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Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)

Registration No. 333-222166

$400,000,000

Offer to Exchange

5.875% Senior Notes due 2027

and the guarantees thereof,

which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933,

for any and all outstanding

5.875% Senior Notes due 2027,

and the guarantees thereof,

which have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, of

Beazer Homes USA, Inc.

 

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We will exchange all original notes that are validly tendered and not withdrawn before the end of the exchange offer for an equal principal amount of new notes that we have registered under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

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This exchange offer expires at 12:01 a.m., New York City time, on February 23, 2018, unless extended.

 

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No public market exists for the original notes or the new notes. We do not intend to list the new notes on any securities exchange or to seek approval for quotation through any automated quotation system.

See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 8 for a discussion of the risks that holders should consider prior to making a decision to exchange original notes for new notes.

 

 

The notes will be our unsecured senior obligations and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured senior indebtedness. The notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed jointly and severally on an unsecured senior basis by each of our existing and future material restricted subsidiaries, subject to customary release provisions. The notes and the guarantees will be effectively junior to our secured obligations to the extent of the value of the collateral securing those obligations. Upon the occurrence of certain specified changes of control, the holders of the notes will have the right to require us to purchase all or a part of their notes at a repurchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the repurchase date.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

Each broker-dealer that receives new notes for its own account pursuant to the exchange offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such new notes. A broker-dealer who acquired original notes as a result of market-making or other trading activities may use this prospectus, as supplemented or amended from time to time, in connection with any resales of the new notes.

The date of this prospectus is January 25, 2018

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

SUMMARY			1
RISK FACTORS			8
DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS			14
THE EXCHANGE OFFER			16
USE OF PROCEEDS			24
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES			25
DESCRIPTION OF OTHER INDEBTEDNESS			26
DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES			28
BOOK-ENTRY SETTLEMENT AND CLEARANCE			56
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION			61
LEGAL MATTERS			62
EXPERTS			63
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION			64
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE			65

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with additional or different information. We are only offering these securities in states where the offer is permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the dates on the front of this document.

 

 

This prospectus incorporates important business and financial information about the company that is not included in or delivered with this document. For more information regarding the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, see “Incorporation by Reference” on page 65. We will provide, without charge, to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this prospectus is delivered, upon the written or oral request of such person, a copy of any or all of the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus, other than exhibits to such information (unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into the information that this prospectus incorporates). Requests for such copies should be directed to:

Beazer Homes USA, Inc.

Attn: Secretary

1000 Abernathy Road, Suite 260

Atlanta, Georgia 30328

Telephone: (770) 829-3700

In order to obtain timely delivery, security holders must request the information no later than five (5) business days before February 23, 2018, the expiration date of the exchange offer.

 

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RISK FACTORS

An investment in the new notes offered hereby involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the following risk factors before you decide whether to participate in the exchange offer. We urge you to carefully read this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein. You should review all of the risks attendant to being an investor in the new notes prior to making an investment decision. The following is not intended as, and should not be construed as, an exhaustive list of relevant risk factors. There may be other risks that a prospective investor should consider that are relevant to its own particular circumstances or generally. You should also consider the risks, uncertainties and assumptions discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act.

Risks Related to the Notes and the Exchange Offer

Certain of our existing debt instruments, including the indenture governing the notes, impose significant restrictions and obligations on us that could adversely affect our liquidity, limit our growth and make it more difficult for us to satisfy our debt obligations.

Certain of our secured and unsecured indebtedness and revolving credit and letter of credit facilities, including the indenture governing the notes, impose certain restrictions and obligations on us. Under certain of these instruments, we must comply with defined covenants which limit our ability to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness, engage in certain asset sales, make certain types of restricted payments, engage in transactions with affiliates and create liens on our assets. Failure to comply with certain of these covenants could result in an event of default under the applicable instrument. Any such event of default could negatively impact other covenants or lead to cross-defaults under certain of our other debt. There can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain any waivers or amendments that may become necessary in the event of a future default situation without significant additional cost or at all.

As of September 30, 2017, we had total outstanding indebtedness of approximately $1.3 billion, net of premium of approximately $3.4 million and debt issuance costs of approximately $14.8 million. Our substantial indebtedness could have important consequences to us and the holders of our securities, including, among other things:

 

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causing us to be unable to satisfy our obligations under our debt agreements;

 

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making us more vulnerable to adverse general economic and industry conditions;

 

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making it difficult to fund future working capital, land purchases, acquisitions, share repurchases, general corporate purposes or other purposes; and

 

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causing us to be limited in our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business.

In addition, subject to restrictions in our existing debt instruments, including the indenture governing the notes, we may incur additional indebtedness. If new debt is added to our current debt levels, the related risks that we now face could intensify. Our growth plans and our ability to make payments of principal or interest on, or to refinance, our indebtedness, will depend on our future operating performance and our ability to enter into additional debt and/or equity financings. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flows in the future to service our debt, we may be required to refinance all or a portion of our existing debt, to sell assets or to obtain additional financing. We may not be able to do any of the foregoing on terms acceptable to us, if at all.

Despite our substantial indebtedness, we may still be able to incur significantly more debt. This could intensify the risks described herein.

We and our subsidiaries may be able to incur substantial indebtedness in the future. Although the terms of certain of the agreements governing our indebtedness contain restrictions on our ability to incur additional

 

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indebtedness, these restrictions are subject to a number of important qualifications and exceptions, and the indebtedness incurred in compliance with these restrictions could be substantial. If new debt is added to our current debt levels, the related risks that we now face could intensify.

We may not be able to generate sufficient cash to service all of our indebtedness, and may be forced to take other actions to satisfy our obligations under our indebtedness that may not be successful.

Our ability to satisfy our debt obligations will depend upon, among other things, our future financial and operating performance, which will be affected by prevailing economic conditions and financial, business, regulatory and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. In addition, as of September 30, 2017, approximately $871.2 million of our existing senior notes (excluding $225 million of our 5.750% Senior Notes due 2019 (the “2019 Notes”) and $175 million of our 7.250% Senior Notes due 2023 (the “2023 Notes”), which we repaid in connection with the offering of the original notes) had a maturity date (or put right) earlier than the maturity date of the notes offered hereby, and we will be required to repay or refinance such indebtedness prior to when the notes offered hereby come due.

We cannot assure you that our business will generate cash flow from operations in an amount sufficient to fund our liquidity needs. If our cash flows and capital resources are insufficient to service our indebtedness, we may be forced to reduce or delay capital expenditures, sell assets, seek additional capital or restructure or refinance our indebtedness, including the notes. These alternative measures may not be successful and may not permit us to meet our scheduled debt service obligations. Our ability to restructure or refinance our debt will depend on the condition of the capital markets and our financial condition at such time. Any refinancing of our debt could be at higher interest rates and may require us to comply with more onerous covenants, which could further restrict our business operations. In addition, the terms of existing or future debt agreements may restrict us from adopting some of these alternatives. In the absence of such operating results and resources, we could face substantial liquidity problems and might be required to dispose of material assets or operations to meet our debt service and other obligations. We may not be able to consummate those dispositions for fair market value or at all. Furthermore, any proceeds that we could realize from any such dispositions may not be adequate to meet our debt service obligations then due.

Repayment of our debt, including required principal and interest payments on the notes, is dependent in part on cash flow generated by our subsidiaries.

Our subsidiaries own a significant portion of our assets and conduct a significant portion of our operations. Accordingly, repayment of our indebtedness, including the notes, is dependent, to a significant extent, on the generation of cash flow by our subsidiaries and their ability to make such cash available to us, by dividend, debt repayment or otherwise. Our subsidiaries may not be able to, or may not be permitted to, make distributions to enable us to make payments in respect of our indebtedness, including the notes. Each subsidiary is a distinct legal entity with no obligation to provide us with funds for our repayment obligations, and, under certain circumstances, legal and contractual restrictions may limit our ability to obtain cash from our subsidiaries. While the indenture governing the notes limits the ability of our subsidiaries to incur consensual restrictions on their ability to pay dividends or make other intercompany payments to us, these limitations are subject to certain qualifications and exceptions. In the event that we do not receive distributions from our subsidiaries, we may be unable to make required principal and interest payments on our indebtedness, including the notes.

If we default on our obligations to pay our other indebtedness, we may not be able to make payments on the notes.

Any default under the agreements governing our indebtedness that is not waived by the required lenders, and the remedies sought by the holders of such indebtedness, could leave us unable to pay principal, premium, if any, or interest on the notes and could substantially decrease the market value of the notes. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow and are otherwise unable to obtain funds necessary to meet required payments of principal, premium, if any, or interest on our indebtedness, or if we otherwise fail to comply with the various covenants, including financial and operating covenants, in the instruments governing our indebtedness, we could be in default under the terms of the agreements governing such indebtedness. In the event of such default, the holders of such indebtedness could elect to declare all the funds borrowed thereunder to be due and payable, together with accrued and unpaid interest, the lenders under our revolving credit facility could elect to terminate their commitments, cease making further letters of credit or loans available and institute foreclosure proceedings against our assets, and we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation.

 

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If our operating performance declines, we may in the future need to seek waivers from the required lenders under our revolving credit facility to avoid being in default. If we breach our covenants under our revolving credit facility and seek a waiver, we may not be able to obtain a waiver from the required lenders. If this occurs, we would be in default under our revolving credit facility, the lenders could exercise their rights as described above, and we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation.

The notes are structurally subordinated to all liabilities of our subsidiaries that are not guarantors.

The notes are structurally subordinated to indebtedness and other liabilities of our non-guarantor subsidiaries and joint ventures, and the claims of creditors of these subsidiaries and joint ventures, including trade creditors, have priority as to the assets of these subsidiaries and joint ventures. In the event of a bankruptcy, liquidation, reorganization or similar proceeding of any non-guarantor subsidiaries and joint ventures, these entities will pay the holders of their debts, holders of preferred equity interests and their trade creditors before they will be able to distribute any of their assets to us. As of September 30, 2017, our non-guarantor subsidiaries had liabilities (excluding intercompany liabilities) of $0.2 million. In addition, the indenture governing the notes permits, subject to certain limitations, these subsidiaries and joint ventures to incur additional indebtedness and does not contain any limitation on the amount of other liabilities, such as trade payables, that may be incurred by these entities. See note 19 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2017, incorporated by reference in this prospectus, for financial information regarding our non-guarantor subsidiaries.

Our revolving credit facility and indentures governing our currently outstanding notes contain significant operating and financial restrictions which may limit our and our subsidiary guarantors’ ability to operate our and their businesses.

Our revolving credit facility and the indentures governing our currently outstanding notes contain significant operating and financial restrictions on us and our subsidiaries. These restrictions limit our and our subsidiaries’ ability to, among other things (not all restrictions are included in each indenture, including the indenture governing the notes):

 

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incur additional indebtedness or issue certain preferred shares;

 

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create liens on certain assets to secure debt;

 

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pay dividends or make other equity distributions;

 

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purchase or redeem capital stock;

 

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make certain investments; and

 

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consolidate or merge

These restrictions could limit our and our subsidiaries’ ability to finance our and their future operations or capital needs, make acquisitions or pursue available business opportunities. In addition, our revolving credit facility requires us to maintain specified financial ratios and to satisfy certain financial covenants. We may be required to take action to reduce our debt or act in a manner contrary to our business objectives to meet these ratios and satisfy these covenants. Events beyond our control, including changes in economic and business conditions in the markets in which we operate, may affect our ability to do so. We may not be able to meet these ratios or satisfy these covenants and we cannot assure you that the lender under our revolving credit facility will waive any failure to do so. A breach of any of the covenants in, or our inability to maintain the required financial ratios under, our debt could result in a default under such debt, which could lead to that debt becoming immediately due and payable and, if such debt is secured, foreclosure on our assets that secure that obligation. A default under a debt instrument could, in turn, result in default under other obligations and result in other creditors accelerating the payment of other obligations and foreclosing on assets securing such debt, if any. Any such defaults could materially impair our financial conditions and liquidity.

 

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The notes and the guarantees are not secured by any of our assets and therefore are effectively subordinated to our existing and future secured indebtedness.

The notes and any guarantees thereof are general unsecured obligations ranking effectively junior in right of payment to our and the guarantors’ existing and future secured indebtedness to the extent of the collateral securing such indebtedness. As of September 30, 2017, we and the guarantors had approximately $5.6 million of secured indebtedness (including non-recourse indebtedness). The indenture governing the notes permits the incurrence of additional indebtedness, some of which may be secured. See “Description of the Notes.” In the event that we or a guarantor are declared bankrupt, become insolvent or are liquidated or reorganized, creditors whose indebtedness is secured by our assets or assets of the applicable guarantor will be entitled to the remedies available to secured holders under applicable laws, including the foreclosure of the collateral securing such indebtedness, before any payment may be made with respect to the notes or the affected guarantees. As a result, there may be insufficient assets to pay amounts due on the notes and holders of the notes may receive less, ratably, than holders of secured indebtedness.

Federal and state statutes allow courts, under specific circumstances, to void a guarantor’s guarantee and require note holders to return payments received in respect thereof.

If any guarantor becomes a debtor in a case under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code or encounters other financial difficulty, under federal or state fraudulent transfer law, a court may void, subordinate or otherwise decline to enforce such guarantor’s guarantee. A court might do so if it found that when such guarantor issued the guarantee, or in some states when payments became due under the guarantee, the guarantors received less than reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration and:

 

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was insolvent or rendered insolvent by reason of such incurrence;

 

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was left with inadequate capital to conduct its business; or

 

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believed or reasonably should have believed that it would incur debts beyond its ability to pay.

The court might also void a guarantee, without regard to the above factors, if the court found that the applicable guarantor made its guarantee with actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud its creditors.

A court would likely find that a guarantor did not receive reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration for its guarantee, if such guarantor did not substantially benefit directly or indirectly from the issuance of the notes. If a court were to void the issuance of the notes or any guarantee, you may no longer have any claim directly against the applicable guarantor. Sufficient funds to repay the notes may not be available from other sources, including the remaining obligors, if any. In addition, the court might direct you to repay any amounts that you already received from a guarantor.

The measures of insolvency for purposes of these fraudulent transfer laws will vary depending upon the law applied in any proceeding to determine whether a fraudulent transfer has occurred and upon the valuation assumptions and methodology applied by the court. Generally, however, a guarantor would be considered insolvent if:

 

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the sum of its debts, including contingent liabilities, was greater than the fair saleable value of all of its assets;

 

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if the present fair saleable value of its assets was less than the amount that would be required to pay its probable liability on its existing debts, including contingent liabilities, as they become absolute and mature; or

 

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it could not pay its debts as they become due.

On the basis of historical financial information, recent operating history and other factors, we believe that each guarantor, after giving effect to its guarantee and rights of contribution it has against other guarantors, will not be insolvent, will not have unreasonably small capital for the business in which it is engaged and will not have incurred

 

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debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature. We cannot assure you, however, as to what standard a court would apply in making these determinations or that a court would agree with our conclusions in this regard. The guarantees could be subject to the claim that, since the guarantees were incurred for our benefit, and only indirectly for the benefit of the other guarantors, the obligations of the guarantors thereunder were incurred for less than reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration.

Certain of our subsidiaries are not subject to the restrictive covenants in the indenture governing the notes.

Certain of our subsidiaries are not subject to the restrictive covenants in the indenture governing the notes. This means that these entities are able to engage in many of the activities that we and our restricted subsidiaries are prohibited from doing, such as incurring substantial additional debt, securing assets in priority to the claims of the holders of the notes, paying dividends, making investments, selling substantial assets and entering into mergers or other business combinations. These actions could be detrimental to our ability to make payments of principal and interest when due and to comply with our other obligations under the notes, and could reduce the amount of our assets that would be available to satisfy your claims should we default on the notes. In addition, the initiation of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings or the entering of a judgment against these subsidiaries, or their default under their other credit arrangements, will not result in a cross-default on the notes.

We may not be able to repurchase the notes upon a change of control.

Upon the occurrence of certain specific kinds of change of control events, we will be required to offer to repurchase all outstanding notes at 101% of the principal amount thereof plus, without duplication, accrued and unpaid interest and additional interest, if any, to the date of repurchase. However, it is possible that we will not have sufficient funds at the time of the change of control to make the required repurchase of all notes delivered by holders seeking to exercise their repurchase rights, particularly as that change of control may trigger a similar repurchase requirement for, or result in an event of default under or the acceleration of, other indebtedness, or that restrictions in our revolving credit facility will not allow such repurchases. Any failure by us to repurchase the notes upon a change of control would result in an event of default under the indenture and may also constitute a cross-default on other indebtedness existing at that time. In addition, certain important corporate events, such as leveraged recapitalizations that would increase the level of our indebtedness, would not constitute a “Change of Control” under the indenture. See “Description of the Notes — Certain Covenants — Change of Control.”

The market value of the notes may be exposed to substantial volatility.

