Press Release issued on August 8, 2007 announcing financial results

EX-99.1 2 dex991.htm PRESS RELEASE ISSUED ON AUGUST 8, 2007 ANNOUNCING FINANCIAL RESULTS Press Release issued on August 8, 2007 announcing financial results

Exhibit 99.1

LOGO


Contact:		W. Douglass Harris
		William Lyon Homes
		(949) 833-3600

WILLIAM LYON HOMES REPORTS SECOND QUARTER 2007 RESULTS

Financial Highlights

2007 Second Quarter

•

Net new home orders of 490, down 11%

•

New home deliveries of 548, down 29%

•

Backlog of homes sold but not closed at June 30, 2007 of 796, down 30% from 1,139 at June 30, 2006

•

Consolidated operating revenue of $271.1 million, down 34%

•

Homebuilding gross margin of $37.1 million, down 60%

•

Homebuilding gross margin percentage of 14.4%, down 850 basis points

•

Operating revenue from lots, land and other sales of $14.2 million as compared to $1.6 million in the second quarter of 2006

•

Impairment loss on real estate assets of $84.1 million

•

Pre-tax loss of $77.8 million compared to pre-tax income of $50.0 million in the second quarter of 2006

•

Net loss of $76.9 million compared to net income of $30.4 million in the second quarter of 2006

NEWPORT BEACH, CA—August 8, 2007—William Lyon Homes today reported pre-tax loss of $77,786,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2007, compared to pre-tax income of $49,978,000 for the comparable period a year ago. Consolidated operating revenue decreased 34% to $271,088,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2007 as compared to $408,254,000 for the comparable period a year ago.

The Company reported pre-tax loss for the six months ended June 30, 2007 of $71,982,000 compared to pre-tax income of $93,100,000 for the comparable period a year ago. Consolidated operating revenue decreased 33% to $477,129,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2007, as compared to $715,635,000 for the comparable period a year ago.

Operating revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006 included $14,168,000 and $1,630,000, respectively, from the sales of land resulting in gross profit of approximately $1,194,000 in 2007, compared to a gross loss of $708,000 in 2006. Operating revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006 included $27,529,000 and $1,630,000, respectively, from the sales of land resulting in gross profit of $2,762,000 in 2007, compared to a gross loss of $1,138,000 in 2006. In accordance with the Company’s long established policy, and in the ordinary course of business, the Company continually evaluates land sales as market and business conditions warrant.

The Company incurred impairment losses on real estate assets of $84,111,000 and $87,665,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, respectively. The impairments were primarily attributable to slower than anticipated home sales and lower than anticipated net revenue due to softening market conditions. Accordingly, the real estate assets were written-down to their estimated fair value.

Effective on January 1, 2007, the Company made an election in accordance with federal and state regulations to be taxed as an “S” corporation rather than a “C” corporation. Under this election, the Company’s taxable income flows through to and is reported on the personal tax returns of its shareholders. The shareholders are responsible for paying the appropriate taxes based on this election. The Company does not pay any federal taxes under this election and is only required to pay certain state taxes, based on a rate of approximately 1.5% of taxable income. As a result of this election, the Company’s provision for income taxes for the six months ended June 30, 2007 included a reduction of deferred tax assets of $31,887,000 due to the elimination of any future tax benefit by the Company from such assets. In addition, unused recognized built-in losses in the amount of $19,414,000 are no longer available to the Company.

The Company reported a net loss for the three months ended June 30, 2007 of $76,872,000, compared to net income of $30,381,000 for the comparable period a year ago. The Company reported a net loss of $103,456,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to net income of $56,595,000 for the comparable period a year ago.

Effective January 1, 2007, the company adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (“FIN 48”). FIN 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be considered “more-likely-than-not” to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The Company has taken positions in certain taxing jurisdictions for which it is more likely than not that previously unrecognized tax benefits will be recognized. In accordance with the provisions of FIN 48, effective January 1, 2007, the Company recorded an income tax refund receivable of $5,654,000 and recognized the associated tax benefit as an increase in additional paid-in capital. In connection therewith, the Company recorded interest receivable of $1,122,000 and recognized the associated tax benefit as an increase in retained earnings.

