10-K 1 t12408_10k.htm FORM 10-K


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)
 
x
Annual report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006
 
o
Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
Commission file number: 001-12822
 
Beazer Homes USA, Inc.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
58-2086934
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

1000 Abernathy Road, Suite 1200, Atlanta, Georgia 30328
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

(Registrant’s telephone number including area code) (770) 829-3700

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of Securities
 
Exchanges on which Registered
Common Stock, $.001 par value per share
 
New York Stock Exchange
Preferred Share Purchase Rights
 
New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer (as defined in Rule 405 of the Act). Yes o No x
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes o No x
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No o
 
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. x 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
 
Large accelerated filer x      Accelerated filer o     Non-accelerated filer o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes o No x
 
The aggregate market value of the registrant’s Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant (40,464,397 shares) as of March 31, 2006, based on the closing sale price per share as reported by the New York Stock Exchange on such date, was $2,658,510,883.
 
The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s Common Stock as of December 1, 2006 was 39,158,126.
 
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
 
 
Part of 10-K
where incorporated
Portions of the registrant’s Proxy Statement for the 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
III
 
Website Access to Company Reports 
 
Beazer Homes’ Internet website address is www.beazer.com. Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act are available free of charge through our website as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file with or furnish them to the Securities and Exchange Commission and are available in print to any stockholder who requests a printed copy.
 


BEAZER HOMES USA, INC.

FORM 10-K

INDEX
 
   
Page
Number
PART I.
   
2
10
14
14
15
     
PART II.
   
16
18
20
36
37
68
68
69
     
PART III.
   
69
69
69
69
70
 
   
PART IV.
   
70
     
SIGNATURES
   
     

1


PART I
 

Our principal executive offices are located at 1000 Abernathy Road, Suite 1200, Atlanta, Georgia 30328, telephone (770) 829-3700. We also provide information about our active communities and mortgage financing through our Internet website located at http://www.beazer.com. Information on our website is not a part of and shall not be deemed incorporated by reference in this report.

We design, sell and build primarily single-family homes in the following locations within the United States:

Region/State
 
Market(s) / Year Entered
     
West Region:
   
Arizona
 
Phoenix (1993)
California
 
 
Los Angeles County (1993), Orange County (1993), Riverside and San Bernardino Counties (1993), San Diego County (1992), Ventura County (1993), Sacramento (1993), Kern County (2005), Fresno (2005)
Nevada
 
Las Vegas (1993)
New Mexico
 
Albuquerque (2005)
     
Mid-Atlantic Region:
   
Maryland
Delaware
 
Baltimore (1998), Metro-Washington, D.C. (1998)
Delaware (2003)
New Jersey/New York/Pennsylvania
 
Central and Southern New Jersey (1998), Bucks County, PA (1998), Orange County, NY (2005)
Virginia/West Virginia
 
Fairfax County (1998), Loudoun County (1998), Prince William County (1998), West Virginia (2004)
     
Florida Region:
   
Florida
 
Jacksonville (1993), Fort Myers/Naples (1996), Tampa/St. Petersburg (1996), Orlando (1997), Sarasota (2005), Tallahassee (2006)
     
Southeast Region:
   
Georgia
 
Atlanta (1985), Savannah (2005)
North Carolina
 
Charlotte (1987), Raleigh/Durham (1992), Greensboro (1999)
South Carolina
 
Charleston (1987), Columbia (1993), Myrtle Beach (2002)
Nashville, Tennessee
 
Nashville (1987)
     
Other homebuilding markets:
 
Colorado
 
Denver (2001), Colorado Springs (2003)
Indiana
Kentucky
Ohio
 
Indianapolis (2002), Ft. Wayne (2002)
Lexington (2002)
Columbus (2002), Cincinnati/Dayton (2002)
Memphis, TN
 
Memphis (2002)
Texas
 
Dallas/Ft. Worth (1995), Houston (1995)
     
We design our homes at various price points to appeal to homebuyers across various demographic segments. Our objective is to provide our customers at each price point with homes that incorporate exceptional value and quality while seeking to maximize our return on invested capital. To achieve this objective, we have developed a business strategy which focuses on the following elements:
 
Geographic Diversity and Growth Markets. We compete in a large number of geographically diverse markets in an attempt to reduce our exposure to any particular regional economy. Within these markets, we build homes in a variety of projects. Our business strategy entails further increasing our market penetration, investing in our most profitable markets and exiting non-strategic markets.
   
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Leverage of National Brand. In 2003, we adopted a strategy of a single brand name across our markets. We feel that this national brand identity best positions us to consistently approach and address the needs of our customers across all of our markets.

Leverage Size, Scale and Capabilities to Achieve Optimal Efficiencies. We have implemented specific profitability initiatives which focus on leveraging our size, scale and capabilities in order to improve gross profit and operating profit margins. These initiatives include:
 
·  
leveraging our size to create economies of scale in purchasing and construction;
·  
standardizing best practices and product designs;
·  
using branding and increased market penetration to maximize efficiency of land use; and
·  
leveraging our fixed cost infrastructure by increasing depth and breadth in markets where we have an established presence.

Quality Homes at Various Price Points to Meet the Needs of Increasingly Diverse Homebuyers. We seek to maximize customer satisfaction by offering homes which incorporate quality materials, distinctive design features, convenient locations and competitive prices. During fiscal year 2006, the average sales price of our homes closed was approximately $286,700. Our product strategy entails addressing the needs of an increasingly diverse profile of buyers as evidenced by demographic trends including, among others, increased immigration, changing profiles of households, the aging of the baby-boomers, and the rise of the echo-boomers (children of the baby-boomers) into the ranks of homeownership. Our product offering is broken down into the following product categories:

Economy. These homes are targeted primarily at entry-level buyers and are intended to meet the needs of those buyers for whom price is the most important factor in the buying decision.

Value. These homes are targeted at entry-level and move-up buyers, and are intended to appeal to buyers who are more interested in style and features, but are still somewhat price-focused.

Style. These homes are targeted at more affluent move-up buyers and are intended to appeal to buyers in the more luxurious segment of the market, who place greater emphasis on style and features.

In addition, we also offer homes to the ‘active adult’ market which is targeted to buyers over 55 years of age, in communities with special amenities. We offer these homes within the Economy, Value and Style categories described above.
  
