corresp
June 1, 2009
Mr. Rufus Decker
Accounting Branch Chief
United States Securities and
Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C. 20549-4010
Ms. Lisa Haynes
Staff Accountant
United States Securities and
Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C. 20549-4010
|
|
|
Re: |
|
NVR, Inc.
Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2009
File 001-11311 |
Dear Mr. Decker and Ms. Haynes;
This letter responds to your letter dated May 20, 2009 regarding NVRs Form 10-Q for the
period ended March 31, 2009. For ease of reference, the numbered paragraphs below correspond to
the numbered comments in your letter. The staffs comments appear below in bold italics, and are
followed by NVRs responses.
FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 2009
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Reportable Segments, page 22
1. We note your response to comment 5 and the additional disclosures you made to the table on page
23. To give investors better context for evaluating the performance of each segment pertaining to
both inventory and contract land deposits, please consider the following additional disclosures for
each segment:
|
|
Contract land deposits, net as of each balance sheet date; |
|
|
Number of communities evaluated for impairment as well as the number of communities for which
contract land deposits were written off during the periods presented; |
|
|
Dollar amount of lower of cost or market charges taken during the periods presented for sold
inventory separate from unsold inventory; and |
|
|
The dollar amount of sold inventory separate from unsold inventory as of each balance sheet
date. |
1
On a prospective basis, we will add
comparative disclosures for the dollar amount of sold and unsold
inventory and
contract land
deposits on a net basis, and if material, the dollar amount of inventory impairments presented on a sold and unsold
basis. Further, we would continue to disclose
that we evaluate the entire net contract land deposit portfolio for
impairment each quarter. We will also
comparatively disclose on a reportable segment basis the total number of lots that we continue to
control, as well as the number of lots associated with the contract land deposit reserve, both as
of the end of the reporting period, so that investors can see by reportable segment the number of
at risk lots remaining. These additional disclosures will be made consistent with the format in
the revised proforma disclosure from our 2009 first quarter Form 10Q, as follows (new items bolded,
amounts left blank):
Reportable Segments
Homebuilding profit before tax includes all revenues and income generated from the sale of
homes, less the cost of homes sold, selling, general and administrative expenses, and a corporate
capital allocation charge determined at the corporate headquarters. The corporate capital
allocation charge eliminates in consolidation, is based on the segments average net assets
employed, and is charged using a consistent methodology in the periods presented. The corporate
capital allocation charged to the operating segment allows the Chief Operating Decision Maker, as
defined in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 131, Disclosure about Segments of an
Enterprise and Related Information, to determine whether the operating segments results are
providing the desired rate of return after covering our cost of capital. We record charges on
contract land deposits when we determine that it is probable that recovery of the deposit is
impaired. For segment reporting purposes, impairments on contract land deposits are charged to the
operating segment upon the determination to terminate a finished lot purchase agreement with the
developer or to restructure a lot purchase agreement resulting in the forfeiture of the deposit.
Due to the current homebuilding industry downturn, we are evaluating our entire net contract land
deposit portfolio for impairment each quarter. For additional information regarding our contract
land deposit impairment analysis, see the Critical Accounting Policies section within this
Management Discussion and Analysis. For presentation purposes below, the contract land deposit
reserve at March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, has been allocated to the reportable segments to
show contract land deposits on a net basis. The net contract land deposit balances below also
includes $5,081 and $8,206 at March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, of letters of credit issued as
deposits in lieu of cash. The following tables summarize certain homebuilding operating activity
by segment for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008:
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|
March 31, |
|
|
2009 |
|
2008 |
Mid Atlantic: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues |
|
$ |
341,756 |
|
|
$ |
526,392 |
|
Settlements (units) |
|
|
928 |
|
|
|
1,241 |
|
Average settlement price |
|
$ |
368.2 |
|
|
$ |
424.0 |
|
New orders (units) |
|
|
1,203 |
|
|
|
1,292 |
|
Average new order price |
|
$ |
336.6 |
|
|
$ |
383.2 |
|
Backlog (units) |
|
|
2,051 |
|
|
|
2,777 |
|
Average backlog price |
|
$ |
352.3 |
|
|
$ |
427.9 |
|
Gross profit margin |
|
$ |
60,946 |
|
|
$ |
90,131 |
|
Gross profit margin percentage |
|
|
17.8 |
% |
|
|
17.1 |
% |
Segment profit |
|
$ |
31,908 |
|
|
$ |
42,007 |
|
New order cancellation rate |
|
|
15.5 |
% |
|
|
25.0 |
% |
Inventory: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lots and housing units, covered under sales
