share |
$ | 23.91 | 36.05 | 33.33 | 25.94 | 20.68 | ||||||
Homebuilding Data (including unconsolidated entities): |
||||||||||||
Number of homes delivered |
33,283 | 49,568 | 42,359 | 36,204 | 32,180 | |||||||
New orders |
25,753 | 42,212 | 43,405 | 37,667 | 33,523 | |||||||
Backlog of home sales contracts |
4,009 | 11,608 | 18,565 | 15,546 | 13,905 | |||||||
Backlog dollar value |
$ | 1,384,137 | 3,980,428 | 6,884,238 | 5,055,273 | 3,887,300 |
19
(1) | In May 2005, we sold a subsidiary of our Financial Services segments title company. As a result of the sale, the subsidiarys results of operations have been reclassified as discontinued operations to conform with the 2005 presentation. |
(2) | Homebuilding operating earnings (loss) from continuing operations include $2.4 billion, $501.8 million and $20.5 million, respectively, of valuation adjustments for the years ended November 30, 2007, 2006 and 2005. In addition, it includes $364.2 million and $126.4 million, respectively, of valuation adjustments related to assets of our investments in unconsolidated entities for the years ended November 30, 2007 and 2006, and $132.2 million and $14.5 million, respectively of APB 18 valuation adjustments to our investments in unconsolidated entities for the years ended November 30, 2007 and 2006. There were no other material valuation adjustments for the years ended November 30, 2005, 2004 and 2003. |
(3) | Earnings from discontinued operations before provision for income taxes includes a gain of $15.8 million for the year ended November 30, 2005 related to the sale of a subsidiary of the Financial Services segments title company. |
(4) | As of November 30, 2004 and 2003, the Financial Services segment had assets of discontinued operations of $1.0 million and $1.3 million, respectively, related to a subsidiary of the segments title company that was sold in May 2005. |
20
Item 7. | Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. |
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with Selected Financial Data and our audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included elsewhere in this Report.
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Some of the statements in this Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, are forward-looking statements, as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, strategies and prospects. You can identify forward-looking statements by the fact that these statements do not relate strictly to historical or current matters. Rather, forward-looking statements relate to anticipated or expected events, activities, trends or results. Because forward-looking statements relate to matters that have not yet occurred, these statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause our actual activities or results to differ materially from the activities and results anticipated in forward-looking statements. These factors include those described under the caption Risk Factors in Item 1A of this Report. We do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements, except as required by Federal securities laws.
Outlook
The housing market has continued to deteriorate throughout 2007. Consumer confidence in housing has declined, while there has been increased volatility in the mortgage market, creating higher cancellation rates and lower net new orders. The market has continued to become more and more competitive and there continues to be a great deal of downward pricing through the use of incentives, price reductions and incentivized brokerage fees. These conditions could lead to increased supply of homes for sale in the market due to additional foreclosures, further exacerbating competitive market pressures. As we enter 2008, we do not currently have visibility as to when these deteriorating market conditions will subside.
Our response to, and primary focus in, this environment continues to be to reduce home starts and adjust pricing to meet current market conditions in order to keep inventories low and our balance sheet positioned for the future. In addition, we have also decreased land purchases where possible. The net effect has been a continued deterioration of our margins and accordingly, higher valuation adjustments to our inventory and our share of inventory at unconsolidated entities, as well as write-offs of option deposits and pre-acquisition costs.
We also have, and continue to, reduce overhead to be right-sized for anticipated lower volume levels. While it has been challenging to stay ahead of rapidly adjusting market conditions and resulting revenue reductions, we have reduced our workforce to date by approximately 50% from our peak in 2006.
During 2007, we re-evaluated all of our joint venture arrangements, with particular focus on those ventures with recourse indebtedness. We began to reduce the number of joint ventures in which we were participating, and the recourse indebtedness of these joint ventures. As of November 30, 2007, we had reduced the number of joint ventures in which we were participating to approximately 210 joint ventures with net recourse indebtedness exposure to us of $794.9 million, compared with 260 joint ventures with net recourse indebtedness exposure to us of $1.1 billion at November 30, 2006. In 2008, we plan to continue this trend of reducing the number of joint ventures and net recourse indebtedness exposure related to joint ventures.
If the market does not begin to stabilize and there is further deterioration in market conditions, this may lead to an increase in the supply of new and existing homes as a result of decreased absorption levels and increased foreclosures. The decrease in sales absorption may lead to higher sales incentives and reduced gross margins, which may lead to additional valuation adjustments in the future. Additionally, market conditions may cause us to re-evaluate our strategy regarding certain assets that could result in additional valuation adjustments related to our inventory and write-offs of deposits and pre-acquisition costs as a result of the abandonment of option contracts. If market conditions continue to deteriorate, we may need to reassess the value of the underlying collateral and/or renegotiate the terms of land seller notes receivable, which may result in additional write-offs in the future.
With respect to the loans we originate on the homes we deliver, although we remain liable for certain limited representations, substantially all of the loans we originate are sold in the secondary mortgage market, on a servicing released, non-recourse basis. Therefore, we have little direct exposure with the residential mortgages we sell.
During 2007, the mortgage market experienced increased volatility. This volatility has led to changes in the secondary mortgage market with respect to loans. As demand in the secondary mortgage market changes with
21
respect to loans for sub-prime (loans to persons with a FICO score under 620) and Alt A borrowers (loans to persons with less conventional documentation of their incomes or net worths and FICO score of 620 or higher), there may be fewer buyers who qualify for financing on new and existing home purchases in the market. During both the fourth quarter of 2007 and the year ended November 30, 2007, approximately 2% of the loans our Financial Services segment made to our homebuyers were sub-prime loans. During the fourth quarter of 2007 and the year ended November 30, 2007, approximately 6% and 29%, respectively, of the loans our Financial Services segment made to our homebuyers were Alt A loans. The tightening of lending standards could lead to a further deterioration in the overall homebuilding market due to stricter credit standards, higher down payment requirements and additional credit verification requirements. This deterioration could have an adverse impact on the number of homes we sell. In addition, to the extent that homeowners have used sub-prime or Alt A mortgages to finance the purchase of their homes and are later unable to refinance or maintain those loans, additional foreclosures and an oversupply of inventory may result in the market. This may also contribute to additional deterioration in the market and have an adverse impact on demand and the number of homes we sell.
Results of Operations
Overview
Our net loss in 2007 was $1.9 billion, or $12.31 per basic and diluted share, compared to net earnings of $593.9 million, or $3.69 per diluted share ($3.76 per basic share), in 2006. The decrease in net earnings was attributable to weak market conditions that have persisted during 2007 and have impacted all of our operations. The losses in 2007 also resulted in a net operating loss (NOL) for income tax purposes. As a result, we filed NOL carryback claims and received tax refunds of $852 million subsequent to our fiscal year-end.
The following table sets forth financial and operational information for the years indicated related to our continuing operations. The results of operations of the homebuilders we acquired during these years were not material to our consolidated financial statements and are included in the tables since the respective dates of the acquisitions.
Years Ended November 30, | ||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||||
(Dollars in thousands, except average sales price) | ||||||||||
Homebuilding revenues: |
||||||||||
Sales of homes |
$ | 9,462,940 | 14,854,874 | 12,711,789 | ||||||
Sales of land |
267,312 | 768,166 | 592,810 | |||||||
Total homebuilding revenues |
9,730,252 | 15,623,040 | 13,304,599 | |||||||
Homebuilding costs and expenses: |
||||||||||
Cost of homes sold |
8,892,268 | 12,114,433 | 9,410,343 | |||||||
Cost of land sold |
1,928,451 | 798,165 | 391,984 | |||||||
Selling, general and administrative |
1,368,358 | 1,764,967 | 1,412,917 | |||||||
Total homebuilding costs and expenses |
12,189,077 | 14,677,565 | 11,215,244 | |||||||
Gain on recapitalization of unconsolidated entity |
175,879 | | | |||||||
Goodwill impairments |
190,198 | | | |||||||
Equity in earnings (loss) from unconsolidated entities |
(362,899 | ) | (12,536 | ) | 133,814 | |||||
Management fees and other income (expense), net |
(76,029 | ) | 66,629 | 98,952 | ||||||
Minority interest expense, net |
1,927 | 13,415 | 45,030 | |||||||
Homebuilding operating earnings (loss) |
(2,913,999 | ) | 986,153 | 2,277,091 | ||||||
Financial services revenues |
456,529 | 643,622 | 562,372 | |||||||
Financial services costs and expenses |
450,409 | 493,819 | 457,604 | |||||||
Financial services operating earnings |
6,120 | 149,803 | 104,768 | |||||||
Total operating earnings (loss) |
(2,907,879 | ) | 1,135,956 | 2,381,859 | ||||||
Corporate general and administrative expenses |
173,202 | 193,307 | 187,257 | |||||||
Loss on redemption of 9.95% senior notes |
| | 34,908 | |||||||
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before provision (benefit) for income taxes |
$ | (3,081,081 | ) | 942,649 | 2,159,694 | |||||
Gross margin on home sales |
6.0 | % | 18.4 | % | 26.0 | % | ||||
SG&A expenses as a % of revenues from home sales |
14.5 | % | 11.9 | % | 11.1 | % | ||||
Operating margin as a % of revenues from home sales |
(8.4 | )% | 6.6 | % | 14.9 | % | ||||
Gross margin on home sales excluding valuation adjustments (1) |
13.9 | % | 20.3 | % | 26.0 | % | ||||
Operating margin as a % of revenues from home sales excluding valuation adjustments (1) |
(0.5 | )% | 8.5 | % | 14.9 | % | ||||
Average sales price |
$ | 297,000 | 315,000 | 311,000 | ||||||
22
(1) | Gross margins on home sales excluding valuation adjustments and operating margin as a percentage of revenues from home sales excluding valuation adjustments are non-GAAP financial measures disclosed by certain of our competitors and have been presented because we find it useful in evaluating our performance and believe that it helps readers of our financial statements compare our operations with those of our competitors. |
2007 versus 2006
Revenues from home sales decreased 36% in the year ended November 30, 2007 to $9.5 billion from $14.9 billion in 2006. Revenues were lower primarily due to a 33% decrease in the number of home deliveries and a 6% decrease in the average sales price of homes delivered in 2007. New home deliveries, excluding unconsolidated entities, decreased to 31,582 homes in the year ended November 30, 2007 from 47,032 homes last year. In the year ended November 30, 2007, new home deliveries were lower in each of our homebuilding segments and Homebuilding Other, compared to 2006. The average sales price of homes delivered decreased to $297,000 in the year ended November 30, 2007 from $315,000 in 2006, primarily due to higher sales incentives offered to homebuyers ($48,000 per home delivered in 2007, compared to $32,000 per home delivered in 2006).
Gross margins on home sales excluding inventory valuation adjustments were $1.3 billion, or 13.9%, in the year ended November 30, 2007, compared to $3.0 billion, or 20.3%, in 2006. Gross margin percentage on home sales decreased compared to last year in all of our homebuilding segments primarily due to higher sales incentives offered to homebuyers. Gross margins on home sales were $570.7 million, or 6.0%, in the year ended November 30, 2007, which included $747.8 million of SFAS 144 inventory valuation adjustments, compared to gross margins on home sales of $2.7 billion, or 18.4%, in the year ended November 30, 2006, which included $280.5 million of SFAS 144 inventory valuation adjustments. Gross margins on home sales excluding SFAS 144 valuation adjustments is a non-GAAP financial measure disclosed by certain of our competitors and has been presented because we find it useful in evaluating its performance and believe that it helps readers of our financial statements compare our operations with those of our competitors.
Homebuilding interest expense (primarily included in cost of homes sold and cost of land sold) was $203.7 million in 2007, compared to $241.1 million in 2006. The decrease in interest expense was due to lower interest costs resulting from lower average debt during 2007, as well as decreased deliveries during 2007, compared to 2006. Our homebuilding debt to total capital ratio as of November 30, 2007 was 37.5%, compared to 31.4% as of November 30, 2006.
Selling, general and administrative expenses were reduced by $396.6 million, or 22%, in the year ended November 30, 2007, compared to the same period last year, primarily due to reductions in associate headcount and variable selling expenses. As a percentage of revenues from home sales, selling, general and administrative expenses increased to 14.5% in the year ended November 30, 2007, from 11.9% in 2006. The 260 basis point increase was primarily due to lower revenues.
Loss on land sales totaled $1.7 billion in the year ended November 30, 2007, which included $740.4 million of SFAS 144 valuation adjustments on the inventory acquired by the Morgan Stanley land investment venture discussed below, $426.9 million of SFAS 144 valuation adjustments and $530.0 million of write-offs of deposits and pre-acquisition costs related to 36,900 homesites under option that we do not intend to purchase. In the year ended November 30, 2006, loss on land sales totaled $30.0 million, which included $69.1 million of SFAS 144 valuation adjustments and $152.2 million of write-offs of deposits and pre-acquisition costs related to 24,200 homesites that were under option.
In November 2007, we and Morgan Stanley Real Estate Fund II, L.P., an affiliate of Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc., formed a strategic land investment venture to acquire, develop, manage and sell residential real estate. We acquired a 20% ownership interest and 50% voting rights in the land investment venture. Concurrent with the formation of the land investment venture, we sold a diversified portfolio of our land to the venture for $525 million. The properties acquired by the new entity consist of approximately 11,000 homesites in 32 communities located throughout the country. The properties sold by us had a net book value of approximately $1.3 billion. As part of the transaction, we entered into option agreements and obtained rights of first offer providing us the opportunity to purchase certain finished homesites. The exercise price of the options is based on a fixed percentage of the future home price. We have no obligation to exercise these options and cannot acquire a majority of the entitys assets. We are managing the land investment ventures operations and receive fees for our services. We will also receive disproportionate distributions if the investment venture exceeds certain financial targets.
23
Due to our continuing involvement, the transaction did not qualify as a sale under GAAP; thus, the inventory remained on our balance sheet in consolidated inventory not owned as of November 30, 2007. Additionally, the $445 million of net cash received from the transaction was recorded in liabilities related to consolidated inventory not owned in the consolidated balance sheet and classified as cash flows from financing activities in the consolidated statement of cash flows. In connection with the transaction, we recorded a SFAS 144 valuation adjustment of $740.4 million on the inventory sold to the land investment venture.
Equity in loss from unconsolidated entities was $362.9 million in the year ended November 30, 2007, which included $364.2 million of SFAS 144 valuation adjustments related to the assets of our investments in unconsolidated entities, compared to equity in loss from unconsolidated entities of $12.5 million in the year ended November 30, 2006, which included $126.4 million of SFAS 144 valuation adjustments related to the assets of our investments in unconsolidated entities last year.
During the year ended November 30, 2007, we recorded goodwill impairments of $190.2 million related to our homebuilding operations.
Management fees and other expense, net, totaled $76.0 million in the year ended November 30, 2007, which included $132.2 million of APB 18 valuation adjustments to our investments in unconsolidated entities, compared to management fees and other income, net, of $66.6 million in the year ended November 30, 2006, net of $14.5 million of APB 18 valuation adjustments to our investments in unconsolidated entities.
Minority interest expense, net was $1.9 million and $13.4 million, respectively, in the years ended November 30, 2007 and 2006.
Sales of land, equity in loss from unconsolidated entities, management fees and other income (expense), net and minority interest expense, net may vary significantly from period to period depending on the timing of land sales and other transactions entered into by us and unconsolidated entities in which we have investments.
In February 2007, our LandSource joint venture admitted MW Housing Partners as a new strategic partner. As part of the transaction, the joint venture obtained $1.6 billion of non-recourse financing, which consisted of a $200 million five-year Revolving Credit Facility, a $1.1 billion six-year Term Loan B Facility and a $244 million seven-year Second Lien Term Facility. The transaction resulted in a cash distribution to us of $707.6 million, but reduced our resulting ownership of LandSource to 16%. If LandSource reaches certain financial targets, we will have a disproportionate share of the entitys future positive net cash flow. As a result of the recapitalization, we recognized a pretax gain of $175.9 million in 2007 and could potentially recognize additional profits in future years, in addition to profits from our continuing ownership interest.
Operating earnings for the Financial Services segment were $6.1 million in the year ended November 30, 2007, compared to $149.8 million last year. The decrease was primarily due to a decline in profitability from both the segments mortgage and title operations and $28.4 million of partial write-offs of land seller notes receivable. The decline in profitability was due to the overall weakness in the housing market, which led to a decrease in volume and transactions for the mortgage and title operations compared to last year.
Corporate general and administrative expenses were reduced by $20.1 million, or 10%, in the year ended November 30, 2007, compared to the same period last year. As a percentage of total revenues, corporate general and administrative expenses increased to 1.7% in the year ended November 30, 2007, compared to 1.2% in the same period last year, primarily due to lower revenues.
At November 30, 2007, we owned 62,801 homesites and had access to an additional 85,870 homesites through either option contracts with third parties or agreements with unconsolidated entities in which we have investments. At November 30, 2007, 5% of the homesites we owned were subject to home purchase contracts. Our backlog of sales contracts was 4,009 homes ($1.4 billion) at November 30, 2007, compared to 11,608 homes ($4.0 billion) at November 30, 2006. The lower backlog was attributable to weak market conditions that persisted during 2007, which resulted in lower new orders in 2007, compared to 2006.
2006 versus 2005
Revenues from home sales increased 17% in the year ended November 30, 2006 to $14.9 billion from $12.7 billion in 2005. Revenues were higher primarily due to a 15% increase in the number of home deliveries in 2006. New home deliveries, excluding unconsolidated entities, increased to 47,032 homes in the year ended November 30, 2006 from 40,882 homes in 2005. In the year ended November 30, 2006, new home deliveries
24
were higher in each of our homebuilding segments and Homebuilding Other, compared to 2005. The average sales price of homes delivered increased to $315,000 in the year ended November 30, 2006 from $311,000 in 2005 despite higher sales incentives offered to homebuyers ($32,000 per home delivered in 2006, compared to $9,000 per home delivered in 2005).
Despite the full year increases, there was a significant slowdown in new home sales throughout the country as the year progressed. As a result, during the fourth quarter of the year, revenues from home sales declined by 14%, new home deliveries declined by 4%, excluding unconsolidated entities, and the average sales price declined by 11%, compared with the same period of the prior year. The decline in average sales price resulted from our use of higher sales incentives.
Gross margins on home sales excluding inventory valuation adjustments were $3.0 billion, or 20.3%, in the year ended November 30, 2006, compared to $3.3 billion, or 26.0%, in 2005. Gross margin percentage on home sales decreased compared to last year in all of our homebuilding segments and Homebuilding Other primarily due to higher sales incentives offered to homebuyers. Gross margins on home sales including inventory valuation adjustments were $2.7 billion, or 18.4%, in the year ended November 30, 2006 due to $280.5 million of inventory valuation adjustments.
Homebuilding interest expense (primarily included in cost of homes sold and cost of land sold) was $241.1 million in 2006, compared to $187.2 million in 2005. The increase in interest expense was due to higher interest costs resulting from higher average debt during 2006, as well as increased deliveries during 2006, compared to 2005. Our homebuilding debt to total capital ratio as of November 30, 2006 was 31.4%, compared to 33.1% as of November 30, 2005.
Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenues from home sales were 11.9% and 11.1%, respectively, for the years ended November 30, 2006 and 2005. The 80 basis point increase was primarily due to increases in broker commissions and advertising expenses, partially offset by lower incentive compensation expenses. Management fees of $37.4 million received during the year ended November 30, 2005 from unconsolidated entities in which we had investments, which were previously recorded as a reduction of selling, general and administrative expenses, have been reclassified to management fees and other income, net in order to conform to the 2006 presentation.
Loss on land sales totaled $30.0 million in the year ended November 30, 2006, net of $152.2 million of write-offs of deposits and pre-acquisition costs related to 24,200 homesites under option that we do not intend to purchase and $69.1 million of inventory valuation adjustments, compared to gross profit from land sales of $200.8 million in 2005.
Equity in earnings (loss) from unconsolidated entities was ($12.5) million in the year ended November 30, 2006, which included $126.4 million of valuation adjustments to our investments in unconsolidated entities, compared to equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities of $133.8 million in 2005.
Management fees and other income, net, totaled $66.6 million in the year ended November 30, 2006, compared to $99.0 million in 2005. Minority interest expense, net was $13.4 million and $45.0 million, respectively, in the years ended November 30, 2006 and 2005.
Sales of land, equity in earnings (loss) from unconsolidated entities, management fees and other income, net and minority interest expense, net may vary significantly from period to period depending on the timing of land sales and other transactions entered into by us and unconsolidated entities in which we have investments.
Operating earnings from continuing operations for the Financial Services segment were $149.8 million in the year ended November 30, 2006, compared to $104.8 million in 2005. The increase was primarily due to a $17.7 million pretax gain generated from monetizing the segments personal lines insurance policies, as well as increased profitability from the segments mortgage operations as a result of increased volume and profit per loan. The segments mortgage capture rate (i.e., the percentage of our homebuyers, excluding cash settlements, who obtained mortgage financing from us in areas where we offered services) was 66% in both the years ended November 30, 2006 and 2005.
Corporate general and administrative expenses as a percentage of total revenues were 1.2% in the year ended November 30, 2006, compared to 1.4% in the same period in 2005.
25
At November 30, 2006, we owned 92,325 homesites and had access to an additional 189,279 homesites through either option contracts with third parties or agreements with unconsolidated entities in which we have investments. At November 30, 2006, 10% of the homesites we owned were subject to home purchase contracts. Our backlog of sales contracts was 11,608 homes ($4.0 billion) at November 30, 2006, compared to 18,565 homes ($6.9 billion) at November 30, 2005. As a result of pricing our homes to market through the use of higher sales incentives, building out our inventory and delivering our backlog in an effort to maintain an inventory neutral position, our backlog declined in 2006. The lower backlog was also attributable to the depressed market conditions during 2006, which resulted in lower new orders in 2006, compared to 2005. At November 30, 2006, our inventory balance was consistent with the balance at November 30, 2005.
