UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section
14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.
)
Filed by the Registrant
[x]
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[_]
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box:
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Statement
[_] Confidential, For Use of the
Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[x] Definitive
Proxy Statement
[_] Definitive Additional Materials
[_]
Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12
HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES,
INC.
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(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)
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appropriate box):
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[_] Fee computed on table below per
Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
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of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
____________________________________________________________________________________
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the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
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Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form
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HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES,
INC. |
February 19, 2008
Dear Shareholder:
You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which will be held on Monday, March 31, 2008, at the offices of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, 425 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10017. The meeting will start promptly at 10:30 a.m.
In accordance with the new Securities and Exchange Commission rule allowing companies to furnish proxy materials to their shareholders over the Internet, the Company is now primarily furnishing proxy materials to our shareholders of Class A Common Stock and registered shareholders of Class B Common Stock on the Internet, rather than mailing paper copies of the materials (including our Annual Report to Shareholders for fiscal 2007) to each shareholder. We believe that this new e-proxy process will expedite our shareholders receipt of proxy materials, lower costs, and reduce the environmental impact of our annual meeting. If you received only a Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials (the Notice) by mail or electronic mail, you will not receive a paper copy of these proxy materials unless you request one. Instead, the Notice will instruct you as to how you may access and review the proxy materials on the Internet. The Notice will also instruct you as to how you may access your proxy card to vote over the Internet, by telephone or by mail. If you received a Notice by mail or electronic mail and would like to receive a paper copy of our proxy materials, free of charge, please follow the instructions included in the Notice.
We anticipate that the Notice will be mailed to our shareholders on or about February 19, 2008, and will be sent by electronic mail to our shareholders who have opted for such means of delivery on or about February 21, 2008.
All shareholders of record of Class B Common Stock who hold in nominee name have been sent a full set of proxy materials, including a proxy card. As in the past, shareholders of record of Class B Common Stock held in nominee name will only be able to vote by returning the enclosed proxy card in the envelope provided for this purpose or by voting in person at the Companys 2008 Annual Meeting.
Attached to this letter is a Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement, which describes the business to be conducted at the meeting. We will also report on matters of current interest to our shareholders.
It is important that your shares be represented and voted at the meeting. Therefore, we urge you to complete, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card or, if applicable, register your vote via the Internet or by telephone according to the instructions on the proxy card. If you attend the meeting, you may still choose to vote your shares personally even though you have previously designated a proxy.
We sincerely hope you will be able to attend and participate in the Companys 2008 Annual Meeting. We welcome the opportunity to meet with many of you and give you a firsthand report on the progress of your Company.
Sincerely yours, Kevork S. Hovnanian |
PROXY VOTING METHODS
If at the close of business on February 4, 2008, you were a shareholder of record or held shares through a broker or bank, you may vote your shares as described below or you may vote in person at the Annual Meeting. To reduce our administrative and postage costs, we would appreciate if shareholders of Class A Common Stock and registered shareholders of Class B Common Stock would please vote through the Internet or by telephone, both of which are available 24 hours a day. You may revoke your proxies at the times and in the manners described on page 1 of the Proxy Statement. If you are a shareholder of record or hold shares through a broker or bank and are voting by proxy, your vote must be received by 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) on March 30, 2008 to be counted unless otherwise noted below.
To vote by proxy:
Shareholders of Class A Common Stock and Registered Shareholders of Class B Common Stock:
BY INTERNET
BY TELEPHONE
BY MAIL
Shareholders of Record of Class B Common Stock held in Nominee Name
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. THANK YOU FOR VOTING.
HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC.
_____________________
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF
SHAREHOLDERS
FEBRUARY 19, 2008
_____________________
1. | The election of directors of the Company for the ensuing year, to serve until the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company, and until their respective successors may be elected and qualified; | ||
2. | The ratification of the selection of Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, to examine the financial statements of the Company for the year ending October 31, 2008; | ||
3. | The approval of the Companys amended and restated Senior Executive Short-Term Incentive Plan; | ||
4. | The approval of the Companys 2008 Stock Incentive Plan, which is intended to supersede and replace the Companys amended and restated 1999 Stock Incentive Plan; | ||
5. | The approval of the Companys amended and restated 1983 Stock Option Plan; and | ||
6. | The transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting and any adjournment thereof. |
By order of the Board of Directors, | |
PETER S. REINHART | |
Secretary | |
February 19, 2008 |
If you are a shareholder of record and you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, please mark the appropriate box on your proxy card or, if applicable, so indicate when designating a proxy via the Internet or by telephone. If your shares are held by a bank, broker or other intermediary and you plan to attend, please send written notice to Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., 110 West Front Street, P.O. Box 500, Red Bank, New Jersey 07701, Attention: Peter S. Reinhart, Secretary, and enclose evidence of your ownership (such as a letter from the bank, broker or other intermediary confirming your ownership or a bank or brokerage firm account statement). The names of all those planning to attend will be placed on an admission list held at the registration desk at the entrance to the meeting. If you do not plan to attend the Annual Meeting, please designate a proxy by mail or, if applicable, via the Internet or by telephone. If you choose to vote by mail, please complete, sign and date the enclosed proxy card and return it promptly so that your shares will be voted. If you have received a hard copy of the proxy materials, the enclosed envelope requires no postage if mailed in the United States. |
HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC.
110 WEST FRONT STREET
P.O. BOX
500
RED BANK, NEW JERSEY
07701
______________________
PROXY
STATEMENT
______________________
VOTING RIGHTS AND SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF
CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
Class A Common Stock (1) | Class B Common Stock (1) | Depositary Shares (1)(3) | ||||||||||||
Amount and | Amount and | Amount and | ||||||||||||
Directors, Nominees for Director, Certain | Nature of | Percent | Nature of | Percent | Nature of | Percent | ||||||||
Executive Officers, Directors and Executive | Beneficial | of | Beneficial | of | Beneficial | of | ||||||||
Officers as a Group and Holders of More Than 5% | Ownership | Class (2) | Ownership | Class (2) | Ownership | Class (2) | ||||||||
Kevork S. Hovnanian (4) | 7,419,810 | 15.50 | % | 12,276,319 | 83.81 | % | | | ||||||
Ara K. Hovnanian (5) | 5,464,989 | 10.99 | % | 1,376,415 | 9.16 | % | | | ||||||
Paul W. Buchanan (6) | 86,250 | 0.18 | % | | | | | |||||||
Robert B. Coutts | 7,737 | 0.02 | % | | | | | |||||||
Edward A. Kangas | 66,187 | 0.14 | % | | | | | |||||||
Joseph A. Marengi | 17,737 | 0.04 | % | | | | | |||||||
Peter S. Reinhart | 52,714 | 0.11 | % | | | 3,000 | 0.1 | % | ||||||
John J. Robbins | 55,293 | 0.12 | % | | | | | |||||||
J. Larry Sorsby | 360,552 | 0.75 | % | | | | | |||||||
Stephen D. Weinroth | 106,687 | 0.22 | % | 4,500 | .03 | % | | | ||||||
Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (7) | 2,783,890 | 5.91 | % | | | N/A | N/A | |||||||
Barclays Global Investors, NA. (8) | 3,059,667 | 6.42 | % | | | N/A | N/A | |||||||
Capital Group International, Inc. (9) | 3,903,900 | 8.2 | % | | | N/A | N/A | |||||||
EARNEST Partners, LLC (10) | 5,352,802 | 11.2 | % | | | N/A | N/A | |||||||
FMR Corp. (11) | 8,028,900 | 17.04 | % | | | N/A | N/A | |||||||
Franklin Mutual Advisors (12) | 2,556,220 | 5.4 | % | | | N/A | N/A | |||||||
State Street Bank and Trust Company (13) | 2,978,834 | 6.2 | % | | | N/A | N/A | |||||||
Tontine Management, L.L.C. | ||||||||||||||
and affiliates (14) | 3,041,777 | 6.38 | % | | | N/A | N/A | |||||||
All Directors and executive officers as a | ||||||||||||||
group (11 persons) | 13,664,595 | 27.27 | % | 13,657,234 | 90.84 | % | 3,000 | 0.1 | % |
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3
(1) ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
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Board of Directors
Year First Became | ||||||
Name | Age | Company Affiliation | a Director | |||
Kevork S. Hovnanian | 84 | Chairman of the Board & Director | 1967 | |||
Ara K. Hovnanian | 50 | President, Chief Executive Officer & Director | 1981 | |||
Robert B. Coutts | 57 | Director | 2006 | |||
Edward A. Kangas | 63 | Director | 2002 | |||
Joseph A. Marengi | 54 | Director | 2006 | |||
John J. Robbins | 68 | Director | 2001 | |||
J. Larry Sorsby | 52 | Executive Vice President, Chief Financial | 1997 | |||
Officer & Director | ||||||
Stephen D. Weinroth | 69 | Director | 1982 |
Mr. K. Hovnanian is the founder of the Company and has served as Chairman of the Board since its original incorporation in 1967. He served as Chief Executive Officer from 1967 through July 1997. In 1996, the New Jersey Institute of Technology awarded Mr. Hovnanian a Presidents Medal for Distinguished Achievement to an Outstanding Entrepreneur. In 1992, Mr. Hovnanian was granted one of five nationwide Harvard Dively Awards for Leadership in Corporate Public Initiatives. | ||
Mr. A. Hovnanian has been Chief Executive Officer since July 1997 after being appointed President in 1988 and Executive Vice President in 1983. Mr. A. Hovnanian joined the Company in 1979 and has been a Director of the Company since 1981. Mr. Hovnanian serves as Member of the Advisory Council of PNC Bank. Mr. A. Hovnanian is the son of Mr. K. Hovnanian. | ||
Mr. Coutts is an Executive Vice President of Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE). Mr. Coutts was President and COO of the former Electronics Sector of Lockheed Martin. He was elected an officer by the Board of Lockheed Martin in December 1996. Mr. Coutts held management positions with General Electric Corporation (NYSE) from 1972-1993, and was with GE Aerospace when it became part of Lockheed Martin in 1993. Mr. Coutts is a member of the boards of directors of several Lockheed Martin subsidiaries (LM Integrated Systems, Inc., LM United Kingdom, Sandia Corporation) and of The Stanley Works (NYSE). Mr. Coutts is also currently the CEO and Deputy Chairman of the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) Council of Trustees; and a member of the Board of Overseers, College of Engineering, Tufts University. He was elected Director of Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. in March 2006 and is a member of the Companys Compensation Committee. | ||
Mr. Kangas was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu from December 1989 to May 2000, when he retired. He also serves on the Boards of Electronic Data Systems, Inc. (NYSE), Eclipsys, Inc. (NASDAQ), Tenet Healthcare Corporation, Inc. (NYSE), and Intuit, Inc. (NASDAQ). Mr. Kangas is the immediate past Chairman of the Board of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Mr. Kangas was elected as a Director of the Company in September 2002, is Chairman of the Companys Audit Committee and a member of the Companys Compensation and Corporate Governance Committees. |
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Mr. Marengi, since July 2007, serves as a Venture Partner for Austin Ventures. Prior to that date, Mr. Marengi served as senior vice president for Dell Inc.s (NASDAQ) Commercial Business Group. In this role, Mr. Marengi was responsible for the Dell units serving medium business, large corporate, government, education and healthcare customers in the United States. Mr. Marengi joined Dell in July 1997 from Novell Inc. (NASDAQ), where he was president and chief operating officer. He joined Novell in 1989 and moved through successive promotions to become executive vice president of worldwide sales and field operations. He is also an outside Director for Quantum Corporation (NYSE). He was elected Director of Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. in March 2006 and is member of the Companys Corporate Governance Committee. | ||
Mr. Robbins was a managing partner of the New York Office of Kenneth Leventhal & Company and executive committee partner, retiring from the firm in 1992. He was made a partner of Kenneth Leventhal & Company in 1973. Mr. Robbins has been a Trustee of Keene Creditors Trust since 1996. He was Director and the Chairman of the Audit Committee of Raytech Corporation from May 2003 until March 2007, and a Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of Texas Petrochemicals Inc. since May 2006. Mr. Robbins was elected as a Director of the Company in January 2001, and is a member of the Companys Audit Committee. | ||
Mr. Sorsby has been Chief Financial Officer of the Company since 1996 and Executive Vice President since November 2000. From March 1991 to November 2000, he was Senior Vice President, and from March 1991 to July 2000, he was Treasurer. Mr. Sorsby was elected as a Director of the Company in 1997. | ||
Mr. Weinroth is a Managing Member of Hudson Capital Advisors, LLC, a private equity merchant banking firm. He is also Chairman of the Board of Cyalume Technologies, Inc., a manufacturer of military and safety equipment. From 1989 to 2003, he served as co-Chairman and head of the Investment Committee at First Britannia Mezzanine N.V., a European private investment firm. He is Chairman of the Board Emeritus of Core Laboratories, N.V. (NYSE), a global oil field service company where he had previously been Chairman of the Board. He has been Vice Chair of the Central Asian American Enterprise Fund, and is Vice Chairman of its successor the US Central Asia Education Foundation, and Chairman of the Board of The Joyce Theatre Foundation Inc., as well as a Trustee of the Horace Mann School. Mr. Weinroth has been a Director of the Company since 1982, is a member of the Companys Audit Committee, and Chairman of the Companys Compensation and Corporate Governance Committees. |
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VOTE REQUIRED
(2) RATIFICATION OF THE
SELECTION OF AN INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING
FIRM
VOTE REQUIRED
8
(3) APPROVAL OF THE
COMPANYS AMENDED AND RESTATED
SENIOR EXECUTIVE SHORT-TERM INCENTIVE
PLAN
(1) | extends the term of the Bonus Plan from its currently scheduled expiration date of March 5, 2009 to provide that the Bonus Plan will instead expire on the date of the Companys first shareholders meeting that occurs during 2013, such that no new Bonus Awards (as defined below) may be granted after such expiration date (although Bonus Awards granted prior to such expiration date will remain in effect and be subject to the terms of the Bonus Plan); and | ||
(2) | makes certain technical changes, clarifications and language improvements, including changes intended to address recent changes in tax laws related to deferred compensation arrangements and certain changes in accounting rules. |
Material Features of the
Bonus Plan
The following is a brief summary of the material features of the Bonus
Plan. Because this is only a summary, it does not contain all the information
about the Bonus Plan that may be important to you and is qualified in its
entirety to the full text of the Bonus Plan as set forth in Appendix A
hereto.
Purpose
The purpose of the Bonus Plan is to promote the interests of
the Company and its shareholders by providing incentives in the form of periodic
bonus awards (Bonus Awards) to certain senior executive employees of the
Company and its affiliates, thereby motivating such executives to attain
corporate performance goals set forth in the Bonus Plan while preserving for the
benefit of the Company and its subsidiaries the associated U.S. federal income
tax deduction under Section 162(m) of the Code. For the fiscal year ended
October 31, 2007, three senior executives were selected by the Compensation
Committee to participate in the Bonus Plan.
Administration
The Bonus Plan is administered by a committee of two or more
individuals who are each non-employee directors within the meaning of Rule
16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor
thereto, outside directors as defined under Section 162(m) of the Code and
independent directors within the meaning of the applicable rules, if any, of
any national securities exchange on which shares of common stock of the Company
are listed or admitted to trading, unless otherwise determined by the Companys
Board of Directors to act as such a committee (the Committee). The
Compensation Committee, or its delegate, may select senior executives of the
Company and its affiliates who are covered employees, as defined in Section
162(m) of the Code, or who the Company anticipates may be covered employees of
the Company and its subsidiaries (the Participants), to be granted Bonus
Awards under the Bonus Plan. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2007, three
covered employees were selected by the Committee to participate in the Bonus
Plan.
9
Effect of Certain Events on
Bonus Plan and Bonus
Awards
In the event of any change in the outstanding shares of common stock by
reason of any stock dividend or split, reorganization, recapitalization, merger,
consolidation, spin-off, combination or exchange of shares or other corporate
exchange or change in capital structure, any distribution to shareholders of
common stock other than regular cash dividends or any similar event, the
Committee in its sole discretion and without liability to any person shall make
such substitution or adjustment, if any, as it deems to be equitable, as to (i)
the number or kind of common stock or other securities that may be issued as set
forth in the Bonus Plan or pursuant to outstanding Bonus Awards and/or (ii) any
other affected terms of such Bonus Awards. Except as otherwise provided in a
Bonus Award agreement, in the event of a Change in Control (as defined in the
2008 Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan), the Committee in its
sole discretion and without liability to any person may take such actions, if
any, as it deems necessary or desirable with respect to any Bonus
Award.
Limitations
The Bonus Plan provides that the maximum Bonus Award to any
Participant with respect to any fiscal year shall be the greater of (x) $15
million or (y) 2.5% of the Companys income before income taxes, as
reported in the Companys audited consolidated financial statements for the year
in respect of which the Bonus Award is to be payable or distributed, as
applicable.
Amendment and
Termination
The Committee may at any time amend, suspend or terminate the Bonus Plan
in whole or in part. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment, suspension or
termination of the Bonus Plan shall be made which (i) without the Participants
consent, impairs any of the rights or obligations under any Bonus Award
theretofore granted to a Participant under the Bonus Plan, (ii) without the
approval of the shareholders of the Company (except upon the occurrence of the
event described above in Effect of Certain Events on Bonus Plan and Bonus
Awards) increases the total number of shares of common stock available for
issuance under the Bonus Plan or changes the maximum amount of any Bonus Award
which may be payable or distributed to any
10
Participant; provided, however, that the Committee may amend the Bonus Plan in such manner as it deems necessary to permit the granting of bonus awards meeting the requirements of the Code or other applicable laws.
Nontransferability of Bonus
Awards
A Participants rights and interest under the Bonus Plan generally may
not be assigned, transferred, hypothecated or encumbered, except in the event of
a Participants death. No Bonus Award under the Bonus Plan will be construed as
giving any employee a right to continued employment with the Company or its
affiliates.
Participants of the Bonus
Plan
For the fiscal year ending October 31, 2008, three Participants have been
selected by the Committee to participate in the Bonus Plan (three Participants
in the Executive Officers Group, no Participants in the Non-Executive Director
Group, and no Participants in the Non-Executive Officer Employee Group). The
following table sets forth information on Bonus Awards that would be
received for the year ending October 31, 2008 based on the written
performance goals for the Participants for fiscal 2008 and financial
results for the year ended October 31, 2007.
Senior Executive Short-Term Incentive Plan Bonus Awards
Restricted Stock | |||
Bonus Awards | Awards; Dollar Value | ||
Name And Position | Dollar Value (1) | ($) (Aggregate) (2) | |
Kevork S. Hovnanian, Chairman of the Board | | | |
Ara K. Hovnanian, President and Chief Executive Officer | | | |
J. Larry Sorsby, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | | | |
Paul W. Buchanan, Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer | N/A | N/A | |
Peter S. Reinhart, Senior Vice President and General Counsel | N/A | N/A | |
Executive Officer Group | | | |
Non-Executive Director Group | N/A | N/A | |
Non-Executive Officer Employees Group | N/A | N/A |
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(4) APPROVAL OF THE 2008
HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC.
STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
Material Features of the 2008
Plan
The following is a brief summary of the material features of the 2008
Plan. Because this is only a summary, it does not contain all the information
about the 2008 Plan that may be important to you and is qualified in its
entirety to the full text of the 2008 Plan as set forth in Appendix B
hereto.
Purpose
The purpose of the 2008 Plan is to aid the Company and its
affiliates in recruiting and retaining key employees, directors and consultants
of outstanding ability and to motivate those employees, directors and
consultants to exert their best efforts on behalf of the Company and its
affiliates by providing incentives through the granting of Awards, which
consist of options, stock appreciation rights or other stock-based Awards
(including performance-based Awards) granted pursuant to the 2008 Plan (and
including, without limitation, Awards granted under the 1999 Plan). All
employees, directors and consultants of the Company and its affiliates are
eligible to participate in the 2008 Plan if they are selected by the
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the Committee) to
participate in the 2008 Plan (any such individual, a Participant). For the
fiscal year ended October 31, 2007, approximately 290 employees, five
directors (includes non-employee directors only), and no consultants were
selected by the Committee to participate in the 1999 Plan (which the 2008 Plan
is intended to supersede and replace).
12
Effect of Certain Events on
2008 Plan and Awards
In the event of any change in the outstanding shares of common
stock by reason of any stock dividend or split, reorganization,
recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination or exchange of
shares or other corporate exchange or change in capital structure, any
distribution to shareholders of common stock other than regular cash dividends
or any similar event, the Committee in its sole discretion and without liability
to any person shall make such substitution or adjustment, if any, as it deems to
be equitable, as to (i) the number or kind of common stock or other securities
that may be issued as set forth in the 2008 Plan or pursuant to outstanding
Awards, (ii) the option price, (iii) the maximum number or amount of Awards that
may be granted to a Participant during a fiscal year and/or (iv) any other
affected terms of such Awards. Except as otherwise
13
provided in an Award agreement, in the event of a Change in Control (as defined in the 2008 Plan), the Committee in its sole discretion and without liability to any person may take such actions, if any, as it deems necessary or desirable with respect to any Award.
