Champion Homes - 10-Q quarterly report FY

 

(Mark One)

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “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 Act).o Yes þ No

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position as of February 28, 2009, in addition to the consolidated results of operations and consolidated cash flows for the three-month and nine-month periods ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008. Due to the seasonal nature of the Corporation’s business, interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire year.

The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations for reporting on Form 10-Q. Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures normally accompanying the annual consolidated financial statements have been omitted. The audited consolidated balance sheet as of May 31, 2008 and the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Corporation’s latest annual report on Form 10-K.

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined under the first-in, first-out method. Physical inventory counts are taken at the end of each reporting quarter.

Total inventories consist of the following:

The Corporation provides the retail purchaser of its manufactured homes with a full fifteen-month warranty against defects in design, materials and workmanship. Recreational vehicles are covered by a one-year warranty. The warranties are backed by service departments located at the Corporation’s manufacturing facilities and an extensive field service system.

Estimated warranty costs are accrued at the time of sale based upon current sales, historical experience and management’s judgment regarding anticipated rates of warranty claims. The adequacy of the recorded warranty liability is periodically assessed and the amount is adjusted as necessary.

A reconciliation of accrued warranty and related expenses is as follows:

The Corporation was contingently liable at February 28, 2009 under purchase agreements with certain financial institutions providing inventory financing for retailers of its products.

Under these arrangements, which are customary in the manufactured housing and recreational vehicle industries, the Corporation agrees to repurchase units in the event of default by the retailer at declining prices over the term of the agreement, generally 12 months.

The maximum repurchase liability is the total amount that would be paid upon the default of the Corporation’s independent dealers. The maximum potential repurchase liability, without reduction for the resale value of the repurchased units, was approximately $46 million at February 28, 2009 and approximately $70 million at May 31, 2008.

The risk of loss under these agreements is spread over many retailers and financial institutions. The loss, if any, under these agreements is the difference between the repurchase cost and the resale value of the units.

The Corporation believes that any potential loss under the agreements in effect at February 28, 2009 will not be material to its financial position or results of operations.

The amounts of obligations from repurchased units and incurred net losses for the periods presented are as follows:

The Corporation is a party to various pending legal proceedings in the normal course of business. Management believes that any losses resulting from such proceedings would not have a material adverse effect on the Corporation’s results of operations or financial position.

Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

The Corporation has also determined that the adoption of any other recently issued accounting standard is not expected to have a material impact on its future financial condition or results of operation.

The Corporation designs, produces and distributes manufactured housing (single-section homes, multi-section homes and modular homes) and towable recreational vehicles (travel trailers, fifth wheels and park models). The percentage allocation of manufactured housing and recreational vehicle sales is:

Total operating loss represents operating losses before interest income and benefit for income taxes with non-traceable operating expenses being allocated to industry segments based on percentages of sales. General corporate expenses are not allocated to the industry segments.

The Corporation designs, produces and distributes manufactured housing (single-section, multi-section and modular homes) and towable recreational vehicles (travel trailers, fifth wheels and park models) to independent dealers and manufactured housing communities located throughout the United States (U.S.). To better serve the needs of its dealers and communities, the Corporation has fifteen manufacturing facilities in ten states. Manufactured housing and recreational vehicles are sold to dealers and communities either through floor plan financing with various financial institutions or on a cash basis. While the Corporation maintains production of manufactured homes and recreational vehicles throughout the year, seasonal fluctuations in sales do occur. Sales and production of manufactured homes are affected by winter weather conditions at the Corporation’s northern plants. Recreational vehicle sales are generally higher in the spring and summer months than in the fall and winter months.

Sales in both business segments are affected by the strength of the U.S. economy, interest rate levels, consumer confidence and the availability of wholesale and retail financing. The manufactured housing segment is currently affected by a continuing decline in industry sales. In recent years industry sales, as published by the Manufactured Housing Institute, decreased as follows:

This decline, caused primarily by the current economic recession, rising unemployment, decreasing consumer confidence and tightening credit markets for both retail and wholesale financing resulted in calendar 2008 industry sales of approximately 82,000 units, the lowest on record.

Tightening credit markets for retail and wholesale financing has become a significant challenge for the manufactured housing industry. According to the Manufactured Housing Institute, a lack of retail financing options and restrictive credit standards has affected manufactured home buyers for the last decade. This problem was magnified in 2008 as the “credit crunch” forced more manufactured home personal property lenders out of business, and compelled others to scale back originations. Many mortgage insurance providers also ceased offering policies on manufactured home loans. These factors, in addition to a further restricting of credit standards, resulted in fewer retail loan approvals and fewer manufactured home shipments.

