hov20190131_10q.htm
 

 

Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

(Mark One)

[ X ]

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

 

For the quarterly period ended JANUARY 31, 2019

OR

 

[    ]

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

 

Commission file number 1-8551

 

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

 

Delaware (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)

 

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

 

90 Matawan Road, 5th Floor, Matawan, NJ 07747 (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

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

 

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

 

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

Yes [ X ]    No [   ]

 

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

 

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

Large Accelerated Filer [   ]  Accelerated Filer  [ X ]

Non-Accelerated Filer  [   ]   Smaller Reporting Company [   ]     Emerging Growth Company [   ]

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  [   ]

 

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

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date. 132,906,926 shares of Class A Common Stock and 15,572,643 shares of Class B Common Stock were outstanding as of March 1, 2019.

 

 

 

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC.  

    

FORM 10-Q  

 

INDEX

PAGE

NUMBER

  

  

PART I.  Financial Information

  

Item l.  Financial Statements:

  

  

  

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) as of January 31, 2019 and October 31, 2018

3

  

  

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) for the three months ended January 31, 2019 and 2018

4

  

  

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity (unaudited) for the three months ended January 31, 2019 and 2018

5

  

  

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) for the three months ended January 31, 2019 and 2018

7

  

  

   

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

9

  

  

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

29

  

  

Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

47

  

  

Item 4.  Controls and Procedures

47

  

  

 

 

PART II.  Other Information

  

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

47

 

 

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

47

 

 

Item 6.  Exhibits

48

  

  

Signatures

49

 

  

 

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In Thousands)

 

   

January 31,

2019

   

October 31,

2018

 
   

(Unaudited)

       

ASSETS

           

Homebuilding:

           

Cash and cash equivalents

  $113,314     $187,871  

Restricted cash and cash equivalents

  12,827     12,808  

Inventories:

           

Sold and unsold homes and lots under development

  970,394     878,876  

Land and land options held for future development or sale

  95,361     111,368  

Consolidated inventory not owned

  112,618     87,921  

Total inventories

  1,178,373     1,078,165  

Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures

  128,858     123,694  

Receivables, deposits and notes, net

  32,736     35,189  

Property, plant and equipment, net

  20,329     20,285  

Prepaid expenses and other assets

  42,890     39,150  

Total homebuilding

  1,529,327     1,497,162  
             

Financial services

  94,396     164,880  

Total assets

  $1,623,723     $1,662,042  
             

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

           

Homebuilding:

           

Nonrecourse mortgages secured by inventory, net of debt issuance costs

  $121,483     $95,557  

Accounts payable and other liabilities

  266,630     304,899  

Customers’ deposits

  30,495     30,086  

Liabilities from inventory not owned, net of debt issuance costs

  82,105     63,387  

Revolving and term loan credit facilities, net of debt issuance costs

  237,424     201,389  

Notes payable (net of discount, premium and debt issuance costs) and accrued interest

  1,278,064     1,273,446  

Total homebuilding

  2,016,201     1,968,764  
             

Financial services

  74,211     143,448  

Income taxes payable

  3,675     3,334  

Total liabilities

  2,094,087     2,115,546  
             

Stockholders’ equity deficit:

           

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value - authorized 100,000 shares; issued and outstanding 5,600 shares with a liquidation preference of $140,000 at January 31, 2019 and at October 31, 2018

  135,299     135,299  

Common stock, Class A, $0.01 par value – authorized 400,000,000 shares; issued 144,667,689 shares at January 31, 2019 and 144,596,485 shares at October 31, 2018

  1,447     1,446  

Common stock, Class B, $0.01 par value (convertible to Class A at time of sale) – authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued 16,264,391 shares at January 31, 2019 and 16,241,847 shares at October 31, 2018

  162     162  

Paid in capital – common stock

  709,396     708,805  

Accumulated deficit

  (1,201,308

)

  (1,183,856

)

Treasury stock – at cost – 11,760,763 shares of Class A common stock and 691,748 shares of Class B common stock at January 31, 2019 and October 31, 2018

  (115,360

)

  (115,360

)

Total stockholders’ equity deficit

  (470,364

)

  (453,504

)

Total liabilities and equity

  $1,623,723     $1,662,042  

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

 

3

  

 

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In Thousands Except Per Share Data)

(Unaudited)

 

   

Three Months Ended January 31,

 
   

2019

   

2018

 

Revenues:

           

Homebuilding:

           

Sale of homes

  $362,135     $401,577  

Land sales and other revenues

  8,851     4,701  

Total homebuilding

  370,986     406,278  

Financial services

  9,608     10,888  

Total revenues

  380,594     417,166  
             

Expenses:

           

Homebuilding:

           

Cost of sales, excluding interest

  304,927     329,527  

Cost of sales interest

  10,242     12,292  

Inventory impairment loss and land option write-offs

  704     414  

Total cost of sales

  315,873     342,233  

Selling, general and administrative

  42,736     43,231  

Total homebuilding expenses

  358,609     385,464  
             

Financial services

  8,474     8,341  

Corporate general and administrative

  17,664     19,135  

Other interest

  22,273     29,131  

Other operations

  242     390  

Total expenses

  407,262     442,461  

Income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures

  9,562     (5,176

)

(Loss) before income taxes

  (17,106

)

  (30,471

)

State and federal income tax provision:

           

State

  346     338  

Federal

  -     -  

Total income taxes

  346     338  

Net (loss)

  $(17,452

)

  $(30,809

)

             

Per share data:

           

Basic:

           

Net (loss) per common share

  $(0.12

)

  $(0.21

)

Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding

  148,958     148,028  

Assuming dilution:

           

Net (loss) per common share

  $(0.12

)

  $(0.21

)

Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding

  148,958     148,028  

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

 

4

 

 

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

THREE MONTH PERIOD ENDED JANUARY 31, 2019

(In Thousands Except Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

   

A Common Stock

   

B Common Stock

   

Preferred Stock

                         
   

Shares Issued and

Outstanding

   

Amount

   

Shares Issued and

Outstanding

   

Amount

   

Shares Issued and

Outstanding

   

Amount

   

Paid-In

Capital

   

Accumulated Deficit

   

Treasury

Stock

   

Total

 
                                                             

Balance, October 31, 2018

  132,835,722     $1,446     15,550,099     $162     5,600     $135,299     $708,805     $(1,183,856

)

  $(115,360

)

  $(453,504

)

                                                             

Stock options, amortization and issuances

                                      107                 107  
                                                             

Restricted stock amortization, issuances and forfeitures

  70,704     1     23,044                       484                 485  
                                                             

Conversion of Class B to Class A common stock

  500           (500

)

                                      -  

Net (loss)

                                            (17,452

)

        (17,452

)

                                                             

Balance, January 31, 2019

  132,906,926     $1,447     15,572,643     $162     5,600     $135,299     $709,396     $(1,201,308

)

  $(115,360

)

  $(470,364

)

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

 

5

 

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

THREE MONTHS PERIOD ENDED JANUARY 31, 2018

(In Thousands Except Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

   

A Common Stock

   

B Common Stock

   

Preferred Stock

                         
   

Shares Issued and

Outstanding

   

Amount

   

Shares Issued and

Outstanding

   

Amount

   

Shares Issued and

Outstanding

   

Amount

   

Paid-In

Capital

   

Accumulated Deficit

   

Treasury

Stock

   

Total

 
                                                             

Balance, October 31, 2017

  132,285,310     $1,440     15,307,607     $160     5,600     $135,299     $706,466     $(1,188,376

)

  $(115,360

)

  $(460,371

)

                                                             

Stock options, amortization and issuances

  24,000                                   210                 210  
                                                             

Restricted stock amortization, issuances and forfeitures

  332,264     4     164,316     2                 (225

)

              (219

)

                                                             

Conversion of Class B to Class A common stock

  1,441           (1,441

)

                                      -  

Net (loss)

                                            (30,809

)

        (30,809

)

                                                             

Balance, January 31, 2018

  132,643,015     $1,444     15,470,482     $162     5,600     $135,299     $706,451     $(1,219,185

)

  $(115,360

)

  $(491,189

)

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

 

6

 

 

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In Thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

   

Three Months Ended

January 31,

 
   

2019

   

2018

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

           

Net (loss)

  $(17,452 )   $(30,809

)

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

           

Depreciation

  979     790  

Compensation from stock options and awards

  615     1,039  

Amortization of bond discounts, premiums and deferred financing costs

  1,820     2,337  

Gain on sale and retirement of property and assets

  (15 )   (3,628

)

(Income) loss from unconsolidated joint ventures

  (9,562 )   5,176  

Inventory impairment and land option write-offs

  704     414  

(Increase) decrease in assets:

           

Origination of mortgage loans

  (190,916 )   (198,878

)

Sale of mortgage loans

  256,161     251,055  

Receivables, prepaids, deposits and other assets

  (1,331 )   (2,109 )

Inventories

  (100,912 )   (31,063

)

Increase (decrease) in liabilities:

           

State income tax payable

  341     (41

)

Customers’ deposits

  409     617  

Accounts payable, accrued interest and other accrued liabilities

  (63,013 )   (82,544

)

Net cash used in operating activities

  (122,172 )   (87,644

)

Cash flows from investing activities:

           

Proceeds from sale of property and assets

  15     38,170  

Purchase of property, equipment and other fixed assets and acquisitions

  (1,019 )   (1,916

)

Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures

  (1,329 )   (2,032

)

Distributions of capital from unconsolidated joint ventures

  5,727     6,646  

Net cash provided by investing activities

  3,394     40,868  

Cash flows from financing activities:

           

Proceeds from mortgages and notes

  54,216     33,802  

Payments related to mortgages and notes

  (28,264 )   (46,596

)

Proceeds from model sale leaseback financing programs

  9,567     746  

Payments related to model sale leaseback financing programs

  (1,860 )   (16,934

)

Proceeds from land bank financing programs

  14,626     2,204  

Payments related to land bank financing programs

  (3,193 )   (9,449

)

Proceeds from senior secured notes, net of discount   21,348     -  

Payments for senior notes and senior amortizing notes

  -     (56,002

)

Net borrowings from senior secured revolving credit facility   36,000     -  

Net payments related to mortgage warehouse lines of credit

  (61,992 )   (51,487

)

Deferred financing costs from land bank financing program and note issuances

  (1,489 )   (1,843

)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

  38,959     (145,559

)

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash and cash equivalents

  (79,819 )   (192,335

)

Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash and cash equivalents balance, beginning of period

  232,992     493,742  

Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash and cash equivalents balance, end of period

  $153,173     $301,407  

 

7

 

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In Thousands - Unaudited)

(Continued)

 

 

   

Three Months Ended

January 31,

 
   

2019

   

2018

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow:

           

Cash paid during the period for:

           

Interest, net of capitalized interest (see Note 3 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements)

  $40,439     $56,482  

Income taxes

  $6     $379  
             

Reconciliation of Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

           

Homebuilding: Cash and cash equivalents

  $113,314     $278,158  

Homebuilding: Restricted cash and cash equivalents

  12,827     3,213  

Financial Service: Cash and cash equivalents, included in Financial services assets

  4,317     4,130  

Financial Services: Restricted cash and cash equivalents, included in Financial services assets

  22,715     15,906  

Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in the statement of cash flows

  $153,173     $301,407  

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

 

Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing activities:

 

In the first quarter of fiscal 2018, we acquired the remaining assets of one of our joint ventures, resulting in a $13.0 million reduction in our investment in the joint venture and a corresponding increase to inventory.

 

8

 

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - UNAUDITED

 

 

 

1.

Basis of Presentation

 

Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. (“HEI”) conducts all of its homebuilding and financial services operations through its subsidiaries (references herein to the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer to HEI and its consolidated subsidiaries and should be understood to reflect the consolidated business of HEI’s subsidiaries). HEI has reportable segments consisting of six Homebuilding segments (Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Southeast, Southwest and West) and the Financial Services segment (see Note 16).

 

The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include HEI's accounts and those of all of its wholly-owned subsidiaries after elimination of all of its significant intercompany balances and transactions. 

 

The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X and accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. These Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2018. In the opinion of management, all adjustments for interim periods presented have been made, which include normal recurring accruals and deferrals necessary for a fair presentation of our condensed consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows. The preparation of Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates, and these differences could have a significant impact on the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results which might be expected for a full year. 

 

Reclassifications - Effective October 31, 2018 we early adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-18 “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash” (“ASU 2016-18”). As a result, restricted cash amounts are no longer shown within the operating and investing activities as these balances are now included in the beginning and ending cash balances in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The adoption of ASU 2016-18 also resulted in the reclassification of restricted cash in operating and investing activities of $5.1 million and $0.2 million, respectively, for the three months ended January 31, 2018. These amounts are now included in the beginning and ending cash balances for the respective periods. See also the reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

  

 

2.

Stock Compensation

 

The Company’s total stock-based compensation expense was $0.6 million and $1.0 million for the three months ended January 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Included in this total stock-based compensation expense was the vesting of stock options of $0.1 million and $0.2 million for the three months ended January 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

   

 

3.

Interest

 

Interest costs incurred, expensed and capitalized were:

 

   

Three Months Ended

January 31,

 

(In thousands)

 

2019

   

2018

 

Interest capitalized at beginning of period

  $68,117     $71,051  

Plus interest incurred(1)

  38,853     41,165  

Less cost of sales interest expensed

  10,242     12,292  

Less other interest expensed(2)(3)

  22,273     29,131  

Interest capitalized at end of period(4)

  $74,455     $70,793  

 

(1)

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

(2)

Other interest expensed includes interest that does not qualify for interest capitalization because our assets that qualify for interest capitalization (inventory under development) do not exceed our debt, which amounted to $17.6 million and $19.6 million for the three months ended January 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Other interest also includes interest on completed homes, land in planning and fully developed lots without homes under construction, which does not qualify for capitalization, and therefore, is expensed. This component of other interest was $4.7 million and $9.6 million for the three months ended January 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

 

 

(3)

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

 

   

Three Months Ended January 31,

 

(In thousands)

 

2019

   

2018

 

Other interest expensed

  $22,273     $29,131  

Interest paid by our mortgage and finance subsidiaries

  689     601  

Decrease in accrued interest

  17,477     26,750  

Cash paid for interest, net of capitalized interest

  $40,439     $56,482  

 

(4)

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

  

 

4.

Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value

 

We record impairment losses on inventories related to communities under development and held for future development when events and circumstances indicate that they may be impaired and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than their related carrying amounts. If the expected undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount, then the community is written down to its fair value. We estimate the fair value of each impaired community by determining the present value of the estimated future cash flows at a discount rate commensurate with the risk of the respective community. In the first quarter of fiscal 2019, no discount rate was used as the one community impaired during the quarter was sold and the purchase offer price was used to determine the fair value. Should the estimates or expectations used in determining cash flows or fair value decrease or differ from current estimates in the future, we may need to recognize additional impairments. In the first quarter of fiscal 2018, we did not record impairment losses, therefore, no discount rate was used for impairments.

 

During the three months ended January 31, 2019 and 2018, we evaluated inventories of all 397 and 387 communities under development and held for future development or sale, respectively, for impairment indicators through preparation and review of detailed budgets or other market indicators of impairment. We performed a detailed impairment calculation during the three months ended January 31, 2019 for one of those communities (i.e., it had a projected operating loss or other impairment indicators). As discussed above, the community was sold and the purchase price was used to determine the fair value. As a result of our impairment analysis, we recorded an impairment loss for the one community of less than $0.1 million (the pre-impairment value was $6.3 million) for the three months ended January 31, 2019, which is included in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations on the line entitled “Homebuilding: Inventory impairment loss and land option write-offs” and deducted from inventory. The pre-impairment value represents the carrying value, net of prior period impairments, if any, at the time of recording the impairment. During the three months ended January 31, 2018, we did not find any indicators of impairment and therefore did not perform any detailed impairment calculations.

 

The Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations line entitled “Homebuilding: Inventory impairment loss and land option write-offs” also includes write-offs of options and approval, engineering and capitalized interest costs that we record when we redesign communities and/or abandon certain engineering costs and we do not exercise options in various locations because the communities' pro forma profitability is not projected to produce adequate returns on investment commensurate with the risk. Total aggregate write-offs related to these items were $0.7 million and $0.4 million for the three months ended January 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Occasionally, these write-offs are offset by recovered deposits (sometimes through legal action) that had been written off in a prior period as walk-away costs. Historically, these recoveries have not been significant in comparison to the total costs written off. The number of lots walked away from during the three months ended January 31, 2019 and 2018 were 1,490 and 627, respectively. The walk-aways were located in all segments in the first quarter of fiscal 2019 and located in all segments except the Southeast in the first quarter of fiscal 2018.

  

We decide to mothball (or stop development on) certain communities when we determine that the current performance does not justify further investment at the time. When we decide to mothball a community, the inventory is reclassified on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets from “Sold and unsold homes and lots under development” to “Land and land options held for future development or sale.” During the first quarter of fiscal 2019, we did not mothball any additional communities, but sold two previously mothballed communities and re-activated two previously mothballed communities. As of January 31, 2019 and October 31, 2018, the net book value associated with our 14 and 18 total mothballed communities was $14.1 million and $24.5 million, respectively, which was net of impairment charges recorded in prior periods of $146.9 million and $186.1 million, respectively.

 

From time to time we enter into option agreements that include specific performance requirements whereby we are required to purchase a minimum number of lots. Because of our obligation to purchase these lots, for accounting purposes in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 360-20-40-38, we are required to record this inventory on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of January 31, 2019 and October 31, 2018, we had no specific performance options.

 

 

We sell and lease back certain of our model homes with the right to participate in the potential profit when each home is sold to a third party at the end of the respective lease. As a result of our continued involvement, for accounting purposes in accordance with ASC 606-10-55-68, these sale and leaseback transactions are considered a financing rather than a sale. Therefore, for purposes of our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, at January 31, 2019 and October 31, 2018, inventory of $58.5 million and $50.5 million, respectively, was recorded to “Consolidated inventory not owned,” with a corresponding amount of $51.4 million and $43.9 million (net of debt issuance costs), respectively, recorded to “Liabilities from inventory not owned” for the amount of net cash received from the transactions.

  

We have land banking arrangements, whereby we sell our land parcels to the land bankers and they provide us an option to purchase back finished lots on a predetermined schedule. Because of our options to repurchase these parcels, for accounting purposes, in accordance with ASC 606-10-55-70, these transactions are considered a financing rather than a sale. For purposes of our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, at January 31, 2019 and October 31, 2018, inventory of $54.1 million and $37.4 million, respectively, was recorded to “Consolidated inventory not owned,” with a corresponding amount of $30.7 million and $19.5 million (net of debt issuance costs), respectively, recorded to “Liabilities from inventory not owned” for the amount of net cash received from the transactions.

 

 

5.

Variable Interest Entities

 

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

 

In compliance with ASC 810, the Company analyzes its option purchase contracts to determine whether the corresponding land sellers are VIEs and, if so, whether the Company is the primary beneficiary. Although the Company does not have legal title to the underlying land, ASC 810 requires the Company to consolidate a VIE if the Company is determined to be the primary beneficiary. In determining whether it is the primary beneficiary, the Company considers, among other things, whether it has the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance. Such activities would include, among other things, determining or limiting the scope or purpose of the VIE, selling or transferring property owned or controlled by the VIE, or arranging financing for the VIE. The Company also considers whether it has the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE. As a result of its analyses, the Company determined that as of January 31, 2019 and October 31, 2018, it was not the primary beneficiary of any VIEs from which it is purchasing land under option purchase contracts.

 

We will continue to secure land and lots using options, some of which may be with VIEs. Including deposits on our unconsolidated VIEs, at January 31, 2019, we had total cash deposits amounting to $73.0 million to purchase land and lots with a total purchase price of $1.3 billion. The maximum exposure to loss with respect to our land and lot options is limited to the deposits plus any pre-development costs invested in the property, although some deposits are refundable at our request or refundable if certain conditions are not met.

  

 

6.

Warranty Costs

 

General liability insurance for homebuilding companies and their suppliers and subcontractors is very difficult to obtain. The availability of general liability insurance is limited due to a decreased number of insurance companies willing to underwrite for the industry. In addition, those few insurers willing to underwrite liability insurance have significantly increased the premium costs. To date, we have been able to obtain general liability insurance but at higher premium costs with higher deductibles. Our subcontractors and suppliers have advised us that they have also had difficulty obtaining insurance that also provides us coverage. As a result, we have an owner controlled insurance program for certain of our subcontractors whereby the subcontractors pay us an insurance premium (through a reduction of amounts we would otherwise owe such subcontractors for their work on our homes) based on the risk type of the trade. We absorb the liability associated with their work on our homes as part of our overall general liability insurance at no additional cost to us because our existing general liability and construction defect insurance policy and related reserves for amounts under our deductible covers construction defects regardless of whether we or our subcontractors are responsible for the defect. For the three months ended January 31, 2019 and 2018, we received $1.2 million and $1.0 million, respectively, from subcontractors related to the owner controlled insurance program, which we accounted for as reductions to inventory.

  

 

We accrue for warranty costs that are covered under our existing general liability and construction defect policy as part of our general liability insurance deductible. This accrual is expensed as selling, general and administrative costs. For homes delivered in fiscal 2019 and 2018, our deductible under our general liability insurance is a $20 million aggregate for construction defect and warranty claims. For bodily injury claims, our deductible per occurrence in fiscal 2019 and 2018 is $0.25 million, up to a $5 million limit. Our aggregate retention for construction defect, warranty and bodily injury claims is $20 million for fiscal 2019 and 2018. In addition, we establish a warranty accrual for lower cost-related issues to cover home repairs, community amenities and land development infrastructure that are not covered under our general liability and construction defect policy. We accrue an estimate for these warranty costs as part of cost of sales at the time each home is closed and title and possession have been transferred to the homebuyer. Additions and charges in the warranty reserve and general liability reserve for the three months ended January 31, 2019 and 2018 were as follows: 

 

   

Three Months Ended

January 31,

 

(In thousands)

 

2019

   

2018

 
             

Balance, beginning of period

  $95,064     $127,702  

Additions – Selling, general and administrative

  2,158     2,169  

Additions – Cost of sales

  2,028     5,745  

Charges incurred during the period

  (6,091 )   (6,302

)

Changes to pre-existing reserves

  251     -  

Balance, end of period

  $93,410     $129,314  

 

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

 

Insurance claims paid by our insurance carriers, excluding insurance deductibles paid, were less than $0.1 million for both the three months ended January 31, 2019 and 2018 for prior year deliveries.

 

 

7.

Commitments and Contingent Liabilities

 

We are involved in litigation arising in the ordinary course of business, none of which is expected to have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows, and we are subject to extensive and complex laws and regulations that affect the development of land and home building, sales and customer financing processes, including zoning, density, building standards and mortgage financing. These laws and regulations often provide broad discretion to the administering governmental authorities. This can delay or increase the cost of development or homebuilding. The significant majority of our litigation matters are related to construction defect claims. Our estimated losses from construction defect litigation matters, if any, are included in our construction defect reserves.

 

We also are subject to a variety of local, state, federal and foreign laws and regulations concerning protection of health and the environment, including those regulating the emission or discharge of materials into the environment, the management of storm water runoff at construction sites, the handling, use, storage and disposal of hazardous substances, impacts to wetlands and other sensitive environments, and the remediation of contamination at properties that we have owned or developed or currently own or are developing (“environmental laws”). The particular environmental laws that apply to a site may vary greatly according to the community site, for example, due to the community, the environmental conditions at or near the site, and the present and former uses of the site. These environmental laws may result in delays, may cause us to incur substantial compliance, remediation and/or other costs, and can prohibit or severely restrict development and homebuilding activity. In addition, noncompliance with these laws and regulations could result in fines and penalties, obligations to remediate, permit revocations or other sanctions; and contamination or other environmental conditions at or in the vicinity of our developments may result in claims against us for personal injury, property damage or other losses.

   

We anticipate that increasingly stringent requirements will be imposed on developers and homebuilders in the future. For example, for a number of years, the EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have been engaged in rulemakings to clarify the scope of federally regulated wetlands, which included a June 2015 rule many affected businesses contend impermissibly expanded the scope of such wetlands that was challenged in court, stayed, and remains in litigation. A proposal was made in June 2017 to formally rescind the June 2015 rule and reinstate the rule scheme previously in place while the agencies initiate a new substantive rulemaking on the issue. A February 2018 rule delays the effective date of the June 2015 rule until February 2020, but was enjoined nationwide in August 2018 by a federal district court in South Carolina in response to a lawsuit by a coalition of environmental advocacy groups (the result of which, according to the EPA, is that the June 2015 rule applies in 22 states, the District of Columbia, and the United States territories, and that the pre-June 2015 regime applies in the rest). The district court’s August 2018 decision is being appealed, and the EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are seeking a stay of the decision. It is unclear how these and related developments, including at the state or local level, ultimately may affect the scope of regulated wetlands where we operate. Although we cannot reliably predict the extent of any effect these developments regarding wetlands, or any other requirements that may take effect may have on us, they could result in time-consuming and expensive compliance programs and in substantial expenditures, which could cause delays and increase our cost of operations. In addition, our ability to obtain or renew permits or approvals and the continued effectiveness of permits already granted or approvals already obtained is dependent upon many factors, some of which are beyond our control, such as changes in policies, rules and regulations and their interpretations and application.

 

 

In March 2013, we received a letter from the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) requesting information about our involvement in a housing redevelopment project in Newark, New Jersey that a Company entity undertook during the 1990s. We understand that the development is in the vicinity of a former lead smelter and that tests on soil samples from properties within the development conducted by the EPA showed elevated levels of lead. We also understand that the smelter ceased operations many years before the Company entity involved acquired the properties in the area and carried out the re-development project. We responded to the EPA’s request. In August 2013, we were notified that the EPA considers us a potentially responsible party (or “PRP”) with respect to the site, that the EPA will clean up the site, and that the EPA is proposing that we fund and/or contribute towards the cleanup of the contamination at the site. We began preliminary discussions with the EPA concerning a possible resolution but do not know the scope or extent of the Company’s obligations, if any, that may arise from the site and therefore cannot provide any assurance that this matter will not have a material impact on the Company. The EPA requested additional information in April 2014 and again in March 2017 and the Company responded to the information requests. On May 2, 2018 the EPA sent a letter to the Company entity demanding reimbursement for 100% of the EPA’s costs to clean-up the site in the amount of $2.7 million. The Company responded to the EPA’s demand letter on June 15, 2018 setting forth the Company’s defenses and expressing its willingness to enter into settlement negotiations. The parties have subsequently executed a Tolling Agreement to toll the statute of limitations on collection until December 20, 2019 to allow the parties time to discuss settlement. We believe that we have adequate reserves for this matter.

  

In 2015, the condominium association of the Four Seasons at Great Notch condominium community (the “Great Notch Plaintiff”) filed a lawsuit in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Passaic County (the “Court”) alleging various construction defects, design defects, and geotechnical issues relating to the community. The operative complaint (“Complaint”) asserts claims against Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. and several of its affiliates, including K. Hovnanian at Great Notch, LLC, K. Hovnanian Construction Management, Inc., and K. Hovnanian Companies, LLC. The Complaint also asserts claims against various other design professionals and contractors. The Great Notch Plaintiff has also filed a motion, which remains pending, to permit it to pursue a claim to pierce the corporate veil of K. Hovnanian at Great Notch, LLC to hold its alleged parent entities liable for any damages awarded against it. To date, the Hovnanian-affiliated defendants have reached a partial settlement with the Great Notch Plaintiff as to a portion of the Great Notch Plaintiff’s claims against them for an amount immaterial to the Company. On its remaining claims against the Hovnanian-affiliated defendants, the Great Notch Plaintiff has asserted damages of approximately $119.5 million, which amount is potentially subject to treble damages pursuant to the Great Notch Plaintiff’s claim under the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act. On August 17, 2018, the Hovnanian-affiliated defendants filed a motion for summary judgment seeking dismissal of all of the Great Notch Plaintiff’s remaining claims against them, which remains pending. Trial is currently scheduled for September 9, 2019. Court ordered mediation sessions have been re-scheduled for May and June 2019. The Hovnanian-affiliated defendants intend to defend these claims vigorously.