Amendment and
Termination
The Committee may amend, alter or discontinue the 2008 Plan, but no
amendment, alteration or discontinuation shall be made which, (a) without the
approval of the shareholders of the Company, would (except as provided in the
2008 Plan in connection with adjustments in certain corporate events), increase
the total number of shares of common stock of the Company reserved for the
purposes of the 2008 Plan or change the maximum number of shares of common stock
of the Company for which Awards may be granted to any Participant or (b) without
the consent of a Participant, would impair any of the rights or obligations
under any Award theretofore granted to such Participant under the 2008 Plan;
provided, however, that the Committee may amend the 2008 Plan in such manner as
it deems necessary to permit the granting of Awards meeting the requirements of
the Code or other applicable laws. The Committee may not amend, alter or
discontinue the provisions relating to a Change in Control (as defined in the
2008 Plan) after the occurrence of a Change in Control.
Nontransferability of
Awards
Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, an Award shall not be
transferable or assignable by the Participant otherwise than by will or by the
laws of descent and distribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to
the conditions stated in the 2008 Plan, a Participant may transfer an option
(other than an option that is also an incentive stock option granted pursuant to
the 2008 Plan) in whole or in part by gift or domestic relations order to a
family member of the Participant.
Certain United States Federal Income Tax Consequences
14
Restricted
Stock
Unless an election is made by the Participant under Section 83(b) of the
Code, the grant of an Award of restricted stock will have no immediate tax
consequences to the Participant. Generally, upon the lapse of restrictions (as
determined by the applicable restricted stock agreement between the Participant
and the Company), a Participant will recognize ordinary income in an amount
equal to the product of (i) the fair market value of a share of common stock of
the Company on the date an which the restrictions lapse, less any amount paid
with respect to the Award of restricted stock, multiplied by (ii) the number of
shares of restricted stock with respect to which restrictions lapse on such
date. The Participants tax basis will be equal to the sum of the amount of
ordinary income recognized upon the lapse of restrictions and any amount paid
for such restricted stock. The Participants holding period will commence on the
date on which the restrictions lapse.
Stock
Units
A Participant to whom a restricted stock unit (RSU) is granted
generally will not recognize income at the time of grant (although the
Participant may become subject to employment taxes when the right to receive
shares becomes vested due to retirement eligibility or otherwise). Upon
delivery of shares of common stock of the Company in respect of an RSU, a
Participant will recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the product of
(i) the fair market value of a share of common stock of the Company on the
date on which the common stock of the Company is delivered, multiplied by (ii)
the number of shares of common stock of the Company delivered.
Other Stock-based
Awards
With respect to other stock-based Awards paid in cash or common stock,
Participants will generally recognize income equal to the fair market value of
the Award on the date on which the Award is delivered to the
recipient.
Code Section
409A
The American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 introduced a new section of the
Code (Section 409A) covering certain nonqualified deferred compensation
arrangements. Section 409A generally establishes new rules that must be followed
with respect to covered deferred compensation arrangements in order to avoid the
imposition of an additional 20% tax (plus interest) upon the service provider
who is entitled to receive the deferred compensation. Certain Awards that may be
granted under the 2008 Plan may constitute deferred compensation within the
meaning of and subject to Section 409A. While the Committee intends to
administer
15
and operate the 2008 Plan and establish terms (or make required amendments) with respect to Awards subject to Section 409A in a manner that will avoid the imposition of additional taxation under Section 409A upon a Participant, there can be no assurance that additional taxation under Section 409A will be avoided in all cases. In the event the Company is required to delay delivery of shares or any other payment under an Award in order to avoid the imposition of an additional tax under Section 409A, the Company will deliver such shares (or make such payment) on the first day that would not result in the Participant incurring any tax liability under Section 409A. The Committee may amend the 2008 Plan and outstanding Awards to preserve the intended benefits of Awards granted under the 2008 Plan and to avoid the imposition of an additional tax under Section 409A of the Code.
General
Ordinary income recognized by virtue of the exercise of
non-qualified options, the lapse of restrictions on restricted stock or RSUs or
payments made in cash or shares of common stock of the Company is subject to
applicable tax withholding as required by law.
Participants of the 2008
Plan
For the fiscal year ending October 31, 2008, approximately 275
employees, five directors (includes non-employee directors only), and no
consultants have been selected by the Committee to participate in the
1999 Plan (which the 2008 Plan is intended to supersede and replace).
The following table sets forth information on
Awards granted under the 1999 Plan in fiscal 2008. Other than as set forth in
the table below, no Awards have yet been made under the 1999 Plan for
fiscal 2008.
1999 Stock Incentive
Plan
(Stock awards for the year ending
October 31, 2008)
Number of Shares of | |||||
Dollar Value | Class A Common Stock | ||||
Name and Position | (aggregate) | Subject to Awards (1) | |||
Kevork S. Hovnanian, Chairman of the Board | | | |||
Ara K. Hovnanian, President and Chief Executive Officer | | | |||
J. Larry Sorsby, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | | | |||
Paul W. Buchanan, Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer | | | |||
Peter S. Reinhart, Senior Vice President and General Counsel | | | |||
Executive Officer Group | | | |||
Non-Executive Director Group (2) | $189,980 | 32,200 | |||
Non-Executive Officer Employees Group | | |
16
(5) APPROVAL OF THE COMPANYS
AMENDED AND RESTATED
1983 STOCK OPTION PLAN
Material Features of the 1983
Plan
The following is a brief summary of the material features of the 1983
Plan. Because this is only a summary, it does not contain all the information
about the 1983 Plan that may be important to you and is qualified in its
entirety to the full text of the 1983 Plan as set forth in Appendix C
hereto.
Purpose
The purpose of the 1983 Plan is to make stock options for
common stock of the Company available to certain officers and key employees of
the Company and its subsidiaries to give them a greater personal interest in the
success of the enterprise and an added incentive to continue and advance in
their employment. No stock options have been granted under the 1983 Plan since
March 8, 2005, and no new stock options will be granted under the 1983 Plan
(although the Company may elect to re-price previously granted stock options
to the extent such re-pricing does not constitute a new grant under applicable
tax laws).
Administration
The 1983 Plan is generally administered by a committee
consisting of not less than three directors of the Company to be appointed by,
and to serve at the pleasure of, the Board of Directors. The committee has full
power to interpret the Plan and to establish and amend rules and regulations for
its administration. The Board of Directors may from time to time appoint members
of the Board of Directors in substitution for or in addition to members
previously appointed and may fill vacancies in the committee. The Board of
Directors or the committee may establish a subcommittee (the Subcommittee) to
award options to such key employees (other than executive officers) as the
Subcommittee shall determine subject to such limitations as may be set by the
Board of Directors. The Subcommittee shall consist of one or more directors of
the Company who shall be appointed by the Board of Directors or by the
committee.
Stock
Options
The terms of stock option grants are determined (granted) by the
committee and are subject to the terms and conditions stated in the 1983 Plan
and to such other terms and conditions, not inconsistent therewith as the
committee shall determine. Any stock options granted must have a per share
exercise price that is not less than 100% of the fair market value of the
Companys common stock underlying such stock option on the date an option is
granted. However, the 1983 Plan includes a provision that would permit
repricing of stock options (i.e., lowering the exercise price of previously
granted stock options) and similar corporate actions if
17
(and only if) the repricing or similar corporate action is approved by at least a majority of the independent directors on our Board of Directors. The maximum term for stock options granted under the 1983 Plan is ten years from the initial date of grant.
Effect of Certain Events on
1983 Plan and Awards
In the event of any change in the outstanding shares of common
stock by reason of any stock dividend or split, reorganization,
recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination or exchange of
shares or other corporate exchange or change in capital structure, any
distribution to shareholders of common stock other than regular cash dividends
or any similar event, which in the judgment of the Board of Directors
necessitates action by way of adjusting the terms of the outstanding options,
the Board of Directors shall take any such action as in its judgment shall be
necessary to preserve for the optionees rights substantially proportionate to
the rights existing prior to such event and to the extent that such action shall
include an increase or decrease in the number of shares of Common Stock subject
to outstanding options, the number of shares available under the 1983 Plan shall
be increased or decreased, as the case may be, proportionately.
Limitations
2,000,000 shares of common stock (split adjusted) were
previously reserved for issuance under the 1983 Plan. No new awards may be
granted under the 1983 Plan after March 8, 2005.
Amendment and
Termination
The Board of Directors may amend, alter or discontinue the 1983 Plan, but
no amendment, alteration or discontinuation shall be made which, (a) without the
approval of the shareholders of the Company, would increase the total number of
shares reserved for the purposes of the 1983 Plan or change the maximum number
of shares for which options may be granted to any optionee or (b) without the
consent of an optionee, would impair any of the rights or obligations under any
option theretofore granted to such optionee under the 1983 Plan; provided,
however, that the Compensation Committee may amend the 1983 Plan in such manner
as it deems necessary to permit the granting of options meeting the requirements
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code) or other
applicable laws.
Nontransferability of
Awards
An option shall not be transferable or assignable by the optionee
otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to the conditions stated in the 1983
Plan, an optionee may transfer an option in whole or in part by gift or domestic
relations order to a family member of the optionee.
18
Participants of the 1983
Plan
No
stock options have been granted under the 1983 Plan since March 8, 2005, and no
new stock options will be granted under the 1983 Plan (although the Company may
elect to re-price previously granted stock options to the extent such
re-pricing does not constitute a new grant under applicable tax
laws).
VOTE
REQUIRED
In order for the amended and restated 1983 Stock Option Plan to be
approved, the NYSE rules require that a majority of the outstanding shares of
Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, voting together, are voted on the
proposal and that the majority of the shares of common stock voting on the
proposal vote to approve the amended and restated 1983 Stock Option Plan. If you
fail to vote, your shares will not be considered shares present for voting
purposes, which may cause less than the requisite majority of the outstanding
shares of common stock to be voted on the matter. If you hold your shares
through a broker, your broker will not be permitted to vote your shares on this
matter without your specific voting instructions.
THE COMPENSATION
COMMITTEE
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the
Committee) is the principal overseer of the Companys various policies and
procedures related to executive compensation. The Committee meets at least three
times a year to discuss industry trends with regard to overall compensation
issues and consults with outside compensation consultants as needed. The
Committee is governed by its Charter which is available on the Companys public
website (www.khov.com).
Compensation Review Process
for the Named Executive
Officers
The Committee, along with other members of senior management, is
responsible for making decisions related to the overall compensation of the
NEOs.
19
Compensation Committee
Report
The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation
Discussion and Analysis provided below with the Companys management. Based on
its review, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors
that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy
statement and in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
October 31, 2007.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE | |
Stephen D. Weinroth, Chair | |
Robert B. Coutts | |
Edward A. Kangas |
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider
Participation
During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2007, the members of the
Compensation Committee were Messrs. Weinroth, Kangas, and Coutts. Each of
Messrs. Weinroth, Kangas, and Coutts are non-employee Directors and were never
officers or employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
20
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
1. | to fairly compensate its executives in a manner that is appropriate with respect to their performance, level of responsibilities, abilities, and skills; | ||
2. | to offer compensation that guides, motivates, retains, and rewards its executives for the achievement of the Companys financial performance, strategic initiatives, and individual goals, including increased long-term shareholder value; and | ||
3. | to maintain competitive pay for its executives so that it retains its talent pool and, at the same time, has the ability to attract new and highly-qualified individuals to join the organization as it grows or in the event of succession or replacement of an executive. |
21
Overview of Fiscal Year 2007 Compensation Elements and Pay Mix
Elements
at a Glance
There are four main components of compensation that support
the Companys compensation objectives, each of which is discussed in detail
below.
1. Base
salaries;
2.
Regular and discretionary bonuses;
3. Stock option grants;
and
4. Various
employee benefits, including specified perquisites.
Compensation Mix
Fixed vs. Variable Compensation. A significant portion of executives Total Direct Compensation (which includes base salary, bonuses and stock options) is attributed to variable compensation that is, compensation dependent on performance. Of the elements of Total Direct Compensation, base salary is fixed compensation and bonuses and stock options are variable compensation. Bonuses for the Chairman of the Board, CEO and CFO are based upon Return on Average Quarterly Common Equity for the four quarters of the fiscal year for which the bonus is to be paid (ROAQCE), an objective formula tied to financial performance goals. For the other NEOs, bonuses are determined based on both ROAQCE and the achievement of tailored personal objectives. An important part of each NEOs compensation package also consists of stock options, which, like bonuses, are tied to the Companys financial performance. These variable elements are intended to align the executives performance and interests with increased Company performance and long-term shareholder value. For the three fiscal years prior to fiscal 2007, the average percentages of each NEOs Total Direct Compensation attributable to variable compensation were as follows:
Total Variable Compensation as a Percentage of Total Direct Compensation* | |
Average Previous Three Fiscal Years | |
(2004-2006) Percentage | |
Kevork S. Hovnanian | 75.8% |
Ara K. Hovnanian | 94.9% |
J. Larry Sorsby | 86.3% |
Paul W. Buchanan | 57.4% |
Peter S. Reinhart | 52.6% |
* | Computed as the sum of total bonus (whether paid in cash or restricted shares (computed upon the closing price of Class A Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the date of grant) in lieu of cash) and the value of stock option grants based on the Black-Scholes options calculation model on the date of grant divided by the sum of base salary, total bonus, and stock option grants. |
22
The intent of the Committee was to maintain similar variable compensation percentages for fiscal 2007 as in previous years and as compared with the Peer Group in years when the Company performs at median levels compared to the Peer Group. The actual total bonus amounts for fiscal 2007 were zero or significantly lower than historical results. This had the effect of reducing variable compensation as a percentage of Total Direct Compensation compared with the percentages shown above. Consistent with the Committees philosophy to maintain variable compensation levels similar to the Peer Group, the Committee awarded stocks to each of the NEOs in fiscal 2007 which were intended to result in Total Direct Compensation that falls within the median comparable Peer Group range for executives.
Long-Term vs. Short-Term Compensation. An important portion of each NEOs Total Direct Compensation is long-term compensation, which includes both stock options and restricted share awards granted in lieu of cash for a portion of total bonus amounts. Short-term compensation consists of base salary and the cash portion of annual bonus amounts. Restricted share and stock option awards are intended to foster long-term commitment by the executive, employee-shareholder alignment, and improved long-term shareholder value. The average long-term compensation values as a percent of Total Direct Compensation for fiscal years 2004 to 2006 for the CEO and CFO were 59.2% and 55.6%, respectively. The Companys Chairman of the Board, and founder, Mr. K. Hovnanian, does not typically receive any stock options or restricted share awards as part of his overall compensation as he currently holds a significant equity interest in the Company. Mr. Buchanan and Mr. Reinharts average long-term compensation percentages for the same period were 23.3% and 21.7%, respectively, reflecting the Committees belief that while it is important for these executives to be compensated in part based on the long-term performance of the Company, they have less direct influence on the long-term financial success of the Company as compared to the other NEOs. Bonuses based on ROAQCE were not earned for 2007, and therefore, no restricted share awards were granted in 2007, based on ROAQCE, which had the effect of reducing long-term compensation as a percentage of Total Direct Compensation.
DETAILS OF COMPENSATION ELEMENTS
Base
Salaries
Base salaries are intended to reward and retain executives for their
day-to-day contributions to the Company. The Committee believes that base
salaries at or above the competitive median level are necessary to retain the
Companys executive talent pool, and it determined that the fiscal 2007 base
salaries of the Companys executive officers were necessary to retain their
services.
Base salaries of
all of the NEOs are reviewed annually by the Committee and are subject to
adjustment based on individual performance, change in responsibilities, average
salary increases or decreases in the industry, compensation for similar
positions involving the Companys Peer Group or other comparable companies if
comparable data was unavailable from the Peer Group companies, as well as other
factors such as cost of living. The Committee also consults with PM&P in
determining the need for salary adjustments.
23
year end 2006 salary for Mr. Buchanan was below the market median. As a result of this study and the Committees review of his responsibilities and performance and its belief that an increase was necessary to support the retention, motivation, and continued performance of this highly-qualified executive, the Committee approved the increased base salary. No additional base salary adjustments were approved for Messrs. Buchanan and Reinhart for fiscal 2008.
Bonuses
Regular
Bonuses
The Company provides each of the NEOs with an opportunity to
earn bonuses, the cash portions of which are intended to reward executives for
the attainment of short-term financial objectives and, in the case of certain
NEOs, individual performance objectives. Fiscal 2007 bonus awards were made
pursuant to the Companys amended and restated Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.
Senior Executive Short-Term Incentive Plan (the Short-Term Incentive Plan) and
the amended and restated 1999 Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan
(the Stock Incentive Plan), each of which is a shareholder approved
plan.
Bonus
opportunities are intended to be competitive with industry-wide practices in
order to retain and attract executive talent. For fiscal 2007, with the
exception of the Chairman of the Board, who has significant equity ownership,
30% of earned bonuses for the NEOs were paid in the form of deferred shares
(with the remaining 70% paid in cash) with vesting restrictions in order to
provide alignment with shareholders and encourage long-term retention. The
number of shares of the Companys common stock paid under a deferred share award
is determined by dividing the dollar amount of the deferred share portion by the
lesser of (1) the closing price of the Class A Common Stock on the last day of
the fiscal year during which the service giving rise to the deferred share award
was performed or (2) the average of the closing prices of a share of Class A
Common Stock on the last day of each of the five previous fiscal quarters ending
on the last day of the fiscal year during which the service giving rise to the
deferred share award was performed, and adding an incremental 20% more shares to
reflect the shift from a cash bonus award to a deferred share award with vesting
restrictions.
Calculation Method* | ||||
ROAQCE percentage | Bonus | |||
0.0% | $ | 0 | ||
1.0% | $ | 150,000 | ||
5.0% | $ | 525,000 | ||
7.5% | $ | 712,500 | ||
10.0% | $ | 900,000 | ||
12.5% | $ | 1,250,000 | ||
15.0% | $ | 1,500,000 | ||
17.5% | $ | 2,000,000 | ||
20.0% | $ | 2,500,000 | ||
25.0% | $ | 3,000,000 |
* | The bonus is interpolated between the points shown in the table, and at the discretion of the Committee and subject to the maximum bonus payable under the Short-Term Incentive Plan, may be extrapolated beyond the maximum ROAQCE percentage shown at a rate of $100,000 per percentage point increase in ROAQCE, which is the rate applied between the last two tiers of the above chart. |
24
Calculation Method* | ||||
ROAQCE percentage | % Pre-tax Income | |||
0.0% | 0 | % | ||
5.0% | 1.0 | % | ||
10.0% | 1.25 | % | ||
15.0% | 1.5 | % | ||
20.0% | 2.0 | % |
* | The bonus is interpolated between the points shown in the table, and at the discretion of the Committee and subject to the maximum bonus payable under the Short-Term Incentive Plan, may be extrapolated beyond the maximum ROAQCE percentage shown at a rate of 0.10% of pre-tax income per percentage point increase in ROAQCE, which is the rate applied between the last two tiers of the above chart. |
Calculation Method* | ||||
ROAQCE percentage | Bonus | |||
0.0% | $ | 0 | ||
5.0% | $ | 375,000 | ||
10.0% | $ | 750,000 | ||
15.0% | $ | 1,250,000 | ||
20.0% | $ | 2,000,000 | ||
25.0% | $ | 2,500,000 |
* | The bonus is interpolated between the points shown in the table, and at the discretion of the Committee and subject to the maximum bonus payable under the Short-Term Incentive Plan, may be extrapolated beyond the maximum ROAQCE percentage shown at a rate of $100,000 per percentage point increase in ROAQCE, which is the rate applied between the last two tiers of the above chart. |
(a) Calculation Method for Meeting Financial Performance Measures* | |||
ROAQCE percentage | Bonus | ||
0.0% | $0 | ||
5.0% | 10% of base salary for both Mr. Buchanan and Mr. Reinhart | ||
10.0% | 20% of base salary for both Mr. Buchanan and Mr. Reinhart | ||
15.0% | 40% of base salary for Mr. Buchanan and 30% for Mr. Reinhart | ||
20.0% | 60% of base salary for Mr. Buchanan and 40% for Mr. Reinhart | ||
25.0% | 90% of base salary for Mr. Buchanan and 80% for Mr. Reinhart |
* | The bonuses are interpolated between the points shown in the table, and at the discretion of the Committee and subject to the maximum bonus payable under the Short-Term Incentive Plan and Stock Incentive Plan, as applicable, may be extrapolated beyond the maximum ROAQCE percentage shown at a rate of 6% of base salary per percentage point increase in ROAQCE for Mr. Buchanan and at a rate of 8% of base salary per percentage point increase for Mr. Reinhart, which are the rates applied between the last two tiers of the above chart. |
25
AND (b) Calculation Method for Meeting Personal Objective Measures* |
Up to 20% of base salary for meeting threshold personal objectives for both Mr. Buchanan and Mr. Reinhart |
Up to 40% of base salary for Mr. Buchanan and 30% for Mr. Reinhart for meeting target personal objectives |
Up to 60% of base salary for Mr. Buchanan and 40% for Mr. Reinhart for meeting outstanding personal objectives |
* | Threshold, target, and outstanding levels are determined by the CFO and the CEO, who may consult with other members of senior management, and are used for internal evaluation purposes only. |
Mr.
Buchanans fiscal 2007 objectives included providing assistance in modifying the
Companys lines of credit and mortgages, supervising and directing the
development of new operational reports, and facilitating the communication of
financial information impacting the Companys business
units.
Mr.
Reinharts fiscal 2007 objectives were primarily related to the management and
satisfactory resolution of certain active litigation
matters.
Based
on the bonus formula above, neither of these NEOs earned bonuses related to the
ROAQCE criteria (stated under (a) above) for the fiscal year, but each did earn
a bonus for meeting his fiscal 2007 personal objectives in full (the
outstanding category as stated above under (b)), and as described in the
footnotes to the Summary Compensation Table
below.