Manufactured housing shipments were also hindered by a significant decline in available inventory financing. According to the Manufactured Housing Institute, in the fourth quarter of 2008 three national floor plan lenders announced plans to scale back their support for industry dealers. In addition, a January 2009 survey of HUD-Code dealers revealed that 60 percent of dealers lost at least one source of floor plan lending. Among dealers that lost a floor plan lending source, 70 percent had not secured a replacement.

Manufactured housing shipments are also negatively impacted by a recession in the site-built housing industry. The site-built housing industry is currently experiencing declining existing home sales, housing starts and home prices. In addition, the industry is also hindered by increasing home foreclosures.

In the recreational vehicle segment, the Corporation sells travel trailers, fifth wheels and park models. Sales of recreational vehicles are influenced by changes in consumer confidence, the availability of retail financing and gasoline prices. In recent years industry sales of travel trailers and fifth wheels, as published by the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association, declined as follows:

This decrease is the result of the economic recession, decreasing consumer confidence, tightening credit markets for retail and wholesale financing, excess inventory of new recreational vehicles, recreational vehicle dealers purchasing repossessed units, and rising gasoline prices throughout most of 2008.

As a result of declining market conditions, the Corporation took the following actions during the first three quarters of fiscal 2009:

The Corporation encountered a challenging business environment in the first three quarters of fiscal 2009, and it cannot determine with certainty the business environment for the remainder of the fiscal year and for fiscal 2010. This environment includes the Manufactured Housing Institute estimating industry sales for calendar 2009 at approximately 73,000 units. The Recreational Vehicle Industry Association forecasts travel trailer and fifth wheel unit sales at approximately 105,000 in calendar 2009.

Despite a calendar 2009 forecast of 73,000 units for the manufactured housing industry, the Manufactured Housing Institute reports that recent legislative actions could have a favorable impact on industry sales. The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA) contains provisions that will facilitate changes to the Federal Housing Administration’s Title I Insurance Program. This program insures manufactured housing personal property loans, and in 2009 the loan limits increase from $48,600 to $69,678. HERA also imposed on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac a “Duty to Serve” the manufactured housing industry, where both companies will be compelled to become more involved in funding manufactured housing loans. Beginning in 2010, both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will be evaluated yearly on whether or not this obligation is met. Finally, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 contains a tax credit up to $8,000 that applies to any purchase of a primary residence by a first-time home buyer through the end of 2009.

The Recreational Vehicle Industry Association reports that although travel trailer and fifth wheel unit sales are estimated at approximately 105,000 for calendar 2009, population trends continue to favor recreational vehicle sales. Baby-boomers continue to enter the age range where recreational vehicle ownership is the highest. By the end of this decade, the number of consumers aged 50 to 64 will total 57 million, 38 percent higher than in 2000.

The Corporation is actively reviewing ways to decrease expenses and improve processes, communicating with dealers and communities to take advantage of sales opportunities, and positioning its products to be competitive in the marketplace. With a healthy position in cash and U.S. Treasury Bills, no bank debt, and experienced employees, the Corporation is prepared to meet the challenges ahead.

Manufactured housing unit sales decreased approximately 54 percent, while the industry from November 2008 to January 2009, the latest three-month period available, decreased approximately 35 percent. In certain geographic markets, such as Florida and Oklahoma, unit sales declined at a greater rate than the overall industry. Adverse conditions that affected the Corporation’s unit sales include:

In addressing these conditions, the Corporation is working with the communities as they manage inventory levels, and developing product with lower price points that will meet consumer demand.

Recreational vehicle unit sales decreased approximately 63 percent, while the industry from November 2008 to January 2009, the latest three-month period available, decreased approximately 71 percent. Current industry unit sales data for park models is not available.

Manufactured housing and recreational vehicle cost of sales decreased due to less sales volume and the variable nature of many of the direct manufacturing costs. As a percentage of sales, cost of sales increased as a result of certain manufacturing overhead costs such as depreciation, property taxes and manufacturing salaries remaining relatively constant despite lower sales. In addition, the Corporation incurred during fiscal 2009 approximately $120,000 in manufacturing costs associated with the consolidation of the two manufactured housing facilities in Ocala, Florida.