Additional Products and Services for Homebuyers. In order to maximize our profitability and provide our customers with the additional products and services that they desire, we have incorporated design studios and mortgage operations into our business. Recognizing that our customers want to choose certain components of their new home, we offer limited customization through the use of design studios in most of our markets. These design studios allow the customer to select certain non-structural customizations for their homes such as cabinetry, flooring, fixtures, appliances and wall coverings. Additionally, recognizing the homebuyer’s desire to simplify the financing process, we offer mortgage services to our homebuyers through our subsidiary Beazer Mortgage Corporation (“Beazer Mortgage”). Beazer Mortgage generally does not retain or service the mortgages that it brokers. Beazer Mortgage also finances certain of our mortgage lending activities with borrowings under a warehouse line of credit or from general corporate funds prior to selling the loans and their servicing rights shortly after origination to third-party investors.  We also offer title insurance services to our customers in many of our markets.
 
3

 
Conservative Land Policies. We seek to maximize our return on capital by judiciously managing our investment in land. To reduce the risks associated with investments in land, we often use options to control land. We generally do not speculate in land which does not have the benefit of entitlements providing basic development rights to the owner.
 
Company History

In March 1994, we completed a concurrent initial public offering of common stock and issuance of senior notes (the “IPO”). Prior to our IPO, we were an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Hanson PLC (“Hanson”), a company registered in the United Kingdom. Hanson currently does not hold any investment or ongoing interest in us.

Markets and Product Description

We evaluate a number of factors in determining which geographic markets to enter or in which markets to concentrate our homebuilding activities. We attempt to anticipate swings in economic and real estate conditions by evaluating such statistical information as:
 
  ·
the historical and projected growth of the population;
 
·
the number of new jobs created or projected to be created;
 
·
the number of housing starts in previous periods;
 
·
building lot availability and price;
 
·
housing inventory;
 
·
level of competition; and
 
·
home sale absorption rates.
 
We generally seek to differentiate ourselves from our competition in a particular market with respect to customer service and product type. We maintain the flexibility to alter our product mix within a given market, depending on market conditions. In determining our product mix, we consider demographic trends, demand for a particular type of product, margins, timing and the economic strength of the market. Although some of our Value and Style homes are priced at the upper end of the market, and we offer a selection of amenities, we generally do not build “custom homes. We attempt to maximize efficiency by using standardized design plans whenever possible.

The following table summarizes certain operating information regarding our major geographic regions as of and for the year ended September 30, 2006 (dollars in thousands). Please see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition” for additional information.
 
Region
 
Number of
Homes
Closed
 
Average
Closing
Price
 
Units in
Backlog at
Year End
 
Dollar Value
of Backlog at
Year End
 
West
   
5,035
 
$
368.3
   
1,175
 
$
468,560
 
Mid-Atlantic
   
2,086
   
457.6
   
577
   
290,861
 
Florida
   
2,274
   
309.5
   
508
   
173,106
 
Southeast
   
4,289
   
210.8
   
1,321
   
312,118
 
Other
   
4,985
   
187.5
   
1,521
   
310,811
 
Total Company
   
18,669
 
$
286.7
   
5,102
 
$
1,555,456
 
 
Our homebuilding and marketing activities are conducted under the name of Beazer Homes in each of our markets.

4

 
Corporate Operations

We perform the following functions at a centralized level:
 
 
·
evaluate and select geographic markets;
 
·
allocate capital resources to particular markets for land acquisitions;
 
·
maintain and develop relationships with lenders and capital markets to regulate the flow of financial resources;
 
·
maintain centralized information systems; and
 
·
monitor the operations of our subsidiaries and divisions.

We allocate capital resources necessary for new projects in a manner consistent with our overall operating strategy. We will vary the capital allocation based on market conditions, results of operations and other factors. Capital commitments are determined through consultation among selected executive and operational personnel, who play an important role in ensuring that new projects are consistent with our strategy. Centralized financial controls are also maintained through the standardization of accounting and financial policies and procedures.

Structurally, we operate through separate operating divisions which are equipped with the skills to complete the functions of land acquisition, land entitlement, land development, construction, marketing, sales and product service.

Land Acquisition and Development

Generally, the land we acquire is purchased only after necessary entitlements have been obtained so that we have the right to begin development or construction as market conditions dictate. In certain situations, we will purchase property without all necessary entitlements where we perceive an opportunity to build on such property in a manner consistent with our strategy. The term entitlements refers to subdivision approvals, development agreements, tentative maps or recorded plats, depending on the jurisdiction within which the land is located. Entitlements generally give a developer the right to obtain building permits upon compliance with conditions that are usually within the developer’s control. Although entitlements are ordinarily obtained prior to the purchase of land, we are still required to obtain a variety of other governmental approvals and permits during the development process.

We select our land for development based upon a variety of factors, including:
 
 
·
internal and external demographic and marketing studies;
 
·
suitability for development during the time period of one to five years from the beginning of the development process to the last closing;
 
·
centralized corporate-level management review of all decisions;
 
·
financial review as to the feasibility of the proposed project, including profit margins and returns on capital employed;
 
·
the ability to secure governmental approvals and entitlements;
 
·
environmental and legal due diligence;
 
·
competition in the area;
 
·
proximity to local traffic corridors and amenities; and
 
·
management’s judgment as to the real estate market and economic trends and our experience in a particular market.
 
We generally purchase land or obtain an option to purchase land, which, in either case, requires certain site improvements prior to construction. Where required, we then undertake or, in the case of land under option, the grantor of the option then undertakes, the development activities (through contractual arrangements with local developers), which include site planning and engineering, as well as constructing road, sewer, water, utilities, drainage and recreational facilities and other amenities. When available in certain markets, we also buy finished lots that are ready for construction.

5

 
We strive to develop a design and marketing concept for each of our projects, which include determination of size, style and price range of the homes, layout of streets, layout of individual lots and overall community design. The product line offered in a particular project depends upon many factors, including the housing generally available in the area, the needs of a particular market and our cost of lots in the project. We are, however, often able to use standardized design plans.

The development and construction of each project is managed by our operating divisions, each of which is generally led by a president who, in turn, reports directly or indirectly to our Chief Operating Officer. At the development stage, a manager (who may be assigned to several projects and reports to the president of the division) supervises development of buildable lots. In addition, a builder is responsible for each project site to supervise actual construction, and each division has one or more customer care and marketing representatives assigned to projects operated by that division.