A number of factors, including factors specific to us and our business, financial condition and liquidity, the price of our common stock, economic and financial market conditions, interest rates, unavailability of capital and financing sources, volatility levels and other factors could lead to a decline in the value of the notes and a lack of liquidity in any market for the notes. As previously disclosed, in an effort to accelerate our path to profitability, we may seek to expand our business through acquisitions, which may be funded through additional debt. Our existing senior notes are thinly traded, and because the notes offered hereby similarly may be thinly traded, it may be difficult to sell or accurately value the notes. Moreover, if one or more of the rating agencies rates the notes and assigns a rating that is below the expectations of investors, or lowers its or their rating(s) of the notes, the price of the notes would likely decline.

An active trading market may not develop for the new notes.

There is no established public trading market for the notes, and an active trading market may not develop. We do not intend to apply for the notes to be listed on any securities exchange. As a result, there may be limited liquidity of any trading market that does develop for the notes. In addition, the liquidity of the trading market in the notes and the market prices quoted for the notes may be adversely affected by changes in the overall market for this type of security and by changes in our financial performance or prospects or in the prospects for companies in our industry generally. As a consequence, an active trading market may not develop for the notes, holders of notes may not be able to sell their notes, or, even if they can sell their notes, they may not be able to sell them at an acceptable price.

 

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The liquidity of any trading market that develops for the notes may be adversely affected by future repurchases by us of notes through exchange offers, open market repurchases, privately negotiated transactions or otherwise.

We have in the past repurchased our securities and may in the future repurchase the notes, through exchange offers, open market repurchase, privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. If a significant percentage of the notes were repurchased or exchanged in any such transaction, the liquidity of the trading market for the notes, if any, may be substantially reduced. Any notes repurchased or exchanged will reduce the amount of notes outstanding. As a result, the notes may trade at a discount to the price at which they would trade if the applicable transaction was not consummated, subject to prevailing interest rates, the market for similar securities and other factors. A smaller outstanding amount of the notes may also make the trading prices of the notes more volatile. If a portion of the notes were repurchased or exchanged in the future, there might not be an active market in the notes and the absence of an active market could adversely affect your ability to trade the notes and the prices at which the notes may be traded.

If you fail to exchange your original notes, you will face restrictions that will make the sale or transfer of your original notes more difficult.

If you do not exchange your original notes for new notes in the exchange offer, you will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer of your original notes described in the legend on your original notes. In general, you may only offer or sell the original notes if they are registered under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, or offered and sold under an exemption from those requirements. To the extent other original notes are tendered and accepted in the exchange offer and you elect not to exchange your original notes, the trading market, if any, for your original notes would be adversely affected because your original notes will be less liquid than the new notes. See “The Exchange Offer — Consequences of Failure to Exchange.”

You must follow the exchange offer procedures carefully in order to receive the new notes.

If you do not follow the procedures described in this prospectus, you will not receive any new notes. If you want to tender your old notes in exchange for new notes, you will need to contact a DTC participant to complete the book-entry transfer procedures, or otherwise complete and transmit a letter of transmittal, in each case described under “The Exchange Offer,” prior to the expiration date, and you should allow sufficient time to ensure timely completion of these procedures to ensure delivery. No one is under any obligation to give you notification of defects or irregularities with respect to tenders of old notes for exchange. In addition, there are no guaranteed delivery procedures available to you in connection with this exchange offer. See “The Exchange Offer — Exchange Offer Procedures”.

Some holders that exchange their original notes may be required to comply with registration and prospectus delivery requirements in connection with the sale or transfer of their new notes.

If you exchange your original notes in the exchange offer for the purpose of participating in a distribution of the new notes, you may be deemed to have received restricted securities and, if so, will be required to comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale transaction. If you are required to comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements, then you may face additional burdens on the transfer of your notes and could incur liability for failure to comply with applicable requirements.

 

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DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus (including the documents incorporated by reference herein) contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements represent our expectations or beliefs concerning future events, and it is possible that the results described in this prospectus (including the documents incorporated by reference herein) will not be achieved. These forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of statements that include words such as “estimate,” “project, “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “foresee,” “likely,” “will,” “goal,” “target” or other similar words or phrases. All forward-looking statements are based upon information available to us on the date of this prospectus.

These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of our control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements, including, among other things, the risks discussed in the section captioned “Risk Factors” above and in the information included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017 in the section captioned “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” incorporated herein by reference. Such factors may include:

 

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economic changes nationally or in local markets, changes in consumer confidence, declines in employment levels, inflation or increases in the quantity and decreases in the price of new homes and resale homes on the market;

 

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the cyclical nature of the homebuilding industry and a potential deterioration in homebuilding industry conditions;

 

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factors affecting margins, such as decreased land values underlying land option agreements, increased land development costs on communities under development or delays or difficulties in implementing initiatives to reduce our production and overhead cost structure;

 

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the availability and cost of land and the risks associated with the future value of our inventory, such as additional asset impairment charges or writedowns;

 

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shortages of or increased prices for labor, land or raw materials used in housing production and the level of quality and craftsmanship provided by our subcontractors;

 

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estimates related to homes to be delivered in the future (backlog) are imprecise, as they are subject to various cancellation risks that cannot be fully controlled;

 

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a substantial increase in mortgage interest rates, increased disruption in the availability of mortgage financing, a change in tax laws regarding the deductibility of mortgage interest for tax purposes or an increased number of foreclosures;

 

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our cost of and ability to access capital, due to factors such as limitations in the capital markets or adverse credit market conditions, and otherwise meet our ongoing liquidity needs, including the impact of any downgrades of our credit ratings or reductions in our tangible net worth or liquidity levels;

 

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our ability to reduce our outstanding indebtedness and to comply with covenants in our debt agreements or satisfy such obligations through repayment or refinancing;

 

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increased competition or delays in reacting to changing consumer preferences in home design;

 

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continuing severe weather conditions or other related events that could result in delays in land development or home construction, increase our costs or decrease demand in the impacted areas;

 

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estimates related to the potential recoverability of our deferred tax assets and a potential reduction in corporate tax rates that could reduce the usefulness of our existing deferred tax assets;

 

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potential delays or increased costs in obtaining necessary permits as a result of changes to, or complying with, laws, regulations or governmental policies, and possible penalties for failure to comply with such laws, regulations or governmental policies, including those related to the environment;

 

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the results of litigation or government proceedings and fulfillment of any related obligations;

 

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the impact of construction defect and home warranty claims, including water intrusion issues in Florida;

 

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the cost and availability of insurance and surety bonds, as well as the sufficiency of these instruments to cover potential losses incurred;

 

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the performance of our unconsolidated entities and our unconsolidated entity partners;

 

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the impact of information technology failures or data security breaches;

 

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terrorist acts, natural disasters, acts of war or other factors over which we have little or no control; or

 

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the impact on homebuilding in key markets of governmental regulations limiting the availability of water.

Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and, except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. New factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for management to predict all such factors.

 

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THE EXCHANGE OFFER

Terms of the Exchange Offer

Purpose of the Exchange Offer

We sold $400,000,000 in principal amount of the original notes on October 10, 2017 in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The initial purchasers of the original notes subsequently resold the original notes in reliance on Rule 144A and Regulation S under the Securities Act.

In connection with the sale of original notes to the initial purchasers pursuant to purchase agreement, dated September 25, 2017, among us and the initial purchasers named therein, the holders of the original notes became entitled to the benefits of a registration rights agreement dated October 10, 2017, among us, the guarantors named therein and the initial purchasers named therein (the “registration rights agreement”).

The registration rights agreement provides that, unless the exchange offer would violate applicable law or any applicable interpretation of the staff of the SEC, we:

 

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will file an exchange offer registration statement for the notes with the SEC;

 

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will use our commercially reasonable efforts to cause the SEC to declare the exchange offer registration statement effective under the Securities Act;

 

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will use our commercially reasonable efforts to, on or prior to 180 days after October 10, 2017, complete the exchange of the new notes for all original notes tendered prior thereto in the exchange offer; and

 

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will keep the registered exchange offer open for not less than 20 business days (or longer if required by applicable law or otherwise extended by us, at our option) after the date notice of the registered exchange offer is mailed to the holders of the original notes.

The exchange offer being made by this prospectus, if consummated within the required time periods, will satisfy our obligations under the registration rights agreement.

Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this prospectus and in the accompanying letter of transmittal, we will accept all original notes properly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the expiration date. We will issue $1,000 principal amount of new notes in exchange for each $1,000 principal amount of outstanding original notes accepted in the exchange offer. Holders may tender some or all of their original notes pursuant to the exchange offer in denominations of $2,000 and multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

Based on no-action letters issued by the staff of the SEC to third parties we believe that holders of the new notes issued in exchange for original notes may offer for resale, resell and otherwise transfer the new notes, other than any holder that is an affiliate of ours within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act, without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act. This is true as long as (i) the new notes are acquired in the ordinary course of the holder’s business, (ii) the holder is not engaging in or intending to engage in a distribution of the new notes, and (iii) the holder has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of the new notes. A broker-dealer that acquired original notes directly from us cannot exchange the original notes in the exchange offer. Any holder who tenders in the exchange offer for the purpose of participating in a distribution of the new notes cannot rely on the no-action letters of the staff of the SEC and must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale transaction.

Each broker-dealer that receives new notes for its own account in exchange for original notes, where such original notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making or other trading activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such new notes. See “Plan of Distribution” for additional information.

 

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We will accept validly tendered original notes promptly following the expiration of the exchange offer by giving written notice of the acceptance of such notes to the exchange agent. The exchange agent will act as agent for the tendering holders of original notes for the purposes of receiving the new notes from the issuer and delivering new notes to such holders.

If any tendered original notes are not accepted for exchange because of an invalid tender or the occurrence of the conditions set forth under “The Exchange Offer — Conditions” without waiver by us, certificates for any such unaccepted original notes will be returned, without expense, to the tendering holder of any such original notes promptly after the expiration date or the termination of the exchange offer, as applicable.

Holders of original notes who tender in the exchange offer will not be required to pay brokerage commissions or fees or, subject to the instructions in the letter of transmittal, transfer taxes with respect to the exchange of original notes, pursuant to the exchange offer. We will pay all charges and expenses, other than certain applicable taxes in connection with the exchange offer. See “The Exchange Offer — Fees and Expenses.”

Shelf Registration Statement

Pursuant to the registration rights agreement, we have agreed to file a shelf registration statement if:

 

•

we are not permitted to file the exchange offer registration statement or consummate the exchange offer because the exchange offer is not permitted by applicable law or SEC policy;

 

•

the exchange offer is not consummated within 180 days after the issue date of the original notes; or

 

•

any holder (other than the initial purchasers) is prohibited by law or the applicable interpretations of the SEC from participating in the exchange offer.

A holder that sells original notes pursuant to the shelf registration statement generally must be named as a selling securityholder in the related prospectus and must deliver a prospectus to purchasers, because a seller will be subject to civil liability provisions under the Securities Act in connection with these sales. A seller of the original notes also will be bound by applicable provisions of the applicable registration rights agreement, including indemnification obligations. In addition, each holder of original notes must deliver information to be used in connection with the shelf registration statement and provide comments on the shelf registration statement in order to have its original notes included in the shelf registration statement and benefit from the provisions regarding any liquidated damages in the registration rights agreement.

We have agreed to file a shelf registration statement with the SEC as promptly as practicable, but in any event within 45 days after being so required, and thereafter use our commercially reasonable efforts to cause a shelf registration statement to be declared effective by the SEC within 90 days after being so required (provided that in no event shall such effectiveness be required prior to 180 days following the issue date of the original notes). In addition, we agreed to use our commercially reasonable efforts to keep that shelf registration statement continually effective, supplemented and amended for a period of two years following the date the shelf registration statement is declared effective (or for a period of one year from the date the shelf registration statement is declared effective and such shelf registration statement is filed at the request of the initial purchasers), or such shorter period which terminates when all notes covered by that shelf registration statement have been sold under it.

Additional Interest in Certain Circumstances

If any of the following, each a “registration default,” occurs:

 

•

the exchange offer is not completed on or before the 180th calendar day following the issue date of the original notes or, if that day is not a business day, then the next succeeding day that is a business day; or

 

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•

the shelf registration statement is required to be filed but is not filed or declared effective within the time periods required by the registration rights agreement or is declared effective but thereafter ceases to be effective or usable (subject to certain exceptions),

the interest rate borne by the notes as to which the registration default has occurred will be increased by 0.25% per annum upon the occurrence of a registration default. This rate will continue to increase by 0.25% each 90-day period that the liquidated damages (as defined below) continue to accrue under any such circumstance. However, the maximum total increase in the interest rate will in no event exceed one percent (1.0%) per annum. We refer to this increase in the interest rate on the notes as “liquidated damages.” Such interest is payable in addition to any other interest payable from time to time with respect to the notes in cash on each interest payment date to the holders of record for such interest payment date. After the cure of registration defaults, the accrual of liquidated damages will stop and the interest rate will revert to the original rate.

Under certain circumstances, we may delay the filing or the effectiveness of the exchange offer, registration statement or the shelf registration statement and shall not be required to maintain its effectiveness or amend or supplement it for a period of up to 60 days during any 12-month period. Any delay period will not alter our obligation to pay liquidated damages with respect to a registration default.

The sole remedy available to the holders of the original notes will be the immediate increase in the interest rate on the original notes as described above. Any amounts of additional interest due as described above will be payable in cash on the same interest payment dates as the original notes.

Expiration Date; Extensions; Amendment

We will keep the exchange offer open for not less than 20 business days, or longer if required by applicable law, after the date on which notice of the exchange offer is mailed to the holders of the original notes. The term “expiration date” means the expiration date set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, unless we extend the exchange offer, in which case the term “expiration date” means the latest date to which the exchange offer is extended.

In order to extend the expiration date, we will notify the exchange agent of any extension by written notice and will issue a public announcement of the extension, each prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next business day after the previously scheduled expiration date. Any such announcement will include the number and principal amount of original notes tendered for exchange as of such date.

We reserve the right:

 

•

to delay accepting any original notes and to extend the exchange offer or to terminate the exchange offer and not accept original notes not previously accepted if any of the conditions set forth under “Conditions” shall have occurred and shall not have been waived by us, if permitted to be waived by us, by giving written notice of such delay, extension or termination to the exchange agent; or

 

•

to amend the terms of the exchange offer in any manner deemed by us to be advantageous to the holders of the original notes. (We are required to extend the offering period for certain types of changes in the terms of the exchange offer, for example, a change in the consideration offered or percentage of original notes sought for tender.)

All conditions set forth under “The Exchange Offer — Conditions” must be satisfied or waived prior to the expiration date.

Any delay in acceptance, extension, termination or amendment will be followed as promptly as practicable by written notice. If the exchange offer is amended in a manner determined by us to constitute a material change, we will promptly disclose such amendment in a manner reasonably calculated to inform the holders of the original notes of such amendment. In the event of a material change in the exchange offer, including the waiver of a material condition by us, we will extend the exchange offer, if necessary, so that at least five business days remain prior to the expiration date following the notice of the material change.

 

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Without limiting the manner in which we may choose to make a public announcement of any extension, amendment or termination of the exchange offer, we will not be obligated to publish, advertise, or otherwise communicate any such announcement, other than by making a timely release to an appropriate news agency.

Exchange Offer Procedures

To tender in the exchange offer, a holder must complete, sign and date the letter of transmittal, or a facsimile thereof, have the signatures on the letter of transmittal guaranteed if required by instruction 2 of the letter of transmittal, and mail or otherwise deliver the letter of transmittal or such facsimile or an agent’s message in connection with a book entry transfer, together with the original notes and any other required documents. To be validly tendered, such documents must reach the exchange agent before 12:01 a.m., New York City time, on the expiration date. Delivery of the original notes may be made by book-entry transfer in accordance with the procedures described below. Confirmation of such book-entry transfer must be received by the exchange agent prior to the expiration date.

The term “agent’s message” means a message, transmitted by a book-entry transfer facility to, and received by, the exchange agent, forming a part of a confirmation of a book-entry transfer, which states that such book-entry transfer facility has received an express acknowledgment from the participant in such book-entry transfer facility tendering the original notes that such participant has received and agrees to be bound by the terms of the letter of transmittal and that we may enforce such agreement against such participant.

The tender by a holder of original notes will constitute an agreement between such holder and us in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this prospectus and in the letter of transmittal.

Delivery of all documents must be made to the exchange agent at its address set forth below. Holders may also request their respective brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust companies or nominees to effect such tender for such holders.

Each broker-dealer that receives new notes for its own account in exchange for original notes, where such original notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such new notes. See “Plan of Distribution.”

The method of delivery of original notes and the letter of transmittal and all other required documents to the exchange agent is at the election and risk of the holders. Instead of delivery by mail, it is recommended that holders use an overnight or hand delivery service. In all cases, sufficient time should be allowed to assure timely delivery to the exchange agent before 12:01 a.m., New York City time, on the expiration date. No letter of transmittal or original notes should be sent to us.

Only a holder of original notes may tender original notes in the exchange offer. The term “holder” with respect to the exchange offer means any person in whose name original notes are registered or any other person who has obtained a properly completed bond power from the registered holder.

Any beneficial holder whose original notes are registered in the name of its broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee and who wishes to tender should contact such registered holder promptly and instruct such registered holder to tender on its behalf. If such beneficial holder wishes to tender on its own behalf, such registered holder must, prior to completing and executing the letter of transmittal and delivering its original notes, either make appropriate arrangements to register ownership of the original notes in such holder’s name or obtain a properly completed bond power from the registered holder. The transfer of record ownership may take considerable time.