Selling and administrative expenses decreased due to a decrease in salaries, performance based compensation, and a continuing effort to control costs. As a percentage of sales, selling and administrative expenses increased due to certain costs being fixed. In addition, approximately $400,000 in severance costs was incurred for personnel at both the Corporation’s headquarters and manufacturing facilities. This reduction in personnel is estimated to yield an annualized savings of $900,000.

The operating loss for manufactured housing was primarily due to the impact of decreased sales on the components of loss as noted above. This segment was also negatively affected by single-section unit sales increasing from 27 percent, as a percentage of segment sales, in the third quarter of fiscal 2008 to 34 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2009. Single-section homes have lower margins as compared to multi-section homes. In addition, this segment received a larger proportion of certain operating expenses allocated to industry segments based on a percentage of sales. Manufactured housing sales were approximately 73 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2009 as compared to 67 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2008. The consolidation of the two Ocala facilities, the severance of personnel at other manufactured housing facilities, and the severance of personnel at the Corporate headquarters also had an adverse effect on operating results.

The operating loss for recreational vehicles increased primarily due to the impact of decreased sales on the components of earnings as noted above.

The increase in general corporate expenses occurred primarily due to a change in the prior year in the discount rate used to value the Corporation’s liability for retirement and death benefits.

In the third quarter of fiscal 2009, the Corporation sold an idle recreational vehicle facility in McMinnville, Oregon. The sale resulted in a pre-tax gain of $3,396,000. In the same period of fiscal year 2008, the Corporation sold an idle manufactured housing facility located in Goshen, Indiana. The sale resulted in a pre-tax gain of $670,000.

Interest income is directly related to the amount available for investment and the prevailing yields of U.S. Government Securities. In the third quarter of fiscal 2009, the average amount available for investment was approximately $97 million with a weighted average yield of 0.5 percent. In the third quarter of fiscal 2008, the average amount available for investment was approximately $113 million with a weighted average yield of 3.7 percent.

The benefit for federal income taxes approximates the statutory rate and for state income taxes reflects current state rates effective for the period based upon activities within the taxable entities. The benefit for federal and state income tax is the result of pretax losses that occurred in the third quarter of fiscal 2009 and 2008.

Manufactured housing unit sales decreased approximately 38 percent, while the industry from May 2008 to January 2009, the latest nine-month period available, decreased approximately 22 percent. In certain geographic markets, such as Florida and Oklahoma, unit sales declined at a greater rate than the overall industry. Adverse conditions that affected the Corporation’s unit sales include:

In addressing these conditions, the Corporation is working with the communities as they manage inventory levels, and developing product with lower price points that will meet consumer demand.

Recreational vehicle unit sales decreased approximately 47 percent, while the industry from May 2008 to January 2009, the latest nine-month period available, decreased approximately 44 percent. Current industry unit sales data for park models is not available.

Manufactured housing and recreational vehicle cost of sales decreased due to less sales volume and the variable nature of many of the direct manufacturing costs. As a percentage of sales, cost of sales increased as a result of certain manufacturing overhead costs such as depreciation, property taxes and manufacturing salaries remaining relatively constant despite lower sales. In addition, the Corporation incurred manufacturing costs associated with the consolidation of the two manufactured housing facilities in Ocala, Florida, and the consolidation of the two Pennsylvania manufactured housing facilities in the first quarter of fiscal 2009.

Selling and administrative expenses decreased due to a decrease in salaries, performance based compensation, and a continuing effort to control costs. As a percentage of sales, selling and administrative expenses increased due to certain costs being fixed.

In addition, severance costs were incurred in the third quarter for personnel at both the Corporation’s headquarters and manufacturing facilities, yielding an estimated annualized savings of $900,000. Severance costs were also incurred in the first quarter for personnel at the Corporation’s Pennsylvania and Florida manufactured housing facilities. The costs associated with the Pennsylvania and Florida facilities totaled approximately $300,000.

The operating loss for manufactured housing was primarily due to the impact of decreased sales on the components of earnings as noted above. This segment was also negatively affected by single-section unit sales increasing from 25 percent, as a percentage of segment sales, in the first three quarters of fiscal 2008 to 33 percent in the first three quarters of fiscal 2009. Single-section homes have lower margins as compared to multi-section homes. The consolidation of the two Ocala facilities and the two Pennsylvania facilities, in addition to the severance of personnel at other manufactured housing facilities and at the Corporate office, also had an adverse effect on operating results.

The operating loss for recreational vehicles increased primarily due to the impact of decreased sales on the components of earnings as noted above.