The following table sets forth, by state, land controlled by us as of September 30, 2006:
 
   
Lots Owned
         
   
Undevel-
oped
Lots(1)
 
Lots Under
Develop-
ment
 
Finished
Lots
 
Homes
Under Con-
struction(2)
 
 Total
Lots
Owned
 
 Total
Lots Under Contract
 
 Total
Lots
 Controlled
 
                               
Arizona/New Mexico
   
   
140
   
1,468
   
593
   
2,201
   
7,593
   
9,794
 
California
   
   
3,205
   
1,635
   
1,236
   
6,076
   
4,016
   
10,092
 
Colorado
   
   
   
498
   
237
   
735
   
1,752
   
2,487
 
Florida
   
   
2,388
   
1,135
   
1,059
   
4,582
   
6,711
   
11,293
 
Georgia
   
   
337
   
269
   
303
   
909
   
1,320
   
2,229
 
Indiana
   
434
   
2,627
   
1,187
   
647
   
4,895
   
1,486
   
6,381
 
Kentucky
   
   
195
   
157
   
94
   
446
   
726
   
1,172
 
Maryland/Delaware
   
   
1,001
   
616
   
346
   
1,963
   
5,081
   
7,044
 
Nevada
   
   
1,438
   
417
   
337
   
2,192
   
1,616
   
3,808
 
New Jersey/New York/
                                           
Pennsylvania
   
   
165
   
420
   
152
   
737
   
4,178
   
4,915
 
North Carolina
   
60
   
1,420
   
476
   
387
   
2,343
   
1,861
   
4,204
 
Ohio
   
   
2,314
   
1,121
   
244
   
3,679
   
335
   
4,014
 
South Carolina
   
   
1,474
   
509
   
527
   
2,510
   
4,842
   
7,352
 
Tennessee
   
   
1,312
   
85
   
285
   
1,682
   
1,465
   
3,147
 
Texas
   
503
   
1,529
   
2,234
   
688
   
4,954
   
1,339
   
6,293
 
Virginia/West Virginia
   
   
513
   
340
   
176
   
1,029
   
3,251
   
4,280
 
Total
   
997
   
20,058
   
12,567
   
7,311
   
40,933
   
47,572
   
88,505
 
 
(1)
“Undeveloped Lots” consists of raw land that is expected to be developed into the respective  number of lots reflected in this table.
(2)
The category “Homes Under Construction” represents lots on which construction of a home has commenced.

Option Contracts. We acquire certain lots by means of option contracts. Option contracts generally require the payment of a cash deposit or issuance of a letter of credit for the right to acquire lots during a specified period of time at a certain price. 

Under option contracts, both with and without specific performance, purchase of the properties is contingent upon satisfaction of certain requirements by us and the sellers. Our obligation with respect to options with specific performance is included on our consolidated balance sheet in other liabilities at September 30, 2006. At September 30, 2006, we are committed to future amounts under option contracts with specific performance obligations that aggregated $14.2 million, net of cash deposits. Under option contracts without specific performance obligations, our liability is generally limited to forfeiture of the non-refundable deposits, letters of credit and other non-refundable amounts incurred, which aggregated approximately $352.6 million at September 30, 2006. This amount includes non-refundable letters of credit of approximately $51.9 million. At September 30, 2006, future amounts under option contracts without specific performance obligations aggregated approximately $2.4 billion, net of cash deposits.
 
6


Construction
 
We typically act as the general contractor for the construction of our projects. Our project development operations are controlled by our subsidiaries and divisions, whose employees supervise the construction of each project, coordinate the activities of subcontractors and suppliers, subject their work to quality and cost controls and assure compliance with zoning and building codes. We specify that quality, durable materials be used in the construction of our homes. Our subcontractors follow design plans prepared by architects and engineers who are retained by us and whose designs are geared to the local market. Subcontractors typically are retained on a project-by-project basis to complete construction at a fixed price. Agreements with our subcontractors and materials suppliers are generally entered into after competitive bidding. In connection with this competitive bid process, we obtain information from prospective subcontractors and vendors with respect to their financial condition and ability to perform their agreements with us. We do not maintain significant inventories of construction materials, except for materials being utilized for homes under construction. We have numerous suppliers of raw materials and services used in our business, and such materials and services have been, and continue to be, available. Material prices may fluctuate, however, due to various factors, including demand or supply shortages, which may be beyond the control of our vendors. Whenever possible, we enter into regional and national supply contracts with certain of our vendors. We believe that our relationships with our suppliers and subcontractors are good.

Construction time for our homes depends on the availability of labor, materials and supplies, product type and location. Homes are designed to promote efficient use of space and materials, and to minimize construction costs and time. In all of our markets, construction of a home is typically completed within three to six months following commencement of construction. At September 30, 2006, we had 1,991 finished homes (excluding models), of which 794 were under contract and included in backlog at such date.

Warranty Program
 
For homes sold through March 31, 2004 (and in certain markets through July 31, 2004), we self-insured our structural warranty obligations through our wholly owned risk retention group. Beginning with homes sold April 1, 2004 (August 1, 2004 in certain markets), our warranties are issued, administered, and insured by independent third parties. We currently provide a limited warranty (ranging from one to two years) covering workmanship and materials per our defined performance quality standards. In addition, we provide a limited warranty (generally ranging from a minimum of five years up to the period covered by the applicable statute of repose) covering only certain defined construction defects. We also provide a defined structural element warranty with single-family homes and townhomes in certain states.

We subcontract our homebuilding work to subcontractors who generally provide us with an indemnity and a certificate of insurance prior to receiving payments for their work and, therefore, claims relating to workmanship and materials are generally the primary responsibility of our subcontractors.

In addition, we maintain third-party insurance for most construction defects that we encounter in the normal course of business. We believe that our accruals and third-party insurance are adequate to cover the ultimate resolution of our potential liabilities associated with known and anticipated warranty and construction defect related claims and litigation.

There can be no assurance, however, that the terms and limitations of the limited warranty will be effective against claims made by the homebuyers, that we will be able to renew our insurance coverage or renew it at reasonable rates, that we will not be liable for damages, the cost of repairs, and/or the expense of litigation surrounding possible construction defects, soil subsidence or building related claims or that claims will not arise out of uninsurable events or circumstances not covered by insurance and not subject to effective indemnification agreements with our subcontractors.

Marketing and Sales

We make extensive use of advertising and other promotional activities, including our Internet website (http://www.beazer.com), mass-media advertisements, brochures, direct mail and the placement of strategically located signboards in the immediate areas of our developments.

7

 
We normally build, decorate, furnish and landscape model homes for each project and maintain on-site sales offices. At September 30, 2006, we maintained 793 model homes, of which 236 were owned and 557 were leased from third parties pursuant to sale and leaseback agreements. We believe that model homes play a particularly important role in our marketing efforts.

