Bluegreen Corporation (NYSE: BXG), a leading provider of Colorful Places to Live and Play®, today announced financial results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2010.

John M. Maloney Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer of Bluegreen, commented, “We were pleased with Bluegreen’s progress in 2010. During 2010, we continued to focus on the development of our fee-based services business. This is reflected by, among other things, a 19% increase in VOI system-wide sales driven by incremental sales on behalf of our fee-based clients and a 56% increase in total fee-based services revenues. We began earning commissions in our sales and marketing fee-based services in July 2009 and as of December 31, 2010, we had entered into six contracts to provide fee-based services, up from four as of December 31, 2009. We believe our fee-based service business will require significantly less capital for growth as compared to our historical traditional timeshare business.”

Mr. Maloney continued by noting additional 2010 and Q4 2010 operating highlights:

• Cash flow from Operating/Investing activities was $158.0 million for year ended December 31, 2010;
• Unrestricted cash rose to $72.1 million at December 31, 2010, from $70.5 million at December 31, 2009;
• In connection with our fee-based services business, Bluegreen Resorts (“Resorts”) sold $22.8 million of third-party inventory in Q4 2010, generating sales and marketing commissions of approximately $15.5 million, which contributed an estimated $2.9 million to Resorts operating profit. This compares to sales of $20.5 million of third-party inventory, which generated sales and marketing commissions of $13.0 million and contributed an estimated $1.3 million to Resorts operating profit in Q4 2009;
• During 2010, Resorts sold $78.8 million of third-party inventory, generating sales and marketing commissions of approximately $53.0 million, which contributed an estimated $10.8 million to Resorts operating profit. This compares to sales of $31.7 million of third-party inventory, which generated sales and marketing commissions of $20.1 million and an estimated $3.6 million of Resorts operating profit in 2009.
• Total revenues from fee-based services (including sales and marketing commissions, management services, title and other services) rose 17% to $32.4 million in Q4 2010 from $27.6 million in Q4 2009. During 2010, total revenues from fee-based services rose 56% to $120.0 million from $77.1 million in 2009;
• Cash received from Resorts sales - either at closing or within 30 days of closing - represented 54% of Resorts sales in 2010, up from 45% in 2009;
• Sales to existing Bluegreen Vacation Club owners represented 58% of total Resorts sales in Q4 2010 as compared to 56% in Q4 2009. Sales to existing Bluegreen Vacation Club owners represented 58% of total Resorts sales in 2010 as compared to 55% in 2009; and
• We completed a variety of credit transactions that provided us with additional liquidity for our VOI-backed notes receivable, as well as the securitization of an aggregate $162.3 million of VOI notes receivable in two separate transactions.

While the Company incurred a net loss of $44.0 million or $1.41 per diluted share during 2010, this net loss included non-cash, after-tax charges totaling $67.3 million, or $2.15 per diluted share, more fully described below. Excluding these charges, non-GAAP net income for 2010 would have been $23.3 million or $0.74 per diluted share, as compared to non-GAAP net income for 2009 of $11.8 million or $0.38 per diluted share. These non-cash charges in 2010 were associated with the following pre-tax items: i) a $69.7 million increase in the Company’s loan loss reserves for VOI notes receivable generated prior to December 15, 2008 (the date that Bluegreen implemented a FICO® score-based credit underwriting program), partially offset by a $15.9 million reduction in cost of sales in connection with the increase in loan loss reserves and changes in estimated gross profit, and ii) impairment charges related to the write-down of Bluegreen Communities’ inventory in the amount of $54.6 million. These charges did not impact the Company’s cash position or operating cash flows.

While the Company incurred a net loss of $23.7 million, or $0.76 per diluted share during Q4 2010, this net loss included non-cash, after-tax charges totaling $28.6 million, or $0.91 per diluted share, more fully described below. Excluding these charges, non-GAAP net income for Q4 2010 would have been $4.9 million or $0.15 per diluted share, as compared to a non-GAAP net loss for Q4 2009 of $4.0 million or $0.13 per diluted share. These non-cash charges in Q4 2010 were associated with the following pre-tax items: i) a $31.9 million increase in the Company’s loan loss reserves for VOI notes receivable generated prior to December 15, 2008 (the date that Bluegreen implemented a FICO® score-based credit underwriting program), partially offset by a $14.1 million reduction in cost of sales in connection with the increase in loan loss reserves and changes in estimated gross profit, and ii) impairment charges related to the write-down of Bluegreen Communities’ inventory in the amount of $28.1 million. These charges did not impact the Company’s cash position or operating cash flows.