 

 

8.

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents and Customer's Deposits

 

Cash represents cash deposited in checking accounts. Cash equivalents include certificates of deposit, Treasury bills and government money–market funds with maturities of 90 days or less when purchased. Our cash balances are held at a few financial institutions and may, at times, exceed insurable amounts. We believe we help to mitigate this risk by depositing our cash in major financial institutions. At January 31, 2019 and October 31, 2018, $128.0 million and $199.6 million, respectively, of the total cash and cash equivalents was in cash equivalents, the book value of which approximates fair value.

 

Homebuilding - Restricted cash and cash equivalents on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets totaled $12.8 million as of both January 31, 2019 and October 31, 2018, respectively, which included cash collateralizing our letter of credit agreements and facilities as discussed in Note 11. Also included in this balance were homebuilding customers’ deposits of $0.1 million at both January 31, 2019 and October 31, 2018, respectively, which are subject to restrictions on our use.

 

Financial services restricted cash and cash equivalents, which are included in Financial services assets on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, totaled $22.7 million and $25.4 million as of January 31, 2019 and October 31, 2018, respectively. Included in this balance were (1) financial services customers’ deposits of $20.2 million at January 31, 2019 and $23.4 million as of October 31, 2018 which are subject to restrictions on our use, and (2) $2.5 million at January 31, 2019 and $2.0 million at October 31, 2018, respectively, of restricted cash under the terms of our mortgage warehouse lines of credit.

 

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

 

 

 

9.

Mortgage Loans Held for Sale

 

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

 

At January 31, 2019 and October 31, 2018, $51.8 million and $115.2 million, respectively, of mortgages held for sale were pledged against our mortgage warehouse lines of credit (see Note 10). We may incur losses with respect to mortgages that were previously sold that are delinquent and which had underwriting defects, but only to the extent the losses are not covered by mortgage insurance or resale value of the home. The reserves for these estimated losses are included in the “Financial services” balances on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of January 31, 2019 and 2018, we had reserves specifically for 20 and 45 identified mortgage loans, respectively, as well as reserves for an estimate for future losses on mortgages sold but not yet identified to us.

 

The activity in our loan origination reserves during the three months ended January 31, 2019 and 2018 was as follows:

 

   

Three Months Ended

January 31,

 

(In thousands)

 

2019

   

2018

 
             

Loan origination reserves, beginning of period

  $2,563     $3,158  

Provisions for losses during the period

  41     30  

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

  10     -  

Payments/Settlements

  (1,350

)

  -  

Loan origination reserves, end of period

  $1,264     $3,188  

 

 

10.

Mortgages

 

We have nonrecourse mortgage loans for certain communities totaling $121.5 million and $95.6 million (net of debt issuance costs) at January 31, 2019 and October 31, 2018, respectively, which are secured by the related real property, including any improvements, with an aggregate book value of $285.2 million and $241.9 million, respectively. The weighted-average interest rate on these obligations was 6.3% and 6.1% at January 31, 2019 and October 31, 2018, respectively, and the mortgage loan payments on each community primarily correspond to home deliveries.

    

K. Hovnanian Mortgage originates mortgage loans primarily from the sale of our homes. Such mortgage loans and related servicing rights are sold in the secondary mortgage market within a short period of time. In certain instances, we retain the servicing rights for a small amount of loans. K. Hovnanian Mortgage finances the origination of mortgage loans through various master repurchase agreements, which are recorded in financial services liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

Our secured Master Repurchase Agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (“Chase Master Repurchase Agreement”) which was amended on January 31, 2019, to extend the maturity to January 31, 2020, is a short-term borrowing facility that provides up to $50.0 million through its maturity. The loan is secured by the mortgages held for sale and is repaid when we sell the underlying mortgage loans to permanent investors. Interest is payable monthly on outstanding advances at an adjusted LIBOR rate, which was 2.51% at January 31, 2019, plus the applicable margin of 2.5% or 2.63% based upon type of loan. As of January 31, 2019 and October 31, 2018, the aggregate principal amount of all borrowings outstanding under the Chase Master Repurchase Agreement was $23.4 million and $40.3 million, respectively.

   

 

K. Hovnanian Mortgage has another secured Master Repurchase Agreement with Customers Bank (“Customers Master Repurchase Agreement”) which was amended on February 15, 2019, and is a short-term borrowing facility that provides up to $50.0 million through its maturity on February 14, 2020. The loan is secured by the mortgages held for sale and is repaid when we sell the underlying mortgage loans to permanent investors. Interest is payable daily or as loans are sold to permanent investors on outstanding advances at the current LIBOR rate, plus the applicable margin ranging from 2.25% to 5.0% based on the type of loan and the number of days outstanding on the warehouse line. As of January 31, 2019 and October 31, 2018, the aggregate principal amount of all borrowings outstanding under the Customers Master Repurchase Agreement was $20.0 million and $40.2 million, respectively.

 

K. Hovnanian Mortgage also has a secured Master Repurchase Agreement with Comerica Bank (“Comerica Master Repurchase Agreement”) which was amended on December 24, 2018, and is a short-term borrowing facility that provides up to $50.0 million through its maturity on December 20, 2019. The loan is secured by the mortgages held for sale and is repaid when we sell the underlying mortgage loans to permanent investors. Interest is payable monthly at the current LIBOR rate, subject to a floor of 0.25%, plus the applicable margin of 2.25% or 3.25% based upon the type of loan. As of January 31, 2019 and October 31, 2018, the aggregate principal amount of all borrowings outstanding under the Comerica Master Repurchase Agreement was $7.8 million and $32.7 million, respectively.

  

The Chase Master Repurchase Agreement, Customers Master Repurchase Agreement and Comerica Master Repurchase Agreement (together, the “Master Repurchase Agreements”) require K. Hovnanian Mortgage to satisfy and maintain specified financial ratios and other financial condition tests. Because of the extremely short period of time mortgages are held by K. Hovnanian Mortgage before the mortgages are sold to investors (generally a period of a few weeks), the immateriality to us on a consolidated basis of the size of the Master Repurchase Agreements, the levels required by these financial covenants, our ability based on our immediately available resources to contribute sufficient capital to cure any default, were such conditions to occur, and our right to cure any conditions of default based on the terms of the applicable agreement, we do not consider any of these covenants to be substantive or material. As of January 31, 2019, we believe we were in compliance with the covenants under the Master Repurchase Agreements.

 

 

11.

Senior Notes and Credit Facilities

 

Senior notes and credit facilities balances as of January 31, 2019 and October 31, 2018, were as follows:

 

 

(In thousands)

 

January 31,

2019(1)(2)

   

October 31,

2018(1)(2)

 

Senior Secured Notes:

           

9.5% Senior Secured Notes due November 15, 2020

  $74,614     $74,561  

2.0% Senior Secured Notes due November 1, 2021 (net of discount)

  53,103     53,094  

5.0% Senior Secured Notes due November 1, 2021 (net of discount)

  136,052     135,571  

10.0% Senior Secured Notes due July 15, 2022

  435,763     435,461  

10.5% Senior Secured Notes due July 15, 2024 (net of discount)

  416,070     394,736  

Total Senior Secured Notes, net of debt issuance costs

  $1,115,602     $1,093,423  

Senior Notes:

           

8.0% Senior Notes due November 1, 2019 (3)

  $-     $-  

13.5% Senior Notes due February 1, 2026 (including premium)

  100,932     101,162  

5.0% Senior Notes due February 1, 2040 (net of discount)

  43,410     43,264  

Total Senior Notes, net of debt issuance costs

  $144,342     $144,426  

Senior Unsecured Term Loan Credit Facility due February 1, 2027, net of debt issuance costs

  $201,424     $201,389  

Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility (4)

  $36,000     $-  

 

(1) “Notes payable” on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of January 31, 2019 and October 31, 2018 consists of the total senior secured and senior notes shown above, as well as accrued interest of $18.1 million and $35.6 million, respectively.

 

(2) Unamortized debt issuance costs at January 31, 2019 and October 31, 2018 were $13.7 million and $14.1 million, respectively.

 

(3) $26.0 million of 8.0% Senior Notes due 2019 are owned by a wholly-owned consolidated subsidiary of HEI. Therefore, in accordance with GAAP, such notes are not reflected on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets of HEI.

 

(4) Availability under the Secured Credit Facility will terminate on December 28, 2019 and any loans thereunder on such date will convert to secured term loans maturing on December 28, 2022.

 

 

General

 

Except for K. Hovnanian, the issuer of the notes and borrower under the Credit Facilities (as defined below), our home mortgage subsidiaries, joint ventures and subsidiaries holding interests in our joint ventures and certain of our title insurance subsidiaries, we and each of our subsidiaries are guarantors of the Credit Facilities, the senior secured notes and senior notes outstanding at January 31, 2019 (collectively, the “Notes Guarantors”). In addition to the Notes Guarantors, the 5.0% Senior Secured Notes due 2021 (the “5.0% 2021 Notes”), the 2.0% Senior Secured Notes due 2021 (the “2.0% 2021 Notes” and together with the 5.0% 2021 Notes, the “2021 Notes”) and the 9.50% Senior Secured Notes due 2020 (the “9.50% 2020 Notes” and collectively with the 2021 Notes, the “JV Holdings Secured Group Notes”) are guaranteed by K. Hovnanian JV Holdings, L.L.C. and its subsidiaries, except for certain joint ventures and joint venture holding companies (collectively, the “JV Holdings Secured Group”). Members of the JV Holdings Secured Group do not guarantee K. Hovnanian's other indebtedness.

 

The credit agreements governing the Credit Facilities and the indentures governing the notes (together, the “Debt Instruments”) outstanding at January 31, 2019 do not contain any financial maintenance covenants, but do contain restrictive covenants that limit, among other things, the Company’s ability and that of certain of its subsidiaries, including K. Hovnanian, to incur additional indebtedness (other than nonrecourse indebtedness, certain permitted indebtedness and refinancing indebtedness (under the 9.50% 2020 Notes, any new or refinancing indebtedness may not be scheduled to mature earlier than January 15, 2021 (so long as no member of the JV Holdings Secured Group is an obligor thereon), or February 15, 2021 (if otherwise), and under the 10.0% Senior Secured Notes due 2022 (the “10.0% 2022 Notes”), any refinancing indebtedness of K. Hovnanian's previously outstanding 7.0% Senior Notes due 2019 (the “7.0% Notes”) (which includes the Term Loans (as defined below)) and 8.0% Senior Notes due 2019 (the “8.0% Notes” and together with the 7.0% Notes, the “2019 Notes”) (which includes the New Notes (as defined below) and the Term Loans) may not be scheduled to mature earlier than July 16, 2024 (such restrictive covenant in respect of the 10.5% Senior Secured Notes due 2024 (the “10.5% 2024 Notes”) was eliminated as described below under “—Fiscal 2018”)), pay dividends and make distributions on common and preferred stock, repurchase subordinated indebtedness and common and preferred stock, make other restricted payments, including investments, sell certain assets (including in certain land banking transactions), incur liens, consolidate, merge, sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all assets, enter into certain transactions with affiliates and make cash repayments of the 2019 Notes and refinancing indebtedness in respect thereof (with respect to the 10.0% 2022 Notes). The Debt Instruments also contain events of default which would permit the lenders or holders thereof to exercise remedies with respect to the collateral (as applicable), declare the loans made under the Term Loan Facility (defined below) (the “Term Loans”) and loans made under the Secured Credit Facility (as defined below) (the “Secured Revolving Loans”) or notes to be immediately due and payable if not cured within applicable grace periods, including the failure to make timely payments on the Term Loans, Secured Revolving Loans or notes or other material indebtedness, cross default to other material indebtedness, the failure to comply with agreements and covenants and specified events of bankruptcy and insolvency, with respect to the Term Loans and Secured Revolving Loans, material inaccuracy of representations and warranties and with respect to the Term Loans and Secured Revolving Loans, a change of control, and, with respect to the Secured Revolving Loans and senior secured notes, the failure of the documents granting security for the Secured Revolving Loans and senior secured notes to be in full force and effect, and the failure of the liens on any material portion of the collateral securing the Secured Revolving Loans and senior secured notes to be valid and perfected. As of January 31, 2019, we believe we were in compliance with the covenants of the Debt Instruments.

 

If our consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio, as defined in the agreements governing our debt instruments, is less than 2.0 to 1.0, we are restricted from making certain payments, including dividends, and from incurring indebtedness other than certain permitted indebtedness, refinancing indebtedness and nonrecourse indebtedness. As a result of this ratio restriction, we are currently restricted from paying dividends, which are not cumulative, on our 7.625% Series A Preferred Stock. We anticipate that we will continue to be restricted from paying dividends for the foreseeable future. Our inability to pay dividends is in accordance with covenant restrictions and will not result in a default under our debt instruments or otherwise affect compliance with any of the covenants contained in our debt instruments.

 

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

 

 

 

Fiscal 2019

 

On January 15, 2019, pursuant to the Commitment Letter (defined below) the Company issued $25.0 million in aggregate principal amount of the Additional 10.5% 2024 Notes (defined below) to the GSO Entities (defined below) at a discount for a purchase price of $21.3 million in cash. The Additional 10.5% 2024 Notes were issued as additional notes of the same series as the 10.5% 2024 Notes. The Additional 10.5% 2024 Notes and the guarantees are secured (subject to perfection timing requirements) by pari passu liens with the 10.5% 2024 Notes on substantially all of the assets of K. Hovnanian and the Notes Guarantors, subject to permitted liens and certain exceptions.  See “—Secured Obligations” below.

 

Fiscal 2018

 

On December 1, 2017, our 6.0% Senior Exchangeable Note Units were paid in full, which units consisted of $53.9 million principal amount of our Senior Exchangeable Notes that matured and the final installment payment of $2.1 million on our 11.0% Senior Amortizing Notes.