The Company’s consolidated results including joint ventures were as follows: The number of homes closed for the three months ended June 30, 2007 was 548 homes, down 29% from 768 homes closed for the three months ended June 30, 2006. The number of homes closed for the six months ended June 30, 2007 was 969, down 28% from 1,349 homes closed for the six months ended June 30, 2006.

Net new home orders for the three months ended June 30, 2007 decreased 11% to 490 homes as compared to 550 homes for the three months ended June 30, 2006. The average number of sales locations during the three months ended June 30, 2007 was 51, up 4% from 49 during the three months ended June 30, 2006. The Company’s number of new home orders per average sales location decreased to 9.6 for the three months ended June 30, 2007, as compared to 11.2 for the three months ended June 30, 2006. Net new home orders for the six months ended June 30, 2007 were 1,159 homes, down 3% from 1,197 homes for the six months ended June 30, 2006. The average number of sales locations during the six months ended June 30, 2007 was 52, up 8% from 48 during the six months ended June 30, 2006. The Company’s number of new home orders per average sales location decreased to 22.3 for the six months ended June 30, 2007, as compared to 24.9 for the six months ended June 30, 2006.

At June 30, 2007, the backlog of homes sold but not closed totaled 796 homes, down 30% from 1,139 homes at June 30, 2006. At June 30, 2007, the dollar amount of backlog of homes sold but not closed totaled $396,667,000, down 30% from $566,589,000 at June 30, 2006, and down 8% from $428,859,000 at March 31, 2007.

During the three months ended June 30, 2007, the average sales price of homes closed (including joint ventures) was $468,800, down 11% from $529,500 for the comparable period a year ago. The lower average sales price reflects a change in product mix and reduced sales prices and an increase in the use of sales incentives due to the slowing of new orders and competitive pressures.

The consolidated homebuilding gross margin percentage decreased to 14.4% for the three months ended June 30, 2007 from 22.9% for the three months ended June 30, 2006. These lower gross margin percentages were primarily due to the earlier close out of projects with higher gross margins, a shift in product mix, a decrease in average net sales prices and increases in land costs which resulted in higher cost of sales when homes closed.

Selected financial and operating information for the Company including joint ventures is set forth in greater detail in a schedule attached to this release.

The Company will hold a conference call on Thursday, August 9, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time to discuss the second quarter 2007 earnings results. The dial-in number is (866) 314-4483 (enter passcode number 53093515). Participants may call in beginning at 10:45 a.m. Pacific Time. In addition, the call will be broadcast from William Lyon Homes’ website at www.lyonhomes.com in the “Investor Relations” section of the site. The call will be recorded and replayed beginning on August 9, 2007 at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time through midnight on August 31, 2007. The dial-in number for the replay is (888) 286-8010 (enter passcode number 13606070). Replays of the call will also be available on the Company’s website approximately two hours after broadcast.

William Lyon Homes is primarily engaged in the design, construction and sale of single family detached and attached homes in California, Arizona and Nevada and at June 30, 2007 had 51 sales locations. The Company’s corporate headquarters are located in Newport Beach, California. For more information about the Company and its new home developments, please visit the Company’s website at www.lyonhomes.com.

Certain statements contained in this release that are not historical information contain forward- looking statements. The forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and actual results may differ materially from those projected or implied. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions of future events which may not prove to be accurate. Factors that may impact such forward-looking statements include, among others, changes in general economic conditions and in the markets in which the Company competes, the outbreak, continuation or escalation of war or other hostilities, including terrorism, involving the United States, changes in mortgage and other interest rates, changes in prices of homebuilding materials, weather, the occurrence of events such as landslides, soil subsidence and earthquakes that are uninsurable, not economically insurable or not subject to effective indemnification agreements, the availability of labor and homebuilding materials, changes in governmental laws and regulations, the timing of receipt of regulatory approvals and the opening of projects, and the availability and cost of land for future development, as well as the other factors discussed in the Company’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

WILLIAM LYON HOMES

SELECTED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING INFORMATION

(unaudited)


