10-K 1 v94862e10vk.htm FORM 10-K KB Home, Form 10-K
 

PART I
Item 1. BUSINESS
Item 2.PROPERTIES
Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Item 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
PART II
Item 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Item 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Item 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION ANDRESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Item 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Item 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
Item 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
PART III
Item 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
Item 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
PART IV
Item 15. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
SIGNATURES
KB HOME AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Selected Financial Information
Selected Operating Information
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Consolidated Statements of Income
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Report of Independent Auditors
Report on Financial Statements
Stockholder Information
EXHIBIT 10.22
EXHIBIT 10.23
EX-13
EX-21
EX-23
EX-31.1
EX-31.2
EX-32.1
EX-32.2


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-K

þ  Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of     

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the Fiscal Year Ended November 30, 2003

or

o  Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the transition period from __________ to __________.

Commission File No. 1-9195

KB HOME

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
Incorporated in Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  95-3666267
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

10990 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90024

(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (310) 231-4000

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

     
Name of Each Exchange
Title of Each Class on Which Registered
Common Stock (par value $1.00 per share)
  New York Stock Exchange
Rights to Purchase Series A Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock
  New York Stock Exchange
7 3/4% Senior Notes due 2004
  New York Stock Exchange
8 5/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008
  New York Stock Exchange
7 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2010
  New York Stock Exchange
9 1/2% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2011
  New York Stock Exchange

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

     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 ü    NO   

     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.  o

     INDICATE BY CHECK MARK WHETHER THE REGISTRANT IS AN ACCELERATED FILER(AS DEFINED IN RULE 12b-2 OF THE ACT).  YES ü  NO   

     THE AGGREGATE MARKET VALUE OF VOTING STOCK HELD BY NON-AFFILIATES OF THE REGISTRANT ON MAY 31, 2003 WAS $2,939,943,438, INCLUDING 7,635,555 SHARES HELD BY THE REGISTRANT’S GRANTOR STOCK OWNERSHIP TRUST AND EXCLUDING 6,698,100 SHARES HELD IN TREASURY.

     THE NUMBER OF SHARES OUTSTANDING OF EACH OF THE REGISTRANT’S CLASSES OF COMMON STOCK ON JANUARY 31, 2004 WAS AS FOLLOWS:

  Common Stock (par value $1.00 per share) 46,691,180 shares, including 7,424,320 shares held by the Registrant’s Grantor Stock Ownership Trust and excluding 7,448,100 shares held in treasury.  

Documents Incorporated by Reference

  2003 Annual Report to Stockholders (incorporated into Part II).

  Notice of 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement (incorporated into Part III).




 

PART I

 
Item 1. BUSINESS

General

      KB Home is one of America’s leading homebuilders with domestic operations in the following regions and states: West Coast — California; Southwest — Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico; Central — Colorado, Illinois and Texas; and Southeast — Florida, Georgia and North Carolina. Kaufman & Broad S.A. (“KBSA”), our majority-owned subsidiary, is one of the largest homebuilders in France based on revenues. In 2003, we delivered 27,331 homes in the United States and France. We also provide mortgage banking services to the majority of our domestic homebuyers through our wholly-owned subsidiary, KB Home Mortgage Company (“KBHMC”). Founded in 1957, KB Home is a Fortune 500 company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “KBH.”

      We have two financial reporting segments, construction and mortgage banking. Our construction segment, which generated 99% and 98% of total revenues in 2003 and 2002, respectively, consists primarily of domestic and international homebuilding operations. Our construction operations are engaged in the acquisition and development of land primarily for residential purposes and offer a variety of homes that are designed to appeal to a wide range of buyers, including first-time, move-up and active adult homebuyers. Domestically, we operate a geographically diverse homebuilding business which, as of November 30, 2003, was comprised of operating divisions in 10 states serving 31 markets. The following table sets forth the states and markets where we operated as of November 30, 2003:

     
State Markets


Arizona
  Phoenix and Tucson
California
  Los Angeles, Oakland, Orange County, Riverside/San Bernardino, Sacramento, San Diego and Stockton
Colorado
  Denver and Greely
Florida
  Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Lakeland, Melbourne, Orlando, Port St. Lucie, Sarasota and Tampa
Georgia
  Atlanta
Illinois
  Chicago
Nevada
  Las Vegas
New Mexico
  Albuquerque
North Carolina
  Charlotte and Raleigh
Texas
  Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, McAllen and San Antonio

      In early 2004, we entered the Charleston, Columbia and Greenville, South Carolina markets through an acquisition.

      Internationally, we operate in France through a majority-owned subsidiary, which is publicly traded on the Premier Marché of the Paris Bourse. In addition to constructing homes, our French subsidiary builds commercial projects and high-density residential properties, such as condominium complexes, in France.

      Our mortgage banking subsidiary provides mortgage banking services primarily to our domestic homebuyers. The mortgage banking subsidiary originates, processes and sells mortgages to third-party investors. Our mortgage banking subsidiary generally does not retain or service the mortgages that it originates, but rather, sells the mortgages and related servicing rights to investors.

      KB Home is a Delaware corporation with principal executive offices at the following address: 10990 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90024. The telephone number of our corporate headquarters is (310) 231-4000 and our web site address is www.kbhome.com.

Markets

      We delivered 27,331 units in 2003 (excluding 231 deliveries from unconsolidated joint ventures). Our unit deliveries for the year ended November 30, 2003 increased 7% from the previous year’s 25,452 units (excluding 356 deliveries from unconsolidated joint ventures). During 2003, we operated an average of 392 active communities compared with 330 communities in 2002. The average selling price of our homes in 2003 was $206,500, up 8% from $190,800 in 2002.

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      Since 1998, our unit deliveries have grown at a compound annual rate of 13% while our revenues and net income have increased at compound annual rates of 19% and 31%, respectively. We believe that our strategy of operating in growth markets according to the principles of our KBnxt operational business model has been a key driver in our expansion. We plan to continue to increase our unit deliveries in future years following our current primary growth strategies, which are to expand existing operations to optimal market volume levels while exploring entry into new markets through acquisitions or de novo entry. Our continued growth could be materially affected, however, by risk factors such as the impact of domestic and international terrorist activities; the United States military commitment in the Middle East; accelerating recessionary trends and other adverse changes in general economic conditions either nationally, in the United States or France, or in the localized regions in which we operate; employment levels; increases in home mortgage interest rates; decreases in consumer confidence; the upcoming national election; or a continued downturn in the economy’s pace; among other things. Nevertheless, we expect to grow our business in 2004.

      In recent years, in addition to growing our existing businesses, we have been active in both de novo expansion and completing acquisitions of regional builders. In 2002, we acquired Orlando, Florida-based American Heritage Homes (“American Heritage”). The American Heritage acquisition strengthened our market position in Florida, marking our entry into the Orlando market and supplementing our Tampa start-up business.

      During 2003, we acquired Atlanta, Georgia-based Colony Homes (“Colony”), which expanded our operations into Atlanta, Georgia and Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina and strengthened our position in our Southeast region. We also acquired substantially all of the homebuilding assets of Chicago, Illinois-based Zale Homes (“Zale”). The Zale acquisition marked our entry into the greater Chicago market. We continued our acquisition activity subsequent to the end of our 2003 year. On January 6, 2004, we acquired South Carolina-based Palmetto Traditional Homes (“Palmetto”), a privately-held builder of single-family homes in Charleston, Columbia and Greenville.

      Our homebuilding operations have become more geographically diverse in recent years as a result of both organic growth and acquisitions. In the early 1990’s, we built virtually all of our homes in the California and Paris, France markets. Today, our operations in the United States span the country from coast-to-coast. We believe this increased geographic diversity reduces the risk of financial impacts resulting from changes in demand in individual markets. We delivered our first homes in California in 1963, France in 1970, Nevada in 1993, Colorado in 1994, New Mexico in 1995, Texas in 1996, Florida in 2001 and Georgia and North Carolina in 2003. In 1994, we re-entered Arizona, a market in which we had operated several years earlier, and in 2003 we re-entered Illinois.

      To enhance our operating capabilities in regional submarkets, we conducted our domestic homebuilding business in 2003 through seven divisional offices in California, six divisional offices in Texas, five divisional offices in Florida, two divisional offices in each of Arizona and North Carolina, and one divisional office in each of Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada and New Mexico. In addition, we operated 20 KB Home Studios in 2003, which are large showrooms where our customers may select from thousands of options to purchase for their homes. Internationally, KBSA operates our construction business through two divisional offices and three studios in France.

      West Coast. Our West Coast region, comprised of operations in Northern and Southern California, accounted for 20% of our total unit deliveries in 2003 compared to 21% in 2002 and 23% in 2001. During the first half of the 1990’s, weak conditions for new housing and general recessionary trends in the West Coast region along with our desire for continued growth prompted us to diversify our business through aggressive expansion into other western states. Since 1995, the West Coast region housing market has improved with the number of new housing permits issued in the region having increased each year. In 2003, our unit deliveries in the West Coast region increased 4% from the previous year to 5,549. During 2003, we operated an average of 64 active communities in the West Coast region compared to 62 in 2002.

      In Southern California, we conduct our homebuilding activities in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura counties. In Northern California, our homebuilding activities are conducted in the Central Valley, Monterey Bay, Sacramento and San Francisco Bay-Oakland-San Jose regions.

      The communities we develop in our West Coast region generally consist of single-family homes primarily designed for the entry-level, move-up and active adult markets. These homes ranged in size from approximately 1,200 to

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3,600 square feet in 2003 and sold at an average price of $353,900. Our average selling price in the West Coast region increased 11% in 2003 from the previous year average of $318,300 primarily due to favorable market conditions supporting higher prices, as well as increases in lot premiums and options sold through our KB Home Studios.

      Southwest.  In the early 1990’s, greatly improved business conditions in other western states coupled with a prolonged economic downturn in California and France prompted us to expand our domestic operations. Our Southwest region, which includes operations in Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico, accounted for 25% of our unit deliveries in 2003 compared to 24% in 2002 and 25% in 2001. Deliveries from our Southwest region totaled 6,695 units in 2003, up 11% from the prior year. During 2003, we operated an average of 79 active communities in the region compared with 67 in 2002.

      We conduct our Southwest region homebuilding activities in Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Albuquerque, New Mexico.

      The communities we develop in our Southwest region consist of single-family detached and low density attached homes for the residential housing market. These homes ranged in size from approximately 1,200 to 3,700 square feet in 2003 and sold at an average price of $178,100. The average selling price of our homes in the Southwest region increased 5% in 2003 from $169,400 in 2002 as a result of selected increases in sales prices in certain markets and communities, as well as increases in lot premiums and options sold through our KB Home Studios.

      Central.  Our Central region, which includes operations in Colorado, Illinois and Texas, accounted for 28% of our unit deliveries in 2003 compared to 37% in 2002 and 2001. Since delivering our first homes in the Central region in 1994, we have substantially grown these operations, both organically and through acquisitions. In addition to the Zale acquisition completed in 2003, we made strategic acquisitions in the late 1990’s to supplement our operations in Colorado and Texas. Our operations in the Central region delivered 7,659 units in 2003, down 20% from 9,605 units in 2002, primarily due to softness experienced in certain markets in the region. In the Central region, we operated an average of 117 active communities in 2003 compared with 109 in 2002.

      In 2003, we conducted our Central region homebuilding activities in Denver, Colorado; Chicago, Illinois; and Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, McAllen and San Antonio, Texas.

      The communities we develop in our Central region consist primarily of single-family detached homes for the residential housing market. These homes ranged in size from approximately 1,200 to 3,900 square feet in 2003 and sold at an average price of $149,400, up 2% from $147,000 in 2002.

      Southeast.  Our Southeast region, which includes operations in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina, accounted for 13% of our home deliveries in 2003, up from 3% in 2002 and 1% in 2001. Our operations in the Southeast region delivered 3,504 units in 2003, up 416% from 679 units in 2002, primarily due to our expansion as a result of acquisitions completed in 2003.

      In 2003, we conducted our Southeast region homebuilding activities in Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Lakeland, Melbourne, Orlando, Port St. Lucie, Sarasota and Tampa, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; and Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina.

      The communities we develop in our Southeast region consist primarily of single-family detached and low density attached homes targeted at the residential housing market. These homes ranged in size from approximately 1,300 to 2,800 square feet in 2003 and sold at an average price of $156,200, down 4% from $163,200 in 2002, primarily due to a change in product mix. During 2003, we operated an average of 53 active communities in the region compared to 14 in 2002.

      France.  We conduct our operations in France through our majority-owned subsidiary KBSA, which is one of the leading builders of homes (single-family homes and condominium units) in France. In France, we build homes principally for move-up buyers who already own a home. Our principal market in France is the Ile-de-France region, where we built 75% of our individual homes and 43% of our condominium units in 2003. We also have activities in the regions of Grenoble, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Rouen and Toulouse. In 2003, housing deliveries from our French homebuilding operations increased 4% from the prior year to 3,924 units. Deliveries from our French operations accounted for 14% of our home deliveries in 2003 compared to 15% in 2002 and 14% in 2001. The single-family homes built by our French business ranged in size from approximately 650 to 2,800 square feet in 2003. The average selling price of our homes in France increased 26% to $202,600 in 2003 from $161,000 in 2002, mainly due to favorable foreign exchange rates.

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      Our French subsidiary also conducts a commercial development business which includes the development of commercial office buildings in Paris for sale to institutional investors. Revenues from the development of commercial buildings, all located in metropolitan Paris, totaled $107.0 million in 2003, $43.8 million in 2002 and $69.9 million in 2001.

      Prior to February 7, 2000, our French subsidiary was wholly owned by KB Home. On February 7, 2000, KBSA issued 5,314,327 common shares (including an over-allotment option) in an initial public offering. The offering was made in France and elsewhere in Europe and was priced at 23 euros per share. Since the initial public offering, the French business has been listed on the Premier Marché of the Paris Bourse. We have maintained a 57% majority ownership interest in KBSA since the initial public offering and continue to consolidate these operations in our financial statements.

      Unconsolidated Joint Ventures. From time to time, we participate in the development, construction and sale of residential properties and commercial projects through unconsolidated joint ventures. These included joint ventures in California, Florida, Nevada, New Mexico and France in 2003 and 2002; and Nevada, New Mexico, and France in 2001. Only a relatively small portion of our business is conducted through unconsolidated joint ventures and, in 2003, unit deliveries from joint ventures comprised less than 1% of our total unit deliveries for the year.

      Selected Market Data. The following table sets forth, for each of our regions, unit deliveries, average selling prices and total construction revenues for the years ended November 30, 2003, 2002 and 2001 (excluding the effects of unconsolidated joint ventures).

                           
Years Ended November 30,

2003 2002 2001



West Coast:
                       
 
Unit deliveries
    5,549       5,344       5,550  
 
Percent of total unit deliveries
    20 %     21 %     23 %
 
Average selling price
  $ 353,900     $ 318,300     $ 283,100  
 
Total construction revenues (in millions)(1)
  $ 1,971.5     $ 1,716.1     $ 1,605.9  
Southwest:
                       
 
Unit deliveries
    6,695       6,037       6,238  
 
Percent of total unit deliveries
    25 %     24 %     25 %
 
Average selling price
  $ 178,100     $ 169,400     $ 157,600  
 
Total construction revenues (in millions)(1)
  $ 1,195.7     $ 1,022.7     $ 993.0  
Central:
                       
 
Unit deliveries
    7,659       9,605       9,181  
 
Percent of total unit deliveries
    28 %     37 %     37 %
 
Average selling price
  $ 149,400     $ 147,000     $ 140,500  
 
Total construction revenues (in millions)(1)
  $ 1,155.3     $ 1,413.2     $ 1,297.6  
Southeast:
                       
 
Unit deliveries
    3,504       679       187  
 
Percent of total unit deliveries
    13 %     3 %     1 %
 
Average selling price
  $ 156,200     $ 163,200     $ 152,600  
 
Total construction revenues (in millions)(1)
  $ 548.0     $ 111.1     $ 28.5  

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Years Ended November 30,

2003 2002 2001



France:
                       
 
Unit deliveries
    3,924       3,787       3,382  
 
Percent of total unit deliveries
    14 %     15 %     14 %
 
Average selling price(2)
  $ 202,600     $ 161,000     $ 146,300  
 
Total construction revenues (in millions)(1)(2)
  $ 904.9     $ 675.8     $ 576.7  
Total:
                       
 
Unit deliveries
    27,331       25,452       24,538  
 
Average selling price(2)
  $ 206,500     $ 190,800     $ 178,000  
 
Total construction revenues (in millions)(1)(2)
  $ 5,775.4     $ 4,938.9     $ 4,501.7  


(1)  Total construction revenues include revenues from residential development, commercial activities and land sales.
 