Signatures on a letter of transmittal or a notice of withdrawal, must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” within the meaning of Rule 17Ad-15 under the Exchange Act unless the original notes are tendered:

 

•

by a registered holder who has not completed the box entitled “Special Issuance Instructions” or “Special Delivery Instructions” on the letter of transmittal; or

 

•

for the account of an eligible guarantor institution.

 

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In the event that signatures on a letter of transmittal or a notice of withdrawal are required to be guaranteed, such guarantee must be by an eligible guarantor institution.

If a letter of transmittal is signed by a person other than the registered holder of any original notes listed therein, such original notes must be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate bond powers and a proxy which authorizes such person to tender the original notes on behalf of the registered holder, in each case signed as the name of the registered holder or holders appears on the original notes.

If a letter of transmittal or any original notes or bond powers are signed by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact, officers of corporations or others acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such persons should so indicate when signing, and unless waived by us, evidence satisfactory to us of their authority so to act must be submitted with such letter of transmittal.

All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility, including time of receipt, and withdrawal of the tendered original notes will be determined by us in our reasonable discretion, which determination will be final and binding, provided, however, that such determination may be challenged in a court of competent jurisdiction. We reserve the absolute right to reject any and all original notes not properly tendered or any original notes our acceptance of which, in the opinion of our counsel, would be unlawful. We also reserve the absolute right to waive any irregularities or defects as to the original notes. If we waive any condition of the notes for any note holder, we will waive such condition for all note holders. Our interpretation of the terms and conditions of the exchange offer, including the instructions in the letter of transmittal, will be final and binding on all parties, provided, however, that such determination may be challenged in a court of competent jurisdiction. Unless waived, any defects or irregularities in connection with tenders of original notes must be cured within such time as we shall determine. None of us, the exchange agent or any other person shall be under any duty to give notification of defects or irregularities with respect to tenders of original notes, nor shall any of them incur any liability for failure to give such notification. Tenders of original notes will not be deemed to have been made until such irregularities have been cured or waived. Any original notes received by the exchange agent that are not properly tendered and as to which the defects or irregularities have not been cured or waived will be returned by the exchange agent to the tendering holders of original notes without cost to such holder, unless otherwise provided in the relevant letter of transmittal, promptly following the expiration date.

In addition, we reserve the absolute right in our sole discretion to:

 

•

purchase or make offers for any original notes that remain outstanding subsequent to the expiration date or, as set forth under “The Exchange Offer — Conditions,” to terminate the exchange offer in accordance with the terms of the registration rights agreement; and

 

•

to the extent permitted by applicable law, purchase original notes in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions or otherwise.

The terms of any such purchases or offers may differ from the terms of the exchange offer.

By tendering, each holder will represent to us that, among other things:

 

•

such holder or other person is not our “affiliate,” as defined under Rule 405 of the Securities Act, or, if such holder or other person is such an affiliate, will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act to the extent applicable;

 

•

the new notes acquired pursuant to the exchange offer are being obtained in the ordinary course of business of such holder or other person;

 

•

neither such holder or other person has any arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of such new notes in violation of the Securities Act; and

 

•

neither such holder nor such other person is engaged in or intends to engage in a distribution of the new notes.

 

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We understand that the exchange agent will make a request promptly after the date of this prospectus to establish accounts with respect to the original notes at The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) for the purpose of facilitating the exchange offer, and subject to the establishment of such accounts, any financial institution that is a participant in DTC’s system may make book-entry delivery of original notes by causing DTC to transfer such original notes into the exchange agent’s account with respect to the original notes in accordance with DTC’s procedures for such transfer. Although delivery of the original notes may be effected through book-entry transfer into the exchange agent’s account at DTC, a letter of transmittal properly completed and duly executed with any required signature guarantee, or an agent’s message in lieu of a letter of transmittal, and all other required documents must in each case be transmitted to and received or confirmed by the exchange agent at its address set forth below on or prior to the expiration date. Delivery of documents to DTC does not constitute delivery to the exchange agent.

Withdrawal of Tenders

Except as otherwise provided in this prospectus, tenders of original notes may be withdrawn at any time prior to 12:01 a.m., New York City time, on the expiration date.

To withdraw a tender of original notes in the exchange offer, a written or facsimile transmission notice of withdrawal must be received by the exchange agent at its address set forth in this prospectus prior to 12:01 a.m., New York City time, on the expiration date. Any such notice of withdrawal must:

 

•

specify the name of the depositor, who is the person having deposited the original notes to be withdrawn;

 

•

identify the original notes to be withdrawn, including the certificate number or numbers and principal amount of such original notes or, in the case of original notes transferred by book-entry transfer, the name and number of the account at DTC to be credited;

 

•

be signed by the depositor in the same manner as the original signature on the letter of transmittal by which such original notes were tendered, including any required signature guarantees, or be accompanied by documents of transfer sufficient to have the trustee with respect to the original notes register the transfer of such original notes into the name of the depositor withdrawing the tender; and

 

•

specify the name in which any such original notes are to be registered, if different from that of the depositor.

All questions as to the validity, form and eligibility, including time of receipt, of such withdrawal notices will be determined by us in our reasonable discretion, and our determination shall be final and binding on all parties, provided, however, that such determination may be challenged in a court of competent jurisdiction. Any original notes so withdrawn will be deemed not to have been validly tendered for purposes of the exchange offer and no new notes will be issued with respect to the original notes withdrawn unless the original notes so withdrawn are validly retendered. Any original notes which have been tendered but which are not accepted for exchange will be returned to its holder without cost to such holder promptly after withdrawal, rejection of tender or termination of the exchange offer. Properly withdrawn original notes may be retendered by following one of the procedures described above under “The Exchange Offer — Exchange Offer Procedures” at any time prior to the expiration date.

Conditions

Notwithstanding any other term of the exchange offer, we will not be required to accept for exchange, or exchange, any new notes for any original notes, and may terminate or amend the exchange offer before the expiration date, if:

 

•

in the opinion of our counsel, the exchange offer or any part thereof contemplated herein violates any applicable law or interpretation of the staff of the SEC;

 

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•

any action or proceeding shall have been instituted in any court or by any governmental agency which might materially impair our ability to proceed with the exchange offer or any material adverse development shall have occurred in any such action or proceeding with respect to us;

 

•

any governmental approval has not been obtained, which approval we shall deem necessary for the consummation of the exchange offer as contemplated hereby;

 

•

any cessation of trading on any securities exchange, or any banking moratorium, shall have occurred, as a result of which we are unable to proceed with the exchange offer; or

 

•

stop order shall have been issued by the SEC or any state securities authority suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement or proceedings shall have been initiated for that purpose.

If any of the foregoing conditions exist, we may, in our reasonable discretion:

 

•

refuse to accept any original notes and return all tendered original notes to the tendering holders promptly following the expiration date or the termination of the exchange offer, as applicable;

 

•

extend the exchange offer and retain all original notes tendered prior to the expiration of the exchange offer, subject, however, to the rights of holders who tendered such original notes to withdraw their tendered original notes; or

 

•

waive such condition, if permissible, with respect to the exchange offer and accept all properly tendered original notes which have not been withdrawn. If such waiver constitutes a material change to the exchange offer, we will promptly disclose such waiver by means of a prospectus supplement that will be distributed to the holders, and we will extend the exchange offer, if necessary, so that at least five business days remain prior to the expiration date following the date of such prospectus supplement.

Exchange Agent

We have appointed U.S. Bank National Association as exchange agent for the exchange offer. Please direct questions and requests for assistance, requests for additional copies of this prospectus or of the letter of transmittal to U.S. Bank National Association addressed as follows:

By Mail, Overnight Courier or Hand Delivery:

U.S. Bank National Association

111 Fillmore Avenue

St. Paul, MN 55107-1402

Attention: Specialized Finance Department

Reference: Beazer Homes USA, Inc. Exchange

By Facsimile:

(651) 466-7372

Attention: Specialized Finance Department

Reference: Beazer Homes USA, Inc. Exchange

To Confirm by Telephone or for Information:

(800) 934-6802

Reference: Beazer Homes USA, Inc. Exchange

U.S. Bank National Association is the trustee under the indenture governing the original notes and the new notes.

 

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Fees and Expenses

We will pay the expenses of soliciting original notes for exchange. The principal solicitation is being made by mail by U.S. Bank National Association as exchange agent. However, additional solicitations may be made by telephone, facsimile or in person by our officers and regular employees and our affiliates and by persons so engaged by the exchange agent.

We will pay U.S. Bank National Association as exchange agent reasonable and customary fees for its services and will reimburse it for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in connection therewith and pay other registration expenses, including fees and expenses of the trustee under the indenture, filing fees, blue sky fees and printing and distribution expenses.

We will pay all transfer taxes, if any, applicable to the exchange of the original notes in connection with the exchange offer. If, however, certificates representing the new notes or the original notes for principal amounts not tendered or accepted for exchange are to be delivered to, or are to be issued in the name of, any person other than the registered holder of the original notes tendered, or if tendered original notes are registered in the name of any person other than the person signing the letter of transmittal, or if a transfer tax is imposed for any reason other than the exchange of the original notes in this exchange offer, then the amount of any such transfer taxes, whether imposed on the registered holder or any other person, will be payable by the tendering holder.

Accounting Treatment

The new notes will be recorded at the same carrying value as the original notes as reflected in our accounting records on the date of exchange. Accordingly, no gain or loss for accounting purposes will be recognized by us.

Consequences of Failure to Exchange

Holders of original notes who are eligible to participate in the exchange offer but who do not tender their original notes will not have any further registration rights, and their original notes will continue to be subject to restrictions on transfer of the original notes as described in the legend on the original notes as a consequence of the issuance of the original notes under exemptions from, or in transactions not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. In general, the original notes may not be offered or sold, unless registered under the Securities Act, except under an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

Regulatory Approvals

We do not believe that the receipt of any material federal or state regulatory approval will be necessary in connection with the exchange offer, other than the effectiveness of the exchange offer registration statement under the Securities Act.

Other

Participation in the exchange offer is voluntary and holders of original notes should carefully consider whether to accept the terms and conditions of this exchange offer. Holders of the original notes are urged to consult their financial and tax advisors in making their own decisions on what action to take with respect to the exchange offer.

Neither our affiliates nor the affiliates of the guarantors have any interest, direct or indirect, in the exchange offer.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

This exchange offer is intended to satisfy our obligations to register an exchange offer of the new notes for the original notes required by the registration rights agreement entered into in connection with the offering of the original notes. We will not receive any cash proceeds from the issuance of the new notes. In consideration for issuing the new notes, we will receive the outstanding original notes in like principal amount, the terms of which are identical in all material respects to the terms of the new notes, except as otherwise described herein. The original notes surrendered in exchange for the new notes will be retired and cancelled and cannot be reissued.

 

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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The following table sets forth information regarding our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the periods shown. For purposes of calculating this ratio, (i) “earnings” consist of (a) income (loss) before income taxes, (b) amortization of previously capitalized interest and (c) fixed charges, exclusive of capitalized interest cost and (ii) “fixed charges” consist of (x) interest incurred, (y) amortization of deferred loan costs and debt discount and (z) that portion of operating lease rental expense (33%) deemed to be representative of interest.

 

		Fiscal Years ended September 30,
		2013				2014				2015				2016				2017
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges			0.6x				0.7x				0.9x				1.1x				1.3x

 

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DESCRIPTION OF OTHER INDEBTEDNESS

Secured Revolving Credit Facility — Our $200.0 million secured revolving credit facility provides us with working capital and letter of credit capacity. Subject to our option to cash collateralize our obligations under our revolving credit facility upon certain conditions, our obligations under our revolving credit facility are secured by liens on substantially all of our personal property and a significant portion of our owned real properties. As of September 30, 2017, we had no borrowings outstanding under our revolving credit facility. However, as of September 30, 2017, we had $34.7 million in letters of credit outstanding under our revolving credit facility, leaving us with $145.3 million in remaining capacity (however, as discussed below, subsequent to September 30, 2017, we further increased the capacity of the revolving credit facility by $20 million). Our revolving credit facility contains certain covenants, including negative covenants and financial maintenance covenants, with which we are required to comply. As of September 30, 2017, we were in compliance with all such covenants. On October 24, 2017, we executed a fourth amendment (the “Fourth Amendment”) to our credit facility. The Fourth Amendment, among other things, extends the termination date of our revolving credit facility to February 15, 2020 and increased its capacity from $180.0 million to $200.0 million. Our revolving credit facility continues to be with three lenders.

Letter of Credit Facilities — We have entered into stand-alone, cash-secured letter of credit agreements with banks to maintain our pre-existing letters of credit and to provide for the issuance of new letters of credit (in addition to the letters of credit issued under our revolving credit facility). As of September 30, 2017, we had letters of credit outstanding under these additional facilities of $10.8 million, all of which were secured by cash collateral in restricted accounts. We may enter into additional arrangements to provide further letter of credit capacity.

Senior Notes — Our outstanding Senior Notes are unsecured obligations ranking pari passu with all other existing and future senior indebtedness. Substantially all of our significant subsidiaries are full and unconditional guarantors of the Senior Notes and are jointly and severally liable for obligations under the Senior Notes and our revolving credit facility. Each guarantor subsidiary is a 100% owned subsidiary of Beazer Homes.

Our Senior Notes, other than the 2019 Notes, are subject to indentures containing certain restrictive covenants which, among other things, restrict our ability to pay dividends, repurchase our common stock, incur additional indebtedness and to make certain investments. Specifically, all of our Senior Notes (other than our 2019 Notes) contain covenants that restrict our ability to incur additional indebtedness unless it is refinancing indebtedness or non-recourse indebtedness. The incurrence of refinancing indebtedness and non-recourse indebtedness, as defined in the applicable indentures, are exempted from the covenant test. The 2019 Notes contain covenants which, subject to certain exceptions, limit our ability to, among other things, incur additional secured indebtedness and engage in certain sale and leaseback transactions. We do not believe that compliance with our Senior Note covenants significantly impacts our operations. We were in compliance with the covenants contained in all of our Senior Notes as of September 30, 2017.

In March 2017, we issued and sold $250 million aggregate principal amount of our 6.750% Senior Notes due March 2025 (the “2025 Notes”) at par (before underwriting and other issuance costs) through a private placement to qualified institutional buyers. Interest on the 2025 Notes is payable semi-annually in cash in arrears on March 15 and September 15 of each year, commencing September 15, 2017. The 2025 Notes will mature on March 15, 2025. Prior to maturity, we may, at our option, redeem the 2025 Notes at any time, in whole or in part, at a customary make-whole premium provision through March 15, 2023. In June 2017, we exchanged 100% of the 2025 Notes for notes that are freely transferable and registered under the Securities Act.

In September 2016, we issued and sold $500 million aggregate principal amount of our 8.750% Senior Notes due 2022 (the “2022 Notes”), $400 million of which were issued at par (before underwriting and other issuance costs) and $100 million of which were issued in a subsequent tack-on offering at a price of 104.250% (before underwriting and other issuance costs), through private placements to qualified institutional buyers. Interest on the 2022 Notes is payable semi-annually in cash in arrears beginning on March 15, 2017. The 2022 Notes will mature on March 15, 2022. Prior to maturity, we may, at our option, redeem the 2022 Notes at any time, in whole or in part, at a customary make-whole premium provision through March 15, 2019. In April 2017, we exchanged 100% of the 2022 Notes for notes that are freely transferable and registered under the Securities Act.

 

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In April 2014, we issued and sold $325 million aggregate principal amount of the 2019 Notes at par (before underwriting and other issuance costs) through a private placement to qualified institutional buyers. Interest on the 2019 Notes is payable semi-annually in cash in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing December 15, 2014. The 2019 Notes will mature on June 15, 2019. Prior to maturity, we may, at our option, redeem the 2019 Notes at any time, in whole or in part, at a customary make-whole premium provision through March 15, 2019. In July 2014, we exchanged 100% of the 2019 Notes for notes that are freely transferable and registered under the Securities Act. We repaid $225 million of the 2019 Notes in October 2017 with the proceeds of the original notes, along with cash on hand.

In February 2013, we issued and sold $200 million aggregate principal amount of the 2023 Notes at par (before underwriting and other issuance costs) through a private placement to qualified institutional buyers. Interest on the 2023 Notes is payable semi-annually in cash in arrears, beginning August 1, 2013. The 2023 Notes will mature on February 1, 2023. Prior to maturity, we may, at our option, redeem the 2023 Notes at any time, in whole or in part, at specified redemption prices, which also include a customary make-whole premium provision through February 1, 2018. In August 2013, we exchanged 100% of the 2023 Notes for notes that are freely transferable and registered under the Securities Act. We repaid $175 million of the 2023 Notes in October 2017 with the proceeds of the original notes, along with cash on hand.

The 2019, 2022, 2023 and 2025 Notes rank equally in right of payment with all of our existing and future senior unsecured obligations, senior to all of our existing and future subordinated indebtedness and effectively subordinated to our existing and future secured indebtedness, including indebtedness under our revolving credit facility to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness. The 2019, 2022, 2023 and 2025 Notes and related guarantees are structurally subordinated to all indebtedness and other liabilities of all of our subsidiaries that do not guarantee the 2019, 2022, 2023 and 2025 Notes. The 2019, 2022, 2023 and 2025 Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed jointly and severally on a senior basis by our wholly-owned subsidiaries party to the applicable indenture.