Homebuilding Segments
Our Homebuilding operations construct and sell homes primarily for first-time, move-up and active adult homebuyers primarily under the Lennar brand name. In addition, our homebuilding operations also purchase, develop and sell land to third parties. In certain circumstances, we diversify our operations through strategic alliances and minimize our risks by investing with third parties in joint ventures.
We have grouped our homebuilding activities into three reportable segments, which we refer to as Homebuilding East, Homebuilding Central and Homebuilding West. Information about homebuilding activities in states in which our homebuilding activities are not economically similar to those in other states in the same geographic area is grouped under Homebuilding Other. References in this Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations to homebuilding segments are to those reportable segments.
At November 30, 2007, our reportable homebuilding segments and Homebuilding Other consisted of homebuilding divisions located in the following states: East: Florida, Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia. Central: Arizona, Colorado and Texas. West: California and Nevada. Other: Illinois, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina and South Carolina.
The following tables set forth selected financial and operational information related to our homebuilding operations for the years indicated:
Selected Financial and Operational Data
Years Ended November 30, | |||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||
(In thousands) | |||||||
Revenues: |
|||||||
East: |
|||||||
Sales of homes |
$ | 2,691,198 | 4,642,582 | 3,430,903 | |||
Sales of land |
63,452 | 129,297 | 68,080 | ||||
Total East |
2,754,650 | 4,771,879 | 3,498,983 | ||||
Central: |
|||||||
Sales of homes |
2,364,270 | 3,545,174 | 3,186,870 | ||||
Sales of land |
79,819 | 104,047 | 188,023 | ||||
Total Central |
2,444,089 | 3,649,221 | 3,374,893 | ||||
West: |
|||||||
Sales of homes |
3,460,667 | 5,466,437 | 5,030,190 | ||||
Sales of land |
83,045 | 503,075 | 272,577 | ||||
Total West |
3,543,712 | 5,969,512 | 5,302,767 | ||||
Other: |
|||||||
Sales of homes |
946,805 | 1,200,681 | 1,063,826 | ||||
Sales of land |
40,996 | 31,747 | 64,130 | ||||
Total Other |
987,801 | 1,232,428 | 1,127,956 | ||||
Total homebuilding revenues |
$ | 9,730,252 | 15,623,040 | 13,304,599 | |||
26
Years Ended November 30, | ||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||||
Operating earnings (loss): |
||||||||||
East: |
||||||||||
Sales of homes |
$ | (366,153 | ) | 305,397 | 602,000 | |||||
Sales of land |
(400,830 | ) | (63,729 | ) | 24,112 | |||||
Goodwill impairments |
(46,274 | ) | | | ||||||
Equity in earnings (loss) from unconsolidated entities |
(58,069 | ) | (14,947 | ) | 2,213 | |||||
Management fees and other income (expense), net |
(20,910 | ) | 14,335 | 13,839 | ||||||
Minority interest expense, net |
(923 | ) | (4,402 | ) | (900 | ) | ||||
Total East |
(893,159 | ) | 236,654 | 641,264 | ||||||
Central: |
||||||||||
Sales of homes |
(34,285 | ) | 191,692 | 287,113 | ||||||
Sales of land |
(141,179 | ) | 5,111 | 45,623 | ||||||
Goodwill impairments |
(31,293 | ) | | | ||||||
Equity in earnings (loss) from unconsolidated entities |
(26,130 | ) | 7,763 | 15,103 | ||||||
Management fees and other income (expense), net |
(15,956 | ) | 10,131 | 21,005 | ||||||
Minority interest income (expense), net |
(63 | ) | 689 | (368 | ) | |||||
Total Central |
(248,906 | ) | 215,386 | 368,476 | ||||||
West: |
||||||||||
Sales of homes |
(347,018 | ) | 532,456 | 956,470 | ||||||
Sales of land |
(950,316 | ) | 84,749 | 132,713 | ||||||
Gain on recapitalization of unconsolidated entity |
175,879 | | | |||||||
Goodwill impairments |
(43,955 | ) | | | ||||||
Equity in earnings (loss) from unconsolidated entities |
(274,267 | ) | (6,449 | ) | 109,995 | |||||
Management fees and other income (expense), net |
(38,404 | ) | 38,918 | 58,733 | ||||||
Minority interest expense, net |
(723 | ) | (9,757 | ) | (43,762 | ) | ||||
Total West |
(1,478,804 | ) | 639,917 | 1,214,149 | ||||||
Other: |
||||||||||
Sales of homes |
(50,230 | ) | (54,071 | ) | 42,946 | |||||
Sales of land |
(168,814 | ) | (56,130 | ) | (1,622 | ) | ||||
Goodwill impairments |
(68,676 | ) | | | ||||||
Equity in earnings (loss) from unconsolidated entities |
(4,433 | ) | 1,097 | 6,503 | ||||||
Management fees and other income (expense), net |
(759 | ) | 3,245 | 5,375 | ||||||
Minority interest income (expense), net |
(218 | ) | 55 | | ||||||
Total Other |
(293,130 | ) | (105,804 | ) | 53,202 | |||||
Total homebuilding operating earnings (loss) |
$ | (2,913,999 | ) | 986,153 | 2,277,091 | |||||
27
Summary of Homebuilding Data
At or for the Years Ended November 30, | |||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||
Deliveries |
|||||||
East |
9,840 | 14,859 | 11,220 | ||||
Central |
11,400 | 17,069 | 15,448 | ||||
West |
8,739 | 13,333 | 11,731 | ||||
Other |
3,304 | 4,307 | 3,960 | ||||
Total |
33,283 | 49,568 | 42,359 | ||||
Of the total home deliveries listed above, 1,701, 2,536 and 1,477, respectively, represent deliveries from unconsolidated entities for the years ended November 30, 2007, 2006 and 2005. | |||||||
New Orders |
|||||||
East |
7,492 | 11,290 | 11,096 | ||||
Central |
8,676 | 16,120 | 15,926 | ||||
West |
6,765 | 11,119 | 12,179 | ||||
Other |
2,820 | 3,683 | 4,204 | ||||
Total |
25,753 | 42,212 | 43,405 | ||||
Of the new orders listed above, 1,091, 1,921 and 1,254, respectively, represent new orders from unconsolidated entities for the years ended November 30, 2007, 2006 and 2005. | |||||||
BacklogHomes |
|||||||
East |
1,797 | 4,139 | 7,581 | ||||
Central |
874 | 3,598 | 4,547 | ||||
West |
942 | 2,991 | 4,883 | ||||
Other |
396 | 880 | 1,554 | ||||
Total |
4,009 | 11,608 | 18,565 | ||||
Of the homes in backlog listed above, 364, 1,089 and 1,359, respectively, represent homes in backlog from unconsolidated entities at November 30, 2007, 2006 and 2005. | |||||||
Backlog Dollar Value (In thousands) |
|||||||
East |
$ | 587,100 | 1,460,213 | 2,774,396 | |||
Central |
195,684 | 850,472 | 1,210,257 | ||||
West |
408,280 | 1,328,617 | 2,374,646 | ||||
Other |
193,073 | 341,126 | 524,939 | ||||
Total |
$ | 1,384,137 | 3,980,428 | 6,884,238 | |||
Of the dollar value of homes in backlog listed above, $182,664, $478,707 and $590,129, respectively, represent the backlog dollar value from unconsolidated entities at November 30, 2007, 2006 and 2005.
Backlog represents the number of homes under sales contracts. Homes are sold using sales contracts, which are generally accompanied by sales deposits. In some instances, purchasers are permitted to cancel sales if they fail to qualify for financing or under certain other circumstances. We experienced a cancellation rate of 30% (34%, 30%, 29% and 20%, respectively, in our Homebuilding East, Central and West segments and Homebuilding Other) in 2007, compared to 29% (32%, 27%, 30% and 22%, respectively, in our Homebuilding East, Central and West segments and Homebuilding Other) in 2006 and 17% (15%, 19%, 17% and 14%, respectively, in our Homebuilding East, Central and West segments and Homebuilding Other) in 2005. During the fourth quarter of 2007, our cancellation rate was 33%. Although we experienced a higher than normal cancellation rate during 2007, we remained focused on reselling these homes, which, in many instances, included the use of higher sales incentives (discussed below as a percentage of revenues from home sales) to avoid the build up of excess inventory. We do not recognize revenue on homes under sales contracts until the sales are closed and title passes to the new homeowners, except for our multi-level residential buildings under construction for which revenue was recognized under percentage-of-completion accounting.
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2007 versus 2006
East: Homebuilding revenues decreased in 2007, compared to 2006, primarily due to a decrease in the number of home deliveries in Florida and a decrease in the average sales price of homes delivered in all of the states in this segment. Gross margins on home sales excluding SFAS 144 valuation adjustments were $368.0 million, or 13.7%, in 2007, compared to $1.0 billion, or 22.0%, in 2006. Gross margins decreased compared to last year primarily due to higher sales incentives offered to homebuyers (16.9% in 2007, compared to 11.4% in 2006). Gross margins on home sales were $89.0 million, or 3.3% in 2007 including SFAS 144 valuation adjustments of $279.1 million, compared to gross margins on home sales of $865.0 million, or 18.6%, in 2006 including $155.7 million of SFAS 144 valuation adjustments.
Loss on land sales was $400.8 million in 2007 (including $119.6 million of write-offs of deposits and pre-acquisition costs related to land under option that we do not intend to purchase and $307.5 million of SFAS 144 valuation adjustments), compared to loss on land sales of $63.7 million in 2006 (including $80.5 million of write-offs of deposits and pre-acquisition costs related to land under option that we do not intend to purchase and $24.7 million of SFAS 144 valuation adjustments).
Central: Homebuilding revenues decreased in 2007, compared to 2006, primarily due to a decrease in the number of home deliveries in all of the states in this segment, and a decrease in the average sales price of homes delivered in Arizona and Colorado. Gross margins on home sales excluding inventory valuation adjustments were $367.8 million, or 15.6%, in 2007, compared to $631.5 million, or 17.8%, in 2006. Gross margins decreased compared to last year primarily due to higher sales incentives offered to homebuyers (11.3% in 2007, compared to 9.1% in 2006). Gross margins on home sales were $273.6 million, or 11.6% in 2007 including SFAS 144 valuation adjustments of $94.2 million, compared to gross margins on home sales of $604.4 million, or 17.1%, in 2006 including $27.1 million of SFAS 144 valuation adjustments primarily in Arizona and Colorado.
Loss on land sales was $141.2 million in 2007 (including $57.1 million of write-offs of deposits and pre-acquisition costs related to land under option that we do not intend to purchase and $80.9 million of SFAS 144 valuation adjustments), compared to gross profit on land sales of $5.1 million in 2006 (net of $3.0 million of write-offs of deposits and pre-acquisition costs related to land under option that we do not intend to purchase and $17.3 million of SFAS 144 valuation adjustments).
West: Homebuilding revenues decreased in 2007, compared to 2006, primarily due to a decrease in the number of home deliveries and average sales price of homes delivered in all of the states in this segment. Gross margins on home sales excluding inventory valuation adjustments were $451.0 million, or 13.0%, in 2007, compared to $1.2 billion, or 22.4%, in 2006. Gross margin percentage on home sales decreased compared to last year primarily due to higher sales incentives offered to homebuyers (14.3% in 2007, compared to 7.5% in 2006). Gross margins on home sales were $119.1 million, or 3.4% in 2007 including SFAS 144 valuation adjustments of $331.8 million, compared to gross margins on home sales of $1.1 billion, or 20.9%, in 2006 including $80.2 million of SFAS 144 valuation adjustments in all states.
Loss on land sales was $950.3 million in 2007 (including $310.8 million of write-offs of deposits and pre-acquisition costs related to land under option that we do not intend to purchase and $648.6 million of SFAS 144 valuation adjustments), compared to gross profit on land sales of $84.7 million in 2006 (net of $44.0 million of write-offs of deposits and pre-acquisition costs related to land under option that we do not intend to purchase).
Other: Homebuilding revenues decreased in 2007, compared to 2006, primarily due to a decrease in the number of home deliveries in all of the states in this segment, and a decrease in the average sales price of homes delivered in Illinois. Gross margins from home sales excluding inventory valuation adjustments were $131.7 million, or 13.9%, in 2007, compared to $143.9 million, or 12.0%, in 2006. Gross margin percentage on home sales increased compared to last year primarily due to the decrease in homebuilding revenues despite higher sales incentives offered to homebuyers (9.1% in 2007, compared to 7.8% in 2006). Gross margins on home sales were $88.9 million, or 9.4% in 2007 including SFAS 144 valuation adjustments of $42.8 million, compared to gross margins on home sales of $126.5 million, or 10.5%, in 2006 including $17.4 million of SFAS 144 valuation adjustments primarily in Arizona and Colorado.
Loss on land sales was $168.8 million in 2007 (including $42.4 million of write-offs of deposits and pre-acquisition costs related to land under option that we do not intend to purchase and $130.3 million of SFAS 144 valuation adjustments), compared to loss on land sales of $56.1 million in 2006 (including $24.8 million of write-offs of deposits and pre-acquisition costs related to land under option that we do not intend to purchase and $27.1 million of SFAS 144 valuation adjustments).
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2006 versus 2005
East: Homebuilding revenues increased in 2006, compared to 2005, primarily due to an increase in the number of home deliveries in Florida and an increase in the average sales price of homes delivered in Florida and New Jersey. Gross margins on home sales excluding inventory valuation adjustments were $1.0 billion, or 22.0%, in 2006, compared to $976.9 million, or 28.5%, in 2005. Gross margin percentage on home sales decreased compared to last year primarily due to higher sales incentives offered to homebuyers (11.4% in 2006, compared to 1.8% in 2005), particularly during the second half of the year. Gross margins on home sales including inventory valuation adjustments were $865.0 million, or 18.6%, in 2006 due to a total of $155.7 million of inventory valuation adjustments in all states.
Loss on land sales was $63.7 million in 2006 (including $80.5 million of write-offs of deposits and pre-acquisition costs related to land under option that we do not intend to purchase and $24.7 million of SFAS 144 valuation adjustments), compared to gross profit on land sales of $24.1 million in 2005 (including $3.3 million of write-offs of deposits and pre-acquisition costs related to land under option that we do not intend to purchase and $0.5 million of SFAS 144 valuation adjustments).
Central: Homebuilding revenues increased in 2006, compared to 2005, primarily due to an increase in the number of home deliveries in Arizona and Texas, and an increase in the average sales price of homes delivered in Arizona and Colorado. Gross margins on home sales excluding inventory valuation adjustments were $631.5 million, or 17.8%, in 2006, compared to $657.7 million, or 20.6%, in 2005. Gross margin percentage on home sales decreased compared to last year primarily due to higher sales incentives offered to homebuyers (9.1% in 2006, compared to 5.3% in 2005), particularly during the second half of the year. Gross margins on home sales including inventory valuation adjustments were $604.4 million, or 17.1%, in 2006 due to $27.1 million of inventory valuation adjustments primarily in Arizona and Colorado.
Gross profit on land sales were $5.1 million in 2006 (net of $3.0 million of write-offs of deposits and pre-acquisition costs related to land under option that we do not intend to purchase and $17.3 million of SFAS 144 valuation adjustments), compared to gross profit on land sales of $45.6 million in 2005 (net of $0.3 million of write-offs of deposits and pre-acquisition costs related to land under option that we do not intend to purchase).
West: Homebuilding revenues increased in 2006, compared to 2005, primarily due to an increase in the number of home deliveries in all of the states in this segment and an increase in the average sales price of homes delivered in Nevada, due to higher deliveries in Reno. Gross margins on home sales excluding inventory valuation adjustments were $1.2 billion, or 22.4%, in 2006, compared to $1.5 billion, or 29.3%, in 2005. Gross margin percentage on home sales decreased compared to 2005 primarily due to higher sales incentives offered to homebuyers (7.5% in 2006, compared to 1.5% in 2005), particularly during the second half of the year. Gross margins on home sales including inventory valuation adjustments were $1.1 billion, or 20.9%, in 2006 due to a total of $80.2 million of inventory valuation adjustments in all states.
Gross profits on land sales were $84.7 million in 2006 (net of $44.0 million of write-offs of deposits and pre-acquisition costs related to land under option that we do not intend to purchase), compared to gross profit on land sales of $132.7 million in 2005 (net of $10.1 million of write-offs of deposits and pre-acquisition costs related to land under option that we do not intend to purchase).
Other: Homebuilding revenues increased in 2006, compared to 2005, primarily due to an increase in the number of home deliveries in the Carolinas, Minnesota and New York, and an increase in the average sales price of homes delivered in the Carolinas and New York. Gross margins from home sales excluding inventory valuation adjustments were $143.9 million, or 12.0%, in 2006, compared to $191.8 million, or 18.0%, in 2005. Gross margins on home sales decreased compared to 2005 primarily due to higher sales incentives offered to homebuyers (7.8% in 2006, compared to 4.7% in 2005), particularly during the second half of the year. Gross margins on home sales including inventory valuation adjustments were $126.5 million, or 10.5%, in 2006 due to $17.4 million of inventory valuation adjustments primarily in Illinois and Minnesota.
Loss on land sales was $56.1 million in 2006 (including $24.8 million of write-offs of deposits and pre-acquisition costs related to land under option that we do not intend to purchase and $27.1 million of SFAS 144 valuation adjustments), compared to loss on land sales of $1.6 million in 2005 (including $1.4 million of write-offs of deposits and pre-acquisition costs related to land under option that we do not intend to purchase and $4.9 million of SFAS 144 valuation adjustments).
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Financial Services Segment
We have one Financial Services reportable segment that provides mortgage financing, title insurance, closing services and other ancillary services (including high-speed Internet and cable television) for both buyers of our homes and others. Substantially all of the loans the Financial Services segment originates are sold in the secondary mortgage market on a servicing released, non-recourse basis; although, we remain liable for certain limited representations. The following table sets forth selected financial and operational information relating to our Financial Services segment. The results of operations of companies we acquired during these years are included in the table since the respective dates of the acquisitions.
Years Ended November 30, | ||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||||
(Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||
Revenues |
$ | 456,529 | 643,622 | 562,372 | ||||||
Costs and expenses |
450,409 | 493,819 | 457,604 | |||||||
Operating earnings from continuing operations |
$ | 6,120 | 149,803 | 104,768 | ||||||
Dollar value of mortgages originated |
$ | 7,740,000 | 10,480,000 | 9,509,000 | ||||||
Number of mortgages originated |
30,900 | 41,800 | 42,300 | |||||||
Mortgage capture rate of Lennar homebuyers |
73 | % | 66 | % | 66 | % | ||||
Number of title and closing service transactions |
136,300 | 161,300 | 187,700 | |||||||
Number of title policies issued |
146,200 | 195,700 | 193,900 | |||||||
Financial Condition and Capital Resources
At November 30, 2007, we had cash related to our homebuilding and financial services operations of $795.2 million, compared to $778.3 million at November 30, 2006.
We finance our land acquisition and development activities, construction activities, financial services activities and general operating needs primarily with cash generated from our operations and public debt issuances, as well as cash borrowed under our revolving credit facility and our warehouse lines of credit.
Operating Cash Flow Activities
During 2007 and 2006, cash flows provided by operating activities amounted to $444.5 million and $552.5 million, respectively. During 2007, cash flows provided by operating activities resulted from a decrease in our inventory as a result of reduced land purchases, a reduction in construction in progress resulting from lower new home starts and write-offs and valuation adjustments pertaining to the respective inventory. In order to reduce our inventory levels in 2007, we focused our efforts on adjusting pricing to meet market conditions, as we pulled back production and curtailed land purchases where possible in order to keep our balance sheet positioned for future opportunities. Cash flows provided by operating activities also consisted of distributions of earnings from unconsolidated entities, our equity in loss from unconsolidated entities including our share of valuation adjustments related to assets of the unconsolidated entities and a decrease in our receivables including a decrease in financial services receivable and loans held-for-sale resulting from a decline in our new home deliveries during the year. Cash flows provided by operating activities were partially offset by our net loss, deferred income tax benefit, an increase in other assets primarily due to our income tax receivable and a decrease in accounts payable and other liabilities primarily due to a decrease in our land purchases.
During 2006, cash flows provided by operating activities consisted primarily of net earnings, distributions of earnings from unconsolidated entities and the change in inventories including inventory write-offs and valuation adjustments, partially offset by a deferred income tax benefit and a decrease in accounts payable and other liabilities.
Investing Cash Flow Activities
Cash flows provided by investing activities totaled $307.0 million in the year ended November 30, 2007, compared to cash used in investing activities of $404.4 million in 2006. During the year ended November 30, 2007, we contributed $608.0 million of cash to unconsolidated entities, compared to $729.3 million in 2006. Our investing activities also included distributions of capital from unconsolidated entities during the year ended
31
November 30, 2007 and 2006 of $542.3 million and $321.6 million, respectively. During 2007, we received distributions of $354.6 million in excess of our investment in the LandSource joint venture due to its recapitalization in 2007.
We are always looking at the possibility of acquiring homebuilders and other companies. However, at November 30, 2007, we had no agreements or understandings regarding any significant transactions.
Financing Cash Flow Activities
During 2007, we sold a diversified portfolio of land to our land investment joint venture with Morgan Stanley Real Estate Fund II, L.P. for $525 million. As part of the transaction, we entered into option agreements and obtained rights of first offer, providing us the opportunity to purchase certain finished homesites. Due to our continuing involvement, the transaction did not qualify as a sale under GAAP; thus, the inventory remained on our balance sheet as of November 30, 2007. As a result of the transaction, we received $445 million of cash (net of our deposit on the homesites under option and our invested contribution to the land investment venture).
