-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, B0eOc09ZTlBx24bQm0aqK5DqyFIqp5/+GzVXXzPMwBGxKIjMxEEVvuLBpWuVjFYp J0pwi0bG+epKEF1d9Egmmg== 0001104659-08-032312.txt : 20080512 0001104659-08-032312.hdr.sgml : 20080512 20080512141255 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001104659-08-032312 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-Q PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 6 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20080331 FILED AS OF DATE: 20080512 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20080512 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: RYLAND GROUP INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000085974 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: OPERATIVE BUILDERS [1531] IRS NUMBER: 520849948 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MD FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-08029 FILM NUMBER: 08822404 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 24025 PARK SORRENTO STREET 2: SUITE 400 CITY: CALABASAS STATE: CA ZIP: 91302 BUSINESS PHONE: 8182237500 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: RYAN JAMES P CO DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19720414 10-Q 1 a08-11431_110q.htm 10-Q

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

[X]       Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2008

 

or

 

[  ]        Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the transition period from            to           .

 

Commission File Number:  001-08029

 

THE RYLAND GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Maryland

52-0849948

(State of Incorporation)

(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

 

 

24025 Park Sorrento, Suite 400

Calabasas, California 91302

              818-223-7500              

(Address and telephone number of principal executive offices)

 

Not Applicable

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.     þ  Yes    ¨  No

 

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.  (Check one:)

 

Large accelerated filer þ

Accelerated filer ¨

Non-accelerated filer ¨
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Smaller reporting ¨
company

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).   ¨  Yes   þ  No

 

The number of shares of common stock of The Ryland Group, Inc. outstanding on April 30, 2008, was 42,371,785.

 



 

THE RYLAND GROUP, INC.

FORM 10-Q

INDEX

 

 

 

PAGE NO.

PART I. Financial Information

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Financial Statements

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the Three

 

 

 

Months Ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 (Unaudited)

3

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2008 (Unaudited) and

 

 

 

December 31, 2007

4

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months

 

 

 

Ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 (Unaudited)

5

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity for the

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2008 (Unaudited)

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

7-22

 

 

 

 

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations

23-36

 

 

 

 

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About
Market Risk

37

 

 

 

 

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

37

 

 

 

PART II. Other Information

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

37

 

 

 

 

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

37

 

 

 

 

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and
Use of Proceeds

37

 

 

 

 

Item 6.

Exhibits

39

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

40

 

 

 

INDEX OF EXHIBITS

41

 

2


 


 

PART I.  Financial Information

Item 1.  Financial Statements

 

Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Unaudited)

 

The Ryland Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

 

 

THREE MONTHS ENDED

 

 

 

MARCH 31,

 

(in thousands, except share data)

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REVENUES

 

 

 

 

 

Homebuilding

 

$

399,600

 

$

691,363

 

Financial services

 

16,566

 

19,751

 

TOTAL REVENUES

 

416,166

 

711,114

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales

 

379,502

 

627,759

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

63,785

 

95,815

 

Financial services

 

9,979

 

11,728

 

Corporate

 

9,066

 

6,453

 

TOTAL EXPENSES

 

462,332

 

741,755

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EARNINGS (LOSS)

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings (loss) before taxes

 

(46,166

)

(30,641

)

Tax expense (benefit)

 

(16,850

)

(6,196

)

NET EARNINGS (LOSS)

 

$

(29,316

)

$

(24,445

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET EARNINGS (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

(0.69

)

$

(0.58

)

Diluted

 

(0.69

)

(0.58

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

42,232,186

 

42,484,837

 

Diluted

 

42,232,186

 

42,484,837

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE

 

$

0.12

 

$

0.12

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

3



 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

The Ryland Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

 

 

MARCH 31,

 

DECEMBER 31,

 

(in thousands, except share data)

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

213,284

 

$

243,614

 

Housing inventories

 

 

 

 

 

Homes under construction

 

705,096

 

717,992

 

Land under development and improved lots

 

980,430

 

1,017,867

 

Consolidated inventory not owned

 

70,768

 

76,734

 

Total inventories

 

1,756,294

 

1,812,593

 

Property, plant and equipment

 

72,337

 

75,538

 

Net deferred taxes

 

151,221

 

158,065

 

Other

 

256,245

 

261,510

 

TOTAL ASSETS

 

2,449,381

 

2,551,320

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

117,255

 

114,050

 

Accrued and other liabilities

 

333,772

 

404,545

 

Debt

 

839,351

 

839,080

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES

 

1,290,378

 

1,357,675

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MINORITY INTEREST

 

64,169

 

68,919

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $1.00 par value:

 

 

 

 

 

Authorized – 200,000,000 shares

 

 

 

 

 

Issued – 42,290,969 shares at March 31, 2008
(42,151,085 shares at December 31, 2007)

 

42,291

 

42,151

 

Retained earnings

 

1,048,688

 

1,078,521

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

3,855

 

4,054

 

TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

1,094,834

 

1,124,726

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

$

2,449,381

 

$

2,551,320

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

4



 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

 

The Ryland Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

 

 

THREE MONTHS ENDED

 

 

 

MARCH 31,

 

(in thousands)

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings (loss)

 

$

(29,316

)

$

(24,445

)

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to net cash
provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

8,258

 

23,823

 

Stock-based compensation expense

 

2,129

 

3,629

 

Inventory and other asset impairments and write-offs

 

28,038

 

65,582

 

Changes in assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Decrease in inventories

 

32,141

 

698

 

Net change in other assets, payables and other liabilities

 

(64,004

)

(218,727

)

Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation

 

(1,089

)

(2,214

)

Other operating activities, net

 

(738

)

(1,541

)

Net cash used for operating activities

 

(24,581

)

(153,195

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

Net additions to property, plant and equipment

 

(4,087

)

(11,353

)

Other investing activities, net

 

8

 

722

 

Net cash used for investing activities

 

(4,079

)

(10,631

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

Cash proceeds of long-term debt

 

-

 

63,500

 

Increase (decrease) in short-term borrowings

 

271

 

(4,418

)

Common stock dividends

 

(5,087

)

(5,166

)

Common stock repurchases

 

-

 

(43,413

)

Issuance of common stock under stock-based compensation

 

2,057

 

6,611

 

Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation

 

1,089

 

2,214

 

Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities

 

(1,670

)

19,328

 

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

 

(30,330

)

(144,498

)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

243,614

 

215,037

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD

 

$

213,284

 

$

70,539

 

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF NONCASH ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

Decrease in consolidated inventory not owned related to land options

 

$

(3,929

)

$

(16,483

)

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

5



 

 

Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity (Unaudited)

 

The Ryland Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

(in thousands, except share data)

 


COMMON
STOCK

 


RETAINED
EARNINGS

 

ACCUMULATED
OTHER
COMPREHENSIVE
INCOME

 

TOTAL
STOCKHOLDERS’
EQUITY

 

BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2007

 

$

42,151

 

$

1,078,521

 

$

4,054

 

$

1,124,726

 

Comprehensive income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings (loss)

 

 

 

(29,316

)

 

 

(29,316

)

Other comprehensive income, net of tax:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change in net unrealized gain on
cash flow hedging instruments and
available-for-sale securities,
net of taxes of $123

 

 

 

 

 

(199

)

(199

)

Total comprehensive income (loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(29,515

)

Common stock dividends (per share $0.12)

 

 

 

(5,099

)

 

 

(5,099

)

Stock-based compensation and related
income tax benefit

 

140

 

4,582

 

 

 

4,722

 

BALANCE AT MARCH 31, 2008

 

$

42,291

 

$

1,048,688

 

$

3,855

 

$

1,094,834

 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

6



 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

The Ryland Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

Note 1.  Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of The Ryland Group, Inc. and its 100 percent-owned subsidiaries (the “Company”).  Intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.  Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2008 presentation.  See Note A, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” in the Company’s 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K for a description of its accounting policies.

 

The consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2008, the consolidated statements of earnings and the consolidated statements of cash flows for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, have been prepared by the Company without audit.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments, including normally recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows at March 31, 2008, and for all periods presented, have been made.  Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the financial statements have been condensed or omitted.  These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and related notes included in the Company’s 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

The Company has historically experienced, and expects to continue to experience, variability in quarterly results.  Accordingly, the results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2008, are not necessarily indicative of the operating results expected for the year ended December 31, 2008.

 

Note 2.  Comprehensive Income

 

Comprehensive income consists of net earnings or losses and the increase or decrease in unrealized gains or losses on the Company’s available-for-sale securities, as well as the decrease in unrealized gains associated with its treasury locks, net of applicable taxes.  Comprehensive income totaled losses of $29.5 million and $24.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

Note 3.  Segment Information

 

The Company is a leading national homebuilder and mortgage-related financial services firm.  As one of the largest single-family on-site homebuilders in the United States, it builds homes in 28 markets.  The Company consists of six segments: four geographically determined homebuilding regions; financial services; and corporate.  The Company’s homebuilding operations consists of four regional reporting segments, referred to as North, Southeast, Texas and West.  The homebuilding segments specialize in the sale and construction of single-family attached and detached housing.  Its financial services segment includes Ryland Mortgage Company and its subsidiaries (“RMC”), Ryland Homes Insurance Company (“RHIC”), LPS Holdings Corporation and its subsidiaries (“LPS”) and Columbia National Risk Retention Group, Inc. (“CNRRG”).  The Company’s financial services segment provides loan origination and offers mortgage, title, escrow and insurance services.  Corporate is a nonoperating business segment with the sole purpose of supporting operations. Certain corporate expenses are allocated to the homebuilding and financial services segments, while certain assets relating to employee benefit plans have been attributed to other segments in order to best reflect the Company’s financial position and results of operations.

 

The Company evaluates performance and allocates resources based on a number of factors, including segment pretax earnings.  The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in Note 1, “Consolidated Financial Statements.”

 

7


 


 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

The Ryland Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

 

 

THREE MONTHS ENDED

 

 

 

MARCH 31,

 

(in thousands)

 

2008

 

2007

 

REVENUES

 

 

 

 

 

Homebuilding

 

 

 

 

 

North

 

$

122,082

 

$

194,015

 

Southeast

 

132,724

 

239,188

 

Texas

 

84,300

 

126,349

 

West

 

60,494

 

131,811

 

Financial services

 

16,566

 

19,751

 

Total

 

$

416,166

 

$

711,114

 

EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE TAXES

 

 

 

 

 

Homebuilding

 

 

 

 

 

North

 

$

(16,263

)

$

8,448

 

Southeast

 

(4,010

)

8,856

 

Texas

 

(544

)

5,932

 

West

 

(22,870

)

(55,447

)

Financial services

 

6,587

 

8,023

 

Corporate and unallocated

 

(9,066

)

(6,453

)

Total

 

$

(46,166

)

$

(30,641

)

 

Note 4.  Earnings Per Share Reconciliation

 

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:

 

 

 

THREE MONTHS ENDED

 

 

 

MARCH 31,

 

(in thousands, except share data)

 

2008

 

2007

 

NUMERATOR

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings (loss)

 

$

(29,316

)

$

(24,445

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

DENOMINATOR

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share weighted-average shares

 

42,232,186

 

42,484,837

 

Effect of dilutive securities

 

-

 

-

 

Diluted earnings per share adjusted weighted-average
shares and assumed conversions

 

42,232,186

 

42,484,837

 

NET EARNINGS (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

(0.69

)

$

(0.58

)

Diluted

 

(0.69

)

(0.58

)

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, the effect of outstanding restricted stock units and stock options was not included in the diluted earnings per share calculation as their effect would have been antidilutive due to the Company’s net loss for the respective quarter.

 

Note 5.  Inventories

 

Housing inventories consist principally of homes under construction, land under development and improved lots.  Inventory includes land and development costs; direct construction costs; capitalized indirect construction costs; capitalized interest; and real estate taxes.  Inventories to be held and used are stated at cost unless a community is determined to be impaired, in which case the impaired inventories are written down to fair value.  Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an

 

 

8



 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

The Ryland Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

asset may not be recoverable.  Recoverability of these assets is measured by comparing the carrying amount of an asset to future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by that asset or by the sales of comparable assets.  For inventory held and used, undiscounted cash flow projections are generated at a community level based on estimates of revenues, costs and other factors.  The Company’s analysis of these communities generally assumes flat revenues when compared with current sales orders for particular or comparable communities.  The Company’s determination of fair value is primarily based on discounting estimated cash flows at a rate commensurate with inherent risks that are associated with assets and related estimated cash flow streams.  When determining the values of inventory held-for-sale, the Company considers recent offers, comparable sales, and/or estimated cash flows.  Inventories to be held and used or disposed of are reported net of valuation reserves.  Write-downs of impaired inventories to fair value are recorded as adjustments to the cost basis of the respective inventory.  Valuation reserves related to impaired inventories amounted to $485.8 million and $488.1 million at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively.  The net carrying values of the related inventories amounted to $394.5 million and $388.3 million at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively.

