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UNITED STATESSECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
Commission File No. 001-34063
TREE.COM, INC. (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
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 ý No o
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period than the Registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes o No o
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definition of "accelerated filer," "large accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No ý
As of May 5, 2009 there were 10,796,426 shares of the Registrant's common stock, par value $.01 per share, outstanding.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.
Financial Statements
Item 2.
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Item 4T.
Controls and Procedures
PART II—OTHER INFORMATION
Legal Proceedings
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Item 6.
Exhibits
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PART 1—FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
TREE.COM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
Revenue
LendingTree Loans
Exchanges and other
Real Estate
Total revenue
Cost of revenue
Total cost of revenue (exclusive of depreciation shown separately below)
Gross margin
Operating expenses
Selling and marketing expense
General and administrative expense
Product development
Restructuring expense
Amortization of intangibles
Depreciation
Total operating expenses
Operating income (loss)
Other income (expense)
Interest income
Interest expense
Other
Total other income (expense), net
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income tax benefit (expense)
Net income (loss)
Weighted average common shares outstanding
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding
Net income (loss) per share available to common shareholders
Basic
Diluted
The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.
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TREE.COM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents
Restricted cash and cash equivalents
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $315 and $367, respectively
Loans held for sale ($83,109 and $85,638 measured at fair value, respectively)
Prepaid and other current assets
Total current assets
Property and equipment, net
Goodwill
Intangible assets, net
Other non-current assets
Total assets
LIABILITIES:
Warehouse lines of credit
Accounts payable, trade
Deferred revenue
Deferred income taxes
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
Total current liabilities
Income taxes payable
Other long-term liabilities
Total liabilities
Commitments and contingencies (Note 12)
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Preferred stock $.01 par value; authorized 5,000,000 shares; none issued or outstanding
Common stock $.01 par value; authorized 50,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 9,978,933 and 9,369,381 shares, respectively
Additional paid-in capital
Accumulated deficit
Total shareholders' equity
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
2
TREE.COM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (Unaudited)
Balance as of December 31, 2008
Comprehensive income:
Net income for the three months ended March 31, 2009
Comprehensive income
Non-cash compensation
Sale of common stock
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options and vesting of restricted stock units, net of withholding taxes
Balance as of March 31, 2009
3
TREE.COM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Loss on disposal of assets
Non-cash compensation expense
Non-cash restructuring expense
Gain on origination and sale of loans
Loss on impaired loans not sold
Loss on sale of real estate acquired in satisfaction of loans
Bad debt expense
Non-cash interest expense
Changes in current assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable
Origination of loans
Proceeds from sales of loans
Principal payments received on loans
Payments to investors for loan repurchases and early payoff obligations
Accounts payable and other current liabilities
Other, net
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Contingent acquisition consideration
Acquisitions
Capital expenditures
Net cash used in investing activities
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowing under warehouse lines of credit
Repayments of warehouse lines of credit
Principal payments on long-term obligations
Transfers to IAC
Capital contributions from IAC
Issuance of common stock
Excess tax benefits from stock-based awards
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
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TREE.COM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1—ORGANIZATION
Spin-Off
On August 20, 2008, Tree.com, Inc. ("Tree.com" or the "Company") was spun off from its parent company, IAC/InterActiveCorp ("IAC") into a separate publicly traded company. In these consolidated financial statements, we refer to the separation transaction as the "spin-off." In connection with the spin-off, Tree.com was incorporated as a Delaware corporation in April 2008. Tree.com consists of the brands and businesses that formerly comprised IAC's Lending and Real Estate segments. We refer herein to these brands and businesses as the "Tree.com Businesses," which include LendingTree.com, RealEstate.com, GetSmart.com, Home Loan Center, Inc. (d/b/a LendingTree Loans) and iNest.com.
In conjunction with the spin-off, Tree.com completed the following transactions: (1) extinguished all intercompany payable balances with IAC, which totaled $56.2 million, by recording a non-cash contribution from IAC, (2) recapitalized the invested capital balances with common stock in the amount of $0.1 million, whereby holders of IAC stock received one-thirtieth of a share of common stock of Tree.com, and (3) received $55.2 million of cash from IAC.
Basis of Presentation
The historical consolidated financial statements of Tree.com and its subsidiaries reflect the contribution or other transfer to Tree.com of all of the subsidiaries and assets and the assumption by Tree.com of all of the liabilities relating to the Tree.com Businesses in connection with the spin-off and the allocation to Tree.com of certain IAC corporate expenses relating to the Tree.com Businesses. Accordingly, the historical consolidated financial statements of Tree.com reflect the historical financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Tree.com Businesses since their respective dates of acquisition by IAC, based on the historical consolidated financial statements and accounting records of IAC and using the historical results of operations and historical bases of the assets and liabilities of the Tree.com Businesses with the exception of accounting for income taxes. For purposes of these financial statements, income taxes have been computed for Tree.com on an as if stand-alone, separate tax return basis. Intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated.
In the opinion of Tree.com's management, the assumptions underlying the historical consolidated financial statements of Tree.com are reasonable. However, this financial information does not necessarily reflect what the historical financial position, results of operations and cash flows of Tree.com would have been had Tree.com been a stand-alone company during the periods presented.
The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2009 and 2008 and for the three months then ended have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information and the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for annual financial statements. In the opinion of the Company's management, the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited financial statements, and include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair presentation of the Company's financial position for the periods presented. The results for the three months ended March 31, 2009 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2009, or any other period. These financial statements and notes should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.
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TREE.COM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
NOTE 1—ORGANIZATION (Continued)
Company Overview
The LendingTree Loans segment originates, processes, approves and funds various residential real estate loans through Home Loan Center, Inc. ("HLC"), (d/b/a LendingTree Loans). The HLC and LendingTree Loans brand names are collectively referred to in these consolidated financial statements as "LendingTree Loans."
Exchanges
The Exchanges segment consists of online lead generation networks and call centers (principally LendingTree.com and GetSmart.com) that connect consumers and service providers principally in the lending industry.
The Real Estate segment consists of a proprietary full service real estate brokerage (RealEstate.com, REALTORS®) that operates in 20 U.S. markets, as well as an online lead generation network accessed at www.RealEstate.com, that connects consumers with real estate brokerages around the country, and iNest.com, an online network that matches buyers and builders of new homes.
Tree.com maintains operations solely in the United States.
NOTE 2—SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Accounting Estimates
Tree.com's management is required to make certain estimates and assumptions during the preparation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. These estimates and assumptions impact the reported amount of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements. They also impact the reported amount of net earnings during any period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Significant estimates underlying the accompanying consolidated financial statements include: valuation allowance for impaired loans held for sale; reserve for obligations on loans that have been previously sold; the fair value of loans held for sale and related derivatives; the recoverability of long-lived assets; the recovery of goodwill and intangible assets; the determination of income taxes payable and deferred income taxes, including related valuation allowances; various other allowances, reserves and accruals; and assumptions related to the determination of stock-based compensation.
Reclassifications
In connection with the change in reportable segments (see footnote 7), certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current year presentation with no effect on net income (loss) or accumulated deficit. Specifically, compensation and other employee- related costs for loan officers within the LendingTree Loans segment totaling $3.4 million were reclassified from selling and marketing expense to cost of revenue, and certain other expenses totaling $0.1 million were reclassified from general and administrative expense to selling and marketing expense.
