10-Q

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 FORM 10-Q
 
ý
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.
For the quarterly period ended August 31, 2015.
or
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.
For the transition period from [            ] to [            ].
Commission File No. 001-09195
KB HOME
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
95-3666267
(State of incorporation)
(IRS employer identification number)
10990 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90024
(310) 231-4000
(Address and telephone number of principal executive offices) 
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  ý    No  o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  ý    No  o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
ý
Accelerated filer
o
Non-accelerated filer
o  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company
o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  o    No  ý
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock as of August 31, 2015.
There were 92,071,598 shares of the registrant’s common stock, par value $1.00 per share, outstanding on August 31, 2015. The registrant’s grantor stock ownership trust held an additional 10,335,461 shares of the registrant’s common stock on that date.



KB HOME
FORM 10-Q
INDEX
 
 
Page
Number
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Operations -
Nine Months and Three Months Ended August 31, 2015 and 2014
 
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets -
August 31, 2015 and November 30, 2014
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows -
Nine Months Ended August 31, 2015 and 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

2


PART I.    FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.
Financial Statements
KB HOME
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts – Unaudited)
 

 
Nine Months Ended August 31,
 
Three Months Ended August 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Total revenues
$
2,046,247

 
$
1,604,908

 
$
843,157

 
$
589,214

Homebuilding:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues
$
2,038,896

 
$
1,596,894

 
$
840,204

 
$
586,231

Construction and land costs
(1,725,976
)
 
(1,305,258
)
 
(709,148
)
 
(479,424
)
Selling, general and administrative expenses
(244,678
)
 
(205,715
)
 
(95,074
)
 
(72,897
)
Operating income
68,242

 
85,921

 
35,982

 
33,910

Interest income
342

 
393

 
87

 
110

Interest expense
(17,850
)
 
(26,289
)
 
(4,394
)
 
(6,455
)
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures
(1,180
)
 
1,161

 
(422
)
 
(751
)
Homebuilding pretax income
49,554

 
61,186

 
31,253

 
26,814

Financial services:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues
7,351

 
8,014

 
2,953

 
2,983

Expenses
(2,802
)
 
(2,563
)
 
(910
)
 
(859
)
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures
3,023

 
(289
)
 
658

 
(277
)
Financial services pretax income
7,572

 
5,162

 
2,701

 
1,847

Total pretax income
57,126

 
66,348

 
33,954

 
28,661

Income tax expense
(16,500
)
 
(800
)
 
(10,700
)
 
(300
)
Net income
$
40,626

 
$
65,548

 
$
23,254

 
$
28,361

Earnings per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
$
.44

 
$
.74

 
$
.25

 
$
.31

Diluted
$
.42

 
$
.68

 
$
.23

 
$
.28

Weighted average shares outstanding:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
92,005

 
88,389

 
92,065

 
91,793

Diluted
101,605

 
98,614

 
101,874

 
102,070

Cash dividends declared per common share
$
.075

 
$
.075

 
$
.025

 
$
.025

See accompanying notes.

3


KB HOME
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In Thousands – Unaudited)
 

 
August 31,
2015
 
November 30,
2014
Assets
 
 
 
Homebuilding:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
352,952

 
$
356,366

Restricted cash
25,028

 
27,235

Receivables
159,576

 
125,488

Inventories
3,401,737

 
3,218,387

Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures
72,800

 
79,441

Deferred tax assets, net
810,016

 
825,232

Other assets
114,352

 
114,915

 
4,936,461

 
4,747,064

Financial services
12,035

 
10,486

Total assets
$
4,948,496

 
$
4,757,550

 
 
 
 
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
 
 
 
Homebuilding:
 
 
 
Accounts payable
$
178,604

 
$
172,716

Accrued expenses and other liabilities
497,158

 
409,882

Notes payable
2,630,732

 
2,576,525

 
3,306,494

 
3,159,123

Financial services
1,776

 
2,517

Stockholders’ equity:
 
 
 
Common stock
115,524

 
115,387

Paid-in capital
679,600

 
668,857

Retained earnings
1,424,992

 
1,391,256

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(21,008
)
 
(21,008
)
Grantor stock ownership trust, at cost
(112,106
)
 
(112,106
)
Treasury stock, at cost
(446,776
)
 
(446,476
)
Total stockholders’ equity
1,640,226

 
1,595,910

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
4,948,496

 
$
4,757,550

See accompanying notes.

4


KB HOME
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In Thousands – Unaudited)
 
 
Nine Months Ended August 31,
 
2015
 
2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
Net income
$
40,626

 
$
65,548

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:
 
 
 
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures
(1,843
)
 
(872
)
Amortization of discounts and issuance costs
5,866

 
5,246

Depreciation and amortization
2,547

 
1,677

Deferred income taxes
15,216

 

Stock-based compensation
10,444

 
5,959

Inventory impairments and land option contract abandonments
4,516

 
5,211

Changes in assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
Receivables
(25,032
)
 
(27,754
)
Inventories
(72,509
)
 
(784,457
)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
(1,952
)
 
20,388

Other, net
37

 
(7,608
)
Net cash used in operating activities
(22,084
)
 
(716,662
)
Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
Contributions to unconsolidated joint ventures
(20,955
)
 
(34,034
)
Return of investments in unconsolidated joint ventures
14,000

 

Proceeds from sale of investment in unconsolidated joint venture

 
10,110

Purchases of property and equipment, net
(2,100
)
 
(4,158
)
Net cash used in investing activities
(9,055
)
 
(28,082
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
Change in restricted cash
2,207

 
9,450

Proceeds from issuance of debt
250,000

 
400,000

Payment of debt issuance costs
(4,561
)
 
(5,448
)
Repayment of senior notes
(199,906
)
 

Payments on mortgages and land contracts due to land sellers and other loans
(13,736
)
 
(23,292
)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net

 
137,045

Issuance of common stock under employee stock plans
436

 
202

Payments of cash dividends
(6,890
)
 
(6,682
)
Stock repurchases
(300
)
 
(46
)
Net cash provided by financing activities
27,250

 
511,229

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
(3,889
)
 
(233,515
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
358,768

 
532,523

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
354,879

 
$
299,008

See accompanying notes.

5




KB HOME
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)


1.
Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted.
In our opinion, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals) necessary to present fairly our consolidated financial position as of August 31, 2015, the results of our consolidated operations for the three months and nine months ended August 31, 2015 and 2014, and our consolidated cash flows for the nine months ended August 31, 2015 and 2014. The results of our consolidated operations for the three months and nine months ended August 31, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year due to seasonal variations in operating results and other factors. The consolidated balance sheet at November 30, 2014 has been taken from the audited consolidated financial statements as of that date. These unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended November 30, 2014, which are contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for that period.
Unless the context indicates otherwise, the terms “we,” “our,” and “us” used in this report refer to KB Home, a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries.
Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make informed estimates and judgments that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents. We consider all highly liquid short-term investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Our cash equivalents totaled $231.0 million at August 31, 2015 and $197.7 million at November 30, 2014. The majority of our cash and cash equivalents were invested in money market funds and interest-bearing bank deposit accounts.
Restricted Cash. Restricted cash at August 31, 2015 and November 30, 2014 consisted of cash deposited with various financial institutions that was required as collateral for our cash-collateralized letter of credit facilities (“LOC Facilities”).
Comprehensive Income. Our comprehensive income was $23.3 million for the three months ended August 31, 2015 and $28.4 million for the three months ended August 31, 2014. For the nine months ended August 31, 2015 and 2014, our comprehensive income was $40.6 million and $65.5 million, respectively. Our comprehensive income for each of the three-month and nine-month periods ended August 31, 2015 and 2014 was equal to our net income for the same periods.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements. In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)” (“ASU 2014-09”). The core principle of ASU 2014-09 is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Companies may use either a full retrospective or a modified retrospective approach to adopt ASU 2014-09. In August 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-14, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date,” which delayed the effective date of ASU 2014-09 by one year. ASU 2014-09, as amended, is effective for public companies for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. Earlier application is permitted only as of annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of adopting this guidance on our consolidated financial statements.
In January 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-01, “Income Statement — Extraordinary and Unusual Items (Subtopic 225-20): Simplifying Income Statement Presentation by Eliminating the Concept of Extraordinary Items” (“ASU 2015-01”). ASU 2015-01 eliminates the concept of extraordinary items from GAAP but retains the presentation and disclosure guidance for items that are unusual in nature or occur infrequently and expands the guidance to include items that are both unusual in nature and infrequently occurring. ASU 2015-01 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2015. A reporting entity may apply ASU 2015-01 prospectively. A reporting

6


entity may also apply ASU 2015-01 retrospectively to all periods presented in the financial statements. We believe the adoption of ASU 2015-01 will not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.
In February 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-02, “Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis” (“ASU 2015-02”). ASU 2015-02 changes the analysis that a reporting entity must perform to determine whether it should consolidate certain types of legal entities. ASU 2015-02 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. We believe the adoption of ASU 2015-02 will not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.
In April 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-03, “Interest — Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs” (“ASU 2015-03”). ASU 2015-03 requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. For public entities, ASU 2015-03 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for financial statements that have not been previously issued. ASU 2015-03 is to be applied on a retrospective basis and represents a change in accounting principle. We believe the adoption of ASU 2015-03 will not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.
In August 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-15, “Interest — Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements — Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to Staff Announcement at June 18, 2015 EITF Meeting” (“ASU 2015-15”), which clarifies the treatment of debt issuance costs from line-of-credit arrangements after the adoption of ASU 2015-03. In particular, ASU 2015-15 clarifies that the SEC staff would not object to an entity deferring and presenting debt issuance costs related to a line-of-credit arrangement as an asset and subsequently amortizing the deferred debt issuance costs ratably over the term of such arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line-of-credit arrangement. We believe the adoption of ASU 2015-15 will not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.
Reclassifications. Certain amounts in our consolidated financial statements for prior years have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.
2.
Segment Information
As of August 31, 2015, we had identified five operating reporting segments, comprised of four homebuilding reporting segments and one financial services reporting segment. As of August 31, 2015, our homebuilding reporting segments conducted ongoing operations in the following states:
West Coast: California
Southwest: Arizona and Nevada
Central: Colorado, New Mexico and Texas
Southeast: Florida, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia
Our homebuilding reporting segments are engaged in the acquisition and development of land primarily for residential purposes and offer a wide variety of homes that are designed to appeal to first-time, move-up and active adult homebuyers. Our homebuilding operations generate most of their revenues from the delivery of completed homes to homebuyers. They also earn revenues from the sale of land.
Our homebuilding reporting segments were identified based primarily on similarities in economic and geographic characteristics, product types, regulatory environments, methods used to sell and construct homes and land acquisition characteristics. We evaluate segment performance primarily based on segment pretax results.
Our financial services reporting segment offers property and casualty insurance and, in certain instances, earthquake, flood and personal property insurance to our homebuyers in the same markets as our homebuilding reporting segments, and provides title services in the majority of our markets located within our Central and Southeast homebuilding reporting segments. This segment earns revenues primarily from insurance commissions and from the provision of title services. Prior to July 21, 2014, this segment also earned revenues pursuant to the terms of a marketing services agreement with Nationstar Mortgage LLC (“Nationstar”), under which Nationstar was our preferred mortgage lender and offered mortgage banking services, including residential mortgage loan (“mortgage loan”) originations, to our homebuyers who elected to use the lender. Our homebuyers may select any lender of their choice to obtain mortgage financing for the purchase of their home. Since July 21, 2014, we have offered mortgage banking services, including mortgage loan originations, to our homebuyers indirectly through Home Community Mortgage, LLC (“HCM”), a joint venture of a subsidiary of ours and a subsidiary of Nationstar. Through these

7


respective subsidiaries, we have a 49.9% ownership interest and Nationstar has a 50.1% ownership interest in HCM, with Nationstar providing management oversight of HCM’s operations.
Corporate and other is a non-operating segment that develops and implements company-wide strategic initiatives and provides support to our homebuilding reporting segments by centralizing certain administrative functions, such as promotional marketing, legal, purchasing administration, architecture, accounting, treasury, insurance and risk management, information technology and human resources. Corporate and other includes general and administrative expenses related to operating our corporate headquarters. A portion of the expenses incurred by Corporate and other is allocated to the homebuilding reporting segments.
Our segments follow the same accounting policies used for our consolidated financial statements. The 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, nor are they indicative of the results to be expected in future periods.
The following tables present financial information relating to our segments (in thousands):
 
Nine Months Ended August 31,
 
Three Months Ended August 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
West Coast
$
932,905

 
$
707,532

 
$
378,362

 
$
265,491

Southwest
273,339

 
144,597

 
128,021

 
50,101

Central
545,913

 
477,518

 
210,417

 
179,972

Southeast
286,739

 
267,247

 
123,404

 
90,667

Total homebuilding revenues
2,038,896

 
1,596,894

 
840,204

 
586,231

Financial services
7,351

 
8,014

 
2,953

 
2,983

Total
$
2,046,247

 
$
1,604,908

 
$
843,157

 
$
589,214

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pretax income (loss):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
West Coast
$
76,177

 
$
93,599

 
$
35,769

 
$
39,270

Southwest
20,420

 
7,599

 
11,732

 
2,543

Central
42,000

 
24,806

 
18,649

 
11,514

Southeast
(20,965
)
 
(9,881
)
 
(4,751
)
 
(7,965
)
Corporate and other
(68,078
)
 
(54,937
)
 
(30,146
)
 
(18,548
)
Total homebuilding pretax income
49,554

 
61,186

 
31,253

 
26,814

Financial services
7,572

 
5,162

 
2,701

 
1,847

Total
$
57,126

 
$
66,348

 
$
33,954

 
$
28,661

Inventory impairment charges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
West Coast
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

Southwest

 

 

 

Central

 

 

 

Southeast
3,173

 
3,408

 
3,173

 
3,408

Total
$
3,173

 
$
3,408

 
$
3,173

 
$
3,408

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Land option contract abandonments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
West Coast
$
134

 
$
554

 
$
134

 
$
451

Southwest

 

 

 

Central
225

 
995

 
225

 
562

Southeast
984

 
254

 

 

Total
$
1,343

 
$
1,803

 
$
359

 
$
1,013


8


 
August 31,
2015
 
November 30,
2014
Inventories:
 
 
 
Homes under construction
 
 
 
West Coast
$
649,874

 
$
536,843

Southwest
117,705

 
65,647

Central
280,330

 
201,164

Southeast
139,667

 
124,618

Subtotal
1,187,576

 
928,272

 
 
 
 
Land under development
 
 
 
West Coast
719,557

 
765,577

Southwest
322,676

 
334,691

Central
396,115

 
363,933

Southeast
248,326

 
245,948

Subtotal
1,686,674

 
1,710,149

 
 
 
 
Land held for future development
 
 
 
West Coast
287,365

 
294,060

Southwest
113,661

 
138,367

Central
22,063

 
22,957

Southeast
104,398

 
124,582

Subtotal
527,487

 
579,966

Total
$
3,401,737

 
$
3,218,387

 
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
West Coast
$
1,775,422

 
$
1,695,753

Southwest
598,260

 
579,201

Central
810,123

 
678,139

Southeast
528,270

 
531,011

Corporate and other
1,224,386

 
1,262,960

Total homebuilding assets
4,936,461

 
4,747,064

Financial services
12,035

 
10,486

Total
$
4,948,496

 
$
4,757,550

3.
Financial Services
The following tables present financial information relating to our financial services reporting segment (in thousands):
 
Nine Months Ended August 31,
 
Three Months Ended August 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Insurance commissions
$
4,581

 
$
4,364

 
$
1,857

 
$
1,832

Title services
2,769

 
2,503

 
1,096

 
904

Marketing services fees

 
1,147

 

 
247

Interest income
1

 

 

 

Total
7,351

 
8,014

 
2,953

 
2,983

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

9


 
Nine Months Ended August 31,
 
Three Months Ended August 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
General and administrative
$
(2,802
)
 
$
(2,563
)
 
$
(910
)
 
$
(859
)
Operating income
4,549

 
5,451

 
2,043

 
2,124

Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures
3,023

 
(289
)
 
658

 
(277
)
Pretax income
$
7,572

 
$
5,162

 
$
2,701

 
$
1,847

 
August 31,
2015
 
November 30,
2014
Assets
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
1,927

 
$
2,402

Receivables
846

 
1,738

Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures
9,171

 
6,149

Other assets
91

 
197

Total assets
$
12,035

 
$
10,486

Liabilities
 
 
 
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
$
1,776

 
$
2,517

Total liabilities
$
1,776

 
$
2,517

4.
Earnings Per Share
Basic and diluted earnings per share were calculated as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts): 
 
Nine Months Ended August 31,
 
Three Months Ended August 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Numerator:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
$
40,626

 
$
65,548

 
$
23,254

 
$
28,361

Less: Distributed earnings allocated to nonvested restricted stock
(24
)
 
(18
)
 
(7
)
 
(6
)
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to nonvested restricted stock
(115
)
 
(159
)
 
(63
)
 
(73
)
Numerator for basic earnings per share
40,487

 
65,371

 
23,184

 
28,282

Effect of dilutive securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest expense and amortization of debt issuance costs associated with convertible senior notes, net of taxes
2,000

 
2,000

 
667

 
667

Add: Undistributed earnings allocated to nonvested restricted stock
115

 
159

 
63

 
73

Less: Undistributed earnings reallocated to nonvested restricted stock
(104
)
 
(142
)
 
(57
)
 
(66
)
Numerator for diluted earnings per share
$
42,498

 
$
67,388

 
$
23,857

 
$
28,956

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

10


 
Nine Months Ended August 31,
 
Three Months Ended August 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Denominator:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average shares outstanding — basic
92,005

 
88,389

 
92,065

 
91,793

Effect of dilutive securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Share-based payments
1,198

 
1,823

 
1,407

 
1,875

Convertible senior notes
8,402

 
8,402

 
8,402

 
8,402

Weighted average shares outstanding — diluted
101,605

 
98,614

 
101,874

 
102,070

Basic earnings per share
$
.44

 
$
.74

 
$
.25

 
$
.31

Diluted earnings per share
$
.42

 
$
.68

 
$
.23

 
$
.28

We compute earnings per share using the two-class method, which is an allocation of earnings between the holders of common stock and a company’s participating security holders. Our outstanding nonvested shares of restricted stock contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends and, therefore, are considered participating securities for purposes of computing earnings per share pursuant to the two-class method. We had no other participating securities at August 31, 2015 or 2014.
Outstanding stock options to purchase 5.7 million shares of our common stock were excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculations for the three-month and nine-month periods ended August 31, 2015, and outstanding stock options to purchase 5.2 million shares of our common stock were excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculations for the three-month and nine-month periods ended August 31, 2014, because the effect of their inclusion in each case would be antidilutive. Contingently issuable shares associated with outstanding performance-based restricted stock units (each a “PSU”) were not included in the earnings per share calculations for the three-month and nine-month periods ended August 31, 2015 and 2014, as the applicable vesting conditions had not been satisfied.
5.
Inventories
Inventories consisted of the following (in thousands):
 
August 31,
2015
 
November 30,
2014
Homes under construction
$
1,187,576

 
$
928,272

Land under development
1,686,674

 
1,710,149

Land held for future development
527,487

 
579,966

Total
$
3,401,737

 
$
3,218,387

Interest is capitalized to inventories while the related communities are being actively developed and until homes are completed. Capitalized interest is amortized to construction and land costs as the related inventories are delivered to homebuyers or land buyers (as applicable). Interest and real estate taxes are not capitalized on land held for future development.
Our interest costs were as follows (in thousands):
 
Nine Months Ended August 31,
 
Three Months Ended August 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Capitalized interest at beginning of period
$
266,668

 
$
216,681

 
$
299,678

 
$
241,583

Interest incurred
140,789

 
127,041

 
46,587

 
44,603

Interest expensed
(17,850
)
 
(26,289
)
 
(4,394
)
 
(6,455
)
Interest amortized to construction and land costs (a)
(99,488
)
 
(59,471
)
 
(51,752
)
 