For all
of the ROAQCE bonus formulas discussed above for each of the NEOs, net income
used in calculating ROAQCE is after taxes and preferred dividends and, at the
Committees discretion, excludes land charges. Bonuses are payable quarterly
based on the estimated ROAQCE for the year. The bonus amounts are adjusted for
revised estimates of ROAQCE each interim quarter, and adjusted for actual
results following fiscal year end, but there is no recapture of previously paid
amounts. However, for fiscal 2007, bonuses paid to Messrs. Buchanan and Reinhart
based on the first quarter estimated ROAQCE for the year were effectively
recaptured by offset against their bonuses based on the personal objectives
component. The personal objectives component of Messrs. Buchanan and Reinharts
bonus formulas was only assessed at the end of fiscal 2007.
Discretionary
Bonuses
The Committee has the authority to make discretionary bonus
awards, which it considers under special circumstances, including exceptional
contributions not reflected in the regular bonus measures, new hire sign-on
bonuses, and retention rewards. Prior to fiscal 2007, the Company had only
awarded a discretionary bonus once in the past five years when it issued a
discretionary stock grant of 27,326 shares in January 2004 to the CEO for
exceptional leadership
contributions.
The Committee believes that the following fiscal 2007 discretionary bonus
awards and other benefits discussed under Other Employee Benefits below were
necessary for retaining and rewarding the following executives for their
individual performance during the difficult market conditions in fiscal 2007 and
for retention for future fiscal years. The Committee recognized that the CFOs
leadership and supervision was critical to the formulation and implementation of
the Companys revised economic strategies and organizational modifications
intended to minimize the impact of the Companys reduction in homebuilding and
mortgage sales. Furthermore, the Chief Accounting Officer and the General
Counsel also provided strong leadership and supervision during this period by
reducing the overall pecuniary and legal impact of the Companys reduction in
homebuilding and mortgage sales.
26
Stock Option
Grants
The Committee may make grants of stock options, stock
appreciation rights, restricted shares and units, unrestricted shares, or stock
awards settled in cash pursuant to the Stock Incentive Plan. In fiscal 2007, the
Committee awarded stock options to NEOs, subject to an election to receive
restricted share units (RSUs) instead for certain NEOs. No other stock-based
awards (other than deferred share awards as part of total bonus) were made to
NEOs in fiscal 2007. Stock options are intended to establish a strong commitment
to maintain longevity with the Company and focus on creating long-term
shareholder value. In addition, stock options are selected over other types of
awards because of their intrinsic components which reward executives while
reducing the overall cost to the
Company.
Because
the ultimate value received by stock option holders is directly tied to
increases in the Companys stock price, stock options serve to link the
interests of management and shareholders and to motivate executive officers to
make decisions that will increase the long-term total return to shareholders.
Additionally, grants under the Stock Incentive Plan include vesting and
termination provisions that the Committee believes will encourage stock option
holders to remain long-term employees of the Company.
The Committee
ultimately approves the size of the grants taking into account the
recommendations by the CEO (other than for his own grant) and other criteria as
determined by the Committee. The awards are intended to result in Total Direct
Compensation that falls within the median range of the Peer Group for comparable
financial performance.
Stock options and RSUs generally vest in four equal annual installments,
commencing on the second anniversary date of the grant. In fiscal 2007, the
Committee also approved, with respect to all future stock options and all prior
non-qualified stock options, the extension of the post-termination of employment
(or service, for non-employee directors) exercise period for up to 12
months (or until the normal option termination date, if sooner) in the event of
retirement. For this purpose, retirement generally means termination
of employment or, for non-employee directors, termination as a member of the
Board of Directors, on or after age 60, or on or after age 58 with at least 15
years of credited service with the Company. The Committee determined that such
an extension was appropriate based on the cyclical nature of the homebuilding
industry.
Fiscal 2007 Stock Option Awards
Other Employee
Benefits
The Company maintains additional employee benefits that the
Committee believes enhance executive efficiency and time that the executive is
able to devote to Company affairs.
In addition to benefits generally provided to employees of the
Company, such as the Companys contributions the participants 401(k) plan, NEOs
are also eligible to participate in the following programs:
27
Specific benefits and the incremental costs of such benefits are described in detail in the footnotes to the Summary Compensation Table. The Company does not offer any defined benefit pension plans to its employees.
ACTIONS FOR FISCAL
2008 AND SUBSEQUENT FISCAL
YEARS
Due to the difficult challenges in the Companys markets and decline in
the Companys profitability in fiscal 2007, the Company did not approve any base
salary increases for its highly compensated employees, including the NEOs for
fiscal 2008, except as described above under Details of Compensation Elements
Base Salaries for the CFO. However, the NEOs were offered the opportunity to
earn a one-time retention bonus equal to 3% of such NEOs fiscal year end 2007
base salary if the NEO remains employed with the Company through the end of the
fiscal year in which the Companys ROAQCE returns to 20%.
Certain
adjustments were made to the NEOs bonus formulas for fiscal 2008 consistent with
the Companys belief that prevailing market
conditions have heightened the importance of cash flow and liquidity, and that
the incentives for the NEOs for fiscal 2008 should be reoriented to focus on
cash flow and liquidity. Specifically, the bonus
formulas for the Chairman of the Board, CEO, and CFO for fiscal 2008 are equal
to the greater of (a) the executives pre-existing bonus formula based on the
Companys ROAQCE (as described above), and (b) a new bonus formula based on the
Companys net debt reduction. Messrs. Buchanan and Reinharts bonus formulas for
fiscal 2008 will remain the same as established in fiscal 2007. Unlike the
prior fiscal year, the fiscal 2008 bonus for all NEOs will be assessed annually
rather than quarterly.
As discussed above under
Discretionary Bonuses, the CFO, Chief Accounting Officer, and General Counsel
were awarded cash retention bonuses that vest and become payable 50% in July
2008 and 50% in January 2009.
TAX DEDUCTIBILITY AND
ACCOUNTING IMPLICATIONS
As a general matter, the Committee always takes into account
the various tax and accounting implications of compensation. When determining
amounts of equity grants to executives and employees, the Committee also
examines the accounting cost associated with the
grants.
The
Companys annual bonus and stock option programs are intended to allow the
Company to make awards to executive officers that are deductible under Section
162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code which otherwise sets limits on the tax
deductibility of compensation paid to a companys most highly compensated
executive officers. The Committee will continue to seek ways to limit the impact
of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. However, the Committee believes
that the tax deduction limitation should not compromise the Companys ability to
establish and implement incentive programs that support the compensation
objectives discussed above. Accordingly, achieving these objectives and
maintaining required flexibility in this regard may result in compensation that
is not deductible for federal income tax purposes. The bonus formulas approved
by the Committee for fiscal 2007 were intended to be established in accordance
with the requirements for deductibility under Section 162(m) of the Internal
Revenue Code. While discretionary bonuses were awarded to certain NEOs for
fiscal 2007 performance, those amounts did not result in compensation over the
$1 million limit under Section 162(m) and therefore did not affect the Companys
ability to deduct such amounts.
The Committee approved bonus formulas for fiscal 2008 in
accordance with the Companys employee benefit plans and, where applicable, are
intended to be consistent with the performance based compensation exception in
Section 162(m).
TIMING AND PRICING OF STOCK
OPTIONS
For fiscal 2007, stock options were granted on the second Friday in June
for all eligible employees and non-employee Directors of the Company. In
addition, the Company awards shares of the Companys Class A Common Stock to
non-employee Directors as part of their annual retainer on the second Friday in
January. The Companys practice of setting fixed equity award grant dates is
designed to avoid the possibility that the Company could grant stock awards
prior to the release of material, nonpublic information which is likely to
result in an increase in its stock price, or to delay the grant of stock awards
until after the release of material, non-public information that is likely to
result in a decrease in the Companys stock price. Exercise prices were set at
the arithmetic mean of the high and low prices of the Companys Class A Common
Stock on the NYSE on the date the awards were granted.
28
STOCK OWNERSHIP
GUIDELINES
The
Board of Directors of the Company adopted stock ownership guidelines,
recommended by the Committee, which set forth minimum amounts of stock
ownership, directly or beneficially, for the Companys directors and certain
senior executive officers. In fiscal 2007, members of the Companys senior
management, other than Mr. K. Hovnanian, also received a portion of their
bonuses in deferred Company stock (30% of the total bonus). On an annual basis,
the Committee reviews adherence to the Companys stock ownership guidelines,
which are incorporated into the Companys Corporate Governance Guidelines. The
Company believes these guidelines further enhance the Companys commitment to
aligning the interests of non-employee directors and executive management with
those of its stockholders.
Senior Executive
Officers
The guidelines
provide that the following senior executive officers of the Company are
requested to achieve and maintain minimum stock ownership amounts as
follows:
Chairman of the
Board 5x current base salary
Chief Executive Officer 5x current
base salary
Chief Financial
Officer 2x current base salary
Non-Employee
Directors
The Companys non-employee directors receive 50% of their annual retainer
in the Companys Class A Common Stock and 50% in cash. Non-employee directors
also receive an annual grant of stock options. The guidelines provide that
non-employee directors are requested to achieve and maintain stock ownership
amounts which equal 2x the total value of their annual director retainer (or
$80,000 in total) within 5 years after they become subject to the
guidelines.
As
of February 4, 2008 (the Companys record date for determination of shareholders
entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting), and as shown in the Voting Rights and
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management table above, the
Senior Executive Officers and the Non-Employee Directors had met the Companys
stock ownership guidelines.
NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR
COMPENSATION
The Committee annually reviews the compensation program for directors who
are not employees of the Company and makes recommendations to the Board of
Directors for their approval. The compensation program for non-employee
directors has not changed since fiscal 2006 when the Committee reviewed a study
of non-employee director compensation involving the Companys Peer Group
prepared by PM&P. In December of 2007, the Board of Directors approved the
following non-employee director benefits for fiscal 2008, which reflected no
changes from fiscal 2007 and fiscal 2006:
For additional information related to non-employee director
compensation, please also refer to the Non-Employee Director Compensation For
Fiscal 2007 table below.
In conjunction with promoting high ethical standards for the
distribution of equity-based incentives, the Committee also established the
second Friday in January of each year as the date for payment of the
non-employee director Board retainer and the date for establishment of the stock
price for purposes of calculation of the stock portion of the non-employee
director Board retainer.
29
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
(I) SUMMARY COMPENSATION
TABLE
The following table summarizes the compensation of the
chief executive officer, the chief financial officer, and the next three most
highly compensated executive officers (also known as the NEOs) for fiscal
2007.
Summary Compensation Table
Change in | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pension | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-Equity | Value and | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Incentive | Nonqualified | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Plan | Deferred | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock | Option | Compen- | Compensation | All Other | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary | Bonus (1) | Awards (2) | Awards (3) | sation (4) | Earnings | Compensation (5) | Total | |||||||||||||||||
Kevork S. Hovnanian, | 2007 | $ | 1,128,433 | | | | | | $ | 134,902 | $ | 1,263,335 | ||||||||||||||
Chairman of the Board | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ara K. Hovnanian, | 2007 | $ | 1,092,606 | | | $ | 7,068,001 | | | $ | 375,334 | $ | 8,535,941 | |||||||||||||
President and Chief | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Executive Officer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Larry Sorsby, | 2007 | $ | 312,291 | $ | 188,000 | $ | 388,876 | $ | 614,523 | | | $ | 67,855 | $ | 1,571,545 | |||||||||||
Executive Vice President | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
and Chief Financial | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Officer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Paul W. Buchanan, | 2007 | $ | 271,925 | | $ | 114,105 | $ | 46,932 | $ | 117,600 | | $ | 34,263 | $ | 584,825 | |||||||||||
Senior Vice President/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chief Accounting | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Officer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Peter S. Reinhart, | 2007 | $ | 300,000 | | $ | 96,825 | $ | 46,932 | $ | 84,000 | | $ | 41,493 | $ | 569,250 | |||||||||||
Senior Vice President/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
General Counsel |
30
Value of Stock Awards (Supplemental Table)
Based on Grant Date Fair Value (a) | Based on 10/31/07 Market Value ($11.37) | ||||||||
2007 Grants | Prior Year Grants | 2007 Grants | Prior Year Grants | ||||||
Kevork S. Hovnanian (b) | | | | | |||||
Ara K. Hovnanian | | | | | |||||
J. Larry Sorsby | | $388,876 | | $136,537 | |||||
Paul W. Buchanan | $ | 114,105 | | $88,905 | | ||||
Peter S. Reinhart | $ | 96,825 | | $71,625 | |
Stock
Awards Expense vs. Total Bonus Awards Earned for Fiscal 2007 Performance
Only.
The Stock Awards column includes expense for
performance-based stock bonus awards which may have been earned in prior years
in accordance with the accounting expense recognition described above. The
following supplemental table is intended to disclose stock awards earned only
for fiscal 2007 performance (calculated using market value on the grant date)
and includes a total of all bonus awards earned by the NEOs for fiscal
2007:
Total Bonuses for Fiscal 2007 Performance (Supplemental Table)*
Fiscal 2007 Discretionary | Fiscal 2007 Performance- | ||||||||||||||
Awards | based Awards | ||||||||||||||
Deferred | |||||||||||||||
Cash | RSU | Cash | Stock | Total Bonus | |||||||||||
Name | Awards (a) | Awards (b) | Awards (c) | Awards (d) | Awards | ||||||||||
Kevork S. Hovnanian | $ | | $ | | $ | | N/A | $ | | ||||||
Ara K. Hovnanian | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||
J. Larry Sorsby | $ | 188,000 | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 188,000 | |||||
Paul W. Buchanan | $ | | $ | 107,250 | $ | 117,600 | $ | 60,480 | $ | 285,330 | |||||
Peter S. Reinhart | $ | | $ | 107,250 | $ | 84,000 | $ | 43,200 | $ | 234,450 |
* | Excludes stock option awards. |
31
options would be out of the money and have no intrinsic value as reflected in the table below. For example, as shown below, the total valuation of options for Mr. Ara Hovnanian if based on intrinsic valuation would be $552,222, instead of the FAS 123R expense valuation amount of $7,068,001.
Intrinsic Expensed Value of Unexercised Stock Options vs. FAS 123R Expense (Supplemental Table)
2007 Expense | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Share | Option Grant Date | Closing | Assuming | |||||||||||||||||||||
Price at | Fair Value per | Price of | Intrinsic | 2007 | Intrinsic Value | |||||||||||||||||||
Grant | Grant | Share | Stock at | Total | Value as of | Expense Per | as of | |||||||||||||||||
Named Executive Officer | Date | Date | (b) | 10/31/2007 | Shares | 10/31/2007 (c) | FAS 123R (d) | 10/31/07 (e) | ||||||||||||||||
Kevork S. Hovnanian (a) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||||||||||||||||
Ara. K. Hovnanian | 03/13/01 | $ | 6.35 | $ | 3.45 | $11.37 | 250,000 | $1,255,000 | $ | 52,720 | $ | 69,722 | ||||||||||||
11/06/01 | $ | 5.58 | $ | 2.92 | $11.37 | 500,000 | $2,895,000 | $ | 243,333 | $ | 482,500 | |||||||||||||
11/13/02 | $ | 15.90 | $ | 8.31 | $11.37 | 600,000 | ($2,718,000 | ) | $ | 831,000 | $ | | ||||||||||||
12/19/03 | $ | 44.13 | $ | 23.35 | $11.37 | 600,000 | ($19,653,000 | ) | $ | 2,335,000 | $ | | ||||||||||||
12/03/04 | $ | 41.20 | $ | 23.16 | $11.37 | 350,000 | ($10,440,500 | ) | $ | 1,351,000 | $ | | ||||||||||||
05/20/05 | $ | 56.82 | $ | 31.97 | $11.37 | 145,834 | ($6,628,170 | ) | $ | 777,054 | $ | | ||||||||||||
05/19/06 | $ | 32.33 | $ | 18.67 | $11.37 | 375,000 | ($7,860,000 | ) | $ | 1,166,875 | $ | | ||||||||||||
06/08/07 | $ | 21.45 | $ | 10.44 | $11.37 | 375,000 | ($3,780,000 | ) | $ | 311,019 | $ | | ||||||||||||
$ | 7,068,001 | $ | 552,222 | |||||||||||||||||||||
J. Larry Sorsby | 03/01/01 | $ | 5.35 | $ | 2.91 | $11.37 | 50,000 | $301,000 | $ | 8,531 | $ | 16,722 | ||||||||||||
11/06/01 | $ | 5.58 | $ | 2.92 | $11.37 | 50,000 | $289,500 | $ | 22,951 | $ | 48,250 | |||||||||||||
11/08/02 | $ | 16.35 | $ | 8.54 | $11.37 | 50,000 | ($249,000 | ) | $ | 67,125 | $ | | ||||||||||||
12/19/03 | $ | 44.13 | $ | 23.35 | $11.37 | 50,000 | ($1,637,750 | ) | $ | 183,531 | $ | | ||||||||||||
12/03/04 | $ | 41.20 | $ | 23.16 | $11.37 | 25,000 | ($745,750 | ) | $ | 91,019 | $ | | ||||||||||||
05/20/05 | $ | 56.82 | $ | 31.97 | $11.37 | 10,417 | ($473,453 | ) | $ | 55,505 | $ | | ||||||||||||
05/19/06 | $ | 32.33 | $ | 18.67 | $11.37 | 50,000 | ($1,048,000 | ) | $ | 146,746 | $ | | ||||||||||||
06/08/07 | $ | 21.45 | $ | 10.44 | $11.37 | 50,000 | ($504,000 | ) | $ | 39,115 | $ | | ||||||||||||
$ | 614,523 | $ | 64,972 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Paul W. Buchanan | 03/18/02 | $ | 12.13 | $ | 6.35 | $11.37 | 15,000 | ($11,400 | ) | $ | 15,875 | $ | | |||||||||||
05/21/04 | $ | 32.82 | $ | 18.59 | $11.37 | 5,000 | ($107,250 | ) | $ | 15,492 | $ | | ||||||||||||
05/19/06 | $ | 32.33 | $ | 18.67 | $11.37 | 5,000 | ($104,800 | ) | $ | 15,565 | $ | | ||||||||||||
$ | 46,932 | $ | | |||||||||||||||||||||
Peter S. Reinhart | 03/18/02 | $ | 12.13 | $ | 6.35 | $11.37 | 15,000 | ($11,400 | ) | $ | 15,875 | $ | | |||||||||||
05/21/04 | $ | 32.82 | $ | 18.59 | $11.37 | 5,000 | ($107,250 | ) | $ | 15,492 | $ | | ||||||||||||
05/19/06 | $ | 32.33 | $ | 18.67 | $11.37 | 5,000 | ($104,800 | ) | $ | 15,565 | $ | | ||||||||||||
$ | 46,932 | $ | |
32
Fiscal 2007 Total Bonus
Amount Based on the Achievement of Personal Objectives for Messrs. Buchanan
and
Reinhart (Supplemental Table)
Total FY07 | ||||||||||||||||
Bonus | 30% | Additional | FY07 | |||||||||||||
(60%/40% of | 70% Cash | Stock | 20% | Total Stock | Bonus | |||||||||||
Name | Base Salary) | Portion (a) | Portion | Gross-up | Portion (b) | Amount | ||||||||||
Mr. Paul W. Buchanan | $168,000 | $ | 117,600 | $50,400 | $ | 10,080 | $60,480 | $178,080 | ||||||||
Mr. Peter S. Reinhart | $120,000 | $ | 84,000 | $36,000 | $ | 7,200 | $43,200 | $127,200 |
For fiscal 2007, total perquisites and other personal benefits, and those that exceeded the greater of $25,000 or 10% of total perquisites and other personal benefits for each NEO, were as follows:
Fiscal 2007 Perquisites (Supplemental Table)
Fiscal 2007 Perquisites that Exceeded the Greater of $25,000 | ||||||||||||||||
Total Perquisites and Description | or 10% of Total Perquisites | |||||||||||||||
Total Fiscal 2007 | Personal Use of Companys | Personal Use of Companys | ||||||||||||||
Name | Perquisites | Types of Perquisites (a) | Aircraft (b) | Automobiles (c) | ||||||||||||
Kevork S. Hovnanian | $ | 124,324 | (1) (2) (4) | $ | 55,101 | $ | 59,978 | |||||||||
Ara K. Hovnanian | $ | 312,597 | (1) (2) (4) (5) | $ | 218,168 | $ | 79,219 | |||||||||
J. Larry Sorsby | $ | 51,497 | (3) (4) (5) | N/A | N/A | |||||||||||
Paul W. Buchanan | $ | 20,110 | (1) (2) (4) (5) | N/A | N/A | |||||||||||
Peter S. Reinhart | $ | 26,236 | (1) (3) (4) (5) | N/A | N/A |
33
In addition to the perquisites and other personal benefits listed above, the NEOs received the following other compensation in fiscal 2007:
Fiscal 2007 All Other Compensation Other Than Perquisites (Supplemental Table)
Company Contributions | ||||||||||||||
Term Life | Companys Contributions | to the Executive Deferred | ||||||||||||
Tax Gross-ups and | Insurance | to the Executives | Compensation Plan | |||||||||||
Name | Reimbursements (1) | Premiums | Retirement Plan (401(k)) | (EDCP) (2) | ||||||||||
Kevork S. Hovnanian | $ | | $453 | $ | 10,125 | $ | | |||||||
Ara K. Hovnanian | $ | | $556 | $ | 10,125 | $ | 52,056 | |||||||
J. Larry Sorsby | $ | | $455 | $ | 10,125 | $ | 5,779 | |||||||
Paul W. Buchanan | $ | 642 | $404 | $ | 10,125 | $ | 2,982 | |||||||
Peter S. Reinhart | $ | | $453 | $ | 10,125 | $ | 4,678 |
(II) GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED
AWARDS IN FISCAL 2007
The following table summarizes
both:
(1) The
potential equity and non-equity awards that could have been earned by each of
the NEOs in fiscal 2007 at the SECs defined levels of Threshold, Target,
and Maximum based on the performance-based awards granted to the NEOs;
and
(2) All other
plan-based awards, such as stock options and restricted stock units granted in
fiscal 2007.