As previously reported, effective January 1, 2010, Bluegreen adopted accounting guidance that resulted in the consolidation into its financial statements of seven special-purpose finance entities that were previously classified as off-balance sheet. These entities issued Bluegreen’s securitization bonds and hold the receivables that collateralized the bonds. The consolidation of these entities resulted in increased interest expense (by the amount of interest expense incurred on the securitization bonds) and interest income (by the amount of income generated from the related receivables, partially offset by the absence of accretion income on residual interests that were eliminated).

On March 24, 2011, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had engaged advisors to explore alternative strategies for Bluegreen Communities, including the possible sale of the division. There is no assurance that the announcement regarding strategic alternatives will not have a material adverse effect on Bluegreen Communities’ operations or that it will result in the consummation of a transaction. As of December 31, 2010, the carrying value of the Bluegreen Communities inventory was $82.2 million. This carrying value was based upon the Company’s estimates of probability-weighted cash flows for various outcomes, appraisals and other data. Additional, material impairment charges may occur in the future, depending on the decision, if any, to pursue a specific strategic alternative or on additional market information obtained during the exploration process. In the event that the real estate market does not improve in the period expected or continues to deteriorate further, additional material impairment charges may be required.

Higher system-wide VOI sales reflected increased marketing efforts related to sales of VOIs on behalf of fee-based clients. In Q4 2010 as compared to Q4 2009, marketing tours increased and the average sales price per transaction increased, while our sale- to-tour conversion ratios decreased.

Adjustments to the Company’s loan loss reserves in Q4 2010 were the result of increased estimates of future defaults on certain VOI receivables generated prior to December 15, 2008, the date on which Bluegreen implemented a FICO® score-based credit underwriting program. Based on the level of defaults on the lower-FICO scored loans in the portfolio as well as a continued low level of prepayments, the Company made a determination that the performance of these loans will not reflect the same benefits of seasoning as similar loans have historically experienced, resulting in the probability of higher future defaults on these loans. The Company noted that defaults and delinquency rates to date related to loans originated on and after December 15, 2008 have been significantly lower than those originated prior to that date (see table below). Although Bluegreen believes that its has adequately reserved for future losses on its receivable portfolio, there is no assurance that its estimates will be accurate or that it will not be required to record additional charges in the future.

As previously noted, on December 15, 2008 (“12/15/08”) Bluegreen implemented a FICO® score-based credit underwriting program. Delinquencies over 30 days past due on the total originated and serviced timeshare receivables portfolio at December 31, 2010 for loans originated prior to December 15, 2008 and loans originated under Bluegreen’s FICO® score–based credit underwriting program are reflected in the table below.

Defaults on the pre-12/15/08 originated portfolio decreased to a 12.99% average annual default rate for the twelve months ended December 31, 2010 compared to 15.10% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2009. These compare to an average annual default rate on the after-12/15/08 originated portfolio of 5.37% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2010.

In connection with the Q4 2010 adjustment to loan loss reserves and other changes in estimated gross profit, resorts cost of sales was reduced by $14.1 million. This reduction in cost of sales was due in part to the anticipated recovery of VOI inventory when estimated future loan defaults occur. Additionally, cost of sales during Q4 2010 was favorably impacted by a decrease in the overall carrying cost of our VOI inventory due to the previously discussed adoption of new accounting guidance on January 1, 2010.

Selling and marketing expenses as a percentage of system-wide sales, net, decreased to 51% in Q4 2010 from 55% in Q4 2009, reflecting an increase in the percentage of our sales to the Company’s existing timeshare owner base. Marketing efforts to existing owners typically cost less than other marketing channels.

Resorts operating loss in Q4 2010 was $0.5 million, due in large part to the previously discussed $31.9 million non-cash charge to adjust loan loss reserves, partially offset by the previously discussed $14.1 million non-cash reduction in cost of sales. Absent these non-cash items, Resorts operating profit in Q4 2010 would have been $17.3 million, or 25% of system-wide sales, net. As previously discussed, Resorts operating profit in Q4 2010 was favorably impacted by a decrease in the overall carrying cost of our VOI inventory due to the previously discussed adoption of new accounting guidance on January 1, 2010. Resorts operating profit for Q4 2009 was $6.2 million, or 10% of system-wide sales, net.

