KB Home
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant þ
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
KB Home
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: |
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Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the
filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): |
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and
identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous
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Amount Previously Paid: |
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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
Preliminary Proxy Materials
Subject to Completion
KB HOME
10990 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90024
(310) 231-4000
Bruce Karatz
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
February 25, 2005
Dear Fellow Stockholder:
Your officers and directors join me in inviting you to attend
the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of KB Home at
9:00 a.m. on April 7, 2005 in the Garden Room at the
Hotel Bel-Air, 701 Stone Canyon Road, in Los Angeles,
California.
The matters expected to be acted on at the meeting are described
in detail in the attached Notice of Annual Meeting of
Stockholders and Proxy Statement. In addition to specific agenda
items, by attending the meeting you will have an opportunity to
hear about our plans for the future and to meet your officers
and directors. Whether or not you plan to attend, please sign
and date the enclosed Proxy Card and return it as soon as
possible in the envelope provided to ensure that your shares
will be represented. You may also vote by calling the 800-number
listed on your Proxy Card.
We look forward to seeing you on April 7.
Sincerely,
Bruce Karatz
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Preliminary Proxy Materials
Subject to Completion
Notice of Annual
Meeting
of
Stockholders
To Be Held April 7, 2005
To the Holders of the Common Stock
of KB Home:
The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of KB Home will be held on
Thursday,
April 7, 2005 at 9:00 a.m. Los Angeles time in the
Garden Room of the Hotel Bel-Air,
701 Stone Canyon Road in Los Angeles, California for the
following purposes:
(1) To elect three Class I Directors;
(2) To vote on increasing the number of authorized Common
Stock shares
from 100 million to 300 million;
(3) To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP
as KB Homes independent auditors
for the fiscal year ending November 30, 2005;
(4) To consider the stockholder proposal included in the
accompanying Proxy Statement; and
(5) To transact such other business as may properly come
before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.
The Board of Directors fixed the close of business on
February 14, 2005 as the record date for determination of
holders of Common Stock entitled to notice of, and to vote at,
the meeting or any adjournment thereof. If you plan to attend
the meeting you may be asked to present photo identification and
you may be accompanied by one guest only. If you hold your
shares in a brokerage account (in street name), you
will need to bring a copy of a brokerage statement reflecting
the shares that you owned on February 14, 2005.
Whether or not you expect to attend the meeting, please
complete, date and sign the enclosed Proxy Card and mail it
promptly in the envelope provided. You may also vote by calling
the 800-number listed on your Proxy Card. Your prompt return of
the Proxy Card or telephone vote will ensure that your shares
are represented at the meeting and will save the Company the
additional expense of soliciting proxies.
By Order of the Board
of Directors,
William A. Richelieu
Assistant Corporate Secretary
Los Angeles, California
February 25, 2005
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preliminary Proxy Materials
Subject to Completion
KB HOME
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10990 Wilshire Boulevard |
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Los Angeles, California 90024 |
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Proxy Statement
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Annual Meeting of
Stockholders
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To Be Held April 7, 2005 |
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General
Information
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Your Board of Directors furnishes this Proxy Statement in
connection with its solicitation of your proxy to be used at the
Companys Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on
Thursday, April 7, 2005, at the time and place and for the
purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting
of Stockholders. A copy of the Companys 2004 Annual Report
to Stockholders and Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended November 30, 2004, including audited
financial statements, are also being mailed to stockholders
concurrently with this Proxy Statement. It is anticipated that
the mailing will commence on or about February 25, 2005. |
You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting. Whether
or not you plan to attend, please date, sign and promptly return
your Proxy Card in the envelope provided. You may also vote by
calling the 800-number listed on your Proxy Card. You may revoke
your proxy at any time prior to its exercise at the Annual
Meeting by written notice to the Companys Corporate
Secretary at the address on page 7, and, if you attend the
Annual Meeting, you may vote your shares in person.
Only holders of record of the
[ ] shares
of Common Stock outstanding at the close of business on
February 14, 2005 will be entitled to vote at the Annual
Meeting. Each holder of Common Stock is entitled to one vote for
each share held. The Companys Grantor Stock Trust,
established to assist the Company in meeting its stock-related
obligations under various employee benefit programs, held
[ ] shares
of Common Stock outstanding for voting purposes as of the record
date. These shares are voted by the trustee of the Grantor Stock
Trust in accordance with instructions received from employees
participating in the Companys employee stock plans. There
is no right to cumulative voting.
The representation in person or by proxy of at least a majority
of the outstanding shares entitled to vote is necessary to
provide a quorum at the Annual Meeting. All shares of Common
Stock represented by valid proxies received pursuant to this
solicita-
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tion and not revoked will be voted in accordance with the
choices specified. In the election of directors, you may vote
for all nominees or your vote may be
withheld with respect to one or more of the
nominees; votes that are withheld will be counted as present and
will have the effect of a negative vote because the election of
each director will require affirmative vote of a majority of
shares present. On the increase in authorized shares of Common
Stock, the ratification of the appointment of the Companys
independent auditors and the stockholder proposal, you may vote
for, against, or abstain.
Under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, brokers who hold
shares in street name for customers have the authority to vote
on certain items when they have not received instructions from
beneficial owners. Brokers that do not receive instructions are
entitled to vote on the election of directors and on the
ratification of the appointment of the independent auditors.
Under applicable Delaware law, a broker non-vote will have no
effect on the outcome of the matters presented for a stockholder
vote. Since the proxy confers discretionary authority to vote
upon other matters that properly may come before the meeting,
shares represented by signed proxies returned to the Company
will be voted in accordance with the judgment of the person or
persons voting the proxies. Where no specification is made with
respect to any item submitted to a vote, such shares will be
voted for the election as directors of the Company of the three
individuals named under Election of Directors on
pages 10-11, for the increase in authorized shares of
Common Stock, for the ratification of the appointment of
Ernst & Young LLP as the Companys
independent auditors for the fiscal year ending
November 30, 2005, and against the stockholder proposal
included in this Proxy Statement.
The persons named as proxies on the enclosed Proxy Card are
Bruce Karatz, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Kimberly
N. King, Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Corporate
Secretary.
2
Corporate Governance
Principles and Board Matters
KB Home has had a long-standing commitment to sound corporate
governance practices. These practices provide an important
framework within which the Board of Directors and management can
pursue strategic objectives, maintain the Companys
integrity in the marketplace and ensure long-term stockholder
value. The Companys Corporate Governance Principles define
the key elements of the Boards governance philosophy. The
Principles are reviewed regularly by the Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee of the Board, and changes are
approved by the full Board as appropriate.
In addition, employees and directors of the Company are expected
to apply the highest ethical standards in their representation
of the Company and its interests. All KB Home employees and
members of the Board of Directors are subject to the
Companys Business Ethics Policy. The Business Ethics
Policy is reviewed regularly by the Audit and Compliance
Committee of the Board, and changes are approved by the full
Board as appropriate.
Director Qualifications and Board Independence
The Board of Directors has articulated certain criteria in the
Corporate Governance Principles that must be met to serve as a
director of the Company. Determinations regarding the
eligibility of director candidates are made by the Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee. Among other things:
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directors must possess the highest personal and professional
ethics, integrity and values, and be committed to representing
the long-term interests of the Companys stockholders, |
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all directors are expected to be financially literate, |
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no more than one employee of the Company may serve on the Board
at any given time, and |
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consultants, lawyers or bankers who do a significant amount of
business with the Company are ineligible to serve as a director. |
The Board further believes that a substantial majority of
directors should be independent, and has adopted criteria and
guidelines, consistent with those established by the New York
Stock Exchange, to assist it in determining independence. In
accordance with these criteria, the Board has determined that
all currently incumbent KB Home directors, and all nominees
for director, are independent except Mr. Karatz, Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The independence
criteria applied by the Board specify that no director who is a
current employee of KB Home may be considered independent.
Further, a director will not be considered independent if,
within the preceding three years:
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the director or an immediate family member of the director
received more than $100,000 in direct compensation from
KB Home or any subsidiary, or joint venture or partnership
with KB Home, other than fees directly related to service on KB
Homes Board or on the Board of Kaufman &
Broad S.A., the Companys publicly-held French
subsidiary, |
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the director was employed by or affiliated with KB Homes
principal independent auditors, |
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an immediate family member of the director was employed by KB
Home as an executive officer or by KB Homes principal
independent auditors in a professional capacity, |
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an executive officer of KB Home was on the compensation
committee of the board of directors of a company which employed
the director, or which employed an immediate family member of
the director as an officer, or |
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the director was an executive officer or employee of, or an
immediate family member of the director was an executive officer
of, another company that does business with KB Home and the
annual revenues derived from that business by either company
accounts for more than (a) $1,000,000 or (b) two
percent (2%) of the consolidated gross annual revenues of
such company, whichever is greater. |
Under the Companys Corporate Governance Principles, the
following commercial or charitable relationships are not, by
themselves, considered material relationships that impair a
directors independence:
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the director is an executive officer of another company that
does business with KB Home, provided the annual revenues
derived from that business by either company accounts for less
than (a) $1,000,000 or (b) two percent (2%) of
the consolidated gross annual revenues of such company,
whichever is greater, or |
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the director serves as an officer, director or trustee of a
charitable organization, and KB Home makes discretionary
charitable contributions to that organization, provided such
contributions are less than the greater of (a) $100,000 or
(b) two percent (2%) of that organizations total
annual charitable receipts. |
In accordance with the foregoing independence criteria, the
Board has determined that all non-employee directors, incumbent
and standing for election, are independent. The Board has
determined that all Board members are financially literate.
Furthermore, the Board has also determined that all Committees
of the Board, except the Executive Committee, which does not
regularly meet, are entirely composed of independent directors
within the meaning of the rules of both the Securities and
Exchange Commission and the New York Stock Exchange. The
Executive Committee is comprised of Messrs. Irani and
Nogales, both of whom are independent, and Mr. Karatz,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
Board Structure and Committee Composition
As of the date of this Proxy Statement, the Board has eleven
incumbent directors, and the following four committees:
(1) Audit and Compliance, (2) Management Development
and Compensation, (3) Nominating and Corporate Governance,
and (4) Executive. The membership during fiscal 2004 and
the function of each of the Committees are described on
pages 5-7.
During 2004, the Board held five meetings. Every KB Home
director attended 100% of all Board meetings and meetings of the
Committees on which he or she served, except Mr. Moonves,
who was absent for one Board and one Committee meeting.
Directors are expected to attend Annual Meetings of KB Home
stockholders. All directors who were serving at the time
attended the 2004 Annual Meeting of KB Home stockholders,
which was held on April 1, 2004.
The chart on page 5 shows the various Committees of the KB
Home Board of Directors, the current members of those
Committees, and the number of meetings each Committee held
during the year.
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Management |
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Nominating and |
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Audit and |
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Development and |
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Corporate |
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Name of Director |
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Compliance |
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Compensation |
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Governance |
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Executive |
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Independent Directors
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Ronald W. Burkle
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X |
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X |
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Dr. Ray R. Irani
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X* |
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X* |
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Kenneth M. Jastrow, II
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X |
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James A. Johnson(a)
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X |
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X* |
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J. Terrence Lanni(b)
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X |
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X |
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Melissa Lora(c)
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X |
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Michael G. McCaffery(d)
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X |
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X |
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Leslie Moonves(e)
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X |
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Dr. Barry Munitz
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X* |
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X |
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Luis G. Nogales(f)
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X |
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X |
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Employee Director
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Bruce Karatz
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Number of Meetings in Fiscal 2004
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5 |
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4 |
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0 |
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X = Member * =
Chair = Presiding Director |
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(a) |
Mr. Johnsons first meeting as a member of the
Management Development and Compensation Committee was on
July 1, 2004. |
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(b) |
Mr. Lannis first meeting as a member of the
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee was on
July 1, 2004. |
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Ms. Loras first meeting as a member of the Audit and
Compliance Committee was on July 1, 2004. |
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(d) |
Mr. McCafferys first meeting as a member of the
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee was on
July 1, 2004. |
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(e) |
Mr. Moonves first meeting as a member of the
Management Development and Compensation Committee was on
July 1, 2004. |
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Mr. Nogales first meeting as a member of the Audit
and Compliance Committee was on July 1, 2004.
Mr. Nogales served on the Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee until April 1, 2004. |
5
Audit and Compliance
Committee. KB Home has a separately-designated standing
Audit and Compliance Committee established in accordance with
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Audit and
Compliance Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its
responsibilities for general oversight of the integrity of the
Companys financial statements, the Companys
compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the
independent auditors qualifications and independence, the
performance of the Companys internal audit function and
independent auditors, and risk assessment and risk management.
Among other things, the Committee prepares the Audit and
Compliance Committee report for inclusion in the annual proxy
statement; appoints, evaluates and determines the compensation
of the Companys independent auditors; reviews and approves
the scope of the annual audit, the audit fee and the financial
statements; pre-approves audit and permitted non-audit services
by the Companys independent auditors; reviews the
Companys disclosure controls and procedures, internal
controls, information security policies, internal audit
function, and corporate policies with respect to financial
information and earnings guidance; oversees investigations into
complaints concerning financial matters; reviews other risks
that may have a significant impact on the Companys
financial statements; and annually evaluates its performance and
its charter. The Audit and Compliance Committee works closely
with management as well as the Companys independent
auditors. The Audit and Compliance Committee has the authority
to obtain advice and assistance from, and receive appropriate
funding from the Company for, outside legal, accounting or other
advisors as it deems necessary to carry out its duties. The
Board has determined that Ms. Lora qualifies as an
audit committee financial expert within the meaning
of Securities and Exchange Commission regulations.