 

Costs of inventory include direct costs of land and land development; material acquisition; and home construction expenses.  The costs of acquiring and developing land and constructing certain related amenities are allocated to the parcels to which these costs relate.  Interest and taxes are capitalized during the land development stage.

 

The following table is a summary of capitalized interest:

 

(in thousands)

 

2008

 

2007

 

Capitalized interest at January 1

 

$

119,267

 

$

98,932

 

Interest capitalized

 

11,615

 

15,393

 

Interest amortized to cost of sales

 

(6,324

)

(8,124

)

Capitalized interest at March 31

 

$

124,558

 

$

106,201

 

 

The following table summarizes each reporting segment’s total number of lots owned and lots controlled under option agreements:

 

 

 

MARCH 31, 2008

 

DECEMBER 31, 2007

 

 

 

LOTS

 

LOTS

 

 

 

LOTS

 

LOTS

 

 

 

 

 

OWNED

 

OPTIONED

 

TOTAL

 

OWNED

 

OPTIONED

 

TOTAL

 

North

 

5,724

 

5,549

 

11,273

 

5,999

 

5,787

 

11,786

 

Southeast

 

9,635

 

2,804

 

12,439

 

9,957

 

3,192

 

13,149

 

Texas

 

5,773

 

3,173

 

8,946

 

5,784

 

3,434

 

9,218

 

West

 

4,682

 

840

 

5,522

 

4,907

 

840

 

5,747

 

Total

 

25,814

 

12,366

 

38,180

 

26,647

 

13,253

 

39,900

 

 

Note 6.  Purchase Price in Excess of Net Assets Acquired

 

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142 (“SFAS 142”), “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” requires that goodwill and certain intangible assets no longer be amortized, but be reviewed for impairment at least annually.  Intangible assets with finite lives will continue to be amortized over their estimated useful lives. SFAS 142 also requires that goodwill included in the carrying value of equity-method investments no longer be amortized.

 

The Company performs impairment tests of its goodwill annually as of March 31, or as needed.  The Company tests goodwill for impairment by using the two-step process prescribed in SFAS 142.  The first step identifies potential impairment, while the second step measures the amount of impairment.  Goodwill is allocated to the reporting unit from which it originates.  As a result of the goodwill impairment testing, the Company has determined that there was no additional impairment at March 31, 2008.

 

 

9



 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

The Ryland Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

At March 31, 2008, the Company’s remaining goodwill totaled $2.8 million, net of $2.3 million of accumulated amortization, and is related to its Southeast region.

 

As a result of the Company’s application of the nonamortization provisions of SFAS 142, no amortization of goodwill was recorded during the three months ended March 31, 2008.

 

Note 7.  Variable Interest Entities (“VIE”)

 

Interpretation No. 46 (“FIN 46”), “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities,” requires a VIE to be consolidated by a company if that company is subject to a majority of the risk of loss from the VIE’s activities and/or entitled to receive a majority of the VIE’s residual returns.  FIN 46 also requires disclosures about VIEs that the Company is not obligated to consolidate but in which it has a significant, though not primary, variable interest.

 

The Company enters into joint ventures, from time to time, for the purpose of acquisition and co-development of land parcels and lots.  Its investment in these joint ventures may create a variable interest in a VIE, depending on the contractual terms of the arrangement.  Additionally, in the ordinary course of business, the Company enters into lot option purchase contracts in order to procure land for the construction of homes.  Under such lot option purchase contracts, the Company funds stated deposits in consideration for the right to purchase lots at a future point in time, usually at predetermined prices.  In accordance with the requirements of FIN 46, certain of the Company’s lot option purchase contracts may result in the creation of a variable interest in a VIE.

 

In compliance with the provisions of FIN 46, the Company consolidated $71.9 million of inventory not owned at March 31, 2008, pertaining to land and lot option purchase contracts representing the fair value of the optioned property; and a $1.1 million credit balance representing cost to complete for one of its homebuilding joint ventures.  (See Note 8, “Investments in Joint Ventures.”)  While the Company may not have had legal title to the optioned land or guaranteed the seller’s debt associated with that property, under FIN 46 it had the primary variable interest and was required to consolidate the particular VIE’s assets under option at fair value.  Additionally, to reflect the fair value of the inventory consolidated under FIN 46, the Company eliminated $8.0 million of its related cash deposits for lot option purchase contracts, which are included in “Consolidated inventory not owned.”  Minority interest totaling $63.9 million was recorded with respect to the consolidation of these contracts, representing the selling entities’ ownership interests in these VIEs.  At March 31, 2008, the Company had cash deposits and letters of credit totaling $12.3 million relating to lot option purchase contracts that were consolidated, representing its current maximum exposure to loss.  Creditors of these VIEs, if any, have no recourse against the Company.  At March 31, 2008, the Company had cash deposits and/or letters of credit totaling $43.1 million that were associated with lot option purchase contracts having an aggregate purchase price of $424.3 million and relating to VIEs in which it did not have a primary variable interest.

 

Note 8.  Investments in Joint Ventures

 

The Company enters into joint ventures, from time to time, for the purpose of acquisition and co-development of land parcels and lots.  Currently, the Company participates in seven homebuilding joint ventures in the Austin, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas and Orlando markets.  It participates in a number of joint ventures in which it has less than a controlling interest.  The Company recognizes its share of the respective joint ventures’ earnings from the sale of lots to other homebuilders.  It does not, however, recognize earnings from lots that it purchases from the joint ventures.  Instead, it reduces its cost basis in these lots by its share of the earnings from the lots.

 

 

10



 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

The Ryland Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

The following table summarizes each reporting segment’s total estimated share of lots owned and controlled by the Company under its joint ventures:

 

 

 

MARCH 31, 2008

 

DECEMBER 31, 2007

 

 

 

LOTS

 

LOTS

 

 

 

LOTS

 

LOTS

 

 

 

 

 

OWNED

 

OPTIONED

 

TOTAL

 

OWNED

 

OPTIONED

 

TOTAL

 

North

 

672

 

-

 

672

 

681

 

-

 

681

 

Southeast

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

45

 

-

 

45

 

Texas

 

199

 

-

 

199

 

189

 

-

 

189

 

West

 

410

 

1,209

 

1,619

 

410

 

1,209

 

1,619

 

Total

 

1,281

 

1,209

 

2,490

 

1,325

 

1,209

 

2,534

 

 

At March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the Company’s investments in its unconsolidated joint ventures totaled $24.4 million and $30.8 million, respectively, and were classified in the consolidated balance sheets under “Other” assets.  For the first quarter ended March 31, 2008, the Company’s equity in losses from unconsolidated joint ventures totaled $7.1 million, compared to equity in earnings of $35,000 for the same period in 2007.  The current quarter losses were primarily attributable to a $7.2 million impairment of its investment in a joint venture in the Company’s West region, partially offset by earnings from other unconsolidated joint ventures.

 

The aggregate assets of the unconsolidated joint ventures in which the Company participated were $762.2 million and $785.9 million at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively.  The aggregate debt of the unconsolidated joint ventures in which the Company participated totaled $489.8 million and $508.4 million at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively.  One of its joint ventures had assets of $646.8 million and $644.2 million at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively.  At March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, this same joint venture had debt of $435.3 million.  In this joint venture, the Company and its partners provided payment guarantees of debt on a pro rata basis.  At March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the Company had a 3.3 percent pro rata obligation for this debt, or $14.5 million, and a completion guarantee related to project development.  The debt related to this joint venture has been declared in default by the lenders to the joint venture.  Additionally, the Company has guaranteed up to 50.0 percent of a $55.0 million revolving credit facility for another of its unconsolidated joint ventures.  At March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the actual borrowings against the revolving credit facility for this joint venture were $54.1 million and $50.6 million, respectively, of which the Company’s pro rata share of debt was $27.0 million and $25.3 million, respectively.  These payment guarantees are subject to certain conditions before they mature.

 

At March 31, 2008, certain of the joint ventures in which the Company participated were consolidated in accordance with the provisions of FIN 46, as the Company was determined to have the primary variable interest in the entities.  In association with these consolidated joint ventures, the Company did not record any pretax earnings or losses for the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared to $77,000 of pretax earnings for the same period in 2007.  No assets were consolidated at March 31, 2008.  Total assets of $782,000, including consolidated inventory not owned, and minority interest of $1.1 million were consolidated at December 31, 2007.

 

Note 9.  Debt

 

At March 31, 2008, the Company had outstanding (a) $50.0 million of 5.4 percent senior notes due June 2008; (b) $250.0 million of 5.4 percent senior notes due May 2012; (c) $250.0 million of 6.9 percent senior notes due June 2013; and (d) $250.0 million of 5.4 percent senior notes due January 2015.  Each of the senior notes pays interest semiannually and may be redeemed at a stated redemption price, at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, at any time.

 

 

11



 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

The Ryland Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

During 2007, the Company redeemed $100.0 million of its 5.4 percent senior notes due June 2008.  The Company recognized an aggregate loss of approximately $490,000 that related to the early retirement of these notes.  (See “Financial Condition and Liquidity” within “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”)

 

The senior notes and indenture agreements are subject to certain covenants that include, among other things, restrictions on additional secured debt and the sale of assets.  The Company was in compliance with these covenants at March 31, 2008.

 

The Company’s amended unsecured revolving credit facility has a borrowing capacity of $750.0 million.  The facility matures in January 2011 and provides access to additional financing through an accordion feature, under which the aggregate commitment may be increased up to $1.5 billion, subject to the availability of additional lending commitments.  The revolving credit facility includes a $75.0 million swing-line facility and a $600.0 million sublimit for the issuance of standby letters of credit.  In February 2008, the Company entered into a Second Amendment to its $750.0 million credit facility.  The Second Amendment reduced the base amount for the minimum consolidated tangible net worth covenant the Company is required to maintain under its credit facility to $850.0 million; increased the borrowing base by adding unrestricted cash up to $300.0 million; and increased the definition of material indebtedness to $20.0 million.  Amounts borrowed under the credit agreement are guaranteed on a joint and several basis by substantially all of the Company’s 100 percent-owned homebuilding subsidiaries.  Such guarantees are full and unconditional.  Interest rates on outstanding borrowings are determined either by reference to LIBOR, with margins determined based on changes in the Company’s leverage ratio and credit ratings, or by reference to an alternate base rate. 

 

The credit facility is used for general corporate purposes and contains affirmative, negative and financial covenants, including a minimum consolidated tangible net worth requirement of $851.6 million at March 31, 2008; a permitted leverage ratio of 57.5 percent at March 31, 2008; as well as limitations on unsold home units, unsold land, lot inventory, investments and senior debt.  The Company was in compliance with these covenants at March 31, 2008.  There were no borrowings outstanding under the agreement at March 31, 2008 or December 31, 2007.  Letters of credit aggregating $147.2 million and $157.8 million were outstanding under the facility at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively.  Under the facility, the unused borrowing capacity totaled $602.8 million and $592.2 million at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively.  (See “Financial Condition and Liquidity” within “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”)

 

At March 31, 2008, the Company’s obligations to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest under its $750.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility; 5.4 percent senior notes due June 2008; 5.4 percent senior notes due May 2012; 6.9 percent senior notes due June 2013; and 5.4 percent senior notes due January 2015 are guaranteed on a joint and several basis by substantially all of its wholly-owned homebuilding subsidiaries.  Such guarantees are full and unconditional. (See Note 16, “Supplemental Guarantor Information.”)

 

To finance its land purchases, the Company may also use seller-financed nonrecourse secured notes payable.  At March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, outstanding seller-financed nonrecourse notes payable were $37.1 million and $39.1 million, respectively.