(2)  Average selling prices and total construction revenues for foreign operations have been translated into U.S. dollars using weighted average exchange rates for each period.

Strategy

      Since 1997, we have operated under the principles of our KBnxt operational business model, and have continued to introduce complementary strategies to enhance the benefits of this model. KBnxt emphasizes efficiencies generated from a more process-driven, systematic approach to homebuilding and also focuses on gaining a deeper understanding of customer interests and needs. Key elements of KBnxt include: gaining a detailed understanding of customer desires and preferences through frequent and localized surveys; emphasizing pre-sales instead of speculative inventory; maintaining lower average levels of in-process and standing inventory; establishing even flow production; providing a wide spectrum of choice to customers in terms of location, design and options; offering low base prices; and reducing the use of sales incentives. Since introducing the KBnxt operational business model in 1997, we have made significant progress in implementing it by, among other things, focusing on the pre-sale and backlog building strategy, developing and implementing a rigorous and detailed customer survey program, and opening new KBnxt communities and KB Home Studios.

      In order to leverage the benefits of our KBnxt operational business model, we have concentrated on a strategy designed to achieve a leading position in our major markets. By operating in attractive housing markets at sufficiently large volume levels, we believe we can better execute our KBnxt operational business model and use economies of scale to increase profits. The general benefits of this strategy include lower land development costs, improved terms with financially stable suppliers and subcontractors, the ability to offer maximum choice in customizing a production home with the best value to our customers, and the recruitment and retention of the best management talent.

      We hope to continue to increase our overall unit deliveries in future years. Our growth strategies include expanding existing operations to optimal market volume levels, as well as exploring entry into new markets at high volume levels through acquisitions or de novo entry. Growth in existing markets will be partly driven by our ability to increase the average number of active communities in our major markets through the continued successful implementation of our KBnxt operational business model. We believe these growth strategies can be supplemented by de novo entry into new markets as we did in Phoenix, Arizona; Denver, Colorado; Las Vegas, Nevada; Austin, Houston and McAllen, Texas; and Fort Myers, Melbourne, Port St. Lucie and Tampa, Florida. In addition, we continue to employ an acquisition strategy which has enabled us to supplement growth in existing markets and facilitate expansion into new markets. We believe that expanding our operations through the acquisition of existing homebuilding companies affords several benefits such as

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established land positions and existing relationships with land owners, subcontractors and suppliers not found in start-up operations. During the last eight fiscal years, we have made the following acquisitions:
         
Entity Acquired Date Acquired Markets



Rayco
  March 1996   San Antonio, Texas
SMCI
  July 1997   Paris, France
Hallmark
  March 1998   Austin, Houston and San Antonio, Texas
PrideMark
  March 1998   Denver, Colorado
Estes
  April 1998   Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona
General Homes
  August 1998*   Houston, Texas
Lewis Homes
  January 1999   Las Vegas, Nevada and Northern Nevada; Southern California and the greater Sacramento area of California
Park
  August 1999   Paris, France
Frank Arthur
  January 2000   Paris, France
Sefima
  July 2000   Paris, France
First
  July 2000   Lille, France
Sopra
  November 2000   Montpellier and Toulouse, France
Trademark
  July 2001   Jacksonville, Florida
Résidences Bernard Teillaud
  September 2001   Annecy, Chambéry, Grenoble and Lyon, France
American Heritage Homes
  September 2002   Orlando and Tampa, Florida
Colony
  March 2003   Atlanta, Georgia and Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina
Zale
  September 2003   Chicago, Illinois
Euro Immobilier
  November 2003   Le Mans and Toulouse, France
Palmetto
  January 2004   Charleston, Columbia and Greenville, South Carolina

  *  In August 1998, we acquired a majority interest in General Homes; we acquired the remaining minority interest in January 1999, bringing our total ownership interest in General Homes to 100% at that time.

      In identifying acquisition targets, we seek homebuilders that possess the following characteristics: a business model similar to or readily convertible to our KBnxt operational business model; access to or control of a significant land position to support growth; a strong management team; and a financial condition positioned to be accretive to earnings in the first full year following acquisition. We believe that the combination of de novo market entries, organic growth in existing markets and continued acquisitions fitting these criteria will enable us to expand our operations in a focused and disciplined manner. However, our ability to acquire other homebuilders in the future could be affected by several factors, including, among other things, general conditions in the United States securities markets, our stock price, the general availability of appropriate acquisition candidates, pricing for such transactions, competition among other national or regional builders to acquire such target companies, changes in general economic conditions nationally and in target markets, and capital or credit market conditions.

      We regularly review our land assets and businesses for the purpose of monetizing non-strategic or marginal positions. We also employ stringent criteria for prospective land acquisitions.

Local Expertise

      We believe that our business requires in-depth knowledge of local markets in order to acquire land in desirable locations and on favorable terms, to engage subcontractors, to plan communities keyed to local demand, to anticipate customer tastes in specific markets and to assess the regulatory environment. Accordingly, our divisional structure is designed to utilize local market expertise. We have experienced management teams in each of our regional submarkets. Although we have centralized certain functions, such as marketing, legal, materials purchasing, product development, architecture and accounting, to benefit from economies of scale, our local management continues to exercise considerable autonomy in identifying land acquisition opportunities, developing sales strategies, conducting production operations and

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controlling costs. We seek to operate at optimal volume levels in each of our markets in order to maximize our competitive advantages and the benefits of the KBnxt operational business model.

Design and Marketing Strategies  

      We believe that we have been and continue to be an innovator in the design of homes for the first-time, move-up and active adult buyer. Our in-house Builder Services group, whose plans are typically protected by registered copyright, has been successful in creating distinctive design features that meet the core demands and needs of our customers. In 2003, we continued to employ our KBnxt operational business model, seeking to design homes that keep construction costs and base prices as low as possible while achieving high quality levels and promoting customer choice.

      Certain elements of the KBnxt operational business model include achieving an in-depth understanding of customer desires and preferences through detailed market surveys and providing a wide spectrum of choice to customers in terms of location, design and options. Our communities offer homebuyers an abundance of choices and options which allow customers to customize their home to an extent not typically available with private builders. After selecting a floorplan and homesite that meet their needs, our buyers visit one of our KB Home Studios to select options for their home, the incremental cost of which may be rolled into their new home mortgage. Our KB Home Studios, which are typically “retail”-type locations of approximately 10,000 square feet but can be as large as our 21,000 square foot facility in Las Vegas, Nevada, are typically located separately from our divisional business offices. These studios offer customers more than 5,000 options — from floor plans to fireplaces to garage doors — in a retail environment convenient to multiple communities. Our personnel are available at the studios to assist homebuyers in selecting options and upgrades.

      One of our key competitive advantages is our unified, national brand. Unlike many builders, we operate under a single name in every one of our markets utilizing marketing programs from our centralized in-house advertising agency. This means that whether you are in Charlotte, Sacramento, Tampa or Tucson, you will recognize KB Home as one of the nation’s most trusted and premier homebuilders. This strategy not only gives us terrific brand recognition in our existing markets, it also allows us to transition seamlessly with the strength of a leading brand in new market entries, whether through acquisition or de novo growth, including our expansions into the Midwest and Southeast. In addition, we are able to capitalize on today’s more mobile society, where one homebuyer may live in several major homebuilding markets in his or her lifetime.

      Our geographic diversity and large national reach also allow us to pool the collective marketing resources of our operating divisions across the country for partnerships and promotions. In 2003, we partnered with ABC Television and its top-rated morning show, Live with Regis and Kelly, for a groundbreaking promotion to build a home in the heart of New York City — in front of America’s families — and give it away to one lucky viewer. This partnership gave us unprecedented national reach, with hours of dedicated on-air time during prime May sweeps valued at millions of dollars in media exposure. But the brand-name exposure was only one of the benefits; even for those consumers already familiar with us, we were able to demonstrate one of our most central marketing messages — the powerful impact of our unique KB Home Studio and customization abilities.

      While many people associate us with homes built and priced for the first-time homebuyer, the truth is that we build a wide variety of homes, from condominiums in the heart of San Jose targeting young urban professionals, to single-story villas for active adults in the Las Vegas area. Our marketing and advertising reflect this product diversification, providing a single brand image that stands for quality and maximum choice across a wide variety of consumer segments and geographic markets.

      To reach these varied audiences, our marketing efforts continue to extend well beyond traditional real estate advertising and promotional activities. In addition to print advertising, directional signage, billboards, direct mail, doorhangers, and radio spots, in 2003 we launched the newest version of our industry-first infomercial. We have had tremendous success with this vehicle in new markets in building a lead base and strong brand recognition, as well as developing new leads in existing markets. We also continue to utilize email marketing as one of the most cost-effective ways of maximizing our investment in our existing leads and reaching our prospect base with targeted updates on new communities and special events.

      In 2003, we took our online marketing efforts to the next level by bringing our primary consumer web site, www.kbhome.com, in-house for greater cost efficiencies and faster time to market for upgrades and new features. The

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new web site has seen a significant increase in online traffic and qualified leads generated from the site. The web site continues to be fully integrated with our houseCALLTM Center, our phone service center, which is designed to bring potential buyers to our communities while also simplifying the homebuying process for the consumer. The houseCALLTM Center can be reached at 888-KB-HOMES AND 888-KB-CASAS.

      When consumers reach our communities, they find an inviting retail space that makes the homebuying process easy and comfortable. In 2003, we launched our new companywide sales office design that provides a unique retail setting designed to support each stage of our proprietary sales presentation process and present the unique advantages of KB Home. In addition, our sales offices take advantage of the latest technology. Interactive kiosks allow customers to not only see every floor plan and elevation available at a community, but customize them to their particular needs and desires and print out the final design of the home of their dreams.

      Our efforts do not stop when our prospects become KB homebuyers. We continue our relationship with our buyers well past the purchase, with customer service initiatives that included more than 400 homeowner appreciation parties at our communities in 2003. And homebuyers are responding. In 2003, we were proud to be recognized by J.D. Power and Associates as a Top 3 builder in our Austin and Las Vegas markets for customer satisfaction with homebuilders.

      In France, we introduced the American concept of a master bedroom suite, as well as walk-in closets, built-in kitchen cabinetry and two-car garages. We believe that in each of our residential markets, our value engineering enables us to offer appealing and well-designed homes without increasing construction costs. Our French operations offer a broad choice of options to new home and condominium buyers through a 6,500 square foot new home showroom in Paris, and two additional new home showrooms that opened in 2002 in Lyon and Marseille. The French business also maintains a web site (www.ketb.com) featuring information on available homes.

      In all of our domestic and international residential markets, the sale of homes is carried out by our in-house sales force. We maintain on-site sales offices, which are usually open seven days a week, and market our homes principally through the use of fully furnished and landscaped model homes which are decorated to emphasize the distinctive design features and the choices available to customers. Our sales representatives are available to assist prospective buyers by providing them with floor plans, price information and tours of model homes. These sales representatives are experienced, trained individuals who can provide buyers with specific information regarding other products in the area, the variety of financing programs available, construction schedules and marketing and advertising plans. In all of our domestic communities, we encourage participation of outside real estate brokers in bringing prospective buyers to our communities. Also in many of our domestic markets, our KB Homebuyers Club serves as a resource for prospective homebuyers, providing them with helpful information on the homebuying process and the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities.

Community Development

      The community development process generally consists of three phases: land acquisition; land development; and home construction and sale. The normal development cycle for a community has historically ranged from six to 24 months in the West Coast region and is typically a somewhat shorter duration in our Southwest, Central and Southeast markets. In France, the development cycle has historically ranged from 12 to 30 months. Development cycles vary depending on the extent of government approvals required, the size of the development, necessary site preparation, weather conditions and marketing results.

      When feasible, we acquire control of lot positions through the use of options. In addition, we frequently acquire lots which are entitled and physically developed (referred to as “finished lots”), enabling us to deliver completed homes shortly after acquisition. The total number of lots in our domestic new home communities vary significantly but typically range from 50 to 250 lots. These domestic developments usually include three different model home designs and generally offer lot sizes in detached communities ranging from approximately 3,000 to 10,000 square feet, with premium lots often containing more square footage, views or orientation benefits.

      Through the mid-1990s, we typically acquired undeveloped and/or unentitled properties, often with total lots significantly in excess of 250. With the introduction of the KBnxt operational business model in 1997, we substantially reduced our practice of investing in such long-term development projects in order to lower the operating risk associated with such projects. Since introducing the KBnxt operational business model, we have focused on acquiring finished or partially improved lots and purchasing raw land under options which require little or no initial payments, or pursuant to purchase agreements in which our obligations are contingent upon our being satisfied with the feasibility of developing and selling homes. We expect the balance of raw land, entitled lots and finished lots to evolve from time to

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time based upon market conditions. In France, typical single-family developments consist of approximately 50 to 150 lots, with average lot sizes of 5,500 square feet.

      Land Acquisition and Development.  In accordance with our KBnxt operational business model, a deep cross section of homebuyers of both new and resale homes in each market are carefully surveyed. Based upon these surveys, a marketing strategy is developed which targets specific price points and geographic sectors which we will pursue. We utilize an in-house staff of land acquisition specialists at each division who carry out extensive site selection research and analysis in order to identify properties in desirable locations consistent with our market strategy. In acquiring land, we consider such factors as: current market conditions, with an emphasis on the prices of comparable new and resale homes in the particular market; expected sales rates; proximity to metropolitan areas; population, industrial and commercial growth patterns; estimated costs of completed lot development; customer preferences; and environmental matters. Several of our highest ranking executives, including the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President of Asset Management, comprise our “Land Committee” which controls the commitment of our resources for all land acquisitions and utilizes a series of specific financial and budgetary controls in approving acquisition opportunities identified by division land acquisition personnel. The Land Committee employs strict standards for assessing all proposed land purchases based, in part, upon specific discounted after tax cash flow internal rate of return requirements and also evaluates each division’s overall return on investment. Extensive due diligence is also performed for each land acquisition with the results reported as part of the Land Committee presentation prior to acquisition decisions. Our geographic expansion to areas which generally offer lower risk for less investment in land has resulted in more stringent criteria guiding our land investment decisions. Consistent with our standards, we seek to minimize, or defer the timing of, cash expenditures for new land purchases and development by acquiring lots under option, phasing the land purchase and lot development, relying upon non-recourse seller financing or working with third-party land developers. In addition, we focus on acquiring finished or partially improved lots, which allow us to begin delivery of finished homes within six months of the purchase of such lots and reduces the risks of unforeseen improvement costs and volatile market conditions. These techniques are intended to enhance returns associated with new land investments by minimizing the incremental capital required.

      The following table shows the number of lots we owned in various stages of development and under option contracts in our principal markets as of November 30, 2003 and 2002. The table does not include acreage which has not yet been approved for subdivision into lots. This excluded acreage consisted of approximately 651 acres optioned in the United States in 2003 and approximately 750 acres optioned in the United States in 2002.