We generally sell our homes through commissioned employees (who typically work from the sales offices located at the model homes used in the subdivision) as well as through independent brokers. Our personnel are available to assist prospective homebuyers by providing them with floor plans, price information and tours of model homes, and in connection with the selection of options. The selection of interior features is a principal component of our marketing and sales efforts. Sales personnel are trained by us and attend periodic meetings to be updated on sales techniques, competitive products in the area, the availability of financing, construction schedules and marketing and advertising plans, which management believes results in a sales force with extensive knowledge of our operating policies and housing products. Our policy also provides that sales personnel be licensed real estate agents where required by law. Depending on market conditions, we also at times begin construction on a number of homes for which no signed sales contract exists. The use of an inventory of such homes satisfies the requirements of relocated personnel and of independent brokers, who often represent customers who require a completed home within 60 days. At September 30, 2006, excluding models, we had 3,614 homes at various stages of completion (of which 1,197 were completed) for which we did not have a sales contract, either because the construction of the home was begun without a sales contract as described above or because the original sales contract had been cancelled.

We sometimes use various sales incentives in order to attract homebuyers. The use of incentives depends largely on local economic and competitive market conditions.

Customer Financing

We offer customer financing through Beazer Mortgage.  Beazer Mortgage provides mortgage origination services, and generally does not retain or service the mortgages that it originates.  Beazer Mortgage finances certain of our mortgage lending activities with borrowings under its warehouse line of credit or from general corporate funds prior to selling the loans and their servicing rights shortly after origination to third-party investors. Beazer Mortgage can provide qualified homebuyers numerous financing options, including a wide variety of conventional, FHA and VA financing programs.  In certain situations, we will seek to assist our homebuyers in obtaining financing from outside mortgage lenders and, in certain limited circumstances, we may attempt to minimize potential risks relating to the availability of customer financing by purchasing mortgage financing commitments that lock in the availability of funds and interest rates at specified levels for a certain period of time.  Because substantially all homebuyers utilize long-term mortgage financing to purchase a home, adverse economic conditions, increases in unemployment and high mortgage interest rates may deter and eliminate a substantial number of potential homebuyers from our markets in the future. In addition, we offer title insurance services to our homebuyers in many of our markets.

Competition and Market Factors

The development and sale of residential properties is highly competitive and fragmented. We compete for residential sales on the basis of a number of interrelated factors, including location, reputation, amenities, design, quality and price, with numerous large and small homebuilders, including some homebuilders with nationwide operations and greater financial resources and/or lower costs than us. We also compete for residential sales with individual resales of existing homes, available rental housing and, to a lesser extent, resales of condominiums. We believe that we compare favorably to other builders in the markets in which we operate, due primarily to:
 
·
our experience within our geographic markets and breadth of product line, which allows us to vary our regional product offerings to reflect changing market conditions;
 
8

 
·
our responsiveness to market conditions, enabling us to capitalize on the opportunities for advantageous land acquisitions in desirable locations;
·
our reputation for quality design, construction and service; and
·
our focus on providing customers with a product they enjoy.

The housing industry is cyclical and is affected by consumer confidence levels, existing inventory levels and prevailing economic conditions generally, including interest rate levels. A variety of other factors affect the housing industry and demand for new homes, including the availability of labor and materials and increases in the costs thereof, changes in costs associated with homeownership such as increases in property taxes and energy costs, changes in consumer preferences, demographic trends and the availability of and changes in mortgage financing programs.

Government Regulation and Environmental Matters

Generally, our land is purchased with entitlements, giving us the right to obtain building permits upon compliance with specified conditions, which generally are within our control. Upon compliance with such conditions, we must obtain building permits. The length of time necessary to obtain such permits and approvals affects the carrying costs of unimproved property acquired for the purpose of development and construction. In addition, the continued effectiveness of permits already granted is subject to factors such as changes in policies, rules and regulations and their interpretation and application. Several governmental authorities have imposed impact fees as a means of defraying the cost of providing certain governmental services to developing areas. To date, the governmental approval processes discussed above have not had a material adverse effect on our development activities, and indeed all homebuilders in a given market face the same fees and restrictions. There can be no assurance, however, that these and other restrictions will not adversely affect us in the future.

We may also be subject to periodic delays or may be precluded entirely from developing communities due to building moratoriums or "slow-growth" or "no-growth" initiatives or building permit allocation ordinances which could be implemented in the future in the states and markets in which we operate. Substantially all of our land is entitled and, therefore, the moratoriums generally would only adversely affect us if they arose from health, safety and welfare issues such as insufficient water or sewage facilities. Local and state governments also have broad discretion regarding the imposition of development fees for projects in their jurisdictions. These fees are normally established, however, when we receive recorded final maps and building permits. We are also subject to a variety of local, state and federal statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations concerning the protection of health and the environment. These laws may result in delays, cause us to incur substantial compliance and other costs, and prohibit or severely restrict development in certain environmentally sensitive regions or areas.

Bonds and Other Obligations

We are frequently required, in connection with the development of our projects, to obtain letters of credit and performance, maintenance and other bonds in support of our related obligations with respect to such developments. The amount of such obligations outstanding at any time varies in accordance with our pending development activities. In the event any such bonds or letters of credit are drawn upon, we would be obligated to reimburse the issuer of such bonds or letters of credit. At September 30, 2006 we had approximately $93.3 million and $616.9 million of outstanding letters of credit and performance bonds, respectively, related to our obligations to local governments to construct roads and other improvements in various developments, in addition to outstanding letters of credit of approximately $62.7 million related to our land option contracts.

Employees and Subcontractors

At September 30, 2006, we employed 4,234 persons, of whom 867 were sales and marketing personnel, 1,483 were executive, management and administrative personnel, 1,593 were involved in construction and 291 were personnel of Beazer Mortgage. Although none of our employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements, certain of the subcontractors engaged by us are represented by labor unions or are subject to collective bargaining arrangements. We believe that our relations with our employees and subcontractors are good. During October 2006, we continued our comprehensive review of our overhead structure in light of our reduced volume expectations for fiscal 2007, reducing our number of employees by approximately 950.

9

 

Our home sales and operating revenues could decline due to macro-economic and other factors outside of our control, such as changes in consumer confidence, declines in employment levels and increases in the quantity and decreases in the price of new homes and resale homes in the market.

Changes in national and regional economic conditions, as well as local economic conditions where we conduct our operations and where prospective purchasers of our homes live, may result in more caution on the part of homebuyers and, consequently, fewer home purchases. These economic uncertainties involve, among other things, conditions of supply and demand in local markets and changes in consumer confidence and income, employment levels, and government regulations. These risks and uncertainties could periodically have an adverse effect on consumer demand for and the pricing of our homes, which could cause our operating revenues to decline. A reduction in our revenues could, in turn, negatively affect the market price of our securities.