 

In January 2008, RMC entered into a mortgage warehouse line of credit with Guaranty Bank (the “RMC Credit Agreement”).  The RMC Credit Agreement, which matures in January 2009, provides for borrowings up to $40.0 million to fund RMC’s mortgage loan origination operations.  It is secured by underlying mortgage loans and by other assets of RMC.  Facility balances are repaid as loans funded under the agreement are sold to third parties.  The RMC Credit Agreement’s interest rate is set at LIBOR plus 0.9 percent, with a commitment fee of 0.125 percent.  The RMC Credit Agreement contains representations, warranties, covenants and provisions defining events of default.  The covenants require RMC to maintain certain financial ratios, including a tangible net worth minimum of $13.0 million, an adjusted tangible net worth minimum of $5.0 million, and a ratio of total indebtedness to adjusted tangible net worth of 12:1; and consolidated net income for the four proceeding fiscal quarters.  At March 31, 2008, the Company was in compliance with these covenants.  There was $2.2 million in outstanding borrowings against this credit facility at March 31, 2008.

 

 

12



 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

The Ryland Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

Note 10.  Fair Values of Financial Instruments

 

The fair values of financial instruments are based on quoted market prices, where available, or are estimated using other valuation techniques.  Estimated fair values are significantly affected by assumptions used.  Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157 (“SFAS 157”), “Fair-Value Measurements,” categorizes fair value measurements as level 1, level 2, or level 3, based on the type of inputs used in estimating fair value.  The table below sets forth information regarding the Company’s fair value measurement methods and values.

 

 

 

MARCH 31, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

QUOTED

 

VALUATION

 

VALUATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRICES

 

UTILIZES

 

UTILIZES

 

 

 

 

 

LOWER OF

 

IN ACTIVE

 

OBSERVABLE

 

UNOBSERVABLE

 

 

 

 

 

COST OR

 

MARKETS

 

INPUTS

 

INPUTS

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

MARKET

 

(LEVEL 1)

 

(LEVEL 2)

 

(LEVEL 3)

 

TOTAL

 

Loans held-for-sale

 

$

4,352

 

$

11,304

 

$

-

 

$

-

 

$

15,656

 

Interest rate lock commitments (“IRLCs”)

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

2,393

 

2,393

 

Forward delivery commitments

 

-

 

(229

)

-

 

-

 

(229

)

Options on futures contracts

 

-

 

170

 

-

 

-

 

170

 

Investor financing commitments (“IFCs”)

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

785

 

785

 

 

Loans held-for-sale, forward delivery commitments and options on futures contracts are valued based on quoted market exit prices.  Contractual principal amounts of loans held-for-sale as of March 31, 2008, totaled $16.2 million.  IRLCs are valued at the market price premium or deficit, plus servicing premium, multiplied by the projected close ratio.  The price is based on quoted market prices (level 1); the servicing premium is based on contractual investor guidelines for each product (level 2); and the projected close ratio is calculated using an external modeling system used widely within the industry which estimates customer behavior at an individual loan level (level 3).  Investor financing commitments are valued based on their intrinsic value, which is based on quoted market prices, plus a time value factor that is extrapolated from current market prices of similar contracts.

 

The Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159 (“SFAS 159”), “The Fair-Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115,” on a prospective basis for mortgage loans held-for-sale, effective January 1, 2008.  Accordingly loans held-for-sale that were originated subsequent to January 1, 2008 are measured at fair value.  Loans originated prior to that date are held at the lower of cost or market on an aggregate basis in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 65, “Accounting for Certain Mortgage Banking Activities.”  The application of SFAS 159 to loans held-for-sale improves consistency of loan valuation between the date of borrower lock and the date of loan sale.  The difference between aggregate fair value and aggregate unpaid principal balance as of March 31, 2008 for loans measured at fair value was $132,000 and accordingly this amount has been recognized as a gain in current earnings within financial services revenues.  The Company held two loans greater than 90 days past due, with carrying values of $416,000, or approximately 40 percent, of the unpaid loan balances, based on current market bids.

 

While recorded fair values represent management’s best estimate based on data currently available, future changes in interest rates or in market prices for mortgage loans, among other factors, could have a material impact on the value of these items.

 

 

13



 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

The Ryland Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

The following table represents a reconciliation of changes in fair values of level 3 items included in revenues under “Financial services:”

 

(in thousands)

 

IRLCs

 

IFCs

 

Fair value at January 1, 2008

 

$

298

 

$

15

 

(Gain) loss recognized on conversion to loans

 

(186

)

(1

)

Additions

 

2,373

 

771

 

Change in valuation of items held

 

(92

)

-

 

Fair value at March 31, 2008

 

$

2,393

 

$

785

 

 

Note 11.  Postretirement Benefits

 

The Company has supplemental nonqualified retirement plans, which generally vest over five-year periods beginning in 2003, pursuant to which the Company will pay supplemental pension benefits to key employees upon retirement.  In connection with these plans, the Company has purchased cost-recovery life insurance on the lives of certain employees.  Insurance contracts associated with the plans are held by trusts established as part of the plans to implement and carry out their provisions and finance their related benefits.  The trusts are owners and beneficiaries of such contracts.  The amount of coverage is designed to provide sufficient revenue to cover all costs of the plans if assumptions made as to employment term, mortality experience, policy earnings and other factors are realized.  At March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the cash surrender value of these contracts was $29.8 million and $28.5 million, respectively, and is included in “Other” assets.  The net periodic benefit cost of these plans for the three months ended March 31, 2008, was $3.0 million and included service costs of $762,000, interest costs of $346,000 and investment losses of $1.9 million.  The net periodic benefit cost of these plans for the three months ended March 31, 2007, was $1.1 million and included service costs of $895,000, interest costs of $277,000 and investment earnings of $67,000.  The $24.7 million and $24.0 million projected benefit obligations at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively, were equal to the net liability recognized in the balance sheet at those dates.  The weighted-average discount rate used for the plans was 7.9 percent and 7.7 percent for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

Note 12.  Income Taxes

 

Deferred tax assets are recognized for estimated tax effects that are attributable to deductible temporary differences and tax carryforwards related to tax credits and operating losses and are realized when existing temporary differences are carried back to profitable year(s) and/or carried forward to future years having taxable income.  Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if an assessment of their components indicates that it is more likely than not that some portion of the deferred tax asset will not be realized.  This assessment considers, among other things, the nature, frequency and severity of current and cumulative losses; forecasts of future profitability; the duration of the statutory carryforward periods; the Company’s experience with loss carryforwards not expiring unused; and tax planning alternatives.  The Company generated significant deferred tax assets in 2007 largely due to the inventory impairments it incurred during the year.  In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109 (“SFAS 109”), “Accounting for Income Taxes,” the valuation allowance is comprised of net state taxes, for which carrybacks are generally statutorily not allowed, and federal taxes that may not be realized through a carryback to a profitable year or be offset against taxable income in the near term.  At March 31, 2008, the Company has determined that the valuation allowance against the deferred tax assets taken in 2007 was sufficient, and no additional allowance was recorded in 2008.  To the extent that the Company generates sufficient taxable income in the future to utilize the tax benefits of related deferred tax assets, it expects to experience a reduction in its effective tax rate as the valuation allowance is reversed.

 

 

14



 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

The Ryland Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

The Company’s effective income tax benefit rate was 36.5 percent for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, compared to 20.2 percent for the same period in 2007.  The increase in tax benefit rate for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, compared to the same period in the prior year, was primarily due to a nondeductible goodwill impairment charge taken in the first quarter of 2007 and the impact of lower pretax earnings.

 

Note 13.  Stock-Based Compensation

 

All outstanding stock options, stock awards and restricted stock awards have been granted in accordance with the terms of the Company’s plans, all of which were approved by its stockholders.  Refer to Note I, “Stock-Based Compensation,” in the Company’s 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information regarding its stock plans.

 

The Company recorded $2.1 million and $3.6 million of stock-based compensation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.  Stock-based compensation expenses have been allocated to the Company’s business units and are reported in “Corporate,” “Financial services” and “Selling, general and administrative” expenses.

 

The Company has determined the grant-date fair value of stock options using the Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing formula.  No stock options were granted during the three months ended March 31, 2008 or 2007. Accordingly, no grant-date valuation data has been reported for these periods.

 

A summary of stock option activity in accordance with the Company’s plans as of March 31, 2008 and 2007, and changes for the three-month periods then ended follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WEIGHTED-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WEIGHTED-

 

AVERAGE

 

AGGREGATE

 

 

 

 

 

AVERAGE

 

REMAINING

 

INTRINSIC

 

 

 

 

 

EXERCISE

 

CONTRACTUAL LIFE

 

VALUE

 

 

 

SHARES

 

PRICE

 

 (in years)

 

(in thousands)

 

Options outstanding at January 1, 2007

 

4,164,142

 

$

31.29

 

5.02

 

 

 

Granted

 

-

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

Exercised

 

(145,830

)

14.02

 

 

 

 

 

Forfeited

 

(43,523

)

60.34

 

 

 

 

 

Options outstanding at March 31, 2007

 

3,974,789

 

$

31.60

 

4.82

 

$

63,935

 

Available for future grant

 

379,168

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total shares reserved at March 31, 2007

 

4,353,957

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Options exercisable at March 31, 2007

 

3,441,631

 

$

26.88

 

5.00

 

$

63,931

 

Options outstanding at January 1, 2008

 

4,034,166

 

$

35.44

 

4.31

 

 

 

Granted

 

-

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

Exercised

 

(139,884

)

10.48

 

 

 

 

 

Forfeited

 

(60,288

)

52.66

 

 

 

 

 

Options outstanding at March 31, 2008

 

3,833,994

 

$

36.08

 

4.13

 

$

29,378

 

Available for future grant

 

1,781,013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total shares reserved at March 31, 2008

 

5,615,007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Options exercisable at March 31, 2008

 

2,942,915

 

$

32.07

 

4.26

 

$

29,378

 

 

At March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, stock options or other stock awards or stock units available for grant totaled 1,781,013 and 1,680,725, respectively.  At the Annual Stockholders’ meeting in April 2008, the Company’s

 

15



 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

The Ryland Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

stockholders approved the 2008 Equity Incentive Plan, which permits the granting of an additional 1,300,000 stock options, restricted stock awards, stock units or any combination of the foregoing to employees.

 

The Company recorded stock-based compensation expense related to stock options of $1.6 million and $1.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

During the three-month periods ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, the total intrinsic values of stock options exercised were $2.9 million and $5.8 million, respectively.  The intrinsic value of a stock option is the amount by which the market value of the underlying stock exceeds the exercise price of the option.

 

The Company has made several restricted stock awards to senior executives under The Ryland Group, Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Plan and its predecessor plans.  Compensation expense recognized for such awards was $423,000 and $2.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

The following is a summary of activity relating to restricted stock awards:

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

Restricted shares at January 1

 

242,000

 

435,664

 

Shares awarded

 

-

 

25,000

 

Shares vested

 

-

 

(94,000

)

Shares forfeited

 

(40,000

)

-

 

Restricted shares at March 31

 

202,000

 

366,664

 

 

At March 31, 2008, the outstanding restricted shares will vest as follows:  2008—81,331; 2009—80,669; and 2010—40,000.

 

The Company has granted stock awards to its non-employee directors pursuant to the terms of The Ryland Group, Inc. 2006 Non-Employee Director Stock Plan.  The Company recorded stock-based compensation expense related to such grants in the amount of $131,000 and $267,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

Excess tax benefits of $1.1 million and $2.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively, have been classified as financing cash inflows in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

 

Note 14.  Commitments and Contingencies

 

In the normal course of business, the Company acquires rights under option agreements to purchase land or lots for use in future homebuilding operations.  At March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, it had related cash deposits and letters of credit outstanding that totaled $67.2 million and $74.7 million, respectively, for land options pertaining to land purchase contracts with an aggregate purchase price of $677.6 million and $721.4 million, respectively.  At March 31, 2008, the Company had commitments with respect to option contracts having specific performance provisions of approximately $22.2 million, compared to $24.2 million at December 31, 2007.

 

As an on-site housing producer, the Company is often required by some municipalities to obtain development or performance bonds and letters of credit in support of its contractual obligations.  At March 31, 2008, total development bonds were $256.7 million, while total related deposits and letters of credit were $53.1 million.  In the event that any such bonds or letters of credit are called, the Company would be required to reimburse the issuer; however, it does not expect that any currently outstanding bonds or letters of credit will be called.