Homebuilding debt to total capital and net homebuilding debt to total capital are financial measures commonly used in the homebuilding industry and are presented to assist in understanding the leverage of our homebuilding operations. Management believes providing a measure of leverage of our homebuilding operations enables readers of our financial statements to better understand our financial position and performance and we find it useful in evaluating our performance. Homebuilding debt to total capital and net homebuilding debt to total capital are calculated as follows:
November 30, | |||||||
2007 | 2006 | ||||||
(Dollars in thousands) | |||||||
Homebuilding debt |
$ | 2,295,436 | 2,613,503 | ||||
Stockholders equity |
3,822,119 | 5,701,372 | |||||
Total capital |
$ | 6,117,555 | 8,314,875 | ||||
Homebuilding debt to total capital |
37.5 | % | 31.4 | % | |||
Homebuilding debt |
$ | 2,295,436 | 2,613,503 | ||||
Less: Homebuilding cash |
642,467 | 661,662 | |||||
Net homebuilding debt |
$ | 1,652,969 | 1,951,841 | ||||
Net homebuilding debt to total capital (1) |
30.2 | % | 25.5 | % | |||
(1) | Net homebuilding debt to total capital consists of net homebuilding debt (homebuilding debt less homebuilding cash) divided by total capital (net homebuilding debt plus stockholders equity). |
Homebuilding debt to total capital and net homebuilding debt to total capital at November 30, 2007 were higher than prior year due to the decrease in stockholders equity primarily as a result of inventory valuation adjustments, write-offs of option deposits and pre-acquisition costs, SFAS 144 valuation adjustments related to assets of unconsolidated entities, APB 18 valuation adjustments to investments in unconsolidated entities, goodwill impairments and financial services write-offs of notes receivable, all of which are non-cash items.
In addition to the use of capital in our homebuilding and financial services operations, we actively evaluate various other uses of capital, which fit into our homebuilding and financial services strategies and appear to meet our profitability and return on capital goals. This may include acquisitions of, or investments in, other entities, the payment of dividends or repurchases of our outstanding common stock or debt. These activities may be funded through any combination of our credit facilities, cash generated from operations, sales of assets or the issuance of public debt, common stock or preferred stock.
32
The following table summarizes our homebuilding senior notes and other debts payable:
November 30, | |||||
2007 | 2006 | ||||
(Dollars in thousands) | |||||
7 5/8% senior notes due 2009 |
$ | 279,491 | 277,830 | ||
5.125% senior notes due 2010 |
299,825 | 299,766 | |||
5.95% senior notes due 2011 |
249,516 | 249,415 | |||
5.95% senior notes due 2013 |
346,268 | 345,719 | |||
5.50% senior notes due 2014 |
247,806 | 247,559 | |||
5.60% senior notes due 2015 |
501,804 | 501,957 | |||
6.50% senior notes due 2016 |
249,708 | 249,683 | |||
Senior floating-rate notes due 2009 |
| 300,000 | |||
Mortgage notes on land and other debt |
121,018 | 141,574 | |||
$ | 2,295,436 | 2,613,503 | |||
Our average debt outstanding was $3.1 billion in 2007, compared to $4.0 billion in 2006. The average rate for interest incurred was 5.8% in 2007, compared to 5.7% in 2006. Interest incurred related to homebuilding debt for the year ended November 30, 2007 was $199.1 million, compared to $232.1 million in 2006. The majority of our short-term financing needs, including financings for land acquisition and development activities and general operating needs, are met with cash generated from operations and funds available under our senior unsecured revolving credit facility (the Credit Facility).
The Credit Facility, as amended, consists of a $1.5 billion revolving credit facility maturing in July 2011. However, our borrowings under the Credit Facility cannot exceed a borrowing base, consisting of specified percentages of various types of our assets. The Credit Facility is guaranteed by substantially all of our subsidiaries other than finance company subsidiaries (which include mortgage and title insurance agency subsidiaries). Interest rates on outstanding borrowings are LIBOR-based, with margins determined based on changes in our credit ratings, or an alternate base rate, as described in the credit agreement. During the years ended November 30, 2007 and 2006, the average daily borrowings under the Credit Facility were $143.2 million and $447.4 million, respectively. At November 30, 2007, we had no outstanding balance under the Credit Facility. In addition, at November 30, 2007 and 2006, $443.5 million and $496.9 million, respectively, of our total letters of credit outstanding discussed below, were collateralized against certain borrowings available under the Credit Facility.
As amended, our Credit Facility requires that recourse indebtedness of joint ventures in which we participate be reduced by $300 million during our 2008 fiscal year and by an additional $200 million (for a total of $500 million) by the end of fiscal 2009.
At November 30, 2007 and 2006, we had both financial and performance letters of credit outstanding in the amount of $814.4 million and $1.4 billion, respectively. Our financial letters of credit outstanding were $424.2 million and $727.6 million, respectively, as of November 30, 2007 and 2006. These letters of credit are posted with either regulatory bodies to guarantee our performance of certain development and construction activities or in lieu of cash deposits on option contracts.
In September 2007, we terminated our structured letter of credit facility (the LC Facility) reducing the commitment amount to zero. Outstanding letters of credit issued under the LC Facility were transferred to other existing facilities or matured prior to the LC Facilitys termination.
In June 2007, we redeemed our $300 million senior floating-rate notes due 2009. The redemption price was $300.0 million, or 100% of the principal amount of the senior floating-rate notes due 2009 outstanding, plus accrued and unpaid interest as of the redemption date.
In November 2006, we redeemed our $200 million senior floating-rate notes due 2007. The redemption price was $200.0 million, or 100% of the principal amount of the senior floating-rate notes due 2007 outstanding, plus accrued and unpaid interest as of the redemption date.
In April 2006, substantially all of our outstanding 5.125% zero-coupon convertible senior subordinated notes due 2021, (the Convertible Notes) were converted by the noteholders into 4.9 million Class A common shares. The Convertible Notes were convertible at a rate of 14.2 shares of our Class A common stock per $1,000 principal amount at maturity. Convertible Notes not converted by the noteholders were not material and were
33
redeemed by us on April 4, 2006. The redemption price was $468.10 per $1,000 principal amount at maturity, which represented the original issue price plus accrued original issue discount to the redemption date.
In April 2006, we issued $250 million of 5.95% senior notes due 2011 and $250 million of 6.50% senior notes due 2016 (collectively, the New Senior Notes) at prices of 99.766% and 99.873%, respectively, in a private placement under SEC Rule 144A. Proceeds from the offering of the New Senior Notes, after initial purchasers discount and expenses, were $248.7 million and $248.9 million, respectively. We added the proceeds to our working capital to be used for general corporate purposes. Interest on the New Senior Notes is due semi-annually. The New Senior Notes are unsecured and unsubordinated, and substantially all of our subsidiaries other than finance company subsidiaries guarantee the New Senior Notes. In October 2006, we completed an exchange offer of the New Senior Notes for substantially identical notes registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (the Exchange Notes), with substantially all of the New Senior Notes being exchanged for the Exchange Notes. At November 30, 2007 and 2006, the carrying value of the Exchange Notes was $499.2 million and $499.1 million, respectively.
In March 2006, we initiated a commercial paper program (the Program) under which we issued short-term unsecured notes in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2.0 billion. This Program allowed us to obtain more favorable short-term borrowing rates than we would obtain otherwise. The Program is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933. Issuances under the Program were guaranteed by all of our wholly-owned subsidiaries that are also guarantors of our Credit Facility. The average daily borrowings under the Program in 2007 were $528.8 million, compared to average daily borrowings of $553.3 million from its inception in March 2006 through November 30, 2006.
We also had an arrangement with a financial institution whereby we entered into short-term, unsecured, fixed-rate notes from time-to-time. During the years ended November 30, 2007 and 2006, the average daily borrowings under these notes were $36.8 million and $379.0 million, respectively.
In October 2007, Moodys Investors Service (Moodys) issued a downgrade of our senior debt, lowering the rating to Ba1, and changed the rating of our commercial paper to not prime. In November 2007, Standard & Poors (S&P) issued a downgrade of our senior debt, lowering the rating to BB+ and removed the rating of our commercial paper. As a result of these rating actions, our senior debt is no longer rated as investment grade by Moodys and S&P, although it retains an investment grade rating from Fitch. As a result of our current ratings, we no longer have access to the markets for commercial paper, nor unsecured, fixed-rate notes.
In September 2005, we sold $300 million of 5.125% senior notes due 2010 (the 5.125% Senior Notes) at a price of 99.905% in a private placement. Proceeds from the offering, after initial purchasers discount and expenses, were $298.2 million. We added the proceeds to our working capital to be used for general corporate purposes. Interest on the 5.125% Senior Notes is due semi-annually. The 5.125% Senior Notes are unsecured and unsubordinated. Substantially all of our subsidiaries other than finance company subsidiaries guaranteed the 5.125% Senior Notes. In 2006, we exchanged the 5.125% Senior Notes for registered notes. The registered notes have substantially identical terms as the 5.125% Senior Notes, except that the registered notes do not include transfer restrictions that are applicable to the 5.125% Senior Notes. At both November 30, 2007 and 2006, the carrying value of the 5.125% Senior Notes was $299.8 million.
In April 2005, we sold $300 million of 5.60% Senior Notes due 2015 (the Senior Notes) at a price of 99.771%. Proceeds from the offering, after initial purchasers discount and expenses, were $297.5 million. In July 2005, we sold $200 million of 5.60% Senior Notes due 2015 at a price of 101.407%. The Senior Notes were the same issue as the Senior Notes we sold in April 2005. Proceeds from the offering, after initial purchasers discount and expenses, were $203.9 million. We added the proceeds of both offerings to our working capital to be used for general corporate purposes. Interest on the Senior Notes is due semi-annually. The Senior Notes are unsecured and unsubordinated. Substantially all of our subsidiaries other than finance company subsidiaries guaranteed the Senior Notes. The Senior Notes were subsequently exchanged for identical Senior Notes that had been registered under the Securities Act of 1933. At November 30, 2007 and 2006, the carrying value of the Senior Notes sold in April and July 2005 was $501.8 million and $502.0 million, respectively.
In May 2005, we redeemed all of our outstanding 9.95% Senior Notes due 2010 (the Notes). The redemption price was $337.7 million, or 104.975% of the principal amount of the Notes outstanding, plus accrued and unpaid interest as of the redemption date. The redemption of the Notes resulted in a $34.9 million pretax loss.
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Substantially all of our wholly-owned subsidiaries, other than finance company subsidiaries, have guaranteed all our Senior Notes (the Guaranteed Notes). The guarantees are full and unconditional and the guarantor subsidiaries are 100% directly and indirectly owned by Lennar Corporation. The principal reason our wholly-owned subsidiaries, other than finance company subsidiaries, guaranteed the Guaranteed Notes is so holders of the Guaranteed Notes will have rights at least as great with regard to our subsidiaries as any other holders of a material amount of our unsecured debt. Therefore, the guarantees of the Guaranteed Notes will remain in effect while the guarantor subsidiaries guarantee a material amount of the debt of Lennar Corporation, as a separate entity, to others. At any time, however, when a guarantor subsidiary is no longer guaranteeing at least $75 million of Lennar Corporations debt other than the Guaranteed Notes, either directly or by guaranteeing other subsidiaries obligations as guarantors of Lennar Corporations debt, the guarantor subsidiaries guarantee of the Guaranteed Notes will be suspended. Currently, the only debt the guarantor subsidiaries are guaranteeing other than the Guaranteed Notes is Lennar Corporations principal revolving bank credit line (currently the Credit Facility). Therefore, if, the guarantor subsidiaries cease guaranteeing Lennar Corporations obligations under its principal revolving bank credit line and are not guarantors of any new debt, the guarantor subsidiaries guarantees of the Guaranteed Notes will be suspended until such time, if any, as they again are guaranteeing at least $75 million of Lennar Corporations debt other than the Guaranteed Notes.
If the guarantor subsidiaries are guaranteeing a revolving credit line totaling at least $75 million, we will treat the guarantees of the Guaranteed Notes as remaining in effect even during periods when Lennar Corporations borrowings under the revolving credit line is less than $75 million. Because it is possible that our banks will permit some or all of the guarantor subsidiaries to stop guaranteeing our revolving credit line, it is possible that, at some time or times in the future, the Guaranteed Notes will no longer be guaranteed by the guarantor subsidiaries.
At November 30, 2007, our Financial Services segment had a conduit and warehouse facility totaling $1.0 billion, recently reduced from $1.1 billion in order to obtain a waiver of a financial covenant, compared to $1.4 billion at November 30, 2006. It uses those facilities to finance its lending activities until it accumulates sufficient mortgage loans to be able to sell them into the capital markets. Borrowings under the lines of credit were $505.4 million and $1.1 billion, respectively, at November 30, 2007 and 2006 and were collateralized by mortgage loans and receivables on loans sold but not yet funded by the investor with outstanding principal balances of $540.9 million and $1.3 billion, respectively, at November 30, 2007 and 2006. There are several interest rate-pricing options, which fluctuate with market rates. The effective interest rate on the facilities at November 30, 2007 and 2006 was 5.5% and 6.1%, respectively. The lines of credit consist of a conduit facility, which matures in June 2008 ($600 million) and a warehouse facility which matures in April 2008 ($425 million). In the past, we have been able to obtain renewals of these facilities at the times of their maturities; however, given our reduced volume of deliveries, our financing requirements have decreased. Therefore, we are working with several other lenders in case these facilities are not renewed. At November 30, 2007 and 2006, we had advances under a different conduit funding agreement amounting to $11.8 million and $1.7 million, respectively, which had an effective interest rate of 5.8% and 6.2%, respectively at November 30, 2007 and 2006. We also had a $25 million revolving line of credit that matures in May 2008, at which time we expect the line of credit to be renewed. The line of credit is collateralized by certain assets of the Financial Services segment and stock of certain title subsidiaries. Borrowings under the line of credit were $24.0 million and $23.7 million, respectively, at November 30, 2007 and 2006 and had an effective interest rate of 5.7% and 6.3%, respectively, at November 30, 2007 and 2006.
We had various interest rate swap agreements, which effectively converted variable interest rates to fixed interest rates on $200 million of outstanding debt related to our homebuilding operations. In June 2007, we redeemed the variable rate debt that was being hedged by the various interest rate swap agreements. Our last remaining interest rate swap was terminated in June 2007. The net effect on our operating results was that interest on the variable-rate debt being hedged was recorded based on fixed interest rates. Counterparties to these agreements were major financial institutions. At November 30, 2007, there were no interest rate swaps outstanding. At November 30, 2006, the fair value of the interest rate swaps was a $2.1 million liability. Our Financial Services segment, in the normal course of business, uses derivative financial instruments to reduce its exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. The Financial Services segment enters into forward commitments and, to a lesser extent, option contracts to protect the value of loans held-for-sale from increases in market interest rates. We do not anticipate that we will suffer credit losses from counterparty non-performance.
In January 2008, we completed an amendment to the Credit Facility that modified the minimum adjusted consolidated tangible net worth requirement and restructured the borrowing base. Therefore, effective November 30, 2007, we were in compliance with the financial covenants in our debt arrangements. However, the commitment was reduced to $1.5 billion and we are required to reduce the recourse debt of joint ventures in
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which we have investments by $300 million during our 2008 fiscal year and an additional $200 million (for a total of $500 million) by the end of fiscal 2009. If market conditions continue to deteriorate, we might have to request of our lenders additional waivers or amendments to our Credit Facility. There is no assurance that our lenders would agree to such an amendment or waiver.
Changes in Capital Structure
In June 2001, our Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program to permit the purchase of up to 20 million shares of our outstanding common stock. During 2007, there were no material share repurchases of common stock under the stock repurchase program. During 2006, we repurchased a total of 6.2 million shares of our outstanding common stock under our stock repurchase program for an aggregate purchase price including commissions of $320.1 million, or $51.59 per share. As of November 30, 2007, 6.2 million shares of common stock can be repurchased in the future under the program.
Treasury stock increased by 0.8 million Class A common shares during the year ended November 30, 2007, primarily related to forfeitures of restricted stock. In addition to the common shares purchased under our stock repurchase program during the years ended November 30, 2006 and 2005, we also repurchased approximately 0.1 million and 0.2 million Class A common shares, respectively, related to the vesting of restricted stock and distribution of common stock from our deferred compensation plan.
In 2007 and 2006, we paid dividends with regard to our Class A and Class B common stock at the rate of $0.64 per share per year (payable quarterly). In September 2005, our Board of Directors voted to increase the annual dividend rate with regard to our Class A and Class B common stock to $0.64 per share per year (payable quarterly) from $0.55 per share per year (payable quarterly).
Based on our current financial condition and credit relationships, we believe that our operations and borrowing resources will provide for our current and long-term capital requirements at our anticipated levels of activity.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Investments in Unconsolidated Entities
At November 30, 2007, we had equity investments in approximately 210 unconsolidated entities, compared to approximately 260 unconsolidated entities at November 30, 2006. Due to current market conditions, we are focused on continuing to reduce the number of unconsolidated entities that we have investments in. Our investments in unconsolidated entities by type of venture were as follows:
November 30, | |||||
2007 | 2006 | ||||
(In thousands) | |||||
Land development |
$ | 738,481 | 1,163,671 | ||
Homebuilding |
195,790 | 283,507 | |||
Total investment |
$ | 934,271 | 1,447,178 | ||
During 2007, as homebuilding market conditions deteriorated, we recorded $364.2 million of valuation adjustments related to the assets of our investments in unconsolidated entities for the year ended November 30, 2007, compared to $126.4 million for the year ended November 30, 2006. In addition, we recorded $132.2 million and $14.5 million, respectively, of APB 18 valuation adjustments to our investments in unconsolidated entities for the years ended November 30, 2007 and 2006. After the valuation adjustments, as of November 30, 2007, we believe that our investment in joint ventures (JVs) is fully recoverable. We will continue to monitor our investments and the recoverability of assets owned by the JVs.
We strategically invest in unconsolidated entities that acquire and develop land (1) for our homebuilding operations or for sale to third parties or (2) for the construction of homes for sale to third-party homebuyers. Through these entities, we primarily seek to reduce and share our risk by limiting the amount of our capital invested in land, while obtaining access to potential future homesites and allowing us to participate in strategic ventures. The use of these entities also, in some instances, enables us to acquire land to which we could not otherwise obtain access, or could not obtain access on as favorable terms, without the participation of a strategic partner. Our partners in these JVs are land owners/developers, other homebuilders and financial or strategic partners. JVs with land owners/developers give us access to homesites owned or controlled by our partner. JVs
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with other homebuilders provide us with the ability to bid jointly with our partner for large land parcels. JVs with financial partners allow us to combine our homebuilding expertise with access to our partners capital. JVs with strategic partners allow us to combine our homebuilding expertise with the specific expertise (e.g. commercial or infill experience) of our partner.
Although the strategic purposes of our JVs and the nature of our JV partners vary, the JVs are generally designed to acquire, develop and/or sell specific assets during a limited life-time. The JVs are typically structured through non-corporate entities in which control is shared with our venture partners. Each JV is unique in terms of its funding requirements and liquidity needs. We and the other JV participants typically make pro-rata cash contributions to the JV. In many cases, our risk is limited to our equity contribution and potential future capital contributions. The capital contributions usually coincide in time with the acquisition of properties by the JV. Additionally, most JVs obtain third-party debt to fund a portion of the acquisition, development and construction costs of their communities. The JV agreements usually permit, but do not require, the JVs to make additional capital calls in the future. However, capital calls relating to the repayment of joint venture debt under payment or maintenance guarantees generally is required.
Under the terms of our JV agreements, we generally have the right to share in earnings and distributions of the entities on a pro-rata basis based on our ownership percentage. Some JV agreements provide for a different allocation of profit and cash distributions if and when the cumulative results of the JV exceed specified targets (such as a specified internal rate of return). Our equity in earnings (loss) from unconsolidated entities excludes our pro-rata share of JVs earnings resulting from land sales to our homebuilding divisions. Instead, we account for those earnings as a reduction of our costs of purchasing the land from the JVs. This in effect defers recognition of our share of the JVs earnings related to these sales until we deliver a home and title passes to a third-party homebuyer.
In some instances, we are designated as the manager of the unconsolidated entity and receive fees for such services. In addition, we often enter into option contracts to acquire properties from our JVs, generally for market prices at specified dates in the future. Option contracts generally require us to make deposits using cash or irrevocable letters of credit toward the exercise price. These option deposits generally approximate 10% of the exercise price.
We regularly monitor the results of our unconsolidated JVs and any trends that may affect their future liquidity or results of operations. JVs in which we have investments are subject to a variety of financial and non-financial debt covenants related primarily to equity maintenance, fair value of collateral and minimum homesite takedown or sale requirements. We monitor the performance of JVs in which we have investments on a regular basis to assess compliance with debt covenants. For those JVs not in compliance with the debt covenants, we evaluate and assess possible impairment of our investment.
Our arrangements with JVs generally do not restrict our activities or those of the other participants. However, in certain instances, we agree not to engage in some types of activities that may be viewed as competitive with the activities of these ventures in the localities where the JVs do business.
As discussed above, the JVs in which we invest generally supplement equity contributions with third-party debt to finance their activities. In many instances, the debt financing is non-recourse, thus neither we nor the other equity partners are a party to the debt instruments. In other cases, we and the other partners agree to provide credit support in the form of repayment or maintenance guarantees.