A substantial increase in mortgage interest rates or unavailability of mortgage financing may reduce consumer demand for our homes.

Virtually all purchasers of our homes finance their acquisitions through lenders providing mortgage financing. A substantial increase in mortgage interest rates or unavailability of mortgage financing would adversely affect the ability of prospective first-time and move-up homebuyers to obtain financing for our homes, as well as adversely affect the ability of prospective move-up homebuyers to sell their current homes. As a result, our margins, revenues and cash flows may also be adversely affected.

If we are unsuccessful in competing against our homebuilding competitors, our market share could decline or our growth could be impaired and, as a result, our financial results could suffer.

Competition in the homebuilding industry is intense, and there are relatively low barriers to entry into our business. Increased competition could hurt our business, as it could prevent us from acquiring attractive parcels of land on which to build homes or make such acquisitions more expensive, hinder our market share expansion, and lead to pricing pressures on our homes that may adversely impact our margins and revenues. If we are unable to successfully compete, our financial results could suffer and the value of, or our ability to service, our debt could be adversely affected. Our competitors may independently develop land and construct housing units that are superior or substantially similar to our products. Furthermore, some of our competitors have substantially greater financial resources and lower costs of funds than we do. Many of these competitors also have longstanding relationships with subcontractors and suppliers in the markets in which we operate. We currently build in several of the top markets in the nation and, therefore, we expect to continue to face additional competition from new entrants into our markets.

Our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected by any decrease in the value of our inventory, as well as by the associated carrying costs.

We continuously acquire land for replacement and expansion of land inventory within our existing and new markets. The risks inherent in purchasing and developing land increase as consumer demand for housing decreases. The market value of land, building lots and housing inventories can fluctuate significantly as a result of changing market conditions and the measures we employ to manage inventory risk may not be adequate to insulate our operations from a severe drop in inventory values. When market conditions are such that land values are not appreciating, previously entered into option arrangements may become less desirable, at which time we may elect to forego deposits and preacquisition costs and terminate the agreement.

10

 
We could experience a reduction in home sales and revenues or reduced cash flows due to our inability to acquire land for our housing developments if we are unable to obtain reasonably priced financing to support our homebuilding activities.

The homebuilding industry is capital intensive, and homebuilding requires significant up-front expenditures to acquire land and begin development. Accordingly, we incur substantial indebtedness to finance our homebuilding activities. Although we believe that internally generated funds and available borrowings under our revolving credit facility will be available to fund our capital and other expenditures (including land purchases in connection with ordinary development activities), the amounts available from such sources may not be sufficient. If such sources are not sufficient, we would seek additional capital in the form of equity or debt financing from a variety of potential sources, including additional bank financing and/or securities offerings. The amount and types of indebtedness which we may incur are limited by the terms of the indentures governing our existing debt. In addition, the availability of borrowed funds, especially for land acquisition and construction financing, may be greatly reduced nationally, and the lending community may require increased amounts of equity to be invested in a project by borrowers in connection with both new loans and the extension of existing loans. If we are not successful in obtaining sufficient capital to fund our planned capital and other expenditures, we may be unable to acquire land for our housing developments. Additionally, if we cannot obtain additional financing to fund the purchase of land under our option contracts, we may incur contractual penalties and fees.

Our substantial indebtedness could adversely affect our financial condition, limit our growth and make it more difficult for us to satisfy our debt obligations.

As of September 30, 2006, we had outstanding indebtedness of approximately $1.8 billion, net of unamortized discount of approximately $3.6 million. Our substantial indebtedness could have important consequences to us and the holders of our securities, including, among other things:

·
causing us to be unable to satisfy our obligations under our debt agreements;
·
making us more vulnerable to adverse general economic and industry conditions;
·
making it difficult to fund future working capital, land purchases, acquisitions, share repurchases, general corporate purposes or other purposes; and
·
causing us to be limited in our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business.

In addition, subject to restrictions in our existing debt instruments, we may incur additional indebtedness. In particular, as of September 30, 2006, we had available borrowings of $591.0 million under our revolving credit facility. If new debt is added to our current debt levels, the related risks that we now face could intensify. Our growth plans and our ability to make payments of principal or interest on, or to refinance, our indebtedness, will depend on our future operating performance and our ability to enter into additional debt and/or equity financings. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flows in the future to service our debt, we may be required to refinance all or a portion of our existing debt, to sell assets or to obtain additional financing. We may not be able to do any of the foregoing on terms acceptable to us, if at all.

We are subject to extensive government regulation which could cause us to incur significant liabilities or restrict our business activities.

Regulatory requirements could cause us to incur significant liabilities and operating expenses and could restrict our business activities. We are subject to local, state and federal statutes and rules regulating, among other things, certain developmental matters, building and site design, and matters concerning the protection of health and the environment. Our operating expenses may be increased by governmental regulations such as building permit allocation ordinances and impact and other fees and taxes, which may be imposed to defray the cost of providing certain governmental services and improvements. Other governmental regulations, such as building moratoriums and no growth or slow growth initiatives, which may be adopted in communities which have developed rapidly, may cause delays in home projects or otherwise restrict our business activities resulting in reductions in our revenues. Any delay or refusal from government agencies to grant us necessary licenses, permits and approvals could have an adverse effect on our operations.
 
11

 
We may incur additional operating expenses due to compliance programs or fines, penalties and remediation costs pertaining to environmental regulations within our markets.

We are subject to a variety of local, state and federal statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations concerning the protection of health and the environment. The particular environmental laws which apply to any given community vary greatly according to the community site, the site’s environmental conditions and the present and former use of the site. Environmental laws may result in delays, may cause us to implement time consuming and expensive compliance programs and may prohibit or severely restrict development in certain environmentally sensitive regions or areas. From time to time, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and similar federal or state agencies review homebuilders’ compliance with environmental laws and may levy fines and penalties for failure to strictly comply with applicable environmental laws or impose additional requirements for future compliance as a result of past failures. Any such actions taken with respect to us may increase our costs. Further, we expect that increasingly stringent requirements will be imposed on homebuilders in the future. Environmental regulations can also have an adverse impact on the availability and price of certain raw materials such as lumber. Our projects in California are especially susceptible to restrictive government regulations and environmental laws.

We may be subject to significant potential liabilities as a result of construction defect, product liability and warranty claims made against us.
 
As a homebuilder, we have been, and continue to be, subject to construction defect, product liability and home warranty claims, including moisture intrusion and related mold claims, arising in the ordinary course of business. These claims are common to the homebuilding industry and can be costly.