(21,769
)
Capitalized interest at end of period (b)
$
290,119

 
$
257,962

 
$
290,119

 
$
257,962


11


(a)
Interest amortized to construction and land costs for the three months and nine months ended August 31, 2015 included $16.4 million related to land sales during those periods.
(b)
Capitalized interest amounts presented in the table reflect the gross amount of capitalized interest, as inventory impairment charges recognized, if any, are not generally allocated to specific components of inventory.
6.
Inventory Impairments and Land Option Contract Abandonments
Each community or land parcel in our owned inventory is assessed on a quarterly basis to determine if indicators of potential impairment exist. We record an inventory impairment charge when indicators of potential impairment exist and the carrying value of a real estate asset is greater than the undiscounted future net cash flows the asset is expected to generate. These real estate assets are written down to fair value, which is primarily based on the estimated future net cash flows discounted for inherent risk associated with each such asset. We evaluated 29 and 25 communities or land parcels for recoverability during the nine months ended August 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The carrying value of the communities or land parcels evaluated during the nine months ended August 31, 2015 and 2014 was $232.8 million and $207.4 million, respectively. Some of the communities or land parcels evaluated during the nine months ended August 31, 2015 and 2014 were evaluated in more than one quarterly period. Communities or land parcels evaluated for recoverability in more than one quarterly period, if any, are counted only once for each nine-month period shown.
Based on the results of our evaluations, we recognized an inventory impairment charge of $3.2 million for the three months and nine months ended August 31, 2015 associated with a community located in Florida. We decided to change our operational and marketing strategy for this community in order to monetize our investment more quickly by accelerating the overall pace for selling, building and delivering homes primarily through lowering the average selling price of these homes. Significant quantitative unobservable inputs used in our fair value measurement with respect to this community included an average selling price of $178,100; four deliveries per month; and a discount rate of 20%.
For the three months and nine months ended August 31, 2014, we recognized a $3.4 million inventory impairment charge associated with the then-planned sale of our last remaining land parcel in Atlanta, Georgia, a former market where we do not have ongoing operations. The land sale closed in the 2014 fourth quarter.
As of August 31, 2015, the aggregate carrying value of our inventory that had been impacted by inventory impairment charges was $248.3 million, representing 25 communities and various other land parcels. As of November 30, 2014, the aggregate carrying value of our inventory that had been impacted by inventory impairment charges was $266.6 million, representing 33 communities and various other land parcels.
Our inventory controlled under land option contracts and other similar contracts is assessed on a quarterly basis to determine whether it continues to meet our internal investment and marketing standards. When a decision is made not to exercise certain land option contracts and other similar contracts due to market conditions and/or changes in our strategy, we write off the related inventory costs, including non-refundable deposits and unrecoverable pre-acquisition costs. Based on the results of our assessments, we recognized land option contract abandonment charges of $.4 million corresponding to 740 lots for the three months ended August 31, 2015, and $1.0 million of such charges corresponding to 624 lots for the three months ended August 31, 2014. We recognized land option contract abandonment charges of $1.3 million corresponding to 1,166 lots for the nine months ended August 31, 2015, and $1.8 million of such charges corresponding to 1,306 lots for the nine months ended August 31, 2014. We sometimes abandon land option contracts and other similar contracts when we have incurred costs of less than $100,000; the corresponding lots, which totaled zero and 1,651 lots for the three months ended August 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and zero and 7,018 lots for the nine months ended August 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and the related costs are not included in the amounts above.
Due to the judgment and assumptions applied in our inventory impairment and land option contract abandonment assessment processes, it is possible that actual results could differ substantially from those estimated.
7.
Variable Interest Entities
We participate in joint ventures from time to time that conduct land acquisition, land development and/or other homebuilding activities in various markets where our homebuilding operations are located. Our investments in these joint ventures may create a variable interest in a variable interest entity (“VIE”), depending on the contractual terms of the arrangement. We analyze our joint ventures to determine whether they are VIEs and, if so, whether we are the primary beneficiary. None of our joint ventures at August 31, 2015 and November 30, 2014 were determined to be VIEs. All of our joint ventures were unconsolidated and accounted for under the equity method because we did not have a controlling financial interest.

12


In the ordinary course of our business, we enter into land option contracts and other similar contracts to acquire rights to land for the construction of homes. Under such contracts, we typically pay a specified option or earnest money deposit in consideration for the right to purchase land in the future, usually at a predetermined price. We analyze each of our land option contracts and other similar contracts to determine whether the land seller is a VIE and, if so, whether we are the primary beneficiary. Although we do not have legal title to the underlying land, we are required to consolidate a VIE if we are the primary beneficiary. As a result of our analyses, we determined that as of August 31, 2015 and November 30, 2014 we were not the primary beneficiary of any VIEs from which we have acquired rights to land under land option contracts and other similar contracts.
The following table presents a summary of our interests in land option contracts and other similar contracts (in thousands):
 
August 31, 2015
 
November 30, 2014
 
Cash
Deposits
 
Aggregate
Purchase Price
 
Cash
Deposits
 
Aggregate
Purchase Price
Unconsolidated VIEs
$
21,907

 
$
472,169

 
$
10,633

 
$
520,628

Other land option contracts and other similar contracts
20,864

 
469,427

 
22,426

 
437,842

Total
$
42,771

 
$
941,596

 
$
33,059

 
$
958,470

In addition to the cash deposits presented in the table above, our exposure to loss related to our land option contracts and other similar contracts with third parties and unconsolidated entities consisted of pre-acquisition costs of $60.0 million at August 31, 2015 and $48.0 million at November 30, 2014. These pre-acquisition costs and cash deposits were included in inventories in our consolidated balance sheets. We had outstanding letters of credit of $.1 million at November 30, 2014 in lieu of cash deposits under certain land option contracts and other similar contracts. There were no such outstanding letters of credit at August 31, 2015.
We also evaluate our land option contracts and other similar contracts for financing arrangements, and, as a result of our evaluations, increased inventories, with a corresponding increase to accrued expenses and other liabilities, in our consolidated balance sheets by $89.4 million at August 31, 2015 and $3.1 million at November 30, 2014.
8.
Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures
We have investments in unconsolidated joint ventures that conduct land acquisition, land development and/or other homebuilding activities in various markets where our homebuilding operations are located. We and our unconsolidated joint venture partners make initial and/or ongoing capital contributions to these unconsolidated joint ventures, typically on a pro rata basis, according to our respective equity interests. The obligations to make capital contributions are governed by each such unconsolidated joint venture’s respective operating agreement and related governing documents.
We typically have obtained rights to acquire portions of the land held by the unconsolidated joint ventures in which we currently participate. When an unconsolidated joint venture sells land to our homebuilding operations, we defer recognition of our share of such unconsolidated joint venture’s earnings (losses) until a home sale is closed and title passes to a homebuyer, at which time we account for those earnings (losses) as a reduction (increase) to the cost of purchasing the land from the unconsolidated joint venture. We defer recognition of our share of such unconsolidated joint venture losses only to the extent profits are to be generated from the sale of the home to a homebuyer.
We share in the profits and losses of these unconsolidated joint ventures generally in accordance with our respective equity interests. In some instances, we recognize profits and losses related to our investment in an unconsolidated joint venture that differ from our equity interest in the unconsolidated joint venture. This typically arises from our deferral of the unconsolidated joint venture’s profits or losses from land sales to us, or other items.
The following table presents combined condensed information from the statements of operations of our unconsolidated joint ventures (in thousands):

13



 
Nine Months Ended August 31,
 
Three Months Ended August 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Revenues
$
9,758

 
$
6,118

 
$
3,338

 
$

Construction and land costs
(17,373
)
 
(3,523
)
 
(3,381
)
 

Other expense, net
(2,164
)
 
(3,088
)
 
(753
)
 
(1,050
)
Loss
$
(9,779
)
 
$
(493
)
 
$
(796
)
 
$
(1,050
)
The following table presents combined condensed balance sheet information for our unconsolidated joint ventures (in thousands):
 
August 31,
2015
 
November 30,
2014
Assets
 
 
 
Cash
$
23,454

 
$
23,699

Receivables
7,631

 
5,106

Inventories
169,471

 
153,427

Other assets
658

 

Total assets
$
201,214

 
$
182,232

Liabilities and equity
 
 
 
Accounts payable and other liabilities
$
16,832

 
$
10,824

Notes payable (a)
31,963

 

Equity
152,419

 
171,408

Total liabilities and equity
$
201,214

 
$
182,232

(a)
On August 28, 2015, one of our unconsolidated joint ventures entered into a construction loan agreement with a third-party lender to finance its land development activities that is secured by the underlying property and related project assets. The unconsolidated joint venture’s outstanding secured debt is non-recourse to us and is scheduled to mature in August 2018. None of our other unconsolidated joint ventures had outstanding debt at August 31, 2015. None of our unconsolidated joint ventures had outstanding debt at November 30, 2014.
The following table presents information relating to our investments in unconsolidated joint ventures (dollars in thousands):
 
August 31,
2015
 
November 30,
2014
Number of investments in unconsolidated joint ventures
7

 
6

Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures
$
72,800

 
$
79,441

Number of unconsolidated joint venture lots controlled under land option contracts and other similar contracts
538

 
618

In the first quarter of 2014, we sold our interest in an unconsolidated joint venture in Maryland for $10.1 million, which resulted in a gain of $3.2 million that was included in equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures in our consolidated statement of operations for the nine months ended August 31, 2014.
We and our partner in the unconsolidated joint venture that entered into the construction loan agreement described above provided certain guarantees and indemnities to the lender, including a guaranty to complete the construction of improvements for the project; a guaranty against losses the lender suffers due to certain bad acts or failures to act by the unconsolidated joint venture or its partners; a guaranty of interest payments on the outstanding balance of the secured debt under the construction loan agreement; and an indemnity of the lender from environmental issues. In each case, our actual responsibility under the foregoing guaranty and indemnity obligations is limited to our pro rata interest in the unconsolidated joint venture. We do

14


not have a guaranty or any other obligation to repay or to support the value of the collateral underlying the unconsolidated joint venture’s outstanding secured debt under the construction loan agreement. However, various financial and non-financial covenants apply with respect to the outstanding secured debt under the construction loan agreement and the related guaranty and indemnity obligations, and a failure to comply with such covenants could result in a default and cause the lender to seek to enforce such guaranty and indemnity obligations, if and as may be applicable. As of August 31, 2015, we were in compliance with the applicable terms of our relevant covenants with respect to the construction loan agreement. We do not believe that our existing exposure under our guaranty and indemnity obligations related to the unconsolidated joint venture’s outstanding secured debt under the construction loan agreement is material to our consolidated financial statements.
9.
Other Assets
Other assets consisted of the following (in thousands):
 
August 31,
2015
 
November 30,
2014
Cash surrender value of insurance contracts
$
67,357

 
$
70,571

Debt issuance costs
26,896

 
27,082

Property and equipment, net
12,425

 
11,831

Prepaid expenses
7,674

 
5,431

Total
$
114,352

 
$
114,915

10.
Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities
Accrued expenses and other liabilities consisted of the following (in thousands):
 
August 31,
2015
 
November 30,
2014
Inventory-related obligations
$
129,874

 
$
52,009

Employee compensation and related benefits
110,061

 
113,875

Self-insurance and other litigation liabilities
94,303

 
89,606

Accrued interest payable
76,108

 
63,275

Warranty liability
48,642

 
45,196

Customer deposits
18,436

 
15,197

Real estate and business taxes
11,935

 
13,684

Other
7,799

 
17,040

Total
$
497,158

 
$
409,882

11.
Income Taxes
Income Tax Expense. We recognized income tax expense of $10.7 million for the three months ended August 31, 2015 and $.3 million for the three months ended August 31, 2014. Our income tax expense for the nine months ended August 31, 2015 was $16.5 million, compared to $.8 million for the nine months ended August 31, 2014. Income tax expense for the three months ended August 31, 2015 reflected the favorable net impact of $2.5 million of federal energy tax credits we earned from building energy-efficient homes, resulting in an effective income tax rate of 31.5%. For the nine months ended August 31, 2015, our effective income tax rate of 28.9% reflected the favorable net impact of $5.6 million of federal energy tax credits. Our effective income tax rates for the three months and nine months ended August 31, 2014 were not meaningful items due to the effects of the full valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets for those periods.
The tax credit impact in the three months ended August 31, 2015 included energy tax credits we earned from building energy-efficient homes in 2011. The tax credit impact in the nine months ended August 31, 2015 included energy tax credits we earned from building energy-efficient homes in 2011, 2012 and 2013, as well as from building energy-efficient homes in 2014 pursuant to the Tax Increase Prevention Act, which was enacted into law on December 19, 2014. Among other things, the law retroactively extended the availability of a business tax credit for building new energy-efficient homes through December 31, 2014. Prior to this legislation, the tax credit expired on December 31, 2013.

15


Deferred Tax Asset Valuation Allowance. We evaluate our deferred tax assets quarterly to determine if adjustments to the valuation allowance are required based on the consideration of all available positive and negative evidence using a “more likely than not” standard with respect to whether deferred tax assets will be realized. Our evaluation considers, among other factors, our historical operating results, our expectation of future profitability, the duration of the applicable statutory carryforward periods, and conditions in the housing market and the broader economy. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets depends primarily on the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which the related temporary differences in the financial basis and the tax basis of the assets become deductible. The value of our deferred tax assets will depend on applicable income tax rates. Based on our evaluation through August 31, 2014, we maintained a full valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets due to the uncertainty of their realization. At November 30, 2014, we evaluated the need for a valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets of $866.4 million and determined that it was more likely than not that most of our deferred tax assets would be realized. Accordingly, we reversed $825.2 million of the deferred tax asset valuation allowance in the fourth quarter of 2014. The remaining deferred tax asset valuation allowance of $41.2 million at November 30, 2014 was primarily related to foreign tax credits and certain state net operating losses (“NOL”) that had not met the “more likely than not” realization standard.
We made no adjustments to our deferred tax asset valuation allowance during the three months and nine months ended August 31, 2015. Therefore, at August 31, 2015, we had deferred tax assets of $851.2 million that were partly offset by a valuation allowance of $41.2 million.
Unrecognized Tax Benefits. At August 31, 2015 and November 30, 2014, our gross unrecognized tax benefits (including interest and penalties) totaled $.1 million and $.3 million, respectively, of which $.1 million, if recognized, would affect our effective income tax rate. We anticipate that these gross unrecognized tax benefits will decrease by an amount ranging from zero to $.1 million during the 12 months from this reporting date. Our fiscal years ending 2012 and later remain open to federal examinations, while fiscal years 2010 and later remain open to state examinations.
12.
Notes Payable
Notes payable consisted of the following (in thousands):
 
August 31,
2015
 
November 30,
2014
Mortgages and land contracts due to land sellers and other loans
$
41,244

 
$
38,250

6 1/4% Senior notes due June 15, 2015

 
199,891

9.10% Senior notes due September 15, 2017
263,282

 
262,729

7 1/4% Senior notes due June 15, 2018
299,515

 
299,402

4.75% Senior notes due May 15, 2019
400,000

 
400,000

8.00% Senior notes due March 15, 2020
346,691

 
346,253

7.00% Senior notes due December 15, 2021
450,000

 
450,000

7.50% Senior notes due September 15, 2022
350,000

 
350,000

7.625% Senior notes due May 15, 2023
250,000

 

1.375% Convertible senior notes due February 1, 2019
230,000

 
230,000

Total
$
2,630,732

 
$
2,576,525

Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility. On August 7, 2015, we entered into an amended and restated revolving loan agreement with a syndicate of financial institutions that increased the commitment under our unsecured credit facility (as amended, “Amended Credit Facility”) from $200.0 million to $275.0 million and extended its maturity from March 12, 2016 to August 7, 2019. The Amended Credit Facility contains an uncommitted accordion feature under which the aggregate principal amount of available loans can be increased to a maximum of $450.0 million under certain conditions, including obtaining additional bank commitments, as well as a sublimit of $137.5 million for the issuance of letters of credit, which may be utilized in combination with or to replace the LOC Facilities. Interest on amounts borrowed under the Amended Credit Facility is payable quarterly in arrears at a rate based on either a Eurodollar or a base rate, plus a spread that depends on our consolidated leverage ratio (“Leverage Ratio”), as defined under the Amended Credit Facility. The Amended Credit Facility also requires the payment of a commitment fee ranging from .30% to .50% of the unused commitment, based on our Leverage Ratio. Under the terms of the Amended Credit Facility, we are required, among other things, to maintain compliance with various covenants, including financial covenants relating to our consolidated tangible net worth, Leverage Ratio, and either a consolidated interest coverage ratio (“Interest Coverage Ratio”) or minimum level of liquidity, each as defined therein. As of August 31, 2015,

16


we had no cash borrowings and $1.7 million of letters of credit outstanding under the Amended Credit Facility. Therefore, as of August 31, 2015, we had $273.3 million available for cash borrowings under the Amended Credit Facility, with up to $135.8 million of that amount available for the issuance of letters of credit.
LOC Facilities. We maintain the LOC Facilities with various financial institutions to obtain letters of credit in the ordinary course of operating our business. As of August 31, 2015 and November 30, 2014, we had $24.7 million and $26.7 million, respectively, of letters of credit outstanding under the LOC Facilities. The LOC Facilities require us to deposit and maintain cash with the issuing financial institutions as collateral for our letters of credit outstanding.
Mortgages and Land Contracts Due to Land Sellers and Other Loans. As of August 31, 2015, inventories having a carrying value of $145.0 million were pledged to collateralize mortgages and land contracts due to land sellers and other loans.
Shelf Registration. We have an automatically effective universal shelf registration statement on file with the SEC that was filed on July 18, 2014 (“2014 Shelf Registration”). The 2014 Shelf Registration registers the offering of debt and equity securities that we may issue from time to time in amounts to be determined.
Senior Notes. On February 17, 2015, pursuant to the 2014 Shelf Registration, we completed the underwritten public issuance of $250.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 7.625% senior notes due 2023 (“7.625% Senior Notes due 2023”). We used a portion of the net proceeds of approximately $247 million from this issuance to retire the remaining $199.9 million in aggregate principal amount of our 6 1/4% senior notes due 2015 (“6 1/4% Senior Notes due 2015”) at their maturity on June 15, 2015. The remainder of the net proceeds was used for general corporate purposes, including working capital, land acquisition and land development.
The 1.375% convertible senior notes due 2019 (“1.375% Convertible Senior Notes due 2019”) will mature on February 1, 2019, unless converted earlier by the holders, at their option, or redeemed by us, or purchased by us at the option of the holders following the occurrence of a fundamental change, as defined in the instruments governing these notes. At any time prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the maturity date, holders may convert all or any portion of these notes. These notes are initially convertible into shares of our common stock at a conversion rate of 36.5297 shares for each $1,000 principal amount of the notes, which represents an initial conversion price of approximately $27.37 per share. This initial conversion rate equates to 8,401,831 shares of our common stock and is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events, as described in the instruments governing these notes.
All of the senior notes outstanding at August 31, 2015 and November 30, 2014 represent senior unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of our existing and future indebtedness. Interest on each of these senior notes is payable semi-annually.
The indenture governing the senior notes does not contain any financial covenants. Subject to specified exceptions, the indenture contains certain restrictive covenants that, among other things, limit our ability to incur secured indebtedness, or engage in sale-leaseback transactions involving property or assets above a certain specified value. In addition, the senior notes (with the exception of the 7 1/4% senior notes due 2018) contain certain limitations related to mergers, consolidations, and sales of assets.
As of August 31, 2015, we were in compliance with the applicable terms of all our covenants under the Amended Credit Facility, the senior notes, the indenture, and the mortgages and land contracts due to land sellers and other loans. Our ability to access the Amended Credit Facility for cash borrowings and letters of credit and our ability to secure future debt financing depend, in part, on our ability to remain in such compliance.
Principal payments on the senior notes, the mortgages and land contracts due to land sellers and other loans are due as follows: 2015 – $15.8 million; 2016 – $25.4 million; 2017 – $265.0 million; 2018 – $300.0 million; 2019 – $630.0 million; and thereafter – $1.40 billion.
13.
Fair Value Disclosures
Fair value measurements of assets and liabilities are categorized based on the following hierarchy:
Level 1
 
Fair value determined based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2
 
Fair value determined using significant observable inputs, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities or quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, or inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data, by correlation or other means.

