sv4
As filed with Securities and Exchange Commission on
March 29, 2005
Registration Statement No.
333-
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM S-4
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Meritage Homes Corporation
Co-registrants are listed on the following page
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
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Maryland |
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1531 |
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86-0611231 |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization) |
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(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number) |
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(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number) |
8501 East Princess Drive, Suite 290
Scottsdale, Arizona 85255
(480) 609-3330
(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number,
Including Area Code, of Registrants Principal Executive
Offices)
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Larry W. Seay
Chief Financial Officer and
Vice President Finance
8501 East Princess Drive, Suite 290
Scottsdale, Arizona 85255
(480) 609-3330
(Name, Address, Including Zip Code,
and Telephone Number,
Including Area Code, of Agent For Service) |
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Copies to:
Steven D. Pidgeon
Jeffrey E. Beck
Snell & Wilmer L.L.P.
One Arizona Center
400 East Van Buren Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85004
(602) 382-6000 |
Approximate
date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon
as practicable after this registration statement becomes
effective and all other conditions to the exchange offer
pursuant to the registration rights agreement described in the
enclosed prospectus have been satisfied or waived.
If the
securities being registered on this form are being offered in
connection with the formation of a holding company and there is
compliance with General Instruction G, check the following
box. o
If this
form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the
following box and list the Securities Act registration statement
number of the earlier effective registration statement for the
same
offering. o
If this
form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to
Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following
box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of
the earlier effective registration statement for the same
offering. o
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Proposed Maximum |
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Proposed Maximum |
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Amount of |
Title of Each Class of |
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Amount To Be |
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Offering Price Per |
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Aggregate |
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Registration |
Securities To Be Registered |
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Registered |
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Note(1) |
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Offering Price(1) |
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Fee |
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61/4%
Senior Notes due 2015
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$350,000,000 |
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100% |
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$350,000,000 |
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$41,195 |
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Guarantees of
61/4%
Senior Notes due 2015
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$350,000,000 |
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(2) |
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(2) |
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(2) |
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(1) |
Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration
fee pursuant to Rule 457(f) under the Securities Act of
1933. |
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(2) |
In accordance with Rule 457(m), no separate fee for the
registration of the guarantees is required |
The
registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such
date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date
until the registrant shall file a further amendment which
specifically states that this registration statement shall
thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a)
of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration
statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission,
acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
Table of Co-Registrants(1)
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State or Other | |
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Jurisdiction of | |
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Name of Each Co-Registrant |
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Incorporation or | |
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I.R.S. Employer | |
as Specified in Its Charter |
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Organization | |
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Identification No. | |
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Monterey Homes Arizona, Inc.
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Arizona |
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86-0861526 |
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Meritage Paseo Crossing, LLC
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Arizona |
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86-1006497 |
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Monterey Homes Construction, Inc.
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Arizona |
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86-0863537 |
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Meritage Paseo Construction, LLC
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Arizona |
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86-0863537 |
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Meritage Homes of Arizona, Inc.
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Arizona |
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86-1028848 |
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Meritage Homes Construction, Inc.
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Arizona |
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86-1028847 |
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MTH-Texas GP, Inc.
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Arizona |
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86-0875148 |
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MTH-Texas LP, Inc.
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Arizona |
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86-0875147 |
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Legacy/ Monterey Homes L.P.
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Arizona |
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91-1832213 |
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Meritage Homes of California, Inc.
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California |
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86-0917765 |
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Legacy Operating Company, L.P.
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Texas |
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75-2929259 |
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MTH-Texas GP II, Inc.
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Arizona |
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04-3685852 |
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MTH-Texas LP II, Inc.
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Arizona |
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01-0716144 |
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MTH-Homes Nevada, Inc.
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Arizona |
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43-1976353 |
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Meritage Holdings, L.L.C.
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Texas |
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91-1832213 |
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Hulen Park Venture, LLC
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Texas |
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75-2771799 |
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MTH Homes-Texas, L.P.
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Texas |
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02-0618083 |
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MTH-Cavalier, LLC
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Arizona |
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86-0863537 |
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MTH Golf, LLC
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Arizona |
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56-2379206 |
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Legacy-Hammonds Materials, L.P.
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Texas |
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20-0145900 |
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Meritage Homes of Colorado, Inc.
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Arizona |
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20-1091787 |
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Meritage Homes of Florida, Inc.
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Arizona |
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20-1861564 |
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(1) |
The address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
area code, of each co-registrant is 8501 East Princess
Drive, Suite 290, Scottsdale, Arizona 85255,
(480) 609-3330. |
The information in this prospectus is not
complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities
until the registration statement filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an
offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer
to buy these securities in any state where the offer is not
permitted.
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SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MARCH 29, 2005
PROSPECTUS
OFFER TO EXCHANGE
$350,000,000
Meritage Homes Corporation
61/4%
Senior Notes due 2015
which have been registered under the Securities Act and
guaranteed fully and unconditionally by all of our
existing
subsidiaries (other than our two mortgage broker
subsidiaries)
for any and all of the outstanding Meritage Homes
Corporation
unregistered
61/4%
Senior Notes due 2015
THE EXCHANGE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT
5:00 P.M.,
NEW YORK CITY TIME,
ON ,
2005, UNLESS EXTENDED.
We are offering to exchange up to $350 million aggregate
principal amount of our
61/4%
senior notes due 2015 (the exchange notes), which
have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, for the identical aggregate principal amount of our
outstanding unregistered
61/4%
senior notes due 2015 (the outstanding notes). The
aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes, and
therefore, the aggregate principal amount of exchange notes
which would be issued if all the outstanding notes were
exchanged, is $350 million. The terms of the exchange notes
will be identical with the terms of the outstanding notes,
except that the issuance of the exchange notes is being
registered under the Securities Act of 1933, and therefore the
exchange notes will not be subject to the restrictions on
transfer which apply to the outstanding notes.
The notes are our unsecured senior obligations. The notes rank
equally with all of our other unsecured senior indebtedness.
Prior to the exchange offer, there has been no public market for
the exchange notes. We do not currently intend to list the
exchange notes on a securities exchange or seek approval for
quotation of the exchange notes on an automated quotation
system. Therefore, it is unlikely that an active trading market
for the exchange notes will develop.
The exchange agent for the exchange offer is Wells Fargo Bank,
National Association.
See Risk Factors, which begin on page 13,
for a discussion of certain factors that should be considered in
evaluating the exchange offer.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state
securities commission approved or disapproved of these
securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this
prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal
offense.
The date of this prospectus
is ,
2005.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Prospectus Summary
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Risk Factors
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13 |
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Use of Proceeds
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Capitalization
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22 |
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Selected Historical Financial Data
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Description of Certain Indebtedness
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27 |
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Description of the Exchange Notes
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29 |
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The Exchange Offer
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67 |
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United States Federal Income Tax Considerations
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75 |
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Plan of Distribution
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81 |
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Legal Matters
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81 |
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Experts
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81 |
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Available Information
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82 |
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Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference
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82 |
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Subsidiary Guarantors and Financial Statements
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83 |
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This prospectus incorporates important business and financial
information about us that is not included in or delivered with
the document. This information is available without charge to
security holders upon written or oral request. You may request a
copy of this information, at no cost, by calling us or by
writing to us at our principal executive offices in Arizona at
the following address: Meritage Homes Corporation,
8501 East Princess Drive, Suite 290, Scottsdale,
Arizona 85255, Attention: Investor Relations. Our telephone
number is (480) 609-3330. In order to obtain timely
delivery, you must make your request no later than five business
days before the expiration of the exchange offer. The
exchange offer will expire
on ,
2005, unless extended.
Our obligations under the Exchange Act to file periodic reports
and other information with the SEC may be suspended, under
certain circumstances, if our common stock and exchange notes
are each held by fewer than 300 holders of record at the
beginning of any fiscal year and are not listed on a national
securities exchange. We have agreed that, whether or not we are
required to do so by the rules and regulations of the SEC, for
so long as any of the exchange notes remain outstanding we will
furnish to the holders of the exchange notes, and if required by
the Exchange Act, file with the SEC, all annual, quarterly and
current reports that we are or would be required to file with
the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange
Act. In addition, we have agreed that, as long as any of the
outstanding notes remain outstanding, we will make the
information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the
Securities Act available to any prospective purchaser of
outstanding notes or beneficial owner of outstanding notes in
connection with a sale of them.
No person has been authorized to give any information or to
make any representations, other than those contained in this
prospectus. If given or made, that information or those
representations may not be relied upon as having been authorized
by us. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to or
solicitation of any person in any jurisdiction in which such an
offer or solicitation would be unlawful.
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
EBITDA, as presented in this prospectus, is a supplemental
measure of our performance that is not required by, or presented
in accordance with, accounting principles generally accepted in
the United States of America (GAAP). It is not a
measurement of our financial performance under GAAP and should
not be considered as an alternative to net earnings or any other
performance measures derived in
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accordance with GAAP or as alternatives to cash flows from
operating activities as measures of our liquidity. We define
EBITDA as net earnings before interest expense, interest
amortized to cost of sales, income taxes, depreciation and
amortization. EBITDA is presented because it is used by
management to analyze and compare Meritage with other
homebuilding companies on the basis of operating performance and
we believe it is a financial measure widely used by investors
and analysts in the homebuilding industry. In addition, in
evaluating this non-GAAP measure, you should be aware that in
the future we will incur expenses such as those used in
calculating EBITDA. In addition, our presentation of this
measure should not be construed as an inference that our future
results will be unaffected by unusual or nonrecurring items. Our
EBITDA measure has limitations as an analytical tool, and you
should not consider it in isolation, or as a substitute for
analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Some of these
limitations are:
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it does not reflect our cash expenditures, or future
requirements, for capital expenditures or contractual
commitments, |
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it does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our
working capital needs, |
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it does not reflect the significant interest expense, or the
cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal
payments, on our debt, |
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it does not reflect any cash income taxes we may be required to
pay, |
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although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the
assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be
replaced in the future, and this measure does not reflect any
cash requirements for such replacements, |
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it is not adjusted for all non-cash income or expense items that
are reflected in our statements of cash flows, and |
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other companies in our industry may calculate this measure
differently than we do, which limits its usefulness as a
comparative measure. |
Because of these limitations, our EBITDA measure should not be
considered a measure of discretionary cash available to us to
invest in the growth of our business or as a measure of cash
that will be available to us to meet our obligations. You should
compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our
GAAP results and using our EBITDA measure supplementally. See
our consolidated financial statements and the related notes
incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
MARKET DATA
Market data and other statistical information used throughout
this prospectus are based on independent industry publications,
government publications, reports by market research firms or
other published independent sources. Some data are also based on
our good faith estimates, which are derived from our review of
internal surveys, as well as the independent sources listed
above.
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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
The following summary highlights selected information
contained elsewhere in this prospectus and may not contain all
of the information that is important to you. For a more complete
understanding of this exchange offer, we encourage you to read
this entire document (including the documents incorporated
herein by reference) and the documents to which we have referred
you. Unless otherwise indicated in this prospectus, the terms
Meritage, the Company, we,
our and us refer to Meritage Homes
Corporation and its subsidiaries and predecessors as a combined
entity. All EBITDA, operating data and other operating ratios
are unaudited.
The Company
We are a leading designer and builder of single-family homes in
the fast-growing Southern and Western United States, based on
the number of home closings. We focus on providing a broad range
of first-time, move-up and luxury homes to our targeted customer
base. We and our predecessors have operated in Arizona since
1985, in Texas since 1987, in Northern California since 1989 and
in Nevada since 1993. In 2004, we entered the Inland Empire
market of Southern California with our acquisition of Citation
Homes of Southern California and began start-up operations in
the Denver, Colorado and Orlando, Florida markets. In February
2005, we expanded our Florida operations by acquiring the Fort
Myers/Naples-based operations of Colonial Homes.
We believe that the relatively strong population, job and income
growth as well as the favorable migration characteristics of our
markets will continue to provide significant growth
opportunities for us. According to U.S. Housing Markets, a
leading real estate and homebuilding publication of the Meyers
Group, six of our twelve markets, Los Angeles, California,
Phoenix/ Scottsdale, Arizona, Dallas/ Ft. Worth and
Houston, Texas, Las Vegas, Nevada and Orlando, Florida, are
among or part of the top 10 national housing markets based on
annual single-family housing permits issued in 2003, with
Dallas/ Ft. Worth, Houston, Phoenix/ Scottsdale and Los
Angeles comprising four of the top six single-family housing
markets.
At December 31, 2004, we were actively selling homes in 139
communities, with base prices ranging from approximately $96,000
to $927,000. We develop a design and marketing concept tailored
to each community, which includes determination of the size,
style and price range of homes, street layout, size and layout
of individual lots and overall community design. The home
designs offered in a particular community also depend upon
factors such as the housing generally available in the area, the
consumer demands of a particular market and our lot costs for
the project.
We seek to minimize land risk by purchasing a significant
portion of our property after full entitlements that will allow
us to construct homes have been obtained and typically begin
development or construction immediately after close. We acquire
land primarily through rolling option contracts, allowing us to
purchase individual lots as our building needs dictate. These
arrangements allow us to control lot inventory typically on a
non-recourse basis without incurring the risks of land ownership
or financial commitments other than relatively small
non-refundable deposits. Recently, we have begun to purchase
larger tracts of land through joint ventures. In some cases
these joint ventures purchase undeveloped land and develop the
land themselves. At December 31, 2004, we owned or had
options to acquire approximately 39,000 housing lots, of which
approximately 89% were under rolling option and land purchase
contracts. We believe that the lots we own or have the right to
acquire represent approximately a five and one half year supply.
Recent
Developments
In March 2005 we completed a series of refinancing transactions
that we believe will enhance our liquidity and, in the long
term, result in significant cash interest savings to the
Company. On March 2, 2005, we completed the sale of
1,035,000 shares of our common stock in a registered public
offering resulting in net proceeds to the Company of
approximately $69.5 million. On March 10, 2005, we
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completed the private placement of $350 million in
aggregate principal amount of
61/4%
senior notes due 2015, which we are offering to exchange for
registered notes of identical principal amounts and
substantially similar terms. We used the proceeds from these
transactions to repurchase pursuant to a tender offer and
consent solicitation approximately $276.8 million of our
outstanding
93/4%
senior notes due 2011. In connection with this tender officer
and repurchase, we will report in the first quarter of fiscal
2005 a one-time charge of approximately $19.4 million for
premiums, commissions and expenses associated with the tender
offer and the write-off of offering costs associated with the
93/4%
senior notes due 2011, net of the accretion of existing note
premiums on the
93/4% senior
notes due 2011 and federal and state income taxes.
Issuance of the
Outstanding Notes
We sold the outstanding $350 million aggregate principal
amount of senior notes due 2015 to UBS Securities LLC, Citigroup
Global Markets Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., as initial
purchasers, on March 10, 2005 pursuant to a purchase
agreement dated February 24, 2005, between the initial
purchasers and us. The initial purchasers subsequently resold
the outstanding notes in reliance on Rule 144A and
Regulation S under the Securities Act. We and the initial
purchasers also entered into a registration rights agreement
pursuant to which we agreed to offer to exchange the outstanding
notes for exchange notes registered under the Securities Act and
also granted holders of the outstanding notes rights under some
circumstances to have resales of outstanding notes registered
under the Securities Act. The exchange offer is intended to
satisfy certain of our obligations under the registration rights
agreement. See The Exchange Offer Purposes and
Effects.
The outstanding notes were issued under an indenture dated as of
March 10, 2005, between Meritage Homes Corporation, its
subsidiary guarantors and Wells Fargo Bank, National
Association, as trustee. The exchange notes are also being
issued under this indenture and will be entitled to the benefits
of this indenture. The form and terms of the exchange notes will
be identical in all material respects with the form and terms of
the outstanding notes, except that (1) the exchange notes
will have been registered under the Securities Act and,
therefore, will not bear legends describing restrictions on
transfer, and (2) holders of exchange notes will not be,
and upon the completion of the exchange offer, holders of
outstanding notes will no longer be, entitled to certain rights
under the registration rights agreement intended for the holders
of unregistered securities. The exchange offer will be deemed
completed upon the delivery by us to the exchange agent under
the indenture of exchange notes in the same aggregate principal
amount as the aggregate principal amount of outstanding notes
that are validly tendered and not withdrawn by holders of
outstanding notes in response to the exchange offer. See
The Exchange Offer Termination of Certain
Rights and Procedures for
Tendering and Description of the Exchange
Notes.
The proceeds we received from the issuance of the outstanding
notes were used to repurchase approximately $276.8 million
of our outstanding
93/4% senior
notes due 2011 plus tender offer consideration and consent
payments totaling approximately $32.9 million pursuant to
an offer to purchase and consent solicitation. We used the
remaining proceeds to repay a portion of our unsecured credit
facility. We will receive no proceeds from completion of the
exchange offer.
General
Our principal executive office in Arizona is located at
8501 East Princess Drive, Suite 290, Scottsdale,
Arizona 85255, and our telephone number there is
(480) 609-3330. Our principal executive office in Texas is
located at 2745 North Dallas Parkway, Suite 600,
Plano, Texas 75093, and our telephone number there is
(800) 210-6004. Information about our company and
communities is provided through our website
www.meritagehomes.com. Information on this website is not
incorporated by reference in or otherwise part of this
prospectus.
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The Exchange
Offer
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The Exchange Offer |
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We are offering to exchange $350 million aggregate
principal amount of our
61/4%
senior registered notes due 2015 for the identical aggregate
principal amount of our outstanding unregistered
61/4%
senior notes due 2015. At the date of this prospectus,
$350 million principal amount of outstanding notes are
outstanding. See The Exchange Offer Terms of
the Exchange Offer. |
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Expiration of the Exchange Offer |
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5:00 p.m., New York, time,
on 2005,
unless the exchange offer is extended (the day on which the
exchange offer expires being the expiration date). See The
Exchange Offer Expiration Date; Extension;
Termination; Amendments. |
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Conditions of the Exchange Offer |
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The exchange offer is not conditioned upon any minimum principal
amount of outstanding notes being tendered for exchange.
However, the exchange offer is subject to certain customary
conditions, which we may waive. See The Exchange
Offer Conditions of the Exchange Offer. |
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Accrued Interest on the Outstanding Notes |
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The exchange notes will bear interest at the rate of
61/4%
per annum from and including their date of issuance. When the
first interest payment is made with regard to the exchange
notes, we will also pay interest on the outstanding notes which
are exchanged, from the date they were issued or the most recent
interest date on which interest had been paid (if applicable)
to, but not including, the day the exchange notes are issued.
Interest on the outstanding notes which are exchanged will cease
to accrue on the day prior to the day on which the exchange
notes are issued. The interest rate on the outstanding notes may
increase under certain circumstances if we are not in compliance
with our obligations under the registration rights agreement.
See Description of the Exchange Notes. |
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Procedures for Tendering the Outstanding Notes |
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A holder of outstanding notes who wishes to accept the exchange
offer must complete, sign and date a letter of transmittal, or a
facsimile of one, in accordance with the instructions contained
under the The Exchange Offer Procedures for
Tendering and in the letter of transmittal, and deliver
the letter of transmittal, or facsimile, together with the
outstanding notes and any other required documentation to the
exchange agent at the address set forth in The Exchange
Offer Exchange Agent. Outstanding notes may be
delivered physically or by confirmation of book-entry delivery
of the outstanding notes to the exchange agents account at
The Depository Trust Company. By executing a letter of
transmittal, a holder will represent to us that, among other
things, the person acquiring the outstanding notes will be doing
so in the ordinary course of the persons business, whether
or not the person is the holder, that neither the holder nor any
other person is engaged in, or intends to engage in, or has an
arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in,
the distribution of the exchange notes and that neither the
holder nor any such other person is an affiliate, as
defined under |
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Rule 405 of the Securities Act, of ours. Each broker or
dealer that receives exchange notes for its own account in
exchange for outstanding notes which were acquired by the broker
or dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trade
activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus
in connection with any resale of the exchange notes. See
The Exchange Offer Procedures for
Tendering. |
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Guaranteed Delivery Procedures |
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Eligible holders of outstanding notes who wish to tender their
outstanding notes and (1) whose outstanding notes are not
immediately available or (2) who cannot deliver their
outstanding notes or any other documents required by the letter
of transmittal to the exchange agent prior to the expiration
date (or complete the procedure for book-entry transfer on a
timely basis), may tender their outstanding notes according to
the guaranteed delivery procedures described in the letter of
transmittal. See The Exchange Offer Guaranteed
Delivery Procedures. |
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Acceptance of the Outstanding Notes and Delivery of the Exchange
Notes |
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Upon satisfaction or waiver of all conditions to the exchange
offer, we will accept any and all outstanding notes that are
properly tendered in response to the exchange offer prior to
5:00 p.m., New York Time, on the expiration date. The
exchange notes issued pursuant to the exchange offer will be
delivered promptly after expiration of the exchange offer. See
The Exchange Offer Procedures for
Tendering. |
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Withdrawal Rights |
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Tenders of outstanding notes may be withdrawn at any time prior
to 5:00 p.m., New York Time, on the expiration date. See
The Exchange Offer Withdrawal of Tenders. |
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The Exchange Agent |
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Wells Fargo Bank, National Association is the exchange agent.
The address and telephone number of the exchange agent are set
forth in The Exchange Offer Exchange
Agent. |
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Fees and Expenses |
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We will bear all expenses incident to our consummation of the
exchange offer and compliance with the registration rights
agreement. We will also pay any transfer taxes which are
applicable to the exchange offer (but not transfer taxes due to
transfers of outstanding notes or exchange notes by the holder).
See The Exchange Offer Fees and Expenses. |
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Resales of the Exchange Notes |
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Based on interpretations by the staff of the SEC set forth in
no-action letters issued to persons unrelated to us, we believe
exchange notes issued pursuant to the exchange offer in exchange
for outstanding notes may be offered for resale, resold and
otherwise transferred by the holder (other than (1) a
broker-dealer who purchased the outstanding notes directly from
us for resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities
Act or another exemption under the Securities Act or (2) a
person that is an affiliate of ours, as that term is defined in
Rule 405 under the Securities Act), without registration or
the need to deliver a prospectus under the Securities Act,
provided that the holder is acquiring the exchange notes in the
ordinary course of business and is not participating, and has no
arrangement or understand- |
-4-
|
|
|
|
|
ing with any person to participate, in a distribution of the
exchange notes. Each broker-dealer that receives exchange notes
for its own account in exchange for outstanding notes which
outstanding notes were acquired by the broker as a result of
market-making or other trading activities, must acknowledge that
it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of
the exchange notes. See The Exchange Offer
Purposes and Effects. |
|
Federal Income Tax Consequences |
|
The exchange offer will not be treated as a taxable event for
United States federal income tax purposes. See United
States Federal Income Tax Considerations. |
The Exchange
Notes
The exchange notes will evidence the same debt as the
outstanding notes and will be entitled to the benefits of the
indenture under which both the outstanding notes were, and the
exchange notes will be, issued. The following summary is not
intended to be complete. For a more detailed description of the
notes, see Description of the Exchange Notes.
|
|
|
Issuer |
|
Meritage Homes Corporation. |
|
Securities Offered |
|
$350 million aggregate principal amount of
61/4% senior
notes due 2015 that have been registered under the Securities
Act. The form and terms of the exchange notes are identical in
all material respects to the form and terms of the outstanding
notes for which they may be exchanged pursuant to the exchange
offer, except for certain transfer restrictions and registration
rights relating to the outstanding notes and except for certain
provisions providing for an increase in the interest rate on the
outstanding notes under circumstances relating to the exchange
offer. Unless the context otherwise requires, the outstanding
notes and the exchange notes are sometimes referred to in this
prospectus as the notes. |
|
Maturity Date |
|
March 15, 2015. |
|
Interest |
|
The notes will accrue interest from the date of their issuance
at the rate of
61/4%
per year. Interest on the exchange notes will be payable
semi-annually in arrears on each March 15 and
September 15 commencing on September 15, 2005. |
|
|
|
In connection with the issuance of the outstanding notes on
March 10, 2005, we and the guarantors agreed to: |
|
|
|
file a registration statement to
enable holders of the notes to exchange the notes for registered
notes within 75 days of the original issue date of the
outstanding notes, or by May 24, 2005; |
|
|
|
use our respective reasonable best
efforts to cause the registration statement to become effective
under the Securities Act within 150 days following the
original issue date of the outstanding notes, or by
August 7, 2005; and |
-5-
|
|
|
|
|
use our respective reasonable best
efforts to complete the exchange offer within 180 days
after the original issue date of the outstanding notes, or by
September 6, 2005. |
|
|
|
If we do not comply with these obligations (a registration
default), we will be required to pay liquidated damages to
the holders of the notes in the form of higher interest rates.
Upon the occurrence of a registration default, the interest rate
borne by the notes will be increased by 0.25% per annum and will
continue to increase by 0.25% each 90 day period that the
liquidated damages continue to accrue, up to a maximum of 1.00%
per annum. After we cure the registration default, the accrual
of liquidated damages will stop and the interest rate will
revert to the original rate. |
|
Optional Redemption |
|
We may redeem the notes, in whole or in part, at any time on or
after March 15, 2010, at a redemption price equal to the
principal amount plus a premium declining ratably to par, plus
accrued and unpaid interest. |
|
|
|
In addition, at any time prior to March 15, 2008, we may
redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes
issued under the indenture with the net cash proceeds of one or
more qualified equity offerings at a redemption price equal to
106.250% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and
unpaid interest, provided that: |
|
|
|
at least 65% of the aggregate
principal amount of the notes issued under the indenture remains
outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption;
and |
|
|
|
such redemption occurs within
90 days of the date of the closing of any such equity
offering. |
|
Change of Control |
|
If we experience a change of control and a rating decline, we
may be required to offer to purchase the notes offered by this
prospectus and the outstanding notes at a purchase price equal
to 101% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid
interest. |
|
Ranking and Guarantees |
|
The notes are our senior unsecured obligations. All of our
existing subsidiaries (other than our two mortgage broker
subsidiaries) and certain of our future subsidiaries guarantee
the notes on a senior unsecured basis. |
|
|
|
The notes rank equally with all of our and our guarantors
existing and future senior unsecured debt. |
|
|
|
The notes rank senior to all of our and our guarantors
debt that is expressly subordinated to the notes, but are
effectively subordinated to all of our and our guarantors
senior secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the
assets securing that indebtedness. |
|
Restrictive Covenants |
|
The indenture governing the notes contains covenants that, among
other things, limit our ability and the ability of our
subsidiaries to: |
|
|
|
incur additional indebtedness or liens; |
-6-
|
|
|
|
|
pay dividends or make other distributions or
repurchase or redeem our stock; |
|
|
|
make investments; |
|
|
|
sell assets; |
|
|
|
enter into agreements restricting our
subsidiaries ability to pay dividends; |
|
|
|
enter into transactions with affiliates; and |
|
|
|
consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all
of our assets. |
|
|
|
These covenants are subject to important exceptions and
qualifications, which are described under the heading
Description of the Exchange Notes in this prospectus. |
|
Covenant Suspension |
|
At any time when the notes are rated investment grade by both
Moodys and S&P and no default or event of default has
occurred and is continuing under the indenture, we and our
subsidiaries will not be subject to many of the foregoing
covenants. See Description of the Notes
Suspension Period. |
|
Absence of a Public Market |
|
The exchange notes will be a new issue of securities and there
is currently no established market for them. Accordingly, there
can be no assurance as to the development or liquidity of any
market for the notes or, if issued, the exchange notes. The
outstanding notes are eligible for trading in The Portal Market. |
|
Use of Proceeds |
|
We will receive no proceeds from the exchange of the exchange
notes for the outstanding notes pursuant to the exchange offer.
The proceeds we received from the issuance of the outstanding
notes were used to repurchase approximately $276.8 million
of our outstanding
93/4% senior
notes due 2011 plus tender offer consideration and consent
payments totaling approximately $32.9 million pursuant to
an offer to purchase and consent solicitation. We used the
remaining proceeds to repay a portion of our unsecured credit
facility. See Use of Proceeds. |
|
Trustee |
|
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association. |
Risk Factors
You should consider carefully the information set forth in the
section of this prospectus entitled Risk Factors
beginning on page 13 and all the other information provided
to you in this prospectus in deciding whether to invest in the
notes.
-7-
Summary Historical
Financial Information
The following table presents summary historical consolidated
financial and operating data of Meritage Homes Corporation and
subsidiaries as of and for each of the three years in the period
ended December 31, 2004. The consolidated statement of
earnings data for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003
and 2002 have been derived from Meritage Homes
Corporations audited consolidated financial statements
filed by us with the SEC, which have been incorporated herein by
reference. You should read this data in conjunction with
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations and our consolidated
financial statements and related notes contained in the annual,
quarterly and other reports filed by us with the SEC, which we
have incorporated herein by reference. The data below includes
the operations of Hancock Communities, Hammonds Homes,
Perma-Bilt Homes and Citation Homes since their dates of
acquisition, June 1, 2001, July 1, 2002,
October 1, 2002 and January 1, 2004, respectively.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Years Ended December 31, | |
|
|
| |
|
|
2004 | |
|
2003(1) | |
|
2002(1) | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
(Dollars in thousands) | |
Statement of Earnings Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total closing revenue
|
|
$ |
2,040,004 |
|
|
$ |
1,471,001 |
|
|
$ |
1,119,817 |
|
Total cost of closings
|
|
|
(1,631,534 |
) |
|
|
(1,178,484 |
) |
|
|
(904,921 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross profit
|
|
|
408,470 |
|
|
|
292,517 |
|
|
|
214,896 |
|
Commissions and other sales costs
|
|
|
(116,527 |
) |
|
|
(92,904 |
) |
|
|
(65,291 |
) |
General and administrative expenses
|
|
|
(79,257 |
) |
|
|
(53,929 |
) |
|
|
(41,496 |
) |
Other income, net
|
|
|
12,072 |
|
|
|
5,776 |
|
|
|
5,435 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings before provision for income taxes
|
|
|
224,758 |
|
|
|
151,460 |
|
|
|
113,544 |
|
Provision for income taxes
|
|
|
(85,790 |
) |
|
|
(57,054 |
) |
|
|
(43,607 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net earnings
|
|
$ |
138,968 |
|
|
$ |
94,406 |
|
|
$ |
69,937 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross profit margin(6)
|
|
|
20.0 |
% |
|
|
19.9 |
% |
|
|
19.2 |
% |
Interest amortized to cost of home closings and interest expense
|
|
$ |
32,228 |
|
|
$ |
22,287 |
|
|
$ |
19,259 |
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
13,233 |
|
|
|
8,536 |
|
|
|
6,780 |
|
Interest incurred and capitalized(2)
|
|
|
38,855 |
|
|
|
26,580 |
|
|
|
19,294 |
|
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
|
|
|
60,171 |
|
|
|
(50,302 |
) |
|
|
1,050 |
|
Net cash (used in) investing activities
|
|
|
(81,804 |
) |
|
|
(35,812 |
) |
|
|
(149,691 |
) |
Net cash provided by financing activities
|
|
|
64,710 |
|
|
|
84,313 |
|
|
|
151,858 |
|
EBITDA(3)(6)
|
|
|
270,219 |
|
|
|
182,283 |
|
|
|
139,583 |
|
EBITDA margin(4)(6)
|
|
|
13.2 |
% |
|
|
12.4 |
% |
|
|
12.5 |
% |
Ratio of EBITDA to interest incurred(6)
|
|
|
6.95 |
x |
|
|
6.86 |
x |
|
|
7.23 |
x |
Ratio of total debt to EBITDA(6)
|
|
|
1.74 |
x |
|
|
1.93 |
x |
|
|
1.90 |
x |
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(5)(6)
|
|
|
5.9 |
x |
|
|
5.6 |
x |
|
|
5.8 |
x |
-8-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At December 31, | |
|
|
| |
|
|
2004 | |
|
2003(1) | |
|
2002(1) | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
(Dollars in thousands) | |
Balance Sheet Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$ |
47,876 |
|
|
$ |
4,799 |
|
|
$ |
6,600 |
|
Real estate
|
|
|
867,218 |
|
|
|
678,011 |
|
|
|
484,970 |
|
Total assets
|
|
|
1,265,394 |
|
|
|
954,539 |
|
|
|
691,788 |
|
Notes and loans payable and other borrowings
|
|
|
471,415 |
|
|
|
351,491 |
|
|
|
264,927 |
|
Stockholders equity
|
|
|
522,555 |
|
|
|
411,895 |
|
|
|
317,308 |
|
|
|
(1) |
Historically, the construction costs and related debt associated
with model homes which are owned and leased to us by others that
we use to market our communities were not included in our
balance sheet. In January 2005 we determined that the costs and
related debt associated with these models are required to be
included as assets and liabilities, respectively, on our balance
sheet and that the lease payments needed to be recharacterized
as interest and that such interest should be capitalized and
allocated to cost of sales. As a result, we restated our
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended
June 30, 2004 and September 30, 2004. We have
determined that the effect on our year-end financial statements
for 2003 and prior and the quarter ended March 31, 2004 is
immaterial. |
|
(2) |
Interest incurred is the amount of interest paid and accrued
(whether expensed or capitalized) during such period, including
debt-related fees and amortization of deferred financing costs. |
|
(3) |
EBITDA represents net earnings before interest expense, interest
amortized to cost of sales, income taxes, depreciation and
amortization. EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. A non-GAAP
financial measure is a numerical measure of a registrants
historical or future financial performance, financial position
or cash flows that excludes amounts, or is subject to
adjustments that have the effect of excluding amounts, that are
included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and
presented in accordance with GAAP in the statement of earnings,
balance sheet, or statement of cash flows (or equivalent
statements) of the issuer; or includes amounts, or is subject to
adjustments that have the effect of including amounts, that are
excluded from the most directly comparable measure so calculated
and presented. In this regard, GAAP refers to generally accepted
accounting principles in the United States. We have provided
below a reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to the
most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.