The report of the Audit and Compliance Committee is included in
this Proxy Statement on page 43.
Management Development and Compensation Committee. The
Management Development and Compensation Committee discharges the
Boards responsibilities relating to compensation of the
Companys executives; produces an annual report on
executive compensation for inclusion in the Companys
annual proxy statement; provides general oversight of the
Companys compensation structure, including the
Companys equity compensation plans and benefits programs;
and has the authority to retain compensation consultants,
outside counsel and other advisors as it deems necessary to
carry out its duties. Other specific duties and responsibilities
of the Management Development and Compensation Committee
include: administering the Chairman and Chief Executive
Officers employment agreement and compensation against
performance, as well as establishing appropriate levels of
short-term and long-term compensation levels for other executive
officers and senior management; reviewing and reporting to the
Board on the utilization of stock-based incentive plans within
the Company; exercising the authority given to it under the
Companys various stock plans, including the determination
of the nature and amount of awards to be granted thereunder;
reviewing and reporting to the Board on the Companys
activity related to attracting qualified executives and the
development of such executives within the Company; and annually
evaluating its performance and its charter.
The report of the Management Development and Compensation
Committee is included in this Proxy Statement beginning on
page 26.
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Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee identifies
individuals qualified to become Board members, consistent with
criteria set forth in the KB Home Corporate Governance
Principles and as otherwise may be established by the Board;
oversees the organization of the Board to discharge the
Boards duties and responsibilities properly and
efficiently; and makes recommendations to the Board concerning
director compensation. Other specific duties and
responsibilities of the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee include: regularly assessing the size and composition
of the Board; developing membership qualifications for Board
Committees; reviewing and recommending to the full Board changes
to the Corporate Governance Principles; recruiting new members
to the Board; reviewing and recommending proposed changes to the
Companys charter or bylaws; assessing periodically and
recommending action with respect to the Companys
stockholder rights plan or other stockholder protections;
recommending Board committee assignments; overseeing the
evaluation of the Board; and annually evaluating its performance
and its charter.
Executive Committee. The Executive Committee of the Board
has the authority of the Board of Directors to act between
meetings of the full Board of Directors, except to the extent
that such authority may be limited by applicable law. The
purpose of the Executive Committee is to provide director
oversight and action between regular meetings of the Board to
the extent necessary for the Company to operate efficiently. The
Executive Committee typically acts only pursuant to authority
specifically delegated to it by the full Board of Directors, and
all actions taken by the Executive Committee between Board
meetings are considered and ratified at the next regular meeting
of the full Board. The Executive Committee did not meet in 2004,
but acted periodically by written consent.
Copies of Corporate Governance Principles, Business Ethics
Policy and Board Committee Charters
Copies of the Companys Corporate Governance Principles,
Business Ethics Policy and the Charters for all Board Committees
can be viewed on and downloaded from our website at
http://www.kbhome.com/investor/main. In addition, print copies
of the Companys Corporate Governance Principles, Business
Ethics Policy and the Charters for all Board Committees are
available without charge to any stockholder who requests a copy
by writing to the Corporate Secretary at the address listed
below on this page.
Consideration of Director Nominees
Stockholder Nominees. The policy of the Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee is to consider properly submitted
stockholder nominations for candidates for membership on the
Board as described on page 8 under Identifying and
Evaluating Nominees for Directors. In evaluating such
nominations, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
seeks to maximize the knowledge, experience and capability on
the Board and to address the membership criteria set forth under
Director Qualifications and Board Independence on
pages 3 and 4. Any stockholder nominations proposed
for consideration by the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee should include the nominees name and
qualifications for Board membership and should be addressed to:
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Corporate Secretary |
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KB Home |
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10990 Wilshire Boulevard |
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Los Angeles, California 90024 |
In addition, the bylaws of the Company permit stockholders to
nominate directors for consideration at an annual stockholder
meeting. Please see
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Stockholder Proposals for 2006 Annual Meeting on
page 45.
Identifying and Evaluating
Nominees for Directors. The Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee utilizes a variety of methods for
identifying and evaluating nominees for director. The Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee regularly assesses the
appropriate size of the Board, and whether any vacancies on the
Board are expected due to retirement or otherwise. In the event
vacancies are anticipated or arise, the Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee considers various potential candidates to
serve as director. Candidates may come to the attention of the
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee through current
Board members, professional search firms, or other persons.
These candidates are evaluated at regular or special meetings of
the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and may be
considered at any point during the year. As described above, the
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider
properly submitted stockholder nominations for candidates for
the Board.
Executive Sessions of Independent Directors
Executive sessions of the Companys independent,
non-employee directors are held at least twice a year. The
sessions are scheduled and chaired by the Chair of the
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, who acts as the
Presiding Director. Any non-employee director can request an
additional executive session.
Communications with the Board
Individuals may communicate with the Board of Directors by
writing to the Corporate Secretary at the address set forth on
page 7.
Communications with the Independent Directors
Stockholders and other individuals may communicate specifically
with non-management directors by submitting written
correspondence to the Corporate Secretary at the address set
forth on page 7. The Corporate Secretary reviews all such
correspondence promptly upon receipt. Correspondence concerning
matters within a specific Board committees or the
Boards purview, per the Corporate Secretarys
determination, is forwarded to the appropriate committee chair
or Board member and/or to the Presiding Director (presently, the
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee chair). Board
recipients of such correspondence determine how to address any
subject raised therein, including responses to senders and/or
related parties, Board committee and/or Board action and
follow-up with internal Company management (if any).
Compensation Paid to Board Members
Only non-employee directors receive compensation for their Board
service; therefore, Mr. Karatz receives no additional
compensation for serving on the Board of KB Home or on the
Board of Kaufman & Broad S.A. KB Home
directors are compensated on a Director Year basis,
which is the period between annual meetings of stockholders.
Accordingly, the 2004 Director Year commenced
on April 1, 2004, the date of the Companys 2004
Annual Meeting of Stockholders, and will conclude on
April 7, 2005, the date of the Companys 2005 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders.
Annual Retainer. Each KB Home director receives an
annual retainer of $80,000. A director may elect to receive the
annual retainer (i) in cash, (ii) in Stock
Units (as described on page 9) or (iii) in Stock
Options. If a director chooses to receive the retainer in cash,
it is paid in quarterly
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installments of $20,000 over the course of the Director Year.
If a director elects to receive the retainer in Stock Units, the
units are granted at the beginning of the Director Year at a
value equal to 120% of the cash value of the retainer on the
date of grant. A Stock Unit is a contract right to
receive a share of Common Stock or a cash payment equal to the
fair market value of a share of Common Stock. Directors earn the
equivalent of cash dividends on, but do not have voting or
investment power with respect to, the shares of Common Stock
represented by their Stock Units. The shares of Common Stock
represented by Stock Units are distributed in-kind or in cash,
at the election of the participating director, when the director
retires or otherwise leaves the Board.
If a director elects to receive the annual retainer in Stock
Options rather than in cash, the options are granted as of the
beginning of the Director Year, have an exercise price equal to
the closing price of the Companys Common Stock on the New
York Stock Exchange on the date of grant, and the number granted
are determined by a Black-Scholes ratio of 25%. The Stock
Options are fully vested when granted, but cannot be exercised
until the earlier to occur of (i) the directors
acquisition and continued ownership of at least
5,000 shares of the Companys Common Stock or
(ii) the directors retirement or otherwise ceasing to
serve on the Board. Stock Options granted to directors have a
term of fifteen years, consistent with the Companys
employee stock options.
Annual Stock Unit Grant. Every non-employee director
receives an annual grant of 2,000 Stock Units at the
beginning of each Director Year. Directors may elect to receive
their annual grant in Stock Options rather than in Stock Units,
in which case the Stock Options are granted pursuant to the same
terms and conditions as described on page 8 under
Annual Retainer.
Committee Chair Retainer. At the beginning of each
Director Year, the Chair of the Audit and Compliance Committee
receives an additional annual retainer of 500 Stock Units.
Chairs of all other Committees of the Board receive annual
retainers of 300 Stock Units. Committee Chairs may elect to
receive their retainer in Stock Options rather than in Stock
Units, in which case the Stock Options are granted pursuant to
the same terms and conditions as described on page 8 under
Annual Retainer.
Charitable Giving. The Company also maintains a
Directors Legacy Program under which the Company will make
a charitable donation up to $1,000,000 to be allocated to up to
five charitable organizations or educational institutions of the
directors choice upon his or her death. The program has no
direct compensation value to directors or their families because
they do not receive any cash compensation or tax savings.
Accordingly, all directors, including employee directors, are
eligible to participate in the program. Directors vest in the
full donation in five equal annual installments of $200,000;
directors must serve on the Board for five consecutive years to
be fully vested in the program. To be eligible to receive a
donation, a recommended organization must be an educational
institution or charitable organization and must qualify to
receive tax-deductible donations under the Internal Revenue
Code. The program is funded by life insurance contracts
maintained by the Company on the lives of the participating
directors. This funding is structured such that the life
insurance proceeds are expected to equal the cost to the Company
of maintaining the program.
9
Proposals to Be Voted
On
Proposal 1:
Election of
Directors
At the Annual Meeting, the Board of Directors will present as
nominees and recommend to stockholders that the three persons
listed below be elected to the Board of Directors.
Messrs. Johnson, Lanni and Munitz are nominated as
Class I Directors to serve for a three-year term ending at
the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Each such Class I
director is currently a director of KB Home and is standing
for re-election. Should any of these nominees become unable to
serve as a director prior to the Annual Meeting, the persons
named on the enclosed Proxy Card will, unless otherwise
directed, vote for the election of such other person as the
Board of Directors may recommend in place of such nominee.
Vote Required
The election of each nominee will require the affirmative vote
of a majority of shares represented at the Annual Meeting.
Your Board recommends a vote FOR the election to the Board of
each of the following nominees. A brief summary of each
nominees principal occupation, recent professional
experience and their directorships, if any, at other public
companies is provided below.
James A. Johnson, age 61, has been Vice Chairman of
Perseus LLC, a merchant banking and private equity firm since
2001. In 2000, Mr. Johnson served as Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of Johnson Capital Partners, a private
investment company. Mr. Johnson was employed by Fannie Mae
from 1990 through 1999, where he served as Vice Chairman in
1990, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer from 1991 through
1998 and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board in
1999. He serves on the boards of Gannett, Inc., Target
Corporation, UnitedHealth Group, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.,
and Temple-Inland Inc. Mr. Johnson has been a member of the
Board of Directors since 1992.
10
J. Terrence Lanni, age 62, has been Chairman of
MGM MIRAGE since July 1995, and Chief Executive Officer from
June 1995 to December 1999, and since March 2000. Before joining
MGM MIRAGE, Mr. Lanni was President and Chief Operating
Officer of Caesars World, Inc. from April 1981 to February 1995
and a director from January 1982 to February 1995.
Mr. Lanni was elected to the Companys Board of
Directors in August 2003.
Dr. Barry Munitz, age 63, is President and
Chief Executive Officer of The J. Paul Getty Trust. From 1991 to
1997, Dr. Munitz was Chancellor of the California State
University, the largest system of senior higher education in the
United States. He is also a director for Sallie Mae.
Dr. Munitz joined the Companys Board of Directors in
1999.
11
The other directors of the Company and their respective
principal occupations, business affiliations and other
information for at least the past five years are as follows.
Ron Burkle, age 52, is the founder and managing
partner of The Yucaipa Companies, a private investment firm
based in Southern California. Yucaipa specializes in
acquisitions, mergers and management of large retail,
manufacturing and distribution companies. Mr. Burkle has
served as Chairman of the Board and controlling shareholder of
numerous companies including Alliance Entertainment,
Dominicks, Fred Meyer, Ralphs and Food4Less. He is
currently a member of the board of Occidental Petroleum
Corporation, Yahoo! Inc. and Kaufman & Broad S.A., the
Companys publicly-held French subsidiary. He has been a
director of the Company since 1995 and his current term expires
in 2007.
Dr. Ray R. Irani, age 70, is Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of Occidental Petroleum Corporation. He joined
Occidental in 1983 as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
Occidental Chemical Corporation, an Occidental subsidiary, and
as Executive Vice President of Occidental. In 1984 he was
elected to the Board of Directors of Occidental and was named
President and Chief Operating Officer. He assumed the
responsibilities of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, in
addition to President, in 1990. Dr. Irani was Chairman of
the Board of Directors of Canadian Occidental Petroleum Ltd., an
Occidental affiliate, from 1987 to 1999. Dr. Irani is a
director of Lyondell Chemical Company. Dr. Irani has been a
director of the Company since 1992 and his current term expires
in 2007.
12
Kenneth M. Jastrow, II, age 57, has been
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Temple-Inland Inc. since
2000. Prior to that, Mr. Jastrow served as President and
Chief Operating Officer in 1998 and 1999, Group Vice President
from 1995 until 1998, and as Chief Financial Officer of
Temple-Inland from November 1991 until 1999. Mr. Jastrow is
also a director of MGIC Investment Corporation. He joined the
Companys Board in December 2001 and his current term
expires in 2006.
Bruce Karatz, age 59, has been Chairman of the
Company since 1993 and Chief Executive Officer since 1986.
Mr. Karatz joined the Companys predecessor in 1972,
and from 1976 through 1980 was President of its French
homebuilding subsidiary, Kaufman & Broad S.A. From 1980
until the formation of the Company in 1986, Mr. Karatz was
President of Kaufman and Broad Development Group.