                                                                   
Total Lots
Homes/Lots in Land Under Lots Under Owned or
Production Development Option Under Option




2003 2002 2003 2002 2003 2002 2003 2002








West Coast
    7,137       6,570       2,347       5,387       12,908       6,686       22,392       18,643  
Southwest
    10,322       10,142       3,796       2,937       12,570       15,518       26,688       28,597  
Central
    18,315       15,596       10,804       8,129       13,378       21,345       42,497       45,070  
Southeast
    4,891       2,022       296             22,166       5,868       27,353       7,890  
France
    3,395       3,817       204       264       6,769       5,967       10,368       10,048  
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
Total
    44,060       38,147       17,447       16,717       67,791       55,384       129,298       110,248  
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

      Since implementing our KBnxt operational business model, we have reduced the proportion of unentitled and unimproved land in our portfolio. However, depending on market conditions we may increase the proportion of unentitled and unimproved land in certain markets from time to time. In addition, we have continued to focus on purchasing raw land under options which require little or no initial payments, or pursuant to purchase agreements in which our obligations are contingent upon our being satisfied with the feasibility of developing and selling homes. During the option period of our acquisition agreements, we perform technical, environmental, engineering and entitlement feasibility studies and seek to obtain necessary government approvals. The use of such option arrangements allows us to evaluate and obtain regulatory approvals for a project, to reduce our financial commitments, including interest and other carrying costs, and to minimize land inventories. This also improves our capacity to estimate costs accurately, an important element in planning communities and pricing homes. We typically purchase amounts sufficient for our expected production needs and do not purchase land for speculative investment.

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      In France, we also employ conservative strategies, including an emphasis on the move-up market segment and generally restrictive policies regarding land acquisition.

      Home Construction and Sale.  Following the purchase of land and, if necessary, the completion of the entitlement process, we typically begin marketing homes and constructing model homes. The time required for construction of our homes depends on the weather, time of year, local labor situations, availability of materials and supplies and other factors. The construction of production homes is generally contingent upon customer orders to minimize the costs and risks of standing inventory. Our KBnxt operational business model emphasizes pre-selling, maintaining stringent control of production inventory and reducing unsold inventory. The pre-selling of homes benefits homebuyers, allowing them to personalize their homes by selecting from a wider range of customizing options. As a result of our KBnxt operational business model pre-sale and backlog building strategies, the percentage of sold inventory in production in our domestic operations has increased dramatically and was 87% at year-end 2003. Prior to the implementation of our KBnxt operational business model, the percentage of sold inventory in production was 44% at year-end 1996.

      We act as the general contractor for virtually all of our communities and hire subcontractors for all production activities. The use of subcontractors enables us to reduce our investment in direct labor costs, equipment and facilities. Where practical, we use mass production techniques, and prepackaged, standardized components and materials to streamline the on-site production phase. We have also developed systems for national and regional purchasing of certain building materials, appliances and other items to take advantage of economies of scale and to reduce costs through improved pricing and participation in national manufacturers’ rebate programs. At all stages of production, our own administrative and on-site supervisory personnel coordinate the activities of subcontractors and subject their work to quality and cost controls. As part of our KBnxt strategies, we have also emphasized even flow production methods to enhance the quality of our homes, minimize production costs and improve the predictability of our revenues and earnings.

      We generally price our homes in a given community only after we have entered into contracts for the construction of such homes with subcontractors for that community, an approach that improves our ability to estimate gross profits accurately. Wherever possible, we seek to acquire land and construct homes at costs that allow selling prices to be set at levels at or below immediate competitors on a per square foot basis, while maintaining appropriate gross margins.

      Our division personnel provide assistance to homebuyers during all phases of the homebuying process and after the home is sold. The coordinated efforts of sales representatives, KB Home Studio consultants, on-site construction superintendents and post-closing customer service personnel in the customer’s homebuying experience is intended to provide high levels of customer satisfaction and lead to enhanced customer retention and referrals. In our domestic homebuilding operations, we provide customers with a limited home warranty program administered by personnel in each of our divisions. This arrangement is designed to give our customers prompt and efficient post-delivery service directly from KB Home. For homes sold in the United States, we generally provide a structural warranty of 10 years, a warranty on electrical, heating, cooling, plumbing and other building systems each varying from two to five years based on geographic market and state law, and a warranty of one year for other components of the home such as appliances.

Backlog

      Sales of our homes are made pursuant to standard sales contracts which generally require a customer deposit at the time of execution and an additional payment upon mortgage approval. We generally permit customers to cancel their obligations and obtain refunds of all or a portion of their deposits in the event mortgage financing is unobtainable within a period of time, as specified in the contract.

      “Backlog” consists of homes for which we have entered into a sales contract but have not yet delivered. “Ending Backlog” represents the number of units in backlog from the previous period plus the number of net orders (sales made less cancellations) taken during the current period minus unit deliveries made during the current period. The backlog at any given time will be affected by cancellations which most commonly result from the inability of a prospective purchaser to obtain financing. Historically, our cancellation rates have tended to increase during difficult economic periods (such as in late 2001 after the September 11th tragedy). In addition, deliveries of new homes typically increase from the first to the fourth quarter in any year.

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      Our backlog at November 30, 2003, excluding the effects of unconsolidated joint ventures, reached 14,675 units, up 22% from the 12,023 backlog units at year-end 2002. Our backlog ratio was 187% for the fourth quarter of 2003 and 171% for the fourth quarter of 2002. (Backlog ratio is defined as beginning backlog as a percentage of unit deliveries in the quarter.) Domestically, unit backlog of 12,180 units at November 30, 2003 increased by 24% compared to 9,858 units at November 30, 2002. Our continued emphasis on pre-sales contributed to the increase in domestic backlog levels. Net orders generated by our U.S. operations totaled 5,443 in the fourth quarter of 2003, up 17% from 4,637 in the fourth quarter of 2002. Internationally, net orders in France totaled 1,186 in the fourth quarter of 2003, essentially flat with the year-earlier quarter. Unit backlog in France was 15% higher at November 30, 2003 compared to November 30, 2002.

      The following table sets forth net orders, unit deliveries and ending backlog relating to sales of homes and homes under contract for each quarter during the years ended November 30, 2003, 2002 and 2001. The information in the table excludes activity related to unconsolidated joint ventures. Activity associated with unconsolidated joint ventures included net orders, unit deliveries and ending backlog of 470, 231, and 521, respectively, for the year ended November 30, 2003; 188, 356 and 45, respectively, for the year ended November 30, 2002; and 220, 330 and 98, respectively, for the year ended November 30, 2001.

                           
Net Unit Ending
Orders Deliveries Backlog*



Fiscal 2003:
                       
 
First Quarter
    6,549       5,263       13,309  
 
Second Quarter
    8,397       6,344       16,103  
 
Third Quarter
    7,319       6,850       16,572  
 
Fourth Quarter
    6,629       8,874       14,675  
 
Fiscal 2002:
                       
 
First Quarter
    6,441       5,025       12,543  
 
Second Quarter
    7,194       6,005       13,732  
 
Third Quarter
    6,319       6,490       13,561  
 
Fourth Quarter
    5,831       7,932       12,023  
 
Fiscal 2001:
                       
 
First Quarter
    6,344       4,528       12,375  
 
Second Quarter
    7,370       5,723       14,022  
 
Third Quarter
    5,665       6,473       13,464  
 
Fourth Quarter
    5,336       7,814       11,127  

Ending backlog amounts for 2003 have been adjusted to reflect the acquisitions of Colony and Zale and an acquisition in France. Therefore, the ending backlog at November 30, 2002 combined with net order and delivery activity for 2003 will not equal the ending backlog at November 30, 2003. Similarly, ending backlog amounts for 2002 were adjusted to reflect the acquisition of American Heritage and ending backlog amounts for 2001 were adjusted to reflect the acquisitions of Trademark and Résidences Bernard Teillaud.

Land and Raw Materials

      We believe that our current supply of land is sufficient for our reasonably anticipated needs over the next several years, and that we will be able to acquire land on acceptable terms for future housing developments absent significant changes in current land acquisition market conditions. The principal raw materials used in the construction of our homes are concrete and forest products. (In France, the principal materials used in the construction of our commercial buildings are steel, concrete and glass). In addition, we use a variety of other construction materials, including sheetrock, plumbing and electrical items in the homebuilding process. We attempt to maintain efficient operations by utilizing standardized materials which are commercially available on competitive terms from a variety of sources. In addition, our centralized or regionalized purchasing of certain building materials, appliances and fixtures, allows us to benefit from large quantity

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purchase discounts for our domestic operations. When possible, we make bulk purchases of such products at favorable prices from suppliers and often instruct subcontractors to submit bids based on such prices.

Land Sales

      In the normal course of business, we sell land which either can be sold at an advantageous price due to market conditions or does not meet our marketing needs. Such property may consist of land zoned for commercial use which is part of a larger parcel being developed for single-family homes or may be in areas where we may consider our inventory to be excessive. Generally, land sales fluctuate with our decisions to maintain or decrease our land ownership position in certain markets based upon the volume of our holdings, the strength and number of competing developers entering particular markets at given points in time, the availability of land in markets we serve and prevailing market conditions. Land sale revenues totaled $25.6 million in 2003, $39.2 million in 2002 and $64.8 million in 2001.

Customer Financing

      On-site personnel at our communities in the United States facilitate sales by offering to arrange financing for prospective customers through KBHMC. We believe that the ability to offer customers financing on firm, competitive terms as a part of the sales process is an important factor in completing sales.

      Our mortgage banking business primarily consists of providing our domestic homebuyers with competitive financing and coordinating and expediting the loan origination transaction through the steps of loan application, loan approval and closing. Our mortgage banking subsidiary has its headquarters in Los Angeles and operates regional mortgage centers in Las Vegas, Nevada; and San Antonio, Texas.

      The mortgage banking subsidiary’s principal sources of revenues are: (i) interest income earned on mortgage loans during the period they are held by KBHMC prior to their sale to investors; (ii) net gains from the sale of loans; (iii) loan servicing fees; and (iv) revenues from the sale of the rights to service loans.

      Our mortgage banking subsidiary is approved by the Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”) as a seller-servicer of Federal Housing Administration (“FHA”) and Veterans Administration (“VA”) loans. A portion of the conventional loans originated by KBHMC (i.e., loans other than those insured by FHA or guaranteed by VA) qualify for inclusion in loan guarantee programs sponsored by Fannie Mae or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”). KBHMC arranges for fixed and adjustable rate, conventional, privately insured mortgages, FHA-insured or VA-guaranteed mortgages, and mortgages funded by revenue bond programs of states and municipalities. In 2003, 65% of the mortgages originated for our customers were conventional (most of which conformed to Fannie Mae and FHLMC guidelines), 24% were FHA-insured or VA-guaranteed (a portion of which are adjustable rate loans), 8% were adjustable rate mortgages (“ARMs”) provided through commitments from institutional investors and 3% were funded by mortgage revenue bond programs. The percentages set forth above change from year to year reflecting then-current fixed interest rates, introductory rates for ARMs, housing prices and other economic conditions. In 2003, KBHMC originated loans for 73% of our domestic home deliveries to end users who obtained mortgage financing.

      The mortgage banking subsidiary is a delegated underwriter under the FHA Direct Endorsement and VA Automatic programs in accordance with criteria established by such agencies. Additionally, our mortgage banking operations have delegated underwriting authority from Fannie Mae and FHLMC. As a delegated underwriter, KBHMC may underwrite and close mortgage loans under programs sponsored by these agencies without their prior approval, which expedites the loan origination process.

      Our mortgage banking business customarily sells nearly all of the loans that it originates. Loans are sold either individually or in pools to GNMA, Fannie Mae or FHLMC or against forward commitments to institutional investors, including banks and savings and loan associations.

      Our mortgage banking business typically sells servicing rights on a regular basis for substantially all of the loans it originates. However, for a small percentage of loans, and to the extent required for loans being held for sale to investors, KBHMC services the mortgages that it originates. Servicing includes collecting and remitting loan payments, accounting for principal and interest, making inspections of mortgaged premises as required, monitoring delinquent mortgages and generally administering the loans. Our mortgage banking subsidiary receives fees for servicing mortgage loans, generally equal to .250% per annum on the declining principal balances of the loans.

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      One of KBHMC’s strategies is to fully support our home sales while also expanding from this core business by offering other related products through its wholly owned subsidiary, rateOne Home Loans (“rateOne”). The rateOne organization, established in 1999, is a telemarketing and on-line lender with a mission to make the home loan process simple and convenient with highly competitive rates. Telemarketing and on-line lending has grown over the last several years with many lenders realizing that this form of business is not only more cost effective but may become the preferred method of originating loans. In 2003, originations for the rateOne telemarketing center were primarily sourced to customer responses to electronic billboards strategically located on various highways in urban centers in the U.S. The billboards offer the customer the option of applying for a loan through the rateOne telemarketing center or web site.

      All loans originated by our mortgage banking subsidiary, including rateOne, are intended to be of investment quality and adhere to the basic fundamentals of sound lending practices. While rateOne provides additional production to augment the production from our mortgage banking operations, it is still in its start-up phase and, therefore, did not contribute materially to our mortgage banking subsidiary’s financial results in 2003.

      In France, we do not use KBHMC, rateOne or other captive/ in-house lenders. However, we assist our customers by arranging financing through third-party lenders, primarily major French banks with which our French business has established relationships. In some cases, French customers qualify for certain government-assisted home financing programs. A second mortgage is usually handled through a government agency. A homebuyer in France may also have a third mortgage provided through credit unions or other employee groups.

Employees

      All our operating divisions operate independently with respect to day-to-day operations within the context of the KBnxt operational business model. All land purchases and other significant construction, mortgage banking and similar operating decisions must be approved by senior management at the operating and corporate levels.

      We employ a trained staff of land acquisition specialists, architects, planners, engineers, construction supervisors, marketing and sales personnel and finance and accounting personnel, supplemented as necessary by outside consultants, who guide the development of our communities from their conception through the marketing and sale of completed homes. Each operating division is given extensive autonomy regarding employment of personnel within policy guidelines established by our senior management.

      At January 31, 2004, we had a total of approximately 5,100 full-time employees in our operations, including approximately 500 in our mortgage banking operations. No employees are represented by a collective bargaining agreement.

      Construction and mortgage banking personnel are typically paid performance bonuses based on individual performance and incentive compensation based on the performance of the applicable operating division. Our corporate personnel are typically paid performance bonuses based on individual performance and incentive compensation based on the overall performance of KB Home.

Competition and Other Factors

      We believe the use of our KBnxt operational business model, particularly the aspects that involve gaining a deeper understanding of customer interests and needs and offering a wide range of choice to homebuyers, provides us with long-term competitive advantages. The housing industry is highly competitive, and we compete with numerous housing producers ranging from regional and national firms to small local builders primarily on the basis of price, location, financing, design, reputation, quality and amenities. In addition, we compete with housing alternatives other than new production homes, including existing homes and rental housing. In certain markets and at times when housing demand is high, we also compete with other builders to hire subcontractors.

Financing

      We do not generally finance the development of our domestic communities with project financing (by “project financing” we mean proceeds of loans specifically obtained for, or secured by, particular communities). Instead, financing of our domestic operations has been primarily generated from results of operations, public debt and equity financing, and borrowings under our domestic unsecured credit facility with various banks.

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      Our current universal shelf registration statement, filed on October 15, 2001 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (as subsequently amended, the “2001 Shelf Registration”), provided us with a total public debt and equity issuance capacity of $750.0 million. The 2001 Shelf Registration provides that securities may be offered from time to time in one or more series and in the form of senior, senior subordinated or subordinated debt, preferred stock, common stock, stock purchase contracts, stock purchase units and/or warrants to purchase such securities. At November 30, 2003, $450.0 million of capacity remained available under the 2001 Shelf Registration.

      On January 28, 2004, we issued $250.0 million of 5 3/4% senior notes (the “$250.0 Million Senior Notes”) at 99.474% of the principal amount of the notes in a private placement. The notes, which are due February 1, 2014, with interest payable semi-annually, represent senior unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of our existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness. The $250.0 Million Senior Notes are unconditionally guaranteed jointly and severally by certain of our domestic operating subsidiaries on a senior unsecured basis. We have agreed to file a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to an offer to exchange the $250.0 Million Senior Notes for registered notes issued by us on substantially identical terms, except that they will be fully transferable.

      Our four-year $1.00 billion unsecured revolving credit facility (the “$1 Billion Credit Facility”) with a consortium of banks is scheduled to expire in 2005. At November 30, 2003, $803.2 million, net of outstanding letters of credit, was available for future use under the $1 Billion Credit Facility.

      Historically, financing for our French business has been primarily generated from results of operations and borrowings from its unsecured committed credit lines with a series of foreign banks. The initial public offering of KBSA, completed in February 2000, provided the French business with additional capital to support its growth.