agreements with customers (sold inventory) |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Unsold lots and housing units |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Sold inventory impairments |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Unsold inventory impairments |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Contract land deposits, net |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Total lots controlled |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total lots reserved |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contract land deposit impairments |
|
$ |
1,065 |
|
|
$ |
6,031 |
|
Average active communities |
|
|
172 |
|
|
|
216 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
North East: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues |
|
$ |
53,375 |
|
|
$ |
85,968 |
|
Settlements (units) |
|
|
184 |
|
|
|
245 |
|
Average settlement price |
|
$ |
290.1 |
|
|
$ |
350.9 |
|
New orders (units) |
|
|
235 |
|
|
|
280 |
|
Average new order price |
|
$ |
285.3 |
|
|
$ |
307.5 |
|
Backlog (units) |
|
|
354 |
|
|
|
540 |
|
Average backlog price |
|
$ |
286.6 |
|
|
$ |
317.0 |
|
Gross profit margin |
|
$ |
8,439 |
|
|
$ |
15,231 |
|
Gross profit margin percentage |
|
|
15.8 |
% |
|
|
17.7 |
% |
Segment profit |
|
$ |
3,226 |
|
|
$ |
6,687 |
|
New order cancellation rate |
|
|
13.9 |
% |
|
|
16.9 |
% |
Inventory: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lots and housing units, covered under sales
agreements with customers (sold inventory) |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Unsold lots and housing units |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Sold inventory impairments |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Unsold inventory impairments |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Contract land deposits, net |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Total lots controlled |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total lots reserved |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contract land deposit impairments |
|
$ |
9 |
|
|
$ |
170 |
|
Average active communities |
|
|
36 |
|
|
|
42 |
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|
March 31, |
|
|
2009 |
|
2008 |
Mid East: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues |
|
$ |
92,110 |
|
|
$ |
150,160 |
|
Settlements (units) |
|
|
413 |
|
|
|
617 |
|
Average settlement price |
|
$ |
221.1 |
|
|
$ |
242.7 |
|
New orders (units) |
|
|
701 |
|
|
|
717 |
|
Average new order price |
|
$ |
210.4 |
|
|
$ |
240.1 |
|
Backlog (units) |
|
|
1,019 |
|
|
|
1,213 |
|
Average backlog price |
|
$ |
215.7 |
|
|
$ |
243.6 |
|
Gross profit margin |
|
$ |
15,278 |
|
|
$ |
25,767 |
|
Gross profit margin percentage |
|
|
16.6 |
% |
|
|
17.2 |
% |
Segment profit |
|
$ |
5,189 |
|
|
$ |
10,847 |
|
New order cancellation rate |
|
|
14.9 |
% |
|
|
15.4 |
% |
Inventory: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lots and housing units, covered under sales
agreements with customers (sold inventory) |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Unsold lots and housing units |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Sold inventory impairments |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Unsold inventory impairments |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Contract land deposits, net |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Total lots controlled |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total lots reserved |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contract land deposit impairments |
|
$ |
213 |
|
|
$ |
(51 |
) |
Average active communities |
|
|
101 |
|
|
|
117 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
South East: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues |
|
$ |
61,088 |
|
|
$ |
107,349 |
|
Settlements (units) |
|
|
248 |
|
|
|
362 |
|
Average settlement price |
|
$ |
246.3 |
|
|
$ |
296.5 |
|
New orders (units) |
|
|
287 |
|
|
|
442 |
|
Average new order price |
|
$ |
223.9 |
|
|
$ |
273.1 |
|
Backlog (units) |
|
|
393 |
|
|
|
881 |
|
Average backlog price |
|
$ |
242.8 |
|
|
$ |
295.8 |
|
Gross profit margin |
|
$ |
9,464 |
|
|
$ |
21,059 |
|
Gross profit margin percentage |
|
|
15.5 |
% |
|
|
19.6 |
% |
Segment profit |
|
$ |
2,029 |
|
|
$ |
8,117 |
|
New order cancellation rate |
|
|
14.1 |
% |
|
|
25.0 |
% |
Inventory: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lots and housing units, covered under sales
agreements with customers (sold inventory) |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Unsold lots and housing units |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Sold inventory impairments |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Unsold inventory impairments |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Contract land deposits, net |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Total lots controlled |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total lots reserved |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contract land deposit impairments |
|
$ |
16 |
|
|
$ |
(195 |
) |
Average active communities |
|
|
49 |
|
|
|
68 |
|
4
Liquidity and Capital Resources, page 28
2. We note your response to comment 4 and your belief that you have a substantial cushion between
the minimum levels required by most of your debt covenants compared to the actual amount/ratio as
of the quarter ended March 31, 2009. It does not appear, however, that the minimum adjusted
tangible net worth ratio within your mortgage repurchase agreement had a substantial cushion. So
that we may better understand the factors which could impact this calculation, please tell us how
this covenant is calculated and your basis for concluding that you will continue to be in
compliance by a wide margin.