 

On December 28, 2017, the Company and K. Hovnanian announced that they had entered into a commitment letter (the “Commitment Letter”) in respect of certain financing transactions with GSO Capital Partners LP (“GSO”) on its own behalf and on behalf of one or more funds managed, advised or sub-advised by GSO (collectively, the “GSO Entities”), and had commenced a private offer to exchange with respect to the 8.0% Notes (the “Exchange Offer”).

 

Pursuant to the Commitment Letter, the GSO Entities agreed to, among other things, provide the principal amount of the following: (i) a senior unsecured term loan credit facility (the “Term Loan Facility”) to be borrowed by K. Hovnanian and guaranteed by the Company and the Notes Guarantors, pursuant to which the GSO Entities committed to lend K. Hovnanian Term Loans consisting of $132.5 million of initial term loans (the “Initial Term Loans”) on the settlement date of the Exchange Offer for purposes of refinancing K. Hovnanian’s 7.0% Notes, and up to $80.0 million of delayed draw term loans (the “Delayed Draw Term Loans”) for purposes of refinancing certain of K. Hovnanian’s 8.0% Notes, in each case, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, and (ii) a senior secured first lien credit facility (the “Secured Credit Facility” and together with the Term Loan Facility, the “Credit Facilities”) to be borrowed by K. Hovnanian and guaranteed by the Notes Guarantors, pursuant to which the GSO Entities committed to lend to K. Hovnanian up to $125.0 million of senior secured first priority loans to fund the repayment of K. Hovnanian’s then outstanding secured term loans and for general corporate purposes, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein. In addition, pursuant to the Commitment Letter, the GSO Entities committed to purchase, and K. Hovnanian agreed to issue and sell, on January 15, 2019, $25.0 million in aggregate principal amount of additional 10.5% 2024 Notes (the “Additional 10.5% 2024 Notes”), upon the terms and subject to conditions set forth therein.

 

On January 29, 2018, K. Hovnanian, the Notes Guarantors, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as administrative agent, and the GSO Entities entered into the Term Loan Facility. K. Hovnanian borrowed the Initial Term Loans on February 1, 2018 to fund, together with cash on hand, the redemption on February 1, 2018 of all $132.5 million aggregate principal amount of 7.0% Notes. The Term Loans bear interest at a rate equal to 5.0% per annum and interest is payable in arrears, on the last business day of each fiscal quarter. The Term Loans will mature on February 1, 2027, which is the ninth anniversary of the first closing date of the Term Loan Facility.

  

On January 29, 2018, K. Hovnanian, the Notes Guarantors, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as administrative agent , and the GSO Entities entered into the Secured Credit Facility. Availability under the Secured Credit Facility will terminate on December 28, 2019 and any outstanding Secured Revolving Loans on such date shall convert to secured term loans maturing on December 28, 2022. The Secured Revolving Loans and the guarantees thereof are secured (subject to perfection timing requirements under the terms of the Secured Credit Facility) by substantially all of the assets owned by K. Hovnanian and the Notes Guarantors, subject to permitted liens and certain exceptions, on a first lien basis relative to the liens securing K. Hovnanian’s 10.0% 2022 Notes and 10.5% 2024 Notes and Additional 10.5% 2024 Notes pursuant to an intercreditor agreement. The collateral securing the Secured Revolving Loans will be the same as that securing the 10.0% 2022 Notes and the 10.5% 2024 Notes and Additional 10.5% 2024 Notes. The Secured Revolving Loans bear interest at a rate equal to 10.0% per annum, and interest will be payable in arrears, on the last business day of each fiscal quarter.

  

On February 1, 2018, K. Hovnanian accepted all of the $170.2 million aggregate principal amount of 8.0% Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in the Exchange Offer (representing 72.14% of the aggregate principal amount of 8.0% Notes outstanding prior to the Exchange Offer), and in connection therewith, K. Hovnanian issued $90.6 million aggregate principal amount of its 13.5% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “New 2026 Notes”) and $90.1 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.0% Senior Notes due 2040 (the “New 2040 Notes” and together with the New 2026 Notes, the “New Notes”) under a new indenture. Also, as part of the Exchange Offer, K. Hovnanian at Sunrise Trail III, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Subsidiary Purchaser”), purchased for $26.5 million in cash an aggregate of $26.0 million in principal amount of the 8.0% Notes (the “Purchased 8.0% Notes”). The New Notes were issued by K. Hovnanian and guaranteed by the Notes Guarantors, except the Subsidiary Purchaser, which does not guarantee the New Notes. The New 2026 Notes bear interest at 13.5% per annum and mature on February 1, 2026. The New 2040 Notes bear interest at 5.0% per annum and mature on February 1, 2040. Interest on the New Notes is payable semi-annually on February 1 and August 1 of each year to holders of record at the close of business on January 15 or July 15, as the case may be, immediately preceding each such interest payment date. The Exchange Offer was treated as a substantial modification of debt. The New Notes were recorded at fair value (based on management's estimate using available trades for similar debt instruments) on the date of the issuance of the New Notes.

 

K. Hovnanian’s New 2026 Notes are redeemable in whole or in part at K. Hovnanian’s option at anytime prior to February 1, 2026 at a redemption price equal to 100% of their principal amount plus an applicable “Make Whole Amount”.  At any time and from time to time on or after February 1, 2019, K. Hovnanian may also redeem some or all of the New 2026 Notes at a redemption price equal to 100.0% of their principal amount.

 

K. Hovnanian’s New 2040 Notes are redeemable in whole or in part at K. Hovnanian’s option at any time prior to February 1, 2040 at a redemption price equal to 100.0% of their principal amount plus an applicable “Make-Whole Amount”. At any time and from time to time on or after February 1, 2040, K. Hovnanian may also redeem some or all of the New 2040 Notes at a redemption price equal to 100.0% of their principal amount.

 

On January 16, 2018, K. Hovnanian, the Notes Guarantors and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee and collateral agent, executed the Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 16, 2018, to the indenture governing the 10.0% 2022 Notes and 10.5% 2024 Notes, dated as of July 27, 2017 (as supplemented, amended or otherwise modified), among K. Hovnanian,  the Notes Guarantors and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee and collateral agent, giving effect to the proposed amendments to such indenture solely with respect to the 10.5% 2024 Notes, which were obtained in a consent solicitation of the holders of the 10.5% 2024 Notes, and which eliminated the restrictions on K. Hovnanian’s ability to purchase, repurchase, redeem, acquire or retire for value the 2019 Notes and refinancing or replacement indebtedness in respect thereof.

 

17

 

 

Secured Obligations

 

The 10.0% 2022 Notes have a maturity of July 15, 2022 and bear interest at a rate of 10.0% per annum payable semi-annually on January 15 and July 15 of each year, to holders of record at the close of business on January 1 and July 1, as the case may be, immediately preceding such interest payment dates. The 10.0% 2022 Notes are redeemable in whole or in part at our option at any time prior to July 15, 2019 at 100.0% of their principal amount plus an applicable “Make-Whole Amount.” K. Hovnanian may also redeem some or all of the 10.0% 2022 Notes at 105.0% of principal commencing July 15, 2019, at 102.50% of principal commencing July 15, 2020 and at 100.0% of principal commencing July 15, 2021. In addition, K. Hovnanian may also redeem up to 35.0% of the aggregate principal amount of the 10.0% 2022 Notes prior to July 15, 2019 with the net cash proceeds from certain equity offerings at 110.0% of principal.

 

The 10.5% 2024 Notes have a maturity of July 15, 2024 and bear interest at a rate of 10.5% per annum payable semi-annually on January 15 and July 15 of each year, to holders of record at the close of business on January 1 and July 1, as the case may be, immediately preceding such interest payment dates. The 10.5% 2024 Notes are redeemable in whole or in part at our option at any time prior to July 15, 2020 at 100.0% of their principal amount plus an applicable “Make-Whole Amount.” K. Hovnanian may also redeem some or all of the 10.5% 2024 Notes at 105.25% of principal commencing July 15, 2020, at 102.625% of principal commencing July 15, 2021 and at 100.0% of principal commencing July 15, 2022. In addition, K. Hovnanian may also redeem up to 35.0% of the aggregate principal amount of the 10.5% 2024 Notes prior to July 15, 2020 with the net cash proceeds from certain equity offerings at 110.50% of principal.

 

All of K. Hovnanian’s obligations under the 10.0% 2022 Notes and the 10.5% 2024 Notes are guaranteed by the Notes Guarantors. In addition to pledges of the equity interests in K. Hovnanian and the subsidiary Notes Guarantors which secure the 10.0% 2022 Notes and the 10.5% 2024 Notes, the 10.0% 2022 Notes and the 10.5% 2024 Notes and the guarantees thereof are also secured in accordance with the terms of the indenture governing such Notes and security documents related thereto by pari passu liens on substantially all of the assets owned by K. Hovnanian and the Notes Guarantors, in each case, subject to permitted liens and certain exceptions (the collateral securing the 10.0% 2022 Notes and the 10.5% 2024 Notes is the same as that which, subject to perfection timing requirements, secures the Secured Revolving Loans and the additional 10.5% 2024 Notes). The liens securing the 10.0% 2022 Notes and the 10.5% 2024 Notes rank junior to the liens securing the Secured Revolving Loans and any future secured obligations that are senior in priority with respect to the assets securing the 10.0% 2022 Notes and the 10.5% 2024 Notes.

 

At January 31, 2019, the aggregate book value of the real property that constituted collateral securing the 10.0% 2022 Notes and 10.5% 2024 Notes was $424.0 million, which does not include the impact of inventory investments, home deliveries or impairments thereafter and which may differ from the value if it were appraised. Cash and cash equivalents collateral that secured the 10.0% 2022 Notes and 10.5% 2024 Notes was $52.1 million as of January 31, 2019, which included $11.9 million of restricted cash collateralizing certain letters of credit. Subsequent to such date, fluctuations as a result of cash uses include general business operations and real estate and other investments along with cash inflow primarily from deliveries.

 

The 9.50% 2020 Notes have a maturity of November 15, 2020, and bear interest at a rate of 9.5% per annum, payable semi-annually on February 15 and August 15 of each year, to holders of record at the close of business on February 1 and August 1, as the case may be, immediately preceding such interest payment dates. The 9.50% 2020 Notes are redeemable in whole or in part at our option at any time prior to November 15, 2018 at 100% of their principal amount plus an applicable “Make-Whole Amount.” At any time and from time to time on or after November 15, 2018, K. Hovnanian may also redeem some or all of the 9.50% 2020 Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of their principal amount.

 

The 5.0% 2021 Notes and the 2.0% 2021 Notes were issued as separate series under an indenture, but have substantially the same terms other than with respect to interest rate and related redemption provisions, and vote together as a single class. The 5.0% 2021 Notes bear interest at a rate of 5.0% per annum and mature on November 1, 2021 and the 2.0% 2021 Notes bear interest at a rate of 2.0% per annum and mature on November 1, 2021. Interest on the 2021 Notes is payable semi-annually on May 1 and November 1 of each year, to holders of record at the close of business on April 15 and October 15, as the case may be, immediately preceding such interest payment dates. The 2021 Notes are redeemable in whole or in part at our option at any time, at 100.0% of the principal amount plus the greater of 1% of the principal amount and an applicable “Make-Whole Amount.”

 

The 9.5% 2020 Notes and the 2021 Notes are guaranteed by the Notes Guarantors and the members of the JV Holdings Secured Group. The guarantees of the JV Holdings Secured Group with respect to the 2021 Notes and the 9.50% 2020 Notes are secured, subject to permitted liens and certain exceptions, by a first-priority lien on substantially all of the assets of the members of the JV Holdings Secured Group. As of January 31, 2019, the collateral securing the guarantees included (1) $73.9 million of cash and cash equivalents, which included $0.8 million of restricted cash collateralizing certain letters of credit (subsequent to such date, fluctuations as a result of cash uses include general business operations and real estate and other investments along with cash inflow primarily from deliveries); (2) $141.1 million aggregate book value of real property of the JV Holdings Secured Group, which does not include the impact of inventory investments, home deliveries or impairments thereafter and which may differ from the value if it were appraised; and (3) equity interests owned by guarantors that are members of the JV Holdings Secured Group. Members of the JV Holdings Secured Group also own equity in joint ventures, either directly or indirectly through ownership of joint venture holding companies, with a book value of $119.3 million as of January 31, 2019; this equity is not pledged to secure, and is not collateral for, the 9.50% 2020 Notes or the 2021 Notes. Members of the JV Holdings Secured Group are “unrestricted subsidiaries” under K. Hovnanian's other senior secured notes and senior notes and Credit Facilities, and thus have not guaranteed such indebtedness. 

 

Other

 

We have certain stand–alone cash collateralized letter of credit agreements and facilities under which there was a total of $12.3 million and $12.5 million letters of credit outstanding at January 31, 2019 and October 31, 2018, respectively. These agreements and facilities require us to maintain specified amounts of cash as collateral in segregated accounts to support the letters of credit issued thereunder, which will affect the amount of cash we have available for other uses. At January 31, 2019 and October 31, 2018, the amount of cash collateral in these segregated accounts was $12.7 million for both periods, which is reflected in “Restricted cash and cash equivalents” on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

 

18

 

 

 

 

12.

Per Share Calculation

 

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) (the “numerator”) by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding, adjusted for nonvested shares of restricted stock (the “denominator”) for the period. Computing diluted earnings per share is similar to computing basic earnings per share, except that the denominator is increased to include the dilutive effects of options and nonvested shares of restricted stock. Any options that have an exercise price greater than the average market price are considered to be anti-dilutive and are excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation.   

  

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

 

There were 2.8 million and 3.4 million incremental shares attributed to nonvested stock and outstanding options to purchase common stock for the three months ended January 31, 2019 and January 31, 2018, respectively, which were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because we had a net loss for the period. Also, for the three months ended January 31, 2018, 3.3 million shares of common stock issuable upon the exchange of our senior exchangeable notes (which were issued in fiscal 2012 and matured and were fully paid in December 2017) were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because the Company had a net loss for the period.

 

In addition, shares related to out-of-the money stock options that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share were 6.9 million and 3.2 million for the three months ended January 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, because to do so would have been anti-dilutive for the periods presented.