EBITDA is presented here because it is used by management to
analyze and compare Meritage with other homebuilding companies
on the basis of operating performance and we believe it is a
financial measure widely used by investors and analysts in the
homebuilding industry. EBITDA as presented may not be comparable
to similarly titled measures reported by other companies because
not all companies calculate EBITDA in an identical manner and,
therefore, it is not necessarily an accurate means of comparison
between companies. EBITDA is not intended to represent cash
flows for the period or funds available for managements
discretionary use nor has it been presented as an alternative to
operating income or earnings or as an indicator of operating
performance and it should not be considered in isolation or as a
substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles in the United
States of America. |
-9-
The reconciliation of EBITDA to net earnings for each of the
respective periods shown is as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Years Ended December 31, | |
|
|
| |
|
|
2004 | |
|
2003 | |
|
2002 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
(Unaudited) | |
|
|
(Dollars in thousands) | |
Net earnings
|
|
$ |
138,968 |
|
|
$ |
94,406 |
|
|
$ |
69,937 |
|
Plus:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income taxes
|
|
|
85,790 |
|
|
|
57,054 |
|
|
|
43,607 |
|
|
Interest
|
|
|
32,228 |
|
|
|
22,287 |
|
|
|
19,259 |
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
13,233 |
|
|
|
8,536 |
|
|
|
6,780 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EBITDA
|
|
$ |
270,219 |
|
|
$ |
182,283 |
|
|
$ |
139,583 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(4) |
EBITDA margin is calculated by dividing EBITDA by total closing
revenue. |
|
(5) |
For purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed
charges, earnings consist of income before income
taxes plus fixed charges less capitalized interest. Fixed
charges consist of interest expense including amortization
of deferred debt expense, one-half of rent expense, which is
deemed to be representative of an interest factor, and
capitalized interest. |
|
(6) |
EBITDA and operating ratios are unaudited. |
-10-
HOME CLOSING REVENUE, HOME ORDERS AND ORDER BACKLOG
The tables provided below show operating and financial data
regarding our homebuilding activities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Years Ended December 31, | |
|
|
| |
|
|
2004 | |
|
2003 | |
|
2002 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
(Unaudited, except total home | |
|
|
closing revenue dollar amounts) | |
|
|
(Dollars in thousands) | |
Home Closing Revenue
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dollars
|
|
$ |
2,015,742 |
|
|
$ |
1,461,981 |
|
|
$ |
1,112,439 |
|
|
Homes closed
|
|
|
7,254 |
|
|
|
5,642 |
|
|
|
4,574 |
|
|
Average sales price
|
|
$ |
277.9 |
|
|
$ |
259.1 |
|
|
$ |
243.2 |
|
|
|
Texas
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dollars
|
|
$ |
681,099 |
|
|
$ |
577,330 |
|
|
$ |
387,264 |
|
|
|
|
Homes closed
|
|
|
3,152 |
|
|
|
2,828 |
|
|
|
2,090 |
|
|
|
|
Average sales price
|
|
$ |
216.1 |
|
|
$ |
204.1 |
|
|
$ |
185.3 |
|
|
|
Arizona
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dollars
|
|
$ |
585,743 |
|
|
$ |
415,709 |
|
|
$ |
445,275 |
|
|
|
|
Homes closed
|
|
|
2,331 |
|
|
|
1,515 |
|
|
|
1,735 |
|
|
|
|
Average sales price
|
|
$ |
251.3 |
|
|
$ |
274.4 |
|
|
$ |
256.6 |
|
|
|
California
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dollars
|
|
$ |
628,324 |
|
|
$ |
334,677 |
|
|
$ |
245,640 |
|
|
|
|
Homes closed
|
|
|
1,367 |
|
|
|
735 |
|
|
|
594 |
|
|
|
|
Average sales price
|
|
$ |
459.6 |
|
|
$ |
455.3 |
|
|
$ |
413.5 |
|
|
|
Nevada
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dollars
|
|
$ |
120,576 |
|
|
$ |
134,265 |
|
|
$ |
34,260 |
|
|
|
|
Homes closed
|
|
|
404 |
|
|
|
564 |
|
|
|
155 |
|
|
|
|
Average sales price
|
|
$ |
298.5 |
|
|
$ |
238.1 |
|
|
$ |
221.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Years Ended December 31, | |
|
|
| |
|
|
2004 | |
|
2003 | |
|
2002 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
(Unaudited) | |
|
|
(Dollars in thousands) | |
Home Orders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dollars
|
|
$ |
2,604,948 |
|
|
$ |
1,634,988 |
|
|
$ |
1,161,899 |
|
|
Homes ordered
|
|
|
9,007 |
|
|
|
6,152 |
|
|
|
4,504 |
|
|
Average sales price
|
|
$ |
289.2 |
|
|
$ |
265.8 |
|
|
$ |
258.0 |
|
|
|
Texas
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dollars
|
|
$ |
752,770 |
|
|
$ |
599,850 |
|
|
$ |
417,158 |
|
|
|
|
Homes ordered
|
|
|
3,518 |
|
|
|
2,862 |
|
|
|
2,134 |
|
|
|
|
Average sales price
|
|
$ |
214.0 |
|
|
$ |
209.6 |
|
|
$ |
195.5 |
|
-11-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Years Ended December 31, | |
|
|
| |
|
|
2004 | |
|
2003 | |
|
2002 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
(Unaudited) | |
|
|
(Dollars in thousands) | |
Arizona
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dollars
|
|
$ |
884,771 |
|
|
$ |
509,913 |
|
|
$ |
383,445 |
|
|
Homes ordered
|
|
|
3,490 |
|
|
|
1,881 |
|
|
|
1,425 |
|
|
Average sales price
|
|
$ |
253.5 |
|
|
$ |
271.1 |
|
|
$ |
269.1 |
|
California
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dollars
|
|
$ |
821,266 |
|
|
$ |
375,105 |
|
|
$ |
329,252 |
|
|
Homes ordered
|
|
|
1,582 |
|
|
|
807 |
|
|
|
794 |
|
|
Average sales price
|
|
$ |
519.1 |
|
|
$ |
464.8 |
|
|
$ |
414.7 |
|
Nevada
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dollars
|
|
$ |
146,141 |
|
|
$ |
150,120 |
|
|
$ |
32,044 |
|
|
Homes ordered
|
|
|
417 |
|
|
|
602 |
|
|
|
151 |
|
|
Average sales price
|
|
$ |
350.5 |
|
|
$ |
249.4 |
|
|
$ |
212.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At December 31, | |
|
|
| |
|
|
2004 | |
|
2003 | |
|
2002 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
(Unaudited) | |
|
|
(Dollars in thousands) | |
Order Backlog
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dollars
|
|
$ |
1,320,951 |
|
|
$ |
710,771 |
|
|
$ |
537,764 |
|
|
Homes in backlog
|
|
|
4,408 |
|
|
|
2,580 |
|
|
|
2,070 |
|
|
Average sales price
|
|
$ |
299.7 |
|
|
$ |
275.5 |
|
|
$ |
259.8 |
|
|
|
Texas
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dollars
|
|
$ |
313,090 |
|
|
$ |
241,419 |
|
|
$ |
218,899 |
|
|
|
|
Homes in backlog
|
|
|
1,485 |
|
|
|
1,119 |
|
|
|
1,085 |
|
|
|
|
Average sales price
|
|
$ |
210.8 |
|
|
$ |
215.7 |
|
|
$ |
201.8 |
|
|
|
Arizona
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dollars
|
|
$ |
537,387 |
|
|
$ |
238,359 |
|
|
$ |
144,155 |
|
|
|
|
Homes in backlog
|
|
|
1,991 |
|
|
|
832 |
|
|
|
466 |
|
|
|
|
Average sales price
|
|
$ |
269.9 |
|
|
$ |
286.5 |
|
|
$ |
309.3 |
|
|
|
California
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dollars
|
|
$ |
391,271 |
|
|
$ |
177,355 |
|
|
$ |
136,927 |
|
|
|
|
Homes in backlog
|
|
|
695 |
|
|
|
405 |
|
|
|
333 |
|
|
|
|
Average sales price
|
|
$ |
563.0 |
|
|
$ |
437.9 |
|
|
$ |
411.2 |
|
|
|
Nevada
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dollars
|
|
$ |
79,203 |
|
|
$ |
53,638 |
|
|
$ |
37,783 |
|
|
|
|
Homes in backlog
|
|
|
237 |
|
|
|
224 |
|
|
|
186 |
|
|
|
|
Average sales price
|
|
$ |
334.2 |
|
|
$ |
239.5 |
|
|
$ |
203.1 |
|
-12-
RISK FACTORS
You should consider carefully the information set forth in
this section along with all the other information provided to
you or incorporated by reference in this prospectus in deciding
whether to invest in the notes.
Risks Associated with the Exchange Notes
|
|
|
Our substantial level of indebtedness could adversely
affect our financial condition and prevent us from fulfilling
our obligations on the notes. |
As of February 28, 2005, we had $564.25 million of
indebtedness. In addition, subject to restrictions in the
indenture governing the notes, the indenture for our
7% senior notes due 2014 and our senior unsecured credit
facility, we may incur additional indebtedness. The high level
of our indebtedness could have important consequences to you,
including the following:
|
|
|
|
|
our ability to obtain additional financing for working capital,
capital expenditures, acquisitions or general corporate purposes
may be impaired; |
|
|
|
we must use a substantial portion of our cash flow from
operations to pay interest and principal on the notes and other
indebtedness, which will reduce the funds available to us for
other purposes such as capital expenditures; |
|
|
|
we have a higher level of indebtedness than some of our
competitors, which may put us at a competitive disadvantage and
reduce our flexibility in planning for, or responding to,
changing conditions in our industry, including increased
competition; and |
|
|
|
we are more vulnerable to economic downturns and adverse
developments in our business. |
We expect to obtain the money to pay our expenses and to pay the
interest on the notes, the scheduled principal payments prior to
maturity and interest on our senior unsecured credit facility
and other debt from cash flow from our operations. Our annual
debt service requirements for our existing senior notes
(including the exchange notes offered hereby) is approximately
$31 million. Because the notes carry a fixed rate of
interest, we are not subject to interest rate risk for these
obligations.
We cannot be certain that our cash flow will be sufficient to
allow us to pay principal and interest on our debt, including
the notes, and meet our other obligations. If we do not have
sufficient funds, we may be required to refinance all or part of
our existing debt, including the notes, sell assets or borrow
more money. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so on
terms acceptable to us, if at all. In addition, the terms of
existing or future debt agreements, including our senior
unsecured credit facility and the indenture, may restrict us
from pursuing any of these alternatives.
|
|
|
The indenture governing the notes offered hereby, the
indenture governing our 7% senior notes due 2014 and our
senior unsecured credit facility impose significant operating
and financial restrictions, which may prevent us from
capitalizing on business opportunities and taking some corporate
actions. |
The indenture governing the notes offered hereby, the indenture
governing our 7% senior notes due 2014 and our senior
unsecured credit facility impose significant operating and
financial restrictions on us. These restrictions limit the
ability of us and our subsidiaries, among other things, to:
|
|
|
|
|
incur additional indebtedness or liens; |
|
|
|
pay dividends or make other distributions; |
|
|
|
repurchase our stock; |
|
|
|
make investments; |
-13-
|
|
|
|
|
sell assets; |
|
|
|
enter into agreements restricting our subsidiaries ability
to pay dividends; |
|
|
|
enter into transactions with affiliates; and |
|
|
|
consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of our
assets. |
In addition, the indenture governing our 7% senior notes
due 2014 requires us to maintain a minimum consolidated tangible
net worth and our senior unsecured credit facility requires us
to maintain other specified financial ratios. We cannot assure
you that these covenants will not adversely affect our ability
to finance our future operations or capital needs or to pursue
available business opportunities. A breach of any of these
covenants or our inability to maintain the required financial
ratios could result in a default in respect of the related
indebtedness. If a default occurs, the relevant lenders could
elect to declare the indebtedness, together with accrued
interest and other fees, to be immediately due and payable.
|
|
|
We may not be able to satisfy our obligations to holders
of the notes upon a change of control triggering event. |
Upon the occurrence of a change of control triggering
event, as defined in the indenture, each holder of the
notes offered by this offering memorandum and the outstanding
notes will have the right to require us to purchase the notes at
a price equal to 101% of the principal amount, together with any
accrued interest and liquidated damages, if any, to the date of
purchase. Our failure to purchase, or give notice of purchase
of, the notes would be a default under our other debt
agreements. In addition, a change of control triggering event
may constitute an event of default under our senior unsecured
credit facility. A default under our senior unsecured credit
facility could result in an event of default under the indenture
if the lenders accelerate the debt under our credit facility.
If a change of control triggering event occurs, we may not have
enough assets to satisfy all obligations under our debt
agreements. In order to satisfy our obligations we could seek to
refinance the indebtedness under these agreements or obtain a
waiver from the lenders or you as a holder of the notes. We
cannot assure you that we would be able to obtain a waiver or
refinance our indebtedness on terms acceptable to us, if at all.
|
|
|
There is uncertainty about the meaning of the phrase
all or substantially all under applicable laws in
connection with determining whether a change of control has
occurred. |
One of the events that triggers our obligation to repurchase the
notes upon a change in control triggering event is the sale of
all or substantially all of our assets. The phrase all or
substantially all as used in the indenture varies
according to the facts and circumstances of the subject
transaction, has no clearly established meaning under the law
that governs the indenture and is subject to judicial
interpretation. In certain circumstances, there may be a degree
of uncertainty in ascertaining whether a particular transaction
would involve a disposition of all or substantially
all of our assets, and therefore, it may be unclear as to
whether a change of control has occurred and whether you have
the right to require us to repurchase the notes.
|
|
|
We could enter into transactions that would not constitute
a change of control giving rise to an obligation to repurchase
the notes, but that could increase the amount of our
indebtedness outstanding. |
The indenture governing the notes offered hereby, the indenture
governing our 7% senior notes due 2014 and the agreement
for our senior unsecured credit facility impose significant
restrictions on our ability to incur additional indebtedness or
liens, make investments, and sell assets, among others. In
addition, the indenture governing the notes offered hereby
imposes obligations on us to offer to repurchase the notes if we
enter into a transaction that constitutes a change of control
and we experience a rating decline.
-14-
Nevertheless, we could, in the future, enter into transactions
such as acquisitions, refinancings or other recapitalizations or
highly leveraged transactions that would not constitute a change
of control giving rise to an obligation by us to repurchase the
notes (or we could enter into transactions that would constitute
a change of control, but that are not coupled with a rating
decline), but that could increase the amount of indebtedness
outstanding. Such transactions could affect our capital
structure or credit ratings or otherwise affect the holders of
the notes.
|
|
|
The guarantees may be voided under specific legal
circumstances. |
The notes are guaranteed by all of our existing subsidiaries
(other than our two mortgage broker subsidiaries) and certain
future subsidiaries. The guarantees may be subject to review
under U.S. federal bankruptcy law and comparable provisions
of state fraudulent conveyance laws if a bankruptcy or
reorganization case or lawsuit is commenced by or on behalf of
our or one of a guarantors unpaid creditors. Under these
laws, if a court were to find in such a bankruptcy or
reorganization case or lawsuit that, at the time any guarantor
issued a guarantee of the notes:
|
|
|
|
|
it issued the guarantee to delay, hinder or defraud present or
future creditors; or |
|
|
|
it received less than reasonably equivalent value or fair
consideration for issuing the guarantee at the time it issued
the guarantee and: |
|
|
|
|
|
it was insolvent or rendered insolvent by reason of issuing the
guarantee; or |
|
|
|
it was engaged, or about to engage, in a business or transaction
for which its remaining unencumbered assets constituted
unreasonably small capital to carry on its business; or |
|
|
|
it intended to incur, or believed that it would incur, debts
beyond its ability to pay as they mature; |
then the court could void the obligations under the guarantee,
subordinate the guarantee of the notes to that guarantors
other debt or take other action detrimental to holders of the
notes and the guarantees of the notes.
The measures of insolvency for purposes of fraudulent transfer
laws vary depending upon the law of the jurisdiction that is
being applied in any proceeding to determine whether a
fraudulent transfer had occurred. Generally, however, a person
would be considered insolvent if, at the time it incurred the
debt:
|
|
|
|
|
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 |
|
|
|
it could not pay its debts as they become due. |
We cannot be sure as to the standard that a court would use to
determine whether or not a guarantor was solvent at the relevant
time, or, regardless of the standard that the court uses, that
the issuance of the guarantees would not be voided or the
guarantees would not be subordinated to the guarantors
other debt. If such a case were to occur, the guarantee could
also be subject to the claim that, since the guarantee was
incurred for our benefit, and only indirectly for the benefit of
the guarantor, the obligations of the applicable guarantor were
incurred for less than fair consideration.
Based upon financial and other information currently available
to us, we believe that the debt evidenced by the guarantees is
being incurred for proper purposes and in good faith. We believe
that the guarantors:
|
|
|
|
|
were solvent after issuing the guarantees; |
-15-
|
|
|
|
|
will have sufficient capital for carrying on the business we
intend to conduct after this offering is completed; and |
|
|
|
will be able to service their debts as they come due. |
|
|
|
There is no established trading market for the exchange
notes and you may not be able to sell the notes quickly or at
the price that you paid. |
We expect that there will be a limited trading market for the
exchange notes, if any. Although the exchange notes will be
registered, we do not intend to list the exchange notes on any
securities exchange or to arrange for quotation on any automated
dealer quotation system. The initial purchasers have advised us
that they intend to make a market in the exchange notes, but
they are not obligated to do so. The initial purchasers may
discontinue any market making in the exchange notes at any time,
in their sole discretion. As a result, we cannot assure you as
to the liquidity of any trading market for the exchange notes.
We also cannot assure you that you will be able to sell your
exchange notes at a particular time or that the prices that you
receive when you sell will be favorable. We also cannot assure
you as to the level of liquidity of the trading market for the
exchange notes or, in the case of any holders of notes that do
not exchange them, the trading market for the notes following
the offer to exchange the notes for exchange notes. Future
trading prices of the outstanding notes and exchange notes will
depend on many factors, including:
|
|
|
|
|
our operating performance and financial condition; |
|
|
|
our ability to complete the offer to exchange the notes for the
exchange notes; |
|
|
|
the interest of securities dealers in making a market; and |
|
|
|
the market for similar securities. |
Historically, the market for non-investment grade debt has been
subject to disruptions that have caused volatility in prices. It
is possible that the market for the outstanding notes and, if
issued, the exchange notes will be subject to disruptions. Any
disruptions may have a negative effect on noteholders,
regardless of our prospects and financial performance.
|
|
|
There may be adverse consequences to holders of
outstanding notes that do not tender their outstanding notes
pursuant to the exchange offer. |
If you fail to properly exchange your outstanding notes for
exchange notes, you will continue to hold outstanding notes
subject to transfer restrictions, and the liquidity of the
trading market for any untendered outstanding notes may be
substantially limited.
We will only issue exchange notes in exchange for outstanding
notes that you timely and properly tender. You should allow
sufficient time to ensure timely delivery of the outstanding
notes, and you should carefully follow the instructions on how
to tender your outstanding notes set forth under the The
Exchange Offer Procedures for Tendering and in
the letter of transmittal that accompanies this prospectus.
Neither we nor the exchange agent are required to notify you of
any defects or irregularities relating to your tender of notes.
The holders of outstanding notes that do not exchange them
pursuant to this exchange offer will continue to be subject to
restrictions on the transfer of the outstanding notes because
the issuance of the outstanding notes was not registered under
the Securities Act or registered or qualified under any state
securities laws. We do not currently anticipate that, except in
certain limited circumstances, we will register the outstanding
notes under the Securities Act. To the extent that we exchange
outstanding notes as a result of this exchange offer, the
ability to trade untendered outstanding notes may be adversely
affected.
-16-
Risks Related to Our Acquisition of Colonial Homes
|
|
|
The integration of Colonial Homes may present
challenges. |
In February 2005, we completed the acquisition of substantially
all of the homebuilding assets of Colonial Homes of Fort
Myers/Naples, Florida. The integration of Colonial Homes into
our operations following the acquisition will involve a number
of risks. In particular, the combined companies may experience
attrition among management and personnel. The integration
process could also disrupt the activities of our current
businesses. The combination of the two companies will require,
among other things, coordination of management, administrative
and other functions. Failure to overcome these challenges or any
other problems encountered in connection with the acquisition of
Colonial Homes could cause our financial condition, results of
operations and competitive position to decline.
|
|
|
We may not achieve the anticipated benefits from the
acquisition. |
Our integration of the Colonial Homes acquisition assumes
certain synergies and other benefits. We cannot assure you that
unforeseen factors will not offset the intended benefits of the
acquisition in whole or in part.
|
|
|
Colonial Homes is engaged in the construction and sale of
condominiums. |
In connection with our acquisition of Colonial, we will be
involved in the construction and sale of multi-story condominium
homes. Prior to this acquisition, our business has involved only
the construction and sale of single-family homes. The
construction and sale of condominium homes involves different
construction processes and subcontractors and, to a degree,
different customers. In addition, condominium homes typically
involve more extensive sales and warranty regulations. Although
we now employ most of the Colonial Homes employees that were
involved with the Colonial business (including condominium
construction and sales), we have no prior experience in the
condominium business. We cannot assure you that we will be
successful going forward with this aspect of the Colonial
business. In addition, we are exploring expanding into
condominium construction and sales in other markets in which we
operate and we could face similar challenges and risks with such
an endeavor.
Risks Relating to Meritage
|
|
|
Increases in interest rates and the unavailability of
mortgage financing can adversely affect housing demand. |
In general, housing demand is adversely affected by increases in
interest rates and housing costs and the unavailability of
mortgage financing. Most of our buyers finance their home
purchases through third-party lenders providing mortgage
financing. If mortgage interest rates increase and,
consequently, the ability of prospective buyers to finance home
purchases is adversely affected, home sales, gross margins and
cash flow may also be adversely affected and the impact may be
material. Interest rates are currently near historically low
levels, however, it is impossible to predict future increases or
decreases in market interest rates. In addition, homebuilding
activities depend upon the availability and costs of mortgage
financing for buyers of homes owned by potential customers, as
those customers (move-up buyers) often need to sell their
residences before they purchase our homes. Any reduction of
financing availability could adversely affect home sales.
|
|
|
We may continue to consider growth or expansion of our
operations which could have a material adverse effect on our
cash flows or profitability. |
We may continue to consider growth or expansion of our
operations in our current markets or in other areas of the
country. Our expansion into new or existing markets could have a
material adverse effect on our cash flows or profitability. The
magnitude, timing and nature of any future expansion will depend
on a
-17-
number of factors, including suitable acquisition candidates,
the negotiation of acceptable terms, our financial capabilities
and general economic and business conditions. New acquisitions
may result in the incurrence of additional debt, some of which
could be secured, and therefore, structurally senior to the
notes. Acquisitions also involve numerous risks, including
difficulties in the assimilation of the acquired companys
operations, the incurrence of unanticipated liabilities or
expenses, the diversion of managements attention from
other business concerns, risks of entering markets in which we
have limited or no direct experience, and the potential loss of
key employees of the acquired company.
|
|
|
We depend on the continued availability and satisfactory
performance of our subcontractors which, if unavailable, could
have a material adverse effect on our business. |
We conduct our construction operations only as a general
contractor. Virtually all architectural and construction work is
performed by unaffiliated third-party subcontractors. As a
consequence, we depend on the continued availability of and
satisfactory performance by these subcontractors for the design
and construction of our homes. We cannot assure you that there
will be sufficient availability of and satisfactory performance
by these unaffiliated third-party subcontractors. In addition,
inadequate subcontractor resources could have a material adverse
effect on our business.
|
|
|
We are dependent on the services of certain key employees
and the loss of their services could harm our business. |
Our success largely depends on the continuing services of
certain key employees, including our Co-Chief Executive
Officers, Steven J. Hilton and John R. Landon, and our
continued development depends on our ability to attract and
retain qualified personnel. We have employment agreements with
Messrs. Hilton and Landon, but we do not have employment
agreements with certain other key employees. We believe that
Steven J. Hilton and John R. Landon each possess
valuable industry knowledge and experience and leadership
abilities that would be difficult in the short term to
replicate. The loss of key employees could harm our operations
and business plans.
|
|
|
Our limited geographic diversification could adversely
affect us if the homebuilding industry in our current markets
should decline. |
We have operations in Texas, Arizona, California, Nevada,
Colorado and Florida. Our limited geographic diversification
could adversely impact us if the homebuilding business in our
current markets should decline, since there may not be a
balancing opportunity in a stronger market in other geographic
regions.
|
|
|
We face reduced coverages and increased costs of
insurance. |
Recently, lawsuits have been filed against builders asserting
claims of personal injury and property damage caused by the
presence of mold in residential dwellings. Some of these
lawsuits have resulted in substantial monetary judgments or
settlements. We believe that we have maintained adequate
insurance coverage to insure against these types of claims for
homes completed before October 1, 2003. Insurance carriers
have begun excluding claims arising from the presence of mold
from policies for many builders and, as of October 1, 2003,
our insurance policy began excluding mold coverage. If our
retentions are not sufficient to protect against these types of
claims or if we are unable to obtain adequate insurance
coverage, a material adverse effect on our business, financial
condition and results of operations could result if we are
exposed to claims arising from the presence of mold in the homes
that we sell.
|
|
|
Our business and operating results could be adversely
affected by natural disasters. |
We have significant homebuilding operations in Texas, California
and Florida. Some of our markets in Texas and Florida
occasionally experience severe weather conditions, such as
tornadoes or hurricanes.
-18-
California has experienced a significant number of earthquakes,
flooding, landslides and other natural disasters in recent
years. We do not insure against some of these risks. These
occurrences could damage or destroy some of our homes under
construction or our building lots, which may result in losses
that exceed our insurance coverage. We could also suffer
significant construction delays or substantial fluctuations in
the pricing or availability of building materials. Any of these
events could cause a decrease in our revenue, cash flow and
earnings.
|
|
|
Our future operating results may be adversely impacted by
high inflation. |
We, like other homebuilders, may be adversely affected during
periods of high inflation, mainly because of higher land and
construction costs. Also, higher mortgage interest rates may
significantly affect the affordability of mortgage financing to
prospective buyers. Inflation also increases our cost of
financing, materials and labor and could cause our financial
results or growth to decline, which could impact the value of
the notes and the cash flow available to service the notes. We
attempt to pass cost increases on to our customers through
higher sales prices. To date, inflation has not had a material
adverse effect on our results of operations; however, inflation
could impact our future operating results.
|
|
|
We are subject to construction defect and home warranty
claims arising in the ordinary course of business which could
lead to additional reserves or expenses that may adversely
affect our business. |
Construction defect and home warranty claims are common in the
homebuilding industry and can be costly. While we maintain
product liability insurance and generally require our
subcontractors and design professionals to indemnify us for
liabilities arising from their work, we cannot assure you that
these insurance rights and indemnities will be adequate to cover
all construction defect and warranty claims for which we may be
liable. For example, we may be responsible for applicable
self-insured retentions, which have increased recently, and
certain claims may not be covered by insurance or may exceed
applicable coverage limits.
|
|
|
We recently reported that we had identified a material
weakness in our system of internal controls and that as of
December 31, 2004 our internal control over financial
reporting was not effective. |
We recently completed an evaluation of our internal controls
over financial reporting in order to allow management to assess
and report on, and our independent registered public accounting
firm to audit and attest to managements assessment and the
effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting,
as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and rules and
regulations of the SEC, which we refer to as Section 404.
As a result of this evaluation, we determined that our
accounting for our model lease program constituted a material
weakness under Section 404 and Auditing Standard No. 2
of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. We have made
the appropriate adjustments to our financial statements. As a
result, investors could lose confidence in our reported
financial information and the price of our securities could drop
significantly.
|
|
|
As a participant in the homebuilding industry we are
subject to its fluctuating cycles and other risks that can
negatively affect the demand for, cost of, and pricing of our
homes. |
The homebuilding industry is cyclical and is significantly
affected by changes in economic and other conditions, such as
employment levels, availability of financing, interest rates and
consumer confidence. These factors can negatively affect the
demand for and cost of our homes. We are also subject to various
risks, many of which are outside of our control, including
delays in construction schedules, cost overruns, changes in
governmental regulations (such as no- or slow-growth
initiatives), increases in real estate taxes and other local
government fees and raw materials and labor costs.
We are also subject to the potential for significant variability
and fluctuations in the cost and availability of real estate.
Although historically we have generally developed parcels
ranging from 100 to
-19-
300 lots, in order to achieve and maintain an adequate inventory
of lots, we are beginning to purchase larger parcels, in some
cases with a joint venture partner. Write-downs of our real
estate could occur if market conditions deteriorate and these
write-downs could be material in amount. Write-downs may also
occur if we purchase land at higher prices during stronger
economic periods and the value of that land subsequently
declines during slower economic periods.
|
|
|
We experience fluctuations and variability in our
operating results on a quarterly basis and, as a result, our
historical performance may not be a meaningful indicator of
future results. |
We historically have experienced, and expect to continue to
experience, variability in home sales and net earnings on a
quarterly basis. As a result of such variability, our historical
performance may not be a meaningful indicator of future results.
Fluctuations in our results could cause the value of the notes
to decline. Factors that contribute to this variability include:
|
|
|
|
|
timing of home deliveries and land sales; |
|
|
|
our ability to acquire additional land or options for additional
land on acceptable terms; |
|
|
|
conditions of the real estate market in areas where we operate
and of the general economy; |
|
|
|
the cyclical nature of the homebuilding industry, changes in
prevailing interest rates and the availability of mortgage
financing; |
|
|
|
costs and availability of materials and labor; and |
|
|
|
delays in construction schedules due to strikes, adverse
weather, acts of God, reduced subcontractor availability and
governmental restrictions. |
|
|
|
If we are unable to successfully compete in the highly
competitive homebuilding industry, our financial results and
growth could suffer. |
The homebuilding industry is highly competitive. We compete for
sales in each of our markets with national, regional and local
developers and homebuilders, existing home resales and, to a
lesser extent, condominiums and available rental housing. If we
are unable to successfully compete, our financial results and
growth could suffer and the value of, or our ability to service,
the notes could be adversely affected. Some of our competitors
have significantly greater financial resources or lower costs
than we do. Competition among both small and large residential
homebuilders is based on a number of interrelated factors,
including location, reputation, amenities, design, quality and
price. Competition is expected to continue and become more
intense, and there may be new entrants in the markets in which
we currently operate and in markets we may enter in the future.
|
|
|
We are subject to extensive government regulation that
could cause us to incur significant liabilities or restrict our
business activities. |
Regulatory requirements could cause us to incur significant
liabilities and costs and could restrict our business
activities. We are subject to local, state and federal statutes
and rules regulating certain development matters, as well as
building and site design. We are subject to various fees and
charges of government authorities designed to defray the cost of
providing certain governmental services and improvements. We may
be subject to additional costs and delays or may be precluded
entirely from building projects because of no-growth
or slow-growth initiatives, building permit
ordinances, building moratoriums, or similar government
regulations that could be imposed in the future due to health,
safety, welfare, or environmental concerns. We must also obtain
licenses, permits and approvals from government agencies to
engage in certain activities, the granting or receipt of which
are beyond our control, and could cause delays in our
homebuilding projects.
-20-
We are also subject to a variety of local, state and federal
statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations concerning the
protection of health and the environment. Environmental laws or
permit restrictions may result in project delays, may cause
substantial compliance and other costs and may prohibit or
severely restrict development in certain environmentally
sensitive regions or geographic areas. Environmental regulations
can also have an adverse impact on the availability and price of
certain raw materials, such as lumber.
Beginning in late 2003, we established relationships with title
insurance companies in three states where we do business,
pursuant to which one of our subsidiaries receives a portion of
the fees and premiums on title insurance purchased by certain of
our homebuyers and reinsures a portion of the policy risk. The
California Insurance Commissioner and regulators in other states
are investigating these types of arrangements. We are in the
process of terminating those arrangements that have not been
expressly approved by a state regulator. In total, these
arrangements contributed approximately $600,000 to our fiscal
2004 pre-tax earnings. Depending on the outcome of these
investigations, we could be subject to fines or sanctions which
could harm our operating results or reputation.
|
|
|
Acts of war may seriously harm our business. |
Acts of war or any outbreak or escalation of hostilities between
the United States and any foreign power, including the conflict
in Iraq, may cause disruption to the economy, our company, our
employees and our customers, which could impact our revenue,
cost and expenses and financial condition.
|
|
|
This prospectus includes forward-looking statements and
there are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause
our actual results to differ materially from these
forward-looking statements. |
This prospectus includes forward looking statements encouraged
by the Private Security Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Forward-looking statements include statements concerning our
plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events, future
revenue or performance, capital expenditures, financing needs,
plans or intentions relating to acquisitions, business trends
and other information that is not historical information. When
used in this prospectus, the words estimates,
expects, anticipates,
projects, plans, intends,
believes, forecasts and variations of
such words or similar expressions are intended to identify
forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are
based upon our current expectations and various assumptions. Our
expectations, beliefs and projections are expressed in good
faith and we believe there is a reasonable basis for them.
However, there can be no assurance that managements
expectations, beliefs and projections will result or be achieved.
There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause
our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking
statements contained in this prospectus. Important factors that
could cause our actual results to differ materially from the
forward-looking statements we make in this prospectus are set
forth in this Risk Factors section.
USE OF PROCEEDS
We will receive no proceeds from the exchange of the exchange
notes for the outstanding notes pursuant to the exchange offer.
The proceeds we received from the issuance of the outstanding
notes were used to repurchase approximately $276.8 million
of our outstanding
93/4%
senior notes due 2011 plus tender offer consideration and
consent payments totaling approximately $32.9 million in
the aggregate pursuant to a offer to purchase and consent
solicitation. We used the remaining proceeds to repay a portion
of our unsecured credit facility.
-21-
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth our cash and capitalization on an
actual and as adjusted basis as of February 28, 2005. As
adjusted data takes into account the issuance of the outstanding
notes on March 10, 2005, the repurchase of
$276.8 million our outstanding
93/4% senior
notes due 2011 pursuant to a concurrent tender offer and the
payment of related fees and expenses and the issuance of
1,035,000 shares of our common stock and the payment of
related fees, commissions and other costs. You should read this
table together with the other financial information and related
notes appearing elsewhere or incorporated by reference in this
prospectus.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At February 28, 2005 | |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
As Adjusted for | |
|
|
|
|
Notes Offered, | |
|
|
|
|
Tender Offer and | |
|
|
Actual | |
|
Shares Offered | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
(Unaudited) | |
|
|
(Dollars in thousands, | |
|
|
except per share amounts) | |
Cash and equivalents
|
|
$ |
22,251 |
|
|
$ |
29,512 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total debt:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Senior unsecured credit facility
|
|
$ |
89,500 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
93/4%
senior notes due 2011
|
|
|
286,734 |
|
|
|
3,297 |
|
|
7% senior notes due 2014
|
|
|
130,081 |
|
|
|
130,081 |
|
|
61/4%
senior notes due 2015 offered hereby(1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
348,250 |
|
|
Other borrowings
|
|
|
57,935 |
|
|
|
57,935 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total debt
|
|
$ |
564,250 |
|
|
$ |
539,563 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders equity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock, par value $.01 per share
|
|
$ |
315 |
|
|
$ |
325 |
(2) |
|
Additional paid-in capital
|
|
|
210,124 |
|
|
|
279,714 |
(2) |
|
Retained earnings
|
|
|
400,288 |
|
|
|
380,927 |
(3) |
|
Treasury stock at cost, 5,704,452 shares
|
|
|
(68,973 |
) |
|
|
(68,973 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total stockholders equity
|
|
|
541,754 |
|
|
|
591,993 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total capitalization
|
|
$ |
1,106,004 |
|
|
$ |
1,131,556 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
Includes $350.0 million in aggregate principal amount of
the notes offered hereby less a discount of $1.75 million. |
|
|
(2) |
Reflects the issuance of 1,035,000 shares of common stock
at a price of $70.35, net of commissions and other costs of
approximately $3.21 million. |
|
|
(3) |
Reflects a reduction in retained earnings resulting from the net
effect of the following: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tender premium and commissions
|
|
$ |
(32,874 |
) |
Accretion of existing note premium and write-off of existing
note offering costs
|
|
|
1,760 |
|
Legal, printing and other costs relating to the tender offer
|
|
|
(200 |
) |
Tax effect of above adjustments
|
|
|
11,953 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$ |
(19,361 |
) |
|
|
|
|
-22-
SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL DATA
The following table presents selected historical consolidated
financial and operating data of Meritage Homes Corporation and
subsidiaries as of and for each of the five years in the period
ended December 31, 2004. The consolidated statement of
earnings data for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003,
2002, 2001 and 2000 have been derived from Meritage Homes
Corporations audited consolidated financial statements.