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NOTE 2—SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents
Restricted cash and cash equivalents consists of the following (in thousands):
Cash in escrow for future operating lease commitments
Cash in escrow for surety bonds
Cash in escrow for corporate purchasing card program
Minimum required balances for warehouse lines of credit
Total restricted cash and cash equivalents
Changes in restricted cash balances are shown within investing and financing activities in the accompanying consolidated statements of cash flows.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 141 (revised 2007), "Business Combinations" ("SFAS No. 141R"), which replaces FASB Statement No. 141. SFAS No. 141R establishes principles and requirements for how an acquirer recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree and the goodwill acquired. The Statement also establishes disclosure requirements that will enable users to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. SFAS No. 141R applies prospectively to business combinations in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The adoption of SFAS No. 141R did not have a material impact on Tree.com's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Tree.com adopted SFAS No. 161, "Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133" ("SFAS No. 161") on January 1, 2009. SFAS No. 161 amends and expands the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities" ("SFAS No. 133") with the intent to provide users of financial statements with an enhanced understanding of: (i) How and why an entity uses derivative instruments; (ii) How derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for under SFAS No. 133 and its related interpretations; and (iii) How derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an entity's financial position, financial performance and cash flows. The adoption of SFAS No. 161 did not have a material impact on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements. See footnote 9 for further information.
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NOTE 3—GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS
The balance of goodwill and intangible assets, net is as follows (in thousands):
Goodwill—Real Estate
Intangible assets:
Intangible assets with indefinite lives
Intangible assets with definite lives, net
Total intangible assets, net
Total goodwill and intangible assets, net
Intangible assets with indefinite lives relate principally to trade names and trademarks.
At March 31, 2009, intangible assets with definite lives relate to the following (in thousands):
Purchase agreements
Technology
Customer lists
Total
At December 31, 2008, intangible assets with definite lives relate to the following (in thousands):
Amortization of intangible assets with definite lives is computed on a straight-line basis and, based on March 31, 2009 balances, such amortization for the next five years is estimated to be as follows (in thousands):
Nine months ending December 31, 2009
Year ending December 31, 2010
Year ending December 31, 2011
Year ending December 31, 2012
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NOTE 4—PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
The balance of property and equipment, net is as follows (in thousands):
Computer equipment and capitalized software
Leasehold improvements
Furniture and other equipment
Projects in progress
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization
Total property and equipment, net
NOTE 5—ACCRUED EXPENSES AND OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):
Accrued loan loss liability related to loans previously sold
Litigation accruals
Accrued advertising expense
Accrued compensation and benefits
Accrued restructuring costs
Derivative liabilities
Total accrued expenses and other current liabilities
The other category above reflects an earnout payable related to the HLC acquisition, deferred rent liabilities, customer security deposits, accrued professional fees and other miscellaneous accrued expenses.
An additional $6.4 million and $6.5 million of accrued loan loss liability related to loans previously sold is classified in other long term liabilities at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively.
NOTE 6—WAREHOUSE LINES OF CREDIT
Borrowings on warehouse lines of credit were $72.2 million and $76.2 million at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively.
As of March 31, 2009, LendingTree Loans had two $50 million committed lines of credit ("warehouse lines"). Borrowings under these lines are limited for funding, and are secured by, consumer residential loans that are held for sale. Loans under these warehouse lines are repaid directly from proceeds from the sales of loans by LendingTree Loans.
One of these lines expired on April 30, 2009 and has been replaced by a new $50 million committed line of credit ("the first line"). The first line is scheduled to expire on April 30, 2010, but
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NOTE 6—WAREHOUSE LINES OF CREDIT (Continued)
can be cancelled at the option of the lender without default upon sixty days notice. The second line is scheduled to expire on December 30, 2009; however, that lender has indicated it is exiting the warehouse lending business and will honor the existing contract only through the stated term. The first line includes an additional uncommitted credit facility of $75 million. The first line is also guaranteed by Tree.com, Inc., LendingTree, LLC and LendingTree Holdings, Inc.
The interest rate under the first line is 225 basis points plus the greater of (a) the 30-day LIBOR or (b) 200 basis points. The interest rate under the $75 million uncommitted line is 30-day LIBOR plus 150 basis points. The interest rate under the second line is 30-day LIBOR plus 125 basis points.
Under the terms of these warehouse lines, LendingTree Loans is required to maintain various financial and other covenants. These financial covenants include, but are not limited to, maintaining (i) minimum levels of tangible net worth, cash on hand with a certain lender and liquid assets, (ii) a maximum ratio of total liabilities to net worth and (iii) pre-tax net income requirements on a quarterly basis. During the quarter ended March 31, 2009, LendingTree Loans was in compliance with the covenants under the lines in existence at that time.
The LendingTree Loans business is highly dependent on the availability of these warehouse lines. Although we believe that our existing lines of credit are adequate for our current operations, reductions in our available credit, or the inability to renew or replace these lines, would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Management has determined that it could continue to operate the LendingTree Loans business, at a reduced capacity, if one but not both of the warehouse lines were lost. Management has been and continues to be in discussions with several financial institutions that could serve as potential sources of credit that could be a replacement of or increase to the current credit facilities. However, these financial institutions, like all financial institutions, are subject to the same adverse market conditions and may be affected by recent market disruptions, which may affect the decision to provide a credit line, or the pricing for such lines.
NOTE 7—SEGMENT INFORMATION
The overall concept that Tree.com employs in determining its reportable segments and related financial information is to present them in a manner consistent with how the chief operating decision maker and executive management view the Tree.com businesses, how the businesses are organized as to segment management, and the focus of the Tree.com businesses with regards to the types of products or services offered or the target market.
Following the spin-off from IAC, the new chief operating decision maker began to realign the Tree.com Businesses into new operating segments. During the first quarter of 2009, management completed its realignment of staffing and direct revenue and costs for each new segment and created reporting structures to enable the chief operating decision maker and management to evaluate the results of operations for each of these new segments on a comparative basis with prior periods. In prior periods, the segments "Lending" and "Real Estate" were presented, which have been changed to "LendingTree Loans", "Exchanges" and "Real Estate" segments. Additionally, certain shared indirect costs that are described below are reported as "Unallocated—Corporate". All items of segment information for prior periods have been restated to conform to the new reportable segment presentation.
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NOTE 7—SEGMENT INFORMATION (Continued)
The expenses presented below for each of the business segments include an allocation of certain corporate expenses that are identifiable and directly benefit those segments. The unallocated expenses are those corporate overhead expenses that are not directly attributable to a segment and include: corporate expenses such as finance, legal, executive, technology support, and human resources, as well as elimination of inter-segment revenue and costs.
Tree.com's primary performance metric is Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization ("EBITDA"), which is defined as operating income excluding, if applicable: (1) depreciation expense, (2) gain/loss on disposal of assets, (3) non-cash compensation expense, (4) amortization and impairment of intangibles, (5) goodwill impairment, (6) pro forma adjustments for significant acquisitions, and (7) one-time items. Tree.com believes this measure is useful to investors because it represents the operating results from Tree.com's segments, but excludes the effects of any other non-cash expenses. EBITDA has certain limitations in that it does not take into account the impact to Tree.com's statement of operations of certain expenses, including depreciation, non-cash compensation and acquisition related accounting. Tree.com endeavors to compensate for the limitations of the non-GAAP measure presented by also providing the comparable GAAP measure with equal or greater prominence and descriptions of the reconciling items, including quantifying such items, to derive the non-GAAP measure.