Bluegreen Communities has been, and continues to be, adversely impacted by the deteriorating conditions being experienced in the real estate markets. Bluegreen Communities continues to experience a decrease in demand, and a corresponding decrease in sales volume. Bluegreen has significantly reduced prices on certain of its homesites in an attempt to increase sales activity. During Q4 2010, the Company recorded non-cash impairment charges of $28.1 million to write down the carrying amount of Communities’ inventory. For all of 2010, such non-cash impairment charges were $54.6 million.

Book value per share decreased and the Company’s debt-to-equity ratios increased at December 31, 2010 compared to December 31, 2009, primarily as a result of i) the adoption of new accounting guidance on January 1, 2010, which resulted in a significant amount of securitization debt that was previously accounted for off-balance sheet being consolidated on the Company’s balance sheet, as well as a related, previously announced $61.3 million non-cash charge to retained earnings taken in Q1 2010 representing the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle, and ii) losses in 2010.

At December 31, 2010, Bluegreen had receivable-backed credit facilities with revolving capacity of up to $95.0 million and with availability of $94.9 million. As of February 28, 2011, based on additional facilities obtained or approved, availability under receivable-backed credit facilities was approximately $109.0 million. Under the terms of certain of these facilities, additional availability is generated as principal payments are made. Advances under the Company’s receivable-backed credit facilities are subject to eligible collateral and other customary terms and conditions.

ABOUT BLUEGREEN CORPORATION

Founded in 1966 and headquartered in Boca Raton, FL, Bluegreen Corporation (NYSE:BXG) is the leader in providing Colorful Places to Live and Play® through its vacation ownership resort and residential real estate businesses. Bluegreen Resorts manages, markets and sells the Bluegreen Vacation Club, a flexible, real estate-based vacation ownership plan with more than 160,000 owners, over 56 owned or managed resorts, and access to more than 4,000 resorts worldwide. Bluegreen Communities has developed master-planned residential and golf communities primarily in the southern and southeastern U.S., and has sold over 55,000 homesites. We also offer a portfolio of comprehensive, turnkey, fee-based service resort management, financial services, customer generation and sales solutions to third-party developers and lenders. For more information, visit www.bluegreencorp.com.

Statements in this release may constitute forward looking statements and are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor Provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward looking statements are based largely on expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the risks and uncertainties associated with economic, credit market, competitive and other factors affecting the Company and its operations, markets, products and services; the general risks associated with strategic transactions, including the Company’s ability to identify desirable strategic alternatives for its Communities business, the level of interest of third parties in pursuing a possible strategic transaction for Communities, the ability to negotiate a mutually acceptable definitive agreement to effect a possible strategic transaction, and, if that occurs, the consummation of the transaction and the negative impact on investors, customers, employees and others of the Company exploring strategic alternatives and opportunities and of any specific strategic alternative or opportunity selected by the Company; the performance of the Company’s vacation ownership notes receivable may deteriorate and the FICO® score-based credit underwriting standards may not have the expected effects on the performance of the receivables; the Company may not be in a position to draw down on its existing credit lines or may be unable to renew, extend or replace such lines of credit; the Company may require new credit lines to provide liquidity for its operations, including facilities to sell or finance its notes receivable; the Company may not be able to successfully securitize additional timeshare loans and/or obtain adequate receivable credit facilities in the future; additional impairment charges related to our real estate inventories, notes receivable or other assets may be required; risks relating to pending or future litigation, regulatory proceedings, claims and assessments; sales and marketing strategies related to Resorts and Communities properties may not be successful; retail prices and homesite yields for Communities properties may be below the Company’s estimates; marketing costs will increase and not result in increased sales; sales to existing owners will not continue at current levels; fee-based service initiatives may not be successful and will not grow or generate profits as anticipated; deferred sales may not be recognized to the extent or at the time anticipated; and the risks and other factors detailed in the Company’s SEC filings, including its Annual Report to be filed on or about March 31, 2011.