You should read this data in conjunction with
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations and our consolidated
financial statements and related notes contained in the annual,
quarterly and other reports filed by us with the SEC, which we
have incorporated herein by reference. The data below includes
the operations of Hancock Communities, Hammonds Homes,
Perma-Bilt Homes and Citation Homes since their dates of
acquisition, June 1, 2001, July 1, 2002,
October 1, 2002 and January 1, 2004, respectively.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Years Ended December 31, | |
|
|
| |
|
|
2004 | |
|
2003(1) | |
|
2002(1) | |
|
2001(1) | |
|
2000(1) | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
(Dollars in thousands) | |
Statement of Earnings Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total closing revenue
|
|
$ |
2,040,004 |
|
|
$ |
1,471,001 |
|
|
$ |
1,119,817 |
|
|
$ |
744,174 |
|
|
$ |
520,467 |
|
|
Total cost of closings
|
|
|
(1,631,534 |
) |
|
|
(1,178,484 |
) |
|
|
(904,921 |
) |
|
|
(586,914 |
) |
|
|
(415,649 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross profit
|
|
|
408,470 |
|
|
|
292,517 |
|
|
|
214,896 |
|
|
|
157,260 |
|
|
|
104,818 |
|
|
Commissions and other sales costs
|
|
|
(116,527 |
) |
|
|
(92,904 |
) |
|
|
(65,291 |
) |
|
|
(41,085 |
) |
|
|
(28,680 |
) |
|
General and administrative expenses(2)
|
|
|
(79,257 |
) |
|
|
(53,929 |
) |
|
|
(41,496 |
) |
|
|
(36,105 |
) |
|
|
(21,215 |
) |
|
Other income, net
|
|
|
12,072 |
|
|
|
5,776 |
|
|
|
5,435 |
|
|
|
2,884 |
|
|
|
1,847 |
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(8 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings before provision for income taxes
|
|
|
224,758 |
|
|
|
151,460 |
|
|
|
113,544 |
|
|
|
82,954 |
|
|
|
56,762 |
|
|
Provision for income taxes(2)
|
|
|
(85,790 |
) |
|
|
(57,054 |
) |
|
|
(43,607 |
) |
|
|
(32,295 |
) |
|
|
(21,000 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net earnings
|
|
$ |
138,968 |
|
|
$ |
94,406 |
|
|
$ |
69,937 |
|
|
$ |
50,659 |
|
|
$ |
35,762 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings per common share(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
$ |
5.33 |
|
|
$ |
3.62 |
|
|
$ |
2.82 |
|
|
$ |
2.39 |
|
|
$ |
1.73 |
|
|
Diluted
|
|
$ |
5.03 |
|
|
$ |
3.42 |
|
|
$ |
2.66 |
|
|
$ |
2.15 |
|
|
$ |
1.57 |
|
-23-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Years Ended December 31, | |
|
|
| |
|
|
2004 | |
|
2003(1) | |
|
2002(1) | |
|
2001(1) | |
|
2000(1) | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
(Dollars in thousands) | |
Other Financial Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross profit margin(8)
|
|
|
20.0 |
% |
|
|
19.9 |
% |
|
|
19.2 |
% |
|
|
21.1 |
% |
|
|
20.1 |
% |
|
Interest amortized to cost of home closings and interest expense
|
|
$ |
32,228 |
|
|
$ |
22,287 |
|
|
$ |
19,259 |
|
|
$ |
13,303 |
|
|
$ |
9,179 |
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
13,233 |
|
|
|
8,536 |
|
|
|
6,780 |
|
|
|
5,741 |
|
|
|
3,407 |
|
|
Interest incurred and capitalized(4)
|
|
|
38,855 |
|
|
|
26,580 |
|
|
|
19,294 |
|
|
|
16,623 |
|
|
|
10,634 |
|
|
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
|
|
|
60,171 |
|
|
|
(50,302 |
) |
|
|
1,050 |
|
|
|
(16,411 |
) |
|
|
6,252 |
|
|
Net cash (used in) investing activities
|
|
|
(81,804 |
) |
|
|
(35,812 |
) |
|
|
(149,691 |
) |
|
|
(76,465 |
) |
|
|
(8,175 |
) |
|
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
|
|
|
64,710 |
|
|
|
84,313 |
|
|
|
151,858 |
|
|
|
91,862 |
|
|
|
(7,102 |
) |
|
EBITDA(5)(8)
|
|
|
270,219 |
|
|
|
182,283 |
|
|
|
139,583 |
|
|
|
101,998 |
|
|
|
69,348 |
|
|
EBITDA margin(6)(8)
|
|
|
13.2 |
% |
|
|
12.4 |
% |
|
|
12.5 |
% |
|
|
13.7 |
% |
|
|
13.3 |
% |
|
Ratio of EBITDA to interest incurred(8)
|
|
|
6.95 |
x |
|
|
6.86 |
x |
|
|
7.23 |
x |
|
|
6.14 |
x |
|
|
6.52 |
x |
|
Ratio of total debt to EBITDA(8)
|
|
|
1.74 |
x |
|
|
1.93 |
x |
|
|
1.90 |
x |
|
|
1.74 |
x |
|
|
1.24 |
x |
|
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(7)(8)
|
|
|
5.9 |
x |
|
|
5.6 |
x |
|
|
5.8 |
x |
|
|
5.4 |
x |
|
|
5.8 |
x |
Operating Data(8):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Homes closed
|
|
|
7,254 |
|
|
|
5,642 |
|
|
|
4,574 |
|
|
|
3,270 |
|
|
|
2,227 |
|
|
Homes ordered
|
|
|
9,007 |
|
|
|
6,152 |
|
|
|
4,504 |
|
|
|
3,016 |
|
|
|
2,480 |
|
|
Average sales price of homes closed
|
|
$ |
277.9 |
|
|
$ |
259.1 |
|
|
$ |
243.2 |
|
|
$ |
227.1 |
|
|
$ |
231.4 |
|
|
Average sales price of homes ordered
|
|
$ |
289.2 |
|
|
$ |
265.8 |
|
|
$ |
258.0 |
|
|
$ |
232.1 |
|
|
$ |
243.7 |
|
|
Backlog at end of period
|
|
$ |
1,320,951 |
|
|
$ |
710,771 |
|
|
$ |
537,764 |
|
|
$ |
374,951 |
|
|
$ |
309,901 |
|
|
Backlog at end of period (homes)
|
|
|
4,408 |
|
|
|
2,580 |
|
|
|
2,070 |
|
|
|
1,602 |
|
|
|
1,246 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At December 31, | |
|
|
| |
|
|
2004 | |
|
2003(1) | |
|
2002(1) | |
|
2001(1) | |
|
2000(1) | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
(Dollars in thousands) | |
Balance Sheet Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$ |
47,876 |
|
|
$ |
4,799 |
|
|
$ |
6,600 |
|
|
$ |
3,383 |
|
|
$ |
4,397 |
|
|
Real estate
|
|
|
867,218 |
|
|
|
678,011 |
|
|
|
484,970 |
|
|
|
330,238 |
|
|
|
211,307 |
|
|
Total assets
|
|
|
1,265,394 |
|
|
|
954,539 |
|
|
|
691,788 |
|
|
|
436,715 |
|
|
|
267,075 |
|
|
Notes and loans payable and other borrowings
|
|
|
471,415 |
|
|
|
351,491 |
|
|
|
264,927 |
|
|
|
177,561 |
|
|
|
86,152 |
|
|
Stockholders equity
|
|
|
522,555 |
|
|
|
411,895 |
|
|
|
317,308 |
|
|
|
176,587 |
|
|
|
121,099 |
|
|
|
(1) |
Historically, the construction costs and related debt associated
with model homes which are owned and leased to us by others that
we use to market our communities were not included in our balance |
-24-
|
|
|
sheets. In January 2005 we determined that the costs associated
with these models and the related debt are required to be
included as assets and liabilities, respectively, on our balance
sheet and that the lease payments needed to be recharacterized
as interest and that such interest should be capitalized and
allocated to cost of sales. As a result, we restated our
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended
June 30, 2004 and September 30, 2004. We have
determined that the effect on our year-end financial statements
for 2003 and prior and the quarter ended March 31, 2004 is
immaterial. |
|
|
(2) |
2001 earnings include a $383 loss related to the net effect of
early extinguishments of long-term debt. Previously this amount,
net of the tax effect of $149 was reported as an extraordinary
item. We have reclassified this loss as general and
administrative expense and income tax benefit, respectively, to
conform to the requirements of SFAS 145, which was
effective for fiscal years beginning after May 15, 2002. |
|
(3) |
2000-2001 amounts have been adjusted to reflect a 2-for-1 stock
split in the form of a stock dividend that occurred in April
2002 and all amounts have been adjusted to reflect a 2-for-1
stock split in the form of a stock dividend that occurred in
January 2005. |
|
(4) |
Interest incurred is the amount of interest paid and accrued
(whether expensed or capitalized) during such period, including
debt-related fees and amortization of deferred financing costs. |
|
(5) |
EBITDA represents net earnings before interest expense, interest
amortized to cost of sales, income taxes, depreciation and
amortization. EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. A non-GAAP
financial measure is a numerical measure of a registrants
historical or future financial performance, financial position
or cash flows that excludes amounts, or is subject to
adjustments that have the effect of excluding amounts, that are
included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and
presented in accordance with GAAP in the statement of earnings,
balance sheet, or statement of cash flows (or equivalent
statements) of the issuer; or includes amounts, or is subject to
adjustments that have the effect of including amounts, that are
excluded from the most directly comparable measure so calculated
and presented. In this regard, GAAP refers to generally accepted
accounting principles in the United States. We have provided
below a reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to the
most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. |
EBITDA is presented here because it is used by management to
analyze and compare Meritage with other homebuilding companies
on the basis of operating performance and we believe it is a
financial measure widely used by investors and analysts in the
homebuilding industry. EBITDA as presented may not be comparable
to similarly titled measures reported by other companies because
not all companies calculate EBITDA in an identical manner and,
therefore, it is not necessarily an accurate means of comparison
between companies. EBITDA is not intended to represent cash
flows for the period or funds available for managements
discretionary use nor has it been presented as an alternative to
operating income or earnings or as an indicator of operating
performance and it should not be considered in isolation or as a
substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles in the United
States of America. The reconciliation of EBITDA to net earnings
for each of the respective periods shown is as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Years Ended December 31, | |
|
|
| |
|
|
2004 | |
|
2003 | |
|
2002 | |
|
2001 | |
|
2000 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
(Unaudited) | |
|
|
(Dollars in thousands) | |
Net earnings
|
|
$ |
138,968 |
|
|
$ |
94,406 |
|
|
$ |
69,937 |
|
|
$ |
50,659 |
|
|
$ |
35,762 |
|
Plus:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income taxes
|
|
|
85,790 |
|
|
|
57,054 |
|
|
|
43,607 |
|
|
|
32,295 |
|
|
|
21,000 |
|
|
Interest
|
|
|
32,228 |
|
|
|
22,287 |
|
|
|
19,259 |
|
|
|
13,303 |
|
|
|
9,179 |
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
13,233 |
|
|
|
8,536 |
|
|
|
6,780 |
|
|
|
5,741 |
|
|
|
3,407 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EBITDA
|
|
$ |
270,219 |
|
|
$ |
182,283 |
|
|
$ |
139,583 |
|
|
$ |
101,998 |
|
|
$ |
69,348 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-25-
|
|
(6) |
EBITDA margin is calculated by dividing EBITDA by total closing
revenue. |
|
(7) |
For purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed
charges, earnings consist of income before income
taxes plus fixed charges less capitalized interest. Fixed
charges consist of interest expense including amortization
of deferred debt expense, one-half of rent expense, which is
deemed to be representative of an interest factor, and
capitalized interest. |
|
(8) |
EBITDA, operating data and operating ratios are unaudited. |
-26-
DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN INDEBTEDNESS
The following is a summary of certain of our and our
subsidiaries indebtedness.
Senior Unsecured Credit Facility
We have a credit agreement which provides for a
$400 million senior unsecured revolving credit facility.
Guaranty Bank is the administrative agent for the facility,
which matures in May 2007, subject to extension provisions.
At February 28, 2005, there was a balance of approximately
$89.5 million outstanding under our senior unsecured
revolving credit facility and approximately $60.1 million
was outstanding in letters of credit that collateralize our
obligations under various land purchase and other contracts.
After considering our most restrictive bank covenants, our
borrowing availability under the bank credit facility was
approximately $222.2 million at February 28, 2005, as
determined by borrowing base limitations defined by our
agreement with the lending banks.
The interest rate on this credit facility is based upon either
the agent banks quoted base rate or the eurodollar rate,
plus an applicable margin that is determined by the level of a
predefined financial leverage ratio. In addition, we incur
commitment fees on the unused portion of the revolver that range
from 0.275% to 0.50% per annum. The interest rate for
outstanding balances under the bank credit facility at
February 28, 2005 was at LIBOR (approximately 2.916%) plus
two percent or at prime (5.5%).
This credit facility contains certain financial and other
covenants, including covenants:
|
|
|
|
|
requiring us to maintain tangible net worth of at least
$225 million plus 50% of net income earned since
January 1, 2004 plus 75% of the aggregate net increase in
tangible net worth resulting from the sale of capital stock and
other equity interests (as defined); |
|
|
|
prohibiting our ratio of indebtedness (including accrued
expenses) to tangible net worth from being greater than 2.25 to
1; |
|
|
|
requiring us to maintain a ratio of EBITDA (including interest
amortized to cost of sales) to interest incurred (as defined) of
at least 2.0 to 1; |
|
|
|
prohibiting the net book value of our land and lots where
construction of a home has not commenced to exceed 125% of
tangible net worth and prohibiting the net book value of our raw
land where grading or infrastructure improvements have not begun
to exceed 20% of tangible net worth; |
|
|
|
limiting the number of unsold housing units and model units that
we may have in our inventory at the end of any fiscal quarter as
follows: |
|
|
|
|
(i) |
unsold homes cannot exceed 25% of the number of home closings
within the four fiscal quarters ending on such date; and |
|
|
(ii) |
model homes cannot exceed 10% of the number of home closings
within the four fiscal quarters ending on such date; and |
-27-
|
|
|
|
|
prohibiting us from entering into any sale and leaseback
transaction, excluding the sale and leaseback of model homes and
prohibiting us from creating or incurring any off-balance sheet
liability. For purposes of our credit facility, off-balance
sheet liabilities include: |
|
|
|
|
(i) |
certain liabilities arising under asset securitization
transactions; |
|
|
(ii) |
monetary obligations under synthetic leases, tax retention or
off-balance sheet lease transactions that upon the application
of any debtor relief law to us would be characterized as
indebtedness; |
|
|
(iii) |
any other monetary obligation with respect to any transaction
which upon the application of any debtor relief law to us would
be characterized as indebtedness or which is the functional
equivalent of or takes the place of borrowing but which does not
constitute a liability on our consolidated balance sheet. |
Notwithstanding the above, our credit facility specifically
provides that liabilities (i) under rolling options and
similar contracts for the acquisition of real property and
(ii) arising under model home leases shall not be deemed
off-balance sheet liabilities.
7% Senior Notes due 2014
In April 2004, we issued $130 million in principal amount
of our 7% senior notes due 2014.
The indenture for our 7% senior notes due 2014 requires us
to comply with a number of covenants that restrict certain
transactions, including covenants:
|
|
|
|
|
limiting the amount of additional indebtedness we can incur
unless after giving effect to such additional indebtedness,
either (i) our fixed charge coverage ratio would be at
least 2.0 to 1.0 or (ii) our ratio of consolidated debt to
consolidated tangible net worth would be less than 3.0 to 1.0,
provided, however, this limitation does not apply to most types
of inter-company indebtedness, purchase money indebtedness up to
$15 million, non-recourse indebtedness and other
indebtedness up to $15 million; |
|
|
|
generally limiting the amount of dividends, redemptions of
equity interests and certain investments we can make to
$10 million plus (i) 50% of our net income since
May 30, 2001 plus (ii) 100% of the net cash proceeds
from the sale of qualified equity interests, plus other items
and subject to other exceptions; |
|
|
|
requiring us to maintain tangible net worth of at least
$60 million; |
|
|
|
limiting our ability to incur or create certain liens; and |
|
|
|
placing limitations on the sale of assets, mergers and
consolidations and transactions with affiliates. |
Other Debt
Substantially all of our other debt at December 31, 2004
consists of obligations recorded in connection with model home
construction costs and related debt which are owned and leased
to us by others but which are included in our balance sheet.
Interest (lease payments) on those borrowings is at a rate of
LIBOR plus 4.25% per annum and is payable monthly. Principal
payments are generally deemed made when the model home is sold
to a third party or the lease is terminated.
-28-
DESCRIPTION OF THE EXCHANGE NOTES
As used below in this Description of the Exchange
Notes section, the Issuer means
Meritage Homes Corporation, a Maryland corporation, and its
successors, but not any of its subsidiaries. The Issuer will
issue the exchange notes described in this prospectus under the
indenture, dated as of March 10, 2005, among the Issuer,
the Guarantors and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as
trustee. The terms of the exchange notes include those set forth
in the indenture and those made part of the indenture by
reference to the Trust Indenture Act. You may obtain a copy of
the indenture from the Issuer at its address set forth elsewhere
in this prospectus.
The following is a summary of the material terms and provisions
of the exchange notes. As used in this Description of the
Exchange Notes, the terms Notes and
notes mean the series of the Issuers senior
debt securities issued under the indenture designated as its
61/4%
Senior Notes due 2015, in each case except as otherwise
expressly provided or as the context otherwise requires. The
following summary does not purport to be a complete description
of the Notes and is subject to the detailed provisions of the
indenture. You can find definitions of certain terms used in
this description under the heading Certain
Definitions.
Principal, Maturity and Interest
The Notes will mature on March 15, 2015. The Notes will
bear interest at the rate shown on the cover page of this
prospectus, payable on March 15 and September 15 of
each year, commencing on September 15, 2005, to holders of
record at the close of business on March 1 or
September 1, as the case may be, immediately preceding the
relevant interest payment date. Interest on the Notes will be
computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
The Notes will be issued in registered form, without coupons,
and in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000.
The Issuer may issue an unlimited amount of Notes having
identical terms and conditions to the Notes being issued in this
offering (Additional Notes), subject to
compliance with the Limitations on Additional
Indebtedness covenant described below. Any Additional
Notes will be part of the same issue as the Notes being issued
in this offering and will vote on all matters as one class with
the Notes being issued in this offering, including, without
limitation, waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to
purchase. For purposes of the Description of the
Notes, except for the covenant described under
Certain Covenants Limitations on
Additional Indebtedness, references to the Notes include
Additional Notes, if any.
Methods of Receiving Payments on the Notes
If a holder has given wire transfer instructions to the Issuer
at least ten business days prior to the applicable payment date,
the Issuer will make all payments on such holders Notes in
accordance with those instructions. Otherwise, payments on the
Notes will be made at the office or agency of the paying agent
and registrar for the Notes within the City and State of New
York unless the Issuer elects to make interest payments by check
mailed to the holders at their addresses set forth in the
register of holders.
Ranking
The Notes will be general unsecured obligations of the Issuer.
The Notes will rank senior in right of payment to all future
obligations of the Issuer that are, by their terms, expressly
subordinated in right of payment to the Notes and pari passu
in right of payment with all existing and future unsecured
obligations of the Issuer that are not so subordinated. Each
note guarantee will be a general unsecured obligation of the
Guarantor thereof and will rank senior in right of payment to
all future obligations of such Guarantor that are, by their
terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to such note
guarantee and pari passu in right of payment with all
existing and future unsecured obligations of such Guarantor that
are not so subordinated.
-29-
The Notes and each note guarantee will be effectively
subordinated to secured Indebtedness of the Issuer and the
applicable Guarantor to the extent of the value of the assets
securing such Indebtedness. Although the indenture contains
limitations on the amount of additional secured Indebtedness
that the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries may incur, under
certain circumstances, the amount of this Indebtedness could be
substantial. See Certain Covenants
Limitations on Additional Indebtedness and
Limitations on Liens.
The Notes will also be effectively subordinated to all existing
and future obligations, including Indebtedness, of any
Unrestricted Subsidiaries. Claims of creditors of Unrestricted
Subsidiaries, including trade creditors, will generally have
priority as to the assets of these Subsidiaries over the claims
of the Issuer and the holders of the Issuers Indebtedness,
including the Notes.
Note Guarantees
The Issuers obligations under the Notes and the indenture
will be jointly and severally guaranteed by each Restricted
Subsidiary.
Not all of our Subsidiaries will guarantee the Notes.
Unrestricted Subsidiaries will not be Guarantors. In the event
of a bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization of any of these
non-guarantor Subsidiaries, these non-guarantor Subsidiaries
will pay the holders of their debts and their trade creditors
before they will be able to distribute any of their assets to us.
As of the date of this prospectus, all of our Subsidiaries,
other than MTH Mortgage, LLC and Texas Home Mortgage
Corporation, which conduct our mortgage broker business, will be
Restricted Subsidiaries, and all of our Restricted
Subsidiaries will be Guarantors. However, under the
circumstances described below under the subheading
Certain Covenants Limitations on
Designation of Unrestricted Subsidiaries, the Issuer will
be permitted to designate some of our other Subsidiaries as
Unrestricted Subsidiaries. The effect of designating
a Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be:
|
|
|
|
|
an Unrestricted Subsidiary will not be subject to many of the
restrictive covenants in the indenture; |
|
|
|
a Subsidiary that has previously been a Guarantor and that is
designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be released from its
note guarantee; and |
|
|
|
the assets, income, cash flow and other financial results of an
Unrestricted Subsidiary will not be consolidated with those of
the Issuer for purposes of calculating compliance with the
restrictive covenants contained in the indenture. |
The obligations of each Guarantor under its note guarantee will
be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to
all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor
(including, without limitation, any guarantees under the Credit
Facilities permitted under clause (1) of
Certain Covenants Limitations on
Additional Indebtedness) and after giving effect to any
collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other
Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor
under its note guarantee or pursuant to its contribution
obligations under the indenture, result in the obligations of
such Guarantor under its note guarantee not constituting a
fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under federal or
state law. Each Guarantor that makes a payment for distribution
under its note guarantee is entitled to a contribution from each
other Guarantor in a pro rata amount based on adjusted
net assets of each Guarantor.
In the event of a sale or other disposition of all of the assets
of any Guarantor, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise,
or a sale or other disposition of all of the Equity Interests of
any Guarantor then held by the Issuer and the Restricted
Subsidiaries, then that Guarantor will be released and relieved
of any obligations under its note guarantee; provided
that the Net Available Proceeds of such sale or other
disposition shall be applied in accordance with the applicable
provisions of the indenture, to the extent required thereby. See
Certain Covenants Limitations on
Asset Sales. In addition, the indenture will provide that
any Guarantor that is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary
or that otherwise ceases to be a Guarantor, in each case in
accordance with the provisions of the indenture, will be
released from its
-30-
note guarantee upon effectiveness of such designation or when it
first ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be.
Optional Redemption
Except as set forth below, the Notes may not be redeemed prior
to March 15, 2010. At any time on or after March 15,
2010, the Issuer, at its option, may redeem the Notes, in whole
or in part, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages
of principal amount) set forth below, together with accrued and
unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the redemption date, if
redeemed during the 12-month period beginning March 15 of
the years indicated:
|
|
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|
|
|
|
Optional | |
|
|
Redemption | |
Year |
|
Price | |
|
|
| |
2010
|
|
|
103.125% |
|
2011
|
|
|
102.083% |
|
2012
|
|
|
101.042% |
|
2013 and thereafter
|
|
|
100.000% |
|
At any time prior to March 15, 2008, the Issuer may redeem up to
35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes with the net
cash proceeds of one or more Qualified Equity Offerings at a
redemption price equal to 106.250% of the principal amount of
the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest
thereon, if any, to the date of redemption; provided that
(1) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes
issued under the indenture remains outstanding immediately after
the occurrence of such redemption and (2) the redemption
occurs within 90 days of the date of the closing of any
such Qualified Equity Offering.
The Issuer may acquire Notes by means other than a redemption,
whether pursuant to an issuer tender offer, open market purchase
or otherwise, so long as the acquisition does not otherwise
violate the terms of the indenture.
Selection and Notice of Redemption
In the event that less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed
at any time pursuant to an optional redemption, selection of the
Notes for redemption will be made by the trustee in compliance
with the requirements of the principal national securities
exchange, if any, on which the Notes are listed or, if the Notes
are not then listed on a national security exchange, on a pro
rata basis, by lot or by such method as the trustee shall
deem fair and appropriate; provided, however, that no
Notes of a principal amount of $1,000 or less shall be redeemed
in part. In addition, if a partial redemption is made pursuant
to the provisions described in the second paragraph under
Optional Redemption, selection of the
Notes or portions thereof for redemption shall be made by the
trustee only on a pro rata basis or on as nearly a pro
rata basis as is practicable (subject to the procedures of
The Depository Trust Company), unless that method is otherwise
prohibited.
Notice of redemption will be mailed by first-class mail at least
30 but not more than 60 days before the date of redemption
to each holder of Notes to be redeemed at its registered
address. If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice
of redemption that relates to that Note will state the portion
of the principal amount of the Note to be redeemed. A new Note
in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the
Note will be issued in the name of the holder of the Note upon
cancellation of the original Note. On and after the date of
redemption, interest will cease to accrue on Notes or portions
thereof called for redemption so long as the Issuer has
deposited with the paying agent for the Notes funds in
satisfaction of the redemption price (including accrued and
unpaid interest on the Notes to be redeemed) pursuant to the
indenture.
-31-
Change of Control
Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event,
each holder will have the right to require that the Issuer
purchase that holders Notes for a cash price (the
Change of Control Purchase Price) equal to
101% of the principal amount of the Notes to be purchased, plus
accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the date of
purchase.
Within 30 days following a Change of Control Triggering
Event, the Issuer will mail, or caused to be mailed, to the
holders a notice:
|
|
|
(1) describing the transaction or transactions that
constitute the Change of Control; |
|
|
(2) offering to purchase, pursuant to the procedures
required by the indenture and described in the notice, on a date
specified in the notice (which shall be a business day not
earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the
date the notice is mailed) and for the Change of Control
Purchase Price, all Notes properly tendered by such holder
pursuant to such change of control offer; and |
|
|
(3) describing the procedures that holders must follow to
accept the change of control offer. The change of control offer
is required to remain open for at least 20 business days or for
such longer period as is required by law. |
The Issuer will publicly announce the results of the change of
control offer on or as soon as practicable after the date of
purchase.
If a change of control offer is made, there can be no assurance
that the Issuer will have available funds sufficient to pay for
all or any of the Notes that might be delivered by holders
seeking to accept the change of control offer. In addition, we
cannot assure you that in the event of a Change of Control
Triggering Event the Issuer will be able to obtain the consents
necessary to consummate a change of control offer from the
lenders under agreements governing outstanding Indebtedness
which may prohibit the offer.
The provisions described above that require us to make a change
of control offer following a Change of Control Triggering Event
will be applicable regardless of whether any other provisions of
the indenture are applicable. Except as described above with
respect to a Change of Control Triggering Event, the indenture
does not contain provisions that permit the holders of the Notes
to require that the Issuer purchase or redeem the Notes in the
event of a takeover, recapitalization or similar transaction.
The Issuers obligation to make a change of control offer
will be satisfied if a third party makes the change of control
offer in the manner and at the times and otherwise in compliance
with the requirements applicable to a change of control offer
made by the Issuer and purchases all Notes properly tendered and
not withdrawn under the change of control offer.
A Change of Control includes certain sales of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Issuer and the Restricted
Subsidiaries. The phrase all or substantially all as
used in the indenture (including as set forth under
Certain Covenants Limitations on
Mergers, Consolidations, Etc. below) varies according to
the facts and circumstances of the subject transaction, has no
clearly established meaning under New York law (which
governs the indenture) and is subject to judicial
interpretation. Accordingly, in certain circumstances there may
be a degree of uncertainty in ascertaining whether a particular
transaction would involve a disposition of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Issuer, and
therefore it may be unclear as to whether a Change of Control
has occurred and whether the holders have the right to require
the Issuer to purchase Notes.
The Issuer will comply with applicable tender offer rules,
including the requirements of Rule 14e-l under the Exchange
Act and any other applicable laws and regulations in connection
with the purchase of Notes pursuant to a change of control
offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws
or regulations conflict with the Change of Control
provisions of the indenture, the Issuer shall comply with the
applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be
deemed to have breached its obligations under the Change
of Control provisions of the indenture by virtue of this
compliance.
-32-
Suspension Period
During a Suspension Period, the provisions of the indenture
described under Change of Control and the
Limitation on Additional Indebtedness,
Limitation on Restricted Payments, Limitation
on Dividend and Other Restrictions Affecting Restricted
Subsidiaries, Limitations on Transactions with
Affiliates, Limitations on Asset Sales,
Limitations on Designation of Unrestricted
Subsidiaries, and Conduct of Business
covenants (collectively, the Suspendable
Covenants) will not apply. All other covenants and
provisions of the indenture will apply at all times so long as
any Notes remain outstanding.
Suspension Period means the period
(a) beginning on the date that:
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|
|
(1) the Notes have Investment Grade Ratings by both Rating
Agencies; provided that, prior to the assignment of the
Investment Grade Ratings, the Issuer has advised the Rating
Agencies that the Suspendable Covenants will not apply during
the Suspension Period; |
|
|
(2) no Default has occurred and is continuing; and |
|
|
(3) the Issuer has delivered an officers certificate
to the Trustee certifying that the conditions set forth in
clauses (1) and (2) above are satisfied; |
and (b) ending on the date (the Reversion
Date) that either Rating Agency ceases to have
Investment Grade Ratings on the Notes.
On the Reversion Date, all Indebtedness incurred during the
Suspension Period will be classified to have been incurred
pursuant to the Ratio Exception or one of the clauses set forth
in the definition of Permitted Indebtedness (to the extent such
Indebtedness would be permitted to be incurred thereunder as of
the Reversion Date and after giving effect to Indebtedness
incurred prior to the Suspension Period and outstanding on the
Reversion Date). To the extent any Indebtedness would not so be
permitted to be incurred pursuant to the Ratio Exception or any
of the clauses set forth in the definition of Permitted
Indebtedness, such Indebtedness will be deemed to have been
outstanding on the Issue Date, so that it is classified as
Permitted Indebtedness under clause (3) of the definition
of Permitted Indebtedness and permitted to be refinanced under
clause (11) of the definition of Permitted Indebtedness.
For purposes of calculating the amount available to be made as
Restricted Payments under clause (3) of the first paragraph
of the Limitation on Restricted Payments covenant,
calculations under that clause will be made with reference to
the Measurement Date as set forth in that clause. Accordingly,
Restricted Payments made during the Suspension Period will
reduce the amount available to be made as Restricted Payments
under clause (3) and the items specified in
subclauses (a) through (e) of clause (3) that occur
during the Suspension Period will increase the amount available
to be made as Restricted Payments under clause (3). Any
Restricted Payments made during the Suspension Period that are
of the type described in clause (4) under the second
paragraph of the Limitations on Restricted Payments
covenants shall reduce the amounts permitted to be incurred
under such clause (4) on the Reversion Date.
For purposes of the Limitation on Asset Sales
covenant, on the Reversion Date, the Net Proceeds Offer Amount
will be reset to zero.
Certain Covenants
The indenture will contain, among others, the following
covenants:
Limitations on additional indebtedness
The Issuer will not, and will not permit any Restricted
Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, incur any Indebtedness;
provided that the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary may
incur additional Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness)
if no Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time
of or as a consequence of the incurrence of the Indebtedness and
if, after giving effect thereto, either (a) the
Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio would be at least
2.00 to 1.00 or (b) the ratio of Consolidated
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Indebtedness to Consolidated Tangible Net Worth would be less
than 3.00 to 1.00 (either (a) or (b), the Ratio
Exception).
Notwithstanding the above, so long as no Default shall have
occurred and be continuing at the time of or as a consequence of
the incurrence of the following Indebtedness, each of the
following shall be permitted (the Permitted
Indebtedness):
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(1) Indebtedness of the Issuer and any Restricted
Subsidiary under the Credit Facilities in an aggregate amount at
any time outstanding (whether incurred under the Ratio Exception
or as Permitted Indebtedness) not to exceed the greater of
(x) $600.0 million and (y) the amount of the Borrowing
Base as of the date of such incurrence; |
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(2) the Notes and the note guarantees issued on the Issue
Date; |
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(3) Indebtedness of the Issuer and the Restricted
Subsidiaries to the extent outstanding on the Issue Date (other
than Indebtedness referred to in clauses (1) and (2) above,
and after giving effect to the intended use of proceeds of the
Notes); |
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(4) Indebtedness of the Issuer and the Restricted
Subsidiaries under Hedging Obligations; provided that
(a) such Hedging Obligations relate to payment obligations
on Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred by this
covenant, and (b) the notional principal amount of such
Hedging Obligations at the time incurred does not exceed the
principal amount of the Indebtedness to which such Hedging
Obligations relate; |
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(5) Indebtedness of the Issuer owed to a Restricted
Subsidiary and Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary owed to
the Issuer or any other Restricted Subsidiary; provided,
however, that (a) any Indebtedness of the Issuer owed
to a Restricted Subsidiary is unsecured and subordinated,
pursuant to a written agreement, to the Issuers
obligation, under the indenture and the Notes and (b) upon
any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted
Subsidiary or such Indebtedness being owed to any person other
than the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, the Issuer or such
Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, shall be deemed to have
incurred Indebtedness not permitted by this clause (5); |
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(6) Indebtedness in respect of bid, performance or surety
bonds issued for the account of the Issuer or any Restricted
Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business, including
guarantees or obligations of the Issuer or any Restricted
Subsidiary with respect to letters of credit supporting such
bid, performance or surety obligations (in each case other than
for an obligation for money borrowed); |
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(7) Purchase Money Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer or
any Restricted Subsidiary; |
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(8) Non-Recourse Indebtedness of the Issuer or any
Restricted Subsidiary incurred for the acquisition, development
and/or improvement of real property and secured by Liens only on
such real property; |
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(9) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or
other financial institution of a check, draft or similar
instrument inadvertently (except in the case of daylight
overdrafts) drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary
course of business; provided, however, that such
Indebtedness is extinguished within five business days of
incurrence; |
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(10) Indebtedness arising in connection with endorsement of
instruments for deposit in the ordinary course of business; |
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(11) Refinancing Indebtedness with respect to Indebtedness
incurred pursuant to the Ratio Exception or clause (2) or
(3) above; |
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(12) Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted
Subsidiary in an aggregate amount not to exceed
$25.0 million at any time outstanding; |
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(13) obligations for, pledge of assets in respect of, and
guarantees of, bond financings of political subdivisions or
enterprises thereof in the ordinary course of business; and |
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(14) Indebtedness of mortgage lending Subsidiaries under
warehouse lines of credit, repurchase agreements and
Indebtedness secured by mortgage loans and related assets of
mortgage lending Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of a
mortgage lending business. |
For purposes of determining compliance with this covenant, in
the event that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of
more than one of the categories of Permitted Indebtedness
described in clauses (1) through (14) above or is entitled
to be incurred pursuant to the Ratio Exception, the Issuer
shall, in its sole discretion, classify such item of
Indebtedness and may divide and classify such Indebtedness in
more than one of the types of Indebtedness described, except
that Indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Facilities on the
Issue Date shall be deemed to have been incurred under
clause (1) above.