 

At March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, one of the joint ventures in which the Company participates had debt of $435.3 million.  In this joint venture, the Company and its partners provided payment guarantees of debt on a pro rata basis.  The Company had a 3.3 percent pro rata obligation for the debt, or $14.5 million, at March 31, 2008

 

16



 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

The Ryland Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

and December 31, 2007, and a completion guarantee related to project development that would require the Company to pay a pro rata amount of additional development costs.  These payment guarantees are subject to certain conditions before they mature.  The joint venture, which is controlled by homebuilders other than the Company, has made an affirmative decision not to fund interest on an ongoing basis and, therefore, precipitated the declaration of an event of default and demand on completion guarantees by the lenders.  During the quarter ended March 31, 2008, the Company recorded a $7.2 million valuation reserve for all of its equity in the joint venture.  In another of its joint ventures, the Company has guaranteed up to 50.0 percent of a $55.0 million revolving credit facility.  At March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the actual borrowings against the revolving credit facility for this joint venture were $54.1 million and $50.6 million, respectively, of which the Company’s pro rata share of debt was $27.0 million and $25.3 million, respectively.

 

IRLCs represent loan commitments with customers at market rates generally up to 180 days before settlement.  At March 31, 2008, the Company had outstanding IRLCs totaling $160.8 million.  Hedging contracts are utilized to mitigate the risk associated with interest rate fluctuations on IRLCs.

 

Under rare circumstances, RMC is required to indemnify loan investors for losses incurred on sold loans.  In general, this obligation arises if the losses are due to errors by RMC, the borrower does not make their first payment, or when there has been undiscovered fraud on the part of the borrower.  Reserves for losses related to future indemnification or repurchase of sold loans was $2.2 million at March 31, 2008.

 

The Company provides product warranties covering workmanship and materials for one year, certain mechanical systems for two years and structural systems for ten years.  The Company estimates and records warranty liabilities based upon historical experience and known risks at the time a home closes, and in the case of unexpected claims, upon identification and quantification of the obligations.  Actual future warranty costs could differ from current estimates.

 

Changes in the Company’s product liability reserve during the period are as follows:

 

(in thousands)

 

2008

 

2007

 

Balance at January 1

 

$

36,557

 

$

44,102

 

Warranties issued

 

1,067

 

5,163

 

Settlements made

 

(3,170

)

(6,702

)

Balance at March 31

 

$

34,454

 

$

42,563

 

 

The Company requires substantially all of its subcontractors to have general liability insurance, which includes construction defect coverage, and workmans compensation insurance.  These insurance policies protect the Company against a portion of its risk of loss from claims, subject to certain self-insured retentions, deductibles and other coverage limits.  However, with fewer insurers participating, general liability insurance for the homebuilding industry has become more difficult to obtain over the past several years.  As a result, RHIC provides insurance services to the homebuilding segments’ subcontractors in certain markets.  At March 31, 2008, RHIC had $35.5 million in cash and cash equivalents, of which $13.5 million was restricted, and $29.1 million in subcontractor product liability reserves, which are included in the consolidated balance sheet under “Cash and cash equivalents” and “Accrued and other liabilities,” respectively.  At December 31, 2007, RHIC had $34.1 million in cash and cash equivalents, of which $13.5 million was restricted, and $28.3 million in subcontractor product liability reserves, which are included in the consolidated balance sheets.

 

Changes in the Company’s insurance reserves during the period are as follows:

 

(in thousands)

 

2008

 

2007

 

Balance at January 1

 

$

28,293

 

$

22,521

 

Insurance expense provisions

 

781

 

1,206

 

Balance at March 31

 

$

29,074

 

$

23,727

 

 

17



 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

The Ryland Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

The Company is party to various legal proceedings generally incidental to its businesses.  Litigation reserves have been established based on discussions with counsel and the Company’s analysis of historical claims.  The Company has, and requires the majority of its subcontractors to have, general liability insurance to protect it against a portion of its risk of loss and cover it against construction-related claims.  The Company establishes reserves to cover its self-insured retentions and deductible amounts under those policies.  Due to the high degree of judgment required in determining these estimated reserve amounts and the inherent variability in predicting future settlements and judicial decisions, actual future litigation costs could differ from the Company’s current estimates.  At March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the Company had legal reserves of $15.3 million.  (See “Part II. Item 1. Legal Proceedings.”)

 

Note 15.  New Accounting Pronouncements

 

SAB 109

In November 2007, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 109 (“SAB 109”), “Written Loan Commitments Recorded at Fair Value Through Earnings.”  SAB 109, which revises and rescinds portions of Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 105, “Application of Accounting Principles to Loan Commitments,” requires that the expected net future cash flows related to the associated servicing of a loan should be included in the measurement of all written loan commitments that are accounted for at fair value through earnings.  The provisions of SAB 109 are applicable to written loan commitments issued or modified beginning on January 1, 2008.  The Company adopted SAB 109 effective January 1, 2008.  At March 31, 2008, servicing rights of $2.4 million were included in net gains on the sale of mortgages and mortgage servicing rights, in accordance with SAB 109.  (See Note 10, “Fair Values of Financial Instruments.”)

 

SFAS 157

In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS 157.  SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles and expands disclosures about fair-value measurements.  SFAS 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years.  The Company adopted SFAS 157 effective January 1, 2008, and its impact was not material to its consolidated financial statements.

 

SFAS 159

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS 159.  SFAS 159 permits a company to measure certain financial instruments and other items at fair value. This statement is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007.  The Company adopted SFAS 159 effective January 1, 2008, and its impact was not material to its consolidated financial statements.

 

SFAS 158

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 158 (“SFAS 158”), “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans—an Amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106 and 132(R).”  SFAS 158 requires that the funded status of defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement plans be recognized in the balance sheet, along with a corresponding after-tax adjustment to stockholders’ equity.  The recognition of the funded status provision of SFAS 158 applies prospectively and was effective December 31, 2007.  SFAS 158 also requires measurement of plan assets and benefit obligations at the entity’s fiscal year-end, effective December 31, 2008.  SFAS 158 did not and is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

 

SFAS 160

In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 160 (“SFAS 160”), “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements, an Amendment of ARB No. 51.”  SFAS 160 establishes accounting and reporting standards pertaining to ownership interests in subsidiaries held by parties other than the parent; the amount of net income attributable to the parent and to the noncontrolling interest;

 

18



 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

The Ryland Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

changes in a parent’s ownership interest; and the valuation of any retained noncontrolling equity investment when a subsidiary is deconsolidated.  SFAS 160 also establishes disclosure requirements that clearly identify and distinguish between the interests of the parent and the interests of the noncontrolling owners.  SFAS 160 is required to be adopted prospectively for the first annual reporting period after December 15, 2008.  The Company is currently reviewing this statement and has not yet determined the impact, if any, on its consolidated financial statements.

 

SFAS 161

In March 2008, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 161 (“SFAS 161”),Disclosures About Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities—an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133.”  SFAS 161 expands the disclosure requirements in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” regarding an entity’s derivative instruments and hedging activities.  SFAS 161 is effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning January 1, 2009.  The Company does not expect the adoption of SFAS 161 to have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.

 

Note 16.  Supplemental Guarantor Information

 

The Company’s obligations to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest under its $750.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility; 5.4 percent senior notes due June 2008; 5.4 percent senior notes due May 2012; 6.9 percent senior notes due June 2013; and 5.4 percent senior notes due January 2015 are guaranteed on a joint and several basis by substantially all of its 100 percent-owned homebuilding subsidiaries (the “Guarantor Subsidiaries”).  Such guarantees are full and unconditional.

 

In lieu of providing separate financial statements for the Guarantor Subsidiaries, the accompanying condensed consolidating financial statements have been included.  Management does not believe that separate financial statements for the Guarantor Subsidiaries are material to investors and are, therefore, not presented.

 

The following information presents the consolidating statements of earnings, financial position and cash flows for (a) the parent company and issuer, The Ryland Group, Inc. (“TRG, Inc.”); (b) the Guarantor Subsidiaries; (c) the non-Guarantor Subsidiaries; and (d) the consolidation eliminations used to arrive at the consolidated information for The Ryland Group, Inc. and subsidiaries.

 

CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF EARNINGS

 

 

 

THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NON-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GUARANTOR

 

GUARANTOR

 

CONSOLIDATING

 

CONSOLIDATED

 

(in thousands)

 

TRG, INC.

 

SUBSIDIARIES

 

SUBSIDIARIES

 

ELIMINATIONS

 

TOTAL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REVENUES

 

$

248,512

 

$

160,387

 

$

16,566

 

$

(9,299

)

$

416,166

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate, general and administrative

 

274,145

 

187,507

 

9,979

 

(9,299

)

462,332

 

TOTAL EXPENSES

 

274,145

 

187,507

 

9,979

 

(9,299

)

462,332

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings (loss) before taxes

 

(25,633

)

(27,120

)

6,587

 

-

 

(46,166

)

Tax expense (benefit)

 

(9,356

)

(9,898

)

2,404

 

-

 

(16,850

)

Equity in net earnings (loss) of subsidiaries

 

(13,039

)

-

 

-

 

13,039

 

-

 

NET EARNINGS (LOSS)

 

$

(29,316

)

$

(17,222

)

$

4,183

 

$

13,039

 

$

(29,316

)

 

19



 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

The Ryland Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS

 

 

 

THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NON-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GUARANTOR

 

GUARANTOR

 

CONSOLIDATING

 

CONSOLIDATED

 

(in thousands)

 

TRG, INC.

 

SUBSIDIARIES

 

SUBSIDIARIES

 

ELIMINATIONS

 

TOTAL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REVENUES

 

$

431,370

 

$

270,913

 

$

21,352

 

$

(12,521

)

$

711,114

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate, general and administrative

 

447,678

 

293,269

 

13,329

 

(12,521

)

741,755

 

TOTAL EXPENSES

 

447,678

 

293,269

 

13,329

 

(12,521

)

741,755

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings (loss) before taxes

 

(16,308

)

(22,356

)

8,023

 

-

 

(30,641

)

Tax expense (benefit)

 

(3,298

)

(4,520

)

1,622

 

-

 

(6,196

)

Equity in net earnings (loss) of subsidiares

 

(11,435

)

-

 

-

 

11,435

 

-

 

NET EARNINGS (LOSS)

 

$

(24,445

)

$

(17,836

)

$

6,401

 

$

11,435

 

$

(24,445

)

 

CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET

 

 

 

MARCH 31, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NON-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GUARANTOR

 

GUARANTOR

 

CONSOLIDATING

 

CONSOLIDATED

 

(in thousands)

 

TRG, INC.

 

SUBSIDIARIES

 

SUBSIDIARIES

 

ELIMINATIONS

 

TOTAL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

9,859

 

$

153,127

 

$

50,298

 

$

-

 

$

213,284

 

Consolidated inventories owned

 

1,120,991

 

564,535

 

-

 

-

 

1,685,526

 

Consolidated inventories not
owned

 

1,067

 

6,892

 

62,809

 

-

 

70,768

 

Total inventories

 

1,122,058

 

571,427

 

62,809

 

-

 

1,756,294

 

Investment in subsidiaries/ intercompany receivables

 

735,956

 

-

 

-

 

(735,956

)

-

 

Other assets

 

356,126

 

87,112

 

36,565

 

-

 

479,803

 

TOTAL ASSETS

 

2,223,999

 

811,666

 

149,672

 

(735,956

)

2,449,381

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable and other
accrued liabilities

 

296,052

 

104,890

 

50,085

 

-

 

451,027

 

Debt

 

833,113

 

4,006

 

2,232

 

-

 

839,351

 

Intercompany payables

 

-

 

310,475

 

4,737

 

(315,212

)

-

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES

 

1,129,165

 

419,371

 

57,054

 

(315,212

)

1,290,378

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MINORITY INTEREST

 

-

 

-

 

64,169

 

-

 

64,169

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

1,094,834

 

392,295

 

28,449

 

(420,744

)

1,094,834

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

$

2,223,999

 

$

811,666

 

$

149,672

 

$

(735,956

)

$

2,449,381

 

 

20



 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

The Ryland Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET

 

 

 

DECEMBER 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NON-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GUARANTOR

 

GUARANTOR

 

CONSOLIDATING

 

CONSOLIDATED

 

(in thousands)

 

TRG, INC.