Each
of the following columns is described in the footnotes below the
table.
Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal 2007
All Other | All Other | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock | Option Awards: | Exercise | Grant | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Awards: | Number of | or Base | Date | Grant Date | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number | Securities | Price of | (6/8/07) | Fair Value | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
of Shares | Underlying | Option | Closing | of Stock | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Estimated Possible Payouts Under | Estimated Possible Payouts Under | of Stock or | Options (#) | Awards | Price | and Option | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards (1) | Equity Incentive Plan Awards (1) | Units (2) | (3) | ($/Sh) (4) | ($Sh) (4) | Awards (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Grant | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name | Date | Threshold | Target | Maximum | Threshold | Target | Maximum | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kevork S. | | $ | 1,500,000 | $ | 3,000,000 | N/A | N/A | N/A | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Hovnanian | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
70% of | 70% of | 30% & 20% | 30% & 20% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1.5% of | 2.0% | gross-up of | gross-up of | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ara K. | | pre-tax | of pre-tax | | 1.5% of pre- | 2.0% of pre- | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hovnanian | income* | income* | tax income* | tax income* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6/8/07 | | 375,000 | $ | 21.45 | $ | 21.80 | $ | 3,915,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Larry | | $ | 875,000 | $ | 1,750,000 | | $ | 450,000 | $ | 900,000 | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sorsby | 6/8/07 | | 50,000 | $ | 21.45 | $ | 21.80 | $ | 522,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Paul W. | | $ | 156,800 | $ | 294,000 | | $ | 80,640 | $ | 151,200 | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||
Buchanan | 6/8/07 | 5,000 | | | | $ | 107,250 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Peter S. | | $ | 126,000 | $ | 252,000 | | $ | 64,800 | $ | 129,600 | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||
Reinhart | 6/8/07 | 5,000 | | | | $ | 107,250 |
34
The amounts shown under Estimated Possible Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards and Estimated Possible Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards columns were determined as follows:
Estimated Potential Payouts Under Fiscal 2007 Performance-Based Awards (Supplemental Table)
Total Value | 30% Deferred Stock | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
of Personal | 70% Cash | Payout & Additional | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Level | ROAQCE % at | Total Value of | Objectives | Payout of | 20% Gross-Up (Stock | ||||||||||||||||||||
Name | Description | Defined Level | ROAQCE Bonus | Bonus | Total Bonus | Total Bonus | Portion x 1.2) | ||||||||||||||||||
K. Hovnanian | Threshold | 0 | % | | N/A | | N/A (a) | N/A (a) | |||||||||||||||||
Target | 15 | % | $ | 1,500,000 | N/A | $ | 1,500,000 | N/A (a) | N/A (a) | ||||||||||||||||
Maximum | 25 | % | $ | 3,000,000 | N/A | $ | 3,000,000 | N/A (a) | N/A (a) | ||||||||||||||||
A. Hovnanian | Threshold | 0 | % | | N/A | | | | |||||||||||||||||
1.5% of | 1.5% of | 70% of 1.5% | 30% and 20% gross-up | ||||||||||||||||||||||
pre-tax | pre-tax | of pre-tax | of 1.5% of pre-tax | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Target | 15 | % | income (b) | N/A | income (b) | income (b) | income (b) | ||||||||||||||||||
2.0% of | 2.0% of | 70% of 2.0% | 30% and 20% gross-up | ||||||||||||||||||||||
pre-tax | pre-tax | of pre-tax | of 2.0% of pre-tax | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Maximum | 20 | % | income (b) | N/A | income (b) | income (b) | income (b) | ||||||||||||||||||
J. Larry Sorsby | Threshold | 0 | % | | N/A | | | | |||||||||||||||||
Target | 15 | % | $ | 1,250,000 | N/A | $ | 1,250,000 | $ | 875,000 | $ | 450,000 | ||||||||||||||
Maximum | 25 | % | $ | 2,500,000 | N/A | $ | 2,500,000 | $ | 1,750,000 | $ | 900,000 | ||||||||||||||
P. Buchanan | Threshold | 0 | % | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||
Target | 15 | % | $ | 112,000 | $ | 112,000 | $ | 224,000 | $ | 156,800 | $ | 80,640 | |||||||||||||
Maximum | 25 | % | $ | 252,000 | $ | 168,000 | $ | 420,000 | $ | 294,000 | $ | 151,200 | |||||||||||||
P. Reinhart | Threshold | 0 | % | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||
Target | 15 | % | $ | 90,000 | $ | 90,000 | $ | 180,000 | $ | 126,000 | $ | 64,800 | |||||||||||||
Maximum | 25 | % | $ | 240,000 | $ | 120,000 | $ | 360,000 | $ | 252,000 | $ | 129,600 |
35
36
(III) OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT
FISCAL 2007 YEAR-END
The
following table shows all unexercised stock options, unvested restricted stock,
and unvested restricted stock units held at the end of fiscal 2007 by the
NEOs.
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal 2007 Year-End
OPTION AWARDS | STOCK AWARDS (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Equity | Equity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Incentive | Equity | Incentive | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Plan | Incentive | Plan Awards: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Awards: | Plan Awards: | Market or | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of | Number of | Number of | Number | Number of | Payout Value | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Securities | Securities | Securities | of Shares | Market Value | Unearned | of Unearned | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Underlying | Underlying | Underlying | of Stock | of Shares of | Shares or | Shares or | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Unexercised | Unexercised | Unexercised | Option | that | Stock that | other Rights | other Rights | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Grant | Options # | Options # | Unearned | Exercise | Option | have not | have not | that have not | that have not | ||||||||||||||||||||
Name | date (1) | Exercisable | Unexercisable | Options # | Price ($) | Expiration Date | vested # | vested ($) | vested # | vested ($) | |||||||||||||||||||
Kevork Hovnanian | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||
Ara Hovnanian | 05/14/98 | 150,000 | | | $ | 4.34 | 5/13/2008 | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
10/28/99 | 150,000 | | | $ | 3.00 | 10/27/2009 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||
03/13/00 | 250,000 | | | $ | 2.88 | 3/12/2010 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||
03/13/01 | 250,000 | | | $ | 6.35 | 3/12/2011 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||
11/06/01 | 375,000 | 125,000 | | $ | 5.58 | 11/5/2011 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||
11/13/02 | 300,000 | 300,000 | | $ | 15.90 | 11/12/2012 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||
12/19/03 | 150,000 | 450,000 | | $ | 44.13 | 12/18/2013 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||
12/03/04 | | 350,000 | | $ | 41.20 | 12/2/2014 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||
05/20/05 | | 145,834 | | $ | 56.82 | 5/19/2015 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||
05/19/06 | | 375,000 | | $ | 32.33 | 5/18/2016 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||
06/08/07 | | 375,000 | | $ | 21.45 | 6/7/2017 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||
J. Larry Sorsby | 05/14/98 | 40,000 | | | $ | 4.34 | 5/13/2008 | 21,099 | $ | 239,896 | | | |||||||||||||||||
05/01/99 | 40,000 | | | $ | 4.13 | 4/30/2009 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||
03/21/00 | 40,000 | | | $ | 2.97 | 3/20/2010 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||
03/01/01 | 50,000 | | | $ | 5.35 | 2/28/2011 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||
11/06/01 | 37,500 | 12,500 | | $ | 5.58 | 11/5/2011 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||
11/08/02 | 25,000 | 25,000 | | $ | 16.35 | 11/7/2012 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||
12/19/03 | 12,500 | 37,500 | | $ | 44.13 | 12/18/2013 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||
12/03/04 | | 25,000 | | $ | 41.20 | 12/2/2014 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||
05/20/05 | | 10,417 | | $ | 56.82 | 5/19/2015 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||
05/19/06 | | 50,000 | | $ | 32.33 | 5/18/2016 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||
06/08/07 | | 50,000 | | $ | 21.45 | 6/7/2017 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||
Paul Buchanan | 05/14/98 | 15,000 | | | $ | 4.34 | 5/13/2008 | 5,000 | $ | 56,850.00 | | | |||||||||||||||||
08/28/00 | 15,000 | | | $ | 3.28 | 8/27/2010 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||
03/18/02 | 11,250 | 3,750 | | $ | 12.13 | 3/17/2012 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||
05/21/04 | 1,250 | 3,750 | | $ | 32.82 | 2/20/2014 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||
05/19/06 | | 5,000 | | $ | 32.33 | 5/18/2016 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||
Peter Reinhart | 08/28/00 | 5,000 | | | $ | 3.28 | 8/27/2010 | 5,000 | $ | 56,850.00 | | | |||||||||||||||||
03/18/02 | 11,250 | 3,750 | | $ | 12.13 | 3/17/2012 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||
05/21/04 | 1,250 | 3,750 | | $ | 32.82 | 5/20/2014 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||
05/19/06 | | 5,000 | | $ | 32.33 | 5/18/2016 | | | | |
37
(IV) OPTION EXERCISES AND
STOCK VESTED IN FISCAL
2007
The following table discloses information with respect to stock options
exercised by the NEOs in fiscal 2007 and stock awards held by them that vested
in fiscal 2007:
Option Exercises and Stock Vested in Fiscal 2007
Option Awards | Stock Awards | ||||||||||||
Number of | Number of | ||||||||||||
Shares Acquired | Value Realized | Shares Acquired | Value Realized | ||||||||||
on Exercise | on Exercise | on Vesting | on Vesting | ||||||||||
Name | (#) | ($) (1) | (#) | ($) | |||||||||
Kevork S. Hovnanian | | | | | |||||||||
Ara K. Hovnanian | 150,000 | $ | 4,569,000 | | | ||||||||
J. Larry Sorsby (2) | | | 19,250 | $ | 575,575 | ||||||||
Paul W. Buchanan | | | | | |||||||||
Peter S. Reinhart | | | | |
(V) NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED
COMPENSATION FOR FISCAL
2007
The following table provides a summary of the NEOs participation in the
Companys nonqualified executive deferred compensation plan (EDCP).
Executives may defer both salary and performance-based bonus award payments
under the EDCP. Mr. K. Hovnanian does not participate in the EDCP.
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation for Fiscal 2007
Executive | Registrant | Aggregate | |||||||||||||||||
Contributions in | Contributions in | Aggregate Earnings in | Withdrawals/ | Aggregate Balance | |||||||||||||||
Name | Last Fiscal Year (1) | Last Fiscal Year (2) | Last Fiscal Year (3) | Distributions (4) | at Last Fiscal Year (5) | ||||||||||||||
Kevork S. Hovnanian | | | | | | ||||||||||||||
Ara K. Hovnanian | $ | 52,056 | $ | 52,056 | ($13,215,819 | ) | ($ | 1,385,751 | ) | $ | 16,794,138 | ||||||||
J. Larry Sorsby | $ | 581,354 | $ | 5,779 | ($1,958,303 | ) | ($ | 1,279,668 | ) | $ | 5,185,104 | ||||||||
Paul W. Buchanan | $ | 2,982 | $ | 2,982 | ($649,971 | ) | $ | | $ | 872,486 | |||||||||
Peter S. Reinhart | $ | 5,422 | $ | 4,678 | $33,713 | $ | | $ | 890,234 |
38
Narrative to the Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Table for Fiscal 2007
Total Account
Balances
The EDCPs total account balance is equal to the sum of (1) the Deferral
Account balance, (2) the Company Contribution Account balance, and (3) the
Deferred Share Deferral Account balance. The Deferral Account balance amount
includes that portion of a participants annual base salary, cash bonus, and any
401(k) excess contribution amount, as elected by the participant, that is
deferred in accordance with the EDCPs provisions. The Company Contribution
Amount balance consists of the annual company matching contribution amounts
under the plan. The Deferred Share Deferral Account balance includes the value
of vested stock awarded under any Company stock incentive plan for which
shares may have been deferred under the EDCP.
EDCPs Election
Options
In connection with the cash payments deferred under the EDCP, a
participant may elect to invest in one or more of the Measurement Funds
available under the EDCP:
Fund Class | Measurement Fund | |
Money Market Fund | Vanguard VIF Money Market | |
Income | PIMCo (VIT) Total Return Bond | |
Income | Vanguard VIF Hi-Yield Bond | |
Balanced | Vanguard VIF Balanced | |
Large Blend | PIMCo (VIT) Stocks Plus | |
Large Growth | Vanguard VIF Capital Growth | |
Large Value | T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio | |
Mid Cap | T. Rowe Price Mid-Cap Growth | |
Small/Mid Value | First Eagle Overseas | |
Small Value | Royce Micro-Cap | |
Small Growth | Vanguard VIF Small Company | |
Aggressive-Growth | INVESCO (VIF) Dynamics | |
Foreign Large Blend | T. Rowe Price International | |
Phantom Stock | Company Stock |
(VI) POTENTIAL PAYMENTS
UPON TERMINATION OR CHANGE-IN-CONTROL
TABLE
The following table summarizes payments and benefits that would be
payable to each of the NEOs in the event of their termination of employment or
upon the occurrence of a change in control (triggering event). For purposes of
this table, the effective date of termination is assumed to be October 31, 2007,
the last business day of fiscal 2007.
Named Executive Officer | Voluntary Termination | Involuntary Termination | Change in Control | ||||||||||||
Without | With | ||||||||||||||
With Good | Normal | Without | With | Death or | Qualified | Qualified | |||||||||
Form of Compensation | Reason | Retirement | Cause | Cause | Disability | Termination | Termination | ||||||||
Kevork S. Hovnanian | | | | | | | | ||||||||
Ara K. Hovnanian (2) | |||||||||||||||
Accelerated Vesting of Equity Awards | | | | | $ | 724,375 | | | |||||||
Contractual Disability/Death Payment | | | | | $ | 10,000,000 | | | |||||||
Total | | | | | $ | 10,724,375 | | | |||||||
J. Larry Sorsby (3) | |||||||||||||||
Accelerated vesting of equity awards | | | | | $ | 312,334 | | | |||||||
Contractual Disability/Death Payment | | | | | | | | ||||||||
Total | | | | | $ | 312,334 | | | |||||||
Paul W. Buchanan (4) | |||||||||||||||
Accelerated vesting of equity awards | | | | | $ | 117,330 | | | |||||||
Contractual Disability/Death Payment | | | | | | | | ||||||||
Total | | | | | $ | 117,330 | | | |||||||
Peter S. Reinhart (4) | |||||||||||||||
Accelerated vesting of equity awards | | | | | $ | 100,050 | | | |||||||
Contractual Disability/Death Payment | | | | | | | | ||||||||
Total | | | | | $ | 100,050 | | |
39
Accelerated Stock Option Valuation: | ||
Total Options | Market Value Price | Total Market Value |
125,000 options | Market value price ($11.37) - Grant price ($5.575) = $5.795 | $724,375 |
Accelerated Stock Option Valuation: | ||
Total Options | Market Value Price | Total Market Value |
12,500 options | Market value ($11.37) - Grant price ($5.575) = $5.795 | $72,438 |
Accelerated Deferred Share Valuation: | ||
Total Shares | Market Value Price | Total Market Value |
21,099 shares | Market value ($11.37) as of 10/31/07 | $239,896 |
40
Accelerated Restricted Stock Units Valuation: | ||
5,000 units | Market value ($11.37) as of 10/31/07 | $56,850 |
Accelerated Deferred Share Valuation: | |||
Name | Total Shares (a) | Market Value Price | Total Market Value |
Mr. Buchanan | 5,320 shares | Market value ($11.37) as of 10/31/07 | $60,480 |
Mr. Reinhart | 3,800 shares | Market value ($11.37) as of 10/31/07 | $43,200 |
(VII) NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR
COMPENSATION FOR FISCAL YEAR
2007
The following table summarizes the compensation of the Companys
Non-Employee Directors related to their services in fiscal 2007.
