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DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
Synthetic Fuel
The tax credits provided under Internal Revenue Code Section 45K were only available for the production and sale of synthetic fuels produced from coal through December 31, 2007. Given high oil prices during 2007 and the anticipated and related phase-out of a significant portion of tax credits available for synthetic fuel produced and sold in 2007, we permanently ceased operations at our synthetic fuel facilities on November 3, 2007 and report this business as a discontinued operation. See Footnote No. 3, "Discontinued Operations-Synthetic Fuel," in this report for additional information regarding the Synthetic Fuel segment.
2008 COMPARED TO 2007
The synthetic fuel operation generated revenue of $1 million in 2008 and $352 million in 2007. Income from the Synthetic Fuel segment totaled $3 million, net of tax, in 2008, compared to a loss of $1 million in 2007. Income from the Synthetic Fuel segment of $3 million for 2008 primarily reflected the recognition in 2008 of additional tax credits as a result of the determination by the Secretary of the Treasury in 2008 of the Reference Price of a barrel of oil for 2007, partially offset by payments due to third parties based on the amount of additional tax credits.
2007 COMPARED TO 2006
For 2007, the synthetic fuel operation generated revenue of $352 million versus revenue of $165 million for the prior year, primarily reflecting higher production in 2007. Production in 2006 reflected production suspensions instituted in response to high oil prices. Income from the Synthetic Fuel segment declined to a loss of $1 million in 2007 from income of $5 million in 2006, primarily reflecting increased operating losses associated with higher production in 2007, partially offset by increased revenue and increased tax credits associated with higher production and, on the increased operating losses, a higher tax benefit. Results for 2007 also reflect an estimated 70.7 percent phase-out of tax credits due to high oil prices versus a phase-out that was estimated at year-end 2006 to be 39 percent for 2006. Additionally, results in 2007 reflect interest costs of $8 million associated with hedges entered into in response to high oil prices.
SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION
Under our 2002 Comprehensive Stock and Cash Incentive Plan, we award: (1) stock options to purchase our Class A Common Stock ("Stock Option Program"); (2) stock appreciation rights ("SARs"); (3) restricted stock units of our Class A Common Stock; and (4) deferred stock units. We grant awards at exercise prices or strike prices that are equal to the market price of our Class A Common Stock on the date of grant.
During 2008 we granted 5.6 million restricted stock units (2.6 million, most of which were granted in February and had a weighted average grant-date fair value of $35 per unit and 3.0 million were granted in August and had a weighted average grant-date fair value of $26 per unit), 2.7 million Employee SARs (1.8 million, most of which were granted in February and had a weighted average grant-date fair value of $13 per right and 0.9 million were granted in August and had a weighted average grant-date fair value of $10 per right), and 4,000 Non-employee SARs. During that time period, we also granted approximately 218,000 stock options and issued 25,000 deferred stock units. The grants made in August would ordinarily have been made in February 2009, but were accelerated to encourage associate retention in a difficult economic climate. Awards for the most senior executives were not accelerated. See Footnote No. 4, "Share-Based Compensation," later in this report for additional information.
NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
EITF Issue No. 06-8, "Applicability of the Assessment of a Buyer's Continuing Investment under FASB Statement No. 66 for Sales of Condominiums"
We adopted the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force ("EITF") Issue No. 06-8, "Applicability of the Assessment of a Buyer's Continuing Investment under FASB Statement No. 66 for Sales of Condominiums" ("EITF 06-8") on December 29, 2007, the first day of our 2008 fiscal year. EITF 06-8 states that in assessing the collectibility of the sales price pursuant to paragraph 37(d) of Financial Accounting Standards ("FAS") No. 66, "Accounting for Sales of Real Estate" ("FAS No. 66"), an entity should evaluate the adequacy of the buyer's initial and continuing investment to conclude that the sales price is collectible. If an entity is unable to meet the criteria of paragraph 37, including an assessment of collectibility using the initial and continuing investment tests described in paragraphs 8 through 12 of FAS No. 66, then the entity should apply the deposit method of accounting as described in paragraphs 65 through 67 of FAS No. 66.
Although our adoption of EITF 06-8 had no impact on our wholly owned projects in conjunction with the adoption of EITF 06-8 by one joint venture in which we are a partner, we recorded the cumulative effect of applying EITF 06-8 as a reduction of $5 million to our investment in that joint venture, an increase in deferred tax assets of $2 million, and a reduction of $3 million to the opening balance of our retained earnings. The application of the continuing investment criterion in EITF 06-8 on the collectibility of the sales price could in certain future circumstances delay our ability, or the ability of joint ventures in which we are a partner, to recognize revenues and costs using the percentage-of-completion method of accounting.
Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, "Fair Value Measurements"
We adopted FAS No. 157, "Fair Value Measurements" ("FAS No. 157"), on December 29, 2007, the first day of fiscal year 2008. FAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a methodology for measuring fair value, and expands the required disclosure for fair value measurements. On February 12, 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position No. FAS 157-2, "Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157," which amends FAS No. 157 by delaying its effective date by one year for non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities, except for items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis. Therefore, beginning on December 29, 2007, this standard applied prospectively to new fair value measurements of financial instruments and recurring fair value measurements of non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities. On January 3, 2009, the beginning of our 2009 fiscal year, the standard will also apply to all other fair value measurements. See Footnote No. 5, "Fair Value Measurements," for additional information.