We and certain of our subsidiaries have been, and continue to be, named as defendants in various construction defect claims, product liability claims, complaints and other legal actions that include claims related to moisture intrusion and mold. Furthermore, plaintiffs may in certain of these legal proceedings seek class action status with potential class sizes that vary from case to case. Class action lawsuits can be costly to defend, and if we were to lose any certified class action suit, it could result in substantial potential liability for us. We record reserves for such matters in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

With respect to certain general liability exposures, including construction defect, moisture intrusion and related mold claims and product liability, interpretation of underlying current and future trends, assessment of claims and the related liability and reserve estimation process is highly judgmental due to the complex nature of these exposures, with each exposure exhibiting unique circumstances. Furthermore, once claims are asserted for construction defects, it is difficult to determine the extent to which the assertion of these claims will expand geographically. Although we have obtained insurance for construction defect claims, such policies may not be available or adequate to cover any liability for damages, the cost of repairs, and/or the expense of litigation surrounding current claims, and future claims may arise out of uninsurable events or circumstances not covered by insurance and not subject to effective indemnification agreements with our subcontractors.

Our operating expenses could increase if we are required to pay higher insurance premiums or litigation costs for claims involving construction defect and product liability claims, which could cause our net income to decline.
 
The costs of insuring against construction defect and product liability claims are high, and the amount and scope of coverage offered by insurance companies is currently limited. This coverage may be further restricted and may become more costly.

Increasingly in recent years, lawsuits (including class action lawsuits) have been filed against builders, asserting claims of personal injury and property damage caused by the presence of mold in residential dwellings. Our insurance may not cover all of the claims, including personal injury claims, arising from the presence of mold, or such coverage may become prohibitively expensive. If we are not able to obtain adequate insurance against these claims, we may experience losses that could reduce our net income and restrict our cash flow available to service debt.
 
12

 
Historically, builders have recovered from subcontractors and their insurance carriers a significant portion of the construction defect liabilities and costs of defense that the builders have incurred. Insurance coverage available to subcontractors for construction defects is becoming increasingly expensive, and the scope of coverage is restricted. If we cannot effectively recover from our subcontractors or their carriers, we may suffer greater losses which could decrease our net income.

Builders’ ability to recover against any available insurance policy depends upon the continued solvency and financial strength of the insurance carrier that issued the policy. Many of the states in which we build homes have lengthy statutes of limitations applicable to claims for construction defects. To the extent that any carrier providing insurance coverage to us or our subcontractors becomes insolvent or experiences financial difficulty in the future, we may be unable to recover on those policies, and our net income may decline.

We are dependent on the services of certain key employees, and the loss of their services could hurt our business.
 
Our future success depends upon our ability to attract, train, assimilate and retain skilled personnel. If we are unable to retain our key employees or attract, train, assimilate or retain other skilled personnel in the future, it could hinder our business strategy and impose additional costs of identifying and training new individuals. Competition for qualified personnel in all of our operating markets is intense. A significant increase in the number of our active projects would necessitate the hiring of a significant number of additional construction managers, who are in short supply in our markets.

We are dependent on the continued availability and satisfactory performance of our subcontractors, which, if unavailable, could have a material adverse effect on our business.

We conduct our construction operations only as a general contractor. Virtually all construction work is performed by unaffiliated third-party subcontractors. As a consequence, we depend on the continued availability of and satisfactory performance by these subcontractors for the construction of our homes. There may not be sufficient availability of and satisfactory performance by these unaffiliated third-party subcontractors in the markets in which we operate. In addition, inadequate subcontractor resources could have a material adverse effect on our business.

We experience fluctuations and variability in our operating results on a quarterly basis and, as a result, our historical performance may not be a meaningful indicator of future results.

Our operating results in a future quarter or quarters may fall below expectations of securities analysts or investors and, as a result, the market value of our common stock will fluctuate. While we have reported positive annual net income for each of the past five fiscal years, we historically have experienced, and expect to continue to experience, variability in home sales and net earnings on a quarterly basis. As a result of such variability, our historical performance may not be a meaningful indicator of future results. Our quarterly results of operations may continue to fluctuate in the future as a result of a variety of both national and local factors, including, among others:
 
·
the timing of home closings and land sales;
·
our ability to continue to acquire additional land or secure option contracts to acquire land on acceptable terms;
·
conditions of the real estate market in areas where we operate and of the general economy;
·
raw material and labor shortages;
·
seasonal homebuying patterns; and
·
other changes in operating expenses, including the cost of labor and raw materials, personnel and general economic conditions.
 
13

 
The occurrence of natural disasters could increase our operating expenses and reduce our revenues and cash flows.

The climates and geology of many of the states in which we operate, including California, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas, present increased risks of natural disasters. To the extent that hurricanes, severe storms, earthquakes, droughts, floods, wildfires or other natural disasters or similar events occur, our homes under construction or our building lots in such states could be damaged or destroyed, which may result in losses exceeding our insurance coverage. Any of these events could increase our operating expenses, impair our cash flows and reduce our revenues, which could, in turn, negatively affect the market price of our securities.

Future terrorist attacks against the United States or increased domestic or international instability could have an adverse effect on our operations.

Adverse developments in the war on terrorism, future terrorist attacks against the United States, or any outbreak or escalation of hostilities between the United States and any foreign power, including the armed conflict with Iraq, may cause disruption to the economy, our Company, our employees and our customers, which could adversely affect our revenues, operating expenses, and financial condition.
 

We lease approximately 70,000 square feet of office space in Atlanta, Georgia to house our corporate headquarters. We also lease an aggregate of approximately 645,000 square feet of office space for our subsidiaries’ operations at various locations. We own approximately 18,500 square feet of warehouse space and an aggregate of 57,872 square feet of office space in Nashville, Tennessee and Indianapolis, Indiana. 
 
 
In November 2003, Beazer Homes received a request for information from the EPA pursuant to Section 308 of the Clean Water Act seeking information concerning the nature and extent of storm water discharge practices relating to certain of our projects completed or under construction. The EPA has since requested information on additional projects and has conducted site inspections at a number of locations. In certain instances, the EPA or the equivalent state agency has issued Administrative Orders identifying alleged instances of noncompliance and requiring corrective action to address the alleged deficiencies in storm water management practices. As of September 30, 2006, no monetary penalties have been imposed in connection with such Administrative Orders. The EPA has reserved the right to impose monetary penalties at a later date, the amount of which, if any, cannot currently be estimated. Beazer Homes has taken action to comply with the requirements of each of the Administrative Orders and is working to otherwise maintain compliance with the requirements of the Clean Water Act.