	Three Months Ended June 30,
	2007									2006
Selected Financial Information (dollars in thousands)	Wholly-Owned			Joint Ventures			Consolidated Total			Wholly-Owned			Joint Ventures			Consolidated Total
Homes closed		471			77			548			625			143			768

Home sales revenue	$	224,432		$	32,488		$	256,920		$	343,855		$	62,769		$	406,624
Cost of sales		(195,020	)		(24,849	)		(219,869	)		(267,592	)		(46,063	)		(313,655	)

Gross margin	$	29,412		$	7,639		$	37,051		$	76,263		$	16,706		$	92,969

Gross margin percentage		13.1	%		23.5	%		14.4	%		22.2	%		26.6	%		22.9	%

Number of homes closed
California		302			77			379			411			143			554
Arizona		86			—			86			133			—			133
Nevada		83			—			83			81			—			81

Total		471			77			548			625			143			768

Average sales price
California	$	561,300		$	421,900		$	533,000		$	639,700		$	438,900		$	587,900
Arizona		294,100			—			294,100			383,600			—			383,600
Nevada		356,800			—			356,800			369,400			—			369,400

Total	$	476,500		$	421,900		$	468,800		$	550,200		$	438,900		$	529,500

Number of net new home orders
California		302			47			349			222			82			304
Arizona		87			—			87			166			—			166
Nevada		54			—			54			80			—			80

Total		443			47			490			468			82			550

Average number of sales locations during period
California		30			6			36			25			6			31
Arizona		5			—			5			6			—			6
Nevada		10			—			10			12			—			12

Total		45			6			51			43			6			49

WILLIAM LYON HOMES

SELECTED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING INFORMATION (Continued)

(unaudited)


	As of June 30,
	2007						2006
	Wholly-Owned		Joint Ventures		Consolidated Total		Wholly-Owned		Joint Ventures		Consolidated Total
Backlog of homes sold but not closed at end of period
California		482		74		556		475		70		545
Arizona		166		—		166		446		—		446
Nevada		74		—		74		148		—		148

Total		722		74		796		1,069		70		1,139

Dollar amount of homes sold but not closed at end of period (in thousands)
California	$	299,542	$	32,487	$	332,029	$	346,766	$	30,040	$	376,806
Arizona		39,311		—		39,311		134,627		—		134,627
Nevada		25,327		—		25,327		55,156		—		55,156

Total	$	364,180	$	32,487	$	396,667	$	536,549	$	30,040	$	566,589

Lots controlled at end of period Owned lots
California		4,467		1,019		5,486		4,465		972		5,437
Arizona		4,716		1,745		6,461		4,333		1,738		6,071
Nevada		1,173		—		1,173		1,380		—		1,380

Total		10,356		2,764		13,120		10,178		2,710		12,888

Optioned lots (1)
California						1,163						3,786
Arizona						2,703						4,270
Nevada						1,013						2,122

Total						4,879						10,178

Total lots controlled
California						6,649						9,223
Arizona						9,164						10,341
Nevada						2,186						3,502

Total						17,999						23,066

(1)	Optioned lots may be purchased by the Company as wholly-owned projects or may be purchased by newly formed joint ventures.

WILLIAM LYON HOMES

SELECTED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING INFORMATION

(unaudited)


	Six Months Ended June 30,
	2007									2006
Selected Financial Information (dollars in thousands)	Wholly-Owned			Joint Ventures			Consolidated Total			Wholly-Owned			Joint Ventures			Consolidated Total
Homes closed		854			115			969			1,145			204			1,349

Home sales revenue	$	398,453		$	51,147		$	449,600		$	619,425		$	94,580		$	714,005
Cost of sales		(339,911	)		(37,966	)		(377,877	)		(477,186	)		(65,912	)		(543,098	)

Gross margin	$	58,542		$	13,181		$	71,723		$	142,239		$	28,668		$	170,907

Gross margin percentage		14.7	%		25.8	%		16.0	%		23.0	%		30.3	%		23.9	%

Number of homes closed
California		504			115			619			678			204			882
Arizona		224			—			224			232			—			232
Nevada		126			—			126			235			—			235