Secured Term Loan — On March 11, 2016, we entered into a credit agreement (the “Term Loan Agreement”) that provided us with a $140 million, two-year secured term loan (the “Term Loan”). We prepaid the remaining $55.0 million outstanding on the Term Loan in March 2017 with the proceeds of the 2025 Notes, along with cash on hand.

Junior Subordinated Notes — Our unsecured junior subordinated notes (the “Junior Subordinated Notes”) mature on July 30, 2036. The Junior Subordinated Notes are redeemable at par and paid interest at a fixed rate of 7.987% for the first ten years ending July 30, 2016. The securities now have a floating interest rate as defined in the Junior Subordinated Notes Indenture, which was a weighted-average of 4.12% as of September 30, 2017 (because the rate on the portion of the Junior Subordinated Notes that was modified, as discussed below, is subject to a floor). The obligations relating to these notes are subordinated to the revolving credit facility and the Senior Notes. In January 2010, we modified the terms of $75.0 million of these notes and recorded them at their then estimated fair value. Over the remaining life of the Junior Subordinated Notes, we will increase their carrying value until this carrying value equals the face value of the notes. As of September 30, 2017, the unamortized accretion was $38.8 million and will be amortized over the remaining life of the notes. As of September 30, 2017, we were in compliance with all covenants under our Junior Subordinated Notes.

Other Secured Notes Payable — We periodically acquire land through the issuance of notes payable. As of September 30, 2017, we had outstanding secured notes payable of $5.6 million, primarily related to these land acquisitions. The secured notes payable related to land acquisitions have varying expiration dates between 2017 and 2019 and have a weighted average fixed interest rate of 1.41% as of September 30, 2017. These notes are secured by the real estate to which they relate.

The agreements governing these secured notes payable contain various affirmative and negative covenants. There can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain any future waivers or amendments that may become necessary without significant additional cost or at all. In each instance, however, a covenant default can be cured by repayment of the indebtedness.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES

Definitions for certain defined terms may be found under “— Certain Definitions” appearing below. References in this “Description of the Notes” to the “Company” refer to Beazer Homes USA, Inc. only and not to any of its subsidiaries unless the context otherwise requires and references to the “Notes” in this section are references to the original 5.875% Senior Notes due 2027 and the new 5.875% Senior Notes due 2027 offered hereby, collectively.

The Notes under that certain Indenture, dated as of October 10, 2017 (the “Indenture”) among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”). The following summaries of certain provisions of the Indenture do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the Indenture, including the definitions of certain terms therein. Wherever particular sections or defined terms of the Indenture not otherwise defined herein are referred to, such sections or defined terms shall be incorporated herein by reference. A copy of the Indenture is available to any holder of the Notes upon request to the Company.

General

The Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company. The maximum aggregate principal amount of the Notes now outstanding is $400.0 million. The Company may issue additional Notes (“Additional Notes”) from time to time subject to the limitations set forth under “Certain Covenants — Limitations on Additional Indebtedness.” The Notes and any Additional Notes subsequently issued under the Indenture will be treated as a single class for all purposes under the Indenture. Unless the context requires otherwise, references to “Notes” for all purposes of the Indenture and this “Description of the Notes” include any Additional Notes that are actually issued. The Notes are guaranteed by each of the Subsidiary Guarantors pursuant to the guarantees (the “Subsidiary Guarantees”) described below.

The Notes bear interest at the rate of 5.875% per annum from the Issue Date, or, if interest has already been paid, from the date it was most recently paid, payable on April 15 and October 15 of each year, commencing on April 15, 2018, to holders of record (the “Holders”) at the close of business on April 1 or October 1, as the case may be, immediately preceding the respective interest payment date. The Notes will mature on October 15, 2027, and are issued in minimum denominations of $2,000 and $1,000 integral multiples in excess thereof. Interest is computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

Principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes is payable, and the Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or exchange, at the offices of the Trustee. At the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders of the Notes at their respective addresses set forth in the register of Holders; provided that all payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest with respect to Notes represented by one or more permanent global notes registered in the name of or held by DTC or its nominee will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Holder or Holders thereof. The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with certain transfers or exchanges of the Notes. Initially, the Trustee will act as the Paying Agent and the Registrar under the Indenture. The Company may subsequently act as the Paying Agent and/or the Registrar and the Company may change any Paying Agent and/or any Registrar without prior notice to the Holders.

Ranking

The Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company and rank (i) senior in right of payment to all existing and future Indebtedness of the Company that is, by its terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes (or to all senior indebtedness), (ii) pari passu in right of payment with all existing and future Indebtedness of the Company that is not so subordinated, and (iii) effectively subordinate to all Secured Indebtedness and Non-Recourse Indebtedness to the extent of the value of the assets securing such obligations.

The Subsidiary Guarantees are senior unsecured obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors and rank (i) senior in right of payment to all existing and future Indebtedness of the Subsidiary Guarantors that is, by its terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Subsidiary Guarantees (or to all senior indebtedness), (ii) pari passu in right of

 

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payment with all existing and future Indebtedness of the Subsidiary Guarantors that is not so subordinated, and (iii) effectively subordinate to all Secured Indebtedness and Non-Recourse Indebtedness of the Subsidiary Guarantors to the extent of the value of the assets securing such obligations.

As of September 30, 2017, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors had approximately $5.6 million of Non-Recourse Indebtedness outstanding and no Secured Indebtedness outstanding.

In addition, the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees are structurally subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of the Company’s Subsidiaries that do not guarantee the Notes. As of September 30, 2017, the Company’s non-guarantor Subsidiaries had approximately $0.2 million of liabilities (excluding intercompany obligations) in the aggregate.

Optional Redemption

The Company may redeem all or any portion of the Notes at any time and from time to time on or after October 15, 2022 and prior to maturity at the following redemption prices (expressed in percentages of the principal amount thereof) together, in each case, with accrued and unpaid interest to the date fixed for redemption (subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest on the relevant interest payment date), if redeemed during the 12-month period beginning on of each year indicated below:

 

Year		Percentage
2022			102.938	%
2023			101.958	%
2024			100.979	%
2025 and thereafter			100	%

In addition, on or prior to October 15, 2020, the Company may, at its option, redeem up 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under the Indenture with the net proceeds of an Equity Offering at 105.875% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date fixed for redemption (subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest on the relevant interest payment date); provided, that at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes originally issued under the Indenture remain outstanding after such redemption. Notice of any such redemption must be given within 60 days after the date of the closing of the relevant Equity Offering.

Prior to October 15, 2022, the Company may at its option redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest to, the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date). Notice of such redemption must be sent to each Holder not less than 15 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date.

Furthermore, at any time prior to the maturity of the Notes, if at least 90% of the principal amount of the Notes have previously been repurchased and cancelled in connection with a Change of Control Offer, the Company may redeem all of the remaining Notes, upon not less than 15 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at a redemption price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption, subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date.

“Applicable Premium” means, with respect to a Note at any redemption date, the greater of (i) 1.00% of the principal amount of such Note and (ii) the excess of (A) the present value at such redemption date of (1) the redemption price of such Note on October 15, 2022 (such redemption price being described in the first paragraph of this “— Optional Redemption” section exclusive of any accrued interest) plus (2) all required remaining scheduled interest payments due on such Note through October 15, 2022 (but excluding accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate plus 0.50% per annum, over (B) the principal amount of such Note on such redemption date.

 

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“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the yield to maturity as of such redemption date of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) that has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to the redemption date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from the redemption date to October 15, 2022; provided, however, that if the period from the redemption date to October 15, 2022 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year will be used.

In the event less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any time, selection of the Notes to be redeemed will be made by the Trustee from among the outstanding Notes on a pro rata basis, by lot or by any other method permitted by the Indenture, unless otherwise required by law or regulatory requirements. Notice of redemption will be sent at least 15 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed. On and after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption.

Mandatory Offers to Purchase the Notes

The Indenture requires the Company to offer to purchase all of the outstanding Notes upon a Change of Control of the Company. See “Certain Covenants — Change of Control” The provisions relating to an offer to purchase upon a Change of Control is not waivable by the Board of Directors of the Company. If an offer to purchase upon a Change of Control were to be required, there can be no assurance that the Company would have sufficient funds to pay the purchase price for all Notes that the Company is required to purchase. In addition, the Company’s ability to finance the purchase of Notes may be limited by the terms of its then existing borrowing agreements. Failure by the Company to purchase the Notes when required will result in an Event of Default with respect to the Notes.

If an offer is made to purchase Notes as a result of a Change of Control, the Company will comply with applicable law, including, without limitation, Section 14(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and Rule 14e-1 thereunder, if applicable.

The Change of Control feature of the Notes may in certain circumstances make more difficult or discourage a takeover of the Company and, thus, the removal of incumbent management. The Change of Control feature, however, is not the result of management’s knowledge of any specific effort to obtain control of the Company by means of a merger, tender offer, solicitation or otherwise, or part of a plan by management to adopt a series of anti-takeover provisions.

The Subsidiary Guarantees

Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors will (so long as it remains a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) fully and unconditionally guarantee, subject to customary release provisions, on a joint and several basis all of the Company’s obligations under the Notes, including its obligations to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest with respect to the Notes. Each of the Subsidiary Guarantees are senior unsecured obligations of the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor. The Indenture provides that the obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor are limited to the maximum amount which, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Subsidiary Guarantor and after giving effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee or pursuant to its contribution obligations under the Indenture, will result in the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer or obligation under federal or state law. However, there can be no assurance that this provision will be effective to ensure that any Subsidiary Guarantee does not constitute a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer obligation under applicable law. Each Subsidiary Guarantor that makes a payment or distribution under a Subsidiary Guarantee shall be entitled to a contribution from each other Subsidiary Guarantor in an amount pro rata, based on the net assets of each Subsidiary Guarantor, determined in accordance with GAAP. Except as provided in “Certain Covenants” below, the Company is not restricted from selling or otherwise disposing of any of the Subsidiary Guarantors.

 

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The Indenture provides that each existing and future Restricted Subsidiary (other than, in the Company’s discretion, any Restricted Subsidiary the assets of which have a Book Value of not more than $5.0 million) be a Subsidiary Guarantor and, at the Company’s discretion, any Unrestricted Subsidiary may be a Subsidiary Guarantor.

The Indenture will provide that if all or substantially all of the assets of any Subsidiary Guarantor, or all (or a portion sufficient to cause such Subsidiary Guarantor to no longer be a Subsidiary of the Company) of the Capital Stock of any Subsidiary Guarantor, is sold (including by consolidation, merger, issuance or otherwise) or disposed of (including by liquidation, dissolution or otherwise) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or, unless the Company elects otherwise, if any Subsidiary Guarantor is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, then such Subsidiary Guarantor (in the event of a sale or other disposition of all of the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary Guarantor or a designation as an Unrestricted Subsidiary) or the Person acquiring such assets (in the event of a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of such Subsidiary Guarantor) shall be deemed automatically and unconditionally released and discharged from any of its obligations under the Indenture without any further action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder of the Notes, subject in each case to compliance with the covenants set forth below under “Certain Covenants — Limitations on Mergers and Consolidations”.

Certain Definitions

Set forth below is a summary of certain of the defined terms used in the Indenture. Reference is made to the Indenture for the full definition of all terms used in the Indenture.

“Acquired Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of any Person and its Subsidiaries existing at the time such Person became a Subsidiary of the Company (or such Person is merged with or into the Company or one of the Company’s Subsidiaries) or assumed in connection with the acquisition of assets from any such Person, including, without limitation, Indebtedness Incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of (a) such Person being merged with or into or becoming a Subsidiary of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries (but excluding Indebtedness of such Person which is extinguished, retired or repaid in connection with such Person being merged with or into or becoming a Subsidiary of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries) or (b) such acquisition of assets from any such Person.

“Adjusted Consolidated Tangible Net Worth” of the Company means Consolidated Tangible Net Worth plus the amount of any Mandatory Convertible Notes and any other instrument that is mandatorily convertible into Capital Stock.

“Adjusted Indebtedness” of the Company means the Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries minus the amount of any Mandatory Convertible Notes.

“Affiliate” of any Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with, such Person. For purposes of the Indenture, each executive officer and director of the Company and each Subsidiary of the Company will be an Affiliate of the Company. In addition, for purposes of the Indenture, control of a Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Affiliate” will not include, with respect to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary which is a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary which is a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company.

“Asset Sale” for any Person means the sale, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition (including, without limitation, by merger, consolidation or sale and leaseback transaction, and whether by operation of law or otherwise) of any of that Person’s assets (including, without limitation, the sale or other disposition of Capital Stock of any Subsidiary of such Person, whether by such Person or such Subsidiary), whether owned on the date of the Indenture or subsequently acquired in one transaction or a series of related transactions, in which such Person and/or its Subsidiaries receive cash and/or other consideration (including, without limitation, the unconditional assumption of Indebtedness of such Person and/or its Subsidiaries) having an aggregate Fair Market Value of $5.0 million or more as to each such transaction or series of related transactions; provided, however, that none of the following transactions that otherwise satisfy the above requirements shall constitute an Asset Sale:

 

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(i)    a transaction or series of related transactions that results in a Change of Control;

(ii)    sales of homes or land, including sales of real estate assets in bulk, regardless of value, in the ordinary course of business (as determined in good faith by the Company);

(iii)    sales, leases, conveyances or other dispositions, including, without limitation, exchanges or swaps, of real estate or other assets, in each case in the ordinary course of business (as determined in good faith by the Company), for development or disposition of the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ projects;

(iv)    sales, leases, sale-leasebacks or other dispositions of amenities, model homes and other improvements at the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ projects in the ordinary course of business (as determined in good faith by the Company);

(v)    transactions between the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries which are Wholly Owned Subsidiaries, or among such Restricted Subsidiaries which are Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of the Company;

(vi)    any disposition of Cash Equivalents or obsolete or worn out equipment, in each case, in the ordinary course of business (as determined in good faith by the Company);

(vii)    the sale or other disposition of assets, including real property, no longer used or useful in the conduct of business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(viii)    the making of any Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment that is permitted to be made, and is made, under the covenant described under the heading “Limitations on Restricted Payments;” and

(ix)    a transaction involving the sale of Capital Stock of, or the disposition of assets in, an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

“Book Value” means, with respect to any asset of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the book value thereof as reflected in the most recent consolidated financial statements of the Company filed with the SEC (or if such asset has been acquired after the date of such financial statements, the then-current book value thereof as reasonably determined by the Company consistent with recent practices).

“Business Day” means any day other than a Legal Holiday.

“Capital Stock” of any Person means any and all shares, rights to purchase, warrants or options (whether or not currently exercisable), participations, or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated and whether voting or non-voting) the equity (which includes, but is not limited to, common stock, preferred stock and partnership and joint venture interests) of such Person (excluding any debt securities that are convertible into, or exchangeable for, such equity).

“Capitalized Lease Obligations” of any Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under a lease that is required to be capitalized for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP, and the amount of such obligation will be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.

“Cash Equivalents” means any of the following:

(i)    direct obligations of the United States or any agency thereof or obligations guaranteed by the United States or any agency thereof, in each case maturing within one year of the date of acquisition thereof;

 

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(ii)    certificates of deposit, time deposits, bankers acceptances and other obligations placed with commercial banks organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof, or branches or agencies of foreign banks licensed under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof, having a short-term rating of not less than A- by each of Moody’s and S&P at the time of acquisition, and having a maturity of not more than one year;

(iii)    commercial paper rated at least P-1, A-1 or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s or S&P, respectively, and in each case and maturing not more than one year from the date of the acquisition thereof;

(iv)    repurchase agreements or money-market accounts which are fully secured by direct obligations of the United States or any agency thereof; and

(v)    investments in money market funds (x) substantially all of the assets of which consist of investments described in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iv) or (y) which (A) have total net assets of at least $2 billion, (B) have investment objectives and policies that substantially conform with the Company’s investment policy as in effect from time to time, (C) purchase only first-tier or U.S. government obligations as defined by Rule 2a-7 of the SEC promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and (D) otherwise comply with such Rule 2a-7.

“Change of Control” means any of the following:

(i)    the sale, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any Person or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act); provided that a transaction where the holders of all classes of Common Equity of the Company immediately prior to such transaction own, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the aggregate voting power of all classes of Common Equity of such Person or group immediately after such transaction will not be a Change of Control;

(ii)    the liquidation or dissolution of the Company; provided that a liquidation or dissolution of the Company which is part of a transaction or series of related transactions that does not constitute a Change of Control under the “provided” clause of clause (i) above will not constitute a Change of Control under this clause (ii);

(iii)    any transaction or a series of related transactions (as a result of a tender offer, merger, consolidation or otherwise) that results in, or that is in connection with, (a) any Person, including a “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) acquiring “beneficial ownership” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of 50% or more of the aggregate voting power of all classes of Common Equity of the Company or (b) any Person that possesses “beneficial ownership” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of 50% or more of the aggregate voting power of all classes of Common Equity of the Company;

(iv)    a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company not being comprised of Continuing Directors; or

(v)    a change of control shall occur as defined in the instrument governing any publicly traded debt securities of the Company which requires the Company to repay or repurchase such debt securities.