 

SUBSIDIARIES

 

SUBSIDIARIES

 

ELIMINATIONS

 

TOTAL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

12,908

 

$

172,363

 

$

58,343

 

$

-

 

$

243,614

 

Consolidated inventories owned

 

1,165,740

 

570,119

 

-

 

-

 

1,735,859

 

Consolidated inventories not
owned

 

1,179

 

6,940

 

68,615

 

-

 

76,734

 

Total inventories

 

1,166,919

 

577,059

 

68,615

 

-

 

1,812,593

 

Investment in subsidiaries/
intercompany receivables

 

758,282

 

-

 

2,028

 

(760,310

)

-

 

Other assets

 

363,781

 

95,239

 

36,093

 

-

 

495,113

 

TOTAL ASSETS

 

2,301,890

 

844,661

 

165,079

 

(760,310

)

2,551,320

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable and other
accrued liabilities

 

342,090

 

114,842

 

61,663

 

-

 

518,595

 

Debt

 

835,074

 

4,006

 

-

 

-

 

839,080

 

Intercompany payables

 

-

 

316,296

 

-

 

(316,296

)

-

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES

 

1,177,164

 

435,144

 

61,663

 

(316,296

)

1,357,675

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MINORITY INTEREST

 

-

 

-

 

68,919

 

-

 

68,919

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

1,124,726

 

409,517

 

34,497

 

(444,014

)

1,124,726

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

$

2,301,890

 

$

844,661

 

$

165,079

 

$

(760,310

)

$

2,551,320

 

 

CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

 

 

 

THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NON-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GUARANTOR

 

GUARANTOR

 

CONSOLIDATING

 

CONSOLIDATED

 

(in thousands)

 

TRG, INC.

 

SUBSIDIARIES

 

SUBSIDIARIES

 

ELIMINATIONS

 

TOTAL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net operating earnings (loss)

 

$

(29,316

)

$

(17,222

)

$

4,183

 

$

13,039

 

$

(29,316

)

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities

 

23,124

 

15,036

 

265

 

-

 

38,425

 

Changes in assets and liabilities

 

11,773

 

(9,104

)

(21,493

)

(13,039

)

(31,863

)

Other operating activities, net

 

(1,827

)

-

 

-

 

-

 

(1,827

)

Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities

 

3,754

 

(11,290

)

(17,045

)

-

 

(24,581

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net additions to property, plant and equipment

 

(1,957

)

(2,125

)

(5

)

-

 

(4,087

)

Other investing activities, net

 

-

 

-

 

8

 

-

 

8

 

Net cash (used for) provided by investing activities

 

(1,957

)

(2,125

)

3

 

-

 

(4,079

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Decrease) increase in debt

 

(1,961

)

-

 

2,232

 

-

 

271

 

Common stock dividends, repurchases and stock-based compensation

 

(1,941

)

-

 

-

 

-

 

(1,941

)

Intercompany balances

 

(944

)

(5,821

)

6,765

 

-

 

-

 

Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities

 

(4,846

)

(5,821

)

8,997

 

-

 

(1,670

)

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

 

(3,049

)

(19,236

)

(8,045

)

-

 

(30,330

)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

 

12,908

 

172,363

 

58,343

 

-

 

243,614

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD

 

$

9,859

 

$

153,127

 

$

50,298

 

$

-

 

$

213,284

 

 

21



 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

The Ryland Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

 

 

 

THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NON-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GUARANTOR

 

GUARANTOR

 

CONSOLIDATING

 

CONSOLIDATED

 

(in thousands)

 

TRG, INC.

 

SUBSIDIARIES

 

SUBSIDIARIES

 

ELIMINATIONS

 

TOTAL

 

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net operating earnings (loss)

 

$

(24,445

)  

$

(17,836

)  

$

6,401

 

$

11,435

 

$

(24,445

)

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to net
cash provided by operating activities

 

71,391

 

21,254

 

389

 

-

 

93,034

 

Changes in assets and liabilities

 

(134,336

)

(34,645

)

(37,613

)  

(11,435

)  

(218,029

)

Other operating activities, net

 

(3,755

)

-

 

-

 

-

 

(3,755

)

Net cash used for operating activities

 

(91,145

)

(31,227

)

(30,823

)

-

 

(153,195

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net additions to property, plant and equipment

 

(6,655

)

(4,797

)

99

 

-

 

(11,353

)

Other investing activities, net

 

-

 

-

 

722

 

-

 

722

 

Net cash (used for) provided by investing
activities

 

(6,655

)

(4,797

)

821

 

-

 

(10,631

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in debt

 

64,116

 

(5,034

)

-

 

-

 

59,082

 

Common stock dividends, repurchases and
stock-based compensation

 

(39,754

)

-

 

-

 

-

 

(39,754

)

Intercompany balances

 

46,722

 

(80,161

)

33,439

 

-

 

-

 

Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities

 

71,084

 

(85,195

)

33,439

 

-

 

19,328

 

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

(26,716

)

(121,219

)

3,437

 

-

 

(144,498

)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

 

43,129

 

129,079

 

42,829

 

-

 

215,037

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD

 

$

16,413

 

$

7,860

 

$

46,266

 

$

-

 

$

70,539

 

 

Note 17.  Subsequent Event

 

On May 1, 2008, Standard and Poor’s Ratings Services (“S&P”) downgraded the Company’s senior unsecured debt ratings from BBB- to BB+.  Because the Company has lost its investment grade rating from both Moody’s Investors Services and S&P, the Company is subject to a borrowing base limitation, as well as to restrictions on unsold home units and unsold land and lot inventory.  At March 31, 2008, the total borrowing capacity under the $750.0 million credit facility would have been reduced to $443.5 million, with $296.3 million available, had the restriction been in place.  Additional restrictions under the credit facility limit the ratio of the Company’s unsold home units to the trailing 6-month and 12-month unit home closings to 70.0 percent and 50.0 percent, respectively, and limit the ratio of its unsold land and lot inventory over consolidated tangible net worth to 1x.  Had these restrictions been in place at March 31, 2008, the Company would have been in compliance with these covenants.

 

22



 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

The Ryland Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

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

 

Note: Certain statements in this quarterly report may be regarded as “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and may qualify for the safe harbor provided for in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).  These forward-looking statements represent the Company’s expectations and beliefs concerning future events, and no assurance can be given that the results described in this quarterly report will be achieved.  These forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of statements that include words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “foresee,” “goal,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “plan,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will” or other similar words or phrases.  All forward-looking statements contained herein are based upon information available to the Company on the date of this quarterly report.  Except as may be required under applicable law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of the Company’s control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements.  The factors and assumptions upon which any forward-looking statements herein are based are subject to risks and uncertainties which include, among others:

 

·                  economic changes nationally or in the Company’s local markets, including volatility and increases in interest rates, inflation, changes in consumer demand and confidence levels and the state of the market for homes in general;

·                  instability and uncertainty in the mortgage lending market, including revisions to underwriting standards for borrowers;

·                  the availability and cost of land;

·                  increased land development costs on projects under development;

·                  shortages of skilled labor or raw materials used in the production of houses;

·                  increased prices for labor, land and raw materials used in the production of houses;

·                  increased competition;

·                  failure to anticipate or react to changing consumer preferences in home design;

·                  increased costs and delays in land development or home construction resulting from adverse weather conditions;

·                  potential delays or increased costs in obtaining necessary permits as a result of changes to laws, regulations or governmental policies (including those that affect zoning, density, building standards and the environment);

·                  delays in obtaining approvals from applicable regulatory agencies and others in connection with the Company’s communities and land activities;

·                  the risk factors set forth in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K; and

·                  other factors over which the Company has little or no control.

 

23



 

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of

 

Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Results of Operations

Overview

The Company consists of six operating business segments: four geographically determined homebuilding regions; financial services; and corporate.  The Company’s operations span all significant aspects of the homebuying process—from design, construction and sale to mortgage origination, title insurance, escrow and insurance services.  The homebuilding operations are, by far, the most substantial part of its business, comprising approximately 96 percent of consolidated revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2008.  The homebuilding segments generate nearly all of their revenues from the sale of completed homes, with a lesser amount from the sale of land and lots.

 

Over the last several years, the price appreciation of homes was relatively high in most markets and, in turn, attracted speculation.  Beginning in 2006, as appreciation slowed, declining consumer confidence and demand caused national homebuilders to experience increasing inventories, which resulted in a dramatic rise in the number of homes available for sale and a softening of demand for new homes.  During the latter half of 2007, a significant decrease in the availability of mortgage products resulting from increased industry loan delinquencies and foreclosure rates, and the related tightening of credit standards, further impacted the industry and the Company’s ability to attract qualified homebuyers.  These factors have exacerbated already high inventory levels of new and resale homes, increased cancellation levels and weakened consumer confidence.  Consequently, the Company continued to report declines in the volume of homes sold, decreases in prices, high sales contract cancellation rates and additional valuation adjustments.  In an effort to compensate for these developments, it has amended its operating strategy to focus on cash generation and risk moderation through increased sales price discounts and other incentives; opportunistic land sales; reductions in excess inventory and commitments to purchase land in the future through contract renegotiations and cancellations; controlled development spending; renegotiations of contracts with subcontractors and suppliers; and reductions in overhead expense to more closely match projected volume levels.

 

Due to the Company’s increased use of price reductions and sales incentives, evaluation of its inventory through quarterly impairment analyses during the quarter ended March 31, 2008, resulted in $18.2 million of inventory valuation adjustments.  Charges of $2.1 million related to the abandonment of land purchase option contracts, reflect the deterioration of specific related returns and the assumption that recent price reductions are indicative of price levels for the foreseeable future.  Additionally, the Company recorded a $7.2 million impairment charge related to one of its unconsolidated joint ventures.

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2008, the Company reported a consolidated net loss of $29.3 million, or $0.69 per diluted share, compared to a loss of $24.4 million, or $0.58 per diluted share, for 2007.  The decrease in earnings for 2008, compared to 2007, was due to a decline in revenues and lower margins, the latter resulting from inventory valuation adjustments and other write-offs, as well as from a more competitive sales environment in most markets.

 

The Company’s revenues were $416.2 million for the first quarter of 2008, down 41.5 percent from the first quarter of 2007.  This decrease was primarily attributable to a decline in closings, average closing price and mortgage originations.  Revenues for the homebuilding and financial services segments were $399.6 million and $16.6 million, respectively, for the first quarter of 2008, compared to $691.4 million and $19.8 million, respectively, for the same period in 2007.

 

As a result of declining sales trends, new orders decreased 27.8 percent to 2,159 units for the first quarter ended March 31, 2008, from 2,989 units for the same period in 2007.  New order dollars decreased 39.7 percent for the first quarter of 2008, compared to the first quarter of 2007, primarily reflecting reduced demand in the housing market.

 

24



 

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of

 

Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Consolidated inventories owned by the Company, which include homes under construction, land under development and improved lots, declined 2.9 percent to $1,685.5 million at March 31, 2008, from $1,735.9 million at December 31, 2007.  Land under development and improved lots decreased by 3.7 percent to $980.4 million at March 31, 2008, compared to December 31, 2007.

 

The Company did not repurchase any stock during the first quarter of 2008.  At March 31, 2008, outstanding shares were 42,290,969, versus 42,151,085 at December 31, 2007.

 

The Company’s balance sheet continues to reflect its conservative strategy and transparency.  The Company ended the quarter with $213.3 million in cash and no borrowings against its $750.0 million revolving credit facility.  The Company was not a significant participant in off-balance sheet financing outside of traditional option contracts with land developers, and its investments in joint ventures represented less than one percent of its total assets.  The Company’s net debt-to-capital ratio was 36.4 percent at March 31, 2008, compared to 34.6 percent at December 31, 2007.  As a result of valuation adjustments and a loss from operations, stockholders’ equity per share declined to $25.89 as of March 31, 2008, compared to $26.68 as of December 31, 2007.  The Company’s book value at March 31, 2008, was 99.7 percent tangible.

 

Homebuilding Overview

The Company’s homes are built on-site and marketed in four major geographic regions, or segments. The Company operated in the following metropolitan areas at March 31, 2008:

 

Region/Segment

Major Markets Served

North

Baltimore, Chicago, Cincinnati, Delaware, Indianapolis, Minneapolis and Washington, D.C.

Southeast

Atlanta, Charleston, Charlotte, Fort Myers, Greensboro, Greenville, Jacksonville, Myrtle Beach, Orlando and Tampa

Texas

Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio

West

California’s Central Valley, California’s Coachella Valley, California’s Inland Empire, Denver, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Sacramento

 

The combined homebuilding operations reported pretax losses of $43.7 million for 2008, compared to losses of $32.2 million for 2007.  Homebuilding results in 2008 decreased from 2007 primarily due to a decline in closings and margins, as well as to the impact of inventory, joint venture and other valuation adjustments and write-offs.