Mr. Karatz is a director of Honeywell International Inc.,
Avery Dennison Corporation, Edison International, and
Kaufman & Broad S.A., the Companys publicly-held
French subsidiary. Mr. Karatz has been a director of the
Company since 1986 and his current term expires in 2006.
Mr. Karatz will step down from one of his outside boards
prior to the 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
13
Melissa Lora, age 42, is the Chief Financial Officer
of Taco Bell Corp., a position that she has held since 2001.
Ms. Lora joined Taco Bell Corp. in 1987 and has held
various positions throughout the company, most recently acting
as Regional Vice President and General Manager from 1998 to 2000
for Taco Bells operations throughout the Northeastern
United States. Ms. Lora joined the Companys Board of
Directors in April 2004 and her current term expires in 2006.
Michael G. McCaffery, age 51, is President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Stanford Management Company, which was
established in 1991 to manage the $10.9 billion endowment
of Stanford Universitys financial and real estate
investment assets. Previously Mr. McCaffery was Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer of Robertson Stephens Investment
Bankers, a position he held since 1993. Mr. McCaffery is a
director of Western Technology Ventures, The Investment Fund for
Foundations, RS Investment Trust and is a member of the
Advisory Board of Accel Ventures. Mr. McCaffery was elected
to the Companys Board of Directors in July 2003 and his
current term expires in 2006.
14
Leslie Moonves, age 55, is Co-President and Co-Chief
Operating Officer of Viacom and most recently was President and
Chief Executive Officer of CBS Corporation, which title he
held from 1998 to June 2004, and Chairman since 2003 with
responsibility for UPN since January 2002. He joined CBS in 1995
as President, CBS Entertainment. Prior to that, Mr. Moonves
was President of Warner Bros. Television from 1993, when Warner
Bros. and Lorimar Television combined operations. From 1989 to
1993, he was president of Lorimar Television. Mr. Moonves
joined the Companys Board of Directors in April 2004 and
his current term expires in 2007.
Luis G. Nogales, age 61, is the Managing Partner of
Nogales Investors, LLC, a private equity investment firm. He was
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Embarcadero Media, Inc.
from 1992 to 1997, President of Univision Communications, Inc.,
from 1986 to 1988, and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
United Press International from 1983 to 1986. He is a director
of Southern California Edison Co., Edison International,
Arbitron Inc., and Kaufman & Broad S.A., the
Companys publicly-held French subsidiary. Mr. Nogales
has been a director of the Company since 1995 and his current
term expires in 2007.
15
Proposal 2:
Approval of an
Amendment to the Amended Certificate of Incorporation of KB Home
to Increase the Number of Authorized Shares of KB Home Common
Stock from 100 Million to 300 Million
The Companys Board of Directors proposes to amend the
Companys Amended Certificate of Incorporation to increase
the number of authorized shares of KB Home Common Stock. The
purpose of the proposal is to enable the Company to effect a
two-for-one split of the Common Stock to make it affordable to a
broader base of stockholders and to use the Common Stock for
other appropriate future corporate purposes. The proposed
amendment would increase the number of authorized shares of
Common Stock from 100,000,000 shares to
300,000,000 shares.
The Board of Directors adopted the following proposed amendment
to the Companys Amended Articles of Incorporation at its
December 2, 2004 meeting, subject to stockholder approval,
and declared the proposed amendment to be advisable:
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RESOLVED, that the Amended Certificate of Incorporation of the
Corporation be amended to increase the authorized Common Stock
and for this purpose Paragraph (a) of
Article Fourth thereof shall be struck out in its entirety
and shall be replaced with the following new
Paragraph (a) of Article Fourth: |
|
|
FOURTH: (a) The total number of shares of stock which the
Corporation shall have authority to issue is 335,000,000,
consisting of 300,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value
$1.00 per share (the Common Stock),
25,000,000 shares of Special Common Stock, par value
$1.00 per share (the Special Common Stock) and
10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value
$1.00 per share (the Preferred Stock). |
Current Capital Structure
As of the February 14, 2005 record date,
[ ] shares
of Common Stock were issued and outstanding.
[ ] shares
of Common Stock were reserved for (1) issuance upon
exercise of outstanding stock options and restricted stock
awards and (2) stock options and stock awards that may be
granted in the future under the Companys stock option and
other equity compensation and incentive programs.
[ ] shares
of Common Stock are held by the Companys grantor trust in
connection with the Companys obligations under various
employee benefit plans. Accordingly, there are only
[ ] shares
of Common Stock currently available for issuance. There are no
shares of Special Common Stock or Preferred Stock currently
outstanding.
Reasons for the Proposed Amendment
The Board of Directors believes it is desirable and in the best
interests of the Company and stockholders to increase the number
of authorized shares of Common Stock from 100 million
shares to 300 million shares to pursue a two-for-one stock
split in the form of a stock dividend to stockholders and to
provide the Company with sufficient authorized shares for
appropriate future corporate purposes (which may not require
further stockholder action or approval), including, but not
limited to, future stock dividends, raising capital through
Common Stock offerings, issuing Common Stock in acquisitions or
other strategic transactions, and funding future employee
benefit plan obligations.
16
Under the proposed amendment, each of the newly authorized
shares of Common Stock will have the same rights and privileges
as currently authorized shares of Common Stock. Adoption of the
proposed amendment will not change the par value of the Common
Stock. However, the issuance of additional shares of Common
Stock under the proposed amendment could dilute the earnings and
book value allocable to each share of Common Stock.
Authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock may also be used
to oppose a hostile takeover attempt or to delay or prevent a
change in control of the Company. However, the Company has no
present intention to issue shares for such purpose. The proposed
amendment is based on business and financial considerations. The
Company is not aware of any threat of takeover or change in
control, nor is the Company proposing to stockholders any
anti-takeover measures.
No stockholder has any preemptive rights regarding future
issuances of any shares of Common Stock and, except as stated
herein, the Company does not have any current plans,
understandings or agreements for the issuance or use of the
proposed additional shares of Common Stock.
Proposed Two-for-One Stock Split
If the proposed amendment is adopted, it will become effective
upon filing a Certificate of Amendment to the Companys
Amended Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State
of the State of Delaware. Subject to market conditions, the
Board of Directors then intends to immediately declare a
dividend of one additional share of Common Stock for each share
of Common Stock then issued so that the resulting post-split
number of shares in each stockholders account is twice the
pre-split number of shares. Unless a stockholder requests
certificated shares from the Companys transfer agent, the
additional share of Common Stock would be issued in book entry
form.
However, without stockholder approval of the proposed amendment,
the Company would not have sufficient authorized shares to
declare and carry out the proposed two-for-one stock split.
Vote Required
Approval of the proposed amendment to the Companys Amended
Certificate of Incorporation requires an affirmative vote of the
holders of a majority in voting power of all outstanding Common
Stock.
Your Board recommends a vote FOR the approval of the
proposed amendment to the Companys Amended Certificate of
Incorporation.
17
Proposal 3:
Ratification of
Independent Auditors
The Audit and Compliance Committee of the Board of Directors has
appointed Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditors to
audit the Companys consolidated financial statements for
the fiscal year ending November 30, 2005. During fiscal
2004, Ernst & Young LLP served as the Companys
independent auditors and also provided certain other audit
related services. See Independent Auditor Fees and
Services on page 44. Representatives of
Ernst & Young LLP are expected to attend the Annual
Meeting, where they are expected to be available to respond to
appropriate questions and, if they desire, to make a statement.
Our organizational documents do not require that our
stockholders ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young
LLP as our independent auditors. We are doing so, as we have
done in prior years, because we believe it is a matter of good
corporate practice. If our stockholders do not ratify the
appointment, the Audit and Compliance Committee will reconsider
whether or not to retain Ernst & Young LLP, but still
may retain them. Even if the appointment is ratified, the Audit
and Compliance Committee, in its discretion, may change the
appointment at any time during the year if it determines that
such a change would be in the best interests of KB Home and its
stockholders.
Vote Required
Approval of the ratification of the appointment of
Ernst & Young LLP requires the affirmative vote of the
majority of shares of Common Stock represented at the Annual
Meeting.
Your Board recommends a vote FOR the ratification of the
appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Companys
independent auditors for the 2005 fiscal year.
18
Stockholder
Proposal
Stockholder Proposal Concerning Future Senior Executive
Restricted Stock Grants to be Performance and Time Based.
The Massachusetts Laborers Pension Fund, 14 New
England Executive Park, Suite 200, P.O. Box 4000,
Burlington, MA 01803-0900, holds 400 shares of Company
Common Stock and intends to introduce the following proposal at
the Annual Meeting:
Resolved: That the shareholders of KB Home
(Company) hereby request that the Board of
Directors Compensation Committee adopt a performance and
time-based restricted share grant program for senior executives
that includes the following features:
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(1) Operational Performance-Vesting Measures
The restricted share program should utilize justifiable
operational performance criteria combined with challenging
performance benchmarks for each criteria utilized. The
performance criteria and associated performance benchmarks
selected by the Compensation Committee should be clearly
disclosed to shareholders. |
|
|
(2) Time-Based Vesting A time-based vesting
requirement of at least three years should also be a feature of
the restricted shares program, so that operational performance
and time-vesting requirements must be met in order for
restricted shares to vest. |
The Board and Compensation Committee should implement this
restricted share program in a manner that does not violate any
existing employment agreement or equity compensation plan.
Supporting Statement: The Companys executive
compensation program should include a long-term equity
compensation component with clearly defined operational
performance criteria and challenging performance benchmarks. We
believe that performance and time-vesting restricted shares
should be an important component of such a program. In our
opinion, performance and time-based restricted shares provide an
effective means to tie equity compensation to meaningful
operational performance beyond stock price performance.
A well-designed restricted share program can serve to help focus
senior executives on achieving strong operational performance as
measured over several years in areas determined by the Board to
be important to the long-term success of the Company. The use of
operational performance measures in a restricted share program
can serve to comple-
19
ment the stock price performance measures common in senior
executive equity compensation plans. In addition to operational
performance requirements, time vesting requirements of at least
three years will help reinforce the long-term performance
orientation of the plan.
Our proposal recognizes that the Compensation Committee is in
the best position to determine the appropriate operational
performance criteria and associated performance benchmarks. It
is requested that detailed disclosure of the performance
criteria be provided in the Compensation Committee Report.
Further, clear disclosure should be provided on the performance
benchmarks associated with each performance criteria to the
extent this information can be provided without revealing
proprietary information. This disclosure will enable
shareholders to assess whether the long-term equity compensation
portion of the executive compensation plan provides challenging
performance targets for senior executives to meet.
We believe that a performance and time-based restricted share
program with the features described above offers senior
executives the opportunity to acquire significant levels of
equity compensation commensurate with their contributions to
long-term corporate performance. We believe such a system best
advances the long-term interests of the Company, its
shareholders, employees and other important constituents. We
urge shareholders to support this important executive
compensation reform.
The Board of Directors Statement in Opposition.
The Board of Directors Management Development and
Executive Compensation Committee, comprised exclusively of
independent outside directors, is responsible for, among other
things, discharging the Boards responsibility relating to
executive compensation programs and policies. The Companys
executive compensation program, of which restricted stock awards
are an important component, is designed, in part, to attract,
retain and motivate executives of the highest quality; encourage
stock ownership by executives to directly align executive
interests with stockholder interests; and balance compensation
elements to encourage the achievement of both short-term
business plans and long-term strategic objectives. Accordingly,
the Board believes the Companys executive compensation
program is already substantially based on performance,
encourages executives to achieve long-term strategic goals and
has effectively aligned management and stockholder interests.
Under the Companys current executive compensation program,
annual compensation for each Company executive is substantially
determined by the achievement of specific individual performance
requirements established at the beginning of each fiscal year
and by the pre-tax, pre-incentive profit of the Company or a
particular business unit. Additional annual incentive awards are
granted to executives for improved short-term performance
relative to specific and demanding performance requirements
established for each grantee.
Long-term compensation is comprised of the Companys Unit
Performance Program and equity awards. Long-term equity awards
are granted solely on the basis of individual performance
results. Long-term incentive awards are based on the
Companys cumulative earnings per share and the
Companys (or a particular business units) average
pre-tax return on investment over a specified period of years
and consist primarily of stock option grants, restricted stock
and Performance Unit awards under the Companys Unit
Performance Program. Restricted stock grants currently have a
three-year vesting schedule, which, in combination with the
aforementioned basis of such awards, underscores
20
the long-term, performance-based nature and focus of the grant.
The Board believes that conditioning the vesting of restricted
stock granted for meeting performance targets on meeting further
performance targets could undermine or distort the incentives
for senior executives to improve performance that the grants
were designed to foster and diminish the retention benefits of a
time-based vesting program.
In addition, the Board believes that the Management Development
and Compensation Committee needs to maintain the flexibility to
determine the form and nature of restricted stock that may be
granted to senior executives in the future and should not be
limited to the terms set forth in the proposal. Moreover,
requiring the Company to grant restricted stock with vesting
conditions that are inconsistent with compensation practices
followed by the Companys competitors could place the
Company at a significant disadvantage in recruiting and
retaining senior executives.
The proposed modifications to restricted stock awards are not
appropriate at this time. The Companys current equity
plans give the Management Development and Compensation Committee
the flexibility to design restricted stock awards in the manner
it believes to be necessary to attract and retain senior
executives essential to the Companys future success and to
align the interests of those senior executives with the
Companys stockholders. The Board believes that restricting
this flexibility is not in the best interests of the
stockholders.
Vote Required
Approval of this stockholder proposal requires the affirmative
vote of the majority of shares of Common Stock represented at
the Annual Meeting.