Our servicing assets and residual interests, which are measured using Level 3 inputs (which are described in Footnote No. 5, "Fair Value Measurements") in the FAS No. 157 hierarchy, accounted for 94 percent of the total fair value of our financial assets at year-end 2008, that are required to be measured at fair value using the guidance found in FAS No. 157. We treat the residual interests, including servicing assets, as trading securities under the provisions of FAS No. 115, "Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities," and accordingly, we recorded realized and unrealized gains or losses related to these assets in the "Timeshare sales and services" revenue caption in our Consolidated Statements of Income.
At the dates of sale and at the end of each reporting period, we estimate the fair value of our residual interests, including servicing assets, using a discounted cash flow model. The implementation of FAS No. 157 did not result in material changes to the models or processes used to value these assets. These transactions may utilize interest rate swaps to protect the net interest margin associated with the beneficial interest. The discount rates we use in determining the fair values of the residual interests are based on the general level of interest rates in the market and the assumed credit risk of the interests retained. We adjust these discount rates quarterly as interest rates and credit spreads in the market vary.
During 2008, we used the following key assumptions to measure the fair value of the residual interests, including servicing assets, at the date of sale: average discount rate of 9.23 percent; average expected annual prepayments, including defaults, of 24.01 percent; expected weighted average life of prepayable notes receivable, excluding prepayments and defaults, of 76 months; and expected weighted average life of prepayable notes receivable, including prepayments and defaults, of 35 months. Our key assumptions are based on experience with notes receivable and servicing assets.
The most significant estimate involved in the measurement process is the discount rate, followed by the default rate and the loan repayment rate. Estimates of these rates are based on management's expectations of future prepayment rates and default rates, reflecting our historical experience, industry trends, current market interest rates, expected future interest rates, and other considerations. Actual repayment rates, default rates, and discount rates could differ from those projected by management due to changes in a variety of economic factors, including prevailing interest rates and the availability of alternative financing sources to borrowers. If actual prepayments of the loans being serviced were to occur more slowly than had been projected, the carrying value of servicing assets could increase and accretion and servicing income would exceed previously projected amounts. If actual default rates or actual discount rates are lower than expected, the carrying value of retained interests could increase and accretion and servicing income would exceed previously projected amounts. If actual prepayments of the loans being serviced occur at a faster pace than we have projected, the carrying value of servicing assets could decrease and accretion and servicing income would be below previously projected amounts. If actual default rates or actual discount rates are higher than we expect, the carrying value of retained interests could decrease and accretion and servicing income would be below previously projected amounts. Accordingly, the retained interests, including servicing assets, actually realized, could differ from the amounts initially recorded.
We completed a stress test on the fair value of the residual interests, including servicing assets, as of the end of 2008 to measure the change in value associated with independent changes in individual key variables. This methodology applied unfavorable changes that would be statistically significant for the key variables of prepayment rate, discount rate, and weighted average remaining term. Before we applied any of these stress test changes, we determined that the fair value of the residual interests, including servicing assets, was $221 million as of year-end 2008.
Applying the stress tests, we concluded that each change to a variable shown in the table below would have the following impact on the valuation of our residual interests at the end of 2008:
We value our derivatives using valuations that are calibrated to the initial trade prices. Subsequent valuations are based on observable inputs to the valuation model including interest rates and volatilities. We record realized and unrealized gains and losses on these derivative instruments in gains from the sale of timeshare notes receivable, which are recorded within the "Timeshare sales and services" revenue caption in our Consolidated Statements of Income.
Financial Accounting Standards No. 159, "The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities-Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115"
We adopted FAS No. 159, "The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities-Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115" ("FAS No. 159"), on December 29, 2007, the first day of our 2008 fiscal year. This standard permits but does not require entities to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. We did not elect the fair value measurement option for any of our financial assets or liabilities in 2008.
EITF Issue No. 07-6, "Accounting for Sales of Real Estate Subject to the Requirements of FASB Statement No. 66, 'Accounting for Sales of Real Estate,' When the Agreement Includes a Buy-Sell Clause"
We adopted EITF Issue No. 07-6, "Accounting for Sales of Real Estate Subject to the Requirements of FASB Statement No. 66, 'Accounting for Sales of Real Estate,' When the Agreement Includes a Buy-Sell Clause" ("EITF 07-6"), on December 29, 2007, the first day of our 2008 fiscal year. EITF 07-6 clarifies whether a buy-sell clause is a prohibited form of continuing involvement that would preclude partial sales treatment under FAS No. 66. EITF 07-6 is effective for new arrangements entered into and assessments of existing transactions originally accounted for under the deposit, profit sharing, leasing, or financing methods for reasons other than the exercise of a buy-sell clause performed in fiscal years 2008 and thereafter. The adoption of EITF 07-6 did not have a material impact on our financial statements.