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Limitations on Restricted Payments |
The Issuer will not, and will not permit any Restricted
Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, make any Restricted
Payment if at the time of such Restricted Payment:
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(1) a Default shall have occurred and be continuing or
shall occur as a consequence thereof; |
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(2) the Issuer cannot incur $1.00 of additional
Indebtedness pursuant to the Ratio Exception; or |
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(3) the amount of such Restricted Payment, when added to
the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made after
the Measurement Date (other than Restricted Payments made
pursuant to clause (2), (3) or (5) of the next paragraph),
exceeds the sum (the Restricted Payments
Basket) of (without duplication): |
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(a) 50% of Consolidated Net Income for the period (taken as
one accounting period) commencing on the first day of the first
full fiscal quarter commencing after the Measurement Date to and
including the last day of the fiscal quarter ended immediately
prior to the date of such calculation for which consolidated
financial statements are available (or, if such Consolidated Net
Income shall be a deficit, minus 100% of such aggregate
deficit), plus |
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(b) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds or the fair
market value of any assets to be used in a Permitted Business
(other than securities) received by the Issuer either
(x) as contributions to the common equity of the Issuer
after the Measurement Date or (y) from the issuance and
sale of Qualified Equity Interests after the Measurement Date,
other than to the extent any such proceeds are used to redeem
Notes in accordance with the second paragraph under
Optional Redemption, plus |
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(c) the aggregate amount by which Indebtedness of the
Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary is reduced on the
Issuers balance sheet upon the conversion or exchange
(other than by a Subsidiary of the Issuer) subsequent to the
Measurement Date into Qualified Equity Interests (less the
amount of any cash, or the fair value of assets, distributed by
the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary upon such conversion or
exchange), plus |
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(d) in the case of the disposition or repayment of or
return on any Investment that was treated as a Restricted
Payment made after the Measurement Date, an amount (to the
extent not included in the computation of Consolidated Net
Income) equal to the lesser of (i) the return of capital
with respect to such Investment and (ii) the amount of such
Investment that was treated as a Restricted Payment, in either
case, less the cost of the disposition of such Investment and
net of taxes, plus |
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(e) upon a redesignation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a
Restricted Subsidiary, the lesser of (i) the fair market
value of the Issuers proportionate interest in such
Subsidiary immediately following such redesignation, and
(ii) the aggregate amount of the Issuers Investments
in such Subsidiary to the extent such Investments reduced the
amount available for subsequent |
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Restricted Payments under this clause (3) and were not
previously repaid or otherwise reduced, plus |
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(f) $25.0 million. |
The foregoing provisions will not prohibit:
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(1) the payment by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary
of any dividend within 60 days after the date of
declaration thereof, if on the date of declaration the payment
would have complied with the provisions of the indenture; |
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(2) so long as no Default shall have occurred and be
continuing at the time of or as a consequence of such
redemption, the redemption of any Equity Interests of the Issuer
or any Restricted Subsidiary in exchange for, or out of the
proceeds of the substantially concurrent issuance and sale of,
Qualified Equity Interests; |
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(3) so long as no Default shall have occurred and be
continuing at the time of or as a consequence of such
redemption, the redemption of Subordinated Indebtedness of the
Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (a) in exchange for, or
out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent issuance and
sale of, Qualified Equity Interests or (b) in exchange for,
or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent
incurrence of, Refinancing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred
under the Limitations on Additional Indebtedness
covenant and the other terms of the indenture; |
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(4) so long as no Default shall have occurred and be
continuing at the time of or as a consequence of such
redemption, the redemption of Equity Interests of the Issuer
held by officers, directors or employees or former officers,
directors or employees (or their transferees, estates or
beneficiaries under their estates), upon their death,
disability, retirement, severance or termination of employment
or service; provided that the aggregate cash
consideration paid for all such redemptions shall not exceed
$2.0 million during any calendar year (with unused amounts
in any calendar year being carried over to succeeding calendar
years subject to a maximum of $4.0 million in any calendar
year); or |
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(5) repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon
the exercise of stock options if the Equity Interests represents
a portion of the exercise price thereof; |
provided that no issuance and sale of Qualified Equity
Interests pursuant to clause (2) or (3) above shall
increase the Restricted Payments Basket, except to the extent
the proceeds thereof exceed the amounts used to effect the
transactions described therein.
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Limitations on dividend and other restrictions affecting
restricted subsidiaries |
The Issuer will not, and will not permit any Restricted
Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause
or permit to exist or become effective any consensual
encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any
Restricted Subsidiary to:
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(a) pay dividends or make any other distributions on or in
respect of its Equity Interests; |
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(b) make loans or advances or pay any Indebtedness or other
obligation owed to the Issuer or any other Restricted
Subsidiary; or |
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(c) transfer any of its assets to the Issuer or any other
Restricted Subsidiary; except for: |
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(1) encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by
reason of applicable law; |
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(2) encumbrances or restrictions existing under the
indenture, the Notes and the note guarantees; |
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(3) non-assignment provisions of any contract or any lease
entered into in the ordinary course of business; |
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(4) encumbrances or restrictions existing under agreements
existing on the date of the indenture (including, without
limitation, the Credit Facilities) as in effect on that date or
on any Reversion Date as in effect on that date; |
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(5) restrictions on the transfer of assets subject to any
Lien permitted under the indenture imposed by the holder of such
Lien; |
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(6) restrictions on the transfer of assets imposed under
any agreement to sell such assets permitted under the indenture
to any person pending the closing of such sale; |
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(7) any instrument governing Acquired Indebtedness, which
encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any person, or
the assets of any person, other than the person or the assets so
acquired; |
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(8) encumbrances or restrictions arising in connection with
Refinancing Indebtedness; provided, however, that any
such encumbrances and restrictions are not materially more
restrictive with respect to any Restricted Subsidiary than those
in effect on the Issue Date with respect to that Restricted
Subsidiary pursuant to the agreements creating or evidencing the
Indebtedness being refinanced; |
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(9) customary provisions in leases, partnership agreements,
limited liability company organizational governance documents,
joint venture agreements and other similar agreements entered
into in the ordinary course of business that restrict the
transfer of leasehold interests or ownership interests in such
partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or similar
person; |
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(10) Purchase Money Indebtedness incurred in compliance
with the covenant described under Limitations
on Additional Indebtedness that impose restrictions of the
nature described in clause (c) above on the assets
acquired; and |
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(11) any encumbrances or restrictions imposed by any
amendments or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or
obligations referred to in clauses (1) through
(10) above; provided that such amendments or
refinancings are, in the good faith judgment of the
Issuers board of directors, no more materially restrictive
with respect to such encumbrances and restrictions than those
prior to such amendment or refinancing. |
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Limitations on transactions with affiliates |
The Issuer will not, and will not permit any Restricted
Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, in one transaction or a
series of related transactions, sell, lease, transfer or
otherwise dispose of any of its assets to, or purchase any
assets from, or enter into any contract, agreement,
understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the
benefit of, any Affiliate involving aggregate consideration in
excess of $60,000 (an Affiliate Transaction),
unless:
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(1) such Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are no less
favorable to the Issuer or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary
than those that may have been obtained in a comparable
transaction at such time on an arms-length basis by the
Issuer or that Restricted Subsidiary from a person that is not
an Affiliate of the Issuer or that Restricted Subsidiary; and |
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(2) the Issuer delivers to the trustee: |
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(a) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction involving
aggregate value of $5.0 million or more, an officers
certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies
with clause (1) above; |
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(b) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction involving
aggregate value in excess of $10.0 million, an
officers certificate certifying that such Affiliate
Transaction complies with clause (1) above and a
secretarys certificate which sets forth and authenticates
a resolution that has been adopted by the Independent Directors
approving such Affiliate Transaction; and |
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(c) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction involving
aggregate value of $25.0 million or more, the certificates
described in the preceding clause (b) and (x) a written
opinion as to the fairness of such Affiliate Transaction to the
Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of
view or (y) a written appraisal supporting the value of
such Affiliate Transaction, in either case, issued by an
Independent Financial Advisor. |
The foregoing restrictions shall not apply to:
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(1) transactions exclusively between or among (a) the
Issuer and one or more Restricted Subsidiaries or
(b) Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, in each case,
that no Affiliate of the Issuer (other than another Restricted
Subsidiary) owns Equity Interests of any such Restricted
Subsidiary; |
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(2) reasonable director, officer, employee and consultant
compensation (including bonuses) and other benefits (including
retirement, health, stock and other benefit plans) and
indemnification arrangements; |
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(3) loans and advances permitted by clause (3) of the
definition of Permitted Investments; |
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(4) any agreement as in effect as of the Issue Date or any
extension, amendment or modification thereto (so long as any
such extension, amendment or modification satisfies the
requirements set forth in clause (1) of the first paragraph
of this covenant) or any transaction contemplated thereby; |
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(5) Restricted Payments of the type described in
clause (1), (2) or (4) of the definition of
Restricted Payment and which are made in accordance
with the covenant described under Limitations
on Restricted Payments; or |
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(6) sales of Qualified Equity Interests for cash by the
Issuer to an Affiliate. |
The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted
Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or
permit or suffer to exist any Lien of any nature whatsoever
against (other than Permitted Liens) any assets of the Issuer or
any Restricted Subsidiary (including Equity Interests of a
Restricted Subsidiary), whether owned at the Issue Date or
thereafter acquired, or any proceeds therefrom, or assign or
otherwise convey any right to receive income or profits
therefrom, which Lien secures Indebtedness or trade payables,
unless contemporaneously therewith:
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(1) in the case of any Lien securing an obligation that
ranks pari passu with the Notes or a note guarantee,
effective provision is made to secure the Notes or such note
guarantee, as the case may be, at least equally and ratably with
or prior to such obligation with a Lien on the same collateral;
and |
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(2) in the case of any Lien securing an obligation that is
subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or a note
guarantee, effective provision is made to secure the Notes or
such note guarantee, as the case may be, with a Lien on the same
collateral that is prior to the Lien securing such subordinated
obligation, |
in each case, for so long as such obligation is secured by such
Lien.
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Limitations on asset sales |
The Issuer will not, and will not permit any Restricted
Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, consummate any Asset Sale
unless:
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(1) the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary receives
consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to
the fair market value of the assets included in such Asset Sale;
and |
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(2) at least 75% of the total consideration received in
such Asset Sale or series of related Asset Sales consists of
cash or Cash Equivalents. |
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For purposes of clause (2), the following shall be deemed
to be cash:
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(a) the amount (without duplication) of any Indebtedness
(other than Subordinated Indebtedness) of the Issuer or such
Restricted Subsidiary that is expressly assumed by the
transferee in such Asset Sale and with respect to which the
Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is
unconditionally released by the holder of such Indebtedness, |
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(b) the amount of any obligations received from such
transferee that are within 30 days converted by the Issuer
or such Restricted Subsidiary to cash (to the extent of the cash
actually so received), and |
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(c) the fair market value of any assets (other than
securities, unless such securities represent Equity Interests in
an entity engaged solely in a Permitted Business, such entity
becomes a Restricted Subsidiary and the Issuer or a Restricted
Subsidiary acquires voting and management control of such
entity) received by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to
be used by it in the Permitted Business. |
If at any time any non-cash consideration received by the Issuer
or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer, as the case may be,
in connection with any Asset Sale is repaid or converted into or
sold or otherwise disposed of for cash (other than interest
received with respect to any such non-cash consideration), then
the date of such repayment, conversion or disposition shall be
deemed to constitute the date of an Asset Sale hereunder and the
Net Available Proceeds thereof shall be applied in accordance
with this covenant.
If the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary engages in an Asset
Sale, the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary shall, no later
than one year following the consummation thereof, apply all or
any of the Net Available Proceeds therefrom to:
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(1) repay any Indebtedness under the Credit Facilities; |
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(2) repay any Indebtedness which was secured by the assets
sold in such Asset Sale; and/or |
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(3) invest all or any part of the Net Available Proceeds
thereof in the purchase of assets (other than securities, unless
such securities represent Equity Interests in an entity engaged
solely in a Permitted Business, such entity becomes a Restricted
Subsidiary and the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary acquires
voting and management control of such entity) to be used by the
Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in the Permitted Business. |
The amount of Net Available Proceeds not applied or invested as
provided in this paragraph will constitute Excess
Proceeds.
When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds equals or exceeds
$25.0 million, the Issuer will be required to make an offer
to purchase from all holders and, if applicable, redeem (or make
an offer to do so) any Pari Passu Indebtedness of the Issuer the
provisions of which require the Issuer to redeem such
Indebtedness with the proceeds from any Asset Sales (or offer to
do so), in an aggregate principal amount of Notes and such Pari
Passu Indebtedness equal to the amount of such Excess Proceeds
as follows:
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(1) the Issuer will (a) make an offer to purchase (a
Net Proceeds Offer) to all holders in
accordance with the procedures set forth in the indenture, and
(b) redeem (or make an offer to do so) any such other Pari
Passu Indebtedness, pro rata in proportion to the respective
principal amounts of the Notes and such other Indebtedness
required to be redeemed, the maximum principal amount of Notes
and Pari Passu Indebtedness that may be redeemed out of the
amount (the Payment Amount) of such Excess
Proceeds; |
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(2) the offer price for the Notes will be payable in cash
in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes
tendered pursuant to a Net Proceeds Offer, plus accrued and
unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the date such Net Proceeds
Offer is consummated (the Offered Price), in
accordance with the procedures set forth in the indenture and
the redemption price for such Pari |
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Passu Indebtedness (the Pari Passu Indebtedness
Price) shall be as set forth in the related
documentation governing such Indebtedness; |
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(3) if the aggregate Offered Price of Notes validly
tendered and not withdrawn by holders thereof exceeds the pro
rata portion of the Payment Amount allocable to the Notes,
Notes to be purchased will be selected on a pro rata
basis; and |
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(4) upon completion of such Net Proceeds Offer in
accordance with the foregoing provisions, the amount of Excess
Proceeds with respect to which such Net Proceeds Offer was made
shall be deemed to be zero. |
To the extent that the sum of the aggregate Offered Price of
Notes tendered pursuant to a Net Proceeds Offer and the
aggregate Pari Passu Indebtedness Price paid to the holders of
such Pari Passu Indebtedness is less than the Payment Amount
relating thereto, the Issuer may use such shortfall or a portion
thereof, for general corporate purposes, subject to the
provisions of the indenture.
In the event of the transfer of substantially all (but not all)
of the assets of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries as
an entirety to a person in a transaction covered by and effected
in accordance with the covenant described under
Limitations on Mergers, Consolidations,
Etc., the successor corporation shall be deemed to have
sold for cash at fair market value the assets of the Issuer and
the Restricted Subsidiaries not so transferred for purposes of
this covenant, and shall comply with the provisions of this
covenant with respect to such deemed sale as if it were an Asset
Sale (with such fair market value being deemed to be Net
Available Proceeds for such purpose).
The Issuer will comply with applicable tender offer rules,
including the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange
Act and any other applicable laws and regulations in connection
with the purchase of Notes pursuant to a Net Proceeds Offer. To
the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or
regulations conflict with the Limitations on Asset
Sales provisions of the indenture, the Issuer shall comply
with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not
be deemed to have breached its obligations under the
Limitations on Asset Sales provisions of the
indenture by virtue of this compliance.
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Limitations on designation of unrestricted
subsidiaries |
The Issuer may designate any Subsidiary of the Issuer as an
Unrestricted Subsidiary under the indenture (a
Designation) only if:
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(1) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the
time of or after giving effect to such designation; and |
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(2) the Issuer would be permitted to make, at the time of
such designation, (a) a Permitted Investment or (b) an
Investment pursuant to the first paragraph of
Limitations on Restricted Payments
above, in either case, in an amount (the Designation
Amount) equal to the fair market value of the
Issuers proportionate interest in such Subsidiary on such
date. |
No Subsidiary shall be Designated as an Unrestricted
Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary:
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(1) has no Indebtedness other than Permitted Unrestricted
Subsidiary Debt; |
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(2) is not party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or
understanding with the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary
unless the terms of the agreement, contract, arrangement or
understanding are no less favorable to the Issuer or the
Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the
time from persons who are not Affiliates of the Issuer or such
Restricted Subsidiary; |
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(3) is a person with respect to which neither the Issuer
nor any Restricted Subsidiary has any direct or indirect
obligation (a) to subscribe for additional Equity Interests
or (b) to maintain or preserve the persons financial
condition or to cause the person to achieve any specified levels
of operating results; and |
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(4) has not guaranteed or otherwise directly or indirectly
provided credit support for any Indebtedness of the Issuer or
any Restricted Subsidiary, except for any guarantee given solely
to support the pledge by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary
of the Equity Interests of such Unrestricted Subsidiary, which
guarantee is not recourse to the Issuer or any Restricted
Subsidiary, and except to the extent the amount thereof
constitutes a Restricted Payment permitted pursuant to the
covenant described under Limitations on
Restricted Payments. |
If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary fails to meet the
preceding requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it shall
thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes
of the indenture and any indebtedness of the Subsidiary and any
Liens on assets of such Subsidiary shall be deemed to be
incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary as of the date and, if the
Indebtedness is not permitted to be incurred under the covenant
described under Limitations on Additional
Indebtedness or the Lien is not permitted under the
covenant described under Limitations on
Liens, the Issuer shall be in default of the applicable
covenant.
As of this prospectus, the Issuer has designated MTH Mortgage,
LLC and Texas Home Mortgage Company as Unrestricted Subsidiaries.
The Issuer may redesignate an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a
Restricted Subsidiary only if:
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(1) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the
time of and after giving effect to such redesignation; and |
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(2) all Liens, Indebtedness and Investments of such
Unrestricted Subsidiary outstanding immediately following such
redesignation would, if incurred or made at such time, have been
permitted to be incurred or made for all purposes of the
indenture. |
All designations and redesignations must be evidenced by
resolutions of the board of directors of the Issuer, delivered
to the Trustee certifying compliance with the foregoing
provisions.
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Limitations on mergers, consolidations, etc. |
The Issuer will not, directly or indirectly, in a single
transaction or a series of related transactions,
(a) consolidate or merge with or into (other than a merger
that satisfies the requirements of clause (1) below with a
Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary solely for the purpose of
changing the Issuers jurisdiction of incorporation to
another State of the United States), or sell, lease, transfer,
convey or otherwise dispose of or assign all or substantially
all of the assets of the Issuer or the Issuer and the Restricted
Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) or (b) adopt a plan of
liquidation unless, in either case:
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(a) the Issuer will be the surviving or continuing person;
or |
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(b) the person formed by or surviving such consolidation or
merger or to which such sale, lease, conveyance or other
disposition shall be made (or, in the case of a plan of
liquidation, any person to which assets are transferred)
(collectively, the Successor) is a
corporation or limited liability company organized and existing
under the laws of any State of the United States of America or
the District of Columbia, and the Successor expressly assumes,
by supplemental indenture in form and substance satisfactory to
the trustee, all of the obligations of the Issuer under the
Notes, the indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement;
provided that at any time the Successor is a limited
liability company, there shall be a co-issuer of the Notes that
is a corporation; |
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(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction and
the assumption of the obligations as set forth in
clause (1)(b) above and the incurrence of any Indebtedness
to be incurred in connection therewith, no Default shall have
occurred and be continuing; and |
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(3) if such transaction or series of related transactions
occurs other than during a Suspension Period, immediately after
and giving effect to such transaction and the assumption of the
obligations |
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set forth in clause (1)(b) above and the incurrence of any
Indebtedness to be incurred in connection therewith, and the use
of any net proceeds therefrom on a pro forma basis, (a) the
Consolidated Net Worth of the Issuer or the Successor, as the
case may be, would be at least equal to the Consolidated Net
Worth of the Issuer immediately prior to such transaction and
(b) the Issuer or the Successor, as the case may be, could
incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Ratio
Exception. |
For purposes of this covenant, any Indebtedness of the Successor
which was not Indebtedness of the Issuer immediately prior to
the transaction shall be deemed to have been incurred in
connection with such transaction.
Except as provided under the caption Note
Guarantees, no Guarantor may consolidate with or merge
with or into (whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving
person) another person, whether or not affiliated with such
Guarantor, unless:
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(a) such Guarantor will be the surviving or continuing
person; or |
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(b) the person formed by or surviving any such
consolidation or merger assumes, by supplemental indenture in
form and substance satisfactory to the trustee, all of the
obligations of such Guarantor under the note guarantee of such
Guarantor, the indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement;
and |
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(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no
Default shall have occurred and be continuing. |
For purposes of the foregoing, the transfer (by lease,
assignment, sale or otherwise, in a single transaction or series
of transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of
one or more Restricted Subsidiaries, the Equity Interests of
which constitute all or substantially all of the assets of the
Issuer, will be deemed to be the transfer of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Issuer.
Upon any consolidation, combination or merger of the Issuer or a
Guarantor, or any transfer of all or substantially all of the
assets of the Issuer in accordance with the foregoing, in which
the Issuer or such Guarantor is not the continuing obligor under
the Notes or its note guarantee, the surviving entity formed by
such consolidation or into which the Issuer or such Guarantor is
merged or to which the conveyance, lease or transfer is made
will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every
right and power of, the Issuer or such Guarantor under the
indenture, the Notes and the note guarantees with the same
effect as if such surviving entity had been named therein as the
Issuer or such Guarantor and, except in the case of a
conveyance, transfer or lease, the Issuer or such Guarantor, as
the case may be, will be released from the obligation to pay the
principal of and interest on the Notes or in respect of its note
guarantee, as the case may be, and all of the Issuers or
such Guarantors other obligations and covenants under the
Notes, the indenture and its note guarantee, if applicable.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Restricted Subsidiary may
merge into the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary.
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Additional note guarantees |
If, after the Issue Date, (a) the Issuer or any Restricted
Subsidiary shall acquire or create another Subsidiary (other
than (i) a Subsidiary that has been designated an
Unrestricted Subsidiary or (ii) during a Suspension Period,
a Subsidiary exclusively engaged in mortgage origination, title
or insurance businesses) or (b) any Unrestricted Subsidiary
is redesignated a Restricted Subsidiary, then, in each such
case, the Issuer shall cause such Restricted Subsidiary to:
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(1) execute and deliver to the trustee (a) a
supplemental indenture in form and substance satisfactory to the
trustee pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary shall
unconditionally guarantee all of the Issuers obligations
under the Notes and the indenture and (b) a notation of
guarantee in respect of its note guarantee; and |
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(2) deliver to the trustee one or more opinions of counsel
that such supplemental indenture (a) has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by such Restricted Subsidiary
and (b) constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation
of such Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with its terms. |
The Issuer will not, and will not permit any Restricted
Subsidiary to, engage in any business other than the Permitted
Business.
Whether or not required by the SEC, so long as any Notes are
outstanding, the Issuer will furnish to the holders of Notes,
within the time periods specified in the SECs rules and
regulations (including any grace periods or extensions permitted
by the SEC):
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(1) all quarterly and annual financial information that
would be required to be contained in a filing with the SEC on
Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the Issuer were required to file
these Forms, including a Managements Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
and, with respect to the annual information only, a report on
the annual financial statements by the Issuers independent
registered public accounting firm; and |
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(2) all current reports that would be required to be filed
with the SEC on Form 8-K if the Issuer were required to
file these reports. |
In addition, whether or not required by the SEC, the Issuer will
file a copy of all of the information and reports referred to in
clauses (1) and (2) above with the SEC for public
availability within the time periods specified in the SECs
rules and regulations (unless the SEC will not accept the
filing) and make the information available to securities
analysts and prospective investors upon request. The Issuer and
the Guarantors have agreed that, for so long as any Notes remain
outstanding, the Issuer will furnish to the holders and to
securities analysts and prospective investors, upon their
request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to
Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.
Events of Default
Each of the following is an Event of Default:
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(1) failure by the Issuer to pay interest on any of the
Notes when it becomes due and payable and the continuance of any
such failure for 30 days; |
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(2) failure by the Issuer to pay the principal on any of
the Notes when it becomes due and payable, whether at stated
maturity, upon redemption, upon purchase, upon acceleration or
otherwise; |
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(3) failure by the Issuer to comply with any of its
agreements or covenants described above under
Certain Covenants Limitations on
Mergers, Consolidations, Etc., or, except in a Suspension
Period, in respect of its obligations to make a change of
control offer as described above under Change
of Control; |
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(4) failure by the Issuer to comply with any other
agreement or covenant in the indenture and continuance of this
failure for 30 days after notice of the failure has been
given to the Issuer by the trustee or by the holders of at least
25% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then
outstanding; |
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(5) default under any mortgage, indenture or other
instrument or agreement under which there may be issued or by
which there may be secured or evidenced Indebtedness of the
Issuer or any |
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Restricted Subsidiary, whether such Indebtedness now exists or
is incurred after the Issue Date, which default: |
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(a) is caused by a failure to pay when due principal on
such Indebtedness within the applicable express grace period, |
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(b) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior
to its express final maturity or |
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(c) results in the commencement of judicial proceedings to
foreclose upon, or to exercise remedies under applicable law or
applicable security documents to take ownership of, the assets
securing such Indebtedness, and |
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in each case, the principal amount of such Indebtedness,
together with any other Indebtedness with respect to which an
event described in clause (a), (b) or (c) has occurred and
is continuing, aggregates $10.0 million or more; |
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(6) one or more judgments or orders that exceed $10.0
million in the aggregate (net of amounts covered by insurance or
bonded) for the payment of money have been entered by a court or
courts of competent jurisdiction against the Issuer or any
Restricted Subsidiary and such judgment or judgments have not
been satisfied, stayed, annulled or rescinded within
60 days of being entered; |
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(7) the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or
within the meaning of any bankruptcy law: |
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(a) commences a voluntary case, |
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(b) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it
in an involuntary case, |
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(c) consents to the appointment of a custodian of it or for
all or substantially all of its assets, or |
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(d) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its
creditors; |
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(8) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or
decree under any bankruptcy law that: |
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(a) is for relief against the Issuer or any Significant
Subsidiary as debtor in an involuntary case, |
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(b) appoints a custodian of the Issuer or any Significant
Subsidiary or a custodian for all or substantially all of the
assets of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary, or |
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(c) orders the liquidation of the Issuer or any Significant
Subsidiary, |
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and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for
60 days; or |
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(9) any note guarantee of any Significant Subsidiary ceases
to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with
the terms of such note guarantee and the indenture) or is
declared null and void and unenforceable or found to be invalid
or any Guarantor denies its liability under its note guarantee
(other than by reason of release of a Guarantor from its note
guarantee in accordance with the terms of the indenture and the
note guarantee). |
If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified
in clause (7) or (8) above with respect to the Issuer),
shall have occurred and be continuing under the indenture, the
trustee, by written notice to the Issuer, or the holders of at
least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then
outstanding by written notice to the Issuer and the trustee, may
declare all amounts owing under the Notes to be due and payable
immediately. Upon such declaration of acceleration, the
aggregate principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on the
outstanding Notes shall immediately become due and payable;
provided, however, that after such acceleration, but
before a judgment or decree based on acceleration, the holders
of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such outstanding
Notes may, under certain circumstances, rescind and annul such
acceleration if all Events of Default, other than the nonpayment
of accelerated principal and interest, have been cured or waived
as provided in the indenture. If an Event of
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Default specified in clause (7) or (8) with respect to the
Issuer occurs, all outstanding Notes shall become due and
payable without any further action or notice.
The trustee shall, within 30 days after the occurrence of
any Default with respect to the Notes, give the holders notice
of all uncured Defaults thereunder known to it; provided,
however, except in the case of an Event of Default in
payment with respect to the Notes or a Default in complying with
Certain Covenants Limitations on
Mergers, Consolidations, Etc., the trustee shall be
protected in withholding such notice if and so long as a
committee of its trust officers in good faith determines that
the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the holders.
No holder will have any right to institute any proceeding with
respect to the indenture or for any remedy thereunder, unless
the trustee:
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(1) has failed to act for a period of 60 days after
receiving written notice of a continuing Event of Default by
such holder and a request to act by holders of at least 25% in
aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding; |
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(2) has been offered indemnity satisfactory to it in its
reasonable judgment; and |
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(3) has not received from the holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes a direction
inconsistent with such request. |
However, such limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a
holder of any Note for enforcement of payment of the principal
of or interest on such Note on or after the due date therefor
(after giving effect to the grace period specified in
clause (1) of the first paragraph of this
Events of Default section).
The Issuer is required to deliver to the trustee annually a
statement regarding compliance with the indenture and, upon any
officer of the Issuer becoming aware of any Default, a statement
specifying such Default and what action the Issuer is taking or
proposes to take with respect thereto.
Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
The Issuer may, at its option and at any time, elect to have its
obligations and the obligations of the Guarantors discharged
with respect to the outstanding Notes. Legal defeasance means
that the Issuer and the Guarantors shall be deemed to have paid
and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by the Notes
and the note guarantees, and the indenture shall cease to be of
further effect as to all outstanding Notes and note guarantees,
except as to
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(1) rights of holders to receive payments in respect of the
principal of and interest on the Notes when such payments are
due from the trust funds referred to below, |
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(2) the Issuers obligations with respect to the Notes
concerning issuing temporary Notes, registration of Notes,
mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes, and the maintenance
of an office or agency for payment and money for security
payments held in trust, |
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(3) the rights, powers, trust, duties, and immunities of
the trustee, and the Issuers obligation in connection
therewith, and |
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(4) the legal defeasance provisions of the indenture. |
In addition, the Issuer may, at its option and at any time,
elect to have its obligations and the obligations of the
Guarantors released with respect to most of the covenants under
the indenture, except as described otherwise in the indenture,
and thereafter any omission to comply with such obligations
shall not constitute a Default. In the event covenant defeasance
occurs, certain Events of Default (not including non-payment
and, solely for a period of 91 days following the deposit
referred to in clause (1) of the next paragraph,
bankruptcy, receivership, rehabilitation and insolvency events)
will no longer apply. Covenant defeasance will not be effective
until such bankruptcy, receivership, rehabilitation and
insolvency events no longer apply. The Issuer may exercise its
legal defeasance option regardless of whether it previously
exercised covenant defeasance.
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In order to exercise either legal defeasance or covenant
defeasance:
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(1) the Issuer must irrevocably deposit with the trustee,
in trust, for the benefit of the holders, U.S. legal
tender, U.S. Government obligations or a combination
thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient (without
reinvestment) in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of
independent public accountants selected by the Issuer, to pay
the principal of and interest on the Notes on the stated date
for payment or on the redemption date of the principal or
installment of principal of or interest on the Notes, and the
trustee must have a valid, perfected, exclusive security
interest in such trust, |
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(2) in the case of legal defeasance, the Issuer shall have
delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel in the United
States reasonably acceptable to the trustee confirming that: |
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(a) the Issuer has received from, or there has been
published by the Internal Revenue Service, a ruling, or |
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(b) since the date of the indenture, there has been a
change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law, |
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in either case to the effect that, and based thereon this
opinion of counsel shall confirm that, the holders will not
recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax
purposes as a result of the legal defeasance and will be subject
to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same
manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such
legal defeasance had not occurred, |
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(3) in the case of covenant defeasance, the Issuer shall
have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel in the
United States reasonably acceptable to the trustee confirming
that the holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for
U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant
defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the
same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would
have been the case if the covenant defeasance had not occurred, |
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(4) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the
date of such deposit (other than a Default resulting from the
borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit and the grant
of any Lien securing such borrowing), |
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(5) the legal defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not
result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default
under the indenture or any other material agreement or
instrument to which the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries is a
party or by which the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries is bound, |
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(6) the Issuer shall have delivered to the trustee an
officers certificate stating that the deposit was not made
by it with the intent of preferring the holders over any other
of its creditors or with the intent of defeating, hindering,
delaying or defrauding any other of its creditors or others, and |
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(7) the Issuer shall have delivered to the trustee an
officers certificate and an opinion of counsel, each
stating that the conditions provided for in, in the case of the
officers certificate, clauses (1) through
(6) and, in the case of the opinion of counsel,
clauses (1) (with respect to the validity and perfection of
the security interest), (2) and/or (3) and (5) of
this paragraph have been complied with. |
If the funds deposited with the trustee to effect covenant
defeasance are insufficient to pay the principal of and interest
on the Notes when due, then our obligations and the obligations
of Guarantors under the indenture will be revived and no such
defeasance will be deemed to have occurred.
Satisfaction and Discharge
The indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further
effect (except as to rights of registration of transfer or
exchange of Notes which shall survive until all Notes have been
canceled) as to all outstanding Notes when either
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(1) all the Notes that have been authenticated and
delivered (except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes which have
been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has been
deposited in |
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trust or segregated and held in trust by the Issuer and
thereafter repaid to the Issuer or discharged from this trust)
have been delivered to the trustee for cancellation, or |
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(2) (a) all Notes not delivered to the trustee for
cancellation otherwise have become due and payable or have been
called for redemption pursuant to the provisions described under
Optional Redemption, and the Issuer has
irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the trustee
trust funds in trust in an amount of money sufficient to pay and
discharge the entire Indebtedness (including all principal and
accrued interest) on the Notes not theretofore delivered to the
trustee for cancellation, |
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(b) the Issuer has paid all sums payable by it under the
indenture, |
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(c) the Issuer has delivered irrevocable instructions to
the trustee to apply the deposited money toward the payment of
the Notes at maturity or on the date of redemption, as the case
may be, and |
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(d) the trustee, for the benefit of the holders, has a
valid, perfected, exclusive security interest in this trust. |
In addition, the Issuer must deliver an officers
certificate and an opinion of counsel (as to legal matters)
stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and
discharge have been complied with.
Transfer and Exchange
A holder will be able to register the transfer of 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. Without the prior consent of the Issuer, the
registrar is not required (1) to register the transfer of
or exchange any Note selected for redemption, (2) to
register the transfer of or exchange any Note for a period of
15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or
(3) to register the transfer or exchange of a Note between
a record date and the next succeeding interest payment date.
The Notes will be issued in registered form and the registered
holder will be treated as the owner of such Note for all
purposes.
Amendment, Supplement and Waiver
Subject to certain exceptions, the indenture or the Notes may be
amended 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 under, or
compliance with any provision of, the indenture may be waived
(other than any continuing Default in the payment of the
principal or interest on the Notes) 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; provided
that:
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(a) no such amendment may, without the consent of the
holders of two-thirds in aggregate principal amount of Notes
then outstanding, amend the obligation of the Issuer under the
heading Change of Control or the related
definitions that could adversely affect the rights of any
holder; and |
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(b) without the consent of each holder affected, the Issuer
and the trustee may not: |
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(1) change the maturity of any Note; |
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(2) reduce the amount, extend the due date or otherwise
affect the terms of any scheduled payment of interest on or
principal of the Notes; |
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(3) reduce any premium payable upon optional redemption of
the Notes, change the date on which any Notes are subject to
redemption or otherwise alter the provisions with respect to the
redemption of the Notes; |
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(4) make any Note payable in money or currency other than
that stated in the Notes; |
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(5) modify or change any provision of the indenture or the
related definitions to affect the ranking of the Notes or any
note guarantee in a manner that adversely affects the holders; |
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(6) reduce the percentage of holders necessary to consent
to an amendment or waiver to the indenture or the Notes; |
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(7) impair the rights of holders to receive payments of
principal of or interest on the Notes; |
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(8) release any Guarantor from any of its obligations under
its note guarantee or the indenture, except as permitted by the
indenture; or |
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(9) make any change in these amendment and waiver
provisions. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Issuer and the trustee may
amend the indenture, the note guarantees or the Notes without
the consent of any holder, to cure any ambiguity, defect or
inconsistency, to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition
to or in place of certificated Notes, to provide for the
assumption of the Issuers obligations to the holders in
the case of a merger or acquisition, to release any Guarantor
from any of its obligations under its note guarantee or the
indenture (to the extent permitted by the indenture), to make
any change that does not materially adversely affect the rights
of any holder or, in the case of the indenture, to maintain the
qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.