Your Board recommends a vote AGAINST this stockholder
proposal.
21
Beneficial Ownership of
Company Stock
Directors and Management
The following information is furnished, as of February 14,
2005, to indicate the beneficial ownership of the Companys
Common Stock by each director, nominee for director and each of
the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table
(the Named Executive Officers) individually, and by
all directors, Named Executive Officers and other executive
officers as a group. Unless otherwise indicated, beneficial
ownership is direct and the person indicated has sole voting and
investment power. No director, nominee for director, Named
Executive Officer or other executive officer owns more than 1%
of the Companys Common Stock, other than Mr. Karatz,
who owns [ ]%, and Jeffrey
T. Mezger, who owns [ ]%. As
a group, all directors, Named Executive Officers and other
executive officers of the Company own in the aggregate
[ ]%
of the Companys Common Stock.
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Amount and Nature of |
Name of Beneficial Owner |
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Beneficial Ownership(a c) |
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Ronald W. Burkle
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[ ] |
|
Dr. Ray R. Irani
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[ ] |
|
Kenneth M. Jastrow, II
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|
[ ] |
|
James A. Johnson
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|
[ ] |
|
Bruce Karatz
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|
[ ] |
|
J. Terrence Lanni
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|
[ ] |
|
Melissa Lora
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|
[ ] |
|
Michael G. McCaffery
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[ ] |
|
Leslie Moonves
|
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|
[ ] |
|
Dr. Barry Munitz
|
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|
[ ] |
|
Luis G. Nogales
|
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|
[ ] |
|
Jeffrey T. Mezger
|
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|
[ ] |
|
Robert Freed
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|
[ ] |
|
Jay Moss
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|
[ ] |
|
Leah S. W. Bryant
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[ ] |
|
All directors, Named Executive Officers and other executive
officers as a group (25 people)
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[ ] |
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(a) |
Included are Stock Units held by non-employee directors under
the Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan in the following amounts:
Mr. Burkle
[ ];
Dr. Irani
[ ];
Mr. Jastrow
[ ];
Mr. Johnson
[ ];
Mr. Lanni
[ ];
Ms. Lora
[ ];
Mr. McCaffery
[ ];
Mr. Moonves
[ ];
Dr. Munitz
[ ];
and Mr. Nogales
[ ]. |
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(b) |
Included are shares of Common Stock subject to acquisition
within 60 days of February 14, 2005 through the
exercise of stock options granted under the Companys
employee stock plans in the following amounts: Mr. Karatz
[ ];
Mr. Mezger
[ ];
Mr. Moss
[ ];
and |
22
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|
Ms. Bryant
[ ];
and all executive officers as a group,
[ ].
Also included are shares subject to acquisition within
60 days of February 14, 2005 through the exercise of
options under the Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan in the
following amounts: Mr. Burkle
[ ];
Dr. Irani
[ ];
Mr. Johnson
[ ];
and Mr. Nogales
[ ].
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(c) |
Included are a total of
[ ] shares
of restricted Common Stock granted under the Companys
employee stock plans. As of February 14, 2005,
Mr. Karatz held
[ ] shares
of restricted Common Stock under a grant made in 1991. These
shares were part of a
[ ] share
grant that vests in equal annual installments over twelve years.
The first installment vested in 1994; full vesting will occur in
2005. In addition, for 2004, Mr. Karatz received an award
of
[ ] shares
of restricted Common Stock; the shares vest on January 15,
2007, three years from the date of grant. In accordance with his
current employment agreement, which places a
$[ ]
limit on his cash incentive bonus, these shares represent the
portion of his 2004 incentive bonus that was in excess of
$[ ].
Also, in 2004, all executive officers, including the Named
Executive Officers, received restricted stock grants as part of
their equity incentive awards for fiscal 2005. These shares vest
on
October [ ],
and were awarded in the following amounts: Mr. Karatz
[ ];
Mr. Mezger
[ ];
Mr. Freed
[ ];
Mr. Moss
[ ];
and Ms. Bryant
[ ];
and all executive officers as a group,
[ ].
In January 2005, certain executive officers received restricted
stock for that portion of their annual incentive bonus that
exceeded a specified amount. These shares vest on
January 14, 2008, and were awarded to the Named Executive
Officers in the following amounts: Mr. Karatz
[ ];
Mr. Mezger
[ ];
Mr. Freed
[ ];
Mr. Moss
[ ];
and Ms. Bryant
[ ];
and all executive officers as a group,
[ ]. |
23
Beneficial Owners of More Than 5 Percent
Based on filings made under Section 13(d) and
Section 13(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, as of February 14, 2005 the only persons or
entities, in addition to Mr. Karatz, known to be beneficial
owners of more than 5% of the Companys Common Stock were
as follows:
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Amount and Nature |
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Percent |
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of Beneficial |
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of |
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner |
|
Ownership (a c) |
|
Class |
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KB Home Grantor Stock Trust,
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[ ] |
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[ |
|
]% |
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Wachovia Bank, N.A., as Trustee,
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Institutional Trust and Retirement Services |
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101 North Main Street |
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Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27150 |
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FMR Corp.
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[ ] |
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[ |
|
]% |
82 Devonshire Street |
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Boston, Massachusetts 02109 |
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(a) |
Pursuant to the amendment to Schedule 13D dated
February [ ], 2005
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by the KB Home
Grantor Stock Trust, Wachovia Bank, N.A., as Trustee (the
GST), the GST holds all of the shares reported
pursuant to a trust agreement creating the GST in connection
with the prefunding of certain obligations of the Company under
various employee benefit plans. Both the GST and the Trustee
disclaim beneficial ownership of the shares reported. The
Trustee has no discretion over the manner in which the shares
held by the GST are voted. The trust agreement for the GST
provides that, as of any given record date, employees who hold
unexercised options under the Companys employee stock
option plans will determine the manner in which shares of the
Companys Common Stock held in the GST are voted. |
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The Trustee will vote the Common Stock held in the GST in the
manner directed by those eligible employees who submit voting
instructions for the shares. The number of shares as to which
any one employee can direct the vote is determined on a pro-rata
basis and will depend upon how many employees submit voting
instructions to the Trustee. Employees who are also directors of
the Company are excluded from voting; accordingly,
Mr. Karatz may not direct the vote of any shares in the
GST. If all eligible employees submit voting instructions to the
Trustee, as of the February 14, 2005 record date for the
Annual Meeting, the other Named Executive Officers will have the
right to vote the following share amounts: Mr. Mezger
[ ];
Mr. Freed
[ ];
Mr. Moss
[ ];
Ms. Bryant
[ ];
and all executive officers as a group,
[ ].
If less than all of the eligible employees submit voting
instructions, then the foregoing amounts will be higher. The
trust agreement further provides that all voting instructions
received by the Trustee will be held in confidence and will not
be disclosed to any person, including the Company. |
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(b) |
Pursuant to the amendment to Schedule 13G dated
February [ ], 2005
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by
FMR Corp.,
[ ]
of the shares reported are beneficially owned by Fidelity
Management & Research Company, an investment adviser
and a wholly-owned subsidiary of |
24
|
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|
FMR Corp., as a result of acting as investment advisor to
various investment companies (collectively, the Fidelity
Funds); with respect to these shares, FMR Corp.,
Mr. Edward C. Johnson 3d and each of the Fidelity Funds
exercise sole investment power and the Fidelity Funds
Boards of Trustees exercises sole voting power. Of the shares
reported,
[ ] shares
are beneficially owned by Fidelity Management
Trust Company, a bank and a wholly-owned subsidiary of
FMR Corp., as to which each of Mr. Johnson and
FMR Corp., through its control of Fidelity Management Trust
Company, has sole investment and voting power. The remaining
[ ] shares
reported are beneficially owned by Fidelity International
Limited, an investment adviser and an entity independent of
FMR Corp., as to which shares Fidelity International
Limited exercises sole investment and voting power. |
25
Management Development
and Compensation
Committee Report on
Executive Compensation
Compensation Philosophy and Objectives
The Management Development and Compensation Committee of the
Companys Board of Directors provides guidance,
recommendations and approvals regarding the Companys
executive compensation programs. The Company designs executive
compensation around five key objectives, which comprise the
Companys executive compensation philosophy:
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closely link executive compensation to the creation of
stockholder value, |
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encourage stock ownership by executives to directly align
executive interests with stockholder interests, |
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reward contributions that further the Companys KBnxt
operational business model (as described in our 2004 Annual
Report to Stockholders) by aligning individual performance
measures with the Companys performance objectives, |
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balance compensation elements to encourage the achievement of
both short-term business plans and long-term strategic
objectives with a focus on total compensation, and |
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attract, retain and motivate executives of the highest quality. |
Under the Companys total compensation focus, the
Company and the Committee continually analyze both annual and
long-term compensation. Annual compensation for each Company
executive is comprised of base salary and incentive
compensation, the latter typically determined by the pre-tax,
pre-incentive profit of the Company (or a particular business
unit) and/or individual job performance. The overall amount of
annual compensation is determined by specific performance
requirements established for each executive at the beginning of
the fiscal year. Performance against these requirements is
analyzed to ensure that the results achieved are sustainable and
that the KBnxt operational business model is being followed.
Long-term compensation is comprised of the Companys Unit
Performance Program and equity awards. Performance Unit awards
are determined by the Companys cumulative earnings per
share and the Companys (or a particular business
units) average pre-tax return on investment over a
specified period of years. Long-term equity awards are granted
based on individual performance results and build value for each
executive grantee in step with improved Company performance.
This total compensation orientation links a large portion of
executives compensation directly to the Companys
performance, as well as their individual performance. The
Management Development and Compensation Committee believes that
this is a balanced approach that motivates the Companys
executives to continually improve the Companys performance
and maintains close alignment with the interests of the
Companys stockholders.
The Company achieved significant increases in unit deliveries,
total revenues, and diluted earnings per share in 2004. Unit
deliveries rose 16% from the prior year, to 31,646, while total
revenues increased 21% to $7.05 billion. Diluted earnings
per share increased 30% to $11.40, establishing a new Company
record. The improved results in 2004 were largely due to higher
unit delivery volume and expanded operating margins. The Company
ended its fiscal year in a strong financial position, including
approximately $234 million of
26
cash and stockholders equity of $2.06 billion. The
Companys backlog value at November 30, 2004 stood at
$4.82 billion, up 57% from the prior year, and reflected
2004 net order growth of 26%.
Compensation in 2004
The following generally describes how the Companys
executive officers and, in particular, the Named Executive
Officers, were paid in 2004. Please see the tables under
Executive Compensation on pages 40-44 for a
detailed presentation of the compensation earned by the Named
Executive Officers in 2004. The specifics of Chief Executive
Officer compensation are addressed separately in this report.
Base Salaries. Base salaries are viewed as compensation
for an executives ongoing contribution to the performance
of the business units for which he or she is responsible.
Increases in executive base salaries are made by reference to
the Management Development and Compensation Committees
assessment of each executives contribution to the
Companys business and by reference to the Company-wide
budgetary guidelines for base salary increases. Executive base
salaries are targeted to be competitive with average base
salaries paid to executives with comparable responsibilities at
other companies in the real estate sector. The Management
Development and Compensation Committee reviews analyses by the
Companys Compensation Department and by outside
consultants to ensure that base salaries remain competitive and
are at least at the median level.
In 2004, the aggregate average merit increase, of employees
receiving merit increases, was 3.5% on an annualized basis.
Individual base salary increases were determined by individual
performance and contribution levels and ranged from 0% to 8% in
2004, excluding promotional increases. Base salary increases for
the Named Executive Officers were consistent with a Company-wide
increase in base salaries and the Companys merit
distribution philosophy.
Annual Incentive Awards. Annual incentive awards are paid
in cash and, when certain thresholds are met, in shares of
Company Common Stock that grantees are restricted from selling
for three years after grant (restricted stock).
These annual incentive awards are intended to reward executives
for improved short-term performance as measured against specific
performance criteria relative to their respective businesses.
Applicable performance criteria are established by the Company
at the beginning of the fiscal year and include performance in
pre-tax profit, pre-tax return on investment, unit deliveries,
unit backlog, community count, customer satisfaction metrics,
e.g., J.D. Power rankings and other performance
hurdles specific to the executives business. In 2003, caps
were introduced to limit the amount of compensation paid in cash
to certain executives, including each of the Named Executive
Officers. To encourage stock ownership and to further align the
interests of executives and stockholders, incentive amounts
earned in excess of the cap were paid in restricted stock. This
approach, also applied in 2004, is intended to motivate
executives to improve the Companys overall performance in
a balanced manner. Restricted stock grants paid for annual
incentive awards are reflected in the table entitled
Summary Compensation Table on pages 38-39.
Long-Term Incentive Compensation. Long-term incentive
compensation is generally awarded in the form of stock option
grants, restricted stock, and Performance Unit awards under the
Companys Unit Performance Program.
By providing executives with an ownership stake in the Company,
stock option and restricted stock grants are intended to align
executive interests with stockholder interests and to motivate
executives to
27
continually improve the long-term performance of the Company. As
shown in the table entitled Option/ SAR Grants in Last
Fiscal Year on page 40, stock option grants were made
in 2004 to each of the Named Executive Officers. Grants made to
Company executives, including the Named Executive Officers,
during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2004 represent their annual
discretionary grants for fiscal year 2005. Beginning in 2003, a
portion of the estimated present value of annual equity awards,
formerly made only through stock option grants was replaced with
an equivalent value of shares of restricted stock. Use of
restricted stock as a part of the annual grant process was
initiated to encourage direct share ownership by executives and
to provide an additional retention incentive for members of the
executive team. Options and restricted stock grants are
reflected in the table entitled Summary Compensation
Table on pages 38-39.