Non-Employee Director Compensation for Fiscal Year 2007
Change in | |||||||||||||||||
Pension Value | |||||||||||||||||
Fees | and Nonqualified | ||||||||||||||||
Earned | Option | Non-Equity | Deferred | ||||||||||||||
or Paid in | Stock | Awards | Incentive Plan | Compensation | All Other | ||||||||||||
Name | Cash (1) | Awards (2) | (3) | Compensation | Earnings | Compensation | Total | ||||||||||
Robert B. Coutts | $ | 40,510 | $ | 19,990 | $ | 40,792 | | | | $ | 101,292 | ||||||
Edward A. Kangas | $ | 151,025 | $ | 49,975 | $ | 313,292 | | | | $ | 514,292 | ||||||
Joseph A. Marengi | $ | 38,010 | $ | 19,990 | $ | 40,792 | | | | $ | 98,792 | ||||||
John J. Robbins | $ | 88,015 | $ | 29,985 | $ | 232,877 | | | | $ | 350,877 | ||||||
Stephen D. Weinroth | $ | 153,025 | $ | 49,975 | $ | 320,588 | | | | $ | 523,588 |
Total Fees Earned or Paid in Cash (Supplemental Table)
FY07 Annual Retainer | |||||||||
FY07 | Fees Cash Payment | ||||||||
Meeting | (represents 50% of the total | ||||||||
Name | Fees | Annual Retainer Fees) (a) | Cash Total | ||||||
Robert B. Coutts | $ | 20,500 | $ | 20,010 | $ | 40,510 | |||
Edward A. Kangas | $ | 101,000 | $ | 50,025 | $ | 151,025 | |||
Joseph A. Marengi | $ | 18,000 | $ | 20,010 | $ | 38,010 | |||
John J. Robbins | $ | 58,000 | $ | 30,015 | $ | 88,015 | |||
Stephen D. Weinroth | $ | 103,000 | $ | 50,025 | $ | 153,025 |
41
Total Annual Retainer (Supplemental Table)
FY07 Annual Retainer | ||||||||||||||
Fees Cash Payment | ||||||||||||||
FY07 Annual Retainer Fees | (represents 50% of the | |||||||||||||
Stock Payment (represents | Number | total Annual Retainer | Total Annual | |||||||||||
50% of the total Annual | of Shares | Fees; also shown in | Retainer for | |||||||||||
Name | Retainer Fees) (a) (b) | Represented | footnote (1) above) (b) | Fiscal 2007 | ||||||||||
Robert B. Coutts | $ | 19,990 | 634 | $ | 20,010 | $ | 40,000 | |||||||
Edward A. Kangas | $ | 49,975 | 1,585 | $ | 50,025 | $ | 100,000 | |||||||
Joseph A. Marengi | $ | 19,990 | 634 | $ | 20,010 | $ | 40,000 | |||||||
John J. Robbins | $ | 29,985 | 951 | $ | 30,015 | $ | 60,000 | |||||||
Stephen D. Weinroth | $ | 49,975 | 1,585 | $ | 50,025 | $ | 100,000 |
42
Intrinsic Expensed Value of Unexercised Stock Options vs. FAS 123R Expense (Supplemental Table)
2007 Expense | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Share | Option Grant | Closing | 2007 | Assuming | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Price at | Date Fair | Price of | Expense Per | Intrinsic | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name of | Grant | Grant | Value per | Stock at | Total | Intrinsic Value as | FAS 123R | Value as of | |||||||||||||||||||||
Non-Employee Director | Date | Date | Share (a) | 10/31/2007 | Shares | of 10/31/07 (b) | (c) | 10/31/07 (d) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Robert Coutts | 5/19/06 | $ | 32.33 | $ | 18.67 | $ | 11.37 | 5,000 | ($ | 104,800 | ) | $ | 31,116 | $ | | ||||||||||||||
6/8/07 | $ | 21.45 | $ | 10.44 | $ | 11.37 | 7,000 | ($ | 70,560 | ) | $ | 9,676 | $ | | |||||||||||||||
$ | 40,792 | $ | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Edward Kangas | 1/13/04 | $ | 36.93 | $ | 19.54 | $ | 11.37 | 15,000 | ($ | 383,400 | ) | $ | 19,529 | $ | | ||||||||||||||
1/18/05 | $ | 51.68 | $ | 29.08 | $ | 11.37 | 9,000 | ($ | 362,790 | ) | $ | 87,240 | $ | | |||||||||||||||
5/20/05 | $ | 56.82 | $ | 31.97 | $ | 11.37 | 4,500 | ($ | 204,525 | ) | $ | 47,952 | $ | | |||||||||||||||
5/19/06 | $ | 32.33 | $ | 18.67 | $ | 11.37 | 11,000 | ($ | 230,560 | ) | $ | 112,954 | $ | | |||||||||||||||
6/8/07 | $ | 21.45 | $ | 10.44 | $ | 11.37 | 11,000 | ($ | 110,880 | ) | $ | 45,617 | $ | | |||||||||||||||
$ | 313,292 | $ | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Joseph Marengi | 5/19/06 | $ | 32.33 | $ | 18.67 | $ | 11.37 | 5,000 | $ | 104,800 | $ | 31,116 | $ | | |||||||||||||||
6/8/07 | $ | 21.45 | $ | 10.44 | $ | 11.37 | 7,000 | ($ | 70,560 | ) | $ | 9,676 | $ | | |||||||||||||||
$ | 40,792 | $ | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
John Robbins | 11/6/01 | $ | 5.58 | $ | 2.92 | $ | 11.37 | 15,000 | ($ | 86,925 | ) | $ | 7,296 | $ | 14,488 | ||||||||||||||
1/13/04 | $ | 36.93 | $ | 19.54 | $ | 11.37 | 15,000 | ($ | 383,400 | ) | $ | 19,529 | $ | | |||||||||||||||
1/18/05 | $ | 51.68 | $ | 29.08 | $ | 11.37 | 7,000 | ($ | 282,170 | ) | $ | 67,848 | $ | | |||||||||||||||
5/20/05 | $ | 56.82 | $ | 31.97 | $ | 11.37 | 3,500 | ($ | 159,075 | ) | $ | 37,296 | $ | | |||||||||||||||
5/19/06 | $ | 32.33 | $ | 18.67 | $ | 11.37 | 7,000 | ($ | 146,720 | ) | $ | 43,563 | $ | | |||||||||||||||
6/8/07 | $ | 21.45 | $ | 10.44 | $ | 11.37 | 7,000 | ($ | 70,560 | ) | $ | 9,676 | | ||||||||||||||||
$ | 185,208 | $ | 14,488 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weinroth, Stephen | 11/6/01 | $ | 5.58 | $ | 2.92 | $ | 11.37 | 15,000 | ($ | 86,925 | ) | $ | 7,296 | $ | 14,488 | ||||||||||||||
1/13/04 | $ | 36.93 | $ | 19.54 | $ | 11.37 | 15,000 | ($ | 383,400 | ) | $ | 19,529 | $ | | |||||||||||||||
1/18/05 | $ | 51.68 | $ | 29.08 | $ | 11.37 | 9,000 | ($ | 362,790 | ) | $ | 87,240 | $ | | |||||||||||||||
5/20/05 | $ | 56.82 | $ | 31.97 | $ | 11.37 | 4,500 | ($ | 204,525 | ) | $ | 47,952 | $ | | |||||||||||||||
5/19/06 | $ | 32.33 | $ | 18.67 | $ | 11.37 | 11,000 | ($ | 230,560 | ) | $ | 112,954 | $ | | |||||||||||||||
6/8/07 | $ | 21.45 | $ | 10.44 | $ | 11.37 | 11,000 | ($ | 110,880 | ) | $ | 45,617 | $ | | |||||||||||||||
$ | 320,588 | $ | 14,488 |
43
Number of Options | Option Fair | ||||||||||
Granted (as of June 8, | Value per Share | Total Grant | |||||||||
Non-Employee Director | 2007 grant date) (a) | at Grant Date | Date Fair Value | ||||||||
Robert B. Coutts | 7,000 | $ | 10.44 | $ | 73,080 | ||||||
Edward A. Kangas | 11,000 | $ | 10.44 | $ | 114,840 | ||||||
Joseph A. Marengi | 7,000 | $ | 10.44 | $ | 73,080 | ||||||
John J. Robbins | 7,000 | $ | 10.44 | $ | 73,080 | ||||||
Stephen D. Weinroth | 11,000 | $ | 10.44 | $ | 114,840 |
A. Outstanding Option Awards at Fiscal 2007 Year-End (Supplemental Table)
Number of | Number of | |||||||||||
Securities | Securities | Equity Incentive Plan | ||||||||||
Underlying | Underlying | Awards: Number of | Option | |||||||||
Unexercised | Unexercised | Securities Underlying | Exercise | |||||||||
Options # | Options # | Unexercised Unearned | Price | Option | ||||||||
Name | Grant date (a) | Exercisable | Unexercisable | Options # | ($) | Expiration Date | ||||||
Robert B. Coutts | 05/19/06 | 1,667 | 3,333 | | $ | 32.33 | 05/18/16 | |||||
Robert B. Coutts | 06/08/07 | | 7,000 | | $ | 21.45 | 06/07/17 | |||||
Totals | 1,667 | 10,333 | ||||||||||
Edward A. Kangas | 01/13/04 | 15,000 | | | $ | 36.93 | 01/12/14 | |||||
Edward A. Kangas | 01/18/05 | 6,000 | 3,000 | | $ | 51.68 | 01/17/15 | |||||
Edward A. Kangas | 05/20/05 | 3,000 | 1,500 | | $ | 56.82 | 05/19/15 | |||||
Edward A. Kangas | 05/19/06 | 3,667 | 7,333 | | $ | 32.33 | 05/18/16 | |||||
Edward A. Kangas | 06/08/07 | | 11,000 | | $ | 21.45 | 06/07/17 | |||||
Totals | 27,667 | 22,833 | ||||||||||
Joseph A. Marengi | 05/19/06 | 1,667 | 3,333 | | $ | 32.33 | 05/18/16 | |||||
Joseph A. Marengi | 06/08/07 | | 7,000 | | $ | 21.45 | 06/07/17 | |||||
Totals | 1,667 | 10,333 | ||||||||||
John J. Robbins | 11/06/01 | 5,000 | | | $ | 5.58 | 11/05/11 | |||||
John J. Robbins | 01/13/04 | 15,000 | | | $ | 36.93 | 01/12/14 | |||||
John J. Robbins | 01/18/05 | 4,667 | 2,333 | | $ | 51.68 | 01/17/15 | |||||
John J. Robbins | 05/20/05 | 2,333 | 1,167 | | $ | 56.82 | 05/19/15 | |||||
John J. Robbins | 05/19/06 | 2,333 | 4,667 | | $ | 32.33 | 05/18/16 | |||||
John J. Robbins | 06/08/07 | | 7,000 | | $ | 21.45 | 06/07/17 | |||||
Totals | 29,333 | 15,167 | ||||||||||
Stephen D. Weinroth | 11/06/01 | 10,000 | | | $ | 5.58 | 11/05/11 | |||||
Stephen D. Weinroth | 01/13/04 | 15,000 | | | $ | 36.93 | 01/12/14 | |||||
Stephen D. Weinroth | 01/18/05 | 6,000 | 3,000 | | $ | 51.68 | 01/17/15 | |||||
Stephen D. Weinroth | 05/20/05 | 3,000 | 1,500 | | $ | 56.82 | 05/19/15 | |||||
Stephen D. Weinroth | 05/19/06 | 3,667 | 7,333 | | $ | 32.33 | 05/18/16 | |||||
Stephen D. Weinroth | 06/08/07 | | 11,000 | | $ | 21.45 | 06/07/17 | |||||
Totals | 37,667 | 22,833 |
44
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN
INFORMATION
The following table provides information as of October 31, 2007 with
respect to compensation plans (including individual compensation arrangements)
under which the Companys equity securities are authorized for
issuance.
Number of | Number of | |||||||||
Number of | Class B | securities | ||||||||
Class A | Common | Weighted | remaining | |||||||
Common | Stock | Weighted | average | available for | ||||||
Stock | securities | average | exercise | future issuance | ||||||
securities to be | to be | exercise | price of | under equity | ||||||
issued upon | issued upon | price of | outstanding | compensation | ||||||
exercise of | exercise of | outstanding | Class B | plans | ||||||
outstanding | outstanding | Class A | Common | (excluding | ||||||
options, | options, | Common Stock | Stock | securities | ||||||
warrants and | warrants and | options, | options, | reflected in | ||||||
rights (in | rights (in | warrants and | warrants and | columns (a)) (in | ||||||
Plan Category | thousands) (a) | thousands) (a) | rights (2)(b) | rights (3)(b) | thousands) (1)(c) | |||||
Equity compensation plans | ||||||||||
approved by security holders: | 5,880 | 2,188 | $17.55 | $37.57 | 21,236 | |||||
Equity compensation plans | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |||||
not approved by security holders: | ||||||||||
Total | 5,880 | 2,188 | $17.55 | $37.57 | 21,236 |
THE AUDIT
COMMITTEE
Membership, Independence,
& Qualifications
Messrs. Kangas, as Chairman, Robbins and Weinroth are the
members of the Audit Committee. In the judgment of the Companys Board of
Directors, each member of the Audit Committee is independent as required by both
the rules of the NYSE and regulations of the SEC, and an audit committee
financial expert in accordance with SEC regulations.
Responsibilities of the
Audit Committee &
Charter
The Audit Committee oversees the Companys financial reporting process on
behalf of the Board of Directors and is governed by its Charter, which was
adopted in March 2000 and last amended on February 6, 2008. The Audit Committee
Charter is available on the Companys public website, www.khov.com, under
Investor Relations/Corporate Governance.
Policies & Procedures
Established By Audit Committee
In accordance
with SEC regulations, the Audit Committee has established procedures for the
appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the independent registered
public accounting firm engaged to prepare or issue an audit report or other
audit, review, or attest services. The Companys independent registered public
accounting firm will report directly to the Audit Committee, and the Audit
Committee is responsible for the resolution of disagreements between such firm
and management regarding financial reporting.
45
In fiscal year 2003, the Audit Committee established whistle blowing procedures as required by Section 301 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and Section 303A.07(c)(iii) of the NYSE Corporate Governance Rules. These procedures are discussed in the Companys Code of Ethics (Section IV.G.) which is available on the Companys public website at www.khov.com under Investor Relations/Governance.
Audit and Non-Audit
Services Pre-Approval
Policy
The Audit Committee has also established procedures for the pre-approval
of audit and non-audit services provided by an independent registered public
accounting firm. The Companys Audit and Non-Audit Services Pre-Approval
Policy (Pre-Approval Policy) was most recently reviewed and approved by the
Audit Committee at its meeting held on September 27,
2007.
As set
forth in the Pre-Approval Policy, audit services require specific approval by
the Audit Committee, except for certain services that have received general
pre-approval by the Audit
Committee.
In
accordance with the Pre-Approval Policy, the Audit Committee annually reviews
and pre-approves the services that may be provided by the independent registered
public accounting firm without obtaining specific pre-approval from the Audit
Committee. Prior to establishing the list of pre-approved services, the Audit
Committee determines if the Companys independent registered public accounting
firm is an effective provider of services. The Audit Committee may revise the
list of general pre-approved services from time to time, based on subsequent
determinations. For fiscal year 2008, there are four categories of services that
have received general pre-approval by the Audit Committee: Audit, Audit-Related,
Tax and All Other Services and the pre-approved dollar amount for such services
may not exceed $100,000 per
engagement.
The
Audit Committee may delegate to one or more of its members the authority to
approve in advance all significant audit or permitted non-audit services to be
provided by the independent registered public accounting firm, so long as
decisions are presented to the full Audit Committee at its next scheduled
meeting.
AUDIT COMMITTEE | |
Edward A. Kangas, Chair | |
John J. Robbins | |
Stephen D. Weinroth |
46
FEES PAID TO PRINCIPAL
ACCOUNTANT
Audit
Fees
The aggregate fees billed by Ernst & Young LLP for each of fiscal
year 2007 and fiscal year 2006 for professional services rendered for the audit
of our consolidated financial statements, for the reviews of the unaudited
condensed consolidated financial statements included in our Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods during fiscal years 2007 and 2006, the audit
of the effectiveness of the Companys internal control over financial reporting
as of October 31, 2007 and the audit of managements assessment of the
effectiveness of the Companys internal control over financial reporting as of
October 31, 2006, or for services normally provided by our independent
registered public accounting firm in connection with statutory or regulatory
filings or engagements, including comfort and consent letters in connection with
SEC filings and financing transactions, for those fiscal years were $3,615,000
and $3,663,000, respectively.
Audit-Related
Fees
The aggregate fees billed by Ernst & Young LLP in each of fiscal year
2007 and fiscal year 2006 for assurance and related services that were
reasonably related to performance of the audit or review of the
Companys consolidated financial statements and that are not reported under
Audit Fees above were $46,500 and $70,000, respectively. These services
consisted of employee benefit plan audits, accounting consultation and agreed
upon procedures for recent acquisitions.
Tax
Fees
The aggregate fees billed by Ernst & Young LLP in each of fiscal year
2007 and fiscal year 2006 for professional services rendered for tax compliance,
tax advice and tax planning were $56,000 and $53,000, respectively, which
services primarily included advisory services related to tax
structuring.
All Other
Fees
There were no fees billed in fiscal years 2007 or 2006 for products and
services provided by Ernst & Young LLP, other than the services described
above.
Pre-Approval Policies and
Procedures
All of the services covered under the captions Audit-Related Fees, Tax
Fees and All Other Fees were pre-approved by the Audit Committee. For a
discussion of the Audit Committees pre-approval policies and procedures, see
The Audit Committee above.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT
INDEPENDENCE
The Audit Committee has determined that the provision of all non-audit
services performed by Ernst & Young LLP were compatible with maintaining its
independence.
CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE
The Corporate Governance Committee is primarily responsible for reviewing
the Companys existing Corporate Governance Guidelines and further developing
such guidelines and other policies and procedures that enhance the Companys
corporate governance.
In
accordance with promoting strong corporate governance, the Company has adopted a
Code of Ethics that applies to its principal executive officer, principal
financial officer, controller and all other associates of the Company, including
its Directors and other officers. The Company has also adopted Corporate
Governance Guidelines.
The
Company makes available to the public various corporate governance related
information on its public website (www.khov.com) under Investor
Relations/Governance and to any shareholder who requests such information in
writing. Information on the website includes the Companys Code of Ethics,
Corporate Governance Guidelines (including the Related Person Transaction
Policy) and Committee Charters, including the Audit Committee Charter, the
Compensation Committee Charter, and the Corporate Governance Committee
Charter.
47
Shareholders, associates of the Company and other interested parties may communicate directly with the Board of Directors by corresponding to the address below. Correspondence will be discussed at the next scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors, or as indicated by the urgency of the matter.
Attn: Board of Directors of Hovnanian
Enterprises, Inc.
c/o Mr. Edward A. Kangas, Director & Chairman of the
Audit Committee
Privileged & Confidential
Hovnanian Enterprises,
Inc.
110 West Front Street
P.O. Box
500
Red Bank, N.J. 07701
The Companys non-employee Directors meet without management after each regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors. The presiding Director is selected at each meeting by the directors in attendance. Shareholders, associates of the Company and other interested parties may communicate directly with non-employee Directors as a group by corresponding to the address below. Members of the non-employee Director group include: Messrs. Coutts, Kangas, Marengi, Robbins and Weinroth. All non-employee Directors are independent in accordance with NYSE rules. Mr. Kangas will report to all non-employee Directors any correspondence which is received by him as indicated by the urgency of the matter, or at the next scheduled meeting of non-employee Directors.
Attn: Non-Employee Directors of Hovnanian
Enterprises, Inc.
c/o Mr. Edward A. Kangas, Director & Chairman of the
Audit Committee
Privileged & Confidential
Hovnanian Enterprises,
Inc.
110 West Front Street
P.O. Box
500
Red Bank, N.J. 07701
In addition, associates of the Company may anonymously report concerns or complaints via the K. Hovnanian Corporate Governance Hotline or following procedures as discussed in the Companys Code of Ethics.
48
Generally, the Related Person Transaction Policy applies to any current or proposed transaction in which:
Relationships
Mr. K. Hovnanian, the Chairman of the Board of Directors,
is the father of Mr. A. Hovnanian, the Chief Executive Officer and a member of
the Board of Directors.
Related
Transactions
The related transactions discussed below were entered into
prior to the adoption of our Related Person Transaction Policy and were approved
by the Board of Directors.
During the year ended October 31, 2003, we entered into an
agreement to purchase land in California for approximately $25.8 million from an
entity that is owned by a family relative of our Chairman of the Board and our
Chief Executive Officer. As of October 31, 2007, we have an option deposit of
$6.7 million related to this land acquisition agreement. In connection with this
agreement, we also have consolidated $9.2 million in accordance with FIN 46
under Consolidated inventory not owned in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Neither the Company nor the Chairman of the Board or Chief Executive Officer has
a financial interest in the relatives company from whom the land was
purchased.
During the year ended October 31, 2001, the Company entered into an
agreement to purchase land from an entity that is owned by a family relative of
our Chairman of the Board and our Chief Executive Officer, totaling $26.9
million. As of October 31, 2007, all of this property has been purchased, and
there are 4 of an original 726 lots remaining in inventory. Neither the Company
nor the Chairman of the Board or Chief Executive Officer has a financial
interest in the relatives company from whom the land was
purchased.
During the year ended October 31, 2007, an engineering firm owned by a
relative of our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer provided
services to the Company totalling $3.6 million. Neither the Company nor Chairman
of the Board or Chief Executive Officer has a financial interest in the
relatives company from whom the services were
provided.
In
December 2005, we entered into an agreement to purchase land in New Jersey from
an entity that is owned by family relatives of our Chairman of the Board and our
Chief Executive Officer at a base price of $25 million. The land will be
acquired in four phases over a period of 3 years from the date of acquisition of
the first phase. The purchase prices for phases two through four are subject to
an increase in the purchase price for the phase of not less than 7% per annum
from the date of the closing of the first phase or February 1, 2008 whichever
occurs earlier. As of the end of the fourth quarter of 2007, no land has been
acquired. A deposit in the amount of $500,000, however, has been made by the
Company. Neither the Company nor the Chairman of the Board or the Chief
Executive Officer has a financial interest in the relatives company from whom
the land will be purchased.
49
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING
THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE SHAREHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON
MARCH 31, 2008.
Our 2008 proxy statement, the Companys Annual Report to
Shareholders for the year ended October 31, 2007 (which is not deemed to be
part of the official proxy soliciting materials), proxy cards (for Class A
Common Stock shareholders and registered Class B Common Stock shareholders) and
any amendments to the foregoing materials that are required to be furnished to
shareholders are available online at
www.proxyvote.com.
For information on how to obtain directions to the Companys 2008 Annual
Meeting, please call our Investor Relations department at
1-800-815-9680.
GENERAL
The expense of this solicitation is to be borne by the
Company. The Company may also reimburse persons holding shares in their names or
in the names of their nominees for their expenses in sending proxies and proxy
materials to their principals.
Unless otherwise directed, the persons named in the proxy
card(s) intend to vote all shares represented by proxies received by them in
favor of the election of the nominees to the Board of Directors of the Company
named herein, in favor of the ratification of the selected independent
registered public accounting firm, for the approval of the Companys amended and
restated Senior Executive Short-Term Incentive Plan, for the approval of the
Companys 2008 Stock Incentive Plan, which is intended to supersede and replace
the Companys amended and restated 1999 Stock Incentive Plan, and for the
approval of the Companys amended and restated 1983 Stock Option Plan, as
recommended by the Board of Directors. All proxies will be voted as
specified.
Each
share of Class A Common Stock entitles the holder thereof to one vote and each
share of Class B Common Stock entitles the holder thereof to ten votes. Votes of
Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock will be counted together without
regard to class for proposals that require the affirmative vote of the holders
of a majority in voting power of all common stock represented in person or by
proxy at the 2008 Annual Meeting, voting together. All votes will be certified
by the Inspectors of Election, who are employees of the Company. Abstentions
will have the effect of votes against a proposal and broker non-votes will have
no effect on the vote.
Under NYSE rules, brokers may not vote shares on the proposal to approve
the Companys amended and restated Senior Executive Short-Term Incentive Plan,
the proposal to approve the Companys 2008 Stock Incentive Plan, or the proposal
to approve the Companys amended and restated 1983 Stock Option Plan, without
specific instructions on these proposals from their customers. In addition, in
order for these plans to be approved, NYSE rules require that a majority of the
outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, voting
together, are voted on the proposal and that a majority of the shares of common
stock voting on the proposal vote to approve the applicable
plan.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Companys amended Certificate of
Incorporation provides that each share of Class B Common Stock held, to the
extent of the Companys knowledge, in nominee name by a stockbroker, bank or
otherwise will be entitled to only one vote per share unless the Company is
satisfied that such shares have been held continuously, since the date of
issuance, for the benefit or account of the same named beneficial owner of such
shares (as defined in the amended Certificate of Incorporation) or any Permitted
Transferee (as defined in the amended Certificate of Incorporation). Beneficial
owners of shares of Class B Common Stock held in nominee name wishing to cast
ten votes for each share of such stock must properly complete their voting
instruction card, which is specially designed for beneficial owners of Class B
Common Stock. The Company has also supplied nominee holders of Class B Common
Stock with instructions and specially designed proxy cards to accommodate the
voting of the Class B Common Stock. In accordance with the Companys amended
Certificate of Incorporation, shares of Class B Common Stock held in nominee
name will be entitled to ten votes per share only if the beneficial
owner voting instruction card and the nominee proxy card relating to
such shares is properly completed, mailed, and received by Broadridge Financial
Solutions, Inc., the Companys proxy service facilitator, not less than 3 nor
more than 20 business days prior to March 31, 2008. Proxy cards should be mailed
to Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc., 51
Mercedes Way, Edgewood, N.Y., 11717.
50
Management does not intend to present any business at the meeting other than that set forth in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and it has no information that others will do so. If other matters requiring the vote of shareholders properly come before the meeting and any adjournments thereof, it is the intention of the persons named in the proxy cards to vote the shares represented by the proxies held by them in accordance with their judgment on such matters.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
FOR THE 2009 ANNUAL MEETING
Shareholder proposals for inclusion in the proxy materials related to the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders must be received by the Company no later than October 22, 2008. Shareholder proposals submitted after January 5, 2009 will be considered untimely for purposes of SEC Rule 14a-4.