Summarized information by segment and a reconciliation to EBITDA is as follows (in thousands):
Cost of revenue (exclusive of depreciation shown separately below)
Gross Margin
Operating Expenses:
Adjustments to reconcile to EBITDA:
EBITDA
11
12
Significant components of revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 are as follows (in thousands):
LendingTree Loans:
Origination and sale of loans
Other(a)
Total LendingTree Loans revenue
Exchanges:
Match fees
Closed loan fees
Inter-segment
Total Exchanges
Real Estate revenue
Inter-segment elimination
Total assets by segment at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 are as follows (in thousands):
Exchanges and Unallocated—Corporate(a)
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NOTE 8—EARNINGS PER SHARE AND STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth the computation of Basic and Diluted earnings per share:
Numerator:
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders
Denominator:
Weighted average common shares(a)
Net income (loss) per common share
Non-cash compensation expense related to equity awards is included in the following line items in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 (in thousands):
The forms of stock-based awards granted to Tree.com employees are principally restricted stock units ("RSUs"), restricted stock and stock options. RSUs are awards in the form of units, denominated in a hypothetical equivalent number of shares of Tree.com common stock and with the value of each award equal to the fair value of Tree.com common stock at the date of grant. RSUs may be settled in cash, stock or both, as determined by the Compensation Committee at the time of grant. Each stock-based award is subject to service-based vesting, where a specific period of continued employment must pass before an award vests. Tree.com recognizes expense for all stock-based awards for which vesting is considered probable. For stock-based awards the accounting charge is measured at the grant date as the fair value of Tree.com common stock and expensed ratably as non-cash compensation over the vesting term.
The amount of stock-based compensation expense recognized in the consolidated statement of operations is reduced by estimated forfeitures, as the amount recorded is based on awards ultimately expected to vest. The forfeiture rate is estimated at the grant date based on historical experience and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if the actual forfeiture rate differs from the estimated rate.
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NOTE 8—EARNINGS PER SHARE AND STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION (Continued)
A summary of changes in outstanding stock options for the three months ended March 31, 2009 is as follows:
Outstanding at January 1, 2009
Granted
Exercised
Forfeited
Expired
Outstanding at March 31, 2009
Options exercisable
The following table summarizes the information about stock options outstanding and exercisable as of March 31, 2009:
$.01 to $4.99
$5.00 to $7.45
$7.46 to $9.99
$10.00 to $14.99
$15.00 to $19.99
$20.00 to $24.99
Greater than $25.00
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Nonvested RSUs and restricted stock outstanding as of March 31, 2009 and changes during the three months ended March 31, 2009 were as follows:
Nonvested at January 1, 2009
Vested
Nonvested at March 31, 2009
On April 28, 2009 the shareholders of the Company approved the Second Amended and Restated 2008 Stock and Annual Incentive Plan. The Stock Plan effects the following amendments to our Amended and Restated 2008 Stock and Annual Incentive Plan:
On April 28, 2009, the Company also entered into an Option Cancellation Agreement with the Chief Executive Officer, in which he surrendered for cancellation in its entirety such stock option award to purchase 589,850 shares of the Company's common stock at an exercise price of $25.43 per share.
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NOTE 9—FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
Tree.com adopted SFAS No. 157, "Fair Value Measurements" ("SFAS No. 157") effective January 1, 2008. In accordance with SFAS No. 157, Tree.com categorizes its assets and liabilities measured at fair value into a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the assumptions used in pricing the asset or liability into the following three levels:
The following presents Tree.com's assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 (in thousands):
Loans held for sale
Interest rate lock commitments ("IRLCs")
Forward delivery contracts
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NOTE 9—FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Continued)
The following presents the changes in Tree.com's assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 (in thousands):
Balance at January 1, 2009
Total net gains (realized and unrealized) included in earnings
Transfers of IRLCs to closed loans
Purchase, sales, issuances and settlements, net
Transfers in/out of Level 3, net
Balance at March 31, 2009
Balance at January 1, 2008
Balance at March 31, 2008
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The following presents the gains included in earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 relating to Tree.com's assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) (in thousands):
Total net gains included in earnings, which are included in revenue from LendingTree Loans
Change in unrealized gains relating to assets and liabilities still held at March 31, 2009, which are included in revenue from LendingTree Loans
Change in unrealized gains relating to assets and liabilities still held at March 31, 2008, which are included in revenue from LendingTree Loans
LendingTree Loans hedges the changes in fair value of certain loans held for sale primarily by entering into mortgage forward delivery contracts. Although LendingTree Loans continued to enter into forward delivery contracts for risk management purposes, effective April 1, 2007 it no longer designated these derivatives as hedges for accounting purposes. When hedge accounting was discontinued, the affected loans held for sale were no longer adjusted for changes in fair value. However, the changes in fair value of the forward delivery contracts continued to be recognized in current earnings as a component of LendingTree Loans revenue.
LendingTree Loans enters into commitments with consumers to originate loans at a specified interest rate (interest rate lock commitments—"IRLCs"). Tree.com reports IRLCs as derivative instruments at fair value in accordance with SFAS No. 133. Accordingly, LendingTree Loans determines the fair value of IRLCs using current secondary market prices for underlying loans with similar coupons, maturity and credit quality, subject to the anticipated loan funding probability. The fair value of IRLCs is subject to change primarily due to changes in interest rates and the loan funding probability. Under LendingTree Loans' risk management policy, LendingTree Loans hedges the changes in fair value of IRLCs primarily by entering into mortgage forward delivery contracts which can reduce the volatility of economic outcomes. IRLCs and the related hedging instruments are recorded at fair value with changes in fair value being recorded in current earnings as a component of revenue from the origination and sale of loans in the consolidated statement of operations. At March 31, 2009 and
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December 31, 2008, there were $375.3 million and $252.9 million, respectively, of IRLCs notional value outstanding.
Prior to the adoption of SFAS No. 157 the recognition of gains and losses at the inception of a derivative contract were prohibited unless the fair value of the contract was evidenced by a quoted price in an active market. As no active market exists for IRLCs, such day one gains and losses were not recognized until the related loan was sold. Prior to January 1, 2008, guidance also prohibited including the value of servicing the loan in calculating the fair value of an IRLC. Such guidance was rescinded by Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 109, "Written Loan Commitments Recorded at Fair Value Through Earnings" ("SAB 109"). Accordingly, with the adoption of SFAS No. 157 and SAB 109 on January 1, 2008, the day one gains and servicing value, adjusted by the loan funding probability, are included in the value of IRLCs.
The following table summarizes the Company's derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments under SFAS No. 133, as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 (in thousands):
Interest Rate Lock Commitments
Forward Delivery Contracts
Total Derivatives
The gain/(loss) recognized in the consolidated statements of operations for derivatives for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 was as follows (in thousands):
Tree.com adopted SFAS No. 159, "The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities Including and amendment of FASB Statement No. 115" ("SFAS No. 159"), effective January 1, 2008. SFAS No. 159 permits entities to choose to measure certain financial instruments at fair value with the objective of reducing both the complexity in the accounting for financial instruments and the volatility in earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently. Upon adoption, Tree.com elected to account for loans held for sale originated on or after January 1, 2008 at
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fair value. Electing the fair value option allows a better offset of the changes in fair values of the loans and the forward delivery contracts used to economically hedge them without the burden of complying with the requirements for hedge accounting under SFAS No. 133.
Tree.com did not elect the fair value option on loans held for sale originated prior to January 1, 2008 and on loans that were repurchased from investors on or subsequent to that date. As of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, 58 and 60 such loans, respectively, all of which were impaired, were included in loans held for sale and were carried at the lower of cost or market ("LOCOM") value assessed on an individual loan basis. The market value (or fair value) of these impaired loans at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, measured on a non-recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3), was $2.0 and $2.2 million, respectively. This fair value measurement is management's best estimate of the market value of such loans and considers current bids in the secondary market for similar loans.