      KBHMC competes with other mortgage lenders, including national, regional and local mortgage bankers, savings and loan associations and other financial institutions, in the origination, sale and servicing of mortgage loans. Principal competitive factors include interest rates and other features of mortgage loan products available to the consumer.

      External sources of financing for our mortgage banking operations include a $180.0 million revolving mortgage warehouse agreement (the “$180.0 Million Mortgage Warehouse Facility”), which expires on June 30, 2005, and a $400.0 million master loan and security agreement (the “$400.0 Million Master Loan and Security Agreement”), which expires on October 6, 2004. At November 30, 2003, our mortgage banking operations had $133.1 million available under the $180.0 Million Mortgage Warehouse Facility and $314.7 million available under the $400.0 Million Master Loan and Security Agreement. In addition to the $180.0 Million Mortgage Warehouse Facility and $400.0 Million Master Loan and Security Agreement, our mortgage banking subsidiary has a $300.0 million purchase and sale agreement. This agreement allows our mortgage banking subsidiary to accelerate the sale of its mortgage loan inventory resulting in a more effective use of the warehouse facilities. We believe our mortgage banking operations have the ability to access additional sources of funding both on a short and long-term basis, if needed.

Regulation and Environmental Matters

      It is our policy to use third-party environmental consultants to investigate for environmental risks all land being considered for acquisition and to require disclosure from land sellers of known environmental risks. Despite these precautions, there can be no assurance that we will avoid material liabilities relating to the removal of toxic wastes, site restoration, monitoring or other environmental matters affecting properties currently or previously owned by us. No estimate of such potential liabilities can be made although we may, from time to time, purchase property which requires modest environmental clean-up costs after appropriate due diligence. In such instances, we take steps prior to acquisition to gain assurance as to the precise scope of work required and costs associated with removal, site restoration and/or monitoring, using detailed investigations by environmental consultants. To the extent such contamination or other environmental issues have occurred in the past, we believe we may be able to recover restoration costs from third parties, including, but not limited to, the generators of hazardous waste, land sellers or others in the prior chain of title and/or insurers. Utilizing such policies, we anticipate that it is unlikely that environmental clean-up costs will have a material effect on our future results of operations or financial position. We have not been notified by any governmental agency of any claim that any of the properties owned or formerly owned by us are identified by the Environmental Protection Agency as being a “Superfund” clean-up site requiring clean-up costs, which could have a material effect on our future

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financial position or results of operations. Costs associated with the use of environmental consultants are not material to our results of operations.

Risk Factors  

      We want you to be aware that the following important factors could adversely impact our homebuilding and mortgage lending operations. These factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking and other statements that we make in registration statements, periodic reports and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and that we make from time to time in our news releases, annual reports and other written communications, as well as oral forward-looking and other statements made from time to time by our representatives.

Our business is cyclical and is significantly impacted by changes in general and local economic conditions.

      Our business is substantially affected by changes in national and general economic factors outside of our control, such as:

  •  short and long term interest rates;
 
  •  the availability of financing for homebuyers;
 
  •  consumer confidence (which can be substantially affected by external conditions, including international hostilities involving the United States or France);
 
  •  federal mortgage financing programs; and
 
  •  federal income tax provisions.

      The cyclicality of our business is also highly sensitive to changes in economic conditions that can occur on a local or regional basis, such as changes in:

  •  housing demand;
 
  •  population growth;
 
  •  employment levels and job growth; and
 
  •  property taxes.

      Weather conditions and natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, droughts, fires and other casualties can harm our homebuilding business on a local or regional basis.

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      Fluctuating lumber prices and shortages, as well as shortages or price fluctuations in other important building materials, can have an adverse effect on our homebuilding business.

      Similarly, labor shortages or unrest among key trades, such as carpenters, roofers, electricians and plumbers, can delay the delivery of our homes and increase our costs.

      The difficulties described above can cause demand and prices for our homes to diminish or cause us to take longer and incur more costs to build our homes. We may not be able to recover these increased costs by raising prices because the price of each home is usually set several months before the home is delivered, as our customers typically sign their home purchase contracts before construction has even begun on their homes. In addition, some of the difficulties described above could cause some homebuyers to cancel their home purchase contracts altogether.

Our success depends on the availability of improved lots and undeveloped land that meet our land investment criteria.

      The availability of finished and partially developed lots and undeveloped land for purchase that meet our internal criteria depends on a number of factors outside our control, including land availability in general, competition with other homebuilders and land buyers for desirable property, inflation in land prices and zoning, allowable housing density and other regulatory requirements. Should suitable lots or land become less available, the number of homes we may be able to build and sell could be reduced, and the cost of land could be increased, perhaps substantially, which could adversely impact our results of operations.

Home prices and sales activity in the particular markets and regions of the United States in which we do business impact our results of operations because our business is concentrated in these markets.

      Home prices and sales activity in some of our key markets have declined from time to time for market-specific reasons, including adverse weather or economic contraction due to, among other things, the failure or decline of key industries and employers. If home prices or sales activity decline in one or more of the key markets in which we operate, our costs may not decline at all or at the same rate and, as a result, our overall results of operations may be adversely impacted.

Interest rate increases or changes in federal lending programs could lower demand for our homes and adversely impact our mortgage lending operations.

      Nearly all of our customers finance the purchase of their homes, and a significant majority of these customers arrange their financing through our mortgage lending subsidiary. Increases in interest rates or decreases in availability of mortgage financing would increase monthly mortgage costs for our potential homebuyers and could therefore reduce demand for our homes and mortgages. Increased interest rates can also hinder our ability to realize our backlog because our sales contracts provide our customers with a financing contingency. Financing contingencies allow customers to cancel their home purchase contracts in the event they cannot arrange for financing at interest rates that were prevailing when they signed their contracts.

      Because the availability of FNMA, FHLMC, FHA and VA mortgage financing is an important factor in marketing many of our homes, any limitations or restrictions on the availability of those types of financing could reduce our home sales and the lending volume at our mortgage subsidiary.

We are subject to substantial legal and regulatory requirements regarding the development of land, the homebuilding process and protection of the environment, which can cause us to suffer delays and incur costs associated with compliance and which can prohibit or restrict homebuilding activity in some regions or areas.

      Our homebuilding business is heavily regulated and subject to increasing local, state and federal statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations concerning zoning, resource protection, other environmental impacts, building design, construction and similar matters. These regulations often provide broad discretion to governmental authorities that regulate these matters, which can result in unanticipated delays or increases in the cost of a specified project or a number of projects in particular markets. We may also experience periodic delays in homebuilding projects due to building moratoria in any of the areas in which we operate.

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      We are also subject to a variety of local, state and federal statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations concerning the environment. These laws and regulations may cause delays in construction and delivery of new homes, may cause us to incur substantial compliance and other costs, and can prohibit or severely restrict homebuilding activity in certain environmentally sensitive regions or areas. In addition, environmental laws may impose liability for the costs of removal or remediation of hazardous or toxic substances whether or not the developer or owner of the property knew of, or was responsible for, the presence of those substances. The presence of those substances on our properties may prevent us from selling our homes and we may also be liable, under applicable laws and regulations or lawsuits brought by private parties, for hazardous or toxic substances on properties and lots that we have sold in the past.

      Further, a significant portion of our business is conducted in California, which is one of the most highly regulated and litigious states in the country. Therefore, our potential exposure to losses and expenses due to new laws, regulations or litigation may be greater than other homebuilders with a less significant California presence.

      Because of our French business, we are also subject to regulations and restrictions imposed by the government of France concerning investments by non-French companies, such as us, in businesses in France, as well as to French laws and regulations similar to those discussed above.

      Our mortgage banking operations are heavily regulated and subject to the rules and regulations promulgated by a number of governmental and quasi-governmental agencies. We are also subject to federal and state statutes and regulations which, among other things, prohibit discrimination, establish underwriting guidelines which include obtaining inspections and appraisals, require credit reports on prospective borrowers and fix maximum loan amounts. A finding that we materially violated any of the foregoing laws could have an adverse effect on our results of mortgage operations.

      We are subject to a Consent Order that we entered into with the Federal Trade Commission in 1979. Pursuant to the Consent Order, we provide explicit warranties on the quality of our homes, follow certain guidelines in advertising and provide certain disclosures to prospective purchasers of our homes. A finding that we have significantly violated the Consent Order could result in substantial liabilities or penalties and could limit our ability to sell homes in certain markets.

We build homes in highly competitive markets, which could hurt our future operating results.

      We compete in each of our markets with a number of homebuilding companies for homebuyers, land, financing, raw materials and skilled management and labor resources. Our competitors include other large national homebuilders, as well as smaller regional and local builders that can have an advantage in local markets because of long-standing relationships they may have with local labor or land sellers. We also compete with other housing alternatives, such as existing homes and rental housing.

      These competitive conditions can:

  •  make it difficult for us to acquire desirable land which meets our land buying criteria;
 
  •  cause us to offer or to increase our sales incentives or price discounts; and
 
  •  result in reduced sales.

      Any of these competitive conditions can adversely impact our revenues, increase our costs and/or impede the growth of our local or regional homebuilding businesses.

      Our mortgage banking operations compete with other mortgage lenders, including national, regional and local mortgage bankers, savings and loan associations and other financial institutions. Mortgage lenders with greater access to capital markets or those with less rigorous lending criteria can sometimes offer lower interest rates than we can, which can diminish our ability to compete and adversely impact the results of operations from our mortgage lending business.

Because of the seasonal nature of our business, our quarterly operating results fluctuate.

      We have experienced seasonal fluctuations in quarterly operating results. We typically do not commence significant construction on a home before a sales contract has been signed with a homebuyer. A significant percentage of our sales contracts are made during the spring and summer months. Construction of our homes typically requires approximately

17


 

three months and weather delays that often occur during late winter and early spring may extend this period. As a result of these combined factors, we historically have experienced uneven quarterly results, with lower revenues and operating income generally during the first and second quarters of our fiscal year.

Our leverage may place burdens on our ability to comply with the terms of our indebtedness, may restrict our ability to operate and may prevent us from fulfilling our obligations.

      The amount of our debt could have important consequences to you. For example, it could:

  •  limit our ability to obtain future financing for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements or other requirements;
 
  •  require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to the payment of our debt and reduce our ability to use our cash flow for other purposes;
 
  •  impact our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business;
 
  •  place us at a competitive disadvantage because we have more debt than some of our competitors; and
 
  •  make us more vulnerable in the event of a downturn in our business or in general economic conditions.

      Our ability to meet our debt service and other obligations will depend upon our future performance. We are engaged in businesses that are substantially affected by changes in economic cycles. Our revenues and earnings vary with the level of general economic activity in the markets we serve. Our businesses could also be affected by financial, political, business and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. The factors that affect our ability to generate cash can also affect our ability to raise additional funds through the sale of debt and/or equity securities, the refinancing of debt or the sale of assets. Changes in prevailing interest rates may also affect our ability to meet our debt service obligations, because borrowings under our bank credit facilities bear interest at floating rates. A higher interest rate on our debt could adversely affect our operating results.

      Our business may not generate sufficient cash flow from operations and borrowings may not be available to us under our bank credit facilities in an amount sufficient to enable us to pay our debt service obligations or to fund our other liquidity needs. We may need to refinance all or a portion of our debt on or before maturity, which we may not be able to do on favorable terms or at all.

      Under the terms of our $1 Billion Credit Facility, our debt service payment obligations are defined as consolidated interest expense. As defined, consolidated interest expense for the years ended November 30, 2003 and 2002 was $118.8 million and $101.1 million, respectively.

      The indentures governing our outstanding debt instruments and our bank credit facilities include various financial covenants and restrictions, including restrictions on debt incurrence, sales of assets and cash distributions by us. Should we not comply with any of those restrictions or covenants, the holders of those debt instruments or the banks, as appropriate, could cause our debt to become due and payable prior to maturity.

We may have difficulty in continuing to obtain the additional financing required to operate and develop our business.

      Our homebuilding operations require significant amounts of cash and/or available credit. It is not possible to predict the future terms or availability of additional capital. Moreover, our outstanding domestic public debt, as well as our $1 Billion Credit Facility and the credit facilities of our French subsidiary, contain provisions that may restrict the amount and nature of debt we may incur in the future. Our bank credit facilities limit our ability to borrow additional funds by placing a maximum cap on our leverage ratio. Under the most restrictive of these provisions, as of November 30, 2003, we would have been permitted to incur up to $3.06 billion of total consolidated indebtedness, as defined in the bank credit facilities. This maximum amount exceeded our actual total consolidated indebtedness at November 30, 2003 by $1.91 billion. There can be no assurance that we can actually borrow up to this maximum amount at any time, as our ability to borrow additional funds, and to raise additional capital through other means, is also dependent on conditions in the capital markets and our credit worthiness. If conditions in the capital markets change significantly, it could reduce our sales and may hinder our future growth and results of operations.

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Our future growth may be limited by contracting economies in the markets in which we currently operate, our inability to find appropriate acquisition candidates, or our consummation of acquisitions that may not be successfully integrated or may not achieve expected benefits.

      Our future growth and results of operations could be adversely affected if the markets in which we currently operate do not continue to support the expansion of our existing business or if we are unable to identify suitable acquisition opportunities in new markets. Over the last several years, there has been significant consolidation in the homebuilding industry, which has made it somewhat more difficult for us to identify appropriate acquisition candidates in new markets and has increased competition for acquisition candidates. If we do consummate acquisitions in the future, we may not be successful in integrating the operations of the acquired businesses, including their product lines, dispersed operations and distinct corporate cultures. Our inability to grow in existing markets or find appropriate acquisition opportunities in new markets, or our failure to successfully manage future acquisitions, would limit our ability to grow and would adversely impact our future operating results.

Because we build homes in France, some of our revenues and earnings are subject to foreign currency and economic risks.

      A portion of our construction operations are located in France. As a result, our financial results are affected by fluctuations in the value of the U.S. dollar as compared to the euro and changes in the French economy to the extent those changes affect the homebuilding market there. We do not currently use any currency hedging instruments or other strategies to manage currency risks related to fluctuations in the value of the U.S. dollar or the euro.

Item 2. PROPERTIES  

      In 2003, our executive offices were in leased premises at 10990 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California. Our housing operations were principally conducted from leased premises located in Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona; Fremont, Irvine, Los Angeles, Pleasanton, Pomona, San Diego and Vacaville, California; Denver, Colorado; Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Orlando, Palm City and Tampa, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; Las Vegas, Nevada; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina; Austin, Dallas, Houston and McAllen, Texas; and Paris, France.

      Our mortgage banking subsidiary leases executive offices at 10990 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California and a regional office in Las Vegas, Nevada. rateOne leases an office in Las Vegas, Nevada. Our mortgage banking operations also lease FHA branch offices in Phoenix, Arizona; Irvine, Los Angeles and Pleasanton, California; Denver, Colorado; Jacksonville, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; Las Vegas, Nevada; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Charlotte, North Carolina; and San Antonio, Texas. Certain of these branch offices are leased from our housing operations.

      Our homebuilding and mortgage banking operations in San Antonio, Texas are principally conducted from premises that we own.

      We believe that such properties, including the equipment located therein, are suitable and adequate to meet the requirements of our businesses.

Item 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS  

      We are involved in litigation and governmental proceedings incidental to our business. These cases are in various procedural stages and, based on reports of counsel, it is our opinion that provisions or reserves made for potential losses are adequate and any liabilities or costs arising out of currently pending litigation will not have a materially adverse effect upon our financial position or results of operations.

Item 4.  SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

      No matters were submitted during the fourth quarter of 2003 to a vote of security holders, through the solicitation of proxies or otherwise.