No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and
Stockholders
No director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of
the Issuer will have any liability for any obligations of the
Issuer under the Notes or the indenture or of any Guarantor
under its note guarantee or for any claim based on, in respect
of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each
holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such
liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration
for issuance of the Notes and the note guarantees.
Concerning the Trustee
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association is the trustee under the
indenture and has been appointed by the Issuer as registrar and
paying agent with regard to the Notes. The indenture contains
certain limitations on the rights of the trustee, should it
become a creditor of the Issuer, to obtain payment of claims in
certain cases, or to realize on certain assets received in
respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The trustee
will be permitted to engage in other transactions; however, if
it acquires any conflicting interest (as defined in the
indenture), it must eliminate such conflict or resign.
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes will 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 will be 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 or her own affairs.
Subject to such provisions, the trustee will be 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.
Wells Fargo Bank Arizona, National Association, an affiliate of
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, is a lender under our
senior unsecured credit facility.
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Governing Law
The indenture, the Notes and the note guarantees are governed
by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of
New York.
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 such terms.
Acquired Indebtedness means (1) with
respect to any person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary after
the Issue Date, Indebtedness of such person and its Subsidiaries
existing at the time such person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary
that was not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation
of, such person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary and
(2) with respect to the Issuer or any Restricted
Subsidiary, any Indebtedness of a person (other than the Issuer
or a Restricted Subsidiary) existing at the time such person is
merged with or into the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, or
Indebtedness expressly assumed by the Issuer or any Restricted
Subsidiary in connection with the acquisition of an asset or
assets from another person, which Indebtedness was not, in any
case, incurred by such other person in connection with, or in
contemplation of, such merger or acquisition.
Affiliate of any person means any other
person which directly or indirectly controls or is controlled
by, or is under direct or indirect common control with, the
referent person. For purposes of the covenant described under
Certain CovenantsLimitations on Transactions
with Affiliates, Affiliates shall be deemed to include,
with respect to any person, any other person (1) which
beneficially owns or holds, directly or indirectly, 10% or more
of any class of the voting stock of the referent person,
(2) of which 10% or more of the voting stock is
beneficially owned or held, directly or indirectly, by the
referenced person or (3) with respect to an individual, any
immediate family member of such person. For purposes of this
definition, control of a person shall mean
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.
Asset Acquisition means
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(1) an Investment by the Issuer or any Restricted
Subsidiary of the Issuer in any other person if, as a result of
such Investment, such person shall become a Restricted
Subsidiary of the Issuer, or shall be merged with or into the
Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer, or |
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(2) the acquisition by the Issuer or any Restricted
Subsidiary of the Issuer of all or substantially all of the
assets of any other person or any division or line of business
of any other person. |
Asset Sale means any sale, issuance,
conveyance, transfer, lease, assignment or other disposition by
the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to any person other than
the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (including by means of a
Sale and Leaseback Transaction or a merger or consolidation), in
one transaction or a series of related transactions, of any
assets (including Equity Interests) of the Issuer or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries other than in the ordinary course of
business. For purposes of this definition, the term Asset
Sale shall not include:
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(1) transfers of cash or Cash Equivalents; |
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(2) transfers of assets (including Equity Interests) that
are governed by, and made in accordance with, the provisions
described under Certain Covenants
Limitations on Mergers, Consolidations, Etc.; |
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(3) Permitted Investments and Restricted Payments permitted
under the covenant described under Certain
Covenants Limitations on Restricted Payments; |
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(4) the creation or realization of any Permitted Lien; |
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(5) transactions in the ordinary course of business,
including, without limitation, sales (directly or indirectly),
dedications and other donations to governmental authorities,
leases and sales and |
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leasebacks of (A) homes, improved land and unimproved land
and (B) real estate (including related amenities and
improvements); |
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(6) dispositions of mortgage loans and related assets and
mortgage-backed securities in the ordinary course of a mortgage
lending business; and |
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(7) any transfer or series of related transfers that, but
for this clause, would be Asset Sales, if after giving effect to
such transfers, the aggregate fair market value of the assets
transferred in such transaction or any such series of related
transactions does not exceed $1.0 million. |
Attributable Indebtedness, when used with
respect to any Sale and Leaseback Transaction, means, as at the
time of determination, the present value (discounted at a rate
equivalent to the Issuers then-current weighted average
cost of funds for borrowed money as at the time of
determination, compounded on a semi-annual basis) of the total
obligations of the lessee for rental payments during the
remaining term of any Capitalized Lease included in any such
Sale and Leaseback Transaction.
Bankruptcy Event means the commencement of
any case under the Bankruptcy Code (Title 11 of the United
States Code) or the commencement of any other bankruptcy,
reorganization, receivership, or similar proceeding under any
federal, state or foreign law or by or against any Person for
whom the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary has executed a
Springing Guarantee for the benefit of such Person; provided,
however, that the filing of an involuntary case against such
Person shall only be a Bankruptcy Event if: (i) such
involuntary case is filed in whole or in part by the Company or
a Restricted Subsidiary, any member in such Person which is an
affiliate of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, or any
other affiliate of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, or
(ii) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, any member in
such Person which is an affiliate of the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary, or any other affiliate of the Company or a
Restricted Subsidiary shall in any way induce or participate in
the filing, whether directly or indirectly, of an involuntary
bankruptcy case against such Person or any other Person, and
such involuntary case or proceeding is not dismissed with
prejudice within 120 days of the filing thereof.
Borrowing Base means, at any time of
determination, the sum of the following without duplication:
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(1) 100% of all cash and Cash Equivalents held by the
Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary; |
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(2) 75% of the book value of Developed Land for which no
construction has occurred; |
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(3) 95% of the cost of the land and construction costs
including capitalized interest (as reasonably allocated by the
Issuer) for all Units for which there is an executed purchase
contract with a buyer not Affiliated with the Issuer, less any
deposits, down payments or earnest money; |
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(4) 80% of the cost of the land and construction costs
including capitalized interest (as reasonably allocated by the
Issuer) for all Units for which construction has begun and for
which there is not an executed purchase agreement with a buyer
not Affiliated with the Company; and |
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(5) 50% of the costs of Entitled Land (other than Developed
Land) on which improvements have not commenced, less mortgage
Indebtedness (other than under a Credit Facility) applicable to
such land. |
Capitalized Lease means a lease required to
be capitalized for financial reporting purposes in accordance
with GAAP.
Capitalized Lease Obligations of any person
means the obligations of such person to pay rent or other
amounts under a Capitalized Lease, and the amount of such
obligation shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in
accordance with GAAP.
Cash Equivalents means:
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(1) marketable obligations with a maturity of 360 days
or less issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by
the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality
thereof; |
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(2) demand and time deposits and certificates of deposit or
acceptances with a maturity of 180 days or less of any
financial institution that is a member of the Federal Reserve
System having combined capital and surplus and undivided profits
of not less than $500 million and is assigned at least a
B rating by Thomson Financial BankWatch; |
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(3) commercial paper maturing no more than 180 days
from the date of creation thereof issued by a corporation that
is not the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer, and is
organized under the laws of any State of the United States of
America or the District of Columbia and rated at least A-1 by
S&P or at least P-1 by Moodys; |
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(4) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than ten
days for underlying securities of the types described in clause
(1) above entered into with any commercial bank meeting the
specifications of clause (2) above; and |
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(5) investments in money market or other mutual funds
substantially all of whose assets comprise securities of the
types described in clauses (1) through (4) above. |
Change of Control means the occurrence of any
of the following events:
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(1) any person or group (as such
terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange
Act), other than one or more Permitted Holders, is or becomes
the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5
under the Exchange Act, except that for purposes of this clause
that person or group shall be deemed to have beneficial
ownership of all securities that any such person or group
has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable
immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or
indirectly, of voting stock representing more than 50% of the
voting power of the total outstanding voting stock of the Issuer; |
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(2) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals
who at the beginning of such period constituted the board of
directors (together with any new directors whose election to
such board of directors or whose nomination for election by the
stockholders of the Issuer was approved by a vote of the
majority of the directors of the Issuer then still in office who
were either directors at the beginning of such period or whose
election or nomination for election was previously so approved)
cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the board of
directors of the Issuer; |
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(3) (a) all or substantially all of the assets of the
Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries are sold or otherwise
transferred to any person other than a Wholly-Owned Restricted
Subsidiary or one or more Permitted Holders or (b) the
Issuer consolidates or merges with or into another person other
than a Permitted Holder or any person other than a Permitted
Holder consolidates or merges with or into the Issuer, in either
case under this clause (3), in one transaction or a series
of related transactions in which immediately after the
consummation thereof persons owning voting stock representing in
the aggregate 100% of the total voting power of the voting stock
of the Issuer immediately prior to such consummation do not own
voting stock representing a majority of the total voting power
of the voting stock of the Issuer or the surviving or transferee
person; or |
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(4) the Issuer shall adopt a plan of liquidation or
dissolution or any such plan shall be approved by the
stockholders of the Issuer. |
Change of Control Triggering Event means the
occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Rating Decline.
Consolidated Amortization Expense for any
period means the amortization expense of the Issuer and the
Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a
consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
Consolidated Cash Flow Available for Fixed
Charges for any period means, without duplication, the
sum of the amounts for such period of
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(1) Consolidated Net Income, plus |
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(2) in each case only to the extent (and in the same
proportion) deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income and
with respect to the portion of Consolidated Net Income
attributable to any Restricted Subsidiary only if a
corresponding amount would be permitted at the date of
determination to be distributed to the Issuer by such Restricted
Subsidiary without prior approval (that has not been obtained),
pursuant to the terms of its charter and all agreements,
instruments, judgments, decrees, orders, statutes, rules and
governmental regulations applicable to such Restricted
Subsidiary or its stockholders, |
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(a) Consolidated Income Tax Expense, |
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(b) Consolidated Amortization Expense (but only to the
extent not included in Consolidated Interest Expense), |
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(c) Consolidated Depreciation Expense, |
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(d) Consolidated Interest Expense and interest and other
charges amortized to cost of home sales and cost of land sales,
and |
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(e) all other non-cash items reducing the Consolidated Net
Income (excluding any non-cash charge that results in an accrual
of a reserve for cash charges in any future period) for such
period, |
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in each case determined on a consolidated basis in accordance
with GAAP, minus |
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(3) the aggregate amount of all non-cash items, determined
on a consolidated basis, to the extent such items increased
Consolidated Net Income for such period. |
Consolidated Depreciation Expense for any
period means the depreciation expense of the Issuer and the
Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a
consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio
means the ratio of Consolidated Cash Flow Available for Fixed
Charges during the most recent four consecutive full fiscal
quarters for which financial statements are available (the
Four-Quarter Period) ending on or prior to
the date of the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate
the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (the
Transaction Date) to Consolidated Interest
Incurred for the Four-Quarter Period. For purposes of this
definition, Consolidated Cash Flow Available for Fixed Charges
and Consolidated Interest Incurred shall be calculated after
giving effect on a pro forma basis for the period of such
calculation to:
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(1) the incurrence of any Indebtedness or the issuance of
any preferred stock of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary
(and the application of the proceeds thereof) and any repayment
of other Indebtedness or redemption of other preferred stock
(and the application of the proceeds therefrom) (other than the
incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness in the ordinary course
of business for working capital purposes pursuant to any
revolving credit arrangement) occurring during the Four-Quarter
Period or at any time subsequent to the last day of the
Four-Quarter Period and on or prior to the Transaction Date, as
if such incurrence, repayment, issuance or redemption, as the
case may be (and the application of the proceeds thereof),
occurred on the first day of the Four-Quarter Period; and |
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(2) any Asset Sale or Asset Acquisition (including, without
limitation, any Asset Acquisition giving rise to the need to
make such calculation as a result of the Issuer or any
Restricted Subsidiary (including any person who becomes a
Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such Asset Acquisition)
incurring Acquired Indebtedness and also including any
Consolidated Cash Flow Available for Fixed Charges (including
any pro forma expense and cost reductions calculated on a basis
consistent with Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act)
associated with any such Asset Acquisition) occurring during the
Four-Quarter Period or at any time subsequent to the last day of
the Four-Quarter Period and on or prior to the Transaction Date,
as if such Asset Sale or Asset Acquisition or other |
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disposition (including the incurrence of, or assumption or
liability for, any such Indebtedness or Acquired Indebtedness)
occurred on the first day of the Four-Quarter Period. |
If the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary directly or
indirectly guarantees Indebtedness of a third person, the
preceding sentence shall give effect to the incurrence of such
guaranteed Indebtedness as if the Issuer or such Restricted
Subsidiary had directly incurred or otherwise assumed such
guaranteed Indebtedness.
In calculating Consolidated Interest Incurred for purposes of
determining the denominator (but not the numerator) of the
Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio:
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(1) interest on outstanding Indebtedness determined on a
fluctuating basis as of the Transaction Date and which will
continue to be so determined thereafter shall be deemed to have
accrued at a fixed rate per annum equal to the rate of interest
on this Indebtedness in effect on the Transaction Date; |
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(2) if interest on any Indebtedness actually incurred on
the Transaction Date may optionally be determined at an interest
rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a
eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rates, then the
interest rate in effect on the Transaction Date will be deemed
to have been in effect during the Four-Quarter Period; and |
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(3) notwithstanding clause (1) or (2) above,
interest on Indebtedness determined on a fluctuating basis, to
the extent such interest is covered by agreements with a term of
at least one year after the Transaction Date relating to Hedging
Obligations, shall be deemed to accrue at the rate per annum
resulting after giving effect to the operation of these
agreements. |
Consolidated Income Tax Expense for any
period means the provision for taxes of the Issuer and the
Restricted Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in
accordance with GAAP.
Consolidated Indebtedness means, as of any
date, the total Indebtedness of the Issuer and the Restricted
Subsidiaries as of such date, determined on a consolidated basis.
Consolidated Interest Expense for any period
means the sum, without duplication, of the total interest
expense (other than interest and other charges amortized to cost
of home sales and cost of land sales) of the Issuer and the
Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a
consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP and including without
duplication,
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(1) imputed interest on Capitalized Lease Obligations and
Attributable Indebtedness, |
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(2) commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed
with respect to letters of credit securing financial
obligations, bankers acceptance financing and receivables
financings, |
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(3) the net costs associated with Hedging Obligations, |
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(4) amortization of debt issuance costs, debt discount or
premium and other financing fees and expenses, |
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(5) the interest portion of any deferred payment
obligations, |
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(6) all other non-cash interest expense, |
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(7) the product of (a) all dividend payments on any
series of Disqualified Equity Interests of the Issuer or any
preferred stock of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any
such Disqualified Equity Interests or any preferred stock held
by the Issuer or a Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary),
multiplied by (b) a fraction, the numerator of which
is one and the denominator of which is one minus the then
current combined federal, state and local statutory tax rate of
the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries, expressed as a
decimal, |
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(8) all interest payable with respect to discontinued
operations, and |
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(9) all interest on any Indebtedness of any other person
guaranteed by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary. |
Consolidated Interest Incurred for any period
means the sum, without duplication, of (1) Consolidated
Interest Expense and (2) interest capitalized for such
period (including interest capitalized with respect to
discontinued operations but not including interest or other
charges amortized to cost of home sales and cost of land sales).
Consolidated Net Income for any period means
the net income (or loss) of the Issuer and the Restricted
Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis
in accordance with GAAP; provided that there shall be
excluded from such net income (to the extent otherwise included
therein), without duplication:
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(1) the net income (or loss) of any person (other than a
Restricted Subsidiary) in which any person other than the Issuer
and the Restricted Subsidiaries has an ownership interest,
except to the extent that cash in an amount equal to any such
income has actually been received by the Issuer or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries during such period; |
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(2) except to the extent includible in the consolidated net
income of the Issuer pursuant to the foregoing clause (1), 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 into or consolidated with the Issuer or any
Restricted Subsidiary or (b) the assets of such person are
acquired by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary; |
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(3) the net income of any Restricted Subsidiary during such
period to the extent that 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
Subsidiary during such period; |
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(4) for the purposes of calculating the Restricted Payments
Basket only, in the case of a successor to the Issuer by
consolidation, merger or transfer of its assets, any income (or
loss) of the successor prior to such merger, consolidation or
transfer of assets; |
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(5) other than for purposes of calculating the Restricted
Payments Basket, any gain (or loss), together with any related
provisions for taxes on any such gain (or the tax effect of any
such loss), realized during such period by the Issuer or any
Restricted Subsidiary upon (a) the acquisition of any
securities, or the extinguishment of any Indebtedness, of the
Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or (b) any Asset Sale
by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary; and |
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(6) other than for purposes of calculating the Restricted
Payments Basket, any extraordinary gain (or extraordinary loss),
together with any related provision for taxes on any such
extraordinary gain (or the tax effect of any such extraordinary
loss), realized by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary
during such period. |
In addition, any return of capital with respect to an Investment
that increased the Restricted Payments Basket pursuant to
clause (3)(d) of the first paragraph under
Certain Covenants Limitations on
Restricted Payments or decreased the amount of Investments
outstanding pursuant to clause (14) of the definition of
Permitted Investments shall be excluded from
Consolidated Net Income for purposes of calculating the
Restricted Payments Basket.
Consolidated Net Worth means, with respect to
any person as of any date, the consolidated stockholders
equity of such person, determined on a consolidated basis in
accordance with GAAP, less (without duplication) (1) any
amounts thereof attributable to Disqualified Equity Interests of
such person or its Subsidiaries or any amount attributable to
Unrestricted Subsidiaries and (2) all write-ups (other than
write-ups resulting from foreign currency translations and
write-ups of tangible assets of a going concern business made
within twelve months after the acquisition of such business)
subsequent to the Issue Date in the book value of any asset
owned by such person or a Subsidiary of such person.
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Consolidated Tangible Assets means, as of any
date, the total amount of assets of the Issuer and the
Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis at the end of
the fiscal quarter immediately preceding such date, as
determined in accordance with GAAP, less (1) Intangible
Assets and (2) any assets securing Non-Recourse
Indebtedness.
Consolidated Tangible Net Worth means, with
respect to any person as of any date, the Consolidated Net Worth
of such person as of such date less (without duplication) all
Intangible Assets of such person as of such date.
Credit Facilities means the Credit Agreement
dated as of December 12, 2002, as amended, among the
Issuer, the lenders party thereto, Guaranty Bank, as
administrative agent and swing line lender, Bank One, NA, as
syndication agent, and Fleet National Bank, as documentation
agent, including any notes, guarantees, collateral and security
documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection
therewith (including Hedging Obligations related to the
Indebtedness incurred thereunder), and in each case as amended
or refinanced from time to time, including any agreement
extending the maturity of, refinancing, replacing or otherwise
restructuring (including increasing the amount of borrowings or
other Indebtedness outstanding or available to be borrowed
thereunder) all or any portion of the Indebtedness under such
agreements, and any successor or replacement agreement or
agreements with the same or any other agents, creditor, lender
or group of creditors or lenders.
Default means (1) any Event of Default
or (2) any event, act or condition that, after notice or
the passage of time or both, would be an Event of Default.
Developed Land means all Entitled Land of the
Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries which is undergoing
active development or is ready for vertical construction.
Disqualified Equity Interests of any person
means any Equity Interests of such person that, by their terms,
or by the terms of any related agreement or of any security into
which they are convertible, puttable or exchangeable, are, or
upon the happening of any event or the passage of time would be,
required to be redeemed by such person, whether or not at the
option of the holder thereof, or mature or are mandatorily
redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise,
in whole or in part, on or prior to the date which is
91 days after the final maturity date of the Notes;
provided, however, that any class of Equity Interests of
such person that, by its terms, authorizes such person to
satisfy in full its obligations with respect to the payment of
dividends or upon maturity, redemption (pursuant to a sinking
fund or otherwise) or repurchase thereof or otherwise by the
delivery of Equity Interests that are not Disqualified Equity
Interests, and that are not convertible, puttable or
exchangeable for Disqualified Equity Interests or Indebtedness,
will not be deemed to be Disqualified Equity Interests so long
as such person satisfies its obligations with respect thereto
solely by the delivery of Equity Interests that are not
Disqualified Equity Interests; provided, further,
however, that any Equity Interests that would not constitute
Disqualified Equity Interests but for provisions thereof giving
holders thereof (or the holders of any security into or for
which such Equity Interests are convertible, exchangeable or
exercisable) the right to require the Issuer to redeem such
Equity Interests upon the occurrence of a change in control
occurring prior to the final maturity date of the Notes shall
not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests if the change in
control provisions applicable to such Equity Interests are no
more favorable to such holders than the provisions described
under the caption Change of Control and
such Equity Interests specifically provide that the Issuer will
not redeem any such Equity Interests pursuant to such provisions
prior to the Issuers purchase of the Notes as required
pursuant to the provisions described under the caption
Change of Control.
Entitled Land means all land of the Issuer
and its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) on which Units may be
constructed or which may be utilized for commercial, retail or
industrial uses, in each case, under applicable laws and
regulations and (b) the intended use by the Issuer for
which is permissible under the applicable regional plan,
development agreement or applicable zoning ordinance.
Equity Interests of any person means
(1) any and all shares or other equity interests (including
common stock, preferred stock, limited liability company
interests and partnership interests) in such person and
(2) all rights to purchase, warrants or options (whether or
not currently exercisable),
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participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however
designated) such shares or other interests in such person.
GAAP means generally accepted accounting
principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the
Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements
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 on the Measurement Date.
Guarantors means each Restricted Subsidiary
of the Issuer on the Issue Date, and each other person that is
required to become a Guarantor by the terms of the indenture
after the Issue Date, in each case, until such person is
released from its note guarantee.
Hedging Obligations of any person means the
obligations of such person pursuant to (1) any interest
rate swap agreement, interest rate collar agreement or other
similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect such person
against fluctuations in interest rates, (2) agreements or
arrangements designed to protect such person against
fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates in the conduct
of its operations, or (3) any forward contract, commodity
swap agreement, commodity option agreement or other similar
agreement or arrangement designed to protect such person against
fluctuations in commodity prices, in each case entered into in
the ordinary course of business for bona fide hedging purposes
and not for the purpose of speculation.
Indebtedness of any person at any date means,
without duplication:
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(1) all liabilities, contingent or otherwise, 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); |
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(2) all obligations of such person evidenced by bonds,
debentures, notes or other similar instruments; |
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(3) all obligations of such person in respect of letters of
credit or other similar instruments (or reimbursement
obligations with respect thereto); |
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(4) all obligations of such person to pay the deferred and
unpaid purchase price of property or services, except trade
payables and accrued expenses incurred by such person in the
ordinary course of business in connection with obtaining goods,
materials or services; |
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(5) the maximum fixed redemption or repurchase price of all
Disqualified Equity Interests of such person; |
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(6) all Capitalized Lease Obligations of such person; |
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(7) all Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any
asset of such person, whether or not such Indebtedness is
assumed by such person; |
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(8) all Indebtedness of others guaranteed by such person to
the extent of such guarantee; provided that
(i) Indebtedness of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries that is
guaranteed by the Issuer or the Issuers Subsidiaries shall
be counted only once in the calculation of the amount of
Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries on a
consolidated basis and (ii) that a Springing Guarantee
shall not be deemed to be Indebtedness under this
clause (8) until the earliest to occur of (a) the
demand by a lender for payment under such Springing Guaranty,
(b) the occurrence or failure to occur of any event, act or
circumstance that, with or without the giving of notice and/or
passage of time, entitles a lender to make a demand for payment
thereunder or (c) a Bankruptcy Event; |
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(9) all Attributable Indebtedness; |
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(10) to the extent not otherwise included in this
definition, Hedging Obligations of such person; |
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(11) all obligations of such person under conditional sale
or other title retention agreements relating to assets purchased
by such person; and |
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(12) the liquidation value of preferred stock of a
Subsidiary of such person issued and outstanding and held by any
person other than such person (or one of its Wholly-Owned
Restricted Subsidiaries). |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) earn-outs or similar
profit sharing arrangements provided for in acquisition
agreements which are determined on the basis of future operating
earnings or other similar performance criteria (which are not
determinable at the time of acquisition) of the acquired assets
or entities and (b) accrued expenses, trade payables, model
home leases (to the extent similar in structure to the model
home leases in existence on the Issue Date), customer deposits
or deferred income taxes arising in the ordinary course of
business shall not be considered Indebtedness. Any Indebtedness
which is incurred at a discount to the principal amount at
maturity thereof shall be deemed to have been incurred in the
amount of the full principal amount at maturity thereof. The
amount of Indebtedness of any person at any date shall be the
outstanding balance at such date of all unconditional
obligations as described above, the maximum liability of such
person for any such contingent obligations at such date and, in
the case of clause (7), the lesser of (a) the fair
market value of any asset subject to a Lien securing the
Indebtedness of others on the date that the Lien attaches and
(b) the amount of the Indebtedness secured. For purposes of
clause (5), the maximum fixed redemption or
repurchase price of any Disqualified Equity Interests that
do not have a fixed redemption or repurchase price shall be
calculated in accordance with the terms of such Disqualified
Equity Interests as if such Disqualified Equity Interests were
redeemed on any date on which an amount of Indebtedness
outstanding shall be required to be determined pursuant to the
indenture.
The indenture will not restrict any Unrestricted Subsidiary from
incurring Indebtedness nor will Indebtedness of any Unrestricted
Subsidiaries be included in the Consolidated Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio or the ratio of Consolidated Indebtedness to
Consolidated Tangible Net Worth hereunder, as long as the
Unrestricted Subsidiary incurring such Indebtedness remains an
Unrestricted Subsidiary.
Independent Director means a director of the
Issuer who
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(1) is independent with respect to the transaction at issue; |
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(2) does not have any material financial interest in the
Issuer or any of its Affiliates (other than as a result of
holding securities of the Issuer); and |
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(3) has not and whose Affiliates or affiliated firm has
not, at any time during the twelve months prior to the taking of
any action hereunder, directly or indirectly, received, or
entered into any understanding or agreement to receive,
compensation, payment or other benefit, of any type or form,
from the Issuer or any of its Affiliates in excess of $60,000,
other than customary directors fees for serving on the
board of directors of the Issuer or any Affiliate and
reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses for attendance at the
Issuers or Affiliates board and board committee
meetings. |
Independent Financial Advisor means an
accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of nationally
recognized standing that is, in the reasonable judgment of the
Issuers board of directors, qualified to perform the task
for which it has been engaged and disinterested and independent
with respect to the Issuer and its Affiliates; provided,
however, that the prior rendering of service to the Issuer
or an Affiliate of the Issuer shall not, by itself, disqualify
the advisor.
Intangible Assets means, with respect to any
person, all unamortized debt discount and expense, unamortized
deferred charges, goodwill, patents, trademarks, service marks,
trade names, copyrights, write-ups of assets over their carrying
value (other than write-ups which occurred prior to the
Measurement Date and other than, in connection with the
acquisition of an asset, the write-up of the value of such asset
to its fair market value in accordance with GAAP on the date of
acquisition) and all other items which would be treated as
intangibles on the consolidated balance sheet of such person
prepared in accordance with GAAP.
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Investment Grade Rating means (1) with
respect to S&P, any of the rating categories from and
including AAA to and including BBB- and (2) with respect to
Moodys, any of the rating categories from and including
Aaa to and including Baa3.
Investments of any Person means:
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(1) all direct or indirect investments by such person in
any other person in the form of loans, advances or capital
contributions or other credit extensions constituting
Indebtedness of such other person, and any guarantee of
Indebtedness of any other person; provided that a
Springing Guarantee shall not be deemed to be a guarantee of
Indebtedness under clause (1) of this definition until
the earliest to occur of (a) a demand by a lender for
payment under such Springing Guarantee, (b) the occurrence
or failure to occur of any event, act or circumstance that, with
or without the giving of notice and/or passage of time, entitles
a lender to make a demand for payment thereunder or (c) a
Bankruptcy Event; |
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(2) all purchases (or other acquisitions for consideration)
by such person of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other
securities of any other person; |
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(3) all other items that would be classified as investments
on a balance sheet of such person prepared in accordance with
GAAP; and |
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(4) the designation of any Subsidiary as an Unrestricted
Subsidiary. |
Except as otherwise expressly specified in this definition, the
amount of any Investment (other than an Investment made in cash)
shall be the fair market value thereof on the date such
Investment is made. The amount of Investment pursuant to
clause (4) shall be the Designation Amount determined in
accordance with the covenant described under
Certain Covenants Limitations on
Designation of Unrestricted Subsidiaries. If the Issuer or
any Subsidiary sells or otherwise disposes of any Equity
Interests of any direct or indirect Subsidiary such that, after
giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such person is no
longer a Subsidiary, the Issuer shall be deemed to have made an
Investment on the date of any such sale or other disposition
equal to the fair market value of the Equity Interests of and
all other Investments in such Subsidiary not sold or disposed
of, which amount shall be determined by the board of directors
of the Issuer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, redemptions of
Equity Interests of the Issuer shall be deemed not to be
Investments.
Issue Date means March 10, 2005.
Lien means, with respect to any asset, any
mortgage, deed of trust, lien (statutory or other), pledge,
lease, easement, restriction, covenant, charge, security
interest or other encumbrance of any kind or nature in respect
of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise
perfected under applicable law, including any conditional sale
or other title retention agreement, and any lease in the nature
thereof, any option or other agreement to sell, and any filing
of, or agreement to give, any financing statement under the
Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any
jurisdiction (other than cautionary filings in respect of
operating leases).
Measurement Date means May 30, 2001.
Moodys means Moodys Investors
Service, Inc., and its successors.
Net Available Proceeds means, with respect to
any Asset Sale, the proceeds thereof in the form of cash or Cash
Equivalents, net of
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(1) brokerage commissions and other fees and expenses
(including fees and expenses of legal counsel, accountants and
investment banks) of such Asset Sale; |
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(2) provisions for taxes payable as a result of such Asset
Sale (after taking into account any available tax credits or
deductions and any tax sharing arrangements); |
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(3) amounts required to be paid to any person (other than
the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary) owning a beneficial
interest in the assets subject to the Asset Sale or having a
Lien thereon; |
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(4) payments of unassumed liabilities (not constituting
Indebtedness) relating to the assets sold at the time of, or
within 30 days after the date of, such Asset Sale; and |
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(5) appropriate amounts to be provided by the Issuer or any
Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, as a reserve required
in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities associated with
such Asset Sale and retained by the Issuer or any Restricted
Subsidiary, as the case may be, after such Asset Sale, including
pensions and other postemployment benefit liabilities,
liabilities related to environmental matters and liabilities
under any indemnification obligations associated with such Asset
Sale, all as reflected in an officers certificate
delivered to the trustee; provided, however, that any
amounts remaining after adjustments, revaluations or
liquidations of such reserves shall constitute Net Available
Proceeds. |
Non-Recourse Indebtedness with respect to any
person means Indebtedness of such person for which (1) 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 with the proceeds of such
Indebtedness or such Indebtedness was incurred within
90 days after the acquisition of such property and
(2) no other assets of such person may be realized upon in
collection of principal or interest on such Indebtedness.
Pari Passu Indebtedness means any
Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor that ranks pari
passu as to payment with the Notes or the note guarantees, as
applicable.
Permitted Business means the businesses
engaged in by the Issuer and its Subsidiaries on the Issue Date
as described in this prospectus and businesses that are
reasonably related thereto or reasonable extensions thereof
(including, without limitation, land development, home alarm,
pest control, title and other ancillary businesses).
Permitted Holders means Steven J. Hilton and
John R. Landon, their respective wives and children, any
corporation, limited liability company or partnership in which
either of them has voting control and is the direct and
beneficial owner of a majority of the Equity Interests and any
trust for the benefit of either of them or their wives or
children.