The following presents the difference between the aggregate principal balance of loans held for sale for which the fair value option has been elected and for loans measured at LOCOM as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 (in thousands):
Aggregate unpaid principal balance
Difference between fair value and aggregate unpaid principal balance
Lower of cost or market valuation allowance
Deferred loan fees, net of costs
During the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, the change in fair value of loans held for sale for which the fair value option has been elected was a loss of $0.4 million and $0.1 million, respectively, and is included as a component of LendingTree Loans revenue in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
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NOTE 10—ORIGINATION AND SALE OF LOANS, LOANS HELD FOR SALE AND LOAN LOSS OBLIGATIONS
Origination and Sale of Loans
LendingTree Loans' revenues are primarily derived from the origination and sale of loans. Mortgage loans are funded through warehouse lines of credit and are recorded at fair value at the time of funding. Changes in the fair value of mortgage loans are recorded through revenue prior to the sale of the loans to investors, which typically occurs within thirty days. The gain or loss on the sale of loans is recognized on the date the loans are sold and is based on the difference between the sale proceeds received and the fair value of the loans. The Company sells its loans on a servicing released basis in which the Company gives up the right to service the loans on an ongoing basis. The recognition of the sale of loans is accounted for in accordance with SFAS No. 140, "Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities" ("SFAS No. 140").
A summary of the initial unpaid principal balance of loans sold by type of loan for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 is presented below ($ amounts in millions):
Conforming
FHA and Alt-A
Loans Held for Sale
LendingTree Loans originates all of its residential real estate loans with the intent to sell them in the secondary market. Loans held for sale consist primarily of residential first mortgage loans that are secured by residential real estate throughout the United States.
The following table represents the loans held for sale by type of loan as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 ($ amounts in thousands):
Subprime
Home equity
The unpaid principal amount of loans on nonaccrual status at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 was $6.2 million and $7.0 million, respectively. These loans have a net book value (net of lower of cost or market valuation allowances and fair value adjustments) of $2.3 million and $3.0 million at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. Included within the loans on nonaccrual status are repurchased loans with a net book value of $1.0 million and $1.1 million at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. During the three months ended March 31, 2009, LendingTree Loans
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NOTE 10—ORIGINATION AND SALE OF LOANS, LOANS HELD FOR SALE AND LOAN LOSS OBLIGATIONS (Continued)
did not repurchase any loans. During the three months ended March 31, 2008, LendingTree Loans repurchased loans with $1.1 million of unpaid principal balances.
Real estate properties acquired in satisfaction of loans totaled $0.7 million and $0.9 million, net of estimated selling expenses, at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively, and is included in prepaid and other current assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
Loan Loss Obligations
LendingTree Loans sells loans it originates to investors on a servicing released basis so the risk of loss or default by the borrower is generally transferred to the investor. However, LendingTree Loans is required by these investors to make certain representations relating to credit information, loan documentation and collateral. These representations and warranties may extend through the contractual life of the mortgage loan. Subsequent to the sale, if underwriting deficiencies, borrower fraud or documentation defects are discovered in individual mortgage loans, LendingTree Loans may be obligated to repurchase the respective mortgage loan or indemnify the investors for any losses from borrower defaults if such deficiency or defect cannot be cured within the specified period following discovery.
In the case of early loan payoffs, which occurs when a borrower prepays a loan prior to the end of a specified period, LendingTree Loans may be required to repay all or a portion of the premium initially paid by the investor. The estimated obligation associated with early loan payoffs is calculated based on historical loss experience by type of loan.
The obligation for losses related to the representations and warranties and other provisions discussed above is initially recorded at its estimated fair value, which includes a projection of expected future losses as well as a market based premium. Subsequently, the Company maintains the liability using the estimated obligation related to this exposure based, in part, on historical and projected loss frequency and loss severity using its claims history (adjusted for recent trends in claims experience as well as market pricing information on loans repurchased), the original principal amount of the loans previously sold, the year the loans were sold, and loan type. Accordingly, subsequent adjustments to the obligation, if any, are not made based on changes in the fair value of the obligation, which might include an estimated change in losses that may be expected in the future, but are made once further losses are estimated to be both probable and estimable. As such, given current general industry trends in mortgage loans as well as housing prices, market expectations around losses related to the Company's obligations could vary significantly from the obligation recorded as of the balance sheet date.
Because LendingTree Loans does not service the loans it sells, it does not maintain nor have access to the current balances and loan performance data with respect to the individual loans previously sold to investors. Accordingly, the Company is unable to determine, with precision, its maximum exposure under its representations and warranties. However, LendingTree Loans utilizes the original loan balance (before it was sold to an investor), historical and projected loss frequencies and loss severities by loan segment as well as analyses of loss claims in investor pipelines to estimate its exposure to losses on loans previously sold.
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In estimating its exposure to loan losses, LendingTree Loans segments its loan sales into four segments based on the extent of the documentation provided by the borrower to substantiate income and/or assets (full or limited documentation) and the lien position of the mortgage in the underling property (first or second position). Each of these segments has a different loss experience with full documentation, first lien position loans generally having the lowest loss ratios and limited documentation, second lien position loans generally having the highest loss ratios.
For the three months ended March 31, 2009, LendingTree Loans sold approximately 3,300 loans with an original principal balance of $0.7 billion. Through March 31, 2009 there had been no loans from this group which had experienced losses.
For 2008, LendingTree Loans sold approximately 11,000 loans with an original principal balance of $2.2 billion. Through March 31, 2009 there had been 6 loans from this group with an original balance of $1.1 million which had experienced aggregate losses of $32,000.
For 2007, LendingTree Loans sold approximately 36,300 loans with an original principal balance of $6.1 billion. Through March 31, 2009 there had been 92 loans from this group with an original balance of $11.6 million which had experienced aggregate losses of $2.6 million.
For 2006, LendingTree Loans sold approximately 55,000 loans with an original principal balance of $7.9 billion. Through March 31, 2009 there had been 118 loans from this group with an original balance of $14.2 million which had experienced aggregate losses of $5.8 million.
For 2005 and prior years, LendingTree Loans sold approximately 86,700 loans with an original principal balance of $13.0 billion. Through March 31, 2009 there had been 68 loans from this group with an original balance of $9.3 million which had experienced aggregate losses of $2.7 million.
Based on historical experience, it is anticipated that the Company will continue to experience losses on these vintage loans sold for years to come.
The activity related to loss reserves on previously sold loans for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, is as follows (in thousands):
Balance, beginning of period
Provisions
Charge offs to reserves
Balance, end of period
Based on an analysis of the Company's historical loan loss experience, it has been determined that a portion of the loss claims expected to be made by investors will be made more than twelve months following the initial sale of the underlying loan. Accordingly, the Company has estimated the portion of its Loans Sold Reserve that it anticipates it will be liable for after twelve months and has classified that portion of the reserve as a long-term liability. The liability for losses on previously sold loans is
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presented in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 as follows (in thousands):
Current portion, included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities
Long term portion, included in other long-term liabilities
NOTE 11—INCOME TAXES
For the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, Tree.com recorded a tax benefit (provision) of $0.1 million and ($0.2) million, respectively, which represents effective tax rates of (2.7%) and 2.1%, respectively. These tax rates are lower than the federal statutory rate of 35% due principally to non-deductible impairment charges and an increase in valuation allowance on deferred tax assets.
Tree.com believes that it is reasonably possible that its unrecognized tax benefits could decrease by approximately $0.3 million within twelve months of the current reporting date due to the expiration of statutes of limitations. An estimate of other changes in unrecognized tax benefits cannot be made, but are not expected to be significant.
NOTE 12—CONTINGENCIES
HLC is party to various employment related lawsuits. During the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, provisions of $0.3 million and $-0-, respectively, were recorded in general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. The balance of the related liability was $2.4 million and $2.0 million at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively.