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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

      The following sets forth certain information regarding the executive officers of KB Home as of January 31, 2004:  

                                       
Year
Assumed Years at
Present Position at Present KB Other Positions and Other Business Experience
Name Age January 31, 2004 Position Home(1) within the Last Five Years(2) From – To







Bruce Karatz
    58     Chairman and Chief Executive Officer     1993       31     President   1986-2001
Jeffrey T. Mezger
    48     Executive Vice President and Chief   Operating Officer     1999       10     Senior Vice President and Regional General Manager   1998-1999
Domenico Cecere
    54     Senior Vice President and     2002        2     Consultant, Gryphon Investors   2001-2002
              Chief Financial Officer                   Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Owens Corning, Inc.   2000-2001
                                Senior Vice President and President, North American Building Materials Business, Owens Corning, Inc.   1999-2000
Glen Barnard
    59     Regional General Manager     2004 (3)      5     Chief Executive Officer,
Constellation Real Technologies
Executive Vice President, President e.KB, Inc.
Senior Vice President and Regional General Manager
  2001-2003

1999-2001
1996-1999
Leah S.W. Bryant
    59     Regional General Manager     2003       26     President, KB Home Nevada Inc.   1998-2003
Steven M. Davis
    45     Regional General Manager     2000        9     President, KB Home Phoenix Inc.   1998-2003
Robert Freed
    47     Regional General Manager     2000       10     President, KB Home North Bay Inc.   2000-Present
                                President, KB Home South Bay Inc.   1997-2003
John E. (“Buddy”) Goodwin
    56     Regional General Manager     1999       26     Senior Vice President   1999-2001
 
 
                              President, KB Home San Antonio   1998-1999
Jay L. Moss
    53     Regional General Manager     2000       28     President, KB Home Greater Los Angeles Inc.   2000-2003
                                President, KB Home North Bay Inc.   1998-2000
Larry E. Oglesby
    43     Regional General Manager     2001       18     President, KB Home Austin   1999-2003
                                Vice President, KB Home Austin   1998-1999
William R. Hollinger
    45     Senior Vice President and     2001       16     Vice President and Controller   1992-2001
              Controller                        
Barton P. Pachino
    44     Senior Vice President and General Counsel     1993       16          
Albert Z. Praw
    55     Senior Vice President, Asset Management     2002       14     Senior Vice President, Asset Management and Acquisitions Senior Vice President, Business Development   1999-2002
1998-1999
Gary A. Ray
    45     Senior Vice President, Human Resources     1996        7          
Charles O. Schetter
    50     Senior Vice President, Business     2002        1     Director, McKinsey & Company   1988-2002
              Development                   Office Manager, Los Angeles Office, McKinsey & Company   1995-2001
Kelly Masuda
    36     Vice President, Capital Markets
  and Treasurer
    2003     Joined
in 2003
  Director, Credit Suisse First Boston   1993-2002

(1)  May include years of service with companies acquired by KB Home.
 
(2)  All positions described were with KB Home, unless otherwise indicated.
 
(3)  Mr. Barnard was a senior executive with KB Home from 1996-2001, and rejoined KB Home in 2004.

20


 

PART II

 
Item 5.    MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

      As of January 31, 2004, there were 1,018 holders of record of KB Home’s common stock.

      Information as to KB Home’s quarterly stock prices is included on page 88 of KB Home’s 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders, which is included as part of Exhibit 13 hereto.

      Information as to the principal exchanges on which KB Home’s common stock is being traded and quarterly cash dividends is included on page 88 of KB Home’s 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders, which is included as part of Exhibit 13 hereto.

 
Item 6.  SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

      The Five Year Summary of KB Home for the five-year period ended November 30, 2003 is included on page 45 of KB Home’s 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders, which is included as part of Exhibit 13 hereto. It should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements included in KB Home’s 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders, which are also included as part of Exhibit 13 hereto.

 
Item 7.    MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

      Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of KB Home is included on pages 46 through 59 of KB Home’s 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders, which are included as part of Exhibit 13 hereto.

 
Item 7A.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

      We primarily enter into debt obligations to support general corporate purposes, including acquisitions, and the operations of our divisions. The primary market risk we face is the interest rate risk on our senior and senior subordinated notes. We have no cash flow exposure due to interest rate changes for these notes. In connection with our mortgage banking operations, mortgage loans held for sale and the master loan and security agreements are subject to interest rate risk; however, such obligations reprice frequently and are short-term in duration and accordingly the risk is not material. Under our current policies, we do not use interest rate derivative instruments to manage exposure to interest rate changes other than as disclosed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements with regard to our mortgage banking operations. As disclosed, we use mortgage forward delivery contracts and non-mandatory commitments to mitigate our exposure to movements in interest rates on interest rate lock agreements and mortgage loans held for sale. The estimated fair value of mortgage forward delivery contracts and non-mandatory commitments exceeded the contract value by $.2 million and $1.3 million at November 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The estimated fair value of interest rate lock agreements exceeded the contract value by $.1 million and and $1.2 million at November 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

      The following table sets forth as of November 30, 2003, our long-term debt obligations, principal cash flows by scheduled maturity, weighted average interest rates and estimated fair market value (in thousands):

                                                                   
Years Ended November 30, Fair value at

November 30,
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Thereafter Total 2003








Long-term debt(1)
  $ 175,000     $     $     $     $ 200,000     $ 725,629     $ 1,100,629     $ 1,198,990  
 
Fixed Rate
                                                               
 
Weighted Average Interest Rate
    7.8 %     %     %       %     8.6 %     8.6 %                

(1) Includes senior and senior subordinated notes

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     A portion of our construction operations are located in France. As a result, our financial results could be affected by factors such as changes in the foreign currency exchange rate or weak economic conditions in our markets. Our earnings are affected by fluctuations in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to the euro in France, as a result of our sales in France. Therefore, for the year ended November 30, 2003, the result of a 10% uniform strengthening in the value of the dollar relative to the currency in which our sales were denominated in France would have resulted in a decrease in revenues of $90.5 million and a decrease in pretax income of $6.1 million. Comparatively, the 2002 results of a 10% uniform strengthening in the value of the dollar relative to the currency in which our sales were denominated would have been a decrease in revenues of $67.6 million and a decrease in pretax income of $3.9 million. Our sensitivity analysis of the effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates does not factor in a potential change in sales levels or local currency prices.

 
Item 8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

      The consolidated financial statements of KB Home are included on pages 60 through 84 of KB Home’s 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders, which are included as part of Exhibit 13 hereto. Reference is made to the Index to Financial Statements on page F-1 herein.

 
Item 9.    CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

      None.

Item 9A.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

      We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer), of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of November 30, 2003. Based upon, and as of the date of that evaluation, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting them to material information relating to KB Home (including our consolidated subsidiaries) required to be included in our periodic Securities and Exchange Commission filings. There was no significant change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the most recent fiscal quarter that materially affected, or is reasonably likely to affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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PART III

      The Notice of 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement, filed pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, is incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K pursuant to General Instruction G(3) of Form 10-K and provides the information required under Part III (Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14) except for the information regarding the executive officers of KB Home, which is included in Part I on page 20 herein, and the information set forth below.

Item 10.  DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

Business Ethics Policy

      We have adopted a Business Ethics Policy for our directors, officers (including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer) and employees. The Business Ethics Policy is available on our web site at www.kbhome.com/investor/main. Stockholders may request a free copy of the Business Ethics Policy from:

     
    KB Home
    Attention: Investor Relations
    10990 Wilshire Boulevard
    Los Angeles, California 90024
    (310) 231-4000
    investorrelations@kbhome.com

Corporate Governance Principles

      We have adopted Corporate Governance Principles, which are available on our web site at www.kbhome.com/investor/main. Stockholders may request a free copy of the Corporate Governance Principles from the address, phone number and email address set forth under “Business Ethics Policy.”

 
Item 12.    SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

      The following table provides information as of November 30, 2003 with respect to shares of our common stock that may be issued under our existing compensation plans:

                           
Equity Compensation Plan Information

Number of common
shares remaining
Number of available for future
common shares to issuance under equity
be issued upon Weighted-average compensation plans
exercise of exercise price of (excluding common
outstanding options, outstanding options, shares reflected in
warrants and rights warrants and rights column(a))
Plan category (a) (b) (c)




Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders
    4,974,936     $ 33.52       1,472,371  
Equity compensation plans not approved by stockholders(1)
    1,838,787       40.45       1,966,925  
     
     
     
 
 
Total
    6,813,723     $ 36.28       3,439,296  
     
     
     
 


(1)  Represents the 1999 Incentive Plan and the Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan.

1999 Incentive Plan

      In 1999, our board of directors approved the adoption of the 1999 Incentive Plan to provide incentives to key employees of KB Home and our U.S.-based subsidiaries. All domestic employees, other than executive officers, of

23


 

KB Home and our subsidiaries are eligible to receive awards under the 1999 Stock Incentive Plan. Awards under this plan are generally not restricted to any specific form or structure and may include, among other things, stock options, restricted stock, stock units, cash or stock bonuses and limited stock appreciation rights. The terms of the 1999 Incentive Plan are identical to the terms of our shareholder approved 2001 Stock Incentive Plan in all material respects, except that our executive officers may not participate in the 1999 Incentive Plan.

      Awards may be conditioned on continued employment, have various vesting schedules and accelerated vesting and exercisability provisions in the event of, among other things, a “change in ownership” (as defined in the 1999 Incentive Plan). The 1999 Incentive Plan is administered by the Management Development and Compensation Committee of our board of directors.

      Originally, 2,000,000 shares of common stock were reserved and authorized for issuance under the 1999 Incentive Plan. An additional 2,000,000 shares (for an aggregate of 4,000,000 shares) were subsequently authorized for issuance under the 1999 Incentive Plan. Shares subject to a grant or award under the 1999 Incentive Plan which are not issued or delivered by reason of the failure to vest of a restricted stock award or the expiration, termination, cancellation or forfeiture of all or a portion of the exercise price or to satisfy tax withholding obligations upon the exercise of an option are again available for future grants and awards. As of November 30, 2003, 1,608,411 shares remained available for grant under the 1999 Incentive Plan. Options granted under the 1999 Incentive Plan have a purchase price equal to the fair market value of a share of common stock at the time of grant. All currently outstanding options vest, subject to continued employment, in three equal installments over a period of three years from the date of grant (subject to early vesting on a change in ownership, retirement and in certain other limited circumstances), and expire 15 years after the date of grant. Restricted shares granted under the 1999 Incentive Plan generally do not vest for a period of three years from the date of grant, subject to continued employment. No awards other than options and restricted stock have been made under the 1999 Incentive Plan.

Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan

      The Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan provides for grants of deferred common stock units or stock options to non-employee directors of KB Home. The terms of stock units and options granted under the Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan are described in our Proxy Statement for our 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which is incorporated herein, at pages 8 and 9. We purchase shares of common stock on the open market to satisfy the payment of stock awards under the Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan. As of November 30, 2003, 358,514 shares remained available for grant under the Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan.

24


 

PART IV

 
Item 15.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

     Financial Statements

           Reference is made to the index set forth on page F-1 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

    Exhibits

         
Exhibit
No. Description


   3.1     Amended Certificate of Incorporation, filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement No. 33-6471 on Form S-1, is incorporated by reference herein.
   3.2     Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation, filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement No. 33-30140 on Form S-1, is incorporated by reference herein.
   3.3     Certificate of Designation of Series A Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock, filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement No. 33-30140 on Form S-1, is incorporated by reference herein.
   3.4     Certificate of Designation of Series B Mandatory Conversion Premium Dividend Preferred Stock, filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement No. 33-59516 on Form S-3, is incorporated by reference herein.
   3.5     Amended Certificate of Designation of Series B Mandatory Conversion Premium Dividend Preferred Stock, filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement No. 33-59516 on Form S-3, is incorporated by reference herein.
   3.6     Amended Certificate of Designation of Series A Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock, filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement No. 001-09195 on Form 8-A12B, is incorporated by reference herein.
   3.7     Certificate of Ownership and Merger effective January 17, 2001 merging KB Home, Inc. into Kaufman and Broad Home Corporation, through which the name of the Company was changed to KB Home, filed as an exhibit to the Company’s 2000 Annual Report on Form 10-K, is incorporated by reference herein.
   3.8     By-Laws, as amended and restated on January 17, 2001, to reflect the change in the Company’s name, filed as an exhibit to the Company’s 2000 Annual Report on Form 10-K, is incorporated by reference herein.
   4.1     Amended Certificate of Incorporation, filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement No. 33-6471 on Form S-1, is incorporated by reference herein.
   4.2     Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation, filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement No. 33-30140 on Form S-1, is incorporated by reference herein.
   4.3     Indenture relating to 7 3/4% Senior Notes due 2004 between the Company and SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, dated October 14, 1997, filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 14, 1997, is incorporated by reference herein.
   4.4     Specimen of 7 3/4% Senior Notes due 2004, filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 14, 1997, is incorporated by reference herein.
   4.5     Rights Agreement between the Company and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as Rights Agent, dated February 4, 1999, filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 4, 1999, is incorporated by reference herein.
   4.6     By-Laws, as amended and restated on January 17, 2001, to reflect the change in the Company’s name, filed as an exhibit to the Company’s 2000 Annual Report on Form 10-K, is incorporated by reference herein.
   4.7     Indenture relating to 9 1/2% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2011, 8 5/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008, and 7 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2010 between the Company and Sun Trust Bank, Atlanta, dated November 19, 1996 filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 19, 1996, is incorporated by reference herein.
   4.8     Specimen of 9 1/2% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2011, filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 2, 2001, is incorporated by reference herein.

25


 

         
Exhibit
No. Description


   4.9     Form of officer’s certificate establishing the terms of the 9 1/2% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2011, filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 2, 2001, is incorporated by reference herein.
  4.10     Specimen of 8 5/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008, filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 13, 2001, is incorporated by reference herein.
  4.11     Form of officer’s certificate establishing the terms of the 8 5/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008, filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 13, 2001, is incorporated by reference herein.
  4.12     Specimen of 7 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2010, filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 27, 2003, is incorporated by reference herein.
  4.13     Form of officer’s certificate establishing the terms of the 7 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2010, filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 27, 2003, is incorporated by reference herein.
  10.1     KB Home 1986 Stock Option Plan, filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement No. 33-6471 on Form S-1, is incorporated by reference herein.
  10.2     KB Home 1988 Employee Stock Plan, filed as an exhibit to the definitive Joint Proxy Statement for the Company’s 1989 Special Meeting of Shareholders, is incorporated by reference herein.
  10.3     Consent Order, Federal Trade Commission Docket No. C-2954, dated February 12, 1979, filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement No. 33-6471 on Form S-1, is incorporated by reference herein.
  10.4     SunAmerica Inc. Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, approved September 25, 1985, filed as an exhibit to SunAmerica Inc.’s 1985 Annual Report on Form 10-K, is incorporated by reference herein.
  10.5     Directors’ Deferred Compensation Plan established effective July 27, 1989, filed as an exhibit to the Company’s 1989 Annual Report on Form 10-K, is incorporated by reference herein.
  10.6     Settlement with Federal Trade Commission of June 27, 1991, filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated June 28, 1991, is incorporated by reference herein.
  10.7     Amendments to the KB Home 1988 Employee Stock Plan dated January 27, 1994, filed as an exhibit to the Company’s 1994 Annual Report on Form 10-K, are incorporated by reference herein.
  10.8     KB Home Performance-Based Incentive Plan for Senior Management, filed as an exhibit to the Company’s 1995 Annual Report on Form 10-K, is incorporated by reference herein.
  10.9     Form of Stock Option Agreement under KB Home Performance-Based Incentive Plan for Senior Management, filed as an exhibit to the Company’s 1995 Annual Report on Form 10-K, is incorporated by reference herein.
  10.10     KB Home Unit Performance Program, filed as an exhibit to the Company’s 1996 Annual Report on Form 10-K, is incorporated by reference herein.
  10.11     Kaufman and Broad France Incentive Plan, filed as an exhibit to the Company’s 1997 Annual Report on Form 10-K, is incorporated by reference herein.
  10.12     KB Home 1998 Stock Incentive Plan, filed as an exhibit to the Company’s 1998 Annual Report on Form 10-K, is incorporated by reference herein.
  10.13     KB Home Directors’ Legacy Program, as amended January 1, 1999, filed as an exhibit to the Company’s 1998 Annual Report on Form 10-K, is incorporated by reference herein.
  10.14     Trust Agreement between Kaufman and Broad Home Corporation and Wachovia Bank, N.A. as Trustee, dated as of August 27, 1999, filed as an exhibit to the Company’s 1999 Annual Report on Form 10-K, is incorporated by reference herein.
  10.15     Amended and Restated Employment Agreement of Bruce Karatz, dated July 11, 2001, filed as an exhibit to the KB Home’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended August 31, 2001, is incorporated by reference herein.
  10.16     KB Home Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan, filed as an exhibit to the Company’s 2001 Annual Report on Form 10-K, is incorporated by reference herein.
  10.17     KB Home 2001 Stock Incentive Plan, filed as an exhibit to the Company’s 2001 Annual Report on Form 10-K, is incorporated by reference herein.