 

25



 

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of

 

Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

STATEMENT OF EARNINGS

 

 

 

THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31,

 

(in thousands, except units)

 

2008

 

2007

 

REVENUES

 

 

 

 

 

Housing

 

$

396,777

 

$

685,763

 

Land and other

 

2,823

 

5,600

 

TOTAL REVENUES

 

399,600

 

691,363

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales

 

 

 

 

 

Housing

 

349,648

 

557,686

 

Land and other

 

1,824

 

5,104

 

Valuation adjustments and write-offs

 

28,030

 

64,969

 

Total cost of sales

 

379,502

 

627,759

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

63,785

 

95,815

 

TOTAL EXPENSES

 

443,287

 

723,574

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRETAX EARNINGS (LOSS)

 

$

(43,687

)

$

(32,211

)

Closings (units)

 

1,543

 

2,302

 

Housing gross profit margins

 

4.8

%

9.2

%

Selling, general and administrative

 

16.0

%

13.9

%

 

In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144 (“SFAS 144”), “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,” inventory is reviewed for potential write-downs on an ongoing basis.  SFAS 144 requires that, in the event that impairment indicators are present, impairment charges are required to be recorded if the fair value of such assets is less than their carrying amounts.  For inventory held and used, undiscounted cash flow projections are generated at a community level based on estimates of revenues, costs and other factors.  The Company’s analysis of these communities generally assumes flat revenues when compared with current sales orders for particular or comparable communities.  The Company’s determination of fair value is primarily based on discounting the estimated cash flows at a rate commensurate with inherent risks that are associated with assets and related estimated cash flow streams.  When determining the values of investory held-for-sale, the Company considers recent offers, comparable sales, and/or estimated cash flows.  Valuation adjustments are recorded against homes completed or under construction, land under development and improved lots when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying values are greater than the fair values.  Due to continued pressure on home prices symptomatic of excess home inventories in many markets combined with the industry’s recent predisposition toward a reduction in land option pipelines, the Company recorded inventory impairment charges of $18.2 million and $64.4 million during the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively, in order to reduce the carrying value of the impaired communities to their estimated fair values.  Approximately 90 percent of these impairment charges were recorded to residential land and lots and land held for development and approximately 10 percent of these charges were recorded to residential construction in progress and finished homes in inventory.  At March 31, 2008, the fair value of the Company’s inventory subject to valuation adjustments during the quarter, net of $18.2 million of impairments, was $40.7 million.  During the quarter ended March 31, 2008, there were 13 communities written down, compared to 24 communities written down during the quarter ended December 31, 2007.  The inventory impairment charges and write-offs of deposits and acquisition costs reduced total housing gross profit, as a percentage of revenues, by 7.1 percent in the first quarter of 2008 and 9.5 percent in the first quarter of 2007.  Should market conditions deteriorate or costs increase, it is possible that the Company’s estimates of undiscounted cash flows from its communities may decline, resulting in additional future inventory impairment charges.

 

26



 

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of

 

Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

The Company periodically writes off earnest money deposits and feasibility costs related to land and lot option contracts that it no longer plans to pursue.  During the quarter ended March 31, 2008, the Company wrote off $2.1 million of earnest money deposits and feasibility costs that related to land purchase option contracts which it would not pursue.  For the same period in 2007, write-offs of earnest money deposits and feasibility costs related to land purchase option contracts that the Company would not pursue were approximately $527,000 and $613,000, respectively.  Should currently weak homebuilding market conditions persist or deteriorate and the Company be unsuccessful in its efforts to renegotiate certain land purchase contracts, it may write off additional earnest money deposits and feasibility costs in future periods.

 

Three months ended March 31, 2008, compared to three months ended March 31, 2007

 

The homebuilding segments reported pretax losses of $43.7 million for the first quarter of 2008, compared to pretax losses of $32.2 million for the same period in the prior year.  Homebuilding results for the first quarter of 2008 decreased from the same period in 2007 primarily due to a decline in closing volume, increased sales incentives, and inventory and other valuation adjustments and write-offs.

 

Homebuilding revenues were $399.6 million for the first quarter of 2008, compared to $691.4 million for the first quarter of 2007, attributable to a 33.0 percent decline in closings and a 13.8 percent decline in the average closing price of a home.

 

Consistent with its policy of managing land investments according to return and risk targets, the Company executed land sales during the first quarter of 2008.  Homebuilding revenues for the first quarter of 2008 included $2.8 million from land sales, compared to $4.0 million for the first quarter of 2007, which contributed net gains of approximately $1.0 million and $500,000 to pretax earnings in 2008 and 2007, respectively.  The gross profit percentage from land sales was 35.4 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared to 12.4 percent for the same period in the prior year.  The fluctuations in revenues and gross profit percentages from land sales are a function of local market conditions and land portfolios.  The Company generally purchases land and lots with the intent to build homes on those lots and sell them; however, the Company occasionally sells a portion of its land to other homebuilders and commercial developers.

 

For the first quarter of 2008, gross profit margins averaged 11.9 percent prior to inventory and other valuation adjustments and write-offs, compared to 18.7 percent for the same period in 2007.  Subsequent to these adjustments, gross profit margins averaged 4.8 percent for the first quarter of 2008, compared to 9.2 percent for the same period in 2007.  The decrease was due to inventory and other valuation adjustments and write-offs totaling $28.0 million, as well as to increased price concessions and sales incentives related to homes delivered during the first quarter of 2008.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses, as a percentage of revenue, were 16.0 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared to 13.9 percent for the same period in the prior year.  This increase was mainly attributable to a decline in revenues, as well as to a rise in marketing and advertising costs per unit and litigation expense, partially offset by goodwill impairment and higher severance charges taken in the first quarter of 2007.

 

Interest was incurred principally to finance land acquisitions, land development and home construction, and totaled $11.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008.  In the first quarters of 2008 and 2007, the homebuilding segments capitalized all interest incurred, resulting in no interest expense being recorded during these periods due to development activity.

 

Homebuilding Segment Information

Conditions have continued to be challenging in geographical areas that have previously experienced the highest price appreciation, such as the California, Florida, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Washington, D.C., markets.  As a result

 

27



 

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of

 

Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

of declining affordability, decreased demand and changes in buyer perception, the excess supply of housing inventory has reached higher levels in these areas.  In an attempt to maintain market share and reduce inventory investment to match current sales volume levels, the Company has increased its use of sales discounting and incentives and has taken additional impairments.  To date, the discounting has been most pronounced in the Company’s West region due to dramatic price declines resulting from these markets experiencing more difficult conditions with regard to affordability and mortgage financing availability in these markets.  Of the Company’s total lots or homes with valuation adjustments during the quarter ended March 31, 2008, 259 lots with impairments were taken in the North, 143 in the Southeast and 427 in the West regions, respectively.

 

The following table is a summary of impairments taken during the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007

 

($s in thousands)

  

INVENTORY

VALUATION

ADJUSTMENTS

  

OPTION

DEPOSIT AND

FEASIBILITY

COST WRITE-OFFS

  

JOINT

VENTURE

AND OTHER*

IMPAIRMENTS

  

TOTAL

  

INVENTORY

VALUATION

ADJUSTMENTS

  

OPTION

DEPOSIT AND

FEASIBILITY

COST WRITE-OFFS

  

JOINT

VENTURE

AND OTHER*

IMPAIRMENTS

  

TOTAL

 

North

 

$

12,094

 

$

549

 

$

-

 

$

12,643

 

$

7,998

 

$

570

 

$

-

 

$

8,568

 

Southeast

 

362

 

1,518

 

557

 

2,437

 

18,864

 

336

 

-

 

19,200

 

Texas

 

60

 

1

 

80

 

141

 

-

 

168

 

-

 

168

 

West

 

5,645

 

-

 

7,172

 

12,817

 

37,534

 

66

 

15,429

 

53,029

 

Total

 

$

18,161

 

$

2,068

 

$

7,809

 

$

28,038

 

$

64,396

 

$

1,140

 

$

15,429

 

$

80,965

 

* Other includes impairments to joint ventures, goodwill and other assets.

 

New Orders

New order dollars decreased 39.7 percent for the first quarter of 2008, compared to the same period in the prior year.  New order dollars for the three months ended March 31, 2008, fell 38.6 percent in the North, 34.3 percent in the Southeast, 32.5 percent in Texas and 53.7 percent in the West, compared to the first quarter of 2007.  New orders for the first quarter of 2008 decreased 27.8 percent to 2,159 units from 2,989 units for the same period in 2007 primarily due to a softening demand in most markets and a more competitive sales environment.

 

The Company experiences seasonal variations in its quarterly operating results and capital requirements.  Historically, new order activity is higher in the spring and summer months.  As a result, it typically has more homes under construction, closes more homes, and has greater revenues and operating income in the third and fourth quarters of its fiscal year.  This is primarily due to the preference of many homebuyers to act during those periods.

 

The following table is a summary of the Company’s new orders (units and aggregate sales value) for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007

 

($s in millions)

 

UNITS

 

% CHG

 

DOLLARS

 

% CHG

 

UNITS

 

% CHG

 

DOLLARS

 

% CHG

 

North

 

605

 

(27.6)

%

$165

 

(38.6)

%

836

 

(19.3)

%

$269

 

(19.2)

%

Southeast

 

650

 

(17.6)

 

152

 

(34.3)

 

789

 

(37.3)

 

232

 

(40.4)

 

Texas

 

553

 

(33.3)

 

117

 

(32.5)

 

829

 

(19.0)

 

174

 

(11.8)

 

West

 

351

 

(34.4)

 

92

 

(53.7)

 

535

 

(23.9)

 

198

 

(24.7)

 

Total

 

2,159

 

(27.8)

%

$526

 

(39.7)

%

2,989

 

(25.7)

%

$873

 

(26.2)

%

 

28



 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of

Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

The following table provides the Company’s cancellation percentages for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007:

 

 

 

THREE MONTHS ENDED
MARCH 31,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

North

 

31.1

%

26.0

%

Southeast

 

26.9

 

32.7

 

Texas

 

26.9

 

24.5

 

West

 

37.1

 

29.0

 

Total

 

28.9

%

28.1

%

 

The cancellation rate for the first quarter ended March 31, 2008, was 28.9 percent, compared to 46.2 percent and 28.1 percent for the fourth quarter of 2007 and the first quarter of 2007, respectively.

 

The following table provides the number of the Company’s selling communities at March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively:

 

 

 

 

 

2008

 

 

2007

 

North

 

 

 

106

 

 

124

 

Southeast

 

 

 

121

 

 

133

 

Texas

 

 

 

95

 

 

99

 

West

 

 

 

47

 

 

62

 

Total

 

 

 

369

 

 

418

 

 

Closings

The following table provides the Company’s closings and average closing price for the quarters ended March 31, 2008 and 2007:

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

 

 

AVERAGE

 

 

 

AVERAGE

 

($s in thousands)

 

UNITS

 

PRICE

 

UNITS

 

PRICE

 

North

 

423

 

$

283

 

607

 

$

316

 

Southeast

 

511

 

259

 

757

 

312

 

Texas

 

387

 

217

 

584

 

216

 

West

 

222

 

272

 

354

 

373

 

Total

 

1,543

 

$

257

 

2,302

 

$

298

 

 

Outstanding Contracts

Outstanding contracts denote the Company’s backlog of homes sold but not closed, which are generally built and closed, subject to cancellation, over the subsequent two quarters.  At March 31, 2008, the Company had outstanding contracts for 3,485 units, representing a 21.5 percent increase from 2,869 at December 31, 2007, and a 28.8 percent decrease from 4,893 units at the end of the first quarter of 2007.  The $916.3 million value of outstanding contracts at March 31, 2008, represented an increase of 16.5 percent from $786.4 million at December 31, 2007, compared to a decrease of 38.1 percent from March 31, 2007.  The decrease from March 31, 2007 was primarily due to a 27.8 percent decline in unit orders.  Average sales price decreases resulted primarily from slowing market trends and a more competitive sales environment.  Outstanding contracts and units closed to date at March 31, 2008, represented approximately 64.0 percent of 2008 targeted closings.