In the ordinary course of business, Tree.com is a party to various lawsuits. Tree.com establishes reserves for specific legal matters when it determines that the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome is probable and the loss is reasonably estimable. Management has also identified certain other legal matters where it believes an unfavorable outcome is not probable and, therefore, no reserve is established. Although management currently believes that an unfavorable resolution of claims against Tree.com, including claims where an unfavorable outcome is reasonably possible, will not have a material impact on the liquidity, results of operations, or financial condition of Tree.com, these matters are subject to inherent uncertainties and management's view of these matters may change in the future. It is possible that an unfavorable outcome of one or more of these lawsuits could have a material impact on the liquidity, results of operations, or financial condition of Tree.com. Tree.com also evaluates other contingent matters, including tax contingencies, to assess the probability and estimated extent of potential loss.
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NOTE 13—RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
While affiliated with IAC, Tree.com's expenses included allocations from IAC of costs associated with IAC's accounting, treasury, legal, tax, corporate support, human resources and internal audit functions. These expenses were allocated based on the ratio of Tree.com's revenue as a percentage of IAC's total revenue. Allocated costs were $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008, and are included in "General and administrative expense" in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. It is not practicable to determine the amounts of these expenses that would have been incurred had Tree.com operated as an unaffiliated entity. In the opinion of management, the allocation method was reasonable.
Relationship Between Tree.com and IAC after the Spin-Off
For purposes of governing certain of the ongoing relationships between Tree.com and IAC at and after the spin-off, and to provide for an orderly transition, Tree.com and IAC entered into a separation agreement, a tax sharing agreement, an employee matters agreement and a transition services agreement (the "Spin-Off Agreements"), among other agreements.
NOTE 14—RESTRUCTURING CHARGES
The restructuring charges primarily relate to Tree.com's significant reduction in its mortgage origination and real estate operations in response to the adverse developments in mortgage and real estate market conditions. Costs that relate to ongoing operations are not part of restructuring charges. Restructuring charges by segment and type are as follows (in thousands):
Unallocated—corporate
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NOTE 14—RESTRUCTURING CHARGES (Continued)
Restructuring charges and spending against liabilities are as follows (in thousands):
Restructuring charges
Payments
Write-offs
At March 31, 2009, restructuring liabilities of $3.2 million are included in "Accrued expenses and other current liabilities" and $0.7 million are included in "Other long-term liabilities" in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. At December 31, 2008, restructuring liabilities of $3.3 million are included in "Accrued expenses and other current liabilities" and $0.8 million are included in "Other long-term liabilities" in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. Tree.com does not expect to incur significant additional costs related to the prior restructurings noted above.
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Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Management Overview
On August 20, 2008, Tree.com, Inc. ("Tree.com") was spun off from its parent company, IAC/InterActiveCorp ("IAC") into a separate publicly traded company. We refer to the separation transaction as the "spin-off." In connection with the spin-off, Tree.com was incorporated as a Delaware corporation in April 2008. Tree.com consists of the brands and businesses that formerly comprised IAC's Lending and Real Estate segments. These brands and businesses include LendingTree.com, RealEstate.com, GetSmart.com, Home Loan Center, Inc. (d/b/a LendingTree Loans) and iNest.com.
Following the spin-off from IAC, the new chief operating decision maker began to realign the Tree.com businesses into new operating segments. For the first quarter of 2009, management completed its realignment of staffing and direct revenue and costs for each new segment and created reporting structures to enable the chief operating decision maker and management to evaluate the results of operations for each of these new segments on a comparative basis with prior periods. In prior periods, the segments "Lending" and "Real Estate" were presented, which have been changed to "LendingTree Loans", "Exchanges" and "Real Estate" segments. Additionally, certain shared indirect costs that are described below are reported as "Unallocated—Corporate." All items of segment information for prior periods have been restated to conform to the new reportable segment presentation.
The Real Estate segment consists of a proprietary full-service real estate brokerage (RealEstate.com, REALTORS®) that operates in 20 U.S. markets, as well as an online lead generation network accessed at www.RealEstate.com, that connects consumers with real estate brokerages around the country and iNest.com, an online network that matches buyers and builders of new homes.
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Results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2008:
Total LendingTree Loans
Inter-segment revenue
LendingTree Loans revenue in 2009 increased $3.6 million, or 12%, from the same period in 2008. Revenue generated from the origination and sale of loans in the secondary market increased 4.8 million, or 17%, primarily due to a dramatically declining mortgage interest rate environment that began late in the fourth quarter of 2008, improvement in revenue per closed loan and higher loan closing rates.
The dollar value of loans closed directly by LendingTree Loans is as follows:
Refinance mortgages
Purchase mortgages
Revenue generated from refinance mortgage increased 27% and revenue generated from purchase mortgage declined 48%.
LendingTree Loans originates mortgage loans on property located throughout the United States, with no one location representing more than 10% of Tree.com's consolidated revenue for any periods presented. Revenue from loans originated for property in California and Florida in the aggregate totaled approximately 14% and 8% of Tree.com's consolidated revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
Revenue from the Exchanges declined $18.0 million, or 49%, due primarily to fewer loan requests from consumers, fewer matched loan requests with network lenders and fewer loans closed through network lenders. Matched loan requests in the first quarter of 2009 were down 36% from the same period in 2008 due to the five Federal Reserve interest rate cuts during the first quarter of 2008, which stimulated significant consumer demand on our network. Although mortgage rates have remained at or near historical lows during the first quarter of 2009, the Exchanges experienced a decline in matched
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loan requests, reflecting lower network lender demand for consumer leads. Management believes the lower demand for loan requests from network lenders is because of production and warehouse capacity limitations for many of the lenders participating on the network as well as many lenders experiencing their own higher levels of organic lead volume through other channels during this low interest rate environment. As a result of fewer matched loan requests, closed loan units through the Exchange also declined resulting in 40% lower closed loan fees.
The dollar value of loans closed by Exchange network lenders is as follows:
No single Exchange network lender accounts for revenue representing more than 10% of Tree.com's consolidated revenue for any periods presented.
Real Estate revenue decreased $2.6 million, or 31%, principally due to a $2.3 million decrease related to the Real Estate builder and broker referral networks, which experienced significant decreases in closings year-over-year due to the persistent negative real estate market conditions contributing to lower home sales prices and fewer real estate transactions overall. Despite expanding into 5 new metropolitan markets and growing the number of agents working for our company-owned brokerage from 900 at the end of the first quarter 2008 to over 1,200 at the end of the first quarter 2009, the revenue in our company-owned brokerage remained relatively flat year-over-year. Overall, the dollar value of the Company's real estate closings decreased $134 million, or 32%, from $415 million in 2008 to $281 million in 2009.
As a percentage of total revenue
Gross margin %
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Cost of revenue—LendingTree Loans
As a percentage of LendingTree Loans revenue
LendingTree Loans gross margin
Cost of revenue—Exchanges
As a percentage of Exchanges revenue
Exchanges gross margin
Cost of revenue—Real Estate
As a percentage of Real Estate revenue
Real Estate gross margin
Cost of revenue consists primarily of costs associated with loan originations, compensation and other employee-related costs (including stock-based compensation) related to customer call centers, real estate network support staff and loan officers, as well as credit scoring fees, consumer incentive costs, real estate agent commissions and website network hosting and server fees.
Cost of revenue in 2009 decreased $3.0 million from 2008 primarily due to decreases of $1.9 million in compensation and other employee-related costs, $1.4 million in consumer incentive rebates related to decreased closings at the Exchanges and the Real Estate builder and broker network businesses, and $0.7 million in direct costs associated with the settlement services business. The decrease in compensation and other employee-related costs is primarily due to reduced personnel costs associated with Tree.com's customer call center, settlement services operation and portions of its loan processing department.