Total		854			115			969			1,145			204			1,349

Average sales price
California	$	571,900		$	444,800		$	548,300		$	642,800		$	463,600		$	601,300
Arizona		293,900			—			293,900			398,200			—			398,200
Nevada		352,200			—			352,200			388,200			—			388,200

Total	$	466,600		$	444,800		$	464,000		$	541,000		$	463,600		$	529,300

Number of net new home orders
California		683			137			820			530			166			696
Arizona		199			—			199			282			—			282
Nevada		140			—			140			219			—			219

Total		1,022			137			1,159			1,031			166			1,197

Average number of sales locations during period
California		31			6			37			25			6			31
Arizona		5			—			5			6			—			6
Nevada		10			—			10			11			—			11

Total		46			6			52			42			6			48

WILLIAM LYON HOMES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(in thousands)

(unaudited)


	Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
	2007			2006			2007			2006
Operating revenue
Home sales	$	256,920		$	406,624		$	449,600		$	714,005
Lots, land and other sales		14,168			1,630			27,529			1,630

		271,088			408,254			477,129			715,635

Operating costs
Cost of sales - homes		(219,869	)		(313,655	)		(377,877	)		(543,098	)
Cost of sales - lots, land and other		(12,974	)		(2,338	)		(24,767	)		(2,768	)
Impairment loss on real estate assets		(84,111	)		—			(87,665	)		—
Sales and marketing		(17,232	)		(16,779	)		(30,705	)		(29,903	)
General and administrative		(9,182	)		(17,832	)		(20,696	)		(36,421	)
Other		—			(661	)		(111	)		(1,487	)

		(343,368	)		(351,265	)		(541,821	)		(613,677	)

Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures		28			(19	)		(614	)		3,619

Minority equity in income of consolidated entities		(6,935	)		(6,312	)		(9,218	)		(11,538	)

Operating (loss) income		(79,187	)		50,658			(74,524	)		94,039
Financial advisory expenses		—			(1,600	)		—			(3,100	)
Other income, net		1,401			920			2,542			2,161

(Loss) income before benefit (provision) for income taxes		(77,786	)		49,978			(71,982	)		93,100

Benefit (provision) for income taxes:
Benefit (provision) for income taxes		914			(19,597	)		413			(36,505	)
Reduction of deferred tax assets as a result of election to be taxed as an “S” corporation for income tax purposes effective on January 1, 2007		—			—			(31,887	)		—

		914			(19,597	)		(31,474	)		(36,505	)

Net (loss) income	$	(76,872	)	$	30,381		$	(103,456	)	$	56,595

WILLIAM LYON HOMES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands except number of shares and par value per share)


	June 30, 2007		December 31, 2006
	(unaudited)
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$	15,909	$	38,732
Receivables		45,676		119,491
Real estate inventories
Owned		1,424,632		1,431,753
Not owned		151,319		200,667
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures		7,582		3,560
Property and equipment, less accumulated depreciation of $12,135 and $12,465 at June 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively		16,207		16,828
Deferred loan costs		10,351		11,258
Goodwill		5,896		5,896
Other assets		25,388		50,410

	$	1,702,960	$	1,878,595

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accounts payable	$	51,163	$	48,592
Accrued expenses		59,935		111,871
Liabilities from inventories not owned		102,153		131,564
Notes payable		337,046		304,096
7⁵/8% Senior Notes due December 15, 2012		150,000		150,000
10³/4% Senior Notes due April 1, 2013		247,381		247,218
7¹/2% Senior Notes due February 15, 2014		150,000		150,000

		1,097,678		1,143,341

Minority interest in consolidated entities		76,567		109,859

Stockholders’ equity
Common stock, par value $ .01 per share; 3,000 shares authorized; 1,000 shares outstanding at June 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively		—		—
		—		—
Additional paid-in capital		48,867		43,213
Retained earnings		479,848		582,182

		528,715		625,395

	$	1,702,960	$	1,878,595

WILLIAM LYON HOMES

SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA (dollars in thousands):