By Order of the Board of Directors | |
HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. | |
Red Bank, New Jersey | |
February 19, 2008 |
51
Appendix
A
HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES,
INC.
SENIOR EXECUTIVE SHORT-TERM
INCENTIVE PLAN
(AS AMENDED AND RESTATED)
1. PURPOSE.
The purpose of the Senior Executive Short-Term Incentive Plan (the Plan) is to advance the interests of Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. (the Company), and its shareholders by providing incentives in the form of periodic bonus awards (Awards) to certain senior executive employees of the Company and its affiliates, thereby motivating such executives to attain corporate performance goals articulated under the Plan.
2. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) The Plan shall be administered by two or more individuals who are each non-employee directors within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor thereto, outside directors as defined under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), and independent directors within the meaning of the applicable rules, if any, of any national securities exchange on which shares of common stock of the Company are listed or admitted to trading, unless otherwise determined by the Companys Board of Directors to act as the committee (the Committee).
(b) The Committee shall have the exclusive authority to select the senior executives to be granted Awards under the Plan, to determine the size and terms of the Award (subject to the limitations imposed on Awards in Section 4 below), to modify the terms of any of the Award that has been granted (except for any modification that would increase the amount of the Award payable to an executive), to determine the time when Awards will be made and the performance period to which they relate, to establish performance objectives in respect of such performance periods, and to certify that such performance objectives were attained; provided, however, that any such action shall be consistent with the applicable provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code. The Committee is authorized to interpret the plan, to establish, amend and rescind any rules and regulations relating to the Plan, and to make any other determinations that it deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan. The Committee may correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan in the manner and to the extent the Committee deems necessary or desirable. Any decision of the Committee in the interpretation and administration of the Plan, as described herein, shall be final, conclusive and binding on all parties concerned.
3. PARTICIPATION.
Awards may be granted to senior executives of the Company and its affiliates who are covered employees, as defined in Section 162(m) of the Code, or who the Committee anticipates may become covered employees. An Executive to whom an Award is granted shall be a Participant.
4. AWARDS UNDER THE PLAN.
(a) A Participants Award shall be determined based on the attainment of written performance goals approved by the Committee in respect of a specified period of service (a performance period), which is established by the Committee (i) while the outcome for that performance period is substantially uncertain and (ii) not more than 90 days after the commencement of that performance period or, if less, the number of days which is equal to 25 percent of that performance period. The performance goals shall be based upon one or more of the following criteria: (i) earnings before or after taxes (including earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization); (ii) net income; (iii) operating income; (iv) earnings per share; (v) book value per share; (vi) return on stockholders equity; (vii) expense management; (viii) return on investment before or after the cost of capital; (ix) improvements in capital structure; (x) profitability of an identifiable business unit or product; (xi) maintenance or improvement of profit margins; (xii) stock price; (xiii) market share; (xiv) revenues or sales; (xv) costs; (xvi) cash flow; (xvii) working capital; (xviii) changes in net assets (whether or not multiplied by a constant percentage intended to represent the cost of capital); and (xix) return on assets. The foregoing criteria may relate to the Company, one or more of its affiliates or one or more of its divisions or units, or any combination of the foregoing, and may be applied on an absolute basis and/or be relative to one or more peer group companies or other indices, or any combination thereof, all as the Committee shall determine. In addition, to the degree consistent with Section 162(m) of the Code, the performance goals may be calculated without regard to extraordinary
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items. In any event, the performance goals shall be based on an objective formula or standard. The maximum amount of an Award to any Participant with respect to a fiscal year of the Company shall be to the greater of (x) $15,000,000 and (y) 2.5 percent (2.5%) of the Companys income before income taxes, as reported in the Companys audited consolidated financial statements for the year in respect of which the Award is to be payable or distributed, as applicable.
(b) The Committee shall determine whether, with respect to a performance period, the specified performance goals have been met with respect to any Participant and, if such goals have been met, shall so certify and shall ascertain the amount of the applicable Award. No Awards will be paid for any performance period until such applicable certification is made by the Committee. The amount of the Award actually paid to any Participant may, at the discretion of the Committee, be less than the amount determined by the applicable performance goal formula. The amount of the Award determined by the Committee in respect of a performance period shall be paid to the Participant at such time after the end of such performance period as shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion; provided, however, that a Participant may, if and to the extent permitted by the Committee, elect to defer receipt of an Award in a manner consistent with Sections 162(m) and 409A of the Code.
(c) The provisions of this Section 4 shall be administered and interpreted in accordance with Section 162(m) of the Code and all supporting regulations to ensure the deductibility by the Company or any of its affiliates of the payment of Awards.
(d) The Committee shall determine, in its discretion, whether an Award shall be payable in cash, common stock of the Company, or a combination thereof, which may include, without limitation, permitting a Participant to elect to defer receipt of all or any portion of such Award (in a manner consistent with Sections 162(m) and 409A of the Code) into a right to receive shares of common stock of the Company at a future date; provided, however, that the total number of shares of common stock of the Company (Shares) that may be issued under the Plan is 10,000,000 (giving effect to the Companys stock split on March 26, 2004). In the event of any change in the outstanding Shares by reason of any Share dividend or split, reorganization, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination or exchange of Shares or other corporate exchange or change in capital structure, any distribution to shareholders of Shares other than regular cash dividends or any similar event, the Committee in its sole discretion and without liability to any person shall make such substitution or adjustment, if any, as it deems to be equitable, as to (i) the number or kind of Shares or other securities that may be issued as set forth in this Section 4(d) or pursuant to outstanding Awards and/or (ii) any other affected terms of such Awards. Except as otherwise provided in an Award agreement, in the event of a Change in Control (as defined in the 2008 Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan (as the same may be amended from time to time)), the Committee in its sole discretion and without liability to any person may take such actions, if any, as it deems necessary or desirable with respect to any Award.
5. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN.
(a) The Committee may at any time, or from time to time, suspend or terminate the Plan in whole or in part or amend it in such respects as the Committee may deem appropriate.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan shall be made which (i) without the Participants consent, impairs any of the rights or obligations under any Award theretofore granted to a Participant under the Plan, (ii) without the approval of the shareholders of the Company (except as provided in Section 4(d) of the Plan) increases the total number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan or changes the maximum amount of any Award which may be payable or distributed to any Participant; provided, however, that the Committee may amend the Plan in such manner as it deems necessary to permit the granting of Awards meeting the requirements of the Code or other applicable laws.
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6. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.
(a) Determination made by the Committee under the Plan need not be uniform and may be made selectively among eligible individuals under the Plan, whether or not such eligible individuals are similarly situated. Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as giving any right to be retained as an employee of the Company or any affiliate thereof.
(b) A Participants rights or interest under the Plan may not be assigned or transferred, hypothecated or encumbered in whole or in part either directly or by operation of law or otherwise (except in the event of a Participants death) including, but not by way of limitation, execution, levy, garnishment, attachment, pledge, bankruptcy or in any other manner; provided, however, that, subject to applicable law, any amounts payable to any Participant hereunder are subject to reduction to satisfy any liabilities owed to the Company or any of its affiliates by the Participant. Any attempted assignment or transfer, hypothecation or encumbrance shall be void and of no effect.
(c) The Company and its affiliates shall have the right to deduct from any payment made under the Plan any federal, state, local or foreign income and other taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to such payment.
(d) Each person who is or at any time serves as a member of the Committee or the Companys Board of Directors shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from: (i) any loss, cost, liability or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by such person in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit or proceeding to which such person may be a party or in which such person may be involved by reason of any action or failure to act under the Plan; and (ii) any and all amounts paid by such person in satisfaction of judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding relating to the Plan. Each person covered by this indemnification shall give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before such person undertakes to handle and defend it on such persons own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the bylaws of the Company as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify such person or hold such person harmless.
(e) Each member of the Committee and the Companys Board of Directors shall be fully justified in relying or acting in good faith upon any report made by independent public accountants of, or counsel for, the Company and upon any other information furnished in connection with the Plan. In no event shall any person who is or shall have been a member of the Committee or the Companys Board of Directors be liable for any determination made or other action taken or any failure to act in reliance upon any such report or information or for any action taken, including without limitation the furnishing of information, or failure to act, if in good faith.
(f) All matters relating to the Plan or to Awards granted hereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.
(g) The Plan was originally effective as of November 1, 1999, as approved by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares of the Company then present or represented by proxy without payment therefor and entitled to vote, and the Plan was most recently submitted for re-approval by the Companys shareholders on March 31, 2008. Subject to Section 4(d) of the Plan, no Award may be granted under the Plan after the date of the Companys first shareholders meeting that occurs during 2013, but Awards theretofore granted may extend beyond that date.
A-3
Appendix
B
2008 HOVNANIAN
ENTERPRISES, INC.
STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
1. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN
The purpose of the Plan is to aid the Company and its Affiliates in recruiting and retaining key employees, directors and consultants of outstanding ability and to motivate such employees, directors and consultants to exert their best efforts on behalf of the Company and its Affiliates by providing incentives through the granting of Awards. The Company expects that it will benefit from the added interest which such key employees, directors or consultants will have in the welfare of the Company as a result of their proprietary interest in the Companys success. Upon approval by the Companys stockholders, the Plan is intended to supersede and replace the 1999 Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan, as amended and restated prior to the Effective Date (the 1999 Plan), and equity-based Awards that were previously granted under the 1999 Plan that remain outstanding shall be governed pursuant to the terms set forth herein.
2. DEFINITIONS
The following capitalized terms used in the Plan have the respective meanings set forth in this Section:
(a) Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor thereto.
(b) Affiliate: With respect to the Company, any entity directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, the Company or any other entity designated by the Board in which the Company or an Affiliate has an interest.
(c) Award: An Option, Stock Appreciation Right or Other Stock-Based Award granted pursuant to the Plan (including, without limitation, Awards granted under the 1999 Plan).
(d) Beneficial Owner: A beneficial owner, as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Act (or any successor rule thereto).
(e) Board: The Board of Directors of the Company.
(f) Change in Control:
The occurrence of any of the following events:
(i) any Person (other than a Person holding securities representing 10% or more of the combined voting power of the Companys outstanding securities as of the Effective Date, or any Family Member of such a Person, the Company, any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, or any company owned, directly or indirectly, by the shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company), becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company, representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Companys then-outstanding securities;
(ii) during any period of twenty-four consecutive months (not including any period prior to the Effective Date), individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board, and any new director (other than (A) a director nominated by a Person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Sections 2(f) (i), (iii) or (iv) of the Plan or (B) a director nominated by any Person (including the Company) who publicly announces an intention to take or to consider taking actions (including, but not limited to, an actual or threatened proxy contest) which if consummated would constitute a Change in Control) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Companys shareholders was approved in advance by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof;
(iii) the consummation of any transaction or series of transactions under which the Company is merged or consolidated with any other company, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the shareholders of the Company immediately prior thereto continuing to own (either by
B-1
remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 65% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation; or
(iv) the Company undergoes a complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Companys assets, other than a liquidation of the Company into a wholly-owned subsidiary.
(g) Code: The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor thereto.
(h) Committee: The Compensation Committee of the Board (or a subcommittee thereof as provided under Section 4), or such other committee of the Board to which the Board has delegated power to act under or pursuant to the provisions of the Plan, or the full Board.
(i) Company: Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any successors thereto.
(j) Disability: Inability of a Participant to perform in all material respects his duties and responsibilities to the Company, or any Subsidiary of the Company, by reason of a physical or mental disability or infirmity which inability is reasonably expected to be permanent and has continued (i) for a period of six consecutive months or (ii) such shorter period as the Committee may reasonably determine in good faith. The Disability determination shall be in the sole discretion of the Committee and a Participant (or his representative) shall furnish the Committee with medical evidence documenting the Participants disability or infirmity which is satisfactory to the Committee.
(k) Effective Date: February 6, 2008.
(l) Fair Market Value: On a given date, the closing price of the Shares as reported on such date on the Composite Tape of the principal national securities exchange on which such Shares are listed or admitted to trading, or, if no Composite Tape exists for such national securities exchange on such date, then on the principal national securities exchange on which such Shares are listed or admitted to trading, or, if the Shares are not listed or admitted on a national securities exchange, the arithmetic mean of the per Share closing bid price and per Share closing asked price on such date as quoted on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (or such market in which such prices are regularly quoted), or, if there is no market on which the Shares are regularly quoted, the Fair Market Value shall be the value established by the Committee in good faith. If no sale of Shares shall have been reported on such Composite Tape or such national securities exchange on such date or quoted on the National Association of Securities Dealer Automated Quotation System on such date, then the immediately preceding date on which sales of the Shares have been so reported or quoted shall be used.
(m) Family Member:
(i) any Person holding securities representing 10% or more of the combined voting power of the Companys outstanding securities as of the Effective Date;
(ii) any spouse of such a person;
(iii) any descendant of such a person;
(iv) any spouse of any descendant of such a person; or
(v) any trust for the benefit of any of the aforementioned persons.
(n) ISO: An Option that is also an incentive stock option granted pursuant to Section 6(d) of the Plan.
(o) LSAR: A limited stock appreciation right granted pursuant to Section 7(d) of the Plan.
(p) 1999 Plan: The 1999 Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan, as amended and restated prior to the Effective Date 1999.
(q) Other Stock-Based Awards: Awards granted pursuant to Section 8 of the Plan.
(r) Option: A stock option granted pursuant to Section 6 of the Plan.
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(s) Option Price: The purchase price per Share of an Option, as determined pursuant to Section 6(a) of the Plan.
(t) Participant: An employee, director or consultant of the Company or any of its Affiliates who is selected by the Committee to participate in the Plan.
(u) Performance-Based Awards: Certain Other Stock-Based Awards granted pursuant to Section 8(b) of the Plan.
(v) Person: A person, as such term is used for purposes of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Act (or any successor section thereto).
(w) Plan: The 2008 Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan.
(x) Shares: Shares of common stock of the Company.
(y) Stock Appreciation Right: A stock appreciation right granted pursuant to Section 7 of the Plan.
(z) Subsidiary: A subsidiary corporation, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code (or any successor section thereto).
3. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE
PLAN
Subject to Sections 4, 6(f) and
9 of the Plan (and giving effect to the Companys stock split on March 26,
2004), the total number of Shares which may be issued under the Plan pursuant to
grants of ISOs or other Awards (inclusive of Shares previously issued under the
1999 Plan) is 20,000,000 and the maximum number of Shares for which Options,
Stock Appreciation Rights, restricted Shares or restricted Share units may be
granted during a fiscal year (inclusive of any such Awards previously granted
under the 1999 Plan) to any Participant shall be 1,000,000. The Shares may
consist, in whole or in part, of unissued Shares or treasury Shares. The
issuance of Shares or the payment of cash upon the exercise of an Award or in
consideration of the cancellation or termination of an Award shall reduce the
total number of Shares available under the Plan, as applicable. Shares which are
subject to Awards which terminate or lapse without the payment of consideration
therefor may be granted again under the Plan.
4.
ADMINISTRATION
The Plan shall be
administered by the Committee, which may delegate its duties and powers in whole
or in part to any subcommittee thereof consisting solely of at least two
individuals who are each intended to qualify as non-employee directors within
the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Act (or any successor rule thereto),
outside directors within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code (or any
successor section thereto) and independent directors within the meaning of the
applicable rules, if any, of any national securities exchange on which Shares
are listed or admitted to trading; provided, however, that any action permitted
to be taken by the Committee may be taken by the Board, in its discretion. The
Committee is authorized to interpret the Plan, to establish, amend and rescind
any rules and regulations relating to the Plan, and to make any other
determinations that it deems necessary or desirable for the administration of
the Plan. The Committee may correct any defect or omission or reconcile any
inconsistency in the Plan in the manner and to the extent the Committee deems
necessary or desirable. Any decision of the Committee in the interpretation and
administrations of the Plan, as described herein, shall lie within its sole and
absolute discretion and shall be final, conclusive and binding on all parties
concerned (including, but not limited to Participants and their beneficiaries or
successors). Determinations made by the Committee under the Plan need not be
uniform and may be made selectively among Participants, whether or not such
Participants are similarly situated. Awards may, in the discretion of the
Committee, be made under the Plan in assumption of, or in substitution for,
outstanding awards previously granted by the Company or its Affiliates or a
company acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines. The number
of Shares underlying such substitute awards shall be counted against the
aggregate number of Shares available for Awards under the Plan. The Committee
shall require payment of any minimum amount it may determine to be necessary to
withhold for federal, state, local or other, taxes as a result of the exercise
or vesting of an Award. Unless the Committee specifies otherwise, the
Participant may elect to pay a portion or all of such minimum withholding taxes
by (a) delivery in Shares or (b) having Shares withheld by the Company from any
Shares that would have otherwise been received by the Participant. The number of
Shares so delivered or withheld shall have an aggregate Fair Market Value
sufficient to satisfy the applicable minimum withholding taxes. If the chief
executive officer of the Company is a member
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of the Board, the Board by specific resolution may constitute such chief executive officer as a committee of one which shall have the authority to grant Awards of up to an aggregate of 1,000,000 Shares (giving effect to the Companys stock split on March 26, 2004, and otherwise subject to the provisions of Section 9 of the Plan) in each fiscal year to Participants who are (i) not subject to the rules promulgated under Section 16 of the Act (or any successor section thereto) or (ii) covered employees (or anticipated to become covered employees) as such term is defined in Section 162(m) of the Code; provided, however, that such chief executive officer shall notify the Committee of any such grants made pursuant to this Section 4.
5.
LIMITATIONS
No Award may be granted
under the Plan after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date, but Awards
theretofore granted may extend beyond that date.
6. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF
OPTIONS
Options granted under the
Plan shall be, as determined by the Committee, non-qualified or incentive stock
options for federal income tax purposes, as evidenced by the related Award
agreements, and shall be subject to the foregoing and the following terms and
conditions and to such other terms and conditions, not inconsistent therewith,
as the Committee shall determine:
(a) Option Price. The Option Price per Share shall be determined by the Committee, but shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date an Option is granted (other than in the case of Options granted in substitution of previously granted awards, as described in Section 4).
(b) Exercisability. Options granted under the Plan shall be exercisable at such time and upon such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Committee, but in no event shall an Option be exercisable more than ten years after the date it is granted. The Committee may, in its discretion, accelerate the date after which Options may be exercised in whole or in part. If the chief executive officer of the Company is a member of the Board, the Board by specific resolution may constitute such chief executive officer as a committee of one which shall have the authority to accelerate the date after which Options may be exercised in whole or in part.
(c) Exercise of Options. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or in an Award agreement, an Option may be exercised for all, or from time to time any part, of the Shares for which it is then exercisable. For purposes of Section 6 of the Plan, the exercise date of an Option shall be the later of the date a notice of exercise is received by the Company and, if applicable, the date payment is received by the Company pursuant to clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) in the following sentence. The purchase price for the Shares as to which an Option is exercised shall be paid to the Company in full not later than at the time that the Shares being purchased are delivered to or at the direction of the Participant, in each case at the election of the Participant to the extent permitted by law and as designated by the Committee, (i) in cash, (ii) in Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the aggregate Option Price for the Shares being purchased and satisfying such other requirements as may be imposed by the Committee; provided, that such Shares have been held by the Participant for no less than six months (or such other period as established from time to time by the Committee in order to avoid adverse accounting treatment applying generally accepted accounting principles), (iii) partly in cash and partly in such Shares, (iv) through the delivery of irrevocable instruments to a broker to deliver promptly to the Company an amount equal to the aggregate Option Price for the Shares being purchased or (v) through net settlement in Shares. No Participant shall have any rights to dividends or other rights of a shareholder with respect to Shares subject to an Option until the Participant has given written notice of exercise of the Option, paid in full for such Shares and, if applicable, has satisfied any other conditions imposed by the Committee pursuant to the Plan.
(d) ISOs. The Committee may grant Options under the Plan that are intended to be ISOs. Such ISOs shall comply with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code (or any successor section thereto). No ISO may be granted to any Participant who at the time of such grant, owns more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any Subsidiary, unless (i) the Option Price for such ISO is at least 110% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the ISO is granted and (ii) the date on which such ISO terminates is a date not later than the day preceding the fifth anniversary of the date on which the ISO is granted. Any Participant who disposes of Shares acquired upon the exercise of an ISO either (i) within two years after the date of grant of such ISO or (ii) within one year after the transfer of such Shares to the Participant, shall notify the Company of such disposition
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and of the amount realized upon such disposition. All Options granted under the Plan are intended to be nonqualified stock options, unless the applicable Award agreement expressly states that the Option is intended to be an ISO. If an Option is intended to be an ISO, and if for any reason such Option (or portion thereof) shall not qualify as an ISO, then, to the extent of such nonqualification, such Option (or portion thereof) shall be regarded as a nonqualified stock option granted under the Plan; provided that such Option (or portion thereof) otherwise complies with the Plans requirements relating to nonqualified stock options. In no event shall any member of the Committee, the Company or any of its Affiliates (or their respective employees, officers or directors) have any liability to any Participant (or any other Person) due to the failure of an Option to qualify for any reason as an ISO.
(e) Attestation. Wherever in this Plan or any agreement evidencing an Award a Participant is permitted to pay the exercise price of an Option or taxes relating to the exercise of an Option by delivering Shares, the Participant may, subject to procedures satisfactory to the Committee, satisfy such delivery requirement by presenting proof of beneficial ownership of such Shares, in which case the Company shall treat the Option as exercised without further payment and/or shall withhold such number of Shares from the Shares acquired by the exercise of the Option, as appropriate.