17


Level 3
 
Fair value determined using significant unobservable inputs, such as pricing models, discounted cash flows, or similar techniques.
Fair value measurements are used for inventories on a nonrecurring basis when events and circumstances indicate that their carrying value is not recoverable. The following table presents the fair value hierarchy and our assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis for the nine months ended August 31, 2015 and the year ended November 30, 2014 (in thousands): 
Description
 
Fair Value Hierarchy
 
August 31,
2015
 
November 30,
2014
Inventories (a)
 
Level 2
 
$

 
$
6,421

Inventories (a)
 
Level 3
 
3,356

 
24,174

(a)
Amounts represent the aggregate fair value for real estate assets impacted by inventory impairment charges during the applicable period, as of the date that the fair value measurements were made. The carrying value for these real estate assets may have subsequently increased or decreased from the fair value reflected due to activity that has occurred since the measurement date.
Inventories with a carrying value of $6.6 million were written down to their fair value of $3.4 million during the nine months ended August 31, 2015, resulting in an inventory impairment charge of $3.2 million. Inventories with a carrying value of $68.2 million were written down to their fair value of $30.6 million during the year ended November 30, 2014, resulting in inventory impairment charges of $37.6 million.
The fair values for inventories that were determined using Level 2 inputs were based on an executed contract. The fair values for inventories that were determined using Level 3 inputs were primarily based on the estimated future net cash flows discounted for inherent risk associated with each underlying asset. Additionally, the fair values for inventories determined using Level 3 inputs that involved a planned future land sale were estimated based on a broker quote.
The following table presents the fair value hierarchy, carrying values and estimated fair values of our financial instruments, except those for which the carrying values approximate fair values (in thousands):
 
 
 
August 31, 2015
 
November 30, 2014
 
Fair Value
Hierarchy
 
Carrying
Value
 
Estimated
Fair Value
 
Carrying
Value
 
Estimated
Fair Value
Financial Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Senior notes
Level 2
 
$
2,359,488

 
$
2,452,825

 
$
2,308,275

 
$
2,468,852

Convertible senior notes
Level 2
 
230,000

 
217,063

 
230,000

 
229,713

The fair values of the senior notes and convertible senior notes are generally estimated based on quoted market prices for these instruments. The carrying values reported for cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, and mortgages and land contracts due to land sellers and other loans approximate fair values.
14.
Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments and contingencies include typical obligations of homebuilders for the completion of contracts and those incurred in the ordinary course of business.
Warranty. We provide a limited warranty on all of our homes. The specific terms and conditions of our limited warranty program vary depending upon the markets in which we do business. We generally provide a structural warranty of 10 years, a warranty on electrical, heating, cooling, plumbing and certain other building systems each varying from two to five years based on geographic market and state law, and a warranty of one year for other components of the home. Our limited warranty program is ordinarily how we respond to and account for homeowners’ requests to local division offices seeking repairs, including claims where we could have liability under applicable state statutes or tort law for a defective condition in or damages to a home.
We estimate the costs that may be incurred under each limited warranty and record a liability in the amount of such costs at the time the revenue associated with the sale of each home is recognized. Our primary assumption in estimating the amounts

18


we accrue for warranty costs is that historical claims experience is a strong indicator of future claims experience. Factors that affect our warranty liability include the number of homes delivered, historical and anticipated rates of warranty claims, and cost per claim. We periodically assess the adequacy of our accrued warranty liability, which is included in accrued expenses and other liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets, and adjust the amount as necessary based on our assessment. Our assessment includes the review of our actual warranty costs incurred to identify trends and changes in our warranty claims experience, and considers our home construction quality and customer service initiatives and outside events. While we believe the warranty liability currently reflected in our consolidated balance sheets to be adequate, unanticipated changes or developments in the legal environment, local weather, land or environmental conditions, quality of materials or methods used in the construction of homes or customer service practices could have a significant impact on our actual warranty costs in future periods and such amounts could differ significantly from our current estimates.
The changes in our warranty liability were as follows (in thousands):
 
Nine Months Ended August 31,
 
Three Months Ended August 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Balance at beginning of period
$
45,196

 
$
48,704

 
$
46,472

 
$
40,937

Warranties issued
15,209

 
12,332

 
6,325

 
4,546

Payments
(19,927
)
 
(30,795
)
 
(5,285
)
 
(10,633
)
Adjustments (a)
8,164

 
12,155

 
1,130

 
7,546

Balance at end of period
$
48,642

 
$
42,396

 
$
48,642

 
$
42,396

 
(a)
As discussed below, adjustments for the three months and nine months ended August 31, 2015 and 2014 were primarily comprised of the reclassification of estimated minimum probable recoveries to receivables. Adjustments for the nine months ended August 31, 2014 also included a reclassification of estimated minimum probable recoveries to establish a separate accrual for a water intrusion-related inquiry.
Central and Southwest Florida Claims. Since 2012, we have received warranty claims from homeowners in certain of our communities in central and southwest Florida primarily involving framing, stucco, roofing and/or sealant matters on homes we delivered between 2003 and 2009, with many concerning water intrusion-related issues. Based on the status of our ongoing investigation and repair efforts with respect to homes affected by these water intrusion-related issues, our overall warranty liability at August 31, 2015 and November 30, 2014 included $1.3 million and $9.4 million, respectively, for estimated remaining repair costs associated with (a) 52 and 324 identified affected homes, respectively, and (b) similarly affected homes that we believed at each respective date may be identified in the future. The $1.3 million at August 31, 2015 encompasses what we believe to be the probable overall cost of the repair effort remaining with respect to affected homes before insurance and other recoveries. However, our actual costs to fully resolve repairs on affected homes could differ from the overall costs we have estimated depending on the identification of additional affected homes in future periods, if any, and the nature of the work that is undertaken to complete repairs on identified affected homes. During the nine months ended August 31, 2015, we resolved repairs on 346 affected homes and identified 74 additional affected homes. We consider repairs for affected homes to be resolved when all repairs are completed and all repair costs are fully paid. In the three-month periods ended August 31, 2015 and 2014, we paid $1.1 million and $7.2 million, respectively, to repair affected homes. During the nine months ended August 31, 2015 and 2014, we paid $8.6 million and $21.3 million, respectively, to repair affected homes. As of August 31, 2015, we had paid $71.9 million of the probable total repair costs of $73.2 million that we have estimated for the overall repair effort. We anticipate resolving repairs on affected homes by the end of 2015.
We believe it is probable that we will recover a portion of our repair costs associated with affected homes from various sources, including our insurers, and subcontractors involved with the original construction of the homes and their insurers. During the nine months ended August 31, 2015 and 2014, we collected $5.0 million and $.5 million, respectively, of such recoveries. Based on a review of our estimated potential recoveries during the second quarter of 2015, we increased our estimate of minimum probable recoveries. During the third quarter of 2015, we did not change our estimate of minimum probable recoveries. As of August 31, 2015, our estimated minimum probable recoveries, net of amounts collected, totaled $22.6 million, of which $1.3 million was included as an offset to our overall warranty liability and the remainder was included in receivables. During the three months and nine months ended August 31, 2014, we recorded adjustments to increase our warranty liability mainly to reflect additional affected homes identified at one attached home community and our updated estimate of repair costs on identified affected homes. We also recorded adjustments to increase our estimated minimum probable recoveries during these periods based on our updated estimate of repair costs on identified affected homes. Together these items did not have an impact on our consolidated statements of operations for the three months and nine months ended

19


August 31, 2014. As of November 30, 2014, our estimated minimum probable recoveries, net of amounts collected, was $26.6 million. The estimated minimum probable recoveries pertaining to affected homes are included in receivables to the extent they exceed the estimated remaining repair costs in our overall warranty liability associated with such homes. During the three months and nine months ended August 31, 2015, we reclassified $1.1 million and $8.2 million, respectively, of estimated minimum probable recoveries that were in excess of the estimated remaining repair costs to a receivable. During the three months and nine months ended August 31, 2014, we similarly reclassified $7.2 million and $12.8 million, respectively, of then-estimated minimum probable recoveries that were in excess of the then-estimated remaining repair costs. Our assessment of the water intrusion-related issues in central and southwest Florida, including the process of determining potentially responsible parties and our efforts to obtain recoveries, is ongoing, and, as a result, our estimate of minimum probable recoveries may change as additional information is obtained.
Overall Warranty Liability Assessment. In assessing our overall warranty liability at a reporting date, we evaluate the costs for warranty-related items on a combined basis for all of our previously delivered homes that are under our limited warranty program, which would include homes in central and southwest Florida that have been or may in the future be identified as affected by water intrusion-related issues. Based on this evaluation, we believe our overall warranty liability as of August 31, 2015 is adequate. Depending on the number of additional homes in central and southwest Florida that are identified as affected by water intrusion-related issues, if any, and the actual costs we incur in future periods to repair such affected homes and/or homes affected by other issues, we may revise the amount of our estimated liability, which could result in an increase or decrease in our overall warranty liability. Based on our assessment of the water intrusion-related issues in central and southwest Florida, we believe that our overall warranty liability is adequate to cover the estimated probable total repair costs with respect to affected homes, though we believe it is reasonably possible that our loss in this matter could exceed the amount accrued as of August 31, 2015 by zero to $3 million.
Florida Attorney General’s Office Inquiry. In 2013, we were notified by the Florida Attorney General’s Office that it was making a preliminary inquiry into the status of our communities in Florida affected by water intrusion-related issues.  We are cooperating with the Florida Attorney General’s Office inquiry and are in discussions to resolve its concerns. While the ultimate outcome of the inquiry is uncertain, based on the status of our discussions, we established an accrual for the estimated minimum probable loss with respect to this inquiry during 2014 and increased the accrual during the nine months ended August 31, 2015. At this stage of our discussions, we believe it is reasonably possible that our loss in this matter could exceed the amount accrued by zero to $5 million.
Guarantees. In the normal course of our business, we issue certain representations, warranties and guarantees related to our home sales and land sales. Based on historical evidence, we do not believe any potential liability with respect to these representations, warranties or guarantees would be material to our consolidated financial statements.
Self-Insurance. We maintain, and require the majority of our subcontractors to maintain, general liability insurance (including construction defect and bodily injury coverage) and workers’ compensation insurance. These insurance policies protect us against a portion of our risk of loss from claims related to our homebuilding activities, subject to certain self-insured retentions, deductibles and other coverage limits. We self-insure a portion of our overall risk through the use of a captive insurance subsidiary. We also maintain certain other insurance policies. In Arizona, California, Colorado and Nevada, our subcontractors’ general liability insurance primarily takes the form of a wrap-up policy, where eligible subcontractors are enrolled as insureds on each project. Enrolled subcontractors contribute toward the cost of the insurance and agree to pay a contractual amount in the future in the event of a claim related to their work. To the extent provided under the wrap-up program, we absorb the enrolled subcontractors’ general liability associated with the work performed on our homes within the applicable projects as part of our overall general liability insurance and our self-insurance through our captive insurance subsidiary. We record expenses and liabilities based on the estimated costs required to cover our self-insured retention and deductible amounts under our insurance policies, and the estimated costs of potential claims and claim adjustment expenses that are above our coverage limits or that are not covered by our insurance policies. These estimated costs are based on an analysis of our historical claims and industry data, and include an estimate of claims incurred but not yet reported.
We engage a third-party actuary that uses our historical claim and expense data, as well as industry data, to estimate our liabilities related to unpaid claims, claim adjustment expenses, third-party recoveries and incurred but not yet reported claims associated with the risks that we are assuming under our self-insurance. Key assumptions used in these estimates include claim frequencies, severities and resolution patterns, which can occur over an extended period of time. These estimates are subject to variability due to the length of time between the delivery of a home to a homebuyer and when a structural warranty or construction defect claim is made, and the ultimate resolution of such claim; uncertainties regarding such claims relative to our markets and the types of product we build; insurance industry practices; and legal or regulatory actions and/or interpretations, among other factors. Due to the degree of judgment involved and the potential for variability in these underlying assumptions, our actual future costs could differ from those estimated. In addition, changes in the frequency and severity of reported claims and the estimates to resolve claims can impact the trends and assumptions used in the actuarial analysis, which

20


could be material to our consolidated financial statements. Though state regulations vary, structural warranty or construction defect claims are reported and resolved over a long period of time, which can extend for 10 years or more. As a result, the majority of the estimated liability relates to incurred but not yet reported claims. Because the majority of our estimated liabilities relate to incurred but not yet reported claims, adjustments related to individual existing claims generally do not significantly impact the overall estimated liability. Adjustments to our liabilities related to homes delivered in prior years are recorded in the period in which a change in our estimate occurs.
The changes in our self-insurance liability were as follows (in thousands):
 
Nine Months Ended August 31,
 
Three Months Ended August 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Balance at beginning of period
$
86,574

 
$
92,214

 
$
80,136

 
$
90,458

Self-insurance expense (a)
11,919

 
8,761

 
4,694

 
3,108

Payments, net of recoveries (b)
(17,892
)
 
(12,666
)
 
(4,229
)
 
(5,257
)
Balance at end of period
$
80,601

 
$
88,309

 
$
80,601

 
$
88,309

(a)
These expenses are included in selling, general and administrative expenses and are largely offset by contributions from subcontractors participating in the wrap-up policy.
(b)
Recoveries are reflected in the period we receive funds from subcontractors and/or their insurers.
Performance Bonds and Letters of Credit. We are often required to provide to various municipalities and other government agencies performance bonds and/or letters of credit to secure the completion of our projects and/or in support of obligations to build community improvements such as roads, sewers, water systems and other utilities, and to support similar development activities by certain of our unconsolidated joint ventures. At August 31, 2015, we had $542.9 million of performance bonds and $26.4 million of letters of credit outstanding. At November 30, 2014, we had $541.6 million of performance bonds and $26.7 million of letters of credit outstanding. If any such performance bonds or letters of credit are called, we would be obligated to reimburse the issuer of the performance bond or letter of credit. We do not believe that a material amount of any currently outstanding performance bonds or letters of credit will be called. Performance bonds do not have stated expiration dates. Rather, we are released from the performance bonds as the underlying performance obligations are completed. The expiration dates of some letters of credit issued in connection with community improvements coincide with the expected completion dates of the related projects or obligations. Most letters of credit, however, are issued with an initial term of one year and are typically extended on a year-to-year basis until the related performance obligations are completed.
Land Option Contracts and Other Similar Contracts. In the ordinary course of our business, we enter into land option contracts and other similar contracts to acquire rights to land for the construction of homes. At August 31, 2015, we had total cash deposits of $42.8 million to purchase land having an aggregate purchase price of $941.6 million. Our land option contracts and other similar contracts generally do not contain provisions requiring our specific performance.
15.
Legal Matters
Nevada Development Contract Litigation. KB HOME Nevada Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of ours (“KB Nevada”), is a defendant in a case in the Eighth Judicial District Court in Clark County, Nevada entitled Las Vegas Development Associates, LLC, Essex Real Estate Partners, LLC, et al. v. KB HOME Nevada Inc. In 2007, Las Vegas Development Associates, LLC (“LVDA”) agreed to purchase from KB Nevada approximately 83 acres of land located near Las Vegas, Nevada. LVDA subsequently assigned its rights to Essex Real Estate Partners, LLC (“Essex”). KB Nevada and Essex entered into a development agreement relating to certain major infrastructure improvements. LVDA’s and Essex’s complaint, initially filed in 2008, alleged that KB Nevada breached the development agreement, and also alleged that KB Nevada fraudulently induced them to enter into the purchase and development agreements. LVDA’s and Essex’s lenders subsequently filed related actions that were consolidated into the LVDA/Essex matter. The consolidated plaintiffs sought rescission of the agreements or, in the alternative, compensatory damages of $55 million plus unspecified punitive damages and other damages, and interest charges in excess of $41 million (“Claimed Damages”). KB Nevada has denied the allegations, and believes it has meritorious defenses to the consolidated plaintiffs’ claims. On March 15, 2013, the court entered orders denying the consolidated plaintiffs’ motions for summary judgment and granting the majority of KB Nevada’s motions for summary judgment, eliminating, among other of the consolidated plaintiffs’ claims, those for fraud, negligent misrepresentation, and punitive damages. With the court’s decisions, the only remaining claims against KB Nevada are for contract damages and rescission. In August 2013, the court granted motions that further narrowed the scope of the Claimed Damages. While the ultimate outcome is uncertain — we believe it is reasonably possible that the loss in this matter could exceed the amount accrued by a range of zero to

21


approximately $55 million plus prejudgment interest, which could be material to our consolidated financial statements — KB Nevada believes it will be successful in defending against the consolidated plaintiffs’ remaining claims and that the consolidated plaintiffs will not be awarded rescission or damages. The non-jury trial was originally set for September 2012 and extended multiple times by the court.  In September 2015, the court scheduled a hearing for October 28, 2015 at which the court will address the setting of a new trial date and other matters.
Wage and Hour Litigation. We, together with certain of our subsidiaries, are a defendant in lawsuits that allege violations of federal and state wage and hour statutes. In May 2011, a group of current and former sales representatives filed a collective action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Galveston Division entitled Edwards, K. v. KB Home. The lawsuit alleges that we misclassified sales representatives and failed to pay minimum and overtime wages in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (29 U.S.C. §§ 206-07). In September 2012, the Edwards court conditionally certified a nationwide class that, as of the date of this report, consists of 409 plaintiffs. On May 21, 2015, the Edwards court scheduled an initial trial involving a portion of the plaintiffs in that case for December 2015. One or more additional trials involving other plaintiffs in the Edwards case are expected to be scheduled to occur in 2016 or later.
In September 2013, 11 of the plaintiffs in the Edwards case filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court entitled Andrea L. Bejenaru, et al. v. KB Home, et al. The lawsuit alleges violations of California laws relating to overtime, meal period and rest break pay, itemized wage statements, waiting time penalties and unfair business practices for a class of sales representatives. As of the date of this report, the putative class consists of 241 members, some of whom are plaintiffs in the Edwards case, who were sales representatives from September 2009 to the present. The Bejenaru court has not certified the case as a class action. Depending on the Bejenaru court’s decisions in the matter, the putative class could increase in size and include other individuals, and the case could be certified as a class action.
In the second quarter of 2015, plaintiffs in the Edwards case and the Bejenaru case claimed $66 million in compensatory damages, penalties and interest, as well as injunctive relief, attorneys’ fees and costs for both matters. We deny the allegations in the lawsuits and intend to defend ourselves vigorously. While the ultimate outcome of these matters is uncertain, we had an accrual for the estimated minimum probable loss with respect to these matters at August 31, 2015. We believe it is reasonably possible that our loss in these matters could exceed the amount accrued by zero to $6 million. However, we believe we have meritorious defenses to the plaintiffs’ claims.
Other Matters. In addition to the specific proceedings described above, we are involved in other litigation and regulatory proceedings incidental to our business that are in various procedural stages. We believe that the accruals we have recorded for probable and reasonably estimable losses with respect to these proceedings are adequate and that, as of August 31, 2015, it was not reasonably possible that an additional material loss had been incurred in an amount in excess of the estimated amounts already recognized in our consolidated financial statements. We evaluate our accruals for litigation and regulatory proceedings at least quarterly and, as appropriate, adjust them to reflect (a) the facts and circumstances known to us at the time, including information regarding negotiations, settlements, rulings and other relevant events and developments; (b) the advice and analyses of counsel; and (c) the assumptions and judgment of management. Similar factors and considerations are used in establishing new accruals for proceedings as to which losses have become probable and reasonably estimable at the time an evaluation is made. Based on our experience, we believe that the amounts that may be claimed or alleged against us in these proceedings are not a meaningful indicator of our potential liability. The outcome of any of these proceedings, including the defense and other litigation-related costs and expenses we may incur, however, is inherently uncertain and could differ significantly from the estimate reflected in a related accrual, if made. Therefore, it is possible that the ultimate outcome of any proceeding, if in excess of a related accrual or if no accrual had been made, could be material to our consolidated financial statements.
16.
Stockholders’ Equity
A summary of changes in stockholders’ equity is presented below (in thousands):

22


 
 
Nine Months Ended August 31, 2015
 
 
Common Stock
 
Paid-in Capital
 
Retained Earnings
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
 
Grantor Stock Ownership Trust
 
Treasury Stock
 
Total Stockholders’ Equity
Balance at November 30, 2014
 
$
115,387

 
$
668,857

 
$
1,391,256

 
$
(21,008
)
 
$
(112,106
)
 
$
(446,476
)
 
$
1,595,910

Net income
 

 

 
40,626

 

 

 

 
40,626

Dividends on common stock
 

 

 
(6,890
)
 

 

 

 
(6,890
)
Employee stock options/other
 
52

 
384

 

 

 

 

 
436

Restricted stock awards
 
85

 
(85
)
 

 

 

 

 

Stock-based compensation
 

 
10,444

 

 

 

 

 
10,444

Stock repurchases
 

 

 

 

 

 
(300
)
 
(300
)
Balance at August 31, 2015
 
$
115,524

 
$
679,600

 
$
1,424,992

 
$
(21,008
)
 
$
(112,106
)
 
$
(446,776
)
 