In early 1998, the Committee adopted an Executive Stock
Ownership Policy designed to further the Companys strategy
of closely aligning the interests of management and
stockholders. The policy requires the Named Executive Officers,
as well as all senior corporate and divisional managers, to
achieve specified ownership levels of the Companys Common
Stock. The policy has been updated from time to time since its
adoption. Current stock ownership targets are based on the
average total annual cash compensation (base salary and cash
bonus) over a period of two fiscal years for all participants
except Mr. Karatz. The target for Mr. Karatz is based
on two-times his average total annual cash compensation.
In 2004, the Management Development and Compensation Committee
also made awards of Performance Units under the Unit Performance
Program, which was first implemented in 1996. This long-term
incentive compensation program is intended to motivate senior
management toward improving the Companys long-term
performance by providing incentives tied to specified long-term
performance objectives of the Company. Participants in the Unit
Performance Program include all executive officers and certain
other members of senior management. No employees of
Kaufman & Broad S.A., the Companys publicly
traded French subsidiary, participate in the Unit Performance
Program.
The value of Performance Units awarded under the Unit
Performance Program is determined over the three-year period
that the Performance Units are outstanding by (1) the
Companys cumulative earnings per share and (2) the
average pre-tax return on investment of the specific operations
for which the participating executive is responsible. The
weighting of both factors, as well as the individual performance
targets for each executive, are established on an annual basis
by the Management Development and Compensation Committee. For
all Performance Units awarded to corporate-based executives in
2004, earnings per share will determine 75% of the value of the
award and pre-tax return on investment will determine 25% of the
value of the award. For awards to division-based executives,
earnings per share will determine 50% of the value of the award
and pre-tax return on investment will determine 50% of the value
of the award. Performance Unit payouts, if any, may be paid in
cash or in stock or stock equivalents, at the discretion of
Company management. Please see Long-Term Incentive
Plans Awards in Last Fiscal Year on
pages 41-42 for the Performance Units granted to each Named
Executive Officer in 2004.
The value of Performance Units awarded under the Unit
Performance Program is realized, if at all, three years after
the date of award. Performance Units awarded at the beginning of
fiscal 2001 were paid out in cash based on results measured
through the end of fiscal 2004. Please see Summary Com-
28
pensation Table on pages 38-39 for the value of the
awards paid to each of the Named Executive Officers upon the
vesting of their Performance Units in 2004.
Decisions made by the Management Development and Compensation
Committee in 2003 as a result of a strategic review of the total
compensation package for executives also applied in 2004:
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Under the terms of his employment agreement, the maximum cash
value of Mr. Karatzs annual incentive is capped at a
predetermined amount. For fiscal 2004, the Committee implemented
similar cash value caps for Regional General Managers, Division
Presidents, and certain Corporate Executives. Maximum cash
values for annual incentive awards were set at $1,250,000 for
Regional General Managers and $750,000 for Division Presidents.
Amounts earned in excess of the cash cap were paid in restricted
stock. |
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Stock option award practices were modified for all executive
officers and certain other senior executives in the most recent
fiscal year. When determining award levels, the present value of
the award is reviewed for each recipient. As a means to enhance
executive retention, approximately 30% of the value of the
overall equity award was granted in restricted stock. |
Compensation of Chief Executive Officer in 2004. In
keeping with the Companys compensation objectives,
Mr. Karatzs compensation is largely driven by cash
and stock-based incentives that are directly tied to the
Companys financial performance. Mr. Karatz entered
into an employment agreement with the company in 1995 for a term
of six years. In 2001, the Board amended and restated the 1995
agreement and extended the term for an additional seven years,
until December 31, 2008. Please see Employment
Agreements on pages 33-34 for a more detailed
description of Mr. Karatzs employment agreement. The
amended and restated agreement provides that the Board of
Directors may, in its discretion, increase or decrease
Mr. Karatzs base salary from time to time, provided
that any decrease does not fall below $900,000. In 2004,
Mr. Karatzs base salary remained at $1,000,000.
Mr. Karatz also received an annual incentive bonus of cash
and restricted stock for 2004, the amount of which was primarily
determined by formulas based on the Companys pre
incentive, pre-tax profit. Mr. Karatzs 2004 incentive
bonus was paid pursuant to the formula in his amended and
restated employment agreement. The agreement specifies a
$5,000,000 limit on the amount of his bonus that may be paid in
cash. For 2004, Mr. Karatz earned $11,750,000 over this
cap. Accordingly, in lieu of a cash payment for this amount,
Mr. Karatz received an award of 107,397 shares of
restricted stock. The number of shares awarded was determined by
the market price of the Companys Common Stock on
January 14, 2005, the date which coincided with payment of
the cash portion of the incentive award.
Incentive compensation paid to Mr. Karatz under his
employment agreement is made under and subject to the
limitations set forth in the Companys 2001 Stock Incentive
Plan, which has been approved by the Companys stockholders
and is designed to qualify incentive compensation in excess of
$1,000,000 paid to the Named Executive Officers for a tax
deduction under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Under his employment agreement Mr. Karatz is also entitled
to receive other benefits afforded to other executives of the
Company. In 2004, Mr. Karatz received a discretionary award
of 1,000 Performance Units under the Unit Performance Program in
accordance with the principles described above. He also received
an award of 280,000 options and 30,000 shares of restricted
29
stock in late 2004, representing his annual discretionary grant
for fiscal 2005. Mr. Karatz is also a participant in the
KB Home Retirement Plan and the KB Home Death Benefit
Only Plan.
Policy on Deductibility of Compensation
The Company intends to comply with the requirements of
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code with respect to
maintaining tax deductibility for all executive compensation,
except in circumstances when the Management Development and
Compensation Committee believes that such compliance would not
be in the best interests of the Company or its stockholders. The
Company believes that all executive officer compensation paid in
2004 met the deductibility requirements of Section 162(m).
Management Development and Compensation Committee
The Management Development and Compensation Committee is
responsible for approving the compensation strategy of the
Company. The committee approves and monitors principal executive
compensation programs, including those covering the Named
Executive Officers. For each of the Companys executive
officers, the committee approves annual base salary, annual
incentive bonus awards, and long-term incentive awards. The
Management Development and Compensation Committee also approves
all officer nominations and annual merit increase guidelines for
all Company employees. The committee is composed entirely of
independent directors within the meaning of the rules of both
the Securities and Exchange Commission and the New York Stock
Exchange.
This report is respectfully submitted by the members of the
Management Development and Compensation Committee:
Dr. Ray R. Irani, Chairman
Mr. James A. Johnson
Mr. J. Terrence Lanni
Mr. Leslie Moonves
Dr. Barry Munitz
Luis G. Nogales
30
KB HOME
Common Stock Price
Performance
The graphs below compare the cumulative total return (a) of
KB Home Common Stock, the S&P Homebuilding Index, the
Dow Jones Home Construction Index (b), and the S&P 500 Index
for the last five fiscal year-end periods.
Last Five Fiscal Years
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1999 |
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2000 |
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2001 |
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2002 |
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2003 |
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2004 |
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KB Home
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100 |
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144 |
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155 |
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208 |
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322 |
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417 |
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S&P Homebuilding Index
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100 |
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155 |
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177 |
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213 |
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420 |
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484 |
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Dow Jones Home Construction
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100 |
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157 |
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201 |
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237 |
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462 |
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526 |
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S&P 500 Index
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100 |
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96 |
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84 |
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70 |
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81 |
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91 |
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The above graph is based upon the Common Stock and index prices
calculated as of the last trading day before
December 1st of the fiscal year-end periods presented.
The Companys November 30, 2004 closing Common Stock
price on the New York Stock Exchange was $87.89 per share.
On February [ ], 2005, the
Companys Common Stock closed at
$[ ]
per share. The performance of the Companys Common
Stock depicted in the graphs above represents past performance
only and is not indicative of future performance.
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(a) |
Total return assumes $100 invested at market close on
November 30, 1999 in the Company, the S&P 500 Index,
the S&P Homebuilding Index, and the Dow Jones Home
Construction Index including reinvestment of dividends. |
31
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(b) |
The three companies that comprise the S&P Homebuilding Index
are: Centex Corporation, Pulte Homes, Inc. and the Company. The
thirteen companies that comprise the Dow Jones Home Construction
Index are: Beazer Homes, Centex Corporation, Champion
Enterprises, Inc., D.R. Horton, Inc., Hovnanian
Enterprises, Lennar Corporation, MDC Holdings, Inc., NVR, Inc.,
Pulte Homes, Inc., Ryland Group, Inc., Standard Pacific
Corporation, Toll Brothers, Inc. and the Company. |
32
Employment Agreements,
Change in Control Arrangements,
Retirement and Death
Benefit Plans
Employment Agreements
Mr. Karatz, the Companys Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer, was employed under an employment agreement that he
entered into with the Company in 1995 that provided for a term
through November 30, 2001. In mid-2001, the 1995 agreement
was amended and restated, pursuant to which, among other things,
the term of the agreement was extended through December 31,
2008.
For the 2004 fiscal year, under the terms of his employment
agreement, Mr. Karatz was entitled to annual incentive
compensation ranging from 1% to 2% of the Companys
pre-tax, pre-incentive income depending on the specified return
on equity of the Company for the year. Mr. Karatzs
employment agreement provides that such incentive compensation
will be paid 75% in cash and 25% in shares of restricted stock,
unless the cash amount exceeds $5 million, in which case
any excess will be paid in restricted stock. Accordingly,
approximately 70% of Mr. Karatzs 2004 bonus was paid
in restricted stock. Pursuant to his agreement, any restricted
stock granted under his employment agreement vests on the third
anniversary of the date of grant, but will vest earlier in the
event of Mr. Karatzs death, disability, involuntary
termination by the Company without cause or his voluntary
termination for good reason.
Under his employment agreement, Mr. Karatz is entitled to a
specified minimum annual base salary of $900,000, which is
subject to annual adjustment in the discretion of the Board of
Directors. Mr. Karatz is also entitled to a modified
nonqualified retirement arrangement pursuant to which he will
receive an annual pension equal to 100% of his average base
salary during the final three years of his employment, payable
for 25 years, if he continues in the employment of the
Company until November 30, 2008. If Mr. Karatz retires
or his employment is terminated before such date, he will be
entitled to a lesser amount pursuant to a defined formula. The
retirement arrangement is structured so that upon
Mr. Karatzs death, the Company will recover the
after-tax cost to the Company of his retirement benefit. The
retirement arrangement also contemplates certain benefits prior
to retirement in the event of death, disability, or a
change in ownership of the Company. In addition,
under his employment agreement, Mr. Karatz is entitled to
receive other benefits generally awarded to Company executives,
which, in 2004 included a discretionary stock option and
restricted stock grant, and an award under the KB Home Unit
Performance Program. Please see Compensation of Chief
Executive Officer in 2004 in the Management Development
and Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation on
pages 26-30 for additional information on compensation paid
to Mr. Karatz during the year.
In the event Mr. Karatzs employment with the Company
is terminated prior to the expiration of the amended and
restated agreement, Mr. Karatz or his estate, as
applicable, will receive the following:
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in the event his employment is terminated as a result of his
death or disability, an amount equal to two times
Mr. Karatzs average annual compensation for the three
fiscal years prior to the date of the termination of his
employment, |
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in the event his employment is terminated as a result of an
involuntary termination of his |
33
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employment by the Company without cause or his voluntary
termination for good reason, an amount equal to three times his
average annual compensation for the three fiscal years prior to
the date of the termination of his employment, and |
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in the event his employment is terminated within 18 months
following a change of ownership of the Company, an
amount equal to three times his average annual compensation for
the three fiscal years prior to the date of the termination of
his employment. If, in such event, Mr. Karatz is subject to
an excise tax under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue
Code with respect to the payments or distributions in the nature
of compensation made to him by the Company in connection with a
change in ownership of the Company, an additional amount so as
to place him in the same after-tax position he would have been
in had the excise tax not applied. |
Upon Mr. Karatzs termination of employment on or
after the expiration of his employment agreement or upon his
earlier retirement with the consent of the Board of Directors,
Mr. Karatzs employment agreement provides that the
Company will continue to provide him and his family medical and
dental benefits for Mr. Karatzs lifetime at least
equal to those which would have been provided under the
Companys plan had Mr. Karatz not retired or otherwise
terminated his employment with the Company. If Mr. Karatz
is not eligible under the terms of the Companys medical
and dental plans to continue to be covered, the Company shall
provide Mr. Karatz with substantially similar coverage
through other sources; provided, however, that the foregoing
benefits will be reduced if Mr. Karatz becomes re-employed
and to the extent he is eligible to receive comparable benefits
from another employer. In addition, at the reasonable request of
Mr. Karatz, the Company shall provide him with an
appropriate office and administrative support commensurate with
his then-former status as Chief Executive Officer of the
Company, plus reimbursement of reasonable expenses attendant to
the maintenance of such office and retention of such
administrative support. At Mr. Karatzs request, the
Company shall, in lieu of providing such an office and
administrative support, reimburse him for expenses of such
office and administrative support.
No other Named Executive Officer has an employment agreement
with the Company.
Change in Control Arrangements
The Company has a Change in Control Plan in which 13 senior
corporate executives currently participate, including
Mr. Mezger. The plan is designed to encourage the retention
of senior executives in the event of a change in control of the
Company, which could play a key role in the continuing success
of the Company in the event of a change in control. The plan
provides that if there is a change in control of the
Company and a participating executive is terminated within a
specified period after such change in ownership, other than for
cause or disability, as defined in the
plan, or if the executive terminates for Good
Reason, the terminated executive will be entitled to
receive an amount equal to one or two years average salary
and cash incentive bonus, depending on the executive.