Permitted Investment means:
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(1) Investments by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary
in (a) any Restricted Subsidiary or (b) in any person
that is or will become immediately after such Investment a
Restricted Subsidiary or that will merge or consolidate into the
Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary; |
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(2) Investments in the Issuer by any Restricted Subsidiary; |
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(3) loans and advances to directors, employees and officers
of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries for bona fide
business purposes and to purchase Equity Interests of the Issuer
not in excess of $2.0 million at any one time outstanding; |
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(4) Hedging Obligations incurred pursuant to clause
(4) of the second paragraph under the covenant described
under Certain Covenants
Limitations on Additional Indebtedness; |
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(5) Cash Equivalents; |
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(6) receivables owing to the Issuer or any Restricted
Subsidiary if created or acquired in the ordinary course of
business and payable or dischargeable in accordance with
customary trade terms; provided, however, that such trade
terms may include such concessionary trade terms as the Issuer
or any such Restricted Subsidiary deems reasonable under the
circumstances; |
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(7) Investments in securities of trade creditors or
customers received pursuant to any plan of reorganization or
similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of such
trade creditors or customers; |
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(8) Investments made by the Issuer or any Restricted
Subsidiary as a result of consideration received in connection
with an Asset Sale made in compliance with the covenant
described under Certain Covenants
Limitations on Asset Sales; |
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(9) lease, utility and other similar deposits in the
ordinary course of business; |
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(10) Investments made by the Issuer or a Restricted
Subsidiary for consideration consisting only of Qualified Equity
Interests of the Issuer; |
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(11) stock, obligations or securities received in
settlement of debts created in the ordinary course of business
and owing to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or in
satisfaction of judgments; |
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(12) Investments in existence on the Issue Date or any
Reversion Date; |
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(13) Investments made by the Issuer or any Restricted
Subsidiary in joint ventures in a Permitted Business with
unaffiliated third parties in an aggregate amount at any one
time outstanding not to exceed 30% of the Issuers
Consolidated Tangible Net Worth at such time (with each
Investment being valued as of the date made and without regard
to subsequent changes in value); and |
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(14) other Investments in an aggregate amount not to exceed
$25.0 million at any one time outstanding (with each Investment
being valued as of the date made and without regard to
subsequent changes in value). |
The amount of Investments outstanding at any time pursuant to
clause (14) above shall be deemed to be reduced:
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(a) upon the disposition or repayment of or return on any
Investment made pursuant to clause (14) above, by an amount
equal to the return of capital with respect to such Investment
to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (to the extent not
included in the computation of Consolidated Net Income), less
the cost of the disposition of such Investment and net of taxes;
and |
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(b) upon a redesignation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a
Restricted Subsidiary, by an amount equal to the lesser of
(x) the fair market value of the Issuers
proportionate interest in such Subsidiary immediately following
such redesignation, and (y) the aggregate amount of
Investments in such Subsidiary that increased (and did not
previously decrease) the amount of Investments outstanding
pursuant to clause (14) above. |
Permitted Liens means the following types of
Liens:
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(1) (a) statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of
carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, suppliers, materialmen,
repairmen and other Liens imposed by law incurred in the
ordinary course of business and (b) Liens for taxes,
assessments or governmental charges or claims, in either case,
for sums not yet delinquent or being contested in good faith, if
such reserve or other appropriate provision, if any, as shall be
required by GAAP shall have been made in respect thereof; |
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(2) Liens incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course
of business in connection with workers compensation,
unemployment insurance and other types of social security, or to
secure the performance of tenders, statutory obligations, surety
and appeal bonds, bids, leases, government contracts,
performance and return-of-money bonds and other similar
obligations (exclusive of obligations for the payment of
borrowed money); |
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(3) Liens upon specific items of inventory or other goods
and proceeds of any person securing such persons
obligations in respect of bankers acceptances issued or
created for the account of such person to facilitate the
purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods; |
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(4) Liens securing reimbursement obligations with respect
to commercial letters of credit which encumber documents and
other assets relating to such letters of credit and products and
proceeds thereof; |
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(5) Liens encumbering deposits made to secure obligations
arising from statutory, regulatory, contractual or warranty
requirements of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary,
including rights of offset and setoff; |
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(6) bankers Liens, rights of setoff and other similar
Liens existing solely with respect to cash and Cash Equivalents
on deposit in one or more accounts maintained by the Issuer or
any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case granted in the ordinary
course of business in favor of the bank or banks with which such
accounts are maintained, securing amounts owing to such bank
with respect to cash management and operating account
arrangements, including those involving pooled accounts and
netting arrangements; provided that in no case shall any
such Liens secure (either directly or indirectly) the repayment
of any Indebtedness; |
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(7) leases or subleases (or any Liens related thereto)
granted to others that do not materially interfere with the
ordinary course of business of the Issuer or any Restricted
Subsidiary; |
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(8) Liens arising from filing Uniform Commercial Code
financing statements regarding leases; |
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(9) Liens securing all of the Notes and Liens securing any
note guarantee; |
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(10) Liens existing on the Issue Date or any Reversion Date
securing Indebtedness outstanding on the Issue Date or any
Reversion Date and Liens securing Refinancing Indebtedness with
respect to Indebtedness incurred pursuant to clause (2) of
the definition of Permitted Indebtedness; |
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(11) Liens in favor of the Issuer or a Guarantor; |
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(12) Liens securing Indebtedness under the Credit
Facilities; |
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(13) without limiting any other clause in this definition
of Permitted Liens, Liens securing Indebtedness of
the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary permitted to be incurred
under the indenture; provided, that the aggregate amount
of all consolidated Indebtedness of the Issuer and the
Restricted Subsidiaries secured by Liens (including all
Indebtedness permitted to be secured by the other provisions of
this definition, but excluding Non-Recourse Indebtedness) shall
not exceed 40% of Consolidated Tangible Assets at any one time
outstanding (after giving effect to the incurrence of such
Indebtedness and the use of the proceeds thereof); |
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(14) Liens securing Non-Recourse Indebtedness of the Issuer
or any Restricted Subsidiary permitted to be incurred under the
indenture; provided, that such Liens apply only to the
property financed out of the net proceeds of such Non-Recourse
Indebtedness within 90 days after the incurrence of such
Non-Recourse Indebtedness; |
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(15) Liens securing Purchase Money Indebtedness permitted
to be incurred under the indenture; provided that such
Liens apply only to the property acquired, constructed or
improved with the proceeds of such Purchase Money Indebtedness
within 90 days after the incurrence of such Purchase Money
Indebtedness; |
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(16) Liens securing Acquired Indebtedness permitted to be
incurred under the indenture; provided that the Liens do
not extend to assets not subject to such Lien at the time of
acquisition (other than improvements thereon) and are no more
favorable to the lienholders than those securing such Acquired
Indebtedness prior to the incurrence of such Acquired
Indebtedness by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary; |
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(17) Liens on assets of a person existing at the time such
person is acquired or merged with or into or consolidated with
the Issuer or any such Restricted Subsidiary (and not created in
anticipation or contemplation thereof); |
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(18) Liens to secure Attributable Indebtedness permitted to
be incurred under the indenture; provided that any such
Lien shall not extend to or cover any assets of the Issuer or
any Restricted Subsidiary other than the assets which are the
subject of the Sale and Leaseback Transaction in which the
Attributable Indebtedness is incurred; |
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(19) attachment or judgment Liens not giving rise to a
Default and which are being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings; |
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(20) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other
similar charges or encumbrances not materially interfering with
the ordinary course of business of the Issuer and its
Subsidiaries; |
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(21) zoning restrictions, licenses, restrictions on the use
of real property or minor irregularities in title thereto, which
do not materially impair the use of such real property in the
ordinary course of business of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries
or the value of such real property for the purpose of such
business; |
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(22) any option, contract or other agreement to sell an
asset; provided such sale is not otherwise prohibited
under the indenture; |
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(23) Liens securing Hedging Obligations of the Issuer or
any Restricted Subsidiary; |
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(24) any interest or title of a lessor under any
Capitalized Lease Obligation of the Issuer or any Restricted
Subsidiary; provided that such Liens do not extend to any
property or asset which is not leased property subject to such
Capitalized Lease Obligations; |
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(25) Liens for the benefit of holders of defeased
Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary on
funds deposited in trust for the purpose of defeasing such
Indebtedness to the extent such Indebtedness is permitted to be
defeased pursuant to the terms of the indenture; and |
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(26) Liens on mortgage loans and related assets of mortgage
lending Subsidiaries securing Indebtedness incurred (i) pursuant
to or (ii) during a suspension period that would have been
permitted by, clause (14) of the definition of
Permitted Indebtedness. |
Permitted Unrestricted Subsidiary Debt means
Indebtedness of an Unrestricted Subsidiary:
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(1) as to which neither the Issuer nor any Restricted
Subsidiary (a) provides credit support of any kind
(including any undertaking, agreement or instrument that would
constitute Indebtedness), (b) is directly or indirectly
liable as a guarantor or otherwise, or (c) constitutes the
lender; |
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(2) no default with respect to which (including any rights
that the holders thereof may have to take enforcement action
against an Unrestricted Subsidiary) would permit upon notice,
lapse of time or both any holder of any other Indebtedness
(other than the Notes) of the Issuer or any Restricted
Subsidiary to declare a default on the other Indebtedness or
cause the payment thereof to be accelerated or payable prior to
its stated maturity; and |
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(3) as to which the lenders have been notified in writing
that they will not have any recourse to the Equity Interests or
assets of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary. |
Purchase Money Indebtedness means
Indebtedness, including Capitalized Lease Obligations, of the
Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary incurred for the purpose of
financing all or any part of the purchase price of property,
plant or equipment used in the business of the Issuer or any
Restricted Subsidiary or the cost of installation, construction
or improvement thereof; provided, however, that
(1) the amount of such Indebtedness shall not exceed such
purchase price or cost, (2) such Indebtedness shall not be
secured by any asset other than the specified asset being
financed or, in the case of real property or fixtures, including
additions and improvements, the real property to which such
asset is attached and (3) such Indebtedness shall be
incurred within 90 days after such acquisition of such asset by
the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary or such installation,
construction or improvement.
Qualified Equity Interests means Equity
Interests of the Issuer other than Disqualified Equity
Interests; provided that such Equity Interests shall not
be deemed Qualified Equity Interests to the extent
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sold or owed to a Subsidiary of the Issuer or financed, directly
or indirectly, using funds (1) borrowed from the Issuer or
any Subsidiary of the Issuer until and to the extent such
borrowing is repaid or (2) contributed, extended,
guaranteed or advanced by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the
Issuer (including, without limitation, in respect of any
employee stock ownership or benefit plan).
Qualified Equity Offering means the issuance
and sale of Qualified Equity Interests of the Issuer to persons
other than any Permitted Holder or any other person who is not,
prior to such issuance and sale, an Affiliate of the Issuer.
Rating Agency means each of (a) S&P and
(b) Moodys.
Rating Category means:
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(1) with respect to S&P, any of the following
categories: BB, B, CCC, CC, C and D (or equivalent successor
categories); and |
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(2) with respect to Moodys, any of the following
categories: Ba, B, Caa, Ca, C and D (or equivalent successor
categories); and |
In determining whether the rating of the Notes has decreased by
one or more gradations, gradations within Rating Categories (+
and - for S&P; or 1, 2 and 3 for Moodys) will be taken
into account (e.g., with respect to S&P a decline in rating
from BB+ to BB, as well as from BB- to B+, will constitute a
decrease of one gradation).
Rating Date means the date which is 90 days
prior to the earlier of (1) a Change of Control and
(2) public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control
or of the intention by the Issuer to effect a Change of Control.
Rating Decline means the decrease (as
compared with the Rating Date) by one or more gradations within
Rating Categories as well as between Rating Categories of the
rating of the Notes by a Rating Agency on, or within 120 days
after, the earlier of the date of public notice of the
occurrence of a Change of Control or of the intention by the
Issuer to effect a Change of Control (which period will be
extended for so long as the rating of the Notes is under
publicly announced consideration for possible downgrade by any
of the Rating Agencies).
Ratio Exception has the meaning set forth in
the proviso in the first paragraph of the covenant described
under Certain Covenants
Limitations on Additional Indebtedness.
Receivables means an amount owed with respect
to completed sales of housing units, lots and parcels sold to an
unaffiliated purchaser.
Refinancing Indebtedness means Indebtedness
of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary issued in exchange for,
or the proceeds from the issuance and sale or disbursement of
which are used substantially concurrently to redeem or refinance
in whole or in part, or constituting an amendment of, any
Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (the
Refinanced Indebtedness) in a principal
amount not in excess of the principal amount of the Refinanced
Indebtedness so repaid or amended (plus the amount of any
premium paid and the amount of reasonable expenses incurred by
the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such
repayment or amendment) (or, if such Refinancing Indebtedness
refinances Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility or
other agreement providing a commitment for subsequent
borrowings, with a maximum commitment not to exceed the maximum
commitment under such revolving credit facility or other
agreement); provided that:
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(1) if the Refinanced Indebtedness was subordinated to or
pari passu with the Notes or the note guarantees, as the case
may be, then such Refinancing Indebtedness, by its terms, is
expressly pari passu with (in the case of Refinanced
Indebtedness that was pari passu with) or subordinate in right
of payment to (in the case of Refinanced Indebtedness that was
subordinated to) the Notes or the note guarantees, as the case
may be, at least to the same extent as the Refinanced
Indebtedness; |
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(2) the Refinancing Indebtedness is scheduled to mature
either (a) no earlier than the Refinanced Indebtedness
being repaid or amended or (b) after the maturity date of
the Notes; |
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(3) 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 Refinanced Indebtedness being repaid that is
scheduled to mature on or prior to the maturity date of the
Notes; and |
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(4) the Refinancing Indebtedness is secured only to the
extent, if at all, and by the assets, that the Refinanced
Indebtedness being repaid, extended or amended is secured. |
Registration Rights Agreement means the
registration rights agreement dated as of the Issue Date among
the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers.
Restricted Payment means any of the following:
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(1) the declaration or payment of any dividend or any other
distribution on Equity Interests of the Issuer or any Restricted
Subsidiary or any payment made to the direct or indirect holders
(in their capacities as such) of Equity Interests of the Issuer
or any Restricted Subsidiary, including, without limitation, any
payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving
the Issuer, but excluding (a) dividends or distributions
payable solely in Qualified Equity Interests and (b) in the
case of Restricted Subsidiaries, dividends or distributions
payable to the Issuer or to a Restricted Subsidiary and pro rata
dividends or distributions payable to minority stockholders of
any Restricted Subsidiary; |
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(2) the redemption of any Equity Interests of the Issuer or
any Restricted Subsidiary, including, without limitation, any
payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving
the Issuer, but excluding any such Equity Interests held by the
Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary; |
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(3) any Investment other than a Permitted Investment; or |
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(4) any redemption prior to the scheduled maturity or prior
to any scheduled repayment of principal or sinking fund payment,
as the case may be, in respect of Subordinated Indebtedness. |
Restricted Payments Basket has the meaning
given to such term in the first paragraph of the covenant
described under Certain Covenants
Limitations on Restricted Payments.
S&P means Standard & Poors
Ratings Services, a division of the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.,
and its successors.
Restricted Subsidiary means any Subsidiary of
the Issuer other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
Sale and Leaseback Transaction means, with
respect to any person, an arrangement with any bank, insurance
company or other lender or investor or to which such lender or
investor is a party, providing for the leasing by such person of
any asset of such person which has been or is being sold or
transferred by such person to such lender or investor or to any
person to whom funds have been or are to be advanced by such
lender or investor on the security of such asset.
Significant Subsidiary means (1) any
Restricted Subsidiary that would be a significant
subsidiary as defined in Regulation S-X promulgated
pursuant to the Securities Act as such Regulation is in effect
on the Issue Date and (2) any Restricted Subsidiary that,
when aggregated with all other Restricted Subsidiaries that are
not otherwise Significant Subsidiaries and as to which any event
described in clause (7) or (8) under
Events of Default has occurred and is
continuing, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary under
clause (1) of this definition.
Springing Guarantee means a guarantee by a
Person which by its express terms does not become effective
until the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event.
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Subordinated Indebtedness means Indebtedness
of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary that is subordinated
in right of payment to the Notes or the note guarantees,
respectively.
Subsidiary means, with respect to any person:
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(1) any corporation, limited liability company, association
or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total
voting power of the Equity Interests entitled (without regard to
the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of
the board of directors or comparable governing body thereof are
at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such
person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that person
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(2) any partnership (a) the sole general partner or
the managing general partner of which is such person or a
Subsidiary of such person or (b) the only general partners
of which are such person or one or more Subsidiaries of such
person (or any combination thereof). |
Unless otherwise specified, Subsidiary refers to a
Subsidiary of the Issuer.
Unit means a residence, whether single or
part of a multifamily building, whether completed or under
construction, held by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary
for sale or rental in the ordinary course of business;
provided, however, that the number of Units that are
rental Units at the time of determination shall not exceed 25%
of the total Units sold or rented by the Issuer and its
Restricted Subsidiaries during the immediately preceding twelve
month period.
Unrestricted Subsidiary means (1) any
Subsidiary that at the time of determination shall be designated
an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the board of directors of the
Issuer in accordance with the covenant described under
Certain Covenants Limitations on
Designation of Unrestricted Subsidiaries and (2) any
Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
Weighted Average Life to Maturity when
applied to any Indebtedness at any date, means the number of
years obtained by dividing (1) 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 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 (2) the then
outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.
Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary means a
Restricted Subsidiary of which 100% of the Equity Interests
(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) are owned directly by the Issuer or through one or more
Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiaries.
Book-Entry, Delivery and Form of Notes
The exchange notes will be represented by one or more global
notes in definitive form. The global notes will be deposited
with, or on behalf of, the Depository Trust Company
(DTC) and registered in the name of Cede
& Co., as nominee of DTC (such nominee being referred to
herein as the Global Note Holder). DTC will
maintain the Notes in denominations of $1,000 and integral
multiples thereof through its book-entry facilities.
DTC has advised the Company as follows:
DTC is a limited-purpose trust company that was created to hold
securities for its participating organizations, including the
Euroclear System and Clearstream Banking, Société
Anònyme, Luxembourg (collectively, the
Participants or the
Depositarys Participants), and to
facilitate the clearance and settlement of transactions in these
securities between Participants through electronic book-entry
changes in accounts of its Participants. The Depositarys
Participants include securities brokers and dealers (including
the initial purchasers), banks and trust companies, clearing
corporations and certain other organizations. Access to
DTCs system is also available to other entities such as
banks, brokers, dealers and trust
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companies (collectively, the Indirect
Participants or the Depositarys
Indirect Participants) that clear through or maintain
a custodial relationship with a Participant, either directly or
indirectly. Persons who are not Participants may beneficially
own securities held by or on behalf of DTC only through the
Depositarys Participants or the Depositarys Indirect
Participants. Pursuant to procedures established by DTC,
ownership of the Notes will be shown on, and the transfer of
ownership thereof will be effected only through, records
maintained by DTC (with respect to the interests of the
Depositarys Participants) and the records of the
Depositarys Participants (with respect to the interests of
the Depositarys Indirect Participants).
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 the Notes will be
limited to such extent.
So long as the Global Note Holder is the registered owner of any
Notes, the Global Note Holder will be considered the sole holder
of outstanding Notes represented by such global notes under the
indenture. Except as provided below, owners of Notes will not be
entitled to have Notes registered in their names and will not be
considered the owners or holders thereof under the indenture for
any purpose, including with respect to the giving of any
directions, instructions, or approvals to the trustee
thereunder. None of the Issuer, the Guarantors or the trustee
will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the
records relating to or payments made on account of Notes by DTC,
or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records of DTC
relating to such Notes.
Payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and
interest on any Notes registered in the name of a Global Note
Holder on the applicable record date will be payable by the
trustee to or at the direction of such Global Note Holder in its
capacity as the registered holder under the indenture. Under the
terms of the indenture, the Issuer and the trustee may treat the
persons in whose names any Notes, including the global notes,
are registered as the owners thereof for the purpose of
receiving such payments and for any and all other purposes
whatsoever. Consequently, neither the Issuer nor the trustee has
or will have any responsibility or liability for the payment of
such amounts to beneficial owners of Notes (including principal,
premium, if any, and interest). The Issuer believes, however,
that it is currently the policy of DTC to immediately credit the
accounts of the relevant Participants with such payments, in
amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests
in the relevant security as shown on the records of DTC.
Payments by the Depositarys Participants and the
Depositarys Indirect Participants to the beneficial owners
of Notes will be governed by standing instructions and customary
practice and will be the responsibility of the Depositarys
Participants or the Depositarys Indirect Participants.
If an Event of Default occurs, any person having a beneficial
interest in the global notes may, through the Depositarys
Participants or the Depositarys Indirect Participants upon
request to the trustee and confirmation of such beneficial
interest by the Depositary or its Participants or Indirect
Participants, exchange such beneficial interest for notes in
definitive form. Upon any such issuance, the trustee is required
to register such Notes in the name of and cause the same to be
delivered to, such person or persons (or the nominee of any
thereof).
Neither the Issuer nor the trustee will be liable for any delay
by the Global Note Holder or DTC in identifying the beneficial
owners of notes and the Issuer and the trustee may conclusively
rely on, and will be protected in relying on, instructions from
the Global Note Holder or DTC for all purposes.
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THE EXCHANGE OFFER
Purposes and Effects
We issued the outstanding notes on March 10, 2005 to the
initial purchasers, who resold the outstanding notes to
qualified institutional buyers (as defined in
Rule 144A under the Securities Act) and certain
non-U.S. persons in accordance with Regulation S of
the Securities Act. In connection with the sale of the
outstanding notes, we and the initial purchasers entered into
the registration rights agreement pursuant to which we agreed to
file with the SEC a registration statement with respect to an
offer to exchange the outstanding notes with the exchange notes
within 75 days after the outstanding notes were issued. In
addition, we agreed to use our reasonable best efforts to cause
the registration statement to become effective under the
Securities Act within 150 days after the outstanding notes were
issued and to issue the exchange notes pursuant to the exchange
offer. A copy of the registration rights agreement has been
filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this
prospectus is a part.
The exchange offer is being made pursuant to the registration
rights agreement. Holders of outstanding notes who do not tender
their outstanding notes or whose outstanding notes are tendered
but not accepted would have to rely on exemptions from
registration requirements under the securities laws, including
the Securities Act, if they wish to sell their outstanding notes.
Based on interpretations by the staff of the SEC set forth in
no-action letters issued to persons unrelated to us, we believe
the exchange notes issued pursuant to the exchange offer in
exchange for outstanding notes may be offered for sale, sold and
otherwise transferred by any holder (other than a person that is
an affiliate of ours within the meaning of
Rule 405 under the Securities Act and except as set forth
in the next paragraph) without registration or the delivery of a
prospectus under the Securities Act, provided the holder
acquires the exchange notes in the ordinary course of the
holders business and the holder is not participating and
does not intend to participate, and has no arrangement or
understanding with any person to participate, in the
distribution of the exchange notes.
If a person were to participate in the exchange offer for the
purpose of distributing securities in a manner not permitted by
the SECs interpretation, (1) the position of the
staff of the SEC enunciated in the no-action letters would not
be applicable to the person and (2) the person would be
required to comply with the registration and prospectus delivery
requirements of the Securities Act in connection with a sale of
the exchange notes with any such resale transaction effected by
it covered by an effective registration statement containing the
selling securityholder information required by Item 507 or
508 of the SECs Regulation S-K.
Each broker-dealer that receives exchange notes for its own
account in exchange for outstanding notes which the
broker-dealer acquired as a result of market-making activities
or other trading activities, must acknowledge that it will
deliver a prospectus in connection with any sale of those
exchange notes.
The exchange offer is not being made to, nor will we accept
surrenders for exchange from, holders of exchange notes with
addresses in any jurisdiction in which the exchange offer or the
issuance of exchange notes pursuant to it would violate
applicable securities or blue sky laws. Prior to the exchange
offer, however, we will register or qualify, or cooperate with
the holders of the outstanding notes and their respective
counsel in connection with the registration or qualification of,
the exchange notes for offer and sale under the securities or
blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as are necessary to permit
consummation of the exchange offer and do anything else which is
necessary or advisable to enable the offer and issuance of the
exchange notes in those jurisdictions.
Terms of the Exchange Offer
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this
prospectus and in the accompanying letter of transmittal, we
will issue exchange notes in exchange for all outstanding notes
which are validly tendered prior to 5:00 p.m., New York
City time, on the expiration date (as defined below) and not
withdrawn. The principal amount of the exchange notes issued in
the exchange will be the same as the
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principal amount of the outstanding notes for which they are
exchanged. Holders may tender some or all of their outstanding
notes in response to the exchange offer.
However, outstanding notes may be tendered only in multiples of
$1,000. See Description of the Exchange Notes.
The form and terms of the exchange notes will be the same in all
material respects as the form and terms of the outstanding
notes, except that (1) the exchange notes will be
registered under the Securities Act and hence will not bear
legends regarding restrictions on transfer and (2) because
the exchange notes will be registered, holders of exchange notes
will not be, and upon the consummation of the exchange offer,
except under limited circumstances, holders of outstanding notes
will no longer be, entitled to rights under the registration
rights agreement intended for holders of unregistered securities.
Outstanding notes which are not tendered for exchange or are
tendered but not accepted in the exchange offer will remain
outstanding and be entitled to the benefits of the indenture,
but will not be entitled to any registration rights under the
registration rights agreement.
We will be deemed to accept all the outstanding notes which are
validly tendered and not withdrawn when we give oral or written
notice to that effect to the exchange agent. The exchange agent
will act as agent for the tendering holders for the purpose of
receiving exchange notes from us.
If any tendered outstanding notes are not accepted for exchange
because of an invalid tender or otherwise, certificates for
those outstanding notes will be returned, without expense, to
the tendering holder promptly after the expiration date.
Holders who tender outstanding notes in response to the exchange
offer will not be required to pay brokerage commissions or fees
or, except as described in the instructions in the letter of
transmittal, transfer taxes. We will pay all charges and
expenses, other than certain taxes described below, in
connection with the exchange offer. See Fees
and Expenses.
Expiration Date; Extension; Termination; Amendments
The exchange offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York
time, ,
2005, the expiration date unless we extend it by
notice to the exchange agent. The expiration date will be at
least 20 business days after commencement of the exchange
offer in accordance with Rule 14e-1(a) under the Exchange
Act. We reserve the right to extend the exchange offer at our
discretion. If we extend the exchange offer, the term
expiration date will mean the time and date on which
the exchange offer as extended will expire. We will notify the
exchange agent of any extension by oral or written notice and
will make a public announcement of any extension, not later than
9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the business day after
the previously scheduled expiration date. We may terminate the
exchange offer by written notice to the exchange agent if any of
the conditions described below under
Conditions of the Exchange Offer is not
satisfied. If the exchange offer is amended in a manner that we
determine to constitute a material change, we will promptly
disclose the amendment in a prospectus supplement that will be
distributed to the registered holders.
Interest on Exchange Notes
The exchange notes will bear interest at
61/4%
per year from and including March 10, 2005. Interest on the
exchange notes will be payable twice a year, on March 15
and September 15, beginning September 15, 2005. In
order to avoid duplicative payment of interest, all interest
accrued on outstanding notes that are accepted for exchange
before September 15, 2005 will be superceded by the
interest that is deemed to have accrued on the exchange notes
from March 10, 2005 through the date of exchange.
Termination of Certain Rights
The registration rights agreement provides that, with certain
exceptions, if: (1) the exchange offer registration
statement has not been filed with the SEC on or prior to the
75th calendar day following the
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date of original issue of the outstanding notes; (2) the
exchange offer registration statement has not been declared
effective on or prior to the 150th calendar day following the
date of original issue of the outstanding notes, or (3) the
exchange offer is not consummated on or prior to the 180th day
following the date of original issue of the outstanding notes
(each event referred to in clauses (1) through (3) above
being a registration default), the interest rate
borne by the outstanding notes 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 year. 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 outstanding notes and the exchange
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.
Holders of exchange notes will not be and, upon consummation of
the exchange offer, holders of outstanding notes will no longer
be, entitled to rights under the registration rights agreement
intended for holders of outstanding notes which are restricted
as to transferability, except as otherwise provided in the
registration rights agreement. The exchange offer will be deemed
consummated when we deliver to the exchange agent exchange notes
in the same aggregate principal amount as that of the
outstanding notes which are validly tendered and not withdrawn.
In the event that:
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any changes in law or the applicable interpretations of the SEC
do not permit us to effect the exchange offer; |
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the exchange offer is not consummated within 180 days after
the original issue date of the outstanding notes; |
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any holder notifies us that it is prohibited by law or
applicable interpretations of the SEC from participating in the
exchange offer; |
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in the case of any holder that participates in the exchange
offer, such holder does not receive freely transferable notes on
the date of the exchange (other than due solely to the status of
such holder as an affiliate of the Issuer); |
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the initial purchasers of the outstanding notes so request with
respect to notes that have, or are reasonably likely to be
determined to have, the status of unsold allotments in an
initial distribution; or |
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or any holder of notes that is not entitled to participate in
the exchange offer so requests |
then, the Issuer and the Guarantors shall as promptly as
practicable, but in no event later than 45 days after the
occurrence of any of the above shelf registration statement
triggering events, file with the SEC a shelf registration
statement covering resales of the outstanding notes by holders
who satisfy certain conditions relating to the provision of
information in connection with the shelf registration statement.
Procedures for Tendering
Only a holder of outstanding notes may tender outstanding notes
in response to the exchange offer. To tender outstanding notes,
the holder must either:
follow DTCs Automated Tender Offer Program
procedures, or
do the following:
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complete, sign and date the letter of transmittal, or a
facsimile of one; |
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have the signatures guaranteed if required by the letter of
transmittal; and |
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mail or otherwise deliver the transmittal or facsimile of one,
together with the outstanding notes (unless the tender is being
effected using the procedure for book-entry transfer described
below) and any other required documents, to the exchange agent
prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration
date. |
The exchange agent will seek to establish an account with
respect to the outstanding notes at the depositary for purposes
of the exchange offer within two business days after the date of
this prospectus. Any financial institution that is a participant
in the depositarys system may make book-entry delivery of
outstanding notes by causing the depositary to transfer them
into the exchange agents account at the depositary in
accordance with the depositarys procedures for transfer.
However, although a holder may effect delivery of outstanding
notes through book-entry transfer at the depositary, it must
also follow the depositarys Automated Tender Offer Program
procedures, submit to the exchange agent the letter of
transmittal or facsimile thereof, with any required signature
guarantees and any other required documents, on or before the
expiration date, or follow the guaranteed delivery procedures
described below.
LETTERS OF TRANSMITTAL AND OUTSTANDING NOTES MUST BE SENT TO THE
EXCHANGE AGENT. DELIVERY OF A DOCUMENT TO DTC DOES NOT
CONSTITUTE DELIVERY TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT.
A tender of outstanding notes by a holder will constitute an
agreement by the holder to transfer the outstanding notes to us
in exchange for exchange notes on the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in this prospectus and in the letter of
transmittal.
The method of delivering outstanding notes and the letter of
transmittal and any other required documents to the exchange
agent is at the election and risk of the holder. It is
recommended that holders use overnight or hand delivery
services. In all cases, sufficient time should be allowed to
assure delivery to the exchange agent before the expiration
time. No letter of transmittal or outstanding notes should be
send to us. Holders may ask their brokers, dealers, commercial
banks, trust companies or nominees to assist them in effecting
tenders.
If you are the beneficial owner of outstanding notes that are
registered in the name of a broker-dealer, commercial bank,
trust company, or other nominee and you wish to tender, you
should contact the registered holder promptly and instruct such
holder on your behalf. Holders who intend to tender outstanding
notes through DTCs Automated Tender Offer Program
procedures need not submit a letter of transmittal.
Signatures on letters of transmittal or a notice of withdrawal,
as the case may be, must be guaranteed by an eligible
institution unless the outstanding notes are being tendered for
the account of an eligible institution. An eligible institution
is a bank, broker, dealer, credit union, savings association or
other entity which is a member in good standing of the
Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program.
If the letter of transmittal or any outstanding 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, they should so
indicate when signing, and we may require that evidence
satisfactory to us of their authority to sign be submitted with
the letter of transmittal.
The depositary has confirmed that any financial institution that
is a participant in DTCs system may use DTCs
Automated Tender Offer Program procedures to tender outstanding
notes. All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility
(including time of receipt) and acceptance and withdrawal of
tendered outstanding notes will be determined by us in our sole
discretion, and that determination will be final and binding. We
reserve the right to reject any outstanding notes which are not
properly tendered or the acceptance of which we believe might be
unlawful. We also reserve the right to waive any defects,
irregularities or conditions of tender as to particular
outstanding notes, without being required to waive the same
defects, irregularities or conditions as to other outstanding
notes. 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. Unless
waived, any defects or irregularities in connection with tenders
of outstanding notes must be cured by the expiration date, or by
such later time as we may determine. Although we
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intend to request the exchange agent to notify holders of
defects or irregularities with respect to tenders of outstanding
notes, neither we, the exchange agent nor any other person will
incur any liability for failure to give such notification.
Tenders of outstanding notes will not be deemed to have been
made until all defects and irregularities have been cured or
waived. Any outstanding 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, unless otherwise
provided in the letter of transmittal, as soon as practicable
following the expiration date.
We have the right (subject to limitations contained in the
indenture) (1) to purchase or make offers for any
outstanding notes that remain outstanding after the expiration
date and (2) to the extent permitted by applicable law, to
purchase outstanding notes in privately negotiated transactions
or otherwise. The terms of any such purchases or offers could
differ from the terms of the exchange offer.
By tendering, a holder will be representing to us, among other
things, that: (1) it or the person who will acquire the
exchange notes being issued as a result of the exchange offer
(whether or not that is the holder) will be acquiring them in
the ordinary course of that persons business,
(2) neither the holder nor any such other person has an
arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in a
distribution of the exchange notes, (3) it is not a
broker-dealer that owns outstanding notes acquired directly from
us or an affiliate of ours, (4) it is not an
affiliate of the company (as defined in
Rule 405 under the Securities Act) or any of the
guarantors, and (5) it is not acting on behalf of any other
person who could not truthfully make the representation
described in this paragraph. In addition, if the holder is a
broker-dealer that will receive exchange notes for its own
account in exchange for outstanding notes that were acquired as
result of market-making activities or other trading activities,
the holder will, by tendering, acknowledge that it will comply
with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act
in connection with any resale of those exchange notes.
Conditions of the Exchange Offer
Notwithstanding any other term of the exchange offer, we will
not be required to accept for exchange, or exchange securities
for, any outstanding notes, if:
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(a) any action or proceeding is instituted or threatened in
any court or by or before any governmental agency which might
materially impair our or the guarantors ability to proceed
with the exchange offer or any material adverse development has
occurred in any existing action or proceeding with respect to us
or any of the guarantors that would impair our or their ability
to proceed; |
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(b) the exchange offer would violate any law or
interpretation by the staff of the SEC; or |
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(c) any governmental approval has not been obtained, which
approval we deem necessary for the consummation of the exchange
offer. |
If any of the conditions are not satisfied, we may
(1) refuse to accept any outstanding notes and return all
tendered outstanding notes to the tendering holders,
(2) extend the exchange offer and retain all outstanding
notes tendered prior to the expiration of the exchange offer,
subject, however, to the rights of holders to withdraw such
outstanding notes (see Withdrawal of
Tenders), (3) waive such unsatisfied conditions with
respect to the exchange offer and accept all properly tendered
outstanding notes which have not been withdrawn,
(4) terminate the exchange offer, or (5) amend the
exchange offer.
Guaranteed Delivery Procedures
Holders who wish to tender their outstanding notes and
(1) whose outstanding notes are not immediately available,
or (2) who cannot deliver their outstanding notes or any
other required documents
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to the exchange agent or cannot complete the procedure for
book-entry transfer prior to the expiration date, may effect a
tender if:
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(a) The tender is made through an eligible institution; |
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(b) Prior to the expiration date, the exchange agent
receives from the eligible institution a properly completed and
duly executed notice of guaranteed delivery (by facsimile
transmission, mail or hand) setting forth the name and address
of the eligible holder, the certificate number(s) of the
outstanding notes (if available) and the principal amount of
outstanding notes tendered, together with a duly executed letter
of transmittal (or a facsimile of one), stating that the tender
is being made by that notice of guaranteed delivery and
guaranteeing that, within three business days after the
expiration date, the certificate(s) representing the outstanding
notes (or confirmation of a book-entry transfer into the
exchange agents account at DTC) and any other documents
required by the letter of transmittal will be delivered to the
exchange agent; and |
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(c) The certificate(s) representing all the tendered
outstanding notes (or confirmation of a book-entry transfer into
the exchange agents account at DTC) and all other
documents required by the letter of transmittal are received by
the exchange agent within three business days after the
expiration date. |
Upon the request to the exchange agent, a form of notice of
guaranteed delivery will be sent to holders who wish to use the
guaranteed delivery procedures described above.
Withdrawal of Tenders
Except as otherwise described below, tenders of outstanding
notes may be withdrawn at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New
York City time, on the expiration date.
To withdraw a tender of outstanding notes, a written or
facsimile transmission notice of withdrawal must be received by
the exchange agent prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time,
on the expiration date. Any notice of withdrawal must
(i) specify the name of the person who deposited the
outstanding notes to be withdrawn, (ii) identify the
outstanding notes to be withdrawn (including the certificate
numbers and principal amounts of the outstanding notes),
(iii) be signed by the depositor in the same manner as the
signature on the letter of transmittal by which the outstanding
notes were tendered (including any required signature
guarantees) or be accompanied by documents of transfer
sufficient to have the trustee register the transfer of the
outstanding notes into the name of the person who withdraws the
tender, and (iv) specify the name in which the withdrawn
outstanding 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 withdrawal notices
will be determined by us in our sole discretion, and that
determination will be final and binding on all parties. Any
outstanding notes which are withdrawn will be deemed not to have
been validly tendered for purposes of the exchange offer, and no
exchange notes will be issued with respect to those outstanding
notes unless they are validly re-tendered. Any outstanding notes
which have been tendered but which are not accepted for exchange
or which are withdrawn will be returned to the holder without
cost to the holder promptly after withdrawal, rejection of
tender or termination of the exchange offer. Properly withdrawn
outstanding notes may be re-tendered at any time prior to the
expiration date in accordance with the procedures described
above under Procedures for Tendering.
Fees and Expenses
We will bear the expenses of soliciting tenders pursuant to the
exchange offer. The principal solicitation of tenders is being
made by mail. However, solicitations also may be made by
telecopy, telephone or in person by officers and regular
employees of ours and our affiliates.