	Three Months Ended June 30,					Last Twelve Months Ended June 30,
	2007			2006		2007			2006
Net (loss) income	$	(76,872	)	$	30,381	$	(85,273	)	$	182,633
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	1,807		$	12,061	$	35,490		$	25,519
Interest incurred	$	18,665		$	20,577	$	77,120		$	79,887
Adjusted EBITDA (1)	$	17,609		$	63,682	$	139,997		$	363,517
Ratio of Adjusted EBITDA to interest incurred							1.82	x		4.55	x

Balance Sheet Data


	June 30,
	2007			2006
Stockholders’ equity	$	528,715		$	603,223
Total debt		884,427			806,283

Total book capitalization	$	1,413,142		$	1,409,506

Ratio of debt to total book capitalization		62.6	%		57.2	%
Ratio of debt to total book capitalization (net of cash)		62.2	%		56.3	%

Ratio of debt to LTM Adjusted EBITDA		6.32	x		2.22	x
Ratio of debt to LTM Adjusted EBITDA (net of cash)		6.20	x		2.14	x

(1)

Adjusted EBITDA means net income plus (i) provision for income taxes, (ii) interest expense, (iii) amortization of capitalized interest included in cost of sales, (iv) non-cash impairment charges, (v) depreciation and amortization and (vi) cash distributions of income from unconsolidated joint ventures less equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures. Other companies may calculate Adjusted EBITDA differently. Adjusted EBITDA is not a financial measure prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Adjusted EBITDA is presented herein because it is a component of certain covenants in the indentures governing the Company’s 7⁵/8% Senior Notes, 10³/4% Senior Notes and 7¹/2% Senior Notes (“Indentures”). In addition, management believes the presentation of Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to the Company’s investors regarding the Company’s financial condition and results of operations because Adjusted EBITDA is a widely utilized financial indicator of a company’s ability to service and/or incur debt.

The calculations of Adjusted EBITDA below are presented in accordance with the requirements of the Indentures. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative for net income, cash flows from operating activities and other consolidated income or cash flow statement data prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States or as a measure of profitability or liquidity. A reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA is provided as follows:


	Three Months Ended June 30,						Last Twelve Months Ended June 30,
	2007			2006			2007			2006
Net (loss) income	$	(76,872	)	$	30,381		$	(85,273	)	$	182,633
(Benefit) provision for income taxes		(914	)		19,597			43,900			118,482
Interest expense:
Interest incurred		18,665			20,577			77,120			79,887
Interest capitalized		(18,665	)		(20,577	)		(77,120	)		(79,887	)
Amortization of capitalized interest in cost of sales		10,707			13,038			50,282			58,258
Non-cash impairment charge		84,111			—			127,560			4,600
Depreciation and amortization		605			647			2,537			2,316
Cash distributions of income from unconsolidated joint ventures		—			—			—			5,307
Equity in (income) loss of unconsolidated joint ventures		(28	)		19			991			(8,079	)

Adjusted EBITDA	$	17,609		$	63,682		$	139,997		$	363,517

A reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities to Adjusted EBITDA is provided as follows:


	Three Months Ended June 30,						Last Twelve Months Ended June 30,
	2007			2006			2007			2006
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	1,807		$	12,061		$	35,490		$	25,519
Interest expense:
Interest incurred		18,665			20,577			77,120			79,887
Interest capitalized		(18,665	)		(20,577	)		(77,120	)		(79,887	)
Amortization of capitalized interest in cost of sales		10,707			13,038			50,282			58,258
State income tax refund from pre-quasi built-in losses		—			—			—			(1,855	)
Federal income tax refund from pre-quasi built-in losses		—			(1,820	)		—			(1,820	)
Minority equity in income of consolidated entities		(6,935	)		(6,312	)		(14,594	)		(37,150	)
Net changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Receivables		(4,341	)		8,824			(3,016	)		7,488
Real estate inventories		17,879			25,561			63,385			201,385
Real estate inventories-not owned		(6,150	)		—			(87,730	)		—
Deferred loan costs		(490	)		(429	)		(1,302	)		(1,614	)
Other assets		5,681			507			17,741			13,242
Accounts payable		(7,288	)		(19,846	)		24,750			(22,521	)
Accrued expenses		6,739			32,098			54,991			122,585

Adjusted EBITDA	$	17,609		$	63,682		$	139,997		$	363,517