Material contractual obligations of our unconsolidated JVs primarily relate to the debt obligations described above. The JVs generally do not enter into lease commitments because the entities are managed either by us, or another of the JV participants, who supply the necessary facilities and employee services in exchange for market-based management fees. However, they do enter into management contracts with the participants who manage them. Some JVs also enter into agreements with developers, which may be us or other JV participants, to develop raw land into finished homesites or to build homes.
The JVs often enter into option agreements with buyers, which may include us or other JV participants, to deliver homesites or parcels in the future at market prices. Option deposits are recorded by the JVs as liabilities until the exercise dates at which time the deposit and remaining exercise proceeds are recorded as revenue. Any forfeited deposit is recognized as revenue at the time of forfeiture. Our unconsolidated JVs generally do not enter into off-balance sheet arrangements.
As described above, the liquidity needs of JVs in which we have investments vary on an entity-by-entity basis depending on each entitys purpose and the stage in its life cycle. During formation and development
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activities, the entities generally require cash, which is provided through a combination of equity contributions and debt financing, to fund acquisition and development of properties. As the properties are completed and sold, cash generated is available to repay debt and for distribution to the JVs members. Thus, the amount of cash available for a JV to distribute at any given time is a function of the scope of the JVs activities and the stage in the JVs life cycle.
We track our share of cumulative earnings and cumulative distributions of our JVs. For purposes of classifying distributions received from JVs in our statements of cash flows, cumulative distributions are treated as returns on capital to the extent of cumulative earnings and included in our consolidated statements of cash flows as operating activities. Cumulative distributions in excess of our share of cumulative earnings are treated as returns of capital and included in our consolidated statements of cash flows as investing activities.
At November 30, 2007, the unconsolidated entities in which we had investments had total assets of $9.1 billion and total liabilities of $6.3 billion, which included $5.1 billion of debt. These unconsolidated entities usually finance their activities with a combination of partner equity and debt financing. As of November 30, 2007, our equity in these unconsolidated entities represented 34% of the entities total equity. Indebtedness of an unconsolidated entity is secured by its own assets. There is no cross collateralization of debt to different unconsolidated entities; however, some unconsolidated entities own multiple properties and other assets.
In connection with a loan to an unconsolidated entity, we and our partners often guarantee to a lender either jointly and severally or on a several basis, any, or all of the following: (i) the completion of the development, in whole or in part, (ii) indemnification of the lender from environmental issues, (iii) indemnification of the lender from bad boy acts of the unconsolidated entity (or full recourse liability in the event of unauthorized transfer or bankruptcy) and (iv) that the loan to value and/or loan to cost will not exceed a certain percentage (maintenance or remargining guarantee) or that a percentage of the outstanding loan will be repaid (repayment guarantee).
In connection with loans to an unconsolidated entity where there is a joint and several guarantee, we often have a reimbursement agreement with our partner. The reimbursement agreement provides that neither party is responsible for more than its proportionate share of the guarantee. However, if our joint venture partner does not have adequate financial resources to meet its obligations under the reimbursement agreement, we may be liable for more than our proportionate share, up to our maximum exposure, which is the full amount covered by the joint and several guarantee.
The summary of our net recourse exposure related to our unconsolidated entities was as follows:
November 30, | |||||||
2007 | 2006 | ||||||
(In thousands) | |||||||
Sole recourse debt |
$ | | 18,920 | ||||
Several recourse debtrepayment |
123,022 | 163,508 | |||||
Several recourse debtmaintenance |
355,513 | 560,823 | |||||
Joint and several recourse debtrepayment |
263,364 | 64,473 | |||||
Joint and several recourse debtmaintenance |
291,727 | 956,682 | |||||
Lennars maximum recourse exposure |
1,033,626 | 1,764,406 | |||||
Less joint and several reimbursement agreements with Lennars partners |
(238,692 | ) | (661,486 | ) | |||
Lennars net recourse exposure |
$ | 794,934 | 1,102,920 | ||||
The maintenance amounts above are our maximum exposure to loss from maintenance guarantees, which assumes that the fair value of the underlying collateral is zero because it does not take into account the underlying value of the collateral.
As amended, our Credit Facility requires us to reduce the recourse debt of joint ventures in which we have investments by $300 million during our 2008 fiscal year and by an additional $200 million (for a total of $500 million) by the end of fiscal 2009.
In addition, we and/or our partners occasionally grant liens on our respective interests in an unconsolidated entity in order to help secure a loan to that entity. When we and/or our partners provide guarantees, the unconsolidated entity generally receives more favorable terms from its lenders than would otherwise be available to it. In a repayment guarantee, we and our venture partners guarantee repayment of a portion or all of the debt in the event of a default before the lender would have to exercise its rights against the collateral. The maintenance guarantees only apply if the value of the collateral (generally land and improvements) is less than a specified
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percentage of the loan balance. If we are required to make a payment under a maintenance guarantee to bring the value of the collateral above the specified percentage of the loan balance, the payment may constitute a capital contribution or loan to the unconsolidated entity and increase our share of any funds the unconsolidated entity distributes. During the year ended November 30, 2007, amounts paid under our maintenance guarantees were $84.1 million. During the year ended November 30, 2006, we did not make any material payments under maintenance guarantees. In accordance with FASB Interpretation No. 45, Guarantors Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others, as of November 30, 2007, the fair values of the maintenance guarantees and repayment guarantees were not material. We believe that as of November 30, 2007, if there was an occurrence of a triggering event or condition under a guarantee, the collateral should be sufficient to repay a significant portion of the obligation or in certain circumstances, partners may be requested to contribute additional capital into the venture.
In many of the loans to unconsolidated entities, we and another entity or entities generally related to our subsidiarys joint venture partner(s), have been required to give guarantees of completion to the lenders. Those completion guarantees may require that the guarantors complete the construction of the improvements for which the financing was obtained. If the construction was to be done in phases, very often the guarantee is to complete only the phases as to which construction has already commenced and for which loan proceeds were used. Under many of the completion guarantees, the guarantors are permitted, under certain circumstances, to use undisbursed loan proceeds to satisfy the completion of obligations, and in many of those cases, pay interest only on those funds, with no repayment of the principal of such funds required.
The total debt of the unconsolidated entities was as follows:
November 30, | |||||
2007 | 2006 | ||||
(In thousands) | |||||
Lennars net recourse exposure |
$ | 794,934 | 1,102,920 | ||
Reimbursement agreements from partners |
238,692 | 661,486 | |||
Partner several recourse |
465,641 | 930,177 | |||
Non-recourse land seller debt or other debt |
202,048 | 259,191 | |||
Non-recourse debt with completion guarantees |
1,432,880 | 948,438 | |||
Non-recourse debt without completion guarantees |
1,982,475 | 1,099,413 | |||
Total debt |
$ | 5,116,670 | 5,001,625 | ||
Some of the unconsolidated entities debt arrangements contain certain financial covenants. As market conditions deteriorated in the year ended November 30, 2007, we closely monitored these covenants and the unconsolidated entities ability to comply with them. In these difficult market conditions, some of the unconsolidated entities may have to request of their lenders waivers or amendments to debt agreements so that the unconsolidated entities would remain in compliance with such covenants. Additionally, we may have to extend or refinance the debt of our unconsolidated entities if the operations of the unconsolidated entities are not on track to meet their projected cash flows.
Summarized financial information on a combined 100% basis related to unconsolidated entities in which we had investments that are accounted for by the equity method was as follows:
Balance Sheets |
November 30, | ||||
2007 | 2006 | ||||
(In thousands) | |||||
Assets: |
|||||
Cash |
$ | 301,468 | 276,501 | ||
Inventories |
7,941,835 | 8,955,567 | |||
Other assets |
827,208 | 868,073 | |||
$ | 9,070,511 | 10,100,141 | |||
Liabilities and equity: |
|||||
Accounts payable and other liabilities |
$ | 1,214,374 | 1,387,745 | ||
Debt |
5,116,670 | 5,001,625 | |||
Equity of: |
|||||
Lennar |
934,271 | 1,447,178 | |||
Others |
1,805,196 | 2,263,593 | |||
$ | 9,070,511 | 10,100,141 | |||
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Debt to total capital of our unconsolidated entities is calculated as follows:
November 30, | |||||||
2007 | 2006 | ||||||
(Dollars in thousands) | |||||||
Debt |
$ | 5,116,670 | 5,001,625 | ||||
Equity |
2,739,467 | 3,710,771 | |||||
Total capital |
$ | 7,856,137 | 8,712,396 | ||||
Debt to total capital of our unconsolidated entities |
65.1 | % | 57.4 | % | |||
As of November 30, 2007, debt-to-total capital of our unconsolidated entities, excluding our LandSource joint venture, was 61.1%, compared to 59.2% at November 30, 2006.
Statements of Operations and Selected Information |
Years Ended November 30, | |||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||||
(Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||
Revenues |
$ | 2,060,279 | 2,651,932 | 2,676,628 | ||||||
Costs and expenses: |
3,075,696 | 2,588,196 | 2,020,470 | |||||||
Net earnings (loss) of unconsolidated entities |
$ | (1,015,417 | ) | 63,736 | 656,158 | |||||
Our share of net earnings (loss) (1) |
$ | (353,946 | ) | 24,918 | 241,631 | |||||
Our share of net earnings (loss)recognized (1) |
$ | (362,899 | ) | (12,536 | ) | 133,814 | ||||
Our cumulative share of net earningsdeferred at November 30 |
$ | 34,731 | 99,360 | 151,182 | ||||||
Our investments in unconsolidated entities |
$ | 934,271 | 1,447,178 | 1,282,686 | ||||||
Equity of the unconsolidated entities |
$ | 2,739,467 | 3,710,771 | 3,334,549 | ||||||
Our investment % in the unconsolidated entities |
34.1 | % | 39.0 | % | 38.5 | % | ||||
(1) | For the years ended November 30, 2007 and 2006, our share of net earnings (loss) recognized from unconsolidated entities includes $364.2 million and $126.4 million, respectively, of our share of SFAS 144 valuation adjustments related to assets of the unconsolidated entities. There were no SFAS 144 valuation adjustments related to assets of the unconsolidated entities for the year ended November 30, 2005. |
In February 2007, our LandSource joint venture admitted MW Housing Partners as a new strategic partner. As part of the transaction, the joint venture obtained $1.6 billion of non-recourse financing, which consisted of a $200 million five-year Revolving Credit Facility, a $1.1 billion six-year Term Loan B Facility and a $244 million seven-year Second Lien Term Facility. The transaction resulted in a cash distribution to us of $707.6 million. As a result, our ownership in LandSource was reduced to 16%. As a result of the recapitalization, we recognized a pretax financial statement gain of $175.9 million during the year ended November 30, 2007 and could potentially recognize additional profits in future years, in addition to profits from our continuing ownership interest. During the year ended November 30, 2007, we recognized $24.7 million of profit deferred at the time of the recapitalization of the LandSource joint venture in management fees and other income (expense), net.
Option Contracts
In our homebuilding operations, we have access to land through option contracts, which generally enables us to control portions of properties owned by third parties (including land funds) and unconsolidated entities until we have determined whether to exercise the option.
A majority of our option contracts require a non-refundable cash deposit or irrevocable letter of credit based on a percentage of the purchase price of the land. These option deposits generally approximate 10% of the exercise price. Our option contracts sometimes include price escalators, which adjust the purchase price of the land to its approximate fair value at time of the acquisition or is based on market value at the time of takedown. The exercise periods of our option contracts generally range from one-to-ten years.
Our investments in option contracts are recorded at cost unless those investments are determined to be impaired, in which case our investments are written down to fair value. We review option contracts for impairment during each reporting period in accordance with SFAS 144. The most significant indicator of impairment is a decline in the fair value of the optioned property such that the purchase and development of the optioned property would no longer meet our targeted return on investment. Such declines could be caused by a
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variety of factors including increased competition, decreases in demand or changes in local regulations that adversely impact the cost of development. Changes in any of these factors would cause us to re-evaluate the likelihood of exercising our land options.
Some option contracts contain a predetermined take-down schedule for the optioned land parcels. However, in almost all instances, we are not required to purchase land in accordance with those take-down schedules. In substantially all instances, we have the right and ability to not exercise our option and forfeit our deposit without further penalty, other than termination of the option and loss of any unapplied portion of our deposit and pre-acquisition costs. Therefore, in substantially all instances, we do not consider the take-down price to be a firm contractual obligation.
When we intend not to exercise an option, we write-off any deposit and pre-acquisition costs associated with the option contract. For the years ended November 30, 2007 and 2006, we wrote-off $530.0 million and $152.2 million, respectively, of option deposits and pre-acquisition costs related to 36,900 homesites and 24,200 homesites, respectively, under option that we do not intend to purchase.
The table below indicates the number of homesites owned and homesites to which we had access through option contracts with third parties (optioned) or unconsolidated joint ventures in which we have investments (JVs) (i.e., controlled homesites) for each of our homebuilding segments and Homebuilding Other at November 30, 2007 and 2006:
November 30, 2007 |
Controlled Homesites | Owned Homesites |
Total Homesites | |||||||
Optioned | JVs | Total | ||||||||
East |
14,888 | 14,091 | 28,979 | 24,014 | 52,993 | |||||
Central |
5,783 | 16,373 | 22,156 | 14,919 | 37,075 | |||||
West |
1,243 | 30,800 | 32,043 | 15,300 | 47,343 | |||||
Other |
963 | 1,729 | 2,692 | 8,568 | 11,260 | |||||
Total homesites |
22,877 | 62,993 | 85,870 | 62,801 | 148,671 | |||||
November 30, 2006 |
Controlled Homesites | Owned Homesites |
Total Homesites | |||||||
Optioned | JVs | Total | ||||||||
East |
42,733 | 17,898 | 60,631 | 36,169 | 96,800 | |||||
Central |
27,435 | 30,815 | 58,250 | 21,887 | 80,137 | |||||
West |
17,959 | 43,789 | 61,748 | 22,390 | 84,138 | |||||
Other |
6,631 | 2,019 | 8,650 | 11,879 | 20,529 | |||||
Total homesites |
94,758 | 94,521 | 189,279 | 92,325 | 281,604 | |||||
We evaluated all option contracts for land when entered into or upon a reconsideration event to determine whether we are the primary beneficiary of certain of these option contracts. Although we do not have legal title to the optioned land, under FIN 46(R), if we are deemed to be the primary beneficiary, we are required to consolidate the land under option at the purchase price of the optioned land. During the years ended November 30, 2007 and 2006, the effect of the consolidation entries associated with these option contracts was an increase of $345.3 million and $548.7 million, respectively, to consolidated inventory not owned with a corresponding increase to liabilities related to consolidated inventory not owned in our consolidated balance sheets as of November 30, 2007 and 2006. In addition, in 2007, we reclassified $525.0 million from inventory to consolidated inventory not owned as a result of the land transaction with Morgan Stanley Real Estate Fund II, L.P. This increase was partially offset by the exercising of our options to acquire land under certain contracts previously consolidated under FASB Interpretation No. 46(R), Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, (FIN 46R) and deconsolidation of certain option contracts, resulting in a net increase in consolidated inventory not owned of $447.3 million. To reflect the purchase price of the inventory consolidated under FIN 46R, we reclassified $65.6 million of related option deposits from land under development to consolidated inventory not owned in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of November 30, 2007. The liabilities related to consolidated inventory not owned primarily represent the difference between the option exercise prices for the optioned land and our cash deposits.
At November 30, 2007 and 2006, our exposure to loss related to our option contracts with third parties and unconsolidated entities consisted of our non-refundable deposits and pre-acquisition costs totaling $317.1 million and $785.9 million, respectively, and $193.3 million and $553.4 million, respectively, of letters of credit posted in lieu of cash deposits.
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Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments
The following table summarizes our contractual obligations at November 30, 2007:
Contractual Obligations |
Payments Due by Period | ||||||||||
Total | Less than 1 year |
1 to 3 years |
3 to 5 years |
More than 5 years | |||||||
(In thousands) | |||||||||||
HomebuildingSenior notes and other debts payable |
$ | 2,295,436 | 90,229 | 610,105 | 249,516 | 1,345,586 | |||||
Financial servicesNotes and other debts payable |
541,437 | 541,306 | 95 | 25 | 11 | ||||||
Interest commitments under interest bearing debt* |
682,886 | 136,619 | 222,109 | 170,123 | 154,035 | ||||||
Operating leases |
201,213 | 71,053 | 78,673 | 37,924 | 13,563 | ||||||
Total contractual cash obligations |
$ | 3,720,972 | 839,207 | 910,982 | 457,588 | 1,513,195 | |||||
* | Interest commitments on variable interest-bearing debt are determined based on the interest rate as of November 30, 2007. |
We are subject to the usual obligations associated with entering into contracts (including option contracts) for the purchase, development and sale of real estate in the routine conduct of our business. Option contracts for the purchase of land generally enable us to defer acquiring portions of properties owned by third parties and unconsolidated entities until we have determined whether to exercise our option. This reduces our financial risk associated with land holdings. At November 30, 2007, we had access to 85,870 homesites through option contracts with third parties and unconsolidated entities in which we have investments. At November 30, 2007, we had $317.1 million of non-refundable option deposits and pre-acquisition costs related to certain of these homesites and $193.3 million of letters of credit posted in lieu of cash deposits under certain option contracts.
At November 30, 2007, we had letters of credit outstanding in the amount of $814.4 million (including the $193.3 million of letters of credit discussed above). These letters of credit are generally posted either with regulatory bodies to guarantee our performance of certain development and construction activities or in lieu of cash deposits on option contracts. Additionally, we had outstanding performance and surety bonds related to site improvements at various projects of $1.6 billion. Although significant development and construction activities have been completed related to these site improvements, these bonds are generally not released until all of the development and construction activities are completed. We do not believe there will be any draws upon these bonds, but if there were any, we do not believe they would have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.
Our Financial Services segment had a pipeline of loan applications in process of $1.2 billion at November 30, 2007. Loans in process for which interest rates were committed to the borrowers and builder commitments for loan programs totaled $209.7 million as of November 30, 2007. 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 or because borrowers may not meet certain criteria at the time of closing, the total commitments do not necessarily represent future cash requirements.
Our Financial Services segment uses mandatory mortgage-backed securities (MBS) forward commitments, option contracts and investor commitments to hedge our 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 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 and option contracts. At November 30, 2007, we had open commitments amounting to $281.0 million to sell MBS with varying settlement dates through January 2008.
The following sections discuss economic conditions, market and financing risk, seasonality and interest rates and changing prices that may have an impact on our business:
Economic Conditions
Throughout 2007, market conditions in the homebuilding industry continued to deteriorate. This market deterioration was driven primarily by a decline in consumer confidence and increased volatility in the mortgage market, resulting in higher than normal cancellation rates (30% and 29%, respectively, in 2007 and 2006) and
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lower net new orders (new orders were down 39% and 3%, respectively, in 2007 and 2006) for our company. Therefore, we made greater use of sales incentives ($48,000 per home delivered in 2007, compared to $32,000 per home delivered in 2006) to generate sales, which resulted in lower inventory levels. A continued decline in the prices for new homes could adversely affect our revenues and margins, as well as the carrying value of our inventory and other investments.
Market and Financing Risk
We finance our contributions to JVs, land acquisition and development activities, construction activities, financial services activities and general operating needs primarily with cash generated from operations and public debt issuances, as well as cash borrowed under our revolving credit facility and borrowings under our warehouse lines of credit. We also purchase land under option agreements, which enables us to control homesites until we have determined whether to exercise the option. The financial risks of adverse market conditions associated with land holdings are managed by what we believe to be prudent underwriting of land purchases in areas we view as desirable growth markets, careful management of the land development process and, until 2007, limitation of risks by using partners to share the costs of purchasing and developing land, as well as obtaining access to land through option contracts.
Seasonality
We have historically experienced variability in our results of operations from quarter-to-quarter due to the seasonal nature of the homebuilding business. Due to deteriorating market conditions, we are currently focusing our efforts, in all quarters, on inventory management in order to deliver inventory and generate cash.
Interest Rates and Changing Prices
Inflation can have a long-term impact on us because increasing costs of land, materials and labor result in a need to increase the sales prices of homes. In addition, inflation is often accompanied by higher interest rates, which can have a negative impact on housing demand and the costs of financing land development activities and housing construction. Rising interest rates, as well as increased materials and labor costs, may reduce gross margins. An increase in material and labor costs, along with a decrease in home sales price in 2007 compared to the appreciation in homes sales prices in previous years, have contributed to lower gross margins and significant inventory valuation adjustments. In recent years, the increases in these costs have followed the general rate of inflation and hence have not had a significant adverse impact on us. In addition, deflation can impact the value of real estate and make it difficult for us to recover our land costs. Therefore, either inflation or deflation could adversely impact our future results of operations.
New Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes-an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109, (FIN 48). FIN 48 provides interpretive guidance for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. FIN 48 is effective for us on December 1, 2007. The adoption of FIN 48 is expected to result in a charge of approximately $30 million to our retained earnings as of December 1, 2007.
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements, (SFAS 157). SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS 157 is effective for our financial assets and liabilities on December 1, 2007. The FASB has proposed a deferral of the provisions of SFAS 157 relating to nonfinancial assets and liabilities that would delay implementation by us until December 1, 2008. SFAS 157 is not expected to materially affect how we determine fair value, but may result in certain additional disclosures.
In November 2006, the FASB issued Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 06-8, Applicability of the Assessment of a Buyers Continuing Investment under FASB Statement No. 66 for Sales of Condominiums, (EITF 06-8). EITF 06-8 establishes that a company should evaluate the adequacy of the buyers continuing investment in determining whether to recognize profit under the percentage-of-completion method. EITF 06-8 is effective for our fiscal year beginning December 1, 2007. The adoption of EITF 06-8 is not expected to be material to our consolidated financial statements.