In June 2006, the Company received an Administrative Order issued by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection alleging certain violations of a wetlands disturbance permit with respect to a project in New Jersey, and assessing a proposed fine of $630,000.  The Company met with the Department to discuss their concerns and has requested a hearing on the matter which has not yet been scheduled.  The Company believes that it has significant defenses to the alleged violations and intends to contest the agency’s findings and the proposed fine.

In August 2006, the Company received an Administrative Order issued by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection alleging certain violations of a wetlands disturbance permit with respect to a second project in New Jersey, and assessing a proposed fine of $678,000.  The Company met with the Department to discuss their concerns and requested a hearing on the matter which has not yet been scheduled.  The Company believes that it has significant defenses to the alleged violations and intends to contest the agency’s findings and the proposed fine.

14

 
The Company and certain of its subsidiaries have been named as defendants in various claims, complaints and other legal actions, most relating to construction defects, moisture intrusion and related mold claims and product liability. Certain of the liabilities resulting from these actions are covered in whole or part by insurance. With respect to certain general liability exposures, including construction defect, moisture intrusion and related mold claims and product liability claims, interpretation of underlying current and future trends, assessment of claims and the related liability and the reserve estimation process is highly judgmental due to the complex nature of these exposures, with each exposure exhibiting unique circumstances. In particular, for construction defect liability there is some degree of uncertainty relating to the recoverability of insurance proceeds, when losses occur, the size of each loss, expectations for future interpretive rulings concerning contract provisions, possible recovery against other responsible parties, and the extent to which the assertion of these claims will expand geographically. In the Company’s opinion, based on its current assessment, the ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on Beazer Homes’ financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
 

No matters were submitted during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year covered by this report to a vote of security holders, through the solicitation of proxies or otherwise.
 
SEPARATE ITEM: EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
 
Name
 
Age
 
Position
Executive Officers
     
Ian J. McCarthy
 
53
 
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Michael H. Furlow
 
56
 
Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer
James O’Leary
 
43
 
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
Kenneth J. Gary
 
48
 
Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary
Michael T. Rand
 
44
 
Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer
Cory J. Boydston
 
47
 
Senior Vice President, Treasurer
 
Business Experience
 
IAN J. MCCARTHY. Mr. McCarthy is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Beazer Homes and has served as a director of Beazer Homes since the IPO.  Mr. McCarthy has served as President of predecessors of Beazer Homes since January 1991 and was responsible for all United States residential homebuilding operations in that capacity.  During the period May 1981 to January 1991, Mr. McCarthy was employed in Hong Kong and Thailand, becoming a director of Beazer Far East and from January 1980 to May 1981 was employed by Kier, Ltd., a company engaged in the United Kingdom construction industry which became an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Beazer PLC. Mr. McCarthy is a Chartered Civil Engineer with a Bachelor of Science degree from The City University, London.  Mr. McCarthy currently serves as a member of the Board of HomeAid America.  He also serves on the Board of Directors of Builder Homesite, Inc. and the Board of Directors of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.  He was inducted into the California Building Industry Hall of Fame in 2004, the first non-California resident to receive this honor.

MICHAEL H. FURLOW. Mr. Furlow joined us in October 1997 as the Executive Vice President for Operations and was named Chief Operating Officer in 1998. In this capacity, the Division Presidents report, directly or indirectly, to Mr. Furlow, and he is responsible for the performance of those operating divisions. During the 12 years prior to joining Beazer Homes, Mr. Furlow was with Pulte Home Corporation in various field and corporate roles, most recently as a Regional President. Mr. Furlow received a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in Accounting from the University of West Florida and initially worked as a Certified Public Accountant for Arthur Young & Company.
 
15

 
JAMES O’LEARY. Mr. O’Leary joined us in June 2002 as Executive Vice President, Corporate Development. In August 2003 he was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. O’Leary was previously with U.S. Industries, Inc. from 1995 to 2002. From 2000 to 2002, Mr. O’Leary was Chairman and CEO of LCA Group, Inc., U.S. Industries’ global lighting subsidiary. He also served as Executive Vice President of U.S. Industries from 1999 to 2002, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from 1998 to 1999 and Vice President and Corporate Controller from 1995 to 1998. Mr. O’Leary held various financial and operational positions at Hanson PLC., U.S. Industries’ former parent company, from 1993 to 1995, at which time U.S. Industries was spun off to Hanson’s shareholders. Mr. O’Leary was with Deloitte & Touche from 1985 to 1993. Mr. O’Leary holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Pace University. Mr. O’Leary is a licensed Certified Public Accountant. Mr. O’Leary currently serves on the Board of Directors of Kaydon Corporation, a NYSE-traded manufacturer of precision industrial equipment.

KENNETH J. GARY. Mr. Gary joined us in March 2005 as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. He also oversees our title insurance and mortgage operations. From 1990 to March 2005, Mr. Gary was employed by Toll Brothers, Inc., most recently as Senior Vice President and General Counsel. He also served as Chief Executive Officer of that company’s mortgage and title insurance subsidiaries. Prior to 1990, Mr. Gary served as Vice President and Counsel of Bell Atlantic Properties, the real estate subsidiary of Bell Atlantic Corporation (now known as Verizon Communications) and practiced real estate and corporate law with two major law firms for several years. Mr. Gary is a graduate of Brown University and the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where he was an editor of the Law Review.

MICHAEL T. RAND. Mr. Rand joined us in November 1996 as Vice President, Operational and Accounting Controls and was promoted to Vice President, Corporate Controller in June of 1998. Mr. Rand was promoted to Senior Vice President, Corporate Controller in October 2002, and to Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer in August 2004. Prior to joining Beazer Homes, Mr. Rand was with the firm KPMG Peat Marwick from 1984 to 1996, at which time he served as a Senior Audit Manager. Mr. Rand holds a bachelor’s degree in Commerce from the University of Virginia and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant.

CORY J. BOYDSTON. Mrs. Boydston joined us in January 1998 as Vice President and Treasurer, and was promoted to Senior Vice President in October 2004. Mrs. Boydston is currently responsible for the Treasury functions of the Company. Prior to joining Beazer, Mrs. Boydston was with Lennar Corporation from 1987 to 1997, serving in various capacities, including Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Controller, and Chief Financial Officer, Investment Division. Before joining Lennar, Mrs. Boydston was with Hayes Microcomputer Products and Arthur Andersen & Co. Mrs. Boydston received a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Florida State University in 1981 and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant.
 