 

29



 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of

Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

The following table provides the Company’s outstanding contracts (units and aggregate dollar value) and average price at March 31, 2008 and 2007:

 

 

 

MARCH 31, 2008

 

MARCH 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AVERAGE

 

 

 

 

 

AVERAGE

 

($s in thousands)

 

UNITS

 

DOLLARS

 

PRICE

 

UNITS

 

DOLLARS

 

PRICE

 

North

 

1,148

 

$

343,650

 

$

299

 

1,386

 

$

463,624

 

$

335

 

Southeast

 

1,085

 

277,397

 

256

 

1,671

 

521,607

 

312

 

Texas

 

842

 

188,484

 

224

 

1,265

 

275,922

 

218

 

West

 

410

 

106,817

 

261

 

571

 

218,445

 

383

 

Total

 

3,485

 

$

916,348

 

$

263

 

4,893

 

$

1,479,598

 

$

302

 

 

 

30



 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of

Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

 

The following summary provides results for the homebuilding segments for the quarters ended March 31, 2008 and 2007:

 

(in thousands)

 

2008

 

2007

 

NORTH

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

$

122,082

 

$

194,015

 

Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales

 

120,512

 

164,891

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

17,833

 

20,676

 

Total expenses

 

138,345

 

185,567

 

Pretax earnings (loss)

 

$

(16,263

)

$

8,448

 

Housing gross profit margins

 

0.6

%

14.9

%

SOUTHEAST

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

$

132,724

 

$

239,188

 

Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales

 

118,120

 

205,183

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

18,614

 

25,149

 

Total expenses

 

136,734

 

230,332

 

Pretax earnings (loss)

 

$

(4,010

)

$

8,856

 

Housing gross profit margins

 

11.0

%

14.4

%

TEXAS

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

$

84,300

 

$

126,349

 

Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales

 

71,280

 

105,161

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

13,564

 

15,256

 

Total expenses

 

84,844

 

120,417

 

Pretax earnings (loss)

 

$

(544

)

$

5,932

 

Housing gross profit margins

 

15.4

%

16.8

%

WEST

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

$

60,494

 

$

131,811

 

Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales

 

69,590

 

152,524

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

13,774

 

34,734

 

Total expenses

 

83,364

 

187,258

 

Pretax earnings (loss)

 

$

(22,870

)

$

(55,447)

 

Housing gross profit margins

 

(15.0

)%

(15.7)

%

TOTAL

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

$

399,600

 

$

691,363

 

Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales

 

379,502

 

627,759

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

63,785

 

95,815

 

Total expenses

 

443,287

 

723,574

 

Pretax earnings (loss)

 

$

(43,687

)

$

(32,211)

 

Housing gross profit margins

 

4.8

%

9.2

%

 

 

31



 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of

Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Three months ended March 31, 2008, compared to three months ended March 31, 2007

 

North–Homebuilding revenues decreased by 37.1 percent to $122.1 million in 2008 from $194.0 million in 2007 primarily due to a 30.3 percent decline in the number of homes delivered and a 10.4 percent decrease in average sales price.  Gross margins on home sales were 0.6 percent in 2008, compared to 14.9 percent in 2007.  This decrease was primarily attributable to inventory valuation adjustments and write-offs of $12.6 million, as well as to increased price concessions and sales incentives that totaled 18.4 percent for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, versus 11.3 percent for the same period in 2007.  As a result, the North region incurred $16.3 million of pretax losses in 2008, compared to $8.4 million of pretax earnings in 2007.

 

Southeast–Homebuilding revenues were $132.7 million in 2008, compared to $239.2 million in 2007, a decrease of 44.5 percent, primarily due to a 32.5 percent decline in the number of homes delivered and a 17.0 percent decrease in average sales price.  Gross margins on home sales were 11.0 percent in 2008, compared to 14.4 percent in 2007.  This decrease was primarily due to inventory valuation adjustments and write-offs of $1.9 million, as well as to increased price concessions and sales incentives that totaled 15.8 percent for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, versus 9.9 percent for the same period in 2007.  As a result, the Southeast region incurred $4.0 million of pretax losses in 2008, compared to $8.9 million of pretax earnings in 2007.

 

Texas–Homebuilding revenues decreased by 33.3 percent to $84.3 million in 2008 from $126.3 million in 2007 primarily due to a 33.7 percent decline in the number of homes delivered, partially offset by a slight increase in average sales price.  Gross margins on home sales were 15.4 percent in 2008, compared to 16.8 percent in 2007.  This decrease was primarily due to the mix of product delivered in the quarter and an increase in price concessions and sales incentives that totaled 10.1 percent for the first quarter ended March 31, 2008, compared to 6.2 percent for the same period in 2007.  As a result, the Texas region incurred $544,000 of pretax losses in 2008, compared to $5.9 million of pretax earnings in 2007.

 

West–Homebuilding revenues decreased by 54.1 percent to $60.5 million in 2008, compared to $131.8 million in 2007, primarily due to a 37.3 percent decline in the number of homes delivered and to a 27.1 percent decrease in average sales price.  Gross margins from home sales were negative 15.0 percent in 2008, compared to negative 15.7 percent in 2007.  The change was primarily due to a reduction in inventory valuation adjustments and write-offs of $31.9 million, partially offset by a rise in price concessions and sales incentives that totaled 19.1 percent for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, compared to 12.5 percent for the same period in 2007. As a result, the West region incurred $22.9 million of pretax losses in 2008, compared to $55.4 million of pretax losses in 2007.

 

Financial Services

The Company’s financial services segment provides mortgage-related products and services, as well as title, escrow and insurance services, to its homebuyers and subcontractors.  By aligning its operations with the Company’s homebuilding segments, the financial services segment leverages this relationship to provide lending services to homebuyers.  In addition to being a valuable asset to customers, the financial services segment generates a profit for the Company.  Providing mortgage financing and other services to its customers allows the Company to better monitor its backlog and closing process.  The majority of all loans are sold within one business day of the date they close.  The third party purchaser then services and manages the loans, assuming the credit risk of borrower default.  The Company also provides construction-related insurance to subcontractors in its western markets.  Additionally, the financial services segment provides insurance for liability risks, specifically homeowners’ warranty coverage, arising in connection with the homebuilding business of the Company.

 

 

32



 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of

Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

 

 

 

THREE MONTHS ENDED

 

 

 

MARCH 31,

 

($s in thousands)

 

2008

 

2007

 

REVENUES

 

 

 

 

 

Net gains on sales of mortgages

 

$

7,338

 

$

7,214

 

Origination fees

 

3,767

 

5,760

 

Title/escrow/insurance

 

5,134

 

6,525

 

Interest and other

 

327

 

252

 

TOTAL REVENUES

 

16,566

 

19,751

 

EXPENSES

 

9,979

 

11,728

 

PRETAX EARNINGS

 

$

6,587

 

$

8,023

 

Originations (units)

 

1,184

 

1,714

 

Ryland Homes origination capture rate

 

82.2

%

79.1

%

Mortgage-backed securities and notes receivable average balance

 

$

388

 

$

566

 

 

Loan origination fees are recognized in revenues under “Origination fees” upon the sale of related mortgage loans and the related costs are recorded under “Expenses.”

 

Three months ended March 31, 2008, compared to three months ended March 31, 2007

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2008, the financial services segment reported pretax earnings of $6.6 million, compared to $8.0 million for the same period in 2007.  The decrease was primarily attributable to a 30.9 percent decline in the number of mortgages originated due to a slowdown in the homebuilding markets, as well as to a 13.0 percent decrease in average loan size.  This decline was partially offset by a $2.4 million gain recognized as a result of the implementation of SAB 109, which requires servicing rights to be recorded at fair value as a component of the locked loan pipeline.

 

Revenues for the financial services segment decreased 16.1 percent to $16.6 million for the first quarter of 2008, compared to $19.8 million for the same period in the prior year.  The decline was primarily attributable to a reduced volume of loans originated and sold.  The capture rate of mortgages originated for customers of the Company’s homebuilding operations was 82.2 percent and 79.1 percent for the first quarter of 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2008, general and administrative expenses were $10.0 million, versus $11.7 million for the same period in 2007.  This decrease was primarily due to personnel reductions, which were made in an effort to align overhead with lower volumes.

 

Corporate

Three months ended March 31, 2008, compared to three months ended March 31, 2007

 

Corporate expenses were $9.1 million and $6.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.  This increase was primarily due to a $2.2 million decline in market values of investments within the Company’s benefit plans.

 

Income Taxes

The Company’s provision for income tax presented an effective income tax benefit rate of 36.5 percent for the first quarter ended March 31, 2008, compared to 20.2 percent for the same period in 2007.  The increase in tax benefit rate for the first quarter of 2008, compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2007, was primarily due to a nondeductible goodwill impairment charge taken in the first quarter of 2007 and to the impact of lower pretax earnings.  Due to the uncertainty of current market conditions, the Company is unable to provide precise annual effective rate guidance at this time. (See Note 12, “Income Taxes.”)

 

 

33



 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of

Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Financial Condition and Liquidity

The Company has historically funded its homebuilding and financial services operations with cash flows from operating activities, borrowings under its revolving credit facilities and the issuance of new debt securities.  In light of market conditions in 2008, the Company continued to focus on generating cash, reducing debt levels and strengthening its balance sheet.  These actions included terminating or renegotiating land option contracts; reducing inventory; reducing head count; consolidating or exiting underperforming markets; and restructuring of operating teams.  As a result of this strategy, the Company ended the quarter with $213.3 million in cash and cash equivalents.

 

At March 31, 2008, the Company’s net debt-to-capital ratio was 36.4 percent, an increase from 34.6 percent at December 31, 2007.  This increase was primarily due to a decrease in retained earnings, mainly as a result of valuation adjustments taken.  The Company remains focused on maintaining its liquidity so it can be flexible in reacting to changing market conditions.

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2008, the Company used $24.6 million of cash from its operations.  The Company invested $4.1 million in property, plant and equipment and used $1.7 million in financing activities, which includes dividends of $5.1 million.  The net cash used during the quarter ended March 31, 2008, was $30.3 million.

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2007, the Company used $153.2 million of cash from its operations.  The Company invested $11.4 million in property, plant and equipment and generated $19.3 million in financing activities, including net proceeds of $63.5 million from additional debt and outflows for stock repurchases of $43.4 million and dividends of $5.2 million.  The net cash used during the quarter ended March 31, 2007, was $144.5 million.

 

Dividends totaled $0.12 per share for the quarters ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.  Consolidated inventories owned by the Company remained relatively flat at $1.7 billion at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007.  The Company attempts to maintain a projected four- to five-year supply of land, with half controlled through options.  At March 31, 2008, the Company controlled 38,180 lots, with 25,814 lots owned and 12,366 lots, or 32.4 percent, under option.  As a result of its efforts to match controlled inventory with current unit volume levels, lots controlled declined by 4.3 percent and 35.0 percent, respectively, compared to 39,900 lots and 58,719 lots under control at December 31, 2007 and March 31, 2007, respectively.  The Company continues to evaluate its option contracts for changes in the viability of communities and abandonment potential.  In an effort to increase liquidity, models have been sold and leased back on a selective basis for generally 3 to 18 months.  The Company owned 78.7 percent and 76.1 percent of its model homes at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively.

 

The homebuilding segments’ borrowings included senior notes, an unsecured revolving credit facility and nonrecourse secured notes payable.  Senior notes outstanding totaled $800.0 million at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively.

 

The Company’s amended unsecured revolving credit facility has a borrowing capacity of $750.0 million.  The facility matures in January 2011 and provides access to additional financing through an accordion feature, under which the aggregate commitment may be increased up to $1.5 billion, subject to the availability of additional lending commitments.  The revolving credit facility includes a $75.0 million swing-line facility and a $600.0 million sublimit for the issuance of standby letters of credit.  In February 2008, the Company amended the facility to reduce the base amount for the minimum consolidated tangible net worth covenant the Company is required to maintain under its credit facility to $850.0 million; increase the borrowing base by adding unrestricted cash up to $300.0 million; and increase the definition of material indebtedness to $20.0 million.  Amounts borrowed under the credit agreement are guaranteed on a joint and several basis by substantially all of the Company’s 100 percent-owned homebuilding subsidiaries.  Such guarantees are full and unconditional.  Interest rates on outstanding borrowings are determined either by reference to LIBOR, with margins determined based on changes in its leverage ratio and

 

 

34



 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of

Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

credit ratings, or by reference to an alternate base rate.  The credit facility is used for general corporate purposes and contains affirmative, negative and financial covenants, including a minimum consolidated tangible net worth requirement of $851.6 million at March 31, 2008; a permitted leverage ratio of 57.5 percent at March 31, 2008; as well as limitations on unsold home units, unsold land, lot inventory, investments and senior debt.  The Company was in compliance with these covenants at March 31, 2008.  (See Note 9, “Debt.”)  The Company uses its unsecured revolving credit facility to finance increases in its homebuilding inventory and working capital, when necessary.

 

There were no borrowings outstanding under the facility at March 31, 2008 or December 31, 2007.  Under the facility, the Company had letters of credit outstanding that totaled $147.2 million and $157.8 million at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively.  Unused borrowing capacity under the facility totaled $602.8 million and $592.2 million at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively.