26


 

         
Exhibit
No. Description


  10.18     KB Home Change in Control Severance Plan, filed as an exhibit to the Company’s 2001 Annual Report on Form 10-K, is incorporated by reference herein.
  10.19     KB Home Death Benefit Only Plan, filed as an exhibit to the Company’s 2001 Annual Report on Form 10-K, is incorporated by reference herein.
  10.20     KB Home Retirement Plan, filed as an exhibit to the Company’s 2002 Annual Report on Form 10-K, is incorporated by reference herein.
  10.21     KB Home 1999 Incentive Plan, as amended July 11, 2002, filed as an exhibit to the Company’s 2002 Annual Report on Form 10-K, is incorporated by reference herein.
  10.22     KB Home Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan, as amended and restated as of July 10, 2003.
  10.23     Revolving Loan Agreement, dated as of October 24, 2003, among the Company, the banks party thereto, Bank of America, N.A. as Administrative Agent and Bank One, N.A. as Syndication Agent and Banc of America Securities LLC, as Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Book Manager.
  13     Pages 45 through 84 and page 88 of KB Home’s 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders.
  21     Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
  23     Consent of Independent Auditors.
  31.1     Certification of Bruce Karatz, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of KB Home Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
  31.2     Certification of Domenico Cecere, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of KB Home Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
  32.1     Certification of Bruce Karatz, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of KB Home Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
  32.2     Certification of Domenico Cecere, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of KB Home Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

     Financial Statement Schedules

        Financial statement schedules have been omitted because they are not applicable or the required information is shown in the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto.

     Reports on Form 8-K

        On September 4, 2003, we filed a Current Report on Form 8-K (Item 9 and Item 12), which included our press release dated September 3, 2003, announcing our preliminary net new home orders for the quarter ended August 31, 2003.
 
        On September 17, 2003, we filed a Current Report on Form 8-K (Item 9 and Item 12), which included our press release dated September 16, 2003, announcing our results of operations for the three months and nine months ended August 31, 2003.

27


 

SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

  KB Home

  By:  /s/ DOMENICO CECERE
 
  Domenico Cecere
  Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Dated: February 26, 2004

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

         
Signature Title Date



/s/ BRUCE KARATZ

Bruce Karatz
  Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
  February 26, 2004
 
/s/ DOMENICO CECERE

Domenico Cecere
  Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
  February 26, 2004
 
/s/ RONALD W. BURKLE

Ronald W. Burkle
  Director   February 26, 2004
 
/s/ DR. RAY R. IRANI

Dr. Ray R. Irani
  Director   February 26, 2004
 
/s/ KENNETH M. JASTROW, II

Kenneth M. Jastrow, II
  Director   February 26, 2004
 
/s/ JAMES A. JOHNSON

James A. Johnson
  Director   February 26, 2004
 
/s/ J. TERRENCE LANNI

J. Terrence Lanni
  Director   February 26, 2004
 
/s/ MICHAEL G. MCCAFFERY

Michael G. McCaffery
  Director   February 26, 2004
 
/s/ DR. BARRY MUNITZ

Dr. Barry Munitz
  Director   February 26, 2004
 
/s/ LUIS G. NOGALES

Luis G. Nogales
  Director   February 26, 2004

28


 

KB HOME AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

      The consolidated financial statements, together with the report thereon of Ernst & Young LLP, dated December 17, 2003, all appearing on pages 60 through 84 of KB Home’s 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders, are incorporated in this Annual Report on Form 10-K between page F-1 and the List of Exhibits Filed. With the exception of the aforementioned information and the information incorporated in Items 5, 6 and 7, KB Home’s 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders is not to be deemed filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

      Separate combined financial statements of KB Home’s unconsolidated joint venture activities have been omitted because, if considered in the aggregate, they would not constitute a significant subsidiary as defined by Rule 3-09 of Regulation S-X.


           
Page No. in
Annual Report
to Stockholders

KB Home
       
 
Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended November 30, 2003, 2002 and 2001
    60  
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of November 30, 2003 and 2002
    61  
 
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended November 30, 2003, 2002 and 2001
    62  
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended November 30, 2003, 2002 and 2001
    63  
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
    64 through 83  
 
Report of Independent Auditors
    84  
 
Report on Financial Statements
    84  

      The following pages represent pages 45 through 84 and page 88 of KB Home’s 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders, and include the Five Year Summary, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes thereto, the Report of Independent Auditors, Report on Financial Statements, Stockholder Information and Common Stock Prices. These pages were filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as Exhibit 13 hereto.

F-1


 

Selected Financial Information

                                           
YEARS ENDED NOVEMBER 30,                                        
in thousands, except per share amounts   2003   2002   2001   2000   1999
   
 
 
 
 
Construction:
                                       
 
Revenues
  $ 5,775,429     $ 4,938,894     $ 4,501,715     $ 3,870,488     $ 3,772,121  
 
Operating income
    562,899       452,917       352,316       288,609       259,107  
 
Total assets
    3,982,746       3,391,434       2,983,522       2,361,768       2,214,076  
 
Mortgages and notes payable
    1,253,932       1,167,053       1,088,615       987,980       813,424  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
 
Mortgage banking:
                                       
 
Revenues
  $ 75,125     $ 91,922     $ 72,469     $ 60,370     $ 64,174  
 
Operating income
    35,777       57,506       33,771       23,832       17,464  
 
Total assets
    253,113       634,106       709,344       467,153       450,159  
 
Notes payable
    132,225       507,574       595,035       385,294       377,666  
 
Collateralized mortgage obligations
    6,848       14,079       22,359       29,928       36,219  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
 
Consolidated:
                                       
 
Revenues
  $ 5,850,554     $ 5,030,816     $ 4,574,184     $ 3,930,858     $ 3,836,295  
 
Operating income
    598,676       510,423       386,087       312,441       276,571  
 
Net income
    370,764       314,350       214,217       209,960       147,469  
 
Total assets
    4,235,859       4,025,540       3,692,866       2,828,921       2,664,235  
 
Mortgages and notes payable
    1,386,157       1,674,627       1,683,650       1,373,274       1,191,090  
 
Collateralized mortgage obligations
    6,848       14,079       22,359       29,928       36,219  
 
Mandatorily redeemable preferred securities (Feline Prides)
                            189,750       189,750  
 
Stockholders’ equity
    1,592,851       1,274,351       1,092,481       654,759       676,583  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
 
Basic earnings per share
  $ 9.41     $ 7.57     $ 5.72     $ 5.39     $ 3.16  
Diluted earnings per share
    8.80       7.15       5.50       5.24       3.08  
Cash dividends per common share
    .30       .30       .30       .30       .30  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
 

45


 

Selected Operating Information

                                                             
                                                        Unconsolidated
        West Coast   Southwest   Central   Southeast   France   Total   Joint Ventures
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unit deliveries
                                                       
2003
                                                       
 
First
    1,161       1,375       1,600       341       786       5,263       47  
 
Second
    1,263       1,579       1,624       954       924       6,344       38  
 
Third
    1,339       1,731       1,851       1,017       912       6,850       59  
 
Fourth
    1,786       2,010       2,584       1,192       1,302       8,874       87  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
   
Total
    5,549       6,695       7,659       3,504       3,924       27,331       231  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
2002
                                                       
 
First
    863       1,246       2,066       116       734       5,025       93  
 
Second
    1,152       1,412       2,413       152       876       6,005       104  
 
Third
    1,469       1,574       2,381       130       936       6,490       97  
 
Fourth
    1,860       1,805       2,745       281       1,241       7,932       62  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
   
Total
    5,344       6,037       9,605       679       3,787       25,452       356  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Net orders
                                                       
2003
                                                       
 
First
    1,355       1,954       1,953       424       863       6,549       63  
 
Second
    1,898       2,015       2,023       1,346       1,115       8,397       195  
 
Third
    1,410       1,912       1,913       1,130       954       7,319       136  
 
Fourth
    1,147       1,882       1,470       944       1,186       6,629       76  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
   
Total
    5,810       7,763       7,359       3,844       4,118       28,894       470  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
2002
                                                       
 
First
    1,697       1,512       2,301       117       814       6,441       35  
 
Second
    1,892       1,522       2,467       196       1,117       7,194       77  
 
Third
    1,386       1,680       2,236       202       815       6,319       54  
 
Fourth
    1,106       1,567       1,665       299       1,194       5,831       22  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
   
Total
    6,081       6,281       8,669       814       3,940       25,785       188  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Ending backlog–units
                                                       
2003
                                                       
 
First
    2,574       3,374       4,012       1,107       2,242       13,309       61  
 
Second
    3,209       3,810       4,411       2,240       2,433       16,103       218  
 
Third
    3,280       3,991       4,473       2,353       2,475       16,572       295  
 
Fourth
    2,641       3,863       3,571       2,105       2,495       14,675       521  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
2002
                                                       
 
First
    2,477       2,817       4,830       327       2,092       12,543       155  
 
Second
    3,217       2,927       4,884       371       2,333       13,732       128  
 
Third
    3,134       3,033       4,739       443       2,212       13,561       85  
 
Fourth
    2,380       2,795       3,659       1,024       2,165       12,023       45  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Ending backlog–value, in thousands
                                                       
2003
                                                       
 
First
  $ 873,999     $ 571,920     $ 600,933     $ 185,365     $ 397,871     $ 2,630,088     $ 8,174  
 
Second
    1,117,856       685,870       659,443       364,279       571,755       3,399,203       38,150  
 
Third
    1,142,247       729,195       643,354       389,373       497,475       3,401,644       47,726  
 
Fourth
    941,825       710,725       554,336       347,040       513,970       3,067,896       90,716  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
2002
                                                       
 
First
  $ 767,836     $ 479,822     $ 689,910     $ 56,571     $ 293,776     $ 2,287,915     $ 23,080  
 
Second
    977,628       512,544       720,447       61,586       365,147       2,637,352       15,732  
 
Third
    989,927       512,872       700,280       71,766       366,733       2,641,578       8,447  
 
Fourth
    789,719       475,208       539,428       168,561       373,750       2,346,666       9,000  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

46


 

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

R E S U L T S  O F  O P E R A T I O N S

Overview Revenues are primarily generated from the Company’s (i) homebuilding operations in the United States and France and (ii) its domestic mortgage banking operations.

     Domestically, the Company’s construction revenues are generated from operating divisions in the following four regional groups: “West Coast” – California; “Southwest” – Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico; “Central” – Colorado, Illinois and Texas; and “Southeast” – Florida, Georgia and North Carolina. In 2002 and 2001, the Company grouped its domestic operating divisions into three regions: West Coast, Southwest and Central; the Company added the “Southeast” regional group in 2003 in view of its expansion in that area of the country. All year-over-year comparisons have been accomplished by restating applicable prior years’ results in a manner consistent with the new regional groupings. Internationally, the Company operates in France through a majority-owned subsidiary, Kaufman & Broad S.A. (“KBSA”).

     The Company has expanded and geographically diversified its operations in recent years by executing a strategy that includes both organic growth and acquisitions. On March 6, 2003, the Company acquired Atlanta, Georgia-based Colony Homes (“Colony”), marking its entry into the Atlanta, Georgia and Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina markets and strengthening its foothold in the southeastern United States. On September 4, 2003, the Company also acquired substantially all of the homebuilding assets of Chicago, Illinois-based Zale Homes (“Zale”). The Zale acquisition marked the Company’s entry into the greater Chicago market, the fifth largest single-family homebuilding market in the United States. On September 30, 2002, the Company acquired Orlando, Florida-based American Heritage Homes (“American Heritage”), expanding the Company’s presence to Orlando, Florida and supplementing the start-up business it had established in the Tampa market earlier in the year. The Company expanded into the Florida market in July of 2001 with the acquisition of Trademark Home Builders, Inc. (“Trademark”), a builder of single-family homes in Jacksonville, Florida.

     The Company achieved substantial growth in unit deliveries, revenues and diluted earnings per share in 2003. During the year ended November 30, 2003, the Company’s unit deliveries rose 7.4% to 27,331, increasing from 25,452 unit deliveries posted in 2002. Total Company revenues reached $5.85 billion in 2003, up 16.3% from $5.03 billion in 2002, which had increased 10.0% from $4.57 billion in 2001. The Company’s double-digit revenue growth in 2003 and 2002 was primarily driven by an increase in housing revenues stemming from increased unit delivery volume and a higher average selling price. Included in total Company revenues were mortgage banking revenues of $75.1 million in 2003, $91.9 million in 2002 and $72.5 million in 2001.

     Net income for the year ended November 30, 2003 increased 17.9% to $370.8 million, or $8.80 per diluted share, from $314.4 million, or $7.15 per diluted share, for the year ended November 30, 2002. Net income growth in 2003 was driven by the combined effects of higher unit delivery volume, expanded housing gross margins and lower interest expense, partially offset by lower income from mortgage banking operations. Diluted earnings per share for 2003 was favorably impacted by a 4.2% year-over-year decrease in the average number of diluted shares outstanding resulting from the Company’s share repurchase activity.

     Net income of $314.4 million in 2002 was higher than the $214.2 million, or $5.50 per diluted share, recorded in 2001. Net income in 2002 rose on higher unit delivery volume, expanded gross margins and increased net income from mortgage banking operations. Diluted earnings per share for 2002 was negatively impacted by a 12.9% year-over-year increase in the average number of diluted shares outstanding. The higher share count resulted from the conversion of the Company’s Feline Prides securities to common stock in August 2001, which more than offset share repurchases made by the Company during 2002.

47


 

C O N S T R U C T I O N

Revenues Construction revenues totaled $5.78 billion in 2003, increasing 16.9% from $4.94 billion in 2002, which had increased from $4.50 billion in 2001. The increases in both 2003 and 2002 resulted primarily from higher housing revenues driven by increased unit delivery volume and a higher average selling price.

     The following table presents information concerning the Company’s housing revenues and unit deliveries by geographic region:

                                     
YEARS ENDED NOVEMBER 30,   Housing   % of total   Unit   % of total unit
in thousands, except unit amounts   revenues   housing revenues   deliveries   deliveries
   
 
 
 
2003
                               
 
West Coast
  $ 1,963,563       34.8 %     5,549       20.3 %
 
Southwest
    1,192,380       21.1       6,695       24.5  
 
Central
    1,144,248       20.3       7,659       28.0  
 
Southeast
    547,471       9.7       3,504       12.8  
 
 
   
     
     
     
 
   
Total United States
    4,847,662       85.9       23,407       85.6  
 
France
    795,108       14.1       3,924       14.4  
 
 
   
     
     
     
 
   
Total
  $ 5,642,770       100.0 %     27,331       100.0 %
 
 
   
     
     
     
 
2002
                               
 
West Coast
  $ 1,700,770       35.0 %     5,344       21.0 %
 
Southwest
    1,022,666       21.1       6,037       23.7  
 
Central
    1,411,944       29.1       9,605       37.7  
 
Southeast
    110,839       2.3       679       2.7  
 
 
   
     
     
     
 
   
Total United States
    4,246,219       87.5       21,665       85.1  
 
France
    609,635       12.5       3,787       14.9  
 
 
   
     
     
     
 
   
Total
  $ 4,855,854       100.0 %     25,452       100.0 %
 
 
   
     
     
     
 
2001
                               
 
West Coast
  $ 1,570,964       36.0 %     5,550       22.6 %
 
Southwest
    983,141       22.5       6,238       25.4  
 
Central
    1,289,523       29.5       9,181       37.4  
 
Southeast
    28,537       .7       187       .8  
 
 
   
     
     
     
 
   
Total United States
    3,872,165       88.7       21,156       86.2  
 
France
    494,836       11.3       3,382       13.8  
 
 
   
     
     
     
 
   
Total
  $ 4,367,001       100.0 %     24,538       100.0 %
 
 
   
     
     
     
 

     Housing revenues totaled $5.64 billion in 2003, $4.86 billion in 2002 and $4.37 billion in 2001. In 2003, housing revenues rose 16.2% over the previous year due to a 7.4% increase in unit volume and an 8.2% increase in the average selling price. In 2002, housing revenues rose 11.2% above 2001 results due to a 3.7% increase in unit volume and a 7.2% increase in the average selling price.