In February 2007, the FASB issued FAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial LiabilitiesIncluding an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115, (SFAS 159). SFAS 159 permits companies to
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measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. SFAS 159 is effective for us on December 1, 2007. We did not elect the fair value option for any of our existing financial instruments on the effective date and have not determined whether or not we will elect this option for any eligible financial instruments we acquire in the future.
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statementsan amendment of ARB No. 51 (SFAS 160). SFAS 160 requires that a noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary be reported as equity and the amount of consolidated net income specifically attributable to the noncontrolling interest be identified in the consolidated financial statements. It also calls for consistency in the manner of reporting changes in the parents ownership interest and requires fair value measurement of any noncontrolling equity investment retained in a deconsolidation. SFAS 160 is effective for our fiscal year beginning December 1, 2009. We will evaluate the impact the adoption of SFAS 160 will have on our consolidated financial statements.
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007), Business Combinations (SFAS 141R). SFAS 141R broadens the guidance of SFAS 141, extending its applicability to all transactions and other events in which one entity obtains control over one or more other businesses. It broadens the fair value measurement and recognition of assets acquired, liabilities assumed, and interests transferred as a result of business combinations. SFAS 141R expands on required disclosures to improve the statement users abilities to evaluate the nature and financial effects of business combinations. SFAS 141R is effective for our fiscal year beginning December 1, 2009. We do not expect the adoption of SFAS 141R to have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our accounting policies are more fully described in Note 1 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this document. As discussed in Note 1, the preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions about future events that affect the amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Future events and their effects cannot be determined with absolute certainty. Therefore, the determination of estimates requires the exercise of judgment. Actual results could differ from those estimates, and such differences may be material to our consolidated financial statements. Listed below are those policies and estimates that we believe are critical and require the use of significant judgment in their application.
Homebuilding Operations
Revenue Recognition
Revenues from sales of homes are recognized when sales are closed and title passes to the new homeowner, the new homeowners initial and continuing investment is adequate to demonstrate a commitment to pay for the home, the new homeowners receivable is not subject to future subordination and we do not have a substantial continuing involvement with the new home in accordance with SFAS No. 66, Accounting for Sales of Real Estate, (SFAS 66). Revenues from sales of land are recognized when a significant down payment is received, the earnings process is complete, title passes and collectibility of the receivable is reasonably assured. We believe that the accounting policy related to revenue recognition is a critical accounting policy because of the significance of revenue.
Inventories
Inventories are stated at cost unless the inventory within a community is determined to be impaired, in which case the impaired inventory is written down to fair value. Inventory costs include land, land development and home construction costs, real estate taxes, deposits on land purchase contracts and interest related to development and construction. We review inventories for impairment during each reporting period on a community by community basis. SFAS 144 requires that if the undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by an asset are less than its carrying amount, an impairment charge should be recorded to write down the carrying amount of such asset to its fair value.
In conducting our review for indicators of impairment on a community level, we evaluate, among other things, the margins on homes that have been delivered, margins under sales contracts in backlog, projected
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margins with regard to future home sales over the life of the community, projected margins with regard to future land sales, and the fair value of the land itself. We pay particular attention to communities in which inventory is moving at a slower than anticipated absorption pace and communities whose average sales price and/or margins are trending downward and are anticipated to continue to trend downward. From this review we identify communities whose carrying values exceed their undiscounted cash flows.
We estimate the fair value of our communities using a discounted cash flow model. These projected cash flows for each community are significantly impacted by estimates related to market supply and demand, product type by community, homesite sizes, sales pace, sales prices, sales incentives, construction costs, sales and marketing expenses, the local economy, competitive conditions, labor costs, costs of materials and other factors for that particular community. The determination of fair value also requires discounting the estimated cash flows at a rate commensurate with the inherent risks associated with the assets and related estimated cash flow streams. The discount rate used in determining each assets fair value depends on the communitys projected life and development stage. We generally use discount rates ranging from 15% to 20% depending on the perceived risks associated with the communitys cash flow streams relative to its inventory. For example, construction in progress inventory which is closer to completion will generally require a lower discount rate than land under development in communities consisting of multiple phases spanning several years of development.
We estimate fair values of inventory evaluated for impairment under SFAS 144 based on current market conditions and current assumptions made by management, which may differ materially from actual results if market conditions change. For example, further market deterioration may lead to us incurring additional impairment charges on previously impaired inventory, as well as on inventory not currently impaired but for which indicators of impairment may arise if further market deterioration occurs.
We also have access to land inventory through option contracts, which generally enables us to defer acquiring portions of properties owned by third parties and unconsolidated entities until we have determined whether to exercise our option. A majority of our option contracts require a non-refundable cash deposit or irrevocable letter of credit based on a percentage of the purchase price of the land. Our option contracts are recorded at cost. In determining whether to walk-away from an option contract, we evaluate the option primarily based upon the expected cash flows from the property that is the subject of the option. If we intend to walk-away from an option contract, we record a charge to earnings in the period such decision is made for the deposit amount and related pre-acquisition costs associated with the option contract.
We believe that the accounting related to inventory valuation and impairment is a critical accounting policy because: (1) assumptions inherent in the valuation of our inventory are highly subjective and susceptible to change and (2) the impact of recognizing impairments on our inventory could be material to our consolidated financial statements. Our evaluation of inventory impairment, as discussed above, includes many assumptions. The critical assumptions include the timing of the home sales within a community, management projections of selling prices and costs and the discount rate applied to estimate the fair value of the homesites within a community on the balance sheet date. Our assumptions on the timing of home sales are critical because the homebuilding industry has historically been cyclical and sensitive to changes in economic conditions such as interest rates, credit availability, unemployment levels and consumer sentiment. Changes in these economic conditions could materially affect the projected sales price, costs to develop the homesites and/or absorption rate in a community. Our assumptions on discount rates are critical because the selection of a discount rate affects the estimated fair value of the homesites within a community. A higher discount rate reduces the estimated fair value of the homesites within the community, while a lower discount rate increases the estimated fair value of the homesites within a community. Because of changes in economic and market conditions and assumptions and estimates required of management in valuing inventory during changing market conditions, actual results could differ materially from managements assumptions and may require material inventory impairment charges to be recorded in the future.
During the years ended November 30, 2007, 2006 and 2005, we recorded $2.4 billion, $501.8 million and $20.5 million, respectively, of inventory adjustments, which included $747.8 million and $280.5 million, respectively, in 2007 and 2006, of valuation adjustments to finished homes, construction in progress and land on which we intend to build homes (no adjustments in 2005), $1.2 billion, $69.1 million and $5.4 million, respectively, in 2007, 2006 and 2005, of valuation adjustments to land we intend to sell to third parties and $530.0 million, $152.2 million and $15.1 million, respectively, in 2007, 2006 and 2005 of write-offs of deposits and pre-acquisition costs. The $1.2 billion of valuation adjustments recorded in 2007 to land we intend to sell to third parties includes $740.4 million of SFAS 144 valuation adjustments related to the portfolio of land we sold to our strategic land investment venture with Morgan Stanley Real Estate Fund II, L.P., an affiliate of Morgan
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Stanley & Co., Inc., which was formed in November 2007. The valuation adjustments were calculated based on current market conditions and current assumptions made by management, which may differ materially from actual results if market conditions change. See Note 4 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this document for details related to valuation adjustments and write-offs by reportable segment and homebuilding other.
Warranty Costs
Although we subcontract virtually all aspects of construction to others and our contracts call for the subcontractors to repair or replace any deficient items related to their trades, we are primarily responsible to correct any deficiencies. Additionally, in some instances, we may be held responsible for the actions of or losses incurred by subcontractors. Warranty reserves are established at an amount estimated to be adequate to cover potential costs for materials and labor with regard to warranty-type claims expected to be incurred subsequent to the delivery of a home. Reserves are determined based upon historical data and trends with respect to similar product types and geographical areas. We believe the accounting estimate related to the reserve for warranty costs is a critical accounting estimate because the estimate requires a large degree of judgment.
At November 30, 2007, the reserve for warranty costs was $164.8 million. While we believe that the reserve for warranty costs is adequate, there can be no assurances that historical data and trends will accurately predict our actual warranty costs. Additionally, there can be no assurances that future economic or financial developments might not lead to a significant change in the reserve.
Investments in Unconsolidated Entities
We frequently invest in entities that acquire and develop land for sale to us in connection with our homebuilding operations or for sale to third parties. Our partners generally are unrelated homebuilders, land owners/developers and financial or other strategic partners.
Most of the unconsolidated entities through which we acquire and develop land are accounted for by the equity method of accounting because we are not the primary beneficiary, as defined under FIN 46R, and we have a significant, but less than controlling, interest in the entities. We record our investments in these entities in our consolidated balance sheets as Investments in Unconsolidated Entities and our pro-rata share of the entities earnings or losses in our consolidated statements of operations as Equity in Earnings (Loss) from Unconsolidated Entities, as described in Note 6 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements. Advances to these entities are included in the investment balance.
Management uses its judgment when determining if we are the primary beneficiary of, or have a controlling interest in, an unconsolidated entity. Factors considered in determining whether we have significant influence or we have control include risk and reward sharing, experience and financial condition of the other partners, voting rights, involvement in day-to-day capital and operating decisions and continuing involvement. The accounting policy relating to the use of the equity method of accounting is a critical accounting policy due to the judgment required in determining whether we are the primary beneficiary or have control or significant influence.
As of November 30, 2007, we believe that the equity method of accounting is appropriate for our investments in unconsolidated entities where we are not the primary beneficiary and we do not have a controlling interest, but rather share control with our partners. At November 30, 2007, the unconsolidated entities in which we had investments had total assets of $9.1 billion and total liabilities of $6.3 billion.
We evaluate our investments in unconsolidated entities for impairment during each reporting period in accordance with APB 18. A series of operating losses of an investee or other factors may indicate that a decrease in the value of our investment in the unconsolidated entity has occurred which is other-than-temporary. The amount of impairment recognized is the excess of the investments carrying value over its estimated fair value.
The evaluation of our investment in unconsolidated entities includes two critical assumptions: (1) projected future distributions from the unconsolidated entities and (2) discount rates applied to the future distributions.
Our assumptions on the projected future distributions from the unconsolidated entities are dependent on market conditions. Specifically, distributions are dependent on cash to be generated from the sale of inventory by the unconsolidated entities. Such inventory is also reviewed for potential impairment by the unconsolidated
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entities in accordance with SFAS 144. The unconsolidated entities generally use discount rates ranging from 15% to 20% in their SFAS 144 reviews for impairment. If a valuation adjustment is recorded by an unconsolidated entity in accordance with SFAS 144, our proportionate share of it is reflected in our equity in earnings (loss) from unconsolidated entities with a corresponding decrease to our investment in unconsolidated entities. In certain instances, we may be required to record additional losses relating to our investment in unconsolidated entities under APB 18; such losses are included in management fees and other income (expense), net. We believe our assumptions on the projected future distributions from the unconsolidated entities are critical because the operating results of the unconsolidated entities from which the projected distributions are derived are dependent on the status of the homebuilding industry, which has historically been cyclical and sensitive to changes in economic conditions such as interest rates, credit availability, unemployment levels and consumer sentiment. Changes in these economic conditions could materially affect the projected operational results of the unconsolidated entities from which the distributions are derived.
We believe our assumptions on discount rates are also critical accounting policies because the selection of the discount rates also affects the estimated fair value of our investment in unconsolidated entities. A higher discount rate reduces the estimated fair value of our investment in unconsolidated entities, while a lower discount rate increases the estimated fair value of its investment in unconsolidated entities. Because of changes in economic conditions, actual results could differ materially from managements assumptions and may require material valuation adjustments to our investments in unconsolidated entities to be recorded in the future.
During the years ended November 30, 2007 and 2006, we recorded $496.4 million and $140.9 million, respectively, of adjustments to our investments in unconsolidated entities, which included $364.2 million and $126.4 million, respectively, in 2007 and 2006, of SFAS 144 valuation adjustments related to assets of the unconsolidated investments and $132.2 million and $14.5 million, respectively, in 2007 and 2006, of valuation adjustments to investments in unconsolidated entities in accordance with APB 18. We did not record any adjustments to our investments in unconsolidated entities related to SFAS 144 valuation adjustments or APB 18 during 2005. These valuation adjustments were calculated based on current market conditions and assumptions made by management, which may differ materially from actual results if market conditions change. See Note 4 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this document for details related to valuation adjustments and write-offs by reportable segment and homebuilding other.
Financial Services Operations
Revenue Recognition
Loan origination revenues, net of direct origination costs, and gains and losses from the sale of loans and loan servicing rights are recognized when the loans are sold and shipped to an investor. Premiums from title insurance policies are recognized as revenue on the effective dates of the policies. Escrow fees are recognized at the time the related real estate transactions are completed, usually upon the close of escrow. Interest income on loans held-for-sale and loans held-for-investment is recognized as earned over the terms of the mortgage loans based on the contractual interest rates. In all circumstances, we do not recognize revenue until the earnings process is complete and collectibility of the receivable is reasonably assured. We believe that the accounting policy related to revenue recognition is a critical accounting policy because of the significance of revenue.
Allowance for Loan and Other Losses
We provide an allowance for loan losses by taking into consideration various factors such as past loan loss experience, present economic conditions and other factors considered relevant by management. Anticipated changes in economic conditions, which may influence the level of the allowance, are considered in the evaluation by management when the likelihood of the changes can be reasonably determined. This analysis is based on judgments and estimates and may change in response to economic developments or other conditions that may influence borrowers financial conditions or prospects. At November 30, 2007, the allowance for loan losses was $11.1 million, compared to $1.8 million at November 30, 2006. While we believe that the 2007 year-end allowance is adequate, particularly in view of the fact that we usually sell the loans in the secondary mortgage market on a non-recourse basis within 60 days after we originate them, remaining liable for certain representations and warranties, there can be no assurances that further deterioration in the housing market, future economic or financial developments, including general interest rate increases or a slowdown in the economy, might not lead to increased provisions to the allowance or a higher occurrence of loan charge-offs. This allowance requires managements judgment and estimate. For these reasons, we believe that the accounting estimate related to the allowance for loan losses is a critical accounting estimate.
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We provide an allowance for estimated title and escrow losses based upon managements evaluation of claims presented and estimates for any incurred but not reported claims. The allowance is established at a level that management estimates to be sufficient to satisfy those claims where a loss is determined to be probable and the amount of such loss can be reasonably estimated. The allowance for title and escrow losses for both known and incurred but not reported claims is considered by management to be adequate for such purposes.
Homebuilding and Financial Services Operations
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price paid over the fair value of the net assets acquired in business combinations. Evaluating goodwill for impairment involves the determination of the fair value of our reporting units in which we have recorded goodwill. A reporting unit is a component of an operating segment for which discrete financial information is available and reviewed by management on a regular basis. Inherent in the determination of fair value of our reporting units are certain estimates and judgments, including the interpretation of current economic indicators and market valuations as well as our strategic plans with regard to our operations. To the extent additional information arises or our strategies change, it is possible that our conclusion regarding goodwill impairment could change, which could have a material effect on our financial position and results of operations. For these reasons, we believe that the accounting estimate related to goodwill impairment is a critical accounting estimate.
We review goodwill annually (or whenever indicators of impairment exist) for impairment in accordance with SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, (SFAS 142). The continued deterioration in market conditions as a result of tightening mortgage credit standards and other factors led to SFAS 144 and APB 18 impairments and a significant decline in our market capitalization; thus, we reviewed goodwill for impairment in both our third and fourth quarters of 2007. During the third quarter of 2007, we recorded a goodwill impairment charge of $16.5 million related to our homebuilding operations. Our third quarter goodwill impairment charge related primarily to specific acquisitions made during the peak homebuilding years (2003 to 2005) in Homebuilding Other and the Homebuilding Central reportable segment. To the extent goodwill resulted from acquisitions during the peak homebuilding years, it increased the likelihood of a goodwill impairment charge at those reporting units due to the premium values we paid for the respective land positions of such acquired companies. Conversely, to the extent that goodwill resulted from acquisitions prior to the peak homebuilding years, it decreased the likelihood of a goodwill impairment charge in those divisions because there could be significant declines in values without reducing the fair values of the companies below what they were when the companies were acquired. In addition, both Homebuilding Other and the Homebuilding Central reportable segment have generally underperformed in comparison to the Homebuilding East and Homebuilding West reportable segments.
We also performed our annual impairment test of goodwill in the fourth quarter of 2007 and wrote-off the remaining recorded goodwill of $173.7 million related to our homebuilding operations. The goodwill impairment related to our homebuilding operations in the fourth quarter was due to a significant decline in the estimated fair value of our reporting units subsequent to our third quarter, which resulted from significant deterioration in market conditions and a decrease in our stock price during that period. Our Financial Services segment goodwill has not been impaired. We did not record impairment charges during the years ended November 30, 2006 and 2005. As of November 30, 2007 and 2006, there were no material identifiable intangible assets, other than goodwill.
We use an equally weighted combination of the income and market approaches to determine the fair value of our reporting units when performing our impairment test of goodwill in accordance with SFAS 142.
The income approach establishes fair value by methods which discount or capitalize earnings and/or cash flow by a discount or capitalization rate that reflects market rate of return expectations, market conditions and the risk of the relative investment. We use a discounted cash flow method when applying the income approach. This analysis includes operating income, interest expense, taxes, incremental working capital and long-term debt, as well as other factors. The projections used in the analysis are for a five-year period and represent what we consider to be normalized earnings.
The market approach establishes fair value by comparing our company to other publicly traded guideline companies or by analysis of actual transactions of similar businesses or assets sold. Two methods are commonly considered under the market approach. The market comparison method is based on the stock prices of guideline publicly traded companies that are in the same industry as the company being valued, while the comparative transaction method is based on the actual sale of similar companies. We use the market comparison method when
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applying the market approach, due to the availability of information relative to our companys guideline companies and the lack of recent sales of similar companies. Using the market comparison method, we performed qualitative and quantitative analysis on each of our guideline companies, including evaluating their market capitalization, to assess their strengths and weaknesses and compared them to our company. After assessing the risk differences, we estimated the guideline company multiples to properly reflect the risk profile of our company. After review of the guideline companies as compared to our company and completing an analysis based on both the equity method of valuation and the invested capital method of valuation, we concluded that the invested capital method of valuation was a reasonable basis for estimating our companys fair value. One of the primary factors in our determination to use the invested capital method of valuation was the fact that our capital structure appeared to have less debt as a percentage of capital than the guideline companies selected.
In determining the fair value of our reporting units under the income approach, our expected cash flows are affected by various assumptions. The most significant assumptions affecting our expected cash flows are the discount rate, projected revenue growth rate and operating profit margin.
There are also various assumptions used under the market approach that affect the valuation of our reporting units. The most significant assumptions are the market multiples and control premium. In estimating the fair value of our company under the market approach, we used two key multiples: 1) market value of invested capital to book value of capital and 2) market value of invested capital to revenues. A control premium represents the value an investor would pay above minority interest transaction prices in order to obtain a controlling interest in the respective company.
As noted above, we use an equally weighted combination of the income and market approach to determine the fair value of our reporting units. We assign an equal weight to the respective methods as they are both acceptable valuation approaches in determining the fair value of a business, and they both attempt to consider the entire value of a business from either an income stream or comparable market value.
At November 30, 2007 and 2006, goodwill was $61.2 million and $257.8 million, respectively. Our goodwill of $61.2 million at November 30, 2007 relates to our Financial Services segment. We wrote-off our entire homebuilding goodwill and only have $61.2 million of goodwill remaining on our balance sheet related to our Financial Services segment, whose fair value using an equally weighted combination of the income and market approach exceeded the carrying value of the segments net assets by approximately $225 million as of November 30, 2007. Therefore, the impact of a change in our significant underlying assumptions +/- 1% would not result in a materially different fair value.
Valuation of Deferred Tax Assets
We record income taxes under the asset and liability method, whereby deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized based on the future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and attributable to operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply in the years in which the temporary differences are expected to be recovered or paid. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in earnings in the period when the changes are enacted.
SFAS 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, (SFAS 109) requires a reduction of the carrying amounts of deferred tax assets by a valuation allowance, if based on the available evidence, it is more likely than not that such assets will not be realized. Accordingly, the need to establish valuation allowances for deferred tax assets are assessed periodically based on the SFAS 109 more-likely-than-not realization threshold criterion. In the assessment for a valuation allowance, appropriate consideration is given to all positive and negative evidence related to the realization of the deferred tax assets. This assessment considers, among other matters, the nature, frequency and severity of current and cumulative losses, forecasts of future profitability, the duration of statutory carryforward periods, our experience with operating loss and tax credit carryforwards not expiring unused, and tax planning alternatives.
Our analysis of the need for a valuation allowance recognizes that while we have incurred a cumulative loss over our evaluation period, a substantial loss was incurred in the current year. However, a substantial portion of the current loss was the result of the difficult current market conditions that led to the impairments of certain tangible assets as well as goodwill. Consideration has also been given to the lengthy period over which these net deferred tax assets can be realized, and our history of not having Federal tax loss carryforwards expire unused.
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We believe that the accounting estimate for the valuation of deferred tax assets is a critical accounting estimate because judgment is required in assessing the likely future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in our financial statements or tax returns. We base our estimate of deferred tax assets and liabilities on current tax laws and rates and, in certain cases, business plans and other expectations about future outcomes. Changes in existing tax laws or rates could affect actual tax results and future business results may affect the amount of deferred tax liabilities or the valuation of deferred tax assets over time. Our accounting for deferred tax consequences represents our best estimate of future events. Although it is possible there will be changes that are not anticipated in our current estimates, we believe it is unlikely such changes would have a material period-to-period impact on our financial position or results of operations.