The Corporation has arrangements with certain employees which provide benefits to be paid to the employee’s estates in the event of death during active employment. To fund such arrangements, the Corporation purchased life insurance contracts on the covered employees.

The Corporation realized non-taxable income from life insurance proceeds in the amount of $380,000, which is separately stated in the Consolidated Statement of Operations and Retained Earnings for the nine-month period ended February 28, 2009.

In the third quarter of fiscal 2009, the Corporation sold an idle recreational vehicle facility in McMinnville, Oregon. The sale resulted in a pre-tax gain of $3,396,000. In the same period of fiscal year 2008, the Corporation sold an idle manufactured housing facility located in Goshen, Indiana. The sale resulted in a pre-tax gain of $670,000.

Interest income is directly related to the amount available for investment and the prevailing yields of U.S. Government Securities. In the first nine months of fiscal 2009, the average amount available for investment was approximately $98 million with a weighted average yield of 1.6 percent. In the first nine months of fiscal 2008, the average amount available for investment was approximately $114 million with a weighted average yield of 4.3 percent.

The benefit provision for federal income taxes approximates the statutory rate and for state income taxes reflects current state rates effective for the period based upon activities within the taxable entities. The benefit for federal and state income tax is the result of pretax losses that occurred in the first nine months of fiscal 2009 and 2008.

The Corporation’s policy is to invest its excess cash, which exceeds its operating needs, in U.S. Government Securities. Cash and U.S. Treasury Bills decreased due to a net loss of $13,069,000 and payment of $4,531,000 in dividends. Current assets, exclusive of cash and U.S. Treasury Bills, declined primarily due to a decrease in accounts receivable of $12,829,000. This decrease is attributed to lower sales in February 2009 as compared to May 2008.

Current liabilities decreased due to a $2,684,000 decline in accounts payable, caused primarily by lower sales occurring in February 2009 as compared to May 2008.

Capital expenditures totaled $1,144,000 for the nine months ended February 28, 2009 as compared to $1,601,000 in the comparable period of the previous year. Capital expenditures were made primarily to replace or refurbish machinery and equipment in addition to improving manufacturing efficiencies. The Corporation began in the third quarter of fiscal 2009 a project to implement an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. The project is expected to last until mid-fiscal 2012, and the cost is to be paid out of the Corporation’s normal budget for capital expenditures. The amount of capital expended for this project through February 28, 2009 is approximately $300,000. The goal of the ERP system is to obtain better decision-making information, better react to market conditions, and lower the Corporation’s technology costs.

The cash provided by operating activities, along with current cash and U.S. Treasury Bills, is expected to be adequate to fund any capital expenditures and treasury stock purchases during the year. Historically, the Corporation’s financing needs have been met through funds generated internally.

The provision for federal income taxes in each year approximates the statutory rate and for state income taxes reflects current state rates effective for the period based upon activities within the taxable entities.

The consolidated financial statements included in this report reflect transactions in the dollar values in which they were incurred and, therefore, do not attempt to measure the impact of inflation. On a long-term basis, the Corporation has demonstrated an ability to adjust selling prices in reaction to changing costs due to inflation. During the first quarter of fiscal 2009, however, the Corporation was unable to increase its selling prices on its manufactured housing product to cover an increase in material costs during that period. Increased selling prices were realized during the second and third quarters.

Certain statements in this report are considered forward looking as indicated by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve uncertainties that may cause actual results to materially differ from expectations as of the report date. These uncertainties include but are not limited to:

The Corporation invests in United States Government Securities. These securities are held until maturity and are therefore classified as held-to-maturity and carried at amortized cost. Changes in interest rates do not have a significant effect on the fair value of these investments.

As of February 28, 2009, the Corporation conducted an evaluation, under the supervision and participation of management including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).

Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective for the period ended February 28, 2009.

No change in the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f)) occurred during the third quarter ended February 28, 2009 that materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting.

Information with respect to this Item for the period covered by this Form 10-Q has been reported in Item 3, entitled “Legal Proceedings” of the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2008 filed by the registrant with the Commission.

As noted in Part I. Item 2, manufactured housing sales were negatively affected by vertically integrated competitors, manufactured housing communities buying fewer homes in order to manage its existing inventory, and consumer demand shifting toward lower priced models. In addition, retail customers and independent dealers are having difficulty obtaining financing to purchase product. The Corporation is also affected by vendors remaining in business, where a reduction in vendors impacts the availability and cost of its raw materials. Continuation of these events could have a negative impact on the Corporation’s sales, operating results, financial position and cash flows.

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.