$
1,640,226

We maintain a common stock reserve account with our transfer agent to reserve the maximum number of shares of our common stock potentially deliverable upon conversion to holders of the 1.375% Convertible Senior Notes due 2019 based on the terms of their governing instruments. Accordingly, the common stock reserve account had a balance of 12,602,735 shares at August 31, 2015. The maximum number of shares would potentially be deliverable to holders only in certain limited circumstances as set forth in the instruments governing these notes.
As of August 31, 2015, we were authorized to repurchase 4,000,000 shares of our common stock under a board-approved share repurchase program. We did not repurchase any shares of our common stock under this program in the nine months ended August 31, 2015. We have not repurchased any shares pursuant to this common stock repurchase plan for the past several years and any resumption of such stock repurchases under this program or any other program will be at the discretion of our board of directors.
Unrelated to the common stock repurchase plan, in connection with an amendment of the Amended and Restated KB Home Non-Employee Directors Compensation Plan (“Director Plan”) effective July 17, 2014, our board of directors authorized the repurchase of no more than 680,000 shares of our common stock solely as necessary for director elections in respect of outstanding stock appreciation right awards under the Director Plan. We had not repurchased any shares pursuant to this board of directors authorization as of August 31, 2015.
During the three months ended August 31, 2015 and 2014, our board of directors declared, and we paid, a quarterly cash dividend of $.025 per share of common stock. Quarterly cash dividends declared and paid during the nine months ended August 31, 2015 and 2014 totaled $.075 per share of common stock.
17.
Stock-Based Compensation
Stock Options. We estimate the grant-date fair value of stock options using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The following table summarizes stock option transactions for the nine months ended August 31, 2015:
 
Options
 
Weighted
Average Exercise
Price
Options outstanding at beginning of period
11,735,042

 
$
20.45

Granted

 

Exercised
(52,000
)
 
8.38

Cancelled
(130,384
)
 
23.26

Options outstanding at end of period
11,552,658

 
$
20.47

Options exercisable at end of period
9,992,609

 
$
21.32

As of August 31, 2015, the weighted average remaining contractual life of stock options outstanding and stock options exercisable was 4.4 years and 3.7 years, respectively. There was $2.8 million of total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested stock option awards as of August 31, 2015. For the three months ended August 31, 2015 and 2014, stock-

23


based compensation expense associated with stock options totaled $1.1 million and $.6 million, respectively. For the nine months ended August 31, 2015 and 2014, stock-based compensation expense associated with stock options totaled $3.1 million and $1.8 million, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value of both stock options outstanding and stock options exercisable was $18.4 million at August 31, 2015. (The intrinsic value of a stock option is the amount by which the market value of a share of the underlying common stock exceeds the exercise price of the stock option.) 
Other Stock-Based Awards. From time to time, we grant restricted stock and PSUs to various employees as a compensation benefit. We recognized total compensation expense of $1.9 million for the three months ended August 31, 2015 and $1.7 million for the three months ended August 31, 2014 related to restricted stock and PSUs. We recognized total compensation expense of $7.3 million for the nine months ended August 31, 2015 and $4.2 million for the nine months ended August 31, 2014 related to restricted stock and PSUs.
18.
Supplemental Disclosure to Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
The following are supplemental disclosures to the consolidated statements of cash flows (in thousands): 
 
Nine Months Ended August 31,
 
2015
 
2014
Summary of cash and cash equivalents at end of period:
 
 
 
Homebuilding
$
352,952

 
$
297,058

Financial services
1,927

 
1,950

Total
$
354,879

 
$
299,008

 
 
 
 
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
 
 
 
Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized
$
5,017

 
$
312

Income taxes paid
2,915

 
1,537

 
 
 
 
Supplemental disclosures of noncash activities:
 
 
 
Reclassification of warranty recoveries to receivables
$
8,164

 
$
12,794

Increase (decrease) in consolidated inventories not owned
86,211

 
(4,931
)
Increase in inventories due to distributions of land and land development from an unconsolidated joint venture
12,416

 
81,670

Inventories and inventory-related obligations associated with tax increment financing entities assessments tied to distribution of land from an unconsolidated joint venture

 
33,197

Inventories acquired through seller financing
16,730

 
52,561

Conversion of liability awards to equity awards

 
6,455

19.
Supplemental Guarantor Information
Our obligations to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest on the senior notes and borrowings, if any, under the Amended Credit Facility are guaranteed on a joint and several basis by certain of our subsidiaries (“Guarantor Subsidiaries”). The guarantees are full and unconditional and the Guarantor Subsidiaries are 100% owned by us. Pursuant to the terms of the indenture governing the senior notes and the terms of the Amended Credit Facility, if any of the Guarantor Subsidiaries ceases to be a “significant subsidiary” as defined by Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X (as in effect on June 1, 1996) using a 5% rather than a 10% threshold (provided that the assets of our non-guarantor subsidiaries do not in the aggregate exceed 10% of an adjusted measure of our consolidated total assets), it will be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged from its guaranty of the senior notes and the Amended Credit Facility so long as all guarantees by such Guarantor Subsidiary of any other of our or our subsidiaries’ indebtedness are terminated at or prior to the time of such release. We have determined that separate, full financial statements of the Guarantor Subsidiaries would not be material to investors and, accordingly, supplemental financial information for the Guarantor Subsidiaries is presented.
The supplemental financial information for all periods presented below reflects the relevant subsidiaries that were Guarantor Subsidiaries as of August 31, 2015.

24


Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations (in thousands)
 
Nine Months Ended August 31, 2015
 
KB Home
Corporate
 
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Consolidating
Adjustments
 
Total
Revenues
$

 
$
1,866,015

 
$
180,232

 
$

 
$
2,046,247

Homebuilding:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues
$

 
$
1,866,015

 
$
172,881

 
$

 
$
2,038,896

Construction and land costs

 
(1,566,720
)
 
(159,256
)
 

 
(1,725,976
)
Selling, general and administrative expenses
(63,886
)
 
(158,403
)
 
(22,389
)
 

 
(244,678
)
Operating income (loss)
(63,886
)
 
140,892

 
(8,764
)
 

 
68,242

Interest income
337

 
3

 
2

 

 
342

Interest expense
(136,292
)
 
(4,497
)
 

 
122,939

 
(17,850
)
Intercompany interest
218,684

 
(88,780
)
 
(6,965
)
 
(122,939
)
 

Equity in loss of unconsolidated joint ventures

 
(1,180
)
 

 

 
(1,180
)
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)
18,843

 
46,438

 
(15,727
)
 

 
49,554

Financial services pretax income

 

 
7,572

 

 
7,572

Total pretax income (loss)
18,843

 
46,438

 
(8,155
)
 

 
57,126

Income tax benefit (expense)
2,900

 
(18,700
)
 
(700
)
 

 
(16,500
)
Equity in net income of subsidiaries
18,883

 

 

 
(18,883
)
 

Net income (loss)
$
40,626

 
$
27,738

 
$
(8,855
)
 
$
(18,883
)
 
$
40,626


 
Nine Months Ended August 31, 2014
 
KB Home
Corporate
 
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Consolidating
Adjustments
 
Total
Revenues
$

 
$
1,436,822

 
$
168,086

 
$

 
$
1,604,908

Homebuilding:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues
$

 
$
1,436,822

 
$
160,072

 
$

 
$
1,596,894

Construction and land costs

 
(1,167,762
)
 
(137,496
)
 

 
(1,305,258
)
Selling, general and administrative expenses
(47,489
)
 
(131,443
)
 
(26,783
)
 

 
(205,715
)
Operating income (loss)
(47,489
)
 
137,617

 
(4,207
)
 

 
85,921

Interest income
385

 
7

 
1

 

 
393

Interest expense
(122,634
)
 
(4,408
)
 

 
100,753

 
(26,289
)
Intercompany interest
206,943

 
(99,077
)
 
(7,113
)
 
(100,753
)
 

Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures

 
(2,132
)
 
3,293

 

 
1,161

Homebuilding pretax income (loss)
37,205

 
32,007

 
(8,026
)
 

 
61,186

Financial services pretax income

 

 
5,162

 

 
5,162

Total pretax income (loss)
37,205

 
32,007

 
(2,864
)
 

 
66,348

Income tax expense
(100
)
 
(600
)
 
(100
)
 

 
(800
)
Equity in net income of subsidiaries
28,443

 

 

 
(28,443
)
 

Net income (loss)
$
65,548

 
$
31,407

 
$
(2,964
)
 
$
(28,443
)
 
$
65,548


25


 
Three Months Ended August 31, 2015
 
KB Home
Corporate
 
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Consolidating
Adjustments
 
Total
Revenues
$

 
$
761,783

 
$
81,374

 
$

 
$
843,157

Homebuilding:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues
$

 
$
761,783

 
$
78,421

 
$

 
$
840,204

Construction and land costs

 
(638,451
)
 
(70,697
)
 

 
(709,148
)
Selling, general and administrative expenses
(28,540
)
 
(58,137
)
 
(8,397
)
 

 
(95,074
)
Operating income (loss)
(28,540
)
 
65,195

 
(673
)
 

 
35,982

Interest income
86

 
1

 

 

 
87

Interest expense
(45,040
)
 
(1,547
)
 

 
42,193

 
(4,394
)
Intercompany interest
74,501

 
(30,203
)
 
(2,105
)
 
(42,193
)
 

Equity in loss of unconsolidated joint ventures

 
(422
)
 

 

 
(422
)
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)
1,007

 
33,024

 
(2,778
)
 

 
31,253

Financial services pretax income

 

 
2,701

 

 
2,701

Total pretax income (loss)
1,007

 
33,024

 
(77
)
 

 
33,954

Income tax benefit (expense)
2,200

 
(12,100
)
 
(800
)
 

 
(10,700
)
Equity in net income of subsidiaries
20,047

 

 

 
(20,047
)
 

Net income (loss)
$
23,254

 
$
20,924

 
$
(877
)
 
$
(20,047
)
 
$
23,254

 
Three Months Ended August 31, 2014
 
KB Home
Corporate
 
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Consolidating
Adjustments
 
Total
Revenues
$

 
$
529,599

 
$
59,615

 
$

 
$
589,214

Homebuilding:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues
$

 
$
529,599

 
$
56,632

 
$

 
$
586,231

Construction and land costs

 
(429,998
)
 
(49,426
)
 

 
(479,424
)
Selling, general and administrative expenses
(15,995
)
 
(47,653
)
 
(9,249
)
 

 
(72,897
)
Operating income (loss)
(15,995
)
 
51,948

 
(2,043
)
 

 
33,910

Interest income
109

 
1

 

 

 
110

Interest expense
(42,955
)
 
(1,648
)
 

 
38,148

 
(6,455
)
Intercompany interest
76,512

 
(35,728
)
 
(2,636
)
 
(38,148
)
 

Equity in loss of unconsolidated joint ventures

 
(751
)
 

 

 
(751
)
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)
17,671

 
13,822

 
(4,679
)
 

 
26,814

Financial services pretax income

 

 
1,847

 

 
1,847

Total pretax income (loss)
17,671

 
13,822

 
(2,832
)
 

 
28,661

Income tax expense
(50
)
 
(200
)
 
(50
)
 

 
(300
)
Equity in net income of subsidiaries
10,740

 

 

 
(10,740
)
 

Net income (loss)
$
28,361

 
$
13,622

 
$
(2,882
)
 
$
(10,740
)
 
$
28,361


26


Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets (in thousands)
 
August 31, 2015
 
KB Home
Corporate
 
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Consolidating
Adjustments
 
Total
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Homebuilding:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
288,869

 
$
60,271

 
$
3,812

 
$

 
$
352,952

Restricted cash
25,028

 

 

 

 
25,028

Receivables
284

 
156,354

 
2,938

 

 
159,576

Inventories

 
3,163,292

 
238,445

 

 
3,401,737

Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures

 
72,800

 

 

 
72,800

Deferred tax assets, net
218,954

 
534,728

 
56,334

 

 
810,016

Other assets
98,917

 
13,448

 
1,987

 

 
114,352

 
632,052

 
4,000,893

 
303,516

 

 
4,936,461

Financial services

 

 
12,035

 

 
12,035

Intercompany receivables
3,663,944

 

 
104,306

 
(3,768,250
)
 

Investments in subsidiaries
71,219

 

 

 
(71,219
)
 

Total assets
$
4,367,215

 
$
4,000,893

 
$
419,857

 
$
(3,839,469
)
 
$
4,948,496

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Homebuilding:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
$
144,782

 
$
426,452

 
$
104,528

 
$

 
$
675,762

Notes payable
2,564,378

 
66,354

 

 

 
2,630,732

 
2,709,160

 
492,806

 
104,528

 

 
3,306,494

Financial services

 

 
1,776

 

 
1,776

Intercompany payables
17,829

 
3,475,060

 
275,361

 
(3,768,250
)
 

Stockholders’ equity
1,640,226

 
33,027

 
38,192

 
(71,219
)
 
1,640,226

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
4,367,215

 
$
4,000,893

 
$
419,857

 
$
(3,839,469
)
 
$
4,948,496




27


 
November 30, 2014
 
KB Home
Corporate
 
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Consolidating
Adjustments
 
Total
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Homebuilding:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
303,280

 
$
38,124

 
$
14,962

 
$

 
$
356,366

Restricted cash
27,235

 

 

 

 
27,235

Receivables
15

 
123,024

 
2,449

 

 
125,488

Inventories

 
2,980,056

 
238,331

 

 
3,218,387

Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures

 
79,441

 

 

 
79,441

Deferred tax assets, net
215,923

 
552,653

 
56,656

 

 
825,232

Other assets
99,099

 
13,922

 
1,894

 

 
114,915

 
645,552

 
3,787,220

 
314,292

 

 
4,747,064

Financial services

 

 
10,486

 

 
10,486

Intercompany receivables
3,582,612

 

 
112,919

 
(3,695,531
)
 

Investments in subsidiaries
39,356

 

 

 
(39,356
)
 

Total assets
$
4,267,520

 
$
3,787,220

 
$
437,697

 
$
(3,734,887
)
 
$
4,757,550

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Homebuilding:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
$
138,298

 
$
331,361

 
$
112,939

 
$

 
$
582,598

Notes payable
2,513,165

 
63,360

 

 

 
2,576,525

 
2,651,463

 
394,721

 
112,939

 

 
3,159,123

Financial services

 

 
2,517

 

 
2,517

Intercompany payables
20,147

 
3,392,499

 
282,885

 
(3,695,531
)
 

Stockholders’ equity
1,595,910

 

 
39,356

 
(39,356
)
 
1,595,910

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
4,267,520

 
$
3,787,220

 
$
437,697

 
$
(3,734,887
)
 
$
4,757,550




28


Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows (in thousands)
 
Nine Months Ended August 31, 2015
 
KB Home
Corporate
 
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Consolidating
Adjustments
 
Total
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
$
41,620

 
$
(43,447
)
 
$
(20,257
)
 
$

 
$
(22,084
)
Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contributions to unconsolidated joint ventures

 
(20,954
)
 
(1
)
 

 
(20,955
)
Return of investments in unconsolidated joint ventures

 
14,000

 

 

 
14,000

Purchases of property and equipment, net
(498
)
 
(1,565
)
 
(37
)
 

 
(2,100
)
Intercompany
(96,519
)
 

 

 
96,519

 

Net cash used in investing activities
(97,017
)
 
(8,519
)
 
(38
)
 
96,519

 
(9,055
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Change in restricted cash
2,207

 

 

 

 
2,207

Proceeds from issuance of debt
250,000

 

 

 

 
250,000

Payment of debt issuance costs
(4,561
)
 

 

 

 
(4,561
)
Repayment of senior notes
(199,906
)
 

 

 

 
(199,906
)
Payments on mortgages and land contracts due to land sellers and other loans

 
(13,736
)
 

 

 
(13,736
)
Issuance of common stock under employee stock plans
436

 

 

 

 
436

Payments of cash dividends
(6,890
)
 

 

 

 
(6,890
)
Stock repurchases
(300
)
 

 

 

 
(300
)
Intercompany

 
87,849

 
8,670

 
(96,519
)
 

Net cash provided by financing activities
40,986

 
74,113

 
8,670

 
(96,519
)
 
27,250

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
(14,411
)
 
22,147

 
(11,625
)
 

 
(3,889
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
303,280

 
38,124

 
17,364

 

 
358,768

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
288,869

 
$
60,271

 
$
5,739

 
$

 
$
354,879



29


 
Nine Months Ended August 31, 2014
 
KB Home
Corporate
 
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Consolidating
Adjustments
 
Total
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
$
66,251

 
$
(730,397
)
 
$
(52,516
)
 
$

 
$
(716,662
)
Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contributions to unconsolidated joint ventures

 
(33,786
)
 
(248
)
 

 
(34,034
)
Proceeds from sale of investment in unconsolidated joint venture

 

 
10,110

 

 
10,110

Purchases of property and equipment, net
(131
)
 
(3,499
)
 
(528
)
 

 
(4,158
)
Intercompany
(840,839
)
 

 

 
840,839

 

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
(840,970
)
 
(37,285
)
 
9,334

 
840,839

 
(28,082
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Change in restricted cash
9,450

 

 

 

 
9,450

Proceeds from issuance of debt
400,000

 

 

 

 
400,000

Payment of debt issuance costs
(5,448
)
 

 

 

 
(5,448
)
Payments on mortgages and land contracts due to land sellers and other loans

 
(23,292
)
 

 

 
(23,292
)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net
137,045

 

 

 

 
137,045

Issuance of common stock under employee stock plans
202

 

 

 

 
202

Payments of cash dividends
(6,682
)
 

 

 

 
(6,682
)
Stock repurchases
(46
)
 

 

 

 
(46
)
Intercompany

 
804,809

 
36,030

 
(840,839
)
 

Net cash provided by financing activities
534,521

 
781,517

 
36,030

 
(840,839
)
 
511,229

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
(240,198
)
 
13,835

 
(7,152
)
 

 
(233,515
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
476,847

 
39,952

 
15,724

 

 
532,523

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
236,649

 
$
53,787

 
$
8,572

 
$

 
$
299,008


30


Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Results of Operations
OVERVIEW
Revenues are generated from our homebuilding and financial services operations. The following table presents a summary of our consolidated results of operations (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts): 
 
Nine Months Ended August 31,
 
Three Months Ended August 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
Variance
 
2015
 
2014
 
Variance
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Homebuilding
$
2,038,896

 
$
1,596,894

 
28
 %
 
$
840,204

 
$
586,231

 
43
 %
Financial services
7,351

 
8,014

 
(8
)
 
2,953

 
2,983

 
(1
)
Total revenues
$
2,046,247

 
$
1,604,908

 
27
 %
 
$
843,157

 
$
589,214

 
43
 %
Pretax income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Homebuilding
$
49,554

 
$
61,186

 
(19
)%
 
$
31,253

 
$
26,814

 
17
 %
Financial services
7,572

 
5,162

 
47

 
2,701

 
1,847

 
46

Total pretax income
57,126

 
66,348

 
(14
)
 
33,954

 
28,661

 
18

Income tax expense
(16,500
)
 
(800
)
 
(a)

 
(10,700
)
 
(300
)
 
(a)

Net income
$
40,626

 
$
65,548

 
(38
)%
 
$
23,254

 
$
28,361

 
(18
)%
Basic earnings per share
$
.44

 
$
.74

 
(41
)%
 
$
.25

 
$
.31

 
(19
)%
Diluted earnings per share
$
.42

 
$
.68

 
(38
)%
 
$
.23

 
$
.28

 
(18
)%
(a)
Percentage not meaningful.