Offsetting these decreases in cost of revenue was an increase of $1.4 million in costs associated with loan originations in LendingTree Loans. This increase corresponds to the increases in both revenue from the origination and sales of loans and the dollar value of loans closed directly by LendingTree Loans.
Elimination of inter-segment marketing
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Selling and marketing expense—LendingTree Loans
Selling and marketing expense—Exchanges
Selling and marketing expense—Real Estate
Selling and marketing expense consists primarily of advertising and promotional expenditures, fees paid to lead sources and compensation and other employee-related costs (including stock-based compensation) for personnel engaged in the sales function. Advertising and promotional expenditures primarily include online marketing, as well as television, print and radio spending. Advertising production costs are expensed in the period the related ad is first run.
Advertising for the Exchanges is primarily the building and maintaining of the Company's core brands, using both online and offline spending, and generates leads not only for the Exchanges but for our other segments as well. Marketing expense for LendingTree Loans is primarily comprised of inter-segment purchases of leads from the Exchanges, leveraging the LendingTree and GetSmart brands. The remainder of the expense is comprised of lead purchases from third parties. Advertising for Real Estate primarily consists of lead generation through online spending, as well as lead purchases from the Exchanges.
Overall selling and marketing expense in 2009 decreased $16.1 million from 2008 primarily due to a decrease of $15.8 million in advertising and promotional expenditures. In 2009, Tree.com decreased its online marketing advertising by $10.2 million, from $17.8 million in 2008 to $7.6 million in 2009. Tree.com also decreased its broadcast advertising by $3.5 million, from $7.3 million in 2008 to $3.8 million in 2009.
The decline in selling and marketing expense for the LendingTree Loans segment, both in whole dollars and as a percentage of revenue, is related to a decrease in the cost per lead acquired from the Exchanges and receiving "overflow" leads from a partner that received more leads than their current capacity could handle. The Exchanges were able to decrease advertising spend due to naturally higher consumer demand driven by the favorable mortgage rate trends and improvements in organic traffic.
Tree.com anticipates that it will continue to adjust selling and marketing expenditures generally in relation to revenue producing opportunities and that selling and marketing will continue to represent a high percentage of revenue as it continues to promote its brands both online and offline.
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General and administrative expense—LendingTree Loans
General and administrative expense—Exchanges
General and administrative expense—Real Estate
General and administrative expense—Unallocated—corporate
General and administrative expense consists primarily of compensation and other employee-related costs (including stock-based compensation) for personnel engaged in finance, legal, tax, corporate IT, human resources and executive management functions, as well as facilities and infrastructure costs and fees for professional services.
General and administrative expense in 2009 decreased across all segments, including the unallocated—corporate group, by $4.0 million from 2008. These decreases reflect a $2.9 million reduction in compensation and other employee-related costs, excluding non-cash compensation, as a result of prior restructuring activities. Other significant decreases during 2009 include $0.9 million in professional fees, $0.3 million in facilities costs and $0.2 million in bad debt expense. In addition, 2008 includes a charge of $1.4 million associated with legal and regulatory costs. These decreases were partially offset by an increase in non-cash compensation expense.
As a result of the spin-off and reductions in base salaries for executives and other employees, the Company has placed greater emphasis on equity compensation than did IAC. In February 2009, the Compensation Committee determined that the Company's compensation programs should have less of a fixed component and, instead, should be much more variable and tied to individual and corporate performance. The Compensation Committee believes placing a greater emphasis on incentive arrangements and equity compensation will result in the Company's executives and employees being paid for performance and will better align their incentives with the Company's strategic goals. As a result of this shift in compensation philosophy, non-cash compensation expense was $1.1 million in 2009 compared with $0.5 million in 2008.
As of March 31, 2009, there was approximately $4.8 million and $3.0 million of unrecognized compensation cost, net of estimated forfeitures, related to stock options and RSUs and restricted stock, respectively. These costs are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 3.6 years for stock options and 1.9 years for RSUs and restricted stock.
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Product development—LendingTree Loans
Product development—Exchanges
Product development—Real Estate
Product development—Unallocated—corporate
Product development expense consists primarily of compensation and other employee-related costs (including stock-based compensation) for personnel engaged in product development, which include costs related to the design, development, testing and enhancement of technology that are not capitalized.
Product development expense in 2009 decreased $0.5 million from 2008, due to decreased compensation and other employee-related costs associated with reductions in workforce that occurred during 2008.
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Restructuring expense—LendingTree Loans
Restructuring expense—Exchanges
Restructuring expense—Real Estate
Restructuring expense—Unallocated—corporate
In response to adverse developments in mortgage and real estate market conditions, Tree.com recorded restructuring expense of $0.8 million and $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The restructuring expense for the three months ended March 31, 2009 is primarily for employee termination costs associated with reductions in workforce. The restructuring expense for the three months ended March 31, 2008 is primarily associated with exiting facilities previously used by LendingTree Loans.
Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization
Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization ("EBITDA") is a non-GAAP measure and is defined in "Tree.com's Principles of Financial Reporting".
Unallocated and inter-segment eliminations
EBITDA—LendingTree Loans
EBITDA—Exchanges
EBITDA—Real Estate
EBITDA—Unallocated and inter-segment eliminations
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EBITDA in 2009 improved $11.4 million to $7.9 million, reflecting an increase in the LendingTree Loans gross margin, and operating costs decreasing more rapidly than overall revenue in 2009 principally due to the marketing reductions and previous restructuring activities noted above.
Operating income—LendingTree Loans
Operating income (loss)—Exchange
Operating (loss)—Real Estate
Operating (loss)—Unallocated and inter-segment eliminations
Operating income in 2009 improved $12.7 million from 2008 resulting primarily from the issues discussed above.
Income tax provision
For the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, Tree.com recorded a tax benefit (provision) of $0.1 million and $(0.2) million, respectively, which represents effective tax rates of (2.7)% and 2.1%, respectively. These tax rates are lower than the federal statutory rate of 35% due principally to non-deductible impairment charges and an increase in the valuation allowance on deferred tax assets.
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FINANCIAL POSITION, LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
As of March 31, 2009, Tree.com had $96.4 million of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents.
Net cash provided by operating activities was $11.2 million in the three months ended March 31, 2009, compared to net cash used in operating activities of $5.6 million in the same period in 2008. The increase of $16.9 million is primarily due to an $11.4 million increase in EBITDA, a $10.7 million increase in net proceeds from and the sale and origination of loans, offset by a decrease in accounts payable and other current liabilities.
Net cash used in investing activities in the three months ended March 31, 2009 of $1.1 million primarily resulted from an acquisition of $1.0 million and capital expenditures of $0.6 million. Net cash used in investing activities in the same period in 2008 of $15.6 million primarily resulted from the payment of contingent consideration associated with the Home Loan Center, Inc. acquisition of $14.5 million and capital expenditures of $1.5 million.
Net cash used in financing activities in 2009 of $2.3 million was primarily due to net repayments under warehouse lines of credit of $4.0 million, offset by proceeds from the sale of common stock of $1.9 million. Net cash provided by financing activities in 2008 of $28.2 million was primarily due to capital contributions and other transfers from IAC of $36.3 million, a decrease in restricted cash of $12.5 million, offset by payments on notes payable and capital lease obligations of $20.0 million. The net repayments under warehouse lines of credit is related to the change in loans held for sale at LendingTree Loans and is included within cash flow from operations.
One of these lines expired on April 30, 2009 and has been replaced by a new $50 million committed line of credit ("the first line"). The first line is scheduled to expire on April 30, 2010, but can be cancelled at the option of the lender without default upon sixty days notice. The second line is scheduled to expire on December 30, 2009; however, that lender has indicated it is exiting the warehouse lending business and will honor the existing contract only through the stated term. The first line includes an additional uncommitted credit facility of $75 million. The first line is also guaranteed by Tree.com, Inc., Lending Tree, LLC and Lending Tree Holdings, Inc.