“Common Equity” of any Person means all Capital Stock of such Person that is generally entitled to (i) vote in the election of directors of such Person, or (ii) if such Person is not a corporation, vote or otherwise participate in the selection of the governing body, partners, managers or others that will control the management and policies of such Person.

“Consolidated Cash Flow Available for Fixed Charges” of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries means for any period, the sum of the amounts for such period of:

 

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(i)    Consolidated Net Income, plus

(ii)    Consolidated Income Tax Expense (without regard to income tax expense or credits attributable to extraordinary and nonrecurring gains or losses on Asset Sales), plus

(iii)    Consolidated Interest Expense, plus

(iv)    all depreciation, and, without duplication, amortization (including, without limitation, capitalized interest amortized to cost of sales), plus

(v)    all other non-cash items reducing Consolidated Net Income during such period, minus

(vi)    all other non-cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income during such period; all as determined on a consolidated basis for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP.

“Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” of the Company means, with respect to any determination date, the ratio of (i) Consolidated Cash Flow Available for Fixed Charges of the Company for the prior four full fiscal quarters for which financial results have been reported immediately preceding the determination date, to (ii) the aggregate Consolidated Interest Incurred of the Company for the prior four full fiscal quarters for which financial results have been reported immediately preceding the determination date; provided that:

(1)    with respect to any Indebtedness Incurred during, and remaining outstanding at the end of, such four full fiscal quarter period, such Indebtedness will be assumed to have been incurred as of the first day of such four full fiscal quarter period;

(2)    with respect to Indebtedness repaid (other than a repayment of revolving credit obligations repaid solely out of operating cash flows) during such four full fiscal quarter period, such Indebtedness will be assumed to have been repaid on the first day of such four full fiscal quarter period;

(3)    with respect to the Incurrence of any Acquired Indebtedness, such Indebtedness and any proceeds therefrom will be assumed to have been Incurred and applied as of the first day of such four full fiscal quarter period, and the results of operations of any Person and any Subsidiary of such Person that, in connection with or in contemplation of such Incurrence, becomes a Subsidiary of the Company or is merged with or into the Company or one of the Company’s Subsidiaries or whose assets are acquired, will be included, on a pro forma basis, in the calculation of the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio as if such transaction had occurred on the first day of such four full fiscal quarter period; and

(4)    with respect to any other transaction pursuant to which any Person becomes a Subsidiary of the Company or is merged with or into the Company or one of the Company’s Subsidiaries or pursuant to which any Person’s assets are acquired, such Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated on a pro forma basis as if such transaction (and the change in Consolidated Cash Flow Available for Fixed Charges resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of such four full fiscal quarter period.

“Consolidated Income Tax Expense” of the Company for any period means the income tax expense of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

“Consolidated Interest Expense” of the Company for any period means the Interest Expense of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

“Consolidated Interest Incurred” of the Company for any period means the Interest Incurred of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

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“Consolidated Net Income” of the Company for any period means the aggregate net income (or loss) of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that there will be excluded from such net income (to the extent otherwise included therein), without duplication:

(i)    the net income (or loss) of any Person (other than a Restricted Subsidiary) in which any Person (including, without limitation, an Unrestricted Subsidiary) other than the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary has an ownership interest, except to the extent that any such income has actually been received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in the form of cash dividends or similar cash distributions during such period, or in any other form but converted to cash during such period;

(ii)    except to the extent includable in Consolidated Net Income pursuant to the foregoing clause (i), the net income (or loss) of any Person that accrued prior to the date that (a) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is merged with or into or consolidated with the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or (b) the assets of such Person are acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(iii)    the net income of any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent that (but only so long as) the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Restricted Subsidiary of that income is not permitted by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary during such period;

(iv)    in the case of a successor to the Company by consolidation, merger or transfer of its assets (other than as a result of a holding corporation reorganization), any earnings of the successor prior to such merger, consolidation or transfer of assets; and

(v)    the gains (but not losses) realized during such period by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries resulting from (a) the acquisition of securities issued by the Company or extinguishment of Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, (b) Asset Sales by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and (c) other extraordinary items realized by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in calculating Consolidated Net Income, the Company will be entitled to take into consideration the tax benefits associated with any loss described in clause (v) of the preceding sentence, but only to the extent such tax benefits are actually recognized by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period; provided, further, that there will be included in such net income, without duplication, the net income of any Unrestricted Subsidiary to the extent such net income is actually received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the form of cash dividends or similar cash distributions during such period, or in any other form but converted to cash during such period.

“Consolidated Tangible Assets” of the Company as of any date means the total amount of assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (less applicable reserves) on a consolidated basis at the end of the fiscal quarter immediately preceding such date, as determined in accordance with GAAP after giving effect to any transaction occurring after the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter pursuant to which any Person becomes a Subsidiary of the Company or is merged with or into the Company or one of the Company’s Subsidiaries or pursuant to which any Person’s assets are acquired, on a pro forma basis as if such transaction had occurred as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter, less: (i) Intangible Assets and (ii) appropriate adjustments on account of minority interests of other Persons holding equity investments in Restricted Subsidiaries, in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii) above, as reflected on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of the fiscal quarter immediately preceding such date.

“Consolidated Tangible Net Worth” of the Company as of any date means the stockholders’ equity (including any Preferred Stock that is classified as equity under GAAP, other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis at the end of the fiscal quarter immediately preceding such date, as determined in accordance with GAAP, plus any amount of unvested deferred compensation included, in accordance with GAAP, as an offset to stockholders’ equity, less the amount of Intangible Assets reflected on the consolidated

 

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balance sheet of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of the fiscal quarter immediately preceding such date; provided that solely for purposes of calculating the ratio of Adjusted Indebtedness to Adjusted Consolidated Tangible Net Worth pursuant to the covenant described herein under Limitations on Additional Indebtedness, Consolidated Tangible Net Worth shall be calculated after giving effect to (i) the issuance of any Capital Stock occurring after the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter, on a pro forma basis assuming such Capital Stock had been issued and remains outstanding as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter; (ii) any redemption or repurchase of any Capital Stock occurring after the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter, on a pro forma basis assuming such Capital Stock had been redeemed or repurchased as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter; and (iii) any other transaction occurring after the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter pursuant to which any Person becomes a Subsidiary of the Company or is merged with or into the Company or one of the Company’s Subsidiaries or pursuant to which any Person’s assets are acquired, on a pro forma basis as if such transaction had occurred as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter.

“Continuing Director” means at any date a member of the Board of Directors of the Company who:

(i)    was a member of the Board of Directors of the Company on the Issue Date; or

(ii)    was nominated for election or elected to the Board of Directors of the Company with the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the directors who were Continuing Directors at the time of such nomination or election.

“Credit Facilities” means, with respect to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, one or more debt facilities or other financing arrangements (including, without limitation, commercial paper or letter of credit facilities or indentures) providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, letters of credit or other Indebtedness (including our Revolving Credit Facility), including any notes, mortgages, deeds of trust, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements or refundings thereof and any indentures, credit facilities, letter of credit facilities or commercial paper facilities that replace, refund or refinance any part of the loans, notes, other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such replacement, refunding or refinancing facility or indenture that increases the amount permitted to be borrowed thereunder or alters the maturity thereof (provided that such increase in borrowings is permitted by the covenant described under “Certain Covenants — Limitations on Additional Indebtedness”) or adds Restricted Subsidiaries as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder and whether by the same or any other agent, lender or group of lenders.

“Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

“Default” means any event, act or condition that is, or after notice or the passage of time, or both, would be, an Event of Default.

“Disqualified Stock” means any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, on or prior to the final maturity date of the Notes; provided that any Capital Stock which would not constitute Disqualified Stock but for provisions thereof giving holders thereof the right to require the Company to repurchase or redeem such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a change of control occurring prior to the final maturity of the Notes will not constitute Disqualified Stock if the change of control provisions applicable to such Capital Stock are no more favorable to the holders of such Capital Stock than the “Change of Control” covenant set forth in the Indenture and such Capital Stock specifically provides that the Company will not repurchase or redeem (or be required to repurchase or redeem) any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions prior to the Company’s repurchase of Notes pursuant to the “Change of Control” covenant set forth in the Indenture.

“Disqualified Stock Dividend” of any Person means, for any dividend payable with regard to Disqualified Stock issued by such Person, the amount of such dividend multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is one and the denominator of which is one minus the maximum statutory combined federal, state and local income tax rate (expressed as a decimal number between 1 and 0) then applicable to such Person.

 

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“Equity Offering” means a public or private equity offering or sale after the Issue Date by the Company for cash of Capital Stock, other than an offering or sale of Disqualified Stock.

“Event of Default” has the meaning set forth in “Description of the Notes — Events of Default.”

“Exchange Notes” means any notes issued in exchange for the Notes pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement or similar agreement.

“Existing Indebtedness” means all of the Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries that is outstanding on the date of the Indenture.

“Fair Market Value” means with respect to any asset or property the sale value that would be obtained in an arm’s length transaction between an informed and willing seller under no compulsion to sell and an informed and willing buyer under no compulsion to buy. Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company acting in good faith and shall be evidenced by a board resolution (certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company) or an officer’s certificate of the principal financial officer of the Company delivered to the Trustee.

“GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and interpretations of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and interpretations of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession of the United States, as in effect from time to time. At any time after the Issue Date, the Company may elect to apply International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) accounting principles in lieu of GAAP and, upon any such election, references herein to GAAP shall thereafter be construed to mean IFRS (except as otherwise provided in the Indenture); provided that any such election, once made, shall be irrevocable; provided, further, any calculation or determination in the Indenture that requires the application of GAAP for periods that include fiscal quarters ended prior to the Company’s election to apply IFRS shall remain as previously calculated or determined in accordance with GAAP. The Company shall give notice of any such election made in accordance with this definition to the Trustee and the Holders of Notes.

“Hedging Obligations” of any Person means the obligations of such Person pursuant to any interest rate swap agreement, foreign currency exchange agreement, interest rate collar agreement, option or futures contract or other similar agreement or arrangement relating to interest rates or foreign exchange rates.

“Holder ” means a Person in whose name a Note is registered in the Security Register.

“Incur” (and derivatives thereof) means to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume, guarantee, extend the maturity of, or otherwise become liable with respect to any Indebtedness; provided, however, that neither the accrual of interest (whether such interest is payable in cash or kind) nor the accretion of original issue discount shall be considered an Incurrence of Indebtedness.

“Indebtedness” of any Person at any date means, without duplication,

(i)    all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money (whether or not the recourse of the lender is to the whole of the assets of such Person or only to a portion thereof);

(ii)    all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments (including a purchase money obligation) given in connection with the acquisition of any businesses, properties or assets of any kind or with services incurred in connection with capital expenditures (other than any obligation to pay a contingent purchase price which, as of the date of incurrence thereof, is not required to be recorded as a liability in accordance with GAAP);

(iii)    all fixed obligations of such Person in respect of letters of credit or other similar instruments or reimbursement obligations with respect thereto (other than standby letters of credit or similar instruments issued for the benefit of, or surety, performance, completion or payment bonds, earnest money notes or similar purpose undertakings or indemnifications issued by, such Person in the ordinary course of business (as determined in good faith by the Company));

 

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(iv)    all obligations of such Person with respect to Hedging Obligations (other than those that fix or cap the interest rate on variable rate Indebtedness otherwise permitted by the Indenture or that fix the exchange rate in connection with Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency and otherwise permitted by the Indenture);

(v)    all Capitalized Lease Obligations of such Person;

(vi)    all Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person;

(vii)    all Indebtedness of others guaranteed by, or otherwise the liability of, such Person to the extent of such guarantee or liability; and

(viii)    all Disqualified Stock issued by such Person (the amount of Indebtedness represented by any Disqualified Stock will equal the greater of the voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends);

provided, that Indebtedness shall not include accrued expenses, trade payables, liabilities related to inventory not owned, customer deposits or deferred income taxes arising in the ordinary course of business (as determined in good faith by the Company). The amount of Indebtedness of any Person at any date will be:

(a)    the outstanding balance at such date of all unconditional obligations as described above;

(b)    the maximum liability of such Person for any contingent obligations under clause (vii) above; and

(c)    in the case of clause (vi) (if the Indebtedness referred to therein is not assumed by such Person), the lesser of the (A) Fair Market Value of all assets subject to a Lien securing the Indebtedness of others on the date that the Lien attaches and (B) amount of the Indebtedness secured.

“Intangible Assets” of the Company means all unamortized debt discount and expense, unamortized deferred charges, goodwill, patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights and all other items which would be treated as intangibles on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with GAAP.

“Interest Expense” of any Person for any period means, without duplication, the aggregate amount of (i) interest which, in conformity with GAAP, would be set opposite the caption “interest expense” or any like caption on an income statement for such Person (including, without limitation, imputed interest included on Capitalized Lease Obligations, all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit securing financial obligations and bankers’ acceptance financing, the net costs associated with Hedging Obligations, amortization of other financing fees and expenses, the interest portion of any deferred payment obligation, amortization of discount or premium, if any, and all other non-cash interest expense other than interest and other charges amortized to cost of sales) and includes, with respect to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, without duplication (including duplication of the foregoing items), all interest amortized to cost of sales for such period, and (ii) the amount of Disqualified Stock Dividends recognized by the Company on any Disqualified Stock whether or not paid during such period.

“Interest Incurred” of any Person for any period means, without duplication, the aggregate amount of (i) interest which, in conformity with GAAP, would be set opposite the caption “interest expense” or any like caption on an income statement for such Person (including, without limitation, imputed interest included on Capitalized Lease Obligations, all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit securing financial obligations and bankers’ acceptance financing, the net costs associated with Hedging Obligations,

 

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amortization of other financing fees and expenses, the interest portion of any deferred payment obligation, amortization of discount or premium, if any, and all other noncash interest expense other than interest and other charges amortized to cost of sales) and includes, with respect to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, without duplication (including duplication of the foregoing items), all interest capitalized for such period, all interest attributable to discontinued operations for such period to the extent not set forth on the income statement under the caption “interest expense” or any like caption, and all interest actually paid by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary under any guarantee of Indebtedness (including, without limitation, a guarantee of principal, interest or any combination thereof) of any other Person during such period and (ii) the amount of Disqualified Stock Dividends recognized by the Company on any Disqualified Stock whether or not declared during such period.

“Investments” of any Person means all (i) investments by such Person in any other Person in the form of loans, advances or capital contributions, (ii) guarantees of Indebtedness or other obligations of any other Person by such Person, (iii) purchases (or other acquisitions for consideration) by such Person of Indebtedness, Capital Stock or other securities of any other Person and (iv) other items that would be classified as investments on a balance sheet of such Person determined in accordance with GAAP. For all purposes of the Indenture, the amount of any such Investment shall be the fair market value thereof (with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value). The making of any payment in accordance with the terms of a guarantee or other contingent obligation permitted under the Indenture shall not be considered an Investment.

“Issue Date” means October 10, 2017.

“Legal Holiday” means Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in New York, New York, Atlanta, Georgia or at a place of payment are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment shall be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday.

“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or other similar encumbrance of any kind upon or in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law (including, without limitation, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement).

“Mandatory Convertible Notes” means any Indebtedness of a Person, the principal amount of which is payable at maturity solely in Capital Stock of such Person (provided that a requirement to pay accrued, but unpaid interest on such Indebtedness in cash at maturity or a requirement to pay cash fees, expenses or premiums as a result of the acceleration of payment, early redemption or otherwise with respect to such Indebtedness shall not disqualify such Indebtedness as Mandatory Convertible Notes).

“Material Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company which accounted for 5% or more of the Consolidated Tangible Assets or Consolidated Cash Flow Available for Fixed Charges of the Company on a consolidated basis for the fiscal year ending immediately prior to any Default or Event of Default.

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or any successor to its debt rating business.

“Non-Recourse Indebtedness” with respect to any Person means Indebtedness of such Person for which (i) the sole legal recourse for collection of principal and interest on such Indebtedness is against the specific property identified in the instruments evidencing or securing such Indebtedness and such property was acquired (directly or indirectly, including through the purchase of Capital Stock of the Person owning such property) with the proceeds of such Indebtedness or such Indebtedness was Incurred within 90 days after the acquisition (directly or indirectly, including through the purchase of Capital Stock of the Person owning such property) of such property and (ii) no other assets of such Person may be realized upon in collection of principal or interest on such Indebtedness. Indebtedness which is otherwise Non-Recourse Indebtedness will not lose its character as Non-Recourse Indebtedness because there is recourse to the borrower, any guarantor or any other Person for (a) environmental warranties, covenants and indemnities, (b) indemnities for and liabilities arising from fraud, misrepresentation, misapplication or non-payment of rents, profits, deposits, insurance and condemnation proceeds and other sums actually received by the borrower from secured assets to be paid to the lender, waste and mechanics’ liens, breach of separateness covenants and other customary exceptions or (c) in the case of the borrower thereof only, other obligations in respect of such Indebtedness that are payable solely as a result of a voluntary or collusive non-voluntary bankruptcy filing (or similar filing or action) by such borrower.