(f) Repricing of Options. Notwithstanding any other provisions under the Plan, no action shall be taken under the Plan to (i) lower the exercise prices of any Company stock options after they are granted, (ii) exchange stock options for stock options with lower exercise prices or for other Awards (other than pursuant to Section 9 hereof) or (iii) take any other action that is treated as a repricing of stock options under generally accepted accounting principles; provided, however, that such actions shall be permitted to the extent approved by at least a majority of the Boards independent directors (as defined for purposes of The New York Stock Exchange listed company rules). Any such approved action shall be treated as a grant of a new Award to the extent required under Sections 162(m), 422 or 424 of the Code (for individuals who are covered employees under Section 162(m) of the Code at the time of such action, or for stock options that are intended to retain their status as ISOs).
7. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
(a) Grants. The Committee also may grant (i) a Stock Appreciation Right independent of an Option or (ii) a Stock Appreciation Right in connection with an Option, or a portion thereof. A Stock Appreciation Right granted pursuant to clause (ii) of the preceding sentence (A) may be granted at the time the related Option is granted or at any time prior to the exercise or cancellation of the related Option, (B) shall cover the same number of Shares covered by an Option (or such lesser number of Shares as the Committee may determine) and (C) shall be subject to the same terms and conditions as such Option except for such additional limitations as are contemplated by this Section 7 (or such additional limitations as may be included in an Award agreement).
(b) Terms. The exercise price per Share of a Stock Appreciation Right shall be an amount determined by the Committee but in no event shall such amount be less than the greater of (i) the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Stock Appreciation Right is granted or, in the case of a Stock Appreciation Right granted in conjunction with an Option, or a portion thereof, the Option Price of the related Option and (ii) an amount permitted by applicable laws, rules, restated By-laws or policies of regulatory authorities or stock exchanges. Each Stock Appreciation Right granted independent of an Option shall entitle a Participant upon exercise to an amount equal to (i) the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value on the exercise date of one Share over (B) the exercise price per Share, times (ii) the number of Shares covered by the Stock Appreciation Right. Each Stock Appreciation Right granted in conjunction with an Option, or a portion thereof, shall entitle a Participant to surrender to the Company the unexercised Option, or any portion thereof, and to receive from the Company in exchange therefor an amount equal to (i) the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value on the exercise date of one Share over (B) the Option Price per Share, times (ii) the number of Shares covered by the Option, or portion thereof, which is surrendered. The date a notice of exercise is received by the Company shall be the exercise date. Payment shall be made in Shares or in cash, or partly in Shares and partly in cash (any such Shares valued at such Fair Market Value), all as shall be determined by the Committee. Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised from time to time upon actual receipt by the Company of written notice of exercise stating the number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is being exercised. No fractional Shares will be issued in payment for Stock Appreciation Rights, but instead cash will be paid for a fraction or, if the Committee should so determine, the number of Shares will be rounded downward to the next whole Share.
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(c) Limitations. The Committee may impose, in its discretion, such conditions upon the exercisability or transferability of Stock Appreciation Rights as it may deem fit.
(d) Limited Stock Appreciation Rights. The Committee may grant LSARs that are exercisable upon the occurrence of specified contingent events. Such LSARs may provide for a different method of determining appreciation, may specify that payment will be made only in cash and may provide that any related Awards are not exercisable while such LSARS are exercisable. Unless the context otherwise requires, whenever the term Stock Appreciation Right is used in the Plan, such term shall include LSARs.
8. OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS
(a) Generally. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may grant or sell Awards of Shares, Awards of restricted Shares and Awards that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or are otherwise based on the Fair Market Value of, Shares (Other Stock-Based Awards). Such Other Stock-Based Awards shall be in such form, and dependent on such conditions, as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, the right to receive one or more Shares (or the equivalent cash value of such Shares) upon the completion of a specified period of service, the occurrence of an event and/or the attainment of performance objectives. Other Stock-Based Awards may be granted alone or in addition to any other Awards granted under the Plan. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall determine to whom and when Other Stock-Based Awards will be made, the number of Shares to be awarded under (or otherwise related to) such Other Stock-Based Awards; whether such Other Stock-Based Awards shall be settled in cash, Shares or a combination of cash and Shares; and all other terms and conditions of such Awards (including, without limitation, the vesting provisions thereof and provisions ensuring that all Shares so awarded and issued shall be fully paid and non-assessable).
(b) Performance-Based Awards. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, certain Other Stock-Based Awards granted under this Section 8 may be granted in a manner which is intended to be deductible by the Company under Section 162(m) of the Code (or any successor section thereto) (Performance-Based Awards). A Participants Performance-Based Award shall be determined based on the attainment of written performance goals approved by the Committee for a performance period established by the Committee (i) while the outcome for that performance period is substantially uncertain and (ii) no more than 90 days after the commencement of the performance period to which the performance goal relates or, if less, the number of days which is equal to 25 percent of the relevant performance period. The performance goals, which must be objective, shall be based upon one or more of the following criteria: (i) earnings before or after taxes (including earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization); (ii) net income; (iii) operating income; (iv) earnings per Share; (v) book value per Share; (vi) return on shareholders equity; (vii) expense management; (viii) return on investment; (ix) improvements in capital structure; (x) profitability of an identifiable business unit or product; (xi) maintenance or improvement of profit margins; (xii) stock price; (xiii) market share; (xiv) revenues or sales; (xv) costs; (xvi) cash flow; (xvii) working capital; (xviii) changes in net assets (whether or not multiplied by a constant percentage intended to represent the cost of capital); and (xix) return on assets. The foregoing criteria may relate to the Company, one or more of its Affiliates or one or more of its divisions or units, or any combination of the foregoing, and may be applied on an absolute basis and/or be relative to one or more peer group companies or indices, or any combination thereof, all as the Committee shall determine. In addition, to the degree consistent with Section 162(m) of the Code (or any successor section thereto), the performance goals may be calculated without regard to extraordinary items. In any event, the performance goals shall be based on an objective formula or standard. The maximum amount of a Performance-Based Award during a fiscal year to any Participant shall be equal to the greater of (x) $15,000,000 and (y) 2.5 percent (2.5%) of the Companys income before income taxes, as reported in the Companys audited consolidated financial statements for the year in respect of which the Performance-Based Award is to be payable or distributed, as applicable. The Committee shall determine whether, with respect to a performance period, the applicable performance goals have been met with respect to a given Participant and, if they have, shall so certify and ascertain the amount of the applicable Performance-Based Award. No Performance-Based Awards will be paid for such performance period until such certification is made by the Committee. The amount of the Performance-Based Award actually paid to a given Participant may be less than the amount determined by the applicable performance goal formula, at the discretion of the Committee. The amount of the Performance-Based Award determined by the Committee for a performance period shall be paid to
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the Participant at such time as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion after the end of such performance period; provided, however, that a Participant may, if and to the extent permitted by the Committee and consistent with the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code, elect to defer payment of a Performance-Based Award.
9. ADJUSTMENTS UPON CERTAIN
EVENTS
Notwithstanding any other
provisions in the Plan to the contrary, the following provisions shall apply to
all Awards granted under the Plan:
(a) Generally. In the event of any change in the outstanding Shares after the Effective Date by reason of any Share dividend or split, reorganization, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination or exchange of Shares or other corporate exchange or change in capital structure, any distribution to shareholders of Shares other than regular cash dividends or any similar event, the Committee in its sole discretion and without liability to any person shall make such substitution or adjustment, if any, as it deems to be equitable, as to (i) the number or kind of Shares or other securities issued or reserved for issuance as set forth in Section 3 of the Plan or pursuant to outstanding Awards, (ii) the Option Price, (iii) the maximum number or amount of Awards that may be granted to any Participant during a fiscal year and/or (iv) any other affected terms of such Awards.
(b) Change in Control. Except as otherwise provided in an Award agreement, in the event of a Change in Control, the Committee in its sole discretion and without liability to any person may take such actions, if any, as it deems necessary or desirable with respect to any Award (including, without limitation, (i) the acceleration of an Award, (ii) the payment of a cash amount in exchange for the cancellation of an Award which, in the case of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, may equal the excess, if any, of value of the consideration to be paid in the Change in Control transaction to holders of the same number of Shares subject to such Options or Stock Appreciation Rights (or, if no consideration is paid in any such transaction, the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to such Options or Stock Appreciation Rights) over the aggregate exercise price of such Options or Stock Appreciation Rights and/or (iii) the requiring of the issuance of substitute Awards that will substantially preserve the value, rights and benefits of any affected Awards previously granted hereunder) as of the date of the consummation of the Change in Control.
10. NO RIGHT TO
EMPLOYMENT
The granting of an Award
under the Plan shall impose no obligation on the Company or any Subsidiary to
continue the employment of a Participant and shall not lessen or affect the
Companys or Subsidiarys right to terminate the employment of such
Participant.
11. SUCCESSORS AND
ASSIGNS
The Plan shall be binding on
all successors and assigns of the Company and a Participant; including without
limitation, the estate of such Participant and the executor, administrator or
trustee of such estate, or any receiver or trustee in bankruptcy or
representative of the Participants creditors.
12. NONTRANSFERABILITY OF
AWARDS
Unless otherwise determined by
the Committee, an Award shall not be transferable or assignable by the
Participant otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Participant may transfer an Option (other than
an ISO) in whole or in party by gift or domestic relations order to a family
member of the Participant (a Permitted Transferee) and, following any such
transfer such Option or portion thereof shall be exercisable only by the
Permitted Transferee, provided that no such Option or portion thereof is
transferred for value, and provided further that, following any such transfer,
neither such Option or any portion thereof nor any right hereunder shall be
transferable other than to the Participant or otherwise than by will or the laws
of descent and distribution or be subject to attachment, execution or other
similar process. For purposes of this Section 12, family member includes any
child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former
spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law,
daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law, including adoptive
relationships, any person sharing the Participants household (other than a
tenant or employee), trust in which these persons have more than 50% of the
beneficial interest, a foundation in which these persons (or the Participant)
control the management of assets and any other entity in which these persons (or
the Participant) own more than 50% of the voting interests. An Award exercisable
after the death of a Participant may be exercised by the legatees, personal
representatives or distributees of the Participant.
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13. AMENDMENTS OR
TERMINATION
The Committee may amend,
alter or discontinue the Plan, but no amendment, alteration or discontinuation
shall be made which, (a) without the approval of the shareholders of the
Company, would (except as is provided in the Plan for adjustments in certain
events), increase the total number of Shares reserved for the purposes of the
Plan or change the maximum number of Shares for which Awards may be granted to
any Participant or (b) without the consent of a Participant, would impair any of
the rights or obligations under any Award theretofore granted to such
Participant under the Plan; provided, however, that the Committee may amend the
Plan in such manner as it deems necessary to permit the granting of Awards
meeting the requirements of the Code or other applicable laws. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary herein, the Committee may not amend, alter or
discontinue the provisions relating to Section 9(b) of the Plan after the
occurrence of a Change in Control.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to the extent applicable, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Plan and Awards issued hereunder shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretative guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the Effective Date. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event that the Committee determines that any amounts payable hereunder will be taxable to a Participant under Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance prior to payment to such Participant of such amount, the Company may (a) adopt such amendments to the Plan and Awards and appropriate policies and procedures, including amendments and policies with retroactive effect, that the Committee determines necessary or appropriate to preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided by the Plan and Awards hereunder and/or (b) take such other actions as the Committee determines necessary or appropriate to avoid the imposition of an additional tax under Section 409A of the Code.
14. INTERNATIONAL
PARTICIPANTS
With respect to
Participants who reside or work outside the United States of America and who are
not (and who are not expected to be) covered employees within the meaning of
Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, amend the
terms of the Plan or Awards with respect to such Participants in order to
conform such terms with the requirements of local law or to obtain more
favorable tax or other treatment for a Participant, the Company or an
Affiliate.
15. CHOICE OF
LAW
The Plan shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.
16. EFFECTIVENESS OF THE
PLAN
The Plan shall be effective as
of the Effective Date, subject to the approval of the Companys
shareholders.
17. SECTION
409A
Notwithstanding other provisions
of the Plan or any Award agreements thereunder, no Award shall be granted,
deferred, accelerated, extended, paid out or modified under this Plan in a
manner that would result in the imposition of an additional tax under Section
409A of the Code upon a Participant. In the event that it is reasonably
determined by the Committee that, as a result of Section 409A of the Code,
payments or deliveries of shares in respect of any Award under the Plan may not
be made at the time contemplated by the terms of the Plan or the relevant Award
agreement, as the case may be, without causing the Participant holding such
Award to be subject to taxation under Section 409A of the Code, the Company will
make such payment or delivery of shares on the first day that would not result
in the Participant incurring any tax liability under Section 409A of the Code.
In the case of a Participant who is a specified employee (within the meaning
of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code), payments and/or deliveries of shares
in respect of any Award subject to Section 409A of the Code that are linked to
the date of the Participants separation from service shall not be made prior to
the date which is six (6) months after the date of such Participants separation
from service from the Company and its affiliates, determined in accordance with
Section 409A of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder. The Company
shall use commercially reasonable efforts to implement the provisions of this
Section 17 in good faith; provided that neither the Company, the Committee nor
any of the Companys employees, directors or representatives shall have any
liability to Participants with respect to this Section 17.
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APPENDIX C
HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC.
1983 Stock Option
Plan
(As amended and restated February 6, 2008)
The purpose of the 1983 Stock Option Plan (the Plan) is to make stock options for Common Stock of Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. (the Company) available to certain officers and key employees of the Company and its subsidiaries to give them a greater personal interest in the success of the enterprise and an added incentive to continue and advance in their employment.
1. AMOUNT AND SOURCE OF STOCK: Except as otherwise permitted pursuant to paragraph 8 hereof, the total number of shares of the Companys Common Stock which may be issued under the Plan shall not exceed 2,000,000 (giving effect to the Companys stock split on March 26, 2004). These shares may be authorized and unissued shares or issued and reacquired shares, as the Board of Directors of the Company (the Board of Directors) may from time to time determine. The number of shares of the Companys Common Stock available for grant of options under the Plan shall be decreased by the sum of the number of shares with respect to which options have been issued and are then outstanding and the number of shares issued upon exercise of options, and shall be increased due to the expiration or termination of options which have not been exercised.
2. EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF PLAN: This Plan was previously made effective (prior to the current amendment and restatement) on May 4, 1990, subject to shareholder approval. Paragraph 5(h) of the Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors on February 6, 2008, subject to shareholder approval. Options may be granted under the Plan on or before March 8, 2005.
3. ADMINISTRATION: The Plan shall be administered by a committee of the Board of Directors (the Committee) consisting of not less than three directors of the Company to be appointed by, and to serve at the pleasure of, the Board of Directors. The Committee shall have full power to interpret the Plan and to establish and amend rules and regulations for its administration. The Board of Directors may from time to time appoint members of the Board of Directors in substitution for or in addition to members previously appointed and may fill vacancies in the Committee. The Board of Directors or the Committee may establish a subcommittee (the Subcommittee) to award options to such key employees (other than executive officers) as the Subcommittee shall determine subject to such limitations as may be set by the Board of Directors. The Subcommittee shall consist of one or more directors of the Company who shall be appointed by the Board of Directors or by the Committee and who may but need not be members of the Committee.
4. SELECTION: From time to time the Committee shall determine, from among the key employees of the Company or its subsidiaries, which of such employees shall be granted options under the Plan (the Optionees), the number of shares subject to each option, and whether each option shall comply with the provisions of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code) and be designated an Incentive Stock Option.
5. TERMS OF OPTIONS:
(a) Option Period and Exercise of Options: The Committee shall determine in its discretion the dates after which each option granted under the Plan (an Option) may be exercised in whole or in part and the date after which such Option may no longer be exercised (the Termination Date), which date shall not be later than the day preceding the tenth anniversary of the date when granted. The Committee may, in its discretion, accelerate the date after which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part. If the chief executive officer of the Company is a member of the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors by specific resolution may constitute such chief executive officer as a committee of one which shall have the authority to accelerate the date after which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part. In exercising an Option, the Optionee may exercise less than the full installment available to the Optionee, but the Optionee must exercise the Option in full shares of Common Stock of the Company. An Option which has not been exercised on or prior to its Termination Date shall be cancelled.
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(b) Option Price: The purchase price per share of Common Stock purchased under Options granted pursuant to the Plan (the Option Price) shall be determined by the Committee and shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock of the Company on the date the Option is granted. The Fair Market Value of the Common Stock of the Company on the date of the Companys initial public offering of Common Stock shall be the public offering price. On any subsequent date, the Fair Market Value shall be deemed, for all purposes under this Plan, to be the closing price of the Common Stock of the Company reported as having occurred on any Stock Exchange on which the Companys Common Stock may be listed and traded on such date, or if there is no such sale on that date, then on the last preceding date on which such a sale was reported. The Option Price shall be paid in full upon the exercise of the Option by certified or bank cashiers check payable to the order of the Company, by the surrender or delivery to the Company of shares of its Common Stock or by any other means acceptable to the Committee, and the stock purchased shall thereupon be promptly delivered, provided, however, that the Committee may, in its discretion, require that an Optionee pay to the Company at the time of exercise, or at such later date as the Company shall specify, such amount as the Committee deems necessary to satisfy the Companys obligation to withhold Federal, state or local income or other taxes incurred by reason of the exercise or the transfer of shares thereupon. No Optionee or his legal representatives, legatees or distributees, as the case may be, will be deemed to be a holder of any shares pursuant to exercise of an Option until the date of the issuance of a stock certificate to him for such shares. Any cash proceeds of the sale of stock subject to Options are to be added to the general funds of the Company and used for its general corporate purposes. In no event shall the Option Price be less than the par value of a share of Common Stock of the Company.
(c) Special Rules Regarding Incentive Stock Options Granted to Certain Employees: Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section, no Incentive Stock Option shall be granted to any employee who, at the time the Option is granted, owns (directly, or within the meaning of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than ten percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any subsidiary corporation, unless (a) the Option Price under the Option is at least 110 percent of the Fair Market Value of the stock subject to the Option at the time of the grant and (b) the Option by its terms is not exercisable after the expiration of five years from the date it is granted.
(d) Escrow Account and Special Rules Regarding Incentive Stock Options Granted Prior to May 4, 1990: Notwithstanding the foregoing paragraphs, the Optionee may, in the sole discretion of the Committee, purchase the full number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which the Option has been granted, subject to the condition that any shares of Common Stock transferred to the Optionee under installments of the Option which would not have been currently exercisable (in accordance with the terms of the preceding paragraph) shall be placed in an escrow account (Escrow Account). Shares held in the Escrow Account shall be registered in the name of the Optionee, and all dividend, voting, liquidation and other rights of ownership with respect to shares held in the Escrow Account shall belong to the Optionee, except that the Optionee may not sell, pledge, or otherwise transfer such shares. As shares held in the Escrow Account would have become exercisable (in accordance with the terms of the preceding paragraph) they shall be withdrawn from the Escrow Account. The Optionee shall have free and clear title to all shares withdrawn from the Escrow Account, including the right to sell, pledge or otherwise transfer the shares. Upon termination of the Optionees employment with the Company or a subsidiary thereof, all shares held in the Escrow Account on the date of termination of employment shall be subject to a right of repurchase in favor of the Company. The period of the right of repurchase shall run for 30 days commencing with the date the Optionees employment with the Company or a subsidiary thereof terminates. During the period of the right of repurchase the Company shall have the right to repurchase from the Optionee at the Option Price all shares held in the Escrow Account.
Notwithstanding the foregoing paragraphs, Incentive Stock Options granted prior to May 4, 1990 shall, by their terms, not be exercisable while there is outstanding any Incentive Stock Option which was granted, before the granting of such option, to such Optionee to purchase stock in the Company or in a corporation which at the time of the granting of such option is a subsidiary corporation of the Company or in a predecessor corporation of the Company or any such subsidiary. For the purpose of this paragraph an Incentive stock Option is outstanding until it is exercised in full or expires by reason of lapse of time. For the purposes of this paragraph the term predecessor corporation means a corporation which was
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a party to a transaction described in Section 424(a) of the Code (irrespective of whether a substitution or assumption under such section was in fact effected) with the Company or a corporation which at the time the new Incentive Stock Option is granted is a related corporation of the Company or a predecessor corporation of any such corporations.
(e) Nontransferability of Options: Each option shall, during the Optionees lifetime, be exercisable only by the Optionee, and neither it nor any right hereunder shall be transferable otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or be subject to attachment, execution or other similar process. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Optionee may transfer an option in whole or in part by gift or domestic relations order to a family member of the Optionee (a Permitted Transferee) and, following any such transfer such option or portion thereof shall be exercisable only by the Permitted Transferee, provided that no such option or portion thereof is transferred for value, and provided further that, following any such transfer, neither such option or any portion thereof nor any right hereunder shall be transferable other than to the Optionee or otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or be subject to attachment, execution or other similar process. For purposes of this paragraph, family member includes any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships, any person sharing the Optionees household (other than a tenant or employee), trust in which these persons have more than fifty percent of the beneficial interest, a foundation in which these persons (or the Optionee) control the management of assets and any other entity in which these persons (or the Optionee) own more than fifty percent of the voting interests. In the event of any attempt by the Optionee to alienate, assign, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of his Option or of any right hereunder, except as provided for herein, or in the event of any levy or any attachment, execution or similar process upon the rights or interest hereby conferred, the Company may terminate his Option by notice to the Optionee and it shall thereupon become null and void.
