BBX Capital Corporation Reports Financial Results

For the Fourth Quarter and Full Year, 2015

 

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida – March 15, 2016 -- BBX Capital Corporation (“BBX Capital” and/or the “Company”) (NYSE: BBX)  reported financial results for the fourth quarter and year ending December 31, 2015.

 

BBX Selected Financial Data

Fourth Quarter 2015 compared to Fourth Quarter 2014:

 

 

Full Year Ended December 31, 2015

Compared to the Full Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

 

As of December 31, 2015, BBX Capital had total consolidated assets of $393.5 million, shareholders' equity attributable to BBX Capital of $334.8 million, and total consolidated equity of $336.0 million. At December 31, 2015, BBX Capital’s book value per share was $20.42 vs. $19.16 at December 31, 2014.

 

“We are pleased with the overall progress of our core business segments which include our ownership interest in Bluegreen Corporation (“Bluegreen”) and BBX Capital. BBX Capital Real Estate had a solid year of monetization of legacy real estate assets, and new joint venture transactions partnering with high-profile developers.  BBX Capital Partners continued to acquire additional businesses in its BBX Sweet Holdings business, and to focus on product development, marketing, integration of facilities and systems, as well as recruit seasoned executives, in both its

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BBX Sweet Holdings and Renin businesses. While these activities impact current earnings, they are being pursued in an effort to create long term value at BBX Capital. Bluegreen had another strong year in revenue growth as well as continued success in its capital light and fee-based services business model which resulted in significant cash flow and dividends paid to both BBX and BFC,” commented BBX Capital’s  Acting Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Jarett S. Levan.  “We are generally pleased with the performance of our core business segments in 2015 and believe these results reflect the continued pursuit of our broader goal of transitioning into a business platform of diverse activities with a focus on long term growth.”  

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BBX Capital Real Estate 

BBX Capital Real Estate includes our real estate joint ventures and our BankAtlantic legacy portfolio of loans and foreclosed real estate. As previously announced, we are liquidating some legacy real estate and loans while holding and managing others for capital appreciation and development. Highlights during the fourth quarter of 2015 include:

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BBX Capital Partners

 

BBX Capital Partners is actively engaged in investments in operating companies. BBX Capital Partners’ primary investments as of December 31, 2015 were in Renin Holdings, LLC (“Renin”) and BBX Sweet Holdings.

 

Renin reported sales of $13.0 million and a  net loss of ($1.0 million) during the three months ended December 31, 2015 compared to sales of $13.8 million and a  net loss of ($651,000) during the comparable period ended December 31, 2014. The increase in Renin’s net loss reflects higher selling, general and administrative expenses associated with the recruitment and hiring of several new executives and marketing initiatives partially offset by a  higher net margin primarily due to changes in product mix. 

 

BBX Sweet Holdings reported sales of $10.6 million and a  net loss of ($3.0 million) and sales of $9.5 million and net earnings of $1.9 million during the three months ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. BBX Sweet Holdings net losses resulted from increases in selling, general and administrative expenses as well as from a lower gross margin. The higher selling, general and administrative expenses reflected operating expenses associated with companies acquired, increased compensation expense for the recruitment and hiring of industry professionals,  consulting fees as BBX Sweet Holdings seeks to expand its business both organically and through acquisition, and the costs of opening new retail locations at Hoffman’s Chocolates. In 2014, BBX Sweet Holdings earnings included a $3.1 million benefit for income taxes relating to 2014 acquisitions.  

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Bluegreen Corporation 

 

Bluegreen is a sales, marketing and resort management company, focused on the vacation ownership industry. Bluegreen is a wholly owned subsidiary of Woodbridge Holdings, LLC (“Woodbridge”). BBX Capital owns a  46% interest in Woodbridge and BFC owns the remaining 54% of Woodbridge. Woodbridge’s principal asset is its 100% ownership of Bluegreen Corporation (“Bluegreen”).

 

For the year ended December 31, 2015, Bluegreen paid cash dividends of $54.4 million to Woodbridge Holdings, Bluegreen’s parent company, and Woodbridge in turn, after expenses, paid $23.8 million of cash dividends pro rata to BBX Capital (46%) and paid $28.0 million of cash dividends pro rata to BFC (54%).  

 

Additional details of BBX Capital’s equity earnings in Woodbridge are in the supplemental tables attached to this press release.