 

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“Obligations” means, with respect to any Indebtedness, all obligations (whether in existence on the Issue Date or arising afterwards, absolute or contingent, direct or indirect) for or in respect of principal (when due, upon acceleration, upon redemption, upon mandatory repayment or repurchase pursuant to a mandatory offer to purchase, or otherwise), premium, interest, penalties, fees, indemnification, reimbursement and other amounts payable and liabilities with respect to such Indebtedness, including all interest accrued or accruing after the commencement of any bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or similar case or proceeding at the contract rate (including, without limitation, any contract rate applicable upon default) specified in the relevant documentation, whether or not the claim for such interest is allowed as a claim in such case or proceeding.

“Officer” means the chairman, the chief executive officer, the president, the chief financial officer, the chief operating officer, the chief accounting officer, the treasurer, or any assistant treasurer, the controller, the secretary, any assistant secretary or any vice president of a Person.

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by two Officers, one of whom must be the Person’s chief executive officer, chief operating officer, chief financial officer or chief accounting officer.

“Paying Agent” means any office or agency where Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees may be presented for payment.

“Permitted Investments” of any Person means any Investments of such Person that are not Restricted Investments.

“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or other agency or political subdivision thereof or other entity of any kind.

“Preferred Stock” of any Person means all Capital Stock of such Person which has a preference in liquidation or with respect to the payment of dividends.

“Refinancing Indebtedness” means Indebtedness that refunds, refinances or extends any Existing Indebtedness or other Indebtedness, including Acquired Indebtedness, permitted to be incurred by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, but only to the extent that:

(i)    the Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees, as the case may be, to the same extent as the Indebtedness being refunded, refinanced or extended, if at all;

(ii)    the Refinancing Indebtedness is scheduled to mature either (a) no earlier than the Indebtedness being refunded, refinanced or extended, or (b) after the maturity date of the Notes;

(iii)    the portion, if any, of the Refinancing Indebtedness that is scheduled to mature on or prior to the maturity date of the Notes has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is Incurred that is equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the portion of the Indebtedness being refunded, refinanced or extended that is scheduled to mature on or prior to the maturity date of the Notes;

(iv)    such Refinancing Indebtedness is in an aggregate amount that is equal to or less than the aggregate amount then outstanding (including accrued interest) under the Indebtedness being refunded, refinanced or extended plus an amount necessary to pay any reasonable fees and expenses, including premiums and defeasance costs, related to such refinancing; and

 

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(v)    such Refinancing Indebtedness is Incurred by the same Person that initially Incurred the Indebtedness being refunded, refinanced or extended, except that the Company may Incur Refinancing Indebtedness to refund, refinance or extend Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary.

“Registrar” means an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange.

“Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement related to the Notes, dated October 10, 2017, among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the initial purchasers of the Notes.

“Restricted Investment” means an Investment in joint ventures or Unrestricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate fair market value (with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this definition that are at the time outstanding, net of any amounts paid to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary as a return of, or on, such Investments, in excess of 5% of Consolidated Tangible Assets.

“Restricted Payment” means any of the following:

(i)    the declaration of any dividend or the making of any other payment or distribution of cash, securities or other property or assets in respect of the Capital Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than (a) dividends, payments or distributions payable solely in Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary and (b) in the case of a Restricted Subsidiary, dividends, payments or distributions payable to the Company or to another Restricted Subsidiary and pro rata dividends, payments or distributions payable to minority stockholders of such Restricted Subsidiary);

(ii)    the purchase, redemption, retirement or other acquisition for value of any Capital Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than Capital Stock held by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary);

(iii)    any Restricted Investment; and

(iv)    any principal payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of any Subordinated Indebtedness (other than (a) Indebtedness permitted under clause (vii) of the second paragraph of the covenant described under “Limitations on Additional Indebtedness” or (b) the payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of such Indebtedness in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of such payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement);

provided, however, that Restricted Payments will not include any purchase, redemption, retirement or other acquisition for value of Indebtedness or Capital Stock of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary if the consideration therefor consists solely of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary.

“Restricted Subsidiary” means each of the Subsidiaries of the Company which is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

“Revolving Credit Facility” means the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of September 24, 2012, among the Company, the lenders and letter of credit issuers party thereto, and Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Island Branch, as agent, as amended on November 10, 2014, November 6, 2015, October 13, 2016 and October 24, 2017, and as such facility may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

“S&P” means Standard and Poor’s Ratings Service, a division of McGraw Hill, Inc., a New York corporation, or any successor to its debt rating business.

 

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“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Secured Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness which is secured by (i) a Lien on any property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) a Lien on shares of stock owned directly or indirectly by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in a corporation or on equity interests owned by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in a partnership or other entity not organized as a corporation or in the Company’s rights or the rights of a Restricted Subsidiary in respect of Indebtedness of a corporation, partnership or other entity in which the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary has an equity interest; provided that “Secured Indebtedness” shall not include Non-Recourse Indebtedness. The securing in the foregoing manner of any such Indebtedness which immediately prior thereto was not Secured Indebtedness shall be deemed to be the creation of Secured Indebtedness at the time security is given.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

“Security Register” is a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange kept by the Registrar.

“Subordinated Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness which is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees, as the case may be.

“Subsidiary” of any Person means any (i) corporation of which at least a majority of the aggregate voting power of all classes of the Common Equity is directly or indirectly beneficially owned by such Person and (ii) any entity other than a corporation of which such Person, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns at least a majority of the Common Equity; provided that in each of case (i) and (ii), such Person is required to consolidate such entity in accordance with GAAP.

“Subsidiary Guarantee” means the guarantee of the Notes by each Subsidiary Guarantor under the Indenture.

“Subsidiary Guarantors” means (i) each of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries in existence on the Issue Date, other than The Ridings Development LLC and (ii) each of the Company’s Subsidiaries that becomes a guarantor of the Notes pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture.

“Trust Indenture Act” or “TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

“Trustee” means the party named as such until a successor replaces such party in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Indenture and thereafter means the successor trustee serving under the Indenture.

“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means United Home Insurance Corporation, a Vermont corporation, Security Title Insurance Company, Inc., a Vermont corporation, and, to the extent considered a Subsidiary of the Company, Beazer Homes Capital Trust I, and each of the Subsidiaries of the Company (including any newly formed or acquired Subsidiary) so designated by a resolution adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company as provided below and provided that:

(a)    neither the Company nor any of its other Subsidiaries (other than Unrestricted Subsidiaries) (1) provides any direct or indirect credit support for any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary (including any undertaking, agreement or instrument evidencing such Indebtedness) or (2) is directly or indirectly liable for any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary;

(b)    the creditors with respect to Indebtedness for borrowed money of such Subsidiary have agreed in writing that they have no recourse, direct or indirect, to the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company (other than Unrestricted Subsidiaries or the Capital Stock of Unrestricted Subsidiaries), including, without limitation, recourse with respect to the payment of principal or interest on any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary; and

 

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(c)    no default with respect to any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary (including any right which the holders thereof may have to take enforcement action against such Subsidiary) would permit (upon notice, lapse of time or both) any holder of any other Indebtedness of the Company and of its other Subsidiaries (other than other Unrestricted Subsidiaries), to declare a default on such other Indebtedness or cause the payment thereof to be accelerated or payable prior to its stated maturity.

The Board of Directors of the Company may designate an Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that:

(i)    any such designation will be deemed to be an Incurrence by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries of the Indebtedness (if any) of such designated Subsidiary for purposes of the “Limitations on Additional Indebtedness” covenant set forth in the Indenture as of the date of such designation;

(ii)    immediately after giving effect to such designation and the Incurrence of any such additional Indebtedness, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries could incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness under the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio or the ratio of Adjusted Indebtedness of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries to Adjusted Consolidated Tangible Net Worth contained in the “Limitations on Additional Indebtedness” covenant set forth in the Indenture; and

(iii)    the Liens on the property and assets of such Unrestricted Subsidiary could then be incurred in accordance with the “Limitations on Secured Indebtedness” covenant set forth in the Indenture as of the date of such designation.

Subject to the foregoing, the Board of Directors of the Company also may designate any Restricted Subsidiary to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided that (a) the Restricted Subsidiary to be so designated has total consolidated assets of $1,000 or less at the time of designation, or (b) with respect to any other Restricted Subsidiary, at the time of such designation:

(i)    all previous Investments by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Restricted Subsidiary (net of any returns previously paid on such Investments) will be deemed to be Investments at the time of such designation and such Investments must be permitted at such time under the “Limitations on Restricted Payments” covenant set forth in the Indenture;

(ii)    immediately after giving effect to such designation and such Investment, either (x) the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries could incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness under the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio or the ratio of Adjusted Indebtedness of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries to Adjusted Consolidated Tangible Net Worth contained in the “Limitations on Additional Indebtedness” covenant set forth in the Indenture or (y) either the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries or the ratio of Adjusted Indebtedness of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries to Adjusted Consolidated Tangible Net Worth would be greater than such ratio immediately prior to such designation, in each case on a pro forma basis taking into account such designation; and

(iii)    no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred or be continuing.

Any such designation by the Board of Directors of the Company will be evidenced to the Trustee by the filing with the Trustee of a certified copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing conditions and setting forth the underlying calculations.

“U.S. Government Obligations” means securities which are (i) direct obligations of the United States of America, for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust

 

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company as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such U.S. Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.

“Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness or portion thereof, at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing (i) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payment of principal, including, without limitation, payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment by (ii) the sum of all such payments described in clause (a) above.

“Wholly Owned Subsidiary” of any Person means (i) a Subsidiary of which 100% of the Common Equity (except for directors’ qualifying shares or certain minority interests owned by other Persons solely due to local law requirements that there be more than one stockholder, but which interest is not in excess of what is required for such purpose) is owned directly by such Person or through one or more other Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person, or (ii) any entity other than a corporation in which such Person, directly or indirectly, owns all of the Common Equity of such entity.

Certain Covenants

The following is a summary of certain covenants that are contained in the Indenture. Such covenants are applicable (unless waived or amended as permitted by the Indenture) so long as any of the Notes are outstanding or until the Notes are defeased pursuant to provisions described under “— Discharge and Defeasance of Indenture.”

Limitations on Restricted Payments

The Indenture also provides that the Company will not, and will not cause or permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any Restricted Payment, directly or indirectly, after the date of the Indenture if at the time of such Restricted Payment:

(i)    the amount of such proposed Restricted Payment (the amount of such Restricted Payment, if other than in cash, will be determined in good faith by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors of the Company), when added to the aggregate amount of all Restricted Payments (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (ii), (iii), (iv), (vi) and (vii) of the next succeeding paragraph) declared or made after the Issue Date exceeds the sum of:

(1)    $200.0 million, plus

(2)    50% of the Company’s Consolidated Net Income accrued during the period (taken as a single period) commencing on the first day of the fiscal quarter in which the Issue Date occurred and ending on the last day of the fiscal quarter immediately preceding the fiscal quarter in which the Restricted Payment is to occur (or, if such aggregate Consolidated Net Income is a deficit, minus 100% of such aggregate deficit), plus

(3)    the net cash proceeds derived from the issuance and sale of Capital Stock of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (or any capital contribution to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) that is not Disqualified Stock (other than a sale to, or a contribution by, a Subsidiary of the Company) after the Issue Date, plus

(4)    100% of the principal amount of, or, if issued at a discount, the accreted value of, any Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary which is issued (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company) after the Issue Date that is converted into or exchanged for Capital Stock of the Company that is not Disqualified Stock, plus

 

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(5)    100% of the aggregate amounts received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from the sale, disposition or liquidation (including by way of dividends) of any Investment (other than to any Subsidiary of the Company and other than to the extent sold, disposed of or liquidated with recourse to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or to any of their respective properties or assets) but only to the extent (x) not included in clause (2) above and (y) that the making of such Investment constituted a Permitted Investment or Restricted Investment, plus

(6)    100% of the principal amount of, or if issued at a discount, the accreted value of, any Indebtedness or other obligation that is the subject of a guarantee by the Company which is released (other than due to a payment on such guarantee) after the Issue Date, but only to the extent that such guarantee constituted a permitted Restricted Payment, plus

(7)    with respect to any Unrestricted Subsidiary that is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” (so long as the designation of such Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary was treated as a Restricted Payment made after the Issue Date, and only to the extent not included in clause (2) above), an amount equal to the lesser of (x) the proportionate interest of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in an amount equal to the excess of (I) the total assets of such Subsidiary, valued on an aggregate basis at the lesser of Book Value and Fair Market Value thereof, over (II) the total liabilities of such Subsidiary, determined in accordance with GAAP, and (y) the amount of the Restricted Payment deemed to be made upon such Subsidiary’s designation as an Unrestricted Subsidiary; or

(ii)    the Company would be unable to incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness under the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio contained in the “Limitations on Additional Indebtedness” covenant set forth in the Indenture; or

(iii)    a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or occurs as a consequence thereof.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of the “Limitations on Restricted Payments” covenant set forth in the Indenture does not prevent:

(i)    the payment of any dividend within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof if the payment thereof would have complied with the limitations of the Indenture on the date of declaration;

(ii)    the purchase, repayment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of shares of the Company’s Capital Stock or the Company’s or a Restricted Subsidiary’s Indebtedness for, or out of the net proceeds of a substantially concurrent sale (other than a sale to a Subsidiary of the Company) of, other shares of its Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock), provided that the proceeds of any such sale will be excluded in any computation made under clause (3) above;

(iii)    the purchase, repayment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of Indebtedness, including premium, if any, with the proceeds of Refinancing Indebtedness;

(iv)    payments or distributions pursuant to or in connection with a merger, consolidation or transfer of assets that complies with the provisions of the Indenture applicable to mergers, consolidations and transfers of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor;

(v)    any purchase, redemption, retirement or other acquisition for value of Capital Stock of the Company or any Subsidiary held by officers or employees or former officers or employees of the Company or any Subsidiary (or their estates or beneficiaries under their estates) not to exceed $500,000 in any calendar year and $5.0 million in the aggregate since the Issue Date;

 

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(vi)    repurchases of Capital Stock deemed to occur upon the exercise of stock options, warrants or similar instruments if such Capital Stock represents a portion of the exercise price of such options, warrants or similar instruments;

(vii)    the payment by the Company of cash in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares upon the exercise of options, warrants or similar instruments or upon the conversion or exchange of Capital Stock of the Company;

(viii)    the payment of dividends on Preferred Stock and Disqualified Stock up to an aggregate amount of $10.0 million in any fiscal year; provided that immediately after giving effect to any declaration of such dividend, the Company could incur at least $1.00 of Indebtedness under the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio contained in the “Limitations on Additional Indebtedness” covenant set forth in the Indenture;

(ix)    payments not to exceed $40.0 million in the aggregate for the purchase, repayment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of the Company’s junior subordinated notes due July 30, 2036 (or the related trust preferred securities issued by Beazer Homes Capital Trust I), as such securities may be amended or modified from time to time; or

(x)    other Restricted Payments made after the Issue Date in an amount not to exceed $100.0 million in the aggregate.

For purposes of determining compliance with this “Limitations on Restricted Payments” covenant, in the event a Restricted Payment meets the criteria to be made pursuant to more than one of the above clauses of this covenant, the Company, in its sole discretion, shall classify such Restricted Payment in any manner that complies with this covenant and may from time to time reclassify such Restricted Payment in any manner in which such Restricted Payment could be made at the time of such reclassification.

Limitations on Additional Indebtedness

The Indenture provides that the Company will not, and will not cause or permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, to, Incur any Indebtedness including Acquired Indebtedness; provided that the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors may Incur Indebtedness, including Acquired Indebtedness, if, after giving effect thereto and the application of the proceeds therefrom, either (i) the Company’s Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio on the date thereof would be at least 2.0 to 1.0 or (ii) the ratio of Adjusted Indebtedness of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries to Adjusted Consolidated Tangible Net Worth is less than 7.5 to 1.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of the Indenture does not prevent:

(i)    the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from Incurring (A) Refinancing Indebtedness or (B) Non-Recourse Indebtedness;

(ii)    the Company from Incurring Indebtedness evidenced by the Notes issued on the Issue Date or any Exchange Notes issued in exchange therefor;

(iii)    the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor from Incurring Indebtedness under Credit Facilities not to exceed the greater of $200.0 million and 15% of Consolidated Tangible Assets;

(iv)    any Subsidiary Guarantee of Indebtedness of the Company under the Notes or any Exchange Notes issued in exchange therefor;

 

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(v)    the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries from Incurring Indebtedness under any deposits made to secure performance of tenders, bids, leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, progress statements, government contracts and other obligations of like nature (exclusive of the obligation for the payment of borrowed money);

(vi)    any Subsidiary Guarantor from guaranteeing Indebtedness of the Company or any other Subsidiary Guarantor, or the Company from guaranteeing Indebtedness of any Subsidiary Guarantor, in each case permitted to be Incurred under the Indenture (other than Non-Recourse Indebtedness);

(vii)    (a) any Restricted Subsidiary from Incurring Indebtedness owing to the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor that is both a Wholly Owned Subsidiary and a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that

(I)    such Indebtedness is subordinated to any Subsidiary Guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary, if any, and

(II)    such Indebtedness shall only be permitted pursuant to this clause (vii)(a) for so long as the Person to whom such Indebtedness is owing is the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor that is both a Wholly Owned Subsidiary and a Restricted Subsidiary, and

(b)    the Company from Incurring Indebtedness owing to any Subsidiary Guarantor that is both a Wholly Owned Subsidiary and a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that

(I)    such Indebtedness is subordinated to the Company’s obligations under the Notes and the Indenture, and

(II)    such Indebtedness shall only be permitted pursuant to this clause (vii)(b) for so long as the Person to whom such Indebtedness is owing is a Subsidiary Guarantor that is both a Wholly Owned Subsidiary and a Restricted Subsidiary;

(viii)    the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary from Incurring Indebtedness under Capitalized Lease Obligations or purchase money obligations, in each case Incurred for the purpose of acquiring or financing all or any part of the purchase price or cost of construction or improvement of property or equipment used in the business of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, in an aggregate amount at any time outstanding not to exceed $50.0 million;

(ix)    the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from Incurring obligations for, pledge of assets in respect of, and guaranties of, bond financings of political subdivisions or enterprises thereof in the ordinary course of business (as determined in good faith by the Company);

(x)    the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from incurring Indebtedness owed to a seller of entitled land, lots under development or finished lots under the terms of which the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as obligor, is required to make a payment upon the future sale of such land or lots; and

(xi)    the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from Incurring Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed $100.0 million.