The interest rate under the first line is plus 225 basis points plus the greater of (a) the 30-day LIBOR or (b) 200 basis points. The interest rate under the $75 million uncommitted line is 30-day LIBOR plus 150 basis points. The interest rate under the second line is 30-day LIBOR plus 125 basis points.
Under the terms of these warehouse lines, LendingTree Loans is required to maintain various financial and other covenants. These financial covenants include, but are not limited to, maintaining (i) minimum levels of tangible net worth, cash on hand with a certain lender and liquid assets, (ii) a maximum ratio of total liabilities to net worth and (iii) pre-tax net income requirements on a quarterly basis. During the quarter ended March 31, 2009, LendingTree Loans was in compliance with the covenants under the lines in existence at that time. At March 31, 2009, there was $72.2 million outstanding under the committed lines of credit.
Under the new first line, LendingTree Loans is required to maintain (i) a minimum tangible net worth of $44.0 million, (ii) a minimum liquidity equal to 15% of LendingTree Loans' tangible net worth, inclusive of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents, the over/under balances and available draws from LendingTree Loans' warehouse or repurchase facilities, (iii) a maximum ratio of total liabilities to
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tangible net worth of 4:1 and (iv) pre-tax net income requirements on a quarterly basis. LendingTree Loans will also be required to sell at least 50% of the loans it originates to an affiliate of the lender under the first line or pay a "pair-off fee" of 37.5 basis points on the difference between the required and actual volume of loans sold.
Tree.com anticipates that it will need to make capital and other expenditures in connection with the development and expansion of its overall operations.
In connection with the completion of the spin-off, intercompany payable balances with IAC were extinguished and IAC transferred to Tree.com an amount of cash that was sufficient for its initial capitalization. Tree.com has considered its anticipated operating cash flows in 2009, cash and cash equivalents, current capacity under its warehouse lines of credit and access to capital markets, subject to restrictions in the tax sharing agreement, and believes that these are sufficient to fund its operating needs, including debt requirements, commitments and contingencies and capital and investing commitments for the foreseeable future.
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CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AND COMMERCIAL COMMITMENTS
Short-term borrowings
Purchase obligations(a)
Operating leases
Total contractual cash obligations
Seasonality
Tree.com revenue is subject to the cyclical and seasonal trends of the U.S. housing market. Home sales typically rise during the spring and summer months and decline during the fall and winter months. Refinancing and home equity activity is principally driven by mortgage interest rates as well as real estate values. The broader cyclical trends in the mortgage and real estate markets have upset the usual seasonal trends.
New Accounting Pronouncements
Refer to Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements for a description of recent accounting pronouncements.
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TREE.COM'S PRINCIPLES OF FINANCIAL REPORTING
Tree.com reports Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization ("EBITDA") as a supplemental measure to GAAP. This measure is one of the primary metrics by which Tree.com evaluates the performance of its businesses, on which its internal budgets are based and by which management is compensated. Tree.com believes that investors should have access to the same set of tools that it uses in analyzing its results. This non-GAAP measure should be considered in addition to results prepared in accordance with GAAP, but should not be considered a substitute for or superior to GAAP results. Tree.com provides and encourages investors to examine the reconciling adjustments between the GAAP and non-GAAP measure which are discussed below.
Definition of Tree.com's Non-GAAP Measures
EBITDA is defined as operating income excluding, if applicable: (1) depreciation expense, (2) gain/loss on disposal of assets, (3) non-cash compensation expense, (4) amortization and impairment of intangibles, (5) goodwill impairment, (6) pro forma adjustments for significant acquisitions, and (7) one-time items. Tree.com believes this measure is useful to investors because it represents the operating results from the Tree.com Businesses, but excludes the effects of these non-cash expenses. EBITDA has certain limitations in that it does not take into account the impact to Tree.com's statement of operations of certain expenses, including depreciation, non-cash compensation, and acquisition-related accounting. Tree.com endeavors to compensate for the limitations of the non-GAAP measure presented by also providing the comparable GAAP measure with equal or greater prominence and descriptions of the reconciling items, including quantifying such items, to derive the non-GAAP measure.
Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA, which is defined above, excluding (1) restructuring expenses and (2) proceeds from litigation settlements. Tree.com believes this measure is useful to investors because it represents the operating results from the Tree.com Businesses, but excludes the effects of the expenses. Adjusted EBITDA has certain limitations in that it does not take into account the impact to Tree.com's statement of operations of certain expenses, including depreciation, non-cash compensation, and acquisition-related accounting. Tree.com endeavors to compensate for the limitations of the non-GAAP measure presented by also providing the comparable GAAP measure with equal or greater prominence and descriptions of the reconciling items, including quantifying such items, to derive the non-GAAP measure.
Pro Forma Results
Tree.com will only present EBITDA on a pro forma basis if it views a particular transaction as significant in size or transformational in nature. For the periods presented in this report, there are no transactions that Tree.com has included on a pro forma basis.
One-Time Items
EBITDA is presented before one-time items, if applicable. These items are truly one-time in nature and non-recurring, infrequent or unusual, and have not occurred in the past two years or are not expected to recur in the next two years, in accordance with SEC rules. For the periods presented in this report, there are no one-time items.
Non-Cash Expenses That Are Excluded From Tree.com's Non-GAAP Measures
Non-cash compensation expense consists principally of expense associated with the grants, including unvested grants assumed in acquisitions, of restricted stock units and stock options. These expenses are not paid in cash, and Tree.com will include the related shares in its future calculations of fully diluted shares outstanding. Upon vesting of restricted stock units and the exercise of certain stock
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options, the awards will be settled, at Tree.com's discretion, on a net basis, with Tree.com remitting the required tax withholding amount from its current funds.
Amortization of intangibles is a non-cash expense relating primarily to acquisitions. At the time of an acquisition, the intangible assets of the acquired company, such as purchase agreements, technology and customer relationships, are valued and amortized over their estimated lives. Tree.com believes that since intangibles represent costs incurred by the acquired company to build value prior to acquisition, they were part of transaction costs.
RECONCILIATION OF EBITDA
For a reconciliation of EBITDA to operating income (loss) for Tree.com's operating segments for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, see Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements.
OTHER
REALTORS®—a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.
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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Interest Rate Risk
Tree.com's exposure to market rate risk for changes in interest rates relates primarily to LendingTree Loans' loans held for sale, interest rate lock commitments and lines of credit.
Loans Held for Sale and Interest Rate Lock Commitments
LendingTree Loans' mortgage banking operations expose the Company to interest rate risk for loans originated until those loans are sold in the secondary market ("loans held for sale"). The fair value of loans held for sale is subject to change primarily due to changes in market interest rates. LendingTree Loans hedges the changes in fair value of certain loans held for sale primarily by entering into mortgage forward delivery contracts. Although LendingTree Loans continues to enter into derivatives for risk management purposes, effective April 1, 2007 management determined these derivative instruments would no longer qualify for the hedge accounting provisions of SFAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities."
When hedge accounting was discontinued, the affected loans held for sale were no longer adjusted for changes in fair value. However, the changes in fair value of the derivative instruments continue to be recognized in current earnings as a component of revenue. For the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, the Company recognized losses of $0.3 million and $0.1 million, respectively, related to the changes in fair value of forward delivery contracts related to loans held for sale.
In addition, LendingTree Loans provides interest rate lock commitments ("IRLCs") to fund mortgage loans at interest rates previously agreed upon with the borrower for specified periods of time, which also expose it to interest rate risk. IRLCs are considered derivative instruments and, therefore, are recorded at fair value, with changes in fair value reflected in current period earnings. To manage the interest rate risk associated with the IRLCs, the Company uses derivative instruments, including mortgage forward delivery contracts.