PART II  
 
 
Market Information
The Company lists its common shares on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol “BZH.” On December 1, 2006, the last reported sales price of the Company’s common stock on the NYSE was $45.84. On December 1, 2006, Beazer Homes USA, Inc. had approximately 195 shareholders of record and 39,158,126 shares of common stock outstanding. The following table sets forth, for the quarters indicated, the range of high and low trading for the Company’s common stock during fiscal 2006 and 2005, as adjusted for the effect of the Company’s March 2005 three-for-one stock split.
 
16

 
 
 
1st Quarter
 
2nd Quarter
 
3rd Quarter
 
4th Quarter
 
Fiscal Year 2006:
                 
High
 
$
74.61
 
$
82.14
 
$
69.61
 
$
46.31
 
Low
 
$
51.90
 
$
59.00
 
$
43.82
 
$
35.96
 
                           
Fiscal Year 2005:
                         
High
 
$
49.46
 
$
58.83
 
$
60.71
 
$
67.50
 
Low
 
$
32.55
 
$
44.67
 
$
43.99
 
$
55.05
 

Dividends
For fiscal 2006, the Company paid quarterly cash dividends aggregating $0.40 per common share, or a total of approximately $16.1 million. For fiscal 2005, adjusted for the stock split, we paid quarterly cash dividends aggregating $0.33 per common share, or a total of approximately $13.9 million. We expect to continue paying regular cash dividends on a quarterly basis. However, the Board of Directors will periodically reconsider the declaration of dividends, and we will pay dividends at the discretion of the Board of Directors. The continuation of payments, the amount of such dividends, and the form in which the dividends are paid (cash or stock) depends upon the results of operations, the financial condition of the Company and other factors which the Board of Directors deems relevant. The indentures under which our senior notes were issued contain certain restrictive covenants, including limitations on payment of dividends. At September 30, 2006, under the most restrictive covenants of each indenture, approximately $244 million of our retained earnings was available for cash dividends and for share repurchases.

The following table provides information as of September 30, 2006 with respect to our shares of common stock that may be issued under our existing equity compensation plans, all of which have been approved by our stockholders:
 
 
 
 
 
Plan Category
 
 
Number of Common
Shares to be Issued
Upon Exercise of
Outstanding Options
 
Weighted
Average Exercise
Price of
Outstanding
Options
 
Number of Common Shares
Remaining Available for Future
Issuance Under Equity Compensation
Plans (Excluding Common Shares
Reflected in Column (a))
 
   
(a)
 
(b)
 
(c)
 
Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders
   
2,135,572
 
$
43.82
   
1,137,329
 

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
 
 
 
Period
 
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased (1)
 
 
Average Price
Paid Per Share
 
Total Number of Shares
Purchased as Part of
Publicly Announced Plans
 
Maximum Number of
Shares That May Yet Be
Purchased Under the Plans
 
7/1/06  7/31/06
   
229,100
 
$
38.90
   
229,100
   
5,756,600
 
9/1/06 – 9/30/06
   
328,300
   
40.13
   
328,300
   
5,428,300
 

(1) In addition, in September 2006, 17,156 shares were surrendered to us by employees in payment of minimum tax obligations upon the vesting of restricted stock units under our stock incentive plans. We valued the stock at the market price on the date of surrender, for an aggregate value of $699,850 or approximately $41 per share.
 
17

 
Selected Financial Data
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
   
Year Ended September 30,
   
2006
 
2005
 
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
Statement of Operations Data:
                     
Total revenue 
 
$
5,462,003
 
$
4,995,353
 
$
3,907,109
 
$
3,177,408
 
$
2,641,173
 
Operating income before goodwill 
                               
impairment (i) 
   
611,675
   
617,153
   
377,935
   
279,155
   
193,174
 
Goodwill impairment (i) 
   
   
130,235
   
   
   
 
Operating income (i) 
   
611,675
   
486,918
   
377,935
   
279,155
   
193,174
 
Net income (i) 
   
388,761
   
262,524
   
235,811
   
172,745
   
122,634
 
Net income per common share: 
                               
 Basic (i), (ii)
   
9.76
   
6.49
   
5.91
   
4.47
   
3.88
 
 Diluted (i), (ii)
   
8.89
   
5.87
   
5.59
   
4.26
   
3.58
 
Dividends paid per common share 
   
0.40
   
0.33
   
0.13
   
   
 
Balance Sheet Data (end of year):
                               
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
162,570
 
$
297,098
 
$
320,880
 
$
73,372
 
$
124,989
 
Inventory 
   
3,520,332
   
2,901,165
   
2,344,095
   
1,723,483
   
1,364,133
 
Total assets (i) 
   
4,559,431
   
3,770,516
   
3,163,030
   
2,219,407
   
1,902,319
 
Total debt 
   
1,838,660
   
1,321,936
   
1,150,972
   
748,738
   
748,572
 
Stockholders’ equity 
   
1,701,923
   
1,504,688
   
1,232,121
   
993,695
   
799,515
 
Supplemental Financial Data:
                               
Cash (used in)/provided by: 
                               
 Operating activities
 
$
(304,463
)
$
(84,263
)
$
(73,719
)
$
(41,049
)
$
59,464
 
 Investing activities
   
(66,218
)
 
(48,470
)
 
(30,476
)
 
(6,552
)
 
(314,633
)
 Financing activities
   
236,153
   
108,951
   
351,703
   
(4,016
)
 
338,480
 
EBIT (iii) 
   
709,456
   
581,722
   
452,774
   
340,980
   
245,060
 
EBITDA (iii) 
   
735,513
   
602,896
   
468,529
   
354,200
   
254,513
 
Interest incurred (iv) 
   
120,965
   
89,678
   
76,035
   
65,295
   
51,171
 
EBIT/interest incurred 
   
5.86
x   
6.49
x  
5.95
x  
5.22
x  
4.79
x
EBITDA/interest incurred 
   
6.08
x   
6.72
x  
6.16
 
5.42
x  
4.97
Financial Statistics (v):
                               
Total debt as a percentage of total 
                               
debt and stockholders’ equity 
   
51.9
%
 
46.8
%
 
48.3
%
 
43.0
%
 
48.4
%
Asset turnover 
   
1.31
x   
1.44
x  
1.45
 
1.54
 
1.82
x
EBIT margin 
   
13.0
%
 
11.6
%
 
11.6
%
 
10.7
%
 
9.3
%
Return on average assets (pre-tax) 
   
17.0
%
 
16.8
%
 
16.8
%
 
16.5
%
 
16.9
%
Return on average capital (pre-tax) 
   
22.3
%
 
22.3
%
 
21.9
%<