Conditions in most of our served markets remained generally positive during the first nine months of 2015, with healthy housing supply and demand dynamics fueled by strengthening fundamental demographic trends and steady employment and economic growth. Within this favorable environment, we continued to execute on our key strategic initiatives and generated year-over-year improvement in several key operational and financial metrics across our segments. We expanded our revenues on a year-over-year basis for the three months and nine months ended August 31, 2015, reflecting increases in both the number of homes delivered and the overall average selling price of those homes, as well as higher land sale revenues. We also maintained profitability and generated sequential improvement in our housing gross profit margin, with a 20 basis point increase to 16.2% in the third quarter from 16.0% in the 2015 second quarter. However, our housing gross profit margins for the three months and nine months ended August 31, 2015 were lower compared to the corresponding year-earlier periods, primarily due to a shift in product and geographic mix, higher land and construction costs, increased pricing pressures within certain markets and increases in the amortization of previously capitalized interest associated with housing operations and housing inventory-related charges. The impact of these items was partly offset by increased operating leverage as a result of our higher deliveries and revenues.
In addition, through our investments in land and land development, we significantly grew our community count during the first nine months of 2015, which we believe will continue to be an important driver for increasing our revenues in the fourth quarter. In the third quarter and first nine months of 2015, our average community count rose 30% and 26%, respectively, compared to the corresponding year-earlier periods, which helped produce strong increases in both our net orders and net order value for each period and, in turn, expand our backlog. We use the term “community count” to refer to the number of communities with at least five homes/lots left to sell at the end of a reporting period. Our net order value for a given period represents the potential future housing revenues associated with net orders, including various lot and product premiums, and homebuyer spending on design studio options and upgrades for homes in backlog during the same period.
The following table presents information concerning our net orders, net order value, cancellation rate as a percentage of gross orders, ending backlog and community count for the three-month and nine-month periods ended August 31, 2015 and 2014 (dollars in thousands):

31


 
 
Nine Months Ended August 31,
 
Three Months Ended August 31,
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Net orders
 
7,371

 
5,861

 
2,167

 
1,827

Net order value
 
$
2,579,330

 
$
1,992,576

 
$
773,288

 
$
629,248

Cancellation rate
 
26
%
 
29
%
 
30
%
 
31
%
Ending backlog — homes
 
4,664

 
3,432

 
4,664

 
3,432

Ending backlog — value
 
$
1,585,478

 
$
1,104,140

 
$
1,585,478

 
$
1,104,140

Ending community count
 
252

 
200

 
252

 
200

Average community count
 
244

 
193

 
257

 
197

Net Orders. For the three months ended August 31, 2015, net orders from our homebuilding operations rose 19% from the year-earlier period, largely due to the 30% year-over-year growth in our average community count. For the nine months ended August 31, 2015, net orders grew 26% from the corresponding period of 2014, mainly due to the 26% year-over-year increase in our average community count.
The combination of higher net orders and higher overall average selling prices resulted in the value of the net orders we generated in the third quarter and first nine months of 2015 increasing 23% and 29%, respectively, from the corresponding year-earlier periods.
For both the three-month and nine-month periods ended August 31, 2015, our cancellation rate as a percentage of gross orders improved from the corresponding period of 2014. Our cancellation rate as a percentage of beginning backlog for the three months ended August 31, 2015 also improved to 20%, compared to 24% in the year-earlier period.
Backlog. The potential future housing revenues in our backlog at August 31, 2015 grew 44% from August 31, 2014, reflecting substantial year-over-year increases in each of our four homebuilding reporting segments that ranged from 27% in our West Coast segment to 194% in our Southwest segment. The number of homes in our backlog at August 31, 2015 rose 36% from August 31, 2014, primarily reflecting the 19% year-over-year increase in our net orders for the three months ended August 31, 2015 and the 39% higher backlog level we had at the beginning of the 2015 third quarter as compared to the year-earlier quarter.
Community Count. We achieved year-over-year increases in our ending and average community counts for the third quarter and first nine months of 2015 primarily due to the strong inventory pipeline we have strategically built over the past few years through substantial investment in land and land development and by increasing the proportion of those investments dedicated to land development. While we moderated our overall investment level in the nine months ended August 31, 2015 to $701.6 million from $1.19 billion in the year-earlier period, approximately 70% of our total investment in the current period related to land development, compared to approximately 42% in the year-earlier period, reflecting our emphasis in the current year to convert our owned land into new communities open for sales to promote growth in our net orders, backlog, homes delivered and revenues.
At August 31, 2015, the number of homes in our backlog and the corresponding backlog value reached their highest third-quarter levels since 2008 and 2007, respectively, while our ending community count was up 26% from a year ago. As a result, we believe we are well-positioned to accomplish our top financial and operational priorities for the year.
HOMEBUILDING
The following table presents a summary of certain financial and operational data for our homebuilding operations (dollars in thousands, except average selling price):

32



 
Nine Months Ended August 31,
 
Three Months Ended August 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Housing
$
1,928,395

 
$
1,586,173

 
$
798,633

 
$
586,231

Land
110,501

 
10,721

 
41,571

 

Total
2,038,896

 
1,596,894

 
840,204

 
586,231

Costs and expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Construction and land costs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Housing
(1,622,530
)
 
(1,292,224
)
 
(668,871
)
 
(476,016
)
Land
(103,446
)
 
(13,034
)
 
(40,277
)
 
(3,408
)
Total
(1,725,976
)
 
(1,305,258
)
 
(709,148
)
 
(479,424
)
Selling, general and administrative expenses
(244,678
)
 
(205,715
)
 
(95,074
)
 
(72,897
)
Total
(1,970,654
)
 
(1,510,973
)
 
(804,222
)
 
(552,321
)
Operating income
$
68,242

 
$
85,921

 
$
35,982

 
$
33,910

Homes delivered
5,616

 
4,986

 
2,236

 
1,793

Average selling price
$
343,400

 
$
318,100

 
$
357,200

 
$
327,000

Housing gross profit margin as a percentage of housing revenues
15.9
%
 
18.5
%
 
16.2
%
 
18.8
%
Adjusted housing gross profit margin as a percentage of housing revenues
20.4
%
 
22.4
%
 
21.1
%
 
22.7
%
Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of housing revenues
12.7
%
 
13.0
%
 
11.9
%
 
12.4
%
Operating income as a percentage of homebuilding revenues
3.3
%
 
5.4
%
 
4.3
%
 
5.8
%
For reporting purposes, we organize our homebuilding operations into four segments — West Coast, Southwest, Central and Southeast. As of August 31, 2015, our homebuilding reporting segments consisted of ongoing operations located in the following states: West Coast — California; Southwest — Arizona and Nevada; Central — Colorado, New Mexico and Texas; and Southeast — Florida, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia. The following tables present homes delivered, net orders, cancellation rates as a percentage of gross orders, net order value, average community count, and ending backlog (number of homes and value) by homebuilding reporting segment (dollars in thousands):
 
 
Nine Months Ended August 31,
 
 
Homes Delivered
 
Net Orders
 
Cancellation Rates
Segment
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
West Coast
 
1,498

 
1,288

 
1,886

 
1,618

 
20
%
 
20
%
Southwest
 
888

 
521

 
1,305

 
590

 
21

 
25

Central
 
2,212

 
2,167

 
2,864

 
2,587

 
31

 
35

Southeast
 
1,018

 
1,010

 
1,316

 
1,066

 
25

 
30

Total
 
5,616

 
4,986

 
7,371

 
5,861

 
26
%
 
29
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

33


 
 
Nine Months Ended August 31,
 
 
Net Order Value
 
Average Community Count
Segment
 
2015
 
2014
 
Variance
 
2015
 
2014
 
Variance
West Coast
 
$
1,088,175

 
$
949,794

 
15
%
 
53

 
42

 
26
%
Southwest
 
368,394

 
155,592

 
137

 
37

 
19

 
95

Central
 
758,592

 
598,011

 
27

 
93

 
82

 
13

Southeast
 
364,169

 
289,179

 
26

 
61

 
50

 
22

Total
 
$
2,579,330

 
$
1,992,576

 
29
%
 
244

 
193

 
26
%
 
 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended August 31,
 
 
Homes Delivered
 
Net Orders
 
Cancellation Rates
Segment
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
West Coast
 
625

 
458

 
564

 
529

 
23
%
 
19
%
Southwest
 
372

 
185

 
384

 
198

 
29

 
24

Central
 
822

 
807

 
818

 
745

 
36

 
38

Southeast
 
417

 
343

 
401

 
355

 
28

 
32

Total
 
2,236

 
1,793

 
2,167

 
1,827

 
30
%
 
31
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net Order Value
 
Average Community Count
Segment
 
2015
 
2014
 
Variance
 
2015
 
2014
 
Variance
West Coast
 
$
331,864

 
$
305,840

 
9
%
 
60

 
40

 
50
%
Southwest
 
110,181

 
50,692

 
117

 
41

 
20

 
105

Central
 
223,168

 
178,657

 
25

 
93

 
83

 
12

Southeast
 
108,075

 
94,059

 
15

 
63

 
54

 
17

Total
 
$
773,288

 
$
629,248

 
23
%
 
257

 
197

 
30
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
August 31,
 
 
Backlog – Homes
 
Backlog – Value
Segment
 
2015
 
2014
 
Variance
 
2015
 
2014
 
Variance
West Coast
 
981

 
750

 
31
%
 
$
586,862

 
$
463,643

 
27
%
Southwest
 
741

 
257

 
188

 
204,802

 
69,621

 
194

Central
 
2,141

 
1,768

 
21

 
571,433

 
396,838

 
44

Southeast
 
801

 
657

 
22

 
222,381

 
174,038

 
28

Total
 
4,664

 
3,432

 
36
%
 
$
1,585,478

 
$
1,104,140

 
44
%
Revenues. Homebuilding revenues for the three months ended August 31, 2015 were generated from both housing operations and land sales. Housing revenues rose 36% to $798.6 million for the quarter ended August 31, 2015 from $586.2 million for the corresponding quarter of 2014 due to increases in both the number of homes we delivered and the overall average selling price of those homes. We delivered 2,236 homes in the third quarter of 2015, up 25% from 1,793 homes in the year-earlier quarter, primarily due to the 39% higher backlog level we had at the beginning of the 2015 third quarter as compared to the year-earlier period.
The overall average selling price of homes delivered advanced 9% to $357,200 for the three months ended August 31, 2015 from $327,000 for the year-earlier period. The year-over-year increase reflected our continued strategic focus on positioning our new communities in land-constrained submarkets that typically feature homebuyers with higher household incomes; higher median home selling prices; stronger demand for larger home sizes and various lot and product premiums, and design studio options and

34


upgrades; our actions to balance home selling prices and sales pace to optimize revenues and profits; and generally favorable market conditions.
Land sale revenues totaled $41.6 million for the three months ended August 31, 2015, reflecting activity in three of our four homebuilding reporting segments as part of an ongoing focus on enhancing asset efficiency by executing on targeted opportunities to monetize certain land positions. The current quarter land sale revenues largely related to land previously held for future development. We had no land sales in the three months ended August 31, 2014. Generally, land sale revenues fluctuate with our decisions to maintain or decrease our land ownership position in certain markets based upon the volume of our holdings, our marketing strategy, the strength and number of developers and other land buyers in particular markets at given points in time, the availability of land at reasonable prices and prevailing market conditions.
For the nine months ended August 31, 2015, our homebuilding revenues grew 28% to $2.04 billion from $1.60 billion for the year-earlier period. Housing revenues for the nine months ended August 31, 2015 rose $342.2 million, or 22%, from the corresponding period of 2014 due to a 13% increase in the number of homes delivered and an 8% increase in our overall average selling price. We delivered 5,616 homes in the first nine months of 2015, compared to 4,986 homes in the year-earlier period. Our overall average selling price of homes delivered for the nine months ended August 31 rose to $343,400 in 2015 from $318,100 in 2014 for the reasons described above with respect to the three months ended August 31, 2015.
Land sale revenues increased to $110.5 million for the nine months ended August 31, 2015 from $10.7 million for the nine months ended August 31, 2014 primarily due to the current-quarter land sales mentioned above, as well as our sale of a large parcel in northern California earlier in 2015.
Operating Income. Our operating income rose to $36.0 million for the three months ended August 31, 2015 from $33.9 million for the year-earlier period due to an increase in housing gross profits and improved land sale results that were partly offset by an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses. However, as a percentage of homebuilding revenues, our operating income decreased 150 basis points to 4.3% for the current quarter from 5.8% for the 2014 third quarter. For the nine months ended August 31, 2015, our operating income decreased to $68.2 million from $85.9 million for the year-earlier period. As a percentage of homebuilding revenues, our operating income for the nine months ended August 31, 2015 declined 210 basis points to 3.3%, compared to 5.4% for the corresponding period of 2014. The year-over-year decrease in our operating income for the nine months ended August 31, 2015 was due to an increase in our selling, general and administrative expenses that was partly offset by higher housing gross profits and improved land sale results.
Housing gross profits increased to $129.8 million for the three months ended August 31, 2015 from $110.2 million for the year-earlier period. Our housing gross profits for the third quarter of 2015 included a $3.2 million inventory impairment charge and $.4 million of land option contract abandonment charges. In the third quarter of 2014, our housing gross profits included $1.0 million of land option contract abandonment charges. Our housing gross profit margin for the third quarter of 2015 declined 260 basis points to 16.2% from 18.8% for the year-earlier quarter. Approximately 120 basis points of the year-over-year decrease was primarily due to a shift in product and geographic mix. The remainder of the decline was attributable to higher land and construction costs and increased pricing pressures in certain markets (approximately 110 basis points), an increase in the amortization of previously capitalized interest associated with housing operations (approximately 70 basis points), and higher housing inventory impairment and land option contract abandonment charges (approximately 30 basis points). The impact of these items was partly offset by increased operating leverage as a result of our higher deliveries and revenues (approximately 70 basis points). Sales incentives as a percentage of housing revenues in the third quarter of 2015 were essentially the same as in the year-earlier quarter.
Excluding the amortization of previously capitalized interest associated with housing operations of $35.3 million and $21.8 million in the third quarter of 2015 and 2014, respectively, and the above-mentioned housing inventory impairment and land option contract abandonment charges in the applicable periods, our adjusted housing gross profit margin decreased to 21.1% in the current quarter from 22.7% in the year-earlier quarter. The calculation of adjusted housing gross profit margin, which we believe provides a clearer measure of the performance of our business, is described below under “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”
Selling, general and administrative expenses for the third quarter of 2015 rose to $95.1 million from $72.9 million for the year-earlier quarter, mainly reflecting higher variable expenses associated with the increases in both homes delivered and housing revenues. Also contributing to the year-over-year increase were higher staffing levels and new community and related operational platform investments for the current quarter to support both our community count expansion strategy and anticipated growth in deliveries in the fourth quarter of 2015. As a percentage of housing revenues, selling, general and administrative expenses improved 50 basis points to 11.9% for the three months ended August 31, 2015 from 12.4% for the year-earlier period.
Land sales generated profits of $1.3 million for the three months ended August 31, 2015 and losses of $3.4 million for the three months ended August 31, 2014.

35


Our housing gross profits of $305.9 million for the nine months ended August 31, 2015 increased $12.0 million, or 4%, from $293.9 million for the year-earlier period. Housing gross profits for the nine months ended August 31, 2015 included an inventory impairment charge of $3.2 million and land option contract abandonment charges of $1.3 million. In the nine months ended August 31, 2014, housing gross profits included land option contract abandonment charges of $1.8 million. Our housing gross profit margin of 15.9% for the first nine months of 2015 decreased 260 basis points from 18.5% for the year-earlier period mainly for the reasons described above with respect to the three months ended August 31, 2015. Sales incentives as a percentage of housing revenues in the first nine months of 2015 were roughly the same as in the year-earlier period. In the nine months ended August 31, 2015, our adjusted housing gross profit margin declined 200 basis points to 20.4%, compared to 22.4% in the nine months ended August 31, 2014.
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $39.0 million, or 19%, to $244.7 million for the nine months ended August 31, 2015 from $205.7 million for the corresponding period of 2014 for the reasons described above with respect to the three months ended August 31, 2015. As a percentage of housing revenues, selling, general and administrative expenses improved to 12.7% for the nine months ended August 31, 2015 from 13.0% for the year-earlier period.
As discussed in Note 6. Inventory Impairments and Land Option Contract Abandonments in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this report, we had a $3.2 million inventory impairment charge for the three months and nine months ended August 31, 2015, and recognized an inventory impairment charge of $3.4 million for the three months and nine months ended August 31, 2014.
The estimated remaining life of each community or land parcel in our inventory depends on various factors, such as the total number of lots remaining; the expected timeline to acquire and entitle land and develop lots to build homes; the anticipated future net order and cancellation rates; and the expected timeline to build and deliver homes sold. While it is difficult to determine a precise timeframe for any particular inventory asset, we estimate our inventory assets’ remaining operating lives under current and expected future market conditions to range generally from one year to in excess of 10 years. Based on current market conditions and anticipated home delivery timelines, we expect to realize, on an overall basis, the majority of our current inventory balance within five years. The following table presents our inventories as of August 31, 2015 based on our current estimated timeframe as to the delivery of the last home within an applicable community or land parcel (in millions):
 
0-2 years
 
3-5 years
 
6-10 years
 
Greater than
10 years
 
Total
Inventories
$
1,443.9

 
$
1,470.3

 
$
336.5

 
$
151.0

 
$
3,401.7

The inventory balances in the 0-2 years and 3-5 years categories collectively represented 86% of our total inventory balance at August 31, 2015. The inventory balances in the 6-10 years and greater than 10 years categories were primarily comprised of land held for future development. The inventory balance in the 6-10 years category as of August 31, 2015 was located across all of our homebuilding reporting segments. The inventory balance in the greater than 10 years category was primarily located in our Southwest and Southeast homebuilding reporting segments.
Due to the judgment and assumptions applied in the estimation process with respect to inventory impairments, land option contract abandonments, the remaining operating lives of our inventory assets and the realization of our inventory balances, it is possible that actual results could differ substantially from those estimated and reflected in the table above.
We believe that the carrying value of our inventory as of August 31, 2015 is recoverable. Our considerations in making this determination include, as applicable, the prevailing competitive home sales, economic and regulatory environment, as well as other factors and trends that are incorporated into our impairment analyses. In addition, we consider the financial and operational status of and our expectations regarding our inventories, as well as unique attributes of each community or land parcel that could be viewed as indicators of potential future impairments. However, if conditions in the overall housing market or in specific markets worsen in the future, if future changes in our strategy significantly affect any key assumptions used in our projections of cash flows, or if there are material changes in any of the other items we consider in assessing recoverability, we may recognize charges in future periods for inventory impairments or land option contract abandonments, or both, related to our current inventory assets. Any such charges could be material to our consolidated financial statements.
Interest Income. Interest income, which is generated from short-term investments, totaled $.1 million for each of the three-month periods ended August 31, 2015 and 2014. For the nine-month periods ended August 31, 2015 and 2014, interest income totaled $.3 million and $.4 million, respectively. Generally, increases and decreases in interest income are attributable to changes in the interest-bearing average balances of short-term investments and fluctuations in interest rates.
Interest Expense. Interest expense results principally from our borrowings to finance land purchases, housing inventory and other operating and capital needs. Our interest expense, net of amounts capitalized, decreased to $4.4 million for the three months ended

36


August 31, 2015 from $6.5 million for the three months ended August 31, 2014, as an increase in interest incurred, stemming from our higher average debt level, was more than offset by an increase in the amount of interest capitalized due to a higher amount of inventory qualifying for interest capitalization in the current quarter. For the nine months ended August 31, 2015, our interest expense, net of amounts capitalized, totaled $17.9 million, decreasing from $26.3 million for the year-earlier period. Further information regarding our interest capitalized to inventories and interest amortized to construction and land costs is provided in Note 5. Inventories in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
During the three months and nine months ended August 31, 2015 and 2014, the average amount of our inventory qualifying for interest capitalization was lower than our average debt level and, therefore, a portion of the interest we incurred was reflected as interest expense. The amount of inventory qualifying for interest capitalization during the three-month and nine-month periods ended August 31, 2015 increased more than our debt level increased, each as compared to the year-earlier period, primarily as a result of our substantial investment in land and land development during 2014 and in the first nine months of 2015, as well as recently activated land previously held for future development. Accordingly, we expensed less interest in the three months and nine months ended August 31, 2015 compared to the corresponding year-earlier periods.
Interest incurred rose 4% to $46.6 million for the three months ended August 31, 2015 from $44.6 million for the year-earlier period due to the higher average debt outstanding in the current period. We capitalized $42.2 million and $38.1 million of the interest incurred in the three months ended August 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. For the nine months ended August 31, 2015, interest incurred increased 11% to $140.8 million from $127.0 million for the year-earlier period due to the higher average debt outstanding during the 2015 period. We capitalized $122.9 million and $100.8 million of the interest incurred in the nine months ended August 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Interest amortized to construction and land costs increased to $51.8 million for the three months ended August 31, 2015 from $21.8 million for the three months ended August 31, 2014. For the nine months ended August 31, 2015, interest amortized to construction and land costs rose to $99.5 million from $59.5 million for the year-earlier period. The year-over-year increases in interest amortized for the three months and nine months ended August 31, 2015 reflected increases in the number of homes delivered and higher construction and land costs attributable to those homes, as well as the amortization of previously capitalized interest related to land sales included in the 2015 periods. The amortization of previously capitalized interest associated with housing operations totaled $35.3 million for the three months ended August 31, 2015 and $83.1 million for the nine months ended August 31, 2015. As a percentage of housing revenues, the amortization of previously capitalized interest associated with housing operations was 4.4% for the three months ended August 31, 2015 and 3.7% for the three months ended August 31, 2014. For the nine months ended August 31, 2015 and 2014, this percentage was 4.3% and 3.7%, respectively.
Equity in Income (Loss) of Unconsolidated Joint Ventures. Our equity in loss of unconsolidated joint ventures was $.4 million for the three months ended August 31, 2015 and $.8 million for the three months ended August 31, 2014. For the nine months ended August 31, 2015, our equity in loss of unconsolidated joint ventures was $1.2 million, compared to equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures of $1.2 million for the nine months ended August 31, 2014. The results for the nine months ended August 31, 2014 included a $3.2 million gain on the sale of our interest in an unconsolidated joint venture. Further information regarding our investments in unconsolidated joint ventures is provided in Note 8. Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
This report contains information about our adjusted housing gross profit margin and our ratio of net debt to capital, both of which are not calculated in accordance with GAAP. We believe these non-GAAP financial measures are relevant and useful to investors in understanding our operations and the leverage employed in our operations, and may be helpful in comparing us with other companies in the homebuilding industry to the extent they provide similar information. However, because the adjusted housing gross profit margin and the ratio of net debt to capital are not calculated in accordance with GAAP, these financial measures may not be completely comparable to other companies in the homebuilding industry and, therefore, should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to operating performance and/or financial measures prescribed by GAAP. Rather, these non-GAAP financial measures should be used to supplement their respective most directly comparable GAAP financial measures in order to provide a greater understanding of the factors and trends affecting our operations.
Adjusted Housing Gross Profit Margin. The following table reconciles our housing gross profit margin calculated in accordance with GAAP to the non-GAAP financial measure of our adjusted housing gross profit margin (dollars in thousands):