At November 30, 2007 and 2006, our net deferred tax asset was $746.9 million and $307.2 million, respectively. Based on our assessment, it appears more likely than not that the net deferred tax asset will be realized through future taxable earnings. If results are less than projected and there is no objectively verifiable evidence to support the realization of our deferred tax asset, a substantial valuation allowance may be required to reduce the deferred tax assets. However, currently no valuation allowance has been established for our deferred tax assets. We will continue to assess the need for a valuation allowance in the future.
Share-Based Payments
We have share-based awards outstanding under four different plans which provide for the granting of stock options and stock appreciation rights and awards of restricted common stock (nonvested shares) to key officers, employees and directors. The exercise prices of stock options and stock appreciation rights may not be less than the market value of the common stock on the date of the grant. No options granted under the plans may be exercisable until at least six months after the date of the grant. Thereafter, exercises are permitted in installments determined when options are granted. Each stock option and stock appreciation right will expire on a date determined at the time of the grant, but not more than ten years after the date of the grant.
Prior to December 1, 2005, we accounted for stock option awards granted under our share-based payment plans in accordance with the recognition and measurement provisions of APB Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, (APB 25) and related Interpretations, as permitted by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, (SFAS 123). Share-based employee compensation expense was not recognized in our consolidated statements of operations prior to December 1, 2005, as all stock option awards granted under the plans had an exercise price equal to or greater than the market value of the common stock on the date of the grant. Effective December 1, 2005, we adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment, (SFAS 123R) using the modified-prospective-transition method. Under this transition method, compensation expense recognized during 2006 included: (a) compensation expense for all share-based awards granted prior to, but not yet vested as of, December 1, 2005, based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the original provisions of SFAS 123, and (b) compensation expense for all share-based awards granted subsequent to December 1, 2005, based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of SFAS 123R. In accordance with the modified-prospective-transition method, results for prior periods have not been restated. The impact of SFAS 123R on diluted earnings (loss) per share for the years ended November 30, 2007 and 2006 was $0.08 per share and $0.11 per share, respectively.
We believe that the accounting estimate for share based payments is a critical accounting estimate because the calculation of share-based employee compensation expense involves estimates that require managements judgments. These estimates include the fair value of each of our stock option awards, which are estimated on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model as discussed in Note 16 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included under Item 8 of this document. The fair value of our stock option awards, which are subject to graded vesting, is expensed on a straight-line basis over the vesting life of the options. Expected volatility is based on an average of (1) historical volatility of our stock and (2) implied volatility from traded options on our stock. The risk-free rate for periods within the contractual life of the stock option award is based on the yield curve of a zero-coupon U.S. Treasury bond on the date the stock option award is granted with a maturity equal to the expected term of the stock option award granted. We use historical data to estimate stock option exercises and forfeitures within our valuation model. The expected life of stock option awards granted is derived from historical exercise experience under our share-based payment plans and represents the period of time that stock option awards granted are expected to be outstanding.
Prior to the adoption of SFAS 123R, we presented all tax benefits related to deductions resulting from the exercise of stock options as cash flows from operating activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows. SFAS 123R requires that cash flows resulting from tax benefits related to tax deductions in excess of the compensation expense recognized for those options (excess tax benefits) be classified as financing cash flows.
50
Item 7A. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk. |
We are exposed to market risks related to fluctuations in interest rates on our investments, debt obligations, loans held-for-sale and loans held-for-investment. We utilize forward commitments and option contracts to mitigate the risks associated with our mortgage loan portfolio.
The table on the following page provides information at November 30, 2007 about our significant financial instruments that are sensitive to changes in interest rates. For loans held-for-sale, loans held-for-investment and investments held-to-maturity, senior notes and other debts payable and notes and other debts payable, the table presents principal cash flows and related weighted average effective interest rates by expected maturity dates and estimated fair values at November 30, 2007. Weighted average variable interest rates are based on the variable interest rates at November 30, 2007.
See Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Item 7 and Notes 1 and 18 of the notes to consolidated financial statements in Item 8 for a further discussion of these items and our strategy of mitigating our interest rate risk.
51
Information Regarding Interest Rate Sensitivity
Principal (Notional) Amount by
Expected Maturity and Average Interest Rate
November 30, 2007
Years Ending November 30, | Thereafter | Total | Fair Value at November 30, 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||
2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | ||||||||||||||||||||
(Dollars in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
ASSETS |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Financial services: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Loans held-for-sale, net: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed rate |
$ | | | | | | 281.5 | 281.5 | 281.5 | |||||||||||||||
Average interest rate |
| | | | | 6.1 | % | 6.1 | % | | ||||||||||||||
Variable rate |
$ | | | | | | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | |||||||||||||||
Average interest rate |
| | | | | 6.4 | % | 6.4 | % | | ||||||||||||||
Loans held-for-investment and investments held-to-maturity: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed rate |
$ | 162.7 | 5.5 | 4.5 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 17.9 | 191.7 | 192.4 | |||||||||||||||
Average interest rate |
1.8 | % | 9.3 | % | 6.9 | % | 9.8 | % | 9.8 | % | 9.4 | % | 2.9 | % | | |||||||||
Variable rate |
$ | | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 6.9 | 7.3 | 6.8 | |||||||||||||||
Average interest rate |
| 8.0 | % | 8.0 | % | 8.0 | % | 8.0 | % | 8.0 | % | 8.0 | % | | ||||||||||
LIABILITIES |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Homebuilding: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Senior notes and other debts payable: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed rate |
$ | 32.5 | 281.6 | 299.8 | 249.5 | | 1,345.6 | 2,209.0 | 1,819.1 | |||||||||||||||
Average interest rate |
2.3 | % | 7.6 | % | 5.1 | % | 6.0 | % | | 5.8 | % | 5.9 | % | | ||||||||||
Variable rate |
$ | 57.7 | 22.9 | 5.8 | | | | 86.4 | 86.4 | |||||||||||||||
Average interest rate |
7.3 | % | 8.0 | % | 8.0 | % | | | | 7.6 | % | | ||||||||||||
Financial services: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notes and other debts payable: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Variable rate |
$ | 541.3 | 0.1 | | | | | 541.4 | 541.4 | |||||||||||||||
Average interest rate |
5.5 | % | 6.9 | % | | | | | 5.5 | % | |
52
Managements Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our CEO and CFO, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal ControlIntegrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on our evaluation under the framework in Internal ControlIntegrated Framework, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of November 30, 2007. The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of November 30, 2007 has been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their attestation report which is included herein.
53
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Lennar Corporation
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Lennar Corporation and subsidiaries (the Company) as of November 30, 2007, based on the criteria established in Internal ControlIntegrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. The Companys management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Managements Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Companys internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A companys internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the companys principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the companys board of directors, management, and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A companys internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the companys assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of the inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of November 30, 2007, based on the criteria established in Internal ControlIntegrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended November 30, 2007 of the Company and our report dated January 29, 2008 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Certified Public Accountants
Miami, Florida
January 29, 2008
54
Item 8. | Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. |
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Lennar Corporation
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Lennar Corporation and subsidiaries (the Company) as of November 30, 2007 and 2006, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended November 30, 2007. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Companys management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Lennar Corporation and subsidiaries as of November 30, 2007 and 2006, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended November 30, 2007, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Companys internal control over financial reporting as of November 30, 2007, based on the criteria established in Internal ControlIntegrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated January 29, 2008 expressed an unqualified opinion on the Companys internal control over financial reporting.
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Certified Public Accountants
Miami, Florida
January 29, 2008
55
LENNAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
November 30, 2007 and 2006
2007 | 2006 | ||||||
(In thousands, except per share amounts) |
|||||||
ASSETS | |||||||
Homebuilding: |
|||||||
Cash |
$ | 642,467 | 661,662 | ||||
Restricted cash |
35,429 | 24,796 | |||||
Receivables, net |
207,691 | 159,043 | |||||
Inventories: |
|||||||
Finished homes and construction in progress |
2,180,670 | 4,447,748 | |||||
Land under development |
1,500,075 | 3,011,408 | |||||
Consolidated inventory not owned |
819,658 | 372,327 | |||||
Total inventories |
4,500,403 | 7,831,483 | |||||
Investments in unconsolidated entities |
934,271 | 1,447,178 | |||||
Goodwill |
| 196,638 | |||||
Other assets |
1,744,677 | 474,090 | |||||
8,064,938 | 10,794,890 | ||||||
Financial services |
1,037,809 | 1,613,376 | |||||
Total assets |
$ | 9,102,747 | 12,408,266 | ||||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY | |||||||
Homebuilding: |
|||||||
Accounts payable |
$ | 376,134 | 751,496 | ||||
Liabilities related to consolidated inventory not owned |
719,081 | 333,723 | |||||
Senior notes and other debts payable |
2,295,436 | 2,613,503 | |||||
Other liabilities |
1,129,791 | 1,590,564 | |||||
4,520,442 | 5,289,286 | ||||||
Financial services |
731,658 | 1,362,215 | |||||
Total liabilities |
5,252,100 | 6,651,501 | |||||
Minority interest |
28,528 | 55,393 | |||||
Stockholders equity: |
|||||||
Preferred stock |
| | |||||
Class A common stock of $0.10 par value per share |
13,931 | 13,689 | |||||
Class B common stock of $0.10 par value per share |
3,296 | 3,287 | |||||
Additional paid-in capital |
1,920,386 | 1,753,695 | |||||
Retained earnings |
2,496,933 | 4,539,137 | |||||
Deferred compensation plan; 200736 Class A common shares and 4 Class B common shares; 2006172 Class A common shares and 17 Class B common shares |
(332 | ) | (1,586 | ) | |||
Deferred compensation liability |
332 | 1,586 | |||||
Treasury stock, at cost; 200710,705 Class A common shares and 1,679 Class B common shares; 20069,951 Class A common shares and 1,653 Class B common shares |
(610,366 | ) | (606,395 | ) | |||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
(2,061 | ) | (2,041 | ) | |||
Total stockholders equity |
3,822,119 | 5,701,372 | |||||
Total liabilities and stockholders equity |
$ | 9,102,747 | 12,408,266 | ||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
56
LENNAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Years Ended November 30, 2007, 2006 and 2005
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||||
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) | |||||||||
Revenues: |
|||||||||
Homebuilding |
$ | 9,730,252 | 15,623,040 | 13,304,599 | |||||
Financial services |
456,529 | 643,622 | 562,372 | ||||||
Total revenues |
10,186,781 | 16,266,662 | 13,866,971 | ||||||
Costs and expenses: |
|||||||||
Homebuilding (1) |
12,189,077 | 14,677,565 | 11,215,244 | ||||||
Financial services |
450,409 | 493,819 | 457,604 | ||||||
Corporate general and administrative |
173,202 | 193,307 | 187,257 | ||||||
Total costs and expenses |
12,812,688 | 15,364,691 | 11,860,105 | ||||||
Gain on recapitalization of unconsolidated entity |
175,879 | | | ||||||
Goodwill impairments |
190,198 | | | ||||||
Equity in earnings (loss) from unconsolidated entities (2) |
(362,899 | ) | (12,536 | ) | 133,814 | ||||
Management fees and other income (expense), net (3) |
(76,029 | ) | 66,629 | 98,952 | |||||
Minority interest expense, net |
1,927 | 13,415 | 45,030 | ||||||
Loss on redemption of 9.95% senior notes |
| | 34,908 | ||||||
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before provision (benefit) for income taxes |
(3,081,081 | ) | 942,649 | 2,159,694 | |||||
Provision (benefit) for income taxes |
(1,140,000 | ) | 348,780 | 815,284 | |||||
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations |
(1,941,081 | ) | 593,869 | 1,344,410 | |||||
Discontinued operations: |
|||||||||
Earnings from discontinued operations before provision for income taxes |
| | 17,261 | ||||||
Provision for income taxes |
| | 6,516 | ||||||
Net earnings from discontinued operations |
| | 10,745 | ||||||
Net earnings (loss) |
$ | (1,941,081 | ) | 593,869 | 1,355,155 | ||||
Basic earnings (loss) per share: |
|||||||||
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations |
$ | (12.31 | ) | 3.76 | 8.65 | ||||
Earnings from discontinued operations |
| | 0.07 | ||||||
Net earnings (loss) |
$ | (12.31 | ) | 3.76 | 8.72 | ||||
Diluted earnings (loss) per share: |
|||||||||
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations |
$ | (12.31 | ) | 3.69 | 8.17 | ||||
Earnings from discontinued operations |
| | 0.06 | ||||||
Net earnings (loss) |
$ | (12.31 | ) | 3.69 | 8.23 | ||||
(1) | Homebuilding costs and expenses include $2.4 billion, $501.8 million and $20.5 million, respectively, of valuation adjustments for the years ended November 30, 2007, 2006 and 2005. |
(2) | Equity in earnings (loss) from unconsolidated entities includes $364.2 million and $126.4 million, respectively, of SFAS 144 valuation adjustments related to assets of the Companys investments in unconsolidated entities for the years ended November 30, 2007 and 2006. There were no SFAS 144 valuation adjustments related to assets of the Companys investment in unconsolidated entities for the year ended November 30, 2005. |
(3) | Management fees and other income (expense), net includes $132.2 million and $14.5 million, respectively, of APB 18 valuation adjustments to the Companys investments in unconsolidated entities for the years ended November 30, 2007 and 2006. There were no APB 18 valuation adjustments to the Companys investments in unconsolidated entities for the year ended November 30, 2005. |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
57
LENNAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY
Years Ended November 30, 2007, 2006 and 2005
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||||
(Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||
Class A common stock: |
||||||||||
Beginning balance |
$ | 13,689 | 13,025 | 12,372 | ||||||
Conversion of convertible senior subordinated notes to Class A common shares |
| 488 | 409 | |||||||
Employee stock and director plans |
242 | 176 | 244 | |||||||
Balance at November 30, |
13,931 | 13,689 | 13,025 | |||||||
Class B common stock: |
||||||||||
Beginning balance |
3,287 | 3,278 | 3,260 | |||||||
Employee stock plans |
9 | 9 | 18 | |||||||
Balance at November 30, |
3,296 | 3,287 | 3,278 | |||||||
Additional paid-in capital: |
||||||||||
Beginning balance |
1,753,695 | 1,486,988 | 1,275,216 | |||||||
Conversion of convertible senior subordinated notes to Class A common shares, including tax benefit |
95,978 | 157,406 | 127,869 | |||||||
Employee stock and director plans |
47,235 | 82,342 | 37,807 | |||||||
Tax benefit from employee stock plans and vesting of restricted stock |
5,171 | 15,705 | 39,180 | |||||||
Amortization of restricted stock and performance-based stock options |
18,307 | 11,254 | 6,916 | |||||||
Balance at November 30, |
1,920,386 | 1,753,695 | 1,486,988 | |||||||
Retained earnings: |
||||||||||
Beginning balance |
4,539,137 | 4,046,563 | 2,780,637 | |||||||
Net earnings |
(1,941,081 | ) | 593,869 | 1,355,155 | ||||||
Cash dividendsClass A common stock |
(80,984 | ) | (80,860 | ) | (70,495 | ) | ||||
Cash dividendsClass B common stock |
(20,139 | ) | (20,435 | ) | (18,734 | ) | ||||
Balance at November 30, |
2,496,933 | 4,539,137 | 4,046,563 | |||||||
Deferred compensation plan: |
||||||||||
Beginning balance |
(1,586 | ) | (4,047 | ) | (6,410 | ) | ||||
Deferred compensation activity |
1,254 | 2,461 | 2,363 | |||||||
Balance at November 30, |
$ | (332 | ) | (1,586 | ) | (4,047 | ) | |||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
58
LENNAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY(Continued)
Years Ended November 30, 2007, 2006 and 2005
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||||
(Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||
Deferred compensation liability: |
||||||||||
Beginning balance |
$ | 1,586 | 4,047 | 6,410 | ||||||
Deferred compensation activity |
(1,254 | ) | (2,461 | ) | (2,363 | ) | ||||
Balance at November 30, |
332 | 1,586 | 4,047 | |||||||
Treasury stock, at cost: |
||||||||||
Beginning balance |
(606,395 | ) | (293,222 | ) | (3,938 | ) | ||||
Employee stock plans |
(3,971 | ) | (3,125 | ) | (14,385 | ) | ||||
Purchases of treasury stock |
| (320,104 | ) | (274,899 | ) | |||||
Reissuance of treasury stock |
| 10,056 | | |||||||
Balance at November 30, |
(610,366 | ) | (606,395 | ) | (293,222 | ) | ||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss: |
||||||||||
Beginning balance |
(2,041 | ) | (5,221 | ) | (14,575 | ) | ||||
Unrealized gains arising during period on interest rate swaps, net of tax |
1,002 | 2,853 | 10,049 | |||||||
Unrealized loss on Companys portion of unconsolidated entitys interest rate swap liability, net of tax |
(2,061 | ) | | | ||||||
Unrealized gains arising during period on available-for-sale investment securities, net of tax |
| 7 | 185 | |||||||
Reclassification adjustment for loss included in net loss for interest rate swaps, net of tax |
338 | | | |||||||
Reclassification adjustment for gains included in net earnings for available-for-sale investment securities, net of tax |
| (245 | ) | | ||||||
Change to the Companys portion of unconsolidated entitys minimum pension liability, net of tax |
701 | 565 | (880 | ) | ||||||
Balance at November 30, |
(2,061 | ) | (2,041 | ) | (5,221 | ) | ||||
Total stockholders equity |
$ | 3,822,119 | 5,701,372 | 5,251,411 | ||||||
Comprehensive income (loss) |
$ | (1,941,101 | ) | 597,049 | 1,364,509 | |||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
59
LENNAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Years Ended November 30, 2007, 2006 and 2005
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||||
(Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: |
||||||||||
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations |
$ | (1,941,081 | ) | 593,869 | 1,344,410 | |||||
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities: |
||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
54,303 | 45,431 | 58,253 | |||||||
Amortization of discount/premium on debt, net |
2,461 | 4,580 | 14,389 | |||||||
Gain on recapitalization of unconsolidated entity |
(175,879 | ) | | | ||||||
Gain on sale of personal lines insurance policies |
| (17,714 | ) | | ||||||
Equity in (earnings) loss from unconsolidated entities, including $364.2 million and $126.4 million, respectively, of the Companys share of SFAS 144 valuation adjustments related to assets of unconsolidated entities in 2007 and 2006 |
362,899 | 12,536 | (133,814 | ) | ||||||
Distribution of earnings from unconsolidated entities |
106,883 | 174,979 | 221,131 | |||||||
Minority interest expense, net |
1,927 | 13,415 | 45,030 | |||||||
Share-based compensation expense |
35,478 | 36,632 | 6,916 | |||||||
Tax benefits from share-based awards |
5,171 | 15,705 | 39,180 | |||||||
Excess tax benefits from share-based awards |
(4,590 | ) | (7,103 | ) | | |||||
Deferred income tax provision (benefit) |
(438,817 | ) | (198,005 | ) | 10,220 | |||||
Loss on redemption of 9.95% senior notes |
| | 34,908 | |||||||
Valuation adjustments and write-offs of option deposits and pre-acquisition costs and goodwill |
2,767,522 | 501,786 | 20,542 | |||||||
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effect from acquisitions: |
||||||||||
Increase in restricted cash |
(10,633 | ) | (2,115 | ) | (11,129 | ) | ||||
(Increase) decrease in receivables |
339,125 | 47,843 | (221,275 | ) | ||||||
(Increase) decrease in inventories, excluding valuation adjustments and write-offs of option deposits and pre-acquisition costs |
666,228 | (371,268 | ) | (1,708,033 | ) | |||||
(Increase) decrease in other assets |
(833,016 | ) | 9,253 | (30,150 | ) | |||||
(Increase) decrease in financial services loans held-for-sale |
190,254 | 78,922 | (114,657 | ) | ||||||
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and other liabilities |
(683,722 | ) | (386,211 | ) | 741,690 | |||||
Net earnings from discontinued operations |
| | 10,745 | |||||||
Adjustment to reconcile net earnings from discontinued operations to net cash provided by operating activities (including gain on sale of discontinued operations of ($15,816) in 2005) |
| | (16,510 | ) | ||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities |
444,513 | 552,535 | 311,846 | |||||||
Cash flows from investing activities: |
||||||||||
Net (additions) disposals to operating properties and equipment |
81 | (26,783 | ) | (21,747 | ) | |||||
Contributions to unconsolidated entities |
(607,957 | ) | (729,304 | ) | (919,817 | ) | ||||
Distributions of capital from unconsolidated entities |
542,346 | 321,610 | 466,800 | |||||||
Distributions in excess of investment in unconsolidated entity |
354,644 | | | |||||||
(Increase) decrease in financial services loans held-for-investment |
18,130 | 70,970 | (117,359 | ) | ||||||
Purchases of investment securities |
(107,791 | ) | (108,626 | ) | (37,350 | ) | ||||
Proceeds from sales and maturities of investment securities |
107,530 | 82,492 | 36,078 | |||||||
Proceeds from sale of business |
| | 17,000 | |||||||
Proceeds from sale of personal lines insurance policies |
| 18,500 | | |||||||
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired |
| (33,213 | ) | (416,049 | ) | |||||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities |
306,983 | (404,354 | ) | (992,444 | ) | |||||
Cash flows from financing activities: |
||||||||||
Net borrowings (repayments) under financial services debt |
(607,794 | ) | (120,858 | ) | 372,849 | |||||
Net proceeds from 5.125% senior notes |
| | 298,215 | |||||||
Net proceeds from 5.60% senior notes |
| | 501,460 | |||||||
Net proceeds from 5.95% senior notes |
| 248,665 | | |||||||
Net proceeds from 6.50% senior notes |
| 248,933 | |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
60
LENNAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS(Continued)
Years Ended November 30, 2007, 2006 and 2005
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||||
(Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||
Redemption of senior floating-rate notes due 2007 |
| (200,000 | ) | | ||||||
Redemption of senior floating-rate notes due 2009 |
(300,000 | ) | | | ||||||
Redemption of 9.95% senior notes |
| | (337,731 | ) | ||||||
Proceeds from other borrowings |
32,178 | 2,489 | 53,198 | |||||||
Principal payments on other borrowings |
(188,544 | ) | (150,793 | ) | (190,240 | ) | ||||
Net proceeds from sale of land to an unconsolidated land investment venture |
445,000 | | | |||||||
Net payments related to minority interests |
(36,545 | ) | (71,351 | ) | (33,181 | ) | ||||
Excess tax benefits from share-based awards |
4,590 | 7,103 | | |||||||
Common stock: |
||||||||||
Issuances |
21,588 | 31,131 | 38,069 | |||||||
Repurchases |
(3,971 | ) | (323,229 | ) | (289,284 | ) | ||||
Dividends |
(101,123 | ) | (101,295 | ) | (89,229 | ) | ||||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities |
(734,621 | ) | (429,205 | ) | 324,126 | |||||
Net increase (decrease) in cash |
$ | 16,875 | (281,024 | ) | (356,472 | ) | ||||
Cash at beginning of year |
778,319 | 1,059,343 | 1,415,815 | |||||||
Cash at end of year |
$ | 795,194 | 778,319 | 1,059,343 | ||||||
Summary of cash: |
||||||||||
Homebuilding |
$ | 642,467 | 661,662 | 909,557 | ||||||
Financial services |
152,727 | 116,657 | 149,786 | |||||||
$ | 795,194 | 778,319 | 1,059,343 | |||||||
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: |
||||||||||
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized |
$ | 32,731 | 28,731 | 15,844 | ||||||
Cash paid for income taxes, net |
$ | 214,848 | 915,743 | 571,498 | ||||||
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities: |
||||||||||
Conversion of debt to equity, including tax benefit |
$ | 95,978 | 157,894 | 128,278 | ||||||
Purchases of inventories financed by sellers |
$ | 10,253 | 36,810 | 159,078 | ||||||
Non-cash contributions to unconsolidated entities |
$ | 73,822 | 39,491 | | ||||||
Non-cash distributions from unconsolidated entities |
$ | 14,036 | 25,329 | 74,498 | ||||||
Issuance of common stock for employee compensation |
$ | 7,391 | 38,150 | | ||||||
Consolidation/deconsolidation of previously unconsolidated/ consolidated entities, net: |
||||||||||
Receivables |
$ | 4,093 | (232 | ) | 20,100 | |||||
Inventories |
$ | 238,060 | 188,191 | 153,005 | ||||||
Investments in unconsolidated entities |
$ | (69,767 | ) | (38,354 | ) | (26,103 | ) | |||
Other assets |
$ | 1,625 | 6,563 | 6,423 | ||||||
Other debts payable |
$ | (173,239 | ) | (81,455 | ) | (81,006 | ) | |||
Other liabilities |
$ | 6,981 | (40,588 | ) | (49,401 | ) | ||||
Minority interest |
$ | (7,753 | ) | (34,125 | ) | (23,018 | ) | |||
Acquisitions: |
||||||||||
Fair value of assets acquired |
$ | | 23,843 | 409,262 | ||||||
Goodwill recorded |
| 10,518 | 13,781 | |||||||
Fair value of liabilities assumed |
| (1,148 | ) | (6,994 | ) | |||||
Cash paid |
$ | | 33,213 | 416,049 | ||||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
61
LENNAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Lennar Corporation and all subsidiaries, partnerships and other entities in which Lennar Corporation has a controlling interest and variable interest entities (see Note 19) in which Lennar Corporation is deemed the primary beneficiary (the Company). The Companys investments in both unconsolidated entities in which a significant, but less than controlling, interest is held and in variable interest entities in which the Company is not deemed to be the primary beneficiary are accounted for by the equity method. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Share-Based Payments
The Company has share-based awards outstanding under four different plans which provide for the granting of stock options and stock appreciation rights and awards of restricted common stock (nonvested shares) to key officers, employees and directors. The exercise prices of stock options and stock appreciation rights may not be less than the market value of the common stock on the date of the grant. No options granted under the plans may be exercisable until at least six months after the date of the grant. Thereafter, exercises are permitted in installments determined when options are granted. Each stock option and stock appreciation right will expire on a date determined at the time of the grant, but not more than ten years after the date of the grant.