Under the KB Home 1988 Employee Stock Plan, the
KB Home Performance-Based Incentive Plan for Senior
Management, the KB Home 1998 Stock Incentive Plan, the
KB Home 1999 Incentive Plan and the KB Home 2001 Stock
Incentive Plan, all outstanding stock options will become fully
exercisable and all restrictions on outstanding shares of
restricted Common Stock or other awards shall lapse upon a
change of ownership of the Com-
34
pany. A change of ownership will be deemed to occur if:
(i) current members of the Board of Directors or other
directors elected by three-quarters of the current members or
their respective replacements (excluding certain individuals who
took office in connection with an acquisition of 20% or more of
the Companys voting securities or in connection with an
election contest) cease to represent a majority of the Board; or
(ii) the Board determines that a change of ownership has
occurred.
The KB Home Unit Performance Program, which is administered
under the Companys employee stock plans, provides that
upon a change of ownership each outstanding Performance Unit
will be paid in cash at the target level.
The KB Home Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan provides that
upon a change of ownership, all outstanding options will become
immediately exercisable and Stock Units shall immediately vest
and will be paid in cash or shares of Common Stock, in
accordance with the prior election made by each participating
director. The KB Home Directors Legacy Program
provides that upon a change of ownership of the Company, all
participating directors shall become immediately vested under
the program, and the Company shall create an irrevocable trust
into which it shall transfer sufficient assets (including the
directors life insurance policies) to make the designated
charitable contributions for the participating directors.
The Company also maintains a non-qualified Executive Deferred
Compensation Plan. From 1985 to 1992, pursuant to the plan
Mr. Karatz and certain other executives deferred receipt of
a certain amount of pre-tax income, plus a Company matching
contribution, until retirement, termination or certain other
events, including a change in control. A change in
control is defined in the plan to include the acquisition by a
person or group (as defined) of 25% or more of the
Companys voting power, a transaction which results in a
change in a majority of the then-incumbent Board or the Company
ceasing to be publicly owned. No new contributions to the
Executive Deferred Compensation Plan may be made, but the
Company continues to pay interest on prior contributions still
held in the plan.
Under the KB Home Retirement Plan, which is described in
more detail on page 36 under Retirement Plan,
participants become fully vested in their Retirement Plan
benefits, and may elect a lump sum distribution of Retirement
Plan benefits, in the event of a change in control.
A change in control under the Retirement Plan is
generally defined to include certain changes in control that
must be reported pursuant to federal securities laws, the
acquisition by a person or group (as defined) of 15%
or more of the Companys voting power, and certain changes
in a majority of the Board.
The Company also maintains the KB Home Death Benefit Only
Plan (the DBO Plan), which is described in more
detail under Death Benefit Only Plan on
pages 36-37. Participants become fully vested in their DBO
Plan benefits and, as described more fully below, will receive a
distribution of the insurance policy on their life in cash in
the event of a change in control. A change in
control under the DBO Plan is generally defined to include
certain changes in control that must be reported pursuant to
federal securities laws, the acquisition by a person or
group (as defined) of 20% or more of the
Companys voting power, and certain changes in a majority
of the Board.
35
Retirement Plan
The Company adopted the KB Home Retirement Plan in 2002.
The Retirement Plan provides certain supplemental retirement
benefits to selected executives. Currently, 27 executives,
including all of the Companys Named Executive Officers,
participate in the Retirement Plan. The Company establishes an
annual benefit amount for each participant in the
Retirement Plan. A participant becomes entitled to benefits
under the Retirement Plan only if the participant releases the
Company from any and all claims that he or she may then have
against the Company and only if the participants
termination of employment with the Company occurs either
(i) on or after the fifth anniversary of the date the
participant commenced participation in the Retirement Plan, or
(ii) before that date, due to the participants death
or disability. A participant is eligible for a reduced level of
benefits if the Company terminates the participants
employment without cause after the fourth, but before the fifth,
anniversary of the date the participant commenced participation
in the Retirement Plan.
If a participant becomes entitled to Retirement Plan benefits,
the Company will pay the participant a series of installment
payments over a period of twenty years commencing following the
later of (1) the participants attainment of
age 55, (2) the tenth anniversary of the date the
participant commenced participation in the Retirement Plan, or
(3) the termination of the participants employment
with the Company. The annual benefit to be paid to a participant
who is entitled to Retirement Plan benefits (to be paid each
year over the twenty-year payment period) equals the
annual benefit amount determined by the Company for
that participant. Messrs. Karatz, Mezger, Freed and Moss,
and Ms. Byrant commenced participation in the Retirement
Plan as of July 11, 2002 and, in 2004, their annual benefit
amounts were $800,000, $450,000, $100,000, $100,000 and
$150,000, respectively. The Company may elect to pay a
participant the actuarial equivalent of his or her benefits in a
lump sum payment as opposed to installments over twenty years. A
participants benefits will be paid to a participants
beneficiary if the participant dies.
Death Benefit Only Plan
In 2001, the Company implemented the DBO Plan. Currently 57
executives, including all of the Named Executive Officers,
participate in the DBO Plan. The beneficiary of a DBO Plan
participant is entitled to DBO Plan benefits if the participant
either (1) dies while actively employed by the Company or
an affiliate or (2) dies after completing 10 years of
service with the Company or an affiliate, including at least
five consecutive years of service while a DBO Plan participant.
Each participant is assigned a basic level of
benefit of either $1 million or $500,000. A beneficiary of
a participant entitled to benefits receives an aggregate DBO
Plan benefit in an amount that equals, after the payment of all
federal and state income taxes attributable to such benefit, a
net after-tax benefit to the beneficiary of either
$1 million or $500,000, as applicable; in the discretion of
the committee that administers the plan, payroll taxes may also
be taken into account. The basic death benefit of each of
Messrs. Karatz, Mezger, Freed, and Moss and Ms. Bryant
is $1 million.
The Company has purchased life insurance policies on the lives
of the participants in the DBO Plan. In the event of a change in
control, the Company will pay to the issuance company, on behalf
of each participant, an amount large enough so that, after the
payment, the policy is fully paid up. For this
purpose, the term fully paid up means that, after
the payment described in the preceding sentence is paid as a
premium to the insurer, the value of the policy is such that the
36
policy is projected (based on assumptions set forth in the DBO
Plan) to be able to pay at least the basic benefit applicable to
the participant if the participant dies at any time after the
change in control and prior to age 100. The policy will
then be transferred to the participant along with a cash payment
large enough to pay any federal or state or local income or
payroll taxes (including excise taxes, such as the excise tax
under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, if
applicable) attributable to the distribution of the policy and
the cash payment.
37
Executive
Compensation
Summary Compensation Table
The following Summary Compensation Table sets forth the total
compensation earned by each of the Named Executive Officers for
the fiscal years ended November 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002.
|
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|
|
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|
|
|
|
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|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-Term Compensation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Awards |
|
|
|
Payouts |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Compensation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other Annual |
|
Restricted |
|
Underlying |
|
LTIP |
|
All Other |
|
|
Fiscal |
|
|
|
Bonus |
|
Compensation |
|
Stock |
|
Options/ |
|
Payouts |
|
Compensation |
Name and Position |
|
Year |
|
Salary($) |
|
($)(a) |
|
($)(b) |
|
Awards($) |
|
SARs(#) |
|
($)(c) |
|
($)(d) |
|
Bruce Karatz
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chairman and |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
$ |
1,000,000 |
|
|
$ |
5,000,000 |
|
|
$ |
165,263 |
|
|
$ |
14,045,340 |
|
|
|
280,000 |
|
|
$ |
3,865,455 |
|
|
$ |
101,528 |
|
|
Chief Executive |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
994,667 |
|
|
|
5,000,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
9,995,580 |
|
|
|
280,000 |
|
|
|
2,432,478 |
|
|
|
95,995 |
|
|
Officer |
|
|
2002 |
|
|
|
921,000 |
|
|
|
7,755,970 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
6,023,880 |
|
|
|
500,000 |
|
|
|
1,803,678 |
|
|
|
95,556 |
|
|
Jeffrey T. Mezger
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Executive Vice |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
478,333 |
|
|
|
2,000,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
3,524,962 |
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
2,761,071 |
|
|
|
28,800 |
|
|
President and |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
458,333 |
|
|
|
2,000,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
2,473,948 |
|
|
|
112,000 |
|
|
|
1,737,475 |
|
|
|
27,500 |
|
|
Chief Operating |
|
|
2002 |
|
|
|
431,000 |
|
|
|
3,766,789 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
273,303 |
|
|
|
1,503,072 |
|
|
|
25,100 |
|
|
Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert Freed
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Regional General |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
229,167 |
|
|
|
1,250,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
1,107,985 |
|
|
|
12,500 |
|
|
|
1,380,426 |
|
|
|
13,800 |
|
|
Manager |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
219,167 |
|
|
|
1,774,697 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
968,435 |
|
|
|
16,800 |
|
|
|
868,806 |
|
|
|
550 |
|
|
|
|
|
2002 |
|
|
|
205,000 |
|
|
|
2,078,159 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
53,918 |
|
|
|
730,880 |
|
|
|
500 |
|
|
Jay Moss
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Regional General |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
259,167 |
|
|
|
1,250,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
1,862,689 |
|
|
|
12,500 |
|
|
|
1,380,426 |
|
|
|
15,600 |
|
|
Manager |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
249,167 |
|
|
|
1,449,165 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
662,132 |
|
|
|
16,800 |
|
|
|
868,806 |
|
|
|
14,450 |
|
|
|
|
|
2002 |
|
|
|
240,000 |
|
|
|
1,134,207 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
36,828 |
|
|
|
681,367 |
|
|
|
14,400 |
|
|
Leah S.W. Bryant
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Regional General |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
269,167 |
|
|
|
1,250,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
901,057 |
|
|
|
12,500 |
|
|
|
1,104,494 |
|
|
|
16,013 |
|
|
Manager |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
232,500 |
|
|
|
1,250,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
637,049 |
|
|
|
32,400 |
|
|
|
521,270 |
|
|
|
13,950 |
|
|
|
|
|
2002 |
|
|
|
218,077 |
|
|
|
1,319,888 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
|
150,303 |
|
|
|
13,140 |
|
|
|
|
|
(a) |
|
The 2004 bonus reported for Mr. Karatz is comprised of the
cash portion of his annual incentive bonus.
Mr. Karatzs annual incentive bonus is determined by a
performance-based formula set forth in his employment agreement.
The formula requires, among other things, that any amount earned
over $5,000,000 must be paid in shares of three-year restricted
stock. Accordingly, in 2004, $5,000,000 of
Mr. Karatzs incentive bonus was paid in cash, and
$11,750,000 was paid in 107,397 shares of restricted stock
and is reported separately in the table above under
Restricted Stock Awards. The amount of shares of
restricted stock issued to Mr. Karatz was determined by
reference to the closing price of the Companys Common
Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the date of grant
(January 14, 2005). Please see Employment
Agreements on pages 33-34 for a description of the
performance-based incentive compensation formula in
Mr. Karatzs employment agreement. The remaining
$2,295,340 of the restricted stock awards reported for
Mr. Karatz in 2004 is a grant of 30,000 shares of
Common Stock made on October 22, 2004 as part of |
38
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Karatzs 2005 equity incentive award, the value
reported determined by reference to the closing price of the
Companys Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on
the date of grant. |
|
|
|
Restricted stock grants reported for Messrs. Mezger, Freed
and Moss and Ms. Bryant include the restricted Common Stock
portion of their 2005 equity incentive awards, granted on
October 22, 2004, as follows: Mr. Mezger 9,500;
Mr. Freed 1,250; Mr. Moss 1,250; and Ms. Bryant
1,250. In addition, in 2004 certain limits were placed on the
amount of annual incentive awards for certain senior executives
that may be paid in cash. Accordingly, as a result of these
caps, on January 14, 2005, the Named Executive Officers
received restricted stock awards in the following amounts:
Mr. Karatz 107,397, Mr. Mezger 25,575; Mr. Freed
9,253; Mr. Moss 16,151; and Ms. Bryant 7,362. |
|
|
|
In accordance with the Companys Executive Deferred
Compensation Plan, irrevocable elections to defer a portion of
2004 cash incentive bonuses were required to be made in December
of 2003. |
|
(b) |
|
The Named Executive Officers receive certain personal benefits,
including financial planning and tax preparation services, an
automobile and gasoline allowance and automobile insurance
reimbursement; however, in accordance with Securities and
Exchange Commission rules, personal benefits for each Named
Executive Officer in 2004 totaling less than $50,000 in
aggregate incremental cost to the Company have been omitted. Of
the amount reported for Mr. Karatz, $113,010 related to the
incremental cost to the Company for his personal use of Company
owned aircraft. |
|
(c) |
|
Payouts in 2004 to all participants under the Companys
long-term incentive program, the Unit Performance Program, were
paid in cash. |
|
(d) |
|
These amounts represent the Companys aggregate
contributions to the Companys 401(k) Savings Plan,
Supplemental Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan and the
amount of interest earned on the Executive Deferred Compensation
Plan at a rate in excess of 120% of the applicable federal rate.