37



 
Nine Months Ended August 31,
 
Three Months Ended August 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Housing revenues
$
1,928,395

 
$
1,586,173

 
$
798,633

 
$
586,231

Housing construction and land costs
(1,622,530
)
 
(1,292,224
)
 
(668,871
)
 
(476,016
)
Housing gross profits
305,865

 
293,949

 
129,762

 
110,215

Add: Amortization of previously capitalized interest associated with housing operations
83,050

 
59,471

 
35,314

 
21,769

           Housing inventory impairment and land option contract abandonment charges
4,516

 
1,803

 
3,532

 
1,013

Adjusted housing gross profits
$
393,431

 
$
355,223

 
$
168,608

 
$
132,997

Housing gross profit margin as a percentage of housing revenues
15.9
%
 
18.5
%
 
16.2
%
 
18.8
%
Adjusted housing gross profit margin as a percentage of housing revenues
20.4
%
 
22.4
%
 
21.1
%
 
22.7
%

Adjusted housing gross profit margin is a non-GAAP financial measure, which we calculate by dividing housing revenues less housing construction and land costs excluding (a) amortization of previously capitalized interest associated with housing operations and (b) housing inventory impairment and land option contract abandonment charges recorded during a given period, by housing revenues. The most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is housing gross profit margin. We believe adjusted housing gross profit margin is a relevant and useful financial measure to investors in evaluating our performance as it measures the gross profits we generated specifically on the homes delivered during a given period. This non-GAAP financial measure isolates the impact that the amortization of previously capitalized interest associated with housing operations, and housing inventory impairment and land option contract abandonment charges have on housing gross profit margins, and allows investors to make comparisons with our competitors that adjust housing gross profit margins in a similar manner. We also believe investors will find adjusted housing gross profit margin relevant and useful because it represents a profitability measure that may be compared to a prior period without regard to variability of amortization of previously capitalized interest associated with housing operations, and housing inventory impairment and land option contract abandonment charges. This financial measure assists us in making strategic decisions regarding community location and product mix, product pricing and construction pace.
Ratio of Net Debt to Capital. The following table reconciles our ratio of debt to capital calculated in accordance with GAAP to the non-GAAP financial measure of our ratio of net debt to capital (dollars in thousands):
 
August 31,
2015
 
November 30,
2014
Notes payable
$
2,630,732

 
$
2,576,525

Stockholders’ equity
1,640,226

 
1,595,910

Total capital
$
4,270,958

 
$
4,172,435

Ratio of debt to capital
61.6
%
 
61.8
%
 
 
 
 
Notes payable
$
2,630,732

 
$
2,576,525

Less: Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash
(377,980
)
 
(383,601
)
Net debt
2,252,752

 
2,192,924

Stockholders’ equity
1,640,226

 
1,595,910

Total capital
$
3,892,978

 
$
3,788,834

Ratio of net debt to capital
57.9
%
 
57.9
%

The ratio of net debt to capital is a non-GAAP financial measure, which we calculate by dividing notes payable, net of homebuilding cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, by capital (notes payable, net of homebuilding cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, plus stockholders’ equity). The most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is the ratio of debt to capital. We believe

38


the ratio of net debt to capital is a relevant and useful financial measure to investors in understanding the degree of leverage employed in our operations.
HOMEBUILDING REPORTING SEGMENTS
West Coast. The following table presents financial information related to our West Coast homebuilding reporting segment for the periods indicated (dollars in thousands, except average selling price):
 
Nine Months Ended August 31,
 
Three Months Ended August 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
Variance
 
2015
 
2014
 
Variance
Revenues
$
932,905

 
$
707,532

 
32
 %
 
$
378,362

 
$
265,491

 
43
 %
Construction and land costs
(790,795
)
 
(554,871
)
 
(43
)
 
(318,331
)
 
(206,535
)
 
(54
)
Selling, general and administrative expenses
(57,810
)
 
(47,966
)
 
(21
)
 
(22,123
)
 
(17,368
)
 
(27
)
Operating income
84,300

 
104,695

 
(19
)
 
37,908

 
41,588

 
(9
)
Other expense, net
(8,123
)
 
(11,096
)
 
27

 
(2,139
)
 
(2,318
)
 
8

Pretax income
$
76,177

 
$
93,599

 
(19
)%
 
$
35,769

 
$
39,270

 
(9
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Homes delivered
1,498

 
1,288

 
16
 %
 
625

 
458

 
36
 %
Average selling price
$
571,500

 
$
549,300

 
4
 %
 
$
579,800

 
$
579,700

 
 %
The year-over-year increases in this segment’s total revenues for the three months and nine months ended August 31, 2015 reflected higher housing and land sale revenues. Housing revenues of $362.4 million for the 2015 third quarter grew 36% from $265.5 million for the year-earlier quarter due to an increase in the number of homes delivered across this segment’s operations as we delivered homes from more communities. For the nine months ended August 31, 2015, housing revenues of $856.1 million rose 21% from $707.5 million for the corresponding period of 2014, reflecting increases in both the number of homes delivered and the average selling price of those homes. The year-over-year growth in the number of homes delivered for the nine months ended August 31, 2015 was due to an increase in homes delivered from our coastal submarkets that was partly offset by a decrease from our inland submarkets. The average selling price for the nine months ended August 31, 2015 rose from the corresponding year-earlier period due to the combination of a greater proportion of homes delivered from higher-priced communities located in coastal submarkets, a shift in product mix, and generally rising home prices. This segment generated land sale revenues of $16.0 million for the three months ended August 31, 2015 and $76.8 million for the nine months ended August 31, 2015, primarily reflecting our sales of a large parcel in northern California and a parcel located in an inland southern California submarket. There were no land sale revenues in the corresponding year-earlier periods.
For the three months ended August 31, 2015, this segment’s pretax income decreased $3.5 million from the year-earlier period as a result of higher selling, general and administrative expenses, partly offset by land sale profits of $.6 million and a slight increase in housing gross profits. The housing gross profit margin decreased to 16.4% for the three months ended August 31, 2015 from 22.2% for the year-earlier period, mainly due to higher land and construction costs, a shift in product and geographic mix, and increased pricing pressures in some markets, partly offset by increased operating leverage as a result of higher deliveries and revenues. Sales incentives as a percentage of housing revenues in the third quarter of 2015 were slightly lower than in the year-earlier quarter. Selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended August 31, 2015 rose from the year-earlier quarter primarily due to higher variable expenses associated with the increase in homes delivered and housing revenues, and higher staffing levels to support delivery growth anticipated for the fourth quarter of 2015.
For the nine months ended August 31, 2015, pretax income from this segment decreased $17.4 million from the year-earlier period due to a decline in housing gross profits and an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses, partially offset by land sale profits of $6.2 million and a decrease in other expense, net. The housing gross profit margin decreased to 15.9% for the nine months ended August 31, 2015 from 21.6% for the year-earlier period, mainly for the reasons described above with respect to the three-month period ended August 31, 2015, as well as start-up field costs associated with community openings. Sales incentives as a percentage of housing revenues in the first nine months of 2015 were slightly lower than in the year-earlier period. Selling, general and administrative expenses for the nine months ended August 31, 2015 increased from the year-earlier period, primarily for the reasons described above with respect to the three months ended August 31, 2015. Other expense, net for the nine months ended August 31, 2015 decreased from the corresponding period of 2014, reflecting lower interest expense as a result of an increase in the amount of interest capitalized.

39


Southwest. The following table presents financial information related to our Southwest homebuilding reporting segment for the periods indicated (dollars in thousands, except average selling price):
 
Nine Months Ended August 31,
 
Three Months Ended August 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
Variance
 
2015
 
2014
 
Variance
Revenues
$
273,339

 
$
144,597

 
89
 %
 
$
128,021

 
$
50,101

 
156
 %
Construction and land costs
(226,962
)
 
(112,447
)
 
(102
)
 
(106,965
)
 
(39,691
)
 
(169
)
Selling, general and administrative expenses
(21,146
)
 
(16,112
)
 
(31
)
 
(7,873
)
 
(5,671
)
 
(39
)
Operating income
25,231

 
16,038

 
57

 
13,183

 
4,739

 
178

Other expense, net
(4,811
)
 
(8,439
)
 
43

 
(1,451
)
 
(2,196
)
 
34

Pretax income
$
20,420

 
$
7,599

 
169
 %
 
$
11,732

 
$
2,543

 
361
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Homes delivered
888

 
521

 
70
 %
 
372

 
185

 
101
 %
Average selling price
$
279,500

 
$
277,500

 
1
 %
 
$
285,200

 
$
270,800

 
5
 %
For the three months and nine months ended August 31, 2015, total revenues from this segment increased from the corresponding year-earlier periods, mainly due to higher housing and land sale revenues. This segment’s revenues for the three months and nine months ended August 31, 2014 were generated solely from housing operations. Housing revenues of $106.1 million for the 2015 third quarter grew 112% from the year-earlier quarter. For the nine months ended August 31, 2015, housing revenues of $248.2 million grew 72% from the nine months ended August 31, 2014. The substantial year-over-year growth in housing revenues for the three months and nine months ended August 31, 2015 was primarily driven by increases in the number of homes delivered from both our Arizona and Nevada operations as we delivered homes from more communities in those markets. In addition, the average selling prices of homes delivered for the three months and nine months ended August 31, 2015 increased from the comparable year-earlier periods. This segment generated land sale revenues of $21.9 million and $25.2 million for the three months and nine months ended August 31, 2015, respectively, associated with land sales in Nevada.
This segment’s pretax income for the three months ended August 31, 2015 increased $9.2 million from the corresponding period of 2014, mainly due to higher housing gross profits and a decrease in other expense, net that was partly offset by an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses. Housing gross profits increased primarily as a result of the higher volume of homes delivered. The housing gross profit margin decreased to 19.7% for the third quarter of 2015 from 20.8% for the year-earlier quarter, mainly due to higher land and construction costs, partly offset by improved operating leverage and a slight decrease in sales incentives as a percentage of housing revenues. The land sale activity in the third quarter of 2015 generated a nominal profit. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased in the third quarter of 2015 from the year-earlier quarter, primarily due to the growth in homes delivered and housing revenues, and higher staffing levels to support delivery growth anticipated for the fourth quarter of 2015. Other expense, net in the 2015 third quarter decreased from the year-earlier quarter due to lower interest expense as a result of an increase in the amount of interest capitalized.
For the nine months ended August 31, 2015, pretax income from this segment rose $12.8 million from the year-earlier period, reflecting an increase in housing gross profits and a decrease in other expense, net that was partly offset by an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses. Higher housing gross profits were mainly the result of the higher volume of homes delivered. The housing gross profit margin declined to 18.6% for the nine months ended August 31, 2015 from 22.2% for the nine months ended August 31, 2014, primarily for the reasons described above with respect to the three-month period ended August 31, 2015. The land sale activity for the nine months ended August 31, 2015 produced a nominal profit. Selling, general and administrative expenses for the first nine months of 2015 increased from the year-earlier period, mainly for the reasons described above with respect to the three-month period ended August 31, 2015 as well as community opening-related expenses for the nine months ended August 31, 2015 in connection with our community count expansion strategy. Other expense, net for the nine months ended August 31, 2015 decreased from the year-earlier period due to a decrease in interest expense, reflecting an increase in the amount of interest capitalized.
Central. The following table presents financial information related to our Central homebuilding reporting segment for the periods indicated (dollars in thousands, except average selling price):

40


 
Nine Months Ended August 31,
 
Three Months Ended August 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
Variance
 
2015
 
2014
 
Variance
Revenues
$
545,913

 
$
477,518

 
14
 %
 
$
210,417

 
$
179,972

 
17
 %
Construction and land costs
(445,298
)
 
(400,335
)
 
(11
)
 
(170,757
)
 
(149,817
)
 
(14
)
Selling, general and administrative expenses
(58,836
)
 
(51,480
)
 
(14
)
 
(21,628
)
 
(18,635
)
 
(16
)
Operating income
41,779

 
25,703

 
63

 
18,032

 
11,520

 
57

Other income (expense), net
221

 
(897
)
 
(a)

 
617

 
(6
)
 
(a)

Pretax income
$
42,000

 
$
24,806

 
69
 %
 
$
18,649

 
$
11,514

 
62
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Homes delivered
2,212

 
2,167

 
2
 %
 
822

 
807

 
2
 %
Average selling price
$
244,600

 
$
219,200

 
12
 %
 
$
256,000

 
$
223,000

 
15
 %
(a)
Percentage not meaningful.
This segment’s revenues for the three months ended August 31, 2015 and 2014 were generated solely from housing operations. For the nine months ended August 31, 2015 and 2014, this segment’s revenues were comprised of both housing and land sale revenues. Housing revenues for the third quarter of 2015 increased 17% from the year-earlier quarter. For the nine months ended August 31, 2015, housing revenues of $541.1 million grew 14% from $474.9 million for the nine months ended August 31, 2014. The year-over-year growth in housing revenues for the three months and nine months ended August 31, 2015 reflected higher average selling prices and slight growth in the number of homes delivered. The average selling prices for the three-month and nine-month periods ended August 31, 2015 rose from the corresponding periods of 2014, primarily due to a greater proportion of homes delivered from higher-priced communities and generally rising home prices. In the first nine months of 2015, this segment’s land sale revenues totaled $4.9 million, compared to $2.6 million in the year-earlier period.
Pretax income from this segment for the three months ended August 31, 2015 rose $7.1 million from the year-earlier period, mainly due to growth in housing gross profits that was partly offset by an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses. The housing gross profit margin increased to 18.8% for the third quarter of 2015 from 16.8% for the third quarter of 2014, primarily due to an increased proportion of homes delivered from higher margin communities, and improved operating leverage. Sales incentives as a percentage of housing revenues in the third quarter of 2015 were slightly lower than in the year-earlier quarter. Selling, general and administrative expenses for the 2015 third quarter rose from the corresponding period of 2014, mainly due to increased variable expenses associated with the increase in housing revenues.
The pretax income generated by this segment for the nine months ended August 31, 2015 improved by $17.2 million from the year-earlier period, reflecting higher housing gross profits and improvement in other income (expense), net, partly offset by higher selling, general and administrative expenses. The housing gross profit margin increased to 18.6% for the nine months ended August 31, 2015 from 16.2% for the year-earlier period, mainly for the reasons described above with respect to the three months ended August 31, 2015. For the nine months ended August 31, 2015 and 2014, profits from land sales were negligible. The year-over-year increase in selling, general and administrative expenses for the first nine months of 2015 was primarily due to the reasons described above with respect to the three-month period ended August 31, 2015. The year-over-year change in other income (expense), net for the nine months ended August 31, 2015 was mainly due to lower interest expense in 2015 as a result of an increase in the amount of interest capitalized.
Southeast. The following table presents financial information related to our Southeast homebuilding reporting segment for the periods indicated (dollars in thousands, except average selling price):
 
Nine Months Ended August 31,
 
Three Months Ended August 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
Variance
 
2015
 
2014
 
Variance
Revenues
$
286,739

 
$
267,247

 
7
 %
 
$
123,404

 
$
90,667

 
36
 %
Construction and land costs
(258,535
)
 
(235,636
)
 
(10
)
 
(111,495
)
 
(82,686
)
 
(35
)
Selling, general and administrative expenses
(42,856
)
 
(36,803
)
 
(16
)
 
(14,818
)
 
(13,261
)
 
(12
)
Operating loss
(14,652
)
 
(5,192
)
 
(182
)
 
(2,909
)
 
(5,280
)
 
45

Other expense, net
(6,313
)
 
(4,689
)
 
(35
)
 
(1,842
)
 
(2,685
)
 
31

Pretax loss
$
(20,965
)
 
$
(9,881
)
 
(112
)%
 
$
(4,751
)
 
$
(7,965
)
 
40
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

41


 
Nine Months Ended August 31,
 
Three Months Ended August 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
Variance
 
2015
 
2014
 
Variance
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Homes delivered
1,018

 
1,010

 
1
 %
 
417

 
343

 
22
 %
Average selling price
$
278,100

 
$
256,500

 
8
 %
 
$
287,300

 
$
264,300

 
9
 %
This segment’s total revenues for the three months and nine months ended August 31, 2015 and for the nine months ended August 31, 2014 were comprised of both housing and land sale revenues. For the three months ended August 31, 2014, this segment’s revenues were generated solely from housing operations. Housing revenues of $119.8 million for the third quarter of 2015 increased 32% from $90.7 million for the year-earlier quarter, reflecting increases in both the number of homes delivered and the average selling price of those homes. The year-over-year growth in the number of homes delivered for the third quarter of 2015 mainly occurred in our Florida and Washington D.C. operations. For the nine months ended August 31, 2015, housing revenues of $283.1 million grew 9% compared to $259.1 million for the corresponding period of 2014, largely due to an increase in the average selling price as the number of homes delivered remained nearly flat with the year-earlier period. The year-over-year increase in the average selling prices for the three months and nine months ended August 31, 2015 was primarily due to a greater proportion of homes delivered from higher-priced communities, a change in product mix and generally rising home prices. This segment generated $3.6 million of revenues from land sales in the three months and nine months ended August 31, 2015, and $8.1 million of revenues from land sales in the nine months ended August 31, 2014.
For the three months ended August 31, 2015, this segment’s pretax results improved $3.2 million from the year-earlier period mainly due to the inclusion of a $3.4 million inventory impairment charge in the year-earlier quarter related to a then-planned sale of our last remaining land parcel in Atlanta, Georgia, a former market where we do not have ongoing operations. This impairment charge was reflected as a land sale loss in the third quarter of 2014. Housing gross profits remained flat year over year as the increase in the number of homes delivered was offset by a decrease in the housing gross profit margin. The housing gross profit margin declined to 9.5% for the 2015 third quarter from 12.6% for the third quarter of 2014 as a result of the combined impact of higher land and construction costs, lower margins on homes delivered from recently activated communities, and a $3.2 million inventory impairment charge recognized in the current quarter. For the three months ended August 31, 2015, profits from land sales totaled $.6 million. Selling, general and administrative expenses rose in the third quarter of 2015 from the year-earlier period primarily due to increased variable expenses associated with the increase in homes delivered and housing revenues, and higher overhead costs to support new community openings. Other expense, net for the three months ended August 31, 2015 decreased from the corresponding period of 2014 due to lower interest expense as a result of an increase in the amount of interest capitalized.
The pretax loss from this segment for the nine months ended August 31, 2015 increased by $11.1 million compared to the year-earlier period, due to a decrease in housing gross profits and increases in both selling, general and administrative expenses and other expense, net. These impacts were partly offset by a year-over-year improvement in land sale results. The housing gross profit margin declined to 9.8% for the first nine months of 2015, compared to 13.1% for the year-earlier period, mainly for the reasons described above with respect to the three-month period ended August 31, 2015, as well as lower operating leverage and increased pricing pressures in certain markets, unfavorable warranty adjustments and $1.0 million of land option contract abandonment charges in the current period. Partially offsetting these impacts was the increase in our estimate of minimum probable recoveries for water intrusion-related issues. In the nine months ended August 31, 2015, land sale profits totaled $.6 million, compared to land sale losses of $2.4 million in the year-earlier quarter, including the inventory impairment charge of $3.4 million related to a then-planned land sale mentioned above. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased in the first nine months of 2015 primarily for the reasons described above with respect to the three-month period ended August 31, 2015, as well as an increase in the accrual for the estimated minimum probable loss with respect to the Florida Attorney General’s Office inquiry. Further discussion of the water intrusion-related issues and the Florida Attorney General’s Office inquiry is provided in Note 14. Commitments and Contingencies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this report. Other expense, net for the nine months ended August 31, 2015 reflected a decrease in interest expense that resulted from an increase in the amount of interest capitalized. In addition, other expense, net for the nine months ended August 31, 2014 included a $3.2 million gain on the sale of our interest in an unconsolidated joint venture in Maryland.
FINANCIAL SERVICES REPORTING SEGMENT
Our financial services reporting segment offers property and casualty insurance services and, in certain instances, earthquake, flood and personal property insurance to our homebuyers in the same markets as our homebuilding reporting segments, and provides title services in the majority of our markets located within our Central and Southeast homebuilding reporting segments. In addition, since July 2014, this segment has offered mortgage banking services, including mortgage loan originations, to our homebuyers indirectly through HCM, a joint venture of a subsidiary of ours and a subsidiary of Nationstar. As discussed in Note