FASB Staff Position FAS No. 140-4 and FIN 46(R)-8 "Disclosures by Public Entities (Enterprises) about Transfers of Financial Assets and Interests in Variable Interest Entities"
We adopted FASB Staff Position ("FSP") FAS No. 140-4 and FIN 46(R)-8 "Disclosures by Public Entities (Enterprises) about Transfers of Financial Assets and Interests in Variable Interest Entities" in conjunction with our 2008 fiscal year-end. FSP FAS No. 140-4 and FIN 46(R)-8 amends FAS No. 140 to require public entities to provide additional disclosures about transferors' continuing involvements with transferred financial assets. It also amends FIN 46(R) to require public enterprises, including sponsors that have a variable interest in a variable interest entity, to provide additional disclosures about their involvement with variable interest entities. The FSP also requires disclosures by a public enterprise that is a sponsor of a qualifying special-purpose entity ("SPE") that holds a variable interest in the qualifying SPE but was not the transferor of financial assets to the qualifying SPE and a servicer of a qualifying SPE that holds a significant variable interest in the qualifying SPE but was not the transferor of financial assets to the qualifying SPE. FSP FAS No. 140-4 and FIN 46(R)-8 is effective for year-end 2008 disclosures. The adoption of FSP FAS No. 140-4 and FIN 46(R)-8 did not have a material impact on our financial statements.
FSP EITF 99-20-1 "Amendments to the Impairment Guidance of EITF Issue No. 99-20, 'Recognition of Interest Income and Impairment on Purchased Beneficial Interests and Beneficial Interests That Continue to be Held by a Transferor in Securitized Financial Assets'"
We adopted FSP EITF 99-20-1 "Amendments to the Impairment Guidance of EITF Issue No. 99-20, 'Recognition of Interest Income and Impairment on Purchased Beneficial Interests and Beneficial Interests That Continue to be Held by a Transferor in Securitized Financial Assets,'" ("FSP EITF 99-20-1") in conjunction with our 2008 fiscal year-end. FSP EITF 99-20-1 amends EITF Issue No. 99-20 to align the impairment guidance in EITF Issue No. 99-20 with that of FAS No. 115. FAS No. 115 measures impairment based on a determination of whether an other-than-temporary impairment has occurred. Our residual interests in our asset securitizations are recorded at fair value each reporting period. Therefore, the adoption of FSP EITF 99-20-1 did not have a material impact on our financial statements.
Future Adoption of Accounting Standards
Financial Accounting Standards No. 141 (Revised 2007), "Business Combinations"
On December 4, 2007, the FASB issued FAS No. 141 (Revised 2007), "Business Combinations" ("FAS No. 141(R)"). FAS No. 141(R) will significantly change the accounting for business combinations. Under FAS No. 141(R), an acquiring entity will be required to recognize all the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a transaction at the acquisition-date fair value with limited exceptions. Transaction costs will no longer be included in the measurement of the business acquired. Instead, these costs will be expensed as they are incurred. FAS No. 141(R) also includes a substantial number of new disclosure requirements. FAS No. 141(R) applies prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008, which for us begins with our 2009 fiscal year.
Financial Accounting Standards No. 160, "Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements-an Amendment of ARB No. 51"
On December 4, 2007, the FASB issued FAS No. 160, "Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements-an Amendment of ARB No. 51" ("FAS No. 160"). FAS No. 160 establishes new accounting and reporting standards for a noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. Specifically, this statement requires the recognition of a noncontrolling interest (minority interest) as equity in the consolidated financial statements separate from the parent's equity. The amount of net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest will be included in consolidated net income on the face of the income statement. FAS No. 160 clarifies that changes in a parent's ownership interest in a subsidiary that do not result in deconsolidation are equity transactions if the parent retains its controlling financial interest. In addition, this statement requires that a parent recognize a gain or loss in net income when a subsidiary is deconsolidated. Such gain or loss will be measured using the fair value of the noncontrolling equity investment on the deconsolidation date. FAS No. 160 also includes expanded disclosure requirements regarding the interests of the parent and its noncontrolling interest. FAS No. 160 must be applied prospectively for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008, which for us begins with our 2009 fiscal year, except for the presentation and disclosure requirements, which must be applied retrospectively for all periods presented. We are currently evaluating the impact that FAS No. 160 will have on our financial statements.
Financial Accounting Standards No. 161, "Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities-an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133"
In March 2008, the FASB issued FAS No. 161, "Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities-an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133" ("FAS No. 161"). FAS No. 161 requires enhanced disclosure related to derivatives and hedging activities and thereby seeks to improve the transparency of financial reporting. Under FAS No. 161, entities are required to provide enhanced disclosures relating to: (a) how and why an entity uses derivative instruments; (b) how derivative instruments and related hedge items are accounted for under FAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities" ("FAS No. 133"), and its related interpretations; and (c) how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an entity's financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. FAS No. 161 must be applied prospectively to all derivative instruments and non-derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as hedging instruments and related hedged items accounted for under FAS No. 133 for all financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008, which for us begins with our 2009 fiscal year. We are currently evaluating the impact that FAS No. 161 will have on our financial statements.
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