The Company shall not, and the Company will not cause or permit any Subsidiary Guarantor that is a Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, in any event Incur any Indebtedness that purports to be by its terms (or by the terms of any agreement governing such Indebtedness) subordinated to any other Indebtedness of the Company or of such Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, unless such Indebtedness is also by its terms (or by the terms of any agreement governing such Indebtedness) made expressly subordinated to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, at least to the same extent and in the same manner as such Indebtedness is subordinated to such other Indebtedness of the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be.

 

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For purposes of determining compliance with this “Limitations on Additional Indebtedness” covenant, in the event an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the types of Indebtedness described in the above clauses of this covenant, the Company, in its sole discretion, shall classify such item of Indebtedness in any manner that complies with this covenant and may from time to time reclassify such item of Indebtedness in any manner in which such item could be Incurred at the time of such reclassification.

Change of Control

The Indenture provides that, following the occurrence of any Change of Control, the Company will so notify the Trustee in writing by delivery of an Officers’ Certificate and will offer to purchase (a “Change of Control Offer”) from all Holders, and will purchase from Holders accepting such Change of Control Offer on the date fixed for the termination of such Change of Control Offer (the “Change of Control Termination Date”), the outstanding principal amount of Notes at an offer price (the “Change of Control Price”) in cash in an amount equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Change of Control Termination Date in accordance with the procedures set forth in the “Change of Control” covenant of the Indenture.

In addition, the Indenture provides that, within 30 days after the date on which a Change of Control occurs, the Company (with Notice to the Trustee) or the Trustee at the Company’s request (and at the expense of the Company) will send or cause to be sent to all Persons who were Holders on the date of the Change of Control at their respective addresses appearing in the Security Register, a notice of such occurrence and of such Holder’s rights arising as a result thereof. Such notice shall specify, among other items, the Change of Control Termination Date, which shall be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is sent.

The Indenture also provides that:

(a)    In the event of a Change of Control Offer, the Company will only be required to accept Notes in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

(b)    Not later than one Business Day after the Change of Control Termination Date in connection with which the Change of Control Offer is being made, the Company will (i) accept for payment Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer, (ii) deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient, in immediately available funds, to pay the purchase price of all Notes or portions thereof so accepted and (iii) deliver to the Paying Agent an Officers’ Certificate identifying the Notes or portions thereof accepted for payment by the Company. The Paying Agent will promptly mail or deliver to Holders of Notes so accepted payment in an amount equal to the Change of Control Price of the Notes purchased from each such Holder, and the Company will execute and, upon receipt of an Officers’ Certificate of the Company, the Trustee will promptly authenticate and mail or deliver to such Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered. Any Notes not so accepted will be promptly mailed or delivered by the Paying Agent at the Company’s expense to the Holder thereof. The Company will publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer promptly after the Change of Control Termination Date.

(c)    Any Change of Control Offer will be conducted by the Company in compliance with applicable law, including, without limitation, Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and Rule 14e-1 thereunder.

The Company may enter into other arrangements or Incur other Indebtedness with similar change of control obligations. There can be no assurance that sufficient funds will be available at the time of a Change of Control to make any required repurchases. The Company’s failure to make any required repurchases in the event of a Change of Control Offer will create an Event of Default under the Indenture.

No quantitative or other established meaning has been given to the phrase “all or substantially all” (which appears in the definition of Change of Control) by courts which have interpreted this phrase in various contexts.

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assets conveyed. Accordingly, there may be uncertainty as to whether a Holder of Notes can determine whether a Change of Control has occurred and exercise any remedies such Holder may have upon a Change of Control. In addition, in a recent decision, the Chancery Court of Delaware raised the possibility that a change of control as a result of a failure to have “continuing directors” comprising a majority of the Board of Directors may be unenforceable on public policy grounds.

Limitations on Secured Indebtedness

The Indenture provides that, notwithstanding any Indebtedness that may be incurred as described above under “Certain Covenants — Limitations on Additional Indebtedness,” the Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or guarantee any Secured Indebtedness unless the Notes are equally and ratably secured with (or on a senior basis to, if the Secured Indebtedness is subordinated Indebtedness) the Secured Indebtedness. This restriction does not prohibit the creation, incurrence, assumption or guarantee of Secured Indebtedness which is secured by:

(i)    Liens on model homes, homes held for sale, homes that are under contract for sale, or any option, contract or other agreement to sell an asset;

(ii)    Liens on property acquired by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary and Liens on property of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged with or into or consolidated with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that in each case such Liens (a) were in existence prior to the contemplation of such acquisition, merger or consolidation and (b) do not extend to any asset other than those of the Person merged with or into or consolidated with the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary or the property acquired by the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary;

(iii)    Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered into by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business (as determined in good faith by the Company);

(iv)    purchase money mortgages (including, without limitation, Capitalized Lease Obligations and purchase money security interests); or

(v)    Liens on property or assets of any Restricted Subsidiary securing Indebtedness of such Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Company or one or more Restricted Subsidiaries.

Any Lien created for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes pursuant to the preceding paragraph shall provide by its terms that such Lien shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon the release and discharge of the Lien securing such other obligations.

Additionally, such permitted Secured Indebtedness includes any amendment, restatement, supplement, renewal, replacement, extension or refunding in whole or in part of Secured Indebtedness permitted at the time of the original incurrence thereof.

In addition, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries may create, incur, assume or guarantee Secured Indebtedness, without equally or ratably securing the Notes, if immediately thereafter the aggregate principal amount of all Secured Indebtedness outstanding (excluding (a) Secured Indebtedness permitted under clauses (i) through (v) above and (b) any Secured Indebtedness in relation to which the Notes have been equally and ratably secured) as of the date of determination would not exceed the greater of (i) $700.0 million and (ii) 40% of Consolidated Tangible Assets.

The provisions described above with respect to limitations on Secured Indebtedness are not applicable to Non-Recourse Indebtedness by virtue of the definition of Secured Indebtedness and will not restrict the Company’s or any Restricted Subsidiaries’ ability to create, incur, assume or guarantee any unsecured Indebtedness, if such Indebtedness is permitted as described above under “Certain Covenants — Limitations on Additional Indebtedness.”

 

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Limitations on Mergers and Consolidations

The Indenture provides that neither the Company nor any Subsidiary Guarantor will consolidate or merge with or into, or sell, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (including, without limitation, by way of liquidation or dissolution), or assign any of its obligations under the Notes, the Guarantees or the Indenture (as an entirety or substantially in one transaction or series of related transactions), to any Person (in each case other than with the Company or another Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary) unless:

(i)    the Person formed by or surviving such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be), or to which such sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition or assignment will be made (collectively, the “Successor”), is a solvent corporation or other legal entity organized and existing under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, and the Successor assumes by supplemental indenture in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee all of the obligations of the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, under the Notes or such Subsidiary Guarantor’s Subsidiary Guarantee, as the case may be, and the Indenture; and

(ii)    immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

The foregoing provisions shall not apply to a transaction involving the consolidation or merger of a Subsidiary Guarantor with or into another Person, or the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of such Subsidiary Guarantor, that results in such Subsidiary Guarantor being released from its Subsidiary Guarantee as provided under “The Subsidiary Guarantees” above.

No quantitative or other established meaning has been given to the phrase “all or substantially all” by courts which have interpreted this phrase in various contexts. In interpreting this phrase, courts make a subjective determination as to the portion of assets conveyed, considering such factors as the value of the assets conveyed and the proportion of an entity’s income derived from the assets conveyed. Accordingly, there may be uncertainty as to whether a Holder of Notes can determine whether the Company has sold, leased, conveyed or otherwise disposed of all or substantially all of its assets and exercise any remedies such Holder may have upon the occurrence of any such transaction.

Events of Default

The following are Events of Default under the Indenture:

(i)    the failure by the Company to pay interest on any Note when the same becomes due and payable and the continuance of any such failure for a period of 30 days;

(ii)    the failure by the Company to pay the principal or premium of any Note when the same becomes due and payable at maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise (including the failure to make payment pursuant to a Change of Control Offer);

(iii)    the failure by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to comply with any of its agreements or covenants in, or provisions of, the Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantees or the Indenture and such failure continues for the period and after the notice specified below;

(iv)    the acceleration of any Indebtedness (other than Non-Recourse Indebtedness) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that has an outstanding principal amount of $25.0 million or more in the aggregate;

(v)    the failure by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to make any principal or interest payment in respect of Indebtedness (other than Non-Recourse Indebtedness) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with an outstanding aggregate amount of $25.0 million or more within five days of such principal or interest payment becoming due and payable (after giving effect to any applicable grace period set

 

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forth in the documents governing such Indebtedness); provided, that if such failure to pay shall be remedied, waived or extended, then the Event of Default hereunder shall be deemed likewise to be remedied, waived or extended without further action by the Company;

(vi)    a final judgment or judgments that exceed $25.0 million or more in the aggregate, for the payment of money, having been entered by a court or courts of competent jurisdiction against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and such judgment or judgments is not satisfied, stayed, annulled or rescinded within 60 days of being entered;

(vii)    the Company or any Material Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

(a)    commences a voluntary case;

(b)    consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case;

(c)    consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property; or

(d)    makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors;

(viii)    a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

(a)    is for relief against the Company or any Material Subsidiary as debtor in an involuntary case;

(b)    appoints a Custodian of the Company or any Material Subsidiary or a Custodian for all or substantially all of the property of the Company or any Material Subsidiary; or

(c)    orders the liquidation of the Company or any Material Subsidiary and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days; or

(ix)    any Subsidiary Guarantee of a Material Subsidiary ceases to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with the terms of such Subsidiary Guarantee and the Indenture) or is declared null and void and unenforceable or found to be invalid or any Subsidiary Guarantor that is a Material Subsidiary denies its liability under its Subsidiary Guarantee (other than by reason of release of a Subsidiary Guarantor from its Subsidiary Guarantee in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the Subsidiary Guarantee).

A Default as described in sub-clause (iii) above will not be deemed an Event of Default until the Trustee notifies the Company, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes notify the Company and the Trustee, of the Default and the Company does not cure the Default within 60 days after receipt of the notice. The notice must specify the Default, demand that it be remedied and state that the notice is a “Notice of Default.” If such a Default is cured within such time period, it ceases.

If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in sub-clauses (vii) and (viii) above) shall have occurred and be continuing under the Indenture, the Trustee by notice to the Company, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding by notice to the Company and the Trustee, may declare all Notes to be due and payable immediately. Upon such declaration of acceleration, the amounts due and payable on the Notes, as determined pursuant to the provisions of the “Acceleration” section of the Indenture, will be due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default with respect to the Company specified in sub-clauses (vii) and (viii) above occurs, such an amount will ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration, notice or other act on the part of the Trustee and the Company or any Holder. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding by written notice to the Trustee and the Company may waive such Default or Event of Default (other than any Default or Event of Default in payment of principal or interest) on the Notes under the Indenture. Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may rescind an acceleration and its consequence (except an acceleration due to nonpayment of principal or interest on the Notes) if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default have been cured or waived.

 

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The Holders may not enforce the provisions of the Indenture, the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power; provided, however, that such direction does not conflict with the terms of the Indenture. The Trustee may withhold from the Holders notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default (except any Default or Event of Default in payment of principal or interest on the Notes or that resulted from the failure to comply with the covenant entitled “Change of Control”) if the Trustee determines that withholding such notice is in the Holders’ interest.

The Company is required to deliver to the Trustee a quarterly statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and include in such statement, if any Officer of the Company is aware of any Default or Event of Default, a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto. In addition, the Company is required to deliver to the Trustee prompt written notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default and any other development, financial or otherwise, which might materially affect its business, properties or affairs or the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under the Indenture.

Reports

The Indenture provides that, as long as any of the Notes are outstanding, the Company will deliver to the Trustee and mail to each Holder within 15 days after the filing of the same with the SEC copies of the quarterly and annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports with respect to the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, if any, which the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors may be required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The Indenture further provides that, notwithstanding that neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiary Guarantors may be required to remain subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company will continue to file with the SEC and provide the Trustee and Holders with such annual and quarterly reports and such information, documents and other reports with respect to the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors as are required under Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act. If filing of documents by the Company with the SEC as aforementioned in this paragraph is not permitted under the Exchange Act, the Company shall promptly upon written notice supply copies of such documents to any prospective Holder. The Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor will also comply with the other provisions of Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act. For the avoidance of doubt, this covenant shall not require the Company to file any such reports, information or documents with the SEC within any specified time period and the obligation to deliver such reports, information or documents to the Trustee and Holders shall only arise after (and only to the extent) such reports, information or documents are filed with the SEC.

Discharge and Defeasance of Indenture

The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors may discharge their obligations under the Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantees, the Indenture by irrevocably depositing in trust with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations sufficient to pay principal of, premium and interest on the Notes to maturity or redemption and the Notes mature or are to be called for redemption within one year, subject to meeting certain other conditions.

The Indenture permits the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors to terminate all of their respective obligations under the Indenture with respect to the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees, other than the obligation to pay interest on and the principal of the Notes and certain other obligations (“legal defeasance”), at any time by:

(i)    depositing in trust with the Trustee, under an irrevocable trust agreement, cash or U.S. Government Obligations in an amount sufficient to pay principal of, premium and interest on the Notes to their maturity or redemption, as the case may be, and

(ii)    complying with certain other conditions, including delivery to the Trustee of an opinion of counsel or a ruling received from the Internal Revenue Service, to the effect that Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of the Company’s exercise of such right and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case otherwise, which opinion of counsel is based upon a change in the applicable federal tax law since the Issue Date.

 

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In addition, the Indenture permits the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors to terminate all of their obligations under the Indenture with respect to certain covenants and Events of Default specified in the Indenture, and the Subsidiary Guarantees will be released (“covenant defeasance”), at any time by:

(i)    depositing in trust with the Trustee, under an irrevocable trust agreement, cash or U.S. Government Obligations in an amount sufficient to pay principal of, premium and interest on the Notes to their maturity or redemption, as the case may be, and

(ii)    complying with certain other conditions, including delivery to the Trustee of an opinion of counsel or a ruling received from the Internal Revenue Service, to the effect that Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of the Company’s exercise of such right and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case otherwise.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no discharge, legal defeasance or covenant defeasance described above will affect the following obligations to, or rights of, the Holders of the Notes:

 

•

rights of registration of transfer and exchange of Notes;

 

•

rights of substitution of mutilated, defaced, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes;

 

•

rights of Holders of the Notes to receive payments of principal thereof, premium, if any, and interest thereon, upon the original due dates therefor, but not upon acceleration;

 

•

rights, obligations, duties and immunities of the Trustee;

 

•

rights of Holders of Notes that are beneficiaries with respect to property so deposited with the Trustee payable to all or any of them; and

 

•

obligations of the Company to maintain an office or agency in respect of the Notes.

The Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors may exercise the legal defeasance option with respect to the Notes notwithstanding the prior exercise of the covenant defeasance option with respect to the Notes. If the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors exercise the legal defeasance option with respect to the Notes, payment of the Notes may not be accelerated due to an Event of Default with respect to the Notes. If the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors exercise the covenant defeasance option with respect to the Notes, payment of the Notes may not be accelerated due to an Event of Default with respect to the covenants to which such covenant defeasance is applicable. However, if acceleration were to occur by reason of another Event of Default, the realizable value at the acceleration date of the cash and U.S. Government Obligations in the defeasance trust could be less than the principal of, premium, if any, and interest then due on the Notes, in that the required deposit in the defeasance trust is based upon scheduled cash flow rather than market value, which will vary depending upon interest rates and other factors.

Transfer and Exchange

A Holder will be able to transfer or exchange Notes only in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture. The Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents, and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture.