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Bluegreen Selected Financial Data

Fourth Quarter 2015 compared to Fourth Quarter 2014:

 

 

Bluegreen Selected Financial Data

Full Year Ended December 31, 2015

Compared to the Full Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

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Financial data for BBX Capital Corporation and Bluegreen Corporation is provided in the supplemental financial tables included in this release.

 

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For more complete and detailed information regarding BBX Capital and its financial results, business, operations, and risks, please see the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, which is available to view on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov, and/or on BBX Capital’s website, www.BBXCapital.com.    

 

For more detailed information regarding Bluegreen and its financial results, business, operations and risks, please see BFC’s financial results press release for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2015, and BFC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, which is available on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov and/or BFC’s website, www.BFCFinancial.com.

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About BBX Capital Corporation:

BBX Capital (NYSE: BBX) is involved in the acquisition, ownership and management of joint ventures and investments in real estate and real estate development projects, as well as acquisitions, investments and management of middle market operating businesses. In addition, BBX Capital and its controlling shareholder, BFC Financial Corporation, have a 46% and 54% respective ownership interest in Bluegreen Corporation. As a result of their ownership interests, BBX Capital and BFC together own 100% of Bluegreen. As of December 31, 2015, BBX Capital had total consolidated assets of $393.5 million, shareholders' equity attributable to BBX Capital of $334.8 million, and total consolidated equity of $336.0 million. BBX Capital’s book value per share at December 31, 2015 was $20.42.

 

For further information, please visit our family of companies:

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BBX Capital: www.BBXCapital.com

Bluegreen Corporation: www.BluegreenVacations.com

BBX Capital Real Estate: www.BBXCapitalRealEstate.com

BBX Capital Partners: www.BBXCapitalPartners.com

BBX Sweet Holdings: www.BBXSweetHoldings.com    

Renin Corporation: www.ReninCorp.com

BFC Financial Corporation: www.BFCFinancial.com

 

BBX Capital Contact Info:

Media Contact: Kip Hunter Marketing, 954-765-1329

Aimee Adler/ Jodi Goldstein

Email: aimee@kiphuntermarketing.com,  jodi@kiphuntermarketing.com   

 

Investor Relations: Leo Hinkley, Managing Director, 954- 940-5300

Email: LHinkley@BBXCapital.com

 

About Bluegreen Corporation:

Founded in 1966 and headquartered in Boca Raton, FL, Bluegreen is a sales, marketing and resort management company, focused on the vacation ownership industry and pursuing a capital-light business strategy. Bluegreen manages, markets and sells the Bluegreen Vacation Club, a flexible, points-based, deeded vacation ownership plan with more than 199,000 owners, 66 owned or managed resorts, and access to more than 4,500 resorts worldwide. Bluegreen also offers a portfolio of comprehensive, turnkey, fee-based services, including resort management services, financial services, and sales and marketing services, to or on behalf of third parties. For more information, visit www.BluegreenVacations.com.

 

About BFC Financial Corporation: 

BFC (OTCQB: BFCF; BFCFB) is a holding company whose principal holdings include an 81% ownership interest in BBX Capital Corporation (NYSE: BBX) and its indirect ownership interest in Bluegreen Corporation. BFC owns a 54% equity interest in Woodbridge, the parent company of Bluegreen. BBX Capital owns the remaining 46% equity interest in Woodbridge. As of December 31, 2015, BFC had total consolidated assets of $1.3 billion, shareholders' equity attributable to BFC of $376.8 million, and total consolidated equity of $482.9 million. BFC’s book value per share at December 31, 2015 was $4.46.    

 

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This press release contains forward-looking statements based on current expectations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. All opinions, forecasts, projections, future plans or other statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and may include words or phrases such as “plans,” “believes,” “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “estimates,” “our view,” “we see,” “would” and words and phrases of similar import. The forward looking statements in this press release are also forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and involve substantial risks and uncertainties. We can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Future results could differ materially as a result of a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which