   

 

13.

Preferred Stock

 

On July 12, 2005, we issued 5,600 shares of 7.625% Series A Preferred Stock, with a liquidation preference of $25,000 per share. Dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock are not cumulative and are payable at an annual rate of 7.625%. The Series A Preferred Stock is not convertible into the Company’s common stock and is redeemable in whole or in part at our option at the liquidation preference of the shares. The Series A Preferred Stock is traded as depositary shares, with each depositary share representing 1/1000th of a share of Series A Preferred Stock. The depositary shares are listed on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “HOVNP.” During the three months ended January 31, 2019 and 2018, we did not pay any dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock due to covenant restrictions in our debt instruments. We anticipate that we will continue to be restricted from paying dividends, which are not cumulative, for the foreseeable future.

  

 

 

14.

Common Stock

 

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

  

On August 4, 2008, our Board of Directors adopted a shareholder rights plan (the “Rights Plan”), which was amended on January 11, 2018, designed to preserve shareholder value and the value of certain tax assets primarily associated with net operating loss (NOL) carryforwards and built-in losses under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. Our ability to use NOLs and built-in losses would be limited if there was an “ownership change” under Section 382. This would occur if shareholders owning (or deemed under Section 382 to own) 5% or more of our stock increase their collective ownership of the aggregate amount of our outstanding shares by more than 50 percentage points over a defined period of time. The Rights Plan was adopted to reduce the likelihood of an “ownership change” occurring as defined by Section 382. Under the Rights Plan, one right was distributed for each share of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock outstanding as of the close of business on August 15, 2008. Effective August 15, 2008, if any person or group acquires 4.9% or more of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock without the approval of the Board of Directors, there would be a triggering event causing significant dilution in the voting power of such person or group. However, existing stockholders who owned, at the time of the Rights Plan’s initial adoption on August 4, 2008, 4.9% or more of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock will trigger a dilutive event only if they acquire additional shares. The approval of the Board of Directors’ decision to adopt the Rights Plan may be terminated by the Board of Directors at any time, prior to the Rights being triggered. The Rights Plan will continue in effect until August 14, 2021, unless it expires earlier in accordance with its terms. The approval of the Board of Directors’ decision to initially adopt the Rights Plan and the amendment thereto were approved by shareholders. Our stockholders also approved an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to restrict certain transfers of Class A Common Stock in order to preserve the tax treatment of our NOLs and built-in losses under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. Subject to certain exceptions pertaining to pre-existing 5% stockholders and Class B stockholders, the transfer restrictions in our Restated Certificate of Incorporation generally restrict any direct or indirect transfer (such as transfers of our stock that result from the transfer of interests in other entities that own our stock) if the effect would be to (i) increase the direct or indirect ownership of our stock by any person (or public group) from less than 5% to 5% or more of our common stock; (ii) increase the percentage of our common stock owned directly or indirectly by a person (or public group) owning or deemed to own 5% or more of our common stock; or (iii) create a new “public group” (as defined in the applicable United States Treasury regulations). Transfers included under the transfer restrictions include sales to persons (or public groups) whose resulting percentage ownership (direct or indirect) of common stock would exceed the 5% thresholds discussed above, or to persons whose direct or indirect ownership of common stock would by attribution cause another person (or public group) to exceed such threshold.

 

On July 3, 2001, our Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program to purchase up to 4 million shares of Class A Common Stock. There were no shares purchased during the three months ended January 31, 2019. As of January 31, 2019, the maximum number of shares of Class A Common Stock that may yet be purchased under this program is 0.5 million.

 

 

15.

Income Taxes

 

The total income tax expense of $0.3 million recognized for the three months ended January 31, 2019 and 2018 was primarily related to state tax expense from income generated that was not offset by tax benefits in states where we fully reserve the tax benefit from net operating losses.

 

Our federal net operating losses of $1.6 billion expire between 2028 and 2037, and $63.9 million have an indefinite carryforward period. Of our $2.5 billion of state NOLs, $145.3 million expire between 2019 through 2023; $691.2 million expire between 2024 through 2028; $1.3 billion expire between 2029 through 2033; $320.0 million expire between 2034 through 2038; and $43.3 million have an indefinite carryforward period.

 

On December 22, 2017, the President of the United States signed into law the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “Act”). Under the accounting rules, companies are required to recognize the effects of changes in tax laws and tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities in the period in which the new legislation is enacted. We will continue to evaluate the impact of the tax reform as additional regulatory guidance is obtained. The ultimate impact of tax reform may differ from our interpretations and assumptions due to additional regulatory guidance that may be issued. SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (“SAB 118”) provides guidance on how to account for the Act in the period of enactment and how to account for subsequent changes when its assessment of the impact is incomplete. As of January 31, 2019, we have completed our analysis of the impact of the Act under SAB 118 with no differences to our provisional amounts previously recorded.

 

 

Deferred federal and state income tax assets (“DTAs”) primarily represent the deferred tax benefits arising from NOL carryforwards and temporary differences between book and tax income which will be recognized in future years as an offset against future taxable income. If the combination of future years’ income (or loss) and the reversal of the timing differences results in a loss, such losses can be carried forward to future years. In accordance with ASC 740, we evaluate our DTAs quarterly to determine if valuation allowances are required. ASC 740 requires that companies assess whether valuation allowances should be established based on the consideration of all available evidence using a “more likely than not” standard.  

 

As of January 31, 2019, we considered all available positive and negative evidence to determine whether, based on the weight of that evidence, our valuation allowance for our DTAs was appropriate in accordance with ASC 740. Listed below, in order of the weighting of each factor, is the available positive and negative evidence that we considered in determining that it is more likely than not that all of our DTAs will not be realized. In analyzing these factors, overall the negative evidence, both objective and subjective, outweighed the positive evidence. Based on this analysis, we determined that the current valuation allowance for deferred taxes of $640.1 million as of January 31, 2019, which fully reserves for our DTAs, is appropriate.

 

 

1.

Fiscal 2017 financial results, especially the $50.2 million pre-tax loss in the third quarter of 2017 primarily from the $42.3 million loss on extinguishment of debt during the quarter, that put us in a cumulative three-year pre-tax loss position as of July 31, 2017. After a pre-tax loss of $17.1 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2019, we are still in a cumulative three-year pre-tax loss position as of January 31, 2019. Per ASC 740, cumulative losses are one of the most objectively verifiable forms of negative evidence. (Negative Objective Evidence)

 

2.

In the third quarter of fiscal 2017 and second and third quarters of fiscal 2018, we completed debt refinancing/restructuring transactions which, by extending our debt maturities, will enable us to allocate cash to invest in new communities and grow our community count to get back to sustained profitability. (Positive Objective Evidence)

 

3.

Recent financial results of $48.1 million pre-tax income in the fourth quarter of 2018 and $8.1 million pre-tax income for the twelve months ending October 31, 2018. (Positive Objective Evidence)

 

4.

Our net contracts per community declined in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 and first quarter of 2019 compared to the fourth quarter of 2017 and first quarter of 2018, consistent with data for the overall housing market. This slow down may be the beginning of a cyclical housing downturn or may just be temporary because of recent increases in mortgage rates. (Negative Objective Evidence)

 

5.

We incurred pre-tax losses during the housing market decline and the slower than expected housing market recovery. (Negative Objective Evidence)

 

6.

We exited two geographic markets in fiscal 2016 and completed the wind down of operations in two other markets in fiscal 2018, that have historically had losses. By exiting these underperforming markets, the Company will be able to redeploy capital to better performing markets, which over time should improve our profitability. (Positive Subjective Evidence)

 

7.

The historical cyclicality of the U.S. housing market, a more restrictive mortgage lending environment compared to before the housing downturn, the uncertainty of the overall US economy and government policies and consumer confidence, all or any of which could continue to hamper a faster, stronger recovery of the housing market. (Negative Subjective Evidence)

  

 

16.

Operating and Reporting Segments

 

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

 

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

 

Homebuilding:

 

(1)

Northeast (New Jersey and Pennsylvania)

 

(2)

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

 

(3)

Midwest (Illinois and Ohio)

 

(4)

Southeast (Florida, Georgia and South Carolina)

 

(5)

Southwest (Arizona and Texas)

 

(6)

West (California)

  

 

Financial Services

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

   

Three Months Ended

January 31,

 

(In thousands)

 

2019

   

2018

 
             

Revenues:

           

Northeast

  $19,941     $20,199  

Mid-Atlantic

  53,430     71,297  

Midwest

  44,921     40,579  

Southeast

  43,991     56,668  

Southwest

  118,199     128,305  

West

  89,901     85,050  

Total homebuilding

  370,383     402,098  

Financial services

  9,608     10,888  

Corporate and unallocated

  603     4,180  

Total revenues

  $380,594     $417,166  
             

(Loss) income before income taxes:

           

Northeast

  $5,879     $(9,701

)

Mid-Atlantic

  (7 )   1,952  

Midwest

  (849 )   (2,344

)

Southeast

  (2,929 )   (1,661

)

Southwest

  2,386     5,511  

West

  11,705     8,067  

Total homebuilding

  16,185     1,824  

Financial services

  1,134     2,547  

Corporate and unallocated (1)

  (34,425 )   (34,842

)

(Loss) income before income taxes

  $(17,106 )   $(30,471

)

 

 (1)  Corporate and unallocated for the three months ended January 31, 2019 included corporate general and administrative costs of $17.7 million, interest expense of $17.5 million (a component of Other interest on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations) and $(0.8) million of other income and expenses primarily related to interest income and stock compensation. Corporate and unallocated for the three months ended January 31, 2018 included corporate general and administrative costs of $19.1 million, interest expense of $19.6 million (a component of Other interest on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations) and $(3.9) million of other income and expenses primarily related to interest income, gain on the sale of our corporate headquarters building and stock compensation.

 

 

(In thousands)

 

January 31,

2019

   

October 31,

2018

 
             

Assets:

           

Northeast

  $160,918     $152,607  

Mid-Atlantic

  249,687     217,807  

Midwest

  84,828     85,398  

Southeast

  272,385     246,497  

Southwest

  337,601     320,452  

West

  267,218     244,886  

Total homebuilding

  1,372,637     1,267,647  

Financial services

  94,396     164,880  

Corporate and unallocated

  156,690     229,515  

Total assets

  $1,623,723     $1,662,042  

 

 

17.

Investments in Unconsolidated Homebuilding and Land Development Joint Ventures

 

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

  

During the first quarter of fiscal 2018, we acquired the remaining assets of one of our joint ventures, resulting in a $13.0 million reduction in our investment in the joint venture and a corresponding increase to inventory.

 

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

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

January 31, 2019

 
   

Homebuilding

   

Land

Development

   

Total

 

Assets:

                 

Cash and cash equivalents

  $65,736     $1,415     $67,151  

Inventories

  498,886     9,264     508,150  

Other assets

  30,522     -     30,522  

Total assets

  $595,144     $10,679     $605,823  
                   

Liabilities and equity:

                 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

  $70,995     $1,246     $72,241  

Notes payable

  250,925     -     250,925  

Total liabilities

  321,920     1,246     323,166  

Equity of:

                 

Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.

  120,115     4,385     124,500  

Others

  153,109     5,048     158,157  

Total equity

  273,224     9,433     282,657  

Total liabilities and equity

  $595,144     $10,679     $605,823  

Debt to capitalization ratio

  48

%

  0

%

  47

%

  

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

October 31, 2018

 
   

Homebuilding

   

Land

Development

   

Total

 

Assets:

                 

Cash and cash equivalents

  $50,010     $2,275     $52,285  

Inventories

  506,650     8,004     514,654  

Other assets

  35,105     -     35,105  

Total assets

  $591,765     $10,279     $602,044  
                   

Liabilities and equity:

                 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

  $79,108     $746     $79,854  

Notes payable

  236,665     -     236,665  

Total liabilities

  315,773     746     316,519  

Equity of:

                 

Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.

  114,950     4,369     119,319  

Others

  161,042     5,164     166,206  

Total equity

  275,992     9,533     285,525  

Total liabilities and equity

  $591,765     $10,279     $602,044  

Debt to capitalization ratio

  46

%

  0

%

  45

%

  

As of January 31, 2019 and October 31, 2018, we had advances and a note receivable outstanding of $4.4 million and $4.6 million, respectively, to these unconsolidated joint ventures. These amounts were included in the “Accounts payable and accrued liabilities” balances in the tables above. On our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, our “Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures” amounted to $128.9 million and $123.7 million at January 31, 2019 and October 31, 2018, respectively. In some cases our net investment in these joint ventures is less than our proportionate share of the equity reflected in the table above because of the differences between asset impairments recorded against our joint venture investments and any impairments recorded in the applicable joint venture. Impairments of joint venture investments are recorded at fair value while impairments recorded in the joint venture are recorded when undiscounted cash flows trigger the impairment. During the three months ended January 31, 2019 and 2018, we did not write-down any of our joint venture investments; however, during the three months ended January 31, 2018, one of our joint ventures in the Northeast recorded an asset impairment. We recorded our proportionate share of this impairment charge of $0.7 million as part of our share of the net loss of the venture.