     Housing revenues from operations in the Company’s West Coast region rose 15.5% to $1.96 billion in 2003, from $1.70 billion in 2002, due primarily to an 11.2% increase in the average selling price and a 3.8% increase in unit delivery volume during the year. West Coast region operations generated 34.8% of the Company’s housing revenues in 2003, virtually flat when compared to 35.0% in 2002 and 36.0% in 2001, while contributing 20.3% of the Company’s deliveries in 2003, 21.0% in 2002 and 22.6% in 2001. In the Company’s Southwest region, housing revenues rose 16.6% to $1.19 billion in 2003 from $1.02 billion in 2002 due to a 10.9% increase in unit deliveries and a 5.1% increase in the average selling price. Southwest region housing revenues accounted for 21.1% of total housing revenues in both 2003 and 2002, down from 22.5% in 2001. The Company’s Central region operations generated housing revenues of $1.14 billion in 2003, down 19.0% from $1.41 billion in 2002, reflecting a year-over-year decrease of 20.3% in unit deliveries partly offset by a 1.6% increase in the average selling price. Central region housing revenues accounted for 20.3% of total housing revenues in 2003, compared to 29.1% in 2002 and 29.5% in 2001. Housing revenues from the Southeast region rose 393.9% to $547.5 million in 2003, from $110.8 million in 2002, due to an increase of 416.1% in unit delivery volume, partially offset by a 4.3% decline in the average selling price. Southeast region operations produced 9.7% of the Company’s housing revenues in 2003, compared to 2.3% in 2002 and .7% in 2001. The increased proportion of revenues generated by the Company’s Southeast region operations resulted from the Company’s recent expansion in the south-

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eastern United States, including its acquisition of Colony, a single-family homebuilder in Atlanta, Georgia and Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina, in 2003 and its acquisition of American Heritage, with operations in Orlando and Tampa, Florida, in 2002.

     In France, housing revenues of $795.1 million in 2003 rose 30.4% from $609.6 million in 2002, reflecting a 3.6% increase in unit delivery volume and a 25.8% increase in the average selling price primarily related to the strength in the euro. French housing revenues accounted for 14.1% of the Company’s total housing revenues in 2003, compared to 12.5% in 2002 and 11.3% in 2001.

     In 2002, West Coast region housing revenues increased 8.3%, from $1.57 billion in 2001, due primarily to a 12.4% increase in the average selling price, partially offset by a 3.7% decrease in unit deliveries during the year. Housing revenues in the Southwest region rose 4.0% in 2002, from $983.1 million in 2001, due to a 7.5% increase in the average selling price, which more than offset a 3.2% decrease in unit deliveries. In the Central region, housing revenues in 2002 rose 9.5% from $1.29 billion in 2001, the result of a 4.6% increase in both unit delivery volume and average selling price. The Southeast region housing revenues in 2002 increased by $82.3 million from $28.5 million in 2001, reflecting two months of results from the American Heritage acquisition, which expanded the Company’s operations into the Orlando market and supplemented its Tampa start-up business, established in 2001. The increase in Southeast region housing revenues in 2002 resulted from a 263.1% increase in unit deliveries and a 6.9% increase in the average selling price.

     In France, housing revenues rose 23.2% in 2002 from $494.8 million in 2001, reflecting a 12.0% increase in unit volume and a 10.0% increase in the average selling price.

     Company-wide housing deliveries increased 7.4% to 27,331 units in 2003 from 25,452 units in 2002, reflecting growth in United States and French deliveries of 8.0% and 3.6%, respectively. The increase in the Company’s domestic unit deliveries reflected year-over-year increases of 3.8%, 10.9% and 416.1% in unit deliveries from its West Coast, Southwest and Southeast regions, respectively, partially offset by a decrease of 20.3% in unit deliveries from the Central region. West Coast region deliveries increased to 5,549 units in 2003 from 5,344 units in 2002, while the number of active communities operated in the region remained nearly flat with 2002. Southwest region operations delivered 6,695 units in 2003, up from 6,037 units in 2002, reflecting an increase of approximately 18% in the average number of active communities in this region compared to 2002. In the Central region, deliveries decreased to 7,659 units in 2003 from 9,605 units in 2002, despite an increase of approximately 7% in the average number of active communities in the region. Southeast region deliveries increased to 3,504 units in 2003 from 679 units in 2002, primarily due to the Company’s expansion activity in the region, including the 2003 acquisition of Colony and the 2002 acquisition of American Heritage. French deliveries increased to 3,924 units in 2003 from 3,787 units in 2002, with the average number of active communities remaining constant from year to year.

     In 2002, Company-wide housing deliveries increased 3.7% to 25,452 units from 24,538 units delivered in 2001. The growth in domestic deliveries reflected a 4.6% increase in the Central region and a 263.1% increase in the Southeast region, partially offset by decreases of 3.7% and 3.2% in the West Coast and Southwest regions, respectively. West Coast region deliveries decreased to 5,344 units in 2002 from 5,550 units in 2001, as the Company operated from approximately 22% fewer active communities in the region during 2002. Southwest operations delivered 6,037 units in 2002, down from 6,238 units in 2001, reflecting a decrease of approximately 10% in the average number of active communities operated in the region. Deliveries from Central region operations increased to 9,605 units in 2002 from 9,181 units in 2001, as the average number of active communities in the Central region rose approximately 5% from the prior year. Deliveries from the Southeast region increased to 679 units in 2002 from 187 units in 2001 due to the Company’s expansion into Florida through a start-up business established in 2002 and acquisitions completed in 2002 and 2001. French deliveries increased 12.0% to 3,787 units in 2002 from 3,382 units in 2001, with the average number of active communities increasing approximately 16% from year to year.

     The Company-wide average new home price rose 8.2% in 2003, to $206,500 from $190,800 in 2002, reflecting generally favorable market conditions with increases in the average selling price in the Company’s West Coast, Southwest, Central and France regions, partly offset by a decrease in the Southeast region. The 2002 average new home price had advanced 7.2% from $178,000 in 2001, due to increases in the average selling price in each domestic region and in France.

     In the West Coast region, the average selling price rose 11.2% in 2003 to $353,900 from $318,300 in 2002, which had increased 12.4% from $283,100 in 2001. The average selling price in the Southwest region increased 5.1% to $178,100 in 2003, compared with $169,400 in 2002, which had increased 7.5% from $157,600 in 2001. The Central region average selling price rose 1.6% to $149,400 in 2003 compared with $147,000 in 2002, which had increased 4.6% from $140,500 in 2001. The Southeast region average selling price declined 4.3% in 2003 to $156,200 from $163,200 in 2002, which had increased 6.9% from $152,600 in 2001. The higher average selling price in most of the Company’s domestic regions in 2003 and 2002 resulted from a combination of factors: generally higher prices throughout the West Coast region; selected increases in sales prices in certain markets and communities in the Southwest and Central regions, partially offset by the softening of general market conditions in certain submarkets in the regions; and increases in lot premiums and options sold through the KB Home design studios in each of the Company’s domestic regions. In contrast, the decline in the Southeast region’s average selling price resulted from a change in product mix, as the Company expanded into additional markets in the region, as well as the relatively small number of deliveries and communities in 2002.

49


 

     The Company’s average selling price in France increased 25.8% to $202,600 in 2003 from $161,000 in 2002, which had increased 10.0% from $146,300 in 2001. The increases in 2003 and 2002 resulted primarily from favorable foreign exchange rates.

     Revenues from the development of commercial buildings, all located in metropolitan Paris, totaled $107.0 million in 2003, up from $43.8 million in 2002, which had decreased from $69.9 million in 2001. The increase in French commercial revenues in 2003 versus 2002 reflected the expansion of the Company’s commercial activity as market conditions for this type of development improved. In 2002, the Company’s French commercial revenues decreased from 2001 due to the completion of certain projects and a lack of new commercial construction contracts in 2002.

     Land sale revenues totaled $25.6 million in 2003, $39.2 million in 2002 and $64.8 million in 2001. Generally, land sale revenues fluctuate with management’s decisions to maintain or decrease the Company’s land ownership position in certain markets based upon the volume of its holdings, the strength and number of competing developers entering particular markets at given points in time, the availability of land in markets served by the Company and prevailing market conditions.

Operating income Operating income increased to $562.9 million in 2003, up 24.3% from $452.9 million in 2002. As a percentage of construction revenues, operating income rose to 9.7% in 2003 from 9.2% in 2002, reflecting an improved housing gross margin, partially offset by a higher selling, general and administrative expense ratio. Housing gross profits in 2003 increased 22.8%, or $236.4 million, to $1.27 billion from $1.04 billion in 2002. As a percentage of related revenues, the housing gross profit margin was 22.5% in 2003, up from 21.3% in the prior year, primarily due to a higher average selling price. Commercial activities in France generated profits of $22.5 million in 2003, compared to $10.3 million in 2002. Company-wide land sales generated profits of $2.4 million in 2003 and $3.2 million in 2002.

     Selling, general and administrative expenses totaled $733.5 million in 2003 compared with $595.7 million in 2002. As a percentage of housing revenues, to which these expenses are most closely correlated, selling, general and administrative expenses increased by .7 percentage points to 13.0% in 2003 from 12.3% in 2002. The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses in 2003 resulted from additional up-front expenditures related to new community openings and the initial investments required to expand the Company’s market presence and build brand awareness in the Southeast region. Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of housing revenues are expected to improve in 2004, once the Company’s Southeast businesses are more fully integrated and deliver additional revenues, and Central region costs are resized to align with the region’s lower unit delivery volume.

     Operating income increased 28.6% to $452.9 million in 2002 from $352.3 million in 2001. As a percentage of revenues, operating income rose to 9.2% in 2002 from 7.8% in 2001. Housing gross profits in 2002 increased 18.1%, or $158.7 million, to $1.04 billion from $876.4 million in 2001. As a percentage of related revenues, the housing gross profit margin was 21.3% in 2002, up from 20.1% in 2001, primarily due to a higher average selling price. Commercial activities in France generated profits of $10.3 million in 2002, compared to $10.6 million in 2001. Company-wide land sales generated profits of $3.2 million in 2002 and $1.7 million in 2001.

     Selling, general and administrative expenses increased to $595.7 million in 2002 from $536.5 million in 2001. As a percentage of housing revenues, selling, general and administrative expenses in 2002 remained unchanged from 2001 at 12.3%.

Interest income and expense Interest income, which is generated from short-term investments and mortgages receivable, amounted to $3.0 million in 2003, $4.2 million in 2002 and $3.6 million in 2001. Generally, increases and decreases in interest income are attributable to changes in the interest-bearing average balances of short-term investments and mortgages receivable as well as fluctuations in interest rates.

     Interest expense results principally from borrowings to finance land purchases, housing inventory and other operating and capital needs. In 2003, interest expense, net of amounts capitalized, decreased by $8.9 million to $23.8 million from $32.7 million in 2002. Gross interest incurred in 2003 was $17.7 million higher than that incurred in 2002, mainly due to higher debt levels in 2003. Gross interest incurred in 2003 also included a pretax charge in the first quarter of $4.3 million associated with the early extinguishment of the Company’s 9 5/8% senior subordinated notes, which were due in 2006. The percentage of interest capitalized in 2003 and 2002 was 80.0% and 67.6%, respectively. The increase in the percentage of interest capitalized in 2003 primarily resulted from a higher proportion of land under development in 2003 compared to 2002.

     In 2002, interest expense, net of amounts capitalized, decreased to $32.7 million from $41.1 million in 2001. Gross interest incurred in 2002 was $1.9 million lower than that incurred in 2001, reflecting lower interest rates in 2002. The percentage of interest capitalized in 2002 increased from the 60.1% capitalized in 2001 due to a higher proportion of land under development compared to 2001.

Minority interests Operating income was reduced by minority interests of $26.9 million in 2003, $17.0 million in 2002 and $27.9 million in 2001. Minority interests for 2003 and 2002 were comprised solely of the minority ownership portion of income from consolidated subsidiaries and joint ventures related to residential and commercial activities. Minority interests related to consolidated subsidiaries and joint ventures in 2002 were essentially flat compared with 2001. In 2001, minority interests also included distributions of $11.4 million associated with the Company’s Feline Prides securities. Since the Feline Prides mandatorily converted into common stock of the Company on August 16 , 2001, distributions on these securities terminated on that date.

50


 

Equity in pretax income of unconsolidated joint ventures The Company’s unconsolidated joint venture activities were located in California, Florida, Nevada, New Mexico and France in 2003 and 2002; and Nevada, New Mexico and France in 2001. These unconsolidated joint ventures posted combined revenues of $47.5 million in 2003, $65.9 million in 2002 and $82.1 million in 2001. Revenues from unconsolidated joint ventures in 2003 were lower than in 2002 and 2001 due to a decrease in joint venture unit deliveries in 2003. All unconsolidated joint venture revenues in 2003, 2002 and 2001 were generated from residential properties. Unconsolidated joint ventures generated combined pretax income of $6.9 million in 2003, $9.7 million in 2002 and $6.5 million in 2001. The Company’s share of pretax income from unconsolidated joint ventures totaled $2.5 million in 2003, $4.4 million in 2002 and $3.9 million in 2001.

MORTGAGE BANKING

Interest income and expense The Company’s mortgage banking operations provide financing principally to purchasers of homes sold by the Company’s domestic housing operations through the origination of residential mortgages. Interest income is earned primarily from first mortgages and mortgage-backed securities held for long-term investment as collateral, while interest expense results from notes payable and the collateralized mortgage obligations. Interest income decreased to $14.2 million in 2003 from $22.6 million in 2002, which had increased from $21.9 million in 2001. Interest expense decreased to $6.4 million in 2003 from $11.5 million in 2002, which had decreased from $18.4 million in 2001. Interest income decreased in 2003 primarily due to a lower average balance of first mortgages held under commitments of sale and other receivables outstanding as well as lower interest rates compared to 2002. In 2002, interest income increased from the previous year primarily due to a higher average balance of first mortgages held under commitments of sale and other receivables outstanding compared to the previous year.

     Interest expense decreased in both 2003 and 2002 due to lower average balances of notes payable outstanding and lower interest rates compared to the previous years. Combined interest income and expense resulted in net interest income of $7.8 million in 2003, $11.1 million in 2002 and $3.5 million in 2001. These differences reflect variations in mortgage production mix; movements in short-term versus long-term interest rates; and the amount, timing and rates of return on interim reinvestments of monthly principal amortization and prepayments.

Other mortgage banking revenues The following table presents mortgage loan origination and sales data, including loans brokered to wholesale mortgage bankers, for the Company’s mortgage banking operations:

                           
YEARS ENDED NOVEMBER 30,                        
in thousands   2003   2002   2001
   
 
 
Total originations:
                       
 
Loans
    20,713       23,618       20,605  
 
Principal
  $ 3,443,326     $ 3,705,667     $ 3,063,816  
 
Retention rate
    73 %     89 %     83 %
Loans sold to third parties:
                       
 
Loans
    22,607       24,042       18,889  
 
Principal
  $ 3,786,086     $ 3,776,674     $ 2,804,024  

     Other mortgage banking revenues, which principally consist of gains on sales of mortgages and servicing rights and, to a lesser extent, mortgage loan origination fees and mortgage servicing income, totaled $60.9 million in 2003, $69.3 million in 2002 and $50.5 million in 2001. The decrease in 2003 was mainly due to lower retention (the percentage of the Company’s domestic homebuyers using its mortgage banking subsidiary as a loan originator) as well as the adoption of Statement of Position 01-6, “Accounting by Certain Entities (Including Entities with Trade Receivables) That Lend to or Finance the Activities of Others” (“SOP 01-6”), in the first quarter of 2003. The mortgage banking subsidiary’s retention decreased to 73% in 2003 from 89% in 2002 partly due to the regulatory approval process required to establish mortgage banking operations to assist homebuyers in the Company’s recently expanded Southeast region. Other factors impacting retention were increased competition in the mortgage banking marketplace and consumer demand for more diverse loan products such as interest only payment loans. In 2002, the increase in other mortgage banking revenues from 2001 reflected higher gains on the sales of mortgages and servicing rights primarily due to a higher volume of mortgage originations associated with both increases in underlying housing unit delivery volume and higher retention.