 

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Amendment, Supplement and Waiver

Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture or the Notes may be amended or supplemented with the consent (which may include consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for Notes) of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, and any existing Default or Event of Default (other than any continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of interest on or the principal of the Notes) under, or compliance with any provision of, the Indenture may be waived with the consent (which may include consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for Notes) of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding. Without the consent of any Holder, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee may amend the Indenture or the Notes or waive any provision thereof to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency; to comply with the “Limitations on Mergers and Consolidations” section set forth in the Indenture; to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes; to provide for any Subsidiary Guarantee of the Notes; to add security to or for the benefit of the Notes and/or to confirm and evidence the release, termination or discharge of any Subsidiary Guarantee of the Notes when such release, termination or discharge is permitted by the Indenture; to add covenants or new events of default for the protection of the Holders of the Notes; to make any change that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any Holder; or to comply with or qualify the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.

Without the consent of each Holder affected, the Company may not:

(i)    reduce the amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

(ii)    reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest, including default interest, on any Note;

(iii)    reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Note or alter the provisions with respect to redemption under the “Optional Redemption” section set forth in the Indenture;

(iv)    make any Note payable in money other than that stated in the Note;

(v)    make any change in the “Waiver of Past Defaults and Compliance with Indenture Provisions,” “Rights of Holders to Receive Payment” or, in part, the “With Consent of Holders” sections set forth in the Indenture;

(vi)    modify the ranking or priority of the Notes or any Subsidiary Guarantee;

(vii)    modify any of the provisions with respect to mandatory offers to repurchase Notes pursuant to the “Change of Control” covenant set forth in the Indenture after the obligation to make such mandatory offer to repurchase has arisen;

(viii)    release any Subsidiary Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee or the Indenture otherwise than in accordance with the terms of the Indenture; or

(ix)    waive a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of or interest on the Notes.

The right of any Holder to participate in any consent required or sought pursuant to any provision of the Indenture (and the obligation of the Company to obtain any such consent otherwise required from such Holder) may be subject to the requirement that such Holder shall have been the Holder of record of any Notes with respect to which such consent is required or sought as of a date identified by the Trustee in a notice furnished to Holders in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

 

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No Personal Liability of Incorporators, Shareholders, Officers, Directors or Employees

The Indenture provides that no recourse for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Notes, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor in the Indenture or in any of the Notes or because of the creation of any Indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, shareholder, officer, director, employee or controlling person of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any successor Person thereof. Each Holder, by accepting such Notes, waives and releases all such liability.

Concerning the Trustee

The Indenture contains certain limitations on the rights of the Trustee, should it become a creditor of the Company, to obtain payment of claims in certain cases, or to realize on certain property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The Trustee is permitted to engage in other transactions; however, if it acquires any conflicting interest (as defined in the Indenture), it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue as trustee (if the Indenture has been qualified under the TIA) or resign.

Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee, subject to certain exceptions. The Indenture provides that in case an Event of Default occurs and is not cured, the Trustee is required, in the exercise of its power, to use the degree of care of a prudent person in similar circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs. Subject to such provisions, the Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the request of any Holder, unless such Holder shall have offered to the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee.

Governing Law

The Indenture, the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees is governed by the laws of the State of New York.

 

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BOOK-ENTRY SETTLEMENT AND CLEARANCE

Except as set forth below or in the “Description of the Notes,” the new notes will be issued in registered, global form (the “Global Notes”) in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. Notes will be issued at the closing of this exchange offer.

Except as set forth below, the Global Notes may be transferred, in whole and not in part, only to another nominee of DTC or to a successor of DTC or its nominee. Beneficial interests in the Global Notes may not be exchanged for definitive notes in registered certificated form (“Certificated Notes”) except in the limited circumstances described below. See “— Exchange of Global Notes for Certificated Notes.” Except in the limited circumstances described below, owners of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of notes in certificated form.

Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will be subject to the applicable rules and procedures of DTC and its direct or indirect participants (including, if applicable, those of Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg), which may change from time to time.

The notes may be presented for registration of transfer and exchange at the corporate trust office of the trustee.

Depository Procedures

The following description of the operations and procedures of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg is provided solely as a matter of convenience. These operations and procedures are solely within the control of the respective settlement systems and are subject to changes by them. Neither we, the trustee, nor the paying agent take any responsibility for these operations and procedures and urge investors to contact the system or their participants directly to discuss these matters.

DTC has advised us that DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC was created to hold securities for its participating organizations (collectively, the “Participants”) and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of transactions in those securities between the Participants through electronic book entry changes in accounts of its Participants. The Participants include securities brokers and dealers (including the initial purchasers), banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Access to DTC’s system is also available to other entities such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Participant, either directly or indirectly (collectively, the “Indirect Participants”). Persons who are not Participants may beneficially own securities held by or on behalf of DTC only through the Participants or the Indirect Participants. The ownership interests in, and transfers of ownership interests in, each security held by or on behalf of DTC are recorded on the records of the Participants and Indirect Participants.

DTC has also advised us that, pursuant to procedures established by it:

 

•

upon deposit of the Global Notes, DTC will credit the accounts of the Participants designated by the initial purchasers with portions of the principal amount of the Global Notes; and

 

•

ownership of these interests in the Global Notes will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership of these interests will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC (with respect to the Participants) or by the Participants and the Indirect Participants (with respect to other owners of beneficial interests in the Global Notes).

Investors in the Global Notes who are Participants may hold their interests therein directly through DTC. Investors in the Global Notes who are not Participants may hold their interests therein indirectly through organizations (including Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg) that are Participants. All interests in a Global Note, including

 

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those held through Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg, may be subject to the procedures and requirements of DTC. Those interests held through Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg may also be subject to the procedures and requirements of such systems. The laws of some states require that certain persons take physical delivery in definitive form of securities that they own. Consequently, the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a Global Note to such persons will be limited to that extent. Because DTC can act only on behalf of Participants, which in turn act on behalf of Indirect Participants and certain banks, the ability of a person having beneficial interests in a Global Note to pledge such interests to persons that do not participate in the DTC system, or otherwise take actions in respect of such interests, may be affected by the lack of a physical certificate evidencing such interests.

Except as described below, owners of interests in the Global Notes will not have notes registered in their names, will not receive physical delivery of notes in certificated form and will not be considered the registered owners or “holders” thereof under the indenture for any purpose.

Payments in respect of the principal of, and interest and premium, if any, and additional interest, if any, on a Global Note registered in the name of DTC or its nominee will be payable to DTC in its capacity as the registered holder under the indenture. Under the terms of the indenture, we and the trustee will treat the persons in whose names the notes, including the Global Notes, are registered as the owners of the notes for the purpose of receiving payments and for all other purposes. Consequently, neither we, the trustee, the paying agent nor any agent of ours or the trustee has or will have any responsibility or liability for:

 

•

any aspect of DTC’s records or any Participant’s or Indirect Participant’s records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests in the Global Notes or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any of DTC’s records or any Participant’s or Indirect Participant’s records relating to the beneficial ownership interests in the Global Notes; or

 

•

any other matter relating to the actions and practices of DTC or any of its Participants or Indirect Participants.

DTC has advised us that its current practice, upon receipt of any payment in respect of securities such as the notes (including principal and interest), is to credit the accounts of the relevant Participants with the payment on the payment date unless DTC has reason to believe that it will not receive payment on such payment date. Each relevant Participant is credited with an amount proportionate to its beneficial ownership of an interest in the principal amount of the relevant security as shown on the records of DTC. Payments by the Participants and the Indirect Participants to the beneficial owners of notes will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices and will be the responsibility of the Participants or the Indirect Participants and will not be our responsibility or the responsibility of DTC or the trustee. Neither we nor the trustee will be liable for any delay by DTC or any of the Participants or the Indirect Participants in identifying the beneficial owners of the notes, and we and the trustee may conclusively rely on and will be protected in relying on instructions from DTC or its nominee for all purposes.

Except for trades involving only participants in Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg, interests in the Global Notes will trade in DTC’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System and secondary market trading activity in such interests will therefore settle in immediately available funds, subject in all cases to the rules and procedures of DTC and its participants.

Transfers between the Participants will be effected in accordance with DTC’s procedures and will be settled in same-day funds, and transfers between participants in Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg will be effected in the ordinary way in accordance with their respective rules and operating procedures.

Subject to compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the notes described herein, cross-market transfers between the Participants, on the one hand, and Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg participants, on the other hand, will be effected through DTC in accordance with DTC’s rules on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg, as the case may be, by its respective depositary. However, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg, as the case may be, by the counterparty in such system in accordance with the rules and procedures and within the established deadlines (Brussels time) of such system. Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg, as the case may be, will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its respective depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by

 

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delivering or receiving interests in the relevant Global Note from DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Euroclear participants and Clearstream, Luxembourg participants may not deliver instructions directly to the depositories for Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg.

DTC has advised us that it will take any action permitted to be taken by a holder of notes only at the direction of one or more Participants to whose account DTC has credited the interests in the Global Notes and only in respect of such portion of the aggregate principal amount of the notes as to which such Participant or Participants has or have given such direction. However, if there is an event of default under the notes, DTC reserves the right to exchange the Global Notes for legended notes in certificated form and to distribute such notes to its Participants.

Although DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg have agreed to the foregoing procedures to facilitate transfers of interests in the Rule 144A Global Notes and the Regulation S Global Notes among participants in DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg, they are under no obligation to perform or to continue to perform such procedures, and may discontinue such procedures at any time. Neither we nor the trustee nor any paying agent nor the initial purchasers nor any of our or their agents will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg or their respective participants or indirect participants of their respective obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.

Exchange of Global Notes for Certificated Notes

A Global Note is exchangeable for Certificated Notes in registered form if:

 

•

DTC (1) notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for the Global Notes or (2) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, we fail to appoint a successor depositary; or

 

•

we, at our option, notify the trustee in writing that we elect to cause the issuance of the notes in certificated form (provided that under current industry practices, DTC would notify Participants of our determination, but would only withdraw beneficial interests from a Global Note at the request of Participants); or

 

•

there has occurred and is continuing a default or an event of default with respect to the notes.

In addition, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be exchanged for Certificated Notes upon prior written notice given to the trustee by or on behalf of DTC in accordance with the indenture. In all cases, Certificated Notes delivered in exchange for any Global Note or beneficial interests in Global Notes will be registered in the names, and issued in any approved denominations, requested by or on behalf of the depositary (in accordance with its customary procedures).

Exchange of Certificated Notes for Global Notes

Certificated Notes may not be exchanged for beneficial interests in any Global Note unless the transferor first delivers to the trustee a written certificate (in the form provided in the indenture) to the effect that such transfer will comply with the appropriate transfer restrictions applicable to such notes. See “Notice to Investors.”

Same Day Settlement and Payment

We will make payments in respect of the new notes represented by the Global Notes (including principal, premium, if any, interest and Additional Interest, if any) by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by DTC or its nominee. We will make all payments of principal, interest and premium, if any, and additional interest, if any, with respect to Certificated Notes by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the holders of the Certificated Notes or, if no such account is specified, by mailing a check to each such holder’s registered address. The new notes represented by the Global Notes are expected to be eligible to trade in DTC’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System, and any permitted secondary market trading activity in such notes will, therefore, be required by DTC to be settled in immediately available funds. We expect that secondary trading in any Certificated Notes will also be settled in immediately available funds.

 

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Because of time-zone differences, credits of interests in the Global Notes received in Clearstream, Luxembourg or Euroclear as a result of a transaction with a DTC Participant will be made during subsequent securities settlement processing and dated the business day following the DTC settlement date. Such credits or any transactions involving interests in such Global Notes settled during such processing will be reported to the relevant Clearstream, Luxembourg or Euroclear participants on such business day. Cash received in Clearstream, Luxembourg or Euroclear as a result of sales of interests in the Global Notes by or through a Clearstream, Luxembourg participant or a Euroclear Participant to a DTC Participant will be received with value on the DTC settlement date but will be available in the relevant Clearstream, Luxembourg or Euroclear cash account only as of the business day following settlement in DTC.

 

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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER

The following discussion is a summary of material U.S. Federal income tax consequences of the exchange offer to holders of original notes. The summary below is based upon the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), regulations of the Treasury Department, administrative rulings and pronouncements of the Internal Revenue Service and judicial decisions as of the date hereof, all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. This summary does not address all of the U.S. Federal income tax consequences that may be applicable to particular holders, including, among others, dealers in securities, financial institutions, insurance companies and tax-exempt organizations. In addition, this summary does not consider the effect of any foreign, state, local, gift, estate or other tax laws that may be applicable to a particular holder. This summary applies only to a holder that acquired original notes at original issue for cash and holds such original notes as a capital asset within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code.

The exchange of original notes for new notes in the exchange offer will not constitute a taxable event to holders for U.S. Federal income tax purposes. Consequently, no gain or loss will be recognized by a holder upon receipt of a new note, the holder’s holding period for the new note will include the holder’s holding period for the original note exchanged therefor, and the holder’s basis in the new note will be the same as the holder’s basis in the original note immediately before the exchange.

Persons considering the exchange of original notes for new notes should consult their own tax advisors concerning the U.S. Federal income tax consequences to them in light of their particular situations as well as any consequences arising under the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

If you wish to exchange your original notes in the exchange offer, you will be required to make representations to us as described in “The Exchange Offer — Exchange Offer Procedures” in this prospectus and in the letter of transmittal. In addition, each broker-dealer that receives new notes for its own account pursuant to the exchange offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such new notes. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of new notes received in exchange for original notes where such original notes were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. We have agreed to use our reasonable best efforts to make this prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for a period of 210 days after the date of this prospectus for use in connection with any such resale.

We will not receive any proceeds from any sale of new notes by broker-dealers. New notes received by broker-dealers for their own account pursuant to the exchange offer may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions, through the writing of options on the new notes or a combination of such methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or negotiated prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from any such broker-dealer or the purchasers of any such new notes. Any broker-dealer that resells new notes that were received by it for its own account pursuant to the exchange offer and any broker or dealer that participates in a distribution of such new notes may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and any profit on any such resale of new notes and any commission or concessions received by any such persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act. Further, any broker-dealer who holds original notes acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, and who receives new notes in the exchange offer, may also be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and is required to deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of the new notes. The letter of transmittal states that, by acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.

A broker-dealer that acquired original notes directly from us cannot exchange the original notes in the exchange offer. Any holder who tenders in the exchange offer for the purpose of participating in a distribution of the new notes cannot rely on the no-action letters of the staff of the SEC and must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale transaction.

For a period of 210 days after the date of this prospectus, we will promptly send additional copies of this prospectus and any amendment or supplement to this prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests such documents in the letter of transmittal. We have agreed to pay all expenses incident to the exchange offer, including the expenses of one counsel for the holders of the original notes, other than commissions or concessions of any brokers or dealers, and will indemnify the holders of the original notes, including any broker-dealers, against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

The enforceability of the new notes and the guarantees offered in this prospectus, the binding obligations of Beazer Homes USA, Inc. and the Subsidiary Guarantors pertaining to such notes and guarantees and other matters will be passed upon for us by King & Spalding LLP, Atlanta, Georgia.

 

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EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements, incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2017, and the effectiveness of Beazer Homes USA, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We are subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act and, accordingly, file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. We also filed a registration statement on Form S-4, including exhibits, under the Securities Act with respect to the securities offered by this prospectus. This prospectus is part of the registration statement, but does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement or the exhibits. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC. The address of that site is http://www.sec.gov. To receive copies of public records not posted to the SEC’s web site at prescribed rates, you may complete an online form at http://www.sec.gov, send a fax to (202) 772-9337 or submit a written request to the SEC, Office of FOIA/PA Operations, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information.

In addition, our common stock is traded as “BZH” on the New York Stock Exchange. Because our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, reports and other information concerning us can also be inspected at the office of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.

 

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INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This prospectus is part of a registration statement filed with the SEC. The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” selected documents we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information in the documents incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and information in documents that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below filed by us under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

 

Beazer Filings (File No. 001-12822)		Filing Date
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017		November 14, 2017
Current Reports on Form 8-K		October 10, 2017 and October 24, 2017
Information in our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for our 2018 annual meeting of stockholders specifically incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017		December 15, 2017

Any other portions of these documents are not incorporated by reference and, therefore, should not be relied upon. You may request a free copy of these filings by writing or telephoning us at the following address: Beazer Homes USA, Inc., 1000 Abernathy Road, Suite 260, Atlanta, Georgia, Attention: Corporate Secretary, (770) 829-3700.

All documents filed by us pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering made by this prospectus are to be incorporated herein by reference. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.

 

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No dealer, salesperson or other person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representation not contained in this prospectus and, if given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the company or the initial purchasers. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities offered hereby in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor any sale made hereunder shall under any circumstances create any implication that the information herein is correct as of any time after the date hereof or that there has not been a change in the affairs of the company since the date hereof.

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

Beazer Homes USA, Inc.

Offer to Exchange

5.875% Senior Notes due 2027

and the guarantees thereof,

which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933,

for any and all outstanding

5.875% Senior Notes due 2027,

and the guarantees thereof,

which have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933

 

 

January 25 , 2018