We have not retained any dealer-manager in connection with the
exchange offer and will not make any payments to brokers,
dealers or others for soliciting acceptances of the exchange
offer. We will, however, pay the exchange agent reasonable and
customary fees for its services and reimburse it for its
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in connection with the
exchange offer. We may also reimburse
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brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries
for the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses they incur in
forwarding copies of this prospectus, letters of transmittal and
related documents to the beneficial owners of the outstanding
notes and in handling or forwarding tenders for exchange. We
will pay the other expenses incurred in connection with the
exchange offer, including fees and expenses of the trustee,
accounting and legal fees and printing costs.
We will pay all transfer taxes, if any, applicable to the
exchange of outstanding notes for exchange notes pursuant to the
exchange offer. If, however, certificates representing exchange
notes or outstanding notes for principal amounts which are not
tendered or accepted for exchange are to be delivered to, or are
to be issued in the name of, a person other than the registered
holder of the outstanding notes tendered, or if tendered
outstanding notes are registered in the name of a person other
than the person who signs the letter of transmittal, or if a
transfer tax is imposed for any other reason, other than the
exchange of outstanding notes for exchange notes pursuant to the
exchange offer, the tendering holder must pay the transfer taxes
(whether imposed on the registered holder or any other person).
Unless satisfactory evidence of payment of transfer taxes or
exemption from the need to pay them is submitted with the letter
of transmittal, the amount of the transfer taxes will be billed
directly to the tendering holder. We may refuse to issue
exchange notes in exchange for outstanding notes, or to return
certificates evidencing outstanding notes which are not
exchanged, until we receive evidence satisfactory to us that any
transfer taxes payable by the holder have been paid.
Consequences of Failure to Exchange Outstanding Notes
If a holder does not exchange outstanding notes for exchange
notes in response to the exchange offer, the outstanding notes
will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer
described in the legend on the certificate evidencing the
outstanding notes, and will not have the benefit of any
agreement by us to register outstanding notes under the
Securities Act. In general, notes may not be offered or sold,
unless the sale is registered under the Securities Act, or
unless the offer and sale are exempt from, or not subject to,
the Securities Act or any applicable state securities laws.
Participation in the exchange offer is voluntary and holders
should carefully consider whether to accept the exchange offer
and tender their outstanding notes. Holders of outstanding notes
are urged to consult their financial and tax advisors in making
their own decisions on what action to take.
Accounting Treatment
The exchange notes will be recorded in our accounting records at
the same carrying value as the outstanding notes on the date of
the exchange. Accordingly, we will not recognize any gain or
loss for accounting purposes as a result of the exchange offer.
We will amortize the expenses of the exchange offer over the
term of the exchange notes.
Exchange Agent
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association has been appointed as
exchange agent for the exchange offer. All correspondence in
connection with the exchange offer and the letter of transmittal
should be addressed to the exchange agent, as follows:
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By Facsimile:
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By Registered or Certified Mail;
Overnight Courier or Hand Delivery: |
Wells Fargo Bank,
National Association
Facsimile: (213) 614-3355
(For Eligible Institutions Only)
Attention: Jeanie Mar
Confirm by telephone: (213) 614-3349
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Wells Fargo Bank,
National Association
707 Wilshire Blvd.
17th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Attention: Jeanie Mar |
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Requests for additional copies of this prospectus or the letter
of transmittal or accompanying documents should be directed to
the exchange agent. Delivery of the letter of transmittal or
accompanying documents to a different address or transmission
instructions to a different facsimile does not constitute a
valid delivery of such letter of transmittal or other documents.
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UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following discussion addresses material United States
federal income tax considerations applicable to the holder that
exchanges outstanding notes for exchange notes. This discussion
is based on the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended (the Code), the applicable treasury
regulations promulgated or proposed under the Code, judicial
authority and current administrative rulings and practice. All
of these authorities may change without notice, possibly on a
retroactive basis. This summary deals only with holders that
will hold exchange notes as capital assets within the meaning of
Section 1221 of the Code. It does not address tax
considerations applicable to investors that may be subject to
special tax rules, such as banks and other financial
institutions, tax-exempt organizations, insurance companies,
partnerships, expatriates, traders or dealers in securities or
currencies, custodians, nominees or similar financial
intermediaries holding exchange notes for others, persons that
hold outstanding notes or will hold exchange notes as a position
in a hedging transaction, straddle or conversion transaction for
tax purposes or persons subject to the alternative minimum tax.
This summary does not discuss the tax consequences of any
conversion of currency into or out of the United States dollar
as such a conversion relates to the purchase, ownership or
disposition of the notes. Meritage has not sought any ruling
from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) nor sought an opinion of
counsel with respect to the statements made and the conclusions
reached in the following summary. There can be no assurance that
the IRS will agree with such statements and conclusions.
HOLDERS OF OUTSTANDING NOTES SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX
ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE APPLICATION OF THE UNITED STATES
FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAWS TO THEIR PARTICULAR SITUATIONS AS WELL
AS ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES ARISING UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY STATE,
LOCAL OR FOREIGN TAXING JURISDICTION OR UNDER ANY APPLICABLE TAX
TREATY AS TO HOW THEIR PARTICULAR TAX SITUATION MIGHT BE
AFFECTED BY THE EXCHANGE OF THE OUTSTANDING NOTES FOR THE
EXCHANGE NOTES AND THE HOLDING AND DISPOSITION OF THEIR EXCHANGE
NOTES.
United States Holders
For purposes of this discussion, a United States holder is the
beneficial owner of an exchange note that, for United States
federal income tax purposes, is:
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an individual citizen or resident of the United States; |
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a corporation or other entity taxable as a corporation created
or organized under the laws of the United States or any state
thereof or the District of Columbia; |
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an estate, the income of which is subject to United States
federal income taxation regardless of its source; or |
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a trust, if (i) one or more United States persons (as
defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) have the
authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust and
a court within the United States is able to exercise primary
supervision over the administration of the trust or (ii) it
has a valid election in effect to be treated as a United States
Person. |
A non-United States holder is a beneficial owner of an exchange
note who is a nonresident alien or a corporation, trust or
estate that is not a United States holder. If a partnership
holds exchange notes, the tax treatment of a partner will
generally depend on the status of the partner and on the
activities of the partnership. Partners of partnerships holding
notes should consult their tax advisors.
Exchange of Notes
The exchange of outstanding notes for exchange notes pursuant to
the exchange offer will not constitute a significant
modification of the terms of the notes and thus will not
constitute a taxable event for United States holders.
Consequently, United States holders will not recognize gain or
loss upon the
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receipt of exchange notes in exchange for outstanding notes in
the exchange offer, United States holders bases in the
exchange notes received in the exchange offer will be the same
as their bases in the corresponding outstanding notes
immediately before the exchange, and United States holders
holding periods in the exchange notes will include their holding
periods in the outstanding notes.
Payment of Interest
Stated interest on an exchange note generally will be includible
in the income of a United States holder as ordinary income at
the time such interest is received or accrued, in accordance
with the holders method of accounting for United States
federal income tax purposes.
United States holders should be aware that the resale of an
exchange note may be affected by the market discount rules of
the Code. Under these rules, a subsequent purchaser of an
exchange note acquiring the note at a market discount generally
would be required to include as ordinary income a portion of the
gain realized upon the disposition or retirement of the note to
the extent of the market discount that has accrued while the
debt instrument was held by the purchaser. A purchase at a
market discount includes the purchase of a note after its
original issuance at a price less than the notes stated
redemption price at maturity. The amount of market discount, if
any, will generally equal the excess of:
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the sum of the issue price of the note and the aggregate amount
of the discount includible in the gross income of all United
States holders, over |
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the purchase price. |
Gain recognized on the disposition, including a redemption, by a
United States holder of an exchange note that has accrued market
discount will be treated as ordinary income, and not capital
gain, to the extent of the accrued market discount, but only if
the amount of market discount exceeds a statutorily-defined de
minimis amount. Under the de minimis exception, there is no
market discount on a note if the excess of the stated redemption
price at maturity of the note over the holders tax basis
in the note is less than 0.25% of the stated redemption price at
maturity multiplied by the number of complete years after the
acquisition date to the notes date of maturity. Unless the
holder elects otherwise, as described below, the accrued market
discount would be the amount calculated by multiplying the
market discount by a fraction:
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the numerator of which is the number of days the obligation has
been held by the holder; and |
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the denominator of which is the number of days after the
holders acquisition of the obligation up to and including
its maturity date. |
A United States holder of an exchange note acquired at market
discount will be deemed to have realized an amount equal to the
fair market value of the note if the holder disposes of the note
in specified transactions other than a sale, exchange or
involuntary conversion, even though the transaction is otherwise
non-taxable (for example, a gift). The United States holder will
be required to recognize as ordinary income any accrued market
discount to the extent of the deemed gain. A holder of an
exchange note acquired at a market discount also may be required
to defer the deduction of all or a portion of the interest on
any indebtedness incurred or maintained to purchase or carry the
note until it is disposed of in a taxable transaction.
A United States holder of an exchange note acquired at market
discount may elect to include the market discount in income as
it accrues. This election would apply to all market discount
obligations acquired by the electing United States holder on or
after the first day of the first taxable year to which the
election applies. The election may be revoked only with the
consent of the IRS. If a United States holder of a note elects
to include market discount in income currently, the rules
discussed above with respect to ordinary income recognition
resulting from sales and certain other dispositions and to
deferral of interest deductions would not apply.
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An exchange note purchased for more than its principal amount
generally will be considered to have been purchased at a
premium. The bond premium is generally equal to the excess, if
any, of the tax basis of the note over the amount payable at
maturity of the note or, if a smaller premium would result, on
an earlier call date of the note. A note holder may elect to
amortize the bond premium on a constant yield basis, in which
case amortizable bond premium is allocated to payments of
interest and treated as an offset to interest income. A holder
that elects to amortize premium must reduce the holders
tax basis in the note by the amount of the aggregate deductions,
or interest offsets, allowable for the amortization of premium.
If an election to amortize bond premium is not made, a note
holder must include the full amount of each interest payment in
income in accordance with the note holders regular method
of tax accounting, and the note holder will generally receive a
tax benefit from the bond premium only upon computing the note
holders gain or loss upon the sale or other disposition or
payment of the principal amount of the note.
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Sale, Exchange, Redemption or Other Taxable Disposition of
Notes |
Upon the sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition
of an exchange note, a United States holder generally will
recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between:
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the amount of cash proceeds and the fair market value of any
property received on the sale, exchange, redemption or other
taxable disposition, except to the extent such amount is
attributable to accrued interest income, which is taxable as
ordinary income (as described above under Interest);
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such holders adjusted tax basis in the note. |
A United States holders adjusted tax basis in a note
generally will equal the cost of the note to such holder less
any amortized bond premium and any principal payments received
by such holder plus any market discount previously included in
income. Such capital gain or loss will be long-term if the
United States holders holding period is more than one year
and will be short-term if the holding period is one year or
less. Long-term capital gains recognized by individuals are
generally taxed at a current maximum federal tax rate of 15%.
Information Reporting and
Backup Withholding
In general, information reporting requirements will apply to
certain noncorporate United States holders with respect to
payments of principal, premium and interest on a note, and to
payments of the proceeds of the sale of a note. The receipt of
such payments may be subject to backup withholding
at a current rate of 28% (to be determined after 2010). Backup
withholding generally applies only if the holder:
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fails to furnish his or her Social Security or other taxpayer
identification number within a reasonable time after the request
for it; |
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furnishes an incorrect taxpayer identification number; |
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is notified by the IRS that he or she has failed to report
properly interest, dividends or original issue discount; or |
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fails, under specified circumstances, to provide a certified
statement, signed under penalties of perjury, that the taxpayer
identification number provided is the correct number and that he
or she is not subject to backup withholding. |
Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules from a
payment to a United States holder will be allowed as a credit
against such holders United States federal income tax and
may entitle the holder to a refund, provided that the required
information is timely furnished to the IRS.
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Non-United States Holders
Exchange of Notes
The exchange of outstanding notes for exchange notes pursuant to
the exchange offer will not constitute a significant
modification of the terms of the notes and thus will not
constitute a taxable event for non-United States holders.
Consequently, non-United States holders will not recognize gain
or loss upon the receipt of exchange notes in exchange for
outstanding notes in the exchange offer, non-United States
holders bases in the exchange notes received in the
exchange offer will be the same as their bases in the
corresponding outstanding notes immediately before the exchange,
and non-United States holders holding periods in the
exchange notes will include their holding periods in the
outstanding notes.
Payment of Interest
Interest income of a non-United States holder that is not
effectively connected with a United States trade or business may
be subject to a withholding tax at a 30% rate or any lower rate
that may be prescribed by an income tax treaty between the
United States and the holders country of residence.
However, such interest will qualify for the portfolio interest
exemption and, therefore, will not be subject to United States
federal income tax or withholding tax if the non-United States
holder:
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does not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the
combined voting power of all classes of stock of Meritage
entitled to vote, and |
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is not a controlled foreign corporation related to Meritage,
actually or constructively through stock ownership under
section 864(d)(4) of the Code, |
and either:
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provides to Meritage or its agent an appropriate W-8 series
form or a suitable substitute form signed under penalties of
perjury that includes its name and address and certifies as to
the holders non-United States status, and Meritage does
not have actual knowledge or reason to know that the holder is a
United States person, or |
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Meritage does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that
the holder is a United States person and Meritage receives
(i) a withholding certificate from an intermediary payee
(such as a withholding foreign partnership, qualified
intermediary or U.S. branch of a non-United States bank or of a
non-United States insurance company), and such intermediary
obtains appropriate certification with respect to the
holders non-United States status and, if required,
provides a copy of such certification to Meritage or
(ii) if the payee is a securities clearing organization,
bank or other financial institution that holds securities for
its customers in the ordinary course, a statement signed under
penalties of perjury that the institution has received a
withholding certificate from the beneficial owner (or that it
has received a similar statement from another financial
institution), listing the name and address of the beneficial
owner and attaching a copy of the beneficial owners
withholding certificate. |
A non-United States holder which does not qualify for the
portfolio interest exemption may nevertheless be
entitled to an exemption from, or reduction on the rate of, the
United States withholding tax on the interest and discount if
such holder:
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resides in a jurisdiction which has a favorable income tax
treaty with the United States, |
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satisfies the conditions for the application of such treaty, and |
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provides to Meritage or its agent the appropriate Form W-8
or a suitable substitute form. |
Except to the extent that an applicable treaty otherwise
provides, a non-United States holder generally will be taxed in
the same manner as a United States holder with respect to
interest if the interest is effectively connected with a United
States trade or business of the non-United States holder.
Effectively connected interest received by a corporate
non-United States holder may also, under certain
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circumstances, be subject to an additional branch profits tax at
a 30% rate or, if applicable, a lower treaty rate. Even though
such effectively connected interest is subject to income tax,
and may be subject to the branch profits tax, it is not subject
to withholding if the non-United States holder delivers an
appropriate and properly executed W-8 series Form to Meritage or
its agent.
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Sale, Exchange, Redemption or Other Taxable Dispositions
of Notes |
A non-United States holder of an exchange note will generally
not be subject to United States withholding tax on any gain
realized on the sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable
dispositions of an exchange note, other than gain attributable
to accrued interest. Such gain also will generally not be
subject to United States federal income tax unless:
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the gain is effectively connected with a United States trade or
business of the non-United States holder (in which case such
gain generally would be taxable in the same manner as
effectively connected interest (as described above) unless an
applicable tax treaty provides otherwise), or |
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in the case of a non-United States holder who is an individual,
the holder is present in the United States for a period or
periods aggregating at least 183 days (as such days are
calculated in accordance with the Code) during the current
taxable year of the disposition and certain other conditions are
met (in which case such gain, net of certain U.S. source losses,
may be subject to tax at a 30% rate). |
The amount of gain realized upon the sale, exchange, or
redemption of a note may include amounts attributable to accrued
interest. Gain attributable to accrued interest will be taxable,
if at all, as described above under Non-United
States Holders Interest.
Information Reporting and
Backup Withholding
In general, payments of interest made by Meritage and other
payors to a non-United States holder will not be subject to
backup withholding and information reporting, provided that the
non-United States holder certifies its non-United States holder
status under penalties of perjury or otherwise establishes an
exemption. In general, payments of principal or the proceeds
from the sale of exchange notes effected at a United States
office of a broker are subject to both United States backup
withholding and information reporting. However, a holder will
not be subject to backup withholding and information reporting
on such a payment provided that:
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the broker does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that
the holder is a United States person and the holder has
furnished to the broker: |
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an appropriate W-8 series form or an acceptable substitute
form upon which the holder certifies, under penalties of
perjury, that the holder is a non-United States person, or |
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other documentation upon which it may rely to treat the payment
as made to a non-United States person in accordance with U.S.
Treasury regulations, or |
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the holder otherwise establishes an exemption. |
In general, payments of principal or the proceeds from the sale
of exchange notes effected at a foreign office of a broker will
not be subject to information reporting or backup withholding.
However, such payments will be subject to information reporting,
but not backup withholding, if the holder fails to provide the
documentation described above or otherwise establish an
exemption and the broker is:
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a United States person, |
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a controlled foreign corporation for United States tax purposes, |
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a foreign person 50% or more of whose gross income is
effectively connected with the conduct of a United States trade
or business for a specified three-year period, or |
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a foreign partnership, if at any time during its tax year: |
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one or more of its partners are United States persons, who in
the aggregate hold more than 50% of the income or capital
interest in the partnership, or |
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such foreign partnership is engaged in the conduct of a United
States trade or business. |
Applicable Treasury regulations contain a number of other
provisions affecting United States withholding taxes and
reporting requirements including special rules for payments made
to nonqualified intermediaries, flow-through entities and United
States branches. Prospective investors should consult their tax
advisors regarding the effect of these regulations.
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Each broker-dealer that receives exchange 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
exchange notes. The prospectus, as it may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer
in connection with sales of exchange notes received in exchange
for outstanding notes which were acquired as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities. We have
agreed that, starting on the expiration date and ending on the
close of business on the date that is 180 days after the
expiration date, we will make this prospectus, as amended or
supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for use in
connection with any such resale.
We will not receive any proceeds from any sale of exchange notes
by broker-dealers. Exchange 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 exchange notes or a combination of
those methods of resale, at prices which may or may not be based
upon market prices prevailing at the time of the sale. Any such
sale 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 the selling broker-dealer and/or
the purchasers of the exchange notes. Any broker-dealer that
sells exchange 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 exchange notes may
be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of
the Securities Act and any profit from sale of the exchange
notes and any commissions or concessions received by any such
persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation. The
letter of transmittal states that a broker-dealer will not, by
delivering a prospectus, be deemed to admit that it is an
underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act.
We have agreed to pay all expenses incident to the exchange
offer other than commissions or concessions of any brokers or
dealers and will indemnify the holders of the outstanding notes
and the exchange notes (including any broker-dealers) against
certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities
Act.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the exchange notes and the related guarantees
has been passed upon for Meritage by Snell & Wilmer
L.L.P., Phoenix, Arizona.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements as of December 31,
2004 and for the year then ended and managements report on
the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting
as of December 31, 2004 incorporated by reference in this
prospectus from Meritage Homes Corporations Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 have
been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent
registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report
dated March 15, 2005, relating to the financial statements
of Meritage Homes Corporation and of their report on internal
control over financial reporting dated March 15, 2005
(which report expresses an unqualified opinion on
managements assessment on the effectiveness of internal
control over financial reporting, and an adverse opinion on the
effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, and
includes an explanatory paragraph relating to a material
weakness identified), which are incorporated herein by
reference, and have been so incorporated in reliance upon the
reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in
accounting and auditing.
The consolidated financial statements of Meritage Homes
Corporation and subsidiaries, formerly Meritage Corporation, as
of December 31, 2003, and for the years ended
December 31, 2003 and 2002, have been incorporated by
reference herein and in the registration statement in reliance
upon the report of KPMG LLP, an independent registered public
accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the
authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
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AVAILABLE INFORMATION
Meritage and the Guarantors have filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission a registration statement on Form S-4
(together with all amendments and exhibits thereto, the
registration statement) under the Securities Act for
the registration of the exchange notes offered hereby. As
permitted by the rules and regulations of the Commission, this
prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in
the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules
thereto. For further information with respect to Meritage, the
Guarantors and the exchange notes offered hereby, reference is
made to the registration statement and to the exhibits and
schedules filed therewith. Statements contained in this
prospectus concerning the contents of any contract or other
document are not necessarily complete. With respect to each such
contract or other document filed with the Commission as an
exhibit to the registration statement, reference is made to the
exhibit for a more complete description of the matter involved.
We are subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange
Act, and file reports, proxy statements and other information
with the SEC. These reports, proxy statements and other
information may be read and copied at the Public Reference Room
maintained by the SEC at 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the
operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains an Internet site that
contains reports, proxy and information statements and other
information regarding registrants like us that file
electronically with the SEC (at http://www.sec.gov).
Meritages common stock is listed on the New York Stock
Exchange (Symbol: MTH). Reports, proxy statements and other
information relating to Meritage can be inspected at the offices
of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York,
New York 10005. You may also find the reports, proxy statements
and other information we file with the SEC on our website at
www.meritagehomes.com.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
We are incorporating by reference certain information that we
have filed under the informational requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The information contained in
the documents we are incorporating by reference is considered
part of this prospectus. We are incorporating by reference the
following documents, which we have already filed with the SEC:
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Filing |
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Date Filed | |
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Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2004
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March 16, 2005 |
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Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended
December 31, 2004
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March 24, 2005 |
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Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A
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February 22, 2005 |
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Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A
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February 22, 2005 |
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Current Report on Form 8-K
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January 12, 2005 |
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Current Report on Form 8-K
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January 27, 2005 |
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Current Report on Form 8-K
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February 9, 2005 |
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Current Report on Form 8-K/A
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February 9, 2005 |
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Current Report on Form 8-K/A
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February 14, 2005 |
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Current Report on Form 8-K/A
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February 22, 2005 |
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Current Report on Form 8-K/A
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February 22, 2005 |
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Current Report on Form 8-K
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February 28, 2005 |
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Current Report on Form 8-K/A
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March 2, 2005 |
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Current Report on Form 8-K
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March 9, 2005 |
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Current Report on Form 8-K
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March 11, 2005 |
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Current Report on Form 8-K
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March 24, 2005 |
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All documents filed by Meritage under Section 13(a), 13(c),
14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, after the
date of this prospectus until the exchange offer is completed
are incorporated into this prospectus by reference and will
constitute part of this prospectus from the date they are filed.
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SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Each subsidiary guarantor is exempt from Exchange Act reporting
pursuant to Rule 12h-5 under the Exchange Act, as:
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Meritage Homes Corporation has no independent assets or
operations; |
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the guarantees of the subsidiary guarantors are full and
unconditional and joint and several; and |
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any subsidiaries of Meritage Homes Corporation other than the
subsidiary guarantors are, individually and in the aggregate,
minor. |
There are no significant restrictions on the ability of Meritage
Homes Corporation or any subsidiary guarantor to obtain funds
from its subsidiaries by dividend or loan.
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$350,000,000
61/4%
Senior Notes due 2015
PROSPECTUS
,
2005
Each broker-dealer that receives exchange notes for its own
account in the exchange offer must acknowledge that it will
deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of those
exchange notes. The letter of transmittal states that, by so
acknowledging and delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will
not be deemed to admit that it is an underwriter
within the meaning of the Securities Act.
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 exchange notes received in exchange for outstanding
notes where the outstanding notes were acquired by the
broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other
trading activities.
We have agreed that, for a period of 180 days after the
consummation of this exchange offer, we will make this
prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use in connection
with the resale of exchange notes. See Plan of
Distribution.
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
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Item 20. |
Indemnification of Directors and Officers |
Meritage Homes Corporation
Under the provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law, a
corporations articles may, with certain exceptions,
include any provision expanding or limiting the liability of its
directors and officers to the corporation or its stockholders
for money damages, but may not include any provision that
restricts or limits the liability of its directors or officers
to the corporation or its stockholders to the extent that
(i) it is proved that the person actually received an
improper benefit or profit in money, property, or services for
the amount of the benefit or profit in money, property, or
services actually received; or (ii) a judgment or other
final adjudication adverse to the person is entered in a
proceeding based on a finding in the proceeding that the
persons action, or failure to act, was the result of
active and deliberate dishonesty and was material to the cause
of action adjudicated in the proceeding. Meritages charter
contains a provision limiting the personal liability of officers
and directors to Meritage and its stockholders to the fullest
extent permitted under Maryland law.
In addition, the provisions of the Maryland General Corporation
Law permit a corporation to indemnify its present and former
directors and officers, among others, against liability
incurred, unless it is established that (i) the act or
omission of the director or officer was material to the matter
giving rise to the proceeding and was committed in bad faith or
was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, or
(ii) the director or officer actually received an improper
personal benefit in money, property, or services, or
(iii) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director
or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or
omission was unlawful. Meritages charter provides that it
will indemnify its directors, officers and others so designated
by the board of directors to the full extent permitted under
Maryland law.
Subsidiary Guarantors
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Arizona Corporate Guarantors |
Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS) § 10-851
allows a corporation, in certain circumstances, to indemnify its
directors against costs and expenses (including attorneys
fees) reasonably incurred in connection with threatened, pending
or completed civil, criminal, administrative or investigative
actions, suits or proceedings, in which such persons were or are
parties, or are threatened to be made parties, by reason of the
fact that they were or are directors of the corporation, if such
persons acted in good faith and either (i) in a manner they
reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the
corporation (if acting in a official capacity), or (ii) in
a manner they reasonably believed was at least not opposed to
the corporations best interests (in all other cases). A
corporation may indemnify its directors with respect to any
criminal action or proceeding if, in addition to the above
conditions being met, the individual had no reasonable cause to
believe his or her conduct was unlawful. Directors may not be
indemnified under ARS § 10-851 in connection with a
proceeding by or in the right of the corporation in which the
director was adjudged liable to the corporation or in connection
with any other proceeding charging improper financial benefit to
the director in which the director was adjudged liable on the
basis that financial benefit was improperly received by the
director. In addition, under ARS § 10-202, a
corporations articles of incorporation may indemnify a
director for conduct for which broader indemnification has been
made permissible or mandatory under other ARS provisions.
ARS § 10-202 provides that the articles of
incorporation may set forth a provision eliminating or limiting
the liability of a director to the corporation or its
shareholders for money damages, and permitting or making
obligatory indemnification of a director, for liability for any
action taken or any failure to take any action as a director,
except liability for any of the following: (a) the amount
of a financial benefit received by a director to which the
director is not entitled; (b) an intentional infliction of
harm on the
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corporation or the shareholders; (c) unlawful
distributions; and (d) an intentional violation of criminal
law.
ARS § 10-852 provides for mandatory indemnification in
certain situations such that, unless limited by its articles of
incorporation, a corporation shall indemnify a director who was
the prevailing party, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense
of any proceeding to which the director was a party because the
director is or was a director of the corporation against
reasonable expenses incurred by the director in connection with
the proceeding.
ARS § 10-856 provides that a corporation may indemnify
its officers against costs and expenses (including
attorneys fees) reasonably incurred in connection with
threatened, pending or completed civil, criminal, administrative
or investigative actions, suits or proceedings, in which such
persons were or are parties, or are threatened to be made
parties because the individual is or was an officer of the
corporation to the same extent as a director. If the individual
is an officer but not a director (or is both but is made a party
to the proceeding solely because of an act or omission as an
officer), a corporation may indemnify and advance expenses to
the further extent as may be provided by the articles of
incorporation, the bylaws, a resolution of the board of
directors, or contract except for (i) liability in
connection with a proceeding by or in the right of the
corporation other than for reasonable expenses incurred in
connection with the proceeding, or (ii) liability arising
out of conduct that constitutes (a) receipt by the officer
of a financial benefit to which the officer is not entitled,
(b) an intentional infliction of harm on the corporation or
the shareholders, or (c) an intentional violation of
criminal law. An officer of a corporation who is not a director
is entitled to mandatory indemnification as a prevailing party
under ARS § 10-852.
ARS § 10-850 defines a director as including an
individual who is or was a director of a corporation or an
individual while a director of a corporation is or was serving
at the corporations request as a director, officer,
partner, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture or other entity.
The articles of incorporation of Monterey Homes Arizona, Inc.,
Monterey Homes Construction, Inc., MTH-Texas GP, Inc. and
MTH-Texas LP, Inc., each of which is an Arizona corporation,
provide that the liability of a director or former director to
the corporation or its shareholders shall be eliminated to the
fullest extent permitted by Arizona law.
The articles of incorporation of Meritage Homes of Arizona,
Inc., Meritage Homes Construction, Inc., MTH-Texas GP II,
Inc., MTH-Texas LP II, Inc., MTH-Homes Nevada, Inc.,
Meritage Homes of Colorado, Inc. and Meritage Homes of Florida,
Inc., each of which is an Arizona corporation, provide that the
liability of a director or former director to the corporation or
its stockholders shall be eliminated to the fullest extent
permitted by Arizona law. In addition, the articles of
incorporation of each of these corporations provide that the
corporation shall indemnify any and all of its existing and
former directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by
Arizona law.
Section 317 of the California General Corporation Law (the
CGCL) allows a corporation, in certain
circumstances, to indemnify its directors and officers against
certain expenses (including attorneys fees), judgments,
fines, settlements and other amounts actually and reasonably
incurred in connection with threatened, pending or completed
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative actions, suits
or proceedings (other than an action by or in the right of the
corporation), in which such persons were or are parties, or are
threatened to be made parties, by reason of the fact that they
were or are directors or officers of the corporation, if such
persons acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably
believed to be in the best interests of the corporation, and
with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe their conduct was unlawful. In
addition, a corporation is, in certain circumstances, permitted
to indemnify its directors and officers against certain expenses
incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of a
threatened, pending or completed action by or in the right of
the corporation, and against amounts paid in settlement of any
such action, if such persons acted in
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good faith and in a manner they believed to be in the best
interests of the corporation and its shareholders, provided that
the specified court approval is obtained.
Section 204(a)(10) of the CGCL allows a corporation to
include a provision in its articles of incorporation eliminating
or limiting the personal liability of a director for monetary
damages in an action brought by or in the right of the
corporation for breach of the directors duty to the
corporation, except for the liability of a director resulting
from (i) acts or omissions involving intentional misconduct
or a knowing and culpable violation of law, (ii) any
transaction from which a director derived an improper personal
benefit, (iii) acts or omissions that a director believes
to be contrary to the best interests of the corporation or its
shareholders or that involve the absence of good faith,
(iv) acts or omissions showing a reckless disregard for the
directors duty to the corporation or its shareholders,
(v) acts or omissions constituting an unexcused pattern of
inattention to the directors duty, (v) liability
under California law relating to transactions between
corporations and directors or corporations having interrelated
directors, or (vi) the making of an illegal distribution or
loan to shareholders.
The articles of incorporation of Meritage Homes of California,
Inc. provide that the corporation is authorized to provide
indemnification of its officers and directors through bylaw
provisions, agreements with officers and directors, vote of
shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, in excess
of the indemnification otherwise permitted by Section 317
of the CGCL, subject only to the applicable limits set forth in
Section 204 of the CGCL. The bylaws of Meritage Homes of
California, Inc. provide that the corporation shall indemnify
each of its directors and officers to the maximum extent and in
the manner permitted by the CGCL.
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Item 21. |
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules |
(a) Exhibits:
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Exhibit | |
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Number | |
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Description |
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Page or Method of Filing |
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2.1 |
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Agreement and plan of Reorganization, dated as of
September 13, 1996, by and among Homeplex, the Monterey
Merging Companies and the Monterey Stockholders |
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Incorporated by reference to Appendix A of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-15937. |
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2.2 |
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Master Transaction Agreement, dated June 12, 2002, by and
among the Company, MTH Homes-Texas, L.P., Hammonds Homes Ltd.,
Crystal City Land & Cattle, Ltd., Hammonds
Homes I, LLC, Crystal City I, LLC and Ronnie D.
Hammonds |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 8-K
dated July 12, 2002. |
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2.2.1 |
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Amendment No. 1 to Master Transaction Agreement, dated
June 12, 2002, by and among the Company, MTH Homes-Texas,
L.P., Hammonds Homes Ltd., Crystal City Land & Cattle,
Ltd., Hammond Homes I, LLC, Crystal City I, LLC and
Ronnie D. Hammonds |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Form 8-K
dated July 12, 2002. |
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2.3 |
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Master Transaction Agreement, dated October 7, 2002, by and
among the Company, MTH-Homes Nevada, Inc., Perma-Bilt, A Nevada
Corporation, and Zenith National Insurance Corp. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of
Form 8-K/A dated October 7, 2002. |
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2.4 |
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Master Transaction Agreement, dated February 9, 2005, by
and among the Company, Meritage Homes of Florida, Inc., Colonial
Homes, Inc., Colonial Shores, L.L.C. and The Colonial Company |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 8-K/A
dated February 9, 2005. |
II-3
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Exhibit | |
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Number | |
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Description |
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Page or Method of Filing |
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3.1 |
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Restated Articles of Incorporation of Meritage Homes Corporation |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3 of Form 8-K
dated June 20, 2002. |
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3.1.1 |
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Amendment to Articles of Incorporation of Meritage Homes
Corporation |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of Form 8-K
dated September 15, 2004. |
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3.2 |
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Amended and Restated Bylaws of Meritage Homes Corporation |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 of Form S-3
Registration Statement No. 333-58793. |
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3.3 |
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Articles of Incorporation of Monterey Homes Arizona, Inc. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-64538. |
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3.4 |
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Bylaws of Monterey Homes Arizona, Inc. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.5 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-64538. |
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3.5 |
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Articles of Organization of Meritage Paseo Crossing, LLC |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.6 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-64538. |
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3.6 |
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Articles of Incorporation of Monterey Homes Construction, Inc. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.7 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-64538. |
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3.7 |
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Bylaws of Monterey Homes Construction, Inc. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.8 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-64538. |
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3.8 |
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Articles of Organization of Meritage Paseo Construction, LLC
(formally Chandler 110, LLC) |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.9 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-64538. |
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3.8.1 |
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Amendment to Articles of Organization of Meritage Paseo
Construction, LLC (formally Chandler 110, LLC) |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.9.1 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-64538. |
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3.9 |
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Articles of Incorporation of MTH-Texas GP, Inc. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.12 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-64538. |
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3.10 |
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Bylaws of MTH-Texas GP, Inc. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.13 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-64538. |
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3.11 |
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Articles of Incorporation of MTH-Texas LP, Inc. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.14 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-64538. |
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3.12 |
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Bylaws of MTH-Texas LP, Inc. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.15 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-64538. |
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3.13 |
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Certificate of Limited Partnership of Legacy/ Monterey Homes L.P. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.16 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-64538. |
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3.13.1 |
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Amendment to Certificate of Limited Partnership of Legacy/
Monterey Homes L.P. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.16.1 of
Form S-4 Registration Statement No. 333-64538. |
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3.14 |
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Articles of Incorporation of Meritage Homes of California, Inc.
(formally Meritage Homes of Northern California, Inc.) |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.17 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-64538. |
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3.14.1 |
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Certificate of Amendment of Articles of Incorporation for
Meritage Homes of California |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.17.1 of
Form S-4 Registration Statement No. 333-115610. |
II-4
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Exhibit | |
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Number | |
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Description |
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Page or Method of Filing |
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3.15 |
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Bylaws of Meritage Homes of California, Inc. (formally Meritage
Homes of Northern California, Inc.) |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.18 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-64538. |
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3.16 |
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Articles of Incorporation of Meritage Homes Construction, Inc.