 

   

For the Three Months Ended January 31, 2019

 

(In thousands)

 

Homebuilding

   

Land

Development

   

Total

 
                   

Revenues

  $95,774     $1,005     $96,779  

Cost of sales and expenses

  (89,312 )   (971 )   (90,283 )

Joint venture net income

  $6,462     $34     $6,496  

Our share of net income

  $9,541     $17     $9,558  

 

   

For the Three Months Ended January 31, 2018

 

(In thousands)

 

Homebuilding

   

Land

Development

   

Total

 
                   

Revenues

  $58,565     $1,275     $59,840  

Cost of sales and expenses

  (72,136 )   (1,158

)

  (73,294 )

Joint venture net (loss) income

  $(13,571 )   $117     $(13,454 )

Our share of net (loss) income

  $(5,199 )   $59     $(5,140 )

 

“Income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures” is reflected as a separate line in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and reflects our proportionate share of the income or loss of these unconsolidated homebuilding and land development joint ventures. The difference between our share of the income or loss from these unconsolidated joint ventures in the tables above compared to the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations is due primarily to the reclassification of the intercompany portion of management fee income from certain joint ventures and the deferral of income for lots purchased by us from certain joint ventures. For the first quarter of fiscal 2019, the difference can also be attributed to a return of capital from a joint venture in which we had previously written off our investment. To compensate us for the administrative services we provide as the manager of certain joint ventures we receive a management fee based on a percentage of the applicable joint venture’s revenues. These management fees, which totaled $3.4 million and $1.9 million for the three months ended January 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, are recorded in “Homebuilding: Selling, general and administrative” on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

    

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

 

 

Typically, our unconsolidated joint ventures obtain separate project specific mortgage financing. For some of our joint ventures, obtaining financing was challenging, therefore, some of our joint ventures are capitalized only with equity. The total debt to capitalization ratio of all our joint ventures is currently 47%. Any joint venture financing is on a nonrecourse basis, with guarantees from us limited only to performance and completion of development, environmental warranties and indemnification, standard indemnification for fraud, misrepresentation and other similar actions, including a voluntary bankruptcy filing. In some instances, the joint venture entity is considered a VIE under ASC 810-10 “Consolidation – Overall” due to the returns being capped to the equity holders; however, in these instances, we have determined that we are not the primary beneficiary, and therefore we do not consolidate these entities.

  

 

18.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (Topic 606), (“ASU 2014-09”). ASU 2014-09 requires entities to recognize revenue that represents the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount equivalent to the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. The following steps should be applied to determine this amount: (1) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (3) determine the transaction price; (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (5) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. ASU 2014-09 supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASC 605, “Revenue Recognition,” and most industry-specific guidance in the Accounting Standards Codification. The FASB has also issued a number of updates to this standard. The standard was effective for us for annual and interim periods beginning November 1, 2018 and we applied the modified retrospective method of adoption. The implementation did not result in any significant changes to our business processes, systems, or internal controls, or have a material impact on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. 

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842)” (“ASU 2016-02”), which provides guidance for accounting for leases. ASU 2016-02 requires lessees to classify leases as either finance or operating leases and to record a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for all leases with a term greater than 12 months regardless of the lease classification. The lease classification will determine whether the lease expense is recognized based on an effective interest rate method or on a straight line basis over the term of the lease. Accounting for lessors remains largely unchanged from current GAAP. ASU 2016-02 is effective for the Company beginning November 1, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-10 “Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases” (“ASU 2018-10”) and ASU No. 2018-11 “Leases (Topic 842) Targeted Improvements” (“ASU 2018-11”). ASU 2018-10 provides certain amendments that affect narrow aspects of the guidance issued in ASU 2016-02. ASU 2018-11 allows all entities adopting ASU 2016-02 to choose an additional (and optional) transition method of adoption, under which an entity initially applies the new leases standard at the adoption date and recognizes a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. ASU 2018-11 also allows lessors to not separate nonlease components from the associated lease component if certain conditions are met. We are currently evaluating both the method and the impact of adopting this guidance on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-16, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory” (“ASU 2016-16”). ASU 2016-16 provides guidance for the accounting of income taxes related to intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory. ASU 2016-16 was effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning November 1, 2018 and the adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-09, “Codification Improvements” (“ASU 2018-09”). ASU 2018-09 provides amendments to a wide variety of topics in the FASB’s Accounting Standards Codification, which applies to all reporting entities within the scope of the affected accounting guidance. The transition and effective date guidance are based on the facts and circumstances of each amendment. Some of the amendments in ASU 2018-09 do not require transition guidance and were effective upon issuance of ASU 2018-09. However, many of the amendments do have transition guidance with effective dates for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of adopting the applicable guidance on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) - Disclosure Framework” (“ASU 2018-13”), which improves the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. ASU 2018-13 is effective for us beginning November 1, 2020. Early adoption is permitted for any removed or modified disclosures. We are currently assessing the impact of adopting this guidance on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15 “Intangibles-Goodwill and Other-Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer's Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That is a Service Contract” (“ASU 2018-15”). ASU 2018-15 aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. ASU 2018-15 is effective for us beginning November 1, 2020. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

 

19.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

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

 

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

 

Level 2:                      Fair value determined using significant other observable inputs.

 

Level 3:                      Fair value determined using significant unobservable inputs.

   

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

 

(In thousands)

Fair Value

Hierarchy

 

Fair Value at

January 31,

2019

   

Fair Value at

October 31,

2018

 
               

Mortgage loans held for sale (1)

Level 2

  $65,610     $130,709  

Interest rate lock commitments

Level 2

  225     (28

)

Forward contracts

Level 2

  (385 )   13  

Total

    $65,450     $130,694  

 

(1)  The aggregate unpaid principal balance was $63.7 million and $127.6 million at January 31, 2019 and October 31, 2018, respectively.

 

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

 

The Financial Services segment had a pipeline of loan applications in process of $442.8 million at January 31, 2019. Loans in process for which interest rates were committed to the borrowers totaled $54.4 million as of January 31, 2019. Substantially all of these commitments were for periods of 60 days or less. Since a portion of these commitments is expected to expire without being exercised by the borrowers, the total commitments do not necessarily represent future cash requirements.

  

The Financial Services segment uses investor commitments and forward sales of mandatory MBS to hedge its mortgage-related interest rate exposure. These instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk. Credit risk is managed by entering into MBS forward commitments, option contracts with investment banks, federally regulated bank affiliates and loan sales transactions with permanent investors meeting the segment’s credit standards. The segment’s risk, in the event of default by the purchaser, is the difference between the contract price and fair value of the MBS forward commitments and option contracts. At January 31, 2019, the segment had open commitments amounting to $22.5 million to sell MBS with varying settlement dates through March 21, 2019.

  

The assets accounted for using the fair value option are initially measured at fair value. Gains and losses from initial measurement and subsequent changes in fair value are recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in “Revenues: Financial services.” The fair values that are included in income are shown, by financial instrument and financial statement line item, below: 

 

   

Three Months Ended January 31, 2019

 

(In thousands)

 

Mortgage

Loans Held

For Sale

   

Interest Rate

Lock

Commitments

   

Forward

Contracts

 
                   
                   

Fair value included in net loss all reflected in financial services revenues

  $1,996     $225     $(385 )

 

 

   

Three Months Ended January 31, 2018

 

(In thousands)

 

Mortgage

Loans Held

For Sale

   

Interest Rate

Lock

Commitments

   

Forward

Contracts

 
                   
                   

Fair value included in net loss all reflected in financial services revenues

  $2,434     $(248

)

  $268  

 

The Company's assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis are those assets for which the Company has recorded valuation adjustments and write-offs during the three months ended January 31, 2019. The Company did not have any assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis during the three months ended January 31, 2018. The assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis are all within the Company's Homebuilding operations and are summarized below:

 

Nonfinancial Assets

 

     

Three Months Ended

January 31, 2019

 

(In thousands)

Fair Value

Hierarchy

 

Pre-

Impairment

Amount

   

Total Losses

   

Fair Value

 
                     

Sold and unsold homes and lots under development

Level 3

  $-     $-     $-  
                     

Land and land options held for future development or sale

Level 3

  $6,302     $(43 )   $6,259  

 

We record impairment losses on inventories related to communities under development and held for future development when events and circumstances indicate that they may be impaired and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than their related carrying amounts. If the expected undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount, then the community is written down to its fair value. We estimate the fair value of each impaired community by determining the present value of its estimated future cash flows at a discount rate commensurate with the risk of the respective community. Should the estimates or expectations used in determining cash flows or fair value decrease or differ from current estimates in the future, we may be required to recognize additional impairments. We recorded inventory impairments, which are included in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations as “Inventory impairment loss and land option write-offs” and deducted from inventory, of less than $0.1 million for the three months ended January 31, 2019. We did not record any inventory impairments for the three months ended January 31, 2018. See Note 4 for further detail of the communities evaluated for impairment.

 

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

 

The fair value of each series of our Notes are listed below. Level 2 measurements are estimated based on recent trades or quoted market prices for the same issues or based on recent trades or quoted market prices for our debt of similar security and maturity to achieve comparable yields. Level 3 measurements are estimated based on third-party broker quotes or management’s estimate of the fair value based on available trades for similar debt instruments.

 

Fair Value as of January 31, 2019

 

(In thousands)

 

Level 1

     

 

Level 2

   

 

Level 3

   

Total

 

Senior Secured Notes:

                         

9.5% Senior Secured Notes due November 15, 2020

  $-       $-     $71,250     $71,250  

2.0% Senior Secured Notes due November 1, 2021

  -       -     39,370     39,370  

5.0% Senior Secured Notes due November 1, 2021

  -       117,568     -     117,568  

10.0% Senior Secured Notes due July 15, 2022

  -       380,600     -     380,600  

10.5% Senior Secured Notes due July 15, 2024

  -       344,556     -     344,556  
Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility   -       -     30,752     30,752  

Senior Notes:

                         

13.5% Senior Notes due February 1, 2026

  -       84,815     -     84,815  

5.0% Senior Notes due February 1, 2040

  -       35,505     -     35,505  
    Senior Unsecured Term Loan Credit Facility due February 1, 2027   -       -     110,389     110,389  

Total fair value

  $-       $963,044     $251,761     $1,214,805  

 

 

Fair Value as of October 31, 2018

 

(In thousands)

 

Level 1

   

 

Level 2

   

 

Level 3

   

Total

 

Senior Secured Notes:

                       

9.5% Senior Secured Notes due November 15, 2020

  $-     $-     $74,250     $74,250  

2.0% Senior Secured Notes due November 1, 2021

  -     -     40,434     40,434  

5.0% Senior Secured Notes due November 1, 2021

  -     124,781     -     124,781  

10.0% Senior Secured Notes due July 15, 2022

  -     424,670     -     424,670  

10.5% Senior Secured Notes due July 15, 2024

  -     366,720     -     366,720  

Senior Notes:

                       

13.5% Senior Notes due February 1, 2026

  -     88,148     -     88,148  

5.0% Senior Notes due February 1, 2040

  -     35,628     -     35,628  
Senior Unsecured Term Loan Credit Facility due February 1, 2027   -     -     114,328     114,328  

Total fair value

  $-     $1,039,947     229,012     $1,268,959  

 

 

20.

Transactions with Related Parties

 

During the three months ended January 31, 2019 and 2018, an engineering firm owned by Tavit Najarian, a relative of Ara K. Hovnanian, our Chairman of the Board of Directors and our Chief Executive Officer, provided services to the Company totaling $0.2 million and $0.1 million, respectively. Neither the Company nor Mr. Hovnanian has a financial interest in the relative’s company from whom the services were provided.

 

 

21.

Subsequent Events

 

In February 2019, we entered into a new joint venture, whereby we sold eight communities and contributed two communities to the joint venture in which we own the majority of the equity. The joint venture capital was funded by equity and debt. Because of our significant equity ownership, this joint venture will be consolidated. Therefore, our condensed consolidated balance sheet will reflect cash of $54.0 million, debt of $53.5 million and a minority interest of $0.5 million as a result of the transaction.

 

  

 

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

 

Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. (“HEI”) conducts all of its homebuilding and financial services operations through its subsidiaries (references herein to the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer to HEI and its consolidated subsidiaries and should be understood to reflect the consolidated business of HEI’s subsidiaries).

 

Overview

 

Our community count increased 11% sequentially during the first quarter of fiscal 2019, from 123 communities at October 31, 2018 to 137 at January 31, 2019. Our total number of lots controlled increased in the first quarter of fiscal 2019, as compared to the same period of the prior year, which is the fifth consecutive quarter for which we have experienced a year-over-year quarterly increase. We believe continued growth in lots controlled should lead to further community count growth, and our fiscal 2017 and 2018 financing transactions have provided us with the long-term capital needed to implement our investment strategy to grow our business. However, there is typically a significant time lag from when we first control lots until the time that we open a community for sale. This timeline can vary significantly from a few months (in a market such as Houston) to three to five plus years (in a market such as New Jersey). Given the mix of land that we control and the land investment we anticipate, we currently believe that our community count will continue to grow in the second quarter of fiscal 2019. Ultimately, community count growth, absent adverse market factors, should lead to delivery and revenue growth in the future.

 

Our cash position during the first quarter of fiscal 2019 allowed us to spend $141.3 million on land purchases and land development during the period, and still have total liquidity of $215.0 million, including $113.3 million of homebuilding cash and cash equivalents as of January 31, 2019. We continue to see opportunities to purchase land at prices that make economic sense in light of our current sales prices and sales pace and plan to continue actively pursuing such land acquisitions. New land purchases at pricing that we believe will generate appropriate investment returns and drive greater operating efficiencies are needed to return to sustained profitability.

 

Additional results for the first quarter of fiscal 2019 were as follows:

 

● For the three months ended January 31, 2019, sale of homes revenues decreased 9.8% as compared to the same period of the prior year, as a result of a 5.7% decrease in deliveries, primarily due to our decreased community count compared to the prior year.

 

● Gross margin percentage was flat at 14.8% for the both three months ended January 31, 2019 and 2018. Gross margin percentage, before cost of sales interest expense and land charges, decreased slightly from 17.9% for the three months ended January 31, 2018 to 17.8% for the three months ended January 31, 2019.

 

● Selling, general and administrative costs (including corporate general and administrative expenses) decreased $2.0 million for the three months ended January 31, 2019 as compared to the same period of the prior year. As a percentage of total revenue, such costs increased from 14.9% for the three months ended January 31, 2018 to 15.9% for the three months ended January 31, 2019.

   

● Net contracts per average active selling community decreased to 6.8 for the three months ended January 31, 2019 compared to 7.3 in the same period of the prior year.

 

● Active selling communities decreased 2.1% over last year’s first quarter. Net contracts decreased 9.1% for the three months ended January 31, 2019, compared to the same period of the prior year.