In fiscal 2004 the Named Executive Officers accrued the
following respective amounts under such plans: Mr. Karatz
$12,300, $47,700 and $41,528; Mr. Mezger $12,300, $16,500
and $0; Mr. Freed $12,300, $1,500 and $0; Mr. Moss
$12,300, $3,300 and $0; and Ms. Bryant $12,300, $3,713 and
$0. |
39
Option/ SAR Grants in Last Fiscal Year
The following table summarizes information relating to stock
option grants during 2004 to the Named Executive Officers. All
options granted are for shares of the Companys Common
Stock. No stock appreciation rights have been granted at any
time under the Companys employee stock plans.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
Percent of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Potential Realizable Value at |
|
|
Securities |
|
Total |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assumed Annual Rate of |
|
|
Underlying |
|
Options |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock Price Appreciation for |
|
|
Options |
|
Granted to |
|
Exercise or |
|
|
|
|
|
Option Term(c) |
|
|
Granted |
|
Employees in |
|
Base Price |
|
Grant |
|
Expiration |
|
|
Name |
|
(#)(a) |
|
Fiscal Year |
|
($/sh)(b) |
|
Date |
|
Date |
|
5%($) |
|
10%($) |
|
Bruce Karatz
|
|
|
280,000 |
|
|
|
25.5 |
% |
|
$ |
76.50 |
|
|
|
10/22/04 |
|
|
|
10/22/19 |
|
|
$ |
23,110,642 |
|
|
$ |
68,056,656 |
|
Jeffrey T. Mezger
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
9.1 |
|
|
|
76.50 |
|
|
|
10/22/04 |
|
|
|
10/22/19 |
|
|
|
8,253,801 |
|
|
|
24,305,948 |
|
Robert Freed
|
|
|
12,500 |
|
|
|
1.1 |
|
|
|
76.50 |
|
|
|
10/22/04 |
|
|
|
10/22/19 |
|
|
|
1,031,725 |
|
|
|
3,038,244 |
|
Jay Moss
|
|
|
12,500 |
|
|
|
1.1 |
|
|
|
76.50 |
|
|
|
10/22/04 |
|
|
|
10/22/19 |
|
|
|
1,031,725 |
|
|
|
3,038,244 |
|
Leah S.W. Bryant
|
|
|
12,500 |
|
|
|
1.1 |
|
|
|
76.50 |
|
|
|
10/22/04 |
|
|
|
10/22/19 |
|
|
|
1,031,725 |
|
|
|
3,038,244 |
|
|
|
|
(a) |
Except as noted below, options reported are original option
grants and are exercisable in cumulative 33% installments
commencing one year from the date of grant, with full vesting
occurring on the third anniversary of the date of grant. The
options granted on October 22, 2004 represent annual equity
incentive awards to the Named Executive Officers for fiscal 2005. |
|
(b) |
All options were granted at market value on the date of grant.
The term market value as used with respect to this
table was computed as the average of the high and low stock
prices for the Companys Common Stock on the New York Stock
Exchange on the date of grant. The exercise price and tax
withholding obligations related to exercise may be paid by
delivery of already owned shares or by withholding a number of
the underlying shares, subject to certain conditions. |
|
|
(c) |
Gains are net of the option exercise price, but before taxes
associated with exercise. These amounts represent certain
assumed rates of appreciation over the 15-year term of the
options. Actual gains, if any, on stock option exercises are
dependent on the future performance of the Companys Common
Stock, overall stock market conditions, as well as the
optionholders continued employment through the vesting
period. The amounts reflected in this table may not necessarily
be achieved, or may be exceeded. |
40
Aggregated Option/ SAR Exercises in Last Fiscal Year and
Fiscal Year End Option/ SAR Value
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Unexercised |
|
Value of Unexercised |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options Held at Fiscal |
|
In-the-Money Options at |
|
|
Shares |
|
|
|
Year End(#) |
|
Fiscal Year End($)(b) |
|
|
Acquired on |
|
Value |
|
|
|
|
Name |
|
Exercise(#) |
|
Realized($)(a) |
|
Exercisable |
|
Unexercisable |
|
Exercisable |
|
Unexercisable |
|
Bruce Karatz
|
|
|
431,659 |
|
|
$ |
25,977,391 |
|
|
|
1,995,818 |
|
|
|
543,334 |
|
|
$ |
115,059,996 |
|
|
$ |
12,738,132 |
|
Jeffrey T. Mezger
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
678,612 |
|
|
|
241,332 |
|
|
|
36,747,665 |
|
|
|
5,729,649 |
|
Robert Freed
|
|
|
29,999 |
|
|
|
1,901,604 |
|
|
|
18,934 |
|
|
|
30,366 |
|
|
|
718,249 |
|
|
|
681,382 |
|
Jay Moss
|
|
|
33,919 |
|
|
|
2,030,142 |
|
|
|
37,267 |
|
|
|
30,366 |
|
|
|
2,136,590 |
|
|
|
681,382 |
|
Leah S.W. Bryant
|
|
|
24,999 |
|
|
|
1,440,057 |
|
|
|
44,135 |
|
|
|
40,765 |
|
|
|
2,064,894 |
|
|
|
974,989 |
|
|
|
|
(a) |
Represents the difference between the market value of the
Companys Common Stock at exercise minus the exercise price
of the options. |
|
|
(b) |
Represents the difference between the $87.89 closing price of
the Companys Common Stock on November 30, 2004 on the
New York Stock Exchange and the exercise price of the options. |
Long-Term Incentive Plans Awards in Last Fiscal
Year
The following table provides information on long-term incentive
awards granted in 2004 to the Named Executive Officers under the
Unit Performance Program. Please also see the Management
Development and Compensation Committee Report on Executive
Compensation on pages 26-30 for more information on
the Unit Performance Program.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Estimated Future Payout in Shares |
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
of Common Stock |
|
|
Performance |
|
|
|
|
Name |
|
Units(#)(a) |
|
Performance Period |
|
Threshold(#)(b) |
|
Target(#) |
|
Maximum(#) |
|
Bruce Karatz
|
|
|
700 |
|
|
|
12/1/03 11/30/06 |
|
|
$ |
350,000 |
|
|
$ |
700,000 |
|
|
$ |
1,050,000 |
|
Jeffrey T. Mezger
|
|
|
500 |
|
|
|
12/1/03 11/30/06 |
|
|
|
250,000 |
|
|
|
500,000 |
|
|
|
750,000 |
|
Robert Freed
|
|
|
250 |
|
|
|
12/1/03 11/30/06 |
|
|
|
125,000 |
|
|
|
250,000 |
|
|
|
375,000 |
|
Jay Moss
|
|
|
250 |
|
|
|
12/1/03 11/30/06 |
|
|
|
125,000 |
|
|
|
250,000 |
|
|
|
375,000 |
|
Leah S.W. Bryant
|
|
|
250 |
|
|
|
12/1/03 11/30/06 |
|
|
|
125,000 |
|
|
|
250,000 |
|
|
|
375,000 |
|
|
|
|
(a) |
At the beginning of fiscal 2004, the Company awarded Performance
Units under the Unit Performance Program for the fiscal
2004 2006 performance period. Each Performance Unit
represents the opportunity to receive an award payable in cash
or in shares of Common Stock. The dollar value or actual number
of shares awarded at the end of the performance period will
depend upon the Companys cumulative earnings per share, or
EPS and average pre-tax return on investment, or PROI, during
the performance period. The target dollar value or number of
shares will be awarded if a specified, targeted cumulative EPS
and average PROI are achieved for the period. The threshold
dollar value or number of shares equal to 50% of the target
number, will be awarded if a specified minimum cumulative EPS and |
41
|
|
|
average PROI are achieved for the period. Achievement of either
the specified minimum cumulative EPS or average PROI, but not
both, would result in a smaller payout than the threshold dollar
value or number of shares. The maximum dollar value or number of
shares, equal to 150% of the target number, will be awarded if
the specified maximum cumulative EPS and average PROI for the
period are achieved or exceeded. If paid out in shares, the
number of shares awarded at the end of the performance period
will depend on the market value of the Common Stock at that time. |
|
|
(b) |
No award will be made upon the vesting of a Performance Unit if
neither the specified minimum cumulative EPS nor the specified
minimum average PROI is achieved for the 2004 2006
performance period. |
42
Audit and Compliance
Committee Report
The Audit and Compliance Committee of the Companys Board
of Directors acts under a written Audit and Compliance Committee
Charter. The Audit and Compliance Committee Charter was first
adopted in 1999, and was revised and restated in February 2004
in conformity with the new New York Stock Exchange corporate
governance listing standards and U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission proxy disclosure rules.
The Board of Directors has determined that each of the members
of the Audit Committee is independent, is financially
literate, and at least one member has financial
management expertise under the current New York Stock
Exchange Listing standards. In addition, the Board of Directors
has determined that Ms. Lora qualifies as an audit
committee financial expert within the meaning of
Securities and Exchange Commission regulations.
The Audit Committee reviews the Companys financial
reporting process and its internal controls processes on behalf
of the Board of Directors. Management has the primary
responsibility for the financial statements, the reporting
process and assurance for the adequacy of controls. The
Companys independent auditors are responsible for
expressing an opinion on the conformity of the Companys
audited financial statements to generally accepted accounting
principles used in the United States.
In this context, the Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed
with management and the independent auditors the Companys
audited financial statements. The Audit Committee has discussed
with the independent auditors the matters required to be
discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61
(Communication with Audit Committees). In addition, the Audit
Committee has received from the independent auditors the written
disclosures required by Independence Standards Board Standard
No. 1 (Independence Discussions with Audit Committees) and
discussed with them their independence from the Company and its
management.
In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above,
the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors, and
the Board has approved, that the audited financial statements be
included in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended November 30, 2004, for filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
This report is respectfully submitted by the members of the
Audit and Compliance Committee:
Dr. Barry Munitz, Chairman
Mr. Ronald W. Burkle
Ms. Melissa Lora
Mr. Michael G. McCaffery
Mr. Luis G. Nogales
43
Independent Auditor
Fees and Services
Auditor Fees in 2004 and
2003. The firm of Ernst & Young LLP served as the
Companys principal independent auditors for 2004 and 2003.
The Company paid Ernst & Young LLP the following fees
in 2004 and 2003.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fiscal Year Ended |
|
|
(in thousands) |
|
|
|
|
|
2004 |
|
2003 |
|
Audit Fees
|
|
$ |
1,758 |
|
|
$ |
946 |
|
Audit-related Fees
|
|
|
140 |
|
|
|
181 |
|
Tax Fees
|
|
|
43 |
|
|
|
41 |
|
All Other Fees
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
|
|
Total Fees
|
|
$ |
1,941 |
|
|
$ |
1,168 |
|
|
|
|
Audit fees include statutory
audits of the Companys French subsidiary,
Kaufman & Broad S.A., which is publicly traded on the
Premier Marché of the Paris Bourse, audits of the
Companys wholly owned mortgage banking subsidiary and
audit services performed in connection with the Companys
compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002. Audit fees for the Kaufman & Broad S.A. statutory
audits totaled $400,000 in fiscal 2004 and $375,000 in fiscal
2003.
Audit-related services generally
include fees for 401(k) or employee benefit plan audits and
accounting consultations.
Tax fees generally include fees
for review of the Companys federal income tax return, as
well as several state income tax returns.
Auditor Fees Pre-approval
Policy. In 2003, the Audit and Compliance Committee approved
a policy concerning the pre-approval of audit and permitted
non-audit services to be provided by the principal independent
auditor to the Company. The policy requires that all services
provided by Ernst & Young LLP to the Company, including
audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other
services, must be pre-approved by the Committee. In some cases,
pre-approval is provided by the full Committee for up to a year,
and relates to a particular category or group of services and is
subject to a specific budget. In other cases, the Chairman of
the Committee has the delegated authority from the Committee to
pre-approve additional services, and such pre-approvals are then
communicated to the full Committee.
The Audit and Compliance Committee
approved all audit and non-audit services provided by
Ernst & Young LLP during the 2004 fiscal year.
Representatives of
Ernst & Young LLP are expected to be present at the
Annual Meeting, with the opportunity to make a statement should
they desire to do so, and will be available to respond to
appropriate questions from stockholders.
44
Other Matters
Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions
Matthew Karatz, manager of land acquisition and planning for the
Companys Los Angeles division, is the son of Bruce Karatz,
the Companys Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. In
fiscal 2004, Matthew Karatz earned $160,775.08 ($164,521.57
including auto allowance and gas) in salary and bonus. Robert
Karatz, a broker liaison for the Companys Los Angeles
division, is the brother of Bruce Karatz. In fiscal 2004, Robert
Karatz earned $69,600 in bonus and commissions ($75,039.32
including auto allowance and gas). The compensation earned by
these individuals, both of whom joined the Company in 2002, is
consistent with compensation paid to other KB Home employees in
similar positions.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership
Reporting Compliance
Based upon its review of Forms 3, 4 and 5 and any
amendments thereto furnished to the Company in compliance with
Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, all such Forms were filed on a timely basis by the
Companys reporting persons during 2004, except for a late
filing by Mr. Glen Barnard regarding the purchase of
253 shares of Common Stock through his individual brokerage
account in October and November 2004, and Ms. Bryant
regarding the acquisition of 2,500 shares of restricted
stock from the Company on December 1, 2003.
Financial Statements
The Companys audited consolidated financial statements and
notes thereto, including selected financial information and
managements discussion and analysis of financial condition
and results of operations for the fiscal year ended
November 30, 2004 are included on pages
[ ] through
[ ] of the Companys
2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K, which are being mailed to
stockholders concurrently with this Proxy Statement. Additional
copies of the Annual Report are available without charge upon
request. The financial statements, the report of the independent
auditors thereon, selected financial information, and
managements discussion and analysis of financial condition
and results of operations in the Annual Report are incorporated
by reference herein.