42


2. Segment Information in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this report, prior to HCM’s operational launch on July 21, 2014, this segment earned revenues pursuant to the terms of a marketing services agreement with Nationstar.
Based on the number of homes delivered in the nine months ended August 31, 2015, 64% of our homebuyers used HCM to finance the purchase of their home, compared to 61% that used HCM or Nationstar in the year-earlier period. We expect to see increases in future periods if and as a greater percentage of our homebuyers obtain mortgage financing from HCM.
The following table presents a summary of selected financial and operational data for our financial services reporting segment (dollars in thousands):
 
Nine Months Ended August 31,
 
Three Months Ended August 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Revenues
$
7,351

 
$
8,014

 
$
2,953

 
$
2,983

Expenses
(2,802
)
 
(2,563
)
 
(910
)
 
(859
)
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures
3,023

 
(289
)
 
658

 
(277
)
Pretax income
$
7,572

 
$
5,162

 
$
2,701

 
$
1,847

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total originations (a):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans
3,167

 
290

 
1,236

 
290

Principal
$
796,641

 
$
70,345

 
$
325,366

 
$
70,345

Percentage of homebuyers using HCM
64
%
 
64
%
 
63
%
 
64
%
Average FICO score
719

 
713

 
718

 
713

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans sold (a):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans sold to Nationstar
2,977

 
51

 
960

 
51

Principal
$
777,880

 
$
12,503

 
$
264,180

 
$
12,503

Loans sold to third parties
122

 

 
57

 

Principal
$
23,100

 
$

 
$
12,047

 
$

(a)    Loan originations and sales occurred within HCM, which began operations on July 21, 2014.
Revenues. Financial services revenues totaled $3.0 million for each of the three-month periods ended August 31, 2015 and 2014. For the nine months ended August 31, 2015 and 2014, financial services revenues totaled $7.4 million and $8.0 million, respectively. The year-over-year decrease in our financial services revenues for the nine months ended August 31, 2015 was mainly due to the absence of marketing services revenues in the current period.
Expenses. General and administrative expenses totaled $.9 million for each of the three-month periods ended August 31, 2015 and 2014. For the nine months ended August 31, 2015 and 2014, general and administrative expenses totaled $2.8 million and $2.6 million, respectively.
Equity in Income (Loss) of Unconsolidated Joint Ventures. The equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures was $.7 million for the three months ended August 31, 2015, compared to the equity in loss of unconsolidated joint ventures of $.3 million for the three months ended August 31, 2014. For the nine months ended August 31, 2015, the equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures was $3.0 million, compared to the equity in loss of unconsolidated joint ventures of $.3 million for the nine months ended August 31, 2014. The equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures for the three months and nine months ended August 31, 2015 was primarily comprised of income from HCM.
INCOME TAXES
We recognized income tax expense of $10.7 million for the three months ended August 31, 2015 and $.3 million for the three months ended August 31, 2014. Our income tax expense for the nine months ended August 31, 2015 was $16.5 million, compared to $.8 million for the nine months ended August 31, 2014. Income tax expense for the three months ended August 31, 2015 reflected the favorable net impact of $2.5 million of federal energy tax credits we earned from building energy-efficient homes, resulting in an effective income tax rate of 31.5%. For the nine months ended August 31, 2015, our effective income tax rate of 28.9% reflected the favorable net impact of $5.6 million of federal energy tax credits. Our effective income tax rates for the three

43


months and nine months ended August 31, 2014 were not meaningful items due to the effects of the full valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets for those periods.
Our deferred tax assets of $851.2 million as of August 31, 2015 and $866.4 million as of November 30, 2014 were both partly offset by a valuation allowance of $41.2 million. The deferred tax asset valuation allowances as of August 31, 2015 and November 30, 2014 were primarily related to foreign tax credits and certain state NOL that had not met the “more likely than not” realization standard. Further information regarding our deferred tax asset valuation allowance is provided in Note 11. Income Taxes in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
The benefits of our NOL, built-in losses and tax credits would be reduced or potentially eliminated if we experienced an “ownership change” under Internal Revenue Code Section 382 (“Section 382”). Based on our analysis performed as of August 31, 2015, we do not believe we have experienced an ownership change as defined by Section 382, and, therefore, the NOL, built-in losses and tax credits we have generated should not be subject to a Section 382 limitation as of this reporting date.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Overview. We have funded our homebuilding and financial services activities over the last several years with:
internally generated cash flows;
public issuances of our common stock;
public issuances of debt securities;
land option contracts and other similar contracts and seller notes; and
letters of credit and surety bonds.
We also have the ability to borrow funds under the Amended Credit Facility. We manage our use of cash in the operation of our business to support the execution of our primary strategic goals. Over the past several years, we have primarily used cash for:

land acquisition and land development;
home construction;
operating expenses;
principal and interest payments on notes payable; and
cash collateral.
Our investments in land and land development moderated to $701.6 million for the nine months ended August 31, 2015 from $1.19 billion for the year-earlier period, reflecting our strategic focus on generating cash from operations in 2015 after having built a strong inventory pipeline over the past few years. Approximately 70% of our total investments in the nine months ended August 31, 2015 related to land development, compared to approximately 42% in the year-earlier period. While we made strategic investments in land and land development in each of our homebuilding reporting segments during the first nine months of 2015 and 2014, most were made in our West Coast segment. Our investments in land and land development in the future will depend significantly on market conditions and available opportunities that meet our investment return and marketing standards. However, given our present inventory pipeline, we expect our investment in land and land development for the year ended November 30, 2015 will moderate on an overall basis compared to the prior year and that a higher proportion of our investment will continue to be dedicated to land development, reflecting our emphasis in the current year to convert our owned land into new communities open for sales to promote growth in our net orders, backlog, homes delivered and revenues.
The following table presents the number of lots and the carrying value of inventory we owned or controlled under land option contracts and other similar contracts by homebuilding reporting segment (dollars in thousands):
 
 
August 31, 2015
 
November 30, 2014
 
Variance
Segment
 
Lots
 
$
 
Lots
 
$
 
Lots
 
$
West Coast
 
11,362

 
$
1,656,796

 
12,834

 
$
1,596,480

 
(1,472
)
 
$
60,316

Southwest
 
8,781

 
554,042

 
9,557

 
538,705

 
(776
)
 
15,337

Central
 
17,653

 
698,508

 
19,129

 
588,054

 
(1,476
)
 
110,454

Southeast
 
9,548

 
492,391

 
10,678

 
495,148

 
(1,130
)
 
(2,757
)
Total
 
47,344

 
$
3,401,737

 
52,198

 
$
3,218,387

 
(4,854
)
 
$
183,350

The number of lots owned or controlled under land option contracts and other similar contracts at August 31, 2015 decreased from November 30, 2014 largely due to homes delivered in the nine months ended August 31, 2015. The increase in the carrying value

44


of lots owned or controlled under land option contracts and other similar contracts at August 31, 2015 compared to November 30, 2014 reflected the investments we made in land and land development during the first nine months of 2015.
Overall, the number of lots we controlled under land option contracts and other similar contracts as a percentage of total lots decreased to 18% at August 31, 2015, compared to 21% at November 30, 2014. Generally, this percentage fluctuates with our assessments of opportunities to control (or abandon) lots under land option contracts and other similar contracts, compared to opportunities to purchase (or sell owned) lots, in accordance with our investment return and marketing standards.
We ended our 2015 third quarter with $378.0 million of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, compared to $383.6 million at November 30, 2014. Our balance of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents decreased to $353.0 million at August 31, 2015 from $356.4 million at November 30, 2014. The majority of our cash and cash equivalents at August 31, 2015 and November 30, 2014 were invested in money market funds and interest-bearing bank deposit accounts.
Capital Resources. Our notes payable consisted of the following (in thousands):
 
August 31,
2015
 
November 30,
2014
 
Variance
Mortgages and land contracts due to land sellers and other loans
$
41,244

 
$
38,250

 
$
2,994

Senior notes
2,359,488

 
2,308,275

 
51,213

Convertible senior notes
230,000

 
230,000

 

Total
$
2,630,732

 
$
2,576,525

 
$
54,207

Our higher debt balance at August 31, 2015 compared to November 30, 2014 was mainly due to the issuance of $250.0 million in aggregate principal amount of the 7.625% Senior Notes due 2023 in the first quarter of 2015. We used a portion of the net proceeds of approximately $247 million from this issuance to retire the remaining $199.9 million in aggregate principal amount of our 6 1/4% Senior Notes due 2015 at their maturity on June 15, 2015. The remainder of the net proceeds was used for general corporate purposes, including working capital, land acquisition and land development. Our financial leverage, as measured by the ratio of debt to capital, was 61.6% at August 31, 2015, compared to 61.8% at November 30, 2014. Our ratio of net debt to capital (a calculation that is described above under “Non-GAAP Financial Measures”) was 57.9% at August 31, 2015 and November 30, 2014.
LOC Facilities. As of August 31, 2015 and November 30, 2014, we had $24.7 million and $26.7 million, respectively, of letters of credit outstanding under the LOC Facilities. The LOC Facilities require us to deposit and maintain cash with the issuing financial institutions as collateral for our letters of credit outstanding. The amount of cash maintained for our LOC Facilities totaled $25.0 million at August 31, 2015 and $27.2 million at November 30, 2014, and these amounts were included in restricted cash on our consolidated balance sheets as of those dates.
Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility. On August 7, 2015, we entered into an amended and restated revolving loan agreement with a syndicate of financial institutions that increased the commitment under our Amended Credit Facility from $200.0 million to $275.0 million and extended its maturity from March 12, 2016 to August 7, 2019. The amount of our Amended Credit Facility available for cash borrowings and the issuance of letters of credit depends on the total cash borrowings and letters of credit outstanding under the Amended Credit Facility and the maximum available amount under the terms of the Amended Credit Facility. As of August 31, 2015, we had no cash borrowings and $1.7 million of letters of credit outstanding under the Amended Credit Facility. Therefore, as of August 31, 2015, we had $273.3 million available for cash borrowings under the Amended Credit Facility, with up to $135.8 million of that amount available for the issuance of letters of credit. The Amended Credit Facility is further described in Note 12. Notes Payable in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
Under the terms of the Amended Credit Facility, we are required, among other things, to maintain compliance with various covenants, including financial covenants relating to our consolidated tangible net worth, Leverage Ratio, and either an Interest Coverage Ratio or minimum level of liquidity, each as defined therein. Our compliance with these financial covenants is measured by calculations and metrics that are specifically defined or described by the terms of the Amended Credit Facility and can differ in certain respects from comparable GAAP or other commonly used terms. The financial covenant requirements are set forth below:
Consolidated Tangible Net Worth. We must maintain a minimum consolidated tangible net worth at the end of any fiscal quarter equal to the sum of (a) $1.13 billion, plus (b) an amount equal to 50% of the aggregate of the cumulative consolidated net income for each fiscal quarter commencing after May 31, 2015 and ending as of the last day of such fiscal quarter (provided that there shall be no reduction if there is a consolidated net loss in any such fiscal quarter), plus (c) an amount equal to 50%

45


of the cumulative net proceeds we receive from the issuance of our capital stock after May 31, 2015. As of August 31, 2015, our applicable minimum consolidated tangible net worth requirement was $1.14 billion.
Leverage Ratio. We must also maintain a Leverage Ratio of less than or equal to .70 for each fiscal quarter through and including the fourth quarter of 2016. This ratio adjusts to less than or equal to .65 for the first quarter of 2017 and each quarter thereafter during the term of the Amended Credit Facility.
Interest Coverage Ratio or Liquidity. We are also required to maintain either (a) an Interest Coverage Ratio of greater than or equal to 1.40 for each fiscal quarter through and including the second quarter of 2016, which adjusts to greater than or equal to 1.50 for the third quarter of 2016 and each quarter thereafter during the term of the Amended Credit Facility; or (b) a minimum level of liquidity, but not both. Our minimum liquidity is required to be greater than or equal to consolidated interest incurred, as defined under the Amended Credit Facility, for the four most recently ended fiscal quarters in the aggregate. As of August 31, 2015, our minimum liquidity requirement was $183.4 million.
In addition, under the Amended Credit Facility, our investments in joint ventures and non-guarantor subsidiaries (which are shown, respectively, in Note 8. Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures and in Note 19. Supplemental Guarantor Information in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this report) cannot exceed the sum of (a) approximately $117.4 million and (b) 20% of consolidated tangible net worth; and our borrowing base indebtedness, which is the aggregate principal amount of our outstanding indebtedness for borrowed money and non-collateralized financial letters of credit, cannot be greater than our borrowing base (a measure of our inventory and unrestricted cash assets).
The financial covenants under our Amended Credit Facility represent the most restrictive covenants that we are subject to with respect to our notes payable. The following table summarizes the financial covenants related to our consolidated tangible net worth, Leverage Ratio, either our Interest Coverage Ratio or minimum level of liquidity and other requirements under the Amended Credit Facility, each as defined therein, and our actual levels or ratios (as applicable) with respect to those covenants and other requirements, in each case as of August 31, 2015:
Financial Covenants and Other Requirements
 
Covenant Requirement
 
Actual
Consolidated tangible net worth
 
>
$1.14 billion
 
$1.64 billion
Leverage Ratio
 
<
.700
 
.616
Interest Coverage Ratio (a)
 
>
1.400
 
1.564
Minimum liquidity (a)
 
>
$183.4 million
 
$353.0 million
Investments in joint ventures and non-guarantor subsidiaries
 
<
$445.5 million
 
$111.0 million
Borrowing base in excess of borrowing base indebtedness (as defined)
 
 
n/a
 
$322.2 million
(a)
Under the terms of the Amended Credit Facility, we are required to meet either the Interest Coverage Ratio or a minimum level of liquidity, but not both. As of August 31, 2015, we met both the Interest Coverage Ratio and the minimum liquidity requirements.
The indenture governing the senior notes does not contain any financial covenants. Subject to specified exceptions, the indenture contains certain restrictive covenants that, among other things, limit our ability to incur secured indebtedness, or engage in sale-leaseback transactions involving property or assets above a certain specified value. In addition, the senior notes (with the exception of the 7 1/4% senior notes due 2018) contain certain limitations related to mergers, consolidations, and sales of assets.
Our obligations to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest under the senior notes and borrowings, if any, under the Amended Credit Facility are guaranteed on a joint and several basis by the Guarantor Subsidiaries. The guarantees are full and unconditional and the Guarantor Subsidiaries are 100% owned by us. We may also cause other subsidiaries of ours to become Guarantor Subsidiaries if we believe it to be in our or the relevant subsidiary’s best interests. Condensed consolidating financial information for our subsidiaries considered to be Guarantor Subsidiaries is provided in Note 19. Supplemental Guarantor Information in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
As of August 31, 2015, we were in compliance with the applicable terms of all our covenants under the Amended Credit Facility, the senior notes, the indenture, and the mortgages and land contracts due to land sellers and other loans. Our ability to access the Amended Credit Facility for cash borrowings and letters of credit and our ability to secure future debt financing depend, in part, on our ability to remain in such compliance. There are no agreements that restrict our payment of dividends other than to maintain compliance with the financial covenant requirements under the Amended Credit Facility, which would restrict our payment of

46


dividends if a default under the Amended Credit Facility exists at the time of any such payment, or if any such payment would result in such a default.
Depending on available terms, we finance certain land acquisitions with purchase-money financing from land sellers or with other forms of financing from third parties. At August 31, 2015, we had outstanding mortgages and land contracts due to land sellers and other loans payable in connection with such financing of $41.2 million, secured primarily by the underlying property, which had an aggregate carrying value of $145.0 million.
Consolidated Cash Flows. The following table presents a summary of net cash provided by (used in) our operating, investing and financing activities (in thousands):
 
Nine Months Ended August 31,
 
2015
 
2014
Net cash provided by (used in):
 
 
 
Operating activities
$
(22,084
)
 
$
(716,662
)
Investing activities
(9,055
)
 
(28,082
)
Financing activities
27,250

 
511,229

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
$
(3,889
)
 
$
(233,515
)
Operating Activities. Operating activities used net cash of $22.1 million in the nine months ended August 31, 2015 and $716.7 million in the corresponding period of 2014. Generally, our net operating cash flows fluctuate primarily based on changes in our inventories and our profitability. The year-over-year change in net operating cash flows for the nine months ended August 31, 2015 was largely due to a decrease in cash used for investments in land and land development.
Our net cash used in operating activities in the nine months ended August 31, 2015 mainly reflected net cash of $72.5 million used for investments in inventories, a net increase in receivables of $25.0 million, and a net decrease in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities of $2.0 million, partly offset by net income of $40.6 million. In the nine months ended August 31, 2014, our net cash used in operating activities was largely due to $784.5 million of net cash used for investments in inventories, a net increase in receivables of $27.8 million, and other operating uses of $7.6 million. Partially offsetting the cash used was net income of $65.5 million and a net increase in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities of $20.4 million.
Investing Activities. Investing activities used net cash of $9.1 million in the nine months ended August 31, 2015 and $28.1 million in the year-earlier period. In the nine months ended August 31, 2015, our uses of cash included $21.0 million for contributions to unconsolidated joint ventures and $2.1 million for net purchases of property and equipment. Partially offsetting the cash used was a return of investments in unconsolidated joint ventures of $14.0 million. In the nine months ended August 31, 2014, cash of $34.0 million used for contributions to unconsolidated joint ventures and $4.2 million used for net purchases of property and equipment was partly offset by proceeds of $10.1 million from the sale of our investment in an unconsolidated joint venture.
Financing Activities. Financing activities provided net cash of $27.3 million in the nine months ended August 31, 2015 and $511.2 million in the nine months ended August 31, 2014. The year-over-year change in cash provided by financing activities was largely due to the issuance of senior notes and common stock in the nine months ended August 31, 2014.
In the nine months ended August 31, 2015, cash was provided mainly by proceeds of $250.0 million from the issuance of the 7.625% Senior Notes due 2023 and a decrease of $2.2 million in our restricted cash balance. The cash provided was partly offset by cash used to retire the remaining $199.9 million in aggregate principal amount of our 6 1/4% Senior Notes due 2015 at their maturity on June 15, 2015, payments on mortgages and land contracts due to land sellers and other loans of $13.7 million, dividend payments on our common stock of $6.9 million, and the payment of debt issuance costs of $4.6 million associated with the issuance of the 7.625% Senior Notes due 2023 and the Amended Credit Facility. In the nine months ended August 31, 2014, cash was provided primarily by proceeds of $400.0 million from the issuance of the 4.75% senior notes due 2019 and net proceeds of $137.0 million from the underwritten public issuance of 7,986,111 shares of our common stock, and a decrease of $9.5 million in our restricted cash balance. The cash provided was partly offset by payments on mortgages and land contracts due to land sellers and other loans of $23.3 million, dividend payments on our common stock of $6.7 million, and the payment of debt issuance costs of $5.4 million associated with the issuance of the 4.75% senior notes due 2019.
During the three months ended August 31, 2015 and 2014, our board of directors declared, and we paid, a quarterly cash dividend of $.025 per share of common stock. Quarterly cash dividends declared and paid during the nine-month periods ended August 31, 2015 and 2014 totaled $.075 per share of common stock. The declaration and payment of future cash dividends on our common stock are at the discretion of our board of directors and depend upon, among other things, our expected future earnings, cash flows,