 

When comparing sequentially from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 to the first quarter of fiscal 2019, our gross margin percentage decreased from 16.5% to 14.8% and our gross margin percentage, before cost of sales interest expense and land charges, decreased from 19.2% to 17.8%. Selling, general and administrative costs (including corporate general and administrative expenses) decreased slightly from $61.0 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 (after adjusting for a $10.2 million benefit resulting from an adjustment to our construction defect reserves based on our annual actuarial study) to $60.4 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2019. However, as a percentage of total revenues these costs increased from 8.3% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 (9.9% excluding the adjustment to construction defect reserves) to 15.9% in the first quarter of fiscal 2019. Cost of sales and selling, general and administrative costs include some fixed costs that are not impacted by delivery volume. Therefore, as deliveries and revenues decreased from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 to the first quarter of fiscal 2019, consistent with our normal seasonality trends, gross margin decreased and selling, general and administrative costs as a percentage of total revenues increased. Improving the efficiency of our selling, general and administrative expenses continues to be a significant area of focus.

 

  

29

 

We had 1,793 homes in backlog with a dollar value of $749.8 million at January 31, 2019 (a decrease of 7.9% in dollar value compared to the prior year). As expected, due to our use of cash for significant debt repayments in prior fiscal years, our community count decreased when comparing the quarter ended January 31, 2019 to the same period of the prior year. Further, our net contracts per community declined in the first quarter of fiscal 2019 compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2018 consistent with data for the overall housing market. In light of these results, we remain cautious and are carefully evaluating market conditions when evaluating new land acquisitions. As discussed above, we have been experiencing year-over-year controlled lot growth over the past five quarters, and we have invested $141.3 million in land purchases and land development during the first quarter of fiscal 2019. 

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

  

As disclosed in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2018, our most critical accounting policies relate to income recognition from mortgage loans; inventories; unconsolidated joint ventures; post-development completion, warranty and insurance reserves; and deferred income taxes. Since October 31, 2018, there have been no significant changes to those critical accounting policies.

 

CAPITAL RESOURCES AND LIQUIDITY

 

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

 

We have historically funded our homebuilding and financial services operations with cash flows from operating activities, borrowings under our credit facilities, the issuance of new debt and equity securities and other financing activities. Due to covenant restrictions in our debt instruments, we are currently limited in the amount of debt we can incur that does not qualify as refinancing indebtedness with certain maturity requirements (a limitation that we expect to continue for the foreseeable future), even if market conditions would otherwise be favorable, which could also impact our ability to grow our business. 

 

Operating, Investing and Financing Activities – Overview

 

Our homebuilding cash balance at January 31, 2019 decreased $74.6 million from October 31, 2018. We spent $141.3 million on land and land development during the period. After considering this land and land development and all other operating activities, including revenue received from deliveries, we used $122.2 million of cash from operations. However, as of January 31, 2019, we had $89.0 million of borrowing capacity under our Secured Credit Facility (defined below), and therefore, our total liquidity at January 31, 2019 was $215.0 million, which is within our target liquidity range of $170.0 to $245.0 million. During the first quarter of fiscal 2019, cash provided by investing activities was $3.4 million, primarily due to distributions from a joint venture. Cash provided by financing activities was $39.0 million during the first quarter of fiscal 2019 which included $36.0 million of borrowings on our Secured Credit Facility, proceeds of $21.3 million from a debt issuance, $19.1 million from land banking and model sale leaseback programs and $26.0 million of net proceeds from nonrecourse mortgages, offset by a $62.0 million reduction in mortgage warehouse lines of credit. We intend to continue to use nonrecourse mortgage financings, model sale leaseback, joint ventures, and, subject to covenant restrictions in our debt instruments, land banking programs as our business needs dictate.

  

Our cash uses during the three months ended January 31, 2019 and 2018 were for operating expenses, land purchases, land deposits, land development, construction spending, debt payments, state income taxes, interest payments, litigation matters and investments in joint ventures. During these periods, we provided for our cash requirements from available cash on hand, housing and land sales, financing transactions, model sale leasebacks, land banking transactions, joint ventures, financial service revenues and other revenues. We believe that these sources of cash together with our Secured Credit Facility will be sufficient through fiscal 2019 to finance our working capital requirements.

 

30

 

Our net income (loss) historically does not approximate cash flow from operating activities. The difference between net income (loss) and cash flow from operating activities is primarily caused by changes in inventory levels together with changes in receivables, prepaid and other assets, mortgage loans held for sale, interest and other accrued liabilities, deferred income taxes, accounts payable and other liabilities, and noncash charges relating to depreciation, stock compensation awards and impairment losses for inventory. When we are expanding our operations, inventory levels, prepaids and other assets increase causing cash flow from operating activities to decrease. Certain liabilities also increase as operations expand and partially offset the negative effect on cash flow from operations caused by the increase in inventory levels, prepaids and other assets. Similarly, as our mortgage operations expand, net income from these operations increases, but for cash flow purposes net income is partially offset by the net change in mortgage assets and liabilities. The opposite is true as our investment in new land purchases and development of new communities decrease, causing us to generate positive cash flow from operations. In the first quarters of fiscal 2019 and 2018, with continued spending on land purchases and land development, we used cash in operations. As we continue to actively seek land investment opportunities, we will also remain focused on liquidity.

 

Debt Transactions

 

As of January 31, 2019, we had $1,135.0 million of outstanding senior secured notes ($1,115.6 million, net of discount and debt issuance costs), comprised of $53.2 million 2.0% 2021 Notes (defined below), $141.8 million 5.0% 2021 Notes (defined below), $75.0 million 9.5% 2020 Notes (defined below), $440.0 million 10.0% Senior Secured Notes due 2022 and $425.0 million 10.5% Senior Secured Notes due 2024. As of January 31, 2019, we also had $180.7 million of outstanding senior notes ($144.3 million net of discount, premium and debt issuance costs), comprised of $90.1 million 5.0% Senior Notes due 2040 and $90.6 million 13.5% Senior Notes due 2026 ($26.0 million of 8.0% Senior Notes due 2019 are owned by a wholly-owned consolidated subsidiary of HEI and therefore, in accordance with GAAP, such notes are not reflected on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets of HEI). In addition, as of January 31, 2019, there were $202.5 million ($201.4 million net of debt issuance costs) of borrowings under our senior unsecured term loan facility (“Term Loan Facility”), as well as $36.0 million ($34.7 million net of debt issuance costs) of borrowings under our senior secured revolving credit facility (the “Secured Credit Facility” and, together with the Term Loan Facility the “Credit Facilities”).

 

Except for K. Hovnanian, the issuer of the notes and borrower under the Credit Facilities (as defined below), our home mortgage subsidiaries, joint ventures and subsidiaries holding interests in our joint ventures and certain of our title insurance subsidiaries, we and each of our subsidiaries are guarantors of the Credit Facilities, the senior secured notes and senior notes outstanding at January 31, 2019 (collectively, the “Notes Guarantors”). In addition to the Notes Guarantors, the 5.0% Senior Secured Notes due 2021 (the “5.0% 2021 Notes”), the 2.0% Senior Secured Notes due 2021 (the “2.0% 2021 Notes” and together with the 5.0% 2021 Notes, the “2021 Notes”) and the 9.50% Senior Secured Notes due 2020 (the “9.50% 2020 Notes” and collectively with the 2021 Notes, the “JV Holdings Secured Group Notes”) are guaranteed by K. Hovnanian JV Holdings, L.L.C. and its subsidiaries, except for certain joint ventures and joint venture holding companies (collectively, the “JV Holdings Secured Group”). Members of the JV Holdings Secured Group do not guarantee K. Hovnanian's other indebtedness.

 

The credit agreements governing the Credit Facilities and the indentures governing the notes (together, the “Debt Instruments”) outstanding at January 31, 2019 do not contain any financial maintenance covenants, but do contain restrictive covenants that limit, among other things, the Company’s ability and that of certain of its subsidiaries, including K. Hovnanian, to incur additional indebtedness (other than nonrecourse indebtedness, certain permitted indebtedness and refinancing indebtedness (under the 9.50% 2020 Notes, any new or refinancing indebtedness may not be scheduled to mature earlier than January 15, 2021 (so long as no member of the JV Holdings Secured Group is an obligor thereon), or February 15, 2021 (if otherwise), and under the 10.0% Senior Secured Notes due 2022 (the “10.0% 2022 Notes”), any refinancing indebtedness of K. Hovnanian's previously outstanding 7.0% Senior Notes due 2019 (the “7.0% Notes”) (which includes the Term Loans (as defined below)) and 8.0% Senior Notes due 2019 (the “8.0% Notes” and together with the 7.0% Notes, the “2019 Notes”) (which includes the 13.5% Senior Notes due 2026 and the 5.0% Senior Notes due 2040 and the Term Loans) may not be scheduled to mature earlier than July 16, 2024 (such restrictive covenant in respect of the 10.5% Senior Secured Notes due 2024 (the “10.5% 2024 Notes”) was eliminated in fiscal 2018), pay dividends and make distributions on common and preferred stock, repurchase subordinated indebtedness and common and preferred stock, make other restricted payments, including investments, sell certain assets (including in certain land banking transactions), incur liens, consolidate, merge, sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all assets, enter into certain transactions with affiliates and make cash repayments of the 2019 Notes and refinancing indebtedness in respect thereof (with respect to the 10.0% 2022 Notes). The Debt Instruments also contain events of default which would permit the lenders or holders thereof to exercise remedies with respect to the collateral (as applicable), declare the loans made under the Term Loan Facility (the “Term Loans”) and loans made under the Secured Credit Facility (the “Secured Revolving Loans”) or notes to be immediately due and payable if not cured within applicable grace periods, including the failure to make timely payments on the Term Loans, Secured Revolving Loans or notes or other material indebtedness, cross default to other material indebtedness, the failure to comply with agreements and covenants and specified events of bankruptcy and insolvency, with respect to the Term Loans and Secured Revolving Loans, material inaccuracy of representations and warranties and with respect to the Term Loans and Secured Revolving Loans, a change of control, and, with respect to the Secured Revolving Loans and senior secured notes, the failure of the documents granting security for the Secured Revolving Loans and senior secured notes to be in full force and effect, and the failure of the liens on any material portion of the collateral securing the Secured Revolving Loans and senior secured notes to be valid and perfected. As of January 31, 2019, we believe we were in compliance with the covenants of the Debt Instruments.

 

If our consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio, as defined in the agreements governing our debt instruments, is less than 2.0 to 1.0, we are restricted from making certain payments, including dividends, and from incurring indebtedness other than certain permitted indebtedness, refinancing indebtedness and nonrecourse indebtedness. As a result of this ratio restriction, we are currently restricted from paying dividends, which are not cumulative, on our 7.625% Series A Preferred Stock. We anticipate that we will continue to be restricted from paying dividends for the foreseeable future. Our inability to pay dividends is in accordance with covenant restrictions and will not result in a default under our debt instruments or otherwise affect compliance with any of the covenants contained in our debt instruments.

 

31

 

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

 

Any liquidity-enhancing or other capital raising or refinancing transaction will depend on identifying counterparties, negotiation of documentation and applicable closing conditions and any required approvals. Due to covenant restrictions in our Debt Instruments, we are currently limited in the amount of debt we can incur that does not qualify as refinancing indebtedness with certain maturity requirements as discussed above (a limitation that we expect to continue for the foreseeable future), even if market conditions would otherwise be favorable, which could also impact our ability to grow our business.

 

In addition to the Secured Credit Facility, we have certain stand–alone cash collateralized letter of credit agreements and facilities under which there was a total of $12.3 million and $12.5 million letters of credit outstanding at January 31, 2019 and October 31, 2018, respectively. These agreements and facilities require us to maintain specified amounts of cash as collateral in segregated accounts to support the letters of credit issued thereunder, which will affect the amount of cash we have available for other uses. At both January 31, 2019 and October 31, 2018, the amount of cash collateral in these segregated accounts was $12.7 million, which is reflected in “Restricted cash and cash equivalents” on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

See Note 11 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for a further discussion of the Term Loan Facility, the Secured Credit Facility and K. Hovnanian’s senior secured notes and senior notes.

  

Mortgages and Notes Payable

 

We have nonrecourse mortgage loans for certain communities totaling $121.5 million and $95.6 million (net of debt issuance costs) at January 31, 2019 and October 31, 2018, respectively, which are secured by the related real property, including any improvements, with an aggregate book value of $285.2 million and $241.9 million, respectively. The weighted-average interest rate on these obligations was 6.3% and 6.1% at January 31, 2019 and October 31, 2018, respectively, and the mortgage loan payments on each community primarily correspond to home deliveries.

    

Our wholly owned mortgage banking subsidiary, K. Hovnanian American Mortgage, LLC (“K. Hovnanian Mortgage”), originates mortgage loans primarily from the sale of our homes. Such mortgage loans and related servicing rights are sold in the secondary mortgage market within a short period of time. In certain instances, we retain the servicing rights for a small amount of loans. The loans are secured by the mortgages held for sale and repaid when we sell the underlying mortgage loans to permanent investors. As of January 31, 2019 and October 31, 2018, we had an aggregate of $51.2 million and $113.2 million, respectively, outstanding under several of K. Hovnanian Mortgage’s short-term borrowing facilities.

   

See Note 10 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of these agreements.

  

Inventory Activities

 

Total inventory, excluding consolidated inventory not owned, increased $75.5 million during the three months ended January 31, 2019 from October 31, 2018. Total inventory, excluding consolidated inventory not owned, increased in the Northeast by $5.0 million, in the Mid-Atlantic by $27.2 million, in the Midwest by $1.8 million, in the Southeast by $0.4 million, in the Southwest by $18.9 million and in the West by $22.2 million. The increases were primarily attributable to new land purchases and land development, partially offset by home deliveries during the period. During the three months ended January 31, 2019, we had less than $0.1 million in impairments. We wrote-off costs in the amount of $0.7 million during the three months ended January 31, 2019 related to land options that expired or that we terminated, as the communities’ forecasted profitability was not projected to produce adequate returns on investment commensurate with the risk. In the last few years, we have been able to acquire new land parcels at prices that we believe will generate reasonable returns under current homebuilding market conditions. There can be no assurances that this trend will continue in the near term. Substantially all homes under construction or completed and included in inventory at January 31, 2019 are expected to be delivered during the next six to nine months.  