Prior to December 1, 2005, the Company accounted for stock option awards granted under the plans in accordance with the recognition and measurement provisions of Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, (APB 25) and related Interpretations, as permitted by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, (SFAS 123). Share-based employee compensation expense was not recognized in the Companys consolidated statements of operations prior to December 1, 2005, as all stock option awards granted under the plans had an exercise price equal to or greater than the market value of the common stock on the date of the grant. Effective December 1, 2005, the Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment, (SFAS 123R) using the modified-prospective-transition method. Under this transition method, compensation expense recognized during the year ended November 30, 2006 included: (a) compensation expense for all share-based awards granted prior to, but not yet vested as of, December 1, 2005, based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the original provisions of SFAS 123, and (b) compensation expense for all share-based awards granted subsequent to December 1, 2005, based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of SFAS 123R. In accordance with the modified-prospective-transition method, results for prior periods have not been restated.
As a result of SFAS 123R, the charge to earnings (loss) before provision (benefit) for income taxes for the years ended November 30, 2007 and 2006 was $17.2 million and $25.6 million, respectively. The impact of SFAS 123R on net earnings (loss) for the years ended November 30, 2007 and 2006 was $12.6 million and $18.5 million, respectively. The impact of SFAS 123R on basic earnings (loss) per share for the years ended November 30, 2007 and 2006 was $0.08 per share and $0.12 per share, respectively. The impact of SFAS 123R on diluted earnings (loss) per share for the years ended November 30, 2007 and 2006 was $0.08 per share and $0.11 per share, respectively. See Note 16 for details related to share-based payments.
Revenue Recognition
Revenues from sales of homes are recognized when the sales are closed and title passes to the new homeowner, the new homeowners initial and continuing investment is adequate to demonstrate a commitment to pay for the home, the new homeowners receivable is not subject to future subordination and the Company does
62
LENNAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(Continued)
not have a substantial continuing involvement with the new home in accordance with SFAS No. 66, Accounting for Sales of Real Estate (SFAS 66). Revenues from sales of land are recognized when a significant down payment is received, the earnings process is complete, title passes and the collectibility of the receivable is reasonably assured.
Advertising Costs
The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred. Advertising costs were $120.4 million, $155.5 million and $82.3 million for the years ended November 30, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.
Cash
The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Due to the short maturity period of the cash equivalents, the carrying amounts of these instruments approximate their fair values. Cash as of November 30, 2007 and 2006 included $23.3 million and $135.9 million, respectively, of cash held in escrow for approximately three days.
Restricted Cash
Restricted cash consists of customer deposits on home sales held in restricted accounts until title transfers to the homebuyer, as required by the state and local governments in which the homes were sold.
Inventories
Inventories are stated at cost unless the inventory within a community is determined to be impaired, in which case the impaired inventory is written down to fair value. Inventory costs include land, land development and home construction costs, real estate taxes, deposits on land purchase contracts and interest related to development and construction. Construction overhead and selling expenses are expensed as incurred. Homes held-for-sale are classified as inventories until delivered. Land, land development, amenities and other costs are accumulated by specific area and allocated to homes within the respective areas. The Company reviews inventories for impairment during each reporting period on a community by community basis. SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-lived Assets, (SFAS 144) requires that if the undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by an asset are less than its carrying amount, an impairment charge should be recorded to write down the carrying amount of such asset to its fair value.
In conducting its review for indicators of impairment on a community level, the Company evaluates, among other things, the margins on homes that have been delivered, margins under sales contracts in backlog, projected margins with regard to future home sales over the life of the community, projected margins with regard to future land sales and the fair value of the land itself. The Company pays particular attention to communities in which inventory is moving at a slower than anticipated absorption pace and communities whose average sales price and/or margins are trending downward and are anticipated to continue to trend downward. From this review the Company identifies communities whose carrying values exceed their undiscounted cash flows.
The Company estimates the fair value of its communities using a discounted cash flow model. The projected cash flows for each community are significantly impacted by estimates related to market supply and demand, product type by community, homesite sizes, sales pace, sales prices, sales incentives, construction costs, sales and marketing expenses, the local economy, competitive conditions, labor costs, costs of materials and other factors for that particular community. The determination of fair value also requires discounting the estimated cash flows at a rate commensurate with the inherent risks associated with the assets and related estimated cash flow streams. The discount rate used in determining each assets fair value depends on the communitys projected life and development stage. The Company generally uses discount rates ranging from 15% to 20%, depending on the perceived risks associated with the communitys cash flow streams relative to its inventory. For example, construction in progress inventory, which is closer to completion, will generally require a lower discount rate than land under development in communities consisting of multiple phases spanning several years of development.
63
LENNAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(Continued)
The Company estimates fair values of inventory evaluated for impairment under SFAS 144 based on current market conditions and current assumptions made by management, which may differ materially from actual results if market conditions change. For example, further market deterioration may lead to the Company incurring additional impairment charges on previously impaired inventory, as well as on inventory not currently impaired but for which indicators of impairment may arise if further market deterioration occurs.
The Company also has access to land inventory through option contracts, which generally enables the Company to control portions of properties owned by third parties and unconsolidated entities (including land funds) until it has determined whether to exercise its option. A majority of the Companys option contracts require a non-refundable cash deposit or irrevocable letter of credit based on a percentage of the purchase price of the land. The Companys option contracts are recorded at cost. In determining whether to walk-away from an option contract, the Company evaluates the option primarily based upon its expected cash flows from the property under option. If the Company intends to walk-away from an option contract, it records a charge to earnings (loss) in the period such decision is made for the deposit amount and related pre-acquisition costs associated with the option contract.
During the years ended November 30, 2007, 2006 and 2005, the Company recorded $2.4 billion, $501.8 million and $20.5 million, respectively, of inventory adjustments, which included $747.8 million and $280.5 million, respectively, in 2007 and 2006 of valuation adjustments to finished homes, construction in progress and land on which the Company intends to build homes (no adjustments in 2005), $1.2 billion, $69.1 million and $5.4 million, respectively, in 2007, 2006 and 2005 of valuation adjustments to land the Company intends to sell to third parties and $530.0 million, $152.2 million and $15.1 million, respectively, in 2007, 2006 and 2005 of write-offs of deposits and pre-acquisition costs. The $1.2 billion of valuation adjustments recorded in 2007 to land the Company intends to sell to third parties includes $740.4 million of SFAS 144 valuation adjustments related to the portfolio of land the Company sold to its strategic land investment venture with Morgan Stanley Real Estate Fund II, L.P., an affiliate of Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc., which was formed in November 2007. The valuation adjustments were calculated based on current market conditions and current assumptions made by management, which may differ materially from actual results if market conditions change. See Note 4 for details of valuation adjustments and write-offs by reportable segment and Homebuilding Other.
Investments in Unconsolidated Entities
The Company evaluates its investments in unconsolidated entities for impairment during each reporting period in accordance with APB Opinion No. 18, The Equity Method of Accounting for Investments in Common Stock (APB 18). A series of operating losses of an investee or other factors may indicate that a decrease in value of the Companys investment in the unconsolidated entity has occurred which is other-than-temporary. The amount of impairment recognized is the excess of the investments carrying value over its estimated fair value.
The evaluation of the Companys investment in unconsolidated entities includes two critical assumptions: (1) projected future distributions from the unconsolidated entities and (2) discount rates applied to the future distributions.
The Companys assumptions on the projected future distributions from the unconsolidated entities are dependent on market conditions. Specifically, distributions are dependent on cash to be generated from the sale of inventory by the unconsolidated entities. Such inventory is also reviewed for potential impairment by the unconsolidated entities in accordance with SFAS 144. The unconsolidated entities generally use discount rates ranging from 15% to 20% in their SFAS 144 reviews for impairment. If a valuation adjustment is recorded by an unconsolidated entity in accordance with SFAS 144, the Companys proportionate share is reflected in the Companys equity in earnings (loss) from unconsolidated entities with a corresponding decrease to its investment in unconsolidated entities. In certain instances, the Company may be required to record additional losses relating to its investment in unconsolidated entities under APB 18, if the Companys investment in the unconsolidated entity, or a portion thereof, is deemed to be unrecoverable through its disposition. These losses are included in management fees and other income (expense), net.
During the years ended November 30, 2007, and 2006, the Company recorded $496.4 million and $140.9 million, respectively, of adjustments to its investments in unconsolidated entities, which included $364.2 million and $126.4 million, respectively, in 2007 and 2006 of SFAS 144 valuation adjustments related to the assets of the
64
LENNAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(Continued)
Companys unconsolidated entities and $132.2 million and $14.5 million, respectively, in 2007, and 2006 of valuation adjustments to investments in unconsolidated entities in accordance with APB 18. The Company did not record any adjustments to its investments in unconsolidated entities related to SFAS 144 or APB 18 during 2005. These valuation adjustments were calculated based on current market conditions and assumptions made by management, which may differ materially from actual results if market conditions change. See Note 4 for details of valuation adjustments and write-offs by reportable segment and Homebuilding Other.
The Company tracks its share of cumulative earnings and cumulative distributions of its joint ventures (JVs). For purposes of classifying distributions received from JVs in the Companys statements of cash flows, cumulative distributions are treated as returns on capital to the extent of cumulative earnings and included in the Companys consolidated statements of cash flows as operating activities. Cumulative distributions in excess of the Companys share of cumulative earnings are treated as returns of capital and included in the Companys consolidated statements of cash flows as investing activities.
Interest and Real Estate Taxes
Interest and real estate taxes attributable to land and homes are capitalized as inventories while they are being actively developed. Interest related to homebuilding and land, including interest costs relieved from inventories, is included in cost of homes sold and cost of land sold. Interest expense related to the financial services operations is included in its costs and expenses.
During 2007, 2006 and 2005, interest incurred by the Companys homebuilding operations related to homebuilding debt was $199.1 million, $232.1 million and $172.9 million, respectively; interest capitalized into inventories was $196.7 million, $226.3 million and $171.1 million, respectively; and interest expense primarily included in cost of homes sold and cost of land sold was $203.7 million, $241.1 million and $187.2 million, respectively.
Operating Properties and Equipment
Operating properties and equipment are recorded at cost and are included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets. The assets are depreciated over their estimated useful lives using the straight-line method. At the time operating properties and equipment are disposed of, the asset and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is credited or charged to earnings. The estimated useful life for operating properties is thirty years, for furniture, fixtures and equipment is two to ten years and for leasehold improvements is five years or the life of the lease, whichever is shorter.
Investment Securities
Investment securities are classified as available-for-sale unless they are classified as trading or held-to-maturity. Securities classified as trading are carried at fair value and unrealized holding gains and losses are recorded in earnings. Securities classified as held-to-maturity are carried at amortized cost because they are purchased with the intent and ability to hold to maturity. Available-for-sale securities are recorded at fair value. Any unrealized holding gains or losses on available-for-sale securities are reported as accumulated other comprehensive gain or loss, which is a separate component of stockholders equity, net of tax, until realized.
At November 30, 2007 and 2006, investment securities classified as held-to-maturity totaled $61.5 million and $59.6 million, respectively, and were included in the assets of the Financial Services segment. The held-to-maturity securities consist mainly of certificates of deposit and U.S. treasury securities. At November 30, 2007, the Company had no investment securities classified as trading or available-for-sale, compared to $8.5 million of trading securities at November 30, 2006, which were included in other assets of the Homebuilding operations. The trading securities were comprised mainly of marketable equity mutual funds designated to approximate the Companys liabilities under its deferred compensation plan.
Derivative Financial Instruments
SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, (SFAS 133), as amended and interpreted, establishes accounting and reporting standards for derivative instruments and for hedging activities by requiring that all derivatives be recognized in the balance sheet and measured at fair value. Gains or
65
LENNAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(Continued)
losses resulting from changes in the fair value of derivatives are recognized in earnings or recorded in other comprehensive income or loss and recognized in the statement of operations when the hedged item affects earnings, depending on the purpose of the derivatives and whether they qualify for hedge accounting treatment.
The Companys policy is to designate at a derivatives inception the specific assets, liabilities, or future commitments being hedged and monitor the derivative to determine if it remains an effective hedge. The effectiveness of a derivative as a hedge is based on high correlation between changes in its value and changes in the value of the underlying hedged item. The Company recognizes gains or losses for amounts received or paid when the underlying transaction settles. The Company does not enter into or hold derivatives for trading or speculative purposes.
The Company had various interest rate swap agreements, which effectively converted variable interest rates to fixed interest rates on $200.0 million of outstanding debt related to its homebuilding operations. In June 2007, the Company redeemed the variable rate debt that was being hedged by the various interest rate swap agreements. The Companys last remaining interest rate swap was terminated in June 2007. The swap agreements had been designated as cash flow hedges and, accordingly, were reflected at their fair value in other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet at November 30, 2006. The related loss was deferred, net of tax, in stockholders equity as accumulated other comprehensive loss. The Company accounted for its interest rate swaps using the shortcut method, as described in SFAS 133. Amounts to be received or paid as a result of the swap agreements were recognized as adjustments to interest incurred on the related debt instruments. There was no ineffectiveness related to the interest rate swaps and therefore no portion of the accumulated other comprehensive loss was reclassified into earnings. The net effect on the Companys operating results was that interest on the variable-rate debt hedged was recorded based on fixed interest rates.
The Financial Services segment, in the normal course of business, uses derivative financial instruments to reduce its exposure to fluctuations in mortgage-related interest rates. The segment uses mortgage-backed securities (MBS) forward commitments, option contracts and investor commitments to protect the value of fixed rate-locked loan commitments and loans held-for-sale from fluctuations in mortgage-related interest rates. These derivative financial instruments are designated as fair value hedges, and, accordingly, for all qualifying and highly effective fair value hedges, the changes in the fair value of the derivative and the loss or gain on the hedged asset related to the risk being hedged are recorded in earnings.
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired in business combinations. Evaluating goodwill for impairment involves the determination of the fair value of the Companys reporting units in which the Company has recorded goodwill. A reporting unit is a component of an operating segment for which discrete financial information is available and reviewed by the Companys management on a regular basis. Inherent in the determination of fair value of the Companys reporting units are certain estimates and judgments, including the interpretation of current economic indicators and market valuations as well as the Companys strategic plans with regard to its operations. To the extent additional information arises or the Companys strategies change, it is possible that the Companys conclusion regarding goodwill impairment could change, which could have a significant effect on the Companys financial position and results of operations.
At November 30, 2007 and 2006, goodwill was $61.2 million and $257.8 million, respectively. The goodwill balance at November 30, 2007 relates to the Financial Services segment and is included in the assets of that segment. At November 30, 2006, the goodwill balance of $257.8 million was comprised of $196.6 million related to the Companys Homebuilding segments and Homebuilding Other and $61.2 million related to the Companys Financial Services segment. During fiscal 2007, the Company wrote-off its remaining homebuilding goodwill. Prior to the $190.2 million write-off of homebuilding goodwill, the Company recorded an adjustment to goodwill of $6.4 million due to a change in estimate related to tax liabilities associated with a prior acquisition. During fiscal 2006, the Companys goodwill had a net increase of $4.7 million primarily due to an acquisition by the Financial Services segment and payment of contingent consideration related to prior period acquisitions. During fiscal 2005, the Companys goodwill increased $13.8 million due to 2005 acquisitions and payment of contingent consideration related to prior period acquisitions.
66
LENNAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(Continued)
The Company reviews goodwill annually (or whenever indicators of impairment exist) for impairment in accordance with SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. Continued deterioration in market conditions as a result of tightening mortgage credit standards and other factors led to SFAS 144 and APB 18 impairments and a significant decline in the Companys market capitalization; thus, the Company reviewed goodwill for impairment in both its third and fourth quarters of 2007. During the third quarter of 2007, the Company recorded a goodwill impairment charge of $16.5 million related to its homebuilding operations. The third quarter goodwill, impairment charge related primarily to specific acquisitions made during the peak homebuilding years (2003 to 2005) in Homebuilding Other and the Companys Homebuilding Central reportable segment. To the extent goodwill resulted from acquisitions during the peak homebuilding years, it increased the likelihood of a goodwill impairment charge due to the premium values the Company paid for the respective land positions of such acquired companies. Conversely, to the extent that goodwill resulted from acquisitions prior to the peak homebuilding years, it decreased the likelihood of a goodwill impairment charge because there could be significant declines in values without reducing the fair values of the companies acquired below what they were when the companies were acquired. In addition, both Homebuilding Other and the Companys Homebuilding Central reportable segment have generally underperformed in comparison to the Homebuilding East and Homebuilding West reportable segments.
The Company performed its annual impairment test of goodwill in the fourth quarter and took an additional goodwill impairment charge of $173.7 million in all of the Companys homebuilding segments and Homebuilding Other during its fourth quarter. The Companys Financial Services segment goodwill was not impaired. The goodwill impairment related to the Companys homebuilding operations in the fourth quarter was due to a significant decline in the estimated fair value of its homebuilding reporting units subsequent to its third quarter, which resulted from significant deterioration in market conditions and a decrease in the Companys stock price during that period. No impairment was recorded during the years ended November 30, 2006 and 2005. As of November 30, 2007 and 2006, there were no material identifiable intangible assets, other than goodwill.
Income Taxes
Income taxes are accounted for in accordance with SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, (SFAS 109). The Company records income taxes under the asset and liability method, whereby deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized based on the future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and attributable to operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply in the years in which the temporary differences are expected to be recovered or paid. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in earnings in the period when the changes are enacted.