The adjusted tangible net worth calculation under the mortgage repurchase agreement is
essentially the consolidated owners equity balance of NVR Mortgage Finance, Inc. (NVRM) on a US
GAAP basis, less certain contingent indebtedness, as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
NVRM consolidated equity |
|
$ |
20,114,000 |
|
Less: Contingent bonding obligations (a) |
|
|
(2,470,000 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Adjusted tangible net worth |
|
$ |
17,644,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
Minimum allowed under the agreement |
|
$ |
14,000,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(a) |
|
The mortgage segment is required to enter into collateral bonding
arrangements with various state regulatory agencies in order to conduct its
mortgage lending operations. Because we believe that we will fulfill the
applicable required obligations, these contingent obligations are not recorded on
the consolidated balance sheet. |
We believe that NVRM will continue to easily satisfy the minimum requirement under the
repurchase agreement for the following reasons:
First, as noted in our original response, our homebuilding operations have remained profitable
throughout the current downturn and we expect to remain profitable. In parallel with the
homebuilding operations, NVRM, which almost exclusively serves our homebuilding customers, has also
remained profitable, and we believe that it will also continue to be profitable, the results of
which will be accretive to NVRMs consolidated equity.
Second, because NVRM is a 100% wholly-owned subsidiary, we control the level of NVRMs
invested capital. Consistent with our asset light philosophy, we leave only a minimum level of
capital in the mortgage segment to satisfy regulatory and debt covenant requirements, and
historically we have transferred NVRMs excess cash to NVR on a monthly basis in the form of
dividends (i.e., $17.5 million during fiscal year 2008 and an additional $2.0 million during the
first quarter of 2009). However, if the level of NVRMs consolidated equity dropped due to an
unexpected drop in profitability,
5
we would suspend the practice of drawing dividends from NVRM and therefore maintain their
capital account at required levels. Further, under our working capital facility, at March 31,
2009, we had the ability to make capital injections to NVRM of approximately $400 million, and with
our combined cash and marketable securities balance of approximately $1.2 billion as of the same
date, we have ample liquidity to do so, if necessary. Therefore, we will be able to actively
manage NVRMs invested capital to be in compliance with NVRMs minimum adjusted tangible net worth
requirement.
In connection with our response, we acknowledge that:
|
|
|
We are responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in our filings; |
|
|
|
|
Staff comments or changes to disclosure in response to staff comments do not
foreclose the Commission from taking action with respect to the filing; and |
|
|
|
|
We may not assert staff comments as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the
Commission or any person under the federal securities laws of the United States. |
Thank you for your consideration of the points contained in our response. I can be reached at
703/956-4003 for any further comments or clarifications.
Sincerely,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Robert W. Henley
|
|
|
Robert W. Henley |
|
|
Vice President and Controller |
|
|
|
|
|
|
CC:
|
|
Mr. Alan Dye, Esq. (Hogan & Hartson)
Mr. Tom Gerth (KPMG LLP)
Mr. Dennis M. Seremet (NVR, Inc. Chief Financial Officer) |
6