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are outside of the control of management. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to the impact of economic, competitive and other factors affecting the Company and its investments and assets, including the impact of decreases in real estate values or high unemployment rates on our business generally, the value of its assets, the ability of its borrowers to service their obligations and the value of collateral securing the Company’s loans; the risk that loan losses will continue and the risks of additional charge-offs, impairments and required increases in our allowance for loan losses; risks related to litigation and other professional fees including the adverse judgment in the action brought by the SEC against the Company and its Chairman, risks relating to claims for reimbursement by insurers, and risks relating to the loss of services of the Company’s Chairman, and reputational risk,  adverse conditions in the stock market, the public debt market and other financial and credit markets and the impact of such conditions on the Company’s activities; the risk that the legacy assets retained by the Company may not be monetized at the values currently ascribed to them; and the risks associated with the impact of periodic valuation of the Company’s assets for impairment.  In addition, this press release contains forward looking statements relating to the Company’s ability to successfully implement its business plans, including, but not limited to, its business plans and strategies with respect to BBX Capital Real Estate and BBX Capital Partners, which may not be realized as anticipated, if at all, and the Company’s investments in real estate developments, real estate joint ventures and operating businesses, including its acquisition of Renin Corp., and the acquisitions by BBX Sweet Holdings in the candy and confections industry, may not achieve the returns anticipated or may not be profitable. The Company’s investments in real estate developments, either directly or through joint ventures, will increase exposure to downturns in the real estate and housing markets or expose it to risks associated with real estate development activities, including risks associated with obtaining zoning and entitlements, the risk that its joint venture partners may not fulfill their obligations,  and the risk that the projects will not be developed as anticipated or be profitable.  Additionally, contracts to sell real estate entered into by the Company or its joint ventures may not be completed on the terms provided in the contract, or at all.  The Company’s investment in Woodbridge, which owns Bluegreen Corporation, exposes the Company to risks of Bluegreen’s business and its ability to pay dividends to Woodbridge, and risks inherent in the vacation ownership industry. BBX Sweet Holdings acquisitions and the Company’s acquisition of Renin Corp. exposes the Company to the risks of their respective businesses, which includes the amount and terms of indebtedness associated with the acquisitions which may impact the Company’s financial condition and results of operations and limit its activities; the failure of the companies to meet financial covenants and that BBX Capital may be required to make further capital contributions or advances to the acquired companies as well as the risk that the integration of these operating businesses may not be completed effectively or on a timely basis, that personnel hired will not have the anticipated expertise or experience, and that the Company may not realize any anticipated benefits or earnings from these companies. Further, Renin’s operations expose the Company to foreign currency exchange risk of the U.S. dollar compared to the Canadian dollar and Great Britain Pound.  Past performance and perceived trends may not be indicative of future results. In addition to the risks and factors identified above, reference is also made to other risks and factors detailed in reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, which may be viewed on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov, or on BBX Capital’s website, www.BBXCapital.com.  BBX Capital cautions that the foregoing factors are not exclusive. 

 

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BBX CAPITAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION - Unaudited

 

 

 

 

 

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BBX CAPITAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS-UNAUDITED

 

 

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BBX Capital’s equity in earnings of Woodbridge was as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The following tables present Bluegreen’s EBITDA, defined below, for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, as well as a reconciliation of EBITDA to net income (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

EBITDA is defined as earnings, or net income, before taking into account interest income (excluding interest earned on VOI notes receivable), interest expense (excluding interest expense incurred on financings related to Bluegreen’s receivable-backed notes payable), provision for income taxes and franchise taxes, depreciation and amortization.  For purposes of the EBITDA calculation, no adjustments were made for interest income earned on Bluegreen’s VOI notes receivable or the interest expense incurred on debt that is secured by such notes receivable because they are both considered to be part of the operations of Bluegreen’s business.

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The Company considers Bluegreen’s EBITDA to be an indicator of Bluegreen’s operating performance, and it is used to measure Bluegreen’s ability to service debt, fund capital expenditures and expand its business.  EBITDA is also used by companies, lenders, investors and others because it excludes certain items that can vary widely across different industries or among companies within the same industry.  For example, interest expense can be dependent on a company’s capital structure, debt levels and credit ratings.  Accordingly, the impact of interest expense on earnings can vary significantly among companies. The tax positions of companies can also vary because of their differing abilities to take advantage of tax benefits and because of the tax policies of the jurisdictions in which they operate. As a result, effective tax rates and provision for income taxes can vary considerably among companies. EBITDA also excludes depreciation and amortization because companies utilize productive assets of different ages and use different methods of both acquiring and depreciating productive assets.  These differences can result in considerable variability in the relative costs of productive assets and the depreciation and amortization expense among companies.

 

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