47


capital requirements, debt structure and any adjustments thereto, operational and financial investment strategy and general financial condition, as well as general business conditions.
In the present environment, we are managing our use of cash for investments to maintain and grow our business. Based on our current capital position, we believe that we will have adequate resources and sufficient access to the credit and capital markets and external financing sources to satisfy our current and reasonably anticipated long-term requirements for funds to acquire capital and land, to develop acquired land, to construct homes, to finance our financial services operations, and to meet other needs in the ordinary course of our business. In addition to acquiring and/or developing land that meets our investment return and marketing standards, in the remainder of 2015 we may use or redeploy our unrestricted cash resources or cash borrowings under the Amended Credit Facility to support other business purposes that are aligned with our primary strategic goals, including our growth and asset efficiency initiatives. We may also arrange or engage in capital markets, bank loan, project debt or other financial transactions. These transactions may include repurchases from time to time of our outstanding senior notes or other debt through redemptions, tender offers, exchange offers, private exchanges, open market or private purchases or other means, and may include potential new issuances of equity or senior or convertible senior notes or other debt through public offerings, private placements or other arrangements to raise or access additional capital to support our current land and land development investment targets, and for other business purposes and/or to effect repurchases or redemptions of our outstanding senior notes or other debt. As necessary or desirable, we may adjust or amend the terms of and/or expand the capacity of the Amended Credit Facility or the LOC Facilities, or enter into additional letter of credit facilities, or other similar facility arrangements, in each case with the same or other financial institutions, or allow any such facilities to mature or expire. Our ability to engage in such financial transactions, however, may be constrained by economic, capital, credit and/or financial market conditions, investor or financial institution interest and/or our current leverage ratios, and we can provide no assurance of the success or costs of any such transactions.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements, Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments
Unconsolidated Joint Ventures. As discussed in Note 8. Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this report, we have investments in unconsolidated joint ventures in various markets where our homebuilding operations are located. Our unconsolidated joint ventures had total combined assets of $201.2 million at August 31, 2015 and $182.2 million at November 30, 2014. Our investments in unconsolidated joint ventures totaled $72.8 million at August 31, 2015 and $79.4 million at November 30, 2014. As of August 31, 2015, one of our unconsolidated joint ventures had outstanding secured debt of $32.0 million under a construction loan agreement. The unconsolidated joint venture’s outstanding secured debt is non-recourse to us and is scheduled to mature in August 2018. While we and our partner in the unconsolidated joint venture provided certain guarantees and indemnities to the lender, we do not have a guaranty or any other obligation to repay or to support the value of the collateral underlying the unconsolidated joint venture’s outstanding secured debt under the construction loan agreement. We do not believe that our existing exposure under our guaranty and indemnity obligations related to the unconsolidated joint venture’s outstanding secured debt under the construction loan agreement is material to our consolidated financial statements. None of our other unconsolidated joint ventures had outstanding debt at August 31, 2015. None of our unconsolidated joint ventures had outstanding debt at November 30, 2014. In addition, none of our joint ventures at August 31, 2015 or November 30, 2014 were determined to be VIEs. All of our joint ventures were unconsolidated and accounted for under the equity method because we did not have a controlling financial interest.
Land Option Contracts and Other Similar Contracts. As discussed in Note 7. Variable Interest Entities in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this report, in the ordinary course of our business, we enter into land option contracts and other similar contracts with third parties and unconsolidated entities to acquire rights to land for the construction of homes. At August 31, 2015, we had total cash deposits of $42.8 million to purchase land having an aggregate purchase price of $941.6 million. At November 30, 2014, we had total deposits of $33.2 million, comprised of $33.1 million of cash deposits and $.1 million of letters of credit, to purchase land having an aggregate purchase price of $958.5 million. Our land option contracts and other similar contracts generally do not contain provisions requiring our specific performance. Our decision to exercise a particular land option contract or other similar contract depends on the results of our due diligence reviews and ongoing market and project feasibility analysis that we conduct after entering into such a contract. In some cases, our decision to exercise a land option contract or other similar contract may be conditioned on the land seller obtaining necessary entitlements, such as zoning rights and environmental and development approvals, and/or physically developing the underlying land by a pre-determined date. We typically have the ability not to exercise our rights to the underlying land for any reason and forfeit our deposits without further penalty or obligation to the sellers. If we were to acquire all of the land we controlled under our land option contracts and other similar contracts at August 31, 2015, we estimate the remaining purchase price to be paid would be as follows: 2015 – $129.9 million; 2016 – $413.7 million; 2017 – $110.4 million; 2018 – $71.4 million; 2019 – $41.7 million; and thereafter – $131.7 million.
In addition to the cash deposits, our exposure to loss related to our land option contracts and other similar contracts consisted of pre-acquisition costs of $60.0 million at August 31, 2015 and $48.0 million at November 30, 2014. These pre-acquisition costs and cash deposits were included in inventories in our consolidated balance sheets.

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We determined that as of August 31, 2015 and November 30, 2014 we were not the primary beneficiary of any VIEs from which we have acquired rights to land under land option contracts and other similar contracts. We also evaluate our land option contracts and other similar contracts for financing arrangements and, as a result of our evaluations, increased inventories, with a corresponding increase to accrued expenses and other liabilities, in our consolidated balance sheets by $89.4 million at August 31, 2015 and $3.1 million at November 30, 2014.
Contractual Obligations. Due to the issuance of the 7.625% Senior Notes due 2023 and the retirement of the 6 1/4% Senior Notes due 2015, both of which are further described in Note 12. Notes Payable in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this report, our contractual obligations as of August 31, 2015 have changed materially from those reported in Part II, Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2014. In addition, based on our evaluation of our land option contracts and other similar contracts for financing arrangements as of August 31, 2015, our inventory-related obligations changed materially from November 30, 2014. The following table sets forth our future cash requirements related to the contractual obligations of our long-term debt, interest and inventory-related obligations as of August 31, 2015 (in thousands): 

 
Total
 
2015
 
2016-2017
 
2018-2019
 
Thereafter
Contractual obligations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Long-term debt
$
2,636,244

 
$
15,835

 
$
290,409

 
$
930,000

 
$
1,400,000

Interest
869,011

 
59,368

 
343,131

 
254,970

 
211,542

Inventory-related obligations (a)
129,874

 
9,436

 
80,713

 
7,033

 
32,692

Total
$
3,635,129

 
$
84,639

 
$
714,253

 
$
1,192,003

 
$
1,644,234

(a)
Represents liabilities for inventory not owned associated with financing arrangements, as well as liabilities for fixed or determinable amounts associated with tax increment financing entity (“TIFE”) assessments. As homes are delivered, the obligation to pay the remaining TIFE assessments associated with each underlying lot is transferred to the homebuyer. As such, these assessment obligations will be paid by us only to the extent we do not deliver homes on applicable lots before the related TIFE obligations mature.
There have been no other significant changes in our contractual obligations from those reported in Part II, Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2014.
Critical Accounting Policies
The preparation of our consolidated financial statements requires the use of judgment in the application of accounting policies and estimates of uncertain matters. There have been no significant changes to our critical accounting policies and estimates during the three months ended August 31, 2015 from those disclosed in Part II, Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2014.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Recent accounting pronouncements are discussed in Note 1. Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
Outlook
We believe we are well-positioned to accomplish our top priorities for 2015, particularly in view of the favorable housing market conditions in most of our served markets and our backlog level and ending community count at August 31, 2015. Our present outlook is as follows:
We anticipate our investment in land and land development for 2015 to be in the range of $1.0 billion to $1.1 billion on an overall basis, compared to the $1.47 billion we invested in 2014, with a higher proportion of our current-year investment dedicated to land development in order to advance the conversion of our owned land into new communities open for sales.
We expect our average community count for the full year to increase more than 20% compared to 2014, depending on sales absorption rates and the timing of community close-outs.

49


We expect our housing gross profit margin for the fourth quarter of 2015 to improve sequentially to in excess of 18%.
This improvement is anticipated to result primarily through an increasing proportion of homes delivered from recently opened communities, which in many cases are projected to produce higher housing gross profit margins compared to those achieved in the first nine months of 2015; raising home selling prices as market conditions allow and capturing incremental revenue opportunities through various lot and product premiums, and design studio options and upgrades; containing increases in direct construction costs to the extent feasible; and delivering a higher number of homes, which will allow us to benefit from economies of scale and better operating leverage.
Sales incentives did not contribute to the year-over-year decline in our housing gross profit margin in the first three quarters of 2015 and are not expected to significantly impact our year-over-year housing gross profit margin comparisons in the fourth quarter.
While we believe we will generate substantial sequential improvement in our fourth quarter housing gross profit margin, we anticipate that our 2015 fourth quarter and full-year housing gross profit margin results will each be lower on a year-over-year basis.
We expect our overall 2015 fourth quarter housing revenues to be in the range of $1.04 billion to $1.10 billion, and our 2015 full-year housing revenues to be in the range of $2.97 billion to $3.03 billion.
Our future performance and the strategies we implement (and adjust or refine as necessary or appropriate) will depend significantly on prevailing economic and capital, credit and financial market conditions and on a fairly stable and constructive political and regulatory environment (particularly in regards to housing and mortgage loan financing policies), among other factors. However, we expect to achieve additional growth in the years ahead if and as housing markets continue to strengthen.
Forward-Looking Statements
Investors are cautioned that certain statements contained in this report, as well as some statements by us in periodic press releases and other public disclosures and some oral statements by us to securities analysts, stockholders and others during presentations, are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”). Statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or that include words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “hopes,” and similar expressions constitute forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that we may make or provide concerning future financial or operating performance (including without limitation future revenues, community count, homes delivered, net orders, selling prices, sales pace per new community, expenses, expense ratios, housing gross profits, housing gross profit margins, earnings or earnings per share, or growth or growth rates), future market conditions, future interest rates, and other economic conditions, ongoing business strategies or prospects, future dividends and changes in dividend levels, the value of our backlog (including amounts that we expect to realize upon delivery of homes included in our backlog and the timing of those deliveries), the value of our net orders, potential future asset acquisitions and the impact of completed acquisitions, future share issuances or repurchases, future debt issuances, repurchases or redemptions and other possible future actions are also forward-looking statements as defined by the Act. Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and projections about future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions about our operations, economic and market factors, and the homebuilding industry, among other things. These statements are not guarantees of future performance, and we have no specific policy or intention to update these statements. In addition, forward-looking and other statements in this report and in other public or oral disclosures that express or contain opinions, views or assumptions about market or economic conditions; the success, performance, effectiveness and/or relative positioning of our strategies, initiatives or operational activities; and other matters, may be based in whole or in part on general observations of our management, limited or anecdotal evidence and/or business or industry experience without in-depth or any particular empirical investigation, inquiry or analysis.
Actual events and results may differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors. The most important risk factors that could cause our actual performance and future events and actions to differ materially from such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following:
general economic, employment and business conditions;
population growth, household formations and demographic trends;
adverse market conditions, including an increased supply of unsold homes, declining home prices and greater foreclosure and short sale activity, among other things, that could negatively affect our consolidated financial statements, including due to additional impairment or land option contract abandonment charges, lower revenues and operating and other losses;
conditions in the capital, credit and financial markets (including mortgage lending standards, the availability of mortgage financing and mortgage foreclosure rates);
material prices and availability;

50


subcontracted trade labor costs and availability;
changes in interest rates;
inflation;
our debt level, including our ratio of debt to capital, and our ability to adjust our debt level, maturity schedule and structure and to access the equity, credit, capital or other financial markets or other external financing sources, including raising capital through the public or private issuance of common stock, debt or other securities, and/or project financing, on favorable terms;
our compliance with the terms and covenants of the Amended Credit Facility;
weak or declining consumer confidence, either generally or specifically with respect to purchasing homes;
competition for home sales from other sellers of new and resale homes, including lenders and other sellers of homes obtained through foreclosures or short sales;
the impact of weather events, significant natural disasters and other climate and environmental factors, including the severe prolonged drought conditions in the southwest United States and California;
government actions, policies, programs and regulations directed at or affecting the housing market (including the Dodd-Frank Act, tax credits, tax incentives and/or subsidies for home purchases, tax deductions for mortgage interest payments and property taxes, tax exemptions for profits on home sales, programs intended to modify existing mortgage loans and to prevent mortgage foreclosures and the standards, fees and size limits applicable to the purchase or insuring of mortgage loans by government-sponsored enterprises and government agencies), the homebuilding industry, or construction activities;
decisions regarding federal fiscal and monetary policies, including those relating to taxation, government spending, interest rates and economic stimulus measures;
the availability and cost of land in desirable areas;
our warranty claims experience with respect to homes previously delivered and actual warranty costs incurred, including our warranty claims and costs experience at certain of our communities in Florida;
costs and/or charges arising from regulatory compliance requirements or from legal, arbitral or regulatory proceedings, investigations, claims or settlements, including unfavorable outcomes in any such matters resulting in actual or potential monetary damage awards, penalties, fines or other direct or indirect payments, or injunctions, consent decrees or other voluntary or involuntary restrictions or adjustments to our business operations or practices that are beyond our current expectations and/or accruals;
our ability to use/realize the net deferred tax assets we have generated;
our ability to successfully implement our current and planned strategies and initiatives with respect to product, geographic and market positioning (including our efforts to expand our inventory base/pipeline with desirable land positions or interests at reasonable cost and to expand our community count, open additional new home communities for sales, sell higher-priced homes and more design options, increase the size and value of our backlog, and our operational and investment concentration in markets in California), revenue growth, asset optimization (including by effectively balancing home sales prices and sales pace in our new home communities), asset activation and/or monetization, local field management and talent investment, containing and leveraging overhead costs, gaining share and scale in our served markets and increasing our housing gross profit margins and profitability;
consumer traffic to our new home communities and consumer interest in our product designs and offerings, particularly from higher-income consumers;
cancellations and our ability to realize our backlog by converting net orders to home deliveries and revenues;
our home sales and delivery performance, particularly in key markets in California;
our ability to generate cash from our operations, enhance our asset efficiency, increase our operating income margin and/or improve our return on invested capital;
the manner in which our homebuyers are offered and whether they are able to obtain mortgage loans and mortgage banking services, including from HCM;
the performance of HCM;
information technology failures and data security breaches; and
other events outside of our control.
Please see our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2014 and other filings with the SEC for a further discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties applicable to our business.

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Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
We enter into debt obligations primarily to support general corporate purposes, including the operations of our subsidiaries. We are subject to interest rate risk on the senior notes. For fixed rate debt, changes in interest rates generally affect the fair value of the debt instrument, but not our earnings or cash flows. Under our current policies, we do not use interest rate derivative instruments to manage our exposure to changes in interest rates.
The following table presents principal cash flows by scheduled maturity, weighted average effective interest rates and the estimated fair value of our long-term fixed rate debt obligations as of August 31, 2015 (dollars in thousands):
Fiscal Year of Expected Maturity
 
Fixed Rate Debt
 
Weighted Average
Effective Interest Rate
2015
 
$

 
%
2016
 

 

2017
 
265,000

 
9.5

2018
 
300,000

 
7.3

2019
 
630,000

 
3.5

Thereafter
 
1,400,000

 
7.5

Total
 
$
2,595,000

 
6.9
%
Fair value at August 31, 2015
 
$
2,669,888

 
 
For additional information regarding our market risk, refer to Part II, Item 7A. “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2014.
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
We have established disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that information we are required to disclose in the reports we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and accumulated and communicated to management, including the President and Chief Executive Officer (the “Principal Executive Officer”) and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (the “Principal Financial Officer”), as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Under the supervision and with the participation of senior management, including our Principal Executive Officer and our Principal Financial Officer, we evaluated our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined under Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Based on this evaluation, our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of August 31, 2015.
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended August 31, 2015 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1.
Legal Proceedings
For a discussion of our legal proceedings, see Note 15. Legal Matters in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1. “Financial Statements” in this report.
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
Except as set forth below, there have been no material changes to the risk factors we previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2014.

Negative environmental impacts from, and legal and regulatory requirements in response to, severe and prolonged drought conditions in Arizona, California and Nevada could adversely affect our business and results of operations in those regions and our consolidated financial statements.


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Certain areas in which we operate, particularly parts of Arizona, California and Nevada, are experiencing extreme or exceptional drought conditions. In response to these conditions and concerns that they may continue for an extended period of time or worsen, government officials have taken, or have proposed taking, a number of steps to preserve potable water supplies. For instance, California has declared a state of emergency due to drought conditions, and the governor issued an executive order directing the State Water Resources Control Board (“SWRCB”) to impose restrictions to achieve a statewide 25% reduction in potable urban water use through February 28, 2016. In turn, the SWRCB adopted emergency regulations that, among other things, require local water agencies or other water suppliers to achieve 4% to 36% reductions in their water use, with each agency/supplier expected to implement its own plans and measures to achieve its respective water conservation target. The SWRCB’s emergency regulations also prohibited irrigation with potable water outside newly constructed homes and buildings not in accordance with conservation standards adopted by a separate state agency, which apply to structures over 2,500 square feet. To address the SWRCB’s conservation requirements and its own available potable water supplies, local water agencies/suppliers could potentially restrict, delay the issuance of, or proscribe new water connection permits for homes or businesses; increase the costs for securing such permits, either directly or by requiring participation in impact mitigation programs; adopt higher efficiency requirements for water-using appliances or fixtures; limit or ban the use of water for construction activities; impose requirements as to the types of allowed plant material or irrigation for outdoor landscaping that are more strict than state standards and less desired by consumers; and/or impose fines and penalties for noncompliance with any such measures. These local water agencies/suppliers could also increase rates and charges to residential users for the water they use, potentially increasing the cost of homeownership. It is uncertain if, where and to what extent these or additional conservation measures might be imposed by local water agencies/suppliers in California or by other federal, state or local lawmakers or regulators in Arizona, California and Nevada. However, if potable water supplies become further constrained due to persistent drought conditions, tighter conservation requirements may be imposed in Arizona, California and Nevada that could limit, impair or delay our ability to acquire land for homebuilding, develop land we own, market and sell homes and/or build and deliver homes (even if we have obtained water connection permits); increase our land development and home construction costs; or cause the fair value of affected land or land interests in our inventory to decline, which could result in inventory impairment or land option contract abandonment charges, or both; or negatively affect the economies of, or diminish consumer interest in living in, water-constrained areas. These impacts, individually or collectively, could adversely affect our business and consolidated financial statements, and the effect could be material.
Item 6.    Exhibits 
Exhibits
 
 
 
 
 
4.32
 
Form of 7.625% Senior Notes due 2023, filed as an exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 17, 2015 (File No. 001-09195), is incorporated by reference herein.
 
 
 
4.33
 
Form of officers’ certificates and guarantors’ certificates establishing the terms of the 7.625% Senior Notes due 2023, filed as an exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 17, 2015 (File No. 001-09195) is incorporated by reference herein.
 
 
 
10.59
 
Amended and Restated Revolving Loan Agreement, dated as of August 7, 2015, among us, the banks party thereto, and Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent.
 
 
 
31.1
 
Certification of Jeffrey T. Mezger, President and Chief Executive Officer of KB Home Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
 
31.2
 
Certification of Jeff J. Kaminski, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of KB Home Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
 
32.1
 
Certification of Jeffrey T. Mezger, President and Chief Executive Officer of KB Home Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
 
32.2
 
Certification of Jeff J. Kaminski, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of KB Home Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
 
101
 
The following materials from KB Home’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended August 31, 2015, formatted in eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (a) Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months and nine months ended August 31, 2015 and 2014, (b) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of August 31, 2015 and November 30, 2014, (c) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended August 31, 2015 and 2014, and (d) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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

 
KB HOME
Registrant
 




Dated
October 8, 2015
 
By:
/s/ JEFF J. KAMINSKI
 
 
 
 
Jeff J. Kaminski
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
 




Dated
October 8, 2015
 
By:
/s/ WILLIAM R. HOLLINGER
 
 
 
 
William R. Hollinger
Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal Accounting Officer)

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INDEX OF EXHIBITS
 
 
 
4.32
 
Form of 7.625% Senior Notes due 2023, filed as an exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 17, 2015 (File No. 001-09195), is incorporated by reference herein.
 
 
 
4.33
 
Form of officers’ certificates and guarantors’ certificates establishing the terms of the 7.625% Senior Notes due 2023, filed as an exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 17, 2015 (File No. 001-09195) is incorporated by reference herein.
 
 
 
10.59
 
Amended and Restated Revolving Loan Agreement, dated as of August 7, 2015, among us, the banks party thereto, and Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent.
 
 
 
31.1
 
Certification of Jeffrey T. Mezger, President and Chief Executive Officer of KB Home Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
 
31.2
 
Certification of Jeff J. Kaminski, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of KB Home Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
 
32.1
 
Certification of Jeffrey T. Mezger, President and Chief Executive Officer of KB Home Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
 
32.2
 
Certification of Jeff J. Kaminski, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of KB Home Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
 
101
 
The following materials from KB Home’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended August 31, 2015, formatted in eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (a) Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months and nine months ended August 31, 2015 and 2014, (b) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of August 31, 2015 and November 30, 2014, (c) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended August 31, 2015 and 2014, and (d) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

55