(f) Cessation of Employment of Optionee: If, prior to the Termination Date, the Optionee ceases to be employed by the Company or a subsidiary thereof (otherwise than by reason of death or disability within the meaning of Code Section 22(e)(3)), each Option (other than an Incentive Stock Option granted prior to March 8, 2002) to the extent not previously exercised shall remain exercisable prior to the Termination Date for a period of sixty days from the date of cessation of employment, and thereafter all Options to the extent not previously exercised shall terminate together with all other rights hereunder.
(g) Death or Disability of Optionee: In the event of the death of the Optionee, prior to the Termination Date, while employed by the Company or a subsidiary thereof, each Option shall immediately become exercisable and shall remain exercisable prior to the Termination Date for a period of one year after the date of the Optionees death by the person or persons to whom the Optionees rights under each Option shall pass by will or by the applicable laws of descent and distribution, and thereafter all Options to the extent not previously exercised shall terminate together with all other rights hereunder. If, prior to the Termination Date, the Optionee ceases to be employed by the Company or a subsidiary thereof by reason of disability within the meaning of Code section 22(e)(3), each Option shall immediately become exercisable and shall remain exercisable prior to the Termination Date for a period of one year from the date of cessation of employment, and thereafter all Options to the extent not previously exercised shall terminate together with all other rights hereunder.
(h) Repricing of Options: Notwithstanding any other provisions under the Plan, no action shall be taken under the Plan to (i) lower the exercise prices of any Company stock options after they are granted, (ii) exchange stock options for stock options with lower exercise prices or for other equity-based awards (other than pursuant to paragraph 8 hereof) or (iii) take any other action that is treated as a repricing of stock options under generally accepted accounting principles; provided, however, that such actions shall be permitted to the extent approved by at least a majority of the Boards independent directors (as defined for purposes of The New York Stock Exchange listed company rules). To the extent that any such approved action would be treated as a grant of a new stock option under Section 162(m) of the Code (for individuals who are covered employees under Section 162(m) of the Code at the time of such action) or
C-3
under Sections 422 or 424 of the Code (for stock options intended to retain their status as Incentive Stock Options), the new grants shall be deemed to have been made under the 2008 Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan (or any successor plan thereto).
6. LIMITATION ON GRANTS OF INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS: With respect to Incentive Stock Options granted prior to May 4, 1990, the aggregate fair market value (determined as of the date the Option is granted) of the Common Stock for which any employee may be granted Incentive Stock Options in any calendar year under this and any other stock option plan maintained by the Company and/or its subsidiaries shall not exceed (a) $100,000 plus (b) the carryover amount for that calendar year. The carryover amount with respect to a calendar year shall equal (a) one-half of the sum of the excess, for each of the preceding three calendar years (excluding years prior to 1981) of $100,000 over the fair market value (determined as of the time the option is granted) of the Common Stock for which the employee was granted incentive stock options under this and any other stock option plan maintained by the Company and/or its subsidiaries, minus (b) the amount of any such excess used as a carryover amount in the grant of incentive stock options in any preceding calendar year. For purposes of this paragraph, the amount of options granted in any calendar year shall be treated as first using up the $100,000 limitation for that year and any additional grants shall be treated as using up unused carryover amounts in the order of the calendar years in which the carryover amounts arose.
With respect to Incentive Stock Options granted subsequent to December 31, 1986, the aggregate fair market value (determined as of the date the Option is granted) of the Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time in any calendar year under this and any other stock option plan maintained by the Company and/or its subsidiaries shall not exceed $100,000.
7. INSTRUMENT OF GRANT: The terms and conditions of each Option granted under the Plan shall be set forth in an instrument designated Incentive Stock Option Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit 1 attached hereto and made a part hereof if the Committee determines that such Option shall be an Incentive Stock Option under the provisions of section 422 of the Code. Otherwise, the terms and conditions of each Option granted under the Plan shall be set forth in an instrument designated Stock A-4 Option Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit 2 attached hereto and made a part hereof. The Committee may make such modifications in the provisions of the instrument of grant as it shall deem advisable or as may be required by any provision of the Code.
8. ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN STOCK: If (a) the Company shall at any time be involved in a transaction to which subsection (a) of section 424 of the Code is applicable; (b) the Company shall declare a dividend payable in, or shall subdivide or combine, its Common Stock; or (c) any other event shall occur which in the judgment of the Board of Directors necessitates action by way of adjusting the terms of the outstanding Options, the Board of Directors shall forthwith take any such action as in its judgment shall be necessary to preserve for the Optionees rights substantially proportionate to the rights existing prior to such event and to the extent that such action shall include an increase or decrease in the number of shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding Options, the number of shares available under paragraph 1 above shall be increased or decreased, as the case may be, proportionately. The judgment of the Board of Directors with respect to any matter referred to in this paragraph shall be conclusive and binding upon each Optionee.
9. AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION: The Board may amend, alter or discontinue the Plan, but no amendment, alteration or discontinuation shall be made which, (a) without the approval of the shareholders of the Company, would increase the total number of shares reserved for the purposes of the Plan or change the maximum number of shares for which Options may be granted to any Optionee or (b) without the consent of an Optionee, would impair any of the rights or obligations under any Option theretofore granted to such Optionee under the Plan; provided, however, that the Compensation Committee may amend the Plan in such manner as it deems necessary to permit the granting of Options meeting the requirements of the Code or other applicable laws.
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10. PLAN DOES NOT CONFER EMPLOYMENT OR STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS: The right of the Company or any subsidiary thereof to terminate (whether by dismissal, discharge, retirement or otherwise) the Optionees employment with it at any time at will, or as otherwise provided by any agreement between the Company and the Optionee, is specifically reserved. Neither the Optionee nor any person entitled to exercise the Optionees rights in the event of the Optionees death shall have any rights of a stockholder with respect to the shares subject to each Option, except to the extent that a certificate for such shares shall have been issued upon the exercise of each Option as provided for herein.
11. DEFINITION: As used in the Plan the term subsidiary shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 424 of the Code and in addition shall include both foreign and domestic subsidiaries and any corporation which becomes a subsidiary after the date of adoption of the Plan.
C-5
HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. 110 WEST FRONT STREET P.O. BOX 500 RED BANK, NJ 07701 |
VOTE BY INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com |
Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time the day before the cut-off date or meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form. |
ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE SHAREHOLDER
COMMUNICATIONS |
If you would like to reduce the costs incurred by Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to receiving all future proxy statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronically via e-mail or the Internet. To sign up for electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to vote using the Internet and, when prompted, indicate that you agree to receive or access shareholder communications electronically in future years. |
VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903 |
Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time the day before the cut-off date or meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions. |
VOTE BY MAIL |
Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope, if we have provided, or return it to Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717. |
If you vote over the Internet or by telephone, please do not mail your card. |
TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS: | HVNEN1 | KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS | |
DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY | |||
THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED. |
HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. | ||||||
Proposals to be voted on at our Annual Meeting are listed below along with the Board of Directors' recommendations. | ||||||
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR each of the nominees listed in proposal 1 and FOR proposals 2, 3, 4 and 5. | ||||||
Vote On Directors | ||||||
1. | Election of directors. | |||||
Nominees: | ||||||
01) | Kevork S. Hovnanian | 05) | Joseph A. Marengi | |||
02) | Ara K. Hovnanian | 06) | John J. Robbins | |||
03) | Robert B. Coutts | 07) | J. Larry Sorsby | |||
04) | Edward A. Kangas | 08) | Stephen D. Weinroth |
For All |
Withhold All |
For
All Except |
To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark For All Except and write the number(s) of the nominee(s) on the line below. | ||||
o | o | o |
|
Vote On Proposals | For | Against | Abstain | |||
2. | Ratification of the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2008. | o | o | o | ||
3. | Approval of the Company's amended and restated Senior Executive Short-Term Incentive Plan. | o | o | o |
For | Against | Abstain | |||
4. | Approval of the Company's 2008 Stock Incentive Plan, which is intended to supersede and replace the Company's amended and restated 1999 Stock Incentive Plan. | o | o | o | |
5. | Approval of the Company's amended and restated 1983 Stock Option Plan. | o | o | o |
6. | Consideration of such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting and any adjournments thereof. | ||||
For address changes and/or comments, please check this box and write them on the back where indicated. | o | ||||
Yes | No | ||||
Please indicate if you plan to attend this meeting. | o | o | |||
Please mark, sign, date and return the proxy card promptly. This Proxy must be signed exactly as name appears hereon. Executors, administrators, trustees, etc., should give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign the full corporate name by a duly authorized officer. |
Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] | Date | Signature (Joint Owners) | Date |
DIRECTIONS TO THE 2008 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC.
Please call our Investor Relations department at 1-800-815-9680 for directions to the Company's 2008 Annual Meeting.
Important Notice Regarding
Internet Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting:
The
Notice and Proxy Statement and Annual Report are available at
www.proxyvote.com.
PROXY
HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC.
Class A Common Stock
This Proxy is Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Directors
The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Peter S. Reinhart and Paul W. Buchanan, and each of them, his true and lawful agents and proxies with full power of substitution in each, to represent the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. to be held at the offices of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, 425 Lexington Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10017, at 10:30 a.m. on March 31, 2008, and at any adjournments thereof, upon the matters set forth in the Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement dated February 19, 2008 and upon all other matters properly coming before said meeting.
This proxy when properly executed will be voted (1) FOR the election of the nominees to the Board of Directors; (2) FOR the ratification of the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending October 31, 2008; (3) FOR approval of the Company's amended and restated Senior Executive Short-Term Incentive Plan; (4) FOR approval of the Company's 2008 Stock Incentive Plan, which is intended to supersede and replace the Company's amended and restated 1999 Stock Incentive Plan; (5) FOR approval of the Company's amended and restated 1983 Stock Option Plan; and (6) on any other matters in accordance with the discretion of the named proxies and agents, if no instructions to the contrary are indicated in items (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5).
Address Changes/Comments: | |
(If you noted any Address Changes/Comments above, please mark corresponding box on the reverse side.)
SEE REVERSE SIDE |
CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE |
SEE
REVERSE SIDE |
HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. 110 WEST FRONT STREET P.O. BOX 500 RED BANK, NJ 07701 |
ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE SHAREHOLDER
COMMUNICATIONS |
If you would like to reduce the costs incurred by Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to receiving all future proxy statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronically via e-mail or the Internet. To sign up for electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to vote using the Internet and, when prompted, indicate that you agree to receive or access shareholder communications electronically in future years. |
VOTE BY MAIL |
Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717. Voting instructions must be received not less than 3 nor more than 20 business days prior to the meeting date. |
TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS: | HVNEN3 | KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS | |
DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY | |||
THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED. |
HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. | ||||||
Proposals to be voted on at our Annual Meeting are listed below along with the Board of Directors' recommendations. | ||||||
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR each of the nominees listed in proposal 1 and FOR proposals 2, 3, 4 and 5. | ||||||
Vote On Directors | ||||||
1. | Election of directors. | |||||
Nominees: | ||||||
01) | Kevork S. Hovnanian | 05) | Joseph A. Marengi | |||
02) | Ara K. Hovnanian | 06) | John J. Robbins | |||
03) | Robert B. Coutts | 07) | J. Larry Sorsby | |||
04) | Edward A. Kangas | 08) | Stephen D. Weinroth |
For All |
Withhold All |
For
All Except |
To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark For All Except and write the number(s) of the nominee(s) on the line below. | ||||
o | o | o |
|
Vote On Proposals | For | Against | Abstain | |||
2. | Ratification of the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2008. | o | o | o | ||
3. | Approval of the Company's amended and restated Senior Executive Short-Term Incentive Plan. | o | o | o |
For | Against | Abstain | |||
4. | Approval of the Company's 2008 Stock Incentive Plan, which is intended to supersede and replace the Company's amended and restated 1999 Stock Incentive Plan. | o | o | o | |
5. | Approval of the Company's amended and restated 1983 Stock Option Plan. | o | o | o |
6. | Consideration of such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting and any adjournments thereof. | ||||
For address changes and/or comments, please check this box and write them on the back where indicated. | o | ||||
Yes | No | ||||
Please indicate if you plan to attend this meeting. | o | o | |||
Please mark, sign, date and return the proxy card promptly. This Proxy must be signed exactly as name appears hereon. Executors, administrators, trustees, etc., should give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign the full corporate name by a duly authorized officer. |
Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] | Date | Signature (Joint Owners) | Date |
DIRECTIONS TO THE 2008 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC.
Please call our Investor Relations department at 1-800-815-9680 for directions to the Company's 2008 Annual Meeting.
Important Notice Regarding
Internet Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting:
The
Notice and Proxy Statement and Annual Report are available at
www.proxyvote.com.
PROXY
HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC.
Nominee Holder of Class B Common Stock
This Proxy is Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Directors
The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Peter S. Reinhart and Paul W. Buchanan, and each of them, his true and lawful agents and proxies with full power of substitution in each, to represent the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. to be held in the offices of Simpson Thacher & Barllett LLP, 425 Lexington Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10017, at 10:30 a.m. on March 31, 2008, and at any adjournments thereof, upon the matters set forth in the notice of meeting and Proxy Statement dated February 19, 2008 and upon all other matters properly coming before said meeting.
This proxy when properly executed will be voted (1) FOR the election of the nominees to the Board of Directors; (2) FOR the ratification of the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending October 31, 2008; (3) FOR approval of the Company's amended and restated Senior Executive Short-Term Incentive Plan; (4) FOR approval of the Company's 2008 Stock Incentive Plan, which is intended to supersede and replace the Company's amended and restated 1999 Stock Incentive Plan; (5) FOR approval of the Company's amended and restated 1983 Stock Option Plan; and (6) on any other matters in accordance with the discretion of the named proxies and agents, if no instructions to the contrary are indicated in items (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5).
According to the certification of the beneficial owner of the shares represented by this proxy, such beneficial owner (A) has been the beneficial owner of _______ of such shares continuously since the date of their issuance or is a Permitted Transferee (as defined in paragraph 4(A)(i) of paragraph FOURTH of the Company's amended Certificate of Incorporation) of any such beneficial owner and (B) has not been the beneficial owner of ______ of such shares continuously since the date of their issuance nor a Permitted Transferee of any such beneficial owner.
If no certification is made by the beneficial owner of the shares represented by this proxy, it will be deemed that all shares of Class B Common Stock represented by this proxy have not been held continuously, since the date of issuance, for the benefit or account of the same beneficial owner of the shares represented by this proxy or any Permitted Transferee.
Address Changes/Comments: | |
(If you noted any Address Changes/Comments above, please mark corresponding box on the reverse side.)
SEE REVERSE SIDE |
CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE |
SEE
REVERSE SIDE |
HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. 110 WEST FRONT STREET P.O. BOX 500 RED BANK, NJ 07701 |
VOTE BY INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com |
Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time the day before the cut-off date or meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form. |
ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE SHAREHOLDER
COMMUNICATIONS |
If you would like to reduce the costs incurred by Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to receiving all future proxy statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronically via e-mail or the Internet. To sign up for electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to vote using the Internet and, when prompted, indicate that you agree to receive or access shareholder communications electronically in future years. |
VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903 |
Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time the day before the cut-off date or meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions. |
VOTE BY MAIL |
Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope, if we have provided, or return it to Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717. |
If you vote over the Internet or by telephone, please do not mail your card. |
TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS: | HVNEN7 | KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS | |
DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY | |||
THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED. |
HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. | ||||||
Proposals to be voted on at our Annual Meeting are listed below along with the Board of Directors' recommendations. | ||||||
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR each of the nominees listed in proposal 1 and FOR proposals 2, 3, 4 and 5. | ||||||
Vote On Directors | ||||||
1. | Election of directors. | |||||
Nominees: | ||||||
01) | Kevork S. Hovnanian | 05) | Joseph A. Marengi | |||
02) | Ara K. Hovnanian | 06) | John J. Robbins | |||
03) | Robert B. Coutts | 07) | J. Larry Sorsby | |||
04) | Edward A. Kangas | 08) | Stephen D. Weinroth |
For All |
Withhold All |
For
All Except |
To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark For All Except and write the number(s) of the nominee(s) on the line below. | ||||
o | o | o |
|
Vote On Proposals | For | Against | Abstain | |||
2. | Ratification of the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2008. | o | o | o | ||
3. | Approval of the Company's amended and restated Senior Executive Short-Term Incentive Plan. | o | o | o |
For | Against | Abstain | |||
4. | Approval of the Company's 2008 Stock Incentive Plan, which is intended to supersede and replace the Company's amended and restated 1999 Stock Incentive Plan. | o | o | o | |
5. | Approval of the Company's amended and restated 1983 Stock Option Plan. | o | o | o |
6. | Consideration of such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting and any adjournments thereof. | ||||
For address changes and/or comments, please check this box and write them on the back where indicated. | o | ||||
Yes | No | ||||
Please indicate if you plan to attend this meeting. | o | o | |||
Please mark, sign, date and return the proxy card promptly. This Proxy must be signed exactly as name appears hereon. Executors, administrators, trustees, etc., should give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign the full corporate name by a duly authorized officer. |
Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] | Date | Signature (Joint Owners) | Date |
DIRECTIONS TO THE 2008 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC.
Please call our Investor Relations department at 1-800-815-9680 for directions to the Company's 2008 Annual Meeting.
Important Notice Regarding
Internet Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting:
The
Notice and Proxy Statement and Annual Report are available at
www.proxyvote.com.
PROXY
HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC.
Class B Common Stock
This Proxy is Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Directors
The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Peter S. Reinhart and Paul W. Buchanan, and each of them, his true and lawful agents and proxies with full power of substitution in each, to represent the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. to be held at the offices of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, 425 Lexington Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10017, at 10:30 a.m. on March 31, 2008, and at any adjournments thereof, upon the matters set forth in the Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement dated February 19, 2008 and upon all other matters properly coming before said meeting.
This proxy when properly executed will be voted (1) FOR the election of the nominees to the Board of Directors; (2) FOR the ratification of the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending October 31, 2008; (3) FOR approval of the Company's amended and restated Senior Executive Short-Term Incentive Plan; (4) FOR approval of the Company's 2008 Stock Incentive Plan, which is intended to supersede and replace the Company's amended and restated 1999 Stock Incentive Plan; (5) FOR approval of the Company's amended and restated 1983 Stock Option Plan; and (6) on any other matters in accordance with the discretion of the named proxies and agents, if no instructions to the contrary are indicated in items (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5).
Address Changes/Comments: | |
(If you noted any Address Changes/Comments above, please mark corresponding box on the reverse side.)
SEE REVERSE SIDE |
CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE |
SEE
REVERSE SIDE |
VOTE BY MAIL |
Mark, sign and date your voting instruction card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717. Voting instructions must be received not less than 3 nor more than 20 business days prior to the meeting date. |
VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD
HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. Beneficial Holder of Class B Common Stock |
TO PROVIDE INSTRUCTIONS TO VOTE, MARK
BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS: |
HONAN9 |
|
|||||||
PLEASE "X" HERE ONLY IF YOU PLAN TO
ATTEND THE MEETING AND VOTE THESE SHARES IN PERSON |
o | ||||||
THIS VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED. | |||||||
Instruction to Vote on Directors | |||||
Proposals to be voted on at our Annual Meeting are listed below along with the Board of Directors' recommendations. | |||||
1. | Election of directors: | ||||
Nominees: | |||||
(01) | Kevork S. Hovnanian | (05) | Joseph A. Marengi | ||
(02) | Ara K. Hovnanian | (06) | John J. Robbins | ||
(03) | Robert B. Coutts | (07) | J. Larry Sorsby | ||
(04) | Edward A. Kangas | (08) | Stephen D. Weinroth | ||
For All |
Withhold All |
For
All Except |
To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark For All Except and write the number(s) of the nominee(s) on the line below. | |||
o | o | o |
|
Instruction to Vote on Proposals | For | Against | Abstain | ||
2. | Ratification of the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2008. | o | o | o | |
3. | Approval of the Company's amended and restated Senior Executive Short-Term Incentive Plan. | o | o | o | |
4. | Approval of the Company's 2008 Stock Incentive Plan, which is intended to supersede and replace the Company's amended and restated 1999 Stock Incentive Plan. | o | o | o |
For | Against | Abstain | |||
5. | Approval of the Company's amended and restated 1983 Stock Option Plan. | o | o | o | |
6. | Consideration of such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting and any adjournments thereof. |
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR each of the nominees listed in proposal 1 and FOR proposals 2, 3, 4 and 5. | ||||||
By signing below, the undersigned certifies that (A) with respect to _________ of the shares represented by this voting instruction card, the undersigned has been the beneficial owner of such shares continuously since the date of their issuance or is a Permitted Transferee (as defined in paragraph 4(A)(i) of paragraph FOURTH of the Company's amended Certificate of Incorporation) of any such beneficial owner and (B) with respect to the remaining _________ shares represented by this voting instruction card, the undersigned has not been the beneficial owner of such shares continuously since the date of their issuance nor is the undersigned a Permitted Transferee of any such beneficial owner. | ||||||
If no certification is made, it will be deemed that all shares of Class B common stock represented by this voting instruction card have not been held continuously, since the date of issuance, for the benefit or account of the same beneficial owner of such shares or any Permitted Transferee. | ||||||
Please mark, sign, date and return the voting instruction card promptly using the enclosed envelope. This voting instruction card must be signed exactly as name appears hereon. Executors, administrators, trustees, etc., should give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign full corporate name by a duly authorized officer. | ||||||
Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] | Date | Signature (Joint Owners) | Date |