Other Business
The Board of Directors knows of no business other than that
described herein that will be presented for consideration at the
Annual Meeting. If, however, other business shall properly come
before the Annual Meeting, the persons named in the enclosed
form of proxy intend to vote the shares represented by properly
delivered proxies on such matters in accordance with their
judgment in the best interest of the Company.
Stockholder Proposals for 2006 Annual Meeting
Any proposal of a stockholder intended to be presented at the
Companys 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must be
received by the Company for inclusion in the Proxy Statement and
form of proxy for that meeting no later than October 28,
2005. Further, management proxies for the Companys 2006
Annual Meeting of Stockholders will use their discretionary
voting authority with respect to any proposal presented at the
meeting by a stockholder who does not provide the Company
45
with written notice of such proposal prior to January 11,
2006.
Cost and Method of Proxy Solicitation
The entire cost of preparing, assembling, printing and mailing
the Notice of Meeting, this Proxy Statement, and the proxy
itself, and the cost of soliciting proxies relating to the
meeting will be borne by the Company. In addition to use of the
mail, proxies may be solicited by officers, directors, and other
employees of the Company by telephone, facsimile, or personal
solicitation, and no additional compensation will be paid to
such individuals. The Company will, if requested, reimburse
banks, brokerage houses, and other custodians, nominees and
certain fiduciaries for their reasonable expenses incurred in
mailing proxy material to their principals. The Company will use
the services of Georgeson Shareholder Communications Inc., a
professional soliciting organization, to assist in proxy
solicitation and in distributing proxy materials to
institutions, brokerage houses, custodians, nominees and other
fiduciaries. The Company estimates the costs for such services
will not exceed $8,500.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
William A. Richelieu
Assistant Corporate Secretary
February 25, 2005
Los Angeles, California
46
PROXY
PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
APRIL 7, 2005
CONFIDENTIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO FIDELITY MANAGEMENT TRUST COMPANY
TRUSTEE FOR THE KB HOME 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN
Receipt of proxy material for the above Annual Meeting is acknowledged. I instruct you to vote (in
person or by proxy) all shares of Common Stock of KB Home (the Company) held by you for my
account under the Companys Amended and Restated 401(k) Savings Plan at the Companys Annual
Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 7, 2005 at 9:00 a.m., and at all adjournments thereof,
on the matters as indicated on the reverse side of this card and in your discretion on any other
matters that may come before the Annual Meeting and as to which discretionary authority is
permitted by applicable law. If this card is signed and returned, but no choice is specified, I
instruct you to vote this proxy FOR Proposal 1, FOR Proposal 2, FOR Proposal 3, AGAINST Proposal 4 and upon such other business as may come before the Annual Meeting in accordance
with the Board of Directors recommendation.
PLEASE MARK, DATE AND SIGN THESE INSTRUCTIONS AND RETURN THEM PROMPTLY, EVEN IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND
THE ANNUAL MEETING.
(Continued, and to be marked, dated and signed, on the other side)
Address Change/Comments (Mark the corresponding box on the reverse side)
▲ Detach here from proxy voting card ▲
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS APRIL 7, 2005
Dear Fellow Employee:
Just a reminder, your vote and your investment in KB Home are very important. Please complete and
return your Confidential Instruction Card for tabulation by no later than April 4, 2005 to ensure
that your vote is counted.
Bruce Karatz
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
Mark here for
address change or
comments.
|
|
o |
PLEASE SEE REVERSE SIDE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
YOUR DIRECTORS RECOMMEND A VOTE FOR |
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FOR (EXCEPT AS MARKED TO THE CONTRARY) |
|
WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR NOMINEES LISTED |
1. |
|
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS NOMINEES IN CLASS I: |
|
|
|
o |
|
o |
|
|
|
|
01 JAMES A. JOHNSON
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03 DR. BARRY MUNITZ |
|
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|
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02 J. TERRENCE LANNI |
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TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE, STRIKE A LINE THROUGH THE NOMINEES NAME.
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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FOR
|
|
AGAINST
|
|
ABSTAIN |
2.
|
|
PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE AMENDED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF
KB HOME TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF
AUTHORIZED SHARES OF KB HOME COMMON
STOCK FROM 100 MILLION SHARES
TO 300 MILLION SHARES.
|
|
o
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|
o
|
|
o |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
3.
|
|
PROPOSAL TO RATIFY ERNST & YOUNG LLP
AS KB HOMES INDEPENDENT AUDITORS FOR
THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING NOVEMBER 30, 2005.
|
|
o
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|
o
|
|
o |
|
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|
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|
YOUR DIRECTORS RECOMMEND A VOTE AGAINST |
|
FOR |
|
AGAINST |
|
ABSTAIN |
|
4.
|
|
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL CONCERNING FUTURE SENIOR EXECUTIVE RESTRICTED STOCK GRANTS TO BE PERFORMANCE AND TIME BASED.
|
|
o
|
|
o
|
|
o |
|
You may consent to receive all future
annual meeting materials and stockholder
communications electronically. Enroll at
www.melloninvestor.com/ISD for secure
online access to your proxy materials,
statements, tax documents and other
stockholder correspondence.
Note: Please sign EXACTLY as your name appears hereon. When signing as attorney, executor,
administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title. If more than one trustee, all should
sign. Joint owners should sign.
▲ Detach here from proxy voting card ▲
Vote by Telephone
24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week
Telephone voting is available through 11:59PM Eastern Time
the day prior to annual meeting day.
Your telephone vote authorizes the named proxies to vote your shares in the same manner
as if you marked, signed and returned your proxy card.
|
|
|
|
|
Telephone
1-866-540-5760
Use any touch-tone telephone to vote
your proxy. Have your proxy card in
hand when you call.
|
|
OR
|
|
Mail
Mark, sign and date your proxy
card and return it in the enclosed
postage-paid envelope |
If you vote your proxy by telephone,
you do NOT need to mail back your proxy card.
PROXY
PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
APRIL 7, 2005
The undersigned hereby appoints Bruce Karatz and Kimberly N. King, and each of them, as proxies
with full power of substitution and revocation, to vote all of the shares of KB Home Common Stock
the undersigned is entitled to vote at the KB Home Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on
April 7, 2005, or at any adjournment thereof, upon the Proposals set forth on the reverse side of
this Proxy Card and described in the accompanying Proxy Statement, and upon such other business as
may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.
(Continued, and to be marked, dated and signed, on the other side)
Address Change/Comments (Mark the corresponding box on the reverse side)
▲ Detach here from proxy voting card ▲
|
|
|
Mark here for
address change or
comments.
|
|
o |
PLEASE SEE REVERSE SIDE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
YOUR DIRECTORS
RECOMMEND A VOTE FOR |
|
FOR (EXCEPT AS MARKED TO THE CONTRARY) |
|
WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR NOMINEES LISTED |
1. |
|
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS NOMINEES IN CLASS I: |
|
|
|
o |
|
o |
|
|
|
|
01 JAMES A. JOHNSON
|
|
03 DR. BARRY MUNITZ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
02 J. TERRENCE LANNI |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE, STRIKE A LINE THROUGH THE NOMINEES NAME.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FOR
|
|
AGAINST
|
|
ABSTAIN |
2.
|
|
PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE AMENDED CERTIFICATE OF
INCORPORATION OF KB HOME TO INCREASE THE
NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES OF KB HOME COMMON
STOCK FROM 100 MILLION SHARES TO 300 MILLION
SHARES.
|
|
o
|
|
o
|
|
o |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3.
|
|
PROPOSAL TO RATIFY ERNST & YOUNG LLP AS KB HOMES
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING
NOVEMBER 30, 2005.
|
|
o
|
|
o
|
|
o |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
YOUR DIRECTORS
RECOMMEND A VOTE AGAINST |
|
FOR |
|
AGAINST |
|
ABSTAIN |
|
4.
|
|
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL CONCERNING FUTURE SENIOR
EXECUTIVE RESTRICTED STOCK GRANTS TO BE PERFORMANCE
AND TIME BASED.
|
|
o
|
|
o
|
|
o |
You may consent to receive all future
annual meeting materials and stockholder
communications electronically. Enroll at
www.melloninvestor.com/ISD for secure
online access to your proxy materials,
statements, tax documents and other
stockholder correspondence.
This proxy, when properly executed, will
be voted in the manner directed herein
by the undersigned stockholder. If no
direction is made, this proxy will be
voted FOR proposals 1, 2 and 3 and
AGAINST proposal 4.
Note: Please sign EXACTLY as your name appears hereon. When signing as attorney, executor,
administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title. If more than one trustee, all should
sign. Joint owners should sign.
▲ Detach here from proxy voting card ▲
Vote by Telephone
24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week
Telephone voting is available through 11:59PM Eastern Time
the day prior to annual meeting day.
Your telephone vote authorizes the named proxies to vote your shares in the same manner
as if you marked, signed and returned your proxy card.
|
|
|
|
|
Telephone
1-866-540-5760
Use any touch-tone telephone to vote
your proxy. Have your proxy card in
hand when you call.
|
|
OR
|
|
Mail
Mark, sign and date your proxy
card and return it in the enclosed
postage-paid envelope |
If you vote your proxy by telephone,
you do NOT need to mail back your proxy card.
PROXY
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
APRIL 7, 2005
CONFIDENTIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO WACHOVIA BANK, N.A.
TRUSTEE FOR THE KB HOME GRANTOR STOCK TRUST
With respect to the voting at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of KB Home (the Company) to be
held on April 7, 2005, or any adjournment or postponement thereof, the undersigned participant in
the Companys employee stock option plans hereby directs Wachovia Bank, N.A., as Trustee of the
Companys Grantor Stock Trust, to vote all of the shares for which the undersigned is entitled to
direct the vote under the Grantor Stock Trust in accordance with the following instructions:
THE VOTES THAT THE UNDERSIGNED IS ENTITLED TO DIRECT UNDER THE COMPANYS GRANTOR STOCK TRUST WILL
BE VOTED AS DIRECTED ON THE REVERSE SIDE HEREOF. IF THIS CARD IS SIGNED AND RETURNED, BUT NO
CHOICE IS INDICATED, THE VOTES THAT THE UNDERSIGNED IS ENTITLED TO DIRECT WILL BE VOTED FOR
PROPOSAL 1, FOR PROPOSAL 2, FOR PROPOSAL 3, AGAINST PROPOSAL 4 AND UPON SUCH
OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY COME BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
PLEASE MARK, DATE AND SIGN THESE INSTRUCTIONS AND RETURN THEM PROMPTLY, EVEN IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND
THE ANNUAL MEETING.
(Continued, and to be marked, dated and signed, on the other side)
Address Change/Comments (Mark the corresponding box on the reverse side)
▲ Detach here from proxy voting card ▲
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS APRIL 7, 2005
Dear Fellow Employee:
Just a reminder, your vote and your investment in KB Home are very important. Please complete and
return your Confidential Instruction Card for tabulation by no later than April 4, 2005 to ensure
that your vote is counted.
Bruce Karatz
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
Mark here for
address change or
comments.
|
|
o |
PLEASE SEE REVERSE SIDE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
YOUR DIRECTORS RECOMMEND A VOTE FOR |
|
FOR (EXCEPT AS MARKED TO THE CONTRARY) |
|
WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR NOMINEES LISTED |
1. |
|
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS NOMINEES IN CLASS I: |
|
|
|
o |
|
o |
|
|
|
|
01 JAMES A. JOHNSON
|
|
03 DR. BARRY MUNITZ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
02 J. TERRENCE LANNI |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE, STRIKE A LINE THROUGH THE NOMINEES
NAME.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FOR
|
|
AGAINST
|
|
ABSTAIN |
2.
|
|
PROPOSAL TO AMEND
THE AMENDED
CERTIFICATE OF
INCORPORATION OF KB HOME TO INCREASE THE
NUMBER OF
AUTHORIZED SHARES
OF KB HOME COMMON
STOCK FROM
100 MILLION SHARES
TO 300 MILLION
SHARES.
|
|
o
|
|
o
|
|
o |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3.
|
|
PROPOSAL TO RATIFY
ERNST & YOUNG LLP
AS KB HOMES
INDEPENDENT
AUDITORS FOR THE
FISCAL YEAR ENDING
NOVEMBER 30, 2005.
|
|
o
|
|
o
|
|
o |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
YOUR DIRECTORS RECOMMEND A VOTE AGAINST |
|
FOR |
|
AGAINST |
|
ABSTAIN |
|
4.
|
|
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL
CONCERNING FUTURE SENIOR
EXECUTIVE RESTRICTED STOCK
GRANTS TO BE PERFORMANCE
AND TIME BASED.
|
|
o
|
|
o
|
|
o |
You may consent to receive all future
annual meeting materials and stockholder
communications electronically. Enroll at
www.melloninvestor.com/ISD for secure
online access to your proxy materials,
statements, tax documents and other
stockholder correspondence.
Note: Please sign EXACTLY as your name appears hereon. When signing as attorney, executor,
administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title. If more than one trustee, all should
sign. Joint owners should sign.
▲ Detach here from proxy voting card ▲
Vote by Telephone
24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week
Telephone voting is available through 11:59PM Eastern Time
the day prior to annual meeting day.
Your telephone vote authorizes the named proxies to vote your shares in the same manner
as if you marked, signed and returned your proxy card.
|
|
|
|
|
Telephone
1-866-540-5760
Use any touch-tone telephone to vote
your proxy. Have your proxy card in
hand when you call.
|
|
OR
|
|
Mail
Mark, sign and date your proxy
card and return it in the enclosed
postage-paid envelope |
If you vote your proxy by telephone,
you do NOT need to mail back your proxy card.