 

Consolidated inventory not owned increased $24.7 million. Consolidated inventory not owned consists of options related to land banking and model financing transactions that were added to our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet in accordance with US GAAP. The increase from October 31, 2018 to January 31, 2019 was primarily due to an increase in land banking transactions along with an increase in the sale and leaseback of certain model homes during the period. We have land banking arrangements, whereby we sell land parcels to the land bankers and they provide us an option to purchase back finished lots on a predetermined schedule. Because of our options to repurchase these parcels, for accounting purposes in accordance with ASC 606-10-55-70, these transactions are considered a financing rather than a sale. For purposes of our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet, at January 31, 2019, inventory of $54.1 million was recorded to “Consolidated inventory not owned,” with a corresponding amount of $30.7 million (net of debt issuance costs) recorded to “Liabilities from inventory not owned” for the amount of net cash received from the transactions. In addition, we sell and lease back certain of our model homes with the right to participate in the potential profit when each home is sold to a third party at the end of the respective lease. As a result of our continued involvement, for accounting purposes in accordance with ASC 606-10-55-68, these sale and leaseback transactions are considered a financing rather than a sale. Therefore, for purposes of our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet, at January 31, 2019, inventory of $58.5 million was recorded to “Consolidated inventory not owned,” with a corresponding amount of $51.4 million (net of debt issuance costs) recorded to “Liabilities from inventory not owned” for the amount of net cash received from the transactions. From time to time, we enter into option agreements that include specific performance requirements, whereby we are required to purchase a minimum number of lots. Because of our obligation to purchase these lots, for accounting purposes in accordance with ASC 360-20-40-38, we are required to record this inventory on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. As of January 31, 2019, we had no specific performance options.

  

32

 

When possible, we option property for development prior to acquisition. By optioning property, we are only subject to the loss of the cost of the option and predevelopment costs if we choose not to exercise the option (other than with respect to specific performance options discussed above). As a result, our commitment for major land acquisitions is reduced. The costs associated with optioned properties are included in “Land and land options held for future development or sale” on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Also included in “Land and land options held for future development or sale” are amounts associated with inventory in mothballed communities. We mothball (or stop development on) certain communities when we determine the current performance does not justify further investment at the time. That is, we believe we will generate higher returns if we decide against spending money to improve land today and save the raw land until such time as the markets improve or we determine to sell the property. As of January 31, 2019, we had mothballed land in 14 communities. The book value associated with these communities at January 31, 2019 was $14.1 million, which was net of impairment charges recorded in prior periods of $146.9 million. We continually review communities to determine if mothballing is appropriate. During the first quarter of fiscal 2019, we did not mothball any additional communities, but sold two previously mothballed communities, and we re-activated two previously mothballed communities.

 

Inventories held for sale, which are land parcels where we have decided not to build homes and are actively marketing the land for sale, represented $0.1 million and $6.4 million, respectively, of our total inventories at January 31, 2019 and October 31, 2018, and are reported at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell. In determining fair value for land held for sale, management considers, among other things, prices for land in recent comparable sale transactions, market analysis studies, which include the estimated price a willing buyer would pay for the land (other than in a forced liquidation sale) and recent bona fide offers received from outside third parties.

 

The following tables summarize home sites included in our total residential real estate. The increase in total home sites available at January 31, 2019 compared to October 31, 2018 is attributable to signing new land option agreements and acquiring new land parcels, partially offset by delivering homes and terminating certain option agreements.

 

   

Active

Communities(1)

   

Active

Communities

Homes

   

Proposed

Developable

Homes

   

Total

Homes

 

January 31, 2019:

                       
                         

Northeast

  6     669     3,337     4,006  

Mid-Atlantic

  23     1,891     3,610     5,501  

Midwest

  18     1,735     2,836     4,571  

Southeast

  16     2,555     1,501     4,056  

Southwest

  58     4,499     2,288     6,787  

West

  16     2,568     2,988     5,556  
                         

Consolidated total

  137     13,917     16,560     30,477  
                         

Unconsolidated joint ventures (2)

  16     3,538     230     3,768  
                         

Owned

        8,780     4,066     12,846  

Optioned

        4,922     12,494     17,416  
                         

Controlled lots

        13,702     16,560     30,262  
                         

Construction to permanent financing lots

        215     -     215  
                         

Consolidated total

        13,917     16,560     30,477  

 

 

(1)

Active communities are open for sale communities with ten or more home sites available.

 

 

(2)

Represents active communities and home sites for our unconsolidated homebuilding joint ventures for the period. We provide this data as a supplement to our consolidated results as an indicator of the volume managed in our unconsolidated joint ventures. See Note 17 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for a further discussion of our unconsolidated joint ventures. 

 

33

 

   

Active

Communities(1)

   

Active

Communities

Homes

   

Proposed

Developable

Homes

   

Total

Homes

 

October 31, 2018:

                       
                         

Northeast

  4     691     3,229     3,920  

Mid-Atlantic

  20     1,681     3,114     4,795  

Midwest

  14     1,774     2,984     4,758  

Southeast

  14     2,323     2,348     4,671  

Southwest

  56     3,884     2,899     6,783  

West

  15     2,040     3,590     5,630  
                         

Consolidated total

  123     12,393     18,164     30,557  
                         

Unconsolidated joint ventures (2)

  19     2,607     1,422     4,029  
                         

Owned

        8,018     4,711     12,729  

Optioned

        4,157     13,453     17,610  
                         

Controlled lots

        12,175     18,164     30,339  
                         

Construction to permanent financing lots

        218     -     218  
                         

Consolidated total

        12,393     18,164     30,557  

 

 

(1)

Active communities are open for sale communities with ten or more home sites available.

 

 

(2)

Represents active communities and home sites for our unconsolidated homebuilding joint ventures for the period. We provide this data as a supplement to our consolidated results as an indicator of the volume managed in our unconsolidated joint ventures. See Note 17 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for a further discussion of our unconsolidated joint ventures. 

 

34

 

The following table summarizes our started or completed unsold homes and models, excluding unconsolidated joint ventures, in active and substantially completed communities. Started unsold homes per active selling community decreased from October 31, 2018 to January 31, 2019 primarily as a result of our increased community count during the period.

 

   

January 31, 2019

   

October 31, 2018

 
                                     
   

Unsold

Homes

   

Models

   

Total

   

Unsold

Homes

   

Models

   

Total

 
                                     

Northeast

  47     11     58     24     5     29  

Mid-Atlantic

  24     8     32     38     19     57  

Midwest

  24     6     30     19     10     29  

Southeast

  58     14     72     62     11     73  

Southwest

  296     15     311     335     14     349  

West

  149     14     163     93     12     105  
                                     

Total

  598     68     666     571     71     642  
                                     
                                     

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

  4.4     0.5     4.9     4.6     0.6     5.2  

 

(1)

Active selling communities (which are communities that are open for sale with ten or more home sites available) were 137 and 123 at January 31, 2019 and October 31, 2018, respectively. This ratio does not include substantially completed communities, which are communities with less than ten home sites available.

 

Other Balance Sheet Activities

 

Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures increased $5.2 million to $128.9 million at January 31, 2019 compared to October 31, 2018. The increase was primarily due to the income from two of our joint ventures in the first quarter of fiscal 2019. As of both January 31, 2019 and October 31, 2018, we had investments in nine homebuilding joint ventures and one land development joint venture. We have no guarantees associated with our unconsolidated joint ventures, other than guarantees limited only to performance and completion of development, environmental indemnification and standard warranty and representation against fraud, misrepresentation and similar actions, including a voluntary bankruptcy.

 

Receivables, deposits and notes, net decreased $2.5 million from October 31, 2018 to $32.7 million at January 31, 2019. The decrease was primarily due to the receipt of a municipal receivable during the period, partially offset by an increase in receivables due to the timing of home closings during the period.

 

Prepaid expenses and other assets were as follows as of:

 

(In thousands)

 

January 31,

2019

   

October 31,

2018

   

Dollar

Change

 
                   

Prepaid insurance

  $2,284     $2,514     $(230

)

Prepaid project costs

  29,454     28,667     787  

Other prepaids

  10,466     7,505     2,961  

Other assets

  686     464     222  

Total

  $42,890     39,150     3,740  

  

Prepaid insurance decreased during the three months ended January 31, 2019 due to the timing of premium payments. These costs are amortized over the life of the associated insurance policy, which can be one to three years. Prepaid project costs consist of community specific expenditures that are used over the life of the community. Such prepaids are expensed as homes are delivered and therefore have increased as our community count increased during the period. Other prepaids increased primarily due to the timing of the company’s payroll tax funding at the end of the period.

   

Financial services assets consist primarily of residential mortgages receivable held for sale of which $63.5 million and $129.0 million at January 31, 2019 and October 31, 2018, respectively, were being temporarily warehoused and are awaiting sale in the secondary mortgage market. The decrease in mortgage loans held for sale from October 31, 2018 is related to a decrease in the volume of loans originated during the first quarter of 2019 compared to the fourth quarter of 2018, primarily due to the decrease in deliveries, along with a decrease in the average loan value. Also contributing to the decrease in financial services other assets was a decrease in restricted cash due to the timing of home closings at the end of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 compared to the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2019.

 

Nonrecourse mortgages secured by inventory increased to $121.5 million at January 31, 2019 from $95.6 million at October 31, 2018. The increase was primarily due to additional loan borrowings on existing mortgages, along with new mortgages for communities in most of our segments obtained during the three months ended January 31, 2019, partially offset by the payment of existing mortgages.

 

 

35

 

Accounts payable and other liabilities are as follows as of:

 

(In thousands)

 

January 31,

2019

   

October 31,

2018

   

Dollar

Change

 
                   

Accounts payable

  $116,390     $127,795     $(11,405

)

Reserves

  97,131     99,229     (2,098

)

Accrued expenses

  12,897     14,884     (1,987

)

Accrued compensation

  24,388     53,200     (28,812

)

Other liabilities

  15,824     9,791     6,033  

Total

  $266,630     $304,899     $(38,269

)

 

The decrease in accounts payable was primarily due to the lower volume of deliveries in the first quarter of fiscal 2019 compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018. Accrued expenses decreased primarily due to the timing of property tax payments. The decrease in accrued compensation was primarily due to the payment of our fiscal year 2018 bonuses during the first quarter of fiscal 2019, partially offset by the accrual of fiscal 2019 bonuses in the first quarter of fiscal 2019. Other liabilities increased primarily due to several new municipal loans and bonds issued during the period.

 

Liabilities from inventory not owned increased $18.7 million to $82.1 million at January 31, 2019. The increase was primarily due to an increase in land banking activity during the period, along with an increase in the sale and leaseback of certain model homes, both accounted for as financing transactions as described above.     

 

Financial Services (liabilities) decreased $69.2 million from $143.4 million at October 31, 2018, to $74.2 million at January 31, 2019. The decrease is primarily due to a decrease in amounts outstanding under our mortgage warehouse lines of credit, and directly correlates to the decrease in the volume of mortgage loans held for sale during the period.

 

36

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 31, 2019 COMPARED TO THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 31, 2018

 

Total Revenues

 

Compared to the same prior period, revenues decreased as follows:

 

   

Three Months Ended

 
                         

(Dollars in thousands)

 

January 31,

2019

   

January 31,

2018

   

Dollar

Change

   

Percentage

Change

 

Homebuilding:

                       

Sale of homes

  $362,135     $401,577     $(39,442

)

  (9.8

)%

Land sales and other revenues

  8,851     4,701     4,150     88.3

%

Financial services

  9,608     10,888     (1,280

)

  (11.8

)%

                         

Total revenues

  $380,594     $417,166     $(36,572

)

  (8.8

)%

 

Homebuilding

 

For the three months ended January 31, 2019, sale of homes revenues decreased $39.4 million, or 9.8%, as compared to the same period of the prior year. This decrease was due to the number of home deliveries decreasing 5.7% for the three months ended January 31, 2019 compared to the three months ended January 31, 2018, along with a 4.4% decrease in the average price per home. The decrease in the number of deliveries was due to the decrease in active selling communities year over year. The average price per home decreased to $374,493 in the three months ended January 31, 2019 from $391,782 in the three months ended January 31, 2018. The decrease in average price was the result of the geographic and community mix of our deliveries and, to a lesser extent, home price decreases (which we increase or decrease in communities depending on the respective community’s performance). Land sales are ancillary to our homebuilding operations and are expected to continue in the future but may significantly fluctuate up or down. For further details on the decrease in land sales and other revenues, see the section titled “Land Sales and Other Revenues” below.

  

37

 

 Information on homes delivered by segment is set forth below:

 

   

Three Months Ended January 31,

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2019

   

2018

   

% Change

 
                   

Northeast:

                 

Dollars

  $12,505     $20,192     (38.1

)%

Homes

  22     40     (45.0

)%

                   

Mid-Atlantic:

                 

Dollars

  $53,179     $71,009     (25.1

)%

Homes

  111     135     (17.8

)%

                   

Midwest:

                 

Dollars

  $44,889     $40,517     10.8

%

Homes

  149     140     6.4

%

                   

Southeast:

                 

Dollars

  $43,883     $56,674     (22.6

)%

Homes

  108     132     (18.2

)%

                   

Southwest:

                 

Dollars

  $117,863     $128,204     (8.1

)%

Homes

  365     384     (4.9

)%

                   

West:

                 

Dollars

  $89,816     $84,981     5.7

%

Homes

  212     194     9.3

%

                   

Consolidated total:

                 

Dollars

  $362,135     $401,577     (9.8

)%

Homes

  967     1,025     (5.7

)%

                   

Unconsolidated joint ventures (1)

                 

Dollars

  $95,027     $58,099     63.6

%

Homes

  152     116     31.0

%

 

(1) Represents housing revenues and home deliveries for our unconsolidated homebuilding joint ventures for the period. We provide this data as a supplement to our consolidated results as an indicator of the volume managed in our unconsolidated joint ventures. See Note 17 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for a further discussion of our unconsolidated joint ventures.

 

As discussed above, the overall decrease in consolidated housing revenues during the three months ended January 31, 2019 as compared to the same period of the prior year was attributed to a decrease in deliveries as our community count has decreased year over year, and by the decrease in average sales price.