General and administrative expenses General and administrative expenses associated with mortgage banking operations increased to $32.9 million in 2003 from $22.9 million in 2002 and $20.3 million in 2001. The increases in general and administrative expenses in 2003 and 2002 resulted from higher staff levels needed to support the Company’s increasing backlog and the expansion of the Company’s operations into new markets.

INCOME TAXES

The Company recorded income tax expense of $182.7 million in 2003, $154.9 million in 2002 and $110.3 million in 2001. These amounts represented effective income tax rates of approximately 33.0% in 2003 and 2002 and 34.0% in 2001. Pretax income for financial reporting purposes and taxable income for income tax purposes historically have differed primarily due to the impact of state income taxes, treatment

51


 

of foreign-related income, intercompany dividends and investments in tax credit partnerships.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The Company assesses its liquidity in terms of its ability to generate cash to fund its operating and investing activities. Historically, the Company has funded its construction and mortgage banking activities with internally generated cash flows and external sources of debt and equity financing. Operating, investing and financing activities used net cash of $191.9 million in 2003; in 2002, these activities provided cash of $48.7 million.

     Operating activities provided $462.1 million of cash in 2003 and $357.0 million in 2002. The Company’s sources of operating cash in 2003 included earnings of $370.8 million, a decrease in receivables of $340.4 million, an increase in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities of $122.0 million, various noncash items deducted from net income, and other operating sources of $33.7 million. Partially offsetting these sources were investments in inventories of $464.5 million (excluding the effect of the Colony and Zale acquisitions, $43.7 million of inventories acquired through seller financing and $27.4 million of inventory of consolidated variable interest entities).

     In 2002, the Company’s sources of operating cash included earnings of $314.4 million, an increase in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities of $149.5 million, a decrease in receivables of $114.0 million, and various noncash items deducted from net income. The cash provided was partially offset by investments in inventories of $186.6 million (excluding the effect of the American Heritage acquisition and $32.6 million of inventories acquired through seller financing) and other operating uses of $6.7 million.

     Investing activities used $114.7 million of cash in 2003 and $52.8 million in 2002. In 2003, $105.6 million, net of cash acquired, was used for the acquisitions of Colony and Zale, $13.1 million was used for net purchases of property and equipment, and $9.3 million was used for investments in unconsolidated joint ventures. The cash used was partially offset by proceeds of $7.8 million received from mortgage-backed securities, which were principally used to pay down the collateralized mortgage obligations for which the mortgage-backed securities had served as collateral and net sales of $5.5 million of mortgages held for long term investment.

     In 2002, $31.2 million was used for net purchases of property and equipment, $27.5 million, net of cash acquired, was used for the acquisition of American Heritage and $4.0 million was used for investments in unconsolidated joint ventures. Partially offsetting these uses were proceeds of $8.7 million received on mortgage-backed securities and net sales of $1.2 million of mortgages held for long-term investment.

     Financing activities in 2003 used $539.3 million of cash compared to $255.5 million used in 2002. In 2003, cash was used for net payments on borrowings of $603.1 million, redemption of the Company’s 9 5/8% senior subordinated notes of $129.0 million, repurchases of common stock of $108.3 million, payments to minority interests of $12.0 million, cash dividend payments of $11.8 million and payments on collateralized mortgage obligations of $7.2 million. Partially offsetting these uses were $295.3 million in proceeds from the sale of 7¾% senior subordinated notes and $36.8 million from the issuance of common stock under employee stock plans. Pursuant to its current universal shelf registration, on January 27, 2003, the Company issued $250.0 million of 7¾% senior subordinated notes at 98.444% of the principal amount of the notes and on February 7, 2003, the Company issued an additional $50.0 million of notes in the same series (collectively, the “$300.0 Million Senior Subordinated Notes”). The $300.0 Million Senior Subordinated Notes, which are due February 1, 2010, with interest payable semi-annually, represent unsecured obligations of the Company and are subordinated to all existing and future senior indebtedness of the Company. The Company used $129.0 million of the net proceeds from the issuance of the notes to redeem all of its outstanding $125.0 million 9 5/8% senior subordinated notes, which were due in 2006. The remaining net proceeds were used for general corporate purposes.

     In 2002, financing activities used $262.5 million for net payments on borrowings, $175.0 million for the redemption of the Company’s 9 3/8% senior subordinated notes, $190.8 million for repurchases of common stock, $12.4 million for cash dividend payments, $8.3 million for payments on collateralized mortgage obligations and $6.4 million for payments to minority interests. Partially offsetting these uses were $198.4 million in proceeds from the sale of 8 5/8% senior subordinated notes, $144.3 million in proceeds from KBSA’s sale of 8¾% French senior notes and $57.2 million from the issuance of common stock under employee stock plans. On December 14, 2001, pursuant to its universal shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on December 5, 1997 (the “1997 Shelf Registration”), the Company issued $200.0 million of 8 5/8% senior subordinated notes at 100% of the principal amount of the notes. The notes, which are due December 15, 2008, with interest payable semi-annually, represent unsecured obligations of the Company and are subordinated to all existing and future senior indebtedness of the Company. On or prior to December 15, 2004, the Company may redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes with the net proceeds of one or more public or private equity offerings at a redemption price of 108.625% of their principal amount, together with accrued and unpaid interest. The notes are not otherwise redeemable at the option of the Company. The Company used $175.0 million of the net proceeds from the issuance of the notes to redeem all of its outstanding 9 3/8% senior subordinated notes, which were due in 2003. The remaining net proceeds were used for general corporate purposes.

     On July 29, 2002, KBSA issued 150.0 million euros principal amount of 8¾% French senior notes at 100% of the principal amount of the notes. The notes, which are publicly traded and are due August 1, 2009 with interest payable semi-annually, represent unsecured obligations of KBSA and rank pari passu in right of payment with all other senior unsecured indebtedness of KBSA. The Company does not guarantee these KBSA notes. On or prior to August 1, 2005, KBSA may redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes with

52


 

the net cash proceeds of qualified equity offerings at a redemption price of 108.75% of their principal amount together with accrued and unpaid interest. The notes are not otherwise redeemable at the option of KBSA, except in the event of certain changes in tax laws. Proceeds from the issuance of the notes were used to pay down bank borrowings and other indebtedness.

     On December 5, 2003, the Company’s board of directors increased the annual cash dividend on the Company’s common stock to $1.00 per share from $.30 per share. The first quarterly cash dividend at the increased rate of $.25 per share will be paid on February 25, 2004 to shareholders of record on February 11, 2004. The Company believes the decision to increase the dividend reflects the Company’s strong balance sheet, sustainable operating earnings, free cash flow and the overall growth prospects for its business, without limiting its ability to profitably grow and reinvest in the business.

     The Company’s financial leverage, as measured by the ratio of construction debt to total capital, was 44.0% at the end of 2003, the lowest level for the Company in the past five years, compared to 47.8% at the end of 2002. Construction debt to total capital is not a financial measure in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). However, the Company believes this ratio is preferable to total debt to total capital, the most comparable GAAP measure, in order to maintain comparability with other publicly traded homebuilders for stockholders, investors and analysts. A reconciliation of the non-GAAP measure, construction debt to total capital, to the most comparable GAAP measure, total debt to total capital, follows:

                                   
      2003   2002
     
 
      Total debt   Construction   Total debt   Construction
NOVEMBER 30,   to total   debt to total   to total   debt to total
in thousands   capital   capital   capital   capital
   
 
 
 
Debt:
                               
 
Construction
  $ 1,253,932     $ 1,253,932     $ 1,167,053     $ 1,167,053  
 
Mortgage banking
    132,225               507,574          
 
 
   
     
     
     
 
Total debt
  $ 1,386,157     $ 1,253,932     $ 1,674,627     $ 1,167,053  
 
 
   
     
     
     
 
Total debt
  $ 1,386,157     $ 1,253,932     $ 1,674,627     $ 1,167,053  
Stockholders’ equity
    1,592,851       1,592,851       1,274,351       1,274,351  
 
 
   
     
     
     
 
Total capital
  $ 2,979,008     $ 2,846,783     $ 2,948,978     $ 2,441,404  
 
 
   
     
     
     
 
Ratio
    46.5 %     44.0 %     56.8 %     47.8 %
 
 
   
     
     
     
 

     During 2003, the Company acquired Atlanta, Georgia-based Colony, which expanded the Company’s operations into Atlanta, Georgia and Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina, strengthening the Company’s position in its Southeast region. The Company also acquired substantially all of the homebuilding assets of Chicago, Illinois-based Zale. The Zale acquisition marked the Company’s entry into the greater Chicago market. Total consideration, including debt assumed, associated with the two acquisitions was $174.9 million. Both acquisitions were accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. The excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair value of net assets acquired was allocated to goodwill and assigned to the Company’s construction segment. The results of the two acquired companies were included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of their respective acquisition dates.

     During 2002, the Company acquired Orlando, Florida-based American Heritage for approximately $74.0 million, including the assumption of debt. The American Heritage acquisition strengthened the Company’s market position in Florida, marking its entry into the Orlando market and supplementing its Tampa start-up business. The acquisition was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting and was assigned to the Company’s construction segment. No goodwill was recorded in connection with the acquisition. The results of American Heritage were included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of the date of acquisition.

     In 2001, the Company acquired Trademark, a builder of single-family homes in Jacksonville, Florida. The acquisition marked the Company’s entry into Florida. In addition, KBSA completed the acquisition of Résidences Bernard Teillaud, a France-based builder of condominiums. Total consideration, including debt assumed, associated with the two acquisitions was $58.8 million. Both acquisitions were accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. The excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair value of net assets acquired was allocated to goodwill and assigned to the Company’s construction segment. The results of the two acquired companies were included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of their respective acquisition dates.

     During 2003 and 2002, the Company repurchased 2.0 million and 4.0 million shares of its common stock at aggregate prices of $108.3 million and $190.8 million, respectively, under stock repurchase programs authorized by its board of directors. On July 10, 2003, the Company’s board of directors approved an increase in the Company’s previously authorized stock repurchase program to permit future repurchases of up to 2.0 million shares of the Company’s common stock. No shares were repurchased under this authorization as of November 30, 2003.

     External sources of financing for the Company’s construction activities include its domestic unsecured credit facility, other domestic and foreign bank lines, third-party secured financings, and the public

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debt and equity markets. Substantial unused lines of credit remain available for the Company’s future use, if required, principally through its domestic unsecured revolving credit facility. On October 24, 2003, the Company entered into a four-year, $1.00 billion unsecured revolving credit facility (the “$1 Billion Credit Facility”) with a consortium of banks, which replaced its previously existing $644.0 million revolving credit facility scheduled to expire in 2004 and its $183.0 million five-year term loan, scheduled to expire in 2005. Interest on the $1 Billion Credit Facility is payable monthly at the London Interbank Offered Rate plus an applicable spread on amounts borrowed. At November 30, 2003, the Company had $803.2 million available for its future use under the $1 Billion Credit Facility, net of $89.7 million of outstanding letters of credit. In addition, the Company’s French subsidiaries had lines of credit with various banks which totaled $181.8 million at November 30, 2003 and have various committed expiration dates through May 2006. Under these unsecured financing agreements, $160.2 million was available to the Company’s French subsidiaries at November 30, 2003.

     Depending upon available terms and its negotiating leverage related to specific market conditions, the Company also finances certain land acquisitions with purchase-money financing from land sellers and other third parties. At November 30, 2003, the Company had outstanding seller-financed notes payable of $24.6 million secured primarily by the underlying property which had a carrying value of $84.8 million.

     The Company’s primary contractual financing obligations at November 30, 2003 were comprised of senior and senior subordinated notes, mortgages, land contracts and other loans with principal payments due as follows: 2004: $197.4 million; 2005: $1.4 million; 2006: $.2 million; 2007: $.2 million; 2008: $.2 million; and thereafter: $925.8 million.

     In addition, the Company leases certain property and equipment under noncancelable operating leases. Office and equipment leases are typically for terms of three to five years and generally provide renewal options for terms up to an additional five years. The future minimum rental payments under the Company’s operating leases, which primarily consist of office leases, having initial or remaining noncancelable lease terms in excess of one year are as follows: 2004: $18.9 million; 2005: $12.8 million; 2006: $9.5 million; 2007: $8.2 million; 2008: $5.3 million; and thereafter: $15.9 million.

     The Company’s current universal shelf registration statement filed on October 15, 2001 with the SEC (as subsequently amended, the “2001 Shelf Registration”) was declared effective on January 28, 2002. The remaining capacity under the 1997 Shelf Registration was rolled into the 2001 Shelf Registration, thereby providing the Company with a total issuance capacity of $750.0 million under the 2001 Shelf Registration. The 2001 Shelf Registration provides that securities may be offered from time to time in one or more series and in the form of senior, senior subordinated or subordinated debt, preferred stock, common stock, stock purchase contracts, stock purchase units and/or warrants to purchase such securities. The Company issued the $300.0 Million Senior Subordinated Notes in the first quarter of 2003, pursuant to its 2001 Shelf Registration. The $300.0 Million Senior Subordinated Notes are redeemable at the option of the Company at 103.875% of their principal amount beginning February 1, 2007 and thereafter at prices declining annually to 100% on and after February 1, 2009. In addition, before February 1, 2006, the Company may redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the $300.0 Million Senior Subordinated Notes with the net proceeds of one or more public or private equity offerings at a redemption price of 107.75% of their principal amount, together with accrued and unpaid interest. As of November 30, 2003, the Company had $450.0 million of remaining capacity available under the 2001 Shelf Registration.

     On January 28, 2004, the Company issued $250.0 million of 5¾% senior notes (the “$250.0 Million Senior Notes”) at 99.474% of the principal amount of the notes in a private placement. The notes, which are due February 1, 2014, with interest payable semi-annually, represent senior unsecured obligations of the Company and rank equally in right of payment with all of the Company’s existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness. The $250.0 Million Senior Notes may be redeemed, in whole at any time or from time to time in part, at a price equal to 100% of their principal amount, plus a premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the applicable redemption date. The $250.0 Million Senior Notes are unconditionally guaranteed jointly and severally by certain of the Company’s domestic operating subsidiaries on a senior unsecured basis. The Company used all of the net proceeds from the issuance of the $250.0 Million Senior Notes to repay borrowings outstanding under the $1 Billion Credit Facility. The Company has agreed to file a registration statement with the SEC relating to an offer to exchange the $250.0 Million Senior Notes for registered notes issued by the Company on substantially identical terms, except that they will be fully transferable.

     The Company uses its capital resources primarily for land purchases, land development and housing construction. The Company typically manages its investments in land by purchasing property under options and other types of conditional contracts whenever possible, and similarly controls its investment in housing inventories by strongly emphasizing the pre-sale of homes over speculative construction and carefully managing the timing of the production process. The Company’s backlog ratio (beginning backlog as a percentage of unit deliveries in the quarter) was 186.7% for the fourth quarter of 2003, increasing from 171.0% for the fourth quarter of 2002. The Company’s inventories have become significantly more geographically diverse in the last decade, primarily as a result of the Company’s extensive domestic expansion outside of the West Coast region. As of November 30, 2003, 17.3% of the lots owned or controlled by the Company were located in the West Coast region, 20.6% were in the Southwest region, 32.9% were in the Central region, 21.2% were in the Southeast region and 8.0% were in France. The Company continues to concentrate its housing operations in desirable areas within targeted growth markets, oriented toward entry-level, move-up and active adult purchasers.

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