On January 1, 2008, the Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 157, "Fair Value Measurements" ("SFAS No. 157"). Prior to the adoption of SFAS 157 the recognition of gains and losses at the inception of a derivative contract were prohibited unless the fair value of the contract was evidenced by a quoted price in an active market. As no active market exists for IRLCs, such day one gains and losses were not recognized until the related loan was sold. Prior to January 1, 2008, guidance also prohibited including the value of servicing the loan in calculating the fair value of an IRLC. Such guidance was rescinded by Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 109, "Written Loan Commitments Recorded at Fair Value Through Earnings" ("SAB 109"). Accordingly, with the adoption of SFAS No. 157 and SAB 109 on January 1, 2008, the day one gains and servicing value, adjusted by the loan funding probability, are included in the value of IRLCs. Prior to the adoption of SFAS No. 157 and SAB 109 the recognition of such day one gains and servicing value were prohibited and these gains were not recognized until realized through the sale of the related loans. This change in treatment, therefore, is only related to the timing of revenue recognition. The net change in the fair value of the IRLCs and related forward delivery contracts, including the impact of day one gains and servicing value, for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 resulted in gains of $28.6 million and $14.8 million, respectively, which have been recognized as a component of revenue in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
The fair values of derivative financial instruments at LendingTree Loans are impacted by movements in market interest rates. Changes in the fair value of the derivative financial instruments would substantially be offset by changes in the fair value of the items for which risk is being mitigated. As of March 31, 2009, if market interest rates had increased by 100 basis points, the aggregate fair value of the derivative financial instruments and the hedged items at LendingTree Loans would have
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decreased by $0.8 million. As of March 31, 2009, if market interest rates had decreased by 100 basis points, the aggregate fair value of the derivative financial instruments and the hedged items at LendingTree Loans would have increased by $0.4 million.
Item 4T. Controls and Procedures
We monitor and evaluate on an ongoing basis our disclosure controls and internal control over financial reporting in order to improve our overall effectiveness. In the course of this evaluation, we modify and refine our internal processes as conditions warrant.
As required by Rule 13a-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined by Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act). Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that as of the end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective in providing reasonable assurance that information we are required to disclose in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission's rules and Forms, and include controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
As required by Rule 13a-15(d) of the Exchange Act, we, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, also evaluated whether any changes occurred to our internal control over financial reporting during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, such control. Based on that evaluation, there has been no such change during the quarter ended March 31, 2009.
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PART II OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
In the ordinary course of business, the Company and its subsidiaries are parties to litigation involving property, personal injury, contract, intellectual property and other claims. We included a discussion of certain legal proceedings in Part I, Item 3, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 (the "2008 Form 10-K"). During the quarter ended March 31, 2009, other than as described below, there were no material developments to the proceedings disclosed in the 2008 Form 10-K and no new material legal proceedings.
Richardson v. Home Loan Center, Inc., No. 07CC01337 (Cal. Super. Ct., Orange Cty.); Johanson v. Home Loan Center, Inc., No. 07CC01405 (Cal. Super. Ct., Orange Cty.); D'Asero v. Home Loan Center, Inc., No. SACV08-384 (U.S. Dist. Ct., C.D. Cal.). Pursuant to the court's final approval of the class settlement on April 15, 2009, the Company paid $2.4 million to settle these claims.
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Item 1A. Risk Factors
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains "forward looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The use of words such as "anticipates," "estimates," "expects," "projects," "intends," "plans" and "believes," among others, generally identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements relating to: the adequacy of our current warehouse lines for our current operations and our ability to operate our LendingTree Loans business at a reduced capacity if we were to lose one of these lines; our belief that an unfavorable resolution of legal claims against us will not have a material impact on the liquidity, results of operations or financial condition of Tree.com; our belief that we will not incur significant additional costs related to our restructuring activities; our belief that we will need to make capital and other expenditures in connection with the development and expansion of our overall operations; and our belief that our sources of liquidity are sufficient to fund our operating needs, including debt requirements, commitments and contingencies and capital and investing commitments for the foreseeable future. These forward-looking statements also include statements related to: Tree.com's anticipated financial performance; Tree.com's business prospects and strategy; anticipated trends and prospects in the various industries in which Tree.com businesses operate; new products, services and related strategies; and other similar matters. These forward looking statements are based on management's current expectations and assumptions about future events, which are inherently subject to uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict.
Actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward looking statements included in this report for a variety of reasons, including, among others, the risk factors set forth below and described in our 2008 Form 10-K. Other unknown or unpredictable factors that could also adversely affect Tree.com's business, financial condition and results of operations may arise from time to time. In light of these risks and uncertainties, the forward looking statements discussed in this report may not prove to be accurate. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward looking statements, which only reflect the views of Tree.com management as of the date of this report. Tree.com does not undertake to update these forward-looking statements.
Other than the factor set forth below, there have been no material changes to the risk factors included in Part I, Item 1A, of the 2008 Form 10-K.
Adverse Events and Trends—Adverse conditions in the credit markets could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The credit markets, in particular those financial institutions that provide warehouse financing and similar arrangements to mortgage lenders, have been experiencing unprecedented and continued disruptions resulting from instability in the mortgage and housing markets. Our Lending Business originates, processes, approves and funds various consumer mortgage loans through HLC, which operates primarily under the brand name "LendingTree Loans®." These direct lending operations have significant financing needs that are currently being met through borrowings under warehouse lines of credit or repurchase agreements to fund and close loans, followed by the sale of substantially all loans funded to investors in the secondary mortgage markets. Current credit market conditions, such as significantly reduced and limited availability of credit, increased credit risk premiums for certain market participants and increased interest rates generally, increase the cost and reduce the availability of debt and may continue for a prolonged period of time or worsen in the future.
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One of these lines expired on April 30, 2009 and has been replaced by a new $50 million committed line of credit ("the first line"). The first line is scheduled to expire on April 30, 2010, but can be cancelled at the option of the lender without default upon sixty days notice. The second line is scheduled to expire on December 30, 2009, however, that lender has indicated it is exiting the warehouse lending business and will honor the existing contract only through the stated term. The first line includes an additional uncommitted credit facility of $75 million. The first line is also guaranteed by Tree.com, Inc., LendingTree, LLC and LendingTree Holdings, Inc.
Under the new first line, LendingTree Loans is required to maintain (i) a minimum tangible net worth of $44.0 million, (ii) a minimum liquidity equal to 15% of LendingTree Loans' tangible net worth, inclusive of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents, the over/under balances and available draws from LendingTree Loans' warehouse or repurchase facilities, (iii) a maximum ratio of total liabilities to tangible net worth of 4:1 and (iv) pre-tax net income requirements on a quarterly basis. LendingTree Loans will also be required to sell at least 50% of the loans it originates to an affiliate of the lender under the first line or pay a "pair-off fee" of 37.5 basis points on the difference between the required and actual volume of loans sold.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
On February 9, 2009, the Company's Chairman and CEO agreed to purchase from the Company 935,000 newly issued shares of unregistered restricted common stock at $3.91 per share, based on the Friday, February 6, 2009 closing share price. The shares of common stock have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. The shares were purchased in two increments of 467,500 shares each on February 16, 2009 and April 9, 2009. Aggregate proceeds from the sale of $3.7 million will be used to fund general corporate operations. These shares were issued in a private placement in reliance upon Section 4(2) under the Securities Act of 1933.
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Item 6. Exhibits
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements 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.
Date: May 7, 2009
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EXHIBIT INDEX
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