 

The $50.0 million of 5.4 percent senior notes due June 2008; the $250.0 million of 5.4 percent senior notes due May 2012; the $250.0 million of 6.9 percent senior notes due June 2013; and the $250.0 million of 5.4 percent senior notes due January 2015 are subject to certain covenants that include, among other things, restrictions on additional secured debt and the sale of assets.  At March 31, 2008, the Company was in compliance with these covenants.

 

To finance its land purchases, the Company may also use seller-financed nonrecourse secured notes payable.  At March 31, 2008, such notes payable outstanding amounted to $37.1 million, compared to $39.1 million at December 31, 2007.

 

The financial services segment uses cash generated internally and borrowings against the RMC Credit Agreement to finance its operations.

 

In January 2008, RMC entered into the RMC Credit Agreement. The RMC Credit Agreement matures in January 2009 and provides for borrowings up to $40.0 million to fund RMC’s mortgage loan origination operations.  It is secured by the underlying mortgage loans and by other assets of RMC.  Facility balances are repaid as loans funded under the agreement are sold to third parties.  The RMC Credit Agreement’s interest rate is set at LIBOR plus 0.9 percent, with a commitment fee of 0.125 percent.  The RMC Credit Agreement contains representations, warranties, covenants and provisions defining events of default.  The covenants require RMC to maintain certain financial ratios, including a tangible net worth minimum of $13.0 million, an adjusted tangible net worth minimum of $5.0 million, and a ratio of total indebtedness to adjusted tangible net worth of 12:1; and consolidated net income for the four preceding fiscal quarters.  At March 31, 2008, the Company was in compliance with these covenants.  At March 31, 2008, there was $2.2 million in outstanding borrowings against this warehouse line of credit.

 

The Company filed a shelf registration statement with the SEC for up to $1.0 billion of its debt and equity securities on April 11, 2005.  At March 31, 2008, $600.0 million remained available under this registration statement.  The registration statement provides that securities may be offered, from time to time, in one or more series and in the form of senior, subordinated or convertible debt; preferred stock; preferred stock represented by depository shares; common stock; stock purchase contracts; stock purchase units; and warrants to purchase both debt and equity securities.  In the future, the Company intends to continue to maintain effective shelf registration statements that will facilitate access to the capital markets.  The timing and amount of future offerings, if any, will depend on market and general business conditions.

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2008, the Company did not repurchase any shares of its outstanding common stock.  The Company had existing authorization from its Board of Directors to purchase approximately 4.3 million additional shares at a cost of $142.3 million, based on the Company’s stock price at March 31, 2008.  Outstanding shares at March 31, 2008, were 42,290,969, versus 42,151,085 at December 31, 2007.

 

 

35



 

 

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of

 

 

Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

While the Company expects challenging economic conditions to continue, it is focused on managing overhead, land acquisitions, development and construction activity in order to generate cash flow and maintain debt levels commensurate with its business.

 

Off–Balance Sheet Arrangements

In the ordinary course of business, the Company enters into land and lot option purchase contracts in order to procure land or lots for the construction of homes.  Land and lot option purchase contracts enable the Company to control significant lot positions with a minimal capital investment, thereby reducing the risks associated with land ownership and development.  At March 31, 2008, the Company had $67.2 million in cash deposits and letters of credit to purchase land and lots with a total purchase price of $677.6 million.  Only $22.2 million of the $677.6 million in land and lot option purchase contracts contain specific performance provisions.  Additionally, the Company’s liability is generally limited to forfeiture of the nonrefundable deposits, letters of credit and other nonrefundable amounts incurred.

 

Pursuant to FIN 46, as amended, the Company consolidated $71.9 million of inventory not owned pertaining to land and lot option purchase contracts, representing the fair value of the optioned property; and a $1.1 million credit balance representing cost to complete for one of its homebuilding joint ventures at March 31, 2008. (See Note 7, “Variable Interest Entities,” and Note 8, “Investments in Joint Ventures.”)

 

At March 31, 2008, the Company had outstanding letters of credit under its revolving credit facility totaling $147.2 million; and development or performance bonds totaling $256.7 million, issued by third parties, to secure performance under various contracts and obligations relating to land or municipal improvements, as compared to the prior year.  The Company expects that the obligations secured by these letters of credit and performance bonds will generally be satisfied in the ordinary course of business and in accordance with applicable contractual terms.  To the extent that the obligations are fulfilled, the related letters of credit and performance bonds will be released, and the Company will not have any continuing obligations.

 

The Company has no material third-party guarantees other than those associated with its revolving credit facility, senior notes and investments in joint ventures. (See Note 14, “Commitments and Contingencies,” and Note 16, “Supplemental Guarantor Information.”)

 

Critical Accounting Policies

Preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements requires the use of judgment in the application of accounting policies and estimates of inherently uncertain matters.  There were no significant changes to the Company’s critical accounting policies during the three-month period ended March 31, 2008, compared to those policies disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.

 

Outlook

In the first three months of the year, the Company experienced a decline in sales orders for new homes, compared to the same period last year.  The Company believes its sales orders simulate broader market trends that reflect soft demand for residential housing.  Nearly all markets have been affected by reductions in the affordability of homes, the availability of mortgage products and consumer demand for homes, leading to the continued buildup of new and resale home inventories.  At March 31, 2008, the Company’s backlog of orders for new homes totaled 3,485 units, or a projected dollar value of $916.3 million, reflecting a 16.5 percent increase in dollar value from December 31, 2007.  As long as the imbalance of housing supply and demand continues, the Company will remain focused on its liquidity and balance sheet while seeking to optimize its earnings and positioning itself for a return to a more favorable economic environment.

 

36



 

Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

There have been no material changes in the Company’s market risk since December 31, 2007.  For information regarding the Company’s market risk, refer to “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.

 

Item 4.  Controls and Procedures

 

At the end of the period covered by this report on Form 10-Q, an evaluation was performed by the Company’s management, including the CEO and CFO, regarding the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act.  Based on that evaluation, the Company’s management, including the CEO and CFO, concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2008.

 

The Company has a committee consisting of key officers, including the chief accounting officer and general counsel, to ensure that all information required to be disclosed in the Company’s reports is accumulated and communicated to those individuals responsible for the preparation of the reports, as well as to all principal executive and financial officers, in a manner that will allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

 

At December 31, 2007, the Company completed a detailed evaluation of its internal control over financial reporting, including the assessment, documentation and testing of its controls, as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.  No material weaknesses were identified.  The Company’s management summarized its assessment process and documented its conclusions in the “Report of Management,” which appears in the Company’s 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K.  The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm summarized its review of management’s assessment of internal control over financial reporting in an attestation report, which also appears in the Company’s 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

The Company’s management, including the CEO and CFO, has evaluated any changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarterly period ended March 31, 2008, and has concluded that there was no change during this period that materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II.  Other Information

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

 

Contingent liabilities may arise from obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business or from the usual obligations of on-site housing producers for the completion of contracts.

 

The Company is party to various other legal proceedings generally incidental to its businesses.  Based on evaluation of these matters and discussions with counsel, management believes that liabilities arising from these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition of the Company.

 

Item 1A.  Risk Factors

 

There were no material changes to the risk factors set forth in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

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

 

The Company did not purchase any of its own equity securities during the three months ended March 31, 2008.

 

37



 

On December 6, 2006, the Company announced that it had received authorization from its Board of Directors to purchase shares totaling $175.0 million, or approximately 3.1 million shares, based on the Company’s stock price on that date.  At March 31, 2008, there was $142.3 million, or approximately 4.3 million shares, available for purchase in accordance with this authorization, based on the Company’s stock price on that date.  This authorization does not have an expiration date.

 

38



 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

 

 

 

12.1

Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

 

 

(Filed herewith)

 

 

 

 

31.1

Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the

 

 

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

 

(Filed herewith)

 

 

 

 

31.2

Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the

 

 

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

 

(Filed herewith)

 

 

 

 

32.1

Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the

 

 

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

 

(Furnished herewith)

 

 

 

 

32.2

Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the

 

 

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

 

(Furnished herewith)

 

39



 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

THE RYLAND GROUP, INC.

 

 

 

Registrant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 12, 2008

 

 

By:

/s/ Gordon A. Milne

 

Date

 

Gordon A. Milne

 

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 12, 2008

 

 

By:

/s/ David L. Fristoe

 

Date

 

David L. Fristoe

 

 

Senior Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer

 

 

(Principal Accounting Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

40



 

INDEX OF EXHIBITS

 

 

Exhibit No.

 

 

 

 

 

12.1

Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

 

 

(Filed herewith)

 

 

 

 

31.1

Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the

 

 

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

 

(Filed herewith)

 

 

 

 

31.2

Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the

 

 

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

 

(Filed herewith)

 

 

 

 

32.1

Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the

 

 

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

 

(Furnished herewith)

 

 

 

 

32.2

Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the

 

 

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

 

(Furnished herewith)

 

 

 

 

41


EX-12.1 2 a08-11431_1ex12d1.htm EX-12.1

 

EXHIBIT 12.1   Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THREE MONTHS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ENDED

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MARCH 31,

 

(in thousands, except ratio)

 

2003

 

2004

 

2005

 

2006

 

2007

 

2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated pretax income (loss)

 

$

396,217

 

$

521,212

 

$

721,051

 

$

567,108

 

$

(420,098

)

$

(46,166

)

Share of distributed income of 50%-or-less-owned affiliates net of equity pickup

 

94

 

(5,772

)

(315

)

260

 

(342

)

7,101

 

Amortization of capitalized interest

 

38,263

 

41,764

 

45,483

 

48,708

 

41,689

 

6,324

 

Interest

 

50,125

 

53,242

 

66,697

 

71,955

 

62,122

 

11,624

 

Less interest capitalized during the period

 

(42,602

)

(52,015

)

(65,959

)

(71,750

)

(62,024

)

(11,615

)

Interest portion of rental expense

 

5,973

 

5,639

 

5,678

 

7,736

 

8,911

 

2,119

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EARNINGS (LOSS)

 

$

448,070

 

$

564,070

 

$

772,635

 

$

624,017

 

$

(369,742

)

$

(30,613

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest

 

$

50,125

 

$

53,242

 

$

66,697

 

$

71,955

 

$

62,122

 

$

11,624

 

Interest portion of rental expense

 

5,973

 

5,639

 

5,678

 

7,736

 

8,911

 

2,119

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FIXED CHARGES

 

$

56,098

 

$

58,881

 

$

72,375

 

$

79,691

 

$

71,033

 

$

13,743

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges

 

7.99

 

9.58

 

10.68

 

7.83

 

(5.21

)

(2.23

)

 

 


EX-31.1 3 a08-11431_1ex31d1.htm EX-31.1

 

Exhibit 31.1:

Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the

 

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a — 14(a)

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

I, R. Chad Dreier, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of The Ryland Group, Inc. (the “Company”);

 

2.  Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. The Company’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the Company and have:

 

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. The Company’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Company’s auditors and the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: May 12, 2008

/s/ R. Chad Dreier

 

 

R. Chad Dreier

 

 

Chairman, President and

 

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 


EX-31.2 4 a08-11431_1ex31d2.htm EX-31.2

 

Exhibit 31.2:

Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the

 

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a — 14(a)

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

I, Gordon A. Milne, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of The Ryland Group, Inc. (the “Company”);

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. The Company’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the Company and have:

 

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. The Company’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Company’s auditors and the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: May 12, 2008

/s/ Gordon A. Milne

 

 

Gordon A. Milne

 

 

Executive Vice President and

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 


EX-32.1 5 a08-11431_1ex32d1.htm EX-32.1

 

Exhibit 32.1:

Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the

 

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

Certification of Principal Executive Officer

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350

 

I, R. Chad Dreier, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) of The Ryland Group, Inc. (the “Company”), certify, to the best of my knowledge, based upon a review of the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2008, of the Company (the “Report”), that:

 

(1)

The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

 

 

(2)

The information contained and incorporated by reference in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

 

 

/s/ R. Chad Dreier

 

Name: R. Chad Dreier

Date: May 12, 2008

 


EX-32.2 6 a08-11431_1ex32d2.htm EX-32.2

 

Exhibit 32.2:

Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the

 

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

Certification of Principal Financial Officer

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350

 

I, Gordon A. Milne, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) of The Ryland Group, Inc. (the “Company”), certify, to the best of my knowledge, based upon a review of the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2008, of the Company (the “Report”), that:

 

(1)

The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

 

 

(2)

The information contained and incorporated by reference in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

 

 

/s/ Gordon A. Milne

 

Name: Gordon A. Milne

Date: May 12, 2008

 


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