(formerly known as Hancock-MTH Builders, Inc.) |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.19 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-64538. |
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3.17 |
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Bylaws of Meritage Homes Construction, Inc. (formerly known as
Hancock-MTH Builders, Inc.) |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.20 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-64538. |
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3.18 |
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Articles of Incorporation of Meritage Homes of Arizona, Inc.
(formerly known as Hancock-MTH Communities, Inc.) |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.21 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-64538. |
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3.19 |
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Bylaws of Meritage Homes of Arizona, Inc. (formerly known as
Hancock-MTH Communities, Inc.) |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.22 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-64538. |
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3.20 |
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Certificate of Limited Partnership for Legacy Operating Company,
L.P. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.23 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-64538. |
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3.21 |
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Articles of Incorporation of MTH-Texas GP II, Inc. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.26 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-105043. |
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3.22 |
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Bylaws of MTH-Texas GP II, Inc. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.27 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-105043. |
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3.23 |
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Articles of Incorporation of MTH-Texas LP II, Inc. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.28 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-105043. |
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3.24 |
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Bylaws of MTH-Texas LP II, Inc. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.29 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-105043. |
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3.25 |
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Articles of Incorporation of MTH-Homes Nevada, Inc. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.30 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-105043. |
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3.26 |
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Bylaws of MTH-Homes Nevada, Inc. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.31 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-105043. |
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3.27 |
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Articles of Organization of Meritage Holdings, L.L.C. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.32 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-105043. |
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3.28 |
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Regulations of Meritage Holdings, L.L.C. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.33 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-105043. |
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3.29 |
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Articles of Organization of Hulen Park Venture, LLC |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.34 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-105043. |
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3.30 |
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Regulations of Hulen Park Venture, LLC |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.35 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-105043. |
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3.31 |
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Certificate of Limited Partnership of MTH Homes-Texas, L.P. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.36 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-105043. |
II-5
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Exhibit | |
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Number | |
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Description |
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Page or Method of Filing |
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3.32 |
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Agreement of Limited Partnership of MTH Homes-Texas, L.P. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.37 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-105043. |
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3.33 |
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Articles of Organization of MTH-Cavalier, LLC |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.38 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-105043. |
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3.34 |
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Operating Agreement of MTH-Cavalier, LLC |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.39 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-105043. |
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3.35 |
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Articles of Organization of MTH Golf, LLC (formerly known as
Mission Royale Golf Course, LLC) |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.40 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-109933. |
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3.35.1 |
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Amended and Restated Articles of Organization for MTH Golf, LLC |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.40.1 of
Form S-4 Registration Statement No. 333-109933. |
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3.36 |
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Certificate of Limited Partnership of Legacy-Hammonds Materials,
L.P. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.41 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-109933. |
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3.37 |
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Agreement of Limited Partnership of Legacy- Hammonds Materials,
L.P. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.42 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-109933. |
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3.38 |
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Articles of Incorporation of Meritage Homes of Colorado, Inc. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.43 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-115610. |
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3.39 |
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Bylaws of Meritage Homes of Colorado, Inc. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.44 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-115610. |
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3.40 |
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Articles of Incorporation of Meritage Homes of Florida, Inc. |
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Filed herewith. |
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3.41 |
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Bylaws of Meritage Homes of Florida, Inc. |
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Filed herewith. |
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4.1 |
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Form of Specimen of Common Stock Certificate |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of Form S-3
Registration Statement No. 333-87398. |
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4.2 |
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Indenture, dated May 31, 2001, by and among the Company,
the Guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and form
of
93/4%
senior note due 2011 |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of Form 8-K
dated May 30, 2001. |
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4.2.1 |
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First Supplemental Indenture, dated September 20, 2001, by
and among the Company, Hulen Park Venture, LLC, Meritage
Holdings, L.L.C., the Guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo
Bank, N.A. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3.1 of
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002. |
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4.2.2 |
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Second Supplemental Indenture, dated July 12, 2002, by and
among the Company, MTH Homes-Texas, L.P., MTH-Texas GP II,
Inc., MTH-Texas LP II, Inc., the Guarantors named therein
and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3.2 of
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002. |
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4.2.3 |
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Third Supplemental Indenture, dated October 21, 2002, by
and among the Company, MTH-Homes Nevada, Inc., the Guarantors
named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3.3 of
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002. |
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Exhibit | |
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Number | |
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Description |
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Page or Method of Filing |
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4.2.4 |
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Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated February 19, 2003 by
and among the Company, MTH-Cavalier, LLC, the Guarantors named
therein and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3.4 of
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002. |
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4.2.5 |
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Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated August 22, 2003, by and
among the Company, MTH Golf, LLC (formerly known as Mission
Royale Golf Course, LLC), Legacy-Hammonds Materials, L.P., the
Guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2.5 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-109933. |
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4.2.6 |
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Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated May 14, 2004, by and
among the Company, Meritage Homes of Colorado, Inc., the
Guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2.6 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-115610. |
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4.2.7 |
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Seventh Supplemental Indenture, dated December 20, 2004, by
and among the Company, Meritage Homes of Florida, Inc., the
Guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2.7 of
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004. |
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4.2.8 |
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Eighth Supplemental Indenture, dated March 10, 2005, by and
among the Company, the Guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo
Bank, N.A. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2.8 of
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004. |
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4.3 |
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Indenture, dated April 21, 2004, by and among the Company,
the Guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and form
of 7% senior note due 2014 |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of Form 10-Q
for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2004. |
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4.3.1 |
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First Supplemental Indenture, dated May 14, 2004, by and
among the Company, Meritage Homes of Colorado, Inc., the
Guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3.1 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-115610. |
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4.3.2 |
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Second Supplemental Indenture, dated December 20, 2004, by
and among the Company, Meritage Homes of Florida, Inc., the
Guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3.2 of
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004. |
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4.4 |
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Indenture, dated March 10, 2005, by and among the Company,
the Guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and form
of
61/4%
senior note due 2015 |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 of Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2004. |
|
4.5 |
|
|
Registration Rights Agreement dated March 10, 2005 relating
to
61/4%
senior notes due 2015 |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 of Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2004. |
|
5 |
|
|
Opinion of Snell & Wilmer L.L.P. regarding the legality
of the securities being registered |
|
Filed herewith. |
|
10.1 |
|
|
Credit Agreement, dated December 12, 2002, by and among the
Company, Guaranty Bank, Fleet National Bank, Bank One, NA and
the other lenders thereto |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2002. |
II-7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exhibit | |
|
|
|
|
Number | |
|
Description |
|
Page or Method of Filing |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
10.1.1 |
|
|
First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated September 8,
2003, among the Company, Guaranty Bank, Fleet National Bank,
Bank One, NA and the other lenders thereto |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1.1 of
Form S-4 Registration Statement No. 333-109933. |
|
10.1.2 |
|
|
Second Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated December 3,
2003, among the Company, Guaranty Bank, Bank One, NA, Fleet
National Bank and the other lenders thereto |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1.2 of
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003. |
|
10.1.3 |
|
|
Third Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated April 20, 2004,
among the Company, Guaranty Bank, Bank One, NA, Fleet National
Bank and the other lenders thereto |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 10-Q
for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2004. |
|
10.1.4 |
|
|
Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated October 28,
2004, among the Company, Guaranty Bank, Bank One, NA, Fleet
National Bank and the other lenders thereto |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 10-Q
for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2004. |
|
10.1.5 |
|
|
Fifth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated December 23,
2004, among the company, Guaranty Bank, Bank One, NA, Fleet
National Bank and the other lenders thereto |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 8-K
dated December 30, 2004. |
|
10.2 |
|
|
2001 Annual Incentive Plan* |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit B of the Proxy
Statement for the 2001 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. |
|
10.3 |
|
|
Amended Meritage Stock Option Plan* |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2004. |
|
10.3.1 |
|
|
Representative form of Meritage Qualified Stock Option Agreement* |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Form 10-Q
for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2004. |
|
10.3.2 |
|
|
Representative form of Meritage Non-Qualified Stock Option
Agreement* |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of Form 10-Q
for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2004. |
|
10.4 |
|
|
Representative Form of Employment Agreements between the Company
and Steven J. Hilton and John R. Landon* |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 8-K
dated July 8, 2003. |
|
10.4.1 |
|
|
Revised Amendment to Employment Agreements between the Company
and Steven J. Hilton and John R. Landon* |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 10-Q
for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2004. |
|
10.5 |
|
|
Representative Form of Amended and Restated Change of Control
Agreement between the Company and Steven J. Hilton and
John R. Landon* |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Form 8-K
dated July 8, 2003. |
|
10.6 |
|
|
Employment Agreement between the Company and Larry W. Seay* |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-109933. |
|
10.6.1 |
|
|
Amendment to Employment Agreement between the Company and Larry
W. Seay* |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of Form 10-Q for
the quarterly period ended March 31, 2004. |
|
10.7 |
|
|
Amended and Restated Change of Control Agreement between the
Company and Larry W. Seay* |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-109933. |
II-8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exhibit | |
|
|
|
|
Number | |
|
Description |
|
Page or Method of Filing |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
10.8 |
|
|
Change of Control Agreement between the Company and
Richard T. Morgan* |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 of
Form 10-Q/A for the quarterly period ended March 31,
2000. |
|
10.9 |
|
|
Deferred Bonus Agreement 2002 Award Year
between the Company and Larry W. Seay* |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 of
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002. |
|
10.10 |
|
|
Deferred Bonus Agreement 2003 Award Year, between
the Company and Larry W. Seay* |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Form 10-Q for
the quarterly period ended March 31, 2004. |
|
10.11 |
|
|
Deferred bonus Agreement 2002 Award Year
between the company and Richard T. Morgan* |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 of
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002. |
|
10.12 |
|
|
Deferred Bonus Agreement 2003 Award Year, between
the Company and Richard T. Morgan* |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of Form 10-Q
for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2004. |
|
12 |
|
|
Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges |
|
Filed herewith. |
|
21 |
|
|
List of Subsidiaries |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 21 of Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2004. |
|
23.1 |
|
|
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP |
|
Filed herewith. |
|
23.2 |
|
|
Consent of KPMG LLP |
|
Filed herewith. |
|
23.3 |
|
|
Consent of Snell & Wilmer L.L.P. |
|
Contained in Exhibit 5.1. |
|
24 |
|
|
Powers of Attorney |
|
See signature page. |
|
25 |
|
|
Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939
on Form T-1 of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association |
|
Filed herewith. |
|
99 |
|
|
Form of Letter of Transmittal and related documents with respect
to the Exchange Offer |
|
Filed herewith. |
|
|
* |
Indicates a management contract or compensation plan. |
(b) Financial Statement Schedules:
Schedules have been omitted because of the absence of conditions
under which they are required or because the required material
information is included in the Consolidated Financial Statements
or Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in
the reports incorporated by reference herein.
The undersigned registrants hereby undertake:
|
|
|
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration
statement: |
|
|
|
(i) To include any prospectus required by
Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; |
|
|
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
arising after the effective date of the registration statement
(or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which,
individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change
in the information set forth in this registration statement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in
volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of
securities offered would not exceed that which was registered)
and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated
maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of
prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to
Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and
price represent no more than 20 percent change |
II-9
|
|
|
in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the
Calculation of Registration Fee table in this
registration statement; and |
|
|
(iii) To include any material information with respect to
the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this
registration statement or any material change to such
information in the registration statement; |
|
|
|
provided, however, that the undertakings set forth
in paragraphs (i) and (ii) do not apply if the
registration statement is on Form S-3, Form S-8 or
Form F-3, and the information required to be included in a
post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in
periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by
the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by
reference in this registration statement. |
|
|
|
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability
under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective
amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of
such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide offering thereof. |
|
|
(3) To remove from registration by means of a
post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered
which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. |
|
|
(4) That, for purposes of determining any liability under
the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrants
annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each
filing of an employee benefit plans annual report pursuant
to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934)
that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to
the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof. |
|
|
(5) To respond to requests for information that is
incorporated by reference into the prospectus pursuant to Item
4, 10(b), 11, or 13 of this form, within one business day of
receipt of such request, and to send the incorporated documents
by first class mail or other equally prompt means. This includes
information contained in documents filed subsequent to the
effective date of the registration statement through the date of
responding to the request. |
|
|
(6) To supply by means of a post-effective amendment all
information concerning a transaction, and the company being
acquired involved therein, that was not the subject of and
included in this registration statement when it became effective. |
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers
and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the
foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been
advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as
expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the
event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities
(other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the
registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling
person in connection with the securities being registered, the
registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in
the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.
II-10
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the
registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Scottsdale, State of Arizona, on
March 28, 2005.
|
|
|
Meritage Homes Corporation
|
|
|
|
|
|
Steven J. Hilton |
|
Co-Chairman, |
|
Co-Chief Executive Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
John R. Landon |
|
Co-Chairman, |
|
Co-Chief Executive Officer |
II-11
The following direct and indirect subsidiaries of the registrant
will guarantee the debt securities and are co-registrants under
this registration statement.
Name of Co-Registrant
Monterey Homes Arizona, Inc.
Meritage Paseo Crossing, LLC(1)
Monterey Homes Construction, Inc.
Meritage Paseo Construction, LLC(2)
Meritage Homes of Arizona, Inc.
Meritage Homes Construction, Inc.
MTH-Texas GP, Inc.
MTH-Texas LP, Inc.
Legacy/Monterey Homes L.P.(3)
Meritage Homes of California, Inc.
Meritage Homes of Florida, Inc.
Legacy Operating Company, L.P.(4)
Legacy-Hammonds Materials, L.P.(4)
MTH-Texas GP II, Inc.
MTH-Texas LP II, Inc.
MTH-Homes Nevada, Inc.
Meritage Holdings, L.L.C.(5)
Hulen Park Venture, LLC(5)
MTH Homes-Texas, L.P.(6)
MTH-Cavalier, LLC(7)
MTH Golf, LLC(8)
Meritage Homes of Colorado, Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
as Co-Registrants
By: /s/ Steven
J. Hilton
Steven
J. Hilton
Principal Executive Officer and Director of each
Co-Registrant that is a corporation and
Principal Executive Officer and Director of the
corporate general partner or sole member of each
Co-Registrant that is a limited partnership or
limited liability company, respectively.
By: /s/ John R.
Landon
John
R. Landon
Principal Executive Officer and Director of each
Co-Registrant that is a corporation and
Principal Executive Officer and Director of the
corporate general partner or sole member of each
Co-Registrant that is a limited partnership or
limited liability company, respectively. |
|
|
(1) |
Executed by Meritage Homes of Arizona, Inc., as sole member |
|
(2) |
Executed by Meritage Homes Construction, Inc., as sole member |
|
(3) |
Executed by MTH-Texas GP, Inc., as general partner |
|
(4) |
Executed by MTH-Texas GP, Inc., the general partner of
Legacy/Monterey Homes L.P., which in turn is the sole member of
Meritage Holdings, L.L.C., which is the general partner of this
Co-Registrant |
|
(5) |
Executed by MTH-Texas GP, Inc., the general partner of
Legacy/Monterey Homes L.P., which is the sole member of this
Co-Registrant |
|
(6) |
Executed by MTH-Texas GP II, Inc., as general partner |
|
(7) |
Executed by Monterey Homes Construction, Inc., as sole member |
|
(8) |
Executed by Meritage Homes Construction, Inc., as sole member |
II-12
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Steven J. Hilton, John R.
Landon and Larry W. Seay, and each of them, his true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution
and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this
registration statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto, and other documents in connection therewith with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises,
and fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could
do in person hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorney-in-fact and agents, or his substitute or substitutes,
may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
registration statement has been signed by the following persons
in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
ON BEHALF OF MERITAGE HOMES CORPORATION:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Signature |
|
Title |
|
Date |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
|
/s/ Steven J. Hilton
Steven
J. Hilton |
|
Co-Chairman, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Director |
|
March 28, 2005 |
|
By: |
|
/s/ John R. Landon
John
R. Landon |
|
Co-Chairman, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Director |
|
March 28, 2005 |
|
By: |
|
/s/ Larry W. Seay
Larry
W. Seay |
|
Chief Financial Officer,
Vice President and Secretary
(Principal Financial Officer) |
|
March 28, 2005 |
|
By: |
|
/s/ Vicki L. Biggs
Vicki
L. Biggs |
|
Chief Accounting Officer,
Vice President Controller
(Principal Accounting Officer) |
|
March 28, 2005 |
|
By: |
|
/s/ Robert G. Sarver
Robert
G. Sarver |
|
Director |
|
March 28, 2005 |
|
By: |
|
/s/ Raymond Oppel
Raymond
Oppel |
|
Director |
|
March 28, 2005 |
|
By: |
|
/s/ Peter L. Ax
Peter
L. Ax |
|
Director |
|
March 28, 2005 |
|
By: |
|
/s/ William G. Campbell
William
G. Campbell |
|
Director |
|
March 28, 2005 |
II-13
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Signature |
|
Title |
|
Date |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
|
/s/ C. Timothy White
C.
Timothy White |
|
Director |
|
March 28, 2005 |
|
By: |
|
/s/ Richard T. Burke,
Sr.
Richard
T. Burke, Sr. |
|
Director |
|
March 28, 2005 |
|
By: |
|
/s/ Gerald W. Haddock
Gerald
W. Haddock |
|
Director |
|
March 28, 2005 |
II-14
ON BEHALF OF THE FOLLOWING INCORPORATED CO-REGISTRANTS:
Name of Co-Registrant:
Monterey Homes Arizona, Inc.
Monterey Homes Construction, Inc.
Meritage Homes of Arizona, Inc.
Meritage Homes Construction, Inc.
Meritage Homes of California, Inc.
MTH-Texas GP, Inc.
MTH-Texas LP, Inc.
MTH-Texas GP II, Inc.
MTH-Texas LP II, Inc.
MTH-Homes Nevada, Inc.
Meritage Homes of Colorado, Inc.
Meritage Homes of Florida, Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Signature |
|
Title |
|
Date |
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
|
/s/ Steven J. Hilton
Steven
J. Hilton |
|
Principal Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer) |
|
March 28, 2005 |
|
By: |
|
/s/ John R. Landon
John
R. Landon |
|
Principal Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer) |
|
March 28, 2005 |
|
By: |
|
/s/ Larry W. Seay
Larry
W. Seay |
|
Vice President (Principal Financial Officer and Principal
Accounting Officer) |
|
March 28, 2005 |
ON BEHALF OF THE FOLLOWING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AND LIMITED
LIABILITY COMPANY CO-REGISTRANTS:
|
|
|
Name of Co-Registrant
|
|
General Partner or Sole Member of Co-Registrant |
Meritage Paseo Crossing, LLC
|
|
Meritage Homes of Arizona, Inc. |
Meritage Paseo Construction, LLC
|
|
Meritage Homes Construction, Inc. |
Legacy/Monterey Homes L.P.
|
|
MTH-Texas GP, Inc. |
Legacy Operating Company, L.P.
|
|
Meritage Holdings, L.L.C. |
Meritage Holdings, L.L.C.
|
|
Legacy/Monterey Homes L.P. |
Hulen Park Venture, LLC
|
|
Legacy/Monterey Homes L.P. |
MTH Homes-Texas, L.P.
|
|
MTH-Texas GP II, Inc. |
MTH-Cavalier, LLC
|
|
Monterey Homes Construction, Inc. |
MTH Golf, LLC
|
|
Meritage Homes Construction, Inc. |
Legacy-Hammonds Materials, L.P.
|
|
Meritage Holdings, L.L.C. |
II-15
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Signature |
|
Title |
|
Date |
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
|
/s/ Steven J. Hilton
Steven
J. Hilton |
|
Principal Executive Officer and Director of each:
Meritage Homes of Arizona, Inc.,
Meritage Homes Construction, Inc.,
MTH-Texas GP, Inc.,
MTH-Texas GP II, Inc., and
Monterey Homes Construction Inc.
Meritage Homes Construction, Inc. |
|
March 28, 2005 |
|
By: |
|
/s/ John R. Landon
John
R. Landon |
|
Principal Executive Officer and Director of each:
Meritage Homes of Arizona, Inc.,
Meritage Homes Construction, Inc.,
MTH-Texas GP, Inc.,
MTH-Texas GP II, Inc. and
Monterey Homes Construction, Inc.
Meritage Homes Construction, Inc. |
|
March 28, 2005 |
|
By: |
|
/s/ Larry W. Seay
Larry
W. Seay |
|
Vice President of each:
Meritage Homes of Arizona, Inc.,
Meritage Homes Construction, Inc.,
MTH-Texas GP, Inc.,
MTH-Texas GP II, Inc. and
Monterey Homes Construction, Inc.
Meritage Homes Construction, Inc.
(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) |
|
March 28, 2005 |
II-16
INDEX OF EXHIBITS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exhibit | |
|
|
|
|
Number | |
|
Description |
|
Page or Method of Filing |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
2.1 |
|
|
Agreement and plan of Reorganization, dated as of
September 13, 1996, by and among Homeplex, the Monterey
Merging Companies and the Monterey Stockholders |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-15937. |
|
2.2 |
|
|
Master Transaction Agreement, dated June 12, 2002, by and
among the Company, MTH Homes-Texas, L.P., Hammonds Homes Ltd.,
Crystal City Land & Cattle, Ltd., Hammonds
Homes I, LLC, Crystal City I, LLC and Ronnie D.
Hammonds |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 8-K
dated July 12, 2002. |
|
2.2.1 |
|
|
Amendment No. 1 to Master Transaction Agreement, dated
June 12, 2002, by and among the Company, MTH Homes-Texas,
L.P., Hammonds Homes Ltd., Crystal City Land & Cattle,
Ltd., Hammond Homes I, LLC, Crystal City I, LLC and
Ronnie D. Hammonds |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Form 8-K
dated July 12, 2002. |
|
2.3 |
|
|
Master Transaction Agreement, dated October 7, 2002, by and
among the Company, MTH-Homes Nevada, Inc., Perma-Bilt, A Nevada
Corporation, and Zenith National Insurance Corp. |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of
Form 8-K/A dated October 7, 2002. |
|
2.4 |
|
|
Master Transaction Agreement, dated February 9, 2005, by
and among the Company, Meritage Homes of Florida, Inc., Colonial
Homes, Inc., Colonial Shores, L.L.C. and The Colonial Company |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 8-K/A
dated February 22, 2005. |
|
3.1 |
|
|
Restated Articles of Incorporation of Meritage Homes Corporation |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3 of Form 8-K
dated June 20, 2002. |
|
3.1.1 |
|
|
Amendment to Articles of Incorporation of Meritage Homes
Corporation |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of Form 8-K
dated September 15, 2004. |
|
3.2 |
|
|
Amended and Restated Bylaws of Meritage Homes Corporation |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 of Form S-3
Registration Statement No. 333-58793. |
|
3.3 |
|
|
Articles of Incorporation of Monterey Homes Arizona, Inc. |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-64538. |
|
3.4 |
|
|
Bylaws of Monterey Homes Arizona, Inc. |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.5 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-64538. |
|
3.5 |
|
|
Articles of Organization of Meritage Paseo Crossing, LLC |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.6 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-64538. |
|
3.6 |
|
|
Articles of Incorporation of Monterey Homes Construction, Inc. |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.7 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-64538. |
|
3.7 |
|
|
Bylaws of Monterey Homes Construction, Inc. |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.8 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-64538. |
|
3.8 |
|
|
Articles of Organization of Meritage Paseo Construction, LLC
(formally Chandler 110, LLC) |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.9 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-64538. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exhibit | |
|
|
|
|
Number | |
|
Description |
|
Page or Method of Filing |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
3.8.1 |
|
|
Amendment to Articles of Organization of Meritage Paseo
Construction, LLC (formally Chandler 110, LLC) |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.9.1 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-64538. |
|
3.9 |
|
|
Articles of Incorporation of MTH-Texas GP, Inc. |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.12 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-64538. |
|
3.10 |
|
|
Bylaws of MTH-Texas GP, Inc. |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.13 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-64538. |
|
3.11 |
|
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Articles of Incorporation of MTH-Texas LP, Inc. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.14 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-64538. |
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3.12 |
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Bylaws of MTH-Texas LP, Inc. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.15 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-64538. |
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3.13 |
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Certificate of Limited Partnership of Legacy/ Monterey Homes L.P. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.16 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-64538. |
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3.13.1 |
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Amendment to Certificate of Limited Partnership of Legacy/
Monterey Homes L.P. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.16.1 of
Form S-4 Registration Statement No. 333-64538. |
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3.14 |
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Articles of Incorporation of Meritage Homes of California, Inc.
(formally Meritage Homes of Northern California, Inc.) |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.17 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-64538. |
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3.14.1 |
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Certificate of Amendment of Articles of Incorporation for
Meritage Homes of California |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.17.1 of
Form S-4 Registration Statement No. 333-115610. |
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3.15 |
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Bylaws of Meritage Homes of California, Inc. (formally Meritage
Homes of Northern California, Inc.) |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.18 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-64538. |
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3.16 |
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Articles of Incorporation of Meritage Homes Construction, Inc.
(formerly known as Hancock-MTH Builders, Inc.) |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.19 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-64538. |
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3.17 |
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Bylaws of Meritage Homes Construction, Inc. (formerly known as
Hancock-MTH Builders, Inc.) |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.20 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-64538. |
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3.18 |
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Articles of Incorporation of Meritage Homes of Arizona, Inc.
(formerly known as Hancock-MTH Communities, Inc.) |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.21 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-64538. |
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3.19 |
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Bylaws of Meritage Homes of Arizona, Inc. (formerly known as
Hancock-MTH Communities, Inc.) |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.22 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-64538. |
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3.20 |
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Certificate of Limited Partnership for Legacy Operating Company,
L.P. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.23 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-64538. |
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3.21 |
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Articles of Incorporation of MTH-Texas GP II, Inc. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.26 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-105043. |
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3.22 |
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Bylaws of MTH-Texas GP II, Inc. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.27 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-105043. |
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3.23 |
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Articles of Incorporation of MTH-Texas LP II, Inc. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.28 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-105043. |
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Exhibit | |
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Number | |
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Description |
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Page or Method of Filing |
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3.24 |
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Bylaws of MTH-Texas LP II, Inc. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.29 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-105043. |
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3.25 |
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Articles of Incorporation of MTH-Homes Nevada, Inc. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.30 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-105043. |
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3.26 |
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Bylaws of MTH-Homes Nevada, Inc. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.31 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-105043. |
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3.27 |
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Articles of Organization of Meritage Holdings, L.L.C. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.32 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-105043. |
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3.28 |
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Regulations of Meritage Holdings, L.L.C. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.33 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-105043. |
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3.29 |
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Articles of Organization of Hulen Park Venture, LLC |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.34 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-105043. |
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3.30 |
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Regulations of Hulen Park Venture, LLC |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.35 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-105043. |
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3.31 |
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Certificate of Limited Partnership of MTH Homes-Texas, L.P. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.36 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-105043. |
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3.32 |
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Agreement of Limited Partnership of MTH Homes-Texas, L.P. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.37 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-105043. |
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3.33 |
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Articles of Organization of MTH-Cavalier, LLC |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.38 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-105043. |
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3.34 |
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Operating Agreement of MTH-Cavalier, LLC |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.39 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-105043. |
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3.35 |
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Articles of Organization of MTH Golf, LLC (formerly known as
Mission Royale Golf Course, LLC) |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.40 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-109933. |
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3.35.1 |
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Amended and Restated Articles of Organization for MTH Golf, LLC |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.40.1 of
Form S-4 Registration Statement No. 333-109933. |
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3.36 |
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Certificate of Limited Partnership of Legacy-Hammonds Materials,
L.P. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.41 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-109933. |
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3.37 |
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Agreement of Limited Partnership of Legacy- Hammonds Materials,
L.P. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.42 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-109933. |
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3.38 |
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Articles of Incorporation of Meritage Homes of Colorado, Inc. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.43 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-115610. |
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3.39 |
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Bylaws of Meritage Homes of Colorado, Inc. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.44 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-115610. |
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3.40 |
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Articles of Incorporation of Meritage Homes of Florida, Inc. |
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Filed herewith. |
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3.41 |
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Bylaws of Meritage Homes of Florida, Inc. |
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Filed herewith. |
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Exhibit | |
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Number | |
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Description |
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Page or Method of Filing |
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4.1 |
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Form of Specimen of Common Stock Certificate |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of Form S-3
Registration Statement No. 333-87398. |
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4.2 |
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Indenture, dated May 31, 2001, by and among the Company,
the Guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and form
of
93/4%
senior note due 2011 |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of Form 8-K
dated May 30, 2001. |
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4.2.1 |
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First Supplemental Indenture, dated September 20, 2001, by
and among the Company, Hulen Park Venture, LLC, Meritage
Holdings, L.L.C., the Guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo
Bank, N.A. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3.1 of
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002. |
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4.2.2 |
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Second Supplemental Indenture, dated July 12, 2002, by and
among the Company, MTH Homes-Texas, L.P., MTH-Texas GP II,
Inc., MTH-Texas LP II, Inc., the Guarantors named therein
and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3.2 of
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002. |
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4.2.3 |
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Third Supplemental Indenture, dated October 21, 2002, by
and among the Company, MTH-Homes Nevada, Inc., the Guarantors
named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3.3 of
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002. |
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4.2.4 |
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Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated February 19, 2003 by
and among the Company, MTH-Cavalier, LLC, the Guarantors named
therein and Wells Fargo Bank., N.A. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3.4 of
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002. |
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4.2.5 |
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Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated August 22, 2003, by and
among the Company, MTH Golf, LLC (formerly known as Mission
Royale Golf Course, LLC), Legacy-Hammonds Materials, L.P., the
Guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2.5 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-109933. |
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4.2.6 |
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Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated May 14, 2004, by and
among the Company, Meritage Homes of Colorado, Inc., the
Guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2.6 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-115610. |
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4.2.7 |
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Seventh Supplemental Indenture, dated December 20, 2004, by
and among the Company, Meritage Homes of Florida, Inc., the
Guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2.7 of
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004. |
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4.2.8 |
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Eighth Supplemental Indenture, dated March 10, 2005, by and
among the Company, the Guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo
Bank, N.A. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2.8 of
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004. |
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4.3 |
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Indenture, dated April 21, 2004, by and among the Company,
the Guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and form
of 7% senior note due 2014 |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of Form 10-Q
for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2004. |
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4.3.1 |
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First Supplemental Indenture, dated May 14, 2004, by and
among the Company, Meritage Homes of Colorado, Inc., the
Guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3.1 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-115610. |
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Exhibit | |
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Number | |
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Description |
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Page or Method of Filing |
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4.3.2 |
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Second Supplemental Indenture, dated December 20, 2004, by
and among the Company, Meritage Homes of Florida, Inc., the
Guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3.2 of
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004. |
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4.4 |
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Indenture, dated March 10, 2005, by and among the Company,
the Guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and form
of
61/4%
senior note due 2015 |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 of Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2004. |
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4.5 |
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Registration Rights Agreement dated March 10, 2005 relating
to
61/4%
senior notes due 2015 |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 of Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2004. |
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5 |
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Opinion of Snell & Wilmer L.L.P. regarding the legality
of the securities being registered |
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Filed herewith. |
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10.1 |
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Credit Agreement, dated December 12, 2002, by and among the
Company, Guaranty Bank, Fleet National Bank, Bank One, NA and
the other lenders thereto |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2002. |
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10.1.1 |
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First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated September 8,
2003, among the Company, Guaranty Bank, Fleet National Bank,
Bank One, NA and the other lenders thereto |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1.1 of
Form S-4 Registration Statement No. 333-109933. |
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10.1.2 |
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Second Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated December 3,
2003, among the Company, Guaranty Bank, Bank One, NA, Fleet
National Bank and the other lenders thereto |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1.2 of
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003. |
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10.1.3 |
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Third Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated April 20, 2004,
among the Company, Guaranty Bank, Bank One, NA, Fleet National
Bank and the other lenders thereto |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 10-Q
for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2004. |
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10.1.4 |
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Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated October 28,
2004, among the Company, Guaranty Bank, Bank One, NA, Fleet
National Bank and the other lenders thereto |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 10-Q
for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2004. |
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10.1.5 |
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Fifth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated December 23,
2004, among the company, Guaranty Bank, Bank One, NA, Fleet
National Bank and the other lenders thereto |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 8-K
dated December 30, 2004. |
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10.2 |
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2001 Annual Incentive Plan* |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit B of the Proxy
Statement for the 2001 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. |
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10.3 |
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Amended Meritage Stock Option Plan* |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2004. |
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10.3.1 |
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Representative form of Meritage Qualified Stock Option Agreement* |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Form 10-Q
for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2004. |
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10.3.2 |
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Representative form of Meritage Non-Qualified Stock Option
Agreement* |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of Form 10-Q
for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2004. |
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10.4 |
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Representative Form of Employment Agreements between the Company
and Steven J. Hilton and John R. Landon* |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 8-K
dated July 8, 2003. |
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Exhibit | |
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Number | |
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Description |
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Page or Method of Filing |
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10.4.1 |
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Revised Amendment to Employment Agreements between the Company
and Steven J. Hilton and John R. Landon* |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 10-Q
for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2004. |
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10.5 |
|
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Representative Form of Amended and Restated Change of Control
Agreement between the Company and Steven J. Hilton and
John R. Landon* |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Form 8-K
dated July 8, 2003. |
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10.6 |
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Employment Agreement between the Company and Larry W. Seay* |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-109933. |
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10.6.1 |
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Amendment to Employment Agreement between the Company and Larry
W. Seay* |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of Form 10-Q for
the quarterly period ended March 31, 2004. |
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10.7 |
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Amended and Restated Change of Control Agreement between the
Company and Larry W. Seay* |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 of Form S-4
Registration Statement No. 333-109933. |
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10.8 |
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Change of Control Agreement between the Company and
Richard T. Morgan* |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 of
Form 10-Q/A for the quarterly period ended March 31,
2000. |
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10.9 |
|
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Deferred Bonus Agreement 2002 Award Year
between the Company and Larry W. Seay* |
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Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 of
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002. |
|
10.10 |
|
|
Deferred Bonus Agreement 2003 Award Year, between
the Company and Larry W. Seay* |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Form 10-Q for
the quarterly period ended March 31, 2004. |
|
10.11 |
|
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Deferred bonus Agreement 2002 Award Year
between the company and Richard T. Morgan* |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 of
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002. |
|
10.12 |
|
|
Deferred Bonus Agreement 2003 Award Year, between
the Company and Richard T. Morgan* |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of Form 10-Q
for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2004. |
|
12 |
|
|
Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges |
|
Filed herewith. |
|
21 |
|
|
List of Subsidiaries |
|
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 21 of Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2004. |
|
23.1 |
|
|
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP |
|
Filed herewith. |
|
23.2 |
|
|
Consent of KPMG LLP |
|
Filed herewith. |
|
23.3 |
|
|
Consent of Snell & Wilmer L.L.P. |
|
Contained in Exhibit 5.1. |
|
24 |
|
|
Powers of Attorney |
|
See signature page. |
|
25 |
|
|
Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939
on Form T-1 of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association |
|
Filed herewith. |
|
|
99 |
|
|
Form of Letter of Transmittal and related documents with respect
to the Exchange Offer |
|
Filed herewith. |
|
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* |
Indicates a management contract or compensation plan. |