SFAS 109 requires a reduction of the carrying amounts of deferred tax assets by a valuation allowance if, based on the available evidence, it is more likely than not that such assets will not be realized. Accordingly, the need to establish valuation allowances for deferred tax assets are assessed periodically by the Company based on the SFAS 109 more-likely-than-not realization threshold criterion. In the assessment for a valuation allowance, appropriate consideration is given to all positive and negative evidence related to the realization of the deferred tax assets. This assessment considers, among other matters, the nature, frequency and severity of current and cumulative losses, forecasts of future profitability, the duration of statutory carryforward periods, the Companys experience with operating loss and tax credit carryforwards not expiring unused, and tax planning alternatives.
The Companys analysis of the need for a valuation allowance recognizes that while the Company has not incurred a cumulative loss over its evaluation period, a substantial loss was incurred in the current year. However, a substantial portion of the current loss was the result of the difficult current market conditions that led to the impairments of certain tangible assets as well as goodwill. Consideration has also been given to the lengthy period over which these net deferred tax assets can be realized, and the Companys history of not having Federal tax loss carryforwards expire unused.
At November 30, 2007 and 2006, the Companys net deferred tax asset was $746.9 million and $307.2 million, respectively. Based on the Companys assessment, it appears more likely than not that the net deferred tax asset will be realized through future taxable earnings to be generated by the Company. If future results are less than projected and there is no objectively verifiable evidence to support the realization of the Companys deferred tax asset, a substantial valuation allowance may be required to reduce the deferred tax assets. However,
67
LENNAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(Continued)
currently no valuation allowance has been established for the Companys net deferred tax asset. The Company will continue to assess the need for a valuation allowance in the future.
Product Warranty
Warranty and similar reserves for homes are established at an amount estimated to be adequate to cover potential costs for materials and labor with regard to warranty-type claims expected to be incurred subsequent to the delivery of a home. Reserves are determined based on historical data and trends with respect to similar product types and geographical areas. The Company regularly monitors the warranty reserve and makes adjustments to its pre-existing warranties in order to reflect changes in trends and historical data as information becomes available. Warranty reserves are included in other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. The activity in the Companys warranty reserve was as follows:
November 30, | |||||||
2007 | 2006 | ||||||
(In thousands) | |||||||
Warranty reserve, beginning of year |
$ | 172,571 | 144,916 | ||||
Warranties issued during the period |
102,384 | 170,020 | |||||
Adjustments to pre-existing warranties from changes in estimates |
51,816 | 25,487 | |||||
Payments |
(161,930 | ) | (167,852 | ) | |||
Warranty reserve, end of year |
$ | 164,841 | 172,571 | ||||
Self-Insurance
Certain insurable risks such as general liability, medical and workers compensation are self-insured by the Company up to certain limits. Undiscounted accruals for claims under the Companys self-insurance program are based on claims filed and estimates for claims incurred but not yet reported.
Minority Interest
The Company has consolidated certain joint ventures because the Company either was determined to be the primary beneficiary pursuant to Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Interpretation No. 46(R) (FIN 46R), Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, or has a controlling interest in these joint ventures. Therefore, the entities financial statements are consolidated in the Companys consolidated financial statements and the other partners equity is recorded as minority interest. At November 30, 2007 and 2006, minority interest was $28.5 million and $55.4 million, respectively. Minority interest expense, net was $1.9 million, $13.4 million and $45.0 million, respectively, for the years ended November 30, 2007, 2006 and 2005.
Earnings (loss) per Share
Earnings (loss) per share is accounted for in accordance with SFAS No. 128, Earnings per Share, which requires a dual presentation of basic and diluted earnings per share on the face of the consolidated statement of operations. Basic earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing net earnings (loss) attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock or resulted in the issuance of common stock that then shared in the earnings of the Company.
Financial Services
Loan origination revenues, net of direct origination costs and gains and losses from the sale of loans and loan servicing rights are recognized when the loans are sold and shipped to an investor. Premiums from title insurance policies are recognized as revenue on the effective dates of the policies. Escrow fees are recognized at the time the related real estate transactions are completed, usually upon the close of escrow.
Loans held-for-sale by the Financial Services segment that are designated as hedged assets are carried at fair value because the effect of changes in fair value are reflected in the carrying amount of the loans and in earnings. Premiums and discounts recorded on these loans are presented as an adjustment to the carrying amount of the
68
LENNAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(Continued)
loans and are not amortized. Interest income on loans held-for-sale is recognized as earned over the term of the mortgage loans based on the contractual interest rates.
When the segment sells loans in the secondary mortgage market, a gain or loss is recognized to the extent that the sales proceeds exceed, or are less than, the book value of the loans. Substantially all of these loans are sold within a short period in the secondary mortgage market on a servicing released, non-recourse basis; although, the Company remains liable for certain limited representations and warranties related to loan sales. Loan origination fees, net of direct origination costs, are deferred and recognized as a component of the gain or loss when loans are sold.
Loans for which the segment has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity consist of mortgage loans carried at cost, net of unamortized discounts. Discounts are amortized over the estimated lives of the loans using the interest method. Interest income on loans held-for-investment is recognized as earned over the term of the mortgage loans based on the contractual interest rates.
The segment also provides an allowance for loan losses. The provision recorded and the adequacy of the related allowance is determined by the Companys managements continuing evaluation of the loan portfolio in light of past loan loss experience, credit worthiness and nature of underlying collateral, present economic conditions and other factors considered relevant by the Companys management. Anticipated changes in economic factors, which may influence the level of the allowance, are considered in the evaluation by the Companys management when the likelihood of the changes can be reasonably determined. While the Companys management uses the best information available to make such evaluations, future adjustments to the allowance may be necessary as a result of future economic and other conditions that may be beyond managements control.
New Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes-an interpretation of SFAS 109, (FIN 48). FIN 48 provides interpretive guidance for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. FIN 48 is effective for the Company on December 1, 2007. The adoption of FIN 48 is expected to result in a charge of approximately $30 million to the Companys retained earnings as of December 1, 2007.
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements, (SFAS 157). SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS 157 is effective for the Companys financial assets and liabilities on December 1, 2007. The FASB has proposed a deferral of the provisions of SFAS 157 relating to nonfinancial assets and liabilities that would delay implementation by the Company until December 1, 2008. SFAS 157 is not expected to materially affect how the Company determines fair value, but may result in certain additional disclosures.
In November 2006, the FASB issued Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 06-8, Applicability of the Assessment of a Buyers Continuing Investment under FASB Statement No. 66, Accounting for Sales of Real Estate, for Sales of Condominiums, (EITF 06-8). EITF 06-8 establishes that a company should evaluate the adequacy of the buyers continuing investment in determining whether to recognize profit under the percentage-of-completion method. EITF 06-8 is effective for the Companys fiscal year beginning December 1, 2007. The effect of this EITF is not expected to be material to the Companys 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). SFAS 159 permits companies to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. SFAS 159 is effective for the Company on December 1, 2007. The Company did not elect the fair value option for any of its existing financial instruments on the effective date and has not determined whether or not it will elect this option for any eligible financial instruments it acquires in the future.
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statementsan amendment of ARB No. 51 (SFAS 160). SFAS 160 requires that a noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary be reported as equity and the amount of consolidated net income specifically attributable to the
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LENNAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(Continued)
noncontrolling interest be identified in the consolidated financial statements. It also calls for consistency in the manner of reporting changes in the parents ownership interest and requires fair value measurement of any noncontrolling equity investment retained in a deconsolidation. SFAS 160 is effective for the Companys fiscal year beginning December 1, 2009. The Company will evaluate the impact the adoption of SFAS 160 will have on its consolidated financial statements.
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007), Business Combinations (SFAS 141R). SFAS 141R broadens the guidance of SFAS 141, extending its applicability to all transactions and other events in which one entity obtains control over one or more other businesses. It broadens the fair value measurement and recognition of assets acquired, liabilities assumed, and interests transferred as a result of business combinations. SFAS 141R expands on required disclosures to improve the statement users abilities to evaluate the nature and financial effects of business combinations. SFAS 141R is effective for the Companys fiscal year beginning December 1, 2009. The Company does not expect the adoption of SFAS 141R to have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.
Reclassifications
Certain prior year amounts in the consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform with the 2007 presentation. These reclassifications had no impact on the Companys results of operations.
2. Discontinued Operations
In May 2005, the Company sold North American Exchange Company (NAEC), a subsidiary of the Financial Services segments title company, which generated a $15.8 million pretax gain. NAECs revenues were $3.3 million for the year ended November 30, 2005.
3. Acquisitions
During 2007 and 2006, the Company did not have any material acquisitions. During 2005, the Company expanded its presence through homebuilding acquisitions in all of its homebuilding segments and Homebuilding Other. In connection with these acquisitions and contingent consideration related to prior period acquisitions, the Company paid $416.0 million. The results of operations of these acquisitions are included in the Companys results of operations since their respective acquisition dates. The pro forma effect of these acquisitions on the results of operations is not presented as the effect is not material. Total goodwill associated with these acquisitions and contingent consideration related to acquisitions prior to 2005 was $13.8 million.
4. Operating and Reporting Segments
The Companys operating segments are aggregated into reportable segments in accordance with SFAS No. 131, Disclosures About Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information (SFAS 131), based primarily upon similar economic characteristics, geography and product type. The Companys reportable segments consist of:
(1) | Homebuilding East |
(2) | Homebuilding Central |
(3) | Homebuilding West |
(4) | Financial Services |
Information about homebuilding activities in which our homebuilding activities are not economically similar to other states in the same geographic area is grouped under Homebuilding Other, which is not considered a reportable segment in accordance with SFAS 131.
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LENNAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(Continued)
Operations of the Companys homebuilding segments primarily include the construction and sale of single-family attached and detached homes, and to a lesser extent, multi-level residential buildings, as well as the purchase, development and sale of residential land directly and through the Companys unconsolidated entities. The Companys reportable homebuilding segments, and all other homebuilding operations not required to be reported separately, have divisions located in the following states:
East: Florida, Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia
Central: Arizona, Colorado and Texas
West: California and Nevada
Other: Illinois, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina and South Carolina
Operations of the Financial Services segment include mortgage financing, title insurance, closing services and other ancillary services (including high-speed Internet and cable television) for both buyers of the Companys homes and others. Substantially all of the loans the Financial Services segment originates are sold in the secondary mortgage market on a servicing released, non-recourse basis; although, the Company remains liable for certain limited representations and warranties related to loan sales. The Financial Services segment operates generally in the same states as the Companys homebuilding operations, as well as other states.
Evaluation of segment performance is based primarily on operating earnings (loss) from continuing operations before provision (benefit) for income taxes. Operating earnings (loss) for the homebuilding segments consist of revenues generated from the sales of homes and land, equity in earnings (loss) from unconsolidated entities and management fees and other income (expense), net, less the cost of homes and land sold, selling, general and administrative expenses and minority interest income (expense), net. Homebuilding operating loss for the year ended November 30, 2007 includes a $175.9 million pretax financial statement gain on the recapitalization of an unconsolidated entity, which is included in the Companys Homebuilding West segment. In addition, homebuilding operating loss for the year ended November 30, 2007 includes SFAS 144 valuation adjustments to finished homes, construction in progress (CIP) and land on which the Company intends to build homes, SFAS 144 valuation adjustments to land the Company intends to sell to third parties, write-offs of option deposits and pre-acquisition costs related to land under option that the Company does not intend to purchase, SFAS 144 valuation adjustments related to assets of unconsolidated entities that are recorded in equity in earnings (loss) from unconsolidated entities, ABP 18 valuation adjustments to investments in unconsolidated entities that are recorded in management fees and other income (expense), net and goodwill impairments. Operating earnings for the Financial Services segment consist of revenues generated from mortgage financing, title insurance and other ancillary services (including high-speed Internet and cable television) less the cost of such services and certain selling, general and administrative expenses incurred by the Financial Services segment. Financial Services operating earnings for the year ended November 30, 2007 includes write-offs of certain notes receivable.
Each reportable segment follows the same accounting policies described in Note 1 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies to the consolidated financial statements. 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.
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LENNAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(Continued)
Financial information relating to the Companys operations was as follows:
November 30, | |||||
2007 | 2006 | ||||
(In thousands) | |||||
Assets: |
|||||
Homebuilding East |
$ | 1,630,086 | 3,326,371 | ||
Homebuilding Central |
1,077,021 | 1,651,848 | |||
Homebuilding West |
2,477,661 | 3,972,562 | |||
Homebuilding Other |
708,266 | 1,164,304 | |||
Financial Services |
1,037,809 | 1,613,376 | |||
Corporate and unallocated |
2,171,904 | 679,805 | |||
Total assets |
$ | 9,102,747 | 12,408,266 | ||
Investments in unconsolidated entities: |
|||||
Homebuilding East |
$ | 166,839 | 241,490 | ||
Homebuilding Central |
211,613 | 180,768 | |||
Homebuilding West |
515,548 | 974,404 | |||
Homebuilding Other |
40,271 | 50,516 | |||
Total investments in unconsolidated entities |
$ | 934,271 | 1,447,178 | ||
Goodwill: |
|||||
Homebuilding East |
$ | | 49,135 | ||
Homebuilding Central |
| 31,587 | |||
Homebuilding West |
| 46,640 | |||
Homebuilding Other |
| 69,276 | |||
Financial Services |
61,222 | 61,205 | |||
Total goodwill |
$ | 61,222 | 257,843 | ||
Years Ended November 30, | ||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||||
Revenues: |
||||||||||
Homebuilding East |
$ | 2,754,650 | 4,771,879 | 3,498,983 | ||||||
Homebuilding Central |
2,444,089 | 3,649,221 | 3,374,893 | |||||||
Homebuilding West |
3,543,712 | 5,969,512 | 5,302,767 | |||||||
Homebuilding Other |
987,801 | 1,232,428 | 1,127,956 | |||||||
Financial Services |
456,529 | 643,622 | 562,372 | |||||||
Total revenues (1) |
$ | 10,186,781 | 16,266,662 | 13,866,971 | ||||||
Operating earnings (loss): |
||||||||||
Homebuilding East |
$ | (893,159 | ) | 236,654 | 641,264 | |||||
Homebuilding Central |
(248,906 | ) | 215,386 | 368,476 | ||||||
Homebuilding West (2) |
(1,478,804 | ) | 639,917 | 1,214,149 | ||||||
Homebuilding Other |
(293,130 | ) | (105,804 | ) | 53,202 | |||||
Financial Services (3) |
6,120 | 149,803 | 104,768 | |||||||
Total operating earnings (loss) |
(2,907,879 | ) | 1,135,956 | 2,381,859 | ||||||
Corporate and unallocated (4) |
(173,202 | ) | (193,307 | ) | (222,165 | ) | ||||
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before provision (benefit) for income taxes |
$ | (3,081,081 | ) | 942,649 | 2,159,694 | |||||
(1) | Total revenues are net of sales incentives of $1.5 billion ($48,000 per home delivered) for the year ended November 30, 2007, $1.5 billion ($32,000 per home delivered) for the year ended November 30, 2006 and $368.8 million ($9,000 per home delivered) for the year ended November 30, 2005. |
(2) | Includes a $175.9 million pretax financial statement gain on the recapitalization of an unconsolidated entity for the year ended November 30, 2007. |
(3) | Includes a $17.7 million pretax gain for the year ended November 30, 2006 from monetizing the Financial Services segments personal lines insurance policies. |
(4) | Corporate and unallocated includes corporate general and administrative expenses and a $34.9 million loss on the redemption of 9.95% senior notes in 2005. |
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LENNAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(Continued)
Valuation Adjustments and Write-offs
Homebuilding operating earnings (loss) for the years ended November 30, 2007, 2006 and 2005 include SFAS 144 valuation adjustments to finished homes, CIP and land on which the Company intends to build homes, SFAS 144 valuation adjustments to land the Company intends to sell to third parties, write-offs of deposits and pre-acquisition costs related to land under option that the Company does not intend to purchase, SFAS 144 valuation adjustments related to assets of unconsolidated entities that are reflected in equity in earnings (loss) from unconsolidated entities, valuation adjustments in accordance with APB 18 to the Companys investments in unconsolidated entities that are recorded in management fees and other income (expense), net, and goodwill impairments. Financial Services operating earnings for the years ended November 30, 2007 and 2006 include write-offs of certain notes receivable.
Valuation adjustments and write-offs relating to the Companys operations were as follows:
Years Ended November 30, | |||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||
(In thousands) | |||||||
SFAS 144 valuation adjustments to finished homes, CIP and land on which the Company intends to build homes: |
|||||||
East |
$ | 279,064 | 155,749 | | |||
Central |
94,190 | 27,138 | | ||||
West |
331,827 | 80,207 | | ||||
Other |
42,762 | 17,375 | | ||||
Total |
747,843 | 280,469 | | ||||
SFAS 144 valuation adjustments to land the Company intends to sell to third parties: |
|||||||
East |
307,534 | 24,702 | 520 | ||||
Central |
80,863 | 17,318 | | ||||
West |
648,628 | | | ||||
Other |
130,269 | 27,057 | 4,908 | ||||
Total |
1,167,294 | 69,077 | 5,428 | ||||
Write-offs of option deposits and pre-acquisition costs: |
|||||||
East |
119,645 | 80,483 | 3,302 | ||||
Central |
57,117 | 2,951 | 305 | ||||
West |
310,795 | 44,000 | 10,142 | ||||
Other |
42,424 | 24,806 | 1,365 | ||||
Total |
529,981 | 152,240 | 15,114 | ||||
Companys share of SFAS 144 valuation adjustments related to assets of unconsolidated entities: |
|||||||
East |
55,157 | 25,484 | | ||||
Central |
29,585 | | | ||||
West |
273,679 | 92,776 | | ||||
Other |
5,741 | 8,177 | | ||||
Total |
364,162 | 126,437 | | ||||
APB 18 valuation adjustments to investments in unconsolidated entities: |
|||||||
East |
42,200 | | | ||||
Central |
14,552 | | | ||||
West |
68,883 | 12,165 | | ||||
Other |
6,571 | 2,305 | | ||||
Total |
132,206 | 14,470 | | ||||
Goodwill impairments: |
|||||||
East |
46,274 | | | ||||
Central |
31,293 | | | ||||
West |
43,955 | | | ||||
Other |
68,676 | | | ||||
Total |
190,198 | | | ||||
Financial Services write-offs of notes receivable |
28,426 | 2,713 | | ||||
Total valuation adjustments and write-offs of option deposits and pre-acquisition costs, goodwill and financial services notes receivable |
$ | 3,160,110 | 645,406 | 20,542 | |||
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LENNAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(Continued)
The housing market continued to deteriorate throughout 2007. This deterioration in market conditions combined with reduced credit availability in the financial markets resulted in an increase in the supply of new and existing homes for sale, as well as intensified competitive pressures to sell those homes. These competitive market conditions, together with a deceleration in sales pace, have resulted in an increase in sales incentives, leading to increased valuation adjustments and write-offs of option deposits and pre-acquisition costs related to land under option that the Company does not intend to purchase in 2007, compared to 2006 and 2005. Valuation adjustments and write-offs of option deposits and pre-acquisition costs and goodwill increased to $3.2 billion in the year ended November 30, 2007, compared to $645.4 million and $20.5 million, respectively, in the years ended November 30, 2006 and 2005.
The $1.2 billion of valuation adjustments recorded in 2007 to land the Company intends to sell to third parties includes $740.4 million of SFAS 144 valuation adjustments related to the portfolio of land the Company sold to its strategic land investment venture with Morgan Stanley Real Estate Fund II, L.P., an affiliate of Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc., which was formed in November 2007. The strategic land investment is a venture to acquire, develop, manage and sell residential real estate. The Company acquired a 20% ownership interest and 50% voting rights in the investment venture. Concurrent with the formation of the land investment venture, the Company sold a diversified portfolio of its land to the venture for $525 million. The properties acquired by the new entity consist of approximately 11,000 homesites in 32 communities located throughout the country. The properties the Company sold had a net book value of approximately $1.3 billion. As part of the transaction, the Company entered into option agreements and obtained rights of first offer providing the Company the opportunity to purchase certain finished homesites. The exercise price of the options is based on a fixed percentage of the future home price. The Company has no obligation to exercise these options and cannot acquire a majority of the entitys assets. The Company is managing the land investment ventures operations and receives fees for its services. The Company will also receive disproportionate distributions if the investment venture exceeds certain financial targets.
Due to the Companys continuing involvement, the transaction did not qualify as a sale under GAAP; thus, the inventory remained on the Companys consolidated balance sheet in consolidated inventory not owned as of November 30, 2007. Additionally, the $445 million of cash received net of the Companys deposit on the homesites under option and the Companys contribution to the land investment venture from the transaction was recorded in liabilities related to consolidated inventory not owned in the consolidated balance sheet. As noted above, in connection with the transaction, the Company recorded a SFAS 144 valuation adjustment of $740.4 million on the inventory sold to the investment venture.
Further deterioration in the homebuilding market may cause additional pricing pressures and slower absorption, which may lead to additional valuation adjustments in the future. In addition, market conditions may cause the Company to re-evaluate its strategy regarding certain assets that could result in further valuation adjustments and/or additional write-offs of option deposits and pre-acquisition costs due to the abandonment of those option contracts.
In addition, during the years ended November 30, 2007 and 2006, the Companys Financial Services segment wrote-off $28.4 million and $2.7 million, respectively, of land seller notes receivable. If market conditions continue to deteriorate, the Financial Services segment may need to reassess the value of the underlying collateral and/or renegotiate the terms of its land seller notes receivable, which may result in additional write-offs in the future.
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(Continued)
Years Ended November 30, | |||||||||
2007 | 2 |